nashuaworldcup Chapter 286 : Do You Know What This Is
Chapter 286 : Do You Know What This Is
Dangyang Lake near Yichang.Divine Slaughter, Shadowless sat upon a roughly carved wooden chair, endlessly staring at the moonlit lake.
“What brings you here?”
Without taking his eyes off the lake, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless asked.
Soon after, Jin Seong-un quietly approached and plopped down onto the ground.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless raised a finger and pointed somewhere nearby.
There was a small rock suitable for sitting on like a chair.
He meant for Jin Seong-un to sit there, but instead Jin Seong-un lifted the rock outright and deliberately carried it beside Divine Slaughter, Shadowless before sitting down.
“...So, what is it?”
Since this taciturn fellow had come to see him for the first time despite not even being his disciple, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless assumed he had some purpose.
Jin Seong-un asked,
“What’s so fun about fishing? It seems boring to me.”
“Have you ever tried it?”
“No. I only meant that even imagining it sounds boring.”
“......”
After briefly thinking, ‘What a strange bastard,’ Divine Slaughter, Shadowless continued.
“Fishermen and assassins are very alike. Do you know that?”
“They both wait.”
“Yes. They wait endlessly, and when the opportunity arrives, they seize it without hesitation. The difference is that fishermen catch fish, while assassins like me catch human lives.”
“Then you should spend the rest of your life fishing instead. It’s basically what you’ve always done anyway.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless turned his head toward Jin Seong-un.
“Do not worry.”
“About what?”
“Isn’t that why you came? Because of those children?”
“Ah.”
The open contempt the Orthodox Faction Later-generation Prodigies—including Tang So-yeon—showed toward Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
He continued speaking.
“I’m used to those gazes. There is nothing unfair about it. People who feed upon others’ misfortune are bottom-feeders by nature. In Murim, that is what assassins are.”
“Hm.”
“I will speak properly with my disciple as well, so there is no need for concern.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless seemed to think Jin Seong-un had come for the peace of the inn.
If guests and members of the inn clashed with one another, the Innkeeper would naturally find it exhausting.
Jin Seong-un stared at the lake for a moment before speaking.
“That’s not why I came. I just wanted to ask you for a favor.”
“Speak.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless had always assumed that if Jin Seong-un chose to shelter him, there would eventually be a purpose behind it.
He had expected the day would come when he needed to help Jin Seong-un with something, so his attitude remained calm.
Jin Seong-un continued.
“We spread a rumor.”
“What rumor?”
“That Divine Slaughter, Shadowless died.”
The fishing line trembled sharply.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless looked utterly dumbfounded as he asked back,
“What?”
“A rumor should be spreading everywhere by now saying that I, Young Master Moyong, and Young Hero Seomun joined forces to kill Divine Slaughter, Shadowless. Didn’t you hear?”
“......”
Of course he had not.
He spent most of his days here at quiet Dangyang Lake merely staring at the water.
Jin Seong-un continued.
“We plan to lure in the Eight Bats.”
At those words, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless abruptly sprang to his feet.
For once, his agitation showed plainly.
“What exactly are you plotting?! Do you even know how dangerous those monsters are?”
“Yes. I heard they are Demon Heads who drink blood.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless shook his head.
There were limits to recklessness, and this crossed them.
Those Demon Head brothers viewed him as their sworn mortal enemy.
The only reason they had not acted carelessly until now was because he remained within Deathshroud, making them fear retaliation from the King of Assassins.
But if rumors spread that Divine Slaughter, Shadowless himself had died, they would undoubtedly come to Yichang to confirm it.
And now Yichang was filled with Orthodox martial artists.
There was no way things would pass quietly.
“What exactly are you scheming?”
“I heard those people have resumed activity recently.”
“What?”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s brows twitched.
Then, like the former Vice Master of Deathshroud he once was, he instantly grasped the situation.
“So after hearing I left Deathshroud, they are building their strength again to kill me. The Murim Alliance surely won’t stay still either.”
