The Abandoned House in the Mountains (3)
In a dilapidated house deep in the mountains, a woman stood gazing up at the night sky through the broken roof. Her name was Chilho.
A man entered the room and spoke, “If you want to see the sky, why not step outside? Why peer through that tiny hole?”
The man, with a childlike appearance, was none other than the assassin Gwaemangryang.
For some time now, Chilho had avoided looking up at the sky. The small patch visible through the broken roof felt like the entirety of the sky she was allowed.
“What about Chwirang?” she asked.
“He’ll be here soon. Have you ever known him to be on time?”
Just then, a voice came from behind them.
“When have I ever been so late that you talk behind my back?”
A man entered, his appearance neat and his martial attire spotless. His hair was perfectly groomed, and his clothes looked as if they were brand new.
Despite his name, Chwirang, which suggested a fondness for alcohol, he couldn’t drink a drop. When asked why he was named Chwirang, he would say it was to hide his inability to drink. Chwirang was certainly an odd character.
“That guy, he’s definitely got something peculiar about him,” Chwirang remarked.
Gwaemangryang nodded in agreement. “Indeed, he’s not your average person.”
There was something about the nameless hero that only assassins could sense.
Gwaemangryang turned to Chilho. “So, what’s the verdict? Is he someone we need to eliminate?”
Chilho hesitated, unable to make up her mind.
Seeing her indecision, Chwirang spoke up. “When in doubt, just kill. Fewer mistakes that way.”
This was the basic sentiment among assassins. Gwaemangryang shared the same view. “It’s usually better to regret killing than to regret sparing someone.”
Both men were in favor of eliminating the target.
“He’s helping Magongja. Killing him now could cause problems,” Chilho pointed out.
“But are you sure he’s really helping Magongja? If he’s approaching with ulterior motives, Magongja could be in danger.”
“Magongja isn’t someone who gets easily deceived.”
“But can you be certain?” Chwirang pressed.
Chilho couldn’t answer. It was as ambiguous as Chwirang’s initial statement. It didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t be sure.
No, more precisely, she hesitated to say, “Kill him because I’m not sure.” She had never been this indecisive before.
Well, there was one time. When she met a man named Galpyo while monitoring Majungsu. Her feelings had been different then, too. She didn’t know why she had become so sentimental, and now it was happening again.
Ultimately, the final decision for this mission rested with her.
“I’ll reserve judgment for now.”
Gwaemangryang and Chwirang exchanged a serious glance. They had worked with Chilho several times, but this felt different.
“Understood. Let us know as soon as you decide.”
“Of course.”
Chwirang added, “Make the right call. Lives depend on it.”
“Yes.”
The two men left, leaving her alone.
She sighed and looked up at the sky. It had been a long time since she had seen the open sky, not just glimpses through the broken roof.
Was the night sky always this beautiful?
As always, the sky offered no answers to her dilemmas.
At the same time, another woman was wrestling with her own thoughts about the same person.
“Are you ready to administer the medicine?” asked Maryeongin.
Im Yeonjeong didn’t answer immediately. She was engrossed in a book.
Maryeongin knew she was pretending not to hear, but he calmly repeated, “Are you ready to administer the medicine?”
Im Yeonjeong closed her book. If she pretended not to hear again, he would just repeat himself word for word. It gave her chills when he did that.
“Yes, I’m ready.”
“Administer it tomorrow.”
The effects of the medicine would begin after a full day. After another two hours, the target would die, bleeding from the seven orifices. Of course, during those two hours, they would exhibit incredible strength.
‘Is this really necessary?’ The thought lingered in her throat, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
She knew it was pointless. It was like trying to reason with a tiger in the middle of a hunt. Once Maryeongin sank his teeth into something, he never let go.
“Aren’t there monsters like that in the martial world?”
“What kind of monsters?”
“Monsters that grow by devouring those around them.”
Maryeongin chuckled. He actually felt better when he heard such insults. It made him feel like he was doing his job right.
He stood up. “See you tomorrow.”
While practicing breathing exercises, someone knocked on the door.
It was Im Yeonjeong, holding a bottle of liquor.
“Surprised?”
“I never expected you to knock on my door. I thought that was always my role.”
“As you know, I’m quite proactive. So, are you going to leave me standing here?”
“No, please come in.”
Her visit was unexpected.
“Let’s have a drink.”
“Sounds good.”
As I reached for glasses, she took a swig straight from the bottle and handed it to me.
I followed suit. It was a strong drink. Her words from our last drinking session came to mind.
“Drinking without snacks is bad for you, remember?”
“One day won’t hurt.”
“Did something bad happen?”
“No. If you’re done, hand it back.”
She took another swig and passed the bottle back to me.
“It’s not too late,” she said.
“For what?”
“Run away.”
I could tell she had thought long and hard before saying this. Even now, she was making a significant decision.
“And then?”
“Live happily for the next year. It’s enough time to put your affairs in order.”
“No. I don’t want to be someone who breaks promises just to live one more year.”
“As expected, you are…”
I interrupted her, repeating her own words from before.
“Naive and foolish, right?”
She looked at me with a complex expression before sighing.
“I guess I should drink to the biggest fool in my life.”
As she gulped down the liquor, I asked, “Why are you telling me this?”
She replied, “Why did you say you liked me?”
“Because I do.”
“Same here. I just wanted to.”
She stood up.
“Tomorrow… I’ll give you a prescription and elixir that might help with your mission.”
She left the room.
It was probably the antidote to counteract the side effects. If I failed the assassination, I would have to die.
I drank the liquor she left behind. It was bitter. It had been a while since I tasted such strong alcohol.
