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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: A Hell-Difficulty Mission (3)
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If the Nine Dragons Fortress was an alliance of nine martial arts factions in the southwest Central Plains, the Ten Demon Alliance was a confederation of ten demonic factions.
The key difference was that the Ten Demon Alliance was formed by descendants of the ancient Demonic Cult, who had united to seize the northwestern Central Plains.
The Nine Dragons Fortress, on the other hand, was more of a neighborhood watch—a group of friendly neighbors who felt threatened by the rise of the Ten Demon Alliance.
Think of it as the difference between a dynastic council and a neighborhood watch.
It was only natural that these two colossal powers, now sharing a border, would engage in a war of nerves.
And within that war of nerves, one group began to distinguish itself: the Dark Sect, one of the ten sects of the Ten Demon Alliance.
Before being absorbed into the Ten Demon Alliance, they were an assassination guild known as the Heavenly Killing Ghost Gate.
At the appearance of such a relentlessly brutal enemy, I despaired and looked at my right hand.
'I can't just cut this thing off!'
Just as I was despairing, the squad members who had gone out to find food returned.
"Squad Leader! We managed to find some dried grains for now…?"
"Wh-what is this!"
Stunned by the corpse, they quickly scanned the area.
"The Dark Sect!"
Yu So-pyeong let out a strangled scream, and the squad members' faces turned deathly pale.
"If this goes wrong, there won't be enough of us left to bury. What do you say we turn back now?"
"I've heard that a gentleman knows when to retreat."
When Yong Ma-san stated his opinion, Yu So-pyeong readily agreed.
"Sh-should we?"
I was incredibly tempted.
I could just make up some excuse about failing the mission.
I'd probably be locked in a prison cell for a few years as punishment, but staying alive was what mattered, wasn't it?
'Better to live as a worm than die a hero.'
However, this plan was shut down before it could even start.
"Deliberately abandoning the mission is punishable by death, however…"
Because Dan Un was glaring at us from behind.
If we turned back, there was no telling what that uptight bastard would blabber about, so we resumed our journey.
***
The terrain of Gansu Province was a real bitch.
It was an arid region, so there was no grass, and consequently, few animals. We couldn't find any game no matter how hard we looked.
As a result, our diet was completely unbalanced, and we had no choice but to subsist on the dried grains we'd found back in Hoyang Village.
This went on for about half a month.
"We're finally here."
We had reached our destination, Lanzhou.
Exhausted and starving, our party members cried out, their faces etched with fatigue.
We wanted to go in and eat right away, but there was something we had to do first.
Visit the Nine Dragons Fortress's secret contact point.
Our arduous journey had left us looking no better than beggars, so we disguised ourselves as such and cautiously entered an inn on the outskirts of Lanzhou.
"Seven bowls of noodles and two plates of mapo tofu. Nine dishes in total, please."
"Got any money?"
"More than enough."
"Let's see it."
He wasn't demanding payment upfront because we were dressed like beggars.
As befitting a secret branch, he was asking for the Nine Dragons Fortress's token.
When I handed him the token, the owner nodded and went inside.
After a short wait, the owner returned with a tray laden with food.
At the same time, he muttered to himself.
"The target is believed to be in the hermitage inside the branch headquarters, but masters from the Dark Sect are guarding it day and night. The warriors belonging to the branch are providing ironclad security on the outside."
"Is there a way in?"
Thud. Thud.
The owner replied as he set down the dishes.
"Tomorrow, at the start of the Hour of the Rabbit, food supplies will be delivered from the Huang Family Merchant Guild next door. If you disguise yourselves as laborers pushing the carts, you should be able to get in."
"What are the chances of an inspection?"
"They just switched suppliers two days ago, so it's unlikely."
"I see. And it would be nice to have a place to rest our heads for the day…"
"This place was scheduled to be abandoned after today. You can stay here."
"Thank you."
With that, the owner went outside and locked the door.
