Ma Yun wore an odd expression.
When Bu Eunseol, who had been impassive all along, allowed a faint smile to grace his lips, it was as if the dim stone chamber suddenly brightened.
‘His face is completely ordinary, without any distinctive features…’ As Ma Yun stood there, momentarily dazed, Bu Eunseol changed the subject.
“So, the Gapho mission is the most difficult, then?” Though puzzled, Ma Yun answered promptly.
“Indeed. Gapho missions are assigned to the most skilled members of our group, and they come as direct orders, not optional choices.”
“Then, aside from Gapho missions, it doesn’t matter which one I choose, does it?” With that, Bu Eunseol picked up the book.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Didn’t you hear the explanation?” Ma Yun’s eyes flashed sharply. “He’s not someone you can kill with half-baked assassination techniques…”
“I never said I’d kill him with assassination.” Bu Eunseol spoke with confident eyes. “It’s worth trying.”
The manual Wang Geol had given him at Nangyang contained not only information about sects but also evaluations of renowned masters.
To Bu Eunseol, this was a calculated decision, but Ma Yun let out a displeased grunt.
‘No helping it, then.’ The choice of mission was entirely up to the Nine Deaths Squad members.
“Do as you please. Mission selection is the exclusive right of the members.” Gathering his thoughts, Ma Yun began his explanation.
“Seok Jeong is highly antagonistic towards Majeon. As the deputy leader of the Soul-Snatching Hall, he oversees the drugs needed for the Soul-Snatching Technique…” Even as he explained, Ma Yun’s expression remained sour.
Though the Blood Sound Sect wasn’t part of Majeon, it was a significant faction wielding considerable influence around Dongting Lake.
If the mission went awry, the fallout could engulf the entire Yueyang branch of the Nine Deaths Squad.
‘This guy won’t last long.’ The Yueyang branch was notorious for silently claiming seasoned members. No matter how skilled Bu Eunseol might be, the chances of him taking down Seok Jeong, a master renowned for over a decade, were virtually nonexistent.
‘Which sect sent such a greenhorn, I wonder?’ Having finished his explanation, Ma Yun reached under the oil lamp hanging on the wall.
“Clothes and tools needed for the mission are all here.” With a slight twist of his fingers, a click sounded, and one wall with bookshelves flipped, revealing a large hidden space.
Inside were various weapons, night-operation attire, disguises for waiters or merchants, and an assortment of tools and hidden weapons used by assassins.
“But they’re not free. You’ll have to pay for them.”
“Hmm.” Bu Eunseol let out a troubled sound.
Having prepaid a month’s lodging at a nearby inn, he had no money left.
“Came from a poor sect, did you?” Ma Yun said with a mocking smirk, tossing him a set of night-operation clothes, a rusty assassin’s sword, and a belt with broken throwing knives.
“Take them. I’ll let you have them on credit, as a special favor.”
Thud.
Ma Yun threw the items to the floor.
The assassin’s sword was rusted, the tips of the throwing knives were broken, and the night attire was clearly used, stained with blood.
‘Tch.’ Though it was blatant disrespect, Bu Eunseol’s expression didn’t waver.
“I don’t know how to use throwing knives, so I’ll take another sword instead.” He returned the bundle of broken knives to the storage and picked up another rusty assassin’s sword.
Looking at Ma Yun, he said calmly, “I’ll pay you when I return.”
“You’d better.”
Click.
As Bu Eunseol left, Ma Yun sighed and glanced at Shang Liang.
“That guy. I doubt we’ll see him again.”
“What do you mean?”
“He chose a Byeongho mission.”
“A Byeongho mission?”
“The elimination of Black Snake Seok Jeong.”
“What?” Shang Liang’s small, mouse-like eyes widened in shock.
Black Snake Seok Jeong’s martial prowess had long reached the pinnacle, and he always stayed deep within the Blood Sound Sect’s stronghold, making him nearly impossible to approach. Even skilled Nine Deaths Squad members had failed, which was why it was a ninth-attempt mission.
And yet, a rookie fresh to the group had chosen it?
“You just stood there and let him pick it?” Shang Liang demanded.
“Of course, I tried to stop him, but he was adamant.”
“Now that I think about it, it’s strange. Which sect would send such a young man to the Nine Deaths Squad?” Due to confidentiality, each branch didn’t know the origins or names of Nine Deaths Squad members.
“Probably joined for the money. That’s not uncommon among youngsters these days, is it?” Among young masters of the demonic path, there were plenty who joined to make a fortune and retire from the martial world.
Ma Yun seemed to think Bu Eunseol was one of them.
“Even if we’re short on Nine Deaths Squad recruits… shouldn’t the main branch be more selective?” Clicking his tongue, Shang Liang shook his head and turned away.
“The Blood Sound Sect will have another corpse to clean up.”
***
Manhyang Tea House.
Located near Dongting Lake, the establishment was slightly worn but affordable, frequented mostly by down-and-out scholars and merchants.
At a window table on the third floor of Manhyang Tea House, Bu Eunseol’s gaze was fixed outside. Though he appeared to be idly admiring the scenery of Dongting Lake, he was actually closely observing the people passing by on the street.
