Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 98

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#098

“One of Salmak’s assassins was killed in Henan Province.”

“An assassin died?”

“Yes. It seems he was killed while carrying out an assassination contract. The problem is that Salmak won’t just let this slide.”

“So that’s Uncle Mugyeong?”

“That’s right. All of Salmak’s information networks are tracking the Ghost of Martial Arts. That’s how it got caught in our network.”

Yeon-hee added more information to the serious-faced Ja-gang-cheon.

“Salmak calls their five most outstanding assassins the Osalsaeng, and one of them is currently pursuing Mugyeong.”

“How did he get involved in such a thing?”

“We couldn’t determine that.”

“Hmm.”

As Ja-gang-cheon fell into thought, Yeon-hee became anxious.

“I told you because you asked, but please don’t get involved in this matter.”

“Would you say the same if sister were in the same situation?”

“If the opponent is Salmak, yes. Please absolutely do not help me.”

Ja-gang-cheon was puzzled.

“Is Salmak that formidable?”

“Yes. More than you think, Lord. Salmak never fails when they accept an assassination contract.”

“Never?”

“Yes. They keep trying until they succeed. If one assassin fails, they send another. If they fail today, they try tomorrow. Even if it takes one year or three years, they wait for their opportunity. That’s not all.”

Yeon-hee spoke clearly so Ja-gang-cheon would definitely remember.

“Yesterday’s friend might slip you poison. A wife who lived peacefully for 30 years stabbed her sleeping husband’s throat. A mother died eating fruit given by her six-year-old son, and they used a hundred people as bait to kill one person.”

The content was so disgusting it made one’s stomach turn just hearing it.

“They don’t discriminate in their means and methods. You must suspect everyone and trust nothing. Food, clothing, family, friends – even everyone passing by on the street could turn into an assassin. That’s why there’s a saying that from the moment Salmak accepts a contract, that person’s life is already over. Their life may continue, but they can’t live normally.”

“So Uncle Mugyeong might be in that state right now.”

“Sigh. Lord. Please restrain yourself this time. Honestly, you don’t have a deep relationship with the Ghost of Martial Arts. He was the one who rudely challenged you to a duel.”

“I need that uncle for two reasons.”

“What are they?”

“First, he has exceptional talent in teaching martial arts. He’s an indispensable talent for our manor.”

“And the second?”

“I like Uncle Mugyeong.”

“Sigh.”

Yeon-hee could clearly see the future.

“Even our Hao-mun hasn’t properly grasped Salmak. That means there’s not much we can help you with.”

“I understand. But you can find out Uncle Mugyeong’s location, right?”

Yeon-hee didn’t answer.

“You already know.”

“You know too much about me.”

“Sister isn’t a difficult person. You don’t lie to me either.”

“Whew.”

Yeon-hee sighed until the last moment, stalling for time, but eventually had no choice but to reveal it.

“He was last spotted in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.”

“Thank you. But how should I pay for this information?”

“If you return without getting hurt, I’ll make it free.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

After Yeon-hee left, Ja-gang-cheon told everyone about this. Then Song Ja-in showed the same reaction as Yeon-hee.

“Salmak is out of the question.”

“Then should we abandon Uncle Mugyeong?”

Song Ja-in closed her mouth.

The words ‘It’s not even a long-standing relationship, is it?’ rose to her throat.

But saying that would be like spitting in her own face.

‘It was the same when Lord accepted me.’

When he accepted a master of poison arts that everyone avoided without any prejudice, their relationship wasn’t long either. It was actually shorter than with Mugyeong.

“I’m not thinking of acting unilaterally. Instead, I want to hear your honest opinions.”

Ja-gang-cheon asked them.

“Don’t think about the danger, just think about one thing. Would you like Uncle Mugyeong to be part of our manor family?”

“Yes! Hyeongnim!”

Pan Seok-i answered immediately without hesitation.

“He asked me to get strong quickly so we could spar every day! I want to keep that promise!”

“I’d also like Instructor Mugyeong to be here. He’s excellent as an instructor, and even without that ability, he’s a master essential to the manor.”

