[Chapter 3]
Unlike the Righteous Faction, which systematically taught martial arts and nurtured disciples, producing outstanding figures for generations, the Demonic Sects, which moved according to profit and power, were always in disarray.
Although masters who could dominate the world occasionally appeared, they were inevitably outmatched by the Righteous Faction in terms of influence.
Thus, the Ten Demonic Gates, known as the heavens of the Demonic Path, joined forces to create a union of the Demonic Martial World.
The Demon Palace.
This place, also called the Demonic Martial Alliance, was modeled after the Righteous Faction's Martial Alliance and became the focal point for all the Demonic Sects under the heavens.
Around noon.
A long line of countless people had formed at the entrance of the Demon Palace.
Because a guestbook had to be signed upon every entry, the drawn-out line showed no sign of shortening.
"Ah, they've gathered like clouds."
Mo Gwang, a gatekeeper guarding the entrance to the Demon Palace, sighed and muttered.
His colleague beside him, Jang Sam, shook his head.
"Of course. They say they'll teach Demonic Martial Arts regardless of faction, as long as one has talent. What fool would miss this opportunity?"
"Damn it. If only I were younger, I'd apply to be one of the Ten Demon Successors myself."
The Ten Demon Successors plan.
The Martial Alliance of the Righteous Faction, noticing the recent prosperity of the Demonic Path, had begun raising eighteen Joint Successors under the name of Great Righteous Masters.
Not to be outdone, the Demon Palace announced its own Ten Demon Successors plan.
—Regardless of faction, we will select ten talented individuals and teach them the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Gates!
When the Ten Demon Successors plan spread, the Demonic Martial World was instantly set abuzz.
—Let's go, to the Demon Palace!
The Ten Demonic Gates were called the ten pillars that supported the Demonic Path.
To be able to learn their world-shaking arts that could tear the heavens and shake the earth!
Even the disciples of Demonic Sects and the children of noble families who usually thought little of the Demon Palace all flocked there.
Because of this, the gatekeepers of the Demon Palace had to stand guard without a moment's rest until their shift change.
"Another day gone just like this."
Mo Gwang muttered as he watched the sun slowly set, and his colleague Jang Sam nodded.
"It should be a bit quieter starting tomorrow."
But in the distance, a small shadow walked slowly toward them, silhouetted against the setting sun.
It was a skinny boy carrying a bundle on his back.
"Hmm?"
Mo Gwang, looking at the boy, rubbed his eyes.
The boy's hair was a mess, and his clothes were torn like rags.
His shoes were almost worn through, and dried blood caked the soles of his feet.
The clothes he wore were the Ceremonial Robe that morticians wear when performing rites, and on his back were a Bamboo Box used to carry funeral items and a Peachwood Sword.
"Did someone die?"
"Who died? The Ten Demon Successors competition hasn't even started yet."
Mo Gwang chided his colleague and muttered.
"Besides, who would hire such a young Mortician in a place like our Demon Palace?"
"Right, right?"
Jang Sam next to him also gaped with a bewildered expression.
"But what's with that state? He looks like a living corpse."
His disheveled hair nearly covered his eyes, and his lips were so chapped that blood was dripping from them.
He looked as if he had walked for three or four months without rest.
Thump, thump.
The boy, who had been walking slowly, finally arrived at the main gate.
Swoosh.
Bu Eunseol, looking up at the magnificent gate of the Demon Palace, clenched his fists tightly.
'Grandfather.'
His once-hazy eyes were now burning with a blood-red glow.
'It begins now.'
* * *
After burying his grandfather in a sunny spot, Bu Eunseol tidied up the inside of the Pyeongan Funeral House.
Their belongings were so meager that, apart from the ritual items, all that was left were Bu Janyang's Ceremonial Robe and Peachwood Sword.
And a Bamboo Box that could hold various ritual tools.
"Huh?"
As Bu Eunseol was packing the box containing his grandfather's only mementos, his Ceremonial Robe and Peachwood Sword, he spotted a small box placed neatly beside it and blinked.
"What's this?"
When he opened the box, he found a Ceremonial Robe that fit his body perfectly and a small pair of Peachwood Swords.
"..."
Bu Janyang had already bought the Ceremonial Robe and Peachwood Swords.
For Bu Eunseol's upcoming birthday.
—Happy birthday.
Looking at the box that contained a single short note, Bu Eunseol once again sobbed bitterly.
"Grandfather."
Clutching the box tightly, Bu Eunseol wept in muffled sobs.
The kindest grandfather in the world.
The grandfather who filled this cold world with warmth.
His most beloved grandfather, Bu Janyang, was no longer in this world.
"Revenge… I will have my revenge!"
Clutching the box, Bu Eunseol cried out, his eyes turning blood-red.
Bu Eunseol, who had possessed an innocence as pure as a child's.
But with his grandfather's brutal murder, that transparent purity had twisted into revenge and madness.
After finishing all his preparations, he put on the Ceremonial Robe his grandfather had left him and shouldered the Bamboo Box.
"I must learn martial arts."
The murderer who killed his grandfather was surely a master of the Demonic Path.
If so, he had to go to a place where followers of the Demonic Path gathered.
And he had to learn a martial art that could defeat Demonic Martial Arts.
The answer was already clear.
"The Demon Palace."
The Demon Palace, a treasure trove of Demonic Martial Arts and a gathering place for masters of the Demonic Path.
Moreover, the Demon Palace was currently holding a competition for the Ten Demon Successors, gathering peerless talents under the age of eighteen to teach them martial arts.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
* * *
"What brings you here?"
The low voice brought Bu Eunseol back from his memories.
"I am here to participate in the Ten Demon Successors competition."
