Absolute Warrior V2C9: The Ironblood Commander
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Translator's Note: I changed Baek Sowoon to Baek Soeun (same pronunciation) as the second spelling looks nicer for a woman.
Crimson Tiger leaned against a secluded alleyway. His eyes, hidden in the shadow of the wall, were serious and somber.
The situation had changed. Instead of killing Six, he now had to kidnap her and escape. However, when he returned to the Pear Blossom Inn, he discovered that she had already left for the Ironblood Garrison.
He lifted his head and looked wistfully at the night sky, recalling his daughter's bright smile.
He missed her. He missed her so much that his eyes ached, his arms ached, his legs ached, and his heart ached. There were times when he longed to throw everything away and run to her side, but he always suppressed his desires and held himself back. He couldn't risk even the slightest chance of endangering her.
Crimson Tiger gritted his teeth. Before thinking about the future, he had to complete his mission, which had grown even more challenging.
Can I even persuade Six? Will she accept the fact that her father wants to kill her, and that her father's greatest rival wants to kidnap her? No, she would never accept it.
There were two ways he could achieve his goal. First, he could deceive her, and second, he could knock her out and carry her off.
Before attempting that seemingly impossible task, however, he had one more decision to make.
Crimson Tiger sighed as he looked at the bookstore across the street.
There's no way I can do this without Yeon's knowledge, but do I trust her enough to tell her the truth? How much should I tell her?
He was not supposed to trust Yeon, and he had indeed spent the past two years keeping her at arm's length.
However, she had never betrayed him nor revealed any of his secrets even to her own superiors. It was enough to make him agonize over his decision.
After much deliberation, Crimson Tiger made up his mind. He crossed the street and entered the bookstore.
When Yeon saw Crimson Tiger, she immediately jumped to her feet, startled by his sudden visit.
"What brings you here?" she asked.
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Crimson Tiger told her about Smiley.
"You killed Smiley of the Ten Evils? And he knew your identity?" Yeon's face paled. If what Crimson Tiger said was true, then it meant that the Association's information had leaked to the Coalition. "We must cancel the mission and withdraw immediately! But even that won't be easy… The enemy must have already set a trap preventing our escape…"
"……" Crimson Tiger remained silent.
"Crimson Tiger?" Yeon tensed. This was unusual behavior for him. "Do you… have something to say to me?"
Crimson Tiger hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "You go back first."
"What?"
"There's something I still need to do."
"What's going on?" Yeon asked sternly, sensing that something bigger than an information leak and the Ten Evils' interference was at play.
"……"
"I won't let you do this if you don't give me a valid reason. You know that, don't you?"
"I do, but I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"…Because you'll get caught up in it."
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"I'm already in enough danger! From the moment you walked through that door and started spouting nonsense, I was already entangled in whatever it is you refuse to talk about!" Yeon shouted, glaring angrily at Crimson Tiger. "Well? Are you still going to hide it from me? Fine then. I'll do as you say, but I'll also report the situation exactly as it is."
"Do as you will."
Yeon slammed the door as she stormed out.
Crimson Tiger let out a small sigh. The truth was, he desperately needed Yeon. He wasn't confident he could complete this mission without her help, but at the same time, he did not want to drag her into this quagmire.
It would be difficult, but he would take Baek Soeun and escape this place on his own.
Unfortunately, he had no way of knowing what consequences her report might bring either. It wouldn't be anything good, but that was a burden he had to bear.
Just as he was about to leave, Crimson Tiger abruptly stopped, sensing that Yeon was standing right outside the door.
The truth was, Yeon liked Crimson Tiger, and not only because he had saved her life. She respected him as a martial artist, enjoyed the camaraderie they had built through countless dangerous missions, and… she was attracted to him as a man.
Rationality told her that she should walk away, but her feet wouldn't budge. Her feelings for Crimson Tiger were too complicated.
At this rate, I'm going to get myself killed.
Even that thought wasn't enough to make her leave him be.
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Having made up her mind, she turned around.
"Can you really handle this?" Crimson Tiger asked, sensing her determination.
"Maybe."
"…Come in."
The two sat facing each other as Crimson Tiger explained to Yeon the additional mission related to Baek Soeun.
