Chapter 11 – King of Assassins (1)

When Yu-jin arrived at the clan’s conference hall, a multitude of people had already gathered. All the combat units, excluding the Guardian Hall and the Elder Council, were present, along with members from various other organizations.

They were chattering noisily. Meanwhile, the clan head, Kang Yu-hyeon, and his other sons remained silent, observing the discussion.

“We haven’t even confirmed Commander Beom’s body! How can we conclude that he’s dead?”

This was spoken by Lee Gwol, the commander of the Dragon Sword Brigade, which boasted a combat strength second only to the Heavenly Sword Brigade.

Beom Sang-woo was a supporter of the fourth son, Kang Cheon-woo. His death meant that Kang Cheon-woo’s influence would diminish significantly.

Since Lee Gwol supported the second son, Kang Yong-hoon, the death of a supporter of Kang Yong-hoon’s strong competitor, Kang Cheon-woo, was nothing but good news.

‘I don’t know who did it, but I should be grateful. If we can completely suppress the Heavenly Sword Brigade before they can properly reorganize, it’s over. It’s plausible that he’s dead, but I have no choice but to insist otherwise.’

The current succession race was a three-way battle between Kang Yong-hoon, Kang Hyeon-woo, and Kang Cheon-woo. The first son, Kang Yu-jin, was already considered a lost cause. The fifth and sixth sons, Kang In-han and Kang Woo-jin, were building their own factions but were too young.

Thus, the remaining three were competing. The third son, Kang Hyeon-woo, was slightly weaker in martial arts compared to Kang Yong-hoon or Kang Cheon-woo, though he possessed immense financial power that easily compensated for this weakness.

‘Only the strong can become the head of the True Dragon Sword Clan. In that respect, the Third Young Master is lacking. The only one fit to be the clan head is the Second Young Master. And yet, the clan head intends to name that madman as his successor. I can’t understand it.’

Lee Gwol sighed at the thought. Just then, someone refuted his words.

“A large amount of bloodstains and fragments of internal organs have already been found where he resided. A person cannot survive after vomiting that much blood. And weren’t fragments of his sword also discovered?”

No Sa-il, the vice-commander of the Heavenly Sword Brigade, spoke in a cold tone. Lee Gwol scowled deeply at him, displeased that a mere vice-commander would dare to contradict him.

“What a fine mess.”

At Yu-jin’s sudden remark, everyone’s gaze turned to him.

“A commander was mysteriously attacked, and the circumstances clearly suggest he’s already dead. Isn’t that the logical conclusion? Yet you’re all wasting time bickering over whether he’s dead or not. What a waste.”

Yu-jin’s words cast a chill over the hall. Lee Gwol, who openly despised Yu-jin, twisted his already contorted face even further.

Just as he was about to say something, the clan head, Kang Yu-hyeon, who had been watching them, finally spoke.

“Yu-jin is right. The commander of the Heavenly Sword Brigade, the pride of our clan, has lost his life. This is an unprecedented event in our clan’s history.”

While masters had died in numerous battles before, this was the first time a clan master had been killed near the estate.

The mechanical traps installed within the True Dragon Sword Clan’s estate were formidable, and powerful warriors always stood guard vigilantly.

The situation was such that all the assassins in the world thought it better to infiltrate the Imperial Palace than to set foot in the True Dragon Sword Clan’s estate.

“Clan Head, we’ve found a clue about the culprit!”

A warrior ran in and prostrated himself before Kang Yu-hyeon. He extended both hands, offering a throwing star engraved with a crimson-black scorpion.

Seeing the throwing star, Kang Yu-hyeon’s face contorted severely, and Yu-jin smiled inwardly.

‘You did a perfect job, Ran.’

Yu-jin was satisfied, but Kang Yu-hyeon’s rage had reached its peak. There was only one person in the world who owned a throwing star engraved with a black scorpion.

“King of Assassins. Does the leader of a mere assassin organization dare to defy the True Dragon Sword Clan, knowing not his place?”

King of Assassins. Known as the greatest assassin in the Central Plains and one of the Twelve Kings, the masters ranked just below the Ten Great Heavenly Masters, his true identity was a mystery to all.

He was famous only for leaving behind a throwing star engraved with a black scorpion every time he carried out an assassination.

Yet, even the King of Assassins was a feeble existence before Kang Yu-hyeon. That such a being would dare to kill a member of the True Dragon Sword Clan meant Kang Yu-hyeon could not help but be furious.

*Kwoooo!*

An immense aura erupted from Kang Yu-hyeon’s entire body. It formed an intangible pressure, tormenting everyone present.

“Cl-Clan Head! Pl-Please, calm down!”

As Lee Gwol spoke, Kang Yu-hyeon quickly withdrew his aura. Watching this, Yu-jin frowned slightly. Kang Yu-hyeon’s strength was still beyond imagination.

He had now reached an equivalent realm, but the higher the realm, the more a battle is decided by the smallest of margins. Of course, Yu-jin was confident in his own victory.

‘Anyway, I’m glad Ran did such a good job.’

Realizing he had forgotten to dispose of Beom Sang-woo’s body and deal with the aftermath, Yu-jin had quickly given Ran the black scorpion throwing star. Ran had then placed it at the scene of Beom Sang-woo’s death without anyone noticing.

‘The cleanup is perfect. King of Assassins, thank you. Now, you’re going to have a rough time for a while.’

