Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 24
>Chapter Title: Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord (1)
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‘Damn brat!’
Was he finally trying to dig into my past like this?
For a moment, she debated whether to break the wooden doll’s seal and emerge.
Then, Blood River Valley Leader Lee Ji-yeom spoke up.
“Since my lord has said as much, this subordinate will commit a brief impropriety. How that day’s events relate to our society...”
—Damn brat! Stop him right now. Don’t pry into this seat’s past like this...
In her desperation, she screamed for him to stop.
But Mok Kyung-un had no intention of doing so.
In any case, once they ran into something tied to her past—like the Lee family—he’d learn what had happened, one way or another.
Just what had she endured to become a vengeful spirit...
—Shudder!
At that instant, Mok Kyung-un and Lee Ji-yeom simultaneously turned toward one direction.
It was toward the outside of the building.
—What is it? Why the reaction?
Sealed inside the wooden doll, Qing Ling couldn’t sense any external energies.
Their identical responses left her baffled.
Blood River Valley Leader Lee Ji-yeom had already moved to the window.
—Pak!
He flung open the latticed paper window, revealing the plaza in front of the lodging.
Red-sashed warriors stood on watch there, and nothing seemed amiss.
Lee Ji-yeom tilted his head slightly.
Moments ago, something had definitely prickled his senses.
Yet it had vanished in a flash.
‘What was that?’
That aura had felt far too ominous to brush off.
With it gone, though, blindly searching would be pointless.
That was when Mok Kyung-un spoke.
“Valley Leader.”
“Ah. Yes, my lord. Seems like nothing...”
“Mind if I step out for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
Lee Ji-yeom furrowed his brow in consternation at Mok Kyung-un’s abrupt request to go out.
Meanwhile, Qing Ling inside the wooden doll breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Whatever had happened, it had successfully shifted their attention.
* * *
Roughly one gak earlier.
On a hillside in Blood River Valley, about a li from the lodging.
Some ten red-sashed warriors were transporting four spies—dantians crippled, bodies bound.
Among the spies was the sole woman, one who could be called their token beauty: Neung Hwa-yang.
The other spies, overwhelmed by the agony of severed limbs and crippled dantians, had all passed out from the pain.
She alone remained conscious.
That was because Gui So-ha had possessed her.
‘Aaaah.’
Gui So-ha couldn’t hide her regret.
She’d finally obtained a decent body, only to use it up and discard it like this—such a waste. Still, she had to carry out her master’s command.
She trusted that, in time, her master would provide another suitable vessel.
And if that happened...
‘...Could I see that bastard again?’
Her younger brother, who had driven her blood kin to death.
Rage toward him had sustained her on Solitude Cliff.
If her master headed to the Heaven and Earth Society’s stronghold, she might cross paths with him once more.
Fifteen years since her own death.
No chance he’d perished in a mere fifteen years.
[Damn bastard. Once you’re dead, it’s all over.]
[You... you...]
[Always acting superior, pitying me like you had it all...]
[I... I... didn’t...]
[You were just born first, that’s all.]
—Grip!
Her hand clenched tight.
The final face she’d seen in the moment of death had been his, twisted in ecstasy.
With that face, he’d smashed her own repeatedly with a rock.
It was a yoke of hatred that could never be erased.
—Kiririk!
Just then, the cart dragging them lurched to a halt midway.
What now? Gui So-ha squinted suspiciously to check.
‘Hm?’
The red-sashed warriors were greeting someone.
Both wore daoist robes: one a white-haired elder, the other a one-eyed man with an eyepatch leaning on a staff.
One of the senior warriors leading the red-sashed group cupped his fists in salute.
“Blood River Valley Senior Warrior Bong Yang greets the Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord.”
The elder was none other than In Seo-ok, lord of the Prime Slaughter Pavilion—the Heaven and Earth Society’s sorcery advisor.
At his side was the eyepatched middle-aged staff-bearer, his disciple and fellow sorcerer Jo Ui-gong.
