Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 86 : Solo Mission

Solo Mission

"Disguise?"

At such an unexpected comment, Jeong-un's eyes widened.

Disguise?

He wondered if a Heavenly Martial Hall martial artist was supposed to do that sort of thing.

Besides, wasn't this something that couldn't be sorted out just by exchanging a few words like this?

It was nothing less than an act of deceiving one of the most prominent great sects of the martial world.

Especially since it concerned Shaolin, a group that was counted among the Nine Major Sects of the Central Plains, and even discussed as lead disciple among their ranks.

Even if nothing actually happened, if it became known that such a conversation had even taken place within the Heavenly Martial Hall, that fact alone would enrage them greatly.

"Is that really allowed?"

Yeom Baek replied calmly.

"Of course not."

"Pardon?"

"As you know, the organizational structure of the Heavenly Martial Hall is perfectly clear and transparent. In fact, most sects receive the yearly lists of those departing and newly entering our hall. It's nothing particularly surprising. After all, half of the Heavenly Martial Hall's martial artists are their disciples anyway."

With a nonchalant face, Yeom Baek continued.

"That's why carrying out a completely secret confidential mission is close to impossible. We do our best to caution people, but in the end, news always leaks out. As you've realized by now, there really isn't anyone who's completely severed contact with their original sects. The Heavenly Martial Hall doesn't strictly enforce it, either. If they did, there'd be no sects willing to send their disciples here."

"......."

It was a peculiar relationship, Jeong-un thought to himself.

Without question, the Heavenly Martial Hall was the most prestigious and virtuous group in the current world of martial arts.

Each of its members boasted tremendous martial power, on top of their moral banner of vanquishing the wicked.

They even held entrance exams to select only the most outstanding martial artists.

Even if you swore on your life for the chivalric cause, you still couldn't enter as you pleased; your skills had to be more than solid.

Just by joining, in only five short years, you earned a chance to make your name known to the entire martial world.

For martial artists desperate to raise the honor of their name and their sect, there was no place more suitable.

Simply sending disciples here was an immediate gain.

At this point, various sects were competing fiercely by any means necessary to send their disciples in.

The honor and wealth granted by the Heavenly Martial Hall were considerable.

It wasn't uncommon to hear stories of a rural sect swelling several times over simply because it had a disciple enter the Heavenly Martial Hall.

'But at the same time, they don't always welcome it, either.'

However, other major sects with significant influence weren't exactly pleased to see a Heavenly Martial Hall martial artist appear in their territory.

Heavenly Martial Hall martial artists never left the hall for personal reasons.

They only moved outside when given a mission.

Ultimately, if they set foot in an area, it was usually taken as evidence that Evil Faction forces were running rampant there.

The local martial sects in those areas naturally found this displeasing, as it implied that they weren't properly managing their territory.

'Isn't that something to be ashamed of?'

To instead take offense—Jeong-un found it absurd.

While not as wicked as the Evil Faction or criminals, orthodox sects often revealed such unreasonable sides from time to time.

It struck Jeong-un that, before being martial artists, they, too, were just people.

"As I said before, we can't leave this entire matter to Shaolin alone. Even if the trouble is in their own grounds. Shaolin is a group symbolic of the martial world. They cannot be seen as getting pushed around by some mere Evil Faction scum."

"Aren't you just stirring up trouble with unnecessary worries?"

Jeong-un asked calmly.

"If it's revealed that the Heavenly Martial Hall sent a disguised martial artist to participate in the Shaolin Assembly, you'd get into quite a fix. Shaolin, no matter how you look at it, is the foremost Henan sect. Even if caught off guard at first, afterward they'll be prepared."

Actually, Jeong-un privately thought that if that Divine Thief slipped into the crowd, rooting him out wouldn't be easy.

He knew that some highly skilled Evil Faction martial artists were quite adept at hiding their energy among others.

'Still.'

Even if they failed to catch him, preventing him from stealing anything shouldn't be that difficult.

Last time, he had merely left a letter at the abbot's residence, and hadn't actually entered inside.

Given his master-level body-strengthening art, maybe he slipped over Shaolin's wall when people let their guard down.

Plus, having already suffered embarrassment once, they'd surely have moved anything valuable to a secure location.

These were not the laid-back rural martial houses Jeong-un was familiar with.

They were quite literally giants of the martial world—no one would expect them to keep making foolish mistakes.

Yeom Baek smirked, finding it amusing that Jeong-un considered such details.

"You're not wrong. They'll certainly tighten their vigilance. But one must always prepare for the unlikely. That's why your role is crucial."

"You're telling me to participate in the martial arts tournament and report in detail everything you see."

"That's right. If nothing at all happens, you're free to simply end your mission. No one will ever know you entered under a false identity."

"Is that really possible?"

Jeong-un asked doubtfully.

"Surely plenty of people have already seen my face."

"Exactly. But that's just your face."

Yeom Baek replied calmly.

"You've dueled the Light-Flowing Sword, interacted closely with your peers, and have been seen moving between your quarters and private practice room. Oh, and there were those two brats from the Red Dragon Corps who challenged you. So, yes, it's not like a small number of people have seen your face. Your likeness is probably making the rounds."

"......."

Jeong-un couldn't help a wry thought—Yeom Baek's awareness of his every meeting was almost uncanny.

