Chapter 242
The scorching heat pressed down on the surroundings.
The dreadfully dark forest of the night began to brighten slightly due to the rising flames.
Grrr!
The assassin tried to pull his trapped arm free, but even with all his strength, he couldn’t escape easily.
This brat…?
He hadn’t put forth all his energy, yet the assassin knew he couldn’t easily break free even if he did.
That was what made it so strange.
Am I… being overpowered by a mere kid?
He couldn’t shake off his shock.
Despite having lived his life as an assassin in the dark underworld, his blood was of the Hwangbo Clan. This meant he shouldn’t be easily overpowered by a child who hadn’t even lived a quarter of his life.
But why is this happening…!
The situation before him sent a torrent of thoughts racing through the assassin’s mind.
Aside from the shock of being caught, he was more curious about how the kid had managed to trap him here.
However, standing still was not an option.
Gazing into the kid’s glowing red eyes, the assassin slowly began to speak.
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He started with feigned ignorance.
His initial plan had been to intimidate the kid into silence, but now such a thought seemed ridiculous.
He wondered if that was even possible.
Absurd.
To assassins, killing those who were at a higher level was part of the job.
Often, it was assassins who achieved what were considered miracles, like when a top martial artist eliminated another peak-level martial artist.
Of course, it was all about creating a situation where the target was vulnerable and striking from the shadows.
It essentially meant that if two martial artists were of equal skill, an assassin rarely faced defeat, especially not in a dark forest where the terrain favored him.
“I only…”
“You don’t know anything, do you?”
At the assassin’s words, Gu Yangcheon’s expression contorted into annoyance.
The glow of his red eyes at night, along with the flames surrounding them, created an aura of ferocity that made him look almost demonic.
“There’s no way a martial artist on the front lines wouldn’t know this is the territory of the Gu Clan.”
“I simply took the wrong turn.”
“Oh, really? What a coincidence for a Hwangbo Clan martial artist to be here at this hour.”
…!
Cold sweat trickled down the assassin’s back at Gu Yangcheon’s words.
How did he know he was from the Hwangbo Clan?
He concealed his astonishment and maintained a calm facade.
“…What do you mean?”
“No need to play dumb. Your distinct Qi lets me know what clan you’re from.”
“I am not from the Hwangbo Clan.”
“Clearly, your Qi isn’t as harmonious as the Peng Clan’s. Ah, that’s why the Hwangbo Clan isn’t counted among the Four Great Clans.”
…
“Look at you. Your face soured the moment I compared you to the Peng Clan.”
Oh.
The assassin sighed, rubbing his face.
He had made a blunder he hadn’t anticipated, perhaps due to how long it had been since he had been on a job.
“What an amusing child you are…”
Gu Yangcheon’s brow furrowed at the assassin’s words, clearly displeased.
“Amusing my ass. Why are you pretending to be so innocent while you keep trying to do something filthy in the middle of the night?”
“You have a filthy mouth for someone from a noble clan. Do you even know how many years I’ve roamed the Central Plains?”
“So what? Should I be bowing down to you now?”
Grrr.
The pressure on his captured hand increased gradually, tightening its grip.
“You dare ask for respect after trying to pull a stunt at night? For someone of your age, you should grow wiser instead of rotting away.”
You bastard…!
“To be fair,”
Just when the assassin was ready to fume, he froze at the sight of Gu Yangcheon’s taunting smile.
Both the snitch who exposed himself after being beaten and the one who came here after hearing it looked equally foolish.
Hearing the mocking words filled him with ire, and he began to gather his Inner Qi.
I need to kill him.
The kid was exceptionally strong for a young prodigy.
Not only had he overcome his limits at this age, but he had also managed to catch the assassin off guard while hiding his presence, indicating that he was beyond just the usual young prodigies.
However…
In the end, it mattered little.
In an instant, the assassin felt his arm, once held firmly by Gu Yangcheon, slide free as if it was coated in grease.
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened in disbelief, but by then, the assassin had already vanished.
Night is my domain.
For those who had lived as assassins for decades, the cover of darkness was akin to their own world.
Moving like shadows was their second nature. Even if the flames illuminated the dark surroundings, it mattered little; shadows were everywhere.
You will regret today.
He was determined to ensure the kid regretted mocking the Hwangbo Clan.
Hidden in the shadows, the assassin’s eyes glimmered menacingly.
The kid remained still, scanning his surroundings slowly, clearly searching for the assassin.
I had been told not to kill him, but now I find I have no choice.
The assassin began to move slowly after observing him.
He smothered his presence and silenced his movements.
He merged with the darkness.
Quietly, he approached Gu Yangcheon from behind.
It was impossible to torment the kid without killing him.
It was infuriating and a blow to his pride, but he recognized that the kid wasn’t at a level where he could afford to be toyed with.