"Killing Baek Soeun is the real mission?" Yeon asked, her eyes widening in realization. So this is why he asked me to locate the document archive!
"Yes, and I've already found out who she really is."
"Ah!"
"The target is Seventh Six, a woman."
"Hmm, if the Ten Evils are onto you, then we have to kill her by tonight."
Crimson Tiger shook his head. "No, we're not going to kill her. We're going to kidnap her."
"What? Why?" Yeon exclaimed, dumbstruck.
After a moment, however, she nodded. Now she understood why Crimson Tiger had told her to go back first. He was planning to disobey orders, and not just any order, but a special directive even she was not privy to.
Crimson Tiger hesitated. "Once you hear this, there's no turning back."
Yeon shrugged. "If you haven't noticed, I've already burned that bridge."
Noticing the sincerity in her eyes, Crimson Tiger nodded and explained, "The First Young Lord was the one who gave the order to kill her, and the Third Young Lady was the one who gave the new order to capture her alive."
"Ah!" Yeon understood the situation in an instant, but then she furrowed her brows. "Wait. Why are you following the Third Young Lady's orders instead of the First Young Lord's?"
"……" Crimson Tiger remained silent.
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Yeon scowled. "I'm sorry, but I have to know. I need a reason to risk my life."
"It's because… I have a daughter too," Crimson Tiger whispered in a barely audible voice.
"…!"
That one sentence was enough for Yeon to understand everything.
It explained why he had to disobey. Why he had fought so desperately to survive until now. Where his occasional moments of longing had been directed. How difficult it must have been for him to say this. How much he had to trust her to even bring it up.
For a long time, Yeon said nothing as she stared blankly at the table.
Crimson Tiger waited without a word.
Finally, Yeon made up her mind, and instead of answering him, she pulled down her mask.
Crimson Tiger's jaw dropped in shock. He had never seen Yeon's face before.
Her clear, fierce eyes, radiating determination, perfectly complemented her beautiful features.
Smiling, Yeon said sincerely, "Consider that child… your daughter… as my niece now."
Two hours later, Crimson Tiger entered the Ironblood Garrison. He had been on high alert ever since stepping into the compound, but he noticed nothing unusual despite the Coalition already knowing about him.
Fortunately, at least for now, it seemed that their primary objective was not to kill him but to determine his motive for infiltrating.
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By midnight, however, word of Soh Bung's disappearance would have spread. He had to grab Six and leave this place before then.
"Didn't you say you were going to the outhouse? Why did you take so long?" Six asked jokingly.
"I stepped out for a bit."
"Where?"
"Uh, for a walk…"
"Ah, I know. You went to the brothel, didn't you?"
"I did not!" Crimson Tiger denied, looking flustered.
The other martial artists around them snickered, while Crimson Tiger pretended to glare at Six in frustration.
Conscious of the surrounding eyes, she was acting completely differently than when they were alone, and he understood her. In this place crawling with men, she had no choice but to wear a mask.
Crimson Tiger sat down in his usual spot. It was already late, so he couldn't leave the barracks without permission.
Outside, Yeon was preparing to carry out the first step of their mission, though whether it would succeed remained uncertain. In the worst case scenario, he would have to eliminate all Seventh Squad members, knock Six unconscious, and escape from the Evil Coalition with her on his back.
Time passed, and Six laughed as she chatted with her comrades.
Crimson Tiger leaned against the wall, watching her anxiously.
The sweet sound of Six's giggles mingled with his memories of that day.
"Wowwww! Well done, Seohyeon!"
I let out a cheer, while Master and the nanny clapped with joy.
Seohyeon was walking. Her legs were still wobbly, but she was taking her first steps.
Suddenly, she tumbled forward.
"Careful!" Lunging forward, I caught Seohyeon in my arms.
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Even months after her first birthday, Seohyeon still hadn't learned to walk. The nanny reassured me that girls could be slow, but I couldn't help feeling worried.
Then, a few days ago, she had started trying to walk, and today she finally succeeded.
Watching her, I was even happier than I was when I first succeeded at the ultimate movement arts technique, Flying Over Grass.
"Hehehe…" Seohyeon giggled.
