The Noble Justice Faction Hero (1)

“You want to attack first?”

It was a plan no one had considered.

Normally, the side with superior strength initiates the attack.

“The idea is to strike in a small, elite group before they fully assemble.”

There was another motive behind his suggestion.

If a battle broke out in Ho County, devastation would spread everywhere.

It was obvious that even the children cared for by the Defeating Blade Clan would be dragged into it.

Although the children were hardy, unlike his granddaughter they were still incapable of defending themselves.

A preemptive strike was the best way to prevent needless casualties.

But it was natural the elders of the Heterodox factions would be displeased.

“A small elite force? Do you mean we should attack with only us?”

“Does the Yin Yang Twin Monsters’ great hero underestimate the Justice faction? I heard even those rat-like Blue Dragon Troops are gathering.”

“Exactly. Even if Ho County’s forces were pooled it would be questionable—what could we do alone?”

Only the leaders of the Black Cat Sect and the Defeating Blade Clan remained silent.

The rest all showed negative expressions.

Of course, Yu Jinsan had expected this reaction.

He waited for the backlash to subside, then revealed the plan he’d been considering.

“I’m not proposing a frontal clash. We don’t have to fight fair, do we?”

The Justice factions were willing to compromise methods for victory.

Maeng Jiho, the vice-leader of the Evil Sect Alliance, was the first to show interest.

“Let’s hear it. What plan do you have?”

“They won’t expect us to strike first. That’s the part we can exploit.”

Yu Jinsan’s explanation continued for several minutes.

He described an operation to ambush them using only the ten masters present.

When he finished, Maeng Jiho asked with a half-doubtful expression.

“Can that really work? Even if it goes as planned, can we, overwhelmingly outnumbered, finish it off…?”

“Vice-leader, why do you think we’re outnumbered? Behind me stands the Yin Yang Twin Monsters.”

Perhaps because she was mentioned, Yu Seol rubbed her grandfather’s shoulder with one hand and grinned, as if there was nothing to worry about.

At that moment Baek Gyu, watching, looked around and asked.

“Has anyone here actually seen our Yin Yang Twin Monsters fight in person?”

“…”

Of course no one had. Everyone had only heard rumors of the legendary fighters. No one knew their true skill or level.

Baek Gyu had kept quiet about information on the Yin Yang Twin Monsters even within the Evil Sect Alliance.

“They are beyond whatever you imagine, so don’t worry. And the old monk dancing at the gate is stronger than any of us.”

The leader of the Black Cat Sect slowly nodded in agreement.

A killer’s keen senses and eye can perceive what others cannot.

Perhaps because of that, no one remained doubtful.

Then Yu Jinsan drove the final nail home.

“Trust is the most important thing in anything. If you cannot trust us, how can you join?”

He meant that those who disagreed should withdraw from the operation.

If the Yin Yang Twin Monsters left, it would be regrettable for the Justice faction elders gathered here—their last hope would vanish.

At that point they grew anxious.

“That can’t be. You must be mistaken.”

“Right. If we’re together, however many enemies there are, we need not fear.”

“I’ll stake my neck on the Yin Yang Twin Monsters’ great heroes.”

Yu Jinsan couldn’t suppress a laugh inwardly.

Their attitude was distinctly different from the honor-bound Justice factions.

Evil Sect warriors were belligerent and free-spirited, yet candid with their emotions. Yu Jinsan liked that.

“Thank you all for trusting us. Now let’s discuss the detailed plan.”

Yun Mountain, located in the northwest of Shaanxi Province.

From a densely forested peak, a group was watching the opposite side.

Their gaze was fixed on a temple named Geumyang Temple.

Though they were hundreds of meters away, they could still make out details—each was a martial warrior with extraordinary sight.

“They don’t seem as many as expected.”

“Still, they look at least five times our number. Let’s wait until the sect leader returns.”

In total, ten warriors were waiting for someone.

Soon someone approached them quickly.

It was the leader of the Black Cat Sect, famed as the greatest assassin in the murim world.

His movement was like a shadow—astonishingly silent even when using lightness skill.

“How did the reconnaissance go?”

“The situation isn’t good. Not only Fist Emperor but even Kunlun Martial Emperor is present.”

Everyone’s faces, except the Yin Yang Twin Monsters, darkened.

Who was Kunlun Martial Emperor? One of the Ten Great Martial Masters—an immense figure.

Even Fist Emperor alone was formidable; for him plus that other to be present was serious.

It was natural for the Evil Sect warriors to be tense.

As if on cue, laughter came from behind.

“Puaha. Cheong Jin will die today!”

The one shouting Kunlun Martial Emperor’s name frivolously was the renounced monk Jeong Hye. Wearing a bamboo hat, he tapped his legs and danced as if delighted.

Maeng Jiho, vice-leader of the Evil Sect Alliance asked him.

“Can you take on the Kunlun Martial Emperor?”

“I won’t fight the kid!”

Jeong Hye had been active in the previous era and ranked above Cheong Jin. His remembering the name suggested a past acquaintance.

“Then why did you say Kunlun Martial Emperor would die?”

Jeong Hye put a finger to his lips as if to hush, then whispered in a very quiet voice.

“That fellow will get beaten to death by Seol today.”

“Seol? Whose name is Seol?”

At that moment, a voice came from about ten feet behind.

“It’s me.”

The Yin Yang Twin Monsters perched on a branch, swinging their legs.

It was natural to be puzzled—she showed no tension despite Kunlun Martial Emperor’s presence.

“Can the Yin Yang Twin Monsters’ great hero take on Kunlun Martial Emperor?”

