Chapter 1

The Main Residence of the Moyong Clan.

“Just moments ago,” Se-ah, the Master of the Crescent Moon Pavilion, reported with a respectful bow. “We received confirmation that the operational unit of the Moyong Death Squad has successfully infiltrated the enemy lines alongside the Huashan Sect.”

She checked the time before continuing, her voice steady and precise. “If the operation proceeds according to plan, the enemy’s internal collapse should begin imminently.”

Seated in the lotus position, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon finally opened his eyes. “I trust there were no issues with the identification procedures at the entrance?”

“None, my lord.” Se-ah nodded. “The ciphers obtained from their intelligence stronghold proved effective.”

Yeon So-hyeon had previously ordered Head Handmaiden Jeong-ah to raid the enemy’s intelligence hub in Shenyang. Possessing the Golden Eyes, Jeong-ah had secured the secret bases with a speed that defied imagination, allowing the agents of the Crescent Moon Pavilion to seize the enemy’s codes and authentication protocols.

“When regular contact with their intelligence hubs ceased, the Ruler of Liaodong, Dread King likely responded by changing the codes,” Yeon So-hyeon murmured, his gaze distant. “But the enemies in Shenyang, cut off from the outside world, would have no way of receiving the new protocols.”

“Precisely.”

“Good.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded once and closed his eyes again, dismissing the matter. “Report back when new information arrives.”

“Your command is my life.”

By the time Se-ah lifted her head from her deep bow, Yeon So-hyeon had already returned to his profound breathing exercises, sinking back into the depths of his cultivation.

***

The Underground Stronghold of the Moyong Rebel Faction.

“It’s a betrayal by Mount Hua!”

“They are attacking us!”

The shouts erupted through the subterranean corridors, shattering the silence.

When the chaos broke out, Gam Woo-hyeon, the Vanguard Captain of the Huashan Sect, and his Vice-Captain, Mae Ok, found themselves standing directly in front of the office of Elder Moyong Gucheok, the commander of this stronghold.

Our sect is… attacking?

What is happening?

It was impossible to grasp the situation in an instant. Was this a trap by the rebels to sell them out? Or had friction finally erupted between their disciples and the rebel forces? Reflexively, their hands flew to the hilts of their swords. It was a reasonable reaction—a necessary precaution for commanders standing in the heart of another faction’s territory.

“Halt!”

“Remove your hands from your weapons immediately!”

However, the optics were disastrous. Two foreign masters gripping their swords directly in front of the commander’s office appeared unmistakably hostile to the rebel guards.

“The Revolutionary Army’s quarters are under attack!”

[We are being slaughtered by Mount Hua!]

[Support! Requesting immediate reinforcements!]

Reports of Mount Hua’s betrayal rained down from every direction via sound transmission.

“You ungrateful wretches!”

The rebel warriors guarding the office drew their blades in unison, their eyes burning with hostility. “Mount Hua must disarm immediately! Drop your weapons and kneel!”

“W-Wait!”

Vice-Captain Mae Ok hurriedly raised one hand, waving it in a gesture of denial. “There seems to be a misunderstanding!”

Of course, her other hand remained firmly on her sword hilt.

“We must see Elder Moyong Gucheok immediately to clarify the situation!” Gam Woo-hyeon shouted, backing her up. “If the leadership meets and responds jointly, we can resolve this confusion quickly!”

Despite his words, Gam Woo-hyeon had no intention of letting go of his weapon. They weren’t foolish enough to disarm blindly on the orders of another army without knowing what was transpiring. Naturally, the other side did not take this well.

[The masters of the Huashan Vanguard seem to be targeting Elder Moyong Gucheok!]

[Evacuate the Elder immediately!]

[The Elder is already on the move! Block the Mount Hua masters with your lives!]

For masters of their caliber, eavesdropping on the rebels’ sound transmissions was trivial.

“Wait, hold on!” Gam Woo-hyeon shouted desperately. He was a man of sharp intellect and rich experience; he knew exactly where this was heading if the chain of command severed now. “You must not evacuate the Elder in this situation! Let us meet him right n—”

His plea was cut short.

“The sound transmissions have been compromised!”

“Restrict all transmissions to short-range only from this point forward!”

***

Under the dark, cloud-covered night sky.

“The Master once said,” Head Handmaiden Jeong-ah whispered, her figure clad in night-operation gear. “Elder Moyong Gucheok of the rebels possesses an exceptionally sensitive sense of smell.”

“Truly, the Grand Young Master’s insight is terrifying.” Moyong Ho, brother and adjutant to Great General Regent Moyong Woon-jeong, nodded in agreement. “Despite looking like a battle-hardened general, that man is known as the ‘Giant Coward’ of the Moyong Clan.”

Just that morning, Elder Moyong Gucheok had fled to this secret Shenyang base the moment he sensed a disturbance at the main residence. His survival instincts were indeed extraordinary.

“But right now, those keen senses and that cockroach-like vitality will work to our advantage,” Moyong Ho added.

“Indeed,” Jeong-ah agreed. “Now that the chaos has begun, he will never attempt to resolve the misunderstanding with the Huashan Vanguard first. He will run.”

***

Inside the secret underground passage.

The Giant Coward of the Moyong Clan, Elder Moyong Gucheok, was sprinting through the tunnel with an agility that belied his massive frame.

“Elder! Elder!” his adjutant cried out, scrambling to keep up. “The Vanguard Captain and Vice-Captain of Mount Hua are requesting an audience!”

“So?!”

“Pardon?”

Moyong Gucheok exploded in anger. “You expect me to meet two Mount Hua masters in a situation like this?!”

