The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 138

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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 138.
Through this phenomenon, Bu Eunseol intuitively grasped that she had reached the threshold of the fourth stage of the Anti-Extreme Heart Method.
―Upon reaching the fourth stage, one can generate protective true energy that shields the entire body, much like the Profound Gate Resilient Qi.
Bu Eunseol recalled what Hyul Geum Gang had once told her as she gazed toward the distant sky.
“To cloak one’s body in armor forged from powerful true energy that flows within. Yet it is not omnipotent.”
Protective true energy could only defend against attacks infused with inner strength from martial techniques.
It could not withstand sharp weapons like swords or blades.
“To block weapon attacks, one would need to reach the fifth stage and materialize inner strength to that degree….”
Since entering the Murim, I had only fought masters of martial techniques twice—against the mysterious Masked Assassin’s disciple Myeong In at the Pae Do Moon, and against Yeo Hwan Jin.
Beyond those encounters, no enemies had attacked with bare hands, so I had not yet felt the necessity of protective true energy.
“Then perhaps I should refine my swordsmanship now.”
Bu Eunseol closed her eyes once more.
She no longer practiced sword techniques by wielding a blade or studying the Formless Heavenly Flow.
Instead, she had determined that she needed to integrate the insights gained from real combat into her martial arts, or further solidify her spiritual essence.
“Yeo Hwan Jin. His genuine swordsmanship surpassed my own.”
Even with Extreme Speed Without Shadow, I could not perfectly evade Yeo Hwan Jin’s Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.
It represented the pinnacle of the Flowing Sword—a technique that pierces through anything—and embodied the essence of Daoist swordsmanship, specialized in defense and counterattack.
“Yet even a master wielding such exalted martial arts ultimately failed to master spiritual essence.”
What I had grasped through the sword was merely fragments of habits and mannerisms Yeo Hwan Jin left behind when deploying the Flowing Cloud Sword.
Therefore, while I could block the Flowing Cloud Sword, I had not reached the level needed to seize victory.
However, when Yeo Hwan Jin realized his habits had been exposed, he felt fear and crisis before me.
That fear transformed into haste, causing him to deploy the Hundred Severing Cyclic Form without seizing the precise opportunity.
“Had he not succumbed to that haste…, he would have had virtually no chance of defeat against me from the start.”
Bu Eunseol replayed the intense battle with Yeo Hwan Jin in her mind once more.
After contemplating deeply for some time, she nodded as if reaching an understanding.
“In the end, what determined victory was not which sword technique one deployed, but whose spiritual essence was more resolute.”
Bu Eunseol’s mental refinement of the sword was a form of sword discourse.
And sword discourse requires an exceptional teacher, for one must align imagined concepts with the principles of martial arts.
Yet Bu Eunseol could refine her swordsmanship simply by organizing the insights she had gained from intense combat.
Contemplation and meditation.
This was a sword discourse method practiced only by the greatest masters of martial arts who had endured tens of thousands of real battles.
But Bu Eunseol had simply discovered the secret to advancing her martial arts through deep reflection on the sword and understanding its principles.
“When did things become like this?”
When Bu Eunseol regained awareness, another day had passed.
She had thought she was merely circulating her energy briefly and meditating for a moment, yet two days had elapsed in that very spot.
“Hmm.”
Her throat had grown somewhat dry, and hunger crept upon her.
Bu Eunseol considered calling Si Bi, who was stationed outside, but shook her head instead.
“I’ve been cooped up inside too long. Let me venture outside for a change.”
This area of Jinyang was filled with grand establishments as splendid and expansive as those in the bustling districts of Hwangju.
Bu Eunseol slipped out of the Back Garden where the separate quarters stood and stepped into the Yunlai Guest House.
Around midday, the more than a hundred tables spread across each floor were packed with patrons.
“Welcome, Young Master.”
A server spotted Bu Eunseol and rushed over with delight, bowing deeply.
He had single-handedly rented all five separate quarters—the kind that only high-ranking officials typically reserved—and consistently dispensed generous gratuities.
Because of this, every server at the Yunlai Guest House treated Bu Eunseol with the reverence reserved for a deity.
“Shall I show you to your usual spot on the third floor?”
Bu Eunseol surveyed the bustling interior of the inn and smacked his lips.
The sight of every table crammed full without a single empty seat struck him as nothing but chaotic noise.
“No, I’ll dine in the separate quarters instead.”
With that, he withdrew a silver coin from his pocket and handed it to the server as a tip.
“Oh, Young Master, I haven’t even served you yet… truly, it’s not necessary.”
As the young server waved both hands in protest, Bu Eunseol found himself smiling without quite realizing it.
The image of Heuk Pyo, training alone in martial arts at Donghyo Seorang, had crossed his mind.
“Take it. I simply wish to give it to you.”
When Bu Eunseol offered the coin again, the server bowed so deeply his head nearly touched the ground.
“Th-thank you so much!”
Bu Eunseol left the bowing server behind and entered the narrow path leading back toward the separate quarters.
But at the entrance to the quarters, a young woman’s sharp voice suddenly pierced the air.
“Why on earth can’t you do this?”
As Bu Eunseol approached the entrance with his hands clasped behind his back, he found Jin Manager and a Young Woman engaged in a heated exchange.
“Well, you see… you’ve even offered more money, haven’t you?”
Could she be just barely twenty years old?
She was a beauty with pristine skin and bright, spirited eyes.
From her bearing and the stern glint in her gaze, she appeared to be the only daughter of a noble household accustomed to commanding subordinates.
