Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Obedience Gu
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“...!”
Baekran's mind grew even more complicated amid the silence.
'The main seat? What the hell kind of person is he? Calling her the True Heaven Palace Lord must refer to the Young Palace Lord.... No, before that, what exactly is their relationship?'
“Hwanggang Society Leader.”
Neung So-hwa's voice made Baekran flinch violently.
“Y-yes? Yes?”
“Among the pursuers who chased me down, there were people you sent, weren't there?”
“...”
“To protect me from them, far too many people sacrificed their lives. Most of them were those who had served me since I was a swaddled infant.”
“Y-Young... Palace Lord.”
“So, honestly, I don't want to accept it. Neither you nor Heukran.”
Baekran shut her mouth.
Neung So-hwa turned to Heukran with restrained emotion in her eyes.
“I mentioned it earlier, didn't I? That before the Hwanggang Society, you swore loyalty to the True Heaven Palace.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
“I'm sorry, but I think that's nonsense.”
“...”
“If you truly swore loyalty to the True Heaven Palace, shouldn't you have stayed by my side that day, when I was being hunted by the pursuers, instead of today?”
“I'm sorry.”
“And Hwanggang Society Leader Baekran.”
“...Yes.”
“If you remembered the grace the previous Palace Lord bestowed upon you, I think you wouldn't have committed such a beastly act.”
“If I may say just one word...?”
“No, I won't hear it.”
Neung So-hwa cut her off sharply.
“I have no intention of being swayed by your silver tongue.”
“...”
“I can guess what you were about to say. One of them, I can certainly admit. If I hadn't met Hero Jeok, I would have ended up as someone's puppet for life.”
It would have been that way.
Whether Baekran or someone else, whoever secured her would have propped her up as a figurehead Palace Lord to legitimize their rule.
In truth, the value of Neung So-hwa as a person was exactly that.
While she had occasionally shown glimpses of intelligence during the previous Palace Lord's lifetime, it was still just the shallow wit of a young girl.
Who could have known?
That the pursuit team sent after her would be annihilated.
That she would return with some man of unknown origins and stand boldly before him.
Baekran felt a flicker of injustice, but she had no choice but to accept it.
This unfair, unpredictable world of the jianghu—and life itself—was just like that.
“I hate you people.”
Neung So-hwa's words carried a hint of anger despite her restrained emotions.
Baekran chose the best course available in the current situation.
She lowered her eyes, prostrated herself on the floor, and waited in resignation for Neung So-hwa's judgment.
“Please do as you will, Palace Lord.”
“Even that attitude right now is probably calculated. You've judged that appealing to my sympathy would work best.”
“...”
“There's no reason for me to pity you. But.”
Neung So-hwa bit her lip hard.
“If you disappear, that chaos will be passed on entirely to the True Heaven Palace—and the people of Wuhuan. That's also a fact.”
“Palace Lord...”
“Just as Hero Jeok gave Heukran a chance, I'll give you one too.”
Neung So-hwa declared.
“Swear to follow me as you followed Grandfather. Even if it's not sincere, repeat it until it becomes sincere.”
“I, Hwanggang Society Leader Baekran, swear loyalty solely to Palace Lord Neung So-hwa.”
“Continue faithfully in your role as Hwanggang Society Leader. Until someone better than you appears.”
“...Understood.”
Baekran answered with downcast eyes.
Neung So-hwa chose to accept Baekran back, setting aside personal feelings for the sake of the True Heaven Palace.
But even in that moment, Baekran's mind was racing with calculations.
Could she launch herself right now and subdue Neung So-hwa?
If she took her hostage, could she escape this situation?
If Heukran joined in for a pincer attack, could they overpower that man?
Right then.
As their gazes brushed past, Baekran locked eyes with Heukran.
And she immediately realized.
That Heukran was desperately signaling her not to do it.
'Is that man's martial prowess truly at that level?'
In terms of skill, Baekran was not far below Heukran.
Considering the difference in practical combat experience due to their positions—leader versus operative—Heukran might even have a slight edge.
For her to desperately try to stop her like that...
“Neung So-hwa.”
Jeok Muryong suddenly spoke up.
“This one's no good.”
“Pardon?”
“What...?”
Neung So-hwa and Baekran blinked simultaneously.
“Not mind-reading or anything, but this main seat has plenty of experience and sharp insight. I can tell what guys with eyes like that are scheming in their skulls.”
“W-wait a moment. What do you...?”
“You were aiming for Neung So-hwa.”
“...!”
Baekran froze like stone, her innermost thoughts read in an instant.
“What did you think taking her hostage would achieve? You're even more foolish than that Im family bastard.”
“Im family bas...”
Ignoring Im Seohyuk's mutter completely, Jeok Muryong turned to Neung So-hwa.
“You must have it tough. Having to do business with trash like this.”
“Uh, um. Is that so?”
“Yeah. Working with guys who are plotting to stab you in the back even now. If it were me, I couldn't stand the itch.”
