Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Danya (1)
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The evening before the end of vacation.
I'd been rolling around on the bed, indulging in all the laziness I'd put off, when Dokgo Yul's voice transmission reached me.
[My lord. I have something to report.]
'Huh? What's this guy suddenly want?'
It was quite unexpected.
Dokgo Yul, whose appointment as sword instructor for Silver Hall had been decided, had been insanely busy lately—to the point where "busy" didn't even cover it.
Moreover, for him to come directly to my lodgings and send a transmission was rare.
It was to avoid any issues if our connection became known and interfered with his backing.
'Something feels off...'
He was so thorough that he even managed our paths to avoid overlap.
I couldn't shake the unease in this situation where he'd come in person.
"No way something else headache-inducing cropped up right after finishing his busy schedule."
With a sliver of hope, Chu Un-hwi opened the window.
Whoosh.
As soon as his foot hit the windowsill, he leaped into the air.
***
"My lord."
And sure enough.
"A minor issue has arisen."
Dokgo Yul, looking even more haggard than before, bowed his head and apologized the moment they faced each other.
"I couldn't think of any way to resolve it myself, so I've disturbed your peace."
"Yeah. That's not good. But it's fine now."
His fatigue-worn face made it hard to blame him.
Instead, it piqued my curiosity.
Wasn't this Dokgo Yul, reliable righteous faction expert by day, flawless spy by night?
It was rare for this capable subordinate to complain like this.
'No way...'
There was only one thing in cases like this.
"Something with Danya?"
"Yes, exactly."
Damn it.
Bingo. If it was enough to trouble the great Dokgo Yul, it had to be those lunatics from the same trade: the Dark Soul Black Wind Killers.
An ominous fire began raging in my chest.
"Yul. My heart's pounding, so let me ask one thing first."
Please, no.
"How big is the issue?"
"It's still manageable."
"Phew."
Thank goodness.
The Dark Soul Black Wind Killers were ruthless types; if they decided to cause trouble, cleanup was a nightmare.
If they hadn't gone full berserk yet, it could be contained.
"Must've been stressful with Danya's mess. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"You vanished so suddenly, I missed the chance."
Oh, right.
It had been such an impulsive trip that I hadn't even told Dokgo Yul.
"So, what happened?"
"As per your orders, I sent Danya a letter inviting them to join."
"And?"
"They said they won't believe it without seeing you in person."
"That's within expectations."
Danya was paranoid, like any killer.
A letter or two wouldn't easily dispel their suspicions.
"They must be miffed about me leaving without a word."
It was natural to be wary if I suddenly reappeared and called them out.
"Alright. I'll handle it. Just need to write Danya a letter?"
"No... need for that."
"Why? Danya's suspicious, sure, but they'd recognize my seal."
"It's not the letter. The problem is Danya's whereabouts."
Whereabouts?
Did the guy holed up in the desert have reason to move?
The sinking feeling hit as the answer came.
"Danya has left the desert."
"What! Really?"
Ssssshh.
It felt like my body temperature dropped a few degrees.
'No way. Not just left.'
My bad premonition was spot on.
"No need for a letter, my lord. Just head to Azure Wall Pavilion."
"Wh-what? Why Azure Wall Pavilion?"
Azure Wall Pavilion was Haomen's Infinite branch.
Only one reason it'd come up in Danya's context.
"Fuck. Is Danya attacking Azure Wall Pavilion?"
"Yes."
"Why!"
"When I sent the letter via a Haomen errand runner, they apparently took offense."
"Urk."
This madman.
Offended? Enough to attack Haomen?
"You said it's not serious! A minor issue!"
I yelled, and Dokgo Yul calmly replied.
"No one's died yet."
"No sect buildings destroyed, no massacres."
"The Haomen errand runner who handled it was just stripped and hung on the walls."
Ah, my head.
It was already starting to hurt.
***
Clatter clatter clatter.
Yoran's fingertips trembled nonstop.
The subordinate prostrated before her shouted, head to the ground.
"Pavilion Master! We need a plan!"
A plan was obviously needed.
But Yoran's lips wouldn't part easily.
The news her subordinate brought was too shocking.
"Even Chief Manager Jong is missing?"
Azure Wall Pavilion's Chief Manager Jong Yeo was no ordinary man. A loyal retainer who'd served her since childhood, he'd acted as her proxy in handling all major and minor affairs.
