Sword God Reborn

Chapter 260 : That's how you set the mood

Night-traveling clothes, a mask, and a hood.

It was not easy to see such an appearance in the martial world.

Because there were no idiots who would openly walk around in such attire.

The fact that there was little to see was the same as saying that there was little to wear.

"It suits you well."

Cheon Mubaeck said so as he looked at Tang Su-gun, Hwangbo Sung, and So-hang.

The character for 'river' (川) was drawn on Hwangbo Sung's forehead. As a natural martial artist and a magnanimous master of external arts, he despised assassins.

The night-traveling clothes, hood, and mask he was wearing now were the typical attire of an assassin.

It matched the commonly imagined appearance of an assassin.

The statement that it suited him well was nothing short of an insult.

"Straighten your face."

"......!"

"You think I won't know just because you've covered your face?"

"Ah, no, sir."

"Don't curse just because you've covered your mouth."

"...I didn't."

"I can see everything. I can. I can see your face even if it's covered by a mask. I have X-ray vision."

An awkward silence hung in the hall.

Gok Ji-heum and Zhuge Seol-ah, who were slowly preparing, also stared with wide eyes.

Cheon Mubaeck looked around at the atmosphere and narrowed his brow.

"What. You can't even understand a joke? Hah. At times like this, I'd rather miss Neung-heo. That idiot would have come in with a 'don't talk bullshit here.' Never mind, just get ready."

"Yes."

A joke.

Hwangbo Sung patted Tang Su-gun with a reluctant face.

"Isn't it not a joke, but real?"

"X-ray vision?"

"Yes."

"...The Squad Leader is not a Taoist. Nor a celestial being. And not a Buddha, no."

"But do you think that guy said that for no reason?"

"..."

"Perhaps, if it's that person, wouldn't he have learned not only X-ray vision but also mind-reading? If someone else had said that, it would be a joke, but ugh. Since that guy said it, it doesn't sound like a joke. He has to be like a normal person."

"Umm."

Tang Su-gun let out a groan. So-hang, who was next to him, stealthily interjected.

"That's right. I feel it sometimes too."

"Right?"

"I wonder if he really has learned mind-reading. Sometimes he stares at my face, and he knows what I'm thinking, whether I'm sad or happy."

"Huh? I've felt that way too."

Although they didn't know, it was the power of Cheon Mubaeck's divine eyes.

The ability to deduce the opponent's emotions through light.

Perhaps to those who didn't know, it was no different from 'mind-reading,' and Cheon Mubaeck had become very skilled in the efficient use of his divine eyes.

He had perfectly integrated the rough rising stars who had been fighting in factions, and had made them move strictly according to his orders.

"Damn it. Then I can't even curse inwardly now."

"So that's it. You've been cursing inwardly until now."

"......!"

At Cheon Mubaeck's voice, Hwangbo Sung's face turned pale.

He was so pale that one couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue.

"Let's have a test for the first time in a while after we're done. All of you."

The faces of the three contorted as if they had chewed on poop. Although they were covered by masks and hoods, Cheon Mubaeck could see everything.

"Straighten your faces."

"......!"

"If you perform well tonight, I'll consider letting you pass without taking the test."

In an instant, the eyes of the three burned fiercely.

Gok Ji-heum, who was watching, clicked his tongue and said to Zhuge Seol-ah.

"What on earth is that test? Young Lady. That test that draws out the motivation of the members with a single word."

"Umm. It's a very good test to gauge one's own martial arts level. All the members of the Demon Repelling Squad have taken that test, and even Namgung Jincheon couldn't pass it easily."

"Hah. You mean the dragon of the Namgung family?"

"Yes."

"What on earth is the test?"

A mischievous smile appeared on Zhuge Seol-ah's lips.

"If you're curious, shall I speak to Young Master Cheon and help you take it once?"

"Really?"

Gok Ji-heum's eyes shone. Although he was not like the Hanamun, he was a natural martial artist. That was why he was so obsessed with the oral formula for the Dark True Wisdom Sword.

A curiosity about what the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero's meaningful test was stealthily arose. He was curious, and his heart pounded at the fact that he could experience it.

"Of course. What's so difficult about that?"

"Thank you, Young Lady. Indeed, they say the eldest daughter of the Zhuge family has a very beautiful character, so the information of the Hanamun about the Zhuge family is not wrong."

"Then I'll tell him right after today's operation."

"Haha. Thank you, Young Lady."

"It's nothing."

Zhuge Seol-ah just smiled and showed her modesty.

