VIP Early Access
Eksklusif untuk member VIP
Password Protected
Chapter ini dikunci dengan kode khusus
Chapter 384. Ambush (2)
It took the Branch Chief a long while to collect himself.
I didn't press him.
I, too, needed time to calm my heart and regain my composure.
Funnily enough, it was the Branch Chief who spoke first.
"I-I apologize, Young Master. I nearly interfered with your work."
W̊ е bn̄ о̀v е̊ĺ Е nû mа
His expression was still frozen, yet he'd judged that an apology should come first.
Thinking about decorum at a time like this.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Clearly, anyone who reached the level of a Hao Gate Branch Chief possessed an uncommon fortitude.
"I understand."
I chose not to press the matter.
When war broke out, opportunities to lose one's humanity would be endless.
W̆ е̇b.n̈о v е̌l̄ Е n̈ ü_m а̊
There was no need to discard it now for the sake of efficiency.
"......This man truly wasn't the real Wind Master Song Baek......"
The Branch Chief stared at Wind Master Song Baek with an expression of disbelief, as though reality had only just registered.
After witnessing that desperate, shrieking plea, who could possibly have suspected the man was not Song Baek?
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"How long...... do you think he's been impersonating him?"
There was no way to know for certain.
W̄ѐb̈ n о̆v̌ е l̀ Ӗn̊ u m̃ а
But judging by what he'd shown in Wuhan — blending seamlessly into Wind Master Song Baek's network of contacts — it was not something a day or two of preparation could achieve.
"That's something you'll have to look into, Branch Chief."
"Ah...... right."
The other four of the Phantom Five Demons were likely in the same situation.
They would have spent a long time preparing to get close to Jegal So-myeong, hiding themselves to perfection.
"But Young Master, there is one thing I'm curious about."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Go ahead."
"If you were that certain...... why did you drag it out this long?"
I looked down at the now-cold body of Wind Master Song Baek — no, the Phantom Five Demon.
He'd cracked under the torture-like interrogation and exposed himself.
Had I finished him quickly, he might never have broken cover.
"......"
En̄ùm̈а.і̌ d̂
The Phantom Five Demons were operatives who, in my past life as well, had pulled off numerous assassinations and plunged the Murim Alliance into chaos.
Eliminating Jegal So-myeong in particular had thrown the Alliance into turmoil.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
From my standpoint, they could not be killed carelessly before their identities were properly uncovered.
I'd also wanted to feel firsthand just how relentless these people truly were.
But I couldn't lay all of that out transparently.
Human relationships were healthiest when maintained with a certain distance.
Еn̆ um̃å
The same went for my relationship with the Hao Gate Wuhan Branch Chief.
This much distance was just right.
I answered briefly.
"I was hoping the other four might show themselves."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"......I see."
"But in the end, they didn't."
Е nũm а . і d̃
"No."
The Branch Chief stared vacantly at the corpse — its facial skin peeled away to reveal a grotesque visage.
"For now, please keep Wind Master Song Baek's death quiet."
"Understood. You wish to...... identify the remaining ones?"
As I'd told Wind Master Song Baek, I had completely erased all traces of having tailed him.
Someone might quickly suspect his disappearance meant death.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
But if anyone connected that death to me — it meant Wind Master Song Baek had left a trace for his comrades that we hadn't detected.
And if such an undetected trace existed, then whoever found it —
'That person is the culprit.'
When I answered with silence, the Branch Chief gave a small nod.
"The situation seemed likely to escalate, so I've pulled in personnel from nearby branches. The moment even the smallest rumor starts to spread, I'll notify you immediately."
"Thank you."
En̄.ūm̃ а̂. і̃d̃
As I turned to leave after entrusting the cleanup —
"Young Master......"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The Branch Chief hesitated, fidgeting.
"What is it?"
"Well...... there's a piece of unverified intelligence that, as an information broker, I shouldn't really be passing along...... but......"
He glanced once at Wind Master Song Baek, then continued.
Е.n̈ ū m а .іd́
"I thought it would be better to share it and leave the judgment to you."
He produced a list I hadn't seen before.
"What is this?"
"The people Wind Master Song Baek met before arriving in Wuhan."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
It contained names of individuals encountered at inns and taverns along the route from Jiangxi to Hubei.
"They were chance meetings, so I didn't include them in my report...... but seeing how things have turned out, you should know."
Ѐ num̃ á.і d̆
I scanned the list and asked.
"Are the ones among these who've entered Wuhan documented separately?"
"That, I don't have."
Several names among the entries caught my eye.
Silkworm Thread Scholar Deok-hun.
Blossom-Urging Water Master Gam Eung-bo.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Eight-Armed Moon Blade Bang Sa-won.
