The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 399

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

Chapter 399.
Yu Woon Ryong spoke with a grave expression.
“If you suspected a mole existed, wouldn’t it have been better not to mention Shin San Ja at all?”
Personal information about Shin San Ja was not widely known throughout Murim.
However, given this encounter with Bu Eunseol, it was now suspected that his identity was either the Murim Alliance Master or someone among the highest echelons of the Murim Alliance.
If there were a spy among the Lords communicating with outsiders, such information absolutely could not be revealed—it was critical intelligence.
“I leaked it intentionally. Regardless of Shin San Ja’s true identity, it won’t affect what I intend to accomplish.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“What’s certain is that if there is a mole in Sayoung Battle Division, from today onward they’ll feel at ease. They’ll believe they’re beyond suspicion. And eventually, they’ll make a mistake.”
Even if the mole knew Shin San Ja’s identity, it wouldn’t significantly impact what Bu Eunseol needed to do going forward.
Rather, she had used this to freely provide the Lords with extremely important information, creating the appearance that she harbored no suspicion whatsoever.
In other words, she had laid a trap of complacency for any mole within Sayoung Battle Division through this incident.
“Surely not. Is that fellow also among your suspects?”
Yu Woon Ryong wore a bitter smile.
Only he and Bu Eunseol knew of this Secret Chamber’s existence.
In other words, even Myo Cheon Woo, one of the Ten Demon Immortals who had entered the Demon Palace with him, had become a subject of suspicion.
“I told you. I’m merely keeping possibilities open.”
“I understand. It’s certainly possible. But…”
Yu Woon Ryong trailed off, his expression growing somber.
Unlike himself, whose origins were clearly established, Myo Cheon Woo’s background was considerably obscure, with nothing definitively confirmed.
Because of this, even in the Bi Young Gak’s records investigating his personal history—
They had written the notation: “Identity unclear; caution required.”
“I’m sorry.”
Bu Eunseol looked at Yu Woon Ryong with an apologetic expression, uncharacteristic of her.
“I keep burdening you more and more.”
From now on, all of Bu Eunseol’s movements and activities in Gangho would be known only to Yu Woon Ryong.
That is, unless Mu Heun and So Yo of Sa Hon Dae took the front stage, every matter would need to be consulted and decided with him.
If that happened, Yu Woon Ryong’s workload would become far heavier than it already was.
Moreover, he would need to establish thorough security measures to prevent information from leaking to the Lords.
Without releasing the thread of suspicion—
Suspecting everyone.
“Don’t apologize.”
Yu Woon Ryong deliberately smiled brightly.
If his own expression darkened, Bu Eunseol’s heart would grow heavier still. That was something he absolutely did not wish for.
“Have you finished investigating the Seon Hwa Trading Company?”
“Of course.”
Yu Woon Ryong withdrew three thick volumes from his robes.
Two of them were the information about Seon Woo Jin and the secret martial techniques that Shin San Ja had given to Bu Eunseol.
The third contained detailed information about the Seon Hwa Trading Company that Yu Woon Ryong had investigated, along with all personal details and rumors about Seon Woo Jin, known as the successor.
Upon entering the Demon Palace, Bu Eunseol had immediately given Yu Woon Ryong the books Shin San Ja had provided, ordering him to investigate their authenticity once more.
“I’m not sure if Shin San Ja is the Alliance Master or what, but he certainly constructed a flawless dual identity.”
Yu Woon Ryong spoke while gazing at the documents.
“Few people know his face, yet his background is perfectly fabricated. This wasn’t meant for short-term use—it’s an identity designed to be used for a very long time.”
Seon Woo Jin, the successor to the Seon Hwa Trading Company.
Shin San Ja had invested tremendous wealth and time to create one flawless dual identity that no intelligence organization in the world could find fault with.
“And the martial techniques are even more impressive.”
Yu Woon Ryong pointed to the secret manual placed on the table.