The humiliation of being outplayed by a mere child had been bitter, but he had set that aside; all he wanted was to eliminate this brat right now.
This brat is dangerous.
The assassin’s decision to kill Gu Yangcheon stemmed primarily from Gu Yangcheon’s slander of the Hwangbo Clan and his personal insult, but also from the overwhelming talent Gu Yangcheon possessed.
This brat’s future is limitless.
In a world filled with prodigies like the monsters from the Peng Clan or the Water Dragon from the Mudang Sect, he knew that this kid was the most dangerous of them all.
And if Gu Yangcheon harbored feelings of animosity towards the Hwangbo Clan, it was better to eliminate him before he matured into something untouchable.
In that regard, the assassin felt fortunate to be the one dealing with this brat.
I should demand a larger reward from the Young Master.
As he contemplated this, he gathered his Inner Qi.
The thin dagger in his hand, swirling with energy, aimed for Gu Yangcheon’s heart before he even noticed.
But just as the blade was about to pierce its target—
Smack!
“…!”
The assassin nearly screamed at the sudden turn of events.
Gu Yangcheon had spun around in the blink of an eye, seizing his arm yet again.
What…?
Crack!
The sound of breaking bones rang in his ears the moment Gu Yangcheon caught him.
He realized instantly that his wrist had shattered.
H…How?
But the pain in his wrist paled in comparison to the burning curiosity over how Gu Yangcheon had detected him once more.
He wasn’t close enough to be noticed, nor had Gu Yangcheon shown any signs of reacting late.
How on Earth—
“You couldn’t miss me when I was literally visible.”
What?
The assassin’s expression morphed into confusion upon hearing Gu Yangcheon, only to fade quickly.
Bam!
A fist had brutally connected with his face.
“Urgh…!”
The impact jolted the assassin’s head backward.
He tried his best to dodge by observing Gu Yangcheon’s movements, but his desperate struggle to break free was futile.
With a single blow, his consciousness began to spiral.
Drip…!
Despite barely managing to lower his head from how it had lashed back, blood, along with a few shattered teeth, dripped down his lips.
“Ugh…”
This was dangerous.
Something had gone horribly off-course.
The assassin’s instincts screamed in alarm,
My body won’t… respond…
Yet, he found himself trapped in a body that refused to listen.
The impact he sustained was severe, far worse than he had expected, but it wasn’t enough to fully incapacitate him, which made everything feel so strange.
…Ugh…
Forcing his head up, the assassin managed to lock eyes with Gu Yangcheon.
Even amid the darkness, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes were glowing brightly.
“You… you bastard…! Did you use… poison?”
“Poison? Ah, I suppose you could call it that.”
Gu Yangcheon tilted his head as if contemplating, then nodded again.
“You could call it a poison, I suppose.”
Poison, huh…
Finally, the assassin seemed to grasp why his body was betraying him. If he was poisoned, it made perfect sense.
Yet,
When did this happen?
He couldn’t recall when the kid managed to poison him, nor did he know what kind of poison was capable of rendering him this powerless.
Most assassins developed immunities to common poisons and it was impossible he could be so easily poisoned unless it was some legendary Tang Clan poison.
Yet, that was no longer the pressing concern.
Gasping for air, he pleaded with Gu Yangcheon.
“Please… let me… live…”
It was time to beg for his life.
But Gu Yangcheon chuckled, clearly dismissive of the scene unfolding before him.
“Giving up so fast? I thought you’d gnash your teeth a bit more.”
If he were in a position where he was poisoned and caught, his focus should solely be on surviving.
Most assassins confronted with this scenario would either bite the poison capsules they had stashed beneath their tongues or die under torture for their clans. However, that fate was something he wanted to avoid actively.
His loyalty to the clan evaporated long ago, and now all that occupied his mind was ensuring he could maintain his Elder position and live out his life.
“Which was the reason I accepted the Young Master’s request…”
To gain honor while also safely securing his Elder position, intending to erase any remnants of his assassin life, he had never anticipated this outcome.
Gu Yangcheon remained stone-faced as he listened to the assassin, his demeanor bordering on annoyance.
“Why are you humiliating yourself like this?”
“Brother Gu… No, Young Master Gu, I… I’ll tell you everything… of who ordered me to do this. I can even… Upf!”
The assassin’s mouth, just about to spill everything, fell silent as Gu Yangcheon pressed his hand over it.
And though it didn’t feel huge, his hand felt impossibly vast to the assassin.
“I already know who requested such things even if you don’t tell me.”
Crackle.
“Umph…!”
Heat pulsed from Gu Yangcheon’s palm, and though the assassin attempted to cry out desperately, no sound emerged.
“I don’t need any testimonies. We’re living in a world where such things don’t matter, all right?”
Umph… Umph.
Flare!
Shortly after, flames burst forth from his palm, consuming the assassin’s face and body.
“Urrghh!!”
