70 - Missions, Intelligence (1) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Kwon Pyo-Wol was formidable, and his martial prowess was unrivaled. A single statement was sufficient to describe the martial arts competition that day. Among the members of Yongbong Clan who followed after Mok Riwon, only Namgung Jincheon managed to somewhat exchange blows with Kwon Pyo-Wol. Although it was a situation that could bring about despair due to the overwhelming difference in their martial realms, these individuals were considered the promising talent of the next generation within the martial arts world. They were not so frail as to crumble from a single defeat. "Gasp!" The training hall of the Yongbong Clan was filled with the sound of heavy breathing and the warmth of their exertion. The three training grounds were seldom empty, busy even under the sun and staying so until after sunset. Five days had passed since the day of the martial arts competition. The young warriors, having witnessed a higher realm, were engrossed in their training in an attempt to overcome their defeat. "Orders have come through." They too were assigned a mission. In the office of the Yongbong Clan leader, as Dang Hwa-Seo flipped through a document he held in his hands, five pairs of eyes followed his every move. The expressions that appeared were varied. "Finally!" If Mok Riwon had a tail, he might have been spinning it like a windmill out of sheer excitement. "Eventually..." Jegal San and Hye-Un seemed bothered. "Hmm." Namgung Jincheon and Il-Woon remained impassive. Though the variety of reactions was entertaining to watch, Dang Hwa-Seo’s expression darkened. 'Leading these people?' Already? "Where are we going?!" To Mok Riwon's inquiry, Dang Hwa-Seo felt a sigh almost escaping his lips. After all, wasn’t it the case? 'Spying is tough.' Except for Jegal San, these individuals did not fit the spy profile. And their task was exactly that—spying. “...We're heading to Shaanxi.” "Shaanxi! The same Shaanxi where Mt. Hua and Mount Zhongnan are located?!" Worry was always Dang Hwa-Seo’s portion to bear. Mok Riwon just shivered in anticipation of another adventure, while the others barely hid their excitement about the outing. Dang Hwa-Seo felt a cold sweat running down his back. '...Two weeks until departure.' More rigorous training by Yeom So-So was necessary. * Yeom So-So felt puzzled by Dang Hwa-Seo’s request. It had been a long while since she last experienced such a feeling. "Turning them into spies? In just two weeks? By me?" "...I’m sorry." Dang Hwa-Seo was truly apologetic, yet it couldn’t be helped. It was their first mission since the establishment of the Yongbong Clan. The importance of success in this mission, even a partial one, for the sake of their performance, didn’t need to be stated. Yeom So-So was well aware of Dang Hwa-Seo’s predicament. "Hmm..." Yeom So-So mused thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. Laid out before her were four novices whose skills were far from mature. Given her profession as an assassin, Yeom So-So was more than capable in matters of espionage, though these youths posed a challenge even for her. 'At least those two...' Il-Woon and Hye-Un would at least pretend to listen when spoken to. They were the type to improve after being defeated in a match. However... "...Can't we just leave those two behind?" Yeom So-So looked at Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon, suggesting. Dang Hwa-Seo suppressed the urge to agree. "That, that's absurd...!" Mok Riwon looked at Dang Hwa-Seo with pleading eyes, while Namgung Jincheon narrowed his eyes. All that Dang Hwa-Seo could manage was a sigh. "...It’s an all-hands mission." "Ugh." Yeom So-So clicked her tongue, pondering over another solution. 'This is going to be tough.' Truly, she could swear there weren’t many situations this challenging, even during the era of the Blood Society. Yeom So-So’s furrows deepened. It was at that moment, she came up with a fairly plausible plan. "Ah." The hopeful expectation brightened Dang Hwa-Seo’s face at Yeom So-So’s exclamation. "Is there a way?" "If it’s a method, then yes, there is one." Yeom So-So’s gaze turned back to Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon. "Hmm, how about this. Since teaching them various skills is impractical, we should focus on instilling just one specific role that's limited to this mission." It was akin to mastering just one question for a test. Dang Hwa-Seo’s face lit up at Yeom So-So’s strategy. * In the absence of the three members who had departed to avoid failing, Dang Hwa-Seo spoke beside Yeom So-So, watching the two men. “The objective of this mission is to locate the whereabouts of the demon cultists hiding in Shaanxi.” “Hmm? Aren’t Mt. Hua and Mount Zhongnan handling it themselves?” “They are in motion too, but surely they are too well-known to evade notice. There are gaps they haven’t managed to penetrate due to their visibility. Our task is to investigate those areas.” “So….” “Yes, we’ll be going in disguise.” Mok Riwon’s eyes sparkled. The mere thought of what kind of disguise he would wear was exciting. However, his anticipation did not last long. “Ah, the disguises will only be worn by Geom Ryong, myself, and Monk Il-Woon.” “Why?!” "Mok Sohyeop's face isn't well-known. Jegal is quite skilled in acting, so there's no worry of being recognized by his looks, and Baekbong, well, unless you are not from Yongbong branch, you