Chapter 366: Assassination (1)

After Yong Hwarin and the others returned to their quarters, they explained what had happened at the Commandment Institute to the others, prompting the Violent Dragon Twin Swords to explode in anger.

“How could they accuse us of being demonic cultists? Are they out of their minds? How is that even remotely plausible?”

“It’s probably to steer the summit in their favor. Seeing the Lady of Mount Lu with us, they must’ve thought bringing us down would work to their advantage since we have considerable support. But seeing others defend us today probably made them reconsider.”

Mo Biyoung calmly sorted out the situation despite not having seen it firsthand.

Jong Seok opened his mouth, face stiff.

“Brother, I’ll leave Shaolin Temple and stay in Dengfeng County. It seems I’m the reason you and the Sect Leader keep ending up in trouble. If I leave and something like what happened to Priest Cheongmyeong happens again, no one will blame me. They’ll realize the real culprit is someone else.”

But Yong Biyang shook his head.

“That’s not a good idea. If you leave the temple grounds, some will think you’re fleeing because you’re the culprit. And I won’t allow that. We have to catch the real culprit, not cower in fear.”

“I agree with Father. So don’t overthink it, Brother. Just wait. The one trying to trap us won’t sit idle. Since this attempt failed, they’ll surely try something else. That’s when we catch their tail.”

Yong Hwarin gently reassured the disciples and spoke calmly.

“Right now, this place is no different from a tiger’s den for us. Surviving takes priority, so I’ll pass on the martial arts I’ve comprehended up to now. Everyone, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Originally, Yong Hwarin had intended to slowly share his insights over time, but seeing how the situation in Shaolin was turning against them, he changed his mind.

“Are you serious?”

The Violent Dragon Twin Swords rejoiced at the chance to learn the Young Valley Lord’s martial arts.

“I used to envy the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect for being the only ones to inherit your skills. Now, we can stand proudly before them too.”

No one hesitated at the idea of receiving Yong Hwarin’s martial arts.

Even his father, Yong Biyang, listened to his transmission willingly and with gratitude.

Over a long period, Yong Hwarin explained the Dragon Concealment Heavenly Art, the Dragon Scale Finger, the Dragon Claw Five Fingers, and even the recently acquired Wind-Horse Flashing Step, which required more training time.

He only passed on the theory behind Mother-Longing Energy.

Just learning the formulas and theory would allow each to train according to their condition and attain reasonable results.

“We don’t know how long we’ll remain in Shaolin. So instead of idly wasting time, it’s important to reflect on the martial arts I’ve taught you and polish yourselves.”

Even without Yong Hwarin’s prompting, everyone was already burning with zeal for martial arts training.

Within the Shaolin Temple grounds, a Bulumokhani entered the Guest Hall carrying a bucket full of water.

All the martial artists who had once crowded the Guest Hall had already returned to their rooms.

It was the kind of weather that looked like a snowstorm could hit at any moment, so they had retired early.

“Uh, ugh.”

As the Bulumokhani staggered and nearly dropped the bucket, one of the temple monks standing guard clicked his tongue.

“Careful there. Why are you drawing water so late at night?”

The Bulumokhani bowed and answered.

“The one usually supplying water to the Guest Hall has fallen ill from overwork. I was busy with other chores and only now got around to carrying water.”

“With hundreds staying in the Guest Hall, I suppose that’s bound to happen.”

The monk mumbled and signaled with his chin for the Bulumokhani to pass. The latter moved on with unsteady steps, balancing the water bucket.

“Tsk, tsk, this summit better end soon. Too many people are being worked to the bone.”

Even he had been on guard duty at the Guest Hall for several days now.

Once inside the kitchen, the Bulumokhani straightened his back.

The fatigued, weather-worn expression vanished, revealing sharp, dangerous eyes.

“Killing the Alliance Leader would make the story even more interesting.”

The killing intent that flashed in an instant was something no ordinary person could possibly imitate.

This was none other than the secret assassin of Secret Beyond Secrets, Han Jin, who had been sent by Yang Gwak.

He was also the one who had used an Explosive Phosphorus Pellet to kill Priest Cheongmyeong.

After that, he had subtly leaked the fact that Jong Seok had learned the Black Death God Light Poison Technique.

He had expected that to be enough to corner Yong Hwarin, but Yong Hwarin’s support turned out to be stronger than anticipated, and the plan didn’t yield the intended results.

More than anything, Han Jin was shocked to discover that Yong Hwarin knew about the Explosive Phosphorus Pellet.

Even in the imperial palace, only a few central figures knew about the bomb.

It was a weapon that the Eastern Depot had secretly developed over many years for assassination purposes. The fact that Yong Hwarin knew of it despite it being recently completed left Han Jin stunned.

‘He’s someone I seriously need to watch out for.’

From that point on, Han Jin no longer underestimated Yong Hwarin.

Han Jin poured water into a gourd and a bowl, heading toward the Guest Hall where the Zhongnan Sect was staying.

Leaving the kitchen, he perfectly resumed the appearance of a humble errand worker.

Han Jin had his reasons for targeting the Zhongnan Sect’s Alliance Leader for assassination.

Watching from the shadows, he had noted that the Alliance Leader had the most hot-blooded temperament.

