Ten-Battle Assassin No. 50

Chapter 79

Episode 79. We Must Capture Hua Yeo-wol

"I knew it was a suspicious request. But I never imagined the Heavenly Observation Pavilion would try to pin it on the Clear Water Sect."

When Blood Flower received the assassination request for Yong Jo-woon, he investigated the circumstances and sensed something was off.

Would the Clear Water Sect really commission a hit on Yong Jo-woon, the very man who had sent them a challenge? Especially when they'd be the first suspects if Yong Jo-woon died? If word got out, they'd be condemned by the world and expelled from the Orthodox Faction.

Hwa Cheon-Woon of the Clear Water Sect wasn't that much of a fool.

He should have double-checked the client...

But blaming it on a tight deadline was hardly befitting a Special-grade Assassin of the Sea Mist Sect.

'But that's not the only reason...'

For some reason, he didn't want to eliminate Yong Jo-woon with something as underhanded as a sneak attack.

Maybe it was out of respect for a martial artist who had the guts to challenge Hwa Cheon-gang of the Clear Water Sect head-on.

"So that's how it is..."

Blood Flower was about to snap at Yong Jo-woon's old-man-like tone, but bit his tongue.

This guy would probably be like this until the day he died.

Instead, he asked the question that had been gnawing at him.

"Why did you let me live?"

"..."

Yong Jo-woon couldn't answer.

At first, he was swayed by Won Seung's persuasion. After that, he just didn't feel like killing him anymore.

In fact, he even felt grateful to Won Seung for stopping him.

He didn't really understand why he felt that way.

Yong Jo-woon's life had been nothing but martial arts training and revenge, so he was clumsy with any other emotions. He didn't even know what it all meant.

Pressed for an answer, Yong Jo-woon stood up.

"I've said all I needed to say."

"Idiot..."

Blood Flower spat the word out.

Yong Jo-woon looked at Blood Flower, doubting his own ears.

Blood Flower glared at him and said,

"You just let an assassin who tried to kill you walk away?"

Yong Jo-woon couldn't make sense of Blood Flower's words. Was he telling him to kill him, then?

Not knowing why Blood Flower was provoking him, Yong Jo-woon just stared blankly.

Blood Flower couldn't handle Yong Jo-woon's fathomless gaze.

She turned her head to look out at the night garden.

It rained yesterday, but tonight was just hot and muggy...

She was annoyed.

She'd failed her mission and gotten tangled up with a bunch of weirdos. One of them was the kind of guy who could outwit the King of Hell in the afterlife, and another... was a living Buddha.

Come to think of it, there was a pervert, too. And that strangely handsome, cold-hearted guy... The way he kept tearing up at the drop of a hat, he couldn't be right in the head, either...

"..."

Yong Jo-woon started to say something, then just turned away.

He really had nothing left to say. He'd spared someone and got called an idiot for it... This was why Murim was such an unfathomable place.

Yong Jo-woon headed down into the night garden, but Blood Flower's quiet words stuck to his back.

"I owe you."

The words struck his heart. He almost turned around, but held himself back and went to the warehouse where he was staying.

A little later, Yong Jo-woon packed a few simple belongings and headed for the Ruined House of the Yong Clan.

He didn't know if this would be his last night, so he wanted to spend it in his childhood home.

After Yong Jo-woon left, Blood Flower entered the study and came out again. She had nothing to pack. She'd come here on the run, with nothing but her sword, her clothes, and a few personal items.

Standing in front of the mirror in the living room, she looked at herself in the fluttery dress the pervert had bought her, then left the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

She hadn't even made it down one alley before four men appeared.

Dressed in pitch-black nightwear, they knelt before her.

"Greetings, Young Pavilion Master!"

"..."

"The Pavilion Master has been very worried about you."

"..."

"We heard you were injured. We've prepared a carriage. Please, let us escort you home."

"No!"

Blood Flower's eyes flashed in the darkness.