Mo Gwang, looking down at Bu Eunseol in his Ceremonial Robe, sighed and pointed to the guestbook.
"Sign the guestbook."
When Bu Eunseol took the brush and wrote only his name, Mo Gwang said.
"Write your sect of origin as well."
'Sect…'
He had never even properly learned martial arts, let alone belonged to a sect.
After a moment of thought, Bu Eunseol took the brush again and wrote with a single, flowing stroke.
—Janyang Sect, Bu Eunseol.
Mo Gwang and Jang Sam looked down at the guestbook and exchanged bitter smiles.
—Another wandering sect sent a disciple.
After the Ten Demon Successors plan was announced, not only the major Demonic Sects but also disciples from Third-Rate Sects in remote villages rushed to participate.
The reason the Demon Palace was not yet full despite this was because of what came next.
"Then read this and place your seal."
Mo Gwang pushed forward a sheet of paper that was next to the guestbook.
When Bu Eunseol took the paper, it read:
—…To prevent any future disputes, the entire body of any who applies for the Ten Demon Successors will belong to the Main Palace.
Therefore, even if one were to lose their life…
In short, it was a waiver relinquishing all rights to one's body, stating that once you applied for the Ten Demon Successors, you could not raise any objections, whether you died during training or were beaten to death by the instructors.
'He won't sign it.'
Mo Gwang looked at Bu Eunseol and smirked.
Until now, countless wanderers had come to the Demon Palace, but all had turned back after reading the contents of the waiver.
Unless one was insane or obsessed with martial arts, no one would sign a waiver that surrendered their own body.
Grit.
But Bu Eunseol, without hesitation, bit his finger, drew blood, and pressed his seal.
'He's… he's insane.'
Meeting Bu Eunseol's coldly still eyes, Mo Gwang felt the hair on his head stand on end.
"May I go in now?"
"G-go in."
Once inside, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
'So this is the Demon Palace.'
He had imagined a den of demons, a pandemonium, since it was a place where masters of the Demonic Path gathered.
But the interior was grand and dignified, and at the same time, it had a solemn atmosphere, almost like a temple.
Murmur, murmur.
After walking for a while, he heard the sound of many people talking.
Following the sound, he saw a large training ground.
Countless people were lined up there like clouds, and at the end of the training ground, a high platform had been erected.
"..."
On the platform stood a muscular old man with hair like a lion's mane, and behind him, a middle-aged man with a refined air stood tall.
Gong.
Just then, a low sound echoed from a gong set up on the platform.
As the noisy chatter that had filled the training grounds died down, the muscular old man standing tall on the platform spoke calmly.
"I am the Chief Instructor, Hyeok Ryeon-eung."
At that moment, a stir went through the training grounds.
Hyeok Ryeon-eung, the Golden Arm Bloody Eye.
He, the Law Enforcement Hall Master of the Demon Palace, had lowered his status to become the Chief Instructor for the successful operation of the Ten Demon Successors.
This point alone showed how seriously the Demon Palace was taking the Ten Demon Successors plan.
"This is a place to select the greatest talent of the Demonic Path."
Hyeok Ryeon-eung's voice was not loud, but it was imbued with powerful internal energy, so the participants could hear him clearly.
"In other words, only those who pass all the trials prepared by the Main Palace can officially become candidates for the Ten Demon Successors."
He swept his gaze over the participants who packed the training grounds and spoke again.
"From now on, the masters of the Medicine King Hall will examine your physiques."
As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of physicians appeared from behind the platform.
"And only those chosen by them can become one of the Ten Demon Successors."
At his words, the training grounds stirred once again.
The children of renowned demonic families, in particular, began to protest openly.
—What do you mean, examining our physiques is a trial? Does that make any sense?
—Just hold a martial tournament instead!
Regardless of the growing murmurs, the physicians from the Medicine King Hall began to weed out the children with good physiques.
Soon, a skinny physician approached Bu Eunseol.
"...!"
The physician was startled to see Bu Eunseol wearing a Ceremonial Robe.
"A disciple of the Funeral Sect?"
The physician frowned, then his sharp eyes scanned Bu Eunseol's body, patting his shoulders, back, and legs.
"You're no good."
The physician muttered lowly and passed by Bu Eunseol without another glance.
'As I thought.'
Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes.
So far, all he had ever learned was how to clean corpses.
It would be stranger if his physique was judged suitable for martial arts.
'But this can't be the end.'
Bu Eunseol was certain.
This couldn't be the end of the initiation ritual, just having the physicians examine their physiques.
If that were the case, there would have been no reason to have them sign the guestbook and the waiver and gather all the participants here.
"The First Trial is over!"
Once all those chosen by the physicians had moved, a deathly silence fell over the training grounds.
From the training ground that seemed to be a thousand pyeong, the number of children selected was barely two hundred.
"How can this be!"
Just then, a boy standing at the front of the training grounds cried out in frustration.
"If you are going to select the Ten Demon Successors just by examining their physiques, you should have just sent the physicians from the Medicine King Hall to each sect. Why hold a competition at all?"
The boy's words were reasonable.
"There are two reasons."
Hyeok Ryeon-eung looked down at the boy and spoke calmly.
"First and foremost, the most important thing in learning martial arts is one's physique. The Main Palace held this competition to find talented individuals from all over, not just the disciples and successors of the great sects, but also those who do not belong to any sect."
"But…"
"The second reason is to select peerless talents who can learn martial arts well, even if their physiques are not good."
At that moment, the faces of the boys and girls in the training ground brightened.
Did this mean there was a second chance after all?
"We will now begin the Second Trial."
Hyeok Ryeon-eung grinned at the participants below the training grounds.
"From now on, you will fight. And you will survive."
-End of Chapter 3-