12dz Chapter 284 : The Man Who Did Not Understand Loss
Chapter 284 : The Man Who Did Not Understand Loss
Moyong Hyeon’s Northern Star Sword repeatedly split apart the moonlight.Sword Dragon.
That was his title.
No matter what, it meant he was considered one of the greatest swordsmen among the current generation alongside Sword Phoenix Namgung Rin.
Clangclangclangclang-!
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless blocked the sword with his short dagger while retreating a couple of steps.
Everyone watching shared the same thought.
‘Huh, this actually seems doable?’
The moment that thought arose, Seomun Ak also joined the battle.
Come to think of it, although Divine Slaughter, Shadowless possessed immense infamy, he was not actually included among the Twenty-Seven Heavenly Stars.
In other words, he too was merely a Peak-level Master.
Since Seomun Ak himself was also a Peak-level Master, he thought that with his participation, they could perhaps contend against Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
His two fists wrapped in Martial Fist Qi consecutively shot toward Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s neck and waist.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless narrowly evaded both fist and sword before speaking in a low voice.
“You have stepped inside.”
Just as Seomun Ak and Moyong Hyeon looked puzzled—
The atmosphere around Divine Slaughter, Shadowless abruptly changed.
It felt as though dozens of tiny blade fragments were tickling every inch of their bodies.
Only then did the two understand what he meant.
They had fully stepped into the domain of the greatest assassin of the current era.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless slowly curled his lips upward.
Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak suddenly realized that smile resembled Seo Yu-gyeom’s quite closely.
After brushing aside Seomun Ak’s fist with the back of his hand, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless suddenly thrust himself toward Moyong Hyeon.
Startled, Moyong Hyeon hurriedly swung the Northern Star Sword, yet Divine Slaughter, Shadowless had already entered inside the sword’s trajectory.
The dagger rushing toward Moyong Hyeon’s throat stopped just barely short of piercing through it.
Moyong Hyeon froze completely while holding his breath.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless spoke indifferently.
“One time.”
At that same instant, Seomun Ak’s Martial Fist Qi erupted from behind.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless effortlessly rotated his body and evaded it, then immediately used that momentum to stab toward Moyong Hyeon again.
This time, not the throat.
The heart.
“Two times.”
Moyong Hyeon swung his sword wildly like a man possessed.
However, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s hand wrapped around his wrist like a serpent.
An unfamiliar Grappling Technique unfolded, and all strength instantly drained from Moyong Hyeon’s sword arm.
Clang-!
The Northern Star Sword slipped from his grasp.
Naturally, the dagger swung again.
“Three times.”
Without even turning his head, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless bent his waist.
As a result, Seomun Ak’s hidden punch from behind struck directly into Moyong Hyeon’s face.
Moyong Hyeon collapsed backward.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless calmly climbed on top of him and repeatedly stabbed downward with the dagger.
“Four, five, six...”
His eyes, shoulder, and thigh were stabbed one after another.
This time, the blade clearly touched him, yet strangely enough, the sharp dagger did not actually pierce flesh.
Still, every time he felt the blade against his skin, Moyong Hyeon convulsed as though he had truly been stabbed.
After killing Moyong Hyeon six times within mere moments, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless suddenly leapt high into the air.
Seeing this, Seomun Ak secretly smiled in triumph.
Surely it would be difficult to evade or block his fists while airborne.
Just as Seomun Ak raised his head to follow Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s figure—
“......”
He was gone.
He had clearly seen him leap into the air, yet only moonlight remained above.
Tap.
The dagger touched his Adam’s apple.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless was already standing firmly on the ground with both feet planted.
Seomun Ak had no idea what had happened, but Divine Slaughter, Shadowless was not the type to kindly explain things.
“One time.”
Now it was Seomun Ak’s turn.
Having already witnessed what happened to Moyong Hyeon, Seomun Ak hurriedly tried to create distance.
The moment he took a step—
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless suddenly stomped the ground with exquisite timing.
The rhythm was so perfect that Seomun Ak staggered for an instant.
Thud-!
