The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 281

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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 281.
The Extreme Speed Shadow Technique he had mastered was Go Wol’s movement art from his days as a master swordsman—a divine technique unparalleled for infiltrating discreetly or concealing one’s presence.
Yet Bu Eunseol, having departed from Neung Jo Woon’s quarters, did not deploy her technique. Instead, she walked with deliberate confidence.
‘I must appear as though I’m naturally touring the interior.’
Bu Eunseol had deliberately utilized Jong Jeong Yak to gain entry to the Murim Alliance precisely to obtain a legitimate identity that would allow her to move about so openly.
The Murim Alliance was the Murim Alliance.
It was a coalition of Orthodox Sects, gathering countless talents and masters possessing formidable martial prowess.
Had Bu Eunseol relied solely on her martial skills and movement techniques, wandering recklessly from place to place—
She risked being discovered instantly by masters superior to herself, or worse, coming under attack.
‘My remaining time is limited.’
Moreover, the duration Bu Eunseol could remain within the Murim Alliance was severely restricted.
Within that window, I had to thoroughly examine the surroundings of the Murim Alliance and verify whether anything bore connection to Saixiang.
Step by step.
Bu Eunseol strolled leisurely, scanning the Palace Halls and buildings erected nearby, sometimes walking only to their entrances.
Occasionally, when I ventured into deeper areas, the Wi Sa guards would intercept me.
But as Bu Eunseol refrained from approaching the halls closely and continued her slow wandering, they soon lost interest.
The Murim Alliance’s scale exceeded even that of the Demon Palace. A month would scarcely suffice to investigate its interior thoroughly.
Moreover, the locations where martial arts manuals were stored and the quarters of the leadership were not accessible to outsiders at all.
Thus, Bu Eunseol continued her leisurely tour, identifying locations where I could move about and conduct investigations without arousing suspicion.
And whenever a place seemed suspicious, I would employ the Hollow Heart Perception to verify whether mechanisms existed there.
‘I cannot rely solely on information known beforehand.’
In truth, I had requested So Ja Myeong, the commander of the Guusal Unit, to imprint a detailed map of the Murim Alliance’s interior structure into my mind.
But that served only to avoid approaching locations where the Alliance Leader and other leadership figures resided.
I was conducting my investigation by trusting my instincts, independent of that map.
‘An abandoned warehouse, perhaps.’
As Bu Eunseol rapidly scanned the buildings, my gaze fell upon a large structure visible in the distance.
It was an Abandoned Warehouse—a repository for broken weapons and damaged supplies.
A place accessible without restriction to not only the Murim Alliance’s martial artists but even ordinary laborers. It seemed unsuitable for concealing anything.
Yet Bu Eunseol’s perspective differed.
―The fundamental principle of investigation is to search the places no one would ever suspect first.
Those were Neung Jo Woon’s words from before.
And they were true. Investigation must begin with the least suspicious locations to avoid wasting time.
Approaching the Abandoned Warehouse, Bu Eunseol deployed the Hollow Heart Perception, meticulously scanning the building’s exterior.
‘There’s something here.’
As I heightened my hearing, faint mechanical sounds—the subtle movement of springs and chains—became audible.
Bu Eunseol entered cautiously and examined the interior thoroughly.
‘Something is amiss.’
The interior was quite spacious, with separate rooms storing supplies organized by category.
Despite the structure being sufficiently expansive, the arrangement was haphazard, creating unnecessary empty spaces.
‘A layout like this conceals many hidden chambers.’
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath and focused her mind.
She was attempting to use the Empty Heart Penetrating Eye once more to locate the hidden mechanism.
‘There it is.’
Bu Eunseol opened the door to the Stone Chamber installed at the far end of the Abandoned Warehouse.
The space inside was empty, with blue slate tiles laid across the floor.
‘The floor, then.’
To the naked eye, there was little difference, but with the Empty Heart Penetrating Eye activated, several of the blue slate tiles appeared in an entirely different hue to Bu Eunseol.
‘I’m meant to step on them in order.’
Having discovered the pattern of footprints, Bu Eunseol stepped on the blue slate tiles in sequence.
Grrrrk.
With that, one section of the Stone Chamber sank inward, and a small corridor materialized.
Just as she was about to enter,
“…!”
The Empty Heart Penetrating Eye sounded an alarm.
Bu Eunseol immediately stepped on the blue slate tiles in reverse order. The wall reappeared, and the corridor sealed shut.
Whoosh.
She then exited and concealed herself behind a pillar that faced the Stone Chamber.
