Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 149 – Repayment (3)

“From today onward, this child is my formal disciple and a new member of our clan. Treat him like your own younger brother.”

‘!?’

Everyone was unable to hide their bewilderment at Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s words.

‘Formal disciple?’

In the case of his second son, Baek So-gang, he had never imagined his father, Baek Sa-ha, would make such a statement.

That was because the Baek Clan had always valued the bloodline of the family for generations and never accepted outsiders as disciples.

His father, Baek Sa-ha, had also maintained that tradition, so he hadn’t expected him to suddenly accept an outsider as a disciple.

‘What exactly happened inside?’

He had been continuously wondering what had occurred inside that led his father, Baek Sa-ha, to undergo a complete metamorphosis.

It was unlikely for his father to show such favor to this child without something happening.

Could it be that he had given him a clue to enlightenment?

At that moment, Baek Sa-ha spoke.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“Ah, I understand. I will do as you say.”

In the Baek Clan, the orders of the clan head were absolute.

If Clan Head Baek Sa-ha had decided so, then that was how it would be.

At that point, Mok Gyeong-un intervened.

“Disciple, you say?”

“Kekeke, why are you so surprised? Since you’ll be receiving my teachings, you’re now my disciple.”

At his words, Mok Gyeong-un replied with a troubled expression.

“Receiving teachings is just in exchange for the three Society Leader disciple tokens…”

“Oh, what should I do about this?”

“Pardon?”

“For a youngster like you who has a deep understanding of poisons, I need to pass on my poison scripture, the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, but that can’t be done for outsiders.”

“Wa… Wave Demon Poison Scripture? Father?”

At those words, his second son, Baek So-gang, asked in surprise.

That was because the Wave Demon Poison Scripture wasn’t an ordinary martial art or poison technique of the Baek Clan, but a secret scripture.

The Wave Demon Poison Scripture was a transcendent poison technique that could only be learned by those of the main family’s bloodline who were qualified to become the clan head, so it was bewildering to hear that he would pass it on.

“Even if it’s a privilege of the Society Leader disciple tokens, that’s…”

“Didn’t I say I would accept him as a formal disciple? Are you questioning the order of this clan head?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

Baek So-gang waved his hands in surprise.

The clan head and his father, Poison King Baek Sa-ha, never went back on his decisions once he made them.

Especially if he had decided something as an order from the clan head, anyone who tried to object would face severe consequences.

‘Oh my.’

Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue inwardly at Baek Sa-ha’s decision.

He had thought the level of repayment was greater than expected when Baek Sa-ha mentioned repaying the debt, but he hadn’t expected this ulterior motive.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un brought his hands together in a salute and said:

“Elder. I am grateful for your consideration, but I am a disciple of the Shadow Clan Master. How can I, when I already have a master…”

“Is there a rule stating one can’t have two masters?”

“…”

There was no such rule.

However, this wasn’t a matter of rules.

“Even if there’s no such rule, this is about the Shadow Clan Master…”

“I will personally go to the Shadow Clan Master and seek his understanding, so don’t worry about that.”

“…”

It seemed he was determined to accept him as a disciple no matter what he said.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un was inwardly annoyed, but since he had no proper reason to refuse, he refrained from further objections.

However, at some point, he noticed that the gazes of the Society Leader’s second disciple, Jang Neung-ak, and the third disciple, Wi So-yeon, were directed at him rather than Poison King Baek Sa-ha.

Seeing their peculiar looks, Mok Gyeong-un licked his lips.

‘…So that’s what it was.’

He seemed to understand the reason why Baek Sa-ha publicly declared him as his disciple in front of them.

It was to divert the attention of those who had been pestering him for support away from himself.

It was a kind of ploy.

Due to Baek Sa-ha’s declaration, regardless of his own will, Mok Gyeong-un had become a joint disciple of the Poison King, one of the Five Kings, and the Shadow Clan Master.

As a result, he had become an even more enticing prey for those seeking a successor.

***

It took nearly an hour of torment before Mok Gyeong-un could leave the Baek Clan’s estate with his guard, Seok Jung.

Poison King Baek Sa-ha was not only stubborn but also had a very troublesome personality.

He made Mok Gyeong-un participate in his grandson’s first birthday celebration and personally introduced him to the Baek Clan’s blood relatives, making him acquainted with them one by one.

Mok Gyeong-un found this very annoying but played along without showing it.

The reason was that Baek Sa-ha was one of the Five Kings, a high-ranking executive.

‘For now, the Poison King is the way to go.’

