Absolute Warrior V2C8: An Unexpected Visitor
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Not even two hours after Crimson Tiger and Yong Hajin left the area, Yong Hajin showed up again at the gate leading to the inner compound.
"What brings you here, sir?" a gate guard asked.
"I left something in my father's office, so let me through," Yong Hajin replied calmly.
"Ah, I see. However…" The guard frowned in distress. "…Your re-entry has not been authorized."
"Of course it hasn't. Didn't I just say I left something behind? I'll be in and out quickly."
"I'm sorry, but that would be difficult. You'll need to get permission again before you can enter."
"So you're telling me I have to go through the trouble of getting approval again just to retrieve something trivial?" Yong Hajin sneered. "Well, if that's how it is, I guess I have no choice."
He turned away, looking visibly annoyed, then, as if he remembered something, he glanced back and asked, "Hey, what's your name?"
"Pardon?" the guard gasped, gulping nervously, while those around him flinched.
"I asked for your name," Yong Hajin said resentfully.
Although the displeasure in Yong Hajin's eyes was unmistakable, the guard remained silent.
Yong Hajin narrowed his eyes. "You won't even answer me now, huh?"
Finally, the guard relented, unable to take the pressure any longer. After ordering a subordinate to open the gates, he sighed, "Just make sure you come right back out."
"Thank you. And your name?" Yong Hajin repeated his question, this time in a friendly tone.
The guard hesitated for a moment before stating his name.
Yong Hajin grinned. "I'll be sure to remember it. Oh, while we're at it, I have one more favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"Let the guards stationed at the next gates know I'm coming. I'd rather not waste time repeating this process over and over again. Besides, wouldn't it be better if I only had to remember your name?"
The guard didn't hesitate this time and quickly nodded to his subordinate, who immediately took off.
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Inwardly, though, he let out a small sigh. Technically, this was a breach of protocol, but at least it wasn't a big deal. After all, Yong Hajin was the son of the Bloody Asura Commander, and he'd just passed through the gates earlier. Anyone would consider it a reasonable exception.
Most importantly, he had already passed the point of no return.
Yong Hajin strode through all three gates with ease. However, the place he headed for wasn't the Bloody Asura Corps building where he supposedly dropped something, but the document archive.
That was because he wasn't really Yong Hajin, but Crimson Tiger in disguise.
From the very beginning, everything that happened today had been a part of his plan.
While hanging out with Yong Hajin, Crimson Tiger had studied his face so closely that he could perfectly transform into the young master using the Thousand Transformations Hundred Faces Art.
Earlier, he had also done the introductions for Yong Hajin so that the guards wouldn't hear and remember his voice, which he couldn't imitate perfectly. Altering his own voice to make it unrecognizable, on the other hand, was child's play for him.
He silently jumped over the outer wall of the archive. Just as Yeon had said, the internal security was lax, with only two martial artists guarding the archive entrance. Since the security of the inner compound was already tight, and this was just a normal document archive, the Coalition hadn't bothered posting many guards there.
PAK! PAK!
In an instant, Crimson Tiger took down the two guards, knocking them out before they even knew what hit them. Then, he propped their bodies against the wall and entered the building.
He didn't detect any presences inside the archive, which was expected. In any organization, it was standard practice not to station any guards inside the archive to prevent the leaking of classified information.
Crimson Tiger quickly scanned the area. Dozens of bookshelves lined the room with records, though the records on the Ironblood Nines were probably kept in a secluded section.
He began his search at the far end of the room. As he had guessed, the records pertaining to the Ironblood Nines and the Bloody Asura Corps were stored at the very back.
He quickly flipped through them until he found a certain book that contained the records of all those who had joined the Ironblood Nines in recent years.
As he reached for it, though, a sudden shiver ran down his spine.
He turned around slowly and surveyed the empty room for a moment before giving a warning, "Come out."
Only silence answered him.
SWIIISH!
