Chapter 647: My Mistake.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 647: My Mistake.
"The Killing Method is the art of killing itself. It contains the philosophy and contemplation of how efficiently, how surely, and how quickly one can take a life."
Salhon continued speaking in a calm tone.
"Cut the crap. A serial killer talking about philosophy? Give me a break."
Sun-woo immediately spat out an insult. He felt a surge of irritation at Salhon for spewing such nonsense.
"…Regardless, the Killing Method consists mostly of techniques that utilize murderous aura."
Hearing Sun-woo’s scathing criticism, Salhon tried his best to maintain a composed expression as he spoke.
"Techniques using murderous aura?" Sun-woo asked, looking puzzled.
"That is correct. By mastering the Killing Method, one can manipulate murderous aura at will, using it to perform techniques suited for assassination."
Salhon continued his explanation in a level voice.
"Techniques suited for assassination?" Sun-woo pressed, still not quite following.
"For example, coating a blade with murderous aura can further amplify its sharpness, or using that aura to temporarily boost one's physical capabilities."
"That doesn't sound much different from internal energy."
"You are right. In a way, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that assassins possess a second type of internal energy."
Salhon nodded as he spoke. To an assassin, murderous aura was a concept no different from internal energy, as the Killing Method allowed them to utilize it as easily as a martial art.
"I have a question." Sun-woo raised his hand slightly.
"Please, go ahead."
"If what you're saying is true, doesn't that mean assassins can use internal energy and murderous aura simultaneously?"
"That is correct."
"Then why are there no truly powerful masters among assassins?" Sun-woo asked with a look of genuine curiosity.
If Salhon’s words were true, an assassin who mastered the Killing Method should be able to wield both internal energy and murderous aura to achieve immense power. Yet, Sun-woo had never heard of a legendary master among the ranks of assassins. He wondered why that was the case.
"That is due to the special internal energy cultivation methods that assassins practice."
"Special cultivation methods?"
"Yes. Because the cultivation methods practiced by assassins are focused solely on accumulating murderous aura, their efficiency is inevitably lower than that of standard methods. In terms of pure efficiency, they are barely better than a second-rate cultivation method."
"…A second-rate cultivation method, huh?"
Sun-woo fell into thought. A second-rate method was better than the third-rate trash found in street markets, but it was hardly considered good.
"That’s strange. You’re a master who has reached the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm, aren't you? You couldn't have reached that level with a method that's barely better than second-rate."
Sun-woo voiced his suspicion. It didn't add up. The Salhon he had faced was a master at the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm. It was hard to believe his foundation was a mere second-rate method.
"In my case, I am a bit different from conventional assassins."
"Different how?"
"For hundreds of years, I have hopped from body to body, refining and improving the assassin arts over and over again. As a result, I was able to build a martial foundation strong enough to rival any warrior. I cannot be placed on the same level as ordinary assassins."
Salhon spoke calmly. His martial achievements were the result of centuries of constant refinement. He could not be compared to a mere human who lived less than a hundred years.
"Fine, I get it. Basically, you're saying no one else has reached a high realm using assassin arts, right?"
"Correct. The assassin arts are martial arts designed for killing, not for becoming strong."
"Is there a difference?"
"To an assassin, martial arts are merely supplementary. The true core is the Killing Method. Using the Killing Method, even a third-rate nobody can decapitate a master of external arts, and a first-rate practitioner can take down someone at the Super-Peak Realm."
Salhon spoke with a voice full of pride.
"I’d like to see it for myself—this 'Killing Method' of yours."
"Then let me show you. First, release me."
Salhon gestured with his eyes toward the shackles binding his limbs.
"No thanks," Sun-woo refused flatly.
"Why not!?"
"It’s a safety measure," Sun-woo replied calmly. "There’s no guarantee you won't try some cheap trick while teaching me the Killing Method."
"…Your lack of trust is disappointing."
"How could I ever trust you?" Sun-woo snorted.
Though it differed from standard martial arts, the Killing Method was still a matter of manipulating energy. If Salhon tried something, it could become quite troublesome. Therefore, Sun-woo chose to keep him restrained. As long as he was tied up, he couldn't run away.
"Tsk."
Salhon clicked his tongue. He was irritated by Sun-woo’s thoroughness. To use the Killing Method, one needed a specific formula, much like an internal energy cultivation method. Salhon had intended to use this formula to play a trick—by giving Sun-woo a false formula to twist his internal energy flow.
But it seemed that plan was out the window. Even if Sun-woo collapsed from a backfired energy flow, it wouldn't matter if Salhon himself was still shackled. In fact, it might be even more dangerous; he would be stuck in a room with a provoked, dying man and no way to escape.
"Did you just click your tongue at me?" Sun-woo asked, picking up on the sound.
"No, I didn't," Salhon feigned innocence. If this sharp-witted brat realized what he was thinking, he might get scorched by that burning poison again.
"Watch yourself. I’m keeping an eye on you," Sun-woo warned with a cold glare.
"…Understood."
Salhon nodded, his face pale. He vowed to himself not to provoke this foul-tempered monster.
"Right, let’s get to the point. What do I need to do to learn the Killing Method?"
"To learn the Killing Method, you need a specific formula."
"A specific formula?"
"Yes. A special formula that allows you to control murderous aura."
"Then start reciting."
Sun-woo commanded immediately.
