Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Application of Assassin's Martial Arts (3)
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Within the Jang Estate, as the evening dusk gently settled in.
I sat cross-legged and sought instruction from Master Teolbu.
Honestly, it was a bit shocking to learn that Master Teolbu had been an assassin.
Well.
"You're not thinking something stupid like, 'He doesn't look like an assassin,' are you?"
"Gasp."
Lately, it felt like everyone could read my mind no matter where I went.
Am I that predictable?
Then again, as the Central Plains' top beacon of common sense, it was probably easy for them to guess.
"Heok."
Suddenly, Master Teolbu's face rippled strangely, like he'd drunk Polyjuice Potion. His cheekbones sank, and his eyes rounded out a bit.
In that brief moment, his somewhat intimidating features transformed in an instant into those of a neighborhood good-for-nothing fool of an old man.
"This is the application of Disguise Technique and Bone-Shrinking Art."
"What a name—it sounds like it'll shrink your bones for real."
"That's exactly what it means. For a flashy pretty boy like you, you'd have to rework that face first to avoid standing out. If it's for evasion, you could learn something like this."
"Hmm..."
It was pretty hardcore.
But, to be really, truly honest.
"Getting ugly kinda sucks..."
"You madman. Then scarring your cheek or forehead is another option."
"Oh. That sounds manly and cool. Like makeup or something?"
"No need for all that hassle. Just slice it once with a blade like a man. Want this seat to carve one for you right now?"
"...?"
"Spit on it and it'll heal. Once you shed your mortal shell, a little scar like that vanishes anyway. No worries."
My trust in Master Teolbu plummeted by -100.
"Anyway, among the assassin tricks, there's Disguise Technique, Bone-Shrinking Art, and—"
Suddenly, Master's body melted into the darkness.
I blinked once, and he was gone, as if he'd never been there to begin with—
"Shadow Concealment Technique."
"Heok."
The voice suddenly from behind me made me gasp involuntarily.
Turning my head, I saw Master's face back to normal, eyes gleaming with a 'How's that, badass, right?' vibe.
"That's exactly what I wanted to learn."
Stealth was basic Korean secret weapon know-how.
I could pivot to a sniper with my archery.
Or show some magic to punks I didn't like.
"Yeah, it pairs well with your martial arts. Hiding your form while unleashing palm strikes would be tricky to counter."
After that, I eagerly absorbed the teachings on Shadow Concealment Technique and Ghost-Chasing Hidden Form.
"But doesn't your form reveal itself the moment you attack?"
"What nonsense is that? Even in one of the most refined Shadow Concealment Techniques, Crevice-Crawling Shade, you can't avoid revealing yourself at the attack. Otherwise, assassins would be the supreme under heaven."
That made sense.
But why was the technique called something as lame as Crevice-Crawling Shade...?
Anyway.
For the first hour or so, I struggled, unable to fully melt into the darkness.
"Let the killing begin..."
"You idiot. What's the point of Shadow Concealment if you talk?"
Only when the dusk faded and starlight alone adorned the sky did my body start blending with the darkness.
Whether Shadow Concealment was inherently like this, or my flashy martial arts effects made even stealth look flashy.
My hands flickered in and out of visibility, which was thrilling.
This was just entry-level, but by mastery, I felt like I could strut naked down the street and no one would notice.
"But is it really okay to teach me this stuff?"
"Well, the more demonic arts you learn, the more you turn into a Demonic Cult seed. I'm all for it."
Still hasn't given up on the Demonic Cult kidnapping project, huh.
But I'd already swallowed the Great Return Pill.
I wouldn't toss away my upright, righteous orthodox faction title for just Shadow Concealment.
"Besides, mastering Shadow Concealment alone doesn't make you an assassin. Especially not for the Ghost-Slaying Squad."
"What's that?"
Master Teolbu slapped the ground with his palm.
This gesture usually meant 'Sit down. I'm gonna tell you some awesome stories'—90% chance of boomer rant, 10% chance of fun tale.
Hey, after learning such useful martial arts, what's listening to some boomer talk?
I sat obediently.
"These days, it's all half-assed rookies running around without any grit, but back then, the Ghost-Slaying Squad was the strongest group in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. At least until this seat showed up."
"I see. Terrifying."
"Even within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Ghost-Slaying Squad was el—whatchamacallit."
"Elite?"
