Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: He Who Ties Unties It (2)
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"Ugh!"
"Kaaack!"
Screams echoed from all directions.
Some were from assassins turning on each other in their madness, but most came from the intruders.
Sensing the screams drawing closer bit by bit, the elite assassin Mok Yeom perfectly erased his presence while clutching his sword to his chest.
He had received word from the messenger Heo Ok sent about how formidable the intruders were. In truth, there had been no need for the message. The moment he confirmed the Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation had activated, he fully grasped the gravity of the situation.
'They're coming.'
He detected the intruders approaching cautiously yet at a considerable speed. Given their pace, they undoubtedly knew the life path.
'The one leading must be Gwanyu.'
With no way or ability to take out all the intruders, he targeted Gwanyu first as a priority.
Once Gwanyu, who knew the life path, was gone, the full power of the Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation would unleash, making it easier to eliminate the rest.
The distance closed rapidly.
Though thick fog obscured his vision, Mok Yeom paid it no mind. His senses, honed to the extreme, allowed him to track the enemies' movements perfectly without sight.
Four paces, three paces, two paces.
Finally, the intruders reached the optimal distance for attack.
Mok Yeom's eyes, perfectly blended with a massive dead tree struck by lightning, cracked open ever so slightly as he waited.
The distance to the leading Gwanyu was less than a single pace.
No matter how skilled a master the foe was, closing to this range meant failure was not an option.
Mok Yeom thrust his sword toward Gwanyu. The blade moved along the shortest line connecting them at a speed like a beam of light.
Having never even sensed Mok Yeom's presence, Gwanyu could offer no reaction.
Mok Yeom was already anticipating the sensation at his fingertips and planning his next move.
If the intruders reacted slowly, he'd seize another chance; if not, he'd withdraw immediately.
As if mocking his thoughts, a chilling aura brushed against him.
'Damn it.'
Mok Yeom, locking eyes with Sima Geon behind Gwanyu, realized his seemingly solid plan was mere delusion.
There was no time to dodge or anything else.
The instant he sensed the aura, an alien sensation gripped his throat.
Mok Yeom's head soared into the air.
His body froze mid-thrust toward Gwanyu before collapsing limply.
Sima Geon sent a transmission to Cheol Woo, who guarded the rear.
The Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation cloaking the area had delayed his detection of the lurking assassins considerably.
Shortly after Sima Geon's warning, his feared scenario unfolded.
As Sima Geon cut down nine rampaging assassins who had lost their minds, two elite assassins pre-hidden near the life path lunged from both sides at Manchu and Noejeon.
Cheol Woo, unaware until their strikes nearly reached them, struck the assassin targeting Noejeon while yanking Manchu behind him and shielding her with his body.
The assassin's sword struck Cheol Woo, but his body was far too sturdy to be wounded by such a blade.
"Ugh!"
As Cheol Woo twisted the neck of the assassin who had attacked Manchu, his head turned toward the scream. Black Wolf was tearing into the arm of another assassin whose chest appeared crushed by his blow.
"Thanks, Black Wolf."
Cheol Woo stroked Black Wolf's head after it hurled away the assassin Noejeon had been biting, but he said it with a dumbfounded look.
"I flung the bastard away, so why thank Black Wolf?"
"Black Wolf was faster."
"What?"
"Black Wolf bit the guy's arm before your attack landed. Of course, the moment it did, my sword sliced through his heart."
As Cheol Woo stared in disbelief, Noejeon slyly raised his sword.
Seeing the blood droplet on the tip, Cheol Woo snorted.
"Hmph, well done. Can't be part of the Divine Demon Division without that much."
"Exactly. Worry about that kid instead of me. I've got Black Wolf."
Noejeon pointed at Manchu cradled in Cheol Woo's arms with a slightly surprised expression.
"How long are you going to chat? Hurry up."
Startled by Sima Geon's shout, the group hastily followed.
What was astonishing was how their footsteps nearly matched those of Gwanyu and Sima Geon.
"Mok Yeom has been breached."
"On Seung too."
"Wi Gye and Jung Hak are dead."
Heo Ok could barely keep his wits amid the near-simultaneous reports.
Even as he activated the Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation, a sliver of anxiety lingered in his heart. He had pushed it aside, trusting the formation utterly. The illusions from its paths during training were utterly unbearable for any human.
"Why? Why aren't they affected by the formation?"
To Heo Ok's question, Hak Ilgwon replied with a grim face.
"Gwanyu is leading them along the life path."
"That was expected. But even against elite and first-rate assassins... did they not stray from the life path even then?"
"That's the only conclusion. Otherwise, we can't explain the casualties so far or their speed pushing here."
"Just how strong are they..."
Heo Ok shook his head in shock.
The life paths of the Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation were exceedingly narrow and convoluted.