Click.
At that same moment, a door opened, and someone approached the Stone Chamber where Bu Eunseol had been.
Thump, thump.
The figure was dressed entirely in white garments, with a white mask covering their face.
Though their features remained hidden, the qi radiating from their entire body was as sharp and biting as if carved from ice.
Just as the Masked Assassin was about to enter the Stone Chamber containing the secret passage,
“How strange.”
Tilting their head, they suddenly unleashed a barrage of finger strikes toward the vicinity of the pillar where Bu Eunseol was hiding.
Ping, ping, ping, ping!
The number of finger strikes released in rapid succession totaled eighty-one.
The strikes, sweeping through the air like a tempest, curved in an instant and began passing through the space where Bu Eunseol was concealed.
“…I must have been mistaken.”
The Masked Assassin, staring into the darkness, tilted their head.
They then entered the Stone Chamber and began stepping on the blue slate tiles in succession.
A grinding sound echoed, and the arrangement of the blue slate tiles carved into the floor began to shift.
“Everything here demands attention, doesn’t it.”
Muttering with irritation, they exited the warehouse once more.
“Phew.”
Once the Masked Assassin had left, Bu Eunseol emerged from the darkness.
Zzzzzing.
Across the front of her body, an enormous black qi had crystallized in the air, large enough to conceal her entire form.
She had deployed the Yeoi Jingyeol Formation to silently block the Masked Assassin’s powerful strikes.
‘Had I not possessed the Yeoi Jingyeol Formation, I would have been discovered immediately.’
The finger wind technique deployed by the Masked Assassin was nothing short of a masterpiece of the Murim.
Moreover, the technique of launching eighty-one finger winds in a single breath existed only once in all the Murim.
‘The Galaxy Heavenly Dragon Finger. So he was the Vice-Leader of the Jip Beop Dang.’
The only person who could launch eighty-one finger winds in a single technique was a master of the Finger Flicking Art known as the Unparalleled Ten Fingers,
and none other than Dan Ri Muk, who held the position of Vice-Leader of the Murim Alliance’s Jip Beop Dang.
‘Does this man also have connections to Saixiang? Or perhaps….’
My heart raced with anticipation.
If Dan Ri Muk were connected to Saixiang? If what he had hidden here were the secret techniques of Saixiang?
I had just discovered the very person who could lead me directly to Saixiang’s tail.
‘I must return at once.’
Martial artists with profound inner energy could only remain deeply asleep for about two hours.
If I kept him asleep through acupoint pressure for too long, Neung Jo Woon would immediately sense something amiss.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Returning to Neung Jo Woon’s quarters, I deployed the Healing Seal Formation and gently released the acupoint pressure.
“Mmm.”
Neung Jo Woon’s eyes fluttered open, and he rose to examine his surroundings.
“Did I just fall asleep?”
Rising cautiously, he peered carefully through the crack in the door into the room.
There he saw Bu Eunseol sleeping peacefully. Glancing at the moon outside the window, it seemed only about an hour had passed.
‘In truth, there’s no need to be wary of her.’
A bitter smile crossed his lips as he shook his head.
‘Or perhaps I’m beginning to resemble the Law Enforcement Commander.’
Bu Eunseol is a top-tier wanderer of Jeok Cheon Mak Ji.
She was vouched for by Dam Yoo Yeon, the Master of Su Gyeong Jeon, and it was Jong Jeong Yak herself who petitioned to join the Murim Alliance.
To have planned all of this in advance would be far too difficult.
Moreover, someone with ill intent would never enter the Murim Alliance through such a path.
‘Given the sensitive nature of this matter, I suppose caution is warranted.’
Shaking his head, Neung Jo Woon settled back into his chair.
The next day.
Jong Jeong Yak arrived early in the morning at the lodging where Neung Jo Woon was staying.
“Did you rest well?”
Though her face bore no makeup, the simple cleanliness of her martial robes made her appearance all the more beautiful.
“Law Enforcement Commander.”
Neung Jo Woon, who had been sitting at the table drinking tea, clasped his hands together.
“How did matters proceed?”
Jong Jeong Yak wore a confident smile.
“The Leader said she would soon persuade the other leaders to convene the Ten Leaders’ Council.”
“Ah, that is fortunate.”
Neung Jo Woon let out a breath of relief.
Merely the rumor of the Ten Leaders’ Council being convened would prevent Dan Ri Muk from easily exerting pressure on Jong Jeong Yak.
