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Chapter 133 – Erosion (1)
“The Society Leader’s second disciple just left?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
At Seok Jung’s report, the Shadow Clan Master tapped the desk in his office with his finger.
It seemed the result at the Corpse Blood Valley gates had spread faster than expected.
Already, the second disciple Jang Neung-ak had made a move.
‘It seems Young Master Jang Neung-ak was trying to use that child Mok Gyeong-un as a foothold.’
He had already approached several times, requesting support, but each time, the Shadow Clan Master had refused, saying the Clan Master was still in good health and he had no intention of supporting anyone.
However, now that he had a formal disciple, Jang Neung-ak was blatantly targeting him.
But unexpectedly…
‘He refused Young Master Jang Neung-ak’s offer…’
What was surprising was that Mok Gyeong-un had refused Young Master Jang Neung-ak’s offer without any hesitation.
And yet nothing particular had happened, which was astonishing.
The second disciple was someone who had to get what he wanted to be satisfied.
It was strange that such a person would return without any complaints after Mok Gyeong-un’s single refusal.
“Was there nothing else out of the ordinary?”
At the Shadow Clan Master’s question, Seok Jung hesitated for a moment.
In his heart, he wanted to tell everything, but the fear that had pierced his chest made it impossible for him to reveal what had happened earlier.
‘He is concealing his martial prowess. He possesses a strange ability. He had some inaudible conversation with the second disciple.’
There was so much he wanted to say.
However, his lips wouldn’t part.
Even though the Shadow Clan Master’s room was soundproofed, he had the illusion that Mok Gyeong-un was watching, making it impossible for him to say this.
“… Nothing else happened.”
At his answer, the Shadow Clan Master’s eyes slightly narrowed.
However, without revealing it, he said,
“That’s fortunate. Then you may go.”
“Yes.”
-Tap!
Escort Seok Jung clasped his hands in greeting and left the office.
As he left, a voice came from somewhere.
“Clan Master.”
“Yes.”
“It feels like something is missing from the report.”
“I agree with that statement.”
Unlike usual, Seok Jung’s complexion was pale, and for some reason, he seemed to have not fully conveyed the circumstances of what had happened outside the estate.
Considering the second disciple Jang Neung-ak’s temperament.
Nominally, he was the leader of the Shadow Clan, commanding the information, secrets, and spies of the Heaven and Earth Society.
There was no way he wouldn’t find this strange.
“Assign someone to Seok Jung.”
“Yes.”
“And inform those stationed at the separate residence to write down and report his every move.”
“Yes.”
-Tap!
With a small sound from the ceiling, the presence disappeared.
After he left, the Shadow Clan Master unrolled an old scroll placed on the desk in his office.
The scroll was written in characters completely different from Hanzi.
[اهریمن][1]
It was difficult to even consider it a secret code.
***
And so, seven days passed.
Over those seven days, the Shadow Clan Master fell into various concerns.
They were concerns that arose from observing Mok Gyeong-un, who had become a formal disciple over those seven days.
The first was Mok Gyeong-un’s talent.
It was something he experienced starting the very next day.
He had given him a secret manual to memorize and called him to the Clan Master’s private training room to teach him the Ghost Shadow Footwork.
So, before teaching him, he told him to demonstrate the stances to the extent he understood if he had memorized the secret manual.
However…
‘… Just what is this?’
The Shadow Clan Master couldn’t hide his surprise.
That’s because Mok Gyeong-un had digested the Ghost Shadow Footwork too perfectly.
Not a single stance was out of place, and it was accurate as if he had trained and mastered it for a long time.
He wondered if Mok Gyeong-un had perhaps practiced the Ghost Shadow Footwork overnight.
But that wasn’t the case either.
[Young Master Mok just stayed locked in his room quietly.]
According to the reports from the escort warriors and attendants monitoring the separate residence, he had done nothing.
It seemed he had really just rested last night after having a meal.
The Shadow Clan Master couldn’t hide his amazement at the fact that he had perfectly grasped the footwork in a single day without doing anything.
‘Is he truly a genius?’
He was aware that Mok Gyeong-un possessed innate martial talent.
Hadn’t he shown the amazing ability to instantly imitate the Right Fist, Left Palm technique‘s marvelous principle right in front of him?
So, the Shadow Clan Master tested Mok Gyeong-un.
This time, he gave him the Flying Phantom Saber Art and told him he would give him an hour to memorize or learn as much as he could.
An hour later, the Shadow Clan Master asked Mok Gyeong-un,
[How much have you learned?]
The Flying Phantom Saber Art was the Shadow Clan Master’s unique martial art and belonged to the Demonic Ascension martial arts.
He took pride in it being one of the top ten saber arts in the entire martial world.
So, it was somewhat more difficult to learn than the Ghost Shadow Footwork, and he thought it would be impossible to master in a short time.
However…
‘… Just what am I seeing?’
What was happening?
Mok Gyeong-un demonstrated the Flying Phantom Saber Art too skillfully.
He even displayed the later stances that couldn’t be performed without grasping the saber intent, not inferior to the Shadow Clan Master himself.
Seeing this, the Shadow Clan Master was genuinely shocked.
How was this possible in just an hour?
‘It’s absurd.’
Beyond shock, he even felt fear at Mok Gyeong-un’s martial talent to the point of being terrified.
From the beginning, Mok Gyeong-un didn’t need something called teaching.
When learning stances for the first time, the master had to correct the accurate posture and the meaning behind the stances, but he comprehended it all on his own just by looking at the secret manual.
Just in case, he could confirm it by teaching him two more martial arts.
‘One hears and knows ten, no, one martial art and knows ten.’
There was nothing much to teach.
In just a single day, he had comprehended all the main martial arts of the clan.
Since he had awakened to all the stances on his own, the key was nothing but reaching a higher realm through cultivation methods or enlightenment.
[I’ll have to change the teaching method.]
So, the Shadow Clan Master changed the method to a question-and-answer format rather than teaching martial arts.
Even if it wasn’t related to stances, there were various studies in martial arts, so he told Mok Gyeong-un to ask if there was anything he didn’t know.
But over the seven days, there was hardly anything he asked.
No, there was one thing.
[I heard that thing on Master’s face is a human skin mask, so how do you make that?]
Mok Gyeong-un showed interest in that rather than martial arts training.
However, since he still didn’t trust Mok Gyeong-un, he hadn’t taught him about the final three stances of the Flying Phantom Saber Art and the human skin mask yet.
The first concern was his martial talent that could truly be called genius without exaggeration.
And the second concern was an extension of this.
[Is this true?]
[Yes. It’s information received from the branch in the northern part of Anhui Province.]
[… It’s hard to believe.]
Just three days ago, he had requested information about the Yeon Mok Sword Manor.
The Shadow Clan Master had ordered an investigation into the environment Mok Gyeong-un had grown up in to clearly understand what kind of person he was.
With this level of talent, he thought the Yeon Mok Sword Manor would have also put in a lot of effort to nurture him.
However, contrary to such expectations…
[Hmm.]
The Mok Gyeong-un described in the report was too different from the one he knew now.
His martial arts talent was insignificant, and his standing within the Yeon Mok Sword Manor was the worst.
Rather, the one known to possess innate martial talent was a fellow named Mok Yu-cheon, who had also been dragged as a hostage from the righteous faction.
‘It’s hard to understand.’
His reputation within the family was too poor.
To this extent, he was practically ignored in the succession structure.
But how was this possible?
‘Before being taken as a hostage, he was merely at the third-rate level?’
According to the report, he should have been called trash, let alone having talent, but compared to his current appearance, it was utterly unimaginable.
It was like looking at the records of a different person.
This made him even question if the Yeon Mok Sword Manor had distorted the information to hide their talent.
‘The only thing that matches…’
Looking at his standing within the Yeon Mok Sword Manor, it made sense for him to have grievances.
After all, he was in a position where he wasn’t recognized by everyone in the family.
However, this alone was insufficient.
[Look into it further.]
[Understood.]
In the end, more definite information was needed.
If he had been the same as the image the Shadow Clan Master knew, this information alone would have been enough, but the person was completely different from the information brought.
Even up to this point, the third concern was an immediate problem he was facing.
-Tap tap tap!
The Shadow Clan Master tapped the floor with his finger out of habit and muttered,
“What to do?”
The desk in the office was filled with reports, all of which were observations of Mok Gyeong-un’s every move written by the monitors.
Since they had observed him for seven days, he thought there would be at least one thing that would come up.
But there was nothing.
