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 Chapter 126 – Shadow Clan (3)

The name of the sharp-featured young man was Hwan Yun-myeong.

Abandoned by his parents at a young age, he lived in the slums on the outskirts of the Heaven and Earth Society until he was taken in by the Shadow Master at the age of 10 due to a chance encounter.

[Ohoho. Not bad. You’re the first kid to attempt pickpocketing me.]

The Shadow Master, impressed by his brazen boldness, took him in and personally taught him academics and martial arts.

Although the opportunity was by chance, Hwan Yun-myeong’s talent was unexpectedly outstanding.

That was also why the Shadow Master took him in.

However, Hwan Yun-myeong couldn’t become an official disciple.

The reason was,

[Castration?]

[Yes. You have to be castrated to learn the sect’s Ghost Yin Technique.]

[…Is it absolutely necessary?]

Young Hwan Yun-myeong, who didn’t want to train in martial arts at the cost of cutting off his genitals, showed strong rejection.

The Shadow Master didn’t force him to be castrated.

However, since he couldn’t become an official disciple, he called him a quasi-disciple from then on.

Although he couldn’t become an official disciple due to not being castrated, the Shadow Master treated him just as well and gave him teachings.

Therefore, he had no major complaints.

However, in the year Hwan Yun-myeong turned sixteen, he came to regret his choice.

The reason was that although he didn’t know when he was young, if he couldn’t become an official disciple, he couldn’t become the Shadow Master’s successor and learn his proper unique martial arts.

[Let me warn you in advance. If you get castrated, you lose a lot too. For example, you won’t be a real man anymore and won’t be able to have a family.]

Hwan Yun-myeong, who was an orphan, had a wish from a young age.

Perhaps because he didn’t know his parents and was abandoned, he wanted to have a family of his own blood.

That’s why he didn’t choose castration.

However, after learning that he couldn’t become the Shadow Master’s successor, he came to regret his childhood choice.

‘Damn it!’

It would have been better to be castrated when he hadn’t reached sexual maturity yet.

Then he would have become the Shadow Master’s successor.

But it was already too late.

It was difficult to discard all the internal energy he had cultivated so far, be castrated, and then learn the Ghost Yin Technique. Moreover, he had already reached sexual maturity.

Having grown up wandering the back alleys, he had been frequenting brothels and red-light districts since the young age of 14.

‘No. I can’t.’

That’s why he couldn’t get castrated even more.

If he just got castrated, there were things to gain beyond what he would lose, but he just couldn’t do it.

It was such a simple principle, yet he couldn’t do it.

Troubled by these worries, he wandered for a while, and during those few years, two young junior disciples entered.

Myeong-tak and Yong-su.

They were also orphans.

Meeting them, he knew at a glance that they were children with talent no less than his own.

However, to Hwan Yun-myeong, they were definitely not lovely junior disciples.

‘…These bastards might surpass me at any time.’

Rather, they were competitors.

If they got castrated and became the Shadow Master’s official disciples, he might not even receive proper treatment anymore.

No, that was a foregone conclusion.

‘No. I can’t let that happen.’

With his thoughts reaching this point, Hwan Yun-myeong fell into numerous worries.

And after much deliberation, he came up with a plan.

He treated the junior disciples better than anyone else and paid more attention to them than his teacher, the Shadow Master.

In response to this kindness, the junior disciples also followed him well as their senior brother.

Having gained their favor like this, Hwan Yun-myeong, out of the Shadow Master’s sight, made them reach sexual maturity early and instilled fear of castration in them.

His efforts soon bore fruit.

When given the choice,

[Castration… I can’t do it.]

[I, I can’t do it either.]

The junior disciples gave up on castration with tears in their eyes.

Since it was originally a choice, not forced, the Shadow Master respected their decision.

[If that is your choice, there’s nothing I can do.]

With these words, he looked at Hwan Yun-myeong with somewhat bitter eyes.

What was with those eyes?

Could it be that he knew Hwan Yun-myeong had manipulated them?

When his eyes met the Shadow Master’s, Hwan Yun-myeong became extremely afraid that he might have noticed his scheme.

‘He’ll abandon me. He’ll abandon me. He’ll abandon me.’

However, contrary to his severe worries, the Shadow Master’s attitude didn’t change.

He still treated him like a disciple.

He even asked him to take good care of the junior disciples as their senior brother.

‘Ah. It was needless worry.’

Fortunately.

However, because of this, something occurred to Hwan Yun-myeong that he had never thought of before.

‘What if no one gets castrated?’

Then what would happen?

At first, he just regretted not being able to get castrated.

But when he thought differently, the answer lay elsewhere.

If the Shadow Master never forced castration on the disciples he accepted until the end, he could make everyone refuse like the two junior disciples.

‘If that happens…’

Perhaps he would get a chance too?

