Chapter 532

Light Novel: Volume 22 Episode 7
Manhwa: N/A

Seo Woo-il had a very regular routine.

Waking up at dawn, the first thing he did was to drink a cup of tea, followed by cultivating his energy. 

Only after meditating would his daily routine officially begin.

After washing up and having a meal, he would then review the information that had come in overnight.

Even after leaving the Celestial Martial Sect, his habits continued. Such equanimity allowed him to maintain these routines.

He didn’t easily get excited about anything, maintaining his composure and rationality at all times.

This was why he was entrusted with important missions in the Celestial Martial Sect.

Only those who were trusted by the Celestial Martial Sect could be entrusted with the task of secretly supporting Jang Mugeuk. 

“Ha! What is this?”

A look of disbelief appeared on Seo Woo-il’s face as he stepped outside.

Three chests were placed in the courtyard of the guest house he was staying in.

Upon opening the chests, he found them filled with silver ingots.

All three chests were packed with silver ingots.

On the lid of the chests, there was a sealed letter.

Seo Woo-il took out the letter and read it.

“Ha!”

He exclaimed in disbelief.

The letter read:

[We refuse your request. Herein, we send triple the penalty fee. From the head of the Nine Yin Sect.]

“How dare a mere assassin sect like the Nine Yin Sect reject a request from the Celestial Martial Sect?”

Anger flashed across Seo Woo-il’s face.

After the absurd moment passed, deep anger began to boil from within the depths of his heart.

He had spent his entire life serving the Celestial Martial Sect, but never had he encountered such an absurd moment.

He truly did not expect a mere assassin sect to dare refuse a request from the Celestial Martial Sect.

“You’re so desperate to die, head of the Nine Yin Sect!”

The fact that the Nine Yin Sect sent triple the penalty fee didn’t even register to him.

After all, such an amount wouldn’t impact the Celestial Martial Sect in any way.

What mattered was that a mere assassin group dared to defy the Celestial Martial Sect.

It was then.

“Lord!”

The door suddenly burst open and a subordinate entered.

He knelt down in front of Seo Woo-il and said,

“We’ve received word from the Talhon Sect. They say they refused to accept the request from the Celestial Martial Sect.”

“What?”

“Furthermore, they have sent three times the penalty fee.”

“Did the Talhon Sect really send that message?”

“Yes.”

As the subordinate replied with an apologetic expression, Seo Woo-il’s face twisted. Just then, another subordinate rushed inside the room.

“My lord!”

“What is it? Don’t tell me another assassin sect has withdrawn their request?”

“H, How did you know?”

“You mean it’s really true?”

“Yes! They also sent three times the penalty fee.”

The subordinate’s answer left Seo Woo-il stunned and speechless for a moment.

These were assassin sects they had contacted with difficulty, agreeing on a contract with a significant amount of silver. Now, all of them had withdrawn from the deal, paying three times the penalty fee.

“It’s not a coincidence. Something is happening in the world of assassin sects.”

Seo Woo-il sensed that something was wrong.

He despised assassins.

He didn’t even regard them as fellow human beings.

Murderous fiends who kill people for money without any mission or justice.

Thus, he only saw them as tools to be used, not people deserving of respect.

Yet, each and every one of the assassin sects they attempted to get in contact with refused to take their request and sent in their penalty fees.

“There must be something happening behind the scenes.”

A sense of crisis began to creep up on him.

In such cases, nine times out of ten, something big is underway.

“There’s no way that the assassin sects, with their sand-like cohesion, have suddenly voluntarily united. If so, then has someone forced them to move?”

It was the worst-case scenario, causing him to furrow his brow deeply.

Though he considered the assassins of the sects less than vermin, there was no greater catastrophe if they had somehow united.

“It can’t be, right? It won’t be! But still, we need to investigate.”

Having organized his thoughts, Seo Woo-il looked at his subordinates.

“From now on, stop all other activities and focus on understanding the movements of the assassin sects.”

“As you command!” 

“Hurry.”

“Yes!”

