Psycho in Ancient World - II

Chapter 26: Bloodless

What Tang Wu wanted from Dong Bong-su was not merely for him to become his disciple, but for him to become a full-fledged member of the Tang Family itself.

“Grandfather! How can you make such a crucial decision without the elders' consent...?”

As the words Tang Wu had anticipated finally spilled from Tang Hua’s mouth, she spoke in panic.

Tang Wu turned to look at her and smiled faintly, his lips gently moving. At the same time, he raised the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles.

The two believed that Dong Bong-su could not hear their conversation and comfortably exchanged secrets through voice communication.

But the thing was—

That was truly an action born of not knowing Dong Bong-su. Just because a person cannot hear does not mean they cannot “eavesdrop.” Even without hearing, there are people who can “read” conversations with their eyes.

Lip-reading.

Dong Bong-su was reading everything the two were saying purely from the shape of Tang Wu’s lips. Tang Hua was wearing a veil, so he could not tell what she was saying, but all the important words were spoken by Tang Wu anyway. Just by analyzing the shape of that man’s lips, he could infer what Tang Hua was saying as well.

In the end, Dong Bong-su understood everything—why Tang Wu wanted to embrace him so completely that he was willing to grant him the Tang surname, and even why he had taken out the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles.

“So that’s what it was?”

Dong Bong-su placed a thin protective layer over his eyes and continued analyzing the exchange between the two.

At some point, he went further, piercing even things Tang Wu himself did not know. No—rather, it would be more accurate to say Tang Wu simply could not see them.

Half human, half character.

Dong Bong-su was not a complete game character, but by existing under the system of 'New Murim Online', he had become something strange—neither human nor game character. As a result, his body structure was truly different from that of ordinary people.

The subtle changes born from this unusual body were what had captivated Tang Wu and led to the current situation.

Tang Wu was explaining various analyses of Dong Bong-su’s constitution to Tang Hua, but the conclusion was simply, “I don’t know.” He did not know, yet he was interpreting everything however he pleased.

Dong Bong-su sneered inwardly while already constructing his next behavioral pattern. If the other side was going to interpret things however they liked, that was something to be grateful for. He would simply act accordingly, and the other party would naturally perform splendidly as an actor within that play.

A chilling ability.

The trap of believing they were speaking via voice communication, and the trap of believing Dong Bong-su was merely a mute Horse Stable Hireling. Caught in this double trap, they never imagined that Dong Bong-su possessed such an ability.

A little later.

The private—but not truly private—conversation between Tang Wu and Tang Hua finally came to an end.

“Private” was merely their shared belief that it was a conversation between the two of them alone, while “not private” meant that Dong Bong-su had read or reconstructed every word of it. Of course, only Dong Bong-su knew that fact.

Having been persuaded by Tang Wu by the end of the discussion, Tang Hua had no further reason to stop him. She silently stepped back without intervening further.

Tang Wu then formed a faint smile and asked Dong Bong-su once more.

“I will ask again. Are you willing to receive the Tang Family surname?”

Dong Bong-su had never had a reason to refuse.

Moreover, now that he already knew every scheme hidden in Tang Wu’s heart, why would he reject such a good offer?

Dong Bong-su did not hesitate. With a resolute, fabricated gaze, he nodded confidently.

Tang Wu, unaware of the face hidden behind that false expression, smiled with complete satisfaction.

“Good. However, you are not yet a true member of the Tang Family. You must go to the Tang Family estate and prove, before the elders and the Head of the family, that you are worthy of bearing the Tang surname. You may even die in that process. Even so, will you proceed?”

It had gone one step further—from “it may be painful enough to kill you” to “you may die.”

“So what? Nothing changes.”

He still had no intention of refusing. Because he knew he would not die.

If everything Tang Wu had said to Tang Hua via voice communication was true, then no one in the Tang Family would reject him. No—they could not. They might later devise schemes to place him in danger, but they would not stop him from entering the Tang Family, nor did they have a reason to.

That was how extraordinary the contents of Tang Wu’s voice communication had been.

Even Dong Bong-su himself had not realized there was such a secret hidden within his body.

He felt interest in 'New Murim Online' once more.

A game where he could not relax for even a single moment, nor miss a single detail—a game tailored precisely to Dong Bong-su. That was 'New Murim Online'.

A rare smile formed at the corner of his lips.

From that plain smile, Tang Wu sensed the sincerity of “Sosam.”

Though Dong Bong-su’s sincerity and the sincerity Tang Wu perceived from “Sosam” were different, sincerity was sincerity nonetheless.

The cold eyes of Tang Wu and the passionate gaze of Dong Bong-su intertwined fiercely in the empty air.

Moments later.

Tang Wu finally declared, as if having made up his mind completely.

“You are no longer the Horse Stable Hireling of the Danri Family, but a member of the Tang Sect, the foremost family of Sichuan.”

With that, Dong Bong-su shed the shell called Horse Stable Hireling.

“I will now carry out the great method. Are you ready?”

As Dong Bong-su nodded once more, Tang Wu signaled with his eyes to Tang Hua, who stood behind him—telling her to stand guard.

Tang Hua lowered her head in affirmation and left the room.

If someone were to intrude during the execution of the great method, one could fall into deviation and become endangered. Thus, she was to block others’ approach as a protector.

Now that only the two remained, Tang Wu approached Dong Bong-su.

“I will now perform the Head-Opening Great Method on you. This method will clear your mind and unblock your sealed speech. From now on, close your eyes, and no matter what happens, you must not move. Do you understand?”

Dong Bong-su knew—having “heard directly”—that what Tang Wu intended to perform was not merely the Head-Opening Great Method, but he did not particularly care. In the end, he was using Tang Wu, and Tang Wu was using him.

The difference was that Dong Bong-su already knew what Tang Wu was thinking and what he was about to do, while Tang Wu did not know that Dong Bong-su knew everything.

With that, the game between the two was already over.

If, in a poker game, you know your opponent’s hand and possess a perfect poker face—

The game is already over. There is no reversal.

The opponent merely continues the game, clinging to a faint hope of victory by betting on a reversal that does not exist.

But—

The game had been Dong Bong-su’s victory even before it began.

---

Tang Wu opened the case of the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles. Inside were hundreds of golden needles, each intricately engraved with dragons and phoenixes befitting their name. Their lengths and thicknesses differed, as though each needle had its own purpose.

Dong Bong-su glanced at the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles once, then quietly closed his eyes. Soon, he entered meditation, gradually sinking into the familiar world of nothingness.

“Hoo—.”

Tang Wu let out a long breath and slowly lifted the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles into the air using remote object manipulation.

In truth, Tang Wu was currently more tense than he had ever been in his life.

Using the marriage alliance of the Namgung Family as an excuse, he had come out into the martial world after a long time—and in Bongyang, he had “picked up” an unbelievable talent for free.

Wheel-Turning Sacred Emperor Aspect, Heavenly Yang Divine Martial Body, Heavenly Meridian Body, Ninth-Grade Sacred Bones, Heavenly Martial Heart Meridian, Purple Radiance Void Spirit Body, Cosmic Sacred Bones……

There were countless terms in the world used to describe bodies suited for cultivating martial arts. All of them came with modifiers like “once in ten years,” “once in a hundred years,” or “once in a thousand years.”

However, today, Tang Wu had encountered a body for which such modifiers were meaningless.

The Horse Stable Hireling named Sosam, sitting before him right now, was that very individual.

Tang Wu focused his gaze and looked at Sosam once more. Sosam sat with eyes closed, immersed in a state of no thoughts and no self. Perfect. The moment Tang Wu had told him not to think, Sosam had already erased all thoughts from his mind.

A smile once again appeared on Tang Wu’s lips.

Ten years? A hundred years? A thousand years?

What were those worth?

That boy possessed a body never before born since the beginning of Murim’s history. It was not flashy compared to known physiques, but it was undeniably among the finest materials.

The bloodless body.

Sosam lacked the acupoints and pathways that every human should possess. When Tang Wu first saw him, he had not noticed it, thinking him merely a normal body that had not learned martial arts. But upon looking again, he realized that was not the case.

Sosam’s body was far too “quiet.”

No matter how untrained a person was, there would always be at least a minimal amount of Qi flowing naturally through the meridians.

Yet in Sosam’s body, there was no such flow at all.

Nothingness.

There was simply nothing—almost as if he were not human.

If Tang Wu had not been a master of the Tang Sect, he would not have noticed it at a glance. Such traits usually appeared only in corpses.

The only martial sects capable of creating corpses were the Tang Sect and the Blood Pavilion of Heavenly Demon Castle. Even so, unless one had personally created a corpse, even a master of those factions would not notice Sosam’s traits.

Tang Wu had dipped his toes into every martial art and miscellaneous technique passed down within the Tang Sect. Corpse arts were naturally among them.

The foundation of corpse creation was artificially sealing all meridians of a corpse, cutting off the flow of Qi—blocking vitality and sustaining sinister energy.

But Sosam was different. His meridians were not sealed or blocked; he had been born without acupoints and pathways in the first place.

If there is no path, any path can be made. It means one can go wherever one wishes—whether that be true energy or anything else.

