Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 5
>Chapter Title: Negotiation (1)
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‘!?’
Escort Go Chan’s expression stiffened at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
It was something that could have been kept hidden since the Clan Head had survived, but he never expected Mok Kyung-un to bring it up so directly.
‘No way, that...’
Was he that desperate to provoke Great Madam Seok?
It was practically her secret.
Announcing that he knew it would make it no surprise if she aimed to silence him right here with murder and eradication.
‘Damn it!’
Go Chan tensed up completely as he looked at Great Madam Seok.
Sure enough, her face had twisted into something even more venomous than usual.
But rage did not immediately pour from her mouth.
That was because...
‘You little...’
She had come here precisely because she suspected Mok Kyung-un might have seen or learned something.
Yet his attitude was completely unexpected.
Admitting he knew her secret was no different from begging her to kill him.
‘What’s his intention?’
Was this insolent brat acting bold because he thought he had a grip on her weakness?
If so, he had made a fatal mistake.
This boy was someone who needed to be dealt with anyway once Mok Young-ho became Clan Head.
-Pak!
Great Madam Seok’s hand shot out like a snake striking at prey, seizing Mok Kyung-un’s throat.
Seeing that hand movement, Escort Go Chan was certain.
As a martial artist from the Golden Flower Seok Clan, she was undoubtedly a first-rate expert.
‘No one but Elder Brother Gam could handle her.’
Which meant Mok Kyung-un couldn’t possibly stand against her.
‘Huh?’
A glint appeared in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes as his throat was gripped.
He was inwardly surprised by the unexpectedly strong grip and the unique hand technique.
‘This woman’s strong?’
The intel report had noted that, coming from the Golden Flower Seok Clan, her martial arts were decent.
But this level of power was far beyond Go Chan’s.
‘Amazing.’
Great Madam Seok’s wrist was slender beyond belief.
No different from any other woman’s, yet it held such immense strength.
Martial arts truly were wondrous.
Seeing Mok Kyung-un’s reaction, Great Madam Seok’s eyes narrowed.
‘This boy...’
She had grabbed his throat to intimidate him, making him realize she could take his life at any moment, but he showed no fear—not even bewilderment.
She hadn’t seen him often since he wasn’t her son, but did this child have such guts?
She recalled him being the most timid among his half-brothers.
“You...”
That single word from Great Madam Seok’s lips.
Hearing it, Escort Go Chan swallowed dryly.
Had they been found out?
On second thought, couldn’t a first-rate expert discern whether someone had trained in martial arts just from gripping their throat?
But then...
“...Have you been hiding your true colors?”
‘!?’
Go Chan was dumbfounded by her words.
Should he consider this fortunate?
Or should he see it as her growing even more wary?
She hadn’t suspected foul play, but she seemed to have formed a negative impression.
“So this is your true self...”
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“That’s... not... the... important... part... though.”
“What?”
“If... the Clan Head... doesn’t... return... soon... it’ll be... hard for... the eldest young master... to become... Clan Head.”
“You brat!”
-Kkuhk!
Great Madam Seok’s grip tightened.
“Insolent fool. Do you think I can’t kill you right here? Who do you think you’re bargaining with?”
“This... hurts... a bit.”
She furrowed her brow at his words.
Even this much pressure on the throat should make breathing difficult, yet his expression barely changed.
Was it not painful?
As she puzzled over it, Mok Kyung-un said...
“That’s... right... Bargaining... requires... a certain... level of... wariness... toward... your... opponent... it seems.”
“Wariness? You think I’d feel that toward a wretch like you?”
Among Mok Clan’s four sons, Mok Kyung-un had the weakest martial prowess.
Moreover, with his mother dead and his maternal clan all but ruined, what reason was there to be wary of him?
It was right then.
“Demon Monk.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth...
-Hic!
A chill ran down her spine, cold enough to freeze it solid.
Then, Great Madam Seok was suddenly repelled backward as if struck by something.
-Cha-rung!
Pushed back four paces, her eyes shook.
‘What was that just now?’
She hadn’t seen it, but something had touched her.
She had instinctively circulated her qi to rebound, but the sensation was beyond unpleasant—it raised goosebumps.
“Whew.”
Mok Kyung-un straightened his upper body and rolled his neck.
-Kkuduk! Kkuduk!
“Having your throat grabbed isn’t exactly pleasant.”
Great Madam Seok glared fiercely at his relaxed tone and said...
“You... what did you just do?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just now, clearly...”
It was hard to explain.
Mok Kyung-un hadn’t done anything to her directly.
Yet what was that eerie sensation?
As she struggled to comprehend, Mok Kyung-un sat on the edge of the bed and said...
“Now do you feel like bargaining?”
“Bargaining? Ridiculous. So you had some hidden trick up your sleeve. You think that same luck will work again?”
