Chapter 10
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Ghost's Mask (3)
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Bi-ho burst forward, declaring himself with a voice brimming with conviction and authority.
But to the warriors of Six Jia Gate receiving his words, it only sparked immediate wariness.
A short, ugly stranger from unfamiliar lands had suddenly popped out of the darkness and shouted. Who would just accept that with an "Oh, really? Well done then"?
That said, it wasn't entirely ineffective. Seven warriors had come running, and as they hastily aimed their weapons, two of them pointed not at Bi-ho, but toward the assassin.
So, they were half-believing, half-doubting.
The one who seemed to be their leader stepped forward, leveling his sword at Bi-ho while politely inquiring with his words.
"Who might you be? State your identity first."
"Im Dal-chung of the Fufeng Four Heroes. Recently recruited as a guest warrior."
"Hm..."
Bi-ho's gamble paid off.
The Fufeng Four Heroes had been outsiders until recently, so most people either didn't know their faces or wouldn't remember them properly even if they'd glimpsed them once or twice. Of course, bad luck might trip him up, but he'd deal with that when it came.
At that moment, one of the warriors chimed in knowingly.
"Oh, Captain O, I've heard of the Fufeng Four Heroes. They're top bounty hunters from the Western District. That's why Patrol Leader Jang specially recommended them for this occasion."
"Oh, really? Then, do you have anything to prove your identity?"
Bi-ho set his sword on the ground and raised one hand to signal no intent to attack, then subtly pulled a plaque from his bosom. It was the identification token issued by Six Jia Gate, taken from Pung-sa, whom he'd killed.
Of course, if they demanded, he was prepared to show Pung-il and Pung-i's tokens too. They'd freak out, but that was the idea anyway.
In any case, the warrior called "Captain O" visibly relaxed. Bi-ho's demeanor showed no suspicious signs at all.
Bi-ho urgently but amicably warned Captain O.
"Don't lower your guard! Ghost Face's men are hiding up in that tree. They're no ordinary villains."
A rumble spread through the group.
This time, five of the swords aimed by Six Jia Gate's warriors swung toward Ghost Face's crew. The balance had tipped heavily toward believing Bi-ho.
At that, the lurking Ghost Face men—and the other assassin—could no longer hold back and sprang into action.
For Bi-ho, it was cause to cheer inwardly.
'You held out a long time. Must've been agonizing, stuck there wondering how to break free.'
Shing—shing—shing—
Three throwing stars flew from the tree Bi-ho had pointed out.
It was the desperate assassin's last resort. And he launched himself into the air—toward the manor's outer wall, opposite Bi-ho and the warriors. A classic bolt for the hills.
Bi-ho responded swiftly, as if he'd been waiting.
He first flicked up the sword he'd set down with his foot and slashed as he caught it, deflecting the stars headed his way.
Clang~
But one of the Six Jia Gate warriors behind him cried out, clutching his shoulder as he collapsed, sending the group into momentary chaos.
Bi-ho charged ahead first, rallying them.
"You vile scum! Get him!"
Bi-ho bellowed in feigned fury, though his voice carried a hint of excitement.
Why wouldn't it?
He too was sick of this place and dying to slip out of the manor, and here the enemy was kindly clearing the path for him.
The assassin's lightness skill was extraordinary.
He leaped down from the tree—nearly six meters high—as if gliding, then sprinted off.
The towering vertical stone wall blocking his path? He flattened his body horizontally, stepping across it like flat ground, scaling it in just seven strides.
The carefully built wall to divide inside from out might as well not have existed.
Atop the wall, the assassin paused to glare down at Bi-ho in pursuit, swearing lowly.
"Daring to interfere with her affair. Im Dal-chung, was it? Real name or fake, I'll kill you with my own hands. Count on it!"
But now wasn't the time.
Not just Bi-ho and the trailing Six Jia Gate warriors, but others roused by his shouts were converging from all around.
Wheeee~
The assassin blew a shrill whistle, venting his rage, then leaped outside the wall.
Moments later, a ghostly wail echoed in response from that direction.
"Eee-hee-hee-hee~"
Others might not notice, but Bi-ho caught the difference in that laugh's timbre from before.
By then, he was building momentum to vault the wall, barely gripping the top amid grunts of effort as he hauled himself up.
Truth be told, each move mirrored what he'd shown last year, but without much speed loss in reality. It was subtly quick—enough to pass muster. In other words, for show. No need to reveal his true prowess to Six Jia Gate disciples.
Bi-ho crested the wall and scanned around—the spot where the assassin had lingered briefly.
The assassin had vanished around the far corner at blinding speed. The pursuing Six Jia Gate warriors were still rushing toward the wall. They weren't exactly lightness skill experts, it seemed.
