Chapter 21

"You’ve grown a lot."

It sounded like someone who knew him well was speaking.

"Knows me well?"

Now that he thought about it, the voice seemed oddly familiar.

As Salho raised his head to scrutinize the figure more closely, his pupils dilated sharply.

"Bu–Bu-Submaster?"

The mysterious individual standing before Salho was none other than Jeok Seong, the submaster of the Life-and-Death Gate and its most formidable assassin.

"Yes, it’s me. Have you been well in my absence?"

"Submaster, how are you here?"

"You haven’t heard anything about me?"

"I’ve heard that you were sent on a long-term mission. The master told us we wouldn’t see you for a while."

"Is that what my brother said?"

"Yes. Was your mission location… Mushincheon?"

"Something like that. But earlier, I saw you watching the Medical Hall quite intently. Is your target inside?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

"Who is it?"

"Well, it’s…"

Salho’s eyes darted nervously as he deliberated whether to answer.

"Is one of your targets Jang Woon?"

Salho’s eyes widened.

"It seems I’m right. Who is the other?"

"Someone named Yeom Woojin."

"It’s not Yeom Woojin. It’s Yeon Woojin."

"Pardon?"

"You nearly caused a catastrophe. If you had continued, the Life-and-Death Gate might have disappeared from existence."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I just told you—it’s not Yeom Woojin; it’s Yeon Woojin."

"What does that mean?"

"What’s the name of Mushincheon’s master?"

"Who doesn’t know that? Yeon Cheon… Baek… Yeon… Woojin?"

Salho’s face turned pale as realization dawned.

"Could it be… the Mushincheon Lord’s bloodline?"

"Correct. Now do you understand what I meant when I said the Life-and-Death Gate was on the verge of annihilation?"

Salho nodded furiously, his face as white as a sheet.

"Let’s go. I need to visit home after all this time."

"Understood."

*****

Jeok Seong’s unexpected return to the Life-and-Death Gate brought the master running out with a beaming smile.

"Brother!"

"Master."

"Hahaha! How long has it been!"

Grasping Jeok Seong’s hands tightly, the master apologized, his expression tinged with regret.

"I’m sorry! Assigning you to mere escort duties…"

"It couldn’t be helped. It’s fine. In fact, I’m quite satisfied with my current role."

"Satisfied? You’re telling me you enjoy escort duty?"

"Yes, very much so."

"Ah! That child you’re escorting—what’s his identity?"

"You must mean the young master."

"Young master?"

"Yes. He’s none other than the direct grandson of Mushincheon’s master."

"Wha–What? That… that can’t be true, can it?"

"That’s exactly why I’m here—to address that matter."

"Do you need our assistance?"

"It’s not about needing help. I’m here to issue a warning."

"A warning?"

"You almost closed the Life-and-Death Gate without realizing it."

"What are you talking about?"

With a sharp motion, Jeok Seong laid two request forms in front of the master.

"What’s this, Jeok Seong? ‘Yeom Woojin’? Why does this matter?"

"It’s not Yeom Woojin; it’s Yeon Woojin."

"Yeon Woojin… Yeon… Don’t tell me—Mushincheon’s… bloodline?"

"Yes. Had I not intervened before they made a move, we would’ve faced a calamity."@@novelbin@@

Jeok Seong gestured toward Salho, who was trembling by his side, and the master’s face turned ashen as he staggered.

"This… this must be a joke, right? You’re joking, aren’t you?"

"Do I look like the type to joke about something like this?"

At Jeok Seong’s words, the master ground his teeth and barked at Salho.

"Go find the bastard who accepted this request and drag him here. Now!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Salho, terrified by the master’s fury, quickly ran outside.

Once Salho had left, the master turned to Jeok Seong with a regretful expression.

"I owe you again. You’ve saved us from disaster more times than I can count."

"Think nothing of it. It’s what family does."

"Tell me everything. What exactly have you been through?"

"You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you."

"What could have happened for you to say that?"

"You’re familiar with Mushincheon’s master, aren’t you?"

