The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 44

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

Chapter 44.
Baek Yeon responded calmly to Dan Cheong’s question.
“They appear to be from the Murim Alliance.”
“The Murim Alliance?”
“Their weapons and belongings were meticulously cleaned to conceal their identity.”
“They went so far as to dispose of their belongings?”
“Indeed. However, they weren’t careful enough—every item traced back to the Haomen faction.”
Baek Yeon spoke with unwavering certainty.
“Based on the weapons and effects of the members, they likely belong to one of the squads under the General—either the Fenglei Squad or the Bi Woon Squad.”
“Hmm.”
Dan Cheong murmured, his cold gaze fixed upon his teacup.
“When this matter escalates, it would be convenient to pin it on the General’s independent action rather than the Murim Alliance itself.”
“Precisely. Information about this child was likely leaked by a Murim Alliance spy embedded within the Demon Hall.”
“Yet something troubles me. This child has only just entered the Nangya Sect.”
“It must be due to rumors of this child’s exceptional talent.”
Baek Yeon exhaled deeply.
“They intend to uproot the seedling before it grows wild—for this child will become a formidable enemy in the not-distant future.”
“Hmm.”
Dan Cheong sighed heavily, scratching his head.
Bu Eunseol had barely begun to master martial arts, yet she had already drawn the attention of not only the Ten Demonic Gates but also the Elder Council of the Demon Hall and the Murim Alliance itself.
‘Perhaps it was inevitable.’
Dan Cheong shook his head after deep contemplation.
‘Heroes are forged through trials. Even the finest steel cannot become a worthy blade without being hammered.’
Adversity strengthens the human spirit.
Dan Cheong had no doubt that the trials descending upon Bu Eunseol would only make her stronger.
Yet to overcome those trials, she would need to master powerful martial arts with utmost urgency.
‘There is no choice. Time is of the essence—I must teach her martial arts myself.’
Dan Cheong nodded with resolve.
“Bu Eunseol. You must master the true martial arts of the Nangya Sect as soon as possible. You understand this, yes?”
“Of course.”
“Then you’ve already decided who will teach you?”
Even as he asked, Dan Cheong wore a benevolent smile, as if the answer were obvious.
The greatest master stood before her, save for the Sect Leader himself. He had no doubt she would choose him.
“I…”
Yet Bu Eunseol spoke something entirely unexpected.
“I wish to learn martial arts through actual combat.”
“What? Actual combat?”
“Did you not tell me before? That the foundation of practical martial arts is observation, and learning within that context?”
―The foundation of practical martial arts is the eye. But when you reach enlightenment, you will be able to discern an enemy’s movements merely by watching, and even adopt their techniques amid fierce battle.
Dan Cheong’s brow furrowed as he recalled his own words.
“So you’re saying you want to learn martial arts through actual combat experience?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Bu Eunseol nodded, her expression clouded with melancholy.
“I simply don’t have much time remaining.”
Jeok Bung had estimated that Bu Eunseol would need three years to master all the martial techniques of Nangya Sect.
Which meant the time allotted to Bu Eunseol was far less than three years.
“If that is your resolve, then so be it. But what method do you intend to use to gain practical experience in martial arts?”
Bu Eunseol spoke as if she had already thought this through.
“Previously, Master Cheol told me about the Changsin Squad.”
“The Changsin Squad?”
“Yes. They are the martial force that eliminates those who harm the Root Sect or interfere with it.”
“And?”
When Dan Cheong furrowed his brows, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“Wouldn’t the senior members of the Changsin Squad be the most experienced in actual combat within the Root Sect? I wish to directly observe their practical skills.”
“So what you’re saying is… you want to join the Changsin Squad?”
“Yes.”
Then Baek Yeon, who had been listening quietly, shook his head.
“You. Do you know what kind of place the Changsin Squad is?”
He looked down at Bu Eunseol with a solemn expression.
“The Changsin Squad consists of the roughest and most brutal members of the Root Sect. They especially despise those lacking in skill.”
Baek Yeon’s expression grew even more severe as he continued.
“Moreover, So Jeon, the commander of the Changsin Squad, has a temperament that defies description—utterly eccentric.”
“I’ve heard that he personally killed disciples of Nangya Sect who lacked sufficient skill.”
Baek Yeon’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
“You know this and still wish to join?”
“I wish to join precisely because I know this.”
“You! A little talent and already your arrogance knows no bounds. What you’re saying now—”
At that moment, Dan Cheong, who had been listening silently, suddenly interjected.
“Come to think of it, wasn’t the Changsin Squad’s next target Fenglei Valley?”
“…That is correct, but…”
“Excellent. Then tell So Jeon that this one should be included as a member for the Fenglei Valley mission.”
In an instant, Baek Yeon’s face hardened.
