The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 849

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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 849.
A flash of brilliance gleamed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“Ghosts are merely metaphors. This is entirely plausible.”
The picture book was as thin as a cicada’s wing, fragile enough to crumble at the slightest touch, and appeared to have been created at least three to four hundred years ago.
If her suspicions were correct.
Then beings capable of transforming humans into monsters had existed in Murim since ancient times.
And these entities would likely be connected to the gradually emerging Jin Ma’s Subordinates, or perhaps transcendent beings like Cheon Ki Sung.
“But this makes no sense.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“Then why have such beings remained unknown until now?”
The Sam Gye, which had dominated Murim for generations.
And even the forces hidden within the Abyss had gradually revealed themselves to Murim—so why would such powers have escaped notice?
If such entities existed in Murim, how could they have remained concealed?
‘Then.’
A sudden thought struck Bu Eunseol.
There was only one force that had consistently remained hidden throughout all these events.
The very faction to which those who enforced the Covenant belonged.
‘Naturally, these ghost-like beings must also belong to the same faction as those who enforced the Covenant.’
The Blue-Robed Elder’s true identity was Mok Do In, who oversaw Yeongak Dojeon.
If that were the case, wouldn’t those orchestrating such atrocities also be one of the factions lurking within the Murim Alliance? This thought had struck her.
‘It’s possible.’
The Blue-Robed Elder had certainly warned that terrible things would occur if they refused the Covenant.
And there was a high probability that this situation was precisely what he had warned about.
“Whether it’s the Murim Alliance or not, what’s certain is… such beings have existed in Murim for generations.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression darkened.
Because this meant it would never be a isolated incident.
“…?”
But at the very end of the book’s pages, there was extremely small text inscribed transparently.
“The sage dwells in mountains where the lake reflects (賢者在湖映山中)…”
It was marked so faintly and delicately that only an exceptional master like Bu Eunseol could possibly detect it.
An extremely fine and minute trace had been etched there.
“…Surrounded layer upon layer with silk (層層圍以緞)?”
Moreover, the characters were heavily damaged, forcing Bu Eunseol to piece together the remaining characters to decipher the meaning.
“Then.”
After a long moment of contemplation, Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
She had grasped what the passage inscribed here meant.
“It refers to the location where the sages who wrote this book reside.”
In the current Murim, only Shin San Ja could be called a sage.
But merely decades ago, Murim had been home to countless sages.
Yet at some point, the sages had vanished as if evaporated, leaving no trace in the world.
“They’re in this place?”
The written characters resembled a cipher.
Yet Bu Eunseol could decipher in an instant where these sentences pointed to.
“Cheop Chae Mountain in Gyerim, then.”
A mountain where water reflected light, its slopes layered like bolts of multicolored silk stacked upon one another.
Such a place existed nowhere else in Zhong Yuan save for Cheop Chae Mountain in Gyerim.
“I must visit that place.”
Bu Eunseol returned to the office with heavy steps.
So it was true—throughout the ages, bizarre individuals who manipulated people had existed within Murim.
And the wise had always known of their existence.
Then I had to move swiftly to Cheop Chae Mountain and resolve this matter.
“Ryeong Ju.”
Yet upon returning to the office, Wi Cheon Gyeong delivered startling news.
“Bu Bok Woon is getting married.”
Bu Bok Woon.
At the mention of that name, Bu Eunseol’s previously shadowed expression brightened, and a smile like a shaft of sunlight crossed her face.
Tung Bo—the beggar from Byeok Gye Village.
He was the benefactor who had saved me when I collapsed on the riverbank, stripped of all memory.
I had given a name—Mu Mu—to that taciturn, seemingly heartless beggar, and cared for him as a true sibling.
Throughout my life until now, save for my grandfather,
he was the sole person who had saved my life, shared food with me, and given me his heart.
‘I could not bring myself to visit.’
Yet I could not go to see him.
For I lived the life of Gangho, where blades clashed and blood-winds howled.
