Chapter 9. Leave the Travel Money Behind
The assassins sent by the Hall Master of the Gold Treasury were warriors raised in the Secret Pavilion.
"Is it really necessary to send so many?"
"The order is to ensure the job is done. Do you have a complaint?"
"This subordinate spoke out of turn."
Yet, being human, they could not help but think that sending four assassins to deal with someone like Mok Ju-gyeol was excessive.
'A single one would be more than enough to crush that brat.'
One thing was certain. Since they had brought four butcher’s knives to slaughter a single chicken, Mok Ju-gyeol’s fate was as good as sealed. Who were they, after all? They were a secret organization that handled all the dirty work of the Alliance, essentially hitmen raised directly by the Ten Thousand Evil Alliance.
'Subdue his limbs. I will destroy his Dantian.'
Their work was always the same: assassination, poisoning, intimidation, and extracting cooperation through violence.
'Understood.'
With their team leader watching, the three men in black exchanged hand signals and approached the campfire. It was at that very moment.
*Whoosh!*
A sharp sound of air being pierced erupted from behind them.
'What!?'
As they jerked their heads back to dodge, a stone struck a tree, startling the sleeping mountain creatures.
*Rustle—*
The sound of falling leaves was like a musical instrument. That melody made the assassins’ hair stand on end.
"If you wanted to borrow the fire, you should have just asked. Why sneak up on me like that?"
"...!"
It was the voice of Mok Ju-gyeol, who had somehow positioned himself behind the assassins.
"You weren't asleep?"
"My neck has been itching since a while ago."
As Mok Ju-gyeol took a step forward, the moonlight illuminated his form.
"Not bad."
"It seems we underestimated you."
"You would have been better off staying asleep."
The three men spoke in turn.
"I suppose you’ve come to collect the price of the blade."
"If you already guessed, then this will be quick."
The man standing in the center spoke as their representative.
"Since you dared to tarnish the First Young Master’s reputation, I trust you are prepared for the consequences."
"We won't kill you."
"Instead, we will shatter your Dantian and sever your meridians. You will crawl back to the Alliance and bow your head before the First Young Master."
"Ah, so that is the First Young Master’s decree."
Mok Ju-gyeol looked at the assassins with a smile.
—They aren't just some amateur swordsmen.
Myoseonja, who had been hanging from the luggage pretending to be a doll, offered advice.
'I would expect nothing less. The Ten Thousand Evil Alliance isn't some neighborhood gang.'
Every sect or pavilion that maintains hitmen raises them from childhood with brutal training. Their position and missions are bound to be different from the general members recruited from the outside.
'Which naturally means their martial prowess is in a different league.'
A murderous intent, refined to a degree incomparable to Dam Yun-sang’s, brushed against Mok Ju-gyeol’s skin. His body, unable to keep up with the caliber of his spirit, broke into a cold sweat on its own.
—You managed to guess this would happen.
'Half-expected it. That man’s way of handling things is always like this.'
Violence, brutal; justification, cunning. That was the method of Jong Wi-cheon that Mok Ju-gyeol remembered.
—It’s hard to even get to Yeongneung.
'Guan Yu also had to cross five passes and slay six generals to leave Cao Cao’s side.'
—You’re obsessed with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Mok Ju-gyeol drew the longsword provided to members of the Ten Thousand Evil Alliance.
—You don't intend to fight three-on-one, do you?
'Do they look like the type who would agree if I asked for a one-on-one?'
Mok Ju-gyeol smiled faintly.
'If I die even with the experience of my past life, the internal energy of the Primordial Heaven-Shaking Pill, and the ability to slow down time, then that simply means I’ve reached my limit.'
If that were the case, he told himself coldly, then conquering Yeongneung would be nothing more than a midsummer night’s dream.
'My current level, even being generous, is still late-stage Second-Rate.'
Normally, he wouldn't be able to handle even one of them. But victory and defeat are never decided solely by the level of one's martial arts.
"I trust you will yield the first strike."
Mok Ju-gyeol’s form vanished into the darkness.
***
The first thing I did was kick the campfire to scatter it.
*Crackle!*
As the sparks cut through the darkness and died out, the men in black, having realized my intent, lunged from three directions.
"Tricks!"
I retreated, hiding my body in the darkness. As if to say such things were useless, relentless killing blows aimed at my vital points flew toward me, but—
'They're rushing.'
The anxiety of being in an unexpected situation was exactly what I had intended. The thrill of my plan working perfectly crawled up my spine.
'Then pay the price for your poor choices.'
Simply retreating quickly was enough to easily resolve the first exchange.
"...!"
Normally, this wouldn't be an attack so easily dodged.
'Even with the ability to slow down time, it is extremely difficult to parry three blades with one.'
That was why I combined a bit of psychological warfare to start the battle in my favor. But to them, it must have looked like I was using some mysterious footwork.
'Night is the time for illusions and misperceptions.'
"Foolish!"
"You think you can fight us in the dark?"
Of course, it was also the time for hitmen. Their vision, which could pierce the night, was likely superior to mine. However, the internal energy of the Primordial Heaven-Shaking Art had already raised my internal strength to rival that of a First-Rate expert. Even if I couldn't properly draw out even half of it yet.
'The insights of a Peak expert, the internal energy of a First-Rate warrior, the body of a Second-Rate martial artist.'
Do I have a way to defeat three skilled assassins with this? I must. If I go with a straightforward approach, I’m the one who will be defeated.