And if Bu Eunseol’s testimony is accepted at the Council of Ten, the Inspection Bureau will launch an investigation into Dan Ri Muk.
“How is Seol doing?”
“She continues to rest in her quarters.”
Jong Jeong Yak tapped lightly on the door.
“Seol. Are you feeling better?”
Bu Eunseol, who had been sitting on the bed cultivating her inner energy, slowly opened her eyes and spoke.
“Come in.”
“Good news. The Council of Ten has decided.”
“I heard from outside.”
“I see.”
She spoke to Bu Eunseol with a noticeably lighter expression.
“Then shall we go eat something?”
The Murim Alliance, befitting its vast scale, had multiple dining halls just as the Demon Hall did.
The difference, however, was that in the Demon Hall, one was required to eat at designated locations according to one’s rank and position.
In contrast, the Murim Alliance allowed anyone to dine freely at any dining hall, provided there was an empty seat, because identical meals were served regardless of rank or status.
‘This one thing I do appreciate.’
Bu Eunseol smiled inwardly.
The Demon Hall, which guaranteed loyalty through the logic of strength and power, even distributed food strictly according to one’s position and rank.
But the Murim Alliance, created under the banner of upholding justice in the martial world.
The higher one’s status and rank, the more one must outwardly display frugality, which is why they implemented such policies.
“Please sit here.”
Jong Jeong Yak guided Bu Eunseol to an empty table.
There, rice was piled high on a large plate, and there were side dishes containing tofu and vegetables.
On one side sat a bowl with modest meat but an abundance of rich broth.
Munch, munch, slurp, slurp.
Perhaps from exerting himself multiple times in the Gangho, Neung Jo Woon was eating voraciously.
But Bu Eunseol had taken only a bowl of broth and was eating it slowly.
‘How strange.’
A flash of light flickered in Bu Eunseol’s eyes as she ate quietly.
It felt as though some incomprehensible, sticky gaze had affixed itself to the back of her head.
‘Is there a master whose presence I cannot detect?’
A chill crept down the back of her neck.
Even when she pushed her Beast Path perception to its absolute limit, she could not locate the source of that gaze?
‘Someone from the upper echelons is watching me.’
Just as Bu Eunseol, sensing something, gave a faint nod,
“Well, well, who do we have here?”
Five men clad in blue martial robes approached Neung Jo Woon and pointed at him.
They were none other than the martial artists of the Law Enforcement Hall under Dan Ri Muk’s command.
“Isn’t this the renowned Law Enforcement Captain and his deputy?”
Because the Law Enforcement Hall wielded considerable power, its martial artists were mostly composed of disciples from the Nine Sects One Alliance and descendants of the Eight Great Families.
Yet suddenly, these newcomers had become commanders of the Jip Beop Dang, wielding the same authority as themselves. How utterly infuriating could it be?
Especially since Jong Jeong Yak and Neung Jo Woon had no backing or faction whatsoever, they were being ostracized relentlessly.
Moreover, when rumors spread that Jong Jeong Yak had grown close to Hwa Mil Won Ju and was investigating the Jip Beop Dang…
The martial artists of the Jip Beop Dang were openly ignoring and rejecting Jong Jeong Yak and Neung Jo Woon.
“Be on your way.”
Neung Jo Woon spoke irritably, his mouth full of rice.
“They say even dogs won’t bother someone eating.”
Then Baek Young Do, who could be called the leader of the five, smirked while looking at Neung Jo Woon.
“I see. I can’t quite tell if you’re a puppy or a person.”
And pointing at Bu Eunseol across from them, he spoke.
“Is that one the vagrant from the rumors?”
“Why? Are you planning to make a move here?”
Neung Jo Woon replied coldly.
“Worried the investigation will expose your wrongdoings later?”
“Nonsense!”
For a moment, Baek Young Do’s fist clenched tightly, but he soon released it.
This was the Murim Alliance. No matter how infuriating, one could not cause trouble within these walls.
“Pay it no mind.”
Jong Jeong Yak, who had remained silent until now, waved her hand dismissively at Neung Jo Woon.
“They’ll likely be dismissed soon anyway.”
“What did you say?”
Baek Young Do, his anger flaring, shouted and began approaching her,
“Thank you for the meal.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol abruptly rose and blocked Baek Young Do’s path.
“What, what is it?”
“Move aside.”
Bu Eunseol held her empty bowl toward his body.
Baek Young Do had no choice but to shift his body to one side.
“Let’s go together.”
As Neung Jo Woon began to rise, Bu Eunseol waved her hand.
“It’s fine. Take your time eating.”
