Chapter 32
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Crimson Killer (2)
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A beautiful woman with mysterious eyes revealed her name.
"I'm 'Hye' from the Namgung Family."
The woman who had come with Seok Su-a was Namgung Hye of the Namgung Family.
'Damn it. Of all people, the Namgung Family.'
The Namgung Family in particular was at the top of the list of human clans to be wary of.
"I'm just an nameless hunter using the name Go."
His voice trembled from the tension.
'Did that bastard talk about me and Gwang-u? If he even mentioned our names, we're done for...'
Judging by Namgung Hye's expression, she didn't seem to know about him or Gwang-u.
"Is no one else here?"
She glanced over his shoulder.
When he turned his head slightly, he saw a large head poking out from beside the kitchen door.
Good grief.
'That idiot. If you're going to hide, hide properly.'
Gwang-u, who had been hiding inside the kitchen door, had stuck his head out, made eye contact with Seok Su-a, and quickly pulled it back in.
"Come out, you punk!"
Irritated, he raised his voice, and Gwang-u slunk out of the kitchen.
"This is my little brother."
He introduced Gwang-u while quickly sizing up Namgung Hye.
"Name's Gwang-u."
She showed no particular reaction to the name Gwang-u.
'As expected, that bastard hasn't talked about us yet.'
Only then did his mind ease, and his pounding heart gradually calmed.
"You're really tall and well-built."
Gwang-u squirmed bashfully at Namgung Hye's compliment.
"S-Some people call me Bunny."
'This punk...'
He unconsciously clenched his fist.
However, neither Namgung Hye nor Seok Su-a seemed to attach any special meaning to "Bunny."
"So, what brings you here?"
Namgung Hye gave a faint smile.
That smile inexplicably drew his gaze.
"The scenery here is so beautiful that I'd love to stay a few days and enjoy it up close. If you have any empty rooms, could you rent one?"
It was an absurd request.
Was he crazy enough to let someone from that man's bloodline stay in his house?
On top of that, he had just let in someone he suspected was an assassin.
"Sorry. No empty rooms. Look elsewhere."
He politely refused Namgung Hye's request.
But that was just his own thought.
Gwang-u, already smitten with Seok Su-a, immediately contradicted him.
"Bro, we have spare rooms. Why lie?"
'This... insane idiot.'
His anger surged so fiercely that he wanted to beat the fool right then and there.
Grit.
Realizing how furious he was, Gwang-u glanced back and forth between him and Seok Su-a with a flushed face.
Namgung Hye eyed them both with a strange look before quickly pulling out a pouch and offering it.
"There's about ten nyang in here. We'll fetch our things and see you at dinner."
Namgung Hye left through the gate with Seok Su-a.
He stood still, waiting until they were out of sight.
Thwack!
Just as Namgung Hye and Seok Su-a faded from view, he swung his fist at Gwang-u.
Thud!
"Bro! Mercy! Please...!"
Gwang-u, knocked to the ground, clung to his pant leg.
But he mercilessly pummeled and stomped the idiot's body.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
"Bro! Sorry! My bad! Bro!"
Gwang-u curled up like a shrimp, enduring the punches and kicks.
At that moment, the door opened, and the elderly man he suspected was an assassin stepped out.
"Is something wrong?"
He fixed a cold glare on the startled old man.
With Namgung Hye staying at their house, he couldn't let someone he suspected was an assassin remain under the same roof.
"Perfect timing. I have a question... You're an assassin, aren't you? From where?"
Thud!
No sooner had he finished than the old man kicked off the floor and leaped into the air.
"Catch him!"
Almost simultaneously, Gwang-u, crouched on the ground, shot up.
The old man vaulted over the wall in an instant.
Whoosh!
Gwang-u pursued, and the stone he hurled flew toward the old man's side.
Hearing the whistling through the air, the old man twisted mid-leap over the wall.
The stone grazed his side, and the old man vanished beyond the wall.
The Great Heavenly Demon called this movement technique 'Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Steps.'
Not only faster than the wind but even quicker than a loosed arrow, it was said to be the world's supreme lightness skill.
Its drawback was that it couldn't maintain such speed over long distances.
Weaving between tall trees, he stopped and turned.
Ahead, the old man was charging toward him, with Gwang-u closing in fast behind.
Spotting him waiting ahead, the old man abruptly halted.
Thud!
The moment the old man stopped, Gwang-u's massive frame crashed onto his slight body.
"Hold up!"
He shouted to stop Gwang-u, who was about to smash the old man's face with his fist.
The old man lay motionless on the ground, staring at the sky.
"If you try to run again, I'll really kill you."
As Gwang-u threatened while rising, the old man slowly stood as well.
"How did you know I was an assassin?"
He asked politely as he approached.
"You gave off the same vibe as the last one. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have known."
