Chapter 431
Chapter 431
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 112
>Chapter Title: The State of Affairs (3)
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It was truly a stroke of coincidence.
Mok Kyung-un had anticipated that retrieving Wi So-yeon would be quite difficult from the outset.
Yet even he could not have imagined that the most insurmountable obstacle would be resolved by an unexpected variable.
‘Variable.’
The corner of Mok Kyung-un’s mouth twitched faintly.
[You will certainly feel the difference between having reliable allies at your side and not.]
He had never dismissed Cheong-ryeong’s words lightly, but at his core, he believed that in the very end, no one could be trusted but himself.
Who could have predicted that Go Chan of all people would play such a pivotal role?
This sparked Mok Kyung-un’s interest in the concept of karma.
-Are you fucking serious? Can you really not hear me?
-Shh!
Mok Kyung-un formed a hand seal with his left hand, grasping the karmic bond linking him to Go Chan, and transmitted his intent directly into his mind.
-I said wait.
-Huh! M-Master. Did you just hear what I said…?
-What did you say?
-Phew.
Go Chan was so flustered that Mok Kyung-un’s words brought him profound relief.
-Ah, it’s nothing.
Mok Kyung-un chuckled inwardly at Go Chan’s reaction.
It was simply a matter of overlooking the continued insults, given that what could have been the greatest obstacle had instead earned him crucial merit.
-So what should we do, Master? I can’t pinpoint the exact location. But if you follow the karmic bond…
-Don’t worry about that. Soon… No.
Something suddenly flashed through Mok Kyung-un’s mind.
He had planned to simply retrieve Go Chan and Wi So-yeon’s bodies, but it occurred to him that he could turn this situation to his advantage.
With that,
-Remain in position for now.
-Pardon? Remain in position? You mean stay like this?
-Yes.
-…Ah? Uh? Um… Understood.
What choice did he have when ordered to wait?
Though he felt stifled inside the coffin, without Mok Kyung-un’s help, escape was impossible, so he had no option but to wait grudgingly.
-Shh!
Mok Kyung-un touched another karmic bond and sent his intent along with a hand seal.
-Halt the search for Wi So-yeon. Follow Demon Beast Heum-won to secure Cheong-ryeong’s location.
This was directed at Fox Demon Heum-won.
Even if he wanted to wrap up Heavenly Alliance matters as quickly as possible, he couldn’t immediately resume the search, which was why he had dispatched the aerially mobile Fox Demon Heum-won in advance.
As Mok Kyung-un issued orders to Yi Mae-mang-ryang, whom he had taken as his familiar, Seop-chun, finding the silence odd, spoke up.
“My lord, if her presence troubles you, I’ll detain her separately for interrogation.”
At his words, Milhoe’s First Division leader Chun-chu cackled.
“Surrendered, and now you talk of interrogation? No respect.”
“Amusing, is it? I hear over a dozen allies died by your hand. Beheading you for public display wouldn’t be amiss…”
“Rookie’s got no chill.”
“What?”
“Even if she surrendered, we have our own code of honor here.”
“Hah?”
Seop-chun’s face twisted in disbelief at Chun-chu’s mockery.
Most in the hall were executives who could be called the lord’s trusted confidants without exaggeration.
Though he might lack seniority here, he believed his loyalty to Mok Kyung-un matched anyone’s.
-Shing!
Seop-chun half-drew his Radiant Martial Blade, his voice laced with killing intent.
“Looks like you need some discipline.”
“Enough.”
At that moment, Demon Subduing Fist Master Breaking Precepts Monk Ja Geum-jeong restrained him.
While others might not know, he was one of the few present who had crossed blades with First Division leader Chun-chu.
Thus, he knew her terrifying prowess better than anyone.
Even if his own martial arts had soared immensely alongside the lord, his opponent was a transcendent master on par with the Seven Heavens’ grandmaster-level expert, Eternal Sword Mountain Manor’s Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu.
If they fought, Seop-chun wouldn’t last more than a few exchanges.
“If you say that, where does that leave my face…?”
“Keheh. No need to worry about face. That woman’s no ordinary human to begin with. Here, only the lord and this old man could face her one-on-one.”
“Hahaha.”
Gu Cheon-mu, Clan Head of Eternal Sword Mountain Manor, burst into hearty laughter at being called “old man.”
Though he had finally officially joined, this atmosphere—being part of a group at his age—was a first for him.
‘That mad bald monk pledging loyalty to the lord… now that’s something you don’t see every day.’
Destruction King Ho Tae-gang inwardly clicked his tongue.
Most bearing the title of the Three Madmen were not the type to serve under anyone.
Yet two of them had entered Lord Mok Kyung-un’s service.
It was quite astonishing.
Light Sword Guest Ji Oe was one thing, but what shocked everyone was Eternal Sword Mountain Manor’s Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu.
Who could have imagined securing one of the Seven Heavens under his banner?
He had worried the faction would weaken from internal war casualties, but that concern was now moot.
New power had filled the void.
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“Since you surrendered willingly, answer as required, and you’ll be treated accordingly.”
“Now we’re talking.”
“Where is the main body?”
“…”
Chun-chu was momentarily speechless at Mok Kyung-un’s blunt question.
Mentioning the main body meant he knew far more than she had anticipated.
No wonder Mok Gan had gone to such lengths personally.
