Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Daylight Assassins
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"Hey! I told you to do it!"
"I can't."
It was pointless stubbornness.
"Why!"
"I understand your words of grace, but even though I've learned an evil martial art, my heart still follows the righteous path. I can't steal the qi from innocent people for my own sake."
"No! Draining qi doesn't kill people. Recovery depends on how much is taken, but it does recover, right?"
"Still, I can't. My lord."
"You...!"
What a stubborn bastard without a shred of flexibility!
If he hadn't decided to help, he would've ripped that guy's mouth open right then and there.
No, just last night his eyes had been those of a beast mad for slaughter, but now that his qi was depleted, he was acting like the most righteous prick in the world.
Jinmu let out a deep sigh that seemed to cave in the ground.
After the night passed and he'd rested, Baekpyo had returned to his original frail, scrawny state.
He'd learned basic arts and built up a tiny bit of internal energy, but a few raindrops don't soak parched earth completely.
He was still scrawny and endlessly pitiable.
Even lifting chopsticks made his hands tremble.
"How the hell did you manage bone-dissecting strikes with a body like that?"
"That's different from this, my lord."
Different, my ass.
"My family's art rides the flow, allowing dozens of sword strikes with a single handful of breath."
Baekpyo boasted with a proud expression.
Yeah, good for you...
This punk needed to be drained quick too.
But he'd never given up once he'd set his mind to something. He'd decided to help, so he'd see it through.
And with a bit more care, he'd escort him all the way to the Baek stronghold.
He was heading to Mount Qing to obtain the Two Forms Heart Art anyway, and something hidden for a century wouldn't suddenly vanish.
It was just a slight detour.
After that, whether he offed himself or got stabbed didn't matter a whit.
'Damn it, might have to boat to Jangsa and procure a carriage. This worthless punk's gonna cost me good money.'
Jinmu inwardly cursed Cheon U-myeong as he sighed.
Tingling.
As Jinmu sighed deeply, the inn's curtain rustled.
A hooded giant and an old man.
Jinmu, who never slacked on surveilling his surroundings, glanced over.
'Pretty well-trained bunch. Solid. Especially that old man—hides his qi masterfully.'
But the moment he saw them, Baekpyo's eyes bulged. He even shot to his feet despite his weakness.
"Huh? What?"
"Kill Lord...?"
At Baekpyo's words, Jinmu's head snapped back.
If Baekpyo called him Kill Lord, he had to be the master of Three Kills Hall. And the hooded giant was one of the assassins he'd glimpsed occasionally.
Their presence here meant...?
Jinmu quickly scanned the inn again, spreading his senses. They hid their presence decently, but he wouldn't miss it.
'Ha! Look at these idiots?'
While bickering with Baekpyo, he'd blinked, and guests had come and gone repeatedly. Now the place was like this.
Errand boys, old folks eating in the back, men and women on this floor— the entire inn packed with assassins.
They'd disguised themselves in all sorts of ways. Not like it was hide-and-seek.
This had to be every named assassin operating around Lake Dongting mobilized. And obviously, their targets were Jinmu and Baekpyo.
'Heh, crazy bastards. Waltzing in broad daylight? Assassins, my ass?'
As Jinmu stared in disbelief, the old man and hooded giant approached.
"Mind if we sit?"
He knew Jinmu was young yet still showed manners. Meant he wanted talk, not fight.
Probably demand Baekpyo.
Ballsy.
Jinmu's level—they'd know from the guy who lost an arm last night. Yet filling the inn with assassins meant they'd kill if talks failed.
Lunatics. Sword aura experts? They'd probably never even met one.
Sword aura masters barely topped twenty across all evil sects. Each rivaled a major sect alone.
Not some massive group like Blood Veil— Lake Dongting assassins ganging up on a sword aura master? When he already knew every last one's position?
The more he thought, the more ridiculous it got. Should've given time to prepare. Time to spread senses, pinpoint locations.
"You know who we are and ask? Sit."
"Thanks."
The old man sat, the hooded giant standing guard beside him.
"I'm Beom Yong, master of Three Kills Hall."
"So?"
"..."
Jinmu's response furrowed Beom Yong's brow slightly.
A peak expert before him. But dozens of assassins waited to strike.
As Jinmu guessed, they'd kill him somehow if talks failed.
"I heard you've forgiven our transgression."
"Bullshit. I could've wiped you all out. Just felt generous yesterday."
Despite the sarcasm, Beom Yong didn't flinch.
Meant he had backup.
"Three Kills Hall wants no grudge with you."
"Who says? You struck first."
Jinmu snorted, and the hooded giant glared coldly.
Not knowing his place.
"Ha! Wanna go?"
"...!"
Jinmu's eyes changed.
That instant.
Rumble.
Immense pressure crushed the hooded giant.
"Urk."
Despite mustering all his internal energy, the giant buckled under the elephantine weight, knees hitting the floor.
Blood trickled from his clenched lips.
To bystanders, it looked like he knelt suddenly. But Beom Yong felt the murderous pressure on his skin.
