Chapter: 353
When I think of gray hair, I typically picture the distinctive hair of the Namgung clan.
Blue-white hair, with just a hint of blue.
This was a notable change stemming from the influence of deep cultivation.
‘It’s pure white.’
However, the person in front of me had hair that was even whiter than that.
It’s not the kind of white that appears with age.
The man looked to be somewhere between his twenties and forties, but that white hair held something more.
A pair of white eyes, resembling his, turned towards me.
‘What the heck.’
It’s clear those eyes are fixed on me.
Yet, the sensation of making eye contact with him feels faint.
How do I even explain this feeling?
It’s definitely right in front of me.
A sense of unclear recognition.
It feels different from the sensation of perceiving an extreme difference in realms.
Should I call it the peak of incongruity?
As incomprehensible confusion rose steadily to the back of my throat,
Swish.
The man seemed to have noticed my gaze as well, suddenly pulling something unknown from his pocket and placing it over his face.
What was it? Ah, a mask.
A mask you could find anywhere.
Except there’s one peculiar detail—it’s not a complete mask; it’s half a mask.
I wondered why, out of nowhere, he decided to wear such a thing, but as soon as he donned the half-mask, I immediately understood why.
Shoooo…
“…!”
Changes manifested upon putting on the mask.
The instant he wore it, his glowing white hair began to absorb darkness, turning black.
The transformation happened in an instant.
No more than a few seconds had passed.
But that wasn’t the only change.
‘…I can see.’
The fuzziness that rendered only his hair and eyes visible disappeared.
It meant that ‘recognition’ had begun.
Finally, I could barely make out the shape of the man’s eyes, nose, and overall facial features.
What is going on?
Is that the power of the mask?
‘A ghost…?’
Anything that could demonstrate such a situation is, without a doubt, a spirit.
Moreover, somewhere within me,
‘Something feels familiar about this.’
Where have I seen that?
Where did I come across that half-mask? Just looking at it gives me an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu.
Where did I experience that sensation before?
‘Ah…!’
I recalled where I had seen that half-mask.
That’s it.
‘Isn’t that what Jegal Hyuk used?’
Jegal Hyuk, known as the brain behind the Demonic Cult.
That mask was just like the one he wore to hide the scars on his face.
‘…Why does this guy have that?’
It’s highly unlikely it’s the same item, but…
For some inexplicable reason, the thought that the half-mask was identical to Jegal Hyuk’s wouldn’t leave my mind.
Did that mask truly have such an effect…?
“Hey, kid.”
While I was staring intently at the appearance of this man,
He opened his mouth to speak to me.
“Are you planning to keep staring?”
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s fine. I’m just not used to having someone look at me.”
The man said that while he lifted the glass of water in his hand to his lips.
A glass of water.
Had the man been holding a glass of water?
‘I didn’t even notice that.’
If he hadn’t been wearing a mask, I wouldn’t have seen anything.
Realizing this sent a chill down my spine.
That’s what it means for a person not to recognize others.
It means you might die without anyone noticing.
“…”
Why do I feel this way even after reaching the Hwagyeong state?
What on earth is this guy?
“What an interesting expression.”
“…!”
“It’s a good habit. Keep it up.”
“…“
He caught me weighing my options and sensing danger.
Even though I knew that, the man’s demeanor remained calm as if he believed our conversation was merely ending.
“…Who are you?”
Who the heck is this guy?
This character is creating such tension, and yet it’s the first time I’ve seen his face.
I might not know every strong character known in the Central Plains, but I thought I had a good grasp of the major ones.
Yet, I have no idea about this man.
Hearing my question, he tilted his head slightly and looked at me.
I hadn’t noticed before, but under those black eyes, I felt a greater understanding.
Dark eyes without a hint of light or shadow.
The kind of faces these people make who have no place in life or death.
Those most likely possess such eyes because they have no regrets about living.
Or…
‘Because they’ve killed so many people.’
Those who have taken countless lives indeed have eyes like that.
That makes me even more curious.
The identity of that man.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve heard someone inquire about my identity.”
“…Is that so?”
“Usually, they’d be dead by the time they could ask me that.”
That’s a really disturbing reason.
“As for introductions… it’s been ages since I introduced myself.”
His gaze now locked onto my eyes.
Those are the kind of eyes it’s hard to hold onto for long.
If I continued to look, it felt like he would dig right into my insides.
“But.”
At that moment,
His voice pierced through, ringing in my ears.
It felt different from before. While the tone and pitch remained unchanged, a thick something lingered beneath.
Without realizing it, my mouth started to water.
As if urging me to swallow quickly.
“Kid, you seem to know already, so why do you want to hear it from me?”
“…”
His words made me furrow my brows.
Yes, it’s exactly what he said.
I already suspected his identity.
If you ask me when I started to piece it together…
‘…Since I saw your eyes.’
From the moment I had looked into the man’s eyes.
As the situation unfolded, I gradually began to fit the pieces together.
Those eyes and this hazy presence are usually traits exhibited by shadowy figures.
Throughout my past life, I encountered many shadows.
