Crack.
Thick veins bulged across Bu Eunseol’s body.
The effects of Joy of Heaven and Earth were raging wildly through his system.
In his mind, only the dizzying image of Yu Baek’s appearance and figure remained, burned in like a branding iron.
Step, step.
Yu Baek approached Bu Eunseol slowly, with languid, graceful movements.
It was an intoxicating temptation that no one could possibly resist.
Moreover, the aftermath of her kiss had left his body rigid and frozen.
His first kiss in life.
That sweet, soft sensation lingered long and deep.
He wasn’t poisoned by the aphrodisiac.
He had simply had his soul stolen by Yu Baek’s otherworldly beauty and that sweet kiss.
Finally, when she came right up to the tip of his nose, he could see her incomparably pure and beautiful eyes.
Within those black pupils swirled an inexpressible sorrow mixed with indescribable beauty. Her face, reflected in the moonlight, was pale as marble, and her lips trembled faintly.
Only now did he realize… she was afraid too.
—I’m sorry.
Depending on the light, the subtle changes in Yu Baek’s eyes seemed to whisper those words.
‘So that’s how it was.’
Seeing her beautiful yet sorrowful gaze, Bu Eunseol felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over him—his mind snapped awake in an instant.
Those eyes looked as though they carried every wound and pain from the years spent in Heartless Blood.
Just as Yu Baek was about to fall into his arms,
“It’s useless.”
His scattered internal energy returned and bloodlust exploded from his eyes.
“No aphrodisiac in the world can affect me.”
Paang!
At the same moment, an enormous wave of true energy surged outward in all directions. A scorching hot wind rose, and flames like an active volcano began to erupt.
He had raised the Yeolha Great True Energy and was incinerating every trace of Joy of Heaven and Earth inside his body.
Hwarrrrr.
Bu Eunseol’s entire body became a single mass of flame.
Yet nothing inside him was burned—the fire remained only around his body.
To destroy the poison within, he had executed the Self-Burning Solitary Flame technique, consuming only himself.
Sssss.
At the same time, white smoke began rising from every part of his body.
Joy of Heaven and Earth—said to be impossible to expel or neutralize once absorbed except through carnal release—was incinerated completely, not a single drop of its effect left behind.
“My Lord.”
At that moment, a low voice came from outside. It was the captain of the Blood Battle Unit assigned to guard Yu Baek.
Having sensed the shockwave and roar of energy Bu Eunseol had released, he hurriedly entered the chamber.
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” Bu Eunseol calmly answered while looking at Yu Baek, who had been knocked to the floor by the pressure of the true energy wave released during his internal energy eruption. “I simply lost control of my internal energy while circulating it, and the wave spread outward.”
“Understood.”
The Blood Battle captain bowed outside the door and withdrew.
Thud, thud.
Yu Baek, unable to neutralize the Joy of Heaven and Earth poison, was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
‘Hm.’
With a deep sigh, Bu Eunseol approached her.
“I’ll neutralize it for you.”
Yu Baek looked up at him with a puzzled expression. She clearly couldn’t understand why he would save her after she had attempted to assassinate him.
“Whether I kill you now or later, letting you die in such a wretched state would only sully my name, wouldn’t it?”
That was a lie.
Whether she died in her inner garment or poisoned by Joy of Heaven and Earth, he could have quietly disposed of her.
The truth was, he pitied Yu Baek’s life.
Abandoned by her father, forced to live her entire existence inside a dark cave, only to be used by Majeon and discarded as a pawn in the end.
Even if he had to kill her someday, he did not want to subject her to such a humiliating death.
Wooong.
Bu Eunseol channeled the Yeolha Great True Energy into her through the Body-to-Body Transmission technique.
But Joy of Heaven and Earth was so vicious that it could not be neutralized without direct contact.
“Forgive the rudeness.”
He immediately placed his hand on her Life Gate acupoint.
Hwaaaak!
A pale-white energy immediately flowed out from her body as well.
Flash!
At that instant, a gleam of light flashed.
Seizing the opportunity, she snatched the dagger that had fallen to the floor and stabbed Bu Eunseol.
Pshuk.
Even in that moment, Bu Eunseol twisted his body and fortunately, the blade sank deep into his shoulder instead of his heart.
“Impressive assassin instincts.”