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless kicked one of Seomun Ak’s legs.
Seomun Ak’s world tilted instantly.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless looked down at him expressionlessly before climbing atop him.
Seomun Ak twisted and struggled, yet for some reason, the small-framed Divine Slaughter, Shadowless felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
The image of the dagger rising toward him overlapped with the moonlight behind it.
The word Grim Reaper naturally surfaced in his mind.
“Two, three...”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless repeatedly brought the dagger down.
Every time the blade touched his skin, goosebumps spread across Seomun Ak’s body.
Since his opponent was the Vice Leader of Deathshroud, the fear became even more overwhelming.
Seomun Ak hurriedly crawled across the ground trying to escape, but Divine Slaughter, Shadowless merely followed leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back while continuing to stab downward.
“Four, five, six...”
“AAAAAH! SAVE ME! IT’S A MURDEROUS DEMON!”
Seomun Ak screamed at the top of his lungs.
Even though he knew this was training, experiencing an assassin from Deathshroud chasing after him while repeatedly stabbing with a dagger naturally forced screams out of him.
It did not even take a quarter-hour for both Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak to be stabbed to death six times each.
Considering the martial prowess of the two and Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, it was an incomprehensible sight.
Once again, Seomun Ak realized that cultivation realm alone did not explain everything.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless looked down at the collapsed pair and spoke.
“You have each died six times. I will give you fifteen days. If you cannot reduce that to four or fewer, I will judge you unworthy of teaching. But if you succeed, you will undoubtedly become entirely different martial artists.”
After saying that, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless turned toward the other Orthodox Faction Later-generation Prodigies.
“Would you like to try as well?”
“Ah, no thanks.”
Tang So-yeon shook her head.
Apparently, the others also had no desire to receive guidance from Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
However, it was not simply because it looked difficult or frightening.
Though they tried to hide it, their gazes toward him still carried unmistakable contempt.
Seeing this, Seo Yu-gyeom’s expression turned cold.
At that moment, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless spoke.
“That is enough. It is only natural they look at me that way. Assassins are creatures no different from filth at the bottom of the world.”
His tone was calm, as though he were merely stating facts.
Yet Seo Yu-gyeom still seemed unable to suppress his displeasure and turned his head away.
Then—
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless suddenly raised a hand.
Everyone present possessed enough awareness as martial artists to instantly hold their breath and remain silent.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless closed his eyes tightly and focused as though trying to sense something.
How much time passed like that?
Suddenly opening his eyes, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless kicked off the ground and vanished from sight.
.
.
.
After swimming through the darkness for quite some time, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless landed within a remote clearing.
Soon after, five figures descended nearby following him.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless calmly examined their faces.
Their exposed arms, necks, and even faces were covered in tattoos.
“So, you are remnants of the Pirate Sect from the Weihai Peninsula of Shandong.”
At that, the man who appeared to be the eldest scratched his shaved head with rough hands before speaking.
“That’s an old name. It was exterminated after you killed our Sect Master. We now swear loyalty to the Mount Tai Society, rulers of the Shandong underworld.”
The Mount Tai Society ruled the underworld factions of Shandong.
After the Pirate Sect had been annihilated by Divine Slaughter, Shadowless, its surviving subordinates had naturally been absorbed into the Mount Tai Society.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless nodded.
“I see. Then why did you spend your lives stealing from others? Grudges inevitably call assassins in the end.”
“That pointless talk is enough.”
The man briefly looked around before bursting into rough laughter.
“So the rumors were true. You really have become weak. Is the bloodless and tearless Divine Slaughter, Shadowless truly worried about those little brats enough to lure us all the way out here?”
His words were only half true.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless had no intention of fighting those who came seeking revenge inside Seong-un Inn.
However, it was not because he worried about the children.
“Do you even know whose inn that belongs to?”
“Guest Dragon? You think we’d fear that brat?”
“I should have simply left you alone.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless clicked his tongue softly before drawing his dagger.
In other words, enough talking—prove it through action.
At that, the underworld martial artists also released their auras one after another.
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless realized their cultivation realms had improved considerably.
