Chapter 293
Chapter 293
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 81
>Chapter Title: Reunion (2)
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-Snap!
A whip flew toward him, and the boy curled up like a shrimp, wrapping his arms around himself.
The relentless whipping gradually stained the boy's clothes with blood.
His face, once screaming, twisted into a demonic grimace, as if resenting the entire world.
'What in the world... what did I do wrong?'
He had simply been born mixed-blood.
Was that a crime?
Just because he didn't have black eyes and his skin was a bit paler, did he deserve this discrimination and contempt?
He had no idea how he had ended up like this.
-Snap! Snap!
"Damn blue-eyed freak, drop dead! Die! You're better off dead!"
The endless stream of abuse and lashes made the boy's blue eyes tremble.
Beyond agony and torment, rage began to overtake his reason, soon overflowing into murderous intent.
'I'll kill him. I'll tear him apart.'
The shackles on his arms didn't matter.
He just needed to sink his teeth into that bastard's throat.
And so, the furious boy watched for an opening with the eyes of a hawk.
Then, the moment the hand wielding the whip grew tired and paused—
"Uwaaaaaah!"
With a guttural roar, he lunged at the slave trader.
He had only one goal.
To rip into that damned throat.
Even if it meant dying right here, he would take that one bastard down...
-Thud!
But before he could reach him, a kick from someone sent him sprawling.
The one who tripped him was the slave trader's guard warrior.
"Damn blue-eyed punk, who the hell do you think you're lunging at!"
-Thud!
The slave trader stomped on the fallen boy with eyes bloodshot red.
His kicks paid no heed to the boy's life or death.
He was solely focused on venting his rage.
-Thud thud!
-Grip!
It hurt terribly, but the boy clamped his lips shut and stifled his groans.
He believed showing his suffering would only aid the slave trader's tantrum.
-Thud thud!
'Is it... better to just die like this?'
As pain dulled his consciousness, he began to long for death.
That was when it happened.
-Swish! Thump! Roll roll!
Something tumbled right in front of the boy.
"You, you bitch, what..."
-Swish!
Hot liquid splashed, drenching the boy's body.
The boy, who had been huddled, cautiously lifted his head in bewilderment.
What entered his sight was astonishing.
It was the slave trader's head—eyes still bloodshot, oblivious even in death that its neck had been severed.
What on earth had happened?
Stunned by the severed head, the boy looked up at the figure standing before him.
It was a beautiful girl with blood-red hair fluttering in the air.
The girl shook the blood from her sword onto the ground, glanced once at the boy, and turned to leave the tent.
He couldn't fathom why she had done it.
Snapping out of his daze, the boy staggered to his feet and hurriedly chased after her, shouting.
"Take me with you too!"
* * *
"Take me with you too!"
Suddenly recalling his first meeting with Embroidered Guard Yuk Cheon-ho So Ye-rin, the eyes of the masked Embroidered Guard Cheon-ho Mara-hyeon, visible through the slits, trembled faintly with complex emotions.
She was the benefactress who had saved his life from the abyss and even taught him martial arts.
Now, as he spoke of leaving her side—the woman who had accepted him without prejudice—his lips felt unbearably heavy.
If there was one person he didn't want to disappoint, it was his mentor.
At that moment, So Ye-rin spoke.
".......Why? Why can't you return to the palace?"
"I'm sorry, miss."
"Don't just say you're sorry—tell me the reason."
"Miss."
"I said tell me the reason."
Her tone was as gentle and measured as always, but Mara-hyeon, who had been with her so long, detected a faint agitation.
His heart grew heavier, but after hesitating, he finally spoke.
"A Southern Expedition warrior saw me. If I return, I'll be branded a traitor."
It was an excuse he had prepared in advance.
No, it was the simple truth.
Unlike her, who had concealed her face with a mask, he had acted in his true identity to safely escort them out of the palace, leaving him unable to go back.
If he did, the Southern Expedition warriors would seize him immediately.
Even if his face wasn't exposed, his mentor So Ye-rin—who had entered the Embroidered Guards with him—could face suspicion.
"I'm sorry. I can't bring harm to you, miss."
"Who said anything about harm? Do you think I can't protect even you?"
".......It would hold you back."
"It doesn't matter. I'll protect you no matter what..."
"I've already made my decision."
"Decision? You mean deciding to abandon me on your own..."
