173 - Mission, Stealth (4) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

The Ringleader's chamber was not far from here. Visible to the naked eye, the black hall could be reached in a flash if one did not get distracted. The problem was the guards of the Ringleader's chamber that had gathered here. "Bind them!!!" The number that had quickly gathered was easily over a hundred. Each one was at the pinnacle of their cultivation, with some just stepping into the threshold of transcendent beings. It likely wouldn't be easy to break through them head-on. 'But...!' There was no other way. Mok Riwon would rather face this threat than play along with their intentions to have the team members duel to the death. It was one of the rare moments when Namgung Jincheon's thoughts aligned with his. "There's a transcendent being! I'll block them!" "It's me." Namgung Jincheon pushed Mok Riwon aside and stepped forward. The surge that followed was the immense inner power of Namgung Jincheon, surpassing even his renowned cultivation level. He raised his sword high. "Dispose of the rabble!" He swung down his sword, and a dozen black-clad warriors rushing towards them were instantly knocked down. The only ones still standing were the transcendent beings, though they were far from unscathed. It was expected. Even Mok Riwon couldn't defeat Namgung Jincheon in a direct confrontation unless it was through their unique martial techniques. "Wow! As expected of Namcheon hyung!" Jegal San excitedly followed behind Namgung Jincheon, intuitively knowing it was the safest place to be. "Mowon!" Dang Hwa-seo called out. At that moment, Mok Riwon nodded and flicked his dark blade on the ground. With each bounce, the sword sped up, and as its form blurred due to the speed, Mok Riwon dashed forward. 'Target the transcendent beings!' There were still three left. One of them sneakily approaching Dang Hwa-seo was detected. 'An assassin.' While the assassin's venomous intent at transcendent cultivation was noteworthy, an assassin becomes vulnerable the moment their killing intent is discovered. Mok Riwon lightly stepped on the ground and performed a sword dance right in front of the assassin, executing his fastest strike, the Soul-Severing Flash. The surprised assassin managed to defend late, avoiding a fatal wound but was already bleeding from several cuts. Mok Riwon's blade, influenced by the heavenly killing star, sharpened his focus further. 'Counterattack. The throat, the solar plexus, the Achilles tendon. Attacks with a hidden dagger.' The assassin's chilly intent made the targeted areas tingle, but it wasn't an issue. Mok Riwon twisted his body, deflecting the thrown dagger and continued his sword dance. "I will not take your life." He precisely cut only 20% into the assassin's limb meridians, which, if properly treated, would heal without lasting effects. The assassin collapsed. Mok Riwon looked back at Namgung Jincheon. "Get lost―!" His usual calmness was replaced with an outburst of rage. Mok Riwon admired that. 'You truly cared deeply!' How worried must he be for Seo Ye to act out of character! Mok Riwon acknowledged Namgung Jincheon's depth of feeling. If the situation had been less dire, he might have even given a thumbs up. "Uh, sorry to interrupt." While engaging another warrior targeting him from behind, Mok Riwon continued to follow Namgung Jincheon. Their combined assault paved a clear path to the Ringleader's chamber. * Surprisingly, making their way through was not as difficult as Dang Hwa-seo had anticipated, causing an unsettling feeling to grow within her. 'It's too easy?' This is the Black Clan Alliance, where the elite of the martial underworld reside. Even considering Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon's extraordinary powers, the ease of their progress was puzzling. 'A trap.' That possibility came to mind, not merely as a passing worry. The number of pursuers was noticeably dwindling. 'If it's a trap, where is it?' What kind of setup was waiting, or was it using the captive Seo Ye as bait? Numerous scenarios played out in her mind. As Dang Hwa-seo maintained her strategic thinking while breaking through, she realized the nature of her unease upon reaching the entrance of the Ringleader's chamber. 'This is it!' Five warriors stood at the entrance, each holding different weapons and donned in black robes. Their exposed cultivation levels revealed they were all well into their transcendent phases. "Mowon! Namcheon!" She called out to Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon, who immediately prepared for combat upon sensing the formidable presence of the warriors. 