Chapter 199
Chapter 199
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 56
>Chapter Title: Loyalty (5)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
“But that mission is to use it if the Orthodox hostage named Mok Kyung-un makes contact with other Orthodox folks in the Imperial Palace or shows any suspicious behavior, right?”
Mong Muyak’s face stiffened in an instant.
How did this guy know about the secret order his father, Vice Pavilion Leader Mong Seo-cheon, had given him just before departing on the confidential mission?
Experts controlled their qi to prevent sound from spreading when sharing secrets.
Unless one was close enough to read their lips, it was hard to make out what was said.
‘Father had his back turned, and he was far away.’
So how did he know it word for word?
It was so absurd that Mong Muyak was utterly flustered.
As he stood speechless, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and whispered.
“These secret orders... don’t they ultimately depend on the will of the one carrying them out, even without any real justification?”
“W-What are you...”
“‘Suspicious behavior’ is just a hunch at best, so it’s intriguing that such an order was given.”
“No. That’s not it. This was truly just in case...”
“‘Just in case’... That’s a nice way to put it. But I’m not the benevolent type to let someone who’s out for my life slide based on their own judgment.”
At those words, Mong Muyak felt like his heart would burst.
He might have a proud and arrogant personality, but that didn’t mean he was fearless in everything.
‘Is he really going to kill me?’
If it were anyone else, he’d sell out his father to escape the situation.
But strangely, those words wouldn’t come out.
That was because if this guy cared about such things from the start, he wouldn’t have severed his left arm.
‘This bastard will do it no matter what.’
Convinced that Mok Kyung-un would kill him, Mong Muyak submitted right away.
“I-It’s really not like that. Even if I received the order, it was truly just a precaution. I absolutely had no intention of framing you.”
“Well...”
“It’s true!”
“Hmm.”
Mok Kyung-un stroked his chin as if pondering.
Mong Muyak grew even more restless and practically begged him.
“Believe me. I swear on the honor of my clan that I had no such intentions.”
“You throw around your honor too lightly.”
Mong Muyak flinched.
He sensed sharp sword intent emanating from Mok Kyung-un’s hand.
‘D-Damn it.’
Seeing Mok Kyung-un show no openings whatsoever made Mong Muyak’s mind grow frantic.
It felt like Mok Kyung-un would slice his throat at any moment.
Then, Seop Chun’s voice whispered in his ear.
“If you truly harbor no such intentions, swear your loyalty to the young master.”
“What?”
What had he just heard?
Swear loyalty?
“You just said... ‘young master’? You called him ‘young master’?”
Mong Muyak’s eyes widened.
Come to think of it, though they’d acted like sworn enemies, he knew Seop Chun well.
As the captain of the Third Escort Squad of the main house, Seop Chun couldn’t openly support anyone, unlike other executives or members.
His position directly guarding the current Pavilion Leader left him no choice.
Yet he called him ‘young master’?
“Yes. I said young master.”
“You...”
“I’ve decided to serve Young Master Mok Kyung-un as my lord.”
“Ha?”
Mong Muyak was genuinely dumbfounded.
He hadn’t even succeeded in the confidential mission yet, so he wasn’t truly the fourth disciple.
And yet, the main house escort captain—who shouldn’t support anyone—was saying he’d serve this guy as lord?
What on earth was the reason?
It made no sense.
Seop Chun clasped his hands in a formal salute toward Mok Kyung-un and apologized.
“My apologies, young master. It wasn’t my place to intervene, but since he’s the vice pavilion leader’s son, I thought it better to make him an ally rather than an enemy...”
With that, Seop Chun glanced at Mong Muyak.
‘This is the best consideration I can offer.’
He’d lost his left arm because of Seop Chun, and now his life was in peril because of this guy’s secret order.
The only way he could survive was to swear loyalty to Mok Kyung-un.
Though they’d acted like enemies, Seop Chun hoped he’d make the wise choice.
‘No, please do.’
If you die now, all suspicion will naturally turn to us.
And then the vice pavilion leader becomes our enemy.
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“It’s unnecessary.”
“Pardon?”
“He’s the vice pavilion leader’s son, after all.”
“Well...”
“Would the vice pavilion leader’s son be forced into swearing loyalty to someone else under someone else’s power? Nah, no way. He’s got pride. He’d rather take his own life for his father than do that, even in death. Right?”
