Chapter 51:Heaven and Earth Society(3)
"How?"
Surprisingly, Mok Gyeong-un was moving perfectly fine, and on top of that, he had even untied the ropes restraining him.
How did this guy release the pressure points?
As he wondered, Mok Gyeong-un lightly struck his chest.
-Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tak!
Soon, the mute acupoint was released, and his voice tried to come out.
"You…"
Mok Gyeong-un whispered to him.
"Shh."
At this, Mok Yu-cheon lowered his voice and whispered back.
"…How did you release the pressure points?"
Mok Gyeong-un didn't answer his question.
Because there were no pressure points applied in the first place.
No, they were applied for a very short time, but due to his yin death energy, Bright Blade King Son Yun's true energy dispersed not long after.
Mok Gyeong-un had merely been quietly observing the situation.
"You don't need to know that."
As he avoided answering, Mok Yu-cheon frowned and said,
"Don't tell me you're trying to… escape?"
Mok Gyeong-un smiled silently.
It was a sign of affirmation.
Mok Yu-cheon was flabbergasted and asked,
"By what means? The warriors of Heaven and Earth Society will be guarding all around."
"Now is the opportunity. Most of them, starting with Bright Blade King, are gone. There are only four men guarding outside the carriage. Six more are spread out nearby keeping watch."
'!?'
For a moment, Mok Yu-cheon was puzzled.
His eyes had been covered and his meridians sealed just like him, so how does he know all this?
Moreover, this fellow is merely a third-rate martial artist who would struggle to detect presences within a few jang, let alone sense all that.
Mok Gyeong-un spoke to the skeptical man.
"If you tell me just one thing, I'll help you escape too."
"What?"
"That's why I only released the mute acupoint."
'Huh?'
Come to think of it, his body still had no sensation.
Not because the ropes weren't untied, but because the paralysis acupoint hadn't been released.
"What are you playing at? If you're going to free me, do it properly…"
"Sorry, but I don't need to accommodate you once we're outside, so I'd appreciate it if you just answer my question."
A subtle killing intent emanated from his voice.
Together with his expressionless face and indifferent eyes, it created a peculiar atmosphere.
It was a completely different feeling from usual.
"You, what the ….…"
"Who is Ghost Blade?"
"What?"
"I asked who Ghost Blade is."
Mok Yu-cheon furrowed his brow at Mok Gyeong-un's question.
Is he really asking because he doesn't know who Ghost Blade is?
There shouldn't be a single person in the martial world who doesn't know of that individual's notoriety.
"…Are you seriously asking because you don't know?"
"Yes."
"Are you messing with me right now…"
"Just answer the question."
He didn't add anything else, but Mok Gyeong-un exuded an intimidating aura as if he would kill him if he didn't answer.
Even before, it was strange, but is this fellow really the cowardly Mok Gyeong-un?
"You're not going to answer?"
"…He's one of the Six Celestial Demons."
"Six Celestial Demons?"
"What… are you really?"
Mok Yu-cheon couldn't comprehend Mok Gyeong-un's reaction that seemed to genuinely not know.
In the current martial world, there are six great leaders considered to be at the pinnacle.
Their martial prowess is said to be heaven above heaven, so the martial artists of the Central Plains call them the Six Celestials.
Below them, not reaching their level but still attaining the highest realm, there are eight supreme masters.
They are known as the Eight Stars.
"How can you not know about the Six Celestials and Eight Stars…"
"I don't know about Eight Stars or whatever, but where is that Ghost Blade?"
Mok Yu-cheon stared intently into Mok Gyeong-un's eyes at that question, then sighed and said,
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"How would I know about someone who disappeared seventeen years ago?"
"Disappeared?"
"Yes. And no one has been able to uncover Ghost Blade's true identity to this day."
"No one knowing means everyone is clueless?"
"That's what I just said."
"Hmm."
Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin as if troubled by Mok Yu-cheon's words.
The scars left on his deceased grandfather and the scar on the side of the Yeon Mok Sword Manor Sect Leader were very similar.
That's why this Ghost Blade individual was the prime suspect.
But if no one knows that person's identity, it becomes difficult to know where to start investigating again.
However, there was one curious point here.
'He said Ghost Blade disappeared seventeen years ago… Then why did the man target Grandfather?'
If the scars were the work of the same culprit, it had to be Ghost Blade.
But he couldn't understand why someone who had disappeared suddenly targeted his grandfather.
As he pondered this, Mok Yu-cheon opened his mouth.
"Maybe if you go to Heaven and Earth Society, you might be able to find out."
"What?"
"I heard rumors that the masters Ghost Blade targeted were all renowned experts in the righteous faction, so he might be a master from Heaven and Earth Society or the imperial family."
"Heaven and Earth Society or the imperial family?"
"Yes. Although I don't know why you're curious."
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes sharpened at those words.
If so, the enemy who killed his grandfather might be in either Heaven and Earth Society or the imperial family.
At that moment, a voice rang in his ear.
-Mortal, hurry.
It was Cheong-ryeong's voice.
Mok Gyeong-un said,
"I'll keep my promise."
With those words, he reached out his hand to release the other acupoints.
However,
"I appreciate you releasing the acupoints, but don't do anything unnecessary."
"…Unnecessary?"
"If we escape now, Yeon Mok Sword Manor will be in danger."
"In danger, you say."
"We're hostages. You know what that means too. What do you think they'll do to Yeon Mok Sword Manor if we disappear?"
Mok Gyeong-un scoffed at Mok Yu-cheon's words.
Mok Yu-cheon frowned.
What kind of reaction is this? As he wondered, Mok Gyeong-un spoke in a cold voice.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"What?"
"Then stay here."
"You!"
-Thwack!
Mok Yu-cheon, struck on the back of the neck with a hand technique, immediately fainted.
With his usual martial prowess, he would never have allowed Mok Gyeong-un to land a blow, but his acupoints were sealed, rendering him unable to circulate his internal energy, so he was helpless.
-Swish!
Mok Gyeong-un carefully laid the unconscious Mok Yu-cheon on the floor.
From his perspective, it might be infuriating, but it truly had nothing to do with him.
Whether Yeon Mok Sword Manor was ruined or they all died, it wasn't his concern.
It was the real Mok Gyeong-un's concern.
Also,
'It's a pity I was planning to use him as bait.'
That was the reason he tried to release Mok Yu-cheon's acupoints.
'Heaven and Earth Society.'
Mok Gyeong-un pondered as he looked down at Mok Yu-cheon.
If, as he said, this Ghost Blade was really in Heaven and Earth Society, it could be an opportunity.
But the risk was quite significant.
They were interested in the secret manual in his mind.
So there was a possibility they would mercilessly kill him after uncovering it.
'It's better to thoroughly prepare before approaching them.'
That was the rational choice.
With his current martial arts, a reckless approach could backfire.
Then shall I step out for now?
Mok Gyeong-un carefully walked to the door of the luggage carriage.
The four masked individuals guarding the surroundings had been temporarily rendered unconscious by Cheong-ryeong's technique, so he could just leave.
-Creak!
Mok Gyeong-un opened the door.
However,
-Gasp!
The moment he opened the door, he felt something strange, even if only for an instant.
As he hesitated, Cheong-ryeong appeared and said,
-Go northwest. Don't stop. I will deal with those monitoring you.
"Alright."
-Whoosh!
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un launched his body.
Although he had practiced the Light Body Technique for four days, this was the first time properly utilizing it.
The Light Body Technique can be basically divided into footwork and lightness skill.
Lightness skill is a running technique to move faster over long distances or close the gap.
-Pa-pa-pa-pa-pat!
As the death energy flowed through the Yongcheon (feet) acupoint, his body shot forward at great speed.
It was incomparable to normal running.