Drawing his sword, he slashed through the air and sent a wave of sword qi toward a bookshelf at the far end of the room.
CRASH!
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The bookshelf and its books were sliced cleanly, and several thin books fell to the floor, though the bookshelf itself remained standing.
"Damn it! I almost died just now," Soh Bung complained as he stepped out of the darkness, rubbing his neck as if he'd just narrowly escaped decapitation. "Oh! If it isn't the future Bloody Asura Commander. What brings you here? You on an errand too?"
SWIIISH!
Crimson Tiger fired off another wave of sword qi without hesitation, but Soh Bung just twisted his body to the side and dodged the attack.
Crimson Tiger furrowed his brows. That had been a warning attack, and it wasn't something just anyone could dodge.
CHWAAAANG!
He unleashed another blow, leaving only a long scar on the wall where Soh Bung had been standing.
Soh Bung grinned. "As expected, that shitty excuse was just too ridiculous to fly, huh?"
Crimson Tiger eyed Soh Bung carefully. His opponent's aura had a kind of harmony that only a top expert could pull off, perfectly balanced in mind, body, and spirit. Just like him, this guy had been hiding his true strength.
Still, he wasn't surprised at all. From the very start, Soh Bung had always acted suspiciously. If anyone was to show up in a situation like this, it was him.
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Soh Bung slowly stepped forward. "Why don't we have a little chat, just between fellow trainees?"
Crimson Tiger's mind raced. Who on earth is he? He might have come up to me already knowing my true identity from the start.
,He was curious about his opponent's true identity, but his top priority right now was to kill him. Everything else could wait. Dragging it out would only put him at a disadvantage.
He quietly gathered his qi, planning to take down Soh Bung with a single strike.
Soh Bung abruptly halted, sensing Crimson Tiger's killing intent. This Association spy was much stronger than he had imagined.
"Why are you so scared all of a sudden?" Crimson Tiger asked cheekily as he approached Soh Bung.
Soh Bung stepped back, but smiled as he unleashed his own killing intent. "Well, to be honest, I'm not scared at all. I know how to fight too, you know."
WHOOSH!
He leapt towards the bookshelves, and Crimson Tiger moved almost simultaneously.
TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK!
The two of them raced through the maze of bookshelves.
SHIIING!
Like Crimson Tiger, Soh Bung fired off waves of sword qi from his blade, slicing the bookshelves and books cleanly apart.
SWISH!
Leaning back, Crimson Tiger slid across the floor and ducked under the attacks. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed that the bookshelf behind him had been hacked to pieces, leaving a deep gash in the wall.
He sure packs a punch, he mused, still assessing Soh Bung's strength.
BOOM! CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!
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Soh Bung kicked off a fallen bookshelf and descended on Crimson Tiger, unleashing five thrusts at his heart from different angles in a flash.
CRACK! CLATTER!
Crimson Tiger managed to block all the attacks, but on the fifth strike, his sword snapped in half. Startled, he leaped back immediately to put some distance between him and his opponent.
"Surprised?" Soh Bung grinned and held up his sword for Crimson Tiger to see.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary blade, but after their exchange, it had changed completely. Just a look at it sent chills down Crimson Tiger's spine.
Soh Bung explained, "The name of this sword is Soul Crusher. It may not be one of the Ten Great Legendary Swords, but it's one of the Three Extraordinary Swords of the jianghu. You have to inject qi into it to reveal its true murderous aura. I've been saving this precious thing for a long time, and I decided to bring it out for this occasion."
The tables had turned. Crimson Tiger, clutching his broken sword, retreated while Soh Bung slowly advanced.
The two locked eyes for a moment, then clashed once more.
This time, it wasn't long before Crimson Tiger was overwhelmed by Soh Bung and forced back against the wall.
Soh Bung lunged forward with confidence.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
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Their swords clashed three times in a row, and Crimson Tiger's already broken blade shattered even more.