"We're going to the Heavenly Observation Pavilion."

A debt must be repaid immediately.

*

After parting ways with Hua Yeo-wol, Won Seung was walking toward the Clear Water Sect's plaza when he suddenly smacked his forehead.

"Damn, I forgot to give her the Blood Replenishing Pill."

He'd made extra Blood Replenishing Pills for Yong Jo-woon, planning to give some to Hua Yeo-wol as well.

But thanks to Hwa U-geuk's sudden appearance, he hadn't had the chance.

Won Seung glanced around, ducked into an alley, and opened the bundle he was carrying. He'd brought nightwear just in case he needed to climb a wall.

He changed into the black nightwear, pulled on a mask, and headed toward the guesthouse, vaulting over the wall. His time staying at the Clear Water Sect had given him plenty of ideas for sneaking in unnoticed.

'Back then, all I could think about was how to kill Hwa Cheon-gang.'

And now, he was using those skills just to deliver medicine to Hua Yeo-wol.

Security was tight ahead of the three-way martial arts duel tomorrow, but Won Seung slipped into the inner courtyard without a hitch.

He entered the garden he'd visited before, and froze at the sound of Hua Yeo-wol's cold voice.

"What do you want now?"

Huh? She noticed me?

Won Seung melted into the shadows, surveying the situation.

Byeok Gyo-woon was pacing around Hua Yeo-wol's garden, waiting for her.

"No matter how skilled you are, you should watch your behavior."

That bastard? He really must have a death wish.

"You're the rude one here. What are you doing outside a lady's quarters in the middle of the night, Young Master Byeok?"

"I'm only here as your senior to warn you about your conduct."

Hua Yeo-wol kept calling him 'Young Master,' but Byeok Gyo-woon insisted on calling her 'Junior Sister.'

After finishing his lecture, Byeok Gyo-woon turned and left.

As Hua Yeo-wol entered her quarters and was about to close the door, Won Seung's telepathic voice reached her.

-It's me.

Hua Yeo-wol flinched in surprise. She knew Won Seung practiced martial arts, but hadn't realized he was a master capable of telepathic communication.

As she looked around, Won Seung emerged from the shadows.

Seeing him in black nightwear and a mask, Hua Yeo-wol tensed.

-I came to give you something. I forgot earlier because Hwa U-geuk showed up out of nowhere.

Won Seung pulled a medicine bottle from his robe.

-It's a Blood Replenishing Pill. Take it and circulate your energy—it'll boost your internal energy.

When Hua Yeo-wol gestured for him to come inside, Won Seung shook his head.

-No, I have to go.

Since he was here anyway, he figured he might as well slap Byeok Gyo-woon across the face.

If he sprinkled a little Scattering Air Powder, Byeok Gyo-woon would be out cold—even a dagger in the ribs wouldn't wake him. It was that potent a sleeping drug. Maybe he should knock out his front teeth so he'd stop running his mouth?

Won Seung waved goodbye and melted into the darkness.

Hua Yeo-wol was once again amazed at how naturally Won Seung blended into the shadows with his movement technique.

'I had no idea Seung was such a master...'

There were guards posted where Won Seung had disappeared, but not a sound was heard. That spoke volumes about his martial arts skill.

Hua Yeo-wol stared for a moment in the direction he'd gone, then clutched the medicine bottle tightly.

The Sword Pact Sect warriors were staying in the annex.

Won Seung vaulted over the annex wall and looked around. One building was still lit.

He crept up to the window and listened.

He heard voices inside—an old man's voice.

He was about to leave, disappointed, when he froze.

"Remember this. You must capture Hua Yeo-wol."

'Huh? Capture who?'

Then Byeok Gyo-woon's voice replied.

"Yes, Uncle. I like Junior Sister Hwa as well. She'll accept me soon enough."

Uncle? There were four people from the Sword Pact Sect. The only one who could be called 'Uncle' was Yang Gwan. So the two were relatives.

"Whew..."

