Hyeok Sojin spoke urgently.
“Brother Bu, that is...”
“It’s fine.”
Bu Eunseol calmly shook his head.
“There is nothing to worry about.”
Then he turned to Elder Hyang and said, “The Demon Emperor long ago stepped beyond the boundaries of the Limitless Realm. He does not raise a hand against the weak.”
He wore a solemn expression.
“The only ones the Demon Emperor acts against are those who possess sufficient worth—or supreme experts capable of drawing his interest.”
“Are you saying the former Palace Lord was weak?”
“Listen to a person’s words to the end.”
When Elder Hyang shouted, Bu Eunseol let out a sigh.
“And whenever he defeats a strong opponent, he invariably makes it known to the entire world. He considers that the true dignity of the supreme figure of the Demonic Path.”
Bu Eunseol stared straight at Elder Hyang.
“Yet when such a Demon Emperor supposedly killed the former Palace Lord, no rumor ever spread?”
“How could this elder possibly know the wicked intentions of that vicious man?”
“Then tell me. When and how exactly did the Demon Emperor kill the Palace Lord? Bring the evidence.”
Elder Hyang glanced briefly at Yong Hoe, who was writhing on the ground with his meridians severed, and said, “That one presented clear proof that the Palace Lord and the Grand Duke were ambushed by the Demon Emperor.”
“An ambush? What proof?”
Elder Hyang ground his teeth.
“He confirmed that the wounds left on the corpses of the Palace Lord and the Grand Duke perfectly matched the martial arts of the Demon Emperor.”
“As expected.”
“What do you mean ‘as expected’?”
“I mean it’s utter nonsense that doesn’t even deserve to be called words.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“The Demon Emperor is not the previous generation’s Wind God. Even if all four current Divine Beasts of the martial world attacked him together, victory would not be guaranteed.” Then, snorting lightly, he continued, “Yet he would ambush the Wind God and his Grand Duke to kill them? The Demon Emperor, who places the prestige of being the heaven of the Demonic Path above all else?”
“What did you say?”
“It’s something even a dog would laugh at.”
Elder Hyang shouted, “Even among the strong, who says they never ambush the weak? Secretly killing someone isn’t exactly rare, is it?”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“If that’s how you wish to frame it, fine. So then—what exactly is the evidence that the Returning to One Realm brought?”
“The Demon Emperor’s unique martial art.”
Elder Hyang spoke as though spitting blood.
“The Palace Lord and the Grand Duke perished to a gigantic blade formed by materialized true energy. Precisely that bizarre true energy technique!”
A bizarre true energy technique most likely referred to the Wishful True Binding of the Emotion-Severing Secret.
Bu Eunseol let out a long sigh.
That the world-renowned Wind God Palace had been deceived by such an absurd scheme from the Three Realms?
‘This is the drawback of a sect that avoids worldly affairs and quietly preserves its lineage in proud isolation.’
If the Wind God Palace had been one of the prominent schools in the Central Plains, such trickery would never have worked. But because they maintained their lineage in secrecy on this remote snowy mountain… they fell for even a sloppy plot.
‘No. That can’t be right.’
Bu Eunseol sensed one more truth in Elder Hyang’s eyes.
From the very beginning, whether the Wind God had truly been killed by the Demon Emperor or not probably held no real importance to her.
Her true goal was most likely to rebuild the Wind God Palace with the help and support of the Returning to One Realm.
Moreover—if the Wind God had indeed been slain by the supreme figure of the Demonic Path, the Demon Emperor?
Then the Palace Lord’s death would not seem quite so empty and meaningless.
‘The Wind God Palace genuinely does not know the real reason the Wind God died.’
If they could not even identify the true cause of the Palace Lord’s death, much less the culprit…
Then claiming he was killed by a worthy supreme expert would create a far more glorious illusion than the plain truth.
‘Now even she is starting to resemble the Demon Emperor.’
From her expression and the look in her eyes, he had already seen through the fact that she was lying. By boldly staking his life on the claim, he deliberately provoked her resistance and drew out her genuine reaction.
In this world, the only person capable of so completely grasping and manipulating another’s heart was the Demon Emperor alone.
Yet somehow, Bu Eunseol was already imitating even that.
“I no longer feel it’s worth explaining further.”
Bu Eunseol looked at Hae Yeon and said, “It seems the Palace Lord will have to clean up her own house.”
Pshk!
Instead of answering, Hae Yeon unleashed a sword wind that severed Yong Hoe’s head.
Thud.
The severed head rolled pitifully across the floor.
For a high-level expert affiliated with the Returning to One Realm, it was a rather anticlimactic end.
