Chapter 211: On the Boat (2)
Whoosh!
The rain was still a downpour itself.
Before boarding the boat, three men were gathered together.
They were Seop Chun, the Third Captain Commander of the Heaven and Earth Society's main branch, Mong Mu-yak, the Deputy Commander and son of the Vice-Leader, and Ja Geum-jeong, the exiled monk and Demon Subduing Fist Master of Shaolin.
These three had gathered for a single reason.
And that was,
"I'll be honest. Ja Geum-jeong. I can't trust your oath of loyalty."
It was because of the exiled monk Ja Geum-jeong's oath of loyalty.
The reason Mong Mu-yak was expressing his disapproval was simple.
It was due to Ja Geum-jeong's background and notoriety.
He was a former monk of Shaolin, considered the root of the righteous martial world, and after becoming an exiled monk, he committed eccentric acts like a madman, regardless of right or wrong.
Could such a person really be trusted?
At Mong Mu-yak's attitude, Ja Geum-jeong snorted and said,
"I don't care if you bastards believe me or not."
"What?"
"Even in a fucked-up situation, I always keep my word."
At his words, Seop Chun clutched his stomach and laughed.
"Hahahaha! A fucked-up situation, you say. Are you saying swearing loyalty to our Lord is fucked up?"
"Did you think this drunkard would say he's happy about it?"
Ja Geum-jeong was someone who never hid his own emotions.
At his words, Mong Mu-yak became even more wary, but on the other hand, Seop Chun, who originally had a hearty personality, rather liked it.
"You wouldn't be happy, of course. You were caught in the Lord's scheme and swore loyalty, so how could you feel good about it?"
"Hmph, you're stating the obvious."
"But Ja Geum-jeong, you're also a man of honor, so whether you like it or not, I believe you'll keep the oath you made yourself."
"Stop emphasizing what this drunkard has said over and over. Even without you bastards nagging, I'll protect that damn fellow until I die."
Ja Geum-jeong had a temperament of not looking back once he decided on something.
So although he couldn't contain his anger and lashed out at that moment, he was ultimately pressured by Mok Gyeong-un's oppressive aura and swore loyalty.
In fact, there was a sentiment he couldn't reveal even to them.
'…It's for Mun-hae, Master, and Shaolin.'
It was truly strange.
Ja Geum-jeong felt an odd fear from a fellow who hadn't even reached his prime.
Even if not right now, if that bastard made up his mind, it seemed he would bring great harm not only to his friend, the monk Imun-hae, but also to Shaolin.
This was a premonition stemming from pure instinct.
Caught in this premonition, Ja Geum-jeong swore loyalty after receiving an agreement from Mok Gyeong-un that he would never touch them.
That moment was truly disheartening.
'Did I leave Shaolin and live just to end up like this?'
That was the moment he thought so.
He was suddenly gripped by this thought.
'…Lived to end up like this… Huh?'
There was something his master and Sutra Pavilion Master, Grand Monk Gong-jeon, always taught.
He said that everything has cause and effect and a natural course, and no matter how much one tries to escape it, one can only flow according to that natural course in the end.
Perhaps even him having these eyes and becoming an exiled monk was to face this moment.
'Natural course.'
When he considered all of this to be the natural course, the afflictions in his heart disappeared.
Since he had already made up his mind to do it, regret and lingering attachment were all useless, and he just thought that if this was also the path he had to take, he would do his best.
Then Mong Mu-yak said to him,
"I'll be watching."
"No. This drunkard said he'll do it, so who are you to say this and that…"
"Aaah. Please calm down. This friend originally talks like that."
Seop Chun grinned and stopped Ja Geum-jeong.
At first, he was wary of him, who was called one of the Three Madmen, but after actually getting to know him, he thought he was honest rather than crazy and got along well with him.
Ja Geum-jeong also seemed to feel the same way, as he said,
"Still, you're the only one who can be reasoned with."
"Instead of 'you, you,' since it's come to this, how about we introduce ourselves? My name is Seop Chun, and I'm twenty-nine years old. As you can see, I mainly use a sword. Mong Mu-yak, you do it too."
"Introducing myself so embarrassingly…"
"We'll have to be together to serve the Lord anyway, so are you going to act like that?"
At Seop Chun's words, Mong Mu-yak shook his head and said briefly,
"Mong Mu-yak. Twenty-six years old, a swordsman."
"There! Our introductions are roughly like this, so will you do it too?"
At these words, Ja Geum-jeong stared intently at Seop Chun.
In fact, he also didn't particularly like introducing himself like this.
But since he had decided to serve Mok Gyeong-un as his lord and might have to be with them for life, it was awkward to just let it pass.
"Ahem, as you know, my name is Ja Geum-jeong, and I prefer the Strong Fist technique."
"Why don't you mention your age? Are you skipping it because you're much older than us?"
At those words, Ja Geum-jeong frowned.
He had never told anyone his age since leaving Shaolin.
So he hesitated, wondering if he really had to say it, but eventually spoke.
"My age is… twenty-six."
'!!!!!!!!!'
As soon as those words ended, both Mong Mu-yak and Seop Chun were dumbfounded.
Based on his fierce face and the atmosphere he exuded alone, Ja Geum-jeong looked to be in his mid-forties.
But he's in his twenties?
'This kind of face is the same age as me?'
Mong Mu-yak made a dumbfounded expression.
Was he the only one who couldn't fight the ravages of time and had his face wither away?
This kind of old face was the first he had ever seen.
The exiled monk Ja Geum-jeong glared at Mong Mu-yak and said,
"You bastard, I really don't like the look in your eyes. Should I send you to Buddha's side today?"
He was ready to strike him at any moment.
Seop Chun had to hurriedly stop him.
***
Rumble rumble rumble!
Through the rollers made of dozens of wooden pillars, the boat reached right in front of the river.
Originally, it would need to move a bit more to float the boat on the river, but since the water had been overflowing due to the downpour for a long time, it didn't take that long to move it.
Everyone who needed to board the boat had already boarded.
"Slowly! It needs to move more slowly!"
"Yes!!!"
At the command of the resentful soul Ha-yoon, who was possessing the body of the captain Woo In-yeom, the retired naval soldiers moved in unison, and the bow of the boat entered the river.
Splash!
Certainly, because the boat was large, when the bow entered, the water surged upward.
But along with that, the boat that was moving forward started to tilt sideways with a creaking sound.
This was due to the tremendous current of the river swollen by the downpour.
"…Is this really possible to cross?"
Seop Chun, who had been watching this with excitement while standing at the front of the bow, grabbed the deck and clicked his tongue.
If this was the case with just the head of the boat entering, it was worrisome that the boat would be swept away and capsized as soon as the entire boat entered.
Then, as if the bow suddenly received strength, the tilted part started to straighten up.
"Huh?"
What was going on?
The current was still rough, but the boat was straightening up on its own.
That was because,
"Those things are…"
"Those things? Geum-jeong, what do you see?"
In Ja Geum-jeong's eyes, numerous resentful souls were clinging to the side of the boat's bow.
They were supporting the boat that was about to be swept away by the current.
It was a truly amazing sight.
With the boat's performance itself and the help of this many resentful souls, it seemed there was a sufficient possibility of crossing the river.
After some time, the hull was completely in the water.
Creak! Creak!
The boat was rocking in the tremendous current, and it was a mess.
Everyone in Mok Gyeong-un's party had learned martial arts, so they didn't easily fall over, but they couldn't help their bodies swaying.
It wouldn't be strange if the boat capsized at any moment.
However, fortunately, numerous resentful souls were supporting this boat.
Wooooo!
Huuuuu!
Before boarding the boat, they had completely destroyed the main hall of the estate and held a memorial service for the resentful souls, so it might have been a kind of repayment for that.
Thanks to that, despite the rough current, the boat didn't capsize and slowly moved forward.
Of course, to be precise, it was moving diagonally to match the current.
