Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 38
>Chapter Title: Real Skill (3)
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Once they had all withdrawn, Mok Kyung-un sent a transmission to Cheong-ryeong with a smiling face.
-I need to kill that blind guy first.
-...I knew you'd say that.
Cheong-ryeong had expected as much from this cunning fellow.
She clicked her tongue and said,
-You handled it decently enough, but what about that guy?
That guy.
She meant Go Chan, who had possessed Ha Chae-rin's body.
Hadn't their original goal been to retrieve him?
In response to her question, Mok Kyung-un transmitted,
-I already sent a transmission to Go Chan in the escort's body, telling him to keep an eye on those people.
-Surveillance? Ho.
It seemed like a solid judgment.
They had backed off for now with their three-inch tongues, but they were bound to get entangled again somehow.
Having Go Chan naturally play the role of watcher would make it easier to deal with whatever happened later.
-He doesn't seem to mind being in a woman's body, so he'll do fine.
‘Was that the case?’
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head.
He remembered Go Chan constantly scowling and avoiding eye contact with him.
In any case, he'd promised to switch him to a man's body soon, so he figured he'd carry out the mission properly.
At that moment, Cheong-ryeong said,
-Still, unlike my worries, you handled it well with your head this time.
Having been with him all this while, she'd seen him act on impulse so often that she'd worried he might cause trouble without thinking ahead.
Yet contrary to her concerns, he now seemed to have gained some composure.
However,
-There are eyes watching.
-Right. That eunuch bastard attached his own guy, so you should be careful.
-It's not just that.
-Not just that?
-No.
With that, Mok Kyung-un glanced toward somewhere.
Then he smirked and headed back toward the Dark Clan's manor.
After Mok Kyung-un disappeared, two figures emerged from behind a wall about ten paces away.
One was a short man with a chin beard, and the other was a woman wearing a bamboo hat with a veil.
The short man said to the woman,
“Miss. It looks like that Mok Kyung-un clashed with the Second Young Master. Why let him go just like that?”
The woman in the bamboo hat whom the short man called “Miss.”
She was none other than Wi So-yeon, the third disciple of the Pavilion Lord.
“Well.”
“Huh?”
To the man's question, she replied ambiguously.
Just an hour ago, she'd learned from an informant that Mok Kyung-un, whom she'd met at the Blood Gorge report, was from an orthodox faction hostage and had taken first place at the Blood Gorge checkpoint.
This revelation left her with a strange feeling.
‘Orthodox faction?’
Of all things, why was the talent she'd coveted from an orthodox faction?
Upon reflection, among the martial clans using the Mok (木) surname that unified the Central Plains martial world, there was none but Timber Sword Manor.
‘Mok Kyung-un...’
He was a talent she'd liked enough to entrust her identity token to, and his true identity was truly unexpected.
Because of this, she'd felt considerable regret after hearing the information.
‘Did I do something unnecessary?’
At the time, she'd given him the token because she liked him, but knowing he was an orthodox faction hostage made her worry it could hold her back.
But what could she do now that she'd already given it?
So she'd thought to meet Mok Kyung-un once more and judge whether he could be of help or not.
Even as an orthodox faction hostage, he'd passed the Blood Gorge checkpoint first and become a disciple of the Dark Clan Lord, so she couldn't just let him go.
Coincidentally, on her way to find him, she'd witnessed him talking with her second senior brother.
‘...He's truly like a chicken rib.’
Seeing that her second senior brother also coveted him had made her think that.
Chicken rib.
It refers to the part of a chicken's rib with so little meat that it's a shame to eat it and a shame not to.
That was how Mok Kyung-un's existence felt to Wi So-yeon right now.
Recruiting him immediately was burdensome because he was an orthodox faction hostage, especially in her position where she needed to consolidate her faction more.
Yet seeing that he'd become a disciple handling intelligence and spies for the Dark Clan Lord, and that even her second senior brother Jang Neung-ak was after him, she couldn't bear to just let him be taken.
To her, the short man said while looking at something,
“Putting that aside, is what he said earlier true?”
“What?”
“Didn't Young Master Jang Neung-ak say something like that orthodox faction hostage kid has surpassed the pinnacle realm?”
At these words, Wi So-yeon's eyes narrowed beneath her veil.
They had kept their distance and suppressed their presence to hide, so they hadn't seen or heard properly.
But she too had heard Jang Neung-ak's words.
[A guy not even in his thirties surpassing the pinnacle realm is extremely rare.]
‘That's strange.’
This point was indeed questionable.
Just two days ago, she'd met Mok Kyung-un at the Blood Gorge report.
She'd gauged his martial prowess directly and even clashed hands with him to check his level.
At that time, Mok Kyung-un's skills, generously speaking, were at a mature pinnacle realm.
‘He definitely wasn't hiding his power.’
So how had he received an evaluation of surpassing pinnacle in just two days?