"Hoho, just look at this little one with only four teeth," the nanny chuckled. "Things are going to get tough now. She won't sit still for a second. You'll start missing the days when she lay swaddled in her cradle!"
"Hahaha! No, I can't wait for her to grow up, to run, to talk!" Master laughed heartily. "Oh, and we should teach her martial arts too!"
"Of course! In this brutal world, she must at least be able to protect herself!"
"Hahaha! She'll learn a hundred times faster than you, you slowpoke!"
Then it happened. Seohyeon, who had been in my arms, suddenly went limp.
"Seohyeon…? SEOHYEON!"
"AHEM! ATTENTION!" Seventh One shouted.
Crimson Tiger snapped back to reality as Seventh One entered the barracks and summoned the entire squad. Seeing Seventh One's stern face, the previously relaxed men immediately straightened their postures.
"We have a mission," Seventh One announced. "And we're departing immediately!"
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Everyone quickly changed their clothes and grabbed their weapons.
"What's the mission?"
"We found the brats who escaped last time," One said excitedly.
Six instantly stiffened, but she quickly lowered her head to hide her dismay. If the children were caught now, they would be tortured and murdered in the most gruesome way to avenge the fallen Three and Four.
Crimson Tiger, on the other hand, smiled faintly. This was the false information that Yeon had leaked to lure the Seventh Squad out. He had predicted that if a mission related to the Hong Family Estate came up now, it would almost certainly be assigned to the Seventh Squad.
Anyway, the plan was to eliminate the Seventh Squad outside, then grab Six and escape. If she did not comply, he would kidnap her by force.
Fifteen minutes later, the Seventh Squad departed from Evil Coalition Headquarters. Just as the seven horses began picking up speed, however, First Three, whom Crimson Tiger had met in the inner compound the other day, ran toward them.
"Stop!" he yelled.
"What is it?" Seventh One tensed, worried that the mission had been canceled. This mission was of utmost importance to him; it was not only about restoring his honor and pride but also about securing his future prospects.
Fortunately, the mission had not been revoked. First Three was here for another reason entirely.
Turning toward Six, First Three called out, "Seventh Six."
"Yes, sir?"
"The Commander has summoned you. Follow me."
"Understood."
With a slightly tense expression, she turned her horse around.
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As the two rode back, Seventh One shouted, "We depart!"
As the six horses belonging to the remaining Seventh Squad members galloped into the darkness, Crimson Tiger, riding at the rear, glanced back.
Far in the distance, he could see Six heading back to the compound with First Three.
He gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly.
Damn it! Damn it all!
He had to make a quick decision. The farther they got from the compound, the longer it would take to return. If he launched a surprise attack, he was confident he could take them all down, but the problem was getting back.
Especially at night, the Evil Coalition's security was incomparably stricter than during the day. Breaking through was possible, but sneaking back in was nearly impossible.
Also, if they were ambushed and the new recruit returned alive alone, he would naturally be the first to be suspected. He had to return with someone, no matter what.
Crimson Tiger did not hesitate for long. Pulling out three throwing knives, he steadied himself, timed his breath with his horse's movements, then threw them.
SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!
"Ugh!"
Two missed, but one embedded itself in Eight's back, while the other knives stuck in the ground.
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That was fine. Crimson Tiger had deliberately ensured that those two missed. Leaping off his horse, he hurled himself into the forest beside the road and shouted, "Ambush!"
The other five squad members simultaneously dismounted and followed him into the forest.
Silence fell for a moment as Eight, collapsed on the ground, groaned and twitched.
"Where did the hidden weapons come from?" One asked.
Crimson Tiger pointed into the darkness and whispered, "That way!"
The area where they stood was brightly lit by moonlight, yet the direction Crimson Tiger pointed to lay shrouded in deep tree shadows and darkness.
One stared into the darkness for a moment before turning to Crimson Tiger. "You have throwing knives, don't you?"
"Yes," Crimson Tiger replied, rolling up his sleeve. The throwing knives provided by the Ironblood Nines were lined up neatly, with not a single one missing.
He pulled out a few and handed them to One.
For a brief moment, One doubted him. The throwing knife had flown in from behind, yet Crimson Tiger, stationed at the very back, was completely unharmed. That was suspicious.
