Chapter 50
Ma-un made a peculiar expression.
Because when Bu Eun-seol—who had maintained an expressionless face all this time—curled his lips into a faint smile, the dim stone chamber seemed to brighten instantly.
'It's clearly a completely plain, ordinary face, and yet...'
As he stood there dazed, Bu Eun-seol shifted the topic.
"Then, the Grade A Mission is the most difficult one?"
Though puzzled, Ma-un answered promptly.
"That is correct. Grade A missions are undertaken by the most elite operatives of our organization. They are not optional but direct orders from above."
"So, aside from Grade A, it doesn't matter which mission I choose, then."
With that, Bu Eun-seol picked up the mission ledger.
"Then I'll take this one."
"Did you not hear the explanation?"
Ma-un's eyes flashed.
"This is someone who absolutely cannot be killed by amateur assassination techniques—"
"I never said I would kill him through assassination."
Bu Eun-seol met his gaze with confident eyes.
"I'm taking it because it seems worth trying."
The book Wang Geol had given him at Langya Pavilion contained not only information on sects but also detailed assessments of renowned masters.
Though Bu Eun-seol considered his judgment rational, Ma-un frowned and let out a troubled sigh.
'Nothing to be done, I suppose.'
Mission selection was entirely at the discretion of the Slaughter-Seeking Squad operatives.
"Do as you please. Choosing missions is an operative's inherent right."
Having settled his thoughts, Ma-un began his explanation.
"Seok-jeong is a figure deeply hostile to the Demon Hall. As the vice leader of the Soul-Seizing Hall, he manages the medicines required for the Soul-Ensnaring Great Method..."
Even as he spoke, Ma-un's expression remained grim.
Though the Blood-Yin Heretical Cult was not formally part of the Demon Hall, it was one of the influential factions operating near Dongting Lake.
If the mission were bungled, the repercussions could spread to the entire Yueyang Branch of the Slaughter-Seeking Squad.
'And I likely won't be seeing this guy again soon.'
The Yueyang Branch was infamous enough that even veteran operatives often died silently.
Even if Bu Eun-seol possessed exceptional skills, the odds of him eliminating Seok-jeong—a man who had made his name known for over a decade—were nonexistent.
'I have no idea which sect sent this brat here.'
Finishing his explanation, Ma-un reached toward the lantern hanging on the wall.
"All necessary equipment and clothing for the mission are stored here."
With a slight twist of his fingers beneath the lantern, a bookshelf-lined wall flipped open with a clank, revealing a large hidden space inside.
Within lay not only an array of weapons but also assassination attire, night suits, and even disguises like waiter or merchant outfits.
In one corner were all manner of tools and concealed weapons used by assassins.
"However, nothing comes for free. You'll have to pay for them."
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol let out a troubled sigh.
Having prepaid a month's rent at a nearby guest inn, he had no money left on him.
"Your sect must be struggling financially, I take it?"
Ma-un, his voice laced with derision, tossed him a night suit, an assassin's sword, and a cincture holding throwing daggers.
"Take these. Consider it a special line of credit."
Clang.
He dropped the items onto the floor.
The thrown assassin's sword was rusted, and the tips of the throwing daggers were broken.
The night suit was clearly stained with blood, evidence that someone had worn it before.
'Hmm.'
It was blatant disregard, but Bu Eun-seol's expression didn't change.
"I don't know how to use throwing daggers, so I'll just take another sword."
After placing the bundle of daggers back into the storage, he picked up another worn assassin's sword.
Then, looking at Ma-un, he spoke flatly.
"I'll pay you back when I return."
"I hope you do."
Clank.
As Bu Eun-seol left, Ma-un sighed and turned to Sang-ryang.
"That kid. I doubt we'll be seeing him again."
"What do you mean?"
"He chose a Grade C Mission."
"Grade C Mission?"
"Eliminating the Black Serpent Saber, Seok-jeong."
"What did you say?"
Sang-ryang's beady eyes widened like a startled rat's.
The martial arts of the Black Serpent Saber had long reached the Peak Realm. Moreover, he always remained deep within the Blood-Yin Heretical Cult's stronghold, making access nearly impossible.
Even the most skilled operatives of the Slaughter-Seeking Squad had failed—this mission had been issued nine times already...
And now a rookie operative, fresh off his initiation, had taken it upon himself?
"You just let him pick that without stopping him?"
"Of course I tried to dissuade him... but he was adamant."
"Now that I think about it, it's strange. Which sect would send a youngster like that as a Slaughter-Seeking Squad operative?"
Due to secrecy protocols, branch offices were kept unaware of operatives' sect affiliations or even their real names.
"He probably joined for the money. It's not uncommon among young people these days, is it?"
Among the young masters of the Demonic Path, many sought to earn enough to retire from the martial world.
Ma-un seemed to think Bu Eun-seol had chosen this path for the same reason.
"Even if the Slaughter-Seeking Squad is short on recruits... the main hall should start being more selective."
Clicking his tongue, Sang-ryang shook his head and turned away.
"The Blood-Yin Heretical Cult will have another corpse to dispose of."
Ten Thousand Fragrance Teahouse.
Located near Dongting Lake, its facilities were slightly worn but affordable, making it a frequent haunt of struggling scholars and merchants.
By the third-floor window of the teahouse.
Bu Eun-seol, seated at a table, kept his gaze fixed outside the window.
To an observer, he might have seemed merely absorbed in the lakeside scenery, but in truth, he was intently studying the people passing through the streets.
'Just as I thought.'
Recalling the secret manual Master Cheol had given him before he left Langya Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol nodded to himself.
