Chapter 121

The assassin’s sword was short. The blade was about 50 cm long.

Compared to the average sword, which is nearly 90 cm, it was less than two-thirds the length. Thus, the assassin closed the distance to minimize the gap.

While it’s possible to overcome the reach disadvantage with sword energy or aura, that would be an inefficient choice.

The further the energy extends from the body, the weaker its cohesion becomes. That’s just the way it is.

To compensate, humans use tools like external weapons. Extending energy into empty space without such tools requires several times more focus and internal energy. It’s no wonder that weapons like bows or hidden blades, despite their long range, aren’t highly regarded in the martial world.

Therefore, the assassin’s judgment wasn’t wrong.

Even if there was a difference in skill, being overwhelmed and limiting oneself would leave no room for a gamble.

The assassin moved with bizarre steps, quickly closing in on Namgung Woo’s sword range. It was a footwork technique befitting an assassin who specializes in ambushes.

If it were a martial artist of similar skill, they might have been caught off guard by the sudden speed changes and the unique footwork that concealed presence in the darkness, leaving them with a wound or two.

But Namgung Woo’s eyes pierced through the darkness.

Unique footwork? He’s seen it before.

Dokgo Bin’s Above and Below Poison Step, which created strange reverse fields.

The Jegal Family’s Heavenly Mystery Step, which distorted spatial awareness with mystical properties.

Compared to those, this footwork, which merely hid presence slightly, couldn’t deceive Namgung Woo’s senses.

*Swish!*

Both the charge and the slash came from one side.

Amid the scattering droplets of blood, Namgung Woo sensed a familiar demonic energy.

‘As expected. These guys are definitely connected to Yi Ja-ryong.’

It was the main bloodline of the Extreme Blood Poison Art he had seen on Manse Mountain.

A forbidden technique used by the Blood Sect.

Yi Ja-ryong had used it to take Gwak Dan’s life. While Gwak Dan’s exact cause of death was the Netherworld Horn, it was the main bloodline that prevented him from unleashing his full power, leading to his demise.

“Truly… these despicable bastards.”

Namgung Woo didn’t know why or for what purpose they were doing this.

But sometimes, you can tell just by looking.

This wasn’t something created by consuming the lives of one or two people. Hundreds, thousands must have died to create such a body, all for the sake of killing someone.

Even if they had a righteous cause, the process could never be justified.

He was angry. Seeing more than others, he felt something deeper.

That disgust-tinged anger flowed through his words.

“Move. How long are you going to play dead? I know you won’t die from just a scratch like that.”

At Namgung Woo’s murderous words, the assassin rose. Perhaps preparing for a self-destruction.

Though no regret was felt, there was a subtle change in the energy flowing through the assassin’s body.

‘He must have mastered Reverse Blood Art.’

Reverse Blood Art, which reverses the energy flow to unleash explosive power in an instant. Namgung Woo hadn’t mastered it, but he knew it was a common technique, sacrificing the future to gather innate life force and latent energy for a single explosive moment.

Those who created the main bloodline wouldn’t have neglected to prepare Reverse Blood Art.

Realizing Namgung Woo wouldn’t fall for the trap, the assassin abruptly stood up. Not in a normal, gradual manner, but like a mannequin being propped up in a bizarre motion.

‘Next time, I’ll turn you into a puddle of blood.’

Before the assassin could pull any strange tricks, Namgung Woo would crush him in an instant.

Namgung Woo’s only concern was that the assassin might, in a final act of desperation, explode the main bloodline and contaminate the entire Yi Royal Residence.

Sheathing his Heavenly Rain Sword, Namgung Woo summoned Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy. The speed and precision were incomparable to Namgung Sol’s awkward transitions.

In an instant, the blue sword aura transformed into a platinum light.

And what he prepared was the third technique of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords, Ultimate Thunder Shaking the Universe.

The ultimate strike that erased Yi Ja-ryong from this world.

No matter how the assassin’s body was altered with strange techniques, it wouldn’t matter. Even Yi Ja-ryong couldn’t withstand it. No matter what strange spells were embedded in the assassin’s body, crushing it before activation would suffice.

*Crack!*

The assassin’s figure vanished again. Melting into the shadows, his presence was even more concealed than before.

Ju Si-yeol and Princess Jihyang, watching from a distance, were startled as they lost sight of the assassin. They heightened their vision, scanning their surroundings.