The surrounding scenery rapidly changed.
In just half a moment, he seemed to have traveled a considerable distance.
However,
-Mortal, why are you making that expression?
"It's the same."
-The same?
"It's repeating."
-Repeating?
-Tak!
Mok Gyeong-un stopped his lightness skill and pointed to a tree wrapped in vines, saying,
"I feel like I'm seeing that tree for the fourth time already."
Cheong-ryeong, right beside him, frowned at his words.
Then she said,
-Are you sure you're not mistaken?
"How could that be?"
-If it was some kind of sorcery or technique, I couldn't have failed to notice.
"…That's true."
-It could be because you're tense. Hurry.
With those words, Cheong-ryeong tried to move forward.
But Mok Gyeong-un didn't budge from his spot.
Cheong-ryeong became irritated.
-Why are you doing this again? If we don't hurry, we won't be able to escape this place.
At those words, Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at Cheong-ryeong and spoke.
"You… Who are you?"
-What?
"I asked who you are."
She made a flabbergasted expression and said,
-Mortal, have you gone mad? Right now, to me, who…
-Swish!
Before she could finish speaking, Mok Gyeong-un reached out his hand.
It was the Art of Binding technique.
Cheong-ryeong's body was forcibly pulled, and before she knew it, her neck was offered up to Mok Gyeong-un's palm.
-Ack! Wh-what is this…
"You chose the wrong person to imitate. No, if you were going to do it, you should have done it properly."
If it was the real Cheong-ryeong, she would never have overlooked his comment about the tree being the same.
No, in the first place, someone of her high caliber wouldn't easily fall for such a thing.
-Mortal, you're making a mis-
"It doesn't seem to be a mistake."
The peculiar energy surging through his palm.
It was far from the unique death energy possessed by vengeful spirits.
And if it was Cheong-ryeong, she wouldn't have been pulled by the Art of Binding, but rather would have lightly flung him away.
-Woooong!
At that moment, a bizarre occurrence unfolded.
Cheong-ryeong's body rippled, then scattered, revealing a wooden puppet in his palm.
The wooden puppet had a talisman attached that read "Wooden Fetching Spell[1]".
-Sizzle!
The talisman in his palm soon burned to ashes.
-Pa-pa-pak!
Mok Gyeong-un immediately clasped his hands together, forming the Immovable Mind Seal[2] mudra.
Then, closing his eyes, he chanted an incantation.
"...…."
The scattering ashes flew off somewhere.
Then, swiftly circling the tree entwined with vines,
-Swish!
they were sucked into the tree.
Witnessing this, Mok Gyeong-un launched his body towards it.
-Whoosh!
He charged at the tree entwined with vines, and the moment he collided with it,
-Shhhh!
His field of vision changed, revealing a middle-aged man wearing an eye patch, diviner Jo, sitting on a large rock beside a bonfire.
There were ashes on his upper garment, which diviner Jo brushed off, then he smirked.
'Ha… Look at this fellow.'
Diviner Jo was sincerely impressed.
At Yeon Mok Sword Manor, he had confirmed that the fellow's talent was extraordinary.
However, he didn't have much faith in a martial family's disciple self-learning sorcery, so he took this opportunity to test Mok Gyeong-un with the Spirit Training Method and the Truth Seeking Technique.
Spirit Training Method
It is a technique that transforms a willow puppet into a target the opponent trusts or is close to.
By deceiving the opponent's five senses, it makes them perceive the willow puppet as someone imaginary, an advanced technique effective for gathering information by catching the opponent off guard.
Yet, this fellow not only saw through the fakery in just half a moment, but even escaped from the technique.
'To find the escape path like this…'
There is an orthodox method to finding the escape path in a technique.
But Mok Gyeong-un forcibly broke the Spirit Training Method, and in that instant, used the remnants of the talisman to find the Life Gate and his location through the Summoning Harmonization Technique, a tracking method.
'His adaptability is no joke.'
Such exceptional talent was truly hard to come by.
It was incomparable to the disciples he had accepted thus far.
diviner Jo raised the corners of his mouth and said to Mok Gyeong-un,
"You… become my disciple."
Chapter 52:Proposal(1)
"You… become my disciple."
'!?'
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes sharpened at diviner Jo's words.
He was already quite displeased from being manipulated by the technique earlier.
'Did he do something unnecessary?'
Mok Gyeong-un surveyed his surroundings, rolling his eyes.
No one was visible for now, and no unusual presences were detected.
Was it because of his confidence in handling things alone that he lured him here with the technique?
'Ten steps.'
With this distance, he seemed capable of subduing him.
He had become faster after learning the Light Body Technique.
And compared to martial artists, the physical abilities of sorcerers were significantly inferior.
'If I kill him before he uses sorcery…'
"There's no one around, so it's a misconception if you think you can do anything to me."
"…"
He wasn't as inattentive as expected.
But there was definitely no presence.
And he hadn't taken out any talismans or anything.
Trying once wouldn't hurt…
-Gasp!
Mok Gyeong-un hesitated.
The moment he slightly lifted his foot off the ground, he felt the surrounding energy distorting.
That strange energy when he let go of the carriage.
It was similar to that, but this time it was sharp like swinging a weapon.
"Quite sensitive, aren't you?"
A glint of interest flashed in diviner Jo's eyes.
Naturally, he had expected that if the fellow was smart, he would find a way to escape the technique.
That's why he had prepared in advance.
"To survive in this treacherous world, preparation must be thorough. That's the first lesson I'll give you."
"…"
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un surveyed his surroundings.
No talismans or anything like that were visible.
But why did he feel that ominous sensation the moment he tried to take a step?
Sorcery indeed had depths the more one delved into it.
Mok Gyeong-un looked at diviner Jo and spoke.
"…I never said I would become your disciple."
"Do you think you have a choice?"
"I can see you have a lot of interest in me, but I also have my own stance."
"Stance? Ha."
Diviner Jo scoffed.
Then he immediately took something out from his waist.
It was a wooden puppet with a talisman attached that read "Seal".
Diviner Jo tossed and caught it, saying,
"Don't you want to get this back?"
Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head slightly.
Then, out of curiosity, he sent death energy into his eyes and looked at the wooden puppet, and it seemed like something was inside.
But the energy was barely detectable, making it difficult to notice without focusing.
"Have you already forgotten what you were trying to protect?"
"Don't tell me that's…"
"Yes, it is. Did you think I would leave such a dangerous thing there?"
"…"
"You're an interesting fellow. Even among excellent sorcerers, few have taken a vengeful spirit as a familiar."
Diviner Jo only realized it after sealing the evil spirit into the wooden puppet.
Not only did he self-learn sorcery, but he also took a vengeful spirit as a familiar, something even outstanding sorcerers struggled to do.
He was undoubtedly a talent that couldn't be more desirable as a disciple.
"I don't know how you did it, but if you obediently agree to become my disciple, I can return this to you."
He thought it was a pretty good offer.
The fellow must have done considerable research of his own to take a vengeful spirit as a familiar.
So he believed he wouldn't easily want to lose his servant ghost.
However,
"You don't have to return it."
"What?"
"It has already left my hands, so what can I do?"
"…Huh?"
Look at this guy.
He must have struggled a lot to make the vengeful spirit his servant ghost, but he's giving it up so easily?
Is he deliberately putting on a strong front?
"Then you're fine with me destroying this vengeful spirit?"
"Do as you wish."
The complete lack of reluctance was absurd.
His thinking differs from ordinary sorcerers.
No, is it because he originally comes from a martial arts background?
"Hmm."
If he destroyed this vengeful spirit as the fellow said, it would make him seem narrow-minded.
After all, a master's capacity should appear vast.
Diviner Jo tossed the wooden puppet towards Mok Gyeong-un.
