Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 35
>Chapter Title: Bewitched Sword (1)
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“If you agree to join me, I shall bestow upon you the Wicked Sword, one of the legendary bewitching swords of antiquity.”
-The crowd buzzed with excitement!
The hall erupted in murmurs at the Dark Sect Leader’s words.
“The Wicked Sword?”
“That’s right. The bewitching sword, the Wicked Sword.”
“Did the Dark Sect Leader have it?”
“In the world...”
Those gasping in shock weren’t just the warriors of Crimson Blood Valley wearing their red sashes.
Even the executives, who had turned their backs, whipped around with wide-eyed stares at the Dark Sect Leader.
Even Son Yun, the Sword Enlightenment King, who had been confident no matter what offer she made, felt his pupils tremble at the mention of the Wicked Sword.
Mok Kyung-un scanned the room with his eyes, puzzled.
Why were they all reacting like this over just a single sword?
-Hah... the Wicked Sword, of all things.
Then, Cheongryeong’s voice rang in Mok Kyung-un’s ear.
She sounded thrilled, clearly shocked herself.
Curious at her reaction, Mok Kyung-un focused his transmission toward his chest, where the wooden doll resided, just in case.
-Do you know what the Wicked Sword is?
-Huh?
It was a half-hearted attempt at transmission.
Yet she responded in a startled voice.
“How in the world did you do that?”
“Ah, this is transmission. I figured it might work, and it does.”
She had said it wouldn’t work since she was sealed in the wooden doll, but this method of conveying sound apparently succeeded.
“When did you learn such a thing?”
“From that lord of the Verdant Sound Valley over there.”
“From that sound arts-practicing mortal wench, I see.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard of it. Even among Shaolin’s monks, there are those who know such techniques.”
“Anyway, why are you and everyone else so surprised?”
Cheongryeong clicked her tongue at Mok Kyung-un’s question.
But since he knew next to nothing about the martial world, she had to explain.
“Among blacksmiths who forge weapons, there are those called master smiths. The weapons they create gain fame and are dubbed famed swords or peerless weapons.”
“That sounds familiar. Like the Sword of Heaven or Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, right?”
“Exactly. Those.”
“Yes?”
“Gan Jiang and Mo Ye.”
“Gan Jiang and Mo Ye?”
“That’s right. They’re called famed swords, but also bewitching swords.”
“I don’t get that part.”
Mok Kyung-un had learned writing and scholarship from his grandfather.
From his studies, he knew Gan Jiang and Mo Ye were forged by heating a furnace with Mo Ye’s hair and nails at King Helü’s request.
“Do you know who forged Gan Jiang and Mo Ye?”
“Their master? Perhaps... Gu...”
“Yes. The Wicked Sword was forged by their master, the great smith Guya.”
Mok Kyung-un’s eyes lit up at her words.
And for good reason—Guya was hailed as the greatest craftsman not just of his era, but even to this day.
The great smith Guya.
Even today’s finest famed swords hailed from the Spring and Autumn period, and half of those legendary blades were forged by the state of Yue’s great smith Guya.
The Giant Threshold, Pure Hook, Victory Over Evil, Fish Intestines, Dragon Abyss, Great Peace—legendary swords all born from his hands.
These were so famous from tales and anecdotes that anyone with even a bit of learning would know them.
“Fascinating. Guya, huh... But the Wicked Sword is new to me.”
“That’s understandable. They’re the swords Guya wanted hidden.”
“Wanted hidden?”
“Exactly as it sounds. Long ago, there was a bizarre legend passed down among smiths.”
“A bizarre legend? What was it?”
“That forging a sword with the flesh and blood of a living human as an offering would birth the ultimate famed sword.”
Forging a sword from a living human?
To ordinary folk, it would be a tale to chill the blood and seize the heart.
But Mok Kyung-un’s lips curled upward.
“Cool.”
“What?”
“Nothing. So the Wicked Sword was forged that way?”
“No one knows for sure. The ancient records say Guya successfully melted the unmelting Dark Iron of Guan Ya and forged several unknown bewitching swords.”
Mok Kyung-un asked, puzzled by her words.
“You call it a bewitching sword, not a famed one.”
“There’s a reason for that. It’s because...”
She was about to answer when Son Yun stepped forward and spoke.
