MTL NOVEL Chapter 31
First ranked assassin of the Salkak.
Division Commander of the Martial Arts Alliance, Baekyeong.
Namgung Bin’s hidden blade.
The commonality between these three roles has always been that of a ‘hunter’.
A seasoned hunter who, at any time and place, remained at the predator’s position to eliminate targets.
However, such a White Shadow Assassin King trembled.
His narrow slit eyes sharply widened.
Even in the presence of the Sword Lord, Blade Lord, and Water Lord, his slit eyes, which resembled flashes of light, had widened.
“Speak. We will discuss after the punishment.”
“…”
“You surely know the rule that to leave the Salkak, one must forfeit one of their limbs. You’ve managed to maintain your body intact thus far, so come forth with one now.”
How could one readily reply when asked directly to cut themselves?
For martial artists, especially assassins like the White Shadow Assassin King, their limbs are irreplaceable elements.
Without a sword, they use a dagger; without a weapon, they use their nails; without arms, they use their teeth—that’s what an assassin does when removing a target.
The removal of any single limb disrupts the balance of their martial arts.
Every move they perform will never be perfect.
This is why the Salkak’s condition for departure requires severing one of their limbs.
If one does not live by their blade, then let them dull the blade itself.
While severing the tendons of the limbs is a harsher punishment in other sects, paradoxically making the individual permanently unable to leave the martial realm while rendering them as cripples is considered a far crueler penalty.
“Are you afraid?”
“Can’t you just let me go this once?”
“The feelings of an assassin’s sword should remain pure. No matter how pitiful you may act, the headmistress here will not show mercy. Present your limb.”
“Ughk…”
In the end, White Shadow Assassin King decided to offer one of his body parts.
Choosing a location that wouldn’t disrupt his physical balance.
“…Cut this for me.”
The sight of White Shadow Assassin King presenting his lower regions prompted Hong Ryun to wince, scrunching her eyebrows as she tightly shut her eyes.
“Do you not understand the meaning of ‘limbs’?”
“This is more precious than limbs.”
“Go away, I do not wish to soil this headmistress’s sword.”
“…”
“Are you trying to break your promise to only focus on my future ‘certain someone’? Hurry up, pull your pants back up.”
“But, I sincerely wish to…”
“You’re plotting something, I see. Fine, leave it to this headmistress.”
The desperate strategy, which was to offer something other than the specified limb, was rejected.
For a moment, despair washed over the assassin. When Hong Ryun’s eyes were closed, and the dagger in her possession flickered, a look of agony enveloped the assassin’s face.
Plok. The sound that resounded was unlike anything when Namgung Bin’s ear had fallen. A different heavier something met the ground, and the White Shadow Assassin King instinctively clutched his right arm as he collapsed forward.
The veins protruding on his forehead revealed the intense pain he was enduring.
“Tsk, tsk. Why do you insist on such meaningless defiance? Be grateful it ended at your right arm. This is considering your past as a devoted assassin and a spy for the Martial Arts Alliance.”
“Kueoooh…! G, thank you…!”
“You don’t need to be that grateful. If I severed your leg, there would be no point now, would there? Hence, the arm.”
“…I express my gratitude to Master Pavilion for your wise judgment!”
“Tsk, stop spouting empty words. Now, let’s hear what you have to say.”
Thud.
Hong Ryun, who was watching the White Shadow Assassin King sprawled on the ground, bleeding, sat cross-legged in front of him.
“Why did you try to escape from the Salkak? Why did you choose to serve under Namgong Bin?”
The inquiry was devoid of hostility, filled instead with pure curiosity. Nevertheless, the White Shadow Assassin King gritted his teeth and responded.
“I resolved to serve under his sword! If I had left the organization through the proper process, it was clear I could not fully be his blade… so, there was no other choice!”
“Is that so? Then why did you return? Are you planning to escape again?”
“Because, once I caught the attention of Pavilion Master, I knew there was no escape… If I hid any longer and were captured again, I would likely not have another chance…”
“Hmm, you’re like an eel. But your judgment was wise.”
“…”
An uncomfortable silence followed.
For Hong Ryun, it was the time to deliberate on the next question. For the White Shadow King, it was a moment to swallow nervously.
Restless and uneasy like someone who had spent their entire life following orders: the occupational hazard of being an assassin.
Something that Hong Ryun didn’t personally experience but was aware of.
“Does your master know you were originally an assassin from Salkak?”
“He does not. There are things that must not be disclosed.”
“What good does it do now he’ll find out anyway? Nevertheless, do not go spouting off information about Salkak. If you do, your head will join your lord in being ground into nothing.”
“…Yes.”
“Then, since you knew you’d be caught by this headmistress, was it under your master’s order that you returned to place the Sword Sage assassination request?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Truly remarkable loyalty. You followed his order knowing the outcome, huh? The man certainly holds some knowledge that escapes this headmistress.”
“…”
“Stop looking displeased. I have no interest in that sort.”
At least there were no secrets the assassin was withholding, so the questioning did not last long.
Amidst the awkward silence, the White Shadow Assassin King gingerly asked, swallowing dry.