"Of course. He’s the most fearsome figure in Zhongyuan. I’ll never forget the time we visited Mushincheon together. I still get nightmares about it."

"Exactly. And now, that fearsome man has a grandson he adores more than anything."

"Even someone as cold-blooded as him has warmth for his own blood?"

"It’s more than warmth. He worships him."

"Worships him?"

"Yes. He dotes on him obsessively, to the point of being utterly subservient. If the young master wanted the Mushincheon Lord’s position, he’d hand it over without hesitation."

"Is it really that extreme?"

"Absolutely. Anyone who opposes it would be eliminated, no matter what."

"And yet we sent assassins after him?"

"Exactly."

The master collapsed to the floor, trembling as he looked up at Jeok Seong.

"Does he… does he know yet?"

"No. I stopped it before anything happened."

"Thank heaven for that. We were so close to ruin."

"Who’s responsible for such a heinous request?"

"We’ll find out soon enough."

The master’s teeth ground together audibly as the tension in the room thickened.

Moments later.

The receptionist responsible for accepting the request entered the room with a bewildered expression.

"Master, I’ve brought him!"

"Br-brought me? What did I do wrong to deserve this?"

The receptionist appealed to the master with an aggrieved tone, but the master’s gaze was terrifying.

"Gah!"

It was the kind of gaze that made him feel like he could die at any moment.

"Wh-why?"

The master handed the receptionist two request forms and asked,

"Did you accept these requests?"

The receptionist took the forms, examined them, and then nodded.

"Yes, I did. Why are you asking?"

"Who are the damned bastards that submitted these requests?"

"It… it was Jincheon Gate."

"Jincheon Gate?"

A massive wave of killing intent radiated from Jeok Seong’s body at that moment.

"Those damned bastards dared!"

"You know them?"

"They’re people who harbor grudges against the young master. I thought it was strange that they let him go so easily without putting up a fight. It turns out they only pretended to comply so they could submit an assassination request."

The receptionist, still confused by the situation, examined the request forms again. He was trying to determine if there was any significant person involved.

But no matter how much he looked, there didn’t seem to be anyone noteworthy.

One was the grandson of a library keeper, and the other was the son of a guard.

‘What is this? Is it because the Mushincheon guards are involved?’

Surely, it couldn’t be as trivial as being wary of the guards.

"Should we send men to wipe out Jincheon Gate immediately?"

"Before that, I think we should inform the young master of this situation first. It would be best to act according to his wishes."

"Do you think so? But… what kind of person is the young master?"

Jeok Seong chuckled knowingly, as if he understood the master’s question.

"He’s destined to become the greatest martial artist of all time. I’d stake everything I have on it."

"That much?"

"Yes! I’d bet the entire Life-and-Death Gate on him!"

The master paused for a moment, then nodded decisively.

"Alright! I’ll trust your judgment. From today forward, we follow his command!"

"Excuse me?"

"This is the path for us to survive. If Mushincheon’s master finds out that we sent people to assassinate his grandson… what do you think will happen to us?"

"Th-that…"

"If the young master is the only person in the world who can control Mushincheon’s master, then our only way to survive is to pledge loyalty to the young master."

"Now that you say it, that does make sense. I’ll convey your intentions to the young master as well."

"Not just convey them—you need to get his confirmation. Understood? Take this."

The master handed over a black dagger.

"This is the Black Meteor Blade (흑운검), forged from a fallen meteorite. You know what this symbolizes, don’t you?"

"Yes, it’s the Sect Master’s Token."

"Present this to the young master. It should convey my sincerity."

"To go this far…"

"He is destined to be our lord. This is the least we can do."

"Understood. I will make sure to secure the young master’s approval."

"Thank you. Once again, I’m entrusting the future of the gate to you."

"Master, you’re too kind."

"I’m grateful, that’s all."

"I accept your gratitude. I’ll head to meet the young master now."

"Go carefully."

With a swish, Jeok Seong vanished without a trace. The master turned his gaze to the receptionist.

"Cancel the requests."

