The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 809
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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 809.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
With palms pressed together in reverence, Bul Jon gazed at Bu Eunseol and smiled warmly.
“It has been a long time, Patron.”
“Venerable Master.”
Though our paths diverged, I could not help but show utmost respect.
Bu Eunseol bowed with meticulous courtesy.
When we had encountered each other at the Murim Alliance under the guise of Seol So.
Not only had he mistaken me for a successor of the Orthodox Sects and imparted his teachings to me.
But when we met under my true identity.
He had saved me from an unavoidable ambush by Cheon Joon.
“What brings you here, Venerable Master?”
Yet Bu Eunseol could not help but display a hint of wariness in her gaze.
I had deliberately exposed my whereabouts publicly, and now Bul Jon appeared as if he had been waiting for this very moment?
If so, then he had been continuously mobilizing his intelligence organization to track my movements.
Could he be a supreme master concealing his identity, targeting me from the shadows? Such suspicion was unavoidable.
“I heard that the Patron has accomplished something remarkable. So I came especially to see you.”
Admiration gleamed in Bul Jon’s eyes.
It seemed he had learned of my defeat of Jang In.
‘There is nothing I can do about this.’
Bu Eunseol’s expression turned bitter.
The battle with Gwon In had been sudden, and I had concealed it perfectly.
Only those of us—including the senior members of Nangya Sect—knew of it.
But Jang In had appeared backed by Dong Chang, and I had fought him to protect Yu Woon Ryong and the others.
In other words, it was no different from fighting openly, so it was inevitable that this fact would spread among various intelligence organizations.
‘He has brought a tail with him.’
Behind Bul Jon, I sensed a faint presence lurking in the forest.
But judging by the modest level of their energy, they appeared to be a disciple of Shaolin with a lower rank.
“As for something remarkable…”
Bu Eunseol began to speak, then paused as if remembering something and asked instead.
“In fact, I was also looking for you, Venerable Master. There were many things I wished to ask.”
Bu Eunseol deliberately shifted the conversation by posing questions to Bul Jon.
The first reason was to prevent Bul Jon from extracting information about Jang In or my martial prowess.
While he praised me.
The second reason was that in the past, Bul Jon had claimed to be pressed for time.
And had departed before we could exchange more than a few words.
If he intended to do the same this time?
It would be better for me to take the lead in conversation.
And quickly pose several questions to obtain answers.
“Would it be acceptable if I asked you several things?”
As if seeing through Bu Eunseol’s true intentions, Bul Jon nodded with a faint smile.
“Ask away.”
“Very well.”
Drawing a deep breath, he spoke with measured calm.
“Do you know of the existence called Jin Ma?”
“I do.”
“Then why did you not stop him?”
Bul Jon sighed and shook his head.
“Unfortunately, this old monk has grown too aged. Whether it be the Apostolic Patriarch or the Divine Patriarch, I lack the strength to transcend the boundaries of Incheon with this body.”
‘Does even the Buddhist Order’s Holy Monk speak falsehoods?’
Among the Sammasamjon, Bul Jon
not only possessed the highest seniority, but his true martial prowess remained shrouded in mystery.
The world merely ranked Mu Jon first and Geom Jon last, and this was because
―the foremost of Sammasamjon should naturally be Mu Jon, with Geom Jon at the lowest rank.
This stemmed from words Wi Ji Moo Ah once spoke to the disciples of Hwawoo Sword Sect.
He had ranked Mu Jon as the foremost of Sammasamjon and evaluated Geom Jon as the lowest.
The world naturally assumed Bul Jon occupied some middle position among them.
Yet there was a shocking truth hidden here—Wi Ji Moo Ah’s follow-up remarks had been omitted from the rumors that spread.
―However, Bul Jon’s martial prowess cannot be discerned. For his true martial strength remains fundamentally unknowable.
There were two reasons for this assessment.
First, Bul Jon had never once publicly displayed his ultimate power.
Yet because he had been called the Holy Monk since a hundred years ago, before even Sammasamjon was born,
it could be assumed he had entered the realm of Mujik Gyeong.
And one could only speculate that his ultimate power was rooted in the compassionate martial arts of the Buddhist Order.
Second, he had never revealed his true martial strength.
Only once, over a decade ago,
he had clashed with Blood Demon Jeok Bung, and the Blood Demon suffered a narrow defeat, which only proved he was at least not the lowest of Sammasamjon, but nothing more.