As I drank, I pondered how to handle the end of this mission. By the time the bottle was empty, I had made my decision.
The next day, Maryeongin came to my room.
“Tomorrow is the last day of the Golden Banquet.”
“The last ten days of my life have flown by.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Well, it is the end, after all.”
“Don’t say that. You’ll succeed. And the antidote will surely be developed.”
Maryeongin grasped my hand with fervor. He was giving it his all until the very end. I suddenly thought that a diligent villain who never gives up is scarier than a powerful one.
“How’s your condition?”
“Very good.”
“Have you thought about how to kill him?”
I nodded.
“Do you need my help?”
Just then, Im Yeonjeong entered the room.
Perhaps because I hadn’t left, there was a hint of resentment and regret in her eyes. But those emotions vanished as quickly as I noticed them.
“Come to my room for a moment.”
I followed her, with Maryeongin trailing behind.
“This prescription will help you use your internal energy more effectively. It will be useful for tomorrow’s mission.”
I complied with her instructions, drinking several concoctions and receiving acupuncture in a few places. Finally, she handed me a pill.
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to succeed in the mission.”
Her hand trembled slightly. She couldn’t meet my eyes.
You don’t need to feel guilty. Your kindness is more than enough.
I swallowed the pill she offered.
Since the Unbreakable Demon Pill had already vanished from my body, this antidote had no effect on me. The earlier concoctions and acupuncture were the same.
“I need to rest now. Please leave.”
Leaving her behind, Maryeongin and I stepped outside. We heard a noise from inside. It sounded like she had thrown a book.
Both Maryeongin and I heard it, but neither of us mentioned it.
Standing at the door, I spoke to Maryeongin.
“I need your help to assassinate Macheolgun.”
“What do you need me to do?”
Maryeongin held a glimmer of hope. He truly wanted me to kill Macheolgun. He desperately wished for the miracle of that slim chance.
“I’ll do anything to help.”
Finally, the last day of the Golden Banquet dawned.
Many people gathered at the venue where the opening ceremony had been held, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
Some merchants had achieved great success during this Golden Banquet, while others had suffered losses. A diverse crowd gathered to discuss the past ten days.
A little distance away, in an alley, two people were having a conversation. They were Macheolgun and Maryeongin.
Outside the alley, eight martial artists guarded Maryeongin, while seven protected Macheolgun.
“What is it?” Macheolgun asked. Maryeongin, who had vowed never to see him again, had called him for a brief conversation.
“I have some important information for you.”
“What kind of information?”
“A man called the Nameless Hero is after your life.”
“The Nameless Hero?” Ma Cheol-gun asked, visibly startled. “Why would he?”
“How would I know his reasons?” Ma Cheol-gun shook his head. “I have no quarrel with him.”
“Who can say? Perhaps you’ve committed some grave sin unknown to the world.”
“That’s just your wishful thinking. Why are you telling me this? Don’t you want me dead?”
“True, but I can’t let you be killed by someone without a name.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Ma Cheol-gun turned away.
Ma Ryeong-in glanced up at the roof, a hint of confusion crossing his face. By now, the Nameless Hero should have launched his surprise attack.
“Brother,” Ma Ryeong-in called urgently, causing Ma Cheol-gun to pause and turn back.
“What is it?”
“I have more to say.”
“What do you mean?”
Words have a temperature—cold, warm, or lukewarm. Ma Ryeong-in was adept at detecting even the slightest change. He sensed a chill in Ma Cheol-gun’s voice, and a foreboding feeling crept over him.
As he hesitated, unsure of what to say next, Ma Cheol-gun spoke first. “Are you wondering why the Nameless Hero hasn’t attacked?”
The change in his tone was no longer subtle; it had turned from spring to winter in an instant.
Just then, one of the Seven Dragon Swords drew his blade with a swift motion.
Shing!
He cut down a nearby guard and aimed his sword at the neck of another man. The rest of the Seven Dragon Swords followed suit, drawing their weapons and threatening Ma Ryeong-in’s guards. They were superior fighters, and the surprise attack left the guards quickly subdued.
“What is the meaning of this?” Ma Ryeong-in asked, bewildered.
Ma Cheol-gun replied coldly, “I hear you coerced an assassination attempt and even drugged him.”
At those words, Ma Ryeong-in’s mind went blank. Could it be that the Nameless Hero had been captured? Or had he betrayed him? He couldn’t make sense of the situation.
“Who told you that?”
“A secret letter arrived yesterday.”
“And you believe a mere letter?”
“It was sent by the Nameless Hero himself.”
“What?”
Ma Cheol-gun sneered. “You acted exactly as the letter predicted—luring me here and stalling for time. How could the Nameless Hero have known unless he was in on it?”
A fire ignited in Ma Ryeong-in’s eyes. “This is a setup! A plot to use him against me!”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
Ma Cheol-gun’s resolve was icy. If it turned out Ma Ryeong-in had indeed plotted his death, he would never forgive him. He knew Ma Ryeong-in would continue to seek his life.
“Where is that Nameless Hero now?”
Ma Ryeong-in’s heart sank. He had a dreadful inkling of the answer.
“Could it be?”
The underground chamber.
The mechanisms no longer responded to him.
Memories flashed through his mind—how the Nameless Hero had tried to win his favor, his feigned affection for Im Yeon-jeong, his deliberate provocations. It dawned on Ma Ryeong-in that all of it might have been part of a grand scheme leading to this moment. He had thought he was the one pulling the strings, but he had been the one deceived. His body trembled with rage and shock.
“What are you, you bastard?”