Bu Eunseol nodded, suppressing the shock that made his vision darken.
“So, in the end, the two powers turned a blind eye to the bloodbath of the Saha Manor.”
“It seems you are mistaken about something.”
The old man tilted his head and spoke words that were even more shocking.
“The time when the Saha Manor was attacked and the time when the Holy Maiden Saya lost her power to the two Great Clans are different.”
In an instant, sparks flew in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Baekri Clan and the True Demon—neither of those two powers ever directly touched the Saha Manor.”
The old man spoke calmly.
“As far as I know, the ones who attacked the Saha Manor were the people of the martial world.”
“The martial world?”
Bu Eunseol trembled.
“Are you saying it was the Righteous and Demonic Twin Emperors?”
It was a natural conclusion.
There were only two people in the world who would dare to touch the Saha Manor.
“I do not know for certain. I was not there,” the old man explained serenely. “However, at that time, the couple was not together at the Saha Manor. I heard that when the Saha Manor was annihilated, Baekri Muha’s strength had vanished and he was in an ordinary state.”
“What do you mean by 'heard'? And how do you know that people of the martial world attacked the Saha Manor?”
“I was not present; I came to know of it later through investigation.”
Bu Eunseol’s mind began to spin as fast as light.
‘Then...’
After pondering for a long time, Bu Eunseol reached a conclusion.
‘There is a high probability that Father and Mother were not together at that time.’
His father had evacuated him through a secret passage. Conversely, when his mother was tied to a pillar and burning, his father was not there.
‘I was mistaken.’
Back when he was living as the beggar Mumu and regained his memories and martial arts to save Bu Bok-un, he had only been able to recover extremely fragmented pieces of memory. Bu Eunseol calmly recalled those recovered memories.
—I am sorry.
Whoosh.
His mother’s beautiful form began to burn brightly like a candle.
—For leaving you only sad memories...
The young Bu Eunseol had reached out and run forward, wailing. But his body was frozen, and he could not reach her. Then, the scenery changed again. He was in the arms of his father, who was running like the wind. His father, entering the secret passage, hugged him tight and told him he must survive.
‘Because of these fragmented memories... I mistakenly thought everything happened on the same day at the same time.’
What if it didn't happen at the same time? What if his father and mother were in different places?
‘The fake Saha Manor.’
In the location of the Hogachon village, there exists a fake Saha Manor created with a unique Absolute Boundary. Although it lacked the mechanical traps installed in the real Saha Manor, its appearance was identical. What if his mother had been imprisoned there by the Baekri Clan and the True Demon to have her power taken, while he and his father were attempting an escape from the real Saha Manor where the actual machinery was located? Or, what if even those memories were someone’s fabrication? If what the old man said was true, the timeline could indeed be different.
‘Moreover, there was an item from the Sacred Domain in the fake Saha Manor.’
The events suddenly came to mind. At that time, he had discovered a mirror secretly left in his quarters by a person expected to be the next successor of the Sacred Domain.
It was because that person believed it was the safest refuge to hide the mirror. But why? How could he be so sure the fake Saha Manor was safe? Who exactly left a mirror at the Saha Manor in Hogachon thinking someone would enter?
‘What is certain is that the person from the Sacred Domain knew that place was empty and would not be sought by anyone.’
According to the old man of the Sacred Domain, it was the martial world forces that destroyed the Saha Manor, and someone used the fake Saha Manor to deal with his father and mother separately. Such a thing happened because of the person who betrayed his parents.
‘If martial world warriors destroyed the Saha Manor, the Demon Emperor becomes the primary suspect.’
But questions remained.
The Demon Emperor, despite knowing he had contacted Jin Seol, told him the location of Hogachon where the Saha Manor was located. Was it to prove his innocence? Or was it to cause further confusion? Right now... he did not have the answer.
“I will ask one more thing.”
Bu Eunseol stared into the old man’s eyes.
“Why did you say the Baekri Clan and the True Demon would not accept my existence?”
He asked with an incredibly grave expression.
“If that were the case, they would not have tolerated the marriage in the first place.”
If the two clans did not want the bloodlines mixed, they should have opposed the marriage to the death. Because, inevitably, a child carrying the blood of both houses would be born.
