Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 36
>Chapter Title: Dark Sect (1)
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A single candle flickered alone in a vast room.
In the room stood a simple bed, surrounded by a bamboo screen.
The shadow of someone sitting on the edge of the bed, reflected on the screen.
The shadow gulped down what appeared to be a bowl of medicinal broth, then set it on the table beside the bed.
"Cough! Cough!"
The shadow coughed.
Someone watched the scene with a somewhat bitter gaze.
A man in his early forties, with white hair and no beard.
This man, with eyes like a serpent's, was Mong Seocheon, the second-in-command Vice Leader of the Heaven-Earth Society.
"Leader... How about summoning Physician Hoi Ta-myeong?"
Physician Hoi Ta-myeong.
Along with the long-missing Hae Yeong Medicine Immortal, he was hailed as one of the greatest physicians of the era.
Unlike the Hae Yeong Medicine Immortal, who had reached the pinnacle in pharmacology, Hoi Ta-myeong had mastered both external and internal medicine. In his youth, he had even served as a palace physician, his skills were that exceptional.
"If it's Physician Hoi Ta-myeong, then for the Leader..."
"No. I'm fine."
A firm voice came from behind the bamboo screen.
Hearing this, Mong Seocheon inwardly clicked his tongue.
How could he be so stubborn?
Thanks to his profound inner energy, he was holding on, but if he couldn't expel the energy building up inside him, his condition would only worsen.
"Cough! Cough! More importantly, have the results from the Shi Blood Valley trials come in?"
"Yes."
"Who were the observers?"
"Myeong Do-wang Son Yun, Wall Thunder Fist King Won Byeong-hak, Dark Sect Leader, Cho-eum Valley Leader Hang Yeo-ryang, Flame Demon Group's Great Group Leader Bo Hyeok-so, Red Blood Group's Great Group Leader Dae So-man. Six in total."
"And the selections?"
"Everyone took one, except for Flame Demon Group's Great Group Leader Bo Hyeok-so."
"I see. Any peculiarities?"
At the question, Vice Leader Mong Seocheon let out a faint sigh before speaking.
"Do you remember sending the two hostages from Timber Sword Manor to Shi Blood Valley?"
"Timber Sword Manor? Ah, right. So we did."
Mong Seocheon inwardly tsked at the Leader's reaction.
As expected, sending those two to Shi Blood Valley had been a mere whim for amusement.
That was the kind of man the Leader he had known was.
But now, it seemed the backlash from that impulsive amusement had arrived.
"The two hostages who came as pledges..."
"Did they die?"
"No."
"They survived?"
"Yes."
"Guess they had more grit than expected. Cough! Cough! So, how far did they make it?"
"All the way to the final trial."
'!?'
The shadow on the bamboo screen froze for a moment at the answer.
Surprised by the unexpected outcome?
Soon, a voice followed.
"The hostages passed the final trial... How intriguing."
"..."
Could this really be dismissed as mere intrigue?
These weren't just anyone—they were hostages from the orthodox sects, and they had reached the final trial of Shi Blood Valley.
If word spread, it would stir up considerable controversy within the organization.
In a way, this was a humiliating result for the Heaven-Earth Society.
"This isn't something to laugh off. They weren't even our own disciples under the Leader's banner. The captured orthodox sect hostages jointly claimed the top spot."
"Top spot?"
"Yes. The two Mok brothers took joint first place."
At the Vice Leader's words, the shadow on the bamboo screen eventually threw its head back and burst into mad laughter.
"Top spot? Hahaha! Top spot?"
It was a far cry from the gravity he had shown upon hearing the results.
He seemed to find it amusing, as if it were someone else's affair.
But then, as if his internal injuries flared up, he coughed violently, his breathing growing ragged.
"Cough! Cough!... Haah... Haah..."
His condition hadn't improved at all.
Yet he remained so stubborn.
It was hard to imagine this monstrous figure dying, but if he suddenly passed away like this, it would cause massive rifts within the organization.
The Vice Leader inwardly tsked before speaking up.
"Leader, this could demoralize the organization and cause problems if mishandled. Since it's come to this, perhaps we should reveal that they learned the Lunar Sword Form..."
"No."
-Shhhrrrr!
Suddenly, the entire bamboo screen shook, and sharp, piercing eyes gleamed through the gaps.
"Hup."
The Vice Leader's expression hardened as their gazes met.
The Leader's aura crushed the entire room, making even breathing difficult.
Despite lying bedridden for so long, to exude this level of pressure—it was astonishing.
'He's still alive.'