The Shadow Master, whom he had watched for a long time, was not someone who went back on his own words.

Then it might be possible.

If no official disciple emerged until the end, he could become the next Shadow Master.

Having such ambition, Hwan Yun-myeong gained new motivation.

He worked harder than before, and his martial arts also improved by leaps and bounds.

And a few years later,

[You’re going to observe the Corpse Blood Valley closing ceremony?]

[Yes. I have business at Corpse Blood Valley anyway, and I heard there’s a good girl there, so I want to take a look.]

[A girl… you say?]

What was this about?

Could it be that he was giving up on castration and trying to accept a girl with innate yin energy as a disciple from the beginning?

At the Shadow Master’s words, Hwan Yun-myeong felt uneasy for the first time in a long while.

He was filled with confidence that he would become the successor since the Shadow Master hadn’t accepted a disciple for a long time.

So he waited with an anxious heart.

And,

“Has Master returned?”

“Ah. Young Master. The Society Leader arrived a little while ago.”

“I see. By any chance… did he come with that girl from Demon Fire Hall?”

“Demon Fire Hall? I don’t think so.”

“No?”

“Yes. It seems he brought a male trainee.”

At those words, Hwan Yun-myeong’s anxiety disappeared as if washed away.

He had been worried that if a girl from Demon Fire Hall entered, his position might be shaken, but it seemed things had turned out well.

However,

“But there seems to be a bit of a problem.”

“A problem?”

“The trainee he brought seems to be a hostage from the righteous faction.”

A hostage from the righteous faction?

What was this about?

Corpse Blood Valley was a place of trials that only talents under the Heaven and Earth Society could enter.

How could a hostage from the righteous faction enter such a place?

To the puzzled Hwan Yun-myeong, Internal Director Cho Yeom-hun explained,

“Young Master, please keep this to yourself. I heard that the Clan Leader personally sent two hostages he brought from the righteous faction to Corpse Blood Valley.”

“The Clan Leader did?”

If that was the case, it would be difficult for anyone to directly express dissatisfaction.

But why would the Society Leader send hostages from the righteous faction to such a place?

No, that didn’t matter.

Why did Master bring such a troublemaker?

Was he pleased enough to bear that level of risk?

‘Righteous faction…’

Among the people of the Heaven and Earth Society, there was no one who liked those from the righteous faction.

No, just hearing about them made everyone hate them.

Hwan Yun-myeong was the same.

‘This won’t do.’

He should probably speak to Master and tell him to reconsider accepting the righteous faction hostage as a disciple.

No matter how he thought about it, the risk was too great.

Thus, he asked the Internal Director and learned that the Shadow Master and the righteous faction hostage he had newly accepted had gone to the Society Leader’s private indoor training room.

So he headed there.

However, when he went there, he found that the junior disciples had arrived before him.

“This can’t be!”

“How could this happen?”

But they were holding the warriors guarding the indoor training room and making a fuss about something.

What were they making a fuss about?

As he approached,

“Senior Brother! It’s a big problem.”

“A big problem?”

In response to that question, the youngest junior disciple, Yong-su, whose chin was particularly prominent, replied with an absurd expression,

“Master accepted the guy he brought from Corpse Blood Valley as an official disciple.”

‘!?’

At those words, Hwan Yun-myeong’s expression hardened.

What was this about?

An official disciple? Could it be?

“Did that guy say he would be castrated?”

At Hwan Yun-myeong’s question, the second junior disciple, Myeong-tak, shook his head and burst out in anger,

“That’s not it. He said he wouldn’t be castrated, but because he has an innate yin constitution, Master said he would accept him as an official disciple.”

“Innate yin constitution?”

At those words, a sigh escaped Hwan Yun-myeong’s mouth.

What kind of bolt from the blue was this?

He had been at ease because Master didn’t bring a girl.

Moreover, since he was a hostage from the righteous faction, he was about to suggest to Master that it would be better to send him away.

But he accepted such a troublemaker as an official disciple?

‘How…’

But that wasn’t the end of it.

The news that shocked him even more was,

“How could Master do this? Not only did he accept him as an official disciple without being castrated, but he even gifted him the Evil Commandment Sword that Senior Brother risked his life to obtain.”

-Gnash!

The moment he heard those words, Hwan Yun-myeong’s face distorted like a demon.

Normally, he would have maintained his dignity in front of the junior disciples, but he couldn’t endure this at all.

Despite the warriors’ dissuasion, Hwan Yun-myeong entered the Shadow Master’s private indoor training room.

-Bang!

In the middle of the room stood a handsome boy reading a scroll.

He seemed to be around the same age as the junior disciples.

However, neither his age nor his outstanding appearance caught Hwan Yun-myeong’s attention.

