Chapter 74
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Beasts in the Dark
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Rustle, rustle, rustle.
The sound of footsteps crushing the grass leaves.
A shadowy figure emerging from the darkness slowly revealed itself under the moonlight.
A masked figure approaching him, and other masked assailants radiating a murderous aura as they surrounded the area.
Yu Hyun's eyes gleamed toward them like those of a wild beast.
Yeah, right now, I'm a beast.
So you're beasts in my eyes too.
You damn masked bastards.
It was clear they were targeting this side from the circumstances, but taking other people's lives in the process...
I don't know what their goal is or why they bother with masks, but there was no reason for the Sanhae Escort Agency's escorts to die.
Even less reason for the few people from Hyeongsan County, used as bait in their trap, to die.
His masters had told him. Anyone who calls themselves human has certain lines they must never cross.
Even those who live by the blade are no exception.
Even back-alley thugs need a reason for their rampages, and those rampages must never be unleashed on innocents without cause.
That was the basic code of conduct any human should uphold.
Demonic scum doesn't refer to the martial artists of the Demonic Cult. Those who abandon that code are the true scum deserving of scorn—beasts.
Beasts lesser than humans that must be tamed with a single blow, and if they can't be tamed, killed to pay for their sins.
The masked figure he was staring at was one such beast.
The world he was fighting so hard to protect wasn't one where scum like that got to live.
He wanted nothing more than to snap that arrogant, stiff neck right then and there, but he had to hold back for now.
There were words he needed to hear first.
Yu Hyun forced a deeper smile to keep his surging rage in check.
"You're quite something for a young pup. Sensing our presence like that."
"......"
Yu Hyun smirked as he stared at the masked figure who had stopped at a certain distance.
This crazy bastard's handing out compliments in the middle of all this.
"Thanks for the praise, but why'd you do it?"
"......What?"
The masked figure approaching tilted his head at the blunt question.
"Why'd you kill the Sanhae Escort Agency people in Hyeongsan Gorge? If you went to the trouble of setting this trap for us, they weren't your real targets to begin with."
The masked figure's eyes curved in surprise as he grasped the question's meaning.
Look at this bastard? Smiling after slaughtering people?
"Hoh? You found the corpses we hid in the mist?"
"Hide them? The stench of blood was so thick I thought my nose would rot off."
"......"
Of course, it was the veteran escort who smelled it, and Yu Hyun wouldn't have noticed without him, but no need to tell the masked man that.
The masked figure's brow furrowed briefly at Yu Hyun's sarcasm before smoothing out.
"This is surprising. If you knew about the ambush, then you must know the identities of our children disguised as villagers too..."
"Yeah. They were so sloppy and crude, it was hard to pretend not to notice."
"Hah!"
The masked figure let out a hollow laugh as Yu Hyun calmly brushed it off, hiding his anger.
"Well, damn. We split paths here to set the trap, but it was all a waste of time. Should've just waited if we knew you'd come through Hyeongsan."
"......"
This son of a bitch kills people and laughs about it like it's nothing.
No guilt at all, not even the bare minimum.
"But you still came all the way here knowing everything?"
"Why? Not allowed?"
"You're overflowing with youthful vigor. Surrounded like this, and your face doesn't even show tension..."
Yu Hyun smirked, sensing the mockery in the eyes scanning him.
"Yeah, I was a bit tense. Didn't know what to expect. But after seeing you lot, I'm good."
"......"
"Tigers don't hunt in packs. That's what wolves and jackals do."
"......"
"But you lot aren't even wolves or jackals. You're just mangy dogs."
"What?"
"Am I wrong? Hiding your faces to conceal your identities, setting traps and lurking for a sneak attack. Like terrified dogs."
"You little..."
The masked figure's eyes flickered with rising fury at suddenly being called dogs.
"Can't even take a few words without showing your emotions. So dog-like."
"......"
"Anyway, I get a few things about you now, even if the rest is a mystery."
"......"
"The mist ambush in Hyeongsan, and skipping the righteous inn in Hyeongsan County to set your trap way out here."
"What are you getting at?"
"How guilty do you have to feel to go to these lengths?"
"......"
"Whatever the reason, you can't let anyone see you. Some crime syndicate that can't be exposed? Secret society? Something like that?"
"......"
The masked figure's eyes sharpened at Yu Hyun's analytical words.
"You're sharp for a kid. Piecing that much together from a few clues..."
"Thanks again for the repeated praise. But you're not even pretending to deny it?"
Yu Hyun grinned as the mirth faded from the masked figure's voice.
"You're all gonna die anyway, but one more question."
"......"
"Who's your backer?"
"What?"
"Come on. No way a field operative like you is the boss... And if you're targeting the Justice Alliance's nascent Dragon Squadron—even if it's not fully formed yet—that means you're a big organization. One that can afford to make enemies of the Nangong Clan and Beggars' Sect too."
"......"
The masked figure's sword trembled faintly in his hand at the fluent deductions spilling out.
Whoooong!
The grass around his feet bent toward the ground as if blown by wind from the killing intent gathering on the blade.
