The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 396

"Ugh..."

A man walking down an alleyway collapsed sideways, his back pierced through. He was one of the experts of the Four Evils Alliance's Shadow Annihilation Bag, a man favored by Gu Gung-hwan for possessing relatively strong martial arts among the alliance's warriors.

"Ugh..."

Even as he lay dying, he looked around to find who had stabbed him. Yet, no one was visible nearby. He had clearly been struck by a blade. He couldn't understand why, as he lay bleeding to death, not a single soul could be seen. Eventually, he lost consciousness.

"Is he dead?"

"He's still breathing."

At that moment, two figures leaped over a wall from behind and looked down at the unconscious Four Evils Alliance expert. They were Un Cheol and Un Shik. Un Cheol, having obtained information that the expert frequently used this path, had pre-prepared a minute gap in the wall just large enough for a single sword to pass through. Waiting for the moment the man passed the alley, he had thrust his sword at the precise second, piercing him in one go. Furthermore, Un Cheol had been thorough, obtaining a large wooden crate and stacking it on the opposite side of the hole. He had accounted for everything, ensuring that even if the man hugged the far side of the alley, the sword would still reach him.

"Let's finish him off properly."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Un Shik indifferently struck the expert's death point, and the man soon expired while still unconscious. After confirming no witnesses were nearby, the two threw themselves forward and headed elsewhere. Only cold darkness and silence remained in the area where they had been.

* * *

"Great Leader. It is reported that Team Leader Lee of the Shadow Annihilation Bag died last night."

"What? The cause of death?"

"A sword wound followed by a struck death point. It appears he died without being able to offer any significant resistance."

Gu Gung-hwan's subordinate spoke while bowing his head. He hesitated as if he were the one at fault, though he had done nothing wrong. Team Leader Lee had a poor temperament, but he was a subordinate Gu Gung-hwan cherished for showing great talent in martial arts. Gu Gung-hwan's expression twisted slightly. The subordinate, catching a glimpse of his face, feared he might lose his life to the leader's venting of frustration. But to his surprise, Gu Gung-hwan suddenly shouted.

"As expected!"

He was laughing, even though he had heard the news of a cherished subordinate's death. The subordinate realized that the twisted expression he had seen earlier wasn't a frown, but a broad grin.

"It matches perfectly. I've already predicted three correctly!"

The subordinate felt goosebumps rise as he watched Gu Gung-hwan's laughing face. Hearing of a cherished subordinate's death and laughing because he had correctly predicted the next target felt bizarre, as if a snake had taken human form rather than a person.

"At this rate, the next target will surely be Jang Chung!"

Jang Chung was the name of the leader of Team One of the Shadow Annihilation Bag. He was also a subordinate Gu Gung-hwan cherished as much as Team Leader Lee.

"S-should we wait for them to move this time as well? Or would it be better to tell Team Leader Jang this fact?"

The subordinate spoke cautiously. He thought he should at least let Team Leader Jang Chung know he had become an assassination target so he could avoid disaster. However, Gu Gung-hwan shook his head firmly.

"Nonsense! Jang Chung must never be informed of this fact."

"W-why..."

"If Jang Chung learns he is the next target, his daily habits and actions will change. He won't easily go out for a drink, and he'll try not to leave his house. Then would the assassin ever show themselves before Jang Chung? They are surely monitoring him; if his behavior changes, they'll likely suspect something and go into hiding."

"T-then do you intend to let Team Leader Jang die like this?"

The subordinate barely managed to speak, prepared to face Gu Gung-hwan's wrath. Fortunately, Gu Gung-hwan had no such intention and shook his head again.

"No. Now it is my turn to step forward."

"Y-you personally, Great Leader?"

"Yes. Let Jang Chung continue living as he always has. I will secretly follow him. By doing so... I might be able to find out who the one pursuing Jang Chung is."

He chuckled as if he were having the time of his life. The subordinate felt something akin to killing intent in that laugh.

* * *

Several more days passed since then. Jang Chung, the leader of Team One of the Shadow Annihilation Bag, went on his usual patrol and stopped by a money exchange before returning to the headquarters.

"Listen here."

"Yes, Great Hero! You've come!"

The owner of the exchange rushed out to greet him.

"Take this. It's ninety silver taels in total."

"Yes. I have received the ninety taels."

The exchange owner bowed his head deeply as he accepted the silver Jang Chung handed over. His attitude was very practiced, as if this were not the first or second time. However, looking closely, there were dark stains on the silver. They were bloodstains. From those stains alone, one could roughly deduce how Jang Chung had obtained this silver.

"Hey. Is there anything worth money lately?"

Jang Chung asked the exchange owner slyly. At that, the owner's face turned pale for a brief moment before returning to normal. Jang Chung asking if there was anything worth money meant he wanted to know if anyone had entrusted a large sum of money to the exchange, or if anyone nearby was keeping a lot of silver or gold at home.

"I-I haven't heard anything recently. And no one has come to entrust money to our exchange."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Recently, the income of the people living in this area has decreased significantly. Customers are decreasing at the inns, and merchants say goods aren't selling as well as before."

"Well. I see."

Jang Chung seemed to just accept what the owner said. The owner let out a sigh of relief inwardly while simultaneously cursing Jang Chung in his heart.

'Isn't it all because of you Four Evils Alliance bastards! You atrocious villains.'

