Chapter 133: Seven Kills Jeok Ma-hyeok-4
Chapter 133: Seven Kills Jeok Ma-hyeok-4
In the evening as the sun was slowly setting, Seonwoo Jin looked at the isolated estate and asked.
"Is that the estate?"
At Seonwoo Jin's question, Jeok Ma-hyeok answered respectfully.
"Yes, Gongja."
Seonwoo Jin, who had gone nearly as far as Guizhou City, had returned in two days with Jeok Ma-hyeok to Ak-san, located in the central-southern part of Sichuan Province.
And it was all because that estate—the main headquarters of the Sichuan Kill Gate—was located here.
At that moment, Jeok Ma-hyeok, who had been hesitating briefly, cautiously opened his mouth.
"Um, Gongja. I am not doubting your skills. But no matter what, engaging the Sichuan Kill Gate in a head-on confrontation alone is a bit..."
At those words, Seonwoo Jin chuckled and asked.
"Are you worried about me? Whether I destroy the Sichuan Kill Gate or recklessly charge in and die, it would be none of your concern."
Jeok Ma-hyeok, who had briefly worn a flustered expression, answered in a grave tone.
"Although I have lived like trash, I am not so dull as to be unable to distinguish what is right and who is my benefactor."
Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly at Jeok Ma-hyeok's answer.
As expected, he was a talent worth the time spent to acquire.
After learning that Seonwoo Jin had not killed his younger sister Jeok Ha-yeon, and that his younger brother Jeok Ha-gun had also not died, Jeok Ma-hyeok had shed tears and expressed his gratitude to Seonwoo Jin.
And he had begun to cooperate fully with Seonwoo Jin.
Thus, Seonwoo Jin had been able to learn the location of the Sichuan Kill Gate from Jeok Ma-hyeok.
And now, he had just arrived there, with Jeok Ma-hyeok leading the way.
Right here, in order to erase the Sichuan Kill Gate.
Jeok Ma-hyeok spoke again in a worried voice.
"The Sichuan Kill Gate is one of the top three assassin organizations in Sichuan Province. Unlike other organizations that typically avoid taking contracts on peak-level masters, they had even succeeded in assassinating a considerable number of peak-level masters. Furthermore, although it is not visible from the outside, over fifty assassins are always lying in ambush in there. If you add the assassins stationed there without being in ambush, it would exceed a hundred. So no matter how skilled you are, Gongja, to break through head-on..."
Jeok Ma-hyeok was sincerely worried about Seonwoo Jin.
It was because, from the moment he said he would erase the Sichuan Kill Gate—no, to be more honest, from the moment he smiled like sunlight and apologized for deceiving him, telling him he had not killed his younger brother Ha-gun—he had felt like a benefactor.
Moreover, saying he still could not trust himself, he had even entrusted the safety of his two younger siblings to a nearby Hao Gate, while also telling them that if he did not return in three days, they could return the siblings to Jeok Ma-hyeok.
Saying it was in case he failed to erase the Sichuan Kill Gate.
For Jeok Ma-hyeok, who had never once received genuine goodwill from anyone in his life, all of Seonwoo Jin's actions felt like the deeds of a hyeopgaek straight out of a story.
It was almost enough to make him wonder if this was what it felt like to fall for a man.
Seonwoo Jin grinned at him, who was worrying, and replied.
"Thanks for worrying. But I never said I was going to break through head-on."
"...Pardon?"
It was when Jeok Ma-hyeok wore a puzzled expression at Seonwoo Jin's words.
In an instant, Seonwoo Jin's form scattered like flower petals dispersing in the wind.
Sssssk!
"?!"
Jeok Ma-hyeok could only be astonished.
He, the Chilsal of the Sichuan Kill Gate—the assassin organization vying for the top position in Sichuan Province—had lost track of another person's presence right before his very eyes.
It was a sight he could not believe even as he saw it.
It was unmistakably the Stealth Technique.
And a Stealth Technique of a level incomparable to what he himself had mastered—a shudder ran through him.
'Where? Where did he go?'
He focused all his senses.
But Seonwoo Jin's presence could not be felt anywhere.
Instead, something else was being felt.
'Could it be?'
Unable to confirm his own senses, Jeok Ma-hyeok immediately deployed his Stealth Technique and approached the estate.
Then, he could now clearly feel it.
'The presences of those lying in ambush are disappearing?!'
Unlike its quiet exterior, in this isolated estate that was the main headquarters of the Sichuan Kill Gate, many assassins lay in ambush, standing guard.
But the presences of those ambushed assassins were gradually vanishing. Like small candles extinguishing as the wind passed. Like starlight fading as dawn broke.
It was unmistakably Seonwoo Jin, concealed, dealing with them.
