Chapter 13 – Brush with Death(13)
At first, I thought it wasn’t a difficult mission.
At least, that was until the moment I received my orders and led my men to raid the inn. I assumed they had sensed something was amiss and fled, so I ordered my men to search for any traces to track them down.
However, it didn’t take long to realize that my assumption was completely mistaken.
He had never been hiding or running away—he had been here from the beginning.
The old man hadn’t even bothered to conceal himself. He boldly revealed his presence. Yet, until that moment, none of us had even realized that he had already infiltrated the center of our formation.
I didn’t even notice him approaching…?
Although my martial arts skills weren’t quite sufficient to be considered fully first-class, I was at least far beyond second-class and could exchange blows with first-class martial artists.
That was why I immediately recognized that the old man was no ordinary person. Though his outward appearance was that of a shabby, frail country elder, one should never be deceived by looks alone.
In the martial arts world, judging by appearances is as foolish as trying to determine the presence of poison just by sight. Just as there are poisons that are colourless and odourless, there are also masters who have perfected the art of concealment.
Especially someone who could deceive my senses, which were nearly at the first-class level—such a feat would be difficult even for an actual first-class martial artist.
That means… could the opponent be a master at the peak…?
“What nonsense is this miserable old man spouting?!”
This fool!!
I had warned him—I had earnestly told him not to act rashly!
The commander let out a deep sigh as his subordinate’s foolishness led to his death.
Murong Hoseong was arrogant and violent, earning him a poor reputation even among his peers and subordinates.
But even they had to acknowledge his skill.
Among the second-class martial artists in the Murong family, no one could face Hoseong head-on.
He was even considered talented enough to receive the Elder’s evaluation that, if he carried himself well, he could enter the realm of first-class by the age of thirty. Ironically, that very confidence had hastened his death.
And the fact that even someone like him had been beheaded without resistance made it painfully clear why the others—whose skills were inferior to Murong Hoseong’s—were frozen in fear.
“It would be better to answer properly this time.”
“…..”
Though the words flowed gently like a river, the warning within them struck like thunder. In the end, the commander had only one choice.
Thanks to this, Mu-myung was able to obtain unexpectedly useful information.
Currently, nearly 60 percent of the Murong family’s martial artists were away.
Among them was Murong Jin, the absolute master and elder of the Murong family.
Upon hearing this, Mu-myung inwardly felt relieved.
An absolute master would be at least a master of the Peak level…
That’s somewhat fortunate. Masters at the Peak level were extremely rare in the martial arts novels I’ve read—unless it was in the latter parts.
Even more valuable, Mu-myung learned that the current elders of the Murong family and most martial artists harbored deep discontent with the family head’s policies.
This was striking gold.
“Then do you also know where the young master is being detained?”
“I don’t know exactly where, but…”
“But?”
“I have seen the family head going somewhere alone at dawn several times.”
Though he had only noticed it a few times while patrolling at dawn, it coincidentally started the day after the young master was detained.
This was far too remarkable to be dismissed as coincidence.
“Thank you for your cooperation. Please take care of yourself.”
Mu-myung expressed his gratitude to the commander with a cupped-hand salute, then quickly left.
Once the area became quiet—like a place where a storm had passed—one of the subordinates spoke hesitantly.
“C-Commander… Is it really okay to tell him everything?”
“We can’t defeat that person anyway. And you all already know, don’t you?”
“Know what…?”
“That the current family head is… twisted.”
“…..”
“If we can’t help correct what’s wrong, we should at least not interfere.”
He already knew—the path the family head was walking was not right.
Too much blood had been spilled under the pretext of preserving tradition and history.
Yet, despite knowing this, he had turned a blind eye.
He had closed his eyes and shut his mouth in the face of injustice.
And now, karma had returned as a sharp blade.
The commander let out a deep sigh and gently closed Murong Hoseong’s lifeless eyes.
“How could I blame you?”
“This happened because I, your commander, lacked virtue.”
May you rest in peace.
◇
Fortunately, I obtained good information.
Although Mu-myung had never been here before and was unfamiliar with the geography, Sua immediately recognized the location after hearing the story.
She definitely knew the interior of the Murong family residence.
Thanks to this, Mu-myung was able to find the place the commander had mentioned without wasting time.
It was a forest connected to the back door of the residence.
As they walked along the path, without stopping—
Suddenly, a huge lake appeared before them.
A small rocky island sat in the center of the lake, with an old bridge leading to it.
Mu-myung nodded.
“So this place is indeed the answer.”
“My brother is there…!!”
There was no longer any doubt.
However, instead of crossing the bridge immediately, Mu-myung instinctively raised his hand, catching something that had approached his temple with ghost-like swiftness.
A sudden loud noise startled Sua.
She turned her head instinctively and was shocked by what she saw in Mu-myung’s hand.
It was an arrow.
“A-An arrow?! Where did that suddenly come from?!”
“I see, so you were waiting here from the beginning.”
“…That’s right, great warrior.”
Bright red hair that glowed like blood under the moonlight—ominous and unforgettable.
Sua cried out in despair.
“Murong Heesu Sajeo!!!”
“I’m listening, Sua.”
“Why did you betray me?! Why did you betray my brother?! I trusted you!!”
“…I was just following orders.”
The order to stay by your side and watch you.
That emotionless sentence was her only response.
And with that, she fell silent.
Seeing this, Sua finally understood everything.
She had thought Murong Heesu understood her—at least a little.
She had assumed that she simply feared the family head’s wrath.
But from the very beginning—
It had always been orders.
Yet, despite her heart feeling like it was being torn apart, Sua did not break.
Because even for her, there existed a strong pillar of support.
“Sua, listen.”
“Yes, great warrior.”
“From now on, you must find Young Master Murong Hyun by yourself.”
“Are you planning to hold them off alone, great warrior?”
“I must.”
It had been only a month, but in that time—
Sua had learned many things from the great warrior.
“Don’t be afraid. You can do it.”
As long as the great warrior believed in her—
She could endure.
And at that moment—
Sua was already running across the bridge.
