c90 to 92

 Chapter 90

On the way back to the inner castle of Heaven and Earth Society, Diviner Jo Ui-gong had a complicated expression as he looked at the back of the old man walking ahead of him.

The old man silently walking was his master and the Pavilion Master of Primal Killing, In Seo-ok.

“Sigh.”

How did it come to this?

That fearsome master now moved according to his commands.

The reason was because he had received partial control from Mok Gyeong-un.

[I’ll let you command him as agreed.]

It was the only compensation Mok Gyeong-un kept.

None of the other conditions were kept.

The second proposal, the secret of the Six-Person Spirit Summoning Technique, was not taught, saying it would be impossible to do even if taught, and the third turned out like this, as you can see.

-Clank!

The incantation shackle on his wrist had turned him into a slave instead.

Now he had to follow the guy regardless of his will.

[I’ll stay at Corpse Blood Valley, so Master, please go back and become the Pavilion Master of Primal Killing.]

‘Damn it.’

He casually gave such an order to him.

Although he received control over his master In Seo-ok, who had become a Living Corpse Ghost, he couldn’t recklessly take over the position.

There were procedures, and he needed a proper justification.

‘What should I do?’

As expected, the biggest problem was senior brother Jo Tae-cheong.

Primal Killing Pavilion had been skilled in hand seal-based magic and Corpse Ghost techniques using dead bodies for generations.

However, senior brother Jo Tae-cheong was not only skilled in hand seal-based magic but also in servant spirit techniques, so he had even subjugated a Monstrous Beast level creature that even his master couldn’t handle.

‘…….It’s not for nothing that he’s called the next Pavilion Master of Primal Killing.’

If his senior brother found out that their master had become a Living Corpse Ghost, a big problem would arise.

No, his limbs could be torn apart by the Monstrous Beast in an instant.

He had to find a way to naturally deceive senior brother.

‘It’s giving me a headache. But……’

Something had been strange for a while.

There was something he couldn’t remember, but he didn’t know what it was.

What order did Mok Gyeong-un give him with the incantation that made him lose part of his memory?

‘It’s unsettling.’

What could it be?

***

‘So it can be used that way too.’

Mok Gyeong-un thought the order he had given to Diviner Jo Ui-gong earlier was quite useful.

The order Mok Gyeong-un gave was simple.

[Forget that you heard my real name when making the incantation oath. Keep remembering me as the third son of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor.]

He wasn’t sure if this would really work, but it actually did.

It was possible because the principle was to restrain one’s own will.

He wanted to obtain a few more of these incantation shackles.

[Can I get more?]

[I want to, but it’s difficult.]

According to Diviner Jo Ui-gong, the incantation shackle was a magic tool created by Great Monk Myeong-ryul, one of the Six Directions Gods, and was one of the four that his master In Seo-ok had received as a gift while attending the general meeting of the Sixty-Four Diviner Sects.

Even his master In Seo-ok had tried to uncover this secret and conducted research for over ten years, but failed to recreate this principle.

‘What a pity.’

But there were three more besides the one he put on Jo Ui-gong, so he wanted to obtain them if he had the chance.

Anyway, thanks to that, he erased the memory of mentioning his real name from Diviner Jo Ui-gong’s mind.

It wouldn’t be a problem.

“Then shall we continue the conversation from earlier?”

Mok Gyeong-un said to Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley.

This was Lee Ji-yeom’s office.

Having returned here immediately, Mok Gyeong-un was about to finish the conversation and ask what he was curious about.

What could be the secret of the Blue Spirit?

At that moment, the Blue Spirit’s voice echoed in Mok Gyeong-un’s ears.

-Hey. Mortal.

‘I’m sorry, but it seems difficult to answer right now.’

He couldn’t respond because Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, was sitting across from him.

But then she spoke in a serious voice.

-I sincerely ask you. Don’t ask now.

‘……….’

Why?

Didn’t she become a ghost for revenge and accept him as a disciple despite disliking him?

But why didn’t she want to hear this? He didn’t understand.

As he was puzzled, the Blue Spirit said,

-Even if not now, you will eventually find out when the time comes. Instead, if you do as I say, I will teach you one of the Eight Forms of Thought Destruction.

At her words, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

She was someone who didn’t give any clues about the forms, saying that one had to realize them on their own.

But now she was saying she would teach him one of the forms she had realized.

It was a slightly tempting offer.

-If you agree to my words, make a circle with your index finger and thumb.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un moved the fingers he had placed on his thigh.

Then,

-………

The Blue Spirit snorted as if dumbfounded.

It was because Mok Gyeong-un hadn’t drawn a circle with his fingers, but stretched out his index and middle fingers.

It meant he wanted her to teach him not one, but two.

‘…….You never settle for a loss, do you?’

Even knowing one of the Eight Forms of Thought Destruction was infinitely useful and valuable.

