Chapter 29

Chapter 29
When Teacher Jong regained consciousness, he found himself bound to a chair, his meridian points firmly locked.

‘Why have I been targeted?’

Scattered recollections from the precipice slowly came rushing back.

‘Those wretched bastards! Who on earth were they?’

The swordsman who had materialized without making a sound and pointed a blade at his throat had been terrifying enough, yet the woman who followed possessed a truly terrifying demeanor. She displayed not a trace of bloodlust, yet merely gazing upon her caused his breath to stick in his chest. On top of that, her beauty was peerless under heaven. Despite his extensive grasp of the Jianghu’s intelligence channels, he could not attach a single identity to her.

‘Could they be former retainers of Baek So-cheon?’

No, that made little sense. Genuine followers would never speak of grinding him beneath their heels.

By this time, Teacher Jong’s vision had adjusted to the pitch-black surroundings.

Only then did the full picture become clear—dozens of figures stood in a ring around him.

Right before his eyes, a solitary woman stood upright.

‘It really is her!’

Though shrouded in shadow, he recognized her presence immediately. Even amid the murky darkness, she commanded the room. It was neither simply because she was female nor because she released some extraordinary pressure. She merely possessed an undeniable weight of existence.

Teacher Jong focused his inner strength within his dantian and demanded,

“For what purpose have you abducted me?”

Silence was his only reply.

“I have no clue what you hope to drag out of me, but you will receive nothing. Furthermore, do not bother with torture; it will achieve nothing.”

At that moment, the woman standing ahead finally broke her silence.

“There is no need for your confession.”

“Then why dragged me here in chains?”

“Because you are here to listen.”

Teacher Jong could not wrap his head around her words.

‘If they don’t want a confession, how do they plan on getting anything from me?’

As his sight sharpened further within the gloom, he noticed a collapsed body lying nearby. To his horror, it was his trusted source—the very informant who had supplied him with critical secrets.

‘How could they track down that man?’

The informant had always been exceptionally cautious and an expert at masking his trail. Seeing him dead drove a profound terror into Teacher Jong’s heart.

Just then, a young girl stepped into the chamber.

“Have you finally opened your eyes?”

She appeared no older than twelve or thirteen, looking entirely innocent and adorable.

“My name is Na-sa-rin.”

Her tone rang out as pure and clear as a bird singing in the morning. The child identifying herself as Na-sa-rin walked directly up to Teacher Jong and fixed her gaze upon his face.

“So terribly clouded. It is exceedingly rare to encounter a spirit so thoroughly tainted.”

The instant their eyes met, a violent chill rippled across his entire flesh. Those were certainly not the eyes of a child.

“You… are no mere youth, are you?”

“A keen perception. It would have been far better had my body ceased maturing around twenty. Ah well, it matters little now.”

Her remark laid bare a curse from the heavens that had arrested her physical growth during her youth.

Astonishingly, she was an elderly matron well past eighty winters—the most senior individual among everyone gathered in the hall.

She reigned as an absolute grandmaster of Seop-hon-sul, famous for bending the minds of targets to pull forth hidden truths. Her frozen childhood appearance was the cruel cost of mastering such forbidden arts at too tender an age.

Within this darkened room, Teacher Jong found her vastly more frightening than any executioner wielding cruel instruments of pain.

“What do you intend to inflict upon me?”

“What wicked deeds did you commit to be dragged before my eyes?”

In truth, his past transgressions were so numerous that recounting them would take entire nights without end.

“Worry not, little one. Keep your mouth shut. I shall handle everything.”

The instant Na-sa-rin fell silent, a brilliant crimson radiance burst from the depths of her pupils.

Seop-hon-sul.

A scarlet glare erupted outward, plunging into Teacher Jong’s eyes like a vivid red strand binding their inner spirits.

Whoosh!

The bloody crimson ray shot directly into Teacher Jong’s retinas. Viewed from the shadows, it looked as though an unbroken scarlet line tethered their gazes together.

As Teacher Jong’s own pupils flushed deep red, Na-sa-rin spoke:

“Were you the one who commissioned the slaughter of the Yang Chu family?”

Her previously gentle, childish voice now boomed like roaring thunder within a subterranean vault.

“Yes, it was my doing.”

“To whom did you deliver the assignment?”

“To the Seven Swords Society.”

“And did the Seven Swords Society accept the task?”

“They accepted it.”

“Did they execute even innocent individuals who knew no martial arts—and young children?”

“Yes. Such was the exact stipulation of the agreement.”

“For what reason?”

“To make the incident appear as an extreme personal vendetta.”

“Who gave the order for this assignment to be placed?”

“The Lord of the Shin-hwa-bang.”

Na-sa-rin shifted her glance toward Cheon-geuk, who stood behind her. Her expression asked if this was sufficient proof. Cheon-geuk cast her eyes over the rest of the assembly.

The figures assembled throughout the room made up the core hierarchy of the Sal-su Yeon-maeng, including the Ho-beop Won-ju.