To Jeok Ma-hyeok, it felt so swift and natural that it gave him goosebumps.
And eventually, before even half a watch had passed, when all the presences had completely vanished, Seonwoo Jin opened the main gate naturally and walked out, speaking to Jeok Ma-hyeok.
"Come in. It seems like I will need a guide for the inside of the estate."
Jeok Ma-hyeok hesitated for a moment, not knowing what to say, then finally asked him.
"By any chance... are you Am Hyeol-hyang, Gongja?"
Recalling that he had heard the same question from Do Mun-seung not long ago, Seonwoo Jin chuckled.
"No way. Stealth Technique is just something I picked up as a hobby."
For Jeok Ma-hyeok, it could not have been a more self-esteem-crushing answer than if he had said he was Am Hyeol-hyang.
***
At the same time, Gye Su-ryeok, the Gate Master of the Sichuan Kill Gate and its Il-sal, was gathered with special-grade assassins and above in the main hall, discussing countermeasures.
"Sip I-yeong, is there still no report from Chilsal?"
At that, Sip I-yeong bowed his head and answered.
"Yes, there was a report that he was beginning the operation, but after that..."
The Il-sal, Gye Su-ryeok, finally slammed his table with a furious expression.
Kwaang!
Then he muttered as if chewing and spitting out the words.
"So it is because of that bastard Seonwoo Jin that we have lost the Sam-sal, O-sal, Yuk-sal, and even the Chilsal?"
On one hand, Gye Su-ryeok was furious, but on the other, he had fallen into deep contemplation.
He now had two paths.
The path of abandoning the contract before suffering more damage, and the path of gathering his last strength to complete the contract.
Emotionally, he felt that giving up was the right choice.
The damage already sustained was enormous, and gathering his last strength meant that he himself would have to step forward.
But practically, that was not so easy.
The enormous penalty fee was one thing, but the client was Hong Sa-geom-ryong, who was to become the matrilocal son-in-law of the Sichuan Dang Clan.
So canceling his contract now was highly likely to be something that would draw the displeasure of the Sichuan Dang Clan.
Furthermore, had not Hong Sa-geom-ryong subtly revealed that this contract was the will of the Sichuan Dang Clan?
In the end, to continue living within Sichuan Province, they had no choice but to complete the contract by any means.
Gye Su-ryeok looked at the special-grade assassins gathered in the hall, including I-sal and Sa-sal, and spoke in a solemn voice.
"We stake our survival on this contract. From now on, everyone including myself...!"
It was then.
Kiiiik!
The door of the main hall opened slowly with a grating sound.
Gye Su-ryeok shouted with a furious face.
"Who is it?! Who dares enter during a special-grade meeting?!"
But Gye Su-ryeok's expression, which had been shouting, became strange.
Because no one was visible behind the opened door.
He frowned and said.
"What kind of prank is this?"
He could not imagine it.
That there could be someone who could deceive the eyes of all of them—all special-grade assassins—and enter using the Stealth Technique.
Seonwoo Jin, moving while concealed, sent a telepathic transmission to Jeok Ma-hyeok, who was also hidden beside the door.
[Guard the door. Make sure no one goes outside.]
And in the next moment, Seonwoo Jin's form rose up smoothly from among the shadows of the gathered special-grade assassins.
It was an entrance like a ghost.
"!"
"!"
At his appearance, the startled assassins hurriedly threw themselves to the far side, attempting to throw hidden weapons.
But before that, pale purple beams of light spread out in all directions like a sun.
Seonwoo Thirteen Swords, Fifteenth Form.
Emptiness is Form.
Hwaaak!
Everyone in the hall could only freeze in place.
It was a single instant.
In just one instant, as the pale purple sun radiated sword shadows in all directions, the thirty-some special-grade assassins who had been about to throw themselves away were massacred on the spot.
There was no sound. No sound of swords clashing, no screams.
There was only a silent light, and when it vanished, the corpses of dozens, spraying blood, simply collapsed powerlessly.
Tteol-sseok! Tteol-sseok!
Among those corpses, the sole standing handsome man smiled bitterly and asked Gye Su-ryeok.
"You must be the Il-sal, the Gate Master of the Kill Gate?"
Gye Su-ryeok, who had been entranced and barely regained his senses, gulped and asked back.
"Wh-Who are you?"
Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly and answered.
"Seonwoo Jin."
At that, Gye Su-ryeok's eyes dilated as wide as they possibly could.
This man was that Seonwoo Jin? And how had he come all the way here?
But there was no leisure to think deeply.
Because he was walking toward him, step by step.
Gye Su-ryeok clenched his teeth and shouted.
"What are you doing?! Attack him all at once!"
