The Executioner appeared to be only about thirteen or fourteen years old at most, yet he referred to himself as ‘this old man.’
“What exactly is the Sacred Domain?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, the Executioner’s expression grew utterly solemn.
“It can be described as the place that protects the world and maintains balance from the battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon.”
“From the battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon....”
In that instant, countless questions cascaded through his mind like a waterfall. He couldn’t even grasp where to begin or what to ask first.
“If the place called the Sacred Domain protects the world from the conflict between those two forces....”
Having barely organized his thoughts, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Shouldn’t it be those forces themselves that need to be dealt with, rather than martial artists?”
“Absolutely not. Their battle has continued without end since the beginning. There was never any need to interfere in the first place.”
The Executioner continued.
“However, as time passed, martial arts in the martial world developed uncontrollably... and eventually, transcendent powerhouses emerged who could influence the battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed as he grasped the implication.
“They pose a danger, you mean.”
“Indeed. Such powerhouses can intervene in the battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon, or pretend to side with one camp while seizing control of the world for themselves.”
The Executioner extended both hands.
“Imagine it. If a transcendent powerhouse capable of affecting the battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon were to rampage between the two forces... just how terrifying the consequences would be.”
Then he uttered something utterly shocking.
“The battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon has continued from the beginning of time until now... maintaining perfect ‘balance.’ If that precarious balance were to break?”
The Executioner’s face became reverent yet profoundly dark.
“The world would cease to exist.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed, trembling faintly.
In the end, what the Executioner meant was this:
The battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon, which began at the dawn of time, had maintained flawless balance without the slightest deviation.
And because of that, the world has been able to preserve its complete form.
“Then the Covenant....”
“Correct.”
The Executioner nodded.
“It is a vow to become a dependent of either the Baekri Family or the True Demon.”
The revelation was so shocking that Bu Eunseol’s vision darkened.
The Covenant.
It was not merely a non-aggression pact among transcendent powerhouses.
It was a vow to refrain from intervening in the battle between the Baekri Family and the True Demon—or to perfectly maintain that balance—by becoming the dependent of one of them.
‘So that’s why he called it a matter of choice.’
In the past, the old man in blue who had pressured him to accept the Covenant ultimately said it was a matter of ‘choice.’
He never imagined it carried the literal meaning.
‘Then was Gwijin-ja wrong?’
Gwijin-ja had claimed that if one created a completely new martial art or power that had never existed in the martial world before, one could escape the Covenant. But according to the Executioner’s words, that would be impossible.
“People say that creating a new power allows one to escape the Covenant. Is that true?”
When Bu Eunseol asked pointedly, the Executioner snorted.
“Even then, it would simply become a new Covenant.”
The expected answer came.
In other words, no matter how new a power one creates, it cannot escape the category of power originally devised by the Baekri Family and the True Demon.
“Then does that mean all the transcendent powerhouses of the current era belong to either the Baekri Family or the True Demon?”
“That is none of your concern.”
“It sounds like a ‘no.’”
“It’s not particularly important in the current situation.” The Executioner said. “Now that you know the truth, I will ask once more.”
He spoke in a grave voice.
“Will you accept the Covenant?”
The old Bu Eunseol would have refused without a second thought.
But judging from the Executioner’s attitude, if he did not join the Covenant, the Executioners would surely keep coming until the end.
“If I choose the Baekri Family, will I have to obey the Baekri Family’s commands?”
“Generally yes, but it is not unconditional. The most important part is following the Law.”
“What is the Law?”
“Surely you have heard it mentioned repeatedly? It is what you people call the absolute truth.”
“Then the Baekri Family and the True Demon themselves do not escape the Law?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, the Executioner’s eyebrow twitched.
The expression suggested he had struck the core.
“Let us say... they do not.”
The Executioner waved his hand.
“I believe I have said all there is to say. Make your decision.”
“And if I refuse?”
“It is your choice. I will never force you.”
Bu Eunseol showed an ice-cold smile.
“How amusing. You threaten me by holding the lives of those around me hostage, yet claim you are not forcing me.”
“There are no personal feelings involved. It is merely the Law.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
Originally, he had intended to fight the Executioners to the death and make his resolve.
But from the Executioner’s demeanor and tone, the Executioners seemed to be a kind of organization. If he did not uproot them completely—eradicate them at the root—those around him would be endangered again.
‘Fine. I will definitely uproot them.’
Because of the Executioners, he had ruined Bu Bok-un’s wedding and nearly killed Seong Suryeo.
Such things must never happen again.
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“I will accept the Covenant.”
Utterly unaware of Bu Eunseol’s true intentions, the Executioner smiled.
