Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 10
>Chapter Title: Martial Genius (5)
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Is this guy really the Mok Kyung-un I knew?
Mok Yu-cheon, glaring at Mok Kyung-un with eyes full of rage, spoke in a low voice as well.
“……Fine, you’re right. If that manual falls into our brothers’ hands, my position is as good as done.”
“You’ve grasped your situation well, so now for the de……”
“But you know, have you ever considered that I could beat you half to death until that manual’s incantations spill from your lips?”
-Crack!
With those words, Mok Yu-cheon seized Mok Kyung-un’s wrist, which was resting on his shoulder.
He channeled his internal energy and squeezed.
Veins bulged on the back of Mok Kyung-un’s hand, looking ready to burst at any moment.
Mok Yu-cheon said, radiating killing intent.
“A little more pressure, and I could cripple that wrist of yours.”
-Kraaack!
Mok Yu-cheon tightened his grip further.
A twisting sound came from the hand he held—any more, and it would truly be dangerous.
‘If things go south, I’ll lash out too, so you’d better realize that……!?’
Mok Yu-cheon furrowed his brow.
He’d expected Mok Kyung-un to writhe in agony by now.
Yet Mok Kyung-un’s expression hadn’t changed.
He was just staring right at him.
‘This guy?’
Enduring this?
His wrist bones were on the verge of snapping—didn’t that scare him?
For a moment, Mok Yu-cheon was dumbfounded.
This wasn’t about endurance.
“……What are you? Are you really Mok Kyung-un?”
‘Gasp!’
At those words from Mok Yu-cheon, Go Chan—who had been watching anxiously from behind—froze.
The prolonged contact was making him uneasy.
Had they been found out?
If so, it was the worst possible scenario.
But then Mok Kyung-un smirked and looked straight at Mok Yu-cheon as he spoke.
“So what do you think?”
Mok Yu-cheon’s eyes narrowed at the utter lack of tremor in his demeanor.
The difference from the cowardly weakling he remembered felt utterly alien.
To him, Mok Kyung-un said,
“You talk like you know all about me—what makes you think you do?”
“That I don’t know you……”
“Yeah. What do you know? That we’re half-brothers and there was that incident two years ago—what else gives you the right to ask like that?”
“……”
Faced with the confident question, Mok Yu-cheon shut his mouth.
The sheer audacity left him speechless.
The changes over two years had puzzled him already, and now being questioned in return left him at a loss.
He hadn’t even talked much with the guy before that clash two years ago.
As half-brothers, and the son of a lowly courtesan, everyone had shunned and ignored him.
This guy was no different.
‘Annoying.’
So why was he acting so arrogant now?
The question of what he knew about him was exactly what he wanted to throw at everyone in this Mok Clan.
-Grind!
Biting his lip hard, Mok Yu-cheon finally released the pressure on the hand he gripped.
He let go of Mok Kyung-un’s wrist and said,
“Just one question. Why me?”
“Why you?”
“Yeah. None of you guys ever acknowledged me. So why not deal with those prized bloodlines instead?”
Mok Kyung-un replied nonchalantly.
“You’re the least bad out of the brothers, that’s all.”
“……”
Mok Yu-cheon fell silent for a moment.
He stared piercingly into Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
He’d assumed Mok Kyung-un hated him too, after that incident two years ago, just like he did.
Hearing this was unexpected.
Of course, it didn’t magically mend their relationship.
‘……Did I underestimate this guy?’
The thought crossed his mind.
He’d hoped someone would recognize him, but he’d never tried recognizing anyone else.
Maybe Mok Kyung-un really had changed over these two years.
Lowering his guard, Mok Yu-cheon straightened up and said,
“Hoo……Fine. Let’s do this deal or whatever.”
“Good.”
“What do you want?”
Though he didn’t show it, Mok Yu-cheon inwardly worried about what demands Mok Kyung-un might make.
Handing over a manual called the Clan Head’s exclusive martial arts was a massive concession.
Considering its value, he wouldn’t ask for something trivial.
He hoped it wouldn’t exceed what he could grant.
