Chapter 15 The Commission Ends Here
The Commission Ends Here
After the Ascension Ceremony ended, Muk Yeojin moved into Namgung Ryeongryeong’s quarters.
>It was a place filled with memories, but given the current situation, he couldn’t bring himself to relax and reminisce.
Baekrang Squad Leader Joo Gok had arrived to deliver the details of his next mission.
Once the servants had been dismissed, Joo Gok erected a barrier of internal energy around the room.
>The movement of his qi was so natural, so smooth—it made Yeojin quietly impressed.
“He’s at least several levels beyond Gam Daehyeop.”
But at that very moment, Joo Gok himself was the more surprised one.
>He hadn’t sensed any internal energy from Yeojin until he came this close—
>as if the young man had perfectly sealed away his own power like a seasoned master of the martial world.
And that wasn’t all.
“…So, he’s really learned Namgung’s cultivation method.”
Deep within Yeojin’s body, Joo Gok could sense a clear, refreshing flow of energy coiled tightly within his core.
>It was unmistakably Azure Sky Qi, the signature internal energy of the Namgung Clan.
Joo Gok almost laughed aloud.
Here, in Sadocheon, the heart of the demonic path—
>a place considered the “dark vein” of the martial world—
>this young heir had gone and learned the purest technique of one of the righteous clans.
It was as if Yeojin himself were saying:
>“None of you can decide the path I walk.”
“Heh…”
That was domination in its truest sense.
>Joo Gok realized he was slowly becoming fascinated by this fearless young man.
And then, another thought struck him—
“He’s already reached the Stage of Impulsive Qi (Chunggigyeong).”
To Joo Gok, who remembered Yeojin as a clueless boy three years ago, this was nothing short of miraculous.
“The Lord of Heaven was right to grant him special favor.”
He was not merely talented—he was a promise of the future.
Suppressing a satisfied smile, Joo Gok spoke evenly.
“Your mission, Young Master Muk, is a personal protection assignment.”
A protection mission.
>Depending on who needed protection—and from what—the danger could vary from mild to fatal.
Joo Gok continued:
“Ten days ago, the head of the Cheonwoo Merchant Guild, located in Makho, Guangdong, received an assassination notice and requested protection from Sadocheon. Here is the letter.”
He handed over a blood-stained letter.
Yeojin took it and read silently.
>It contained the usual death threats and flowery boasts—nothing special.
>In short, “You’ll die soon, so be ready.”
But when his eyes fell on the name at the bottom, his tongue clicked reflexively.
“A ‘special reward,’ huh? Seems it’s living up to the name.”
At the very bottom were four characters:
“Manmyeon Gwija.”
That was the name of the assassin who had sent the letter to the guild master.
While Yeojin examined it, Joo Gok hid a faint smile.
“Let’s see if you can meet our Lord’s expectations again this time, Yeojin.”
But what Joo Gok couldn’t possibly know was that, at that same moment,
>Yeojin too was smiling quietly—hidden from view.
The next dawn.
Leaving behind his mother Namgung Ryeongryeong’s worries, Yeojin departed from Sadocheon to fulfill his mission.
>It was the first time in his life he was setting foot outside the organization’s territory.
Naturally, his mother was anxious.
>But all she could do was pray—
>for the Ascension Ceremony forbade any external assistance.
However—
Ssshh!
Contrary to her fears, Yeojin’s steps as he left Sadocheon’s main gates were firm and unwavering.
To train while traveling, he used Mountain King Fist’s movement art.
>Its techniques, modeled after the movements of beasts, shone brightest across rough terrain rather than flat ground.
As he sped through valleys and forests toward Makho, Yeojin’s thoughts turned to the assassin—Manmyeon Gwija.
The “Ghost with a Thousand Faces.”
He was a first-rank wanted criminal of the righteous alliance, the Murim League.
>But his craftiness and supernatural disguises had made him impossible to catch—even the League had long given up.
His skill lay in disguise and mimicry so advanced that he could change not just appearance but even voice and posture.
>He could imitate anyone—man, woman, old or young—down to the smallest habit.
He would observe a target for days, sometimes months, until he could mirror every detail flawlessly.
>It was no wonder that, even after decades, no one had managed to capture him.
But—there was one person alive in the martial world who knew exactly who he was disguised as right now.
And that person was Muk Yeojin.
“Who would’ve thought that drunkard’s ramblings would come in handy.”
At the mention of Makho and Manmyeon Gwija, a vivid memory resurfaced.
Before his regression, he had known someone from Makho—
>a man who, whenever drunk, would ramble endlessly about a certain horrific event.
>The way his face twisted in pain each time told Yeojin everything about the cruelty of that incident.