But Namgung Woo’s eyes remained fixed on one spot. With unwavering focus, he tracked the assassin’s approach, drawing a zigzag pattern.

*Whoosh!*

The sword hummed.

It was the roar of ascending thunder, rising from the ground to the sky.

Just before the platinum sword aura split the night sky with lightning, a whisper reached Namgung Woo.

[He’s here!]

*Boom!*

The stomp wasn’t to steady his body for a powerful strike.

Quite the opposite. It was a running start to propel himself further and faster.

With the sword aura still gathered, Namgung Woo dashed past the assassin. Like a platinum flash piercing through a world of darkness.

“Ah!”

Princess Jihyang screamed as Namgung Woo charged toward her.

Before her voice could even echo, Namgung Woo had already passed behind her.

And then, lightning bathed the world in platinum light.

A deafening roar, unimaginable as something a human could produce, shook the Yi Royal Residence.

The lightning that once covered Manse Mountain now illuminated Luoyang’s sky.

Even with protective energy and hands covering their ears, the three spectators staggered, their eardrums nearly bursting, as they looked toward the source of the sound.

The sheer magnitude of the strike had completely overturned the inner garden. The once-beautiful garden was now a wasteland.

And in the center of the ruins, standing beside a cracked ground revealing layers beneath, was a man.

He wasn’t unscathed. The sword in his right hand was shattered, and his left arm was completely gone. Whether it had vanished or fallen into the fissures below was unclear.

No blood flowed. Ultimate Thunder Shaking the Universe was a sword of extreme yang thunder. The heat within it seared the wounds as it cut.

Yet, the man could stand on his own two feet solely because Namgung Woo had held back.

There was nothing to gain from this assassin, who was more like a zombie than a human.

So, Namgung Woo decided to spare someone closer to the mastermind.

Namely, Seomun Pyo of the Heavenly Rain Sword.

Perhaps realizing he was alive because Namgung Woo had deliberately avoided vital points, only severing his arm, Seomun Pyo asked weakly, devoid of any will to fight.

“How… did you know?”

“Simple. It had to be you targeting the Yi Royal Family.”

If the assassin had killed the Yi Royal, it would only prove the Yi Royal Residence’s innocence.

A Martial Alliance elder and the Yi Royal killed by the same assassin? The Imperial Family and the Martial Alliance would unite even more to crush the Beonse Sect.

That wasn’t what they wanted. The chaos they sought would begin with the Martial Alliance elder killing the Yi Royal.

“You knew we were watching you, Seomun Pyo. So, you acted as if you were the bait. But the real mastermind was you. From start to finish, it had to be you.”

“Hah… What a pity. I should’ve acted more boldly, without considering you.”

“When I saw the assassin’s skill, I thought you might try to frame me. But your plan worked well.”

“One move… That woman, right?”

Seomun Pyo’s gaze shifted to Myorin.

She was struggling to hold off the assassin left behind by Namgung Woo, looking precarious yet somehow managing.

It was likely because Myorin used both martial arts and spells.

But the assassin was also heavily armed with forbidden techniques like the main bloodline.

Myorin, clearly struggling, screamed.

“Great Master! Stop dawdling and help me!! Ahh! Help!!”

The pitch of her voice was unusual. Normally, one might think she was genuinely desperate for survival, but knowing Myorin also practiced sound-based techniques, Namgung Woo remained calm.

“Perfect for improving your skills. And you’ll need to atone for your sins, won’t you?”

“Seriously! Just you wait…!!”

Leaving Myorin to her struggle, Namgung Woo approached Seomun Pyo.

With one arm lost to Ultimate Thunder Shaking the Universe and his nerves paralyzed by the thunder energy, Seomun Pyo couldn’t react.

Both his body and internal energy were immobilized. Confident in his complete suppression, Namgung Woo was at ease.

“We’ll talk details later. I hear the Martial Alliance Leader can read minds. Let’s see how long you last.”

“Hahaha! Do you think that’ll work? Go ahead and hope. You’ll gain nothing.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Keh… So this is how Yi Ja-ryong felt. Not very pleasant. To have things ruined by a muddled fool like this.”

“…Yi Ja-ryong. So, you were with him after all.”

“Who knows? Think hard.”

With those words, the light in Seomun Pyo’s eyes faded.

And for the first time, a look of bewilderment crossed Namgung Woo’s face.

“Again…?”