The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 647

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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 647.
In a small village on the Hwang Gang, situated downstream along the riverbank, a most peculiar incident had occurred.
During the night, the people in the village had been slaughtered most brutally.
Those who had perished were vagrants.
Or the elderly, the gravely ill, or those with physical infirmities.
Their limbs lay scattered about like broken toys.
The severed edges were jagged, as though they had undergone execution by dismemberment, yet no trace of a weapon could be found anywhere.
Even when Gwan Bu arrived to investigate, they could not determine the cause.
And beginning from this day.
Similar incidents gradually began occurring throughout Zhong Yuan.
This was a harbinger of a blood calamity.
Yet most of the incidents occurred in small villages, and the victims were primarily vagrants or those with physical disabilities.
Moreover, because the incidents happened sporadically, they attracted little public attention.
However, there was one place that quickly learned of such disturbances…
It was the Sa Hon Dae and the intelligence operatives of the Elite Division under Bu Eunseol’s command.
In the Great Conference Hall of Jam Ma Gak.
“It appears to have begun.”
All the Lords, including Bu Eunseol, had gathered with grave expressions, and Wi Cheon Gyeong continued speaking.
“Inexplicable massacres are occurring in various places, but given that the scale of casualties is not large and the victims are elderly, sickly commoners or vagrants… they have not yet attracted significant attention.”
“Mm.”
As Bu Eunseol nodded, Yu Woon Ryong posed a question.
“Could this be what that man called Sang Je spoke of—the backlash from the disappearance of the Infinite Realm… this force called the Inbiyin?”
A mysterious faction that originated from the Ma Gyo, its name and form constantly shifting. The Inbiyin.
Sang Je had said that the Inbiyin would soon create creatures that would appear in Murim.
And if those creatures could be stopped, the Infinite Realm would not be revived.
“It is likely so. He said that signs would appear soon after the Infinite Realm vanished.”
“So it is worth investigating.”
“Indeed.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
“To call them merely sudden manifestations of Killing Ghosts would be to overlook something—there is organization here. Moreover, when one considers that the targets of murder are the weak… it aligns perfectly with the bizarre convictions of the Inbiyin that Sang Je described.”
The Lords furrowed their brows.
The grotesque belief of the Inbiyin—killing the weak as an act of universal salvation. It was truly something only those of the Demonic Path could conceive.
“What of Gong Son Dan Gyeong?”
In response to Bu Eunseol’s question, Yu Woon Ryong replied.
“Through the intelligence network of the Elite Division, we have transmitted some information regarding this force called the Inbiyin. A response should arrive soon.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong harbored such deep resentment toward them that she had risked her own downfall to meet Bu Eunseol in secret and request cooperation.
And when Bu Eunseol finally brought down the Infinite Realm, Gong Son Dan Gyeong sent a letter in return, offering her assistance whenever needed.
Bu Eunseol’s plan to establish an alliance required the involvement of the Murim Alliance.
Thus, she immediately informed Gong Son Dan Gyeong of these developments and sought her aid.
He immediately informed her of this fact and asked for her help.
I simply omitted any mention of the Inbiyin being a force rooted in the Ma Gyo.
There was no need to bring up such matters.
“Ryeong Ju, here is Chief Gong Son Chong Sa’s reply.”
Wi Cheon Gyeong, who had stepped outside, entered the conference hall and handed Bu Eunseol a letter.
Since Bu Eunseol had revealed everything to her subordinates in the Sayeong Battle Division, integrating the intelligence networks of both sides was hardly difficult.
The Sa Hon Dae and Elite Division shared information from Jeongsayang-do and provided it immediately.
Direct contact with Chief Gong Son Chong Sa had become possible.
“Hmm.”
Upon opening the letter, I found it contained a positive response to my request, stating she would examine it carefully.
However, there was no immediate request for a meeting.
“Truly clever.”
Gong Son Chong Sa, like myself, did not blindly trust information heard through intermediaries.
Especially regarding a force like the Inbiyin—it was not something she could easily believe.
She would likely conduct her own investigation before attempting contact much later.
“In any case, her reply amounts to agreeing to help, so we can begin soon.”
At my words, all the Lords nodded in agreement.
The silent deaths of commoners and wanderers held no interest for those of the Murim.
No matter how much I ranted about being the successor of the Ma Gyo, it would be futile.
Because there was no evidence.
If we simply blamed the deaths of commoners on the Ma Gyo?
