Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 61
>Chapter Title: Craftsman (1)
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A single stance composed of twenty-four sword forms.
Having witnessed this, Cheong-ryeong was at a loss for words.
She had told him not to be bound by preconceptions, but he had created a stance that defied all common sense.
Even in life and now in death, she had pondered the sword for so long, yet it had never occurred to her to expand a form in this manner.
Not that it was something one could simply extend at will, anyway.
"You... what in the world..."
"Hoo. Hoo. It seems it'll take some time to get used to this one."
Cheong-ryeong was dumbfounded by Mok Kyung-un's nonchalant attitude.
Each additional sword form meant more movements, so it was only natural that it strained the muscles.
And with a single stance consisting of twenty-four forms, it went beyond mere overexertion—it was pushing the body to its absolute limits.
'...A monstrous fellow.'
This was not a sword technique that could be executed in a short period.
Even after years of rigorous training, one might barely manage it, yet this brat had conceived it in his mind and manifested it perfectly in a single attempt.
Words like "innate talent" fell short of describing this.
As Cheong-ryeong's astonishment finally subsided, she asked,
-How did you come up with something like this?
"Well... Watching that elder's swordplay, I saw complexity hidden within its simplicity. But in my current state, I don't think I could wield it that way."
The old man's sword had grown simpler with each demonstration.
Yet Mok Kyung-un had sensed profound intricacies within that simplicity.
From this, he realized that merely imprinting and memorizing it visually wouldn't suffice.
"If I were to fully embody the most ideal trajectories for thoroughly slaying an opponent, wouldn't that create a sword stance approaching perfection?"
-Hah!
Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue at Mok Kyung-un's words.
They had both seen the old man's swordplay—how could their conclusions differ so vastly?
Or perhaps it was possible only because of this boy.
Having learned the sword not long ago, his imagination knew no bounds.
'I have no choice but to acknowledge it.'
Mok Kyung-un's sword talent had already surpassed her own.
With this boy, he might even reach the sword's pinnacle, the dream of all swordsmen.
* * *
Two days later.
The imperial capital, Kaifeng.
Upon arriving in Kaifeng, Mok Kyung-un's group couldn't help but voice their genuine admiration.
They had known it was called the center of the Central Plains and housed the imperial capital, so it was bound to be prosperous—but its scale was vast and bustling beyond compare, even to the outer city of the Heaven and Earth Society, renowned as the pinnacle among single factions.
It was hard to gauge how far the outer city around the capital's walls extended, and even reaching the distant outer walls seemed to require over half a shichen by carriage.
As everyone marveled at the city, one person alone had darkened his expression and was fidgeting restlessly.
It was the defrocked monk, Ja Geum-jeong.
Seop-chun asked quizzically,
"Are you feeling unwell? Your complexion hasn't been good since yesterday... Wait, are your hands shaking?"
Ja Geum-jeong's hands were indeed trembling.
Seeing this, Seop-chun grew concerned.
Ja Geum-jeong shook his head and said,
"We must... hurry and find it."
"Find what? Do you need a physician?"
"No. Find where the inns or taverns are—you look too."
"........."
Seop-chun stared blankly at Ja Geum-jeong's face.
Come to think of it, since yesterday afternoon, he had been grumbling that all his liquor had run out.
Was he going through withdrawal because he couldn't drink?
"...You're something else."
This was practically an addiction.
No matter how much of an expert he was, could his liver withstand drinking like that?
Shaking his head, Seop-chun turned to Gan-yang, the leader of the advance party guiding them.
After entering the city, Yu Bong, the inner palace eunuch, had parted ways midway.
He had gone ahead to prepare a meeting with Consort Seo Hwang.
Their current destination was Hongbong Meat, the largest slaughterhouse in the capital city.
The reason they headed to the biggest slaughterhouse was simple.
[There is a craftsman there with exceptional skill.]
* * *
"It's huge."
Mok Kyung-un remarked upon seeing the slaughterhouse.
A typical slaughterhouse consisted of cattle and pig pens, a butchery warehouse, a slaughter area, and market stalls—four distinct sections.
Yet each of these was far larger than those of an ordinary manor.
Pointing this out, Gan-yang from the advance party said,
"There are at least a thousand cattle and pigs inside. It warrants a scale like this."
"I see."
"This place supplies meat to the imperial palace as well, so they only handle top-grade quality. You'll understand once you go inside."
With that, they entered through the slaughterhouse's main gate.
As soon as they stepped in, the stench of manure from cattle and pigs, mingled with the metallic tang of blood, assaulted their noses.
It certainly felt like a slaughterhouse.
-Murmur murmur!
Just inside the gate stretched stalls with meat cut into portions, crowded with customers buying it.
"Look at all these meat-crazed bodhisattvas. Tsk tsk."
Ja Geum-jeong clicked his tongue.
Though a defrocked monk, he surprisingly avoided meat even after leaving Shaolin.
Naturally, he wasn't fond of slaughterhouses.
Seop-chun, with an incredulous look, said to Gan-yang,
"Is there really a 'craftsman' in a place like this?"
No matter how he looked at it, it was too conspicuous.
Even if "the darkest place is under the lamp," this was overly chaotic.
Moreover, it supplied meat to the palace—wouldn't officials drop by frequently? Could they really conduct such business here?
"Yes. So please don't worry too much."
"Hmm."
Seop-chun still seemed dissatisfied.
At that moment, a bearded man near the stalls—unlike the other customers, who had noticed their group carrying weapons—approached and asked,
"What brings you gentlemen here?"
In response, Gan-yang pulled a prepared token from his bosom and handed it over.
