From Majeon, Bu Eunseol and Yu Baek headed toward Akyang.
The purpose was to visit the Akyang branch of the old Nine Deaths Squad—where Bu Eunseol himself had once belonged—and impart overall knowledge about operating an information organization.
“My Lord.”
Because a message had been sent ahead from the Death Spirit Corps, the Akyang branch leader was already waiting at the entrance when Bu Eunseol arrived.
‘So the branch has changed.’
In the past, the Nine Deaths Squad’s Akyang branch had used an old bookstore as its base. But after the Gong Twin Demons who ran the bookstore were killed by Bu Eunseol, the place was shut down.
Now the branch had been relocated to Anhyang Inn—a somewhat out-of-the-way but quite large establishment.
Yu Baek kept looking around endlessly.
He appeared exactly like someone visiting an inn for the very first time.
‘So he really spent his life locked in a cave doing nothing but assassination training?’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed as he observed Yu Baek’s reactions.
The boy’s behavior was strikingly similar to how Bu Eunseol himself had acted when he first visited an inn with his grandfather.
“Briefly explain how the Nine Deaths Squad Akyang branch operates and what missions it has handled recently.”
At Bu Eunseol’s command, the branch leader respectfully demonstrated to Yu Baek how the Nine Deaths Squad was run and detailed the methods used to gather information.
Although Yu Baek’s vocal cords were damaged and he could not speak, he possessed excellent memory and a sharp mind. Moreover, since he was using the hand signals employed by assassins, he freely asked the branch leader about anything he didn’t understand.
“Now I will teach you how to acquire information in the martial world.”
After leaving Anhyang Inn, the two walked toward the marketplace.
The sky was clear and a pleasant breeze was blowing.
The bustling marketplace, bathed in perfect spring weather, overflowed with vitality; tourists and merchants mingled noisily.
Life sparkled in Yu Baek’s eyes as he gazed at the street scene.
To him, probably everything from one to ten was new and unfamiliar.
Until coming to Majeon, he had truly done nothing but repeated assassinations. Walking openly through a marketplace in broad daylight was something he had never even dreamed of.
“Simply going to crowded places does not guarantee you will obtain information.” Bu Eunseol calmly explained the methods of gathering intelligence. “Ordinary commoners, in particular, have no interest whatsoever in martial world affairs and attach no importance to them. If you try to gather information without any knowledge or foundation, it is far better to seek out an informant.”
Yu Baek’s eyes shone brightly as he listened.
His expression was one of pure fascination, as though he were hearing an entertaining old tale.
—How do you find informants?
When Yu Baek asked using the hand signals employed by information organization members, Bu Eunseol answered immediately.
“The fastest place to find informants is the mercenary market. If there is no mercenary market nearby, informants are usually present in brothels, pleasure quarters, gambling dens, and similar locations.”
He added, “However, special information organizations or informants who possess truly valuable intelligence do not accept unknown customers. Therefore, to find an outstanding informant, you must either locate someone already connected to them or build a connection yourself.”
—What if finding an informant proves difficult?
When Yu Baek asked again in hand signals, Bu Eunseol replied, “If finding an informant is not feasible, it is best to visit inns frequented by martial artists during their busiest hours. In noisy places, people often speak important matters freely without worry.”
Afterward, Bu Eunseol continued explaining: how to distinguish inns popular among martial artists, what the peak busy times were, and which locations were best for obtaining high-quality information.
“Did you understand everything?”
Yu Baek nodded vigorously, eyes full of interest.
‘So it wasn’t an act.’
There had been a sliver of doubt.
No matter how old-fashioned and ruthless the Heartless Blood was in raising assassins, would they truly confine such talents to dark caves doing nothing but killing?
Yet Yu Baek’s reactions and gaze were exactly those of a child who knew nothing of the world.
‘Why on earth did Heartless Blood deliberately raise outstanding talents into assassins ignorant of the world?’
Banning outside contact and training only in killing was an extremely archaic method of operation.
Moreover, assassins raised that way lacked worldly knowledge and were specialized solely in infiltration and assassination arts, thus inevitably limited to very narrow techniques. Most assassin sects therefore tried to give their killers as much varied experience as possible and let them see different aspects of the world…
So why had they chosen this approach?
