Seven Severing Sword Technique.
It was one of the sword techniques created by the elder masters of the Martial Alliance for the Eighteen Chosen.
It was a practical adaptation of the Righteous Faction's sword techniques, where killing intent was extremely suppressed, characterized by a relentless barrage of killing moves.
Swish!
The slash of Yeong Ji-wi's sword cut Bu Eunseol's robe.
No matter how he used Extreme Speed Without Shadow to shift his position, the sword light of the Seven Severing Sword Technique clung to him like a leech.
Swish! Swish!
The Seven Severing Sword Technique, shifting again in mid-air, rustled Bu Eunseol's hair.
At that moment, Bu Eunseol's eyes gleamed.
‘The Seven Severing Sword Technique... so that's what it is.’
By heightening the senses of the Beast Path, Bu Eunseol was able to grasp the Principles of Sword behind the technique.
‘It’s just like when I first learned the sword.’
Bu Eunseol had first learned the sword on Hell Island.
Even though it was the ordinary Fire Rain Thirteen Forms, when he performed it, it transformed into unpredictable killing moves.
This was because he had just awakened the Beast Path, and his heart at the time was filled with an uncontrollable killing intent.
Because he had mastered the Beast Path so quickly that it defied Martial Logic, fueled by his unrestrained killing intent, every sword move he made turned into a bizarre killing move.
‘The essence is movements and killing moves that defy martial logic!’
Having seen through the principles of the Seven Severing Sword Technique, Bu Eunseol moved his longsword behind his back.
Zing.
A powerful pressure poured out, completely altering the path of the sword strikes Yeong Ji-wi was unleashing.
He had unleashed the Ultimate Sword Stance of the Heavenly Tyrant Saber at its peak.
“The Ultimate Sword Stance?”
Yeong Ji-wi was greatly flustered that Bu Eunseol was using the Ultimate Sword Stance, a technique only masters of the sword could perform.
“Wasn't he a swift swordsman?”
Gathering his internal energy to push back the pressure of the ultimate stance, Yeong Ji-wi swung his sword rapidly.
Chk-chk!
Breaking free from the pressure of the ultimate stance, Yeong Ji-wi once again used the Seven Severing Sword Technique, covering the area around Bu Eunseol in a cold net of strikes.
“You can't block the Seven Severing Sword Technique with an ultimate stance!”
Yeong Ji-wi’s Seven Severing Sword Technique completely dominated the space around Bu Eunseol.
At that moment, seeing a slight gap in the ultimate stance, Yeong Ji-wi cried out in joy.
‘He must not have much real combat experience!’
Seeing Bu Eunseol maintaining the ultimate stance, oblivious to his exposed weakness, he quickly thrust his longsword forward.
Sak.
As Bu Eunseol finally moved to defend,
‘Hmph! You think you can block the Seven Severing Sword with a move like that?’
A smirk on his face, Yeong Ji-wi gathered his internal energy and struck Bu Eunseol's sword.
Kwang!
At that moment, with an explosive sound, Yeong Ji-wi was thrown back as if blasted away.
—Waaaaah!
At that instant, a roar erupted from the martial artists in the square's viewing stands.
To push back a Great Righteous Master representing the Righteous Faction in a single blow! The ultimate move Bu Eunseol had displayed was as refreshing as a cool drink of wine.
“Gag.”
As he tried to regain his stance, Yeong Ji-wi coughed up blood.
When his sword had clashed with Bu Eunseol's, a powerful force had coursed through his body as if to pierce it.
“Heavy Sword…”
Yeong Ji-wi wore a look of utter defeat.
He realized that Bu Eunseol had used the Heavy Sword, known for having the heaviest and most tyrannical aura among all sword techniques under the heavens.
“And this level of internal energy…”
Kneeling, Yeong Ji-wi’s eyes lost their focus.
He couldn't match Bu Eunseol's level in either sword technique or internal energy.
Since he had first learned the sword, he had never been cornered like this.
“Ugh…”
Yeong Ji-wi looked down at the sword in his hand.
No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't come up with a way to break Bu Eunseol's Heavy Sword and Ultimate Sword Stance.
Was it because he had always walked a smooth path without a single setback? With his sword techniques broken in succession, he was sweating and panicking.
“Ah, what a shame. I should have practiced my martial arts more.”
Having barely managed to compose himself, Yeong Ji-wi looked at Bu Eunseol with a bitter smile.
“I only entered the martial world a short while ago. That's why, compared to the other Great Righteous Masters, I haven't honed my skills as much…”
Whoosh!
His excuse was cut short.
Bu Eunseol had closed the distance in an instant and split Yeong Ji-wi’s head.
“Kuh.”
Faced with the sudden attack, Yeong Ji-wi quickly raised his sword.