They might instead view me as a person of the Evil Sect.
Support from the Demonic Path could even waver.
Though rumors spoke of my good deeds, an incident unknown to the Murim—
If I personally led the investigation into murders of commoners and wanderers…
It would not merely appear orthodox, but would be the very definition of orthodoxy itself.
The Demonic Path pursues hegemony, not the protection of commoners or the preservation of justice.
But if the Murim Alliance stepped forward, the story would change.
If they investigated the murders of commoners and sought to establish great merit independently?
Then the Demon Hall, standing in opposition to the Murim Alliance, would naturally have reason to act.
“I hope she handles this well.”
At Wi Cheon Gyeong’s words, all the Lords took deep breaths.
The Demon Hall saving commoners was strange, but the Murim Alliance was plausible.
I had asked Gong Son Chong Sa to undertake various tasks to play a larger game.
And ultimately, to create a new allied force.
With her power as Chief of the Murim Alliance, she could treat the massacre of commoners as a major incident.
“We must begin preparations.”
At my words, all the Lords nodded with determination.
Now the dice for the decisive battle had been cast.
* * *
―New Killing Ghosts had appeared in the Murim.
The Murim Alliance had begun to reveal the deaths of ordinary civilians and vagrants that had previously gone unnoticed.
They were attributed to a newly emerged entity known as Sal Gwi.
It moved covertly through villages, targeting only those with physical disabilities or vagrants.
Though not widely known to the public,
the Murim Alliance sensed something amiss and launched a comprehensive investigation, which soon uncovered startling facts.
―The perpetrators were all teenagers.
―Despite having no martial training, they possessed strength enough to tear people apart, and cunning enough to elude the Alliance’s pursuers.
As the Murim Alliance revealed these new facts, martial artists throughout the realm began to heighten their vigilance.
Yet based only on inquiries and eyewitness accounts, they had only confirmed the perpetrators were teenagers.
They could neither identify the specific culprits nor even trace their whereabouts.
Considering that the Murim Alliance had assembled a formal investigation unit, this was utterly inexplicable.
It was amid these difficult investigations that something extraordinary occurred.
―Forces from Buk Hae Bing Gung and Ya Soo Gung began entering Zhong Yuan.
The entry of major powers from the Western Sea Region into the central martial world was something the Orthodox martial artists considered absolutely taboo.
Throughout the long history of the martial world, invasions by Western Sea forces had been far too frequent.
―The Murim Alliance could not resolve this Sal Gwi incident, so Ben Jeon was summoned to handle it.
Yet something unexpected transpired.
Bu Eunseol, the Moo Hon Ryeong Ju of the Demon Hall,
had summoned forces from Buk Hae Bing Gung and Ya Soo Gung to resolve this murder case involving civilians and vagrants.
―But how can this be? Young Sal Gwi committing such trivial murders would warrant the arrival of major Western Sea powers?
―They are not ordinary youths but creatures called Gui A created by a force known as the Inbi Organization. Their base can never be found, and only the masters of Ya Soo Gung and Buk Hae Bing Gung can trace their movements.
―The Inbi Organization?
Various factions within the martial world investigated this force called the Inbi Organization. Yet no such organization was discovered.
This was only natural.
Only the leadership of the Sam Gye, which had dominated the martial world for generations, knew of their existence in secret.
Therefore, no matter how much Bu Eunseol explained, persuasion was impossible.
―No such force exists. Even if it did, matters of Zhong Yuan should be handled by the Zhong Yuan martial world. Do not interfere.
The Orthodox martial sects naturally objected, as did all the dark path forces including the Huk Ki Hoe and the evil sects, and even some factions of the Demonic Path protested Bu Eunseol’s decision.
Even if there were indeed a separate force behind this massacre,
from their perspective, it was neither urgent nor significant enough to warrant bringing in Western Sea forces.
―Whether we find them or not, Western Sea forces absolutely cannot enter!
Virtually the entire martial world except the Demon Hall opposed this action,
yet Bu Eunseol spoke confidently to the martial artists.
―Do not obstruct the Ryeong Ju’s decisions. Should a blood catastrophe unfold hereafter, you shall bear responsibility for this matter as well.
―A blood catastrophe?
The martial artists sensed something was amiss.
What blood catastrophe could arise from mere murders of civilians and vagrants?
Moreover, no matter how formidable the Inbi Organization might be, couldn’t the martial sects simply unite to stop them?
