Chapter 67: Jaseung, Lures the Undying Ghouls

By the next morning a new rumor was spreading quickly.

It was the main topic of conversation among the people gathered at the White Ram Inn.

"I heard the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan was ambushed."

"They say she almost died."

"Who would attack on the first day of a wedding!"

"They say it was the work of someone called Celestial Ghost."

"Celestial Ghost? Never heard that name before."

"There’s a mysterious group in Jianghu called the Undying Ghouls, and he’s their leader."

"Never heard of such a place."

"I’ve heard of them. You know, that terrifying group that never gives up once they set a target."

"Whoever they are, they should all be slaughtered. To attack on a wedding night!"

"Exactly."

Listening to the conversation were two men. One was a middle-aged man in expensive robes and the other an old man in plain martial attire. They looked like a rich family’s Young Master and his elderly servant.

"How could they have found out?"

At the old man’s words, the younger man’s eyes sharpened.

The man was Celestial Ghost himself, the one in the rumor. As the Three-Eyed Pavilion had gathered, he had a most loyal subordinate. His name was Jongno.

"Wasn’t this operation carried out in secret?"

"Yes."

Given the nature of the matter, they had decided to proceed in secret. The job was to kill the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan and her husband.

The Murim Alliance, which valued honor, would never stand by if they knew, and killing a newlywed couple on their wedding night would stir public outrage. It could easily lead to being branded as an enemy of Jianghu.

Though Celestial Ghost did not fear Jianghu, this time he wanted to proceed cautiously.

"Is there anyone in the Northern Sky Clan who could recognize us?"

"Not that I know of."

Celestial Ghost and Jongno were both unsettled.

Failure was not surprising. In Jianghu, unforeseen variables were common.

The problem was that their identity had been exposed. Even Celestial Ghost’s name was being mentioned.

When taking on this job, the Celestial Ghost had deliberated for a long time. But it wasn’t about whether they could kill the target.

The question was whether they could handle the aftermath once they killed a couple who were the focus of the entire world.

So he had sent people whose identities would never be exposed. They were the best in skill but had never taken on any other contract before.

At that moment, someone else joined the loud conversation nearby.

"So this so-called mysterious group isn’t so mysterious, since they’ve been exposed like this."

"I heard that among the guests there was an elder named Hwang Seungryong who found them out."

"Hwang Seungryong? Never heard of him."

"That man is truly a mysterious master."

"Undying Ghouls or whatever they are, I hope they all get caught."

Hearing this, Celestial Ghost’s expression twisted. It had been a long time since he had felt such displeasure.

The Celestial Ghost spoke quietly.

"Find out where this Hwang Seungryong is."

First, he had to determine how they had been found out. Once exposed, it was only a matter of time before it happened again.

* * *

At the same time, Lee Jaseung went to see Baek Seolyoung.

"I have a request."

"What request?"

"I’d like my Junior disciples to keep staying in the annex."

Baek Seolyoung readily agreed. Their bridal room had been prepared in the main building, not the annex.

"Do as you like."

"And I have one more favor."

"What is it?"

She grew slightly tense, thinking he might say he also wanted to stay in the annex. But that wasn’t his request.

"Please refrain from going there for now, like before. The disciples don’t like mixing with other people."

Baek Seolyoung looked at him.

‘You sure it’s them and not you?’

But she didn’t voice the thought.

"Alright."

"Thank you. Eventually they’ll enjoy spending time with others."

As he turned to leave, Lee Jaseung paused and asked,

"Are you alright?"

"What do you mean?"

When she pretended not to understand, he resumed walking.

"Nothing."

After he left, Baek Seolyoung let out a light sigh. She knew what he meant. But she could not easily talk about yesterday.

‘Am I alright?’

After spending her wedding night like that, what woman could say she was alright?

Still, she had no desire to complain. Without him, her wedding night might have been her last night alive.

She stood by the window.

Far away, she saw Lee Jaseung crossing the training yard.

She touched her lips with her pale slender fingers. The feeling from yesterday still lingered vividly.

‘Still, thank you for asking.’

At the same time, Jongno brought news.

"Hwang Seungryong is staying in the Northern Sky Clan’s annex."

At the report, Celestial Ghost smiled coldly.

"Bring him."

No matter how powerful the Northern Sky Clan, this was not going to be an all-out war, and taking an old man from the annex would not be difficult.

"Understood. I’ll send the hungry, capable ghouls."

Four hours later.

When he had first received the order, Jongno had been confident. But now his expression was grave.

"We’ve lost contact with the ghouls we sent in."

"What?"

Celestial Ghost shot to his feet in surprise.

"Are they dead?"

"We can’t even confirm that."

Celestial Ghost’s eyes glinted sharply. He had sent capable men, yet they failed? And not against the Northern Sky Clan’s Lord or her husband, but an old man like Hwang Seungryong?

"Does that man have something unusual about him?"

"Nothing has been revealed."

"Send in quick-footed men. Just tell them to see what’s going on and report back."

"Yes, understood."

An hour later, Jongno returned with an even graver expression.

"We’ve also lost contact with the second group."

