Chapter 509
Chapter 509
Chapter 509. Successor (3)
Namgung Yi-in lifted his sword.
It was a sword whose reflected gleam had been killed by ash rubbed onto the blade.
In the building visible far in the distance was today’s target for murder.
He took a deep breath and steadied his nerves.
“Today is a day no different from usual. A day to enjoy a hobby no different from usual.” (Namgung Yi-in)
He repeated that to himself inwardly and calmed his mind.
But his trembling simply would not stop.
As if it were the day he had first begun his hobby as a hired killer.
He was only a branch family member among branch family members.
Even so, thanks to bearing the surname Namgung, he had enjoyed many benefits.
Fairly decent skill and relationships.
It was a moderately satisfying life.
But there was one emotion that had been eating away at his heart, and that was boredom.
As that boredom grew larger and larger, the vitality disappeared from his eyes.
Then, one day.
He came to face the black path members who had attacked the Clan Head of the Namgung Clan.
In the midst of that, as he watched those dying by his sword, he felt an unknown ecstasy.
He was a member of the Hwibyeok Unit, the guards who protected the Clan Head’s family.
To be honest, though he lived by the blade, he did not have as many chances to kill people directly as one might think.
Because there were not many moths foolish enough to dare rush at the Namgung Clan’s family.
He could not forget the ecstasy he had tasted, but he was in no position to freely kill anyone he pleased.
Because there was no way the Namgung Clan would tolerate an act that stained the Namgung Clan’s name.
In the end, he thought of one method.
That was a double life.
From then on began his life as the hired killer “Assassin.”
Thanks to that, his boredom vanished, and vitality began to return to his eyes.
At times, he did wonder whether it was truly all right to do this, but he was already addicted to that ecstasy and could not stop.
But one day.
By chance, he saw his face reflected in the water he had drawn into a washbasin to wash his face.
The eyes of a madman starved for blood.
Only then did he flinch and stop his activities as Assassin.
However, for him, already addicted to that ecstasy, it had long since become impossible to give up his nighttime hobby.
In the end, he had no choice but to resume his activities as Assassin. And he justified himself.
“The others of the Namgung Clan act fair and righteous on the outside too, while behind the scenes they commit all sorts of corruption.” (Namgung Yi-in)
“So what if I do a little of the same? People can’t live cleanly all the time to begin with.” (Namgung Yi-in)
In that sort of way.
Thus, it became his hobby.
A hobby that could even earn him some pocket money on the side.
Some time passed, and recently someone commissioned him for a murder.
“There is someone I would like you to kill.” (Client)
“As you know, the fee is one nyang of gold.” (Namgung Yi-in)
One nyang of gold was an enormous sum, enough to buy a thatched house.
“Here it is.” (Client)
The client showed him one nyang of gold.
“However, I will give this to you after this matter is finished.” (Client)
“That is no problem. So who am I to kill?” (Namgung Yi-in)
“Na Jeong-su. A man who is supposed to participate in the poetry and prose contest being held in Beijing this time.” (Client)
The client explained the detailed description of his appearance to him.
“And I have an additional request regarding the method of killing him.” (Client)
“In that case, there will be an additional fee……” (Namgung Yi-in)
Jingle.
“I will give you the additional fee in advance now. You may think of it as a down payment.” (Client)
It was a fairly difficult commission, but he completed it successfully.
However, a problem arose.
Namgung Yang, who had been guarding under the Clan Head’s orders, was framed as the culprit.
It had happened because of someone’s testimony about Namgung Yang, who had somehow left the estate and was walking through the marketplace.
“What on earth happened?” (Namgung Yi-in)
He soon realized what mistake he had made.
When he killed Na Jeong-su, without realizing it, he had left behind the characteristics of the Namgung Clan’s martial arts.
Even so, somehow Namgung Yang’s innocence was proven, and it seemed the matter would be resolved well.
Because Namgung Yang had failed the preliminaries of the poetry and prose contest, and was set to return to Anhui Province tomorrow.
Then there would be no way to catch him.
But today, a man named Eun Seo-ho suddenly made a meaningful remark to an elder of the Namgung Clan.
“Actually, I think we may be able to discover the identity of the culprit who killed the victim this time.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At those words, he thought surely not.
And when he heard that evidence had been dropped, he grew anxious. Because he had no idea what exactly he had dropped.
Then came a sound transmission.
“So, if you don’t want to be exposed as the culprit, bring a suitable amount.” (Eun Seo-ho)
At that, he realized.
That the other man had already figured out he was the culprit.
And Eun Seo-ho demanded ten nyang of gold as the price for keeping his mouth shut.
He was dumbfounded at a situation where a man widely praised as the Immortal Hero with a Beautiful Smile was openly demanding a bribe.
