Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 22
>Chapter Title: Shadow Steps (3)
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When a person falls into extreme fear, they say the sphincter or bladder loses control.
Neung Hwayang, who had passed out with her eyes rolled back and foam at her mouth, had even wet herself.
-Drip, drip, drip!
Seeing this, Mok Kyung-un clicked his tongue.
"Hmm. So insensitivity to pain and fear are separate things, huh."
As Mok Kyung-un smacked his lips in disappointment, Cheongryeong's voice rang in his ear.
-I think I know your true calling, you rascal.
"Huh?"
-You'd make the perfect torturer. No one could hold out against that kind of terror. Hell, they'd spill everything before the actual torture even starts.
"You think so?"
-You sure know how to scare people. You're a natural at this stuff.
"It wasn't just about scaring her."
Mok Kyung-un shrugged nonchalantly.
-......
What?
So he really intended to peel off all her skin right in front of her eyes?
That's some seriously twisted taste.
Cheongryeong clicked her tongue in disbelief.
-Anyway, you're out of your mind.
At her reaction, Mok Kyung-un chuckled.
"Just kidding. Kidding."
-Yeah, right.
"No, really. Even if I enjoy bloodshed, there's no reason to do something so inefficient."
-Inefficient?
"Yeah. It's a waste of time. Takes way too long. And if they die midway through skinning, it's all for nothing."
-......
Why does it feel like he'd do it if given the chance?
Suspicious.
Does this guy even see humans as different from animals, bugs, or objects?
This rascal's view on death was completely different from everyone else's.
Just then, Mok Kyung-un spoke up.
"Still, I learned one thing."
-What?
"Even without pain, fear is something they can't control."
He had tested whether someone who confidently claimed no pain meant no fear or dread.
If that were possible, it would've been quite amusing.
But contrary to Mok Kyung-un's hopes, Neung Hwayang couldn't overcome her terror and fainted.
Cheongryeong remarked,
-For any living being, emotions are a realm that can't be fully mastered, no matter the training.
"Maybe you're right."
He couldn't deny it.
Even if not fear specifically.
Ever since Grandfather's death, the anger buried deep inside hadn't diminished with time—it only grew.
It was like boiling lava.
With this momentum, who knew what he might do next.
"Aaah. By the way, why did this lady come to my room to pull off something like this?"
-What? You mean trying to mate with you?
"......That's a very direct and amusing way to put it."
-What are you playing innocent for now?
Mok Kyung-un shrugged at Cheongryeong's words.
She sneered.
-Either way, if it was a honey trap, it was a total waste of effort.
From what she'd observed, this rascal wasn't the type to fall for that.
He never took anything at face value.
Even pure goodwill without ulterior motives earned deep suspicion from Mok Kyung-un.
In a way, he was the type who was hardest to deceive.
"Anyway, I need to wake her up and ask why she tried this. She wouldn't have done it without reason."
-I agree.
Approaching after learning his name already suggested purpose.
And that purpose was definitely not physical relations.
-Squeeze!
Mok Kyung-un stomped hard on the center of her chest.
"Time to wake up."
She coughed and came to.
"Cough! Cough!"
Upon waking, she blankly stared ahead for a moment, locked eyes with Mok Kyung-un, then flinched and averted her gaze.
The fear she'd acquired was etched deep in her heart—it wouldn't fade in an instant.
She hurriedly touched her skin with her hands.
Then sighed in relief.
'Haa.'
If her skin had been peeled off when she opened her eyes, she truly wouldn't have endured.
Fortunately, it wasn't the case yet.
Looking down at her, Mok Kyung-un smiled.
"Feeling relieved?"
-She flinched!
"You have to be awake to see the look on your face when I peel your skin."
'T-This psycho......'
His words sent chills through her entire body.
After becoming a body that felt no pain, she'd thought fear was gone.
But this guy was beyond normal.
His thinking was utterly abnormal.
-Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her heart raced wildly again.
Mok Kyung-un snickered and spoke.
"Fainting again would be a problem."
At those words, she unwittingly blurted out something she shouldn't.
"P-Please!"
'Huh?'
What did she just say?
Did she beg?
She'd undergone such rigorous training to become a Shadow Steps agent.
If captured by enemies, never open your mouth no matter the torture, and in the worst case, suicide.
That was the basic code for all Shadow Steps agents, regardless of rank.
-Bite!
Neung Hwayang bit her lip hard.
Humiliating.
After losing pain sensation, her emotions had dried up, filled only by thrill from others' pain or death.
Yet even then, she'd thought herself unafraid of pain or death.
But apparently not.
Fear had been lurking in a corner of her heart.
'In the end, no different.'
She was just an ordinary human, nothing special.
With a dazed expression, she looked at Mok Kyung-un as if resolving herself.
"Just kill me."
"That'll be tough. This trial prohibits killing."
"........."
"But I can make one promise."
"Promise?"
"If you just answer my questions, I'll skip this fun process and let you go."
A tone like bestowing a favor.
A tempting offer at first glance.
But Neung Hwayang gave no reply.
Mok Kyung-un smirked at her attitude.
"The question's simple. Did you come on your own? Or did someone send you?"
"......"
"Your lips are sealed all of a sudden."
"......"
After barely overcoming fear and steeling herself, would she open up easily?
Shadow Steps agents never divulge info, even at the cost of death.
With venomous eyes, she spoke.
"I'll wait for you in hell."