'I can't offer much help!' Facing five transcendent beings was daunting. On their side, they had two transcendent beings and four at the peak of their cultivation. The odds were not in their favor. At best, she could lend her poison and Jegal San's makeshift formations to assist the two, but that was about it. "The Ringleader won't be reachable." Boom! The warrior in the center, wielding a large moon blade, slammed it on the ground and declared their intent. A crimson aura enveloped him, signifying his immense power. Dang Hwa-seo assessed the situation quickly. 'The other four won't make a move?' Why was that? As she pondered, Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon launched an attack on the warrior. Despite their impeccable coordination and powerful strike, it was blocked. Two of the five warriors, who had remained stationary until then, sprang forward to assist their comrade in countering the attack. Dang Hwa-seo realized their strategy. "Sister." Jegal San called out to her, his face showing a hint of distress. She nodded in understanding. "They're planning to block the entrance, concentrating all their energy on defense." In the heart of the Black Clan Alliance's domain, such a delay would be disastrous. 'The entire force of the Black Clan Alliance will...' Converge on this location. * "What will you do now?" The Ringleader inquired. Seo Ye hesitated, weighing her options carefully. The report of Yongbong Clan's aggressive advance had just been delivered, and there was no way to conceal their actions within the Black Clan Alliance now. 'What were they thinking...?' No, the situation had forced their hand. The proposed duel among team members left no choice but a bold move. "Will you remain silent?" "No..." "Then what?" "Allow them inside." If it had come to this, a direct confrontation was the only way forward. She had to reveal truths she had withheld, considering the Ringleader's nature. "They come from the Central Plains martial world, sent by the Martial Alliance as emissaries. Acting rashly now could complicate matters." "Why should I believe that?" "Why shouldn't you?" "You could have conspired with these assassins to target me." "I don't have the power to summon such formidable fighters to my side." "Even the deadliest poisons don't differentiate between cultivation levels." "Yet no poison can overcome transcendence." "But even the transcendent are merely human." "Consider the opposite: if what I say is true, can you handle the aftermath?" "At least I'd survive another day." His skepticism was daunting. Seo Ye bit back her frustration, strategizing her next move in the ensuing silence. Then, an idea struck her. "It's for the benefit of the Dark Path!" The Ringleader paused, considering her claim. "For the Dark Path?" "I made a deal! In exchange for allowing them entry, I gain something valuable!" It was a lie. No such agreement existed. But that didn't matter now. If she could later secure such a promise, the current fabrication would serve its purpose. "Question it." "What if you're bluffing?" "Then take my life." Her voice carried a bold conviction, hoping it would earn her at least one chance. "...I'll listen." 'Success!' Relief washed over Seo Ye as she composed herself for the next phase, careful not to show any unnecessary emotions. "There's a looming war against the Demon Sect in the Central Plains. Every transcendent being is being mobilized." "I'm aware." "And who do you think will win?" "The Central Plains." "Exactly. Post-war, their influence will only grow, weakening ours. We need a contingency plan." The previous bloodshed had been harrowing but also a crucible that fortified the Central Plains' martial world. Now, more potent than ever, they were a force to be reckoned with. "So, the deal?" "I've offered valuable intelligence to the Martial Alliance and facilitated this meeting. We'll settle the benefits post-war." A bold gamble, but Seo Ye was confident in her standing with the current Alliance leader, Sa Baekwoon. "Probe further." "What if they win? Can you afford to have handled their emissaries poorly?" "If their victory is inevitable, can I afford not to listen?" The Ringleader didn't invoke his martial pride, driven solely by calculated interests, unsettling in its cold logic. "Let them in." Whether it was a victory or merely staving off defeat, Seo Ye allowed herself a moment of respite.