HSA 90

Ak Mujin, making an effort to ignore Jin Geum-ryeon’s last words, left the residence without looking back. As he strode confidently toward the main gate, Cheong-aeng, who was sitting in the Main Chamber, asked him through the window.

“Lord Ahn! Where are you going?”

“I’m just going out for some air. I’ve already told Lord Jin, so don’t worry.”

Ak Mujin, lying without batting an eye, saw Cheong-aeng nod dumbly and quickly left the mansion. As soon as he entered the Plum Blossom Forest, he used light dody skill and hurriedly began to run. Jin Geum-ryeon had said he wouldn’t chase him, but one could always change their mind.

Besides, he felt that if he faced Jin Geum-ryeon again, he might somehow reverse his decision, so he decided it was better not to see him. This was all a choice for Jin Geum-ryeon. If he didn’t cut him off so coldly, he would probably regret it greatly later. It was better not to create such a situation.

Thinking so, Ak Mujin began to leave the mountain.

However, he hadn’t gone far when he felt goosebumps rising on his back and stopped walking.

Footsteps were originally felt better at night. No matter how skilled a killer was, they couldn’t completely silence their presence and move through the bushes without making a sound.

At first, Ak Mujin thought it was just a wild animal. But the number of presences he felt was more than one or two, and they were very cautious, so they didn’t seem like mere animals. Moreover, there weren’t many wild animals that moved in groups like that, except for wolves, which made him even more uneasy. The reason for excluding wolves was that Mae-yeong’s residence was located on a very high cliff. It wasn’t a place where wolves could come and go.

He hid behind a large plum tree, suppressed his presence, and focused his mind on the sound of the grass rustling. He could hear the occasional metallic sound of people whispering.

Why had these people come to Son of Heaven Mountain? And while suppressing their presence so as not to be detected by anyone. Not many people knew that Mae-yeong resided on Son of Heaven Mountain. However, since Jin Geum-ryeon and Ak Mujin’s group hadn’t been hiding their presence, it wouldn’t be strange if someone had followed them from the village.

Ak Mujin bit his lip tightly.

If they had climbed that high cliff and painstakingly chased after Jin Geum-ryeon, they must be a group that was very angry with him. And if he thought back on what had happened, wasn’t there someone who immediately came to mind as suspicious?

Although Namgung Eui had stepped in to stop him, Namgung Mun-hong firmly believed that Jin Geum-ryeon was the one who had insulted the family, so it must have been difficult for him to bear. As Namgung Eui’s uncle, he would have had some subordinates within the family that he could use, so persuading them and bringing them along wouldn’t have been a difficult task.

But why at a time like this?

If it were the usual Jin Geum-ryeon, there would be no need to worry. Hadn’t he already confirmed it at the inn? Namgung Mun-hong was no match for Jin Geum-ryeon.

However, the current Jin Geum-ryeon was in a state of being weakened by Ak Mujin’s Meridian crippling poison. Even if the effects of the poison were temporary, it would be too much for Jin Geum-ryeon to handle, as they had suddenly appeared right in front of him. No, he would definitely be defeated. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his life was in danger.

If they found out that the ‘Evil Cult Lord’ couldn’t use Inner Force, would they leave him alone?

Ak Mujin felt as if his head was suddenly on fire and immediately turned back. Even in the midst of all this, he could hear the sound of the bushes brushing against his clothes, which meant that the unknown enemies were also diligently moving towards the mansion.

Why hadn’t Mae-yeong even set up a barrier around his residence! But that was all because he hadn’t included it in the settings, so he had no choice but to blame himself. He nervously put on the Human Skin Mask and quickly moved his feet.

*

Just as he arrived at the mansion, Ak Mujin once again felt a dizzying pull at the back of his head. It was too dark to see properly, but several assassins were already clinging to the roof. Just as Cheong-aeng, who had noticed their presence, came out into the courtyard, two or three assassins rushed towards her from afar with swords.

“Who are you!”

Cheong-aeng shouted angrily, and the assassins’ movements became even more frantic. The Main Chamber where Jin Geum-ryeon was staying was still quiet, and Ak Mujin quickly jumped up and charged at the assassins who were trying to infiltrate the Main Chamber.

“Cheong-aeng! Give me a sword!”