Rather, his gaze immediately went to the Evil Commandment Sword hanging from the waist of the boy, no, Mok Gyeong-un, the righteous faction hostage.

-Crunch!

It was true.

He had hoped it was false, but Master really gave the Evil Commandment Sword to that bastard.

He had believed that since he had risked his life to obtain it, Master would naturally bestow it upon him, the eldest disciple, once the demonic energy was controlled.

Did that damn righteous faction hostage bastard steal his position and even his sword?

That was his.

‘I’ll kill him.’

He had to get back everything that was his, even if he had to kill that bastard…

“You’re a really interesting person. If you kill me, you can get back what’s yours…”

‘!?’

What?

At the voice ringing in his ears, Hwan Yun-myeong couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

Although he was angry, he didn’t outwardly reveal his true feelings in front of the junior disciples.

But how did he read his thoughts?

As he wondered,

‘Huh?’

Hwan Yun-myeong’s eyes wavered.

At some point, the youngest junior disciple, Yong-su, was holding his broken arm and suffering, and the second junior disciple, Myeong-tak, was looking at him with absurd eyes.

Just what had happened?

‘Why?’

Why was Myeong-tak looking at him with those eyes?

In that fleeting moment of bewilderment, forgotten memories quickly flashed through his mind.

-Whoosh!

[I can’t stand it anymore. Brothers, I’ll take it back right now!]

The youngest junior disciple, Yong-su, who couldn’t hold back his anger and rushed towards the righteous faction hostage.

Contrary to the expectation that he would at least be able to compete to some degree since he was the weakest among them, he was suppressed in an instant and had his neck grabbed.

[You’re risking your life at our first meeting.]

[Kuk… Kuk…]

[You were prepared for this, right?]

[What?]

-Crack!

Without blinking an eye, the bastard broke Yong-su’s right arm.

[Aaaaaargh!]

‘How could this be?’

Seeing that, Hwan Yun-myeong judged that the bastard was no ordinary skilled martial artist.

Even he couldn’t subdue Yong-su, who was at the beginning of the Peak Realm, with just one move like that.

Becoming cautious, he was contemplating what to do,

[You can’t take your eyes off this sword. Do you want it?]

[What are you talking about…]

[If you can have it, try taking it.]

‘!?’

-Swish!

With those words, Mok Gyeong-un drew the Evil Commandment Sword he was wearing and threw it.

‘What the hell is this bastard?’

-Catch!

In a daze, he caught the sword’s hilt as if snatching it, but from that moment, he couldn’t remember.

Holding his forehead with his left hand, Hwan Yun-myeong staggered and muttered,

“What, what have I done?”

Mok Gyeong-un approached him and said,

“You mumbled your desires with your own mouth.”

“What… did I say?”

“You said that if none of the junior disciples who enter get castrated, there will be no official disciples, so you will become the successor? What a cute idea.”

‘!!!!!!!!!’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Hwan Yun-myeong’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

He said that with his own mouth?

He was concerned about the eyes with which the second junior disciple, Myeong-tak, was looking at him, making it hard to say it was a lie.

But then,

-Drip!

“Kuk!”

At that moment, Hwan Yun-myeong felt a sudden pain and looked at his right hand.

The veins on the back of his hand holding the Evil Commandment Sword were bulging and bursting, and black blood was flowing down.

Then, it was trying to spread to his entire arm.

In a panic, Hwan Yun-myeong hurriedly tried to let go of the Evil Commandment Sword.

However,

“Aaargh!”

As if the sword’s hilt was connected to his palm, it wouldn’t come off.

Rather, it was even more painful.

“What, what the hell is this…”

Hwan Yun-myeong tried to somehow remove the Evil Commandment Sword by raising his internal energy with his other hand.

However, the more he did that, the stronger the pain became, and he couldn’t endure it.

“Uuugh.”

As he struggled, Mok Gyeong-un approached him and said,

“Shall I remove the sword for you?”

At those words, unable to bear the pain, Hwan Yun-myeong nodded his head frantically.

Then, Mok Gyeong-un said something out of the blue,

“You clearly asked me to remove it with your own mouth.”

“What?”

Why was he saying this?

At that moment, Hwan Yun-myeong saw Mok Gyeong-un’s smile filled with malice.

‘Could it be?’

In a panic, he hurriedly said something.

“Wait, hold on…”

-Slash!

Before he could even finish his words,

A sharp blade brushed past and sliced through Hwan Yun-myeong’s right wrist that was holding the sword.

Chapter 127 – Shadow Clan (4)

[TL/N: Title Name changes:

Sect Leader → Society Leader.

Shadow Master → Shadow Clan Master

Note: Amendments will be made for earlier chapters.

***

Inside a soundproof room within the secret special operations building of the Shadow Clan, the External Affairs Director pointed to a messenger pigeon with an encrypted message and spoke.