“Not just the Jade Concealment Technique and the Dual Flower Touching Jade, but also sword techniques and movement methods—techniques approaching the very pinnacle of Orthodox Sect martial arts. In short, Seon Woo Jin has been positioned with strength comparable to the highest-ranking disciples of the Orthodox Sects.”
Every martial technique recorded in that manual was exceptional.
Because of this, even if he displayed formidable power contrary to what was known, he wouldn’t draw suspicion.
“So this identity was created with a specific purpose from the beginning.”
“Exactly. An identity crafted over a long time, with meticulous care. The Seon Hwa Trading Company itself is a legitimate, genuinely existing merchant organization.”
Bu Eunseol stroked her chin thoughtfully.
Shin San Ja, contrary to rumors, was intricately involved in the affairs of Murim, and furthermore…
He was someone so thorough in concealing his identity and background that he had even created a false Shin San Ja.
So why would he invest such tremendous wealth and manpower to create the identity of a young, high-ranking disciple?
Could it be that he wasn’t actually an old man, but rather a young person?
Or was he, like her, placing agents throughout Jeongsayang-do to such an extent that he needed such an identity?
‘I’ll think about it later.’
These were questions that couldn’t be answered now anyway.
Bu Eunseol pushed aside the rising questions and quickly read through the documents Yu Woon Ryong had prepared.
Seon Woo Jin of the Seon Hwa Trading Company had consistently handled trade in Sae Oe under the merchant lord’s orders, so he had no activities in Zhong Yuan.
Yet the reason he could make a name for himself in Murim was that while traveling back and forth to Sae Oe conducting trade,
He had eliminated countless notorious bandit gangs.
“Truly, there’s nothing to criticize about this identity.”
Bu Eunseol exclaimed in admiration.
Seon Woo Jin’s identity and background were so perfect that they surpassed even the identity of Seol So, a wanderer, which she had painstakingly cultivated.
Contrary to what was known, he was positioned as possessing exceptional martial prowess, yet his actual deeds remained unknown and unseen.
In other words, there was almost no risk of the identity being exposed.
“The only thing that troubles me is the setting that he inherited the teachings of Mu Ae Ja.”
The book Shin San Ja had given Bu Eunseol contained information almost identical to what Yu Woon Ryong had investigated.
However, there was one piece of information that hadn’t been revealed.
It was the setting that Seon Woo Jin’s martial techniques inherited the true teachings of Mu Ae Ja, a legendary martial master of Sae Oe.
Because of this, even if Bu Eunseol suddenly displayed exceptional martial prowess, she wouldn’t face great suspicion—but Mu Ae Ja was ultimately a master of Sae Oe.
The supreme techniques recorded in the manual were entirely different martial arts from the orthodox martial traditions of Zhong Yuan. In other words, mastering these would require considerable time investment.
“To secure a position in the Murim Alliance with this identity, I’ll need to perfectly master the martial techniques in that manual.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve trained in Orthodox Sect martial arts from Wu Huang’s Secret Vault until I was sick of it. Even if they’re Sae Oe martial arts, I’ll master them quickly.”
Bu Eunseol closed the book and nodded to Yu Woon Ryong.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Yu Woon Ryong had become a strategist so thorough and meticulous that even Bu Eunseol could find no fault with him.
Even if Shin San Ja hadn’t provided the information, simply mastering the meticulously researched documents he had compiled would have been sufficient.
Bu Eunseol had reached a level where she could become a perfect Seon Woo Jin.
“You’re heading to the Murim Alliance now?”
As Bu Eunseol nodded, Yu Woon Ryong spoke with vigor.
“Travel well. Don’t worry about the Demon Palace’s affairs.”
“Will it be alright?”
“Of course. Seo Jin Ha will be arriving soon anyway. Once that happens, things will become much easier for me as well.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
A smile graced the lips of both Bu Eunseol and Yu Woon Ryong as they thought of Seo Jin Ha.
A friend.
In this desolate Murim, there was but one word that could make a man smile—friendship.
* * *
The Murim Alliance kept its eyes wide open at all times to recruit exceptional talents.