At Ak Mujin’s voice, Cheong-aeng reacted quickly and tried to move, but she wasn’t as agile as usual because she was surrounded by two assassins. She eventually took out a dagger from her bosom and threw it at the assassin with all her might, and Ak Mujin snatched it from afar in the gap where the assassin dodged it. It wasn’t as good as a long sword, but it was much better than having no weapon at all.

“Lord! Assassins have appeared!”

Cheong-aeng thought that there was no way Jin Geum-ryeon wouldn’t have noticed the group of assassins. But when he didn’t even show his face, she assumed that something must have happened and shouted loudly to inform the inner chamber. Ak Mujin also became desperate. Because he knew what he had done to Jin Geum-ryeon.

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have used the Meridian crippling poison. Why did it have to be today? Why?

He quickly stabbed the vital points of two assassins shallowly. With a small groan, one assassin grabbed the affected area and his knees buckled, but the remaining one relentlessly chased after Ak Mujin.

Ak Mujin hurriedly opened the window leading to the Main Chamber, intending to protect Jin Geum-ryeon first, and looked inside.

“…Ahn Do-hyun?”

Jin Geum-ryeon was sitting blankly as if he had given up on everything, but when he discovered Ak Mujin’s face peeking through the window, he was startled for a moment.

“W-why… Why did you come back?”

“No time for that now!”

Ak Mujin jumped in and released the Acupoint he had pressed with his own hands. He had gone to the trouble of administering Meridian crippling poison and Pressure Point Strike, and now he was releasing it again! However, there was no time to feel sorry for himself for long, as the situation was urgent. He hurriedly tried to leave through the window again.

“Take this!”

Jin Geum-ryeon threw Moonless at Ak Mujin. Ak Mujin reflexively caught it and checked the sword.

“Isn’t this your sword?”

“It’s better for you to wield it.”

Having said that, Jin Geum-ryeon searched Mae-yeong’s room and found another sword. Although his Inner Force was restricted, it wasn’t to the point where he couldn’t even hold a sword.

And at that moment, three assassins who had finally infiltrated the Main Chamber rushed towards them all at once.

Ak Mujin quickly blocked Jin Geum-ryeon and blocked all three swords at once as he drew Moonless from its scabbard.

The sound of clashing rang loudly in the room.

Indeed, there was no time to be chatting like this. Ak Mujin placed Jin Geum-ryeon behind him and gathered Inner Force to deflect all three swords at once. Then, he soothed Moonless, which seemed displeased to be held by someone who wasn’t its master, and unleashed Sword Energy.

Ak Mujin didn’t like the idea of the room becoming even more of a mess due to the fight, even though Mae-yeong’s belongings weren’t in perfect condition from the start. Besides, being trapped in such a small space was like being a rat in a trap. There were definitely assassins who hadn’t invaded from the outside yet. After thinking about it, he wrapped his arms around Jin Geum-ryeon’s waist and gathered strength in his legs to jump up.

“Ah, Ahn Do-hyun!”

Jin Geum-ryeon’s face turned red at the sudden action.

“It’s better to get out of here!”

And through the window he had entered, Ak Mujin took Jin Geum-ryeon and escaped. As expected, he ran right into an assassin who was trying to enter through that window, but Ak Mujin lightly stabbed the assassin’s chest with his sword. But that was all he did. He instinctively stopped his hand at the strange sensation of Moonless piercing flesh and withdrew the sword, leaving only a shallow wound.

Taking advantage of the gap where the assassin screamed briefly and moved away, Ak Mujin lightly leaped onto the roof.

As he steadily blocked the swords coming at him, he realized that their swordsmanship was quite familiar. This was the Namgung family’s swordsmanship. It seemed that his guess was correct.

“We don’t know what kind of expert you are, but our goal is only the Evil Cult Lord! If you continue to side with him, we will consider you a lackey of the Evil Sect and have no choice but to execute you!”

The voice of the Namgung family warrior who shouted that was definitely a voice he had heard before. Namgung Mun-hong. It seemed that he was very angry with Jin Geum-ryeon. He should have already known that he was no match for Jin Geum-ryeon after having crossed swords with him once, so what was he thinking when he chased after him? Had he brought a Namgung family Elder with him?

“Those who cowardly ambushed us while we were off guard are all talk. Come at me if you dare!”

In any case, Ak Mujin needed to divert the assassins’ attention to himself since Jin Geum-ryeon was currently unable to fight. He deliberately shouted loudly and provoked them.