Bu Eunseol’s expression turned somber.
“Whose order was it?”
He had visited the Hwa Wu Sword Sect once in the past.
There, he had discovered Cheon Un-gwang, who had been punished simply for passing on sword techniques to him. Ultimately, Bu Eunseol had settled that debt of gratitude and resentment by returning an improved version of the Unmatched Thunderbolt Form to the sect.
Though Cheon Ungwang had once again passed on his self-created Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder Form, that was merely a private gift of ‘Sword Intent.’
Publicly, he owed the Hwa Wu Sword Sect nothing more.
And yet, to think such a petty command had now been issued to Dan Cheon-yang and Jingak?
“I do not believe Sect Leader Weiji is a man of such narrow mind.”
The Profound Demon, Weiji Mu-a, was known for a personality so unconstrained he could be mistaken for a sage of the Righteous Faction; he was a man with no interest in the hegemony of the martial world. There was no way he would have issued such an order.
“It was not the Sect Leader who gave the order.”
“Then...”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes burned with intensity.
“Weiji Hyesang—is it his command?”
Currently, the Hwa Wu Sword Sect was being operated in a very peculiar manner.
For reasons unknown, Sect Leader Weiji Mu-a lived in seclusion, completely uninvolved in sect affairs. While the Chief Instructor, Sword Demon Wi Hyeok-gun, handled general operations, the successor, Weiji Hyesang, was issuing orders to each organization like a de facto Sect Leader.
“As an outsider, there is no need for you to know the internal affairs of this sect.”
“Then, for my sake... did you live in seclusion like this because you did not wish to carry out that order?”
“It is quite the opposite.”
Jingak spoke calmly.
“I was polishing my sword because I realized my skills did not reach yours. I must fulfill the solemn command issued by the sect.”
As it turned out, he had left the Hwa Wu Sword Sect to pursue the path of cultivation specifically to defeat Bu Eunseol. When winter arrived, he stayed on this Geumsado Island to refine his swordplay.
“And not long ago, I completed my sword technique.”
Jingak wore an infinitely serene smile.
“And right at that moment, you arrived.”
Only then did Bu Eunseol realize why Jingak had spoken of ‘destiny.’ He had refined his sword to defeat him, and the target appeared of his own accord the moment the technique was finished... one could only call it fate.
“Instructor.”
“At first, I did not understand the order to kill you. But now, I grasp the situation to some extent.”
Jingak shook his head.
“The future successor of the Majeon turning out to be a spy for the Righteous Faction. Does that not defy all logic?”
‘It’s a natural misunderstanding.’
Jingak was a supreme master of the sword.
He must have sensed the waves of True Qi Bu Eunseol had spread moments ago. Because his personality was fractured, Bu Eunseol had been forced to move his Qi in the manner unique to the Righteous Faction... from Jingak’s perspective, it would be stranger not to be convinced he was a righteous spy.
―I am not a spy for the Righteous Faction.
Bu Eunseol wanted to say those words. But looking back at his past life, he had indeed acted as a spy against the Martial Alliance for a very long time.
Even setting that aside, he was not a man of the Demonic Path, he had never once acted for the benefit of the Demonic Path, nor did he ever intend to.
Becoming the successor of the Majeon was merely a means to find the culprit. In the end, from a demonic perspective... he was no different from a traitor.
“Why on earth did you do such things?”
At Jingak’s question, Bu Eunseol wore a pained smile.
“The lives of those in the martial world, who live bearing the weight of the sword...”
He spoke with his head lowered.
“Are they not all stained with sorrow and misfortune?”
These, too, were words his grandfather, Bu Zhanyang, had spoken in the past.
At the time, Bu Eunseol had not understood them. But now, he finally knew their meaning.
As long as one sets foot in the martial world, the cycle of gratitude and resentment repeats infinitely, and one cannot escape its shackles. Bearing a sword in the past, in the present, and in the future... the lives of those in the martial world are destined to be sorrowful and unfortunate.
“Sorrow and misfortune.”
Jingak let out a deep sigh while gazing at the distant sky.
“You have cut down countless enemies until now. Yet I do not know why you still possess the eyes of an ‘outsider.’”
“Because I am an outsider, I was able to cut down my enemies; because I am not a man of the martial world, I could avoid being bound by the divide of Righteous and Demonic.”
That was Bu Eunseol’s honest feeling.
Slide.
Jingak stood up.
He drew the long sword from his waist and tossed the scabbard to the ground. It was an act showing his resolve for a life-and-death duel—a sign that the fight would never end until one of them lay dead.
―The lives of those in the martial world, who live bearing the weight of the sword... are all stained with sorrow and misfortune.