wouldn't have seen him outside." No matter how well-crafted a mask is, there would be some level of awkwardness. To reduce the awkwardness perceived by outsiders, it was necessary for some members to show their true faces. Three members were suitable for this role. This was a decision made with some degree of rationality. As Mok Riwon began to sulk, Dang Hwa-Seo continued speaking. "Our identities will be those of local merchants' sons and servants from Gyeongseong coming to tour the area. Geom Ryong, Mok Sohyeop, and I will take on the role of the sons, and the rest will act as servants." Namgung Jincheon nodded at these words, a hint of satisfaction on his face. "A fitting identity indeed." Namgung Jincheon was unaware. The reason he was to play a young master's role was due to his strikingly cold eyes, which no mask could cover. Most of his journey would be spent confined within a carriage. Of course, there was no intent to share such details. Dang Hwa-Seo clapped his hands together and said, "So, starting today for two weeks, you two will learn to act like the spoiled sons of rich merchants." Yeom So-So chuckled and took over. "Now, start insulting each other." Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon's gazes met. * Frankly speaking, Mok Riwon had been gentle from a young age, never one to speak harshly to others. Even when his emotions ran high, his words were never of slander. He even had a naive side that felt hurt when speaking harshly to others. "Yo-you scum...!" Mok Riwon clenched his eyes shut, his body trembling as he struggled to continue, but it was not easy. On the other hand, what about Namgung Jincheon? "Trash." He was inherently arrogant and unruly. Essentially, even without acting, he was already a perfect rascal just without his martial prowess. Mok Riwon inhaled sharply as if wounded, but Namgung Jincheon did not stop. "Know your place, scum. Bow your head. Don’t breathe so freely. How dare you make such a face in front of someone like me?" Every word was like a dagger. Mok Riwon gasped for breath. He needed to retaliate, but he didn’t know how to respond with harsh words. His gaze naturally turned to Dang Hwa-Seo, pleading for help. Dang Hwa-Seo felt a surge of pity for him. 'Maybe assigning him the role of a polite young master would have been...' No, that wouldn’t do. Dang Hwa-Seo shook his head, hardening his resolve. The important part of this mission in Shaanxi was stirring trouble in various places, a task Namgung Jincheon, confined in a carriage, couldn't do. It had to be Mok Riwon. Dang Hwa-Seo made up his mind to be stern. "Mok Sohyeop! Is that all you’ve got!" "But, but...!" "Counterattack now!" Mok Riwon's eyebrows trembled. Dang Hwa-Seo felt a wrench in his heart seeing his look full of betrayal. But all this was for Mok Riwon’s sake. Dang Hwa-Seo willingly played the villain. Yeom So-So thought as she watched this farce unfold, 'At least there’s never a dull moment.' To her, as long as it wasn't her business, their antics were amusing to watch. * Walking down the corridor of the alliance, Mok Riwon's expression was despondent. It had been a week. Now even other members joined in, and Mok Riwon, bombarded with harsh words all day, couldn’t find a moment of peace and thus snuck out. "...Geom Ryong?" The voice that reached him belonged to none other than Golden Sword Kwon Pyo-Wol. Mok Riwon’s head turned swiftly, and his face brightened. "Golden Sword Daehyeop!" "What’s wrong? You look quite pale." Overwhelmed by emotion at those words, Mok Riwon felt a surge of grievances he wanted to pour out. Just as he was about to start lamenting, he noticed Kwon Pyo-Wol’s scabbard. "Da, Daehyeop! Your scabbard!" "Ah, this?" Kwon Pyo-Wol’s scabbard was no longer golden. He was wearing a shabby one that any martial artist might own. "I felt it didn’t suit me yet. So I’ve put it aside for a while." A smile, almost of relief, played on Kwon Pyo-Wol’s face as he caressed the scabbard. Mok Riwon momentarily expressed confusion but soon smiled back. "I see." There must have been some change in his sentiments. Mok Riwon did not pry further. Instead, he simply said, "Congratulations. It seems you’ve had some enlightenment!" "Just a minor realization." Kwon Pyo-Wol chuckled and waved his hand dismissively, then pressed Mok Riwon again, "But why that look on your face?" Worry marked his face. Mok Riwon felt touched anew, shivered briefly, then exhaled deeply with a sigh and shared his troubles. The outpouring of grievances lasted for a long stretch of time, almost an entire hour. Having listened to the entire story, Kwon Pyo-Wol stroked his chin and nodded. "Hmm, it certainly is a difficult task. Inflicting wounds on someone’s heart with your words." "Exactly! How can I act maliciously towards someone who hasn't committed any wrongdoing? Truly, among everyone, I believe Geom Ryong is the worst!" Kwon Pyo-Wol laughed awkwardly. 'It seems he’s not on good terms with Geom Ryong.' Noting Mok Riwon's innocent nature, Kwon Pyo-Wol pondered over what helpful advice he could offer. Having dealt with enough espionage missions during the era of the Blood Society, he reminisced about how he had overcome similar challenges during his training. "Ah." An idea emerged. "How about trying this?" Mok Riwon leaned in, curious. Kwon Pyo-Wol's smile held a touch of mischief. After their covert conversation, the next day at the training hall. "...Unbelievable." Dang Hwa-Seo was astounded.