Muak.

It wasn't certain if he used the Jin surname.

He, who was always by Jin Gumyeong's side, was a man of few words.

Also, his expression was always the same.

His indifferent face, from which not a single emotion could be felt, always made people feel intimidated.

Cheonyeong had only faced him a few times.

The first meeting was when he had finished his training, was recognized as an assassin, and stood before Jin Gumyeong.

Muak was by his side then.

He didn't know at that time.

Because he just looked ordinary.

And when he rose to Special Grade, Cheonyeong, who met him again, felt a vague fear.

His gaze was like a blade, and just facing him felt as if his whole body was being finely cut.

He even felt a sense of despair at his unfathomable strength.

And the last time he saw him was when he was escaping from the Jingagu.

He knew then.

That he was not an assassin like himself.

He was a man closer to a warrior than an assassin.

It was strange.

Why was he, who was not an assassin, in the Jingagu?

Why did he stay by Jin Gumyeong's side, not being deployed on missions like the other assassins?

The question remained unanswered.

Because he had to fight him.

He was strong.

Stronger than anyone he had met while living as an assassin.

* * *

"You still don't smell like us."

Cheonyeong said, looking at Muak who stood before him.

Was it because he respected him?

The attacks that had been flying from all directions stopped.

The assassins widened the distance, forming an encirclement far away.

So he looked at him leisurely.

At him, who had always been indifferent, now wearing a deeply angry expression.

And when the killing intent he emanated came close, sticking to his body, he finally understood.

Why he didn't have the same smell as assassins like them.

And why he used a sword instead of hidden weapons.

"You, were you a warrior of the Demonic Cult?"

"…?!"

Seeing his slightly widened eyes, it seemed his guess was correct.

As if surprised that he had figured out his identity, he asked in a voice tinged with coldness.

"Who are you?"

"Me? Tang Cheonyeong."

Cheonyeong revealed his identity without hesitation.

There was no reason to hide it.

"Tang Cheonyeong, you say?"

"Yes."

"How are you here?"

Surprise was added to his astonishment.

It was only natural, since he, who should be in Sichuan, was here.

"I see, so you were the one who executed the counter-attack plan."

"Why do you have to put it so grandly? It's just that what you guys were doing was so obvious, so I used my head a little."

"…I see."

The face that had been filled with emotion calmed down.

Returning to his characteristic indifferent expression, Muak nodded and spoke to the assassins who were waiting in an encirclement.

"I will take this one. You help block the enemies who have invaded the formation." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Pardon?"

It was a question back, and a due punishment was given.

Swish!

As his lightly drawn sword grazed him, the neck of the assassin who had questioned back fell so futilely and rolled on the ground.

There were no more questions.

The assassins who saw the death hurriedly ran.

"You cruel bastard, to kill a comrade you've been with for so long so easily. You really haven't changed, then or now."

"Then? You speak as if you've known us for a long time."

"I do. Very, very well."

"Hmm."

Muak stared with narrowed eyes, but what answer would he get from pondering?

As if he had soon shaken off his thoughts, he said.

"Seeing as you know I'm from the Cult, I suppose I don't need to ask."

"You're quick to sort out your thoughts, aren't you?"

Cheonyeong said as if in admiration, but Muak continued his words as if he didn't care in the slightest.

"You must have learned the secret history of the Samyang, so there's no need to exchange words with you, unlike others."

The moment a faint smile appeared on the expressionless Muak's lips, his sword shot out quickly without giving him a chance to answer.

Shwaaak!

At the sword strike that stretched out in an instant, Cheonyeong hastily bent his waist back.

It would have been useless to retreat.

Because the sword strike would have gotten longer and chased him.

Also, dodging would not be the end.

Because the man's sword was already changing direction and falling vertically.

Claaang!

Cheonyeong, who struck the downward-slashing sword strike, moved to the side and shot out a hidden weapon.

"A foolish act! I am well aware that you use hidden weapons!"

Taaang!

Muak, who easily struck away the hidden weapon, dug straight into Cheonyeong's body.

Close combat.

A good choice.

How could he, who had lived with assassins, not know the weakness of hidden weapon techniques?

Hidden weapons are weapons that exert great power from a certain distance or more.

So, among the forms of hidden weapon techniques, there are many methods to keep a distance so that the opponent cannot approach.

Muak had aimed for that weakness and dug in.

"You bastard! Die!"

Because he was close, he couldn't throw a hidden weapon, and his waist was exposed.

Just as his body was about to be cut in two, Cheonyeong smirked.

Did he really think he would only use hidden weapon techniques?

Taaaaang!

Simultaneously with swinging his sword, Cheonyeong's foot shot out powerfully.

Thwack!

"Keuk!"

Muak, who was kicked in the chest, frowned and retreated.

Clutching his aching chest, he glared at Cheonyeong.

"You…"

"Why? Your waist should have been cut, but it seems things didn't go as you thought?"

"…"

"A Demonic Cult warrior. You're not as great as I thought."

At the sight of Cheonyeong laughing mockingly, the corners of Muak's eyes sharpened at once.

He knew it too.

That what Cheonyeong possessed was not just hidden weapon techniques.

"You're full of yourself. But, nothing changes. The fact that you will die…"

A cold aura emanated from Muak's body.

The demonic energy that had been faintly lingering swirled up from the tips of his toes and wrapped around his body.

Madness shone in his upturned eyes, and the ground where he stood cracked as if it couldn't withstand the erupting internal energy.

He was acknowledging Cheonyeong's skill and was about to use everything he had.

"You bastard, you will regret provoking me. Not even a bone fragment of you will be left."

Muak left a warning, growling as he held his sword, which was imbued with a fiercely burning energy.