Ching!
At that moment, a clear sound rang out as Yeong Ji-wi's Treasure Sword broke in two.
“How can this be?”
Damaging a weapon by clashing sword against sword was something seen only in fights between third-rate martial artists.
Moreover, Bu Eunseol had cut Yeong Ji-wi’s Treasure Sword with a worn-out Iron Sword.
This proved that the internal energy Bu Eunseol had infused into his Iron Sword was more than double that of Yeong Ji-wi's.
“If you don't want to die, go back to Dotted Spear Mountain.”
After shattering Yeong Ji-wi's Treasure Sword, Bu Eunseol spoke coldly.
“And for three years, practice your sword and internal energy. Then, you may return to the Martial World.”
“What, what did you say…”
Yeong Ji-wi bit his lip at Bu Eunseol’s insulting advice.
He was young and talented with the sword.
But compared to Bu Eunseol, he was nothing but a novice.
‘Ugh…’
Yeong Ji-wi was now feeling it to his bones.
The reason he had survived this long was because he had never met a truly skilled master in the Martial World.
“Did you… spare me because I am a Great Righteous Master?”
In the Martial World, people always gave way to the Great Righteous Masters.
It had always been so, which made today’s events feel all the more humiliating.
But Bu Eunseol said coldly,
“It wasn't the name Great Righteous Master that saved you, but Dotted Spear.”
And without a second glance, he turned away.
As Bu Eunseol left the dueling stage, Cho Mun-cheon shouted in a loud voice.
“The winner is Young Lord Bu!”
But a strange silence swept through the square.
The Great Righteous Masters were the rising suns of the Martial World, the ones who would carry the Righteous Faction.
For a Great Righteous Master who boasted such a brilliant reputation to be defeated by an unknown young man?
“Anyone who wishes to challenge Young Lord Bu, come to the stage now!”
But only a long silence filled the square.
Bu Eunseol's movements and sword strikes were beyond those of even the most renowned masters in the Martial World.
There was no need to challenge a powerful figure who was currently displaying such might.
“Young Lord Bu has passed the preliminaries!”
At Cho Mun-cheon's cry, Bu Eunseol calmly turned and left the square.
“How strange.”
A tall pavilion stood in Dongpyo Seorang.
From there, a shadow that had been watching the dueling stage from afar spoke in a low voice.
“Even if he has mastered the Heavy Sword and the Ultimate Sword Stance, to defeat Yeong Ji-wi, who has mastered the Four-Link Saber Technique and the Seven Severing Sword Technique, in an instant.”
The shadow, its eyes flashing in the darkness, spoke again.
“And from his sword moves, it seems he learned only the martial techniques separately. That means he has a true art of his own…”
At the shadow's murmur, an old man standing in attendance bowed his head.
“Shall this old servant investigate?”
The shadow shook its head.
“No need. Everything will be revealed at the Martial Tournament anyway. For now, just keep a close watch.”
“Understood.”
At the old man’s words, the shadow vanished back into the darkness, leaving its spot.
*
Bu Eunseol rested for a full half-day in the inn.
It wasn't because he was tired or exhausted.
He had been agonizing all day over whether he should continue in this Martial Tournament.
‘It’s too much of a coincidence.’
It wasn't surprising that the Martial Alliance had dispatched a Great Righteous Master.
After all, the sharper the blade, the stronger the scabbard it needs.
The problem was that as soon as he had participated in the Martial Tournament, a Great Righteous Master had appeared, as if they had tracked his movements.
‘Has my trail already been exposed?’
The probability was low.
He had operated with a fake face for a year as a member of the Death-Seeking Squad, and the name Bu Eunseol was known only to a very select few among the Demon Palace’s high command.
Moreover, Wind and Cloud Squad Leader Baek Yeon was currently scrambling information about him.
If the goal was to assassinate him, there had been plenty of opportunities on the way to Dongpyo Seorang.
‘In the end, it must be a coincidence upon coincidence.’
Getting up from his seat, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
‘I haven't been able to shake my old habits from the Death-Seeking Squad.’
The reason he had embarked on this Journey in the Martial World was to overcome unexpected trials and dangers.
But he still hadn't shed the habit of a Death-Seeking Squad member, of analyzing every situation and predicting every danger.
“This is something to think about after the Martial Tournament is over.”
Leaving the inn, Bu Eunseol went to the square where the Martial Tournament was being held.
The preliminaries were already over, and the bracket for the thirty-six masters had been set.
After tomorrow's duels, sixteen participants would remain.
“My next opponent is…”
After checking the bracket, Bu Eunseol turned away without a second thought.
Late at night.
Sssk.
A stealthy footstep was heard in front of the door to the room where Bu Eunseol was staying.