As if it was predetermined, Mok Gyeong-un’s daily routine was simply martial arts training, meals, breathing exercises, and reading books before bed. That was it.
For seven days, there was no deviation from this cycle of actions.
‘… It’s too consistent.’
Because of this, his suspicion reached its peak.
When the records sent by the monitors remained unchanged for two days, he replaced them all, just in case.
But they also had the same records as the previous monitors.
So, two days later, he changed them again to different monitors, but it was the same.
To this extent, he could really believe it to be true, but the Shadow Clan Master rather felt a sense of dissonance from these records.
‘Is it for show?’
The feeling of trying not to stand out was too strong.
As a result, all his actions felt like they were for show.
Since he knew he was being monitored, it seemed like he was restraining himself to reassure them or gain their trust.
‘Hmm. What to do?’
In case he could coax or threaten the monitors like in the case of Escort Seok Jung, he had changed them three times.
A total of 18 monitors had observed Mok Gyeong-un.
For now, it was virtually impossible for Mok Gyeong-un, who had only been in the training room and separate residence for just seven days, to persuade or threaten all of them and use them as he wished.
‘It might have only heightened his vigilance.’
Mok Gyeong-un wasn’t simply outstanding in talent.
He was a very cunning fellow, so he must have already noticed that he was being monitored.
So, there was no point in continuing to change the monitors like this.
‘No other choice.’
A monitored target doesn’t show what you want to see.
In that case, it was better to change the method.
“Byeok.”
At the Shadow Clan Master’s call, a voice came from the ceiling.
“Yes.”
The one called Byeok was the Shadow Clan Master’s guard and confidant.
His martial prowess had reached the pinnacle of the peak realm, and he was a former member of one of the Four Great Assassination Sects, the Silent Sorrow Assassination Sect[무음수살문]], reaching the highest level in concealment.
“Byeok, replace the attendants with ordinary ones and withdraw the escort warriors, leaving only two.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The Shadow Clan Master’s next move was this.
It was to reduce the number of monitors and lower Mok Gyeong-un’s vigilance.
And…
“Byeok will have to work hard for a while.”
“Understood.”
Instead of openly monitoring, he was planning to secretly monitor through Byeok.
Although his martial prowess was similar to Mok Gyeong-un’s, Byeok, a top-class assassin from the Silent Sorrow Assassination Sect, was a master at concealing his presence to the point where even masters who had reached the transcendent realm would have difficulty finding him if he seriously hid himself.
Of course, there were varying degrees of the transcendent realm, and it was difficult to deceive those who had surpassed the consummate level.
However, he could easily deceive Mok Gyeong-un’s level of perception.
***
Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.
Byeok, who had been moving while suppressing his presence with the Silent Step, carefully entered the gap between the roof tiles.
After entering like that, he headed towards the room where light was leaking out.
From there, the sound of someone reciting something long could be heard.
Byeok quietly moved there and looked down at the room with the candle lit from the ceiling.
‘!?’
Byeok frowned.
He saw Mok Gyeong-un grasping a man’s head and chanting something strange.
“Turbid fire road, Noon hour labor, Promise to fairy realm, One grain transforms into ten thousand……”
‘What?’
Just what was going on?
Byeok, who had been looking at this seriously, quietly took out something from his bosom and, after watching for an opportunity, jumped down from the ceiling.
Byeok, who had jumped down behind the defenseless Mok Gyeong-un, then…
-Swish!
He held out an old scroll to Mok Gyeong-un.
Then, Mok Gyeong-un, who had finished the incantation, turned his head and spoke as if it were nothing.
“You came quickly.”
“Yes. Master.”
What on earth was happening?
Surprisingly, Byeok called Mok Gyeong-un “Master.”
Then, Mok Gyeong-un received the scroll Byeok had held out and said with a smile,
“How is the new body? Demonic Monk.”
Chapter 134 – Erosion (2)
Mok Gyeong-un received the scroll Byeok held out with a smile and asked,
“How is the new body? Demonic Monk.”
In response, Byeok answered with a satisfied expression.
“It seems useful.”
That’s right.
Surprisingly, Demonic Monk had already possessed the body of the man called Byeok.
This had happened just three days ago.
After the escort warriors and attendants were replaced for the third time, Byeok had secretly come to inspect Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.
However, this wasn’t just once but his third visit.
Mok Gyeong-un had already sent Demonic Monk to explore the entire Shadow Clan for four days, grasping how it operated and the extent of its power.
[It’s fortunate.]
Mok Gyeong-un was aware that this person named Byeok was practically the right-hand man and confidant of the Shadow Clan Master.
Therefore, he had been waiting for an opportunity and subdued him when he infiltrated the separate residence.
No matter how much his martial prowess had reached the pinnacle of the peak realm and he was skilled at concealing his presence as a former member of the Silent Sorrow Assassination Sect, there was no way he could handle the eyes of a spirit and Mok Gyeong-un’s martial prowess.
Mok Gyeong-un judged that the captured Byeok had high utilization value.
So, he had Demonic Monk possess his body.
In this way, Demonic Monk, who had taken over Byeok’s body, had been monitoring by the Shadow Clan Master’s side for three days under Mok Gyeong-un’s orders.
“Hmm. Is this what the Shadow Clan Master looks at every day?”
Mok Gyeong-un asked, holding up the old scroll.
In response, Demonic Monk, who had possessed Byeok’s body, nodded and answered.
“Yes. He looked at it without fail for about half an hour at the hour of the dog (7-9 PM) every day.”
After receiving his report for the first time, Mok Gyeong-un became curious about this scroll and ordered him to bring it for a while.
No matter what was written on it, he could memorize everything with just one look.
At that moment, Demonic Monk glanced at the man whose head was grasped by Mok Gyeong-un’s hand and asked,
“Master, but who is this person?”
-Ah, you mean that mortal? It seems he was sent by that blind bastard last time. Phew.
The one who answered this question was none other than Cheong-ryeong.
She was freely smoking a pipe while staying out of the wooden puppet inside the separate residence.
“By blind, you mean him?”
-Yes, that troublesome mortal.
It was the blind man Wi Maeng-cheon, a member of the Five Mountains Alliance and a confidant of Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader.
Unlike Jang Neung-ak, who withdrew, he showed a strange wariness, so she thought he would do something annoying in the near future, and that prediction had come true.
He had boldly sent someone to Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence within the Shadow Clan’s estate at night.
Of course, they had captured him as soon as he entered the separate residence.
“He was quite tight-lipped.”
At those words, Demonic Monk looked at the unconscious man’s hands.
Both hands were a mess.
All his fingers were bent backward, and even needles were stuck in his fingernails.
He had been properly tortured.
“I had hoped he would endure a bit longer, but he opened his mouth on the sixth fingernail.”
Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue as if regretful.
He had planned to pierce him with needles and then pluck out his fingernails and toenails.
No matter how strong one’s endurance was, it was difficult to withstand continuous torture after having one’s internal energy sealed.
Mok Gyeong-un removed his hand from the man’s head and said,
“Do you know what this guy said when he first approached?”
“…”
“He said he was from the Righteous Alliance’s Silent Strides.”
‘!?’
The Righteous Alliance’s Silent Strides?
Does he think that makes sense?
If he had mentioned someone else within the Heaven and Earth Society, he could have avoided deeper suspicion, so why did he answer in that way?
As Demonic Monk was puzzled, Cheong-ryeong exhaled a long puff of smoke and said,
-Hoo. Can’t you see if you look? He’s using his brain.
“Using his brain?”
-He probably targeted the fact that the mortal is a hostage from the righteous faction. Unlike his master, that blind bastard was suspicious and wary of the mortal.
“Ah…”
-Tsk tsk. Use your head. Your head.
At her admonishment, the Demonic Monk scratched his head.
Demonic Monk had a straightforward side but was far from using his brain.
Cheong-ryeong said to Mok Gyeong-un,
-But I don’t know what nerve that blind bastard had to blatantly send someone like this here. He could have been caught if he had made a single mistake.
At her words, Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin.
“Hmm.”
Come to think of it, that was also true.
This place was none other than the estate of the Shadow Clan.
Since it was a place that managed secrets, information, and spies, its security was thorough even within the inner city.
But how did he come to the separate residence without being discovered…
“Ah…”
Suddenly, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened.
-Why are you doing that?
“They deliberately left the storehouse open.”
-They deliberately left the storehouse open?
What does that mean?
As she was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and said,
“If you leave the storehouse open, you can know what the thief who entered wants. You can even find their hideout if you follow the thief.”
