As Bu Eunseol’s figure completely vanished, the faint smile on Gongsun Dankyung’s lips trembled ever so slightly.
“Lord Seon.”
Due to the Fist Man’s fist power… Bu Eunseol’s body had been left in an extremely weakened state.
Because of that, in the final moment when the Ban-Geuk Method surged in response to that power, Gongsun Dankyung had been able to partially perceive the forces contained within Bu Eunseol’s body.
‘I wish I could break that great law.’
Even after escaping the Jungson Family, in order to prevent Gongsun Dankyung from being tracked, Chu So had unfolded a mysterious great law to suppress the enigmatic energy dwelling within her body.
After reaching adulthood, she had tried countless times to shatter that great law, but every attempt had failed.
Yet that great law was not perfect either.
At times, her ability to discern others’ powers would manifest spontaneously.
Just like right now.
“A divine figure possessing power like yours could never be an ordinary successor of a merchant guild.”
Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ve been concealing an overwhelmingly vast power all this time… almost exactly like the hidden agents of those mysterious forces that have yet to reveal themselves in the martial world.”
Her pupils sparkled with violet light.
From this incident she realized the probability that Chu So was still alive was high.
And perhaps this very trap had been orchestrated by him.
Moreover, she had now learned one more cruel truth.
Seon Woojin.
He was not merely the successor of the Seonhwa Merchant Guild. From childhood he had been systematically trained in martial arts by an exceptional master and now he had reached a level of martial prowess capable of overlooking the entire world, transcending generations.
“Perhaps even the Fist Man’s appearance… and your assistance… were all part of the calculation.”
Gongsun Dankyung’s gaze wavered.
Half of her burning desire for revenge had been for Chu So’s sake.
But if he were alive and toying with her even now?
Then she would have to revise her entire plan from the beginning.
***
After parting with Gongsun Dankyung, Bu Eunseol immediately headed for Nangyang Pavilion.
Now he had come to understand—at least to some degree—the secret forces that had remained hidden in the martial world until now.
The True Demon.
He was the pure evil that had existed since the beginning of time, locked in endless conflict with the Baekri family.
Yet in the end the Baekri family could not destroy the True Demon and could only seal him away.
Thus they created the Three Realms in an attempt to prevent his revival.
But the Three Attendants, Four Divine Heavens, and Eight Human Heavens had ceaselessly worked toward the True Demon’s resurrection.
In the end, the Inbiin who had appeared in the martial world was merely one of the Eight Human Heavens.
Their activity meant that the True Demon’s reappearance might not be far off.
‘Could absolute grandmasters like the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors and the Three Demons and Three Venerables possibly have been unaware of this?’
Absolutely not. The probability was zero.
On the contrary, because they had known all of this for a very long time, they had repeatedly entered closed-door cultivation.
If they were to appear, the existing balance of power in the martial world would collapse entirely.
In the end, Bu Eunseol sought out Ak Muryeong to demand the truth about the True Demon and the Baekri family and about his own true identity.
“Deputy Pavilion Lord.”
“You’ve come.”
Upon entering Nangyang Pavilion, for some reason Dan Cheong had come out to meet him.
It was almost as though he already knew Bu Eunseol had clashed with the Fist Man and suffered severe internal injuries.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Dan Cheong looked at Bu Eunseol—his hair disheveled, not a single spot on his body unscathed—and patted his shoulder with a warm, caring expression.
“I still remember the day I first brought you to this Pavilion. You were injured then too, your body a complete wreck.”
Back then, after being exposed to the Formless Finger Energy of Wi Hyeok-gun, Bu Eunseol had barely survived thanks to Dan Cheong’s help.
Even so, his body had not fully recovered by the time he reached Nangyang Pavilion. He had suffered grievous internal injuries before he could even properly learn martial arts.
Yet even then, Bu Eunseol had straightened his shoulders and entered the Pavilion with dignity.
Just as he always had.
“Have you come to see the Pavilion Lord?”
“Yes.”
“Do not misunderstand this Deputy Pavilion Lord’s words—listen carefully.”
Dan Cheong spoke with a grave expression, saying something rather unexpected.
