Chapter 33 – The Mission Begins
Three days later.
Mu-won stood at the edge of the sect's teleportation array, dressed in black robes trimmed with dark silver. He looked like any other inner court disciple—calm, composed, and unreadable. But beneath his calm exterior, preparations had been made.
Hidden seals placed on his own body.
Poisons infused within his inner qi.
And more importantly… a mental map of the entire Twin Moon Sect, compiled from scrolls he "borrowed" from the forbidden archives.
The other six gathered behind him, each one cloaked and prepared. Seo Yura adjusted the edge of her short-blade harness, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon.
Elder Hwa stood at the center of the formation, chanting. A moment later, the sky cracked with blue light, and the teleportation array surged to life.
"Remember your mission," Elder Hwa said. "Infiltrate. Acquire the relic. Eliminate witnesses."
"And if the relic is heavily guarded?" one of the disciples asked.
Mu-won answered before Elder Hwa could speak. "Then we slaughter quietly."
Elder Hwa grinned. "Exactly."
With that, the array activated—and the seven shadows vanished.
---
They emerged deep within a mountain forest blanketed by night. The air smelled of pine and frost. Above them, the towering peaks of the Twin Moon Sect's outer region pierced the sky like stone fangs.
Mu-won took a knee, placing his palm against the earth.
"Ten patrols," he murmured. "Three spirit beasts. Defensive barriers layered at the eastern cliff entrance. The relic is underground, five levels deep."
The others blinked.
"You got all that from touching the ground?" one whispered.
Seo Yura just narrowed her eyes. "How are you still just an inner court disciple?"
Mu-won stood. "Because they haven't realized I don't belong here."
He pointed toward a narrow path veiled in fog. "We split. Three attack the supply outpost to cause a distraction. The rest follow me through the spirit tunnels."
One of the other disciples—Gwak Rin—grunted. "Who put you in charge?"
Mu-won met his gaze. Cold. Calm.
"Because unlike you," Mu-won said, stepping close, "I know exactly how many pressure points are in your right arm. I know your blade style leaks energy on the third form. And I know the exact dose of paralyzing venom I laced into your rations."
Gwak Rin froze.
Mu-won smiled. "So either follow me… or crawl back home."
A tense silence. Then Gwak looked away.
Seo Yura smirked. "So much for teamwork."
Mu-won led the infiltration team through a narrow cavern, his pendant glowing faintly in sync with the shifting energy around them. Ancient runes flared under his steps—traps, disguised with cloaking spells.
But Mu-won didn't trigger a single one.
He'd seen them in his visions.
Hours passed.
Eventually, they reached the lower levels—an underground temple built into the bones of the mountain. Inside, monks of the Twin Moon Sect chanted beside a floating orb: a golden eye surrounded by spinning rings of jade.
The Eye of Divination.
Seo Yura inhaled sharply. "It's… alive."
Before Mu-won could speak, a warning bell rang throughout the temple.
The other team has started the distraction.
Mu-won's eyes turned sharp. "Yura. With me."
They moved like phantoms, cutting down two guards without sound. Mu-won stepped into the central chamber—and the Eye turned to him. For a moment, it looked directly into his soul.
Visions. Blood. A shattered sword. The world bowing.
Then—
"INTRUDERS!"
A monk leapt forward, fists glowing with jade flames.
Mu-won's pendant burned against his chest.
And the Whispering Blade roared in his mind.
He drew it in one clean motion—and time seemed to slow.
One step.
One cut.
The monk's head hit the floor.
Mu-won snatched the Eye mid-air and sealed it within his spatial ring.
Seo Yura stared at him, stunned. "That sword…"
Mu-won turned, cloak flowing behind him.
"No time. We're not done yet."
From behind, more footsteps echoed—reinforcements.
But Mu-won only smiled.
"Let's test how many they can send… before they realize they've already lost."
---