172 - Mission, Stealth (3) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

"A total mess," Dang Hwa-seo described the current situation. "Are there no more? Tsk, were they just spineless swine after all?" In front of Dang Hwa-seo, Namgung Jincheon shook his hands, exhaling deeply. Beneath his feet, the ringleader's guards were all twitching, with broken parts of their bodies. It was just a mission, and they should have endured a bit, but they caused a commotion just because Seo Ye disappeared. Dang Hwa-seo seriously pondered what sin she had committed in her past life to deserve this kind of hardship. The conclusion she reached was: "It's all due to my lack of virtue." Should she start offering prayers with Ilwoon from today onwards? She was contemplating this when a deep voice echoed through the space. "What's happening here?" Dang Hwa-seo's gaze turned towards the source of the voice. There stood a man in black martial attire, unlike the others who weren't wearing masks. "Is he a high-ranking individual?" She felt so. The aura emanating from him was extraordinary. "At least a supreme master." Dang Hwa-seo felt tension rising within her. "And who might you be?" Namgung Jincheon addressed the man. The man replied, "I asked what happened before." "There's no need to explain that to swine." "Swine, you say? What confidence is that?" The man's scar contorted with his frown. Dang Hwa-seo felt as if blood was rising backward in her veins. "Namcheon, let me explain." "What's there to explain about such a trivial matter..." "I said I would handle it." Dang Hwa-seo's eyes widened. Namgung Jincheon flinched. It seemed he only came to his senses when she got angry. Dang Hwa-seo, promising to deal with the aftermath, shifted her gaze from Namgung Jincheon and faced the man. "There was an accident during the test." "Would you call this an accident?" "The problem is that the enemy was too weak. Just one of our members was enough to devastate them." "That member seems stronger than you. Does Haomun command the weak with the strong?" "As you can see, the lord favors me because of my temperament." "How amusing." The man let out a hollow laugh. "So, what do you plan to do about this situation?" Dang Hwa-seo pondered for a moment. "We need to manage this situation and continue with the test." No matter what, they needed to secure a private audience with the ringleader. Although things turned out this way, it wasn't necessarily bad. At least they had proven they were worthy of reaching the ringleader's presence. "Survival of the fittest, the law of the jungle. Isn't that the rule of the underworld?" "What are you trying to say?" "Why should we bear responsibility for the weak being eliminated?" The man's gaze sharpened. Dang Hwa-seo felt her breathing become slightly constrained by the intensity in his eyes. But... "We must not back down." Showing weakness here could jeopardize their mission. Just as Dang Hwa-seo was about to step forward, "So, what's the next test?" Mok Riwon stepped in front of Dang Hwa-seo, taking the brunt of the man's intensity. "There was one more, wasn't there?" He must be referring to their level of skill. "Muwon..." Dang Hwa-seo called Mok Riwon's pseudonym. Mok Riwon reassured her with his back turned. "If there was?" "If he's at least a supreme master, he must be a key force of Haomun. Why would he leave the lord to come here?" "It's because it was an order." "Why would the lord give such an order?" "People who are fearful tend to be suspicious. It's a narrow-minded man." Mok Riwon mocked lightly. Dang Hwa-seo was taken aback. "Was Young Hero Mok this good at acting?" She had noticed him learning something from Ma Il-seok and Jaemun recently. It seemed acting was part of that learning. The man stared at Mok Riwon, his brow furrowing. "I am Yeongunok, the chief guard of the ringleader. What is your name?" "Muwon. I have no title." "Fine. If that's what you wish, you may proceed to the next test." Yeongunok signaled a subordinate, who nodded and headed elsewhere. "Follow me." With that, Yeongunok turned away. Mok Riwon finally looked back at Dang Hwa-seo, his eyes sparkling as if seeking praise. Dang Hwa-seo slightly lifted the corners of her mouth, mouthing the words: "Well done." Mok Riwon seemed very pleased with the recognition. * In the ringleader's chamber of the Black Faction, Seo Ye remained detained. The ringleader still sat oddly behind the curtain. 'Such a suspicious person...' Do Eungang, one of the most peculiar among all the past ringleaders of the Black Faction, kept her confined probably to prevent her from taking any action after leaving this place. He likely wanted to assess what the others, without his directive, would do. 'Should I reveal my identity here?' If she declared that they were emissaries from the White Path Martial Alliance seeking a private audience with him, what reaction would she receive? Seo Ye could easily guess. 'He wouldn't believe it. Even if he did, he would question their qualifications. If the alliance sent someone insignificant, he might consider it unworthy of his time.' He was a man who weighed many things when observing people. If the alliance's representative did not meet his criteria, he might take it as an insult from the alliance itself. Even if she disclosed their true identity or intentions, the ringleader wouldn't listen. He valued his unique standards over others. Seo Ye sighed. 'Will everything be alright?' Her main concern was Namgung Jincheon. While Mok Riwon might be managed by Dang Hwa-seo, Namgung Jincheon was like a walking disaster, potentially causing trouble if not closely watched. She wondered if she should pray for his restraint. While she was lost in thought: "Ringleader." The gatekeeper entered. "One of the Haomun warriors has annihilated the Black Wing Squad. His name is Namcheon, a supreme master." Seo Ye clenched her teeth. 