“In fact, the idea of a half-blood was something the True Demon Clan would covet.”
The old man wore a strange smile.
“Nevertheless, until now, a half-blood of the two Great Clans has never appeared.”
“Are you saying it has been attempted?”
“The Baekri Clan aside, the True Demon Clan certainly would have.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol realize the old man’s meaning.
The True Demon already had a record of creating a strange 'hybrid of power' known as a Holy One. If so, they would have naturally coveted the blood of the Baekri Clan and attempted to mix it with their own long ago.
If his identity were fully revealed?
The Baekri Clan would try to eliminate him to prevent him from becoming a research subject for the True Demon, and the True Demon Clan would not want to lose such an incredibly precious research specimen.
“Grandfather knew this and...”
Along with the realization, Bu Eunseol’s hands trembled.
“He injected all those powers... to make me this ordinary.”
His grandfather had worked so hard to inject various powers and create an incredibly ordinary body. And he told him to live an ordinary life. That was his grandfather’s desperate wish and deep love, hoping his beloved grandson would not become someone’s tool or be swept away by a cruel fate.
“Hmm.”
The old man nodded with a deep sigh. “This is all I can tell you.”
Pondering the story deeply, Bu Eunseol paid his respects to the old man.
“Thank you.”
He knew well that the old man had not shared all the information he possessed. However, this old man from the Sacred Domain was the only person in the world who had favorably provided such information. That alone was enough to express gratitude.
“And I also have something to tell you, Old Man.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“In a ghost village on the border of Jiangxi and Zhejiang, I discovered a fake Saha Manor.”
“Fake?”
“Yes. And there, I found a mirror and an inscription that seemed to have been left by a successor of the Sacred Domain.”
“What?”
The old man was greatly shocked. “What was written there?”
“It said that to protect something, the person gave up their child, surrendered the position of successor, stole the Harmony of Sun and Moon, and had to leave the Sacred Domain.”
He added, “And it asked for forgiveness from anyone who saw the inscription.”
The corners of the old man’s eyes trembled. “Where is that place?”
“A place called Hogachon.”
“Hogachon.”
The old man turned immediately as if to check the place right away. Then, turning his head back, he said:
“The time the Martial Soul Society can hold out as a neutral zone is not long.”
The old man spoke with a solemn expression.
“You must survive. That is all I wish for.”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, the old man looked toward the distant sky and vanished in an instant. Subsequently, the unique Absolute Boundary of the Sacred Domain he had created began to slowly fade.
***
Due to this battle, a major reorganization occurred within the Martial Soul Society.
The Martial Soul Society originally held a unique status as a mercenary market and an unorthodox alliance.
Since the official fighting was done by the warriors of the Four Great Corps, ordinary mercenaries merely handled the requests they were given and felt no particular sentiment regarding the operation or direction of the Society.
However, through this incident, the mercenaries realized that the Martial Soul Society had not only become a major power representing one axis of the martial world but was also not just a simple alliance operating a market.
—Shouldn't we also become official warriors of the Martial Soul Society and do something big?
Many mercenaries began to give up their free and rough wandering lives to become official warriors of the Society.
—After all, the work we do is risking our lives for money anyway.
Most mercenary work involved protection or mercenary tasks for pay. Unless they were high-ranking or special-grade mercenaries, most preferred to receive regular training and fight in bigger arenas.
Martial Soul Society, Water Mirror Hall.
This was where mercenaries received jobs or settled their pay after finishing them. However, as the number of mercenaries applying to become official warriors increased, the Water Mirror Hall was also accepting those applications separately.
Buzz, buzz.
Among the crowded mercenaries, someone was diligently writing.
It was Yu Seol, who had become the Preparatory Courtyard Supervisor in charge of supplies for the Society. Following the requests of the servants, she was recording various things.
By Yu Seol’s side, helping with everything, was a maid. It was Seong-ah, who had once been the New Bloodline of the True Demon but was now an ordinary woman.
—Please let that child live normally.
Hye Myo-eum had pleaded with Bu Eunseol as she was dying. Having lived a life of pain, she must have wished for her child’s happiness.
—I promise.
Bu Eunseol had vowed to do so. And he had kept that promise.