The subordinates responded and dashed out.

Left alone, Seo Woo-il murmured to himself.

“I should handle this quietly without informing the young leader.”

He knew all too well how strong Jang Mugeuk’s pride was. If he found out that they had intervened without his knowledge, he would go ballistic.

That was why he had always handled things secretly without Jang Mugeuk’s knowledge in the Celestial Martial Sect. 

This time was no different.

Even though he unexpectedly encountered a snag, he was confident he could handle it without Jang Mugeuk finding out.

* * *

Do Yeonsan and Eunyo emerged from the ant hill.

The place they came out wasn’t the shabby warehouse. It was a thicket behind a large tree, far from the warehouse.

“So, this is where it leads to.”

Do Yeonsan marveled.

He had anticipated the ant hill to be vast, but he hadn’t expected it to extend this far.

Do Yeonsan reached down his hand. Then, Eunyo took his hand and climbed up to the surface. 

Eunyo took a moment to catch her breath and looked around.

She felt the clear air and the warm sunlight.

Just coming up to the surface made her feel revitalized all over.

She had been forced to live her entire life in the shadows of the Xiaoleiyin Temple. As a result, she was more accustomed to life underground than above ground. But after being rescued by Pyo-wol, she had adapted to life on the surface.

She never wanted to miss the air and sunlight that stimulated her skin again. She was prepared to fight any enemy to maintain her current lifestyle.

At that moment, Do Yeonsan tightened his grip on her hand.

“Hm?”

“It’s them.”

Do Yeonsan whispered to Eunyo.

The direction he pointed was far towards the abandoned warehouse.

In the bushes clearly visible from the warehouse, two men were hiding and watching.

They were the watchers attached by Namgung Seol.

“It’s damp.”

Eunyo said.

She could see the damp energy flowing along the bodies of the watchers.

Those who operate in the shadows rather than in the light often carry such energy.

Do Yeonsan agreed with her observation.

“Damp and rough. Doesn’t seem like skilled watchers. What should we do?”

“Let’s quietly go back. There’s no need to stir up trouble.”

“Got it!”

Do Yeonsan followed her decision without a word.

Do Yeonsan, while not considering himself unintelligent, knew that Eunyo was far superior and thus readily followed her lead without objection.

The two quietly made their way out of the forest without the watcher noticing.

Once out of the forest, they traveled a different route than they had come.

They had been walking for a while until—

“Huh?”

Do Yeonsan suddenly let out a guarded sound.

“What is it?”

Eunyo looked at him with a puzzled expression. Then, Do Yeonsan responded with a frustrated look.

“Up ahead… one of those guys from earlier is there.”

“Are you talking about the Snowflake Sword Squad?”

“Yes!”

To be exact, it was the leader of the Snowflake Sword Squad, Ahn Ji-san, leaning against a tree by the roadside.

He was looking directly at the two of them.

Just by looking at his gaze alone, they could clearly tell.

That he was waiting for them.

Ahn Ji-san muttered,

“I waited here just in case…”

He didn’t feel assured enough just attaching his men to them, so he stayed behind and guarded another path by himself. 

Do Yeonsan and Eunyo might have chosen a path less known to people, but Ahn Ji-san knew this path as well.

This was because he had mastered the terrain of the area in order to properly support Namgung Seol. Even the smallest side path in the Duchang area, he was well familiar with it. 

If Eunyo and Do Yeonsan were to come by any other route, this was the only place they could come through. And as he predicted, the two appeared.

The two approached Ahn Ji-san nonchalantly and tried to pass by as if nothing had happened.

Ahn Ji-san called out to them,

“Wait, I need to talk to you!”

“You’re the person we met earlier. What do you want?”

Do Yeonsan responded with a calm expression.

“Didn’t you see my subordinates by any chance?”

“How would I know your subordinates?”

“Have you really not seen them?”

“We parted ways earlier, didn’t we? How could we have seen them?”

Ahn Ji-san scrutinized Do Yeonsan’s face closely.

