Chapter 68
Gong Mundo, whose face had gone pale under the chilling murderous aura radiating from Cheon Mujin, soon regained his senses.
He must not get dragged into this.
“What, what are you doing, Young Master Cheon Mujin!!”
He spoke through sound transmission.
No one else could hear it, and there would be no evidence.
In fact, he could even use the wounds inflicted by Cheon Mujin as proof, so the situation was actually favorable to him.
It is said that even if you’re caught in a tiger’s jaws, as long as you keep your wits, you can survive.
Forcing himself to stay calm, Gong Mundo clenched his teeth and swallowed down the pain.
“No matter how you are the Cheon clan’s eldest son, do you think such atrocities will be tolerated?”
“Tolerated?”
At Gong Mundo’s question, Cheon Mujin let out a chuckle.
“Nothing changes just because you die.”
“M-my clan knows I came here!”
“It’s hard to find a corpse once it’s been eaten by wild dogs.”
At Cheon Mujin’s unnervingly calm words, Gong Mundo’s face turned even paler.
This bastard…!
‘He really intends to kill me…!’
He’s going to die.
The imminent sense of death broke Gong Mundo’s last bit of reason.
A desperate struggle to survive—
From the sleeve of his remaining left hand, he drew a dagger and thrust it toward Cheon Mujin’s throat.
At the sharp and sudden attack, Geom Yujin barely reacted in time. Her dagger pierced through Gong Mundo’s arm.
“Urgh!”
The dagger impaled his arm and sank straight into the table beneath it. Gong Mundo stifled a groan.
Crack!
“Guaaaaghhh!”
When Geom Yujin twisted the dagger with slight force, a chilling sound of metal grinding against bone rang out, followed by a tearing scream.
But even at the ear-splitting cry, Geom Yujin’s expression didn’t change as she quietly awaited Cheon Mujin’s command.
“You even attempted assassination yourself—now you can’t complain of injustice.”
“Urghh! That was because you—!”
At Gong Mundo’s voice filled with grievance, Cheon Mujin only smirked.
“You brought it on yourself. Anyway… Gong Mundo, was it?”
Frowning slightly, Cheon Mujin yanked out the dagger he had driven in.
“It seems I’ll have to hold your clan accountable directly.”
Directly accountable?
What does he mean?
Before Gong Mundo could ask, Cheon Mujin’s hand moved.
With a quick strike to his pressure point, Cheon Mujin knocked him unconscious, and Geom Yujin withdrew the dagger.
“Young Master, how should we dispose of him?”
If Cheon Mujin gave the word, they could easily toss him to the wild beasts. Or leave him in a place where demons roamed.
Whether Cheon Mujin knew of Geom Yujin’s grim thoughts or not, he only stared intently at the unconscious Gong Mundo’s face.
From the first moment they met, his face had oddly irked him.
It wasn’t that he was especially handsome or ugly—just average.
Then why was it so irritating?
Simply killing him now didn’t feel like the right move.
“As I said, let’s head to this man’s clan.”
“…Do you truly intend to storm in?”
“Hm? Of course. Judging by your reaction, it seems you know what kind of clan this fellow belongs to?”
“Yes. I do. Back when I trained under the Hong family in bodyguard work, his clan was marked as one to be wary of.”
“If a bodyguard clan needs to be wary of them, then… assassins?”
“Yes. One of the families taken in by the Lord of Assassins.”
“Is that so?”
Yesterday, the Lord of Assassins himself had attacked them, and now a vassal clan under him dared to come and suggest an alliance…
“These people are more insolent than I thought.”
It seems a visit is indeed in order.
“What? That brat Cheon Mujin attacked Mundo?”
“Yes.”
“That insane wretch dares!”
At his subordinate’s hurried report, Gong Hojin slammed his fist on the desk.
“You’re saying he attacked right after hearing the proposal?”
“Yes. I was observing from the ceiling in hiding and came straight here.”
“Well done.”
If the assassin who had accompanied as guard had attacked Cheon Mujin then and there, they might truly have been accused of treason.
No matter who he was, Cheon Mujin couldn’t possibly kill Gong Mundo outright. The retreat of the bodyguard had been the best choice.
“We’ll go find that brat Cheon Mujin immediately. Report to the Lord of Assassins and spread the news to the other clans—”
“C-clan head!”
Just as Gong Hojin was giving quick orders, a servant came running in, shouting urgently.
For a mere servant to barge in like this meant…
“S-strange men are attacking the clan!”
“That deranged bastard…!”
Realizing instantly who it must be, Gong Hojin rushed outside.
As expected, standing at the main gate where several of his men already lay defeated, was Cheon Mujin.
With only two guards at his side, he dared to act this way?
“Oh, what’s this? You responded faster than I thought.”
Cheon Mujin waved cheerfully at his arrival.
“Young Master Cheon, what is the meaning of this outrage?”
Swallowing back a curse, Gong Hojin forced himself to remain composed.
At least he needed to know the reason before deciding whether to drive him out or not.
“Outrage? If you put it that way, it makes me sound like some thug picking fights in the streets, doesn’t it?”
“What you’re doing right now is no different from a thug’s behavior.”
“Now, now, that’s a bit harsh.”
With a smile, Cheon Mujin snapped his fingers. From outside the gate, his men dragged someone in.
“Mundo!!”
At the sight of his son being hauled in limp, Gong Hojin’s eyes widened as he let loose his killing intent.
“Ah, not so fast.”
At Cheon Mujin’s calm voice, Gong Hojin gasped.
‘…What kind of monster is this?’
Cheon Mujin’s aura swallowed his killing intent whole.
This wasn’t the aura of some young brat.
Such an aura required not just talent, but experience—born of walking through death itself.
