The Legend of the Northern Blade - Chapter 203: Crisis and Ill-Fated Encounters (3)

TL: FoodieMonster007

Although an incident that shook even Heaven’s Summit had occurred the night before, the truth remained hidden. Heaven’s Summit suppressed all information, and the jianghu’s attention remained fixed on the Silent Night.

Still, a few people noticed the subtle changes and acted quickly.

“Quickly, burn the documents and get moving,” Mae Wol-Ryung urged her subordinates.

Courtesans and martial artists of the Black Moon moved diligently at her command, feeding countless documents into the fire until only a handful of ash remained. The documents contained all the information the Sichuan Branch had painstakingly collected, but Mae Wol-Ryung felt no regret, as copies of most of the information were stored at the Black Moon Headquarters.

“Once everything is incinerated, lie low and await the next command.”

“Yes!” the women and martial artists replied in unison.

Just then, a pale-faced man who had been lying down in a room walked out.

“Noonim, what’s going on?” Cheong-In asked. Tang Gi-Mun had saved his life, and he was currently recuperating at the Sichuan Branch.

“An incident occurred last night.”

“What happened?”

“Heaven’s Summit made its move.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“They targeted Master Jin and his companions, and they won’t leave anyone associated with him alone. Soon, they’ll figure out we passed him information.”

Cheong-In’s eyes wavered as understanding dawned on him. “Are you saying that we’re being targeted next…?”

“Yes, so we’re abandoning the Sichuan branch.”

“And what next?”

“For now, we’re shutting down and lying low.”

“Noonim!”

“There’s no need to face the storm head-on. If the sparks fly our way, the entire Black Moon could be in danger.”

“Does it make sense to just sever our ties and pretend we don’t know them?”

“Jin Mu-Won is not worth risking the lives of everyone in the Black Moon for. Heaven’s Summit has made a wicked decision. They’ll annihilate Master Jin, no matter the consequences. Getting involved now is like jumping into a fire with firewood on our backs.”

“We can’t do that! Aren’t they our acquaintances?”

“Snap out of it!” Mae Wol-Ryung scolded, her tone cold and rational. “You’re an elite agent of the Black Moon. I know you’ve grown fond of them, but the safety of the Black Moon takes precedence.”

However, Cheong-In couldn’t be impartial, not anymore. “Shouldn’t we be helping them more right now?”

“How? Heaven’s Summit is determined to hunt them down. There’s nothing we can do. We can only lie low until the storm passes.”

“Keuk!” Cheong-In scowled. Logically, she was right, but his heart screamed otherwise. “Noonim, you take the others and lie low. I’ll go help them.”

“How? Even if you were fine, you can’t help them, and now that you can barely move, it’s impossible.”

“I’ll figure something out.”

“Cheong-In!”

“Noonim, I would have died if not for them. The Black Moon has other agents, but they have no one to help them.”

“You…”

“Hehe! This side of me feels unfamiliar, but what can I do? My heart is pounding.”

He turned around without hesitation.

Mae Wol-Ryung stared at his back and bit her lip. Fool! For such a stupid reason…

However, she couldn’t stop him. She had seen the determined smile on his face as he strode off.

Jin Mu-Won knelt down to examine the ground, which was covered in countless chaotic footprints. Among them, he found a few familiar tracks.

Thankfully, they’re all safe.

The footprints belonged to Seo Mu-Sang, Ha Jin-Wol, and the others, as well as Tang Gi-Mun and his niece, Tang Mi-Ryeo.Myeong Ryu-San had bought them enough time to escape the manor safely, but countless unfamiliar footprints, those of their pursuers, now covered their tracks.

There are about…twenty pursuers? And more will come in time.

Heaven’s Summit had surrounded the area, and their numbers were growing. The longer he took to join his friends, the greater their disadvantage. He didn’t know how long Seo Mu-Sang and Tang Mi-Ryeo could hold out on their own. He had to reach them quickly.

The one comfort was that Ha Jin-Wol hadn’t been idle. He had set up maze and illusion formations near the manor, along with other preparations.

Jin Mu-Won looked back. He had been forced to leave Myeong Ryu-San’s body behind, and guilt assaulted him.

I will return and lay you to rest in a peaceful place then.

Myeong Ryu-San became another star shining in his heart.

Jin Mu-Won unleashed his movement arts and shot forward like an arrow.

SWOOOSH!

Countless hidden weapons flew toward him. Assailants hiding throughout the streets launched a surprise attack. Jin Mu-Won didn’t panic. He swung Snow Flower, and Shadow Qi swirled along the blade, emitting a strange attractive force. The hidden weapons, drawn by the force, circled the sword once before he flung them back at their owners.

“Keuk!”

“Heok!”

