Chapter 24
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Red Moon Ambush
Two bonfires blazed to life. Those who had claimed spots around them gradually drifted off to sleep one by one. Two Tang Family warriors stood watch alongside two porters. Dan Hyeong-u simply stood there, eyes closed.
As the night deepened, silence wrapped around them. Now, the only sound was the crackling of the fires.
At that moment, Dan Hyeong-u snapped his eyes open. The dozens of presences that had been prickling at his senses since daytime were finally making their move in earnest.
He turned his head and glanced at Jo Seol-yeon, lost in slumber. Her cute face lay oblivious to the world. For a brief moment, he debated waking her, then gave a faint shake of his head.
Dan Hyeong-u's figure melted into the surroundings.
Neither the sleepers nor the four who were awake noticed his disappearance at all.
Gok Yang-gi was one of the top experts even within the Black Sand Society. The Red Moon Squad he led was one of the premier warrior units in the Black Sand Society as well. It was the squad that had shouldered all the dirty work, forging the society as it stood today.
The individual skills of the Red Moon Squad members were impressive enough, but their coordinated formations were equally formidable. Their greatest strength, however, lay in ambushes and assassinations. Having mastered advanced stealth techniques, they were undetectable even if someone passed right by them when they chose to hide.
Gok Yang-gi had brought the entire Red Moon Squad. His comrades, scattered and hidden in all directions, were impossible for even him to pinpoint. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips inwardly as he began to move slowly. It was time to reconfirm the targets' status.
His body flowed like black smoke drifting along. The smoke-like form halted before the wide clearing and seeped into the ground. It was the spot where the Henan Escort Bureau group was camped.
Gok Yang-gi and the Red Moon Squad's objective was the people here. Once everyone was dead, the Blue Moon Squad would handle collecting the escorted goods.
He cautiously extended his senses, probing the conditions of those sleeping or standing watch in the clearing. No margin for even the slightest error. That was the only way to complete the mission without losses.
The wind carrying his senses spread quietly into the clearing.
The Red Moon Squad warriors moved through the forest along predetermined paths. Their stealth was so profound that even allies couldn't detect them unless they stuck precisely to the planned routes—otherwise, coordination would be impossible.
All communication and orders came via Gok Yang-gi's telepathic messages, receivable only at the prearranged positions.
The Red Moon Squad numbered thirty in total. Upon joining, members discarded their former selves and received only a number—a name that lasted until they left the squad.
Red Moon Fifteen was the member positioned closest to Gok Yang-gi. Blended seamlessly with the tree beside him, he awaited his command.
At the pinnacle of stealth, one forgot even themselves the moment they hid. Every Red Moon warrior had stepped into that realm, and Fifteen was no exception.
Fifteen, standing motionless with eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open.
"Gasp."
He absolutely could not make a sound, yet a groan slipped through his lips. Someone had gripped his neck firmly from behind.
He wanted to demand who it was, but no words came from the instant his throat was seized.
Crack!
With the sound of bones grinding out of place, Fifteen's neck snapped.
Thud.
His corpse crumpled limply to the ground, and Dan Hyeong-u revealed himself there. He gave the fallen body a cursory glance before melting back into the darkness.
Gok Yang-gi steadied his breathing and withdrew his senses. He had grasped everything and gained full confidence. Striking now would ensure mission success without a single casualty.
He sent telepathic messages in all directions. Only those precisely at the promised spots would receive them. After firing off thirty messages, he waited quietly for his comrades to move. Or rather, he counted inwardly. They would act after ten. That was the agreement.
'One, two...'
As the count rose, the tension coursing through his body thickened. His entire being awakened. That was the purpose of the count.
'Ten.'
The instant he reached ten, he launched himself forward. Of course, with utmost suppression of noise—an utterly covert movement. His body seeped into the clearing like smoke. A Tang Ho-gwan-level expert might detect it, but the man was asleep.
Gok Yang-gi's first target was that very Tang Ho-gwan.
Two Tang Family warriors stood watch, but they couldn't spot him.
He arrived before Tang Ho-gwan in an instant, only to sense something off. The squad should have moved in sync with him, yet he felt nothing.
'Has the Red Moon Squad advanced this far?'
He was startled at first, but quickly dismissed it as unlikely and scanned his surroundings. Then he realized something was terribly wrong.
'No one's there!'
Reflexively, he swung his sword toward Tang Ho-gwan's neck. Even in this situation, securing the Ho-gwan meant no loss. And against a sleeping target, he was confident he could kill him.
Swish.
His sword extended silently toward the neck.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring halted his blade. What blocked it was a slender sword radiating keen sword ki.
Gok Yang-gi was stunned. Shocked by the sudden sword, by someone approaching undetected even by him. And most of all, that it had so casually blocked his prized technique, Flash Moon.
His head turned slowly. There stood Dan Hyeong-u, face impassive. In that instant, a thick scent of blood seeped into his nostrils.
"N-No way..."
He couldn't finish. Dan Hyeong-u's indifferent sword moved.
Flash!
A blinding white bolt of lightning engulfed his vision, claiming his consciousness.