―If you fail to eliminate them beforehand, a blood catastrophe will occur. Clear the way!
Bu Eunseol mobilized the forces of Sayoung Battle Division once more.
―If you’re thinking of compensating beyond what the Murim Alliance demands, feel free to try stopping me. This time, I’ll destroy everything completely and extract reparations that will uproot them entirely.
At that, the opposing Murim factions fell silent.
Bu Eunseol, who had destroyed the Cheon Hae Medicine Forest—the secret base of Shil Hon In that no one had known about—was displaying that same unwavering resolve once more.
Which meant that, just as she said, this incident could truly be a harbinger of a blood calamity.
―Has another incident like the Cheon Hae Medicine Forest occurred?
The opposing Murim factions found themselves in conflict.
Bu Eunseol had thus far toppled vicious forces that had secretly taken root in the Murim, and saved countless lives.
It was something no one else had ever accomplished.
Yet now, she was stepping forward with that same strength once more.
There was simply no way to oppose her.
―Well, surely the successor of the Demon Hall isn’t trying to invade in alliance with the Sae Oe forces.
―Besides, Ma Cheon Je is still perfectly fine, so that couldn’t happen anyway.
―I heard it was only some divisions from the Buk Hae Bing Gung and Ya Soo Gung that came.
―Well, it’s something the Moo Hon Ryeong Ju is doing, so it can’t be anything bad.
As the saying goes, a tree provides shade, and a person’s name precedes them.
The entry of the Sae Oe forces into Zhong Yuan—something that should never have been possible—was accomplished with absurd ease, simply because Bu Eunseol had orchestrated it.
Yet it was realized with laughably little difficulty.
However, the Orthodox faction soon came to regret their decision.
They had naturally assumed these forces would head toward Ho Nam where the Demon Hall was located.
Instead, they had begun establishing a garrison at the Wanderer Market in Seomseong—at Jeok Cheon Mak Ji itself.
No matter how peripheral that location was, Seomseong remained the heartland of Orthodox faction power.
Merely by their presence there, the Orthodox had to frantically mobilize their intelligence networks to monitor their every move.
Jeok Cheon Mak Ji, Muwhon Jeon.
It was the name of the grand hall that had been rebuilt after demolishing the Su Gyeong Jeon where Dam Yoo Yeon had once stayed.
On the second floor of this three-story structure, the personnel from Su Gyeong Jeon continued their duties as before.
The third floor was equipped with an elegantly appointed office and a spacious great conference hall.
And at this moment, Bu Eunseol, Do Cheon Rin, and Dam Yoo Yeon were in the conference room.
Dam Yoo Yeon was keeping servants busy preparing tea and moving furnishings about.
Bu Eunseol and Do Cheon Rin had their heads together, consulting about something.
And as the morning sun climbed toward its zenith in the sky, shadows began ascending steadily into Muwhon Jeon.
The first was Bing Han Poong, Lord of the Buk Hae Bing Gung.
“You must have had a long journey, Palace Lord. Thank you for coming.”
Bu Eunseol offered a respectful bow, and Bing Han Poong returned it with equal courtesy.
“It has been a while.”
A brilliant smile graced Bing Han Poong’s lips.
Thanks to Bu Eunseol, the Buk Hae Bing Gung had crushed the schemes of the traitor Dong Yu Gak and managed to resolve the division among the Five Families.
Moreover, with her assistance, the young lord of the Han Family, who had long suffered from illness, had fully recovered.
She had even restored the Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol, the supreme technique of the Buk Hae Bing Gung, and left it with Bing Han Poong.
From Bing Han Poong’s perspective, Bu Eunseol was like a benefactor who had brought the Buk Hae Bing Gung back to life.
“The Ryeong Ju has grown even more radiant in the meantime.”
Bing Han Poong gazed at Bu Eunseol with a satisfied expression.
“You have truly reached a boundless realm—this is a blessing for the Demonic Path and Murim.”
When he had first come to Buk Hae Bing Gung to quell the chaos.
Bu Eunseol had been a newly initiated successor to the Demon Hall, barely past her apprenticeship.
Yet now she had become the one destined to lead the Demon Hall and a great master governing the martial world beneath heaven itself.
“You are too kind.”
Bu Eunseol offered a humble bow, pressing her palms together.
“Palace Lord, you have already reached the realm of Spirit Radiance Alone—my congratulations.”
For a moment, Bing Han Poong could not hide his astonishment.