With that, she opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue.
Intending to bite it off.
However,
-Clang!
"Ugh!"
Something hard wrapped between her teeth, blocking the bite.
'W-What?'
Nothing visible.
Yet whatever was caught between her teeth was incredibly tough.
What the hell?
As she panicked, Mok Kyung-un said something incomprehensible.
"So-ha. You said you wanted a body?"
'!?'
What was he talking about?
Was there someone else here besides them?
No presence detected.
-Chill!
Suddenly, a cold shiver hit her.
Something icy and eerie seemed to stroke her hair, sending her into spasms.
In that moment, Neung Hwayang doubted her own eyes.
-Wriggle!
A hazy figure appeared upside down before her.
It was a girl with graying hair, her pupils pure white—utterly horrifying.
As the girl descended upside down, drawing closer, she didn't seem human at all.
'G-Gho... Gho......'
"Mmph!"
Neung Hwayang twisted, trying to get up.
But Mok Kyung-un's foot pinned her, and something restrained her whole body—she couldn't move an inch.
'Don't come! Stay awayyyy!'
Her terror peaked, veins bursting, whites of eyes turning red.
-Slither!
Soon, she experienced for the first time something possessing her body.
It was on a whole different level from normal senses.
"Ughk.... Urghk."
Moments later, black veins bulged across her body, convulsing violently.
* * *
Two figures hurried down the corridor.
Mok Yu-cheon and Ma Sang, the Shadow Steps mole in the Justice Alliance.
Their rushed destination was none other than Mok Kyung-un's room.
"Damn it. Hope we're not too late."
Ma Sang muttered irritably.
Mok Yu-cheon didn't respond.
He'd confessed to Ma Sang that Mok Kyung-un was his half-brother.
He hadn't wanted to say it.
But he couldn't let the guy die helplessly with his meridians and dantian destroyed.
So he'd prostrated himself, apologized, and revealed the truth.
Ma Sang had been furious at first.
[That lunatic is Timber Sword Manor's third young master?]
Even incredulous.
But with Mok Yu-cheon's repeated apologies, he barely suppressed it.
Who could've guessed the one who drove Shadow Steps agents to their deaths was a scion of a prestigious orthodox sect?
Ma Sang whispered,
"Mok Yu-cheon. Can you keep your word?"
"......I'll do my best."
"Do your best isn't enough. If not for these circumstances, I'd have eliminated him as a mission obstacle, regardless of your request."
That was true.
Orthodox or not, Mok Kyung-un had caused too much damage.
He was extremely dangerous, and removing him was right for the future.
But Shadow Steps had only four agents left.
Mission success odds were too low.
"You must convince Mok Kyung-un. For the sake of those sacrificed by him—not to let their deaths be in vain."
"Got it."
Mok Yu-cheon vowed firmly.
What Ma Sang—no, the Shadow Steps mole—wanted was simple.
Not heartfelt apologies from the brothers, but for them to join as temporary moles and complete the mission.
'Can I convince him?'
Honestly, he had no confidence—not even half-belief.
But he had to.
Even changed, he didn't think the guy's rational judgment was impaired.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived here.
'Even changed, he's still orthodox at heart.'
He figured that root remained.
Mok Yu-cheon planned to emphasize that in persuasion.
This might even be an opportunity.
Helping Justice Alliance moles—Shadow Steps—topple Cheonjihoe could lift Timber Sword Manor's seclusion shame.
'Yeah. He'll want that too.'
Mok Yu-cheon organized his approach in his head.
Soon, they reached Mok Kyung-un's door.
But,
'Hm?'
The two exchanged puzzled looks at the door.
No presence from inside.
Mok Yu-cheon asked,
"......Didn't you say one agent already moved?"
"She did. That's why we hurried."
Worried lightweight kung fu in the hall would draw eyes, they'd rushed on foot.
Puzzled, they opened the door.
'Huh?'
Indeed, empty.
But the bed was smashed, room a mess.
Something had clearly happened.
Seeing it, Mok Yu-cheon said darkly,
"Are we too late?"
"........."
Scanning the room, Ma Sang replied,
"Not certain yet. If the woman completed the mission, Mok Kyung-un should be half-crippled on the bed."
"But neither's here."
"......Maybe she took him to the leader."
"Leader?"
"Yeah."
Among surviving Shadow Steps moles was their leader.
He'd ordered Mok Kyung-un's elimination.
Ma Sang said somewhat apologetically,
"We don't know yet, so hold on. Let's check with the leader."
"......Okay."
They closed the door and headed downstairs.
The infiltrated Shadow Steps leader was in the right-end room on the second floor.
They were on the fourth.
As they descended,
-Murmur, murmur!
Boys clustered in the central lower floor, chaos ensuing.
Wondering what, Ma Sang froze, face paling, unable to descend.
"What's wrong?"
"This damned......"
"What?"
Red-belted warriors dragged out a bloodied boy.
Not just him—a one-legged boy was also held by arms by red-belts.
Ma Sang stared, at a loss.
Mok Yu-cheon whispered,
"What the hell?"
Grinding teeth, Ma Sang whispered back,
"......Both our agents."
'!?'
Those two were Shadow Steps agents.
What happened?
Then,
"Hahaha! Finding the moles—it's all your credit!"
Red-belts laughed heartily, patting someone's back, praising.
It was none other than,
'Mok Kyung-un?'
Mok Yu-cheon's face stiffened instantly.