To such a Mok Yu-cheon, Mok Kyung-un held up three fingers.
“Three demands.”
“What?”
“I figure that’s worth about this much.”
Mok Yu-cheon said nothing in response.
He couldn’t deny it.
So he’d hear what they were first.
“That’s a lot. Anyway, what are they?”
“They’re not hard for you.”
“……Got it. Speak.”
“First, if you become Clan Head, leave me alone—at least out of the brothers.”
A glint entered Mok Yu-cheon’s eyes at those words.
Not a particularly tough demand, for sure.
From Mok Kyung-un’s position, it might even be a given.
If he became Clan Head with the retainers’ backing, he’d naturally war with the other half-brothers anyway.
‘Even if I don’t like the guy, it’s not a bad demand for me either.’
One less enemy.
He agreed readily.
“Fine. I can accept that. Next?”
“If you become Clan Head, I want ongoing financial support.”
“Financial?”
“Yeah.”
“……Fine.”
Not a tough one either.
It sounded less like demanding huge sums and more like asking to be treated as a proper member of Timber Sword Manor going forward.
Mok Yu-cheon accepted, deeming it acceptable.
Relieved there were no massive demands as feared.
But he couldn’t let his guard down.
The last one might be big.
“What’s the last?”
“Nothing major. I want the heart method and incantations for Timber Sword Manor’s foundational arts.”
“What?”
Mok Yu-cheon scowled at the unexpected demand.
Go Chan grew anxious inside at his reaction.
They’d luckily dodged the identity issue, but this could reignite suspicions.
‘Will it work?’
As he fretted, Mok Kyung-un said casually,
“You heard me. The heart method and incantations for Timber Sword Manor’s foundational arts.”
Mok Yu-cheon replied in disbelief.
“You know this, right?”
“I do.”
“Then why demand that? It’s hardly……”
“Truth is, the third one’s not really necessary.”
‘Huh?’
Go Chan stared at the back of Mok Kyung-un’s head, baffled.
What was this?
Not necessary?
Mok Yu-cheon echoed his confusion.
“Not necessary?”
“Yeah. The first two are what I really want. The third is just for my personal check.”
Mok Yu-cheon smoothed his furrowed brow.
He tilted his head and asked,
“Check what?”
“Nothing big. Just verifying if what I know is correct.”
“Verifying what you know?”
“Yeah. No other reason.”
Mok Yu-cheon let out a faint chuckle at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
Go Chan found it odd.
Instead of suspecting from the vague words, why that reaction?
The next words explained it.
“You suspecting Father?”
‘!?’
“That he taught me something different?”
‘No way?’
Go Chan’s eyes widened.
This was utterly unforeseen.
He hadn’t expected Mok Yu-cheon to jump to conclusions like that instead of doubting.
Mok Kyung-un replied nonchalantly,
“Just want to confirm.”
“No difference.”
“We’ll see once you tell me.”
Mok Yu-cheon snorted.
He shook his head and said,
“Pointless to check, but you’re doing needless work.”
“If there’s nothing off, just tell me. I can verify right away from what you say.”
“You really ask for the absurd.”
“No loss for you anyway.”
“……True enough.”
“Then recite the foundational incantations right here. I’ll confirm after you do.”
“What? Here?”
Mok Yu-cheon glanced around and scowled as he retorted.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged and said,
“Why? Worried someone’s eavesdropping? Or no confidence you’ll memorize it orally?”
Irritated, Mok Yu-cheon shot back,
“You’re just verifying what you know, while I have to memorize a supreme art’s incantations from scratch—big difference!”
“Oh……right. Should I write it down and send it?”
Mok Yu-cheon paused at that.
Writing would be easier, but on second thought, no.
‘I need to hear it here.’
Just in case.
He’d checked the manual, but Mok Kyung-un might slip wrong incantations.
Better to hear it orally here.
That way, if he repeated and something was off, he could spot it.
Deeming it wise, Mok Yu-cheon said,
“No, here. But keep reciting until I memorize the whole thing.”
“No problem.”
