The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 339

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 339.
The private quarters of Bing Han Poong, Palace Lord of Buk Hae Bing Gung.
He lay upon the bed, drawing in ragged breaths.
No one must discover the deception of his false injury. Thus, he had unflinchingly accepted the full force of Bu Eunseol’s devastating strike.
And from that blow, he had sustained grievous wounds near his Tanzhong point, torn like rags, along with profound internal injuries.
“Truly remarkable spiritual aptitude.”
Bing Han Poong murmured softly, recalling the glacial essence of the Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol that had been concentrated within Bu Eunseol’s palm strike.
“To manifest ice crystals using the Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol after merely four days of cultivation.”
Though the wounds were grave, they were confined to the flesh alone.
The internal injuries could be healed in a single breath if he so chose.
This was because Bu Eunseol had used the Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol to create ice crystals—the very essence of extreme yin energy—and embedded them near his Tanzhong point.
To embed ice crystals in a master of ice cultivation was, in truth, no true harm at all.
Yet by refraining from absorbing the glacial qi of the crystals through cultivation, he feigned profound internal injuries.
This method was so subtle that even Yak Sin Dong Master, renowned for his medical prowess, believed he had suffered mortal internal wounds.
“This is what was called the first trap.”
No matter how thoroughly a traitor examined him, they could never discern this truth.
They would be certain that Bing Han Poong had sustained irreversible, catastrophic injuries.
“How fleeting are the years.”
A profound emptiness settled in the eyes of Bing Han Poong as he lay upon the bed.
There was a time when he had harbored dreams of ascending to the position of the greatest advisor in Tianxia.
The power of the Eternal Ice Crystal was boundless, and when combined with the martial arts of Buk Hae Bing Gung, any formidable opponent could be frozen in an instant.
Indeed, he had once traveled secretly through Zhong Yuan for martial pilgrimage, defeating countless masters.
Until he was defeated by a renowned supreme expert of the Demonic Path.
Chil Ji Ma Do Bu Chanyang.
This fearsome Demonic Path warrior had shattered his Ice White Eternal Spirit Technique in merely three seconds.
Fortunately, the man had ceased his assault upon breaking the technique. Had he harbored different intentions, Bing Han Poong’s head would have been severed within ten seconds.
‘He was a warrior of magnanimous restraint, contrary to rumor.’
Bing Han Poong’s eyes narrowed as he recalled those past events.
―I had sought to extract a promise that you would not covet the Murim of Zhong Yuan while I yet lived.
Chil Ji Ma Do Bu Chanyang gazed down at the fallen Bing Han Poong, baring his white teeth.
―There is no need for such a promise.
Chil Ji Ma Do had perceived that the Palace Lord possessed both magnanimous character and unadorned virtue, and that he had failed to cultivate the supreme techniques of Bing Ha Dae Je.
―Begin by cultivating the Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol. If that proves impossible, find a disciple capable of mastering it.
And with those cryptic words, he departed.
―Otherwise, in time to come, Buk Hae Bing Gung will not survive the Great Calamity of Blood.
In truth, Bing Han Poong had never harbored ambitions toward the Murim of Zhong Yuan.
Moreover, after witnessing Bu Chanyang’s terrifying prowess, he had cultivated reverence for the martial arts of Zhong Yuan and a fierce warrior’s spirit.
Thereafter, he devoted himself to studying the martial arts of Bing Ha Dae Je and seeking disciples capable of mastering them, yet all his efforts came to naught.
Of course, this was a personal matter for Bing Han Poong, a secret he had shared with no one.
“Yet he vanished long ago.”
A deep, dark light flickered in Bing Han Poong’s eyes.
“The very person I’ve searched so desperately to find—someone capable of mastering the Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol—turns out to be the successor of the Demon Hall he once belonged to… Is this too, the work of fate?”
Knock, knock.
At that moment, the sound of knocking at the door was followed by Si Bi’s low voice.
“The Eom family head requests an audience with the Palace Lord.”
‘He’s come.’
Bing Han Poong narrowed his eyes to slits.
The moment word spread that he lay gravely ill, the five family heads grew desperate.
Should the owner of the ten-thousand-year ice essence stored in the dantian perish, that mysterious power might be lost forever.