Receiving the Yeolha Great True Energy felt like being burned alive in hellfire yet even in that agony, she had terrifyingly maintained her reason and stabbed him with the fallen dagger.
Sssssss.
Finally, all the poison inside her body was completely incinerated.
Still with the dagger embedded in his shoulder, Bu Eunseol slowly rose and spoke.
“In the future, try a different method for assassination. This approach is far too cliché.”
Yu Baek’s gaze remained fixed on the dagger lodged in Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
It had been coated with extreme poison and infused with killing energy that shredded muscle—how was he still so calm?
Thud.
Then the dagger embedded in his shoulder suddenly softened like taffy and popped out.
“I anticipated you would stab me, so I wrapped my shoulder in Supreme Yang Energy beforehand.”
With those final words, Bu Eunseol turned away.
Yu Baek slowly stood, bowed deeply, and offered a formal salute.
She had realized he was letting her assassination attempt go unpunished.
Unable to face her figure revealed by the torn inner garment, Bu Eunseol sharply turned his head and waved his hand.
“Leave.”
Yu Baek turned to go.
Had the Emotion-Severing Secret erased all emotion? Or was it simply the instinct of a Heartless Blood assassin?
Her eyes still carried the readiness to try assassinating Bu Eunseol again the moment an opportunity arose.
If she did not kill, she would be killed.
That was how naturally she thought of taking lives.
Click.
Once Yu Baek left, Bu Eunseol leaned against the bed and exhaled deeply.
“Vicious.”
When he pulled back his robe, a deep wound remained on his shoulder.
The claim that he had burned the dagger with Supreme Yang Energy was a lie.
Even he himself did not know why he had told such a lie.
“Hm.”
He took a single spirit pill from his robes, swallowed it, and circulated his energy once.
The poison on the dagger was Yama’s Smile—a toxin so potent that even a master of poison arts with decades of training would struggle to neutralize it.
Sssss.
But Bu Eunseol’s internal energy had surpassed nine jiazi. Using the Poison-Dispersing Energy and Toxin-Cleansing Body methods, he instantly eradicated even that infamous Yama’s Smile.
‘Ugh.’
Bu Eunseol suppressed a groan.
Though the poison was gone, the torn muscle would take quite a long time to heal.
‘So this was the scheme.’
Recalling Yu Baek’s pure eyes, Bu Eunseol clenched his fist tightly.
He had vaguely suspected it before, but this incident made the reason the Demon Emperor had placed Yu Baek by his side crystal clear.
A game. A test. Manipulation.
Once again, the Demon Emperor was testing him for amusement and manipulating him.
Knowing full well that Bu Eunseol always walked the righteous path and protected the weak, he had sent this pure being named Yu Baek to test him once more and to enjoy watching the outcome.
‘If you want to stay in Majeon, sever your attachments.’
Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
‘Like the Emotion-Severing Secret.’
Was it because he wanted him to fully enter the Impermanence Demonic Path? Or did he believe only by cutting off all emotion could one become the true successor of Majeon?
—If you wish to become the successor who will lead this hall, it would be best to erase concepts like comrades and friendship. Those things will soon become cumbersome baggage that blocks your path.
Those were the words the Demon Emperor had spoken when Bu Eunseol returned to Majeon with Hyeok Sojin.
He had constantly pressured Bu Eunseol to become heartless and because of the Emotion-Severing Secret he learned in the Myriad Demon Scripture Vault, he had several times come close to having his emotions completely erased.
It was undoubtedly a supreme secret art of the demonic path, standing at the pinnacle of martial history, but for Bu Eunseol, who was raised by Bu Zhanyang and blessed with rich emotions, it was nothing less than deadly poison.
‘Perhaps the Demon Emperor was certain that the Emotion-Severing Secret would make me completely sever all attachments…’
But that prediction was wrong.
Over time, Bu Eunseol had mastered the Emotion-Severing Secret in his own way, and his mind had learned to maintain perfect balance in the middle path.
—Then I am curious whether you can kill the bloodline of Hyeok Ryeon-eung, who was born into a wretched fate and lived harshly.
Having watched Bu Eunseol’s mind gradually come to resemble his grandfather’s, the Demon Emperor was testing him once again.
Could he kill Yu Baek, who had lived a miserable life?
