Please Help Me
The next day.
Jang Mu-eon finally regained full consciousness. Overnight, thanks to Dan U-ryeong’s antidote, the Seven Star Poison had completely vanished, and color had returned to his once-pale face. Morning sunlight filtered through the inn’s window, warmly illuminating Jang Mu-eon’s features.
“How’s the body?”
Kang Yeon and Dan U-ryeong sat before him, as though they had been waiting for him to wake, quietly sipping tea. A delicate fragrance filled the room.
Jang Mu-eon slowly raised his upper body and checked his condition. Only last night his entire body had been paralyzed, unable to twitch so much as a fingertip; now he could feel his energy circulating normally through every meridian.
“Much better. I truly… nearly died.”
Genuine gratitude colored Jang Mu-eon’s voice. The thought of the man he had once sworn to kill casually saving his life filled his chest with a deep warmth.
“You really did nearly die. If Dan U-ryeong hadn’t been at the inn, even I probably couldn’t have saved you.”
Ordinary poisons Kang Yeon could have burned away with his own power, but the Seven Star Poison that had claimed Jang Mu-eon was an extreme toxin that even internal energy could not purge. Jang Mu-eon turned toward Dan U-ryeong and cupped his fist in salute.
“I am grateful for the life-saving grace. I will never forget this debt as long as I live.”
Dan U-ryeong merely shrugged.
“It’s fine. I only did it because Yeon-i asked.”
Kang Yeon spoke to Jang Mu-eon.
“We’ve seen you wake, so we’ll take our leave. The poison is gone, but you’ll still need some rest for a while.”
As Kang Yeon rose, Jang Mu-eon urgently opened his mouth.
“Please help me.”
Kang Yeon turned his head and looked at him.
“I already have.”
“I want to find the ones who attacked me. I want to know why they came for me.”
Kang Yeon’s eyes sank low.
“You’ll face an uncomfortable truth.”
“It’s fine. I’ve already prepared my heart.”
In truth, Jang Mu-eon had already glimpsed that truth. Deep down he suspected he had been used for some purpose—and that purpose was almost certainly tied to the man standing before him. Kang Yeon regarded him steadily.
“Looks like you want to get tangled in something complicated.”
Kang Yeon sat back down and asked,
“All right. Tell me in detail. Who attacked you?”
His expression grew serious. Setting the teacup aside, he fixed Jang Mu-eon with a sharp gaze. Jang Mu-eon closed his eyes and began to retrace the previous night’s memories.
Blades flashing in the dark. Cold killing intent brushing past his ear. The recollections rose as vividly as if they had happened only moments ago. No one easily forgot the threshold of death.
“The first attacker wore a mask, but the voice was familiar. Definitely someone inside the Black Wind Association.”
“Can you guess who just from the voice?”
“I’m not certain, but… probably one of my close aides. Otherwise no one could have slipped into the guild master’s chambers unnoticed.”
Betrayal laced Jang Mu-eon’s voice. The knowledge that someone he had trusted and relied upon had driven a knife into his back hurt more than the poison itself.
“Do you remember the martial arts the assassin used?”
Jang Mu-eon cast his mind back to the attack. In the sudden chaos he had noticed little, yet now details began to surface one by one.
“He used a movement technique that flowed like a shadow. And the blade work… it resembled the Shadow Blade Style.”
Kang Yeon’s eyes narrowed.
“Shadow Blade Style? You know it?”
“It’s the martial art used by Shadow Blade, the vice-leader of the Black Wind Association. But surely he wouldn’t have betrayed me…”
Vice-leader Shadow Blade had helped Jang Mu-eon found the Black Wind Association. Without him, the guild would never have grown to its present strength.
Before Jang Mu-eon finished speaking, Dan U-ryeong nodded.
“What technique the attacker used isn’t the important part. That’s almost certainly someone inside the Black Wind Association anyway. What’s important is the Seven Star Poison.”
Dan U-ryeong held up a small glass vial containing the residual toxin left from the previous night’s detoxification. The black liquid inside still radiated an ominous aura.
“This poison isn’t something just anyone can obtain. Only four places in the Central Plains know how to make it.”
Kang Yeon leaned forward with interest.
“Explain.”
“Hmm… let’s see. First, the Poison King of Poison Gate Valley. But that one’s a complete recluse who almost never shows himself. Second, the Five Poisons Sect of Sichuan. Those people prefer special conditions over money. Third is the Sichuan Tang Clan, but they’re closed-off by nature, so we can rule them out. Besides, the Black Wind Association isn’t orthodox—they wouldn’t help them.”
The Five Poisons Sect was less a martial sect than a band of fanatics obsessed with poison, using their toxins only where it pleased them.
“So all three are out as suspects. Then the remaining place must be…”
Hearing Kang Yeon’s words, Dan U-ryeong’s face turned grave.
“Yes. The last candidate is the Blood Shadow Pavilion.”
Kang Yeon’s gaze sharpened in an instant. The very air seemed to grow colder at the name.
“I see. Putting everything together, the mastermind behind this attack is the Blood Shadow Pavilion.”
Assassination and poison—methods the Blood Shadow Pavilion favored more than anyone. Jang Mu-eon’s expression went blank.
“Blood Shadow Pavilion? The one I know?”
“That’s right. The greatest assassination organization of the unorthodox path. The ones who can kill even the Murim Alliance Leader if the price is right. Once they take a contract, those cold-blooded killers will murder anyone under heaven.”
Dan U-ryeong’s voice dropped.
“And the fact that they moved means…”
He continued with a serious look.