‘Why are they here?’
Senior Warrior Bong Yang couldn’t conceal his bewilderment.
Sorcerers had already been dispatched within Blood River Valley, so the pavilion lord rarely had cause to visit.
He had no idea what had brought them.
Then, Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok questioned the senior warrior.
“Any peculiarities during the trials?”
The question made the senior warrior’s brow twitch.
They were cooperating on the Society Lord’s orders, but the trials remained Blood River Valley’s domain—his and the valley leader’s.
He had no duty to report to the Prime Slaughter pavilion lord.
‘Is this old coot stirring up trouble again?’
They were already bogged down classifying and relocating corpses on his account.
It made him even less inclined to speak.
Had his thoughts shown on his face?
“Hey now. You think the Prime Slaughter Pavilion’s a joke? Why dodge when the pavilion lord asks?”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong scowled and snapped.
The flustered senior warrior hastily replied.
“No, no. Nothing like that. No major issues with the trials.”
Jo Ui-gong tsked in clear displeasure at the answer.
The stronghold’s warriors deferred to the Prime Slaughter Pavilion, basking in the Society Lord’s favor.
Blood River Valley warriors, however, did not.
Was it truly as Famed Blade King had said—the valley leader herself harbored a rebel’s bone?
“Tsk tsk. You think the pavilion lord came all this way for nothing?”
“What do you mean?”
“The cliff—”
—Swish!
At that, Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok extended a hand, cutting Jo Ui-gong off.
Unable to displease his lord and master, Jo Ui-gong shut his mouth and quietly stepped back.
In Seo-ok then spoke, his expression grave.
“Don’t dismiss this pavilion lord’s words. Something unnatural is afoot. Speak up about anything remotely suspicious or strange. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to inform the Society Lord and halt these Blood River trials.”
“Y-Yes?”
What in the world?
Why stop trials proceeding normally?
The senior warrior could only reel in shock.
What could have happened to draw the Prime Slaughter pavilion lord here in person?
“Truly nothing at all?”
Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok pressed again.
The bewildered Senior Warrior Bong Yang rushed to answer.
“Nothing problematic. In the last trial, that pig-squealing monster died, but the cave sorcerer said it was fine...”
“Hold on.”
“Yes?”
“What did you say?”
In Seo-ok’s eyes narrowed.
Senior Warrior Bong Yang cautiously repeated himself.
“That pig-squealing monster died...”
“Galjeo? Galjeo is dead?”
Did that beast even have a name?
Unsure what it was but assuming it meant the wolf monster with pig-like cries, Senior Warrior Bong Yang nodded.
“Yes. It died midway through the second trial.”
“How?”
Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok couldn’t mask his incredulity.
He knew full well how the trials unfolded, thanks to the cave’s “that thing” and the Spirit God Gu Poison Art.
The flags for the second trial had been crafted by the Prime Slaughter Pavilion itself.
The key there was evading the monster—no one could ever subdue it.
“No way...”
“One of the trial cadets killed it.”
“What? A cadet killed Galjeo?”
Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok was floored.
Even an ordinary wolf was a handful without weapons or martial arts.
Yet one of these boys—aged sixteen to nineteen—had slain an Immae Mangryang barehanded?
“Is that true?”
He could scarcely believe it.
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong shared his master’s disbelief, blurting in astonishment.
Frustrated, Senior Warrior Bong Yang replied.
“Ugh, it’s true. We didn’t believe the report at first either, but that kid ripped open the monster’s jaws and killed it. If you can’t trust me, the corpse’s still in the cave...”
“What? Ripped its jaws?”
“Just go see for yourself.”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong was utterly flabbergasted.
Immae Mangryang came in grades.
Even the lowest,凶獸 rank, demanded sorcerers at least Fang Ji level to handle.
A full grade higher—怪獸 rank—went without saying.
No ordinary human could manage it.
As they grappled with doubt, Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok asked.
“Is the cadet unharmed?”