This gave rise to suspicions.
It was unlikely that her second senior brother Jang Neung-ak would fabricate such a story about someone he was meeting for the first time.
“Miss?”
At the short man's call, Wi So-yeon quietly opened her mouth.
“...I need to check it myself.”
Nothing was faster than seeing with one's own eyes.
If he had truly surpassed the pinnacle realm in that short time, regardless of his background, he was someone she absolutely had to recruit.
* * *
Dark Clan escort warrior Seok Jung guided Mok Kyung-un to his quarters in the manor.
As a formal disciple, his treatment in the Dark Clan was solid.
They gave him an entire annex with its own garden, guarded by four escort warriors and served by two attendants.
Yet looking at them, Mok Kyung-un clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘They're all surveillance.’
They might be called attendants, but they had all trained in martial arts.
Thanks to that, Mok Kyung-un clearly recognized that they were all there to monitor his every move.
-They must not trust you much.
At Cheong-ryeong's words, Mok Kyung-un smirked.
It was annoying, but he understood.
Even if he were the Dark Clan Lord, he wouldn't easily drop his suspicions just because he'd taken someone as a disciple.
Surveillance was a natural step.
It would probably continue for a while until the suspicions were fully dispelled.
-What's their level?
-The two attendants are third-rate, and all four escorts are first-rate warriors.
With his Ghost Eye opened, Mok Kyung-un could clearly see their levels.
Guessing their prowess from the size of their energy wasn't difficult.
-Even if their skills are low, with so many watchers, it'll be hard to move freely.
-I'll make sure it's not.
-You'll make sure?
He must have something in mind again.
As they inspected the annex, Seok Jung clasped his hands in a fist salute to Mok Kyung-un and said,
“My duty is done, so I'll withdraw now.”
“Ah. You're Escort Seok Jung, right?”
“Yes.”
“I have something to ask quietly. Could we talk for a moment?”
“Yes?”
At Mok Kyung-un's words, Escort Seok Jung couldn't hide his puzzlement.
However, with so many surveillance eyes around, talking inside shouldn't cause any particular issues.
Escort Seok Jung sent a light hand signal to the escorts guarding the annex and followed Mok Kyung-un into the room.
-Creak! Thud!
After closing the door, Escort Seok Jung asked Mok Kyung-un, who had naturally sat at the round table,
“What did you want to say?”
“You'll report on me, right?”
“...Pardon?”
At Mok Kyung-un's sudden question, Escort Seok Jung blanked out for a moment before responding belatedly.
He hadn't expected such a direct and bold question.
Seok Jung feigned ignorance and replied,
“What do you mean by that?”
“There are only the two of us, so be honest. You're going to report, aren't you?”
At Mok Kyung-un's question, Escort Seok Jung's expression hardened.
Was this kid calling him aside to ask him not to report?
If so, it was a huge miscalculation.
Seok Jung said in a serious voice,
“I don't know what you're talking about, but I only follow the Clan Lord's orders.”
“Yes. Of course. But don't do it.”
“...What exactly are you saying?”
“Just what you heard. You might continue as my watcher from now on, but only report to Master what I've permitted.”
At these words from Mok Kyung-un, Seok Jung's eyes sharpened.
Now he understood the Clan Lord's order to thoroughly surveil the orthodox faction hostage.
What kind of guy was this?
If he knew he was under surveillance on the Clan Lord's orders, shouldn't he restrain himself or at least not act rashly?
-Thud!
Escort Seok Jung clasped his hands in salute to Mok Kyung-un and said,
“I'll pretend I didn't hear that. But if you keep forcing me like this, I have no choice but to...”
“You'll regret it.”
What? Regret it?
This kid was utterly arrogant.
Even as a formal disciple, the Dark Clan Lord could cast him out anytime his mind changed.
And now he was threatening his surveiller?
Unable to endure it anymore, Escort Seok Jung turned to leave and said,
“I can't listen to this anymore. I'll withdraw...”
-Swish!
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un extended his hand.
In that instant,
-Whoosh!
“Huh?”
Escort Seok Jung, who had been about to step out, was forcibly pulled by an invisible force.
He tried to resist by channeling his internal energy, but it was useless.
-Thud!
Seok Jung flew forward in an instant and face-planted on the floor.
-Boom!
“Urk!”
Mok Kyung-un stepped on Seok Jung's back.
-Crush!
“Guh!”
He had seen Mok Kyung-un spar with the subordinates of the Pavilion Lord's second disciple earlier, so he knew he wasn't a match.
But what was this?
Had he just pulled him with a void grasping technique?
‘Impossible.’
To pull a person with void grasping required reaching the extreme of the super pinnacle realm.
The extreme of super pinnacle meant a top-tier master on the level of the Five Kings.
Of course, this wasn't proper void grasping.
It was the "Adherence" form of the Eight Grasping Techniques.
“Wh-what...”
