Chapter 338
Chapter 338
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 90
>Chapter Title: The Culprit (4)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
It was a gamble for Mok Kyung-un as well.
Strictly speaking, concentrating all his power into a single point was akin to turning himself into a sword, so he had his doubts about whether he could manifest it through will-formed sword aura.
However, having surpassed the wall of walls and deepened his understanding of qi, Mok Kyung-un believed it was theoretically possible.
That said, there were two problems.
This technique had two glaring weaknesses.
‘Qi condensation.’
Gathering all the qi and power throughout his body into a single point and channeling it through a distant sword was no easy feat.
Manifesting it directly with his body might strain him all over, but he could do it anytime—sending qi through will-formed sword aura required a fair amount of time.
And the second issue,
‘It’s too conspicuous.’
That was the biggest problem.
When the qi condensed enough to focus power into a single point via will-formed sword aura, the opponent’s chances of noticing skyrocketed.
This was especially true for masters of high cultivation.
Unable to test it recklessly, Mok Kyung-un had no choice but to lure the opponent’s senses entirely toward himself.
Thus, he created that opportunity.
Through repeated ultra-high-speed movements, he frustrated Yu Mujin into going all out.
The massive explosion of natural qi shattered the ground, and the superhuman techniques and methods unleashed by the two turned the surroundings into a qi whirlwind, creating enough chaos to obscure it faintly.
But Mok Kyung-un didn’t stop there.
He crafted a predictable situation, concentrating his power into a single point and drawing all eyes to himself.
That was the bait.
Yu Mujin, convinced of victory, let his guard down—and this was the result.
“Urk...”
Yu Mujin’s face twisted in agony.
Watching this, Mok Kyung-un inwardly clicked his tongue.
He had sensed that channeling power through a single sword would weaken it compared to manifesting it himself.
But he hadn’t expected it to fail to fully pierce the man’s body.
‘Or is it just that durable?’
Whatever the case, the gamble succeeded, though it was undeniably a technique hard to use in many ways.
In any event, with the sword piercing his heart, the fight was decided.
No,
“Time to finish it.”
The fight wasn’t over until the opponent’s breath truly stopped.
Mok Kyung-un, who never left loose ends unless swayed by whims, released his grip on the sword blade caught in Yu Mujin’s hand and formed a demonic qi sword aura at his sword finger.
-Booooom!
Just as Mok Kyung-un moved to sever his neck,
Yu Mujin gritted his teeth and kicked Mok Kyung-un square in the chest.
-Thud!
Mok Kyung-un was flung backward and tumbled, while Yu Mujin, propelled by his own kick, plummeted at high speed.
-Thud!
Landing on the ground, Mok Kyung-un barely steadied himself and clicked his tongue.
The heart pierced not by any sword, but one infused with his qi and the Night Sword Gapsal—no one should have strength left after that.
But now, even that seemed difficult for him.
Yu Mujin staggered, unable to stand properly.
“Guhhhh.”
No matter how monstrous, beyond human limits, having his heart pierced would bring unimaginable torment.
It was a miracle he was still breathing.
Sure, Mok Kyung-un himself had survived a stab to the heart before, but this was no ordinary sword—it was infused with demonic qi from the Night Sword Gapsal. How was he holding on?
It didn’t matter.
No matter how tenacious, decapitation would end him.
-Swish! -Clack!
The Night Sword Gapsal flew into Mok Kyung-un’s hand.
Grasping Gapsal, he shot forward.
-Whoosh!
His blurring form scattered, and in an instant, he was before Yu Mujin, swinging to behead him with the sword.
But then,
-Thwack!
Mok Kyung-un halted the swing of Gapsal, infused with black sword aura, midway.
The shockwave carved a massive claw-like sword scar over ten paces outward in the direction of the swing.
-Kaboom!
Proof that he had swung with full power to cleave the adamantine neck of Yu Mujin.
-Gulp!
Yu Mujin swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Perhaps due to his innate boldness, he didn’t close his eyes, but the moment he recognized death, tension surged uncontrollably.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“What did you just say?”
“......”
At this question, Yu Mujin stared blankly at him.
Had he really stopped the sword because of those words?
Puzzled, Mok Kyung-un asked again.
“What did you say?”
-Swish!
The razor-sharp blade, pulsing with black sword aura’s edge, pressed against his throat skin.
