Chapter 290: In Conflict (5)

Chapter 290: In Conflict (5)

Bang Jin-Hun swallowed dryly.

'A different side again...'

He was under the impression that he had already seen Kang Jin-Ho's true face back then. However, this Kang Jin-Ho was different from that version. The best description Bang Jin-Hun could come up with was that this Kang Jin-Ho was an unsheathed sword with its ultra-sharp edge gleaming under the moonlight.

'Is this Kang Jin-Ho getting ready for a battle?'

Bang Jin-Hun felt rather relieved by this sight. If Kang Jin-Ho had joined hands with Lee Jung-Geol and targeted Bang Jin-Hun instead...

If that had happened, then Kang Jin-Ho would have been standing on the opposite side as an enemy and glaring at Bang Jin-Hun. After imagining how he would have fallen without offering a single proper resistance to the merciless assault, Bang Jin-Hun couldn't help but be grateful that this returner decided to reach out to him first.

'Now isn't the time to worry about my position, though.'

Indeed, his priority was his survival.

Bang Jin-Hun sobered up instantly when Kang Jin-Ho frowned a little. “Yes, we've finished our preparation.”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at the surroundings. “This is your idea of a preparation?”

“I've only gathered a small number of elites. These are the strongest who would not get detected during...”

“These trash are your elites?”

“...!” Bang Jin-Hun's mouth clamped shut like a clam.

While making an unreadable face, Kang Jin-Ho stared at Bang Jin-Hun. "I can already picture what kind of place the Martial Assembly is after taking one look at this lot."

That was clearly an insult. A degrading insult that no self-respecting martial artist could sit by and ignore! However, no one here dared to raise their voice and rebuke Kang Jin-Ho, and that was because they could feel it.

They could feel that this young man standing before their eyes was as sharp as a razor blade and that carelessly opening their pieholes now could get their heads chopped off instantly. The intense pressure had turned them all into mutes.

“...Mister Kang, they are elites in their own right.”

"I see." Kang Jin-Ho disinterestedly turned away, choosing not to grill Bang Jin-Hun over this matter anymore. It was a pointless endeavor, after all.

In truth, Kang Jin-Ho had been expecting something similar to this. Besides, even if Bang Jin-Hun showed up with a group of stronger individuals, it wouldn’t have changed the situation much.

“Your plan?” Kang Jin-Ho asked.

Bang Jin-Hun felt a streak of cold sweat trickling down his back at that concise question. "Our current position is at the rear of the Assembly's HQ. If we head straight in that direction, the Assembly HQ's rear wall will be visible. By scaling that, we can directly enter the Assembly Master's private residence."

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “Simple enough. That's good.”

Bang Jin-Hun expressed his concern. “However, the Assembly Master should be aware that we are targeting him. The security is definitely heavier than usual, so it'll be impossible to approach his private residence without being detected.”

What Kang Jin-Ho said next was completely out of Bang Jin-Hun's expectations. "If that's the case, there’s no need to hide, then."

“...I'm sorry?”

Shwiiing...!

A familiar sound rang. It was the unmistakable metallic sound of a blade leaving its scabbard. A noise that martial artists would get to hear innumerable times throughout their lives, but to Bang Jin-Hun's ears right now... What should be a familiar noise sounded bizarrely sinister and spine-chilling.

Shwiiing...!

And then, there was another one. Kang Jin-Ho unsheathed both swords tied to his hips, then turned toward the direction Bang Jin-Hun had pointed out. “Remember this one thing.”

“...?”

“Don’t come close to me. Otherwise, you will die.”

Bang Jin-Hun stared at Kang Jin-Ho in tense silence. As for Kang Jin-Ho, he started licking his lips as impatience filled up his expression. He slowly, oh-so-slowly, began walking forward.

While observing that, Bang Jin-Hun was enervated as the feeling of hollowness washed over him.

Feeling irritated, Min Dae-Seong shoved his phone into his pocket and leaned against the wall again.

He wasn't the only person displeased by the Assembly Master's recent behavior. As a matter of fact, there were lots of them. It was just that most of them chose to keep their mouths shut since openly rebelling was out of the question. However, the number of folks supporting the Assembly Master but secretly rooting for Bang Jin-Hun should be pretty high.

