Four days later, in a dense forest not far from the Lotuswood Sword Manor. A man wearing a bamboo hat and a blue Daoist robe adorned with a yin-yang symbol carried a book chest on his back, filled with old books and instruments.
In one hand, he formed a sword seal, and in the other, he held a talisman with the character for ‘Pursuit’ written on it, as he walked toward some unknown destination. The man ceaselessly chanted an incantation.
“The essence of heaven, the essence of earth, the essence of the sun and moon. Heaven and earth join their qi, sun and moon join their light, spirits and ghosts join their forms. Let your heart join with my heart, my heart join with your heart, a thousand hearts, ten thousand hearts...”
This was a Harmonizing Incantation. He was using the Summoning and Harmonizing Technique, a type of magic art to find those who have vanished, and had been searching the area for two, three days straight. Normally, he would find someone quickly with this art.
However, ‘It is being obscured.’ A very strong and ominous energy was concealing it. This was not a case of someone going missing or being killed in a common way.
The power of an anomaly or a magic art was involved.
‘Who could it be?’
Sak was an Occultist who could be called the third-in-command within the Ghost Shadow Pavilion. Moreover, since she handled the lesser beast Guyeo as her Spirit Guardian, she had the ability to exorcise even a Yellow Spirit-rank vengeful spirit on her own. It was incomprehensible that she had been defeated like this.
[What? That can’t be.]
[This is a letter sent by the Great Madam of the Lotuswood Sword Manor. Read it.]
The letter was filled with a protest that was close to a threat. It stated that if they did not produce Sak and three thousand silver coins in restitution, she would annihilate the Ghost Shadow Pavilion. Based on the contents of the letter, the Great Madam's anger was not entirely incomprehensible, but Sak would never do such a thing.
[There is definitely something more to this. Find her and discover what happened.]
And so, he had been at this day and night, without rest. He had to find her quickly, before the Lotuswood Sword Manor made its move. Just as he was focusing on his magic art again, - Shudder!
The ‘Pursuit’ talisman held in his left hand shook violently.
‘Nearby.’
At this, the man grasped the Pursuit talisman with both hands and recited an incantation.
“... The old and new join in virtue, evil spirits fill the heavens. Left assistant, right minister, the clouds gather and turn. Guard me from the nine evils, seal the four with gold and jade! By my command, act with haste!”
No sooner had his incantation finished, the writing on the violently trembling talisman darkened and it floated into the air on its own, then flew off in a certain direction. - Flap, flap! The man followed the flying talisman. Before long, the talisman turned and descended somewhere below.
The spot was hidden by thick bushes, and passing through them revealed a rather steep cliff. A place where a single misstep could easily lead to a fatal fall. The man looked around, found a sloped path, and made his way down.
There, he discovered the talisman, laid neatly on the ground.
But, ‘!?’
Something else caught his eye before the talisman. The area was littered with what was once human, now something unrecognizable. All that remained were scattered fragments of flesh and dried bloodstains.
At this sight, the man could not help but frown.
‘How could this happen...’
He had not expected this outcome at all. He had considered that she might have been defeated, but this was far more serious than he had imagined. The man swallowed dryly.
This was absolutely not something that could have been caused by a mere Yellow Spirit-rank entity.
‘What in the world happened here?’
From this gruesome scene alone, he could learn nothing. If the body had been intact, there would have been ways to learn the details through spirit arts, but like this, the chances were slim. Still, he had no other choice.
The man placed his hand on the ground in the middle of where the tragedy had occurred and closed his eyes. Then, - Snap!
Snap!
He formed a hand seal with his left hand.
‘All! Battle! Forward!’
The outer binding seal, the external binding seal, and then the seal of the soldier. It was the hand seal of the Nine Syllable Vitality Art.
“Three Names Recognition Art. The Northern Emperor has granted me authority. Therefore, reveal all that you have experienced. By my command, act with haste.” - Shudder!
The things stained with blood on the ground began to tremble slightly. Cold sweat formed on the man’s brow. When one was killed by an anomaly, both the soul and the remaining spirit in the body were damaged, making it difficult to draw out the traces with a curse.
“Reveal everything. By my command, act with... Huk!”
The man’s head snapped back. Then, like a revolving lantern, fleeting memories began to embed themselves in his mind. - Shhhhh!
[Myo Shin...]
[Cough, cough, I countered the reverse killing curse you sent.]
[Are you an Occultist?]
[Phew. It’s quiet now.]
[How can you grab a lesser beast with your bare hands?]
[You said you’d grant any wish, right?]
