“But whether they are all pawns of the abyss forces or not remains unknown.”
Yoo Unryong wore a grave expression.
“Moreover, when someone lures you to a specific location like this, it usually means the place itself is a trap—or they have prepared an inescapable snare.”
A force capable of orchestrating something of this scale would almost certainly have mixed in genuine victims who truly lost loved ones to the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.
In that case, he could not fight indiscriminately, and he might find himself caught in an impossible dilemma with no way forward or back.
Yoo Unryong spoke firmly.
“Leave this matter to me.”
“No. This is not something that can be negotiated.”
Bu Eunseol replied calmly.
“I will go alone.”
“Whether they harbor real grudges or are all fakes… sooner or later the entire martial world will learn that you are the grandson of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.”
If he continued relentlessly tracking Bu Zhanyang’s past movements like this, every information network would eventually detect it.
That Bu Eunseol and Bu Zhanyang were connected would become an undeniable fact.
“You are the successor of our sect. Even if the Seven-Finger Demon Blade committed evil deeds… there is no one in the martial world qualified to take that festering revenge upon the next Lord of Majeon and the heir of Nangyang Pavilion.”
“You are right.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“That is exactly why I must go.”
“Then let me accompany you.”
Yoo Unryong pleaded with earnest eyes.
“Not because I fear you will be hurt. I am worried you will not be able to judge coldly when the moment comes.”
Bu Eunseol was utterly cold and composed in all matters, yet when it came to anything concerning Bu Zhanyang, he reacted with fierce passion and raw emotion.
Knowing this well, Yoo Unryong had requested to go along.
“It is fine now.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“Such a thing will not happen again.”
“You say that, but the moment such a situation arises…”
“The Holy Maiden of the True Demon Clan, Saya, was my mother.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with absolute calm.
“The foremost warrior of the martial world, Baekri Muha of the Baekri Family bloodline, was my father.”
“W-what?”
“My grandfather was the supreme master capable of crushing any of the Three Realms’ Lords in three moves…”
After gazing into empty air for a moment, he continued in an extremely grave tone.
“Only after belatedly grasping the nature of my bloodline and foundation did he mix orthodox and demonic martial powers to grant me an ordinary body—so that I could live an ordinary life. He was an orthodox master born from the Absolute Demonic Blade Project.”
Thud.
One shocking revelation after another struck Yoo Unryong like a blow to the back of the head; his eyes widened in disbelief.
“What… what are you saying?”
“For now, keep this to yourself alone.”
Staring into the void, Bu Eunseol said, “If Myo Cheonwoo, Seo Jinha, the captains, or the warriors learn of this… they would be utterly unable to bear it.”
Yoo Unryong blinked repeatedly for a long while.
“Even I can barely bear it.”
After learning the truth about the Baekri Family and the True Demon, he had thought that no matter how many people vanished or how completely the martial world was annihilated, nothing would surprise him anymore.
Yet this revelation was something he could never have imagined even in his wildest dreams.
“And I learned this through the matter of the Heavenly Mechanism Star…”
Taking the opportunity, Bu Eunseol recounted everything—from his conversation with the old man of the Sacred Domain, to the secret of the Heavenly Mechanism Star Chu So, the Sealed Demon Fragments, and the United Heart Society.
Yoo Unryong sat in stunned silence for a long time, lost in deep thought, before finally speaking in a hollow voice after the prolonged quiet.
“So that’s why such vicious trials and bizarre powerhouses keep coming after you alone…”
Withdrawing his gaze from the empty air, Yoo Unryong gave a wry, bitter smile.
“It could not have been any other way from the beginning.”
Born between the bloodline of the Baekri Family and the lineage of the True Demon, raised by the hands of the foremost master known as the great butcher, and inheriting the blood and purified insights of absolute transcendents—how could he possibly avoid absurd storms and trials?
“People with a background like yours are usually treated as noble bloodlines and end up commanding both major factions…”
Yoo Unryong shook his head and sighed.
“Instead, the moment it becomes known, both sides will try to kill you? Isn’t that just too cruel?”
