The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 105.
Bu Eunseol’s expression brightened with interest.
“Wanderer registration?”
“Yes. If we simply hand out work to anyone, information could leak or the job could be botched.”
“But wanderers hide their identities anyway.”
“That’s true. In fact, registration itself isn’t complicated. You simply need to demonstrate your abilities. Based on that, you can take on work in four categories: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and special-grade.”
“Registration and testing, then.”
Bu Eunseol nodded in understanding.
By assessing a wanderer’s capabilities and assigning work accordingly, the failure rate would certainly decrease.
If too many wanderers failed, Jeok Cheon Mak Ji’s credibility would suffer equally.
“Well managed indeed.”
“In exchange, they extract an introduction fee under the guise of an information charge each time someone takes a job. Three percent for low-grade, and around ten percent for high-grade or special-grade wanderers.”
“I see.”
“Allow me to inquire about the registration process first.”
When Heuk Pyo approached one of the extended counters at Su Gyeong Jeon, a woman with an exceptionally neat appearance greeted him with a smile.
“Welcome.”
“I’m here to register as a wanderer.”
“Ah, this appears to be your first time with us.”
As Heuk Pyo nodded, the woman handed him a form.
“Would you first fill out the visitor’s register?”
“Master.”
When Heuk Pyo handed over the register, Bu Eunseol paused briefly in thought.
Then she wrote “Seol So”—snow’s disappearance.
It literally meant vanishing like snow, and the woman nodded in approval.
“So you’re Seol So. And you, sir?”
At her question, Heuk Pyo shook his head.
“I am Seol… Master’s servant.”
“Ah, I see. Still, if you’ll be traveling together, you must register as well.”
Heuk Pyo looked at the register, then wrote “White Tiger” in small characters beside Seol So’s name.
“There we are.”
When Heuk Pyo handed over the register, the woman pointed to the Palace Hall across from Su Gyeong Jeon.
“Please go to Hoengkongbu on the opposite side. Your grade can be determined there.”
The woman offered a kind smile.
“Once your grade is set, you can take on work from the free-grade assignments or come here to receive work suited to your aptitudes.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
Heuk Pyo led Bu Eunseol out of Su Gyeong Jeon and entered the entrance to Hoengkongbu on the opposite side.
Beyond the gate, a spacious Training Grounds came into view alongside a small armory lined with eighteen varieties of weapons.
“Come for grading?”
A bald man standing before the armory looked Bu Eunseol and Heuk Pyo up and down.
“The one taking the test is our master here.”
“A master? Heh.”
The bald man chuckled as he gazed at Bu Eunseol’s ordinary features, which she had deliberately adopted.
“It’s not uncommon for descendants of the Mang Clan to take on mercenary work with their servants.”
The bald man seemed to believe Bu Eunseol was a descendant of the Mang Clan living as a wanderer with her attendant.
“Let’s proceed quickly.”
As Bu Eunseol spoke with evident boredom, the bald man laughed and extended his finger.
“The test is simple. You need only leave a footprint there.”
Where the man pointed, a sheet of pale blue stone lay spread across the ground.
Jeok Cheon Mak Ji determined martial cultivation levels and assigned ranks based on the depth of footprints carved into the stone tablet.
“Is the test merely to assess one’s internal cultivation level?”
As Bu Eunseol furrowed her brow, the man chuckled.
“Of course, if your internal cultivation is judged to be above first rank, you can take the advanced mercenary test. But a novice mercenary wouldn’t have such an opportunity.”
“Then I suppose I’ll need to take the advanced mercenary test.”
The bald man frowned at Bu Eunseol’s words.
“Did you not hear what I just said?”
He pointed at the stone tablet while scowling.
“First, you must leave a footprint on the stone tablet, and only if your internal cultivation is judged above first rank can you….”
He could not finish his sentence.
Two vivid footprints had already appeared on the previously flat stone tablet.
“When did you….”
The man swallowed hard.
The footprints were carved all the way to the edge of the stone. Bu Eunseol had used Lightning Shadow Step to imprint them like a flash of lightning.
‘This master far exceeds first rank cultivation?’
Only then did the man realize Bu Eunseol was a master beyond his comprehension, and he let out an awkward cough.
“Ahem, please follow me.”
As I followed the bald man past the Training Grounds, a winding corridor appeared.
After walking along the path for some time, a vast flower garden unfolded before me, and within it stood a small stone cottage.