Its keen energy seemed ready to sever his neck at any moment.
Yu Mujin wasn’t afraid, but curiosity stirred, and he replied.
“Haa... haa... I said, ‘What’s your relation to the three-eyed freak?’”
At this, intrigue flashed in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
As expected, he had read the man’s lips correctly.
Using lip-reading, he had caught Yu Mujin muttering in disbelief while staring at the sword piercing his heart.
“Haa... haa... No way, did you stop because of that... Cough...?”
“The three-eyed freak you mentioned... Do you mean a being with a third eye on its forehead?”
Yu Mujin furrowed his brow at the question.
How did this guy know about the three-eyed freak his father mentioned?
Did that mean his guess was right?
“It seems you really are connected to the three-eyed freak. Cough, cough... Otherwise, how could your wounds... Guhhh.”
-Shoooo!
Before he could finish, steam rose from Yu Mujin’s body, his blackened skin gradually turning red.
With it, he vomited blood repeatedly.
“Gack!”
As he spewed blood, the golden ring on his right wrist spun.
-Kiririririk!
The dial rapidly climbed to ten.
Then the steam stopped, and his face paled.
‘Forcibly sealing his qi?’
Mok Kyung-un guessed, eyeing the ring on Yu Mujin’s right arm.
As his presence weakened, the ring seemed to suppress his qi eagerly.
Returning to something resembling human form, Yu Mujin lifted his head with great effort, his face more agonized than ever.
His breathing was ragged, as if death loomed any second.
‘Hmm.’
For a fleeting moment, Mok Kyung-un hesitated.
Should he spare Yu Mujin to learn about the Three Eyes?
But this man was an enormous pain.
Mok Kyung-un had expended much qi fighting at full strength; giving even a sliver of recovery time was unpredictable.
-Kill him, mortal. This one’s too dangerous. Even without this monster, another chance for info will come.
Cheongryeong urged him to kill.
She, inside the wooden doll in his bosom, had watched the fight closer than anyone.
Thus, she believed he mustn’t be given any chance to recover.
However,
“......Let’s hear it first.”
-What? You again... Hah!
Cheongryeong clicked her tongue at Mok Kyung-un’s stubbornness.
She couldn’t understand why he indulged such risky whims at times like this.
Then Mok Kyung-un lightly flicked his hand.
-Swish!
And,
-Squelch!
The Night Sword Gapsal, embedded in Yu Mujin’s back and piercing his heart, was pulled out.
“Guh!”
A scream burst from Yu Mujin’s lips at the pain.
For him, it was the first extreme agony he’d ever felt in his life.
His clan possessed innately superior bodies, more resilient to pain than others, and rarely injured due to their toughness.
This applied to both exterior and interior.
Even if wounded, their extraordinary recovery healed wounds swiftly.
Yet strangely, the ferocious, dark qi piercing his heart and the bizarre demonic nature lingering in the sword hindered that rapid healing.
‘Can’t... breathe...’
The heart puncture blocked smooth blood flow, dooming Yu Mujin toward death.
At that moment,
-Shwaaaa!
The hindering ferocious qi withdrew from his heart.
Some bizarre demonic nature remained, but with the main obstructing force gone, the pierced area began regenerating, albeit slowly.
Blood circulation resumed,
“Hahk!”
His blocked breath exploded out in a ragged gasp.
To him, Mok Kyung-un said,
“......Just controlling the demonic qi lets you breathe again. You’re making this a tough choice.”
“Haa... haa... Demonic qi?”
“Yes. Feel that qi leaving your heart?”
At Mok Kyung-un’s words, Yu Mujin’s eyes gleamed.
“......Why?”
“Out of necessity, I suppose?”
“Necessity? ...No way, because of the three-eyed freak? Wait, what’s your relation to it?”
Sudden clarity struck Yu Mujin, and he demanded of Mok Kyung-un.
In response, Mok Kyung-un stirred the demonic qi within Yu Mujin’s body.
As the ferocious qi surged actively again, Yu Mujin winced.
“I haven’t removed the demonic qi yet. It’s right by your heart, so I can shove it back in anytime.”
“You hold the reins, then?”
Mok Kyung-un smirked.
“If you get that, answer my questions obediently.”
“......”
Yu Mujin stared at Mok Kyung-un.
