Chapter 100: Ambushed
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: Ambushed
I stepped a good distance away from Galwi and approached Black Spirit One.
“How old are you, Black Spirit One?”
As I threw out the question, I immediately unleashed the Life Claiming Style of the Draw Sword Instant Kill. I curled my tongue and fired the projectile toward Galwi’s shoulder.
“Argh!”
It must have hurt; a chunk of flesh likely tore right off.
Galwi cried out as something like a dagger suddenly gouged his shoulder from behind.
“Who is it?!”
I spoke nonchalantly to Black Spirit One.
“It seems there is a hidden hand targeting Young Lord Gal.”
The Life Claiming Style I fired left no trace, so even a master like Black Spirit One couldn't have sensed it.
Black Spirit One blew a short whistle, and the Black Spirit Ten Guards immediately encircled Galwi.
Seizing that moment, I shouted.
“Above! There’s an assassin above! Young Lord Gal is in danger!”
At my cry, the Black Spirit Ten Guards simultaneously swung their swords toward the ceiling of the passage.
“We’ve been spotted! We die here! Kill him!”
I sent a sound transmission to Deputy Woo for the first time.
[Military Advisor Woo, get to Galwi’s side quickly. And please, follow my lead.]
It was my first time ever attempting a sound transmission, but it seemed to work, as Deputy Woo moved toward Galwi.
“Military Advisor Woo! Protect Young Lord Gal!”
Deputy Woo played along with my words.
“Who are these bastards trying to harm our Chamber’s guest?! The Nine Demons Chamber will not stand idly by if anyone tries to harm Young Lord Gal!”
Deputy Woo was sharp; he knew how to act the moment he assessed the situation.
As Deputy Woo and I moved toward Galwi, the Black Spirit Ten Guards opened a path for us.
“Ugh!”
The instructor who had been guiding us was struck by a sword from the Ghost Pursuit Squad and perished instantly.
I regretted not being able to look after him. If I had paid just a little more attention, he wouldn't have died. I had been so focused on linking the Ghost Pursuit Squad to Galwi that I had completely forgotten about the instructor’s presence.
‘I’m sorry.’
I offered a silent prayer for the nameless instructor and shouted.
“Black Spirit Ten Guards, you must show your absolute best right now! These bastards look like they’re prepared to die! If you let your guard down, Young Lord Gal won't survive!”
Masters like the Black Spirit Ten Guards don't usually reveal their ultimate techniques from the start. They tend to unfold their martial arts while gauging the situation, so I gave them a warning.
“Aaargh!”
“Maknae!”
As expected, when one of the Black Spirit Ten Guards killed an assassin, the dying man lunged forward to embrace him. Immediately, Bone-Corrosion Poison exploded from his robes, drenching the guard.
“Aaaaaargh!”
Even a master of the Black Spirit Ten Guards couldn't endure the pain as his face melted away; he screamed in agony.
“Unleash the Black Spirit Demon World Ten Squad!”
Galwi, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, barked an order. Even at a glance, I could tell it was a top-tier sword formation.
I shouted as well.
“Don't leave a single one alive! We’ll help too!”
I intentionally raised my voice to expose my position.
“There he is!” one of the Ghost Pursuit Squad members shouted. “Attack only that guy!”
One of them lunged at me. My vision had sharpened significantly, so his attack was clear to my eyes. I immediately drew my sword to deceive his gaze.
As expected, he raised his sword to block my draw. At that exact moment, I fired the Life Claiming Style into his forehead.
Thwack!
A sound like a bursting watermelon echoed. However, the noise was buried under the cacophony of the surrounding battle.
I held the man with the shattered head as if we were clashing internal energy, feigning a struggle as I backed toward Galwi. Then, I deepened and disguised my voice, shouting:
“Strike that Galwi fellow! The one in the center is Galwi! Focus all the Ghost Pursuit Squad’s strength on Galwi!”
I lifted the dead man’s sword-hand and swung it toward Galwi.
“How dare you!”
Galwi severed the wrist of the man attacking him. Simultaneously, I struck the man’s chest. I felt bad for the corpse, but this was the only way to deceive Galwi.
Thud!
The body flew back and crashed into the wall. My one jiazi of internal energy really shone in moments like this.