“I will go directly to that man called the Demon Emperor and confirm the truth myself.”
She turned to Bu Eunseol.
“If it turns out to be a lie, I will kill you too.”
“Come to Majeon anytime.”
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol took out the Martial Soul Command Token from his robes and handed it to her.
“Do not try to find the Demon Emperor recklessly. When you arrive at Majeon, show this token. It will allow you a private audience with him.”
“Why are you giving this to me? Are you worried about me?”
“Whatever the reason, I have obtained the secret technique of the Wind God Palace. Naturally, I should repay the favor, shouldn’t I?”
“Huhuhu.”
Hae Yeon smiled.
“You really are polite. You were the same back then.”
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s face flushed red.
The memory surfaced of when her body had been exposed in the underground secret chamber and he had covered her with his own clothes.
“Brother Bu.”
At that moment, Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun approached.
“Is your body fully recovered?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll be going now, Palace Lord.”
As Bu Eunseol turned to leave, Hae Yeon spoke.
“I will set aside the question of whether that man called the Demon Emperor truly killed the disciples of this palace. That is something this Palace Lord will confirm herself.” Then she stepped closer to Bu Eunseol and continued, “In any case, not only did you eliminate the wicked ones who sought to swallow this palace, you also saved my life. That fact remains unchanged.”
She came so close that her face nearly touched his, then lifted her enchanting eyes.
“In other words, this Palace Lord owes you a debt.”
“There is no need.”
“No need? If you leave your comrades in that condition, their internal energy will suffer serious decline.”
Hae Yeon pointed at the terribly battered Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun.
“This palace possesses many excellent medicines.”
Thanks to the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy, Bu Eunseol had undergone a transformation akin to shedding his mortal body.
But Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun had suffered deep injuries in battle that had not yet healed.
There were no physicians or usable medicines to be found around the Wind God Palace.
If they left now as she said, by the time they reached Seongdo their wounds might fester.
“Moreover, both of them possess excellent aptitude. If you wish, not only will I heal them—I can even impart to them a power comparable to the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy.”
Hae Yeon made an astonishing offer.
“Since you have already obtained the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy, it would be good for you to learn the practical methods from this Palace Lord as well.”
“No, that is...”
Bu Eunseol waved his hand, about to refuse.
But by then Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun had already pressed tightly against both his shoulders.
And they were sending him the most fervent gazes.
—Brother Bu. I want the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy too.
—Since things have come this far… please, just a little for me too…
Reading their desperate feelings, Bu Eunseol had no choice but to bow politely.
“We are deeply grateful for the Palace Lord’s kindness.”
***
The forces of the Returning to One Realm that had taken control of the Wind God Palace were completely eradicated.
In particular, Elder Hyang had colluded with an external faction and humiliated the Young Palace Lord.
Under normal circumstances she would have been guilty of the crime of deceiving one’s master and destroying one’s ancestors, deserving the punishment of severing roots and cutting meridians.
Yet she was merely stripped of her elder position and sentenced to three years of wall-facing seclusion.
Considering her age and her past loyalty, an extremely lenient punishment had been handed down.
The truly pitiful one was the Young Palace Lord.
Deceived by Yong Hoe, she had ruined her foundation with the Harmony of Sun and Moon Great Method and could no longer become the next Palace Lord.
However, now that Hae Yeon had awakened from her hundred-year slumber and returned as the most powerful Wind God since the founding ancestor… the Wind God Palace would be able to continue without major incident.
Moreover, it was the principle of the Three Realms that—if their plan to swallow a sect failed—they would simply eliminate those involved and erase all traces.
There would be no further retaliation or additional attacks.
Four days later.
“We are deeply grateful for your kindness.”
Before departing, Bu Eunseol expressed profound thanks to the Palace Lord, Hae Yeon.
Thanks to her generosity, he had obtained the practical methods that allowed him to freely wield the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy.
Unlike the Thunder Spirit Energy or Crystal Divine Energy, which could be naturally unfolded the moment they fused with the body, the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy possessed a wide variety of application methods.
In truth, however, Bu Eunseol had already acquired most of those methods during the Wind God’s Path.
What Hae Yeon taught him was not the practical methods of the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy, but rather the technique to suppress it. Compared to other divine energies, its attribute was distinctly different, and if left unchecked it would unconsciously leak out naturally.
—The Wind Gods of successive generations frequently died young from mysterious illnesses of unknown cause, or were assassinated by enigmatic enemies.
Those were Hae Yeon’s words.
Shockingly, throughout the ages, the Wind Gods had all met inexplicable deaths.
