The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 343
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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 343.
Bu Eunseol spent the entire night awake in her office.
It was a contemplation far deeper than meditation.
Should she act, or should she refrain?
One could say that humans, from birth until death, are beings who endlessly grapple with the question of whether to act or abstain.
Bu Eunseol remained caught at the crossroads between action and inaction, unable to find her footing.
Whether to request a Demon Hall Council meeting, or to abandon the idea entirely.
―I have encountered Chilji Demonic Sect’s Bu Chanyang, the Sect Master.
If she were to request a Demon Hall Council meeting and reveal Yeol Ryeo before Ma Cheon Je and the leaders of the Ten Demonic Gates?
At the very least, she could transform the lie about seeing Chilji Demonic Sect into something bearing a semblance of credibility.
Moreover, executing this plan would allow her to discern several truths immediately.
Whether the Demon Hall truly failed to find him.
Or whether they simply chose not to search.
And if among them there existed someone involved in Chilji Demonic Sect’s disappearance, or someone who knew the truth?
To confirm whether he was truly alive, they would approach Bu Eunseol and deploy various stratagems.
‘If he were truly alive… what reaction would they show?’
Would the Demon Hall and the Ten Demonic Gates attempt to kill him again?
If so, might there be a truth known only to Chilji Demonic Sect? Or would they lower their heads once more, fearful of his formidable and untouchable martial prowess?
Her thoughts spiraled endlessly, each one leading to the next.
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
Dawn had broken, and the sound of birds singing drifted through the window.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes, fixed in deep contemplation as she sat in her chair, suddenly gleamed with sharp clarity.
She had finally reached a decision.
“Not yet… it cannot be done.”
In the end, after prolonged deliberation, she abandoned the plan to request a Demon Hall Council meeting.
There were three reasons why she should not proceed.
The first was none other than—
‘Ma Cheon Je.’
Ma Cheon Je had always seen through her thoughts.
If news of the Sect Master’s survival reached him despite his seclusion?
Or if, by chance, he completed his seclusion precisely when the Demon Hall Council was convened?
If Ma Cheon Je saw through her deception?
She could not even predict how he would react.
‘Would he tolerate it or feign ignorance? Or would he impose sanctions for the lie?’
If it came to the worst scenario…
‘Ma Cheon Je himself might be the architect behind Chilji Demonic Sect’s disappearance.’
Among all Demonic Path cultivators, only Ma Cheon Je possessed the power to place Chilji Demonic Sect in dire straits or bring about his death.
If Ma Cheon Je were involved in Chilji Demonic Sect’s disappearance, or if he were the one who orchestrated it?
And if he did not wish for it to be investigated?
The trap she had constructed at the cost of abandoning Yeol Ryeo could be exposed in an instant…
As a result, she could face sanctions from Ma Cheon Je, or even counterattacks from the leaders of the Ten Demonic Gates.
‘Moreover, for this reasoning to hold true, Chil Ji Ma Do Bu Chanyang and grandfather Bu Chanyang must be different people.’
The wounds left on grandfather’s corpse were never the kind Ma Cheon Je would leave behind.
‘It’s not merely because of Ma Cheon Je, that unpredictable variable.’
The second reason Bu Eunseol could not do this.
If grandfather were not the same person as Chil Ji Ma Do,
?
With this lie, she would become the first person to witness Chil Ji Ma Do Bu Chanyang, who had vanished decades ago.
Regardless of who Chil Ji Ma Do truly was, on the surface he was a great slaughterer of the Demonic Path.
The righteous masters who fell beneath his blade were beyond counting, and those who harbored grudges against him were innumerable.
Yet if rumors spread that Chil Ji Ma Do, missing for decades, had been sighted….
Information networks throughout Murim would track not only his present whereabouts but his past deeds as well.
Murim experts with grudges against Chil Ji Ma Do would flock to her, begging or threatening her to reveal his location.
