Chapter 22

What was this conversation?

As the dialogue unraveled, it became clear that Jeok Seong had sparred with Yeon Woojin, giving it his all.

And yet, he admitted that he couldn’t win.

This meant that the strongest assassin of the Life-and-Death Gate couldn’t defeat a boy who wasn’t even of age.

“They’re serious about this, aren’t they?”

“They are.”

Looking at Jeok Seong’s resolute expression, Yeon Woojin realized that trying to argue would be futile.

Turning to Yang Hoseong, Yeon Woojin addressed him.

“I heard you accepted a request to cut off my legs.”

Yang Hoseong trembled violently before slamming his forehead to the ground with a loud crash.

Bang!

“P-please forgive me!”

Just as he was about to slam his head down again—@@novelbin@@

“Stop.”

Yang Hoseong’s body froze in place.

It wasn’t a pressure point technique.

It felt like something invisible was restraining him, suppressing his entire body.

Slowly, his stiffened body was straightened and forced upright, leaving him standing straight as if by an unseen hand.

What kind of strange phenomenon was this?

In that moment, Yang Hoseong looked into Yeon Woojin’s eyes and understood.

‘Th-the lord did this! M-my god!’

The energy binding him was overwhelming.

Jeok Seong had been telling the truth. If this boy continued to grow, an unparalleled absolute ruler would emerge.

Yang Hoseong couldn’t help but feel awe.

“That’s enough. I understand,” said Yeon Woojin.

“Y-yes, my lord!”

Jeok Seong placed a chair behind Yeon Woojin.

“Please have a seat, young master.”

“Thank you.”

After Yeon Woojin sat, Yang Hoseong bent his waist deeply and spoke.

“We have prepared a gift for you, my lord.”

“A gift?”

With a clap of his hands, the doors opened, and two writhing sacks were brought in and placed before Yeon Woojin.

“What’s this?”

“They are the ones who conspired against you, my lord.”

“What? Surely not…”

Rip!

The sacks were torn open, revealing the master and chief officer of Jincheon Gate in a wretched state.

Their eyes darted around in terror, their mouths sealed shut by pressure point techniques.

The warriors nearby released the pressure points, allowing the two men to speak.

“Gasp! Wh-who are you people?”

“We are from the Life-and-Death Gate, Master! These are the assassins of the Life-and-Death Gate!”

“L-Life-and-Death Gate? Why would assassins from the Life-and-Death Gate kidnap us? The targets aren’t us—it’s someone else!”

“Do you think you can treat clients like this? If the world finds out, your gate will be finished!”

Yang Hoseong stepped forward, his voice cold.

“You’ve committed a crime you should never have.”

“A crime we should never have? Isn’t that rich, coming from assassins?”

“You’ve targeted someone you should never have dared to touch.”

“And who might that be?”

Yang Hoseong smirked and stepped aside, revealing Yeon Woojin.

“Th-that boy?”

“H-how is he here?”

“Him! He’s the one who should be killed, not us! Why are you—”

Smack!

Yang Hoseong struck the master of Jincheon Gate across the face.

“Watch your tongue. That boy is my lord.”

“W-what?”

What nonsense was this? How could the grandson of a mere library keeper be the master of the Life-and-Death Gate?

“Wh-what do you mean? Are you mocking me? There’s some kind of misunderstanding—he’s just the grandson of a library keeper!”

“You’re the one who’s mistaken.”

“How could I be mistaken? That’s impossible!”

“You’re wrong. This person is…”

Yang Hoseong paused, glancing at Yeon Woojin for permission. When Yeon Woojin nodded, Yang Hoseong straightened and declared proudly,

“Listen carefully. The person you requested us to maim is none other than the only grandson of the Mushincheon Lord himself!”

“What did you say?”

The Jincheon master thought he must have misheard. He tried to rub his ears, but his hands were tied.

“Th-that’s ridiculous… nonsense…”

He turned to look at Yeon Woojin, about to protest, but then he froze.

He remembered. Those blackened eyes—he’d seen them before.

In his youth, he had once witnessed the fury of the Mushincheon Lord.

The rage-filled black eyes that he saw now mirrored the ones that haunted his memories.

“C-could it be… Is this real?”

Yeon Woojin nodded.

“My real name is Yeon Woojin.”

“Yeon…”

The Mushincheon Lord’s family name was Yeon.

Yeon Cheon-baek.

Yeon Woojin.

Now that he looked closer, there was a resemblance between the two.

The Jincheon master’s entire body began to tremble like a leaf in the wind.

Finally, he understood why the Life-and-Death Gate served this boy.

He wasn’t just the grandson of a library keeper.

He was the grandson of the greatest martial master of all time.

And they had submitted a request to maim such a being.

It was now painfully clear why the Life-and-Death Gate had voided the request and brought them here.

Everything about this situation confirmed that this was, indeed, reality.

So what’s the solution?

There was only one option.

"Pl-please spare me!"