“Clan Master, it looks certain this time. The known appearance matches, and doesn’t the imperial palace also want to completely uproot ‘their’ origins?”

“Hmm… That’s true. But the fact that he’s being detained in the underground Golden Jade[1] of the imperial palace… This has become quite a headache.”

The Shadow Clan Master stroked his chin as if perplexed.

They had planted spies throughout the Central Plains to observe the unfolding situation, but to think that out of the many possible places, it would be the underground Golden Jade of the imperial palace…

They had found him in the most troublesome location.

“What should we do? Shouldn’t we report this to the Society Leader first? The Shadow Clan has its own reputation to uphold, and for a direct subordinate group of the Society Leader to find him first…”

“No. Not yet.”

“But they keep urging…”

“If this turns out to be misidentified information like last time or deliberately exposed information, it might displease the Society Leader instead.”

“……”

The Shadow Clan Master’s concern lay in certainty.

Based on the current information alone, there seemed to be a 70% possibility.

However, to report and launch an operation, over 90% confidence was necessary.

“And even if it becomes certain, the means to immediately enter the underground Golden Jade of the imperial palace are far-fetched.”

The place with the strictest security after the inner palace where the emperor, empress dowager, and royal relatives resided was the underground Golden Jade.

It was difficult for even long-term embedded spies in the imperial palace to enter this place.

At the Shadow Clan Master’s words, the External Affairs Director pondered and opened his mouth.

“Then what about trying to infiltrate a spy into the Embroidered Uniform Guard?”

“The Embroidered Uniform Guard…”

Those guarding the underground Golden Jade of the imperial palace were the Embroidered Uniform Guard[2] , a special operations organization.

Unlike other imperial palace warriors, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had many masters skilled in martial arts.

That was why infiltrating the underground Golden Jade was tricky.

“Didn’t the Embroidered Uniform Guard request young disciples from the Righteous Alliance and our Clan to send over when they announced reforms and reorganization more than a decade ago?”

“Request…”

Ah, there had been such an incident.

However, without the Society Leader’s approval, that matter fell through.

‘But now would be a considerably opportune time.’

And why was that?

It was because the imperial palace was currently in disarray due to the emperor’s illness.

As the emperor’s condition worsened, signs of internal strife emerged.

According to the information, the Righteous Alliance dispatching disciples wasn’t simply to form good ties with the government either.

‘Are they trying to intervene in the next succession?’

Whoever becomes the emperor influences the relationship between the government and the martial world.

The Righteous Alliance was likely aiming to enthrone an emperor favorable to the orthodox faction.

Taking this into account, if the Heaven and Earth Society also intervenes through this opportunity…

-Knock knock!

Right then, someone rapped on the door.

-Clan Master!

At the urgent-sounding voice, the Shadow Clan Master personally opened the door and went out.

Not many had the authority to enter the Clan’s Main Hall.

“I apologize for the discourtesy during the meeting.”

The one who knocked was none other than one of the guards watching over the Clan Master’s private indoor training room.

“What is it?”

“I believe you should go to the indoor training room right away.”

‘!?’

***

-Swish!

A sharp aura grazed past the wrist.

Along with it, something familiar fell to the floor.

-Thud!

It was none other than…

“Aaaaaargh! My arm, my arm!”

Hwan Yun-myeong, the Shadow Clan Master’s first junior disciple, screamed at the sight of his severed arm.

He never thought Mok Gyeong-un would really cut off his arm.

He wasn’t the only one shocked by this scene.

‘This crazy bastard…’

Myeong Tak, the second junior disciple, also couldn’t hide his consternation at Hwan Yun-myeong’s severed arm.

When the youngest Yong-su’s arm was broken, he thought it was somewhat understandable.

However, to a martial artist, the right arm was no different from one’s life.

“Wh-what are you doing!”

Myeong Tak shouted at Mok Gyeong-un.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head and spoke.

“What am I doing? I helped him let go of his sword, didn’t I?”

Mok Gyeong-un answered with an expressionless face, as if feeling no emotion at all.

Seeing this, a chill ran down Myeong Tak’s spine.

What the hell is this guy?

While thinking that, Mok Gyeong-un grabbed Hwan Yun-myeong’s severed arm, which was still writhing on the floor, and lifted it.

“It’s quite fresh. Seeing it move like this even after being separated.”

“Y-you! You!”

Hwan Yun-myeong, who had been holding his severed arm, gritted his teeth and glared at Mok Gyeong-un.

The pain of having one’s arm cut off was an agony beyond words.

But more distressing than that pain was the fact that his right arm, as a martial artist, had been severed.

-Tap tap tap!

Hwan Yun-myeong tapped the blood points above his severed arm to stop the bleeding.

And the moment the pain subsided,

‘I’ll kill you!’