"Take it."
-Tak!
"…Why are you giving it to me?"
"Do you think my capacity is so small that I would covet something belonging to a prospective disciple?"
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un scoffed inwardly.
He desperately wants him as a disciple.
What should he do?
For now, there were three options.
Kill diviner Jo and escape, taking somewhat of a risk without knowing what trap there might be?
Or pretend to agree to be his disciple while dealing with him and escaping?
Lastly,
'…Infiltrate Heaven and Earth Society by becoming his disciple, despite the danger.'
It was the riskiest among the three.
If he encountered the person who appeared back then, sensing his pursuit, he could definitely be killed before even taking revenge.
'The second option seems better after all.'
It was the most appealing method.
It was also the method he enjoyed using the most originally.
At that moment, diviner Jo spoke.
"If I were you, I wouldn't refuse the offer."
"Why?"
"Becoming my disciple would at least increase your chances of survival, so why hesitate?"
"…"
"Having arbitrarily learned the manor's secret manual, do you think you have a high probability of surviving if you go there? I think not. It's a place where your life hangs by a thread based on the sect leader or executives' moods. If you become my disciple, you can at least raise that probability."
"…"
Mok Gyeong-un showed no change in expression.
Seeing his reaction, diviner Jo clicked his tongue inwardly.
Is this approach ineffective with this fellow?
Well, he's someone who bargained with Bright Blade King while holding a sword to his own throat.
'Does he have no attachment to his life? Or is he thoroughly calculative?'
If it's the latter, the method needs to be changed.
diviner Jo clicked his tongue and said,
"You're the type to just break if I push too hard, I see. Fine, then how about this? Although you'll learn it anyway if you become my disciple, I'll teach you the sorcery to contain a familiar in a medium."
"…What does that mean?"
"It's exactly as it sounds. Don't you have a similar example in your hand right now?"
At those words, Mok Gyeong-un looked at the wooden puppet in his hand.
The wooden puppet with "Seal" written on it emitted no energy whatsoever.
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes sparkled as he stared intently at it.
"Seems like you're interested in this sort of thing."
diviner Jo smirked.
He had thought the fellow would naturally show interest.
'He would definitely need it if he wants to carry that vengeful spirit around intact.'
Otherwise, sorcerers would try to subdue it without knowing it's a familiar whenever it's noticed.
What Mok Gyeong-un needed right now was this sorcery, he believed.
And that prediction was spot on.
'Concealing a familiar's energy…'
Mok Gyeong-un was already seeking such a method.
It was a more appealing offer than the earlier mention of his life.
If there were outstanding sorcerers or supreme masters like Bright Blade King around, he couldn't keep Cheong-ryeong or the evil spirit close.
Seeing Mok Gyeong-un's interest, diviner Jo said,
"How about it? Are you inclined to become my disciple now?"
"If I become your disciple, I can learn what you just mentioned?"
"Of course."
At this, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"Then teach me that technique first. I will become your disciple then."
"Teach you first? Hahahahaha! Teaching it is not difficult at all. But if you want to learn it, you have to swear an oath first."
It wouldn't be that easy.
Mok Gyeong-un licked his lips slightly, having expected he wouldn't readily agree.
diviner Jo took out something else from his waist.
It was a small iron chain.
"Take it."
-Swish!
-Clang!
Mok Gyeong-un caught it and looked puzzled.
Then diviner Jo said,
"Wear that on your wrist and say this: I, Mok Gyeong-un, will become Jo Ui-gong's disciple and follow his will."
"…"
Suspicion clouded Mok Gyeong-un's eyes at those words.
"Wear this iron chain and say it?"
"Yes."
"…It doesn't seem like you're just telling me to do it."
"Of course not. How can I trust and simply accept as a disciple someone who tried to escape despite being practically a hostage?"
"Then what happens if I make that oath?"
The man, now revealed to be diviner Jo Ui-gong, answered with a smile.
"A restriction is imposed."
"Restriction?"
"If you make that oath, you won't be able to harm me in any way. It's almost absolute."
'Of course, you'll have no choice but to obligatorily follow my commands.'
When accepting a disciple he liked, diviner Jo Ui-gong would pass on this Oath Chain.
By staking one's own self and swearing an oath through the Oath Chain, one becomes absolutely unable to refuse his orders.
But he didn't mention that, knowing the fellow wouldn't readily comply if he did.
'How will he respond?'
But the fellow was so suspicious that he might not easily swear the oath.
While he was thinking that, Mok Gyeong-un put on the iron chain and spoke.
"Please keep your promise. I, Mok Gyeong-un, will become Jo Ui-gong's disciple and follow his will."
The moment those words ended,
The iron chain subtly shook and rattled.
Seeing this, Jo Ui-gong raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction.
'With this, I've got him.'
He was the type who had to obtain what he wanted to feel at ease.
Jo Ui-gong took out something folded in leather from his bosom.
"Take it."
-Swish! Tak!
Mok Gyeong-un snatched it with one hand.
It was titled:
[Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual]
"What is this?"
"It's a sorcery technique I created. Memorize it entirely and return it while we head back to Heaven and Earth Society."
"…You're not keeping your promise?"
"How could that be? The sorcery you want is also in there."
"Thank you."
"Call me Master."
"Thank you, Master."
Pleased with being called Master, diviner Jo Ui-gong got down from the rock he was leaning on, grasped his walking stick, and walked off somewhere.
Mok Gyeong-un said,
"Aren't you going to release the technique you set up?"
If he didn't undo it, he couldn't even take a single step.
In response to this question, diviner Jo Ui-gong smiled and said,
"I'll give you about an hour."
"What?"
"The method to undo the sorcery is also in there, so look for it carefully. If you can't find it and return within that time, quite an arduous situation will unfold. Hahahahaha!"
With those words, diviner Jo Ui-gong entered the forest to the southeast and disappeared.
Mok Gyeong-un let out a soft snicker.
Is he already trying to teach him?
'Interesting.'
He didn't care what method was used.
As long as he could extract what he needed, that was enough.
-Swish!
Not long after, someone lightly descended from the sky.
It was none other than Cheong-ryeong.
-The sorcerer has finally left your side.
Mok Gyeong-un looked at her with suspicion in his eyes.
"You're not a fake, right?"
-Fake? What nonsense are you spouting? More importantly, it was amusing to see you caught in the sorcery, jumping in place alone. You should have done it a bit longer.
"It's really you."
-… On what basis are you so certain it's really me?
"Well… There are reasons."
Should he say it's a feeling?
Cheong-ryeong asked Mok Gyeong-un.
-But why did you do such a thing, unlike your usual self?
"What thing?"
-I'm asking why you made such an oath when that chain seems to contain quite a strong curse.
"To obtain this."
Mok Gyeong-un waved the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual at her.
She snorted and said,
-You did that to get that sort of thing? Did you suddenly become stupid? Or are you confident you can escape that curse?
"There's no need to escape or anything."
-What?
Mok Gyeong-un casually removed the iron chain he had on his arm.
She frowned and asked,
-Is it originally that easy to take off?
"No. In the first place, an oath is something you have to swear by staking your own name."
-Ha!
At those words, Cheong-ryeong finally understood why Mok Gyeong-un had made such an oath.
Mok Gyeong-un wasn't his real name in the first place.
Naturally, there was no way the oath would be established and a curse imposed.
'So that's how it is.'
That brat wouldn't do something detrimental just to learn sorcery.
-Since you got what you wanted, are you going to attempt to escape again?
"… I was considering it, but now I'm conflicted."
-Changed your mind?
"Yes. I'm thinking it might be better to enter the darkest place."
Although the risk was significant, in a way, it was the darkest place.
Cheong-ryeong showed a peculiar gaze at Mok Gyeong-un's words.
