Chapter 711: What a Terrible Assassin

TL: FoodieMonster007

Darkness fell. Cha Yiran stared into the darkened alley with cautious eyes. She could feel a suppressed killing intent from within, and the air flowing around her heralded death. Enemies were spread all around.

Cha Yiran carefully set Geom Mugeuk down. She leaned his body against a wall and lightly covered him with a black cloth.

It was a dark veil for concealment, the kind assassins always carried to avoid being seen in dark places. The veil was thin and light, folding down to the size of her palm.

Fortunately, the clothes she wore today were a black martial arts uniform she had put on because Geom Mugeuk had said it suited her. It was easy to fight in and inconspicuous in the dark.

It's almost as if you predicted something like this would happen, isn't it?

She moved silently into the darkness.

Inside the alley, a martial artist stood leaning against a wall. He kept his sword sheathed, wary that the blade might catch a reflection, and leaned against the brickwork.

SHIIIIK.

With the sound of tearing flesh, his throat was slit. The one who had clamped a hand over his mouth and slit his throat was Cha Yiran. In that moment, she had become a perfect assassin.

Just as Cha Yiran quietly lowered the martial artist's body to the ground, she prepared to return to where Geom Mugeuk was.

SHWIIK!

A sword flew out from the darkness. A hidden martial artist had dropped his concealment and revealed himself. The exposed martial artist had been bait from the start, a trap to kill her.

Cha Yiran reflexively twisted her body to dodge the attack.

PAAT!

The flying sword grazed her arm.

PUK!

The throwing knife in her hand lodged in the martial artist's throat.

After quietly laying the body down again, Cha Yiran darted back to where Geom Mugeuk was. Although she had dealt with the opponent, a slight delay could have resulted in injury. It meant these were not opponents to be taken lightly.

These are Hwa Domyeong's direct subordinates.

Their martial arts skills were formidable. As expected of Hwa Domyeong's subordinates, their concealment techniques were also extraordinary.

She removed the dark veil covering Geom Mugeuk. She could feel intense heat radiating from his body as he lay with his eyes closed. A fierce battle was likely raging inside him.

"I trust you can hear me. Just hold on a little longer."

She hoisted Geom Mugeuk onto her back. Tearing a strip from her clothes, she fastened him securely to her body so she could still use both hands.

The fastest way to the Mythical Sect was to use movement arts to leap between rooftops. But that method was too conspicuous and would draw all attacks to her. She couldn't fight like that while carrying Geom Mugeuk.

Once again, she began to move through the darkness. Befitting a top-tier assassin, her movements were devoid of any breath, footsteps, or even a hint of presence. It was as if a shadow were moving through the darkness.

Suddenly, the moon emerged from behind the clouds. Just as the surroundings brightened, the silhouette of a martial artist hiding in the shadow of a wall was revealed. The opponent saw her too.

The martial artist drew his sword to unleash sword qi, but Cha Yiran was faster.

SHWIIIIIIK!

PUUK!

Cha Yiran's throwing knife flew straight and fast as a beam of light, embedding itself in his throat.

At the same time, sword qi flew at her from behind.

SHWAAAAK!

As the sword qi filled the alley, she kicked off the ground and leaped into the air, still carrying Geom Mugeuk.

As she appeared in mid-air, silhouetted against the moon, two martial artists who had been hiding on the rooftops rushed toward her as if they had been waiting.

The martial artist rushing from the left was faster.

SHWAAEK.

Cha Yiran stretched her body out, lying flat in mid-air. The sword grazed past her face, missing its mark. Her expression, reflected on the blade, was perfectly calm.

GWAAK.

Grabbing and twisting the opponent's wrist, her body spun with his.

PUUUUK!

The sword of the martial artist rushing from the right pierced the chest of the martial artist from the left. Cha Yiran used the man from the left as a shield while simultaneously thrusting out her right palm.

PWAAANG!

