Book 16 Chapter 17

Assassination (暗殺)

-The Approaching Shadow-

Flap!

A falcon took flight, spreading its red wings wide from Prince Bi's arm.

Bi calmly read the small, sealed letter left in his hand with emotionless eyes.

However, his heart was uneasy. Today was not a day for regular reports. The fact that a messenger bird had suddenly arrived meant it was an urgent matter.

In an instant, his sharply drawn eyebrows twitched. He unconsciously frowned.

The contents of the letter were not something that could be casually overlooked.

"My lord, is there some bad news…?"

Chumyeong, a demonic sword user who was standing by his side, sensed his discomfort and quietly asked. Bi quietly handed him the letter.

"This, this is…"

Chumyeong's eyes widened as he cautiously took the letter.

The letter bore a red seal indicating 'Top Priority Urgent' and read:

[Top Priority Urgent Matter]

Non-scheduled messenger bird transmission based on Rule 2, Article 1 of the Emergency Response Protocol

Confirm current location of Duke An Myeonghu of the Iron Heart of Nine Cubits

Location: Samsenggak (三聖閣), Cheonmu Peak, Mount Hua

Currently unconscious

No signs of information leakage yet

Requires immediate elimination (消去)

Mandatory Elimination (必滅)

"My lord, Samsenggak…"

Without turning, Bi nodded.

"Indeed, it's like entering a tiger's den to snatch prey being guarded by the tiger. Mujheong!"

"You called, my lord!"

A long, stretched shadow stood up, revealing the form of a person. It was Mujheong (無情), one of the Six Heavenly Demons of the Demonic Sky, and the embodiment of "Residual Mist, Single Drop of Blood." He, who never showed his face even to his comrades, was a being who could transform into a ruthless assassin at any moment.

"There is something you need to do."

"I receive your command."

Mujueong replied in a voice devoid of any trace of emotion.

Samsenggak (三聖閣), the exclusive lodging for the Cheonmu Three Sages.

With his face wrapped in bandages, he lay on the bed as if dead, covered by a white cotton quilt. Beside the bed, a washbasin filled with water, bandages, and a medicinal pot were placed, as if to care for the patient. The scent of medicinal decoction filled the room subtly, like that of a physician. Light streaming through the window cast long shadows within the room.

Swish!

The shadow, which had shown no peculiar characteristics, suddenly flickered as if agitated. Then, as if rebelling against the darkness that always faced the sun, it rose towards the light.

The shadow, which had merely changed its form according to the projection of light and had never asserted its own subjectivity, gradually gained thickness and shape, defying the sun's radiance. Finally, it took on a complete human form.

Mujueong, the shadow man, looked around cautiously, checking for any signs of presence. Confirming that there was no sign of anyone, he slowly began to move.

One must discard the prejudice that ambushes only occur at night. It was a languid afternoon, full of sunlight, when people's guard was most relaxed.

Mujueong approached the man lying as if dead. He wore a mask the color of darkness and a close-fitting night robe. He approached as silently as mist. It was a quiet and extremely stealthy movement that seemed to allow no tremor in the air. Finally, Mujueong stopped right beside the bed.

The opponent still did not try to open his eyes. It seemed he was still unconscious, as per the information. He quietly drew his sword.

'For the completion of the great undertaking!'

Without a moment's hesitation, Mujueong plunged his sword into the neck of the lying man in one swift motion.

Fwahahak!

Blood spurted out like a fountain. Such bleeding would surely lead to death for any human. But he drew his sword again for confirmation.

Just then, he heard a stir outside the door. Startled, he quickly hid in the shadows.

Im Deokseong's hand, grasping the doorknob, suddenly paused.

"Huh?"

'The smell of blood?'

Something strongly stimulated his sense of smell and instinct.

"What's wrong, Brother?"

The two were about to enter the room after finishing their meal with full stomachs and patting their bellies.