[... I'll retreat for now, but soon...] - Chills!
In that moment, an ominous energy that sent chills down his spine brought the man back to his senses. The man muttered with trembling eyes.
“Wh-what was that?”
The memory was cut off along with the tremendous fear Sak had felt at the end. It did not seem like something had neatly sliced off that part. With this level of terror and fear, at least a final fragment should have been visible, but there was nothing of the sort.
‘Strange.’
All beings fall into fear in the face of death. However, the fear he saw before the memory was cut off was not the fear felt before dying, but an emotion felt when confronting some immense terror.
‘What in the world happened?’
He became even more curious. The memories were too fragmented and brief to know exactly what had transpired. There was only one thing he learned from the passing fragments of memory.
‘Mok Gyeong-un...’
That man was at the center of Sak’s death and this incident. It was only a fragment, but one memory stood out the most.
‘... To catch a lesser beast with bare hands?’
Even for Occultists, this was a difficult feat without meeting special conditions. From this, he could surmise one of two things. One, this Young Master named Mok Gyeong-un was possessed by a Yellow Spirit, as they had previously suspected, making this possible.
Or, he might have been born with innate spiritual talent. If it were the latter, it was a tremendous talent.
‘... He might be a natural-born Occultist.’
Such talent was hard to come by. Even feeling a spiritual trace with one of the five senses was considered a sign of talent. But touching a lesser beast, which was a lump of demonic energy itself, without any special conditions was an entirely different realm.
The man shook his head.
‘That’s not what’s important.’
First, he had to make contact with this fellow, Mok Gyeong-un, to find out what had happened. The man glanced up at the empty air and muttered.
“Gojo. For some reason, I feel like I shouldn’t let my guard down.”
With those words, he made a gesture to follow. In response, an eagle-shaped shadow cast on the ground flapped its wings. The strange thing was that the eagle in this shadow had a peculiarly shaped horn on its head.
At the end of the southern marketplace, tucked away in a back alley, was the Blooming Orchids Pavilion. The Blooming Orchids Pavilion was overflowing with various lowlifes of poor character.
“Kuhahaha.”
“Drink up. I’m paying for everything today.”
“Let’s drink ourselves to death today!”
Because of these people, other customers did not even dare to enter.
‘Hmph.’
Watching them, Guard Go Chan, who was standing at the entrance, let out a sigh.
‘It’s the only information group around here, at least.’
It was a place of rather low quality. On a scale of high, medium, and low, it would barely qualify as low-rank. Just looking at the people gathered there, their level was far from impressive.
However, since he had received an order from Mok Gyeong-un, he had come to make a commission at the nearest place available.
[Please ask if they know this symbol.]
[What? How did you get this?]
[You don’t need to know the details, Guard Go Chan. Just submit the request to that information group, or whatever it’s called.]
[I understand.]
‘What is this?’
The symbol Mok Gyeong-un had shown him was quite simple. But he had never seen it before. It might be because he had been retired for a long time, but if even he, a former assassin, did not know it, it could be something completely insignificant.
‘Anyway, where is he?’
The leader of this place should be around. Since it was a low-rank place, there were no special rules; it was a place that would fetch information for as much as you paid.
‘Ah, there he is.’
He had become acquainted with him a few times while settling in here. Go Chan sighed once more and called out to someone.
“Pavilion Master Gwak.”
At his call, a man full of drink, who had been sitting in the middle of the teahouse, slowly turned his head without getting up. He blinked a few times, then, recognizing Go Chan, his face brightened and he stood up.
“Well, if it isn’t Guard Go Chan of the Lotuswood Sword Manor.”
It had been a while, but the man was still living a life mired in wine and women. Even now, he had a woman who appeared to be a courtesan by his side, a sight he detested. Go Chan shook his head and said.
“I have a commission.”
“A commission?”
“I will pay you well.”
“I see. Come up to my office on the second floor.”
Though he did not like him, he had heard that despite his appearance, he was formerly from an Underworld faction. So his information network was not that poor. Not long after he entered the guest room first, he heard thumping sounds from the second-floor hallway.
Being a large man, he always made such noises.
‘Unqualified as an assassin.’
The basics of an assassin lay in stealth and secrecy. Of course, those who possessed such qualities were rare. Just then, the door to the guest room opened and Pavilion Master Gwak entered.
“... What do you think you’re doing?”
Go Chan asked, raising an eyebrow. Pavilion Master Gwak had entered with a woman tucked under his arm. From her hair piled up high, heavy makeup, and shimmering clothes that revealed her cleavage, she seemed to be a courtesan.
