Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Nighttime Assassination Attempt
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A black silhouette charged alongside a silver streak toward Seol Hwa-un's lower body.
The silver streak was a dagger. Just as the dagger was about to make contact.
Snap!
Seol Hwa-un's hand precisely seized the dagger.
“……!”
The assassin's pupils trembled. Composure was essential for an assassin, but it was no surprise to falter when a ten-out-of-ten guaranteed ambush failed.
Even wrapped in qi, blood seeped from the hand that gripped the dagger. Yet Seol Hwa-un spoke as if utterly unperturbed.
“Not a bad attempt.”
The assassin, momentarily frozen, snapped back to reality and swiftly swung a second dagger. But it was already a step too late.
“Too slow.”
Seol Hwa-un's right foot shot out at terrifying speed. It was the Mixed Origin Sect's ultimate technique, Flash Thunder Shadow Step.
Crack!
Struck squarely in the jaw, the assassin flew backward. His body tumbled across the ground.
Crash!
The assassin desperately endured the dizziness threatening to overwhelm him. He was none other than a top-class assassin from one of the Eight Demonic Sects, Kill Ghost Valley.
Dispatched from Kill Ghost Valley at Yi Jeong-myeong's special request.
Kill Ghost Valley classified their top ten elite assassins as the Kill Ghost Ten Marks, and he was Number Nine.
His earth escape technique was nearly flawless. He was confident even the Kill Ghost Valley Lord wouldn't detect it.
Thus, as Number Nine, he couldn't help but wonder.
‘How in the world did he notice?’
No matter how superior one's reflexes, starting to defend the instant he emerged made the attack impossible to block.
This proved Seol Hwa-un had anticipated the ambush in advance.
Just moments before.
As Seol Hwa-un was about to exit the forest, he felt an inexplicable unease. Clearly, no one was ahead, and no presence could be sensed.
Yet a strange sensation prickled his nerves. And he soon realized what it was.
During his days as the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor, as Martial Alliance Leader, he had been the target of countless assassins. Though all attempts failed, he had faced mortal threats more than a few times.
That peculiar sensation from then played the decisive role in thwarting Number Nine's ambush now.
Without that experience, even a master of higher realm couldn't have blocked it.
Watching Number Nine stagger to his feet, Seol Hwa-un said,
“A Kill Ghost Valley assassin?”
“…….”
“I'll give you credit for standing after taking my kick technique.”
By now, he had left Misan Forest and stood on the main road.
Then, the Eighteen War Ghosts Leader, who had appeared unnoticed, shook his head.
“Impressive, North Heavenly Dragon. I never imagined you'd block even a special-class assassin's ambush.”
Glancing at the Eighteen War Ghosts emerging one after another, Seol Hwa-un said,
“Planning to continue?”
“Of course. Our orders are to kill you.”
“I never knew the Eight Demonic Sects had such loyalty. Deploying the Eighteen War Ghosts just for me means the Huangbo Family must have drained Namwang Sect's forces. Or perhaps the entire Eight Demonic Sects are coming?”
Naturally, that wasn't the case. It was mockery toward targeting an easy mark like himself while leaving the Huangbo Family, who contributed most to annihilating the Four Heavenly Sects.
“Hmph, you're the start of the retaliation. Not immediately, but the Huangbo Family will soon be exterminated by our sect as well.”
“With seven of the Eighteen War Ghosts already disabled and the assassin failed, how do you plan to take me now?”
“Hmph, don't get cocky. Our current forces are enough to kill you.”
“No. I'm saying it's already too late.”
“What?”
Only then did the Eighteen War Ghosts Leader sense something, his face hardening.
‘Damn it!’
Dozens of warriors had emerged from the darkness. It was the Sichuan Tang Family's Three Yang Corps and North Wind Brigade.
“……!”
The North Wind Brigade Leader dashed forward.
“Young Palace Lord, are you alright?”
“I'm fine. You arrived just in time.”
“What were you thinking, wandering alone in the dead of night... Still, thank goodness you left a marker.”
Seol Hwa-un had slipped away during the night watch shift change, so the North Wind Brigade hadn't noticed his absence until the next shift.
Realizing it late, the brigade members woke the North Wind Brigade Leader, who recalled the daytime meeting with the Fist Demon and immediately informed the Sichuan Tang Family.
He feared the Fist Demon might bring all of Breaking Heaven Sect's disciples to harass Seol Hwa-un.
A nighttime search followed, but tracking Seol Hwa-un wasn't easy.
Fortunately, the directional marker he left allowed them to find him now.
Seol Hwa-un said sheepishly,
“I resolved things peacefully with the Fist Demon through talk. But I didn't expect Namwang Sect to launch a surprise attack like this.”
“No matter how confident in your martial arts, you must always exercise caution.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
The accompanying North Wind Brigade members approached to tend Seol Hwa-un's wounds. Meanwhile, the Three Yang Corps Leader stepped forward to confront the Eighteen War Ghosts Leader.
The two were old acquaintances. The Three Yang Corps Leader spoke first.
“Long time no see, old friend.”
Pretending composure, the Eighteen War Ghosts Leader couldn't hide his bitter expression.
“I never thought I'd see Blood Hand Heartless here.”
“You know I hate that moniker.”
“Ah, my apologies. But if I had it, I'd wear it proudly.”
The Three Yang Corps Leader's face suddenly turned serious.
“Hm. Enough chit-chat.”
“…….”
