Chapter 58
So-ok and Umun Hwang took minuscule portions of the prepared food onto their plates and brought them to their mouths.
Then, with utter silence, they began chewing with extreme gentleness—a process that lasted well over seven and a half minutes. Their manner of eating even carried an air of solemn reverence.
'So that's how it is.'
Bu Eun-seol, who had been observing their dining etiquette, gave a slight nod.
Taking only the tiniest morsels and chewing them with meticulous care for an extended period.
Their method of eating was not only a way to fully savor the flavors of the ingredients but also an excellent technique to ensure the food wouldn't cause any harm.
"Does it seem strange to you?"
Noticing Bu Eun-seol's blatant gaze, So-ok offered a faint smile.
"Not at all."
Bu Eun-seol replied flatly.
"Chewing small portions slowly is not only beneficial for health but also the best method to detect poison in food."
At his words, So-ok chuckled softly.
"Teacher Ho must have considerable experience in the martial world. Very few people know that this dining method is meant to guard against poison."
'Not just high-born, but someone of significant standing as well.'
Since ancient times, those in power had always taken precautions against poison in their food.
Bu Eun-seol could now guess why So-ok, who had supposedly come here merely for sightseeing, was accompanied by an escort.
"You seem to have pieced together my entire situation."
Her eyes gleamed sharply like drawn blades.
"Shall I guess what Teacher Ho has deduced?"
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, she continued.
"This woman is most likely not only of noble birth but also holds a position of great authority. Isn't that what you thought?"
Bu Eun-seol's expression flickered with slight surprise before he nodded again.
"Correct."
"I'm afraid Teacher Ho's deduction is mistaken."
So-ok spoke with a desolate expression.
"I am neither of high birth nor someone in a position of authority. I'm merely someone who must fail at many things and live burdened by the guilt of those failures."
"So-ok. There's no need for such unnecessary talk."
Umun Hwang, who had been silently eating all this while, shook his head.
"And aren't those failures not entirely your fault to begin with?"
She had seemed like an untouched child, untainted by even a speck of worldly dust.
Yet in truth, she carried deep anguish and torment within her.
"I apologize. But... since we've come all this way to dine outside..."
As So-ok fell silent, a heavy stillness settled over the table.
Umun Hwang, realizing she wished to converse with Bu Eun-seol, let out a sigh.
"If you have something to say, speak freely."
With his permission granted, So-ok immediately opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.
"Teacher Ho, have you never felt guilt before?"
"Before entering the martial world, perhaps I did."
"So you don't now?"
"I had no time to savor guilt. I was too busy surviving."
His answer carried the weariness and desolation of Bu Eun-seol's life.
So-ok quietly contemplated his words before murmuring, almost to herself:
"They say the longer one remains in the martial world, the more one's emotions inevitably wither."
Then she looked directly at Bu Eun-seol again.
"But Teacher Ho is still young, yet you feel like a veteran on the verge of retirement. You must have been through much?"
Earlier, Myeong-un had said something similar to Bu Eun-seol.
But Bu Eun-seol didn't believe his own hardships were anything special.
The martial world was merciless.
By nature, the rivers and lakes knew no sentiment.
"Lady So..."
Just as Bu Eun-seol naturally tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, he abruptly stopped, sensing something amiss.
When drunk, people usually grew talkative and louder.
Yet at some point, the voices of the patrons filling the tavern had become unnaturally uniform, their conversations indistinct.
'Assassins...'
Having long employed the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art and the Cock-Crowing and Dog-Stealing Art for missions with the Slaughter-Seeking Squad, Bu Eun-seol was more adept than anyone at seeing through disguises.
'I've been far too careless.'
Bu Eun-seol forced a bitter smile.
There was a strange, captivating power in So-ok's voice.
Even he, who remained indifferent to most things, had unwittingly found himself engrossed in her words.
'Assassins have arrived.'
As Bu Eun-seol murmured under his breath, Umun Hwang's brows twitched.
'Where are they?'
'Every single person filling this guest inn.'
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Umun Hwang slowly rose from his seat and spoke.
"You need not intervene. Just protect Ok-i."
Then, with a sweeping glance over the inn's patrons, he suddenly thrust out both palms.
KWAANG!
A deafening explosion tore through the air—the furnishings and half the seated guests shattered instantly under the force.
'An absolute Master.'
To unleash such destructive power with nothing but bare hands?
Umun Hwang was far more formidable than Bu Eun-seol had anticipated. Never in his time in the martial world had he witnessed palm techniques of such overwhelming might.
"Attack!"
Shockingly, even after witnessing Umun Hwang's terrifying martial prowess, the assassins drew their blades and charged without hesitation.
"Like moths to a flame."
Umun Hwang scoffed before tracing a wide arc with both arms.
GOOOO—
A massive surge of palm energy, so immense it seemed to suck in the very air around it, formed a crushing perimeter—
PANG! PANG-PANG!
Another eruption of force reduced the charging assassins to pulped flesh.
"No time to waste. Let's end this quickly."
As Umun Hwang swung his palms again, unleashing a torrent of brutal energy, the assassins shouted:
"Scatter!"
KWAANG!
The floor of the inn caved in, sending the remaining assassins plummeting downward.
SWISH!
At that moment, a sharp metallic sound pierced Bu Eun-seol's ears.
While Umun Hwang was preoccupied with slaughtering the assassins, hidden assailants above had hurled concealed weapons toward So-ok.
Pat.
Bu Eun-seol flicked his sleeve, effortlessly deflecting the projectiles, and spoke to So-ok.
"Do not stray more than three steps from me."
SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!
Poisoned needles rained down like a storm. But Bu Eun-seol had already drawn his sword, deploying the Heaven Conquering Blade Ultimate Stance.
