Chapter 385
Chapter 385
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 101
>Chapter Title: Sudden Change (1)
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One of the training grounds within the inner compound of the Heaven-Earth Society.
Yeop Wiseon, the second disciple of Bright Sword King Son Yun—one of the Five Kings, the upper echelon of the Heaven-Earth Society—wore an expression of utter disbelief.
"Huff... huff..."
A man in his mid-thirties with short stubble beard gasped for breath roughly.
He was Woo Horang, Yeop Wiseon's senior brother, the Grand Commander of the Palace Guard Unit, and one of the Five Tigers hailed as the finest among the society's later-generation experts.
-Drip!
Blood trickled from Woo Horang's right hand gripping his sword.
'...Impossible.'
His senior brother had been defeated.
The unbelievable had become reality.
"Impressive."
The scar-covered middle-aged man spoke up.
He was none other than Bright Sword King Son Yun.
Son Yun also bore a look of considerable surprise, and for good reason—the spar had defied all expectations, with his newly taken youngest disciple besting his senior disciple, Woo Horang.
That new disciple was none other than Mok Yu-cheon.
'...He's devoted himself lately, but to this extent?'
Mok Yu-cheon was the one he'd forcibly brought back from Blood Star Valley as a makeshift "substitute" in place of Mok Kyung-un.
Of course, he'd chosen him for his comparable talent and spirit, and that choice had proven right.
This one was another genius whose potential had yet to bloom.
He never imagined he'd defeat even Woo Horang, whom he'd earmarked as his successor, in a mere few months.
'Entertaining.'
What an ironic twist.
The two scions of Timber Sword Manor, whom he'd dragged in as hostages by his own hand, had both bested his disciples.
If they weren't from the righteous faction, he'd want to name one his heir.
Regrettably, he'd have to settle for having them as disciples.
-Crack!
Mok Yu-cheon's right arm, swollen black, returned to normal.
Since learning to somewhat control the Reverse Blood Great Law through his teachings, his growth had surged—what were the limits of that potential?
His master's satisfied gaze on Mok Yu-cheon made Woo Horang bite his lip hard.
How had things come to this?
He'd redoubled his training to reclaim his honor from that punk.
Yet he'd never dreamed he'd lose even to the punk's younger brother.
That expression on his master was one of genuine approval.
'Ah. This is the worst.'
It felt like the Mok clan had stolen everything from him.
The punk's brother had his master's favor, and the punk himself had stolen the heart of the woman he loved.
Ever since he'd tried to assert dominance, Lady Wi So-yeon had kept her distance, refusing private meetings with her subordinates.
Before that punk appeared, she'd relied on him.
-Grind!
Woo Horang bit his lip until blood trickled, then offered a fist salute to his master, Bright Sword King Son Yun, before storming out of the training ground with heavy steps.
Son Yun watched him go with a faint sigh.
He understood his defeated disciple's feelings, but offered no comfort in his teachings.
He only hoped the one to be his successor would overcome it himself.
And,
'A rival close at hand will make you grow even more.'
* * *
-Tatata!
Yeop Wiseon hurriedly dashed after his senior brother Woo Horang.
"Senior Brother!"
Woo Horang ignored the call and kept walking, but had to stop when Yeop Wiseon blocked his path.
Woo Horang spoke in an irritated tone.
"What is this?"
"Senior Brother, no matter how I think about it, this isn't right."
"What's not?"
"Master must not be in his right mind to treat you like this."
"..."
So that was what he wanted to say.
Today he'd lost to that punk, but Yeop Wiseon had already fallen to Mok Yu-cheon before.
His resentment had been building since then, held back only by pride—it was obvious.
But now that even he had lost, he was using it as an excuse to vent.
"...If that's all you have to say, step aside."
"Senior Brother!"
"A spar is just a spar."
With that, Woo Horang tried to push past Yeop Wiseon.
Yeop Wiseon raised his voice.
"Are you some saintly gentleman, putting up with this every time?"
"What?"
"Those damn Mok clan bastards are about to take everything we have, and you want to endure it? That's not patience—it's stupidity."
-Smack!
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Woo Horang grabbed him by the collar.
"You really want to die..."
"Why take it out on me? Don't you have a real target for your anger?"
"What?"
"The Mok clan bastards."
"...You're truly exasperating."
