Chapter 101
'... So, Mangno has sided with the Blood Cult.'
The reason why Jaseong made this deduction was obvious.
The human-skin mask that Jaseong was currently wearing was, until just a few hours ago, worn by Blood Cult agents.
And, there was another reason.
There was no reason whatsoever for the Tianxia Association's chief military strategist to send a respectful voice transmission to a subordinate-level officer.
In other words, Mangno just now sent a voice transmission to Jaseong, mistaking him for a Blood Cult officer.
From that action alone, it was clear that Mangno had become fully complicit with the Blood Cult.
'... But what did he mean by that voice transmission just now? "I've made all the preparations up to this point. The rest is up to you"—?'
Jaseong mulled over the meaning of Mangno's message.
Then, he quickly realized what Mangno was up to.
'Surely, he's planning a surprise attack on the Association Leader tonight.'
Tonight, when the Association Leader was moving his hideout, would be the best opportunity for assassins.
That's why Mangno had placed Blood Cult operatives on the wagon's guard detail.
The other three members appointed, alongside Jaseong and Gu Janghu, to guard the Association Leader's carriage, must also be Blood Cult agents.
Since Mangno picked all three of those as the Association Leader's guards, and then sent Jaseong that message: "I've made all the preparations up to this point."
'Meaning, it was a plan for the five Blood Cult experts to pretend to guard the Association Leader's carriage, while actually plotting an ambush.'
It was a testament to the Blood Cult's cunning and insidious methods.
Mangno had been won over and made an accomplice,
And using his standing as the Tianxia Association's chief military strategist, he himself arranged the guard detail, embedding all Blood Cult people inside.
'He probably promised Mangno the position of the next leader of the Tianxia Association.'
Unfortunately, however, there was a single variable in the Blood Cult's seemingly perfect plan.
Namely, Jaseong and Gu Janghu.
"All right, preparations are complete! Everyone, take your positions!"
Mangno shouted after finishing the guard's deployment.
Now aware of his dark intentions, even his shout sounded somewhat excitable in Jaseong's ears.
"The Association Leader is coming. Everyone, show your respect!"
The rank-and-file red-robed officers straightened their postures all at once.
Moments later, the back door of the guest house slowly creaked open.
Creak—
The heavy door reverberated through the building.
Next, a man shrouded head-to-toe in black clothes stepped outside, flanked by attendant maidens.
"We pay our respects to the Association Leader!"
The red-robed officers all fell to one knee and yelled.
Jaseong and Gu Janghu also knelt among the group.
'So, that's the Tianxia Association Leader, Gun Hanmaek....'
Gun Hanmaek, known as Tian E Shura of the Tianxia Association, one of the greatest dark sects in the Central Plains.
Jaseong wanted to study his face in detail, but couldn't.
For the Association Leader not only covered his entire body, but his face was concealed as well with black cloth.
Still, there was a way to investigate him.
The next moment, Jaseong activated his Samadhi Eyes.
Swaaaa—
Before Jaseong's eyes, everything was coated in swirling colors of energy.
The Association Leader's intent and energy were being captured by his Samadhi Eyes.
But as he observed the Association Leader's ki,
Jaseong's eyes suddenly narrowed in confusion.
'... Something's strange. According to upper management's intel, the Tianxia Association Leader is an expert whose martial arts rival a great elder of the unorthodox sects... Yet, neither his energy nor intent are impressive—?'
As he entered the peak realm, Jaseong could use his Samadhi Eyes with far greater precision.
And by reading the opponent's radiating intent and ki, he could roughly gauge their level of expertise.
Yet, the Association Leader's ki was surprisingly weak.
To Jaseong, a supreme expert, the energy and intent he exuded were no different from that of an ordinary 3rd-rate warrior.
While Jaseong was puzzling over this, Mangno respectfully spoke up.
"Association Leader, all preparations are complete. You may depart at any time."
The Association Leader nodded slowly.
Mangno then turned to the red-robed warriors and shouted,
"Prepare for departure!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
The rank-and-file officers bowed in a cupped fist salute, heads lowered.
Jaseong bowed his head as well, but his mind was still riddled with doubts he couldn't resolve.