The bald man stood before the cottage, lowered his head, and spoke respectfully.
“Master. I am Jeung Gak.”
From within the cottage came not a response, but the sound of low coughing: “Cough, cough.”
“A person with internal cultivation exceeding first rank has arrived and wishes to take the advanced mercenary test.”
“Advanced mercenary?”
Creak.
The cottage door opened, and a very tall man walked out slowly.
For a moment, Bu Eunseol’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
She had expected an elderly man given the title of master, but the one who emerged was a young man who appeared to be not yet thirty.
“Cough, cough.”
The man coughed again at that moment.
Despite his slightly bowed head, he stood more than a hand’s breadth taller than Bu Eunseol, who was over six feet, and with each cough, the long sword at his waist rippled like water.
“Advanced mercenary, you say….”
At last, when the man’s coughing subsided, he pointed toward Bu Eunseol and spoke.
“Give me the certificate.”
“Pardon?”
“You may give it.”
The tall man coughed again and turned to leave.
But suddenly, Bu Eunseol nodded and spoke.
“Impressive. It was worth coming here after all.”
Bu Eunseol, smiling with her white teeth slightly bared, blocked the man’s path.
“Are you the deputy chief of this place?”
“That’s right.”
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol held a faint smile and spoke in a cold voice.
“Then, draw your sword.”
The man’s expression turned blank for a moment.
A novice wanderer who came to receive a rank was suddenly asking him to draw his sword?
But soon, understanding Bu Eunseol’s intent, the man chuckled.
“As you can see, my body is not well. I have lung disease.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“You would fight a sick man?”
“A sick man, you say.”
Bu Eunseol laughed softly, and the man wore a bitter smile.
“Does it sound like a lie?”
“Your body may be weak, but your hands are very strong.”
The body is weak, but the hands are strong.
It was a contradictory statement, yet Bu Eunseol’s gaze remained unwavering.
Though the man’s body was certainly afflicted by illness, the qi flowing from his right hand and the power coiled within it were formidable enough to cleave through rushing waters.
“Hehehehe.”
The man laughed lowly, stared intently at Bu Eunseol, then nodded.
“So, you wish to fight me.”
“I do.”
“Unfortunately, that won’t be possible.”
“What do you mean?”
“I do not fight just anyone.”
The man held a sweet, faint smile.
“I’ve given you an upper-rank wanderer certificate, so come back again with a special-rank wanderer certificate. Then I’ll consider it.”
With those words, the man unhesitatingly slipped back behind the curtain.
As silence settled for a moment, the bald man standing behind, Jeung Gak, rushed over and spoke.
“Are you insane?”
He approached Bu Eunseol with a contorted expression.
“Did you challenge him to a fight without even knowing who he is?”
“I don’t know.”
Bu Eunseol answered flatly, and Jeung Gak’s expression turned bewildered as his mouth fell open.
“You challenged someone without even knowing who they were?”
“That’s right.”
“Why on earth?”
“Because they were strong.”
“Good heavens. You truly are an incorrigible fellow.”
Jeung Gak slapped his own forehead and let out an exasperated sigh.
“Listen carefully now. That man is the third disciple of Cho Geom Rang, Master Jeong Cheon.”
“Cho Geom Rang?”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed to slits.
Cho Geom Rang—he was a grand master of martial arts who belonged to the Mado Sipgyeol, the legendary ten warriors of the previous generation.
Yet this gaunt man was Cho Geom Rang’s third disciple?
“That’s why I called him ‘Master.'”
If he was a disciple of Cho Geom Rang, who had made his name some sixty years ago, he would be nearly of equal standing with the current sect leaders of the Nine Sects One Alliance.
“Now that you know, stop talking about challenges and such. If you value your life, that is.”
At Jeung Gak’s words, Bu Eunseol merely smiled and patted his shoulder.
“So then, what must one do to become a special-grade vagrant?”
“Have you heard nothing I’ve said? If you value your life—”
Jeung Gak’s words trailed off.
An irresistible dignity emanated from Bu Eunseol’s entire being, even as she smiled.
“Ahem.”
Jeung Gak swallowed hard, then cleared his throat and spoke.
“You must complete twenty or more high-grade vagrant assignments listed in the Free-Grade Registry.”
“That’s far too many.”
Completing twenty assignments would mean my journey through Gangho would come to an end.
