Chapter 81
On top of the cliff, shrouded in thick smoke, three black shadows vanished like the wind.
Shuak! Shuak! Shuak!
Those were the shadows of Jaseong, Lee Rin, and Gu Janghu, who had shaken off Namgung Ak's pursuit with the quick movements of the Shadowless Body Technique.
Only when they reached the forest, quite a distance away from the battlefield, did they finally catch their breath.
"Hoo...."
Jaseong sat down with his back against the base of a tree and let out a long sigh.
Although their clash with Namgung Ak had been brief, the overwhelming might of the man had torn the skin on Jaseong's palm.
"Are you all right, great hero?"
Lee Rin asked, looking worriedly at Jaseong's scraped palm.
"I'm fine. This is nothing. More importantly, what about the North Sea's guardians?"
"The guardians slipped away as soon as we escaped. We're supposed to meet them at home, so don't worry."
"That's a relief."
Catching his breath for a moment, Jaseong activated the Samadhi Eyes, scanning the surrounding energy.
Saaaa—
In the slowed sense of time, he could see the energy radiating from all kinds of creatures in the forest.
Luckily, none belonged to martial artists. However, he could not let his guard down.
Countless intentions still surged near the distant cliffs, proof that the bloody battle among the warriors continued.
"Leader, let's hurry back home. This is the middle of chaos, so who knows what other experts could show up."
Gu Janghu said, watching the surroundings carefully. At those words, however, Jaseong shook his head.
"There's one thing I have to confirm before we go."
"Something to confirm?"
"I need to find out where the Murong Clan are retreating to."
"......!"
Lee Rin and Gu Janghu's eyes widened.
"The Murong Clan... those are the ones who killed your family, right? They're here too?"
"Yes. Not just the Murong, but Zhongnan is here as well."
"......!"
After learning Jaseong's story in the past, Lee Rin and Gu Janghu had both vowed to aid in his revenge, and now, at his words, determination filled their eyes.
Looking at the two, Jaseong calmly laid out his plan.
"First, I'll strike the Murong Clan. After wiping them out, I'll put on their martial robes and attack Zhongnan."
"Put on the Murong Clan's martial robes?"
"If we disguise ourselves as the Murong, whoever sees us will say, 'The Murong Clan killed Zhongnan to take the Seven-Star Cloud Blade.'"
"......!"
"That way, a fight will naturally break out between the two factions."
It was truly an ingenious plan. Gu Janghu silently nodded.
"Ambush is my specialty."
Resolve flashed in Gu Janghu's eyes. He was determined to prove his worth as Jaseong's most secretive sword in this mission.
Lee Rin also clenched her fists and spoke.
"I'll go with you too. You're the North Sea Ice Palace's Heavenly Ice Guest after all."
* * *
Afterwards, Jaseong's group hid their presence and took cover in the bushes.
Then, returning to the cliff where the battle still raged, they used Seeking Light in the Darkness to track the Murong Clan's sword-bearers.
'They're still here, thankfully.'
Having disappeared with the Seven-Star Cloud Blade, Jaseong noticed the battle beneath the cliff was nearly over.
Hiding in the underbrush, they observed Murong Hwang, the young lord of the Murong Clan, and his escorts.
Confirming that the Murong Clan had retreated from the battlefield and were now holed up in a cave near the cliff, Jaseong's group returned home.
"You're here, leader."
"Anything happen?"
"No, everything was fine."
"Good. Keep up the good work."
"Understood."
After receiving the reports from his informants, Jaseong went into his room.
He sat cross-legged and began to recover his depleted inner force.
Saaaa—
Circulating his power with the Heaven Evading Soul Transformation Formula, the wounds on his split palms quickly began to heal.
'I thought it was only good for expelling poison or demonic energy... but it accelerates wound healing too.'
Yet fatigue still lingered in his body.
He had carried a fake Seven-Star Cloud Blade, eluded over a hundred martial artists, and even clashed swords with Namgung Ak, the top force of the orthodox faction. Naturally, he was exhausted.
"You should rest, leader."
At Gu Janghu's suggestion, Jaseong silently nodded and lay down.