However, she thought the forms she had realized could be more harmful than helpful even if Mok Gyeong-un knew them now, so she hadn’t taught him.

So she was trying to teach him one form that was relatively safe, but,

-Fine, you greedy bastard.

In the end, she agreed to teach him.

She wasn’t sure if he could embody what she had realized, but she didn’t want Mok Gyeong-un to know about this matter right now.

No, she herself didn’t want to hear how it was revealed either.

She had a guess anyway.

‘When you’re ready……’

It wouldn’t be too late to hear it then.

With their agreement reached, Mok Gyeong-un said to Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, who was about to speak to continue the conversation,

“That day…..”

“Please wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

“Can we hear that story later?”

“Hear it later…..? But don’t you need to know what really happened back then to understand the situation of the sect……”

“Let’s have this conversation after my position is a bit more established.”

“After your position is established?”

To the puzzled Lee Ji-yeom, Mok Gyeong-un pointed at himself and said,

“In your eyes, Valley Master, what level do I seem to be at now?”

“Level?”

“In martial arts.”

“Martial arts. Hmm.”

At this, Lee Ji-yeom slightly frowned, then looked Mok Gyeong-un up and down.

Then, in a voice that didn’t seem fully confident, he said,

“Is it alright if I speak honestly?”

“Yes.”

“Just based on the energy I sense, you feel like a first-rate martial artist.”

‘First-rate?’

At his words, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head slightly.

He still had almost no clear realization of the energy corresponding to the Peak Realm.

However, the amount of death energy he possessed had reached the Pinnacle of Peak Realm.

Moreover, his opened middle danjeon was also filled with condensed energy reaching the Pinnacle of Peak Realm, so he could be said to have twice as much energy as a master of the same level.

‘Can he not feel the energy?’

As he was puzzled, the Blue Spirit’s voice was heard.

-Perhaps that could be the case.

‘Huh?’

-In the first place, humans cannot accumulate or feel the energy of death in their bodies. At most, they would feel a chill or coldness.

‘……….’

-Moreover, even if such death energy is gathered in the danjeon, it would be strange for ordinary people to accurately sense it.

‘Is that so?’

As the Blue Spirit said, death energy was completely different from ordinary energy, so even a great master like Lee Ji-yeom, the Valley Master of Corpse Blood Valley, might have difficulty grasping it?

No, come to think of it, this could be a good thing.

‘If the opponent doesn’t know my level, I can deceive them.’

This alone had considerable value.

After all, letting one’s guard down was useful for creating the opponent’s weakness.

Then, Lee Ji-yeom carefully asked,

“Could it be that you are deliberately concealing your energy, my liege?”

The strength of ‘that person’ that Lee Ji-yeom had heard from his grandfather was no exaggeration to say that she was among the top three even among the strongest people in the history of Heaven and Earth Society.

Therefore, he thought this couldn’t be all.

However,

“No. What you see is what it is.”

“……..Is that true?”

“Yes.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Lee Ji-yeom let out a sigh mixed with some disappointment.

That was understandable, as Lee Ji-yeom thought ‘that person’ had possessed this boy’s body as a ghost to take revenge and regain her past glory and honor.

He naturally thought she would be prepared.

But if that wasn’t the case, what was his liege going to do in this situation?

“You seem quite disappointed.”

“That’s…….”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

To him, Mok Gyeong-un said with a smile,

“Of course you would think that. But it’s only been half a month since I possessed this body, and at that time, this body wasn’t even third-rate.”

‘!?’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Lee Ji-yeom’s eyes sparkled with interest.

It was reasonable, as this meant his liege had reached the first-rate realm in just half a month.

If this was true, it could be considered a tremendous rate of progress.

“Is that…..true?”

“Yes. You don’t believe me?”

“No. How could that be? I’m just surprised……”

Even with outstanding martial talent, this speed was beyond common sense.

Lee Ji-yeom’s reaction was natural.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“I know you have expectations, but even if my past self that you know is different, I’m also in a position where I have to start from the beginning again.”

“Ah…..”

At those words, Lee Ji-yeom nodded as if he understood.

Then he carefully asked,

“……..Then how long do you think it will take for you to recover to your original level, my liege?”

That was the key point.

Lee Ji-yeom was in a highly excited state after making the loyalty oath.

He wanted to leave this Corpse Blood Valley immediately and regain honor together as the right-hand man of his liege.

To his question, Mok Gyeong-un pondered for a moment.

‘Original level?’

Actually, come to think of it, Mok Gyeong-un had never heard about the level of martial arts Cheong-ryeong possessed when she was alive.

She herself always talked about how strong she was, but the standard for that was vague.

However, seeing even the strong Lee Ji-yeom having reverence, it seemed she was definitely stronger than he thought.

‘Then…….’

It seemed good to set a target period to some extent.

A gentleman’s revenge is not late even after ten years.