“......”
Mong Muyak couldn’t respond to Mok Kyung-un’s words.
Agreeing here would mean choosing death with no escape.
He should protect his pride, but death was the end of everything.
The thought of it all ending terrified him.
“No response? Protecting your pride, I see? Look at you, just like the vice pavilion leader’s son. No need to waste time—let’s just end it cleanly right here...”
“W-Wait!”
“Wait?”
“I’ll swear... loyalty.”
“What? I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”
“I-I swear my loyalty.”
Thud!
Mong Muyak hurriedly prostrated himself flat on the ground.
It bruised his pride, but surviving came first no matter what.
He could pretend to swear loyalty, return to the Heaven and Earth Society, and bide his time for an opportunity.
He couldn’t continue the mission anyway with his left arm severed.
‘Yeah. Humiliation is just for a moment.’
The instant he reported to his father after escaping this place, this guy was done.
Mong Muyak resolved to endure just this moment.
Then Mok Kyung-un lifted his head.
He clicked his tongue.
The moment Mong Muyak saw that face, chills ran up his spine, and his heart pounded wildly.
What the hell was this guy?
His expression seemed genuinely disappointed at not being able to kill him.
Mok Kyung-un said to him.
“Life over pride, huh.”
“......”
“No answer?”
“Y-Yes! You’re right.”
“But do you know something?”
“What?”
“You might be better off dead.”
“Pardon?”
Mok Kyung-un grinned.
That smile was so full of malice that Mong Muyak felt nauseous, like he’d vomit.
He was forcing it down, but this was the first time he’d ever been so afraid of a person.
It was hard to believe this guy was from an Orthodox sect.
‘I want out. Fast.’
He wanted to return to the Heaven and Earth Society.
But then Mok Kyung-un said.
“Well, anyway, since you say you’ll become my man, I should give you something in return.”
Mong Muyak waved his hands frantically.
“N-No, I wouldn’t dare expect any reward.”
He just wanted to be sent home.
Only then could he inform his father and the pavilion leader of this mad demon’s true nature.
However,
Mok Kyung-un extended his hand, and something flew into his grasp.
Pak!
It was none other than,
‘T-This is...’
Mong Muyak’s severed left arm.
“Urk.”
It was bizarre.
He’d been fine seeing other corpses, but seeing his own severed arm made it hard to hold back the vomit.
‘Truly twisted tastes.’
Seop Chun inwardly shook his head at the sight.
He was already suffering from the lost arm, and giving it back as a ‘reward’—how shocking would that be?
They could’ve just sent him back since he couldn’t continue the mission; it was a situation where they owed him courtesy, yet here this was.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“I’ll return your arm.”
“......Urk...... Thank you.”
Mong Muyak swallowed the rising bile and reached out to take his severed arm.
But Mok Kyung-un shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Pardon? Then what?”
“Hold out your left arm stump.”
‘!?’
Mong Muyak wore an expression of utter incomprehension at Mok Kyung-un’s demand.
Why ask for his left arm stump?
Was he toying with him?
Then Mok Kyung-un let out a soft breath and pulled Mong Muyak’s severed left arm stump toward him.
He gripped it tightly.
“Urgh. W-What is this...”
“I said I’d return your arm.”
“Return it how...”
“The meridians and nerves need to reconnect, so I’m asking for your consent in advance.”
“Cons......”
Shaaak!
“Guhk.”
Pshuk!
In that instant, sharp sword intent flashed by, undoing the cauterization on the left arm stump, and blood flowed out.
The pain was less than when it was first cut, but it still hurt, distorting Mong Muyak’s face.
Then Mok Kyung-un pressed the severed arm’s cross-section against the bleeding stump.
Mong Muyak and even Seop Chun were dumbfounded.
Did he really think slapping the severed arm back on would reconnect it?
If so, he was truly insane...
“Seop Chun.”
“Yes?”
“Hold it so it doesn’t fall off.”
‘!?’
What on earth was he planning?
Seop Chun stared with a face that couldn’t comprehend.
Mok Kyung-un scolded him softly.
“Don’t make me say it twice.”
“Yes, sir!”
