An Opponent Too Shameful to Face (1)
[Near midnight, in the open space before the main gate leading into the Medical Pavilion of Moyong Sega.]
Unlike sects with hundreds or thousands of disciples, a "sega" inevitably operates on the scale of blood kin within the family. At such times, collateral branches aside from the direct line of the family head often serve in roles like elders or disciples in other sects. As a result, the warriors guarding the family are mostly "Moyong" clansmen. And even if not strictly Moyong by blood, there are cases where children born to Moyong women and other warriors reside in Moyong Sega.
Here stood a young man in white martial robes embroidered with stars, the symbol of Moyong Sega warriors—
"Hey, Mo Tae-bok."
The one called Mo Tae-bok was much the same.
"Aren't you uneasy?"
"About what?"
"You've reached Super Peak, the level where you could establish your own sect out there, yet here you are playing guard dog for the family."
"Is that a provocation?"
Mo Tae-bok ground his teeth lowly at his approaching subordinate, Moyong Ak.
"With those outsiders already talking shit about Moyong Sega, you're saying the same thing?"
"It's because you're too damn nice for your own good. That's the problem with this Moyong Sega."
Moyong Ak pointed to the blue star embroidered on his own robes.
"The world's greatest. Heroes of murim. An elite force of a martial family like that. And you walked only the righteous path to build your skills."
"So what are you getting at?"
"I just wonder if this is right."
Moyong Ak pulled a sheet of paper from his bosom. Mo Tae-bok's eyes widened in shock as he glanced at it, quickly scanning the surroundings.
"Q-Quick, burn it...! The Deputy Head said to burn it on sight!"
"I just wanted to say it. No need to burn it."
Moyong Ak stuffed the thin paper into his mouth and swallowed it down with a gulp.
"It details the events and situations to come. Specifically... Magyo's utterly... keh, keheuk."
"Stop laughing and keep talking."
"Ah, right. Magyo's vile, terrifying, so profoundly insidious that even those who tremble at the mere mention of Magyo would bolt upright from sleep—a truly horrifying scheme."
"Sarcasm?"
"Who knows. Anyway, the legendary master thief whose supreme secret manual passed to someone like Yugoein—won't he shed bloody tears in his grave? His successor, who inherited his legacy, ending up like this!"
"That's not just Flying Shadow Divine Thief; it's Magyo itself..."
Whoosh.
A streak of flame shot into the sky. As a signal arrow-like blaze flickered against the night sky, the two men hardened their expressions and scanned their surroundings.
"They're really doing it?"
"Good lord. First time I've ever felt sorry for Magyo as a group."
The two men struggled to suppress feelings of emptiness, pity, and secondhand embarrassment.
"...As befits the swords of Moyong."
"By the Deputy Head's command."
They steeled their faces, transforming into iron-blooded swordsmen devoid of expression.
"...Hoo."
But the trembling emotions—thoughts that resurfaced endlessly after accepting their deployment—could not be quelled.
"What the hell is the world coming to?"
"It's gone mad. The family head must have a head injury; can't think straight."
"Hoo. Enough. They're coming."
As the two men swallowed hard, glaring at the firmly shut gate into the Medical Pavilion grounds—
Bang bang bang!
Urgent pounding echoed from outside.
"What's the matter?"
Mo Tae-bok approached first and called out toward the door.
"P-Please, save us...!"
A woman's voice—a young woman's—panted hotly from beyond the door, as if her body were aflame.
What should a Moyong Sega knight do in this moment? Mo Tae-bok stifled a sigh at Moyong Ak's face-covered posture behind him and flung open the firmly shut door.
"What—"
"Sir Hero!!"
Squish.
A woman—one of those who had entered Moyong Sega to nurse Yugiyeon, daughter of Black Sword Sect—lunged at Mo Tae-bok.
"Wh-What...?!"
"S-Someone... drugged us with aphrodisiac...!"
The woman was far from normal. Her face flushed beet red, heat radiating from her entire body, her posture unsteady as she writhed uncontrollably.
"S-Sir Hero...!"
"Th-This is..."
Was this truly Magyo's scheme? Forcing women with aphrodisiacs to distract the guards, creating an opening for their plot.
—Everyone knows, but if it seems like they'll get hurt or someone's using deadly poison, respond immediately. The Deputy Head already laid down the law.
Mo Tae-bok was a sensible man, so he half-hoped this woman would pull a poison-coated dagger and stab his heart. That, at least, matched the viciousness of "Ilwol Singyo," the predecessor to Magyo that his parents had endlessly feared.
But.
"Sir Hero!"
As another woman sprang forth and clung to Mo Tae-bok's back—
Squish.
Sandwiched front and back, enveloped by their intense presence even through layers of fabric, Mo Tae-bok nearly blacked out.
—Well, if those women really throw themselves at you... Ha. I won't hold you responsible, so just play along appropriately.
The Deputy Head's words resurfaced in his mind.