-Could it be?
“Yes. It seems they deliberately let him in.”
There was no way the security of a place that handled secrets could be easily breached.
Unless they deliberately let him in.
If that was the case, it meant that they had already noticed this person’s infiltration but had a high possibility of letting him in to find out his purpose.
“They’re not the Shadow Clan for nothing. To handle someone’s infiltration in reverse like this…”
-Rumble rumble!
Numerous presences could be felt from outside.
Soon, the paper on the windows and doors brightened up from the south in order, illuminated by torches.
The suddenly rushing presences seemed to have surrounded the separate residence so that there was no way to escape.
Cheong-ryeong looked at Mok Gyeong-un with sparkling eyes.
The prediction was spot on.
***
In a dark alley between the walls, about 30 jang away from the Shadow Clan’s estate.
On the opposite side of this wall, there was a middle-aged man with long hair, his eyes covered with a black cloth, leaning on a bamboo cane.
He was none other than Wi Maeng-cheon, the Second Mountain and a member of the Five Mountains Alliance.
Why was he here, not far from the Shadow Clan?
Soon, someone wearing a mask and of unknown identity jumped over the wall and approached him, whispering,
“It seems they have rushed to that fellow’s separate residence as you said.”
“It went according to plan.”
“Yes.”
“Huhuhu.”
Wi Maeng-cheon laughed softly.
Everything was going as he wanted.
He could imagine Mok Gyeong-un being perplexed right now.
Since he was an excessively cunning fellow, he must have realized his true intentions by now.
Just a few hours ago…
[What? Is it really alright to do that?]
[Yes. But not right away. Endure as much as possible. It will be painful and difficult, but you have to.]
[When you say as much as possible?]
[Until that fellow’s suspicion is dispelled.]
[… I understand. But wouldn’t it be better to disguise it as Young Master’s side or the supreme leader’s concubine’s side rather than the Clan Master, just in case?]
[No. That cunning brat will quickly notice if we mention someone who hasn’t even contacted him directly.]
[…]
[Rather, if I say I sent him, he won’t kill him right away.]
[Will he really?]
[Trust me.]
[I understand. But if that brat knows that the Society Leader sent him, how will he react?]
[If he has truly defected to our organization and has definitely become a person of the Shadow Clan, he will report it to his master, the Shadow Clan Master. If not, he will agonize over how to deal with it. But that doesn’t matter.]
[The Shadow Clan will make the first move anyway.]
[Yes.]
The Shadow Clan handled secrets, so its external and internal security was thorough.
Of course, not the entire estate was like that, but if someone tried to infiltrate from the outside to the inside, they would immediately notice.
Once inside, it was only a matter of time before getting caught.
[If the Shadow Clan’s security guards take large-scale action…]
[Yes. At that time, he will die as the Righteous Alliance’s spy, Silent Strides, again.]
This was Wi Maeng-cheon’s true intention.
To create the image that Mok Gyeong-un was in contact with the Righteous Alliance’s spy, Silent Strides.
If that happened, the Shadow Clan Master would have no choice but to suspect Mok Gyeong-un, a hostage from the righteous faction.
[I entrust this to you, Ji-hang.]
[I will certainly complete the mission.]
[… I will never forget this loyalty.]
[Yes. Please take good care of my family in Danyang.]
[I understand.]
From the beginning, it was a ploy devised with the resolution to lose one’s life.
Informing Mok Gyeong-un of the truth midway was simply to buy time until the Shadow Clan’s warriors made a move.
If he lost his life before that, he wouldn’t be able to carry out the plan.
‘I apologize to my lord, but that brat Mok Gyeong-un is not someone who can be trusted. If you take him in, he will become poison, not gain.’
So, it was better for him to become a spy of the righteous faction and be expelled.
It would be even better if he unfortunately died.
Even if he had truly defected to the Heaven and Earth Society, Wi Maeng-cheon could never trust Mok Gyeong-un.
“Then let’s go back.”
After confirming that the Shadow Clan’s warriors had rushed to Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence, the Second Mountain Wi Maeng-cheon left this place with the masked person.
***
Wi Maeng-cheon lay on the bed with a somewhat relieved heart.
He trusted his intuition.
Nothing was as accurate as the sound of the heart.
Someone whose heartbeat remained steady and emotions unchanged in any situation was far from an ordinary human being.
Such an existence must have something twisted about them.
He had conveyed this opinion to his lord, the second disciple Jang Neung-ak, several times, but it was all ignored as his desire for Mok Gyeong-un had already grown.
So, what could he do?
He had no choice but to resolve it on his own.
Fortunately, what he had gained from becoming blind was not only the maximization of other senses, including hearing, but also the deepening of his ability to observe and his insight.
It was a move he had devised through dozens of simulations over seven days.
No matter how cunning, he would not be able to escape and would eventually be dealt with by his master, the Shadow Clan Master.
‘It’s quite refreshing now that I’m at ease.’
With that, Wi Maeng-cheon fell asleep in a good mood.
How much time had passed since he fell asleep?
‘!?’
Soon, Wi Maeng-cheon quietly lifted his head from the bed.
Since he was originally blind, all his senses that did not rely on sight were twice that of ordinary people, and his hearing was even sharper.
Although he was asleep, these developed senses always made him detect danger.
‘What is it?’
At some point, it was quiet outside.
It was too quiet to the point of feeling discomfort.
Four warriors were taking turns standing guard around his residence.
He couldn’t feel their presence.
-Swish!
Wi Maeng-cheon, who had silently gotten up from his spot while suppressing his presence, grasped the handle of the bamboo cane containing the Bamboo Sword.
And he carefully opened the door and went out.
Wi Maeng-cheon slowly walked towards where the warriors were standing guard, suppressing his presence.
-Huff! Huff!
He could hear breathing.
The steady breathing he heard was not that of someone awake.
‘Are they sleeping?’
Wi Maeng-cheon frowned.
These warriors took turns standing guard, so they never worked half-heartedly.
But no matter how much he listened, they were all asleep.
At this, Wi Maeng-cheon felt inexplicably disturbed.
Did it make sense for all the escort warriors around the residence to be asleep?
As he was puzzled, footsteps could be heard from somewhere.
Although they were approaching while suppressing their presence as much as possible, it was clearly audible to his hearing.
-Thump, thump!
Wi Maeng-cheon grasped the handle of the cane and assumed a kicking stance.
These footsteps…
He had heard them somewhere before.
It was only once, but he had accurately remembered them.
‘It can’t be?’
That fellow should be in a situation where he was imprisoned in the Shadow Clan’s Golden Jade and being interrogated right now.
But how…
-Whoosh!
At that moment, the presence reached in front of him at a tremendous speed.
-Clang!
Wi Maeng-cheon, who had instantly kicked, blocked the sharp aura flying towards him.
The sound of metal clashing against metal strongly resonated in his ears.
-Tremble!
The two people who had been locking swords clashed a few times like lightning and distanced themselves.
-Clang clang clang! Bam bam bam!
As they gained some distance, Wi Maeng-cheon opened his mouth.
“… How did you come here?”
“You seem quite surprised.”
The owner of that voice was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.
Wi Maeng-cheon couldn’t understand at all.
He knew that the Shadow Clan’s guards had stepped forward and surrounded Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.
But how did he come here?
The puzzled Wi Maeng-cheon soon drew up his internal energy.
‘First, I need to subdue that bastard.’
He didn’t know how he had come out of the Shadow Clan and arrived at his residence, but subduing him was the priority for now.
But then…
“Ah! Before that, you should take this.”
“What?”
-Whoosh!
Something heavy that cut through the air.
Since it felt too heavy to be a hidden weapon, Wi Maeng-cheon lightly stepped back about two steps and dodged what Mok Gyeong-un had thrown.
It rolled on the ground and stopped in front of Wi Maeng-cheon’s feet.
“What are you doing?”
“I returned what you gave me, so is there a problem?”
“What do you mean by what I gave… !?”
Suddenly, Wi Maeng-cheon stopped speaking midway.
After losing his sight, his senses had become twice as good as ordinary people.
Naturally, this sense included the sense of smell.
With the scent of blood rising from under his feet, Wi Maeng-cheon stretched his foot forward with a suspecting heart and flicked up what Mok Gyeong-un had thrown.
And he caught it with his left hand.
-Tap!
‘!!!!!!!’
At that moment, Wi Maeng-cheon’s expression stiffened.
Coincidentally, the sensation felt on his palm was a face.
