“Are you serious?”
At Hyeok Sojin’s question, Hae Yeon gave a faint smile.
“Who knows.”
“Palace Lord Hae Yeon… you really are bold.”
“Is that meant to say I’m strange?”
Hyeok Sojin awkwardly raised his thumb.
“Not strange so much as… in the Central Plains martial world, there is still no one as groundbreaking, daring, and unconventional as you, Palace Lord.”
“Yes, I suppose that could be true.”
Hae Yeon showed a somewhat lonely smile at those words.
“I thought I would die helplessly from poison, yet here I am, returning to the world after a hundred years… It seems my personality has changed somewhat.”
She then gazed up at the distant sky with a sorrowful look.
“Now, the only person in this world who knows me is Elder Hyang.”
Hearing those words, Bu Eunseol could faintly guess why she had not cut Elder Hyang’s throat.
Of course, part of it was Elder Hyang’s extremely advanced age.
But more than that, she must have feared killing the one person who still remembered her.
Especially after spending a hundred years trapped in suspended animation inside the Crystal Coffin, poisoned by an extreme toxin…
Her pain and loneliness were perhaps something no one else in this world could truly understand.
“From now on, you can simply come to know the present, can’t you?”
Bu Eunseol spoke as if consoling her.
“Rather than people who remember you from a hundred years ago, people who will remember the Palace Lord as she is now.”
“Thank you.”
Hae Yeon gave a dry smile.
And she could sense that, despite Bu Eunseol’s cold exterior, he possessed a warm nature.
“I’ve spoken too much unnecessary nonsense.”
Hae Yeon said, “In truth, there is only one thing this Palace Lord desires.”
“Please speak.”
“I only need you to acknowledge the fact that you are this palace’s Supreme Grand Duke. Can you do that much?”
Her words flowed so naturally and smoothly that Bu Eunseol almost nodded unconsciously.
‘Truly a tongue that can steal a person’s soul.’
Bu Eunseol shook his head as though it were impossible.
“How could I possibly do that?”
“It’s fine. As I said once more, I only need you to acknowledge the title of Supreme Grand Duke.”
Then Hae Yeon said something unexpected.
“I will absolutely never bind or restrict you. I swear it.”
Remarkably, she was saying she wanted only the name of Grand Duke—not Bu Eunseol himself.
If this had been back when Bu Eunseol had only recently stepped into the martial world, he might have eagerly accepted the proposal.
But having seen how women so often changed their words, he firmly shook his head.
“I’m sorry, but that will be difficult.”
“How cold-hearted.”
Hae Yeon pouted her lips slightly as though hurt.
“Surely you don’t think I would say such things and then harbor some ulterior motive?”
Bu Eunseol very much wanted to answer firmly ‘Yes, I do,’ but he held it back.
“It’s not that… As a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion—which is a Demonic sect—it would be troublesome to have my name listed under another sect.”
“Ah, the Demonic Path. I see.”
Hae Yeon bowed her head as though disappointed.
Then, as if something occurred to her, she looked at Hyeok Sojin and said, “Come to think of it, you are the Young Lord of the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, correct?”
“Yes, that is right.”
“Has your family head ever suffered from a serious illness?”
Hyeok Sojin was greatly surprised and nodded vigorously.
“Yes, exactly. My grandfather’s health was poor for a time. How did you know?”
Hae Yeon narrowed her eyes.
“A hundred years ago, the previous Palace Lord told me. The Hyeok family that leads the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect has suffered from heart ailments for generations.”
She spoke with a distant look, as though recalling that memory.
“And so they were always searching for elixirs capable of treating such illness.”
“I see.”
Hyeok Sojin nodded calmly.
“But now he is fine. Thanks to Brother Bu’s help, Grandfather has fully recovered.”
“Still, being so elderly must cause you worry, no?”
“Well…”
As Hyeok Sojin blinked, Hae Yeon nodded toward a disciple standing far off.
A disciple of the Wind God Palace, dressed in pure white, then entered the grand hall carrying a large wooden box.
Inside the opened box lay a snow-white, infant-shaped ginseng.
