The blade could have surely sliced through his neck this time. Yet, Seok Jeong deliberately turned his blade to target Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
-“Assassins like you end their own lives when they’re out of options.”
As Bu Eunseol mulled over Seok Jeong’s words, a glint of realization flashed in his eyes.
He had figured out which technique to use. And, at last, he had found a way to definitively kill Seok Jeong.
‘He’s made two irreversible mistakes.’ Seok Jeong, who had killed countless assassins targeting him, took perverse pleasure in watching them despair and take their own lives when cornered.
His first mistake was giving Bu Eunseol time to gain this insight.
‘The second mistake…’
Seok Jeong had chosen an ordinary blade from the armory instead of his signature weapon, the Black Snake Blade. It was a display of confidence, believing he didn’t need his unique weapon, but for Bu Eunseol, it was a golden opportunity.
Zing!
Pushing his beastly instincts to their limit, Bu Eunseol’s pupils dilated. At the same time, he began to see the trajectory of Seok Jeong’s blade strikes.
‘I need to clash!’
Bu Eunseol infused his sword with Ban-geuk Energy and reached for the second assassin’s sword strapped to his back.
As their blades clashed again—
Clang!
Seok Jeong’s blade and Bu Eunseol’s sword shattered simultaneously like glass. Bu Eunseol had poured Ban-geuk Energy into his sword, using the Heavy Sword technique.
“What?” Seok Jeong froze, stunned. He had never seen a weapon infused with inner energy shatter in his many battles.
Whoosh!
In that moment, Bu Eunseol drew the second assassin’s sword from his back and darted into Seok Jeong’s guard like lightning.
Shlick!
The sharp blade pierced Seok Jeong’s chest dead center.
“You!” Seok Jeong instinctively unleashed a palm strike.
Boom!
A loud explosion sent dust billowing in all directions. Yet Bu Eunseol stood firm, while Seok Jeong, who had delivered the strike, staggered back several steps.
“Your body is this tough?” One of the remarkable abilities of the Ban-geuk Method was its ability to naturally generate a counterforce when external energy struck the body.
Though Seok Jeong was a master of blade techniques who had dominated the martial world for years, his inner energy couldn’t match Bu Eunseol’s.
“You… you…” Seok Jeong finally realized that Bu Eunseol was unlike any assassin he had toyed with before.
Shlick.
Bright red blood poured from the wound where Bu Eunseol’s sword had struck his chest. Seeing the volume of blood, Seok Jeong felt an ominous premonition of death.
‘No choice, then.’ He quickly reached into his robes.
He intended to blow the signal whistle to alert others of the intruder.
But that was his third mistake.
‘Now!’ Sensing a flaw in Seok Jeong’s stance, Bu Eunseol unleashed Swift Beyond Shadow and shot forward.
“You!” Panicked, Seok Jeong swung his broken blade, but it was too late.
Thud!
The broken blade and Bu Eunseol’s assassin’s sword narrowly grazed each other.
Bu Eunseol’s intact sword pierced Seok Jeong’s heart, while Seok Jeong’s broken blade failed to reach him.
“An assassin… a mere nobody like you… to me…” Staring at the sword embedded in his chest, Seok Jeong collapsed.
Thud!
His head hit the stone floor of the chamber.
“Huff, huff.” Sheathing his sword, Bu Eunseol panted heavily.
His first life-and-death battle with a martial master was far more intense and precarious than he had imagined.
“Even a martial world master can’t escape the poison of carelessness.” Seok Jeong was undoubtedly superior in skill.
But his underestimation and overconfidence had led him to cross an irreversible river.
Swish.
Bu Eunseol scanned his surroundings.
Fortunately, having dealt with Seok Jeong before he could blow the whistle, the area remained quiet. After a moment’s thought, he opened the lid of a large jar and placed Seok Jeong’s body inside.
He then tore Seok Jeong’s clothes to wipe away the bloodstains on the floor.
“This should delay discovery for at least a day.” Emerging from the hall, he saw the sky beginning to lighten with dawn.
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol stealthily slipped out of the Blood Sound Sect and returned to the merchant ship moored at the dock.
***
Black Snake Seok Jeong was killed within the Blood Sound Sect!
It wasn’t even an assassination—he was defeated in a direct confrontation!
As these rumors spread around Yueyang Prefecture, martial artists scoffed. “Nonsense. Who could infiltrate the Blood Sound Sect and do such a thing?”
Even setting aside the Blood Sect’s formidable backing, who was Black Snake Seok Jeong? A blade master who had roamed the martial world alone for over a decade.
Though he held the modest title of deputy leader of the Soul-Snatching Hall, that was only because he had recently joined the sect. To think such a master of blade techniques was killed in a direct confrontation within the sect, not by assassination?
“They found a blade broken in half in Seok Jeong’s hand. It was shattered by someone using the Heavy Sword technique.”
When rumors spread that Seok Jeong’s blade was found broken, the martial world fell silent.
Who could have infiltrated the Blood Sound Sect, fought Seok Jeong alone, and killed him?
Shhh. Under a misty sky, a fine drizzle fell.