Yu-jin apologized thus, recalling the King of Assassins he had met in the past. He never imagined the black scorpion throwing star he had taken from *her* would be so useful.

Of course, he didn’t think this would be the end of the King of Assassins.

Kang Yu-hyeon’s martial prowess was already among the top ten in the martial world, but it was meaningless if the King of Assassins did not reveal herself.

The Blood Wolf Society she led would be shattered, but that was no concern of Yu-jin’s.

“I will teach the Blood Wolf Society, who dared to challenge the sword of the True Dragon without knowing their place, a lesson. Commanders, first find all Blood Wolf Society branches within our territory! Annihilate them and show them the wrath of the True Dragon! As for the King of Assassins, I will kill him myself!”

The fury of the True Dragon Sword Clan’s head was terrifying. But his anger was not limited to them alone.

“I pray that none of you have done such a useless thing for the sake of the son you follow.”

At Kang Yu-hyeon’s words, everyone present broke out in a cold sweat.

***

The King of Assassins had killed Beom Sang-woo, the Chasing Soul Single Sword, commander of the True Dragon Sword Clan’s Heavenly Sword Brigade.

The news spread rapidly throughout the martial world. And everyone cursed the Blood Wolf Society. They had touched the reverse scale of a sleeping dragon, so they were bound to be condemned.

“How on earth could they even think of messing with the True Dragon Sword Clan?”

“I know, right? No matter how renowned the Blood Wolf Society is, or how skilled the King of Assassins may be, they wouldn’t do something like this unless they were insane.”

The two men chattered on. Their thoughts were the same as everyone else’s in the Central Plains.

In front of a brothel. Numerous warriors were gathered there.

“Kill them all.”

At the command of No Sa-il, the vice-commander—no, now the commander—of the Heavenly Sword Brigade, the brigade members gripped their swords tightly and entered the Blood Wolf Society’s branch.

Since many branches had already been destroyed, the assassins of the Blood Wolf Society were well-prepared.

“Kill them!”

Hundreds of throwing stars rained down from the air. But the five squad leaders of the Heavenly Sword Brigade stepped forward, creating a sword screen that deflected every single one.

Behind them, Vice-Commander No Sa-il took the lead and swung his sword, unleashing a torrent of blue sword energy that engulfed the assassins.

“Kuaaaargh!”

With a great explosion, the assassins’ bodies were torn to pieces. No Sa-il glared coldly at the dead assassins and shouted.

“Don’t fall for such cheap tricks. We are the Heavenly Sword. The strongest sword of the True Dragon Sword Clan!”

“Waaaaaah!”

That day, another branch of the Blood Wolf Society vanished.

The wrath of the True Dragon Sword Clan was fearsome. Immediately, all Blood Wolf Society branches in Jiangsu Province and two other provinces under the clan’s influence went up in flames.

They were all secretly operated branches, but their locations were all exposed by the Shadow Sword Brigade, the intelligence unit of the True Dragon Sword Clan, and they could not escape annihilation.

-We will not leave a single assassin of the Blood Wolf Society alive!

As if that weren’t enough, Kang Yu-hyeon, in his own name, requested the clans in each province to attack the Blood Wolf Society. Those who were already enraged by the Society took the lead in attacking its branches. As a result, countless branches were burned to the ground.

***

“Damn it! To think my brothers must die for something I didn’t even do!”

A beautiful woman clad in black cloth seethed with rage. She was currently looking at the True Dragon Sword Clan’s estate. Though it was deep in the night, the estate was still brightly lit.

“Even with all that, they can’t stop me.”

Before her, an old man was prostrated, his head bowed.

“More than twenty branches have already been wiped out. Only about ten remain. Fortunately, there’s a lull in the attacks, but numerous assassins have lost their lives. At least you, Society Leader, along with the five special-grade assassins and thirteen first-grade assassins, have survived, so there won’t be a problem fostering new ones.”

“I know. But my brothers were framed and killed for something I didn’t do. I must avenge this grudge, Mu-yeong.”

“But you don’t even know who the culprit is, Society Leader!”

The woman shook her head at the words of the old man called Mu-yeong. She already had an inkling of who had done it.

“Long ago, in a moment of folly, I gave my symbol to a young man. He must be the one who caused this trouble and framed me. I will kill him myself and then reveal the truth to the world. So, Mu-yeong, don’t try to stop me.”

At the woman’s words, Mu-yeong sighed. She was the master he had raised and served for over twenty years; he knew all too well that once she made up her mind, she would never change it.

“Please, I beg you to return safely.”

“Don’t worry, Mu-yeong. I am the King of Assassins.”

After saying that, the woman put on a mask and vanished in an instant.

She paid no mind to the heavily guarded warriors and headed for the annex. The annex, located a short distance from the main estate, seemed to be unguarded, the area deserted. Nevertheless, the King of Assassins cautiously entered the building.

*Shhwiik!*

A sword suddenly rushed toward her. But she was not called the King of Assassins for nothing; she quickly swung a dagger and deflected the blade.

“With just this, you think you can—”

The King of Assassins stopped mid-sentence. She could sense that there were at least three others present.

Just as she thought, a total of four more attacks came at her in succession. Of course, the King of Assassins blocked them all, realizing there were five people gathered.

“That’s enough!”

The room suddenly brightened. And the King of Assassins could see Yu-jin sitting in a chair. Behind him stood the five women who had just swung their swords at her.

“It’s been a while, King of Assassins.”

Yu-jin smiled brightly.