"Right, in Western tongue, elite. Especially against the orthodox factions—they shone brightest."
Oh no.
Boomer rant combo: latte isekai.
But life is give and take.
Take the martial arts, gotta take the rants too.
"Ooh, impressive. How'd they pull it off? Snipe the masters in secret and assassinate them?"
"Hm, that's part of it, but not the essence."
"Oh? There's an essence? What's the difference?"
Satisfied with my enthusiastic reaction, Master Teolbu let out that classic old boomer chuckle, tongue-clicking.
Respecting elders is a tough path...
"What is assassination?"
"Hmm. No witnesses?"
Like in Gears of Assassins games.
To assassinate a noble hiding in a mansion, just slaughter everyone inside.
No survivors, no witnesses.
"Not wrong. But there's more."
Unaware of my brutal thoughts, Master Teolbu continued, lost in past glories.
"Is assassination just killing without a trace?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"No. Leaving a trace is even more perfect. A trace so flawless no one suspects."
Suddenly, Master Teolbu stood up.
And casually drew his sword, swinging it through the air.
At first, I thought irreverently, 'Sword dance under the moon?'
"Oh..."
Plum blossoms bloomed from the tip of Sword Demon Master's blade, then converged into a single point and stabbed the ground.
One of the Plum Blossom Sword forms from the Mind-Image Sword Debate, recreated near-perfectly in reality.
"Were you originally from Mount Hua Sect?"
Master snorted as he sheathed his sword.
"As if. All learned from the Ghost-Slaying Squad. To counter orthodox swords, you must understand them first. Then mimic to leave traces and incite infighting. ...Not that this seat did."
Vicious Demonic Cult seeds think differently.
Their whole mindset is criminal lifestyle.
Crack!
"Ow!"
"Insolent look."
Old age sharpened his senses...
Knowledge is meaningless if just stored in the head.
I filtered out Master Teolbu's teachings, keeping the gems.
And practiced Ghost-Chasing Hidden Form whenever I had time to build proficiency.
"Kyau!"
Unfortunately, it hid presence but not scent.
A casual stroll down a side path, and the wolf pup sniffed me out like a ghost.
But it could fool ordinary eyes to some extent.
Ghost-Chasing Hidden Form's core wasn't melting into darkness, but controlling qi to extremes to erase one's presence entirely.
"Ron. Riichi, pon, tsum. 7700 points."
"...? When the hell did you riichi?"
"Hehe."
Not the intended effect, but my win rate and survival in gambling—especially mahjong—skyrocketed.
Not yet supreme under heaven, but I could claim top mahjong master title confidently.
Plus, spiking Moyong Wicheon's cup with laxatives as he got cocky again—righteous deeds confirmed it.
This martial art.
Amazing...!
Its potential was endless, disrupting even experts at my level.
Assassins hogging this gem...
I shared my profound realization with my friends.
"Useful for peeking at exam answers..."
Moyong Taek, who skipped studies but sucked at mahjong, gave a squirrel-level reaction.
"Women's bath...!"
"Piss off, you perv."
"Ugh, wo-women's bath...!"
The beggar turned monkey-brain, tossing enlightenment for lust under a bridge hovel.
How are all my friends idiots...?
But one lukewarm point remained.
I was strong enough to slaughter first-rate or Peak mid-tiers without Shadow Concealment.
However.
How effective against higher realms?
Of course, Master Teolbu and even Chicken Master pierced my stealth instantly, like 'Where'd you learn that trash?'
Would it work on Peak experts, short of Profound Realm?
"Doubt it. Too crude to fool a honed warrior's instincts yet, Geum Sihyeon."
"Hmm, I think it could. Peak to Transcendent isn't that huge a gap, and Geum's internal energy rivals Transcendent already. Precise qi control might fool them."
Moyong Taek and Unhak's opinions split.
We had a rule for this: skip boring debates.
Ping!
A silver coin popped from both Moyong Taek and Unhak's sleeves simultaneously.
I snatched the two coins smoothly.
"I bet it works. I'm off."
"Geum hyung! Make it happen!"
I set off to test my limits.
Wanted to snap Nangong Baek's neck right there, but aftermath too messy.
Too risky.
Luckily, I had ties with a Transcendent expert where stealth approach wouldn't cause big issues—or fixable ones.
Wait up, Ice King Duo.
I'll exorcise you with my Ghost-Chasing Hidden Form...!