But provocation?

He had done no such thing.

The man had gotten angry on his own after being hit once.

And in his eyes, Muak no longer looked as great as he did in the past.

He was not afraid or intimidated.

He was just calm.

That was the gap between him and him now.

It wasn't that he was weak, but that he had become stronger. To the point where it couldn't even be compared to when he was an assassin.

"Well, well…"

Knowing that he had drawn out his full power, Cheonyeong, surprised that he looked ridiculous, shook his head.

If it was this much after opening the Middle Dantian, how much would it be if he opened the Upper Dantian?

Suddenly, he coveted the contents that must have been left in the second volume of the Samyang Divine Art.

"Well, fine. I came to kill them all anyway, so there's no need to drag this out."

Cheonyeong took out the Great Despair Scales from his bosom and clenched them in both hands.

"Hidden weapons? Are you going to try using hidden weapons against me? Ridiculous. Do you think that will work on me!"

A sneer appeared on Muak's lips.

Only then did he understand.

Why there was no emotion in Muak's eyes when he looked at them, who were assassins long ago.

It was contempt.

It was the indifference of looking at a being that was not treated as a human.

Was that why?

His heart twisted.

"Don't mind me, I'm just that kind of guy."

"What?"

"I can't stand being looked down on. And I want to show you what kind of power these hidden weapons, which you think are so insignificant, have."

"Alright, then let's see you try."

Muak held his sword with both hands and took a stance.

Cheonyeong flicked his fingers with the same indifferent gaze that he had looked at him with in the past.

The Great Despair Scale was shot, creating a white line.

Taaang!

He, who had struck it away without difficulty, took a step closer, and Cheonyeong took a step back and threw the Great Despair Scale again.

Piping!

Two flashes flew and collided with the trajectory of the sword, creating a loud metallic sound.

As the speed at which Cheonyeong shot out the Great Despair Scales increased, the number of sword trajectories that Muak created also began to increase.

Thud!

"Keuk!"

As the internal energy added to the hidden weapons grew stronger, Muak let out a groan.

He had blocked it, but his wrist throbbed.

The sword was pushed back, and it became difficult to take a step and approach.

But he blocked them all.

There were no more hidden weapons left in the man's hands.

"Heh heh, is that the end?"

"…"

"You foolish bastard, hidden weapons are something that cannot be used again once they are used! You have dug your own grave!"

As Muak laughed triumphantly, Cheonyeong looked at him and said calmly.

"Does it look that way?"

"What?"

At those words, Muak narrowed one eye and scanned Cheonyeong's body.

To see if there were any hidden weapons.

But he couldn't see any.

It was a bluff.

Muak thought he was trying to shake him with a confident expression and words.

But Cheonyeong smirked lightly and looked at Muak.

"Yes, as you said, hidden weapons are weapons that are difficult to retrieve once they are used."

"…?"

"But I've recently realized something new."

"What?"

"It consumes a lot of internal energy and it's a great waste to use it on someone as insignificant as you, but I'll show you. What a terrifying power the weapon called a hidden weapon has."

"What does that mean?"

The moment Muak got angry at the words that sounded like a mockery, Cheonyeong slowly raised his hand.

Nothing happened.

He was just holding up his hand.

"You bastard! Until the very end?"

As Muak, who thought he was being made fun of, contorted his face, Cheonyeong clicked his tongue and said.

"Tsk, for a warrior to be so lacking in attention. I'm disappointed in myself for thinking you were great."

"What did you say?"

"Yes, it would be unfair to die without knowing anything… so look around you carefully."

At Cheonyeong's words, Muak whipped his head around.

And he froze stiffly with his eyes wide open.

Behind him and beside him were sparkling white scales.

It was the Great Despair Scale.

At the sight of all the Great Despair Scales that Cheonyeong had thrown so far floating at different heights and filling the air, Muak could only stare blankly with his eyes wide open.

It was strange.

Was it because the round shape looked like flower petals?

Or was it because of the white light that seemed to glow on its own?

It was only right that he should have thought of death, knowing he couldn't dodge, but he thought it was beautiful.

And into the ears of Muak, who had lost his mind like that, came Cheonyeong's cold voice.

He came to his senses with a jolt.

"Let's see if you have the means to dodge the hidden weapons that pour down as densely as the rain you bring."

Cheonyeong's hand slowly lowered.

And it poured down.

The Great Despair Scales that had filled all directions really fell like rain, just as Cheonyeong had said.

It was like a white shower was falling.

But Muak could neither raise his sword to strike them away nor move his feet to dodge.

How could he dodge?

There was nowhere to go…

He had no choice but to defend by wrapping the internal energy he had raised to its limit around his body.

But.

Stab!

The Great Despair Scale pierced through the protective barrier created by his internal energy without fail.

Stab! Stab!

And the pouring white flashes relentlessly pierced through Muak's body and embedded themselves in the ground.

Kwa-deu-deuk!

Tearing flesh, crushing bone…

Only then did Muak understand.

That from the beginning, he was no match for Tang Cheonyeong.

That he was a warrior in a different realm from himself.

Muak collapsed as if crumbling.

His corpse had become a tattered rag, riddled with so many holes that it could no longer be called human.

After staring at him for a moment, Cheonyeong slowly turned his body and said in a low voice.

"Now I just need to find Jin Gumyeong."

The figure of Cheonyeong, turning his body and walking into the depths of the Jingagu, was like a gentle spring breeze.

Sweeeeeeek!

And every time his hand moved, the Great Despair Scales that had fallen to the ground blew fiercely like a late spring cold snap, piercing through everything that blocked his path.

(End of Chapter)