“It is actually fortunate.”
Bu Eunseol shrugged.
“Because of it, I remained free from their influence.”
The old man of the Sacred Domain had called it a curse, but Bu Eunseol saw it differently.
He was the only one who could live freely, untouched by the laws and influence imposed by the Baekri Family and the True Demon.
“You are remarkably optimistic.”
Yoo Unryong let out a long sigh.
“If I were in your position, I would not be able to sleep. The moment the truth comes out, the bloodlines of the Baekri Family and the True Demon will hunt you down.”
“Well, are they three-headed, six-armed monsters? As I gradually grow stronger, eventually I will be able to face even them.”
Had anyone else said it, Yoo Unryong would have scoffed but Bu Eunseol was more than capable—and more than qualified.
Not because of his extraordinary bloodline, but because he possessed the martial spirit and broad-mindedness to turn even a cursed lineage and its trials into opportunities for strength.
“Then the ones approaching you this time are most likely from the United Heart Society. Wouldn’t it be better to simply ignore them?”
Yoo Unryong said.
“The matter of the Vice Lord will eventually be unraveled someday. There is no need to hastily respond to an invitation from such people just to force answers.”
“No. There is no time. My grandfather’s matter has no leads, so if there is even the slightest connection, I must go.”
“But those people… they will surely have mixed genuine victims among them. Or perhaps they really are victims themselves.”
“It does not matter.”
Bu Eunseol showed a calm smile.
“From the moment I learned that my grandfather was the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, I had already resolved this. If his crimes are clear and undeniable, then I will bear them.”
Then he declared firmly, “That does not mean I will throw away my life. It simply means that, within the limits of what I can do, I will make compensation however I can.”
Nothing can compensate for a human life.
Yet when Yoo Unryong heard him use the word “compensation,” a relieved expression crossed his face.
In the past, Bu Eunseol had treated his own life far too lightly and had always been ready to die without hesitation. But now he had become someone who cherished those around him and regarded his subordinates as family.
He would never again take his life lightly.
“Understood.”
Realizing at last that Bu Eunseol now valued his own life, Yoo Unryong nodded with a bright smile.
“Then go carefully.”
The place where the survivors of sects exterminated by his grandfather had invited Bu Eunseol was Ink Night Heavenly Palace—once feared throughout the martial world for its mysterious and unique dark arts.
Now fallen into ruin, the entrance to Ink Night Heavenly Palace still displayed traces of its former grandeur—majestic yet faded.
However, the corners of the gate were broken, the once-gilded door rings rusted to a bluish-green. The stone pillars flanking the main gate had been weathered by time and elements into rough, cracked surfaces.
Following the weed-choked stone path into the palace grounds, several halls came into view. Roofs had collapsed in places, and the remaining walls were covered in mold and moss.
Srrrr.
As Bu Eunseol stood tall at the center, the sound of wind slipping through was accompanied by faint shadows forming one by one.
There was an old man, two middle-aged beauties, a masked Taoist, and a sharp-eyed middle-aged man.
These were the descendants of the five sects that claimed to have suffered at Bu Zhanyang’s hands.
The oldest among them, the old man, stepped forward and spoke.
“This old man is Nak Gucheon, descendant of the Great Star Gate.”
The Great Star Gate was one of the sects recorded in the Death Spirit Corps’ reports as having been annihilated by the Seven-Finger Demon Blade. It had once shaken the martial world for generations with its divine sword art, Form-Chasing Sword.
“Grandson of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade Bu Zhanyang. Martial Soul Command Lord, Bu Eunseol—am I correct?”
“That is correct.”
“I see.”
Nak Gucheon nodded as he observed Bu Eunseol’s dignified bearing and refined features.
“It is like seeing him in his youth.”
He did not mean mere physical resemblance.
Rather, it was the unique air of relaxed yet commanding presence that belonged to Bu Zhanyang.
“As the grandson of Bu Zhanyang, you should know your sin.”
At that moment, a burly middle-aged man with a demon-slaying blade slung across his back shouted coldly.
