Chapter 81: Under Attack by Assassins (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81: Under Attack by Assassins (1)
The members of the Blood Wind Squad drank the water and rice wine offered by the village women.
At first, they hadn't touched a drop. However, once Ham Bi-hye gave a small nod of approval, they began to share the drinks among themselves.
The Blood Wind Squad moved entirely based on Ham Bi-hye’s commands.
It wasn't easy to train people to that level of discipline. Seeing these masters move at a mere gesture from her made me feel a surge of greed—I wanted to be able to command such experts with a single flick of my hand too.
But of course, that was nothing more than a pipe dream.
I sat down on the wooden porch and sprawled out.
As I lay there, something felt uncomfortable beneath my feet. I sat up and realized my foot had kicked something hidden inside a pile of hay.
Looking closer, I saw stacks of hay piled under the porch, likely intended as feed for horses and oxen.
But my toes had struck something hard inside.
Curious, I reached in and pulled out several books. They were martial arts novels.
Po Zhongyin, who was watching from beside me, spoke up.
"I guess even farmers read martial arts novels these days. Then again, they are the biggest trend lately."
There were four books in total, all of them popular titles: Legend of the Monarch, Legend of the Master, The Underdog is Invincible, and Legend of the Assassin.
I had recently read Legend of the Master, and I remembered reading Legend of the Assassin a few years back.
Legend of the Assassin, in particular, was an autobiographical novel written by an active-duty killer. It had caused a massive stir in the Murim because of its incredibly realistic depictions of assassinations.
Nowadays, it was popular as a guidebook on how to defend against assassins.
I simply nodded at Po Zhongyin’s comment and lay back down, using the books as a pillow.
Then, a thought hit me like a strike from an iron flail, and I bolted upright.
Wait. Farmers reading martial arts novels? Sure, they could. But why hide them in a haystack? There’s no reason to shove them in a place like that.
As the thought crossed my mind, a cold sweat suddenly broke out across my entire body.
With that suspicion taking root, I carefully observed the farmers planting seedlings in the rice paddies. They were wearing traditional straw hats, so I couldn't see their faces clearly.
However, the glimpses I caught beneath the brims revealed that every single one of them was young.
There were no old men. The only elderly people were the few old women who had been handing out water and wine.
"This is..." I muttered unconsciously.
It made no sense for a rural village to have this many healthy, able-bodied young men. The lack of youth in farming communities had been a social problem for a long time.
Based on my experience wandering through the countryside, it was impossible for a village to have zero old men and only young people.
It seemed no one else had noticed yet.
Since the farmers were all bent over planting seedlings, their faces were hidden.
However, thanks to my Circulating Dantian, my vision had become exceptionally keen. I could clearly see the faces of those hunched-over figures.
It’s a trap.
I looked around. Everyone was resting peacefully.
If only I knew how to use Sound Transmission at a time like this. If I speak out loud, those bastards will notice.
I first approached Deputy Woo.
I figured he was the most level-headed of the bunch and would handle the situation without panicking.
As I approached, Deputy Woo looked up at me.
"What is it?"
I crouched down in front of him.
Then, as discreetly as possible, I began to trace characters into the dirt.
[Do not be alarmed, just read this. I believe all the farmers here are assassins. They are all healthy young men. Tell the Blood Wind Squad to quietly enter a state of high alert.]
Deputy Woo flinched slightly as he read my writing.
As expected of a seasoned master, he kept his face focused, likely sending out Sound Transmission to the surrounding Blood Wind Squad members so the farmers wouldn't notice.
I figured that if the Blood Wind Squad prepared for a surprise attack in advance, they could fend off the assassins even if they struck.
"What are you talking about? Assassins? Those farmers?"
Suddenly, someone behind me spoke in a loud voice.
What the—? Way to blow our cover.
I turned my head to see Galwi staring at me with wide eyes.
At Galwi’s words, the atmosphere in the area suddenly turned ice-cold.
"What kind of nonsense is this? Farmers being assassins? How absurd. On what basis are you even saying this?"
Galwi looked at the writing on the ground and then back at me with an incredulous expression.
"And if you have something to say, you should use Sound Transmission. What’s with writing on the ground? Don't tell me you don't even know how to use Sound Transmission?"
Now is not the time for that!
Whoosh!
I threw myself flat onto the ground.
A hidden weapon whistled through the air right where I had been standing.
The farmers pulled weapons out from beneath the water of the rice paddies and roared.
"Strike!"
Galwi muttered to himself as he watched the farmers suddenly transform and charge with weapons in hand.