Mok Gyeong-un asked,
"Seems like you have something to say. I also had something I wanted to ask."
-What kind of sophistry is saying you have something to ask when you say I seem to have something to say?
"I mean I want to ask first."
-What is it?
"Why do they think it's real after seeing the sword techniques you showed, not the Eight Postures of Destruction?"
That was something he had been curious about.
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Cheong-ryeong closed her mouth.
-…
"Do you not want to tell me?"
-Phew.
She silently smoked her pipe and exhaled the smoke.
Usually, such a reaction meant she had no intention of telling him.
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, if that's the case, there's nothing I can do."
-…
"I need to take a look at this for now. That way, both the evil spirit and Cheong-ryeong can be by my side…"
-Are you really going there?
"What?"
-To Heaven and Earth Society.
At her somewhat serious question, Mok Gyeong-un recalled the gaze on the rooftop.
Those blood-red eyes seemed as if they would dye everything in blood.
But even now, that fury slightly shows.
"Depending on the situation."
-… How coincidental.
"What is?"
-The situation.
"Hmm. What are you trying to say?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, Cheong-ryeong exhaled a long puff of smoke and extended her hand to Mok Gyeong-un, saying,
-If you're really going there, become my disciple.
"… Hm."
Mok Gyeong-un scratched his head.
Today, he seemed to hear people telling him to become their disciple here and there.
He even heard it from Cheong-ryeong of all people.
"Uh… I don't know your reason for saying that, but there's no need for a master-disciple relationship between us…"
-The weight is different.
"What?"
-Becoming my disciple means you will bear the karma of the moon and carry out a bloody purge.
Chapter 53:Proposal(2)
-The weight is different.
"What?"
-Becoming my disciple means you will bear the karma of the moon and carry out a bloody purge.
'A bloody purge?'
Cheong-ryeong's aura, brimming with murderous intent, was different from usual.
But thinking about it, she was a vengeful spirit.
Her resentment was so deep that she had existed in this world for over a hundred years.
Mok Gyeong-un opened his mouth while making eye contact with her.
"As I thought, you have a connection with Heaven and Earth Society."
-… I won't deny that.
"But why are you talking about moon's karma and bloody purge when it comes to becoming your disciple?"
-It's exactly as you heard. I desire a price in blood.
"In simple terms, revenge."
At those words, Cheong-ryeong took a long drag from her pipe as if displeased and exhaled the smoke into Mok Gyeong-un's face, saying,
-Phew. Though the weight may be different, if put in your terms, yes, it's revenge.
A glint of interest flashed in Mok Gyeong-un's eyes at her words.
It was due to the shared sentiment of revenge.
He too was wandering like this to avenge his grandfather.
However, unlike her, he would resolve this grudge while alive, not after death.
She said,
-What will you do? Will you become my disciple?
"Don't you think you should at least tell me why I need to become your disciple for me to decide whether to accept or not?"
-That's…
"That's?"
-No. If you're not going to Heaven and Earth Society, just forget what I said.
"… Seems like you have the ability to raise someone's interest and then make it fizzle out."
-Hmph. I wasn't saying it to pique your interest.
"…"
Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at Cheong-ryeong.
In fact, Mok Gyeong-un had no interest whatsoever in other people's circumstances or stories.
Even if they shared the sentiment of revenge.
He had told Cheong-ryeong to share her circumstances, but it was merely to see if she could convince him why he should become her disciple.
"Can I ask you one thing?"
-If it's a question I can't answer, don't even bother asking in the first place.
"That's up to you. Given Cheong-ryeong's caliber, you must have died a very long time ago, so hasn't time already taken revenge for you?"
Cheong-ryeong scoffed at Mok Gyeong-un's words.
Then she asked,
-If it were you, would you just let your enemy go, thinking time will resolve everything?
"No."
-Why not? Isn't that what you were implying just now?
"… I got hit back."
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders and continued,
"You're right. If you're going to take revenge, you have to see it through to the end. You can't just leave everything related to that person alone."
Family, relatives, everything precious must be taken away.
If one is going to take revenge, there's no reason to consider circumstances or hold back.
At least, that was Mok Gyeong-un's idea of revenge.
Cheong-ryeong opened her mouth, her red lips quivering.
-Our intentions align. I feel the same way. I can't forgive that his despicable bloodline still breathes or that the truth is buried, insulting me. In that case, I'll take everything away with my own hands. Even if it means staining everything with blood.
-Woooooong!
Mok Gyeong-un pointed his hand while looking around.
Perhaps due to her immense fury being unleashed, the surroundings were in chaos as if a storm was raging.
Even the surroundings were being dyed in a blood-red hue.
"Calm down."
-…
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, she seemed to realize this and calmed herself.
Then the sudden changes in the surroundings stopped as if nothing had happened.
Witnessing this, Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue inwardly.
If Cheong-ryeong was like this, how dangerous and powerful would a vengeful spirit of even higher caliber be?
He was curious.
But that wasn't what mattered now.
"Cheong-ryeong."
-Speak.
"Even if I'm not your disciple, couldn't we carry out your revenge together if the situation aligns?"
-No!
"What?"
-It only has meaning if you, a mortal, inherit the moon's karma.
"So what exactly is this moon's karma?"
-You will naturally find out if you go there as my disciple.
"You're stubborn. Then I just won't become your disciple."
-What?
A frown formed on Cheong-ryeong's beautiful brow.
She spoke in a voice filled with irritation.
-Then you won't go to Heaven and Earth Society?
"No. I'll go. I've decided to go."
-Then why!
A resounding cry rang in his ears, and Mok Gyeong-un furrowed his brow.
Cheong-ryeong wanted to forcefully have her way, but she couldn't due to the relationship between a familiar and its master.
It was truly an annoying relationship.
Because of this, she was restrained and unable to do anything.
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"Sorry, but I don't like being controlled by someone. That applies even to you, whom I currently trust to some extent."
-… Annoying.
"Still, there's no other way…"
-I said it's annoying!
Cheong-ryeong shouted, her hands trembling.
She was furious at the reality of being a young brat's familiar and being manipulated.
She had barely escaped from being sealed and possessed the caliber to move freely, not just as a ground-bound spirit, but what was this?
She wanted to kill him and vent her frustration.
But if she did that, the hundred years she had endured, ruminating on her grudge, would become meaningless.
'Damn that stubborn mortal!'
It was frustrating that that boy hadn't even lived half of a hundred years.
After glaring at Mok Gyeong-un for a long time, she opened her mouth.
-Fine. Let me at least tell you this. I don't know the current situation, but originally, Heaven and Earth Society was born from three lineages.
"Three lineages?"
-One of them is the Moon Lineage.
"… And Cheong-ryeong is a person from that Moon Lineage?"
He's quick-witted, at least.
Cheong-ryeong didn't deny it.
-This is all I can tell you for now. Since a hundred years have passed anyway, it's meaningless to investigate what happened back then. Not everything from that era will remain the same, so you just need to inherit the moon's karma.
She stared intently into Mok Gyeong-un's eyes.
With other humans, she could tell what they were thinking just by looking at their eyes or expressions, but she couldn't figure out what this particular mortal was thinking.
She wasn't sure if his emotions other than anger were genuine.
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un readily said,
"Alright."
–Phew. Your stubbornness is really… What?
"I said I'll learn from you."
-You'll become my disciple?
"Yes. But I have a condition."
-… What condition?
"Let's just skip the formalities of calling each other master and disciple."
-Presumptuous mortal.
"Even if you're my servant ghost, I don't call you master either."
-…
She clicked her tongue at Mok Gyeong-un but soon nodded.
Well, it didn't matter anyway.
Normally, as the one receiving martial arts instruction, it would be proper to clarify the master-disciple relationship, but she was already dead.