The owner of that face was none other than…
‘Ji-hang?’
It was Ji-hang, whom he had sent to frame Mok Gyeong-un as a spy of the righteous faction.
To be precise, it was Ji-hang’s severed head.
Chapter 135 – Erosion (3)
The blind man Wi Maeng-cheon’s face stiffened.
What was placed on his hand was none other than…
‘Ji-hang?’
It was Ji-hang, whom he had sent to frame Mok Gyeong-un as a spy of the righteous faction.
To be precise, it was Ji-hang’s severed head.
For a moment, Wi Maeng-cheon’s mind became complicated.
Just what was going on?
‘Why does this brat have Ji-hang’s head?’
He couldn’t understand.
Of course, Ji-hang’s death was planned as the final part of this move.
That was the only way to endanger Mok Gyeong-un without revealing the tail.
But he should be in a situation where he was being interrogated right now, so why had he already died, and why was Mok Gyeong-un handing his neck to him?
To the perplexed Wi Maeng-cheon, Mok Gyeong-un said with a smirk,
“You must be greatly disappointed that the result is different from what you intended.”
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“You bastard…”
“You seem to have used your head a lot, but it’s a pity. It would have worked smoothly with others.”
“What?”
***
Just an hour ago.
In the office of the Shadow Clan’s Internal Affairs Director.
A Shadow Clan warrior urgently entered and reported to Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun, who was standing with his hands behind his back.
“An intruder has infiltrated Young Master Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.”
“Young Master Mok’s separate residence?”
Cho Yeom-hun’s eyes narrowed.
He had already received a report the moment the intruder had entered.
However, the Shadow Clan had a practice of not immediately capturing intruders when they entered.
They would monitor the intruder’s route to find out their target and even reverse-track them.
This time, too, the Internal Administration was watching the intruder’s route for reverse-tracking.
However…
“Hmm… What is the intruder’s intention?”
This was their concern.
The Shadow Clan was already monitoring Mok Gyeong-un’s every movement and action because he was a hostage from the righteous faction.
But the intruder had gone to Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.
To the worried Cho Yeom-hun, the Shadow Clan warrior carefully opened his mouth.
“It seems their goal is to make contact with Young Master Mok Gyeong-un rather than targeting him.”
“… I see.”
The worrisome situation had occurred.
In fact, those in the inner city knew that the Shadow Clan handled secrets, so they wouldn’t carelessly set foot in it, and they were also well aware of its extremely strict level of security.
Therefore, it was somewhat absurd for someone from the Heaven and Earth Society to infiltrate this place.
In that case…
‘Is it a spy after all?’
The probability couldn’t be completely ignored.
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If the intruder was a spy from the righteous faction, the situation they had been worrying about had practically occurred.
Although the Clan Master had not yet allowed Mok Gyeong-un access to any particular information other than martial arts due to not trusting him, it was unacceptable for anything to be leaked outside even a little.
“What should we do?”
“Capture him.”
“What about reverse-tracking?”
“If Young Master Mok is related to the intruder, we can’t just let it slide rather than reverse-tracking.”
“Understood.”
-Tap tap tap!
As the Shadow Clan warrior who received the order left, Cho Yeom-hun also picked up his unique weapon, the Zhenping Saber, and summoned the Internal Administration’s escort unit.
Once the entire escort unit had gathered, Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun led them with a solemn expression.
The path to the separate residence wasn’t very far.
On the way there, Cho Yeom-hun recalled seven days ago.
[Even if he scored the highest at the Corpse Blood Valley gates, you shouldn’t have accepted him.]
[You should know what it means to have scored the highest.]
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Read Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret (Leah and Aaron) Chapter 333 - Find Novel
Read Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret (Leah and Aaron) Chapter 333 - Find Novel
[… I know. I know, but Clan Master. That fellow could become poison to the Shadow Clan. No matter how outstanding his talent is, he will face heavy opposition due to his background.]
[Of course, that would be the case. However, if we can gain certainty about that child, our Clan will have an immense talent we have never encountered before.]
Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun could not understand the Shadow Clan Master’s decision at all.
If he still hadn’t dispelled his doubts, why couldn’t he let go of his attachment to the righteous faction’s hostage?
Because of that, the Shadow Clan’s position could be narrowed in the future.
‘If…’
If the intruder was truly a spy from the righteous faction and Mok Gyeong-un had a close relationship with him or had made contact with him in some way to do something, this opportunity could not be missed.
If there was the slightest suspicion, for the sake of the Shadow Clan, he had to be expelled.
-Whoosh!
With that, Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun arrived at Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.
The place, illuminated by torches, was surrounded by dozens of Shadow Clan security warriors.
Upon arriving, Cho Yeom-hun asked a Great Clan Leader-level warrior,
“What’s the situation?”
“Since we sent them in, they should be coming out soon.”
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“Is that so?”
Soon, as the Great Clan Leader-level warrior said, the warriors sent inside came out supporting an unfamiliar person, and Mok Gyeong-un followed behind them.
However, seeing the intruder being supported out, Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun’s eyes sparkled.
That’s because the fellow’s hands were a mess.
Anyone could see the traces of torture.
‘Hmm.’
Normally, seeing this, one might think, ‘Does this mean the intruder has no relation to Mok Gyeong-un?’ But Cho Yeom-hun, the Internal Affairs Director of the Shadow Clan, wasn’t like that.
Numerous variables and situations were being considered in his mind.
The closest one was…
‘It could be to avoid suspicion.’
Most of those who entered as spies were highly trained individuals.
They had countermeasures prepared for various situations.
Assuming he was a spy who had entered from the Righteous Alliance, he would always prepare a tactic to allow at least one person to escape in case he was discovered by the enemy along with his comrades.
Well, this was just an assumption.
The fortunate thing was that the intruder was alive.
‘Since we captured him alive, we can make him confess somehow.’
This place was the Shadow Clan.
It was also a place specialized in such matters.
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un saw him and greeted him with a salute.
“The Internal Affairs Director has come as well.”
“Young Master.”
Cho Yeom-hun also greeted him with a salute out of courtesy.
However, his face was already filled with the desire to interrogate him right away.
But without losing politeness, Cho Yeom-hun said,
“Young Master. An intruder entered from the outside, so were you not very inconvenienced by the enemy’s threat?”
In response to his words, Mok Gyeong-un replied with a smile,
“How could that be?”
“It’s fortunate to see that the Young Master is safe.”
“Thank you for your concern. I thought you were unaware since there was no intervention even though an intruder had entered, but that wasn’t the case.”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the skin under Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun’s eyes slightly twitched.
Although he phrased it indirectly, it was a jab at why they had only discovered the intruder now when he had boldly entered like this.
At this, Cho Yeom-hun shook his head and said,
“How could we have only discovered the intruder now? We just left him alone for a moment to find out what he was after.”
“Ah, I see. I almost had a misunderstanding.”
“Hahaha. Is that so? By the way, Young Master.”
“Yes.”
“I also have something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“I thought the intruder might be after confidential documents, but unexpectedly, he headed straight for the Young Master’s separate residence.”
“Yes. As you can see, that’s right.”
“So, I’m curious as to why this intruder went directly to the Young Master’s separate residence.”
“Can’t we find out by waking him up and interrogating him? I was also interrogating him, but he wouldn’t open his mouth easily.”
‘Ha!’
Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun inwardly agreed with Mok Gyeong-un’s attitude, as if it were nothing.
If a normal intruder had entered and was captured, if there was no relation, he should have called for them to interrogate, not do it himself.
But Mok Gyeong-un says with his own mouth that he interrogated him.
Does he not know that it can raise more suspicion?
“You interrogated him yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my.”
“Is there a problem?”
“This is quite troublesome. It would have been better if you had told us immediately after capturing the intruder.”
“I was going to tell you once the interrogation was over.”
“But you didn’t do that and conducted the interrogation independently.”
“Is that wrong?”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s question, Cho Yeom-hun snorted and said,
“Yes, it’s wrong. The fact that an intruder entered the separate residence and you didn’t report it but conducted an independent interrogation means, regardless of the method, that you had solo contact with the enemy.”
“Solo contact?”
“Yes.”
“If you look at his hands, you’ll see traces of interrogation. Is there anything particularly suspicious?”
“Unfortunately, traces of interrogation can rather serve as a means to dispel suspicion about contact. Ah, of course, I’m not asserting that the Young Master had such intentions. I’m just saying it could be possible.”
You don’t think that’s the case.
The implication was that he suspected him and was reprimanding him for doing something that would make him suspicious.
At Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun’s words, which kindly told him that he had done something suspicious, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled.
‘He’s laughing?’
He had clearly told him with his own mouth.
He was saying that he had done something that would make him suspicious.
But what was this reaction?
Although he felt quite unpleasant, Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun did not reveal it.
In any case, since he had justification, he was determined to take him and reveal everything through interrogation with the intruder.
Cho Yeom-hun politely saluted Mok Gyeong-un and said,
“First, I apologize to the Young Master in advance. To prepare for any situation, you’ll have to come with me to the Internal Administration for a moment.”
“To the Internal Administration?”
“Yes. As I mentioned earlier, the reason is your contact with the intruder. Until the intruder’s interrogation is over and the Young Master is out of suspicion, it can’t be helped.”
Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun was now blatantly telling him that he was under suspicion.
However, even at his words, Mok Gyeong-un still maintained a relaxed expression.
Cho Yeom-hun clicked his tongue.
‘Let’s see how long that composure lasts.’
“What are you doing? Escort the Young Master to the Internal Administration right…”
Before he could even finish his words.
Right then, the intruder who had been supported suddenly opened his eyes.
Then he tried to shake off the arms of the warriors holding him.
-Bam!
“Hold him tight!”
“This bastard, where are you…!”
But the intruder’s strength was not ordinary.
In an instant, he threw the warrior holding his right arm to the ground.
-Thud!
“Ugh!”
Then he tried to grab the neck of the warrior holding his left arm, but…
-Bam!
At that moment, someone appeared and pressed the intruder’s shoulder while striking his back acupoints like lightning.
Pressed by a strong internal energy, the intruder was soon forced to kneel.
-Thud!
“Ugh!”
“Clan Master!”
The one who suddenly appeared and subdued the intruder was none other than the Shadow Clan Master.
He had just arrived after receiving the report.
The Shadow Clan Master clicked his tongue and said,
“It’s been a while since a night visitor has come to our clan.”
“Clan Master, you’re here.”
Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun approached him, saluted, and greeted him.
And then, to take over the intruder subdued by the Shadow Clan Master, he stretched out his hand and said,
“I will handle it.”
But then, the intruder suddenly blurted out,
“I-I apologize, Internal Affairs Director. I confessed everything to that righteous faction hostage bastard.”
‘!?’
Instantly, Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun’s expression stiffened.
What the hell is this guy saying now?
Why is he suddenly saying he confessed something to him?
While he was dumbfounded, suddenly, murmurs could be heard from around him.
Some of the surrounding warriors were looking alternately at the subdued intruder and Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun, creating a stir.
‘Ha!’
Are these guys suspecting him now?
Do they really believe what this intruder suddenly said?
It was utterly absurd.
While he was doing that, the intruder now started pleading.
“Internal Affairs Director! Please spare the lives of my family members. I am fine with dying, so please, I beg you.”
At this, the flustered Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun pressed him.
“You bastard! When did you ever see me to make such a false report? Do you really have a death wish?”
Then, Cho Yeom-hun hurriedly bowed to the Shadow Clan Master with clasped hands and said,
“Clan Master! This is a false accusation. How could I possibly know someone like this? Interrogate the bastard right…”
“Internal Affairs Director, to abandon me like this…”
“This bastard!”
The enraged Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun tried to kick the intruder’s face.
At that moment, someone appeared and blocked his way.
It was none other than…
‘Escort Byeok?’
It was Byeok, the Shadow Clan Master’s escort.
As Byeok blocked him, Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun couldn’t contain his frustration and shouted,
“What is the meaning of this? Right now…”
“Why are you trying to shut the intruder’s mouth? If you truly didn’t collude, calm down.”
“Collude? Ha! Did you just accuse me of collusion?”
Internal Affairs Director Cho Yeom-hun couldn’t contain his anger at the absurdity.
That intruder was falsely accusing him, and forget about helping, the one called the Clan Master’s escort was doing this?
While that was happening, murmurs from here and there pierced his eardrums.
“Was it ordered by the Internal Affairs Director?”
“It really seems like it.”
“Did he try to hold the family members hostage and falsely accuse Young Master Mok?”
Hearing the warriors’ voices, even though he didn’t want to, the Internal Affairs Director felt like he was going crazy.
Anyone could see that the situation was too out of the blue, but they believed it?
This was a clear false accusation.
He was so angry that his hands were trembling, but then the intruder shouted again, inciting those around him.
“Clan Master, I only did as the Internal Affairs Director ordered…”
“This bastard!”
The Internal Affairs Director finally drew his saber.
He felt like he had to kill that bastard who was falsely accusing him to feel at ease.
But then, Byeok blocked his way again and said,
“Clan Master, should I subdue the Internal Affairs Director?”
“Escort Byeok! Are you really…”
Right at that moment.
-Swish!
Along with the sound of something being cut, something fell to the ground with a thud.
It was none other than…
‘!?’
The intruder’s head.
In an instant, the surroundings were filled with silence.
Everyone had a surprised expression, but the one who had cut off the intruder’s head was none other than the Shadow Clan Master.
The Shadow Clan Master spoke with an expressionless face, unlike his usual self,
“The intruder who tried to create internal strife within our clan is dead. From now on, I forbid anyone in our clan from mentioning this. Understood?”
“Yes!!!”
As soon as his words ended, everyone shouted simultaneously.
Overwhelmed by the pressure and momentum emanating from the Clan Master, they had no choice but to follow his order.
‘……’
The Shadow Clan Master’s gaze, which had instantly straightened out the chaotic atmosphere, turned serious.
Although he had forcibly suppressed the situation with his authority for now, he felt a strong sense of discomfort from what was happening.
The intruder’s sudden and seemingly intentional false accusation.
Some warriors inciting those around them.
Even Byeok, his escort who wouldn’t move without his order, suddenly stepped forward to protect the intruder and pressured the Internal Affairs Director.
All of this was permeated with a sense of discomfort.
-Swish!
The Shadow Clan Master slowly turned his head with narrowed eyes.
In his line of sight, with the flickering shadows of the torches, Mok Gyeong-un could be seen with the corners of his mouth reaching his ears.
‘!?’
The moment their eyes met, the Shadow Clan Master unconsciously swallowed his dry saliva.
The source of this inexplicable sense of discomfort.
It was originating from Mok Gyeong-un.
Chapter 136 – Erosion (4)
Back to the present.
To the Second Mountain of the Five Mountains Alliance, the blind man Wi Maeng-cheon, who was perplexed by the dead Ji-hang, Mok Gyeong-un said with a smirk,
“You must be greatly disappointed that the result is different from what you intended.”
“You bastard…”
“You seem to have used your head a lot, but it’s a pity. It would have worked smoothly with others.”
-Grind!
The blind man Wi Maeng-cheon gnashed his teeth.
Although he didn’t know what had happened, one thing was certain: his scheme had not worked.
It was a tactic he had calculated through dozens of simulations.
He had prepared to deal with most variables, so how did he escape it?
However, the important thing was that it wasn’t a situation to question the cause of the failed scheme.
-Grip!
Strength entered Wi Maeng-cheon’s hand holding the sword hilt.
Now that the original plan had gone awry, the only answer was to kill the fellow himself.
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Otherwise, the matter would go beyond his control.
Wi Maeng-cheon quietly opened his mouth.
“I don’t know how you escaped suspicion, but coming here was a huge mistake.”
“A huge mistake?”
-Swish!
As soon as Mok Gyeong-un’s questioning ended, Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword cut through the air.
In that fleeting moment, Mok Gyeong-un had gained about half a step of distance.
Thanks to that, the sword narrowly missed slicing Mok Gyeong-un’s neck and brushed past.
“You’re fast.”
“…”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Wi Maeng-cheon said nothing.
Unlike last time when he had tried to test his martial prowess, this time he had slashed with the intent to kill, but he didn’t expect him to dodge it.
‘… He definitely surpassed the Peak Realm.’
He probably estimated him to be at the early-stage of Transcendent Realm.
Considering the few exchanges they had and the strength infused in the sword, it seemed certain.
This alone was surprising.
Just seventeen.
For a guy not even in his prime to reach this level, his talent had to be acknowledged.
However…
‘You will die here.’
-Whoosh!
Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword rushed towards Mok Gyeong-un, drawing a complex trajectory.
Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes shook at a rapid speed as the sword became even faster.
This was the first time he had properly faced a master since gaining enlightenment at the Corpse Blood Valley report.
Indeed, Wi Maeng-cheon’s swordsmanship was beyond imagination.
