Chapter 272: Testing the Boundary of the Upper World (2)

I climbed onto the roof of the Woohak Bookstore and expanded my qi perception.

‘This is strange. Why can’t I sense the presence of the Three Grand Elders and Lee Yung? Are they not in the bookstore?’

Only the energies of Eum Sajeok and Myeong Gujeong were detectable.

The absence of those two was at least a small relief.

Had they been present, infiltrating the Woohak Bookstore would have been far more difficult.

‘Ah, now that I think about it, if the Three Grand Elders were here, the Demonic Master wouldn’t have had to call me to the bookstore.’

I moved toward the place where Eum Sajeok’s presence was sensed.

Eum Sajeok was sitting in a cross-legged posture in the room, cultivating his qi.

I couldn’t tell whether Eum Sajeok was being controlled by the soul of the Demonic Master, so I observed him for a moment.

“Come down.”

Eum Sajeok ceased his circulation and opened his eyes.

His eyes were filled with a red aura.

“It’s been a while since we met.”

When I spoke with a welcoming expression, Eum Sajeok responded.

“Why? Did you miss me?”

His red eyes curled in a smile, giving an eerie sensation.

“You haven’t fully taken over Eum Sajeok’s consciousness yet?”

“It’s only a matter of time. If I seize his consciousness too abruptly, it’ll be too obvious a change. Gradually replacing it is actually better for me.”

That made sense. People tend to grow suspicious when someone changes too suddenly.

“Then why did you summon me through the Blue Royal Courier Rat?”

“To tell you a few things.”

I listened intently, knowing the Demonic Master wouldn’t call me over for something trivial.

“First, after today, I won’t be able to contact you easily. Once things here are wrapped up, Eum Sajeok must return to the Heavenly Demon Sect. It seems the Three Grand Elders consider Eum Sajeok useless. That’s why they’re trying to send him back quickly.”

“Ah, so you’ll be left isolated. Will you be alright?”

“It’s not like you’ve been helping me anyway. What’s there to worry about? And returning early to the Heavenly Demon Sect and identifying their movements and true nature is more important. If I stay here any longer, I’ll end up fighting you, so it’s better for me to return.”

I cautiously spoke.

“If you ever need help, please seek assistance from the owner of the Woohak Bookstore here.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I briefly explained what had happened with Myeong Gujeong.

“Hmm, but that doesn’t mean you can trust him blindly. You still don’t know his true identity, do you? Either way, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Understood.”

“There’s one more thing I need to tell you. Yesterday, the Three Grand Elders’ Lee Kangmin, Lee Yung, and a woman known as Eum Sajeok’s junior sister seemed to head toward the Bukri Clan. They didn’t tell me anything, but it seemed serious.”

Lately, Eum Sajeok had no idea what plans they were working on.

It was because Lee Yung never informed his fellow disciple, who repeatedly failed, of the progress.

It was a thorough attempt to exclude him from the heir contest.

“The owner probably knows the reason. From what I see, it looked like they were devising another plan, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.”

“I understand. I’ll look into it.”

This information was very important to me.

If they were plotting something again, I felt it might be connected to both me and the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

The memory of the Bukri Clan aiding the Heavenly Demon Sect in trying to dominate the Sky Ocean Merchant Union resurfaced, filling me with concern.

And I began to worry about Bukri Sehee, who would be there.

“That’s enough for now. Eum Sajeok’s consciousness is about to return.”

“Then I’ll see you next time.”

“Alright.”

As I turned toward the window, the Demonic Master called out.

“And one more thing.”

I turned my head back.

“Take care of me and my daughter.”

I gave a faint smile.

“Don’t worry. You’re already like family to me.”

As I slipped out through the window, the Demonic Master murmured belatedly,

“Thank you.”

With that, the red gleam in Eum Sajeok’s eyes began to slowly fade.

I infiltrated the place where the owner, Myeong Gujeong, was staying.

Sensing my presence, Myeong Gujeong spoke.

“What’s going on?”

“I’d like a moment with you. Please follow me.”

Myeong Gujeong closed the book he had been reading and stepped outside.

When I sped off with movement arts in the distance, he followed after me.