‘Had I been certain that Chil Ji Ma Do was grandfather, I would naturally have borne that karma.’
Bu Eunseol exhaled deeply.
That was the third and final reason.
What if Chil Ji Ma Do Bu Chanyang and Yeomsa Bu Chanyang were different people?
Bu Eunseol would be stirring up a hornet’s nest with a lie that would impose severe restrictions on her path through Murim.
For these reasons, Bu Eunseol had abandoned her plan to extract information about Chil Ji Ma Do using Yeo Ryeo as bait.
‘I must never take such reckless gambles.’
Creak.
At that moment, the door opened and the five Lords entered with So Ok Rim.
“Wait, isn’t this a conference of our Sayoung Hall Lords?”
Won Se Moon blinked upon spotting So Ok Rim following behind them.
“Gyo Du, you’re not a Lord, are you?”
Bu Eunseol spoke matter-of-factly.
“The Lord Commander summoned her.”
So Ok Rim then spoke with a stern expression.
“I’ve been asking to hold this conference for a long time. There’s something important.”
Won Se Moon’s expression grew puzzled.
“Gyo Du requested this conference? By what authority?”
“Haven’t you heard how I took over Buk Hae Bing Gung? I’ve eaten with the Palace Lord since childhood, pulled his beard a bit here and there… that’s how I got the gates opened and made peace possible. Understand?”
As So Ok Rim went on at length with intensity in her eyes, Bu Eunseol asked Myo Cheon Woo.
“Have the audit results for White Horse Sect come in?”
“Don’t even mention it. There are so many irregularities that we can’t even compile them into a single volume.”
Myo Cheon Woo smacked his lips as he spoke.
“It was done across every department, so even our members were left speechless. We don’t know where to even begin addressing it.”
Bu Eunseol waved her hand dismissively.
“Preserve the records, but do not punish anyone.”
“Huh?”
“From the start, this inspection was meant to break their spirit and investigate certain matters.”
Bu Eunseol spoke matter-of-factly.
“Given the incident with Hell Blood Castle not long ago, it would be wise to show some magnanimity.”
Bu Eunseol was the successor to Demon Palace.
If the White Horse Sect had acted petty, and I responded in kind just as petulously… it would only damage my authority as a successor.
“Then there’s no helping it.”
Myo Cheon Woo, who had been smiling faintly, tilted his head as if struck by a thought.
“But why did you ask about the Chilji Demonic Sect during this inspection? When you said you were tracking the Palace Lord’s movements, even the Chong Gyo Ryeong questioned the circumstances.”
Then Wi Cheon Gyeong spoke as well.
“That’s correct. Regardless of other matters, it would be best not to delve into the Palace Lord’s affairs. It is a sensitive matter for our sect.”
“Sensitive?”
“The Palace Lord of Demon Palace has gone missing, and we haven’t even been able to locate his whereabouts.”
Wi Cheon Gyeong spoke cautiously.
“Because of this, rumors have spread among the Murim Alliance and the Orthodox Sects that Demon Palace’s intelligence network is incompetent.”
“Hmm.”
“Moreover, some have suggested that we could find him but deliberately choose not to, mocking the honor of the Demonic Path.”
―Chilji Demonic Sect might possibly be my grandfather.
In that moment, Bu Eunseol barely suppressed the words threatening to burst forth.
In truth, I wanted to discuss all of this openly with my subordinates and seek their counsel.
―My grandfather, who was an ordinary member of Yeomsa, was actually a master of Shaolin who had mastered the Reverse Meridian Scripture. Saixiang is also connected to Shaolin, and I possess a relic of the Chilji Demonic Sect.
But I cannot speak of it.
No, I must not.
The Chilji Demonic Sect was entangled with not only the Demonic Path but also the highest figures of the Orthodox Sects and Murim.
Until everything is completely revealed, I must not carelessly divulge information about the Chilji Demonic Sect and my grandfather.