He never pitied his own wretched past.
Yet toward the hardships of others, he always carried deep compassion and pity.
What choice would he make now?
“I’ll do it.”
Sssss.
As he cauterized the muscle wound with Yeolha Great True Energy, bloodlust flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Yu Baek’s death was already decided anyway.
The Demon Emperor had made that decision.
Even if Bu Eunseol did not kill her, someone else would.
And through that, Bu Eunseol’s mind would once again be greatly shaken.
In the end, he would blame himself for her death—because he could not prevent the death of that innocent assassin.
“But I will do it my way.”
Since he could not stop her death anyway, Bu Eunseol resolved to end her himself.
***
The next day.
Despite the assassination attempt during the night, even enduring a physical assault, Bu Eunseol taught Yu Baek with perfect sincerity.
As if nothing had happened at all.
Even though the chances of her officially becoming the Blood Secret Command Lord were zero, even though it was already decided that she would be used and discarded, Bu Eunseol treated her with genuine care.
They always sat across from each other to eat; when they went outside, they walked side by side.
Conversation was always conducted through eye contact and hand signals.
Had the plan changed?
Yu Baek no longer attempted to assassinate him.
Perhaps she had realized assassination would never succeed and given up.
Or perhaps she had realized he was treating her sincerely.
Either way, it was impossible to know.
But like a child studying at an academy, she eagerly absorbed everything Bu Eunseol taught and genuinely enjoyed traveling the martial world with him.
“All training is now complete.”
After three days of instructing Yu Baek, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Now that your education is finished, return to Majeon. If your abilities are deemed suitable for the Blood Secret Command Lord, the Demon Emperor will grant you that position.”
Though he spoke those words, Bu Eunseol’s eyes were dark.
Because he knew that would never happen.
The ending of this story was already fixed.
Yet Yu Baek wore a bright smile.
Perhaps she already knew.
Having carried out countless assassinations as a Heartless Blood killer and trained to discard her life at any moment, this was simply the usual fate of assassins.
Perhaps that smile of hers was meant to comfort Bu Eunseol’s pain.
***
[I will take care of some personal matters for a while. I will return to Majeon within three days, so there is no need to follow.]
After parting with Yu Baek, Bu Eunseol sent a thousand-li transmission to Soyo and headed somewhere alone.
Traveling swiftly day and night, he arrived at a deep mountain valley filled with fantastically shaped cliffs and countless peaks that looked as if they had been sculpted by hand.
It was the very rock where he had first encountered the Bullet King and the exact spot where the Martial Emperor’s Vault had once lain hidden.
“Even if the martial secret techniques were destroyed, they would have left at least the storage warehouse intact.”
Inside the Martial Emperor’s Vault had been stored jars of Jade Phoenix Honey. That mysterious spiritual medicine possessed the miraculous ability to partially restore even damaged vocal cords.
Just as he had once cured Geuk Hyebin’s injured throat in the past, Bu Eunseol intended to obtain Jade Phoenix Honey once more and heal Yu Baek’s vocal cords.
But no matter how much he searched, the Martial Emperor’s Vault—which had sunk deep into the ground—could not be found.
Ziiing.
Raising the Void Heart Command, Bu Eunseol searched tirelessly for an entire day and night.
Yet no trace of the Martial Emperor’s Vault appeared.
“I had hoped at least the storage would remain.”
Thump.
Finally exhausted, Bu Eunseol lay flat on the ground and gazed at the flickering night sky. Even with his steel-like stamina, circulating Void Heart Command all day had been too much.
“Martial Emperor…”
The Martial Emperor was said to possess the highest skill among the Eight Desolate Three Saints. Four hundred years ago, in that brilliant martial world, he had stood above all others.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.
Why would someone as outstanding as the Martial Emperor close the vault without hesitation the moment he transmitted his martial arts to his fated successor?
“Because he did not want anyone else to learn that martial art.”
But another question arose.
If the successor who inherited his martial arts returned to this place someday and desperately wished to enter the Martial Emperor’s Vault again? How would the Martial Emperor distinguish his true successor?
‘Thirteen Guiding Energies.’
Swiik! Swiik!
Lying down, Bu Eunseol unfolded the Thirteen Guiding Energies; nine razor-sharp streams of energy swept in all directions.
Grrrrumble.
