Chapter 33
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: I'll Let You Live (4)
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"W-What did you say?!"
"Shut your mouth?!"
Chattering too much?!
The inner eunuch Jeong No's mustache quivered at the vulgar words he'd never heard in his life.
"Shut your trap. Unless you want to die."
Moo-jin raised his palm as if he might really strike Jeong No down.
"...! L-Leader, p-please hold back!"
Seeing this, Do-ryang's face drained of color as he leaped up and clung desperately to Moo-jin's arm.
He'd meant to physically stop Moo-jin from raising his arm, but instead got dragged along by the force.
"You... insolent bastard, how dare you...!"
"You idiot. Do you think this old man can ride in a carriage right now? The jolts would shake me up roughly and damage my body. You gonna take responsibility for that?"
Moo-jin's tone was arrogant, but not a single word was wrong.
"T-That's..."
Unable to refute, the inner eunuch Jeong No trailed off.
"Open your mouth one more time, and I'll smash your body flat into a square."
"H-Hiiik...!"
Under Moo-jin's fierce glare and threat, Jeong No paled and stumbled back.
No matter how bold he acted like he owned the world, he couldn't withstand the aura radiating from Kang Moo-jin.
"My apologies, sir. I've been rude."
"Heh heh. No harm done. It was amusing. Besides, even I found that guy a bit noisy."
"...!"
The eunuch from the Bureau of Palace Affairs trembled at those words.
Incurring the displeasure of Won Jong-do, who would tutor the crown prince, was far more dangerous than any threat to his life.
"S-Sir, I apologize..."
"Well then, shall we depart now?"
Won Jong-do turned away from Jeong No, flashing a bright smile only at Moo-jin.
Having spent long years in the imperial palace, the old man knew exactly how to pressure others—differently from Moo-jin.
"Please wait just a moment. I've summoned men to carry the palanquin; they should arrive soon."
At Moo-jin's earlier order, one of the Iron Fist Squad members had already returned to the Diamond Escort Agency.
"Ah, there they are."
Moo-jin spotted eight escorts approaching with the palanquin in his view.
"Please board here."
Moo-jin guided Won Jong-do into the palanquin, then beckoned to the old man's granddaughter, Won Yu-hwa.
"I'm fine."
"...? The road is quite long."
"I've trained some martial arts myself. Not as good as you, Hero Kang, of course."
Won Yu-hwa flexed her arm to show her bicep.
Of course, nothing much popped out.
"Hm. Very well. You'll walk then?"
"Yes. Beside you."
"As you wish."
Moo-jin nodded indifferently and signaled his men before striding forward.
"Oh, by the way."
Won Yu-hwa, matching his pace at his side, smiled brightly.
"I'm Won Yu-hwa."
"...? You mentioned that earlier."
Do-ryang, watching from behind, sighed.
"...Sigh."
So what if his martial prowess reached the Flower Realm.
His understanding of a woman's heart was third-rate.
The moon hid behind clouds, losing its light, leaving only a chill wind whispering through the dark forest.
Shadows gathered silently beneath the low groans of wind brushing the trees.
They cast dark silhouettes like flocks of crows, faces masked, eyes gleaming coldly.
"Lord Eom Soong has ordered their elimination."
The man at the front spoke lowly, and all nodded.
"Any obstacles?"
"The escort agency."
One masked man sneered at that.
"Escort agency? You mean the delivery boys who just haul goods?"
Another shot him a warning glance.
"Don't underestimate them. It's the Diamond Escort Agency. They've made quite a name in Taiyuan lately."
"Tch. Still just an escort agency."
The masked man sneered again.
They were elite assassins specialized in killing, from the Dark Hand Society—all peak or transcendent experts.
To them, who assassinated even flying swordsmen, an escort agency hauling goods was mere warm-up.
"Diamond Escort Agency. Lame name."
"As if they could stand against us."
"They'll die without even knowing their heads are rolling."
As murmurs rose, the first speaker raised a hand to silence them.
"No time for chatter. Operation tonight. Finish before the rooster crows."
Their master, Eom Soong, hated delays.
Lingering could mean severe punishment.
Execute orders swiftly.
"Don't worry."
The black-clad man who'd sneered earlier grinned wickedly.
"They won't even hear the rooster crow."
Whoosh—
The wind rustled the leaves.
Short, cold laughs seeped into the darkness.
"..."
The forest, once filled with black figures, was left desolate.
Crackle—
By the campfire roughly piled with wood, Kang Moo-jin tossed branches into the flames, gazing indifferently at the deepening night.
"Everyone else is asleep. Why aren't you?"
Won Yu-hwa, who'd dozed briefly, approached Moo-jin.
Looking around, Won Jong-do and all the Diamond Escort Agency escorts were asleep.
"I don't really need sleep. Someone has to stand watch anyway."
Having mastered the Immortal Diamond Qi Art, Moo-jin required no rest for stamina.
His energy didn't deplete without it, and he had ways to recover if it did.
"Don't you get bored alone?"
"It's fine. I'm used to it."
"Perfect. I was bored too."