A shower of enhanced qi rained down, striking the right-side martial artist in the chest.

PUPUPUPU!

Holes riddled his chest as the martial artist was sent flying into the distance. It was her special palm technique, falling like a night rain.

The Celestial Fairy Night Rain Palm.

She had unleashed her hidden unique martial art. Normally, she only used hidden weapons techniques and never revealed her unique martial art, but today, she was revealing everything she had.

In an instant, she dropped back down and slipped into the alley. The clouds covered the moon again, and the surroundings grew dark. She retrieved her throwing knife from the corpse and quickly moved on.

A low groan escaped Geom Mugeuk's lips. The more violently she moved, the more strain it would put on him.

However, moving cautiously would be even more dangerous. She had to break through at a higher speed, even if it was risky.

As she turned into the next alley, four ambushing martial artists attacked her simultaneously.

PWANG!

She unleashed the Celestial Fairy Night Rain Palm at the martial artist on her left and threw the throwing knife in her right hand at the one on her right. Then, she parried the sword coming from the front, twisting her body to evade the attack from behind.

GWAJIK!

The martial artist hit by the Celestial Fairy Night Rain Palm was sent flying backward, and the throwing knife accurately lodged in its target's throat. She had parried the attack from the front, but the martial artist behind her was the problem.

SHWIIIIK.

To keep Geom Mugeuk from being harmed, she would have to sacrifice one of her arms.

PUUK!

The sound of tearing flesh was heard. But it wasn't a sound from Cha Yiran's body.

Someone had rushed in, grabbing the attacker and repeatedly stabbing his side with a dagger.

PUK! PUUK!

The woman who subdued the opponent was none other than the First Bridge.

The martial artist who had attacked from the front was now under assault by two other people.

CHAENG! CHAENG!

He managed to block the attack from the Fifth Bridge on his left.

PUK!

But he couldn't block the dagger stabbed into his back by the Seventeenth Bridge.

Just as he gritted his teeth and turned to swing his sword, the Fifth Bridge stabbed him repeatedly in the back again.

PUK! PUK!

The martial artist could no longer endure and collapsed. Their opponent's martial arts skill was not low. A moment of carelessness, and they could have been the ones to fall.

The women exchanged only a glance. To Cha Yiran's grateful look as she ran, they returned a reassuring gaze, telling her to leave the rear to them.

The First Bridge directed the Fifth and Seventeenth Bridges to take the path to the right, while she herself entered the alley to the left.

This was not a fight where moving in a group was advantageous. It was a battle of stalking one another in the darkness.

The Fifth Bridge and the Seventeenth Bridge moved as a pair. Their movements were cautious. They didn't know where a hidden ambush might be waiting. Cha Yiran could evade such attacks, but it wouldn't be easy for them.

A scream erupted from the direction the First Bridge had gone. Fortunately, it was not a woman's scream.

In the instant they were distracted by the sound, a sword flew at the Fifth Bridge in a surprise attack.

SHWAAAAK!

The moment she parried the sword that suddenly flew from the darkness, another sword stabbed her in the stomach.

PUUK!

It was wielded by an attacker who dropped his concealment.

CHAENG! CHAENG!

The Seventeenth Bridge threw herself forward to block the follow-up attacks aimed at the Fifth Bridge.

The two martial artists who had revealed themselves were fast and strong. Even within the same organization, some are bound to be more skilled. The ones they faced now were much stronger and faster than those they had fought before.

CHAENG! CHAENGCHAENG!

The Seventeenth Bridge desperately protected the Fifth Bridge. If not for her single-minded determination to protect her comrade, she would not have been able to block the combined assault of these two.

Thanks to her, the Fifth Bridge bought enough time to stanch the bleeding from her stomach wound and rejoin the fight.

But the battle-hardened Fifth Bridge knew instinctively that if this continued, they would both die.