The resentful soul Ha-yoon, who was possessing the body of Woo In-yeom, tapped his head and said to Mok Gyeong-un,
"According to the experience and knowledge in this person's head, it will take time to cross the river, but if we move like this, we can somehow cross it."
"I see. Thank you for your efforts."
"…"
Mok Gyeong-un smiled and bowed with his hands clasped to the resentful soul Ha-yoon.
There was a glint in Ha-yoon's eyes as he watched that sight.
That was understandable because, in the first place, although they had fought, they had reached an agreement, so there was no need to argue, but this human was truly unique.
He was a resentful soul.
Even monks were afraid of or wary of someone like him, but this human was treating him normally.
Was it to look good because they had to safely cross the river?
'No, no. It's different.'
This person had no difference in the way he looked at the dead or the living.
It was as if he was looking directly at the existence itself.
A truly strange human indeed.
Was it because of this aspect that a high-ranking existence like her followed this human?
While he was lost in thought, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"If it's not rude, may I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Apart from your ill fate with the Woo family, reaching the Blue Spirit rank means you held a grudge lasting over a hundred years, so may I ask what that is?"
"…"
It was a question that was sufficiently rude.
If he was with a high-ranking resentful soul and had such excellent monastic technique skills, he should know well what a grudge meant to a resentful soul.
However, Mok Gyeong-un was staring intently as if he was genuinely curious.
As if it was pure curiosity.
"…"
He could have just ignored it, but since there was no point in making an enemy with someone like this anyway, the resentful soul Ha-yoon finally opened his mouth.
"I couldn't protect."
"What do you mean you couldn't protect?"
"I couldn't protect the one I had to protect at all costs."
"Ah…"
Mok Gyeong-un looked at the resentful soul Ha-yoon with a puzzled expression.
Since most grudges stemmed from lamentation and the desire for revenge, he had thought Ha-yoon would talk about some object of resentment.
But the grudge of the resentful soul Ha-yoon unexpectedly stemmed from loyalty.
He couldn't leave this world for a long time because of his self-blame for not being able to protect someone.
"He was more upright than he looks."
Cheong-ryeong also seemed to view the resentful soul Ha-yoon differently, as she evaluated him like that.
However, Mok Gyeong-un didn't have as much of an impression as her.
He just thought that the resentful soul Ha-yoon had held a grudge for a long time for this reason.
"I see. Thank you for your answer."
With these words, Mok Gyeong-un left the bow with a smile.
Everyone had gathered at the bow to watch the boat move, but he was heading to the stern where no one was.
"He's absurd."
"What is?"
"I thought the mortal bastard was considering that fellow as a divine spirit when he asked what kind of grudge he held."
"His rank is high, so it's tempting, but there are no vacant positions now."
"That's true."
The number of servant spirits Mok Gyeong-un could currently take was limited.
If it were possible, he would have taken every resentful soul he met as a servant spirit and exploited them.
Mok Gyeong-un had asked out of pure curiosity about the resentful soul Ha-yoon being followed by resentful souls that were mere evil spirits, regardless of their rank.
Walking leisurely like that, Mok Gyeong-un stopped halfway to the stern.
"Why are you doing that?"
"…Will you say you can't see it this time too?"
"What? What are you…"
Cheong-ryeong discovered something.
That something was a person sitting on the deck at the rear of the boat, holding a curved long bamboo fishing rod.
Just by looking at the back of the white hair, one could tell that he was an old man.
"How did that old mortal board the boat?"
"…That's what I want to ask."
When they were launching the boat, he wasn't visible anywhere nearby.
But how did he get on the boat?
The puzzled Mok Gyeong-un asked Cheong-ryeong,
"First of all, you can see him, right?"
"Yes."
Then Mok Gyeong-un opened the demonic power he had obtained from his right Samgan eye.
First, he was curious about the identity of that person.
Judging by the bamboo raincoat he was wearing, he didn't seem to be a spiritual body like a resentful soul or a monster-like existence.
But it was extremely strange that there was no sign or indication of his presence at all.
However,
Throb!
The moment he opened the power of the Third eye, strong pressure and red blood vessels surged in Mok Gyeong-un's right eye,
Splatter!
Then, bloody tears flowed from his right eye.
The startled Cheong-ryeong shouted,
"Mortal!"
Pak!
Mok Gyeong-un, feeling the intraocular pressure that seemed like it would burst, hurriedly closed the power again.
And then he grabbed his right eye, which was shedding bloody tears.
It was to disperse the residual true energy that had raised the intraocular pressure by inducing death energy.
Sss!
Fortunately, Mok Gyeong-un's judgment was correct.
As the energy dispersed, the intraocular pressure quickly subsided as well.
"Why are you doing that?"
"I can't read his energy."
"What? What do you mean?"
"I mean it literally."
When he opened the power of the Third eye, he could examine the flow of energy in detail with his right eye.
He could even read the traces of primordial energy, demonic energy, and spiritual energy, regardless of what they were.
But the moment he opened it, his vision turned pure white.
He couldn't understand why, but he tried to read the energy while enduring the white light, but the intraocular pressure rose, and he couldn't open his eyes properly due to the pain.
'Why is my eye filled with white light? Unless the entire surroundings are filled with energy… !?'
For a moment, Mok Gyeong-un's left eye narrowed.
It was hard to believe.
'…Could it be?'
Right then,
"Mortal! Behind you!"
At Cheong-ryeong's cry, Mok Gyeong-un looked at the deck where the old man in the bamboo raincoat holding the bamboo fishing rod had been sitting.
There was no one there.
That meant, as Cheong-ryeong shouted, someone was behind him, but,
'I can't even sense his presence.'
This was a separate issue from the heavy rain pouring down.
The opponent was a monster who could completely conceal his presence.
In a split second, while he was contemplating what to do, a voice came from behind.
"It wasn't mere coincidence that you saw this old man earlier."
'!?'
213: Chapter 212: On the Boat (3)
"It wasn't mere coincidence that you saw this old man earlier."
'!?'
At the voice coming from behind him, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes sharpened.
'Earlier?'
Mok Gyeong-un recalled the moment before entering the village.
The old man's figure that had disappeared in the instant he took his eyes off him.
'…He was definitely only looking at the river then. But does that mean he noticed that I was looking at him?'
Realizing this, Mok Gyeong-un's thoughts became complicated, unlike before.
The old man behind him seemed to be a monster whose strength he couldn't even guess.
Then, Cheong-ryeong's voice reached Mok Gyeong-un's ears.
"Mortal. Did you not notice at all?"
'…'
He hadn't noticed.
Both with his physical eyes and his energy perception.
Grip!
Mok Gyeong-un found that his hand had unconsciously tensed up at some point.
He hadn't been this tense even when he met the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society, one of the Six Heavens who was called the pinnacle of the current martial world.
Of course, although the leader had weakened due to prolonged illness, this felt completely different.
The gap was so overwhelming that all the techniques he was devising in his head felt meaningless.
'Just who is this old man?'
Cheong-ryeong was equally surprised.
The Mok Gyeong-un she had been watching never showed much tension no matter what powerful opponent he faced.
That was probably due to his strong mental fortitude of not fearing death or pain.
But this was the first time she saw this mortal bastard being so tense.
Just who is the identity of this old mortal?
While she was puzzled, the old man opened his mouth.
"I was just trying to express my gratitude, but this is interesting."
"…What's interesting?"
"I was wondering how you saw me, but your energy is extraordinary."
"Just what are you…"
"Even this old man, who has lived a long time, has never seen someone like you, young man, possessing the energy that dead beings or monsters would have."
'!!!!!'
At the old man's words, Mok Gyeong-un's left eye trembled.
This was a first.
A living being, not a resentful soul, was accurately detecting his death energy.
Moreover, even the fact that he possessed demonic energy in his body.
How did he discern his energy when he was clearly a living existence, not a spiritual body?
While he was surprised, the old man said,
"Hmm. But this isn't all. Death energy, cold energy, poison energy… even the demonic energy of a monster, you possess all sorts of dangerous energies."