Her face was so beautiful that it drew the eye, but this was not the place for such things.
“She’s a new girl who just came in. Isn’t she something?”
“Did I not say I came for a commission?”
“She’s one of us, so it doesn’t matter if she hears. Don’t worry about it. If you have something to say, say it. I have to get back downstairs soon.”
‘... What a pathetic fool.’
Go Chan felt a surge of killing intent within him. No matter how low the rank, this was truly substandard. If he continued like this, there seemed to be no need to make a commission.
“Send her out.”
“Now, now. Guard Ho. A man must know how to enjoy life…”
“If you keep this up, I’ll just leave.”
“...”
Those words were effective. Pavilion Master Gwak, now silent as a clam, spoke to the courtesan in an annoyed tone.
“Go downstairs and wait quietly for this young master. You’d better be ready if I find you in the arms of some other rascal.”
Then, he tried to slap her on the rear, but, - Slap! The courtesan snatched Pavilion Master Gwak’s hand.
“Huh?”
“Hmph. I can’t do this anymore.”
The courtesan muttered as if annoyed.
“This wench!”
At her attitude, Pavilion Master Gwak, flabbergasted, tried to strike her face. In that instant. - Thud! The courtesan’s hand had somehow reached Pavilion Master Gwak’s ear.
Then, Gwak staggered like a puppet with its strings cut.
“You!”
Startled by this scene, Go Chan was about to quickly draw his dagger when something flew from the courtesan’s hand and pierced his vital points. - Thwip, thwip, thwip, thwip! It was a very thin flying needle. As the flying needles pierced him, Go Chan could neither speak nor move.
He was in a state no different from having his vital points struck. - Screech! The courtesan pulled a chair from the table and pushed it behind the staggering Pavilion Master Gwak. Gwak naturally fell into a sitting position on the chair.
Of course, from the front, with his eyes rolled back showing only the whites, he did not look to be in very good condition.
‘This... this is...’
Go Chan could not hide his bewilderment as he looked at the flying needle stuck in his chest. As a former member of the Flying Kill Sect, there was no way he would not recognize this.
‘Spirit Needles?’
It was the unique hidden weapon of the Flying Kill Flame Assassin, the master of the Flying Kill Sect and one of the Four Great Assassins of the Central Plains.
For a mere courtesan to use the Spirit Needles, a symbol of the Flying Kill Sect’s master, was an impossible thing. The current Sect Master, the Flying Kill Flame Assassin, was a man in his sixties.
Though he was older than the active members, his skills were truly unparalleled, allowing him to firmly hold his position as one of the Four Great Assassins for over twenty years. But for his unique hidden weapon to be in the hands of this courtesan...
‘!!!’
Go Chan could not contain his shock. He thought he now knew the identity of this courtesan.
‘D-don’t tell me?’
The Flying Kill Flame Assassin had one granddaughter. Her name was Ha Chae-rin. She was the only remaining blood relative after her entire family was lost in a surprise attack.
The Flying Kill Flame Assassin poured everything he had into this remaining kin. So far, so good. It was something everyone could understand.
The problem lay elsewhere.
‘... Sect Master, are you in your right mind?’
All the assassins of the Flying Kill Sect believed that the Flying Kill Flame Assassin would never pass on his position as Sect Master to his only granddaughter. Because she was utterly unsuited to be an assassin. It was no exaggeration to say that the foundation of an assassin was a cool-headed reason.
But that granddaughter was far from it. She was the very definition of a personality-disordered person. The profanity that never left her pretty, young lips, her extreme mysophobia, her anger management issues... not a single thing suited an assassin.
‘Everyone opposed it.’
The last time he saw her was four years ago. It was before he retired. When the executives and all the assassins of the Flying Kill Sect protested, the Flying Kill Flame Assassin forcibly sent her into secluded training in the Flying Kill Cave, saying he would set her straight.
‘Impossible.’
Everyone was certain she could never be corrected. By what means could one control such a fiery temperament and instill the cool-headedness of an assassin? And so, he had forgotten about her.
Four years had passed since he retired, so she would now be nineteen and have the appearance of a proper woman.
‘A proper…’
Just by looking at her magnificent chest, ample enough to show cleavage, he could tell. She had certainly grown up well. With such a captivating face, almost any man would easily fall for her.
Just then, she extended her hand towards the wall of the guest room. - Shiiik! The flying needle embedded in the wall was pulled out and attached itself to the wrist guard on her wrist. Seeing this, he could be certain that it was indeed the Flying Kill Flame Assassin’s unique hidden weapon, the Spirit Needles.
