Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 36
>Chapter Title: Dark Sect (2)
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“This is... quite the surprising talent you have.”
-Whoooosh!
The energy exploding from Mok Kyung-un.
It went beyond mere阴寒, bordering on the vicious death qi one might sense from the dead.
‘What in the world is this?’
The Dark Sect Lord couldn’t hide his astonishment at the chilling aura that stimulated not just his five senses but his very instincts.
He too had accumulated阴气 over long years through the Ghost Yin Art, but it paled in comparison to this frigid,阴湿 force.
‘Is this enough?’
Mok Kyung-un pondered inwardly at the Dark Sect Lord’s reaction.
The death qi he was displaying now wasn’t in its pure form but adjusted to a level living people could perceive.
True death energy could only be sensed by the departed or wandering spirits.
-Pfft. Looks like you didn’t want it too intense.
-What.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged lightly at Cheong Ryeong’s mocking voice.
What he needed right now was the position of disciple and successor to the Dark Sect Lord.
If he’d only wanted a mere subordinate role under some branch leader, he’d have gone to someone like the Fifth King instead.
-Shrrrk!
Mok Kyung-un retracted the energy he’d revealed.
It was trickier to control than it appeared.
He had to manifest peak-level death qi in a faint, subtle manner.
“Is this sufficient?”
Mok Kyung-un asked the Dark Sect Lord.
The man, who had been marveling at the death qi, finally spoke.
“I’ve seen many martial prodigies over the years, but never one like you. An energy even more阴 than what the Ghost Yin Art can cultivate...”
It was a rare occurrence.
Methods for a man to cultivate阴气 were few and far between.
Most were extreme or outright lethal to a male body.
Those born with innate阴气 often had untreatable conditions like the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, rendering their lifespans tragically short.
Perhaps out of curiosity, the Dark Sect Lord asked,
“How did you cultivate this energy?”
Mok Kyung-un hesitated for a split second.
Then he followed Cheong Ryeong’s advice echoing in his ear.
“To be honest, I’m not sure. Every time I cultivated internal energy,阴气 built up in my body. Maybe it’s my constitution.”
“Your constitution?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
The Dark Sect Lord’s eyes narrowed at those words.
“May I examine your body briefly?”
The Dark Sect Lord wanted to inspect Mok Kyung-un’s condition, just in case.
It was hard to believe that a man’s body, unemasculated, could harbor such immense阴气.
At this request, Mok Kyung-un readily extended his hand.
The Dark Sect Lord placed his fingers on Mok Kyung-un’s wrist pulse.
-Swish!
He then infused his own阴气.
The阴气 entered through the Dark Sect Lord’s fingers, traveling along the meridians into Mok Kyung-un’s body.
‘Control... control...’
Mok Kyung-un focused his mind to adjust the death qi.
There was no way the Dark Sect Lord could detect true death energy, but he prepared in case the man’s internal energy sensed the阴 nature.
‘Hope it doesn’t scatter.’
In the case of阳气 internal energy, Mok Kyung-un’s death qi would clash and disperse it.
This was a concern, but Mok Kyung-un paid it no mind.
He’d find a way regardless.
-Swish!
At that moment, the Dark Sect Lord lifted his fingers from the pulse.
His lips twitched as a deeply satisfied expression spread across his face.
“Contrary to my worries, your meridians are sturdy, and your five viscera and six bowels are perfectly healthy.”
The Dark Sect Lord had been concerned about Mok Kyung-un’s physical state.
If the overwhelming阴气 had damaged or imbalanced his body, even cultivating it would be pointless.
‘To think such fortune exists.’
Naturally, the Dark Sect Lord felt elated.
Even if emasculated from a young age, resentment would build—and he doubted a seventeen-year-old like Mok Kyung-un would accept it.
Finding a true disciple seemed impossible.
But with innate阴气, this boy could wield the Ghost Yin Art, along with the Flying Ghost Blade Method or Ghost Shadow Claw Technique.
‘And if things go well...’
By accepting Mok Kyung-un as a disciple and studying his body, he might even discover a way to stably assimilate阴气 without emasculation.
What luck, delivered right to his doorstep.
Yet the Dark Sect Lord kept his excitement hidden and said,
“What a stroke of fate. I didn’t expect this, but your coming to me seems like good fortune.”
“So you’ll take me as your disciple?”
“Of course. Even without this, depending on the situation, I might have accepted you as a provisional disciple...”
-Thud thud!
Before the Dark Sect Lord could finish,
Someone urgently knocked on the door of the indoor training chamber.
