Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 55
>Chapter Title: Test (1)
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Half a gak earlier.
In the Leader’s chambers on the top floor of the main hall.
The Leader sat with his back to the lantern, his face shrouded in shadow and wrapped in bandages.
The Shadow Branch Leader Hwan Ya-seon stared at him, his expression unusually tense.
‘...So that’s why he’s been hiding his face all this time.’
Hwan Ya-seon had assumed it was due to an incurable wound, but this came as a profound shock.
As he processed this, the Leader spoke while wrapping fresh bandages around his head.
“Cough, cough. Why do you think this Seat has revealed this to you?”
“...”
Hwan Ya-seon struggled to respond to the Leader’s question.
Even to him, the one in charge of secrets and intelligence, this had been kept hidden until now—what was the intent?
Several possibilities came to mind.
The first was the chaos this revelation would unleash if it spread.
It would undoubtedly cause a massive uproar within the Heaven-Earth Society itself.
‘That’s obvious enough, but next...’
It had to be about trust.
The Leader had always been cautious, but since his illness worsened, he trusted no one outside his absolute inner circle—not even the Vice Leader.
Which meant,
“Could it be... you suspect there are spies even within the inner stronghold?”
“...”
At these words, Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon snorted in displeasure.
This was as good as confirmation.
‘Spies...’
Spies were inevitable, cropping up constantly.
The Justice Alliance, the coalition of righteous sects opposing the Heaven-Earth Society, regularly dispatched their covert spy network, the Dark Heaven, to infiltrate and sabotage.
It was the Shadow Branch’s role to root them out.
Yet even from him, the head of the Shadow Branch, the Leader had kept this secret.
‘Which means I’m under suspicion too.’
It was troubling.
He maintained a neutral expression, but Hwan Ya-seon was far from pleased.
Because he himself was a man of the Fallen Flame Cult.
Being under suspicion boded ill for the cult’s future revival.
In that brief moment, Hwan Ya-seon fell deep into thought.
‘I need to regain his trust somehow.’
Otherwise, the cult’s revival might be doomed.
At least it was fortunate that the Leader had revealed this now—perhaps a test, but a sign that some trust lingered.
Just then, the Leader finished wrapping his bandages and rose from the bed.
He spoke.
“The palace has requested late-generation talents again this time. You’re aware?”
For over a decade, the Imperial Guard—a special agency of the palace—had been undergoing restructuring and reforms, demanding young talents from the Justice Alliance and the Heaven-Earth Society alike.
It seemed like a simple request, but it was the palace’s policy to maintain ties with the martial world.
The Justice Alliance had complied from the start, sending their juniors, but the Heaven-Earth Society had refused.
In response, Shadow Branch Leader Hwan Ya-seon said,
“Yes. However, since you haven’t approved it...”
“Cough, cough. There’s nothing to approve. How could the martial world and the court coexist?”
“...”
Of course, that wasn’t the whole reason.
The palace and the court had sided with the righteous factions in the war between the Heaven-Earth Society and the Justice Alliance.
This had put the Society at a severe disadvantage.
That was why, while avoiding outright hostility with the palace, the Society refused to bend to their demands.
“But we can no longer stand idly by.”
“If we’re past the point of mere observation...”
“Vice Leader.”
The Leader called out.
Hwan Ya-seon looked at him in confusion.
The Vice Leader continued.
“Officially, the Society rejected the palace’s request. However, the Leader’s direct aides have been making their own investments beyond the spies already embedded there.”
“Our own investments?”
What did that mean?
Had they built up a friendly faction within the palace?
When had they managed that?
Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon answered.
“It’s Consort Seo.”
“Consort Seo?”
She was one of the two consorts currently basking in the Emperor’s utmost favor.
Her influence was so immense that her seven-year-old son had been named Crown Prince over the children of the mature Empress.
This made her one of the four unchecked powers wielding absolute authority in the palace.
‘Ha!’
Hwan Ya-seon was astounded.
The Shadow Branch did have spies in the palace, of course.
But they focused on gathering intelligence, with no major interventions.
Yet the Leader had publicly taken a hardline stance against coexistence with the palace while secretly meddling in its inner court.
In a way, it was masterful maneuvering.
“...Impressive, keeping even the Shadow Branch in the dark.”
“It was merely a contingency. In any case, intelligence from Consort Seo’s side confirmed this information beyond doubt.”
“...Then you plan to attempt a rescue?”
“Indeed.”
The Leader answered firmly.
Hwan Ya-seon sensed his unyielding resolve.
Ever since his illness deepened, the Leader had sought not physicians, but “that one.”