Whether his compassionate nature had created that narrow victory,
or whether that truly represented his actual strength—even this remained impossible to determine with certainty.
‘He is likely no inferior to Mu Jon.’
Yet Bu Eunseol had concluded that Bul Jon possessed martial prowess comparable to Mu Jon.
In the past, with merely a word, Bul Jon had
not only imparted to Bu Eunseol the insights to amplify the power of Mu Hwang’s supreme technique, the Thirteen Night Qi,
but recently had driven away that terrifying Cheon Joon with a single move, like chasing a dog.
“You are most humble.”
Ultimately, Bu Eunseol framed Bul Jon’s words as modesty.
For he wished to continue hearing answers to his many questions.
Thus he did not dwell on whether it was false modesty or truth.
“Venerable Master, you are like a living witness to the history of Murim. Even without martial prowess, are you not in a position to guide countless people?”
Bul Jon smiled warmly.
“That is precisely why Noh Nap sought me out.”
Bul Jon continued with measured composure.
“Though Noh Nap’s martial prowess is unremarkable, he has devoted himself tirelessly to nurturing talents for the Murim. And that effort was….”
A profound light gleamed from Bul Jon’s narrow eyes.
“To protect the world and its people from fallen forces.”
“By fallen forces, you mean Sam Gye, correct?”
Bul Jon offered a cryptic response.
“Are there not other fallen forces within the Murim besides them?”
His eyes flashed with intensity as he continued.
“Take the Eight Immortals Heaven alone—they meddle recklessly in the Murim and seek to bend the world to their will.”
“Are not Jin Ma’s followers inherently evil?”
Bu Eunseol furrowed her brow.
“It seems inaccurate to call them fallen.”
“Not all of Jin Ma’s followers can be deemed evil. They possess their own convictions.”
“Their convictions?”
“They merely desire Jin Ma’s resurrection. It is only that some among them harbor different intentions.”
It was a startling revelation.
Then Jin Ma’s followers were not united in a single purpose toward his resurrection,
and there existed subordinates harboring ulterior motives?
“When you speak of protecting the world from fallen forces… you mean you have been cultivating a master to oppose the Eight Immortals Heaven?”
“I will not deny it.”
A flash of brilliance crossed Bu Eunseol’s gaze.
So Bul Jon had been secretly nurturing supreme masters all this time?
“Could it be Geum Jeong Shin Ryong Baek Mu Sung?”
“That cannot be.”
Bul Jon shook his head with a pained expression.
“You understand as well as I do. To execute any plan flawlessly, the paramount prerequisite is that such information must never reach the outside world.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed to slits.
She had grasped that this ‘certain plan’ referred to the Absolute Demon Blade Plan.
‘Yet this makes no sense.’
That plan was orchestrated under the previous Murim Alliance Leader Cheol Mu Hun… and executed through Shaolin.
Bul Jon could not have been ignorant of it.
No—Bul Jon must have been deeply involved.
But the Absolute Demon Blade Plan was executed decades ago and ended in failure.
The timing did not align with when Baek Mu Sung became his disciple.
“Taking a lay disciple belatedly was due to someone’s request, but on the other hand, it was an effort to disperse attention.”
Upon hearing those words, Bu Eunseol felt a chill run through her.
So Bul Jon had not taken Baek Mu Sung as a disciple of his own volition.
Rather, he had deliberately accepted him as a disciple to scatter external scrutiny?
Judging from Bul Jon’s pained expression, his eyes dimly closed, it seemed to be the truth.
‘Then, aside from the Absolute Demon Blade Plan, he must have been pursuing something else recently….’
Deep contemplation illuminated Bu Eunseol’s eyes with profound light.
‘Did he take Baek Mu Sung as a disciple for that purpose?’
Only now did Bu Eunseol understand why Bul Jon, in his twilight years,
had deliberately accepted a young disciple—and as a lay disciple at that.
And why Baek Mu Sung, despite having such an exceptional master, had lived a life wandering secretly through Gangho.
The reason became clear to me.
‘A sacrificial pawn.’
Baek Mu Sung was nothing but a sacrificial pawn to Bul Jon.
And Baek Mu Sung himself must have been acutely aware of this fact.
‘Perhaps his acts of kindness while wandering Gangho were his desperate struggle to prove he was not merely a pawn to be discarded.’
“Master.”
Bu Eunseol, dispelling the thoughts that rose in her mind, released a deep sigh.