He had refined the Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol that Bu Eunseol had taught him to the level of Team Members.
He had reached the realm of Spirit Radiance Alone, able to pour forth extreme yin true energy infinitely at will.
This was only possible because he was the Palace Lord of Buk Hae Bing Gung, who had spent a lifetime cultivating only extreme yin knowledge.
If one were to measure solely by the achievement of Bing Ha Cheon Ryu Gyeol, he had ascended to a realm even Bu Eunseol could not follow.
Yet extreme yin knowledge, the deeper one cultivates it, the more the icy energy within the body becomes faint and subtle.
Even a master with the most discerning eye cannot gauge its level and achievement.
And yet Bu Eunseol had seen through Bing Han Poong’s martial prowess at a glance.
‘This cannot be known through observation alone. The Ryeong Ju’s martial level must have reached an unimaginable stage.’
“It is all thanks to the Ryeong Ju.”
Bing Han Poong, swallowing his astonishment, smiled faintly when a metallic click sounded from outside, and a young man with dark skin entered.
It was Dae Gu Hwi, the youngest son of the Palace Lord of Ya Soo Gung in Nam Man.
“Ryeong Ju!”
Dae Gu Hwi bounded forward like an eager puppy and grasped Bu Eunseol’s hands.
The once innocent youth now radiated a quiet yet solemn aura, like the eye of a tempest.
He had not only completed the Ya Soo Jido but harbored Thunder God’s True Energy dormant within his body.
By absorbing these two supreme forces into himself, his martial prowess had advanced by leaps and bounds, and even his spiritual essence had become serene.
Should he unleash his martial arts, he would wield power capable of splitting heaven and earth.
“How have you been?”
Bu Eunseol patted his shoulder warmly, and Dae Gu Hwi nodded eagerly.
“Very well. Thanks to the secret technique you gave me, I was able to perfectly harmonize the two energies.”
Dae Gu Hwi had become a disciple of Neung Bi Hon and learned all the martial arts of Noe Ryeong Gate.
But Bu Eunseol had long foreseen that the Ya Soo power and Thunder God’s True Energy would eventually clash.
She had created a dharma method to harmonize the two forces for Dae Gu Hwi and transmitted it to Ya Soo Gung.
For one who could harmonize the power of Jeongsa Ma Bul and Yi Shin Ki, merging two energies was nothing at all.
“I am a bit late.”
With a sharp click, an extraordinarily tall middle-aged man entered the conference hall.
His eyes held an austerity like frost, yet his spiritual essence was remarkably gentle.
He emanated an atmosphere much like that of a learned scholar of great erudition.
It was Thunder God himself, Neung Bi Hon.
“Master!”
Dae Gu Hwi rushed forward joyfully, knelt, and bowed in respect.
“How have you been keeping well?”
Neung Bi Hon smiled as he helped Dae Gu Hwi to his feet and patted his shoulder.
“You’ve achieved something remarkable.”
“Yes, yes. Because the Ryeong Ju shared the secret techniques with me, I was able to unify my palace’s martial arts with my master’s martial arts.”
“I see. I’ve heard about it.”
Neung Bi Hon, who had been stroking Dae Gu Hwi’s head, nodded toward Bu Eunseol.
“Younger brother.”
“Older brother.”
The two exchanged glances and spoke only briefly, without unnecessary words.
For two people bound by the deepest brotherhood, a simple exchange of glances was enough.
To convey all the words and feelings that had accumulated between them.
“Brother Neung, this is Bing Han Poong, the Palace Lord of Buk Hae Bing Gung.”
At Bu Eunseol’s introduction, Neung Bi Hon broke into a broad smile and clasped his hands together.
“I have long admired the noble integrity of my brother Bing.”
He then approached Bing Han Poong and greeted him warmly.
“To meet you in person like this is an unparalleled honor.”
Neung Bi Hon was a great master of martial arts in Zhong Yuan and one of the Sasin.
Even if Bing Han Poong was the Palace Lord of a major faction in Sae Oe, his status and reputation could be considered somewhat inferior in comparison.
Nevertheless, Neung Bi Hon showed utmost courtesy to Bing Han Poong for the sake of Bu Eunseol’s honor.
“Compared to the Sect Leader Neung, this old Bing is merely an unknown foot soldier in the martial world. How can I accept such overwhelming praise?”
Bing Han Poong returned the greeting with equal courtesy.