After hearing this explanation, Tang Hua had easily stepped back. Even to her, the bloodless body was an unprecedentedly exceptional material. In the current martial world, there were likely only a handful—if any—who could match it.

Perhaps there existed another talent born under the fate of the Heavenly Slaughter Star or the Divine Star. Those born with such destinies were fated to either endanger or save Murim, regardless of their innate talent.

Perhaps Sosam himself bore such a star. That was not something Tang Wu could verify. Though he could read the vitality and sharpness hidden deep within Dong Bong-su’s eyes, he could not be certain.

Verification beyond mere material quality would be left to the elders once they returned to the family estate.

For now, it was enough to pull this item called Sosam into the Tang Family and claim him first.

If the boy bore the Heavenly Slaughter Star, the Tang Family could deal with it. That would only add to their reputation—having eliminated it before it fully manifested.

If he bore the Divine Star, then simply by that fact alone, the Tang Family would gain immense prestige and become the center of the orthodox path.

And even if he were neither—if he were merely the owner of the bloodless body—that alone would suffice. With that material, the Tang Family could restore the Rain of Myriad Flowers, which had remained only in form for centuries.

If the Rain of Myriad Flowers were to descend upon the martial world once more after hundreds of years, all martial heroes would bow their heads before the name of the Tang Family.

In short, if Sosam bore the Heavenly Slaughter Star, it meant fame; if the Divine Star, glory for the family; and even if neither, the bloodless body alone guaranteed the Tang Family’s revival.

The Tang ancestors must have sent me to Bongyang to open the path of the family’s revival.

“Heh heh heh. The future of the Tang Family rests at my fingertips!”

Thinking that, Tang Wu grew even more tense.

Pa-pa-pak!

Tang Wu’s tightly drawn hand finally began to move.

Chapter 27:Head-Opening

Tap, tap-tak, tap!

Dot-like bruises were engraved across several parts of Dong Bong-su’s body.

Careful yet razor-sharp movements.

At last, the Head-Opening Great Method of the Tang Sect’s secret arts began unfolding upon Sosam—no, upon Dong Bong-su’s body.

To perform the Head-Opening Great Method, Tang Wu had to arbitrarily create meridian pathways within Dong Bong-su’s body using Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles. Since there was no path, the work of creating one had to come first.

Tang Wu’s hands swiftly sliced through the air. Following his movements, the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles floating in midair began embedding themselves across Dong Bong-su’s body, and Tang Wu’s true energy weaved between the needles, carving out pathways.

Passing through the Zhongfu, piercing Shaoshang and Shangyang running through Yingxiang and Jiquan, breaking through Shaochong and Shaoze, crossing Qigong and Tianchi, passing Zhongchong and Chengqi, striking Yutang and Yinbai, marking Dafu and Qingming, crossing Zhiyin and Yongquan, striking Youfu and Guanchong, scraping Sizhukong and Tongziliao, piercing Zuqiyin and Dadun, and reaching Qimen.

[T/L: Above mentioned are the acupuncture points.]

At last, pathways were opened through all twelve meridian points according to yin-yang and the five elements.

From that moment on, the true Head-Opening Great Method began in earnest.

Papapap!

Tang Wu’s hands and the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needles roamed across Dong Bong-su’s entire body.

As he continued the Head-Opening Great Method, he felt even more deeply the astonishing nature of the Bloodless Body. Despite following temporarily created meridian pathways, there was not the slightest obstruction in the flow of qi and blood. Rather than being blocked, the qi flowed several times faster than in an ordinary martial artist.

He grew excited and gradually became immersed in the Head-Opening Great Method.

That said, he had not completely lost his reason. There was still an important task he had yet to complete.

As the Head-Opening Great Method neared its conclusion, Tang Wu pressed a button attached somewhere on the bottom of the Dragon-Phoenix Golden Needle case. The base opened, revealing a hidden compartment inside the case.

Inside were countless tiny, pitch-black granule-like objects. But upon closer inspection, those tiny things were wriggling. They were not grains—they were insects.

They were a type of ultra-fine insect known as Thousand-poison Insect.

Thousand-poison Insect was a poison insect secretly developed by the Tang Sect, a special breed created by refining multiple poison insects together and infusing them with ten thousand poisons.

Once a Thousand-poison Insect settled in a host’s dantian, it would devour any poison that infiltrated the body. Thus, even someone without any poison resistance could become a Body Invulnerable to Ten Thousand Poisons simply by harboring a Thousand-poison Insect.

However, the Thousand-poison Insect was abandoned shortly after its creation.

The reason was the danger involved in its use.

Thousand-poison insects lived in colonies like ants or bees, but once they encountered hosts, the colony would disperse. At that point, the person harboring the Thousand-poison Insect Queen could control all others who carried the remaining Thousand-poison Insect.

In other words, if someone harboring the Thousand-poison Insect Queen harbored malicious intent and endangered the Tang Sect, the Tang Sect could be driven down an irrecoverable path. Aware of this danger, the Tang Sect buried the Thousand-poison Insect despite having developed it.

And yet, the Thousand-poison Insect believed to be lost was now in Tang Wu’s hands.

Why did Tang Wu bring out Thousand-poison Insect at this stage, when the Head-Opening Great Method was nearly complete?

It was obvious.

It was to restrain Dong Bong-su.

He did not want such an outstanding specimen as Sosam to be taken away elsewhere, even by chance, and he wanted to make him completely his own.

However, there was something he did not know.

Dong Bong-su had already heard everything.

Knowing all this, he accepted Tang Wu’s proposal in full and was now allowing a single male Thousand-poison Insect into his body. The reason was simple: he could kill the poison insect whenever he wanted. The Inventory Divine Art worked the same way even inside the body. This was something he had discovered only recently.

It was a conclusion drawn from pondering the extent of the Inventory Divine Art—if he could take items in and out of the inventory, then what exactly was its range?

Could the Inventory Divine Art function even within empty spaces inside the body?

The result was “yes.”

Therefore, as long as Dong Bong-su knew where the poison insect inside his body was located, he could eject tiny weapons like needles from within his body and burst the poison insect at any time, killing it instantly.

Tang Wu did not know this and firmly believed he could completely control Dong Bong-su.

Tang Wu inserted a single Thousand-poison Insect into Dong Bong-su’s ear.

Creeeeping.

Like an ant burrowing into sand, a single male Thousand-poison Insect disappeared into Dong Bong-su’s ear canal.

Even then, Dong Bong-su sat still, feeling the newly accumulating energy within his body brought about by the Head-Opening Great Method. Simply by receiving qi, he was grasping how it flowed and how it should flow within the body.

Though the pain caused by the Head-Opening Great Method and the infiltration of Thousand-poison Insect was horrific, Dong Bong-su—having reached a state of unity between self and all things—gradually forgot the pain.

Though it was not a long time, Dong Bong-su was evolving further into a monster.

***

Several hours later.

Only after the dawn rooster crowed did the Head-Opening Great Method finally come to an end.

A satisfied smile formed on Tang Wu’s exhausted face as he looked down at Dong Bong-su and spoke.

“Open your eyes.”

Dong Bong-su slowly opened his eyes and looked at Tang Wu. The dullness in his gaze had completely lifted, and in some ways, there was even a dizzying sharpness to it.

“I have given you the name Tang Sam, meaning to cut down demons like mowing grass.”

“Yes.”

An awkward voice flowed from Dong Bong-su’s mouth. To Tang Wu and others, it would have seemed as though he had lost the ability to speak for a long time—just right.

Believing that everything had gone perfectly, Tang Wu smiled in satisfaction. Dong Bong-su smiled back at him. Of course, his smile was also one of satisfaction that everything had gone perfectly.

Which of the two had truly succeeded was obvious without needing to say it.

At last, Dong Bong-su shed the shell called Sosam completely and gained new wings under the name Tang Sam. Though no one in the martial world yet sensed the danger he posed.

Today was the day a monster attached small wings and began preparing for flight. How far he would soar—or whether he would crash before ever taking off—was something only time would tell.

***

(Revision) New Murim Online Rule No. 2: Any object that is in direct contact with any part of the body (addition: regardless of whether it is inside or outside the body) can be placed into the inventory. (However, it must be smaller than the inventory itself and must not be a living creature.)

Addition: It is not limited to inserting and retrieving only one item at a time; through training, that number may increase.

※ All of these rules are still not fixed or certain.

Side Story 1: The Birth of a Psychopath

Being a good person is something that can only be said when brushing past someone. When viewed over an entire lifetime, there is no such thing as a good person in this world.

– Hannibal Lecter, from 'The Silence of the Lambs'

***

I was different from a very young age.

Kim Yang-suk said she was shocked when I didn’t cry at birth and instead just looked around at my surroundings. She tried hitting my butt for quite a while to make me cry, but when I still didn’t, she pinched me. Only then did I cry from the pain.

Ten months later.

I finally started speaking.

Even then, I was different from other children. The first words I uttered weren’t short words like “mom” or “dad” or “milk,” but a complete sentence: “Mom, give me food.”

