When A Woman Harbors Resentment

“Where would Darling have gone? He’s probably pursuing the Assassin Pavilion, right? I would, too. Didn’t the Investigation Unit’s intel say the Pavilion was in Shaanxi? That’s how they managed to intercept Darling so fast. First, I’ll head to Xi’an. Once I’m there, I can track the orchid-scent powder I sprinkled on him.”

Go So-jeong set her course for Xi’an.

The Martial Alliance’s Investigation Unit truly was formidable. They had uncovered that the Assassin Pavilion’s hidden base was in Shaanxi Province—something no one else knew.

At that very time when Go So-jeong left the Martial Alliance, Neung Je-gang hid the ledgers and money he had taken from the Pavilion in a secret place, then headed for Huaqing Pool.

But the atmosphere differed from when he had followed the chief here last time. Danger lurked everywhere—figures concealing themselves, soaked in killing intent.

“Someone survived.”

News that the Famen Temple tower had been destroyed by his raid had clearly spread.

“There’s no way every mutt and cow knows where the Pavilion Lord trains… Ah. The Drum Tower. If the carrier-pigeon handlers are there, a bird or two might have been sent this way.”

If a surviving killer had sent word to the Drum Tower on Xi’an’s central avenue, it would be no surprise that the alarm had reached here.

“Shall I fight like an assassin for once? Good chance to practice Hidden Shadows and Extreme Secrecy.”

An assassin’s fight is won by the one who sees first while staying unseen. Naturally, the side with fewer eyes is at a disadvantage; one eye cannot match the field of view of dozens.

Sliiiiide

Neung Je-gang’s body flowed like water. The water turned colorless and transparent and seeped into the ground.

“Kh!”

A killer let out a small cry and slumped his head. The cry warned every hidden figure: the foe they’d waited for had arrived.

“Do not panic. The enemy is a descendant of the man once called the greatest assassin under heaven. Think of this as a challenge and give it everything. The Pavilion Lord stands behind you.”

It was the chief’s voice—less fear than hatred. His fury burned over the attack on his own base, the tower.

‘Heh. If he learns I cleaned out his private vault, he’ll choke on his rage—might even kill himself.’

Neung Je-gang showed himself nowhere.

Beneath a leaf in the grove, a single droplet slid without a sound. It soaked into the tree and slowly climbed upward.

“Guh!”

Thud.

A killer on the branches gave a final scream and fell dead to the ground.

Papapapapap

Shu-shu-shu-shook

Pararararararak

In an instant, hidden weapons rained from all directions toward that tree—and the killers’ assault began.

“I was waiting. Forty-Two Shadow-Kill Forms!”

The chief’s voice sounded as well. But an attack far faster than his call detonated on the tree the droplet had climbed.

“Kraah!”

From the seemingly empty tree, blood geysered with a great scream.

The chief felt it clearly—his strike had slammed into the enemy’s body.

“Got him!”

At his cry, hidden killers sprang into view. Each felt the same certainty: their blows had landed.

But the scene they were so sure of went no further.

“We were tricked!”

The killer nearest the tree shouted like a scream.

“Gasp!”

“Wha—!”

The enemy’s body—supposed to be a perforated beehive—was nowhere. Even the blood-spatter that had dazzled their eyes like mist was gone.

No—something was there: a human-shaped statue, assembled entirely from their own hidden weapons.

“Heh-heh-heh-heh, heh-heh! Brilliant Yang Flame-Burst Force!”

Laughter came from the eerie effigy. A baleful chill ran down the killers’ spines.

The Assassin Pavilion chief’s face turned the color of dung.

“Scatter!”

Pabababak

Shweeeee

But the warning came too late. Faster than light, the effigy of blades exploded. The killers had no choice.

“Graaah!”

“Aaagh!”

“Ghuuuaagh!”

In a single counter, every killer was riddled with the very weapons they had thrown. There were no exceptions—not even the chief and his son.

Ssssss

Only after all the bodies had fallen did Neung Je-gang step into view. He was pleased with the power of the single tactic he had used.

“Why isn’t this counted among the Orthodox forbidden arts? With force like this, it rivals Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer….”

After confirming no one nearby still lived, he walked toward the Imperial Detached Palace.