“In days past, Sect Leader Neung struck down the Mado Sipgyeol member Tuk Tu Sang Sal with a single strike and destroyed the Hong Ak Bang, saving the common people of the Yangtze River from their suffering. From that moment, I have long treasured the magnificent reputation of Sect Leader Neung in my heart.”
Before Neung Bi Hon lost his family because of Peng Ak,
he had consistently dealt with vicious factions and villains who committed atrocities against the common people.
In particular, he had struck down Tuk Tu Sang Sal, a member of the Mado Sipgyeol who had tormented the common people of the lower Yangtze River region,
and had single-handedly destroyed the Hong Ak Bang.
This was the event that first announced the Thunder God’s might to the martial world, and it was the most glorious achievement he had ever accomplished.
Bing Han Poong deliberately singled out that deed to praise Neung Bi Hon.
“What kind of sect leader am I, who has lived as a madman consumed by vengeance for so long?”
Though he spoke thus, Neung Bi Hon was delighted and took Bing Han Poong’s hand.
“The fact that brother Bing has come all this way to help our younger sister is reason enough for us to call ourselves friends. Let us share a drink once this matter is settled.”
After speaking, Neung Bi Hon seemed to have second thoughts and spoke carefully.
“You do enjoy drinking, don’t you, brother Bing?”
“Ha ha ha. How could that not be so? Even if I couldn’t drink, since Sect Leader Neung has called me brother Bing, I would have drunk four bottles of wine.”
Ordinarily, the hegemon of Sae Oe and the great master of Zhong Yuan could never mix.
But both men
were captivated by Bu Eunseol, a person who cared not a whit for such formalities.
This allowed them to open their hearts and become close friends so quickly.
“This friend is Do Cheon Rin, who leads the Wanderer Market in Jeok Cheon Mak Ji. And this is Dam Yoo Yeon, our organization’s strategist.”
Through Bu Eunseol’s introductions, Do Cheon Rin and Dam Yoo Yeon exchanged greetings with Neung Bi Hon, Bing Han Poong, and Dae Gu Hwi.
Bing Han Poong and Neung Bi Hon, having discerned that the two were lovers, offered a few words of congratulation.
“A most fitting pair indeed.”
“With the dragon and phoenix now firmly established, the future of Jeok Cheon Mak Ji shall shine as brilliantly as the vast heavens themselves.”
After exchanging pleasantries for some time, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Then shall we begin?”
The assembled members nodded in unison and took their seats in the conference hall.
“This massacre of commoners and vagrants is no ordinary work of Sal Gwi or common martial artists.”
Bu Eunseol detailed to them all the incidents involving Sam Gye thus far, and what she had heard from Sang Je.
She explained in detail how forces called Inbiyin would emerge following the collapse of the Infinite Realm, and how seismic shifts would occur in the current martial world landscape.
The atmosphere grew particularly heavy when the discussion turned to Sang Je’s revelations.
The Infinite Realm—one of the three pillars that dominated the martial world—was said to have vanished.
Yet its influence remained as formidable as ever.
Moreover, until now, the Ma Gyo, or secret forces whose allegiance was unclear, had existed throughout the martial world under various names?
“So you intend to exploit the chaos wrought by the Infinite Realm’s collapse and have the Muhon Society recognized as a new alliance among the orthodox and heterodox factions.”
Bu Eunseol nodded at Dam Yoo Yeon’s words.
“Indeed.”
“But will it truly be acceptable?”
It was then that Bing Han Poong spoke, his expression clouded with concern.
“In name it may seem modest, but you’ve brought the entire Bing Ha Jeon Dan under the Palace Lord’s command.”
He exhaled heavily as he continued.
“No matter how necessary it may be to deal with these Inbiyin or whatever they are called… the factions of Zhong Yuan will never tolerate our unit remaining in Zhong Yuan.”
A month prior, Bing Han Poong had received such a letter from Bu Eunseol.
―I shall create an opportunity for Buk Hae Bing Gung to escape the barren lands and take root in Zhong Yuan. Will you accept?
Beneath the letter were detailed explanations of how Bu Eunseol would establish a new alliance force and the specific manner in which they would be rooted.
Should the plan proceed as written,
though not immediately, Buk Hae Bing Gung would certainly be able to take root in Zhong Yuan in time.
Yet there was one element absent from the plan: the resistance of Zhong Yuan’s martial world.
The martial world of Zhong Yuan, which had long been wary of Sae Oe forces, would never tolerate such developments.

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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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