It was a sound so faint that even a master with keen hearing would have dismissed it, but to Bu Eunseol, who had mastered the Beast Path, it was as blatant as a knock on the door.
“Hmph.”
However, Bu Eunseol did not go to the door but walked toward the window.
“Ah!”
There, a black shadow, already hidden in the darkness, was standing.
“Your hearing is quite remarkable.”
When Bu Eunseol spotted him immediately, the black shadow rose from the darkness.
“Just from that one move, I can tell you possess incredible skill…”
The shadow's confident voice was cut short.
Bu Eunseol had drawn his sword in an instant and pressed it against the shadow's neck.
“The Yogic Bone Art of the Western Regions?”
Bu Eunseol's eyes were burning red like charcoal.
He had clearly seen the shadow shrink its body to enter through the narrow window in the darkness.
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“Answer me.”
An intense light, like the sun, poured from Bu Eunseol's eyes.
“If your next words are anything but an answer, you will die.”
The killing intent pouring from Bu Eunseol's body seemed as if it would pierce the ceiling.
Pressed by the fearsome aura, the shadow spoke in a trembling voice.
“How could someone like me learn an esoteric art from outside the Central Plains like the Yogic Bone Art? It is merely the Bone-Shrinking Technique.”
Staring intently at the shadow, Bu Eunseol said in a low voice.
“Who are you.”
“I am a rogue belonging to Dongpyo Seorang.”
“I asked who you are.”
“They call me Heuk, Heukpyo.”
“Heukpyo?”
“Most of the rogues belonging to Dongpyo Seorang hide their past and use aliases.”
Bu Eunseol's eyes shone coldly in the darkness.
“What is your business.”
“I came to ask for a, a favor.”
Slowly sheathing his sword, Bu Eunseol said in a chilling tone.
“If you don't want to die, don't use such cheap tricks in the future.”
Click.
As the longsword entered its scabbard, Heukpyo felt as if his neck had been cut again.
‘I've never been caught before.’
Heukpyo had secretly trusted his Bone-Shrinking Technique.
But today, he painfully realized that to true masters, it was nothing more than a cheap trick.
“I will keep that in mind.”
Bowing his head respectfully, he said in a low voice.
“I have a favor to ask. Of, of course, I will provide a corresponding payment.”
“I am not a rogue.”
“It will not be a difficult task for you, Young Master.”
As Heukpyo took a step closer, his face, hidden in the darkness, was revealed.
Was he only thirteen or fourteen years old?
Though he wore a black martial robe, he was a handsome youth who had not yet shed his boyishness.
Staring at him, Bu Eunseol said briefly,
“Let's hear it.”
“Thank you.”
Heukpyo said in a low voice.
“Please kill your opponent tomorrow, Yeop Hwa.”
“What did you say?”
Bu Eunseol asked with a look of disbelief.
“Do you even know who Yeop Hwa is?”
Bu Eunseol’s opponent tomorrow was Yeop Hwa.
His title was the Wandering Hero.
To ask for the death of a man who held the title of the greatest hero among rogues, during a martial tournament?
“Of course I do. He has been in the Martial World for a long time and is one of the rogues who holds sway here in Dongpyo Seorang.”
“Why do you want him dead?”
“He has done countless bad things. That man.”
Clenching his fist, Heukpyo said.
“Every time he went out into the Martial World, he secretly committed lecherous acts. He especially targeted young children. All the time.”
Bu Eunseol frowned.
Although he was a rogue, Yeop Hwa was treated as an equal to the great righteous masters of the Righteous Faction.
For such a man to be a lecher who committed such heinous acts?
“Do you have proof?”
“I do not.”
Grinding his teeth, Heukpyo said.
“That man has a wealth of experience in the Martial World and never does anything that would leave a trail. Besides, his martial arts are so strong that no one dares to investigate his activities.”
Bu Eunseol said in a low voice.
“So. You want me to kill a man without proof at the Martial Tournament?”
Instead of answering, Heukpyo took out a small wooden case and slowly opened it on the table.
Inside, three round stones that looked like cat's eyes were sparkling.
They were cat's eye stones, each said to be worth a thousand gold nyang.
“This much should be enough to substitute for proof.”
The Bu Eunseol of the past would have scoffed.
But having gained experience in the Martial World as a member of the Death-Seeking Squad, Bu Eunseol knew well what incredible power money held.
Money Can Move Even Ghosts.
If you have enough money, you can even command ghosts.
This was a saying that held true even in the Martial World.
“With that much money, you could kill a man without proof.”
At Bu Eunseol's words, Heukpyo's face brightened.
“Thank you!”
“But your calculation is wrong.”
Looking down at the cat's eye stones, Bu Eunseol gave a cold smile.
“If you want to hire someone, you don't lead with money.”