Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 36
>Chapter Title: Dark Sect (4)
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The Dark Sect's secret special processing facility, the Sect Hall building.
In a well-soundproofed room inside, the External Chief pointed at the homing pigeon with the coded message and said,
“Sect Leader. This time, it looks certain. The appearance matches the known description exactly, and even the Imperial Palace side doesn’t want to completely uproot ‘them,’ do they?”
“Hmm. That’s true. But of all places, it had to be detained in the underground Golden Prison of the Imperial Palace... This has become quite a headache.”
The Dark Sect Leader stroked his chin as if troubled.
They had spies planted throughout the Central Plains, monitoring the situation, but who would have thought it would be in the Imperial Palace’s underground Golden Prison of all places.
They had found it in the most troublesome spot.
“What should we do? Shouldn’t we report to the Society Leader first? There’s the matter of the Dark Sect’s face, and having a direct unit under the Society Leader find it first...”
“No. Not yet.”
“But they keep pressing us...”
“If it turns out to be mistaken information like last time, or deliberately leaked intel, it could displease the Society Leader instead.”
“......”
What the Dark Sect Leader was concerned about was certainty.
Based on the information they had now, it seemed about seventy percent likely.
However, to report and deploy for an operation, they needed over ninety percent confidence.
“And even if it’s confirmed, infiltrating the underground Golden Prison right away is still a distant prospect.”
The underground Golden Prison was the second most heavily guarded place after the Inner Palace, where the Emperor, crown prince, and imperial clansmen resided.
Even long-planted spies in the Imperial Palace found it hard to enter.
At the Dark Sect Leader’s words, the External Chief pondered before speaking.
“How about planting a spy in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?”
“The Embroidered Uniform Guard...”
Those guarding the Imperial Palace’s underground Golden Prison were members of the special agency, the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Unlike the other Imperial Palace warriors, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had many experts who had cultivated martial arts.
That was why infiltrating the underground Golden Prison was so tricky.
“Didn’t the Embroidered Uniform Guard, about a dozen years ago, request the dispatch of young later-generation disciples from the Justice Alliance and our society under the pretext of reorganization and reform?”
“A request...”
Yes, there had been such a matter.
However, it had been shelved without the Society Leader’s approval.
‘But now would be the perfect timing.’
Why was that?
Because the Imperial Palace interior was in chaos due to the Emperor’s chronic illness.
As the Emperor’s condition worsened, signs of internal strife were emerging.
According to intelligence, the Justice Alliance’s dispatch of later-generation disciples wasn’t simply to build ties with the court.
‘Are they trying to intervene in the succession?’
Who became the next Emperor would affect relations between the court and the martial world.
The Justice Alliance was likely aiming to enthrone an Emperor favorable to the righteous sects.
Considering and calculating this, the Heaven and Earth Society could also intervene in this opportunity...
-Thud thud!
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
-Sect Leader!
Hearing the urgent-sounding voice, the Dark Sect Leader opened the door himself.
Few had permission to enter the Sect Hall.
“I apologize for the rudeness during the meeting.”
The one who had knocked was one of the warriors guarding the Sect Leader’s private indoor training chamber.
“What’s the matter?”
“You should go to the indoor training chamber right away.”
‘!?’
* * *
-Shing!
A sharp sword energy grazing past his wrist.
Along with it, something familiar fell to the floor.
-Thud!
It was none other than...
“Arghhhhhhh! My arm, my arm!”
The Dark Sect Leader’s first direct disciple, Hwan Yun-myeong, screamed as he clutched his severed arm.
He hadn’t truly believed it, but Mok Kyung-un had actually cut off his arm.
He wasn’t the only one shocked by the scene.
‘This madman...’
The second direct disciple, Myeong Tak, couldn’t hide his bewilderment at Hwan Yun-myeong’s severed arm.
When the youngest, Yong Su’s arm had been broken, he thought it could happen.
But for a martial artist, the right arm was as good as their life.
“W-what is this?!”
Myeong Tak shouted at Mok Kyung-un.
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head and replied,
“What do you mean? I just helped you let go of the sword.”
His expressionless face showed no emotion whatsoever.
Seeing this, Myeong Tak felt a chill run down his spine.
What the hell was this guy?
As he wondered, Mok Kyung-un picked up Hwan Yun-myeong’s severed arm, still twitching on the floor.
“It’s quite fresh. Even after being separated, it’s still moving like this.”
“Grrr... You! You!”
Hwan Yun-myeong, clutching the stump, ground his teeth and glared at Mok Kyung-un.
The pain of having his arm severed was indescribable.
But more agonizing than the pain was the fact that his right arm as a martial artist had been cut off.
-Tat tat tat tat!
Hwan Yun-myeong struck the pressure points above his severed arm to staunch the bleeding.
And the moment the pain eased,
‘I’ll kill you!’
Burning with vengeance, he tried to attack Mok Kyung-un, but
-Swish!
The blade of the Instant Demon Sword was already at his throat, freezing him in place.
The sharp energy from the sword tip seemed ready to separate his torso from his head at any moment.
‘......I didn’t see it.’
He was right in front of him, yet even with both eyes, he lost track of the trajectory—it was that fast.
Even with intact arms, this guy was beyond handling.
Mok Kyung-un sneered,
“You must want to lose your head too?”
“You... What the hell are you? How can a mere righteous sect hostage...”
Be this strong?