Then, on the opposite side of the rock he lay on, the ground shook and a small door opened.
Bu Eunseol quickly entered.
Inside was the storage room filled with jars of Jade Phoenix Honey.
“As expected.”
With a face full of joy, Bu Eunseol picked up a jar of honey.
Honey does not spoil even after hundreds of years.
With this, he could definitely heal Yu Baek’s throat.
“I should tell Unryong later to store this honey separately.”
Jade Phoenix Honey was not only a spiritual medicine in itself, but also a key ingredient in Soul-Reviving Pills capable of saving countless lives.
Bu Eunseol planned to transport this honey to the Death Shadow Corps so it could be used to save those who might be injured or wounded in the future.
***
Returning to Majeon, Bu Eunseol swiftly handled the backlog of work and slowly began preparing to head to the Martial Alliance.
Fortunately, there had been no major incidents on the Martial Alliance side recently.
If problems had arisen on both sides at once, he truly would not have been able to keep his sanity.
“Bu Eunseol.”
At that moment, Yoo Unryong suddenly entered the office.
With an extremely grave expression, he said, “The Chief Instructor has summoned you.”
“The Chief Instructor?”
Bu Eunseol felt puzzled.
Back when he had met Yeop Hyocheon alone before bringing Jeok Bung, the man had promised never to interfere in his affairs. Now that the Demon Emperor had resumed meddling in operations, why summon him alone?
“It must be the Demon Emperor.”
Bu Eunseol was certain.
There was no reason for the Chief Instructor to call him unless it was on the Demon Emperor’s orders.
“Probably so.” Yoo Unryong spoke bitterly. “In any case, this incident has proven that if the Demon Emperor decides to act, we cannot stop him.”
Bu Eunseol had reinstated Jeok Bung and strengthened the Elder Council’s power to block the Demon Emperor’s absurd unilateral orders.
But even that could not stop secret commands issued through the Chief Instructor.
“And the outcome this time is obvious. No matter what, your heart will not be at ease.”
Yoo Unryong also knew Yu Baek’s fate well.
“Isn’t death just another daily occurrence for martial artists?”
“Bu Eunseol.”
“I’m fine.” Answering calmly, Bu Eunseol turned away nonchalantly. “I’ll go hear what he has to say first.”
The Solitary Light Pavilion, Yeop Hyocheon’s office.
Yeop Hyocheon wore a somewhat strange smile.
It looked like pity for Bu Eunseol, who had been forced to endure unwanted situations repeatedly because of the Demon Emperor.
“You must be busy, so I’ll keep it short.”
Without even offering a cup of tea, Yeop Hyocheon snorted at Bu Eunseol sitting across from him.
“I’ve received an order to conduct Yu Baek’s final test, to determine whether he is qualified to become the Blood Secret Command Lord.”
Then, in an utterly cold voice, he continued, “The target is the Sword King, Seon Woojin. His elimination.”
In that instant, a flash passed through Yeop Hyocheon’s eyes.
“If the assassination succeeds, no one in Majeon will oppose him becoming the Blood Secret Command Lord.”
Bu Eunseol’s pupils rippled like water.
Kill Seon Woojin and they would appoint him Blood Secret Command Lord? What kind of bizarre statement was this?
“Why are you telling me this specifically?”
“I wanted to hear your opinion.” Yeop Hyocheon spoke calmly. “You’ve been teaching him all this time so you know his abilities better than anyone.”
“It sounds like an impossible mission.” Bu Eunseol answered with a composed expression. “He is a young grandmaster who stood toe-to-toe with the Sword Demon. No matter how masterful an assassin’s techniques are, he cannot defeat the Sword King.”
“I agree.” Yeop Hyocheon gave a faint smile. “Lord, you command a formidable information organization, you have more martial world experience than anyone, and you’ve clashed with the Martial Alliance many times, I hear.”
“……”
“I believe your advice would be the most helpful.”
Bu Eunseol stared straight into Yeop Hyocheon’s eyes.
“Advice, you say…”
“Is it possible that your expertise could bridge the gap in martial prowess?”
Bu Eunseol felt nausea rising.
The entire conversation no longer felt like Yeop Hyocheon’s own words—it felt like the Demon Emperor speaking through his mouth.
“I understand what you mean.”