“Will you… not ask anything more?”
“What do you mean?”
“L-like… reasons I began serving my current lord…”
“I have no interest. Why should I care about inconsequential details.”
“Uum…”
“Relay this headmistress’s words to your master. Small errors are fine, but the content should remain the same.”
“…Yes, please speak.”
Even after sustaining a severe wound, decades of assassin experience showed, and the bleeding in his right arm had stopped.
Thanks to that, his complexion was gradually stabilizing.
That was, until Hong Ryun’s delicate lips parted with an ominous sentence.
“First off, thank you. Thanks to you, Namgung Bin… Sword Sage remains unwed and alone.”
“…? W, what did you just say…”
“But gratitude aside, stop the underhanded schemes already. This headmistress does not like the tarnishing of the worth of the one who’ll be her husband. You can communicate this easily to him, right?”
“Hold on… were you aware? That our master was behind the expulsion of Sword Sage?”
“Indeed, I wasn’t, initially. However, recently, I gained some information from my cute sister-in-law. It turns out, not long ago, Namgong Bin even commissioned this headmistress to kill Sword Sage, and the only one who benefited materially or politically from the fall of that man was Namgong Bin himself.”
“…!”
‘Oh, what a calamity…?’
The pupils in the White Shadow Assassin King’s narrow eyes quivered.
Because something that should not have happened had just occurred.
‘What should I do…?’
Sword Sage was someone who required the utmost caution to take down. He was practically a perfect hero.
Thus, even in today’s fallen state, he continues to meticulously cover his tracks to silence all possible leaks.
‘Damn it…!’
The rise of Sword Sage.
It is the thing Namgong Bin dreads the most right now.
Ordinary people tend to idolize heroes, yet they also love to tear them down.
Because the people find joy in seeing a lofty hero fall to the same level as them.
And paradoxically, they also love to lift the hero up once again, grant him wings, and venerate him.
At the very least, Namgong Bin thought this, and the White Shadow Assassin King agreed.
In fact, they used this principle to bring down Sword Sage successfully—without even using his blade—rendering the once undefeated martial artist powerless.
However, like how one rises by their sword, the one who fell to rumors could also rise on them.
Moreover, even if Sword Sage remained a discarded relic, the people would surely embrace him again when danger arises.
Wasn’t there just a precedent where the Three Masters sought his help?
They said the secluded elder monk who had retired also believed in the innocence of Sword Sage.
Therefore, they erased all who knew the truth.
All those who weren’t one of Namgong Bin’s ‘real limbs’—none of them remained. Each one was killed in various manners, their deaths fabricated.
But… what about the assassin in front of him?
‘He cannot be killed.’
Currently, even with all their forces combined—heaven alone knows if even Nine Sects and Five Families united—might not be able to triumph over this monstrous entity.
An assassination? Poison? How?
Even if it could succeed, would it possibly work on the assassin known as the greatest in the world?
‘Tch…!'”
The two of these were among the Five Greats, yet the elder monk could know without issue.
The elder monk was already secluded, and, to begin with, he only believed in Sword Sage’s innocence, not knowing their identities.
But, as mentioned just now, Sword Saint was different.
‘She knows exactly.’
Plus, she held a name no one could easily overlook. If she spoke a single word, the entire situation might flip.
Especially with the Blood Cult issue already causing unrest.
‘Oh dear…’
The White Shadow Assassin King wracked his brain desperately.
But the subsequent gentle tone from Hong Ryun caused his brainstorming to halt.
“I can hear your scheming.”
“…!”
“Before I crush your head and mail it to Namgong Bin, take your leave and deliver the message.”
“Keeuh…! Yes….”
In a flash, having his composure shattered, the assassin, once again, endured the pain of renewed bleeding and laboriously stood up.
The retreating figure, carrying the message from the assassin, looked somewhat pitiful.
Watching this figure fade into distance quietly, Hong Ryun muttered softly.
“The meeting might be delayed slightly…”
Almost coyly, she added with a rare touch of sweetness.
“Would you forgive this? My certain someone?”
Clunk.
Perhaps because she had spent a while only in the Namgung estate, Soeun Yu’s slight frame jolted to the unfamiliar clunking of the carriage.
Watching this, Su-a Namgung handed her a freshly prepared tea just taken out.
“Still hot. Have some.”
“A… yeah… thank you.”
Despite a smooth journey without any complications, Soeun Yu seemed frail somehow.
Worriedly glancing at her, Su-a Namgung sighed and questioned.
“You’ve been troubled lately?”
“Huh? Ah, no… Mother, it’s alright…”
“Consider this journey as rest. We’re not just visiting the Seven Flowers Hall; we’ll stop various places along the way to relax.”
“Really? Su-a, should you be pushing yourself so hard for my sake? Don’t you have to practice?”
“…It’s not like that, so drink up. Recently, every time I see you, I feel so uneasy.”
Gulp.
As Soeun Yu delicately swallowed the tea, Su-a Namgung extended her neck out the carriage window.
Was it instinct? Her head was pointed towards Taiyuan of Shanxi.