The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 128
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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 128.
Bu Eunseol was not one to be easily provoked or swept up in excitement.
Yet Sect Leader Hyuk Ryeon Eung was a man who had willingly accepted severe punishment to save her.
When Yu Woon Ryong invoked the Sect Leader’s name as a provocation, her fury erupted with unexpected intensity.
“Hahaha. The atmosphere has grown quite tense, hasn’t it?”
At that moment, Sim Wol abruptly inserted himself between Bu Eunseol, who stood radiating killing intent, and Yu Woon Ryong.
“Ah, and you are?”
Sim Wol studied Yu Woon Ryong’s face, then stepped forward and clasped his hands respectfully.
“It is an honor to meet you for the first time, Young Master Yu.”
“Who are you?”
When Yu Woon Ryong asked with arrogance, Sim Wol smiled broadly and replied.
“I am a disciple of Man Bak Dang, Sim Wol.”
“Man Bak Dang?”
A glimmer of contempt flickered across Yu Woon Ryong’s eyes upon hearing Sim Wol’s answer.
Though he uttered no words, his expression and gaze alone made clear his disdain for Sim Wol.
Yet despite such arrogance, Sim Wol maintained his smile and continued speaking.
“It is truly an honor to meet one of the Ten Demon Experts of the White Horse Sect.”
“You know of me?”
“Of course. Though I attend to modest duties within our sect, I always keep my ears open to developments regarding the Ten Demon Experts, whose emergence has sent shockwaves through the Demonic Path.”
Sim Wol clasped his hands once more as he spoke.
“In particular, I have long admired hearing of Young Master Yu’s exceptional talent and the rumors that you have mastered Divine Technique Manifestation, one of the highest techniques of the White Horse method.”
With Sim Wol’s continued praise, a satisfied smile gradually spread across Yu Woon Ryong’s face.
“You seem quite young, yet you have heard much and know much.”
“You are too kind.”
Sim Wol continued without pause.
“You must be quite fatigued from your long journey. You there!”
At his call, a warrior who had been standing behind stepped forward and bowed.
“You called for me?”
“Please guide Young Master Yu to his quarters with utmost courtesy. As one of the Ten Demon Experts of the White Horse Sect, he must be shown to the finest accommodations.”
Upon careful examination of Sim Wol’s words, Yu Woon Ryong’s lodgings were already arranged, and there was no genuine opportunity to show him anywhere particularly special.
Yet Yu Woon Ryong, intoxicated by the continued flattery, failed to discern this and nodded contentedly.
“There is no need to trouble yourself so.”
His mood had improved so greatly that even his manner of speech had shifted to a more respectful tone.
Sim Wol addressed Yu Woon Ryong with utmost courtesy.
“Young Master Yu, I have some matters to discuss with Young Master Bu. Would you mind if I excused myself first?”
“Ah, by all means.”
Yu Woon Ryong, who had come to provoke Bu Eunseol, was now departing under the warrior’s guidance, his spirit completely captivated by Sim Wol’s eloquence.
“Your tongue is formidable indeed.”
To naturally insert oneself between Bu Eunseol, who radiated killing intent, and Yu Woon Ryong—
This subtly revealed that Sim Wol’s martial prowess was no less than Bu Eunseol’s own.
However, Bu Eunseol offered praise only for Sim Wol’s eloquence.
“It’s nothing special. People like Yu Woon Ryong, who are arrogant and self-absorbed by nature, only need a few words of flattery.”
“So you can read faces?”
Sim Wol’s large, elongated eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“That’s not it. Rather, everyone harbors words they wish to hear. And when you speak those words to them… they always remember the one who said them as a good person.”
Sim Wol shared something in common with Bu Eunseol.
Despite his youth, he possessed the profound understanding of human nature and seasoned wisdom of an elder watching the twilight of life.
“Since Bu Eunseol seems to dislike noise, I arranged lodgings at the outermost section of the Demon Palace.”
Sim Wol, shifting the topic, extended his hand and guided Bu Eunseol forward.
“Shall we share some conversation as we walk?”
“Very well.”
The two walked side by side along a narrow path leading toward the outskirts of the Demon Palace.
For a time, they walked in silence. It was Sim Wol who finally broke that long, heavy quiet.
“Do you know why the Demon Palace summoned the Ten Demon Experts?”
“I heard it was to deal with the Great Righteous Masters.”
“On the surface, yes, but the timing is far too premature. As you’ve likely heard… all of this stems from pressure by the Ten Demonic Gates.”