“Sect Leader. Are you unaware of his temperament?”
“I know it well. That’s precisely why I’m sending her. Besides, she’ll only be a temporary member, not an official one.”
“That is absolutely unacceptable.”
Baek Yeon spoke with unwavering resolve.
“Even if So Jeon restrains himself and accepts her, this mission is one where even the Changsin Squad members must risk their lives.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“Then you would still send her?”
At that, Dan Cheong let out a soft laugh.
“Baek Yeon. Why not try trusting that child yourself?”
In that instant, Baek Yeon fell silent.
It was because those were the very words Dan Cheong had spoken to him before sending Bu Eunseol to the Demon Palace.
“I trust that child’s judgment. The way she spoke so confidently before me… she must have agonized over this countless times before concluding it was genuinely possible.”
“Hmm.”
Baek Yeon let out a low hum, his expression tinged with bitterness.
Just as he had once believed in Bu Eunseol’s potential, now Dan Cheong was asking him to believe in it as well.
“I see.”
Baek Yeon, who had been glancing at Bu Eunseol’s blazing eyes, clasped his hands together.
“I shall deliver this message to So Jeon directly.”
* * *
Changsin Squad.
The martial force unit of Nangya Sect, composed of thirty members in total.
Each member’s martial prowess had reached its zenith, and the squad leader So Jeon and vice-leader Je Woon were said to possess martial skills rivaling the supreme masters who dominated entire regions.
Yet now they wanted to add Bu Eunseol, who had only just joined Nangya Sect, as a squad member?
Naturally, So Jeon could not accept such an order.
Inside Nangya Sect, in the VIP chamber on the second floor of Manseong Guest Inn.
“Are you jesting with me now?”
So Jeon, the Changsin Squad leader sitting across from Baek Yeon before a spread of wine and food, glared with fierce eyes.
“You want me to take some snot-nosed brat to Fenglei Valley? Do I look like a nursemaid to you?”
Watching So Jeon, who resembled the embodiment of a great general with his stiff whiskers bristling upward, Baek Yeon shook his head.
“This is a direct order from the Vice-Sect Leader.”
“Then I shall meet with the Vice-Sect Leader and refuse him directly.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Baek Yeon produced from his pocket a token engraved with a single wolf.
It was the Heavenly Wolf Token, symbolizing the Vice-Sect Leader of Nangya Sect.
“This is…”
As So Jeon hesitated, Baek Yeon spoke coldly.
“He says he’s already drowning in troublesome matters and has no desire to bicker back and forth with you.”
Dan Cheong had anticipated that So Jeon would come to argue, so he had entrusted the token to Baek Yeon beforehand.
“So in the end, you’re saying I must absolutely take that brat with me.”
“She is no mere brat.”
Baek Yeon drained his cup and spoke.
“That child ventured alone into the Demon Palace and dismantled the conspiracy between the Hwawoo Sword Sect and the White Horse Sect.”
“Whatever that girl accomplished, it’s none of my concern.”
So Jeon’s stance remained resolute, as if he still refused to acknowledge Bu Eunseol as a disciple of Nangya Sect.
“Then I have no choice. Look at this.”
Baek Yeon, wearing a bitter smile, produced a small letter from his breast and offered it.
“Even Neung Gak, who resides in the Demon Palace, took special notice of this child and sent a letter to the Root Sect asking for particular care.”
“Neung Gak… you mean Senior Brother Neung Gak?”
So Jeon’s eyes wavered as he accepted the letter.
Neung Gak was the master of the Heavenly Mechanism Hall, which could be called the heart of the Nangya Sect.
However, the Demon Palace Lord, recognizing his exceptional martial talent early on, had personally recruited Neung Gak into the Demon Palace and appointed him as the master of the Hyeonhyeon Hall.
In particular, So Jeon had learned the most martial arts from Neung Gak, so he followed him most closely.
“There’s no helping it.”
So Jeon drained the cup of wine filled in the large bowl in one gulp.
“No, perhaps this is for the best.”
After wiping his mouth, his eyes gleamed as he gripped the bowl.
“I was planning to see that young pup soon anyway.”
Baek Yeon, understanding So Jeon’s meaning, spoke firmly.
“He has returned after narrowly escaping death multiple times. Don’t even think of putting him through any test like you’re imagining.”
“A test? There’s no need for any test.”
Clang.
So Jeon set down the bowl he had been holding and grinned, baring his fangs.
“If he can survive this expedition, I’ll recognize him as a disciple of the Nangya Sect.”
* * *
Fenglei Valley.
A martial sect derived from Baijiao, it was a place where martial arts were cultivated through body-strengthening techniques and human body modification.
What was peculiar was that Fenglei Valley was a rogue faction even the Demonic Path disowned.