“Yes. The Murim Alliance is pursuing them actively as well. But apparently it’s difficult. So we came up with this method. If they’re hard to find, then we’ll make them come to us.”
“......”
“I heard their rampage has already caused considerable harm. So we intend to kill them as soon as possible.”
“Why would you?”
Jin Seong-un and Divine Slaughter, Shadowless looked at one another.
Jin Seong-un had no intention of explaining the Head Steward’s plan.
If he admitted they were doing this to erase Divine Slaughter, Shadowless from the list of Murim’s public enemies, the man would either oppose it desperately or leave immediately.
“Because that’s what my masters taught me.”
It was the truth.
If he had not known, then there would have been nothing he could do.
But he had already learned through the Alliance Leader that the Eight Bats were massacring common people.
Sword Immortal had passed down his sword to him and commanded him to slay every evil he encountered.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless sighed.
“So then, what is this favor you ask?”
“Please help us. We need every hand we can get if we want to catch them.”
---
The next morning.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless awoke inside Seong-un Inn.
Normally, he minimized visits to the inn because he did not wish to bring trouble upon them.
However, to lure the Eight Bats into Yichang, they needed to fake his death perfectly.
Which meant he needed to remain hidden inside the inn without attracting attention from anyone.
“Oh! Did you sleep comfortably through the night?”
As Divine Slaughter, Shadowless stepped outside, Lee Seowon approached with a friendly smile.
Keeping Divine Slaughter, Shadowless forcibly tied to the inn until the Eight Bats arrived.
That too was part of Lee Seowon’s plan.
“How shall we prepare your meal? Since it’s morning, perhaps a hot soup? Or maybe something hearty with meat? Or would you prefer some elegant drinks by the window?”
“......”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless stared at Lee Seowon in disbelief.
Even notable martial artists trembled merely hearing his name, yet this fellow grinned warmly every single time he saw him.
Not a single person in this inn—not even the Head Steward—was normal.
“That won’t be necessary. When those two come out, send them to the training yard.”
“Excellent! Then I’ll prepare something light with vegetables and rice so your stomach won’t feel heavy during training!”
“......”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless let out a sigh and headed toward the training grounds.
These days repeated themselves continuously.
He taught Seomun Ak and Moyong Hyeon.
He occasionally drank with Seo Yu-gyeom and exchanged trivial conversation.
Whenever the Orthodox Faction Later-generation Prodigies encountered Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, they flinched and avoided him.
And Lee Seowon was not a man who understood surrender.
Whenever Divine Slaughter, Shadowless ate, Lee Seowon quietly sat beside him and talked about side dishes.
When he drank alcohol, Lee Seowon discussed the origins of famous liquors from across the land.
After training, he spoke about Murim.
And if there was nothing else to discuss in the morning, he even lectured him about medical knowledge concerning the importance of sleep.
Whenever he found even the smallest opening, he would start talking.
In the end, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless finally surrendered during a conversation about fishing.
“Did you know? Apparently giant snakeheads are caught in Dangyang Lake every summer. They say some reach lengths of three cheok at their peak... though that’s probably just fishermen bragging, right? Snakeheads are already fierce enough, but if one were really three cheok long, the fishing rod would surely snap. How could anyone possibly catch that?”
“I have caught one before.”
“Oh please. You’re more boastful than you look.”
“......”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless stared at Lee Seowon with a look that plainly said, ‘What exactly is this lunatic?’
“...It’s true.”
“Boooo, boastful fisherman.”
After jeering briefly while pointing his thumb downward, Lee Seowon suddenly wandered off.
Left behind alone, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless stared after him with a bewildered and aggrieved expression.
For a brief moment, he found himself wondering if he should remain here until summer.
Then he abruptly shook his head in alarm.
---
The rumor of Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s death did not only reach the Eight Bats.
After hearing the report from his subordinate, the King of Assassins scoffed.
“A ridiculous story. He is not someone who would die so easily. Especially not to those people.”
“...Still, shouldn’t we confirm it?”
“No need. Ignore it.”
“As you command.”
Once the subordinate vanished, the King of Assassins stared into empty space for a while before clicking his tongue.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless had abandoned everything in order to choose a life with his disciple.