The assassin’s futile attempts to resist amounted to nothing, as he lacked the strength for any real struggle.
The flames raged on until they extinguished the assassin’s life, and as his movements ceased, the flames vanished, revealing only a pile of unrecognizable ashes.
Thud.
Loosening his grip, the ashes tumbled to the ground, and Gu Yangcheon, shaking off his hands, was finally struck with a forgotten realization.
“Oh.”
Right.
I forgot to ask for his name.
“…But does it even matter?”
It was likely Hwangbo Something anyway.
Gu Yangcheon bent slightly to retrieve something from the charred remains, placing it into his pocket.
After a moment spent gazing at the remnants with indifference, he turned away and made his way back the way he had come.
Leaving the corpse behind wouldn’t matter.
In no time, some beasts would appear and devour it.
Not a trace would remain.
That was the nature of forests at the front lines.
After Gu Yangcheon briefly mentioned he would return, Bi Yeonsum found himself enduring a harrowing situation.
An awkwardness so intense he feared he might suffocate.
Please… save me.
Sitting up rigidly as if frozen, he only faced forward, yet his attention was solely drawn to a figure beside him.
To the girl quietly sitting, gazing into the forest.
Glance.
Bi Yeonsum glanced over for a moment, swallowing hard.
She’s… unbelievably beautiful.
The girl was breathtaking to the point Bi Yeonsum could hardly catch his breath.
With her silvery hair reflecting the moonlight and her hazy blue eyes staring into the distance, she radiated an otherworldly aura.
Back when he had seen the Snow Phoenix, he wondered how anyone could be so stunning, yet the woman before him surpassed that altogether.
He even questioned whether she could genuinely be human.
This person is the Sword Dancer…
Bi Yeonsum recognized her well.
Sword Dancer, Namgung Bi-ah.
She was the sister of the Lightning Dragon, a martial artist who had unexpectedly appeared during the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament.
Though she had unluckily lost to the Meteor Sword, the son of the Murim Alliance’s Leader, her graceful fighting had resembled a dance, etching her memorable performance into many minds. Thus, she was given the title of Sword Dancer.
Although Bi Yeonsum had fled the tournament in shame after being unable to showcase his skills, he hadn’t seen Namgung Bi-ah clearly back then.
But now, confronting her, he realized that she was even more dazzling than he had expected.
Not only in looks but in martial prowess as well.
The singular strike she had unleashed moments ago left him astounded.
It almost felt unreal, her ability to clear away the entire expanse of forest in front of her.
Of course, extraordinary sword masters could achieve such feats, yet he felt humiliation knowing that Namgung Bi-ah, of his own generation, wielded such power.
Alongside this, he felt a wave of envy directed at Gu Yangcheon.
What a stroke of luck that such a lovely and formidable woman was his fiancée.
In his state of envy, he couldn’t help but keep casting side glances over at Namgung Bi-ah.
Namgung Bi-ah, who had remained utterly silent, almost giving the impression that she wasn’t even breathing,
Rustle.
Suddenly, she turned, her lips moving gracefully as she looked ahead.
“…Where… did you go?”
“Pardon…?”
Bi Yeonsum, bewildered, thought she was speaking to him and stammered a response.
“There was just a rat.”
Another voice cut in before he could continue.
Moments later, the person behind that voice emerged from the thicket.
It was Gu Yangcheon, who had vanished earlier.
…Rat?
“Yeah, a pretty large one.”
He appeared the same as before, though for some reason, his expression looked slightly weary.
But what did he mean by rat?
Why did he suddenly feel the need to catch a rat?
Namgung Bi-ah, who was pondering the same thoughts as Bi Yeonsum, directed a question at Gu Yangcheon.
“…Are you okay?”
What exactly was she asking about?
Bi Yeonsum didn’t understand. Was Gu Yangcheon perhaps scared of rats?
Yet, Gu Yangcheon’s sudden urge to hunt a rat left him utterly puzzled.
Gu Yangcheon smiled upon hearing Namgung Bi-ah’s words.
A smile so unsettling that Bi Yeonsum instinctively leaned away.
“Why wouldn’t I be okay? I just went out for a bit.”
…
He stated as if everything was fine, but the look on Namgung Bi-ah’s face suggested she wasn’t satisfied with that answer.
Gu Yangcheon, noticing her expression, bore a look of conflict.
Was he aware of why Namgung Bi-ah felt displeased?
“Hey.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Let’s head back now.”
Bi Yeonsum’s eyes widened at Gu Yangcheon’s unexpected suggestion.
“Huh…? But there’s still time until the sun rises.”
They were supposed to remain here until the first light of dawn broke.
Responding while massaging his neck, Gu Yangcheon seemed weary.
“I found a good excuse to return to the camp.”
Excuse?
Bi Yeonsum cocked his head in confusion at Gu Yangcheon’s remark.
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