Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: The World's Greatest Assassin: Hidden Death
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Martial God (125)
The World's Greatest Assassin: Hidden Death
The changes emanating from Ak Muyoo's body weren't limited to that mysterious energy. The sand near his feet slowly began to float upward. But the surroundings were too dark, and with Ak Muyoo wearing his pitch-black Sun Protection Robe, no one noticed.
—What do you think that energy is?
Nang Ok asked the Fire Demon Jeok Un via transmission.
—That kid really has no internal energy?
—That's not it, she replied. I said he doesn't have a dantian.
—Then how do you explain that?
In the end, even the Fire Demon had no idea what was happening to Ak Muyoo.
Clang!
Flash!
A burst of light exploded from the sword at Ak Muyoo's waist.
"My God, did you see that?"
Nang Ok was so shocked that she spoke out loud instead of using transmission.
"Did anyone see it?"
This time, she turned to the group.
"See what?"
The Horse Demon Elder asked.
"Did I miss the sword tip's trajectory all by myself?"
That's right. She hadn't seen the path traced by the tip of the sword Ak Muyoo had drawn. No, she'd missed it. She hadn't been looking elsewhere. She'd been watching Ak Muyoo's hand the whole time. And yet, she still hadn't seen it.
"Maybe it's just too dark?"
The Fire Demon suggested.
"Seems like it."
Nang Ok glanced sideways at Noe Baek. His face was twisted in frustration.
*He didn't see it either.*
She smiled faintly.
*But how do we explain that monster?*
She looked back at Ak Muyoo. He was explaining the martial art to his subordinates.
"Master these two perfectly before we reach the Haran Mountains."
"Captain."
Seo Pung raised her hand high.
"Speak."
"Can we learn them too?"
"You want to?"
"If you allow it."
"You're too weak to handle them."
"What bullshit."
Seo Pung glared at Ak Muyoo.
Truth be told, she'd dismissed them at first as nothing special. But as the incantations continued, she realized they weren't ordinary martial arts. No—they were on par with the Radiant World Divine Art, surpassing any technique she knew.
"That martial art I just recited is one that's only been passed down to comrades."
"Then I guess we can learn it."
Seo Pung smiled brightly.
"You probably have a rough idea of its power, but let me give you a concrete example. If you'd mastered what I just recited and fought those old men over there, you at least wouldn't die alone."
"What the hell is that punk saying?"
The Gold Demon said with a baffled expression.
"He's calling us straw men waiting to be threshed?"
Nang Ok remarked.
"That hurts the pride."
"It's true, what can you do."
"You really think we couldn't handle you?"
The Gold Demon asked.
"You didn't see it."
"See what?"
"The sword tip."
"That..."
The Gold Demon had nothing to say. Nang Ok was right. He hadn't seen the tip of Ak Muyoo's swordsmanship, even standing right there. No—even from the side, he hadn't seen it. From the front, it'd be even harder.
"What kind of martial art is it?"
The Black Demon Gonok asked Baekma Ta Bul Yeo, who sat beside him.
"Absolute Divine Art."
Baekma Ta Bul Yeo answered.
"Why teach them the Absolute Divine Art?"
"Ask that kid, not me."
"Then I will. Hey! Captain!"
The Black Demon called out to Ak Muyoo.
"What?"
"That's a divine art, right?"
"I don't know if it's divine, but it's way stronger than anything you've learned before."
"Then why teach it to them?"
"What kind of question is that?"
"Warriors hate revealing their arts, and they kill anyone who tries to steal a peek. But you're handing yours out freely. I'm curious why you're doing something so insane."
"It's not mine."
"..."
"You can't call something you can't master your own. Clinging to it desperately is even more ridiculous. Anyway, it's useless to me, but they could use it to save their lives. Isn't that better?"
"No one does it like you."
"That's why I'm the captain."
"..."
The Black Demon stared at Ak Muyoo with a stunned look.
His face clearly said, *Do you have to gild your own face?*
"That's what a captain does. Anyone who only looks out for themselves can never be one. Shouldn't be one."
Ak Muyoo grinned.
"Is that really all?"
"There's more."
"What's the other reason?"
"I told Sun Woo Daehyeop the same thing, but those kids are all prodigies. Not the once-in-a-hundred-years kind, but several times better than average. But they've never had a real chance. You old-timers know from your long lives—opportunities don't come no matter how hard you try. If you're smart but have nothing else, even brilliant ideas get ignored or stolen. You watch the thief thrive while you end up broken and buried in the dirt. That's how they washed up here. I'm just giving them a tiny shot. Of course, if I didn't have anything to give, I couldn't. I can't create chances out of thin air. But I luckily got these arts, useless to me, and I have plenty."
Ak Muyoo tapped his head.
"That's why I can give them. And knowing I can give more? That's a blessing."
*That punk.*
The Black Demon looked at Ak Muyoo in surprise. He hadn't expected such thoughts from him.
