The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 297

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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 297.
“There’s no need to worry. Really.”
Seo Jin Ha smiled calmly.
Bu Eunseol, who had always been cold and indifferent, had been willing to cast aside everything she possessed for my sake.
A man could open his heart fully upon gaining even a single worthy friend.
How much more so, having obtained the friendship of someone like Bu Eunseol…
What more could I ask for?
“The Achilles tendon was severed in a ragged state.”
Seeing Seo Jin Ha’s resolute demeanor, Gyo Jung Hak opened his mouth with an apologetic expression.
“The Patriarch managed to reconnect it with great difficulty, but… that region has such poor blood circulation that the prognosis isn’t favorable.”
“Then there’s no possibility of recovery?”
“I cannot say definitively. However….”
Gyo Jung Hak took a deep breath and continued.
“If we continue treatment with good medicine going forward, there is a chance of recovery. Don’t worry too much.”
“Right. An injury like this will return to normal given time.”
The more casually Seo Jin Ha spoke, the dimmer Bu Eunseol’s eyes became.
“What about your cultivation?”
“My cultivation… well, it’s recovered reasonably well. Thanks to the spirit pills you gave me.”
Bu Eunseol did not believe those words.
She immediately seized Seo Jin Ha’s wrist.
“What are you doing?”
Bu Eunseol did not answer, instead injecting her vital energy into him.
As Bu Eunseol’s energy entered his body, Seo Jin Ha’s head spun and blood seemed to rise in his throat.
Yet he endured that agony and forced himself to accept Bu Eunseol’s energy.
But his remaining cultivation was only a tenth, perhaps a hundredth of its former state.
Moreover, the energy Bu Eunseol injected was vanishing without a trace, like a stone cast into a deep ocean.
“Your cultivation has been drastically depleted.”
Gyo Jung Hak spoke with a bitter expression.
“The Patriarch continued to examine your meridians, and nearly half your cultivation had been lost. Yet since you claimed to have fully recovered… I decided to observe further.”
Gyo Jung Hak’s expression grew grave upon seeing Seo Jin Ha’s ashen complexion.
“It happened because your dantian was ravaged indiscriminately. While the wounds healed with Qinglingshi oil and Jamma Spirit Pills… a substantial portion of your cultivation has already been lost.”
He coughed softly, then continued.
“Had it been only that, the Patriarch could have managed recovery somehow. But the inner cultivation method you learned is fundamentally rooted in poison absorption, making it impossible for us to intervene.”
Seo Jin Ha had learned the Hell Flame Radiance Burning Technique, which absorbed all poisons and then incinerated them to enhance cultivation.
It was the supreme secret art of Hell Blood Castle—a cultivation method that could absorb poison without becoming poisoned.
However, because both its circulation method and the nature of its vital energy were completely different from ordinary martial artists, no treatment could be effective.
Silence settled within the chamber.
As the heavy atmosphere descended, Seo Jin Ha laughed awkwardly.
“Well. This wasn’t something I could hide anyway.”
He deliberately wore a bright smile.
If I showed her a pained expression, Bu Eunseol would suffer the same anguish.
“I didn’t listen to your words and acted recklessly. Now look at the state I’m in.”
Seo Jin Ha spoke with a touch of levity.
“I’ve become a cripple, so all that’s left is retirement.”
Though my body had recovered, most of my cultivation had been lost. I could not remain in the Cheon Sal Unit.
No—there was no place for me in the Demon Palace at all.
“I petitioned the Chong Gyo Ryeong to have you transferred to the Sa Young Jeon.”
Bu Eunseol spoke matter-of-factly.
“I’ve arranged quarters and a position for you at Jamma Pavilion. Come there when you’re ready.”
Friendship, at times, inflicts a sorrow so cruel it cuts to the bone.
True friends must regard each other as equals. If one sacrifices and lowers themselves, the bond can never be comfortable.
“I don’t need your pity.”