"This is the end!" Soh Bung shouted as he brought his sword crashing down on Crimson Tiger's shoulder.
SWOOSH!
Just as he was about to land the blow, Crimson Tiger twisted his body in a strange way and smoothly dodged it.
CRASH!
Soh Bung's sword scraped the wall as it missed its mark.
BAM!
Crimson Tiger's fist grazed Soh Bung's solar plexus.
"Keuk!" Soh Bung gasped, momentarily unable to breathe from the impact.
A shiver ran down his spine. Had he taken a clean hit, he would've died instantly.
SHIIING!
He quickly swung his sword, aiming to slash Crimson Tiger's waist, but his opponent was already one step ahead.
Crimson Tiger's arm shot past Soh Bung, brushing against his armpit. Soh Bung instantly thought he'd missed a shoulder strike, but he was dead wrong.
Crimson Tiger hooked his arm around Soh Bung and embraced him.
"Ugh!" Soh Bung yelped in shock. Having never seen a technique like this before, he was caught off guard.
SMACK!
A faint impact hit his heel, and before he knew it, he was thrown into the air.
He head spun in confusion. What the fuck? How did he launch me into the air with such a weak strike? Why can't I even react to his attacks? No, is he reading the flow of my internal energy perfectly and using my own strength against me?
His mind wanted to counterattack, but his body didn't even register that he was under attack.
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BOOM! WHOOSH!
Crimson Tiger kicked off the ground, twisting his body as he soared upward and threw a punch at Soh Bung's chest.
Soh Bung's eyes widened. Shit, are his fists actually much faster than his sword?
At least, that was how it felt.
Heavy impacts rang out one after the other from his chest to his abdomen, from his side to his ribs.
"Uwaaaaah!" Screaming in pain, he mustered the last of his strength and flung himself backward, only to find himself pinned against the wall.
Somehow, without him noticing, he and Crimson Tiger had swapped positions.
Still, Crimson Tiger clung to him like a shadow. No, he was practically a shadow himself, moving so fast that his whole body was a blur.
THUD!
A final, heavy impact echoed as Crimson Tiger landed a solid blow on Soh Bung's solar plexus, marking the end of the fight.
Soh Bung slid down the wall and crumpled to the ground where he stood. The wall behind him had caved in, with cracks spreading out from its center like a spider web.
"…What technique was that?" he whispered weakly.
"Fist Rain of the Thirteen Shadowless Maneuvers."
"…Just as the rumors say, you're incredible."
Crimson Tiger frowned. As expected, his opponent knew who he was. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"…Smiley."
"You're one of the Ten Evils!" Crimson Tiger's gaze turned icy. Smiley of the Ten Evils got that name because he always killed his targets with a smile on his face.
"Sheesh, I always knew I'd die like this someday…"
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"How did you know who I am?"
"…Hey hey, now it's my turn to ask a question," Smiley chuckled, struggling to keep smiling even in his final moments. "…Why did you infiltrate the Ironblood Nines?"
"It's my mission."
"…I see."
"Now answer me. How did you know about me?"
"……" Black blood mixed with shredded innards spilled from Smiley's mouth. He could no longer speak… no, he was dead.
CRACK, CRACK…
As he died, his face reverted to its original form, that of a middle-aged man in his forties.
He must have mastered some supreme disguise art, much like the Thousand Transformations Hundred Faces Art.
Crimson Tiger picked up the book that had fallen to the floor and quickly flipped through it.
Seventh Six: Baek Soeun
…It's her! Baek Soeun is a woman!
Dumbfounded, Crimson Tiger stood frozen for a long while. Then, as if he didn't want to believe what he had just read, he hurriedly searched for his and Yong Hajin's name.
Seventh Seven: Yang Hyeon
Sixth Five: Yong Hajin
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Both were correct, which meant that there was no chance Baek Soeun's name had been recorded incorrectly. His mission target was undoubtedly her.
Wait, didn't they refer to her as "him" when they gave me the order to kill her? Did the Radiant Hall not know her actual gender?