It meant that a gentleman’s revenge, even if it takes ten years, is not too late, and to be patient, build up strength, and wait for the right time.

Of course, it was natural to cultivate patience for revenge, but ten years was too long.

So, the period Mok Gyeong-un had in mind was,

-Swish!

‘!?’

Lee Ji-yeom’s expression stiffened at the fingers Mok Gyeong-un held up.

-You……are you crazy?

The Blue Spirit’s voice was heard in Mok Gyeong-un’s ears.

Why were they reacting like this?

As he was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un was only holding up two fingers.

-Ha!

The Blue Spirit clicked her tongue as if dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, spoke in a slightly trembling voice,

“Could it be twenty years…..”

“No. That’s too long.”

At those words, Lee Ji-yeom gulped and continued speaking as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Is that really……possible for you?”

“Is there anything I can’t do?”

An answer without a moment’s hesitation.

At this,

“Ha……..”

Lee Ji-yeom let out an exclamation with eyes full of genuine reverence.

He was trying to set the target period as short as possible and aim for it, but was this level of reaction necessary?

Then the Blue Spirit clicked her tongue and said,

-A guy who hasn’t even gained proper realization of the Peak Realm is boasting that he will surpass the barrier and reach the realm of Transformation (化境) within 2 years.

Transformation Realm (化境).

It was the supreme martial arts realm that could only be reached by surpassing the barrier and attaining the states of Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown[1] and Five Energies Paying Homage to the Origin[2].

It was said that only the Six Heavens and Eight Stars[3], known as the greatest masters in the current martial arts world, had reached that realm.

Yet Mok Gyeong-un had declared that he would reach the same level as them in 2 years.

‘Is it difficult?’

As if reading Mok Gyeong-un’s thoughts, the Blue Spirit said,

-Die and wake up a hundred times. See if that’s possible. No, if that happens, I will call you Lord for the rest of my life and attend to you.

Chapter 91

Transformation Realm.

It was the supreme martial arts realm that could only be reached by surpassing the barrier and attaining the states of Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown and Five Energies Paying Homage to the Origin.

Yet he had declared that he would reach that level in 2 years despite not having gained realization of the peak realm.

‘Is it difficult?’

As if reading Mok Gyeong-un’s thoughts, the Blue Spirit said,

-Die and wake up a hundred times. See if that’s possible. No, if that happens, I will call you Lord for the rest of my life and attend to you.

‘You’re coming on quite strong.’

Mok Gyeong-un twitched the corners of his mouth.

The reason the Blue Spirit was clicking her tongue and coming on so strong was simple.

First of all, even she, who was called a genius that appeared once in a few hundred years, had taken 20 years to reach the realm of Transformation.

Of course, even this was achieved at the young age of 28, so everyone was shocked beyond words.

‘It’s not like the era has disappeared now.’

In the past, there was a time when the martial arts world had experienced a glorious golden age.

There was a period when an unparalleled genius appeared and led the martial arts world at a young age, known as the Little Sword Immortal, but that’s not the case now.

“I hope you keep that promise.”

“Pardon?”

Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, asked back as if wondering what Mok Gyeong-un’s sudden words meant.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head.

He didn’t intend to say it out loud, but it was meant for the Blue Spirit to hear.

-Wait and see after 2 years. You will know the greatness of this Venerable.

Mok Gyeong-un smiled faintly at the Blue Spirit’s bold claim.

Just from her reaction and that of Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, he realized he had made an absurd declaration, but his grandfather always said something.

[You know nothing until you try. Even your nature…..]

-Zzzt!

“Hmm.”

“My liege?”

When Mok Gyeong-un brought his hand to his forehead and let out a groan, Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, asked in puzzlement.

To his question, Mok Gyeong-un slightly frowned.

What was that just now?

He was someone who never forgot something once he remembered it.

He even remembered all the words his grandfather had said to him since he was young, but he couldn’t remember what he had said after those words just now.

‘Why is that?’

When he tried to recall it, his head hurt as if it would crack.

He could endure ordinary pain, but this pain was so severe, as if his brain was being cut out, that he couldn’t help but grimace.

‘Why is this happening?’

His grandfather had said something to him afterward, but he couldn’t remember.

If he tried to uncover it as if it was forcibly hidden, he got a headache.

A memory shrouded in fog.

In the end, Mok Gyeong-un stopped trying to forcibly recall it.

‘………Could it be?’

Did his grandfather do this?

A small doubt arose.

But his grandfather had no knowledge of acupuncture or anything like that and hadn’t done anything special to him.

He felt puzzled, but now was not the time to keep thinking about it.

Mok Gyeong-un relaxed his expression and said,

“It’s nothing. By the way, may I ask a few questions?”

“Feel free to do so.”

Lee Ji-yeom, who had been looking at him with a worried face, answered.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un asked,

“Do you happen to know someone named Ghost Blade?”

To that question, Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, answered casually,

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know Ghost Blade, one of the Eight Stars?”

