Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 52
>Chapter Title: Jang Neung-ak (2)
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“What? Mok Kyung-un?”
Jang Neung-ak’s expression turned peculiar.
He had already been planning to go and protest because he believed his eldest senior brother, Na Yeul-ryang, had intervened to take him away.
But Mok Kyung-un had come on his own?
What in the world was going on?
‘...Should I consider this a stroke of luck?’
On the other hand, Go Yeon-hu, the Grand Commander of the Paegun Group—one of the Five Evils Associations’ elite units who had tried to dissuade his liege, the Society Lord’s second disciple Jang Neung-ak—breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
It wasn’t yet time to clash with the eldest young master, not in terms of forces or anything else.
Yet even as he felt relieved, Go Yeon-hu couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
And so,
“My lord. Something’s off.”
“Off?”
“Yes. Didn’t he say it was a shame to yield before the Third Commander could even strike his acupoints?”
Jang Neung-ak nodded inwardly in agreement with his words.
Had he not heard that, he would have been pleased and gone straight to welcome Mok Kyung-un.
After pondering for a moment, Jang Neung-ak asked,
“What do you think happened?”
The one-armed subordinate from the Oeak Rock Fist Group, who had reported Mok Kyung-un’s arrival, replied to the question.
“He came here on his own two feet, so doesn’t that mean he’s here to pledge loyalty to you, my lord? Why all the suspicion?”
Go Yeon-hu spoke up at his words.
“The eldest young master seems to have made contact with Mok Kyung-un.”
“What? The eldest young master?”
“That’s why I’m worried.”
“Worried about what?”
“That Mok Kyung-un might have changed his mind.”
At those words, the one-armed man’s eyes flashed with anger as he raised his voice.
“No way. You showed him such favor, my lord—how could he turn? If he dares pull something like that, I’ll break this one-armed fool’s legs myself.”
Jang Neung-ak shook his head and waved him off.
“Enough. That’s beyond you.”
“What?”
“You’d need High Commander Go or Commander Ho to handle him.”
The one-armed man frowned, speaking in a resentful tone at Jang Neung-ak’s words.
“If it’s because of that last spar with him, I didn’t go all out then. I got careless because I saw him as a novice. This time, I’ll do it properly...”
The First Peak’s Go Yeon-hu cut off the one-armed man’s words.
“He took down Woo Ho-rang.”
“What?”
The one-armed man’s eyes went wide.
What was this now?
Woo Ho-rang—did he mean the Woo Ho-rang he knew?
“You don’t mean the Grand Commander of the Citadel Group, do you?”
“Who else would it be?”
‘!?’
The one-armed man was dumbfounded for a moment.
There had been talk that Mok Kyung-un’s skills were higher than expected, but the Five Tigers—excluding the Heaven-Earth Society’s executives—were the pinnacle of the later generation in terms of martial prowess.
And one of those Five Tigers, Woo Ho-rang, had lost to Mok Kyung-un?
“T-That means...”
“We can consider Mok Kyung-un one of the new Five Tigers.”
“Ha!”
The one-armed man clicked his tongue.
As he fell silent, Seo Hye-in—the commander of the Three Evils’ Super Detached Group, who had only raised her upper body from the bed—spoke cautiously.
“Young master, why not meet him first?”
“Meet him?”
“Yes. If Mok Kyung-un truly switched sides to the eldest young master, would he really come back here?”
“Hmm.”
Jang Neung-ak nodded at her words.
That made sense.
He turned to the one-armed man and asked,
“Did he come alone?”
“Yes. He’s by himself. No one seems to be tailing him.”
“Alone...”
In that case, he’d have to meet him and judge for himself.
If he had betrayed him and turned to his eldest senior brother, he’d better be prepared.
Of course, if he’d come to pledge loyalty, he’d receive treatment befitting that.
“Prepare a drinking banquet.”
“What?”
“Depending on his answers, it’ll be either punishment wine or reward wine.”
* * *
Mok Kyung-un walked through the manor, following the one-armed man.
A glint appeared in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
Compared to Third Disciple Wi So-yeon’s side, this place felt far more organized.
Wi So-yeon’s manor wasn’t all that large and relied more on personal ties, but here, the hierarchy was firmly in place.
The auras emanating from everywhere attested to that, and there were plenty of experts.
From this, one could guess just how much effort Second Disciple Jang Neung-ak had put into becoming the Society Lord.
After walking for a while, Mok Kyung-un spoke up.
“I’m starting to get a feel for the manor’s layout. How long do you plan on circling around?”
“...What? You noticed?”
“The manor’s big, sure, but not big enough to take nearly an incense stick’s time.”
The one-armed man chuckled at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
He soon stopped and said,
“It’s not malicious, so no need to suspect anything.”
“Is that so?”
“The lord said he’s preparing a banquet for you, so I’m just giving you a tour of the manor in the meantime.”
“A banquet?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s making such a fuss.”
“It’s just a casual drinking party.”
“Ah, I see.”
