Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Burning Manor (2)
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The person the Pavilion Leader had admired wasn't Se Yeong, Paeng Se Gi, or Young Kak.
Se Yeong had defeated the Sword Phantom, so it wasn't surprising that he'd seen through his stealth.
The one who truly shocked him was none other than Hahu Yeon.
'That kid's born with the makings of an assassin.'
If he hadn't been Se Yeong's man, he would've pulled out all the stops to bring him into Black Moon Pavilion.
"What about Yi Cheon Yeong and Dang Ok?"
"Couldn't pinpoint their stealth positions."
"Sa Sa Un?"
"Only caught two or three out of ten ambushes."
The two months at the manor had stripped them down to their last reserves.
"Can you kill the White Master?"
The stunned Pavilion Leader stared hard at Se Yeong's face.
So the third commission was the extermination of him and Black Moon Pavilion?
Despair surged alongside rage.
"Even if every assassin in Black Moon Pavilion and all the killers in the martial world teamed up, it'd be impossible. Might as well kill this old man right here."
Se Yeong had no intention of entrusting the Pavilion Leader with a commission anyway.
Revenge would feel far more satisfying done by his own hand.
"I'll give you the final commission. If he wants me dead, tell the White Master to come himself. That's my last request."
The Pavilion Leader was moved.
This Han Se Yeong had some sense of honor after all.
Of course, without it, the prodigies of the martial world wouldn't follow him so devotedly.
"Just pass that along?"
"Add that he's just a pretty boy with a handsome face."
'Just a pretty boy with a handsome face...'
The Pavilion Leader fell into thought.
Say that verbatim in front of the White Master, and his head might roll.
'What a spine-tingling commission.'
The next morning, workers from the village swarmed in.
Se Yeong had asked for ten, but over twenty showed up at the manor.
The flustered Yi Hwa and Yi Gu siblings scolded them.
"We only need ten. What are we supposed to do with all of you?"
"Just ten stay here, the rest go home."
The villagers who'd come as workers wailed in protest.
"Cut us some slack when you're in high places."
"I used to dote on you all so much. Let me work too."
At a loss, the siblings glanced at Se Yeong.
"Plant mulberry trees from the manor entrance along both sides of the path. Space them about six feet apart. Don't forget to water them plenty after planting."
The mulberry trees near the Murim Alliance were spaced roughly six feet too.
Yi Hwa's face brightened at Se Yeong's orders.
He hadn't told them to send the workers away.
"Grab the mulberry saplings and head out!"
Yi Hwa shouted, and the workers eagerly snatched up their trees.
"Sorry about this, Hero Han."
Yi Gu still felt uneasy and bowed his head.
"It's fine. What would've taken six days, we'll finish in three."
Reassuring him, Se Yeong passed the training grounds and headed outside the manor.
The vast forest bore large clearings here and there from the battles with the absolute masters.
Se Yeong entered the widest one and slowly drew his sword.
His sword hummed as he leveled it horizontally...
Sssh... Sssh... Swish...
Se Yeong swung slowly, slicing through space.
Over an hour of swordplay left his body drenched in sweat.
After a quarter-hour to cool off, he raised his sword again.
Swish... Sssh... Sssh...
The tip pierced space, the blade cleaved it.
His sword wasn't particularly fast, but the winds clashing against tip and edge split and shattered.
The sound of severing air went on endlessly, and before he knew it, Se Yeong was deeply immersed in the realm of the sword.
Huu...
When he exhaled and halted, dusk had already deepened.
Se Yeong sheathed his sword and turned.
Instructor Kang and the squad members were watching quietly from a short distance away.
"What brings everyone all the way out here?"
Paeng Se Gi snapped to attention at the question.
"It was mealtime and you hadn't come back, big brother, so I checked. I arrived first, then Instructor Kang... after that, I don't know."
One by one, they'd all ended up here.
"Let's go eat."
Se Yeong walked off casually.
But the squad members, as if profoundly moved, hesitated to follow right away.
"What's wrong?"
Paeng Se Gi countered instead.
"Big brother... how did you make that whirlwind?"
"Whirlwind?"
"Yeah. Not sure if it's a whirlwind or a maelstrom, but that's what it looked like."
"No idea."
Se Yeong hadn't felt a thing while practicing his forms.
Nothing different from before, no sudden enlightenment.
He'd just let his heart guide the sword.
Ding... Ding ding...!
The White Master's left hand pressed the strings, his right plucked and strummed.
Each motion filled the vast chamber with sound.
His mother had played the seven-stringed zither masterfully.
Memories from early childhood were hazy, but her playing remained vivid.
He'd probably sat quietly beside her, watching.
Ding...!
His fingers stilled, and soon a voice came from outside.
"I'm back, Supreme One."
"Come in."
