Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 34
>Chapter Title: Choice (2)
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“If that’s the case, then there’s no helping it. For the sake of fairness, allow me to speak frankly. Please don’t be too upset. If I were to join any of you, what benefits would there be? I’d like each of the executives to tell me one by one.”
‘!?’
Mok Kyung-un’s words caused the six executives to furrow their brows in unison.
It was as good as saying that anyone who wanted to take him along had to offer a price worthy of him.
Unable to hold back, the great leader of the Inferno Demon Squad, Bo Hyuk-so, spoke up.
“How audacious. If you think becoming the top rank entitles you to such privileges, you’re greatly mistaken.”
The other executives nodded slightly in agreement.
Sure, his natural talent for martial arts had everyone eager to take him as a disciple, but these were the leaders steering the Heaven-Earth Society.
What kind of auction house nonsense was this, treating them like bidders?
Yet Mok Kyung-un offered a respectful cupped-fist salute to Great Leader Bo Hyuk-so.
-Swish!
‘He gets the point.’
Bo Hyuk-so smirked and began to nod, but then—
“Yes, I’ll take that to heart. Then, do the other executives have anything to say?”
“What?”
In an instant, Great Leader Bo Hyuk-so’s face twisted.
He had all but outright told the kid to stop being so brazen and show some respect, and now this— was he mocking him?
Bo Hyuk-so couldn’t contain his anger and started to rise from his seat.
“How dare you...”
“Ah, calm down. Inferno Great Leader.”
“Crimson Blood Great Leader?”
The great leader of the Crimson Blood Squad, Dae So-man, who sat beside him, intervened.
“Cool your head for now...”
“He’s not even an official member yet, just a junior who topped the Blood Stream Valley trials. Should we seniors scold him for showing some guts? It’s a good day—let’s show some magnanimity.”
‘This guy...’
At those words, Bo Hyuk-so’s right eyebrow shot up.
Calling it intervention was generous; it was blatantly trying to curry favor with the insolent brat.
He opened his mouth to retort, but—
“You want to hear the advantages? Fine. I’ll go first. If you join me, I’ll make you vice leader of the Crimson Blood Squad and pass on my unique martial art, the Crimson Blood Phantom Claw Technique. With your talent, you’ll surely inherit my position before long.”
Great Leader Bo Hyuk-so clicked his tongue at Dae So-man’s words.
This was playing right into the brat’s hands.
What a headache.
Bo Hyuk-so glanced at the other executives with a look that said, *Is this really okay?*
He couldn’t argue with Dae So-man since they held the same rank, but if the higher-ups drew a firm line...
“If you become my disciple, you can imagine the benefits well enough, so I’ll say just this: I’m the only one here who can teach you the sword.”
‘Damn it!’
As the Azure Mist Valley Lord, Hang Yeo-ryang, stepped in, Bo Hyuk-so bit his lip hard.
He’d hoped for backup, but now even a valley lord-level executive had joined in.
That left him no grounds to criticize the kid.
Speaking up now would just look like he was picking on someone of higher rank.
‘Damn.’
Maybe he should’ve played along from the start.
But jumping in now would only embarrass him after his earlier words.
Besides, as great leaders—the lowest rank here—they were at a disadvantage in this bidding war.
‘But would the Dark Faction Lord or the two kings really go this far just to snag him?’
Pride was a factor, after all.
Just then, someone spoke up.
“The sword. Is that the path you’ve chosen?”
‘Ah...’
The one who asked was none other than the Thunderclap Fist King, Won Byeong-hak.
At the mere sight of him stepping forward, Great Leader Bo Hyuk-so slid his hips back into his chair, half-reclining.
With the Thunderclap Fist King in the fray, the kid was as good as gone.
“If you’ve set your path to the sword, I’ll yield, of course. But with your innate talent, you could reach mastery in any martial art, sword or not.”
‘Mastery?’
Mastery.
It meant becoming an unparalleled expert in a field.
In the martial world, masters were those who transcended walls to reach the transcendent realm. Seeing the Thunderclap Fist King evaluate Mok Kyung-un so highly left everyone inwardly stunned.
His desire to take the boy seemed incredibly strong.
“Is the sword the path you’ve chosen?”
At Won Byeong-hak’s question, all eyes turned to Mok Kyung-un.
Finally, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“The sword isn’t a must. My goal is to grow stronger, no matter the path.”
‘!?’
Azure Mist Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang’s eyes sharpened.
After she’d offered to teach him the sword, this was as good as drawing a line.
He knew how to stoke her ire when she wanted him most.
Then Won Byeong-hak burst into hearty laughter at Mok Kyung-un’s response.
“Hahaha! As expected of a prodigy—our minds align perfectly.”
He was deeply satisfied with the boy’s answer.
If Mok Kyung-un had no interest in him and planned to choose Hang Yeo-ryang, he would’ve drawn a clear line at the question.
But he hadn’t.
That meant he likely favored a king like himself.
Won Byeong-hak turned to the Bright Blade King, Son Yun, beside him with a smug grin.
“Looks like Brother Son wanted him too, but he’s coming with me.”
Son Yun snorted derisively.
Ignoring him, Won Byeong-hak—convinced Mok Kyung-un would choose him—stood and drove the point home.
“Become my disciple, and I’ll name you heir, passing on my lifelong martial arts. Master my True Essence Thunderclap Fist, and no one will match you barehanded.”
It could sound arrogant, but since he’d limited it to bare hands, no one objected.
It simply conveyed how desperately he wanted Mok Kyung-un.