"Hoh? What's with that reaction? Looks like I hit the mark."
"......"
"Whoever your top dog is, letting scum like you loose to take lives indiscriminately... He's gotta be the supreme bastard of all bastards. Tell me—who is he?"
"You bastard..."
"Hey, don't shake like that. You'll dislocate something."
"......"
The masked figure struggled to suppress his anger at Yu Hyun's taunting, deliberate jabs.
He'd been led along without realizing it.
From a scholarly clan, they said. Sharp tongue beyond his years, indeed.
He was supposed to be the one questioning the surrounded boy, but at some point, Yu Hyun had turned the tables, firing questions nonstop.
No matter.
No need for talk with a warrior. Words come first when skill falls short—it's a crutch for the deficient.
"Hoo, your mouth runs too much for a pup eager for the grave... But before I take your head, let me ask one thing."
"Fine. Ask away. Gotta satisfy my curiosity before I croak."
"......"
The masked figure paused at Yu Hyun's words, laced with laughter but edged like a blade, before asking.
"...What did he tell you?"
"He?"
"Hwang Deok-sam."
"......!"
Yu Hyun's eyes widened like saucers in an instant.
What? Hwang Deok-sam?
How did that name come from this bastard's mouth? Could it be these guys?
Now he understood why they were targeting him.
His trembling pupils steadied, and a cold frost replaced the smile on his hardened face.
"This is just..."
"......"
"How does it always end up like this? It was you guys? Should've said so sooner—no need for all this agonizing."
"......What?"
No doubt now—these were lackeys of the Huanran cult's dogs.
No time to waste then.
He'd experienced it in Hefei already, hadn't he?
No point asking who their great master was—they never answered politely, and when cornered, they just killed themselves.
Change the order. Beat first, ask later.
No need for the grunts.
Grab the leader—he'd know the most.
Take him down in one strike, then slowly dismantle the rest.
"Hoo..."
Yu Hyun steadied his breath, then drew up every ounce of spirit energy from his heart.
The bastard wouldn't sense it. Spirit energy was invisible to his aura sense.
Kuuuung.
The explosively surging spirit energy shot through his limbs.
But not concentrated in one place.
Half to his legs for the leap, half to his fist...
"You bastard, what was that? 'You guys'?"
"......"
Preparations complete.
Spirit energy filled his body, churning like it would devour the masked man any second.
Yu Hyun grinned chillingly at him with sunken eyes.
"What was that?"
"......"
"Means I'm gonna beat you first, you dog!"
Paaang!
Closing the distance in one Beggars' Sect One Step Shadowless Sky Step, Yu Hyun dropped low and aimed Nangong's Exploding Thunder at the masked man's gut.
Whirrrrl!
The twisting fist made the air scream.
"......Y-You!"
The leader was a leader for a reason—quick to react despite the surprise.
Bwoook!
He retreated in time, so Yu Hyun's fist merely grazed his abdomen. The masked man's wildly swung sword dropped vertically to cleave Yu Hyun in two.
Kuuuk!
In that instant, Yu Hyun's second step deeply stomped the earth, his body blurring with overlapping afterimages before scattering rapidly around the masked man.
Beggars' Sect Drunken Eight Immortals Steps.
First strike failed, but no letting him escape.
Seal every possible evasion route.
Kwaaak!
Yu Hyun poured all the unused spirit energy into the tree branch in his hand and gripped hard.
Crackle, crack!
Too much power for a branch, but... it'll do.
Once is enough.
Staff Art, Invincible Under Heaven!
Kuaaaang!
Drunken Eight Immortals Steps fused with Invincible Under Heaven's variations, the spirit-charged branch filling the sky as it rained down on the masked man.
In that moment, someone leaped in front of the masked man.
Kwaaaang!
"Krraaak!"
A monstrous impact followed.
Kwachik, kwajik! Kwak!
"Krraaak!"
Yu Hyun's face twisted at the screams bursting with the Staff Art's ferocious blows.
Shit... he slipped away?
"......"
In his eyes: the masked man's deputy glaring from a retreated position, and the small fry crumpled like bloody rags on the ground.
Damn it, shielding their leader with their bodies?
Never figured trash like them had any loyalty...
Yu Hyun snatched a sword from one of the fallen.
Who says Staff Art has to use a staff?
"Son of a bitch."
"Yes? Yes! Young Uncle!"
Yu Hyun, eyes fixed on the deputy's masked figure, suddenly called Gae Du-sin, who snapped to attention.
"Watch my back."
"......"
"No heroics."
Gae Du-sin stared blankly at Yu Hyun's retreating back after the curt words, then gripped his green bamboo staff with a chilling aura.
"......Yes, Young Uncle!"
As Gae Du-sin assumed position, burning with resolve—
Rumble.
"......?"
Yu Hyun halted, sword regripped, midway to the deputy.
What was that low growl?
From the deputy's sword, energy poured out like threads, layering upon itself.
Soon wrapping the blade, it roiled like flames...
Sword qi.
Damn it all, no wonder he was so cocky.