Chapter 92: Instinct

Chapter 92: Instinct

“Argh!”

“Run, everyone, run!”

No one saw the chaos coming. Blood flew from every direction, mixing with the sharp, piercing screams. Terrified spectators shoved, tripped, and trampled each other, desperate to escape.

“Calm down!”

“Don’t move recklessly!”

Instructors and martial artists scrambled to restore order, but assassins shouted from every corner, stirring confusion and feeding the chaos.

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“Poison! Someone released poison!”

“There are explosives in the stands!”

In the midst of the turmoil, the Black Forest’s Third Captain telepathically barked orders to his subordinates.

[First unit, continue to incite and confuse.]

[Yes, sir!]

[Second unit, block the obstructors.]

[Yes, sir!]

[Third unit, eliminate the target.]

[Yes, sir!]

Having issued commands, the Third Captain slipped away, blending into the crowd.

The ones attacking us... it wasn’t Bloodletter.

At first, he thought Bloodletter was the attacker, but the more he thought about it, the more he had doubts. Eventually, he discovered that Bloodletter was also a target, hunted by unknown entities.

Could it be Deathshroud?

He entertained the thought for a moment but cast it aside swiftly. The proud Deathshroud wouldn’t stoop to such underhanded tactics. Had Deathshroud been behind this, either all of Black Forest’s assassins would be dead, or Deathshroud’s would be.

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Only one other possibility remained.

This is the work of Shadow and her allies.

This revelation had come at a high cost. The ranks of Black Forest assassins were now halved, and the target had sailed through the exam unharmed.

Under normal circumstances, he would have retreated, but not this time. Failure to capture the target was not an option; the Black Forest’s leader would not forgive him. Besides, the stakes of this mission were too high to simply walk away.

I must kill the target, even if it means sending all the assassins I brought to their deaths.

Thus, he hatched a bold plan, knowing that as long as Gongson Su died, the imperial authorities would overlook any casualties incurred here.

“Ahhh! Save me!!” he screamed, his face ashen as he maneuvered through the crowd towards Gongson Su, his eyes colder than ever.

I’ll finish this myself.

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“Protect the Elder!” Baek Suryong’s shout carried from afar.

However, even before his cry could reach him, Hyonwon Kang was already springing into action. Planting himself in front of Gongson Su, he yelled, “Gramps! Stay behind me!”

“What’s happening...?”

“Elder,” Shadow whispered, materializing beside Gongson Su. She chose to reveal herself, seeing it as a better strategy than remaining hidden.

Witnessing their worried faces, Gongson Su quickly caught on. “...They’re after me, aren’t they?”

“There’s no need to worry.”

“You knew already?”

“......”

“No, your instincts are sharper. Like an animal’s.”

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“Is that really a plus?”

Trusting his gut, Hyonwon Kang suddenly yanked Gongson Su aside, just as a spear whizzed past where they had been moments before.

“Tsk.” A man appeared behind him like a specter, clicking his tongue in disapproval.

How long has he been there? Hyonwon Kang wondered, his skin prickling with cold sweat.

“Grandpa!”

“Elder!”

Wiji Cheon and Shadow dashed towards them, but assassins threw themselves in their path.

“Get out of the way!”

“Protect the Elder!”

Surrounded by assassins, they were trapped. Seizing the moment, the Third Captain charged at Gongson Su.

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“Gramps! Stay behind me!” Hyonwon Kang shouted, stepping in front of Gongson Su and gripping his blade tightly, even as his survival instincts screamed at the danger.

“Senior!” Gongson Su cried out.

He’s a master far beyond me. Hyonwon Kang clenched his teeth. His foe was not just any assassin but a martial artist of far superior skill, his plain-looking sword gleaming with lethal intent. “Damn it...” he cursed.

The man advanced silently, swinging his sword wordlessly, like a grim reaper.

This is it... I’m going to die. Hyonwon Kang had never felt death so close. It was an eerie feeling. His pupils dilated, and his breathing slowed to a near stop.

Time seemed to drag on forever.

As death loomed, Hyonwon Kang’s instincts, once praised by Baek Suryong, surged through every cell of his body.

CLANG!

Hyonwon Kang’s sword met the Third Captain’s, and blood spurted from Hyonwon Kang’s chest as he crumpled to the ground.

“Kang! Damn you, you bastard!” Gongson Su howled, fury driving him as he charged at the Third Captain with his sword raised.

“......” The Third Captain grimaced and pressed his hand against the bleeding cut on his arm. In the final clash, the boy’s desperate move had left a deep wound on it.

He dodged my killing blow and injured me in the process, he thought, looking at Hyonwon Kang who lay twitching on the ground, severely wounded but alive. Frustrated by his failure, the Third Captain wanted to finish him off, but Gongson Su was the more pressing target now.

Shadow and Wiji Cheon were still entangled with other assassins, and the instructors scrambled to control the chaos. The brief respite Hyonwon Kang had bought seemed fleeting.

“We’ve won.” The Third Captain smirked, swinging his sword towards Gongson Su’s neck.

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Just then, Hyonwon Kang’s sacrifice paid off.

“Stop.”

“...!!” The Third Captain intended to ignore the command, but his sword halted just shy of Gongson Su’s neck, as if grabbed by an unseen force.

A tremendous energy pressure then crushed his body.

“Ugh, ugh...!” he groaned, feeling as if his entire body was being squeezed.

“I said, stop.”

“Argh!” Finally, the Third Captain spat blood and dropped to his knees. Nearby assassins also collapsed, bleeding profusely. None were spared.

“What the...”

“Why suddenly...”

Wiji Cheon and Shadow, still battling, glanced at the fallen figures in shock, then looked up sharply.

Namgoong Jaehak hovered in the sky, the sun blazing behind him, commanding the scene below. “I believe there is much I need to hear from you,” he said to the Third Captain, before shifting his gaze to Baek Suryong, who had just caught up.

“...And from you too,” he added.