Chapter 55: Black Moon Unit Part 2

He had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Anyone who ever crossed swords with Sword Master Seol Tae Pyeong even once never felt the need to explain his skill in detail.

Where he excelled, how he excelled… Describing in great length like that usually only happens when evaluating people whose level of skill could be measured.

When explaining someone who had reached the extreme in a particular field, the description became concise instead.

Swaaah

The sound of the waterfall surrounded the Heavenly Jade Pavilion like a screen.

Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun set down her teacup and sighed lightly. Sometimes, when she sat alone in the Heavenly Jade Pavilion to compose herself, memories would surface like a lantern carousel.

The Plague Demonic Spirit who split the Heavenly Dragon Hall in half grabbed its neck, descended, and roared toward the sky.

But the foolish humans continued their power struggles without stopping even as the heavens raged and cast out the Imperial Capital. The Plague Demonic Spirit slaughtered them mercilessly as if to punish them.

All kinds of human limbs were grotesquely stuck on its body which was as huge as Mountain Tai, and just looking at the oozing flesh was nauseating.

With its horrifying power to turn humans into demonic spirits just by enveloping them in its miasma, it was the most dreadful demonic spirit that even attempted to devour the guardian deity of Cheongdo Empire, who was sleeping in the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

Sword Master Seol Tae Pyeong aimed to slay even that Plague Demonic Spirit.

He entered the half-destroyed Heavenly Dragon Hall alone, armed only with a nearly broken longsword and an old dagger, to face that calamity.

After fighting for three days and nights, he succeeded in severing nearly all of the Plague Demonic Spirits’s hundreds of limbs, but he had a weakness. He was human.

A human’s stamina was not limitless. Though he fought with superhuman endurance day and night, in the end, he collapsed from exhaustion.

Amidst the numerous demons, there he was, covered in blood and gasping for breath.

The man, with his torn military uniform and broken sword lying on the floor, lowered his head and was breathing heavily.

He was blaming himself.

He lamented that he couldn’t save the world.

However, Ah Hyun felt a deep sense of incongruity with Seol Tae Pyeong’s desperate struggle to save the world.

Was it a world worth saving for him?

The high officials of Cheongdo Palace oppressed him and kept calling him a lowborn from the Huayongseol clan.

Despite his skills, he could not secure a proper official position.

He had no subordinates following him, and the only person who truly trusted him was his sister, Seol Ran.

He neither despaired over his situation nor tried to change it; he just lived as things came.

Why would such a person feel any attachment to this world and want to save it?

However, Seol Tae Pyeong did not consider personal feelings in his desire to save the world.

He saved it because it needed saving. Whether it was noble or foolish was up for debate.

Some might even call him foolish.

“……”

Whenever she thought of the man bleeding with his head bowed in front of the collapsed Heavenly Dragon Hall, a deep sigh escaped her.

If only she had been better prepared before the Plague Demonic Spirit descended.

If only he hadn’t been oppressed for being from the Huayongseol clan and had been given a position befitting his abilities.

If only she had been able to mobilize more people and suppress the high officials of the main palace.

Countless “if onlys” came to her mind, but in the end, all that remained was the image of Seol Tae Pyeong bleeding in front of Heavenly Dragon Hall.

Late at night.

Seeing the Headmaid Lee Ryeong approach as she was worried about the Heavenly Maiden’s condition, Ah Hyun shook her head off those thoughts.

– Listen carefully, Tae Pyeong-ah.

– You need people who will move solely for you. Not for Emperor Woon Sung, not for Crown Prince Hyeon Won, but for Seol Tae Pyeong.

– Huh? What do you mean by that?

– Whether it’s the ghost hands of the main palace or the warriors of the Red Palace, in the end, they will all move for the high officials. This Cheongdo Palace is ultimately a playground for their political games. If you want to control them in the future, you need people you can command. People who are independent of their power.

