The Price Of A Kill

The parchment felt heavier than it should.

Kaito sat in his room, staring at the name written in precise ink.

Jang Mu-Gyeol.

An inner sect disciple.

A talented martial artist. Someone who was climbing the ranks fast. Someone with potential.

And someone the Black Lotus wanted dead before dawn.

The instructions were clear—no evidence, no witnesses. A clean kill.

Kaito leaned back, exhaling slowly.

This wasn't his first assassination. In his past life, he had taken out corporate moguls, political figures, high-profile criminals. He had killed in broad daylight, in locked rooms, in places where no one should have been able to enter.

And yet—this felt different.

Because this time, he wasn't a nameless ghost in the modern world.

This time, he was part of the Murim.

And in this world, every kill had consequences.

---

A Target in the Dark

Jang Mu-Gyeol's residence was on the eastern side of the sect, close to the bamboo forest.

Kaito moved silently, his Qi suppressed to the lowest possible level. No footsteps. No presence.

The night was quiet, save for the distant chirping of insects. The moon barely peeked through the mist, casting silver streaks over the tiled roofs.

As he approached, he saw a light still on in Mu-Gyeol's room.

A shadow moved behind the paper windows.

Kaito narrowed his eyes. Still awake?

That complicated things.

But then, something unexpected happened.

The door to the residence slid open.

Jang Mu-Gyeol stepped out, his robes slightly disheveled, a deep frown on his face.

And he wasn't alone.

Behind him, another disciple followed—a tall, broad-shouldered man with a familiar insignia on his belt.

Kaito's eyes darkened.

The Crimson Fang Sect.

---

Bigger Than Expected

The Crimson Fang Sect was a rival faction. Their members weren't supposed to be anywhere near the inner sect disciples of the Azure Sky Sect.

And yet, here one was, walking side by side with Kaito's target.

Mu-Gyeol's voice was low, but Kaito sharpened his hearing with Qi, catching fragments of the conversation.

"…can't be seen with you… dangerous."

The Crimson Fang disciple scoffed. "You think you have a choice? After what you've done?"

Mu-Gyeol clenched his fists. "I told you, I didn't mean to—"

"Doesn't matter," the other man interrupted. "You either finish the job, or you're finished. Understood?"

Silence.

Kaito's lips curled slightly.

So Mu-Gyeol wasn't just some innocent disciple.

He was involved in something dirty.

Which meant this wasn't just a Black Lotus kill order.

This was a cover-up.

And Kaito was about to step into something much bigger than a simple assassination.

---

A Blade in the Mist

The Crimson Fang disciple left first, vanishing into the forest.

Mu-Gyeol lingered outside for a moment, rubbing his temples before sighing and turning back toward his room.

Kaito made his move.

With a single step, he crossed the distance.

Mu-Gyeol barely had time to react before Kaito's dagger pressed against his throat.

His eyes widened in pure terror.

"W-Wait—"

"Shh." Kaito's voice was cold. "Make a sound, and I open your neck."

Mu-Gyeol froze.

His breathing was ragged, his pulse hammering against Kaito's blade.

"P-Please," Mu-Gyeol whispered. "I… I don't even know who you are…"

Kaito tilted his head.

"Does it matter?"

Mu-Gyeol swallowed hard. "I can give you information. I—I know things. Things that can help you."

Kaito didn't move the blade. "You're already trying to negotiate? Pathetic."

A bead of sweat rolled down Mu-Gyeol's temple.

"I-I can tell you who ordered Elder Hwang's death."

Kaito's grip on the dagger tightened.

So Mu-Gyeol was connected to the elder's murder.

"…Go on."

Mu-Gyeol licked his lips. "It wasn't the Black Lotus. It was—"

And then—

A whistle cut through the air.

Kaito's instincts screamed.

He dodged left just as a black dart embedded itself in Mu-Gyeol's throat.

His target choked, his hands clawing at his own neck. His mouth opened, trying to form words—

But it was too late.

Mu-Gyeol collapsed, convulsing for a few seconds before his body went still.

Kaito straightened, eyes narrowing as he turned toward the trees.

Someone else had been watching.

And they had just eliminated his target.

---

The Real Game Begins

The forest remained eerily silent.

Whoever had thrown that dart was gone. No sound, no trace. As if they had never been there.

Kaito clicked his tongue.

This kill wasn't just about removing Mu-Gyeol.

It was about controlling who got the information.

And Kaito had just been cut out of the loop.

He stared at the lifeless body for a long moment before muttering under his breath—

"Well, fuck."

The Black Lotus had given him a test.

But someone else had just changed the rules.

And now?

He needed to find out who.