Chapter 103 - Ghost

Dong Bongsu soon disappeared from her sight, and Yeon Youngha leaped down the back of the hill and left the scene as well. All that remained were patrol members busily gathering the bodies and onlookers filled with both fear and curiosity at the ghost's appearance.

Before long, dawn broke.

Zhengzhou was in an uproar from early morning over the sinister events of the night before: the ghost incident in the bustling streets at midnight.

The witnesses unanimously identified the killer who had slain some forty people as a ghost.

The reason was simple.

He appeared and vanished like a phantom.

They said the killer's unpredictable movements were those of a ghost. Many martial artists had been at the scene, yet not one had gotten a clear look at him.

A movement technique that allowed someone to appear so miraculously and disappear so eerily was possible only in their imaginations. In a way, it was only natural that they claimed to have seen a ghost.

Registration for the All-Under-Heaven Youth Sparring Tournament was to open today, but the gruesome incident had unsettled not only the Murim Alliance but all of Zhengzhou.

Baseless rumors spread everywhere: it was a ghost's curse, or a great slaughterer had appeared and killed people to disrupt the tournament.

As a result, Eulji Tae, Unit Leader of the Murim Defense Corps responsible for keeping order in Zhengzhou, found himself starting a very busy day on his first day back at the Murim Alliance.

He had been summoned to Heavenly Unity Hall early that morning and was now reporting on the incident to the Taoist Sage of Heaven.

"Was it the Cursed Killing Star?"

The Taoist Sage of Heaven came straight to the point the moment he saw Eulji Tae.

"We cannot be certain yet."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Alliance Leader. We found no trace of Cursed Killing Intent at the scene."

"Tsk, tsk. This is an Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star at full star. Its Cursed Killing Intent would already be completely contained within its dantian. Naturally, it would leave no trace. I am asking about such things as the carnage at the scene."

"... Well... Judging by that, it is even harder to believe it was the Cursed Killing Star. The person who appeared there was very selective about whom he killed."

"Selective about whom he killed? What do you mean?"

"Everyone killed at the scene was dressed in black. We have yet to establish their exact identities, but they appeared to belong to the same organization."

The Taoist Sage of Heaven stroked his long white beard as he continued listening to Eulji Tae's report.

"If that person's Cursed Killing Intent had run rampant, no one there could have escaped the slaughter."

"Indeed. Had Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Intent erupted there, the entire area would have been devastated. Then are you saying yesterday's incident had nothing whatsoever to do with the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star?"

Eulji Tae considered the question for a moment before answering uncertainly.

"Well... I am not sure myself, but I do think it may have been the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star's doing after all."

The Taoist Sage of Heaven's white eyebrows rose slightly, perhaps because he had heard Eulji Tae say something he rarely did: that he was not sure.

"Explain."

"Forty-three people were slaughtered, yet apparently no one at the scene got a proper look at the killer."

"But surely that alone is hardly enough to conclude that the Cursed Killing Star's chosen one has appeared?"

"True, but the witnesses described the killer as a 'ghost.'"

"A ghost?"

"Yes, that is precisely what they said. And not just one or two people. Most of the witnesses identified the killer as a ghost. That is why rumors of a ghost appearing in Zhengzhou are spreading so quickly."

"Explain in detail."

"... There is little more to explain. According to the witnesses, the ghost appeared and disappeared, passing straight through walls and roofs."

"Appeared and disappeared... And passed through walls at will? Does that make any sense?"

"Yes. That is why I believe it was..."

"An uncanny power of Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Intent. Is that what you mean?"

When Eulji Tae paused, the Taoist Sage of Heaven finished for him.

"Yes, Alliance Leader. Precisely."

The Taoist Sage of Heaven stroked his white beard again, lost in thought.

Several Cursed Killing Stars had descended upon Murim in the past. Most, however, had died before they could fully mature. This was due to the nature of the Cursed Killing Star itself. It appeared brazenly in the sky, as if announcing, "I have been born!" The wise men of Murim were hardly going to sit idle.

Yet there had certainly been some whom they could not find despite their efforts to eliminate them in childhood. These would emerge in Murim from time to time and become great slaughterers.

Of those, the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star had appeared in the world only twice.

According to the accounts passed down, the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star differed greatly from the others.

Uncanny powers. Unlike other Cursed Killing Stars, it was said to be born with unusual abilities.

The first person to pass this knowledge on to later generations had been the Heavenly Demon.

In fact, it was the Heavenly Demon who had slain the first Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star.

A thousand years ago, when the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star plunged Murim into bloodshed, the Heavenly Demon appeared, slew it, and brought the world into his grasp.

