Chapter 4

Chapter 3: Starting from the Beginning (3)

Perhaps due to the rain all day, the wind around the gorge was very strong. The wind blowing from the mainland was creating even faster currents as it passed through the valley.

Thud. Swish.

In the dead of night, a tiger boat carrying eight people was swiftly cutting through the gorge.

Rapids and steep cliffs. It was the perfect environment for covert movement.

‘In the end, I’ve come here.’

Seohui sat at the bow of the boat, looking around.

The anchoring point was the West Gate. The environment of this place, which took over two weeks to reach, was all too familiar to Seohui.

‘If I had been at the main temple, I would have been killed by Jikmyeong anyway.’

As the anchoring point drew closer, Seohui was filled with a mix of emotions. He pondered how he could survive.

After all, the enemies don’t know we’re coming. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be enough to just be careful of where the enemies pass?

“Hey.”

“Ah! Squad Leader.”

As a middle-aged man with a full beard approached, Seohui bowed his head. It was Chul Su-dok, the leader of the Secret Agent Squad. His direct superior, who managed three Secret Agent Squad units.

“Yes, Squad Leader.”

“There are Huashan Sect members around, so don’t move recklessly. Just gather information on the number of enemies and the surrounding terrain, then get out.”

“Understood.”

As Seohui responded, his gaze subtly shifted.

Although there was an order from Sima Gui, it was unusual for a squad leader to not personally engage in direct action. In the past, he had accepted it due to the circumstances, but now it seemed a bit strange.

In that case, there were two possibilities.

Either he received a separate instruction from Sima Gui, or he was in league with them.

Thud.

As the boat reached the anchoring point.

“Everyone, follow me.”

Seohui gestured to his subordinates. Then, he shifted his gaze to the river in front of him.

Coin 2 [Two Chances]

‘It’s still there.’

The patterns visible above his face, reflected in the river.

“Seohui?”

Even when called by Chul Su-dok, Seohui did not respond. The characters recorded above his head must have some meaning.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

Unable to bear it, Chul Su-dok raised his voice, and Seohui hurriedly gestured.

“Follow me.”

Then, he quickly stepped on the ground, but his stern face did not easily relax.

What exactly was happening to him?

* * *

Swish.

Seohui quickly hid his body among the vegetation. His subordinates also nimbly took their positions.

Although they were considered a low-level organization within the lower ranks, they were still practitioners of the main temple’s secret techniques. In the Central Plains, they were at least considered first-rate.

‘What should I do now?’

Seohui, hidden, looked at the river. He had been waiting for the boat carrying Squad Leader Chul Su-dok to disappear from his sight.

He had been pondering this all the way here.

If he carried out this mission, he would die. Therefore, he needed to get out of here immediately.

However, that would lead to another problem.

Even if he returned to the main temple, he couldn’t avoid punishment. He might even die at the hands of Jikmyeong before that.

‘I’ll die here anyway.’

He guessed that the Secret Agent Squad Leader would frequently check their position. Additionally, he had to consider the possibility of being discovered by the enemies here.

‘Should I run to the Central Plains…?’

It was the only solution, but he knew it wouldn’t be easy.

The martial arts he had learned. The unpleasant and eerie aura he emitted couldn’t be hidden. A high-level righteous martial artist would certainly detect this eerie aura.

In the end, he would be chased like a dog and die soon.

“Squad Leader, what should we do?”

Seohui was pulled out of his deep thoughts by a subordinate’s question.

“First….”

Seohui looked around again. The West Gate was in front of him, with dense vegetation on the left and knee-high weeds on the right.

“We’ll go down.”

“Huh?”

“What did you say?”

The voices of his subordinates, questioning him.

Ignoring them, Seohui moved first.

“We’re going down. Move quickly.”

* * *

Seohui was walking through the forest with his subordinates.

The place where they were first discovered by the enemies in the past was in the opposite direction.

To be precise, it was from a long pier built among the vegetation.

“Do you know why the squad leader is doing this?”

“I don’t know.”

The voices of his subordinates were faint. After all, they were moving away from the area they were supposed to scout and heading towards the Central Plains region.

However, Seohui did not stop. In fact, his mind was filled with the phrase “Two Chances.”

‘Does it mean I have two chances? Or is this the second and last one?’

He already knew that there was no hope in this life. Whether he died late or early, the ending would be tragic.

That’s why he hoped there was one more chance. At least, he could think of a better way.

“Wait.”

Seohui raised his hand. A wooden cabin appeared between the trees.

“What should we do? Someone might be watching.”

A subordinate approached and asked.

“We might be ambushed if we’re not careful, so I’ll go in.”

Seohui examined the shape of the cabin. It was a square building with four windows. It was likely a surveillance post.

“If there’s any noise, follow immediately.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Swish. Swish.

Seohui lowered his posture and approached slowly. With each step, tension flowed through his body.

‘Please, let no one be there…’

A first-rate warrior, he could easily subdue anyone. Even if the opponent was stronger, he could still fight. However, if it was a high-level expert emitting sword qi, he would most likely die. Even if he could fight on equal terms, he would die. It was meaningless if he couldn’t subdue them instantly.