Just in case, he checked Crimson Tiger's throwing knives, but since the ones he had thrown came not from his forearm sheath but from those hidden in his chest guard, none were missing.
Even so, One's suspicion didn't vanish entirely. For a moment, he considered the possibility that Crimson Tiger had used a different type of throwing knife, when suddenly, three throwing knives sliced through the darkness.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
One and Two swung their swords, deflecting them.
"Over there!" Two yelled, moving to charge toward the exact same location Crimson Tiger had indicated earlier.
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However, One stopped him, saying, "Hold it! They're trying to lure us in."
Since he couldn't detect any presences from the direction of the throwing knives, that could only mean that a highly skilled expert was lying in wait.
And he was right.
This time, however, the culprit who had thrown the throwing knife was Yeon.
Crimson Tiger had launched his ambush knowing he would be suspected, but he trusted that Yeon would support him perfectly.
Just then, Eight, who had collapsed on the ground, groaned again. "Ugh…"
"They're using Eight as bait to lure us in and kill us," Two said urgently. "But if we leave him like that, he'll die of blood loss."
One shook his head. "We have to take out the enemy first!"
"No, we have to save Eight!" Crimson Tiger shouted, springing into action before anyone could intervene.
"Stop! Don't!" One bellowed, but he was too late.
Crimson Tiger was already diving toward the fallen Eight.
SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!
As five throwing knives flew toward him, Crimson Tiger twisted his body and swung his sword.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!
He deflected three, but one grazed his shoulder while another missed entirely. It was a wound he had taken on purpose, because someone at Seven's level would never have been able to deflect all of the throwing knives.
SPLURT!
Blood sprayed from his shoulder, but Crimson Tiger still threw himself over Eight as if to shield him.
SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!
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Throwing knives flew from One and the other members of the Seventh Squad, and the enemy's attacks ceased.
Seizing that opportunity, Crimson Tiger carried Eight back to their group.
"You idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed?" One scowled. He was furious at Crimson Tiger for disobeying his orders, but he no longer harbored any suspicion towards him.
Crimson Tiger quickly stripped Eight's clothing and assessed the wound. "Luckily, his life isn't in danger, but the wound is too deep. He needs immediate treatment back at the base."
Crimson Tiger sealed Eight's acupoints to stem the bleeding and applied wound healing medicine, but the unconscious Eight's breathing was sporadic, as if he were on the verge of death.
One let out a heavy sigh. Two people had already died in their previous mission. If they lost another member this time, it would cast a dark shadow over his future.
Logically, they should return immediately, since the details of the mission had been leaked and a trap might be waiting for them. However, if the Seventh Squad failed another mission even after leaving behind an injured comrade, they would be completely disgraced.
One hesitated, torn between reason, which urged him to turn back, and his emotions, which demanded he salvage the situation.
Suddenly, Crimson Tiger whispered, "They're desperately trying to stop us from going there. That means they know we've obtained information about the children. In other words, it proves that the intel is accurate."
One nodded. Crimson Tiger's logic had a few holes, but burdened by his previous failure, he couldn't think clearly. Besides, he was confident that, trap or no trap, they could eliminate anyone who stood in their way.
"Please draw their attention while I take Eight back. After that, go and complete the mission without us," Crimson Tiger quickly added.
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"Can you manage alone?"
"Don't worry, Headquarters isn't far from here. I'll be as careful as possible."
Two nodded. "That's a good idea. We can't stay stuck here any longer."
Sighing, One finally gave in and also nodded. "Alright, I'm leaving Eight in your hands. Make sure he survives."
"Yes, sir!" Crimson Tiger said firmly, hoisting Eight onto his back and tearing some fabric from the man's clothes to secure him tightly.
At his signal, the other four people simultaneously threw throwing knives into the darkness and as if in retaliation, throwing knives also flew out from the darkness.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Using that distraction, Crimson Tiger bolted in the opposite direction with Eight on his back.
Several minutes later, however, he came to a halt and looked at a seemingly empty spot beside the road.
Yeon emerged from hiding, having escaped after attacking the Seventh Squad with throwing knives. Since she was a master of movement arts, it was easy for her to catch up to him.
"What happened to the target?" she asked.
Crimson Tiger sighed. "…She was summoned by the Commander again."
"At this hour? Why?"