Ghost Blade.

Excluding the Six Heavens who stand at the pinnacle of the current martial arts world, he is one of the eight masters known to have reached the highest realm.

“I don’t know much about the current state of the martial arts world.”

“Ah……..”

Lee Ji-yeom nodded as if he understood.

The time when his ghostly liege was active was a whopping hundred years ago, so the masters who were renowned then and now could be said to be completely different.

At this, Lee Ji-yeom said,

“Ghost Blade’s sect and identity are unknown. He suddenly appeared one day and rose to notoriety by engaging in life-and-death duels with masters who were known for their righteous deeds.”

“Notoriety?”

“Yes. It couldn’t be called fame because none of those who fought him survived.”

“No one survived?”

“Yes. That’s why his notoriety was quite high.”

‘Huh?’

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.

Mok In-dan, the head of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor, had said he had fought him and was injured.

Could it be that that fact was hardly known?

As he was puzzled, Lee Ji-yeom exclaimed “Ah!” as if he had remembered something and said,

“There is exactly one person who survived.”

“Someone survived?”

“Yes.”

‘It must be the head of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor.’

Mok Gyeong-un was naturally convinced of that, but he asked without showing it.

“Who is that?”

“I heard that Baek Sa-ha, the Annihilating Poison King[1], one of the Five Kings of our sect, fought Ghost Blade for dozens of moves.”

‘!?’

What?

Wasn’t it the head of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor, Mok In-dan?

Someone completely different from his expectation was mentioned.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un asked back,

“He…fought Ghost Blade?”

“Yes. It’s quite a famous anecdote in our sect. I remember that the Annihilating Poison King unexpectedly fought him a few months before Ghost Blade disappeared.”

At these words from Lee Ji-yeom, Mok Gyeong-un frowned.

For now, he could learn two facts from Lee Ji-yeom’s words.

One was that Lee Ji-yeom was also unaware of the fact that Mok In-dan, the head of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor, had fought Ghost Blade and survived.

And the second fact he learned was a bit disappointing.

‘Hmm.’

Mok Gyeong-un had come here thinking that Ghost Blade might be a master of Heaven and Earth Society.

But if he had fought someone called the Annihilating Poison King, one of the high-ranking executives here, they might not be on the same side but in an adversarial relationship.

‘Did I make the wrong guess?’

Should he have gone to the imperial palace if he had known this would happen?

As he was thinking that, Lee Ji-yeom asked,

“Is there a problem?”

“Ah. I had heard that Ghost Blade was a hidden master of Heaven and Earth Society. But after hearing what you said, I’m starting to think that might not be the case.”

He thought there was no need to mention the former if he didn’t know anyway.

In any case, even the head of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor, Mok In-dan, didn’t seem to know much about Ghost Blade.

Then Lee Ji-yeom said,

“Ah! There were quite a few such rumors as well.”

“Quite a few rumors?”

“Yes. That’s because the people Ghost Blade targeted and killed were all masters of the righteous and evil sects. The only exception was the Annihilating Poison King, a master of our sect, and I heard that in the midst of a long duel, Ghost Blade stopped the fight first and withdrew.”

‘…….Withdrew first?’

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

Another possibility had arisen.

If he exceptionally clashed with a master of Heaven and Earth Society and withdrew first, there was a possibility that they were on the same side.

“So he could be a master of Heaven and Earth Society?”

“I don’t know about that. The Annihilating Poison King also glossed over what happened at that time……But there were such rumors as well.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“There was also a rumor that Ghost Blade was a secret guardian who received secret orders from the Society Leader.”

“Secret guardian?”

-It seems they still maintain that system.

The Blue Spirit seemed to know about this as well.

Lee Ji-yeom continued,

“The Society Leader has secret guardians who constantly protect him. There are rumors that their martial arts skills are actually on par with the Five Kings.”

“If they are on par with the Five Kings……are they strong?”

“They are strong. Among the Five Kings, there are two supreme masters who have reached the realm of Transformation, and the other three have reached the pinnacle of the transcendent realm.”

-What?

The Blue Spirit couldn’t hide her surprise at this.

That was understandable, as in the era when she was active, there were hardly any among the executive-level members who had reached such a realm.

But had it changed so much in a hundred years?

-How astonishing.

Had the level of Heaven and Earth Society risen to that extent?

Well, back then, it was the early days of Heaven and Earth Society, and it was a period when they were still gaining strength.

Considering that, it might be natural now that they had grown into one of the three giant forces dominating the current martial arts world.

“Ah! Since you said you’re not familiar with the current situation, I should tell you this. The two of the Five Kings who have reached the realm of Transformation are called the Eight Stars in the current martial arts world.”

“Hoo.”

Then it made sense to some extent.