It seems my mother, Kim Yang-suk, realized then that I was different from other children. Perhaps because of that, I was given gifted education and learned many things from a young age. However, my progress wasn’t much different from other children. In reality, I had already learned everything and was busy enjoying ant-fighting games, but outwardly I pretended to still be learning.

Perhaps even then, instinctively, I knew that standing out was never beneficial.

As time passed, I turned five.

Kim Yang-suk’s obsessive gifted education had mostly ended, and I was going through a normal growth phase.

I played with neighborhood kids—ddakji, marbles, land-grabbing games, and various game consoles. Among them, my favorite activity was catching insects, reptiles, and amphibians and playing with them.

Ants, dragonflies, cicadas, beetles, rhinoceros beetles, mantises, various grasshoppers and katydids, frogs, salamanders, tadpoles, and more.

Most of the kids’ mothers hated such things, so storing them always fell to me. Kim Yang-suk didn’t pay much attention to them as long as I was fine with it.

I usually played with them in my room.

One morning, Kim Yang-suk came into my room and, not seeing them, asked me about it.

“Huh? Bong-su, what did you do with all the bugs you caught with the other kids yesterday? You shouldn’t just throw things like that into the trash.”

She rummaged through the trash can in my room. But of course, they weren’t there.

“I ate them.”

I think that’s what I said. It wasn’t wrong.

Startled, Kim Yang-suk scolded me harshly, saying I mustn’t eat things like that. She even told my father when he came home that evening, and I got scolded even more.

In truth, I only ate the frog. The rest I made fight each other. They killed and were killed. In the end, the one that survived was the frog, and I simply ate it. In the end, it amounted to eating them all.

I proved that I was stronger than the frog, but I was still weaker than my parents.

That was when I realized it. You mustn’t do what you like in front of others—especially those stronger than you.

Time passed again.

I grew up healthy and exemplary.

I didn’t worry my parents, nor did I draw negative attention from teachers. Rather, my younger self was a model student recognized by everyone.

Kim Yang-suk praised me wherever she went.

“A smart and kind son.”

Teachers often patted my head and praised me as well.

A perfect child, praised wherever he went.

That was who I was back then—Dong Bong-su. Acting that way allowed me to do what I liked while others conveniently interpreted it as scientific curiosity or easily accepted it.

However, while being a smart, praised child might please parents, it inevitably drew hostility from peers. At the time, I hadn’t fully realized that.

It was probably when I was in my second year of middle school.

I secretly captured some stray dogs and cats wandering the neighborhood and made them fight. Then, while burying the dead animals in the school flowerbed, I was caught by other kids. As a result, I was ostracized. After that, for the remainder of my middle school years, it became impossible to continue my hobbies or experiments.

That was when I learned something else. Not only did I need to look good to people stronger than me, but also to those weaker than me—and I needed to hide my hobbies.

Time passed again, and I became a high school student.

By then, at least on the surface, I had become quite ordinary.

My grades were average, I had no particular talents, just an unremarkable high schooler—someone who wouldn’t stand out anywhere. That was me, Dong Bong-su.

But.

There was still something that wasn’t ordinary.

Strangely, girls liked me and followed me. At first, I couldn’t understand why.

Eventually, despite the hassle, I dated one of them. One day, I asked her.

“Why do you like me?”

“Oh my! Look at you. How could I say something like that myself? It’s embarrassing!”

So I did what she liked, and when she reached her climax, I asked again.

“Why do you like me?”

Gasping, she finally gave me the answer I wanted.

“I don’t know. Maybe… because you’re not ordinary?”

“What does that mean?”

“You seem different somehow. You’re ordinary, but at the same time, you don’t seem ordinary.”

That was when I gained a new realization. Even if I did nothing, I wasn’t ordinary.

So from that point on, I began wearing artificial camouflage. I exercised like everyone else, watched the TV programs everyone watched, laughed when others laughed, and cried when others cried.

At some point, people started saying this about me.

“Mr. Bong-su, you’re really a good person.”

“Bong-su, thank you.”

“Mr. Bong-su, could you take care of this?”

“Mr. Bong-su……”

“Bong-su…….”

“Bong…….”

Before I knew it, I had become a good person.

No one hesitated to approach me. Men liked me as a colleague or friend, and women perceived me as just a coworker, a senior at school, or an older brother.

At last, I realized it.

That I had finally obtained true camouflage—ordinariness. Like a chameleon, no matter where I went, even without conscious effort, I had become “a good person, an ordinary person.”

I had finally escaped people’s scrutiny completely.

Only then could I truly reclaim myself.

It was a truly long time of endurance.

Now was the time to unleash the desires I had restrained for so long—not on insects or animals, but on real prey.

Only in front of them could I shed my camouflage and return to my true self.

Chapter 28: First Stratagem

The demonic sometimes pretends to be good, or even transforms outright into goodness. In this way, when the demonic is invisible to my eyes, I inevitably fall to it disguised as good. That is because disguised goodness is more seductive than true goodness.

— Franz Kafka, Czech author

***

“Ugh. Ahh!”

“Pant… pant…”

The sticky moans of a woman.

The heavy panting of a young man.

Their subtle harmony filled the luxurious room, echoing richly throughout.

Moonlight filtering through a large antique window with a ribbed lattice pattern shimmered softly. The light reflected off the sweat sliding across the man’s tightly tensed back and the smooth thighs of the woman wrapped around his waist, making them glisten.

The man’s movements gradually grew faster. In response, the woman’s moans slowly grew louder.

Then, at a certain moment.

The man’s lower body trembled violently.

“Ah!”

The woman’s short cry of climax cut hotly through the moonlight streaming in through the window. She had reached her peak. Immediately after, the man’s sturdy upper body collapsed fully onto the woman’s ample chest.

“Haa—.”

The woman’s body shuddered once more in the afterglow of climax, then she slowly opened her eyes. A heated, breathless sigh escaped her lips, momentarily obscuring her vision as it mixed with the warmth radiating from the man’s back. That moment was very brief.

“Huh!?”

As the heated breath cleared and her sight returned, something strange caught her eye. She had shared intercourse with this man many times in this room and knew its structure quite well. No matter how dark the night was, she would not fail to recognize the shape of the ceiling.

She opened her eyes wide and scrutinized the ceiling carefully. It was hard to say exactly what was wrong, but it was definitely subtly unnatural.

Just as she was about to speak to the man lying atop her—the owner of this room—

Suddenly, two bluish lights appeared in one spot on the ceiling. They looked like the phosphorescent eyes of a nocturnal beast. No, upon closer inspection, they were not merely like eyes—they were real eyes. The only difference was that they were not those of a wild animal, but of a real human.

The ceiling had not changed shape. Someone was clinging to it.

“W-who?”

The instinctive first words anyone would utter upon an unexpected encounter with an unforeseen person. And those words became the last she spoke in this world.

Screee! Thud!

A dagger flew straight into her open mouth and lodged there. Her tongue, which moments ago had been producing sticky erotic moans, was pierced straight through by the dagger.

Spurt.

As blood burst from the woman’s mouth and splashed across the naked man’s back, the masked figure also dropped down to the floor.

Slash.

Failing to achieve his dark purpose aimed at the man, the black-clad assassin instead severed the woman’s neck. The woman lost her head to the assassin’s single strike. Yet her head remained atop the bed. The dagger embedded in her mouth had pierced through the back of her skull and sunk deep into the bed.

Clang.

The man, having avoided the black-clad assassin’s sword, immediately sprang from the bed the moment the attack began, as if he had known of the assassin’s presence all along, and drew the sword hanging on the wall.

Without the slightest hesitation, he thrust his sword toward the assassin.

It appeared to be a simple thrust, but that was an illusion. In truth, that single strike occupied every possible direction the assassin could move. If the assassin dodged in any direction, the sword would scatter variations and block the path.

Parararak!

The man’s sword moved cunningly as it assaulted the assassin.

Now there was only one way for the assassin to survive—directly counter the man’s strike. As if aware of this, the black-clad assassin raised the sword that had beheaded the woman and thrust it straight toward the man.

But the man had absolute confidence in his sword.

There were not many in the entire Martial World who could withstand this strike. Especially in Anhui Province, they could be counted on one hand. It was not a sword that a mere assassin could counter.

He harbored not the slightest doubt. The neck of the fearless assassin who had dared target him would fall to the ground by this single strike.

And yet!

Wooooong!

The assassin’s sword suddenly turned ink-black, emitting a bizarre sword ring. Along with it, the black-clad assassin’s dark sword energy rampaged wildly, beginning to sever all of the man’s sword energy. The man’s sword energy was being completely annihilated before it could even release its variations.

“Hm!? This is?”

The man’s surprise was not because his sword had been blocked. What shocked him was that although it was a sword art he had not seen in a very long time, he knew the assassin’s sword art extremely well.

“Mad Slaughter Sword!? Damn it!”

The man hurriedly withdrew his extended sword, but it was already too late. In the end, the trembling tip of his blade collided midair with the assassin’s dark sword energy.

Clash-clash!

Compared to the momentum both swords unleashed, the sound of shattering blades was not particularly loud. However, the shockwave was anything but light.

In the lingering aftermath of the black-clad assassin’s shattered dark sword energy, cuts appeared all over the man’s naked body, and deep sword gouges were carved into the floor and ceiling between them.