“A wise decision.”
He nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Then I shall extend a small courtesy in return. After all, this sort of incident must never happen again.”
“What do you mean?”
“You will find out soon enough.”
The Executioner approached slowly and spoke.
“Shall we begin?”
“Whether I choose the Baekri Family or the True Demon is up to me, correct?”
“Not quite.”
The Executioner took out a piece of parchment from his robes that emitted a mystical light.
Rather than ordinary writing, bizarre geometric shapes and patterns were chaotically inscribed across it.
“Then what do I do? Just press my fingerprint on it or something?”
He said it half in jest, but the Executioner unexpectedly nodded.
“Exactly. Draw blood and press your thumb seal.”
“Blood? That’s all?”
“You martial world people always treat blood so lightly.”
The Executioner spoke with a reverent expression.
“Blood is the source of life, the medium that connects soul and body. It also contains the legacy of bloodline.”
It was a rather superstitious and shamanistic interpretation but Bu Eunseol nodded without arguing.
“Understood. I will draw blood and press the seal.”
“Then draw blood here and press your thumb seal.”
“You won’t even explain what it says?”
“This is the Covenant to become a dependent of the Baekri Family.”
The Executioner calmly explained.
“And it contains the absolute vow to obey the Law.”
Bu Eunseol did not believe that was the entirety of it but having made up his mind, he did not press the issue. Instead, he asked about the Covenant’s actual effect, the more important matter.
“Is merely drawing blood enough to bind me to this Covenant?”
“Hahaha... explaining that is rather difficult....”
The Executioner shook his head and spoke plainly.
“Simply think of it as this parchment containing the Baekri Family’s power.”
“Something like a spell or sorcery, then.”
“Precisely.”
After all, terms like Manifestation Technique and the True Demon’s Soul Qi already carried a profoundly mystical, almost religious flavor. Even if one could fly through the sky riding this parchment, it would not be particularly surprising.
“I understand.”
Bu Eunseol immediately tore his thumb, drew blood, and moved to press the seal.
Ssssss.
But something unexpected happened.
Before the blood could even touch the parchment, smoke rose, and in an instant the parchment burst into flames.
“Hoo.”
The Executioner let out a gasp and shook his head.
“Unexpected. To think you are close to pure evil.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means you cannot become a dependent of the Baekri Family.”
Despite the unforeseen development, the Executioner remained calm.
“You must become a dependent of the True Demon.”
Bu Eunseol wore a slightly dazed expression.
“I am evil?”
“Evil is relative. From the True Demon’s perspective, the Baekri Family would be evil.”
The Executioner spoke calmly.
“There is no choice in this matter. Showing such a reaction to the Baekri Family’s Covenant is the same as proving you are the True Demon’s dependent.”
He took out another parchment.
This one was dyed pitch black, with red geometric patterns engraved chaotically across it.
Even at a glance, it was clearly the Covenant to become the True Demon’s dependent.
“Press your thumb seal. Then you will become the True Demon’s dependent.”
“I have no desire to become the True Demon’s dependent.”
“Even if you become the True Demon’s dependent, that does not mean you will become one of the Three Attendants, Four Divine Heavens, or Eight Human Heavens. They are special existences who act as the True Demon’s will in preparation for his resurrection.”
“If I become the True Demon’s dependent, wouldn’t that prevent me from killing the True Demon’s dependents?”
“Hahaha, even if you kill them, it would be fine.”
The old man said something unexpected.
“If you are capable of it, the True Demon himself would be delighted. No—by all means, kill the dependents. They are nothing but evil that brings chaos to the martial world.”
“Would he really welcome the killing of subordinates who are working for his resurrection?”
“If you become the True Demon’s dependent, you will understand why.”
“In any case, I refuse.”
When Bu Eunseol rejected it, the Executioner shook his head.
“There is no choice. You have already shed blood toward the Baekri Family’s Covenant.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means everything has already been decided.”
As the Executioner extended the parchment,
Ssssss.
A single drop of blood flowing from Bu Eunseol’s finger was instantly drawn toward the bottom of the parchment.
But then something completely unforeseen occurred.
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, from the pitch-black parchment as well, flames roared up fiercely, turning into thick black smoke and vanishing in an instant.
“You....”
Until now, the Executioner had worn an august expression, as though he presided over the laws of the world, with a faint air of looking down on Bu Eunseol.
But faced with this situation, he instantly reverted to the face of an utterly ordinary human.
Trembling.
His eyes widened in utter disbelief.
“You... are his child!”
“What are you saying?”
Bam!
At that moment, the Executioner suddenly unleashed a powerful strike.
At the same time, a round protective qi barrier formed around Bu Eunseol’s body.
