The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 283

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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 283.
Hong Hyeon.
The former abbot of Shaolin, he was the highest-ranking figure in the Orthodox Sects of Murim, revered as the Living Buddha.
Moreover, having cultivated the Reverse Meridian Scripture to the realm of divinity, he was known to maintain an immortal’s vitality despite being over two hundred years old.
One of the Three Demons and Three Sages.
Excluding the Twin Heavenly Immortals of Demonic Balance, he was one of the Three Demons and Three Sages who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts—a living legend.
The Buddha Sage, Hong Hyeon Dae Sa.
“What troubles you?”
“Nothing of consequence.”
Bu Eunseol shook her head.
Yet the old monk’s words from yesterday echoed loudly in her ears.
—When crisis comes, become an unwavering pillar. Wherever you stand, my child.
What he had asked of her was not to protect the Orthodox Sects of Murim.
It was to become a pillar wherever she stood when crisis befell Murim.
‘Could he have seen through my true identity?’
For Bu Eunseol, honoring the promise made to Hong Hyeon Dae Sa was hardly a difficult matter.
‘Wherever I stand…’
As if tailored to her circumstances, it was a promise advantageous to her, yet entirely without burden.
Bu Eunseol was the successor to the Demon Palace.
Should Murim truly face crisis?
She need only become Murim’s pillar as the Demon Palace’s successor.
Then Jong Jeong Yak spoke again.
“Seol So. We’ll likely be late again tonight due to document organization.”
Jong Jeong Yak and Neung Jo Woon were currently organizing the misconduct evidence they had gathered on Dan Ri Muk ahead of the Council of Ten.
Without decisive proof, they needed to make the patriarchs as suspicious as possible of his wrongdoings.
“The Council of Ten will convene soon. Please bear with the frustration until then.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“Think nothing of it. Attend to your duties at ease.”
Night fell once more.
Having slipped away from her quarters in secret, Bu Eunseol deployed her movement technique toward the outskirts of the North Gate.
She intended to investigate the Abandoned Warehouse once more, the place she had been unable to enter before.
Whoosh.
This time, she deployed her movement technique to enter swiftly.
Passing beyond the Wi Sa guards who patrolled the perimeter and moving covertly between buildings, she finally arrived at the Abandoned Warehouse again.
‘So he did enter.’
Deploying her Hollow Heart Technique to examine the stone floor, fresh footprints were vividly imprinted upon it.
Seeing no further signs of intrusion, it seemed he had returned with confidence.
Creak.
Bu Eunseol entered cautiously, her brow furrowing deeply.
She had expected elixirs, poisons, or perhaps hidden mechanisms of Saixiang.
It was simply because expensive night pearls and promissory notes—valuable items—were arranged on the shelves.
‘This makes no sense.’
If one wanted to embezzle money privately, one would simply keep it in their own quarters or a secret location.
So why had Dan Ri Muk stored so much gold and treasure here?
And in an abandoned warehouse at that—a place even low-ranking martial artists could easily access.
‘Then perhaps….’
As Bu Eunseol’s mind raced through the possibilities,
the mechanism groaned to life.
The door swung open, and five shadowy figures slipped inside.
Though all wore masks, Bu Eunseol recognized them instantly from their silhouettes alone—they were the Jip Beop Dang martial artists who had confronted her not long ago.
“Damn, this is tedious every time.”
Each of them carried a cloth bundle in hand.
After surveying the surroundings, they examined the empty shelves and placed their bundles upon them.
From the clinking sound, it was clear that their bundles also contained precious gems and valuables.
“That’s done. Let’s go.”
“My body feels stiff. I think I need a drink and some rest.”
They exchanged quiet whispers and casual remarks before leaving the secret vault once more.
From the darkness, Bu Eunseol observed them and gave a faint nod of understanding.
Now the situation became clear to her.
‘They’re using this secret vault like a merchant guild depot.’
