Chapter 41
Baek Mu-Gun arrived at the Nanjing Vault and reached the credit notes payment department with the staff’s guidance.
“Do you want to exchange the credit note for cash?” The employee of the credit notes payment department asked.
“Yes.”
“Please let me check the credit note first.”
Mu-Gun took out an envelope containing the credit note and handed it to the employee. The employee took the credit note out to check for any forgeries. Seeing the amount written on it slightly surprised him, but he soon fixed his expression and proceeded with the checks.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long. I’ve confirmed that there is nothing wrong with this credit note and that our vault has indeed issued it.”
“Can I cash it in right away, then?”
“A 100,000 silver nyang is quite a lot of money, so it will take about a day to prepare the cash. Would you like to exchange all 100,000 silver nyang for cash?”
“How long do I have to wait if I want to convert 10,000 nyang only?”
“We can settle that amount within thirty minutes.”
“I’ll just convert 10,000 nyang for now, then. Can you issue the remaining amount as a credit note?”
“Understood. As requested, I’ll issue a 90,000 nyang credit note and prepare 10,000 nyang in cash.”
“Thank you.”
The employee of the credit note payment department immediately went to work, and a 90,000 nyang credit note was issued shortly afterward. 10,000 silver nyang was also prepared within thirty minutes, as the employee had mentioned. The 10,000 silver nyang were divided into ten units of 30-kilogram boxes, which Mu-Gun carried in a cart he had prepared in advance while heading to the Heavenly Secret Hall’s safe house.
Mu-Gun didn’t just convert his credit note once. The next day, he had another 10,000 silver nyang converted.
***
Meanwhile, the Great Sima Family, which had acquired the Nanjing Vault, waited for the Heavenly Secret Hall to exchange the credit note. Two months had passed since then, yet the Great Sima Family still waited instead of giving up. Finally, they received news from the Nanjing Vaultthat the credit note issued by Nanjing’s millionaire, Ju Jang-Kyung, had been converted. The Great Sima Family immediately deployed the Flying Shadow Platoon to the Nanjing Vault.
Having confirmed through the Nanjing Vault’s fixer that Mu-Gun was the one who had the credit note issued by Ju Jang-Kyung converted, they began to secretly track Mu-Gun, who was carrying the silver nyang. They hid their traces as much as they could to avoid being caught, but they couldn’t escape Mu-Gun’s eyes since he had been expecting their pursuit. It wasn’t difficult for him to notice the Flying Shadow Platoon while they were tracking him.
Humming and pretending not to have any idea he was being tracked, Mu-Gun moved the cart containing the silver nyang into the Heavenly Secret Hall’s safe house. Since it was on a roadside that many people visited and it was in broad daylight, the Flying Shadow Platoon didn’t cause a scene and instead only tailed Mu-Gun.
The Flying Shadow Platoon surrounded the manor to prevent him from escaping upon confirming that Mu-Gun had entered a shabby manor, then waited for the night to come.
They didn’t hastily launch an attack. On the contrary, they first inspected the manor that Mu-Gun had entered, discovering that Mu-Gun was the only one inside it.
“Don’t you find this strange?” The Flying Shadow Platoon’s Vice-Leader expressed his doubts.
“What’s so strange about it?” The Flying Shadow Platoon Leader asked.
“The Heavenly Secret Hall would’ve predicted that we would come after them. Seeing one person exchange the silver nyang alone without any countermeasures makes me feel like they’re up to something.”
“What do you think they’re planning?”
“I suspect they’re deliberately revealing his identity to lure us out.”
“He’s alone, though.”
“We don’t know what kind of master could be hiding inside the manor.”
Although the Flying Shadow Platoon had inspected the manor, there was no guarantee that the intel they had gathered was accurate. It was possible that there were masters inside that had hidden their traces.
“Then what do you suggest we do?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to make a move after figuring out their exact intentions?”
“Enemy reinforcements could come while we’re delaying this. Considering what happened last time, the Heavenly Secret Hall’s combat force is nothing to worry about anyway. The only problem is that assassin bastard. The Flying Lion Platoon was done in because they weren’t expecting an ambush. If they had moved with vigilance, they wouldn’t have had any problem.”
“Still...”
“We will move in as soon as it gets dark, so stop trying to make a point, Vice-Leader.”
“Understood.”
The Flying Shadow Platoon Vice-Leader was left with no choice but to nod in agreement with the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader’s firm words.
The surroundings grew dark after some time, and the Flying Shadow Platoon made preparations to move. However, Mu-Gun had moved before them. Expecting the Flying Shadow Platoon to act once it was dark, he launched an attack a step ahead of them.