“Why so quiet?”
“It’s not silence—it’s shock. Figuring out it’s not even the main body… no wonder the world’s Mok Gan keeps you in check. So you’re the prophesied one after all. Heavenly Demon.”
The executives couldn’t hide their confusion.
Few grasped the conversation’s meaning.
Ignoring it, Mok Kyung-un continued.
“Cut the nonsense. Tell me where Mok Gan—no, Three Eyes’ true body is.”
“You’re odd. That’s not the pressing matter now. Wi So…”
-Grrrrrr!
Before she could finish,
A crushing pressure made her eyebrows twitch.
Immense energy bore down on her, the force so overwhelming her knees trembled.
-Crack!
Even her soles began to crack.
‘This man… going to suppress me with raw power?’
She could endure for now.
But if the pressure intensified, she wouldn’t hold without reverting to her Yi Mae-mang-ryang true form, abandoning her human guise.
-Grrrrrr!
The suppressive force grew stronger.
Had he not used full power against Mok Gan?
To oppress her this much with aura released while seated…
It was inhumanly strong.
‘Tch.’
No counter.
Revealing her true form meant losing this beautiful appearance for an ugly one.
She who cherished her current form refused that.
Thus,
-Thud!
‘I’ll play along.’
Chun-chu dropped to her knees.
Mok Kyung-un’s eyes gleamed at the sight.
With his pupil force unleashed, he saw her suppressed demonic energy.
Like the deceased Gang Yeom and other First Division members, she hid her Yi Mae-mang-ryang power—and hadn’t revealed it.
Her speech and demeanor screamed pride. What was her game?
It didn’t seem mere surrender due to her master’s defeat.
“If your goal is clear, you’d lead us there anyway—no need to track you.”
“Fair point. You really grow on me.”
Kneeling, she exposed her cleavage and licked her lips.
Eternal Sword Mountain Manor’s Gu Cheon-mu and Venom King Baek Sa-hwa frowned and looked away.
They saw her as a wanton vixen.
Yet Mok Kyung-un’s gaze remained unchanged amid her seduction.
Instead,
“I said cut the nonsense.”
“…You’re the first in ages to stir my interest.”
“Sigh.”
-Shh!
Mok Kyung-un subtly raised his sword formula manual.
In that instant,
-Eek!
Sensing chilling sword intent from behind, she hastily tried to lurch forward, but
-Pierce! Pierce!
She couldn’t move forward or back.
Two formless swords, generated in midair, had crossed and pinned the nape of her neck.
‘What is this?’
Chun-chu instinctively knew.
Though faint, this razor-sharp energy crossing behind her neck and piercing the floor would be hard to block even in true form.
Chun-chu slowly lifted her head to gaze at Mok Kyung-un.
‘…Could it work?’
Could this man stand against that monstrous Mok Gan?
She had chosen to feign surrender and side with him for that purpose—but she refused a dog’s death.
Staring intently at Mok Kyung-un, she spoke.
“As Gang Yeom and Ghost Sword said, you’ve got potential too.”
At “Ghost Sword,” Mok Kyung-un paused his sword formula, halting the pressure.
“Potential? What are you talking about?”
“I’m gambling my life on this one throw.”
“Gambling?”
“Yes. Mok Gan will learn soon enough, and when he does, there’ll be a price—likely death.”
Intrigue flickered in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
Was this woman truly surrendering, not scheming?
Doubt and curiosity mingled.
If she were merely Third Division level, it’d make sense—but she held high rank in Milhoe.
A non-human turning on Three Eyes to join him?
Doubt lingered stronger as she continued.
“Listen close—it’s important. Only two First Division members know Mok Gan’s location.”
“Ghost Sword and Demon Breaker.”
Chun-chu furrowed her brow at Mok Kyung-un’s words.
“Gang Yeom told you?”
“Yes.”
“…All that ‘ancient this, lofty that’ posturing, and he spilled everything. Desperate not to die, huh.”
Chun-chu clicked her tongue.
She’d thought Gang Yeom would die silent.
But true colors show only in crisis.
Mok Kyung-un told her,
“If you’ll just repeat what he said, you’re not that useful either.”
“No, I’m useful. A woman as captivating as me offering to join you?”
Mok Kyung-un snorted.
“Already tiring of you—what now?”
-Shh!
As he twitched the sword formula, the formless swords at her neck stirred.
Feeling the blade edge at her throat, Chun-chu tsked.
“You’re a handful. Fine, easy men bore me. But once you find Ghost Sword, how will you pry Mok Gan’s location from him?”
Mok Kyung-un replied nonchalantly.
“Think he won’t talk?”
“Sorry, but he’s not like Gang Yeom or the others. He’d die before yielding to force. That’s why he followed the Assembly Leader despite the risks.”
‘Followed the Assembly Leader?’
Come to think of it, one part of Mo-yak’s tale had puzzled him.
It felt like Ghost Sword moved at the Assembly Leader’s whim.
If true, was there a rift within Mok Gan’s inner circle?
As he pondered, Chun-chu smirked.
“With the Assembly Leader dead, only one can sway him.”
“You, you mean?”
“Exactly.”
“How do you convince someone who’d die before submitting? Got a secret weapon?”
“The best one. Ghost Sword and I share blood.”
‘!?’
[Chapter 112: The State of Affairs (3)] End