Chapter 36

“What has made you a wanted man?”

To Dan Woo-sung’s abrupt question, the shadowy figure chuckled softly and replied.

“Why are you asking such things? We’re both men, you know it well. All I did was do for free what you paid for. Isn’t that right? You look like some rich family’s noble son, ugh.”

As the finger flicked, a gust of wind surged forth.

Shhhhh!

The instant Dan Wooseong dodged the finger wind, the sound guest, propelled backward from his spot, unleashed a palm strike with his right hand while sending a finger wind aimed at Dan Wooseong’s groin with his left.

Thud!

The finger wind slammed into the floor.

Dan Woosung had already vanished from sight the moment he unleashed the palm wind.

The assassin instinctively swung his right arm backward, using the rotational force to draw the dagger from his sleeve and seize it.

Shh!

As Dan Woo-sung pulled his body back, the assassin swung the dagger multiple times in a brief instant.

His movements were light, and his attacks were consistently insidious.

The assassin favored deception, swift lightness techniques, and rapid offensive-defensive exchanges.

However, his trump card was the Cold Yin Finger. All these attacks had been groundwork to land the Cold Yin Finger.

He was a man of considerable experience.

The assassin, who had been attacking with a perpetual smile on his lips like Danwooseong, unleashed the Frost Palm Force with his left hand the moment he soared into the air.

Simultaneously, he hurled a dagger with his right hand and, clasping his index and middle fingers together, unleashed a series of Han-Yin-Ji strikes.

The Frost Wind Palm Force collided with an ordinary palm strike and vanished.

The flying dagger was deflected by Dan Woosung’s extended left palm’s Flower Palm Technique.

Before he knew it, the shadow assassin and Dan Woosung, who had suddenly appeared at close range, each extended a hand.

The Yin Finger and the Ten Thousand Battles Ten Thousand Fists.

Fingers and fists…

The outcome was obvious.

With a flash of quick wit, Eum Gak unleashed his Golden Water Technique, then seized Dan Woo-sung’s wrist with a hand that twisted like a coiling snake.

Dan Wooseong immediately withdrew his right hand and unleashed a barrage of thunderous strikes at close range. It was a natural counter, born from his complete understanding of every offensive and defensive maneuver.

The startled assassin crossed his arms just as a deafening roar struck the eardrums.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

The sound thief, who had lost consciousness for an instant, shook his head. The world appeared upside down. And small. He was suspended in the sky.

Amidst this, Danwooseong came into view.

With one hand resting on his brow, he watched himself. As he tried to straighten his posture, his body wouldn’t move as he intended. He felt utterly powerless, as if his inner strength had vanished. He barely twisted his body, and the fallen assassin crashed to the ground with a thud.

“Guh…”

Turning his head, the assassin saw the mysterious young master had joined the Wulin Alliance warriors in fighting the bandits.

Having failed his landing technique, both his ankles were shattered. His knees were also far from normal. He struggled to crawl away on his hands and knees.

He was so stunned he couldn’t even speak.

It was clearly a fight like any other, yet the outcome felt utterly hollow.

Defeat wasn’t new to him, but he was a fighter who’d mostly succeeded in escaping. As he crawled desperately along the floor, a strangely eerie roar echoed from behind.

‘Why is there thunder…?’

Then came an ominous crackling sound, followed by the screams of two robbers.

“Kyaaaaaah…”

The thief felt a chill run down his spine. Like a lizard, he began frantically crawling forward on his elbows.

Incredibly, the front was a sheer cliff.

The guest was so utterly flabbergasted that he stared straight ahead for a moment. He knew there was a cliff nearby, but having crawled all the way, he hadn’t realized he’d misjudged the direction this badly.

A distant thud! was followed by the sound of a head hitting the ground.

Clang! Clang!

Footsteps followed, then the voice of the man who had knocked him off.

“You made it quite far. Crawling on your hands and knees, I mean.”

The assassin finally got up, looked at his broken legs, then turned to Danwooseong and said.

“I’ll turn myself in. I’ll go to the Martial Alliance and accept my punishment.”