Crimson Tiger shook his head. "I don't know."
"What do we do now? There's not much time left until midnight."
"We're going after her," Crimson Tiger whispered softly.
Yeon's eyes gleamed at his use of the word "we."
With Eight slung over his back, Crimson Tiger safely passed through the gates of the Evil Coalition Headquarters. As Eight was in critical condition, and the martial artists at the gate recognized his face, none of them bothered stopping him for a thorough inspection.
He sprinted toward the Ironblood Garrison, and its buildings soon came into view. As he rounded the flower garden, however, Bang Soso rushed over, her eyes wide with shock.
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"What happened?" she asked.
"We were ambushed."
"By whom?"
SWISH! THUD!
Yeon's eyes widened as she heard the sound of something tearing through the air and stabbing into flesh. Before anyone could react, Bang Soso had stabbed Crimson Tiger's chest with a hidden knife.
Fortunately, Crimson Tiger had managed to twist his body in time, and the blade missed his heart.
BOOM!
Crimson Tiger's fist and Bang Soso's palm strike collided, and both staggered backward. Eight, who had been slung over Crimson Tiger's back, rolled to the ground, but the knife remained lodged in his chest.
CLINK!
Bang Soso calmly unraveled her flexible sword from around her waist, seeming like a completely different person.
Crimson Tiger's wound was fatal. All she had to do was stall for time, and he would die.
"Crimson Tiger!" she called out coldly.
Crimson Tiger narrowed his eyes. "You…?"
"Snakeflower!"
Crimson Tiger immediately understood. Snakeflower was the codename for one of the Ten Evils, an assassin specialized in stealth kills.
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Damn it, Smiley wasn't the only Evil the Coalition deployed!
Snakeflower lunged at him, and he stepped back to avoid the attack. In his panic, however, he tripped over Eight's collapsed body and fell backward. Looking visibly flustered, he quickly scrambled to his feet.
Meanwhile, Snakeflower walked forward slowly. "What happened to Smiley? I haven't seen him for a few hours," she asked casually.
"……" Crimson Tiger remained silent.
"So, he's dead. Tsk tsk, I warned that fool not to act alone." Snakeflower clicked her tongue, but she showed no sorrow over her comrade's death. If anything, she smiled faintly as she flourished her flexible sword menacingly in the air.
"Thanks for dying by my hand. Everyone's been dying to kill you. Well, I was ordered to find out why you infiltrated, but with Smiley dead, that order is meaningless now." She paused for a moment. Then, as if she had some lingering curiosity, she remarked, "Hey, since you're going to die anyway, care to tell me?"
SHIING!
Crimson Tiger only drew his sword in answer.
Snakeflower chuckled. "Oh? Are you still going to fight? With that body? Well, I suppose you need to uphold your name, even in death."
Her flexible sword curved as it lashed toward Crimson Tiger's blade.
CLANG!
With a single blow, Crimson Tiger's sword flew out of his grasp. Due to the wound on his chest, it was difficult for him to even maintain a proper grip on his sword.
"Don't worry! I'll make sure they say you fought spectacularly to the very end," Snakeflower laughed as she approached confidently, preparing for the final strike.
SWISH!
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from an unexpected direction, and the next thing she knew, a chilling sensation spread from her foot.
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"Aaagh!" she screamed, realizing that someone had slashed her ankle.
She looked down, only to realize that Yeon, who had been lying on the ground disguised as Eight, had ambushed her. With her chest bound and wearing Eight's bloodstained clothes and mask, she had missed the anomalies and considered this person beneath her notice… until now.
"Die!" she screeched, swinging her flexible sword at Yeon.
Yeon immediately rolled across the ground to evade the attack, while Crimson Tiger tackled Snakeflower. As she went down, though, Snakeflower retaliated, flinging her flexible sword in a dramatic curve toward Crimson Tiger's neck.
SPLURT!
Crimson Tiger instinctively yanked out the knife lodged in his chest and slashed her throat.
Snakeflower died instantly, collapsing to the ground. At the same time, her flying flexible sword barely missed Crimson Tiger's neck, slicing through the air.