What meaning did etiquette and morality in this world hold?
-Tsk tsk.
Seeing her like this, Mok Gyeong-un faintly smiled.
In fact, if he was going to Heaven and Earth Society anyway, he was in a position where he needed to learn the remaining techniques of her swordsmanship and the essentials of qi circulation from her.
If anything, he was the one who needed to make the request.
-Why are you nitpicking?
"It's nothing. More importantly, we need to hurry."
-What do you mean?
"It's difficult to keep doing this here."
Mok Gyeong-un opened the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual he was holding.
He needed to undo the technique so he could lift his feet within an hour, and he also needed to grasp the sorcery to conceal Cheong-ryeong's energy.
***
Half a moment before an hour passed.
The surroundings were hectic.
The masked individuals who had been absent were returning one by one.
'Hmm.'
Diviner Jo Ui-gong looked towards the northwestern forest with slightly disappointed eyes.
It was taking longer than expected.
In fact, an hour wasn't that long.
Because even for a designated technique, grasping sorcery within an hour was quite difficult.
In this situation where he had to find what technique it was within the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual, it was quite pressing.
'I thought it might be possible.'
If he failed, the given situation might have been more difficult than he anticipated.
Then there was no choice.
He would have to personally go and undo the technique for him.
It was at that moment.
'!?'
A figure walking out of the dark forest was seen.
It was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.
"What?"
"How did this fellow…?"
The masked individuals who spotted Mok Gyeong-un were surprised to see him outside the luggage carriage and tried to subdue him again.
Diviner Jo Ui-gong stopped them.
"Halt."
"But…"
"That child is now my disciple. I merely had him train for a bit."
"What?"
The masked individuals glanced at Mok Gyeong-un and diviner Jo Ui-gong with slightly surprised eyes.
They seemed taken aback, not expecting him to really accept him as a disciple.
However, diviner Jo was their superior, and they couldn't disobey him, so they soon returned to their positions.
Diviner Jo said to Mok Gyeong-un, who was looking around.
"You're later than expected."
No, in fact, it was beyond expectations.
He had really found and undone the technique within an hour.
However, having accepted him as a disciple, he intended to refrain from praise as much as possible.
Mok Gyeong-un slightly bowed his head and replied,
"If I'm late, I apologize… Master."
"I have expectations for you, so don't disappoint me."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Anyway, undoing the technique must have consumed a lot of mental strength, so rest for a bit. We'll depart as soon as Bright Blade King arrives."
"Understood."
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un looked around.
But he had been curious about something for a while.
The masked individuals had brought in pairs of boys who looked around 15 to 18 years old.
They all had hoods covering their faces, so he couldn't see in front of them.
Mok Gyeong-un asked in a low voice,
"Who are they?"
In response to that question, diviner Jo Ui-gong chuckled and replied,
"They are new recruits gathered by each faction."
"New recruits?"
"Since we're here anyway, you can consider it killing two birds with one stone."
It was difficult to understand what he was saying.
In the first place, he seemed to be deliberately vague about it.
"You'll find out later, so there's no need to be interested in such things now. From now on, you'll ride in my carriage with me, so go and rest there in advance."
He pointed to a clean-looking carriage, not a luggage carriage.
Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and said,
"I apologize, Master. Is it alright if I just ride in the luggage carriage I was originally in for a while?"
"What?"
Diviner Jo Ui-gong made a puzzled expression but soon spoke as if he understood.
"Ah. Is it because of your younger brother?"
Of course not, but Mok Gyeong-un nodded as if it was.
Jo Ui-gong clicked his tongue at him and said,
"You're unnecessarily bringing hardship upon yourself. If you change your mind, switch to my carriage."
"Understood."
"Ah. And I'm warning you, but this time you were able to leave because I intended it, but don't even dream of trying to help your younger brother escape or anything like that. If you do something needless, you'll witness Yeon Mok Sword Manor being annihilated."
"I'll keep that in mind. Since I've become your disciple, such a thing won't happen."
"Of course it shouldn't."
Diviner Jo Ui-gong grinned.
Anyway, since he was wearing the Oath Chain, he wouldn't be able to disobey his orders.
Mok Gyeong-un said to him, who was smiling,
"Master, is it possible for you to send away the person monitoring inside the luggage carriage with your authority?"
"That's…"
"If it's difficult even with Master's authority, it's fine. I just wanted to quietly memorize this while inside the carriage."
Mok Gyeong-un spoke, holding up the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual.
At his words, diviner Jo Ui-gong, who was about to refuse, soon nodded.
It was because the former part of what he said bothered him more than the latter.
"Do you think I lack even that much authority? Alright."
"Thank you."
"But don't do anything that might arouse suspicion. Even if you've become my disciple, it won't be good to provoke Bright Blade King."
"Understood."
The corners of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth slightly rose as he bowed his head in gratitude.
***
Mok Gyeong-un entered the luggage carriage, closed the door, and took out something from his bosom.
It was a small wooden puppet the size of a finger, shaped like a person, with the character "Connect" engraved on it.
Mok Gyeong-un smiled and whispered softly,
"It's a success."
-… Success or whatever, I'm suffocating. Being trapped in this damn wooden puppet.
The voice coming from the wooden puppet was none other than Cheong-ryeong.
Mok Gyeong-un had successfully concealed her energy.
If diviner Jo Ui-gong found out that he had not only undone the technique within an hour but also roughly grasped this technique, he would have been astonished.
He thought Mok Gyeong-un had barely undone the technique and came out.
Mok Gyeong-un placed the wooden puppet on his palm and said,
"Just bear with it for a bit."
If she came out of this, the unique energy of a vengeful spirit would be revealed.
It wouldn't be good for diviner Jo Ui-gong to notice.
At that moment, the wooden puppet trembled and moved on its own, wriggling on Mok Gyeong-un's palm.
Then a grumbling voice came out.
-Now I've even possessed this damn wooden puppet. You have no idea how difficult this is, you mortal.
The method Jo Ui-gong had taught was none other than possessing a medium.
It was a technique similar to sealing.
So Cheong-ryeong couldn't exert any power inside this wooden puppet… or so he thought, but that wasn't the case.
The evil spirit was unable to, but she could break the wooden puppet and come out at will.
It seemed to be due to the difference in caliber.
"Be careful. It cracked again."
-How much more careful can I be here? Even a decent physical body can't endure this body of mine.
"That's true."
It was enduring thanks to the technique that controlled her energy.
Otherwise, the wooden puppet would have shattered long ago.
Cheong-ryeong, now a wooden puppet, sat on his palm and said,
-But if this technique is used well, it seems I can somehow endure even in a weak body.
That was the one thing she found consoling.
"Yes. So please bear with it for a bit. Once we get there, I'll have you enter a suitable body."
-Alright.
"Anyway, I've secured a decent training place until we reach there.
He hadn't had high expectations, but securing the inside of the luggage carriage was quite a gain.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult to do anything.
At least while traveling, the conditions were set for him to quietly receive that sword art from Cheong-ryeong and practice the reverse qi circulation technique.
-But what are you going to do with that fellow?
-Kek kek kek!
Cheong-ryeong moved the clumsy hand of the wooden puppet and pointed at someone.
It was Mok Yu-cheon, who was still unconscious.
Mok Gyeong-un approached him, tied the loosened cloth to cover his eyes, and then,
-Ta-ta-ta-ta-tak!
he struck the mute acupoint again.
With this, Mok Yu-cheon returned to his original state.
"Keeping him like this will keep him quiet, right?"
-… You're really something else.
Chapter 54:Proposal(3)
In a dark forest.
A woman with an enchanting appearance, wearing a bamboo hat, was hanging from the top of a tree, gazing in a certain direction.