Burning with vengeance, he tried to attack Mok Gyeong-un, but…

-Swish!

He couldn’t move due to the blade of the Evil Commandment Sword touching his neck.

The aura emanating from the tip of the sword was enough to separate his head from his body at any moment.

‘…I couldn’t see it.’

Even watching right in front of his eyes, the trajectory was lost to such a degree of swiftness that even his eyes couldn’t follow.

This guy wasn’t someone he could do anything about even with an intact arm.

Mok Gyeong-un grinned and said,

“You want to lose your head too?”

“You… Just what are you? How can a mere hostage of the righteous faction…”

Be this strong?

He knew that those who passed through the Corpse Blood Valley’s gates were far stronger and superior to their peers.

But he was a disciple of a direct executive of the Heaven and Earth Society, not just a subordinate clan.

So how could this be?

-Grind!

His wounded pride made him so furious.

With that, Hwan Yun-myeong gnashed his teeth and spoke as if vowing revenge.

“Haa… Haa… Enjoy it while you can. Although I’ve lost my right arm…”

-Thwack!

“Ugh!”

The moment he tried to say something, Mok Gyeong-un kicked Hwan Yun-myeong’s chin.

He kicked so hard that Hwan Yun-myeong’s teeth seemed to break as he kept spitting out blood.

To the suffering Hwan Yun-myeong, Mok Gyeong-un spoke as if annoyed.

“You’re quite funny.”

“Hnnngh…”

“Just keep your mouth shut like that. And…”

Mok Gyeong-un turned his head to Yong-su, who was holding his broken arm, and Myeong Tak, who was at a loss, and said,

“Have you two grasped the situation now?”

“What?”

“Listening to what this senior brother here has been babbling about, it seems that I, as a formal disciple, have a higher rank than you. Isn’t that right?”

‘!?’

At his words, the expressions of the two hardened.

They had been angry that he had bypassed their own senior brother and was given the Evil Commandment Sword, wasn’t castrated despite being a hostage of the righteous faction, and was accepted as a disciple, so they had tried to teach him a lesson.

But strictly speaking, Mok Gyeong-un was a formal disciple of the Shadow Clan Master and ranked above them.

However, admitting this fact that they didn’t want to acknowledge out of submission to the guy’s power was unforgivable to their pride.

Yong-su, who had been holding his broken arm, spoke to Mok Gyeong-un while suppressing his anger.

“…Don’t be ridiculous! You think we’ll recognize a mere hostage from the righteous faction as a formal disciple?”

“Hm?”

“You should worry about yourself first. No matter what, you cut off our senior brother’s arm, so do you think Master will just let this slide…”

-Swish!

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un disappeared from Yong-su’s sight.

‘What?’

Wondering where he had gone, Yong-su suddenly felt someone’s touch on his back.

-Tap!

-Flinch!

The startled Yong-su tried to shake off the hand that put an arm around his shoulder, but…

-Crack!

“Ugh!”

He couldn’t move at all due to the crushing grip on his left shoulder.

Mok Gyeong-un had his arm around him and was gripping his left shoulder, causing so much pain that Yong-su knelt down before he knew it.

-Thud!

But it didn’t end there.

-Crunch!

The sound of something breaking came from his shoulder.

On top of having his right elbow broken, Yong-su’s left shoulder blade shattered, causing him to grimace in pain and try to scream.

However…

“Mmmph!”

“Shh. You’re noisy.”

He couldn’t scream because Mok Gyeong-un covered his mouth.

To the suffering Yong-su, Mok Gyeong-un grinned and said,

“You all came rushing in, going on about me being a hostage of the righteous faction and whatnot. Have you already forgotten telling me to hand over the sword?”

“Mmmmph…”

“And your thinking is quite short-sighted. If I were Master, I think he would say that punishing you for disrespecting a formal disciple was the right thing to do. Don’t you agree?”

“……”

Yong-su couldn’t refute Mok Gyeong-un’s words.

In the heat of the moment, he had said he couldn’t acknowledge it, but Mok Gyeong-un was already a formal disciple accepted by their Master.

In contrast, they were junior disciples who had refused castration.

‘Damn it.’

Until now, it had been foolish of them not to become formal disciples.

To such Yong-su, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Hmm. Since we’re practically fellow disciples, I was going to end it moderately, but now that it’s come to this, should I just make you a cripple unable to use your limbs? It’d be fun. I’m curious how you’d live if I cut off all your arms and legs.”

-Shudder!

Mok Gyeong-un spoke those chilling words while laughing as if it were nothing.

At his words, Yong-su’s face turned deathly pale.

He might not know about others, but this bastard really seemed like he would do it.

Right then…

-Thud!

The second junior disciple, Myeong Tak, knelt on one knee and politely clasped his hands.

Since the Master held the highest position, prostrating was not allowed, and this was no different from the etiquette shown to a senior brother.