It felt as though his grandfather’s lonely voice was whispering in his ear. Biting his lip hard, Bu Eunseol also rose. This battle was absolutely unavoidable.
“Instructor.”
He gripped the hilt of the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
“I was able to enter the world of swordsmanship thanks to the teachings you bestowed upon me, and upon that foundation, I was able to build my martial prowess.”
Sring.
Drawing the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, he held the tip downward with both hands and offered a salute of respect.
“Though it is still meager, I shall show you the results.”
Jingak wore a smile.
“The world-renowned Martial Soul Command Lord should not lower his head so easily.”
Immediately unleashing the Hwa Wu swordplay, he shouted, “Watch yourself!”
Unlike the Righteous Faction, the Demonic Path did not care for seniority or protocol once a fight begins.
Knowing well that Bu Eunseol had achieved a level of swordsmanship superior to his own, he immediately launched the first strike.
Easily evading Jingak’s sword technique, Bu Eunseol spoke in a clear, resonant voice.
“It is a fine sword technique.”
In that instant, he wanted to clap a hand over his own mouth. To leisurely dismantle a sword technique while shouting such praise—this was exactly how the ‘Sword Heroes’ of the Righteous Faction behaved.
Regardless, Jingak concentrated his spirit and unfolded his swordplay.
Zing.
Jingak’s sword moves contained subtle principles capable of instantly halting an enemy’s technique, and even a simple swing sent out sharp shockwaves.
Specifically, the Hwa Wu swordplay is based on a fundamental source that masters of the sect interpret differently to create their own unique variations. The reason the Hwa Wu Sword Sect became the Number One Demonic Sword Sect was precisely because of this ability to freely transform the swordplay according to one’s own temperament.
Whir-r-r-r!
Bu Eunseol swung the Silent Tiger Soul Sword to block Jingak’s sharp moves. However, even though he wasn't hit by a direct attack, shockwaves that struck the internal organs spread out. Even though the blade didn't graze him, burns and bleeding occurred.
‘Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms?’
Bu Eunseol realized Jingak was unfolding the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms and let out an internal cry of admiration.
‘He has doggedly refined the basic principles of the Hwa Wu Sword.’
Jingak’s personality was static and calm.
Therefore, instead of techniques that created flashy transformations, he had chosen the path of deeply refining simple forms. As a result, his Hwa Wu swordplay was extremely close to the original source of the early Hwa Wu Sword established seven hundred years ago by the founder, Jeok Hwa-un, who had synthesized all demonic sword techniques.
‘Literally, a rain of fire.’
Wherever Jingak’s swordplay passed, whether stone or wood, all turned to ash. The sword-qi, like droplets of fire, generated high heat to the point that one had to hold their breath.
Swish-sh-sh-sh!
Jingak’s moves were extremely exquisite. Not only were the sword forms incredibly fast, but the range of his sword momentum was vast.
‘I took the Hwa Wu swordplay too lightly.’
Bu Eunseol had also refined the basics of the Hwa Wu Sword and had even dueled with the Sword Demon, Wi Hyeok-gun, one of the sect’s greatest masters.
Thus, he had inwardly prided himself on knowing the Hwa Wu Sword better than anyone.
However, the Hwa Wu Sword Jingak unleashed was not a demonic technique, but something as exquisite and soft as Taoist swordsmanship. Because of this, it seemed he could continue the offense and defense without difficulty, yet in every moment he failed to realize, he was being grazed and cut by the sword.
Shiver.
Furthermore, Jingak’s sword tip was vibrating constantly, to a degree that even Bu Eunseol could barely detect. It was because extreme speed and mysterious sword moves were being incessantly combined.
Clang!
As the weapons clashed in mid-air, a clear metallic ring spread throughout Geumsado.
Sizzle.
To his surprise, the one who retreated was none other than Bu Eunseol. Because Jingak had doggedly refined the basics over and over, he unfolded even ordinary sword moves with such perfection that no flaw could be found, even ignoring the gap in their levels of internal power.
“Your swordplay is still rough,” Jingak said in a low voice. “Furthermore, your soul is constantly wavering.”
Bu Eunseol could say nothing. With his mind filled with righteousness, he could not properly unfold the Supreme Heavenly Flow, let alone any demonic sword arts. But what if he used righteous sword arts? That would be an insult to Jingak.
‘How can I carelessly unfold my sword before the mentor who first taught me?’
His swordsmanship had reached the pinnacle of ‘Ascending the Peak and Entering the Limit.’ He was no longer bound by Righteous or Demonic styles or specific moves; he could unfold swordplay through ‘Sword Intent’ alone. However, to fight that way would be to look down on Jingak too much.
Pat!
