Chapter 394

Chapter 394
Chapter 394. Personal Revenge (4)

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Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Positioned where the upper sections of the Yangtze River meet the Han River, Wuhan had long served as a vital hub for trade and commerce. Furthermore, East Lake, situated on the eastern side of Wuhan, boasted breathtaking views that matched West Lake in Hangzhou, making it a mandatory destination for innumerable authors and poets throughout history. Essentially, the city overflowed with a constant influx of commodities and travelers.

Following the establishment of the Murim Alliance of the Kang-ho in this region, the population of martial practitioners grew exponentially. Throughout the last five centuries, numerous organizations revolving around the Murim Alliance cropped up all over Wuhan, culminating in the founding of the Murim Academy, which stood as the grandest school of martial arts in the Kang-ho. Consequently, Wuhan transformed into the literal core of the Kang-ho and a revered sanctuary for members of the White Path.

Right now, I was experiencing that reality firsthand. Upon departing from the Alliance, I navigated through a labyrinth of convoluted backstreets to evade public scrutiny. I leaped across rooftops and occasionally utilized secret subterranean chambers operated by the Ha-o-mun. While these maneuvers successfully broke the pursuit of the Jeong-do-hoe trackers who had followed me from the start, a different complication presented itself.

‘They aren’t rodents, so why are there so damn many of them?’

A multitude of martial artists were prowling the streets with glaring eyes, eager to capture us. My internal senses picked up over thirty individuals nearby. Unless they had practiced dark magic that restricted them from daytime exposure, there was only one explanation for these scoundrels to be lurking about before sunrise. I had hoped they would refrain from making a move until we had cleared the borders of Wuhan, but these men were completely destroying that modest expectation. It became painfully obvious that my opponents belonged to the Jeong-do-hoe. Because they treated the various Murim Alliance facilities scattered across Wuhan like their personal quarters, this setup was incredibly advantageous for them. They merely needed to rest comfortably and step outside with drawn weapons.

We could not afford any procrastination. Once you commit to a gamble, you have to see it through, and if you draw your weapon, you might as well strike something. Turning toward my companions, I gave them a sign.

“Move out.”

“…Are we going to be fine?”

A guard from the diplomatic mission’s escort team stared at me with deep skepticism. Seriously, who else can you rely on besides me at this moment? If you keep glaring at me like that, I’m really going to turn into Jin-seo-un.

“We have no alternative but to proceed.”

“…Very well.”

The guard gave a nod and added, “Even so, they wouldn’t dare launch an open assault inside Wuhan.”

Man, why must he invite bad luck like that? Do I need to teach him that even a common thief from the Black Path knows better than to make such assumptions?

*Chak— chak— chak— chak— chak—*

Right on cue with that terrible foreboding, a series of dark figures dropped from above. Five individuals clad in dark combat robes and face masks blocked our path.

*Sreng.*

Brandishing their blades without delay, they cut off our escape. Look at that, I explicitly thought he shouldn’t jinx us. Before a single order could leave my mouth, the guards of the diplomatic mission reacted instantly.

*Ch-ch-ching.*

Blades clashed and pointed at one another in the narrow, gloomy passageway. Amidst the heavy, suffocating atmosphere that gripped the alleyway, a relaxed tone drifted over to us.

“It appears those individuals possess a mindset far more reckless than any member of the Black Path.”

Trust Dam-ak to make a snide observation at a moment like this. Could you show at least a shred of anxiety? Your survival is on the line here. Raising my hand toward our escort crew, I signaled them to ease their stances. Though visibly confused, the members of the diplomatic mission slightly lowered their weapons. At the very least, they respected my authority as their temporary leader. Offering them a brief nod, I barked out a question at the masked intruders.

“Before you stands Dam-ak-nim, the Great Military Counselor of the Sa-heuk-ryeon. On what grounds do you obstruct the return journey of this diplomatic mission!”

“….”

Total silence met my shout. Instead, their gazes grew increasingly hostile. Our own diplomatic crew stared at me with bewildered expressions, clearly wondering what kind of game I was playing. I offered a wry grin to the collective stares fixed upon me.

“Well, every battle requires a proper pretext.”

Finishing my statement, I unleashed the techniques of the Sword Demon.

White Moon Heaven-Leveling Three Forms (Baek-wol-je-cheon-sam-sik).
The First Form.
Extreme Speed (Geuk-kwae).

The attackers scrambled to execute their respective moves. Yet, these bastards didn’t even bother to conceal their origins properly, blatantly using the distinct martial techniques of their native schools.

*Kwaaaaa-ek!*

Naturally, any technique unleashed a split second after Extreme Speed stood absolutely no chance of matching its rapid velocity.

*Skeok—*
*Pshhhhhhh!*

In the blink of an eye, deep gashes tore through their chests, while others had their weapon-wielding wrists slashed open, unleashing a violent spray of crimson.

“Aaaaaargh—!!”