After kneeling like that, Myeong Tak spoke in an earnest voice.

“P-please forgive our rudeness.”

‘Senior Brother!’

Seeing his senior brother’s sudden change, Yong-su found it absurd even while suffering.

However, after being beaten alongside Yong-su, Myeong Tak was mentally broken.

The thought of holding a grudge against Mok Gyeong-un had long disappeared from his mind.

He just desperately wanted to be forgiven.

“We were wrong, so please…”

At that moment…

-Creak! Thud!

The closed iron door of the indoor training room opened, revealing the Shadow Clan Master and the External Affairs Director.

To them, it was like saviors had appeared.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders and whispered.

“You’re lucky.”

With that, he released his grip on Yong-su.

The Shadow Clan Master surveyed the scene inside with a furrowed brow.

‘Oh, dear…’

He had rushed over upon hearing that his three junior disciples had angrily entered the Clan Master’s private indoor training room, worried that an incident might occur.

Although all three he had personally taught had reached the Peak Realm, he had been concerned just in case, but the result was completely different from his expectation.

‘To think they would be this outmatched even without learning the True Essence Techniques of this clan.’

Regardless of the circumstances, it was somewhat disappointing.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Hwan Yun-myeong, who had spotted the Shadow Clan Master, crawled to him with one arm, clung to his legs, and tearfully pleaded,

“M-Master… I want to be castrated. Please castrate me.”

“…What?”

However, that wasn’t all.

Yong-su and Myeong Tak also prostrated and pleaded in unison.

“Master, please castrate us!”

Just what was going on?

Chapter 128 – Reunion (1)

It was truly a bizarre coincidence.

Among the junior disciples, the senior disciple Hwan Yun-myeong, the second disciple Myeong Tak, and the third disciple Yong-su had not the slightest desire for castration after awakening to sexual desire.

However, the situation had changed.

They all pleaded for castration.

And for good reason. If they didn’t become formal disciples through castration, they might have to suffer under that devilish bastard for the rest of their lives.

“Master, please castrate us!”

Seeing their pleading, Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue inwardly.

Their ulterior motives were plain to see.

Until now, they hadn’t wanted to remove their genitals due to sexual desire, but now that he had appeared as a formal disciple, they felt their positions were threatened.

They had tried to do something about it with force, but they were no match, so only one option remained for them.

Becoming formal disciples through castration.

‘Meaningless scheming.’

That’s what he thought, but it might be the right choice for them.

However, if they suddenly appeared in this state and asked to be castrated, would their request really be granted?

He had doubts, but…

“You won’t regret it?”

At the Shadow Clan Master’s question, all three hesitated for a moment.

However, they soon glanced at Mok Gyeong-un, conscious of him, then nodded and replied in unison.

“We won’t regret it.”

It wasn’t a situation for regrets.

Hwan Yun-myeong felt that way even more so.

Not only had he already revealed with his own mouth that the junior apprentice brothers had tried to prevent them from becoming formal disciples, but now that he had lost his right arm, who would accept him?

Hwan Yun-myeong looked at his master with desperate eyes.

Then the Shadow Clan Master covered his mouth and laughed as if pleased.

“Ohoho. Good. Since you chose it yourselves, of course I should grant it.”

“Ah!”

“Thank you!”

At his answer, the junior disciples all knocked their heads on the floor, expressing their gratitude.

Mok Gyeong-un, watching this scene, couldn’t understand.

They weren’t special cases like him, and they had given up becoming formal disciples for their own desires.

Yet why was he accepting them?

While he was wondering, Hwan Yun-myeong and Yong-su seemed to be smiling at him with relieved expressions.

‘Hmm.’

Why were they making such faces?

The reason was simple.

By getting castrated, their positions had now become equal.

No, since they had entered the clan before Mok Gyeong-un, the situation had reversed.

As his senior brothers, he could no longer bully them…

“Gyeong-un.”

Just then, the Shadow Clan Master called out to Mok Gyeong-un.

“Yes.”

“We can speak casually now, right?”

“Yes.”

“Ohoho. You’ve gained three junior apprentice brothers as soon as you entered, so you’re quite fortunate. As the senior brother, take good care of them.”

‘!!!!!!’

At the Shadow Clan Master’s words, the faces of the three distorted in an instant.

What kind of bolt from the blue was this?

Why was that bastard Mok Gyeong-un becoming their senior brother instead?

Unable to hold back, Hwan Yun-myeong asked,

“M-Master. How can the one who entered last become the senior brother?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Pardon?”

“Gyeong-un became a formal disciple the earliest, so isn’t he rightfully your senior brother?”

At the Shadow Clan Master’s words, Hwan Yun-myeong scrunched his face as if he had bitten into dung.

He thought that by becoming a formal disciple, he would at least have a higher rank than that bastard, but this couldn’t be happening.

Just then, Myeong Tak clasped his hands in greeting to Mok Gyeong-un.

“Junior Apprentice Myeong Tak greets Senior Brother Mok Gyeong-un.”

“……”

The quickest change in stance, above all.

Watching this, Hwan Yun-myeong and Yong-su were dumbfounded.

Of course, Myeong Tak paid no heed to their gazes.

In any case, the tide had turned.

Even Master had appointed Mok Gyeong-un as the senior brother without even hearing the circumstances of what had happened inside.

What did that imply?

‘This bastard is the next Shadow Clan Master.’

To survive now, the one he needed to impress was not Hwan Yun-myeong who had stabbed them in the back.

***

After sending the injured Hwan Yun-myeong, Yong-su, and Myeong Tak to the medical hall of the inner clan and being left alone, the Shadow Clan Master looked at Mok Gyeong-un and spoke.

“You’re not asking anything.”

“About what?”

“Why you’re not asking about the circumstances of what happened inside… And things like why I put you, who entered last, forward as the senior brother.”

“Since Master must have something in mind, does this disciple of yours need to impudently raise questions?”

“……”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the corners of the Shadow Clan Master’s mouth twitched.

He had asked because Mok Gyeong-un showed no hint of doubt, but to think he would give such a satisfactory answer.

However, this wasn’t the child’s true heart.

Based on observing him until the Corpse Blood Valley’s discipleship ceremony, this child was a cunning type that was difficult to control.

For such a child to cite discourtesy…

“Ohohoho. While it’s an excellent answer as a disciple, there’s no need to hide your true thoughts in front of me.”

“……”

“Do you have nothing you want to say?”

At the Shadow Clan Master’s question, Mok Gyeong-un soon parted his lips.

However, the question was different from what was expected.

“Even though you knew, was it out of affection that you accepted them as formal disciples?”

The Shadow Clan Master’s eyes narrowed.

Look at this child.

He never thought he would ask in such a way.

“It seems there was more conversation inside than I thought. Judging by the way you’re asking.”

Contrary to the Shadow Clan Master’s guess, there had been no conversation.

It was just that thanks to Hwan Yun-myeong, captivated by the Evil Commandment Sword’s demonic energy, babbling about his desires, Mok Gyeong-un had learned how their master-disciple relationship had been formed.

“If you can call that a conversation.”

“Ohoho.”

“If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”

“That’s not it. If I must answer, it could be out of affection. But apart from that, there are sometimes things you can overlook while knowing.”

‘Hm?’

Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.

What did he mean by overlooking while knowing?

From Mok Gyeong-un’s perspective, who valued reason, it made no sense at all.

But one thing was certain: the Shadow Clan Master knew that all the disciples who came in due to Hwan Yun-myeong did not get castrated.

No, it would be stranger if he didn’t know in the first place.

He was none other than the leader of the Shadow Clan, which oversaw information.

“Giving up something for the sake of something else is not an easy thing.”

“……”

The Shadow Clan Master spoke while covering his mouth.

“Ohoho. You’ll understand what I mean once you face more of life’s hardships and are in a position to lead an organization.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Anyhow, I apologize for causing this incident by not informing those children in advance.”

“Not at all.”

“They probably haven’t memorized it properly yet, so I’ll arrange lodgings for you today, so while resting…”

“I’ve memorized it.”

“What?”

“If you’re referring to the Ghost Yin Technique‘s oral secrets, I’ve memorized them all.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the Shadow Clan Master looked at him as if asking if that was really true.

That’s because according to the report, the three had barged in here not long after he had gone to the discipleship ceremony.

No matter how brilliant, it would be difficult to memorize the oral secrets in such a short time.

However…

“Attending to the source, under the scenery, reversing the clouds, reforming the world, reaching compliance, understanding the realm of martial merit……”

‘!?’

The Shadow Clan Master’s eyes sparkled at the Ghost Yin Technique’s oral secrets flowing from Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth.

Having watched the last gate of Corpse Blood Valley, he was aware that Mok Gyeong-un’s talent was incomparably superior to ordinary people.

But he didn’t know he would be this outstanding.

‘……Was it to this extent?’

This exceeded expectations.

He newly sympathized with the ancient sage’s saying that one couldn’t help but be moved when welcoming an excellent disciple.

The more he knew this child, the more he truly regretted it.

If only his background was under the Heaven and Earth Society, he would walk an even smoother path.

It was unfortunate that he still needed to improve his perception, but he was worth nurturing as a future talent.

“Even if I want to hold back praise, it’s hard to do so. Well done.”

“Not at all.”

“Ohoho. I’d like to proceed with the teachings right away if I could, but it seems difficult today as I haven’t finished dealing with the earlier matter.”

“I understand.”