'What?'
Mok Gyeong-un was genuinely dumbfounded.
Just who is this old man?
He was reading most of the energies without even making contact with his body.
However, judging by the fact that he didn't mention the demonic energy that converged all these energies into one, it seemed he couldn't detect that.
But from the moment he read the death energy, it was as good as discerning most of the energies.
So Mok Gyeong-un bluntly said,
"…Elder. Just who are you? Why did you board this boat?"
It was doubtful whether he would give an answer, but while asking this, he concentrated his true energy on the soles of his feet.
It was in preparation for any situation.
Right then,
"Young man. I have no intention of harming you, so relax."
"He's reaching for your back!"
Papapapapak!
At Cheong-ryeong's words, Mok Gyeong-un reflexively used the Brilliant Water Surpassing Step to try to distance himself from the old man with high-speed movement.
Mok Gyeong-un, who instantly put distance between them, turned his body.
But the old man, whom he thought would chase after him or make some kind of response, was standing still with his hands behind his back.
'!?'
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes gleamed as he got to see the old man's face directly.
He had an impression from seeing him holding the bamboo fishing rod and not being able to see his face properly, but it was completely the opposite.
The old man's face was not dark and dull, but exceedingly white, and his white beard was neat as if he had groomed it.
He had an aura as if he might have been a scholar in his youth.
However, there was one place that uniquely didn't match this atmosphere – his eyes were extremely fierce.
Then the old man opened his mouth.
"I thought you were cold-blooded, but you have a more curious side than I expected."
"I don't like being grabbed from behind."
"Is that so? But with your level of cultivation, you should have already guessed that no matter how much you struggle, it would be meaningless against me."
"…"
Mok Gyeong-un didn't deny those words.
The bamboo fishing rod the old man was holding behind his back.
At some point, that fishing rod started to feel like a sharp sword.
It felt like if it moved and flew towards him, his body would be split in half the moment it grazed him.
Perhaps because of that tension, all of Mok Gyeong-un's nerves were focused solely on the old man.
Then, the old man looked at Mok Gyeong-un's face and spoke with a glint in his eyes.
"Even though you're young, I thought you would be over thirty, but this is unexpected."
"Thank you for seeing me as mature, but I haven't even passed my prime yet."
"Haven't even passed your prime? Hohohoho."
The old man burst into laughter.
Puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un asked,
"Why are you laughing?"
"It's a truly coincidental and mysterious thing. To see such talent on a boat like this again."
"What?"
"It's nothing. Just old memories coming to mind."
Mok Gyeong-un showed no particular interest in the old man's tone that seemed to recall memories.
Mok Gyeong-un's concern was solely one thing.
Why did this old man of unknown identity board this boat and approach him?
Then the old man lightly shook his head and said,
"Relax. If I had intended to harm you, I would have done so long ago."
"…I apologize. I'm very suspicious."
"Is that so? It's good that you're honest."
"Thank you for taking it well. But if you're not trying to harm me, why did you board this boat?"
"Aah. Right, right. You asked that. My memory isn't what it used to be after passing a hundred years old."
'A hundred?'
At the old man's words, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes narrowed.
Although his beard and hair were white, he had fewer wrinkles than expected.
Judging by his appearance alone, even considering that he was a profound expert, he had thought he would be around sixty to seventy years old.
But he's saying he's this old?
While he was inwardly surprised, the old man said,
"I seem to have unintentionally made you wary, but I just wanted to express my gratitude."
"Gratitude…?"
"That's right."
Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.
He had no particular contact or connection with the old man, so he couldn't understand what he was grateful for.
While he was puzzled, the old man intently looked in the direction of the land they had left, where the village was located.
As Mok Gyeong-un followed his gaze and looked there, the old man parted his lips.
"When I came to this place after a long time, I found that someone had dug up the grave and shrine of an old acquaintance of mine."
"An old acquaintance?"
"Yes. He was a truly upright man with deep loyalty."
At the old man's words, Mok Gyeong-un couldn't hide his inner surprise.
Could this old man… have been an acquaintance of the resentful soul Ha-yoon?
"Ha!"
Cheong-ryeong also seemed surprised, as she let out an exclamation.
That was understandable because the resentful soul Ha-yoon was a high-ranking resentful soul of the Blue Spirit rank.
To reach this rank, one had to remain in the world for over a hundred years while holding a grudge.
That meant the old man really was over a hundred years old.
Then Mok Gyeong-un asked, puzzled,
"Cheong-ryeong might know that he's over a hundred years old, right?"
Cheong-ryeong had absorbed the demonic energy of the Sea King and reached the Indigo Spirit rank, but in reality, she had spent about a hundred years as a resentful soul.
If that was the case, it could mean that this old man roamed the martial world in the same era as Cheong-ryeong.
However,
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"That person is not in my memory."
"Are you sure?"
If he had lived such a long time and possessed unfathomable strength, he must have been famous in his youth.
But Cheong-ryeong seemed to have no idea.
"Could it be that you can't recognize him because his appearance has aged?"
"Aged? Hmm. Yes, that could be. Then try to find out the old mortal's name. It might be someone I've heard of."
Appearance and voice inevitably change over time, so it was possible not to recognize him.
It was even more so for someone who had lived for over a hundred years.
So Mok Gyeong-un decided to find out the old man's name through conversation.
"…By any chance, is the person you're referring to someone named Ha-yoon?"
"Yes, that's him. In fact, while I was pondering what to do while fishing, you destroyed that estate. Thanks to that, it seems my dead friend's grudge has been somewhat relieved, so it's fortunate."
"…"
At these words, Mok Gyeong-un was puzzled.
Something was confusing.
Whether the old man could see resentful souls or not.
Since he could even detect death energy, which could be called the energy of the dead, it seemed like there was nothing he couldn't do, but it was strange.
Judging by the way he was speaking now, it didn't seem like it, so it was ambiguous.
Without revealing this doubt, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"That wasn't intentional."
"Whether it was intentional or not, I wanted to express my gratitude for doing what I was going to do on my behalf."
Listening to the old man's words, it seemed that Woo In-yeom and his family were destined to be punished in some way.
In any case, what was certain was that fortunately, this monster-like old man didn't really seem to intend to harm him.
If that was the case, he could ask without worry.
Mok Gyeong-un respectfully clasped his hands together, bowed his head, and said,
"I apologize, but since meeting like this is also a connection, may I ask for your respected name as a junior?"
"My name?"
"Yes."
To that question, the old man shook his head and replied,
"It's a name that has long been forgotten. What will you do by hearing such a name?"
"But…"
"Hohoho. Do you think a connection won't be made just because you know or don't know a name? Connections tend to take shape in one way or another."
"…Since you put it that way, I have no choice."
It seemed the old man had no intention of revealing his name or identity.
Mok Gyeong-un, who judged that there was nothing good about prying further to someone overwhelmingly stronger than him, quickly gave up.
He should be grateful just for not having ill fate with such a monster-like person.
Then the old man said,
"So I want to make a small repayment for this gratitude and connection."
"Repayment?"
"By the looks of it, you seem to have learned the sword."
The old man suddenly reached out his hand towards Mok Gyeong-un.
Then,
Pak!
'Huh?'
The scabbard of the Evil Commandment Sword at Mok Gyeong-un's waist flew off with the sword intact.
Then it was sucked into the old man's hand.
Puzzled by what his intention was, the old man said,
"I hope this will be a sufficient repayment."
Shing!
As soon as those words ended, the Evil Commandment Sword slipped out of the scabbard, revealing its blade.
Surprised, Mok Gyeong-un shouted,
"Elder, that sword is…"
He was about to say it was dangerous to hold it carelessly because it was a demonic sword.
But an amazing sight unfolded.
The moment the old man gripped the hilt of the Evil Commandment Sword that had been drawn from the scabbard,
Woooong!
A strong resonance poured out from the Evil Commandment Sword, and the blade vibrated rapidly, but soon, not long after, it stopped.