Seo Jin Ha, suppressing his emotions by force, spoke with studied indifference.
“I’ll chart my own path forward.”
“Who said anything about pity?”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“Your cultivation will recover completely soon enough.”
“What? How?”
“Don’t rush. There’s a way.”
Seo Jin Ha shook his head as if he’d grasped something.
“I won’t go to Hell Blood Castle.”
The inner cultivation of master and disciple share the same source.
Only the Castle Lord of Hell Blood Castle who taught him—Gong Ya Geuk—could intimately understand and perceive the foundations of Seo Jin Ha’s cultivation.
Seo Jin Ha had deduced that Bu Eunseol would beseech Gong Ya Geuk to restore his power.
“When I entered the Cheon Sal Unit, I severed all ties with Hell Blood Castle.”
“Did you think I’d ask you to relearn Hell Blood Castle’s techniques?”
“Isn’t that what you mean?”
Bu Eunseol exhaled sharply through her nose and spoke without concern.
“Stop wasting time on useless thoughts. Once your body recovers, pack your things and go to Nangya Pavilion.”
“Nangya Pavilion?”
“To restore your cultivation, you must first loosen your stiffened joints and tendons.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with casual ease.
“Before I returned, I informed the Bon Gak. Even if your cultivation recovers, a rigid body is useless for anything.”
Bu Eunseol had saved Seo Jin Ha’s life through trials beyond measure, yet his condition remained gravely severe.
Mindful that his cultivation might not recover at all, she had prepared a contingency plan in advance.
‘But Nangya Pavilion?’
The sect masters of the Ten Demonic Gates each possessed mysterious abilities.
In particular, the martial prowess of Ak Moo Ryung, the Nangya Pavilion Master who had ascended to the Third Rank, was regarded as the highest among the Three Ranks and Three Sovereigns.
Yet even so, he could not restore the cultivation of Seo Jin Ha, who had mastered Hell Blood Castle’s poisonous techniques.
“Bu Eunseol….”
“You may look forward to it.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at Seo Jin Ha with a solemn expression as she spoke.
“I’ll work you so hard you’ll miss your days in the Cheon Sal Unit.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left abruptly.
The door clicked shut.
Seo Jin Ha stood frozen, watching her depart in a daze.
Gyo Jung Hak, the Medicine King Hall Master, was among the five greatest masters in Murim.
Yet even he was helpless in this situation. By what method could she possibly restore his cultivation?
Seo Jin Ha, still staring blankly at the door, asked a question.
“Is there any way to restore my cultivation other than going to Hell Blood Castle?”
“Hmm, it would be possible if there were a Geuk Ryeong Seon-gwa or an elixir of comparable potency in the Nangya Sect.”
Seo Jin Ha’s expression turned incredulous.
The Geuk Ryeong Seon-gwa was a supreme elixir obtainable only once every thousand years.
Moreover, hadn’t the acquisition of the Geuk Ryeong Seon-gwa this time sparked a fierce debate among the leadership?
Even if the Nangya Sect’s finances had recently improved, that was thanks to support from Mu Ha Soo Yu Jeong.
There was no possibility such an elixir existed there.
“Do not worry. The Muhonjung Lord is likely not seeking a miraculous elixir.”
“Pardon?”
“When you were first brought here, she asked me whether your cultivation could be restored despite such severe dantian damage.”
Gyo Jung Hak smiled faintly.
“When I said it was impossible without the Geuk Ryeong Seon-gwa, she chuckled and said this:”
―How fortunate. Then I can cast it aside without hesitation.
Seo Jin Ha pondered those words, tilting his head in confusion.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. How could I fathom her thoughts?”
Gyo Jung Hak wore a mysterious smile.
“But I too… wish to believe in her.”
Had anyone else said such a thing, he would have dismissed it as a jest.
But Bu Eunseol was someone who kept every word she spoke, even if heaven itself collapsed.