Though his mind was still filled with the "Cause a Rift in the Martial World" plan, his physical exhaustion was unmistakable.
But as Jaseong drifted into a deep sleep, he had an old dream—something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
'Where is this...?'
In the dream, he was twelve years old. He sat on a wooden chair in a shabby tavern on the outskirts of Ansun.
Beside him, his eldest brother and sister-in-law sat together. It had been months since their last meal out, so everyone was in high spirits.
But that night, his sister-in-law ordered a dish a little fancier than usual—grilled bullfrog, something young Jaseong had never tasted before.
Then she shared good news.
"Young master, today is a special day."
"A special day?"
"Thanks to all your and your brother's hard work, we've saved up quite a bit."
"... How much?"
"Mm. If we save for just one more year, we could even own a small shop."
"Really?!"
"Of course. With even a little cloth shop, we'd never have to live under someone else's watchful eyes again."
That day, for the first time, his sister-in-law drank in front of Jaseong.
She watched fondly as he devoured grilled bullfrog—barely eating herself.
His elder brother looked at Jaseong with a big, silly grin.
"How is it, Jaseong? Good, isn't it? Eat as much as you want. Hehe."
Feeling the gentle gaze of his brother and sister-in-law, Jaseong laughed brightly.
The night sky was littered with stars, and the distant songs of the brothel drifted faintly on the wind.
'... Let's start a cloth shop and get rich, big brother. I'll do my best. I'll get rich and fill your and sister-in-law's bellies.'
But Jaseong's resolution was soon shattered.
Bang!
In the next instant, the inn door was smashed open as the Murong Clan's warriors stormed in.
Sharp blades flashed, screams and the smell of blood filled the tavern.
And the brother and sister-in-law who had been singing of hope just moments ago—
Chuak! Chuaak!
Their necks were severed once again.
"......!"
With that, Jaseong's eyes snapped wide open.
It was still the gray light of dawn. Moonlight filtered in through a crack in the window, bathing the room in a soft glow.
"Huff... Huff..."
Jaseong's clenched hands trembled with rage as his breath came in gasps.
Unable to fall asleep again, he stepped outside. There, Han Soweol, Lee Rin's nursemaid, was waiting.
"Up early, I see."
Han Soweol remarked.
Her eyes as she regarded Jaseong were unsparing.
After all, her cherished child Lee Rin kept ending up in dangerous situations following Jaseong, so she had no reason to be fond of him.
Noticing this, Jaseong quietly said,
"If you're worried about the young mistress, keep her here at home."
"What...?"
"I mean it."
He truly did mean it. Yet an unexpected reply came.
"I can't do that."
"?"
"Her Ladyship has recognized you as the North Sea Ice Palace's 'Heavenly Ice Guest.' So we must go wherever you go."
"......."
At Han Soweol's surprising answer, a faint smile appeared on Jaseong's lips.
"Thank you."
"Hmph. Still—the Murong young lord and his escorts are formidable opponents. Do you have any plan?"
Han Soweol asked. With her words, Jaseong's reply came as he turned his back to the pale dawn light.
"There is only one path."
"?"
"Their own arrogance will be their undoing."
* * *
In a cave with six escorts, the Murong Clan's young lord Murong Hwang was tending to his wounds.
"Tch. To think I'd end up facing Venomous Palm Ghost Throat Yin Tianhou of all people."
Murong Hwang grumbled, frowning.
It was no wonder, as he had gone up against the most troublesome poison master among the Evil Path Association's experts.
Two of his escorts, who had been directly struck by Yin Tianhou's venomous palm, were pallid.
They'd taken hits on Murong Hwang's behalf, becoming human shields so he could avoid the poison.
Thanks to that, Murong Hwang had managed to slay Yin Tianhou, said to be among the top villains of the Evil Path Association's Hundred Evils.
Though not killed, Yin Tianhou was now out of the struggle for the Seven-Star Cloud Blade.
Just then—
"Young lord."
One of the escorts, who had been standing watch, ran in quickly.
"What is it?"
"I just saw someone suspicious. He was carrying a sword glowing blue on his back—the Seven-Star Cloud Blade."