That Baek Mu Sung could not help but fall prey to the temptations of the Three Realms.
From another perspective, was it not entirely Bul Jon’s fault?
“How could a venerable master of the Buddhist Order, whose foundation is compassion, commit such cruelty?”
It was not something the successor of the Demon Palace, Muk Hon Ryeong Ju, should say.
Yet, knowing Baek Mu Sung’s tender heart so well, such words escaped her lips unbidden.
“If the old man does not go to Hell, then who will?”
Bul Jon spoke with a desolate expression.
“Because the Absolute Demon Blade Plan was exposed, countless talented individuals lost their lives. I could not afford to repeat such mistakes.”
Bu Eunseol now understood.
“Master, you did not merely cooperate—you led the Absolute Demon Blade Plan together with the former Alliance Leader Cheol Mu Hun.”
Bul Jon closed his eyes instead of answering.
It was silent affirmation.
‘So it was.’
Bul Jon had been the central figure in executing the Absolute Demon Blade Plan.
That plan had failed, and countless lives must have been sacrificed because of it.
And because of this, Bul Jon had lived his entire life bearing the weight of that burden.
“Everything was failure from the very beginning….”
Bul Jon spoke in a low voice.
“After several setbacks, I finally believed a perfect plan had been created… yet instead, all the talented individuals destined to reach the Absolute Demon Path were sacrificed at once.”
Bul Jon, who had been muttering softly, shook his head.
“But the greatest reason for the failure was… that Mo Ryun made an incorrect prophecy from the very beginning.”
In that moment, a fleeting thought crossed Bu Eunseol’s mind.
“Could it be that now is…”
“That’s right.”
Bul Jon nodded.
“The age of annihilation that Mo Ryun prophesied is precisely this current generation.”
Bul Jon’s eyes, gazing toward the distant sky, were filled with deep regret.
Observing that expression, Bu Eunseol grasped something crucial.
“Then… are you saying you’ve restarted the Absolute Demon Blade Plan?”
“That’s right.”
Bul Jon spoke in a low voice.
“During this time, I’ve prepared a new Absolute Demon Blade Plan, learning from past failures. And finally, I’ve succeeded.”
Bu Eunseol found herself speechless.
The Absolute Demon Blade Plan had failed catastrophically and should never be pursued again.
Yet a sage like Bul Jon was repeating the same mistake once more.
“Tsk.”
At that moment, Bul Jon, who had been gazing toward the distant sky, uttered an incomprehensible remark.
“It’s happening again like this.”
Bul Jon shook his head, speaking as if with regret.
“But this time, I’ll have to create time even if none exists.”
‘Who is watching this situation?’
I spread my heightened senses, but detected only a faint presence concealed within the forest.
“Since time is short, I’ll state my business plainly.”
Bul Jon delivered a shocking statement.
“I need you to participate in the new Absolute Demon Blade Plan as well.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Bu Eunseol couldn’t comprehend it.
Bul Jon himself had just said the new Absolute Demon Blade Plan had already succeeded.
Yet suddenly he was asking her to participate in it?
“As the Leader who controls them, and as their administrator.”
Bul Jon nodded while gazing into the forest.
Then a warrior bearing a great sword slowly emerged from the shadows.
Bu Eunseol was somewhat startled.
She had sensed the presence earlier but assumed it was merely a disciple of Shaolin with weaker martial prowess.
But now that he revealed himself—
He was a master possessing far greater inner strength than she had anticipated.
“What do you think?”
“The Leader…”
Upon hearing that word, Bu Eunseol could deduce how Bul Jon had restarted the Absolute Demon Blade Plan.
The previous Absolute Demon Blade Plan had sought to select only one person, which led to its failure.
So this time, he had clearly selected multiple candidates first, then ranked them by martial prowess.
“Master, are you now telling me to defect to the Orthodox Sects?”
“What meaning does righteousness hold for you?”
Bul Jon spoke calmly.
“Isn’t it for revenge?”
In that instant, sparks of fury ignited in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
He was right.
Until now, the most elite figures of the Murim had known both his true identity and his relationship with his grandfather.
Even that Living Buddha, Bul Jon himself.
“How dare a Buddhist speak of vengeance?”
At his words, sharp as an awl, Bul Jon merely offered a quiet smile.
“Ever since we began preparing the Absolute Demon Blade Plan long ago, this old monk resigned himself to the path to Hell.”