“That’s… the issue isn’t money, I’m afraid.”
Jin Manager spoke with an awkward expression, avoiding her gaze.
“All the separate quarters at our establishment are fully occupied.”
“Fully occupied? Are you joking? They’re clearly empty!”
“They’re not empty—our guests have merely stepped out temporarily.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
The Young Woman gestured around her, her brow furrowing.
“You’re telling me all five separate quarters’ guests left at the same time? Does that make any sense?”
“Well, you see… the truth is, all our separate quarters have been rented out entirely by one person for the past month.”
“One person?”
The Young Woman’s brow creased in disbelief when—
“Young Master Bu.”
Jin Manager spotted Bu Eunseol approaching and bowed deeply at the waist.
“You’ve returned from your outing, I see.”
“I merely took a brief walk. Thank you for your service.”
Bu Eunseol passed by Jin Manager without hesitation and stepped inside, prompting the woman to point a finger.
“Then… could that person be…?”
“Indeed.”
At Jin Manager’s confirmation, the woman rushed toward Bu Eunseol like a colt set ablaze with urgency.
“Wait a moment!”
“…?”
“Are you the one who rented the entire Star Courtyard?”
“That’s correct.”
As Bu Eunseol nodded and turned her head,
‘What is… this face.’
The woman’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open.
Through hair so gossamer-thin that sunlight seemed to pass through it, half her face was illuminated.
It possessed a breathtaking beauty, as though crafted by an artisan who had poured their entire soul into the work.
“Do you have something to say?”
The woman regained her composure at Bu Eunseol’s question and shook her head.
“So then…”
After taking a moment to breathe deeply, she steadied herself and sharpened her gaze.
“I heard you’re using all five pavilions by yourself?”
“That’s the case.”
“How fortunate. Since you’re alone.”
The woman nodded as though relieved.
“Then I’ll use Seogang Pavilion.”
“What do you mean by that.”
“I’m saying I’ll use Seogang Pavilion for just four days starting today. Ah, of course, I’m not asking to do it for free.”
She rummaged through her money pouch, shook her head, and then withdrew a bank note from her bosom.
‘A Murim practitioner, then.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed as she observed the sword worn at the woman’s side.
Ordinary women typically wore light, easily-carried longswords. But this woman’s blade was broad and etched with peculiar patterns.
‘That’s also of the Demonic Path…’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes grew narrow as she recognized that the form of the woman’s sword was suited for deploying Demonic Path swordplay.
‘Carrying stacks of bank notes and spending money so freely—it’s certain.’
“This should be sufficient compensation, shouldn’t it?”
The woman extended the bank note forward and spoke.
“Here, take it.”
Bu Eunseol glanced down at the note and let out a soft laugh.
“I don’t need it.”
“Is the amount insufficient? Then I’ll give you five thousand silver.”
As Bu Eunseol simply moved forward without responding, the woman bit her lip.
“Fine then. Ten thousand silver!”
Ten thousand silver was a substantial sum—enough to purchase a shabby estate on the outskirts of the city.
Unfortunately, however, her search for funds had looked in the wrong place.
The money I had accumulated while working for the Guusal Unit amounted to roughly eight hundred thousand taels.
Unless one purchased treasures or rare artifacts of incalculable value, it was a sum I could never exhaust even if I indulged in extravagance for a lifetime.
“With that amount, you could rent all the guest houses and courtyards in the vicinity outright.”
The woman shook her head firmly at my words.
“No. I must use Seogang Pavilion.”
Her persistent attitude left me no choice but to ask the reason.
“Why?”
“I heard that Master Samuk, the great painter of the previous generation and one called the Sage of Calligraphy, always stayed in the annex of Seogang Pavilion whenever he came to Jinyang.”
The woman spoke with a very serious expression.
“I came all this way after a long journey specifically to stay at Seogang Pavilion, where traces of Master Samuk’s presence remain. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Master Samuk had left behind a single plaque written in his own hand at Seogang Pavilion for the proprietor of the Yunlai Guest House, who had treated him with utmost respect throughout his life.
There was even a jest that the Yunlai Guest House had become Jinyang’s finest luxury establishment precisely because of the plaque Master Samuk had left in this courtyard.
“I plan to stay for four days and appreciate Master Samuk’s calligraphy. I would appreciate your cooperation.”
I let out a genuine laugh.
It turned out this thoughtless young lady of a martial family was touring scenic sites alone.
“I refuse.”
I had rented all five annexes precisely so I could rest quietly and cultivate my martial arts and insights.
If she were to enter, my peace would be shattered immediately.
“What did you say?”
“I said I refuse.”
“You really….”
“But this is strange.”
I allowed a faint smile to cross my lips.
“Judging by how you spend money, you seem to be descended from some noble family, yet you travel alone without a single servant or attendant.”
“What business is that of yours?”
“If you had servants, they would have known I’m not a person open to negotiation.”
“Listen here!”
“Look into the courtyards of other guest houses.”
I spoke coldly, looking toward Jin Manager.
“Jin Manager. I told you I dislike complications.”
“My apologies.”
Jin Manager, who had bowed to me, spoke respectfully to the woman.
“We ask that you depart now.”
The woman glared at me for a while before reluctantly leaving.
Yet in her departing gaze, there shone not only resentment but also a stubborn, relentless persistence.
‘What a headache.’
I could sense it instinctively.
The peaceful days I had maintained thus far would soon be shattered because of her.

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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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