She lunged fiercely at one of the martial artists. It was a move of mutual destruction, aiming to die together.

"You crazy bitch!"

It was an attack so threatening it elicited a desperate cry, an attack that disregarded her own life.

In that desperate attempt, the Seventeenth Bridge found an opening. At that very moment, the two women switched opponents.

SHWIIIK!

SEOGEOK!

The Seventeenth Bridge succeeded in felling the martial artist the Fifth Bridge had been trying to kill. But the Fifth Bridge, having made a reckless move, was stabbed in the shoulder by the other martial artist's attack.

In the end, the Fifth Bridge collapsed on the spot. The wound in her stomach was grave, but the one in her shoulder was also severe.

The Seventeenth Bridge had no time to check on the Fifth Bridge's wounds. The opponent continued to press his attack.

If she could make a plan to kill him, the Seventeenth Bridge would surely be able to do it.

But this fight was different. Assassins were people who killed secretly, not experts at fighting openly like this.

Seeing the Seventeenth Bridge being pushed back, a strained voice came from behind her.

"…Go."

It was a plea for her to abandon her and run.

But the Seventeenth Bridge fought to the end. Her arm was slashed and her thigh was cut, but she did not give up.

KAAANG.

The dagger she was holding was knocked away and fell to the ground. The martial artist did not hesitate and thrust his sword toward her.

SHWIIIIK.

A hidden weapon appeared in the Seventeenth Bridge's hand. Her plan was to grab the sword with one hand as it pierced her chest and throw the hidden weapon with the other.

Will it even work?

But she had to try, to give the Fifth Bridge even a slim chance of survival. Just as the Fifth Bridge had aimed for mutual destruction, she too was prepared to sacrifice herself.

PUUUUK!

The sound of tearing flesh was heard.

It was not a sound from the Seventeenth Bridge's body. Nor was it a sound made by the hidden weapon she held. A dagger was embedded in the side of the martial artist's neck.

PAPAPAK!

As the dagger was pulled out, he sprayed blood and collapsed sideways. Behind him stood one of the Faceless Warriors. The Seventeenth Bridge recognized him at once. He was the Crescent Moon Faceless Warrior.

Of all people, he saved me again.

She had hoped that if she met him during this fight, she would be the one to save him.

The Faceless Warrior picked up her dagger from the ground and handed it to her.

It was the same dagger she had wanted to give him, and now he was giving it to her.

But this was no time to be lost in personal feelings. She hurried to check on the Fifth Bridge's wounds. She pressed acupoints to stop the bleeding and applied medicine for blade wounds. Having already lost so much blood, the Fifth Bridge's face was pale.

Just then, the Faceless Warrior handed her a small pill. It was an emergency medicine used by the Faceless Warriors. When the Seventeenth Bridge placed the pill in the Fifth Bridge's mouth, a bit of color returned to her pale face.

The Faceless Warrior pointed in one direction with his finger. It was the direction where they had already cleared out the enemies.

"Take your comrade and escape that way."

It was the first time he had ever spoken to her.

The Seventeenth Bridge bowed her head respectfully.

"Thank you."

Regrettably, that was the end of their conversation. The Seventeenth Bridge hoisted the Fifth Bridge onto her back and ran in the direction he had indicated.

Before turning out of the alley, she glanced back, but the Faceless Warrior had already vanished into the darkness.

Amidst the corpses, Cha Yiran was gasping for breath.

You've brought quite a few spectators.

Hwa Domyeong had claimed he was just going to watch, but in reality, he was betting everything on this.

She returned and looked at Geom Mugeuk, who was still leaning against the wall. She had been cut in two places while desperately trying to stop them from taking him. Fortunately, the wounds weren't severe, but she had lost a lot of blood and was not in good condition.

Just a little further.

She had finally escaped the maze-like alleys. Just beyond the forest ahead lay the Mythical Sect, not far away.

"Young Cult Leader, just hold on a little longer! I'll definitely get you there!"

