[Chapter 56]
Before arriving here, Myeong Onji reminisced about the conversation with his father.
"It's unknowable."
"Is that so?"
"Let's assume Yeon's family has indeed captured all the spies. None of them are connected to our main house."
"Is there a chance Moyong, the family head, mentioned it?"
"None. Moyong, the family head, is a man of his own faith. Ambitious, yes, but he knows when to bow before a stronger opponent. He would never have told his subordinates about any connection to our main house."
"So, even if Yeon's family tortured the spies they caught, our main house's name wouldn't come up."
"That's correct."
"Then there's no need to dispatch the secret assassins…"
"Moyong's clan won't bare their fangs at us. They know they can't win with force. But do you think we can take Moyong's clan lightly?"
"No, of course not."
"Moyong, the family head, is a great man to ally with. He's gone out of his way for us so far; now it's our turn to step up."
"What reason shall we use?"
"Business. Since Moyong's clan has already sent a letter to Yeon's family head, let's make business the reason for this meeting."
"What if Yeon's eldest son suspects us?"
"That won't happen. The regions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang are coveted by the powerful martial arts factions. There's no reason for suspicion. However…"
"…"
"It doesn't matter if they suspect us. Yeon's family is doomed anyway."
Indeed.
The Myeong family had already completed many preparations for expanding their influence. The work in the distant Daebul Mountains was also finished.
Yeon's family will fall. They have no other choice.
However, Myeong Onji couldn't help but be internally flustered by Yeon Hojeong's aggressive words.
"They know?!"
Yes, suspicion doesn't matter. Yeon's family will fall anyway.
But there's a world of difference between suspicion and knowledge.
Those who suspect are not to be feared. Without certainty, their actions will be delayed. They can't exert power at the crucial moment.
But if they're certain, that changes everything.
"What do you mean?"
Myeong Onji tilted his head in confusion, contrary to his thoughts. His face was truly puzzled.
"I don't understand what my younger brother is saying. Are you suggesting our main house has joined hands with Moyong's clan?"
Yeon Hojeong smirked.
"You're sitting there, acting poorly, while knowing everything's been exposed?"
"Exposed? I really don't understand. So, your family caught the spies sent by Moyong's clan, is that it?"
"You're quite troublesome."
It couldn't be helped.
Myeong Onji realized that Yeon Hojeong had read his inner thoughts. It was understandable, given how startled he was, losing control of his expression for a moment.
The problem wasn't with Myeong Onji himself, but with his role as the head of the secret assassins.
"How should I handle this?"
If they were merely suspicious, confirming that Yeon's family had caught the spies would be enough.
But this man was certain.
He couldn't just let it go. His certainty meant information had leaked, and if it had, the source of the leak needed to be identified.
In other words, Yeon Hojeong had to be captured alive.
"I'll deal with what comes later. If the aftermath gets messy, I'll just feign ignorance."
In Henan, there are the old Myeong family and the Shaolin Temple.
However, the real influence lies more with the Myeong family than with Shaolin. Shaolin is a Buddhist sect, but the Myeong family is a powerful clan that pursues worldly fame and fortune.
Even the most open of factions would struggle to unravel the Myeong family's manipulation of information in Henan Province.
"The problem is…"
Myeong Onji looked into Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
His gaze was steady. Those eyes, which gave an unknowable chill to the observer, also held a depth that made it difficult to see inside.
"He knew we were coming. At the very least, he suspected it. Because he knew we had allied with Moyong's clan."
So?
"Did he use himself as bait?"
What kind of powerful backing must he have?
"The sound of your thoughts is loud enough to hear."
Silence hung in the air as Myeong Onji faced his adversary, Yeon Hojeong, whose confidence seemed unshaken.
"Why so bold, I wonder?" Yeon Hojeong mused.
Myeong Onji remained silent, knowing that discussing the matter further would be disadvantageous. The truth was out, and silence was now his best strategy.
Yeon Hojeong sensed the formidable strength of the Myeong family in Myeong Onji's silence. Despite his youth, which would typically be considered too green for leading an intelligence organization, it was clear that talent and the nurturing environment of the Myeong family had shaped him into this role.
The Myeong family, known for their white path, had trained one of their own as a professional spy. This alone made them a formidable opponent.
Yeon Hojeong broke the silence, "In the end, a martial artist can only trust in their own strength."
"Strength?" Myeong Onji echoed, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"You want to capture me, don't you? But naturally, I have no intention of letting that happen."
Myeong Onji's eyes turned icy as he slowly rose to his feet, "Well, since we both know the truth, there's no need for pretenses anymore."
A palpable killing intent rose from the warriors standing behind him, a stark contrast to the serene forest that had been their backdrop.
Myeong Onji spoke calmly, "I heard you defeated Thunder Rival Chu Seong."
"That fool?" Yeon Hojeong scoffed.
