Chapter 358
Chapter 358
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 358
Chapter Title: Severing Ties
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Unhyang stood in front of the Heavenly Dragon Pavilion, her bamboo hat pulled low.
The guest who rarely ventured outside had finally appeared, drawing everyone's eyes naturally. Unhyang waited in silence, ignoring their stares.
After a while...
Thud...
Two men who had entered the Heavenly Dragon Pavilion to meet Jindo-ha emerged outside.
"Hm?"
Namgung Ga-hwi's eyes narrowed at the sight of Unhyang in her suspicious garb.
The two already knew that Lee Soo-hyuk had come as a guest elder at the Murim Alliance Leader's invitation. Naturally, Namgung Ga-hwi's gaze toward Unhyang was far from friendly.
"Is that the guy?"
But...
"That's not him."
Uncheon-geuk shook his head, as if he'd mistaken her for someone else.
His eyes lit up like he'd spotted an old acquaintance. Come to think of it, he'd worn that same expression earlier.
"An acquaintance of yours?"
"Closer than just an acquaintance."
Namgung Ga-hwi stared piercingly at Uncheon-geuk's cryptic words before stepping aside. He figured the man had traveled far and wanted some rest.
After seeing Namgung Ga-hwi off, Uncheon-geuk walked up to Unhyang.
She'd always been the timid child who shrank back at the sight of him.
"Walk with me."
As if beckoning her to follow, Uncheon-geuk started strolling along the wall.
The sight of the two walking side by side startled onlookers. The Alliance Leader's guest mingling with Jindo-ha's visitor felt off, especially with the recent tension between the current and former leaders.
Still, one thing was now clear.
They'd wondered who the Alliance Leader's two guests were, but now it was confirmed—one was someone acquainted with the Divine Lotus Castle Lord.
"You're not trailing behind today."
Unhyang, who would have fled at any other time, walked abreast with him.
"Am I not scary anymore?"
"Who knows. What do you think?"
"You've changed a lot."
"I had to. To cut you down."
Unhyang stated her thoughts plainly.
If you plan to keep binding me, I'll cut you down. So don't show yourself before me again.
"You plan to kill me?"
"You think I can't?"
Words she couldn't have said before, but now she could.
"So go back. Unless you want to die at the hands of someone who was once your daughter."
"You're saying that too, huh."
"Me too?"
"I heard Lee Soo-hyuk told the elder the same. To leave if he didn't want to die."
"Soo-hyuk did?"
Unhyang's eyes widened in surprise before she burst into laughter.
"That's just like Soo-hyuk."
Even with her face masked, it felt like her smile shone brightly. It was the first time Uncheon-geuk had seen her laugh like this.
"I think the same. We've come here to kill everyone, after all."
"How kind of you. Telling me outright like this."
"No. This kindness isn't for you. It's for me."
"...?"
Uncheon-geuk halted, puzzled by her words as they walked along the wall.
"You weren't much of a father, and not my real one either, but I called you Father once. Even that thread-thin bond of fate makes my heart uneasy to sever."
Unhyang walked ahead of the stopped Uncheon-geuk and turned to face him.
"By saying this and then killing you, I mean there'll be no hesitation left."
Her words were laced with murderous intent, yet she politely bowed to him.
"Rest well. Think carefully about what I said."
Watching her walk away, Uncheon-geuk muttered to himself.
"So you've resolved to master it after all."
He grinned widely, fangs bared in delight.
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art."
As the guest quarters came into view from afar, Unhyang slumped to the ground and let out a heavy breath.
She'd acted unfazed, but her heart pounded fiercely. She'd rehearsed this moment countless times.
After squatting there for a while, she looked up—only to lock eyes with Soo-hyuk, who stood at the entrance. Embarrassing timing.
"Well done."
Soo-hyuk spoke as if he'd witnessed it all.
What did he even know? Still, Unhyang beamed. That single phrase gave her so much strength.
"I had to. I know you brought me for this."
Soo-hyuk grinned at her words. Her reaction confirmed her suspicions were right.
At first, she'd been puzzled. Si-woo was there, Hyo-min too. Why bring the most conspicuous her?
But the moment she heard Uncheon-geuk was here, it clicked why Soo-hyuk had chosen her.
He wanted her to cut her own chains and grow stronger.
Unhyang rose and walked with Soo-hyuk. Her legs felt weak, but walking was better now.
They took a secluded path, and she recounted her talk with Uncheon-geuk.
"I heard from him. You declared war on the elder."
"Yes. Jindo-ha's probably told all his closest aides by now."