Above all, there is no evidence that Chilji Demonic Sect Bu Chanyang and my grandfather Bu Chanyang are the same person.
“But isn’t that strange?”
Yu Woon Ryong tilted his head as he spoke.
“The son of the White Horse Sect Lord, Kang Yang Cheon. If he had been killed by the Chilji Demonic Sect, it would have been a major scandal. Why were they hiding it?”
Ultimately, the relationship between the White Horse Sect and the Chilji Demonic Sect, as revealed by Yeok Jung Maeng, was this:
Before becoming the Palace Lord of the Demonic Path, the Chilji Demonic Sect had slaughtered all the masters who came at him from Jeong Sa Yang Do… and among them was Kang Mu Hak, the successor of the White Horse Sect, who had attempted to defeat the Chilji Demonic Sect and gain renown.
“The White Horse Sect had to continuously send masters to pursue Chilji Demonic Sect Bu Chanyang, who killed the Lord’s son… but ultimately gave up midway.”
Yu Woon Ryong shook his head as if unable to comprehend.
“So something happened between the Chilji Demonic Sect and the White Horse Sect. The problem is there’s no way to make the Lord speak.”
Yu Woon Ryong was one of the Ten Demon Immortals of the White Horse Sect.
The fact that even he was making such a definitive statement suggested there was absolutely no way to force the White Horse Sect Lord to speak.
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“The White Horse Sect matter is sufficient as is. From now on, continue investigating the Chilji Demonic Sect’s movements.”
“Continue?”
Yu Woon Ryong furrowed his brow.
“You want me to keep tracking the Chilji Demonic Sect’s movements?”
“That’s right. From now on, I must venture into Gangho with her.”
“For what purpose?”
Bu Eunseol spoke in a low voice.
“I’ve gathered everyone here partly to explain the reason to all of you.”
A heavy atmosphere settled over the Conference Hall.
Bu Eunseol and So Ok Rim had to venture secretly into Gangho? But why would that be necessary?
After a brief silence, Bu Eunseol pointed to So Ok Rim.
“She told me that one of the descendants of Pal Hwang Sam Seong possesses the Grand Blade of Chil Ji Ma Do.”
“Pal Hwang Sam Seong?”
“And it’s possible that the faction led by this descendant of Pal Hwang Sam Seong is the true body of Saixiang.”
So Ok Rim smacked her lips.
“Why are you revealing all these details?”
“They need to know.”
“Why?”
Bu Eunseol spoke with conviction.
“Because they are the Lords who lead Sayoung Battle Division.”
Bu Eunseol addressed So Ok Rim.
“Tell them the story directly if you can.”
“Mm.”
So Ok Rim, who had been pondering for a moment, scratched her cheek as if resigned to the task.
“I’ll tell you this once, so listen carefully with your ears open. Among Pal Hwang Sam Seong….”
She explained in detail how a force had been disturbing Murim for four hundred years, and how their leader was a descendant of Pal Hwang Sam Seong.
She also mentioned that this was why she and Bu Eunseol had gone to Buk Hae Bing Gung.
“So such a thing occurred.”
Wi Cheon Gyeong narrowed his eyes.
“Then surely today’s meeting is also related to Pal Hwang Sam Seong.”
“Indeed.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
“I heard that the Black-White Witch has recently revealed herself again.”
The Black-White Witch.
She was an elusive sorceress who had appeared intermittently in Murim over the past decade, drinking blood and vanishing without a trace.
Had she merely drunk blood and disappeared, she would never have become so renowned in Murim.
The Black-White Witch’s victims were exclusively martial artists—specifically, only the blood of chaste men.
“I’ve heard of it too. They say the witch appeared in the Shandong region.”
As Wi Cheon Gyeong spoke, Won Se Moon rounded his lips.
“But why is that witch called the Black-White Witch?”
“You don’t even know that? And you call yourself a Lord of Demon Hall.”
Jo Nam Cheon, standing nearby, offered a reproachful explanation.
