Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Dreaming of Revenge (3)
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"What? They were wiped out?"
Heo Ok halted in his tracks, his face etched with shock as he asked.
"Yes. The first defensive line has been completely overrun."
Hak Il-gon bowed his head as if it were his own fault.
"That doesn't make sense. They've only been inside for a single incense stick's worth of time. No matter how formidable they are, breaking through all those traps in that short span..."
"They avoided the traps. Every single one at the choke points."
"..."
Heo Ok immediately grasped the implication.
Moving while bypassing every trap was something only the family of the Blood Forest could possibly do.
"Who are they? Connected to the former grove lord?"
A chilling killing intent flickered in Heo Ok's eyes.
"Gwa Yu is still alive."
"Gwa Yu? Ah, that brat."
Heo Ok's pupils trembled faintly.
"So, the kid survived after all. I heard the report that he got away back then. Looks like he's come for revenge."
"That's what it seems."
"He must know our forces here, yet he charges in so boldly—that means he's that confident. He must trust his companions completely. How many did he bring?"
"Four others, as far as we've confirmed so far, excluding Gwa Yu."
"Just four."
Heo Ok's expression hardened gravely.
If they'd brought a large force, he wouldn't have worried much. But for Gwa Yu—who knew the Blood Forest's strength better than anyone—to come for revenge with only four aides meant those aides had to be exceptionally skilled.
"The casualties must be heavy."
The thought of defeat didn't even cross his mind. Still, as the recent report suggested, he figured they'd have to accept some losses.
"Oh, and there was a wolf too."
Heo Ok exploded in anger at Hak Il-gon's addendum.
"A wolf? What nonsense is this? As if some beast matters."
In such a dire situation, even mentioning a mere animal irritated him to no end.
"My apologies."
Hak Il-gon quickly bowed his head. Though he'd only relayed his subordinates' report, he'd erred in disturbing his superior's mood.
"Where are the elders?"
"They should be moving by now."
"Those lazy old fools."
Heo Ok sneered in disgust, though his rigid expression softened slightly.
The elders he referred to—the elite assassins of the Blood Forest—didn't earn that status lightly.
It was an honor bestowed only upon monsters who had survived over a hundred assassinations.
Out of the Blood Forest's one hundred fifty-plus assassins, only five, including himself, held elite status. Of course, even among elites, there were ranks. Heuk-am, who had died recently, might have had the most experience due to his age, but his skills lagged behind the others.
Naturally, the Blood Forest's top assassin came to mind.
"Cheon Bing-hwa moved out too?"
"Yes. From what I hear, she was the first to rush out at the news of intruders."
"That crazy bitch."
Even the blood-soaked assassins of the Blood Forest shuddered at the ravenous madwoman. Just mentioning her annoyed him, but if she was on the move, the intruders' fate was sealed.
"Yawn."
While Mu Eop and Gwa Yu hid amid the underbrush, straining to detect each other's presence, Cheol Woo—who had already finished his fight and was resting—let out a bored yawn.
"Taking forever."
Cheol Woo wiped the tears from his eyes with a finger and gazed into the darkened woods.
"They're assassins, after all."
Noe Jeon replied, her eyes fixed on the Thunderbolt Forest.
"True enough. Come to think of it, the most boring training back in Black Dragon Valley was assassin drills. Hold back, hold back, hold some more—damn tedious stuff."
"Assassins have to strike first to avoid getting hit."
"That's exactly the situation now. They think moving first means death, so they're just hunkered down."
"But can Gwa Yu win? You said the opponent seems superior."
Man Chu asked with a worried look.
"Superior, sure, but not by a huge margin. If it were his skill from when we first met him, no chance. But he's improved a ton hanging with us. He's been through plenty of real life-or-death scraps too. Doesn't mean he'll definitely win, though. That's why the boss is watching."
"I see."
Man Chu felt a bit reassured by Cheol Woo's explanation, but her expression remained anxious.
"If Gwa Yu wins this, he'll leap up another level. But we can't wait forever—maybe I'll nudge things a bit."
As Cheol Woo stood, Man Chu and Noe Jeon's gazes followed him.
"What are you planning now?"
Noe Jeon asked with a frown.
"Their standoff is like a taut thread. What if I snap it?"
"How?"
Man Chu asked quickly.
"Like this."
Cheol Woo hefted a massive boulder.
"This should shake things up. No idea who it favors, though."
Cheol Woo grinned and was about to hurl the rock between the two when—
"Huh?"
Sensing something, his head jerked slightly.
Noe Jeon and Man Chu eyed him quizzically as he quietly set the boulder down, but Cheol Woo just pressed a finger to his lips, signaling silence.
'Not bad.'
Cheol Woo's eyes narrowed at the stealthy presence approaching from the northern woods. Even mid-conversation, he'd failed to notice until now—his pride stung.