If the Society Leader’s secret guardian was strong enough to be on par with the Five Kings, it was plausible that he might be the disappeared Ghost Blade.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un asked,

“Ghost Blade’s identity still hasn’t been revealed, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. However…….perhaps the Annihilating Poison King, who dueled with him before he disappeared, might know some clues.”

“The Annihilating Poison King might know……I see.”

“Yes. He is the only one who survived a duel with him. But it’s not certain. By the way, why do you ask about this?”

“Ah. It’s not really important, so don’t worry about it.”

At those words, Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, showed a puzzled look but soon nodded without further questioning.

“I understand.”

Seeing his attitude, Mok Gyeong-un thought he was truly straightforward.

He could understand why the Blue Spirit cherished the people of the Lee family.

Anyway, two clues had emerged from this.

‘The Annihilating Poison King…..the Society Leader’s secret guardian.’

The Annihilating Poison King might hold clues about Ghost Blade, and the Society Leader’s secret guardian was a candidate who might be Ghost Blade.

The mark that remained on his deceased grandfather.

Mok In-dan, the head of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor, who had a similar scar.

‘It won’t be long.’

Finally, some outlines were starting to appear on this journey of revenge that began with only the clues of scars and footprints.

If it was certain that the person named Ghost Blade had killed his grandfather, he was definitely a target of revenge who had to be killed.

Mok Gyeong-un’s lips twitched.

Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, who was watching this, had a glimmer of interest in his eyes.

‘Killing intent……’

Although he was trying his best to conceal it, the subtle killing intent leaking out was no joke.

It was very intense, so to speak.

He tried not to have doubts, but it was clear that his liege had quite unfavorable feelings toward the person named Ghost Blade.

As he was thinking that, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Ah, by the way. What exactly is the purpose of Corpse Blood Valley?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m just going along with it to infiltrate this place, but as far as I remember, there was no such thing when I was here.”

“Ah. You can think of it as a process of sorting out the raw gems.”

“Raw gems?”

“Yes. As I told you even when you passed the second gate, the trials are a process of assigning and selecting manpower in the right places. If you pass all the way to the final gate here, you will be given a great opportunity.”

“What is that?”

“You will have the opportunity to join the subordinates of high-ranking executives or become their disciple.”

“Disciple?”

“Yes. Since you can be considered the best talent at the point of passing all the gates.”

The trials of Corpse Blood Valley are difficult to pass even for those called martial geniuses who have diligently trained in martial arts since childhood.

But if one were to pass all these trials, they could be called the best talent.

These best talents are given the opportunity to be selected by the executives attending the Final Gate.

“When you say high-ranking executives, do you mean the Five Kings?”

“It could be the Five Kings, the Three Chief Masters, and the Four Valley Masters including myself.”

The Five Kings, the Three Chief Masters, and the Four Valley Masters.

They could be considered the executives and the backbone that led Heaven and Earth Society.

‘So that’s how it was.’

Now Mok Gyeong-un understood why the boys were risking their lives in Corpse Blood Valley.

If they were chosen by the executives and became their disciples, they would gain immense power within Heaven and Earth Society and learn advanced martial arts, so how could they miss this opportunity?

There were reasons to seize it even at the risk of their lives.

Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley, cautiously said to Mok Gyeong-un,

“Please forgive me for the disrespect I have shown you so far, my liege.”

“No, it’s fine. You didn’t know, so what’s there to forgive?”

“Now that I know at least this much, I will have my subordinates pull some strings to get you out.”

“Get me out?”

“That’s right. Although the Society Leader’s order was to have you participate in the trials of Corpse Blood Valley, there was no command that you must be kept alive, so we can easily process it as if you died.”

If that happened, the Lord would be able to escape the Society Leader’s sight and have time to secretly recover his martial arts here in Corpse Blood Valley.

That’s what he thought, but Mok Gyeong-un shook his head.

“No. I don’t think there’s a need for that.”

“Pardon? Why would you……”

There was no need for his liege to suffer through this voluntarily.

If his liege, who had already reached the pinnacle of martial arts, secluded himself, wouldn’t he be able to sufficiently return to his past level?

As he was thinking that, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“We should make the most of this situation.”

“What do you mean by making use of this situation?”

“Didn’t you say that if I pass the trials, I can become a disciple of the executives?”

“That is true, but there’s no need to…..”

“What kind of wound do you think would be more painful?”

“Pardon?”

What did he mean by that?

As he was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and said,

“A wound that festers and bursts from the inside is really painful compared to a wound on the outside.”

‘!!!!!!’

At these words from Mok Gyeong-un, a glimmer appeared in the eyes of Lee Ji-yeom, the Master of Corpse Blood Valley.

It was because he understood what Mok Gyeong-un meant by saying this.

Thinking that he sufficiently understood, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Then shall I try to get a recommendation?”

“By recommendation, you mean?”

“In your eyes, Valley Master, whose attention would be most beneficial among those executives?”