This little brat, ordering me around…
Salhon began to curse him inwardly. He felt a surge of resentment at Sun-woo’s constant use of the imperative tone.
"Understood."
Despite his inner thoughts, his mouth could only offer a groveling response. As annoying as Sun-woo was, the Panthesia Burning Poison he possessed was still terrifying.
Salhon slowly began to recite the formula for the Killing Method. Sun-woo listened intently, memorizing every single word as if he refused to miss even a syllable.
After some time had passed…
"…That is all," Salhon said. "Now, if you recite the formula while focusing on your murderous aura, you should feel the aura following your will."
"Is that so?"
Sun-woo immediately closed his eyes, intending to test the formula.
Flash!
Suddenly, he snapped his eyes open and glared at Salhon.
"Hey."
"Ye… yes?"
"If you messed with the formula, you’re dead."
"M-messed with it? That is absolutely out of the question!" Salhon replied with a look of panic.
"Good."
Satisfied with the answer, Sun-woo closed his eyes again. He began to recite the formula slowly, focusing on every character.
However, the murderous aura didn't budge at all.
What’s going on?
Sun-woo felt confused. Despite reciting the entire formula, his murderous aura remained stagnant.
Is once not enough?
He tried reciting it several more times, but no matter how much he repeated the words, the aura showed no sign of moving.
"Hey, Salhon."
Sun-woo scowled deeply and glared at the assassin. He was convinced Salhon had tricked him.
"W-what is it!?" Salhon asked, looking bewildered.
"Do you want to die? I told you not to play games."
Sun-woo’s gaze was murderous.
"N-no! I swear on my life I didn't—"
"Bullshit. Then why isn't the aura moving?"
"T-that… I don't know either…"
"I guess you haven't learned your lesson."
Vroooooom!
Sun-woo quickly circulated his internal energy. He immediately began to channel the burning poison into his palm.
Sssssss!
His palm began to turn a glowing, fiery red.
"Wait… wait! I’m telling the truth!"
Seeing this, Salhon desperately tried to stop him.
Thwack!
Sun-woo ignored him completely and slammed his Poison Palm, brimming with burning poison, into Salhon’s chest.
"You bastard! I’m really not lying!"
Having taken the hit, Salhon screamed in a mix of agony and injustice. He was truly aggrieved. He had given the correct formula out of fear of the burning poison, yet he was being tortured again for 'lying.'
"You son of a bitch! Aaaaaaaagh!!!!!"
Salhon’s curse turned into a shriek as the excruciating pain flared up.
"I’m not lying!!!!!! I’m not!!!!!!"
Tears, snot, and even drool poured from Salhon as he screamed. The sheer sense of injustice gave him the strength to speak through the searing pain. Sun-woo simply watched him coldly.
"Fuuuuuuuuck!!!!!!"
Salhon’s curses filled the torture chamber.
*
"Huff… huff… damn it… seriously…"
"Hurry up and give me the real formula."
Sun-woo pressured Salhon, who was gasping for breath.
"It was… the real one… you bastard…" Salhon replied, his face a mask of misery.
"If it was real, why didn't the aura react?"
"How… should I… know!?"
Salhon looked at Sun-woo, firing back a question of his own. There was no way he could know the answer to that.
"Hmm…"
Seeing Salhon’s extreme reaction and the look of genuine grievance on his face, Sun-woo fell into thought. If the man was still claiming innocence after being hit with the burning poison, there was a chance he was telling the truth.
But… why isn't the aura moving?
If the formula was correct, there had to be a reason why the aura remained unresponsive.
"Is this common?"
"Usually, no… unless it’s a warrior who hasn't accumulated any murderous aura…" Salhon trailed off.
Generally, this never happened. The Killing Method was something only those overflowing with murderous aura sought to learn in the first place. As long as there was enough aura, it was bound to react.
"A warrior who hasn't accumulated murderous aura, huh…"
Sun-woo looked thoughtful. Then, he reached for the Dragon Tail Soft Sword at his waist.
Shring!
He drew the blade, and the flexible sword revealed its lithe form once more.
Vroooooom!
Sun-woo began to circulate the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art.
Stiff!
The once-flexible Dragon Tail Soft Sword became rigid. Simultaneously, a staggering amount of murderous aura began to pour out of his body—the very same aura that had even terrified Salhon.
In an instant, the torture chamber was filled with Sun-woo’s murderous intent.
Good.
Sun-woo nodded slightly, seeing the room thick with his aura. He felt ready.
Whoosh!
He began to recite the formula for the Killing Method again, exactly as Salhon had taught him.
Then, something changed.
The murderous aura filling the room began to swirl violently before rushing toward Sun-woo, like metal filings drawn to a magnet. Before long, Sun-woo was completely enveloped in a dense shroud of compressed murderous aura.
Watching this, Sun-woo sheathed the Dragon Tail Soft Sword back at his waist.
Fshhh.
The thick aura surrounding him instantly dissipated as if it had never been there.
"Heh."
Sun-woo let out a short, dry laugh. He finally realized why the aura hadn't reacted before. He slowly looked up.
"Sorry."
He looked at the shackled Salhon and spoke.
"My mistake."
Sun-woo offered a somewhat apologetic expression.
"I TOLD YOU SOOOOOO!!!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!!!"
Hearing those words, Salhon screamed at the top of his lungs. The injustice and rage he had been bottling up finally exploded all at once.