Chapter 659: Hands off. (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 659: Hands off. (2)
Bihyeonhwa.
Her cultivation level sat somewhere between the Peak Realm and the Perfected Peak Realm.
Although classified as an assassin, she wasn't particularly skilled in the art of silent killing itself. Despite that, her success rate remained high, though she was the type to avoid such grisly missions unless absolutely necessary.
The tasks she was primarily assigned involved information gathering.
Known as the "Hidden Flower of the Murim Alliance," Bihyeonhwa possessed a breathtakingly beautiful appearance. She was well aware of her charms and used them to her full advantage, frequently employing honey traps to ensnare her targets.
“Are you alright…? I’m so sorry….”
With tear-filled eyes, she carefully checked to see if I was truly hurt. I watched her pathetic performance in silence.
So this is her game.
I had felt her approaching from the moment she stepped onto the street. I also knew she had bumped into me on purpose. I had simply let it happen, curious to see what she was plotting.
To think I’d be on the receiving end of this.
Rumor had it that Bihyeonhwa was so fragrant that anyone who caught her scent would be instantly mesmerized. That was the famous tale spreading through the Central Plains, but…
Tsk.
To call it fragrant would be a lie; it was nauseating. The sheer amount of cosmetic powder she had caked on made my stomach churn just from the smell. Still, I made a conscious effort not to let it show.
“How can I ever compensate you for this…? Oh, dear….”
Bihyeonhwa whispered in a cloying, honeyed voice, subtly pressing her body against mine. Her chest brushed against my arm.
I lowered my gaze to look at her.
She truly did have a seductive face. It was true that she was beautiful enough to be called the flower of the Murim Alliance, but…
Fucking bitch.
That was my only thought.
Knowing her true nature, Bihyeonhwa was nothing more than a pebble in my shoe.
— You worm-like bastard, how dare you look at me with those eyes?
The memory flashed through my mind. In my past life, that crazy bitch used to pick fights with me over nothing.
— Do you really think someone like you could ever have me? Hmph. Know your place. Stay out of my sight. I don't even want to breathe the same air as you.
I never had any designs on her. I wasn't interested in the first place. I might have glanced at her a few times because she was pretty, but there was never any deeper feeling than that.
At the time, her title as the "Flower of the Murim Alliance" was little more than an empty name.
Because… she was in the Alliance.
The Young Sword Saint, Wi Seol-Ah.
After she joined the Murim Alliance, the title of its "flower" belonged solely to Wi Seol-Ah.
A flower that withers before it can fully bloom—that was how I saw Bihyeonhwa. A flower that began to harbor poison because it couldn't accept its own place in the shade.
Would it be any different this time?
I stared at Bihyeonhwa in silence. Her ample cleavage and seductive gaze were fixed on me. Looking at her, a dark thought crossed my mind.
Should I just kill her?
It would be a hassle. Should I just snap her neck and get it over with?
The thought was tempting, but…
Not yet.
Not yet. I decided to endure. I let out a small smirk and spoke to her.
“I am fine. Are you unhurt, Young Lady?”
“Ah, yes…!”
At my words, Bihyeonhwa smiled seductively. Usually, when I smiled, most people would flinch, but as a professional in her field, she showed no reaction. It was ridiculous that I was judging her based on something like this, but…
I must have made quite an impression.
Bihyeonhwa was not a person who moved easily. She was a woman deployed only for exceptionally important missions. For her to come all this way meant one thing.
Did Beomdong take notice of me?
It meant that the Captain of the Sky Dragon Army had specifically singled me out.
He’s fast.
For her to approach me the moment I entered the street meant that Beomdong had sent her as soon as he returned. It was as if she had been lying in wait.
I should probably suppress my senses.
I considered extending my perception for a moment, but I held back. It would be troublesome if I were detected. The probability of someone nearby being able to sense my search was slim, but one could never be sure.
If it’s Beomdong, he might have people lying in ambush.
A man of his caliber could notice even the slightest disturbance in the air, so I had to be careful.
He sent Bihyeonhwa in that short amount of time. He’s either lying in wait somewhere… or.
Conversely, I also considered the possibility that he hadn't come close at all, worried that I might notice him.
Now, then.
I met Bihyeonhwa’s eyes and thought: How should I toy with this one?
How could I best make use of this bitch?
With that in mind, I slightly distanced myself.
“Since we both seem to be alright, I shall take my leave. I hope you have a peaceful day, Young Lady.”