Pansuk and Cheon-gu stated their reasons in turn. Now only Song Ja-in remained.

“He has affection for the manor. If he becomes part of our family, he’ll probably do well.”

Hearing their sincere feelings, Ja-gang-cheon made his decision.

“Then I’ll go and bring him back.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No. Someone needs to guard the manor. I think I’ll feel at ease if Aunt is here.”

Though Ja-gang-cheon reached a conclusion, no one said “have a safe trip.”

They were anxious.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m going recklessly.”

Ja-gang-cheon gestured to them.

“Follow me. There’s something I want to show you.”

The place they headed to was Ja-gang-cheon’s treasure vault.

***

“So you’re going after all.”

Ja-gang-cheon had prepared everything for departure and visited Hao-mun. It was to get detailed information one last time.

“Don’t worry. I’ll return safely.”

“Fine. You seem pressed for time, so I’ll tell you right away. First, you need to know about Shanxi Province. It’s different from the rest of the Central Plains.”

Shanxi Province wasn’t a very important region in the Martial Arts World. Rather than the martial arts world, Shanxi Province was a strategic point managed by the Government Office.

This was because Shanxi Province was the first line of defense against invasions by northern barbarian tribes.

Due to this situation, it became an environment where large sects couldn’t grow stably, and naturally small and medium sects proliferated.

Eventually, Shanxi Province created its own unique ecosystem different from other regions, with Salmak and Heukjeom being representative groups.

Salmak, which made money by taking human lives as collateral.

Heukjeom, which would sell anything if it made money.

They hid in darkness, pursuing only profit without discriminating in means and methods.

“Salmak is literally a group of assassins. Under Salmak’s leader are five assassins called Osalsaeng, famous for never failing a single contract. Countless masters have died at their hands. There are other active assassins too, but their exact number isn’t known. We can only estimate roughly ten.”

“How’s their recent activity?”

“We can’t know all of Salmak’s contracts. However, it’s been over twenty years since the leader was revealed to have carried out a contract. So there are rumors he’s dead, but nothing’s been confirmed.”

“What about Osalsaeng?”

“Based on known contracts, three members’ activities have been confirmed. Nothing is known about the other two.”

Assassins and Salmak intermittently show off their activities to prove their existence.

Yeon-hee’s information was based on that.

“Be careful. That place has no order.”

“That’s perfect. I don’t know much about order either.”

Ja-gang-cheon left Jiao-nan, leaving behind Yeon-hee who was still worried.

***

Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.

When Ja-gang-cheon entered Taiyuan, the most unfamiliar sight was the presence of government troops.

Wherever he went, he frequently saw government soldiers in military uniforms, and there were large-scale military facilities even at the village entrance.

‘So this is why martial arts sects couldn’t establish themselves here.’

In places where government forces were strong, martial arts forces inevitably weakened.

As a result, it became an environment favorable to organizations operating in the shadows like Salmak or Heukjeom rather than openly visible forces.

‘But there are quite a lot of people.’

Another unexpected thing after entering Taiyuan was the scale of the market. He had thought there would be fewer people due to frequent invasions by northern barbarians, but that wasn’t the case.

‘Well, it is some distance from the northern border.’

Rather, as people who came down from the north began gathering in the most prosperous and safe village, Taiyuan’s scale grew even larger.

“One dumpling, please.”

Ja-gang-cheon, biting into a dumpling bought from a street stall, leisurely passed through the market.

Though the clothing was somewhat different, the lively market scene wasn’t much different from other regions.

However, he had been feeling uncomfortable gazes for a while now.

“Hmm.”

Ja-gang-cheon put the remaining dumpling in his mouth at once, brushed off his hands, and turned his gaze. Then he made eye contact with a figure watching him from a second-floor inn.

The waitstaff who had been wiping the railing quickly turned away and pretended not to notice when Ja-gang-cheon smiled.

“A Heukjeom person?”

Heukjeom was a group like Hao-mun but without rules.

While Hao-mun at least had lines they wouldn’t cross, Heukjeom did not.