'This man, just couldn't hold back!' Did he cause trouble already? Her frustration surged, but then the gatekeeper continued: "There's another report of a supreme master. The chief commander is currently testing them." After the report, silence filled the room. Just as Seo Ye felt the silence was suffocating, the ringleader spoke: "Leave us." He was addressing the gatekeeper, who bowed and exited the ringleader's chamber. Once the door shut with a thud, the ringleader spoke: "Two supreme masters. What do you have to say for yourself?" Seo Ye clenched her fist. 'It's too soon to be discovered.' She had hoped the ringleader would only learn of this after their private meeting. Seo Ye exhaled softly, her frustration at the uncooperative circumstances evident. 'I'll remember this as a debt.' She wasn't going to let her efforts go unpaid. "Having a warrior affiliated with the faction is also beneficial for Haomun." "Do you intend to steal internal information?" "It wouldn't be bad news for you, ringleader. After all, any internal information would mainly concern other black path factions." "Why should I believe your words?" "Do you have a reason not to?" "How can I trust a woman who backstabbed her master to take the lord's seat?" "That's precisely why you should trust me." Seo Ye straightened her back and stated confidently: "I have the ambition, and I'm a useful tool. Plus, you can easily overpower me if necessary." The ringleader fell silent. Seo Ye tried to continue persuading him. "So..." "Enough." The ringleader interrupted her. "That's all I need to hear." Was it a success? Seo Ye's eyes gleamed with hope. But the ringleader wasn't the type to indulge in others' aspirations. "Six is too many, and two supreme masters are excessive. Only allow three. Have them fight amongst themselves and let the surviving three become my guards." Seo Ye's breath halted. * The test continued twice more. The first was defeating the top-ranked members of the guard squad in a two-on-one battle. Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon were excluded from this test. Fortunately, the other four managed to overpower them, concluding the second test. The third test, identifying assassins, was also passed without difficulty by all six, setting the stage for the next challenge. Mok Riwon closely observed the vast training ground they entered, devoid of any special mechanisms. Yeongunok stood before them, arms crossed. Mok Riwon asked: "What is the next test?" "Don't fret; I was about to explain." Mok Riwon narrowed his eyes. Yeongunok's martial prowess seemed average even among supreme masters. Without seeing him wield a weapon, it was hard to gauge his true strength, but Mok Riwon felt confident in his chances against him. For a chief commander, his martial power seemed lacking. 'Why would that be?' Why would the ringleader appoint such a man as the chief commander? Mok Riwon pondered. 'Is it due to a lack of talent within the Black Faction?' That seemed unlikely, as Mok Riwon could immediately think of several high-level martial artists within the Black Faction. Many of them, he knew, were indeed part of the Black Faction. Thus, the more plausible reason seemed to be: 'The ringleader is confident in his own power.' The man had held his position in the Black Faction unusually long. Mok Riwon concluded that if someone could maintain such a role, they were likely at the transcendental level. 'He's known to be a peculiar person.' What was the true purpose of this test? While pondering this, an event unfolded. "What is this madness?" Namgung Jincheon's aura turned fiercely aggressive. Mok Riwon also frowned. 'Martial artists are gathering.' Dozens of martial artists were converging around the training ground. Each one was beyond mere fodder. Soon, the other team members sensed their presence. Before they knew it, they were encircled. The Black Faction martial artists surrounded the arena. Yeongunok gave a skewed smile. "The ringleader commands it." "A command?" "Six is too many. Two supreme masters are too many as well. Namcheon and Muwon, you two will fight a duel to the death. The same goes for the other four. Only the survivors will be allowed as the ringleader's guards." Mok Riwon froze. Yeongunok continued: "As I said, it's a duel to the death. If one side doesn't die, it won't be considered a victory." Dang Hwa-seo immediately objected. "The lord would never allow such a thing..." "What will you do if not? This is the Black Faction." The team members were at a loss for words. Mok Riwon looked at Namgung Jincheon, who was also staring back. His eyes blazed with fury. "...Namcheon hyung." "How much longer must I endure?" Endure what? The question was unnecessary. Since Seo Ye's detention, Namgung Jincheon had been seething with rage, ready to create havoc at the slightest provocation to rescue her. Mok Riwon understood that sentiment, or at least the frustration with the current situation. The idea of team members fighting to the death was abhorrent to him. "Team leader." He called Dang Hwa-seo. She seemed deeply contemplative, then sighed heavily. "There's no easy way out." With a tsk, she spoke. "Let's end this charade." She decided on the course of action. At her words, Yeongunok and the Black Faction martial artists bristled with hostility. "You're choosing to rebel?" "To be held and toyed with while our lord is detained, how much longer should we play along?" Even amidst this, Dang Hwa-seo made sure to continue the pretense. "Everyone." Now was the time to act. "Break through and retrieve our lord." Act as loyal disciples. At her command, Namgung Jincheon was the first to draw his sword. "I've been displeased from the start." In a blink, Namgung Jincheon closed in on Yeongunok, who hadn't even drawn his sword yet. "Begone, ugly." With a snap, Namgung Jincheon used the hilt of his sword to strike Yeongunok's nose, channeling his internal energy.