Kingdom: The Black Moon Assassin

The weather was quite bad; the snow had made it difficult for both forces to take the first step forward to initiate the battle, and everyone was careful enough not to make a wrong move.

Everyone waited in silence until the weather eased a bit.

"Are you sure his name is Jun?" A man dressed in a blue robe looked at the reports from the trackers who had brought him information about the leader of the assassins who had unified everyone in the border hills.

"Lord Ri Boku, we are certain that this information is accurate."

Ri Boku's eyes narrowed as he pondered why Jun was in Zhao, given that he hadn't crossed the Wei border into Zhao for years.

What was motivating him?

Did he want to become the leader of all assassins?

It was likely, but Ri Boku knew that Jun, whom he had studied, had more in mind than just leading elite troops like the assassins.

"These problems shouldn't be happening. Is it really worth attacking Qin if we were allies?" When Ri Boku dismissed everyone, one woman stayed behind and asked this question to the man she had sworn to serve.

Ri Boku's eyes didn't waver as he looked at the map of the hills where the assassins were gathered and replied, "At this point, the two leaders of Qin and Zhao had already reached this stage as part of their advance campaigns. Both would enjoy the scenery in front of them and, on the other hand, confront each other, then summon imaginary troops and formations, maneuvering and directing them in their minds to destroy the other."

At this point, Zhao's alliance with Qin was merely a ceasefire along their borders to focus on their respective conquests.

Sooner or later, one would attack the other, and both knew this well. Since Qin was the major problem Zhao couldn't handle alone, it was necessary for all warring states to unite to attack Qin.

"We need to learn more about Jun, his intentions, and where he truly wants to belong."

Jun was unpredictable to Ri Boku, though he didn't know that everything known about Jun was information he had deliberately exposed to manipulate at will.

"We will continue investigating, Ri Boku-sama. I will uncover why that man wants to confront Hou Ken.

Ri Boku was a Great General of Zhao's Army and leader of the elite force bearing his name, the Ri Boku Army. With his remarkable use of carefully crafted strategies and overwhelming tactics, Ri Boku was the strongest Great General in Zhao and one of the best tacticians in all of China.

Without a doubt, Jun would face challenges in countering this man's strategies—a man who was indeed very dangerous.

In his youth, Ri Boku lost half his family to the ravages of war. Consumed by an endless rage, he lost more friends and family in an unknown war after urging his battalion to charge recklessly into the heart of the enemy army. Although he managed to kill the enemy commander, he was the only survivor.

Since then, he had improved significantly, becoming now the future sword that would trouble Qin in its process of subjugating all warring states to unify China.

…

"It seems weakening Zhao before the Great War will be impossible."

Everything was silent on the mountain of the spiritual vein. Shen looked at Jun with a frown.

He had been planning a way to attack Zhao's army to make his presence known in the war, to show he was someone important, and later, when the armies were near Qin, he would kill the detestable king of that state.

But to take leadership, he first had to kill Hou Ken and give all these assassins enough reason to follow him back to his cities in Wei. The problem arose when they discovered that the troops surrounding them had grown to 20,000—a rather terrifying number considering that Jun's troops only numbered 12,500.

"Facing them in an open field is a mistake." Jun wanted to devise the best strategy; he had to maximize his advantages to make everything favorable.

His spies informed him that Ri Boku had arrived on the battlefield. He knew how important this man was to the unification of the warring states against Qin, so he would act cautiously to leverage his advantages.

Killing him would be a mistake; he would gain nothing from it, and his recognition would be thrown away. Besides, he wouldn't risk his life for a king who had yet to prove worthy of protection.

As long as there was no change, at least initially, he would only act for the things that brought him the most benefit.

If only Kyou Kai and the others were here!

Jun thought of Kyou Kai. After dealing with her revenge, she had gone to discover what she truly wanted in life. She wouldn't be back for a while, at least not until she figured out what motivated her.

In the end, Jun missed her company, which wasn't ideal, but he didn't mind.

He would try to forget this emotional dependency, distance himself from it, and focus on what lay ahead, which was quite intriguing.

Jun knew that if Kyou Kai were here, she would suggest a strategic retreat to secure a better position, which was the right move in this case, though not ideal timing.

"We'll attack at night, kill the generals and captains of Zhao's army, disable their information network, and I'll personally duel that martial god." Jun seemed to have a plan, to which Shen finally gave a long sigh of relief.

"Will we use my brigade of archers?" Shen wanted to be part of the attack.

"Of course, I'll need you to keep the central area in chaos and prevent them from using their cavalry."

Shen simply smiled and quickly ran off to start issuing orders.

… …

Eight hours later, Chen, weary from the journey, appeared before Jun, who was sitting at a massive stone table.

Looking at Chen, who stood over two meters tall, his body brimming with explosive power and suppressed intensity, Jun couldn't help but sigh inwardly, somewhat reluctant.

Jun's original intent was to find a way to control Chen until early spring, ideally until the war in Zhao erupted, when he would need manpower.

Chen, on the other hand, didn't want to be involved any longer and had ceded all power to Jun.

But the current situation was so urgent that he couldn't afford to worry about such matters.

"We'll attack at night; in two days, we'll drive them out of the hills, then march to Wei, where we'll establish our base until my army invades Zhao."

They couldn't be a thorn in Zhao's side until the Great War began. Only after all of China was at war would they return to these hills.

All the assassins felt that the effort and time they had invested in their home had lost all meaning.

"You'd better think this through. You only have one chance!" Chen looked at Jun with a smile on his face.

After waiting so long, Jun was finally determined to attack. Once he completed this task, he could return home and wait for the war to erupt.

"Of course!" Jun said without hesitation.

Looking around, Chen was probably the only one with this skill.

"Good! I was waiting for you to say that!" Chen looked up at the sky and laughed. Without saying another word, he turned and left. The king of assassins? Becoming an emperor of China? Jun's goal was to conquer the western regions and pacify all the kingdoms.

How could a mere assassin block his path?

Jun initially wanted to survive, to be so strong that no one could harm him, but he later realized how insignificant that was and understood that strong people cared for the weak.

Perhaps the elders of the Asura clan did this for him without him even noticing, but whether that was true or false, Jun decided to protect everyone with his own hands.

Rewards were offered to him without him seeking them. Jun became a general without intending to and would become the king of assassins of all the Zhao tribes.

All the way here, I told Jun he couldn't escape his destiny, and wherever it led him, he would embrace it fully.

"You'll stay in the rear lines. You're more valuable to me alive than dead." Jun's tone was devoid of emotion; any assassin who had killed many people would stop feeling things like a normal person.

Chen looked at the young man before him, sure that he was likely not even twenty yet, but here he was, planning a battle where thousands would die.

Undoubtedly, the world is mysterious, giving power to those who don't deserve it, while others claim it by clashing against the most ruthless people in this world.

Jun, of course, was of the latter.

…

State of Qin, Shiyoo City.

"Is there something you're looking for in that direction?" On top of a large wall on the outskirts of Shiyoo City, Ka Ryo Ten looked at Kyou Kai, who seemed to be troubled by something.

"A person is now in Zhao."

"What is he doing in Zhao?"

"Fate has led him to that place." Kyou Kai discovered Jun's purpose in going to Zhao; she only hoped he could return safely.

She hoped that the promise they made would be fulfilled.