Chapter 159
The Specter Slayer King traveled to Shandong Province by sea, during which he immersed himself in mastering the Specter Flash that Baek Mu-Gun taught him. His talent was so outstanding that he brought it to the 7-Star Realm during the twenty days it took to reach Shandong Province. He could now use it to kill even an Absolute-Realm master in a single blow from thirty feet away.
However, its success still wasnt guaranteed, considering Absolute-Realm masters with excellent skills could still avoid it from that distance. Raising the Specter Flashs skill level to the 8-Star Realm would also increase its vajra qis speed, ultimately heightening his chances of success as well. However, that improvement required quite some time that he didnt have at the moment.
The Specter Slayer King seized the perfect opportunity to try his newly obtained skill by assassinating Ha Hu-Myeong and Ha Hu-Seong. Before he did, however, he closely monitored their behavior and studied the report made based on the intel the Heavenly Secret Hall had collected.
The report stated that Ha Hu-Myeong rarely left the Qingdao Sects headquarters and spent most of his time practicing martial arts. If so, then assassinating him would prove to be very tricky. High-ranking figures like Ha Hu-Myeong usually had their own training room that everyone was strictly prohibited from entering and was also heavily guarded. After all, they knew how dangerous it would be to be attacked in the middle of their martial arts training, especially if they were circulating their qi. Approaching Ha Hu-Myeong would already prove difficult.
I will have to aim for the moment he enters his residence.
The Specter Slayer King decided to infiltrate Hu-Myeongs residence ahead of time so he could hide and assassinate Hu-Myeong the moment he entered the room. Hu-Myeongs residence would also be heavily guarded, but while he was away, the security would be relatively relaxed. If he used the Dark Specter Stealth Art at that time, he could infiltrate without much difficulty. Of course, that was if no one like Mu-Gun was around.
Meanwhile, according to the report, his second target Ha Hu-Seong enjoyed drinking and sexual pleasures. People like him were the easiest to assassinate. He would have his guard down while drinking and bedding a woman.
The Qingdao House, huh? It should be fine if I wait here.
The report stated that Hu-Seong would always stop by the Qingdao House every three or four days. With enemy forces advancing to Qingdao, Hu-Seong would likely refrain from frequenting the Qingdao House so much. However, there was no reason for him to do that now that the enemy forces had stopped advancing and were standing by at Gaomi, eliminating any immediate emergencies. In fact, he was still frequenting the Qingdao House every three to four days.
Hence, the Specter Slayer King could easily assassinate Ha Hu-Seong if he just waited at the Qingdao House. After coming up with a rough plan, the Specter Slayer King recalled what Mu-Gun told him about passing on all the scriptures of the Heavenly Spectral Assassin Sword Artif the Specter Slayer King obeyed his orders until they had defeated the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
The Specter Slayer King believed that Mu-Gun, the Thunder Gods successor, would not lie. The problem was whether he could survive until the Nine Celestial Demons Sect was defeated. Bluntly put, Mu-Gun would not have to keep his promise if the Specter Slayer King died and the Specter Sect was wiped out. The Specter Slayer King thought that Mu-Gun could try getting the Specter Sect and the Nine Celestial Demons Sect killed in battle.
Even so, the Specter Slayer King had no intention of condemning Mu-Gun. If he were Baek Mu-Gun, he would have done the same as well. Moreover, he accepted Mu-Guns deal while fully aware of that. Hence, even if Mu-Gun made an unreasonable demand now, the Specter Slayer King would have no choice but to follow it. If he refused, Mu-Gun would definitely not pass him the scriptures to the other Heavenly Spectral Assassin Sword Art techniques.
Learning the Specter Flash made the Specter Slayer King think that he had to get his hands on the other scriptures of the Heavenly Spectral Assassin Sword Art no matter the cost. That was how powerful the Specter Flash was. If the first technique was already at this level, how amazing would the second and third techniques be?
It did not matter what he had to do. The Specter Slayer King wanted to get the Heavenly Killing Specter Sword Arts full scriptures even if it meant he had to pretend to die in front of Mu-Gun for it. For as long as he survived until the very end, he would achieve his goal. However, to stay alive, he had to grow stronger by training nonstop.
The Specter Slayer King began to immerse himself in mastering the Specter Flash again.
A few days later, he arrived in Qingdao, Shandong Province. No one knew that he had come, of course. He simply checked into an inn and waited for the night to come. When the skies darkened, he wore clothes perfect for stealth operations and headed to the Qingdao Sect. However, it wasnt to assassinate his targets. He was just going to do a preliminary investigation today. Although the Heavenly Secret Hall had provided him with an interior map of the Qingdao Sect, he still had to see it with his own eyes.
When the Specter Slayer King arrived at the Qingdao Sect, he waited until the night had fully settled. Perhaps because the heavens were also helping him, clouds covered the moon and shrouded the area in complete darkness. Activating the Dark Specter Stealth Art, he secretly infiltrated the Qingdao Sect, finding its security to be quite tight. Although the martial artists of the three families had stopped advancing, no one knew when or what would happen, so they increased the manors security.
Nevertheless, none of the guards noticed the Specter Slayer King infiltrating all the way to the entrance of Hu-Myeongs residence. After closely examining its security, he immediately returned to the inn and formulated an assassination plan. He would first assassinate Hu-Seong, who was relatively easier to kill, at the Qingdao House. The step after that was crucial. He would have to get to the Qingdao Sect and assassinate Hu-Myeong before the Qingdao Sect learned of Hu-Seongs death. Once Hu-Seongs death was discovered, their security would inevitably tighten, and Hu-Myeong would thoroughly put countermeasures in place for his own safety, making it several times more difficult to assassinate him. Hence, the Specter Slayer King had to kill Hu-Myeong before he learned of Hu-Seongs death.
According to the report from the Heavenly Secret Hall, Hu-Myeong usually practiced martial arts until the end of haeshi[1]. Taking that into consideration, the Specter Slayer King had to assassinate Hu-Seong by the end of sulshi[2], then infiltrate the Qingdao Sect and kill Hu-Myeong. He had plenty of time to spare unless Hu-Seong visited the Qingdao House too late
With that plan in mind, the Specter Slayer King visited the Qingdao House the next evening as a guest and booked one of the Four Gentlemen Rooms[3], the Qingdao Houses most expensive rooms, on the second floor. He then picked a random woman.
The Four Gentlemen Rooms were the only rooms that Hu-Seong used. Befitting their price, they were isolated from other rooms, allowing one to enjoy drinking and women without disturbance. Above all, the Qingdao Houses top-grade gisaengs were only available if one booked one of the Four Gentlemen Rooms.
Ordinary people could not even think about booking such a room. However, its price was nothing to Hu-Seong, the Vice Patriarch of the sect that held supremacy over Qingdao. After all, he didnt even have to pay. The moment the Qingdao Sect set their sights on the Qingdao House, they would never be able to do business in Qingdao again, so they could not dare demand Hu-Seong to pay. Rather, they simply let him use their services to his hearts content.
The Specter Slayer King booked the Plum Room, which was the first of the Four Gentlemen Rooms. As its name suggested, the Plum Room was decorated with paintings and poems related to plum blossoms. Even though it was only a brothel room, it was both gorgeous and elegant. As he waited in the room, he was soon served a table of drinks and snacks. Following that, Hong Mei, one of the best gisaengs in the Qingdao House, entered the room. Hong Mei wore a flowery dress embroidered with plum blossoms. Her beauty was so out of this world that one would think that she was the best gisaeng in the Qingdao House. The common man would have fallen for her the moment he laid eyes on her.
However, the Specter Slayer Kings eyes and expression remained filled with coldness, having attained a cold-hearted state of mind. The other gisaengs and Hong Mei wanted to leave the room immediately after seeing the Specter Slayer Kings cold expression. Nevertheless, Hong Mei followed her strong work ethic and forced herself to greet him.
Nice to meet you. I am Hong Mei. It is an honor to be able to serve you today.
Sit down, the Specter Slayer King said, clearly annoyed.
Hong Mei reluctantly sat down, and the Specter Slayer King continued to listen to what was happening outside without even looking at Hong Mei. This situation was bound to be baffling to Hong Mei. If she could do as she pleased, she wanted to scream at him and ask what he was doing, but she could not treat someone who had booked one of the Four Gentlemen Rooms so recklessly. If she did that, the House Manager, who only cared about money, would not let her get away with it.
Hong Mei calmed herself down and asked in the cutest voice she could muster, May I know your name, oh great hero?
You dont have to know. Just keep quiet and dont bother me.
Wha? Why did you ask for me, then? Hong Mei asked with bewilderment.
I called you in because they said I had to use the services of a gisaeng to book a Four Gentlemen Room.
So you had no choice but to call me in because it was a must to use the services of a gisaeng? Hong Mei asked, doubting what she just heard.
Exactly. Thats why you dont have to try to do anything. You just have to spend some time here and go out after. If youre wondering what you can do while staying here, feel free to drink and eat.
I cant do that. I am paid to do this, so let me pour you a drink at least, Hong Mei offered.
I can drink on my own, so you dont have to do that. The Specter Slayer King closed his eyes after saying so.
