Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 399 – Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul (4)

-Tap tap tap tap!

“Haa…”

Hearing the changed breathing from his back, the Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang spoke.

“Have you come to your senses?”

To his question, Mo Yak, who was being carried on his back, said:

“To think you’d do this instead of using the excellent lightness skill Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps… Of course I’d wake up if you run like this.”

“If I used Clear and Manifest Water Crossing Steps for high-speed movement, you’d have trouble breathing.”

“…That… Should I thank you?”

“If you’re awake, focus on circulating your qi again. Though I’ve stopped the bleeding, your energy is still very scattered.”

At Na Yul-ryang’s words, Mo Yak nodded and then said:

“Wait… You stopped the bleeding? Does that mean you didn’t do what you were supposed to?”

“The Elder Council said they’d take care of Jang Neung-ak’s side, and the main compound said they’ve made preparations.”

“What about Young Lady Wi So-yeon?”

“Stone Gate Valley Lord Yeon Baek said he’d go personally to bring her, so unless there’s a major variable, he should bring her.”

He had sent Yeon Baek, one of the Four Valley Lords.

But then,

“Young Master! …Cough cough.”

“Lower your voice.”

“Cough cough… Instead of wasting time treating my internal injuries, you should have personally gone after Young Lady Wi So-yeon or targeted the Shadow Clan. Even if not the former, I made a promise before losing consciousness to secure the latter…”

“You promised. Didn’t you say the Society Leader’s secret would be in the Shadow Clan’s estate?”

“You knew that…”

“As for the Shadow Clan, Thunderbolt Fist King Won Byeong-hak went personally with his disciples and some close aides.”

“Ah?”

At these words, Mo Yak’s eyes gleamed.

“Even if it’s an empty house, if there’s something important, they would have left some people to guard it. That’s why I sent the Thunderbolt Fist King.”

At his answer, Mo Yak showed a slightly relieved look.

Na Yul-ryang’s judgment was correct.

The Elder Council had told them to secure the youngest disciple Wi So-yeon’s safety and bring her to the main compound somehow, but that was what they wanted.

What was important wasn’t the youngest disciple Wi So-yeon, but the Society Leader’s secret.

The secret that Mok Gyeong-un had brought to the Shadow Clan after completing his confidential mission would be the real important card.

Nevertheless, the Elder Council side hadn’t mentioned this to them.

That meant they were trying to secretly take the Society Leader’s secret for themselves.

“…Still, if you had gone with the Thunderbolt Fist King instead of treating me, you could have obtained it more easily.”

“It doesn’t matter. And if Mok Gyeong-un survives at the estate, the main compound is more urgent than the Shadow Clan.”

“Eldest Young Master!”

“Be quiet. And… you’re more important to me.”

At these words, Mo Yak was bewildered and then blushed.

How can someone usually so cold and emotionless say such things so well?

Mo Yak unconsciously leaned on Na Yul-ryang’s back.

-Throb!

It seemed her upper clothes had been removed for treatment, and even the bandages compressing her chest had been loosened.

She was actually a woman.

Mo Yak’s parents, from a small sect, had hoped she would marry into a good sect to help the family rather than make a name for herself.

However, Mo Yak wanted to create her own destiny rather than live such a life.

It was Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang who didn’t mock this wish of hers and accepted it readily without any fuss.

That’s why she had decided to devote everything to assist him.

Mo Yak, who had leaned on his back and then lifted her head, spoke in a small voice:

“I’m just a card on the path you want to take, so please don’t worry about someone like me and take care of yourself.”

“Shut up.”

“Hah. You stubborn fool.”

But she didn’t dislike it.

Just as Mo Yak was about to lean on his back again with a softened expression,

-Boom! Boom!

Red firecrackers that could be considered signal flares could be seen exploding in the direction of the not-too-distant main compound.

‘!!!!!’

Mo Yak’s expression hardened at the sight.

The meaning of those red firecrackers illuminating the sky of the inner city was only one.

“Eldest Young Master?”

“…I saw it too.”

Young Master Na Yul-ryang’s expression was ominous as he looked at the firecrackers.