“It should be ready by now, so I’ll escort you to the guest hall.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
They resumed walking.
As they headed to the guest hall, the one-armed man spoke without looking at Mok Kyung-un.
“Did you really take down the Citadel Commander?”
“Citadel Commander?”
“Woo Ho-rang, Lady Wi So-yeon’s right-hand man.”
“Ah, you mean him.”
“Yeah. Did you really beat him?”
“That’s what you’re curious about?”
“I only heard about it, so of course I am. Besides, I’m the only one here who’s properly sparred with you, right?”
Back then, the one-armed man hadn’t considered Mok Kyung-un above him.
He’d just thought he’d let his guard down for a moment.
But if he’d truly beaten Woo Ho-rang, one of the Five Tigers, the situation changed entirely.
“So you want to test me?”
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, the one-armed man stopped in place.
He turned and said,
“Test you? Of course I’d love to. But if you really beat Woo Ho-rang, I’m no match for you.”
“Then why ask me such a question?”
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly as he asked.
Unlike his smile, the air around him suggested he wouldn’t back down from a fight.
A glint entered the one-armed man’s eyes.
‘...It’s true, then.’
Unlike their last encounter, this was Jang Neung-ak’s base.
No one could avoid feeling some pressure here, yet showing such confidence meant his skills backed it up.
Confirming this, the one-armed man bared his yellowed teeth and said,
“I got curious.”
“Curious?”
“Yeah. Whether you’ll take the vacant Second Evil seat. Or maybe even High Commander Go’s First Peak seat.”
“High Commander Go? You mean...”
“Paegun Group’s Grand Commander, Unrivaled Demon Fist Go Yeon-hu. You’ve heard of him, right?”
Of course he had.
Mok Kyung-un had learned from the Dark Sect Leader who the heart of Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak’s subordinates were.
If Wi So-yeon’s right arm was Woo Ho-rang, then Jang Neung-ak’s was Go Yeon-hu.
And like Woo Ho-rang, Go Yeon-hu was one of the Five Tigers.
“The one said to have no equals in the Five Tigers when it comes to rival-defeating fists.”
“You’re not a... no, coming from the Dark Sect, it’d be weirder if you didn’t know. Anyway, I look forward to it.”
With that, the one-armed man turned and walked on.
Mok Kyung-un chuckled softly at his retreating back.
Soon, they arrived at the guest hall’s garden.
‘Ho?’
The garden was brightly lit with hexagonal lanterns all around, and for something prepared in merely an incense stick’s time, it was an impressive spread of delicacies.
Even beautiful maids stood ready to serve drinks, as if summoned out of thin air.
The rumors that Young Master Jang Neung-ak enjoyed refined pleasures seemed true.
‘He’s gotten carried away.’
Had he prepared this assuming he’d pledge loyalty?
But this wasn’t just Jang Neung-ak and his close aides.
It seemed all the peak-level subordinates under Jang Neung-ak had gathered, filling the lower seats.
There were about twenty of them.
They sat ramrod straight before the banquet tables, waiting silently.
It was certainly more organized and forceful than Wi So-yeon’s side.
Then, a clear, ringing laugh echoed in Mok Kyung-un’s ear.
-Puhahaha! Look at that mortal.
At the head table of the banquet, Go Chan—who was possessing Ha Chae-rin—was also present.
Dressed extravagantly, Go Chan sat beside Three Evils’ Mortal Annihilation Group Grand Commander Ho Jong-hyeok like some favored wife.
As soon as his eyes met Mok Kyung-un’s, he shamefacedly bowed his head.
-He’s adapted quite well.
-Seems so.
He appeared to be carrying out the order given to him properly.
Mok Kyung-un had wondered if awkwardness would hinder him, but perhaps a woman’s body suited his constitution?
With Ho Jong-hyeok’s arm around Go Chan’s waist and a grin plastered on his face, he seemed utterly smitten.
Just then, Jang Neung-ak, seated at the head, laughed loudly and said,
“Hahaha! You’ve arrived?”
Mok Kyung-un cupped his hands and gave a light bow.
“Mok Kyung-un pays respects to the young master.”
It was a proper greeting.
Yet at Mok Kyung-un’s greeting, the eyes of First Peak Paegun Group Grand Commander Go Yeon-hu narrowed.
‘...This guy?’
He hadn’t stated his affiliation.
When greeting superiors, even if known, one usually mentions their faction.
But Mok Kyung-un hadn’t.
It nagged at Go Yeon-hu for some reason.
Then,
“Come closer to the head table.”
Jang Neung-ak ordered Mok Kyung-un to approach.
Mok Kyung-un passed the lower seats and drew near the head table.
As he reached right before them, Jang Neung-ak held out a hand, signaling him to stop.
Mok Kyung-un halted.
Jang Neung-ak smirked and spoke.
“This banquet is prepared for you. Like it?”
“It’s lavish.”
“Indeed. If we’d had more time, I’d have laid out enough to break the table legs.”
