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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: cyno
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Among the hundreds of thousands of martial artists spread across the world.
There are transcendent beings who can shatter mountains with a single punch and split seas with a single kick.
Each one is equivalent to an entire ‘force,’ beings who have transcended humanity and reached the heavens.
These five are known as the ‘Five Ultimates of the World.’
—
Gulp-.
Namgung Bin swallowed dryly.
Even though he rarely felt nervous, he couldn’t help but shrink under the killing intent emanating from the person before him.
The Killing Star.
Though his name is unknown, no one is unaware of his title.
Like the Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Cult or the Sword Saint of the Righteous Path, he stands at the pinnacle of the ‘Path of Killing.’
The most secretive assassin organization in the martial world, the ‘Assassin’s Guild,’ is led by him.
And, one of the Five Ultimates.
Just the titles alone make hundreds of thousands of martial artists tremble in fear.
But… such a person with such immense titles…
‘Could it really be her?’
“I didn’t expect you to come in person.”
Taking the lead, Namgung Bin glanced at the woman before him.
‘Huh…’
Though her face was obscured by a bamboo hat, her slightly curved figure in black martial robes made it clear she was a woman.
Of course, it wasn’t strange for her to be a woman.
But the reason Namgung Bin was inwardly surprised was different.
The faint glimpse of pink hair under the bamboo hat.
Yes, ‘pink’ hair.
A color of hair he had never seen among the martial artists he had encountered.
Given the reputation of the Killing Star, rumors should have spread, but no one even knew her gender, which showed how cleanly she had handled her affairs.
“I came to see the face of the bold one who dared to point at me.”
“If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”
“It’s also intriguing that you targeted the Sword Saint.”
“Ahem… everyone has their reasons, don’t they?”
Of course, Namgung Bin didn’t take what he saw at face value.
This was the Killing Star, after all, so she would naturally be skilled in disguise.
She could have used bone-shifting techniques to change her body shape and dyed her hair.
‘But what about her voice?’
However, one’s natural voice cannot be changed.
The voice coming from the Killing Star was unmistakably that of a young woman.
Though it carried an undeniable authority and pressure.
“You seem to have many questions for me.”
As if she knew Namgung Bin was glancing at her, the Killing Star smiled slyly under her bamboo hat and asked.
“I also have a few questions for you.”
“Ask away. I’ll answer as much as I can.”
Feeling an inexplicable chill at the Killing Star’s interest, Namgung Bin responded as calmly as possible.
“Well, why do you reek of such a foul blood scent? Your blood energy is overflowing.”
“I’ve spilled a lot of blood, so that’s probably why.”
“That’s not what I’m asking, and you know it.”
“…….”
Cold sweat dripped down Namgung Bin’s back.
He had even considered attacking the Killing Star if things went south.
“In the first place, how did you learn the Blood Arts?”
“…….”
He couldn’t do it because his instincts screamed at him to stay still.
“You’re keeping your mouth shut. Should I tear it open and make you confess?”
“……!”
“Hehe, relax. I’m not here to torment you.”
“Huff, huff…”
His breathing naturally grew ragged.
Having found himself in the opposite position from when he faced the Three Sovereigns, Namgung Bin could truly feel what it was like to be the prey.
“By the way, it’s strange. Why would the former Military Advisor of the Martial Alliance learn the Blood Arts?”
“I have nothing to say about that.”
“Are you dreaming of becoming the second Blood Demon? Wake up. If a jackal tries to imitate a tiger, it’ll only break its legs.”
“…Is it wrong to learn it?”
“I don’t care, but if the world finds out, you’ll become a public enemy and be hunted down.”
“As long as you don’t spread it, there’s no way it’ll get out.”
“……Is that so? Well, whether you learn the Blood Arts or the Demonic Arts, it’s none of my business.”
Feeling like he was being dragged into the Killing Star’s pace, Namgung Bin quickly changed the subject.
“Let’s talk business. What about the request to kill the Sword Saint?”
The Killing Star responded without a hint of panic.
“I came all this way. Why would I back out now? I’ll take it.”
“Are you sure? The Sword Saint is undeniably the strongest in the Central Plains.”
“I said I’ll do it, so why are you worried? Don’t worry. I’ll handle it properly.”
“……I’ll trust you.”
Swallowing his unease, Namgung Bin tried to stand up.
If the Killing Star hadn’t spoken next, he would have left the room.
“Wait.”
“What is it?”
“Let’s make one thing clear.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Thud, rustle-.
Half-standing, Namgung Bin sat back down as the Killing Star smiled slyly under her bamboo hat.
“No one else but me should take the request to kill the Sword Saint.”
At the same time, her right arm blurred.
Whoosh-.
Namgung Bin reacted without thinking.
There was no time to draw his sword.
He grabbed the scabbard at his waist and brought it to his left ear…
Clang!
“……! Why, why are you doing this…!”