For a man who had led Deathshroud alongside him for decades, it was an incredibly disappointing choice.
Yet after making such a choice, he was supposedly killed by his disciple and the disciple’s friends?
The chance of that being true was not even worth half a coin, but if it were, it would truly be a pathetic death.
“You remain troublesome until the very end.”
The King of Assassins rose from his seat and picked up a black robe.
.
.
.
Murim Alliance Headquarters, Alliance Leader Hall.
“...You say Divine Slaughter, Shadowless is dead?”
Alliance Leader Lee Ha-seong asked in disbelief, causing Chief Strategist Sama Baek to smile awkwardly.
“You said that child Jin Seong-un rejected your proposal the other day, correct?”
“He did. Quite firmly too. My seniors constantly scold me, and now even a much younger junior cuts me down without hesitation. My dignity has suffered greatly.”
The Alliance Leader referred to when he had proposed removing Divine Slaughter, Shadowless during his meeting with Jin Seong-un in Beijing.
At the time, Jin Seong-un had spoken of greed and insisted on sheltering Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
As the Alliance Leader’s thoughts grew complicated, Sama Baek continued.
“It is likely a scheme by that child Lee Seowon. They intend to lure in the Eight Bats.”
“They plan to catch them personally?”
“That is likely. Jin Seong-un is an incredibly stubborn child. Once he declares he will shelter Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, he will follow through even with a blade at his throat. They are likely attempting to erase sins through merit.”
Sama Baek, known as the Bright Mirror of the Orthodox Faction, could seemingly see through every event occurring within Seong-un Inn and every scheme Lee Seowon devised, all while sitting inside his tiny office.
“What should we do?”
“There are only two possibilities. Either the Eight Bats truly come to Yichang, or they mock the rumor and continue massacring people throughout the world. We must prepare for both.”
Their manpower was limited.
The Eight Bats were severe Demon Heads, but Murim was crawling with monsters of all kinds.
They could not pour every resource of the Alliance into hunting a single group.
At that moment—
A subordinate rushed in hurriedly and delivered news of the tragedy that had befallen the Xianyang Sword Sect.
The expressions of the Alliance Leader and Chief Strategist hardened instantly.
The Chief Strategist slowly closed his eyes and released a deep sigh.
Though always calm, unmistakable fury lingered within that sigh.
“Send the Lord of the Hundred Sword Hall to Xianyang immediately. As for Yichang...”
The Chief Strategist turned his gaze toward the Alliance Leader.
The Alliance Leader rose from his seat as though it were obvious.
He draped the white robe hanging from his chair over his shoulders and spoke.
“I shall go.”
“...You must only handle the matter and return.”
“Ah, of course.”
Sama Baek quietly sighed.
By now, he could roughly infer the Alliance Leader’s intentions merely from the tone of his promises.
This one would probably turn into another three-month outing.
---
Seong-un Inn.
As always, the inn overflowed with customers.
Seomun Ak, Moyong Hyeon, and Hwamyeong busily carried food and alcohol.
Inside the kitchen, Seo Yu-gyeom and Baek Seol continuously cooked over blazing cauldrons.
The only unusual thing was that Han Seong-chun and Lee Seowon were nowhere to be seen.
Several guests eating within the inn exchanged glances now and then.
They were inwardly alarmed by the sheer number of Orthodox Faction martial artists present.
* Big Brother, what should we do?
Youngest Bat transmitted his voice to Third Bat.
Third Bat stirred his bok choy with chopsticks before replying.
* Acting immediately would be foolish. Look at the eyes of that woman who just entered through the back door.
Youngest Bat subtly shifted his gaze toward a woman.
Her eyes were an exceptionally dark green.
In all the world, only the Sichuan Tang Clan possessed such eyes.
No matter how murderous the Demon Heads were, provoking one of the Five Great Clans—especially the revenge-driven Sichuan Tang Clan—was still burdensome.
* Let us leave.
Just as Third Bat reached that decision—
Every guest within the inn suddenly stood up simultaneously.