“Would you reconsider?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“There are things in life that one does not even need to know.”
Dan Cheong continued calmly.
“Being faithful to the present is far more important.”
Bu Eunseol had come to ask Ak Muryeong every unresolved question he carried and among those questions was the truth of his own origins, which had remained shrouded until now.
They all knew.
The current supreme experts—including the Demon Emperor—had already grasped his background from the days when they were close with Grandfather.
Dan Cheong had surely already guessed that fact, which was why he spoke these words.
“So you already knew as well, Deputy Pavilion Lord.”
About his true origins.
Not only the Pavilion Lord, Human Demon Ak Muryeong, but even Deputy Pavilion Lord Dan Cheong knew.
Then the senior members of Nangyang Pavilion—such as Master Iron, Baek Yeon, and So Jeon—must all know as well.
Nangyang Pavilion did not discriminate in sharing information based on rank.
It was a place where everyone lived like family, risking their lives together to cultivate martial arts.
“I was about to tell everyone—including the Pavilion Lord—about my identity, without realizing they already knew.”
If there was no trace of disappointment in Bu Eunseol’s voice, that would be a lie.
“Your identity doesn’t matter.”
Dan Cheong spoke in a low but firm voice.
“You are a disciple of this Pavilion. Nothing else is important.”
They were moving words.
Yet they also carried the meaning that he wished Bu Eunseol would not dig up the past.
‘Why do they think it’s better that I don’t know my own origins?’
Recalling something, Bu Eunseol asked with a devastated expression.
“Is my background really that wretched?”
“Bu Eunseol.”
“I believe that suffering while knowing is better…” After taking a deep breath, he spoke resolutely. “Than being happy in ignorance.”
“Very well, then there is no helping it.”
Dan Cheong gave a small smile and nodded.
“The Pavilion Lord is at Iron Staff Peak. Go to him.”
“Thank you.”
Bu Eunseol bowed deeply.
Watching Bu Eunseol’s departing back, Dan Cheong’s gaze grew faint.
“You are merely the successor of this Pavilion.”
His murmur was so soft that Bu Eunseol could not hear it.
As Bu Eunseol unfolded his movement technique and raced up the steep mountain path, Iron Staff Peak soon came into view. Upon reaching the summit, he saw a shadow standing with hands behind his back, gazing down at the land below.
A giant of a man whose muscles gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, exuding an aura as majestic as Mount Tai itself.
It was none other than the Pavilion Lord of Nangyang, Human Demon Ak Muryeong.
“Pavilion Lord.”
Bu Eunseol bowed respectfully.
After his martial prowess had advanced, he was no longer affected by the aura or voice Ak Muryeong emanated.
Yet perhaps he had entered a new realm in the meantime?
Because of the pressure pouring from Ak Muryeong, Bu Eunseol felt as though he were standing in thin air—his internal breathing became slightly uncomfortable.
“Did you already know everything?”
When Ak Muryeong remained motionless with his back turned, Bu Eunseol finally broached the main topic.
“About the existence called the True Demon… and his subordinates.”
“Brat.”
Muttering lowly, Ak Muryeong turned around.
In that instant, sunlight-like radiance burst from his pupils.
“Just because you’ve grown a little stronger, you think the whole world is beneath you now?!”
At that roar, sweet blood rose in Bu Eunseol’s throat.
While his internal injuries from the Fist Man had not yet fully healed, Ak Muryeong’s overwhelming pressure struck him again, inflicting yet deeper wounds.
Ziiing.
Golden light shimmered across Bu Eunseol’s body.
In the midst of such grievous internal injuries, when every ounce of energy within him began to collapse under Ak Muryeong’s pressure, the Prajna Great Power activated spontaneously.
Gurgle.
Then something miraculous occurred.
As the Prajna Great Power manifested, his displaced internal organs began returning to their proper places.
‘This is…’
The Shaolin’s Muscle-Changing Sutra was originally a secret art meant to nourish the organs of ascetic monks and purify their blood.
Bu Eunseol had nurtured his internal energy through the Muscle-Changing Sutra, and later, through the very similar Ban-Geuk Mind Method, he had gained free control over the true energy within his body.