That smile was utterly serene, yet—
to Bu Eunseol’s eyes, it appeared far more desolate than tears could ever convey.
‘He’s broken.’
Bu Eunseol could sense it.
Bul Jon had lived far too long.
And swallowed by the remorse and regret of his past failures, he had ultimately become a monster.
A phantom consumed by desperate obsession—determined to undo the sins of yesterday by any means.
“Then your proposal must offer me some benefit as well?”
“Tell me what you desire.”
Bu Eunseol answered without hesitation.
“I want Hyung Su, the one who killed my grandfather.”
“This old monk has investigated that incident extensively over the years. Yet ultimately, the truth eluded me.”
Bul Jon exhaled a profound sigh before speaking.
“I can say with certainty—only Hyung Su knows the true circumstances of Chil Ji Ma Do’s death.”
“What do you mean?”
“If after all this time of pursuit we’ve found no clues, there can be only one explanation.”
Bul Jon spoke in a heavy voice.
“It was not the work of any faction or sect with deliberate intent, but rather the act of an individual with a special reason.”
And he added:
“Bu’s martial prowess was unmatched beneath heaven. The very fact that he died so brutally at someone’s hands was itself extraordinarily strange.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression grew somber.
If even one as formidable as Bul Jon spoke with such certainty—
then surely her grandfather’s death was far from simple, shrouded instead in profoundly complex circumstances.
“However, it was certainly Gwi Il Gae who took Chil Ji Ma Do’s corpse.”
“Gwi Il Gae.”
Bu Eunseol clenched her fists.
It was a fact she already knew.
Yet remembering that they had defiled her grandfather’s remains, she could not help but be consumed by rage.
‘Regardless of anything else, I will crush Gwi Il Gae to dust!’
“He cannot become the Leader.”
Then the silent man standing nearby suddenly spoke, his gaze fixed upon Bu Eunseol.
“Your spirit is shallower than expected. Your mental state just collapsed.”
Bu Eunseol raised one eyebrow.
He had discerned her spiritual condition at the peak of the Eternal Realm?
As their gazes met, an eerie light flickered in the Great Sword Warrior’s eyes.
‘A most peculiar grand technique.’
The Great Sword Warrior possessed not only formidable martial prowess but also the ability to peer into an opponent’s spiritual state.
It seemed he had mastered some special grand technique or secret art.
A sharp intake of breath.
When their gazes met, the man offered Bu Eunseol a cold smile.
He was now provoking her, trying to draw her into combat.
“That is precisely why he is strong.”
At that moment, Bul Jon wore a faint smile.
“Because such profound affection runs so deep, one can reach the pinnacle of martial arts—just as with Chil Ji Ma Do.”
The man said nothing,
but the furrow of his brow revealed his disagreement with Bul Jon’s words.
“I have no interest.”
It was then that Bu Eunseol spoke with unwavering resolve.
“Whether as administrator or custodian, I will not entangle myself in such matters.”
Now I understood.
Bul Jon was no compassionate figure of the Buddhist Order, but rather a phantom bound to the sorrows of the distant past.
Through this conversation, much of my reverence for him had dissolved.
“In truth, I care nothing for Jin Ma, nor for the annihilation of Murim.”
At Bu Eunseol’s frigid response, Bul Jon spoke with an expression of regret.
“Should you not carry forward the legacy of Chil Ji Ma Do?”
When Bul Jon invoked her grandfather to sway her, revulsion surged through Bu Eunseol.
“My grandfather must have regretted his past deeds.”
She fixed him with a gaze as sharp as a blade’s edge.
“Otherwise, he would not have concealed his identity and devoted himself to the Yeomsa.”
Bul Jon, gazing into Bu Eunseol’s frozen eyes, released a heavy sigh.
He had come to realize she would never participate in his scheme.
“Cling to the past and you lose the present; be shackled by yesterday and you descend into suffering.”
Bul Jon spoke with a compassionate smile.
“Can you not grasp the meaning of this old monk’s words?”
“Hah.”
Bu Eunseol laughed softly.
She could no longer bear Bul Jon’s repugnance.
At last, she abandoned her courteous tone and spoke in her true, cold voice.
“It seems even the Great Master cannot escape that very principle.”
In an instant, Bul Jon’s expression transformed completely.
It was no longer the visage of a compassionate living Buddha,
but rather like that of a newborn infant tasting bitter tea for the first time—
a most grotesque and contorted expression.
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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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