– …That’s easier said than done…

– First, make sure to keep the apprentice warrior named Bi Cheon, whom the Warrior Commander assigned to you. He will become your most useful right-hand man in the future. Besides that, you need a group skilled in covert operations and espionage. They will act as your eyes and ears. It would be better if this group were based in Hwalseong District. Since Hwalseong District is entirely your base, that would be best.

– Where do I recruit such people?

– You only need to recruit one person. It’s someone you know well.

– Who is that?

– Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong.

– .….

That’s right.

I must recruit and embrace that traitor who attempted to assassinate the future Emperor.

With the end of Ah Hyun’s words, the recollection of my memories also ended.

As I kept trudging through the forest path, the sound of my sword sheath clicking merged with the rustling leaves.

Hwalseong District was the most remote slum on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.

Because of this, half of the land was wilderness or hills. Compared to the grandeur of the Imperial Capital, it could be called a wretched place, but it was still better than the level of the refugees living on the border.

As I quietly climbed the hillside of that wilderness, an assassin finally appeared from the dark underbrush.

Dressed in black hoods and covering everything but their eyes.

The ghost hands also hid their faces, but the Black Moon members did not wear such orderly uniforms.

The Black Moon Unit started as a group of assassins who hunted demonic spirits.

Their origins and identities were varied, so they couldn’t be managed with military discipline.

Moreover, many of them had separate professions.

From simple farmers to blacksmiths, butchers, wandering minstrels, monks, pharmacists, and even officials… there were quite a number of people who blended into society and created their own place.

This Black Moon Unit was practically a militia that became an elite group.

The reason was simple. The weak members of the Black Moon were all devoured by demonic spirits.

Even well-trained soldiers suffered significant casualties against intermediate demonic spirits.

They survived by hunting these powerful demonic spirits on the outskirts of the imperial capital. In the process, the weak inevitably perished.

The current Black Moon Unit was akin to a hardened force that was tempered over many years.

“What are you doing on this hillside so late at night?”

When I shouted this, one of the assassins who had revealed themselves replied in a low voice.

“Commander Seol Tae Pyeong?”

“That’s right. Why are you here?”

“If you surrender with your hands up, we won’t kill you.”

Hearing an assassin say they wouldn’t kill was surprising.

Even if I set aside how much I could trust their words, I had to find out why they were holding a sword in front of me.

However, even if I asked, they probably wouldn’t answer.

Heavenly Maiden Ah Hyun had said that.

If Black Moon Leader Cheon Jin Myeong joined our side, he would become a stronger ally than ever when I took the position of general.

However, Cheon Jin Myeong was like a wild wolf. He wouldn’t be easily controlled.

The only reason this chaotic Black Moon Unit could still function as a semblance of a unit was because of its leader, Cheon Jin Myeong.

“………”

I observed the Black Moon members, all wearing black hoods, but I couldn’t distinguish their faces.

I wondered if the person speaking on their behalf was Cheon Jin Myeong, but his appearance and build were too different from what I knew.

“We have already formed a camp centered around the entrance of this hillside. If you do not resist, you will be tied up and locked in a border warehouse for three days before being released. If you resist, we will kill you.”

“Then I will resist…!”

“……”

The opponent did not respond.

It seemed they were at a loss for words, as if they were unsure how to counter my natural retort.

“Do we look like we’re joking right now…”

Swish!

I sprang forward and spun, aiming a kick at the side of the one who had been speaking the most upfront.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

…He withstood it?

I had intended to easily take out the first one, but unexpectedly, the guy in front planted his feet firmly and absorbed my kick.

I spun around and kicked his face with my other foot.

The series of movements looked so natural that it seemed like a continuous motion.

From my perspective, I was impressed that he even withstood the first strike.

Crack! Crash!

“Gah, huff…! Huff…”

I twisted my body and regained my stance. At the same time, I picked up a large branch from the ground. It was as long as my upper body, making it suitable to use as a sword.

I clasped my hands behind my back with one hand and flicked the end of the branch with the other as I watched them.

About a dozen of them remained. It wouldn’t take long to deal with them, but their organized movements as they searched for gaps while gliding through the darkness would be quite troublesome.

