Chapter 353: The Dark King (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 353: The Dark King (3)
When I thought of people with white hair, the Namgung Clan was the first to come to mind.
Their hair was a pure white, but it carried a faint, almost imperceptible blue tint—a subtle effect of their unique Mind Arts.
Pure white.
But the man before me possessed hair even whiter than theirs.
This wasn't the aging white of an elder. The man appeared to be in his thirties or forties, yet his hair was a stark, unique white. His pupils, sharing the same colorless hue, turned to gaze in my direction.
What the…
He was clearly looking at me, yet it felt as if our eyes never truly met. How could I describe this sensation? He stood right in front of me, yet I sensed no presence from him whatsoever.
This was different from the imperceptible aura of someone whose power far surpassed my own. This felt… strange. Wrong.
Just as my confusion began to border on discomfort,
Swish.
Noticing my stare, the man suddenly produced an object and placed it over his head. It was a face covering—a mask, but an unusual one, covering only the upper half of his face.
I wondered why he’d put it on, but I understood the moment it settled into place.
Ssss…
“…!”
A transformation began instantly. His brilliant white hair darkened to jet black in a matter of seconds. But that was only the surface change.
…I see it now.
The faint, almost non-existent sensation I’d felt from him vanished completely. Now, his presence was clear and tangible. His features—his eyes, his nose, his entire face—came into sharp focus.
What was that? The power of the mask?
A treasure…?
It had to be. And more than that,
It looks familiar.
A deep unease settled in my gut as I looked at it. Where had I seen it before?
Ah…!
I remembered. It was…
The same mask Zhuge Hyuk wore.
Zhuge Hyuk, the so-called brain of the Demonic Cult. The mask that bastard used to conceal his face was identical to the one I was seeing now.
…But how did this man have it? It was possible it wasn't the exact same artifact, but my instincts screamed that it was. Did that mask truly possess such an ability?
“Child.”
The man’s voice cut through my thoughts. He had spoken to me.
“Are you going to continue staring?”
“…My apologies. I didn’t realize I was,” I replied.
“It’s fine. I’m simply unaccustomed to such attention.”
With that, he raised a cup to his lips.
A cup? Had he been holding that all along?
I didn't even see it.
If he hadn't put on that mask, I might have remained completely unaware of his existence. The thought sent a chill down my spine. For a martial artist to be so oblivious to someone's presence was terrifying. It meant death could come in an instant.
“…”
I had reached the Fusion Realm, yet I felt this way. Just who was this man?
“That’s an amusing expression you have.”
“…!”
“It’s a good habit. Keep it up.”
“…”
He had noticed me sizing him up, yet he remained utterly calm.
“…Who are you?”
Who was he? He put me on edge like no other, and this was our first meeting. I didn't know every powerful expert in the Central Plains, but I knew most. Yet, this man was a complete mystery.
He tilted his head slightly at my question. Now that his eyes were dark, the difference was stark. They held neither light nor shadow. I had seen eyes like these before—in those who were empty, indifferent to life and death.
Or,
He’s killed far too many.
Those who had slaughtered countless people also possessed such eyes. My curiosity only grew.
“Who am I, you ask? It’s been a while since I’ve heard that question.”
“…Is that so?”
“Indeed. Most don’t live long enough to ask.”
A horrifying reason.
“An introduction, hmm… It has been some time since I’ve introduced myself.”
His gaze shifted fully onto me. Holding it was difficult; it felt as though he was peering into my very soul.
“However.”
His voice broke through my thoughts. His tone and volume hadn't changed, yet a palpable heaviness filled the air. My mouth went dry.
“Child, you seem to know already, yet you wish to hear me say it.”
“…”
I frowned. He was right. I had already begun to piece together his identity.
You may ask when I started.
…The moment I looked into his eyes.
Eyes like that, and a presence so faint it was nearly undetectable—these were the hallmarks of a master assassin. In my past life, I had met many assassins, and they had all perished in my flames. That was the nature of such encounters: one of us had to die.
But this man…
I knew with certainty that if I fought him without his mask on, I wouldn't stand a chance. Setting pride aside, my survival instincts screamed it.
