Chapter 66

Gummisan Somewhere deep in the mountains.
A man in drab clothes emerged from a dark cave.
Freak.
That’s the only way to describe it.
His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were stained with a grayish puddle that showed how long it had been since he’d washed them.
“Hmmm.”
The man’s eyes, gazing up at the distant sky, had a gleam in them.
In the morning, he was no longer sleepy, and his blood color made him look like he’d been up all night.
Jumbled.
After walking out of the cave, the creature entered the forest clearing in front of the cave and stood tall.
“Hmm.”
With a short exhale, the longsword at his belt was suddenly in his hand.
Drop!
Suddenly, he stretched out his sword, and a light like a sunset burst forth, a dizzying sword dance spreading out like a blur.
Self.
At that moment, the trees that were standing everywhere fell in a torrential downpour.
Furthermore, the orientation and position of the trees cut down were all different. It was an almost mystical sword technique.
“Mmm.”
Despite his near-magical swordplay, the monster’s expression was not pleased.
“It looks like this again.”
tweet. Laryngeal.
Before I knew it, the hilt of my sword began to crack, and it fell to the floor in hundreds of pieces.
With a low grunt, the creature made its way to a small waterfall near the forest.
Shoot.
A splash from the falling water grazes my cheek.
Staring at his reflection in the water, he began to wash his face.
Pooh!
After washing his face, he began to pull his scattered hair into a neat bun.
At the same time, a white, pale face slowly revealed itself. Long, coldly suspended eyes and a flared nose. Firmly pursed lips…….
The face of a young woman, cold and mysterious, was revealed.
It was swollen tongue.
“One year.”
I’ve been in the cave for almost a year now.
The living quarters within the Nangya Pavilion were adequate for resting, but too crowded for practicing swordsmanship.
While exploring Mt. Gummi, I found a cave where I could see the sun in the morning and evening and was close to a waterfall.
This is where he spent a year honing his sword skills.
“It’s a combination of heavy sword techniques and rotational force.”
The swollen tongue is tongued low.
Based on Dan Cheng’s sword methods, I learned the martial arts that I had mastered so far…… Sau’s Practical Sword Technique, Hua Wu Sword, and the Electric Lightning Sword Technique.
Infinite Heavenly Flow.
Bu Eun-sul named it the “Unbounded Heavenly Flow”.
It encompassed all the sword techniques in the world and created a new sword technique that had never existed before.
The problem was that each of the first meals in the Wuhan Heavenly Flow Style contained a great deal of weightlifting, which could not be done with an ordinary sword.
Tutuk.
That’s when I heard the sound of a branch breaking, and I knew I was out of breath.
I turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a white robe standing over me.
It was Pungwoon Daejoo Baekyeon.
“You’re feeling better.”
After a year of practicing Wushu, Bu Eun-sul looked a little more fierce than in the past.
But to Bai Yan’s eyes, it seemed as if the body itself was sharpened to the point of a sharp sword.
“Lender.”
Bu Eun-sul clapped her hands together, and Baekyeon nodded.
“You’re working hard.”
Baekyeon’s eyes gradually widened as she looked down at the destroyed trees around the forest.
‘This is…….’
Every sword has its own character, and the moment it is unleashed, it leaves a mark that is unique to the wielder.
But the trees that Buunsul destroyed had no marks on them. They were simple and crude, as if they had been split by a lumberjack.
It’s a mishmash of all the techniques out there, so it’s not really characterized by anything.
“You’ve made great progress.”
Baekyeon exclaimed, and Buunseol shook her head.
“We’re not quite there yet.”
“What sword shall be in thy castle?”
A smirking Baekyeon said.
“Let’s go to Qingfengjia. The High Lord seeks you.”
Bu-eun-sul, sensing something in Baek-yeon’s eyes, asked.
“What’s going on?”
After a pause, Baekyeon nodded.
“I got a call from Mazen.”
“You mean me.”
“It’s kind of like that.”
Baekyeon took a deep breath.
“The fate of the Ten Horsemen has been decided.”
* * *
Three steaming teacups were placed on the table.
Sitting at a table set up in the guest chamber of the Qingfeng estate, Bu Eunseol listened to Dan Qing and Baek Yeon.