Despite being a visiting elder acting as Sect Leader, he and his disciple Go Jin were both highly emotional individuals.

People like that, who reacted furiously to provocation, were the easiest to manipulate.

The next morning, Yong Hwarin woke up early for morning training.

His father and the others were already circulating their Qi or practicing martial arts.

Despite the early hour, Yong Hwarin had become the last one to wake.

“Whew.”

He must’ve stayed up nearly all night reflecting on the martial arts he had taught.

“Training without sleep is harmful to the body.”

But, despite Yong Hwarin’s words, no one gave a reply.

The martial arts that Yong Hwarin had passed down were in fact profound arts of Supreme Martial Mastery that could not easily be found in martial manuals. To grasp them, one had to persistently ponder and contemplate their subtleties.

“I’ll go out and move my body.”

Yong Hwarin dusted off his backside and stood up.

Just as he stepped outside, he saw Pang Giyok and Namgung Yoo running toward him, gasping for breath.

Seeing the two rushing over so early in the morning, Yong Hwarin felt an ominous premonition.

“Hwarin!”

Pang Giyok called out as he looked at him.

“Domeng Dojang was killed overnight.”

“What?”

At Pang Giyok’s voice, those meditating in the room stirred awake one by one.

Soon, Yong Biyang opened the door and stepped out.

“Young Master Pang, did you say Domeng Dojang of the Zhongnan Sect has been killed?”

“That’s correct, Sect Leader.”

A brief silence followed, and then Namgung Yoo spoke.

“That’s why the Southern Guest Hall is in complete chaos right now.”

Since Yong Hwarin’s group was staying in the Northern Guest Hall, they were the last to hear the news.

“Father, let’s go.”

“Yes, we should. We need to find out what happened.”

As the Violent Dragon Twin Swords and Mo Biyoung came rushing out, Yong Biyang shook his head.

“You lot stay here and train. Hwarin and I will look into this matter. If you all crowd in, it will only draw unwanted eyes.”

Though the Violent Dragon Twin Swords pouted, they didn’t argue further. They had never seen Yong Biyang with such a grave expression.

“Young Master Pang, let us go.”

Pang Giyok and Namgung Yoo took the lead, with Yong Hwarin and Yong Biyang following behind.

When they arrived, the Southern Guest Hall was already teeming with people.

The guest monks of the Shaolin Temple were struggling to disperse the crowd and send them back to their quarters.

“Couldn’t this be the work of assassins hired by the Three Demonic Heavens? With the Three Central Alliances uniting into one, perhaps they wanted to disrupt things.”

At someone’s words, another chimed in.

“Very likely. Otherwise, there would be no reason for Domeng Dojang to be assassinated.”

When Yong Hwarin entered the room and saw Domeng Dojang lying dead with a dagger in his chest, he immediately realized it was the work of an extraordinary assassin.

Go Jin was kneeling before his master’s body, sobbing.

Having suddenly lost his master, Go Jin was completely stricken with grief.

Yong Hwarin stepped out and approached Monk Gak Un of the Shaolin Eighteen Arhat Monks, who was investigating the surroundings.

“Reverend.”

“Ah, Benefactor Yong.”

“Have you not yet found the culprit?”

“No. I have searched every corner of this place for an entire two hours, but there were no traces.”

Even the Lady of Mount Lu arrived belatedly, and her face hardened at the sight of Domeng Dojang’s corpse.

Amidst the disorder, Yong Hwarin’s eyes fell on a bowl placed beside the deceased, and he asked Monk Gak Un,

“Reverend, has that bowl always been there?”

“Yes.”

“Who attended to Domeng Dojang?”

“Taoist Go Jin. But he said he left last night for training.”

“Hm!”

Yong Hwarin felt he had caught a lead.

‘A man like Domeng Dojang wouldn’t fetch water for himself. He must have ordered someone. Whoever brought the water must have struck then. Seeing that water still remains in the bowl, it must have been drunk late at night.’

Yong Hwarin asked again.

“Then, where are those who were working here at that time?”

“When I questioned the monks on night watch, they said some Bulmokhani were on duty. I have already summoned them.”

Yong Hwarin shook his head.

‘An assassin can disguise himself in any identity. Yesterday, he may have taken the guise of a Bulmokhani, but today, he could look entirely different. Searching like this will never find him. Then… we must lure him out. But how?’

Yong Hwarin fell into deep thought.

Then, he used telepathy to send a message to the Lady of Mount Lu.

Senior, this is Yong Hwarin. Please listen carefully to what I say. I have a way to catch the culprit.

Truly?

Yes. But you must repeat my words aloud as if they were your own.

The Lady of Mount Lu tilted her head.

She couldn’t understand how repeating his words would expose the culprit.

But thinking there was nothing to lose, she spoke aloud what Yong Hwarin had transmitted through telepathy.

In a very soft murmur, she said:

“I think I know who the culprit is. One of the Bulmokhani is the killer. We must investigate them.”

At her murmured words, Priestess Saenghui asked,

“Master, has something happened?”

“Ah, no. Let us return.”

As the Lady of Mount Lu turned to leave, one of the Bulmokhani nearby fixed his gaze sharply on her.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep