The Youngest Member Chapter 60

A night where dark clouds covered the moonlight.

About thirty martial artists ran through the dense forest without a sound. On the chest of the ink-colored martial robes they wore, the character '玄' (Hyeon) was embroidered with golden thread.

At the forefront ran the Black Tortoise Unit Commander, Cheol Jiak.

Right behind him, on the left, followed Deputy Commander Zhuge Lin, and on the right, the third-in-command, Do Seonghwi.

The newcors, Cheon Woojin and Song Yiyeon, were running at the very rear, guarding the formation, and their imdiate senior, Jang Woopyeong, was with them.

"Junior Song, you're running well now?"

Jang Woopyeong let out an exclamation.

He vividly rembered Song Yiyeon running to the point of dry heaving during the mission with the Heavenly Tiger Unit.

That had been less than a month ago, but now his posture and breathing were very stable.

Had his movent skill improved in that short ti?

Song Yiyeon gave his characteristic smile with his handso face.

"It's about ti I shed my newcor tag."

"Oh my, has it already been a month since you joined the alliance?"

Jang Woopyeong burst into laughter as if he were dumbfounded. However, his eyes were filled with a pleased look.

He knew that the two newcors were stronger than him. He also knew that there were many outside the Black Tortoise Unit who sneered at that fact.

However, Jang Woopyeong was not a petty man who would feel jealous or have a sense of inferiority towards the newcors because of such things. He just felt that the growth of the newcors was the growth of the Black Tortoise Unit.

"Who's talking during a mission?"

Zhuge Lin's voice was heard from the front.

Song Yiyeon and Jang Woopyeong, without needing to be told, simultaneously ducked their heads and shut their mouths.

At that sight, Zhuge Lin shook her head.

'When on earth will they grow up?'

How long had they run like that?

Suddenly, Cheol Jiak, who had landed on a large tree branch, raised his hand. The Black Tortoise Unit mbers, who had confird the hand signal, also imdiately stopped their movent skills.

They had been running at a considerable speed and had stopped in an instant, but it was surprisingly quiet. It was thanks to the unique soft movent skill of the Black Tortoise Unit martial artists.

Cheol Jiak gave a hand signal.

'There is a black market in the alley ahead. Half will follow

into the black market, and the other half will surround the area.'

A black market was a market opened by a black path sect, inviting only verified custors, where they mainly bought and sold illicit goods such as stolen items.

Since most of the goods were things that could not be obtained through legal channels, the price was whatever they called it, and for that reason, it was also a considerable source of inco for the black path sect.

According to the information obtained by the Martial Alliance, the treasure map of the Three Great Talents of the White Path was at this black market.

The mission of the Black Tortoise Unit was to secure that treasure map.

Cheol Jiak, who had sent the hand signal, instantly used his movent skill as if soaring into the sky. The Black Tortoise Unit mbers, who had been secretly preparing, also moved quickly as they had been instructed beforehand.

* * *

Subjugating the black market was easy.

The high-ranking masters, including Cheol Jiak, revealed that they were the Martial Alliance Main Headquarters' Black Tortoise Unit and attacked.

A re black path sect, not even the Black Plaque Star, could do nothing against the Martial Alliance.

They tied the hands of the powerless black path martial artists and cheerfully smashed the heads of the guys who sotis got bold and attacked.

The guys who ran away were caught by the other Black Tortoise Unit mbers who were already waiting and were dragged away.

Less than a tea ti after the operation began, the black market was completely cleared.

The black path martial artists had their hands tied and their heads on the ground, and the custors who had co were mostly noble people from the vicinity, so they were politely escorted to one side.

"You bastards! Do you know who I am!"

As always, there was also a person who shouted like soone who had lived a life of luxury.

Cheol Jiak looked at him blankly and said.

"Who are you?"

"W-what?"

"A bastard who is wearing a ridiculous mask because he is afraid of his identity being revealed is shouting so righteously? Shall we find out who you are? Shall I take it off?"

Cheol Jiak, who had approached the shouting pot-bellied middle-aged man, made a gesture of taking off his mask. At that, the middle-aged man let out a dry cough and turned his head.

In the black market, whether they were officials or reputable local figures, they would wear masks to hide their identities.

The middle-aged man, as if his pride had been hurt, added a postscript.

"You said you were the Black Tortoise Unit Commander of the Martial Alliance. We'll see about that."

Cheol Jiak nodded his head roughly. He was a man who had even confronted his imdiate superior, the Righteous Will Unit Commander, so there was no way he would care about the threat of an outsider of the Martial Alliance.

"Clean up the trash on one side, and secure the goods first."

Trash referred to the people, excluding the goods.

That is, he was talking about the black path martial artists and the masked custors.

At Cheol Jiak's command, the actions of the Black Tortoise Unit mbers beca even busier.

* * *

Xiangyang Society.

It was a small to dium-sized black path sect created by the rger of the black path of the nearby Xiangfan area and the black path of Chaoyang County.

The Xiangyang Society had a rather deep history for its size, and the money it earned was also extraordinary, because it was a life-oriented black path.

The leader of the Xiangyang Society, Na Jinhaeng, was a man who knew his place and had quick judgnt. The secret to leading a black path sect for decades with a martial arts level that was only first-rate was also his sense and judgnt.

He was in the worst situation of his decades-long black path life.

"S-so. Are you telling us to attack the ard force of the Martial Alliance Main Headquarters?"

He had already heard that this black market had failed. And that the guys who had attacked the black market were the Black Tortoise Unit of the Martial Alliance.

Although the Black Tortoise Unit was not recognized within the Martial Alliance, the fact that it was an ard force belonging to the main headquarters remained unchanged.

Na Jinhaeng swallowed hard and watched the expression of the man sitting on the main seat.

On the main seat, which was originally the leader's seat, a man with his face covered by a mask was sitting with his legs crossed.

He nonchalantly nodded his head.

"Yes."

"...Then we will die."

Na Jinhaeng said in a servile tone. Although dozens of black path n were standing behind him, they were of no use in front of the man in front of him.

He did not know the man's na. He did not know his age, and he did not know his appearance. But only one thing. Only his nickna was widely known in this vast martial world.

The Shadowless Divine Thief.

The thief of the century who was said to have not been caught even by the Sword King of the Twenty-Seven Heavenly Venerables, who were called the martial artists of the world beyond the heavens.

It was said that even the Zhuge family, who had received a request from a friendly rchant group, had spread a formation in advance and had waited, but they had not been able to catch him.

His movent skill was so fast that he was given the nickna 'Shadowless' because not even a shadow was left behind.

Such a Shadowless Divine Thief looked straight into the pupils of the leader of the Xiangyang Society. The leader of the Xiangyang Society, Na Jinhaeng, felt a chill inside.

If the opponent wanted to, his head would fall without him even realizing his death.

"If you don't want to, it can't be helped."

As the Shadowless Divine Thief said as if it were a pity, Na Jinhaeng inwardly let out a sigh of relief. Although the Shadowless Divine Thief was also scary, attacking the ard force of the Martial Alliance was no different from a suicide act.

It was then.

Thump-!

At the sudden sound of tearing air, Na Jinhaeng's eyes widened.

On the desk between the Shadowless Divine Thief and himself, a short dagger was suddenly stuck.

Far from being able to follow it with his eyes, he had not even seen the Shadowless Divine Thief move.

'This son of a bitch...'

Na Jinhaeng cursed inwardly.

It was a clear threat. It was an unfair treatnt, and an excessive command. In the first place, although the Shadowless Divine Thief was grouped together as the sa evil path, he was not of the black path.

Why on earth did such a guy suddenly co to see him and cause trouble?

"Are you cursing inwardly?"

"...O-of course not."

Na Jinhaeng felt a pang of guilt.

The Shadowless Divine Thief, who let out a slight laugh, continued.

"It seems you're misunderstanding sothing. I didn't co to kill you, but to save you."

"...Yes?"

What kind of bullshit is this, you bastard.

Of course, he only swallowed the words inwardly.

The Shadowless Divine Thief's words continued.

"Do you know what you sold at the black market?"

"Jewelry from the Western Regions, a ring-poml sword from Donggyeong, a few bolts of silk, and..."

"That silk is the treasure map of the Three Great Talents of the White Path."

"Y-yes!?"

For a mont, he was so surprised that he almost fell backward.

The Three Great Talents of the White Path.

They were forr masters who were revered as heroes among heroes in the white path.

The Shadowless Divine Thief let out a hearty laugh.

"You know how the Martial Alliance regards those talents, right? Whether you attack the Black Tortoise Unit or not, the mont they return to the alliance, the Xiangyang Society will be on the public enemy list. I heard that so black path guys take pride in being on the public enemy list... Are you also that kind of person?"

"O-o-of course not."

The Shadowless Divine Thief also knew. The leader of the Xiangyang Society, Na Jinhaeng, was a man who was in the black path but was far from the true black path.

He was despicable, quick-witted, and a man whose own life was more important than anything else.

Na Jinhaeng, who was rolling his eyeballs here and there, suddenly got up from his chair and then fell flat on the floor.

"Great one! What should I do? Please save !"

The Shadowless Divine Thief looked at that sight with an expressionless face.

How could it not be a single bit different from what Elder Zhuge Seong had said? In the small office, he predicted the movents of the black path guys and the Martial Alliance guys as if he had seen the future.

Perhaps, from the ti he had trapped

with a formation and had let

go obediently, he might have predicted this situation.

'Truly a fearso man.'

Although he was confident in winning against anyone in terms of movent skills, he had no intention of winning against a person who knew the future.

The Shadowless Divine Thief said in a low voice.

"There is only one way for you to live. Attack the Black Tortoise Unit and bring back the treasure map. I will take care of the rest."

"Excuse ..."

The leader of the Xiangyang Society, who had his forehead on the floor, stealthily raised his head and watched the Shadowless Divine Thief's expression.

The Shadowless Divine Thief also realized what the guy was curious about.

"Don't try to know too deeply. Just let

say that a high person who is much higher than

is involved."

The leader of the Xiangyang Society swallowed hard. There were not many people in the vast martial world who were higher than the Shadowless Divine Thief.

The Twenty-Seven Heavenly Venerables. Or a person close to them was involved in this matter.

The leader of the Xiangyang Society made up his mind.

'If I'm even a little careless, I'll die.'

He was in a situation where he was caught in a strange whirlwind. If he let his guard down for even a mont, he would be swept away in an instant and his whole body would be torn to shreds.

His sense, which had survived in the rough black path so far with a first-rate level of martial might, shone again this ti.

The leader, who had shot up from his seat, said to the black path n waiting behind him in a rather solemn and tragic voice.

"You must have heard. This mission is one where our lives are at stake. However, if we succeed, the Xiangyang Society will grow to a level that cannot be compared to before. Even the Changan black path will not be able to look down on us."

Usually, the Xi'an black path of Shaanxi was considered the best. Because the hotown of the current number one of the black path, the Black Plaque Star Lord, was there.

The Xi'an black path was rough in disposition and unhesitating in their work. They were connected by a strong bond and did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for their comrades.

Therefore, even the Martial Alliance showed a very cautious attitude when dealing with the Xi'an black path.

And the Changan black path was the one that had survived so far even with such a Xi'an black path right next to it, and it was a place that the Xiangyang Society also mainly traded with.

Of course, the small to dium-sized sect, the Xiangyang Society, was all about groveling in front of the Changan black path. Far from agreeing on each other's demands, they had to just nod their heads even if it ant taking a slight loss.

Such a Changan black path would not be able to look down on them? As a black path person, it was sothing that made his heart swell just by imagining it.

A look of enthusiasm flashed in the eyes of the Xiangyang Society martial artists.

The Shadowless Divine Thief, who was looking at that sight blankly, let out a smirk. Because the back of the leader of the Xiangyang Society, who had set a fire in the hearts of his subordinates, was that of a man who had already prepared to run away.

"Attack the Black Tortoise Unit imdiately."

The voice of the leader of the Xiangyang Society echoed low.

At the sa ti, the black path martial artists rushed out of the office with tragic expressions.

(End of Chapter)