“You, you…! Ugh…!”

When the Black Moon Unit member who was bleeding from his nose reached out and shouted something, the remaining members began to climb the nearby trees all at once.

Swish! Swish!

It was as if they were at home in the darkness.

They were a group that felt much more comfortable in the night’s darkness than in the daylight sun.

Above all, there was almost no discipline in their movements.

Usually, when you move in such an unorganized manner, gaps are bound to appear. Military experts don’t research formations like battle arrays for nothing.

However, for the Black Moon Unit members who had grown by killing demonic spirits, their movements were very practical.

Though it looked like they moved independently, they matched each other’s actions when necessary. This demonstrated their sharp instincts.

They were a group that had honed their skills based more on instinct than on education and training.

These kinds of opponents required a one-on-one duel approach. As in putting in the effort to take down each one individually.

It was a tactic that would fail in vain against a structured army, but this type of strategy would have been much more effective in catching bestial demonic spirits.

Just by observing their movements, I could guess that the lives of the Black Moon Unit members hadn’t been easy.

“It seems like they’ve caught quite a number of demonic spirits.”

As I murmured this, there was a brief stir among the assassins hiding in the darkness.

Darkness is fear.

In this situation, where a dozen skilled assassins had hidden in the surrounding darkness, ready to strike from any direction, my calm musings created a sense of unease in them.

However, I had also captured countless demonic spirits.

During the last subjugation campaign, I wandered around the northern border area while slaying several demonic spirits.

I suppressed the killing intent that was rising within me and slowly raised my gaze.

I carefully observed the positions of the Black Moon Unit members around me. They seemed hidden in the darkness, but to someone like me who could instinctively sense the aura of swords they couldn’t hide completely.

I locked eyes with one of the assassins.

It must have been terrifying to meet my eyes in the darkness as he trembled slightly.

“Alright, let’s see your skills!”

After shouting this, I gripped the branch tightly.

One of the assassins perched on the highest tree leaped down while holding a dagger in a reverse grip.

I gripped the end of the tree and turned around sharply to avoid the guy’s dagger.

Swish!

“Gah!”

The assassin trembled as if he was startled. I hadn’t expected him to fall for such a simple and direct attack, but he certainly hadn’t anticipated me appearing behind him.

I struck his throat and hit his waist with the branch in my other hand.

“Urgh!”

As I spun around, I kicked the back of his knee, causing him to collapse onto the leaves with a thud.

At the moment his stance broke, the outcome was already decided. I struck the bridge of his nose with the branch once more as he knelt there.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

The guy seemed to have lost consciousness; his eyes rolled back and he fell backward.

However, there was no way they would fight me one-on-one honorably.

As soon as this was over, three sword strikes flew toward me at the same time.

“This bastard! So arrogant, not even drawing your sword!”

“It doesn’t matter; even a mere branch can be as sturdy as a real sword if you channel your energy properly!”

“What… what…!”

“If you don’t know, I’ll show you!”

I channeled my energy into the branch and deflected the three strikes at once.

Clang!

“………”

“………”

Or so I thought.

The branch split in two and fell to the ground.

…

Indeed.

No matter what, it was impossible to block all the sword strikes with just a branch!

As I watched the broken pieces of the branch roll on the ground, an awkward silence hung between the Black Moon Unit members and me.

Oh my God.

I had struck every possible pose…

“His hands are empty! Attack him!”

“W-wait…!”

“Seize the moment when he’s unarmed…!”

The scattered Black Moon Unit members seized the opportunity and rushed at me in a single bound.

They overwhelmed me with their numbers, pinned me down, pushed me to the ground, and stomped on me for a long time.

Before I could even stand up, they pummeled me with their fists, stomped on my solar plexus, and kicked my thighs, beating me as if to break my bones. For an ordinary person, just a few hits would have caused a concussion.

The relentless assault continued, blow after blow, until I lost consciousness…

– Be wary of Seol Tae Pyeong, who has recently returned from the demonic spirits subjugation campaign. Although many variables within the palace have been controlled over a long period of time, this man’s principles are unpredictable, and he acts based on his beliefs at any given moment which makes it impossible to predict his actions during the critical event. It is best to eliminate as many variables as possible before the crucial moment.

