The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 444

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 444

Fran, the commander of the White Lotus Society, stepped forward using a movement technique and positioned himself beside Airand.

“Commander.”

Airand turned his gaze. He had already regained his composure, his expression blank and composed.
Despite taking a solid blow from Raon, he had managed to suppress his emotions in this brief moment—a man whose capacity was simply on a different scale.

“Are you certain you’re alright?”

Fran observed the noticeably drained complexions of the White Lotus Society swordsmen and gnawed at his lip.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Airand didn’t even spare a glance at the White Lotus Society swordsmen following behind, shaking his head.

“Even if they survive this mission, they’ll die in the next one anyway. Stepping stones only need to serve their purpose.”

Despite the White Lotus Society’s considerable size, the number of personnel who could provide adequate support was limited. Since he had already determined which members would accompany him to the end, the rest were of no concern to him, whether they lived or died.

“But what Raon said….”
“It will have some impact, certainly. But they know they cannot leave the White Lotus Society. Abandoning the organization is something only losers do. Just keep them from falling apart with appropriate encouragement.”
“Understood.”

Fran exhaled slowly and nodded. He knew it was cruel, but it was unavoidable if they were to preserve the White Lotus Society.

“However, it seemed Raon Zigheart was about to say something important earlier. Would you prefer not to hear it?”

Raon had approached urgently in an atmosphere so tense it seemed he might draw his sword and fight at any moment. The fact that he appeared to have noticed something weighed on my mind.

“No need to worry. He was clearly trying to provoke us in some other way. I was considering lending him support to keep the Main Lineage in check, but he’s far more arrogant and presumptuous than anticipated.”

Airand recalled Raon’s crimson eyes, which had shown not the slightest tremor, and his expression darkened.

‘That damned bastard….’

Golden hair and crimson eyes. The moment I beheld that brilliant, overwhelming radiance, Glen Zigheart standing in the heavens came to mind.
Raon had already grown to a point where he could evoke thoughts of Glen.

“Hmm, it seems he continues to build momentum even now….”
“That could be another of his tricks. Pay it no mind.”

Airand stared straight ahead, his fists clenching tightly.

“When Raon Zigheart returns, I will crush him beneath my own hands.”

*

*

*

“You….”

Hyeol Unkgyeom ground his teeth savagely, his expression twisted with indignation.

“To speak his name so carelessly—do you truly wish to die!”

Genuine fury surged through him, and crimson veins bulged visibly in his eyes.

“This matter will not be overlooked! We shall lodge a proper protest with the Zigheart….”
“You’ve lost your nerve.”

I scoffed and took a step closer to Hyeol Unkgyeom.

“It won’t be you who lets this pass—it will be us.”
“What do you mean….”
“The narrow path between the two lakes marks the boundary. Beyond it lies the Northern Region, which is Zigheart Territory. In other words, you were hiding yourselves in Zigheart Territory where the incident occurred.”

I drew the Heavenly Blade with force, the steel singing sharply as it left the scabbard.

Shhring.

The ominous sound of the blade’s unsheathing drained the color from Hyeol Unkgyeom and the White Whale warriors’ faces.

“Whether you’re the White Whale or the New Rising Powers, rootless vermin like you deserve immediate execution. But I’ll give you a chance.”

I stepped forward and leveled the Celestial Blade at Hyeol Unkgyeom’s throat.

“Tell me why you were hiding here and what you know.”

The White Whale was an organization founded by Heekyuk Je among the New Rising Powers, and I’d heard they possessed knowledge of all the world’s secrets, like the white whales that roamed both the deep seas and the heavens.
There was no way such information-savvy opportunists would hide here without purpose.

“M-Master!”
“You fool! Do you know who this person is?!”

The White Whale’s warriors sprang to their feet upon seeing the blade pointed at Hyeol Unkgyeom. But they froze in place, unable to charge at me.

“Don’t move.”
“One finger twitches and your neck comes off.”
“Stay still.”

Burren Zigheart, Martha, and Lunan Slion had already positioned themselves behind the warriors, their blades drawn.

“You stay put as well.”

Mark Goeten seized the last warrior’s shoulder, his voice dripping with menace.

“These filthy wretches….”