Myeong Gujeong already knew it was me who had come to see him.

The two of us left the Woohak Bookstore and arrived at a secluded clearing.

It was late at night, and not a single passerby was in sight.

“What brings you here to see me?”

“I heard the Three Grand Elders and Lee Yung have gone somewhere. Do you know where they went?”

“To the Bukri Clan.”

Hearing Myeong Gujeong’s answer, I was engulfed by a foreboding sense of dread.

“Do you also know the reason?”

“They went to acquire Bukri Sogun. It seems the internal injury that the Three Grand Elders suffered while fighting Young Master Yong was more serious than expected. Because of that, they need Bukri Sogun’s elixir.”

Yong Hwarin was startled by those words.

‘What? They went to get Bukri Sogun’s elixir?’

Flustered, Yong Hwarin asked,

“Would the Bukri Clan so easily hand over Bukri Sogun? To the Bukri Clan Leader, nothing is more important than Bukri Sogun.”

Myeong Gujeong gave a faint smile.

“You know quite a bit, Young Master Yong. The fact that Bukri Sogun is a walking mass of elixir is a hidden secret.”

“That’s not what matters right now. Please answer my question. Are the Three Grand Elders offering some kind of condition or proposal to Bukri Chang to obtain Bukri Sogun’s elixir?”

“Exactly so. They’ve maintained dealings with the Bukri Clan using a martial art called Sovereign Fist. This time, even if they have to give up a lot, they are trying to obtain Bukri Sogun. From the Bukri Clan Leader’s perspective, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Since it’s only temporarily sharing the elixir with the Three Grand Elders, it won’t seem like a losing deal.”

Yong Hwarin grew anxious.

But he quickly calmed his mind.

The more agitated he became, the more disadvantageous it would be for him.

Then the thought that he might end up fighting the Three Grand Elders again made him want to gauge his current strength precisely.

Because only by knowing the gap between himself and the Three Grand Elders could he respond properly.

Back on Goisan, he had not been a match for Myeong Gujeong.

He had only experienced the overwhelming difference between someone who had realized the Boundary of the Upper World and someone who had not.

However, after obtaining Hoi Eulshin’s martial arts at the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, he managed to repel the Three Grand Elders.

But Yong Hwarin did not think that was his true strength.

Then, while heading toward the River Center Escort Agency, he fought with masters from the Plum Blossom Palace and came to realize his shortcomings. Through that realization, he was able to reach the Boundary of the Upper World.

Now, Yong Hwarin wanted to confirm his current realm.

To measure that level, he needed Myeong Gujeong. That was why he had deliberately lured Myeong Gujeong outside.

“I’ll be going now.”

As Myeong Gujeong turned to leave, Yong Hwarin spoke.

“Sir Proprietor, I don’t know who you are. But I do know your strength is formidable. Would you have a sparring match with me?”

Myeong Gujeong realized that Yong Hwarin was trying to compare his strength through him.

He too knew that Yong Hwarin had grown stronger since they last met and was curious to see how much.

“It seems you’ve had a great opportunity. Let’s see how far you’ve progressed.”

He readily accepted Yong Hwarin’s request for a match.

Myeong Gujeong stepped back and put distance between them.

Yong Hwarin drew his sword.

When he hadn’t drawn it, he merely looked like a scholarly type wearing it for self-defense, but once it was in his hand, that weak air vanished, and the figure of a sovereign emerged.

At that dual nature, Myeong Gujeong admired him inwardly.

‘He truly resembles that person. Truly so.’

For the first time in a while, the image of that person floated into Myeong Gujeong’s mind, and a smile flickered on his face.

Yong Hwarin held his sword quietly, embodying the energy of Immovable Mountain.

The smile gradually faded from Myeong Gujeong’s face.

‘Hoo… the state of receiving the energy of a mountain.’

Myeong Gujeong changed positions.

He determined that clashing head-on against Yong Hwarin’s solid, mountainous energy offered no chance of victory.

Myeong Gujeong moved to Yong Hwarin’s right to seek an opening.

In response, Yong Hwarin immediately activated the energy of Silent Falling Echo, gradually erasing his own presence.

