Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 64
>Chapter Title: Desire (4)
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On the way back to their lodgings.
The attitudes of Gam Escort and Ok-gi from the vanguard had changed.
They had already been wary of the stragglers, but after witnessing Mok Kyung-un's true nature—unfazed even by Consort Seo, one of this kingdom's absolute power holders—they now treated him entirely like their master.
In truth, what was most deeply etched in their minds was the sight of Yu Bong, the betrayer, cleaved in half and left a cold corpse.
‘Don't get on his bad side.’
‘If we fall out of favor for no reason, who knows what might happen.’
Even Ok-gi, who had once vowed revenge someday, had long since abandoned such thoughts.
All they wanted now was to avoid upsetting him until the mission was complete.
As they headed toward the inn housing their lodgings, Mok Kyung-un spoke to them at a fork in the road.
“I have some brief business to attend to, so go on ahead without me.”
“My lord, allow me to accompany you.”
Seop-chun stepped forward, offering to escort him.
Mok Kyung-un shook his head.
“It's nothing serious, so please go in first.”
“Are you truly all right?”
“Yes, I'm just going to do a little sightseeing.”
‘Ah! So that's the place he means.’
At those words, Seop-chun realized where Mok Kyung-un intended to go.
Likely the workshop of Song-a the dwarf, the true master of human-skin masks.
Confirming his intent, Seop-chun bowed and withdrew.
Some time after Mok Kyung-un departed, as they neared the inn, Gam-yang cautiously spoke up.
“Brother Seop.”
“What is it?”
“But... is it really okay to just leave things like this?”
“Leave what?”
“Consort Seo.”
“Consort Seo?”
“Yes. Young Master Mok handled it well, but what if she harbors second thoughts midway...”
In truth, this had been Gam-yang's constant worry.
Though Mok Kyung-un had instilled fear in the arrogant consort, from her position, she had suffered a proper humiliation.
She might submit to him now for survival, but once back in the palace, her attitude could flip.
“That's nothing to worry about.”
Mong Mu-yak spoke up then.
“Nothing to worry about? What do you mean?”
-Swish!
Mong Mu-yak raised his arm.
The iron chain bracelet that should have been there was gone.
The reason was simple.
Mok Kyung-un had removed the Oath Chain he wore and fastened it on Consort Seo, extracting her vow of obedience.
“As long as she wears that bracelet, Consort Seo can never betray our lord.”
“...What are you talking about?”
“You'll understand soon enough. And don't try to make sense of it all.”
Mong Mu-yak was the only one among them who had experienced the Oath Chain.
Anyone wearing it could never harbor disloyal thoughts toward the one they had sworn obedience to.
To do so risked their life.
‘Heh heh heh.’
Mong Mu-yak was inwardly thrilled to be free of the Oath Chain thanks to Consort Seo.
Even the slightest malicious intent toward Mok Kyung-un had caused it to tighten around his wrist in agony, making life miserable.
[You can behave without this now, right?]
[...I will serve with utmost sincerity. Please trust me.]
Mong Mu-yak reaffirmed his loyalty to Mok Kyung-un.
Having observed him closely, he now believed this man might truly surpass the eldest young master Na-yul-ryang and claim the succession.
That realization had changed his heart.
Now, he genuinely regarded Mok Kyung-un as his lord.
Seop-chun clapped Gam-yang on the back.
“As Mu-yak says, don't worry too much. Besides, this incident has put even Consort Seo in a bind where she can't advance or retreat.”
Advance or retreat both difficult.
It was the perfect phrase for Consort Seo's current plight.
Beyond her vow of obedience to Mok Kyung-un, she now had to distance herself from the righteous faction on her own.
Peng Sei-im, the younger brother of Peng Family's Chi-jung, had tried to assault her in front of everyone, and she had even massacred the Kaifeng garrison soldiers.
To clean up the aftermath, she had no choice but to sever ties with the North Hebei Peng Family.
Thus, no matter how resentful, Consort Seo had to maintain her connection with Mok Kyung-un and the Heaven-Earth Society.
“Thanks to our lord, those Righteous Alliance bastards are in deep shit now, whether we meant it or not. Hahaha!”
