Chapter 16: An Ambush (2)

“Who goes there!”

At that shout, the white-clad assassins who were attacking Jaegal Byeok and Yohye withdrew slightly.

Yong Hwarin glared at them silently, prompting the man to shout again.

“Who the hell are you to interfere!”

“Just a wandering martial hero passing by!”

Yong Hwarin replied to the white-clad man’s demand with a teasing tone, and despite the tense atmosphere, Jungwook burst out in a stifled laugh.

They were all genuinely surprised by Yong Hwarin’s composure.

Although this must be his first real battle and first time killing, he showed no signs of fear or hesitation. He even exuded a calmness like a battle-hardened veteran, making him appear all the more impressive.

They knew just how difficult it was for a newcomer to the martial world to kill for the first time in actual combat.

They themselves had been tormented by nightmares for days after their first kills. Some had even completely lost their composure during the act.

But there was something they didn’t know.

Yong Hwarin, in his previous life, had already experienced all the fear and terror that came with killing. While managing the merchant union, he had killed before and had often come close to being assassinated himself.

Furthermore, though Yong Hwarin was unaware, the soul of the Demonic Master resided within him, and he faintly shared that man’s memories—making him even more accustomed to the act of killing.

“You little brat must be desperate to die!”

When the white-clad group’s leader flared his killing intent and pressured them with his presence, Yong Hwarin casually sidestepped to avoid it.

While the exchange between Yong Hwarin and the leader took place, Mo Biyoung and the Two Wook Sword Demons positioned themselves beside Jaegal Byeok and Jaegal Yohye to protect them.

Standing behind them, Jaegal Byeok recognized the figure standing defiantly against the assassins’ leader and spoke.

“Is that you, Young Master Yong?”

His voice cracked from how weak he was.

“Yes, Brother Jaegal.”

Jaegal Byeok was so stunned by Yong Hwarin’s transformation that even the pain seemed to vanish. Just a year ago, he had visited the Heavenly Central Sect to see his younger sibling’s betrothed.

Back then, he had been deeply disappointed by Yong Hwarin’s frailty. Even within a single zhang’s distance, one could smell the bitter scent of herbal decoctions from him.

Yet now, that same man had grown strong enough to effortlessly kill two assassins. Jaegal Byeok couldn’t understand how.

He himself had been utterly intimidated by these white-clad killers. Yet Yong Hwarin stood firm even before their leader.

‘How can someone change this much in just one year?’

Jaegal Byeok wanted to ask what had happened but held his tongue.

There were still ten assassins left.

Though their numbers had evened out somewhat with Yong Hwarin’s group joining, the Jaegal clan members no longer looked capable of continuing the fight.

Moreover, the man who appeared to be the white-clad assassins’ leader looked stronger than even Mo Biyoung.

The middle-aged men who seemed to be Jaegal Yohye’s uncles were near first-rate warriors themselves, yet they couldn’t even hold out under the combined assault. That only highlighted how well-trained the assassins’ team tactics were.

The leader of the Blood Antler Serpent Group stepped forward again and spoke.

“I wanted to avoid dirtying my hands with your blood… but in the end, you’ve chosen the most painful death. I’ll kill you all.”

One of the assassins spoke up.

“Leader, allow us to handle them.”

“No. Too many of our men have already fallen. I’ll take care of it myself.”

As the white-clad leader stepped forward, the atmosphere shifted completely.

A heat spread outward, and the surrounding pressure intensified.

The Blood Antler Serpent Group was infamous for their unusual approach for an assassin group—facing their targets head-on.

And now, they once again chose to engage directly.

“I’ll take him on.”

Just then, Mo Biyoung stepped in front of Yong Hwarin and declared.

The white-clad man burst into laughter.

“Ha! Hiding behind a woman’s skirts now, are we? All that big talk, and in the end, you’re no different from those so-called righteous sects!”

Yong Hwarin erupted in anger at his words.

“Cut the crap. When the hell did I ever hide behind a woman? Get your ass over here—I’ll kill you myself!”

Seeing Yong Hwarin lose his temper to his bait, the white-clad man snickered inwardly.

‘Brats like this always rise to the bait with just a little nudge.’

Yong Hwarin drew his sword and charged recklessly at the white-clad man. His swings were shaky, and his techniques disjointed, as if he had truly lost his composure.

“Master Mo!”

Mo Biyoung rushed forward in shock, but Namwook caught her sleeve.

“Wait.”

At that moment, Yong Hwarin’s sword swung across toward the assassin’s neck.

The white-clad man easily deflected the blade, and clang!—Yong Hwarin’s sword flew three zhang away and stabbed into the ground.

His chest was completely exposed.

Seizing the opening, the assassin’s sword shot toward Yong Hwarin’s chest like a bolt of lightning.

But Yong Hwarin had already activated the Bamboo Grove Flying Dragon Steps the moment his sword was knocked away.

The white-clad man had assumed he would skewer the boy standing still before him.

Yet the moment he attacked, Yong Hwarin slipped aside and slashed upward in return.