It was a secret that he had ordered his men to track the two. So, Do Yeonsan’s response was not strange.

At least, if they were unaware that they were being tracked.

Ahn Ji-san’s eyes sharpened like a blade.

He had become the leader of the Snowflake Sword Squad because he had been enchanted by Namgung Seol, and for that, he was condemned by many.

For a promising warrior to be bewitched by a temptress, abandoning the ambition a man should naturally possess, it was natural that he would be criticized. 

But though many pointed fingers at him, Ahn Ji-san did not regret his choice.

Even though he was bound to Namgung Seol, he still retained his former discernment and senses.

‘Strange!’

The absence of his subordinates was odd, and their too-calm demeanor was also strange. Above all, he had felt uneasy the entire time he observed the two. It had been a long time since he had felt this way.

Do Yeonsan said,

“If you have nothing more to say, we’ll be leaving now.”

He and Eunyo walked past Ahn Ji-san.

Ahn Ji-san bit his lip as he watched them leave. 

A gleam of conflict flashed in his eyes.

“Wait, stop!”

“What is it?”

The moment Do Yeonsan turned around, Ahn Ji-san swiftly drew his sword and thrust it forward.

It was his specialty– Quick Sword.

Swoosh!

With a chilling sound of slicing air, Ahn Ji-san’s sword shot towards Do Yeonsan’s throat.

“What are you doing?”

Crash!

Do Yeonsan concentrated his energy on the back of his hand to deflect Ahn Ji-san’s sword. 

Since he reacted instinctively, his deflection wasn’t perfect, leaving a long gash on the back of his hand, but considering he was dealing with a sword with his bare hands, it was only a minor wound.

“So, you have a trick up your sleeve. Reveal your true identity.”

“You’re insane! For you to attack us out of the blue…!”

“Hmph! If you won’t speak for yourself, I’ll make you.”

“Who do you think will be defeated?”

Swoosh!

Do Yeonsan counterattacked by swinging both fists.

A powerful energy aimed at Ahn Ji-san’s chest.

Ahn Ji-san, not daring to underestimate, swung his sword to block Do Yeonsan’s attack.

Just as Ahn Ji-san was about to counterattack after deflecting Do Yeonsan’s blow,

Bang!

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, an explosive sound came from his back.

Eunyo, who had been standing still, took advantage of the opportunity and landed a blow on Ahn Ji-san’s back.

Ahn Ji-san tumbled several times on the ground.

Luckily, he was able to concentrate his energy just before Eunyo’s blow landed, so he avoided suffering from any serious internal injuries, but he couldn’t prevent the shaking of his internal organs to some extent.

It was his mistake to assume she was blind because of her unfocused eyes. He hadn’t expected a blind person to conceal such martial arts skills.

“How dare a woman—!”

Swoosh!

Ahn Ji-san attacked Eunyo.

But Eunyo was no easy opponent.

In fact, in terms of martial destructive power, she was superior to Ahn Ji-san.

Eunyo had originally intended to pass by Ahn Ji-san quietly.

She didn’t want to draw attention by causing a disturbance. However, Ahn Ji-san’s preemptive strike had thwarted her hopes.

If passing quietly was no longer an option, she had to subdue Ahn Ji-san as quickly as possible.

“Ugh!”

Ahn Ji-san was quickly cornered by the coordinated attack of the two.

He hadn’t expected two people so young to possess such outstanding martial arts skills.

He regretted his decision to attack so hastily. Fortunately, there were those who rushed to his rescue.

“Leader!”

“These bastards!”

The shouting and charging martial artists  were the martial artists of the Snowflake Sword Squad.

They had heard of Ahn Ji-san’s predicament and were rushing to his rescue.

“Damn it! Let’s escape.”

Do Yeonsan told Eunyo.

Eunyo nodded and quickly pulled herself out of the way.

Bang!

Do Yeonsan delivered a powerful blow to Ahn Ji-san and then ran away after her.

“Chase them!”

Ahn Ji-san’s urgent voice echoed from behind.

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SoundlessWind21’s notes:

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