Chapter 48: With Those Very Words
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 48: With Those Very Words
How long had it been since he first clashed swords with his opponent?
“Cough…”
Ki Mu-hyeok spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back.
His entire body was covered in blood. Blood dripped steadily from the gashes on his arms and legs, and as if suffering from internal injuries, his complexion was as pale as a corpse.
He looked like a wounded, exhausted wolf.
[…You are incredibly tenacious.]
Across from him stood Black-White 13, looking utterly defeated.
He had lost several fingers on his right hand, and sharp gouges marred his mask. Deep cuts and bloodstains were visible all over his clothes.
His appearance was just as wretched as Ki Mu-hyeok’s.
[I admit it. If Martial Artist Ki Mu-hyeok had mastered a proper Internal Energy Cultivation Method… I wouldn't have been able to defeat him.]
Before being an Assassin, Black-White 13 was a Martial Artist who had reached the Peak Master realm. Even if Ki Mu-hyeok had hidden his true strength until the very end, and even with the combined attack of Yang Ha-yun, a top-tier Rising Star, defeating him should have been impossible.
Yet, that impossible feat had almost become reality.
“...Seeing you run your mouth again, I guess you’re starting to think about running away, huh?”
Ki Mu-hyeok wiped the blood from his lips and raised his sword, pointing it at Black-White 13 once more.
Behind him, Yang Ha-yun lay unconscious, the price for pushing past his limits to use Extreme Yin Energy.
[Hahahahaha!]
Seeing Ki Mu-hyeok’s stance, as if he wouldn't retreat another step, Black-White 13 burst into laughter.
[Because of you, all our plans have gone awry. It was a simple matter of securing the Extreme Yin Constitution, completing the expedition, and withdrawing… And a mere Rising Star barely out of his teens ruined it all.]
Rumble! Rumbllllle!
The sound of thunder from the sky grew louder, and shapes resembling building walls flickered in and out of sight amidst the surrounding scenery. It was proof that the Spell Formation was being released.
[By now, our forces, who should have been hidden within the Martial Alliance, must have been exposed. The operation went awry, so they would have had to buy time. Many of them have probably been captured or killed.]
As if finding the current situation utterly ridiculous, Black-White 13 chuckled.
“Ptui.”
Ki Mu-hyeok spat out blood-laced saliva and tilted his head askew, asking,
“So?”
[…You will pay the price. We don't just leave obstacles alone. Not just you, but your family and those around you will pay in blood.]
“...Know that with those very words, your fate has been sealed.”
At the threat against his family, Ki Mu-hyeok let out a cold laugh and stepped forward. He looked ready to tear out his opponent's throat at any moment.
At that moment, new enemies wearing Black and White masks appeared.
[What in the world are you doing?!]
[To make us step in…!]
One was a burly man, and the other was a slender figure wielding a spear.
As the situation grew urgent, it seemed even members of the organization who weren't supposed to participate in this operation had stepped in.
[As you can see, we have a bit of a problem. I'll ask for your help.]
As Black-White 13 shrugged and replied, the two Black-White Agents glared fiercely at him before moving.
[To mess things up this badly, it's unlike you.]
[You won't escape disciplinary action when we return.]
The burly Black-White Agent approached, clashing his fists together, while the slender Black-White Agent drew his spear and aimed it at Ki Mu-hyeok.
“…”
Both were at least Peak Masters. Yang Ha-yun was unconscious, and Black-White 13 hadn't been finished off yet. Now, two more Martial Artists, seemingly on par with him, had joined the fray.
Black-White 13, along with his comrades, pressured Ki Mu-hyeok, now idly twirling the throwing knife he held in one hand.
[How about it? Do you still not regret it? It's too late to change your mind now, though.]
“...Ha, hahah.”
Ki Mu-hyeok, who had briefly looked up at the sky as if troubled, suddenly burst into laughter, as if he had gone mad.
Then, he slowly lowered the sword he was holding.
The moment Black-White 13's lips curved into a sadistic smile, seeing Ki Mu-hyeok's seemingly resigned expression.
“It seems it's you, not me, who's too late to regret anything.”
[I respect your resolve, at least. If you still insist on bluffing….]