The Dark Sect Lord approached the iron door and knocked back, producing a similar thud.
The difference: he knocked only once.
-Thud!
Then,
-Creeeeak!
The iron door of the training chamber swung open, and a middle-aged man with a mustache entered.
“Sect Lord.”
“Outer Hall Leader Yeon. What is it?”
At his question, the man called Outer Hall Leader Yeon glanced at Mok Kyung-un and leaned in to whisper his report.
The Dark Sect Lord shook his head and said,
“No need to be so cautious. From this moment, that boy is my disciple.”
“Your disciple?”
Outer Hall Leader Yeon’s eyes widened.
“You mean not a provisional disciple, but...”
“Yes. A formal disciple.”
“Aaah.”
The outer hall leader immediately dropped to one knee, clasped his hands together, and cried out to the Dark Sect Lord.
“Sect Lord, congratulations on taking a disciple!”
“Ohoho.”
The Dark Sect Lord waved her hand dismissively, expressing her joy.
Watching them, Mok Kyung-un tilted his head slightly in confusion.
What was a provisional disciple, and what did formal disciple even mean? It was hard to follow.
Even the guards stationed outside the indoor training chamber door were murmuring, suggesting it was quite the topic.
Then Outer Hall Leader Yeon clasped his hands toward Mok Kyung-un as well and bowed.
“Outer Hall Leader Yeon Baek greets the Sect Lord’s formal disciple.”
“I’m Mok Kyung-un.”
Caught off guard, Mok Kyung-un clasped his hands and bowed his head in return.
It felt overly dramatic. Was this such a big deal?
As he wondered, Outer Hall Leader Yeon, unable to contain his excitement, said,
“I am truly impressed by your resolve, young master. I fully understand the difficult decision you’ve made as a man.”
‘Huh?’
Mok Kyung-un furrowed his brow at these words.
What was he talking about?
Did he think Mok Kyung-un had become a disciple by agreeing to emasculation?
-Kekekekeke!
Cheong Ryeong laughed hysterically, clutching her belly.
Even Mok Kyung-un, utterly unmoved by such things, couldn’t help a small chuckle at the absurdity.
But he had no need to explain.
“Ohoho. Seems I’ve caused a misunderstanding. This boy won’t be emasculated.”
“Pardon?”
Outer Hall Leader Yeon’s face twisted in confusion.
Having served the Dark Sect Lord for years, he knew better than anyone that mastering her unique martial arts required emasculation.
So why call him a true disciple without it?
To the puzzled man, the Dark Sect Lord smiled and said,
“Shall we say he was born with阴气?”
“Innate阴气?”
At these words, Outer Hall Leader Yeon involuntarily glanced at Mok Kyung-un.
Spotting something, he exclaimed in shock.
“Sect Lord, that black sword couldn’t be...?”
He was startled by the Evil Instant Sword at Mok Kyung-un’s waist.
As her attendant, he naturally recognized the blade.
“Yes. I gave it to this boy.”
“The sword?”
“Indeed.”
“But that sword is...”
Outer Hall Leader Yeon trailed off, swallowing his words.
That sword had been deemed too dangerous to control, so he’d entrusted it to his acquaintance, Sorcerer Myo-sin, to seal its demonic aura.
[Perfect timing. I was heading to the Blood River Valley for an observation anyway.]
That sorcerer was Yoon Hae-pyeong, third disciple of In Seo-ok, the Pavilion Master of the Prime Murder Pavilion overseeing the Blood River Valley.
‘I wonder if this is wise.’
Outer Hall Leader Yeon eyed the Evil Instant Sword with concern.
It was a demonic sword.
Even the Dark Sect Lord herself, her subordinates, and even ‘those’ who had inherited her martial arts couldn’t control it.
Was it truly safe to give it to a newly accepted disciple?
To the worried Outer Hall Leader Yeon, the Dark Sect Lord said understandingly,
“No need to worry. The sword has chosen him as its master.”
“Pardon? Is that true?”
“Would I ever lie to you, Outer Hall Leader? Ohoho.”
“Well.”
Stunned, Outer Hall Leader Yeon alternated glances between Mok Kyung-un and the Evil Instant Sword.
The Dark Sect Lord would never fib about such a thing.
If true, it was an uncanny coincidence.
The Evil Instant Sword had only come into her possession six days ago.
And now it ended up with the disciple she’d gained while observing the Blood River Valley ritual...
‘Fate?’
It could only be that.
Or perhaps this junior brother was blessed with heavenly luck?
Uncontrollable, it might be called a demonic sword—but chosen by the blade, it was the finest famous sword forged by the great swordmaster Gu Ya-ja.