-Swish swish swish swish swish!
It was not at a level he could dodge.
Thus, Mok Gyeong-un also utilized defensive sword techniques to counter Wi Maeng-cheon’s fierce attack.
-Clang clang clang clang clang!
The swords of the two clashed more than a dozen times in an instant, and blue sparks flew in the darkness.
Each time the swords collided, Mok Gyeong-un’s body was pushed back little by little.
This clearly meant he was inferior in internal energy.
‘Even though he reached the transcendent realm with innate martial talent, he can’t avoid two weaknesses after all.’
The first was internal energy.
When talking about the level of internal energy, the reason for mentioning the number of years was that the accumulated amount increased as time passed.
No matter how much Mok Gyeong-un had reached a high level with outstanding talent, he couldn’t match someone who had accumulated internal energy for decades like himself.
And the second…
-Clang clang clang!
Just as they were clashing almost evenly, Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword suddenly deviated from its trajectory and twisted in a completely unexpected direction, piercing Mok Gyeong-un’s thigh.
As a result, Mok Gyeong-un also had to change his sword trajectory to block it.
-Clang!
At that moment…
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Let's Train Heroine - Chapter 22: Heroine's Protector
Let's Train Heroine - Chapter 22: Heroine's Protector
-Thud!
Wi Maeng-cheon’s heavy kick struck Mok Gyeong-un’s abdomen.
Along with that, Mok Gyeong-un’s body was pushed back about four steps again.
Detecting this with his hearing, Wi Maeng-cheon’s mouth corners twitched.
‘Experience… He lacks experience.’
While Mok Gyeong-un’s stances were flawless to the point of being impeccable, he was unable to respond to the variations, perhaps due to a lack of actual combat experience or battles with masters.
His stances were very straightforward.
Although he was responding with appropriate stances, that alone was insufficient.
In the world of life-and-death battles, experience could not be ignored.
-Whoosh!
Wi Maeng-cheon caught up to Mok Gyeong-un, who had been pushed back, and pressured him while drawing up even more internal energy.
Since he had found the opponent’s weakness, he was determined to decisively push forward and settle the outcome.
‘Fourth Stance of the Flashing Star Sword, Overwhelming Flash.’
-Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!
Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword created numerous sword shadows and pressured Mok Gyeong-un with a dazzling trajectory.
It was an incredible swordsmanship that was hard to believe came from a blind man.
Even Mok Gyeong-un inwardly exclaimed in admiration.
Mok Gyeong-un had gained a keen eye for swordsmanship after viewing numerous secret manuals at the Corpse Blood Valley report.
Wi Maeng-cheon’s swordsmanship was so perfected that it was difficult to find any flaws.
So he felt the urge to properly clash with him.
-Clang clang clang clang clang!
Mok Gyeong-un’s Evil Commandment Sword and Wi Maeng-cheon’s Bamboo Sword collided, and the surroundings reverberated with the sound of metal.
Their swords were moving so fast that they were invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.
-Swish!
A sword grazed Mok Gyeong-un’s cheek, leaving a wound.
Wi Maeng-cheon’s swordsmanship once again created an unexpected variation.
‘Interesting.’
It was more exciting than sparring with the Corpse Blood Valley disciples.
Their attacks were more straightforward and simple, but Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword brought changes from unexpected places, pressuring him.
-Swish!
Once again, the sword brushed past Mok Gyeong-un’s ribs.
They were all narrowly grazing the vital points.
If he wasn’t careful, the outcome of the duel could be decided in a single moment as Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword was increasingly tightening its grip on his throat.
‘Luck is not on my side.’
Wi Maeng-cheon’s face, who was pressuring Mok Gyeong-un, became more and more spirited.
The winner of this duel was predetermined.
If this were 5 or 10 years later, it might be different, but the current Mok Gyeong-un was absolutely no match for him.
He had a much greater advantage in both experience and internal energy.
‘You are foolish, Mok Gyeong-un.’
You shouldn’t have come to find me alone.
He acknowledged his martial prowess that didn’t match his age, but he had chosen the wrong target for revenge.
If he had a cunning mind to escape from his scheme, he should have used the dead Ji-hang as a pretext to pressure him through his master, the Shadow Clan Master.
Blame that foolishness.
-Swish!
-Clang!
Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword deflected Mok Gyeong-un’s sword upward.
At the same time, a decisive opening finally appeared in Mok Gyeong-un’s defense.
The corners of Wi Maeng-cheon’s mouth rose bitterly.
‘Overconfidence in oneself. That is the cause of your defeat.’
Convinced that he had firmly grasped the upper hand, Wi Maeng-cheon thrust his sword towards Mok Gyeong-un’s neck, the decisive opening.
With Mok Gyeong-un’s current stance, it was impossible to dodge or block.
‘It’s over.’
Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword was about to pierce Mok Gyeong-un’s neck.
However…
-Swish!
At the moment the tip of Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword touched Mok Gyeong-un’s neck, it slid and slightly brushed the surface before passing by.
‘What is this?’
Just what was going on?
It was a perfect finishing strike.
But why didn’t it penetrate Mok Gyeong-un’s neck and suddenly slide as if blocked by something?
He couldn’t understand what this phenomenon was at all.
-Bam!
As the distance narrowed, Mok Gyeong-un’s knee tried to kick up Wi Maeng-cheon’s chin.
In response, Wi Maeng-cheon utilized footwork with his left hand to push Mok Gyeong-un’s knee and gain distance using the rebound.
-Bang! Tap tap tap tap!
As they distanced about six steps, Wi Maeng-cheon frowned as if he couldn’t understand.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t comprehend.
What Mok Gyeong-un had just shown was an extremely advanced principle that couldn’t be performed at his level.
-Ha!
An exclamation flowed from the mouth of Cheong-ryeong, who was sitting on the roof smoking a pipe and watching.
The reason she was so surprised was simple.
-He comprehended the “Ritual of Repulsion” technique.
The move Mok Gyeong-un had just shown was none other than the”Ritual of Repulsion” technique, one of the Eight Thought-Shattering Techniques.
If the “Ritual of Binding” technique could pull anything, the “Ritual of Repulsion” technique could push away anything that touched the body.
Even Cheong-ryeong, who had been with him all along, didn’t know this.
It was because Mok Gyeong-un hadn’t mentioned it even after gaining enlightenment.
Of course, there was a reason for this.
‘It’s difficult.’
The way the”Ritual of Repulsion” technique manifested was different from the “Ritual of Binding” technique.
It could only push away something that precisely touched the body, and matching that fleeting moment when the sword was about to clash was quite difficult.
And it was greatly influenced by the practitioner’s capability and true energy, so the stronger the force, the harder it was to repel.
That’s why Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword had slid rather than being deflected.
‘Still a long way to go.’
He hadn’t mentioned it to Cheong-ryeong because he considered it an incomplete technique.
Of course, it was still useful as it was.
It had allowed him to deflect a fatal strike.
At that moment, Wi Maeng-cheon opened his mouth.
“… You seem to have some tricks up your sleeve. But will the same technique work again?”
-Whoosh!
As soon as those words ended, Wi Maeng-cheon launched his body towards Mok Gyeong-un.
As expected of a master who had reached the transcendent realm, he had realized how to deal with the previous principle in a short time.
-Woong!
Wi Maeng-cheon’s sword was completely covered in a blue glow.
It was sword energy.
He had judged that even the sliding principle wouldn’t be able to handle it if the sword energy was more focused.
‘I’ll settle this.’
The reason he hadn’t unleashed his energy until now was to protect his sword with aura.
Since Mok Gyeong-un’s Evil Commandment Sword was even sturdier and sharper than the Bamboo Sword, the sword had been somewhat strained with each clash, so he had chosen this approach.
However, if he turned all that energy into offensive sword energy instead of a defensive form…
-Clang!
-Bam bam bam!
With just a single clash, Mok Gyeong-un’s body was pushed back nearly three steps.
The power had increased tremendously.
However…
-Crack!
Cracks appeared on the sword.
It was affected by the switch between offense and defense, but it seemed like it could endure a few stances at least.
He could sufficiently settle the match within that timeframe.
-Whoosh!
Wi Maeng-cheon tried to unleash a dominating sword stance against Mok Gyeong-un once more.
Right at that moment…
“It seems your reserves have run out.”
“What?”
“Seeing the repetition of stances.”
‘!?’
-Clang clang clang clang!
The moment the swords clashed, Wi Maeng-cheon’s expression distorted.