Hyeol Unkgyeom’s aura flared as his brow furrowed.

“Not content with insulting our king, you launch a sneak attack? Should I accept that Zigheart is picking a fight with the White Whale?”
“A fight?”

I brushed my hair back with a cold laugh.

“A fight requires opponents of equal standing. What quarrel could a shrimp wedged between whales possibly have?”
“Don’t insult us!”
“I have no intention of trading words with the likes of you.”
“Ugh….”
“Speak.”

Raon unleashed a keen momentum as sharp as an island blade, pressing down on Hyeol Unkgyeom.

“Why did you hide in this place of all locations?”

If they utilized the artifact that had concealed the presence of Hyeol Unkgyeom and the White Whale warriors, there were many other places to hide besides this lake.
I was curious why they had chosen to hide near the Frozen Lake, which would have been easier to find among the two lakes.

“Listen carefully. The tree where you were concealing yourselves is within Zigheart Territory. Your precious king and the New Rising Powers won’t be of any help here.”

Mana surged violently through my circuits, and the scorching heat of Manhwagong erupted into crimson flames dancing across the blade of the Heavenly Judgment Sword.

“Just kill him.”

Martha pressed a blade against the warrior’s neck while Martha held him by the throat, smacking her lips.

“These bastards know nothing. It’s a waste of time.”
“I agree.”

Burren Zigheart nodded, twisting the warrior’s arm.

“I’ve heard that Heekyuk Je among the New Rising Powers is skilled in various schemes. There was even an occasion where he extracted the very souls of two Grand Masters right before their eyes.”

He had already gathered information about the New Rising Powers and frowned, warning that Heekyuk Je was dangerous.

“The White Whale wouldn’t have simply released someone of this caliber. We should eliminate him before he can cause any more trouble.”
“I’m ready.”

Lunan Slion blinked his eyes as if prepared to thrust his blade at any moment.

I smiled faintly as I observed the murderous glint in the Gwangpung Corps members’ eyes.

‘They’re quite good at acting.’

I had instructed them never to kill anyone, regardless of who the opponent was, and only to subdue them. Yet the unit leaders were making brutal threats despite knowing they couldn’t kill.
They had truly become warriors capable of fulfilling their roles anywhere.

‘And besides…’

The intimidation had worked perfectly.

Except for Hyeol Unkgyeom, the White Whale warriors seemed convinced that Martha, Lunan, and Burren were serious, their pale lips trembling as they grew weary of the murderous intent.

“This is your last chance.”

Raon looked down at Hyeol Unkgyeom with a gaze as cold as a sword’s edge.

“Tell me why you were here.”

As if to prove his sincerity, a murderous aura of unprecedented intensity bloomed above the Jecheon Blade.

A deep, resonant hum filled the air.

Not only Hyeol Unkgyeom but even the Gwangpung Corps trembled at the fingertips, overwhelmed by that killing intent.

“Ugh….”

Hyeol Unkgyeom swallowed hard, unable to rashly charge forward or rush in.

‘Is this truly Raon Zigheart….’

The brilliant golden hair that seemed to wrap sunlight itself, and the transparent crimson eyes that held a red moon above a wine glass—thanks to his striking appearance, I could immediately recognize that the swordsman before me was the White Sword Dragon, Raon Zigheart.

But his martial prowess was on an entirely different level from what the White Whale’s intelligence suggested. I had thought him to be at the Master-level, equal to myself, but seeing him directly, I felt an aura that was beyond approach.

Raon lifted his sword with such natural ease that he appeared relaxed, yet not a single opening was visible anywhere.
If I attacked now, my head would surely roll to the ground.

‘Even if he had reached Master-level Supreme, it wouldn’t be strange….’

It doesn’t make sense, but even if Raon Zigheart grew and reached the highest master level, it would be impossible for him to create such an overwhelmingly powerful aura.

“Almost grandmaster level….”

The overwhelming difference in power was so stark that it felt like I was facing not a Master, but a Grand Master.

“Still…”

Hyeol Unkgyeom bit his tongue and lowered his right hand downward.

‘I can’t back down.’

This was a mission given directly by the Emperor himself. While my subordinate’s mistake had exposed our location, I couldn’t afford to reveal any information.