“You idiotic bastards. Look up.”
The Black-White Agents, following Ki Mu-hyeok's gaze to the sky above, froze.
[What in the…!]
Dozens of arrows floated in the air, pointing directly at their location.
At the same time, a section of the Spell Formation's space warped violently.
Waaaaaaah!
With a tremor that shook the ground, hundreds of Rising Stars could be seen charging forward, shouting battle cries.
“You crazy bastard—! Your big brother's here to save you—!”
At the forefront, Shin Kang-heon was literally leaping forward like a mad dog.
Ki Mu-hyeok burst into laughter with relief and shouted.
“All these masked bastards here are traitors! You can beat them all to a pulp!”
“Shin Kang-heon the Gold descends! Uraaaah—!”
Shin Kang-heon, leaping powerfully as if long-jumping, slammed directly into the burly Black-White Agent and swung his blade.
CRACK!
The burly Black-White Agent, who had easily parried Shin Kang-heon's blade, exuded thick Killing Intent from his eyes visible through the mask.
[These brats…!]
The slender Black-White Agent also blocked Song Jun-ho and Oh Jung-min's attacks simultaneously, then spun his spear in a wide arc. Terrifying Killing Intent also emanated from him.
[If you all wish to die, I won't stop you.]
In the Martial, Peak Masters were insurmountable beings to ordinary people, and formidable experts whom even hordes of Second-Rate and Third-Rate Martial Artists couldn't contend with.
“...!”
As the Peak Masters' Killing Intent poured forth, the charging Rising Stars began to falter.
But following the repelled Shin Kang-heon, Song Jun-ho and Oh Jung-min charged at the Black-White Agents once more.
“We outnumber them! Push forward!”
“Are you all going to retreat after coming all this way?!”
“Let's save our comrades!”
As the three charged without fear of the enemy, the other Rising Stars also began to rush forward, shouting.
“Waaaaah!”
“Kill the Assassins!”
Shin Kang-heon, Song Jun-ho, Oh Jung-min, and other experts of First-Rate caliber blocked attacks at the front, while the less skilled Rising Stars formed an encirclement, engaging in a wheel battle.
No one feared to join the fight. Though some were wounded by the Sword Qi unleashed by the enemies and forced to retreat, other Rising Stars quickly filled their places.
“Yang Ha-yun has been rescued!”
“Martial Artist Ki Mu-hyeok is safe too!”
“Does anyone have Golden Wound Ointment?”
Ki Mu-hyeok briefly retreated, observing the situation and catching his breath.
SPLAT!
Shin Kang-heon's shoulder was cut, and blood gushed out.
It was a fairly deep wound, but Shin Kang-heon charged again like a hungry beast, catching his opponent off guard.
[W-what kind of guy is this?!]
Song Jun-ho swiftly intercepted attacks with his naturally keen Qi Sensing Domain, while Oh Jung-min, with his sturdy sword techniques, protected his comrades and became the center of the wheel formation.
[…This has become troublesome. We must secure the Extreme Yin Constitution and escape, no matter what.]
The burly Black-White Agent and the spear-wielding Black-White Agent's movements grew increasingly frantic.
Unlike Black-White 13, they were not trained Assassins. Though they possessed powerful martial arts befitting Peak Masters, it was impossible for them to infiltrate enemy lines like Black-White 13, or to conceal their presence and escape amidst the chaos.
“Do you think we'll just let you run away?!”
“Break those masks first! Let's see their faces!”
Cracks appeared on the Black-White Agents' masks, their wounds multiplied, and blood began to seep through their clothes.
Ultimately, even Peak Masters could not withstand the sheer numbers of Rising Stars swarming them like a beehive.
“Uraaaah!”
Shin Kang-heon, having slammed into the burly Black-White Agent, knocked him down, and a dozen others rushed in simultaneously, immobilizing him with Pressure Point Sealing.
“See that? I got one!”
Shin Kang-heon, scrambling to his feet, scanned his surroundings, intending to boast to Ki Mu-hyeok.
However, he soon realized Ki Mu-hyeok was nowhere to be seen.
“...Where did that bastard go now?”
