Yuk Jangcheon wore a suspicious expression.
“By the way, why are you trying to help me?”
“Better to kill one person and leave than to become a slaughtering fiend who massacres tens of thousands.”
Having finished speaking, the old man let out a deep sigh.
The Palm King, who once roamed the Central Plains martial world.
Rather than ultimately failing to overcome rage and resentment, becoming a slaughtering fiend and leaving that foul disgrace upon his descendants for generations… it would be better to let him vent the grudge in his heart thoroughly and depart this world without lingering attachment.
“If that’s what you’re worried about, wouldn’t it be better to just kill me right now?”
The old man gave a faint smile.
“This old man is not a god. How could I kill you when you haven’t yet taken a single life?”
“Then when I become a demon, you can come and kill me at that time, no?”
“I don’t know when you will become that slaughtering fiend, and above all, I must soon return to my clan.”
The old man’s words and demeanor were utterly upright and honorable.
Only then did Yuk Jangcheon realize the old man was someone worthy of trust, and he nodded.
“Very well. In that case, please perform the great method.”
“Let me say again: if we do this, you will live no more than half a month at best.”
“Half a month is more than enough—plenty of time, isn’t it?”
Yuk Jangcheon gazed at the distant sky with an expression free of regrets.
“Dying while still holding a grudge would only be more painful.”
“Good.”
“If you are capable of performing such a great method anyway, could you grant me one more request?”
Yuk Jangcheon looked at the old man.
“His qinggong is truly formidable. He could escape to another place… So please also teach me an absolute formation—like the Life-and-Death Battle Formation of Nangyang Pavilion—from which no escape is possible.”
The old man let out another deep sigh.
He could indirectly sense just how profound Yuk Jangcheon’s grudge was and how desperately he yearned to kill Seon Woojin.
“Indeed, having reached this point, heart demons must have already taken root.”
The old man wore a pitying expression.
Yuk Jangcheon had already fallen deeply into heart demons.
“Very well.”
Shaking his head, the old man clasped his hands behind his back and turned around.
“Then follow this old man.”
***
Since its founding, the Azure Sky Alliance had been relentlessly busy.
In truth, this place was a carefully constructed alliance of the righteous sects, orchestrated by a single individual.
But the one who planned it did not wish to run it himself. He hoped that true heroic martial artists who walked the path of genuine chivalry would operate it.
Because of that, the Azure Sky Alliance suffered considerable difficulties in its early management.
Yet that very difficulty turned into a blessing in disguise.
As it was created by people without greed, it was clumsy, and that clumsiness was precisely the condition necessary for the birth of an alliance that truly walks the path of chivalry.
“Let us move forward step by step, even if clumsily.”
Those were the words of the Alliance Leader, Bukgung Ryeong.
He was known for a somewhat stubborn and self-righteous personality, but that was because his master had repeatedly admonished him throughout his life: never step forward in front of others, never dominate.
He had hidden his true nature and wandered the martial world alone.
They say position shapes the person.
Once seated in the position of Alliance Leader commanding thousands of martial artists, the innate qualities he was born with awakened, and now he had become an outstanding leader and head of an organization surpassed by none.
It was similar to how Yoo Unryong—once twisted and hot-tempered due to a wretched past—met Bu Eunseol, began serving as a strategist, and transformed into a thoughtful and meticulous person, unleashing his latent, heaven-sent talent.
Azure Sky Alliance, General Affairs Hall. Gongsun Dankyung’s office.
“Huu…”
Entering the office, she let out a deep breath and sat down.
The Azure Sky Alliance was like a rapidly growing child—it required meticulous care and attention.
And the person shouldering most of that burden was none other than Gongsun Dankyung.
The one piece of good fortune was that the real Seon Woojin—now the General Steward of the Azure Sky Alliance—Dok-go Jin, helped her with a great many things.
Without him, she would have collapsed from overwork long ago.
And the second reason she could endure these grueling days… was because all of it was for the sake of helping Bu Eunseol.
Because she loved him.
Because it was something that helped him.
That was why she could bear these difficult, complicated days with a smile.