Im Deokseong was certain. What he sensed from beyond the paper door was definitely the smell of blood. His instincts, honed through countless real battles, were warning him. Entering this door now would be dangerous. Something was waiting for them beyond this door. It might be a vague feeling, but he knew better than anyone that those who ignored this feeling had never survived in this world.

Im Deokseong signaled Mo Gyeong, who was beside him, with his eyes. Having assisted him for a long time, Mo Gyeong quickly understood what the Chaeju intended. They gently released the doorknob and crept away to the side.

The method of entry was unimaginably crude. He did not enter through the main door. Nor did he intend to enter through the obvious route of the window.

"Hap!"

Like a "siege ram" (a weapon used to break down gates) from the Spring and Autumn period, he fiercely broke through the wall and invaded. His steel-like body, with its full rotational force from foot to ankle to waist to shoulder, collided at tremendous speed, shattering the wall into pieces. The broken fragments flew out with the ferocity of stones from a catapult. Mo Gyeong, his sworn brother, was no less in his direct and crude approach.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

He had broken through the ceiling and invaded.

Entering the room with a noisy intrusion that suggested significant repair costs would be incurred, they stood back-to-back, guarding their surroundings.

Mo Gyeong's eyes fell on the blood-soaked bed.

"Who dares!"

Mo Gyeong gnashed his teeth and let out an angry roar. As his rough nickname "Violent Wolf Ghost" suggested, this man had a quick temper. Unable to contain his rage, he broke away from Im Deokseong and rushed to the bed.

Meanwhile, Im Deokseong scanned the entire room, his gaze shifting back and forth. And for a moment, his gaze moved away from Mo Gyeong, revealing an opening.

Mo Gyeong's shadow subtly moved, and a figure suddenly emerged from it. The shadow thrust a slender sword towards Mo Gyeong's heart without hesitation.

"Brother!"

Mujueong, startled, quickly threw a hidden weapon with his left hand towards Im Deokseong, who was turning around. Blood dripped from the sword in his right hand.

Im Deokseong spun his saber like a whirlwind, deflecting nine out of ten hidden weapons, but he was accidentally hit near the neck by one. This was due to his saber skills being dulled by the sudden surprise attack and his eyes being fixated on Mo Gyeong being stabbed. If it had been poisoned, it would have been a serious matter. But fortunately, the poison in such small needles usually had limitations.

Without even thinking of removing the needle from his neck, he swung his saber with the force of splitting Mount Tai in two. Then, without hesitation, Mujueong drew his steel-like sword and evaded Im Deokseong's attack by a split second.

"You, you are now… dead…"

Im Deokseong couldn't finish his sentence. This brawny man, surprisingly, was stammering. His tongue seemed numb, preventing him from speaking.

'Could it be?'

He quickly pulled the needle from his neck and threw it at the opponent. However, Mujueong casually caught it.

The poison on the hidden weapon a moment ago was not fatal, but it was powerful enough to bind his tongue with the rope of silence. It appeared to be "Voiceless Poison," a poison favored by those who enjoyed stealth, as its name suggested, it had the effect of sealing one's voice.

He had lost the means to call for help elsewhere. Of course, even if his mouth had been fine, it was questionable whether this proud man would have done so.

"Ugh…"

A groan escaped Mo Gyeong, who had collapsed in a pool of his own blood. A glimmer of hope flashed in Im Deokseong's eyes.

"U… Woo… Woo… Uh… Uh!"

It was meant to say "You're alive!", but it was completely unintelligible. The poison seemed to be incredibly effective.

Im Deokseong's face brightened. It was unlikely that this assassin, exuding an aura of professionalism, had carelessly stabbed him. As soon as Mo Gyeong felt the murderous intent – though it was very stealthy, as expected of a professional – he twisted his body and avoided the fatal wound that would have pierced his heart and lungs. If he had been even slightly less agile, his heart would have been skewered instantly.

