Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 37: The First Strategist (1)

—Woon-hwi.

‘Are you okay?’

—I am fine. I am forged with Cold Iron, after all; it would take more than this to bend me.

Just as he said, the Namcheon Iron Sword didn't bend in the slightest.

Steel isn't just hard; it possesses elasticity as well. This is especially true for those blades hailed as masterworks.

Regardless, being threatened with a sword was unpleasant.

"What are you going to threaten me with this time?"

At my words, the masked man rose from the incense burner.

"They said you possessed a secret technique... What was that just now?"

‘He didn't see it.’

It seemed he hadn't caught sight of the thin Silver Smoke Thread.

It was just as I thought. This masked man’s martial prowess was at a level I could handle even without opening my Middle Dantian.

The man took a fist-fighting stance.

"You should have just given up on the Martial Discussion gracefully."

Swish!

The masked man lunged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at me. His fist shot toward my face in a straight line.

Standing perfectly still, I swung my sword diagonally against his incoming fist.

Clack!

He used a footwork method to dodge the blade, then twisted his body to deliver a kick toward my left side. The trajectory of the kick curved uniquely as it aimed for me.

However...

Thud!

I closed the distance instantly and grabbed him by the throat.

"Gah!"

The man gasped in shock.

Ignoring his reaction, I slammed him straight into the floor.

Crash!

"Kugh!"

The moment he hit the ground, he tried to wrap his legs around my body, but I drove my sword straight through his ankle.

As the blade pierced through, he opened his mouth to scream. I immediately delivered an uppercut to his jaw.

Crack!

"Mmph!"

The sound of teeth shattering echoed. The mask covering his face began to soak with red as his body trembled violently.

Tap-tap-tap-tap!

I struck his pressure points to immobilize him, then stripped off his bamboo hat and mask. A face that looked to be in its early twenties was revealed.

"A Human Skin Mask."

The skin had been pushed up where he was injured, revealing the mask. When I peeled it off, a face covered in scars with a fierce expression appeared—nothing like the gentle-looking face he had worn before.

"Who are you?"

Judging by his martial arts, he was at the peak of a First-Rate Master. He was at least at the level of a Grand Leader.

The man, grimacing in pain, bared his broken teeth at me.

"You’d better release my pressure points right now."

"You're the one captured. Why don't you just answer the questions?"

"Why do you think I told you to come alone? My subordinates are nearby..."

Before he could finish, a clattering noise erupted from the entrance of the blacksmith shop.

Then, with the sound of something being dragged, Sama Yeong and Jo Seong-won entered the inner area where the incense burner sat.

In their hands were three masked men. They dropped the unconscious men—who looked like they had been knocked out—as if they were a nuisance.

Sama Yeong spoke to me.

"There were only these three nearby, Unit Leader."

"!?"

At her words, the man's expression turned to one of pure bewilderment.

What an idiot. Did he really think I would follow the instructions of a letter telling me to come alone? Naturally, I had ordered them to capture anyone suspicious lurking around the shop before I entered.

Still, their group was quite the elite force.

Jo Seong-won pointed at the fallen men.

"These guys were all First-Rate Masters."

So he did have something to rely on. He must have thought that he and three other First-Rate Masters would be enough to suppress me. To be fair, against an ordinary member of the younger generation, that would have been a sufficient force.

I turned back to the bewildered man.

"What's your affiliation?"

If he was wearing a Human Skin Mask, he was definitely planning to participate in the Martial Discussion. Since he looked to be around my age, he wasn't just a simple Great Leader. There was a high probability he was the disciple of a master on par with the Blood Stars.

"Do you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠think I'll tell you? If you don't release me, the Young Lady will—"

Slap!

Sama Yeong stepped forward and slapped him across the face. As expected, she was a woman of action rather than words.

"Just answer the Unit Leader's question."

"Y-you dare...!"

Slap!

She delivered another slap to the other side of his face. As the man huffed in rage, Sama Yeong grabbed his hand.

I wondered what she was up to, and then she gripped his index finger.

"From now on, every time you don't answer, I'm going to pull out a fingernail."

!?

The man's face twisted grotesquely.

"D-do you think I'll yield to such a pathetic threat?"

Rip!

"Aaaagh... mmph!"