But what the Executioner unleashed was a mystical power that ordinary embodied protective qi could never block.
Kwaaaa.
When it pierced straight through the protective qi, a multicolored radiance began to flow from Bu Eunseol’s body.
What the Executioner had unleashed possessed the same attribute as the Infinite Reversal Power—something no human body could possibly withstand.
Thus, Harmony manifested to protect his body.
“You....” The Executioner stammered upon seeing the Harmony.
Krrrrrr!
With the sound of thunder, hundreds of fist shadows were unleashed toward the Executioner’s face in an instant.
Seven Fist Demon Forms, Fifth Technique, Infinite Beginning, Infinite End was unleashed.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-bang!
The ferocious dragon-like fist power that shattered the earth swallowed the Executioner in an instant.
“Haaap!”
With a shout, the Executioner began unleashing another mystical power to dissipate the fist force.
But Bu Eunseol had already moved at extreme speed and was standing behind him.
Flash!
At the same time, a brilliant light that devoured everything poured forth.
The greatest power Bu Eunseol could unleash—Harmony—manifested.
Ssssss.
Astonishingly, the Executioner withstood the Harmony and remained standing unharmed.
But he was no longer in the form that could be called the Executioner. Exposed to Harmony, the Executioner had transformed into the figure of a mysterious old man wearing a dragon-embroidered robe.
“Huhuhuhu.”
The Executioner—no, the old man—suddenly pointed at Bu Eunseol’s face.
“Hahahaha!”
Bursting into mad laughter, the old man bared white teeth and clutched his forehead.
“So that’s how it was.”
“....”
“Kahahahaha!”
After laughing wildly for a long while, the old man nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Fine. Let the Covenant be forgotten.”
He declared refreshingly.
“From now on, no more Executioners will be sent.”
The old man was genuinely delighted.
It was not feigned—true, heartfelt joy filled his voice.
“Why will you no longer send Executioners?”
“Are you not her child?”
“Her?”
The old man began laughing heartily once more.
Frustrated and angry, Bu Eunseol shouted loudly.
“Answer me. Who is ‘her’?”
“Isn’t it the bloodline of Saya, the Holy Maiden of the True Demon?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Saya.
Was that his mother’s name?
“Saya....”
In that moment, a single word flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind.
‘Saha Manor!’
His head spun, and hot blood seemed to surge in his chest.
Saha Manor.
At the end of a long journey, he had finally learned the meaning of that name.
Baekri Muha, descendant of the Baekri Family.
His wife, the Holy Maiden of the True Demon, Saya.
Taking one character from each of their names—Sa and Ha—thus Saha Manor was born.
‘To think I was a half-blood of the Baekri Family and the True Demon.’
Thud.
Bu Eunseol dropped to one knee.
‘I must pull myself together.’
He could not afford to fall into confusion now.
Clenching his fist tightly, he rose again and spoke.
“The man once called the greatest martial artist, Baekri Muha—his wife was the Holy Maiden of the True Demon?”
The old man looked at him strangely.
“Why ask this old man such a thing?”
“I have no memories. I know nothing even of Saha Manor’s bloodbath.”
“bloodbath?”
The old man tilted his head, then frowned as he noticed the Silent Tiger Soul Sword hanging at Bu Eunseol’s waist.
“What are you saying? You carry the sword the Holy Maiden Saya crafted for Baekri Muha, yet how....”
After muttering for a long while, the old man finally realized that no energy flowed within Bu Eunseol’s body and let out a choked sound.
“So that’s it. That’s why Bu Zhanyang died.”
“What do you mean by that!”
Bu Eunseol said in a trembling voice.
“Explain so I can understand!”
“Your bloodline is closer to a curse. Neither the Baekri Family’s side nor the True Demon’s side could ever accept it.”
“Curse....”
“But right now your body is more ordinary than that of a woodcutter in the mountains.”
The old man gazed at the distant sky.
“In all of history, East and West, ancient and modern, there has been only one person who possessed such a body—and who could perfect such a body.”
Looking down at Bu Eunseol, he spoke firmly.
“Seven-Finger Demon Blade, Bu Zhanyang.”
Thud.
With a tearing shock in his head, Bu Eunseol finally collapsed, both knees hitting the ground.
“Huhuhuhu.”
Covering his forehead with one hand, he began to laugh madly.
“Hahahahaha-!”
His wild laughter echoed desolately in all directions.
So that was it.
He was never meant to learn of his own bloodline.
―And such a body could never be created in a short period of time.
Suddenly, the words Gwijin-ja spoke in the Sage Forest came to mind.
―Unless one had been trained from childhood in mixing orthodox and unorthodox martial secrets and mental methods...