The North Hebei Peng Family was one of the Seven Great Clans, a pillar of the Righteous Alliance.
Seop-chun, as a Heaven-Earth Society member, couldn't help but delight at the blow they'd suffer.
* * *
At the same time.
Yeop-pung Inn, in Kaifeng's western bustling district.
Normally bustling with drinking patrons at this hour, the inn was eerily quiet.
Several groups, apparently martial artists, had reserved the entire place.
On the first floor: warriors of the North Hebei Peng Family in uniforms emblazoned with "Peng Family" on the chest.
A group from Mount Hua Sect in bright azure robes patterned with plum blossoms.
And Mount Zhongnan Sect members in pale gray robes with crimson sashes.
They mingled quietly, sharing a meal.
Leading these two sects and one clan were their elders, seated around a round table on the second floor, conversing amiably.
The mustached middle-aged man on the left was Peng Il-hyeon, patriarch of the North Hebei Peng Family, known as the Hebei Overlord Blade.
Peng Il-hyeon boisterously laughed, pouring wine for the man directly opposite him.
“Hahaha! Truly, you are bold, Daoist. Even for a wager among elders, to freely teach your sect's secret Fourteen Plum Blossom Sword to a disciple of another sect like Kongtong!”
“Ahem.”
The sharp-featured elderly Daoist in azure robes accepted the cup but coughed uncomfortably at the words.
He was Gu Yang-ja Daoist, elder of Mount Hua Sect—one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang forming the Righteous Alliance's core.
“Hohoho. Patriarch Peng, don't tease him so. Think how bitter it must taste for Gu Yang-ja Daoist.”
Spoke the half-white-haired, mild-mannered elderly Daoist seated to Peng Il-hyeon's right.
He was Geon Mun-ja Daoist of Mount Zhongnan Sect.
At Geon Mun-ja's words, Mount Hua's elder Gu Yang-ja replied in a nonchalant tone.
“If it chafed him so, why would Bin-sa have taught the technique? It's all that child's fortune—and proof of his exceptional talent.”
“Exceptional doesn't do it justice. To master the Fourteen Plum Blossom Sword's oral formulas in a mere tea interval? Calling him a genius is no exaggeration.”
At Geon Mun-ja's words, Peng Il-hyeon's eyes widened.
“In just one tea interval?”
“Indeed. A remarkably keen mind.”
“Egad, if true, that's impressive.”
For a sword expert, it wasn't impossible.
But he'd heard the Kongtong disciple had only recently formalized from lay status.
For such a youth to master a first-rate sword art from another sect in the time it takes to drink tea—that was true prodigy.
Curious, Peng Il-hyeon asked.
“What's that Kongtong disciple's Dao title?”
“He was accepted formally but not registered in the Dao records, so no title, as far as I know.”
“I see. Then his name...”
“Surely the Peng patriarch isn't coveting that Kongtong child?”
Mount Hua's elder Gu Yang-ja asked nonchalantly.
Peng Il-hyeon waved it off politely.
“No, no. Even so, how could I covet a formal Kongtong disciple?”
Even as he spoke, Peng Il-hyeon slyly eyed Gu Yang-ja's face.
It seemed the old Daoist was guarding against him.
‘I see.’
He'd already doubted it was mere magnanimity to teach his sect's sword art so freely to an outsider for a wager.
Evidently, Gu Yang-ja coveted the boy too.
Surprising for a Daoist sage, but understandable.
Anyone would want such a talent as a disciple.
‘When my second son gets that recommendation from Consort Seo for the Imperial Guard selection, I should tell him to scout that Kongtong kid closely.’
One never knows with people.
Then, Mount Hua's Gu Yang-ja spoke.
“Seeing you here personally in Kaifeng, Patriarch Peng, it seems your brother serving in the palace has borne fruit at last.”
At this, Peng Il-hyeon's eyes narrowed.
As expected of Mount Hua, a pillar of the Nine Great Sects alongside Wudang—their intelligence was no joke.
The Righteous Alliance had long backed Prince Jong-wang, the second prince and top crown prince candidate.
Yet, against all support and expectation, Consort Seo's young son ascended to crown prince.