A very faint light could be seen in the distance.
About a hundred jang away, that place was the campsite of Heaven and Earth Society.
'shit. What am I doing?'
Grumbling inwardly, her identity was Ha Chae-rin, a candidate for the sect leader of Flying Killing.
No, it was Guard Go Chan, who had possessed Ha Chae-rin's body.
He had been tracking Mok Gyeong-un ever since he was practically kidnapped after being immobilized by Bright Blade King.
Normally, when tracking, one would get closer than this, but due to the monstrous master Bright Blade King, he maintained this distance out of fear of getting too close and being discovered.
'At least I can follow since I roughly know the location.'
The problem lay elsewhere.
As a familiar, he was connected, so he could instinctively sense where Mok Gyeong-un was.
However, there was no way to get close.
In fact, if it weren't for being a familiar, it would have been the perfect opportunity to distance himself from Mok Gyeong-un, but the farther he got, the more strangely anxious he became, making it impossible to escape.
No, it was impossible from the beginning.
Because if Mok Gyeong-un died, he too would be annihilated.
'Phew. How did it come to this?'
Even he found his predicament ridiculous.
He had retired due to lack of talent and aimed to live quietly, but not only did he die absurdly, but now he was trapped in this wench's body, serving as a slave.
'I'm so unlucky.'
It would be difficult to have such a wretched fate.
Anyway, to remain in this world even a little longer, he had no choice but to serve Mok Gyeong-un well.
'I need to find a way to infiltrate somehow.'
For now, he was doing this while keeping an eye on Bright Blade King, but he couldn't just keep following at a distance.
He needed a way to naturally infiltrate Heaven and Earth Society.
'Right. Instead of continuing like this, I should find that method first.'
He was a former assassin, after all.
He was experienced in infiltrating places.
And if he delved into Ha Chae-rin's memories, there was an infiltration method he had never tried before.
'Seduction?… My ass.'
He shuddered as he unnecessarily recalled a memory.
No matter what, he wanted to maintain his last shred of self-respect.
***
-Thud thud!
Half a month passed like that.
The method of travel was repetitive.
Every other day, they would pass through somewhere, and each time, the masked individuals would bring boys aged 15 to 18.
Repeating this, the number of people had already swelled to over a hundred.
Curious as to why they were doing this, he asked diviner Jo Ui-gong a couple of times, but the answer he received was that it wasn't something for him to be concerned about.
"Why would that be?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's question, a voice rang out from the wooden puppet on his shoulder.
-I don't know.
"Didn't you say you were in Heaven and Earth Society?"
-It's been a hundred years since I left. How would I know how the organization operates now?
She also found it difficult to understand why.
There was one speculation, but the method was quite strange.
She wondered if there was a need to bring in manpower in this way.
"I keep feeling like the way you speak sometimes makes it sound like Heaven and Earth Society belonged to you."
-…
"You're not denying it?"
-Nonsense.
Cheong-ryeong strangely disliked talking about the past.
Was it because even recalling memories made her angry?
Or was there something she wanted to hide?
Mok Gyeong-un found this strange, but it was only for a fleeting moment, and he soon erased that question from his mind.
What mattered was from now on.
"We'll be arriving soon."
-Why are you getting nervous?
"I don't know."
-It's good to be nervous. Even if you learned the sword techniques of the Moon Lineage from me, at your level, you're barely at the threshold of first-rate at best.
The beginning of first-rate.
That was Mok Gyeong-un's current martial arts level.
Just half a month ago, he was barely at the threshold of going from third-rate to second-rate.
However, by absorbing and internalizing a significant amount of death energy gained from the fight at Yeon Mok Sword Manor, he formed a danjeon equivalent to half a gap.
In terms of internal energy alone, he had reached first-rate.
If others knew about this, it would be a shocking event.
In fact, although she was talking about it casually, Cheong-ryeong was also quite surprised.
'It can't be attributed to luck alone.'
Even though he had encountered the Postures of Thought Destruction, known as the supreme secret manual, and various situations that were almost predestined, it was hard to deny that he was remarkable.
Reaching the beginning of first-rate in less than a month after starting to learn martial arts was truly astonishing.
Perhaps because he started late, martial fortune followed him.
'But he still has a long way to go.'
Even if he had grown at an amazingly fast pace, the situation remained unfavorable.
Considering that even when she was alive, there were quite a few masters above first-rate in Heaven and Earth Society, there might be even more now.
With Mok Gyeong-un's current skill level, forget about avenging his grandfather, it was impossible to even carry on the moon's karma.
'He needs to become stronger faster.'
To do that, there was a need to push him even harder.
From first-rate onward was the realm of enlightenment.
If he couldn't gain enlightenment, it could take a year or even a decade to advance further, and if he was unlucky, he could remain stagnant for life.
***
At a glance, there were countless mountain peaks, and a river like a single vein of blood flowed between them.
The place below the setting sun was quite spectacular.
With the river as a base, the mountain peaks formed natural fortifications, creating a large city.
This was the base of Heaven and Earth Society, which currently held a third of the power in the martial world of the Central Plains.
The inner city located in the center of the city.
-Creak!
As the city gate opened, a large-statured man riding a horse like a victorious general entered, and the warriors lined up in two rows from the inner city cheered.
"Woooooah!!!!"
The man at the forefront was Son Yun, one of the Five Kings of Heaven and Earth Society, known as Bright Blade King.
Behind him followed a procession of about three hundred people.
The men in black attire were the warriors of Heaven and Earth Society, and about a hundred were the boys they had brought this time.
Startled by the cheers, the boys trembled and took one step forward at a time.
The procession passed through the main road of the inner city and led to a wide square.
'Hoh.'
A glint of interest flashed in the eyes of Bright Blade King Son Yun, who arrived first at the forefront.
It was because an unexpected person was waiting.
-Tap!
Son Yun lightly descended from his horse.
And he performed a fist-palm salute to someone waiting.
"Bright Blade King Son Yun pays his respects to Vice Leader Mong."
In response to that greeting, a man who appeared to be in his early forties with snake-like eyes, white hair, and no beard, reciprocated with a fist-palm salute and said,
"You must have had a tough journey, Bright Blade King."
The man responding was none other than Mong Seo-cheon, the second-in-command of Heaven and Earth Society.
It was quite rare for the vice leader to come out and greet him personally, even if Son Yun was one of the Five Kings.
Son Yun laughed heartily and replied,
"Hahahahaha! What hardship could there be? I just went out to get some fresh air after a long time."
"It was a mission that could have been dangerous, as you had to cross the territory of the Righteous Alliance, yet only Bright Blade King would say he went out for fresh air."
"Anyone who sees this might think I've returned victorious from a war. Let's end the formalities here. Where is the leader?"
He had to report since he was given a special mission.
At that question, Vice Leader Mong let out a soft sigh and opened his mouth.
"Bright Blade King. That's precisely why I came out personally to urgently convey the leader's order."
"Urgently convey an order? What do you mean?"
Bright Blade King Son Yun asked, puzzled.
He had even sent a messenger pigeon to inform them of the general situation, so he didn't know what this was about.
Vice Leader Mong said to him in a whispering voice,
"The leader has ordered to send everyone you brought, without exception, to the Corpse Blood Valley immediately."
"That's quick. Well, that's why I brought them anyway…"
"Not just them."
"What?"
"The leader said to also send the child from Yeon Mok Sword Manor who allegedly learned that thing and the child you brought as a hostage to the Corpse Blood Valley."
'!?'
At those words, Bright Blade King Son Yun frowned and said,
"… What does that mean? Did he really give that order?"
"Yes."
At the firm answer, Son Yun was momentarily at a loss for words.