"It seems I'll have to be away for a few days. Please take good care of this person until then! Although it's unlikely, the possibility of suspicious movement cannot be completely ruled out. In that case, I trust the two of you to protect him. He is a person who holds an important secret. He must not die! I am counting on the abilities of you two!"

"Yes, please put your worries aside, Sword Saint Elder! On the name of Im Deokseong, the King of the Green Forest, I will surely carry out your command."

"I'm sorry! Then please take care."

"Leave it to us!"

He remembered saying that clearly at the time. Didn't he boastfully thump his chest? But what was this now? What a pathetic sight for the King of the Green Forest, Im Deokseong!

"Hmm!"

The King of the Green Forest, Im Deokseong, let out a low growl from his throat and looked at the assassin. Although he couldn't speak, he wasn't worried. He hadn't intended to ask for help in the first place. Why borrow someone else's hands when he had two perfectly good ones? If he did that, he would be too ashamed to return to the mountains. What if the rumor spread? He shuddered at the thought. It would be a truly shameful and terrible event.

'Alright, you bastard! Today, I'll turn you into minced meat with my own hands!'

The tip of his great sword pointed towards the ambush attacker.

A majestic aura emanated from his body. Although he had been silenced for a while, overshadowed by the prestige of the Cheonmu Three Sages, his status was that of the total Chaeju of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds, the leader of the Green Forest path, the ruler of the mountains, Im Deokseong, the King of the Green Forest. A mere assassin with a bunch of trivial skills was no match for him. The terrifying sword aura emanating from his great sword ensnared Mujueong's body, preventing him from daring to act rashly.

"Hap!"

With a silent shout in his heart, he unleashed a single strike with his immensely powerful great sword.

Mad Wind Demon Wolf Saber Technique (狂風魔狼刀法)

Third Form

One Strike, One Kill (一擊一殺)

Kwakwakwang!

The house split in two, and dust rose. The house shook as if it had experienced an earthquake, and roof tiles rained down.

However, Mujueong stood in place, blankly. He wasn't split in two. Instead, a new masked figure appeared before him and blocked Im Deokseong's strike with his sword held diagonally. Im Deokseong's attack was rendered futile against that defense.

"Who are you? To dare to block my strike!"

He was no ordinary person. Im Deokseong couldn't believe that someone could block his single strike so easily.

"Let's just say I'm a helper!"

The newly appeared masked figure. It was the same person who had appeared before Wi Ji-cheon.

Im Deokseong's fierce strike was rendered futile, but its power was not entirely gone. It had merely been deflected. Therefore, the aftermath was significant.

Few objects within the room remained intact. This was also the case for the bed. The quilt, caught in the gale-like sword wind, was torn to shreds and scattered like flower petals around the room.

'This is not good!'

Even this bold man couldn't help but break into a cold sweat this time. He had hoped his enemy would be a fool, but it seemed that was too much to expect.

"What a fool!"

An involuntary cry of alarm escaped Mujueong's lips. It seemed he wasn't actually mute.

"You've been tricked!"

The sword-wielding helper said.

It was no wonder Mujueong and the helper were surprised. The person lying on the bed, bleeding, was not human but a meticulously crafted doll. Or rather, only the face was meticulously crafted, and the rest seemed to be a crudely made object with straw stuffed inside the clothes. It was truly shameful for such a skilled assassin to fall for such a simple trick.

'Hmph! Too bad! Your plan has failed.'

Im Deokseong, feeling pleased at their surprised expressions, wanted to shout triumphantly, but he still couldn't speak properly due to the poison.

'This was a contingency measure, just in case, I didn't expect them to actually come…'

Mo Gyeong, despite his rough appearance, was clever and resourceful in this regard. He had good subordinates.

'So don't die, Mo Gyeong… It's hard to find someone as capable as you again…'

At that moment, the helper said in a cold voice.

"It doesn't matter. You don't have two bodies. Hey you! He must be somewhere in here. I'll stop that person, so you go and finish him off!"