"Damn it! How could this happen!"
His mind was in turmoil, but now was not the time to dwell on it. He had to get out of here first.
Crimson Tiger opened the door slightly and heightened all his senses, but he couldn't sense anyone but the still unconscious guards nearby. Fortunately, it seemed that Smiley was working alone.
Closing the door again, he looked around. Whether it was the destroyed bookshelves, the scattered documents or the slashed walls, there was no way to cover this up. In the morning, the fact that a fight had broken out in the archive would definitely be discovered, but no matter how things turned out, it was best to keep the fact that Smiley had died here a secret.
Crimson Tiger lifted Smiley's corpse onto his back and stepped outside. He buried the body and his broken sword under the wall behind the building, and even carefully replanted the grass.
It was a perfect cleanup. Unless someone intentionally dug up that spot, it would be impossible to tell that anything had ever been buried there.
After that, he went back and retrieved Smiley's sword, Soul Crusher. At first glance, Soul Crusher looked like an ordinary iron sword, almost identical to the one that had been broken, so he doubted it would cause any major problems even if he didn't dispose of it.
Holding it up, he injected his qi into the blade. Soul Crusher immediately emitted a frigid, unfamiliar aura, but for some reason, he didn't find it unpleasant. In fact, he felt drawn to the sword.
He grinned. What he liked most about Soul Crusher was that as long as it wasn't infused with qi, it appeared to be nothing more than a regular iron sword.
Strapping the sword to his waist, Crimson Tiger walked towards the entrance. The two guards were still out cold.
Before leaving, he lightly poked their acupoints so that they would awaken right after he left.
True enough, a moment later, the two guards woke up at the same time and yawned. Thinking that they had simply dozed off while standing, they remained blissfully unaware of what had transpired.
The timing was absolutely perfect, demonstrating just how incredibly refined Crimson Tiger's technique was.
Meanwhile, Crimson Tiger swiftly made his way out of the inner compound.
When he reached the gate, the guard who had let him in earlier questioned him sharply, "What took you so long?"
"Sorry, I got caught up in the excitement after such a long time and ended up sparring with my father," Crimson Tiger replied.
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At the mention of Yong Cheonse, the guard did not press further. He had already broken the rules, and arguing about it further would only result in him offending everyone involved.
Just like that, Crimson Tiger left the inner compound, found a secluded spot, and reverted to Yang Hyeon's face.
His heart pounded with anxiety. The moment he killed Smiley, a new countdown had begun. The Evil Coalition now knew that an intruder was among them, and it was only a matter of time before they realized that Smiley was dead.
From this moment on, time itself was his enemy. He had to complete his mission and escape before they found out.
He immediately returned to the Seventh Squad barracks and searched for Seventh Six, but she wasn't there.
"Does anyone know where Senior Six went?" he asked the other members of the Seventh Squad.
"She went out earlier," Seventh Nine replied.
"Do you happen to know where she went?"
"She said she was going out for a drink. Try heading to the Pear Blossom Inn. She goes there pretty often."
"Thank you."
Just as Crimson Tiger was about to leave the barracks, Seventh Nine said, "Want a piece of advice?"
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"Yes?"
"Don't get too close to her."
"…Understood." Crimson Tiger nodded. He instinctively understood that Seventh Nine's warning had something to do with the Ironblood Commander.
After thanking Seventh Nine, he left the Ironblood Garrison and made a beeline for the Pear Blossom Inn.
Sure enough, Seventh Six was there, drinking.
"Oh? How did you know to come here?" she asked.
I wonder… Does she know her fate? Crimson Tiger mused as he sat down across from her. If he killed her now and left, his mission would be complete.
The assassination of the Ironblood Commander would be reported to the higher-ups as a failure, and since the Evil Coalition had already deployed Smiley of the Ten Evils, he now had a good excuse for botching things up.
All that remained was to kill Six and escape.