They gave collective nods—the evidence was indisputable. Several visages showed relief, while others grew profoundly grim. Those with brighter faces belonged to Cheon-geuk’s loyal supporters; those whose faces darkened were opposed to her, harboring intimate ties to the Seven Swords Society.

Regardless of where their loyalties lay, this testimony proved beyond doubt that the Seven Swords Society had shattered the ancient assassin code.

Receiving Cheon-geuk’s silent cue that matters were settled, Na-sa-rin exhaled softly and drew backward.

Even as an unrivaled master of Seop-hon-sul in her era, forcibly prying open a target’s consciousness demanded a heavy toll on her internal energy and mental reserves.

Cheon-geuk offered a profound, respectful bow.

“Venerable Elder, you have exerted great effort. You have my gratitude.”

Every assassin within the hall bowed low in identical fashion.

Every person present held boundless respect for Na-sa-rin.

She stood as the paramount elder among the veterans of the Sal-su Yeon-maeng, having served faithfully across numerous generations of Meng Lords solely for the prosperity of the alliance. She commanded the absolute reverence of all killers.

Na-sa-rin offered a modest clasp of her hands to Cheon-geuk in return before turning to leave, her attendants stepping forward to guide her frail frame outside.

With the conclusion of the Seop-hon-sul, Teacher Jong slumped unconscious upon the seat.

A short time later, yet another person stepped through the entrance.

The individual called forth by Cheon-geuk was none other than the Seven Swords Society Lord.

A deep grimace took over his features as he took in the gathered crowd.

‘Why is it that premonitions of disaster are always so terribly accurate?’

Cheon-geuk had dispatched a personal carriage to invite him under the pretext of sharing wine in private. He had suspected foul play, yet declining was impossible—rejecting the Meng Lord’s summons was tantamount to open rebellion against the entire Sal-su Yeon-maeng.

Furthermore, he could hardly bring an entourage to what was billed as a private, two-person drink. Prior to leaving, he had instructed Yi-geom to trail behind from the shadows as a contingency plan.

‘Yet even the Ho-beop Won-ju is standing here?’

‘This looks disastrous.’

Masking his rising panic, he spoke out,

“Meng Lord, what is the meaning of this gathering?”

Not a single soul answered. Those aligned with him cast looks of sorrowful pity—the closer they were to him, the darker their countenances became.

‘Things have truly taken a turn for the worst.’

Eventually, Cheon-geuk broke the silence.

“Society Lord, why did you commit such an act?”

“This humble old man cannot fathom what you are referring to.”

“Do you recognize that individual?”

Cheon-geuk pointed her finger toward the limp, senseless figure of Teacher Jong resting on the seat.

“Who might that be?”

“A martial artist from the Shin-hwa-bang who arranged a contract through your society.”

“Countless clients seek out our society for missions.”

“Quite true. Allow me to ask once more: out of all those many commissions, how many shattered the sacred code as this one did?”

“Shattered the code? Our organization has never once defied our tenets.”

“The venerable elder’s Seop-hon-sul has already reached its conclusion. Moreover, we secured an abundance of evidence before ever taking him into custody.”

“I hold no knowledge of this matter!”

He raised his voice, feigning immense indignation. The Society Lord glanced around at the surrounding figures—familiar faces, some of whom he had considered closer than blood brothers. Yet not a single person moved to speak in his favor.

“My subordinates must have overstepped their boundaries. I shall conduct a thorough inquiry and deliver severe discipline myself.”

Who among this crowd would fall for such a transparent attempt to cut off a tail? Every person here understood the inner mechanisms of assassin syndicates. No organization leader could ever remain unaware of such a massive breach of the rules.

Cheon-geuk spoke with chilled detachment.

“I am not giving you an opportunity to argue your innocence. These moments are merely granted for your final words before your life ends.”

Understanding that his demise was sealed, the Society Lord shed every layer of deference and roared with fury,

“I desired to claim the title of Meng Lord myself!”

“Then you ought to have challenged me openly and honorably. What drove you to desecrate our sacred code?”

“I required the might of the Shin-hwa-bang to make such a challenge a reality! In due time, that throne would have been mine! If a mere girl can command us, why couldn’t I?”

Her youth. Her womanhood.

Those two factors were the very sparks that ignited his insubordination.

“I would have steered our alliance to far greater heights. The sacred code? Why bind ourselves with such foolish limitations? A life is just a life—why leave children and those weak in martial arts breathing? Had I assumed the role of Meng Lord, wealth would have showered upon us all.”

Cheon-geuk stared him down with frozen apathy.

“That shallow mindset is the exact reason you could never sit upon this seat. You fail to grasp even that fundamental truth. Even if the entirety of the Shin-hwa-bang and the rest of the world stood at your back, you would never occupy this throne.”

The very second her sentence concluded—

A flash of movement.

Cheon-geuk’s silhouette vanished into thin air.

Transcendent Movement.

A swift rustle, a deadly slash, and the tearing of air converged as one—bringing instantaneous demise.

