Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 54
>Chapter Title: Peak (2)
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Mok Kyung-un headed toward the inner fortress's main hall, following the Dark Clan warrior.
Soon after, Cheongryeong flew over, a candy bar clamped in her mouth.
She spoke to Mok Kyung-un.
-Hey. Mortal. I passed the message to that Go Chan guy.
-Thanks.
Mok Kyung-un sent her a transmission in reply.
Unable to go himself right away, he had dispatched Cheongryeong to possess Go Chan, who was inhabiting Clan Leader's second disciple Jang Neungak's body, and ordered him to send someone to the Venom King Baek Saha.
Cheongryeong clicked her tongue.
-Always the same when revenge is involved. You don't care about consequences.
In truth, the moment a chance to meet the Society Leader arose, Mok Kyung-un had been ready to put off his plan to visit Baek Saha and ask her to persuade Sword King Son Yun without a second thought.
That was why Cheongryeong had stepped in to deliver the message through Go Chan.
Mok Kyung-un replied to her scolding without a care.
-Chances to meet the Society Leader don't come easily.
-Hmph. Your mind's elsewhere, clouding your judgment.
-As long as Cheongryeong helped, it's fine.
-Fine my foot. Tsk tsk. Anyway, you think meeting the Society Leader right now will get you anywhere?
-Who knows.
-Whatever. Mortal. Even if he's bedridden, he's basically the pinnacle of the current martial world. You think you'll get the answer you want from a guy like that on the spot?
Mok Kyung-un had one goal.
Through the Society Leader, he wanted to learn about any connection to the Ghost Sword or details on his identity.
Of course, even Mok Kyung-un didn't think it would happen immediately.
Still, this was a chance to gauge what kind of person the Society Leader was and just how strong he might be. He couldn't let it slip.
'Pinnacle...'
The Six Heavens, called the pinnacle of the current martial world.
The Society Leader was one of those Six Heavens.
It was a clue for revenge, but he was definitely curious too.
Among countless martial artists, just how vast was the gap to those called pinnacles, grandmasters, supreme experts?
Cheongryeong spoke to such a Mok Kyung-un.
-Mortal.
-Yes.
-This time, I'm warning you clearly. If my guess is right and this martial world's pinnacle—the Six Heavens—has surpassed the wall of walls, do not provoke him under any circumstances.
-You're really worried?
-Do you know what they call surpassing the wall of walls?
-No idea.
-Profound Realm. Profound means heaven or supreme. It's reaching the highest realm, untouchable by others.
-Untouchable... realm.
-Exactly. Sure, your current level is beyond the wildest dreams of most martial artists. But the Profound Realm is on an entirely different plane.
At her words, Mok Kyung-un's eyes narrowed.
Her warning carried such weight that this Profound Realm seemed to hold unimaginable power in martial arts.
He might not be able to let his guard down.
Shortly after they set off, Mok Kyung-un arrived in front of the inner fortress main hall building, following the Dark Clan warrior.
He thought they would enter,
But—
-Clang!
The two warriors guarding the entrance crossed their spears to block the way.
Puzzled, Mok Kyung-un asked the Dark Clan warrior.
"Didn't they say to come to the main hall?"
"The Clan Leader did say that."
Even the Dark Clan warrior seemed baffled, not understanding.
Mok Kyung-un cupped his hands in a fist salute and said,
"Excuse me. I am Mok Kyung-un, disciple of the Dark Clan Leader. We were just..."
"Disciple of the Dark Clan Leader?"
One of the entrance guards interrupted before he finished.
"Yes. That's right."
"We've been waiting. Follow me."
Fortunately, no mistake.
The Dark Clan warrior bowed in greeting and left after escorting him.
Mok Kyung-un followed the entrance guard into the main hall.
However,
'Hm?'
Why head down the corridor instead of up?
He knew the inner fortress main hall was the largest building in the Heaven and Earth Society, but the corridor seemed even longer than expected, indicating its immense size.
After walking the corridor straight, the guard turned right into what looked like a passage leading outside.
Entering it revealed a vast space.
'Where's this?'
Weapons and training tools littered the area everywhere.
It appeared to be a training ground.
Uniquely, thick walls enclosed it on all sides, preventing unauthorized entry or exit.
Yet one of Mok Kyung-un's eyebrows twitched slightly.
He had assumed they were leading him to the Dark Clan Leader and Society Leader.
Instead, waiting here were two young men: one in his mid-twenties, the other late twenties.
The tall, handsome one in his mid-twenties, wearing a red leather belt, sat cross-legged.
