Chapter 141. To Deceive the Enemy, One Must First Deceive an Ally.

Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand.

A technique that sucked the opponent’s brain matter to read their memories.

Among the many demonic arts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it was one of the ten most atrocious, evil, and vicious techniques.

Furthermore, the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand was also a technique exclusive to the first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong.

It was said that he used the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand to absorb his enemies’ memories, obtaining the information he wanted without any form of torture.

The price, of course, was the victim’s death.

Just like him, Jin Cheon had used the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand to suck out every last drop of the assassin’s brain matter and read his memories.

Thud. The assassin, who had been subjected to the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand, collapsed like a rotten sheaf of rice.

The inside of his head was completely empty, as if someone had scooped it out, making the sight uniquely horrific.

It was a scene more chilling than seeing limbs torn off, intestines spilling out, or a body blown to bits.

Jin Cheon didn’t even bat an eye.

The opponent was an enemy.

And wasn’t he an assassin who had tried to kill him?

Jin Cheon felt that whatever death he met, it was none of his business.

‘It’s not perfect.’

Jin Cheon frowned at a slight headache, reviewing the results of using the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand.

There was no doubt that he had absorbed some of the assassin’s memories.

But those memories were not complete.

They were fragmented here and there, and there was too much useless information and memories.

There were even unpleasant parts, as he came to know things he wasn’t curious about and didn’t need.

‘I don’t know why I need to know who this bastard’s regular courtesan is.’

Moreover, the side effects of a rather severe headache and mental confusion were not to be taken lightly.

Having absorbed a human’s memories, he felt as if his mind had become tangled and jumbled.

‘It seems my proficiency is still lacking… I’m not sure if I should continue to practice and polish this.’

Although he had used it out of necessity, the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand was not a pleasant experience.

But contrary to Jin Cheon’s inner thoughts, the assassins who only saw the scene before them had a completely different take.

‘To absorb… absorb the brain matter and read the memories.’

‘Is it useless to resist?’

‘I should have bitten the poison pill first. Damn it.’

The remaining assassins despaired at their inability to protect their secrets.

They were confident they could sweetly accept and endure any torture.

However, after seeing someone’s memories being read by absorbing their brain, they felt that all their endurance and tolerance for pain, trained to the extreme as assassins, was for naught.

Just as Jin Cheon had said, not even death could protect the secrets they held.

‘They seem quite shocked. Hehe.’

Jin Cheon noticed the assassins’ agitation and smiled inwardly.

He hadn’t missed how their pupils were trembling as if in an earthquake.

‘I suppose I don’t have to use the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand.’

Since Jin Cheon didn’t want to use the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand again due to the discomfort he had felt earlier, he decided to try and coax the assassins with words.

“This guy’s regular brothel is said to be the Night Moon Pavilion in Gansu Province. The courtesan he frequently visited… was her name Wolaeng? For an assassin, he’s quite a messy fellow to have a wife and kids. I suppose I should let his family know. That the man who pretended to be an ordinary merchant was actually a first-rate assassin of the Heavenly Killing Sect, and that his true nature was utterly filthy.”

“……!”

At Jin Cheon’s words, the assassins’ eyes trembled even more.

Seeing Jin Cheon reel off not only information about their affiliation and identity but also personal details, they completely lost the will to resist.

***

Basically, assassins were bound to lead a thorough double life.

This was because the profession of an assassin itself involved professionally killing people, making it impossible to operate openly.

Assassins were human too, so they couldn’t possibly live their entire lives solely as assassins, could they?

They played the part of an assassin to make a living.

Of course, from the moment they began their training, as novice assassins, and for a long time even as intermediate assassins, they would live solely as assassins, but not many continued to live that way afterward.

Usually, after about ten years of activity, it was common for them to live their own lives through a cover identity.

In doing so, it was natural to have a family and develop an identity as their cover persona.

Therefore, assassins dreaded having their cover identities exposed more than death itself.

They feared the revelation of their true identity more than dying by suicide during a mission or being killed after failing a contract.

Jin Cheon’s words accurately pierced such psychological weaknesses of the assassins.

“If you were caught by others, you could just die peacefully. You could take your secrets to the grave. But with me, it’s a different story. I will find out even the most hidden secrets you possess. And I will kill not only the Heavenly Killing Sect but also all of your families, friends, and acquaintances. If you dared to try and assassinate the Seventh Young Master of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, you must have been prepared to pay the price.”

As Jin Cheon said this and raised his hand again to use the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand.

“Uhp! Uhp uhp!”

The last assassin to be captured twisted his body and sent a signal.

“Untie him.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

Danmok Cheong approached him and removed his gag.

Of course, he did not let his guard down, prepared for the possibility that he might bite his tongue.

“I am called Shadowless, a special-grade assassin of the Heavenly Killing Sect.”

“A common name.”

“Aren’t all assassins’ names more or less the same?”

The man who identified himself as Shadowless appeared to be in his mid to late thirties.

He had quite a handsome face, but in a way, his features were rather common, making it seem difficult to remember his appearance after seeing him only once or twice.

“Do you have something to say?”

“I will tell you everything I know.”

“Heh.”

Jin Cheon laughed.

“Sorry, but you’re too late. When I have a way of knowing everything without having to ask you lot, why would I bother wasting my breath exchanging words?”

“If necessary, I will actively cooperate in annihilating the Heavenly Killing Sect. So please, I beg you, show me mercy.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I will do anything you command. If you don’t trust me, you may use a parasite.”

