Chapter 26

“Come this way. Confucius.”
Bu Eun-sul walked down the hall, and the envoy standing in front of him politely led him to a seat by the window.
“What would you like to eat?”
Looking out the window, Bu Eun-sul’s eyes widened.
It was supposed to be a desolate view of Hell Island, but instead, it was just a plain view of the countryside.
“Mr. Confucius.”
Bu Eunseol, who had been sitting dazedly on the ground, asked.
“Where is this place?”
“The center of hell.”
“The center…….”
Bu Eun-sul nodded as if she realized something.
This was the center of the Infernal Map, an area she had never been able to enter while researching it.
“Do you want to place your order later?”
“What do you have?”
“I can make any dish you’d like, but the master here is particularly good at six kinds of cold vegetables, stir-fried shark fin, fried shrimp, and…….”
“Noodles.”
“What?”
Sahwan’s eyes widened as he spat out a string of dish names, and then a swollen Najik said.
“It’s just two bowls of noodles.”
“Oh, I see.”
Sahwan went to the kitchen, and it didn’t take him long to set down two steaming bowls of noodles on the table.
“Enjoy.”
When Sahwan left, Bu Eun-sul stared down at the noodles, her face unfocused.
-What are noodles, you little brat?
When Bu Eun-sul was ten years old.
Miss Bu Zhan took him to the biggest guest house in Buzhong.
But even there, the only food she served him was noodles.
When Bu Zhan Yang asked why, Bu Eun-sul looked at him and said.
-You said that once a person tastes sweet, they never want to eat bitter again.
Hearing this answer, Bu Zhanyang almost burst out laughing.
However, Bu Eunsul’s eyes were so serious that he couldn’t help but sigh.
-Yon-suk, didn’t you mean…… that if you’re tempted to take the easy way out even once, you’re not walking on the right path?
-Anyway, I’m not going to give in to the temptation of delicious food, because if I do, I might never reach for noodles again.
It was a silly thing to say, but Miss Bu Zhan smiled and nodded. And indeed, she only ate a bowl of bean curd and noodles.
-Do you know why she only ate noodles because you wanted her to?
Bu Eun-sul shook his head, and Bu Zhan-yang smiled pleasantly and patted his head.
-Today will be an unforgettable day for her and for you.
Bu Zhanyang was right.
Bu Eun-sul could never forget what happened that day.
“Bu Eun-sul.”
A bright shadow appeared across from her as she reminisced.
“What is it, are you still not feeling well?”
When she awoke, a handsome boy with long, flowing hair was sitting in the chair across from her. I stood up.
“You like noodles? I ordered two of them.”
“…….”
“What, are you feeling better now?”
“If you have something to say, say it without turning around.”
“You cheeky bastard. Just when I thought you were worried about me.”
Frowning, he shook his head and let out a deep sigh.
“No, I’m not in a position to be annoyed with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
Seo coughed and cleared his throat.
“I’m saying thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would still be wandering around Gutian as a widower.”
“I never saved you. I merely cut down the enemy in front of me.”
Looking at Bu Eunseol’s expression, Seo Jinha narrowed her eyes.
“Do you…… really not know, or are you pretending not to know?”
“What.”
“According to what I heard, there were originally twelve people who were supposed to stay in the Third Pavilion.”
“So.”
“So what?”
Seo Jin Hai crossed his arms, unable to hide his incredulity.
“When you were about to be killed by the flesh-eaters after slashing three of them in one fell swoop, the Head of the Order stopped the Third Pavilion in its tracks, and that’s why you and I are still alive.”
“What?”
Bu Eunseol raised her eyebrows in surprise, and Seo Jinha scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
“What, you really didn’t know, it’s been four days already…….”
“Four days?”
Only then did Bu Eun-sul realize why her limbs were slightly thinner.
She thought she had lost consciousness for a moment, but four days had passed.
“I thought a day had passed.”
Seo Jin-ha smiled bitterly at Bu Eun-sul’s words.
“You are indeed lucky, for Kwang-ui is staying on this island.”
Guangyi, Chuxian Forest.
He was once known as the Divine Hand, but after failing to cure his beloved’s illness, he fell victim to a mind-altering disease.
Still, medicine was the best in the world, so the martial artists called him Guangyi.
‘So he’s crazy.
The councilor, who had always healed his injuries, was willing to keep him alive as long as he was breathing.
“After all, you saved my life. So, I’ll say thank you.”
Originally, Seo Jin-ha’s personality was cold and unyielding, and he was not the kind of person who would talk to others casually.
But when he realized that Bu Eun-sul had not only crossed the firing line, but that her achievements were comparable to his own, he felt quite fond of her.
“He’s also cold, but he’s never one to betray or backstab others.
A great competitor is best kept close.
Knowing this truth, she approached Seo Jin with a friendly gesture.
“Mmm.”
Bu Eun-sul glanced around the room.
All around her, she could see the faces of the boys who had fought for their lives, their expressions so bright, no trace of life or animosity.
“So, everyone here is now a ten-horse warrior?”
In response to Bu Eunseol’s question, Seo Jinha nodded.
“For now.”
“First?”
“It is said that the leaders of the Ten Demon Doors will soon visit the Hell City to choose the Ten Demon Warriors.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because, while you were unconscious, the rest of us were all briefed by the Manchu Lord.”
Hearing this, Bu Eun-sul immediately stood up.
He realized that he had been unconscious for four days, and there were many things he should have known, but he was the only one who didn’t.