DRIP, DRIP…
Seeing the blood gushing from the wound in Crimson Tiger's chest, Yeon quickly rushed over, ripped open his blood-soaked tunic, and removed his leather chest guard. Quickly assessing the injury, she sealed his acupoints to stop the bleeding, then applied antiseptic medicine.
Fortunately, although the wound was serious, the thick chest guard had prevented a fatal injury.
"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
Crimson Tiger nodded, but his face was pale from the pain and blood loss.
In truth, he had deliberately let go of his sword to make Snakeflower drop her guard. There was no way he could have defeated her in a prolonged fight with a knife still stuck in his chest, and the longer the fight went on, the worse his situation would be.
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That was why he had maneuvered himself closer to where Yeon was lying. Everything was set up for him to land a single, fatal blow.
Unlike Smiley, Snakeflower's face remained unchanged after her death. Judging by the amount of qi she had, she had to be at least thirty years old, which meant that she wasn't disguised, but truly looked much younger than her actual age.
Bandaging Crimson Tiger's wound, Yeon remarked, "The cut is too deep. You need to abandon this mission and retreat."
Crimson Tiger shook his head. "No, this is nothing."
With a groan, he forced himself to his feet. Pain tore through his chest with every movement, but it wasn't enough to stop him.
Mere physical pain was nothing compared to the consequences of failing his mission.
Yeon pleaded, "You can't kidnap the target in this condition. Besides, she's with the Ironblood Commander, isn't she?"
Crimson Tiger focused his gaze on the distant Ironblood Garrison. At the top of the darkened building, only the Ironblood Commander's room remained brightly lit.
He grinned. "On the contrary… it's because she's with him that there's a way to make this work."
Six was flustered. When she entered Cheol Mugang's office, she found him drinking alone, and judging from the empty bottles scattered around, he had already drunk quite a bit.
"Come, have a seat," he said.
"I will stand, Commander," Six replied, maintaining a respectful distance.
She hadn't expected this kind of atmosphere when she was summoned, but even then, she didn't believe that the Ironblood Commander had summoned her for indecent reasons. This was only the second time she was seeing Cheol Mugang in person, but the stories about him had always stirred the admiration of martial artists, not the hearts of women.
He was said to be cold, strong, and undefeated, but she had never heard rumors about him mistreating women.
Cheol Mugang stared at Six. After several drinks, he had suddenly found himself wanting to see her, and for the first time, the thought that he shouldn't do this lost to the idea that it might be fine just this once.
She's dazzlingly beautiful. I was right to summon her.
"Have a drink," he said.
"I'm fine."
"Drink!" Cheol Mugang raised his voice, as if giving a command.
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"Yes, sir, if it's an order," Six emphasized as she sat down across from Cheol Mugang.
Cheol Mugang narrowed his eyes. "Am I someone you wouldn't even accept a drink from if it weren't an order?"
Six blinked in confusion. She didn't understand why Cheol Mugang, of all people, was acting like this toward her. In the end, she concluded that Cheol Mugang was simply too wasted to think clearly and replied, "That's not what I meant, sir. Please, pour me a drink."
Cheol Mugang handed her a cup of wine, and she accepted it. However, she only wet her lips for show. Her instincts warned her not to get drunk.
Meanwhile, Cheol Mugang continued to stare at her with unfocused eyes. He wanted her, even if it meant throwing everything away. He felt that he could bear the scorn of others when they found out that he had laid hands on his subordinate.
Besides, maybe she wanted this too. If it was him, he could guarantee her success. In two or three years, he could even promote her to the First Squad.
This is it. I'll take her tonight. I can use the excuse that we were both drunk later.
He emptied another cup.
Across from Cheol Mugang, Six fidgeted uncomfortably. The heat emanating from his body, the lustful aura he radiated, everything about him made her feel sick.
There's no way… but what if…? No, it can't be true…
Her mind was wracked with doubt.
"Don't sip it, gulp it down in one go!" Cheol Mugang commanded.
Six hesitated, furrowing her brows.
Thankfully, a voice from outside interrupted the increasingly awkward atmosphere between her and Cheol Mugang.
"Sir, Sixth Five requests an audience with you," First One reported.
"What?" Cheol Mugang frowned in irritation.
"He says it's an urgent matter."
"……" Cheol Mugang said nothing.