A sharp pain shot through the assassin’s right arm.

Thud!

His sword-wielding right arm fell to the ground and twitched like an insect.

Shhhhk!

At the sound of blood spraying from his shoulder, the assassin snapped back to awareness and quickly pressed an acupoint with his left hand.

Only then did he realize he’d been fooled by this young brat.

There was no sign of frenzy in Yong Hwarin’s eyes.

He had only pretended to fall for the provocation and had been waiting for the perfect moment to counterattack.

It hit him only now—this boy had lured him in.

“Heh… heh heh.”

A bitter, almost laugh-like groan escaped.

“Leader!”

The assassins rushed to their commander.

There were still ten of them left, and they had the upper hand in numbers.

“Let’s attack now!”

Jaegal Byeok, seeing that the assassin leader had lost an arm, thought it was their chance and moved to strike—but Yong Hwarin stopped him.

“Wait.”

“This is our chance to kill them!”

“Just a moment.”

When Yong Hwarin stared at him firmly, Jaegal Byeok had no choice but to step back.

He was overwhelmed by an aura that could not be defied.

“You bastard!”

The Blood Antler Serpent Group leader glared at Yong Hwarin with fury, unable to believe he’d been humiliated by such a whelp.

“Don’t let them live!”

At that, Yong Hwarin silently walked toward the leader.

When Mo Biyoung tried to stop him, this time it was Jungwook who restrained her.

“Let’s wait.”

She couldn’t understand why they were stopping her from protecting their own young master—but their eyes didn’t waver.

‘What are they thinking?’

Preparing to jump in at any moment, Mo Biyoung moved to Yong Hwarin’s side.

In truth, Yong Hwarin was making a final gamble.

He sent a secret transmission to the leader.

—If you tell Commander Deuksang what I say, he’ll forgive you. Leave now.

The white-clad man was startled inside. The commander’s name was a closely guarded secret, known only to the inner circle.

—Who are you? What name should I give him?

Yong Hwarin had expected that mentioning the commander’s name would stay their hand.

But when the man responded by asking his identity rather than withdrawing, he was momentarily at a loss.

He hadn’t come with a plan—it had all been improvised.

The assassin leader raised his left hand, exuding murderous intent. If that hand fell, they’d be forced to fight—and less than half of their group would survive.

Panicking, a fragment of memory from his past life surfaced.

He recalled that the Blood Antler Serpent Group had caused a major disturbance in the martial world five years ago when it was discovered they were remnants of the Hidden Saint Cult, which had been destroyed by the Three Demonic Heavens.

He also remembered that Commander Deuksang had been searching for the cult’s missing young leader.

Using that memory, Yong Hwarin made something up.

—I, too, am of the Hidden Saint Cult. I cannot harm these people.

The assassin leader froze mid-motion.

No one knew they were part of the Hidden Saint Cult. It was a secret that had to remain buried.

But this brat not only knew that, he even knew the commander’s name. There had to be some connection.

Still, he wasn’t ready to believe just yet.

The assassin sent another message.

—Which branch of the Heaven are you from?

If he could answer this, then he might be telling the truth.

Yong Hwarin smirked inwardly.

‘He’s testing me.’

Later, it would be revealed that the Hidden Saint Cult had been an alliance of three factions: the Sun Saint Cult, the Moon Saint Cult, and the Hidden Saint Cult.

The Sun Saint Cult sought domination, the Moon Saint Cult leaned heavily on religious ideology, and the Hidden Saint Cult served as a mediator between them—a moderate force.

Yong Hwarin didn’t know which faction the Blood Antler Serpent Group belonged to. They might be from the Hidden Saint branch.

‘If I give the wrong answer, they’ll kill me.’

He stared into the assassin’s eyes, deep in thought.

‘If they were from the Moon or Hidden branch, they wouldn’t have formed an assassin group like this. But the Sun branch… they’re practically demonic. They could definitely form something like this for revenge.’

Yong Hwarin compiled all he knew and made a choice.

This whole encounter was a gamble.

And so, he placed his bet on the most likely option. The only difference was that the wager was his life.

—I am of the Sun Saint Cult.

The assassin’s eyes wavered at his answer.

But now Yong Hwarin had a new concern.

‘What if they really believe I’m from the Sun Saint Cult and come looking for me later? That’ll be annoying… but I’ll deal with that when it happens. For now, survival comes first. Besides, the clan’s martial arts originated from the Hidden Saint Cult, so I can bluff my way through.’

His ease came from one reason.

According to his past life’s memories, the Blood Antler Serpent Group wouldn’t begin openly operating in the martial world until three years later.

While he was thinking this, the assassin pulled his subordinates back.

‘I should report to the commander first.’

Up to that point, everyone thought Yong Hwarin was simply locked in a tense standoff with the assassins.

No one imagined he was secretly communicating with them.

“Withdraw!”

“Leader!”

When his men protested, the leader barked back.

“There’s a reason! Follow my command!”

At his words, the assassins silently withdrew from the area.

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