Chapter 203
Chapter 203
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 57
>Chapter Title: Water Ghost (4)
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“How does it feel? Do you now understand the difference between cooperation and coercion?”
At Mok Kyung-un’s voice coming from behind him, the tiger old man bit his lower lip.
He never imagined he’d be paid back like this.
It seemed he had picked the wrong opponents.
‘These bastards...’
The young ones were utterly ruthless.
He hadn’t anticipated they’d take the young lady hostage as revenge.
No, he hadn’t even had time to anticipate it.
The tiger old man glared sharply at Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak.
‘These youngsters... they’re not orthodox martial artists, are they?’
The tiger old man’s mind grew complicated.
Though he had acted unreasonably due to the young lady’s outburst, if they were orthodox martial artists who valued negotiation, they wouldn’t have gone this far.
Which meant,
‘Evil faction?’
As far as the tiger old man knew, unlike the orthodox who prized face and honor, the evil faction prioritized gains and benefits, committing such acts without hesitation.
If that was the case, it was even more troubling.
Having already apologized and offered compensation, their response meant negotiation wouldn’t work.
-Grip!
The tiger old man ground his teeth.
The situation was so unfavorable that anger welled up.
But in times like this, he needed to stay calm.
The young lady held hostage must be terrified in this unfamiliar situation, so careless handling could lead to the worst outcome.
It was then.
“You insolent wretches...”
He thought she was scared, but the veiled woman’s cheeks trembled as she spoke.
At her attitude, the tiger old man inwardly clicked his tongue.
She truly was that lord’s daughter.
For such words to emerge even under threat of death.
‘No.’
The tiger old man shook his head at the veiled woman.
It meant the situation was dangerous, so hold your tongue.
No matter how spoiled and willful she was raised, she was basically clever.
He trusted she wouldn’t do anything foolish in a situation like this.
“Listen.”
The tiger old man addressed Mok Kyung-un calmly.
“Yes.”
“This incident is undoubtedly my fault. However, even in the martial world where grudges are settled clearly, targeting an old man, a child, and a woman is too much. Please release her and direct all your wrath at me instead.”
The tiger old man lowered himself as much as possible, speaking in a pleading tone.
With the situation near its worst, he sought sympathy.
Of course, this appeal for sympathy wasn’t just for their tormentors but also to sway the surrounding people toward public opinion in his favor.
-Murmur murmur!
At the tiger old man’s intent, the inn’s patrons began whispering and causing a stir.
From their perspective, Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak had suddenly burst in and attacked the veiled woman and her escort warriors.
“What are those guys?”
“Why are they acting like that?”
Though whispering, it was naturally audible.
‘This isn’t good.’
Seop Chun, the Third Escort Captain of the Heaven and Earth Society’s main branch, felt burdened by the onlookers’ gazes.
He had followed Mok Kyung-un’s sudden order ringing in his ear, but there were too many eyes watching.
Threatening a woman by holding a blade to her throat wasn’t a good look, regardless of status.
“My lord.”
Seop Chun called to Mok Kyung-un, signaling with his eyes.
It meant they had warned them enough; perhaps end it here.
Reading this, the tiger old man spoke again in a humble voice.
“I beg you like this. At least release her.”
Even evil faction members were human; he believed they couldn’t simply ignore an appeal to sympathy.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“Hmm. Among old man, child, and woman, two are included.”
“...I don’t need to be included.”
“Yes, of course. It would be shameless for a supreme expert at the peak of super first-class martial arts to seek treatment as a frail old man.”
“I understand what you mean. So please, lower that sword aimed at the young lady...”
“But who was it that ordered such a great expert to drag us here by force?”
“...”
Mok Kyung-un’s words blocked the tiger old man’s response.
“Didn’t you say outside it was due to that veiled lady’s outburst?”
At this, the tiger old man panicked and said,
“L-Look here. When did I say that?”
Saying it like this would make it seem he was using the young lady as an excuse.
Mindful of the veiled woman’s feelings, the tiger old man hurriedly explained.
“The young lady didn’t give such an order. This was purely my own decision to...”
“No need to cover it up.”
“It’s not covering...”
-Grip!
In that moment, Mok Kyung-un seized the tiger old man’s shoulder.
Then, pressing hard,
“Hup.”
-Thud!
The tiger old man’s knee was forced to the ground.
Though he possessed profound true energy honed over long years, he couldn’t compare to a Transformation Realm expert.
-Grind!
The tiger old man ground his teeth.
Unlike before, being humiliated like this in front of so many eyes and her was utterly shameful.
But the tiger old man had endured far greater humiliations for long in ‘that place.’
Thus, he could bear this much to escape the situation.
The tiger old man calmly spoke again.
“Look here. Isn’t this enough? Please stop here...”
“It’s not for the one who started it to decide if it’s enough.”
-Crush!
“Guhhh.”
His face twisted in agony from the hand gripping his shoulder like it would shatter it.
Then the veiled woman shouted.