And to naturally draw in the scattered talents of Murim, they adopted a remarkably simple method.
The Renowned Scholars’ Conference.
They periodically selected outstanding rising talents and invited them to the Murim Alliance under the name of the Renowned Scholars’ Conference, where grand banquets were held.
Among countless individuals, those selectively chosen became designated as ‘Renowned Scholars’ by the Murim Alliance.
Naturally, this became a matter of great pride among the rising talents.
And young martial artists unanimously yearned to participate in the Renowned Scholars’ Conference.
Moreover, this Renowned Scholars’ Conference was somewhat special.
―Through martial competitions at this Renowned Scholars’ Conference, our Alliance shall recruit exceptional talents capable of undertaking independent missions throughout Gangho!
When the Murim Alliance announced this, countless rising talents erupted in excitement.
Even disciples of major sects found it extraordinarily difficult to become Lords of the Murim Alliance without connections and renown.
Yet to select Lords from among rising talents through martial competitions? It was truly unprecedented.
―I heard that only about fifty individuals were selected for this Renowned Scholars’ Conference.
Yet rumors spread that roughly fifty rising talents had been invited to this conference.
This was more than half fewer than the usual number at previous conferences.
Eventually, rising talents who hadn’t received invitations even challenged the Murim Alliance on this point.
However, their protests were swiftly dismissed under the justification that only outstanding talents worthy of becoming Lords had been selected.
Ultimately, countless rising talents harboring dreams of ascension tasted bitterness and turned back helplessly.
Clop, clop.
An eight-horse carriage racing down Gwan Do came to a halt before the entrance of the Murim Alliance, accompanied by the coachman’s cry of “Whoa, whoa.”
Click.
As the door opened, a tall man dressed in ornate silk robes with a folding fan tucked at his waist descended slowly from the carriage.
Though his height was impressive and his eyes clear, there was something gentle and mild about this young scholar.
As the silk-robed youth approached, Wi Sa clasped his hands together.
“Welcome, honored guest.”
“I’ve come to participate in the Renowned Scholars’ Conference.”
At this, Wi Sa and his companions tilted their heads slightly in confusion.
All the rising talents selected for the Renowned Scholars’ Conference were exceptional martial artists. Consequently, they all carried weapons and exuded sharp, formidable auras.
Yet the young scholar before me wore only an ornate sash adorned with brilliant gems—nowhere on his person could one discern the presence of a weapon.
Moreover, didn’t his eyes betray a certain languor, a weariness devoid of vigor?
―This martial tournament has drawn not only disciples from the renowned sects, but also a considerable number of masters from lesser-known schools, or so I’ve heard.
Word has it that this martial tournament attracted not merely disciples of the great orthodox sects, but also a substantial contingent of masters hailing from obscure factions unknown to the wider Murim.
Pure skill alone.
Since this gathering existed to select the Lords who would govern the countless affairs of the Gangho, the selection was made based not on established renown, but rather on demonstrated martial prowess.
‘There must be something beneath that appearance.’
Seized by this thought, Wi Sa clasped his hands together and spoke.
“I see. Might I have the honor of your name?”
The young scholar then smiled broadly and opened his mouth.
“I am Seon Woo Jin.”
Seon Woo Jin.
He was none other than Bu Eunseol, now assuming the new identity of successor to the Seon Hwa Trading Company that Shin San Ja had provided.
“Seon Woo Jin… Ah, you must be Young Master Seon Woo of the Seon Hwa Trading Company.”
Wi Sa, having cross-referenced the credentials and roster, extended an open palm toward Bu Eunseol.
“Please follow me. I shall guide you to the Banquet Hall.”
Bu Eunseol entered the Murim Alliance following Wi Sa’s lead.
‘Hyung Su, the man who murdered my grandfather, resides within the Murim Alliance.’
Beneath my composed exterior, my heart churned with barely contained fury.
If Shin San Ja’s words held truth, then the monster who had so brutally slain my grandfather
would surely be somewhere within these walls of the Murim Alliance.