'They say no movement of martial artists escapes watchful eyes...'

It was absolutely true. As Jeong-un admired this, Yeom Baek continued.

"But how accurate can a brush-drawn sketch really be? Unless someone has seen you in person, you'll be tough to recognize. And most of those people are in the Heavenly Martial Hall anyway. But more than that—your status."

"......?"

"Do you think anyone will believe you're really from a rural martial house, when you were given the Cloud Dragon Token by Mount Hua and passed a special test?"

"That's simply the truth..."

Jeong-un replied, slightly baffled, and Yeom Baek grinned in return.

"When people encounter something they can't believe, they often refuse to accept it as reality. They value plausibility over fact."

"So, people only believe what they want to believe."

"Exactly. So, you needn't worry about being recognized. The General Affairs Department has prepared everything."

"......."

"There is no one more suited for this task than you. Remember that. Also..."

Yeom Baek handed him a single sheet of paper as he spoke.

"You'll first embark on another solo mission to Kaifeng tomorrow."

"First?"

"It's a mission to eliminate a group of Evil Faction members causing trouble there. This, too, is a vital assignment. You'll truly leave for that location and carry out the mission. No one will suspect a thing, as it won't be an easy task. And then—"

"......?"

"After completing that mission, instead of returning right away, head to Mount Song. For your next assignment."

"You mean I have to do two missions at once?"

"That's right."

Yeom Baek added with a stern face,

"Remember this. You must keep this fully concealed even from your peers."

* * *

"A two-stripe getting a solo mission..."

For once, the four of them were gathered and eating together.

Upon hearing that Jeong-un would be departing on a mission alone the following day, each looked quite surprised.

Jo Gwang in particular appeared very excited.

"Isn't this basically saying they regard Young Hero Yu as a three-stripes?"

It was extremely rare for a two-stripe to be assigned a solo mission.

Jo Gwang seemed quite envious that Jeong-un was accomplishing things that had never been done before in quick succession.

"If it's three stripes, when Young Hero Yu leaves the Hall, this place will be thronged with people."

They said that the gates of the Heavenly Martial Hall were always bustling on graduation day each year, as various halls tried to recruit martial artists who hadn't yet found their next post.

"That's nonsense."

Jeong-un dismissed it calmly.

Three stripes, seriously.

He'd only just received his second stripe.

Moreover, none of them knew the true reasons for his solo mission, as Yeom Baek had firmly reminded him to keep his real mission secret.

"It certainly is impressive, but on the other hand, doesn't it just show how much the Heavenly Martial Hall is lacking in manpower right now?"

Tang Yerin, whose eyes had widened in surprise at the news, offered her own thoughts.

She, too, had completed many missions, but was still a one-stripe.

Advancement was based on very strict criteria.

Despite that, Jeong-un had not only been promoted in less than a year, but also received a solo mission—so they couldn't help but be surprised.

"It's a great opportunity, in any case. If you complete a solo mission, you get all the credit for yourself. And if the mission is to wipe out an entire sect—then even more so. The more blood you spill, the more your feat is valued."

Baek Il-gang's words weren't wrong.

In reality, the Heavenly Martial Hall valued killing wicked people over simply protecting someone.

The main reason Jeong-un was promoted so quickly was because he'd discovered and wiped out a cult in Dangyang County.

Tang Yerin looked at Jeong-un with some concern.

"They'll probably be formidable foes. Kaifeng District is a huge city. If a group is running wild there, they must be quite powerful. The local officials might even be involved."

That reminded Jeong-un of the area magistrate he'd met in Jinju Prefecture.

Though it was his first time meeting a government official, the man hadn't struck him as particularly upstanding—he seemed more like a calculating merchant, even trying to cozy up to Jeong-un, a much younger person.

That image was still fresh in his mind.

Having met just one such figure, Jeong-un had decided not to assume the region's officials were all virtuous.

That didn't mean he considered them wicked, either.

After all, they were human too. There would be all kinds of people.

Coveting wealth in itself didn't make one evil.

But if that official, by chance, was truly corrupt...

'... Let's hope not.'

A martial artist of the Heavenly Martial Hall was only authorized to execute other martial artists.

Even then, it wasn't an official right granted by the royal family; it was just quietly condoned.

That was to avoid the stigma of the state permitting private organizations to carry out killings.

But if he were to kill an official, things could spiral out of control.

"Kaifeng is in Henan, isn't it? There must be plenty of martial artists there as well. Well, in any case, take care. Even if you fail, you won't be harshly blamed."

Baek Il-gang said this, his indifferent tone tinged with subtle concern. Jeong-un nodded with a smile.

"So, when will you leave?"

"I'm planning to depart tomorrow morning."

"So soon? Isn't it your first time going on a martial world journey alone? There must be a lot to prepare."

Tang Yerin's voice carried a faint edge of worry.

She must have been quite uneasy about Jeong-un leaving on such a dangerous mission alone.

"Well, the General Affairs Department will handle all the preparations anyway. There's no point in delaying after getting the assignment."

Baek Il-gang spoke casually, wearing an unconcerned expression.

"Is there any point in us, mere one-stripes, worrying about the safety of a two-stripe leaving on a mission? Let's just focus on our own work."

He then looked at Jeong-un and added,

"Come back safe."

Jeong-un nodded and smiled quietly.