This was precisely why Buk Hae Bing Gung selected its successor Palace Lord earlier than other sects.
―The Palace Lord’s condition has stabilized.
Yak Sin Dong Master, who had treated Bing Han Poong’s wounds, announced that the critical danger had passed.
Yet the family heads’ hearts must surely be ablaze with urgency.
Consequently, all the family heads save Han Woo Sang had begun visiting one by one, using inquiries about his health as their pretext.
“Let him in.”
As Bing Han Poong spoke, the door opened and Eom Woo Jung, the Eom family head, entered with careful steps.
“Palace Lord. How do you fare?”
“Thanks to your concern. I manage well enough.”
He set down a wooden box containing medicinal pills upon the table beside the sickbed.
“These are Qing Yun Pills obtained long ago in Xinjiang. Should you consume one, it will greatly aid in your recovery of vitality.”
“I’m grateful.”
Bing Han Poong offered a faint smile.
“It’s been an age since I’ve received such kindness.”
In that instant, Eom Woo Jung’s cheeks flushed crimson.
The countless days during which he had refused to acknowledge the Palace Lord’s authority flooded back into his mind.
“Is that not because the Palace Lord has failed to handle matters with sufficient firmness?”
With a heavy sigh, Eom Woo Jung instead reproached Bing Han Poong’s magnanimous nature.
“Had you punished that Han Woo Sang severely from the start, such turmoil would never have occurred.”
“That may well be true.”
As Bing Han Poong chuckled without concern, Eom Woo Jung broached the main subject.
“And surely we cannot delay the selection of the next Palace Lord any further?”
“Of course not.”
Bing Han Poong spoke matter-of-factly.
“Once my body recovers, I shall select the next Palace Lord.”
“Thank you. And if possible… I humbly ask for your favor.”
Eom Woo Jung was a man consumed by ambition, one who had schemed in countless ways to ensure his own son would become the next Palace Lord.
And even now, he had not abandoned such aspirations.
“I understand.”
At Bing Han Poong’s brief reply, Eom Woo Jung clasped his hands together and carefully withdrew.
Once he had departed, Bing Han Poong lay back upon the sickbed and closed his eyes.
But shortly after, Si Bi’s voice rang out again.
“The Seol Family head requests an audience with the Palace Lord.”
“Let him in.”
Seol Se Geuk, the head of the Seol Family, also visited bearing precious spirit pills for health.
And he opened his mouth with an expression of anger unlike anything before.
“Who in the world assassinated the Palace Lord? Was it that successor of the Demon Palace?”
“I don’t know either. But according to the Jip Beop Dang Master, they’re investigating while keeping several possibilities in mind.”
“Perhaps, now that the Palace Lord’s grievance has been resolved, he panicked and committed such an act.”
For a long time, Bing Han Poong had been losing his authority as Palace Lord.
But after the truth behind Han Ja Wook’s assassination came to light, the opinion within Buk Hae Bing Gung changed completely.
All disciples, as well as the family heads, came to respect Bing Han Poong, who had quietly maintained his position without excuse all this time.
And Seol Se Geuk was no exception.
“If the Jip Beop Dang Master cannot find him, I will certainly hunt down Hyung Su myself.”
After that, he vented his anger toward Hyung Su for quite some time before taking his leave.
The next visitor was Baek Jin Yu, the head of the Baek Family.
He formally expressed concern for Bing Han Poong’s health, then quickly broached the main topic.
“If someone framed the Palace Lord and brought the palace to such a state over a long period… the culprit must surely be one of the five family heads.”
This was not Baek Jin Yu’s thought alone.
Though no disciple of Buk Hae Bing Gung had spoken it aloud, the one who assassinated Han Ja Wook and caused the Palace Lord Bing Han Poong’s authority to collapse—
They were all certain he was one of the five family heads, excluding the Bing Family.
“That’s something I cannot know.”
As Bing Han Poong shook his head bitterly, Baek Jin Yu spoke.
“In any case, it seems the palace’s outward expansion has become an unstoppable tide of the times.”
Bing Han Poong’s expression showed slight surprise.
Baek Jin Yu was someone who had long hoped Buk Hae Bing Gung would maintain its closed-off position.