'He subdued the sword?'
Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un was genuinely unable to hide his surprise.
The one who held the Evil Commandment Sword was supposed to reveal their desires due to its demonic nature.
But even though the Evil Commandment Sword revealed its demonic nature while emitting a resonance, its sword spirit was rather suppressed not long after.
While he was amazed, the old man muttered,
"Truly coincidental. The demonic sword of Ou Yezi…"
The old man discerned the identity of the sword in an instant.
As expected, he was no ordinary old man.
"Elder. Are you alright?"
He obviously looked fine, but Mok Gyeong-un asked out of courtesy.
Then the old man looked at the sword and showed a gentle smile.
"Young man, you make me recall many old things that were about to be forgotten."
"…What do you mean by that?"
"No. Never mind. Rather, look at this."
As soon as those words ended, the old man wielded the Evil Commandment Sword he was holding and drew a magnificent trajectory as if performing a sword dance.
Swish! Swish swish swish!
Mok Gyeong-un's eyes didn't leave the sword as he watched this.
The clean trajectory that seemed to draw the full moon in the night sky was too shocking.
How could a sword technique that looked so simple have no flaws?
Swish swish swish swish!
The sword strikes were so outstanding and flawless that he couldn't take his eyes off them.
Cheong-ryeong was equally surprised.
She was also an excellent swordsman when she was alive, so she could tell that each stance the old man wielded went beyond a simple sword technique and led to a peerless sword move.
However, the sword moves the old man displayed with the Evil Commandment Sword felt quite familiar.
'Why does this sword feel so familiar?'
Mok Gyeong-un felt the same way.
At some point, everything about the sword techniques the old man wielded felt extremely familiar.
It was clearly a sword technique he was seeing for the first time, but it felt familiar.
What on earth was going on?
While he was filled with doubts, Cheong-ryeong spoke in a surprised voice.
"…This can't be."
"What's wrong?"
"Mortal…"
"Yes?"
"…It's the Moonless Void Sword."
'Moonless… Sky Sword!?'
At that moment, the formula of the moves written on the paper Cheong-ryeong had hidden, which he had seen in the treasury of Corpse Blood Valley, came to Mok Gyeong-un's mind.
While showing the hidden formula, Cheong-ryeong had said,
[Consider it your fortune. These are the only remaining sword moves of the Moonless Void Sword, one of the Five Great Sword Techniques that once symbolized the Old Martial World.]
Along with that, the peerless swordsman he had seen in a state of selflessness while imprinting the formula began to overlap with the old man.
214: Chapter 213: On the Boat (4)
Moonless Void Sword[1].
That was the sword technique written on the paper Cheong-ryeong had hidden in the treasury of Corpse Blood Valley.
She had called the Moonless Void Sword one of the Five Great Sword Techniques that symbolized the Old Martial World.
'Ah!'
The trajectories of the sword drawn by Mok Gyeong-un's eyes.
In Mok Gyeong-un's mind as he watched this, the image of the peerless swordsman he had seen in a state of selflessness while imprinting the formula overlapped with the old man.
Swish swish swish!
The refreshing sword path reminiscent of the full moon. This caused a thrill that made the memory of that time pale in comparison.
Entering the treasury of Corpse Blood Valley and experiencing a state of selflessness through imprinting as Cheong-ryeong had told him to recite the sword techniques, but this sword technique caused an incomparable thrill compared to those.
Swish swish!
'It's different.'
What surprised Mok Gyeong-un even more was the difference in the sword techniques.
Even in the sword techniques he had seen in a state of selflessness, there were no unnecessary sword paths, and each sword path was beautiful yet thoroughly focused on killing the opponent.
However, the sword techniques the old man displayed went beyond this and even broke free from the framework of existing sword paths.
'Aah…'
It was like seeing a new world.
Confucius said that when one reaches the age of seventy, one can follow one's heart's desire, go where the heart leads, and do what the heart wants without deviating from any rules, laws, systems, or principles.
The old man's sword was like that.
It evolved the techniques freely, breaking away from the framework of existing techniques.
Nevertheless, amazingly, this was still the Moonless Void Sword.
'…I've never thought about it this way. So this is how techniques can be displayed.'
It completely shattered conventional wisdom.
Mok Gyeong-un couldn't help but be genuinely amazed.
This wasn't a sword that could be displayed simply by imprinting it in one's head and remembering it.
This shock didn't only come to Mok Gyeong-un.
Although she had no physical body, Cheong-ryeong was also an excellent swordsman when she was alive, so the moment she saw this, she was astounded and achieved an awakening.
'This is the sword…'
She was the one who had gained enlightenment after seeing the two techniques of the Moonless Void Sword and created the sword technique of the Moon.
But after seeing this, a new understanding of the sword blossomed in her mind.
At this moment, a gap arose between Cheong-ryeong and Mok Gyeong-un.
Unlike Cheong-ryeong, who was trapped in a wooden puppet and purely observing the sword techniques themselves, Mok Gyeong-un was also seeing how the surrounding energy moved with each sword swing.
This difference could be said to be quite significant.
Swish!
Not long after, the old man stopped swinging the sword.
As he stopped, a faint glow was flowing from the blade of the Evil Commandment Sword.
It was as if even the Evil Commandment Sword, called a demonic sword, was paying homage to the amazing sword techniques the old man had demonstrated.
Looking at the Evil Commandment Sword, the old man opened his mouth.
"Excellent. Thanks to you, this old man's sword could shine even brighter."
Woooong!
At those words, the Evil Commandment Sword vibrated and emitted a sword cry.
Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue inwardly.
If the sword spirit of that demonic sword, which was so picky about people, was like this, he thought the old man must have reached the highest realm in swordsmanship.
The old man looked at Mok Gyeong-un and said,
"Did you see it?"
"Yes."
"How much do you remember?"
At those words, Mok Gyeong-un stopped himself from answering that he remembered everything without much thought.
He felt that the meaning behind the old man's question wasn't that.
He could remember everything.
He could even display the exact movements the old man had made.
But that was just a shell.
So Mok Gyeong-un replied,
"I don't remember well."
When he said that, the old man's eyes narrowed.
Inwardly, the old man was surprised.
Although he had shown the sword to Mok Gyeong-un, he thought there would be a limit to what he could realize.
But he never expected to hear such an answer from Mok Gyeong-un.
"You don't remember well?"
"Yes."
"…I see."
The corners of the old man's mouth twitched.
Since he was a swordsman, he thought this much would be a sufficient repayment.
But it seemed Mok Gyeong-un's potential was beyond what he had thought.
So the old man raised the sword again.
Then,
"Then look again."
Swish swish swish swish!
This time, he performed a sword dance just like before.
However, just like earlier, the trajectory of the sword was incomparably beautiful.
But there was a difference – the sword path had become even simpler.
If the previous one was like a waxing moon, now the sword technique had become even more concise and clear, as if it had become a half moon.
Unlike the first time, the sword technique ended halfway through.
As he lowered the sword, the blade of the Evil Commandment Sword vibrated even faster.
The old man asked Mok Gyeong-un,
"How about this time?"
"…Even as I'm watching, I can't remember."
Hearing these words, the corners of the old man's mouth rose even higher.
Then the old man held the Evil Commandment Sword again, assumed a stance, and said,
"I see. Then look again."
As soon as those words ended, the old man displayed the sword technique again.
The sword technique was quite different from before.
The sword became even more concise and closer to simply swinging rather than being beautiful.
Nevertheless, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes didn't leave the trajectory of the sword.
It was like the gaze of someone in a state of selflessness.
Swish swish!
The old man's sword ended even faster than the second time he displayed it.
It was almost not even half as long.
After swinging the sword like this, the old man stared intently at Mok Gyeong-un's eyes and asked,
"How is it?"
At these words, Mok Gyeong-un let out a long sigh.
Seeing this, the old man's eyes gleamed even more.
The old man had realized from this breath alone that Mok Gyeong-un had been with him.