Since she had made a promise, his recovery was certain.
Even Gyo Jung Hak believed in that.
“I suppose I’ll be indebted to the Medicine King Hall for a while.”
Seo Jin Ha wiped the tip of his nose and took a deep breath, smiling wryly.
“If I don’t recover quickly and return to the Nangya Sect, she’ll come back and lecture me again.”
* * *
Under Bu Eunseol’s direction, a Supreme Military Command Conference was held at the Jamma Pavilion.
Ma Cheon Je was in seclusion, and Chong Gyo Ryeong had entrusted all matters concerning this incident to Bu Eunseol.
―I’ll have you handle work worthy of the Cheong Hae Stone’s value.
This Supreme Military Command Conference was also the first order Yeop Hyo Cheon had given to Bu Eunseol.
―The Sahwa Alliance is not the main body either.
It was the result of a thorough investigation conducted by the Cheon Sal Unit, which had struck the Sahwa Alliance under Bu Eunseol’s command.
The coalition of Evil Sects, lacking sufficient finances, had managed to rebuild Hyeol Sa Gok.
This was because they had drawn funds from the Geum Jeok Sang Dan located in Fukken.
Which meant there was another mastermind behind those who moved the Geum Jeok Sang Dan.
―The Muhonjung Lord shall annihilate all those who dared touch the special-class battle divisions of this hall.
Those who attacked the successor of Demon Hall and Seo Jin Ha, the commander of the Cheon Sal Unit.
To ensure their complete eradication, supreme command authority was entrusted to Bu Eunseol.
The Supreme Military Council normally convenes with the Lord, the Battle Division Master, and all first-class Lords in attendance.
However, Bu Eunseol excluded the Lord and Battle Division Master, summoning only the ten first-class Lords of the elite battle divisions separately.
―Seeing that only we were called, it doesn’t seem like she’s planning anything just yet?
The ten first-class Lords gathered in the Jamma Pavilion conference room tilted their heads in confusion.
Regardless, Bu Eunseol asked them for their opinions on the procedures following the Sahwa Alliance incident.
“We cannot strike the Geum Jeok Sang Dan immediately, which is troublesome.”
“Should we not first gather proper intelligence through the Bi Young Gak, then proceed with action?”
“Or perhaps if we shake the Evil Sects related to the Sahwa Alliance, the answer will emerge.”
However, the conference room was filled only with meaningless discussions.
These men had no interest in who attacked Seo Jin Ha.
They were merely those hoping to spread the prestige of their subordinate battle divisions and earn some merit in the process.
And those only postponing their deployment because they had yet to find the corpse.
“Listen.”
After hearing all the Lords’ arguments, Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“From this moment forward, I shall mobilize all forces to sweep away the Geum Jeok Sang Dan.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, the attending Lords’ eyes widened in shock.
“You mean to strike the Geum Jeok Sang Dan immediately?”
“Indeed.”
At Bu Eunseol’s resolute answer, the Lords turned pale.
―Has the Lord lost her mind?
No matter how powerful Demon Hall was, it was impossible to deploy forces and strike a merchant organization without solid evidence or justification.
The merchant organization maintained close relations not only with the Righteous Path sects of Murim but also with the government. If handled carelessly, even the imperial army could become involved.
Moreover, large merchant organizations possessed considerable military strength themselves, requiring massive troop deployment to annihilate them.
In such circumstances, one had to carefully consider numerous factors.
―Someone must stop her.
The Lords exchanged glances, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
Even the thugs of the Black Gang considered the target’s status, connections, and various circumstances before striking…
To declare without hesitation that she would move forces in one breath to strike the merchant organization?
“For this hall to strike the Geum Jeok Sang Dan, there must be sufficient justification.”
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Seok Sa Myeong, Lord of the Demon Soul Unit, spoke carefully.
“While pursuing the way of the Demonic Path is admirable, merchant organizations differ from Murim sects. If there is no proper evidence or justification, this hall will face severe backlash.”