He would never let this chance slip.
But if “that one” fell into the Leader’s hands, it would be as disastrous as remaining imprisoned in the palace.
What to do?
The Vice Leader continued.
“To that end, we’ll accept the palace’s request this time.”
“Ah... So we’re dispatching late-generation talents?”
“Correct.”
Hwan Ya-seon stared at him silently.
What an uncanny coincidence.
He had foreseen exactly this when news of “that one’s” imprisonment arrived.
The palace was rife with signs of rebellion due to the Emperor’s chronic illness.
Factions vied fiercely for control of ministries and power.
This was indeed an opportunity.
“Then we’ll recruit candidates for dispatch...”
“No need for that.”
The Vice Leader shook his head.
Hwan Ya-seon blinked in bewilderment.
To rescue “that one” from the palace’s underground Golden Prison, they needed fitting talents—how could recruitment be unnecessary?
Unless...
“...You plan to proceed in complete secrecy?”
The Leader coughed and smiled faintly at the question.
His hunch was right.
The Leader was cautious enough to suspect spies even within.
Public recruitment for this mission would leak through those spies, inviting interference.
“Then what’s your plan?”
Without recruitment, they’d have to secretly select and issue covert orders.
But,
“Shadow Branch Leader. Have you given your disciple any prior notice?”
“Notice? No. I simply brought him straight here... What!?”
Mid-sentence, Hwan Ya-seon furrowed his brow.
He glared at the Vice Leader.
“You don’t mean to send my disciple, do you?”
“Precisely.”
Hwan Ya-seon was dumbfounded.
He’d suspected, but it was true.
Covert missions often proceeded abruptly like this.
To prevent leaks.
Yet there was cause for objection.
“Vice Leader... That boy just completed the Blood Trial Valley and became my disciple. He’s hardly ready for a dispatch mission...”
“If he topped the Blood Trial Valley’s trials, his skills are sufficient.”
“But you know his background. I trust the boy, but...”
“Is trust the issue?”
“Pardon?”
“I heard he pledged his loyalty to this Seat before everyone at the Blood Trial Valley’s closing ceremony.”
‘...Even the Leader and Vice Leader heard about it.’
As expected of those operating their own intelligence network—they knew everything of note.
But it still didn’t make sense.
Even if Mok Kyung-un had sworn loyalty, neither the Leader nor Vice Leader would trust him immediately.
They were the type to test him thoroughly over time.
Yet entrust him with such a critical mission?
What were they thinking?
Hwan Ya-seon spoke awkwardly.
“I’m grateful as his master, but he hasn’t even undergone spy training. If he fails this mission...”
“He won’t go alone.”
“Pardon?”
“We’ve already dispatched three unofficially in advance. With this official response, your disciple and two others will join them.”
“Ah...”
“Consort Seo requested reliable personnel, forcing a swift selection—including your disciple, regrettably.”
“...”
‘Regrettably?’
Hwan Ya-seon’s eyes narrowed.
Could this truly be dismissed as mere necessity?
If Mok Kyung-un had been a hostage from the righteous factions or a disciple for a decade, it might make sense.
But this felt like...
‘A test?’
Not just for him.
It seemed to include a test for Mok Kyung-un as well.
Thoroughly awkward.
The Vice Leader sighed faintly.
“Don’t take it so poorly. It’s not just your prized disciple—my own son is going too.”
“Your son... You mean Young Master Mong Mu-yak?”
“Indeed.”
Hwan Ya-seon couldn’t hide his inner surprise.
He’d seen it as a test tormenting him and Mok Kyung-un, but including Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon’s son changed everything.
Mong Mu-yak was the Vice Leader’s heir and one of the Five Tigers, the Society’s top late-generation talent.
Even he was being sent on such a perilous mission?
‘What’s their true intent?’
He had no choice but to obey the Leader’s command.
This wasn’t some ploy to reassure him.
Yet sending the Vice Leader’s own son...
‘Could it be?’
Hwan Ya-seon glanced subtly at the Vice Leader.
Mong Seo-cheon’s eyes held a strangely bitter tinge.
From his reaction, even the Vice Leader seemed reluctant to send his son on this rescue.
Likely to prove loyalty to the Leader.
‘That position isn’t easy either.’
Hwan Ya-seon clicked his tongue inwardly.
Even the Vice Leader, one of the innermost circle, had to continually prove his loyalty—it was lamentable.
“My son, aide to the Leader’s direct command, will also be dispatched. Raise no further objections.”
“...Understood.”
Further protest was futile.