Fearing any harm might befall him, that calamity might touch his peaceful existence, I had only ever heard news of his wellbeing through my subordinates.
But now he was to be married?
“To whom?”
“To Gu Yak Bing, the Divine Healer of Wondrous Hands—young, beautiful, and whose medical arts have reached the realm of divinity.”
“The Divine Healer of Wondrous Hands.”
Bu Eunseol held her smile.
“A fitting pair indeed.”
Bu Bok Woon possessed a gentle disposition and abundant virtue, and was naturally gifted in business acumen.
When Bu Eunseol had constructed a grand manor for him and provided financial support, he had performed countless acts of charity and expanded his connections.
Before long, he had become one of the wealthiest magnates in Jenam.
“Send a congratulatory gift in secret.”
Yet despite those words, her heart remained full of longing.
Wi Cheon Gyeong, reading Bu Eunseol’s heart, spoke carefully.
“It is not just any day, but a wedding that comes once in a lifetime. Would it not be fitting to attend quietly?”
All the subordinates of Sayoung Battle Division knew through Yu Woon Ryong what Bu Bok Woon meant to Bu Eunseol.
And they knew too that despite her longing to see him, she could not bring herself to visit.
“If the Ryeong Ju were to offer personal congratulations, Bu Jang Ju would be delighted beyond any gift.”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol fell silent in contemplation.
Wi Cheon Gyeong was right—a wedding ceremony occurred only once in a lifetime. Slipping away discreetly to catch a glimpse seemed reasonable enough.
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol nodded in agreement.
“Then I shall go briefly to see their faces and return.”
“Understood.”
Wi Cheon Gyeong smiled as he spoke.
“I shall request that Sa Hon Dae thoroughly erase any trace of the Ryeong Ju’s presence.”
* * *
The entrance to Geum Ran Manor was adorned with crimson silk fabric, and enormous red lanterns hung in a line along the pathway.
The road stretching from the great gate into the garden was decorated with resplendent flowers.
Inside, guests gathered like clouds.
Those who had not yet entered crowded beyond the gate, still filing in.
This was because the master of Geum Ran Manor was taking a bride.
He was not only remarkably young but also a man of ceaseless benevolence.
Whenever calamities such as drought or flood struck, he opened his warehouses to distribute grain.
For the afflicted, he invited physicians to provide treatment.
He ensured that poor children could receive education, enabling them to attend school.
For the most promising among them, he supported their continued studies in greater cities like Seong Do.
This stemmed not merely from his wealth.
He understood that healthy people brought prosperity to the village, and educated children became capable talents.
And he knew well that these talented individuals would in turn greatly benefit the village.
When such a man announced his marriage, not only the villagers but also
the officials of Gwan Bu and Sang Gye, who were well aware of his benevolence, sent emissaries.
An endless procession of congratulations continued without pause.
“The groom enters!”
The wedding ceremony was now underway at Geum Ran Manor.
A great pond lay in the garden, its surface abloom with crimson lotus flowers.
On the central stage, countless musicians played their instruments, stirring the festive mood.
Step by step.
Then Bu Bok Woon, the master of the manor, dressed in wedding robes embroidered with crimson and gold thread, approached with broad strides and a radiant smile.
The bride wore a crimson skirt adorned with golden thread and upon her head sat a beautiful golden crown.
Since both were orphans, they did not offer wine to ancestral elders or parents.
Instead, they bowed to each other to show their respect.
“Why did Bu Jang Ju take such a lowborn physician as his wife?”
Yet the guests who had come from Sang Gye and Gwan Bu murmured regretfully as they watched the ceremony.
“No matter how beautiful her appearance or virtuous her character, Bu Jang Ju seems to have made a poor choice.”
Bu Bok Woon was the master of Geum Ran Manor, which had accumulated wealth that ranked among the finest in the seven provinces nearby.
But to marry nothing more than a nameless wandering physician?
“Now, now, don’t speak like that. She has always been a remarkable physician, treating the afflicted without charge, moved by Bu Bok Woon’s virtuous character.”