I deliberately created distance. Bihyeonhwa’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. That, too, must be an act.
I didn't know every detail about Bihyeonhwa, but I had a rough idea of how she approached her targets. For all her fame, she was a cheap, foul-mouthed wench who had boasted of her methods more than a few times in the past.
Step.
Just as I was about to walk away without a second thought…
Rustle!
I felt a hand grab the collar of my robe.
“W-Wait!”
I turned around at the sound.
Reddened ears and a flushed face. An expression that screamed she was dying of embarrassment—an appearance she was manually controlling using her internal energy. If I had no resistance to beauty and didn't know the truth, it was a sight that would have made any man's heart skip a beat.
“I’m really… so sorry…. W-Would it be alright if I… bought you a cup of tea?”
Hearing her words, I suppressed the urge to let the corner of my mouth curl up. This was good. It was a relief that she was using the same old methods.
I was just in need of a tool.
“Very well, let’s do that.”
A very useful piece of ‘bait’ had just walked right into my hands.
* * *
A new inn had recently become famous in Henan.
It wasn't just the food or drinks; the atmosphere itself was lovely and the dishes were beautifully presented, making it a popular spot for the daughters of noble clans and wealthy ladies. The building had shed the typical crude atmosphere of a Murim inn.
The grounds were adorned with flowers, the interior was delicately decorated, and a pleasant fragrance filled the air. I heard it was an establishment founded by the White Flower Merchant Association. Contrary to the belief that such a refined atmosphere wouldn't succeed in the rough world of martial arts, women who had heard the rumors flocked from afar, filling the inn to capacity.
In a corner of that inn, a man and a woman sat at a table with a clear view of the window. The other customers kept glancing at the pair.
The woman was breathtakingly beautiful and enchanting. And the young man sitting across from her was astonishingly…
‘He’s scary…?’
‘He looks terrifying.’
‘But why is a woman like that with him?’
It was because he looked sharp and intimidating. He was a young man who didn't seem to match the lovely woman at all. But the woman continued the conversation as if she didn't care.
“Oh my, really?”
The woman, Bihyeonhwa, maintained her characteristically lovely smile as she conversed with the young man.
“Does that mean you will be the one to inherit the sect, Young Master?”
“Something like that.”
“That’s truly amazing…!”
The young man took a sip of tea, offering only dry, short replies. Bihyeonhwa, in turn, maintained an attentive, leaning-in attitude.
However.
‘Just what is this man…?’
The thoughts behind her pretty smile were quite different. Bihyeonhwa kept smiling and talking, but she couldn't shake a growing feeling of incongruity.
Hoho.
She let out a light, airy laugh. The young man didn't avert his gaze from hers.
But.
‘Why doesn’t he seem captivated?’
Bihyeonhwa smiled with her eyes, observing the young man from behind her facade. He was dressed in black from head to toe. His hair was loosely tied back, he wore a dark-colored robe, and his pale skin was striking for a man, but his eyes were incredibly sharp. His age seemed to be just past twenty, exactly as the report had stated.
‘What kind of man is he?’
Usually, men his age would lose their minds and fall for her with just a single smile. It wasn't any different for older men, either. It was a given that all men would fall at her feet, and yet…
‘Something’s strange.’
Bihyeonhwa had to secretly suppress her irritation at the lack of progress.
“So, what brings you to Henan?”
“I heard there was a martial arts tournament, so I came to see.”
“Ah.”
The conversation was continuing, though it was mostly Bihyeonhwa initiating and the young man offering the bare minimum in response.
“So, are you planning to participate in the tournament for the sake of your sect’s revival?”
“Well, yes.”
“Oh my. That’s truly remarkable.”
She kept the conversation from dying, but that was all. She was making eye contact, smiling, and even subtly showing off her figure, but… the young man’s gaze remained unchanged.
He wasn't avoiding her eyes, and he was speaking properly, but his eyes told a different story. He felt not a single stir of emotion while looking at her. Anyone could see it. He had absolutely no interest in her.
‘Could he be impotent?’
The thought even crossed her mind. Otherwise, the situation made no sense.
‘…A man isn’t interested in me?’
Squeeze.
Under the table, out of sight, Bihyeonhwa clenched her fist.
‘That’s impossible.’
She couldn't believe it. Who was she?
‘I am the greatest beauty in Henan.’
She was the flower of the Murim Alliance, and perhaps one day, she would be called the greatest beauty in all the Central Plains. Even now, men outside the window were sneaking glances at her, their eyes full of base desire.