Meanwhile, one side of the assassin’s mask was sliced away, revealing the lower half of his face. A long gash ran across his left cheek.

Neither had achieved a complete victory—an outcome akin to mutual damage.

They continued to glare at each other for a long while, swords still pointed forward.

Then, at a certain moment.

“Hahahahaha.”

For some reason, the man suddenly burst into loud laughter and lowered his sword. His now-shrunken manhood dangled grotesquely. Though he knew the black-clad figure was still pointing a sword at him, he paid no mind and walked to the table in the center of the room, sitting down casually.

The black-clad figure, seeing the man lower his sword, also silently lowered his own and crossed his arms, standing straight as he stared at the man.

Both were expressing that they had no intention of continuing the fight.

Clack.

The man placed his sword loudly atop the table and spoke first.

“Has it been ten years?”

“Nine years and one hundred ninety days.”

Ten years, and nine years and one hundred ninety days. Though their memories differed in precision, the two clearly knew each other.

“Gwangun, that’s just like you. Still remembering even trivial details so precisely.”

“……….”

The man called the black-clad figure Gwangun, and seemed to know him well. From this, it was clear that Gwangun had not originally come to kill the man. As if proving it, the killing intent that had been naturally flowing from Gwangun’s body dissipated.

Though Gwangun still gave no response, the man continued speaking.

“So, what brings the Eighteen Clouds here personally?”

Their relationship did not seem particularly smooth, and the man’s tone sounded faintly mocking. Still, Gwangun appeared unconcerned and began speaking his own piece.

“An order has come down. Ashen Shadow.”

Gwangun’s voice was rough, as if he were speaking with a mouthful of sand.

“An order?”

Ashen Shadow repeated the word, confirming whether he had heard correctly. But such confirmation was unnecessary. Though they had not met in over a decade, Ashen Shadow knew better than anyone that Gwangun was not someone who misspoke.

Ashen Shadow’s body flushed hot, followed by a violent shudder. An excitement he had never felt from intercourse—not with the headless woman sprawled on the bed, nor with any other woman—surged through him at the mere mention of the word “order.”

An order.

How long had it been since he last heard that word?

‘Ten years?’

He had entered the Martial World under 'his' orders. After that, Ashen Shadow had not received a single order for ten full years. And now, one had suddenly been issued.

The playful expression that habitually lingered on his face vanished, and all lightness drained from his voice.

“What are the details?”

“First Stratagem.”

“……!”

The words that came from Gwangun’s mouth were rough but brief.

It was an answer he had anticipated, yet it still struck him with shock. The reason he had entered the Martial World, and the reason he had lived until now, were all contained within those two words.

‘First Stratagem!’

Gwangun and Ashen Shadow’s gazes intertwined in midair.

Ashen Shadow asked another question—about the key figure essential to executing the First Stratagem.

“What about Shadow Shifter?”

As if he had been waiting, Gwangun answered immediately.

“Namgung Family.”

“The date?”

Perhaps because it had long been foretold, their exchange—though cryptic and extremely brief—flowed without the slightest obstruction.

“This month’s full moon is Shadow Shifter’s wedding day.”

“A wedding? Shadow Shifter? Then don’t tell me—Shadow Shifter is!?”

“……….”

Though Gwangun gave no further hints, Ashen Shadow could already guess whom Shadow Shifter was impersonating.

“The level?”

Level—referring to the degree. Though the question again omitted all context, Gwangun answered without hesitation.

“Everyone except Shadow Shifter and Namgung Hye.”

Ashen Shadow nodded as if he had expected that answer. But there was still one concern lingering in his mind.

“You do know this, right? Tang Wu, the Soul-Chasing Poisoned Hand, is currently in Anhui. Is he included among the targets?”

“Of course.”

“That’s too much for just the forces here. Reinforcements?”

“Five shadows.”

“Five shadows?”

“Seven, including Shadow Shifter and you.”

“……!”

Ashen Shadow was genuinely shocked. The First Stratagem was indeed important, but he had not expected such unprecedented support. That alone spoke volumes of 'his' determination.

“With that much force, even with Tang Wu present, success should be easy. But why are you here? I thought you were support.”

“I have separate business.”

“Laying groundwork for the Second Stratagem, then.”

“……….”

As expected, Gwangun did not respond to questions that required no answer.

Ashen Shadow did not press further. Gwangun’s silence was answer enough. All that mattered was that each fulfilled their own assigned mission. Shadows and clouds had different roles. They had been raised that way, and they lived that way.

Seemingly finished speaking, Gwangun turned his body to leave. Watching his back, Ashen Shadow asked one final question.

“Oh, by the way—what was Shadow Shifter’s name again?”

Though he had already guessed Shadow Shifter’s identity, Ashen Shadow asked for confirmation.

“Do Heo-ok.”

The moment Gwangun spoke the name, he vanished from the spot like extinguished dust, as if he had never existed there at all.

“Gwangun. Unlucky as ever, then and now. Tch. So, is this really the beginning?”

Ashen Shadow shook his head once and walked toward the bed.

The headless upper body of the woman still lay sprawled atop it. He kicked it off the bed. Blood flowed from the lonely throat, staining the floor, but he paid it no mind. Such things happened often here, and no one would be shocked or reproach him over the death of such a mere plaything.

Ashen Shadow roughly wiped the sweat from his body and put on clothes stained with the woman’s blood. The seriousness from earlier had completely vanished from his face, replaced by his usual playful demeanor.

“Tch. Because of that bastard Gwangun, my favorite clothes are soaked in blood. Damn it. Still, who would’ve thought the shadows would end up getting married? Hah. I’m jealous in so many ways. Shadow Shifter becoming a hero of the orthodox path, and on top of that marrying Anhui’s First Beauty. Meanwhile, I’m stuck in this gloomy place, dealing with some rag like that.”

Leaving behind words that sounded half like a joke and half like genuine envy, he exited the room.

Clack.

The door closed, and silence descended upon the room.

Only the woman’s severed head, with a blade lodged in her mouth, remained—locked in a silent staring contest with the moon.

This was the chamber of Pa Gahyeol, the Silver Naked Color Demon, supreme overseer of the Anhui branch of Heavenly Demon Castle.

Chapter 29:Holy light

Holy light.

A word that literally refers to a newly risen star.

People commonly use this term to refer to a “suddenly appearing, outstanding, and young talent.” Seen from that perspective, Do Heo-ok was a person who fit it perfectly.

He truly appeared in Murim all of a sudden.

Naturally, his initial movements were no more than a gentle breeze.

The first time his name became known among martial artists of the martial world was when Do Heo-ok single-handedly wiped out a nameless band of mountain bandits in Liaoning Province. Even then, there were not many who paid attention to him.

And then.

The Hebei Eight monsters of Hebei Province, the Ma-bung-bang of Shanxi.

[T/L: 마붕방 → Ma-bung-bang - horse scatterbrained.]

Ha Rang, the Flying Heavenly Cook of Shaanxi.

Cheon Dae-gang of the Thunder Goat Manor of Sichuan………

As Do Heo-ok advanced westward and continued to strike down those walking the unorthodox path, people gradually began to look at him anew.

Even so, evaluations of him remained stingy. Gossipmongers deliberately belittled his opponents as second-rate, and they did not hesitate to say that once he encountered a true master of the demonic path or unorthodox faction, his unstoppable advance would come to an end.

And………

At last, that day arrived.

When Do Heo-ok reached Hubei, the Yin-Yang Twin Demons blocked his path. Although the Yin-Yang Twin Demons did not rank among the Two Gods, Three Monsters, and Five Elders, they were veteran demonic giants whose skills were not far behind. They were not opponents that a greenhorn who had only recently stepped into the martial world could possibly handle.

However, Do Heo-ok shattered such fixed notions in one fell swoop. Though he did not win, he alone endured a thousand exchanges against the Yin-Yang Twin Demons. In the end, neither side could decide victory, and both withdrew.

This result sent massive shockwaves through the martial world.

A young wanderer roaming the martial world alone without a sect matching evenly with two demonic giants who had rampaged through the martial world for decades?

It was a shocking event and difficult to believe. Yet soon, the truth became clear as the origins of Do Heo-ok’s martial arts were revealed.

Do Heo-ok used extremely domineering blade art. Each time he swung his blade, thunderous sounds that felt as if heaven and earth were collapsing resounded in all directions. While there were many martial arts in the martial world accompanied by thunder, there were very few thunder blades that produced such an intense sound.

Thunderclap Blade Art.

Three hundred years ago, it was the unique martial art of the Thunderclap Blade Emperor, who had been the number one under heaven. The blade art Do Heo-ok used was precisely that.

It was unknown where he had obtained the secret manual, but by using that blade art, he proclaimed himself to the world as a successor of the Thunderclap Blade Emperor.

An upright course of action, the Thunderclap Blade Art, and skill worthy of it.

Because of the exquisite harmony of those three elements, his fame quickly began racing across the world.

As a result, many major martial sects cast their lines toward Do Heo-ok in hopes of taking this young and promising talent into their fold.