Considering Baek Sa-ha’s position, there was a high possibility of contact with the Society Leader.

That was why, even when he said he would accept him as a disciple, despite finding it troublesome, Mok Gyeong-un had reluctantly agreed.

It remained to be seen how this would play out, but making contact with the Society Leader was currently Mok Gyeong-un’s top priority.

As they moved away from the Baek Clan’s estate, Cheong-ryeong’s voice echoed in his ears.

-In the end, it seems your judgment was correct.

-Judgment?

-Yes. Someone like the Poison King is the best ally.

-Well, I don’t know. He seems like an annoying old man to me.

-Didn’t you gain the opportunity to learn the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, known as the supreme poison technique, thanks to helping that annoying old man?

-Well, that’s true.

In front of the Baek Clan’s blood relatives, Poison King Baek Sa-ha had publicly declared Mok Gyeong-un as his formal disciple and immediately took him to the clan head’s hall to show him the verses of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture.

Despite accepting him as a disciple, Mok Gyeong-un had shown no particular reaction, so Baek Sa-ha wanted to demonstrate how extraordinary the Baek Clan’s poison scripture, the Wave Demon Poison Scripture, was.

Thanks to that, Mok Gyeong-un had memorized all the verses of the Wave Demon Poison Scripture just by glancing at them once.

Of course, Poison King Baek Sa-ha was unaware of this fact.

-There’s no martial art as unconventional as poison techniques. Moreover, it can be considered the best when dealing with multiple opponents.

-Multiple opponents… I suppose so.

-Anyway, it’s not bad… Why are you doing that?

Cheong-ryeong asked Mok Gyeong-un, stopping mid-sentence.

The reason was that Mok Gyeong-un, who had been walking, stopped and stared at something.

His guard, Seok Jung, also asked in puzzlement.

“Young Master. Why are you doing that?”

“There’s a guest waiting for you.”

“Pardon?”

As he asked in return, someone walked out from the right corner.

The moment he saw that person, Seok Jung’s eyes widened.

‘W-Woo Ho-rang, Grand Clan Leader?’

He was none other than Woo Ho-rang, the Society Leader disciple of Bright Blade King Son Yun and the grandmaster of the Geo-gweol Clan.

He was also known as the right-hand man and the most trusted subordinate of Wi So-yeon, the Society Leader’s third disciple, and was one of the Five Tigers, considered the top disciples within the Heaven and Earth Society.

Woo Ho-rang stared at Mok Gyeong-un with an expressionless gaze and opened his mouth.

“Despite your appearance, your perception is excellent.”

“That’s because you didn’t particularly hide your energy.”

“Hmph.”

Woo Ho-rang snorted.

As Mok Gyeong-un said, he hadn’t hidden his energy from the beginning.

Unless it was a special case, he considered the act of hiding oneself to be something only cowards and rats would do.

Woo Ho-rang lightly scanned Mok Gyeong-un from top to bottom.

‘What a strange person. How did he do it?’

The energy emanating from Mok Gyeong-un was merely at the level of the early peak stage.

With such martial prowess, he absolutely couldn’t have defeated his junior brother, Yeop Wi-seon, yet it was said that he had won against him.

And according to his lord, Wi So-yeon, this fellow’s true martial prowess might have reached the transcendent realm.

If what she said was true, it meant this fellow had mastered a mysterious technique that could almost perfectly conceal his martial prowess.

‘He’s mastered a troublesome technique.’

But it was of no concern to him.

Regardless of what technique he had mastered, he just needed to cut him down.

Woo Ho-rang said to Mok Gyeong-un:

“Do you know why I was waiting for you?”

“Who knows.”

“They say you’re a clever fellow, but you can’t even guess?”

“I have no way of knowing whether it’s a personal matter or because of an order from your lord.”

“What?”

“You seem to be looking at me with displeasure, so it doesn’t seem like you’re waiting for me just because of an order from your lord.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Woo Ho-rang chuckled.

Indeed, he wasn’t entirely devoid of a cunning side, as his lord had said.

That made him even more displeased.

“You’re right. I don’t particularly like you. Starting from the fact that you’re a hostage from the righteous faction, there are many reasons.”

“Many reasons?”

“Yes. Many reasons.”

“Hmm. Then it’s just that you don’t like me.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“I see. I don’t think I can do anything about those feelings, so may I ask what business you have with me?”

“The young lady told me to bring you to her.”

“Me?”

“Yes. It’s an order from the young lady, so you don’t have the right to refuse, do you?”