He had unleashed a sword stance with sword energy, but Mok Gyeong-un didn’t budge at all.
Rather, they were evenly matched.
But what was even more surprising?
“You bastard… Just what…?”
The sword stance he had just unleashed was exactly the same as his own Flashing Star Sword’s Seventh Stance, Breaking the Void.
Right now, Mok Gyeong-un was performing the exact same sword stance as him.
Wi Maeng-cheon couldn’t believe this situation.
Thus…
-Swish swish swish swish swish!
He unleashed another sword stance towards Mok Gyeong-un, but…
-Swish swish swish swish swish!
As if he were a mirror, Mok Gyeong-un performed the same sword stance.
For a moment, Wi Maeng-cheon was dumbfounded.
Just what was happening?
His unique martial art, the Flashing Star Sword, was a secretive sword art passed down to a single inheritor and was never revealed to the outside.
Yet this fellow was imitating it.
He shouldn’t know the breathing technique of the stances and had only seen it for the first time while dueling.
‘Impossible.’
But how could such a thing happen?
Was it possible to learn the opponent’s sword art in the midst of a life-and-death duel where they were trying to kill each other?
Was this even possible?
No matter how outstanding his talent was, wasn’t there a limit?
This was too unfair.
-Grind!
After being surprised by this unprecedented situation, Wi Maeng-cheon became enraged to the point of welling up.
He detested Mok Gyeong-un for so easily imitating his unique sword art, which he had painstakingly mastered even after losing his sight.
‘How dare you try to steal my sword art?’
It was unforgivable.
Yes, then can you imitate this too?
Even if you somehow imitated the external appearance of the sword art, the essence of swordsmanship wasn’t acquired that way.
He had completely grasped the essence of the Flashing Star Sword by practicing it for decades, allowing him to bring various changes to his swordsmanship.
Can a fellow like you imitate even these variations…?
-Swish swish swish!
‘What?’
Wi Maeng-cheon hurriedly tilted his head to the side and launched his body backward to dodge Mok Gyeong-un’s sword.
A cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he gained distance.
The three sword stances just now…
They were variations.
Even if it were him, if he were to bring variations, he would have done it the way Mok Gyeong-un did.
‘… Ha.’
What kind of fellow is this?
He was imitating the variations in swordsmanship at a level nearly identical to his own.
His innate martial talent alone was insufficient to describe this.
He was truly a monster.
-Gulp!
Wi Maeng-cheon swallowed his dry saliva, perhaps out of tension.
If he didn’t kill the fellow here, he would become a major hindrance to the path of the second disciple, Jang Neung-ak.
He had to kill him even at the cost of his life.
He had to deal with him right away before he grew further and reached a level they couldn’t even touch.
Fortunately, he still had the upper hand in internal energy, so if it was now, somehow…
-Flinch!
At that moment, a chill ran down Wi Maeng-cheon’s spine.
An ominous feeling enveloped his five senses, and it was a kind of brutality.
Sensing it, Wi Maeng-cheon hurriedly raised his sword while igniting sword energy without a moment to think.
However…
-Clang!
The Bamboo Sword wrapped in sword energy broke.
And…
-Swish!
‘!!!!!!’
Something chilling and cold brushed past his neck in an instant.
Wi Maeng-cheon instinctively hurried to grasp his neck.
‘This… What…’
The internal energy in that last strike had surged by nearly three times.
He was dumbfounded by the sudden increase in internal energy.
Could it be that he hadn’t been using his full strength until now?
As he was perplexed, Mok Gyeong-un whispered softly in his ear,
“Why did someone who can’t even see boast so much? If you had just kept your mouth shut, you could have at least preserved your neck longer.”
‘You… You bastard…’
“Then sleep well.”
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un brought his finger to Wi Maeng-cheon’s forehead.
Feeling that, Wi Maeng-cheon inwardly cried out as if screaming,
‘S-Stop! Please! Please!’
However…
-Tap!
Wi Maeng-cheon’s consciousness was severed in an instant.
It was because Mok Gyeong-un had pushed Wi Maeng-cheon’s forehead, which he was barely holding, with his finger.
At the same time, Wi Maeng-cheon’s severed head fell limply to the ground, and blood gushed like a fountain from the cross-clanion of his neck.
-Splatter!
Chapter 137 – Shadow Clan Master (1)
The Five Mountains Alliance, a group of faithful subordinates to Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader.
The severed head of Wi Maeng-cheon, the second-ranked member known as “Second Mountain,” fell lifelessly to the ground as blood gushed like a fountain from his neck.
-Thud!
Although Wi Maeng-cheon always maintained a calm demeanor, his final expression was close to a scream.
-Thump! Thump!
Soon, Mok Gyeong-un’s right hand, which had turned black and grotesquely swollen, returned to its original state.
This was the essence of the Acupoint Striking Technique.
It was difficult to maintain for long due to its severe side effects, but it could increase one’s power by two to three times for a short period.
Mok Gyeong-un had carefully saved this technique and utilized it at the appropriate moment to behead Wi Maeng-cheon.
-Swish!
Cheong-ryeong lightly descended in front of Mok Gyeong-un.
-It was decent, but you still have a long way to go.
“You’re right.”
Mok Gyeong-un readily admitted it.
Even though his other senses were extraordinarily sharp, his opponent was a blind man.
He had struggled quite a bit in a pure duel against such an opponent.
Initially, he had intended to win the fight solely with the death energy from his lower danjeon and pure techniques, but as the battle prolonged, he ended up using the power of his danjeon and the Acupoint Striking Technique.
Thus, despite eliminating the target, he wasn’t entirely satisfied.
On the other hand,
‘He’s fast.’
Although Cheong-ryeong had said Mok Gyeong-un still had a long way to go, she inwardly clicked his tongue at Mok Gyeong-un’s growth rate.
Strictly speaking, the blind Wi Maeng-cheon was a superior master compared to Mok Gyeong-un.
He was far above in both internal energy and experience.
In fact, befitting his experience, he even demonstrated the ability to pressure Mok Gyeong-un by using variations at every appropriate moment.
However, Mok Gyeong-un was learning as he fought.
It was admirable to witness.
‘I thought he would struggle more.’
It was different from what she had expected.
Due to the lack of time, even if they had fought more with just their lower danjeons, Cheong-ryeong thought there might have been a chance for Mok Gyeong-un to win.
From the perspective of someone observing closely, it was a growth rate that defied explanation.
Meanwhile, Mok Gyeong-un spoke while looking at Wi Maeng-cheon’s corpse.
“Hoh.”
-Why are you… Hm?
Cheong-ryeong’s eyes also widened in surprise.
That’s because the death energy from Wi Maeng-cheon’s corpse was gathering and condensing.
“What’s happening?”
Mok Gyeong-un had intended to absorb the death energy before it dispersed.
However, unlike before, the death energy wasn’t scattering but converging.
Cheong-ryeong chuckled and said,
-It’s your first time seeing this, right?
“Seeing what?”
-The birth of a proper vengeful spirit.
“Ah… Is this it?”
-That’s right.
Mok Gyeong-un, who had mastered various techniques, including the Six People Spirit Summoning Technique, could artificially create vengeful spirits using death energy.
However, this was the first time he had witnessed one naturally forming.
If that was the case,
-He must have felt quite wronged.
Ordinary resentment isn’t enough for a vengeful spirit to form.
If the death energy was condensing to this extent, it meant that the resentment had reached its peak.
Soon, the condensed death energy began to take on a human form.
The level of a vengeful spirit is determined by the strength of the obsession and resentment the individual possessed during their lifetime.
-Tremble!
As it took shape, the handle of the broken Bamboo Sword trembled.
A soul that has lost its physical body clings to an object to prevent itself from leaving the mortal realm.
That handle was likely that object.
-It seems his resentment was quite strong.
Cheong-ryeong was intrigued.
Even though it was still in the process of fully taking shape, judging by the spiritual energy emanating from it, it was at least at the Orange Spirit level or above.
The vengeful spirit finally took complete form.
-Grrr!
With flickering white eyes, Wi Maeng-cheon glared at Mok Gyeong-un.
-How unjust. How unfair. I wanted to follow that person, achieve great things, and open my eyes, but to die like this and become a ghost…
A voice filled with resentment.
Wi Maeng-cheon didn’t take his eyes off Mok Gyeong-un.
-In death, I get to see the face of my enemy. I curse you. I will follow you until you die and torment you…
Wi Maeng-cheon, who was speaking, suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Something was strange.
As he had become a vengeful spirit naturally, he was aware of his own death.