As Bu Eunseol frowned, Jeung Gak cleared his throat again.
“Alternatively, you could complete three Designated-Grade assignments that our bureau assigns. However…”
And he continued speaking.
“Honestly, I think you should reconsider.”
Jeung Gak, who had been studying Bu Eunseol, spoke.
“Designated-Grade assignments exist because they cannot be resolved through Free-Grade work. For you to become a special-grade vagrant by handling those would be far too great a loss.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression turned puzzled.
The bald man’s advice was meant to benefit Bu Eunseol, not Jeok Cheon Mak Ji.
“Why are you offering me such counsel?”
“There are few vagrants as young as you with such excellent skill.”
Jeung Gak sighed as he spoke.
“In the vagrant market, I’ve seen countless young people overestimate their abilities and die young. I’m only offering this advice because it troubles me.”
Jeung Gak was more straightforward and honest than I had expected.
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol nodded approvingly at Jeung Gak’s suggestion.
“Thank you for the advice.”
“You appreciate it?”
Jeung Gak, touched by her gratitude, wiped his nose, prompting Bu Eunseol to shake her head firmly.
“I’ll proceed with a designated rank.”
The third floor office of Su Gyeong Jeon.
This was where the Master of Su Gyeong Jeon resided—the one who distributed all incoming commissions to Jeok Cheon Mak Ji.
Jeung Gak, leading the way, spoke before the Master’s office door.
“Jeung Gak of Hoengkongbu.”
“Please come in.”
A young woman’s voice came from within. Jeung Gak then turned to Bu Eunseol and said:
“I’ve already explained the situation, so you can discuss the details with her.”
Bu Eunseol nodded and opened the door without hesitation.
Inside, between towering bookshelves and tables laden with documents, sat a woman dressed in azure robes.
She appeared to be barely past her coming of age, yet possessed a grace and elegance rarely seen in women her age.
“I am Dam Yoo Yeon, Master of Su Gyeong Jeon.”
“Bu Eunseol.”
She glanced briefly at Heuk Pyo standing behind Bu Eunseol, then nodded.
“I’ve heard everything. You wish to become a special-rank vagrant of our organization.”
“That is correct.”
“Why?”
“Because I wish to fight the strong.”
“I fail to understand. Could you not simply wander the Murim and challenge powerful masters?”
Bu Eunseol spoke candidly.
“I lack the time to wander aimlessly seeking martial contests. They do not remain in one place constantly, and some lack the strength their reputation suggests.”
Bu Eunseol’s gaze swept across the office interior.
“But the commissions that come to vagrants include precise information. Moreover, since they belong to no sect, there would be many commissions involving powerful opponents.”
“Becoming a vagrant to face the strong… I see.”
Dam Yoo Yeon’s eyes deepened as if recalling a distant memory.
“Cho Geom Rang once said his reason for becoming a vagrant was also to exchange blows with the strong.”
She regarded Bu Eunseol steadily and spoke matter-of-factly.
“He said that even a single fight becomes complicated when one belongs to a sect or organization.”
“So it was.”
“I have one question.”
Dam Yoo Yeon’s gaze fixed upon Bu Eunseol’s transformed, narrow eyes.
“Is your reason for becoming a special-rank vagrant to face the Master of Hoengkongbu?”
“It is.”
“Because he is strong?”
“Yes.”
In that moment, a crimson and shadowed light of emotion flickered across Dam Yoo Yeon’s eyes.
It was anger and hostility.
But that flicker of emotion faded swiftly, replaced just as quickly by a gentle, warm gaze.
“Very well.”
The woman, who had been studying Bu Eunseol’s visitor registry on the table, nodded.
“Since our department has been struggling with these high-priority assignments and you’ve offered to handle them, there’s no reason to refuse.”
She then retrieved a yellowed envelope from the edge of the table.
“This is your first assignment. I’m sure you’ll find the details quite satisfactory.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed as she opened the envelope.
Inside lay instructions to eliminate Wang Jeong, the mysterious figure who had recently seized control of the Buljeongsan region, along with his subordinate forces.
“Wang Jeong….”
Bu Eunseol tilted her head as she gazed at the envelope.
“I’ve never heard of this person before.”
Dam Yoo Yeon spoke in a low voice.
“He is a master who obtained the secret techniques of Hyeol Do, a legendary expert from a century ago who was hidden away in Buljeongsan.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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