Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Long Time No See
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They began fleeing with every ounce of their strength. But my silhouette had already shot toward them.
I closed the distance to the escaping bastards in an instant. And one by one, I neutralized them.
No second strikes were needed. A single blow felled each assassin.
Watching this, the Shadow Squad members redoubled their efforts to scatter in every direction.
It was impossible to capture them all without killing any.
But my goal wasn't to catch and kill them anyway, so it didn't matter.
I hadn't even killed the ones I'd downed—just sealed their pressure points.
I began secretly tailing one of the fleeing men, using the Soundless Stealth Technique so he'd never sense me.
Of course, being pursued, he wasn't dumb enough to head straight back to base.
Having undergone the same training, I knew they'd first gather at some temporary hideout, wander through various routes to throw off pursuit, and only then return.
Sure enough, they'd set up a secret hideout in an abandoned temple deep in the mountains. I concealed myself at a distance from it.
The Shadow Squad assassin who arrived first kept a constant vigilant watch around him. But he couldn't detect me, a master of stealth.
A few hours later, the other Shadow Squad assassins trickled in one by one.
They took turns standing guard while filling their stomachs with the preserved rations and water they'd stashed, then circulated their qi to recover the inner energy depleted by their all-out lightness skill.
"No more pursuit, it seems."
"Numbers 1229, 1255, 1330, and 1458 haven't returned."
"To lose four in the blink of an eye... What an incredible master. Who'd have thought the Thousand Gold Merchant Group had someone like that."
"We don't stand a chance. We'll need the Black Kill Squad or Blood Wolf Corps to step in."
"This is our fault for not detecting him sooner. Prepare for punishment when we return."
"Understood!"
"We're heading back."
And so they set off for their main base.
Completely unaware of the massive tail attached to them.
As expected, they didn't travel together.
They detoured multiple times, stayed alert to their surroundings, and moved with utmost caution.
They even changed clothes twice.
But having received the same training, I knew exactly why they moved like that and what they'd do next. That's how I saw through their deception tactics and kept tracking them.
They arrived at a modest manor in the countryside.
The sign for Tianxia Escort Agency suggested it transported goods.
It wasn't large, but busy enough with cargo and people coming and going that it wouldn't raise suspicion.
It reminded me of setting up the Gold Flower Gambling House in Luoyang.
'No different from back then.'
Convinced this was a Demonic Cult outpost for targeting Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, I scaled the manor wall to begin the operation.
Demonic Cult experts disguised themselves as guards throughout the grounds, but none detected my intrusion with the Soundless Stealth Technique at its peak.
From the roof of the main hall, I peered inside and saw the man I'd tailed prostrating before someone.
I knew the objects of their obeisance well.
Elder Galma-hwi, a strategist from the Demonic Cult Inner Party's Money Pavilion, and Captain Gwan Cheol-hyeol of the Shadow Squad.
These were the men who'd handled the Demonic Cult's external operations until now.
Gambling houses, escort agencies, brothels, casinos, contract killings—they ran it all, funneling massive funds into the cult.
But that was irrelevant to me. What mattered was one thing.
They'd known the fate of the Luoyang Branch all along.
The Luoyang Branch was their direct subordinate organization.
Did they really not know?
That they'd sacrifice a sub-branch poured with immense capital and manpower as bait?
I looked up at the night sky. A blood-red moon hung unusually bright.
Gazing at that crimson moon, anyone would feel their killing intent boiling.
* * *
"What? You failed and came crawling back?"
"Forgive us. There was an unexpected variable."
"A variable? After months of surveillance, you're saying we missed something?"
"An unimaginable master was guarding him."
"An unimaginable master?"
"Yes. Numbers 1229, 1255, 1330, and 1458 fell in seconds. We barely escaped."
"Four top-tier Shadow Squad assassins in seconds? That's at least a pinnacle expert. You went into the mission without knowing about him?"
"Our apologies."
"You'll face punishment upon return to headquarters. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Get out! I can't stand the sight of you!"
At Captain Gwan Cheol-hyeol's words, the six survivors backed away and vanished.