The ambushers fell, struck down by their own weapons. Still, more attackers appeared, seemingly endless. They poured from back alleys, rooftops, and even filthy ditches. They weren’t as strong as the Black Soul Corps, but their numbers were overwhelming.

They threw their lives away like straw, showing no fear. Even as their comrades died at Jin Mu-Won’s hands, they attacked tenaciously. Their eyes held no emotion, their pupils as empty as a doll’s and devoid of any fear of death.

Their only goal was to slow him down and drain his stamina. Their own lives were not to be treasured. They were raised for this very purpose.

A furious light flickered in Jin Mu-Won’s eyes, directed not at them but at their trainers and masters.

What do they think human life is? Something they can just use and throw away?

He had suppressed his anger until now, but he could no longer endure it. The actions of those who sent these men enraged him. Those men were probably watching from a safe distance, ready to send another to replace each one who died.

Dark red blood flowed down Snow Flower’s blade and trickled over his hand. The blood on his hands and body felt like a heavy weight. Harming another person was an immense mental burden, and for every drop of blood that stained his hands, a bruise formed on his heart.

Still, he never stopped swinging his sword, nor did he hesitate. Anger was a privilege for the living. He had to escape this place to unleash his anger and pursue his dream of revenge.

SLICE!

Everything that crossed Snow Flower’s path was cut down, whether it was swords, blades, or human flesh.

Jin Mu-Won carved a bloody path of carnage and destruction. After what felt like an eternity, the human tsunami finally ceased.

He didn’t look back. His heart ached, but he had no time to spare. Any delay would only put his companions in greater danger.

Seomoon Hye-Ryung stood atop the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Lanterns on the mountainside with Gwan Dae-Swung, which offered an unobstructed view of Heaven’s Village. Her eyes trembled as she watched the scene.

Jin Mu-Won, having cut down so many, was like a demon of blood. The number he’d killed had already surpassed three digits. Never before in the history of the jianghu had anyone killed so many in a single night.

“He’s a true God of War,” she muttered.

Countless men had rushed him, yet not one had landed a proper wound. Seomoon Hye-Ryung glanced at Gwan Dae-Seung. He watched the sea of corpses and blood with a faint smile that only deepened as time passed. She suddenly found him terrifying.

With each flick of Gwan Dae-Seung’s finger, hordes of people charged at Jin Mu-Won, throwing their lives away. It was an endless offensive of sheer numbers.

First, he tied Jin Mu-Won down with the Black Soul Corps, then he mobilized numerous groups of assassins. His tactic of mixing mercenaries with the Black Soul Corps to drain his opponent’s stamina and qi was so unconventional that an ordinary person would never conceive of it.

How many people has he mobilized to catch one man?

He did it all with an unnerving composure that an ordinary person couldn’t have endured.

Even as screams echoed through the streets, not a single resident looked outside. To her, it was unbelievable and impossible. All humans are curious. Even if most were frightened, a few bold individuals should have looked outside, but perfect silence enveloped Heaven’s Village. This was proof of Heaven’s Summit’s complete control. They had achieved what no other organization could.

“Even this isn’t enough…!” she gasped in disbelief.

An offensive this large should have stopped any master, but it seemed far from enough for Jin Mu-Won. At this rate, it would only slow him down for a moment.

Gwan Dae-Seung replied, “We’re dealing with the Northern Blade. Of course, this is far from enough.”

“You know that, and yet you’re still sending your subordinates to their deaths?”

“They’re draining his stamina, aren’t they? It doesn’t matter if a hundred or a thousand die. I can always mobilize more men.”

“What?”

“Admittedly, this is an ineffcient method. That’s why I’ve prepared another way. You won’t be disappointed, Young Lady Seomoon.”

“What are you planning?”

Gwan Dae-Seung smiled, a smile so cold it sent a chill down Seomoon Hye-Ryung’s spine and made goosebumps rise on her skin.

“Young Lady Seomoon.”

“Yes?”

“What you’re about to see is something you must keep in your heart forever.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know you have great ambitions. I also know you created the Azure Dragon Society around Young Lord Dam. I like ambitious people.”

“That’s…”

If I may offer some advice, don’t insist on forging your path alone. The world is full of difficulties that are too hard to overcome with youthful spirit alone. Walking that path alone could take decades.”

Seomoon Hye-Ryung’s expression hardened. A chill washed over her, as if she were naked in a snowy field. “What are you trying to say?”

“Listen to your grandfather. He’s a great man.”

“So what are you…” Her voice began to rise.

“Ah, it’s finally beginning.” Gwan Dae-Seung’s smile deepened. “Please take my words to heart.”

The chill Seomoon Hye-Ryung felt grew stronger, and not just because of his words. The temperature around them was actually dropping.

“What?”

Her gaze snapped toward the source of the cold. A giant man in gray stood there, his red eyes radiating madness like a typhoon.