Was he not even someone who hoped the five families would remain divided, maintaining power equal to the Palace Lord?
So why was he suddenly speaking positively about reconciliation?
“However, the Demonic Path of Zhong Yuan cannot be trusted.”
“Hmm.”
“It would be better to consider reconciliation from another angle. After all, the alliance of Sae Oe sects has been created out of necessity throughout generations.”
After that, he repeatedly emphasized that the Sae Oe sects must unite their strength and the necessity of such an alliance.
Only then did Bing Han Poong grasp Baek Jin Yu’s true intentions.
‘Since he cannot stop the tide of reconciliation, he’s trying to recruit toward a side favorable to himself.’
Unable to stem the tide of reconciliation, Baek Jin Yu was attempting to create a Sae Oe alliance that would preserve his own power.
“If such an alliance were to be formed, naturally its leader would have to be you.”
When Bing Han Poong spoke with unprecedented directness, Baek Jin Yu’s face flushed.
“How could I possibly harbor such thoughts? I merely…”
As he fumbled for words, Bing Han Poong nodded and cut him off.
“I’ll give that some thought as well.”
The last family head to visit was none other than Dong Yu Gak, the Dong Family head.
He had long been deeply concerned about Bing Han Poong’s health and brought with him the Frozen Ice Harmony Elixir, a precious pill passed down through generations of the Dong Family.
“Palace Lord, how are you feeling?”
“Well enough to get by.”
“You’ve endured much hardship these past days.”
Dong Yu Gak lowered his head with an embarrassed expression.
Gently grasping the hand of Bing Han Poong, who lay upon the bed, he spoke with a pained look.
“All the family heads have lived only for their own restoration, giving no thought to what becomes of the palace itself.”
“It’s fine.”
Bing Han Poong offered a generous smile.
“Unlike the other family heads, you have never once criticized me or disobeyed my orders, have you?”
Dong Yu Gak had always remained a bystander to Bing Han Poong’s affairs.
Yet unlike the other family heads, he had never shown disrespect. Not once had he failed to treat him with proper deference as the Palace Lord.
“I am grateful for your magnanimity, Palace Lord. However, I am ashamed and deeply sorry that the truth behind the rumors that have troubled you for so long has only now been revealed through the actions of someone from another sect.”
“Hah, hah, hah. You speak too much. Think nothing of it.”
“Please recover swiftly and rise again to rebuild our palace as a unified force. That is surely the common wish of all the family heads.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
At last, all the family heads had come to visit Bing Han Poong.
Of course, with one exception—the Han Family head, Han Woo Sang, who had been the first to swear his loyalty and had kept vigil at Bing Han Poong’s side throughout his treatment at the Yak Sin Dong, losing sleep night after night.
Once Bing Han Poong’s condition improved, Han Woo Sang had finally found peace of mind and returned to the Han Family, which is why he had not come to pay his respects.
Creak.
Bu Eunseol, having heard everything, emerged from the secret passage and opened the door.
Bing Han Poong’s eyes gleamed as he saw her.
“Well? Do you know who the traitor is?”
Bu Eunseol nodded at Bing Han Poong’s question.
“I do.”
“How?”
“Because traitors try their best to conceal their true intentions.”
“I don’t follow.”
Bing Han Poong tilted his head in confusion.
The Eom Family head revealed his ambitions toward the Palace Lord.
The Dong Family head expressed his longing for a unified Buk Hae Bing Gung.
The Seol Family head displayed his anger toward Hyung Su, who had harmed the Palace Lord.
And the Baek Family head emphasized harmony with other sects of Sae Oe.
Their opinions remained consistent with the beliefs they had always held, which is why Bing Han Poong could detect nothing amiss.
“Moreover, there is one fact known only to the traitor: that the Palace Lord’s assassination attempt was likely a self-orchestrated scheme.”
Bing Han Poong nodded.
Within Buk Hae Bing Gung, only the traitor—the one who had caused the division among the family heads—could have orchestrated an assassination attempt on him.
“Therefore, it matters little to him whether the Palace Lord’s injuries are severe. What truly matters is whether you suffered genuine grave injuries and what schemes you harbor. That was his true purpose in investigating.”
“Hmm.”
Bing Han Poong, intrigued by Bu Eunseol’s deduction, asked again.
