Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Stealth vs Stealth
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Captain!”
Ak Muyoo called out to Arak Cheonjang.
“Yes.”
Arak Cheonjang ran up to Ak Muyoo.
“Hold onto this for me.”
Ak Muyoo held out the Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink and the general’s sword to Arak Cheonjang.
“Understood.”
Arak Cheonjang took the Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink and the general’s sword.
“It’s heavy.”
Arak Cheonjang was startled. The Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink was so heavy it was hard to use as a weapon.
“It’s one way to overcome my weaknesses.”
“……I see.”
“Go raise the drawbridge now.”
“Aren’t I going out too?”
“We have to guard the palace as well.”
“…….”
“Truth is, those guys are too strong. If I go out, I’ll just end up dying a dog’s death.”
“I’ll stake my life on it.”
“Not now—later.”
“Father King.”
“Do as I say. Ano.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s go.”
“Grab me.”
Ageukta grabbed Ak Muyoo’s waist and leaped into the air. As the two launched themselves, Ruha, Arak Siru, Ara, Seo Haran, Muk Bu-seong, and the five Heavenly Center Absolutes followed one after another, crossing over to Gaja River.
The group that landed on the opposite riverbank lined up in a row. Ak Muyoo removed the hat from his head and tucked it into his pocket.
“Let us join you as well.”
A low voice came from the side. The group turned their heads. Manju Jeokhwa, the head of Hyeonu Storm Manju House, was approaching with about a hundred subordinates. Next to her was Geo Hwa Do, carrying a massive sword on his back.
“You’re here to help?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
“I figured I should pay back the debt somehow.”
“We’ve decided to rename Hyeonu Storm Manju House to Manju Division, with the leader called the deputy head. Do you agree?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
Manju Jeokhwa’s face twisted.
She had already foreseen that Chacha Kingdom would change. But she hadn’t expected to hear it right in front of the enemy.
“……Why bring that up here?”
“Once the battle starts, who knows what’ll happen. I might die, or…….”
“Or I might die, you mean?”
“My chances of dying are higher, but life is unpredictable.”
“Then why bring the tonic?”
Manju Jeokhwa grumbled.
“It’s just a name change from house head to deputy head—nothing else has changed. Plus, unlike other houses, we’re using your family name for the division. That’s a sign of gratitude too.”
“But there’s no guarantee my daughter will become deputy head again.”
“As long as you stay loyal to the queen, the position will stay in your family for generations.”
“No room for choice…….”
“I know Hyeonu Storm Manju House was involved in the deaths of Lord Juraekdaeha and Cha Sawoong’s family head.”
“So that’s it.”
Manju Jeokhwa let out a sigh. She had no choice but to accept.
“Let’s go.”
Ak Muyoo picked up the Heavenly Divine Sun Bow and started walking. His slow steps gradually picked up speed. Moments later, they arrived in front of the enemy lines.
There weren’t many enemies standing openly in their camp. Most of the assassins were hidden in the darkness.
Ak Muyoo unwrapped the Blood Wind Cape from his waist and draped it around his neck. The Blood Wind Cape was like a clone he carried everywhere.
“Ano, follow me. Everyone else, wait here.”
Ak Muyoo advanced forward.
He stopped thirty paces from the enemy. He unleashed the Six Senses Command and Wild Beast Blood Demon Art to their limits. The surrounding situation flooded into his mind.
“I am the vice king of Chacha Kingdom. Who are you?”
Ak Muyoo bellowed.
“I am Hyeonul Daerang, head of the Remote Solitary Hyeonul House!”
Remote Solitary Hyeonul House had placed several commissions with Hell Thousand Evils, so they were acquainted with its evil lord, Tan Ya. Upon arriving in Chacha Kingdom, Tan Ya had sought out Remote Solitary Hyeonul House, leading Hyeonul Daerang here together.
‘Found you, bastard.’
“Ano, throw me!”
“Where, up?”
“Up ahead.”
“First martial artist in my life to ask me to throw him upward, you punk.”
Ageukta grabbed Ak Muyoo with his right hand and hurled him upward without mercy. In an instant, Ak Muyoo’s form shot high into the sky.
“You…….”
Far in the distance, Ak Muyoo spotted Hyeonul Daerang. Next to him stood someone who looked extremely powerful.
‘You must be the head of Hell Thousand Evils.’
Ak Muyoo’s hand flashed like lightning twice.
“Gasp!”
Hell Thousand Evils’ evil lord Tan Ya’s face stiffened in shock. A chilling energy pierced into his mind. He immediately threw himself behind Hyeonul Daerang.
Thud! Thud!
“Urk!”
“Guh!”
Screams erupted from behind where Tan Ya had stood and from Hyeonul Daerang’s mouth.
Hyeonul Daerang ducked his head. Blood was gushing from his heart.
“You damn dog…….”
Thump!
He collapsed on the spot. As he fell, Tan Ya was revealed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three Dark Current Arrows pierced through the darkness toward Tan Ya. Tan Ya rolled desperately on the ground.
But he couldn’t fully evade them.
Thwack!
One Dark Current Arrow embedded into his thigh.
“Gah!”
Tan Ya screamed but kept rolling. No more Dark Current Arrows flew.
Clack!
Ak Muyoo landed on the ground and flattened himself. In that instant, his form vanished.
Tan Ya glanced at Hyeonul Daerang. He was already dead.
‘Kill…….’
He turned his gaze forward, glaring.
‘Nothing there.’
His eyes widened. He had seen the enemy descending just moments ago. Yet the bastard was gone. Tan Ya narrowed his eyes and scanned again. Still nothing.