He could kill her on the way back, or he could do it here at the inn. He didn't even have to use his sword. He could simply seal a vital acupoint and walk away, leaving her body quietly slumped over the table, but he hesitated.
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Although he had murdered women before, all of his victims had been either cruel villainesses or vixens who fed on the life force of men. On the other hand, he wasn't sure what crime Six had committed to warrant her execution.
Why does the organization want her dead?
If it were a man, he wouldn't be hesitating like this.
Am I hesitating because she's drop-dead beautiful? Or because she treats me well?
No, those were foolish reasons. He couldn't disobey orders just because of that.
He had to kill her and leave.
"My mother never once spoke about my father in her entire life. What kind of person was he? What kind of man was he?" Six rambled.
"He must have been a good man," Crimson Tiger replied indifferently. There was no point in listening to her story when he was going to kill her. Resolving himself, he muttered, "Um, I need to use the outhouse for a moment."
"You didn't have to say that out loud!"
Crimson Tiger rose to his feet and walked past her, planning to casually seal the acupoint at the back of her neck with the Thirteen Shadowless Maneuvers.
She would die without even a scream.
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Just as his hand twitched toward her, however, he suddenly froze.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Six asked, looking up at Crimson Tiger in confusion.
"It's nothing," he replied, staring blankly at the exit to the inn backyard.
Curious, Six followed Crimson Tiger's gaze, but the corridor leading to the backyard was empty.
"I'll be right back," Crimson Tiger said, remaining alert as he slowly approached the backyard.
As expected, he found a woman standing with her back to him there.
No, more importantly, not only was she was the person who had been watching him in the hallway just moments ago, she was also someone he recognized.
"Follow me," she said.
In a forest a short distance from the inn, Crimson Tiger stood facing the Third Young Lady, Ju Hwayin, who was currently disguised as Gahwa of the Autumn Moon Palace.
"Why are you here?" Crimson Tiger asked plainly. He was so shocked by the sheer improbability of the moment that his astonishment he actually calmed down.
Just as he was poised to eliminate Seventh Six, Gahwa had suddenly emerged in the corridor leading to the inn's backyard.
What are the odds of running into her here? And what is she doing in Evil Coalition territory?
Seeing the complex swirl of emotions in her eyes, though, his questions felt utterly insignificant.
"Have you been well?" she asked.
"Why are you here?" he demanded.
"I came because I wanted to see you… and to ask you a favor."
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For a fleeting moment, Crimson Tiger wished their meeting had been purely coincidental. Gahwa had been his only respite in a weary life, but he knew it was not the same for her.
Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "What favor?"
He tried to appear nonchalant, but the faint tremor in his voice betrayed his worries and confusion.
In contrast, Ju Hwayin remained composed as she replied, "You must not kill that child."
"……" Crimson Tiger's heart sank.
"You must not kill that child, Crimson Tiger," Ju Hwayin repeated.
So she knows everything, from my mission to my identity.
Crimson Tiger closed his eyes tightly before reopening them. "Who… are you?" he asked.
"I am the owner of the Autumn Moon Palace, the woman you love, and the woman who loves you…"
"Answer me properly!" Crimson Tiger roared, unleashing his killing intent.
Ju Hwayin said softly, "There is someone who gives you orders and pays you. The woman I serve wishes to replace that person."
Crimson Tiger stood in stunned silence for a moment before finally stepping back in shock. "The Third Young Lady!" he gasped.
Ju Hwayin nodded. "That's right, and I… serve the Third Young Lady."
Ju Hwayin chose to hide the truth that she was the Third Young Lady. Right now, her appearance and voice were different, so unless she revealed it herself, Crimson Tiger would never discover her true identity.
Crimson Tiger remained silent, his mind in disarray. He had no idea how to process the situation.
"The secret mission you received came from the First Young Lord. The one he wishes dead is his own flesh and blood."
"What?"