The abandoned warehouse was a place any Murim Alliance martial artist could enter without restriction.
In other words, because anyone could access it, anything could be easily deposited or withdrawn without suspicion.
‘I can catch them red-handed.’
Since they had deposited money here, others would soon arrive to retrieve it.
Bu Eunseol concealed her presence in the darkness and waited patiently.
How much time had passed?
The mechanism groaned again.
Once more, the secret vault’s door opened with a mechanical sound.
Two men in Murim Alliance robes entered.
‘They are not Murim Alliance martial artists.’
Bu Eunseol sensed it instinctively.
Despite wearing Murim Alliance robes, these men were certainly not Alliance members.
Though dressed as low-ranking warriors, their gait and inner energy approached the Transcendent Realm.
“Hmm.”
The two examined the bundles the Jip Beop Dang martial artists had left, then swiftly tucked them into their robes.
They departed the secret vault as if nothing had occurred.
‘I must follow them.’
Bu Eunseol discreetly pursued the two men.
Once outside, they walked for some distance before stopping before a building near the North Gate.
It was a common inn where merchants and outsiders visiting the Murim Alliance stayed.
Upon entering their lodgings, they changed into fresh clothes with practiced ease.
Dressed as merchants, they passed through the quarters and slipped out beyond the North Gate, where Wi Sa’s men stood guard, escaping the Murim Alliance.
‘Seamless. This is no amateur’s work.’
As I followed them outside, Wi Sa, who guarded the North Gate, asked me a question.
“Where are you headed?”
“I thought I’d grab a drink nearby.”
“I see. Just write your name here before you go.”
I immediately picked up the brush and wrote down a name.
In the meantime, the two martial artists who had slipped out of the Murim Alliance deployed their lightness technique at once.
I too began to follow them discreetly.
Whoosh. Tap.
The two men swiftly passed through the village.
Judging by their speed and direction, they weren’t heading toward a rendezvous point—they were clearly moving toward a different city.
‘I have no choice.’
I had to return to the Murim Alliance before the day ended.
I couldn’t simply chase them aimlessly to wherever they were going.
Having made my decision, I doubled my movement technique, quickly overtook them, and blocked their path.
“Stop.”
The two men executing their lightness technique landed on the ground with startled expressions.
“….”
After observing my appearance for a long moment, they exchanged glances and nodded to each other.
Without hesitation, they scattered left and right, then suddenly unleashed dual palm strikes.
Boom!
Their martial technique was extraordinarily unique.
The one on the left extended dual palms toward me, while the one on the right assumed a defensive stance as if receiving the force.
Crash!
At that same moment, an incomprehensibly powerful force crashed down upon my body.
It was as though an invisible hammer had struck me.
Thud.
As dust rose in all directions, the two men wore satisfied smiles.
“This isn’t Zhong Yuan martial technique.”
Tap tap.
As the dust cleared and I calmly brushed off my clothes, their eyes widened in shock.
“The power is as formidable as the technique is bizarre.”
I glanced down at the torn fabric across my chest and nodded.
“Any ordinary master would have had their chest crushed by that single strike.”
Crack!
The startled pair attempted to unleash dual palms again to attack me.
But their movements froze in place.
Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol had vanished from sight without warning.
Boom! Boom!
With the explosive sound came their grotesque collapse forward.
Bu Eunseol had circled behind them and unleashed a punch at each.
“Gack!”
They immediately vomited black blood from their mouths as their internal organs twisted in agony.
Though the strike seemed delivered with casual ease, it felt as though they’d been struck by a mass of iron the size of a house.
Moreover, the inner energy contained within that fist was so devastatingly powerful that the protective qi surrounding their bodies shattered instantly, leaving them with severe internal injuries.
“Who are you?”
Bu Eunseol’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing their voices.
Though they spoke fluent Han language, an unusual accent colored their speech.
“I ask the questions.”
Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice, her power surging forth.