'The Blood Cult's plot, Mangno's true motives, and this Association Leader's ki... This mission is full of suspicious oddities.'
* * *
Clatter— Clatter—
Beneath the sinister moonlight, the Tianxia Association Leader's procession was moving quietly along the mountain road.
Around the carriage, more than a hundred red-clad fighters maintained a strict guard formation.
Most made up the vanguard and rearguard groups about a dozen yards from the carriage,
and only five guarded the carriage directly.
These were Jaseong, Gu Janghu, and the three Blood Cult infiltrators.
Inside the carriage, its windows blocked with black cloth, a figure presumed to be the Association Leader sat silently,
while behind, Mangno rode along on horseback at a slow pace.
It looked like a perfect escort formation from the outside.
But reality was nothing like it appeared.
[... Even the Tianxia Association's chief strategist has gone over to the Blood Cult. Had we arrived just a little late, the Association would've been theirs.]
Gu Janghu sent a voice transmission,
his expression struggling to contain his horror.
[So, leader, what do we do now? If what you said holds, the infiltrators are probably going to ambush the Association Leader on the way to the hideout.... What should we do?]
Gu Janghu's question sent Jaseong into contemplation as well.
For now, the Blood Cult agents' real objective was still unknown.
'... Are they out to assassinate the Association Leader, or abduct him?'
Just then—
[Begin.]
Mangno, riding close behind, transmitted a message to Jaseong.
At last, the signal had been given.
Of course, Jaseong made no move.
Not knowing the Blood Cult's exact motives, he couldn't act rashly.
As Jaseong hesitated, a Blood Cult infiltrator at the wagon's rear sent him an urgent transmission.
[Why are you hesitating, chief! Hurry and begin!]
Judging by the speech, it seemed that the person who'd originally worn Jaseong's human-skin mask was the chief of the infiltrators.
Still, Jaseong didn't move.
[Chief? Is there a problem....]
When Jaseong took no action, the infiltrators grew suspicious.
Mangno, too, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Gu Janghu was no exception.
[Leader. Is the Blood Cult's plan starting? What do we do now?]
With everyone's attention focused,
and after a long moment's silence, Jaseong's Adam's apple quivered.
[Gu Janghu.]
[?]
[Kill all the Blood Cult infiltrators.]
The instant Jaseong gave the word, Gu Janghu's hand dove into his robe.
A sharp tearing sound accompanied three willow-leaf flying blades as they shot out like lightning.
"What the—?!"
The infiltrators, caught off guard, tried to dodge, but it was far too late.
Thwuck! Thwuck!
Gu Janghu's blades pierced their necks with deadly accuracy, killing two on the spot.
The last remaining infiltrator, apparently an expert, drew his sword just in time to block Gu Janghu's final flying blade.
Clang!
The clang of metal rang out, slicing through the night air.
Immediately, the infiltrator drew a poisoned arrow, prepared specifically for assassinating the Association Leader.
Just a scratch would mean death by a frothing, deadly poison.
But before he could even string the bow,
Jaseong's sword came flying at his back.
Kuwaaaa!!
Jaseong's sword was not mere Sword Ki but wreathed in an even thicker golden Sword Aura.
After achieving the peak realm and continuous cultivation, he'd mastered the level above Sword Ki—Sword Aura.
"Wh-What is this...?!"
The last infiltrator reeled in shock at the overwhelming Sword Aura.
He quickly raised his sword to defend, but—
Shluck!
It was already too late.
Jaseong's overpowering Sword Aura sliced the infiltrator cleanly in two.
[What do you think you're doing?!]
Mangno sent a panicked transmission.
His meticulously crafted scheme was in ruins, and he couldn't hide his panic.
Jaseong didn't answer. Instead, he looked toward the carriage.
Then, speaking clearly toward it, he announced,
"Association Leader, those I just eliminated were Blood Cult infiltrators."
"......!"
"They schemed to harm you."
From inside the carriage came a gasp of surprise.
"And furthermore...."
Jaseong's voice dropped a register.
"Even the chief strategist has been bought off by the Blood Cult."
"......!!"
Mangno's body began to tremble violently.
Not only was his plan ruined, but he was now at risk of being counterattacked.
Poof!