But for the past few days, she had been unable to smile brightly.
Something rather sudden—but deeply frightening—had occurred.
Yuk Jangcheon.
After revealing his petty, small-minded nature in the martial duel with Seon Woojin over the position of Martial Heaven Corps Leader, he had abruptly left the Martial Alliance.
Now he had suddenly returned to the martial world and issued a public challenge.
“…(Omitted beginning of letter)
It is an undeniable fact that I, who once served as a high-ranking member of the Martial Alliance, helped pave the way for a man named Seon Woojin to rise within it.
Bearing full responsibility for the great harm I caused the Martial Alliance, I hereby publicly challenge Seon Woojin, Supreme Corps Leader of the Azure Sky Alliance.”
…for such an absurd reason.
‘And the fact that he sent the letter to me…’
Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes narrowed.
Yuk Jangcheon had not sent the challenge to Seon Woojin.
He had sent it to her.
He had also already deliberately spread rumors throughout the martial world that he would fight Seon Woojin.
‘In the end, he accepted it.’
The moment Bu Eunseol heard that the challenge letter had arrived at Gongsun Dankyung’s hands, he immediately responded to Yuk Jangcheon.
He accepted the duel.
Knock knock.
At that moment, someone arrived at her office.
It was Tae Muryong, Vice Captain of the Supreme Corps.
“Chief Inspector.”
Tae Muryong bowed respectfully.
Since both the Supreme Corps and Gongsun Dankyung knew Bu Eunseol’s true identity, they were effectively comrades aboard the same ship.
“What brings you here?”
“I have something to discuss.”
Gongsun Dankyung knew exactly what he wanted to discuss without needing to ask.
“It’s about the challenge letter sent by Yuk Jangcheon, the former Ascendant Martial Hall Lord of the Martial Alliance, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Tae Muryong spoke with a troubled expression.
“If Yuk Jangcheon truly wished to duel the Captain, he could have used any information network to deliver the challenge.”
“…”
“But not only did he send the letter to you, Chief Inspector—he deliberately spread rumors of the challenge far and wide, enlarging the stage…”
Taking a deep breath, he continued.
“Doesn’t that mean he is absolutely confident he can exact revenge through a public duel?”
If Yuk Jangcheon wanted to fight Bu Eunseol, he could simply have the challenge delivered through any channel. Yet he deliberately sent such a letter to the Azure Sky Alliance’s Chief Inspector, Gongsun Dankyung.
It was a display of intent: backed by the Martial Alliance—which found the very existence of the Azure Sky Alliance distasteful—he would hold a public duel and surely crush Seon Woojin in front of countless witnesses to take his revenge.
“You’re right. It means he is that confident.”
Gongsun Dankyung nodded and said,
“That’s why he spread the rumors in advance.”
“This fight will only bring loss to the Command Lord. There is no need to accept it.” Tae Muryong spoke cautiously.
“That is why I came to ask—could you please persuade the Lord, Chief Inspector?”
He spoke in a subdued voice.
“Yuk Jangcheon knows the Captain’s strength better than anyone. Above all, he is absolutely not the type to take risks.” Tae Muryong continued gravely, “For a man like him to issue a public challenge… as you said, it means he possesses absolute confidence.”
With an utterly serious expression, he added, “Moreover, sending the challenge here shows that if it is refused, he intends to harm you, Chief Inspector.”
Yuk Jangcheon knew all too well why Seon Woojin had cherished his subordinates and close associates like his own body, and why he had forced him to reveal his true face and rendered him incapable of recovery.
It wasn’t merely because he attacked Seon Woojin personally, but because he had driven the Supreme Corps into a deadly trap.
That was why he sent the challenge to her.
If refused, neither she nor the subordinates would be safe.
“We will protect you with our lives, Chief Inspector. So please… convince the Captain.”
“You think he might lose if he fights under the identity of Seon Woojin.”
“To be honest… yes.”
Tae Muryong admitted.
“Even if one speaks of the Seven Kings and Four Gods or the Sword King, the identity of ‘Seon Woojin’ cannot match the strength of the current supreme experts of the martial world.”