At that, the surviving top-grade assassins instinctively began hurling throwing weapons at him.
Fyoo fyoo fyoo fwit! Shiiiiik! Hwiriririk!
Dozens, hundreds of throwing weapons in all manner of shapes filled the space black as they bore down on Seonwoo Jin.
At that, Seonwoo Jin's sword began to spin fiercely.
The Sail Sword Technique, Fifth Stance.
Whirlwind Slash.
The Whirlwind Slash was a defensive form of the Sail Sword Technique that shared its lineage with the Jeomchang Sect's ultimate technique, the Forty-Eight Swords of Whirling Wind and Flowing Willow, which specialized in defense and projectile deflection.
When Seonwoo Jin unfurled it, the spinning sword began to deflect all the throwing weapons like a massive circular shield.
Tadadadadang!
Watching that astonishing sight, Gye Su-ryeok's expression could only contort further.
"How could... such a thing."
And in that moment, there was a single shadow slowly approaching behind Seonwoo Jin as he swung his sword.
It was none other than Sa Pil-cheuk, the Four Kill of the Sichuan Kill Gate.
Cowardly since childhood and fond of hiding, Sa Pil-cheuk had abandoned swordsmanship and projectile techniques, focusing entirely on stealth arts.
That was because he was far too afraid of clashing swords with an enemy or hurling throwing weapons.
But having done nothing but skulk about like that, he realized it at some point.
The fact that now no one could detect him, and that killing people was far too easy for someone like himself.
He had been in a state of hiding his body with stealth arts, having been startled the moment the door opened earlier.
It was an instinctive action ingrained in his body.
But precisely because of that, he could be certain.
That Seonwoo Jin, who would be concentrating his mind on defense right now, would not be able to see him.
So his exposed back was surely his for the taking.
'Hehehehe, farewell.'
Smiling inwardly, Sa Pil-cheuk had just approached right up to Seonwoo Jin's heels.
When he thought all he needed to do was fire his needle cylinder at his back, Seonwoo Jin, who had been blocking the projectiles, suddenly took a step back and stomped his foot down hard.
Right onto the shadow where Sa Pil-cheuk was hiding.
Puhseok!
With the sound of a watermelon splitting, Sa Pil-cheuk's headless corpse was revealed to the open.
No matter how high an expert of stealth he might be, he could not remain hidden after losing his head.
Seonwoo Jin glanced at his corpse and thought.
'This guy must be the Four Kill, right?'
He had already obtained all the information about the Sichuan Kill Gate from Jeok Ma-hyeok.
So he had been most wary of the Four Kill, who was said to be the most exceptional in stealth arts, and now that he had dealt with him, there seemed to be no need for further hesitation.
Seonwoo Jin finally began to move.
Tadadadadang!
In an instant, Seonwoo Jin's figure, which had been blocking the throwing weapons with the Whirlwind Slash, suddenly shot sideways like a cannonball.
Pahang!
It was the effect of the Explosive Gale Step, which had now become an indispensable core of Seonwoo Jin's movement.
Puhwaak!
The assassins spread out on the flank burst apart as if exploding on the spot.
It was because of Seonwoo Jin's sword strikes that fell upon them at imperceptible speed.
The assassins could not even properly react to his speed. They merely became wandering souls, scattering sprays of blood in the moment they thought, 'Oh, no.'
At that, the One Kill, Gye Su-ryeok, whose heart was growing frantic, shouted.
"Two Kill! What are you doing?! Stop him!"
The Two Kill was a man who had stood expressionless like a doll off to one side as if the fierce battle had nothing to do with him.
But even he began to move the moment Gye Su-ryeok's order fell.
He swiftly flung his body and hurled throwing weapons.
Shiiik! Hwiririk!
Steel arrows flying like beams of light, spinning throwing stars flying at him—Seonwoo Jin could not afford to ignore throwing weapons of a completely different level of speed from the other assassins and swung his sword to block them.
Ting ting ting!
That was when it happened.
In that instant, the Two Kill, who had somehow maneuvered behind the other assassins, shoved one assassin hard toward him.
"!"
The assassin with a look of shock in his eyes was flying toward Seonwoo Jin.
Seonwoo Jin chuckled and simply cut his throat with his sword.
Shaaaak!
At that very moment, the Two Kill burst out from behind the assassin and swung his dao.
Syuhak!
Chaeng!
A single clash, blocked, but it was an extremely threatening ambush.
However, when Seonwoo Jin easily blocked his surprise attack even so, the Two Kill held no lingering attachment.
He immediately flung his body and blended back among the assassins.
And then immediately hurled throwing weapons again.
Shiiik! Hwiriririk!
Chuckling, Seonwoo Jin blocked the throwing weapons and began to slaughter the remaining assassins once more.