The fact that she was using it meant she had inherited the position of Sect Master.
‘... Then does that mean she succeeded in the Hundred Days, Hundred Kills?’
To become the Sect Master of the assassin sect, the Flying Kill Sect, there was a rite of passage. One had to undergo a trial called the Hundred Days, Hundred Kills.
The Hundred Days, Hundred Kills was a task to succeed in one hundred designated commissions within one hundred days, and if one achieved this, they would be called one of the Four Great Assassins.
‘No way.’
Given her temperament, it was doubtful she could have accomplished this. Or had the Sect Master truly succeeded in raising her into a proper assassin? Perhaps that was possible.
Thinking about it, it was strange that she, with her severe mysophobia, was enduring and serving drinks among lowlifes.
‘Was there room for rehabilitation?’
If that were the case, he might come to admire the former Sect Master. For he had finally succeeded in raising that personality-disordered person into one of the Four Great Assassins. Just then, a small voice reached his ears.
“Oh my. Fuck.”
‘...!?’
He saw Ha Chae-rin, disguised as a courtesan, wiping away a small drop of blood on her cheek. She had a cold look in her eyes, as if she was displeased. Seeing that look reminded him of her as a child, spewing curses.
‘... Is she really fixed?’
As doubts began to rise, she approached him. She came closer and pulled out one of the flying needles stuck in his chest. Immediately, a cough escaped Go Chan’s lips.
“Cough, cough.”
His voice came out; it seemed she had removed the needle that was blocking his mute point. Ha Chae-rin perched her hip on the table, crossing her sleek legs as they were revealed, and spoke.
“I didn’t expect to see a retired person like this. Go Chan-ajeossi. Or should I call you former Low-Rank Assassin Number Eighty-Three?”
‘Damn it.’
It was undoubtedly Ha Chae-rin. He thought he would have been forgotten after four years, but she remembered him after just a few encounters. Go Chan parted his lips with a tense voice.
“... It has been a long time, Young Miss.”
“Sect Master.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s Sect Master now.”
He had been half-convinced, and his guess was correct. She had become the current Sect Master of the Flying Kill Sect. As this was revealed to be true, a wave of anxiety washed over Go Chan.
The reason was simple. When a retired assassin meets an assassin from their former group, it almost always means death. As he was feeling anxious, Ha Chae-rin spoke.
“You’re retired, so I guess the Sect Master doesn’t seem like a Sect Master to you.”
“H-how could that be? Congratulations on becoming the new Sect Master.”
“Fuck. Like getting a bow by force.”
‘...’
The coarse curse that came out of her mouth left Go Chan speechless. No matter how he looked at it, she was exactly the same as he remembered. It was the same back then, but it was so unfitting for such profanity to come out of such a pretty face.
Ha Chae-rin covered her lips with her hand and said.
“Oh my. Look at me. I must have gotten too comfortable meeting someone I know after so long. I should be putting on an act, but a curse just slipped out.”
“P-please, be comfortable.”
“How could I? A lady should have manners.”
‘...’
What manners was she talking about now? He thought so inwardly, but Go Chan kept his mouth tightly shut. Of course, he didn’t have the courage to say it out loud.
Instead, he became even more tense. Because he didn't know what words would come out of her mouth. Just then, Ha Chae-rin parted her red lips.
“Anyone would think I came to eat you alive. Grandfather seemed to hold you both in high regard, allowing you to retire with Gam-ajeossi. So relax.”
“... Is that really true?”
Go Chan’s eyes widened as he asked. He had been worried that she had come for his life. But hearing her speak like this, it seemed there was no major issue.
‘Haaa...’
He felt a sense of relief. But then, he also felt that something was strange. If she hadn't come for him, why did the new Sect Master herself appear here and use the Spirit Needles on him?
As he was feeling puzzled, Ha Chae-rin smiled and said.
“This works out well.”
“Pardon?”
What worked out well?
“I heard the first young master of the Mok family likes wine and women, so I was planning to use him to get into the Lotuswood Sword Manor and back out, but it seems I can just go in with you, Guard Go Chan.”
‘!?’
For a moment, Go Chan frowned, wondering what she was talking about. Why would she want to enter the Lotuswood Sword Manor with him?
“Wh-what do you mean by that? Why would you and I go to the Lotuswood Sword Manor?”
At his question, Ha Chae-rin lightly lifted Go Chan’s chin with her fingertips and said in a voice filled with killing intent.
“Because I’m going to take the head of the third young master of the Lotuswood Sword Manor.”
‘!!!!!!’