“You’re curious why I was here, aren’t you?”

As I spoke, I gripped the sickle I’d hung behind my back. I opened my mouth again, preparing to strike at Raon’s neck at any moment.

“If you guarantee our safety, I’ll tell you what I know. But don’t even think about demanding anything more.”

I stammered as if paralyzed by fear, lulling Raon into complacency while slowly drawing the aura from my dantian.

“Don’t do anything foolish….”

The moment Raon’s mouth opened, Hyeol Unkgyeom drew the sickle from his back and swept it upward in a vicious arc. It was the Crimson Slash Technique’s fastest and most enigmatic move—the Piercing Flash Slash.

Screeeech!

Hyeol Unkgyeom’s lips curled upward as he gazed at the sickle now stained crimson.

‘Perfect!’

The sickle, infused with the Piercing Flash Slash’s power, erupted in a scarlet aura as it shot toward Raon’s chest, yet his sword remained motionless. It was a flawless ambush.

‘Next, I’ll….’

I was about to activate the Crimson Slash Technique’s secret art to finish Raon decisively.

Flash!

A crimson bolt of lightning materialized before my eyes, and a searing pain erupted from my right shoulder.

“Ah, ah… AAAAAGH!”

Hyeol Unkgyeom screamed, his gaze snapping downward. His right arm, which had been executing the Piercing Flash Slash, lay on the ground, while blood gushed from his shoulder.

“How… how is this possible….”

Clutching my right shoulder with my left hand, I stumbled backward.

The problem wasn’t that Raon had detected my ambush. I never imagined he could mount such a swift and ferocious counterattack in that brief moment.
A chilling sword strike I couldn’t have blocked even if I’d known it was coming. Physical and mental shock collided, leaving no room for thought.

“I told you. Stop wasting your time.”

Raon drove the Celestial Sword, unmarred by a single drop of blood, into Hyeol Unkgyeom’s left shoulder.

“Gaahhhhh….”

Hyeol Unkgyeom collapsed to the ground as if his strength had drained away, thrashing like a fish gasping outside water.

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Hyeol Unkgyeom’s jaw tremble.

‘His movements are lighter.’

Hyeol Unkgyeom’s ambush had certainly been swift and intricate, yet breaking through its flow proved as simple as breathing.
The realization hadn’t fully crystallized yet, but my swordsmanship had undoubtedly grown thanks to Glen and Lectar.

“Y-you think you’ll survive this….”
“Why were you hiding here?”

Raon ignored Hyeol Unkgyeom’s threat and twisted the Celestial Sword embedded in his shoulder to the right.

“Krraaaaaaagh!”

Hyeol Unkgyeom couldn’t suppress a scream of agony. The fact that he refused to divulge information even under such extreme pain marked him as quite the hardened veteran.

But Hyeol Unkgyeom wasn’t my only target.

Raon twisted the Celestial Sword once more, watching the vicious spray of blood erupting from both of Hyeol Unkgyeom’s shoulders as if his life meant nothing.

“Ugh, I don’t kn—”
“Then die.”
“Wait!”

Just as I was about to sever Hyeol Unkgyeom’s neck with the Celestial Sword, a bone-chilling shriek erupted from behind. It was the youngest-looking of his subordinates.

“W-we were ordered to wait here until other matters unfolded elsewhere!”

Judging by their gazes and conversation, these underground forces seemed to possess a sense of loyalty unusual for their kind, so I tested them—and it appeared to work.

“What is your name?”
“Torin….”
“Speak clearly. What did you mean by waiting here?”

I stanched the bleeding from Hyeol Unkgyeom’s shoulder to keep him from dying, then rose to my feet.

“Torin. You fool….”

Hyeol Unkgyeom parted his parched lips with a pallid expression.

“Don’t speak. That is….”
“Silence.”

I kicked Hyeol Unkgyeom’s jaw upward, shutting his mouth.

“It’s not like it’s anything important anyway!”

Torin opened his mouth again despite Hyeol Unkgyeom’s warning.

“W-we don’t know much either. We were simply told to wait here, observe any changes that occur in this lake, and then return to report what we witnessed.”