Mu-Gun could have waited for the Flying Shadow Platoon to attack and respond in kind, but there was no need for him to take the easy way out. Rather than fighting passively against the Flying Shadow Platoon’s attacks, he chose to be proactive and attacked first. Although they were thoroughly monitoring the area to prevent him from leaving the manor, the Flying Shadow Platoon couldn’t detect Mu-Gun as he had activated the Dark Specter Stealth Art, which allowed him to move like a ghost as the technique’s name suggested. He then approached the Flying Shadow Platoon members hiding around the manor.
The Flying Shadow Platoon was hiding in groups of ten in the surrounding buildings of the Heavenly Secret Hall’s safe house.
‘It’s going to be difficult to deal with them quietly.’
Even for Mu-Gun, dealing with ten people without making any sound was too far-fetched. Hence, he decided to wipe out at least one group for starters instead. He approached one of the packs from behind, narrowed the distance between them to fifty feet, then threw the Flying Golden Shield. An ear-splitting sound loud enough to tear their eardrums resonated in the air as the Flying Golden Shield flew toward the Flying Shadow Platoon’s martial artists, who were hiding.
They looked back in surprise at the ear-splitting sound that came from behind. However, it was already too late. The Flying Golden Shield had flown in a line and grazed past them. Blood splattered along the Flying Golden Shield’s trajectory as the Flying Shadow Platoon’s members fell to the ground.
“Enemy!”
“It’s an ambush!”
The Flying Shadow Platoon members hiding elsewhere urgently shouted and rushed to where Mu-Gun was.
‘Thank you for coming on your own accord.’
Mu-Gun retrieved the Flying Golden Shield after it had killed ten opponents, then threw it toward those approaching him from the right.
The Flying Golden Shield quickly flew across the night sky and cut through the Flying Shadow Platoon’s martial artists. At the same time, the Flying Shadow Platoon’s warriors hiding on the left narrowed the distance and launched an attack toward Mu-Gun. Without panicking, Mu-Gun unsheathed his sword and unleashed the Celestial Moonlight Sword. Moonlight soared up in the darkness of night and pierced through the Flying Shadow Platoon’s martial artists.
His opponents hurriedly blocked the moonlight, but Mu-Gun’s sword had risen above their heads before they knew it. Moonlight poured down on them once more and tore them apart.
Mu-Gun moved to the right without delay and retrieved the Flying Golden Shield that was bouncing around. The enemies approaching from the right were now scattered on the floor, their heads destroyed and their hearts crushed.
Having quickly knocked down three groups of ten, Mu-Gun watched the rest of the Flying Shadow Platoon’s members gather toward him. Soon, he identified a person with extraordinary energy who stood head and shoulders above the others. He was probably their leader and the person Mu-Gun had to capture alive today.
While the Flying Shadow Platoon’s members moved in perfect order to surround Mu-Gun, the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader stood on top of the manor’s wall about a hundred feet away from Mu-Gun.
“So it was you, huh?” the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader said. “The assassin bastard who wiped out the Flying Lion Platoon at the Thousand Aroma House.”
“I’m also the one who’s going to annihilate you all today.”
“You certainly seem to possess skills great enough to say that. However, as long as I’m here, that sort of thing won’t happen.”
“Everyone says that before they die by my hands. If you’re that confident, come at me. Don’t just stand so far away from me and run your mouth.”
The Flying Shadow Platoon Leader’s face turned purple with anger at Mu-Gun’s mockery. However, he soon regained his composure and gave orders to the Flying Shadow Platoon.
“Everyone, attack that arrogant bastard! We need to find out the Heavenly Secret Hall’s location, so don’t kill him.”
‘They still don’t seem to have a good grasp of the situation yet.’
The Flying Shadow Platoon Leader’s intention to capture him alive baffled Mu-Gun since that was much more difficult to do than killing. With the Flying Shadow Platoon’s abilities, it was already uncertain whether they could kill Mu-Gun, yet he still wanted to capture Mu-Gun alive. The Flying Shadow Platoon Leader was currently asking them to do the impossible.
Of course, it wasn’t a bad situation for Mu-Gun. That was how useless the Flying Shadow Platoon’s attacks were.
‘I’ll have to capture him first.’
Kill the Flying Shadow Platoon martial artists that were attacking Mu-Gun wasn’t a big deal for him. However, revealing his skills first could scare the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader and make them run away. He had to beat him down first before the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader could do that. For now, Mu-Gun focused on evading their attack. They closed in from all sides. Their joint attacks were quite thorough.