I muffled his mouth. Sama Yeong was already holding up his torn-off fingernail.

Usually, threats and torture involve some kind of grace period, but she had ripped it off without a moment's hesitation. Before I knew it, she was already gripping the nail of his middle finger.

Standing behind her, Jo Seong-won clicked his tongue and looked away.

"Guh... even if you do this, the Young Lady will..."

Rip!

Sama Yeong ripped off the middle fingernail. Tears began to stream from the man's eyes as he groaned in agony.

Well, having a fingernail ripped out is excruciatingly painful.

I spoke to him in a mocking tone.

"Ah, sorry. My assistant is a bit more about action than words."

"Ggggh."

"Feel like answering now?"

The effect was immediate. The man's eyes darted up and down frantically.

I removed my hand from his mouth and asked again.

"What's your affiliation?"

"Haa... haa... I am Yo Eop, the second disciple of the Fifth Blood Star."

The Fifth Blood Star?

Was he the disciple of Hwang Kang, the Fist and Kick of Blood Rain? I had heard stories that he was a master of fist and leg techniques. However, as a low-rank spy in my past life, I never had the chance to encounter such a figure.

"Be honest. Did Young Lady Baek Hye-hyang really send you?"

At my question, Yo Eop's eyes wavered. I figured as much.

She wanted me as her husband candidate. It made no sense for her to suddenly demand I give up on the Successor's Martial Discussion and go back.

"No answer?"

Sama Yeong moved to pull another nail. The man shrieked in terror.

"N-no! The Young Lady only told us to keep an eye on you!"

As I suspected. Though, it was strange that she only ordered them to watch me.

"Then why did you make that threat?"

"T-that's... Aaaargh! I'll talk! Stop pulling!"

Yo Eop was terrified because she was ready to rip another nail the moment he hesitated.

"Then speak."

"M-my Senior Brother ordered it. Since the Young Lady told us not to kill or touch you, he told me to make you leave on your own."

"Your Senior Brother?"

This didn't make sense. This was an act that went beyond the orders of their master, Baek Hye-hyang. Though, I suppose if that ridiculous threat had worked and I didn't participate in the discussion, it might have been considered an achievement.

"You targeted the Unit Leader for such a reason?!"

Rip!

Sama Yeong ripped off another nail.

"Aaaagh! I answered! Why?!"

I muffled his mouth again. No matter how much it hurt, this guy was a bigger crybaby than I expected. For someone who claimed to be a disciple of the Fifth Blood Star, he should have at least grit his teeth to save face.

I looked at the suffering man.

"You... you know the real reason, don't you?"

There was no way he didn't. A man I had never met before targeted me. There had to be a reason.

"Only the thumb left."

At Sama Yeong's words, the man's body trembled before he finally spoke.

"M-my Senior Brother ordered it after hearing the Young Lady say you would become her husband."

At those words, Sama Yeong's eyes widened as she stared at me.

Oh, for heaven's sake. I hadn't told her that Baek Hye-hyang was targeting me in that way.

But that meant this Senior Brother of his did this because he was afraid I would actually become Baek Hye-hyang's husband.

"Unit Leader... there's something you didn't tell me."

Rip!

"Aaaaagh! I-I answered! Why?! Mmph!"

I muffled his mouth. Poor guy. This time, it seemed she ripped the nail out of pure spite.

"No, it was such an absurd claim that I didn't think it was worth mentioning."

I didn't know why I was making excuses to Sama Yeong. After hearing my explanation, she muttered with a sullen expression.

"So that woman was after the Unit Leader."

Crack! Crack!

Sama Yeong clenched her fists, the sound of her knuckles popping echoing in the room. A murderous aura flickered in her eyes, as if she were ready to hunt someone down right now.

Sama Yeong placed her hand over Yo Eop's heart.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

The man turned pale and thrashed in panic.

"What are you doing?"

At my question, she replied in a cold voice.

"He targeted what belongs to someone else. He has to die."

?

What belongs to someone else? What is she talking about?

As I stood there bewildered, the voice of the Namcheon Iron Sword echoed in my head.

—A face destined for trouble with women.

He sure knew how to say things that made my head spin.

I grabbed her wrist and pulled it away from the man's chest. She pouted her lips in dissatisfaction.