It was a silent gesture to stop her from talking to him. His ridiculous attitude dumbfounded Hong Mei. At the same time, she was in a bad mood because she felt as if she was being ignored.
Hong Mei was one of the Top Four Gisaengs in the Qingdao House, and she was so precious that many Qingdao men wished to see her before they died. However, the man before her did not even spare her a glance. Hong Mei felt as if her love confession to a man was met with rejection.
Ah! This is so offending.
Hong Mei clenched her teeth. However, her pride stopped her from speaking first again.
Fine, if you ignore me, I will just do the same and ignore you as well.
She decided to completely ignore the Specter Slayer King and began to drink and eat the food spread out on the table. The Specter Slayer King could not care less, however, having focused only on observing the situation outside.
Hu-Seong did not show up at the Qingdao House that night. At midnight, the Specter Slayer King left the Qingdao House without hesitation. He never ate or drank.
His behavior dumbfounded and bewildered Hong Mei. He did nothing but sit for over four hours, allowing her to relax without doing anything. However, she could not help but feel uncomfortable for some reason.
Hong Mei did not want to serve such a strange guest again, but her wish did not come true. The next evening, the Specter Slayer King visited the Qingdao House again. Just like yesterday, he booked the Plum Room, and Hong Mei entered the room, astonished to see him.
Should I just keep to myself today as well? Hong Mei said.
You catch up quick, the Specter Slayer King briefly responded.
Why are you even spending so much to come here?
You dont have to know. Isnt this good for you as well? You dont have to act cute or make love to a man you dont even have feelings for, the Specter Slayer King nonchalantly said.
That is true, but I just cant bring myself to understand.
You dont have to understand. You dont even have to question it in the first place. All you have to do is just stay still and leave just like yesterday. The Specter Slayer King closed his eyes.
Hong Mei was so taken aback that she was at a loss for words. She could not help but wonder if the Specter Slayer King had serious mental problems. He wouldnt be wasting huge amounts of money to do something so meaningless for two consecutive days otherwise.
Well, its none of my business.
Hong Mei decided not to care anymore. As the man said, all she had to do was rest comfortably and leave afterward. Hong Mei began to drink and eat as she desired without paying attention to the Specter Slayer King. She only realized it now because she always had to match the pace of the men who booked her, but the taste of alcohol and food was quite delicious.
Eating her fill, she glanced at the Specter Slayer King, who still had his eyes closed. Hes cold, but hes also good-looking. Tsk.
The Specter Slayer King was handsome, and his only flaw was his cold expression. However, that in itself was also attractive. Hong Mei started to grow curious about him. Who was he? What did he do for a living? Why did he come to the brothel and sit around doing nothing?
If she could, she wanted to ask him in person, but she held it in when she remembered that she was told not to bother him. At midnight, the Specter Slayer King rose from his seat. Hu-Seong did not come to the Qingdao House that day either.
Are you coming tomorrow, too? Hong Mei quickly asked.
The Specter Slayer King ignored her and left the room, making Hong Mei pout. She was hoping that he would come to the Qingdao House tomorrow and that he would find her again. She wasnt sure why, but she felt as if it would sadden her if he did not come or find her.
Fortunately, the next day, the Specter Slayer King visited the Qingdao House and asked for Hong Mei again.
Tch, if you were going to come, why didnt you just tell me yesterday? Hong Mei pouted.
Because there is no reason for me to. Just stay still and keep quiet today too. You are free to leave when I do, the Specter Slayer King nonchalantly replied.
No, I cant do that today. Hong Mei refused.
What? The Specter Slayer King frowned.
I cannot call myself a gisaeng if I just sit still and leave without doing anything for three days, Hong Mei said firmly.
Isnt that better than laughing and selling your body to a man you dont even have feelings for? the Specter Slayer King said.
If it was someone else, that would probably be true, but you are different. You have piqued my curiosity. I want to know more about you.
I am not interested, so keep your mouth shut and leave once Im done.
Even if I do this?
Refusing to yield despite the Specter Slayer Kings indifference, Hong Mei began to strip down, revealing all of her.
You are being a nuisance. Unshaken despite looking at her naked body, the Specter Slayer King raised his hand.
Swoosh!
Qi gathered at his fingertips and unleashed a gust of wind, striking Hong Meis acupoint. Hong Mei fell to her side, her consciousness fading. Not long after, she fell asleep.
I should have done this long ago.
The Specter Slayer King looked satisfied as he returned his focus to what was happening outside the room. It was as if he had removed an annoying lump.
1. Haeshi lasts from 9 pm to 11 pm.
2. Sulshi is 7 pm to 9 pm.
3. In Chinese art, the Four Gentlemen is a collective term referring to four plants: the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum.
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