“Explain in greater detail.”
“The families of the Northern Sea have sworn loyalty to the Palace Lord, yet in their hearts, each desires their own clan to flourish.”
“That much is true.”
“Though public opinion in Buk Hae Bing Gung has shifted and the Palace Lord has reclaimed his authority, only one man among them revealed nothing of his true intentions. He came merely to confirm the Palace Lord’s condition before departing. Why? Because he knew the Palace Lord had suffered genuine injury.”
In that instant, Bing Han Poong’s eyes trembled violently.
Only then did he grasp whom Bu Eunseol was identifying as the traitor.
The three family heads each harbored clear ulterior motives beneath their courtesy visit. But he had come with no such agenda.
Because what mattered most to him was confirming whether Bing Han Poong had truly suffered injury or merely feigned it.
“So he was the conspirator.”
“Indeed.”
Bing Han Poong’s expression twisted with anguish.
The man who had remained silent throughout, neither criticizing him nor offering any opinion among the five family heads.
And the only one who had drawn close, clasping both hands in apparent concern to examine his internal injuries carefully…
Dong Yu Gak, the Dong Family head, was the architect of this entire betrayal.
“But there is no evidence.”
Bing Han Poong swallowed his anguish and exhaled heavily.
“We have failed to apprehend Hyung Su precisely because evidence eludes us. No matter what stratagem we employ, he will not reveal himself as a traitor.”
“Have no fear.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with composure.
“If we employ the final method among the strategies I have outlined, we shall obtain the evidence we need.”
“Strategies? What strategies?”
Yu Woon Ryong blinked in surprise.
Rather than answer, Bu Eunseol withdrew something from her garments and extended it to him.
It was the scroll she had shown Bing Han Poong before, inscribed with every detail of the plan.
As Yu Woon Ryong absorbed the full scope of the scheme, his eyes widened.
“This plan is far too dangerous.”
“The Palace Lord has already inflicted injury upon himself. Why should I not do the same?”
Yu Woon Ryong shook his head firmly.
“This plan contains too many flaws. The probability he will see through the trap is far too high.”
“You speak truly.”
Yet a smile lingered at the corners of Bu Eunseol’s mouth.
“And yet he cannot help but come.”
“What do you mean by that?”
A keen gleam flashed across Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“Because he has wagered everything he has so desperately desired.”
Thereupon, So Ok Rim, who had been listening in silence, folded her arms.
“Indeed, human desire is difficult to restrain.”
She smiled as she looked down upon Yu Woon Ryong.
“A plan meticulously crafted over ten years now crumbles before his eyes—no man could simply stand idle and watch it fall.”
Yu Woon Ryong’s expression shifted to one of astonishment.
So Ok Rim, just like Bu Eunseol, seemed well-versed in the ways of the world and human emotion, didn’t she?
“Hmm.”
Yu Woon Ryong nodded with a low murmur of acknowledgment.
“That could very well be the case.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with conviction.
“They will reveal their true nature. Perhaps not entirely, but at least some of it.”
Bu Eunseol’s final gambit.
It was to use something so tempting they could never refuse as bait—to expose the demonic nature of both the descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars and the Dong Family head in one fell swoop.
Buk Hae Bing Gung was thrown into turmoil.
―While under investigation to find Hyung Su, who had harmed the Palace Lord, the successor of Demon Hall had escaped from the palace!
It was said that Bu Eunseol had suddenly attempted to flee while imprisoned in the Underground Prison and undergoing interrogation.
As it turned out, the kidnapping of Bing Han Poong had also been his doing.
He was not seeking peace, but rather coveting the secret martial techniques that the Palace Lord possessed.
―Did this make any sense?
All the disciples of Buk Hae Bing Gung could not hide their bewilderment.
From Demon Hall, a coalition of the Demonic Path from Zhong Yuan, the successor had come to the ice palace merely to steal secret techniques?
―Demon Hall sought peace with Yeol Ha Sung Palace. They demanded this palace’s secrets as a condition for peace!
Surprisingly, what the successor of Demon Hall desired was peace with Yeol Ha Sung Palace, and he had come to steal Buk Hae Bing Gung’s secrets to achieve it.
―This palace was far too naive!