"...?"
Won Yu-hwa sat across the fire from him.
"I'm pretty used to being alone myself."
"I see."
"My parents were killed when I was young. On a night just like this."
"..."
Unlike her grandfather, her parents were ordinary martial artists, unconnected to court politics.
Yet they were brutally slain by assassins from a rival faction wary of Won Jong-do.
Innocent lives, meaningless deaths.
"Hm... I see."
Moo-jin wasn't gifted at comfort.
Truth be told, he was hopeless at it.
"I'm bad at consoling people."
"Hee hee. I wasn't seeking comfort. If anything, it's the opposite."
Won Yu-hwa stood, drawing her sword from her waist.
"Ever since then, I've trained swordsmanship daily. I woke up to practice now, actually."
"Your grandfather doesn't approve, it seems."
"Yes. He opposes me learning martial arts—says it's dangerous. But isn't life dangerous anyway? I need some means to protect myself."
"..."
A glint of interest crossed Moo-jin's eyes as he regarded Won Yu-hwa.
She was bolder than he'd thought.
"In that vein, would you take a look at my skills?"
Smirking, Moo-jin rose.
"Sure. Night's long and boring anyway."
"Thank you, Hero Kang."
Won Yu-hwa smiled brightly, moonlight sparkling in her eyes.
"..."
But Moo-jin's gaze wasn't on her.
Black-clad killers emanating bloodlust had appeared behind her.
"Looks like martial arts demo will have to wait."
Thud—
Moo-jin stomped, waking all his men.
"Up! Enemies!"
"...Yes! Leader!"
The Iron Fist Squad leaped up, encircling the palanquin with Won Jong-do and Won Yu-hwa.
"You lot, stay back and guard. Their safety first."
"Yes!"
The squad glared murderously at the foes, assuming the Star-Splitting Fist's ready stance.
'I trained them well.'
From their fierce auras to perfect forms, Moo-jin smiled satisfied at his warriors.
"Guess I'll join the fun."
Roooar—
Grinning to bare one fang, Moo-jin erupted qi from his shoulders and charged the enemies.
"Kek. Fearless for mere escorts."
An assassin blocking Moo-jin slashed diagonally with a black dagger.
Deeming it unworthy of blocking, Moo-jin let the blade aim for his throat impassively.
"Kahaha! Can't even react? Pathetic ol— Huh?!"
The assassin faltered in confusion.
Clang! Claaang!
No matter how he thrust, the blade didn't pierce Moo-jin's neck—instead rebounding from his skin.
"You should've sharpened your knife..."
Grabbing the assassin's collar, Moo-jin hoisted him up and slammed his head into the ground.
"...properly!"
Boom—!
With an explosive roar like a shell burst, the assassin's head vanished. His neck dangled grotesquely, skull buried deep.
"Where do you get off insulting escorts, you assassin scum."
Having crushed one elite assassin instantly, Moo-jin reached for a black-clad foe trying to pass him.
Splaaat—!
Moo-jin seized the assassin's head with his massive hand and smashed it into a tree trunk.
The assassin spewed blood from nose and mouth, dying instantly.
Crack—
Moo-jin twisted the neck of another assassin dropping from above, killing him in one motion.
"...Be careful. He's no ordinary foe!"
In the blink of an eye, three comrades lost—the Dark Hand Society assassins eyed Moo-jin warily.
Who'd have thought a mere escort could be this strong!
"Step aside. I'll handle him."
One assassin with foreboding green hands stepped forward, glaring ominously.
He was Sa Mu-yeong, Poison Hand—one of the society's five fingers.
"Looks like you've got some skills and think you're hot stuff. Come on. This Sa Mu-yeong will play with you."
Sa Mu-yeong wiggled his arrogant green fingers.
"..."
Moo-jin glanced at assassins bypassing him toward the escorts, then nodded.
His men could handle these; they'd sweated enough in training.
Flash—!
Moo-jin exploded forward like lightning, gouging the earth toward Poison Hand Sa Mu-yeong.
Whoosh—
Moo-jin's fist cleaved the air explosively.
The thrusting strike roared through the air, poised to shatter Sa Mu-yeong's skull.
Thwap—
Sa Mu-yeong overlapped his palms and thrust them out, blocking Moo-jin's punch.
"Kekeke. Overconfident for an escort."
Hiss—
Sinister green poison mist sprayed from Sa Mu-yeong's gripping fingertips.
Moo-jin's form was instantly engulfed in the thick green haze.
"L-Leader!"
"No!"
Shouts erupted from his men behind.
"Heh heh. My hands are steeped in Blue Serpent Venom—one drop melts the heart."
Even Wudang Taoist masters famed for inner arts screamed in agony before death from this venom.
Sa Mu-yeong thought it wasteful on a mere escort.
Had time not been tight, he wouldn't have used his strongest, rarest poison.
"Die in maximum agony."
Victory assured, Sa Mu-yeong smirked down at the mist.
But then—
Pssshhh—!
A fist laden with shredding force tore through the air and dense green poison mist, thrusting forth.