“This son of a ×! He’s all flash on the outside too!” (Namgung Yi-in)
In any case, he had to prevent it from becoming known that he was the culprit.
Because having his qi center crippled and being expelled from the Namgung Clan would be a given, and in the worst case, he might even be executed.
Either way, he refused.
He usually received one nyang of gold as a fee for a murder commission, but he had long since spent that money on entertainment.
Of course, if he tried to gather ten nyang of gold, it was not as if he could not do it…… but the problem was what came after.
Would ten nyang of gold truly seal his mouth completely?
In the end, there was only one way to seal that mouth forever.
Murdering to silence.
However, the fact that the opponent was a peak expert made him hesitate.
Then an opportunity came to him.
“I think I will stay here today. Is there an annex?” (Eun Seo-ho)
That was an opportunity.
On top of that, he even dismissed his escorts!
He could not miss this chance. And so, using the excuse that he was feeling unwell, he came outside.
Then he came to the annex of Chunmong Pavilion, where Eun Seo-ho was staying.
“Phew…….” (Namgung Yi-in)
Namgung Yi-in looked at his sword and calmly settled his mind.
Soon a chilling light flashed in his eyes, and the trembling in his hands also stopped.
He hid his presence and approached the annex.
No guards could be seen around the annex, and only one sound could be heard.
“Snore. Koo…… mnya…….”
At that sound, Namgung Yi-in quietly smiled.
The sleeping drug sprinkled on the food sent to Eun Seo-ho’s annex had taken effect properly.
A sleeping drug so powerful that even a peak martial artist could not endure it.
He took out a mask and covered his face.
Then he swiftly hurled himself toward the annex.
Rattle.
The moment he opened the door and entered the annex room.
“……!”
At the chill he felt in that instant, he instinctively swung his sword.
Clang!
There was the sound of something colliding with metal, and immediately he sensed something aiming for him.
But before he could even react, he felt pain in his shoulder.
Thud!
“Aaagh!” (Namgung Yi-in)
And then a voice was heard.
“Palgap, light the lamp.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Understood, sir.” (Palgap)
Soon the candle was lit, and only then could Namgung Yi-in see inside the annex.
A drinking table with no sign of being touched.
And at the sight of Eun Seo-ho, whose clothes were not disturbed in the slightest, he realized the situation.
“It was a trap!” (Namgung Yi-in)
If so, what would happen afterward was obvious.
He took a dagger from his chest and stabbed it toward his own neck.
Tak!
But Eun Seo-ho kicked his hand with his foot, and at the same time thrust his fist toward his stomach.
Thwack!
“Keurgh!” (Namgung Yi-in)
---
Hah, where do you think you’re running off to!
The culprit who had just come after me had tried to stab his own neck and take his own life.
Since he was not confident he could handle what would follow, he had tried to run away to the afterlife.
If he was not confident he could handle it, why did he do something like that…….
I clicked my tongue and removed the mask from the man who had fainted.
As expected, it was the very man I had sent the sound transmission to.
In truth, the aura of the black path is not all the same. It differs slightly from person to person.
That was how I had realized this man was the culprit.
But the aura of the black path felt even stronger than before. Even though he had clearly learned the martial arts of the Namgung Clan.
Why was that?
After thinking about it briefly, the answer soon came to me.
The aura of the black path does not refer to some specially fixed sensation, but rather to an unrighteous aura.
To be unrighteous means to be out of step with the natural order of the world.
After learning the Great Yin Ice Sea Divine Art and reaching even the transcendent realm, I came to realize that, in truth, the natural order was not something so grand.
To cherish life.
That is the beginning and end of following the natural order.
But because those of the black path do not cherish life, naturally they come to act in ways that go against the natural order of the world.
Their own inner arts know that best, and in the end, their nature changes.
Of course, as long as one is a martial artist, it does not mean that a righteous sect member never kills anyone.
Because if they are attacked by the black path, such as assassins or the Green Forest Bandits, they have no choice but to kill them.
But the aura of the black path is not felt from them.
Perhaps it is because they fulfill a role of their own.
To tend crops, there also needs to be a role for catching insects, and their role is precisely that.
If there is, in their hearts, the will to protect other lives even if they must cut those people down, they do not become the black path.
That is what chivalry is.
I looked at the culprit collapsed beneath my feet.
The reason the aura of the black path feels thick from this man means that he has long been committing acts that go against the natural order.
So it is being proven that no matter how much righteous sect martial arts one has learned, if one does not practice chivalry and acts like the black path, that aura becomes no different from the black path.
And the reason the aura of the black path feels stronger now than before is probably because he harbored the intent to harm me.
