Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 29
>Chapter Title: Wi So-yeon (1)
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“Heaven and Earth Society Leader’s third disciple, Wi So-yeon.”
‘!?’
A glint appeared in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
He hadn’t expected to encounter someone close to the Heaven and Earth Society Leader in a place like this.
A disciple, no less.
He had found it odd that she had barged into the briefing without regard for protocol, but now that he knew her identity, it made some sense.
‘She’s a candidate for the next Leader.’
Mok Kyung-un had briefly heard about key internal figures from Blood River Valley Leader Lee Ji-yeom.
The Heaven and Earth Society Leader had three disciples qualified to be his successors.
One of them was the third disciple, Wi So-yeon.
She was known as a woman who possessed extraordinarily rare martial talent that appeared perhaps once every few hundred years, which led to her being taken as a disciple. Rumor had it she harbored ambitions for the Leader’s seat.
‘To think I’d run into a woman like that here.’
What an odd coincidence.
Judging by Cheong-ryeong’s silence, the revelation that she was the Leader’s disciple had stirred her emotions.
If it had anything to do with the Leader, she couldn’t contain her rage.
‘But her strength is no joke.’
After his enlightenment, he now knew how to handle the energy within his body.
Yet unlike him, she stood in an utterly ordinary stance, gripping his wrist, without the slightest tremor.
Even with her other hand holding another man.
‘Is this the level of the Heaven and Earth Society Leader’s disciple?’
If the youngest disciple was this strong, he could guess at the caliber of those above her.
And just how powerful was the Society Leader himself?
One thing was certain: despite his enlightenment, he still fell short of even this disciple’s martial prowess.
At that moment, Yeop Wi-seon, the disciple of the Illustrious Blade King who was writhing in pain from his twisted wrist, scolded him.
“Haa... haa... What do you think you’re doing? You’re just a Blood River Valley novice, and even after learning the young lady’s identity, you fail to show proper respect...”
-Crack!
“Argh!”
It happened before he could finish speaking.
Yeop Wi-seon’s wrist snapped completely, the bone breaking.
The pain from a healthy bone shattering should have drawn a scream, but Yeop Wi-seon clenched his teeth, his face swelling with bulging veins.
To him, the Leader’s third disciple, Wi So-yeon, said in a cold voice,
“I told you to be quiet.”
“Grrr... I-I’m sorry.”
“Should I list out loud all the foolish things you’ve done?”
“Ugh... N-No...”
In truth, Yeop Wi-seon had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.
Few had the authority to enter the briefing without regard for protocol.
Even as a disciple of one of the Five Kings, the Illustrious Blade King, he naturally lacked permission to enter this place. He had only tagged along by currying favor with the Leader’s disciple, Wi So-yeon.
And in his excitement, he had damaged some of the original secret manuals in the briefing.
That alone was crossing an unforgivable line.
“Because of your stupidity, even I, who brought you here, am in quite a bind. If you open your mouth again, I’ll execute you on the spot.”
“I’ll... remember...”
Yeop Wi-seon clamped his mouth shut.
He couldn’t afford to irk her further.
-Pop!
Wi So-yeon released Yeop Wi-seon’s wrist, then let go of Mok Kyung-un’s as well.
She spoke.
“I apologize. Forgive this man’s rudeness. He’s a bit extreme in his actions and short-sighted, but loyal, so I keep him around. I didn’t expect him to pull something this idiotic today.”
As she said this, Mok Kyung-un brought his wrist up to check it.
Her handprint remained clearly.
Staring at it, Mok Kyung-un chuckled softly, then looked at Yeop Wi-seon and said,
“A loyal but dumb dog must be exhausting to handle.”
‘You bastard!’
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, Yeop Wi-seon’s face twisted fiercely for a moment.
But he knew defying her again would bring consequences he couldn’t bear, so he held his tongue.
Then Wi So-yeon chuckled.
“A loyal but dumb dog. Quite a fitting description.”
‘Even the young lady...’
Yeop Wi-seon boiled inside.
He had arranged this meeting to impress her and build their relationship further.
Yet in an instant, he had become the dumb dog.