To make sure he wouldn’t miss the timing, Yeojin quickened his pace.
After days of travel, he finally reached Makho in Guangdong Province.
The Cheonwoo Merchant Guild was one of the city’s wealthiest groups,
>and its guild master, Lee Hwamyung, was a renowned magnate.
Yeojin easily found the guild’s massive estate and approached.
At the entrance, five guards stood watch, their vigilance fierce.
“Judging by the number of presences I sense, there must be at least a hundred guards posted throughout.”
As he drew closer, one of the guards barked out:
“Halt! No one is allowed inside the Cheonwoo estate at this time!”
“I’ve come from Sadocheon. I’ve just arrived in Makho under the commission of Guild Master Lee Hwamyung.”
At the mention of Sadocheon, the guard flinched and eyed Yeojin up and down.
>He had been told someone from Sadocheon would come—
>but this one looked far too young.
Thanks to mastering Mountain King Fist, Yeojin’s physique had matured to that of a grown man,
>but his youthful face still carried a trace of boyishness—barely looking twenty.
Even so, the weight of Sadocheon’s name wasn’t something he could ignore.
“Do you have any proof that you’re from Sadocheon?” the guard asked nervously.
Yeojin hesitated.
“Proof…?”
Of course, he had none.
>Sadocheon wasn’t some righteous sect with identification badges.
>In that world, strength and reputation were proof enough.
He eyed the guards in front of him.
>He could try to explain or convince them—but every moment wasted was dangerous.
“If Manmyeon Gwija kills Lee Hwamyung while I stand here arguing, everything’s lost. I can’t waste time.”
A grin crept across Yeojin’s face.
Since he’d come as a warrior of Sadocheon—
>he would prove himself the Sadocheon way.
Deep inside the Cheonwoo estate, Guild Master Lee Hwamyung sat pale and weary in his private chambers.
>Since receiving the assassination letter two weeks prior, he hadn’t left the room once.
Except for those with verified identities, he had banned all entry and placed guards on rotating shifts around the clock.
Still, dark circles shadowed his eyes from countless sleepless nights.
Knock knock.
“Ah!”
Even the soft sound of a knock made him jolt in fear.
“W–Who’s there!?”
“Father, it’s me.”
The clear voice outside belonged to his daughter, Lee Soi.
“Ah… come in.”
The door slid open, and Soi entered, carrying a tray.
“Father, I brought you some porridge.”
“Thank you, Soi.”
“Father, the guards are keeping watch. No one can get in or out. I’ve also requested help from the local authorities, and Sadocheon should be sending someone soon—please don’t worry too much.”
Seeing his daughter’s concern brought a faint smile to Lee Hwamyung’s lips.
“Thank you, my dear. You’re all I have.”
And then—
BOOM! BOOM!
A thunderous crash echoed across the estate.
“W-what is that!?”
Another explosion, closer this time.
KWAANG!
The sound grew louder—closer—until Lee Hwamyung’s face turned pale.
“What’s happening…?”
Just then, one of his guards burst in from the inner courtyard.
“Guild Master! Intruder! You must evacuate at once!”
“What!?”
Lee Hwamyung trembled in terror. His daughter clutched his arm.
They hurried to leave—
CRAAASH!
Before they could even reach the door, one wall of the room shattered, and a dark figure in black-red robes stepped through.
Lee Hwamyung froze in horror.
“You…!”
A guard rushed in with his sword drawn—
THUD!
—but was swatted aside in a single blow, sent flying.
Step by step, the intruder approached.
“A-Are you Manmyeon Gwija? Please… I beg of you, spare my daughter. Take my life if you must, but let her live.”
The intruder looked down coldly at the trembling father and daughter.
Without a word—
SWISH!
“Gah!!”
A blade flashed, and the daughter’s heart was pierced clean through.
She stared in disbelief at the sword embedded in her chest.
“H…how…?”
Lee Hwamyung’s eyes went wide with horror.
“No! Soi! No! You bastard! You killed my daughter!”
The intruder, eyes unreadable, spoke calmly.
“I am from Sadocheon. I’ve just executed Manmyeon Gwija. The commission is hereby complete.”
“Wha—What nonsense are you talking about!?”
He couldn’t finish.
The girl in his arms began to… change.
Crack… crackle…
Her bones twisted and popped back into a new shape—
>the false form of disguise technique unraveling.
Lee Hwamyung’s trembling hands pulled at the skin of the false face—
>and beneath it was a pale, middle-aged man with a goat beard.
Manmyeon Gwija.
Muk Yeojin smiled faintly.
“Now then, shall we talk business, Guild Master?”