‘Come. Be my disciple.’
Won Byeong-hak extended his hand toward Mok Kyung-un.
Right then—
“Truly astonishing, child of Mok.”
‘As expected...’
The Bright Blade King, Son Yun, who sat beside the Thunderclap Fist King, finally stepped in.
Won Byeong-hak shook his head in displeasure.
Unfazed, Bright Blade King Son Yun addressed Mok Kyung-un.
“Our fates are deeply intertwined, you and I, Bright Blade King.”
‘Fates?’
Won Byeong-hak and the others stared at Son Yun in confusion.
What did he mean by intertwined fates?
Were they already acquainted?
Just then, Mok Kyung-un offered a cupped-fist salute with both hands and spoke.
“Thanks to you, Bright Blade King, I made it here. I never expected to see you again so soon.”
‘This...’
Won Byeong-hak furrowed his brow.
So they really knew each other?
Then why hadn’t the kid shown any sign until now?
‘Was it deliberate?’
To build false hope and then crush it?
If so, it was quite unpleasant.
But Bright Blade King Son Yun continued.
“Astonishing. I thought you talented back then, but I never imagined you’d survive this place.”
“Guess I should thank you for the valuable experience.”
Son Yun’s eyes gleamed at that.
He’d thought the boy might resent him for the hardships in Blood Stream Valley, but this calm response was unexpected.
And there was no trace of resentment in his eyes.
‘Not bad.’
He’d pegged him as merely cunning, but this composure was appealing.
Now he wanted to confirm one thing.
“I have a question for you.”
“A question?”
“Yes.”
“Ask away.”
“If given the chance, do you wish to return?”
Everyone struggled to hide their bewilderment.
What was this about?
The meaning behind the question was hard to grasp.
Not everyone, though.
‘Ah, so that’s it. Heh heh.’
The Dark Faction Lord, who knew Mok Kyung-un was a hostage from the orthodox Timber Sword Manor, nodded in understanding.
It was indeed a crucial question.
She coveted him too, but his roots were in the orthodox faction. This needed confirming.
If his heart lay there, taking him as a disciple would be pointless.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“I don’t put much stock in going back. I came here on my own two feet, after all.”
No sooner had he finished than the corner of Bright Blade King Son Yun’s mouth curved up.
The exact answer he’d hoped for.
Son Yun rose and declared,
“You’re not just a prodigy—you’ve become a talent suited to our society. Good. Become my disciple. If you do, even if your origins become an issue in our society later, I’ll protect you to the end. You know what that means.”
‘!?’
The other executives murmured softly.
Origins? What was that about?
Come to think of it, curiosity had lingered about the sect of these brothers who’d jointly topped the Blood Stream Valley trials.
Azure Mist Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang spoke up.
“Origins? What do you mean by that?”
“Just as I said.”
“Straight out? So you know the boy’s background—and what makes it a problem?”
At the question, Blood Stream Valley Lord Lee Ji-yeom, on the platform, looked troubled.
Even if possessed by that one, the shell was the son of orthodox Timber Sword Manor.
If his identity came out, the fallout would be huge.
‘Intentional?’
Lee Ji-yeom glanced at Bright Blade King Son Yun.
He’d cleverly instilled a sense of crisis without revealing the truth.
Rather than touting gains, he’d amplified the losses, positioning himself as the sole protector.
‘Now he has no choice but to go.’
It put their lord in a tough spot.
Bright Blade King Son Yun was bold, with many disciples below him—not someone she wanted to push.
But with their lord short on allies and unable to make enemies, he might have to side with Son Yun.
‘Shrewder than he looks, Bright Blade King.’
The Dark Faction Lord covered her mouth with her hand, smiling.
On the surface, it sounded like protection if he became his disciple, but it was a warning.
Don’t forget your place.
The offer was a ploy to break him mentally.
The moment his identity as an orthodox faction scion emerged, Mok Kyung-un would be in dire straits.
‘No helping it.’
If she were him, she’d have no choice but to pick Bright Blade King Son Yun.
That was the safest shelter.
Son Yun was resolute and stubborn—he kept his word.
To overcome the weakness of his origins, it was the best move.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“Ahh, that could be an issue.”
“Indeed.”
If he understood, there was only one choice.
Even if hushed now, a whim from the society head could expose him. Would others offer protection like Son Yun?
They wouldn’t bear that risk.
‘Come. Take my hand.’
However,
“Hmm. Then let’s settle it here and now.”
“Settle it? What do you...”
“If it’s going to hold me back, better to say it upfront.”
Bright Blade King Son Yun’s eyes wavered.
What was the boy about to do?
Thus,
“Wait... stop...”
Bright Blade King Son Yun tried to stop Mok Kyung-un.
But,
-Pak!
Mok Kyung-un clasped his hands in a cupped-fist salute and declared loudly.
“Allow me to greet you again. I am Mok Kyung-un, third son of the orthodox Timber Sword Manor.”
‘!!!!!!!!’
The words sent the executives, the unaware Blood Stream Valley warriors, and even the initiates into an uproar.
No one had seen this coming.
The top graduate of Blood Stream Valley trials—the Heaven-Earth Society’s premier training ground for later-generation talents—was from the prestigious orthodox clan, Timber Sword Manor?
How had he even entered the Blood Stream Valley trials?
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and added,
“One more thing: I was brought here as a hostage by Bright Blade King here.”
‘!?’
In that instant, Bright Blade King Son Yun was dumbfounded.
Revealing such a fatal weakness and source of scandal himself?
[Chapter 34: Choice (2)] End