“According to eyewitnesses, the Black-White Witch’s face is too blurred to see clearly. However, they all consistently reported that her hair was white and she wore black clothing. That’s why she’s called the Black-White Witch.”
“I see.”
“However, that Black-White Witch has always hunted down anyone who witnessed her and survived. That’s why there are rumors she must be someone from the imperial palace whose identity cannot be revealed.”
At that moment, So Ok Rim spoke up.
“The Black-White Witch is likely a descendant of Hyeol Hwang among the Pal Hwang Sam Seong.”
Hyeol Hwang.
His martial arts were distinctive—he wielded techniques that used his own blood as a medium.
Moreover, those struck by his techniques would gradually lose blood, and it was said they would eventually die as if all the blood in their body had been drained.
The problem was that Hyeol Hwang himself also lost blood when using such techniques.
Because of this, Hyeol Hwang would seek out blood after employing his martial arts to replenish what he had lost.
“That’s strange, isn’t it? If the Black-White Witch truly controls the shadows of Murim, she wouldn’t need to personally drain people’s blood, would she?”
Wi Cheon Gyeong’s doubt held merit.
If she were a descendant of the Pal Hwang Sam Seong who manipulated Murim, there would be no reason to take such risks by personally draining blood.
She could obtain blood in abundance simply by ordering her subordinates.
Then So Ok Rim opened her mouth again.
“That might be because she failed while learning the Dual Circulation Technique.”
She glanced around at all the Lords before continuing.
“If one fails while learning the Dual Circulation Technique, they must drain human blood. Only the essence blood of humans can resolve the madness that follows.”
“Madness?”
Won Se Moon’s eyes widened, and So Ok Rim nodded.
“Yes. Failing to master the Dual Circulation Technique causes one to suffer from madness, and the specific cure for it is human essence blood. Even better if it comes from a virgin male brimming with yang energy.”
With her arms crossed, she spoke in a solemn voice.
“And because she suffers from this madness, she might wear a peculiar disguise and drain blood in secret. If it became known that she suffers from such an affliction, it could cause problems within the organization she leads.”
At that moment, Wi Cheon Gyeong regarded her with suspicious eyes.
“How can you know the martial techniques of the Pal Hwang Sam Seong in such detail when they’re unknown to Murim?”
“That’s because I’m also a descendant of the Pal Hwang Sam Seong.”
For a moment, silence fell over the hall.
Then all the Lords except Bu Eunseol gave subtle nods.
Only then did they understand why So Ok Rim was so formidable.
“However, capturing her with only our strength seems impossible,” Yu Woon Ryong said cautiously.
“Many sects have tried to capture the Black-White Witch so far, but ultimately failed. Moreover, to establish a siege across all of Shandong, we would need not only all the forces of this hall but also cooperation from several Demonic Path sects.”
“Until now, several factions have tried to capture the Black-White Witch, but ultimately let her slip away. Moreover, to lay a siege across all of Shandong would require not only all the forces of this war, but also the cooperation of several Demonic Path factions.”
“Not necessary.”
“What?”
“If she could be captured with overwhelming numbers, she would have been caught already.”
As So Ok Rim answered, Bu Eunseol nodded and spoke.
“The Black-White Witch not only possesses high martial prowess but also likely owns a special secret technique for concealing her whereabouts. Just look at how she insists on maintaining her distinctive white hair and black clothing.”
“Then how do you plan to capture her? Ah, I see.”
At that moment, Myo Cheon Woo nodded as if he had figured something out.
“You’re planning to become the bait yourself to capture her?”
“Bait?”
“If she can’t be found, then make her come to you, right?”
Yu Woon Ryong nodded and spoke.
“It’s a sound strategy, but who will serve as the bait?”
“That would be a virgin man, naturally.”
At Myo Cheon Woo’s words, So Ok Rim nodded with an expression of agreement.
Then she suddenly began scrutinizing Won Se Moon’s body.
“I am not a virgin.”
