Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: The Aesthetics of Striking First
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“I’m not a genius, but I remember everything after hearing it once. I can replicate most martial arts after seeing them once.”
“We call people like that geniuses.”
“But the most important thing is, I don’t have a dantian.”
“…….”
“Go tell that to the elders. And if they like the conditions I proposed, follow this bandit.”
Ak Muyoo pointed at Yuk Gu-man.
“Understood.”
Bi-ma turned around.
“Wait!”
Bi-ma turned back to Ak Muyoo.
“What?”
“I prefer the first option.”
“The first one?”
“The one where you fix it and bury it.”
Bi-ma grinned and leaped away.
Ak Muyoo looked at Yuk Gu-man.
“Got something to say?”
“Go with the elders and kill them all. Not a single one left. Got it?”
“You seem awfully sure they’ll help us.”
“If someone bought you a meal and pitifully said, ‘I’ve got a great head on my shoulders, but no dantian so I can’t learn martial arts. Mind helping me out?’—would you coldly turn him down?”
“Well…….”
“That’s how the world works. You use people just enough, help them just enough, and take just enough in return.”
“But do you really have all those martial arts?”
“……Sadly, yes. I’ve got something for you too, so don’t die—come back alive.”
“Me?”
Yuk Gu-man pointed at himself.
“I’ll be back.”
Ak Muyoo stepped outside. Mu Hyang immediately followed.
“Shouldn’t we send at least one person along?”
Kwang-sa said, looking at the group.
“I’ll go.”
Sa-u walked out.
“We’re not going?”
Ha-mi asked Myo-yo.
“Why?”
“He just said if you help just enough, you get something in return.”
“Help and something falls your way?”
Myo-yo asked.
“Didn’t you hear? He’s got all the supreme arts from three of the Absolute Flesh Heavens, the supreme art of the Eight Desolation Whirlwind Heaven, and the martial arts from all thirty-six Border Wastes kingdoms stored in his head.”
“He’s going to teach them to you?”
“Why keep them if you don’t need them?”
“Even if it’s something you don’t need, you don’t just give it to a stranger.”
“That’s why we’re going to get close to him.”
“Get close…… Pfft!”
Myo-yo chuckled.
“What?”
“That guy’s smart.”
“How so?”
“He didn’t even offer to teach martial arts, but here you are, ready to help.”
“It’s not about helping—it’s about getting friendly. He lent me his blade earlier, so we might bond quicker. And honestly, with martial arts like that, he could even ask for my body and I’d give it.”
“You’re not going?”
Just then, Ak Muyoo’s voice called from outside.
“That guy really plans to take me along, huh?”
Ha-mi said with wide eyes.
“Wanna go?”
“If you allow it, Mistress, I’d like to follow.”
“Go ahead.”
“Got it.”
Ha-mi beamed and dashed out.
After Ha-mi left, the room held only Kwang-sa and his three companions, Na Yun Bong, Gun Seol, and Yuk Gu-man.
“I’ll head to the Hundred Radiant Demons.”
Yuk Gu-man stepped out.
“You planning to put him as family head?”
Myo-yo asked Na Yun Bong.
“The North Forest Great Heaven Clan already has a new family head. We’re fugitives.”
Na Yun Bong countered.
“But with the North Forest Ring and North Forest Great Heaven Divine Art revealed, things have changed. The question is whether the lady of the house accepts him as her husband.”
“…….”
Na Yun Bong silently stared at Myo-yo.
“What should we do with Mistress?”
Gun Seol, who had been listening, asked.
Myo-yo looked at Gun Seol.
“I want to hear your thoughts first.”
“I’d like Uncle to become part of our family.”
“Why?”
“He’s so pitiful.”
“Pitiful?”
“Uncle…… he seemed like a wounded beast. If left alone, he’ll turn to ash and fade away someday.”
“You’re going to comfort him?”
“How can a kid like me do that? I just think living with us would be better than now.”
“Want me to help?”
At Myo-yo’s words, Na Yun Bong and the four elders’ eyes widened. The top concubine ranked just below the Grand Commandant of the Imperial Navy—practically the third most powerful figure in the imperial court. Sure, higher ranks existed, but real power didn’t always follow rank. Direct imperial appointees often wielded more influence regardless of title. That’s why the Grand Commandant was called the emperor’s second-in-command.
“How?”
Gun Seol asked.
“I can’t eliminate the current family head. But once he takes over, I can back him from then on. In exchange, there’s a condition.”
“What condition?”
“You become my people.”
“If it’s your side, Mistress…….”
“I want to rise even higher than now.”
“You aim for the position of one below all, above ten thousand?”
This time Na Yun Bong asked.
“Anyone who enters court politics dreams of that seat.”
“I hear there are three factions in the capital?”
“That’s why I’m asking you to join me.”
“I see.”
Na Yun Bong nodded.
“Shall we join hands?”
“Can the two of us make it happen?”
“That guy has no choice but to listen to me.”
“Why?”
“He needs to clear his name.”
“Ah!”
“There’s plenty of time, so think it over.”
“I will.”
Na Yun Bong nodded.