"Oh? It was true?"
He looked at me with an embarrassed expression and scratched his eyebrow.
As the assassins lunged, the Black Spirit Ten Guards immediately surrounded and protected Galwi.
The Blood Wind Squad responded quickly to the attack, but the damage was already significant.
About half of them had drunk the water provided by the old women—water laced with Energy Dissipating Poison. They were unable to muster any strength and were cut down where they stood.
Still, those who hadn't touched the water formed a defensive circle around Ham Bi-hye and fought back.
In terms of raw skill, the Blood Wind Squad wouldn't have been pushed back by these assassins, but they were being forced into a corner by enemies who fought with a barrage of hidden weapons and poison.
"Protect the Young Palace Lord!"
Deputy Woo’s voice grew urgent.
However, there was one part of this situation that made no sense.
It was that fellow, Galwi.
Even as the Blood Wind Squad was being slaughtered, he remained perfectly relaxed.
Is it because he trusts the Black Spirit Ten Guards?
What was even more ridiculous was his attitude. He claimed to be Ham Bi-hye’s fiancé, yet he didn't lift a finger to help her as she fell into danger.
Watching him kill only the assassins that lunged directly at him while refusing to take the offensive made something boil up inside me.
If those guys were truly the legendary Black Spirit Ten Guards and he was the famous Galwi, they should have been able to suppress these assassins easily.
I was worried about whether our Demon Subjugation Group could survive this onslaught.
Fortunately, we were holding our own, with Jeok Yeong at the center of our formation, fending off the charging assassins.
"This is strange. I don't understand why Young Lord Gal isn't attacking the assassins. Just in case, keep your distance from him. He might be in league with them."
I approached Deputy Woo, whose body was beginning to emit a frosty aura as he channeled his Ice Heart Divine Skill, and whispered my suspicion.
At my words, Deputy Woo glared at Galwi.
I deliberately spoke loudly enough for Galwi to hear.
It was a Provocation Strategy.
Galwi remained unbothered, his expression calm despite my words.
"Isn't it suspicious? He suddenly appears to 'greet' Lady Ham, and then assassins show up right on cue? Something smells fishy. Look at that. Doesn't it look like the assassins are avoiding them?"
In fact, the assassins were focused on Ham Bi-hye and didn't seem to target Galwi at all.
They only attacked our group and Galwi enough to keep us in check. To an outsider, it really did look like they were on the same side.
Even with this level of prodding, he didn't budge.
He’s definitely not an ordinary guy.
I couldn't tell if this was true composure or if he had some hidden scheme.
But he shouldn't underestimate my tongue.
My tongue was at the Realm of Nothingness.
"I see. Even with this much goading, he doesn't move. I guess that nickname 'Black Dragon Ghost Hand' was just something manufactured by the Black Spirit Ten Guards."
I vented all the unpleasant feelings I had toward him into my words. As I spoke, I caught Ham Bi-hye’s eye and gave her a pointed look.
Ham Bi-hye seemed to catch on. She nodded and spoke up.
"I knew he was that kind of person from the start. That’s why I never gave him any attention. Don't mind him."
Ham Bi-hye’s words were like a dagger thrown straight at him.
At her remark, the man seemed to flinch.
He finally looked like he was in the mood to move. However, for some reason, he still didn't show his true skill even after having his pride crushed like that.
I had no choice but to use my final trump card.
I stabbed right at his weakness.
"If only the Black Gentleman, Lord Galcheon, were here, these assassins wouldn't even be a warm-up. If she had to choose a fiancé, she should have chosen Lord Galcheon instead."
As I spoke with a heavy sigh, a murderous intent flared in his eyes.
I had heard rumors that Galwi felt a deep sense of inferiority toward his older brother, Galcheon.
Galcheon was known as the "Black Gentleman," a man who possessed a sense of righteousness rarely seen outside of the Great Orthodox Sects.
Rumor had it that even though the Black Lord, Galcheonmyeong, was dissatisfied with his eldest son's personality, he doted on him because of his genius-level talent for martial arts.
I had aimed for that sore spot, and it seemed I had hit the bullseye.
No matter how much composure you think you have, a pride that has never hit rock bottom is easily shattered.
To a guy like him, pride was likely more important than his own life.
Arrogant bastards like him have never had to learn how to swallow their pride.
And the more someone like that harbors a sense of inferiority, the more easily their pride breaks when compared to the object of that inferiority.
Just like right now.
"How dare a wretch like you utter my brother's name."
