Chapter 21: Something was wrong.

Something was wrong.

Having entered the Ghost Spirit Hall, I had to follow the rules.

One of those rules was sharing a dormitory room with other trainees for the next few months.

The dormitories were strictly separated by gender. Since the martial arts world had become a female-dominated society, the selection ratio for the Ghost Spirit Hall naturally had overwhelmingly more women.

However, all the male trainees except me belonged to that faction over there.

Whether it was a coincidence or intentional, this situation made me even more uncomfortable.

I simulated the situation in my head.

‘Hehe… you’re the only one from the other faction.’

I heard a voice picking a fight in my imagination.

They were five, compared to me alone.

I seriously pondered for a moment, imagining various combat scenarios in my head.

‘No, it’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.’

Then, prepare to run away…

Yes, all of that was just my delusion.

None of them dared to stand up to me.

No, far from standing up to me, they couldn’t even make proper eye contact.

Instead, it was a strange sight of five people being mindful of one person.

Well, it wasn’t that strange. Looking at the hierarchy within the Ghost Spirit Hall, I and Hwang Wol were at opposite extremes.

And the hierarchy was determined by individual martial arts skill levels.

“Ahem…”

When I cleared my throat, the five of them trembled.

“Relax. Just relax.”

“Yes!”

Looking around the room, I noticed the male trainees’ faces.

They were the faces that had received harsh criticism from Number 16 earlier.

I had sensed it while watching their swordsmanship, but their skills weren’t that great.

Although I couldn’t know exactly since I couldn’t use the status window on men, I wasn’t below average among them.

Although the special mind technique created by the Heavenly Demon was said to be more advantageous for women…

This seemed like a more fundamental problem.

It seemed like less resources and attention were given to the men.

The prevailing perception was that even if men were ahead for now, women had a higher potential in the long run.

They must have broken through tremendous competition to get here, but…

And even if they rose up from this place, the saying “assassins are just consumables” lingered in my mind like a curse.

“Alright… what are you all doing? Let’s introduce ourselves!”

I said, breaking the tense silence.

Since we’ll be sharing a room, it seemed better to get to know each other.

“Yes, yes, yes! I’m Jang Oh! My father is a farmer, and my mother was… a farmer… wife!”

“Why did you become an assassin?”

“There was a famine, and it was hard to make a living… People around me praised my strength, so I applied.”

After Jang Oh, the introductions continued.

Surprisingly, or perhaps naturally, most of them were similar to Jang Oh.

They chose the path of an assassin because it was hard to make a living.

They were famous for their strength or agility in their respective neighborhoods, but here they were in the lower ranks.

“So… are you happy being an assassin?”

Everyone smiled awkwardly at my question. I understood why they were smiling.

Well… here, at least the food is good.

It was a world somewhere around medieval China.

Well, if you had to specify, it was a bit better than medieval due to various fantasy elements, but the base was still medieval.

In such an era, giving meat dishes to all the trainees was a groundbreaking treatment.

If they worked hard, those who were satisfied with the meat dishes could become first-class assassins and live comfortably.

Of course… that’s if they survived.

Thinking about that made the atmosphere even gloomier.

“Then I’ll go get some fresh air!”

I stood up to shake off the stuffy feeling.

“Yes, Brother!”

One guy said loudly.

“Hey, what’s with the ‘Brother’…”

“Then what should I call you?”

“You should call me ‘Young Master.’”

Leaving behind their silly conversation, I went outside and walked to the open space.

When I arrived at the open space, a familiar glint of sword caught my eye. It was Nan Cheong.

“Nan Cheong, why did you become an assassin?”

I asked, suddenly curious. Everyone here had their own story, but I especially wanted to know hers.

“Because there was no other way to make a living.”

It was the same answer as the others. But there was something deeper in her voice.

“What about your parents?”

“They’re dead. Killed by martial artists.”

“Someone who lost their parents to martial artists has to become a martial artist again. I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s so common these days that it’s not even a story.”

Her calm voice made my heart ache even more.

Did she read my expression? Nan Cheong forced a smile and continued.

“Well, I’m actually satisfied. Being an assassin isn’t bad. I can kill people I want to kill, I don’t have to worry about starving… I like that people are afraid of me.”

“But you could die at any time.”

“Anyone can die at any time, even if they’re not assassins… like my parents.”

I couldn’t say anything to that.

In fact, her parents were neither assassins nor martial artists, but they lost their lives at the hands of martial artists.

“People who held grudges against them like us pooled their money and hired an assassin from the Thousand Slaughtering Valley. And that assassin said I had talent. That’s how I came to the valley.”

It was an era where you could be killed by anyone if you didn’t have power.

For a month, I repeated internal energy cultivation alone in my room from morning till night.

Sometimes when I saw Nan Cheong or other trainees training, I felt restless, but I could only watch because I was a precious Harmonious Body.

Fortunately, I found comfort by talking to Nan Cheong or other kids from our faction from time to time, but there was a sense of frustration in one corner of my heart about how long this life would last.

The only good thing was that my internal energy was steadily growing.

I had been training alone all day, so I had to have that much comfort.

[Name: Kim Junho]
[Age: 15]
[Talent Grade: A]
[Realm: Early 2nd Class (3%)]
[Status: Yin-Yang Harmony Body, Alluring Chastity]
[Stats: Strength: 11 Agility: 13 Internal Energy: 17 Combat Skill: 13 Durability: 15]

Hehehe.

It increased by 2 since last time.

An increase of 2 in a month was by no means small. It was an enormous growth.