“Not yet, huh. Then how about a maid?”
“What?”
“The one on the left would do.”
“Left? What are you...”
She was about to retort when...
“Eek!”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the source of the scream.
‘!?’
Great Madam Seok’s eyes shook.
Not just her—all eyes in the chamber widened in shock.
One of the maids Great Madam Seok had brought with her was floating in the air, about a zhang high.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
She seemed to be trying to scream in terror, but something muffled her mouth as she let out stifled noises.
Everyone was left speechless by the sight.
What in the world was happening?
Why was a perfectly fine maid floating there alone?
‘N-No... impossible.’
Great Madam Seok’s mind reeled at the bizarre phenomenon.
She had heard that among profound internal experts, some could manipulate objects with their internal energy—true qi.
But there was no way this young boy was such an expert.
Moreover, if he wielded true qi deep enough to lift a maid, she would have sensed the energy to some degree.
‘W-What?’
Escort Go Chan was equally stunned.
What was going on?
Had the fake Mok Kyung-un been hiding this strange power?
-Swish!
Mok Kyung-un casually raised one hand and mimed slitting his throat.
At that instant...
“Gahk!”
The maid floating in midair, as if gripped by something, had veins bulging on her face, her eyes rolling back.
She looked on the verge of death.
‘T-This?’
It reminded him of Sorcerer Myo-sin’s corpse.
Panicking at the sight, Great Madam Seok shouted...
“S-Stop!”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re doing this, aren’t you? I don’t know what sorcery it is, but stop it now!”
“Well...”
“You!”
“I’m just proving I’m qualified to bargain with you, Great Madam. Losing one life shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly.
Her expression hardened further at his words.
The maid on the brink of suffocation.
A normal maid might be one thing, but this girl had served her from the main Seok Clan house.
-Grit!
Biting her lip hard, she yelled...
“Enough! Stop it! I’ll hear you out on this bargaining nonsense—stop right now!”
At her words, Mok Kyung-un nodded lightly.
Then...
-Thud!
The maid, moments from death, collapsed unconscious on the floor.
“Miss! Miss!”
Another maid rushed to check on her.
Fortunately, she was still alive, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
Great Madam Seok felt relief too, but more than that, suspicion arose about Mok Kyung-un’s bizarre ability.
What was this?
It was a power unrelated to qi.
It felt akin to sorcery or monstrous strength.
When had he learned such a freakish force?
‘...This brat.’
Her mind swirled with doubt, but unable to grasp what the power was, clashing recklessly posed too great a risk.
She should have brought only escort warriors skilled in martial arts.
Glared at by Mok Kyung-un, Great Madam Seok spoke.
“...What do you want to bargain for?”
“With the Clan Head on his last legs, don’t you need the Clan Head’s seal?”
“...”
She didn’t reply, but she didn’t deny it either.
It wasn’t something to deny in the first place.
The surest way to secure succession was that alone.
Yet it didn’t make sense.
“If you knew that, you could have kept hiding it. Why bring it up?”
“Why bring it up?”
“Yes. If you’re from the Mok Clan, you’d want to be Clan Head too.”
That was exactly why she was suspicious.
She couldn’t understand why he’d reveal something he could hide.
Using the seal as leverage could win over the retainers.
But...
“Not really interested.”
“What?”
Great Madam Seok was at a loss for words at Mok Kyung-un’s reply.
Not interested in becoming Clan Head?
The head of a prestigious martial clan ruling northern Anhui—he didn’t want that?
“...You expect me to believe that?”
“Hard to believe?”
“Would you?”
“No. You might think I’m lying.”
“Without a convincing reason...”
“First, as I said, no interest. Second, I don’t want to get involved in the succession fight. How about that?”
“Don’t want to fight?”
“Yeah. More precisely, no interest, and I don’t want to waste time on pointless things.”
She furrowed her brow at his words.
Did this boy see deciding the Timber Sword Manor Lord as a waste of time?
How much effort had she poured into making her son Mok Young-ho the Clan Head?
It was absurd in a different way.
Staring intently at Mok Kyung-un, she said...
“...If you truly want nothing, tell me the Clan Head’s seal and the manual’s location. Then I’ll believe you’re forfeiting.”
Mok Kyung-un scoffed at her words.
“Can’t do that.”
“Then I can’t fully trust you...”
“Don’t. I’ll just bargain with Second Young Master’s side instead.”
“What?”
Great Madam Seok’s composure shook.
“What did you just...”
“You heard right. Since you seem to have trouble understanding, Great Madam, let me explain kindly. I don’t need it, but are you and First Brother Mok Young-ho the only ones who want the Clan Head’s seal?”
‘!!!!’
Her face completely stiffened.
Seeing this, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and said...
“Now you know who holds the hilt.”
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