“Ah! Thank you, Young Lord Gal! If you hadn't severed his wrist, I would have been turned into a puddle of green liquid by that Bone-Corrosion Poison!”
Galwi, emboldened by the thought that he had saved me, shouted triumphantly.
“Come at me, you bastards!”
Even as Galwi shouted, the Ghost Pursuit Squad continued to lunge at me. However, because I was standing right next to Galwi, it looked to the Black Spirit Ten Guards as if they were attacking him.
“Black Spirit Demon World Eight Squad!”
At the command, the Black Spirit Ten Guards suddenly exploded their internal energy. Hidden weapons concealed within their bodies were fired in a violent burst.
“Aaargh!”
“Gah!”
“Get down!”
Various screams echoed through the passage. The Black Spirit Ten Guards had unleashed the hidden weapons to prevent the enemies from closing in. It was effective, significantly reducing the Ghost Pursuit Squad’s numbers.
But the Ghost Pursuit Squad was desperate.
“Uuugh!”
In the end, several dying men managed to grab one of the Black Spirit Ten Guards. Because they lunged so tenaciously, Black Spirit Five couldn't dodge and was caught. Even as he slashed and stabbed them, they clung to him, determined to die together.
“Fifth Brother!”
Black Spirit Five was exposed to the Bone-Corrosion Poison. There was no time to act. He collapsed as his chest slowly began to melt away.
There was no time to grieve. The few remaining Ghost Pursuit Squad members had us surrounded and seemed determined to take us with them, holding pouches of Bone-Corrosion Poison in their hands.
In this urgent situation, I utilized Six Harmonies Voice Transmission. To send a message to multiple people at once, I had no choice but to infuse the transmission with that technique.
I guided my internal energy through the root of my tongue and directed it toward the Shengjiang point; the transmission reached all the Black Spirit Ten Guards simultaneously. Seeing that I could succeed on the first try at something that usually requires immense trial and error, I realized that life-threatening danger truly sharpens one's focus.
[When I give the word, unleash your sword winds simultaneously! If even one person is late, we will all melt from the Bone-Corrosion Poison, so keep that in mind!]
The Black Spirit guards looked at each other, confirming the source of the transmission. Seeing them nod to one another, it seemed my message had reached them all.
The Ghost Pursuit Squad charged, swords in their right hands and Bone-Corrosion Poison in their left. Their sheer determination to die together made my knees tremble. For a moment, I thought the Candlelit Shadows who fought such people were truly incredible.
However, looking at the situation, the Black Spirit Ten Guards didn't have the luxury to generate sword winds. They were responding cautiously because they didn't know when or where the poison would be thrown, and the encirclement was tightening.
Deciding I couldn't let this continue, I sent another Six Harmonies Voice Transmission to the guards.
[Attack and kill them all at once. I will push the exploded poison away with my sword wind!]
The guards replied via sound transmission.
[Understood!]
When eight people threw a sound transmission at me simultaneously, I thought my eardrums were going to burst.
I planned to use Whirling Wind Overturning Heaven, which I had practiced in the training room. I intended to create a sword wind to blow the poison back in the opposite direction. At the second level of mastery, the wind was strong enough to blow out candles, so it was entirely possible.
“Black Spirit Demon World Nine Squad!”
At Black Spirit One’s command, the guards simultaneously unleashed their sword glare. The sight of eight warriors emitting blue, shimmering energy in the dark passage was a spectacle to behold.
But there was no time to admire it. As the guards used their sword glare to engage the Ghost Pursuit Squad, the assassins, realizing they couldn't hold out any longer, launched a final suicide charge.
‘Tenacious bastards!’
Even though they were enemies, I felt a sense of respect. I couldn't imagine what kind of training was required to produce such men.
Ultimately, the Black Spirit Ten Guards slaughtered them with their sword glare. However, the pouches of Bone-Corrosion Poison were also sliced open and burst.
I saw the white mist of the poison rising into the air. Seeing that, I funneled my gathered internal energy into my sword.
The sword vibrated.
Vrrrrm, vrrrrm!
What? Why is it making a sword resonance instead of a sword wind?!