“Shh. Be quiet. If you're too loud, the people outside dying to eavesdrop will get curious.”
“...”
At Mok Kyung-un's words, Seok Jung shut his mouth.
He had previously signaled the guarding escort warriors to stay close in case of emergency.
Thus, all the escorts and attendants were right outside the annex now.
Seok Jung said calmly,
“...Knowing that, why are you doing this to me?”
“Why? Are you asking because you don't know?”
“Even if you're a master beyond what I can handle, I only serve the Dark Clan Lord's orders...”
-Shing!
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un drew his sword from its leather scabbard.
Seok Jung swallowed dryly, tensing at the glistening, sharp aura emanating from the blade.
Did this guy not see what was right in front of him?
With surveillance outside, drawing a sword meant he really intended to...
-Swish!
Then Mok Kyung-un gripped his blade and pressed it against the hilt of Seok Jung's sword.
What was he doing? The moment he wondered,
-Snap!
‘!?’
Seok Jung blinked.
What just happened?
A dazed feeling washed over him, and he couldn't recall what had occurred in that instant.
It felt just like waking from sleep.
Then Mok Kyung-un's voice rang out.
“You have modest desires. You want to marry your lover, also from the escorts, build a manor outside the outer walls, and live happily...”
‘!?’
Seok Jung's eyes widened in shock.
What?
How did this guy know that?
As he reeled in shock, Mok Kyung-un pressed down on his back with his foot and said,
“But if your lover dies, that simple dream goes up in smoke.”
At these words from Mok Kyung-un, Seok Jung surged with rage and pushed against the floor to rise.
However,
“Grrrrr.”
He was already outmatched in internal energy, so it was impossible.
To him, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and said,
“I'd prefer you not waste your strength on pointless struggles.”
“You... you! If you dare do something like...”
“Whether such things happen depends entirely on Escort Seok Jung's efforts, doesn't it?”
“...”
At Mok Kyung-un's threat, Escort Seok Jung clamped his mouth shut.
He had to endure for now.
This guy was absolutely not someone the Clan Lord should take as a disciple.
He'd pretend to submit and then immediately go report to the Clan Lord.
However,
-Pfft!
A sound came from the window side.
It was like paper being pierced,
-Thud!
Seok Jung's eyes shook wildly at the butterfly-shaped accessory that fell before him.
It was the accessory he'd gifted his lover.
“Th-this... this...”
To the distraught man, Mok Kyung-un leaned down and whispered in his ear,
“Next time, it won't be an accessory—it'll be your lover's severed head. Got it?”
‘!!!!!!!’
The moment he saw Mok Kyung-un's face, Seok Jung felt his heart stop.
He was smiling, but his eyes brimmed with malice. Meeting that gaze chilled him to the bone, making him want to vomit right then.
“You look like you're about to cry. Did someone eat you alive? Come on, get up.”
-Pat pat!
Mok Kyung-un lightly patted his back and helped him to his feet.
Then he said to the pale-faced Seok Jung,
“Just tell Master that the Pavilion Lord's second disciple came, but I politely refused, so they left. Don't mention any fighting or anything. Got it?”
“...Y-yes, understood.”
“Good. Then go on out.”
At Mok Kyung-un's words, Seok Jung hurriedly tried to leave.
But his legs shook so badly he could barely walk.
Only by circulating his internal energy through his body could he barely stumble out the door.
Once outside, he saw the escort warriors and attendants waiting right in front of the annex for any emergencies.
To them, Seok Jung asked,
“Did the Young Master come out while I was with him?”
“What are you talking about? Weren't you two talking inside the whole time?”
“Right. No one came out. Was there something happening inside?”
‘!?’
At the escorts' words, Seok Jung's expression hardened.
From their reactions, it seemed Mok Kyung-un hadn't come out at all.
So how had he brought this butterfly accessory?
He couldn't comprehend it at all.
-Chill!
Goosebumps rose all over Seok Jung's body.
What in the ghostly world was this?
He hadn't even spoken his wish, yet it was known? He hadn't gone out, yet he'd fetched the accessory given to her?
It was hard to believe this was reality.
“Escort Seok. What did you talk about inside to make you like this?”
“...N-nothing special.”
“But why?”
“I'm just feeling a bit unwell.”
Seok Jung couldn't say anything.
Someone who could sit calmly and do such eerie, terrifying things seemed fully capable of carrying out his warning.
‘Can't say anything. Nothing.’
Seok Jung only wanted to escape this place and catch his breath.
“...I'm done here, so I'll go.”
With that, Seok Jung hurriedly left the annex building.
Seeing his state, the puzzled group wondered what had happened, when Mok Kyung-un came out of the annex and approached.
Smiling faintly, he said,
“You've all worked hard. You'll be with me from now on, so how about a warm cup of tea together?”
[Chapter 38: Real Skill (3)] End
ⓒ Han Jung-wol-ya