First One immediately understood Cheol Mugang's intention. "I will send him back."
"…Wait!" Cheol Mugang shouted, suddenly recalling the event earlier that day.
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"Sir?"
"Is it that boy we met in the inner compound?"
"Yes, it's the son of the Bloody Asura Commander."
Cheol Mugang sighed. Unfortunately, Yong Hajin wasn't someone he could dismiss so rudely. "Let him in," he said.
"Understood."
"And you are all dismissed for the night as well."
"……" First One hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Understood."
Inwardly, he sighed deeply. He had been Cheol Mugang's closest bodyguard for a long time, so he knew there was more to the situation than what it seemed.
Regardless, there was nothing he could do for Six. It was unfortunate, but since she had caught the Ironblood Commander's eye, there was no escaping it.
He left to call Yong Hajin, who quickly entered the office, bowing his head politely.
"What do you want?" Cheol Mugang demanded icily.
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"I have a request."
"At this hour?"
"Yes. It's an urgent matter for me."
Cheol Mugang frowned. If only this idiot's father wasn't the Bloody Asura Commander…
Then again, if that were the case, he wouldn't even be talking to the boy right now.
Across from the Ironblood Commander, 'Yong Hajin' smiled inwardly.
Is it because his mind is on Six? I thought he would have noticed that my voice sounds different from Yong Hajin's already.
"What do you want from me?" Cheol Mugang spat impatiently.
"Transfer me to a different squad."
Cheol Mugang gaped in disbelief. "Seriously? That's all?"
Well, this request wasn't completely unexpected. He recalled seeing Yong Hajin arguing with Yong Cheonse earlier. The fool had likely gone to his father with this request first and been rejected.
"This is important to me," 'Yong Hajin' insisted.
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Cheol Mugang abruptly stood up and strode toward Yong Hajin. No matter whose son the brat was, he couldn't let this slide.
SLAP!
Cheol Mugang struck Yong Hajin's cheek without mercy.
Seemingly startled, 'Yong Hajin' flinched and stepped back.
"Come back tomorrow," Cheol Mugang snarled.
"……" Yong Hajin's eyes immediately filled with resentment.
Seeing Yong Hajin's reaction, Cheol Mugang's killing intent soared. He was pissed that he couldn't kill Yong Hajin on the spot, but he really didn't want to make an enemy of the Bloody Asura Commander.
He reluctantly forced himself to look away.
"Commander… I know you like that woman," Yong Hajin whispered.
"What?" Cheol Mugang spun around, caught off guard.
Yong Hajin grinned. "It's not just me. Everyone in the Ironblood Nines knows about it."
Cheol Mugang panicked, but at the same time, his anger soared. "You little bastard, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Yong Hajin pointed at Six. "She hates you, Commander. She finds you revolting. She shudders at the mere thought of you! I heard it directly from her own lips!"
"What?" Cheol Mugang instinctively turned toward Six.
SWOOSH!
There was a faint sound of something cutting through the wind, and then Yong Hajin disappeared and reappeared right in front of Six.
TAP, TAP, TAP!
In an instant, he sealed her acupoints, rendering her immobile.
Six stared at Yong Hajin in bewilderment. What's going on? What's happening? Why did he tell such a lie?
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She wanted to stand and shout that it was false, but before she could even open her mouth, Yong Hajin had brushed past Cheol Mugang and appeared in front of her.
How did he reach me in a single leap? Were his movement arts always that good?
That wasn't the only mystery.
Why is Cheol Mugang just standing still? Why isn't he reacting to any of this?
That was when she saw it. In Yong Hajin's hand, there was a bloodied throwing knife.
Just then, Cheol Mugang slowly raised his hand to touch his neck…
GUSH!
A vivid red streak materialized across his throat, immediately followed by a geyser of blood. As if in slow motion, Cheol Mugang crumpled to the ground, his severed head detaching and rolling away from his neck.
Shocked, Six tried to scream, but with her acupoints sealed, no sound came out. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying it was all a dream.
When I open my eyes again, I'll be in my room, on my bed…
CRACK! CRACK!
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This time, the grotesque sound of bones cracking filled her ears.
Six opened her eyes, but Cheol Mugang's decapitated head still lay submerged in a pool of his own blood.