One misstep, and vicious illusions assailed you, making it nearly impossible to regain your bearings. No master was exempt once off the path.
That was why Cheon Binghwa claimed the formation alone could repel intruders—by forcing them off the life path. Yet that very premise was crumbling.
"Never imagined things would unfold like this."
Cheon Binghwa approached, chuckling incredulously while treating her wounded arm and taking a brief rest.
"Even the Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation can't stop them. What now?"
"Why ask me?"
"Pardon?"
"You used the Rim Leader to oust the previous one. So figure it out yourself."
"Damn it, now's not the time to bring that up."
"Can't get support from the Blood Cult?"
At Cheon Binghwa's mention of the Blood Cult, Heo Ok's eyes flickered.
"Best not utter that name lightly."
"Or what?"
"You'll die."
Cheon Binghwa licked her lips and smiled at Heo Ok's firm stance.
"Do as you like. But remember: if you leave me any opening, you'll be the one dying."
"If I die, you'll follow."
"Doesn't matter."
Killing intent thickened around Cheon Binghwa.
A sword had appeared in her hand unnoticed.
Narrower and shorter than average, with a blunt hilt—it looked unremarkable, but Heo Ok knew how much blood stained that blade and how many hidden weapons she concealed on her body.
The moment she drew it, Heo Ok activated the parasite bug.
Cheon Binghwa's pupils wavered slightly.
She bit her lip, perhaps enduring pain.
The stimulated parasite writhed, unleashing agony, yet her momentum held.
Heo Ok's skin crawled at the sight of her radiating killing intent despite pain no human could bear.
Not that he feared her. He was confident he could end her instantly if he wished. He held back only because losing such a valuable asset would be wasteful.
"Let's stop here. I have no intent to take your life, Senior."
Heo Ok stepped back, extending a hand, but her killing intent persisted.
"I'll apologize, so please quell your anger."
Only as Heo Ok bowed again did her aura soften slightly.
Knowing she could slit his throat in that fleeting gap, he remained vigilant.
"Put away that menacing sword too."
Heo Ok said without averting his gaze from her blade.
"Last warning. Don't think obeying me lets you do as you please."
"I'll remember. Anyway, now's not the time for us to fight..."
A sudden vibration silenced Heo Ok.
An echo unlike a volcanic eruption or earthquake—realizing its meaning, his face paled.
"N-No way?"
Cheon Binghwa knew what the resonance signified.
"Didn't you kill him?"
Gwadeung had succeeded in ousting the previous Rim Leader but became a puppet in turn. Unable to endure the agony of the Soul-Seizing Poison, he confessed the Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation's secrets to Heo Ok. When the pain eased, he lunged at Heo Ok but was counterattacked and killed.
Recalling the scene, Heo Ok shook his head.
"The sword pierced his heart clean through. He must be dead."
"Must be? You didn't confirm properly. Tsk tsk, no basics. Quite the stain on the elite assassin name."
Cheon Binghwa clicked her tongue, eyeing Heo Ok pitifully—as if it shamed her to share elite status with him.
"You filthy worm!"
As Heo Ok spat curses and moved toward Gwadeung's quarters to behead him and reactivate, Cheon Binghwa grabbed his arm.
"Where to?"
"Cut that bastard's head off and reactivate it."
"No need."
"What?"
"We've confirmed it's pointless. Reactivating changes nothing."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Heo Ok snapped irritably.
"Fight or flee—the survivors handle it."
Showing an incongruous smile devoid of death's fear, Cheon Binghwa pulled out a small jade flute.
Its eerie melody echoed through the Jade Mountains, and soon, assassins who survived the Cloud Mist Golden Lock Illusion Formation arrived one by one.
"Only fifty left?"
As disappointment colored Cheon Binghwa's voice, a surly old man with a grotesque face on a five-foot frame approached gruffly.
"That's plenty. A bit more delay, and half might not have made it."
"Still kicking, Venomous Old Geezer."
"Obviously. Heard you got an arm crippled by them."
"Anyone else, and it'd be that; you'd be dead."
"Crazy bitch."
"Hoho! You're the last one who can call me that."
Cheon Binghwa cackled, earning a scowl from Venomous Old Man.
"A woman past fifty giggling like that. Stop the crone act and act your age."
"How I live is none of your business."
"Think petty Ju Won Gong beats time?"
"Enough. Die by my hand before the enemy gets you."
Red glinted in Cheon Binghwa's eyes, silencing Venomous Old Man.
She was mad enough to do it. No need for infighting with foes at the gates.
"Thought of how to face them?"
"What plan? Just do what we do best."
Venomous Old Man smirked at her nonchalant reply.
"Right. Do what we excel at."
With that, his form began fading like smoke.
"Survive, old man. Who knows? Might let you embrace this body. Hohoho!"
Before Cheon Binghwa's teasing laugh ended, a spit echoed from somewhere.