If it were Bu Eunseol’s original identity, perhaps.
But in a duel where Yuk Jangcheon was so confident, fighting as Seon Woojin carried far too great a handicap.
“Alternatively, Chief Inspector, with your stratagems you could defuse this confrontation entirely.”
Gongsun Dankyung possessed wisdom second only to Bu Eunseol’s.
Especially when it came to reading the flow of events and devising plans, she could even be said to surpass him slightly.
Tae Muryong hoped she would employ a clever plan to avoid this duel altogether.
“Of course it’s possible.”
Gongsun Dankyung let out a sigh.
“But he will absolutely refuse. He… is not the kind of person who avoids trials.”
Tae Muryong bowed his head.
In truth, he already knew. Bu Eunseol would never evade this confrontation.
Yet he had come to Gongsun Dankyung anyway—driven by an instinctive, gnawing unease.
Because a man like Yuk Jangcheon never takes risks.
“Let us trust him and wait.”
Gongsun Dankyung smiled.
“That is what he himself would wish for.”
At those words, Tae Muryong looked apologetic.
Only now did he realize that Gongsun Dankyung, too, was worried to the point she could barely keep her composure.
She—who was famous for never showing emotion—had referred to Bu Eunseol as “him” and hadn’t even noticed she had done so.
“I’m sorry, Chief Inspector.”
Tae Muryong bowed deeply and politely.
“You must be deeply troubled already, yet I spoke unnecessarily. Please forgive me.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Gongsun Dankyung gave a bright smile that was unlike her usual self.
“Thank you for coming to discuss this with me.”
The fact that Tae Muryong had sought her out was, regardless of rank, an acknowledgment that she was one of Bu Eunseol’s people.
Even though she had been accumulating worry until now, that alone was enough to make her smile.
***
Mokdan Fortress was an abandoned ancient castle dozens of li away from Hagok—a place long said to have been where the two supreme heavenly masters of the righteous and demonic sides once clashed.
Over the years, countless martial artists had visited, searching for traces of that legendary battle between two absolute experts yet no trace whatsoever had ever been found at the supposed site of the clash.
As decades passed with no sign of combat remaining, rumors spread that the battle of the Righteous and Demonic Twin Heavenly Emperors had been nothing more than hearsay.
Eventually the place faded from public memory until even passing ants no longer visited.
But now that two sect representatives of the new and old righteous generations had agreed to duel here, the footsteps of the martial world once again turned toward this place.
Palm King Yuk Jangcheon and Sword King Seon Woojin.
To witness the fateful confrontation between these two masters.
—Come to think of it, this is the first time a high expert who climbed to the same seat among the Seven Kings and Four Gods has publicly challenged and fought another.
Until now, the experts of the Seven Kings had never publicly challenged or fought one another. Even when battles did occur, they were conducted in utmost secrecy, and no one ever learned the outcome.
But after losing to Seon Woojin, Yuk Jangcheon publicly sent him a challenge letter.
Thus a new record was written into martial history.
—Why on earth fight here of all places…
The martial artists who flocked to Mokdan Fortress to watch the duel all frowned.
Because the ruined castle still retained many of its structures in recognizable form, only those with truly outstanding qinggong could leap onto various vantage points to properly observe.
—Who cares? Just being present at the place where their duel unfolds is enough!
Regardless of qinggong level, martial artists continued pouring into Mokdan Fortress without end.
Finally, on the day of the duel, when the sun reached its highest point,
—He’s here!
Those perched on the castle structures or positioned throughout the ruins let out exclamations.
They had spotted a white-robed figure approaching from afar with graceful movement technique.
Tap.
The moment he landed, the eyes of the martial artists widened.
He was tall yet somewhat lean, with an utterly ordinary face lacking any distinguishing features.
But his eyes were clear and profoundly deep—their radiance visible even from ten li away.
This was none other than the representative rising master of the current righteous martial world: Sword King Seon Woojin.
‘Hmph.’
Bu Eunseol—arriving in the guise of Seon Woojin—narrowed his eyes slightly.
Not out of worry for victory or defeat, but out of fury toward Yuk Jangcheon.
