Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 24
>Chapter Title: Prime Evil Pavilion Master (3)
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‘Master?’
What in the world was this?
Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok was momentarily dumbfounded by the cry of the green spirit Guso-ha under the Melting Spirit.
It was she who had used the Subjugation Spectral Soul Extension Art, a forbidden technique to forcibly turn wandering souls into spectral servants.
Yet the green spirit, born from the Spirit Gu Poison Art, was suddenly calling this boy who looked about seventeen or eighteen her master.
What on earth was going on?
It was then.
“Kyung-un!”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong shouted as he spotted Mok Kyung-un.
At that cry,
“Kyung-un?”
Did he know this kid?
As she wondered, Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong spoke in an excited voice.
“Master! Master! That’s the boy I told you about.”
“What?”
Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s eyes narrowed.
This was the boy her disciple Jo Ui-gong had taken into his tutelage?
Hold on.
But why was this kid here?
Shouldn’t he be going through the trials in Sihyeol Valley?
And she couldn’t understand why the green spirit was calling him master.
“That boy...?”
-Whoosh!
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong tried to say something, but Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok raised her hand as if to silence him.
“Master?”
“Wait and see. Are you Mok Kyung-un?”
At Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s question, Mok Kyung-un glanced at Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong.
Then Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong signaled with his eyes and whispered softly.
“He is your great-grandmaster and the master of the Prime Evil Pavilion.”
‘!?’
At those words, a glint appeared in Mok Kyung-un’s eyes.
On the way to the Heaven-Earth Society, Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong had briefly explained the Prime Evil Pavilion, so he had a rough idea of the key figures within.
Was that old man who looked to be in his seventies the Prime Evil Pavilion Master?
‘So this is the caliber of a pavilion master sorcerer.’
With his Ghost Eye awakened, Mok Kyung-un possessed eyes that could manifest qi.
Thus, he could clearly see it.
The tremendous curse power unconsciously emanating from the old man.
‘The difference is this vast.’
It seemed at least three times greater than Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong’s.
Still beyond what he could handle for now.
Mok Kyung-un clasped his hands together and offered a formal bow.
“Ah, so you’re an elder of my sect. I am Mok Kyung-un, who has entered Sorcerer Jo’s tutelage.”
“......”
At Mok Kyung-un’s greeting, Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong stared at him silently.
Meanwhile, the green spirit Guso-ha, whose face had brightened at her master’s arrival, went wide-eyed.
‘What’s this nonsense?’
Her master was part of this old man’s sect?
Did that mean he was connected to the ones who had imprisoned her in this hellish place?
If so, this was going to be quite confusing.
Just then, Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok spoke up.
“Repeat what you just said.”
At her words, Mok Kyung-un, who had his hands clasped, tilted his head and smiled faintly.
“Ah, so you’re an elder of my sect. Sorcerer Jo’s...”
-Thud!
Before Mok Kyung-un could finish, Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok slammed the end of her staff into the ground.
She scowled fiercely and said,
“Are you mocking this pavilion master right now?”
“No. Why would I?”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong grew anxious at the brazen response.
He knew this kid was bolder than most, but the man before him was his master and the Prime Evil Pavilion Master.
What kind of attitude was this?
“Apologize to the Pavilion Master at once!”
Jo Ui-gong raised his voice and scolded.
Mok Kyung-un, hands still clasped, bowed his head and said,
“I apologize to you, Pavilion Master.”
His voice lacked any inflection, so it sounded polite enough, but something felt off.
Since he had done as instructed, Jo Ui-gong couldn’t say more and glanced cautiously at his master In Seo-ok’s face.
‘Oh no.’
As expected, her expression wasn’t good.
Just moments ago, her reaction had been decent, and he’d hoped she might help extract him from Sihyeol Valley.
But now it was the complete opposite.
In Seo-ok snorted and said,
“Did you say you are the master of this wandering soul?”
At the question, Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong furrowed his brow and looked at Mok Kyung-un.
Come to think of it, the kid had definitely said that earlier.
[Its master is me.]
What did that mean?
As he puzzled over it, Mok Kyung-un slowly raised his bowed head and said,
“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”
“What?”
Jo Ui-gong’s expression hardened.