Yu Seol’s finger wiggled, pointing somewhere in Geumyang Temple.

“That old man?”

“You can see Kunlun Martial Emperor’s face from this far away?”

Yu Seol grinned and nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’ll win.”

Only Yu Jinsan knew this: Kunlun Martial Emperor had recently died and been revived at his granddaughter’s hands.

“Then the Yin Yang Twin Monsters’ great hero will handle Kunlun Martial Emperor, and the monk will take Fist Emperor. Who else was there?”

Jeong Hye was a renounced monk expelled from Buddhism, no longer fit to be called ‘monk’. No one cared—there was no other title to call him.

Baek Sang of the Black Cat Sect continued.

“They’re all skilled— even the weakest among them has peak martial power. The five masked ones seem to be from the Blue Dragon troops.”

“Their force doesn’t look trivial. What will you do?”

All eyes turned to the Yin Yang Twin Monsters.

They were asking whether he intended to carry out the planned operation as is.

After pondering, he signaled his granddaughter to come closer.

Yu Seol leapt down from the tree and immediately heard her grandfather’s telepathic voice.

• Child, what do you think?

• Hmm? About what?

• I’m asking if you think it’s dangerous.

• Me? Why?

Although formidable forces had gathered, they didn’t seem threatening enough to endanger his granddaughter.

Yu Jinsan judged the same and asked just in case.

He grabbed his granddaughter’s shoulder and whispered.

• From now on, listen to grandpa. Don’t overdo it, don’t go in too deep. Go to the entrance, lure some out, and lead them back. Got it?

• Mm-hmm.

• And if you judge even a little danger, return immediately. If needed, grandpa will come to help at once.

Yu Seol, imagining it, couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

Yu Jinsan didn’t scold her—he’d found the instruction amusing himself.

“Now, let’s begin.”

When the Yin Yang Twin Monsters agreed, everyone moved to their positions.

The Black Cat Sect leader had already vanished somewhere, and other Evil Sect warriors hid nearby.

Only Jeong Hye and Yu Seol remained.

“Let’s go! The two of us will go in!”

They entered the heart of the enemy camp, yet neither showed any tension.

On the contrary, they looked excited.

The mission was simple: loiter at Geumyang Temple’s entrance, draw out some of them, and lure them to the designated spot.

They were chosen as the vanguard because they were the strongest and could escape if things went wrong.

They sped through the air side by side toward Geumyang Temple.

“Hold my hand.”

“No! Seol won’t hold hands.”

“Why not?”

“I know what you’re up to. You want to grab my hand and twist it.”

“No, I was told this way we won’t get caught.”

After a moment’s thought, Jeong Hye cautiously took her hand.

“Don’t twist it~”

“Okay. But from now on grandpa must not speak a word. Got it?”

Jeong Hye covered his mouth with one hand and nodded vigorously.

Yu Seol also fell silent—they were nearly at Geumyang Temple.

Stopping their light footwork skill, Yu Seol and Jeong Hye approached calmly.

Return to Original State. Both had reached this sublime state where, despite mastering martial arts, they appeared ordinary.

Perhaps for that reason, they looked nothing like martial artists.

Moreover, Jeong Hye was disguised—bamboo hat pulled low and a scraggly beard. Even those who knew him wouldn’t recognize him easily.

At the entrance, a Taoist blocked their way. From his attire he was a Plum Blossom Swordsman of Mount Hua.

“How did you get in this far?”

It was natural to be puzzled—the entrance to Yun Mountain was under control.

Jeong Hye kept his mouth shut; Yu Seol took the lead in answering.

“We live nearby.”

Some people lived withdrawn from the world. Though the entrance was closed for security, residents already inside couldn’t simply be expelled.

The Taoist scanned them up and down.

Aside from the child’s unusually neat appearance for a hermit, there was nothing remarkable.

“What are you here for?”

He asked Jeong Hye, but again Yu Seol answered for him.

“We’re here to offer prayers.”

The Taoist tilted his head and looked at Jeong Hye.

“But why doesn’t the old man say anything?”

“…”

Under the bamboo hat, Jeong Hye’s mouth smiled silently.

He seemed itching to speak.

Before he could act, Yu Seol quickly preempted him.

“My grandpa can’t speak.”

“Hmm. Anyway, go back. No one may enter here for the time being.”

“We must go in. They say praying to Buddha will heal his throat.”

The Plum Blossom Swordsman waved his hand as if annoyed.

“As I said, you can’t enter—go away now!”

Yu Seol couldn’t stand losing whether in a tussle or a quarrel.

Since the other had raised his voice first, she would never back down.

“Why? Is this temple yours? We’re going in—why are you stopping us?”

The commotion grew louder.

Several warriors patrolling the temple perimeter began to look toward the entrance.

For Mount Hua’s elite to be flustered by an untrained child—there was no greater disgrace.

Noticing this, the Plum Blossom Swordsman scowled and glared.

“This is ridiculous. My patience ends here—leave at once.”

At that moment, Yu Seol’s brows drew together; as if she suddenly felt the role deeply, her gaze flared with intolerable heat.

“So it’s fine that my grandpa can’t speak from now on!? Will you take responsibility?”

Surprise and anger crossed the Plum Blossom Swordsman’s face.

“Why should I take responsibility for that? You’re such a little pest. Want to see your grandfather suffer?”

“What did you say!? You said ‘suffer’? Want to try it yourself, mister?”

At that moment the Plum Blossom Swordsman, his patience snapped, thrust a finger toward the child to press a pressure point and silence her.