Chapter 92

Mok Yu-cheon looked at the small, round copper tag resting on his palm with a dazed expression.

This was the item that Ma-sang had handed to him before escaping.

He didn’t tell him anything about what it was or what it did.

Ma-sang had only left these words.

[You do it for me.]

It seemed to imply a lot.

A spy was bound to face death if caught.

So it seemed like he was entrusting the rest to him.

‘What on earth did I……’

What kind of request was this?

Moreover, if he were in Ma-sang’s position, he would have been very angry.

Even if they were half-brothers, it was his brother who had ratted him out, leading to this result.

But Ma-sang didn’t resent him.

Of course, the situation was urgent, so there might not have been room for resentment.

“Sigh.”

Mok Yu-cheon let out a long sigh.

How did he end up in this situation?

He had thought that the time when he was despised as the son of a courtesan was like hell, but now that he thought about it, that was nothing.

The real hell was outside.

-Crack!

He bit his nails.

The habit he had when he was anxious as a child resurfaced.

He had thought that his half-brother was the only one he could trust, but now he realized that wasn’t the case.

That guy wasn’t the same as he used to know him.

He didn’t know whether he had been hiding it or not, but he was close to being an evil person himself, regardless of the righteous or evil sects.

He fit well in this shithole of a place.

‘That son of a bitch. Fucking bastard.’

-Grip!

Mok Yu-cheon, who had been biting his nails, bit his fingers.

It hurts.

This is reality.

The more he accepts reality, the more painful it is.

But he couldn’t give up just because it was painful.

Although Mok Gyeong-un’s wickedness made him angry, that guy might be struggling to adapt and survive here in his own way.

Rather, it might be himself who was stuck in complacency.

He seemed to have believed that if he survived here, he would be able to return home and his original life would be waiting for him.

‘No……’

In the end, there’s no such thing.

-Kkkkk! Drip drip!

Blood flowed from the bitten finger, and drops of blood stained his tongue.

As he tasted the hot blood, his heart felt cold instead.

-Swish!

Mok Yu-cheon brushed his hair back and straightened his posture.

He would now abandon the naive thought of simply trying to survive in a place like this.

If evil is strong, he must also become strong to overcome it.

‘It’s not just about surviving, I’ll smash everything with my own hands.’

It was a truth he had learned even in the Yeon Mok Sword Manor.

After reaching the Peak Realm, the gazes and treatment of everyone in the Yeon Mok Sword Manor changed.

That was the real truth.

To survive and be treated well as a martial artist, one had to become strong, regardless of the righteous sects.

Strength was the law of the martial arts world.

‘…….Mok Gyeong-un. The one who will rise here is not you, but me.’

With his mind firmly set, Mok Yu-cheon began circulating his energy.

It was the Ignited Wood Heart Transformation Method.

There seemed to be some side effects, so he had stopped using it, but in the current situation, it was the only ascending cultivation method that could make him stronger quickly.

-Sssssss!

As Mok Yu-cheon practiced the cultivation method, the skin on his face gradually turned a brownish color.

***

“Hmm. It’s over the limit.”

Mok Gyeong-un said, looking at the 8 boys standing in front of him.

3 were brought by the Demonic Monk, who was possessing the body of Yeom Ga from Vermillion Slaughter Cave, and 5 were brought by Mo Ha-rang from Demon Fire Hall.

Mo Ha-rang looked at the ones she had brought with a troubled expression.

To save time, she had gathered members separately from the Demonic Monk, who was possessing Yeom Ga.

[If you’re possessed by a ghost, it might be difficult to gather members.]

She thought she should gather as many members as possible herself.

The maximum number of members she had gathered was 5.

In fact, this was also narrowed down from 10 people who wanted to be in her team.

She had told them that she would take responsibility for them to pass this gate since they were also selected, but it was quite troublesome.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“We don’t need anyone other than the five, so could you please leave on your own?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the 8 boys looked dumbfounded.

That was understandable, as they had joined the team believing in the reputation of Vermillion Slaughter Cave or Demon Fire Hall and thinking of them as the team leaders.

“Phew.”

One of the boys sighed and left the room as he was.

The boy was in the same team as Mo Ha-rang, so he had witnessed Mok Gyeong-un’s true colors with his own eyes.

Therefore, he left the team without any hesitation.

However, coincidentally, the remaining 7 boys had not seen anything other than Mok Gyeong-un breaking a boy’s neck at the first gate.

Their reactions were somewhat intense.

“Who are you to tell us to leave? I decided to join this team because of Mo Ha-rang.”

“That goes for me too. If anyone should leave, it’s you.”

“I guess everyone thinks the same way.”

They all expressed hostility toward Mok Gyeong-un.

In any case, unlike the first gate, the blocked energy points had been opened, so they were overflowing with confidence.

To them, Mo Ha-rang said with a troubled expression,

“…….I’m sorry, but I’m not the team leader.”

“What?”