"Your target is a child who must never be revealed to the world, for if her existence is revealed, the First Young Lord will immediately lose the succession war."
Realization dawned on Crimson Tiger. Only now did he understand why the organization wanted Baek Soeun dead and why she had become an assassination target even more important than the Ironblood Commander.
Crimson Tiger's gaze grew calm and steady. Getting angry at Gahwa would be foolish, and now, more than ever, he needed to keep his mind clear.
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"Why are you telling me all this?" he asked.
"…Because we have a good relationship?"
Crimson Tiger silently fixed his gaze on her clear, unreadable eyes before saying firmly, "If you know who I am, then you must also know that I only follow official orders. Have the Third Young Lady submit this request through the proper channels, and I will consider it."
He whirled around without hesitation.
"Wait!" Ju Hwayin cried out. "We have something far more convincing than an official mission order."
Crimson Tiger flinched. He felt uneasy, as if something that should never be spoken of was about to be disclosed.
"We know… about your daughter's existence."
…And his ominous premonition proved accurate.
SHIIING!
In an instant, Crimson Tiger drew his sword and charged at Ju Hwayin, but her bodyguard Lee Dansim, who had been prepared for this moment, stepped in front of her.
CLATTER!
With a single swift slash, Lee Dansim's sword shattered. Such was the overwhelming power of Soul Crusher, driven by Crimson Tiger's explosive qi.
THUD!
As Lee Dansim staggered from the impact, Crimson Tiger struck her with his shoulder, sending shockwaves through her body and knocking her back. Immediately, she tried to regain her balance, but it was too late.
Crimson Tiger had already grasped Ju Hwayin's throat with one hand, and leveled his sword at her with the other.
"No!" Lee Dansim screamed as she lunged forward.
"What did you just say?" Crimson Tiger barked at Ju Hwayin, eyes blazing with fury.
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Lee Dansim shouted urgently, "Let her go!"
WOOOONG…
Soul Crusher hummed as if warning Lee Dansim that Crimson Tiger would kill her if she said another word.
Ju Hwayin calmly raised her hand, signaling Lee Dansim to hold still. "Let's talk this out, okay?" she pleaded.
Crimson Tiger seethed with uncontrollable rage, but he knew that violence would not solve this. His hands quivering, he slowly loosened his grip, and the overwhelming killing intent within him began to subside.
Lee Dansim was overcome with both relief and a chilling realization. She had been completely overwhelmed in a single move, even in her rage.
If Crimson Tiger wanted to kill her, then she would already be dead.
Moreover, even though Ju Hwayin offered no resistance, she could see the deep red imprints left by Crimson Tiger's fingers on her mistress's pale neck.
She had thought she was stronger than Crimson Tiger, but she couldn't have been more wrong. Crimson Tiger was far more powerful than she had imagined.
"We know… about your daughter…" Ju Hwayin gasped.
"Say that again."
"We know about your daughter!"
"Again!"
"We know everything…"
Seeing Crimson Tiger's sword hand tremble, Lee Dansim held her breath, fearing that he might snap Ju Hwayin's neck at any moment.
"If you dare lay a single finger on my daughter, I'll kill you all!" Crimson Tiger roared, unleashing his killing intent once more.
This time, his aura was so cold and suffocating that the two women felt as if even their hearts were frozen.
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"I swear! I'll destroy you in ways you can't even imagine!"
Ju Hwayin immediately understood that Crimson Tiger meant every word he said, but she did not back down. "Please, as long as you do us this favor, we won't touch her…"
Threat clashed with threat. Convictions collided, but in the end, Ju Hwayin's threat proved superior.
"The first time we met. Did you approach me on purpose?" Crimson Tiger muttered.
Ju Hwayin shook her head. "You already know the answer. You were the one who appeared before me covered in blood."
"Was it really a coincidence?"
"I swear to the gods, it was pure chance."
Crimson Tiger gritted his teeth. She was telling the truth. From the moment he escaped this place two years ago until the moment he met her, every step he had taken had been his own choice.