Eventually, Mok Gyeong-un opened his mouth.
"With my lacking talent, I forgot everything even though I saw it before my eyes."
'!!!!!'
Hearing those words, the old man burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
After laughing like that for a while, the old man stopped and said to Mok Gyeong-un,
"I just wanted to make a small repayment, but it has become interesting."
"…It seems excessive for a small repayment."
"This is also your fortune."
At the old man's words, Mok Gyeong-un suddenly recalled it.
Strangely, he had felt the Moonless Void Sword in the sword techniques the old man had displayed, and he had felt an overlap with the peerless swordsman he had seen in the formula from the Corpse Blood Valley report.
So he wanted to ask.
"Elder, by any chance, the Moonless…"
"Hohoho. I almost took this with me."
"What?"
Shing! Click!
Before he could even ask, the old man cut him off and sheathed the Evil Commandment Sword into its scabbard.
Then he threw the Evil Commandment Sword towards Mok Gyeong-un.
As Mok Gyeong-un lightly caught the sword, the old man said,
"It seems the repayment is sufficient, and you should also wrap it up, so this old man will take his leave now."
"What?"
At these words, Mok Gyeong-un frowned.
They were still in the middle of the river, so where was he going?
With this level of current, no matter how much of an expert one was, it was impossible not to be swept away.
So Mok Gyeong-un said,
"Can't you wait until the boat arrives and then get off?"
"The place this old man is going to is not across the river."
"But here…"
"It's fine. And don't pay too much attention to a passing connection."
With those words, the old man shouldered the bamboo fishing rod and tried to move towards the deck.
It was truly an insane act.
He couldn't let him go like this without even properly finding out his identity.
Mok Gyeong-un tried to stop the old man.
"Eld…"
Swish!
At that moment, the old man's figure disappeared.
Mok Gyeong-un hurriedly flew towards the deck where the old man had approached.
And he looked outside the boat, but he couldn't see anything.
No matter how dark and heavy the rain was pouring on the river, Mok Gyeong-un's eyesight was different from ordinary people.
But he couldn't see anything around him.
'…What the hell?'
Was he really a living human?
He disappeared in an instant, and there was no way to know where he had gone.
"Cheong-ryeong, did you see it?"
"…"
So Mok Gyeong-un asked Cheong-ryeong.
But Cheong-ryeong didn't respond.
Thinking something might be wrong, he touched the wooden puppet in his bosom, but she was still sealed inside it.
That meant she seemed to be lost in deep thought to the point of not hearing his words.
'Did Cheong-ryeong also realize something after seeing that?'
It seemed to be the case.
Indeed, he also wanted to organize the things the old man had shown him earlier.
After looking around for a while, searching for traces of the old man, Mok Gyeong-un eventually gave up and sat cross-legged on the floor.
Then he closed his eyes and recalled the sword the old man had displayed from the beginning.
***
The bow of the boat.
Seop Chun, the Third Captain Commander of the Heaven and Earth Society's main branch, gulped down the liquor contained in the gourd bottle passed to him by the exiled monk Ja Geum-jeong.
"Phew. This is killer."
"Hehehe. You bastard at least know the taste of liquor."
"Hahahaha! How can you call yourself a man if you don't know the taste of liquor? Drinking while being drenched by the pouring rain on a boat that seems like it might capsize at any moment, the taste is truly exquisite."
"Liquor should originally be drunk in a place like this to be thrilling."
"Well said."
"In that sense, another sip!"
Gulp gulp!
"Hey. Is that a sip? Are you planning to drink it all by yourself? Let me drink with you."
They were two people who got along exceptionally well.
At some point, they had their arms around each other's shoulders, drinking sip by sip, and were in high spirits.
Seeing these two, Mong Mu-yak, the son of the Vice-Leader, clicked his tongue.
'Foolish ones.'
With the rain pouring down like this, can they even feel if the liquor is going into their nose or mouth?
Anyway, they were guys who didn't suit him.
It was at that moment when he was looking at them with disdain.
Thud!
Mong Mu-yak closed his eyes and collapsed to the floor.
He wasn't the only one.
Seop Chun and Ja Geum-jeong, who had been in high spirits with their arms around each other's shoulders, had also closed their eyes at some point and lay on the floor, falling asleep.
Seeing them like this, the resentful soul Ha-yoon, who was holding the rudder, frowned.
It was strange that they had suddenly collapsed all at once.
But then,
"I almost forgot about you."
At the voice coming from the side, the resentful soul Ha-yoon was startled and turned his head.
There stood an old man wearing a bamboo raincoat and shouldering a bamboo fishing rod.
Seeing this, Ha-yoon tried to kneel on the floor.
"Elder!"
But before he could do that, the old man shook his head and stopped Ha-yoon from kneeling.
Then the old man said,
"If I had paid a little more attention, your grave wouldn't have been dug up. I'm sorry."
"No. How is that your fault, Elder? It happened because I was lacking in virtue."
At Ha-yoon's words, the old man shook his head.
"Even after all this time has passed, you're still the same. It's time for you to let yourself go now."
"No. I still need to receive more punishment."
"Don't say that. That child wouldn't want you to be like this either."
"…"
Ha-yoon lowered his head silently with a bitter look in his eyes.
The old man tapped his shoulder as if to encourage him.
Then Ha-yoon raised his head again and said,
"I apologize. Your lamentation must be deeper than mine, yet you still comfort this unworthy one. I am simply grateful."
"You don't need to be grateful. Understand?"
"…"
"Anyway, the matter has been resolved safely, and I got to see your face after a long time, so this old man will take his leave now."
At those words, Ha-yoon couldn't hide his regret.
He had hoped not to see the old man this year, but he had never missed visiting this place once every ten years to take care of the grave and shrine.
It wasn't a bad thing for him, but it wasn't the same for the old man.
"…You still haven't found it?"
At that question, the old man shook his head.
"It's not easy."
"I'd rather find a suitable human body and help you…"
"No. It would be helping me if you push yourself appropriately and go to a good place."
"…Elder."
"You don't have to do that. I'm in a good mood today because I recalled old memories."
At those words, Ha-yoon asked, puzzled,
"Memories, you say?"
"I greeted a young man who did my task on my behalf, and it reminded me of that fellow after a long time."
'!?'
At those words, Ha-yoon's eyes gleamed.
"By that fellow, do you mean your son-in-law?"
The old man showed a faint smile.
It was a sign of affirmation.
Seeing that, Ha-yoon couldn't hide his inner surprise.
It had been a really long time since the old man had mentioned him.
If that was the case, it meant the old man also highly regarded that extraordinary young man…
"To the extent of reminding you of him, is he that great?"
To this question, the old man recalled earlier and spoke in a meaningful voice,
"His talent alone would make even that fellow pale in comparison."
!!!!!!!
215: Chapter 214: Secret Mission (1)
Scrape scrape.
The hull of the boat scraped against the shore as it moved up.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
The anchors attached to the left, right, and rear of the boat were lowered, but the boat still shook due to the rough current.
However, they succeeded in crossing the river in less than half an hour.
Seop Chun, Ja Geum-jeong, and Mong Mu-yak, who had woken up by the time they arrived, seemed to be in a dazed state, with blank expressions on their faces.
They couldn't even properly recognize when they had fallen asleep and woken up.
They only had the feeling that they had taken a short nap.
'Hmm.'
Mok Gyeong-un, who had been looking at them strangely, approached the resentful soul Ha-yoon standing in front of the rudder and greeted him with a polite bow.
"Thanks to you, we were able to cross the river safely. Thank you."
"I only kept the agreement, so there's no need to thank me too much."
"An agreement is an agreement, and gratitude is gratitude."
"I understand. Then be careful as you disembark."
"Ah! Before you go, may I ask you one more thing?"
"…What is it?"
"By any chance, did you see an old man carrying a bamboo fishing rod? No, do you know him?"
At these words, the resentful soul Ha-yoon momentarily hesitated.