It was Maeng So, descendant of the Dragon Shadow Sect.
Then the middle-aged beauty beside him spoke.
“We have endured miserable lives our entire existence for the sake of taking revenge on Bu Zhanyang. But he vanished completely… and now we hear that his grandson has risen to fame in the martial world.”
She was Wan Suwol, survivor of the Wan Family—an reclusive clan from beyond the frontier that had been exterminated by Bu Zhanyang.
“I heard you said you would repay Bu Zhanyang’s blood debt. Is that true?”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Yes. Take it from me.”
“How confident.” Wan Suwol glared at Bu Eunseol and asked, “Usually, repaying a blood debt means a life-and-death duel. Do you truly believe you can handle all five of us?”
“No.”
Bu Eunseol answered with polite yet dignified composure.
“The reason I accepted the invitation is to offer compensation to the best of my ability.”
“Compensation?”
“If my grandfather committed wrongs, then as his grandson, is it not proper for me to offer the deepest apology and compensation?”
Wan Suwol spoke coldly.
“And exactly how do you intend to compensate?”
“I believe that if we talk, we can reach mutual understanding.”
“You speak so easily.”
“I say this with all sincerity, so please do not misunderstand.”
“Then show us this compensation. What exactly will you offer?”
Bu Eunseol added carefully.
“Before that, I would like to see clear evidence.”
“Evidence?”
“Yes.”
Gazing into the void with a faintly pained look, Bu Eunseol said,
“I too am searching for my grandfather’s past actions and traces. But so much has been concealed that I am struggling.”
He continued, “If my grandfather clearly committed an act, I can take responsibility. But I cannot bear responsibility for things he did not do.”
“Evidence, evidence!”
Nak Gucheon suddenly roared.
“Do you think there is no evidence simply because decades have passed since our sects were destroyed?”
“That is not my meaning.”
Bu Eunseol calmly clasped his hands together and spoke politely.
“It is true that my grandfather annihilated orthodox masters and mysterious sects. But one cannot add crimes for things he did not do, can one?”
“Things he did not do? Fine!”
Nak Gucheon bellowed.
“I will show you evidence!”
Rip.
He tore open his upper garment with both hands.
Across his back crawled countless wounds like black earthworms.
The flesh was melted and tangled together; in places bone protruded.
It was a sight too horrific to look upon directly.
“Bu Zhanyang did not merely slaughter our clan—he cruelly massacred my wife and children as well.”
Nak Gucheon gazed skyward with a wretched expression.
“Had this old man not been wearing the Heavenly Starlight Robe passed down through our family for generations, my body would long since have rotted away and I would be dead.”
Bu Eunseol was speechless.
Even at a glance, he could tell the wounds had been inflicted by the blade energy of the Seven Blood Tear Forms. Moreover, the Heavenly Starlight Robe was the masterpiece of Yeo-gong—the legendary craftsman and divine artisan—regarded as the foremost protective garment in the martial world.
Yet even that could not fully block the Seven Blood Tear Forms, leaving such scars.
‘Then Nak Gucheon is genuine?’
These five could all be real victims—or some could be pawns of a certain force mixed among them.
At that moment, Nak Gucheon approached Bu Eunseol and shouted, “Look for yourself! If this is not proof of what Bu Zhanyang did, then what is?”
“I acknowledge it.”
Bu Eunseol replied calmly.
“Do all of you have such evidence?”
The remaining four said that, thanks to life-prolonging secret arts, divine pills, or protective garments—treasures so precious that even in the martial world they were second to none—they had survived the death brought by the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
However, the two women could not be examined, and the other two had not removed their clothing like Nak Gucheon, so whether they bore traces of the Seven Blood Tear Forms could not be confirmed.
‘But…’
A strange thought occurred to Bu Eunseol.
‘My grandfather would never have made such a mistake.’
His grandfather had been far more meticulous and precise than he himself.
If his grandfather had truly intended to kill someone, even if they wore the Heavenly God Protective Armor instead of the Heavenly Starlight Robe, death would have been unavoidable.