They did not hesitate to kidnap children for research into human body modification or engage in human trafficking for profit.
Having committed countless atrocities in Gangho for so long, all the righteous sects were grinding their teeth in anger.
The reason Fenglei Valley remained intact was precisely because it was a naturally fortified stronghold.
One had to traverse sheer cliffs with countless mechanical traps and hidden weapons installed, and pass through Bing Jing Lake before gaining entry.
Because of this, even the Changsin Squad of the Nangya Sect, warriors worth a hundred men each, hesitated at the entrance.
“It’s considerably farther than I heard.”
Sheer cliffs.
So Jeon frowned as he gazed at the cliff face across the way.
Between the two cliffs, only a single thick rope was strung across.
At that moment, a squad member beside So Jeon spoke.
“The bigger problem is that tremendous gale winds blow around the rope bridge. And…”
He pointed to a small structure built near the opposite cliff face.
“There’s a watchtower set up there.”
The watchtower was made of stone, and instead of windows, only very small slits were visible.
It seemed designed to prevent the sentries from being caught off guard by surprise attacks, allowing them to monitor the opposite side only through those tiny openings.
“If we reveal ourselves, the sentries inside will simply cut the bridge.”
So Jeon, arms crossed as he gazed at the cliff, narrowed his eyes.
“Je Woon.”
“I’m listening.”
“Can you do it?”
“We’ll have to try.”
Je Woon, having snapped his neck with a crisp crack, withdrew two leaf-thin Yuryeop Bi Dos from his bosom like autumn leaves.
Then he fixed his gaze upon the watchtower with an expression of utmost gravity.
‘Is he truly intending to hurl the blade from this distance?’
Bu Eunseol, observing his stance, widened her eyes in astonishment.
From here to the opposite watchtower was no less than seventy paces—a distance so vast that the tower appeared as merely a pinprick to those on the far side.
Moreover, the aperture carved into the watchtower was so narrow that one could scarcely glimpse the outside world. Yet he intended to propel those feather-light blades across such an expanse?
A whisper of movement.
Ordinarily, hurling a concealed weapon across such distance demands an elaborate, expansive posture.
Yet Je Woon’s stance remained utterly unchanged.
‘Has he achieved unity of blade and spirit?’
Unity of blade and spirit—that transcendent state wherein the blade and mind become one.
Upon reaching such a realm, one transcends the physical constraints of executing sword techniques. Whether seated, recumbent, or standing, the technique manifests with equal potency.
‘How fortunate I was to enter the Advanced Hall of the Hwawoo Sword Sect.’
Had I not studied the profound mysteries of swordsmanship under Dan Cheon Yang, the sect’s master instructor, I would have been incapable of appreciating such a realm.
A soft whistle.
At last, the Yuryeop Bi Dos in Je Woon’s hand shot forth into the void.
The twin blades, streaking through the air across seventy paces, threaded with perfect precision through the narrow aperture of the distant watchtower.
“….”
Silence hung heavy in the air for a prolonged moment.
So Jeon, standing motionless, cast a sidelong glance toward Je Woon.
“Do you believe it succeeded?”
“We must verify it ourselves.”
Je Woon narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed upon the watchtower.
“Even if the sentries are dead, there may be mechanical devices installed along the rope strung between the cliffs.”
“Indeed. We cannot afford any unforeseen calamities.”
So Jeon nodded with indifference, then gestured toward Bu Eunseol.
“You shall cross the bridge.”
From his tone and demeanor, it was clear that So Jeon did not regard Bu Eunseol as a valued asset of the Changsin Squad.
In other words, he was willing to sacrifice her if necessary, sending her into danger without hesitation.
“Understood.”
Yet Bu Eunseol stepped forward without protest.
A sharp whistle of wind.
The rope suspended between the cliffs swayed violently in the howling gale.
A soft thud.
Having ascended onto the rope, Bu Eunseol drew a deep breath and channeled her inner force upward.
The rope swayed relentlessly with the wind, making it impossible to traverse without employing the Suction Footwork technique through the soles of her feet.
Whisper, whisper.
Bu Eunseol proceeded across the rope with meticulous caution.
A single misstep would send me plummeting into the thousand-fathom abyss, my body shattered upon the rocks below.
“Your inner force is quite formidable.”
Je Woon, who had been watching her progress, let out an exclamation of admiration.
“To see her wielding the Suction Technique so flawlessly against the rope—truly remarkable.”
So Jeon said nothing, merely observing in silence.
As Bu Eunseol advanced with deliberate, measured steps, reaching approximately the midpoint of the rope,
*Click.*
Suddenly, a section of wall near the watchtower building swung open,
*Whoooosh!*
A swarm of dark projectiles erupted forth, engulfing Bu Eunseol’s entire body.

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