But he soon shook his head and replied,
"I don't know."
"Do you really not know?"
"…That's right."
At the resentful soul Ha-yoon's answer, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and lightly bowed again, then turned to leave.
Watching Mok Gyeong-un's back, the resentful soul Ha-yoon recalled what had happened earlier.
[If he asks about me, tell him you don't know anything.]
There was a request from the elder, so he hid it, but that cunning young man seemed to have noticed.
At least the fact that the elder and himself had a connection.
However, unless the elder wanted it, it was better not to know his identity.
'…If he truly possesses talent exceeding his, as the elder's discernment suggests, surely the connection will be made again someday.'
***
Around the beginning of the evening hour.
In front of an abandoned temple of Guan Yu on the east side of Mount Giju in Annak County of Henan Province.
There, sitting around a bonfire, were three men eating roasted deer meat.
Among the three men who appeared to be in their mid-twenties, one man stood out in particular. His face was white as if he had applied powder, and his lips were red as if he had applied rouge.
He was even eating the meat by daintily tearing it off instead of biting into it in one mouthful.
Seeing him like this, a man with droopy eyes and a blue headband around his forehead clicked his tongue and said,
"Yoo-bong, you've completely become a eunuch."
"Hohoho. I've been living as a eunuch for nearly two years now, so it's only natural to say that."
"Putting other things aside, can't you do something about that laughter?"
"How can I change what's already ingrained in my mouth? Please bear with me a little, Master Gan-yang. Hohoho."
"Haa."
The grating laughter was so annoying that the man with a blue headband around his head, called Gan-yang, let out a sigh.
Across from him, a man with a beard, who was tearing off and eating the meat, stopped and called out in an irritated voice,
"Gan-yang."
"What is it?"
"We've waited long enough, so how about we start heading back?"
"Head back, you say?"
"That's right. Anyway, the rear unit won't be arriving today."
"But Ok-gi…"
The man called Ok-gi interrupted Gan-yang, who was about to say something, with a raised voice.
"It's not just one day, but it has been raining for nearly half a month. Rivers are overflowing everywhere, and there have even been landslides. How can they possibly meet the deadline?"
As he said, the damage caused by the rain that had continued for half a month was indescribable.
Especially around the rivers, they had heard that it was impossible to even launch boats.
Considering this, Ok-gi judged that even if they were masters, it was impossible for them to gather at the rendezvous point by the deadline.
"Hmm."
Gan-yang stroked his chin with a troubled expression.
The Imperial Guard Martial Examination was three days away.
They had to arrive in the imperial capital, Kaifeng, within two days before that and fully brief them on the true purpose of the secret mission and the necessary requirements.
Moreover, this wasn't the end. There was also someone they had to meet before taking the martial examination.
"It would be difficult with just us."
"It's not about being difficult. We're already late. Even if they arrive tomorrow, at that point, it's no different from the mission being disrupted."
"…"
"Didn't we already consider the situation where the advance team wouldn't arrive on time? Let's just head back."
At Ok-gi's words, Gan-yang sighed.
No matter how he thought about it, it was unreasonable.
Due to the heavy rain, the rivers had overflowed, and they probably couldn't even cross for several days.
In fact, the probability of them reaching this place in three days, let alone tomorrow, was slim.
"Phew. Alright. You're right. Let's withdraw now."
At Gan-yang's decision, Ok-gi finally showed a satisfied expression.
From the beginning, he hadn't been too keen on the rear unit coming.
The ministry had said they would dispatch capable recruits as requested by 'that place,' but they were nothing more than rookies who lacked real combat experience or even assassination experience.
On the other hand, they had been trained for this day.
They were waiting for the day they could make a significant contribution and return to the society in glory.
But to carry out the mission with those rookies as the main force?
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't accept it.
'I'll show them that we can do it well enough without those bastards.'
With that thought, Ok-gi removed the remaining deer meat from the wooden stand and was about to extinguish the bonfire.
Right then,
Rustle!
The presence of someone was felt from the bushes to the southwest.
At this, everyone, including him, hurriedly reached for their weapons and turned their heads.
Then someone emerged from the bushes, revealing their appearance.
"Ah. It seems we arrived on time."
'!?'
Seeing the face illuminated by the bonfire, Ok-gi couldn't help but exclaim inwardly.
That was because he was momentarily surprised by the beautiful face that seemed like a woman's.
Then, three more people appeared behind him.
The one who particularly stood out was a man with a muscular and sturdy physique, though not very tall, wearing a broken rosary around his neck and having a fierce impression.
On either side of him were a man in his late twenties who appeared to be holding a somewhat light sword, and a youth with a tall and handsome appearance but giving off a cold feeling.
'Could it be?'
At their appearance, Ok-gi's expression stiffened.
Could these people be the rear unit?
'No way.'
No matter how much they hurried, it was difficult for the rear unit to meet the deadline.
In the first place, they couldn't even cross the river, so how could they arrive today?
At that moment of bewilderment, the leader of the advance team, Gan-yang, said to them,
"Heavenly Mandate."
This was a pre-arranged code phrase.
At Gan-yang's words, Mong Mu-yak stepped forward and replied,
"Earthly Fate."
At those words, Gan-yang's expression brightened.
That was because the rear unit, which he thought wouldn't arrive on time, had arrived at the point when they were about to withdraw.
Clap!
Gan-yang clasped his hands together in a polite bow and was about to greet them.
"Welcome. The leader of the advance team, Gan…"
Then Ok-gi interrupted.
"It's not certain yet if they are the rear unit or not."
"What are you talking about? How can those who know this location and the code phrase…"
"What if something goes wrong because of that? We need to be sure of everything!"
Gan-yang couldn't hide his embarrassment at Ok-gi's firm attitude.
He had been filled with dissatisfaction ever since receiving the notification from the society about the rear unit.
"Listen, Ok-gi…"
"The society informed us of three people. But they are four. Moreover, they even met the deadline that was impossible to meet. Doesn't this seem strange at all?"
'He has a point.'
At those words, a hint of wariness appeared on Gan-yang's expression.
It was indeed strange to dismiss it as just dissatisfaction with the rear unit.
Shing!
Then Ok-gi drew his sword, aimed it at the rear unit, and said,
"We were told by the society that the rear unit consists of three people. What is your identity?"
Mong Mu-yak, who became upset by his attitude of interrogating while even pointing a sword at them, stepped forward.
"Who are you suspecting now?"
"If you've done something suspicious, you should explain it. Are you arguing about it now?"
In a normal situation, even if the other party acted sharply, he would have first clarified the circumstances.
However, like all members of the rear unit, Mong Mu-yak was currently in a very sensitive state.
In order to meet the deadline, they had arrived here after enduring heavy rain for nearly ten days without even getting proper rest.
But being confronted with such a tone, he couldn't help but feel irritated.
"Argue? Who…"
"Ah. Please calm down."
Mok Gyeong-un stopped him.
"But My Lord…"
'My Lord?'
At the word 'My Lord,' Ok-gi and the entire advance team frowned.
Of course, without minding this, Mok Gyeong-un said,
"The three of us came as the rear unit, and this person is my servant."
'What? Servant?'
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, the exiled monk Ja Geum-jeong made a dumbfounded expression.
He had intended to watch and see how to handle the situation if a problem arose, but he never thought he would be introduced in such a way.
Ok-gi, who couldn't hide his displeasure, looked at Ja Geum-jeong and snorted.
"You brought a servant on a secret mission? Do you expect us to believe that now?"
"He's not someone I brought from the society, but a servant I acquired along the way."
At Mok Gyeong-un's nonchalant reply, Ok-gi's expression hardened fiercely.
He had asked for an explanation, but Mok Gyeong-un was only spouting nonsense.
Even Gan-yang, the leader of the advance team, found this unacceptable and half-drew the sword at his waist.
"Does this situation seem like a joke to you? Do you think we'll just let it slide if you say you brought an unknown servant on an important secret mission given by the society?"