As a result, only the six brothers of the Eight Bats remained seated.
Then, as though planned beforehand, all the guests poured outside.
At that point, the brothers realized the truth.
“...It’s a trap.”
The moment those words were spoken, the brothers immediately unleashed their movement techniques and attempted to flee.
Whoosh—!
Tang Clan throwing daggers sliced across the inn.
Youngest Bat stomped down with a True Step.
The tables instantly rose into the air and blocked every dagger Tang So-yeon had thrown.
Tatatatatak—!
The ease with which he dealt with the full-force volley revealed the extent of their martial prowess.
“You bastards!”
Baek Sang’s pure white Sword Energy surged forth.
Seventh Bat generated dark crimson Aura Qi with his bare hand and tore the Sword Energy apart.
Baek Sang involuntarily inhaled sharply.
As Seventh Bat’s red eyes locked onto Baek Sang and he started approaching—
Third Bat shouted,
“Do not engage them!”
Immediately, the six brothers scattered in different directions.
The members of Seong-un Inn—led by Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, Jin Seong-un, and Seo Yu-gyeom—each pursued one of them.
Lee Seowon, who had been hiding inside Sangwon Cloth Shop, hurried outside and shouted,
“Tang So-yeon, Baek Sang, Baek Seol, and Hwamyeong pursue one! Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak take another!”
This entire operation was under Lee Seowon’s command.
Though fundamentally a commercial Head Steward, he had spent the past several days studying hundreds of military strategy manuals from both Murim and the army.
The Later-generation Prodigies immediately began their pursuit in flawless coordination under Lee Seowon’s orders.
Jin Seong-un, Seo Yu-gyeom, and Divine Slaughter, Shadowless each took one target.
Even so, they still lacked manpower and ultimately had no means to pursue the final one.
‘Frustrating, but unavoidable.’
Abandoning greed was important.
Many lost everything by attempting to seize it all.
Lee Seowon briefly surveyed the surroundings before deliberately shouting,
“We cannot allow them to escape Yichang! The Heavenly Net of the Murim Alliance will soon descend!”
Of course, it was a lie.
He had simply eliminated the possibility of the remaining one returning here to threaten him.
Now the enemies would be too busy fleeing outward in order to avoid being trapped within the Murim Alliance’s Heavenly Net.
Lee Seowon quietly sighed.
It felt strangely exhilarating.
The battles of merchants were usually quiet.
They fought heart against heart.
But Murim was different.
Here, people personally moved in reality, crossing blades against blades.
A completely different kind of stimulation from anything he had experienced in his life filled Lee Seowon’s mind.
If this operation succeeded, he thought perhaps he should read even more strategy manuals.
---
On a deserted forest path outside Yichang.
Fourth Bat, who had been fleeing from Jin Seong-un for quite some time, spread out his senses before slowly coming to a stop.
Jin Seong-un also halted a short distance away.
Fourth Bat turned around and asked while staring at him,
“Child, setting the trap was admirable enough, but isn’t your response afterward far too sloppy?”
“How so?”
As always, Jin Seong-un answered calmly.
Fourth Bat chuckled.
The surrounding air began trembling faintly, and his eyes slowly turned crimson.
His black robe fluttered wildly as ominous and sinister energy spread everywhere.
He loosened his tied hair and spoke.
“You should not have split apart. At the very least, you should have pursued me together like those others. Even if you were impatient, how could you chase me alone?”
He mocked Jin Seong-un.
He already knew the rumors surrounding Guest Dragon.
That someone barely over twenty had reached the Peak-level Master Realm.
But he himself had already reached that realm over a decade ago.
Furthermore, after feasting freely upon the blood and Internal Energy of the Xianyang Sword Sect recently, his entire body overflowed with power.
He raised his palm toward the sky.
At once, reddish energy surged above his palm like flames.
“Child, do you know what this is? Long before you were even born... this is the martial art of the Blood Demon—the very man who tore apart every master of his era with his bare hands and drowned the world in blood.”
“Oh.”
Jin Seong-un quietly let out a sound of admiration.