“Where did you come from?”
A vicious glint flashed across their foreheads as they stared at her.
Whoosh!
In that instant, they vanished from sight.
But Bu Eunseol’s heightened senses had already located them as they launched their bodies into the air above.
“Die!”
At that moment, the two unleashed dual palm strikes simultaneously.
The ground beneath where Bu Eunseol stood cracked open, and a tempestuous palm force erupted like a storm, cascading down like rain.
‘The Thousand-Armed Buddha Palm.’
The palm technique they displayed resembled the Thousand-Armed Buddha Palm that the Buddha Hong Hyeon had once unleashed.
In that instant, Bu Eunseol unconsciously drew upon Mu Hwang Jeong Gak and unfolded the Thirteen Celestial Techniques.
Originally, she had intended to deploy the Soaring Peak Single Fist with her left hand and the Autumn Mountain Immortal Step with her legs.
But the profound insights transmitted by the Buddha suddenly flashed through her mind.
‘From one martial art, create another anew…’
All phenomena are impermanent.
All things flow and transform ceaselessly, never remaining in a single form.
Just as nature follows the law of constant creation and destruction, why must martial techniques be rigidly fixed to a single form?
Flash!
With newfound enlightenment, Bu Eunseol’s eyes blazed as she extended her fist.
Though it appeared to be a simple punch, it actually contained the transformations of both the Soaring Peak Single Fist and the Autumn Mountain Immortal Step within a single strike.
Crack!
A massive crescent-shaped blade of energy erupted from her left shoulder,
Roaaarrr!
Obliterating all the palm force descending from the heavens.
A crimson line was drawn across the necks of the two suspended in mid-air before the strike flew far into the night sky.
Thud. Splash! Splash! Splash!
Blood fountained from their necks as they crashed to the ground.
“The God of War… so it is.”
With a brief exclamation, they collapsed to the ground simultaneously with a heavy thud.
Despite unleashing tremendous force, they perished unable to withstand even a single strand of Bu Eunseol’s power.
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression betrayed unexpected bewilderment at the sheer magnitude of the force.
She had merely intended to gently deflect their power… yet why had such an enormous wave of energy erupted?
‘To think the Thirteen Nights possessed such devastating might.’
Only then did Bu Eunseol comprehend why Mu Hwang, despite employing only bare-handed martial techniques,
had been able to conquer Tianxia.
He had not utilized different body parts like Yeop Hyo Cheon,
but rather layered thirteen distinct martial arts into a single technique and unleashed them simultaneously.
‘So Mu Hwang, like the Immortals, has reached a realm where he can transform the very principles of martial arts.’
Bu Eunseol finally grasped the profound essence of the Thirteen Nights that Mu Hwang had left behind.
Not only could it unleash overwhelming power that surpassed the sharpness of divine weapons, but offense and defense were perfectly harmonized, creating a flawless martial art that required no defensive measures against counterattacks.
This was Mu Hwang’s unique martial art—the Thirteen Nights.
‘Had I mastered the Orthodox Sects’ martial arts, I would surely have deemed Mu Hwang’s techniques the supreme pinnacle.’
Within Bu Eunseol’s spirit, the heart method created by the greatest patriarch of Jeongsayang-do was intermingled.
Because of this, he remained unattached to the highest realms of either the Demonic Path or Orthodox Sects’ martial arts,
and instead harbored the goal of unifying both great martial traditions to reach a new transcendent level.
‘Someday, I will surely accomplish it.’
However, now was not the time to delve deeply into martial techniques.
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol began to meticulously examine the two corpses.
“Masters from the Western Regions, it seems.”
The inner cultivation methods of the Western Regions primarily utilized the upper dantian, thus they did not accumulate formidable qi in the lower dantian.
Reflecting upon it, when they wielded their inner power,
there were almost no signs of pupil dilation or accelerated blood flow.
“They elevated their martial prowess through the aid of special substances like Renhuo.”
