Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 39
>Chapter Title: Erosion (3)
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Blind Wi Maeng-cheon's face hardened.
What had been placed on his hand was none other than
"Ji-hang?"
It was Ji-hang, the man he had sent to frame Mok Kyung-un as a spy from the orthodox faction.
More precisely, it was Ji-hang's severed head.
In an instant, Wi Maeng-cheon's mind grew chaotic.
What in the world was going on?
"Why would this guy have Ji-hang's head?"
It made no sense.
Of course, Ji-hang's death had been planned as the final step in the scheme.
That way, they could avoid leaving any loose ends and put Mok Kyung-un in peril alone.
But Ji-hang was supposed to be undergoing interrogation right now. So why was he already dead, and why had Mok Kyung-un brought his head to him?
As he reeled in confusion, Mok Kyung-un sneered.
"Disappointed that the outcome didn't match your intentions?"
"You bastard..."
"You must have racked your brains over this. It's a shame—it would've worked smoothly on anyone else."
"What?"
* * *
Just one hour prior.
In the Shadow Clan's inner steward's office.
A Shadow Clan warrior rushed in with an urgent report to Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
"An intruder has infiltrated Third Young Master Mok Kyung-un's annex."
"Third Young Master Mok's annex?"
Jo Yeom-hun's eyes narrowed.
He had already received word the moment the intruder entered.
However, the Shadow Clan had a long-standing policy of not capturing intruders immediately upon entry.
They tracked their paths to uncover their objectives and even backtracked to their sources.
This time, too, the inner steward's office had been monitoring the intruder's route for a counter-track.
However,
"Hmm... What's the intruder's aim?"
This was what concerned them.
Mok Kyung-un was a hostage from the orthodox faction to begin with, so the Shadow Clan monitored his every move and action meticulously.
And now, an intruder heads to his annex.
To their worried superior, the Shadow Clan warrior cautiously replied.
"It seems less about targeting Third Young Master Mok Kyung-un and more about making contact with him."
"...I see."
Their worst fear had come to pass.
Everyone in the inner fortress knew the Shadow Clan handled classified matters and was guarded with utmost severity—no one dared enter carelessly.
Thus, for Heaven-Earth Society members to infiltrate was all but impossible.
Which meant,
'A spy after all.'
They couldn't ignore the possibility.
If the intruder was a spy from the orthodox faction, it confirmed their fears.
The clan lord still didn't fully trust Mok Kyung-un, limiting his access to martial arts knowledge and nothing else, but any leak of information to the outside was intolerable.
"What should we do?"
"Capture him."
"But what about the counter-track?"
"If Third Young Master Mok is connected to the intruder, we can't let it slide—counter-tracking be damned."
"Understood."
-Tatatahtak!
As the ordered warrior departed, Jo Yeom-hun grabbed his signature weapon, the Pacifying Blade, and summoned the inner steward's escort squad.
Once the escorts assembled, Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun led them out with a grim expression.
The annex wasn't far.
All the way there, Jo Yeom-hun recalled the conversation from seven days ago.
[Even if he topped the Blood River Valley trials, you shouldn't have accepted him.]
[You know what topping it means, don't you?]
[...I do. But Clan Lord, he could be poison to the Shadow Clan. No matter how talented he is in martial arts, his background will draw endless scrutiny.]
[Of course it will. But if we can be certain of that child, our clan will gain an unprecedented genius unlike any we've seen.]
Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun simply couldn't comprehend the clan lord's decision.
Why cling to a hostage from the orthodox faction when doubts lingered?
It could narrow the Shadow Clan's standing in the future.
'If...'
If the intruder truly was an orthodox faction spy, and evidence showed Mok Kyung-un in close contact or attempting something, they couldn't miss this chance.
Any shred of suspicion meant expelling him for the Shadow Clan's sake.
-Whoooosh!
Thus, Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun arrived at Mok Kyung-un's annex.
Illuminated by torches, the place was surrounded by dozens of Shadow Clan guards.
Upon arrival, Jo Yeom-hun asked a squad leader.
"How's it going?"
"We sent men inside—they should be out soon."
"Good."
Just as the squad leader said, warriors emerged from within, supporting an unfamiliar man, with Mok Kyung-un following behind.