“I cannot comprehend it.”
At Bu Eunseol’s murmur, Sim Wol, as if seeing through his thoughts, spoke in a hushed voice.
“In truth, I’ve heard that when Ma Cheon Je announced the Ten Demon Experts plan, it was not to face the Great Righteous Masters, but because he had another agenda.”
Sim Wol paused briefly, gazing toward the distant sky, and whispered.
“But he suddenly entered seclusion. That is why the Ten Demon Experts plan has become so unstable.”
At this, Bu Eunseol’s eyes, which had remained serene until now, shifted.
‘The Demon Palace Master entered seclusion.’
Bu Eunseol reproached myself for my own negligence.
How could I have remained ignorant of such crucial information until now?
‘I focused too much on martial arts.’
The position of one of the Ten Demon Experts required attention not only to martial prowess but also to the broader strategic landscape and the state of the Murim.
Yet Bu Eunseol had always devoted myself entirely to martial arts, and this oversight was the result.
‘Since things have come to this, it would be better to hear everything from him.’
Having settled on this thought, Bu Eunseol asked with a slightly surprised expression.
“The Master suddenly entered seclusion?”
“It has been a common occurrence. Whenever he gained sudden enlightenment, he would enter seclusion.”
Sim Wol spoke with a slight cough.
“And… you should address him as Ma Cheon Je, not the Demon Palace Master. Only those of high standing within the Ten Demonic Gates or the upper echelons of the Demon Palace may use that title.”
Dan Cheong, Hyul Geum Gang, Cheol Master, Jeok Bung, and others…
All the individuals Bu Eunseol had encountered thus far possessed extraordinarily high status and rank.
Because they all casually referred to him as the Demon Palace Master, Bu Eunseol had naturally fallen into the habit of using that term.
“I was unaware. I shall be more careful.”
“Indeed. In any case, since Ma Cheon Je has absented himself, the treatment of the Ten Demon Experts is now heavily influenced by the Ten Demonic Gates and the Elder Council. This is why the current situation has arisen.”
From Sim Wol’s explanation, Bu Eunseol could now clearly grasp once more the situation of the Demon Palace that Dan Cheong and Baek Yeon had previously described.
“Why would you share such information with me?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Sim Wol’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“In this situation, engaging in combat with a Grand Master would be nothing short of a blood path—or rather, outright suicide.”
An incomprehensible answer.
As confusion rose within me, I pressed my lips firmly shut instead.
He had thrown out a riddle, so naturally he would follow with an explanation befitting it.
“I am aware that Young Master Bu defeated Young Ji Wi, a Grand Master who appeared at the Donghyo Seorang Jeong Mu Dae Hoe.”
Yet contrary to my expectations, Sim Wol continued with another enigmatic statement.
“However, he is someone who took up martial arts late in life. From the start, he cannot be called a true Grand Master—his skills are rather mediocre.”
I remained silent, my lips sealed.
If I waited long enough, the conclusion of this tale would surely reveal itself.
“No matter how exceptional Young Master Bu’s martial prowess may be, you cannot contend with the remaining Grand Masters.”
“….”
“Because each of the Grand Masters has long since received secret techniques to counter the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Gates.”
My eyes narrowed.
At this point, I had to set aside the question of why Sim Wol was providing me with such varied information.
“Secret techniques to counter the supreme arts of the Ten Demonic Gates? How is such a thing even possible?”
Finally, as I broke my silence, the smile at the corners of Sim Wol’s mouth deepened.
“According to highly classified intelligence obtained by this sect, there exists a most mysterious master within the Murim Alliance. Not only is he profoundly versed in Demonic Path martial arts, but he is said to be capable of discerning technique variations by examining the wounds left upon corpses.”
Thump.
In that instant, I felt as though my chest had caved inward with shock.
The moment I heard those words, the murderer who had killed my grandfather flashed unbidden through my mind.
“Who is this person?”
“I do not know. The identity of this mysterious figure is said to be among the Murim Alliance’s most closely guarded secrets. Within the Alliance itself, only three people are said to know who he truly is.”
Sim Wol, who had paused briefly in his explanation, added one more thing.
“There are rumors that he is a schemer who has been active in the Murim for a very long time.”
“A schemer….”
Without realizing it, I clenched my fists tightly.
I had always believed the murderer to be one of the highest masters of the Demonic Path.
But if there existed an Orthodox master proficient in Demonic Path martial arts, then conversely, there could also be a Demonic Path master versed in Orthodox martial arts.