He knew those who passed Blood Point Valley’s gate were far stronger and superior to their peers.
But he was a direct disciple of an executive, not even under the Heaven and Earth Society.
How could this be?
-Crush!
His pride crumpled, fueling his rage.
Hwan Yun-myeong ground his teeth and spat vows of revenge.
“Haa... Haa... Enjoy it while you can. Even though I’ve lost my right arm...”
-Puk!
“Guh!”
As he tried to speak, Mok Kyung-un kicked up at his jaw.
The kick was so forceful that teeth seemed to shatter; Hwan Yun-myeong spat them out along with blood, coughing repeatedly.
To him, Mok Kyung-un said irritably,
“You’re so clichéd.”
“Guhhh.”
“I’d prefer you keep your mouth shut like that. And...”
Mok Kyung-un turned to Yong Su, clutching his broken arm, and Myeong Tak, at a loss, and said,
“Have you two grasped the situation?”
“What?”
“From listening to this so-called eldest senior ramble, it seems as the formal disciple, I outrank you both. Or am I wrong?”
‘!?’
Their expressions hardened at his words.
From giving the Instant Demon Sword over the eldest senior, to accepting him as a disciple despite not being castrated—they had been furious and tried to show him his place.
But strictly speaking, Mok Kyung-un was the Dark Sect Leader’s formal disciple, outranking them.
However, their pride wouldn’t allow them to admit this fact, submitting to the guy’s power.
Yong Su, suppressing his anger while clutching his broken arm, said to Mok Kyung-un,
“......Don’t make me laugh! You think we’d acknowledge a righteous sect hostage spawn as a formal disciple?”
“Hmm?”
“Worry about yourself instead. Even so, you cut off the eldest senior’s arm—do you think Master will let this slide...”
-Sruk!
In that instant, Mok Kyung-un vanished from Yong Su’s sight.
‘Huh?’
Where did he go? As he wondered, he felt a hand on his back.
-Thud!
-Flinch!
Startled, Yong Su tried to shake off the arm around his shoulder, but
-Kwaaak!
“Hngh!”
The crushing grip on his shoulder made him immobile.
Mok Kyung-un had his arm around Yong Su’s shoulder, clutching his left one, the pain so intense he dropped to his knees.
-Thud!
But it didn’t end there.
-Crunch crunch!
A breaking sound came from his shoulder.
Not content with his right elbow being broken, the pain of his left shoulder blade shattering made Yong Su grimace and try to scream.
However,
“Guhhh!”
“Shh. You’re noisy.”
Mok Kyung-un covered his mouth, silencing the scream.
Smirking at his suffering, Mok Kyung-un said,
“Didn’t you all swarm in talking about righteous sect hostages and such? Forgot you demanded the sword already?”
“Mmph mph.”
“And your thinking is so short-sighted. If I were Master, I’d praise you for punishing the formal disciple’s insubordination. Right?”
"........"
Yong Su couldn’t deny Mok Kyung-un’s words.
He had said he couldn’t accept it in anger, but Mok Kyung-un was already the accepted formal disciple.
In contrast, they were mere direct disciples who had refused castration.
‘Damn it.’
They had been fools not to become formal disciples until now.
To him, Mok Kyung-un said,
“Hmm. Since we’re practically fellow disciples, I was going to go easy, but now that it’s come to this, should I just make you all crippled without limbs? That’d be fun. I’ve always wondered how one lives after losing all four.”
-Chill!
Mok Kyung-un casually spoke horrifying words with a smile.
Yong Su’s face paled in terror.
Anyone else, maybe not, but this guy seemed capable of it.
It was right then.
-Thud!
The second direct disciple, Myeong Tak, dropped to one knee, clasped his hands, and bowed in respect.
Since the Master held the highest position, prostrating fully wasn’t allowed—this was the bow for a senior brother.
Kneeling thus, Myeong Tak pleaded earnestly,
“F-forgive our rudeness.”
‘Senior Brother!’
Seeing his senior brother’s sudden change, Yong Su felt incredulous amid the pain.
But after the two beatings, Myeong Tak’s spirit was completely broken.
Any thought of opposing Mok Kyung-un had long vanished from his mind.
He just wanted forgiveness somehow.
“We were wrong, so please...”
It was then.
-Creeeak! Thud!
The iron door of the closed indoor training chamber opened, revealing the Dark Sect Leader and External Chief.
To them, it was as if saviors had arrived.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged and whispered,
“You’re lucky.”
Then he released Yong Su from his grip.
The Dark Sect Leader scanned the scene inside and furrowed his brow.
‘This is...’
He had rushed here upon hearing that his three direct disciples, fuming with rage, had entered the Sect Leader’s private indoor training area, fearing trouble.
All three, whom he had taught personally, had reached the peak realm, so he had worried, but the result was completely unexpected.
‘Even without learning the core ultimate technique, to be this outmatched.’
Regardless of the circumstances, it was somewhat disappointing.
But then, something unforeseen happened.
Spotting the Dark Sect Leader, Hwan Yun-myeong crawled toward him on one arm, clung to his leg, and tearfully begged,
“M-Master... I want to be castrated. Please, castrate me.”
“......What?”
And it wasn’t just him.
Yong Su and Myeong Tak also prostrated flat and pleaded in unison,
“Master, please castrate us!”
What in the world was going on?
[Chapter 36: Dark Sect (4)] End