However,
‘I’m not sure about this.’
He had retrieved the sword himself on her orders and knew someone who desired it more than anyone.
He worried it might lead to trouble.
Moreover, with this young master now a formal disciple, the interloper might displace the established stone, sparking fierce resentment.
‘Hope nothing happens.’
It worried him, but the future was uncertain.
More pressingly, there was urgent business now.
“Ah! Sect Lord, you must head to the hall immediately.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Urgent report from Yi Ming Nineteen Seats.”
The Dark Sect Lord, who had been smiling, furrowed her brow at Outer Hall Leader Yeon’s words.
‘Yi Ming Nineteen Seats? Imperial Palace?’
Espionage relied on codes.
All transmissions used them, but the Dark Sect Lord had them memorized, so hearing terms linked to the heavenly stems and earthly branches let her pinpoint locations instantly.
Outer Hall Leader Yeon glanced at Mok Kyung-un and whispered,
“It seems they’ve found it. In the underground Golden Prison, the Fire Worship...”
“Shh!”
The Dark Sect Lord cut off his report instantly.
Though she’d deemed it fine for her new formal disciple to learn sect affairs, this was an exception.
“We’ll discuss that in the hall.”
“Ah... Understood.”
As the outer hall leader replied, the Dark Sect Lord turned to Mok Kyung-un and asked his understanding.
“Will you wait here? I’ll be right back. Oh, memorize this in advance—it’ll be useful.”
She pulled something from her bosom.
A tightly rolled scroll, inscribed on the outside with:
[Ghost Shadow Claw Technique]
It was the manual for one of the Dark Sect Lord’s signature martial arts, the Ghost Shadow Claw Technique.
Mok Kyung-un accepted it with a bow.
“Understood.”
“I’ll be quick.”
With that, the Dark Sect Lord left the indoor training chamber with Outer Hall Leader Yeon.
Once they’d gone and closed the iron door, Mok Kyung-un recalled the report Outer Hall Leader Yeon had given earlier.
‘Fire Worship?’
What was that?
What had they found?
Did Fire Worship mean worshiping fire?
It had been cut off mid-sentence, so there was more—but why keep it secret even from him, a formal disciple?
No rush; he’d learn soon enough.
-Shrak!
Mok Kyung-un unrolled the scroll the Dark Sect Lord had given him.
She’d said she’d be quick, so he could kill time by reviewing the Ghost Shadow Claw Technique manual.
But it didn’t take long.
Having scanned it from top to bottom in one go, Mok Kyung-un nodded.
“Quite an interesting claw technique.”
It included qi circulation methods and detailed illustrations of forms, all committed to memory instantly.
Cheong Ryeong clicked her tongue.
-I don’t know about anything else, but I envy that freakish brain of yours, mortal.
“Is that so?”
He’d been like this since childhood, so it felt nothing special to Mok Kyung-un.
More importantly, since this was the original, he wondered if he could visualize the forms’ execution through his mind’s eye.
No issue with memorizing first as instructed, then practicing ahead.
Thus, Mok Kyung-un delved into the manual, entering his mind’s eye.
It hadn’t even been a quarter of an hour.
-Bang!
The iron door of the indoor training chamber burst open with a violent crash.
‘Hm?’
Mok Kyung-un, just finishing his visualization, opened his eyes.
Turning toward the entrance iron door, he saw two boys around eighteen or nineteen—peers in age—and a young man in his mid-twenties.
The young man, with sharp features, looked furious, his face flushed red.
Entering, the young man scanned Mok Kyung-un up and down, then spotted the Evil Instant Sword at his waist and ground his teeth.
-Grind!
To him, one of the boys with a prominent jaw said incredulously,
“How can this be? Didn’t Eldest Senior Brother risk his life to retrieve the Evil Instant Sword?”
“Junior brother is right. That sword belongs to Eldest Senior Brother. How can it go to some orthodox sect hostage?”
“I can’t stand this. Senior brothers, I’ll take it back right now!”
With that, the prominent-jawed boy kicked off the floor, launching his form toward Mok Kyung-un.
-Whoosh!
Seeing the sudden attack, Mok Kyung-un tilted his head, then,
-Paak!
“Huh?”
He lightly blocked the trajectory of the boy’s claw technique form with one hand, then seized his throat in a flash.
-Grip!
“Gurk!”
Unable to execute even a single form properly, the boy was subdued in an instant, his shock plain.
Staring blankly at the boy, Mok Kyung-un said in a dry voice,
“You stake your life on a first meeting.”