As Dan Wooseong approached, the assassin suddenly bellowed.

“I’ll turn myself in! Don’t touch me!”

Danwooseong strode up, slapped the man across the face, then crouched down to meet his gaze.

“You’re going to turn yourself in?”

The criminal nodded.

“Yes. I’ll go and pay for my crimes. Even if it means going to prison.”

Dan Woo-sung asked, as if curious.

“Why turn yourself in?”

“That’s how cases get closed. Among the unsolved cases, some were my doing, and some weren’t. And I have information on other criminals too. Isn’t this enough to turn myself in? Because of me, they can catch other criminals too.”

Dan Woo-sung said, grabbing the assassin’s head.

“Since I’m not the Martial Alliance, you don’t need to turn yourself in either.”

“No!”

As the Bai Zhen Shi Dan Gong’s lightning surged forth, the assassin tried to spit out a cliché line but instead screamed in agony.

“Kill… me…”

It was a voice so shrill and unpleasant to hear. Danwooseong, who had been gripping his head, injected his strength and pulled, snapping the assassin’s neck with a sharp crack.

Dan Woosung rose and kicked the corpse away with his foot. With a thud, the body flew off the cliff, growing smaller and smaller.

Baek Han-kyung, who had severed the neck of the dual-sword wielder behind them, approached and stared down at the cliff below.

“Hmm…”

Dan Wooseong asked.

“If he had surrendered, would you have taken him to the Martial Arts Alliance?”

Baek Han-gyeong shook his head.

“No. He was the sort best dealt with summarily. Don’t give it another thought.”

Dan Woo-sung crossed his arms, and Baek Han-kyung sheathed his sword before silently crossing his own arms.

After silently admiring the scenery from the cliff’s edge, Baek Han-kyung spoke up.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go get something to eat.”

Dan Woo-sung replied.

“Let’s do that.”

Baek Han-kyung smiled faintly for the first time and said.

“Let’s go to a slightly more expensive restaurant today.”

The martial artist from the Martial Arts Alliance was speaking at some length.

.

.

.

The two took a seat by the window on this floor, where partitions blocked the view in places. After ordering their food, Baek Han-gyeong stared at Dan Woo-seong for a moment before asking.

“Your Highness.”

“Speak.”

“You seem very experienced.”

Danwooseong simply replied honestly.

“I have plenty of experience.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t have expected the young master of a merchant guild to have much experience in such fights. Frankly, I was quite surprised. Anyway, that finally answers my lingering questions.”

“What exactly were you curious about?”

“The reason the Martial Alliance summoned the young master is, quite literally, because they need a witness.”

“I know that.”

Well, the reality was a bit different. There were no witnesses, yet the head of the Gu Yangsheng family ended up like that. Dragged before the Martial Alliance, he hasn’t uttered a word, as if he’d gone completely mute. The information provided by the Emperor’s Association only stated that the young master of the merchant guild defeated the head of the Gu Yangsheng family single-handedly. It’s a rather awkward situation. How could the unnamed young master of the Shangdan faction have defeated the head of the Gu Yang family? Even the Emperor’s Association couldn’t offer a convincing answer to that question. That’s why the summons was sent.”

Dan Woo-sung nodded.

“Understood.”

That was also why Baek Han-gyeong had remained silent.

But when Baek Han-gyeong saw it with his own eyes, the situation was clear. He was a strong man. The assassin who had killed the guards had died a violent death without putting up any real resistance.

Dan Woo-sung asked curtly.

“So, what do you think?”

Baek Han-gyeong replied.

“The story about the Murong family head and the Imperial Council is entirely plausible. He possessed that level of skill.”

Baek Han-gyeong, who had been locked in combat with the assassins wielding twin swords. When Dan Woo-seong joined the fray, the tense battle ended in an instant.

As the food arrived, the two began to fill their stomachs.

Baek Han-gyeong spoke while sipping his soup.

“I shall add a few words about the skills of the young master I witnessed during my journey here. I realize this may be troublesome for you.”

His words carried a sense of goodwill.