"What?"

Celestial Ghost’s expression darkened.

"Where is the Northern Sky Clan’s Lord now?"

"She’s outside."

"And Seop Mu-pyeong?"

"He’s also outside. Neither has anything to do with this."

"If they’re both outside, it should be even easier to capture Hwang Seungryong, yet we lose contact with our men?"

It was incomprehensible. It should’ve been light work to capture Hwang Seungryong.

"And the Murim Alliance?"

"No movement."

"The Black Way Alliance?"

"Same for them."

"What about the Demonic Cult? Could they be involved?"

"No."

Jongno’s certainty only deepened Celestial Ghost’s confusion.

That meant either a master from the Northern Sky Clan or a third party had intervened.

He had a bad feeling. This time he wanted to withdraw. But the Undying Ghouls’ unchanging rule was never to back down.

If they failed to kill Baek Seolyoung and Seop Mup-yeong, their honor and reputation they’d built up would be ruined.

"If we lose our reputation, we lose everything."

On the other hand, as long as they preserved their name, the organization would endure as long as he and Jongno lived. With the money they had saved, they could rebuild any time.

"We should leave Hwang Seungryong for later and focus on the two targets."

At this suggestion, the Celestial Ghost shook his head.

"The earlier assassination might have failed because of Hwang Seungryong."

Though he spoke as if guessing, Celestial Ghost was certain. The lack of news from his men proved the man was deeply involved.

"He must be dealt with first."

Jongno nodded. He also felt Hwang Seungryong was at the center of this matter.

Celestial Ghost’s eyes glinted with killing intent.

"Send in the Berserk Starving Ghouls."

Jongno was startled. The Berserk Starving Ghouls were the strongest masters among the Undying Ghouls, a trump card used only in dire situations.

They too operated as separate cells, but they were so skilled that even after a long time apart, their coordination was perfect.

Celestial Ghost voiced the feeling that stirred in his gut.

"We’re standing at the edge of a cliff."

* * *

The Berserk Starving Ghouls numbered thirty.

Hardened by hellish training and countless battles, they were truly the elite of the Undying Ghouls. If they struck in the night, they had the power to wipe out a major sect of the Central Plains.

They were led by their commander, the Frenzied Ghost.

"Once you secure Hwang Seungryong, kill every witness regardless of status. Kill even the tied-up dogs."

The Frenzied Ghost relayed Celestial Ghost’s orders exactly.

Everyone gave their answer through the killing intent they poured out.

The Northern Sky Clan’s security had tightened after the ambush. But it wasn’t enough to stop the infiltration of the seasoned Berserk Starving Ghouls.

When they reached the annex, it was strangely quiet.

The Frenzied Ghost sent his men to scout the surroundings.

Soon they returned.

"The east side is clear."

"Same for the west. Not even a rat in sight."

The south and north were the same.

"Is the manor empty?"

Then, the scout from the main hall returned.

"There’s someone in the main hall. From his appearance, it’s definitely Hwang Seungryong."

"Is he alone?"

"Yes."

The Frenzied Ghost’s eyes sharpened.

"Any signs of a Formation Art?"

"No."

"Then is it poison?"

It was strange for someone to be so relaxed while alone.

"Everyone prepared the poison-repelling beads?"

"Yes."

"Let’s go."

They all leapt toward the hall.

They closed in from all directions.

In the midst of their silent movement, the Frenzied Ghost opened the front door and entered.

Sure enough, an old man stood inside with his hands behind his back.

From the windows and the roof, the Berserk Starving Ghouls entered. They nodded to show there were no traps or formations.

Relieved, the Frenzied Ghost asked directly,

"Hwang Seungryong! How did you know it was our work?"

The old man turned to him.

The young eyes that didn’t match the wrinkled face made the Frenzied Ghost shout,

"You’re not Hwang Seungryong."

Riiiiip.  

The old man removed a human-skin mask.

The face revealed was Lee Jaseung’s. He had worn the mask to lure them here.

At the sight of the young man, the Frenzied Ghost was startled. Given the situation, he immediately thought of a trap.

About ten of the Berserk Starving Ghouls moved forward, and twenty moved back to form a proper position. Lee Jaseung’s eyes gleamed.

‘Men too valuable to kill.’

He wanted them. What he needed now was strength and manpower. There were many martial artists in the world, but finding ones with both skill and experience was hard.

The skilled ones already served someone, and the unaffiliated masters either hated serving under others or lacked real battle experience.

In that sense, the Berserk Starving Ghouls were perfect. Skill, experience, and grit.

If he could bring them over, along with the Red Dragon Army he had absorbed earlier, they would be a huge asset for his grand cause.

The decisive reason he wanted them was because they operated in strict cells.

In other words, they weren’t bound by loyalty to the organization but by personal gain.

Such people were easier to handle. If they started demanding lofty justifications, it became troublesome. All he needed to do was provide for them and get results in return. That was exactly what Lee Jaseung wanted.

Lee Jaseung grinned and spoke.

"Let’s talk business."

Of course, there was something to do first.

Clenching his fist, he strode toward the enemies radiating immense killing intent.

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