But upon seeing the intruder being helped out, a glint flashed in Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun's eyes.
Both of the man's hands were a mangled mess.
Clear signs of torture.
'Hmm.'
A normal person might think this proved no connection to Mok Kyung-un, but not Jo Yeom-hun, the Shadow Clan's inner steward.
His mind raced through countless variables and scenarios.
The most likely was,
'A ploy to evade suspicion.'
Most spies infiltrating were highly trained.
They always had contingencies for dire situations.
If he were a Justice Alliance spy, he'd prepare a strategy so at least one could escape if caught with comrades.
Of course, this was mere hypothesis.
Fortunately, the intruder was alive.
'With him captured alive, we can make him talk.'
This was the Shadow Clan, after all.
Specialists in such matters.
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un spotted him and greeted with a cupped-fist salute.
"Even the inner steward has come."
"Young Master."
Jo Yeom-hun returned the salute courteously.
But his face was already eager for interrogation.
Without losing politeness, Jo Yeom-hun said,
"Young Master, an intruder from outside breached us. Weren't you greatly inconvenienced by the threat?"
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly in response.
"Hardly."
"We're relieved to confirm you're unharmed."
"Thank you for your concern. I thought you hadn't noticed since there was no intervention despite the intruder, but that wasn't the case."
At Mok Kyung-un's words, a twitch flickered under Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun's eyes.
He had indirectly pointed out that the intruder had waltzed in openly, so why only discover him now?
Jo Yeom-hun shook his head and replied.
"Who said we just discovered him? We let him roam briefly to discern his target."
"Ahh, I see. Nearly misunderstood."
"Hahaha, is that so? However, Young Master."
"Yes."
"I have one thing I'd like to ask."
"What might that be?"
"I thought the intruder was after classified documents, but unexpectedly, he headed straight for your annex."
"Yes. As you can see."
"So, I'm wondering why this intruder went directly to your annex."
"Why not wake him and interrogate? I tried questioning him myself, but he wouldn't open his mouth."
'Ha!'
Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun inwardly affirmed at Mok Kyung-un's casual tone.
Normally, if unrelated to an intruder's capture, one wouldn't interrogate but report it.
Yet Mok Kyung-un admitted to questioning him himself.
Did he not realize how that fueled suspicion?
"You interrogated him personally?"
"Yes."
"Huh."
"Is there a problem?"
"This is troubling. If you'd caught the intruder, it would've been better to inform us right away."
"I planned to report after the interrogation."
"But instead, you conducted it independently."
"Was that wrong?"
At Mok Kyung-un's question, Jo Yeom-hun let out a small scoff.
"Yes, it was wrong. An intruder enters your annex, you don't report it, and interrogate alone—that implies solo contact with the enemy, regardless of method."
"Solo contact?"
"Yes."
"The hand marks show interrogation traces. Anything suspicious there?"
"Regrettably, those traces could be a ploy to dispel contact suspicions. Ah, of course, I'm not claiming you intended that. Just that it could be."
I don't think you did.
The implication was clear: you're under suspicion.
Mok Kyung-un smirked at Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun's overt scolding for suspicious behavior.
'He laughs?'
He had kindly explained.
That his actions warranted suspicion.
What was this reaction?
Though irritation surged, Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun hid it.
With justification in hand, he'd take him in and uncover everything through the intruder's interrogation.
Jo Yeom-hun politely cupped his fists toward Mok Kyung-un.
"First, my apologies, Young Master. For any contingencies, please accompany us to the inner steward's office temporarily."
"To the inner steward's office?"
"Yes. As I mentioned, contact with the intruder is the reason. Until his interrogation clears you, we have no choice."
Now, Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun openly named him a suspect.
Yet Mok Kyung-un maintained his composed expression.
Jo Yeom-hun clicked his tongue.
'Let's see how long that composure lasts.'
"What are you waiting for? Escort the Young Master to the inner steward's office immedia—"
Before he finished.
At that instant, the supported intruder's eyes snapped open.
He thrashed to shake off the warriors' arms.
-Pak!
"Hold him tight!"
"Where do you think you're going, you bastard!"
But the intruder's strength was extraordinary.