Their agonized shrieks shattered the quiet dawn. However, drawing unwanted attention to our location was going to be a real issue for me, so—

*Thud!*

I drove a swift boot straight into a face. Sent airborne by the impact, they slammed hard against the brickwork before collapsing onto the dirt.

“Eek!”

One of the killers looked as though he wanted to shout something, grinding his teeth in pure frustration. Moments later, a fierce glare burned in his eyes.

*Swaaaaa-ek—*

He unleashed the illusion-laced patterns of the Four-Sun Sword Technique (Sa-il-geom-beop). I could tell he was attempting a modified version to mask his school. However, did he truly believe that utilizing a swift blade style with that kind of form would work against me? I could only marvel at his misplaced arrogance.

“Hey, do you take me for some kind of amateur?”

*Clang!*

Shifting my weight fluidly, I knocked his weapon clean out of his grip. Seizing the momentum before he could recover, I executed the Illusion Kick (Hwan-yeong-gak) and connected three successive strikes.

*Crack—*
*Thud!*

The distinct crunch of fracturing ribs vibrated right through my toes. A deep crimson wetness bled through the fabric of the mask worn by the assailant who had collapsed against the wall. He lay there, drawing ragged, wheezing breaths. I offered him some gentle advice.

“If you try to move right now, you’ll puncture your lungs. Stay perfectly still if you prefer to keep living.”

The downed man shifted his furious gaze between me and Dam-ak, looking incredibly wronged. Honestly, I try to save his life and he gives me attitude. Bending down beside him, I tapped his bloody cheek.

“Deliver a clear message to your master. Unless they are willing to suffer severe consequences, they better stop acting so recklessly.”

Straightening up, I turned to leave… But wait, this whole situation was starting to piss me off.

“Hey, you absolute idiots! If you’re going to ambush someone, at least do a proper job of hiding who you are!”

“….”

“Damn it, you lack the absolute fundamentals of trailing and covert operations. Unbelievable. Mark my words, I’m going to smash the skulls of every single one of these White Path hypocrites before this is over!”

Hearing this, the wounded attackers finally lowered their eyes in shame. Exhaling a breath to calm myself down, I gestured toward Dam-ak and the rest of our party.

“Let’s move out.”

“….”

The expressions directed at me were rather odd, but it didn’t bother me much. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen those kinds of looks plenty of times before. I resumed our trek, guiding the group forward once more, knowing we couldn’t afford to waste a single second. After weaving through various backstreets and bypassing the housing sectors, we finally arrived at the heart of Wuhan’s bustling market district. Given its proximity to the city’s East Gate, I had arranged our rendezvous here rather than risking an appearance at a tavern within the pleasure quarters. As I came to a halt, a query was tossed my way.

“Great Hero Jin… are we halting our advance here?”

Having witnessed firsthand the way I dismantled the ambushers, the guards had visibly adopted a much more respectful tone. Honestly, when it comes to things like this, the Black Path crowd is far more straightforward than the White Path hypocrites. At least these guys don’t play blind to reality when it’s staring them in the face. Scanning the area, I gave a brief nod.

“We’ll be getting some assistance from this point forward.”

“Assistance?”

They wondered who could possibly aid them deep within territory dominated by the White Path. Filled with curiosity regarding our mysterious allies, the members of the diplomatic delegation stood frozen in shock the instant we rounded the street corner.

“What in the world is happening here…”

Peering around the bend, they heard:

“Welcome.”
“Welcome.”
“Welcome.”

An immense convoy of wagons extended as far as the eye could see along the wide thoroughfare, packing the entire street. Glancing at the astonished envoys whose mouths were still wide open, I let out a sly grin.

“Are you a fan of the shell game (yabawi)?”

“The shell… game?”

Exactly. That classic swindle where people wager their funds in hopes of a payout. A game played for mere loose coins by children, or for pocket change by adults.

“Precisely, that very game.”

Running a shell game happens to be a personal favorite of mine. You draw in marks to gamble their money away just to make a bit of extra cash for snacks or liquor, but the truth is, the house always comes out on top. I was eager to find out exactly how much the members of the Jeong-do-hoe were prepared to lose.

*Drrrrrrrr.*

The unexpected deployment of a massive wagon convoy from the Geum-san Merchant Group headquarters in Wuhan left the pursuers—who had been tracking Dam-ak’s party through the damp night air—utterly bewildered. While it was standard practice for trading syndicates or security agencies to begin journeys early in the morning, making a move before a single sliver of daylight appeared seemed highly unusual, unless it involved a highly confidential transport.

This operation undoubtedly bore the signature of Wang Geum-san, residing within Wuhan. Above all, the realization that Wang Geum-san—celebrated as one of the Four Great Merchant Princes—had so easily complied with the appeal made by Jin So-un caught them completely off guard. The economic influence wielded by the Wang Family Manor was truly staggering. A significant portion of the martial artists aligned with the Jeong-do-hoe possessed ties to or relied upon the Wang Family Manor, meaning an accidental exposure of their identities could bring ruin upon their respective clans and schools.

Even so, they could not afford to simply watch from the sidelines.