The unfortunate thing about that situation was that those people couldn't just change their alliances since their sects and clans were also intimately tangled up in complicated relationships. Generally speaking, the younger generation tended to support Bang Jin-Hun, while the older generation usually sided with the Assembly Master.

“Who cares about that, though?”

Indeed, why should Min Dae-Seong care about who would win? Whether it was the Assembly Master or Bang Jin-Hun, it was still a conflict between the head honchos at the end of the day. Min Dae-Seong's job was just to sit by and watch who would win, then obediently enjoy the fruits of their labor.

So, he didn't really care whether or not the higher-ups wanted to rip each other apart.

“Geez, I wish I can clock off already...”

The sunrise was still some time away. Min Dae-Seong started wondering about what he should do to keep himself awake until then, only for his brows to rise slightly.

'...Mm? What was that?'

He thought he saw a faint... something in the distance. Initially, he thought he made a mistake, but that faint, blurry something was gradually getting closer.

'...Could that be a ghost?'

Obviously, Min Dae-Seong knew that wasn’t possible. However, he couldn't help but think that way. This was in the middle of a mountainside, after all. And he happened to be guarding a spot far, far removed from the nearest road, too.

In other words, no ordinary person would even think about coming to this particular spot on the mountain.

In that case, could it be an enemy? That didn't seem likely, though. The enemy forces wouldn't be that low in number while approaching the Assembly Master's residence. Dealing with Min Dae-Seong wasn't the end of the story, after all!

The blurry shape got close enough to become more distinct in Min Dae-Seong's view. It was a... person. Definitely a person, but...

This person—a young man—wore black clothing and was holding two slick, lengthy things in his hands. His gait was leisurely and relaxed while closing the distance, which momentarily confused Min Dae-Seong about what he should do to face this situation.

If only that man were rushing toward here...! Min Dae-Seong would have shouted and tried to stop that man. But now, such a slow stride made it hard for him to perceive the stranger as an enemy.

'Mm? Isn't that...?'

Although Min Dae-Seong couldn't exactly see the approaching unknown person's facial features, he did recognize the two lengthy items held in the latter's hands.

'Aren't they swords?'

Min Dae-Seong frowned, then narrowed his eyes to focus his sight on the objects. Those blades gleamed white... and red?

'...Blood?!'

Min Dae-Seong finally realized that the droplets falling off the edges of the lengthy objects—swords—in the stranger's hands were blood, and he hurriedly cried out. “Ene...”

But before Min Dae-Seong could cry out for reinforcement, the stranger suddenly appeared literally right in front of him! It was as if he had shrunk to the ground and teleported!

Min Dae-Seong's eyes shot wide open in shock. How could anyone close the distance in one breath unless they were some kind of a specter?! He suffered a shock so great and sudden that his heart nearly leaped out of his throat just then!

At the same time...

Slice.

A familiar yet strange noise registered in Min Dae-Seong's ears. Familiar, as it was the noise of a keen blade slicing past malleable flesh. What was strange about it was the location it came from. Then again, no one on this planet would be familiar with the noise of a blade slicing past their own throat!

Slice, slice!

A few more... 'indifferent' noises later, Min Dae-Seong sensed extreme pain shooting up from all four of his limbs. He tried to scream again, this time not for help but from the intense pain, but his throat could only produce the faint noise of leaking air. His voice wouldn’t come out.

Only the gasping whimper and the noise of leaking air quietly spread in the still forest. Min Dae-Seong's limbs weren’t moving, either. It seemed his tendons were severed just now.

Beyond terrified, Min Dae-Seong inadvertently pissed his pants. However, he wasn't even aware of what he had done. Both terror and pain had already robbed him of his senses.

The monstrous stranger beneath the cold moonlight quietly stared at the whimpering Min Dae-Seong. The corners of the frightening man gradually curled upwards. “Consider yourself lucky.”

Because Min Dae-Seong would get to live unlike the ones in the residence... After all, those people wouldn't be lucky enough to greet a quick and easy death!

Kang Jin-Ho easily jumped over the wall as the moonlight continued to coldly illuminate his movements. There was still a long and cold night up ahead.