“Surely the Pavilion Lord hasn’t fled?”

He muttered—and halted. A human silhouette stood before the palace. Even with his vast inner strength, he hadn’t sensed the presence until he saw the shadow.

“Impressive. Are all my men dead?”

It was the Pavilion Lord himself—outside the baths, waiting for Neung Je-gang.

“They’re all dead. So what now? Only you remain. That means the Assassin Pavilion is finished.”

“That’s fine. Building an organization isn’t hard. I’ll kill you and start again. You’re the one called Secret Shadow, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“Good. Your father cost me dearly… Perhaps killing both father and son will pay some of it back?”

“Madman.”

“Mad… man?”

Vroooooom

“Taste madness.”

The Pavilion Lord surged his inner strength to a peak. The sight was ominous.

‘Dangerous. Lunatic! He’s opening with Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer….’

Because Neung Je-gang knew the art, he recognized it at once. Intent on ending it in one blow, the Pavilion Lord poured everything into Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer.

“Damn it! Fine—let’s see it. Brilliant Yang Fiery Art.”

Vwoooooom

Heat swelled around Neung Je-gang. If he wished, he could unleash Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer too.

But a man who had only just memorized the formulas could not match one who had trained over a decade to the Five-Star realm. He had no choice but to use his chosen main art, the Brilliant Yang Fiery Art.

“Die!”

At the Pavilion Lord’s shout, a blazing blue radiance slashed toward Neung Je-gang.

“Brilliant Yang Slash!”

He poured all his inner power into the palm art.

In pure inner strength, he far surpassed the Pavilion Lord. Breaking through the Gate of Life and Death was not for show.

Kugugung

Tak—step, step.

Both were driven back about the same distance. Between them, twin vortices howled and tore at the air.

“Damn! I used everything and still got pushed….”

Neung Je-gang spoke in frustration.

Forbidden art or not, this was too much. The gap between what he’d read in the manual and the art’s power in real combat was like heaven and earth. His all-out Brilliant Yang Slash had lost to a mere Five-Star Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer. To him, it was unbelievable.

To the Pavilion Lord, it was more unbelievable still. He had used a forbidden art, determined to crush with a single strike.

Yet the opponent had merely been driven back—despite not using a forbidden art at all.

“Everything, you say? Heh-heh-heh!”

The Pavilion Lord laughed darkly. He, at least, had not used all his power.

Now his enemy’s life was in his hands. A fight between the depleted and the brimming needed no further words.

But how could he know? That Neung Je-gang was the monster forged by the Demon Doctor’s life’s work; that he had pierced the Gate of Life and Death.

Vroooooom

The Pavilion Lord gathered power again.

Swish—

Neung Je-gang chose the sword over the palm. True energy layered into the No-Mind Sword.

“Ha-ha-ha! A sword now? You think some odd blade can face an invincible art? Ha-ha-ha-ha!”

He mocked Neung Je-gang. A lunatic stood before him—one who would block Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer with a sword lacking any qi infusion.

“Since this is your last road, I’ll tell you its name. Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer! Break!”

“Idiot! What’s so special about Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer? One-Flash Soul-Cleave!”

Buuuum—flash!

Sword-force from the No-Mind Sword erupted. And though he didn’t name it aloud, Neung Je-gang used one more technique.

Twuung

Before the flare of sword-force had even faded, his left middle finger snapped straight, sighting the Pavilion Lord’s head.

Puhk!

Chwaaaash—

“Ghhk!”

Hurrrk—

Neung Je-gang clearly saw a hole open in the Pavilion Lord’s skull. The price for that sight was steep.

Even the sword-force from the No-Mind Sword couldn’t fully block the destructive wave of Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer. It smashed into his front; his body skidded back without end. At last, he coughed blood.

Tak.

Still, he did not fall. Dropping to one knee, he barely held his stance. Blood kept bubbling from his lips.

“Kh—! Damn it! Am I… kh—! dying like this?”

In the end, he learned a harsh lesson: against a devastating blast like Thunderclap Heaven-Sunderer, meeting it with a sword was a losing trade.

And so darkness slowly draped itself over Huaqing Pool at Mount Li, where all had fallen.