Revenant Purge Operation (2)
The commander, mastermind controlling the revenant horde.
You know its location?
The assassins stared blankly at Song Hyeon, caught off guard by the completely unexpected declaration.
Dohwa Gwang snapped out of it first and asked,
"Then we just find that commander bastard and take it out, right?"
"If it were that simple, it would've been done already."
At those words, the assassins exchanged glances.
They'd witnessed firsthand at the fortress that Song Hyeon's swordsmanship rivaled the peak experts of the righteous sects.
No way a man like that would hesitate against a single revenant. There had to be another reason he hadn't slain the commander yet.
That's when Seo Baek posed a question, and through their back-and-forth, the group grasped what Song Hyeon meant.
"You know where it is, but not who it is, correct?"
"Exactly."
Song Hyeon nodded in affirmation.
This time, Wang Yi Sam perked up as some realization struck him, raising his head sharply.
"That's right! The commander was that guy all along!"
All eyes turned to Wang Yi Sam.
Having deduced the commander's identity, he thumped his chest proudly and bellowed,
"The commander's gotta be the boatmaster, right? That human-leg boat earlier! He controlled the revenants to make something like that, so no doubt he's the commander!"
"……."
Seo Baek and Song Hyeon shook their heads, as did the assassins.
No one had high hopes, but it was predictably absurd reasoning.
"The boatmaster isn't the commander."
"What? Why not?"
"The commander is currently manipulating revenants to block our path wherever we go."
"I know that. So?"
"Whether the waterway gang crossed the canal or not, they haven't caught up to us yet. How could they block our way if they don't even know where we are?"
"Urgh."
Wang Yi Sam crossed his arms and sighed as Seo Baek explained why the boatmaster couldn't be the commander.
With Wang Yi Sam's wild guess debunked, Dohwa Gwang pressed Song Hyeon again.
"Hold on, that doesn't add up."
"What doesn't?"
"If the commander's blocking our path ahead, that means it knows where we are."
"Who said otherwise?"
"The boatmaster doesn't know where we are. Hell, no revenant knows our position. So who the hell is controlling them?"
"There's only one answer."
Song Hyeon swept his gaze across the group before continuing.
"The commander's right here. One of us is the commander."
"……!"
Song Hyeon's words hit like a thunderbolt.
Wang Yi Sam let out a groan, and even the cold-blooded assassins, who wouldn't blink at killing, fell silent in shock.
Song Hyeon briefly explained the difference between revenants and blood ghosts.
"Revenants are indistinguishable from the living, so it wouldn't be strange if one were hiding among us."
"No way……."
"That's why revenants and blood ghosts are herding us, blocking paths and forcing us one way."
"You saying one of us is a revenant? That make any sense?"
"Got a better theory?"
"……."
The assassins fell silent, unable to retort.
Deep down, Song Hyeon's claim was hard to swallow, but not impossible to believe.
The Central Plains were full of even stranger tales.
Having plunged into the unorthodox world's bizarre underbelly, the assassins quickly adapted.
One of these guys is a revenant, huh?
Damn, that's entertaining. Can't tell by looking.
Not me—him? Or that one over there?
The assassins' eyes darted suspiciously, scrutinizing everyone for signs of being the revenant.
Wang Yi Sam asked,
"Why not just sic the whole horde on us at once? Easier than blocking paths, right?"
"No one knows how the commander controls revenants or what it's thinking. Only this."
"This?"
"Its control range isn't vast. If it were unlimited, every revenant in the Central Plains would obey it."
"Hmm……."
Wang Yi Sam nodded.
Song Hyeon's explanation was mere conjecture, but it pierced the truth. Any real commander would act just as he described.
"Without eliminating the commander, escaping the city is impossible."
"Wait, why? We just bolt……."
"Even if we flee the city, problems remain. We can hide in buildings here, but outside? No such luck."
"Urgh."
"Holding your breath has limits. Surrounded by thousands in open fields—how long can you last?"
"Damn, you're right……."
The words struck Wang Yi Sam deep; they'd already detoured through the Central Plains to evade massive hordes, unable to head straight for Shaolin Temple.
"So, which one of us is the revenant?"
Dohwa Gwang cackled, prompting the group to eye each other sharply.
"Not me, so one of you three. Wait, no law saying the kid or those two aren't revenants either."
Dohwa Gwang jabbed his finger at Seo Baek's group one by one.
"The hell? You unorthodox scum accusing righteous sect folk of being revenants?!"
Wang Yi Sam bristled, but surprisingly, Seo Baek held him back and replied,
"Senior Wang, hold."
"Junior……."
"He has a point. No rule says it can't be one of us three."
"……."
Seo Baek wasn't just reasoning logically to convince Wang Yi Sam.