I screamed internally. It had barely worked as a sword wind in the training room, so why was it producing a useless sword resonance now? This is why they say practice and real combat are different. If everything that worked in practice worked in reality, everyone would be a master.
CRACK!
Suddenly, a sound like breaking ice erupted from the sword. Immediately after, a wind rose.
Whoosh!
Wind swept out in all directions, centered on the sword.
What on earth is this?!
I looked on with a dazed expression, unable to grasp how to process this phenomenon. But dealing with the Ghost Pursuit Squad was more urgent than my confusion.
“Aaargh!”
They had intended to throw the poison at us, but my sword wind caused them to be drenched in it instead. They writhed on the floor as they died. One of them was melting away as the poison hit his left shoulder and jaw.
“Uuuugh!”
Black Spirit One approached the man. Galwi, the guards, and I stayed about ten feet away. Fearing the man might try one last trick as he died, the guards prevented anyone from getting closer.
“Who are you?! Why did you try to kill Lord Galwi?!”
Looking at the man who was glaring at me through his groans, I spoke to Galwi before the assassin could say a word.
“He will surely claim he came to kill me. That is the only way they can avoid a conflict with the Black Fortress. They will try to hide their organization that way.”
“It’s… Eo… Ja-seo…”
Because his jaw was melting, his pronunciation was slurred, making "Eo Ja-seo" sound like "Why?" or "How?" As expected, when he spoke exactly as I predicted, Galwi looked surprised.
Black Spirit One asked again.
“What is your affiliation?!”
I spoke quickly.
“He will surely claim he has no affiliation. They would be madmen to reveal their background after committing such an act against the Black Fortress.”
“No… affil… iation.”
As the Ghost Pursuit Squad member groaned out those words, Galwi and the Black Spirit Ten Guards nodded at me.
When the man’s jaw completely melted away, making him unable to speak, I approached him.
“Who were you trying to kill?”
Since he couldn't answer, he raised his hand to point at me. However, lacking strength, his hand trembled as he barely managed to lift it.
At that moment, I subtly shifted. I had anticipated this and was standing with my back to Galwi. When I dodged, it looked as though the man was pointing directly at Galwi.
As the Black Spirit Ten Guards flared their killing intent, the man realized something was wrong and tried to turn his hand back toward me. I stepped on his hand before he could.
“You bastard! Reveal your affiliation! Did you think the Black Fortress and the Nine Demons Chamber would go to war if the Young Lord of the Black Fortress was harmed here? Is that what you’re after?!”
At my nonsensical interpretation, the assassin’s eyes bulged as if they would pop out. Since his chest was already melting and he was on the verge of death, that was the greatest resistance he could muster.
Thud. The man’s head fell back.
“Search their belongings. An identification tag might turn up.”
If they had infiltrated all the way into the Nine Demons Chamber, there was no way they would be carrying identification. I searched the man who had just died, but found nothing.
However, I smirked.
“I found an identification tag here!”
I pulled out one of the two bronze tokens I had obtained after killing the Ghost Pursuit Squad members previously.
“With this, shouldn't we be able to identify their organization?”
With the Black Fortress’s intelligence network, they would surely be able to figure out that these men were the Ghost Pursuit Squad of the Demonic Cult League. I handed the token over to Galwi.
Soon, the dark passage was illuminated by the torches of the Hell Hall’s security warriors who had rushed in.
However, the darkness had been better. The scene revealed under the torchlight was a literal hellscape. People had been melted by the Bone-Corrosion Poison into shapes that were unbearable to look at.
Black Spirit One looked at the guard with the melted face and Black Spirit Five, whose chest was half gone, and spoke.
“Take care of our brothers!”
The remaining guards hoisted the two fallen men onto their backs. I spoke to the Black Spirit Ten Guards.
“I was able to survive thanks to your two brothers. I offer my deepest condolences for their passing.”
When I clasped my hands in a respectful salute, the guards returned the gesture.
“No, if it weren't for you, Young Hero Eo, our brothers would have suffered even greater losses. It would have been dangerous if not for your sword wind.”
I turned to Deputy Woo.
“Military Advisor Woo, though I don't know when it will be, let us prepare a memorial hall for these two who fulfilled their duties as warriors.”
At my words, Deputy Woo barked orders at the arriving warriors.