Just as she was exiting the alley, Cha Yiran stopped in her tracks. Her expression darkened.

In the clearing before the forest, about twenty martial artists stood in a line, holding their swords. They wore the same attire as the ones she had fought before, but their gazes were sharper and their presences more cutting. They seemed to be the most skilled members of the organization.

Breaking through them in her current condition would not be easy.

Hwa Domyeong stood in their midst.

And that wasn't all. Behind Hwa Domyeong stood three martial artists, two men and one woman, wearing bamboo hats. They revealed no presence, but their very existence was unsettling. Her assassin's instincts told her.

These are dangerous people.

Hwa Domyeong looked at her and said calmly, "He must be heavy. Put him down now."

Cha Yiran untied the cloth and carefully set Geom Mugeuk down.

She looked at Geom Mugeuk. It felt as if he might open his eyes and give her a bright smile at any moment. But Geom Mugeuk remained silent with his eyes closed.

"I'm sorry, but it seems the contract is a failure."

A faint smile touched her lips as she prepared for death.

"Abandoning a contract, failing a contract… I'm a really terrible assassin."

Geom Mugeuk was still silent.

After gazing at him for a moment, she slowly stood up and turned around. A throwing knife was in her hand.

"Can I choose who goes with me?"

Without waiting for an answer, Cha Yiran aimed the throwing knife in her hand at Hwa Domyeong.

"You."

CHWAAAK.

Hwa Domyeong opened his fan and fanned himself gently. If they had been alone, he would have hidden his face with that fan. In front of his subordinates, he became a different person.

"Right, you're only a spectator at times like these, aren't you?"

As if not allowing a single word of mockery, Hwa Domyeong gave a cold command.

"Kill her and bring me the Young Cult Leader."

Just as the twenty or so martial artists were about to step forward, someone flew in from behind. The person who ran to block Cha Yiran's path was the First Bridge. A few more assassins arrived behind her. The fight was still ongoing in the alleys, and the First Bridge had arrived first with only a few of them.

Cha Yiran could tell they alone could not turn the tide. Hwa Domyeong was one thing, but those three mysterious figures were even more ominous.

That was why she gave an order to the First Bridge.

"Take the others who are still fighting and leave this place."

"I can't do that."

The First Bridge had no intention of backing down. For the first time, she disobeyed Cha Yiran's command.

The same command fell from Hwa Domyeong's lips.

"Kill them all."

Just then, the moon, which had been hidden by clouds, reappeared, brightening the area. Compared to the advancing enemies, their own forces were too weak.

It was at that very moment.

The First Bridge said to Cha Yiran, "I will follow your order."

Cha Yiran was puzzled by her sudden change in attitude.

Hwa Domyeong sneered. "Yes, those who can live, should live."

As if to say that wasn't the reason, the First Bridge lifted her head and looked up. Everyone's gaze followed hers upward. The place the First Bridge was looking at was a large, ancient tree. Someone was on it.

When on earth did they get there?

On the high branches of the giant tree were the Faceless Warriors. Some were standing, some were squatting. Others were sitting perched on the branches. The sight of them looking down at the scene in silence, wearing their masks, was frighteningly bizarre.

The figures in the tree leaped down all at once. The Faceless Warriors landed lightly, even from such a height. Like a shield, they formed a line between Cha Yiran and the other assassins.

Hwa Domyeong stared at them with cold eyes. He had ignored the assassins before, but he could not ignore the Faceless Warriors. It wasn't because he was afraid of them, but rather…

If they are here, then…?

Just then, a low voice was heard from behind Cha Yiran.

"Young Cult Leader."

When Cha Yiran and the assassins turned in surprise, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was already sitting in front of Geom Mugeuk. Bathed in the cold moonlight, the white mask of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon shone with a blueish tint. From within that coldness, a fervent gaze flowed out.

"I am here, so open your eyes!"