His murderous intent shifted away from the assassins and toward me.
I waited for the insults to fly from his mouth. Once he started swearing, I would have the justification to fire back.
If I lost my nerve now, everything would be for naught.
I had to be even stronger.
That was the only way to survive.
In a dogfight, if you show your tail because you're scared, you're dead. In a battle of wills against a master like this, you have to bet your life on the line.
"And what is wrong with what I said!" I roared.
The man’s eyebrows twitched, seemingly surprised by my outburst.
"Walking around acting all high and mighty just because you have ten experts guarding you—now that is a truly pathetic sight! You call yourself Lady Ham’s fiancé, yet you stand by and watch while she is in danger from assassins? Are you even a man? If the Black Lord knew of this, how do you think he would react? What about your brother? Does this pathetic display of 'leisure' and 'composure' actually make you feel proud of yourself?"
I scolded him at the top of my lungs.
To anyone else, I must have looked like a madman.
To insult and belittle the Young Lord of the Black Fortress like this...
But I believed he wouldn't actually lay a hand on me.
I knew the reason behind his leisurely attitude.
He’s waiting for Ham Bi-hye to beg him for help. He wants to put her in his debt so he can force his demands on her later. He can't afford to make a scene by attacking or killing me in front of her.
I had noticed that while he pretended not to care about her, he was actually paying attention to her every move.
The fact that he had come all this way to meet her despite the danger told me everything I needed to know about his feelings.
Even so, this was a gamble.
"Hahahaha!"
Suddenly, Galwi burst into a booming laugh.
"You truly are the New Dragon of Sichuan. To think someone could speak so harshly to me."
He glared at me before barking an order to the Black Spirit Ten Guards.
"We should earn our keep. It wouldn't be proper for a guest to sit idly by while eating Lady Ham’s food. Clean them up."
At his command, the Black Spirit Ten Guards lunged in all directions.
Then, Galwi approached me.
Don't come over here. You're scaring me. Cold sweat poured down my back, unsure of what he might do.
However, if I backed down now, I would look more pathetic than a beaten cur. I maintained a hollow, relaxed posture.
"I will deal with your words later. For now, watch and see what kind of man Galwi is, and judge for yourself if you are even worthy of standing on equal footing with me."
His aura settled into a calm, heavy pressure.
He clenched his fists and turned toward the assassins swarming around Ham Bi-hye.
Dealing with him had left me feeling as mentally exhausted as if I had fought dozens of assassins.
It had taken a massive amount of mental energy to get him to move.
Galwi and the Black Spirit Ten Guards were, in a word, spectacular.
Look at him, using every ounce of strength he has. He should have done that from the start.
The assassins faltered under their onslaught.
They fell like autumn leaves before the force of Galwi’s fist winds.
Everywhere the Black Spirit Ten Guards moved, a mist of blood bloomed.
After a single sweep, the number of assassins had dwindled significantly.
Thanks to them, our Demon Subjugation Group hadn't suffered any major casualties, and I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Galwi walked back toward me and spoke.
"I find it hard to believe that a man who doesn't even know Sound Transmission is a master."
He suddenly threw those words at me out of nowhere.
Is he telling me to show my skills?
Seeing two assassins rushing toward me, the Black Spirit Ten Guards instinctively moved to intervene.
But Galwi raised a hand to stop them.
He was holding them back specifically to see what I could do.
There’s always someone who has to make life difficult like this.
The assassins charged at me, wielding chain-sickles and daggers.
Without thinking, I stomped my right foot.
Thump!
As my foot hit the ground, the vibration propelled my body forward, and I blurred past the two assassins.
At the same time, I funneled my internal energy into the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet and drew my sword.
Shing!
With a sound that seemed to tear through the air, I re-sheathed the blade.
Click!
To the onlookers, it must have looked like I had moved at high speed, drawing and sheathing my sword in a single, instantaneous motion.
That was exactly what I intended.
"It’s the Draw Sword Instant Kill!"
One of the Blood Wind Squad members shouted as he saw my blade.
I had used this technique frequently during the fight with the Blood Lama, and the people of the Murim had given it that name.
In truth, I had heard the term "Draw Sword Instant Kill" occasionally since my time at Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress, but now it had officially spread.
I turned around and looked at the two assassins I had passed.
As I expected, their bodies were shaking like aspen leaves.
Then, blood sprayed from their mouths and nostrils, and they collapsed, stiff as boards.
To anyone watching, it would look as if their blood vessels had ruptured.
It appeared as though I had killed them in a single strike using overwhelming internal power.