“……The long and short of it is that the Magus decided that the Ten Warriors were not yet up to the task of defeating the Great Master. So we decided to give them time to refine their martial arts once more.”
“I see.”
“You have one year. Not too long, not too short.”
Hearing Bai Yan’s words, Dan Qing furrowed his brow in dissatisfaction.
“You want me to refine my martial arts, what’s another year, just a year?”
And then he muttered in an annoyed voice.
“Either the Temple will close its doors, or it will settle its succession and retire to its dungeon, for if it remains vacant, will not the Magisterium or the Senate grow impatient?”
Hearing Dan Qing’s words, Bu Eunsul made a puzzled expression.
“Do you mean to say that the Magus will be dragged to the Ten Doors or the Senate?”
“The current lord hasn’t officially named a successor yet, so it’s a magical council, it’s a senate, and they’re trying to steer it in their favor.”
“I don’t quite understand.”
“Hmm. I suppose I’ll need an explanation of the faction structure of the battlefield to make sense of this situation.”
Dan Qing then gestured to Bai Yan.
He meant for Baekyeon to explain, since he had a sore mouth.
“Hmmm.”
Unable to withstand Dan Qing’s heated gaze, Bai Yan reluctantly opened her mouth.
“Have you ever heard that the power of the Demon King is divided into three divisions?”
-Maizen is divided into three factions: the Mage Warriors, the Senate, and the Ten Doors. The Senate, which is comprised of the masters of the previous generation, has a significant say.
Remembering what Dan Qing had said to her in the past, Bu Eun-sul nodded.
“Yes.”
“Now that power has been divided, naturally, all three factions are pushing for their favorite successor.”
Baekyeon’s brows gradually drew together as she continued to speak.
“The factions under the Mazoku want to see an emerging power in Mado that is not influenced by the Ten Doors and the Senate. The Magisterium, of course, wants a successor to come from within the Magisterium.”
Suddenly, everything made sense to Buunsul.
With no clear heir to the throne, the three factions are trying to maneuver and influence the situation in their favor.
“What about the Senate?”
“The Senate only wants someone who will keep their faction strong. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Magisterium or an outsider. That’s why they’re basically neutral.”
Dan Qing spoke again.
“The Ten Warriors Plan is often thought of as the sole prerogative of the Warlord, but it was only possible with the consent of the Senate. The Ten Warriors Plan is a win-win for the Senate.”
Baekyeon said with a bitter expression.
“And the time of year was pushed by the Magisterium. The Ten Demon Warriors, including you, are too good.”
One mountain cannot hold two tigers.
You can’t have two tigers in the same mountain.
The Ten Warriors were good enough to push out the more established successors of the Ten Commandments.
That’s why the heirs to the throne hope they’ll run afoul of the cause and self-destruct as soon as possible.
“I see.”
Unlike the worried Dan Qing and Baek Yeon, Bu Eun Seol’s eyes were brighter than before.
“I’ve been given another year of empty time.”
A year, three hundred and sixty-five days, is a time that can take on a new destiny depending on how you use it.
“That’s right. I called you here today to discuss how we’re going to spend the rest of the year.”
“Then I’m going to go hard.”
Baekyeon frowned at Bu Eunseol’s immediate response.
“Going hard again?”
“Yes.”
“You mean to tell me that spending a year in the firing squad wasn’t enough?”
“A goon squad mission was something where you practically had all the information and tactics laid out for you.”
“Huh?”
“It was a great time to learn all about the powerhouse, but from a different perspective, it wasn’t completely raw.”
Baekyeon sighed and shook her head.
The missions of the death squads are often life-threatening. So it’s only natural that they do their research.
But Bu Eun-sul is saying it’s “everything is ready”.
“I don’t know what the hell this guy is thinking.
Bai Yan glanced at Dan Qing and slowly opened her mouth.
“Getting to the top is not something you can do in a short period of time. It’s not a skill.”
Baekyeon continued without hesitation, as if she had something in mind.
“I want you to spend a year traveling around the ten gates and making acquaintances with the heirs of the ten gates.”
“And the heirs of the Madonna and Child.”
“Yes. In the meantime, I will make it clear to my master that you are a disciple of Nangyagak, not a ten-horse warrior.”
When Bu Eun-sul gave him a look of incomprehension, he spoke again.