His eyes had chilled to ice.
Wang Yi Sam swallowed hard, realizing the sincerity in Seo Baek's words.
"Doesn't matter who. We root it out and sever its head."
His words burned with resolve for the revenant purge.
The assassins, however, dismissed the hidden revenant as no big deal.
Commander? Great, we'll flush it out and kill it. Suits us fine.
They'd escaped the revenant-infested fortress; neutralize the commander, slip the city, head to Yongjeong Inn. No need to fuss over it.
The smart kid and sharp swordsman would handle it anyway.
Backseat the whole way, eat the pheasant and its eggs too.
Now, the real issue: the other assassins.
Rivals to kill for that bounty.
The assassins subtly eyed each other, minds racing, gazes flicking side to side.
The kid's got power, but one-on-one, I can take him. Solid martial arts, but green—experience'll trip him up, heh heh.
Problem's that withered tree of a swordsman.
With the swordsman glued to him, grabbing the kid won't be easy.
But who's the damn commander?
As the assassins schemed furiously, Seo Baek made an unexpected proposal.
"How about we all introduce ourselves properly?"
"Introduce?"
"Yes. Anyone hiding their identity—that's our commander."
"Hmm……."
The assassins nodded as if agreeing with Seo Baek.
But their true thoughts were worlds apart.
Introductions? What do names or aliases have to do with revenants?
Fake ones? No way to verify.
Smart kid's dumb this time.
Fine, play along. Chance comes when the swordsman and kid split.
"Assuming agreement, I'll start."
Seo Baek clasped his hands in a formal bow to the group.
"I'm Seo Baek of Shika Manor in Sichuan, en route to Shaolin Temple on my master's orders."
"Oho, Shaolin. Nice."
Dohwa Gwang remarked as if hearing it for the first time.
Seo Baek watched the assassins' faces intently for any twitch.
But Dohwa Gwang's casual quip drew no reactions—not from him, nor the others.
Had they been righteous sect folk, the purge might've been easier.
Assassins hid identities, finished hits, vanished without trace. Acting or lying shamelessly? Daily routine.
Seo Baek regarded them coolly, thinking,
Trapping them with words won't be easy.
"Next. Senior Song, if you please."
"Song Hyeon of Qingwei Escort Agency. Departed Yunnan for Shaolin Temple."
"Shaolin again? Man, Shaolin's popular, kekeke."
Dohwa Gwang tossed in his usual jab.
But one assassin perked up at Song Hyeon's words.
Qingwei Escort Agency? Heard they got wiped out ages ago—don't tell me…….
The assassin, nearing fifty, knew old jianghu tales inside out.
Qingwei had once dominated Kaifeng.
Its signature Wall Cloud Sword Art was infamous, said to have dried up the unorthodox roots there—a tyrannical style.
Rumors swirled post-Black Wolf Castle revenant outbreak: Qingwei fell to some mysterious incident.
The sole survivor, the agency head, had secluded himself in Yunnan…….
From Yunnan? The last head of Qingwei?
If true, never cross him.
The assassin had scoffed at Seo Baek's introduction idea as pointless.
Yet it handed him gold…….
In the jianghu, information was money and life!
Thanks for the intel, kid. Heh heh.
He inwardly cheered but kept a poker face, assassin pro that he was.
One face shifted constantly, though.
Wang Yi Sam.
He hated Seo Baek's idea.
Slow on the uptake though he was, he doubted introductions revealed revenants.
Anyone hiding identity is the revenant?
Hadn't come from Seo Baek, he'd have burst out laughing.
Not Nine Great Sects or Five Clans? All the same scum—how distinguish fake names?
And unorthodox at that?
Three in ten even use birth names!
Frustrated, Wang Yi Sam glanced at Song Hyeon, hoping he'd rein Seo Baek in.
But Song Hyeon? Arms crossed, watching as always since the fortress.
Here we go again. That damn crossed-arms pose.
Pure "do what you want, I trust you" vibe.
Wang Yi Sam alternated glances before giving up.
Fine, you two freaks of the world can handle it!
Unwittingly nicknaming them "Heaven's Weirdest Duo."
"Next, Senior Wang?"
"You two are the freakiest duo under heaven… uh, not that—calling me?"
"Your turn, Senior."
"Ahem! Wang Yi Sam, sword-for-hire. Roam the Central Plains freely. …That's it."
Wang Yi Sam cleared his throat awkwardly through his intro.
Plain as day, but no one probed further.
No interest in him from the start.
Experienced sword-for-hire, looks the part.
Can swing that broad dao decently?
Annoying if he's with the kid or swordsman, but solo? Harmless.
Wang Yi Sam would've raged if he heard, but their assessment nailed it.
Seo Baek's trio had given brief intros.
Now the assassins' turn.