"Why? He targeted you, Unit Leader."

"There's no need to kill him."

"......Pardon?"

Sama Yeong looked confused. Yo Eop, who had been terrified, looked relieved as his complexion returned to normal.

He shouldn't be so happy. I was starting to understand the personality of these Blood Cult members. And if I killed him here, it would only give his Senior Brother a justification to act.

*

Inside a manor on the outskirts of the village.

Baek Hye-hyang sat with her pale legs crossed, fanning herself. A deep furrow was etched between her brows. The four people kneeling before her did not look well.

Yo Eop, in particular, was trembling as if he had committed a capital crime.

‘Why isn't he helping me?’

Yo Eop stole a glance at the young man standing behind her. That man had promised to help him clean up the mess, but he hadn't uttered a single word, which made Yo Eop feel resentful.

The young man had sharp eyes and skin as white as jade. He was Sang Hyeon-myeong, Yo Eop's Senior Brother and the first disciple of the Fifth Blood Star, Hwang Kang.

‘Tsk.’

He was annoyed that his plan had gone awry. He had secretly hoped that the disciple of the Four Venerables would kill his Junior Brother. If that had happened, he planned to use it as a pretext to tell Baek Hye-hyang that the man had deceived her and should be killed immediately instead of being considered a husband candidate.

[Senior Brother!]

At Yo Eop's sound transmission, Sang Hyeon-myeong replied quietly.

[Stay still. It won't help if I step in right now.]

He was right. Baek Hye-hyang's rage was something even the First Blood Star, her right hand, found difficult to handle. More importantly, he didn't want to get himself implicated by interfering.

Baek Hye-hyang rose from her chair. She walked slowly toward the three kneeling men and spoke.

"I told you only to watch."

"......That is correct."

"What should be done with a dog that disobeys its master's orders?"

"......It must die."

"Then die."

Swish!

She swung the hand holding the fan horizontally. In that instant, the heads of the three men sitting in a row were severed.

Blood erupted like fountains from their necks. Seeing the heads rolling on the floor, Yo Eop shrieked in terror.

"Y-Young Lady, please spare me! I didn't do it on purpose! I just—"

Thud!

!?

Suddenly, someone grabbed his head. Then, they twisted it completely around.

Crack!

"Gack!"

With his neck snapped, Yo Eop died instantly. The one who had snapped his neck was his Senior Brother, Sang Hyeon-myeong.

‘Damn it.’

Fearing that Yo Eop might mention his name, he had moved quickly to kill him. Having killed the Junior Brother he had known for a long time with his own hands, he felt utterly wretched.

Slide.

The tip of a blood-soaked fan touched Sang Hyeon-myeong's neck. Baek Hye-hyang leaned in close and asked.

"Who told you that you could kill him?"

Thud!

Sang Hyeon-myeong hurriedly dropped to his knees.

"Not only did he disobey your orders, but he was making excuses that shamed our sect, so I punished—"

Thwack!

"Gugh!"

Before he could finish, her kick slammed into his face. His nose broke, and blood began to pour from his nostrils.

"I'm sorr—"

Thwack!

"Kugh!"

As he tried to regain his posture, Baek Hye-hyang kicked him in the jaw. With a pain that felt like his jaw was shattering, Sang Hyeon-myeong tumbled backward.

Baek Hye-hyang leaned over him and pressed her fan firmly against his chest.

"A dog should know its place."

Press!

"Ggggh."

It wasn't even a steel fan, yet the tip of the fan dug into his chest as if it were a blade. If it went any deeper, his life would be in danger.

‘I-is she going to kill me?’

At the thought of death, Sang Hyeon-myeong's pupils shook violently. Then, the fan stopped about a finger-joint deep.

"If it weren't for the Successor's Martial Discussion, this wouldn't have ended here."

With those words, she stood up, snorted, and walked up onto the porch of the manor. The fact that their five participants had been reduced to four was what saved his life.

"I... I will keep that in mind," Sang Hyeon-myeong said, bowing his head to the floor.

But his face, hidden from view, was twisted with a demonic rage.

‘So Woon-hwi... the position of the Young Lady's husband belongs to me.’

His murderous intent was now directed toward the innocent So Woon-hwi.