There was no way anyone could have orchestrated their meeting in the middle of such a desperate situation.
Then why, after all these years, have I never once suspected that she might not be who I believed her to be?
Perhaps, deep down, he had not wanted to suspect her. He had enjoyed his nights with her. At the very least, he had hoped that their relationship would remain simple, untainted, and unchanged. She had been his refuge.
Taking a slow, deep breath, Crimson Tiger gradually regained his composure. He knew better than anyone that fighting would only sink him deeper into the quagmire.
"If the First Young Lord finds out that I disobeyed his order, he'll have me killed."
"At least your daughter will be safe."
"……" Crimson Tiger's eyes flashed sharply.
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Ju Hwayin continued, "People who pursue power are like moths to a flame. Even though we know we'll be burned alive, we still throw ourselves into the fire. If you don't comply, we will kill your daughter. Even if you take revenge, even if we die at your hands, we'll still do it. Because… because such is our shitty nature."
The sound of grinding bones resounded from Crimson Tiger's clenched fist.
"So put out the fire. Stop us from jumping in. Just do us this one favor, please," Ju Hwayin pleaded earnestly.
"……" Crimson Tiger remained silent.
"Report his death to Radiant Hall and bring the child to us instead. In return, we'll protect you and your daughter. I promise."
"……"
Ju Hwayin could feel it. Crimson Tiger was completely calm now, not because he was truly relaxed, but because he had reached the limit of rage that a man like him could exhibit.
"I will see to it that you are paid in full, as if you had completed your mission perfectly."
Crimson Tiger slowly raised his head, and Ju Hwayin shuddered.
He was smiling, but that smile was devoid of any emotion. If she had to give that smile had a color, it would be pure white.
It was the most horrifying smile she had ever seen.
"Fine, I'll do as you ask without any compensation. Just… consider it a breakup gift."
Leaving those last words behind, Crimson Tiger slowly turned around and vanished into the darkness.
Lee Dansim hurried to her mistress's side. "Are you all right?" she asked worriedly.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"I'm sorry."
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"You don't need to apologize. As expected, that man… he really is strong. To think you were overwhelmed in just one exchange."
Lee Dansim had no excuses. She had indeed let her guard down, but even if she hadn't, the result would have been the same.
"Why did you do that?" she asked suddenly.
"Hmm?"
"You told me you loved him, didn't you?"
"That's right, I love him. Even now, I still love him," Ju Hwayin admitted so casually that it almost seemed like a joke.
"Then why did you do this?"
"This is important. Is there anyone else who could do this job better than him?"
"That's not what I meant…"
"Are you asking why I made him hate me on purpose?"
"Yes."
Ju Hwayin smiled bitterly. She had not done what she did because she was disguised as a prostitute from the Autumn Moon Palace. For the past two years, she had stood before him as Gahwa, but the one who had always loved him was Ju Hwayin, and now she had pushed him away.
"Do you think I deserve to love him?" she asked wistfully.
Lee Dansim was speechless.
"Senior Brother and I walk the same path," Ju Hwayin continued as she reached out into the empty air, her slender fingers opening and closing as if desperately trying to grasp something far out of reach.
"I understand Senior Brother. He and I are both people who will do whatever it takes to see this succession war through to the end. Do you know what that means? It means that we are the same. That's why, even if the whole world condemns him, I could never blame him. After all, if I were in his position, I would have undoubtedly made the same decision."
She smiled bitterly.
"While we kill our own children for the sake of world domination, he fights the world for the sake of his child. Isn't it ironic?"
"My Lady…"
Ju Hwayin looked up at the night sky. She had confirmed the depth of her love through their painful parting.
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"Besides, if ruthless people like us fell in love with each other… it would only end in unbearable tragedy."
Her eyes glistened with tears, each one a tiny, twinkling reflection of the stars.
Translator's Note: Finally, the quote from the novel summary.
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