Since the Four Evils Alliance took control of this region, regardless of their reputation, their economic situation had been worsening. The commoners who didn't know martial arts weren't fools. They hadn't forgotten that the Sichuan Tang Family had suddenly increased the protection tax tenfold not long ago, but they also knew well that the protection tax they were currently paying was twice the original amount. However, because the Four Evils Alliance ruled them much more coercively and terrifyingly than when the Tang Family protected them, they couldn't say a word. In fact, there were many cases where they had to pretend to be happy, saying things were better than before. As a result, consumption in this area, where the protection tax to be paid had increased, gradually decreased, and as consumption fell, merchants couldn't make money. As merchants failed to make money, they couldn't properly pay those they employed, leading to even less consumption. Consequently, the people in this area were becoming increasingly impoverished.

"Tsk. Then should we increase the protection tax a bit more from next month?"

In the midst of this, the Four Evils Alliance bastards were only thinking of stealing more money; they were truly no different from a band of thieves.

'Although they suddenly raised the protection tax tenfold at the end.... still, it was better when we were under the protection of the Sichuan Tang Family.'

Even though he had no idea that raising the protection tax tenfold had been the work of the Four Evils Alliance, he had come to miss the Sichuan Tang Family.

"Anyway, keep my money well. You know what will happen if the count is even slightly off, right?"

"O-of course! I will keep it well, including the interest, my lord!"

"Good. I'm leaving now."

He wore a satisfied smile and left the exchange. Strictly speaking, it was money stolen through robbery, but he naturally hummed to himself. To him, the most important thing in the world was money! The fact that such money was accumulating was undoubtedly a good thing. He began to walk toward the Shadow Annihilation Bag headquarters with light steps.

Swish—

He was completely unaware that someone was following him.

"Where should I squeeze money from tomorrow?"

While walking briskly and pondering such trashy thoughts with a joyful voice, he eventually entered a mountain path. Normally, he could return to the main Shadow Annihilation Bag unit via the main road. However, since this mountain path was a shortcut that allowed him to go much faster, he had chosen this route.

Whish!

It was when he reached a deserted spot along the mountain path. Jang Chung felt an unnatural sound of wind tickling his ears. Fortunately, he wasn't drunk, so he hurriedly took a defensive stance, brought his right hand to his sword hilt, and raised his internal energy. He looked ready to fight at any moment.

Step—

It was then. Two men emerged from the bushes and blocked his path. Jang Chung was startled, but he soon calmed his excitement and drew his sword as if it were a familiar situation.

"Hmph. Who are you and where did you come from?"

"What does that matter?"

"Indeed, it doesn't matter. What matters most is that you'll die for appearing before me for no reason."

The moment he spoke leisurely.

Bang!

Un Shik, who was a step behind Un Cheol, kicked the ground and lunged forward. It was the Wudang Sect's Seven Star Steps, a movement technique so outstanding it could be said he had mastered it. The Seven Star Steps is a technique for secretly entering the opponent's blind spot. While Un Cheol drew his attention, Un Shik, having unleashed the Seven Star Steps, entered Jang Chung's blind spot.

"Huh...?!"

Clang!

He was startled because the opponent was unexpectedly fast, but he managed to raise his sword and block Un Shik's blade. His arm ached as if it would fall off, and his hand rang with a vibration. It meant that not only the speed but also the strength exceeded his expectations.

"Huff!"

However, he had no time to be in pain. Before he knew it, Un Cheol had also used his movement technique and appeared right before his nose. He desperately extended his right hand, which wasn't holding a sword, to stop Un Cheol.

Thwack!

Un Cheol's palm struck his chest first. He fainted instantly along with immense pain.

"Whew. Let's finish this quickly and leave."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

It was when Un Shik held his sword in a reverse grip to stab it into the chest of the fallen man. Just as he was about to strike.

"Stop."

A low voice echoed from the darkness. Then, a large-framed man stepped forward.

"It was you fellows. The ones who have been going around killing my subordinates."

"....... Gu Gung-hwan."

"Oho! You recognize me at once!"

It was Gu Gung-hwan. Having quietly followed Jang Chung until he was surely defeated, Gu Gung-hwan appeared at the decisive moment.

"Right. Then shall we slowly find out who you are?"

Gu Gung-hwan confidently raised his sword and built up his energy. He was a powerhouse strong enough to put the Sichuan Tang Family in a difficult position. Within the Four Evils Alliance, he was a man evaluated as a powerhouse who could be counted among the top five in terms of martial arts alone.

"......."

However, Un Cheol and Un Shik made no reply. And they didn't respond. They were just staring at him blankly. Gu Gung-hwan, who hadn't expected the opponent to act like this, spoke first in this situation where he felt a bit of a sense of incongruity.

"What is it? Aren't you going to fight? Wasn't I also on the list of those you intended to kill one by one?"

"......."

He spoke to provoke them, but even so, the two showed no reaction.

"You fellows! If you have nothing to say, I'll just kill you!"

After absurdity came anger. Gu Gung-hwan, who burst into a rage at the thought of being ignored, raised his sword, and only then did a voice flow from Un Cheol's mouth.

"Of course you are on our list. But..."

"But? Gasp...! Cough, cough!"

As he tried to retort to Un Cheol, he was suddenly overcome by a cough. Since he hadn't even caught a cold once after his martial arts reached a certain level, the coughing felt extremely alien.

"Your opponent isn't us. It's this person."

Swish!

At that moment, another person emerged from the bushes. He was pointing one arm toward Gu Gung-hwan, and from his sleeve, white powder was flying toward Gu Gung-hwan like dust scattering in the wind. Astonishment appeared on Gu Gung-hwan's face as he recognized the person's face.

"S-Sichuan Tang Family Head! Cough, cough...!"

The person who emerged from the bushes was the Sichuan Tang Family Head, who was poisoning him with an expression full of venom.

(End of Chapter)