"I see. But I didn't come to assassinate you two."
"Then why seek us out?"
The old man answered his question with a self-deprecating tone.
"Canceling a contract from the assassin sect isn't easy. That's why I came to see you myself."
"And what's your conclusion?"
The old man bowed deeply to him.
"As you can see. The Crimson Killer Sect will abandon the contract on you two and Seok Yang-ho. We will never accept such a request again."
Relief washed over him.
He had been quite worn out by the assassins lately, but it seemed that trouble was over.
The assassin's attitude was so courteous that he couldn't treat him harshly.
"What position do you hold in the Crimson Killer Sect?"
The assassin bowed once more and revealed his identity.
"I'm Yi Sa-gwon, sect leader of the Crimson Killer Sect. In this world, only the late Black Moon Gate leader, whom you two killed, and Shaolin's Divine Monk knew my name."
"Shaolin's Divine Monk?"
"Yes. I once took a contract to kill the Divine Monk and infiltrated Shaolin, only to be caught. He asked my name and told me never to kill monks, beggars, or children in the martial world. I've kept that promise ever since."
Listening to his story, he seemed very different from typical scummy assassins.
"Anyway, let's not stand here. Come back to the house and talk."
"Very well."
Back home, he pulled out a sword hidden in the corner of his room and showed it to Yi Sa-gwon.
"This is the Black Moon Gate leader's treasured blade."
Yi Sa-gwon immediately recognized its owner.
"Take it if you need it."
"Thank you. I'll send payment through another channel."
"Do as you like."
He wouldn't refuse silver.
After securing the sword, Yi Sa-gwon cautiously spoke.
"The client who requested Seok Yang-ho's death suddenly canceled."
"The Si Family canceled?"
Yi Sa-gwon was surprised by his question and asked back.
"How did you know the Si Family was the client?"
"Isn't it obvious? Who else in this village would commission that?"
"True enough. But I don't know why they canceled so suddenly."
"Probably because they have a surer way to kill him without spending silver."
Yi Sa-gwon nodded, sharing the same thought.
"Seok Family Head is in great danger."
Gwang-u, who had been sitting quietly listening, suddenly interjected urgently.
"Seok Family Head's going to die? How?"
He guessed why Gwang-u had jumped in.
Probably because of Seok Su-a.
"What does it matter to you if Seok Family Head lives or dies?"
Gwang-u flushed red and threw a tantrum.
"I didn't know you were so stingy, bro! He helped us with everything! Any decent person repays favors!"
His own anger flared, and he shot back.
"You idiot! We've been repaying that favor by killing all those assassins!"
As he vented, Gwang-u, whose face had been red with anger, suddenly pleaded desperately.
"Bro, don't just get mad. Help Seok Family Head this time too. It'll be so sad if Seok Miss loses her father."
"Ah... This punk's driving me crazy."
To help Seok Family Head, he'd have to dive deep into the martial world.
He wanted to help, but he had no desire to get more involved.
Then Yi Sa-gwon, who had been silently watching them, spoke up.
"I'll look into it. If I find anything, I'll send word through a contact."
"Thank you. Really, thank you. Ah... No, truly grateful."
The punk even prostrated himself on the floor.
But he was curious why the assassin sect leader was going this far.
"Why help us so much?"
"It's only natural. You spared my life. Then I'll take my leave."
As Yi Sa-gwon rose, he stood as well.
"Keep our secrets."
"Naturally. All I know is that I met some very capable hunters."
Yi Sa-gwon stepped out the gate, gazed at the sky for a moment, then headed toward the village.
Assassins spent far more days under dark, murky skies than clear blue ones.
In his youth, Yi Sa-gwon's days under sunlight could be counted on one hand.
He had accepted it as fate and vowed to live that way forever.
But everything changed after meeting the Divine Monk.
The feeling of facing the Divine Monk, seated with his back turned, was still vividly etched in his body.
It was like a massive mountain sitting before him.
It transcended fear into awe.
"Why do you stand there frozen?"
Those were the first words from the Divine Monk, seated with his back turned.
Hearing them, he collapsed on the spot.
Failure meant death, as expected.
But instead of death, the Divine Monk offered him tea.
"I don't mind the dark night, but next time, come in broad daylight."
It had been ten years already.
Yet he sensed a similar aura from the young hunter.
What blocked his path was no man, but an immense mountain, an iron wall.
'A new wind is blowing through the martial world. No wonder the Black Moon Gate leader fell without a fight.'
The Black Moon Gate leader's death brought great gains to the Crimson Killer Sect.
They could absorb the remaining assassins from Black Moon Gate, and above all, they learned of a new legend in the martial world.
The martial world always produced new masters that awed its people, but this felt different.
The young hunters rejected the martial world, unaware they were already deeply immersed in it.
The martial world was no separate realm.
It was simply where people lived.