Single-Instant Blade

Chapter 90 : Contracted Killing (5)

The Fourth Valley Master had endured the Submerged Leakage Fluid, something he had never expected.

If he had known this would happen, he would have left the deputy valley master, or one of the other two, alive.

No, it was useless even if he had left them alive.

They would surely have overcome the Submerged Leakage Fluid as well.

A transformed Single-Instant Blade!

The sword forms that the deputy valley master and the other two had used were clearly blade forms. A transformed Single-Instant Blade.

The Single-Instant Blade had no form. It was free-spirited. But the Single-Instant Blade they had executed had taken the form of a sword form to make it easier to train.

It was very difficult to awaken the senses. There was a high probability that it would not work well even if you trained for a lifetime. But if you taught martial arts in the form of a sword form, you could learn it easily. Your senses would also become sharper as you trained in the sword forms.

Even if you were not a born martial artist, if you trained in martial arts, you would become a somewhat outstanding fighter.

The deputy valley master and the two martial artists had been raised as the latter.

‘It was them at that time.’

Ah Geol had seen this kind of martial art before.

The ones who had cut down the Drunken Flower Garden assassins without hesitation had used this kind of martial art.

If so, the Ghost Gate… was related to his senior brother.

He had not told Mongseol because he was not yet sure.

It would not be too late to tell her when he had searched the Fourth Valley more and had found some clue.

“Ah!”

Ah Geol let out a cry of astonishment.

Not long after he had started his investigation, he had found a waterway in a corner of the Fourth Valley.

It seemed that when it was important, secret, or urgent, reports were made through the waterway.

When he had rushed into the Fourth Valley, that fact had already been reported.

There was no need to search the Fourth Valley any further.

Whoever had touched it, the things that could be used as clues had been completely removed.

Although he had rushed in so quickly that they had not been able to use their hands, there had been enough time to put a secret letter in a bamboo tube.

Ah Geol stopped his movements and was lost in thought for a moment.

If a report had been made, his senior brother would rush in immediately. No, it might not be. When the Third Lord had died, his senior brother had been there. But he had not stepped forward.

From the perspective of the Wind Path Valley, it was not a bad thing that he was fighting against the Sacred Sword Sect.

If so, the Sacred Sword Sect would rush in.

‘Dongseok…!’

Funnily enough, the safety of the Drunken Flower Garden assassins depended on Dongseok.

* * *

“A waterway?”

“That’s right. Besides the waterway in the sixth valley, there was another one in the fourth valley, but can you figure out where else it is?”

“No.”

Dongseok said curtly.

“I knew there was a waterway in the fourth valley. But, there was no bamboo tube that came out of the waterway?”

“That! Is that true?”

Ah Geol said in surprise.

“Kikik! I’m monitoring all the waterways of the sixth and fourth valleys. I can intercept the bamboo tubes that come and go. Those waterways, they all gather here first and then scatter.”

Dongseok pointed to a pond that had been made not long ago.

“That hole over there. That’s the waterway that comes out of the fourth valley. I turn the waterway here first and then send it out again, but nothing has gone out today. Kikik! Those guys, they don’t even know I’ve done this kind of work.”

“If nothing went out today, did something go out before?”

“It flowed out about four times.”

“Four times?”

“I didn’t say anything because it seemed that everything was being reported to the Yama Hall, but I have a copy. Do you want to see it?”

“Please show me.”

Ah Geol smiled brightly.

Mongseol had obtained a treasure named Dongseok.

Dongseok had inherited all of his father’s talents. He had excellent knowledge of mechanisms, civil engineering, and architecture.

Mongseol needed this kind of person by her side.

Ah Geol looked through the papers that Dongseok had brought one by one.

The secret letter was written in a secret code, so he could not read it. Dongseok had also only copied it, but had not been able to decipher it.

Just who was Ma Guyeong that he was hiding himself so perfectly?

“If, if the Sacred Sword Sect attacks, can you block them?”

Ah Geol was most worried about that.

“A day or two? More than that is impossible. So I’ve thought of something, and if it goes well, you’ll be able to escape. The construction period is about half a year. Since it has to be done in secret.”

‘Half a year. It takes too long.’

The Nine-Bend Valley was not a safe place to stay comfortably for half a year. Originally, he had been thinking of training in martial arts for about a year, but now every day would be a day of anxiety.

“Are you going to install a mechanism?”

“Where! A mechanism is a major construction. You have to use a lot of workers, and it costs a lot of money. Here, you have to stop at just installing a few more traps. The valley itself is rough, so that’s enough.”

“Thank you.”

Ah Geol stood up.

Just confirming that no secret letter had gone out from the Fourth Valley today was a great harvest.

‘I have to go to the Wind Path Valley.’

Ah Geol made up his mind.

He had no intention of telling Mongseol. If he told her, she was a woman who would surely say that they should move together.

“Ugh!”

As he was walking indifferently towards the sixth valley, a thought suddenly occurred to him and he stopped abruptly.

Why was he trying to go to the Wind Path Valley? Because he was worried about Mongseol.

If he were alone, he wouldn’t care if the Sacred Sword Sect attacked or if his senior brothers rushed in.

Why had he searched the Fourth Valley so diligently? Because he had been worried that there might be something that would harm Mongseol. When the deputy valley master and the two men had used the blade of the Single-Instant Sect, he had been seized by an ominous premonition.

Why had he even said thank you to Dongseok?

Ah Geol did not know the person named Dongseok well. Dongseok was strictly a person who had been recruited by Mongseol. He was a master of mechanism and trap studies. And he was using that skill for Mongseol.

Why was he grateful for that? Because he was helping Mongseol.

All of his actions were aligned with Mongseol.

Ah Geol went to the valley and sat down on a rock. And he looked at the flowing valley water.