It was none other than the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
“Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
Hyeok Sojin’s eyes widened.
Wasn’t this a priceless treasure that money alone could not buy?
“Have this decocted and given to your family head.”
Hae Yeon showed a benevolent smile.
“Then he will live a long, disease-free life.”
“Is that true?”
Hyeok Sojin’s voice trembled with emotion.
“Thank you, Palace Lord.”
To offer such an unparalleled treasure without hesitation for the health of the grandfather he loved most in the world?
No gift could have made him happier.
“Brother Bu.”
Then Hyeok Sojin approached Bu Eunseol with the utmost serious expression and said, “It’s just putting your name down, isn’t it? For the sake of the Palace Lord’s dignity, why not simply accept the title of Grand Duke?”
His eyes were completely glazed over from the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
“In truth, Brother Bu’s personality is a bit cold on the surface, but you are actually warm. Thinking about it, only someone with the Palace Lord’s bold and spirited nature seems like the heavenly match destined to hold you. In my opinion, we should go straight to the Nangyang Pavilion Lord and—”
As he kept spouting nonsense from the side, Bu Eunseol stared straight at Zhuge Seoun.
—Don’t you owe me a debt?
Zhuge Seoun did indeed owe him.
Therefore, Bu Eunseol judged that he would not simply stand by and watch this crisis unfold.
“The Palace Lord seems rather impatient.”
Unable to withstand Bu Eunseol’s burning gaze, Zhuge Seoun stepped forward with a helpless expression.
“Isn’t there an old saying that good things should not be rushed, but taken slowly? Wouldn’t it be better to discuss this matter gradually?”
After all, this was the Wind God Palace, and at present, it was a fight Bu Eunseol could not win.
In that case, the wisest course was to quickly accept defeat and plan for a later time.
‘Indeed.’
Bu Eunseol looked at Zhuge Seoun with admiration.
Not only was his ability to analyze the situation swiftly outstanding, but his attempt to escape the difficult position without provoking Hae Yeon was exactly what one would expect from a strategist of the Zhuge family.
“You are the Young Master of the Zhuge family, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Wait a moment.”
Hae Yeon stepped out of the grand hall briefly to speak with a disciple.
Not long after, another disciple returned carrying an antique iron box.
When it was opened, a silver-glittering feather fan lay inside.
Engraved on the handle were the characters Small Heavenly Silver River.
“This is a treasured item that entered this palace long ago. I heard it has deep ties to the Zhuge family.”
In an instant, Zhuge Seoun’s pupils widened as though they would tear.
What lay inside the iron box was none other than the Crane Feather Fan—the divine relic that the Zhuge family had searched for over generations.
Trembling, Zhuge Seoun grasped the Crane Feather Fan with shaking hands.
If he returned with this divine relic that had been the Zhuge family’s lifelong wish?
Even the stubborn family head would surely forgive him generously, and there would be no more internal strife.
“Are you truly giving this to me?”
“Did you think I brought it just for you to look at?”
“Th-thank you!”
Zhuge Seoun prostrated himself deeply before Hae Yeon.
The Crane Feather Fan was the very symbol of the Zhuge family.
Because it had been lost for so long, the family heads had lived with a constant sense of guilt in their hearts.
Yet now she was resolving the Zhuge family’s long-standing grievance without asking for anything in return?
He felt like kneeling before Hae Yeon and kowtowing hundreds of times.
“Palace Lord!”
In the end, Zhuge Seoun spoke in a voice choked with emotion.
“From now on, the Zhuge family will be an excellent ally to the Wind God Palace!”
Then, pointing at Bu Eunseol, he shouted loudly, “Of course, the Palace Lord’s lifelong companion will naturally be the Command Lord!”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
In the end, even Zhuge Seoun had completely fallen for Hae Yeon.
“Well said.”
Hyeok Sojin nodded with the utmost solemnity.
“In all the world, the only one truly suited to be Brother Bu’s match is Palace Lord Hae Yeon—only her.”
Zhuge Seoun picked up the thread.