Swish.

Before he knew it, Seohui had reached the cabin.

‘One, two…’

Taking a deep breath, he—

“Ha!”

Quickly opened the door and rushed in.

Pata-pata-pata.

Shortly after, six subordinates entered one by one, checking the surroundings.

“Squad Leader?”

“It seems no one is here.”

“Tense for nothing.”

The subordinates commented as they looked around the empty interior.

“Isn’t that right?”

A square-faced subordinate, wiping his chest, spoke to Seohui with a relieved expression.

However—

“Squad Leader?”

Something was off. Seohui was staring at the window as if in a trance.

“Squad Leader….”

He asked again, but—

Seohui still didn’t respond.

<An enemy has appeared. What will you do?>

Seohui saw the text floating in front of him. Time had stopped, and he had to accept an unexpected type of question.

▶ It’s a minor opponent. I’ll challenge them to a fight.

This text made no sense.

Why? For what reason?

When did the enemy appear?

▷ It’s a minor opponent. I’ll challenge them to a fight.

▶ Let’s try to resolve this through conversation. I’ll speak to them.

The text continued to unfold even though there was no enemy in sight, and he hadn’t sensed any subtle movements.

▷ It’s a minor opponent. I’ll challenge them to a fight.

▷ Let’s try to resolve this through conversation. I’ll speak to them.

▶ It’s an unbeatable opponent. I’ll flee with all my might.

‘Where are they?’

The text kept generating as if refuting Seohui’s thoughts. In that situation, Seohui could do nothing. Time had stopped, so he could only read the text.

▶ It’s a minor opponent. I’ll challenge them to a fight.

▷ Let’s try to resolve this through conversation. I’ll speak to them.

▷ It’s an unbeatable opponent. I’ll flee with all my might.

As the question grew more confusing, time continued to dwindle.

Seohui felt the need to choose quickly. If there really was an enemy, and if it was someone he couldn’t sense, he wouldn’t survive whether he fought or fled.

<You have chosen ‘Let’s try to resolve this through conversation. I’ll speak to them.’>

Paf!

“Squad Leader?”

Just as a subordinate called out, Seohui, with a stern face, spoke.

“Come out now.”

He knew it was absurd. They had only been here for a short while. How could the enemy have discovered them so quickly?

In his past memory, they were discovered after midnight.

Silence filled the room.

The puzzled subordinates and Seohui, who was looking around. After a brief moment, Seohui shook his head.

“It’s impossible. There’s no way they could be here…”

“There’s quite a capable one here.”

“…!”

At that moment, an unknown old man walked in through the open door. The moonlight briefly illuminated the right side of his robe.

“You….”

Seohui’s voice trailed off. The reflected image of the robe. It was the symbol of the Huashan Sect, the plum blossom.

* * *

‘How…’

Seohui stood in shock. From the West Gate, they had continuously moved downward, far from the mission area, yet Elder Goo Jong-myeong of the Huashan Sect was here.

A level 1 threat within the Devil Sect. The top-level plum blossom sword expert, Elder Goo Jong-myeong. His appearance was well-known to Seohui’s subordinates.

“This is strange, you all seem to recognize me?”

The white-haired old man looked relaxed. Leaning against the wall, he seemed overly at ease.

Seohui asked.

“How did you know we were here?”

“Huh?”

Elder Goo Jong-myeong tilted his head.

Then, he chuckled and said to Seohui.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Didn’t you intrude into the area I was patrolling?”

“Patrol area?”

Seohui’s eyes widened. What was he talking about? The area he was patrolling?

“No need for long explanations. I don’t know why you’re here, but Devil Sect brats…”

Clank.

Elder Goo Jong-myeong naturally raised his sword. His expression subtly changed.

“I’ll kill you all!”

“Attack!”

The subordinates rushed in, shouting. Seohui hastily drew his sword.

At the same time—

He saw a blur.

Whoosh!

A white light flashed before his eyes.

Splat!

Gushing red blood splattered everywhere.

Swish!

And something had already pierced his abdomen.

“Ah, cough….”

It was an instant. No, even shorter than that. He couldn’t follow the opponent’s movements for even a moment. In a flash, he had beheaded his six subordinates and stabbed him in the abdomen.

“Too slow, brats. Why are you so weak?”

Elder Goo Jong-myeong sneered and spat on the ground.

“Ah… ah….”

“What do you expect from a leader who’s this stupid?”

Mockery. Contempt and ridicule. Seohui, who had been staring blankly at the overwhelming martial prowess, lifted his head.

“You… knew… right?”

“What do you mean?”

“That we were coming… It doesn’t make sense otherwise…”

“What are you saying? You idiot.”

Elder Goo Jong-myeong frowned. Then, as if annoyed, he quickly pulled out his sword.

“Ugh!”

He stabbed Seohui’s abdomen again. As Seohui’s body bent down, he quickly grabbed his head and lifted it up.

Seohui’s blood-soaked face and eyes met Elder Goo Jong-myeong’s cold gaze.

With a voice that made him doubt his ears—

“How did you know?”