Kingdom: The Black Moon Assassin

"We must first take care of the Zhao soldiers stationed near our location. Without those problems weighing on us, we can take as much time as we want before attacking Yuu Village," Shen suggested while analyzing how many soldiers they had encountered along the way.

"I disagree, sir. The bandits have been the main problem we've faced recently in this forest."

"We also need to be careful not to draw too much attention, or else that news will reach the assassin clan villages."

The reason they hadn't advanced too far against the enemy initially was that they lacked the numbers, training, and opportunity to do so without sparking a large-scale war. This meant that Jun had been managing his intelligence network to manipulate information, preventing alarms from reaching assassin clans, stopping Zhao from sending an army, and controlling what Wei heard.

He was here as a soldier designated by the Wei nation to exterminate criminals. All of Wei's generals had failed, so, in the end, Jun was given the opportunity to lead the attack.

It's true that Jun was slow, but that was because while building his army, his intelligence network also expanded. Only now had he discovered the location of Yuu Village.

"Can you handle my left flank and keep the others positioned to my right?" Jun wanted to know Shen's thoughts on the matter.

"That sounds good. My archers will be able to eliminate the enemy more easily if we have the right height advantage." Shen was confident he could accomplish anything if the terrain favored them.

"Alright then..."

"Sir, you freed me from slavery, so I am eternally grateful. No matter what you ask of me, I'll do it without hesitation."

"Yes, but I don't want you to die meaninglessly—not here." Jun didn't want to lose good men in such a reckless action.

This battle didn't need to drag on. He was only worried about avoiding an ambush while exterminating every criminal settlement they came across.

There wasn't much to consider with their numbers, but they did need to plan carefully if they didn't want to be overwhelmed by an enemy that could attack from all directions. So, eliminating Zhao's soldiers first was a good move.

This battle was like a chessboard, and information was the most valuable piece.

"Watch out!"

At that moment, just as Jun was deep in thought, an anxious shout rang out. A sinister aura, with a cold glint, shot out from the bushes, aiming its blade at Shen's heart, who stood in front of Jun at that moment.

The assassin seemed to have been hiding in the shadows for quite some time, waiting for the right moment to strike. Only after confirming that two of the most important leaders were discussing their plan did the attacker move in for the kill.

As the crescent-shaped blade sliced through the air, it seemed to even divide the air itself.

The sharp sound of the blade moving at high speed suggested that the cut could easily slice through iron, so there was no need to think about what would happen if it touched human flesh.

Anyone struck by that blade would lose a limb before they even realized it.

Jun, ever the battle demon, threw Shen backward and ordered, "Take care of Zhao's forces on the path; I'll handle this problem myself."

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In just a few seconds, three powerful strikes echoed across the battlefield, but it wasn't Jun who was injured. Instead, the assassin who had emerged from the shadows had a horrible wound on his forehead.

Standing in the middle of the field, Jun held his sword in his blood-drenched right hand. "We need to end this quickly. Enough of this nonsense."

The soldiers, worried about Jun, had forgotten how strong he was, which left them feeling a little ashamed.

But beyond the shame was the fact that they couldn't protect their general, Jun, from a mere assassin.

…

Kyou Kai stood atop a massive tree, waiting for the signal. She was anxious to begin her revenge. She could attack right now, ignoring all of Jun's preparations, but she knew that if she valued her life, she wouldn't act rashly.

"More ravens have arrived from the rear."

Jun's plan was incredible. Moreover, the unusual presence of Zhao soldiers in this area had piqued her interest.

Was Zhao's army wiping out assassin villages? That made no sense unless what she suspected was exactly what was happening.

If Zhao had fallen into Jun's trap, perhaps this would later trigger a war between Wei and Zhao, which would benefit Qin, who could strike Zhao at the same point they were moving now.

All that was left was for the current king of Qin, surrounded by enemies, to prove himself worthy in Jun's eyes. Jun wouldn't mind supporting him in his campaign to become emperor of all China.

"What does the message say?" Kyou Kai's calm face was drawn to the new instructions. She had grown—no longer the immature girl who had met Jun during the war, now a mature woman with a cold beauty that attracted many men. After all, two years had passed.

For a trained body, especially in this era where marriages happen at a young age, Kyou Kai, at fifteen, was beginning to show her beauty.

"The main force is moving toward the border. Clashes are expected, so we need to stay close in case of an unforeseen attack."

"It's time. Let's move." Behind Kyou Kai, more than two hundred women dressed similarly to her moved on horseback. They were all part of the paramedic team and assassins in training. Over time, she had begun buying young female slaves, giving them the chance at freedom.

That's why now, with this newly structured army, they were confident they could face numerous enemies without losing.