As soon as Heuk-Young sensed the poison spreading in the room, she held her breath.
But it was already too late; a small amount of poison had infiltrated her body.
Despite her usual resistance to poisons, cold sweat began to trickle down her forehead.
Her fingertips trembled slightly.
Mu-Young looked at her with a smile. “Quite a potent poison, isn’t it? Even you won’t last long without an antidote.”
“Why…?”
Mu-Young’s smile deepened. “You’ve really become dull. If it were the old you, you would have dealt with the poison before it spread. Was I that happy to see you?”
“…”
Heuk-Young silently glared at Mu-Young.
Her expression vanished in an instant.
An assassin must never show weakness, a lesson she had learned from the man before her.
“Is it a rebellion…?”
He did not kill her immediately but chose to subdue her with poison.
This meant he was willing to converse.
Heuk-Young needed a moment to understand the situation and find a way to expel the poison.
Of course, Mu-Young was well aware of her thoughts.
“Rebellion? How can you speak such blasphemy? How is killing the Prime Minister considered rebellion?”
“The Prime Minister is the Emperor’s teacher. His Majesty has said that he is like a father to him…”
“That is precisely the problem.” Mu-Young leisurely sipped the tea on the table.
The action seemed careless, but Heuk-Young did not take the risk of underestimating him.
“The Prime Minister has served the Emperor since he was a child, acting as his eyes and ears. He wielded power beneath the Emperor, killing countless loyal subjects for his own gain.”
“Why are you saying such nonsense?” Heuk-Young asserted that Mu-Young’s words were absurd.
Gong Sun-Su had dedicated his life to the country and the Emperor.
If he truly only cared for his own power, he would not have fallen ill and returned to his hometown to recuperate after years in the palace.
“Nonsense, you say?”
“Of all people, you would say such things? Among those who died at the hands of the Prime Minister, was there even one loyal subject?”
The intelligence organization known as ‘Cheon-Young’ was aware of all the dirty deeds happening in the palace.
The true nature of the powerful, their power struggles, and the sordid events that could never be revealed to the world.
Just knowing what Heuk-Young did made her shudder, and Mu-Young, as the head of the organization, surely knew much more.
“The Prime Minister is a terrifying power. But he is also a rare power worthy of respect.” The Mu-Young who once said this was now calling the Prime Minister a villain.
Heuk-Young still could not comprehend the situation.
“If he had just lived out his days peacefully and died quietly, none of this would have happened.”
“What do you mean…?”
Mu-Young laughed.
This time, it was a genuine laugh.
A laugh so real it sent chills down her spine.
He placed the teacup on the table and spoke as if making a declaration.
“After the Prime Minister’s health worsened and he withdrew from the front lines, His Majesty regained his vigor. However, when news came that the Prime Minister’s health had recovered, His Majesty sought to summon him back. Many loyal subjects were worried about the Prime Minister’s return.”
“Surely not…?”
Heuk-Young’s eyes shook as she looked at Mu-Young.
She felt a strong desire emanating from his eyes, a desire for power that she had seen countless times while operating in the shadows of the palace.
Mu-Young’s eyes narrowed, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips.
“The loyal subjects asked me to worry that His Majesty might once again become a puppet of the Prime Minister.”
“Is the Emperor colluding with the villains to seek power? If that’s not rebellion, then what is?”
As she asked, Heuk-Young concentrated the poison within her body.
It was a temporary measure, but it made it easier for her to move.
Yet, on the surface, she still appeared to be sweating and trembling.
Mu-Young grinned wickedly. “I have lived my life as a puppet of power. Why should I not enjoy power myself?”
The madness in his words startled Heuk-Young.
Until now, she had thought of Mu-Young as a man devoid of emotions, the perfect assassin.
She now realized how wrong she had been.
‘If the entire Golden Guard is involved in this…’
A chilling thought crossed Heuk-Young’s mind as she looked at Mu-Young.
She pondered how to extract the information she needed from him, carefully choosing her words to ask, “Did Cheon-Sal permit this?”
At her words, Mu-Young’s expression stiffened slightly. “Permit? Do you think Cheon-Sal is above me?”