It would only provoke the Leader’s ire and doubt.
‘No choice.’
He’d have to trust Mok Kyung-un.
Fortunately, the boy was from the Fallen Flame Cult, like him.
No.
On second thought, this might work out perfectly.
It could be a chance to prevent “that one” from falling into the Leader’s grasp.
At that moment—
*Click!*
The Leader flung open the window.
He gazed downward and spoke.
“Cough, cough. They’re here.”
“What?”
“The three for dispatch.”
As he looked down at the training ground below, the Leader’s eyes narrowed.
‘That boy?’
The righteous faction hostage who had mastered the Moon Sword Form.
The Leader’s gaze grew peculiar.
With Wi So-yeon present, the Earth Steps and Moon Sword Form were meaningless.
That’s why he’d unhesitatingly sent him to the Blood Trial Valley—yet not only did he survive, he became the Shadow Branch Leader’s disciple.
A truly bizarre child.
[In the end, he will find his place. That is fate and the natural order.]
The boy’s words resurfaced.
Was all this part of that natural order?
Even his survival there.
After watching for a long while, the Leader gripped his sword manual and lightly flicked his fingers.
In that instant—
*Whoooosh!*
Sharp sword intent erupted from him.
Watching from behind, Shadow Branch Leader Hwan Ya-seon felt a chill of foreboding.
What was he doing?
Puzzled, he watched as the Leader continued flicking the manual.
He wanted to observe closely, but couldn’t.
Then—
Like a general directing troops, the Leader swept the manual—then suddenly halted, his hand trembling.
Immediately after,
“Ha? Look at this punk.”
He reacted with utter disbelief.
His eyes wide— what had happened?
But then—
*Thud!*
“L-Leader!”
The Leader leaped straight out the window.
Startled, Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon and Hwan Ya-seon rushed to peer below.
* * *
Landing lightly on the ground, the Leader glanced at the fallen sword, then turned to Mok Kyung-un and asked.
“How did you disperse the true qi infused in the sword?”
‘What?’
Third Escort Captain Seop Chun’s eyes bulged.
What was this?
Mok Kyung-un had dispersed the true qi in the sword?
No.
Hadn’t he blocked the incoming sword to the boy, severing the qi?
It made no sense.
But then,
‘Could it be?’
Seop Chun recalled the sword briefly reviving before losing power and falling.
Had that not been the Leader withdrawing his qi?
No, something was off.
Even with a formation like his own basic sword link, severing connected qi was possible—but how without it?
*Thud thud thud thud!*
Then two more landed in the training ground.
Vice Leader Mong Seo-cheon and Shadow Branch Leader Hwan Ya-seon.
Unaware of the exact events below, they asked in confusion.
“Leader, what’s going...”
*Shh!*
The Leader raised a hand, signaling silence.
Mong Seo-cheon stopped mid-sentence and scanned the area.
A sword hilt on the training ground floor.
Countless sword scars around it—he could guess what happened.
‘Did the Leader test them?’
From the sword manual flicks, it seemed like flying sword arts.
Yet midway, the Leader had been incredulous.
[Ha? Look at this punk.]
Had one of them surprised the Leader?
Was that even possible?
Even with his illness, blocking the Leader’s flying sword required Eight Star elites like those two or the Elder Council head.
The Leader spoke again.
“Why no answer?”
Following his gaze, the two officers turned to Mok Kyung-un.
Mok Kyung-un replied.
“This subordinate has no idea what you mean.”
His utterly clueless demeanor puzzled everyone.
The Leader chuckled dryly.
“Cough, cough. You think you can fool this Seat’s eyes?”
“...”
“It was definitely you.”
The Leader spoke with absolute certainty.
Mok Kyung-un bowed his head and repeated himself.
“This subordinate truly has no idea what you mean.”
The Leader scoffed.
“Is that so? Then it must’ve been an unfortunate accident.”
*Shh!*
No sooner had he spoken than with a casual nod—
*Ching! Shook!*
A sword from the nearby weapon rack unsheathed itself, flying straight at Mok Kyung-un, who knelt with hands clasped.
‘What!’
At the Leader’s sudden action, Hwan Ya-seon flinched.
Should he intervene? A split-second dilemma.
But then, something astonishing occurred.
*Thud! Clang!*
The sword hurtling toward Mok Kyung-un’s head suddenly lost all power, halting midair before dropping to the ground.
‘!!!!!!!!!!’
Everyone who witnessed it was stunned speechless.
This brat had blocked the Leader’s flying sword without lifting a finger?
[End of Chapter 55: Test (1)]