If they could draw such an outstanding rising star under their sect’s shadow, would they not gain not only a remarkable talent like him, but also potentially obtain the supreme blade art under heaven?

Naturally, the competition became even fiercer, to a degree that made the danger of the Forest of Fallen Swords seem mild by comparison.

Nevertheless, as if mocking the struggles of those major martial sects, Do Heo-ok continued to focus solely on exterminating villains who walked the unorthodox path.

Left with no choice, the Nine Sects and Beggars’ Sect and the Five Great Families of the Central Plains could only continue to watch him closely, while the battle to seize the rising star still raged on.

However.

That under-the-table competition among the major sects, which had unfolded at an inopportune time, came to an anticlimactic end after Do Heo-ok arrived in Hefei, Anhui Province. Do Heo-ok fell in love at first sight with Namgung Hye, the second daughter of the Namgung Family.

In the end, the victor was the Namgung Family, and the remaining sects had no choice but to give him up with bitter regret.

***

These days, the Namgung Family was bustling nonstop due to the wedding of Do Heo-ok and Namgung Hye, the outcome of that fierce struggle over the rising star.

Needless to say, Do Heo-ok himself was extremely busy.

He personally stood at the temporary reception pavilion set up near the gates of the Namgung Family, greeting congratulatory guests as they arrived.

With his tall stature and gentle, handsome features, Do Heo-ok exuded the bearing of a hero by appearance alone. Even after exchanging greetings and heading toward the Guest Hall, the guests never ceased praising him.

Normally, there would have been no need for the groom himself to come out and receive guests. Even so, Do Heo-ok voluntarily took on the troublesome duty of reception, leaving the guests even more impressed by his humility.

But.

Do Heo-ok’s true purpose was not reception.

Although he welcomed guests with a hearty smile, in truth, he was scrutinizing each of them with sharp eyes. Who had come, what their exact sect affiliations were, how strong they were—he carefully organized and classified everything in his mind.

Above all, what mattered most to him was confirming whether the people who absolutely needed to come had arrived or not.

For a performance to unfold, many actors are required. Do Heo-ok was the lead, and there needed to be countless extras along with a few essential supporting roles. Even among supporting roles, there was a clear difference in importance.

Among them, Do Heo-ok waited here every day for the most crucial supporting role. Once that person arrived, it would not matter if hundreds of useless extras were missing. And the moment that person showed his face at the Namgung Family estate would mark the point at which preparations for the start of the “First Stratagem” were finally complete.

After Do Heo-ok had greeted guests while concealing his true face for about three days, the supreme supporting role of this “First Stratagem,” whom he had long awaited, finally arrived at the Namgung Family.

‘He’s here.’

Dozens of people were entering the large, open-sided tent serving as the temporary reception pavilion.

It was far more people than Do Heo-ok had initially anticipated, but that was not important. The only person who mattered to him was the cold-faced, brown-robed middle-aged man standing at the very front.

As expected.

At the appearance of the middle-aged man, martial artists who had arrived earlier and were writing their names in the congratulatory register recognized him and began murmuring. Although it had been a long time since he last appeared before people, the middle-aged man was one of the high-ranking masters whose mere appearance was enough to stir the martial world.

“Ha!”

The middle-aged man shot a sharp glare at the murmuring crowd and let out a fierce shout. Instantly, the martial artists fell into silence.

The middle-aged man coldly scanning the crowd was famous not only as a master, but also as an eccentric. There was a reason why people openly said that if he were just a bit stronger and more bizarre, he would have become one of the Four monsters rather than the Three monsters. No one here wished to get on his bad side.

“So noisy. Are you saying I’ve come to a place I shouldn’t have?”

His cold eyes and uniquely gruff tone chilled everyone to the bone. People recalled his sobriquet in their minds and busied themselves avoiding his gaze. Even if death came, they did not want to be chased while wandering as a soul, so they naturally kept their heads down.

‘As expected of Soul-Chasing Poisoned Hand.’

The brown-robed middle-aged man was none other than Tang Wu.

After spending the previous night practicing the Head-Opening Great Method, he had walked an entire day to reach the Namgung Family estate here by Chaohu in Hefei. Those who appeared alongside him were, of course, Dong Bong-su, Tang Hua, and members of the Danri Family.

While people were flustered, Do Heo-ok was smiling inwardly at Tang Wu’s arrival.

How could he not?

For such a long time, he had moved in the shadows solely for this one matter. Once this was finished, he would finally be able to become a proper shadow in the light rather than one lurking in darkness.

“If you’ve got something to say, don’t whisper in the corner like that. Come shove your head in front of me and babble.”

“............”

Naturally, no one stepped forward.

No—there was one person. The only person who had not lost his relaxed, courteous smile even once since Tang Wu appeared.

“Greetings. Great Hero Tang.”

It was Do Heo-ok.

At his greeting, Tang Wu’s gaze finally shifted from the crowd to him.

“Who might you be?”

“This is our first meeting. I am Do Heo-ok.”

A faintly intrigued expression appeared on Tang Wu’s face as he looked at Do Heo-ok’s clasped-fist salute. Perhaps curious about the rising star of the martial world he had often heard about, Tang Wu’s eyes swiftly scanned Do Heo-ok from head to toe.

Do Heo-ok did not particularly care, even though Tang Wu’s gaze swept over his entire body. No matter how he looked, he could not discern his true nature.

He was confident.

That his transformation was the most perfect in the martial world. In this regard, not even “that person” could match him.

Do Heo-ok’s transformation was not some simple disguise technique. It was a transformation art based on the Thousand Transformations Technique, which completely reconstructed the bones and muscles to alter one’s appearance.

“Oh ho, so you’re that young Blade Star who went to such trouble to bring me here.”

“Yes, great hero.”

Do Heo-ok lightly bowed his head.

Tang Wu’s gaze sharpened once more, though it did not last long.

“Excellent. Truly excellent. But that’s all. Had I met you yesterday, it would’ve been perfect, but seeing you today, it’s quite a pity.”

What did he mean?

After throwing out words Do Heo-ok could not understand at all, Tang Wu walked past him toward the rear of the temporary reception pavilion, in the direction of the Namgung Family’s inner residence.

“Is that Byeok fellow inside?”

“Yes. He is inside.”

As expected of Tang Wu, known as an eccentric of the martial world. Who else would dare call the head of the Namgung Family by name so casually? Yet Do Heo-ok was no less formidable, responding without the slightest hint of fluster.

“Then I’ll go in.”

“Yes, great hero. The head of the family has been waiting for you for several days now.”

If Tang Wu was an eccentric with an unrestrained personality, Do Heo-ok was like a waterfall—fluid like water, yet strong and bold. Of course, that was merely his outer shell, not his true self.

Do Heo-ok responded calmly from start to finish, even to Tang Wu’s actions that might have seemed rude. Seeing this, the people gathered there were once again impressed by him.

However, there were exactly two exceptions.

Tang Wu and Dong Bong-su.

Tang Wu had already been sufficiently impressed by the supreme talent that was Dong Bong-su, leaving nothing more to admire.

Dong Bong-su, on the other hand, was different for an entirely separate reason.

Fundamentally, Dong Bong-su did not admire people. He merely observed them—classifying them as prey, enemies, or natural objects like grass and trees.

If a target was outstanding, it merely became outstanding prey or an enemy to him. If it was prey, there was no need to think—he could simply hunt it or leave it alone.

But if it was an enemy, he faced a completely different situation.

In such cases, Dong Bong-su typically chose one of three options: eliminate it before it interfered with the hunt, avoid it, or deceive it.

From the moment he followed Tang Wu into this temporary reception pavilion, Dong Bong-su had been watching Do Heo-ok closely.

It was because of piercing vision. Piercing vision had alerted him to the appearance of a new high-level enemy.

[20 ...... 10 ....... ]

Chapter 30:Do Heo-ok

Tang Wu was walking past Do Heo-ok toward the exit of the tent, so under normal circumstances, the distance indicated by the piercing vision should have increased and then cut off.

Yet even so, the distance warned by the piercing vision was instead shrinking.

That meant the new high-level enemy was ……

‘So it’s him.’

The meaning of Do Heo-ok.

Then, among the three choices, what kind of enemy was Do Heo-ok supposed to be?

Should he be eliminated, avoided, or deceived?

The answer had already been decided.

With a level gap of over ten, the first option had already disappeared. The moment they entered the Namgung Family, the second option was gone as well.

Only one option remained.

He had to deceive him.

It was the most common choice, and also the hardest to carry out. Especially if the enemy was a human of a similar type to oneself, it was dangerous to loosen one’s guard even for a moment.

And.

By his judgment, Do Heo-ok was …………

The moment Dong Bong-su saw Do Heo-ok, he felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort. At first, he couldn’t tell what it was. But as the distance between him and Do Heo-ok narrowed to within a few meters, he understood the source of that discomfort.

It was a subtle characteristic that an ordinary person could never notice, and even if one did find it, it would be hard to feel that it was strange.

‘Perfect. Too perfect.’

The true nature of the discomfort Dong Bong-su found was.

Perfect symmetry.