From what he had heard from Jeok Ma-hyeok, that Two Kill was the greatest swordsman of the Sichuan Kill Gate and the Kill Gate Leader's personal blade, and indeed, he was an amusing fellow.
Even without having surpassed the peak level, wasn't he displaying a more threatening appearance than most peak-level experts simply by appropriately combining the techniques available to him?
Seonwoo Jin, grinning widely, licked his lips with his tongue and thought.
'Alright, how about trying this then?'
Seonwoo Jin's sword began to emit a hazy sword qi.
The Sail Sword Technique, Seventh Stance.
Black Sword Rain.
Syuhwaaaak!
Sword shadows began to pour down like rays of light through the hazy sword qi like dark clouds.
It was an ultimate technique that annihilated the ten or so remaining assassins all at once.
Puhwaaak!
The Two Kill urgently escaped from among the assassins whose bodies were pierced by sword qi, spraying blood.
Deflecting several sword shadows with his own dagger as he did so.
Chae chae chaeng!
'Can't let you get away!'
Seonwoo Jin's figure clung to him like a ghost.
At that, the Two Kill, his eyes slightly furrowing for the first time, scattered throwing weapons sporadically at close range.
Hwiriririk!
But having deflected them as softly as flower petals scattered by the wind, Seonwoo Jin was able to close right up to the Two Kill's immediate vicinity.
At that, the Two Kill's dagger became several rays of light and bore down on Seonwoo Jin.
Tadadadadang!
It was a chain strike of astonishing speed.
It was to the extent that afterimages were visible, as if his arms had multiplied into several.
But having leisurely blocked all of it while swinging his sword roughly, Seonwoo Jin finally smiled faintly and launched a sword strike at him.
The Sail Sword Technique, First Stance.
One Strike Certain Kill.
Shiik!
The Two Kill, Gyeon-jung's eyes widened enormously.
A sword strike he could swear he had never seen before, yet one he had wanted to reach someday, was piercing through his body.
Puheok!
Struck by the sword qi, he flew and slammed into the wall, then collapsed to the floor just like that.
Teolsseok!
It was over.
"Hm."
Seonwoo Jin lightly scanned his surroundings.
Everyone within sight was collapsed on the floor.
He hadn't killed all of them, but there was no one left who could resist now.
Except for just a single person.
Seonwoo Jin now turned his gaze toward that one person.
The One Kill, Gye Su-ryeok, was grinding his teeth, his face trembling violently.
He had been aiming a single bamboo cylinder at Seonwoo Jin for a while now.
It was a bamboo cylinder that dispersed a deadly poison called Crane Bell Red, which had been leaked from the Dang Clan.
If even the Two Kill could not stop him, he had intended to fire that bamboo cylinder without regret.
All the assassins in this room would die, but at least he himself, who possessed the antidote, could survive after all.
But in the end, he could not press the bamboo cylinder.
Gye Su-ryeok spat out words with a tone full of rage.
"Seven Kill, so you were the traitor."
At that, Jeok Ma-hyeok, who had somehow approached using stealth arts and was holding his sword to the back of Gye Su-ryeok's neck, replied.
"Betrayal? You, who held my life and my siblings' lives hostage with the Solitary Poison and threatened us, speak of betrayal? The guilty party filing the suit first is truly rampant."
At Jeok Ma-hyeok's voice, which sounded somehow greatly amused, Gye Su-ryeok gritted his teeth.
And spat out.
"You bastard, do you think you can live after doing this? Even if you and your siblings all die from the Solitary Poison..."
At that moment, Seonwoo Jin approached and cut him off.
"Oh, right! That Solitary Poison. Why don't we have a little chat about that? You have two choices. A quick death after talking quickly, or becoming a state where you can neither die nor live after eventually talking after enduring all manner of pain."
At that, Gye Su-ryeok glared at Seonwoo Jin with eyes full of hardened resolve and shouted.
"Stop your bullshit. From me, not a single thing...!"
In that moment, Seonwoo Jin's hand moved swiftly.
Tadadadak!
It was the technique of Bone and Sinew Separation he had read and memorized in the Seon-woo family library.
At that, an unbearable pain crashed over him all at once like a tidal wave.
In that overwhelming agony, Gye Su-ryeok could do nothing but scream, his eyes rolling back.
"Kuaaaaaaagh!"
Seonwoo Jin watched him with a gentle smile for a moment. And spoke again.
"Ehe, it's only the first stage and already like this, that's no use. Let's just go up to stage five and talk again."
The Bone and Sinew Separation techniques Seonwoo Jin had mastered were all structured into ten stages.
By the looks of it, it seemed it was going to be a long day for Gye Su-ryeok.