"What? But the cancellation penalty is 2,500 gold! That’s a huge hole in our finances!"

"You won’t need to pay it."

"What do you mean? It’s not just the penalty—it’s a matter of the gate’s reputation."

"The name on the request says Yeom Woojin, doesn’t it?"

"Yes, the grandson of a library keeper."

"It’s not Yeom; it’s Yeon."

"Pardon?"

"Who among the Yeon family resides in Mushincheon?"

"There’s only one: the Mushincheon master, Yeon Cheon… Baek… W-wait…"

"That’s right. It’s not the grandson of a library keeper; it’s the grandson of the Mushincheon Lord. You accepted a request to assassinate him."

Thud.

The receptionist’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

"I’ll let it go since you didn’t know. But understand this: cancel the contract immediately."

"Y-yes, sir!"

Leaving the dazed receptionist behind, the master turned to Salho and gave an order.

"Deploy the gate’s best assassins and bring me the master and chief officer of Jincheon Gate. Deliver them alive to the young master."

"Understood!"

*****

Jeok Seong handed a piece of paper to Yeon Woojin.

"What’s this?"

"It’s a request to cut off your legs."

"What?"

Startled, Yeon Woojin snatched the paper and examined it.

The request explicitly stated that Yeom Woojin’s legs were to be severed and delivered to the master of Jincheon Gate.

Since Yeom Woojin was actually Yeon Woojin, the request was indeed about cutting off his own legs.

"Jincheon Gate issued this request?"

"That’s correct. What are your orders? If you command it, the Life-and-Death Gate will erase Jincheon Gate."

"You mean kill them all?"

"Exactly."

"Come on, let’s not go that far. Do I look like someone who enjoys senseless slaughter? And just now, you mentioned orders—are you saying the Life-and-Death Gate will follow my commands?"

"Yes, that’s correct! Please, take this."

Yeon Woojin tilted his head in confusion as he accepted the black dagger.

"What is this?"

"It’s called the Black Meteor Blade (Heukungum)—the Sect Master’s Token of the Life-and-Death Gate."

"The Sect Master’s Token?"

"Yes. It signifies the master’s intention to offer the entire Life-and-Death Gate to you."

"All of a sudden? Why?"

Jeok Seong explained the situation in detail.

After listening to the explanation, Yeon Woojin frowned in disbelief.

"You’re kidding, right? The Life-and-Death Gate wouldn’t be destroyed over something so trivial. Nothing even happened to me."

"Young Master, you don’t understand. If your grandfather were to find out… the entire Life-and-Death Gate would be dead! Please, spare us!"

Jeok Seong fell to his knees and pleaded earnestly, causing Yeon Woojin to sigh deeply.

"Fine, I get it. Get up."

"Are you granting us your protection?"

"I’d like to visit and speak with everyone directly. Could you guide me?"

"To the Life-and-Death Gate?"

"Yes. If I’m going to take responsibility, I should at least know what kind of place it is."

"Th-thank you! I’ll escort you there immediately!"

Yeon Woojin’s response was as good as an approval, and Jeok Seong, realizing this, eagerly prepared to guide him.

*****

Countless assassins knelt motionless in front of Yeon Woojin.

The one at the forefront shouted loudly,

"Yang Hoseong, Master of the Life-and-Death Gate, greets our lord!"

"Please, stand up."

"Yes, my lord!"

"Are you truly offering the Life-and-Death Gate to me? If it’s because of my grandfather, I can talk to him and sort this out."

"A man’s word is his bond! The Life-and-Death Gate belongs to you, my lord!"

"What exactly did you say about me to make everyone so terrified?"

When Yeon Woojin asked, Jeok Seong scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I told them you are destined to become an unparalleled absolute ruler."

"Me?"

"Is that not the case? That’s what I believe."

"I’ve only just started learning to walk."

"And yet, I can’t defeat someone who’s only just started walking."

"That’s because you’re going easy on me."

"Do you really think I’ve been holding back?"

"Weren’t you?"

"No, I’ve been fighting you with everything I’ve got lately."