'All the real experts in Six Jia Gate must've been drawn to Ghost Face's side. And the usable guest warriors in the annex probably don't want to stick their necks out in this messy situation. Lucky break. That signal just now with Ghost Face was probably "pull back," right? That wail sounded pretty pissed.'
Bi-ho clicked his tongue and pointed in the assassin's escape direction, shouting.
"That way! He went that way!"
Bi-ho hopped down outside the wall. Then he darted off into a side alley, not the direction he'd indicated.
About an hour later.
Bi-ho walked with his hat pulled low and a black robe draped over him, glancing around warily before ducking quickly into an alley.
Beyond the alley lay a market street, bustling even at this late hour with drunks from the night festival's aftermath. Perfect for blending in.
"But now that you've crossed my path, no more blunders. Didn't I tell you? No matter who you are or where you go, I'll find and kill you."
The chilling whisper came from the assassin who'd fled from Bi-ho earlier. Instead of bolting after escaping the manor, he'd boldly turned the tables to tail Bi-ho.
The assassin slipped silently into the alley after him, vanishing into the shadows like darkness sucked into the void.
But another shadow waited in the alley, claiming its spot.
The moment the assassin took three steps in—right as the street-alley boundary faded and his guard slipped while peering ahead.
Grab.
A stain on the wall suddenly rose and engulfed him. Before he could twitch, his neck was twisted and an acupoint struck. The limp, unconscious form was dragged into true darkness.
Soon, the alley stood empty.
Huff. Huff.
His world was pitch black, blindfolded. Limbs bound tight, he sat slumped.
Where am I?
"Awake?"
"Who are you? Im Dal-chung? How'd you know I was tailing you?"
"Shh! I ask the questions."
"...Got it."
"Good. I plan to let you live. Got a message for your bosses. But if you spout nonsense like before or try lying..."
A snake-cold hand ghosted across his throat, then vanished.
Thump-thump.
"First question. What are Ghost Face and your group?"
"Just kill me."
"Sincere. Pass."
Pass?
Would've killed me if I'd bullshitted?
But how'd he tell?
Can you read my mind?
For real?
"To the point. I don't know you. Don't care. Tonight was just bad luck—wrong place, wrong time."
"......"
"So, if you lose interest in me, I'll forget you exist forever."
"That the message for the bosses? Fine."
"I'm serious. Please pass it on. Let's end it here."
"I said fine!"
"...Sorry about you and your comrades."
"Understood."
His neck snapped suddenly.
Crack.
Aaagh! It hurts!
Ugh! Why all of a sudden...
"Warned you. Lie, and this happens."
Those were the assassin's last words.
In his final moments, that voice felt suffocatingly dark.
"What do you think?"
"Hm."
Gong Won-yeong puffed on her pipe, eyes half-closed, humming through her nose.
The room was thick with smoke, a sweet yet sharp opium scent stinging the nose.
She'd surrendered to the drug, escaping death's shadow for a burst of vitality. Costly, but necessary to survive the day.
With that vigor, she pondered. Bi-ho had returned late to the inn room and recounted his night—especially the final assassin he'd slain, which stuck with her.
"Handled it well. If they won't back off even when you open an exit, give 'em what they want. At least you cut the trail."
"True enough. But what kind of crew are they?"
"Got a hunch."
"What?"
"From what you said, their skills outstrip their execution—raw and unpolished. Might just stand out 'cause it was you, but as assassins? Disqualified. Why?"
"Dunno..."
Bi-ho mulled her words.
Disqualified as assassins?
"Maybe 'cause they're not assassins?"
"Exactly. My guess—they're warriors by trade, not pros. Just on some covert mission. Fits, right?"
"Plausible. But still too broad."
"One more. Assume multiple groups with their own goals. Why tonight? Why Chang'an? Why here, with a dozen-plus Martial Qin Alliance sects flooding in?"
"Hm, targeted?"
"Obviously."
"Warriors from rival cities hostile to the Martial Qin Alliance? To blunt their momentum early?"
"Nah. Too small a target for that. Six Jia Gate lacks the weight—needs to be something like Lion Hall, alliance heavyweights."
"Then who?"
"Insiders."
"No way... Why?"
"No idea. But not simple grudges—timing matters. Maybe a warning... Dig there, something might turn up. Not our problem, though. Smells like a nasty plot."
"......"
What did it matter what shady schemes they were up to?
Trail severed, not in deep yet. Play it safe from here, done.
But really?
Bi-ho felt an ominous premonition that his tie to Ghost Face wasn't over.
Then Gong Won-yeong tsked.
"That escaped Pung-sam could be trouble. Might've blown over otherwise, but now Ghost Face is tangled in. Big investigation incoming, and the missing Fufeng Four Heroes will draw eyes too."