Their martial realm had not reached the transcendent stage. They had merely dramatically increased their power through special alchemical aids.
“They don’t appear to be Han. Where did they suddenly emerge from?”
No matter how carefully he examined them, there were no clues in their martial techniques, clothing, or anything else.
In fact, had Bu Eunseol himself not witnessed their peculiar weapon technique for the first time?
“There’s no helping it.”
Bu Eunseol smacked his lips and rose to his feet.
Even if he could not extract clues from these two, there were still cards left to play.
The Ten Elders’ Conference would convene soon.
Once Dan Ri Muk’s true identity was fully exposed, theirs would be revealed as well.
“It is merely a predetermined sequence of events.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
Though Jong Jeong Yak was an exceptional martial artist, the circumstances made it unlikely she could find evidence to completely ensnare Dan Ri Muk.
From the beginning, he had resolved to personally uncover the evidence containing Dan Ri Muk’s treachery.
This investigation by the Murim Alliance had a dual purpose: uncovering connections to Saixiang, and something far more significant.
Several days later.
Bu Eunseol moved alongside Jong Jeong Yak toward the building bearing the plaque of the Inspection Bureau.
At last, the Council of Ten was convening.
Upon entering, seven figures sat around a table within the Inspection Bureau.
They were the Bureau Chief and the Director of Hwa Mil Won, along with five other chiefs summoned for the Council of Ten.
Standing before them was a middle-aged man clad in white martial robes.
He cultivated his beard with meticulous care, and his bearing was imposing.
Yet his eyes were unnaturally narrow and elongated, lending him a somewhat sinister air.
He was none other than Dan Ri Muk, Vice Chief of the Jip Beop Dang.
“Everyone has arrived.”
Jeong Ji Ryong, the Inspection Bureau Chief seated in the center, nodded and spoke.
“Then let us commence the Council of Ten.”
He gazed down at the documents laid upon the table, then directed a question toward Jong Jeong Yak.
“Are all the contents written here factual?”
“They are.”
“What evidence can you provide?”
Jong Jeong Yak gestured toward Bu Eunseol and spoke.
“A wanderer from Jeok Cheon Mak Ji who can testify regarding this matter—Seol So.”
Bu Eunseol stepped forward and clasped her hands respectfully.
“A wanderer from Jeok Cheon Mak Ji, Seol So, at your service.”
“Hmm.”
Having heard all the particulars concerning Bu Eunseol, Jeong Ji Ryong spoke in a measured tone.
“Tell us everything you witnessed.”
Bu Eunseol nodded and detailed all that had transpired at the Woo Gang Pyo Bureau, through Mil Mil Market, and culminating in the events at Song Family Estate.
Jeong Ji Ryong then turned toward Dan Ri Muk.
“If you have anything to say, speak now.”
“Seol So. As a wanderer, you came here for payment, did you not?”
“That is correct.”
“How much were you paid?”
“By contract, I cannot disclose such matters to others.”
Dan Ri Muk smiled thinly.
“They say you are a premier-class wanderer, so you must have received at least ten thousand silver taels or more. Am I wrong?”
“You are correct.”
“Then how can we trust the testimony of a wanderer who sells themselves for coin?”
Dan Ri Muk swept his cold gaze across Bu Eunseol and continued.
“If I had offered you more silver, you might have given entirely different testimony. Would you not?”
“That is so.”
“How refreshing, your honesty.”
Dan Ri Muk then looked toward Jeong Ji Ryong and spoke.
“I have served the Murim Alliance for twenty years as Vice-Leader of the Jip Beop Dang.”
Then he turned his gaze toward Jong Jeong Yak and released a weary sigh.
“And I have supported the policies of Jip Beop So Ryeong, who discovers talented young individuals and allows them to demonstrate their abilities. Yet this is the treatment that remains for me.”
Indeed, the Vice-Leader of the Jip Beop Dang.