PA-PA-PA-PA!
The swarm of needles, like angry hornets, was completely redirected by the overwhelming reverse force of his technique.
FLASH!
In the next instant, Bu Eun-seol's blade sliced through the air.
"What small fry they were."
Meanwhile, Umun Hwang, having finished off the remaining assassins in the inn, dusted his hands and approached So-ok.
"Are you unharmed?"
"Yes. Thanks to Teacher Ho—"
"Hm?"
Umun Hwang saw Bu Eun-seol standing blankly before letting out a derisive snort.
"What exactly did he do?"
"Were you showing off your martial prowess instead of guarding her?"
Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue as he surveyed the wreckage of the inn.
"When outnumbered, never stray from your charge. Understood?"
"You're a laughable one. Just who the hell—"
Umun Hwang's mocking expression abruptly stiffened.
Above So-ok's head, the ceiling was stained crimson—and one wall was densely embedded with hair-thin Feather Rain Needles.
'Damn it. I was too distracted—'
Only now did Umun Hwang realize that while he had been recklessly unleashing his palm energy, another group of assassins had targeted So-ok.
"Hmph. At least you've earned your keep."
Though his tone was cold, Umun Hwang was more shaken than he let on.
'To eliminate both hidden weapons and assassins in that brief window...'
His gaze had left So-ok and Bu Eun-seol for barely an instant.
Yet this man had moved with such imperceptible precision that even he hadn't sensed it?
'Perhaps sending him wasn't a mistake after all.'
"Let's return."
Tap. Umun Hwang placed a banknote on the half-shattered table and turned to leave.
But Bu Eun-seol spoke in a firm voice.
"We cannot return to Dan Manor."
"What did you say?"
"The ones who stationed assassins in the guest inn beforehand. It's possible that Dan Manor has already been infiltrated as well."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Umun Hwang let out a scoffing laugh.
"Then what do you propose we do?"
"Until the identities and backers of these assassins are uncovered, we must take refuge in a hidden location."
"Refuge? You seem to be misunderstanding something."
Umun Hwang spoke with a faint smile.
"Even if these flies swarm in droves, they pose no threat whatsoever."
"The one who needs protection is Lady So."
"The same applies. Situations like this have happened many times before—I've crushed them all."
Faced with Umun Hwang's resolute attitude, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
This isn't the kind of man who can be persuaded with words.
"Then at least change your appearances. That alone will buy us considerable time in case of unforeseen circumstances."
Bu Eun-seol always carried medicinal pastes and adhesives on his person.
As long as there was mud nearby, he could easily alter others' faces, much like the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art.
"You expect us to disguise ourselves like rats?"
Umun Hwang snorted derisively, unleashing an overwhelming aura.
"Even if those assassins lay out every possible encirclement, this old man can smash through them with ease."
As if there was nothing left to discuss, he dismissively waved his hand and turned away.
"We are returning to Dan Manor."
Bu Eun-seol's prediction had been correct.
The moment they returned to Dan Manor, assassins who had tightly encircled the estate launched their attack.
Umun Hwang was greatly taken aback.
Even if all the assassins from a single assassination sect had descended upon them, he had been confident in handling them alone.
But the enemies swarming in were on an entirely different level.
Human Wave Tactics.
No matter how many assassins were cut down, they kept coming endlessly. Just the headcount surrounding the manor suggested the combined forces of multiple assassination factions.
"Hahp!"
Spotting the surging assassins, Umun Hwang swung his twin palms like fluttering butterflies.
Boom!
Dozens of assassins charging toward him collapsed on the spot.
His profound Palm Energy had not only shaken their internal organs but also severed their Heart Meridians.
These are not assassins.
Umun Hwang narrowed his eyes as he observed the fallen enemies.
Assassins wielded swords solely for the purpose of killing—the Killing Sword.
But the swarming assassins fought with disciplined, military-trained sword techniques, as if they were warriors from the Military.
Crash!
When Umun Hwang unleashed a fierce surge of Palm Energy, four assassins were sent flying, reduced to bloody pulp.
Yet, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, the assassins stubbornly maintained their encirclement, relentlessly pressing their assault.
"Huff!"
Umun Hwang rapidly executed his Palm Arts, weaving a net-like defensive line of Palm Energy to shield So-ok from the assassins.
But their sheer numbers made it impossible to block them all completely.
"Don't concern yourself with this side."
As the defensive line was breached, Bu Eun-seol drew his longsword and began cutting down the assassins.
Shhk!
Each time the blade of hundred-fold refined steel sliced through flesh and blood, a chilling sound of severance echoed alongside screams.
"Take that bastard down first!"
Meanwhile, the number of assassins swarming Bu Eun-seol also began snowballing.
As if intending to overwhelm him in one strike, they coordinated their attacks in a unified Battle Formation, swinging their swords as one.
"Hmph."
Even as dozens of blades thrust toward him simultaneously, Bu Eun-seol smirked and fluidly altered his sword's momentum.
"Ghk!"
The sword that had been aimed at his back suddenly veered sideways—piercing the arm of another assassin instead.
It was the Heaven Conquering Blade Ultimate Stance, the technique of So-jeon, leader of the Innovation Unit.
"Change formations!"
As Bu Eun-seol freely redirected the onslaught of attacks with the Heaven Conquering Blade Ultimate Stance, the assassins panicked and scrambled to adjust their Battle Formation.
"Agh!"
But their screams never ceased.
No formation they employed made a difference. To Bu Eun-seol, who had pushed the Way of the Beast to its utmost limit, their openings were glaringly obvious.
Then, the assassin who appeared to be their leader howled in desperation.
"It doesn't matter... You're all going to die anyway!"