Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: A Worthless Mission
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As Bu Eun-seol stared intently at the book, Ma-un tilted his head.
“That's a First-Tier Mission that came in a while ago. No need to look at it.”
When Bu Eun-seol stared at him, Ma-un shook his head.
“As you'll see from the details, it's a dull job with a pittance for pay. It's practically unpaid labor.”
“The money doesn't matter.”
“The money doesn't matter? Then what does?”
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol continued to stare, and Ma-un finally spoke as if he had no choice.
“Nam-sa-gok is an assassin's guild that originally operated only in the Hubei region. But they've gradually expanded their territory and started operating in the Hunan province as well.”
Ma-un cleared his throat and continued.
“Nam-sa-gok isn't affiliated with the Demonic Sanctum, and they're the kind of scum who'd kill a child for the right price. Not only that, but they operate as stealthily as rats.”
“Does the Gu-sal-dae have permission to deal with any group not affiliated with the Demonic Sanctum?”
Bu Eun-seol was in the habit of asking for a lot of information beyond what was directly related to his missions.
But each time, Ma-un would cut him off.
“We don't provide information beyond what's relevant to the mission.”
“Hmm.”
Staring at the contents of the ledger, Bu Eun-seol let out a low hum.
Then he tucked the booklet labeled 'Bounty' into his robes.
“I'll take this one.”
As Bu Eun-seol spun around and left the old bookshop, Ma-un muttered with a look of incomprehension.
“Brother. That guy is really strange.”
“Why? What kind of difficult mission did he pick this time?”
“It's not that. He chose the mission to take care of Nam-sa-gok that just came in.”
“What?”
Sang-ryang blinked.
“Why? A guy with his skills? Why would he bother with a bunch of assassins?”
“Could he... be like that old Number Eleven?”
Ma-un muttered, watching Bu Eun-seol's retreating back.
“It seems he's doing this job because he's crazy for the taste of blood.”
“Does that even make sense?”
“Why not? Among those who crawl to the Gu-sal-dae, haven't there always been a few who come just to play human butcher?”
Among the members of the Gu-sal-dae, there were indeed those who joined not because they had committed a crime or needed money, but because they reveled in blood and slaughter.
“He's young, but his eyes are deadly and his tone is bleak... It seems he's exactly that type.”
“He didn't seem like that to me.”
“Then why would someone with his skills take on a First-Tier Mission that's a complete waste of time?”
“Hmm. Is that so.”
Bu Eun-seol had chosen the mission to gain practical experience, but from their perspective, it could easily be mistaken as a desire for slaughter.
Sang-ryang, who had been furrowing his brows, shook his head.
“Dammit. I thought we'd finally gotten a decent one. To think he's a madman with a lust for slaughter.”
***
A group of martial artists was walking along a winding river.
Their clothes were shabby, but their eyes were uniformly clear, and they all wore heroic headbands.
They were the disciples of the Hyeongsang School, hurrying on their way after leaving Gyeongha Pavilion.
“It seems we have no choice but to camp out tonight.”
The middle-aged man walking at the front looked up at the setting sun.
He was the eldest disciple of the Hyeongsang School, Ok Gi-heun.
“Ugh, it's all because of that punk!”
Following behind, a wiry man, the second disciple Hong Jeon-gun, fumed and smacked the youngest disciple on the head.
It was Myeong-un, the one who had tried to get free drinks by cozying up to Bu Eun-seol.
“Isn't it because of you that we were delayed half a day and ended up in this mess?”
At that, Myeong-un spoke with an aggrieved expression.
“It wasn't me, it was the liquor-worm in my belly...”
*Thwack.*
Hong Jeon-gun smacked the babbling Myeong-un on the head again and bared his teeth.
“Stop spouting nonsense and get ready to build a fire!”
As if quite accustomed to camping outdoors, the Hyeongsang disciples moved with practiced efficiency.
They gathered branches to start a fire, and a few disciples took cloth from their packs, using it with some branches to fashion a tent to shield them from the night dew.
*Crackle.*
Before long, the night had deepened.
Having made camp in a spot surrounded by rocks, the Hyeongsang disciples were settled around the campfire, trying to sleep.
*Chirp, chirp.*
Only the sound of chirping insects from somewhere nearby occasionally broke the silence.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Hong Jeon-gun asked Ok Gi-heun, who was gazing at the bright moon.
“Eldest Brother. Can't you sleep?”
Ok Gi-heun smiled faintly and shook his head.
“No. It's just that the night scenery is so fine...”