"It's not exasperation— if we don't deal with them, we'll really lose everything, Senior Brothers. Do you plan to regret it then?"
Woo Horang's eyes flickered faintly at Yeop Wiseon's words.
He'd dismissed it as immature whining from his junior, but he was human too.
Of course resentment would boil to the brim.
Who wouldn't want to cut down those two Mok brothers right now?
But,
'No.'
His pride wouldn't allow it.
Crush them with skill, not tricks or schemes—that was for the weak.
And if he did, would his master or Lady Wi So-yeon, whom he served as lord, acknowledge him?
No.
She'd only be disappointed.
So he had to turn this pain into nourishment and grow stronger.
Only by crushing the Mok brothers with raw power could he achieve his goals.
-Shove!
Woo Horang released the collar and roughly pushed Yeop Wiseon away.
"Stop with the nonsense and focus on your training."
"Senior Brother!"
"I'll hear all the complaints you want, but abandon any thoughts of more than that. If you can't do it with your own strength, it's meaningless. That's all the advice I can give."
"How can you..."
"I'm going."
With that, Woo Horang walked off without another word.
Yeop Wiseon glared at his back with resentful eyes.
He thought only his senior brother, in the same boat, would understand—but being pushed away like this filled him with bitterness.
-Thud!
Fuming, Yeop Wiseon kicked a wall and stormed off somewhere.
Someone watched his retreating figure.
It was Mok Yu-cheon.
"Whew."
Mok Yu-cheon shook his head.
He'd followed upon seeing Yeop Wiseon tail him, suspecting foul play.
Fortunately, Senior Brother Woo Horang's strong pride kept him from falling for it.
If he'd allied with Yeop Wiseon, it would've been troublesome.
'I still need to get much stronger—no distractions.'
His targets weren't these two senior brothers.
Though half-brothers, he believed they shared blood—his goal was revenge on Mok Kyung-un, who'd betrayed him from behind, and restoring justice.
'It's near. I'll cut you down myself.'
* * *
-Tatata!
Yeop Wiseon, who had been flying along with lightness skill for a while, stopped to scan the surroundings.
He then headed to a secluded warehouse-like building.
Once inside, Yeop Wiseon,
-Clap! Clap! Clap-clap!
Clapped in a rhythmic pattern.
The dark warehouse lit up, revealing someone.
It was none other than,
"Brother Mo."
Mo Yak, the right-hand man of Eldest Young Master Na Yul-lyang, the firstborn disciple of the Heaven-Earth Society's Chief.
Why was he waiting in such a secret spot for Yeop Wiseon?
The reason soon became clear.
Mo Yak, holding a lantern, smiled faintly.
"So, did you succeed in convincing Brother Wu?"
"..."
Yeop Wiseon sighed and shook his head at the question.
As if expecting it, Mo Yak shrugged.
He'd anticipated failure from the start.
Having approached Woo Horang multiple times to persuade him to serve Eldest Young Master Na Yul-lyang, he knew his stubbornness well.
With his strong pride, he'd never join them—that much was clear.
The wildcard Mok Yu-cheon offered slim hope, but it was futile.
'Doesn't matter anyway.'
Woo Horang was expendable either way.
"Brother Mo... just give me a bit more time..."
-Pat-pat!
Mo Yak patted his shoulder soothingly.
"It's fine. Take your time convincing Brother Wu. What the Eldest Young Master is counting on is you."
"...Really?"
"Absolutely."
Mo Yak's lip curled at Yeop Wiseon's eager face.
Truth be told, Woo Horang's stubbornness made him a pain.
But someone overflowing with greed and jealousy was perfect to manipulate.
Easy to shape into any picture desired.
* * *
Late at night.
Someone was pouring liquor on a grave marker.
It was none other than Ho Jong-hyeok, Grand Commander of the Destruction Unit.
He was the son of Destruction King Ho Tae-gang, one of the Five Kings and the true First Peak of the Five Mountains Society led by Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak, the Chief's second disciple.
Of course, that was months ago.
Now, inside that body was not Ho Jong-hyeok himself, but the lingering spirit of Second Peak Wi Maeng-cheon.
"Sigh..."
Wi Maeng-cheon, possessing Ho Jong-hyeok's body, let out a long sigh.
He always felt restless visiting this place.