“Why does Heartless Blood raise assassins in such a closed-off manner?”
Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Bu Eunseol asked.
Yu Baek then earnestly explained in great detail using hand signals.
‘I see.’
After hearing the explanation, Bu Eunseol let out a sigh.
It turned out that the main targets Heartless Blood assassinated were not ordinary martial artists, but powerful figures who held immense authority.
Because such powerful people were always surrounded by tight security, assassinating them was exceedingly difficult. Therefore, Heartless Blood assassins did not learn ordinary assassination techniques. Instead, they were taught only flawless infiltration skills that worked anywhere and certain-kill hidden weapons guaranteed to fell the enemy.
After all, they were expendables.
To keep secrets and cleanly handle aftermath, the sect repeatedly used assassins for a single mission and then had them commit suicide without leaving any trace.
“Crazy bastards.”
—I was lucky.
When Yu Baek once again mixed gestures and lip movements to sign, Bu Eunseol pondered for a moment before speaking.
“With your level of internal energy, it seems you could use mind-to-mind transmission techniques such as Brilliant Light Mind Transmission.”
Sound transmission required twisting the voice thinly and sending it to the ear, so the vocal cords had to be intact in some way.
But techniques like Brilliant Light Mind Transmission—which conveyed pure intent directly from the mind—were possible even without vocal cords.
However, imitating Brilliant Light Mind required at least three hundred years of profound internal energy, so few young martial artists could use such arts.
“As the prospective Lord of this hall, that much should be within your ability.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Yu Baek nodded and began employing the mind-to-mind transmission art.
[Of course.]
When he truly transmitted the meaning from his mind, Bu Eunseol asked in mild surprise, “They performed the Heavenly Aperture Opening Great Method on a mere assassin? On someone from Heartless Blood, who treats assassins like expendables?”
To gain three hundred years or more of profound energy at such a young age, one had to receive the Heavenly Aperture Opening Great Method and Marrow Cleansing Bone Forging before the age of ten.
Although Bu Eunseol himself had reached a terrifying depth of internal energy thanks to his innate martial talent and effort, it was also because his grandfather Bu Zhanyang had secretly performed the Heavenly Aperture Opening Great Method and Marrow Cleansing Bone Forging on him—along with mysterious demonic arts such as Bloodline Spirit Binding and Soul Protection Great Method.
[Unlike the other children who only did assassinations, there was someone who gave me special education.]
“What do you mean?”
Yu Baek calmly explained.
Unlike the other assassins who were raised like beasts, there had been someone who provided him with various forms of education and consideration.
[He said he only found out late that I was in Heartless Blood. He tormented himself for failing to rescue me before my vocal cords were cut.]
[Who was it?]
[I don’t know. According to the chief instructor, it was a very high-ranking figure from Majeon.]
Yu Baek continued, [Thanks to that person, I received special treatment and was not discarded like a consumable—I was able to continue carrying out missions.]
Yu Baek’s eyes softened with gratitude toward that figure from Majeon.
But Bu Eunseol, on the contrary, felt pity for Yu Baek.
‘He was properly used.’
When viewed coldly, Yu Baek had merely proven his outstanding ability through assassinations, and in return received various educations.
If someone truly cared about Yu Baek, they would not have left him in a place like Heartless Blood—they would have at least taken him out.
‘In the end, he was clearly a disposable piece.’
The Demon Emperor was no fool.
He would never appoint someone from Heartless Blood—an assassin who could not speak, carrying a fatal flaw for the position of information organization head—as the Blood Secret Command Lord.
‘An assassin, huh…’
Bu Eunseol’s gaze toward Yu Baek darkened.
Whether it was his true appearance or not, Yu Baek seemed pure and had told everything without hiding anything. Thanks to that, Bu Eunseol could now clearly understand what the Demon Emperor was thinking.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
Bu Eunseol took Yu Baek not to Anhyang Inn, but to the most splendid and largest inn in the vicinity, where they ate lunch.
At first Yu Baek was extremely awkward.
Having lived as an assassin in a dark cave since childhood, he had never eaten a meal in a bright, open place.
But he soon adapted.
While looking at the scenery outside the window and feeling the lively atmosphere inside the inn, he genuinely seemed to enjoy himself.