Every human has some degree of left-right asymmetry in appearance. The only difference is the extent of it. Not only the face, but the length of the limbs, the height of the shoulders, the arrangement of the teeth, the sag of the chest or hips, and even the shape of the genitals all possess left-right asymmetry.

But.

Do Heo-ok was perfect.

Not only were his looks and physique perfect, but his left-right symmetry was flawless. Even with the plastic surgery of modern Earth where Dong Bong-su had lived, it was nearly impossible to make a human face into a perfect decalcomania.

And yet in a world like this, where surgical techniques were practically nonexistent, such flawless symmetry occurred naturally?

Impossible.

It was so perfect that it was unnatural. It had been made.

That was what his instincts were telling him.

And his judgment quickly reached a conclusion.

[He’s a predator. Different from me, but another form of predator.]

That was the conclusion he reached.

Dong Bong-su realized that he had encountered a proper predator for the first time in a very long while.

He began to observe Do Heo-ok more closely.

However, Do Heo-ok was only looking at Tang Wu. He was paying attention solely to the greatest side character of the performance he was about to stage, completely unaware that a monster like Dong Bong-su was watching him.

“What are you all doing? Why aren’t you following quickly?”

Tang Wu, who had been walking as if he were about to leave alone, stopped at the entrance of the temporary guest hall. He turned his head and shouted loudly at the group.

Dong Bong-su and Tang Hua immediately followed after him.

However, Gi Dae-hyo and the members of the Danri Family hesitated. They were confused as to whether they were included among those Tang Wu referred to as ‘not following quickly.’ In the first place, what Tang Wu had promised was to move together until Yeoro was handed over to the Namgung Family, and to have Danri Ganghae accepted as an outer disciple of Namgung Byeok.

Yeoro and the congratulatory gifts had already been handed over to the Horse Stable Hireling and servants outside the Namgung Family. Now, the only thing Tang Wu still needed to keep was recommending Danri Ganghae to Namgung Byeok, and that did not require Danri Ganghae to accompany them.

Moreover, those who entered the guest hall were supposed to write their names in the guest registry and undergo identity verification before being allowed to enter the Namgung Family grounds.

That made them hesitate even more. If they were included in Tang Wu’s words, it meant Tang Wu had vouched for their identities, and there would be no need to go through the verification process. If not, they would have to undergo various procedures for identity confirmation in order to enter the Namgung Family.

While the members of the Danri Family were wavering like that, Tang Wu shouted again in irritation.

“Hey, what are you doing? Didn’t you hear what this old man said? You all hurry up and follow too. That way I can grant what I mentioned last time.”

The faces of Gi Dae-hyo and Danri Ganghae immediately lit up. Those words implied not just that Tang Wu would keep his promise, but that he would let them meet Namgung Byeok in person. Becoming an outer disciple through a mere recommendation and personally stamping one’s face before Namgung Byeok were completely different matters.

“Just leave one of you behind to write in the guest registry. Write our names, and that fellow’s name too.”

Tang Wu directly pointed at Dong Bong-su and referred to him as ‘that fellow.’ It was a clear declaration that Dong Bong-su was now a member of the Tang Family.

Having finished saying everything he needed to, Tang Wu lowered his hand and immediately turned his body, leaving the temporary guest hall. Following behind him, Dong Bong-su, Tang Hua, and the members of the Danri Family streamed out one after another.

Do Heo-ok hurriedly followed after Tang Wu. In truth, from the moment Tang Wu arrived, there was no longer any need for him to remain in the temporary guest hall.

“Hero Tang, I will escort you to the Imperial King Hall.”

The Imperial King Hall was located at the center of the Namgung Family grounds, where the Namgung Family head and his direct family members resided.

“Do as you like.”

Even though Tang Wu was far ahead, he replied coldly, as if he had heard Do Heo-ok’s words.

Do Heo-ok’s eyes flashed coldly once before he disappeared from the temporary guest hall.

Now, only a single member of the Black Five Group remained inside the temporary guest hall.

As Tang Wu had instructed, he began writing the group’s names one by one. Then he got stuck at the last name. It was time to write Sosam’s name. But he still couldn’t be sure whether it was truly Sosam.

“…… Ah, whatever.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, he scribbled two characters in messy handwriting and followed the lower-rank martial artist in charge of reception toward the Imperial King Hall.

The two characters he wrote were.

Still ‘Sosam.’

***

The Namgung Family grounds were vast.

As if teaching through the estate itself why it was not called one of the Central Plains’ Five Great Families for nothing, its scale was not even comparable to that of the Danri Family.

Each individual pavilion was larger than any building in the Danri Family estate, and their number was so great that one could not easily grasp it without touring the entire grounds.

In addition, as a unique symbol of the Namgung Family, each pavilion roof had a sword embedded into it, each reaching a length of one jang, with the words ‘House of the Imperial King’ carefully engraved on every blade.

The sight made it feel as though they were looking down upon the world with swords, proving that the Namgung Family was not called Anhui’s First Family for no reason.

Danri Ganghae, Gi Dae-hyo, and the other members of the Danri Family—who were considered formidable even back in Bongyang—were overwhelmed by the might of the Namgung Family and followed Do Heo-ok in silence, their bodies stiff with tension.

In contrast, Tang Hua walked leisurely as if it were her own home. From her demeanor alone, it was easy to feel that her background as a descendant of the Tang Sect was not inferior to the Namgung Family’s.

Dong Bong-su walked slightly behind Tang Hua. It was as though he, too, had become a member of the Tang Family. Though not intentional, he ended up walking at the very rear of the group.

Even as he committed the layout of the Namgung Family grounds to memory, he never stopped observing Do Heo-ok. Even without the piercing vision constantly sending warnings, his instincts continued to signal that Do Heo-ok was dangerous.

‘Who are you?’

Was there originally a real person named Do Heo-ok whom he killed and impersonated? Or was Do Heo-ok a fictional ‘character’ that had been created and ‘raised’ into what he was now?

It was still impossible to tell which. What was certain was that it was one of the two.

From behind, Do Heo-ok’s gait showed subtle asymmetry like that of ordinary people. That was proof that his original body should have been asymmetrical like any normal human’s. Such a gait inevitably creates a dominant leg. In truth, everyone has one—it’s just a matter of how slight or severe the difference is.

And yet, Do Heo-ok’s leg lengths matched perfectly, without the slightest discrepancy. Without a doubt, he was a man with something rotten hidden within.

Dong Bong-su’s eyes flashed sharply without anyone noticing, as he began accelerating his analysis of Do Heo-ok.

‘Who are you? And why are you hiding here?’

Just as his brain was about to begin operating at full speed.

“We’ve arrived.”

“We’ve arrived. This is the Imperial King Hall.”

Tang Wu and Do Heo-ok, who were walking at the very front, announced simultaneously that they had arrived at the Imperial King Hall.

The group halted all at once.

The Imperial King Hall.

A building of insane grandeur worthy of its name stood blocking their path. In truth, they had already seen it from afar before arriving, so everyone knew that building was the Imperial King Hall. But seeing it from a distance and seeing it up close were entirely different matters.

Unlike the other pavilions, which each had only one sword embedded in their roofs, the roof of the Imperial King Hall had thirty-three swords embedded into it. All were old and heavily rusted, yet they were swords whose value still shone.

They were the family head's swords once used by the previous heads of the Namgung Family. When a Namgung Family head neared death, he would embed his sword into the roof of the Imperial King Hall like that. It was a tradition upon traditions, commemorating the completion of the Imperial King’s Path before leaving the world.

That tradition itself was proof that the Namgung Family had survived for over a thousand years on the battlefield called the martial world.

The members of the Danri Family looked up at it, overwhelmed as if their hearts were shrinking, but Dong Bong-su naturally glanced at it once without any particular emotion.

To him, death meant the end of everything. From his perspective, all of that held no meaning whatsoever.

Tang Wu, however, seemed irritated by the sight.

“Tsk. I feel bad every time I come here. Who do they think they are, throwing around words like ‘imperial king’ and looking down on others like that? They should just sleep quietly in their graves. Tsk.”

Even as he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the sword embedded at the very end.

Do Heo-ok glanced at him once and said,

“Then please wait here for a moment. I will go inside and …… ”

“That’s enough. Didn’t I say they’ve been waiting anyway?”

Tang Wu brushed past Do Heo-ok and walked straight into the Imperial King Hall.

Stop.

The martial artists guarding the entrance of the Imperial King Hall failed to recognize Tang Wu and drew their swords to block his path. Even though he had appeared alongside Do Heo-ok, their duty was to prevent anyone from entering without Namgung Byeok’s permission.

“Do I need to take action myself?”

Tang Wu smiled coldly. It wasn’t a hostile tone. If anything, it almost sounded like he was in a good mood.

“He is the Hero of the Tang Family, the Soul-Chasing Poisoned Hand. Open the way for him.”

“……!”

At Do Heo-ok’s words, the guards’ faces turned pale as they finally realized whom they had stopped. They hurriedly lowered their swords.

“Heh heh. Don’t worry too much, lads. My Soul-Chasing Flying Butterfly doesn’t chase just any soul.”

Tang Wu lightly patted the guards on their shoulders and entered the Imperial King Hall. Needless to say, their bodies flinched at the touch.