Casually, he said,
"We're looking for some good rind meat—mind if we take a look?"
The man examined the token closely, then grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
"If it's rind, pork rind is the best grilled."
"Pork rind isn't bad. Could we select the animal to be slaughtered?"
"Why not? Follow me—I'll guide you."
The bearded man pointed to a building ahead and led the way.
But as Mok Kyung-un moved to follow, he suddenly paused.
Mong Mu-yak, beside him, asked,
"My lord. Is something wrong?"
"........."
Without answering, Mok Kyung-un turned to look toward the main gate.
-Rumble rumble!
The sound of wheels rolling echoed.
Soon, the entire gate opened, and people who appeared to be official slaves pulled carts into the plaza.
However, Mok Kyung-un's gaze fixed not on them, but on the man walking at the rear of the cart procession, hands clasped behind his back.
He wore a blue flying fish uniform and a mask with a unique emblem.
Behind him followed four men in dark blue flying fish uniforms, their faces veiled with cloth.
They seemed to be officials, and every one of them,
"Practices martial arts."
Mong Mu-yak frowned at Mok Kyung-un's words and said,
"My lord. Turn away and let's head inside first."
At Mong Mu-yak's urging, Mok Kyung-un turned and followed the group into the building beyond.
Once they were away from the plaza, Mong Mu-yak whispered,
"What a coincidence."
"Why do you say that?"
"Those men in flying fish uniforms earlier—they're Brocade Guards."
"Brocade Guards?"
Interest flickered in Mok Kyung-un's eyes.
He now understood why Mong Mu-yak called it a coincidence, leaving them behind.
Their infiltration identities for the covert mission were none other than Brocade Guards—who could have guessed they'd encounter them here?
Mong Mu-yak stuck out his tongue and said,
"Yes. Brocade Guards."
"...Aren't the Brocade Guards the emperor's palace guards?"
"Correct. Something's off. They're not Imperial Bodyguard Division warriors either—for them to be here of all places..."
"What? Brocade Guards?"
Seop-chun, walking ahead, scowled and interjected.
Mong Mu-yak said,
"Shh. Be quiet. There are Brocade Guards in the slaughterhouse market plaza right now..."
Before he could finish, Gan-yang whispered,
"No need to worry too much. The meat entering the inner palace is used for the imperial clan's meals, so the Brocade Guards inspect it personally."
"Ah..."
Handling ingredients might seem trivial, but it wasn't.
Not only for palace servants and officials, but for the imperial clan—and even the emperor himself—food and herbs underwent the strictest inspections in the palace.
Assassination attempts via food or medicine had occurred since ancient times, making it especially rigorous.
"I see. But do most Brocade Guard warriors practice martial arts?"
"Yes. As the emperor's direct subordinates, each one's skills are at least first-rate. Among the higher ranks, quite a few are masters even in the martial world."
"What about the one in the blue official robe with a gold sash and flying fish emblem?"
Gan-yang looked somewhat surprised at the question and asked back,
"Blue official robe with a gold sash?"
"Yes."
"A blue robe with gold sash is a Thiên Hô—fifth rank Brocade Guard. That's a considerable position within the Brocade Guards."
The Brocade Guard's practical ranks were structured as follows:
Minor seventh rank: Little Banner
Regular seventh: Total Banner
Minor sixth: Company Hundred
Regular sixth: Battalion Hundred
Minor fifth: Vice Thiên Hô
Regular fifth: Thiên Hô
Minor fourth: Six Thiên Hô
Regular fourth: Vice Commander.
"How considerable, exactly?"
Gan-yang stroked his chin beard and replied to Seop-chun's question.
"A regular fifth-rank Thiên Hô Brocade Guard would be at least a peak mastery expert."
"'At least'? Even palace Brocade Guards are no joke."
"Yes. Through exchanges with the righteous sects, they've recruited many experts, raising their overall level far higher than before."
At this, Seop-chun grinned and said,
"Hahaha. Even so, if a Thiên Hô is at that level, this friend or I could aim for at least Six Thiên Hô or higher if we joined the Brocade Guards."
Seop-chun and Mong Mu-yak were masters bearing the title of the Five Tigers, the Heaven and Earth Society's top later-generation experts.
With skills nearing executive level, they were confident of high positions in Brocade Guard terms.
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head at his confidence and said,
"I'm not so sure."
"Pardon? Why is that?"
"That masked Thiên Hô we saw earlier..."
"A Brocade Guard, and...?"
Mok Kyung-un shook his head and said,
"Never mind."
Seop-chun felt unsettled by the abrupt cutoff.
"Let's go for now."
"........."
He wanted to press what he was about to say, but given Mok Kyung-un's personality, he probably wouldn't answer.
Curious instead, Cheong-ryeong asked,
-What were you going to say to the boy?
-That masked Thiên Hô earlier... Some of his qi gates were sealed.
-His qi gates were sealed?
-Yes.
Even without activating the power of his right eye's third eye, Mok Kyung-un could discern qi flows with the naked eye.
To his eyes, the masked Brocade Guard Thiên Hô had three major qi gates sealed.
Thus, the aura he exuded felt only at peak mastery level, but
-Unsealed, even Seop-chun wouldn't stand a chance.
-That strong?
-Yes.
For some unknown reason, the man had sealed his own qi gates to conceal his power.
Mok Kyung-un had considered mentioning it but held back to avoid a lengthy discussion.
-There was one other odd thing.
-What was it?
-Through the gaps in his mask, his eyes were blue-eyed.
'!?'
[Chapter 61: Craftsman (1)] End