“This can’t be happening…” Shadowless muttered, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The Skyshadows, the intelligence and assassination network he had led for over ten years, was being decimated. Though largely unknown in the murim, the imperial organization prided itself on being equal to the top three assassins’ guilds in the murim.
Yet here they were, being butchered by one man.
SPLAT!
One assassin was split in half from his left shoulder to his right waist, spilling blood and intestines all over the place.
THUD!
Baek Suryong kicked the corpse into another assassin who was approaching him. The assassin, montarily blinded, froze for a second. Seizing the mont, Baek Suryong struck like lightning, impaling both the corpse and the assassin.
THWACK!
Even with his stomach skewered, the assassin, trained to fire hidden weapons instead of screaming even at the brink of death, spat out a poisoned dart.
However, Baek Suryong simply tilted his head and dodged the dart effortlessly. At the sa ti, he slashed sideways, severing the assassin’s waist, then turned around and extended his left arm toward another assassin launching a surprise attack from the ceiling.
BOOM!
The falling assassin crashed into the wall so hard that the stone cracked. Baek Suryong, catching the sword his opponent had just dropped with his left hand, murmured to himself, “Hmm… I haven’t dual wielded swords in a while.”
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A few seconds later, the assassins couldn’t help but scream in silence. You fucking liar!
Despite claiming to be rusty, Baek Suryong swung two swords with such skill that he might as well have been ambidextrous all along. The dance of the twin blades coated with fiery crimson sword qi was as srizing as it was deadly, for with each swing, soone would lose a limb, yet amazingly, not a single drop of blood stained Baek Suryong’s bright blue clothes.
The suffocating stench of blood soon filled the room, and the assassins paused to regroup.
“Assassins are scary only when they catch you by surprise. If you know they’re coming, they’re not much of a threat. Anyway, it’s my turn now.” Baek Suryong smiled, then charged into the fray.
Shadowless gulped. That man… His martial arts are definitely impressive, but he’s far too comfortable with killing.
Most martial artists, even those from unorthodox sects, would be repulsed by the sight of so many corpses and the overwhelming stench of blood, but not only was this man’s expression unchanged, he swung his sword without a hint of hesitation, seemingly more desensitized to killing than the assassins themselves.
He might even be enjoying this. Damn it, where on earth did such a monster co from? If I lose any more assassins, the very existence of the Skyshadows will be threatened!
Grinding his teeth, Shadowless harnessed his shadow arts and began to rge with his surroundings, turning hazy.
[Create an opening. I’ll finish this,] he commanded his subordinates telepathically.
[Understood!]
Assassins sward Baek Suryong from every conceivable angle—front, rear, and even diving down from above—each one willing to lay down their life. The cramped quarters caused a lot of friendly fire, yet it mattered little to them. Even as they lay dying, they held onto their blades tightly, their bodies obstructing Baek Suryong’s view.
They were but decoys for their leader, Shadowless, to strike the decisive blow.
“Be careful!
The other assassins’ attacks are just a diversion!” Shadow shouted, her eyes widening in alarm.
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While Baek Suryong was dealing with the assassins, she hadn’t just waited idly with her eyes closed. She had focused her energy and managed to break the seals on her acupuncture points. Now able to move again, she stood up and yelled, “The real attack is from Shadowless!”
“Too late,” Shadowless said, suddenly appearing behind Baek Suryong like a ghost. With a cold smile, he plunged his sword into Baek Suryong’s back. “It’s over.”
“Over?” Baek Suryong laughed.
”!!” Shadowless’s eyes widened in shock. A torn blue robe fluttered in the air, but Baek Suryong was not there. Realizing that his attack had missed, he quickly thrust his left arm behind him to block an attack from the rear.
CRACK!
Baek Suryong grabbed Shadowless’s left arm and dislocated it. “You’re so predictable,” he complained.
Yet, Shadowless did not give up. Instead, a sinister smile spread across his lips. “Fufu, you’ve fallen into my trap!”
Extending his left arm first was part of Shadowless’s plan. As his left arm was being twisted, he aid for Baek Suryong’s chest with his right arm.
Shadow scread as she ran toward them, “Be careful! Shadowless’s right arm is…”
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CLICK.
Suddenly, a hole opened in Shadowless’s palm and dozens of steel needles shot out.
“Try bragging about how you predicted this, too!” Shadowless shouted. This was his final ace. His victory was certain. In a mont, Baek Suryong would be reduced to a lifeless corpse riddled with needle holes.
However, Baek Suryong’s next words plunged him into the depths of despair.
“What made you think I wouldn’t notice your prosthetic arm? Of course I knew you had a trick up your sleeve, literally. Didn’t expect needles, though.” With a mocking laugh, Baek Suryong’s form blurred.
An afterimage! Shadowless thought as the needles pierced right through their target and embedded themselves in the wall.
SWISH!
At the sa ti, Shadowless’s prosthetic arm was severed at the shoulder and fell to the ground. Thrown off balance, he staggered, and a cold blade touched his neck.
“If you’ve got nothing else to show, let’s call it a day. I need to get back before the afternoon exams begin.”
Facing such overwhelming skill, Shadowless could do nothing but kneel in surrender.
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