The Jincheon Gate master prostrated himself, begging desperately.

"If you give me another chance, I’ll never harm the weak again! No, I’ll even turn Jincheon Gate into a sect that protects the weak above all else!"

"How can I believe you?"

"What?"

"What’s your son, Seon Woo-baek, doing right now?"

"Y-you mean my son?"

"Yes."

"He’s… nearly a complete wreck and hasn’t stepped outside his room…"

"Hand him over to me."

Hand over his son?

"I-I’ll sacrifice my legs instead! Please, I beg you, spare my son…"

The Jincheon Gate master, seemingly interpreting the request as a demand for his son’s life, repeatedly slammed his head against the floor, pleading for mercy.

Buzz.

As he continued to bash his head against the ground, an invisible force stopped his movements.

"Stop it. I’ve seen enough."

The Jincheon Gate master raised his head to look at Yeon Woojin.

"I won’t kill him. I’ll make him into someone useful and use him instead. Hand him over."

"U-use him? What do you mean?"

"Right now, Seon Woo-baek is the strongest in the Hyeonmu Faction. If he disappears, the kids will fight for dominance again, and another tyrant will emerge to torment the weak. It’s better to keep Seon Woo-baek as the strongest and make him protect the weak."

"Why don’t you just take the position of the strongest yourself?"

"I can’t afford to attract attention. Also, you must keep my identity a secret, no matter what. At least until my grandfather decides to reveal it publicly."

"I-I understand."

"Remember, my identity is an absolute secret."

"I swear I will keep it secret."

The Jincheon Gate master murmured the promise as if entranced, his eyes fixed on Yeon Woojin’s.

"I’ll visit soon."

"I will await you."

The Jincheon Gate master nodded obediently, responding to every word Yeon Woojin spoke as though under a spell.

*****

After sending the Jincheon Gate master and chief officer back unharmed, Yang Hoseong cautiously asked Yeon Woojin with a troubled expression,

"Are you sure it’s alright to let them go just like that?"

"Why not?"

"They conspired against you, my lord. At the very least, shouldn’t we take an arm or a leg as a warning?"

"Do I look like someone obsessed with bloodshed?"

"N-no, of course not. I simply meant to say it could serve as an example to others."

"It’s fine. They’ll never reveal my identity, so there’s nothing to worry about."

"Humans are forgetful creatures. One day, they may dismiss today’s events and start looking down on you again."

"That won’t happen. I’ve left a lasting impression."

"A lasting impression? What do you mean?"

Yeon Woojin looked steadily into Yang Hoseong’s eyes.

For a moment, the world seemed to ripple, and Yang Hoseong’s mind felt foggy and light-headed.

Shaking his head vigorously, he returned to normal.

"Now, try thinking about revealing my identity to someone."

"My lord’s identity?"

"Yes."

Yang Hoseong closed his eyes and imagined disclosing Yeon Woojin’s identity to someone.

In that instant, a suffocating wave of terror washed over him.

"Ugh!"

Cold sweat drenched his entire body as his legs gave out, trembling uncontrollably.

Overwhelming fear.

When he opened his eyes and looked at Yeon Woojin, he felt as though the boy could rip him apart at any moment.

"My lord…"

Without realizing it, Yang Hoseong dropped to his knees and pressed his upper body flat against the ground, shaking violently under the weight of his fear.

"Now you understand why they won’t reveal my identity."

"I-I understand perfectly!"

It was terrifying.

Until today, Yang Hoseong had thought no one could be more fearsome than Yeon Cheon-baek.

But today, that changed.

The most terrifying and untouchable figure in Yang Hoseong’s mind was now Yeon Woojin.

Yeon Woojin called this ability Terror Imprint (Gongpo Gagin).

It was a technique inspired by the concept of imprinting, where a newborn animal follows the first moving object it sees.

The Boundless Library had provided him with boundless creativity, enabling him to develop techniques beyond imagination, and Terror Imprint was one of them.

From now on, neither Yang Hoseong nor the Jincheon Gate master and chief officer could escape Yeon Woojin’s grasp.

The only way to escape was through death.

"Since you’ve experienced it, I’ll release it now."

When Yeon Woojin offered to lift the imprint, Yang Hoseong shook his head vehemently.

"No, my lord! Please, leave it as it is!"

"What?"

"I finally feel perfectly devoted to you, and it brings me joy! You should apply Terror Imprint to others as well. They’ll love it!"

Why would anyone enjoy being subjugated?

Yeon Woojin couldn’t understand.

"This exhilarating fear that comes over me when I think of you, my lord! It’s absolutely thrilling!"

Watching Yang Hoseong tremble with an almost euphoric expression, Yeon Woojin instinctively stepped back.

"R-right… I’m glad you’re happy. Haha…"

For the first time, Yeon Woojin laughed awkwardly.

‘What is this? Did something go wrong? Why does it feel like the imprint didn’t work properly?’

It seemed like he would need to reexamine the Terror Imprint technique. Something about it was definitely off.