Thus, their deal was sealed.
* * *
About two and a half hours passed.
On the way back to the medicine hall.
Go Chan watched Mok Kyung-un’s light steps ahead and clicked his tongue in amazement.
‘Truly impressive.’
He had to admit it this time.
He knew Mok Kyung-un was smart from constant exposure, but not to this extent.
Originally, the only thing Mok Kyung-un wanted was the foundational arts.
Yet he’d frontloaded plausible demands to dispel Mok Yu-cheon’s suspicions.
And for the foundational arts, he framed it as verifying what he knew, smoothly steering the mood.
‘Ha……really……’
Incredibly cunning.
Luck played a part too.
Mok Yu-cheon’s self-assumed conclusions let Mok Kyung-un exploit the situation perfectly.
His quick wits made it possible.
‘Hard to be more natural than that.’
An extraordinary guy.
But one curiosity lingered.
He’d gotten the foundational incantations from Mok Yu-cheon, but only heard them once for “verification.”
Could he memorize that much from one listen?
Debating whether to ask, Go Chan finally did.
“……Young Master. But you only heard the incantations once—everything okay?”
“What about it?”
“There’s too much to memorize in one go……”
“What’s hard about it?”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t that easy to memorize after one listen?”
‘!?’
Go Chan’s eyes bulged.
That massive foundational arts incantation—nearly half an hour’s worth—memorized in one go?
It covered fist techniques, sword arts, basic energy circulation, and lightness skills.
Impossible to commit to memory from one hearing.
Even Mok Yu-cheon, called a prodigy, had needed Mok Kyung-un to repeat it orally eight or nine times to barely memorize.
“……You really memorized it in one?”
“Yes. Not that hard—what’s weird?”
“……”
Not hard?
Did that make him and Mok Yu-cheon idiots?
He’d thought memorizing in two hours orally was impressive.
‘Ha.’
If true, this guy’s mind was genius-level.
Amazed inwardly, Go Chan shook his head.
Couldn’t judge him by normal standards.
Better to assume he could.
“……No, I asked because I couldn’t do it in one. Anyway, glad the deal went smoothly. But you sure it’s fine?”
“What about?”
“It’s a deal, but giving Mok Yu-cheon Young Master the manual so readily?”
Mok Yu-cheon was better than the others temperament-wise.
He’d likely honor it unless something huge happened.
Still felt like a waste.
Wasn’t he yielding a chance at retainers’ support?
Mok Kyung-un replied casually,
“It’s not the real incantations anyway—no issue sharing.”
“……Pardon?”
Go Chan scowled.
What now?
“Young Master……what do you mean?”
“Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said—keep it secret, just you, Go Chan Escort.”
“Pardon?”
As Go Chan questioned, Mok Kyung-un draped an arm over his shoulder, grinned, and whispered in his ear.
“It’s a secret, so only you know. In the Timber Transforming Heart Method and Timber Forming Sword Art incantations, I swapped letters every ten or thirteen characters, twisting meanings. Nervy wondering if he’d catch it, but he bought it.”
‘!?’
Hearing that, Go Chan was utterly shocked.
He’d thought it odd how readily Mok Kyung-un handed over the manual.
But he’d given tampered incantations?
Wrong practice could lead to qi deviation, crippling or death.
“Young Master, if he……”
“Why?”
Mok Kyung-un asked with his signature icy smile.
‘!!!!!!’
Go Chan got chills all over.
This guy didn’t care if the youngest young master lived or died.
‘……He really is a devil.’
The mood had seemed warm earlier.
Both satisfied with the deal—or so he thought.
The true winner was this devil.
-Hoo.
Yet another being watched from above, clicking its tongue.
It was Cheong-ryeong.
Cheong-ryeong puffed on his pipe, gazing at Mok Kyung-un.
‘Insane mortal.’
Utterly absurd.
That Go Chan mortal was oblivious.
To the fact that Mok Kyung-un had improvised over eighty characters mid-recitation, and repeated them back to Mok Yu-cheon nine times without a single mistake.
Beyond genius.
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