“I’ve informed the Internal Affairs Director, so he will guide you to your lodging. You probably haven’t had a proper rest while going through the Corpse Blood Valley’s gates, so rest well today.”

“Yes.”

“Then see you tomorrow…”

“Ah. I apologize, but would it be alright for me to take a walk around this area?”

“A walk?”

“Yes. After being in the mountains for so long, I’d like to take a light stroll and look around.”

At those words, the Shadow Clan Master’s eyes sparkled faintly.

However, without revealing it, he spoke as if it were nothing.

“You want to tour the inner city, I see.”

“Yes. If it’s okay.”

“Ohoho. If that’s the case, I’ll assign someone to accompany you.”

At his words, Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue inwardly.

Although he had been accepted as a formal disciple and the Shadow Clan Master’s tone had become gentler and more familiar, he still hadn’t lowered his guard against Mok Gyeong-un at all.

The fact that he was assigning someone when Mok Gyeong-un said he would take a walk nearby showed that.

It was annoying, but there was no choice.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

***

And so, Mok Gyeong-un left the Shadow Clan’s estate accompanied by an escort warrior assigned by the Shadow Clan Master.

“Don’t mind me and just walk around as you please, Young Master.”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

In fact, it would have been more considerate not to follow.

But there was no choice.

“Hoo.”

Mok Gyeong-un let out a small exclamation as he looked around outside the estate.

He had briefly looked around while coming here, but it was indeed vast.

No, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it immense.

‘The inner city itself is large.’

It seemed like it would take quite some time to look around the entire place.

Rather, if he climbed the tallest building and surveyed the surroundings, he felt he could roughly grasp the entire geography of this place.

However, that seemed difficult to do right away.

The escort warrior was watching his every move.

-What did you come out for? It would be better to rest today as that eunuch-like mortal said.

Just then, Cheong-ryeong’s voice rang in his ears.

In response, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders and replied through voice transmission.

-Because I felt it.

-Felt? What do you mean?

-I sense Go Chan’s spiritual energy not far from here.

-What? You mean that spirit who had entered that assassin wench’s body?

-Yes.

The reason Mok Gyeong-un had come out was none other than the Guard Go Chan.

Forming a bond meant not only the spirit could sense the owner’s energy.

Mok Gyeong-un could also instinctively detect the location of his bound spirit.

‘It’s not far.’

He was located within a radius of about 100 jang.

If the energy was very far away, it would be faint and difficult to notice, but being this close, he felt he could definitely tell where it was.

‘Northwest.’

If he headed in that direction, he would likely meet him.

-Seems like that guy is impressive too. Well, as a bound spirit, it’s natural for him to follow since he can’t even run away. But the fact that he didn’t come close…

-It seems he’s maintaining the body he possessed.

-Ha! You mean he infiltrated this place while still possessing a body?

-Yes. That’s how it appears for now.

-The body seemed quite useful, but it didn’t seem to be at a level capable of sneaking into the inner city… He must unexpectedly have some skill.

-Since he was originally an assassin, he may have done so based on that experience.

-Well, in any case, the more cards we can use, the better. Since there’s no risk of betrayal from a bound spirit.

He agreed with Cheong-ryeong’s words.

That’s why he was looking for the Guard Go Chan.

Seeing that he had followed well and infiltrated this place, his value seemed to have increased compared to before.

And so, Mok Gyeong-un headed towards the northwestern path of the inner city, accompanied by the Shadow Clan’s escort warrior.

It was when they had walked about thirty jang.

A group of people could be seen walking from the opposite side.

One of them particularly caught his eye.

‘Hmm.’

It was a youthful-looking man in his late twenties with curly hair and a radiant appearance.

In Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes, the man’s surging energy was visible.

Surprisingly, the magnitude of that energy was on a level comparable to Bright Blade King Son Yun.

‘Who is he?’

He was at a level where it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him an executive.

However, it was difficult to make an accurate judgment based on appearance alone.

Just then, someone else entered Mok Gyeong-un’s sight.

‘!?’

Behind the curly-haired youth, there was a man who appeared to be in his early thirties, seemingly part of the group.

He was holding a wine bottle in one hand and had his other arm wrapped around the waist of a young and alluring woman.

-Isn’t that… Could it be that guy?

At Cheong-ryeong’s words, Mok Gyeong-un nodded slightly.

The woman wearing flashy clothes with a neckline revealing her chest was none other than…

-…It seems to be him.

It was undoubtedly the Guard Go Chan, who had possessed Ha Chae-rin.

But why was Go Chan acting like that?

It seemed he had infiltrated the Heaven and Earth Society in a different way than expected.

‘Aaaah, damn it.’

Having also instantly recognized his master, Mok Gyeong-un, the Guard Go Chan couldn’t lift his face, feeling embarrassed.