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un politely performed a cupped-fist salute.
-Swish!
“Reserve Squad Leader Mok Kyung-un greets the Leader’s third disciple, Young Lady Wi So-yeon.”
“Mok Kyung-un?”
At Mok Kyung-un’s greeting, she tilted her head slightly.
The Mok (木) family name was quite rare across the Central Plains martial world.
She had never heard of any within the Heaven and Earth Society, save for Timber Sword Manor, one of the prestigious righteous clans.
‘Timber Sword Manor... No way.’
The fact that Timber Sword Manor’s heirs were being held hostage was known to only a tiny few within the Society, so she was unaware.
Who would imagine sending hostages to Blood River Valley?
She soon said,
“A reserve squad leader means you’re on the cusp of the final trial.”
“That’s correct.”
In truth, she had already heard from Senior Officer Gwak Mun-gi that he was approaching the final trial.
But she feigned ignorance, intrigued by Mok Kyung-un.
Wi So-yeon looked at Mok Kyung-un’s face.
‘...He’s really handsome.’
She had never seen a man this strikingly beautiful.
At first glance, his face was so refined it could pass for a woman’s—beyond handsome, truly exquisite.
But she was more interested in his martial prowess than his looks.
‘He looks barely seventeen, yet if he’s already squad leader level, he’ll pass the final trial with ease.’
Then he would earn the executives’ favor.
With succession tensions rising within the Society, she was recruiting promising talents aggressively.
‘He seems like good material.’
If he was a cut above Yeop Wi-seon, trained by Illustrious Blade King’s grandson Son Yun, his future looked bright.
No harm in recruiting him right here.
She cut straight to the point.
“Your internal energy feels solid—on the verge of peak realm, or even beyond.”
“Oh. Is that so?”
“So, I was wondering if perhaps...”
“Ah! My apologies, young lady, but may I say something first? Actually, two things.”
“Hm?”
When Mok Kyung-un suddenly cut her off, she furrowed her brow slightly.
Quite rude, even knowing her identity.
But since Yeop Wi-seon, whom she had brought, had been rude too, and she wanted to make Mok Kyung-un one of her own, she decided to tolerate it.
“Fine. Speak freely.”
“Ah, what a relief—you’re magnanimous.”
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, she smiled faintly.
She could afford that much generosity if it meant recruiting talent for herself.
“First, as the Leader’s disciple, you must have the authority for this. I was originally rewarded with one hour here to select secret manuals.”
“Ah...”
Wi So-yeon immediately grasped what he meant.
Because of Yeop Wi-seon and herself, Mok Kyung-un had lost that time.
He was likely asking her to inform the briefing keeper.
“Don’t worry. I was already planning to ask Squad Leader Yang about it, even without you mentioning it.”
Not a spur-of-the-moment excuse—it was genuine.
At Wi So-yeon’s words, Mok Kyung-un smiled warmly, relieved.
Then he continued.
“Thank you for your consideration. Second, thanks to that man over there, I nearly lost my life, so I’d like fair compensation.”
“What?”
Wi So-yeon frowned at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
She had personally apologized and even broken the wrist of Yeop Wi-seon, the Illustrious Blade King’s disciple.
Breaking it here was partly to show Mok Kyung-un.
Yet he demanded compensation?
‘Is this punk spouting nonsense?’
Enraged, Yeop Wi-seon glared murderously at Mok Kyung-un.
Without her warning, he would have started a brawl right then.
Then Wi So-yeon spoke.
“What do you mean by fair compensation? Care to elaborate?”
“Since I nearly lost my life, by equal exchange, shouldn’t I rightfully take his life in return?”
-Grit!
Had this punk lost his mind?
No matter the humiliation, he was the disciple of one of the Five Kings, the Illustrious Blade King.
And this guy was saying he should take his life?
This bastard really...
“...or so I thought, but that would mean depriving you of your loyal, dumb dog, young lady. So if you provide suitable compensation instead, I’d be grateful.”
“Suitable compensation?”
“Yes. Since I nearly died, isn’t that fair to extract from him?”
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, not just Yeop Wi-seon but even Wi So-yeon let out a scoff.