"Heh, this is a problem."
"Indeed. I thought ten top assassins would be more than enough."
They showed no emotion whatsoever for the four who hadn't returned.
To these bastards, assassins were nothing more than disposable pawns.
Hiding in the shadows and eavesdropping, my rage surged even hotter at their attitudes.
They'd probably eaten well, fought well, and even whored on the day the Luoyang Branch was sacrificed.
"A mystery pinnacle expert..."
Elder Galma-hwi stroked his beard, deep in thought.
Captain Gwan Cheol-hyeol spoke deferentially.
"Elder, let's head inside and discuss countermeasures."
"What a headache..."
The two entered the hall. Ten Shadow Squad elites lay hidden in the sand around it, ready for any intruders.
The moment someone stepped on the sand, they'd strike.
But I crossed it silently with Void Treading Step, without a sound.
Then, in a flash, I sealed the pressure points of Elder Galma-hwi and Captain Gwan Cheol-hyeol as they reached for the door, shoved them inside, and shut it.
All in the blink of an eye.
I immediately unleashed the Golden Hand Capturing Claw on the captain's chest, ripping out his heart.
Crunch! Grrunch!
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
I shoved his still-beating, quivering heart right in front of his eyes.
"Long time no see, Captain. Selling out your men improve your household finances?"
"Kuh... guh..."
He couldn't answer, crumbling away.
He was a top-rate expert nearing the peak, but helpless against my ambush.
I turned to Elder Galma-hwi, trembling on the floor with his meridians and acupuncture points sealed.
Grabbing his topknot, I hoisted the limp old man up.
"You wouldn't know who I am, would you?"
"...Mmph!"
"I know you well, though."
Meeting my thick killing intent, Elder Galma-hwi shook like a drenched dog in terror.
Not cultivating demonic arts, he felt an overwhelming dread from my aura.
Tears welled in his aged eyes.
"Old fart, do you know how many Shadow Squad members died to your petty schemes? While you stayed spotless. Think we're your chess pieces?"
My sudden mention of the Shadow Squad made his eyes bulge in shock.
"Before you die, I'll tell you. I'm a Shadow Squad member from the Luoyang Branch who sacrificed everything."
"Guh! Hack!"
Too shocked, he convulsed—but it ended there.
I twisted his topknot tight and delivered a palm strike, severing his neck.
Like the captain, a massive fountain of blood sprayed the ceiling.
The room became a sea of blood from their bodies.
I lifted Elder Galma-hwi's severed head and stared into his eyes.
His pupils still twitched—he wasn't fully dead yet.
Human heads live on for a while after decapitation. I whispered into his ear.
'Hell awaits with my comrades. Say hi for me. Especially to 102.'
His pupils dilated hugely. Now he was truly gone.
I placed the elder's head and the captain's heart side by side on the Chengdu map spread across the table. Dipping a brush in their blood as ink, I wrote a message before slipping away.
After Hwang Tae-seong departed.
A boy who appeared to be a servant brought in refreshments and tea, then screamed and fainted at the sight of the corpses.
Dozens of Demonic Cult experts rushed in at his cry.
They covered their mouths at the gruesome scene.
These men, who walked closer to death than life, couldn't help but be stunned by their direct superiors' horrific ends.
"H-how... when..."
They saw the blood-written words on the Sichuan Province Chengdu map, beside the severed head and heart.
"S-Squad Leader, how do we report this?"
With Captain Gwan Cheol-hyeol dead, he—the next in rank—held command.
He judged coolly and issued orders.
"Shut this place down and retreat to the rear. Leave no trace of our presence."
"Understood."
As his men hastily cleared supplies, the squad leader examined the captain's body.
"To take him down in one strike without us noticing... A true monster."
"Can you identify the technique used?"
"Hm, looks like a claw method. Not Demonic Cult, though. And not particularly advanced."
"That's what's terrifying. Killing a captain-level expert with a mediocre claw technique."
"He knew we'd target Ni Dae-ho and waited nearby. Tracked our failed team here. And then..."