When Won Se Moon waved his hands in protest, she turned her gaze sharply toward Jo Nam Cheon.
“Neither am I.”
“Hmm.”
Then all eyes in the hall, not just hers, fixed upon a single person.
He possessed refined features and was indeed a virgin. Moreover, his movement technique was swift enough that there was no danger of him being harmed by the Black-White Witch.
It was Wi Cheon Gyeong.
“Then it’s decided.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol shook her head.
“It won’t work.”
And she spoke while looking at Wi Cheon Gyeong.
“He stands on the precipice of entering the Transcendent Realm’s stabilization phase. Because of this, a fierce aura emanates from him even in stillness.”
True to her words, Wi Cheon Gyeong sat calmly, yet a sharp wave of true energy flowed from him.
Unless the Black-White Witch was a fool, she would never reveal herself before Wi Cheon Gyeong.
“If we must resort to the bait strategy regardless….”
So Ok Rim pointed at Jo Nam Cheon and Won Se Moon, speaking with playful amusement.
“Those two would seem perfectly suited for it.”
“Didn’t you hear us just now? We are not virgins.”
When Won Se Moon protested indignantly, So Ok Rim laughed and replied.
“Does it matter if they merely look like virgins?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Black-White Witch is said to favor the blood of virgin men, but how would she distinguish the difference?”
Her lips quivered like two earthworms pressed together.
“She likely just seized someone who appeared to be a virgin and drained their blood. Isn’t that right?”
In that instant, the complexions of Jo Nam Cheon and Won Se Moon turned ashen.
So Ok Rim was the sort of person who could seize their legs like a water ghost and drag them into the abyss of hell.
“That is still impossible.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol spoke softly.
“The Black-White Witch is known to have specifically drained the blood of men possessing virginity. There must certainly be a secret method by which she distinguishes them.”
And she added one more remark.
“Moreover, in the Shandong region alone, there are countless martial artists with virginity. There is no guarantee she would take the bait we set for her.”
At this, all the Lords save So Ok Rim wore expressions of bewilderment.
“Then how exactly do you propose we capture her?”
Bu Eunseol spoke without hesitation.
“Replacing heaven and exchanging the sun.”
It means stealing the sun from the heavens and replacing it with something else.
Yu Woon Ryong’s eyes gleamed as he grasped the meaning.
“You intend to present a false Black-White Witch.”
“Precisely.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with measured composure.
“The Black-White Witch has long deceived countless martial artists while meticulously concealing her identity. Should someone attempt to impersonate her, she would react with extreme sensitivity.”
“That is why you insisted on going alone with her.”
Yu Woon Ryong stroked his chin, finally comprehending Bu Eunseol’s stratagem.
“The Black-White Witch would never appear where large forces are stationed.”
The martial prowess of Bu Eunseol and So Ok Rim was virtually unparalleled among individuals.
If large forces remained hidden, the Black-White Witch would not come, allowing the two of them to join forces and capture her.
“So Ok Rim cannot do this.”
Wi Cheon Gyeong spoke at that moment.
“The Black-White Witch’s methods are not merely bizarre—they are known to inspire terror and paralyze the body. Should someone attempt to crudely impersonate her….”
His words circled around the truth, yet their meaning was unmistakable.
So Ok Rim possessed a frame far too imposing, and an undeniably tyrannical aura emanated from her being.
Should she attempt disguise, her mastery would be evident even from ten leagues distant, and the Black-White Witch would never reveal herself.
“It is not her.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with serene certainty, and
….
In that instant, a silence as profound as death descended upon the chamber.
Upon reflection, Bu Eunseol’s visage possessed not merely the beauty of a peerless maiden, but had attained the realm of returning to one’s true nature.
With no trace of martial power visible externally, should I merely groom my brows and lower my stature slightly through bone-shifting techniques…no one would detect the deception.
“I see.”
“I understand.”
All the Lords save So Ok Rim nodded in comprehension.
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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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