Chapter 239: Special Operations Unit
Although I had relocated the office to a central area and even renovated it to welco refined guests,
for so reason, the condition of the visitors these days was truly… unacceptable.
“Hm, the tea leaves are quite high-grade. Looks like you’ve been making good money lately?”
A woman dressed in luxurious martial robes, a jade-hued treasured sword at her waist, raised her brows as if surprised.
Her black hair, reaching her shoulders, was neatly tied into two sections, and despite her small fra, she emitted a bold and sharp presence.
“Ilhong, what a waste—why bring that out?”
Sensing a faint trace of a troubleso guest, I spoke with slight regret upon seeing the expensive tea leaves gifted by Eun Hwaran being brewed.
“……Captain, take a good look at her attire and the mark on that sword. She’s definitely from the Namgung Clan.”
Ilhong whispered into my ear, explaining why she had served such precious tea.
The Namgung Clan—one of the pillars of the Nine Sects One Gang and Five Great Clans, a prestigious family that had even produced the current Murim Alliance Leader, and the very clan that raised the unparalleled genius known as the Cheongun Sword. From her whisper, it seed this woman was likely one of their young ladies.
“So what? She’s got no sense of decorum.”
I muttered toward Ilhong while glancing sideways at the woman.
“You know, I can hear everything?”
At that, the Namgung Clan’s young lady glared at , eyes blazing.
“Ahem. Is that so?”
Honestly, I had ant for her to hear so of it. Wasn’t she the one who barged in and started things off by saying she was disappointed?
I, Dan Mujin—the Dog-Beating Dragon—was the kind of man who always returned what I received, even to a custor.
“Ha, just like I heard. They said even against the Murim Alliance Leader, you never lose a word.”
The corners of her lips curled upward slightly. Her gaze carried both disbelief and intrigue.
Fortunately, she didn’t seem to hold grudges.
“I’m Namgung Sohye of the Namgung Clan.”
She puffed out her chest, lifting her chin as she introduced herself.
“I’m the younger sister of my respected elder brother, Namgung Jin.”
There was a clear trace of pride when she ntioned her brother.
“……Ah, I see. I am Dan Mujin.”
Her voice and deanor were confident—perhaps even slightly arrogant.
But thinking about it, being born into a prestigious clan and achieving considerable mastery in martial arts would naturally make one proud, even arrogant.
Which ant that Namgung Jin—who had all that and yet remained humble with the spirit of a true chivalrous hero—was the strange one.
Normally, people ended up like Murong Hui—arrogant and self-centered.
“By the way, Miss Namgung Sohye, what did you an earlier? You said you were disappointed.”
I asked, puzzled.
Unlike my days as a wanderer when I was dismissed as a scrawny brat, I had now built a sturdy physique, gained so reputation, and beco a master exuding a solid presence.
Yet she called disappointing the mont she saw ?
“Your face! My brother said you were ‘a man as handso as himself.’”
“……What.”
I unconsciously touched my face. I had always thought my features were well-balanced, with a properly masculine jawline.
“Now that I see you in person… you’re not quite at that level. He exaggerated.”
No matter what kind of provocation or ntal attack I faced, I had always scoffed it off—but that one line felt like a dagger stabbing into my heart.
Ever since I acquired Murong Cheongjin’s appearance, I had taken great pride in being handso.
“Ilhong… am I ugly……?”
My voice trembled slightly as I asked.
“No way. In my eyes, you’re the most handso man in Beijing.”
Ilhong hurriedly comforted .
“That’s right, Mujin. You look manly and great.”
Jo Harang chid in as well. She said that for a chivalrous hero, what mattered was spirit and righteousness—face didn’t matter.
“The young master over there… compared to my brother, he’s at least decent-looking. What’s your na?”
Namgung Sohye’s eyes sparkled as if she had discovered a gem. She asked Ilhong for his na.
It seed her preference was for youthful or sharp-featured n.
“My na is Ilhong. And my heart is already set elsewhere, so don’t bother.”
After muttering that, Ilhong plopped down beside and glanced this way.
“Oh my. So that’s your preference….”
Namgung Sohye widened her eyes.
“That’s not it.”
I waved my hand, denying it before misunderstandings could arise.
Jo Harang simply shook her head, as if she had grown used to scenes like this.
“And Miss Namgung Sohye, if you compare anyone to Namgung Jin, there’s no one in the Central Plains who’ll asure up. Your standards are too high.”
I nodded at Ilhong’s words.
That guy really did have a face that made your eyes widen.
Even just standing there, he looked like a painting co to life, as if the surroundings brightened around him.
And on top of that, his martial arts were outstanding, and his character flawless…
Damn it. He had everything.
It made my blood boil.
‘Kill!’
Then the Heaven-Slaying Star suddenly intruded, telling to eliminate the source of my irritation by killing.
That bastard was always trying to guide toward slaughter whenever it got the chance.
‘Still… he did treat pretty well.’
As fellow chivalrous heroes walking the sa path, he seed to feel so kind of kinship.
I had only been accumulating good karma, but he seed deeply moved by my actions and held considerable goodwill toward .
Though every ti I t him, I felt like there was so hidden secret in his gaze.
Perhaps no one could truly be perfect.
“So then, what brings the great young lady of the Namgung Clan to seek out?”
She felt like a female version of Murong Hui. Though, admittedly, sowhat more sane.
“Dan Mujin, I’m planning to gather capable and trustworthy people and storm the Demon Cult. Join our group.”
No—correction. She was even crazier than I thought.