The intruder's stealth was that superb.
Even after first detecting it, he nearly lost the presence several more times.
By then, the assassin had crept right up to Gwa Yu's nose.
Cheol Woo hesitated briefly.
This could put Gwa Yu in danger, yet he held back. Sima Geon couldn't have missed the assassin he'd spotted.
True to Cheol Woo's faith, Sima Geon had sensed the assassin far sooner. Like him, she made no move. Unless it posed a direct threat to Gwa Yu, no need to interfere.
The approaching assassin's movement halted.
After a moment's hesitation, a fresh surge of killing intent targeted Gwa Yu. At the same instant, Mu Eop—who had endured thus far—exploded from his spot.
Startled by the killing intent from behind, Gwa Yu's reaction lagged a beat.
Mu Eop's sword was already upon him.
Judging a counter too late, Gwa Yu rolled aside.
A sharp pain lanced across his back.
As he rolled to the opposite side, something shot from him. Spotting the finger-length hidden weapon, Mu Eop yanked his sword to his chest and deflected it.
Even batting it away at full effort, the close-range dart wasn't fully parried.
A burning pain stabbed his left shoulder.
Unfazed by the agony, Mu Eop kicked dirt at the scrambling Gwa Yu. Small stones mixed in the soil blinded him.
As Gwa Yu whipped his sleeve to clear the debris, a dozen daggers flew in.
Gwa Yu spun, gripping his belt and swinging.
Hidden blades within the belt streaked like lightning, knocking aside Mu Eop's daggers.
Sparks flew from the clashes, flickering like fireflies.
Shieeeek!
Mu Eop's sword sliced through the sparks toward Gwa Yu's flank.
As if anticipating it, Gwa Yu twisted swiftly and thrust his own blade.
Piercing Mu Eop's chest, Gwa Yu savored a thrilling rush. But in that instant, an indescribable sense of peril surged through him.
He twisted instinctively.
Blood spurted from under his armpit.
Pain followed, but there was no time to feel it.
Mu Eop's sword slashed fiercely.
Reeling backward blindly, blood sprayed from wounds across Gwa Yu's body.
Unable to mount a proper counter, Mu Eop was certain of victory.
That was when complacency reared its head.
Gwa Yu, battered relentlessly yet biding for one final chance, seized it.
His hand moved faster than lightning, twisting oddly to snag Mu Eop's wrist.
The Beggar Clan's Golden Claw, learned from Man Chu in jest, became his lifesaver.
Even with his wrist caught, Mu Eop didn't panic or yank free. Instead, he dropped his sword, twisted his wrist in turn, and yanked Gwa Yu's arm hard.
As Gwa Yu lurched forward, the dagger in Mu Eop's left hand aimed for his gut.
The instant the dagger would pierce, Gwa Yu spat the three needles he'd held in his mouth.
Mu Eop whipped his head aside in alarm, but too close.
Several needles embedded in his face—especially the one in his eye, fatal.
As Mu Eop clutched his eye and retreated, Gwa Yu's sword lunged for his throat. Expecting no reaction, Mu Eop instinctively swung his dagger to parry.
Gwa Yu pressed the assault, but Mu Eop blocked desperately, seeking a counter. Yet blindness was a fatal flaw.
"Gah!"
A strangled scream erupted from Mu Eop.
Unlike his stoic endurance through prior wounds, this was raw agony.
His face twisted demonically as he bore unspeakable pain. There, in his lower body, was the sword he'd dropped earlier—driven deep. Gwa Yu had spotted it mid-clash and kicked it home for the decisive blow.
Gwa Yu approached the staggering Mu Eop, his voice low and steady.
"I said I'd kill you."
"A punk like you... Gurk!"
Mu Eop's defiant rant cut off in another scream. His dagger hand jerked skyward, and the blade in his groin sank deeper, leaving only the hilt visible.
Mu Eop's lips twitched as if to speak, but Gwa Yu allowed no such mercy.
Recalling his dead brother, Gwa Yu thrust. The blade pierced Mu Eop's heart, flooding him with indescribable emotions.
Triumph in revenge mingled with crushing emptiness.
Gwa Yu collapsed beside Mu Eop's wretched corpse.
Tension released, pains assailed him.
Mu Eop's wounds numbered many—some severe.
"What kind of assassin fight is this? Sloppy as a street brawl. Shouldn't it be one strike, one kill?"
Cheol Woo approached with a playful grin.
"You okay?"
Man Chu rushed over, worried. Gwa Yu weakly shook his head.
"I'm done for."
"Quit whining."
Noe Jeon chuckled, hauling him up.
"Not whining."
Gwa Yu looked indignant.
"Can you move?"
"Somehow. Revenge isn't over yet."
"We'll handle the rest, so don't push it."
At the sudden voice, all eyes turned back.
Sima Geon stood there, as if she'd been present all along.