‘Do not think hastily. Eventually, as I wander through the Murim, I will surely encounter such a master.’
As I fell into contemplation, Sim Wol’s voice continued.
“Now do you understand why I said you should not fight the Grand Masters?”
Awakening from my reverie, my mind raced swiftly.
Sim Wol had consistently provided me with quite valuable information. And the conclusion of that information could ultimately be summarized in a single phrase.
―The strength of the Grand Masters is such that even the Ten Demon Experts cannot contend with them.
‘Is that what this was about?’
Though something felt amiss, I responded as though I understood nothing.
“But being proficient in Demonic Path martial arts is not the same as being proficient in the supreme techniques of the Ten Demonic Gates, is it?”
“Of course not. However, by examining the wounds of the dead, one can certainly infer the methods to some degree.”
Bu Eunseol shook her head.
“Techniques are merely about understanding variations in basic moves, nothing more.”
Bu Eunseol, thoroughly versed in human anatomy and having studied the scars of countless Murim masters, possessed the ability to discern techniques and basic move variations to a considerable degree simply by examining wounds.
She too could infer a opponent’s martial techniques to some extent from the scars left behind.
“But one cannot claim to have grasped an opponent’s martial arts through such means.”
“Of course not. The scars left on a corpse cannot possibly reveal the profound mysteries and essence of the Ten Demonic Gates’ vast martial knowledge.”
A sharp glint flashed across Sim Wol’s eyes as he smiled faintly.
“But what if we assume the martial prowess of the Great Righteous Masters and the Ten Demon Experts are comparable? Wouldn’t knowing your opponent’s variations in basic moves be an enormous advantage?”
Bu Eunseol fell silent.
He was right.
In combat against an evenly matched opponent, minute differences determine victory.
Moreover, weren’t the Great Righteous Masters considered superior in martial arts compared to the Ten Demon Experts?
This was no mere advantage—it could become the difference between life and death.
“That may well be true.”
As Bu Eunseol finally conceded his point, Sim Wol’s expression brightened.
“I’m relieved you understand now.”
Bu Eunseol, who had been staring intently into Sim Wol’s eyes, finally shook her head as though she had found the answer to a riddle.
“Now I understand why you would tell me such things.”
“Is that so?”
“You came on the orders of the Elder Council Master?”
Sim Wol’s eyes widened in apparent surprise before he smiled faintly.
“That’s correct. I’ve come once more to convey the Elder Council Master’s wishes to you.”
As Bu Eunseol remained silent, Sim Wol spoke in a low voice.
“Now that you’ve heard my explanation, you must understand why the Elder Council Master recommended you for a position in the Am Cheon Dae.”
In the past, Bu Eunseol had come to the Demon Palace at the White Horse Sect’s request.
And just as she was about to leave, she had been summoned by Jeok Bung, the Elder Council Master, and met with him.
At that time, Jeok Bung had strongly urged Bu Eunseol to leave the Nangya Sect and become a member of the Am Cheon Dae in the Demon Palace—and now she could see the reasoning behind such a proposal.
“So… the Elder Council Master made that suggestion because he feared I would be killed by the Great Righteous Masters.”
“Precisely. The Elder Council Master saw through the Ten Demonic Gates’ schemes early on and worried that you would perish without ever fully awakening your talents.”
Sim Wol’s rhetoric was impeccably organized, and his persuasive argument was tightly constructed.
Had Bu Eunseol been less perceptive or a novice to the Gangho, she would have believed every word.
“Listening to you alone, it sounds as though the Elder Council Master urged me into the Am Cheon Dae to save me with all his might.”
Bu Eunseol could not hide her cold smile.
“Surely escaping the shackles of the Ten Demon Experts and becoming a member of the Am Cheon Dae doesn’t come without a price?”
Sim Wol was not only quick-witted but also a shrewd individual.
He recognized the reproach in Bu Eunseol’s words and took a step back.
“If my words sounded that way, I apologize. It’s simply that I…”
“It’s fine. I simply dislike roundabout explanations.”
“Then I shall speak frankly.”
Sim Wol opened his mouth with gravity.
“Becoming a member of Am Cheon Dae means entering under the Elder Council Chairman’s direct command rather than simply joining the Demon Hall. However, this arrangement would only benefit you, Bu Hyup Hyup—it would certainly not harm you.”
“Under the Elder Council Chairman’s command….”
Bu Eunseol swept her piercing gaze across Sim Wol while maintaining an even tone as she continued.
“Then I cannot be the only one to receive such an offer from Am Cheon Dae. Am I correct?”
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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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