"Is it because of this person's identity?"
"No, that's not the point…"
"Have you heard of Ja Geum-jeong, by any chance?"
"Whether it's Ja Geum-jeong or whoever… What?"
Gan-yang's expression, which had been about to raise his voice thinking the conversation wasn't going anywhere, suddenly stiffened.
For a moment, he doubted his ears.
The Ja Geum-jeong he knew was an exiled monk of Shaolin and was more notorious as one of the Three Madmen in the martial arts world than by his nickname, the Demon Subduing Fist Master.
'Impossible!'
There was no way.
How could the crazy exiled monk that even Shaolin had expelled become this person's servant?
No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense.
However,
'…'
Gan-yang's gaze turned towards Ja Geum-jeong.
From the moment he first saw him, he thought he had seen that appearance somewhere before.
The broken rosary, sturdy physique, and fierce impression were all exactly as he had heard in the rumors.
Although the situation didn't make sense, the thought that it might be true left Gan-yang at a loss for words.
But Ok-gi was different.
"Ha! Do you think we'll believe such nonsense? Even if Shaolin expelled him, do you think the Ja Geum-jeong, notorious as one of the Three Madmen, would become a servant to a greenhorn who hasn't even reached his prime? If you have common sense, such words…"
Grab!
"Urk!"
Before he could even finish speaking, someone grabbed Ok-gi's neck like lightning and lifted him up.
It was none other than the exiled monk Ja Geum-jeong.
'Th-this bastard…'
Ok-gi, who thought he had let his guard down for a moment, tried to use the sword he was holding to slash Ja Geum-jeong's arm.
But before he could do that, Ja Geum-jeong twisted his wrist.
Crack!
"Kuuk!"
Clang!
As a result, he dropped the sword.
Regardless, Ja Geum-jeong, with veins bulging on his forehead, panted and said,
"Whether someone becomes a servant or a slave, who the hell are you to run your mouth? Should I break your neck right here and send you to Buddha's side?"
"Urk urk…"
Ok-gi's pupils shook as if an earthquake had hit.
'I-It's really Ja Geum-jeong?'
Ok-gi's martial arts had reached the pinnacle of perfection.
He prided himself on being ranked relatively high among his peers in the righteous faction.
However, if someone possessed the strength to grab his neck with one hand, lift him up, and render him immobile, it had to be Ja Geum-jeong.
In the midst of this, Mok Gyeong-un said to Gan-yang, the leader of the advance team, with a smile,
"If the number of people has to be exact, why don't we reduce it by one person on this occasion?"
'!!!!!!'
Hearing those words, Ok-gi's face instantly turned pale.
216: Chapter 215: Secret Mission (2)
"If we need to match the exact number of people, why don't we just reduce it by one?"
Mok Gyeong-un spoke with a nonchalant smile, leaving not only Ok-gi but even Gan-yang, the leader of the advance team, unable to hide their bafflement.
'What the hell is up with this guy?'
Is he really the one sent by the Society Leader?
How can he say such a thing so casually?
Just then…
"Kkugh!"
"Hey, mister. So if I kill this kid and take his spot, will that work?"
The Demon-Subduing monk Ja Geum-jeong tightened his grip around Ok-gi's neck and sneered.
Suffocating with his face turning beet red, Ok-gi flailed about, desperately trying to pry off Ja Geum-jeong's hand to no avail.
The gap in their martial arts was too wide for him to budge an inch.
"Kugh!"
Ok-gi's eyes were about to roll back.
'D-Damn, I'm really going to die!'
Sensing that Ok-gi was on the verge of suffocating, Gan-yang hastily tried to stop this.
But before he could intervene, someone else stepped in.
"Adding one more person won't be an issue. So please stop."
It was Yoo-bong, one of the advance team members.
Irked by Yoo-bong's effeminate tone and mannerisms despite his made-up face, Ja Geum-jeong raised an eyebrow.
"And who are you to say that, boy?"
"Hohoho. I'm not exactly a 'boy'."
"What? Are you saying you're some kind of wench then?"
"I'm not a wench either. Anyway, now that I know you're a Demon-Subduing monk, I kindly ask that you release him."
At Yoo-bong's words, Ja Geum-jeong scoffed.
"That's not for you to decide."
As he spoke, Ja Geum-jeong's gaze fell upon none other than Mok Gyeong-un.
Seeing this, Yoo-bong's eyes sparkled.
He had been observing and assessing the situation from the start.
As a result, Yoo-bong found it strange but learned that the youngest member who had yet to even reach his twenties, Mok Gyeong-un, was the de facto leader of the rear team.
'That kid is the core of the rear team.'
He wasn't sure why they had chosen the member with the weakest martial arts as the leader, but if they were to submit here, they would continue to be pushed around.
Thus…
"Paat!"
Yoo-bong sprung into action, aiming to subdue Mok Gyeong-un.
If he could just bring him under control, the entire rear team would have no choice but to follow their lead.
Especially that crazy Demon-Subduing monk.
"Papapak!"
Instantly reaching right in front of Mok Gyeong-un, Yoo-bong reached out to grab his neck.
However, before his hand could even touch him…
"Where do you think you're going!"
"Chwak!"
Seop Chun's Wind Demon Blade was already slicing towards Yoo-bong's wrist.
Yoo-bong quickly bent his elbow and infused hidden force into it, skillfully deflecting the blade.
"Taeng!"
The thin and light Wind Demon Blade momentarily curved from the rebound.
"Parararar!"
The blade trembled wildly.
The impact of the hidden force reached even the palm gripping the sword handle.
'Kuk.'
Not missing that brief instant, Yoo-bong kicked towards Seop Chun's abdomen.
"Pak!"
However, Seop Chun was not one to easily fall for such an attack.
Instead, he lifted Yoo-bong's kicking leg upward and…
"Ppeok!"
He struck the opposite side of the curved Wind Demon Blade with his fist, dissipating the hidden force.
Using the rebound from lifting the leg, he lightly leaped and tilted his head back, easily dodging Yoo-bong's roundhouse kick with his other leg.
"Ppaak!"
The roundhouse kick narrowly grazed Seop Chun's hair.
Not missing a beat, Seop Chun executed the 2nd stance of the Folding Blade Technique, Rotating Butterfly Warning, with the Wind Demon Blade that had its hidden force dissipated.
"Chwahchwahchwahchwak!"
"Huh?"
As the blade rotated in a wide trajectory towards his neck, Yoo-bong hastily dodged with a fox-like movement using a mysterious lightness skill, hopping over it.
"Tatatatatak!"
'What kind of lightness skill is that?'
'His blade wielding is no ordinary feat.'
Seop Chun and Yoo-bong, who had exchanged several attacks in a brief moment, marveled at each other's skills and distanced themselves by more than four steps.
But there was another person surprised by their duel – Gan-yang, the leader of the advance team.
He had thought himself the most outstanding in martial arts among the advance team.
However, he never expected Yoo-bong, who was said to have spent nearly two years as a eunuch in the imperial palace, to possess such astonishing prowess.
'He was hiding his martial arts?'
Gan-yang clicked his tongue inwardly.
Just then, Yoo-bong glanced at Seop Chun with a troubled expression.
Breaking through this person seemed far from easy.
Thus…
'It's a shame, but there's no other way.'
From his bosom, he took out something and threw it towards Seop Chun like a concealed weapon.
"Seuk!"
Naturally assuming it was a dart, Seop Chun swung his Wind Demon Blade to deflect it.
However, the moment the blade's edge sliced the object Yoo-bong had thrown…
"Papapapak!"
'Gunpowder?'
It was none other than gunpowder.
As the gunpowder exploded, red and blue sparks flew, causing Seop Chun to momentarily lose sight, frantically swinging his blade to prevent Yoo-bong from closing in.
But Yoo-bong's target wasn't him.
It was Mok Gyeong-un.
Amid the flying sparks, Yoo-bong aimed to subdue the one he considered the weakest but the core of this group.