*

A day passed.

I was now standing at the main gate leading into the castle of the Martial Alliance.

Countless martial families, sects, and clans participating in the Grand Martial Assembly were lined up to enter. Their numbers easily exceeded a thousand. If you counted those who had already arrived and those yet to come, the scale would likely reach several thousand, if not tens of thousands.

I could see famous sects everywhere.

Those in green military attire with sabers much larger than willow leaf sabers were from the Hebei Peng Family. That young man with a mustache that made him look more mature than his age must be Peng Woo-jin, the future Hall Master of Nokhyeon Hall.

In my memory, he was quite a rough fellow. Hot-tempered, too.

If I go inside the castle, he will be there too, right?

—Who are you talking about?

‘......Mo Yong-su.’

—Ah... the guy who played a part in killing you before your regression?

Mo Yong-su, the Azure Dragon Hall Master. One of the "Twin Dragons" among the younger generation. I knew he was attending this assembly as well. He was a bastard wearing the mask of a hero.

Once I enter the castle, I’ll be able to see that bastard, as well as the Fourth Elder of the Martial Alliance, Baek Wi-hyang. Even now, just thinking about them makes a murderous urge surge from deep within my heart.

To think the moment has come where I will see them again. My emotions were heightening.

"Huh?"

Just then, Sama Yeong made a sound of disbelief while looking somewhere. It was toward the people of the Hebei Peng Family.

Unlike the others waiting in line, as soon as they arrived, warriors from within the castle came out, verified their identity, and guided them inside.

"Isn't this discrimination?"

At Sama Yeong's words, I shrugged, saying it couldn't be helped.

"There is naturally differential treatment even within the Martial Alliance. The great sects that hold seats in the Alliance, the Five Great Families, and those with great fame are treated differently from ordinary small sects or families."

"It can't be helped. We aren't a great sect, so we have to wait," Song Jwa-baek said to Sama Yeong, trying to sound knowledgeable.

The Yikyang So family and the Johang Song family were somewhat influential in Hunan Province, but compared to the great sects or the Five Great Families, their fame was lacking. By the Martial Alliance's standards, they would probably be considered mid-level. Unless you were top-tier, you didn't get immediate passage like that.

"It'll probably take about half a shijin. I'll keep you company so you don't get bored."

Of course. Song Jwa-baek was still infatuated with Sama Yeong. He was desperate to talk to her whenever he had the chance. Not that she had any interest, of course.

"Hmph."

Peng Woo-jin of the Hebei Peng Family snorted at the people waiting in line as he walked in. There are always those who have to show off when they receive special treatment.

"How obnoxious," she muttered, watching Peng Woo-jin.

Just then, one of the warriors guiding the Hebei Peng group looked over here and suddenly came running toward us.

I wondered if it could be, and the warrior stopped in front of us.

"Are you perhaps Young Master So Woon-hwi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Yikyang So family, and Young Master Ma-yeong beside you?"

Huh? How did he know us?

"That is correct."

When I answered, the warrior suddenly gave a fist-and-palm salute and bowed.

"Po Mo, a warrior of the Martial Alliance, offers greetings to the successor of the Namcheon Sword Guest."

Murmur, murmur!

The surroundings began to buzz.

"The successor of the Namcheon Sword Guest?"

"That guy is the one?"

In an instant, the eyes of all the martial artists in line were focused on Sama Yeong and me. Even the Peng family members, who were being guided ahead, stopped and looked back.

This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a bit burdensome; we were getting too much attention.

"I have received orders to grant you immediate passage. I will guide you."

As the warrior named Po Mo raised his hand, some of the warriors who had been guiding the Hebei Peng family came over to take our luggage.

Sama Yeong, who had been grumbling about unfairness, had a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. She seemed pleased by the words "immediate passage."

"We're with them too!"

Song Jwa-baek hurriedly cut in to hitch a ride. At this, Po Mo looked confused.

"And who might you be?"

"I am Song Jwa-baek, and this is Song Woo-hyeon, of the Johang Song family," he said expectantly.

However, Po Mo shook his head and replied in a firm voice.

"I am sorry. I have received no word regarding the Johang Song family. Please wait in line and enter according to the procedure."

At those words, Song Jwa-baek's face fell.