174 - Mission, Stealth (5) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

The warriors of Ryeon were converging moment by moment, a dire situation in play. Mok Riwon and Namgung Jincheon were already overwhelmed, barely holding back five peak martial artists. The remaining four members were completely drained, striving just to keep the warriors at bay from at least two of their comrades. One silver lining, however, was their martial compatibility. The medicinal formation technique of Jegal San and the poison of Dang Hwa-seo formed a surprisingly good synergy. Jegal San would obscure the surroundings with his formations, allowing Dang Hwa-seo to spread her poison and harm their opponents. Ilwoon and Hyewon were similar in this respect. Perhaps it was because their martial arts were of the same elemental system, but the way their abilities complemented each other was notably exceptional. However, Dang Hwa-seo was far from optimistic about their situation. "This is our limit." They were not transcendent martial artists. They lacked the power to instantly slaughter their opponents, the cunning to deceive their eyes, and the stamina to fight non-stop for days and nights. Without a change in variables, the situation would inevitably spiral to extremes. "How can we...!" It was a moment of contemplation. "Stop!" A commanding voice echoed in all directions. The owner of the voice emerged from Ryeon Jujeon’s gate, a towering peak martial artist. "Cease!" At his command, all warriors halted their movements. Dang Hwa-seo was stunned. But then, as a warrior spoke, Dang Hwa-seo finally grasped the situation. "Let them in." "Success!" It seemed Seo Ye had played another card from inside. The members looked towards Dang Hwa-seo. Suppressing a smirk, Dang Hwa-seo nodded. "Let’s go in." With a gesture, she conveyed this intention. "If only we had done this from the start." Externally, they were still impersonating warriors of Haomun. Dang Hwa-seo gathered her energy and stood in front of the members. Then she addressed the warrior. "Lead the way." The warrior, with an indifferent face, scanned Dang Hwa-seo and then turned, leading them into Ryeon Jujeon. * Upon entering Ryeon Jujeon, the first thing they saw was a long corridor with a very high ceiling. The structure was made of black wood, and it was open on all sides, offering no place to hide. Dang Hwa-seo quickly realized the space’s purpose from the deliberate gaps in the ceiling and walls. "They’ve forsaken hidden guards to further guard against assassin infiltrations." This meant the master here was confident in his martial strength and intended to prevent accidents from assassins. Detail-oriented and meticulous. Through this space and what Seo Ye had told her, Dang Hwa-seo began to better understand the temperament of the Ryeon leader. "That door must lead to Ryeon Jujeon’s chamber." The door was narrow enough for just one person to fit through. The peak martial artist who had emerged last in the previous chaos and had remained unseen until now was likely the doorkeeper on the Ryeon leader’s command. "Enter." Standing beside the door, the warrior spoke. Dang Hwa-seo, swallowing her nerves, led the way to the door of Ryeon Jujeon’s chamber. Then, she opened the door. "Leader!" Inside, Seo Ye stood up with a look of relief. Behind her, a shadow was cast on a translucent curtain. That was likely the Black Death Leader, Maniac Do Eungang. "Are you hurt?" Seo Ye hurried over and asked. After Dang Hwa-seo nodded, Seo Ye sighed and glared at Namgung Jincheon. He gave an unexpectedly cheerful smile, then startled and stepped back. That’s when it happened. "Enter." A dry voice, devoid of intonation, filled the space. Thud, the doorkeeper closed the door. Dang Hwa-seo exhaled shortly, calming her pounding heart, and stepped forward to bow. "It’s an honor to meet you. I am Dang Hwa-seo, leader of Yongbong under Baekdo Martial Alliance." It was a declaration of not bowing down. Whether the message was well-received, or perhaps it was a gesture to see faces, the Ryeon leader slowly pulled away the curtain. The leader that was revealed was surprisingly young. With a demeanor that suggested he was in his forties, his hair neatly tied back, and his emotionless, flat eyes and softly closed lips were notable. "I am Black Death Leader, Do Eungang." Introducing himself, Do Eungang continued, "Let us begin the discussion." Dang Hwa-seo nodded. * Mok Riwon listened intently to the ongoing conversation, lips tightly sealed. The dialogue was straightforward. Dang Hwa-seo proposed something, and Do Eungang nodded, summarizing the agreement. That was it. Considering their experiences in Black Death up to this point, Do Eungang’s surprisingly straightforward acceptance of Dang Hwa-seo’s proposals was unexpected. What concerned Mok Riwon was something else. He stared unblinkingly at Do Eungang. “That man is the leader of Black Death.” It might seem obvious, but the man, who had maintained his position in the history of Black Death for an unusually long period, was undoubtedly at the transcendental realm. A battle would mean certain defeat; transcendence signified a realm truly belonging to demigods, far removed from all previous states of being, leaving no room for opposition. However, even if it wasn't such a situation, Mok Riwon was certain that a duel with this man, even if they were of equal martial prowess, would not be easy. There was one reason for this. "I can't sense any murderous intent. Not even a little." It wasn't just the murderous intent; there was no hint of any emotion