‘Grandfather must have felt the same way.’
He must have wished for his beloved grandson to live an ordinary life and feel small happinesses, rather than a heartless martial world steeped in blood and grudges.
‘She will be safe as long as she is here.’
Since the great law was destroyed by his blood and she woke up from the glass coffin, it would be useless even if the True Demon came. She would never react to anything except his blood.
Bu Eunseol turned away with a proud expression. In the end, he had kept his promise to Hye Myo-eum and completed everything he planned.
He ensured Seong-ah could live safely in a secure place, and the Martial Soul Society was recognized by the Sacred Domain as an alliance that the two Great Powers could not touch. For the time being, their demonic hands would not reach this place.
‘Now, is there only one task left?’
Bu Eunseol wore a bitter expression. Although he had handled many things he thought impossible, in the end, he had failed to carry out the Demon Emperor’s solemn command. No, he had chosen not to carry it out. As the Holy One advised, he had to dig into the secrets of the True Demon.
‘Now I must return to Majeon and receive the Life-and-Death Single Palm Decree.’
In truth, it was no exaggeration to say that meant death.
—There is no need to go back for the Life-and-Death Single Palm Decree!
The high-ranking members of the Martial Soul Society, aware of the situation, desperately tried to dissuade Bu Eunseol from returning.
Even if he had discovered the Holy One’s identity, and even if he delivered that information, he had ultimately exceeded the deadline set by the Demon Emperor. No matter what method or reason Bu Eunseol used, the fact that he disobeyed the command remained unchanged.
Moreover, the Demon Emperor was a person who showed no mercy and never tolerated his prestige being undermined. Since he had issued the order for the Life-and-Death Single Palm Decree, he would never withdraw it.
Martial Soul Society, Martial Soul Pavilion Conference Room.
“You must give up your identity as the Martial Soul Command Lord.”
The high-ranking members, including Dam Yuyeon, pleaded once more. The identities of Seolso or Seon Woojin were enough to operate the information organization. If he discarded the title of Martial Soul Command Lord, he could lead a more free path without being restricted by the Demon Emperor or anyone else.
“No one will recognize your disguise, so there are no restrictions on your travels in the martial world, right?”
Bing Hanpung also pleaded earnestly.
The secret art of the Sacred Domain that Bu Eunseol had acquired, the Black Secret Arts, could transform even internal organs and fine hairs into those of a completely different person.
In fact, had not even the old man of the Sacred Domain—who could restrain the Baekri Clan—failed to notice Bu Eunseol’s disguise until he exerted the power of the Sacred Domain?
In other words, as long as a member of the Sacred Domain did not intentionally attack him, his true identity would never be revealed, regardless of who he lived as.
“Even if there are things you must give up, they are not as important as your life,” said Nae Bihon.
Despite the earnest requests of his subordinates, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“I cannot do that now. If I do not return to Majeon, the warriors of the Death Shadow Corps will all have their heads cut off and displayed.”
If Bu Eunseol never appeared? Given the Demon Emperor’s personality, he would kill the Death Shadow Corps warriors first.
“And I think it wouldn't be bad to experience the Demon Emperor’s martial arts this time.”
This time, he had finally clashed not only with the True Demon's subordinates but also with those of the Baekri Clan.
Although the man in white was not a full member of the Baekri Clan and had restrictions on his power, Bu Eunseol had gained the confidence that he would not lose to anyone. What was regrettable, however, was the difficulty in grasping the nature of the power called the Manifestation Divine Technique, and the fact that its mysterious functions were hidden behind a veil.
If the old man of the Sacred Domain had not stepped in, he would not have been able to remove the bizarre thing attached to his back, and the fact that the Hall Master was the Command Lord would have been exposed by the man in white.
“The Demon Emperor is also an adversary I must eventually defeat. If I cannot even take one of his palms now...”
Organizing his thoughts, Bu Eunseol said firmly, “Even if decades pass, I shouldn't even dream of challenging him.”
Though the gap in martial prowess between him and the Demon Emperor is currently vast, he must challenge him one day. But if he feared merely receiving a single palm... even if his martial arts improved over time, he would never be able to shake off the dread and terror in his heart. If he couldn't face it now, he should never dream of challenging him in the future.