“Elder!”
At that sight, though suffering, the tiger old man shook his head with all his might.
It meant absolutely do not intervene.
However,
“Stop! Stop it!”
Unable to endure any longer, the veiled woman yelled at Mok Kyung-un.
Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and said,
“You finally speak.”
“You insolent cur. Release Elder... at once!”
“Whether I release or not is up to me.”
“Ha!”
The veiled woman was dumbfounded.
No one had ever insulted her like this.
And this pretty-faced thug dared ignore her command?
Trembling with rage, the veiled woman spoke.
“Truly an arrogant wretch beyond measure.”
“You’re the arrogant one. You caused this mess by ordering a busy person around, so you shouldn’t say that.”
“You! How dare you!”
“Aaah. Words won’t work after all.”
-Crush!
“Guaaaah!”
In that instant, a greater scream burst from the tiger old man.
Though gritting his teeth to endure, his flushed face with bulging veins showed the extent of his pain.
Even the gripped shoulder was staining with blood.
“Stop! Stop it!”
“Is that what you want?”
“Yes! I want it! So now stop...”
“...If you want me to stop, there’s a simple way.”
“A simple way?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“Kneel and apologize. Then maybe my grip will loosen.”
“...”
Her entire body trembled with fury at those words.
She had heeded the tiger old man’s earnest advice when leaving ‘that place’ and avoided revealing her identity unless absolutely necessary, but now she couldn’t hold back.
She promptly removed her veil.
Revealing the beautiful face hidden beneath.
“Heh.”
“Wow...”
Admiring exclamations rose here and there.
Her beauty was striking, but she exuded an air of true nobility.
Even Mong Mu-yak, holding a blade to her neck, inwardly marveled at her face.
‘What is this woman?’
The refinement she emanated went beyond her looks.
It wasn’t something ordinary people possessed.
The woman who revealed her face glared fiercely at Mok Kyung-un and spoke.
“You rude bastard. Do you know who I am and still dare this?”
‘What? This woman?’
Mong Mu-yak furrowed his brow at her words.
He had guessed she wasn’t ordinary, traveling with a great expert like the tiger old man as mere escort and dressed in exceedingly luxurious attire.
Yet even such a woman, in this situation, should be terrified or submissive—yet her spirit remained unbroken.
Her tone even suggested strong pride in her status.
Which meant,
‘Could this woman... be connected to the court or imperial palace?’
Mong Mu-yak swallowed dryly, face stiffening.
If she truly was linked to the court or palace, it would be quite awkward.
Though relations between court and martial world had improved recently, they still respected mutual boundaries.
If his guess was right, a real hassle could arise.
Moreover, this secret mission was in the capital Kaifeng.
‘Maybe end it here appropriately.’
But,
“Do I have any obligation to know who you are?”
Instead, Mok Kyung-un pressed further.
Naturally, such provocation only fueled her anger more.
“Ha! Is that how you’ll play it?”
“You’re dragging out what could end with one kneel.”
“You’re the one escalating. Once you know who I am, see if you can still be so rude...”
“Speaking more isn’t a wise choice.”
Mok Kyung-un cut her off.
She scoffed arrogantly and said,
“Hmph. Too late for regrets. I will surely...”
-Crack!
“Gaaaaah!”
Before her words finished.
With a horrific scream, the tiger old man’s shoulder twisted, bone piercing flesh and protruding.
At the gruesome sight, the woman who had meant to reveal her status froze, speechless.
To her, Mok Kyung-un smiled and said,
“Shall I tell you in advance what will happen next?”
“You... you! How dare!”
“I don’t know who you are. Nor do I care. But if you reveal that precious status out of pointless pride and complicate things, I’ll have no choice but to make a certain decision.”
“A certain decision?”
“Yes. I’ll make it as if nothing happened.”
“What?”
“You don’t understand? Ever heard of silencing by murder?”
‘!?’
Silencing by murder (殺人滅口).
Killing to prevent leaks.
Her arrogant, confident expression completely froze at the words.
But Mok Kyung-un didn’t stop there.
Sweeping his indifferent gaze over the inn’s patrons, he said casually,
“How unfortunate. If that lady speaks, none of you will leave alive. Blame her, not me.”
‘!!!!!!!!’
As his words ended, the inn’s atmosphere turned deathly still in an instant.
Spoken softly as if trivial, the pressure was enough to plunge everyone into utmost tension.
‘T-This bastard!’
How could he steer the situation like this?
As she incredulously opened her mouth to speak, all eyes in the inn turned to her.
Gazes filled with resentment and fear pierced her, leaving her bewildered.
‘Why?’
The real threat was that man—why look at her like that?
Under their stares, her lips wouldn’t part.
In that moment, Mok Kyung-un’s face shadowed in her vision.
His lips curved in a chilling smile stretching to his ears, brimming with malice.
-Chill!
Goosebumps rose from her spine through her body.
As fear gripped her entirely, her legs gave out.
-Thud!