‘To deliberately hand the challenge letter to the Chief Inspector…’
Yuk Jangcheon’s nature was ruthless, and he would use any means necessary to achieve his goal.
For such a man to send the duel challenge to Gongsun Dankyung was an indirect threat: if refused, he would surely target her.
To Bu Eunseol, it was an absolutely intolerable provocation.
Kwaaaang!
At that moment, a tremendous wave of energy began spreading around the ancient castle.
It looked as though an enormous explosion had erupted somewhere.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Along with the tremor that shook the ground, a massive shadow clad in yellow robes appeared roughly thirty zhang opposite Bu Eunseol.
Eyes like a tiger’s, shoulders like a bear’s, and an aura as imposing as Mount Tai.
It was Yuk Jangcheon.
—His hair…
The martial artists who saw him appear wore startled expressions.
The glossy black hair at Yuk Jangcheon’s temples had turned pure white, as though covered in frost.
Yet because overwhelming power still surged from his body, the white hair at his temples instead evoked a strange, eerie fascination.
“Captain Seon.”
Yuk Jangcheon spoke with a smile, as though greeting an old friend.
“It’s been a long time.”
Bu Eunseol returned the courtesy.
“Hall Lord Yuk.”
“Hahaha, it’s been ages since I left the Martial Alliance—why still call me Hall Lord?”
“It seems you have achieved considerable advancement in the meantime. Congratulations.”
When Bu Eunseol offered calm praise,
“Well, it’s nothing special.”
Yuk Jangcheon replied with a laugh.
“I simply trained enough to crush one martial artist from a small merchant group.”
Despite the insulting words, Bu Eunseol smiled.
“Is that so?”
At that moment, Yuk Jangcheon sent a transmission.
[You shattered me so thoroughly I could never rise again.]
The voice thick with resentment carried even through transmission.
[I will surely rip your head off. Prepare yourself.]
Bu Eunseol responded in his original cold tone via transmission as well.
[Everything that made me that way was your own doing.]
Bu Eunseol had served Yuk Jangcheon loyally after being recognized by him and completed every mission assigned.
Yet he treated Bu Eunseol and all his subordinates as disposable tools.
When Bu Eunseol first begged for Tae Muryong’s life—who had been threatened with death—Yuk Jangcheon ignored it, caring only for his own advancement.
[Not only I, but any one of your subordinates—if capable—would have cast you into the abyss.]
[You talk well.]
Yuk Jangcheon smiled broadly while concealing his killing intent and sent another transmission.
[By killing you now, I will end all this enmity and once again make my name resound.]
Having sent the transmission, Yuk Jangcheon extended his hand warmly.
“Shall we begin?”
“No.”
Bu Eunseol politely clasped both hands together.
“There is no need to fight at all.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will admit defeat.”
Thud.
At the unexpected answer, Yuk Jangcheon’s face hardened.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“As I said. I admit defeat.”
“We haven’t even exchanged a single move.”
“I would lose anyway.”
Blood-like killing intent dripped from Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes.
“Then why accept the challenge and come all the way here?”
“Weren’t you once my direct superior, Hall Lord? Since you sent the challenge letter, I thought I should personally come and declare my defeat.”
Yuk Jangcheon felt his mind go blank.
To martial artists, publicly declaring defeat was considered more humiliating than losing one’s life.
Because showing fear or avoidance of battle meant one could no longer hold their head high in the martial world.
Yet Bu Eunseol calmly admitted defeat in front of the entire world as casually as if he were stopping a friendly spar in a local dojo.
“You…”
Eyes bulging, Yuk Jangcheon could not continue.
After leaving the Martial Alliance, not once had he dreamed of anything except engaging Seon Woojin in a life-and-death battle.
Not once had he stopped thinking of revenge.
And never—not even once—had he imagined Seon Woojin would admit defeat so emptily.
“If you were going to admit defeat anyway, there was no need to accept the challenge… or come all this way?”
As Yuk Jangcheon desperately maintained his composure and asked,
“I thought that if I simply refused, your resentment would never be resolved, Hall Lord.”