“The Command Lord is destined to unify the Demonic Path as its supreme master, is he not? For the great tasks ahead, he needs a partner like Palace Lord Hae Yeon—one whose martial prowess is unmatched and whose magnanimity and character are equally vast.”
As the two of them chattered on like old friends, Hae Yeon smiled shyly yet happily.
In contrast, a chill ran down Bu Eunseol’s spine.
They say old ginger is the spiciest.
Hae Yeon was not clinging to Bu Eunseol or trying to win his favor directly.
Instead, she had instantly won over the hearts of his close acquaintances and was urging them to bring the two of them together.
“Since both of you speak this way, I suppose I have no choice.”
Everything was falling perfectly into place.
Hae Yeon spoke with a slightly bashful expression.
“But this is a lifelong matter, so for now let us simply register the name, and settle the rest slowly.”
Then she turned to Bu Eunseol.
“You seem to have your own status and reputation, so I will not demand a blood oath or any vow.”
Bu Eunseol made no reply.
Even if she unilaterally declared him Supreme Grand Duke, no one else would acknowledge it.
But Hae Yeon had not become the Wind God Palace Lord by playing games.
“Still, witnesses will be necessary.”
“Witnesses?”
Instead of answering, she nodded toward a corner of the grand hall.
One of the Wind God Palace disciples hurried over and handed a sheet of paper each to Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun.
Written there was the statement that Martial Soul Command Lord Bu Eunseol had become the Supreme Grand Duke of Palace Lord Hae Yeon of the Wind God Palace, along with a space for the witnesses to confirm they had observed it and affix their seals.
“Of course.”
Before Bu Eunseol could say anything,
Hyeok Sojin and Zhuge Seoun were already lightning-fast in writing their names and stamping their seals.
If they had only had tails, they would have looked exactly like puppies rushing to their master.
“Good.”
After receiving the seals, Hae Yeon smiled brightly and patted both their heads.
“Now you may return.”
Then she looked at Bu Eunseol.
“I’ll be in your care.”
Bu Eunseol could only open and close his mouth speechlessly.
With the witnesses’ seals now in place, his position as Supreme Grand Duke of the Wind God Palace had become an accomplished fact.
“I will visit Majeon soon. Let us meet again then.”
“That will not do.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head firmly.
He absolutely had to prevent her from coming to Majeon.
“Don’t worry. Do you think I’m going there just to boast that you’ve become my Grand Duke?”
Hae Yeon’s large eyes sparkled as she spoke.
“As I said earlier, I am only going to visit the Majeon Lord and inquire about the truth behind the previous Palace Lord’s death.”
That could not possibly be the case.
It was obvious she was using the Demon Emperor as an excuse to once again stamp her mark at Majeon.
But outwardly, she was only going to investigate the cause of the previous Palace Lord’s death… so he had no legitimate grounds to stop her.
‘Her way with words is simply unbeatable.’
Bu Eunseol had no choice but to admit defeat.
Hae Yeon’s personality was not only extremely meticulous, but she also possessed the tenacity to push through anything she set her mind to, and on top of that, a mesmerizing eloquence capable of enchanting people.
“I understand.”
Bu Eunseol had no choice but to concede.
This was enemy territory, and the situation was already overwhelmingly against him.
The more he resisted here, the deeper he would sink into the quagmire.
“Then.”
Bu Eunseol bowed politely and left the grand hall.
“Brother Bu, let’s go together.”
“Yes, it’s a shame to part like this. Perhaps a drink or two…”
Hearing the two of them chattering away,
Flash!
Bu Eunseol shot them an ice-cold glare, then-
Boom!
Without so much as a glance back, he immediately unleashed his movement technique and departed from the Wind God Palace.
***
“What a fine mess you’ve made.”
A cold voice echoed through the dark secret chamber.
“You said to trust the Infinite Realm to the end, yet in the end it vanished without a trace.”
The voice rang out again, filling the chamber.
“Because of this, even Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is greatly enraged. She said we entrusted the matter to worthless fools.” The owner of the voice emanating from the secret chamber was none other than Chief Eunuch Wang Liang.
The Eastern Division had deep ties with the Infinite Realm and, together with the Empress Dowager, manipulated the Emperor.