He said that, but his eyes were not on the night scenery at all.
Understanding Ok Gi-heun's feelings, Hong Jeon-gun sighed.
“I suppose... it is a bit much for the proud disciples of our school to be transporting goods like escorts from a security agency.”
In truth, the Hyeongsang disciples had come to the Jianghu at the request of the Emei School to deliver the Golden Summit Divine Pill to the Wudang School.
“It's not mere transport; it was an earnest request from the Emei School. And since Master is acquainted with Abbess Jeong-an, it couldn't be helped.”
Though he said that, Ok Gi-heun's expression was not pleasant.
No matter how much their influence had waned, the Hyeongsang School had once commanded Nanyue.
But now they were reduced to transporting another school's goods? It was impossible not to feel a sense of inferiority.
“Master also said that after this job, he would never accept such a task again.”
He said that, but the Hyeongsang School's finances were in utter ruin. If they didn't take on jobs like this, they would starve.
Ok Gi-heun shook his head and changed the subject.
“Anyway, I'm worried about our youngest brother. I wish he'd end his wandering soon.”
Myeong-un was the youngest disciple, taken in during their master's later years.
But he was naturally brilliant and had a heavenly gift for martial arts, to the point where he had interpreted and mastered all of the Hyeongsang School's secret manuals on his own within a year.
But at some point, he stopped practicing martial arts and did nothing but drink.
They had scolded him sternly and tried to persuade him many times, but he wouldn't listen at all.
“Don't worry too much. He'll come to his senses eventually. And he will bring glory to the Hyeongsang School.”
At Hong Jeon-gun's words, Ok Gi-heun muttered with a bitter expression.
“If only Myeong-un had joined our school a little earlier, he would have been chosen as a Grand Master of Righteousness.”
Grand Master of Righteousness.
A plan by the Martial Alliance to create outstanding next-generation talents by unsparingly passing down ultimate techniques, regardless of school or faction.
At the prospect of being able to freely learn the secret techniques of the orthodox schools, the Hyeongsang disciples had also applied for the program.
But their aptitude was not outstanding, and in the end, they failed to pass the second trial and had to turn back.
But if Myeong-un had been there then?
He would surely have been chosen as one of the eighteen Grand Masters of Righteousness.
“Well, what's the use of talking about the past.”
With a bitter smile, Ok Gi-heun looked at the sleeping Myeong-un's face.
“It's not like we don't understand how Myeong-un feels.”
At those words, Hong Jeon-gun's expression also turned grim.
In truth, they all knew.
Myeong-un wasn't just wandering; he was mired in deep despair.
Without the Twin Absolutes—the Hyeongsang School's greatest internal energy art and advanced swordsmanship, the Hwaseon Secret Art and the Pipa Sword...
Even if one mastered all the remaining martial arts of the Hyeongsang School, one could never break through the wall to become a first-rate master.
“Still, if it's Myeong-un, I believe he can overcome his limits someday.”
Ok Gi-heun smiled faintly at Hong Jeon-gun's words.
“I can only hope for that as well.”
As if by agreement, the two martial brothers looked at the sleeping Myeong-un with gentle eyes.
“You should get some sleep, Brother. We have to hurry on from tomorrow.”
“Yes, I will...”
Just as Ok Gi-heun was about to nod, his eyes flashed.
He had spotted something glinting in the trees above.
*'A poisoned sword?'*
It was a poisoned sword, painted entirely black to suppress reflections.
An ordinary person would not have seen it, but Ok Gi-heun, born with excellent night vision, had caught the flash of light.
“Ambush!”
The only ones who carry poisoned swords are assassins.
As Ok Gi-heun drew his sword and shouted, the sleeping Hyeongsang disciples shot to their feet.
*Fwip-fwip-fwip!*
Hidden weapons began to rain down from the trees.
*Clang.*
Drawing their swords, the Hyeongsang disciples deflected the shower of hidden weapons.
“Kugh!”
“Ack!”
But soon, screams erupted from all around.
The hidden weapons were thrown with such cunning, and most of the Hyeongsang disciples lacked real combat experience.
*Rustle, rustle.*
Before they knew it, they were surrounded by assassins clad in black.
There were only nine Hyeongsang disciples.
But the assassins numbered over forty.
*'I let my guard down too much!'*
Because their journey to Yueyang had been uneventful, he had started to think of transporting the Golden Summit Divine Pill as a leisurely trip.
Even when camping outdoors, he should have chosen the location with ambushes in mind and posted a watch.