Somehow, perhaps the one who had been most influenced by Cheon Mubaeck was not Neung-heo, but Zhuge Seol-ah.

* * *

Sometimes, Cheon Mubaeck would think.

That the people of the Central Plains really liked the moon.

Putting aside the fact that Li Bai had loved the moon so much that he had sung about it.

Many poets and literary scholars had sung about the moon countless times.

Was it just the literary people?

The same went for martial artists.

Whether it was sword techniques, fist techniques, or saber techniques, there were plenty of martial arts that had the character for 'moon' (月) in them.

The same went for the names of sects.

The path that Cheon Mubaeck's footsteps were now heading.

The Wolya Faction.

"What are they, Li Bai? What is the Wolya Faction?"

A particularly pale moon in the night sky scattered its moonlight.

A moonlit night with a rising moon, Wolya.

The reason why Cheon Mubaeck did not go out after a thorough investigation, as Gok Ji-heum had said, was simple.

'The North Sword Society is the Wolya Faction.'

All his senses said so.

Cheon Mubaeck, whose qi sense had a mysterious power of divine energy and was not just sensitive but had opened his eyes to a new sense, had realized that assassins were crouching in this city.

In fact, even for the great Cheon Mubaeck, that was impossible.

To find an assassin in this wide city with just his qi sense?

It was absurd.

And yet, Cheon Mubaeck's sharp qi sense said.

'There is an assassin.'

No matter how much they hid and hid, paradoxically, the more they hid, the stronger the thick smell of blood became.

This was not a simple assassin.

The dangerous smell that Cheon Mubaeck had felt was just one.

"The King of Assassins is here."

That was why Cheon Mubaeck had stepped forward.

The North Sword Society was not a small base of the Wolya Faction.

It was the main base of the Wolya Faction where the King of Assassins was staying now.

"The North Sword Society... so that's why they chose this place."

The North Sword Society was a sect of Qinghai. But the people of the Central Plains called it the Bokgeomhoe, using the character for 'barbarian' instead of 'north'.

It was the people of the Central Plains despising it as a sect of Qinghai.

So it was out of the sight of the Central Plains. No one paid attention, and no one cared. It was the most ideal environment for the Wolya Faction to disguise themselves.

Sufficient power, a solid influence in the region, and a lack of interest from the Central Plains.

That was also the reason why the King of Assassins had moved his main base here.

Because it was far from the interest of the Central Plains.

So Cheon Mubaeck had moved without hesitation. He walked through the scattered moonlight and seeped into the darkness. He moved back and forth between the alleys and rooftops where the moonlight avoided, and escaped from all the surrounding gazes.

The rest just walked and ran on the same path that Cheon Mubaeck had trodden.

Surprise flashed in everyone's eyes.

The mansion of the North Sword Society was protected by numerous surrounding merchant groups, sects, and taverns.

Among them, there would be the eyes of the North Sword Society, and there would be assassins.

But he was avoiding all their gazes.

Zhuge Seol-ah, who was following behind, admired Cheon Mubaeck's back.

Under the scattered moonlight, Cheon Mubaeck's back looked particularly wide.

The words that had aroused a strange emotion in the members before the operation.

He fought and won.

Although it was a truly arrogant statement, there was no statement more reassuring than that now.

The instinctive fear that came from facing the Wolya Faction, especially the King of Assassins, was washed away clean in an instant.

'I want to continue to go with him.'

While such a thought suddenly came to her.

Cheon Mubaeck arrived in front of a large mansion.

In an instant, a tension flowed among the members. Even Gok Ji-heum, who was the most senior and skilled here, swallowed dryly with a hardened face.

Everyone's gaze turned to Cheon Mubaeck.

It was a gaze filled with the question of what he would do now.

Beyond the high walls, numerous martial artists were visible. It was impossible to sneak in by jumping over the walls. Torches were lit everywhere, to the extent that it was confusing whether it was night or day.

It was impossible to sneak in even if a great celestial being were to come.

Unless it was a celestial art that made one's body invisible.

Everyone waited for Cheon Mubaeck's instructions.

Cheon Mubaeck stroked his chin and looked at Tang Su-gun.

"You Tang family guy."

"...Yes?"

Tang Su-gun, who had a somehow ominous feeling, answered while watching his expression.

"I know well that you joined the Righteous Alliance, joined the Demon Repelling Squad, and all of this was to achieve great merits. So I will give you a chance to achieve merits."

"..."

In an instant, Tang Su-gun's pupils became complicated with various lights.