―Wind Sand People and White Sand People, attack!
In the end, he ordered his subordinates to strike.
Whoosh! Swaaak!
The sound of wind blowing and sand scraping echoed simultaneously. It was the noise of the Wind Sand People and White Sand People launching themselves.
―The enemies are hiding in the wind and dust. Watch out for the wind and dust.
Ageukta sent a transmission to the group.
―Where’s that guy?
Arak Siru asked via transmission.
―No idea. I saw him land, but he disappeared.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind blew, kicking up dust everywhere. Hidden within the dust cloud were dozens of Hell Thousand Evils’ White Sand People. If the opponents had been regular Chacha Kingdom soldiers, the White Sand People or Wind Sand People would have had no trouble.
But those here included Ageukta, one of the Desert Ten Heroes, three Yellow Heaven Ten Dragons, Cheol Mok and the Heavenly Center Absolutes who matched Ageukta, plus Queen Arak Siru, Geo Hwa, and Hyeonu Storm Manju House head Manju Jeokhwa—all formidable experts. The assassins had gravely underestimated their foes.
“Chaha!”
Ageukta shot forward, swinging his blade. It was the Sovereign Iron Wolf Dance’s first form, Iron Wolf Wave. Hundreds of iron wolves bared their fangs and plunged into the wind.
Thud! Thud! Thump thump! Thud!
Flesh tore and blood sprayed, but no screams rang out.
When dying enemies don’t scream, it can be disheartening and eerie for the attacker. It’s like putting all your strength into a strike only for the target to act unfazed—the fear is similar. That’s one reason fights with assassins feel so tough.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Ageukta’s blade cleaved the air again.
Kaoo! Kyao! Kaoo!
Roars like iron wolves howling reverberated. This was the Iron Wolf Annihilation form. Iron Wolf Annihilation was a storm of blade energy. Blade energy surged from the tip, sweeping the surroundings like a tempest.
Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice!
Severed limbs and heads flew everywhere. The scent of blood spread on the wind. Ageukta wasn’t the only one mercilessly cutting down the assassins hidden in the darkness, wind, and dust.
Cheol Mok and Mok Woo’s group unleashed terrifying auras, eliminating the assassins. Before them, the assassins’ stealth techniques posed no threat.
It was a situation where it couldn’t be otherwise.
Assassins approach stealthily and eliminate targets with a single decisive strike at the critical moment.
The target never knows the assassin exists. If they slip up and reveal themselves, the assassin abandons the mission and flees.
That’s the essence of assassination arts.
In other words, assassination arts maximize their strength when the opponent is unaware.
Yet the assassins here were doing the opposite. And against transcendent experts at that.
It was only natural they were getting slaughtered.
No screams, but the assassins kept dying.
‘What the…….’
Tan Ya was appalled.
Chacha Kingdom had no noteworthy forces except a few—weak as bandits, he’d thought. So he’d come lightly. But Chacha Kingdom was utterly different from his expectations. It was a dragon’s pond and tiger’s den swarming with masters.
And……
Tan Ya glared ahead.
The one who’d fired those strange arrows earlier. He was nowhere to be seen. He couldn’t even move, fearing he’d become a target the moment he stood.
―Unja.
He sent a transmission.
Unja was the guest master of Hell Thousand Evils’ strongest assassin unit, the Shadowless Four. All Shadowless Four were hidden near Tan Ya.
―Yes.
Unja’s transmission came back.
―Find the one who’s hiding.
―Understood.
Unja gave orders to his elites. Ten Shadowless Four flattened themselves and slowly advanced, their stealth active but faintly visible.
Thud!
Blood sprayed from the back of one advancing Shadowless Four’s head. His neck snapped forward.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Four more Dark Current Arrows flew in succession, killing four Shadowless Four.
―Find him!
Tan Ya roared via transmission. The Shadowless Four focused all their senses to locate Ak Muyoo.
Thud! Thump thump! Thump thump!
Five more died.
―We won’t win like this.
Unja transmitted.
―What do you suggest?
―If we reveal ourselves and move fast, he’ll have to show too. Then we eliminate him.
―Do as you think best, guest master.
Fwhoosh! Fwhoosh! Fwhoosh! Fwhoosh! Fwhoosh!
Over twenty Shadowless Four sprang up and charged forward, scanning all around as they ran.
Thud! Thud! Thump! Thump thump! Thump!
Dark Current Arrows pierced the darkness, burrowing into foreheads and out the backs of heads.
The Shadowless Four’s heads snapped back, and they toppled over.
‘Gasp!’
Unja’s eyes widened. He’d assumed the arrow shooter was nearby, so he’d ordered his men to reveal and search. But the arrows came from farther than expected.
―Thirty paces away.
One elite transmitted.
“Go kill him!”
Unja said lowly.
Shadowless Four near Unja leaped forward en masse. They covered over ten paces in a flash. At that moment, a black shape rose in the darkness.
Five paces from Unja.
“Gasp!”
Unja’s eyes bulged. He’d never dreamed an enemy was hidden there.
Plop plop!
A faint sound whispered past his ear.
‘Dodge, I have to……!’
Thud! Thud!
A chilling, icy energy pierced his forehead and heart. His mind went blank. In Unja’s fading vision, he saw Ak Muyoo flattened on the ground.
Then Ak Muyoo vanished completely.
‘Terrifying…….’
Thump!
Unja collapsed.
Clack!
As Unja fell, Tan Ya—who had stood—flattened himself again. He crawled swiftly into a depression and scanned ahead.
‘Where are you, you bastard.’
Tan Ya gripped his weapon and muttered lowly.