Back then he had been confused, but now he understood the reason.
His grandfather had learned everything too late.
Knowing the shackles upon him… he infused various powers, erasing every trace of his blood heritage.
So that he could live an utterly ordinary life.
But because of that...
Because he had passed all his power to him...
He was killed by an unknown murderer.
“Kahahahahaha-!”
As Bu Eunseol laughed madly, clear tears streamed from his eyes.
Perhaps his parents had done the same.
To keep him alive, they had arranged everything and sacrificed themselves.
In exchange, both of them had met their end.
“Huhuhuhu... hahahahaha-!”
All of this was fate’s cruel jest.
He should never have been born.
His very existence was a calamity.
In the end, he was a being destined to drag everyone around him into a swamp of misfortune and ruin.
“Tsk.”
Watching Bu Eunseol laugh madly, the old man let out an exclamation.
Crack-crack-crack.
Before long, his entire skin split like a spiderweb, blood seeping out.
The ground could no longer withstand the shockwave spreading from his body and cracked apart.
Heart Demon.
In the end, Bu Eunseol had fallen into a heart demon.
‘If I leave him like this, he will die.’
The old man quickly moved behind Bu Eunseol and poured true energy into his Life Gate acupoint.
“Snap out of it!”
But Bu Eunseol’s body seemed to expand and contract repeatedly as light and darkness devoured each other.
‘The energy is too strong.’
The old man had reached a martial realm far beyond the current transcendent powerhouses of the martial world, and had mastered even more powerful sorcery.
Yet he could not control at all the energy emanating from Bu Eunseol’s body.
‘At this rate, this place will evaporate.’
If Bu Eunseol’s energy exploded like this, the place would likely disappear entirely from the map of the Central Plains.
“Krrrr.”
The old man poured all his strength into suppressing Bu Eunseol’s energy.
The shockwaves radiating from their two bodies caused even the air to evaporate.
The surrounding mountain ranges shook violently, and the earth crumpled like paper.
Drip.
Eventually, black blood began to flow from the old man’s mouth.
‘This won’t do.’
“Haaaap!”
With a shout, the old man poured out the life-force-based law energy and sorcery within his body.
Flash!
A light that seemed to burn everything erupted, and soon the entire world turned into a realm of pure white.
Rumble.
Finally, when the trembling earth ceased its convulsions, the energies pouring from Bu Eunseol’s body vanished in an instant,
Thud.
He collapsed, unconscious.
“Keuk.”
The old man vomited blood and dropped to one knee.
The power within Bu Eunseol was a void that devoured everything, yet also a sun that endlessly emitted power.
“This power is real. Then....”
Looking at the unconscious Bu Eunseol, the old man let out a heavy sigh.
“The fake has become real.”
Gazing up into empty air, he covered one side of his forehead.
To think such an absurd thing could happen in this world?
“Saya, Saya... Did you truly foresee all of this?”
Looking at the distant sky, the old man let out a deep lament.
“This is beyond what this old man can handle.”
Then he looked at Bu Eunseol and shook his head.
“Bu Zhanyang. Even a divine being like you... only realized far too late that this child carried their bloodline.”
He must have raised him thinking he was an ordinary child, only to discover the power manifesting much later.
If he had known everything in advance, he would have transformed him into a perfect body capable of wielding full power.
Because he realized too late, he used the method of mixing energies to change his body into an utterly ordinary constitution.
So that this child could live.
“To reach such a high realm even with this ordinary body....”
The old man sighed deeply.
Bu Zhanyang—what exactly had he done to raise this child?
What teachings had he given to produce such extraordinary ability?
“If he becomes consumed by the meaning of his bloodline at this time, everything will come to naught.”
The old man muttered lowly.
“It may be better to let him remain involved in the affairs of the strongholds for now... and hope things resolve naturally.”
Wooong.
He extended his hand, and a mystical light spread, once again organizing the mixed energies within Bu Eunseol’s body.
[I examined the energies inside your body. Various things are mixed together. It may not be solely because of the Holy Maiden’s bloodline; the mixed powers themselves could be causing this phenomenon.]
The old man began leaving words in Bu Eunseol’s mind through Wisdom Light Implantation.
[Even if you are their half-blood, you are fated to belong nowhere. You must never let this story leak outside.]
Wooong.
Finally, he left one last short message in Bu Eunseol’s mind.
[I will seek you out again before long. Until then, you must survive.]
Leaving those brief words in his mind, he vanished into the distant sky in one breath.
At the same time, faint mist spread in all directions, and the Absolute Boundary began to shatter.
Crackle.
With the sensation of glass breaking, the original scenery returned, and the old man was gone without a trace.
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