Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 47
>Chapter Title: Choice (2)
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“Normally, the Eldest Young Master's faction is so overwhelming that the other two successors have no chance at all. But now, the situation has changed.”
“In what way?”
At Mok Kyung-un's question, Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha smirked, his voice laced with meaning.
“Your choice could alter the entire landscape.”
“My... choice?”
“That's right. Your choice.”
Mok Kyung-un's choice.
That was Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha's judgment.
And it wasn't a judgment pulled out of thin air.
Mok Kyung-un was a disciple of the Shadow Division, which commanded secrets, intelligence, and spies within the Heaven-Earth Society. He was also a disciple of the Baek Clan, specialists in poisons and methods tailored for killing people en masse.
That alone placed him in a highly significant position.
“There are countless martial clans, sects, and factions within the Heaven-Earth Society. Each one may seem minor on its own, but together they form a great power. Among them, certain groups play especially crucial roles. The Baek Clan and the Shadow Division are prime examples.”
The power of these two groups was vital for anyone aiming for the successor position, especially when considering the future.
That was why the second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, and the third disciple, Wi So-yeon, were both after Mok Kyung-un.
Mok Kyung-un nodded, as if recalling this himself.
“And today, an even greater variable in power has emerged.”
“A variable in power...”
“Keheuk, it's this master and you.”
Baek Sa-ha shrugged with a smug expression.
It was no wonder. Coincidentally, both Baek Sa-ha and Mok Kyung-un had broken through the wall to reach the Qi Transformation Realm by punching straight through it.
Within the Heaven-Earth Society, only a tiny handful had attained this realm, and their strength rivaled that of an entire mid-sized sect.
“With this master's power and yours, we can shift the balance of this competition. Just the two of us would be enough. Keheukuk.”
“Ahh... I see.”
“Why such a bland reaction? Don't you have confidence in your own power?”
Baek Sa-ha frowned at Mok Kyung-un's flat response.
Mok Kyung-un shook his head in reply.
“It's not particularly that.”
“Then why do you seem so deflated?”
“Because if it's not certain, it holds no real meaning.”
“Not certain? Are you saying you're not satisfied even after breaking through the wall?”
“It's just a path I have to pass through anyway.”
“!?”
Mok Kyung-un answered nonchalantly.
Baek Sa-ha inwardly clicked his tongue at this.
Having spent ages breaking through the wall himself, Baek Sa-ha thought he had no regrets.
Countless martial artists dreamed of shattering the wall to become peerless experts, but in reality, most never escaped the first-rate level.
Yet this kid was still gazing upward.
Was his goal different from the start?
Baek Sa-ha patted Mok Kyung-un's shoulder, his voice turning serious.
“You're right. This master nearly got complacent with a minor achievement and failed to see the greater forest. What a foolish path for one who treads the martial way.”
“Hmm?”
Mok Kyung-un's eyes flashed at the sight of Baek Sa-ha reflecting on himself.
That wasn't what Mok Kyung-un had meant.
He simply considered his current level insufficient, given the various threads tied to his targets of revenge.
To Mok Kyung-un, the martial path and martial arts were mere tools for revenge.
Of course, unaware of this, Baek Sa-ha saw Mok Kyung-un's attitude as that of a true martial artist.
-The old mortal's deluded himself over nothing.
Cheong-ryeong snickered, finding the scene amusing.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged in response.
-Delusions are his freedom.
-Well, true.
-But Cheong-ryeong.
-What?
-Didn't we have a bet?
-What bet?
-As I recall, you said if I broke through the wall within three years, you'd become my slave...
-WAAAAAAAAAAH!
Cheong-ryeong screamed at ear-splitting volume.
Even Mok Kyung-un, unmoved by most things, felt his eardrums might burst from the noise.
-WAAAAAAAAAAH!
-...Are you going to keep this up?
-WAAAAAAAAAAH!
-Let's call the bet off, so please stop. It's noisy.
-...
As soon as Mok Kyung-un nullified the bet, Cheong-ryeong shut her mouth as if nothing had happened.
Mok Kyung-un inwardly clicked his tongue at her behavior.
Meanwhile, Cheong-ryeong breathed a sigh of relief inside.
She was already living like a slave as a food spirit. If she had to serve this guy as a true master on top of that, she'd rather vanish outright.
‘Damn mortal.’
It was a bet that could never have been fulfilled anyway.
Who in their right mind reaches the Qi Transformation Realm just two months after starting martial arts?
If it had been through enlightenment, maybe, but he had forcibly blasted through the energy channels by deducing their flow.
He was a real monster.
Perhaps a walking bundle of variables created by heaven itself.
At that moment, Isle Poison King Baek Sa-ha spoke up.
“I got ahead of myself in my excitement, and the small talk dragged on. Anyway, even setting aside matters of achievement as you say, you still need to make a choice.”
“...”
“Given the Eldest Young Master's temperament, once he regains his senses, he'll come pressuring you and this master somehow. And he'll move with utmost speed.”