“Unharmed. Fewer injuries than the others, even.”
“Huh.”
An exclamation escaped Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok.
What sort of prodigy could pull that off barehanded?
Even from a sorcerer’s view, it piqued interest.
He asked.
“Mind if I inquire the cadet’s name?”
No issue there.
“Fellow named Mok Kyung-un.”
“Master!”
No sooner had the words left than Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong called out to Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok in thrilled agitation.
So stunned, he’d blurted “Master” without thinking.
Catching himself, he reined in his excitement and added.
“It’s that boy.”
“That boy?”
“Didn’t I tell you? The boy I took as disciple—sent to Blood River Valley on the Society Lord’s orders. I begged you to put in a word...”
Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok’s brow furrowed.
The boy his disciple had accepted as a disciple had slain a monster?
Impossible not to be astonished.
He asked.
“When did you take him on?”
“Less than a fortnight ago.”
“What?”
Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok’s eyes widened.
A novice who’d trained in sorcery for barely half a month had soloed monster Galjeo?
Sent to Blood River Valley—no talismans or ritual tools either?
Jo Ui-gong whispered to him.
“I gave him a ring inscribed with an incantation, just in case. Even so, doing it solo is incredible, right?”
In Seo-ok fixed Jo Ui-gong with a steady stare.
He knew incantation rings better than anyone—he’d taught the crafting method himself.
Even with one, subduing an Immae Mangryang of monster grade was no simple task.
Truth be told, virtually impossible.
‘If Ui-gong’s telling the truth, he’s taken on a disciple with freakishly prodigious talent.’
He had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Now he understood why the boy had begged so insistently to report to the Society Lord.
With talent like that, it was only natural.
‘I want to see the kid myself.’
Just what he was like.
Something had nagged at him from the start.
He’d tried dismissing it as unlikely, but his instincts never lied.
“Hand me the staff.”
“Pardon?”
“I said hand it over.”
Puzzled by his master’s command, Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong passed over his staff.
Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok then tapped the ground lightly.
—Thud!
—Clang clang!
The silver coins atop the staff trembled violently.
Along with them, Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok murmured softly.
“Demon Sheep Horn Writ, Western Fate Cloud Purity, Low Origin Qi Flux...”
—Rustle rustle rustle!
The coins’ quivering grew louder.
And then—
—Thud!
The red-sashed warriors nodded off one by one, collapsing as if fast asleep.
Senior Warrior Bong Yang was no exception.
“What just... zzz.”
—Thud!
“Master, what—”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong couldn’t hide his shock at In Seo-ok’s sudden incantation.
His master’s outer chants weren’t mere sleep or knockout spells.
Invisible to ordinary eyes, but Jo Ui-gong clearly saw gray lines manifesting each time the staff’s silver coins shook.
—Swaaaaa!
Those gray lines stretched about fifteen zhang around them, forming a semicircular veil.
‘Curse Power Barrier.’
Curse Power Barrier.
A barrier conjured from a sorcerer’s curse power.
Among the Shen Sun-Moon Obscure Arts sorcerers, only those at Sun rank or above could manage it—a domain rivaling those crafted by greater vengeful spirits.
But why had his master suddenly deployed a Curse Power Barrier?
It was then.
—Rustle rustle rustle!
Iron chains erupted from the spy cart, lunging straight for Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok.
“Master!”
—Swish!
“Stay back.”
In Seo-ok shook his head and swung the staff lightly.
The onrushing chains bent midair en masse, crashing to the ground.
“This is...?”
Jo Ui-gong instantly recognized the chains as forged from spirit power.
He turned to the cart, where—
“Guhhh.”
A girl staggered into view, black veins bulging across her body.
The girl spy—Neung Hwa-yang.
Beholding her in torment, Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord In Seo-ok curled his lips in a sinister smirk and spoke in a voice thick with meaning.
“So this is where this pavilion lord’s gu poison lurked.”
[Chapter 24: Prime Slaughter Pavilion Lord (1)] End