Yang Gwan sighed and spoke.

"After what happened to your parents and the fall of your house, you're now the weakest among the Sect Leader's disciples. At this rate, your family's revenge will never come to pass. I'd like to help you, but... I've been away from home so long, I have no real power anymore."

"I'm always grateful for your concern, Uncle. I won't forget that you personally stepped in to help me form a connection with the Clear Water Sect."

"If you marry Hua Yeo-wol... I'll make you the Clear Water Sect Leader within ten years. So..."

"Hmph!"

Won Seung couldn't help but snort at Yang Gwan's promise. So they'd let a fox into the henhouse. Yang Gwan and Byeok Gyo-woon had come to take advantage of the Clear Water Sect's crisis.

"Who's there!"

Yang Gwan sprang up, grabbed the sword hanging on the wall, and hurled it straight at the window.

'Yikes!'

As killing intent exploded toward him, Won Seung instinctively leapt aside.

Crash!

The sword smashed through the window and embedded itself in a pillar.

As expected of a Sword Pact Sect elder. He'd almost been skewered.

Won Seung bolted for the wall.

Crash!

Yang Gwan burst through the window, yanked his sword from the pillar, and glared in the direction Won Seung had fled.

Byeok Gyo-woon came out, sword in hand, ready to give chase, but Yang Gwan stopped him.

"That guy's movement technique is no joke. I'll go after him. You return to your quarters."

Yang Gwan's figure seemed to stretch and blur, and in an instant, he vaulted over the wall.

Won Seung glanced back to see a terrifying presence closing in from the darkness.

'That old man is the real deal!'

He was a master on a whole different level from the likes of Gu Ak-pyeong.

"Intruder!"

-Pheeew!

Alarms and whistles blared everywhere.

The already tight security now closed in on Won Seung from all sides.

He dashed madly over rooftops and walls.

Arrows and bolts whistled through the air, but Won Seung dodged them with ease, quickly escaping over the outer wall of the Clear Water Sect.

Even as he ran, he steered himself toward the Heavenly Observation Pavilion.

Yang Gwan vaulted the wall and continued the pursuit.

'Why is that old man so fast? I'm really going to get caught at this rate.'

As he ran, Won Seung checked the weapons he carried.

Ever since the attack by Cheon Seok-san, he'd made a habit of carrying as much as he could.

Four throwing knives strapped to his calves and wrists, needles behind his ears, Scattering Air Powder, Sleep Mist, his master's Small Knife, and Seven-Step Soul Severing Powder.

'I might have to use the Seven-Step Soul Severing Powder.'

He hadn't been able to use it against Cheon Seok-san last time—the grains were too large to be inhaled easily.

So he'd ground it into a fine powder that would disperse in the air. Of course, that meant he could get poisoned too, making it very risky.

Won Seung steeled himself.

'Damn!'

In his frantic flight, he'd reached the Xiang River.

Should he jump in? As he hesitated, he spotted some warehouse buildings in the distance.

There were lights near the Martial Arts Stage where tomorrow's duel would take place.

Clear Water Sect and Heavenly Observation Pavilion warriors were guarding the stage.

'That's it!'

Won Seung sprinted toward the warehouses.

In the brief moment he hesitated, Yang Gwan closed the gap to about ten paces.

He was finally caught up to near the Martial Arts Stage.

Thud!

He heard footsteps pounding behind him, followed by the swish of robes in midair.

A chill of Sword Qi shot toward Won Seung's back.

He rolled to the side, scattering Scattering Air Powder from his hand.

Whoosh!

A cloud of white powder billowed out.

"Hmph!"

Yang Gwan swung his sword, and the gust of sword wind instantly dispersed the powder.

He hadn't expected it to work on a master like Yang Gwan anyway.

He'd only wanted to buy some time, but Yang Gwan was already right in front of him.

"Did you really think such a crude trick would work?"

Yang Gwan landed gracefully before Won Seung, sword raised behind his back.