“What you are saying,” Do Cheonlin said then, “Is that if you avoid the Life-and-Death Single Palm Decree now, even if your prowess rises in the future, you won't be able to shake off the reverence and fear of the Demon Emperor embedded in your mind.”
“That is correct.”
“I understand.”
Do Cheonlin nodded and spoke to the gathered leaders in the conference room. “Since that is his wish, I suppose we have no choice but to believe in him.”
Realizing they could not break Bu Eunseol’s stubbornness, the leaders nodded. But their expressions were resolute. If something went wrong with Bu Eunseol... they intended to wage a full-scale war against Majeon.
Whoosh.
Immediately leaving the Martial Soul Society, Bu Eunseol entered the Shaanxi area instead of heading toward Majeon.
‘I must leave a perfect trail that even the Shadow Pavilion cannot doubt.’
According to the Demon Emperor’s order, he had completed the investigation entirely alone, without the help of any information organizations or others.
In that process, he had perfectly hidden his tracks so as not to be captured by any information network. However, returning directly from Sichuan—where the Martial Soul Society is located—would be a different matter. It was because his past tracks, which he had worked hard to hide, might be exposed.
‘I must erase all traces perfectly.’
Not only the Shadow Pavilion but numerous information organizations would be doggedly tracking his past movements.
He had to thoroughly hide all traces until the moment of his return, and he especially had to avoid the misfortune of his path overlapping with that of Seolso. Therefore, instead of heading straight to Majeon from Sichuan, Bu Eunseol chose a long, circuitous route.
Whoosh.
Finally entering the borders of Shaanxi Province, Bu Eunseol gradually slowed his light-body technique. He intended to catch his breath for a moment before heading to the capital and returning to his original identity before entering a crowded area. However, an unexpected situation occurred.
Vroom.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and the surrounding scenery began to flow like water. Simultaneously—
Kwahng!
Bu Eunseol’s body, which had been moving through the air, plummeted straight to the ground with a massive explosive sound. The impact was so powerful that his falling form dug into the earth to a depth of ten feet.
Ssssss...
Before the deep pit where white steam billowed, a white shadow descended silently from the air. It was the subordinate of the Baekri Clan, the man in white.
[As expected.]
The man in white muttered lowly, looking down at Bu Eunseol, who lay motionless in the ground.
[To think your body isn't shattered even after receiving a full-power Spiritual Awakening. Your identity is truly obvious.]
He wore a sickening smile as he watched Bu Eunseol, who had his eyes tightly shut in pain.
[You must be one of those loathsome True Demon bloodlines or a shell... crawling out after hiding somewhere like a cockroach?]
He had never once thought that the Society Leader Seolso, who seemed to have dropped from the sky, was an ordinary martial artist.
He was convinced the man was either a shell where a True Demon resided or had resided, or a True Demon bloodline scattered across the world.
Otherwise, a mere ordinary martial artist could not have resisted the Manifestation Divine Technique.
Whir.
As the man in white reached his hand into the air, several spheres surrounded by white light gradually formed in the sky. They were twice as large as the one he had poured onto Bu Eunseol before, and there were three of them.
It was the power of the Manifestation Divine Technique he could unfold at full strength.
[True Demon subordinates and shells must be eliminated.]
Killing intent flowed in his eyes.
If it weren't for the True Demon, if it weren't for those treacherous subordinates... he could have lived as a member of the Baekri Clan, enjoying infinite glory.
But because of the treacherous traps of the True Demon and its subordinates, everything had been ruined.
[First, I shall crush your body, then we shall determine the truth.]
If it were a True Demon bloodline or shell, a trace would surely remain in the body. If he confirmed that, he could not only settle his crime of breaking the law but also receive a great reward.
Kwah-oooo!
Finally, just as those massive spheres were about to strike Bu Eunseol’s body consecutively—
Flash!
A brilliant light burst from the hands of Bu Eunseol, who had opened both eyes.
He had intentionally pretended to lose consciousness to find out who the master who ambushed him was and what his purpose was. However, since it was the man in white who appeared and truly intended to kill him, Bu Eunseol immediately unleashed a strike.
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