As the plausible explanation spread through rumor once more, half of Buk Hae Bing Gung’s disciples burned with rage while the other half resigned themselves to despair.
―The family that captures the escaped Muhonjung Master shall have their heir chosen as the next Palace Lord! And I shall immediately pass down the Eternal Ice Seal!
Bing Han Poong issued this command to all the families of Buk Hae Bing Gung as if consumed by fury.
He had now reclaimed the authority of the Palace Lord, and none would dare object even if he selected his own son as the next Palace Lord.
Moreover, the Eternal Ice Seal could only be effective if passed down while he still lived.
The reason the six families of the Northern Sea could unite their strength, the reason they could not forcibly seize the position of Palace Lord—
It was precisely because of this Eternal Ice Seal, a treasure unique to the Northern Sea Divine Palace.
But now the family that captured Muhonjung Master Bu Eunseol would have their heir chosen as the next Palace Lord?
Every family except the Bing Family had their eyes turned inside out.
―Capture him!
The five families, excluding the Bing Family, immediately began pursuing the fleeing Bu Eunseol.
In the Northern Sea, where endless snow plains stretched without end, it was nearly impossible to flee alone without leaving a trace.
Moreover, Bu Eunseol had forcibly destroyed the mechanisms of Buk Hae Bing Gung while escaping, so he was in a severely wounded state.
If they could capture him, Buk Hae Bing Gung would finally welcome a new master.
The snow plain, bleached white.
There, pursuit teams rushed forth in five different directions.
As the traces of the fleeing Bu Eunseol split into multiple paths, the five families had no choice but to divide their directions and begin their separate pursuits.
“Stop!”
Dong Yu Gak, who led the pursuit team, halted his movement technique and gazed downward for a long moment.
There, a very faint trace remained.
“His wounds must be severe—he can no longer maintain the Traceless Snow Step.”
Dong Yu Gak caught the faint traces—footprints left when deploying lightness technique—and a subtle smile crossed his lips.
Bu Eunseol, fleeing with severe injuries, could no longer maintain stable lightness technique.
As proof, clear blood from severed arteries marked the path of her escape vividly.
“If I capture her, no one will dare object.”
Dong Yu Gak’s body trembled with anticipation.
He had long been executing a plan to swallow Buk Hae Bing Gung by joining forces with external powers.
Originally, he intended to frame Bing Han Poong as the culprit in Han Ja Wook’s assassination, provoke Han Woo Sang into forcing the Palace Lord to abdicate.
Yet Han Woo Sang merely harbored bitter hatred toward him, refusing to take decisive action.
Moreover, Bing Han Poong steadfastly held his position, indefinitely postponing the selection of the next Palace Lord until Hyung Su was captured—was he not?
When the Palace Lord stubbornly endured without yielding the Eternal Ice Pearl, even as his meridians froze, Dong Yu Gak nearly went mad.
―Heaven’s blessing!
Then suddenly, the successor of Demon Palace arrived at Buk Hae Bing Gung, ostensibly investigating Han Ja Wook’s assassination, and was stirring chaos throughout the palace.
Yet from Dong Yu Gak’s perspective, this was merely another opportunity presenting itself.
Just as he was carefully preparing his schemes, the Demon Palace’s successor conveniently destroyed herself.
‘Perhaps this too is a conspiracy between the Palace Lord and her.’
Dong Yu Gak already knew that Bing Han Poong and Bu Eunseol harbored hidden intentions.
The forces cooperating with him had advised caution, yet Dong Yu Gak seized this incident as an opportunity instead.
―If I capture her, Buk Hae Bing Gung will fall into my grasp without resistance.
Bing Han Poong had publicly declared that the next Palace Lord would be chosen from the family of whoever captured her.
Whatever schemes existed, if he captured Bu Eunseol, the Palace Lord could not refuse to appoint the next leader from the Dong Family.
Urgency seized Dong Yu Gak, and he shouted to his subordinates.
“Follow your family head at once!”
He immediately deployed a tempestuous technique and rushed along the trail of blood.
After running for roughly an hour?
In the distance, before a small rocky cliff, a figure crouched in a pitiful state.
It was Bu Eunseol—the successor of Demon Palace who had escaped from the Underground Prison of Buk Hae Bing Gung.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————