How is this possible?
How could he conceal his presence so utterly at his level? This was different from the overwhelming wall of power I felt from the Heavenly Demon. This man erased himself so completely that even while looking at him and speaking with him, I could scarcely believe he was real.
Was such a thing even possible? Apparently, it was. I could probably achieve a similar effect against an ordinary person without Qi. But I was a Fusion Realm martial artist. I had surmounted the immense wall of the Peak Realm; in all the world, there were likely fewer than a thousand of us.
The thought was… embarrassing. I could feel my ears grow hot.
Anyway,
And yet, he’s doing this to me.
Was it possible? The answer was yes, because the Central Plains was vast. Furthermore, there was ‘one’ assassin infamous for being capable of such a feat. Though an assassin, their identity was known throughout the world due to their legendary skill. Well, it wasn't exactly one person, but a representative title for a group.
The most famous assassins in the Central Plains.
The Night Reapers.
Their leader was known as the King of Assassins, the King of Night.
“…Dark King.”
A small smile appeared on his face, as if pleased with my deduction.
Why was the King of Night himself here with the Sword Queen?
Just before the ambush reached its peak, chaos reigned.
“We’re out of bandages…!”
The medical team was stretched to its limit.
“Dammit… The bleeding won’t stop.”
“Senior…!”
The air was thick with the scent of blood and the sounds of screaming. The medics worked frantically, but the number of injured was overwhelming.
Moreover,
“Where is the new recruit who joined recently…! We’re already short-handed!”
“…They died earlier… trying to protect another student.”
“…Damn it! Did they think they were a martial artist or something!? I told them, over and over, we are healers!”
“…”
They shouted in frustration, but their hearts ached. The situation was hellish.
“Senior… we need more cloth.”
They were running out of material to staunch the bloodflow. Several students had already stopped breathing. Not even their master could have saved them in this state.
A medic bit his lip as he worked, his hands trembling slightly. He had left the Murim Alliance's medical team to avoid scenes like this, yet here he was, watching young prodigies die by the minute right before his eyes. He hid his shaking hands and continued, but the blood kept coming. The wounds were deep, meant to kill. Some injuries were so severe that healing was impossible. He had already counted ten students lost to such fatal blows.
“Bring me another scalpel. And make sure the fire for sterilizing doesn’t—”
Suddenly, someone walked past him. A pale hand reached out and touched a martial artist who was drenched in blood.
Seeing this, the medic started to shout. “Who are you!? What do you think you’re do…!”
His words died in his throat.
He had been stopped by her eyes—a deep, endless blue like the sky itself. A chilling aura radiated from her. She was a girl with a cold beauty, perfectly matching the icy energy that surrounded her.
The medic recognized her instantly. She was a blood relative of the Moyong Clan, one of the Four Noble Clans. She was also one of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
This was the Snow Phoenix herself, Moyong Hi-ah.
Ssss.
A cold Qi began to emanate from her hand. The chill was unmistakably her own energy. Her mere presence seemed to calm the frantic atmosphere of blood and screams.
“…What are you…”
“What are you doing?” Moyong Hi-ah’s cold, sharp voice cut him off before he could finish. “You should be working right now. Are you going to just stand and watch?”
“…!”
Chastised, the medic quickly returned to his duties. There was no time to think.
Time pressed on. Moyong Hi-ah seamlessly integrated herself into the medical team, using her unique Ice Qi to treat the injured. Her methods were surprisingly effective, stemming the flow of blood and soothing wounds.
After what felt like an eternity, when a moment of respite finally arrived, the medic sought her out.
“…Thank you.”
Moyong Hi-ah gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. Both of them were exhausted. Her expensive robes were soaked in blood, and her once-pristine hair was disheveled. The crimson stains against her pale skin created a strangely captivating, almost seductive contrast…
“Stop staring.”
The medic quickly averted his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“It makes me uncomfortable. I am already spoken for.”
“Huh?”
When he looked puzzled, Moyong Hi-ah explained calmly, “People who stare at me like that usually end up falling for me.”