A sharp killing intent brushed against her neck, but Heuk-Young felt a sense of relief. ‘Cheon-Sal doesn’t know about this.
That means the Golden Guard hasn’t fallen into their hands.’
Cheon-Sal was the leader of the Golden Guard and the strongest among them.
Ten years ago, there were two notorious villains, the Phantom Demon and the Poison Demon.
They were sworn brothers who repeatedly attacked government offices, stealing wealth and leaving behind insults to the Emperor.
When the martial artists of the Murim Alliance were called to eliminate the two villains, their martial arts were so strong that the righteous masters sent to hunt them down were slaughtered instead.
At that time, a man in official robes appeared before the two villains.
“I am the Emperor’s decree. I will execute you here.”
The man in official robes killed the mocking Phantom Demon and Poison Demon in ten seconds, severing their heads and displaying them for a month.
After that, he became known as Cheon-Sal and was regarded as the strongest among the ten great masters of the current Murim.
‘I must inform Cheon-Sal about this.
Then I can turn the situation around.’
Heuk-Young made a silent resolution and secretly gathered her internal energy.
She was prepared to leave at least her arms behind.
Without such determination, she would not be able to escape from here.
At that moment, Mu-Young pulled something from his robe and presented it to her.
“Heuk-Young. I will give you a chance to live.”
It was a small wooden box.
When she opened the lid, fragrant medicinal herbs were contained within.
“I heard the Prime Minister’s tonic is brewed by you every day. Brew this and give it to the Prime Minister.”
Even a fool could tell that these herbs were not a tonic.
Heuk-Young spoke in an icy voice. “You want me to poison the elder? You want me to kill him with my own hands?”
“This is the cleanest method. After all, he was just an old man who was told he wouldn’t live for many more years until recently. It wouldn’t be strange if he died of a heart attack tomorrow morning.”
“…”
Heuk-Young lowered her head and stared silently at the wooden box.
Perhaps thinking she was in deep thought, Mu-Young spoke in a gentler tone.
“The Emperor knows that the Prime Minister cares for you. So you will be released safely.”
“…”
“Once this matter is over, I promise you complete freedom. The Prime Minister may have promised you wealth and glory, but he is not the only one who can make such promises.”
Mu-Young pulled out another wooden box and presented it.
Inside was a dark poison.
“Swallow this. Then go back and brew the tonic to give to the Prime Minister tonight. Once they check the body, the antidote will be given immediately.”
“…”
Heuk-Young knew that Mu-Young would not keep his promise.
The moment she swallowed this poison, she would once again become a dog on a leash for Cheon-Young.
“Or will you choose death here instead?”
Since Heuk-Young had no other options, Mu-Young’s expression was relaxed.
Heuk-Young was currently poisoned and was no longer the cold assassin he once knew.
‘An assassin who feels emotions will come to value their own life.
Heuk-Young, you cannot refuse my offer.’
But Mu-Young was mistaken.
Heuk-Young was not interested in wealth or glory.
She had not neglected her training for a single day over the past few years, giving her all to every mission.
And during that time, she had developed deep feelings for the old man known as Gong Sun-Su.
“I would rather choose death than betray the elder.”
Now, Gong Sun-Su was not just the Prime Minister she served; he was her only family.
A family worth risking her life to protect.
“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
“Of course not.”
At that moment, Heuk-Young stood up abruptly.
Energy surged from her sleeves.
Pababababak! The energy struck the table between them.
Mu-Young quickly raised the table to block the attack and retreated.
Knowing that a surprise attack would not work, Heuk-Young did not panic and continued her next assault.
Seeing Heuk-Young’s fierce momentum, Mu-Young clicked his tongue. “So this is your answer. I’m disappointed.”
At that moment, four assassins dropped down from the ceiling, and two sprang up from the floor.
Surrounded by six assassins in an instant, Heuk-Young drew daggers in both hands and summoned the shadowy martial arts of Cheon-Young.
Sssssss…
Her body became shrouded in mist, making her appear faint.
But the same was true for the other assassins.
They all practiced the same martial arts and were familiar with each other.
‘They brought the elite of Cheon-Young.’
There was no time to be surprised.
