Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 48
>Chapter Title: Proposal (1)
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‘G-Great Senior Brother?’
‘Huh? U Great Hall Leader?’
The man hoisted in Mok Kyung-un’s hand was none other than Son Yun, the Sword King, his great disciple and one of the Heaven-Earth Society’s top rising stars, the Five Tigers’ U Ho-rang.
Yeop Wi-seon, his junior brother, and Yang Il, the Small Hall Leader of the Initial Sea Sword Hall, couldn’t hide their shock at the sight of him—bloodied and unconscious from severe wounds, a man said to be untouchable without elite cadres.
‘What the hell happened?’
Why was their Great Senior Brother in such a state?
Yeop Wi-seon had never seen him lose a fight before.
His gaze flicked momentarily to Mok Kyung-un.
‘No way. Absolutely not.’
For a split second, he suspected Mok Kyung-un.
But that was impossible.
He’d clashed with the guy before and knew his level.
Roughly on par with himself—pinnacle realm at best, maybe a touch higher.
Yet this guy had reduced their Great Senior Brother, who’d reached the mature transcendent realm, to that?
Absurd.
Then,
-Thud!
Yang Il dropped the large rock he’d placed on his heavy sword’s flat, his eyes sharpening with wariness.
“Mok Kyung-un. Was it you?”
‘Huh?’
What was that supposed to mean?
Even if that bastard had decent skill—enough to catch Lady Wi So-yeon’s interest—he couldn’t handle their Great Senior Brother.
“Brother Yang, this guy’s skill is about equal to mine. He’s not on the level to face Great Senior Brother.”
“What are you talking about? Brother Yeop, Mok Kyung-un here has reached the transcendent realm, just like Great Hall Leader U.”
‘!?’
Yeop Wi-seon stared at him in disbelief.
Was he messing with him?
It hadn’t even been half a month since they met at the Blood River Valley storehouse.
How could he have broken through to transcendent in that time?
“You’re joking, right? I’ve fought him myself, and...”
“No joke. The Lady said it herself, and even Young Master Jang Nung-ak, the Vice Leader’s second disciple, acknowledged his skill.”
“......Huh?”
What?
Even the Lady and Young Master Jang Nung-ak confirmed it?
What the hell was going on?
How could he reach transcendent so soon after their clash at the Blood River Valley annex?
Impossible to believe.
Just then, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly.
“Here, take him back.”
“What?”
“Your Great Senior Brother. Catch.”
“W-Wait, what are you—”
-Swoosh!
Before Yeop Wi-seon could finish, Mok Kyung-un casually flung the unconscious U Ho-rang at him like a sack of trash.
U Ho-rang’s large frame hurtled toward Yeop Wi-seon at high speed.
“You bastard?”
Yeop Wi-seon hurriedly spread his arms to catch him.
He circulated his energy appropriately, aiming to receive his senior brother steadily.
But—
-Smack!
“Hngh!”
The moment he caught U Ho-rang, the immense energy infused in the body buckled Yeop Wi-seon’s knees.
His feet,
-Scraaaape!
dragged eight paces backward across the courtyard pavement.
He’d only stopped because he’d summoned Ten Stars energy mid-slide, gritting his teeth to hold.
It happened in a flash, but to Yeop Wi-seon, it felt eternal.
“Haa... haa...”
-Thud!
He painstakingly set U Ho-rang down, breathing raggedly.
‘What? What was that?’
It was the Transfer Flower technique.
The orthodox way borrowed the opponent’s energy, but infusing energy into something and passing it on was an application.
Sometimes called Striking Object Energy Transfer.
‘......Impossible.’
Such an advanced technique was beyond pinnacle realm.
Only transcendent experts with deep qi comprehension could pull it off.
Yeop Wi-seon struggled to accept it even after experiencing it firsthand.
He was furious, but this defied common sense.
Enlightenment in that short time, surpassing him?
Unthinkable.
As he reeled, Yang Il asked,
“Wasn’t that Striking Object Energy Transfer just now? You okay, Brother Yeop?”
“......I’m fine.”
It revealed the guy’s internal energy was no joke, but no internal injuries.