A middle-aged man with a goat beard spoke in a low voice.
“And calling Gu Yak Bing, known as the Divine Physician of Wondrous Hands, a wanderer is hardly accurate either.”
The Divine Physician of Wondrous Hands—Gu Yak Bing.
She had not only cultivated exceptional martial prowess.
But at an age in her thirties, she was a physician whose medical mastery earned her the title of Divine Physician.
However, she had a tendency to demand substantial payment in exchange for her miraculous treatments.
And as a result, she primarily treated only the wealthy.
But by chance, she formed a connection with Geum Ran Manor, and she was moved by Bu Bok Woon’s virtue and benevolence.
From that day forward, Gu Yak Bing remained at Geum Ran Manor, treating countless patients without charge.
And finally, she entered into marriage with him.
‘How fitting.’
Bu Eunseol, watching the wedding ceremony from a corner in disguise, smiled softly.
Bu Bok Woon possessed a naturally warm and gentle disposition.
And he carried an aura that brightened those around him.
Moreover, ever since Bu Eunseol had used her formidable inner strength to unblock his meridians,
his organs had become pristine as a newborn’s, regaining their proper function, the swelling in his body had subsided,
and not only had his skin improved,
he had transformed into a man whose appearance drew favor from all who beheld him.
The bride too was beautiful as a flower, and the two were so perfectly matched that merely gazing upon them brought a contented smile.
The wedding ceremony was conducted grandly, and night had fallen before long.
A murmur of voices.
Bu Bok Woon, having drunk heartily alongside the guests, stepped into the room to change into more comfortable attire.
But upon opening the door, a man in gray robes stood before him.
It was Bu Eunseol, who had recovered her true appearance.
“You….”
Greatly startled, Bu Bok Woon rushed forward and embraced Bu Eunseol tightly.
“How long has it been!”
Bu Eunseol, without words, and with fervent warmth,
held Bu Bok Woon in a tight embrace.
Though they had not been born of the same parents… they were already as siblings bound by blood.
“Have you been well?”
Somewhat blunt yet soft.
Upon hearing Bu Eunseol’s endlessly desolate voice, Bu Bok Woon’s eyes suddenly glistened with tears.
That cold tone he had longed so desperately to hear.
Those eyes, frozen as if suspended in time.
An aura as frigid as ice and infinitely forlorn.
Was this not the visage of a cherished friend he had yearned to see even in his dreams?
“Of course.”
Bu Bok Woon wiped his cheeks and quickly composed himself before speaking.
“I’ve been doing quite well, actually.”
He understood.
Bu Eunseol had longed to see him so desperately, yet deliberately refrained from seeking him out.
She had restrained her desire to meet him again and again, so as not to disturb his peaceful life.
“And you? Has all been well?”
“Of course. I haven’t missed a single meal and remain in excellent health.”
“Yes, I see.”
Bu Bok Woon gazed at Bu Eunseol with a satisfied expression before letting out a small sound of realization.
“Forgive me, my mind is scattered. Wait just a moment.”
He spoke with a smile.
“I’ll introduce you to my wife.”
“No, there’s no need. I witnessed your wedding ceremony. You make a fine pair.”
Bu Eunseol shook her head with a smile.
“I came only to offer my quiet congratulations. And now I must depart soon.”
“Already? So soon?”
Bu Bok Woon could not hide his disappointment.
He had thought that since she had come this far, they could at least spend half a day together.
“Bok Woon.”
Bu Eunseol spoke in a tender yet somewhat solemn voice.
“The Gangho will grow increasingly treacherous in the days ahead. So… forget that I exist and live happily.”
“What are you saying?”
“I am merely a martial artist bound by karmic debt, living a life stained with blood. I am not suited to be with you.”
Bu Eunseol’s expression darkened, but then she shook her head and offered a radiant smile.
“I wish you happiness.”
“You…”
At those words, Bu Bok Woon finally let loose the tears he had been holding back.