The demonic nature from the sword lingered in his heart, impeding recovery, but given a little time, he could escape critical condition.
For now, compliance was wiser.
“Ask away.”
“How do you know about the Three Eyes?”
“......Our clan has a bit of a grudge with them, I suppose.”
“A bit of a grudge?”
“My great-grandfather and father fought that forehead-eyed three-eyed freak—coincidence or not.”
‘Fought the Three Eyes?’
Mok Kyung-un’s gaze turned peculiar at the unexpected answer.
He wondered what their connection was, but if they’d clashed from great-grandfather to father, they were as good as enemies.
Then Yu Mujin continued.
“What’s your relation to the three-eyed freak?”
“I said questions are from me only.”
“You hold my life in your hands anyway. Can’t you answer that much...?”
-Shwaaaa!
Before he finished,
Ferocious qi flooded his heart, worsening the slowly healing wound.
-Thud!
“Ugh.”
Clutching his chest, Yu Mujin heard Mok Kyung-un chuckle.
“Your recovery’s impressive, but you didn’t think I’d kindly let the pierced wound heal, did you?”
“Haa... haa... I hoped, but guess not.”
“Good you know.”
-Shwaaaa!
As the wound worsened again, paling his face, Mok Kyung-un withdrew the demonic qi from his heart.
Casually, he added,
“Our relation to the Three Eyes is similar to yours.”
“Whew... whew... Similar? So you’re enemies too?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“But why do you wield power like the three-eyed freak?”
“Like it?”
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head.
What did he mean?
Puzzled, Yu Mujin explained.
“Our clan heals fast due to our bodies, no scars left. But that freak left an indelible scar on my father’s chest.”
“The scar didn’t fully heal?”
“Yes.”
Stroking his chin, Mok Kyung-un pondered.
Like death qi, the demonic qi born from it destroyed opponent’s qi.
Did the Three Eyes possess something similar, or power that hindered recovery?
If this Three Eyes matched what he knew, it could be useful info.
But,
“So that’s why you suspected a connection?”
“......Think there are many with such bizarre power?”
“Fair point. But like you, since that Three Eyes is tied to the death of my benefactor, we can be blood enemies at best, not allies.”
“Ah...”
At the mention of his benefactor’s death, Yu Mujin felt awkwardly sheepish.
Practically like a parent.
‘Really no connection?’
Killing his raiser made them blood enemies, as he said.
Yet their similar powers felt too coincidental.
On second thought, with control in hand, if allied with it, no reason to probe about the three-eyed freak—so suspicions eased.
Then Mok Kyung-un asked,
“Anything else you know about the Three Eyes? Tell me.”
“Nothing.”
“......Nothing?”
“Yes.”
“That’s it? You fought it, so you must know why or its purpose.”
“Really don’t. It just invaded our clan’s place and got chased off by my father—that’s all.”
One of Mok Kyung-un’s eyebrows arched up.
He seemed to have useful info, but it was disappointingly scant.
If that was truly all, further talk was pointless.
“Pity. More useful info, and I might’ve spared you as payment.”
“......Who knows.”
To uncertain Yu Mujin, Mok Kyung-un grinned chillingly.
“Correct. You’ve meddled too much in my affairs.”
-Flinch!
Feeling raw malice for the first time, Yu Mujin shivered.
He’d never met anyone like this.
Gazing warily, he said,
“You called the three-eyed freak blood enemy, fine. But why such hostility to the Tang Clan? Planning to wipe us out?”
“Depending on circumstances.”
-Grip!
Yu Mujin’s fists clenched at the words.
Too dangerous.
Strong, yes, but with such sinister malice, he might truly massacre the Tangs.
Seeing the clenched fists, Mok Kyung-un sneered.
“No idea what tie you have to the Tangs to defend them so fiercely.”
“......Distant kin, so not unrelated.”
“Distant kin?”
“Yes, distant.”
“So blood ties, worth protecting?”
“A bit far, but does family need more reason?”
Mok Kyung-un snickered.
Then,
“Ah, I see. So for distant family worth protecting, what of those who killed them?”
“......What do you mean?”
At his reaction, Mok Kyung-un spoke meaningfully.
“My benefactor was from a Tang Clan branch, blood-linked. Yet the Tang Clan head killed her with formless poison.”
‘!!!!!!!’