Bihyeonhwa knew that look all too well. She delighted in that desire; it was what allowed her to toy with men. And yet, the man in front of her was different.
‘The Captain of the Sky Dragon Army told me to be careful. Was this why?’
With the tournament just around the corner, Bihyeonhwa had been on standby. She had planned to rest and perhaps secretly play with some high-quality men.
[You have a mission.]
But an assignment had come down for her early this morning. It was a mission given directly by none other than the Captain of the Sky Dragon Army. She was to stick to an unidentified master who had appeared in Henan and dig up information.
She was about to refuse, finding it a bother, when the information she received piqued her interest.
‘His age is between twenty and thirty. But his level is absurdly high.’
He wasn't presumed to be wearing a human-skin mask, meaning he was a true master at a young age. There was even a warning to be especially careful. A young, supreme master… how could she not be interested?
‘This isn’t just a mission. If I can catch him, my life will be set.’
Even a master was still a man. It was obvious he would lose his mind over her, so she thought she might try to seduce him for real, using the mission as an excuse.
‘What an irritating man.’
The man she met was a strange person, unlike her expectations.
‘He’s supposed to be a master, but I can’t feel anything from him.’
For someone she was told to be wary of, he lacked the presence that masters usually exuded. Absolutely nothing—not even a hint of energy could be felt.
‘…Is something wrong?’
Even the Heavenly Dragon, who was said to be the youngest to reach the Fusion Realm, and the young prodigies of the Great Clans had a unique aura. But this man had nothing. Just emptiness. He was no different from an ordinary person, so why had the Captain of the Sky Dragon Army warned her to be so careful?
‘Besides, he’s not from a noble clan, but the sole successor of a minor sect.’
The successor of a sect she had never heard of, called the Pacheonmun. He said he came to make his presence known through the tournament. His name was Pajeolyeop.
She had never heard of him. If he was strong enough for the Captain of the Sky Dragon Army to issue a warning, she should have at least heard his name. The fact that she hadn't usually led to one conclusion.
‘Did he lie to me?’
It was a suspicion, but she was certain. From their short conversation, Bihyeonhwa had noticed that the man was lying.
‘So you have something to hide, do you?’
It wasn't particularly surprising. How many people in the Central Plains had no secrets? Bihyeonhwa was sure there wasn't a single one. Besides, uncovering such information was her job.
‘Go on, keep up your pride. Let’s see how long you can last.’
Even if it wasn't her, the investigation department would have made a move. They would find out everything about the man within a day at most. Her role in all this was…
‘To obtain information that can’t be found elsewhere, and to seduce him and pin him under me.’
It was what Bihyeonhwa did best. There had been a few men who had acted proud like this before, but in the end, they were all desperate to fall into her lap. This time would be no different.
“Excuse me… Young Master Pa.”
At Bihyeonhwa’s call, the man tilted his head. It was an incredibly insolent gesture. To treat her with such an attitude—her stomach churned for a moment, but Bihyeonhwa endured, reminding herself of her professional duty.
“We… seem to have talked a lot, don’t you think…?”
“We haven’t even exchanged ten sentences. What do you mean, a lot?”
‘That’s because you’re a shitty conversationalist, you bastard.’
Bihyeonhwa barely managed to hold back the words that were about to burst out.
Patience.
She had to be patient.
‘Anyway, if I just set the stage, he’ll be grinning like an idiot.’
No matter how tough he acted, all men were the same. The moment their skin touched, he would break down with a stupid grin on his face. Normally, she wouldn't resort to such methods for a mission, but…
‘If what the Captain of the Sky Dragon Army said is true, then he’s an incredible man, isn’t he?’
A powerful master at such a young age. That alone was enough to entice her.
‘The Heavenly Dragon was a lost cause since he’s a damn monk. But this one is worth snatching up.’
The Heavenly Dragon, the next Zenith Under the Heavens, was under the protection of Shaolin, so he was untouchable. But this man was different. It wouldn't be a bad idea to stake her claim.
With that thought, Bihyeonhwa moved. She slowly shifted to sit beside the man named Pajeolyeop.
“You know… Young Master Pa….”
She called to him in a sweet, drawn-out voice. As she spoke, she moved her fingertips toward the man’s forearm, tracing a path just shy of touching. Then, she pressed her body against his.