He shook his head, saying that was the order he’d received from above.

“They told you to observe from here?”

I brushed the blood from Jeskyung Sword and surveyed the frozen lake.

‘Why?’

I sensed nothing particularly unusual.

I examined the area surrounding the lake and its depths using the Ring of Fire and Seolhwa’s senses, but detected nothing remarkable.

“Torin.”

I calmed my energy and turned my gaze toward Torin.

“Did that order come from above?”
“Y-yes….”
“And you were told not to move from this location?”
“We never received any instructions regarding movement at all.”

He shook his head, explaining that the concealment artifacts they’d been using would lose their effect the moment they moved.

“Hmm….”

I touched the blade of the Celestial Sword, my lips curling slightly.

‘Heekyuk Je.’

There were many rumors that Heekyuk Je was a man whose true intentions remained unknowable, regardless of his martial prowess.
A monster who commanded forces comparable to the Six Emperors themselves wouldn’t simply send out such skilled warriors with artifacts and let them go without purpose.

‘He must know something.’

Heekyuk Je clearly possessed information about the Cheoljeon Unit’s disappearance that had occurred here.

‘But….’

I couldn’t seek him out now.

Meeting Heekyuk Je would be difficult, and even if I did, he likely wouldn’t divulge any information. For now, I had to find the Cheoljeon Unit using only what I could learn from this place.

‘Still, I’ve gained a hint that something exists here.’

I crouched down and placed my hand on the Frozen Lake. As expected, I felt nothing, but I still possessed the most crucial means of detecting demonic energy.

‘I wanted to conserve it because the quantity is limited….’

From the various energies swirling within my dantian, I drew forth the most alien and shadowy power.

A deep resonant hum echoed forth.

Sacred light bloomed from the darkness concealing my form between Manhwagong and Glacia, flowing through my mana circuits and blossoming from my palm.

A brilliant radiance ignited.

I examined the frozen lake once more, not only with the perception I had cultivated through Manhwagong, but also with sacred force that I had infused into my fingertips.

Sacred force was the most efficient means of detecting demonic energy. In particular, since my sacred force had blossomed through deceit, demonic energy, and resentment—negative forces—I was far superior at finding corrupted auras.

Whoooooosh.

To comprehend the entire lake, I spread the sacred force that bloomed from darkness as thin as thread, unfurling it across the frozen surface.

I attempted to locate demonic energy through the sacred force that spread like a net, but even after prolonged application, all I sensed was a thick, biting cold.

‘Is it because so much time has passed?’

Since considerable time had elapsed since the Cheoljeon Unit vanished, I suspected that whatever had occurred here had long since dissipated.

‘Now what should I…wait?’

As I exhaled in frustration and prepared to withdraw my sacred force, I detected a faint trace of demonic energy near the center of the frozen lake.

‘Could it be?’

I rose urgently. I rushed toward the lake’s center and deployed my sacred force once more.

‘There it is!’

Not beneath the lake, but on the opposite side of the ice I was standing on—I sensed a very faint, or rather, only a lingering echo of demonic energy.

‘What on earth happened here?’

It made no sense that the demonic energy emanated from the inner layer of ice within the frozen lake, neither from above nor below.

-Tsk, tsk.

Wrath peered down at the frozen lake and shook his head.

-So you’ve finally found it.
‘You knew?’
-I sensed the distortion.
‘Distortion?’

I narrowed my eyes as I regarded Wrath.

-The aura you sensed wasn’t created in this space.
‘Then what is it?’
-A faint trickle of demonic energy flowing from a breathing hole connected to another dimension.
‘Another dimension?’

So the barrier had been opened?

Binghyang might be capable of such a feat.

Binghyang was a demon who wielded cold energy and demonic power with masterful precision. Having cultivated her strength over decades, it was entirely plausible that she had developed the ability to create barriers using ice.

I examined the demonic energy flowing from the ice once more.

If Wrath’s words were true, then this ice was connected to the barrier confining the Cheoljeon Unit, which meant there had to be a way to enter or break through it.

A roaring sound erupted.

As I activated the ring of fire and pushed my concentration to its peak, a faint sound began to emerge from within the delicate flow of demonic energy.

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