But because of that, the profound effects of the Muscle-Changing Sutra—Clearing the Heart and Nourishing the Vessels, Cleansing Impurities and Strengthening Sinews—had been unable to manifest.
Yet now, in the state of extreme internal injury, when the Prajna Great Power activated, it was not the Ban-Geuk Method but the mysteries of the Muscle-Changing Sutra that took effect, rapidly healing his wounds.
‘Pavilion Lord.’
A surge of hot emotion welled up in Bu Eunseol.
‘Even while scolding me, you were concerned for my body.’
There was no way Ak Muryeong—who was versed in every mystery of martial learning under heaven—would be ignorant of the Shaolin Muscle-Changing Sutra, one of the greatest internal cultivation methods.
Moreover, he knew every latent power hidden within Bu Eunseol’s body.
That was why he had deliberately unleashed his pressure—to stimulate the Prajna Great Power and allow Bu Eunseol’s body to recover quickly.
‘If I thank him for every little thing like this, the Pavilion Lord will become furious.’
Knowing Ak Muryeong’s temperament well, Bu Eunseol did not express gratitude and instead continued indifferently.
“I have now peered somewhat into the abyss of the martial world.”
After taking a deep breath, he spoke again.
“Since it is related to my own origins as well, I believe I have the right to ask you these things.”
Ak Muryeong’s terrifying gaze swept over Bu Eunseol’s body from head to toe.
Then silence fell.
How much time passed?
At last Ak Muryeong slowly opened his mouth.
“The True Demon and his subordinates have existed since the beginning of time. And those old monsters of the Eight Human Heavens came not only to this Pavilion Lord, but also to the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors.”
Bu Eunseol was not particularly surprised.
He had already guessed that the frequent closed-door cultivation of the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors was not unrelated to them. Even though it had been in their youth, the subordinates of the Fist Demon had clashed with the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors.
Bu Eunseol stole a glance at Ak Muryeong, whose presence seemed to crush the world beneath it.
Naturally, the repeated closed-door training of the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors and the Three Demons and Three Venerables had not been because of the Eight Human Heavens, but to prepare to defeat the Four Divine Heavens above them—or even the Three Attendants.
“The reason the martial world has come to this state is ultimately…”
At that moment Ak Muryeong spoke words that were utterly shocking.
“Because of the Baekri family.”
An unexpected name burst forth, causing Bu Eunseol to stammer.
“What do you-”
“They sealed the True Demon clumsily, and because of that the Three Realms were born. But the Three Realms became corrupt, and in turn they gave the True Demon’s subordinates the opportunity to gather strength in the darkness.”
Tremble.
The corners of Bu Eunseol’s eyes quivered faintly.
Though his words were harsh, even Ak Muryeong—who overlooked the world—acknowledged that mysterious family, vanished in an instant three hundred years ago, as the guardian of the martial world.
‘But something is strange.’
If his father, Baekri Muha, was of the Baekri family, then Bu Eunseol himself was of the Baekri bloodline.
‘Then there is no way the True Demon’s subordinates would have left me alive until now, is there?’
That Baekri Muha was already known to the supreme experts of the martial world. Moreover, the Righteous Heavenly Emperor had even informed his disciple Mu Gyeol that Baekri Muha was of the legendary Baekri bloodline.
Then could the True Demon’s subordinates truly have been unaware?
Had they really not known that he was Baekri Muha’s son?
If they had known, how could he possibly have survived until now?
“Pavilion Lord.”
After taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
There was no longer any reason to hide his identity from the Pavilion Lord.
“I have something to tell you.”
Taking another deep breath, he spoke with utmost gravity.
“I am of the Baekri family.”
“….”
“In my memories, there are recollections implanted by my father, Baekri Muha.”
Ak Muryeong stared straight into Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“Bu Eunseol.”
Then, uncharacteristically, he let out a great sigh.
“You are not.”
“What do you-”
“The reason the Demon Emperor Sado Muryeong hunted Baekri Muha’s child was only one.”
Ak Muryeong continued.
“He knew that Baekri Muha was a descendant of the legendary Baekri family.”
And then he spoke calmly.