Dan Wooseong nodded.

“There’s no need. If a duel is required, I’ll consider it experience.”

“Do you have any intention of joining the Imperial Association or the Martial Alliance? Your skill level is beyond that of a merchant.”

“Not yet.”

“Would you mind if I shared a thought, however presumptuous?”

“Let’s hear it.”

Dan Woo-sung looked at Baek Han-kyung while eating his meal. He was curious what would come next. Baek Han-kyung was a rather cold-blooded man.

Baek Han-gyeong spoke.

Those with genuine skill mostly choose between the Martial Alliance and the Imperial Council. The Martial Alliance doesn’t offer much in terms of pay. Instead, lodging is provided, and you receive preferential treatment at branches across the regions. The work is demanding, but the division of labor is well-organized, leaving ample time for training. The Alliance Leader often advises separating one’s origin sect from one’s position within the Alliance. Consequently, the culture and discipline here emphasize seniority and juniority more than master-disciple relationships. However, since the changes, even this senior-junior culture has shifted. Now, it has shifted back to a strict meritocracy based entirely on rank. It’s true the recent atmosphere in the Martial Alliance has become somewhat bleak because of this, but I consider it a positive change.”

Dan Wooseong nodded. He figured they must want to invite him to join the Martial Arts Alliance.

Baek Han-gyeong continued.

“The Emperor’s Association offers easier work and far greater compensation than we do. They tend to recruit any martial artist with even a hint of fame, even if it means paying a premium. However, that organization is strictly clan-centered. It’s difficult for outsiders to rise through the ranks there. That’s why it’s filled with martial artists who are only after the high monthly stipend. When a major conflict erupts, they’ll scatter like autumn leaves.”

Dan Woosung suddenly recalled the Xinsobaek of the Gu Yang Clan and the head of the Murong Clan. He couldn’t agree with Baek Han-kyung’s words.

Dan Woo-sung retorted.

“Not all Imperial Council members are like that. That’s too much of a leap.”

Baek Han-kyung scratched the back of his head for a moment.

“Hmm.”

Baek Han-gyeong seemed to realize he had been too blatant in praising the Martial Alliance and disparaging the Imperial Association. Still, he voiced what he wanted to say to the end.

“In any case, once you go to the Martial Alliance, rumors about the Crown Prince will spread far and wide. There will be many attempts to recruit him from all sides. When that time comes, please consider what I’ve said.”

Dan Woo-seong replied.

“I will take it into consideration.”

He had no immediate intention of joining the sect or becoming a disciple. Yet he was interested in the martial arts competition. After all, it would be a waste to come all this way and return without participating in the real thing.

Dan Woo-sung suddenly sensed someone’s gaze and looked across at the building opposite. The noblemen seated by the windows on that floor were all staring this way.

Dan Wooseong and Baek Hankyung stared back blankly.

A man sighed and spoke as if to be heard.

“Not the Martial Alliance, but the Slander Alliance. They say we’re the kind to scatter like autumn leaves in the wind. You shouldn’t tear others down like that Slander Alliance. Autumn leaves in the wind… Absurd.”

The subordinates replied to the man’s words.

“Yes, Young Master.”

The man raised his wine cup high while gazing at Baek Han-gyeong.

“Hey, Martial Alliance members. Let’s have a drink together before these withered leaves scatter. The gentleman beside you, have a drink too. I offer my respect to your insight, sir, for calling my words exaggerated.”

Realizing his mistake, Baek Han-gyeong rose and bowed toward the opposite side.

“This old man spoke lightly and made a mistake. Excuse me, but what might your name be… I offer my apologies.”

The man, still holding his cup, returned the bow half-heartedly as he replied.

“Your surname shall be Chupung, and your given name shall be Nakyeop.”

Laughter erupted from across the room, and Baek Han-gyeong sat back down, his face flushed.

Dan Woo-sung spoke as if encouraging a junior.

“You apologized, so it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

Baek Han-kyung, whose self-reproach and anger were clashing inside, nodded and replied.

“Understood.”

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong

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