She had seen many within the Society, but never a mere Blood River Valley novice this brazen.
Demanding compensation from her, a potential next Leader.
It was refreshingly bold, yet slightly irksome.
‘...Looks like he’s more than just talented.’
From their brief exchange, she judged Mok Kyung-un as someone who pursued personal gain more than she’d thought.
Her interest waned a bit.
She sought talent who were exceptional in martial arts and would pledge unwavering loyalty to her.
But haggling with a potential lord?
‘If he’s this bold, let’s see how he handles this.’
She decided to test Mok Kyung-un.
His talent was confirmed; now, did his wits match his audacity against her?
“A life... Fair enough, your point stands.”
“Good to know reason prevails.”
“Then kill him.”
“Pardon?”
At her words, Mok Kyung-un’s eyes narrowed slightly.
An unexpected response.
Truth be told, Mok Kyung-un had made the demand to gauge the caliber of this ambitious successor candidate.
He hadn’t expected her to tell him to kill the man here.
“Surprising.”
“What’s surprising? I apologized personally and broke his wrist for his rudeness. If that’s not enough for a life’s worth, what choice do I have?”
“So you’re telling me to kill him?”
“Exactly. I can’t think of compensation equal to a life.”
At her words, Yeop Wi-seon’s expression darkened.
No way his sworn liege would hand his life to this punk.
Was she serious?
Then Wi So-yeon added,
“But I can’t take responsibility for what happens after you kill him.”
“Take responsibility?”
“Yes. You don’t seem to know who he is, so I’ll tell you his status. He’s Yeop Wi-seon, disciple of the Illustrious Blade King.”
At that, Mok Kyung-un turned to look at Yeop Wi-seon.
Now he fully understood her intent.
She wasn’t truly telling him to kill.
‘It’s: kill him if you can handle the fallout yourself.’
She stated it plainly.
He was free to kill Yeop Wi-seon, but any repercussions were his to bear alone.
Those repercussions would naturally be the Illustrious Blade King’s wrath.
“Your choice is yours. In return, I won’t hold you accountable for taking the life of someone sworn to me—so that should suffice as compensation.”
At her words, a faint flush of relief crossed Yeop Wi-seon’s face.
Of course—she wouldn’t abandon him.
She had a plan, after all.
‘Damn punk.’
Yeop Wi-seon glared at Mok Kyung-un.
Unless he was brainless, he wouldn’t dare touch him.
Yeop Wi-seon vowed inwardly.
He would repay this humiliation tenfold.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“Hmm. If I’m not mistaken, it sounds like: don’t touch him needlessly and regret it—choose wisely.”
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, she chuckled.
She assumed he had the brains to grasp that much.
But if he backed down here, abandoning his demand for compensation after all that bravado, he’d just be all talk.
That’s what she thought.
“If you’re in a position like the Leader’s disciple, you’ll surely honor your own words.”
She scoffed in response.
“Words carry weight. I take responsibility for what I say.”
“I see.”
“Decided?”
“Yes. No choice. I wanted compensation for my near-death—a life for a life—but the Illustrious Blade King’s backlash worries me.”
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, she shook her head lightly.
His caliber was disappointingly small.
Just another schemer rolling his wits for gain against her.
No matter the talent, lacking the ingenuity to navigate this and resorting to submission killed her interest.
“Go...”
“Ah. One moment.”
“What?”
It was right then.
-Swish! Thwack!
Mok Kyung-un shot forward, kicking Yeop Wi-seon in the jaw.
“Gah!”
No internal energy was infused, but Yeop Wi-seon, stunned by the sudden jaw strike, yelled at Mok Kyung-un.
“You dare!”
“Oh? You opened your mouth?”
“What?”
“Your liege just warned that if you opened that mouth, it’d be summary execution. You ignored her.”
‘!?’
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, Yeop Wi-seon’s face froze.
This bastard had kicked him to make him speak?
Then Mok Kyung-un turned, smiling brightly at Wi So-yeon in a mocking tone.
“Didn’t you say words carry weight and you take responsibility for your own?”
[End of Chapter 29: Wi So-yeon (1)]