***

At the same time.

The Shadow Clan’s estate.

There were intruders who had entered this place where more than 80% of the forces were absent.

They were Thunderbolt Fist King Won Byeong-hak, his capable outer commander, and guard warriors among his close aides.

Beside Won Byeong-hak was Mu Jang-yak, whom he had taken as a disciple a few months ago at Corpse Blood Valley.

Originally planning to go take Yeon Mu-ung from Esoteric Realm Gate as a disciple, he had instead taken Mu Jang-yak, who had reached the pinnacle-stage of the Transcendent Realm with outstanding talent.

As he had hoped, Mu Jang-yak’s talent was indeed second to none.

Moreover, the origin of the martial arts he possessed as his main skill was quite excellent. His Right Fist Left Palm technique originated from the Twin Hand Tiger Fist of the Jeonjin Sect, a technique that could exert two martial arts simultaneously, and was an extraordinary secret skill that could only be learned with a unique mental technique and talent that could split one’s mind in two.

Perhaps because he had learned this technique, Mu Jang-yak had reached the early stage of the Transcendent Realm in just a few months.

At this rate, it seemed he could expect to fully grasp his secret skills and even surpass the wall before long.

‘All this child needs is diverse experience.’

The more practical experience, the easier it was to gain insights.

That’s why he was keeping him close and letting him experience real battles, despite cherishing him.

But then,

“Master, I’ve been hearing sounds from over there for a while?”

“…Indeed.”

Won Byeong-hak too had been hearing what sounded like screams.

It seemed to be coming from their target location, but what on earth was happening?

They had entered after confirming that manpower had been withdrawn from the Shadow Clan.

But there was no way they had returned already, and there shouldn’t be anyone else who could enter besides them, so what was going on?

“Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

So they hurriedly headed towards where their target was presumed to be.

But then,

-Roar!

“W-What on earth is that?”

Won Byeong-hak’s outer commander Woo Neung couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

And for good reason, as in the rear garden was a bizarre and giant being with a horn on its head resembling a dragon, its entire body covered in red fur, and its body looking like a mix between a dog and an ox.

It was so large that they had to look up at it.

This giant being was none other than Mok Gyeong-un’s familiar, the Diabolic Beast Alyu.

“Grrrr.”

“Haa… haa…”

Around this Diabolic Beast Alyu were several masked martial artists, but their condition and surroundings were terrible.

This was because purple smoke was flowing around, and the area was filled with people whose entire bodies had melted into horrific shapes.

That purple smoke seemed to be some kind of acid.

‘What on earth is this?’

It was clear that this being wasn’t a beast but a monster.

But why was such a monster in the Shadow Clan, and why was it fighting with these unidentified masked individuals?

Could there be others besides themselves after what Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang had ordered?

As he was puzzling over this,

“This old one will take care of these.”

-Kiririk. Do as you please, human.

Mu Jang-yak’s eyes widened.

Did that monster just open its mouth and speak?

As he was finding this too bizarre, someone appeared like a shadow in front of them.

-Swish! Tap!

It was a young man with a youthful appearance.

But this young man was standing slightly hunched as if he were an old man, holding a staff with a snake head in one hand.

The young man smiled and said to them:

“It seems you too have come to take that old woman away.”

“……”

At these words, Thunderbolt Fist King Won Byeong-hak’s expression became strange.

Not knowing why he was acting like this, Won Byeong-hak’s outer commander Woo Neung aimed his fist at him and said:

“Speak. What is that monster, and who are you…”

-Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Before those words could finish, outer commander Woo Neung was struck on the head by the staff and fell face-first to the ground with a death cry.

“The young one is rude.”

‘!?’

Won Byeong-hak’s close aides were stunned and at a loss at what had happened in an instant.

Mu Jang-yak, who had become Won Byeong-hak’s disciple, was equally surprised.

‘This person… is strong. Too strong.’

Though he had only swung his staff once, Mu Jang-yak, who had reached the early stage of the Transcendent Realm, could instinctively tell that the young man before him was an unfathomably strong being.