“That is correct. Sweeping away a single merchant organization is no problem in itself, but doing so would result in this hall facing immediate condemnation.”
Several other Lords voiced their opposition thereafter, but Bu Eunseol firmly waved her hand in dismissal.
“What is certain is that the Geum Jeok Sang Dan has been providing funds to the Sahwa Alliance. It is undoubtedly connected to the Hyeol Sa Gok incident as well.”
“Is it not common for merchant guilds to provide capital to Murim sects? The Geum Jeok Sang Dan’s funds have gone to far more than just the Sahwa Alliance.”
A fair point.
As a major merchant guild, the Geum Jeok Sang Dan sent substantial sums of silver annually not only to the Gwan Bu but to numerous sects throughout the Jeongsayang-do.
To annihilate them merely for funneling capital into the Sahwa Alliance made no logical sense.
“With evidence of that caliber alone….”
“Evidence?”
Bu Eunseol’s gaze turned razor-sharp.
In this Hyeol Sa Gok incident, they had targeted me and abducted Seo Jin Ha.
That was tantamount to a direct assault upon the Demon Hall itself.
“I, the Lord, have been attacked, and the commander of the Cheon Sal Unit, which represents this hall, barely escaped with his life.”
“….”
“Evidence is unnecessary. We shall erase them first, then fabricate whatever proof we require afterward.”
Upon hearing these words, Seok Sa Myeong’s face drained of color as his mouth fell open.
“You intend to eliminate the merchant guild and then manipulate the evidence, my Lord?”
“What defense can the dead possibly offer?”
From Bu Eunseol’s eyes poured forth a pressure only seen in the great Demonic Cultivators who dominate Tianxia.
―Her demonic nature has reached its zenith.
The faces of all the Lords turned ashen.
So the Bu Eunseol known merely for her coldness actually possessed a demonic nature that indiscriminately cut down all who defied her?
“The Lord’s righteous anger is entirely understandable.”
Seok Sa Myeong wiped the perspiration from his brow and carefully opened his mouth once more.
“However, to move against the merchant guild….”
“There is no further need for discussion. I have already decided.”
Bu Eunseol rose from her seat. She swept her gaze across the assembly and spoke with chilling finality.
“I shall demonstrate once more to all of Murim what becomes of those who touch this hall.”
The Lords could not accept this, yet they had no choice but to bow their heads.
Bu Eunseol had already received authority from Yeop Hyo Cheon to mobilize the Demon Hall’s forces.
To presume to offer counsel now would only earn the resentment of the next successor.
“This council is adjourned.”
Rumble.
As the meeting concluded, all the Lords rose and paid their respects.
Yet the expressions of those departing the Jamma Pavilion were far from pleased.
―This woman could overturn the entire hall.
A great Demonic Cultivator who would decide to obliterate a colossal merchant guild like the Geum Jeok Sang Dan without so much as a blink…
None could shake the creeping unease that bloomed within their hearts.
In the empty conference chamber, Bu Eunseol stood alone.
Standing with hands clasped behind her back, her composed posture seemed as though she awaited someone.
Click.
Perhaps a moment had passed?
The door swung open, and two men entered the conference room side by side—one dressed in an indigo official’s robe, the other in a grand lord’s attire adorned with ink-black silk drapes.
Yu Woon Ryong and Myo Cheon Woo.
“Is it true? Bu Eunseol.”
Myo Cheon Woo approached urgently and spoke.
“The moment the Supreme Commander’s meeting ended, rumors spread like wildfire that you were leading first-rank lords to strike the Geum Jeok Sang Dan.”
Creak.
Before Bu Eunseol could even respond, the conference room door opened once more.
A middle-aged man in black martial robes, his face bearing the scars of countless blades, stepped inside.
So Ja Myeong, the Guusal Unit Lord.
“Who is this?”