The Ordos Plateau’s nights were far darker than those in cities. Especially on a new moon without stars or moonlight, the world plunged into pitch-black darkness where you couldn’t see an inch ahead.
Absolute blackness.
A group raced through the ink-black darkness.
Composed of a hundred men, they were the Wind Corps members who had left the Great River Inn.
After running for a while, a wooden stockade appeared ahead. The group dropped flat and flipped their storm cloaks over themselves. Their forms vanished completely.
“Let me in.”
Ha-mi, without a storm cloak, crawled under Ak Muyoo’s and said.
“Can’t you use stealth techniques?”
“I need to save my qi for fighting.”
“You’re different from the Eastern Ocean folks I know.”
“Thick-skinned, huh?”
“Thicker than iron plate.”
“Hmph.”
“Scout ahead.”
Ak Muyoo said quietly.
Five from the formation moved left and right. Their lightness skill was the lizard step they had madly practiced in the desert.
Those who left the formation vanished at terrifying speed.
“Total lizards.”
Ha-mi said.
“That’s why it’s called lizard step.”
“Fits perfectly.”
“How’d an Eastern Ocean guy end up under the top concubine?”
“As servant and lover.”
“……You’re a guy?”
“Nope?”
“Then the top concubine’s a guy?”
“She’s a woman too.”
“Lover, you said?”
“No law saying women can’t be lovers.”
“None.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“No problem—just not everyday stuff.”
“I sleep with men too, so no need to worry for me.”
“Why do you think I’m worried?”
“You look genuinely concerned. You even sighed.”
“You hearing things at your age or what?”
“I get it, so no need to justify it to yourself like that.”
“Ugh! Totally…….”
Just then, the scouts returned.
“Sentries in the watchtower.”
“Go take them out.”
Ak Muyoo said to Dong Pung’s group.
“Got it.”
Dong Pung’s group split left and right.
The group waited prone. Dong Pung’s group returned after about fifteen minutes.
“All clear.”
“Good. Move as planned.”
The group rose and scattered left and right. Moments later, they reached the stockade and leaped over simultaneously. After crossing, they crouched and scanned ahead and the flanks.
Whoosh!
One signaled with hand signs, and they ran again.
The Silent God Squad’s buildings numbered around a hundred, radiating from the squad leader’s quarters in the center.
The layout was pentagonal.
Soon, they reached the squad leader’s quarters. The Silent God Pavilion, being the leader’s residence, was a two-story building. Whether trusting the outer guards or not, no sentries patrolled.
The Wind Corps members scattered around the Silent God Pavilion.
To eliminate those Im Chung-i had marked. In front of the Silent God Pavilion remained the Eighteen-Man Squad, Ak Muyoo, Ara, Mu Hyang, Ha-mi, Sa-u, and Im Chung-i.
Ak Muyoo went to the door and pushed.
It opened silently.
Inside was as dark as outside. Ak Muyoo pulled a night pearl from his bosom. He tossed it into the air, and Ara caught it midair with void grasp.
The interior consisted of dozens of rooms. Barracks for the leader’s guards.
The Eighteen-Man Squad quietly dispersed.
Ak Muyoo watched them, then headed upstairs.
Im Chung-i pointed to the central room.
Ak Muyoo opened the door and entered.
“I’ll handle here, so check downstairs.”
Ak Muyoo said to the group.
“I’ll stay here.”
Ha-mi said.
“You like me?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
“I like your insides, not the shell. Especially that head stuffed with martial arts formulas.”
“Pfft!”
Ak Muyoo chuckled. Then he said,
“Light it up.”
“Not killing right away?”
“Gotta confirm it’s Jin Chu-nam.”
“Right.”
Ha-mi shone the night pearl around, found the lamp, and ignited it with triple true fire. The room lit up.
“Gasp!”
Jin Chu-nam bolted upright.
While half-asleep during Ak Muyoo and Ha-mi’s talk, the sudden brightness made him snap his eyes open.
“Who are you?”
Spotting the intruders, Jin Chu-nam snatched his beloved Heaven-Severing Blade and leaped up.
“Black Wind.”
Ak Muyoo answered softly.
“Huh, Black Wind!”
His eyes widened in shock. Earlier today, he’d heard from squad leader Ironwood Haram of the Red Death Squad about Black Wind and the Wind Corps. They had even planned to raid the Tiger Forest tomorrow night.
But they had struck first.
He deployed Heaven-Earth Listening Skill to probe around.
‘Quiet.’
If it were an assault, it’d be noisy, but no sounds came.
‘Then…….’
“Ha-mi!”
“Yes.”
Ha-mi turned to Ak Muyoo.
“…….”
Ak Muyoo stared at Ha-mi.
“What?”
“Why haven’t you dealt with that punk?”
“Me?”
“You wanna do it?”
“Well…….”
“Didn’t you say you wanted what’s in here?”
Ak Muyoo tapped his own head.
“You trash.”
Flash!
Jin Chu-nam kicked off the bed and flew forward.
His right hand gripped the drawn Heaven-Severing Blade, oozing thick killing intent.