Thanks to him, we ate well and were able to relieve the fatigue from our arduous journey.
The next day.
Before the sun rose, we watched the movements of the Huang Family Merchant Guild through a crack in the inn's wall.
Before long, the shop's doors opened, and men began loading something onto carts.
It was clearly the food supplies heading for the Ten Demon Alliance's Gansu branch.
"Let's go."
My party and I slipped out of the inn without a soul noticing.
For this kind of work, silence was the top priority.
Ha Jin-hyeong, who was swift-footed and skilled in stealth, instantly approached the men and struck their pressure points, knocking them unconscious.
Nod.
After quickly stripping them and changing into their clothes, I gave my orders.
"Jin-hyeong, check the escape route. It would be good if you set up a bunch of traps, too."
Ha Jin-hyeong grinned and nodded.
"Don't you worry."
"So-pyeong, get the horses and necessary supplies and wait here."
"I'll find the sturdiest ones I can."
"The rest of us will take the carts into the branch headquarters."
The group nodded.
"I'm counting on you."
I said, looking to Dan Un and Yong Ma-san.
Dan Un silently nodded, while Yong Ma-san, seeming to seize the opportunity, stated his demand.
"When we get back, make sure I get an extra helping of meat."
That was something I'd have to think about.
***
After pulling the two carts for about two hours.
The Ten Demon Alliance's branch headquarters, situated on a hill, came into view.
As befitting a den of notorious demons, menacing-looking warriors stood guard.
"Who goes there!"
The men exuded a threatening aura.
I may be in disguise, but I couldn't lose the spirit of a warrior from the great Nine Dragons Fortress.
"Greetings! Working hard, I see. We've brought the food supplies for you heroes from the Huang Family Merchant Guild. Hehe."
I met their intimidating presence with a loud voice.
"You're not the guy who came yesterday."
"That fellow specializes in vegetables, so I'm the one who comes on days when meat is delivered. I may not look it, but I'm a meat expert."
I worked part-time at a barbecue restaurant for half a year in college, so it was half-true.
'Mr. Huang…'
I heard your barbecue place got completely reamed by the district health department and went out of business?
I was the one who reported you.
You didn't even pay minimum wage, and you cheated me out of my holiday pay.
You should have kept the place cleaner. And passing off Chilean meat as domestic was just too much.
Perhaps my confidence worked, because the guards' eyes lit up.
Seeing them drool at the mere mention of meat reminded me of Pavlov's dogs.
"So, the day you come is the day we get meat?"
"Yes, take a look. I've brought only the finest cuts."
Fwip.
When I pulled back the cloth cover, fresh vegetables were revealed.
"That's not meat."
"Ahem, I forgot it's in the other cart. Oh my! Look at the time. We'll be late if we're not careful!"
"Uh... right. Go on in."
"Keep up the good work!"
The moment I passed through the gate, I heard Yong Ma-san's telepathic message.
[You probably should've just kept your mouth shut.]
And he didn't even help...
As soon as we were inside, we scanned the compound, searching for our target.
'There it is.'
About twenty paces to the east, I saw a dozen or so warriors standing by a small pavilion.
The stench of blood seemed to cling to them; they had to be masters from the Dark Sect.
Nod.
I briefly met Dan Un's gaze. From his look, he was ready to charge straight in.
'An assassin's combat power plummets once they're exposed.'
If Dan Un and I rushed them, with Yong Ma-san and the others covering our backs, we could slaughter them in an instant.
'It's been a while since I've drawn blood.'
This wasn't my first time killing, but a moment's hesitation can lead to a lifetime of regret, so I took a deep breath and prepared myself.
Just as I was about to move.
"If you're late, you should be running! Why are you dawdling?!"
'Damn it...'
From the direction of what looked like the dining hall, a man in an apron was glaring at us and shouting at the top of his lungs.
At that, all eyes in the vicinity immediately focused on us.