Well, over fifteen years had passed since he exterminated the Pirate Sect.
Back then, he had only killed the Sect Master and Vice Sect Master while sparing the lower-ranked members.
Given the passage of time, it was not strange that some of them had surpassed their former limits.
‘If things go poorly, I may need to sacrifice an arm.’
Even while thinking this, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless showed not the slightest emotional disturbance.
Once again, he truly was the man who had led the greatest assassination organization beneath the heavens.
Just as the underworld martial artists tightened their encirclement—
A man standing absentmindedly among them suddenly spoke in a casual tone.
“Why are you spying on someone else’s inn?”
It was Jin Seong-un.
The underworld martial artist standing beside him jumped in shock and swung a crude saber toward Jin Seong-un.
Jin Seong-un casually tilted his head this way and that to evade the saber.
At the same moment, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless kicked off the ground.
Stab-!
He pierced one man through the nape of the neck and dragged the blade downward.
While brutally killing the underworld martial artist, he simultaneously swung his opposite hand through the air.
Whoosh-!
A hidden weapon launched from his sleeve pierced directly through another man’s forehead.
Having killed two instantly, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless looked at the remaining three with gleaming eyes.
“T-That bastard first—!”
One man shouted before abruptly stopping.
Blood suddenly burst from his throat as he collapsed forward.
Behind him stood Seo Yu-gyeom.
Now only two remained.
They felt overwhelming fear and helplessness.
As Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s dry gaze settled upon them, the two immediately dropped to their knees without the slightest hesitation.
“P-Please spare us. We were only dragged here by our senior brothers insisting we should avenge our old comrades.”
“Y-Yes! We weren’t even part of the Mount Tai Society from the start! They only accepted the senior brothers back then and abandoned weaklings like us!”
Seo Yu-gyeom walked steadily toward the pair.
There was no reason to let them live.
If their words were lies, then killing them would simply be justified.
Even if they were telling the truth, it would only be slightly unfortunate.
As Seo Yu-gyeom raised the Heavenly Slaughter Dagger, the two tightly shut their eyes.
“Enough.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless stopped him.
Seo Yu-gyeom looked at his master with puzzled eyes.
“It would be better to kill them.”
“Let them go. Their revenge was justified.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless had exterminated the Pirate Sect upon accepting a contract.
The disciples of those killed seeking revenge was not something he could emotionally condemn.
He had already killed the two who attacked and the one who shouted for murder.
There was no need to also take the lives of those now begging for mercy.
Seo Yu-gyeom looked at him with frustration, but Divine Slaughter, Shadowless turned away firmly and said,
“Let us go.”
Seo Yu-gyeom glared hard at the trembling pair before ultimately following after Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
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.
.
After returning to the inn, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless immediately gathered his robes and prepared to leave.
Seeing this, Lee Seowon approached with a warm smile and spoke.
“Elder, the night is already deep. Why not rest comfortably here before leaving? We have plenty of empty rooms anyway.”
Divine Slaughter, Shadowless stared quietly at Lee Seowon.
Aside from lunatics like Seomun Ak, Moyong Hyeon, and Jin Seong-un, everyone else feared him.
Yet this frail Chief Steward showed none of that fear whatsoever.
Naturally so.
To Lee Seowon, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless’s past meant nothing.
The only important things were how quickly he could deliver items and how effectively he could recover unpaid debts with his terrifying aura.
As Lee Seowon smiled amiably, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless thought he was quite a strange fellow and replied,
“No need. You saw what happened tonight. Nothing good will come from me staying here too long. Pests like those will only continue gathering.”
“But...”
“Starting tomorrow, send the two trainees to where I am staying.”
After saying that, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless coldly departed.
Lee Seowon smacked his lips regretfully.
It was truly a waste to let such talent slip away.
After seeing Divine Slaughter, Shadowless off, Lee Seowon turned toward Seo Yu-gyeom and Jin Seong-un.
“Could he not simply wash his hands in a golden basin? Then he could stay comfortably at the inn without worrying about pests or anything else.”
“That’s impossible.”