At the word “Demon Cult,” my subordinates’ jaws dropped, and I shot to my feet, shouting—
“The exit is that way, dear custor.”
I pointed straight at the office door, but Namgung Sohye didn’t budge and firmly repeated her offer.
“My brother Namgung Jin’s life is in danger. I heard the two of you are acquainted.”
“We are acquainted, but not to the extent that I’d throw my life away and charge into certain death.”
I now had a business, people under , and those who worried about like family.
I couldn’t recklessly throw myself into danger like when I had nothing.
More importantly, I had to co back alive to receive paynt and accumulate good karma to build my internal energy. A suicide mission was out of the question.
“That can’t be… My brother praised you as the greatest chivalrous hero he had ever seen…”
Her voice trembled slightly.
I had always wondered why that Namgung Jin seed to like so much.
His gaze wasn’t ordinary—honestly, it felt a bit burdenso.
“Then if not for my brother, act for the future of the Orthodox Murim. Even now, countless righteous martial artists are dying within the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains.”
Namgung Sohye appealed from another angle.
“It’s unfortunate, but that’s not sothing a re troubleshooter like us should handle.”
This wasn’t just any request—it was to storm the Demon Cult. It could spark a full-scale war between the Orthodox and Demonic factions.
Shouldn’t the Murim Alliance handle that?
“Please reconsider… Many Beggar Heroes of the Beggars’ Union have died, and even the core officers of the Demon-Slaying Unit are in danger. At this rate, the Murim Alliance…”
Her voice now carried desperation.
“Wait. Who’s in danger?”
A word I couldn’t ignore made interrupt.
The Demon-Slaying Unit of the past wasn’t my concern, but recently, there were people in it I cared about.
“…Who exactly infiltrated the Demon Cult?”
“Well, first, the captain of the Free-Spirit Sword, Jeok Unyeop—”
“Not him. The others.”
At my suddenly hardened tone, Namgung Sohye tilted her head in confusion before continuing.
“The Evil-Slaying Demoness and the young lady from Venom Valley are also inside the heart of the Demon Cult…”
“…Damn it.”
I let out a deep sigh and smacked my forehead.
I thought it was soone else’s problem—but it turned out to be more my problem than anyone else’s.
“Mujin, it’s Tang Yeo-hye. We have to go save her…”
Jo Harang, who knew at least part of my connection with Tang Yeo-hye, tried to persuade .
“For this request… you’ll guarantee proper paynt, right?”
At my resolute question, Namgung Sohye nodded vigorously.
“Of course. The one issuing the request is the Murim Alliance—you won’t be lacking.”
That was at least so comfort.
“I’ll go with you too, Mujin. Even if it’s the heart of the Demon Cult.”
Even though it was a path toward death, Jo Harang didn’t hesitate.
“Captain, I’m going too!”
Ilhong also raised his hand high, saying wherever I went was where he belonged.
“No. You stay at the office.”
I extended my hand and firmly refused.
“Why is it always just …”
She drooped, clearly upset.
But the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains, surrounded by enemies, was far too dangerous to bring her along.
“Hm. So they’re not just simple employees, I see?”
Namgung Sohye looked at us with interest, apparently surprised.
“Seems my brother was right. You can judge a person by those around them.”
“Enough. Just guide us to the rendezvous point. Rescue missions depend on speed—there’s a golden ti.”
Like searching for missing persons, timing was everything.
Satisfied by my resolve, Namgung Sohye nodded.
“Follow , then.”
On a late night where countless stars filled the sky,
with the chill of early autumn seeping into my body,
we gathered at an abandoned house in the outskirts of Shaanxi, untouched by people.
A flickering lamp cast uneasy shadows as the night wind slipped through broken windows.
“Everyone’s here.”
Zhuge Seon, with his thin mustache and scholar-like appearance, looked around at us.
In the dim light, I examined the companions heading toward the Demon Cult’s stronghold.
Myself and Jo Harang—both Peak Master-level experts—Namgung Sohye of the Namgung Clan, and finally Captain Jang Jin of the Murim Alliance’s Chivalrous Unit.
Four figures stood in the darkness.
“After much discussion, these are the carefully selected mbers.”
Zhuge Seon explained that only those who had reached a certain level and could be absolutely trusted were chosen.
“Isn’t this too few? We’re heading to the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains with just four people?”
I voiced my dissatisfaction.
Even for an elite unit, this was too small.
The Demon Cult would be swarming with enemies.
‘Ming Cult… the fourth…’
‘Shut it. You’re making things worse.’
‘……’
The Heaven-Slaying Star flared red before being suppressed by my pure internal energy.
“This is the only way to infiltrate unnoticed. And if we’re discovered and the mission fails in the worst possible way…”
“If it fails?”
I asked, and the others leaned in as well.
“We can pass it off as independent action… or personal deviation.”
Zhuge Seon spoke with heavy eyes.
“……”
Silence fell among us.
To prevent it from escalating into war.
In other words, if we were caught, the Murim Alliance would deny any connection.
“So it’s a suicide special unit.”
I muttered, my face pale.
In modern terms, this was a black-ops special force.
“Then I’ve explained everything. I wish you fortune in your endeavors, brave chivalrous heroes.”
Hearing soone of his rank call us heroes didn’t bring pride—it brought unease.
“Why does it sound like we’re going to die?”
When I asked, Zhuge Seon gave a bitter smile.
“…Please co back alive. I an that sincerely.”
Damn it. He didn’t deny it.
It felt like the peace of the Central Plains might rest on our shoulders.
And those shoulders suddenly felt just a bit heavier.
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