“I will hold the Hell Hall’s security unit accountable for this later! For now, inform the Inspection Team immediately and have them investigate how this group managed to enter and attempt to harm Young Lord Gal!”
At Deputy Woo’s fierce shouting, the warriors cried out.
“Understood!”
As a group of warriors busied themselves with clearing the bodies, I spoke suggestively to Galwi.
“Young Lord Gal, it would be best for you to hold a memorial service for your two men. We shall visit soon as well.”
In short, I was telling him to leave. Galwi lingered, seemingly unable to let go of his lingering attachment to the place.
At that sight, the expressions of the Black Spirit Ten Guards hardened. Even if they weren't his direct subordinates, these were men who had served him for years; they were disappointed in their lord, who couldn't even offer a word of mourning, let alone a tear.
Galwi wasn't a complete fool; sensing the ominous atmosphere among the guards, he spoke.
“I shall tour the Hell Hall another time; I must hold the memorial service for my two subordinates first. My apologies. I shall take my leave.”
He offered a perfunctory greeting, looking regretful that he hadn't seen the insights of the Nine Demon Lords.
Thanks to that, I managed to get rid of Galwi and headed further into the Hell Hall.
Deputy Woo watched Eo Ja-seo humming beside him and tried to calm his racing heart. He realized the truth of the saying that you only truly know a person after spending time with them.
He felt a chill down his spine, thinking of how disastrous it would have been if he had been fooled by the clumsy appearance Eo Ja-seo had shown at Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress and treated him lightly. Even looking at him now, he didn't seem like a master.
However, seeing him defeat any master without much difficulty, Woo even wondered if the man was someone who had attained the realm of Returning to Youth.
Setting aside his martial prowess, his intellect was extraordinary. It was only after the events had passed that Woo could guess his intentions.
Deputy Woo concluded there were two reasons why Eo Ja-seo used such schemes. One was that he enjoyed using his head, and the other was that he seemed to use schemes to restrain his martial arts as much as possible.
The fact that he had passed through Ban Ye’s formation without difficulty meant Eo Ja-seo was a genius on par with her. Woo was left speechless by how he had easily defeated the numerous masters and Blood Lamas of the Demonic Cult League, the masters of the Nine Demons Chamber whom Woo himself feared, and even Cho Maeryeong, Do Geon, and Yu Hong.
Furthermore, the way he had subtly linked the Demonic Cult League and the Black Fortress using Galwi, and how he had dealt with the assassins who were originally targeting him by involving Galwi—effectively cleaning his nose without using his hands—was staggering.
Watching from the side as Galwi and the Black Spirit Ten Guards actually felt grateful to Eo Ja-seo despite being used by him made Woo’s skin crawl. The way he used rules and regulations to defeat opponents while avoiding making enemies as much as possible was a fresh shock.
All these sequences of events hadn't just happened; they were undoubtedly the result of meticulous scheming. Woo, who held the position of a military advisor, felt ashamed. Eo Ja-seo was on a completely different level from the ignorant fools who simply fought whenever challenged.
As time passed, Woo found himself becoming more humble toward Eo Ja-seo, a change he found pathetic yet understandable.
‘If Eo Ja-seo had been our enemy...’
The mere thought was terrifying.
“It’s a bit of a mess, but since we’ve come this far, let’s go see the Blood Wind Squad.”
Even though they had just been in a life-or-death situation, Eo Ja-seo spoke with a nonchalant face, patting Woo on the shoulder. Woo couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
The stench of flesh burning from the Bone-Corrosion Poison was so nauseating it was hard to breathe. Honestly, Woo wanted to go outside and get some fresh air, but he knew that wasn't a good idea. If they went out now after such a major incident, they might be dragged around as witnesses. He judged it better to wait for things to quiet down while touring the Hell Hall.
“It’s a bit of a mess, but since we’ve come this far, let’s go see the Blood Wind Squad.”
Fearing Eo Ja-seo might mock him for making a fuss over a smell, Woo spoke with as calm a face as possible.
Deputy Woo stared at me with a dazed look, as if he were deeply shocked. I patted him on the shoulder and said:
“It seems the great Blood Ice Sword is quite shaken.”
I cracked a joke and continued walking forward.