"No. It's not just about leaving."
"Yes?"
"I wish to serve Young Master Mok Kyung-un here as my lord."
'!?'
So Ye-rin's expression hardened at Mara-hyeon's words.
Mara-hyeon was steadfast and loyal.
Having been together so long, he was not just her disciple but also a comrade and like a younger brother.
For such a man to suddenly leave her side without warning and enter another's service—it left her bewildered.
"Why...... why..."
Seeing her reaction, Mara-hyeon ached inwardly.
But he quickly steeled himself and said.
"I'm sorry. Young Master Mok Kyung-un saved me when I was on the verge of death from a blood oath. I want to devote my remaining life to him."
"........."
So Ye-rin fell silent at his words.
If it was merely an issue of his identity being exposed, she could arrange disguises or other measures.
But with a reason like this, she couldn't hold him back.
No, holding him would mean disregarding his resolve.
"Mara Cheon...... no, Mara-hyeon."
"Miss...... sor...."
"Enough. Why should that be something to apologize for? You're repaying a debt of gratitude—how could I possibly hold you back?"
'Ahh, miss.'
Mara-hyeon, head bowed, closed his eyes.
He still didn't believe he had fully repaid her graces.
Yet the truth about his father's death—a knot that had lingered for so long—was known by that man right there.
If he let this chance slip, it might never come again.
'If I get another opportunity... I will repay her grace.'
She was the mentor who had allowed a mixed-blood like him to live with dignity.
Parting like this, he harbored no selfish desire to return to her side.
He simply wanted to repay her somehow.
Then So Ye-rin approached Mok Kyung-un, clasped her hands, and bowed politely.
"Young master, I can't be away too long, so I'll return to the palace now."
"Yes, of course you should."
"If I learn anything about the mark, please pass it along. Naturally, I'll share any information I obtain as well."
"Understood."
"Then I wish you good fortune."
As she turned to leave, she paused, looked back, and said to Mok Kyung-un.
"Please take good care of Mara-hyeon."
Mok Kyung-un shrugged at her request.
Taking it as assent, So Ye-rin gave a bittersweet smile and turned to Danbaekha of the Six Blood Star Palace.
Danbaekha likewise offered Mok Kyung-un a fist-palm salute, then tore a piece from her garment hem and handed it over.
The cloth bore the number [126].
"What's this?"
"Thanks to you, young master—a descendant of our forebears—I have returned to the world. I will never forget this immense grace."
"It wasn't intentional, so no need to thank me."
"Even so, without you, I would have remained trapped forever. That fact remains unchanged."
Mok Kyung-un's lips twitched as he replied.
"If you insist, then as a token of gratitude, that hypnosis technique..."
"That is a skill only our faction and its lord may cultivate. I cannot teach it."
Danbaekha cut him off before he could finish.
Mok Kyung-un smacked his lips in disappointment.
It was a rather intriguing method, and he had wanted the exact incantation.
To the still-disappointed Mok Kyung-un, Danbaekha nodded toward the cloth she had given him and said.
"Even so, how could I not repay the grace? I am heading to the Four Faces Alliance, where the remnants of our cult have gathered, to rebuild the faith. If ever you have need of my meager aid, send this, and I will rush to your side without delay."
Mok Kyung-un gave a faint smile at her words.
Though she called herself meager, she was a formidable expert nearing the Profound Realm.
For such a master to pledge to come running at his call—it was a fairly useful card in hand.
* * *
And so, So Ye-rin and Danbaekha of the Six Blood Star Palace each went their separate ways.
Once their presences had completely vanished, Mok Kyung-un chuckled softly and turned to Mara-hyeon.
"Well now, they're gone. Shall we hear the real reason?"
At Mok Kyung-un's words, Mara-hyeon's eyes narrowed through the gaps in his mask.
A flicker of bewilderment showed in them.
"What do you mean by that..."
"You can't lie to me."
-Sss...
With those words, Mok Kyung-un drew up his demonic energy.
In that instant, Mara-hyeon's eyes darkened with the energy, and despite his efforts to conceal his true feelings, his inner thoughts spilled out unwittingly.
"Because of that damned old hag you kidnapped from the Golden Prison, my mother and that bastard father died."
'!?'
-Shwip!
No sooner had the words left him than Seop-chun and Mongmu-yak hurriedly positioned themselves between the Sacred Flame Commandress and him.