“There’s no need to go around.”
Seo Jin-ha, who had guessed what Bu Eun-sul was thinking, said bluntly.
“If you have any questions, I’ll tell you everything.”
“Why?”
“Let’s call it a favor to a former colleague.”
Seo smiled wryly.
“Besides, I’d like to talk to you a bit.”
“Mmm.”
As we sat back down at the table, Seo looked out the window.
“You can ask me anything. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“I just want to know how the Ten Doors will choose the remnant.”
“By what method?”
“Does he listen to the opinions of the Patriarchs or the Ten Thousand and One?”
Only Bai Xiaochun and Bai Xiaochun had seen the bloodshed in the Infernal City firsthand.
So, the successor to the Ten Demon Doors would be chosen based on their opinions…….
Considering the size and importance of the Ten Demon Warriors Competition, this made little sense.
“Ah.”
Seo Jinha shook his head with a wry smile.
“The Third Pavilion was being watched by the masters of the Ten Demon Doors themselves. In fact, they even participated.”
“Participated?”
At that moment, a thought flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind.
“No way, it was them.”
“That’s right. They said that each of those demons was an expert sent from the ten gates.”
Seo Jinha smiled bitterly.
“They said they had already decided who would be the Ten Demon Warriors, and who they would take with them if they stayed, while watching us fight tooth and nail.”
“I see.”
It was only then that Bu Eunseul realized why the martial prowess of the demons in killing mere volunteers was so high, on par with that of the Heads.
“But what did you mean earlier when you said that the Third Pavilion was stopped to save me?”
“Originally, the Third Pavilion was to be closed until there were only twelve people left. But the Supreme Leader interrupted the Third Pavilion to save you.”
The man asked, “Why?” and Bu Eunseol stared at Seo Jinha.
“Actually…… he didn’t tell me the reason. But it was obvious without him saying it.”
Seo Jinha relaxed his arms and his eyes flashed.
“He definitely wanted to put you in the Ten Demon Warriors.”
He paused for a moment, then blurted out.
“That’s why I’m asking…… what does your sect have to do with him, or do you have some kind of relationship with him?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking because I don’t understand why, no matter how good you are, I’d break the rules…… to keep you alive.”
“We’re not related.”
Seo Jinha, who was staring into Bu Eunseol’s eyes, shook her head.
“I really don’t understand this.”
“Understand?”
“Chongqiao Du was severely reprimanded for this.”
Seo Jinha’s eyes were fixed on Bu Eunseol’s face.
“He stepped down from his position as the head of the organization and went back to the martial arts academy. Rumor has it that he’s been tasked with cleaning up the martial arts sects that don’t join the martial arts academy.”
Not all martial arts sects are affiliated with the Mazoku.
Some sects, especially those with their own factions, were blatantly setting up battles with the Mage Warriors, and perhaps instead of punishing them, they had entrusted Liu Lianyung to deal with them.
“This is incomprehensible.
I have no contact with the Patriarch, and I’ve never even spoken to him.
So why would he allow himself to be punished and save himself?
Bu Eun-sul couldn’t imagine.
His desperate determination to live, his ability to survive, and his ability to imitate a real swordsman in a short period of time.
All of these things made the heart of the head of the family beat faster.
Ding, ding, ding.
Just then, a loud bell sounded in the distance.
At that moment, a loud bell sounded in the distance.
“If you’ve finished eating, you can get up.”
When Bu Eun-sul looked at him wordlessly, Seo Jin-ha bit his lip.
“That’s the sound of a summons to those who remain on the Hell Island.”
“Then…….”
“Yes.”
Seo Jinha’s eyes flashed with a serious expression, and he spoke in a low voice.
“The leaders of the Ten Doors have arrived at the Hell City.”
* * *
On the southern shore, shadows disembarked one by one from the ten anchored sailing ships.
Their attire varies, but the aura they emanate is one of heaven-shattering foreboding.
The ten pillars of the current Madomurim, the schools and families that have reached the pinnacle of martial arts.
These were the masters sent from each of the Ten Doors.
“Welcome.”
Bai Zhen Tian, who was standing at the front of the ship, clasped his hands together.
“You’ve traveled a long way, and I’ve prepared a banquet for you in the Snow Yin Pavilion…….”
Although he was the twentieth highest ranking person in the protocol, he was very polite in his treatment of them.
“We are not here for a tour of the mountain streams.”
Of the ten masters, the lanky man with the two-parted long hair on his back cut Bai Zhen Tian’s words short.
“Let’s get started right away.”
“What?”
“There’s no time to waste. Bring me all the candidates who are ten horse warriors right now.”
“Understood.”
Bai Zhen Tian nodded without a word.
He had prepared the banquet just in case, but he knew he wouldn’t be attending anyway.
There was an invisible understanding between the Forty Doors. Some of them were friendly, while others snarled at each other like enemies.
“A select group of materials are waiting for you in the Eternal Demon Hall. Please follow me.”
The ten masters then looked at the demons behind Bai Zhen Tian.
The demons nodded slightly, and they started walking.
The Spirit Hall.
A huge hall in the center of Hell City.
Originally, this was the place where the masters of the martial arts secretly practiced their martial arts, or practiced their closed-door training.
Right now, there were fourteen boys standing in the hall, their faces grim.
Kuung.
With a low vibration, the door opened, and Bai Zhenchuan, dressed in a royal robe, and two dozen other people behind him walked in.
These were the masters from the ten gates and the demons who were staying in the Hell City.