Seo Yu-gyeom answered firmly.
Naturally, Seo Yu-gyeom also wanted to keep Divine Slaughter, Shadowless nearby.
Of course he had considered Golden Basin Handwashing before.
As Lee Seowon looked puzzled, Seo Yu-gyeom continued explaining.
“He’s an assassin. One who accumulated killing karma for decades. Normally, Golden Basin Handwashing is an event where a martial artist retires and settles all old grudges and debts... but how many people do you think hold grudges against Master? If all of them came, he would die.”
This was entirely different from an ordinary martial artist’s retirement ceremony.
Normally, a few individuals with deep grudges might appear for a duel or life-and-death battle to settle old enmities, while those who had once received favors would arrive with gifts to celebrate the retirement.
But an assassin on the level of Deathshroud’s Vice Leader was different.
An absurd number of terrifying masters would appear seeking his death.
Perhaps even someone among the Twenty-Seven Heavenly Stars might come.
No matter how extraordinary Divine Slaughter, Shadowless was, there was no possibility he could defeat such people in direct combat atop a duel stage.
Lee Seowon asked,
“Then must he live like this forever?”
A life where death might come searching at any moment.
A person unable to settle down anywhere permanently.
Seo Yu-gyeom answered with a sigh.
“He probably must. Avoid those who come carrying grudges, kill them if they meet him, run away... and even if he somehow survives, the pressure from the Murim Alliance will only intensify. After all, he’s still a public enemy of Murim.”
That was simply the fate of a retired assassin.
There was no one to blame.
It was the life he himself had chosen.
Since Seo Yu-gyeom had also once belonged to Deathshroud, he did not consider the grudges borne by assassins or the contempt of Orthodox Faction martial artists to be unfair.
At that moment, Seo Yu-gyeom noticed that Lee Seowon’s expression had grown extremely grim.
‘So that bastard really is human after all.’
He had thought Lee Seowon cared only about money, yet he now seemed deeply sympathetic toward the concerns of his friend and his friend’s master.
Of course, that was a misunderstanding.
‘This is troublesome. I already calculated all the profits we could obtain by employing him.’
Within Lee Seowon’s mind, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless had already become a worker of Seong-un Inn.
In other words, losing him had now entered the realm of “financial loss.”
Lee Seowon was a man who did not understand loss.
People seeking revenge?
That did not matter.
From what he had heard, Divine Slaughter, Shadowless mainly killed major figures of the Demonic and Unorthodox factions.
After all, anyone capable of carrying enough gold to move Deathshroud’s Vice Leader into action must have faced enemies beyond what justice or rules could handle.
If so, then it was not truly a problem.
No matter how many Demonic or Unorthodox martial artists came seeking revenge, this inn was stronger than nearly every Murim faction anyway.
The real problem was the Murim Alliance.
Recently, even the Alliance Leader himself had personally tried persuading the Innkeeper to drive away Divine Slaughter, Shadowless.
For now, the Murim Alliance still desired the Innkeeper, so they would continue attempting persuasion through words.
However, the moment they obtained proper justification, pressure regarding Divine Slaughter, Shadowless would intensify immediately.
‘First, we must deal with the Murim Alliance.’
As Lee Seowon seriously contemplated this, Seo Yu-gyeom felt strangely moved.
And amidst that growing misunderstanding, Lee Seowon suddenly spoke.
“Innkeeper.”
“Do you have a solution?”
Jin Seong-un asked with hopeful anticipation.
This Chief Steward was always a man who found solutions.
Lee Seowon replied as though the answer were obvious.
“First, let us remove Elder Divine Slaughter, Shadowless from the list of Murim public enemies. The easiest method is to accumulate enough merit to offset his sins. I intend to capture the Eightfold Blessed Robes. It will not be easy, however...”
Fortunately, Seong-un Inn currently had mercenaries staying there.
They possessed more than enough manpower to utilize.
Of course, the Orthodox Faction Later-generation Prodigies who despised assassins would not willingly assist.
But moving people according to one’s will—
That was Lee Seowon’s specialty.