But the Infinite Realm, which had provided them with immense funds and manpower, gradually lost power until it completely disappeared. In the end, the Eastern Division had become like a dog that chased chickens only to end up empty-handed.
“There is no need to worry, Eunuch.”
Then the prostrated eunuch spoke cautiously.
“Have not even more powerful figures reached out?”
“The Eight Human Heavens… was it?”
“Yes.” The eunuch spoke in a low voice. “They are said to be a force that has long dominated the martial world. Moreover, they possess terrifying power—enough to stand hostile against the entire Three Realms, including the Infinite Realm.”
“What do they want?”
“Nothing.”
The eunuch bowed his head.
“They say they desire nothing at all.”
“Hmph. Those who claim to want nothing usually want the most.”
When dissatisfaction filled the eunuch’s voice, the prostrated one hurriedly continued.
“They are people whom even the martial world’s factions fear. However, due to various circumstances, they have not yet revealed themselves.”
“I’ve heard that nonsense already.”
As the Chief Eunuch who controlled information across the realm, he had of course heard the tales of the Baekri Family, the True Demon, and the Eight Human Heavens.
But they were so outrageously grandiose that they amounted to nothing more nor less than the absurd rumors that circulated in the martial world.
“Martial artists always dress up empty tales as ‘legends.’”
“If they are braggarts, isn’t that all the better? They have promised unconditional cooperation with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
The eunuch spoke coldly. “And?”
“For now, we will proceed with handling the Grand Secretary.”
“Yoo Jeongpung, you mean?”
“Yes.”
Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, Yoo Jeongpung.
He was the Emperor’s most trusted loyal subject and the one who constantly checked both the Empress Dowager and the Eastern Division. In particular, because he criticized the Empress Dowager’s interference and stepped forward at every turn to purge corrupt officials, he was like a thorn in the side of the Eastern Division.
“You say you can handle him? How?”
“Has His Highness the Crown Prince not recently gone into seclusion to avoid audiences?”
“Hmm.”
Having grasped the eunuch’s plan, the Chief Eunuch’s eyes gleamed in the darkness.
“Is that possible?”
“Of course.” The prostrated eunuch spoke quickly. “Their power is truly tremendous. Even if the Imperial Guard protected him entirely, they would handle it without difficulty.”
“Hm.”
“Even if they fail, there is no loss—only gain.” The eunuch bowed his head. “If they succeed in this matter, it will prove that they possess incredible masters capable of defeating even the greatest grandmasters of our era.”
The Chief Eunuch gazed out the window in deep thought for a moment.
“Very well.” Turning back, he spoke solemnly. “If they can kill Yoo Jeongpung without a mouse or bird knowing, then I will personally plead with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
“Understood.”
When the bowing eunuch raised his head again, the Chief Eunuch had already vanished like mist.
“It is done.”
The eunuch smiled, showing white teeth.
“If the Empress Dowager makes contact with them… the plan will proceed even more smoothly.”
This matter was as good as success.
One of the terrifying masters of the Eight the Eight Human Heavens had agreed to act.
Yoo Jeongpung was already as good as dead.
***
Yoo Unryong was the busiest person in the Death Shadow Corps.
If one were to list everything he handled, even an entire book would not be enough to contain it all.
Lately he had become even busier, for two main reasons.
The first was Bu Eunseol’s movements.
Recently, Bu Eunseol had been acting so independently and secretly that even the Death Spirit Corps could not track him.
And Yoo Unryong instinctively understood why Bu Eunseol was conducting himself in such a way and constantly maintained preparations to support him.
“What in the world is happening again?”
Having received a report from the Death Spirit Corps that they could find no trace of Bu Eunseol’s recent activities, he shook his head and let out a deep sigh.
“He must be handling some dangerous matter alone again.”
Yoo Unryong wore a pained expression.
Whenever a situation arose where his subordinates would have to risk their lives, or when a terrifying supreme expert appeared as an enemy, Bu Eunseol would invariably conceal his whereabouts and resolve everything on his own.
Moreover, judging from his repeated visits to Nangyang Pavilion, it was clear that a major upheaval had befallen him personally as well.