Thus, he also instinctively understood the principles of the boundary between the living and the dead.
However, why did he feel like Mok Gyeong-un was making eye contact with his dead self?
At that moment,
“You seem to have a lot to say. A newly formed vengeful spirit is quite talkative.”
-You? Could it be that you can see me?
“If I can see you, that’s why I’m responding like this, right?”
-You! You did this to me!
Realizing that Mok Gyeong-un could see him, Wi Maeng-cheon, filled with even more rage, lunged at Mok Gyeong-un with the intent to kill.
At that instant,
-Grab!
-Ugh!
Wi Maeng-cheon’s white pupils trembled.
It was because Mok Gyeong-un had suddenly grabbed his neck.
-What, what is this?
He was a dead man.
How could Mok Gyeong-un grab the neck of his dead self?
-What the hell are you? How…?
As he was utterly baffled, a voice from behind startled Wi Maeng-cheon.
-Hey, youngster. For someone whose corpse hasn’t even gone cold, you sure are lively.
‘!?’
Vengeful spirits can instinctively distinguish levels.
Wi Maeng-cheon’s mind grew hazy from the immense spiritual pressure he felt from behind.
‘What… What kind of energy is this…?’
This wasn’t just a simple vengeful spirit level but a calamity-level existence.
His spirit body trembled, and his lips wouldn’t close.
To the terrified Wi Maeng-cheon, Mok Gyeong-un said,
“This is the first time I’ve seen a case of someone becoming a vengeful spirit like this. What should I do?”
-What do you mean, what should you do? Just absorb the death energy and exorcise it.
“Ah, right. That would be better.”
-Squish!
With that, Mok Gyeong-un raised his death energy and tried to apply more force to Wi Maeng-cheon’s neck.
At first, Wi Maeng-cheon didn’t understand what exorcism meant.
-Sizzle!
However, along with a strange sense of pain, he felt a threat as if his spirit body was gradually disappearing.
It instilled an even more intense fear than when he had faced death.
Wi Maeng-cheon hurriedly cried out,
-S-Spare me!
“You’re already dead.”
-Please… Please give me a chance.
“Would a chance hold much meaning for you?”
-I, I don’t wish for anything else. Just let me see the faces of my wife and child one last time. Then I’ll accept exorcism or whatever else.
“Wife and child?”
Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head slightly as if puzzled.
Wi Maeng-cheon spoke in a pleading voice,
-Long ago, after losing my eyesight to the Glorious Snake Poison, I had a single wish. It was to see the faces of my wife and child.
This was true.
Wi Maeng-cheon had an earnest desire.
It was to somehow cure his blinded eyes and see the faces of his family.
Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader, had promised Wi Maeng-cheon that if he achieved great things, he would help him find the Medicine Immortal Hae Yeong to restore his eyesight, which had been blinded by poison, though it was uncertain whether it would be possible.
But who would have known that he would be able to see after dying?
-I beg you. I can’t leave this world like this. If you grant me this, you can kill me or do whatever you want.
He had no significant lingering attachments to anything else.
Wi Maeng-cheon simply wanted to see.
The faces of his wife and child, whom he had never seen while alive.
As he expressed his wish, the corner of Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth curled up.
“Ah, I thought you became a vengeful spirit solely due to resentment, but there were also precious beings who left you with lingering attachments in life.”
-Gasp!
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Wi Maeng-cheon instantly realized his mistake.
He had said those words out of fear of being extinguished and a desire to resolve his only lingering attachment, but upon reflection, it wasn’t something he should have asked of this bastard.
Wasn’t this bastard the very culprit who had killed him?
As he thought he had made a mistake, Mok Gyeong-un whispered in his ear, just like before killing him.
“That’s fortunate. Then you’ll be able to work a bit more voluntarily compared to other spirit servants.”
‘!?’
What the hell was he talking about now?
As he was puzzled, Wi Maeng-cheon noticed Cheong-ryeong looking at him with sympathetic eyes.
***
Mok Gyeong-un, who had finished his business outside and returned from his outing.
As he was about to pass through the entrance pavilion leading to his private residence, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.
‘Hmm.’
He lightly scanned the surroundings and immediately noticed that the guard warriors who were supposed to be protecting the area had disappeared.
The people who should have been there were absent.
Smirking, Mok Gyeong-un entered the building of his private residence as if he didn’t mind.
Walking along the corridor, he opened the door to a room.
“You’re late.”
As the door opened, a familiar voice came from inside.
It was none other than the Shadow Clan Master.
Surprise flickered in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.
He had dismissed everyone earlier without much explanation, so why was he waiting alone for Mok Gyeong-un?
There was no presence felt within a radius of about twenty zhang around them.
Puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un was about to clasp his hands and bow in greeting, but the Shadow Clan Master interrupted him.
“Where have you been?”
“Training…”
“You don’t need to make such a flimsy lie about being at the market.”
“…”
The clan master’s voice was unusually heavy and cold, different from his usual demeanor.
It seemed to be an extension of his earlier behavior.
The clan master tapped his finger on the table and continued,
“How far did you go with the head of the intruder?”
Mok Gyeong-un feigned ignorance and nonchalantly replied,
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Master. I…”
“The head was missing from the crematorium.”
“…”
At the clan master’s words, Mok Gyeong-un licked his lips and fell silent.
It seemed that the clan master had personally checked the crematorium after Mok Gyeong-un’s visit.
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged and said,
“I apologize, but I don’t understand why you’re asking me about it. I did leave the residence briefly, but if you ask the guard warriors…”
“I still can’t comprehend it even after pondering.”
“What?”
“What kind of trick did you use?”
“What trick are you referring to?”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s counter-question, the clan master sighed and shook his head.
Then he stood up from his seat and spoke,
“There’s something called a sense of discomfort or unease.”
“…”
“It was small at first, making it difficult to notice, but at some point, the surroundings centered around you became engulfed in that unease.”
The clan master found it puzzling.
The members of the Shadow Clan were thoroughly trained in mental discipline, as they also acted as spies and handled confidential matters.
Thus, there was a belief that they would never betray the sect.
But how was this possible?
It had only been seven days.
Within this short period, how could they have been swayed by Mok Gyeong-un, who was merely a hostage of the righteous faction?
“I don’t know what strange technique you used, but even though you’ve become an official disciple, it seems you’ve crossed a line that can’t be overlooked.”
-Shing!
The sound of something being drawn was heard.
It was the sound of a blade being unsheathed from the scabbard at the clan master’s waist.
In an instant, the sharp blade was pressed against the underside of Mok Gyeong-un’s chin.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.
He had anticipated a certain gap in strength, but the clan master’s martial prowess was incomparable to Wi Maeng-cheon, who was a subordinate of Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader.
‘He’s strong.’
With pure martial arts from the lower danjeon alone, it was utterly impossible to do anything against him.
At that moment, the clan master spoke in an even colder voice,
“Depending on your answer, I may have to behead you. So from now on, I’d like you to respond clearly to my questions…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the clan master frowned.
It was because Mok Gyeong-un had laughed.
‘!?’
Seeing this, the clan master recalled the smile filled with malice that Mok Gyeong-un had shown when he beheaded the intruder to quell the confusion.
It was the first time he had felt a chill down his spine and sensed danger upon seeing someone’s smile.
The clan master’s grip on the blade tightened.
“That smile just now…”
“Your intuition is quite sharp. To reach such a conclusion based on a mere sense of unease.”
“You…”
“So, are you going to behead me?”
“…”
At that question, the clan master’s gaze sharpened.
Mok Gyeong-un’s response just now was tantamount to affirming that the clan master’s suspicions were correct.
Although he didn’t reveal how he had done it.
One thing was certain: this child was truly dangerous.
It wasn’t simply because he was a hostage of the righteous faction or had outstanding talent, but the person himself was completely different from the ordinary.
“It seems it would be beneficial for the sect to behead you right now.”
“Perhaps.”
The clan master inwardly clicked his tongue at Mok Gyeong-un’s composed reaction.
He had to admit, the child had guts to show such composure even when his life was being threatened.
However, merit was merit, and death was death.
If this child was left unchecked, that sense of unease would engulf the entire Shadow Clan.
-Grip!
The clan master gripped the blade’s handle, ready to exert force.
It was at that very moment.
“But you know, if you behead me, everyone will find out that Master is a worshipper of fire. I wonder if that would be alright.”
‘!!!!!!’
The clan master’s expression instantly stiffened.
‘This bastard… How does he know that?’
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