The muscular one in his late twenties leaned against the wall, munching on what looked like energy pills.
Mok Kyung-un asked,
"My master—no, the Dark Clan Leader isn't here?"
"You were told to wait here."
"The Dark Clan Leader said that?"
"No."
"Then who?"
"By the Society Leader's order."
'Society Leader?'
The Society Leader ordered him to wait here with these two?
He couldn't fathom what was going on.
As he puzzled over it, the entrance guard left as if his duty was done.
What an odd situation.
If they'd told him to wait alone, fine—but to make him wait with strangers without introduction?
'Hmm.'
Unable to figure it out, he had no choice but to wait.
Then the late-twenties youth leaning on the wall approached, still eating his pills, and said,
"Wow. So you're that famous disciple of the Dark Clan Leader."
"......"
Mok Kyung-un silently stared at him.
The youth offered the skewer with pills stuck on it.
"Want some?"
"I'll pass."
Mok Kyung-un lightly shook his head.
The youth chuckled, then thumbed toward the cross-legged youth with displeasure.
"At least you seem reasonable, unlike that guy."
"Who are you?"
"Me? Or him?"
"Either. Both, if possible."
The youth shrugged, pointing at himself with his thumb.
"I'm Seop Chun, Third Guard Captain of the main hall."
"Main hall Guard Captain?"
Mok Kyung-un's eyes gleamed at the introduction.
This was information he'd heard not from the Dark Clan Leader, but from Blood River Valley Leader Lee Ji-yeom.
[The inner fortress's most heavily guarded place is the main hall.]
[Because of the Society Leader?]
[Yes. The Society Leader is the heart of the Heaven and Earth Society.]
[I see. Do you know roughly their strength?]
[Hard to gauge hidden forces, but revealed ones: three Guard Units of thirty each in the main hall.]
"Thirty-man units? Total of ninety... Smaller than I thought."
Fewer than expected.
As if anticipating Mok Kyung-un's reaction, Lee Ji-yeom continued.
[It may sound small at first, but each is an elite.]
[Elites?]
[Yes. Though called units, every member is a peak expert—equivalent to regular unit leaders—and the captains are Grand Unit Leader level.]
"Guard Captains at Grand Unit Leader level... Quite the gap."
[Yes. The Guard Captains could easily be Grand Unit Leaders. Oh, the most recent Third Guard Captain was from this Blood River Valley outpost.]
"Here?"
[Yes. Thanks to you, he rose up.]
"Thanks to me?"
[Yes. Eight years ago, like you, he took three top plaques and graduated first.]
"Three? Impressive."
Even one top plaque from Blood River Valley was extremely difficult.
Two or more marked true prodigies.
At Mok Kyung-un's words, Lee Ji-yeom said gravely,
[More than impressive. Quite the eccentric. He skipped some gates on purpose; if serious, he could've swept all top plaques.]
"All of them?"
[Yes. He stopped there voluntarily, but his talent is undeniably genius level.]
"Hmm. Interesting. What's his name?"
"Seop Chun. He's part of the Five Tigers, the society's top young experts."
Mok Kyung-un recalled that conversation, eyes gleaming as he looked at Seop Chun, Third Guard Captain of the main hall.
As Blood River Valley Leader, Lee Ji-yeom had praised only two for talent.
One was First Young Master Na Yul-ryang, the other this Seop Chun.
"Whoa. My senior plaque-topper from this Blood River Valley batch stares so intensely. Don't know where to put myself."
Seop Chun wrapped his bulging pecs with both arms.
Mok Kyung-un chuckled at the sight.
He'd only heard praise for his talent, not personality—outgoing and comical, it seemed.
Quickly scanning him, Mok Kyung-un puzzled over the sword sheath at his waist.
'Looks light.'
The blade inside seemed about four feet long.
Yet the sheath itself looked thin, suggesting an extremely light sword.
Noticing, Seop Chun said,
"Ahh. As expected of the Dark Clan Leader's disciple. Eye for swords."
"A musclehead carrying such a light blade."
"Good eye?"
"Even without, it shows."
-Shing!
Before Mok Kyung-un finished, the sword slid from its sheath.
As expected, remarkably thin and light.
It even fluttered slightly.
Yet the subtle sheen from the blade marked it no ordinary sword.
Staring at the blade, Mok Kyung-un muttered,
"Mad Dance?"
Engraved inside the sharp blade: Mad Dance.
At his mutter, Seop Chun grinned.
"That's my friend's name."
"Your friend?"
"Yeah. For a swordsman, the blade is a lifelong companion. Naturally a friend."
"Is that so?"