Even before considering that, Gong Hojin now knew: Cheon Mujin was far more dangerous than he had thought.
“As men, we should try to resolve things through conversation.”
“After seeing the stunt you’ve pulled, you dare say that?”
“What stunt? I think I’m working very hard to resolve this peacefully.”
Smiling, Cheon Mujin tapped the unconscious Gong Mundo’s head, who was being held up by Baek Woo and Do Ujin.
“This fellow came before me and actually proposed to assassinate my younger brother. And yet he’s still breathing. Could there be anything more peaceful than that?”
“That’s nothing but your one-sided claim!”
“One-sided? Well, I suppose you’re right.”
Nodding, Cheon Mujin withdrew his hand from Gong Mundo, and Gong Hojin smirked.
Yes. Without proof, what could he do?
Even if he was the Cheon clan’s eldest son, he couldn’t act with complete impunity.
In this world where strength ruled, there were still minimum laws and lines that even the great clans upheld.
Thinking the advantage was his, Gong Hojin was about to speak to coax Cheon Mujin when—
“Then I’ll just have to bring proof.”
“Proof? What proof?”
“I’ll get this fellow’s confession and bring it back. Of course, when I return… let’s see…”
Glancing down at Gong Mundo, Cheon Mujin traced two spots on his arms and thigh with his finger.
“Nothing below here will be intact. Oh, and—”
With a thin smile, he pointed between Gong Mundo’s legs.
“If he’s especially stubborn and drags things out, this part will be gone too. He won’t be leaving behind any heirs, so you’d better consider having another son.”
With those words, Cheon Mujin turned to leave the clan.
Gong Hojin’s fury finally exploded.
“How dare you! Do you think you can mock our clan like this!”
Unable to contain his rage, he stomped forward, closing the distance in an instant.
At his sudden speed, Geom Yujin and Seol Yuhwa instantly drew their weapons.
But Gong Hojin blocked Geom Yujin’s dagger aimed at his neck with his own, and caught Seol Yuhwa’s wrist as she went for his side. His eyes glinted with thick killing intent.
He wasn’t blindly charging.
Even in his fury, Gong Hojin was a seasoned warrior who had survived countless battles.
Killing Cheon Mujin here would be the worst move.
If Cheon Mujin died, the Cheon clan would erase the Gong clan from existence—no matter the circumstances.
The Heavenly Demon himself wouldn’t even need to move. The martial forces of the Heavenly Demon Castle alone would reduce them to ash.
This wasn’t speculation, but a fact proven by history.
So, he would not kill Cheon Mujin.
But his women? They could serve as bargaining chips.
With a subtle push of his dagger, Gong Hojin slipped inside Geom Yujin’s guard.
He chose her deliberately. Seol Yuhwa was beautiful, but Geom Yujin seemed closer to being Cheon Mujin’s favored concubine.
Ignoring Seol Yuhwa, Gong Hojin lunged and reached for Geom Yujin’s neck.
Or tried to.
“Like father, like son—such filthy hands.”
“You—?!”
Startled, Gong Hojin realized Cheon Mujin had seized his wrist. He tried to pull back, but it wouldn’t budge.
‘How?!’
His cultivation was at the early stage of Supreme Mastery.
No matter if Cheon Mujin was the Cheon clan’s heir, he was still just a fledgling. He shouldn’t be able to block him.
Was he using sorcery? Did he have hidden helpers?
Confusion raced through Gong Hojin’s mind, but his body reacted simply—escape first.
Gathering his inner energy, he yanked his hand free.
Easier than expected. Gong Hojin felt a moment’s relief.
Of course. How could a mere brat…
“To think you’d let down your guard after just freeing one arm—pathetic.”
Cheon Mujin’s voice came, inexplicably ominous.
Thud!
A heavy impact struck him. Off balance, Gong Hojin instinctively twisted his body to shield his vital points, stabbing at Cheon Mujin’s neck with his dagger.
An excellent counterattack, even if made on reflex.
But—
“So, you didn’t waste your inner energy after all.”
Cheon Mujin had already stepped out of range, as if he’d predicted the move. Gong Hojin’s desperate strike sliced air.
“You…!”
Realizing he’d been completely toyed with, Gong Hojin’s face flushed with shame and rage.
“No matter how you rage, nothing will change.”
Smiling, Cheon Mujin stepped forward. The sight shattered Gong Hojin’s remaining composure.
Fine. Even if I can’t kill him, I’ll cut off an arm at least.
His aura flared with murderous intent so strong that Geom Yujin and Seol Yuhwa shuddered.
Danger.
Against an opponent of his level, continuing this fight was perilous.
Just as they widened the distance to coordinate with Cheon Mujin—
Thwack!
Cheon Mujin’s strike landed squarely on Gong Hojin’s jaw.
At the same moment, Gong Hojin stabbed, but Cheon Mujin narrowly avoided it.
The sudden exchange of blows made Geom Yujin’s eyes widen.
But it was only the beginning.
Gong Hojin and Cheon Mujin ignored everything else, focusing solely on each other.
When Cheon Mujin’s fist swung, Gong Hojin twisted aside with minimal movement. His dagger lashed back at a vital point, but Cheon Mujin slipped past with equal precision.
Cheon Mujin’s fist grazed Gong Hojin’s cheek. Gong Hojin’s dagger grazed Cheon Mujin’s shoulder.
Elbows targeted throats, dagger hilts slammed toward temples.
The rhythm of their fight flowed like a rehearsed performance. The onlookers swallowed nervously.
How long did this suffocating duel last?
To everyone’s shock, it was Gong Hojin who faltered first.
Bam!
Cheon Mujin’s fist slammed into Gong Hojin’s chest.
What had seemed like a balanced duel instantly turned into a one-sided beating.