All those I met ended up getting burnt to ashes at my hands.
Surviving an encounter with a shadowy figure means…
Killing or being killed.
‘This guy.’
Dare I say, if I had faced off against the man without his mask, in a grim context…
I wouldn’t stand a chance.
It’s not just pride; it’s the certainty derived from the instinct to survive.
‘How on earth did he achieve that?’
How can a presence be so muted like that?
The sense of disparity I felt from the Cheonma, the void that made it impossible for me to sense his aura.
What he possesses is something else entirely.
He’s hiding himself so well that his existence cannot be felt.
So subtle and intricate that even while having a conversation and locking gazes with me, I feel nothing.
‘Is that even possible?’
I suppose it could happen.
I might also be able to pull something like that off against an average civilian.
But then again, I’m a master who’s reached Hwagyeong.
I’ve surpassed the peak known as the place of the dead martial artists.
Among the countless martial artists in the Central Plains, I doubt I’d reach the thousand mark, to be frank.
Ah, now that I’m thinking about it, it feels a little embarrassing…
My ears threaten to turn red.
In any case,
‘Facing someone like me at that level.’
Could such a thing be possible? It seems the Central Plains are too vast to conclude that.
And…
There certainly exist shadowy figures capable of achieving that.
It’s not something obscure.
Casting aside characteristics typically associated with those who should remain undetected.
There was an assassin known throughout the Central Plains.
Well, not just any single person, but it’s more accurate to label them as a notable figure.
The most renowned assassin circle in the Central Plains.
The All-Night Assassins.
It’s a place reputed to gather the most exceptional assassins in the realm.
Furthermore, the head of this organization is daringly titled the King of Assassins.
He has earned the title of the King of the Night.
“…Dark King.”
My answer seemed to please him.
The corners of the man’s mouth lifted just slightly.
Why is this Dark King, whose identity remains a mystery for everyone,
Here in such an unexpected situation with Geom-hu?
After the incident occurred, as we finally approached the stage of managing the aftermath.
“We’re running low on supplies…!”
Surprisingly, the busiest department was the medical unit.
“Damn it… the bleeding won’t stop.”
“Sir…!”
The scent of blood and shrieks filled the air.
The physicians rushed around frantically, but…
The number of patients was overwhelming.
Even…
“Where did that new recruit from last time go…! We’re swamped here!”
“…That guy died during the day, guarding another patient.”
“…Shit… What was he thinking!? We’re healers, not bodyguards! I explicitly said that!”
“…”
They are yelling, yet their bodies are falling apart inside.
“Sir… I think we need more cloth.”
We’re running dangerously low on supplies to clean up the blood.
Meanwhile, several people had already ceased to breathe.
At that level, even if the best doctors were here, they wouldn’t save them.
There’s no greater hell.
The man, who had been tirelessly tending to patients, bit his lip.
He had escaped from the medical unit to avoid witnessing this horror.
Yet, brilliant young warriors were falling one by one as time went on.
The physician, trying to conceal his trembling hands, continued to work while the bleeding wouldn’t stop.
The wounds were deep.
They were brutal injuries meant to kill, which made them inherently severe.
Their wounds were refusing to heal.
I sensed that the count of those who had died from not making it in time had exceeded ten.
“Get me another dagger. I’ll relight the flame before it goes out…”
While the physician rushed by, a fair hand stretched out.
That hand made contact with the bloodied body of the unmanned fighter without hesitation.
Upon seeing this, the physician gasped.
“Who is it!? What on earth…!”
The physician had been about to scream when he momentarily froze.
Because he had met the blue eyes that seemed to encapsulate the sky.
What he felt was an eerie chill.
She appeared to be a woman whose coldness was such that it felt otherworldly.
This was someone even the physician was familiar with.
She was blood-related to the Murong family, one of the four great families,
And was a capable individual within the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.
Moyong Hi-ah, it was indeed her.
Shooo…
From the outstretched hand of Moyong Hi-ah, a chill began to spread.
What mixed in with that chill was undoubtedly healing energy. Thanks to this, the blood and screams that had been surging gradually subsided.
“…What…?”
“What are you doing?”
As the physician attempted to voice his confusion, Moyong Hi-ah’s cold voice pierced through.
“You need to do your job now. Are you going to just stand here?”
“…!”
After hearing her words, the physician snapped back to reality and began to move his hands frantically.
There was no time for actual thinking.
Time passed.
Without any sign of awkwardness, Moyong Hi-ah blended in with them, as if she had always been a part of the team.
She began to use her inherent chill and healing energy to assist with treating the patients.
Eventually, after time flowed by, a moment finally arrived where we could breathe a sigh of relief.
The physician turned to her.
“…Thank you.”
Moyong Hi-ah nodded slightly to the physician’s gratitude.
Both their conditions were rather poor.
Her initially luxurious-looking apparel was now drenched in blood,
And her neatly styled hair was a mess, plastered against her head and stained with blood.
The blood smeared against her alabaster cheeks appeared strangely alluring…
“Stop staring.”
Prompted by Moyong Hi-ah’s words, the physician had to avert his gaze.