Talks failed. Beom Yong moved to signal attack.
But.
"Raise that hand, and you all drop dead here."
Killing intent flooded his eyes as qi filled the inn.
"Urgh."
"Ugh!"
Groans erupted everywhere.
Not just the giant—every assassin he'd prepared was crushed by Jinmu's qi.
And despite unleashing such power, Jinmu grinned effortlessly.
'Th-this...'
Beom Yong's impassive face paled.
"Crazy fuck. Think I'm joking?"
"..."
"That amusing? Who first to hell? The guy behind Baekpyo? Or that bitch over there?"
With each finger Jinmu pointed, Beom Yong's face darkened further.
He'd never imagined this.
"Gr-great hero, forgive our rudeness."
Beom Yong dropped to his knees in haste.
"Forgive? That guy yesterday gave an arm. What're you offering?"
Under Jinmu's killing gaze, Beom Yong swallowed dryly.
Targeting him was impossible from the start. Ignorance of sword aura masters might doom Lake Dongting's assassins.
Beom Yong swiftly pulled a heavy money pouch from his bosom and placed it on the table.
"This is but a token of sincerity. If you allow, we'll quit assassinations right away. Mercy..."
"..."
Jinmu glanced at the pouch.
Heavy at a glance—nice bonus cash.
Whether they assassinated again didn't matter. As long as they left Baekpyo alone.
Needed a carriage anyway thanks to Baekpyo... Huh. Wait.
Beom Yong, hooded giant. And dozens of assassins inside.
All bad guys.
Real bad.
Jinmu pocketed the pouch hurriedly, glanced at Baekpyo, and a wicked smile curled his lips. The pressure vanished like mist.
Pent-up breaths burst out everywhere, followed by Jinmu's gentle words.
"Fine. Meet two demands, and we pretend nothing happened?"
Beom Yong inwardly sighed in relief.
Lives spared.
"Yes? What are they?"
"One: forget Baekpyo exists."
Obvious at this point.
"The other? Trivial. Like a mosquito bite."
"...?"
As Jinmu crossed Lake Dongting, the martial world buzzed with the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
All Righteous Martial Alliance sects focused on Wuhuan.
Participants were mostly second-generation disciples or younger sons, aged late teens to under thirty.
Next-gen talents—some famed, some unknown.
Those sending disciples and sons mobilized info networks to compile profiles and rank them.
The conference selected entrants to Dragon-Phoenix Hall by tiers. Hierarchies and factions inevitable.
Warriors graded into four classes via tests: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding Martial Groups—determining training years in the hall.
Basic: Dingwu Group.
Refinement: Bingwu Group.
Advanced: Yiwu Group.
Elite core: Jiawu Group.
Unlike others, only eight entered Jiawu.
Treatment worlds apart—training, perks, instructors beyond imagination.
Some Jiawu even learned directly from Hall Lord Deung Yeo-pyeong; top one from Sword Saint Cheol Ji-ryang.
Rumors swirled of Righteous Martial Seven Stars teaching personally.
Thus, Jiawu selection brought eternal glory to sects.
Famed youths vied fiercely for it, checking each other.
"That's Huashan's Hyun Seon. Second-gen, already mastered Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword."
Cheongsang nodded calmly at Zhuge Sansan's words.
"That one's Yi Baek-ui of Hainan, swift sword of Hainan One Sword Style."
"I see."
"Nine Schools already split north-south by those two—factions formed."
"...Yes."
"The one in Azure Heaven Robes is Namgung Changwi. Beside him, Hwangbo Woong. Five Families will faction around them."
Day three of Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
Grading tests began.
While waiting, Zhuge Sansan pointed out crowd in the training ground, detailing backgrounds, personalities, arts, power.
Not just a few.
Major sects sent five to ten each—memorizing all impossible.
"Impressive. How do you know so much?"
"Haha, Zhuge are scholars. Must investigate to close martial gaps."
"Wow, amazing. If even Lady Zhuge says so, they must be. Makes sense why uncle always nags us."
Cheongu gaped in admiration.
But.
'Gaps, huh.'
Cheongsang just smiled.
Zhuge Sansan's humility. Her skill matched his.
He knew profound realm's greatness despite worldly disinterest.
'The real threat is this woman.'
Pride in Zhuge Sansan's eyes—mark of true confidence.
"Cheongu."
"Yes, senior brother!"
"Uncle left for the capital."
"I know."
"Only you and I represent Wudang in the Righteous Alliance now."
"..."
"Act to honor Wudang, uncle, and Five Dragon Palace."
"Yes!"
Zhuge Sansan eyed Cheongsang oddly at his reply.
'Another genius? Wudang's blessed this generation.'
To her, Cheongsang was unshakable. Calm, cold.
Just overshadowed by inexplicable monster Jinmu.
She knew his prowess firsthand.
Only she and Hall Lord Deung Yeo-pyeong knew Cheongsang and Cheongu's true levels.
They outstripped the rising stars by miles.
Especially Cheongsang—genius of geniuses, profound realm at peak age.
He'd surely shake the conference.