The Art of Rooster Calls and Dog Thieves.
A concealment technique that allowed spies to naturally alter their presence in any environment.
It was an essential technique for spies who had to disguise themselves in various professions.
'Every occupation develops its own unique atmosphere and mannerisms.'
Bu Eun-seol resolved to observe an even wider variety of people to master both the Art of Rooster Calls and Dog Thieves and the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art.
The waiter at the guest inn had his own distinctive way of speaking and posture when serving customers.
The merchant kneading dumplings at the street stall kept glancing around, wary of someone stealing the stacked dumplings.
'But the most crucial element is the gaze.'
The Art of Rooster Calls and Dog Thieves wasn't just about mimicking the movements of those observed—it also required adopting their unique aura.
And what made that possible was the shift in one's gaze.
'If I can perfect the eyes, I won't be suspected anywhere.'
Afterward, Bu Eun-seol stayed at the inn and spent days practicing the gazes of the professions he had observed.
After several days of training, he could now produce a convincing gaze no matter which role he disguised himself as.
'Good enough.'
A few days later, Bu Eun-seol nodded as he examined himself in the mirror inside his room.
At last, he was fully prepared to infiltrate the Blood-Yin Heretical Cult.
Blood-Yin Island
Originally, this place had been just one of the small islands floating in Dongting Lake.
But after the Blood-Yin Heretical Cult took root here, the island itself came to be called Blood-Yin Island.
Yet how could a heretical sect like this, unaffiliated with the Demon Hall, maintain its power in Hunan, where orthodox and unorthodox sects were on edge?
The first reason was its isolation.
The Blood-Yin Heretical Cult devoted itself to studying obscure mystical arts, remaining holed up on the island with little involvement in the affairs of the Martial World.
The second reason was its lineage—it descended from the Blood Cult, the foremost demonic sect of the era.
As long as the Blood Cult stood strong, no one dared to target the secluded Blood-Yin Heretical Cult.
"Hurry up!"
At the ferry dock of Blood-Yin Island, a merchant ship was moored, and laborers were frantically unloading cargo.
It was a trading vessel that had long supplied the Blood-Yin Heretical Cult with groceries.
"Hmm."
One of the cult's guards, scrutinizing the laborers, suddenly flicked his fingers and pointed.
"You—come here."
The laborer he singled out was a young man who looked barely past his coming-of-age ceremony.
"You're too young for a laborer."
The guard studied him closely before abruptly drawing his sword.
"And I've never seen your face before."
The ship's captain, who had been directing the workers, rushed over and bowed deeply.
"Great Hero, this boy is my nephew."
"Nephew?"
The captain smiled amiably and clapped the dazed young man on the shoulder.
"We've been short on hands lately... so when he came down from the countryside, I brought him along."
"Hmm."
The guard hesitated, then sheathed his sword.
Just as the captain let out a sigh of relief—
"But I still need to check if he knows martial arts!"
Swish!
In a flash, the guard unsheathed his blade and slashed at the young man's neck.
The motionless youth didn't even have time to scream—his mouth simply fell open.
Drip, drip.
The razor-sharp edge touched his neck at the carotid artery. Though it hadn't pierced through, the skin was split, and blood was pouring profusely.
"G-Great Hero—!"
"Sometimes, useless fools try to sneak into our main cult."
The guard narrowed his eyes at the trembling captain and the young man.
"...He hasn't learned martial arts."
Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned and walked away from the dock.
"Hyeon! Are you alright?!"
The captain tore off a piece of his own clothing to wrap around the youth's neck, but the bleeding wouldn't stop easily.
In a panic, he suddenly seemed to remember something and shouted at the laborers.
"Call that physician we brought aboard!"
Though their ship wasn't a passenger vessel, they had taken on a young physician as a paying passenger not long ago.
"I'm already here."
A white-robed man had already disembarked from the ship.
He lightly pressed an acupoint near the youth's bleeding neck.
The bleeding stopped instantly.
With lightning-fast precision, the white-robed man took out a needle from his sleeve and stitched the wound.
Then, pulling out a roll of bandages, he applied Golden Wound Salve and tightly wrapped the injury.
"Y-Your skill is truly remarkable."
The captain clicked his tongue in amazement at the physician's flawless technique.
In all his years, he had seen countless physicians, but never one so young with such masterful medical skill.
"Avoid strenuous work for a while."
"Th-Thank you."
As the youth bowed his head, the white-robed man turned away as if nothing had happened and headed back to the ship.
"W-We're grateful!"
At the captain's words, the white-robed man gave a slight nod before disappearing inside the vessel.
'That almost drew unnecessary attention.'
Once inside the ship, the white-robed man—Bu Eun-seol—let out a quiet sigh.
To infiltrate the Blood-Yin Heretical Cult, he had paid passage on this merchant ship, which was bound for Junshan Island via Blood-Yin Island.
'Fooling ordinary civilians is far easier than deceiving martial masters.'
Having mastered both the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art and the Art of Rooster Calls and Dog Thieves, Bu Eun-seol had subtly altered his features and disguised himself as a physician to approach the captain.
It was much simpler to deceive the captain than the guard, who had been watching the laborers for years.
'No sailor would refuse a traveling physician.'
Technically, cargo ships didn't take passengers.
But physicians were different. Since a patient could fall ill at any time during the voyage, they were always welcome.
'This ship will only stay here for a single day.'
And in that time, Bu Eun-seol intended to infiltrate the Blood-Yin Heretical Cult—and eliminate Seok Jeong, the Black Serpent Saber.