“…”
“But if I admit defeat here, with so many witnesses… your honor is preserved, and you will no longer touch anyone around me, will you?”
Though the words were spoken that way, a smile played at the corners of Bu Eunseol’s mouth.
Finally grasping the situation, Yuk Jangcheon bit his lip until it bled.
‘Of course it wouldn’t be that simple.’
This bastard Seon Woojin not only drove him into the abyss—even now, on the verge of battle, he still intended to humiliate him.
“Yes, I see. You already knew.”
They say that when rage reaches its peak, laughter emerges instead.
Feeling that truth anew, Yuk Jangcheon smiled and said, “You’ve always been that way. Not only seeing one or two steps further than others, but manipulating people’s psychology to orchestrate everything.”
“…”
“Fine. For that alone, I’ll let you off cleanly.”
Yuk Jangcheon surveyed the terrain and structures around the ancient castle, then suddenly flicked his finger lightly.
Rumble rumble rumble.
A faint light began bursting from the structures surrounding the area.
“I’ll gain the honorable title of having killed you fair and square.”
Rumble rumble.
As the surroundings of Mokdan Fortress began to collapse, the countless spectators gathered nearby screamed and retreated.
—What in the world is happening?
Even as they scrambled back in confusion, they kept their eyes fixed on the spot where Bu Eunseol and Yuk Jangcheon stood.
But then something bizarre occurred.
Ziiiiing.
Suddenly an enormous pillar of light shot skyward from the ground, forming a hemispherical shape that slowly descended back down.
As the light descended, the surrounding scenery gradually vanished; the sky turned crimson and transformed into a place where unknown lightning continuously struck.
“Absolute Boundary.”
Watching the sight, Bu Eunseol murmured lowly.
He realized that the formation Yuk Jangcheon had just deployed was the Absolute Boundary—a technique only those of the Three Families could perform.
“I already expected you would use every trick in the book.”
White haze rose from Yuk Jangcheon’s body.
“That’s why I learned this method. So you can never escape.”
Gazing at the scenery now perfectly severed from the original world, Yuk Jangcheon said,
“No matter how great you are, you cannot break this formation. Not until I die.”
“Have you made contact with someone from the Three Families?”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes flashed.
“Three Families? Well, perhaps.”
He murmured lowly, as though recalling that time.
“An old man possessing that kind of aura and power.”
“Old man?”
“Curious?”
Yuk Jangcheon bared his canines in a grin.
“Don’t worry. You’ll soon hear everything from King Yama in the afterlife.”
Crackle crackle crack.
A sound like something tearing emanated from Yuk Jangcheon’s body, and a bizarre radiance flowed from his skin.
As though visually demonstrating that he had gained an entirely new power.
‘He met an old man affiliated with the Three Families and gained this strength.’
From just those few words, Bu Eunseol inferred a great deal.
Yuk Jangcheon’s power had not been obtained through training or enlightenment. It had been forcibly injected through some mysterious old man.
And perhaps that old man was one of the reclusive eccentrics of the Three Families.
Bu Eunseol sighed inwardly.
‘If it’s a fated encounter, then so be it.’
At that moment Yuk Jangcheon spoke.
“Every single night I dreamed of drinking your blood and chewing your heart.”
A white current spread through Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes, which now radiated an icy chill.
Swoosh.
He lightly floated into the air.
Not using movement technique—but employing something akin to land-flight technique, instantly lifting his body into empty space.
“Heaven is not heartless after all. It gave me one final chance!”
‘Final?’
While Bu Eunseol wondered at the word,
Woooong!
As Yuk Jangcheon spread both arms wide in midair, an overwhelming wave of energy surged outward.
Kwaaaaaang!
In that instant the sky turned scarlet and dazzling light exploded in all directions. A spherical shockwave of heat spread outward, seemingly devouring everything.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The tremor struck the surrounding mountain ranges; the ground within hundreds of li cracked and split.
At the center of the explosion, the air merely shimmered faintly.
Bu Eunseol’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
A heat and shockwave comparable to hundreds of thousands of pounds of gunpowder detonating had instantly swallowed the place where he had stood.
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