Perhaps because they had experienced Tang Wu’s methods not long ago, the members of the Danri Family also shuddered once before stepping into the Imperial King Hall.

Do Heo-ok and Tang Hua followed right behind them.

Lastly,

Dong Bong-su entered the Imperial King Hall.

His eyes were still fixed on Do Heo-ok’s back.

They were the eyes of a predator measuring the timing and method of the hunt.

Chapter 31: Nameless

***

The inside of the Imperial King Hall was surprisingly simple.

There were no special decorations, nor were there many people present. There was simply one very large room, with long corridors on both sides leading to other rooms.

At the far end opposite the entrance, there was a low platform, and on top of it stood a fairly large chair made of cedar wood. That was the only piece of furniture inside the Imperial King Hall.

Seated on the chair was a middle-aged man in his fifties with a clean and refined appearance, dressed in blue robes.

He was none other than Namgung Byeok, the family head of the Namgung Family. He had been talking with a beautiful woman beside him who was wearing pale blue silk clothes, when he noticed Tang Wu approaching.

The moment he saw Tang Wu, his face lit up, and he leapt down from the platform as if flying.

“Welcome. Uncle Tang. It has truly been a long time since I last saw you.”

“Tsk tsk tsk. To think that the family head of the Namgung Family would run around so lacking in dignity. tsk.”

Though his words were like that, a faint smile formed even on Tang Wu’s usually cold face.

“I apologize. But how could I help it when I’m so happy to see you? haha.”

“I couldn’t even come to your eldest daughter’s wedding, so I came today thinking I should at least wipe your tears when you send off your younger daughter, if I’m to be called your uncle at all.”

Namgung Byeok called Tang Wu “uncle” not because they were related by blood, but because Tang Wu and Namgung Byeok’s father, Namgung Pae, the Sword Saint, had been sworn brothers. That was also why Tang Wu had meaningfully looked at the last sword embedded on the roof of the Imperial King Hall earlier.

After Namgung Pae’s death, Tang Wu had secluded himself within the Tang Family and lived in seclusion. This was his first journey into the martial world since then.

“hahaha. I’m glad you came. But how is it that you look even younger than me?”

“tsk. You’ve turned into a proper middle-aged man in the time I didn’t see you. That’s all because you’ve been lazy in training your martial arts.”

“The family head’s duties keep me busy. It’s been so long since I last held a sword that I don’t even know whether it’s rusted by now.”

At a glance, Namgung Byeok did indeed look older than Tang Wu. That alone showed how advanced Tang Wu’s martial arts cultivation was.

As the two exchanged warm conversation after a long time, a peerless beauty who looked barely twenty approached them. She was the woman who had been speaking with Namgung Byeok earlier.

Her graceful eyes, black eyebrows resembling the night sky, a sharp and cold nose bridge, lips and facial contours as if crafted meticulously by a master artisan of ages past, a well-defined jawline, glossy long hair, rosy skin, a long neck and slender figure. Could Daji or Yang Guifei truly have been this beautiful? If the term “beauty that topples nations” existed, it would fit this woman better than them.

“Greetings. great-uncle Tang. This humble girl is Hye.”

As she lightly held the hem of her pale blue silk dress and bowed her head and waist as if she might float away, admiration appeared on the faces of all the men gathered in the Imperial King Hall. However, Dong Bong-su merely maintained a calm exterior, his inner gaze remaining utterly tranquil.

Unless one was an oddity like Dong Bong-su, anyone would be unable to stop themselves from marveling at her beauty upon seeing her even once. She was Namgung Hye, the second daughter of Namgung Byeok, known as Anhui’s First Beauty, who would soon be bound by a hundred-year oath with Do Heo-ok.

A smile blending coldness and gentleness appropriately formed on Tang Wu’s face as he received her greeting.

“So you’re Hye. I saw you when you were just a little child, but now you’ve grown into such a beautiful young lady. You’re not inferior to our Hua at all. hoho.”

At Tang Wu’s praise, the blush on Namgung Hye’s cheeks deepened further. Her shy appearance was so beautiful that it once again heated the hearts of the men present.

“Hahaha. Uncle Tang. You should only say that after showing Hua’s face beyond the veil. Even so, my daughter is famous for being the most beautiful in Anhui.”

“That won’t do. Our Hua is so beautiful that without that veil, some ghost might snatch her away.”

Who said that boasting about one’s children was shameless? The atmosphere quickly grew lively, as if to prove that in cases like this, being shameless was perfectly acceptable.

After that, Tang Wu and Namgung Byeok exchanged some light greetings, and in the end, the two moved to the family head’s office inside the Imperial King Hall to speak privately.

Before leaving, Tang Wu said a few words to Tang Hua and then separately took Danri Ganghae with him. He was keeping a promise.

Seeing that, Gi Dae-hyo and Gi Man-ji also let out sighs of relief that their mission had been safely completed. They too followed the Namgung Family’s warriors and left for the Guest Hall.

Now, only Dong Bong-su, Tang Hua, and Do Heo-ok with Namgung Hye remained in the Imperial King Hall.

Only then did Tang Hua step closer to Namgung Hye and greet her.

“Hye unni. It’s been a long time.”

“Yes. It really has been a long time, younger sister Hua.”

The two had been close enough since childhood, visiting each other’s families, to call one another older sister and younger sister.

“It’s been so long, and you’re not even going to show your face?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, elder sister. I’ve gotten so used to wearing this that I even forgot I was wearing it. hoho.”

At Namgung Hye’s light reproach, Tang Hua finally removed her veil.

Her drawn-like eyebrows and sharp nose were no less striking than Namgung Hye’s, while her slightly bold lips, jade-like skin, and large owl-like eyes gave Tang Hua an exotic, western-region feel compared to Namgung Hye’s pure appearance. Yet her proportions were perfectly balanced, making her truly beautiful.

Overall, if Namgung Hye was a beauty with a pure and innocent aura, Tang Hua was an intellectual beauty with a cold aura. Both were so beautiful that it was difficult for anyone to judge superiority between them. If the men of the Danri Family had seen Tang Hua’s face behind the veil, they would not have slept tonight. No, there would surely already be people losing sleep just from having seen Namgung Hye’s face alone.

As Tang Hua removed her veil, Do Heo-ok approached as if he had been waiting for that moment and clasped his fists in greeting.

“I was in such a rush earlier that I couldn’t properly greet you. I am Do Heo-ok.”

“I’m Tang Hua, brother-in-law. Is it okay if I call you brother-in-law?”

“Younger sister Hua. It’s still too soon for that……”

At Tang Hua’s words “brother-in-law,” Namgung Hye grew shy and once again a red hue bloomed on her cheeks.

“Hahaha. brother-in-law, huh. I like that.”

“I really never imagined that shy Hye unni would get married before me.”

“Y-you little!”

Namgung Hye blushed again and hid behind Do Heo-ok. It was hard to tell who was the older sister and who was the younger.

“Hoho. If she’s that shy, I wonder how she’ll manage the wedding night.”

“Younger sister Hua. How can you say something like that!”

“Hahaha. Miss Tang, that’s enough. If younger sister Hye runs away on the wedding night, you might have to take responsibility.”

“Hohoho. I’m sorry. But surely that won’t happen?”

“There’s a saying that ‘surely’ is what gets people killed, isn’t there? haha.”

Namgung Hye lowered her head even more, flustered by the continued teasing from Do Heo-ok and Tang Hua.

“Younger sister Hua, stop it……”

Her face turning so red it was practically strawberry-colored, Namgung Hye finally shot a glare and spoke up.

Tang Hua stuck out her tongue cutely in response.

“Well, who told you to get married so early?”

“But then, who is this person……?”

In the end, unable to endure any longer, Namgung Hye forcibly changed the topic. She gestured toward Dong Bong-su with her eyes as she spoke.

Tang Hua looked at Dong Bong-su and lightly frowned.

“Ah, this person is……”

She hesitated for a moment. It was awkward to decide how to introduce him.

Tang Wu seemed to be placing great expectations on this person, but honestly, Tang Hua was not yet convinced. Above all, no matter how heaven-gifted his talent might be, his age was far too great.

To learn martial arts at such a late age and reach great mastery?

She had never seen such a person. There might be a few if one searched the entire history of the martial world, but at least within her own knowledge, there were none. On top of that, the elders of the family had not yet given their approval.

Just as she was trailing off, unable to continue, it happened.

“I am Sosam.”

Dong Bong-su introduced himself directly.

The reason he introduced himself as Sosam was simple. That was the answer Tang Hua wanted, and also because he judged that the more Tang Hua hesitated, the more Do Heo-ok’s attention would be drawn to him.

Even so, Dong Bong-su had already anticipated that he could not completely prevent Do Heo-ok’s interest from turning toward him.

Whether Sosam or Tang Sam, either way, he would certainly be an “odd existence” to Do Heo-ok.

“Sosam? What is your family name?”

At Dong Bong-su’s words, Do Heo-ok felt doubt and asked about his surname. Most people in the Central Plains had surnames. Even those of low birth usually possessed one.

“I don’t…… have one yet.”