However, like a ghost, Mu-Gun still found a gap. He used the Thunder God's Aerial Steps to escape their attacks, then launched a counterattack. Even though he deliberately didn’t use his full strength, he was still powerful. The Flying Shadow Platoon’s martial artists struck by Mu-Gun’s counterattacks hastily stepped back.
Nevertheless, due to their large numbers, they quickly unleashed attacks again but from a different direction. Mu-Gun pretended to be on the defensive and avoided their offense while waiting for an opportunity.
‘Now!’
As soon as the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader’s gaze shifted to the vice-leader next to him, Mu-Gun kicked the floor to launch himself forward. Mu-Gun invoked the Thunder God's Shadow, putting him within a stone’s throw away from the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader in the blink of an eye.
“Stop him!” At the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader’s startled cry, those guarding him hurriedly blocked Mu-Gun’s path. In retaliation, Mu-Gun positioned the Flying Golden Shield in front of him and crashed into them without slowing down, blasting away the guards standing in his way. Having successfully broken through, he extended the Flying Golden Shield when he saw the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader swinging his saber at him.
The red aura from the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader’s saber landed a heavy blow on the Flying Golden Shield, causing an explosion. The impact caused Mu-Gun and the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader to be pushed back at the same time.
The Flying Shadow Platoon Leader suffered considerable shock from the shockwave the Flying Golden Shield had deflected. On the other hand, Mu-Gun didn’t receive much impact since the Flying Golden Shield scattered most of the energy. That difference was huge. While Mu-Gun immediately continued with a follow-up attack, the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader responded half a beat later. Mu-Gun’s sword flew like a ray of light and penetrated the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader’s right shoulder.
“Kuhkk!”
The Flying Shadow Platoon Leader shrieked and staggered. Without stopping, Mu-Gun approached and stabbed the platoon leader’s acupuncture points to render him mute and paralyzed, overpowering his opponent in an instant. He then pointed his sword at the platoon leader’s neck and turned toward the Flying Shadow Platoon.
“If even one of you comes closer, I will immediately cut this man’s neck.”
Mu-Gun’s words made the Flying Shadow Platoon abruptly stop their approach. His objective was to capture a witness who would reveal that the Great Sima Family was indeed the Shura Cult. The Flying Shadow Platoon Leader, which Mu-Gun now held captive, fulfilled that purpose.
Just a moment ago, the red saber qi that the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader displayed was definitely the aura of the Blood Asura Heavenly Saber Art, an Asura Cult martial art. As long as Mu-Gun held the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader captive, today’s objective was as good as done.
All that was left was to deal with the Flying Shadow Platoon. The Flying Shadow Platoon members weren’t demonic cultivators of the Asura Cult. They were just being manipulated by the upper brass of the Great Sima Family, which was under the control of the Asura Cult’s demonic cultivators. Mu-Gun didn’t want to kill them if possible, but the Flying Shadow Platoon Vice Leader had other plans.
“That person will not spare the platoon leader anyway. Don’t worry about the platoon leader and just attack him!”
The vice-leader ordered, disregarding the survival of the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader, who had been taken hostage. The Flying Shadow Platoon members followed the vice-leader’s order.
Mu-Gun threw the Flying Golden Shield toward the Flying Shadow Platoon members charging at him. The Flying Golden Shield flew in a semicircle and grazed past them, causing their heads to explode and their chests to be crushed. Right after, they were blasted away.
Mu-Gun retrieved the Flying Golden Shield after massacring the platoon members, then positioned himself as if he was going to throw it again. At the sight, the platoon members hurriedly stepped back. Having witnessed the Flying Golden Shield’s power, they dared not risk their lives to attack him.
“So, are you going to continue?” Mu-Gun asked the vice-leader.
The vice-leader wasn’t confident he could block Mu-Gun’s shield even if he stepped forward and fought. Considering the Flying Shadow Platoon Leader was held captive, it was difficult to overpower Mu-Gun with the Flying Shadow Platoon’s power. If they continued fighting, they would eventually be wiped out.
The vice-leader decided it retreating and saving the Flying Shadow Platoon’s combat strength was better for now.
“Will you let us leave if we decide to retreat?”
“I’ll make a special exception and let you leave this time. However, there will not be a second time. The next time you come for me, you’ll have to put your life on the line.”
“You don’t have any intention of letting the platoon leader go, do you?”
“As you’ve said, this person is already as good as dead. It’ll do you all good to think of him as a dead man.”
“Everyone, we’re retreating.” The vice-leader ordered the Flying Shadow Platoon. Left with no other choice, the platoon members left the premises.
Read 𝓁atest chapters at fr(e)ewebnov𝒆l.com Only