“Hand over the Golden Summit Divine Pill, and we'll spare your lives.”
The one who appeared to be the leader of the assassins stepped forward and spoke to Ok Gi-heun.
“No need to risk your lives over this. Don't you agree?”
*'They already know we're transporting the Golden Summit Divine Pill.'*
Ok Gi-heun gritted his teeth.
There is nothing more terrifying than assassins with solid information. They must have revealed themselves because they were confident of a complete victory.
“I refuse.”
“I don't understand. Why do you escort dogs risk your lives for cargo?”
As the assassin sneered, Ok Gi-heun suppressed his anger and said loudly.
“We are not escorts! We are disciples of the Hyeongsang School!”
The assassin only laughed heartily.
“That's what I'm saying. Even if you're just the dregs of a fallen school, why bother playing escort?”
The assassins had known from the beginning that they were disciples of the Hyeongsang School.
“You... you bastards...”
As the enraged Ok Gi-heun gripped his sword, the lead assassin clicked his tongue.
“Well, that's how all you pride-filled orthodox bastards are. Claiming honor is more important than life, only to die a dog's death.”
Then he spoke to the assassins behind him.
“There's no talking to them. Finish them off quickly so we can leave.”
*Shing.*
At his words, all the assassins drew their poisoned swords.
A pungent smell filled the air as soon as the swords were drawn, indicating they were coated in poison.
“All disciples, draw your swords and fight back!”
The first to draw his sword and respond to Ok Gi-heun's cry was none other than Myeong-un.
*Swish! Swish!*
His swordsmanship was remarkably precise, striking accurately at a vital point near the shoulder of an attacking assassin.
“Kugh!”
As Myeong-un disabled an assassin's arm with a single strike, the surrounding assassins showed a hint of surprise.
“Kill that young one first!”
Seeing this, Hong Jeon-gun raised his sword and shouted.
“Help Myeong-un!”
*Clang! Clang-clang-clang!*
For a while, the sound of clashing weapons echoed through the forest.
In that time, Myeong-un cut down three assassins. But his senior brothers beside him were staggering, swinging their swords as if overwhelmed.
“Senior Brothers! Just a little more!”
Myeong-un shouted as he wielded his longsword, but it was no use.
The outcome had already been decided from the start.
“Aaargh!”
With screams, the senior brothers who had been fighting back-to-back began to fall one by one.
The assassins deliberately avoided fatal blows, instead stabbing at the muscles in their legs and arms to bring them down miserably.
“Ugh...”
Anguished groans echoed softly.
Of the nine Hyeongsang disciples, only Myeong-un was still standing with a sword in hand.
“Hah... hah...”
The lead assassin looked at the panting Myeong-un and tilted his head.
“Strange. How is the young brat stronger than the older ones?”
Another assassin laughed heartily and said.
“Don't tell me your Hyeongsang School stops training once you get old? Hahaha!”
Myeong-un wanted to curse at them, but he didn't even have the strength to open his mouth.
*'It's all my fault.'*
A wave of bitter regret washed over him now.
If only he had trained a little harder in martial arts, if only he had escaped his despair a little sooner...
He could have defeated these cruel assassins and saved his senior brothers.
*'But...'*
*Thud.*
Myeong-un dropped the sword he was holding and hung his head.
Regret always comes too late.
He no longer had the strength to lift a finger. No matter how much he struggled, nothing would change.
“A pity. He seems to have quite a bit of talent.”
The assassin who had been clicking his tongue raised his poisoned sword.
“You must eliminate future threats early. We can let the others be, but this one must die.”
*Swoosh!*
The moment an assassin's poisoned sword swept toward Myeong-un's neck,
*Clang!*
with a loud noise, the poisoned sword was struck by something and knocked back.
*'What?'*
The lead assassin looked down at the ground, his eyes flashing.
What had fallen with a soft thud was nothing more than a tiny pebble.
*'A formidable master!'*
Someone had imbued the pebble with powerful internal energy, throwing it as if it were a steel ball.
“Who's there!”
As the assassin shouted, a wind seemed to blow from nowhere.
It was a supreme movement technique that could completely conceal one's presence.
*Shhhh...*
A black mist seemed to rise from the ground and slowly coalesce into a human form, and then a faint shadow appeared like a ghost before the assassin's eyes.
He was dressed in ink-black night gear, his face covered by a mask.
He wore a sword at his waist and another on his back, but his aura was more like that of an orthodox martial artist than an assassin.
It was Bu Eun-seol.