This kid wasn’t denying it—he was confirming it?
Did that mean he had truly turned this green spirit, born from wandering souls devouring each other in the gu ritual, into his spectral servant?
‘How in the world?’
Hadn’t this kid been tackling the trials in Sihyeol Valley all this time?
How could he have made a wandering soul undergoing the gu ritual into his spectral servant?
And a wandering soul into a spectral servant...
‘Ah!’
Come to think of it, this kid had already tamed a yellow spirit-class wandering soul as his spectral servant.
He’d said it wasn’t due to any special method—the soul that tried to possess him had been accidentally captured and turned into a servant.
Having verified the extent of the kid’s sorcery knowledge, Jo Ui-gong had thought it pure luck.
But now, to claim a green spirit-class wandering soul as his own spectral servant?
‘......How is this possible?’
This couldn’t be dismissed as mere luck.
Even his master, Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok, hadn’t attempted to turn a wandering soul into a spectral servant using the forbidden technique of the lost Mosan Sect.
“Is that true...”
“Order it once.”
Before Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong could say more, Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok spoke again.
“Order what?”
“Anything will do.”
‘She wants confirmation?’
It seemed Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok intended to verify it herself.
There were various ways to check a spectral servant, but the simplest was for its master to issue a command.
Mok Kyung-un casually said,
“Guso-ha. Get up and come here.”
“Yes, Master.”
No sooner had Mok Kyung-un given the order than the green spirit Guso-ha rose to her feet.
She approached Mok Kyung-un as if she had been waiting.
Seeing this, Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong was floored.
‘Ha!’
It was real.
The green spirit was truly obeying orders.
He had been shocked enough with a yellow spirit, but a green spirit was a wandering soul even most sorcerers struggled to handle, and he’d made it his spectral servant?
Unable to hold back, Jo Ui-gong asked,
“How on earth did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Are you playing dumb? You were tackling the trials in Sihyeol Valley, so how could you turn a wandering soul in the midst of a gu ritual into your spectral servant?”
At Jo Ui-gong’s question, Mok Kyung-un shrugged.
“Well, as I said last time, I never intentionally did anything.”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong’s eyes narrowed at Mok Kyung-un’s response.
Last time, he could believe it was coincidence, but this answer made it seem like he was hiding something.
“Oh ho. So you intend to mock even this master of yours. Let’s see if you’ll answer now.”
-Pat! -Pat!
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong formed hand seals.
Along with it, he chanted the incantation.
“Phantom Ring Unbinds, Return to Form, No Thought Gives Birth...”
In that moment, Mok Kyung-un focused on where Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong’s gaze was directed.
It was the iron chain on Mok Kyung-un’s wrist.
Seeing it, Mok Kyung-un instantly realized he intended to do something through this chain.
‘As I suspected?’
[Wear that on your wrist and say this: I, Mok Kyung-un, become Jo Ui-gong’s disciple and pledge to uphold his will.]
[What happens if I make that oath?]
[It imposes a restriction.]
[Restriction?]
[Once you swear it, you can’t harm me in any way. It’s almost absolute.]
That’s what Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong had said.
However, Mok Kyung-un had suspected there was another hidden restriction.
And as he guessed, it seemed he was about to reveal it now.
-Pat!
“Urgent Decree of the Spectral Command!”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong pointed his diamond finger at Mok Kyung-un and completed the incantation.
Hearing the final “Urgent Decree of the Spectral Command,” Mok Kyung-un understood.
“Urgent Decree” meant it must be executed immediately, like a law’s command.
In other words, obey the order.
‘So that’s it.’
The restriction was control over him.
He saw Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong’s gaze shift from the bracelet to his face.
Mok Kyung-un feigned no sign of it, putting on a dazed, soulless expression.
Seeing this, Jo Ui-gong’s lips curled up slightly.
“From now on, you must answer my questions precisely.”
“Yes.”
Mok Kyung-un replied in a limp voice.
Seeing this, Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok looked at the chain on his wrist and said,
“So it’s a Curse Word Iron Chain.”
“Yes, Master. I just took him as a disciple, and as you see, he’s still wild as a colt, so I put it on him to tame him.”
In Seo-ok smirked and snorted.