At Woo Ho-rang’s words, Mok Gyeong-un laughed inwardly.

It was indeed as he had expected.

Even though she hadn’t achieved her goal at the Baek Clan’s estate, the way she had retreated while giving him a meaningful look was in anticipation of this moment.

“…Of course. Then should I just follow you?”

“Yes. But listen.”

“Yes.”

“Before that, shouldn’t we settle our score?”

“Settle our score?”

-Roar!

As soon as he finished speaking, Woo Ho-rang released a powerful aura.

The aura was so fierce that Seok Jung unknowingly took a step back.

Mok Gyeong-un opened his mouth with narrowed eyes.

“That seems to go against your lord’s wishes. Are you okay with that?”

“This is purely a matter between you and me.”

“A matter between you and me?”

“You showed off your martial prowess against my junior brother, Yeop Wi-seon, didn’t you?”

“Ah, I see. So that’s what this is about.”

“Thanks to you, my junior brother is now imprisoned in a detention cell. Of course, it’s partly his own mistake, but how can I just let it slide when he’s facing execution?”

At his words, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled inwardly.

Was it really just about his junior brother?

No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem to be solely about that.

It seemed to stem from a more personal sentiment.

The matter regarding his junior brother was merely a pretext.

So, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and spoke with a troubled expression.

“Ah. I see. But you see, do you know why the young lady is summoning me?”

“I know.”

Of course he knew.

As Wi So-yeon’s trusted subordinate, he knew her intentions better than anyone else.

If it were any other time, he would have suppressed his own feelings and done his best as a subordinate to fulfill her wishes.

But strangely, the thought that he shouldn’t let this fellow get close to the young lady took precedence.

Even if he had to go against his emotions and make a mistake.

-Shing!

Woo Ho-rang drew his unique weapon, the Nine Harmony Blade[1], and said:

“You received a token from the young lady, didn’t you?”

“Yes. But…”

“I also have a token.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Let’s wager our tokens and duel. If you win, I will give you the token I received from my lord. But if you lose, I will take that token from you.”

This was Woo Ho-rang’s true objective.

To retrieve Wi So-yeon’s token from Mok Gyeong-un.

At his words, Mok Gyeong-un suddenly burst into laughter.

“Haha.”

“You… Did you just laugh?”

“Yes. I laughed.”

-Roar!

At that moment, a strong murderous intent surged from Woo Ho-rang.

How dare a mere youngster ridicule him?

As he was doing so, Mok Gyeong-un lightly waved his hand and said:

“Ah. If I offended you, I apologize. I couldn’t help but laugh because I could see through your true intentions.”

“True intentions?”

“Yes.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? How can you…”

“It seems you’re not doing what your lord wants, but rather, you’re desperate to make your lord yours. Am I wrong?”

‘!?’

For a moment, Woo Ho-rang flinched.

Seeing his reaction, the corners of Mok Gyeong-un’s lips curled up.

It seemed his prediction was correct.

-Swish!

Then, Woo Ho-rang’s blade swiftly flew towards Mok Gyeong-un’s neck, stopping at his skin.

However, whether it was due to the sharp blade or not, the skin was cut, and blood flowed down.

“Are you trying to mock me?”

At Woo Ho-rang’s words, which revealed murderous intent in a low tone, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.

“How could I?”

“But…”

“I merely stated the truth, but if you’re getting so agitated, I can’t help but be more certain.”

“You!”

-Pak!

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un grabbed the blade of Woo Ho-rang’s Nine Harmony Blade.

At this, Woo Ho-rang tried to shake it off.

However, surprisingly, even though he drew out his internal energy to nearly 6-star level, the blade didn’t budge at all.

‘This bastard’s internal energy?’

It had far surpassed his expectations.

It seemed that his lord Wi So-yeon’s words about him possibly reaching the transcendent realm were indeed true.

As he was astonished, Mok Gyeong-un said with a smile:

“Well, I can understand. Even if you want the person you admire to do well, if she truly becomes the successor, your relationship will become more fixed and distant. So, you wouldn’t be fixated on her becoming the successor. That’s why you tried to take the young lady’s token from me, using your junior brother as a pretext.”

‘!!!!!!’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Woo Ho-rang’s expression completely stiffened.

Even though they hadn’t engaged in a long conversation, he had thoroughly seen through his true intentions.

What kind of fellow was this?

As he was thinking that,

“But you see. Do you think you can take it from me?”

-Creak creak creak!

The blade of the Nine Harmony Blade, gripped in Mok Gyeong-un’s hand, gradually bent.