It wasn't for nothing he was called one of the Six Heavens, the pinnacle of the martial world.
Even in his suboptimal state, no one in the castle could likely stand against the Leader.
Not even himself.
-Clench!
Vice Leader Mong Seocheon clenched his fist, steadying his breath and calming his trembling hand.
Then, in an instant, the overwhelming aura filling the room vanished.
Soon after, the Leader spoke.
"No. Not yet. That's not enough."
'What is he talking about?'
Vice Leader Mong Seocheon furrowed his brow slightly.
He couldn't grasp the meaning behind the Leader's words.
What wasn't enough?
"Just leave the hostages be."
"..."
Was he serious?
From sending them to Shi Blood Valley in the first place, to letting the observers take them as disciples regardless of origin—if that got out, people would start questioning it.
And he didn't care?
But he couldn't voice any further dissent.
"Understood."
In the Heaven-Earth Society, the Leader's command was absolute.
"More importantly, have you found 'it' yet?"
The Leader changed the subject.
At the question, Vice Leader Mong Seocheon shook his head.
"Not yet. However..."
He then quietly revealed something.
* * *
He had just left the Leader's quarters and was heading out of the main hall.
Someone called out to Vice Leader Mong Seocheon.
"Vice Leader."
Mong Seocheon's eyes narrowed.
From the voice alone, he immediately knew who it was.
The problem was that he hadn't sensed their position or presence until they called out.
'...Another breakthrough?'
He had heard they emerged from secluded training a few days ago.
Word was they had made progress, but to advance to the point where even he struggled to detect their presence—truly impressive.
"Young Master Jang."
Turning his head, he saw a young man in his late twenties with curly hair and a bright face, smirking.
It was Jang Neung-ak, the Leader's second disciple.
Among the Leader's three disciples, he was considered the least talented—but that was only relative to the other two. Among his peers, he boasted overwhelming talent.
The Leader's second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, spoke with his characteristic dimpled smirk.
"Is the Leader still obsessed with finding 'that thing'?"
At the question, the Vice Leader smiled silently.
Conversations with the Leader must not be revealed to anyone.
Not even to disciples.
In response, the second disciple Jang Neung-ak jested.
"I just don't get why the Leader is so fixated on something so cult-like. He'd be better off spending that time finding Physician Hoi Ta-myeong, don't you think?"
Mong Seocheon inwardly agreed.
But who could defy the Leader's stubbornness?
"He must have his reasons."
"Ahh."
At Vice Leader Mong Seocheon's vague deflection, the Leader's second disciple Jang Neung-ak shook his head.
It was always like this.
As the Leader's right-hand man and the second most influential figure, he wanted to win him over somehow, but it was especially difficult.
The moment he tried to get closer, he was pushed away.
The silver lining was that he hadn't sided with anyone yet.
'But that won't last.'
Soon enough, he would stand with him.
Jang Neung-ak raised the corner of his mouth.
"I came across some interesting information. Not sure if you've heard."
"Interesting information?"
"Yes. Rumor has it the one who topped the Shi Blood Valley trials is a hostage from Timber Sword Manor that Myeong Do-wang captured. Is that true?"
"..."
At the question, Vice Leader Mong Seocheon let out a faint sigh without a word.
As expected, the rumors were already spreading.
The second disciple Jang Neung-ak undoubtedly had plenty of forces under him, so he would have obtained this intel quickly.
Since he knew this much, there was no point hiding it.
"Yes."
"Heh."
'Heh?'
Jang Neung-ak suddenly bit his pinky nail, stifling a laugh.
Seeing this, concern flickered in Mong Seocheon's eyes.
Having watched the Leader's disciples since childhood, he knew their personalities better than anyone.
'This is bad.'
When Jang Neung-ak took an interest in something, the outcome was rarely good.
It wouldn't matter if it were untouchable, but the moment he deemed it fair game, malice filled him.
"Young Master, just to be safe..."
"Ahh, Vice Leader. You don't think I'd harm them just because they're from the orthodox sects, do you?"
"Rather than that..."
"I'm simply intrigued that the orthodox sects have brats with that much viciousness and talent."
"They're no longer orthodox. They'll become the Leader's power now."
"Perfect timing, then. I'd love for that power to aid me as well."
At those words, the Vice Leader grew deeply worried.
If Jang Neung-ak wanted something, he would obtain it by any means.
* * *
The southeastern outskirts of the Heaven-Earth Society's inner castle.
There stood the main hall of the Dark Sect.