*Whoosh!*
A finger, hardened by the Stone-Shattering Fist, aimed for my collarbone. It was a claw technique as hard and fast as a hawk’s talons.
'A feint.'
The real attack was the dagger aiming for my lower body. To my eyes, which had improved and taught every martial art existing in the Alliance, it was as clear as day.
*Whoosh!*
As I stepped back, extending my leg, a dark-colored dagger sliced through the space where my thigh had been. If I had tried to block the claw technique with a simple reaction, my thigh would have been gushing blood like a waterfall the next moment. It was a very effective technique.
'...And there’s a trap waiting where I retreated.'
A dagger stabbing at my neck from behind, movement blocking my escape route. It was a perfect checkmate.
"What!?"
I unhesitatingly unleashed the "Descending Dragon Tread" and passed between them. This was the only path to survival.
"The Descending Dragon Tread!"
"Struggling so pathetically."
It was a taunt that didn't even register. Isn't using every possible method to survive the very foundation of the Evil Path? If anything, I was prepared to act even more pathetically.
*Rip!*
While performing the Descending Dragon Tread, I grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it forward.
"Ugh!"
The two assassins, thinking it was poison, retreated and muttered.
"Dirt?"
The feint worked once more. I seized the opening and attacked the man in black who had been blocking my retreat.
*Splat!*
Blood gushed from the shoulder I had slashed. I struck the wounded area of the retreating assassin with a claw technique and twisted it.
"Aaaargh!"
Despite losing all their companions in an instant, the assassins’ momentum did not wane. If anything, the harmony of their daggers, palm techniques, and fist techniques was fierce.
'Damn it.'
Every time I neutralized an attack with my right sword and left palm, my bones rattled and it felt like my internal organs were being shaken. The ability that seemed to drag out time was magnificent, but—the vision that used to pierce through the opponent’s gaze, shoulder movements, and subtle shifts in power had vanished as if washed away. How could I not lament its absence?
'The harmony of hands, feet, and sword, which used to become martial arts the moment I willed it, is so chaotic now.'
Following the meridians refined by the Ten Thousand Calamities Ghost-Extinguishing Art, the internal energy of the Primordial Heaven-Shaking Art surged. The recoil that had been stinging my wrists subsided in an instant.
'I can produce several times the efficiency with the same amount of power.'
—That is the difference between a divine art and third-rate martial arts.
That wasn't all. I could tell that my body, which had been insufficient to contain the energy of the Primordial Heaven-Shaking Art, had expanded its vessel significantly compared to earlier.
'Now, you are no longer my match.'
After a few more exchanges, no one remained to block my path.
"Ugh!"
"Damn it."
"You were hiding your strength."
The assassins, with broken wrists, slashed ankles, and deep wounds on their shoulders, looked up at me.
'...These guys are lucky today.'
If an assassin fails their mission and still keeps their life, it’s no different from having encountered a fortuitous event.
—You’re letting them live? Why?
'If I use a killing blow here, Jong Wi-cheon will come back with an even stronger retaliation. But if I, the one who was ambushed, show mercy instead, it becomes awkward for them to make another move.'
Jong Wi-cheon has many rivals. It isn't easy to make a spectacle of himself twice.
'Because it becomes a weakness.'
If they had succeeded cleanly, it would be one thing, but to fail an assassination after even giving out a Branch Master title as a joke—he should have no excuse if he faces a counterattack from his rivals.
—We’re already in a hostile relationship, is there a need to hold back a move?
'Crossing the river of no return this early is not a good choice.'
Even in a hostile relationship, whether to wage war or maintain conflict through localized skirmishes depends on how one manages it.
"Three seniors, I will not ask which faction you belong to. But keep in mind that there will not be a second mercy."
"...!"
They seemed unable to comprehend how they had been crushed by someone who was, externally and in terms of the aura they perceived, a mere novice. They also didn't understand why I was showing mercy.
—Mok Ju-gyeol, you know, don't you? There is one more hiding.
'Of course.'
I looked into the darkness and said.
"Do you have any objections?"
"...!"
The darkness flickered slightly.
"Speak up. Or do you intend to see this through to the end?"
Silence.
He was likely flustered by the fact that I had noticed his presence. But I was the one in control of this situation. If no answer returned to my question, it was only right that someone pay the price.
*Smack!*
I struck the cheek of the black-clad man nearby with all my might. It was a blow strong enough to shatter his teeth.
"I don't hear an answer. Who exactly am I speaking to right now?"
"Mok Ju-gyeol, stop."
I performed a cupped fist salute toward the other black-clad figure who had reluctantly revealed himself.
"Senior, what should I call you?"
He replied without removing his mask.
"It would be better if you had no reason to call me at all."
"Then how about we call it a day and withdraw?"
"……."
He did not seem to have any intention of facing me.
"My condition is simple. Report what happened today to the higher-ups exactly as it occurred."
"And what if I know who sent us?"
"The moment you voice that suspicion, there will be no turning back."
"……!"
I took in the four assassins, who had lost all their fighting spirit, one by one.
"If there is even the slightest distortion, I will come to set it straight. I sincerely hope that will not be necessary."
"……."
The black-clad man nodded.
"I will do as you say."
Who would know that this was my mercy?
'You are all blades too valuable to be wasted like this.'
After all, we were members of the same alliance, serving the same leader.
"Ah, before you go, leave some travel money behind."
"……!"
I had to collect the price for my life, after all. I had nearly died, too.
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