As Myo Cheon Woo tilted his head in confusion, Bu Eunseol answered in his stead.
“So Ja Myeong, the Guusal Unit Lord.”
“The Guusal Unit?”
Though Myo Cheon Woo and Yu Woon Ryong could now be considered true members of the Demon Palace, they knew well what the Guusal Unit did.
“Why would the Guusal Unit Lord….”
As Myo Cheon Woo blinked, So Ja Myeong smiled wryly.
“Our unit has become the direct battalion under the Muhonjung Lord.”
“The Guusal Unit became a direct battalion under the Sa Young Jeon?”
“Since the Muhonjung Lord is essentially the Sa Young Jeon… well, you could say it amounts to the same thing.”
Myo Cheon Woo, who had been blinking, turned to Bu Eunseol and opened his mouth.
“What are you saying? Why did the Guusal Unit become a direct battalion?”
The Guusal Unit was a secret battalion that carried out missions never officially acknowledged.
And now those who had been covertly assigned under the Supreme Commander were suddenly placed under Bu Eunseol’s command?
“It was necessary.”
The brief explanation caused the expressions of Myo Cheon Woo and Yu Woon Ryong to darken considerably.
Though they were his closest aides, they truly had no idea what Bu Eunseol was actually doing or what schemes were being set in motion.
They knew nothing at all.
“I suppose you need to know now.”
Bu Eunseol exhaled a low sigh, watching the disappointment fill both their eyes.
“Myo Cheon Woo, Yu Woon Ryong. Both of you as well.”
Drawing a deep breath, I opened my mouth in a low voice.
“Everything I’ve done operating a separate intelligence network has been for one purpose—to find Saixiang.”
“Saixiang?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eunseol stroked my chin with a bitter expression.
“But every time I discovered the enemy, they managed to sever their tail and escape. Seo Jin Ha fell into a trap while pursuing Saixiang as well.”
And I continued the explanation in a measured tone.
How I had relentlessly pursued Saixiang all this time, investigated Seonggacheoljang and the Murim Alliance, and thanks to that, discovered and annihilated the Ohdok School.
“So when you found Saixiang, all these backing forces emerged one after another?”
After listening for some time, Myo Cheon Woo and Yu Woon Ryong exchanged glances and opened their mouths in astonishment.
That such an organization existed in Murim was astonishing enough, but Bu Eunseol had been pursuing them all this time?
“Why are you searching for Saixiang?”
At Myo Cheon Woo’s question, Bu Eunseol fell silent for a moment.
I had never revealed the reason for seeking Saixiang to anyone until now. Not even to So Ja Myeong, with whom I had discussed many confidential matters.
―I did not wish to endanger others with my personal affairs.
But after experiencing what happened with Seo Jin Ha, I came to realize that this thinking was flawed.
I was no longer alone. I had many subordinates and friends who were willing to sacrifice themselves in my stead.
Then it was only right that I should trust those close to me, pool our strength together, and deliberate and act as one.
For that was the way to protect them and prevent them from falling into sudden peril.
“The one who killed my only blood relative—my grandfather—wielded the secret techniques of Saixiang.”
“Your grandfather?”
“Yes. Until now, my grandfather and I lived alone together. When the Constabulary reported his death, I carefully washed his body and prepared it for burial, though he had no one to claim him.”
From Bu Eunseol’s eyes, which had been fixed upon empty space, a crimson radiance spilled forth.
“They murdered my grandfather—who lived quietly and peacefully—with unspeakable cruelty.”
A long silence fell.
Myo Cheon Woo, Yu Woon Ryong, and So Ja Myeong all nodded in understanding.
No lengthy explanation was needed.
The raw anguish radiating from Bu Eunseol—as though she might weep tears of blood at any moment—seemed capable of tearing the heavens asunder, and her fury threatened to crumble the very earth beneath them.
Vengeance.
Bu Eunseol sought to find the one who had killed her grandfather and exact her revenge.

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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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