Just a sickening unease.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“Sir, he’s acupoint-sealed. You’ll need to release it for him to wake.”
“What? You sealed our Great Senior Brother?”
“No, not me.”
‘!?’
Yang Il frowned in confusion.
“Then if not you, Mok Kyung-un, someone else sealed him—and left Great Hall Leader U like this?”
“Ah, no. He did fight me and end up like that.”
“You playing word games, you little shit?”
Yeop Wi-seon exploded in rage.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged.
“It’s true. And why would I joke with you?”
“Joke? Ha! Now I get it.”
“Get what?”
“Someone else sealed him, so you ganged up on Great Senior Brother.”
“......”
“Makes sense. No matter how fast your martial arts progressed, how could trash like you beat one of the Five Tigers alone?”
‘Hmm.’
Yang Il eyed Mok Kyung-un suspiciously at Yeop Wi-seon’s heated outburst.
The Lady had pegged Mok Kyung-un’s skill at early transcendent.
That’s why she’d sent U Ho-rang, the strongest of her attendants, equal to her in prowess.
If her judgment held, Mok Kyung-un couldn’t beat him no matter what.
‘Early and mature transcendent are worlds apart.’
He’d fought U Ho-rang and lost, feeling the gap himself.
The Five Tigers title wasn’t handed out lightly.
U Ho-rang was a monster among rising stars only cadres could face.
So Yeop Wi-seon’s gang-up theory had merit.
‘......Did he join them?’
Lady Wi So-yeon had worried he’d enter Young Master Jang Nung-ak’s faction, the Vice Leader’s second disciple.
Jang Nung-ak already seemed close to him.
‘Ah!’
Yang Il whispered to Yeop Wi-seon as realization dawned.
“Brother Yeop, you’re right.”
“Right about what?”
“We just heard one of Young Master Jang Nung-ak’s attendants, the Twin Peaks’ No-Shadow Sword Wi Maeng-cheon, was killed last night.”
“What?”
Yeop Wi-seon’s eyes widened.
What all had happened while he was in secluded training?
Yang Il continued to the stunned man.
“Back at the Baek family estate, Young Master Jang Nung-ak kept glaring murderously at the Lady and Great Hall Leader U. It was weird.”
“Ha! Then that righteous hostage punk and Jang Nung-ak’s men must’ve teamed up to do this to Great Senior Brother.”
“......”
-These foolish mortals. What nonsense are they spouting?
Mok Kyung-un chuckled at Cheong-ryeong’s words.
Whispering wouldn’t fool his ears.
He hadn’t said a word, yet they were piecing together wild scenarios.
He’d killed Jang Nung-ak’s attendant Wi Maeng-cheon, and beaten Lady Wi So-yeon’s man U Ho-rang—but the events were unrelated.
Amusing how they connected dots that weren’t there.
‘Fun toys.’
That was his assessment.
But he had no business with them now.
“You two can keep chatting. I’m here to see Lady Wi So-yeon. She’s in the main hall, right?”
Mok Kyung-un took a step forward.
That moment—
-Shing!
Yeop Wi-seon drew his signature weapon, the Giant Shadow Saber, from his waist.
He aimed the tip at Mok Kyung-un and bellowed,
“Where do you think you’re going with those filthy feet to see the Lady?”
“You’re such a pain.”
“What?”
“I never agreed to your fascinating theories. Just unseal your Great Senior Brother and ask him yourselves. Meanwhile, I’ll...”
Mok Kyung-un stepped forward again.
Instantly, sharp sword energy slashed the ground three paces ahead, drawing a line.
-Slash!
Initial Sea Sword Hall’s Small Hall Leader Yang Il had done it.
Sword energy humming, ready to strike, he warned,
“Forget crossing that line.”
Yeop Wi-seon was thrilled at the firm blockade.
He’d already deemed one-on-one hopeless against Mok Kyung-un’s sudden leap.
But together? Different story.
Yang Il was a transcendent early-stage prodigy.
Excluding Great Senior Brother, he was the Lady’s right-hand man.
Teaming up gave them the edge.