“What do you mean by that?”

At Mo Ha-rang’s words, those who had considered her the team leader couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

In the first place, when Mo Ha-rang gathered team members, she had said she was looking for people to be on the same team, but she hadn’t mentioned that the actual team leader was someone else.

From their perspective, they had been deceived.

“Mo Ha-rang. Is that true?”

“We thought you were the team leader.”

“I’m sorry. The team leader is this person here.”

‘This person?’

At her words, the boys frowned.

If their ears weren’t wrong, Mo Ha-rang had referred to Mok Gyeong-un as “this person” as if he were her superior.

In any case, even if he was the team leader, he was only the head for this gate.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“It seems that most of you came in without knowing that I was the team leader. If you’re dissatisfied, you’re free to leave anytime.”

At those words, one boy snorted.

“Ha! I can’t accept that. Mo Ha-rang. You should be the team leader instead. Then I’ll definitely follow you.”

At the boy’s words, the other boys chimed in.

“That’s a good idea. I agree.”

“I agree too.”

“If Mo Ha-rang is the team leader, I can follow her no matter what.”

At the unanimous opinion of the boys telling her to take the role of team leader, Mo Ha-rang glanced at Mok Gyeong-un with a troubled expression.

Mok Gyeong-un still had a smiling face.

Seeing that, she was even more worried.

She had experienced that his smile was full of malice.

At this, she thought she should make it clear to avoid any trouble and said,

“I’m sorry, but I have decided to follow this person.”

‘!?’

As Mo Ha-rang drew a clear line, the boys’ expressions changed individually.

However, the common thing was that most of them wondered why she acknowledged someone like Mok Gyeong-un as the team leader.

At that moment, one of the 3 boys who had followed Demonic Monk possessing the body of Yeom Ga from Vermillion Slaughter Cave asked,

“Don’t tell me you also acknowledge that guy as the team leader?”

“I do.”

“What?”

At the short affirmation, the 3 boys were also at a loss.

They had also voluntarily asked to be team members knowing the reputation of Vermillion Slaughter Cave.

But the very person they wanted to serve as the team leader was serving someone else as the team leader, so they didn’t know what to do.

To them, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“In any case, you’ll be choosing a team leader to pass this gate, so it seems you have a lot of concerns. Doesn’t the answer come out when you see that these two people have joined under me?”

“………”

At those words, the boys alternately looked at Mo Ha-rang, Yeom Ga, and Mok Gyeong-un.

Although they didn’t like this guy for some reason, there must be a reason why these two people, who wouldn’t be out of place as team leaders, were following Mok Gyeong-un.

‘There’s some truth to it.’

‘Vermillion Slaughter Cave and Demon Fire Hall would have their pride.’

‘For them to follow that guy……’

At this, they started to be swayed one by one.

However, not everyone was like that.

One boy stepped forward and said to Mok Gyeong-un,

“What have you shown to make us follow you? No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand.”

“If you don’t have faith in me as the team leader, then you can quietly leave this room.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the boy’s expression distorted frighteningly.

The boy said while drawing energy from his danjeon,

“Who says to come and go as they please? You’re a ridiculous fellow. I can’t acknowledge you.”

“What will you do if you can’t acknowledge me?”

Mok Gyeong-un said with a smile.

Then the boy took a fighting stance and said,

“If you’re so great, let’s have a duel.”

At the boy’s sudden hostile attitude, everyone looked at each other, gauging the situation.

In fact, there was one thing they were curious about.

As they recovered their internal energy, they could roughly estimate the opponent’s martial arts level with their energy sense.

But no matter how they looked at it, Mok Gyeong-un felt like he was barely at the first-rate level.

On the other hand, it was different for Yeom Ga from Vermillion Slaughter Cave and Mo Ha-rang from Demon Fire Hall.

The energy that appeared based on their energy sense was incomparably sharp, and they judged that they were opponents they couldn’t defeat even if they attacked in earnest.

So they also wanted to confirm it rather than stop him.

They wanted to see how skilled Mok Gyeong-un really was.

It was at that very moment.

“How dare you challenge this person to a duel in this place?”

Suddenly, Yeom Ga from Vermillion Slaughter Cave frowned at the boy who had taken a fighting stance, expressing his discomfort.

At his reaction, the boys couldn’t hide their puzzlement.

Like Mo Ha-rang, even Yeom Ga was acting as if he had pledged loyalty to Mok Gyeong-un.

They couldn’t understand what was going on.

But then Mok Gyeong-un raised his hand and stopped him.

“Ah. Don’t be like that. From his perspective, it’s understandable to have doubts.”

“But Lord….no, my liege. This insolent human……”

-Swish!

Mok Gyeong-un lightly glanced at the Demonic Monk, who was possessing Yeom Ga.

Then the Demonic Monk stopped speaking and stepped back.

‘What? Did he just call him ‘my liege’?’