Dong Bong-su lowered his head and deliberately let his words trail off.

“Don’t have one yet?”

For the first time, a strange light appeared in Do Heo-ok’s eyes.

His gaze quickly swept over Dong Bong-su’s entire body.

Though he wore clean black clothes that looked newly bought, they seemed oddly ill-fitting.

A body emaciated from not eating properly, hair so disheveled that it wouldn’t be strange if birds came and laid eggs in it. No matter how one looked at him, he was not someone who belonged alongside Tang Wu or Tang Hua.

‘No, no.’

He didn’t even look like someone who would qualify as a temporary attendant.

Silver-carrying servants, laborers transporting tribute goods, or escort agency guards were, strictly speaking, not guests of the Namgung Family and thus did not need to enter as attendants. Only those with enough skill or reputation to stay in the Guest Hall as guests of the Namgung Family, or their companions, could enter.

Though Dong Bong-su looked like that, he was nonetheless someone Tang Wu had personally brought along. And seeing that he had not gone with the Danri Family members to the Guest Hall, he was clearly someone from the Tang Family.

‘But he has no surname?’

What is this person?

Chapter 32: An Outing

Do Heo-ok once again looked Dong Bong-su over.

But he still could not make sense of it.

Dong Bong-su looked no more and no less than a servant.

If he had at least looked like a beggar, one might think he belonged to the Beggars’ Sect, but that was not the case either.

“Y-yes ……”

Dong Bong-su answered weakly.

Do Heo-ok glanced at him once, then smiled and lightly tapped his shoulder.

“Haha. It’s fine. There’s no need to worry over something like that. If you don’t have a surname, you can just make one, can’t you?”

At first glance, it looked like a young hero comforting someone insignificant, but in truth, he was examining his physique.

With just a light tap on the shoulder, one could not grasp everything, but it was enough to tell whether the body was trained, or at least easy to train.

From what Do Heo-ok had just felt with his fingertips……

Dong Bong-su’s body was extremely ordinary.

‘No, no. It’s actually far below ordinary.’

His body looked emaciated, as if he could not eat properly, and his bones and muscles were thin.

Paradoxically, that very fact stirred Do Heo-ok’s suspicion.

A fleeting doubt flashed through his eyes and vanished in an instant—so quickly that even Tang Hua and Namgung Hye, standing right beside him, failed to notice it.

Do Heo-ok had a touch of fastidiousness.

He had a disposition that tolerated no deviation whatsoever when dealing with any matter.

The perfectly symmetrical balance of his body was also the result of that personality.

One of the biggest reasons he had been selected as a shadow was precisely because of his pursuit of perfection.

To him, people like Sosam were nothing more than specks of dust.

However, this was a speck of dust he did not fully understand.

It was unlikely to become a problem.

But—

‘That doesn’t mean the possibility of becoming a problem is zero.’

Just as Dong Bong-su had taken notice of Do Heo-ok, Do Heo-ok also began to pay attention to Dong Bong-su, disguised as Sosam.

“I thought you were someone from the Tang family since you were always sticking close to Miss Tang, but it seems that’s not the case?”

The moment he heard that, Dong Bong-su realized it.

That Do Heo-ok had begun to watch him closely.

‘This is dangerous.’

Although he had regained his voice, he was still not in a position to speak freely.

For now, he was nothing more than a gentle lamb following wherever Tang Hua led him.

Dong Bong-su turned his head to look at Tang Hua.

Tang Hua gave a light smile.

“Brother-in-law, please stop asking. He’s just someone who’s traveling with us due to certain circumstances.”

“Is that so?”

“Ah, we’re tired from walking all day. I’d like to rest now.”

Tang Hua probably intended to defuse an awkward situation, but that only deepened Do Heo-ok’s suspicion.

“Ah, I see. My apologies. I ended up talking too long with someone who’s tired. Then, please follow me.”

For the moment, Dong Bong-su had escaped Do Heo-ok’s gaze, but he knew that Do Heo-ok would continue observing him for some time.

If their positions were reversed, he would have done the same.

***

Dong Bong-su and Tang Hua were led by Do Heo-ok and Namgung Hye toward the Guest Hall of Heaven.

The Namgung Family had three types of Guest Halls.

They were divided into the Guest Hall of Heaven, the Guest Hall of Earth, and the Guest Hall of Man, named after the Three Talents of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

Among them, the Guest Hall of Heaven was lodging for distinguished guests from major Murim sects or renowned martial artists.

The Guest Hall of Earth was lodging for sect leaders or elders from mid-sized or small sects.

The Guest Hall of Man was the true ‘Guest Hall’ where all the remaining ‘others’ stayed.

The Guest Hall of Heaven.

Its scale was impressive, but its location was even better.

The estate of the Namgung Family was built along the shores of Chaohu, and the Guest Hall of Heaven was located right next to the southern water gate.

Strictly speaking, the Guest Hall of Heaven and the water gate were not built on land, but over Chaohu itself—structures standing atop the water.

On small islands flanking a small bay called Chao Bay, the Guest Hall of Heaven had been built, with pleasure boats moored inside the bay and a water gate erected at its entrance.

This, of course, served to block enemy incursions.

Guests staying at the Guest Hall of Heaven would usually ride the Namgung Family’s large pleasure boats at least once to enjoy the night view of Chaohu.

Chaohu was one of the Five Great Lakes of the Central Plains, and its scenery was famed as the most beautiful among them.

Its night view in particular was stunning, so much so that poets and scholars had used Chaohu’s nocturnal scenery as inspiration since ancient times.

By the time Dong Bong-su and the others arrived at the Guest Hall of Heaven, the sun had completely set, and the moon hung diagonally in the sky.

Moonlight reflected off the waters of Chao Bay, creating a mystical scene.

“It’s beautiful……”

Tang Hua could not suppress her admiration as she gazed at the sight.

Although she had visited the Namgung Family once or twice before, this was her first time seeing Chaohu at night like this.

The Guest Hall of Heaven, resembling a floating garden, and the view of Chao Bay were more than enough to make Tang Hua’s heart flutter, now that she had grown into a young lady.

“Isn’t it beautiful? We’re thinking of going on a night outing on Chaohu today. Would you like to come along too?”

Seeing Tang Hua in awe, Namgung Hye made the suggestion.

Judging from her words, the two of them had clearly planned from the start to go enjoy Chaohu’s night view that day.

“Oh come on, elder sister. I’m not that oblivious anymore.”

Perhaps it was something about Tang Hua’s tone.

Namgung Hye blushed again and lowered her head.

At least this time, the darkness of the night partially concealed her face.

At that moment, Do Heo-ok, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected.

“It’s fine. In any case, in a few days we’ll be spending our entire lives together. Is it really too much to yield a single day to my sister-in-law? If you’re not too tired, let’s all go together. Around this time, when the moon is nearing fullness, Chaohu is at its most beautiful—more so than during the full moon itself.”

As he spoke, Do Heo-ok cast a subtle glance toward Dong Bong-su.

Seeing that, Dong Bong-su understood Do Heo-ok’s intentions.

He wanted to learn more about him.

The reason was obvious.

The two pairs of pretentious eyes—Dong Bong-su’s and Do Heo-ok’s—briefly intertwined in the air, separated by a narrow gap.

Dong Bong-su avoided Do Heo-ok’s gaze just enough not to draw too much attention.

Even so, he knew he could not dispel a suspicion that had already taken root.

Naturally, there was still a large gap between the two.

Dong Bong-su had a certain conviction about Do Heo-ok, while Do Heo-ok harbored only suspicion toward Dong Bong-su.

It seemed small, but the difference was stark.

Like the difference between a student answering a multiple-choice question and a student handed an exam sheet containing a single ambiguous sentence, not even knowing whether it was a question.

As Dong Bong-su deliberately turned his gaze to the moon to avoid Do Heo-ok’s eyes, Tang Hua spoke in a delighted voice.

“Is it really okay, brother-in-law?”

“Of course.”

At Do Heo-ok’s straightforward reply, Namgung Hye smiled brightly.

Seeing her expression, it was clear that Namgung Hye had already completely fallen for Do Heo-ok.

“Then shall we all go together? We don’t know when I’ll be able to look at the moon with my sister again. It would be nice to see it together at Chaohu.”

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

Namgung Hye smiled beautifully as she took Tang Hua’s hand.

Tang Hua clasped her hand back, then looked at Dong Bong-su and said,

“You’re okay with it, right?”

It was a forceful notice that left him no room to choose.

From her perspective, it was perhaps only natural.

Because of Tang Wu’s repeated instructions, the two had to move together anyway.

Even if they were assigned separate rooms at the Guest Hall of Heaven, Dong Bong-su would have to stay with Tang Hua until Tang Wu arrived.

In that case, she thought it far better to share the parting emotions with Namgung Hye while enjoying Chaohu’s night view—known as the Heavenly Scenery.

But from Dong Bong-su’s standpoint, this night outing was extremely uncomfortable.

A mysterious beast named Do Heo-ok was watching him.

This was Murim, a world where one never knew what might happen.

The possibility was slim, but what if Do Heo-ok somehow realized that he possessed a Bloodless Body?