‘I will unearth the truth. Step by methodical step, from the very foundation.’
Even Shin San Ja, presumed to be the Alliance Master, had conducted exhaustive investigations yet remained unable to identify which of the Seven Lords was Hyung Su.
This meant that no matter how formidable one’s intelligence network, the Three Realms could not be fully penetrated.
Therefore, there remained but one path.
To plant a new operative within the Murim Alliance, steadily accumulating merit and trust, climbing methodically from the lowest ranks…
until becoming someone the Three Realms would inevitably seek to recruit, thereby gaining access to the innermost circles of their power.
Yet the Alliance Master and his immediate subordinates already occupied positions of prominence, subject to the Three Realms’ vigilant scrutiny.
Should they attempt to cultivate an operative directly, the risk of exposure would be considerable.
‘This is why Shin San Ja must have prepared so meticulously over such a long period—to create an operative whose cover could never be compromised.’
The identity of Seon Woo Jin, successor to the Seon Hwa Trading Company that Shin San Ja had provided, was flawless—no investigation could uncover a single flaw.
Even should the formidable intelligence apparatus of the Three Realms conduct their scrutiny, they would find not a hair out of place in this fabricated persona.
Yet Shin San Ja had unhesitatingly handed me the perfect instrument to dismantle the Three Realms.
Because our interests aligned precisely.
I possessed both strategic acumen and martial prowess, and my desire was singular and absolute.
The annihilation of Hyung Su, who murdered my grandfather, and all those within the Three Realms connected to him. And none could be more desperate than I.
Willing to surrender everything without hesitation.
Shin San Ja had perceived this truth, and thus entrusted me with Seon Woo Jin’s identity rather than some operative trained over years.
And I must emerge victorious from this martial tournament, ascending to become a Third-Rank Lord of the Murim Alliance.
‘There is no need for haste. I need only climb, step by deliberate step.’
Being selected as a Lord in this Martial Experts Tournament is merely the beginning.
I must continue accumulating merit, earning recognition and trust, climbing to higher positions, and ultimately reaching the depths of the Murim Alliance’s power structure.
‘There’s no need to be overly pleased, Shin San Ja.’
Bu Eunseol recalled Shin San Ja’s grotesque voice and smiled coldly.
‘We’re simply using each other temporarily because our interests align.’
Had it not been for the identity Shin San Ja provided,
the successor of the Demon Palace would never have dared to establish a foothold in the Murim Alliance and execute such an audacious plan of steadily accumulating merit to climb to the leadership.
Yet this arrangement harbored a fatal weakness—Shin San Ja knew that Seon Woo Jin was Bu Eunseol.
In other words, there existed an inherent danger of exposure at any moment.
Simply put, the identity of Seon Woo Jin was flawless, but it could only ever be temporary.
Still, I chose this identity for one reason alone.
I desperately hoped that Shin San Ja—presumed to be the Murim Alliance Master or highest authority—would investigate the Murim Alliance.
Of course, even if Shin San Ja exposed my identity, I had already prepared an escape route in advance.
“It’s here.”
Wi Sa pointed toward the Palace Hall visible ahead.
A plaque reading “Changseong Pavilion” hung there, and young men and women gathered nearby, engaged in conversation.
“The banquet hall is prepared inside.”
Bu Eunseol nodded at Wi Sa’s words.
“Thank you.”
My voice had become clearer than usual, and my manner of speech and gaze had shifted to be remarkably gentle and submissive.
The successor of the Seon Hwa Trading Company, Seon Woo Jin of the Heavenly Horizon Flying Blade.
He was said to have mastered exceptional blade techniques and exquisite Yihua Jieyu martial arts.
Though he had traveled across the Sae Oe and subjugated countless bandit gangs, his usual temperament was known to be surprisingly gentle and mild-mannered.
Thud, thud.
Bu Eunseol entered Changseong Pavilion without hesitation.
Murmur, murmur.
Inside, roughly fifty young people gathered in small groups, drinking together.