Among the disciples he had taught, the one most like him in cunning was Jo Ui-gong.
He had taken appropriate measures indeed.
The Curse Word Iron Chain bound through one’s own oath, imposing restrictions that could force the will.
“If you have questions, please ask.”
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong pointed at Mok Kyung-un and said.
Right now, he would answer anything truthfully.
-Step, step!
At those words, Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok approached Mok Kyung-un.
“Master?”
“One must always confirm if it’s properly bound.”
She swung the head of her staff, striking Mok Kyung-un across the face.
-Thwack!
Mok Kyung-un’s head snapped to the side.
Even if he had trained in martial arts, taking a defenseless hit without circulating qi would naturally hurt.
He couldn’t help but react in some way, yet,
‘Hmm.’
No change in expression, as if he felt no pain.
Even after being struck across the face with the staff head, if there was no reaction, his will was surely bound.
But Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok was cautious.
-Thwack!
In Seo-ok struck the other side of his face with the staff.
Not satisfied, she kicked his abdomen, knocking him down.
-Thud!
“Master, you don’t need to go that far...”
“Wait.”
-Pat!
Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok stepped onto Mok Kyung-un’s chest and pressed down hard on his throat with one foot.
-Crush!
As she pressed his throat, veins bulged on his face, turning it red.
Yet Mok Kyung-un’s expression remained unchanged.
A little more pressure, and his breath would be cut off.
And still, he lay still.
-Grind!
Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok, who had been staring intently, finally nodded as if convinced, then stepped off his chest.
She turned to Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong and said,
“Now ask him if he entered Cliff Valley.”
“Understood. Kyung-un, get up.”
-Swish!
Mok Kyung-un silently rose from his spot with a dazed expression.
Seeing his battered face, Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong inwardly clicked his tongue.
His master was overly cautious, merciless even in his strikes.
‘Well, he won’t remember this once he snaps out of it.’
That was the power of the Curse Word Chain.
Jo Ui-gong asked Mok Kyung-un,
“Did you enter Cliff Valley where the gu ritual was underway?”
“Yes.”
Mok Kyung-un answered promptly with a blank face.
In Seo-ok clicked her tongue at that.
“The culprit is revealed.”
No one should enter while the Spirit Gu Poison Art was active.
Strictly speaking, it was too dangerous to enter.
Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok scowled at Mok Kyung-un.
‘But how did he survive?’
That was the real question now.
At first, she questioned how he tamed the green spirit, but now she was more curious about his survival.
That Cliff Valley, where wandering souls lost their egos and devoured each other, was hell itself.
For a novice sorcerer who had barely learned the arts to not only survive but tame a green spirit?
“Ask him what happened.”
“Yes. Tell us in detail what happened inside.”
What on earth had transpired there?
As the two focused on Mok Kyung-un,
“Society Leader...”
‘!?’
Their expressions hardened instantly.
Society Leader? What did that mean?
Was he referring to the Heaven-Earth Society’s leader?
“Society Leader...”
But Mok Kyung-un mumbled softly after “Society Leader,” too quiet to hear.
Sorcerer Jo Ui-gong raised his voice.
“What did the Society Leader do? Speak clearly and loudly.”
“Society... Society Leader...”
Mok Kyung-un mumbled again, his voice trailing off as he mentioned the Society Leader.
Frustrated—even the Heaven-Earth Society’s leader was being mumbled about—Prime Evil Pavilion Master In Seo-ok approached Mok Kyung-un, grabbed his hair, yanked his head to her ear, and said,
“Tell him to speak properly.”
“Mok Kyung-un, speak clearly.”
At the command, Mok Kyung-un opened his mouth again.
“The Society Leader...”
“Yes. What about the Society Leader?”
“Would he really come?”
‘!?’
-Crack!
“Guh!”
In that instant, In Seo-ok’s eyes widened in shock.
Somehow, Mok Kyung-un’s hand had pierced straight into her chest.
What in the world was happening?
This brat was clearly bound by the Curse Word Chain...
‘!!!!!!’
In In Seo-ok’s widened pupils, Mok Kyung-un’s face wasn’t blank—it wore a sinister smirk.
[Chapter 24: Prime Evil Pavilion Master (3)] End