– The subjugation campaign ended abruptly, and he returned home, so we were unable to prepare a countermeasure for him. Ensure he is subdued three days before the event to prevent him from interfering, or if that is not possible, eliminate him.

– Once the incident is over, the palace will likely be in an uproar. It will be easier to proceed with the grand plan amidst the ensuing chaos.

– Though he holds a low rank due to his humble origins and various circumstances, he is an extraordinary warrior who subdued the palace’s ghost hands at the age of sixteen. Therefore, if we do not ambush him under the cover of night or use traps to subdue him before attacking, our chances of success are slim. Be extremely cautious.

The team leader of the Black Moon Unit Geo Jin remembered well what his Leader Cheong Jin Myeong had repeatedly emphasized.

Although Seol Tae Pyeong’s rank was still low, his martial strength rivaled that of the strongest warriors in Cheongdo Palace, so he did not underestimate him.

Dig multiple layers of traps, mobilize all available equipment, and select the most skilled elite members for this mission.

Because of Cheong Jin-Myeong’s repeated instructions, Geo Jin felt like he had heard them a thousand times.

It’s true that his level of martial arts is unusual for his age, but it seems the caution was somewhat excessive.

Geo Jin was knocked back by Seol Tae Pyeong’s kick as soon as the battle began.

Until then, he had sensed the aura of an extraordinary warrior from Seol Tae Pyeong’s powerful force, but as the branch shattered into pieces, he was left defenseless and beaten without using his weapon.

He doesn’t wield the sword at his waist. A strange fellow.

Geo Jin frowned as he looked at Seol Tae Pyeong who was lying on the ground and covered in blood.

His face was so battered that it wouldn’t be surprising if it had collapsed in places.

Other Black Moon Unit members resorted to excessive violence after they had been thoroughly warned by their leader.

Maybe we overdid it a bit…

The Black Moon Unit was a dreadful group that would kill anyone if requested, but they refrained from unnecessary killing when it wasn’t a job. Even as mercenaries committing sinful deeds, they had a minimal philosophy.

They had planned to tie up Seol Tae Pyeong properly, shove him into a secluded warehouse, and decide whether to release him once the job was done. Of course, this was assuming Seol Tae Pyeong didn’t resist.

The leader said he was an exceptional master, so we trained in formation all night and brought along all sorts of restraints, but they all turned out to be useless. Just in case, we even brought the capture formation that the White Taoist used in the past …

Although they had selected only the best elite members, they had brought too many people for the mission. It seemed more important to finish the reconnaissance of the palace rather than prevent such variables. This made him doubt whether the allocation of their manpower was wrong.

There was nothing to be done about it now.

Geo Jin frowned as he looked at Seol Tae Pyeong who lay on the ground while covered in blood. He hadn’t expected them to beat him this harshly.

This was no longer an unidentified assassin group but a mere gang of thugs.

Still, it was better to be cautious even with a bridge made of stone. Ensuring safety in all things was not a bad practice.

“There! Over there! The assassins are over there!”

It was then.

Seol Tae Pyeong’s guard Bi Cheon was shouting.

After securing the inner chamber, Bi Cheon immediately ran to the main palace and brought the warriors from the Red Palace.

Cutting through the darkness of the night, warriors holding torches began to appear.

At the forefront was Jang Rae, the warrior commander of the Red Palace.

“They’ve caught our scent! Retreat!”

One of the Black Moon members slung the unconscious Seol Tae Pyeong over his shoulder.

Along with the blood-covered Seol Tae Pyeong, they disappeared smoothly into the darkness.

“Stop, stop right there!”

Jang Rae and Bi Cheon chased them frantically on horseback but…

The pitch-black darkness was their domain.

The next day, rumors spread throughout the main palace and the inner palace.

Commander Seol Tae Pyeong had been kidnapped by an unidentified group of assassins.