And Black-White 13 had also disappeared at some point.
As he ran, Ki Mu-hyeok chewed and swallowed the top-grade internal injury medicine Song Jun-ho had given him. His body reeked of the Golden Wound Ointment the Rising Stars had generously slathered on him.
It was only first aid, but for now, it was enough.
“How dare you threaten to kill my parents right in front of me?”
Ahead, he saw the back of Black-White 13, who was abandoning his comrades and fleeing alone.
Ki Mu-hyeok had noticed his opponent using an Invisibility Spell to escape amidst the chaos, but he hadn't told anyone, pursuing him alone.
“I feel like I won't be satisfied until I personally finish you off.”
Ki Mu-hyeok's eyes, as he muttered to himself, gleamed with Killing Intent.
His stamina and Internal Energy were depleted, but rage and venom fueled him.
Fortunately, a strange energy had begun to invigorate him a short while ago.
‘Extreme Yin Energy?’
It was the Extreme Yin Energy that had seeped into his body while he was concealing his Constitution. He had tried to expel it by circulating his Internal Energy, but a considerable amount of the energy had already deeply permeated his bones.
Surprisingly, a portion of that Extreme Yin Energy seemed to have settled within his body.
Swoosh-
Ki Mu-hyeok gazed at the faint, pure white energy that enveloped his palm.
Compared to Yang Ha-yun's, it was incredibly faint, but the mere fact that the energy had transferred was enough to shock the entire Martial world.
‘Could it be because I'm a Five Elements Affinity user?’
He couldn't know the exact reason right now. Ki Mu-hyeok decided not to dwell on it. The distance to the enemy ahead had narrowed sufficiently.
WHIZZ!
The throwing knife he hurled with all his might embedded itself in his opponent's back. Black-White 13 staggered and looked back.
The lower part of his mask was shattered. It was a mark from several clashes with Ki Mu-hyeok during his escape.
The Black-White Agent forced a smile and let out a strained laugh.
[Haha… Aren't you tired of this? I'm starting to get sick of your face.]
“Well, I haven't seen your real face yet.”
Ki Mu-hyeok was accustomed to dealing with such individuals.
Perverts who always pretended to be at ease, acted as if every situation was under their control, and derived pleasure from manipulating others as they pleased.
The reason they loved to ramble on was likely because they wanted to see their opponents feel despair and terror at their words.
[…May I make you an offer? It will surely be a tempting one.]
Instead of answering, Ki Mu-hyeok charged forward and smashed the Black-White Agent's mask with his fist, shattering it.
CRUNCH!
Beneath the fragments of the crumbling mask was a surprisingly ordinary face.
An appearance one wouldn't even glance at if they passed him on the street.
Black-White 13 staggered back and covered his face with one hand.
The voice, always distorted through the mask, was gone. Its true form was a man's thinly trembling voice.
“...You possess astonishing talent. Isn't it a waste to let such talent rot in this dull Orthodox Martial World?”
Ki Mu-hyeok paid him no mind, raising his sword and slashing his face.
SPLAT!
Blood spurted, staining the man's face crimson.
His opponent, having lost an eye, stumbled backward, but his mouth still wouldn't stop running.
“Won't you, won't you come with me? I can help you fully blossom that talent. You'll be able to learn fascinating martial arts that even the Eight Great Sects can't provide. If it's you…”
As if he hadn't heard a word, Ki Mu-hyeok swung his sword, shattering joints and severing tendons.
His opponent, unable to keep his balance, fell, and grinned with a face slick with cold sweat.
“Do you think I'll beg for my life because of this? That will never happen, not until the very end. To a mere Rising Star! Haha, hahahaha…!”
Ki Mu-hyeok paid him no mind. He observed the man lying on the ground as if he were an inanimate object, and muttered,
“Didn't I say the order was to cut off fingers and toes, gouge out eyeballs, and then brand the tongue? I'll leave the tongue for interrogation. After that… I think it was the skin.”
“…”
The mangled body twitched.
Fear slowly filled his opponent's eyes, but Ki Mu-hyeok paid it no heed, and with an expressionless face, swung his blade again.
“See? You shouldn't have talked about my parents.”