Mujueong nodded and moved.

'That won't happen!'

Boom!

Im Deokseong swung his saber to check the helper and then rushed without delay towards where An Myeonghu was.

"Tsk, my dignity is at stake…"

Im Deokseong panted heavily and lamented. His body was covered in wounds. Moreover, he was already out of breath.

The place where the real An Myeonghu was lying was a gorgeously decorated lady's room. It was originally intended for the Sword Empress, but An Myeonghu had occupied it for a while. This was also a simple but psychologically effective stratagem to buy time.

'To be this exhausted after running only about ten li…'

Ten li in the mountains was equivalent to fifty li on flat ground. An ordinary person would have been called a monster, but considering his status, it was not an exaggeration. He was the total Chaeju of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Strongholds, the King of the Green Forest. He was the emperor and ruler of the mountains. The mountains were his home and workplace, his front yard. It was no exaggeration to say they were a part of him.

Normally, ten li or a hundred li would be no problem. But the situation was different now. The burden on his back was the issue.

'Who knew protecting someone and fighting would be this difficult.'

He had always been the one to plunder, raid, and attack; he had never been the protector. The protector had always been the one facing him, sword in hand. Now, the roles were reversed, and the fact that he was now in the role of guardian felt like a twist of fate.

He had officially started his business in this industry at the age of twelve. Forty years have passed since then. The current role of bodyguard was not suited to him. The person on his back was irritating and distracting him. Because of this, he almost fell into trouble when he fought recklessly, forgetting about the person on his back.

He wished he could put the person down somewhere and end it quickly, but it was too dangerous in the current uncertain situation. The only solace was that he had managed to injure one of the two pursuers, slowing them down. However, his fighting spirit had not waned at all.

He had always lived with danger, and he was not afraid of blood and wounds. He was more courageous, fierce, and savage than anyone else. His teeth and claws had not dulled at all, even amidst minor(?) injuries. However, perhaps due to bleeding, his body felt increasingly heavy with fatigue. For a moment, he missed his footing. His body lost its balance and staggered. It was a small mistake, but it was a golden opportunity for those chasing him to close the distance instantly, and the pursuer was competent enough not to miss it.

"It's over!"

For a moment, releasing his vital energy, the masked man leaped and shouted, raising his sword.

"Die!"

The masked man was certain that Im Deokseong would not be able to evade this attack. Im Deokseong, with his exceptionally sturdy body, might not die. It was highly possible, as he was a man who had survived ninety-nine stab wounds. However, the person he carried on his back would surely perish in this strike. But just as he was inwardly smiling with satisfaction and bringing down his sword, an uninvited guest suddenly intervened.

Starlight Dawn (星光一始)

The uninvited guest scattered the staff he was holding like stars.

Tang! Tang! Tang!

The masked man quickly switched from offense to defense, blocking the staff that was thrusting towards him. He had to give up on attacking An Myeonghu. In the process, a strike that he couldn't dodge grazed his side.

Im Deokseong, having regained his balance, turned his head to express his gratitude to the benefactor who had saved him from crisis. And the young man who had suddenly intervened also turned his head, intending to at least see the face of the person he had helped.

"Ah, thank…"

"Hey! Are you okay…?"

Gasp!

The moment their eyes met in mid-air, both men were stunned into silence and stared blankly at each other.

"Ah, son!"

"Ah, Father!"

The one who had swung his staff and saved Im Deokseong from crisis was none other than his son, Jin Seonggon Im Seongjin. It was a coincidence that Im Deokseong had fled to the place where the Jungto Pass exam was being held.

Both father and son were speechless at the sudden reunion.

"How, how did you get here…?"

At that moment, his gaze shifted to the person tied up on his father's back. Im Seongjin, his eyes fluttering, alternately looking at his gruff-looking father's face and the unconscious man's face, asked as if accusing him,

"What is that? Have you resorted to human trafficking now?"