The White Master set the seven-stringed zither aside.
The Pavilion Leader entered, prostrating before him in respect.
"You've aged a lot in just a few months."
An insult right off the bat.
But the Pavilion Leader didn't get angry.
He really had aged drastically in that time.
"If there's nothing else, go rest."
"Han Se Yeong has a message for you, Supreme One."
A flicker of interest crossed the White Master's face.
"Out with it."
"He said if you want him dead, come yourself."
"That's all?"
The Pavilion Leader hesitated.
"It's fine. Say it."
Urged by the White Master, he finally spoke.
"And that you're... just a pretty boy with a handsome face."
Huh?
The White Master stared for a moment, then his lips slowly parted.
Ha... Hahaha...!
He laughed like a madman.
In the world...
Who knew the Supreme One could laugh so heartily?
The Pavilion Leader, seeing it for the first time, gaped in a daze.
"Well done. You're dismissed."
His laughter faded, and he issued the order to leave.
The Pavilion Leader rose, bowed, and exited.
Once alone, the White Master pulled the zither back.
Ding ding...! Ding... Ding ding...!
The melody, so mournful moments ago, now rang refreshingly upbeat.
In the end, a bounty of fifty thousand silver taels was placed on Se Yeong's head.
The Murim Alliance promised it to anyone, no matter who, who brought Han Se Yeong's head.
As the Strategist feared, fifty thousand silver taels stirred even the hermits into action.
But the more insightful criticized the Alliance Leader and Murim Alliance.
"Why's the Alliance Leader and Murim Alliance still sitting idle?"
"What are the Five Absolutes of the Martial World doing?"
They hoped the Five Absolutes or Murim Alliance would move to eliminate Han Se Yeong.
Then rumors spread that the Six-Net Sword Phantom had fallen into the Four Hundred Clans' trap and been killed.
This fueled talk of an impending clash between the Alliance Leader, Murim Alliance, and the Four Hundred Clans, setting the martial world abuzz.
Yet Se Yeong and his squad enjoyed peaceful days.
Splash! Splash!
The siblings spread their dip nets downstream in the ditch, while the squad splashed upstream, herding fish downward.
Hahaha...!
Ehehehaha...!
The squad was happier than ever.
Having devoted their childhoods to martial arts, carefree play was rare for them.
They could enjoy it now thanks to the Yi Hwa and Yi Gu siblings.
"Spicy fish stew from ditch-caught fish is delicious."
Struck by nostalgia, Se Yeong allowed it, and the siblings fetched a large pot to the ditch.
Waaah...!
"Caught quite a few, huh?"
"Not enough. One more time."
Checking the netted fish, the squad headed upstream again.
Young Kak alone wasn't catching any.
"No killing living beings, but fish are okay?"
He clasped his hands at Se Yeong's question.
"Om mani padme hum. I'll accrue karma and reincarnate, so someday this monk will be born a fish."
"You sure got a way with words."
Se Yeong smirked.
Waaah...!
Cheers rose again as the siblings pulled fish from the net and started cooking.
As they did, the squad eyed Se Yeong.
"What? Want booze too?"
"Yes, big brother."
"Just for today."
At Se Yeong's okay, Paeng Se Gi dashed toward the distant manor.
Se Yeong watched his retreating figure fondly, then frowned.
Someone was approaching the manor, leaning on what looked like a staff.
'A guest today of all days.'
Most visitors to the manor were foes.
"Eat without me."
A guest had to be met regardless.
As Se Yeong headed to the manor, Instructor Kang followed alone.
The visitor was a graying elder.
He bowed deeply and politely upon seeing Se Yeong.
Half his eyebrows were black, the other half white like his hair.
"Greetings from Yi Mok Ga of the martial world to its hero."
The martial world's hero...
Who in the world would call him that?
Se Yeong eyed him suspiciously.
"Where from?"
"From the north."
What north exactly?
Se Yeong scrutinized the elder.
His grounded staff was black, thinner and straighter than an iron rod.
A faint aura emanated from him, utterly ordinary—no sign of martial cultivation.
Yet to Se Yeong's eyes, he looked every bit a warrior.
Not just any, but a supreme master at the absolute pinnacle.
The elder smiled faintly and continued.
"My heart's in the north, but I've dwelled in the martial world over twenty years."
Instructor Kang behind Se Yeong caught on immediately.
"From the Demonic Cult...?"
He too was body in the Murim Alliance, heart in the north.
Heh heh heh...
"As expected, Instructor Kang grasps it right away."
Instructor Kang's heart raced at the elder's reply.
Why had the Demonic Cult come for the young master?
Slim chance, but had they uncovered his identity and come to escort him back?
"What business does the Demonic Cult have with me?"
Se Yeong asked calmly.
"I hear there's a bounty of fifty thousand silver taels on your head."