In the meantime, a drop of blood trickled down Bu Eunseol’s cheek. A sharp blade of sword-qi had grazed his temple. If his evasion had been even slightly slower, he would have been blinded in his right eye.
Swish-sh-sh!
Nonetheless, Jingak did not stop, incessantly unfolding the Hwa Wu Sword. As if in a state of self-transcendence, a sun-like fighting spirit spread through his eyes, and transparent flames seemed to burn across his entire body.
‘The Instructor is serious.’
Only then did Bu Eunseol realize he had been thinking very wrongly.
‘Is this very thought not the act of a face-saving righteous martial artist?’
Jingak was a swordsman who had spent his life relying on a single blade to fight his enemies. No matter what swordplay Bu Eunseol used, what he thought, or what expression he wore, Jingak was unfolding his sword with his whole heart and strength solely to cut down his foe.
‘For now, this is the best way!’
Since his righteous personality dominated his soul and he could not use the lethally sharp Supreme Heavenly Flow, he intended to use a style of swordsmanship that relied only on Sword Intent—a feat only possible for one who has achieved an infinitely high realm of the sword.
‘I shall read the flow of the sword moves to defend against the Instructor’s Hwa Wu Sword.’
Jingak’s current Hwa Wu Sword had reached such a high realm that it captured the fleeting moments where evasion was impossible in every move. If so, the only way was to use that flow to completely control the movements of the swordplay.
Sizzle!
A white storm surged from Bu Eunseol’s body. He spun his body in a large circle and struck out with a rapid sword strike. Despite the sudden move, Jingak remained unperturbed; he read the flow of Bu Eunseol’s technique and pierced toward his vital points like falling light, tracing a swift trajectory.
Twitch.
However, Jingak was ultimately unable to finish the move.
This was because Bu Eunseol, while suspended in mid-air, was still projecting the sword move.
His sword tip, held as if time had stopped, was sealing every ‘Sword Path’ Jingak could possibly take. Consequently, the moment Jingak tried to unleash his technique, a gap was created instead.
Swish!
Jingak did not panic.
By returning his long sword behind his back, he projected the sword move into the air once more. But it was no use. Bu Eunseol still did not finish the technique.
Nevertheless, the moment Jingak tried to strike, he was forced to collapse by his own movements.
‘Controlling the flow of motion with a single Sword Intent.’
Bu Eunseol’s stationary sword move did not cut the enemy; it embraced everything the enemy was. Furthermore, because he read the flow of the sword even before Jingak himself, no matter what movement Jingak took or what swordplay he unfolded, he was forced to be instantly blocked.
Thud.
In the end, Jingak had no choice but to lower his sword. He wore a refreshed smile.
“In this short moment, you have mastered the technique of grasping the flow of Sword Intent.”
Bu Eunseol’s gaze wavered. Only now did he realize that Jingak had intentionally unleashed these moves to pass on the subtle principles of the Hwa Wu swordplay.
With an expression of disbelief, Bu Eunseol asked, “Why did you pass this swordplay to me?”
“You already learned the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms on Hell Island with the permission of the Majeon,” Jingak said calmly. “Therefore, it will not be a crime even if I pass the Thirteen Forms to you once more.”
“Instructor.”
As Bu Eunseol lowered his head with a pained expression, Jingak wore a somewhat lonely smile.
“I was never a person of great talent. Therefore, I could not master the Hwa Wu Sword properly and always had to doggedly refine only the basic swordplay, the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms.”
“...”
“Then, after much agonizing, I refined to the point of death only the core principles of the Thirteen Styles: ‘Observing the Flow to Control the Battle’ and ‘Knowing the Mechanism to Achieve Victory.’ That is, the subtle art of grasping the flow of the enemy’s movements first to control the combat.”
He continued calmly, “I did this because I thought it would at least keep me from dying under an enemy’s blade.”
He looked at the distant sky.
“But those who master these principles in the Hwa Wu Sword Sect have vanished. Why would anyone bother with these tedious and unremarkable basics like the Thirteen Styles when they can learn the Number One Demonic Sword Arts that can suppress an enemy in an instant?”
Jingak, who lacked exceptional talent, had been a ‘Leaf Sword’—the lowest rank among the many disciples of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect. Like the Nangyang Pavilion, the sect determined rank and status solely by sword skill. Jingak had known his limits early on and eventually gave up on learning the Hwa Wu Sword, the sect’s supreme martial art.
―The Founder created the Thirteen Styles for the sake of ordinary disciples. Surely there is a deep meaning in this swordplay as well.
He was stubborn and possessed more persistence than anyone.
While others practiced the Thirteen Forms briefly just to grasp the basics of the Hwa Wu Sword, he had doggedly refined them for ten years.