Mongseol had already entered his heart.

Although he had regarded her as his master’s daughter, and had thought of her as a younger sister he had to take good care of, it had become strangely twisted.

He was a fate that should not meet a woman.

Originally, a person who had the Single-Instant Blade almost always thought the same. Because he didn’t know when he would die.

The number one person under heaven did not exist.

Although you could have a series of victories and be on a roll for a while, you would surely meet your match.

This was the world.

Of the thirty-six Single-Instant Sect Masters, thirty-one had not died of natural causes.

The masters of the Single-Instant Blade, who seemed to have nothing to fear in the world, had lost their lives to others, whether by mistake or not.

Hadn’t his master also died to Heo Dogi?

Seori Hyeonggae and Seori Gaheon also did not marry and polished their blades. Even now that they were well over forty, they still trained their blades. They would train their blades for their whole lives and would die by a blade.

This was the fate of the master of the Single-Instant Blade.

Moreover, he was standing in front of an iron wall that he felt he could not overcome no matter how hard he tried.

In fact, he had been on the verge of death at the hands of Seori Hyeonggae.

What was he going to do by meeting a woman?

Because they were engaged, did he think that they would really get married and had taken her to heart?

“Ah, this shouldn’t be happening…”

Ah Geol let out a sudden sigh.

Mongseol was beautiful. Although there were many women in the world, no woman could surpass Mongseol. Mongseol was wise. After she had become the garden master, her intelligence was being revealed to an excessive degree. He didn’t know if she would raise the Drunken Flower Garden to the number one sect in the Central Plains.

“…You crazy bastard.”

Ah Geol sighed again.

Even when Grandpa had said that he would find Mongseol, he had chided him, saying what was the point of finding her, but what was this!

Ah Geol heard Grandpa’s voice.

-You were so sullen, serves you right, you bastard. What? Are you grateful to this grandpa now?

“Ah Geol, you bastard! Get a grip. Get a grip.”

Ah Geol raised his hand and slapped his own cheek a couple of times.

But that could not shake off the woman who had already entered his heart.

‘She’s telling me to go. To go.’

Ah Geol got up from the rock and began to walk.

* * *

“Do you really have to go?”

“I have something to find out.”

“Tell me what it is. I’ll find out through the information network here. It’s good if we find out together.”

Mongseol was not pretty. She was not gorgeously beautiful. She was simple. To be precise, she had a kind face.

Why was this face so pretty?

Although he had not known at all before he had realized it, he had found that Mongseol was right next to him.

“No, don’t find out. It’s related to the Sacred Sword Sect. It’s better if I find out carefully.”

“It’s not a fight, is it?”

“I can beat the Ten Lesser Swords.”

“You can beat one. You can’t guarantee you can beat three, can you?”

Mongseol smiled brightly, as if to say, ‘Am I wrong?’

“There’s no fight. I’m just going to spy.”

Ah Geol deliberately did not talk about the Wind Path Valley.

Mongseol had seen him being defeated by his senior brother. So, as they say, a burnt child dreads the fire, her heart would sink just by hearing the words ‘Wind Path Valley’.

He would not go to the Sacred Sword Sect. As soon as he left the Nine-Bend Valley, he would head to the Wind Path Valley.

“Come back safely. In the meantime, I’ll also train the Blood Sword Sutra to the tenth level. As it is now, I’m no help, am I?”

“You’re going to help me?”

“Whether I’m good or bad, you’re my fiancé, what can I do? I have to help.”

“What? Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

Ah Geol laughed freely.

At other times, he would have tried to dismiss it as ‘what a younger sister says’, but now he accepted it as what his fiancée said.

Anyway, their relationship would not last long.

Perhaps the conversation they had had today was the last conversation they would have in this life.

A Single-Instant Sect disciple always prepared to leave. When he drew his blade, there should be nothing left in this world. If there was even a little lingering attachment to the world, the blade would not be used properly.

“This is just a worry, but if the Sacred Sword Sect or the Wind Path Valley attacks, don’t fight…”

“Don’t worry. How can I fight those people? I’ll be busy running away. I don’t know if I can even run away.”

“I’m on my way after stopping by the carpenter’s. Even in my current state, I can hold out for two days, so don’t fight, just run away.”

“I told you not to worry. But you’re strange today, aren’t you? You’re not like other times. You seem kind. Have you matured a little? Have you learned how to cherish your woman?”

“Nonsense.”

Ah Geol stood up.

“Don’t worry about here and come back safely. Avoid fights unconditionally.”

Mongseol smiled brightly with a carefree face.

* * *

Ah Geol walked towards the entrance of the valley.

There were many eyes watching him secretly. They were all looking at the back of his head. They were staring at his back.

The brown martial arts uniform with a ghost face drawn on the chest could only be worn by the six bodyguards. And the six bodyguards were cooped up in the Yama Hall and did not come out. Even though they were the same Ghost Gate, they did not know their faces.

So it would be strange for the six bodyguards to walk out in broad daylight.

‘That’s right… how did she think of swapping? And a sect like the Ghost Gate.’

The more he thought about it, the more audacious the plan was.

The fact that she had thought of this right after the Drunken Flower Garden had been attacked by unknown people, her improvisation was not ordinary.

At other times, even things that should be reprimanded now looked good.

Now it was like that. Whatever Mongseol did, it would look wise, outstanding, and pretty. Even if she did a reckless act like jumping into a fire with a bundle of firewood, she would look like a brave woman.

‘I’m really not in my right mind.’

Ah Geol shook his head slightly.

All his ties would be left in the Nine-Bend Valley.

Every time he took a step, he would also shake off his memories of Mongseol. He would bury all the things that had happened with Mongseol.

Blade, blade, blade!

He only thought of the blade.

(End of Chapter)