—Therefore… until you reach a level of martial prowess where you fear no one, it would be best to refrain from openly displaying the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy.
Bu Eunseol had no fear of ambushes, but he agreed with the advice to avoid openly using it.
The Three Realms were obsessed with the Four Divine Energies.
Moreover, the Three Divine Energies were Bu Eunseol’s final bastion… so it was better, in most cases, not to employ the martial arts of the Wind God Palace.
“Thank you!”
“Palace Lord, we are deeply grateful for your kindness.”
Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun, too, had made tremendous progress in their martial arts thanks to Hae Yeon’s help.
Both men were born into prestigious families and had consumed countless elixirs since childhood. However, the human body cannot perfectly absorb the energy of every elixir; most of it lies dormant in hidden acupoints.
Using the secret arts of the Wind God Palace and the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy, she had helped distribute and store all the dormant energy within their acupoints into their eight extraordinary meridians.
As a result, the power and range of Hyeok Sojin’s Divine Flame Demonic Energy had tripled, and Zhuge Seoun had reached the level where he could freely unleash the supreme techniques of the Zhuge family.
“There is nothing to thank me for.”
Yet as Bu Eunseol prepared to leave, Hae Yeon stopped him and said something completely unexpected.
“Now it is your turn to grant this one’s request.”
“Request?”
“Become the Supreme Grand Duke of this palace.”
In that instant, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened as though he had seen a ghost.
“What does that—”
Hae Yeon spoke calmly, her expression unchanged.
“You have seen my entire naked body. And you even reached out and touched it.”
“Ahem.”
“Cough.”
Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun awkwardly turned their heads.
This was completely unforeseen.
The reason Bu Eunseol obtained the Wind and Cloud Divine Energy… was because he had shared a bed with Palace Lord Hae Yeon?
“That is absolutely not what you are thinking.”
Grabbing Hyeok Sojin by the shoulder, Bu Eunseol spoke with utmost seriousness.
“Do you understand?”
“Well… Brother Bu is already a grown man, so…”
The moment a murderous glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes that could melt steel, Hyeok Sojin hurriedly answered with wide, innocent eyes.
“I understand. I understand perfectly.”
Then Hae Yeon spoke in a slightly hurt whisper.
“Are you denying what happened?”
“That was solely to save the Palace Lord.”
Bu Eunseol declared firmly.
“It was never out of lust or ill intent.”
“I know. But even if the intention was pure, the truth does not change.”
“What do you mean?”
“Has the way of the world changed so much in a hundred years that it is now acceptable to freely look upon or touch a woman’s naked body?”
She now appeared to be not only beautiful but also an eloquent sophist and master of twisted logic.
“Palace Lord.”
“If you have an excuse, speak it. I will listen to everything.”
Bu Eunseol fell silent.
Hae Yeon had already clearly stated that good intentions did not turn truth into falsehood.
In other words—no matter what he said, the truth would remain unchanged…
As she said, anything he uttered now would merely be an excuse.
“Is it because I am an old woman of one hundred and twenty years that you dislike the idea?”
Watching Bu Eunseol’s troubled expression, Hae Yeon took one step closer.
“But I remained locked in the Crystal Coffin all that time. In my mind, I still only have the memories of a twenty-year-old.”
Back then she had been hailed as one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Now, thanks to the energy of the Crystal Coffin, her skin had become even fairer, and her hair had turned into mystical platinum.
Compared to the peerless beauties now called the Three Great Beauties of the era, she was in no way inferior, and in her dreamlike beauty and the noble air of hidden secrets, she actually surpassed them.
“It is not because of the Palace Lord’s age.”
Bu Eunseol explained calmly.
“I have things I must do—things that may cost me my life.”
“Whether a hundred years ago or now, men’s excuses are all the same.”
Hae Yeon smiled.
“Who said anything about spending a hundred years together with you?”
“What do you—”
“A Supreme Grand Duke is only a Grand Duke. The Palace Lords of this palace must take a Grand Duke and marry in order to formally ascend to the position.”
She covered her mouth and laughed.
“Surely you didn’t think this Palace Lord was asking you to become my husband and your heart started pounding?”
Her way with words was enough to steal a person’s soul.
Wiping the stiff expression from his face, Bu Eunseol spoke somewhat dazedly.
“I was merely worried all along that it might tarnish the Palace Lord’s reputation.”
“Reputation, you say.”
Hae Yeon smiled radiantly, clearly pleased with the answer.
“So at the very least, you do not see me as some old crone over a hundred years old.”
“What does old or young matter when it comes to reputation?”
“Then you acknowledge what you did?”
“Of course.”