“The Eighteen War Ghosts starting a fight in our family's territory... Shall I take this as Namwang Sect's declaration of war?”
The Eighteen War Ghosts Leader flinched and shook his head.
“No chance. We just had a minor scuffle with the North Sea Ice Palace's Young Palace Lord.”
“That makes it even stranger. Don't you know the North Heavenly Dragon is our family's guest?”
The Eighteen War Ghosts Leader feigned ignorance.
“Is that so? I didn't know. Now that I do, we'll withdraw.”
His humility wasn't simply because the Sichuan Tang Family was strong. In raw power, Namwang Sect held a slight edge.
But a head-on clash would incur massive losses, and the Eight Great Families tied to the Tang Family had to be considered.
It could spark a war between the Demonic Alliance and Orthodox Heaven Alliance.
Moreover, with the Tang Family holding the justification, the Martial Alliance might intervene in the worst case.
Even the mighty Demonic Alliance couldn't face them all.
In the end, the Eighteen War Ghosts and Number Nine fled the scene before the Three Yang Corps Leader could say more.
The Three Yang Corps Leader shouted at their backs.
“We'll lodge a formal protest with Namwang Sect over this!”
Of course, he had no intention of starting an all-out war with Namwang Sect. He was just raising his voice since it was their home turf.
Seol Hwa-un approached and cupped his fists.
“Thank you for the assistance.”
“No need. We're sorry this happened in our family's territory.”
Strictly speaking, it was Seol Hwa-un's fault for sneaking out, but the Three Yang Corps Leader didn't point it out.
“Fortunately, no major injuries.”
“The Eighteen War Ghosts weren't as impressive as expected.”
The Three Yang Corps Leader burst into cheerful laughter.
“Hahaha, you're the only one in the martial world who could say that about them.”
Even as he spoke, he couldn't hide his inner astonishment.
‘Amazing. Surviving the Eighteen War Ghosts' combined assault. Taking down Blood Yin Death General was no fluke.’
Examining Seol Hwa-un's neck and hand, the Three Yang Corps Leader said,
“Have our family physician treat those wounds when we return.”
The Sichuan Tang Family's medicine was renowned in the martial world.
“It's not severe, but I won't decline.”
“Hahaha.”
The Three Yang Corps Leader laughed again at Seol Hwa-un's bold tone.
* * *
Iron Mask Sly Fox Yi Jeong-myeong.
The undisputed second-in-command of Namwang Sect, a man whose brilliance in strategy and cunning rivaled even Jegal Mun, the Orthodox Heaven Alliance's Chief Strategist.
Slender and sharp-eyed, he was no slouch in martial arts despite his strategist role.
Yi Jeong-myeong waited in some location for the Eighteen War Ghosts' return.
“……They're later than expected.”
Three warrior escorts stood behind him, one speaking up.
“We even sent a Kill Ghost Valley special-class assassin. Success is certain.”
“Hmm.”
Yi Jeong-myeong was optimistic too. He was confident even his superior, the Namwang Sect Lord, couldn't easily foil this plan.
‘Yet I feel this inexplicable unease.’
It was a first for him.
‘Because the opponent is the North Heavenly Dragon?’
From his view—or the Central Plains martial world's—Seol Hwa-un's emergence was like a bolt from the blue.
Appearing like a comet, he crushed three of the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits, overwhelmed the orthodox younger generation with sheer might.
Then he shocked the world by felling Blood Yin Death General, one of the Four Demonic Generals.
‘The other North Sea Ice Palace warriors are impressive, but the North Heavenly Dragon feels somehow special.’
If he were an ordinary warrior, he'd want to see how far Seol Hwa-un could go.
But now, as enemies of the Demonic Alliance, he was merely a target to eliminate.
‘The plan is flawless. Regrettable, but the North Heavenly Dragon can't escape death.’
Then, the Eighteen War Ghosts appeared before him. Seven trembled with pale faces.
“……!”
Seeing them empty-handed, Yi Jeong-myeong instantly knew the plan had failed.
Success would have meant delivering Seol Hwa-un's head to the Huangbo Family.
The Eighteen War Ghosts knelt on one knee before Yi Jeong-myeong.
“We're sorry, Strategist. We failed to kill the North Heavenly Dragon.”
With a stern expression, Yi Jeong-myeong asked,
“Were there reinforcements?”
“No. He entered the forest alone.”
“Then why did you fail?”
“Our deepest regrets.”
“The Kill Ghost Valley assassin failed too?”
“Yes. As you instructed, he lay in wait at Misan Forest's exit and struck perfectly, but...”
“Hard to believe. Even that ambush failed?”
He thought the Eighteen War Ghosts sufficient but mobilized the assassin for perfection. Yet they couldn't kill Seol Hwa-un.
“Was he that strong?”
“No. He was stronger than expected, but our brigade could handle him.”
“…….”
Yi Jeong-myeong fell silent, then spoke.
“Rise. If you followed the plan and still failed, it's not your fault—my plan was insufficient.”
Bewilderment crossed the Eighteen War Ghosts Leader's face.
“N-no, Strategist.”
“Enough. This failure is mine. I should have grasped the opponent more thoroughly and devised a flawless plan.”
“…….”
“He's gone to the Sichuan Tang Family, I presume?”
“Yes, Strategist.”
Chilling killing intent emanated from his eyes.
“This round goes to you, North Heavenly Dragon. But don't think it's over. As long as you remain in the Central Plains, you won't escape our grasp.”