It wasn't a dream.
She glanced in Yong Hajin's direction, where the strange cracking sound had come from, but Yong Hajin wasn't there anymore. Instead, Seven stood there in his place.
Crimson Tiger breathed a sigh of relief. He had aimed for a single moment—the moment when Cheol Mugang's emotions were at their peak—to strike with full force.
Luckily, Cheol Mugang wasn't just caught off guard, he was also far too inebriated to react. As a result, he ended up dying a completely undignified death for someone with the title of Ironblood Commander.
Nevertheless, the root cause of his demise was most definitely his misguided affection for Six.
Looking at Six, Crimson Tiger whispered, "It's me."
Six blinked.
"I used a martial art to change my face," Crimson Tiger explained.
Six narrowed her eyes, questioning him about the terrifying situation that had just unfolded before her.
Crimson Tiger placed his ear against the door, but he didn't sense anyone nearby. As Cheol Mugang had ordered, all of the First Squad's warriors, including First One, had indeed vacated the area.
He approached Six and met her eyes directly. I have to choose my next words carefully, or she will never agree to come with me.
Taking a deep breath, he said, "Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. The truth is, I'm… a martial artist of the Association. There's no time, so I'll be direct. Your father sent me here, and my mission is to bring you back. Your name is Baek Soeun, and your father's name is Baek Museong, right?"
Six's eyes widened, especially at the mention of her father's name. Her mother had only told her that name before she passed away, and she had never shared it with anyone.
How does he know that? I'm the only one who knows that name! Unless, he really is…
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Crimson Tiger smiled. From her reaction, he had confirmed that Six was indeed Baek Soeun. He asked, "Anyway, your father is a high-ranking martial artist of the Association. Will you come with me?"
Six's eyes swam with indecision.
Crimson Tiger looked down at Cheol Mugang's corpse. "Besides, even if you want to stay here, you can't. Whether you can prove that you had nothing to do with this or not, just the fact that you were involved means that you will be silenced."
Six wavered. Crimson Tiger was right. One way or another, she would be held accountable for Cheol Mugang's death.
"I'll release your acupoints now. You won't scream, right?"
Six blinked silently in acknowledgement, and Crimson Tiger unsealed her acupoints.
"Haa…" Six sighed despondently the moment she was freed.
Crimson Tiger apologized, "I'm sorry. I never intended to corner you like this, but considering the circumstances, this was my only chance to take you out of here. Anyway, we don't have time. We need to leave immediately."
"……" Six remained silent. Even after her acupoints were released, she couldn't bring herself to say anything.
"…Your father wants to see you," Crimson Tiger lied. He knew that Six had been an orphan ever since her mother passed away, and that she had no lingering attachments to this place.
His guess was right.
Hearing that he wanted to see her, Six suddenly felt a desire to see her father. Until now, she had always thought of such weak-heartedness as pathetic, but now that she was in that position, she understood.
She desperately wanted to ask her father why he had abandoned her and her mother. Just as seeing someone else's life from a distance was different from living it yourself, one could never truly understand someone else without even meeting them.
"Also, do you remember the children from the Hong Family Estate?" Crimson Tiger added.
Six's eyes instantly lit up.
Crimson Tiger grinned. "We saved them."
"Ah!"
"If you feel relieved to hear that, then this place is not where you belong. Did you feel relieved?"
Six nodded slowly.
"Then come with me."
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Finally, Six made up her mind. "Take me to my father," she whispered.
Crimson Tiger pointed at a pendant hanging around her neck. "Do you always wear that?"
"Yes."
"I need it. Can you give it to me?"
Six hesitated briefly before unclasping her necklace. "This… is my late mother's memento. I've never taken it off, not even once."
"That's exactly why I need it," Crimson Tiger said, accepting the necklace from her outstretched hand.
He had originally intended to leave it with Snakeflower's corpse, but since Yeon had already dissolved it, he would just leave the necklace with the pendant somewhere near her remains.
Whether or not the Evil Coalition believed it was real was irrelevant. He was planting this information for the Radiant Hall's informants, so he could claim that Six had been killed and the secret mission successfully completed.
Finally, looking at Six, he declared, "From now on, you are no longer Seventh Six. Your name is Soeun."
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