I had taken quite a few elixirs, and my talent wasn’t bad, so it could be said to be a natural result. But I was a little worried that I was still only about average among the kids here.

And before long, a very meaningful day came for the students of the Ghost Spirit Hall, except for me.

“From today, you are temporary 3rd class assassins of the valley.”

The instructor, Number 16’s words echoed like a sentence. Hwang Wol was the only one who could object to him, and she actually voiced her dissatisfaction without hesitation.

“What is this? I’m a 1st class martial artist, but you’re saying I’m 3rd class? And temporary?”

“There are no exceptions.”

Number 16, who was usually lenient with Hwang Wol’s grumbling, was different this time.

His cold gaze was directed at Hwang Wol.

Hwang Wol was the only one expressing dissatisfaction. All the other kids couldn’t hide their joy as they stroked the assassin’s token they had received. Watching the assassin’s tokens shimmering in their fingertips made me feel strange.

“From today, you will begin covert missions.”

At those words, the faces of several boys and girls lit up brightly.

I smiled bitterly as I looked at their expressions. The main business of the Thousand Slaughtering Valley was assassination.

And all the kids here knew how much money assassins received.

At Number 16’s gesture, the kids who had become temporary assassins of the valley rushed to the notice board.

I hesitated for a moment, then followed them.

Although I couldn’t participate in the covert missions, I needed to know how this was going to proceed.

“Bloodhand Clan! All the requests are related to the Bloodhand Clan!”

The trainees stirred at someone’s shout. Number 16 continued in a cold voice as if he had expected such a reaction.

“For credibility, we can’t entrust you with valuable client requests from the start. Therefore, your first assassination target is our enemy, the Bloodhand Clan!”

The request grades of the Thousand Slaughtering Valley were divided into a total of 10 levels.

Gap, Eul, Byeong, Jeong, Mu, Gi, Gyeong, Sin, Im, Gye.

The requests the children would take on were Im or Sim grade.

Im grade was easy. It was killing a merchant who wasn’t part of the Bloodhand Clan, but was being protected by them.

“A back alley cloth store owner, a butcher, a restaurant owner. All of them are targets we have to kill. The Bloodhand Clan is collecting money in exchange for protecting them. In other words, if we kill them, the Bloodhand Clan’s revenue will decrease, and the Bloodhand Clan will lose face.”

“It’s completely free!”

A boy shouted excitedly. His eyes sparkled.

“However, since the request is a request, you should think of the reward as almost non-existent. Also, only by completing this request will you become a 3rd class assassin instead of a 2nd class assassin.”

The atmosphere that had been excited until just now instantly cooled down at Number 16’s words.

I nodded as I watched their changing expressions. It was a natural reaction.

The difference between 2nd class and 3rd class was enormous.

The digit of the reward they could receive was different.

The smile disappeared from the face of the boy who had shouted excitedly earlier.

Of course. If they missed this opportunity, they would have to wait at least several more months to become a 2nd class assassin.

Number 16 began to explain the second request.

“Sim grade requests involve eliminating members of the Bloodhand Clan’s lower organizations. They are not formal Bloodhand Clan members, but they are people who operate under the Bloodhand Clan’s banner. Eliminating them will grant you the qualification of a 2nd class assassin.”

The children’s eyes sparkled at once.

“That’s great! We’re not killing formal Bloodhand Clan members, but we’re getting 2nd class!”

Someone shouted in a joyful voice.

Just because they weren’t formal Bloodhand Clan members didn’t mean they were easy opponents.

The fact that they were under the Bloodhand Clan’s banner proved their danger.

But most of the kids didn’t seem to consider that at all.

They were just excited at the thought of becoming 2nd class assassins. Even Nan Cheong.

And that night. Just before embarking on the covert mission, I called Nan Cheong separately.

I waited for her at the end of the corridor without windows.

“I think you need this more.”

I handed her my clothes made of Heavenly Silk. It was the clothes my master had given me.

Nan Cheong looked at the clothes with a puzzled expression and shook her head.

“It’s just a small mission, I don’t need something like this.”

“Wear it just in case. You can give it back to me after the covert mission, right?”

Nan Cheong hesitated for a moment, then took the clothes and went somewhere out of sight to change.

“How is it?”

Thanks to her washboard-like body, she could pull off men’s clothes without any trouble.

Of course, I didn’t say these words out loud.

“It suits you well. Be sure to come back alive.”

“It’s not that difficult of a mission. I’ll buy you a present, so look forward to it.”

With that, she left.

The dormitory was empty. The men’s dormitory was usually deserted, but it was even more quiet after the kids left for their covert missions. I spent my time reading books or cultivating internal energy.

Then one day, I heard a commotion outside. I grabbed a servant passing by in the hallway.

“What’s going on?”

“The Ghost Spirit Hall members who went on the covert mission… seem to have returned.”

The servant’s voice trembled. I was worried that Nan Cheong had returned, so I rushed outside.

And I froze on the spot.

The bloodied children were barely walking, supporting each other.

Someone was missing an arm, and someone else was limping.

More than thirty children had left. But only fourteen had returned.

‘Assassins are just consumables.’

Number 16’s words echoed in my head.

I carefully examined Number 16’s face.

Was he expecting the trainees’ sacrifices and trying to show something through them?

But soon I realized that that thought was wrong.

His usual cold and intimidating appearance was nowhere to be found, and there was cold sweat on his forehead.

“T, t, this is wrong. How, how did this happen? The Bloodhand Clan shouldn’t have the resources to care about even the lower organizations. What happened!”

“Unidentified experts are helping the Bloodhand Clan.”

Something was wrong.