“And he knew that the child raised by Bu Zhanyang was a survivor of Saha Manor. Yet he did not kill him.”
After a brief pause, he looked down at Bu Eunseol with solemnity.
“Because you are not truly of the Baekri bloodline.”
In that instant, darkness filled Bu Eunseol’s vision.
“W-What are you saying?”
“You are probably not of the Baekri bloodline.”
Ak Muryeong gazed down at Bu Eunseol with eyes blazing like torches.
“Baekri Muha knew his own fate. So to save his child, he made many preparations—including you.”
Thump.
The shock was so immense that the back of Bu Eunseol’s head felt as though it would split.
“What do you mean?”
“You were merely fortunate bait. Bait meant to keep the true Baekri bloodline alive.”
A long silence followed.
Bu Eunseol shook his head in disbelief.
“That can’t be.”
Then, urgently, he said, “My appearance…”
Realizing that in this vast world, finding someone who looked exactly like him was not necessarily impossible, he quickly changed tack.
“I have memories of my parents.”
“Implanted memories, nothing more. You had to die as the perfect son of the Baekri family.”
Bu Eunseol shouted in agitation.
“There is a memory of my father hurriedly placing me in the secret passage to save me. And erasing my memories…”
But Ak Muryeong snorted and cut him off.
“Do you truly think a divine figure like Baekri Muha would clumsily send his child alone through a secret passage?”
In that moment Bu Eunseol fell silent.
If Baekri Muha truly was such a divine figure—if he had foreseen his own death—he would have completed every preparation before the blood calamity erupted.
Sending his child alone to a secret place in the midst of the calamity… was too clumsy to be called a plan to save his child.
Yet Bu Eunseol could not accept it.
If that were true… then what was his own existence?
“I cannot believe it.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“Did you speak directly with Baekri Muha?”
“I did not.”
“Then how do you know such things?”
“Bu Zhanyang.”
Ak Muryeong spoke in a voice that shook the earth.
“He told me.”
Tremble.
Bu Eunseol’s complexion turned deathly pale.
Then did that mean Grandfather had not saved him by chance?
“You brat—I mention that Seven-Finger Demon Blade once and you lose your mind!”
Boom!
Bu Eunseol felt the heavens and earth shake with dizziness.
Ak Muryeong had struck his body with a wave of true energy.
“Foolish brat. Bu Zhanyang merely found a frozen child on the road and saved him—that’s all.”
Reading Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts, Ak Muryeong wore a contemptuous expression.
“He had no idea who you really were.”
“….”
“But because of that laughable act of kindness, countless powerhouses were able to trace his whereabouts.”
At those scathing words, Bu Eunseol’s fingertips trembled.
“Because… I was a survivor of Saha Manor?”
“Exactly.” Ak Muryeong continued. “Bu Zhanyang had completely vanished from the martial world; no one knew his whereabouts. But… it was possible to track traces of a Saha Manor survivor.”
“That means…”
With a devastated expression, Bu Eunseol said, “To protect the true Baekri bloodline… they deliberately left the fake bait’s trail imperfectly hidden.”
“Of course.”
Stagger.
At the cruel answer, Bu Eunseol reeled.
Sparks danced before his eyes and his head spun.
‘The parents in my memories were not real… and I have been carrying implanted, false memories.’
Thinking about it, it made sense.
If he truly were of the Baekri bloodline—possessing that great lineage capable of opposing the True Demon—there was no way the True Demon’s subordinates would have left him alive.
“Then where is the true Baekri bloodline now?”
“I don’t know. If he had been discovered, the landscape of the martial world would have changed completely.”
‘Grandfather.’
Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
In the end he had been bait meant to protect the true Baekri bloodline, and because his trail had been deliberately left imperfectly concealed, countless powerhouses—including the Demon Emperor—had been able to track him easily.
And because of that, they had been able to locate Grandfather as well.
“How did Grandfather know that I was bait created in Saha Manor?”
“Countless powerhouses came looking for you, convinced you were of the Baekri bloodline—so naturally he had to begin investigating.”
Ak Muryeong spoke firmly.
“And Bu Zhanyang concluded that you were not of the Baekri bloodline.”
His head spun in circles.