“While you visit each of the ten gates and make connections with their heirs, let them know in advance that you are the next in line to the main palace, and you will be freed from the shackles of…… being a ten-horse warrior.”
Dan Qing, who had been listening, frowned.
“So you’re telling me…… to watch this guy for a year and make his acquaintance with the heirs of the Magisterium?”
“Yes.”
“To cement his position as the heir apparent to the throne and keep him out of the fight against the High King?”
“Yes.”
Baekyeon said with a serious expression.
“With the exception of one late-comer disciple, the masters of the…… cause are uniformly recognized as the next generation of masters.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but that’s disrespectful not only to her, but to the martial arts ideals of the organization.”
Dan Qing said, smiling.
“The Headquarters is a place to learn martial arts through actual combat, and to pursue the martial arts through extreme combat. But to avoid fighting by making friends?”
But Baekyeon’s eyes were determined.
“This kid has a lot of potential and talent. But he’s been practicing martial arts for too short a period of time.”
He turned his attention to Bu Eun-sul.
“You don’t have to fight for your life before you’ve even smoked that saving grace, and the Tao Te Ching knows that, which is why they gave the Ten Warriors a year.”
Dan Qing looked disgruntled.
It’s a plan no disciple of Nanyagak would ever think of.
“But…… probably had his own way of protecting him.
Knowing the lengths Bai Yan would go to in order to protect Bu Eunseol, Dan Cheng couldn’t help but agree to the plan.
“Mmm.”
Sighing, Dan Qing asked Bu Eun-sul.
“Okay. What do you think?”
Bu Eun-sul was silent for a moment.
If my goal was to get to the top, I would have followed Baekyeon’s advice without hesitation.
But it wasn’t a high position he wanted.
“I’m…….”
The tightly closed mouth of the swollen tongue finally opened.
“I’m still going strong, and I want to test myself a little bit more.”
“You mean to tell me that you’re going to fall prey to the machinations of the Ten Commandments?”
Baekyeon said with a sad expression.
“To be a good samurai, you have to be able to bend low for a moment. You don’t necessarily have to parry with your right hand when you have a chance to dodge a blade.”
But Bu Eun-sul’s expression didn’t change; her steadfast gaze spoke for itself.
“Hey, Baekyeon…….”
Watching the scene, Dan Qing sighed and said.
“You think he’s the kind of kid who ducks when a knife comes flying at him.”
“That’s something you’ll have to convince him of, because a man who doesn’t know how to stoop low will never be a great martial artist.”
“You know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Neither in the main hall, nor at the table. Never once did he stoop to the level of others, but kept to himself.”
Assertive. It means to stand up for what you believe in and not give in to others.
The Nangyagakju or martial artist of the time was a master who cared for no one, relied on no one, and watched over the martial arts alone.
There’s only one reason for that.
Because he himself is far stronger than any of the forces.
“Do they really think this kid they’re highlighting is that good?
Bai Yan bit her lip as she looked into Dan Qing’s eyes.
‘No. They were just born superpowered. Not this child.’
While Buunsul has some amazing qualities, it’s only an excellent non-semester material.
However, Mazu and Nanyagakju were born superhuman.
No matter how good Bu Eun-sul was, he didn’t think he could ever reach the same level as those fearsome behemoths.
“This child is Nangyagak’s best, so why take the hard way?”
Bai Yan’s words made Dan Qing smile.
“He’s willing to take the hard road because he’s a good guy.”
He turned to Buunsun and said.
“A False Dawn. The Magi are overwhelmed by the Ten Warriors, who are far better than they expected. The last thing they need is another contender in their already confusing succession battle.”
Dan Qing smiled thinly.
“But you are a disciple of the main hall, no matter what. Bai Yan wanted to tell you this, and…… do you understand what I mean?”
“I’m well aware.”
Buunsul smiled weakly.
Although he was only a ten-horse warrior created out of a need for a weapon against the great master, …… Nangyagak recognized Bu Eunseol as a true disciple.
And Baek Yeon tried many ways to save Bu Eun Seol from danger.
“I’m…… getting undeserved love from the main office.
Then Dan Cheng asked.
“So I’ll ask you again. What will you do for a year?”
“I’m going to go hard.”
Dan Qing nodded at Bu Eun-sul’s unhesitating answer.
“Good. Then go to Dongpiao West Lake.”