"I'm still far from being one of his closest. I didn't even know you met the elder yesterday."
"You were fast asleep."
"Drinking with sis."
She'd asked Ye-ryeong to tail Im Mu-gwang. They needed to confirm his betrayal to predict the next move.
"What about Im Mu-gwang?"
"Traitor confirmed. Cozied up with the elder over drinks last night."
"'Cozied up'—straight from Ye-ryeong's mouth, right?"
"That obvious?"
Unhyang giggled. She'd always been bright, but shadows had lingered before.
Living together had lifted much of that darkness.
"Why reveal yourself?"
Unhyang wondered why Soo-hyuk had shown his face.
A natural question.
Hiding offered more surprise.
"To escalate things."
"Revealing yourself blows it up?"
"One or the other. They'll panic and hide, or come at us full force. The Jindo-ha I know won't just roll over and die."
Unhyang agreed with that last part. Jindo-ha wouldn't give up easily.
"How far will you take it?"
"To the end."
"The end..."
She didn't need words—his eyes said it all. The end meant sweeping away every master under Jindo-ha's Murim.
Unhyang didn't know how strong Soo-hyuk had become.
They'd sparred several times lately, but she'd never glimpsed his limit.
Still, she trusted him. His confidence was rebuilt after a massive failure—fortified like a castle.
Suddenly, Unhyang recalled first meeting Soo-hyuk.
'I should have protected him back then.'
Cool name, cool mask, cool personality. Just a green rookie brimming with potential.
"Time flies, huh."
Soo-hyuk, oblivious to her thoughts, looked puzzled.
Instead of explaining, she asked something else.
"Tomorrow, right? The Leader heads out."
Namgung Hwa-young was set to visit the West Gate Clan tomorrow at their request.
"Do we go too?"
"No. We stay here."
"What if something waits at the West Gate Clan? The Leader could be in danger."
Soo-hyuk shook his head.
He was certain it wouldn't happen. And that certainty stemmed from faith in someone absent.
"We're not the only three, are we?"
Preparations for the Murim Alliance Leader's trip to the West Gate Clan were complete. The escorts bustled most, a large carriage ready.
The group numbered around twenty—more than usual. All but five rode separately, keeping distance covertly.
Too many would draw eyes; too few left them vulnerable. These were handpicked after much deliberation.
They had to be extra cautious after the Chief Strategist's recent death.
Rumble...
The carriage, emblazoned with dragon and tiger, rolled smoothly. Leaving the Alliance grounds, it sped to the West Gate Clan.
Namgung Hwa-young alighted, and Im Mu-gwang knocked on the clan gates.
It looked normal, but his heart raced.
'I'll kill the Leader here.'
The West Gate Clan, and Jindo-ha's men, were already inside.
Today, this would be the Alliance Leader's tomb. Even the assassin was chosen.
Just open the gate...
But...
"......"
No response, even after waiting.
Im Mu-gwang knocked again, calling out loudly. No signs of life.
Namgung Hwa-young, waiting by the carriage, asked,
"What's wrong?"
"Something's off."
Im Mu-gwang reached for the gate. A slight gap—it wasn't locked.
Sure enough, it swung open easily with a creak. Inside, empty.
'This wasn't in the plan?'
Was there another scheme he didn't know?
His role: stab the Leader in the back at the crucial moment. Focusing on that, he said,
"We'll take the lead."
Escorts surrounded Namgung Hwa-young. Im Mu-gwang entered the vast clan compound first.
True to its "clan house" name, it sprawled wide.
They followed the stone path lined with pines toward the main hall. Meeting the West Gate Clan head first.
But...
"People here!"
An escort spotted a fallen figure.
"Here too!"
"Over here too!"
Alert escorts found more collapsed bodies.
All armed warriors. Well-hidden ambushers, famed masters every one.
"Blood Asura."
"Impermanence Ghost here."
"Poison Night Emissary! Assassins too."
"This one..."
Noted unorthodox masters and top-grade assassins. None who should be at the West Gate Clan.
Had they all been awake? The escorts realized: a trap.
Unlike the relieved escorts, Im Mu-gwang sweated coldly in secret.
These were meant to help him eliminate the Leader. Now all down—what to do?
'They're asleep.'
Checking the Poison Night Emissary's pulse, Im Mu-gwang confirmed. Deep sleep, unscathed.
Who put them all to sleep at once? Who could?
The answer came soon.
Amid the slumbering bodies, at the stone path's end to the main hall, one person sat alone... playing Go.