“The Wicked Sword? How does the Dark Sect Leader possess such a thing?”
The Dark Sect Leader covered her mouth as she replied.
“Oh ho ho. By sheer luck, it fell into my hands recently. I have a hobby of collecting renowned weapons, you see.”
“Collecting?”
“Yes. Didn’t I gift the famed sword Tiger Fierce to your esteemed disciple, the Great Division Leader Wu Ho-rang?”
At her words, Son Yun recalled six years prior.
When his prized disciple Wu Ho-rang ascended to Great Division Leader, the Dark Sect Leader had gifted him the Tiger Fierce.
Forged by Wu Ha-tae, hailed as the finest smith of his time, the Tiger Fierce could cleave boulders in a single stroke with its sharpness.
It had suited Wu Ho-rang perfectly.
“...I still cherish that gift. But what you speak of now is a bewitching sword. A cursed blade, is it not?”
‘Cursed?’
What was this about?
Puzzled, Mok Kyung-un watched as the Dark Sect Leader shrugged nonchalantly.
“It’s merely a sword without a master. To its chosen wielder, it’s an unparalleled famed sword. Isn’t there a clear example? Like the Black Claw wielded by the Justice Alliance’s Vice Leader, Wi Tak-hyeon.”
The hall buzzed once more.
Wi Tak-hyeon, Vice Leader of the Justice Alliance.
One of the Eight Stars among the Six Heavens and Eight Stars, a swordsman counted among the top five in the current martial world.
But the crowd’s shock stemmed not from this peerless master.
Son Yun scowled and said.
“Are you unaware that every previous owner of that Black Claw died of illness within half a year?”
Indeed.
The Black Claw Sword, another bewitching sword said to be forged by the great smith Guya.
It had sparked bloody conflicts among countless swordsmen, changing hands repeatedly.
Yet every owner died within half a year.
“That’s far too dangerous...”
“But hasn’t Wi Tak-hyeon wielded it unscathed for fifteen years?”
All had perished.
Save for one exception: Wi Tak-hyeon, the Full Aspiration Reversal Sword, Vice Leader of the Justice Alliance and one of the Eight Stars.
“He’s a transcendent master. Unlike the previous owners.”
With that, Son Yun glanced at Mok Kyung-un.
No matter how talented a prodigy, he saw him as an unpolished gem.
Handing a bewitching sword to such a raw talent was perilous.
“Bewitching swords aren’t called that for nothing. If you wish to tempt this child, you’d do better to offer something else from your collection...”
“Excellent.”
“What?”
Son Yun furrowed his brow at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
What did this boy just say?
Had he not heard why the sword was dangerous?
Mok Kyung-un continued.
“If I go to the Dark Sect, you’ll give me that Wicked Sword.”
“You?”
Was this boy coveting it simply because it was forged by the great smith Guya?
Son Yun’s expression grew grave as he tried to dissuade him.
“Don’t. It’s not yet a sword worthy of your ambition.”
“Not worthy of my ambition?”
Son Yun clicked his tongue at the retort.
“I’m not belittling you. As I said, a bewitching sword is exactly that. You’re young and bold, brushing off this king’s words lightly, but it’s no sword to approach out of greed or curiosity.”
This was Son Yun’s earnest warning.
Guya’s bewitching swords had gained spotlight due to Wi Tak-hyeon, but just fifteen years ago, four owners had lost their lives to one.
From the Black Claw’s example, Son Yun deemed the Wicked Sword no different.
-What do you think?
Mok Kyung-un transmitted to Cheongryeong.
She replied.
-It’s not without merit.
-What do you mean?
-Even before this seat perished, Guya’s bewitching swords had unleashed a blood storm on the martial world.
-Not just one, then?
-No. No one knows the exact number, but several are known. Black Claw, Fear Slayer, Wicked...”
Though dead, the memory remained vivid.
Three swords unearthed from a collapsed royal tomb by a local official and merchant.
Those three blades had brought a blood wind to the martial world.
Recalling this, she soon added.
-To be honest, before my death, I would have told you never to covet such a bewitching sword.
-And now?
-If it harbors a lingering spirit, it could become your strength.
This was Cheongryeong’s candid view.
Mok Kyung-un had absorbed not just her own tier, but even the weakened spirit beast Yi Mae Mang-ryang’s demonic power, turning it into his own.