Their expressions all overflowed with confidence, and they exchanged greetings without reservation despite lacking prior acquaintance.
The young people attending here were exceptional rising talents carefully selected by the Murim Alliance.
Knowing that each of them was equally outstanding, they unhesitatingly sought to build connections.
In the Orthodox Murim, connections were power itself.
Simply by cultivating broad relationships, one could easily gain supporting forces and receive assistance.
‘Hmm.’
Bu Eunseol noticed several men sitting alone in corners, unable to blend with the others.
They possessed excellent martial prowess but had not gained great renown, or they hailed from second-rate sects.
Though they had received invitations to the Murim Alliance, they had neither acquaintance nor interaction with members of major factions.
They simply burned with the determination to become a Lord of the Murim Alliance through this Martial Experts Tournament.
Whoosh.
Bu Eunseol settled into a corner seat where others’ gazes would least likely reach.
I was here to secure a position in the Murim Alliance, not to build connections with rising talents.
‘How convenient that he doesn’t stand out.’
I had devoted considerable effort to crafting Seon Woo Jin’s appearance.
Devoid of distinctive features—a face as unremarkable as possible.
Yet it carried an air of benevolence, enough to inspire favorable impressions in those who encountered it.
‘An ordinary visage easily forgotten, yet perfectly suited for covert operations.’
The Murim Alliance had opened this tournament of luminaries for a singular purpose: to establish divisions that would govern the great and small affairs of Gangho, and to elect their lords.
This meant that even as a third-tier division, I would undertake independent missions.
An unremarkable appearance would prove invaluable for such work, even without resorting to transformation techniques.
‘The Murim Alliance’s liquor.’
I gazed at the wine sitting upon the table before bringing it to my lips.
A remarkably mild and serene liquid descended through my throat, spreading warmth through my belly.
‘Not bad at all.’
People may discriminate in their preferences, but wine does not.
This vintage from the Murim Alliance was exceptionally clear and smooth, reminiscent of the sacred wine used in ancestral rites.
‘Brewed in-house, perhaps.’
Most taverns deal in potent spirits.
Their greatest patrons—the martial artists of Murim—possessed such formidable alcohol tolerance that even the strongest brews were consumed like water.
Consequently, mild wines were rarely sought and held little popularity. Naturally, taverns themselves produced them scarcely.
Yet the Murim Alliance had uniquely chosen to serve mild wine.
‘Wine selected with the martial tournament in mind.’
Once the banquet concluded, the tournament would commence the following day.
The Murim Alliance had prepared this mild vintage to ensure that strong spirits would not impair the competitors’ performance.
―Someone sold out Baek’s name and seduced the Jongli Family’s daughter.
At the voice drifting from somewhere, my brow twitched slightly.
The Jongli Family’s daughter was singular in Murim: Jong Ri Sa Yu, the only child of Chim Wang Jong Ri Sa Hyeon.
And the one who had used Baek Mu Sung’s name—the disciple of the Immortal—to approach her was none other than myself.
―In the end, the Jongli Family’s daughter came all the way to the Murim Alliance to lodge a complaint. And only after seeing Baek’s face did she realize she had been deceived. Hahahaha!
As the voice continued, I turned my gaze.
I was curious to know who shared such intimate brotherhood with Baek Mu Sung, the Immortal’s disciple.
‘That man….’
The one speaking loudly from the center of the banquet hall as though commanding attention.
He wore the sword of Hwasan and possessed a distinctive appearance, his blade-sharp hair bound tightly back.
Upon confirming his face, something scorching erupted within my chest.
He was none other than Cheon Hwa In—a master of the Murim Alliance and the Hwasan disciple who had once faced Young Moon Ho.
Sparks ignited in my eyes.
In truth, it was Cheon Geom, known as the Golden Divine Eye, who had brutally slain Young Moon Ho.
But it was Cheon Hwa In who had crippled Young Moon Ho by unleashing the Blue Yang Dark Pine Technique of the Concealed Fragrance Shadow Sword.
As this realization struck me, killing intent naturally began to seep forth.

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