"What are you doing! I said bring it here, now!"
"Yes! Right away!"
With all the attention on us, a surprise attack was impossible.
All we could do was assess the situation and wait for an opportunity.
"We've barely started doing business with you and you're already this late! If you make me miss mealtime, I won't let you off the hook!"
The man glared as he spoke, and I quickly responded.
"I'm truly sorry!"
"There's no time! Just leave it and go!"
He gestured impatiently, and I cautiously approached him.
I had to stall for time, somehow.
"Excuse me…"
"What is it?!"
"As a token of my apology, please let me help with the prep work. The thought of the esteemed chef suffering because of our tardiness is so lamentable, it feels like my heart is tearing in two."
"...Not necessary."
"No! To make such a mistake on our second day of business! I deserve to die! Please, I beg you, allow me to help."
Thump, thump!
As I dropped to my knees and slammed my head against the ground, his tone softened slightly.
"Ahem, no need to go that far... Fine. Go trim the vegetables in that corner."
"Thank you!"
So, after unloading the carts, we sat around washing vegetables, buying time.
[What's the plan, Jin Mujeon?]
[I don't know yet. For now, we'll have to watch the situation and seize an opportunity when it comes.]
There would be no second chance.
It was obvious we'd be exposed once someone from the Huang Family Merchant Guild eventually showed up.
'Should I aim for when we're leaving?'
The vegetable trimming ended quickly, and the chef bastard ordered us to do other things.
"Here, this meat... You, clean up... The fire…"
This went on for another two hours.
"Good work. Thanks to you, we're not behind schedule, so I won't make an issue of what happened today."
"Thank you!"
"By the way, your skills don't seem half bad. Have you ever worked as a chef?"
"Goodness, me? A chef? I just picked up a few things watching over the shoulder while working as an inn boy in my youth."
"I only said it because you seem to have a knack for it. It wouldn't be bad if you came by to help sometimes. Then we could continue doing business with the Huang Family Merchant Guild for a long time."
"Of course! The honor would be all mine."
Forcing me into unpaid labor under the pretext of supply deliveries.
It was the kind of power trip that would impress the most ruthless corporate overlords.
'As expected of the Ten Demon Alliance, a gathering of absolute fiends.'
Just as we were leaving with the carts.
An opportunity suddenly presented itself.
Clang, clang, clang~!
As soon as the power-tripping chef finished, he suddenly rang a bell.
Rumble.
"Everyone, move!"
The warriors of the Gansu branch came rushing over and poured into the dining hall.
It was a scene reminiscent of lunchtime back in high school.
"...!"
And this was an opportunity that would not come again.
[Now!]
Tatatak.
My party, having received my telepathic message, shot forward.
"...What the!"
The masters from the Dark Sect, relaxed for mealtime, were stunned and drew their swords, but they were completely unprepared for the surprise attack,
Crack. Thwack! Slice.
and three of them fell to a single strike from Yong Ma-san, me, and Dan Un.
"You bastards!"
The two who finally came to their senses hastily unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, but Dan Un's sword swung, trailing a brilliant blue light.
It was the Clear Wind Sword Art, the signature style of the Qingcheng School, which blended the principles of the Swift Sword and the Heavy Sword.
Slice, slice. Spurt!
Two of them in one go.
Their heads were instantly lopped off, sending blood spraying.
And seeing that, a chill ran down my spine.
'I need to get the hell out of there as soon as we get back to the Nine Dragons Fortress.'
To have mastered the Clear Wind Sword Art only two years after graduating from the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion.
Just the thought of facing that crazy bastard made my head spin.
Clank.
Meanwhile, Yong Ma-san opened the door, went inside, and brought out the target.
A woman was dragged out, her face a mask of confusion.
I hurriedly asked for her name.
"What's your name?"
"Ch-Cheong So-so."
"It's her. We're from the Nine Dragons Fortress. Let's go, quickly!"
And so began our long and treacherous journey.