As Yong Hwarin, who had just exuded mountainous force, suddenly hid it as if melting into the darkness, Myeong Gujeong dared not strike forward.

Yong Hwarin seized the moment when Myeong Gujeong hesitated.

He infused the energy of Qi of Graceful Breeze into his Heavenly Soaring Dragon Sword, and the sensation of the sword changed.

No—it was similar, yet different.

Driven into defense in an instant, Myeong Gujeong unleashed all his internal energy and synchronized with natural qi.

Sensing Myeong Gujeong’s momentum, Yong Hwarin retreated.

‘That’s the energy of the Boundary of the Upper World.’

It was the same kind of energy he had felt from Namgung Bi and the Three Grand Elders.

‘It seems a bit weaker than theirs.’

Even among those who had reached the Boundary of the Upper World, the level each of the three had attained was different.

In the past, he couldn’t tell. But now, he could clearly feel the differences.

Which meant Yong Hwarin himself had also reached the Boundary of the Upper World.

Yong Hwarin discarded formal techniques and drew upon pure qi.

He wanted to sense the difference between himself and Myeong Gujeong through that.

As Yong Hwarin’s true energy opened outward and began to harmonize with the natural qi, the space between the two was overcome by immense pressure, making even the flow of air seem to freeze.

And the two slowly began to vanish, as if they were becoming part of nature itself.

‘Ah, back on Goisan, he was barely glimpsing the state. Now, he stands atop the peak, gazing down at the mountain.’

The more Myeong Gujeong confronted Yong Hwarin’s energy, the more astonished he became. And so, he resolved to give it his all.

Yong Hwarin watched as Myeong Gujeong raised his sword and entered the unity of sword and mind.

Myeong Gujeong’s sword slowly descended toward Yong Hwarin.

‘This is it.’

It was the very same sword he had seen on Goisan.

Back then, facing Myeong Gujeong’s sword, I had no countermeasure.

I couldn’t move, couldn’t dodge, couldn’t attack—but now, I could feel and perceive what kind of intent was imbued in his sword.

Myeong Gujeong’s sword had certainly become synchronized with my qi, and I didn’t feel like the sword would harm me.

Though Myeong Gujeong’s sword had also reached the realm of Unity of Sword and Mind, the qi was distinctly different from mine.

Even within the same Boundary of the Upper World, the path to reaching it differed, the training varied, and thus the qi of Unity of Sword and Mind inevitably differed as well.

At that moment, I allowed the energy of the sword into my body.

It was the realm of Unity of Sword and Mind I had realized in the Ssanghwa Pavilion.

As soon as I felt that I had become one with the sword, I was filled with the confidence that I could cut through anything that entered this space.

The belief that I could sever any target with a single strike was transmitted directly to Myeong Gujeong.

Unconsciously, Myeong Gujeong flinched.

Though we both stood in the same realm of Unity of Sword and Mind, the qi I exuded gave the sense that it could bisect everything he had.

And in that instant, Myeong Gujeong’s natural qi began to recede, like the tide pulling away, and gradually disappeared.

By the power of my Unity of Sword and Mind, Myeong Gujeong’s had been broken.

Myeong Gujeong remained frozen in the same posture of a high sword stance.

He couldn’t even bring himself to think of lowering his sword.

I stared briefly at Myeong Gujeong holding the high stance, then placed my hands together in a martial salute.

“Thank you for accepting my rude request, Elder.”

After offering a respectful bow, I turned and walked away.

Only after I had completely disappeared from sight did Myeong Gujeong spit out blood.

“Keugh!”

And only then was he able to lower the sword he had been holding.

I had left the scene so as not to show Myeong Gujeong a disgraceful sight of himself.

“Heo heo heo.”

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Myeong Gujeong let out a laugh, uncertain if it was a groan or an exclamation.

“To already be at this level? Perhaps I’ve witnessed the unprecedented figure of a true sovereign in the history of the Murim.”

Myeong Gujeong muttered as he vomited another bowlful of blood.

“Uegh!”

Yet on his face was not pain, but a faint smile.

“Hahaha, I’m proud.”

Unable to help himself, Myeong Gujeong laughed out loud, finding Yong Hwarin—who had brought him to this state—utterly praiseworthy.

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