—Who the hell does Magyo think the righteous sects are? These women they sent in are all virgins with zero experience. Not disciples of the 'virgin hunters'—those demonesses spread across the Central Plains—but pure ones they plan to defile.
At that moment, Mo Tae-bok had asked—
—Why would such women go so far for Magyo?
...They're shadows of our generation. The Deputy Head had sighed deeply, face understanding.
—Parents' vengeance. Those whose parents were killed by the white path murim serve Magyo.
That much, at least, he could comprehend.
"S-Sir Hero...! Please, please do something to me...!"
"Hah, somehow ease this agony we're suffering...!"
The desperation of women poisoning themselves with aphrodisiacs to bind the feet of white path murim warriors, all for parental revenge.
—When martial arts fail, they target your sense of justice and kind hearts. Rage at the Cheonma who can only resort to such cheap tricks, using these women's bodies and minds.
"Miss, calm down first...!"
"Sir Hero, we, I mean...!"
Mo Tae-bok's heart sank at the tearful eyes gazing up at him.
"We won't make you take responsibility, so please save us...!"
Squish.
As the nurse grabbed Mo Tae-bok's hand and pressed it to her breast, he quickly glanced somewhere far off—toward a man watching from the roof of a tall pavilion.
The Deputy Head. He traced a large circle in the air with his hand, and Mo Tae-bok squeezed his eyes shut.
"Come this way, misses."
* * *
Medical Pavilion, third floor, physician's quarters.
I lay in bed, covers pulled up, eyes closed, ears attuned to the outside.
Scary, Magyo.
Not like Super Peak masters reading auras through walls or floors. But I'm sensitive to the scents of medicinal herbs drifting on the air, and with herb traps laid throughout the Medical Pavilion, I can detect intruders to some degree.
Creeak.
Step on certain floorboards, and herbs hidden beneath soak through. Or the scent of specific herbs in sealed rooms grows closer. Or the aroma wafting through open windows thickens.
In short, someone unknown has stepped on specific floors, passed certain areas, climbed to the third-floor window of the Medical Pavilion, and invaded my room. I know it.
Either a lowlife who can't smell the herbs, or so accustomed to them that the scent clings like a tracking fragrance.
There is such a thing as "tracking fragrance." A special powdered scent applied to a target's body or clothes, trackable from miles away.
For me, it's the herbs and spirit medicines from mountains and fields.
So I could tell—
"Giyeon."
"Yes, Father."
Damn.
The two intruders turned my deductions to trash in an instant.
"Even Moyong Sega only strongly defends its main buildings. Once you reach here, even they can't do much."
"Thanks to Flying Shadow Divine Step, right?"
"Exactly. No one can match 'us' in stealthy maneuvers."
Personally, I think Magyo fell because idiots like these blab carelessly.
At least the Eldest Princess didn't do that.
Magyo's Eldest Princess never even mentioned her injuries. She knew the importance of concealing information.
If she became Magyo's supreme leader after the Sword Saint vanished, Magyo might truly dominate the Central Plains—but
At least these fools will be purged.
Would the Eldest Princess let Yugoein or Yugiyeon types parade as Magyo members? No way.
"Giyeon. This man is yours now."
"Thank you, Father. Ahh, Physician Seok..."
Chatting idly right in front of their kidnapping target.
"Now we'll take Physician Seok, hide him, and make him churn out Extreme Yang Pills like mad."
"If we cure all the Jeolmok Jeong patients in Magyo, Magyo's future will shine brighter than the white path's. Then our Black Sword Sect can return to Cheonsan too."
Blabbing their ambitions openly.
"Hehehe... The sight of women suffering from Jeolmok Jeong begging me for Extreme Yang Pills... Eheheh...!"
"A cure limited to Jeolmok Jeong, Extreme Yang Pills will fetch any price. We'll be rich!"
Raising their voices.
No. Hold it in. This is Magyo's vile ploy. Trying to make me burst out laughing, rattle my emotions, and ruin my acting.
Calm down, my heart.
Even the Godok in my heart thrashed wildly, as if my valves were its blanket and my heart its bed.
They've already fallen into the trap.
Fools unaware that the Deputy Head had countermeasures ready based on their own plan—no need for the Eldest Princess even.
For instance.
"But Giyeon. Why do you want Physician Seok?"
"He's too good for a crazy bitch like me."
Uttering death flags without realizing.
"The Central Plains' top villainess doesn't deserve such a kind, upright physician."
"Not content with stealing a man from the world's greatest beauty?"
"Hehehe, Father...?"
"Nothing. Go ahead and take him. Even if Moyong Sega does nothing, we can't dawdle too long."
"Yes. Hehe, even sleeping, he's cute."
Yugiyeon's face drew near. The rustling sound was surely her sweeping hair behind her ear.
"Now for the body..."
As Yugiyeon slyly pulled the covers down—
"Eh?"
She must have seen it. By my waist. Hunched low, hidden beneath the covers.
"Why are you he—"
Slash!
Moyong Seol swung her sword straight at Yugiyeon.