“Is this what you have to say after coming for so long?”
He understood.
How lonely and solitary the path Bu Eunseol walked. And how much she had longed to see him.
It was evident from her expression alone.
For this cold-hearted person’s eyes glistened with tears.
“Never speak such words again.”
Bu Bok Woon wiped his tears and raised his voice.
“Have you forgotten who I am? I am Tung Bo, who survived the hands of that venomous snake Heuk Woong in Byeok Gye Village.”
“Bok Woon.”
“And though I received your help, I have now become a renowned merchant of considerable wealth in Jenam.”
He tapped his chest as he spoke.
“I have many acquaintances not only in the Gwan Bu and Sang Gye, but throughout the Murim as well.”
And Bu Bok Woon grasped Bu Eunseol’s hand and spoke earnestly.
“So then… absolutely never say such things again.”
Bu Bok Woon did not know.
Who Bu Eunseol was facing.
That they were the supreme masters of Murim and the Abyss Forces—beings that could not be stopped even by thousands of soldiers.
“I understand. I won’t speak such words again.”
Yet Bu Eunseol nodded and offered a gentle lie.
There was no choice in the matter.
“And if I find time again, I will visit.”
“Truly? You promise?”
“Of course.”
It was the first lie Bu Eunseol had ever told.
But Bu Bok Woon, unaware of this deception, clasped his hands together with a joyful expression.
For Bu Eunseol was one who kept promises as precious as gold.
“Then take care of yourself.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Bu Bok Woon reluctantly released the hands they had clasped.
“You as well. Always stay healthy.”
Between true men, lengthy words are unnecessary.
The two exchanged hundreds of unspoken words through a warm embrace, and bid each other an infinitely long farewell with their eyes.
They merely hoped to remain in good health until the day they met again.
Click.
Bu Eunseol quietly departed.
Bu Bok Woon did not watch him leave.
If he were to see that figure depart,
He would remember only that retreating back as their final moment together.
Until the day they met again.
Bu Bok Woon sought to remember the face of Bu Eunseol gazing at him, smiling with quiet composure.
Unaware of how long it would be before they saw each other again.
* * *
‘He will fare well.’
Leaving Bu Bok Woon’s quarters, Bu Eunseol donned the face veil once more.
Seeing Bu Bok Woon’s face had lifted my spirits, yet at the same time, a piercing loneliness crept into my heart.
Geum Ran Manor possessed fine wines for guests, but I could not drink here.
For a friend worth giving everything for, I could only keep my distance.
Thud, thud.
Bu Eunseol slowly stepped out of the manor, seeking strong spirits to ease the solitude.
And as I turned to enter the dark alley beyond Geum Ran Manor,
“You there.”
A low voice called from behind.
Turning, I beheld a figure harmonizing white and blue,
A beautiful woman in an ornate palace robe, her trembling eyes fixed upon me.
The only daughter of the Sung Family Estate, Sung Su Ryeo.
“You’re Mu Mu, aren’t you?”
Remarkably, she had recognized him simply by observing Bu Eunseol’s silhouette beneath the face veil and disguise.
She had identified him and hurried after him to this remote alley.
“Yes, that’s right, isn’t it?”
Sung Su Ryeo trembled as she gazed directly into Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“In this world, there is no one else with such a sorrowful gaze but you.”
“I believe you have mistaken me for someone else.”
Bu Eunseol tried to leave, feigning ignorance.
“Wait, please.”
She urgently grasped Bu Eunseol’s sleeve.
“Please answer me honestly.”
Sung Su Ryeo’s gaze was filled with such desperation.
If I turned away coldly and departed, a profound wound would remain in her heart for the rest of her life.
“Please, I’m begging you.”
Sung Su Ryeo looked at me with trembling eyes.
Within those eyes lay the imprint of endless waiting, nights spent weeping.
‘How can one resist the threads of fate that bind this world?’
Sung Su Ryeo had not fallen in love with the Muk Hon Ryeong Ju, a peerless beauty with formidable martial prowess.