“Someone paid a considerable price. Obtaining the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s highest-grade poison requires at least a thousand gold taels. That’s far too extravagant just to kill the guild master of the Black Wind Association.”
Jang Mu-eon’s face hardened further. A thousand gold taels—an unimaginable fortune that the entire assets of the Black Wind Association could never match.
“Then this isn’t simply internal conflict within the Black Wind Association?”
Kang Yeon nodded.
“That’s how we have to see it. Someone is deliberately pulling strings behind you. Someone—or some group—with considerable wealth.”
Kang Yeon stroked his chin, lost in thought. As he had already noted, the contract could not have been solely for Jang Mu-eon’s removal. They had clearly struck after Jang Mu-eon met him and returned.
They must have feared that the continued connection between Jang Mu-eon and me would expose their own tails.
Yet Jang Mu-eon had miraculously survived, and Kang Yeon had now stepped squarely on those tails.
“The fastest way to get this kind of information is to ask Ak Hu.”
Though the Blood Shadow Pavilion was independent, it could not entirely ignore the influence of the Sado Alliance.
“Wait here for now. I’m going to drop by the Ilyeong Inn for a bit.”
Kang Yeon rose and walked toward the door. As heir to the Sado Alliance, Ak Hu would surely possess some information about the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s movements. Past morning now, the streets around West Lake bustled as usual.
“Fresh fish! Carp and crucian just pulled from West Lake!”
“Silk from Sichuan! Come see the finest silk!”
“Steaming hot dumplings! Freshly steamed meat dumplings, try some!”
Merchants’ cries mingled with the rumble of cart wheels, creating a lively atmosphere. Kang Yeon spread his senses wide and scanned the surroundings. After yesterday’s events, he was certain someone was watching him. Sure enough, he detected auras moving from a considerable distance.
Hmm… these feel like the ones Ak Hu assigned.
Before long Kang Yeon arrived at the Ilyeong Inn. Guided by a clerk, he went inside to meet Ak Hu.
In the private room on the top floor of the Ilyeong Inn, Ak Hu lounged comfortably in a chair. When Kang Yeon entered he rose with his characteristic sly smile.
“Brother Yeon, visiting first thing in the morning? What’s going on?”
Kang Yeon sat opposite him and spoke without preamble.
“You remember the favor I asked last time?”
“I’ve been looking into it, but… strangely, nothing’s turning up.”
Ak Hu wore an apologetic expression.
“It’s only natural you couldn’t find anything. The problem seems more complicated than I thought. You know the Black Wind Association?”
“Of course. They’re a rising power making quite a name around West Lake. Why?”
“Their guild master was attacked not long ago. He nearly died after being poisoned with the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s Seven Star Poison.”
Ak Hu’s face turned serious in an instant. The playful light in his eyes sharpened.
“Seven Star Poison… isn’t that the Blood Shadow Pavilion’s highest-grade toxin? Who spent that kind of money? Don’t tell me the mastermind behind the job I was looking into is the Blood Shadow Pavilion? Wow—no wonder I couldn’t dig anything up.”
“There seems to be a traitor inside the Black Wind Association, and a larger force behind them. They’re the ones who hired the Blood Shadow Pavilion.”
Ak Hu stroked his chin, thinking.
“Hmm… so the Blood Shadow Pavilion really is the one behind it? Especially lately their movements have been suspicious.”
Kang Yeon narrowed his eyes.
“What kind of movements?”
“I don’t know the details, but high-paying assassination contracts have been pouring in from all over the Central Plains. Targeting specific people…”
“Specific people?”
Ak Hu lowered his voice.
“Mostly the next-generation candidates for sect leadership or promising young talents. Orthodox or unorthodox, it doesn’t matter. Almost as if someone is deliberately trying to cut off the future of the Central Plains.”
Kang Yeon’s expression hardened.
Jang Mu-eon, too, was the young guild master of the Black Wind Association. Did that mean this was also part of that larger design?
“So we need further investigation. Who hired the Blood Shadow Pavilion to attack Jang Mu-eon, and what their real goal is.”
Ak Hu nodded.
“Got it. I’ll mobilize the entire Four Shadows Unit. I’ll definitely find out who ordered the Seven Star Poison from the Blood Shadow Pavilion.”
“Thanks.”
Ak Hu laughed playfully.
“Hearing ‘thanks’ from you feels strange.”
“Am I that stingy?”
“Not that. It’s just rare for you to take an interest in someone else’s affairs. Don’t tell me this Jang Mu-eon has some connection to you?”
“Just an old acquaintance.”
Ak Hu sighed.
“You really… claim you want a quiet life, so why do you always get dragged into things like this?”
“I wonder the same thing.”
Kang Yeon gave a bitter smile.
“Anyway, contact me the moment you have results.”
“Understood. You be careful too. If the other side is the Blood Shadow Pavilion… even you could be in danger if you let your guard down. Of course, not you yourself—the people around you.”
Kang Yeon stood.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take precautions.”
Ak Hu saw him off.
“Brother. Just in case, want me to assign a few of the Ilyeong Inn’s guard martial artists? They won’t match your level, of course, but at least the people at the inn would be safer.”
“No need. Standing out too much would backfire.”
“Still…”
“Dan U-ryeong is at the inn, so there shouldn’t be any real problem. Instead, let me know immediately if there’s any suspicious movement around West Lake.”
“That’s only natural.”
Leaving the Ilyeong Inn, Kang Yeon sank into deep thought.
The Blood Shadow Pavilion is targeting the next generation of the Central Plains… This isn’t simple assassination. Someone is drawing a much larger picture.