At that moment, Mangno hastily pulled a smoke bomb from his robe and hurled it, blanketing the area in thick smoke.
He then tried to escape on horseback.
It was, effectively, an admission of his collusion with the Blood Cult.
But there was no way Jaseong would let him get away.
Swaaaa!
Thanks to his Samadhi Eyes, Jaseong could clearly see Mangno's route through the densest smoke.
He shot toward Mangno like a bolt of lightning and swung his sword at his crooked neck.
Swooosh!!
With a spray of blood, Mangno's head spun into the air.
And with this, the Blood Cult's plot to swallow the Tianxia Association was ended completely.
* * *
[Leader. Was it really necessary to act now? Wouldn't it have been better to go along, abduct the Association Leader with the Blood Cult men, and then dispose of them?]
While putting away his hidden weapons, Gu Janghu sent a puzzled voice transmission.
Using the Blood Cult's scheme to take the Association Leader would have been one strategy.
But Jaseong was sure of himself.
[The person inside that carriage isn't the real Association Leader.]
[What...? Then....]
[It's a body double.]
Ever since confirming the Association Leader's ki and intent with Samadhi Eyes, Jaseong was convinced.
The Hao Sect's intelligence claimed the real Association Leader was an expert with martial arts rivaling a great elder of the unorthodox faction.
But the Association Leader's ki, as seen by Samadhi Eyes, was far too weak.
Thus, the conclusion was obvious—a double.
Of course, a supreme expert who had reached the level of returning to the natural—one who could completely conceal their ki—could possibly fool the Samadhi Eyes.
But reaching that level was almost unheard of in the entire Central Plains.
"Chief strategist?!"
"What is this...!"
Moments later, having heard the commotion, the rank-and-file officers all rushed over.
When they saw the carnage around the Association Leader's carriage, they stared wide-eyed, unable to grasp what had happened.
And they weren't the only ones.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A series of sharp sounds sliced through the air.
Then, three men in black martial robes suddenly emerged from the darkness.
'Who are those guys...?'
As the black-robed men took a step forward, the fallen leaves on the ground parted to clear their path.
Their very presence radiated such force that it was obvious they were not ordinary experts.
[Leader. Those black robes—they're the symbol of "black"-grade officers.... Why are the key figures in the black market and smuggling operations here?]
The Tianxia Association's black-grade officers.
Experts who trained in various sects—each one said to be equal to facing hundreds alone.
Standing at their center was a man wearing a long robe of black with an embroidered red dragon.
His hair was white, but his eyes flashed sharp as a blade, and his presence was as deep and dark as an abyss.
'... With internal energy on par with an elder of Evil Path Association... That must be the real Tianxia Association Leader, tian E Shura, Gun Hanmaek. And those black-grade officers beside him are his true guards.'
In this way, Jaseong's predictions proved completely correct.
The Association Leader in the carriage was a fake.
The real Association Leader, in anticipation of any ambush, was traveling separately nearby, under guard of black-grade officers.
If Jaseong had sided with the Blood Cult agents and attacked the fake Association Leader in the carriage, the infiltration plan would have ended right there.
Soon, the Association Leader's gaze landed on Mangno's corpse, lying in a pool of blood.
"... So, the chief strategist has betrayed us. The intel was accurate after all."
His voice was low and heavy.
But mixed in with it was more disappointment than rage.
"Fifteen years together, and in the end, blinded by greed."
The Association Leader sighed over Mangno's body,
then turned his gaze to Jaseong and Gu Janghu.
"Was it you who thwarted the Blood Cult's scheme?"
"Yes, it was."
Jaseong and Gu Janghu performed a cupped fist salute, acting as Association officers.
"What are your names?"
"I am Poong Gong-un, and this friend is Pan Jung-in."
"Poong Gong-un and Pan Jung-in... Names I've never heard before. How did you see through the Blood Cult's scheme so soon?"
The Association Leader's sharp gaze bore into Jaseong and Gu Janghu.
In that instant, Gu Janghu's heart pounded in his chest.
A single misstep here, and they'd have to fight the Association Leader, three black-grade officers, and over a hundred rank-and-file officers at once.
But unlike him, Jaseong remained calm.
As if he had a plan prepared in advance.
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