‘Why is Yeom Ga from Vermillion Slaughter Cave groveling before that guy, calling him my liege?’

‘Is he really hiding his true skills?’

From the boys’ perspective, it only raised more questions.

Likewise, the boy who had boldly challenged Mok Gyeong-un to a duel also started to have doubts about Yeom Ga’s attitude.

Was his energy sense wrong?

As he was thinking that,

-Swish!

Mok Gyeong-un, who was sitting on the bed, stretched out his hand.

At that very moment,

-Whoosh!

“Huh?”

The body of the boy who had taken a fighting stance was pulled forward, and his head and upper body tilted forward.

The boy’s eyes widened at the strong suction force.

But the surprise was short-lived, and to prevent himself from falling forward, the boy spread his right leg and stomped his foot.

-Thud!

“Hmph!”

As soon as he did that,

-Smack!

“Ugh!”

Mok Gyeong-un leaped up from the bed, grabbed the back of the boy’s head with both hands, and kneed him in the face.

The boy’s body staggered backward as his face was hit by the knee.

Mok Gyeong-un grabbed the hair of the staggering boy.

-Grip!

“Ah, ah. You shouldn’t fall over with just this much.”

Then he smashed the head of the boy, whose nose was bleeding, directly into the floor.

-Bang!

The wooden floor shattered, and the boy’s face was buried in the ground.

The force was so strong that the boy’s body twitched and then stopped moving as if he had fainted.

“Oh. Did he faint already?”

Mok Gyeong-un muttered as if slightly disappointed.

‘!!!!!!’

At this sight, the boys were at a loss for words, stunned.

The boy who had just fought Mok Gyeong-un had martial arts skills at the end of the first-rate level, enough to reach the Peak Realm with just some realization.

However,

‘………He was no match at all.’

‘What was that just now?’

Moreover, what was that thing Mok Gyeong-un had shown earlier?

When he stretched out his hand, the fainted boy’s body was pulled forward and about to fall.

‘Could it be Void Seizing?’

Void Seizing Technique.

It was a technique that could move objects with profound true energy.

Was it possible for someone who looked to be only around seventeen years old?

‘No way.’

‘That can’t be.’

They couldn’t believe it.

To the boys who couldn’t hide their astonishment, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Anyone else want to confirm?”

“………”

No one answered this question.

They had already witnessed it with their own eyes, so who would object here?

To them, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Then no one has any objections. Good. Since one person here has been reduced, it seems we need one more person to leave.”

“………”

At those words, everyone looked at each other.

That was because not only Mok Gyeong-un’s strength but also Yeom Ga and Mo Ha-rang were masters who had reached the Peak Realm.

If they stayed in this team, passing was guaranteed, so who would easily give up?

“The atmosphere has improved. I’m glad to see you all so motivated.”

Saying that, Mok Gyeong-un, who had been looking over the boys, stroked his chin as if troubled.

“We can’t have them fight each other since it’s a team-based gate……”

‘Ha!’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Mo Ha-rang inwardly clicked her tongue.

This guy was really full of malice.

As they were thinking that, Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at one boy.

Was he telling him to leave?

At this, the startled boy said,

“I, I will do my best to follow you as the team leader…..”

Before he could finish his sentence,

Mok Gyeong-un approached him and stood right in front of him.

Then he smiled brightly and said,

“You’re the weakest one. I’m sorry, but it seems you should leave.”

“……….”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the boy trembled and couldn’t say anything.

In fact, it was because he acknowledged that he was relatively weaker compared to the other boys.

At this, he silently tried to turn around,

“Ah, wait a moment.”

‘Could it be?’

Did he change his mind?

Thinking that, he turned his head with a glimmer of hope, but,

-Smack! Crack!

At that moment, his body was suddenly staggering to the side and spinning.

Then he soon fell to the floor, hitting his head.

-Thud!

“Aaargh!” The fallen boy soon grabbed his leg and cried out in pain.

Just now, Mok Gyeong-un had kicked his ankle, and the force was so strong that his body spun like a windmill and broke at the same time.

“What are you doing? He was just about to give up and leave…”

One boy shouted at Mok Gyeong-un in shock.

Then Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.

“Is there a problem?”

“No. He’s leaving on his own after you told him to, so why are you doing this to his leg…”

He couldn’t bring himself to say “break.”

But then Mok Gyeong-un said, “I said not to kill him. Did I ever say not to break a limb somewhere?”

“………”

At those words, the boy was at a loss for words.

Breaking his leg here to eliminate him just because he’s no longer on the same team.

This guy is really……

He was speechless, but Mok Gyeong-un stretched his body as if loosening up and said, “It won’t end with just this friend, so what’s the fuss?”

“What are you saying now?”

“From now on, we’ll be quite busy. Because we have to break the legs of all the other team members except our team before the gate test.”

‘!?’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the boys’ expressions stiffened simultaneously.