Although he couldn't retrieve the secret manual itself, for the first time in a hundred years, someone had appeared who read that cursed manual and learned the sword techniques of the Moon Lineage, whose lineage had been severed.
Yet he was told to send him to the Corpse Blood Valley without even verifying it?
"That can't be. I will go and see the leader right away."
"You can't meet the leader now."
"What are you saying? This is an order directly given by the leader. In that case, he should at least extract the oral secrets from the boy's mind before sending him, this is…"
"Bright Blade King. He said it was an order given with the leader's authority."
"… Ha!"
Bright Blade King Son Yun was genuinely at a loss.
However, the leader's orders were absolute.
***
-Thud!
Someone roughly opened the door of the luggage carriage and entered.
It was none other than diviner Jo Ui-gong.
Mok Gyeong-un said,
"We've arrived…"
"Things have gotten complicated."
"What?"
At Jo Ui-gong's sudden words, Mok Gyeong-un asked back, puzzled.
"What do you mean things have gotten complicated?"
In response to that question, Jo Ui-gong replied in a somewhat absurd tone,
"The leader has ordered to send you to the Corpse Blood Valley."
"Corpse Blood Valley?"
"Hah… For such a ridiculous situation to unfold."
"… I have no idea what you're talking about."
"There's no time. First, take this."
What Jo Ui-gong took out from his bosom and handed over was a ring with tiny letters engraved on it.
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes sparkled upon seeing the letters engraved on the ring.
They were incantations used for specific talismans.
"You can perform sorcery with hand seals for a few things engraved here even without talismans."
"How do I…"
"Listen carefully. The probability of surviving intact in the Corpse Blood Valley is less than one in ten."
"What does that mean?"
"Survive somehow. I will report to the branch leader and get you out of there no matter what, so endure at all costs."
"By endure, you mean…"
It was at that moment.
"This is as far as you go."
-Rumble rumble!
Before Mok Gyeong-un's words could finish, warriors wearing red belts and red headbands barged into the luggage carriage.
***
"You!"
Mok Yu-cheon, who had regained consciousness, glared at Mok Gyeong-un.
He had been unconscious for half a month, with his fainting acupoint struck except for two meals a day and one chance to relieve himself.
Naturally, he couldn't help but be angry at Mok Gyeong-un, who had done such a thing.
"What have you done to me…"
-Thwack!
"Ugh!"
However, he couldn't say anything due to a warrior striking him from behind with a staff.
Although the fainting acupoint, mute acupoint, and paralysis acupoint were released, he couldn't even resist because a needle called the Forbidden Gate Lock was inserted into his six major acupoints, sealing his internal energy.
"Hey. Shut up and walk."
"…"
Mok Yu-cheon, who had been twitching his lips in displeasure, soon closed his mouth and obeyed the order.
For now, he had no choice but to follow their commands.
'shit.'
He didn't know what kind of humiliation this was as soon as he woke up.
Is this how Heaven and Earth Society treats hostages?
He was walking in a single line on a dark and narrow sloping path, following the person in front, and it felt like being captured as a prisoner and going to perform forced labor.
'What are they trying to do?'
Unlike the confused Mok Yu-cheon, Mok Gyeong-un was exceptionally calm.
It was also because he already knew something had gone wrong due to diviner Jo Ui-gong's warning.
'What is the Corpse Blood Valley?'
For now, that was the only question he had.
What were they doing that they even inserted the Forbidden Gate Lock and sent them there?
Even Cheong-ryeong didn't know what the Corpse Blood Valley was.
With that question in mind, they walked for about three hours without rest, and soon a wide and shallow valley with torches lit on all sides came into view.
'Were there this many?'
Countless boys were waiting there, lined up in rows.
With the addition of the hundred or so people, including Mok Gyeong-un and Mok Yu-cheon, there seemed to be roughly eight hundred at a glance.
As they arrived like that, a resounding voice rang out.
"Welcome to the Corpse Blood Valley."
Everyone's gaze turned in that direction.
There was a large incense burner and a huge rock.
On top of that rock stood a man wearing a gray demon mask, with his hands behind his back, looking arrogant.
As everyone looked, the demon mask opened his mouth.
"From now on, there is something you must do."
With those words, he took something out from his bosom.
It was none other than an iron ball that seemed to be the size of a finger joint.
'What is it?'
'What are they trying to do?'
As everyone wondered what it was, the demon mask said,
"The designated time is two hours. In the valley water, there are iron balls that look similar to this. Find them and come to this large incense burner. Those who fail to find them will die."
'!!!!!!'
Chapter 55:Corpse Blood Valley(1)
Heaven and Earth Society.
Two people were walking side by side on a path surrounded by a wall leading to the main building.
They were Bright Blade King Son Yun, one of the eight executives of Heaven and Earth Society and one of the Five Kings, and diviner Jo Ui-gong.
While walking, Jo Ui-gong spoke as if frustrated.
"I should have told the vice leader that I accepted him as my disciple."
At his words, Bright Blade King Son Yun clicked his tongue and replied,
"It's no use even if you tell him."
"Why is that?"
"Have you ever seen the leader withdraw an order once given?"
"…"
At those words, diviner Jo Ui-gong couldn't open his mouth.
As Son Yun said, the leader never took back an order once given, and sometimes even punished severely if it couldn't be carried out.
Considering that, persuasion was unlikely to work.
"Tsk… I thought I had finally found a useful fellow."
"Is he even useful?"
He was the first to read that cursed secret manual.
How many people had died trying to read it?
Moreover, he learned the sword techniques of the Moon Lineage that had been severed a hundred years ago, yet they sent such a fellow to the Corpse Blood Valley without even seeing his face.
This was an incomprehensible decision, no matter how much the leader did it.
The Corpse Blood Valley is a place where nearly 8 or 9 out of 10 people die, even though each faction sends somewhat useful fellows.
It wasn't called by a name meaning corpses and blood for nothing.
"I'll have to ask the valley master to report it for now. I can't just let that precious fellow die like this."
At those words, Son Yun looked at Jo Ui-gong with interested eyes.
He wouldn't say this unless he really liked him.
He too found the fellow to be a waste.
If they persuaded him properly and made him an ally or extracted the sword techniques from his mind and revived the Moon Lineage, it would be good, so why not do that?
Why send him to the Corpse Blood Valley, which could be considered the worst selection process…
'Could it be?'
Bright Blade King Son Yun's eyes narrowed.
Could the reason for sending him to the Corpse Blood Valley be that?
'Are they trying to test him?'
***
Corpse Blood Valley.
"The designated time is two hours. In the valley water, there are iron balls that look similar to this. Find them and come to this large incense burner. Those who fail to find them will die."
-Murmur murmur!
At the words of the man wearing the demon mask, the boys stirred.
It was the middle of the night now.
Although warriors wearing red belts were holding torches here and there, there was no way the inside of the valley water would be properly visible.
In this dark place filled with countless pebbles, finding that small iron ball?
It was literally like finding a needle in a sand beach.
At that moment, a boy who appeared to be around 17 years old, standing in the front row, raised his hand and spoke.
"Isn't it too harsh to kill someone for failing to find a mere iron ball? Everyone here has been recruited from each faction, so even if that's the case…"
"Do you not want to do it?"
The demon mask interrupted and asked.
The boy hesitated with a tense expression and soon said,
"The selection process doesn't seem to be about finding or not finding the iron ball…"
-Smack! Thud!
"Ugh!"
At that moment, before he could even finish speaking, the boy's dying scream was heard as he collapsed on the ground.
'!!!!!!'
Those next to him couldn't hide their bewilderment upon seeing this.
That's because the iron ball was deeply embedded in the boy's brow, and it seemed he had died instantly because of it.
As they were taken aback, the demon mask spoke in a loud voice.
"Those who question the orders or give up will also die."