When night fell, Bu Eunseol rented out an entire detached building of the most luxurious inn nearby.
Exhausted, he finished circulating his energy and fell into a deep sleep.
No matter how high one’s martial arts, a person cannot live without sleep entirely.
Especially recently, between Yu Baek’s situation and various other matters, his mental energy had been heavily drained, making it impossible to endure without sinking into profound slumber.
Fortunately, even though no guards had been specifically requested, a protection unit dispatched from Majeon had surrounded the inn with watertight, ironclad security to safeguard Yu Baek, the potential future Blood Secret Command Lord.
Bzz bzz.
The sound of crickets outside the window sounded distant, like a lullaby.
Just as the moonlight, unable to overcome the tranquil atmosphere of the night, hid behind clouds—
Srrrk.
The door to the sleeping chamber where Bu Eunseol lay slightly opened, and a small tube was carefully inserted.
Saaa.
White smoke spread from the tube and, suddenly moving like a living creature, was drawn straight into the nostrils of the sleeping Bu Eunseol.
Shhhk.
As Bu Eunseol deeply inhaled the smoke, a faint shadow slipped inside.
It was a masked figure in pitch-black night clothes, perfectly blended with the darkness.
Srrrk.
The masked person moved with flowing, water-like grace—so silently that even Bu Eunseol’s keen super-senses failed to detect him—and approached the bed.
Shhhk.
The black shadow raised a whip-soft hand; a razor-sharp silhouette formed that seemed to absorb even light.
It was an extremely keen dagger capable of piercing metal and stone in a single strike.
Shhhk.
Just as the dagger slid toward Bu Eunseol’s throat like a viper’s tongue—
Chuk.
It suddenly froze in midair.
Bu Eunseol had opened his eyes and, in one swift motion, seized the masked man’s wrist.
“A rather classic method—old enough to make me sneeze.”
Shhhk!
With his right arm caught, the masked figure bent his left hand like a snake seizing prey and unleashed a secretive yet lightning-fast move aimed at gouging Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
It was a flawless hand technique that could exploit even the tiniest opening in hair; almost no sound of air being cut could be heard.
The Majeon protection unit stationed outside detected nothing of the situation inside.
‘It resembles the Severed Echo Silent Sound of the Extreme Killing Secret Sect.’
Among the grand schools of assassin secret arts, the Extreme Killing Secret Sect possessed an ultimate technique called Severed Echo Silent Sound, which completely enclosed a certain space with firm energy, blocking all internal sound.
When activated, no sound or vibration could escape the area, creating perfect silence.
It seemed that very technique had been deployed in Bu Eunseol’s current quarters—preventing any noise from leaking outside.
Hooong!
In response to the masked figure’s hand technique, Bu Eunseol unfolded the Soul Training Twenty-Eight Hands—the capturing art of Nangyang Pavilion.
Papapak!
Terrific bursts of air exploded, yet thanks to the Severed Echo Silent Sound, only the faint rustle of clothing echoed dimly inside the room.
Pak, papapak.
For a while the chamber was filled with faint sounds and the hair-raising exchange between Bu Eunseol and the masked figure.
Hwiririk!
Unable to overcome Bu Eunseol’s capturing art, the masked figure suddenly changed tactics.
The new hand technique was extremely similar to Bu Eunseol’s Soul Training Twenty-Eight Hands yet sharper.
‘The mystery of Two Zhang Step Breaking?’
The masked figure was using the very same profound principle of Two Zhang Step Breaking that the great master Seong Ryun had once specialized in. He instantly mimicked Bu Eunseol’s capturing technique and simultaneously improved upon it.
‘How nostalgic.’
Watching the masked figure execute Two Zhang Step Breaking, Bu Eunseol recalled the days of the Ten Demon Warrior Trials when he had risked his life in endless duels.
Back then every day had been lived with life hanging by a thread and thus he had never once expected an easy victory.
“Let’s see who does it better.”
Muttering briefly, Bu Eunseol, who was now excited, unfolded the Soul Training Twenty-Eight Hands even faster.
Hooong! Pakpakpak!
Although the masked figure was copying and simultaneously evolving Bu Eunseol’s martial art, before long Bu Eunseol had already re-created and refined the Soul Training Twenty-Eight Hands, elevating both its power and subtlety.