From then, Peng Il-hyeon had used his brother Peng I-mun, an imperial official, to approach Consort Seo.
‘Before the Alliance's old fogeys interfere, I must solidify ties with her.’
If today's matter resolved smoothly, it would be so.
Since becoming crown prince's mother, Consort Seo had wanted to cut ties with the Heaven-Earth Society.
If this succeeded, he'd gain her trust, leapfrog the Alliance's old hags clutching rotten ropes, and even eye the next Alliance Lord position.
The mere thought thrilled him.
But unwilling to provoke these old Daoists yet, he calmly replied.
“No, my brother merely fulfilled his duties.”
“Hohoho. So humble. Isn't your affair the Alliance's? If the Peng Family succeeds here and secures Consort Seo's recommendation for the Imperial Guard trials, our influence grows—who wouldn't rejoice?”
“......”
Peng Il-hyeon inwardly clicked his tongue.
Gu Yang-ja had already seen through more than half his plan.
No underestimating this old man.
He needed to build power quickly.
The Righteous Alliance couldn't forever revolve around the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
It was then.
-Tatata-tat!
Someone rushed up to the second floor.
Peng Il-hyeon, Gu Yang-ja, and Geon Mun-ja turned to look.
‘!?’
Seeing the man, Peng Il-hyeon frowned in shock.
It was the Peng Family's Outer Hall senior warrior.
Sent to assist his third brother Peng Sei-im on the mission, his bloodied state was bewildering.
“Huff... huff... Patriarch! Urgent report!”
“What happened?”
A bad feeling stirred.
The matter should have concluded by now.
The senior warrior hurried to Patriarch Peng Il-hyeon and whispered.
“Please step aside for a moment.”
Puzzled, Peng Il-hyeon excused himself from Gu Yang-ja and Geon Mun-ja, moving to the second floor's edge.
Even then, the senior warrior whispered.
“Patriarch, you must leave Kaifeng immediately.”
“What? Leave Kaifeng?”
“Disaster has struck.”
“What? Did our family warriors fall?”
“...Worse than that. Hurry, or you'll be caught in it.”
“Caught in what? Speak plainly!”
Patriarch Peng Il-hyeon's voice rose.
Had the Heaven-Earth Society counterattacked?
Even if the mission failed, this was the capital Kaifeng, and he had the Peng Family's remaining forces.
“If it's those Heaven-Earth bastards, then right now...”
“Patriarch! It's not the Heaven-Earth Society.”
“Then why?!”
Under Peng Il-hyeon's prodding, the hesitant senior warrior finally spoke.
“...Outer Hall Leader Peng Sei-im has caused a massive blunder.”
“Blunder? What do you mean?”
Was there even room for error in this?
The task was simple: suppress the Heaven-Earth Society's later-generation disciples.
No matter how skilled, they were mere juniors; his prepared forces could take on a minor sect.
Yet the senior warrior's words were utterly unexpected.
“Outer Hall Leader Peng Sei-im massacred most of our waiting family warriors and the garrison soldiers.”
‘!?’
Patriarch Peng Il-hyeon's face hardened.
For a moment, he doubted his ears.
“W-What did you just say? Why would Peng Sei-im do such a thing?”
“I don't know. The young master suddenly went berserk, trying to force his way in; we tried to stop him...”
“...No. No, that can't be.”
Peng Il-hyeon denied it.
No matter Peng Sei-im's indulgence in vice and poor conduct, he never crossed the line as a righteous sect member.
Why would he do something so absurd?
But that wasn't the end.
“Patriarch, it's true. These wounds are from the Outer Hall Leader himself. Forget this—we must leave Kaifeng now, or you'll face grave peril.”
“No, impossible. I'll go myself...”
“You absolutely cannot!”
“Why not? If he botched it, I must clean it up before all our efforts go to waste...”
Before he finished, the senior warrior grimly revealed the truth.
“The Outer Hall Leader tried to forcibly assault Consort Seo.”
‘!!!!!!!’
Hearing this, Patriarch Peng Il-hyeon went blank as if deranged, then staggered, legs giving way.
[Chapter 64 Desire (4)] End