At last Bu Eunseol staggered and spat out a stream of blood.
Only now did he fully understand the meaning of what Dan Cheong had said to him.
—There are things in life one does not even need to know.
Dan Cheong had long ago heard this very truth about his origins from Ak Muryeong.
Because he was not truly of Baekri Muha’s bloodline, Dan Cheong had hoped that—living as a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion—he would not cling to the past and would instead live faithfully in the present.
‘So that’s why I could never recover those memories.’
In his memories, his father Baekri Muha had said that once he began cultivating martial arts, and once his martial arts deepened, he would eventually recover those memories.
Yet even as his martial arts deepened endlessly and reached a level beyond the reach of young men, the memories never fully returned.
‘There were no memories to recover in the first place.’
Because they had been implanted from the beginning.
Because they were fragmentary implanted memories.
In the end, they could never be found.
And the most unbearable truth of all was…
‘It was because of me after all.’
Trembling, Bu Eunseol clutched his head and sank to his knees.
‘It was me who destroyed Grandfather’s peaceful life in the end.’
Nausea surged.
The one who had ruined the life of the Grandfather he loved so dearly… was himself.
Because this misfortune called himself had arrived, Grandfather’s whereabouts had been exposed to powerhouses, and in the end he had been killed.
“What a ridiculous brat.”
Boom!
With a low voice, Bu Eunseol received a blow so massive it rattled his skull.
Ak Muryeong had struck him, truly, with his fist.
Kwaang!
Bu Eunseol was hurled more than ten zhang away, crashing into a great tree and spitting out another clot of blood.
“The successor of this Pavilion dares kneel and wallow in self-pity?”
With dead eyes, Bu Eunseol murmured, “In the end… I killed Grandfather.”
“Hahahaha!”
Ak Muryeong burst into mocking laughter.
“Who was it that killed Bu Zhanyang?”
“It’s the truth. I personally handled Grandfather’s funeral rites…”
Rip.
Suddenly Ak Muryeong tore off his upper garment.
His upper body muscles—twisted like coiled steel—were fully exposed.
“Pavilion Lord.”
“Look.”
When Bu Eunseol raised his head, Ak Muryeong turned his back.
Hundreds of spiderweb-like scars densely covered his broad back.
“Three moves.”
The wild light swirling in Ak Muryeong’s pupils grew darker.
“This body was defeated in a mere three moves.”
Then he declared loudly, “Who in this world would dare claim they could kill such a man?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Human Demon Ak Muryeong was an absolute grandmaster whom even the Demon Emperor could not completely overpower.
Yet Grandfather had defeated Ak Muryeong in only three moves?
“Bu Zhanyang, the Seven-Finger Demon Blade had long ago broken free from the framework of the Limitless Realm.” Ak Muryeong spoke with solemnity. “Not even the Demon Emperor Sado Muryeong, nor the entire Eight Human Heavens combined, could ever defeat him—so who was it that killed him?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened further.
Grandfather had long ago surpassed the Limitless Realm and had already far outstripped even the Demon Emperor, who was considered the strongest of the current generation.
“Bu Zhanyang was the number one under heaven.”
Ak Muryeong declared firmly.
“Even if the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors came at him all at once, they would not dare stand against him.”
His tightly shut lips revealed a faint trace of respect and envy.
In this world, the only thing capable of moving the heart of a man like Ak Muryeong was boundless martial achievement and the title of number one under heaven.
“A supreme master like him chose his own path!”
Kwaang!
Bu Eunseol was once again sent flying backward.
Ak Muryeong had struck him again.
“How dare a mere brat like you pity him or feel guilt?”
Finally understanding the meaning behind Ak Muryeong’s words, Bu Eunseol bowed his head in shame.
The number one under heaven.
Grandfather Bu Zhanyang had been the number one under heaven—a man who inspired even the absolute great demon called Ak Muryeong to feel envy.
For an absolute grandmaster who had reached the most exalted realm to choose his own death, and for a mere fledgling to grieve and claim responsibility for it?
That was an insult to the death of the number one under heaven.
Ak Muryeong found Bu Eunseol so ludicrous he could barely stand it.
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