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m someone whose now attached, so such stares make me a bit uncomfortable.”
“Huh?”
When the physician asked what she meant, Moyong Hi-ah calmly stated,
“All those who usually looked at me like that eventually fell in love.”
“…”
“Being bothered feels like an inconvenience, so please take care.”
That was quite a presumptuous and arrogant comment.
However, given that it was Moyong Hi-ah saying it, it gained significant weight.
Truthfully, the physician himself felt he should tread carefully.
“Seeing this, I don’t seem to be dead yet…”
“Yes…?”
“Why is that not affecting him…?”*
“Ah…but I really dislike this.”
Moyong Hi-ah definitely murmured that under her breath.
A woman who recognizes her beauty is naturally alluring in and of itself.
In this regard, Moyong Hi-ah was a woman with overwhelming charm, even amidst all this.
It’s astonishing the physician could still perceive her that way despite the circumstances.
‘Did she have a fiancé?’
I didn’t know the details, but oddly enough, for a fleeting moment, I felt a pang of jealousy.
But setting that aside for now…
“Once again, I truly appreciate your help.”
The physician expressed his gratitude towards Moyong Hi-ah.
It’s rather exceptional for a noble family member to help someone in such a dire state.
I had heard that members of the Moyong family tend to be cold and calculating like most from prestigious families.
Is she truly a warm person?
“No need to thank me. It would have been a problem if the blood relatives of the merchant clan I’d painstakingly recruited ended up dying. I thought it would be fine to have them indebted to me.”
“…”
The physician, upon hearing this, let out a bitter chuckle.
“Even so, you helped immensely.”
“Indeed. It’s because of that my energy center is left completely hollow.”
The chill mixed with her healing energy significantly aided in treatment.
It wasn’t the case that Moyong Hi-ah lacked medical knowledge, either—she wasn’t only applying first aid.
Regardless of the reasons, in that scenario, a life that could be saved had been saved.
That was satisfying for the physician.
Watching the physician, Moyong Hi-ah suddenly spoke up.
“It’s you, right?”
“…Huh?”
“The one who’s the disciple of the Deity?”
“…”
The physician’s eyes widened at Moyong Hi-ah’s words.
…How did she know?
It must have been information that nobody else knew.
That he was a direct disciple of the Deity.
“…That’s…”
“I trust you’ll take into account everything I’ve done as debt.”
As she left with a smile, the physician exhaled a hollow laugh.
So, what did she mean? Does this mean even this was calculated?
Something so chillingly terrifying yet extraordinarily alluring.
It’s incredible how a brief encounter has led to this.
It seems it will take a long time to erase the feelings that have sprouted in my heart.
That’s why the physician felt envious.
The guy she refers to.
Damn it.
Moyong Hi-ah, utterly exhausted from sitting and moving about all day,
“Hah.”
Was finally able to release the breath she had been holding back.
‘…It was harder than I expected.’
It was only then that she truly felt how fatigued and worn-out her body had become.
‘Is this the price for neglecting my training?’
It must be the cost of halting her training for the sake of healing.
Since she even had to use that chilly energy she was trying to avoid, her fatigue probably multiplied.
‘What kind of wealth and glory are you really trying to enjoy?’
As she walked, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
Why bother going through all this trouble?
‘He said he’d come, but he didn’t show up to see me?’
Moreover, she felt anger toward the man who had failed to show himself even once.
She was toiling like this, and he only glanced at injured women before vanishing.
“If that was the case, I might as well have gotten hurt myself.”
Should she curse her perfectly healthy body?
Moyong Hi-ah felt astonished by her own words despite being the one who uttered them.
It was an immature remark that didn’t fit her character.
Then, she licked her lips.
“…I hope he’s not hurt.”
She worried for the safety of the man she had just been cursing.
With all the rumors swirling, it was impossible not to have heard of his antics.
How did this mess come about?
Every time she recalled the events that transpired, a throbbing pain pulsed through her head.
‘…This isn’t good.’
It’s not about the ambush itself.
Of course, that’s a part of it, but let’s set that aside since it’s already happened.
The real issue was the future.
In the Shinryonggwan, where the descendants of noble lineages were congregated.
There had been a raid that resulted in dozens of deaths among the members present.
At this moment, whether the Murim Alliance was aware or not, they were taking no action.
‘They probably don’t know, and that’s why everything is stalled.’
If the situation becomes known later,
It would spell crisis.
The crisis of the Murim Alliance.
She could already foresee what might unfold.
Moyong Hi-ah kept brushing her hair back.
The sensation of dried blood caught in her fingers made her cringe.
In the midst of that, what flitted through her mind was the first thing that would happen once things reached this point.
Far more worrying than her own filthy appearance.
It simply couldn’t be helped.
“If it continues like this…”
What would happen to the Murim Alliance? What would become of the Shinryonggwan? All these thoughts intertwined in Moyong Hi-ah’s mind.
And the most crucial aspect of that situation was something entirely different.
That is…
“My father will come…”
The head of the Moyong family, the White Sky Sword Master.
The situation had escalated to the point where he would have to intervene personally.
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