‘Which means the purpose of annihilating that sect was not to wipe them out completely.’
Most likely, his grandfather had no intention of killing them, and their sects had been destroyed as a byproduct of carrying out some other task.
‘But why?’
No matter how much Bu Eunseol pondered, he could not even guess the reason.
‘What is certain is that these people truly suffered because of my grandfather.’
“Just looking at that leisurely expression proves you are of that demon’s bloodline!”
At that moment, a nun who had remained silent until now could no longer hold back and shouted.
It was Hyeon Jeong, a disciple of the Purple Robe Sect.
“I heard your martial arts are formidable. Hurry up and try to slaughter us all!”
At Hyeon Jeong’s cry, Bu Eunseol wore a pained expression.
From what he knew, his grandfather was not such an evil man.
If he were to kill them all the same way now, it would be tantamount to acknowledging his grandfather’s crimes.
‘I bear the responsibility to repay my grandfather’s debts.’
Moreover, for whatever reason, his grandfather had completely annihilated their families and sects, and it was fact that these few alone had survived.
“Let me speak clearly once more.”
Bu Eunseol honestly expressed his true feelings and innermost thoughts.
“I came here to take responsibility for my grandfather’s wrongs and to offer you compensation.”
“You keep saying compensation!”
Nak Gucheon roared in furious voice.
“When people are dead, what compensation could possibly suffice!”
Maeng So also drew his weapon and stepped forward.
“There is no need for long words. Haven’t we already resolved to throw away our lives and perish together with him?”
A bloody battle seemed imminent.
Bu Eunseol gazed quietly into empty space for a moment.
If a fight broke out and he killed them all, then his resolve to settle his grandfather’s sins and blood debts would become utterly meaningless.
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol extended his hand.
“Attack.”
Then, taking a deep breath, he said, “I will not resist at all.”
“Hahahaha!”
Maeng So laughed derisively.
“Are you boasting about how great your martial arts are?”
“Does it seem that way?”
When all five realized he was sincere, their expressions hardened.
He was the next Lord of Majeon; his martial prowess was said to stand shoulder to shoulder with the strongest masters of the current generation.
Moreover, he was surrounded by valiant subordinates and brilliant strategists.
With a single command, he could annihilate most sects in a single day.
Yet here he was, saying he would not resist and would give up his life?
“Are you serious?”
At Nak Gucheon’s question, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Attack. I will not counter.”
“You will throw away your life?”
“Not exactly.”
Bu Eunseol’s gaze remained calm.
The masked Taoist, who had been silently watching, suddenly flashed his eyes.
He quickly restrained the others—who were ready to charge—and spoke.
“Wait. Let us discuss for a moment.”
“What is there to discuss?”
“His martial arts are far stronger than rumored.”
“So what?”
“Moreover, striking the grandson for revenge against Bu Zhanyang is not necessarily the right course.”
The Taoist spoke in a low voice.
“If word spreads that we struck him while he refused to resist, it will leave a bad impression among the righteous and demonic alike of the martial world.”
The masked Taoist’s eyes gleamed.
“And in that case, even that grandson of Bu Zhanyang would gain the moral high ground.”
At those words, the group hesitated for a moment.
Then they began conversing via transmission for a while.
After some time had passed,
“If that is your opinion, then fine.”
As though a collective will had formed, Hyeon Jeong spoke toward Bu Eunseol.
“Although you are the grandson of Bu Zhanyang, you yourself did not commit the atrocities, so we do not wish to force the issue unreasonably.”
A rather surprising statement.
Why had these people—who had seemed ready to kill him just moments ago—suddenly changed their minds?
But from her next words, Bu Eunseol immediately understood the situation.
“However, we cannot simply swallow this deep-seated grudge. If you truly intend to take responsibility, then cut off your fingers.”
Hyeon Jeong said coldly,
“There are five of us. Cut off five fingers, and we will let this matter go.”
The masked Taoist seemed to have come up with a clever plan.