“I have no choice but to endure. Even if they harbor ill intentions, there aren't many as capable as the Hwanggang Society Leader.”
“Must be all the competent ones froze to death.”
Jeok Muryong clicked his tongue and continued.
“Anyway, let's set up some insurance, just in case.”
“Insurance?”
“Yeah. So this snake of a woman can't even think of betraying you.”
Baekran flinched in shock and tried to protest, but froze solid under Jeok Muryong's gaze.
If she moved her tongue, she would die.
Her instincts told her that clearly.
“Not completely without senses, huh.”
Jeok Muryong said in a chilling voice.
“Good call. If you'd spouted nonsense or tried any funny business, your head would be rolling.”
“...!”
“No, Neung So-hwa said to let you live, so probably not kill you. But losing an arm wouldn't hinder your work, right?”
“Ah, ahh...”
“Come to think of it, that sounds good too.”
Jeok Muryong turned to Neung So-hwa with a blank expression.
“It's a hassle, but should I just rip off an arm? You're not keeping her around to fight anyway.”
Neung So-hwa silently stared at Baekran.
Even as her face paled, she couldn't utter a word, her eyes trembling.
Baekran's wretched state softened Neung So-hwa's hostility a bit.
“I'd prefer not to see blood if possible, Hero Jeok.”
“Got it.”
Jeok Muryong replied as if he'd expected that.
The next instant, his figure flashed like lightning.
Pabat!
“Guhk!”
Struck in the chest by Jeok Muryong's palm strike, Baekran vomited a mouthful of blood.
Heukran flinched in surprise but restrained herself upon sensing no killing intent from Jeok Muryong.
After staggering for a while, Baekran knelt on the floor.
A strange foreign sensation mixed into her ragged breaths.
A feeling only she and Jeok Muryong could perceive.
“I've planted an obedience gu inside you.”
“...!”
“Learned it from those bastards I wanted to kill. Though they all croaked long ago.”
Elder Hwang and the other Heavenly Demon Divine Cult elders knew various obscure techniques, including ancient esoteric gu arts from southern tribes.
He had no particular interest in such parlor tricks.
Even so, Jeok Muryong had picked up a few as pastimes, and this obedience gu was one of them.
True to its name, the obedience gu forced submission.
Once implanted as a mass of Jeok Muryong's internal energy into the target's body, it was done.
Once planted, it lasted over a month even if completely ignored.
Trying to shatter it by force would rip apart the target's eight extraordinary meridians.
Moreover, anyone implanted with the corresponding dominion gu would obey its host's words unconditionally.
“Well, if you're ready to die, you could resist.”
Muttering that, Jeok Muryong lightly tapped Neung So-hwa's chest.
That implanted the dominion gu in her.
It was harmless to the host, unlike the obedience gu.
As Neung So-hwa's face flushed, Jeok Muryong said calmly.
“Now, give that one any order.”
“Pardon? Uh, um. What should I order?”
“Anything. Tell her to stick out her tongue and die, and she'll do it.”
“That's too much. Hm. I'll do this.”
Neung So-hwa turned to Baekran.
“Stand on your head and whistle.”
“Pardon?”
Baekran blankly repeated, but regardless, her body followed Neung So-hwa's command to the letter.
Whiiik.
“Wha-what?”
Baekran whistled, then flushed in panic.
Jeok Muryong nodded.
“If you want to test what happens when you resist an order, go ahead.”
“N-no, I'll pass.”
Baekran hurriedly replied.
“Hm. So, we've swallowed up the Hwanggang Society with this? Hey, Im family.”
“Pardon? You're talking to me?”
“Who else from the Im family is here?”
Im Seohyuk, about to grumble inwardly, desperately held himself back.
'That monster might even read my thoughts.'
“Spot on.”
“...!”
“Just threw out a guess since you seemed to be muttering to yourself inside, and it was right.”
“S-sorry.”
“Don't waste brainpower on useless schemes.”
“Yes...”
“If you're fine with it.”
Jeok Muryong turned to Neung So-hwa.
“I want to give orders to these guys for the next tasks.”
“Of course I'm grateful. Please, don't hold back, Hero Jeok.”
“Good. Im family, from now on, compile a priority target list for subduing within the True Heaven Palace. You have half a gak.”
“Pardon?”
“Start now.”
Under the unyielding command, Im Seohyuk and Baekran obeyed without complaint.
“Heukran, while this main seat is away, protect Neung So-hwa and Jin Choyoung.”
Heukran hesitated briefly at Jeok Muryong's order before speaking.
“I'll follow orders as due, but are you sure?”
“About what?”
“Shouldn't you implant the same gu in my sister... the Hwanggang Society Leader as well?”
“Why? Planning to betray?”
“N-no, not that, but...”
“Then it's fine.”
“...!”
Heukran's eyes shook greatly.
She even looked moved.
So Jeok Muryong decided not to mention it.
That when he'd broken her limbs into a swastika shape, he'd incidentally implanted the obedience gu as well.