Heuk-Young was busy dodging and parrying the blades raining down from all directions.
Kagagagakang!
Before becoming Gong Sun-Su’s personal guard, she was the strongest in Cheon-Young, aside from Mu-Young.
Before she was given the name Heuk-Young, she was known as Il-Young (One Shadow).
She had overwhelming skills, but the assassins surrounding her were all skilled as well.
Moreover, there were traps prepared with poison.
Heuk-Young was quickly covered in wounds.
Watching from a distance, Mu-Young said, “Don’t kill her. I will try to persuade her once more.”
Of course, the second persuasion would involve torture and drugs.
“Cough…”
Heuk-Young fought desperately.
With increasing blood loss, her head spun.
The poison turned her skin black.
Yet she gritted her teeth, eyes wide open, searching for a way out on the battlefield.
‘Not yet.’
The assassins of Cheon-Young were relentless.
She killed three of the six assassins, but none of them screamed as they died.
But when it came to ruthlessness, Heuk-Young had the upper hand.
“... Ruthless.”
Mu-Young looked shocked at Heuk-Young’s fierce fighting.
He had thought she had neglected her martial arts training after becoming the Prime Minister’s personal guard, but she had actually become stronger than five years ago.
If she had not let her guard down… Mu-Young touched his neck with a chilling thought.
“But this is where it ends.”
Thud.
Ultimately, Heuk-Young’s knees buckled.
The place of the fallen assassins was filled by others, and her body could no longer endure the accumulating wounds.
However, Heuk-Young’s mind remained clear. ‘I can no longer use my right arm.
Then I might as well…’
Heuk-Young relaxed her body.
Mu-Young was walking toward her.
The moment he entered her range, she offered her right arm as bait and prepared her final strike at his neck.
‘Will it work or not…’
No, it must work.
At the very least, if she could kill Mu-Young, it would disrupt their plans and increase the chances of the elder surviving.
“... You still haven’t given up.”
But Mu-Young stopped outside the line Heuk-Young had set.
The keen senses of an assassin had activated.
Mu-Young, sweating coldly, said, “Focus on the blood vessels.”
The winds of killing intent that flew from all directions seized her vital points, rendering her unable to move.
Then one assassin approached and subdued her from behind.
Unable to even open her mouth, she glared at Mu-Young, gritting her teeth. ‘Elder…’
She was not afraid of death.
She was merely furious that she could no longer protect the elder, who had just found happiness in life.
…She had just begun to understand emotions, only to lose the chance to know them further.
- Haha.
If you get married, I will truly feel regret.
She had thought that day might really come.
When that day came, she had planned to beg him to play the role of her father.
“... Are you crying? Heuk-Young?”
Mu-Young muttered in surprise.
Tears flowed from her frustration, blurring her vision, so she could not see his face clearly.
Therefore, she did not recognize the owner of the voice that followed.
“I’m glad I followed you.”
“!!”
The moment the unfamiliar voice rang out, the assassins turned their heads in unison.
But before they could react, a blade of light flew through the air.
Swoosh!
The body of the assassin who had subdued Heuk-Young was split in half.
With the sudden attack, the assassins scattered in all directions, and a gust of wind blew toward Heuk-Young.
“Are you okay?”
Heuk-Young stared blankly at the back of the man who stood in front of her.
“Who are you?”
Mu-Young shouted at the unfamiliar man.
He was a pale, handsome man whose blue robe suited him well.
The red blood dripping from his sword contrasted sharply with his blue robe.
The man smirked and said, “If I tell you who I am, will you understand?”
“... The assassins outside must have been on guard. How did you get in here?”
As if asking why she was asking such things, Baek Soo-ryong raised his sword and aimed it at Mu-Young.
“Of course, I killed them all to get in.”
The scattered assassins began to surround him, closing the distance, but Baek Soo-ryong’s expression remained calm.
He slightly turned his head and spoke to Heuk-Young behind him. “From now on, pretend you didn’t see anything. You can even close your eyes.”
“…”
Heuk-Young tightly closed her eyes as Baek Soo-ryong instructed.
Somehow, it felt like the right thing to do.
In that moment, blood-red sword energy swirled around Baek Soo-ryong’s blade.