The murmuring sound instantly turned into silence.
Everyone realized the reality now that someone had lost their life.
'These crazy bastards.'
Mok Yu-cheon cursed inwardly.
It was absurd to suddenly order such a thing, but die if you can't find the iron ball?
He had come as a hostage for the sake of his family.
Yet he didn't know what kind of nonsense this was for someone like him.
'If only they hadn't blocked my qi channels…'
If he could focus his inner vision, he might have found it more easily.
But with his internal energy sealed, this was literally an act of bringing hardship upon oneself.
While he was thinking that, the demon mask spoke.
"By the way, there aren't as many iron balls in the valley as there are people here. So you better hurry."
'!?'
There aren't as many iron balls as the number of people here?
Everyone couldn't hide their bewilderment.
Doesn't that mean some of them will definitely die?
"The moment the incense stick burns out is the two-hour mark. Light it."
At the demon mask's order, one of the warriors in red belts waiting next to the large incense burner lit an incense stick.
-Sizzle!
Then the boys who had been murmuring and not knowing what to do rushed toward the valley all at once.
With eight hundred people running at once, the ground shook for a moment.
Everyone seemed to have their qi channels blocked, as no one used lightness skills.
At least it could be considered a fair situation.
"shit!"
Seeing this, Mok Yu-cheon glared at Mok Gyeong-un but soon ran like the other boys.
-Splash! Splash!
There was no other way in the current situation.
He had to find the iron ball first.
Otherwise, he would die.
Mok Yu-cheon, who had entered the valley following the other boys, looked down.
'shit…'
How was he supposed to find this?
It was dark.
No, he could barely see the ripples of the water, and he couldn't see what was inside the water.
Finding it with the naked eye was impossible.
-Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!
"Ugh! Where the hell is it?"
"Aaaah!"
Frustrated voices of the boys could be heard here and there.
They too couldn't see inside the water, so it seemed they were digging through the pebbles in the valley water with their hands to find it.
Naturally, as a result,
"Argh!"
"M-my hand…"
Their hands were bound to get injured.
Some even broke their fingernails while recklessly flipping over rocks.
If they protected their hands with internal energy, such things would be rare, but it was natural to get hurt with bare hands.
-Swish!
Mok Yu-cheon's fingers also hurt from being scratched by sharp rocks and pebbles.
But there was no other way.
There was no way to find the iron ball other than using his hands.
What if he couldn't find it within an hour?
-Thump thump!
As he became anxious, his heart raced.
He had never experienced this kind of tension in his life.
Then, Mok Yu-cheon turned his head slightly and made an absurd expression.
'What is that guy doing?'
Everyone was busy jumping into the valley water to search.
But that bastard Mok Gyeong-un was just watching with his arms crossed.
He was acting as if it was someone else's business.
'Crazy bastard.'
Instead of coming into the valley and checking what's inside, what the …. is he doing over there?
Has he gone mad wanting to die?
Mok Yu-cheon, who found it ridiculous, soon turned his gaze away.
Whether they were half-brothers or not, if he couldn't find his share of the iron ball now, he would die.
-Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!
While everyone was frantically digging through the valley water like this, the incense stick had already burned down nearly halfway.
The two hours were almost up.
Now only half the time remained.
It was at that moment.
"Put it out."
With a shout, the warriors in red belts holding torches between the valley water threw the torches into the water, extinguishing them.
It was already dark, but with the torches on the water gone, it became difficult to even see the people around.
"shit!"
"How are we supposed to find it?"
Complaints erupted from here and there.
But even as they screamed like that, they didn't take their hands out of the water.
Because if they didn't find it, they would lose their lives.
"Valley Master. This time, more than half might be weeded out."
A middle-aged warrior next to the demon mask whispered.
That's because no one had found it even as the two hours were almost up.
Until now, there would be one or two people who found the iron ball within two hours in each group, but this time, there was no one.
"Seems like there aren't many tough ones."
The one called Valley Master, the demon mask, nodded in agreement.
It might be the least number of people selected in history.
By now, one or two people should have found the iron ball and brought it, making the rest more anxious and focus on their senses like crazy.
This was a gateway to stimulate the five senses and survival instincts.
Those who were eliminated here were worthless beings with no value to survive.
'The Esoteric Realm Gate[1], Vermilion Slaughter Valley[2], and Demon Fire Hall[3] said they sent talented individuals, but they seem to be nothing more than trash compared to what I expected.'
While he was thinking that, it happened.
"I found it!"
Finally, the first person to find the iron ball among this group appeared.
It was an 18-year-old boy, and although the hand holding the iron ball was covered in blood and a mess, he was smiling brightly, showing how happy he was.
Seeing the boy like this, those around him couldn't hide their envy.
But soon, as if realizing there was no time, they dug through the pebbles in the water even more.
-Splash! Splash!
"Huff huff…"
Somewhat tired, the boy who found the iron ball walked towards the shore, exhaling rough breaths.
'I did it. I did it.'
To have such luck.
Not only did he survive, but he was the first to find it.
With this, he could make a good impression.
It was at that moment when he was feeling good.
-Splash splash!
The sound of someone running from behind was heard.
Looking back, a burly-looking boy was running towards him.
"Hand it over!"
He targeted him so blatantly.
It seemed he was trying to snatch it before he got out of the water.
There was bound to be one or two of these bastards.
'shit!'
The boy was tired but ran like crazy.
Even after getting out of the water, the burly-looking boy showed no intention of giving up and shouted as he ran.
"You bastard! If I catch you, I'll beat you to a pulp!"
-Pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!
The guy was not only big but also too fast.
He didn't expect him to close the distance this much.
If he was really caught, the iron ball he had worked so hard to find would be snatched away by that guy.
The boy turned his head slightly and tried to run with all his remaining strength.
However,
'!?'
What?
When did this guy get in front of him?
Was there someone who didn't enter the valley?
The startled boy tried to change direction, but at that moment,
-Pak!
the boy who was in front of him rushed towards him at a tremendous speed.
He was so fast that he was caught before he could even change direction.
'This damn bastard!'
Their internal energy should be sealed too, so how can he be this fast?
It was literally a situation of being caught between a rock and a hard place.
Enemies in front and back.
As the situation became urgent, the boy made an unexpected choice.
'You think I'll let scum like you snatch this?'
The boy put the iron ball he was holding into his mouth right there and gulped it down.
The burly boy who saw this from behind shouted in frustration.
"You son of a bitch!"
This way, it couldn't be snatched away.
The boy grinned.
However,
"You're really troublesome."
-Pak!
"Huh?"
The boy's head was grabbed by two hands.
Then,
-Crack!
at that moment, his neck was twisted.
The boy, with his neck broken, died on the spot without even being able to scream.
'!?'
The burly-looking boy who had chased him up to five steps behind couldn't hide his bewilderment.
He too had intended to snatch the iron ball, but he hadn't planned to kill the boy in front of him.
Yet such a thing had happened right before his eyes.
But what was even more shocking was,
-Squelch!
'!!!!!!!!'
not only did he kill the boy, but he also ripped out the boy's throat with his bare hands.
And then, forcibly shoving his hand below the neck,
-Urk! Splat!
he took out the iron ball the dead boy had swallowed.
The blood-soaked hand and iron ball.
-Drip drip!
Blood stained the ground.
'T-this crazy…'
The moment he saw this, the burly-looking boy was at a loss for words.
What kind of guy is this?
While he was taken aback, the beautiful boy, no, Mok Gyeong-un, turned his head, shook his blood-soaked hand once on the ground, and opened his mouth.
"Why? Do you want it?"
-Shudder!
At that question, the burly-looking boy shook his head like crazy.
He had made eye contact with the guy, and it felt like his heart would burst, and his legs went weak, as if he would collapse at any moment.