Though they basically bought and sold information, they also put prices on human trafficking, aphrodisiacs, and even human lives.

-Heukjeom and Salmak have a strange relationship. They’re bitter enemies yet sometimes coexist for profit. That’s how most sects in Shanxi Province are. It’s a barren environment, so they cling to small gains.

Ja-gang-cheon fell into thought, recalling Yeon-hee’s words.

‘I need to find out where Uncle Mugyeong went.’

Ha-o-mun-do only said that Taiyuan was the last place they saw him, but they didn’t know where he went from here.

Ja-gang-cheon had come to Taiyuan to find his whereabouts.

Whoosh!

Ja-gang-cheon leaped up in an instant.

“Hello.”

He arrived in front of the waitstaff he had made eye contact with earlier.

“C-customer. Please enter through the first floor.”

The waitstaff spoke in a trembling voice as if flustered.

“Should I go back down?”

“No. Please sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

Ja-gang-cheon pulled over a nearby chair and sat down.

“What can I get you?”

“What do you sell here?”

When the waitstaff looked puzzled, Ja-gang-cheon said.

“I heard you can buy anything at Heukjeom.”

“Heukjeom?”

“If not Heukjeom, which organization do you belong to?”

“I’m just an inn waitstaff.”

“Is that so? I understand.”

Ja-gang-cheon left those words and stood up from the chair.

‘Now they’ll come looking for me on their own, right?’

Since it was a place where numerous sects were in disorder, meeting Heukjeom would require going through complicated procedures.

‘At this level, they’ll come looking on their own.’

That’s why he deliberately mentioned Heukjeom directly.

After that, Ja-gang-cheon leisurely toured the market.

Then he discovered a notable alley.

“It’s Ma-si-jang.”

Horses from the meadows where barbarians lived were treated as top-quality goods wherever you went.

So Taiyuan had the largest horse market, which included not only horses but also carriages, horseshoes, saddles – all items related to horses were comprehensively gathered there.

“Wow.”

Ja-gang-cheon deliberately made an exaggerated expression as he set out to look at horses.

“Should I learn horseback riding too?”

When traveling long distances, there were times when horses were needed. Though lightness skills were convenient, there were limits to internal energy after all.

“You look really gentle.”

Though he had seen horses many times, this was the first time he had observed them so closely.

Among them, a horse with glossy black coat and feathers with a slight purple tint caught his eye.

Unlike other horses, it was irritably snorting, and when seen up close, it was much larger in build.

“Is your name perhaps Pansuk?”

The muscles showing on the surface were so distinct they weren’t hidden by the fur. But scars were visible throughout the solid muscles.

Judging by the whip marks, it seemed to have gone through quite a rough process getting to the market.

But it still wasn’t calmed down, so it made a fuss whenever people approached.

Snort!

When Ja-gang-cheon approached, it likewise showed displeasure with strong snorting.

“You’re uncomfortable being confined, aren’t you?”

He had more things he wanted to say, but stopped.

‘It’s not like I’m going to take responsibility for it.’

Since he hadn’t come to buy a horse, Ja-gang-cheon stepped back. But for some reason, the creature kept staring at Ja-gang-cheon intently.

“Hey. Don’t look at me with those eyes.”

Was it because he acted differently from other humans?

Or had it recognized him as someone special?

The creature that had been irritable became docile and showed gentle eyes.

“What’s wrong? I’ve never even ridden a horse.”

Just as Ja-gang-cheon was trying to look away, a man approached.

The man in his late forties wearing worn robes had a small build, but the lean muscles forged by labor were clearly visible.

“He’s called Godo. It’s a name given because neither horses nor people want to keep him nearby.”

Godo .

It meant lonely island.

That name tugged at Ja-gang-cheon’s heart.

“You could have given him a better name.”

“The new owner will give him a name anyway. With that one, the journey to Jiao-nan won’t be boring.”

Ja-gang-cheon wasn’t particularly surprised that the other party mentioned Jiao-nan. He had known from the start that this wasn’t an ordinary man.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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