Having gauged Mok Kyung-un’s temperament, Seop Chun hurriedly complied.
He had no idea why he was doing this nonsense, but he held the two severed parts together firmly.
Then Mok Kyung-un formed a sword mudra with his right hand and pressed it against one spot on the severed area.
With his left hand,
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
‘Lin! Tou! Zhen! Zai! Zhen! Jie!’
He formed the abbreviated mudras of the Nine Characters Activation Method.
As the mudra formed, red heat flowed from the tip of his right hand’s sword finger.
Mong Muyak startled at the scorching heat.
What was he trying to do?
But Mok Kyung-un moved the sword finger along the severed edge.
While doing so,
‘Eastern Azure Emperor General Deity, heed me. Central Yellow Emperor General Deity, heed me. Western White Emperor General Deity, heed me. Northern Black Emperor General Deity, heed me. Central Yellow Emperor General Deity, heed me.’
He chanted the incantation inwardly.
Sizzle!
As he did, searing pain erupted where the sword finger passed, like flesh burning.
The agony surpassed even that of the arm being severed.
Naturally, a scream burst out.
“Kuaaaaaagh!”
“Quiet.”
“Kuaaaaaagh!”
“Tsk tsk.”
Swish!
Mok Kyung-un flicked his left hand, and profound qi sealed Mong Muyak’s mouth.
“Guhguhguh!”
Seeing Mong Muyak’s eyes well with tears, Mok Kyung-un chuckled and continued moving the sword finger along the severed edge.
Sizzle!
‘U u kan kan gak gak u u!’
“Guhguhguh.”
Mong Muyak twisted in agony, thrashing about.
But Seop Chun held the arms tight, and Mok Kyung-un pinned his mouth and body with qi, so he couldn’t budge.
Finally, Mok Kyung-un’s sword finger completed the circuit around the severed area.
Sizzle!
When he pulled it away, the severed edge glowed red-hot.
Mok Kyung-un smiled at it.
Seop Chun asked.
“Should I keep holding it?”
“No, you can let go.”
‘But it’ll fall off.’
He didn’t know what he’d done, but it seemed like he’d cauterized the flesh with something like fiery qi.
But that wouldn’t reconnect a severed arm.
It would surely fall.
Though puzzled inwardly, Seop Chun released his grip as ordered.
Yet,
‘It didn’t?’
Shockingly, the severed arm stump that should have fallen stayed attached.
What had he done?
Just cauterizing the flesh with fiery qi shouldn’t make it stick like that.
“Young master. What did you do?”
“This kind of thing.”
No sooner had he spoken than Mok Kyung-un lightly slapped the back of the reattached hand.
Slap!
Twitch!
Why was he doing that? As Seop Chun wondered in bewilderment, something even more astonishing happened.
“T-This...... How......”
Mong Muyak, who’d been in so much pain tears streamed down his face, stared at his left arm in disbelief.
Twitch!
The fingers below the severed area trembled and moved faintly.
Seop Chun’s eyes went wide too.
‘......Impossible.’
He’d thought it was a pointless prank, but the severed arm really seemed reconnected.
Mok Kyung-un smirked at the sight.
‘Success.’
This was the Three Wonders Method, a spell from a secret healing art hidden by Three Eyes Jo Tae-cheong.
A profound sorcery that could reconnect severed limbs if certain tricky conditions were met.
For instance, the severed part couldn’t exceed one shichen, among other constraints.
The biggest limitation was the caster’s vital energy consumption.
The stronger the spell, the greater the conditions and restrictions, but since it wasn’t his own vital energy being used, it didn’t matter.
“Aaah!”
Moreover, with the subject so grateful, there was no need to worry.
Mok Kyung-un said to such a Mong Muyak.
“It’ll take time for the meridians and nerves to fully reconnect, so splint it and be careful for about five days.”
“......”
Mong Muyak looked up at Mok Kyung-un with trembling eyes.
What was this guy’s true identity?
Not Hua Tuo or Bian Que—how was this possible?
Grateful as he was, this bizarre ability scared him too.
Unable to speak easily, Mok Kyung-un raised the corner of his mouth and said.
“Now you should have no issues continuing the mission.”
‘Huh?’
Mong Muyak’s expression hardened in an instant.
[End of Chapter 56: Loyalty (5)]