“…”
“I’d rather avoid unnecessary trouble, so please be careful.”
She sounded incredibly full of herself, but coming from the Snow Phoenix, the medic found it believable. Even he felt it was dangerous to look at her for too long.
“Seems I still have it…”
“Pardon…?”
“But why doesn’t it work on that man… I am not fond of him.”
Moyong Hi-ah murmured the last part to herself. A woman who knew her own beauty also knew how to wield it, and in that regard, Moyong Hi-ah possessed overwhelming charm. Even in this grim situation, the medic felt himself swayed.
Is she really engaged?
He didn't know, but for a moment, a pang of jealousy struck him. Pushing the feeling aside, he spoke again.
“Thank you again for your help.”
It was unexpected for a noble clan scion to assist so directly, getting covered in blood and filth. The Snow Phoenix was known for being cold and calculating, but perhaps there was warmth beneath the ice?
“No need for thanks. It would be problematic if my clients died. This way, they will be in my debt.”
“…”
The medic smiled wryly at her pragmatic response. “Even so, you helped a great deal.”
“Of course I did. My Dantian is nearly empty because of it.”
Her Ice Qi had been immensely helpful. She also seemed to possess medical knowledge, doing more than just stopping bleeding. Whatever her motives, the medic was grateful that lives had been saved.
Then, Moyong Hi-ah asked him a sudden question. “It’s you, right?”
“…Huh?”
“The disciple of the Immortal Healer.”
“…”
The medic’s eyes widened. How did she know? No one was supposed to know he was the direct disciple of the legendary Immortal Healer.
“…I.”
“I trust you’ll remember the assistance I provided.”
Watching Moyong Hi-ah leave with a slight smile, the medic could only let out a hollow laugh. So even her help was a calculated move. The thought was frightening, yet he couldn't deny the charm he felt. In their brief encounter, she had left a deep impression. He felt it would take a long time to forget her.
Because of this, he felt a twinge of envy for the man who had won her heart.
Step.
As Moyong Hi-ah walked away after hours of crouching and working,
“Haah.”
She finally allowed herself a moment to breathe.
…That was more exhausting than I expected.
Only now did she feel the full weight of her fatigue.
Is this the price for neglecting my training?
She had sacrificed her training time to focus on healing. Using her Ice Qi so extensively, something she usually avoided, had drained her further.
It’s not as if I’m seeking honor here.
Moyong Hi-ah forced a faint smile as she walked. She wondered what all this effort was truly for.
So unfair. You came back, but you didn’t come to see me?
The thought of the man who hadn't bothered to show his face irritated her. Here she was, working herself to the bone, while he was probably off seeing other women. The idea made her more than a little angry.
“Maybe I should have gotten hurt, too.”
She half-joked to herself, wondering if she should resent her own good health. She sighed, feeling silly for even entertaining the thought. It would have been a very immature thing to do.
Then, she murmured under her breath, a note of concern slipping through. “…He didn’t get hurt, did he?”
Even while cursing him, she worried. Rumors of his actions had spread everywhere. How had things come to this? The more Moyong Hi-ah thought about it, the more it gave her a headache.
…This isn’t good.
And it wasn’t just about the ambush. That was largely over, so she set it aside for now.
The real problem was the future.
The Heavenly Dragon Academy, which gathered the descendants of numerous noble clans and sects, had just suffered an ambush where dozens of students lost their lives. Yet, the Murim Alliance had yet to take any significant action.
They probably don’t know yet; that’s why they’re silent.
Once they found out, it would become their problem. A big one.
For the Murim Alliance, that is.
Considering the future unfolding in her mind, she brushed her hair back. She frowned at the feeling of dried blood tangled in the strands. But her current disheveled state was the least of her concerns.
Something else was far more pressing. It was obvious.
“At this rate…”
She could guess how the Murim Alliance would react and how events would unfold for the Heavenly Dragon Academy. But there was something more immediate, something that concerned her directly.
That was,
“Father will come…”
The Lord of the Moyong Clan, the White Heavenly Sword.
The time for him to take action himself had arrived.