Still suppressing his emotions, he answered with an utterly blank face.
“If I have any thoughts or advice to give, I will send it to the Shadow Pavilion.”
“Good. You’ve worked hard.”
After returning from the Solitary Light Pavilion, Bu Eunseol gathered the captains in the meeting room.
“The Demon Emperor has given Yu Baek a final test.”
He explained calmly.
“If the assassination of Sword King Seon Woojin succeeds, they will grant him the position of Blood Secret Command Lord.”
Instantly, the atmosphere in the meeting room turned pitch dark.
“Does that mean he already knows the Lord’s identity?”
When Wi Cheongyeong asked cautiously, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“No, that’s not it. If he knew, there would have been no need to send Yu Baek to me in the first place.”
If Bu Eunseol were revealed to be Seon Woojin, he would become a traitor who deceived both righteous and demonic sides. Merely holding that weakness would allow the Demon Emperor to puppet him completely.
“Then this whole thing is a plan to shake the Lord’s mind.”
At Wi Cheongyeong’s words, everyone nodded.
The captains could feel it too.
From the beginning, the Demon Emperor had decided to discard Yu Baek as a pawn, and through her death, he intended to shake Bu Eunseol’s mind once again.
“Well, isn’t that actually a good thing? If you think about it differently.”
At that moment, Myo Cheonwoo shrugged and spoke.
“If Seon Woojin were targeted for assassination by a Majeon assassin? That gives us excellent blackmail material to pressure Majeon with later.”
Since Seon Woojin was Bu Eunseol, the assassination would naturally fail.
Even if Yu Baek secretly escaped, they already knew her identity.
The fact that a Heartless Blood assassin from Majeon had plotted to kill the Martial Alliance’s Intelligence and Secret Affairs Lord would become powerful leverage to pressure Majeon using Seon Woojin’s identity in the future.
“You’re right. I think so too.”
When Bu Eunseol nodded, Myo Cheonwoo tilted his head.
“But why the long face? Just kill her and be done with it. If you don’t want to kill her, capture her alive.”
To Myo Cheonwoo’s question, Bu Eunseol answered gravely,
“I have to kill her. If I don’t, the Demon Emperor will surely kill her in front of me cruelly.”
“‘Her’?”
“Yu Baek is a woman.”
In that instant, not only Myo Cheonwoo but all the captains’ expressions twisted bizarrely.
“A woman? You mean Yu Baek?”
“Yes.”
The captains’ mouths fell open.
That meant she wasn’t Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s son but his daughter?
“How did you find out?”
At Yoo Unryong’s continued question, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
Then he briefly recounted the situation when Yu Baek had tried to assassinate him at the inn.
He lied, saying he discovered it not because of the aphrodisiac, but because her clothes tore during the fight.
“I see.”
Yoo Unryong, who had listened silently, spoke.
“To show that level of talent in Heartless Blood, a place filled with the most skilled assassins, she must have been born with truly peerless aptitude.”
As if all questions had been answered, Yoo Unryong gave a hollow smile.
“So Hyeok Ryeon-eung didn’t abandon her because she was illegitimate—he abandoned her because she was a girl.”
The overbearing demonic martial arts, unlike righteous ones, were extremely difficult for women to reach great completion in.
Especially Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s exclusive martial arts which belonged to the pure yang category.
Judging it would be difficult to pass on his legacy or lineage, he had discarded her without hesitation.
Then Myo Cheonwoo spoke. “And the fact that he specifically named Seon Woojin… maybe he’s testing once again whether you really are Seon Woojin. Since she’s a disposable pawn anyway.”
Yoo Unryong nodded as well.
“Bu Eunseol.”
Then, as if seeing through Bu Eunseol’s complicated heart, he spoke firmly.
“She has already been decided as a disposable piece by the Demon Emperor. She’s fated to die anyway… whether she’s a woman or anything else, don’t let it bother you.”
When Bu Eunseol didn’t answer, Yoo Unryong pressed him.
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me something happened between you two?”
Bu Eunseol could not speak.
He had remembered.
Those sorrowful, desolate eyes reflected in the moonlight.
And even while living the life of an assassin trapped in a dark cave, her vocal cords severed, and forbidden from ever speaking… the innocent, radiant smile Yu Baek had shown during the past few days spent together with him stayed on his mind.
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