“Thank you.”
“No. No need to thank me yet.”
“Pardon?”
“The banquet’s nature depends on your answers.”
Jang Neung-ak’s face, smiling just moments ago, turned expressionless.
The jovial atmosphere sank in an instant.
It showed that everything hinged on Jang Neung-ak’s mood.
Mok Kyung-un parted his lips.
“My answers?”
“Yes.”
“...”
“You didn’t even meet the Third Commander I sent, yet you came here. That means you’ve made up your mind, right?”
Mok Kyung-un shrugged at Jang Neung-ak’s words.
“Well... you could say that.”
-Thud!
Just then, the one-armed man, who had just sat at the head table, slammed down his cup and said,
“Mok Kyung-un. Is this a joke to you? Show proper respect to the lord and answer correctly.”
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head at his words.
“I did answer properly.”
“What?”
“Jeo Mo-ppal. Quiet down.”
As the one-armed man raised his voice, First Peak’s Go Yeon-hu reined him in.
The one-armed man shut his mouth, his face flushed.
He could overlook disrespect toward himself, but not toward his lord.
Then Jang Neung-ak spoke again.
“No point in beating around the bush—it’ll just tire our mouths. I’ll ask directly. We can hear the rest later anyway.”
“...”
“Have you come here to pledge loyalty to me?”
As Jang Neung-ak cut straight to the point, all eyes turned to Mok Kyung-un.
His answer would decide if this became a banquet or not.
Jang Neung-ak still leaned positive.
Mok Kyung-un had fought Wi So-yeon’s right-hand man Woo Ho-rang, so things were already sour between them.
The variable was his eldest senior brother.
His answer would reveal if he’d sided with him.
But Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“Before that, I have something to say first.”
“What?”
Jang Neung-ak’s eyes sharpened at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
He hadn’t answered the question.
And now he wanted to speak first?
Offended, Jang Neung-ak scoffed.
“You’ve gotten arrogant.”
“Arrogant?”
“You beat one of the Five Tigers, Woo Ho-rang, and met my eldest senior brother, so now your nose is in the air?”
“That’s unrelated.”
“Unrelated?”
“Yes.”
“Unrelated... Fine. I’ll give you another chance. Answer my question first.”
At Jang Neung-ak’s words, Mok Kyung-un scratched his head as if troubled.
He soon said,
“I’m sorry, but I need to say my piece first.”
-Twitch!
Killing intent surged from all around at his words.
The subordinates were enraged by Mok Kyung-un’s rudeness.
Jang Neung-ak himself didn’t look pleased.
His eyes had gone cold.
Everyone watched his expression.
The air was thick—if he gave the order, they’d subdue Mok Kyung-un on the spot.
-Swish!
Then Jang Neung-ak poured himself a drink and shook his head.
He downed the cup in one gulp, turned to First Peak Paegun Group Grand Commander Go Yeon-hu, and said,
“Perfect timing. Why not use this to establish hierarchy for the newcomer and decide who truly fits as First Peak?”
-Thud!
“I obey your command, my lord.”
Go Yeon-hu rose at Jang Neung-ak’s words, understanding his intent.
As First Peak’s Go Yeon-hu stepped down from the head table, all eyes followed him.
‘Sending High Commander Go?’
‘Does he really see that guy as Five Tigers level?’
‘Are we about to see a Five Tigers-grade fight?’
Curiosity lit their eyes.
Regardless of their irritation at Mok Kyung-un’s rudeness to their lord, this was a rare chance to witness the skills of Jang Neung-ak’s longest-serving confidant and right arm.
Go Yeon-hu approached Mok Kyung-un and said,
“You’ve made a mistake. Why not apologize to the lord now and answer his question?”
Mok Kyung-un replied in a troubled tone.
“Ah, that won’t work.”
-Roooar!
An immense aura erupted from First Peak’s Go Yeon-hu the moment he spoke.
Visibly displeased, Go Yeon-hu glared at Mok Kyung-un and said,
“Dodging the loyalty question three times means I can assume you have other intentions, right?”
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly in response.
“You keep asking, so I have to answer. Yes, you’re right.”
“What?”
-Crack!
Was this punk mocking them and their lord?
Go Yeon-hu was momentarily speechless.
Then why come here?
Had he met the eldest young master and received some secret order to scheme?
If so, unforgivable.
Go Yeon-hu said in a voice laced with killing intent,
“Draw your sword now.”
“My sword?”
“This is my last mercy to you. If you don’t draw it right now, you won’t be able to do a thing here...”
-Boom!
Before he could finish.
Mok Kyung-un had already grabbed Go Yeon-hu’s head with one hand and slammed it into the floor.
Go Yeon-hu’s face smashed into the ground, his head and body twitching.
Mok Kyung-un sneered down at him.
“Show mercy to those below you, not equals.”
‘!!!!!!!!!!’
The unexpected outcome plunged the surroundings into stunned silence.
End of Chapter 52: Jang Neung-ak (2)