As Mok Kyung-un entered the Dark Sect, a spark of interest lit in his eyes.
Birds of prey numbering dozens, along with pigeons, flew into one building, while on the other side, flag-bearers dashed up, handing over scrolls. Others quickly read them and burned them.
-They're working properly.
Cheong-ryeong's voice echoed in his mind.
-What are they doing?
-Managing messenger birds and burning intelligence reports from covert agents to maintain secrecy, just as you see.
-Oh.
As expected of an organization handling information and secrets.
As they walked, the Dark Sect Leader headed somewhere without stopping.
It wasn't the area with messenger birds and secret documents, but where weapons and training grounds were located.
-Creeeak!
The door opened to reveal an indoor training hall.
The thick walls suggested excellent soundproofing.
At the Dark Sect Leader's gesture, the accompanying warriors bowed and exited, closing the door behind them.
Now, only the two remained in the indoor training hall.
Why had he brought him here?
The Dark Sect Leader spoke.
"Ohoho. This is my private training space."
A windowless room, completely isolated from the outside.
It seemed designed so no one could interrupt or spy.
As Mok Kyung-un looked around, the Dark Sect Leader said.
"What do you think? Does it make you want to learn my unique martial arts?"
"..."
Mok Kyung-un furrowed his brow at the words.
The Dark Sect Leader had even said on the way here to think it over.
The Dark Sect Leader's unique martial arts.
Naturally, they were transcendent arts worthy of elevating him to his position.
The issue was that learning them required castration.
-Kekekeke. How about cutting it off cleanly while you're at it?
Cheong-ryeong laughed uproariously for some reason.
Castration meant the literal removal of a man's vital yang essence—his testicles.
Mok Kyung-un had no particular desire for lust or progeny, but that didn't mean he wanted to castrate himself.
Mok Kyung-un politely clasped his hands in a fist salute and said.
"I'm sorry, but that seems difficult."
"Difficult?"
"Yes."
"Then you'll enter as a subordinate under my banner, not as a formal disciple. You can accept that, right?"
"Not as a formal disciple?"
"Of course not. How can you be my disciple without learning our sect's martial arts?"
"..."
It was a logical point.
But becoming a subordinate instead of a disciple changed everything.
The authority would be lesser, reduced to merely following orders.
Mok Kyung-un then said.
"Is castration absolutely necessary to learn the unique martial arts?"
"Yes, of course. Without mastering the Ghost Yin Art, you can't circulate the Flying Change Ghost Blade Method or Ghost Shadow Claw Method, and thus can't execute the forms."
The Dark Sect Leader's arts were based on powerful yin energy.
Without grasping the Ghost Yin Art's circulation method, the forms' true power couldn't be unleashed.
At these words, Mok Kyung-un stroked his chin, looking troubled.
The Dark Sect Leader covered her mouth and laughed.
"Ohohoho. I don't force castration on anyone. But it's a necessary step if you want to become my formal disciple."
"Does it absolutely require yin energy to learn the martial arts?"
"Yes. If it could be powered by yang energy, our sect wouldn't have required castration generation after generation."
Even the Dark Sect Leader hadn't chosen castration willingly.
It was simply the natural progression for learning the sect's arts.
However, since it cost so much, he gave candidates the choice.
Of course, no one had ever eagerly accepted so far.
The Dark Sect Leader had assumed Mok Kyung-un wouldn't either.
Then Mok Kyung-un asked.
"Isn't yin energy the opposite of yang energy?"
"You could say so. By nature, men possess strong yang energy, women strong yin. The Ghost Yin Art was created to overcome that."
-Swish!
The Dark Sect Leader extended her hand.
A阴 cold, sinister energy rose from it.
-Shaaa!
Her true energy followed a different path from ordinary warriors.
Mastering the Ghost Yin Art made wounds freeze coldly, inflicting fatal damage.
As the Dark Sect Leader demonstrated the Ghost Yin Art's yin energy, she said.
"To control yin energy in a man's body, sadly, castration is the only way. Otherwise, the clashing yang energy generated within could lead to qi deviation."
"I see."
"I won't force you, so no need to feel burdened. To gain this yin energy, the losses are too great..."
"What if it's even more yin?"
"More yin? What do you..."
-Gooooo!
Before she could finish.
'!?'
Goosebumps rose across the Dark Sect Leader's body, a chill running down her spine.
A sudden burst of energy from Mok Kyung-un.
It went beyond mere yin—it was a foul deathly aura, like that from corpses.
"This is... You have a knack for surprises."
End of Chapter 36: Dark Sect (1)