I looked him over once more with cold eyes and said,
“Wake him up.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yes.” (Seo-woo Martial Artist)
At that moment, Martial Artist Seo-woo, who had come as a guard, asked,
“Before that, it would be best to tie his hands and feet. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if he tries to take his own life again?” (Seo-woo Martial Artist)
“That is a good idea. But if we do that, it will be troublesome, so…….” (Eun Seo-ho)
I grinned.
“Let’s just break his wrists.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Understood.” (Seo-woo Martial Artist)
“And please check whether he has any poison pills as well.” (Eun Seo-ho)
Crack!
Martial Artist Seo-woo crushed the man’s two wrists without hesitation, and checked whether there was a poison pill for ending his own life inside his mouth.
“Wake him.” (Eun Seo-ho)
Slap!
When Martial Artist Chang-woon struck his cheek several times, he came to his senses.
“Huk!” (Namgung Yi-in)
Startled, he put his hand on the floor to raise himself, and screamed.
“Urgh!” (Namgung Yi-in)
Of course it hurts when your wrists are broken.
To him, collapsed back onto the floor, I smiled brightly and said,
“There is something I’m curious about, so please cooperate a little.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Gulp!” (Namgung Yi-in)
His Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.
He must have felt it too.
That right now, this situation was by no means a joke.
.
.
.
A little while later.
I lightly kicked the battered Namgung Yi-in with my foot.
“Hey.” (Eun Seo-ho)
But seeing as there was no answer, he had fainted again in the meantime.
Through the interrogation just now, I had learned his identity and several pieces of information.
To be honest, I also wanted to ask about the Namgung Clan, but I did not.
I had to interrogate him about the murder commission, and if I asked about such things, he would certainly find it suspicious.
Unless that was the case, this man might tell Elder Namgung Geonji about what I had asked.
It would not matter if I killed Namgung Yi-in here, but…….
I interrogated him, but he said he did not know well the person who had commissioned the murder from him.
“The voice! If I see the voice and the hands, I think I might be able to recognize him.” (Namgung Yi-in)
In other words, to find the person who commissioned the murder from him, I had to keep this man alive.
“Sigh.” (Eun Seo-ho)
I let out a sigh and sat in a chair. Then I said to Palgap,
“Palgap, you have that, right?” (Eun Seo-ho)
“What do you mean, sir?” (Palgap)
“Geumryeo…… no, pure water. The one I gave you.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yes. I have it here, sir.” (Palgap)
“Treat this man with that.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“Yees?” (Palgap)
Palgap spoke with an expression that said it made no sense.
“Why should we treat this man, sir? He is a shameless man who has killed so many people, sir.” (Palgap)
Because Palgap had heard it too through the interrogation just now.
Just how many people this man had killed.
Because he possessed fairly respectable skill, and because he had not revealed the Namgung Clan’s martial arts, he had not been caught until now.
But this time, his opponent had simply been bad.
I said to Palgap,
“I don’t want to either, honestly, but we did handle him a little too harshly.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“…….” (Palgap)
Since Namgung Yi-in did not answer as readily as I expected, I had indeed used my hands a little excessively because I had no choice.
There were even several places where living flesh had been gouged so deeply that bone showed.
He had fainted and woken up several times.
He was a man with more backbone than expected.
Hoo, is the Namgung Clan still the Namgung Clan after all?
But Martial Artist Chang-woon’s expression was strange.
“What is it?” (Eun Seo-ho)
At my question, Martial Artist Chang-woon scratched his cheek and answered,
“Well…… it is because this makes us feel like villains.” (Chang-woon Martial Artist)
I chuckled.
“Good and evil are originally relative. What matters, however, is not going beyond the proper degree.” (Eun Seo-ho)
“I…… see.” (Chang-woon Martial Artist)
I said to Palgap,
“Hurry and treat him. If the Namgung Clan sees that, they’ll foam at the mouth and make a fuss.” (Eun Seo-ho)
It was not simply a situation where we had interrogated a martial artist of the Namgung Clan, but tortured him.
They cherished those who bore the surname Namgung, no matter how much they were from a branch family.
If they saw that, they would throw a fit.
And the reason I had tortured him that severely was because I had something to rely on called Geumryeong’s saliva.
Though it was rather old, its effect remained the same.
And I also did not want to use fresh Geumryeong’s saliva on that man.
In any case, even if that man tried to tattle about what happened today, without any evidence it would only become a false accusation.
Moreover, right now, Elder Namgung Geonji, the highest-ranking person from the Namgung Clan here, was showing goodwill toward me.
If things went wrong, his own conduct might be exposed instead, and he would receive a terrifying punishment.
So if he had even a little brain, he could not speak of what happened today.
Hah, this makes me feel like I have really become a villain.
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
Geumryeong, why are you agreeing?