“In that case, I need to finish this quickly.”
The second reason was to complete the Heart Mirror Technique from the Record of Inherited Essentials—a secret art that would allow one to confront masters of unimaginable martial prowess through the Mind World.
“This was truly fortunate.”
In fact, a year earlier, Yoo Unryong had obtained an enormous stroke of luck.
He had acquired an ancient mysterious relic and secret text that shattered the boundaries of reality and could plunge enemies into the Mind World—the Record of Inherited Essentials.
This had come about because of his efforts to help Bu Eunseol.
He had reasoned that if mysterious forces had been passed down through the martial world for generations, then surely ancient sages and wise men must have written about them.
—Bring every ancient book from the old bookstores in the Central Plains. Even miscellaneous books are fine.
Through the Death Spirit Corps, Yoo Unryong acquired ancient texts, and whenever he had time he visited old bookstores in Seongdo to leaf through tens of thousands of volumes.
And by sheer coincidence, he obtained the bizarre ancient book called the Record of Inherited Essentials from one such store.
It was written in oracle bone script and contained seemingly ordinary, tedious diary-like entries.
But Yoo Unryong discovered that a specific cipher system had been applied among the mundane sentences, and when certain illustrations scattered throughout were reflected in a mirror, mysterious techniques appeared.
—There is more to it.
After repeated examinations, he found passages that could be revealed by tilting certain characters or subtly altering their shading.
The Heart Mirror Technique.
The method recorded in the Record of Inherited Essentials was created by ancient sages who combined true learning, mystical arts, and the subtleties of martial arts to produce a wondrous true learning that allowed one to confront enemies through the Mind World—the Heart Mirror Technique.
—I must complete this myself.
If he gave it to Bu Eunseol?
Bu Eunseol would become so absorbed in deciphering it that he would be unable to do anything else.
If he shared it with the other captains? The mysterious techniques of the Record of Inherited Essentials might leak outside.
—The text is incomplete, and there are far too many places that need correction.
Moreover, because the book itself was damaged, parts of the techniques were missing.
In the end, Yoo Unryong combined the various martial secret texts and formation arts that Bu Eunseol had passed on to him with the principles of martial arts and true learning he had studied over the years, continuously refining and improving the Heart Mirror Technique.
—I must complete it no matter what.
Lately, unknown supreme experts had been appearing one after another in the martial world.
If all of them wielded Limitless Power or had reached the Transcendent Origin Realm?
Then numerical superiority of forces would mean nothing.
Only by perfecting this technique could they possibly stand against them.
Knock knock.
At that moment, there came a knock at the door, followed by a low voice.
“Captain, it is Mu Gwang.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, and his adjutant Mu Gwang approached with a cautious expression and spoke.
“Someone has requested to see the Captain.”
“Requested?”
The phrasing was somewhat odd.
Tilting his head, Yoo Unryong answered briefly.
“Let them in.”
“Well… they requested it privately.”
Mu Gwang scratched his head and said,
“They claim to be a martial artist from the Captain’s household.”
“What?”
“They said it was difficult to deliver a letter to the Captain, so they came directly to this hall.”
In an instant, Yoo Unryong’s eyebrows shot up.
He had long since cut ties with his family and refused to involve himself in household affairs.
The only exception had been when he sought out his father, Yoo Jeongpung, to resolve the Heaven-Human Cult incident, after which they had opened a small path toward reconciliation.
But for a martial artist from the main family to suddenly come looking for him?
‘There must be trouble.’
Taking a deep breath, Yoo Unryong nodded.
“Where is he?”
After receiving the location from Mu Gwang, Yoo Unryong went up to a private room in a quiet tavern a short distance from Seongdo.
The place had a separate partitioned space, allowing conversation without concern for others’ attention.
“Uncle Jang.”
Yoo Unryong’s eyes widened at the unexpected sight.
Sitting in the private room was a middle-aged martial artist.
It was none other than Jang Kang—the martial artist from the Imperial Guard who, during his miserable childhood, had quietly looked after him without being swept up in the family’s toxic atmosphere.
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