As she pushed her chest against his arm, the man’s eyebrow twitched. Seeing that, Bihyeonhwa grew bolder.
“Instead of talking in a place like this… why don’t we go somewhere a little quieter…?”
“A quiet place, you say. Where?”
She moved the hand that had been tracing his arm. Bihyeonhwa’s hand slowly moved toward the man’s chest. Just as her sticky touch was about to caress his upper body…
Grip.
Pajeolyeop seized Bihyeonhwa’s wrist. It was a rough movement. Feeling it, Bihyeonhwa smiled.
Hooked. That’s what she thought. And just as she expected…
“…Ah, if you do this, it’ll be harder for me to hold back.”
The man spoke as if he were already half-enchanted. Could it be that he had fallen for her long ago, contrary to her worries?
‘I knew it. All men are the same.’
Bihyeonhwa smiled, filled with certainty. And so, she didn't see it. She didn't see Pajeolyeop’s eyes growing colder and colder.
Just as Pajeolyeop’s hand was about to move toward her, just as she had done…
Flinch.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Pajeolyeop stopped his hand and let out a sound, his eyes widening as he stared at something outside the window.
“Young Master Pa…?”
Bihyeonhwa was about to react to his behavior when…
Shaaaaaa—!
“…!!”
Bihyeonhwa’s body suddenly froze solid.
“Ghk…”
She couldn't even scream. She hadn't been struck at her pressure points or restrained, yet she couldn't move a muscle.
Drip.
A single drop of sweat trickled down Bihyeonhwa’s forehead.
‘What… what is this….’
Her trembling eyes darted around. She couldn't see anything, but she knew instinctively.
Shing.
There was a blade at her throat. There was nothing there, yet it was definitely there. She didn't know how to make sense of such a contradiction, but that was her reality.
It wasn't just her neck. Sharp sword points were aimed at Bihyeonhwa from all directions. The scent of death brushed past her nose.
Just as Bihyeonhwa swallowed dryly, her body trembling…
Creak.
The inn’s door opened, and someone entered. Pajeolyeop’s gaze followed the movement.
“Welco—Gasp!?”
A well-dressed waiter, about to greet the customer, froze stiff upon seeing them.
The newcomer was a woman. Her long hair swayed as she looked around the interior of the inn. Her jewel-like eyes scanned the surroundings. Under her gaze, the murmuring crowd fell silent.
Was it an illusion? The moment the woman entered, it felt as if a strange floral scent had mixed into the air of the inn.
“Oh my…”
“…Ah, how can she be so…!”
Those who saw the woman held their breath, letting out gasps of admiration. A flower in full bloom was standing there. If one were to describe a person as a flower, could there be anyone who fit the description more perfectly?
The woman was exactly that kind of being. Not only the customers inside but even the passersby all stared at her. All the gazes that had been fixed on Bihyeonhwa were swept away. And all she had done was appear.
“...”
Cutting through the gazes full of admiration, the woman slowly shifted her eyes. Her gaze soon settled on one spot.
The woman’s eyes met Bihyeonhwa’s. She saw her pressed up against the young man. The woman’s brow furrowed delicately at the sight.
Step.
The woman took a step. The floral scent grew a little stronger. Her steps were light and graceful, yet there was no sway in her movement. The woman slowly walked and approached Bihyeonhwa.
‘Who is she…?’
Bihyeonhwa was flustered as she watched the approaching woman. Her current situation was bewildering enough, but the woman’s appearance itself was a problem for Bihyeonhwa.
‘How… is she that beautiful?’
It was a thought she had never dared to entertain. Bihyeonhwa’s stomach twisted, and her eyes hardened. She didn't want to admit it, but the moment she saw her, she had to.
Thud.
“...”
The woman finally came to a stop in front of Bihyeonhwa. After looking her up and down with her beautiful eyes, the woman spoke.
“Let go.”
“…Pardon…?”
As Bihyeonhwa replied with a questioning tone, the woman’s eyes grew chillingly cold.
Shudder—!!
A wave of killing intent washed over her, and Bihyeonhwa’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.
“Hngh…!”
Bihyeonhwa let out a whimper of fear, but the woman paid it no mind and continued speaking.
“I’ll say it again.”
Her golden hair swayed. Golden eyes, filled with killing intent, bore down on Bihyeonhwa. Just as her presence began to slowly consume Bihyeonhwa…
The woman, Wi Seol-Ah, said to her:
“Hands off.”
Before I kill you.
Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes were clearly saying just that.