A shower of gore erupted outward!

A geyser of crimson sprayed from the severed neck of the Society Lord as his body collapsed sideways onto the cold floor.

Thud.

Directly behind his falling frame stood Cheon-geuk, holding a dagger coated in fresh blood.

Droplets of red steadily rolled off the blade, an edge so exceptionally honed it seemed capable of parting flesh with a mere glance.

It was her legendary signature armament, the Sa-wang-bi.

Wielding this singular weapon alongside her terrifying techniques, she had risen to become the deadliest killer in the world, seizing the supreme mantle of the Assassin Queen.

Not a single expert in the chamber had managed to track her motion—not even the Society Lord who had stood looking straight toward her. It was a lightness art that reached the realm of transcendence.

“A place such as this was never meant for someone of your caliber.”

Cheon-geuk, the paramount Assassin Queen of the modern age.

It was her unmatched martial superiority that permitted a woman to rule over this congregation of merciless killers.

She turned toward the Ho-beop Won-ju, her voice carrying an edge of sheer ice.

“Ho-beop Won-ju, apprehend the remaining six leaders belonging to the Seven Swords Society without delay. Execute anyone who offers the slightest resistance.”

“Your orders shall be executed.”

“Additionally, starting from this exact moment, the Seven Swords Society is dissolved forever. Every member shall be divided and integrated into other guilds approved by our alliance.”

An overwhelming aura of unyielding command radiated from her figure.

“We shall follow your will to the letter.”

In a mere breath, the Ho-beop Won-ju and his surrounding operatives disappeared into the dark.

Now that the Society Lord was slain, any rebellion attempted by the remaining six leaders amounted to nothing. The unshakeable evidence proving their breach of the sacred code stripped away any pretext for disobeying the Meng Lord’s edict. Any act of defiance would simply turn every assassin of the Sal-su Yeon-maeng against them.

Cheon-geuk’s gaze swept across the rest of the guild’s leadership.

“Henceforth, any individual who dares to infringe upon our code will receive judgment from my own blade.”

The remaining killers dropped to the stone floor in absolute submission.

“We faithfully heed the divine mandate of the Meng Lord!”

At long last, a faint trace of satisfaction appeared upon Cheon-geuk’s countenance. She had cleanly eradicated the most dangerous faction of opposition within the alliance.

—

The moment Cheon-geuk returned, Baek So-cheon deduced the final outcome purely by observing her demeanor.

“A task well executed.”

“How could you tell so quickly? Could you read it upon my face?”

“Hardly.”

“How then?”

“The operatives assigned to guard you—their surrounding hostility has settled.”

In truth, he had detected the subtle shifts in the inner qi belonging to the four paramount assassins.

Taken aback by his deduction, Cheon-geuk shook her head in amusement.

“Did you catch that? He picked up on your internal qi and deduced the conclusion instantly.”

At her words, their lingering presences dissolved into nothingness.

Ordinarily, they kept their energy entirely suppressed, having briefly revealed themselves to Baek So-cheon as an intimidation tactic following the earlier slap across the face: She remains under our protection—do not overstep your bounds.

Yet he had perceived the minute variation without missing a beat.

“You possess no internal energy, yet your ability to perceive qi rivals the greatest masters.”

“Why would one require internal power for that? Perceiving qi is purely a matter of raw instinct.”

“Which is precisely why ordinary people cannot hope to achieve it.”

“You have my gratitude. All of this came to pass because of your guidance.”

Baek So-cheon held his palm outward toward her.

Assuming he wanted to clasp hands, she reached out, only for him to swat her palm lightly away.

“Hand over the payment.”

“Good grief, truly. You possess a unique talent for ruining the atmosphere.”

Reaching into her robes, she produced an envelope containing ten banknotes, each valued at ten thousand nyang.

“This is untraceable currency, bearing no connection to our guild. Feel entirely free to use it.”

“Much appreciated.”

The Society Lord and his high-ranking inner circle had been thoroughly eradicated.

Baek So-cheon’s arrival in Mun-seong had unleashed an unstoppable series of events, ultimately culminating in the total collapse of Jeol-gang’s most formidable assassin guild, the Seven Swords Society.

“Now then, shall we fulfill the remainder of our agreement?”

“I assume you still have no intention of explaining why you wish to meet Elder Gwang-sal?”

Baek So-cheon gave a quiet nod. He had never expected her to pry that secret loose anyway. Cheon-geuk stepped ahead, leading the pace.

“Very well. The location is not far—let us be on our way.”

Making their way toward the carriage positioned outside the outpost, Cheon-geuk remarked,

“I could never have pictured experiencing an occasion like this in your company.”

“The feeling is entirely mutual.”

“Let us stay alive for a long time. Let us walk through whatever comes together.”

“Those are hardly the sentiments one expects to hear from the Assassin Queen.”

“Oh, hush!”

With that, the carriage carrying the pair set off, racing swiftly away from the boundaries of Mun-seong.