Mok Kyung-un agreed with this.
If it were someone like him, the war would start the instant he opened his eyes.
In that case, as Baek Sa-ha said, he'd have no choice but to build a faction that even Na Yul-ryang couldn't touch lightly.
“Master is right.”
“Then, between Jang Neung-ak and Wi So-yeon, whom will you choose? I'll follow your decision entirely on this.”
In truth, Baek Sa-ha had the youngest disciple, Wi So-yeon, in mind.
The second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, was cunning and not entirely trustworthy.
But he left the choice to Mok Kyung-un because he believed the one to lead the Heaven-Earth Society in the future belonged to the younger generation, not his own.
‘But this kid might choose Wi So-yeon too?’
What Wi So-yeon lacked was a faction—a base of support.
With the Baek Clan, Shadow Division, and their master-disciple pair backing her, she could build a force rivaling Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang's.
‘For now, that girl Wi So-yeon is the best fit. With your sharp insight, you should see that much?’
But then,
“Then I think Second Brother Jang Neung-ak would be good.”
“What?”
Baek Sa-ha's expression froze instantly.
He was inwardly disappointed by Mok Kyung-un's unexpected choice.
‘No, why choose that guy of all people?’
Among the three, he was the weakest in martial prowess, the most scheming, and the most erratic.
In Baek Sa-ha's view, Jang Neung-ak had the least makings of a Leader.
Baek Sa-ha sighed and asked,
“Hoo... Are you really okay with Jang Neung-ak?”
Having given him the choice, he couldn't outright oppose it, but he wanted to know the reason.
This cunning kid wouldn't make such a decision without thought.
Or perhaps...
Baek Sa-ha's gaze shifted to U Ho-rang, who lay fainted on the side.
He knew of U Ho-rang, the great disciple of Bright Sword King Son Yun and leader of the Roaring Tiger Unit.
Wasn't he Wi So-yeon's right-hand man?
Judging by the traces around, it seemed he'd clashed with this kid even before Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang.
‘Is it related to that?’
If so, he could mediate to some extent.
He might not cross the Leader's successor, but there was room to intervene in fights between youngsters.
However,
“Jang Neung-ak's confidants show extreme loyalty regardless of who their lord is. On the other hand, Wi So-yeon's confidants seem to see her not as a lord, but as a woman to adore, regardless of her character.”
“What? A woman to adore?”
“Yes.”
“Hah...”
A sigh of disappointment escaped Baek Sa-ha at Mok Kyung-un's words.
If it stemmed from conflict, he could mediate.
But if Mok Kyung-un was right, then Wi So-yeon simply lacked the fortune of talented subordinates, irrespective of her character.
Of course, with their help, the situation would improve.
But if the one meant to lead fundamentally lacked the caliber to command those below, no amount of support would fix it.
‘...Is it because of that girl's looks?’
Wi So-yeon was a peerless beauty.
Any man would fall for her radiant allure.
Baek Sa-ha hadn't seen it as a major issue.
He thought she could lead her subordinates with strong command.
But if her confidants viewed her as an object of desire rather than a lord, as Mok Kyung-un said, it was time to reconsider.
‘If she can't lead those below her...’
This wasn't a wrong judgment by Mok Kyung-un.
Though Jang Neung-ak fell short of Wi So-yeon in character and martial talent, when it came to heading an organization, the second son seemed the better option.
Baek Sa-ha nodded as if convinced.
“Very well. Do as you wish. Then go convey your intent to Jang Neung-ak.”
“Understood. And Master?”
“This master will hurry to clean up here, inform the Shadow Leader of this, and discuss an alliance between the Shadow Division and Baek Clan.”
“Ah...”
He needed someone to handle the cleanup anyway.
Thinking it convenient, Mok Kyung-un offered Baek Sa-ha a clasped-hands bow of gratitude.
“Thank you.”
“Keheuk, what thanks? Your business is this master's business.”
“...”
“What are you waiting for? Hurry. We need to build our faction before the Eldest Young Master wakes.”
“Understood. Then I'll leave it to you.”
With that, Mok Kyung-un turned and approached someone lying collapsed nearby.
Baek Sa-ha grimaced and asked,
“What are you doing? Didn't this master say he'd handle the cleanup?”
“Ah. I think I need to take this guy with me.”
The one Mok Kyung-un pointed to was none other than U Ho-rang, the leader of the Roaring Tiger Unit and Wi So-yeon's confidant.
Baek Sa-ha, puzzled, asked,
“You're going to meet Jang Neung-ak, so why take him? Are you planning to gift him as a show of support?”
“No, not that. I plan to stop by Wi So-yeon first.”
“What?”
What was this now?
He said he wouldn't choose her, so why go to her?
To the puzzled Baek Sa-ha, Mok Kyung-un leaned in and whispered quietly in his ear.
Hearing it, Baek Sa-ha frowned and asked,
“No. Is that even possible?”
“We'll see when we try.”
“...Won't this just provoke Wi So-yeon unnecessarily?”