His voice carried powerful persuasiveness, and his words were logical and free from artifice.
‘Damn it, this is problematic.’
Neung Jo Woon, watching from a distance, swallowed hard.
If the meeting concluded like this, not only would Dan Ri Muk escape investigation, but Jong Jeong Yak would have to relinquish her position as Jip Beop So Ryeong.
“Do you have any other evidence?”
Jeong Ji Ryong turned his head and asked Jong Jeong Yak.
Then she approached confidently and produced a document.
“Of course I do.”
She had not merely waited for the Council of Ten to convene after entering the Murim Alliance.
She deliberately spread rumors about the Council of Ten being held and brought witnesses, deliberately inducing Dan Ri Muk to destroy evidence.
With the assistance of Hwa Mil Won Ju, she had obtained evidence that the martial artists of the Jip Beop Dang had embezzled funds under Dan Ri Muk’s orders.
“This is evidence that the Vice-Leader has been embezzling the Alliance’s assets.”
Jeong Ji Ryong accepted the document Jong Jeong Yak offered.
Then Dan Ri Muk, observing this, actually let out a low chuckle.
“Listen here, Jip Beop So Ryeong. Does that document contain evidence that I did it?”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s written there must be evidence that the martial artists of the Jip Beop Dang embezzled funds, correct?”
Remarkably, Dan Ri Muk seemed to understand exactly what contents Jong Jeong Yak had submitted as evidence.
“Didn’t they act under your orders?”
“Not at all.”
Dan Ri Muk’s eyes gleamed with confidence as he regarded Jong Jeong Yak.
“That was their transgression. If I had intended to embezzle, I would have taken it directly myself. Why would I have ordered my subordinates to do it?”
Bu Eunseol, observing this, nodded faintly.
Only then did she understand why Dan Ri Muk had not kept money in his personal quarters or warehouses, but instead created a secret facility in the Abandoned Warehouse.
It was not only for convenience in conducting transactions, but also because it would be easy to deny involvement if such matters were discovered.
“I will admit that I failed to properly manage my subordinates.”
Dan Ri Muk regarded Jeong Ji Ryong with an aggrieved expression.
“But that is not evidence that I did it….”
“I have the evidence right here.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol withdrew several letters from her garments.
“These contain the very proof that the Vice-Leader of the Jip Beop Dang issued the orders.”
“What? What nonsense is this?”
Regardless of Dan Ri Muk’s outburst, Bu Eunseol handed the letters to Jong Jeong Yak.
“These are the documents that Jip Beop So Ryeong asked me to retrieve previously. I happened to discover them in the Abandoned Warehouse.”
Jong Jeong Yak blinked her eyes.
She could not comprehend what Bu Eunseol was saying.
“What in the world…?”
「Accept it. Helping you was part of the additional contract terms.」
Jong Jeong Yak, who received Bu Eunseol’s voice transmission, was in a daze.
But as she quickly scanned through the documents Bu Eunseol presented, her expression shifted to one of shock.
She immediately handed them to Jeong Ji Ryong, the head of the Inspection Bureau.
Murmurs rippled through the room.
The expressions of Jeong Ji Ryong and the other bureau heads hardened as they examined the documents.
There, in plain sight, were records of Dan Ri Muk, the Deputy Chief, embezzling funds.
And the evidence that he had ordered his subordinates to stockpile the money in the Abandoned Warehouse was unmistakably documented—written in his own hand, no less.
‘That bastard…’
As Dan Ri Muk glared with bloodshot eyes,
A thin smile spread across her face.
Bu Eunseol bared her white teeth in a faint smile.
Though she was in a reversed state, there was an undeniable grace emanating from her expression.
Yet to Dan Ri Muk’s eyes, it resembled the smile of a vengeful spirit dragging him into the depths of hell.
“It’s a forgery!”
Dan Ri Muk cried out loudly.
“Where is your proof that this letter was written by me?”

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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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