Glancing at his master Won Byeong-hak, it seemed he felt the same way.

-Clench!

Thunderbolt Fist King Won Byeong-hak clenched his fist, drawing up his energy, and opened his mouth.

“…Who are you? I’ve never heard nor seen a master like you in the Shadow Clan.”

“Hohoho. As expected of one of the Five Kings of Heaven and Earth Society. None of those fellows focused on anything but appearances, so no one checked this old one.”

‘Old one?’

Did he just refer to himself as an old one?

Come to think of it, his manner of speech and voice seemed quite experienced.

Given that this face strangely doesn’t match his voice, could it be a human skin mask?

Just then,

The snake head staff suddenly extended towards his face.

‘Huh?’

-Clang!

At that moment, Thunderbolt Fist King Won Byeong-hak swung his fist upward with all his might.

But as he struck the staff upward, the aftermath of the impact sent him flying back more than ten steps.

-Screech!

His close aides couldn’t hide their shock as their lord, who was at the pinnacle-stage of the Transcendent Realm, no, close to the wall, was pushed back a whole ten steps, not just one or two.

Just who on earth is this person?

They hadn’t realized yet, but his identity was none other than Guyang Sa-oh, the Eight Poison Snake Staff, one of Mok Gyeong-un’s subordinates.

Though he hadn’t received the title of one of the Eight Stars because his main area of activity was in the Western Regions, it was no exaggeration to say his martial prowess was on par with Thousand Poison Hand Dang Inhae.

-Clench!

Thunderbolt Fist King Won Byeong-hak gritted his teeth.

He had thought it wouldn’t be a difficult mission since a significant portion of the Shadow Clan’s forces had been withdrawn, but a real variable had occurred.

Both that bizarre monster and this unidentified person with the snake staff were truly monsters.

‘…Rashly dealing with them will end in disaster.’

Should he retreat?

Or should he fight even if it’s risky?

As he was deliberating for a moment,

-Whoosh! Boom! Boom!

With the sound of something exploding, red firecrackers could be seen embroidering the sky in the direction of the main compound.

Seeing this, Thunderbolt Fist King Won Byeong-hak’s pupils trembled.

‘Emergency… assembly? That can’t be? Surely the details…’

***

-Boom!

A stomp directed at the ground.

The aftermath of that stomp caused ripples like waves, and the dozens of martial artists rushing towards them clutched their chests, spat blood, and collapsed on the spot.

“Kuk!”

“Kuuk!”

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

At the sound of them falling, Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul muttered in disbelief:

“Heavenly… Demon?”

He had thought that the report he received would have some exaggeration mixed in.

But how could something like this be possible?

Even if the Society Leader, one of the Six Heavens, stepped forward, could he so easily take down so many with just one stomp?

As he was bewildered, a voice came from behind him.

“Now things have been cleared up a bit around us.”

-Flinch!

He was startled for a moment, but how did he come behind without any presence?

Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

-Gulp!

Despite becoming stronger through Human-Monster Unity with the Diabolic Beast Yual, once caught in tension and fear, it wasn’t easy to calm down.

To him in this state, Mok Gyeong-un asked with a smile:

“What did you just say?”

At this question, Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul’s breathing began to quicken slightly.

If his guess was correct, this guy was surely…

“You… You… Could it be…”

“Could it be what?”

“……”

Perhaps because he was caught from behind, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

It felt like he had learned some major secret about this guy, so it was hard to carelessly speak up.

Of course, Mok Gyeong-un didn’t mind this at all.

Rather,

“Your heart is beating rapidly. Are you afraid?”

“……”

“How interesting. Fear… If using that title puts more pressure on you people, it might not be bad to use it.”

‘What is he saying…’

-Grab!

“Kuk.”

-Thud!

Mok Gyeong-un grabbed the back of Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul’s neck, forcibly making him kneel, and then spoke in a low voice next to his ear:

“That’s right, I am the Heavenly Demon (Cheonma).”

‘!!!!!!!!’

-Boom! Boom!

As soon as those words ended, coincidentally, the sky was covered with red firecrackers.