The grave marker read "Wi Maeng-cheon."
'To gaze at my dead flesh's grave with these eyes I'd longed to see with my whole life...'
-Gulp gulp!
Wi Maeng-cheon downed the liquor bottle he'd poured on the marker.
As a blind man, his dream had been to see.
Who could've imagined it'd happen like this?
'Even though I lost my body, should I be content to live on like this?'
The marker always stirred complex emotions.
But there was no choice.
Bound as Mok Kyung-un's familiar spirit, he had to obey his commands.
As he drained the remaining liquor,
-Clang!
Wi Maeng-cheon dropped the bottle and jerked his head back.
-Swish!
A sharp blade aura passed over his tilted head.
It was saber energy.
Dodging the saber energy, Wi Maeng-cheon hastily leaped back with footwork.
From the distance, his eyes gleamed.
'!?'
The one who'd launched the saber energy at him was none other than,
"Eldest Young Master?"
It was Eldest Young Master Na Yul-lyang.
Na Yul-lyang smiled faintly.
"No matter how much you miss an old comrade, wandering alone these days is dangerous."
His smiling face belied the murderous threat.
Wi Maeng-cheon's glare sharpened as he eyed Na Yul-lyang.
'Bold as ever.'
He'd been inwardly wary of his recent moves to solidify the succession, but never expected such a brazen attack.
Gripping the handle of the axe on his back, Wi Maeng-cheon said,
"If I die, you'll have to face the alliance of those two junior brothers head-on—are you fully prepared?"
"Who knows. That's not for you to worry about."
No sooner had he spoken than Na Yul-lyang's form scattered like smoke.
* * *
"Doesn't this look convincing enough?"
-Smack!
Eldest Young Master Na Yul-lyang draped an arm over someone's shoulder.
The someone stared in shock at the corpse of Ho Jong-hyeok (possessed by Wi Maeng-cheon).
It was Bright Sword King Son Yun's second disciple, Yeop Wiseon.
'He... really killed him.'
Yeop Wiseon was utterly flustered.
Just last evening, he'd been thrilled.
Eldest Young Master Na Yul-lyang had accepted him under his wing, even hosting a drinking party.
Yet now, one of Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak's men lay dead by his hand.
Trouble enough already, but Ho Jong-hyeok's backer wasn't just the Second Young Master—his father was Destruction King Ho Tae-gang too.
'...Killing a son of one of the Eight Stars.'
Destruction King Ho Tae-gang.
He was one of the Eight Stars, the pinnacle experts of the current martial world.
He never imagined he'd kill such a man's son so brazenly.
Even more bewildering was,
'Is this why he asked to see my saber arts?'
Na Yul-lyang had mimicked a portion of the saber techniques Yeop Wiseon had shown, slaying Ho Jong-hyeok.
To anyone, it screamed Bright Sword King's lineage.
Only then did Yeop Wiseon grasp his true intent.
'...To drive a wedge between Master and Destruction King—no, between Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak and Lady Wi So-yeon's alliance.'
-Grip!
Yeop Wiseon's fist clenched.
Too late for regrets now.
What was done was done—if he revealed the truth, his own life was forfeit.
-Slither!
As he stood dumbfounded, the possessing spirit emerged from Ho Jong-hyeok's corpse.
It was Wi Maeng-cheon.
Forced out by the body's death, Wi Maeng-cheon clicked his tongue.
He knew Na Yul-lyang's aim.
'Framing it as Bright Sword King's disciple killing Destruction King's son—they'll surely clash. That splits the alliance's power.'
No wonder the saber arts felt off instead of swordplay.
He'd thought him proactive, but Eldest Young Master Na Yul-lyang was no pushover.
But he'd overlooked one thing.
The possession itself.
He could warn Go Chan, possessing Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak's body, and reveal the truth.
Then Na Yul-lyang would face the wrath of two Kings.
'All his scheming down the drain...'
It was then.
-Slash!
'What?'
Something cleaved Wi Maeng-cheon's form.
Turning in panic, he saw Eldest Young Master Na Yul-lyang with his right eyepatch off.
Golden irises with pupils tiny as pinpricks.
Fierce savagery like a beast, not human—and that pinpoint focus locked on him.
'He can see me?'
He was fully aware of him.
[Episode 101 Sudden Change (1)] End