Murong Hwang's eyes flashed at this report.
"Where did you see him?"
"In the woods outside the cave. He seemed to be resting against a tree."
Murong Hwang immediately stood and gave orders to his escorts.
"Prepare yourselves."
"Um... Young lord."
"?"
"Sunpyo and Pilcheon were struck by poison and are wounded. Shouldn't they rest here in the cave? Taking them with us is unwise."
It was only natural—those two had taken the poison strike meant for Murong Hwang.
But he ignored the plea.
"Did you not see that man's lightness skill, running straight up the cliff? Considering his might, every bit of help is necessary."
"But..."
"Are you daring to disobey the young lord's command?"
Murong Hwang drew his sword with a srrrng—. The cold blade flashed past the escorts' faces.
A true display of an heir's arrogance. After all, Murong Hwang was the only son of Clan Head Murong Cheolsan.
He'd lived his entire life doing as he pleased, so he would not tolerate insubordination.
"... Understood."
"We obey the young lord's command."
The escorts were forced to bow their heads.
Thus, with his men, Murong Hwang set off into the woods to find the man in black carrying the Seven-Star Cloud Blade.
Moonlight filtering through the leaves bathed the forest in silver.
Then, at some point—
[There he is.]
Murong Hwang's sharp eyes finally found his target.
A figure in black, the sword with blue light across his back. Sitting against a tree, about a hundred steps from the cave.
[Approach carefully. When we're within ten steps, strike at once.]
Murong Hwang and his escort crept toward the black-clad man like wolves on the hunt.
The figure, apparently napping against the tree, seemed completely unaware.
'Too easy.'
Murong Hwang placed his hand on his sword hilt with an inward chuckle. But in the next instant—
Flash!
A sudden flash of light shot across his vision. Next—
Chuaak!
Blood burst from an escort's arm.
Before anyone knew what had happened, the black-clad figure was in front of the escorts, his sword stained red.
"W-what is this...?!"
Murong Hwang was startled by the incredible speed and the quick sword of the black-clad man.
But then things grew even more chaotic.
"Ice Lord Asura Sword Art, Fourth Move—Frozen Sky Shackles!"
"Shadow Flying Dagger!"
Suddenly, more figures in black struck from the undergrowth.
A hidden weapon cast with sword energy from Gu Janghu, and an attack so cold it chilled the air—Lee Rin and four North Sea guardians.
"He's not alone...!"
"It's an ambush! Defend yourselves!"
Murong Hwang's escorts sprang to face Jaseong's allies breaking out of the bushes.
Meanwhile, Jaseong himself advanced on Murong Hwang for a one-on-one duel.
"Who are you!"
Murong Hwang, flustered by the sudden assault, called out, recognizing Jaseong's extraordinary speed powered by the Celestial Gate Opening Art.
"Who am I?"
Jaseong slowly removed his human-skin mask, revealing the face the entire martial world had been wondering about.
"Don't you recognize me?"
In the moonlight, Jaseong's expression was cold as ice. Murong Hwang, however, looked confused.
"... Who are you? Are you of the Hwang Clan's bloodline?"
"No."
"No...? Then are you an Evil Path Association assassin?!"
Murong Hwang could not recognize Jaseong in the slightest.
And then—
"Kukukuk..."
Jaseong laughed coldly—a chilling, sinister laugh.
"The Red Light District of Ansun."
"... Red Light District?"
"That's where you and the Murong Clan butchers massacred innocents."
"What...?"
"Among the innocents slaughtered that day were my elder brother and sister-in-law."
"What are you talking about? How could someone like you be from the Red Light District?"
Murong Hwang looked completely nonplussed.
It made sense.
To him, those he had killed that day were mere bugs, not people.
Who remembers killing a bug?
Seeing this look on Murong Hwang's face, Jaseong's smile grew even colder.
"Just like you did to those innocents that day—no, even worse..."
"......?"
"I will trample you beneath my feet."
"......!"
Gooooo—
"Today, you will die like a bug."
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Justice!
【( `Д´)o:【】:::::::〉】