“What are you idiots loitering for! Take action immediately!”

“However…”

“Are you blind to the fact that the destiny of the entire Kang-ho rests upon the success of this mission!”

“….”

“Furthermore, who could possibly identify any of us under the cover of total darkness!”

Spurred into motion by the guarantee of anonymity rather than any lofty ideals about the destiny of the Kang-ho, the operatives finally prepared to strike. Yet, just as they finalized their plan and stood poised to act:

“C-Commander…! The wagons are splitting up!”

The vehicles, which they had confidently anticipated would make a straight line for the East Gate, suddenly veered off down multiple paths. The commanding officer in charge of the squad let out a furious roar, demanding to know their objective.

“Dam-ak! Point out the wagon carrying Dam-ak!”

“It’s the transport emblazoned with a phoenix design!”

“Pursue it!”

Splitting into groups of three, the wagons accelerated down separate roads. Out of all the targets, the operatives of the Jeong-do-hoe focused their efforts entirely on the vehicle bearing the phoenix emblem.

“Do we intercept it?”

“You utter fool…”

Used to having free rein to conduct inspections at their leisure, the lower-ranking members were relying on complacent habits. A fierce glare flashed in the commander’s eyes as he stared at them. Were they not presently engaged in an operation where secrecy was absolutely paramount? Holding back his intense irritation to avoid bashing his men’s skulls in, he issued a brutal order.

“Obliterate the entire transport!”

“Understood!”

When matching the velocity of a horse-drawn wagon against master-level lightness skills, the elite martial movement techniques will invariably win. Given that the majority of the pursuers had mastered top-tier agility arts, catching up to the escaping vehicles took very little effort despite their delayed start.

*Ta-tak!*

Leaping effortlessly across the tops of the buildings, they dropped down to the street in unison, unleashing powerful palm strikes.

*Pe-pe-pe-pe-pe-pung!*

Three separate wagons exploded into splinters simultaneously. The startled drivers brought their teams to a sudden halt, while the accompanying guards unsheathed their weapons in a flash.

*Ch-ch-ch-ch-ching!*

“State your names! Who possesses the audacity to assault a transport belonging to the Geum-san Merchant Group right here in Wuhan!”

“Reveal who you are!”

Ignoring the fierce warnings issued by the security detail, the attention of the Jeong-do-hoe agents remained entirely fixed on the splintered, vacant remains of the vehicles.

“….”

“…Son of a bitch.”

The bitter truth finally dawned on them. They had been completely played as the marks in a rigged game.

“Pivot to the other transports! Track them down immediately!”

The squad scrambled away from the scene in a panic. Oddly enough, none of the merchant guards made any attempt to follow them.

What a pity. The ultimate satisfaction of executing a classic hustle is witnessing the look of pure despair on the target’s face, a pleasure currently denied to me. Then again, they were bound to be wearing masks, meaning I wouldn’t have caught their expressions regardless. In any case, the plan to hoodwink those gullible fools went off without a hitch. They only have themselves to blame for never imagining I would pull off a massive shell game utilizing an entire fleet of wagons.

I bear no responsibility here. After all, Jin So-un is a noble warrior dedicated to upholding righteousness and virtue.

“Your existence appears to be nothing but an uninterrupted chain of fabrications and confidence tricks.”

Leave it to Dam-ak to poke his head through the small viewing pane of the cabin just to throw a jab. Honestly, this guy… I have absolutely no clue what he’s rambling about. I offered my reply while casually scratching the inside of my ear.

“That’s rich coming from a prominent figure of the Black Path.”

“Young Master Jin, are you aware of the gossip? Even across the factions of the Black Path Murim, a certain warning has gained massive traction: ‘Should you cross paths with the Black Flame Dragon, verify your wallet immediately.'”

What sort of ridiculous slander is that? When have I ever resorted to pickpocketing members of the Black Path? Let’s see… there’s no way I ever… Never mind, I definitely haven’t. Those bastards really breathe lies and propaganda like it’s oxygen.

“Regardless, does this mean we are out of danger?”

Dam-ak inquired, watching the landscape shift as we cleared the perimeter of the East Gate. Seriously, what is wrong with his head? I questioned him back, thoroughly incredulous.

“Are you seriously unaware that the real ordeal is only just starting?”

“Ah, understood. In that case, I shall indulge in a rest.”

Concluding his remarks, Dam-ak slid the small window shut and retreated into the interior.

Good grief, what an annoying fellow. My disposition soured slightly. Granted, dealing with him was vastly preferable to managing a terrified companion whose constant panicking would drain my mental fortitude just to keep them steady… yet he possessed an innate talent for rubbing me the wrong way.

Unfortunately, I lacked the luxury to brood over it for long.

*Rustle, rustle.*

‘Is the second wave arriving already?’

The surrounding woodlands had started trembling almost immediately after we exited Wuhan and proceeded along the main highway.

“Come and get it.”

I ground my teeth together, mentally throwing down the gauntlet against the concealed operatives of the Jeong-do-hoe.