And she walked away briskly, carrying the dishes.
Baek Young Do, who had been glaring at Bu Eunseol’s retreating figure, exchanged glances with his companions.
And those with sinister smiles waited until Bu Eunseol had set down her bowl before heading outside the exit.
―Let’s see if she can still smile when she’s broken.
Thud, thud.
Just as Bu Eunseol returned after leaving her bowl, Baek Young Do and Eun Jung Hwi, another martial artist of the Jip Beop Dang, mobilized their full power.
The two were masters who had mastered the external martial technique that hardened the entire body like steel—the Golden Bell Shield.
No matter how exceptional a master one was, a collision of body against body would leave no one unscathed.
‘They’re coming.’
Baek Young Do and Eun Jung Hwi tightened their inner energy the moment Bu Eunseol stepped outside the door.
Then they collided shoulders, channeling their resentment toward Jong Jeong Yak and Neung Jo Woon.
Their intention was to humiliate Jong Jeong Yak and Neung Jo Woon by displaying Bu Eunseol’s unsightly appearance.
“Miss Seol!”
Jong Jeong Yak, belatedly catching on to their scheme, cried out sharply, but it was already too late.
Thud.
As shoulder met shoulder, a low resonant vibration rippled through the air.
Simultaneously, with a thunderous crash, the two men tumbled down in an ungraceful heap.
Yet it was not Bu Eunseol who fell—it was Baek Young Do and Eun Jung Hwi, who had deliberately initiated the collision.
“Ugh!”
The two men sprawled on the ground, their faces contorted in agony as tears streamed down their cheeks.
The impact had been so violent that both their shoulders had dislocated.
‘Has Miss Seol also mastered external martial arts?’
Jong Jeong Yak and Neung Jo Woon, who rushed over in alarm, exchanged bewildered glances.
How could she have dislocated their shoulders after colliding with two masters of external martial arts who had fully channeled their power?
“Are you both alright?”
As their comrades approached to help them up,
“Argh!”
the two men let out another agonized cry.
As their comrades supported them, the meridians around their dislocated shoulders tore, intensifying their pain.
“We’re… we’re fine.”
“Uhhh…”
Despite their comrades’ concern, the two men could only whimper in anguished sobs.
Those watching exchanged glances mingled with shock and bewilderment.
Baek Young Do and Eun Jung Hwi, the Jip Beop Dang warriors renowned for their exceptional late-stage cultivation, were shamelessly weeping, unable to bear the pain?
“We should head to the Medical Immortal Cave at once.”
The comrades barely managed to support the two sobbing men as they left the Dining Hall.
Thump, thump.
Then, with measured footsteps, a powerfully built middle-aged man with a round face approached Bu Eunseol.
His chest and back muscles were so massive and imposing that from the side, he resembled an enormous tumbler doll.
‘A master.’
A flash of light streaked across Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
The middle-aged man’s martial prowess was as immense as Mount Tai, and his hands radiated an aura capable of tearing heaven and earth asunder.
“Your hands move with remarkable speed.”
The middle-aged man regarded Bu Eunseol and spoke in a low voice.
“What connection do you have with the Seven String Sect?”
“What do you mean?”
“Hehe. The qi technique you just displayed—wasn’t it the Seven String Sect’s Blazing Hand Blade Line?”
Bu Eunseol feigned an expression of surprise.
“How did you know that?”
Seven String Sect.
It was once an Orthodox Sect that wielded considerable influence in the Yangguang Murim.
However, internal strife resulted in the sect’s master experts perishing simultaneously.
As all the masters capable of transmitting the pinnacle of martial arts vanished, the Seven String Sect gradually descended into decline and became a forgotten relic.
And I had acquired the martial techniques of the Seven String Sect from Wu Huang’s Secret Vault.
“Heh heh heh. So you were a disciple of the Seven String Sect—no wonder your martial prowess is formidable.”
The Middle-Aged Man nodded as if he finally understood.
The masters of the Seven String Sect in the past had been considerably powerful.
He mistakenly believed that the Seven String Sect, which had long vanished, had finally restored its secret martial techniques and produced disciples like Bu Eunseol.
“Since you appear to be a person of legitimate Orthodox Sect lineage, I shall overlook today’s incident.”
“….”
“However, if you recklessly employ martial techniques within the Alliance in the future… your shoulder blades will be shattered.”
As his final words concluded, a formidable aura radiated from the Middle-Aged Man’s entire body, bearing down upon me.
‘Formless Energy.’
In that instant, my eyes flashed crimson.

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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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