Baek Sa-ha couldn't shake his concern.
But Mok Kyung-un, unperturbed, hoisted the unconscious U Ho-rang over his shoulder and said,
“We'll see when we try. Then please handle the cleanup here. Ah... That guy over there on the ground is Seok Jung, the guard the Shadow Leader assigned to me. You can take him when you go to the Shadow Division.”
Having made his request, Mok Kyung-un left carrying U Ho-rang.
Watching his back, Baek Sa-ha clicked his tongue.
Whether things would go as the kid wanted was another matter.
Even so, would Wi So-yeon, who sought to become the Heaven-Earth Society's hegemon, accept it?
It might just create more enemies.
‘Hmm.’
Baek Sa-ha glanced in the direction Mok Kyung-un had gone, then approached the fainted Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang.
He didn't know how things had escalated this far, but a life-or-death war with this kid had begun.
Since the war was already underway, he had no intention of losing.
‘Since you've touched this old man and the Baek Clan, prepare yourself.’
Warning inwardly, Baek Sa-ha cautiously glanced around.
His senses detected nothing.
After scanning the surroundings, Baek Sa-ha,
“Ahem.”
Subtly placed his sole above the fainted Na Yul-ryang's right ankle and channeled his energy to press down firmly.
-CRACK!
The sound of the ankle breaking echoed.
His right wrist was already broken, his right eyeball taken by Mok Kyung-un—what difference did one more broken right ankle make?
“Keheukuk.”
* * *
The manor residence of the Leader's third disciple, Wi So-yeon.
A man with a face covered in bruises entered the grounds.
He was Yeop Wi-seon, the youngest disciple of Bright Sword King Son Yun.
“Oh! Brother Yeop!”
As he entered the hall, a young man training in the manor's courtyard—balancing a large rock on a thick heavy sword while maintaining his stance—greeted him warmly.
His name was Yang Il.
He was the young pavilion master of the Shallow Sea Sword Pavilion and one of Wi So-yeon's confidants.
“Brother Yang.”
Yeop Wi-seon returned the clasped-hands bow with a flushed face.
He felt utterly mortified inside.
He had gone to report to Blood Point Valley, gotten into a fight with a novice, and even caused an incident, landing him confined in a dark room for days of closed-door training.
He thought it'd be months.
But for some reason, his master, Bright Sword King Son Yun, had released him just half a shichen ago.
[Strike again, and it'll really be a year of seclusion. Got it?]
Of course, with a chilling warning.
Yeop Wi-seon had begged forgiveness, even shedding tears.
Good thing no one saw it—thinking back now made his teeth grind.
If not for that Mok Kyung-un bastard, he wouldn't have suffered this humiliation or fallen out of the lady's favor.
‘Son of a bitch.’
He'd repay this grudge someday.
He'd heard the guy had become a disciple of the Shadow Leader.
At least that was fortunate.
If he'd become a disciple of Thunderclap Fist King or his master Bright Sword King Son Yun, revenge would be hard, but as a disciple of a subordinate executive under the Five Kings, opportunities would arise.
Anyway, that wasn't important now.
He was on his master's orders.
“Brother Yang. Where's our eldest senior brother? With the lady?”
“Great Captain U Ho-rang went off on the lady's orders to fetch someone.”
“...Fetch someone? Where did he go?”
“Why? Something happen?”
“Master's summoning him.”
“Ah. Bright Sword King Senior is calling?”
“Yes.”
“Great Captain U Ho-rang is waiting for a man named Mok Kyung-un near the Baek Clan's manor under Isle Poison King Senior.”
“!?”
Yeop Wi-seon tilted his head at the words.
What was this?
Waiting for Mok Kyung-un near the Baek Clan's manor?
“...Why?”
“Why what? To recruit him, of course.”
“What?”
Yeop Wi-seon recoiled in horror.
He already knew that ill-fated Mok Kyung-un was a hostage from the orthodox faction, and he'd been planning to advise the lady against recruiting him—now this absurd news?
No, this wouldn't do.
If it was true, he had to tell the lady right away...
-CREEAK!
At that moment, the manor's gate opened, and someone entered.
Yeop Wi-seon's face twisted fiercely.
The newcomer was none other than that damned bastard.
“Mok Kyung-un!”
However,
“Hoo. Long time no see. Perfect timing. This must be your eldest senior brother, right?”
“What?”
-Thud!
Mok Kyung-un lifted the person slung over his shoulder with one hand, as if hefting a sack.
Yeop Wi-seon and Yang Il's eyes widened simultaneously at the sight.
“No way?”
“E-Eldest senior brother?”
The one in Mok Kyung-un's grip was none other than Bright Sword King Son Yun's great disciple, U Ho-rang—one of the Heaven-Earth Society's top young experts, the Five Tigers.
The two couldn't contain their shock at the sight of him, bloodied and unconscious from severe wounds—a man said to be untouchable by anyone short of an executive.
[Chapter 47: Choice (2)] End