Rather, she had loved the one who had lost his memories and borne scars upon his face—
The taciturn beggar Mu Mu, who never smiled and spoke only in blunt words.
It was a force of fate that even Bu Eunseol could not resist, the capricious will of the deity who governs love.
“Yes, it is I.”
At last, Bu Eunseol removed the face veil and met her gaze.
“Have you been well all this time, Lady Su Ryeo?”
“Mu Mu!”
Sung Su Ryeo embraced him tightly, relief and joy overwhelming her.
“Mu Mu, Mu Mu!”
And she wept hot tears against my chest.
Knowing the anguish in her heart, I could fathom the endless years she had waited.
Bu Eunseol held her gently and patted her back soothingly.
“Do not cry.”
Until now, I had never held a woman warmly or whispered tender words to anyone.
But with Sung Su Ryeo, I could not help myself.
She was the one person who cared for me, aside from Bu Bok Woon.
She had shown affection and concern for the taciturn beggar of Byeok Gye Village.
Before her, I could not be the Grand Master of the Demonic Path, the Muk Hon Ryeong Ju who shakes Tianxia.
I could only be Mu Mu, the beggar of Byeok Gye Village.
“I thought that seeing you even once would fulfill all my wishes.”
Sung Su Ryeo wept like a child, her face buried against my chest, her words trembling.
“But Father said that wish was something I could never achieve in my lifetime.”
“Miss Sung.”
“So I prayed every day. Beneath that moonlight, I begged just once to meet you again.”
Sung Su Ryeo lifted her gaze, her doe-like eyes fixed upon Bu Eunseol.
“Heaven is not indifferent—it has finally granted my wish.”
She slowly withdrew from the embrace as she spoke.
“Now I have no regrets.”
Sung Su Ryeo understood well enough.
That a future with him was impossible.
Yet she had desired just this once.
To see his face again, to meet his eyes, to share words with him.
And since that wish had been granted, she claimed to have no lingering attachments.
But she soon regretted those words.
“No, that isn’t true.”
A single meeting was not enough.
She could never sever these bonds of attachment.
No—she realized these attachments would never be severed, not in a lifetime.
“I love you….”
Zing.
But in that moment, something deeply unsettling flickered through Bu Eunseol’s mind.
Simultaneously, Sung Su Ryeo’s large pupils suddenly contracted sharply, and then…
They began trembling ceaselessly, as if splitting apart.
“Miss Sung.”
Crack.
Her pupils had multiplied to three, and Sung Su Ryeo stared at Bu Eunseol with her head twisted at an unnatural angle, her expression grotesque.
It was as though someone were manipulating her body like a puppet.
“Regain yourself.”
Sensing something amiss, Bu Eunseol immediately struck a Blood Sealing Point on her body.
She struck the point sharply, yet it would not seal. Instead, a strange energy flowed from within her.
[Grrrrgh.]
Sung Su Ryeo’s clear, melodious voice had transformed into a guttural, bestial growl.
Shake, shake.
She shook her head as if in agony.
Yet with each shake left and right, her eyes and expression shifted.
‘Ma Bu.’
Only then did Bu Eunseol understand why Sung Su Ryeo was transforming this way.
Like Ma Bu, whom she had witnessed before.
She was losing her sense of self, becoming a perfect killing machine.
‘This cannot happen.’
The explosive force of the Raging Dragon Devouring Soul technique that Ma Bu had unleashed before his death had reduced dozens of chambers to ash.
If her body were to explode here, the guests of Geum Ran Manor could suffer grave injuries as well.
Bu Bok Woon’s wedding would be stained with blood.
“Forgive me.”
Bu Eunseol hastily swept Sung Su Ryeo into her arms.
Whoosh!
In one breath, she soared beyond Half-Sky and began unleashing her full martial technique.
She could not allow anyone to suffer or be harmed because of her. Even at the cost of her own life—such a thing had to be prevented at all costs.

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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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