The two Tang Family warriors gaped blankly as Gok Yang-gi collapsed. They couldn't grasp how it had unfolded or been resolved. By the time they registered it, Gok Yang-gi and Dan Hyeong-u had been standing beside Tang Ho-gwan, and with a chilling flash of lightning, Gok had been cleaved in two.
That was all.
"Gasp. W-What the hell?"
One of the Tang warriors scowled.
"Blood... smell."
They too caught the dense bloody tang. The clearing reeked of it. With all thirty Red Moon Squad members surrounding it slaughtered, it was only natural.
Soon, people began waking one by one, unable to endure the stench.
After the Red Moon Squad's assault, they reached Chengdu without further interference.
The awakened group was startled by the scattered corpses, but in the end, they just shrugged it off. After experiencing such things repeatedly, they had no choice but to grow numb to it.
The Tang Family warriors regarded Dan Hyeong-u, who had shielded them from the nocturnal raid, with renewed eyes. It wasn't common for Tang people to owe their lives to someone twice over.
Umun Hye observed him with even deeper curiosity. The ambush had been so covert that even the Shadow Envoy hadn't detected it.
It came as a profound shock to her. The Black Sand Society was a faction she hadn't spared a thought for. Yet they had cultivated not one, but over thirty warriors versed in stealth she herself couldn't sense.
Stealth was her own specialty as well.
In any case, the escort procession entered Chengdu.
The Tang Family lay on the city's outskirts, so they had to cross through. Hyeong Pyo and the other Henan Escort Bureau members were buzzing with excitement, finally convinced the mission was over.
But Jo Seol-yeon felt differently. Having entered the city, she figured it was time to send Umun Hye on her way. Traveling with her felt awkward.
Jo Seol-yeon approached Umun Hye cautiously.
"Um..."
"What is it?"
"You said you had somewhere to go, right?"
"That's right."
Umun Hye's bold response left Jo Seol-yeon momentarily speechless. Umun Hye smiled faintly at her.
"I'll go when it's time. No need to worry."
With that, Jo Seol-yeon had nothing more to say. She could only steal a glance at Dan Hyeong-u before heading back to Hyeong Pyo.
Watching her, Dan Hyeong-u frowned slightly.
"Not going?"
Umun Hye flashed a brilliant smile from atop the carriage, leaning down to bring her face close to his.
"Would you like that?"
Her words dripped with seduction. But they had no effect on Dan Hyeong-u.
"Go."
His curt reply froze her expression in an instant.
"You're truly heartless. No feelings at all, even looking at me?"
Her pride stung deeply. This was the first man like him. How could he not spare her a single glance?
"Annoying."
Her face turned icy.
"How rude."
She took a moment to compose herself, smoothed her expression, and looked at him again. She wanted this man somehow. A strong, arrogant type like him suited her perfectly. She doubted she'd find a better bodyguard.
"Hey. I don't know what Henan Escort Bureau pays you, but I'll give you ten times that. What do you say? Come with me?"
She spoke in a soft, enticing tone. The Shadow Envoy jumped in surprise. This was the first time Umun Hye had acted this way. She was always indifferent, even to strong, handsome men. The change was bewildering.
"M-Miss. You can't just recruit people like..."
Ignoring him, Umun Hye stared straight at Dan Hyeong-u and pressed on.
"Twenty times if ten isn't enough. How's that?"
Dan Hyeong-u gave her a brief glance. Sensing possibility, her eyes sparkled. But he simply turned forward and kept walking, offering no reply.
Frustration welled up in her. His silence felt like a blockage in her chest.
"Hey, mister. Are you just going to ignore me?"
To her urging, Dan Hyeong-u replied simply.
"No."
His response left her dumbfounded. How could he refuse such terms? And from her, no less.
"Why not? Don't like me? Or do you have a thing for that little girl?"
Anger flared. Logically, it wasn't worth getting mad over. The usual Umun Hye wouldn't bat an eye at such a thing. But now, she couldn't help it. Irritation kept building inexplicably.
"Do whatever. But I'm not giving up."
She flashed a radiant smile. It would have swayed any ordinary person, but Dan Hyeong-u didn't even look.
Her face twisted again.
"Looks like they're not planning to leave."
Hyeong Pyo turned at Jo Seol-yeon's words and glanced toward Umun Hye. She was still talking to Dan Hyeong-u. He could guess the situation.
"Seems she's taken a liking to that guy."
"What?"
Jo Seol-yeon whipped around to stare at him in shock.
"Why so surprised?"
He smiled, as if he knew everything. Her face flushed red.
"N-No, it's nothing."
His smile deepened.
"Don't worry too much. Anyway, we're almost there. See? The Tang Family."
Jo Seol-yeon looked up ahead. In the distance stood grand halls, encircled by towering walls.
Her heart began to pound. It was her first time seeing the Tang Family. Coming to Sichuan itself was a first, after all.
"That's the Tang Family."
Her voice turned wistful for a moment. The sight evoked memories of Jo Family Manor. Though far grander in scale, her home had similar clusters of massive halls. It was only natural for it to stir thoughts of home.
Hyeong Pyo fully understood her feelings.
"Don't fret. Everything will go smoothly from here. I have a good feeling."
His sincere words warmed her chest. She pressed her hands to her racing heart.
"Yes. Thank you, Escort Leader Hyeong."
A smile bloomed on her lips. It was more beautiful than any other.