‘As expected.’ Recalling the manual Master Geol had given him before leaving Nangyang, Bu Eunseol nodded.
Art of Deceptive Enlightenment.
It was a secret technique used by spies to blend naturally into any environment. It was an essential skill for agents who disguised themselves as various professions.
‘Each profession has its own distinct aura and habits.’
Determined to master the Art of Deceptive Enlightenment and the Face and Bone Shifting Art thoroughly, Bu Eunseol resolved to observe a wider variety of people.
A waiter at an inn has a distinctive tone and posture when dealing with customers.
A vendor making dumplings at a stall constantly glances around, wary of thieves.
‘But the most important thing is the eyes.’ Art of Deceptive Enlightenment wasn’t just about mimicking movements—it also involved adopting the unique aura of the observed.
And the key to that was the expression in one’s eyes.
‘If I can master the right look in my eyes, no one will suspect me anywhere.’ For the next few days, while staying at the inn, Bu Eunseol practiced mimicking the gazes of the professions he had observed.
After days of practice, he could produce a convincing look for any profession he chose to impersonate.
‘It’s done.’ A few days later, looking into a mirror in his room, Bu Eunseol nodded.
He was finally ready to infiltrate the Blood Sound Sect.
***
Blood Shadow Island.
This place, controlled by the Blood Sound Sect, was originally one of the small islands in Dongting Lake. But after the sect established its roots here, the island came to be called Blood Shadow Island.
How could the Blood Sound Sect, unaffiliated with Majeon, maintain its power in Hunan Province, where righteous and evil sects clashed fiercely?
First, its insularity. The Blood Sound Sect focused on researching sinister techniques and remained confined to the island, rarely engaging in martial world affairs.
Second, it stemmed from the roots of the Blood Sect, the foremost demonic sect. As long as the Blood Sect held strong influence, no one dared target the Blood Sound Sect, holed up on their island.
“Hurry up!” At the dock of Blood Shadow Island, a merchant ship was moored, and laborers were frantically unloading cargo.
It was a trading vessel that had long supplied food and goods to the Blood Sound Sect.
“Hmm.” A guard from the Blood Sound Sect, closely inspecting the laborers, beckoned one over.
“You, come here.” The laborer he pointed to was a young man who looked barely past his twenties.
“You’re awfully young for a laborer.” As the guard scrutinized the youth, he suddenly drew his sword. “And I’ve never seen your face before.”
The ship’s captain, who was overseeing the laborers, rushed over and bowed deeply.
“Great warrior, this boy is my nephew.”
“Your nephew?” The captain flashed a good-natured smile and patted the shoulder of the stunned young man.
“We’ve been short on hands lately… He just came from my hometown, so I brought him along.”
“Hmm.” The guard sheathed his sword with a grunt.
Just as the captain let out a sigh of relief—
“But I need to check if he’s trained in martial arts!”
Flash!
The guard swiftly drew his sword again, slashing toward the young man’s throat. The youth, standing motionless, could only gape without a sound.
Shlick.
The sharp blade reached the youth’s carotid artery. Though it didn’t pierce through, it tore the skin, and blood gushed out.
“G-Great warrior!”
“Sometimes, fools try to sneak into our sect.” The guard narrowed his eyes, looking down at the trembling captain and youth. “No martial arts training, it seems.”
As if nothing had happened, he turned and walked away from the dock.
“Hyeon! Are you alright?” The captain tore a piece of cloth to wrap the youth’s neck, but the bleeding wouldn’t stop easily.
In a panic, the captain suddenly shouted to the laborers.
“Call the healer we had on board last time!” Though their ship wasn’t a passenger vessel, it had recently carried a young healer for a fee.
“I’m already here.” A man in white robes stepped off the ship.
He lightly pressed a pressure point near the bleeding youth’s neck.
The bleeding stopped instantly, and the man in white took out a needle, stitching the wound with lightning-fast skill. He then pulled out a bandage, applied medicinal salve, and tightly wrapped the youth’s neck.
“Your skill is remarkable,” the captain said, marveling at the man’s smooth expertise.
Having seen countless healers, he had never encountered one so young with such adept healing skills.
“Don’t do any heavy lifting for a while.”
“Thank you.” As the youth bowed, the man in white walked back toward the ship as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you so much!” The captain called out, and the man in white gave a slight nod before entering the ship.
‘I almost drew unwanted attention.’
Letting out a quiet breath, the man in white was none other than Bu Eunseol.
To infiltrate the Blood Sound Sect, he had paid to board a merchant ship heading to Gunsan Island via Blood Shadow Island.
‘It’s easier to fool ordinary civilians than martial masters.’ Having mastered the Face and Bone Shifting Art and the Art of Deceptive Enlightenment, Bu Eunseol slightly altered his appearance and disguised himself as a healer to approach the captain.
Deceiving the captain was far easier than fooling the guard who had been watching the laborers.
‘No sailor would refuse a healer’s company.’ Cargo ships typically didn’t carry passengers.
But healers were different. With the possibility of someone needing medical attention during the voyage, they were always welcomed.
‘The ship stays here for only one day.’ Bu Eunseol planned to infiltrate the Blood Sound Sect and eliminate Black Snake Seok Jeong within that time.
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