"Boring reaction. I even showed you my buddy. But you're the Dark Clan Leader's disciple... That's no sword."
Seop Chun eyed Mok Kyung-un's sword sheath curiously.
Mok Kyung-un replied casually.
"A gift from my master."
"Your master—the Dark Clan Leader?"
"Yes."
"Odd. He's a swordsman, yet gifts his disciple a sword? Must be no ordinary blade."
"They say it's quite usable."
"Oh! Really? What's its name?"
Amused by Seop Chun calling weapons friends, Mok Kyung-un chuckled and answered.
"Wicked Sovereign."
"Wicked Sovereign...? What?"
Seop Chun couldn't hide his shock.
He wasn't alone.
The handsome cross-legged youth opened his eyes, frowning at Mok Kyung-un.
Their reactions were natural.
No martial artist, swordsman or otherwise, wouldn't know the Wicked Sovereign Sword.
The demonic blade forged by legendary smith Gu Ya-ja.
Seop Chun said incredulously,
"No way. That's really the Wicked Sovereign Sword?"
"Yes."
"Ha!"
Seop Chun inwardly clicked his tongue.
He knew it as Gu Ya-ja's masterpiece, but cursed as a demonic blade.
Giving such a dangerous thing to a disciple?
No matter how great, the risks were too high. He couldn't understand.
Seop Chun asked,
"That... sword okay?"
"Yes. Any issues?"
"Like, does it drain your energy over time? Hallucinations?"
"Such worries."
"No. Not like we're close. Just first impressions: seems great but very, very dangerous..."
"Have you mastered the sword?"
Someone interjected.
It was the red-belted youth who had been cross-legged.
As he spoke up, Third Guard Captain Seop Chun raised an eyebrow.
"The guy who ignored all my talk opens his mouth for a sword?"
It made sense.
Even a demonic blade would intrigue a true swordsman.
Yet ignoring him, the youth addressed Mok Kyung-un.
"I asked if you've mastered the sword."
Mok Kyung-un shrugged.
"To some extent."
"To some extent?"
The youth scoffed.
He uncrossed his legs, stood, and said,
"Then it's a pearl necklace on a pig's neck."
'!?'
Not Mok Kyung-un, but Seop Chun shook his head.
"Pearl necklace on a pig? Harsh words. Even for a first meeting."
"......"
The youth ignored Seop Chun entirely.
Irritated, Seop Chun made a fed-up face and told Mok Kyung-un,
"Ignore what he says. Just jealous..."
"A sword in the hands of one who hasn't mastered it is mere decoration. If not a pearl necklace on a pig, what?"
Seop Chun said exasperatedly,
"Hey. Even as the Vice Society Leader's son, that's too much. Ease up?"
'Vice Society Leader's son?'
Mok Kyung-un looked at the youth.
If Vice Society Leader's son, then him?
He'd heard.
Vice Society Leader Mong Seocheon had twins.
Mong Seo-hye and Mong Mu-yak.
Not the daughter, so naturally Mong Mu-yak.
'Quite the coincidence.'
Mong Mu-yak was also one of the Five Tigers, the society's top young experts.
Meaning two of the Five Tigers were here.
Why call him to wait with these two?
As he pondered, Mong Mu-yak approached Mok Kyung-un.
"Setting aside it being a demonic blade, do you think you're worthy to wield such a fine sword?"
'This guy's got no sense of moderation.'
Seop Chun clicked his tongue.
He knew Mong Mu-yak was sword-obsessed, but not that he'd挑衅 a stranger like this.
From long observation, it wasn't greed for the sword.
He genuinely disapproved of Mok Kyung-un wielding it.
'Trouble brewing.'
Seop Chun thought to intervene.
No matter his Blood River Valley top spot, the opponent was one of the top young experts trained by the Vice Society Leader.
Falling for this挑衅 could mean big trouble...
"Hey. Enough..."
"More qualified than you, wouldn't you say?"
'Huh?'
Seop Chun turned in surprise.
Mok Kyung-un seemed to have taken the bait.
But he was smiling.
Thus,
"More than me?"
Mong Mu-yak showed displeasure instead.
Judging trouble imminent, Seop Chun stepped between them to stop it.
"Enough, both of..."
Then Mong Mu-yak's hand went to his sword hilt at his waist.
He swiftly tried to draw—
-Pak!
Blocked before half-unsheathed.
By Mok Kyung-un's palm.
'!?'
Mong Mu-yak stared at Mok Kyung-un in shock.
Mok Kyung-un taunted in a whisper.
"Slower than a pig? Then you're just a maggot."