Having been together so long, he knew many of Haomen's deepest secrets. His disappearance couldn't be taken lightly.
"The culprit?"
"...Couldn't identify. But this was in Chief Manager's room."
Yoran's eyes twitched at the small iron plaque her subordinate held out.
- Binding Game.
Palm-sized black iron plaque with blood-dripping red letters.
"Binding Game? Tie and play? That guy again?"
Yoran's gaze flicked to a corner of her desk.
Over ten similar black plaques were piled haphazardly.
The freak attacking Haomen and leaving bizarre plaques.
It had started just days ago.
This monster had begun extending its claws into Infinite City's night streets.
At first, she hadn't paid much attention. Fools drawn by Infinite City's wealth and picking fights were common.
But this was different.
It began with a top courtesan.
"Branch Head. Aelani's gone."
"Aelani?"
That's when Yoran sensed something off. Officially, Aelani was a skilled singer and dancer, but actually a Haomen disciple trained in martial arts dispatched directly.
Still, she thought it minor then.
Her skills were third-rate at best, and she wasn't privy to vital secrets.
But she soon realized her mistake.
"The ferrymen's union at the docks was raided yesterday."
"Two safehouses ransacked without a sound. The hidden double ledgers are gone."
"Pavilion Master. Manager Jin of the stables has vanished."
"Pavilion Master! Pavilion Master!"
Barrage of reports left Yoran reeling.
The ferrymen's union was a group Haomen had secretly recruited just recently.
'Our ties weren't even public yet. How'd they know to hit them?'
Coincidence? But when even secret safehouses and covert financier disappeared, she knew it was grave.
The enemy knew their operations well.
"Any other traces?"
"Elusive bastard. No traces, no witnesses."
"A real pro."
Haomen was under attack.
By an enemy whose identity was unknown.
Suddenly, a faction came to mind.
'Netherworld Society.'
Those lurking nationwide, eyeing the martial world—possible.
But doubts lingered.
'Why target us instead of the Murim Alliance?'
Officially, the Alliance fought the Netherworld Society.
Though Haomen had tipped them off, few knew the details.
The targets were odd too.
'To hit Haomen, strike headquarters, not a branch.'
Infinite City branch was strategically key but low-value in Haomen.
They had to watch the Alliance, limiting expansion.
'Most baffling is these plaques.'
Netherworld Society, so secretive, proudly leaving calling cards?
"Not their style."
Then who?
A hazy memory surfaced: a figure with strange quirks.
Not widely known.
Ruler of the night in distant deserts with overwhelming might and cunning.
"Desert Killer Valley's master. Black Night."
The freak who proudly marked sites with insignia.
Desert warriors trembled at the plaques alone.
"If it's really Black Night, why appear in Infinite City?"
Desert Killer Valley operated beyond the Great Wall west.
A land of sand where six months dark moon, six months bright moon reigned: the Great Desert.
Black Night controlled its darkness and lives.
"Seems he came alone."
Even a desert king attempting solo infiltration into bold Infinite City?
Suicidal.
That confirmed she couldn't be sure.
"Doesn't matter now."
With even proxy Chief Manager Jong gone.
Time to act.
Yoran said lowly.
"Spread word to all lowly things in the night streets."
"To everyone?"
"Yes. Drunks, addicts, even deaf and blind—without exception."
"Yes, Pavilion Master."
Yoran wanted one thing.
"If attacked, repay in kind."
Born from weak and powerless, Haomen survived longest by iron rule.
- Repay double what you receive.
By any means.
"Time to remind Infinite City's night master who rules."
Her eyes gleamed dangerously.
Swoosh.
A light breeze tousled her hair, then a leisurely voice.
"Hope I'm not too late."
Turning, Yoran spotted a man lounging on the windowsill, faintly smiling, and cried.
"Milord!"
"Been well?"
***
Thud.
The prostrated subordinate's face went blank, then he slumped over.
Yoran sighed and smiled softly.
"It's been a while."
"Yeah. Been away from the city awhile. Time okay? You look swamped."
"Nothing for you to worry about, milord. Minor issue, I'll wrap it up soon."
"...Sorry."
Out of nowhere, Yoran tilted her head.
"What's that mean? No need for apologies from you."
"You'll understand why I apologize upfront after this."
Blink. Blink.
Her large eyes filled with curiosity.
"Truth is..."