Though his martial arts were not lacking, his opponents were the direct disciples of the Huashan Sect Leader.

“B-But—!”

“But nothing!”

Moyong Gucheok’s pace quickened. “Unless those Mount Hua bastards completely disarm and surrender, tell them not to even look for me!”

It was admittedly strange that Mount Hua, who had been chased by the Grand Young Master’s forces, would betray them now. There were more than a few suspicious points.

[Fighting Mount Hua in the barracks cafeteria! Requesting backup!]

[Pursuing fleeing Mount Hua members!]

[Ambush! Enemy ambush!]

However, suspicious or not, Moyong Gucheok had absolutely no reason to stick his neck out for the blades of Mount Hua masters to test that theory.

***

“If you wish to see Elder Moyong Gucheok, throw down your weapons and surrender alongside your disciples!”

In the narrow corridor, the rebel forces shouted as they surrounded Gam Woo-hyeon and Mae Ok from both sides. “If Mount Hua is truly innocent, you have nothing to fear!”

“Bullshit…!”

Gam Woo-hyeon gripped his sword hilt until his knuckles turned white. “You intend to capture our vanguard and use us as bargaining chips with that bastard Grand Young Master, don’t you?!”

[Senior Brother…!]

Standing back-to-back with him, Mae Ok tried to restrain him as his agitation grew. [We must not provoke them further!]

“Damn it all…!” Gam Woo-hyeon ground his teeth. [Junior Sister! While we stand here in a standoff, do you not realize how many of our disciples are dying?!]

Screams and the clash of steel were drifting down the hallway. Though he couldn’t identify the voices, every instinct screamed at him to draw his sword and force a breakthrough.

[…Even so, we cannot,] Mae Ok refused firmly, shaking her head. [If we attack the rebels here, the situation will become irreversible.]

Staying calm amidst total chaos was the role of a Vice-Captain, and she was the most capable one Gam Woo-hyeon knew. While her Senior Brother cursed, Mae Ok scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes.

A ploy by the Grand Young Master’s side…?

The rebel underground base was essentially a fortress. Even if she were in the Grand Young Master’s position, attacking from the inside would be the obvious strategy. But how in the world…? Her sharp intuition screamed that the Grand Young Master was behind this, but the method remained a mystery. More importantly, the solution to this deadlock was equally elusive.

“Do not come closer!”

All she could do was stall for time, leveraging the fact that the rebels hesitated to recklessly charge two cornered masters. She had to find a solution in the interim.

“R-Rear! Attack from the rear! It’s Mount Hua!”

However, time was not on her side.

“Stop them!”

“Do not let them link up!”

The rebel encirclement on one side began to waver uncontrollably. Blood splattered against the low ceiling accompanied by screams, and severed limbs flew through the air. Through the gaps in the formation, a vivid purple sword light surged forward.

“That is…!”

There was no way Gam Woo-hyeon and Mae Ok wouldn’t recognize that light.

“Aaargh!”

“Kugh…!”

It was a violent collision between those desperate to break through and those desperate to hold the line.

“Leader…!”

Through the melee, the blood-soaked faces of their disciples came into view, calling out to them. Gam Woo-hyeon’s patience snapped.

“You bastards—!”

The sword of the Huashan Sect Leader’s disciple roared with purple energy, exploding with murderous intent.

***

In the dim light of oil lamps, spilled blood glistened on the floor.

[Success. We have herded a portion of the Huashan Vanguard into contact with their Leader!]

[Vanguard Captain Gam Woo-hyeon has engaged the rebels!]

[Vice-Captain Mae Ok is joining the fray!]

It was terrifying. Everything was unfolding exactly as the Grand Young Master had predicted.

The commander of the infiltration team withdrew his blade from a fallen rebel corpse and nodded. [Good.]

Inciting those trapped in this underground space was not difficult. When an agent dressed as Mount Hua killed a rebel, the rebels saw red. When an agent dressed as a rebel ambushed the Huashan Vanguard, Mount Hua drew their swords. The infiltration team was composed entirely of former special operatives from the Moyong Clan.

[Casualties?]

[Many wounded, but confirmed fatalities are low.]

[Follow operational doctrine. Engagement with the enemy main force is strictly forbidden.]

Having sown chaos, the operatives immediately disengaged from the scene. If forced into unavoidable combat, comrades disguised as the opposing faction intervened to aid their escape.

[Finally, present the enemy with a parting gift.]

[Understood!]

At the commander’s order, his sword lashed out, grazing the ceiling.

Clang!

The oil lamps hanging above shattered as they hit the floor. As the oil spread thickly across the ground, the infiltration commander stripped off the Mount Hua martial arts uniform he had been wearing and threw it onto the slick surface.

And then.

Whoosh—!

The fire starter he tossed ignited the oil, and flames instantly raced across the floor. The disaster of fire began to consume the underground space.

This was the Death Squad’s final gift.

[As of this moment, we act out the withdrawal from the operation zone.]

***

[The enemy is fleeing the smoke and running outside!]

As the enemies poured out in groups…

Rat-a-tat-tat!

The muskets of the Maid Corps, who had completely surrounded the area, spat fire in unison. The enemies, rushing out in panic, sprayed blood and collapsed. It didn’t matter if they wore Mount Hua uniforms or rebel garb.

Distinguishing the infiltration team was simple.

[Naked subject confirmed!]

For the final stage of extraction, the infiltration team stripped off every last piece of clothing.

[Friendly! Cease fire!]

The ultimate uniform for friend-or-foe identification was complete nudity.