In a flash, he slammed the warrior gripping his right arm to the ground.
-Thud!
"Gasp!"
Then he lunged for the neck of the one on his left—
-Pak!
Someone appeared, striking the intruder's back with a pressure point blow and pinning his shoulder like lightning.
Overpowered by the forceful energy, the intruder was forced to his knees.
-Thud!
"Urk!"
"Clan Lord!"
The one who suddenly appeared and subdued the intruder was none other than the Shadow Clan Lord.
He had just arrived upon report.
The clan lord clicked his tongue.
"A night guest visits our clan after so long."
"Clan Lord, you've arrived?"
Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun approached, saluting with cupped fists.
He reached to take custody of the subdued intruder.
"I'll handle him."
But suddenly, the intruder blurted,
"I-I'm sorry, Inner Steward, sir. I confessed everything to that orthodox faction hostage."
'!?'
Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun's face stiffened.
What nonsense was this bastard spouting?
Why suddenly claim confessing to him?
Absurd.
Then murmurs rose around them.
Some nearby warriors glanced between the subdued intruder and Jo Yeom-hun, buzzing.
'Ha!'
Were they suspecting him now?
Believing this intruder's out-of-nowhere claim?
Unbelievable.
Then the intruder began pleading.
"Inner Steward, sir! Please spare my family alone. Kill me if you must—I'm begging you!"
The flustered Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun snapped,
"You scum! When did you ever see me to spew such lies? Have you gone mad craving death?"
He hastily clasped his hands and bowed to the clan lord.
"Clan Lord! This is slander. How could I know such a man? Interrogate him now—"
"Inner Steward, sir, abandoning me like this..."
"You bastard!"
Enraged, Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun aimed a kick at the intruder's face.
Someone blocked his path.
It was none other than
"Bi Escort?"
The clan lord's guard, Bi.
With Bi intervening, the frustrated Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun shouted,
"What is this? Get out of—"
"Why block the intruder's mouth? If you're truly innocent, calm down."
"Collusion? Ha! Did you just accuse me of collusion?"
Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun couldn't contain his outrage at the absurdity.
This intruder was framing him falsely, and instead of help, the clan lord's own guard was protecting the intruder and pushing him—what madness?
Murmurs drilled into his ears from all sides.
"Did the inner steward order it?"
"Looks like it."
"He grabbed the servants to frame Young Master Mok?"
The warriors' voices, unavoidable, drove him near madness.
Anyone could see it was too contrived—yet they believed it?
This was blatant slander.
Trembling with uncontainable fury, the intruder stirred the crowd again, shouting,
"Clan Lord, I merely followed the inner steward's orders..."
"You son of a—!"
Inner Steward Jo Yeom-hun finally drew his sword.
He needed to kill this slanderer to vent.
But Bi blocked him once more.
"Clan Lord, shall I subdue the inner steward?"
"Bi Escort! Surely not like this..."
It was right then.
-Slash!
A slicing sound, followed by a thud on the ground.
It was
'!?'
The intruder's head.
Silence blanketed the area in an instant.
Everyone wore shocked expressions. The one who severed the intruder's head was none other than the Shadow Clan Lord.
With an unusually expressionless face, the clan lord declared,
"The intruder seeking to incite internal strife in our clan is dead. From now on, no one in our clan mentions this. Understood?"
"Loyalty!!!"
As his words ended, all shouted in unison.
Suppressed by the clan lord's overwhelming pressure and aura, they had no choice but to obey.
'......'
The clan lord's gaze grew grave as he swiftly quelled the chaotic atmosphere with his authority.
He had forcibly suppressed it, but a strong sense of incongruity permeated the events.
The intruder's contrived slander.
Some warriors inciting the crowd.
Even Bi Escort, who never acted without orders, suddenly shielding the intruder and pressing the inner steward.
All of it felt off.
-Swish!
The clan lord slowly turned his narrowed eyes.
In the flickering torch shadows, he saw Mok Kyung-un, lips curled from ear to ear.
'!?'
Locking eyes with Mok Kyung-un in that moment, the clan lord unwittingly swallowed dryly.
The source of this inexplicable incongruity.
It stemmed from Mok Kyung-un.