Haehyeon Old Bookstore.
This place, one of the Nine Deaths Squad’s secret branches, had long masqueraded as a bookstore. Aside from the occasional down-and-out scholar buying or selling books, its primary task was organizing incoming missions.
“Yawn.” Staring at the rain outside, Ma Yun spoke while yawning. “Rain like this calls for a cup of rice wine.”
Having sorted and filed information from above, he was organizing the bookstore’s shelves like an ordinary clerk.
“Almost done.” As Ma Yun stretched after tidying the shelves, the old door creaked open.
Creak.
A figure emerged through the rain-soaked path.
It was Bu Eunseol. The man at the center of the rumors shaking Yueyang Prefecture.
The one who had single-handedly slain the fearsome blade master Seok Jeong had appeared out of nowhere, causing Ma Yun to stammer unwittingly.
“W-Welcome!” Putting on a friendly expression, he rubbed his hands together. “You’ve returned to our humble shop.”
“I’m fond of books…” Muttering softly, Bu Eunseol pointed to the inner chamber where Ma Yun stood. “There were some interesting books in there last time. May I take a look?”
“Already looking for another book?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, it’s not that it’s a problem…” As Ma Yun fumbled with a troubled expression, Shang Liang rushed out from the back and spoke.
“Young master, why don’t we talk inside?”
“Fine.” Leading Bu Eunseol into the secret chamber, Shang Liang signaled to Ma Yun, who followed.
Gugung.
As the chamber door closed, Shang Liang cleared his throat and said, “Did you really take down Seok Jeong?”
“Yes.”
“How? By what means?” At Shang Liang’s urging, Bu Eunseol frowned.
“Do I have to tell you?”
“Huh?”
“I heard the branch only provides support for missions and doesn’t meddle in how they’re carried out.”
“Well, that’s true, but…” At a loss for words, Shang Liang tried again. “So, you want another mission right away?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not possible.” Shang Liang said with a serious expression.
“The deputy leader of the Soul-Snatching Hall was killed within the Blood Sound Sect. They’re scouring the Dongting Lake area with blood in their eyes.”
“I don’t care.”
“Orders came from above to lie low.”
“Above? Where’s that?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Then I don’t need to follow their orders.” Frustrated by the impasse, Shang Liang adopted a persuasive tone.
“By rule—or rather, an unwritten law—all Nine Deaths Squad members rest for at least four days after completing a mission.”
“Why?” Shang Liang wiped his sweat and answered Bu Eunseol’s persistent question.
“Taking missions consecutively leads to fatigue or loss of focus, increasing the chance of failure. That’s why it’s customary to rest quietly for four days after a mission.”
“I see.” Finally seeming convinced, Bu Eunseol smacked his lips.
Then, he calmly extended his hand.
“What?”
“Three thousand taels.”
“Oh, wait a moment.” Snapping to attention, Shang Liang stepped out and returned with a stack of notes.
“What are these?”
“Thirty notes, each worth a hundred taels. Issued by the Shanxi Silver Exchange, so they’re trustworthy.”
“Hmm.” Taking the notes, Bu Eunseol stared at Ma Yun.
“Got something to say?” Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol flicked one of the hundred-tael notes.
“Whoa!” As the white note flew, Ma Yun instinctively scrambled to catch it.
“What’s this?”
“Payment for the two assassin’s swords and the night attire.” Ma Yun stared at the note. The rusty swords and used night attire weren’t worth even ten taels combined.
“No need for change.” Looking down at Ma Yun, Bu Eunseol said calmly, “Go have a cup of rice wine.”
With that, he turned and strode out of the chamber.
“That insolent brat!” Though Ma Yun was a master of Majeon, his eyes blazed at being disrespected by a rookie from who-knows-where.
“You think I’m just a clerk because I’m disguised as one?”
Rolling up his sleeves, Ma Yun was about to chase after him when—
“Hahaha!” Shang Liang, watching Bu Eunseol’s departing figure, burst into hearty laughter.
“He’s no ordinary guy. Which sect sent someone like him?”
“Brother.”
“Any guesses on his sect? I’m stumped.”
“Brother, is that what matters? That guy just disrespected me!”
Surprisingly, Ma Yun, who usually called Shang Liang “master,” addressed him as “brother” when alone.
“Don’t get worked up. Keep an eye on him. We’re used to seeing newbies die, but this one might actually be useful.” Most new Nine Deaths Squad members in the Yueyang branch didn’t last a year.
With the region being a battleground for righteous and evil sects, the missions were extraordinarily dangerous, causing even seasoned members to avoid Yueyang assignments.
“But that guy…”
“Would you rather go out on field missions?”
“Ugh.” Ma Yun smacked his lips, conceding.
Though disguised as a clerk, it wasn’t due to low status—his position was far from menial.
“If he performs well, we might finally get out of this place.” A skilled member who completed missions successfully could lead to promotions.
“Handle Number Eighteen well and assign him missions above the fifth attempt. If we make the Yueyang branch’s name known to the higher-ups…”
Shang Liang’s eyes curved into crescents as he chuckled softly.
“We brothers might finally leave this wretched place.”
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