Their goal was to escort the Sacred Flame Commandress safely to the Heaven-Earth Society.
If this masked Embroidered Guard Cheon-ho Mara-hyeon—who had professed loyalty to Mok Kyung-un—intended revenge on her, they absolutely could not let him near.
"What's this? Aren't you on the same side?"
Reading the mood, Breaking Precept Monk Golden Bell also gathered his energy, ready to strike at any moment.
At that time, the Sacred Flame Commandress staggered in shock.
'No... it can't be...'
She had suspected as much upon seeing Mara-hyeon's blue eyes.
But those words just now confirmed his identity.
In a trembling voice, she spoke.
"Are you... the son of Priest Maierara?"
"Shut your mouth!"
Mara-hyeon roughly tore off his mask and bellowed at her.
Even with his eyes blackened by demonic energy, his emotions had surged.
"Maierara hye..."
"I said shut that mouth!"
Mara-hyeon roared and launched his form toward her.
In that moment, someone clamped down on his shoulder.
-Grip!
Mara-hyeon channeled his internal energy to shake it off, but the opponent's power was so overwhelming that one knee was forced to buckle.
-Thud!
'Wh-who? Ah!'
It was none other than Mok Kyung-un.
Placing both hands on his shoulders, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly.
"You can't just rampage on your own. Whatever the story, I didn't pull her out for Mara Cheon-ho to do as he pleases."
He spoke casually, but it was unmistakably a warning.
A little more pressure, and his shoulder wouldn't just be crushed—it would be over.
Enduring the pain, Mara-hyeon spoke.
"Young master...... if you...... entrust that...... damned...... old woman's...... fate to me...... I pledge...... my dog-and-horse loyalty...... to you."
"Are you negotiating?"
"To you...... I will be...... more useful...... than that old woman."
Mok Kyung-un sneered at his words.
Then he leaned in close to his ear and whispered.
"You value yourself quite highly."
"Young master...... it's true. For you, I could...... throw away my life anytime..."
"Unfortunately."
"What do you mean?"
"Value changes with the situation. Mara Cheon-ho was quite useful in the palace, but right now, her value is higher to me."
"Young master!"
"So let's make it clear here and now."
-Grip!
Mara-hyeon's hand tightened.
The pain felt like his shoulder was shattering, and a small groan escaped his lips.
"Kh."
"Until my business with her is done, erase any thought of touching her from your mind."
"Haa.... haa...."
"I rather like Mara Cheon-ho. But if you ignore my kind warning, I'll regrettably have to carry out the weeping execution of Ma Su myself."
Weeping execution of Ma Su.
It originated from the tale of Shu strategist Zhuge Liang, who sorrowfully beheaded his favored general Ma Su for disobeying orders to enforce military law.
It signified that even the most exceptional talent would not be forgiven for defying command and discipline.
Mara-hyeon said nothing in response to Mok Kyung-un's words.
Seeing this, Mongmu-yak and Seop-chun grew inwardly anxious.
'If the Sacred Flame Commandress is no different from his parents' killer, will this Embroidered Guard master simply heed the young master's warning?'
'If he's a potential variable, better to separate them now rather than just warn.'
He was a man who had abandoned his longtime companion for revenge.
Would such a person meekly obey the young master's command?
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un released his grip on Mara-hyeon's shoulders.
'Ah......'
Was he really letting it go with just this warning?
It was then.
-Thud!
Suddenly, Mara-hyeon dropped to one knee before Mok Kyung-un, clasped his hands together, and bowed.
"Mara-hyeon hereby takes Mok Kyung-un as his lord. I shall remain at your side as a dog or horse and devote my full loyalty, so please uphold the promise."
'?'
'What the?'
The two men couldn't hide their bafflement at his abrupt oath of loyalty.
They had expected resentment from being forcibly blocked in his revenge, yet here he was pledging allegiance.
And what was this "promise" he tacked on?
Had the young master made some deal with him?
They couldn't make sense of it.
As Mara-hyeon kept his head bowed in sworn loyalty, Mok Kyung-un's earlier words echoed in his mind.
[Until my business with her is done, erase any thought of touching her from your mind.]
The premise was "until my business is done."
Mok Kyung-un patted Mara-hyeon's shoulder and grinned wickedly.
"You're quick on the uptake—I like that."
Mok Kyung-un