‘Bastard. Perfect.’
Last time in the Blood River Valley storehouse, overflowing with manuals, he’d held back.
Not now.
This wide courtyard allowed full power.
“Brother Yang... I’ll join you.”
-Shff!
Yeop Wi-seon stood beside Yang Il, assuming a ready stance.
Ganging up might seem cowardly, but they had cause.
Suspicion of him teaming up on Great Senior Brother.
But Mok Kyung-un waved dismissively with one hand.
“Give it up. I’m not here to fight—just to see Lady Wi So-yeon.”
“Shut it! Think the Lady would see a righteous hostage like you?”
“Funny. I recall your Great Senior Brother saying she summoned me. Or am I wrong?”
“That’s...”
Yang Il answered.
“She did. She thinks highly of you. But after crippling the Great Hall Leader sent to fetch you, you expect us to let you waltz in?”
“You’re not listening. Just wake that guy and ask.”
“What?”
“You keep saying I attacked first, so unseal him and—ah, never mind.”
Mok Kyung-un shook his head.
Then he said flatly,
“Just come at me together.”
“What?”
“Together?”
“Didn’t hear? Beating you two might convince the Lady better.”
Yang Il’s eyes narrowed at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
Unlike Yeop Wi-seon, he hadn’t planned to attack or team up.
No proof yet.
But as a martial artist, the taunt grated.
“You’re insulting me and Brother Yeop?”
“Insult? No way.”
“Then why tell us to come at once?”
Mok Kyung-un smiled.
“Too annoying one by one, and that’s your level.”
-Grind!
Yang Il gnashed his teeth.
He stayed cool under most provocations.
But U Ho-rang down, their big brother figure—and now this? Unbearable.
“Fine? Let’s test how strong you really are!”
-Swish!
Yang Il launched at Mok Kyung-un.
Enraged by the taunt and eyeing the team-up chance, Yeop Wi-seon kicked off too.
‘Initial Sea Shadowless Sword, 4th Form: Shadow Call Point Contract!’
‘Famed Day Saber Method Secret, 2nd Form: Life Harm Guilt Recital!’
Both swung sword and saber for killing blows.
That instant—
-Slither!
-Clang!
‘W-What?’
‘Gasp!’
Mok Kyung-un’s form blurred, reappearing before them, bare hands clamping their blades before the strikes landed.
‘!!!!!!!!’
Stunned, neither could hide their shock.
What just happened?
No visible movement.
-Crush!
‘W-What power?’
‘Can’t pull the saber...’
They poured energy to yank free, but nothing budged.
Mok Kyung-un said casually,
“Slow.”
“You punk!”
-Swish!
Yang Il released his sword, index and middle fingers thrusting qi-charged at Mok Kyung-un’s throat.
But—
-Thwack!
Mok Kyung-un’s kick smashed his head first.
Brain rattled, Yang Il’s eyes rolled back as he crumpled.
-Thud!
“Not asking you to stand there, am I?”
Mok Kyung-un sneered at the fainted man.
Yeop Wi-seon paled, limbs trembling in horror.
What was this?
Just recently, they’d been equals.
How had he grown this strong?
Yang Il was early transcendent—couldn’t drop a Five Tigers member this fast.
“You... you bastard...”
“Know you can’t win? Step aside nicely?”
-Grit!
Yeop Wi-seon bit his lip at the arrogant words.
He’d felt the gap with Striking Object Energy Transfer.
But he wouldn’t show weakness.
He lunged with a sudden palm strike.
“You dogshit...”
-Smack!
“Guh!”
It didn’t connect.
Before finishing, Mok Kyung-un grabbed his throat, hoisting him up.
Smiling chillingly at the struggling man,
“Don’t use such strong words. Makes you look weak.”
-Shiver!
Terror chilled Yeop Wi-seon’s spine, eyes welling red.
That moment.
“Stop!”
A shout rang out.
From none other than,
‘L-Lady?’
Vice Leader’s third disciple, Lady Wi So-yeon.
She emerged from the main hall, staring at Mok Kyung-un in shock.
[Chapter 48: Proposal (1)] End