"Yes, a fool indeed. Even a child wielding a dagger can kill in the martial world. And since you underestimated the eldest son of the Baeksan Yeon family, you deserved to be called a fool. But you see…"
Suddenly, a shadowy figure, Myeong-Do, appeared behind Yeon Hojeong. In the dim forest lit only by the campfire, Myeong-Do's face seemed to float eerily, like a ghost.
"We are not such fools," Myeong Onji declared.
"So it seems," Yeon Hojeong replied, unfazed.
"The Myeong family's Dark Death Squad is an intelligence unit, not a combat troop. However, we often have to suppress with force when necessary."
"Are you strong, then?"
"Strong enough to capture at least one peak master without much difficulty. And we never let our guard down."
Myeong Onji smiled, his cheerful demeanor chilling amidst the tense atmosphere, "So, let's not waste energy and come with us willingly."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled at the suggestion.
Myeong Onji shook his head, "I can see you're skilled, and your courage matches your skill. But once the fight starts, you won't last more than five exchanges."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. The Dark Death Squad isn't to be underestimated…"
It was then that Myeong Onji paused, a sudden realization dawning on him, 'How did he know we're an intelligence organization?'
The Dark Death Squad wasn't publicly known. Those who knew of it couldn't speak openly due to threats or death at the hands of the Myeong family.
"How did you know we're an intelligence unit?" Myeong Onji demanded.
"You'll see," Yeon Hojeong replied cryptically.
A powerful aura emanated from Myeong Onji, stronger than anyone else present.
"I really can't let you go. I have to capture you."
Warriors scattered into the forest, checking for any unseen 'eyes' that might be watching.
Yeon Hojeong finally picked up his axe, timing it perfectly with the moment the Dark Death Squad sent their warriors to scout the area.
"Kneel," Myeong Onji commanded coldly.
Myeong Do lunged from behind Yeon Hojeong, but the warriors didn't move. It was a surprise attack aimed at vulnerabilities, proving Myeong Onji's claim that they never let their guard down.
If the opponent hadn't been Yeon Hojeong, anyone else would have fallen for the ambush.
Myeong Do's punch missed its mark, failing to connect with the intended target.
"Where did he go?!"
A thud sounded, and Myeong Do stumbled, stepping into the campfire.
"Be careful!" Myeong Onji shouted.
Myeong Do groaned as he was flung towards Myeong Onji.
With a swift movement, Myeong Onji caught Myeong Do's wrist and deftly maneuvered him, sending him flying over her shoulder.
It was a sophisticated technique from the Pear Blossom Grafting martial art, so ingrained in her muscle memory that she executed it unconsciously.
Then, a massive axe blade struck the campfire.
The powerful slash extinguished the fire instantly, plunging the surroundings into darkness. The Dark Death Squad members, whose eyes adjusted to the light, struggled to adapt to the sudden darkness.
A terrible sound echoed, followed by the spray of a warm liquid.
'Blood?!'
Instinctively, everyone gathered their internal energy, enhancing their vision with the power that coursed through their bodies. Only then did their sight return.
But Yeon Hojeong was nowhere to be seen.
'What? Where did he disappear to?!'
A cold wind swept in from the north, bringing with it a heavy, suffocating pressure.
Myeong Onji yelled, "He's to the north! Capture him!"
Fourteen warriors drew their swords in unison, launching a coordinated attack towards a single point.
That was their mistake.
All fourteen warriors screamed as they were repelled, half of them falling so hard they bruised their buttocks.
Myeong Onji's eyes widened in shock.
'What is this?!'
A transparent blue energy rippled in the wind.
A strange, monstrous howl seemed to come from afar.
It was a sound none had heard before, a chilling cry that sent shivers down everyone's spine.
It was the roar of a mythical beast, a divine creature not of this world.
The master of the Northern Heavens, the Black Tortoise, had awakened.
"If even one of you tries to escape, I'll kill you all."
"Kneel."
* * *
As the Dark Death Squad members finished their perimeter check and turned back the way they came, chaos erupted.
Thwack! Crack! Thwack!
In an instant, three of the squad members fell, their heads bleeding from being struck by clubs, their skulls fractured but, fortunately, not dead.
"What is this, you scoundrels!"
Two members who evaded the ambush looked around in panic.
'Gasp!'
Dozens of beggars, armed with clubs, had surrounded them. It was a perfect encirclement.
"Kyaaak! Ptui! Ah, damn it. Got on my sleeve."
Gadeuksang, brushing off his chest nonchalantly, approached with a swagger.
"When you think about it, that gentleman was right. It's the result that matters, not the process, right, folks?"
"Hoogae?!"
"Ah, you recognized me in one go? So you all knew, huh?"
Despite his relaxed demeanor, Gadeuksang's eyes were terrifyingly cold, colder even than Yeon Hojeong's.
He was furious.
"Take down the signboard of 'The Best in the World,' and your balls too, you damn bastards."
Whoosh!
The beggars charged.