The probability of actually killing Bu Eunseol was low anyway, and continuing this way would leave them somewhat lacking in justification.
But if they took a few fingers in place of his grandfather’s crimes, they could avoid condemnation from the martial community while still saving face by maiming the Martial Soul Command Lord.
“A human life is worth far more than a few fingers, isn’t it?”
At Hyeon Jeong’s words, Bu Eunseol replied calmly, “My grandfather killed countless people, yet I only have ten fingers and ten toes.”
Then he looked at the group.
“If word of this spreads, everyone who holds a grudge against my grandfather will demand one finger each. In that case, this body can at most resolve the grievances of twenty people, no?”
“We have considered that as well.”
Hyeon Jeong said,
“If anyone else harboring resentment toward Bu Zhanyang appears in the future, we will take responsibility and persuade them. If persuasion fails, we will deal with them ourselves.”
An overbearing statement.
In short, they were determined to take Bu Eunseol’s fingers no matter what.
Bu Eunseol looked down at his own hand.
Because he could wield martial principles freely with either hand, whether he used his left or right made little difference.
Even without fingers, he could perfectly execute the Seven Fist Demon Forms.
‘If this is the way to fully settle my grandfather’s debts, then there is nothing to regret.’
But to cut off his fingers merely because five people threatened him?
That would truly disgrace his grandfather.
“Very well.”
Yet for some reason, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Fine. Cut them off. However—”
He looked at the five martial artists and raised his fingers.
“Do it yourselves.”
“Are you serious?”
At Hyeon Jeong’s question, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Yes. It is not difficult.”
“Good!”
She immediately drew a sharp dagger from her sleeve and—
Flash!
In a lightning-swift motion, she swung to sever one of his fingers.
Or rather—she should have.
Thud.
But Hyeon Jeong’s dagger only left a scratch on Bu Eunseol’s finger; it could not cut through the bone.
How could someone with the most ordinary flesh body in the world display such divine resilience?
In truth, it was because his foundation had reached the absolute pinnacle and he had undergone multiple bodily rebirths and transformations.
By concentrating inner force in his finger alone, his body naturally attained a state akin to Diamond Indestructible Body.
“What is this?”
Hyeon Jeong stared wide-eyed at the dagger blocked by Bu Eunseol’s finger.
“Have you trained in external arts?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eunseol replied indifferently.
“I have cultivated Dark Jade Blood Qi—evaluated as one level above even the Poison Strong Demonic Art—to the Great Perfection stage.”
The group gaped in shock.
Dark Jade Blood Qi was the exclusive martial art and extreme demonic technique of the Eternal Blood Demon—the foremost master of the demonic path three hundred years ago.
It was one of the greatest external body secret arts in the demonic path and now he had already reached the twelfth level of mastery in that heaven-shattering demonic art that the Eternal Blood Demon had perfected only in his final years?
“This is troublesome.”
Maeng So said.
“If he has achieved Great Perfection in Dark Jade Blood Qi, that means he has completed the Strong Jade Physique… even with a divine sword or treasured blade, it will not be easy.”
“No way. Is he bluffing?”
Nak Gucheon drew his crescent-shaped long sword.
“I will cut him myself.”
Bang!
As he poured every ounce of inner force into the strike, his hair rose skyward.
At the same instant, a terrifying sword aura surged along his blade.
“This New Moon Sword can cut through anything!”
The New Moon Sword was an ancient treasured sword passed down through the martial world, renowned for its unmatched sharpness.
Slaaash!
A chilling star-like gleam sliced through the air and plunged toward Bu Eunseol’s extended finger.
Sssss.
His New Moon Sword was formidable indeed; it left a deep gash in Bu Eunseol’s finger.
Yet in the end, it could not sever the bone.
“Am I seeing ghosts?”
Nak Gucheon collapsed to his knees, wearing a dazed expression.
He was a sword fiend who had honed the blade his entire life.
Moreover, the New Moon Sword was a treasured blade capable of slicing metal and stone like tofu.
Yet it had failed to cut through a single finger made of mere flesh and blood?
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