Even so, it was said that many people followed the Heavenly Demon in those days, whether they belonged to the orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic paths. The Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star's appearance had given him justification for his conquest. Many must have believed that his achievement in slaying it outweighed his wickedness.

That was how terrifying a being the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star had been.

Yet the Heavenly Demon who defeated it had reportedly said that it possessed unusual abilities called uncanny powers. He claimed they had nearly killed him countless times.

He had made no specific mention of what those powers were, however.

No one knew whether he had not fully understood them or had deliberately withheld what he knew. Later historians were divided on the matter as well.

Eulji Tae was now suggesting that this movement technique, with its phantomlike appearances and disappearances, might be an uncanny power of the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star.

The Taoist Sage of Heaven pondered the legend of the Heavenly Demon a little longer, then shook his head.

"Hmm. But would such a power amount to so little?"

"I mean that uncanny power. Much as I dislike admitting it, the Heavenly Demon was the greatest martial master in the world a thousand years ago. He may even have been the strongest in all of Murim's history."

"And he called it an uncanny power. I question whether something of that caliber could be a mere trick that seems little different from an excellent movement technique."

"But according to the witnesses, it was most certainly not a movement technique."

Eulji Tae thought a movement technique so extraordinary that people called its user a ghost could certainly qualify as an uncanny power.

The Taoist Sage of Heaven, on the other hand, remained doubtful.

"Perhaps. As you say, the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star may have revealed itself."

"If you leave it to me, I will thoroughly..."

"No, never mind. Registration for the All-Under-Heaven Youth Sparring Tournament opens today. Devote yourself to that, and leave the investigation of last night's events to the Secret Retainer. Had we not already decided to entrust the investigation of the Extreme Yin Cursed Killing Star to him?"

The Secret Retainer the Taoist Sage of Heaven spoke of was none other than the Weapon Monster.

Eulji Tae agreed with the Alliance Leader. The Weapon Monster, a man so versatile that he was called the Eight-Technique Weapon Madman, was better suited to the task than he was.

However...

"Yes, Alliance Leader. I shall do so. However, I doubt he will be able to begin immediately."

"Is something the matter?"

"I believe Master Weapon will give priority to his appointment with that man."

"That man? Who do you mean?"

"A man named Dong Gwangcheon, who entered the Murim Alliance with me yesterday. Master Weapon has probably gone to meet him by now."

"Dong Gwangcheon? Ah! The very man the Secret Retainer asked you to be sure to bring back?"

"Hmm. I am curious. What sort of young man could attract so much attention from someone like the Secret Retainer? What did you think of him? Did he seem capable of becoming a pillar of Murim?"

Eulji Tae thought about Dong Bongsu for a moment before speaking.

"He was a man of few words."

In truth, little about him had left much of an impression. His most distinctive trait was how very quiet he was.

"Even fewer than you?"

"And what else?"

After a little more thought, Eulji Tae continued carefully.

"He has not cultivated Internal Energy."

All interest abruptly vanished from the Taoist Sage of Heaven's voice. What the Murim Alliance needed now were strong people—specifically, people with exceptional martial prowess. If the young man practiced only external arts without Internal Energy, his limitations would be clear. Even if he had learned martial arts, his attainment was bound to be insignificant.

Without martial strength, even the most interesting person would inevitably fall outside his sphere of interest.

"But he did possess considerable potential."

"Hmm. Is that so? If you say so, it must be true."

Despite his words, the name Dong Gwangcheon was already fading from the Taoist Sage of Heaven's mind.

What he still had use for was not a gifted youth with potential, but an already accomplished 'powerful hero' like Jong Jihang. After all, being taciturn alone could never make someone a pillar of Murim.

Still, thinking there might be some use for him if he happened to be intelligent, the Taoist Sage of Heaven added casually,

"If he wishes, help him find a suitable position here."

"Yes, Alliance Leader. Understood."

CLINK, CLINK.

The rhythmic clatter of chopsticks against dishes filled the room.

Dong Bongsu reviewed the previous night's battle as he ate the breakfast a maid had brought him. It was part of his daily routine, linking the close of yesterday to the start of today.

[Stealth Art].

It was more useful than he had expected. In particular, combining it with [Movement Art] and his inventory tricks had produced quite an effective combination.

Perfect for confusing the enemy, one might say.

Disappearing, appearing, then disappearing and appearing again...

Here in the east one instant, there in the west the next.

With the city's terrain working in his favor, he had been able to dart about as he pleased. He could conceal himself in roofs, rafters, and even flagstone paving, though only to a limited extent. Of course, it did not work on objects firmly joined together with something like glue.

In any case, last night's battle had been enough to give him confidence.