Folding her eyes into crescents, she said, “While others go to such lengths to hide their mistakes, you at least do not speak with two mouths or evade responsibility.”
When Hae Yeon laughed openly without covering her mouth, it felt as though millions of roses had suddenly bloomed before his eyes.
Her beauty was so overwhelming that both Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun standing behind Bu Eunseol unconsciously opened their mouths and wore dazed expressions.
“I originally disliked conversing with others. But perhaps because I slept for so very long… having someone to talk to is enjoyable.”
Mid-sentence, she gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Because of the distinctive attire of the Wind God Palace, the pure white nape of her neck and her collarbone were faintly revealed.
In that moment Bu Eunseol’s face flushed and his heart inexplicably fluttered.
He had recalled her dazzling figure when her clothes had torn.
“Hmm.”
Seeing his reaction, Hae Yeon gave a playful smile.
“Handsome men usually live up to their looks. But you seem to be an exception.”
Only now did he realize she had deliberately shown him her slender neck and shoulders.
For a female hero of the martial world who supposedly cared little for trivial etiquette, the gesture was shockingly bold.
“How does it look? Surely I don’t resemble a grandmother, do I?”
Hae Yeon grew even more daring.
Lifting both hands, she twisted her hair upward, fully exposing her neck and shoulders.
—Ooooh!
Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun brightened and gaped..
But Bu Eunseol quickly turned his head and said in a low voice, “Palace Lord. Your jest goes too far.”
“Jest? I am asking in earnest.”
Hae Yeon looked at the flustered Bu Eunseol with great satisfaction.
‘This is troublesome.’
Bu Eunseol could not figure out how he should handle Hae Yeon.
Though she had been asleep in suspended animation inside the Crystal Coffin, in terms of seniority she was over one hundred and twenty years old—in other words, even higher in generation than the current heaven of the Demonic Martial World, the Demon Emperor.
“You say he doesn't live up to his looks? That is absolutely not true.”
Though they had not formally sworn brotherhood, Bu Eunseol and Hyeok Sojin were as close as blood brothers. Noticing Bu Eunseol’s troubled expression, Hyeok Sojin gathered his courage and stepped forward.
“Brother Bu is actually very famous in the martial world for living up to his appearance.”
…albeit in a somewhat eccentric way.
“Moreover, he has a playboy streak. While wandering the martial world, he has scattered romantic scandals all across the Central Plains.”
Hyeok Sojin spoke with utmost gravity.
“The number of women waiting for Brother Bu right now… is probably far greater than the number of female monks on Mount Emei.”
Though there was some exaggeration mixed in, looking back on Bu Eunseol’s past conduct, it wasn’t entirely absurd.
When Bu Eunseol glared at him wide-eyed, Hyeok Sojin shook his head.
—Please endure it. This is the only way.
Reading Hyeok Sojin’s look, Bu Eunseol reluctantly nodded.
“It may be a slight exaggeration to say more than the disciples of the Emei sect, but yes, there are indeed women to whom I have promised a future.”
Bu Eunseol deliberately emphasized the word “women.”
But Hae Yeon laughed brightly and shook her head.
“That doesn’t matter at all.”
Placing both hands on her slim waist, she declared confidently,
“Are any of them higher in seniority than this Palace Lord?”
“Of course not.”
When Hyeok Sojin shook his head, a triumphant gleam filled Hae Yeon’s sea-blue eyes.
“Then is there anyone whose martial prowess surpasses this Palace Lord?”
Hyeok Sojin pondered seriously for a moment before shaking his head.
No matter how he thought about it, no one in the current era could surpass her—the Wind God.
“It seems there is no one.”
“That is fortunate.”
“But… seniority and martial prowess alone… wouldn’t that make it rather difficult to compete with those women?”
Hyeok Sojin whispered to her with an expression of feigned pity.
“Moreover, once Brother Bu’s playboy nature flares up, he can spend three full days and nights tirelessly chasing after women without rest.”
That was a flaw even the boldest female heroes of the martial world would find intolerable.
But Hae Yeon was different.
“This Palace Lord is not so narrow-minded.”
Lifting her long lashes, she gazed at Bu Eunseol with overflowing confidence.
“I would merely prefer that no more rivals be added in the future. The scale of this palace is not so large, after all.”
It almost sounded as though she was ready right then and there to bring Bu Eunseol and all those women into the Wind God Palace.
—She’s… completely different.
At the completely unexpected response, not only Bu Eunseol but even the sly Hyeok Sojin froze.
Only now did they realize that—unlike any woman who had appeared before—she was a formidable opponent who could not be dealt with easily.
Comments