or aggressiveness from him. This was peculiar. There is an inherent aggressiveness in humans. Even within very close relationships, an unintentional aggressiveness tends to surface. After all, even between himself and Dang Hwa-seo, a natural wariness surfaces in their interactions, so how could this man in enemy territory be so inanimate? It was a fact Mok Riwon could understand, having observed the world bearing the Heavenly Killing Star. "He doesn't feel emotions." Black Death Leader, Maniac Do Eungang. He was a man who couldn't feel human emotions. Therefore, he moved solely based on rationality and logic. It's a talent for a warrior. He must embody the pinnacle of the unshakable mind that all warriors aspire to, so it can only be described as a talent. "But…" As a human, as a fellow warrior, it's the worst. Mok Riwon thought it unlikely that he could ever get close to Do Eungang. In the meantime, the negotiation was coming to an end. "…And that's all for our demands." "I understand." Do Eungang responded indifferently. "I accept. But, there is a condition." "And that would be…" "Did you plan to just make demands and leave? Black Death is not a group under the Martial Alliance." "We are fighting the Demon Sect on your behalf. Isn't that enough?" "The notion that you're fighting in our stead is incorrect. Regardless of our actions, the Central Martial World will have to fight the Demon Sect, so aren't you just using Black Death for your own survival?" Dang Hwa-seo's expression soured a bit. Mok Riwon felt the situation turning strange. "State your condition." Do Eungang spoke up. "A non-aggression pact for the next thirty years. Additionally, I'd appreciate if you could refrain from suppressing the Underworld in the Central Lands." "And if crimes continue to be committed from your side…" "Then deal with it. I have no intention of cleaning up after losers." Dang Hwa-seo seemed to ponder for a moment then nodded, apparently finding the terms acceptable. "I'll report back." "And one more thing." "...?" Do Eungang paused. Silence fell. Then his next words shattered the silence. "Mok Riwon, everyone else leaves. I have business with you alone." Namgung Jincheon reached for his sword. "This sounds like…" "It's fine." Mok Riwon stopped Namgung Jincheon, whose face was full of irritation. The faces of the other members looking at him were similar. All filled with concern or anger. Grateful for their concern, but Mok Riwon was genuinely fine. "I'll follow shortly." "Mok Riwon…" "There will be no harm." Having said that, Mok Riwon looked at Do Eungang. Still, no murderous intent existed. But if the opponent indeed couldn't feel emotions, then even this wasn't a guarantee. Mok Riwon's conviction of his own safety lay elsewhere. "The leader has no reason to kill me." Do Eungang raised an eyebrow but then acknowledged. "That's correct." It was a brief response. * With all the members gone, Mok Riwon sat facing Do Eungang. "So, why did you want me to stay?" Truthfully, for Mok Riwon, this was an odd situation. His words meant there was no reason to kill him, implying there was no grievance or affinity between them. Why then did this man, a stranger who clearly could not feel emotions or desires, want to keep him here? At Mok Riwon's inquiring remark, Do Eungang answered. "Why are you with Baekdo?" "Excuse me?" "Why are you in the Central Martial World?" Do Eungang asked, sitting up straight. Mok Riwon's eyes narrowed. "Why you ask…" "You don’t belong with Baekdo. You know this best, don't you?" "I do not understand what you are saying." Tension naturally rose within Mok Riwon. Did he know something? Why was he saying this? His body instinctively went on guard. Mok Riwon's hand stopped at a position where he could draw his sword at any moment. "Do you know." At that moment, Do Eungang spoke. "Even the most seasoned warrior does not first seek out the weak points to strike upon encountering an opponent. As far as I know, among those who call themselves martial artists of Baekdo, none do." Mok Riwon's body jerked. "Of course. Murder carries a high risk and doesn’t align with the honor they seek." He had noticed. Mok Riwon clenched his teeth. It was inevitable. No matter how well he thought he had controlled his Heavenly Killing Star, Mok Riwon couldn't erase the unconscious habits forged by the star, not to the point of possessing the unshakable mind. No, regardless of the unshakable mind, such habits were an unavoidable fate as long as he bore the star. "...I was merely cautious of you. If that was rude, I apologize." "Hmm." Do Eungang remained expressionless. He took a sip of tea, closed his eyes to savor it, and then added another comment. "I want something other than an apology." "Something else?" Do Eungang set down his tea cup. He looked straight at Mok Riwon. "You." Mok Riwon's fingertips twitched. "Have you no interest in turning to the dark path? The terms I offer will be favorable." Silence ensued. 'What is he talking about...?' Had he heard correctly? Mok Riwon felt the tension that had been building up until that moment dissipate. He was reminded once again of the characteristics he had deduced about Do Eungang. Do Eungang valued rationality and logic. Moreover, since he does not feel emotions, he judges people solely based on their actions and the consequences. 'Ah.' Thus, Do Eungang must have seen his unintentional display of murderous intent and concluded that Mok Riwon could be swayed. Mok Riwon immediately responded. "I refuse." Do Eungang's eyes widened slightly. It seemed an unexpected response.