However, there was a fact Yoo-bong was unaware of.
"Resorting to underhanded tricks, I see."
'What?'
"Pak!"
'Huh!?'
Mok Gyeong-un lightly deflected Yoo-bong's hand that was reaching out to perform the Golden Silk Hand technique, grabbed his face, and smashed it straight into the ground.
"Kwang!"
"Ack!"
Yoo-bong, his head slammed against the floor, trembled in pain.
With this single move, Yoo-bong realized it.
The strongest one among the rear team, no, among everyone present, was none other than this guy.
'To…to think I made such a mistake…'
It was a grave error on his part to consider this guy the weakest and attempt to subdue him without knowing that fact.
"Kkeueung."
The sound of deflating lungs flowed from Yoo-bong, but his consciousness didn't last long.
Perhaps suffering a concussion, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out, foaming at the mouth.
Mok Gyeong-un released his hand from Yoo-bong's face and spoke with a smile.
"Let's put an end to this pointless power struggle. I believe you've sufficiently realized that further attempts are meaningless, no?"
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Gan-yang, the leader of the advance team, unwittingly swallowed his saliva and nodded his head vigorously.
***
Inside the Guan Yu Shrine with lanterns lit.
The attitude of the dejected advance team trio was now shrunken, unlike before.
But there was something that made them shrink even further.
And that was…
"Mong Mu-yak, Vice Commander of the Headquarters' Direct Oversight."
"Seop Chun, Third Captain Commander of the Internal Affairs Headquarters."
"Mok Gyeong-un, disciple of the Shadow Clan Master."
Upon hearing their identities, the advance team was stunned.
'Damn, these crazy…'
There was also a request from 'that place', so they knew some high-level pinnacle-stage grandmasters would be sent as the rear team through the communication talisman.
However, they thought expendable pawns would be sent for this mission, considering its low success rate and potential dangers.
But learning the identities of these individuals, the advance team couldn't hide their astonishment.
Wasn't the Vice Commander of the Headquarters' Direct Oversight the son of the Vice-Leader?
Moreover…
'A Captain Commander of the Headquarters? That's the Society Leader's personal guards. Ha!'
These people couldn't be treated recklessly based on their status alone.
Furthermore, these two belonged to the Five Tigers, considered the best among the Heaven and Earth Society's young pinnacle-stage masters.
On the other hand, the only one they learned about for the first time was Mok Gyeong-un.
'The Shadow Clan Master took on a disciple?'
A disciple of the Shadow Clan Master meant he was a direct successor of the executive.
They had been dispatched for missions outside for as long as two years or at least nearly a year.
As such, they weren't well-informed about internal affairs during that time.
Hearing that Mok Gyeong-un was the Shadow Clan Master's disciple, they couldn't help but be surprised.
'If he's a recently accepted disciple, why is he so powerful?'
Especially Yoo-bong, who had been subdued by Mok Gyeong-un in a single move, felt that way even more.
With this level of martial arts, it would be hard to believe even if he had learned under an executive of the Five Kings level, let alone a Sect Leader level executive.
'Moreover, everyone from the Vice-Leader's son to the Headquarters' Captain Commander addresses him as their lord.'
Just what is his true identity?
Could it be that being the Shadow Clan Master's disciple is merely a front, and he's actually the Society Leader's disciple?
The mystery deepened further.
In any case, thanks to the rear team revealing their identities, the advance team could also discern two facts.
The first was that this rear team included the successors of the two departments in charge of information and spies within the Society.
That likely meant they would utilize the spies embedded within the imperial palace.
The second was…
'…We absolutely must not fail.'
Dispatching such individuals, who have a high chance of becoming major figures in the future, on a secret mission meant that failure was not an option – it had to be accomplished no matter what.
Realizing this, Mok Gyeong-un asked them.
"Well then, can you tell us what our mission is now?"
Gan-yang, the leader of the advance team, answered while kneeling.
"Allow me to explain the mission. But before that, may I ask how much the rear team members are aware of?"
To that, Seop Chun replied.
"We know it involves infiltrating a certain location to abduct an imprisoned individual and bring them to the Society."
"You were only told a rough outline."
"I presume it was to prevent information leaks until we reached the gathering point."
"It seems so. Then, I will inform you of the mission. First and foremost, our destination is the capital, Kaifeng."
'…As expected.'
At his words, Seop Chun nodded.
He had already guessed as much when the gathering point was Annak, Hanam Province, near Kaifeng.
Of course, unlike Seop Chun, Mok Gyeong-un and Mong Mu-yak, who had already been briefed on the exact mission by the Shadow Clan Master and Vice-Leader, showed no particular reaction.
On the other hand…
"Kaifeng? Don't tell me this mission involves recklessly entering the imperial palace?"
Ja Geum-jeong, the Demon-Subduing monk who had pledged loyalty to Mok Gyeong-un but knew nothing, asked jokingly.
To this, Gan-yang nodded in affirmation.
"That's correct."
"What? The imperial palace? So we're really going to infiltrate the palace?"
"Yes. Our mission is to enter the imperial palace and abduct an individual imprisoned in the underground Golden Jade of the palace."
'!?'
At his words, Ja Geum-jeong made a dumbfounded expression.
He was quite surprised to learn they were from the Heaven and Earth Society, but he never expected the mission to be so bold as to infiltrate the imperial palace.
Ja Geum-jeong clicked his tongue and spoke.
"They've completely lost their minds. Doing such a thing will brand us as traitors, no matter what they say about being untouchable."
Even Ja Geum-jeong, known as a lunatic and one of the Three Lights of Shaolin, considered this an utterly insane act.
The imperial palace wasn't simply a place where the emperor resided and conducted state affairs.
It was also a place where the power of an entire nation was concentrated.
Attempting to abduct someone from there was beyond unthinkable – it was virtually impossible.
"Traitors? No, they must have a death wish."
Gan-yang responded to his reaction, finding it absurd.
"Of course, that would be the outcome if we fail. However, we have sufficiently planned the operation, considering numerous variables."
"Hah, seriously. Never in my life did I expect to hear about robbing the imperial palace."
Ja Geum-jeong clicked his tongue again, still seemingly unwilling.
Regardless of his reaction, Mok Gyeong-un asked.
"That's all well and good, but I assume we're not just barging into the palace. How are we going to enter, and what's the plan to abduct that person?"
"The reason we hastily summoned you all to the gathering point is precisely because of the issue of entering the palace. In exactly three days, the Guard Trials will be held."
"Guard Trials?"
The Guards, or Siwibu[1], are the palace guards.
But what exactly are the Guard Trials?
Puzzled, Gan-yang explained.
"The Guard Trials are essentially a promotion assessment conducted within the Guards."
"A promotion assessment? What does that have to do with infiltrating the palace?"
"It does. Because if you pass the Guard Trials and get promoted, you'll be elevated to the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
"Ah!"
The Embroidered Uniform Guards[2].
Like other Guards, they are also palace guards who protect the imperial palace.
However, there is a crucial difference – the Embroidered Uniform Guard serves as the emperor's personal bodyguards and a special agency.
They even possess extralegal powers as they act on behalf of the emperor to inspect the Six Ministries.
And the Embroidered Uniform Guard manages all the Golden Jade prisons within the imperial palace.
'So that's it.'
Now the picture was clear on how they planned to infiltrate the palace and abduct that person.
Just then, Seop Chun nodded as if understanding but soon furrowed his brows.
"Wait a minute. We're not even members of the Guards, so how are we supposed to take the Guard Trials?"
Yoo-bong answered that question instead of Gan-yang.
"Hohoho. You're perceptive. Of course, we have a plan for that."
"You have a plan?"
"Yes, from now, we will head to Kaifeng and meet a certain esteemed individual. And we will request their assistance."
"Who is this person? Someone with enough authority to get us into the Guards?"
Puzzled, Yoo-bong smiled and replied.
"It's Her Highness, the Imperial Concubine Seo."