Pakpak!
In the end, after being struck in the collarbone and shoulder acupoints, the masked figure staggered.
Seizing the opening, Bu Eunseol instantly ripped off the mask.
“Hm.”
Once the mask was removed, a peerlessly beautiful face was revealed—snow-white skin, thick dark eyebrows, and huge, limpid eyes.
It was Yu Baek.
“You were too hasty.”
Bu Eunseol was not particularly surprised.
He had already known that Yu Baek was always prepared to strike him down at any moment.
But to launch an assassination attempt on the very first day out in the martial world…
“……”
Yu Baek merely stared at Bu Eunseol without a word.
“I don’t know what calculations led you to attack me, but…”
Bu Eunseol fell silent mid-sentence.
Only then did he realize that black mist was rising from Yu Baek’s entire body.
‘The Wishful True Binding?’
Not only could it materialize energy into tangible form but it could also unleash it like infinite hidden weapons or spread it like mist.
This was the exclusive secret art of the Demon Emperor: the Wishful True Binding.
Saaaak!
As Yu Baek’s Wishful True Binding coiled around Bu Eunseol’s body,
Chwaak!
Bu Eunseol likewise deployed his own Wishful True Binding to block the attack.
However, when it came to the Wishful True Binding, Yu Baek’s version—having fully entered the state of Impermanence Demonic Path through the Emotion-Severing Secret—was deeper.
In the end, Bu Eunseol’s body was completely bound, and the two stood face-to-face, noses almost touching.
Tup.
At that instant Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Yu Baek’s lips had covered his own.
‘This is…’
Bu Eunseol felt a strange fragrance from Yu Baek’s lips and he recalled the name of the world’s most vicious aphrodisiac.
‘Joy of Heaven and Earth.’
Some poisons are completely harmless to humans when separate but when two ingredients combine, they become deadly venom.
Joy of Heaven and Earth was likewise born by chance when the mild Joy of Heaven combined with the poisonous herb Joy Ground—creating the most unique and sinister love drug in the world.
When a man and woman inhale it simultaneously, it becomes a monstrous aphrodisiac so powerful that even if struck by a sword they cannot stop making love. The smoke sprayed through the tube earlier was Joy of Heaven; the sweet powder coating the lips was Joy Ground.
‘Why use an aphrodisiac?’
Bu Eunseol could not hide his bewilderment.
Assassins used aphrodisiacs only as a last resort—when they turned their own body into a weapon.
Because most aphrodisiacs, even if not neutralized, only induced lust; they did not kill.
—Hyeok Ryeon-eung… I know that man is a tearless, cold-blooded person. But still, why would he push such an outstanding martial genius into a place like Heartless Blood?
Suddenly recalling Wi Cheongyeong’s murmur, Bu Eunseol finally understood.
‘A woman.’
Demonic practitioners valued strength above all and placed extreme importance on continuing their lineage and passing down their arts.
Especially, all of Hyeok Ryeon-eung’s martial arts belonged to the pure yang category—impossible for a woman to cultivate.
Even if she somehow learned them, reaching great completion would be nothing but a dream.
Therefore, without hesitation, he had discarded his own bloodline and thrust her into the incomparably cruel assassin organization called Heartless Blood.
Shuuu.
The Wishful True Binding enveloping Bu Eunseol’s body scattered like mist in an instant.
Poisoned by Joy of Heaven and Earth, his energy dispersed in a flash.
“Haa.”
After the kiss ended, Yu Baek pulled her lips away with a regretful expression.
Bu Eunseol on the other hand, was still trapped in the fragrance.
Chik.
At that moment, Yu Baek extended a fingernail and began slicing her assassin garb in half down the middle.
Revealed beneath were tightly bound white bandages.
Sarak.
After spinning her body once, Yu Baek now wore only a sheer inner garment that fully displayed her figure.
Srr.
When she loosened her tied-up hair, Bu Eunseol felt as though his breath had stopped.
Her eyes, sparkling in the darkness, were like shattered jewels and beneath her straight nose, pale-pink lips glistened.
Contrary to her innocent, pure face, her body lines were overwhelmingly sensual.
Until now she had concealed her figure with bandages, drawn thick masculine eyebrows, and imitated the look of an androgynous beautiful youth.
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