To achieve merits, one must inevitably take risks.

Seeing Cheon Mubaeck say that, it must be a dangerous task.

And yet, the reason he couldn't refuse was that his desire to achieve merits was greater than anyone else's.

'The position of successor has already half gone to my older brother, but...'

This was a fact he had confirmed when he had gone to the Tang Clan to catch the contacts of the Wolya Faction.

He had seen with his own two eyes that his older brother, who was relatively less skilled than him, had a solid position as the successor just because he was the eldest son.

But despite his age, Tang Su-gun knew well the reason why it had not been firmly established.

'There is still a chance left.'

While his father's eyes were not pleased with the eldest son, Tang Su-gun had returned to the family under the secret order of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero. Just by looking at this, a person with a good head on their shoulders could judge enough.

If the second son had formed a connection with Cheon Mubaeck, who was likely to be the number one in the world in the future...

'If I achieve merits here, it's really not impossible.'

Thinking so, Tang Su-gun nodded with a determined face.

"I will do it."

"Yes. Go to the main gate."

"...I didn't hear you correctly."

"Go to the main gate."

"..."

Tang Su-gun's face contorted strangely.

Cheon Mubaeck nonchalantly pointed at the main gate with his finger.

Tang Su-gun rebelled with an absurd tone.

"Dressed like this?"

Night-traveling clothes, a mask, and a hood.

The perfect appearance of an assassin.

Was he thinking that they would let him in, thinking he was the same Wolya Faction assassin?

Cheon Mubaeck said openly.

"Go and draw some attention. To the extent that all the personnel from here and there will rush over. In the meantime, we will infiltrate."

"...It's not just a little dangerous."

"It's fine, it's fine."

"No..."

I'm not fine.

Not just Tang Su-gun, but Hwangbo Sung, who was next to him, was also flustered.

Then why on earth was Tang Su-gun...

"Why did you make him wear the night-traveling clothes and the mask?"

"That's how you set the mood."

"No, what is this..."

"Ahem. You idiot. Seeing as your words are getting shorter, you haven't had enough slaps?"

"Come to think of it, the taste of alcohol also comes from the atmosphere. The same goes for swordplay. I completely agree with the Squad Leader's words."

At Hwangbo Sung's rapid change of attitude, Tang Su-gun glared at him as if he were looking at a man who should be killed.

But Hwangbo Sung steadfastly endured that gaze.

Humiliation?

What's the use of that!

'If you get slapped, your bones ache more than your pride. Your bones ache.'

Only So-hang looked at him with understanding eyes, while Gok Ji-heum, who had never been hit, clicked his tongue, saying, "A young rising star, already. Tsk, tsk," and Zhuge Seol-ah just had a pitiful face.

That hurt Hwangbo Sung, who had once admired Zhuge Seol-ah, a little.

"I understand. Young Master Hwangbo."

At So-hang's single warm word, he felt as if all his heart was being relieved.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and go. Make a big fuss. Sprinkle poison and throw hidden weapons. Aren't the poison and hidden weapons of the Tang family much better than those of the assassins?"

"Well... that's true, but."

"Ah, and take this."

Cheon Mubaeck was uncharacteristically kind. What he handed over was the green robe he had worn on his body whenever he went into battle.

This time, he was wearing night-traveling clothes, so he wasn't wearing it, but he gave it.

"It's impervious to swords and sabers, so it will block most attacks."

Tang Su-gun's face turned pale. Considering Cheon Mubaeck's usual rough words and actions, this kind of consideration was proof that it was that much more dangerous.

As Tang Su-gun hesitated, Cheon Mubaeck's gaze became strange.

"Or should we just have a test?"

"...That."

Tang Su-gun hesitated.

One slap, or going to a place of certain death where he might die.

'Wouldn't a slap be better?'

You won't die, right? But you might really die over there.

Tang Su-gun decided. Achieving merits? Even if he didn't do something this dangerous, if he just followed Cheon Mubaeck around, he would achieve merits. Because he would eventually destroy the Wolya Faction.

Although it was a loss of face, Tang Su-gun, who had made a rational decision, was about to answer.

"......!"

In front of Tang Su-gun's eyes, he saw Cheon Mubaeck stealthily holding up three fingers.

The meaning was clear.

'...Won't I die if I get hit three times?'

Even the great Namgung Jincheon couldn't even breathe for a whole day after being hit three times.

"...I will go to the main gate."

Tang Su-gun made a rational choice.

Because he was a rational person.

(End of Chapter)