The first two were orthodox figures; the last, Bang Sa-won, was a renowned wanderer from Jiangxi Province.
I immediately singled out the three.
"Please check whether these individuals are currently in Wuhan."
"These are people with relatively well-established identities."
Of course — until now, they wouldn't have made the shortlist of those capable of concealing their identities.
W̃е̌ b̊ nо v̈ ӗl̆ Е̌ nu m а
But there was another critical commonality they shared.
What these three had in common was this:
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Within one year from now, every one of them would either die or vanish without a trace.
"It's still uncertain, so may I explain later?"
Despite my inability to give a proper explanation, the Wind Master Song Baek affair had apparently earned enough trust, because the Branch Chief nodded with a grave expression.
"I will move as quickly as possible."
Wе b̀ñ о̀ve l̈ Е̂n̈ù m а̌
***
While the Hao Gate operatives searched for the three, I picked out an iron sword at a smithy and bought a plain blue martial arts uniform and a head-cloth, changing into them.
Having confirmed that the three suspects weren't from the Nine Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Clans, I couldn't use the same method as before to identify a Phantom Five Demon.
While I waited at the Wuhan branch with the Branch Chief, the first lead came in.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
"Eight-Armed Moon Blade Bang Sa-won has been spotted leaving his inn."
"Where?"
Е̌ ńu m а . id̈
"Chowol Manor."
Chowol Manor — the former site of a tavern called Chowol Pavilion.
Chowol Pavilion had been an upscale establishment with eight multi-story pavilions arranged around a central pond.
"He went to Chowol Manor? At this hour?"
"Yes."
Once frequented by high officials and murim masters, the place had gone under and sat abandoned.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Various businesses — trading houses, escort agencies — had moved in since, but none had lasted a full year before closing.
Now a neglected ruin, what reason could anyone have for going there?
"I need to go."
"Shall I assign people?"
"Just tell them to keep their distance and watch."
"Understood."
Ѐǹ um а̂. і̂d̂
I left the Hao Gate Wuhan branch and moved swiftly.
Cutting through the streets, I reached an empty stretch and took to the rooftops. From there, I unleashed the Unrivaled under Heaven Movement Art at full power toward Chowol Manor.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
WHOMP, WHOMP, WHOMP.
The sound of wind shattering against my ears — it wasn't long before Chowol Manor came into view.
I walked slowly across the manor's rooftops, Ghost-Breathing Step active.
Chowol Manor, devoid of people, felt more desolate than a mountain wilderness.
Ẅé bn̄ ŏ ṽêl̊ E n u̇m̈a
From the water channels branching out from the central pond, a rank odor wafted up, and the occasional chirping of insects deepened the eerie atmosphere.
Before long, I spotted Bang Sa-won sitting alone by the pond, drinking.
GLUG, GLUG, GLUG.
"Phew."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Pulling the bottle from his lips, he wiped his mouth roughly.
Then he picked up a strip of dried meat laid out beside him, tossed it in his mouth, and chewed noisily.
Е̌ ň ú m a
I watched him in silence.
He drained one bottle, then was nearly through the second.
All the while, Bang Sa-won said nothing, simply gazing at the moss-covered pond.
Around the time the second bottle was almost empty —
"How long are you going to skulk there like a rat?"
As expected, Bang Sa-won had detected me.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I held my silence and didn't move.
"Thinking I won't notice if you play dumb?"
I waited until he was looking directly at my position.
CRASH—
Bang Sa-won hurled his bottle to the ground.
Then, locking his gaze exactly on my location, he drew his crescent saber.
Ӗn̈ ů m̀ á.
"Show yourself, or I'll split your skull open."
I withdrew the Ghost-Breathing Step, drew upon my inner arts, and leaped down from the roof.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Simultaneously, I channeled the Jade Purity Heavenly Image Power and fired the Flying Dragon Claw at him.
SHRIEK—
The Flying Dragon Claw, hurtling at fearsome speed, collided with a throwing dagger mid-air and embedded itself in the ground.
"What are you doing?!"
Ӗnû m а̇ . i d
FWIP—
I retracted the Flying Dragon Claw and spoke.
"Your skill at hiding is a step below Wind Master Song Baek's."
"What nonsens......!"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Bang Sa-won is a wanderer who uses a crescent saber. How could he detect a concealed presence based on 'form' alone?"
When I'd been taught the Ghost-Breathing Step, two words had been drilled into me until my ears bled: 'sense' and 'form.'
Е nū mа
Evading qi perception was the amateur stage; becoming invisible even in shape was the mark of a master.
I'd deliberately used the Ghost-Breathing Step while wearing a conspicuous blue uniform precisely for that reason.
A Phantom Five Demon might detect it, but a mere wanderer like Bang Sa-won couldn't possibly pick out an anomaly of 'form' in this dark manor.