A parasite was a creature created through sorcery, often used to control people.

As the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had countless evil demonic arts, it naturally had quite a variety of parasites.

“Such a quick betrayal. Why the sudden change of attitude?”

“I have no choice. You can find out everything with the technique you just showed. What is the use of keeping my loyalty?”

“That is true.”

“It’s the same whether I die this way or that way. For me, I have no choice but to seek your mercy.”

Shadowless’ words were quite reasonable and rational.

But Jin Cheon was not fooled by them.

“That alone is not enough.”

“There is a reason.”

“What is it, tell me.”

“I am a special-grade assassin of the Heavenly Killing Sect, but it has been a long time since I fell out with the higher-ups.”

“Why?”

“I requested to retire, but I was refused.”

“You could have just lived in hiding.”

“How could I run away when they threaten me by holding the children I am caring for as hostages?”

“Ah?”

“It doesn’t matter what happens to me. Just please, spare the children I am looking after.”

“In detail.”

“I started taking in parentless children one by one, and before I knew it, there were eleven of them.”

“You have a lot of compassion for an assassin.”

“It was just because they weighed on my mind. If left alone, they would die, become beggars, join the Rogues’ Guild and become petty thieves, or become assassins like me.”

“You’re an interesting fellow.”

Jin Cheon said with a snort.

“Fine. I will think about it.”

After saying so, Jin Cheon looked back at the other two assassins.

“What will you two do?”

“Uhp uhp! Uhp uhp uhp!”

The other two assassins also indicated their willingness to cooperate actively, just like Shadowless.

If they could hide their secrets through death, that would be one thing, but having seen Jin Cheon use the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand, they realized it was better to beg for mercy like Shadowless.

***

Jin Cheon was by no means easy.

Instead of using the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand, Jin Cheon locked the assassins up separately and interrogated them, cross-verifying their confessions.

His intention was to use the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand immediately if any of them made a false confession.

Fortunately, the confessions of the three assassins matched up for the most part.

The terrifying power and fear of the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand that Jin Cheon had demonstrated were so intense that everyone confessed only the truth.

As a result, Jin Cheon succeeded in obtaining quite detailed information about the Heavenly Killing Sect, an assassin sect whose true nature was unclear.

One. The headquarters of the Heavenly Killing Sect is in Sichuan, but even the assassins do not know its exact location.

Two. No one knows the identity of the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader either.

Three. The Heavenly Killing Sect operates strictly in a cell-based structure, so even the affiliated assassins do not exchange names or know each other unless they are on a mission together.

Four. The Heavenly Killing Sect has three elders, all of whom are former special-grade assassins.

Five. Special-grade assassin Shadowless knows the location of the Heavenly Killing Sect’s headquarters and the identity of one of the elders. If he is interrogated, it might be possible to find out about the headquarters and the identity of the Sect Leader.

“The client?”

“I do not know.”

Shadowless replied.

“Right. They wouldn’t have told you.”

“I have told you everything I know. Now the choice is yours.”

“I’ll give you special consideration. Even if I kill you, I won’t touch the children you were looking after.”

“That is not enough.”

“Not enough?”

“Please ensure the complete destruction of the Heavenly Killing Sect. Otherwise, the Heavenly Killing Sect will retaliate against everyone associated with us.”

“You ask for a lot for someone begging for mercy.”

“……It is shameless, but what can I do? An assassin’s life is worth less than a fly’s, so I do not value it at all, but I cannot let innocent people die.”

“That’s not something a guy who kills people for money should say, is it?”

“Who would have wanted to become like this? I lost my parents at a young age and was wandering around when I was noticed by the Heavenly Killing Sect and became an assassin. It was not a life I chose. Do you think I would have sought retirement for no reason?”

“That’s not wrong.”

Jin Cheon found this assassin named Shadowless quite to his liking.

Perhaps Jin Cheon saw a reflection of himself in Shadowless.

Both Jin Cheon and Shadowless lost their parents at a young age and wandered, and their lives changed when they were noticed by a third party.

The only difference was that Jin Cheon became a martial artist, and Shadowless became an assassin.

“I understand, so just stay put quietly. I’ll call for you again if needed.”

“Understood.”

Jin Cheon left the place where Shadowless was confined and spoke with Danmok Cheong.

“My Lord, what are you planning to do?”

“Well.”

Jin Cheon was lost in thought for a moment.

‘There’s a high probability that it’s the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.’

Jin Cheon was convinced that the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was the one who had commissioned the Heavenly Killing Sect to kill him.

Of course, there was a possibility that a hostile faction within the Cult, for example, the Demonic Dao Heavenly Families, had made the request.

Feeling a sense of crisis due to Jin Cheon’s recent achievements and rising fame, someone might have risked death to order Jin Cheon’s assassination.

However…

‘It’s not right to suspect internal enemies first.’

Jin Cheon decided to set aside the slim possibility for later.

‘If the Righteous Heavenly Alliance hired the Heavenly Killing Sect to kill me, this probably isn’t the first time. I might get my hands on another one of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s shames.’

Thinking this, Jin Cheon looked back at Danmok Cheong.

“Squad Leader Dan.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“From now on, I’m a dead man, so you know.”

“My Lord passed away, what do you mean by that?”

“To deceive the enemy, one must first deceive an ally.”

Jin Cheon said with a grin.

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