Considering that, she doubted even a notoriously infamous bewitching sword held anything overwhelmingly dangerous.
-But you’re not choosing the Dark Sect Leader just for the bewitching sword, are you?
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly at her question.
Of course not.
The bewitching sword piqued his interest, but not enough to alter his plans.
However,
-Not for that reason, but it’s turned out conveniently.
-You, mortal?
She had urged him to choose one of the two kings.
To get close to the core, one needed a high position.
But Mok Kyung-un thought differently.
-Doesn’t the Dark Sect handle intelligence and espionage, shadowy work?
-Mortal... I know you’re keen on information, but reaching the heights will naturally grant you...
As she spoke, the Dark Sect Leader opened her mouth again.
“Oh ho ho. The Sword Enlightenment King has a point. It’s true the bewitching sword carries some danger, but since it’s a famed sword by the great smith Guya, I offered it to win the child’s favor.”
Son Yun murmured softly, “You’ve thought it through well.”
He assumed she was backing down.
However,
“But withdrawing my word midway, spoken before all these witnesses, would be unseemly.”
“What?”
“How about this? Let the child hold the Wicked Sword once, to see if it deems him a worthy master?”
‘!?’
Son Yun’s face twisted at the Dark Sect Leader’s words.
He had warned against giving the dangerous bewitching sword, yet now she suggested letting him wield it—making light of his advice?
“Dark Sect Leader, this king clearly...”
“Conveniently, I brought the sword along.”
“You brought the sword? What do you mean?”
-Snap!
The Dark Sect Leader snapped her fingers.
Warriors in black garb from the Dark Sect’s subordinates dashed off somewhere from behind the platform.
Soon, two returned carefully bearing a long wooden box on a plank.
All eyes fixed on the box, precisely sword-length.
“Why bring such a thing here?”
Son Yun asked in disbelief.
It was dangerous enough as is.
Bringing it to Crimson Blood Valley made no sense.
The Dark Sect Leader smiled faintly, clasped her hands, and bowed slightly.
“Forgive me, but I cannot answer that.”
“Cannot? Are you dodging this king’s question?”
Anger laced Son Yun’s voice.
His aura began to rise menacingly, as if ready for a clash.
“Aaah. No helping it.”
The Dark Sect Leader approached and whispered into Son Yun’s ear.
His fury-filled eyes narrowed.
Son Yun whispered back softly.
They exchanged hushed words several times.
Finally, the Dark Sect Leader spoke at a volume meant to be overheard.
“How about it?”
Son Yun paused before replying.
“...If it becomes a problem, I’ll have it reclaimed at once.”
“Heavens forbid.”
What had the Dark Sect Leader said to change Son Yun’s stance so suddenly?
Puzzled, Mok Kyung-un watched as she turned to him.
“Oh ho ho. This has dragged on. In light of the Sword Enlightenment King’s advice, I can’t just give it outright, so would you like to hold it once?”
She nodded to her subordinates.
A warrior opened the tightly sealed lid of the wooden box.
The executives, already curious about the Wicked Sword, rose and turned to look.
‘!?’
But inside the opened box was another wooden box.
Its surface was plastered with countless talismans.
Mok Kyung-un’s eyes sparkled.
Others might not see it, but through the gaps between talismans, he glimpsed ominous bewitching energy seeping out.
‘It really is a bewitching sword.’
Without the talismans, the aura would leak even more.
The Dark Sect Leader pointed to the inner box.
“Take it out and hold it yourself. If the sword chooses you, I’ll give it—not a replica. Of course, under the premise you join the Dark Sect.”
Mok Kyung-un stepped forward at her words.
He placed his hand on the talisman-covered box.
Son Yun watched with a strange glint in his eyes.
He recalled her earlier whisper.
[I can’t easily say why I brought it, but here’s something intriguing.]
[Intriguing?]
[After acquiring it, I learned this: the sword brings one’s desires to the surface.]
[Brings desires to the surface? What—]
“Exactly as it sounds. It makes one unable to control their own desires.]
[Such a dangerous thing, how...]
[Aren’t you curious? What the true desires are of that boy who turned to our side?]
[......]
Mok Kyung-un’s true desires.
Would the Wicked Sword truly reveal them, as the Dark Sect Leader claimed?
[Chapter 35: Bewitched Sword (1)] End