Ten years later, for the first time, he participated in the annual Secret Sword Tournament within the sect. There, he surpassed the star-like swordsmen to take the victory.
―I see, indeed.
The Profound Demon, Weiji Mu-a, who was watching the tournament at the time, had nodded in admiration.
―Only a man like him can take charge of the Myeong-a Hall, which is responsible for all the beginner disciples of this sect.
It was a truly unconventional appointment. The Profound Demon had grasped at a glance what kind of person Jingak was and what training he had undergone.
―To think a Leaf Sword, the lowest rank in the main pavilion for ten years, would instantly become a Hall Master and rise to the rank of Hegemon Sword!
Once he received recognition from the Profound Demon Weiji Mu-a—one of the greatest masters of the era—many disciples of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect flocked to Jingak to request his teachings.
He silently taught the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms exactly as he had learned them.
―What on earth is this?
The disciples could not hide their bewilderment.
Each disciple of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect learns their own unique version of the Hwa Wu Sword and constantly tests themselves through duels.
But Jingak’s method of silently mastering the basics to awaken the inner principles was an antiquated way—practicing basics to death while the sect’s martial arts were developing and changing by the day.
―The Sect Leader simply wanted to establish a Hall Master to preserve the sect’s traditions, didn't he?
In the end, the disciples all left in disappointment. Occasionally, some would stay to practice the Thirteen Styles with him, but they, too, left before a year had passed.
―It seems no disciple capable of achieving greatness in our sect’s martial arts will emerge in this generation.
It was said that when the Profound Demon saw Jingak silently guarding the Myeong-a Hall alone, he patted him on the shoulder and turned away with a click of his tongue. But Jingak was the only one who knew these stories.
Ending his reminiscence, Jingak let out a low hum.
“If I die, this great principle of the Thirteen Hwa Wu Forms will be severed here.”
He smiled faintly as he looked at Bu Eunseol.
“But you—you can pass this principle to our sect, can't you?”
“But I am a person who cannot coexist with the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.”
Currently, Bu Eunseol was a great enemy of the sect, someone who could never coexist with them. To pass the principles of the Thirteen Forms to such a man and ask him to deliver them to the sect?
“No, you can do it.”
Jingak was certain.
Bu Eunseol, even if faced with a sworn enemy, would never refuse such a request.
“Why do you say that?”
Jingak smiled.
“Because I saw everything—how you conducted yourself at the Third Trial in Hell Island.”
When he first saw him, he thought Bu Eunseol would become a desolate, emotionless, and cold slaughter star of the Demonic Path. But after teaching him all the basic swordplay, he realized the truth.
Not only did the boy have a heavenly talent for martial arts, but he also possessed richer emotions than anyone. It was just that those emotions had been completely frozen by some incident.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered to say these things to every person who died by his hand.
―Is there anything you wish to leave to your sect or your acquaintances?
At the time, even as Bu Eunseol killed the children attacking him one by one on Hell Island, he always spoke those words to those who fought him fairly in one-on-one combat.
―Tell me. I shall surely deliver it.
To ensure smooth combat on Hell Island back then, all the instructors had worn masks and acted as Death Wraiths.
―A strange fellow.
Jingak had secretly followed Bu Eunseol and verified every one of his actions. He was also the one who had strongly demanded that Bu Eunseol be brought in as a member of the Ten Demon Warrior of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect.
“...I see.”
Having heard the whole story, Bu Eunseol wore an embarrassed expression. He had guessed the Death Wraiths were the instructors who taught the Ten Demon Warriors, but he hadn't known Jingak had been following him and seeing all of that.
“Actually, currently I am...”
Bu Eunseol intended to tell Jingak the full situation he was in.
“I am not in a normal state.”
“I know. The image of the soul is carved directly into a martial artist’s swordplay.”
To his surprise, Jingak spoke as if he grasped the entire situation.
“Are you not under a Great Law or a restriction that limits your soul?”
“That is correct.”
Because he could not say it was a scripture passed down by his father in his childhood, Bu Eunseol conveyed only the general meaning.
“I happened to see a scripture that touches the soul... and because of that, I have fallen into an unstable state.”
“A scripture that touches the soul.”
Jingak looked down at Bu Eunseol.
“Surely you did not see the scripture of the Weiji family?”
“The Weiji family’s scripture…?”
“The Weiji family desired to rule the Hwa Wu Sword Sect forever. So they obtained and utilized a... Soul Secret Technique that a human must never use.”
“A Soul Secret Technique?”
Jingak spoke words that were more shocking than anything.
“They say it was modeled after the Soul Secret Technique of the Baekri family—one of the Three Families that remains a legend of the martial world.”
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