"I'm the War Demon Baekjan."
The War Demon, who'd been listening silently, suddenly introduced himself.
Ak Muyoo turned to look at him.
"I'm Ak Muyoo. The 'Mu' from nothing, the 'Yu' from having."
"Kuk! Cool name."
"Yeah. By the name alone, I was fated to be a beggar."
"How'd a guy with no skills become captain?"
"I told you. I'm built for it."
"That's what comes after becoming captain. At the start, your leadership traits wouldn't have shown yet."
"Doesn't anything come to mind when you look at me?"
"Nope."
"Your eyesight... I'm tall. My voice is the loudest out of ten thousand."
"Other things are bigger than your voice."
So Pung sniped from behind.
"So you became captain because of your height and voice?"
The War Demon asked.
"I'm the fastest runner too. So when the charge order came, I'd hit the enemy lines first and fight."
"They must've liked your leading by example."
"...But pay's the same. No merit bonuses, no dinner allowances."
"You ate the most."
So Pung said.
"For me, food is stamina. Stamina ties directly to survival."
Ak Muyoo turned to face his subordinates.
"Now sleep. Only after a good rest today can you run at full strength tomorrow. Remember, the foundation of martial arts isn't internal energy—it's muscle. Without reserves, even a divine art's grandpa won't save you from death."
"Got it."
The subordinates immediately prepared to sleep.
Their method was always the same. They paired up, dug into the sand, and burrowed in. Ak Muyoo slept with Ara again tonight.
The next day, they rose at dawn, did morning exercises, ate, and ran. Their routine stayed consistent. Two to three hours of nonstop footwork, then sprinting with lightness skills and martial arts combined. Then back to the start for more footwork. The one change starting today: they began practicing the art from last night. Just one stealth technique and one sword form, so it didn't take long.
Especially with the Great Flow Breathing Method mastered, the stealth came even quicker.
Only then did the One Hundred Radiant Demons realize what Ak Muyoo had said the day before.
Those kids were all prodigies.
Amid footwork, running, stealth, and the single sword form, the Haran Mountains drew steadily closer.
The Haran Mountains had no gentle foothills. They were massive chunks of earth jutting straight up from the plains, dark and hulking, stretched long north to south.
"Chaha!"
"Taha!"
Spotting the mountains, the Wind Squadron members pushed harder. Now they could maintain footwork all day without rest. They'd nearly perfected the cliff arts, plus the Chaos Veil and Phantom Isle Ak Muyoo recited later.
Their faces blackened, skin and lips chapped. Palms raw from endless sand, calluses formed, but the pride of finally learning real martial arts brought smiles to their lips.
They ran without stopping.
* * *
[Target: Tae Heaven King's Wife Ak Juryeong, son Ju Muyoo
Amount: 30 million nyang]
—Will you do it?
—Do you know what the Tae Heaven King's Household is?
—Tae Heaven King Ju Cheonhyu is the top candidate for emperor.
—And you're taking him out?
—Not the King. His wife and son. Kill them, and the King crumbles.
—Who's the client?
—Can't say.
—You won't even tell me the client but expect me to take the job?
—We can't even do the hit under the Life-Death Society's name. You alone, as the world's greatest assassin Hidden Death. Fail, and you die.
—Must I?
—Succeed, and we're rolling in money. The Society becomes Beijing's best. Can't miss this.
—Tell me the client. Then I'll do it.
—...Here.
[天]
—One of the five?
—That's all I can say.
—Refusing will cause problems too.
—Right. We can't refuse, can't mess up, can't reveal our name.
—...I'll do it.
—Thanks.
—Hahaha! Hohoho! Where's our baby hiding? Hide tight now, I see your hair. Where's our baby? Here? Not here... Then behind this rock?
—M-Mom...
—Who are you?
—Here to kill you.
—Why...?
—Assassins don't need reasons.
—Someone put a hit on me?
—Yes.
—Do you know who I am?
—Tae Heaven King's wife, Heavenly Sword Empress Ak Juryeong.
—And you still came?
—That's why I grabbed this kid first.
—...
—I'll count to three. If you don't end it yourself, this skewer plunges into the boy's heart. It's already half an inch in, right at the edge.
—Spare the child.
—Your choice, not mine. My target's you. Kill you, no reason to harm him.
—...Can you swear?
—I swear.
—I'll... trust you.
—Kuk! Trusting me? You lot really are...
—I didn't trust you, bastard!
Shing!
—Gasp!
—Kuh!
—Argh!
"Half success."
A burly man with a chin beard muttered, stroking it. That day, Heavenly Sword Empress Ak Juryeong died. But he couldn't kill her son Ju Muyoo. No—he'd stabbed the skewer into the heart, yet the boy lived.
"That's why I'm here. In this damn Ordos Plateau."
The man's eyes turned ice cold.