The Killing Star’s right arm was extended, and at its tip was a small dagger.
The dagger was blocked by Namgung Bin’s massive sword, trembling as it barely held back the strike.
“Just a warning.”
“Kuh……! If I had been a moment slower, my ear would have been gone…!”
“So behave yourself. If you break the warning, I’ll take your head.”
“Haa……”
As the Killing Star left the Namgung Family head’s office.
Having narrowly escaped death, Namgung Bin struggled to catch his breath and asked a question.
Avoiding the parts the Killing Star had warned about.
“But why must it be you? Of course, I won’t break your warning, but is there a reason only you can take the request?”
The Killing Star answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“A reason? Of course, there is. A very important reason.”
“…May I ask what it is?”
“He belongs to me alone. That’s all.”
“…….”
With those words, the Killing Star disappeared from the Namgung Family estate.
Now that the Killing Star was gone, Namgung Bin tried to stand up.
It was then.
Thud.
“Huh?”
Something slid down his left shoulder, and Namgung Bin’s gaze followed it.
“What…!”
His blue eyes caught sight of an ear.
A groan escaped Namgung Bin’s parted lips.
He quickly raised his hand to feel where his ear should be.
Zing-!
“Kuh…!”
The absence of what should have been there, followed by a sharp pain, was all he felt.
At the same time, two figures fell from the ceiling of the office.
Baek Dong-sa-wang and Cheolho-gak, but their descent was different from usual.
Crash!
Instead of landing gracefully as they usually did, they tumbled to the ground.
Regaining their balance, they knelt before Namgung Bin.
“We apologize!”
“Punish us!”
Their breathing was as unsteady as Namgung Bin’s.
“Kuh… what punishment are you talking about?”
“W-we couldn’t move when we saw the Killing Star attacking you…!”
“We tried to move, but our legs froze…”
“Enough. I couldn’t do anything either, so what could you have done? Be grateful you didn’t lose your lives facing the Killing Star.”
“Th-thank you!”
“We will repay your mercy!”
With Namgung Bin’s forgiveness, Baek Dong-sa-wang and Cheolho-gak stood up.
They quickly brought out bandages and medicinal herbs.
“What are you doing?”
“Your ear… shouldn’t we reattach it?”
Namgung Bin waved his hand at the bandages and herbs.
“It won’t stick. It’s not just anyone who cut it, it was the Killing Star. Just make sure the wound doesn’t get infected.”
“Ah……”
“Put those away. There’s a more important matter now.”
Namgung Bin carefully removed his hand from his ear.
The cut was so clean that not even blood flowed from the severed area.
“An important matter?”
“What is it?”
Numbing the pain in his ear with internal energy, Namgung Bin slowly spoke.
“It’s still strange.”
His muttering left his two subordinates puzzled.
“Why didn’t Cheolbin know? That I had learned the Blood Arts?”
“Isn’t it because you mastered the Hidden Shadow Technique?”
“You learned the Hidden Shadow Technique before the Blood Arts to avoid the Sword Saint’s detection, didn’t you?”
“That’s what I thought until now. But you saw it too. My Hidden Shadow Technique couldn’t deceive the Killing Star.”
“……!”
“……!”
“If the Killing Star noticed, there’s no way Cheolbin didn’t. In terms of pure martial arts, Cheolbin is undoubtedly above the Killing Star.”
“That’s… impossible! The Sword Saint has never spared anyone who learned the Blood Arts!”
“Ah, didn’t you say it earlier? Cheolbin was the kind of man who piled up the bodies of Blood Cultists…”
“Yes, that’s what I can’t understand. Why didn’t Cheolbin know about my Blood Arts……?”
A question directed at his subordinates, but in reality, a question for himself.
But no matter how much he pondered, no clear answer came.
“Hmm…”
Forgetting to treat his wound, Namgung Bin sat frozen, rolling the question in his mind.
“Or…”
Finally, he posed a new question.
“Did he know and let me live…? Why……?”
“…….”
“…….”
But this question, too, had no answer.
Taiyuan Jin Family.
“Young lady…? May I ask what this is…?”
Byeok, who had entered Jin Gayeong’s room with her, was staring at something, his pupils shaking.
The room had only been touched by cleaners for the past few months.
“Ah……! I forgot about it because it’s been so long…!”
Jin Gayeong’s pupils also shook as she looked at the same object.
“Don’t tell me… young lady, you…”
“Since it’s come to this, there’s no other way… Honestly, pretending not to know was getting hard.”
“Huh……”
Byeok’s hand touched an outer robe hanging on the wall of Jin Gayeong’s room.
It was an item he couldn’t possibly mistake, as it held memories for him.
“Let me formally introduce myself, uncle.”
“…So that’s why you’ve been so kind to me.”
“Thank you for saving me that day when I was destined to be sacrificed by the Blood Cult’s bishops.”
“Huh, huh…”
“‘Sword Saint’ uncle.”
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