The silence was short-lived.
Soon, a terrifying demonic qi billowed from the man's body.
"Good. I prefer it this way."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I deployed the Taeul Eighty-Thousand Divine Steps, seizing his flank.
He discarded Bang Sa-won's primary weapon — the crescent saber — and drew throwing daggers from within his robe.
SHRIEK—
A dagger grazed just above my head.
At the same time, he retreated and launched two more. I swiftly deployed the Minor Heaven Sword Art to deflect them.
Then I unleashed the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist to block his three strikes, and fired the Flying Dragon Claw again to snag his ankle.
Е̂nu̇m̂ a
CRASH—
The instant he hit the ground, I yanked the Flying Dragon Claw upward with all my might and slammed him back down.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
THUD—!
But simultaneously, the man used the rebound to spring upright and ghosted toward me.
In the blink of an eye, the figure who'd been two jang away appeared before my eyes, a heavy saber wreathed in Sword Force slashing for my neck.
At this rate, my neck would be severed without question.
Еn u m̈ å. і̂d̃
I quickly raised my right hand and caught the heavy saber.
CLANG—
"......!!"
A heavy saber clad in Sword Force should have sheared through hand and neck alike — yet it hadn't. The man's eyes bulged.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
I flashed a grin at his priceless expression.
"Ever heard of a Devouring Gauntlet?"
Ë n u m̆ а . і̌ d
"......!!"
Before his shock could fade, I seized his throat and activated the Azure Dragon Bracelet.
HUMMMM—
Blue light flashed between the coils of the Flying Dragon Claw, and strength began draining from his body.
"GKKHH— GKKHH......"
His body was shriveling by the second, yet his face remained taut and full.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Proof that what covered his face had nothing to do with his body's own energy — proof of a Human-Skin Mask.
I flung him to the ground and drove an iron sword through his qi center.
SQUELCH—
"Where are the other three?"
"......Gkk."
As I'd done with Wind Master Song Baek, I wrenched his qi and blood out of alignment.
Е.n̄ u̇ m â
The agony of a shattered qi center compounded by twisted meridians — Bang Sa-won vomited a torrent of blood.
"BLEGH."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Still, the Phantom Five Demon said nothing.
"Talk. Where are the other three?"
"The Heavenly Demon descends......"
I immediately drove qi into my fist and crushed both his shinbones.
Е̌ñũm̄ ӓ_
CRACK, CRACK.
Both legs crumbled like rotten wood, absurdly easy — yet the man didn't scream once.
And in that instant.
BOOM— BOOM—
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Palm Force erupted from both his hands.
The blast grazed my ears by a hair's breadth and detonated in mid-air.
Е̌nüm_а. і d
Demonic qi laced with poison was already trying to infiltrate my body; the rims of my ears stung.
'I definitely shattered his qi center.'
I whipped around to look. His skin had turned an angry red, every vein swollen as though about to burst.
"......Damn demonic arts."
Then his palms came together and a massive wave of Palm Force thundered forth.
BOOM—!
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I dodged desperately, but couldn't fully escape the blast's reach.
My martial arts uniform dissolved to nothing; only the Heavenly Silkworm Treasure Robe I'd worn underneath barely held its shape.
Truly goddamn demonic arts......
SCRITCH, SCRITCH.
A grotesque sound drew my gaze.
"Ha, shit."
Е̂ň ů.ḿ а
The man was severing his own shattered lower legs with his bare hands.
GRIND.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Sickened by his brutality, I clenched my teeth.
The instant he stood on his blood-streaming stumps —
I deployed the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven-Earth Sword Formula.
CLATTER—
Ẅẽ b ňо̆ v е̌l̃ Е̊n ǔmа̃
Four blades of Ten Thousand Swords materialized and began to move. The surroundings blazed bright as day with golden sword qi.
Bang Sa-won, throwing daggers in both hands, had been dragging his severed legs forward in a desperate advance toward me when —
He saw the swirling storm of Ten Thousand Swords about to swallow him whole, and murmured with serenity.
"The age of the Divine Cult is coming. You will never escape your hell."
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
The moment the words left his mouth, his body began to be ground apart inside the storm of swords.
Demonic qi erupted several times from within the maelstrom, and for a brief moment it surged as though it might devour the Ten Thousand Swords themselves.
Е́ n̊ u mа
But.
CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH—
In the end, the man was reduced to a handful of blood mist within the Ten Thousand Swords and ceased to exist.
The only traces in the manor that testified he had ever been there were —
THUD—
The legs he'd severed himself, and a strip of dried meat.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
Konten Bab Belum Tersedia
Bab ini belum memiliki konten teks atau sedang dalam proses penyuntingan.
