Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 136 - Encroachment (3)

Chapter 136 – Encroachment (3)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The face of the blind Wi Maeng-cheon hardened.

What had been placed upon his hand was none other than,

‘Ji Hang?’

It was Ji Hang, the one he had sent to frame Mok Gyeong-un as an orthodox spy.

To be precise, it was Ji Hang’s severed head.

In an instant, Wi Maeng-cheon’s mind grew complicated.

Just what in the world was this?

‘Why does this bastard have Ji Hang’s head?’

He could not understand it.

Of course, in this scheme, Ji Hang’s death had ultimately been planned from the start.

That was because only then could he endanger Mok Gyeong-un without revealing the trail.

Yet Ji Hang should still have been under interrogation, so why had he already died, and why was Mok Gyeong-un now handing that head over to him?

To the bewildered man, Mok Gyeong-un curled his lips and said,

“It seems you are greatly disappointed that the result was different from what you intended.”

“You bastard…”

“It looks like you worked your head quite a lot, so it is unfortunate. If it had been others, it would have worked smoothly enough.”

“What?”

* * *

Only a shijin earlier.

The office of the Inner General Office of the Shadow Sect.

An urgent Shadow Sect warrior came in to report to the Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

“An intruder has infiltrated Young Master Mok Gyeong-un’s detached residence.”

“Young Master Mok’s detached residence?”

Jo Yeom-hun’s eyes narrowed.

He had already been receiving reports from the very moment the intruder came in.

But from long ago, when an intruder entered, the Shadow Sect did not immediately arrest them.

They grasped the intruder’s route to learn what their goal was and then went on to trace it in reverse.

This time too, the Inner General Office had been watching the intruder’s route for reverse tracing.

However,

“Hm…what is the intruder aiming at?”

This was the point that worried them.

Even as it was, because Mok Gyeong-un came from the orthodox hostages, the Shadow Sect had been watching everything from his route of movement to each and every action he took.

Yet now the intruder had gone to Mok Gyeong-un’s detached residence.

To the worried Jo Yeom-hun, the Shadow Sect warrior carefully opened his mouth.

“It seems that rather than aiming for Young Master Mok Gyeong-un himself, the purpose is contact.”

“…I see.”

Something he had feared had indeed happened.

In truth, those within the inner castle knew well that the Shadow Sect dealt in secrets and that they could not carelessly step into it, and they also knew the level of its security was extremely severe.

That was why it would be somewhat nonsensical for a figure of the Heaven and Earth Society to infiltrate this place.

If so,

‘Then he truly is a spy.’

There was no way to ignore that degree of probability.

If the intruder was a spy from the orthodox side, then the feared situation had indeed come to pass.

Since the Sect Master still did not trust Mok Gyeong-un, he had not yet allowed him access to any special information other than martial arts, but even the slightest leakage of anything outside could not be tolerated.

“What shall we do?”

“We capture him.”

“Then what about reverse tracing?”

“If Young Master Mok is connected to the intruder, then this cannot simply be overlooked more than reverse tracing.”

“Understood.”

-Tatatatatak!

Once the Shadow Sect warrior, having received the order, went out, Jo Yeom-hun too gathered up his personal weapon, the Pacifying Blade, and summoned the Inner General Office guard corps.

Once the guard corps had all assembled, Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun led them out with a grim face.

The way to the detached residence was not far.

The entire way there, Jo Yeom-hun recalled the events of seven days earlier.

[No matter that he took first place in the Corpse Blood Valley gate, you should not have accepted him.]

[You know what taking first place means, do you not?]

[…I do. I do, but Sect Master. That bastard may become poison to the Shadow Sect. No matter how outstanding his martial talent, because of his origins he will be heavily restrained.]

[Naturally that will be so. But if only I can gain certainty regarding that child, then our Society will obtain a tremendous talent unlike any it has ever possessed before.]

Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun truly could not understand the Shadow Sect Master’s decision.

Why, even while his suspicions remained unresolved, could he not cast aside his attachment to an orthodox hostage?

Because of that, the position of the Shadow Sect itself might narrow in the future.

‘If…’

If the intruder truly was an orthodox spy, and if there was any indication that Mok Gyeong-un had a close relationship with him or had attempted something through contact with him in any way, then they must not miss this chance.

If there was even the slightest suspicion, then for the sake of the Shadow Sect he had to be cast out.

-Fwoosh!

Thus Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun arrived at Mok Gyeong-un’s detached residence.

The place, brightly lit by torches, was surrounded by several dozen Shadow Sect guard warriors.

Upon arriving, Jo Yeom-hun asked a squad-leader-class warrior,

“What is the situation?”

“We already sent men inside, so he will be out shortly.”

“Is that so?”

Soon, just as the squad-leader-class warrior had said, the warriors sent inside came out supporting some unfamiliar figure, while Mok Gyeong-un followed behind them.

But when Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun saw the appearance of the intruder being supported out, a strange light appeared in his eyes.

That was because the man’s hands were in a terrible state.

To anyone’s eyes, they were traces of torture.

‘Hm.’

Ordinarily, seeing this, one might think, then is the intruder unrelated to Mok Gyeong-un? But Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun, being head of the Shadow Sect’s Inner General Office, did not.

In his mind, countless variables and situations were being taken into account.

The one most likely was,

‘It could be to avoid suspicion.’

Most of those who enter as spies are highly trained.

They always had prepared measures in case of emergency.

If he were to assume that he himself was a spy of the Alliance of Justice who had infiltrated, then in the event of being discovered together with an ally by the enemy, he would always prepare a strategy by which at least one of them could escape.

Well, of course, that was only a hypothesis.

Fortunately, the intruder was alive.

‘Since we captured him alive, we can make him confess somehow.’

This was the Shadow Sect.

It was a place specialized in precisely such matters.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un looked at him and greeted him with a cupped-fist salute.

“So the Inner General Chief has come as well.”

“Young master.”

Jo Yeom-hun returned the greeting with a cupped-fist salute as a matter of courtesy.

But his face was already filled with the desire to begin interrogation at once.

Still, without losing politeness, Jo Yeom-hun said,

“Young master. An intruder came in from outside. Were you not greatly inconvenienced by the threat of an enemy?”

At that, Mok Gyeong-un replied with a bright smile,

“How could that be?”

“It is fortunate to confirm that you are unharmed, young master.”

“Thank you for your concern. I had thought that perhaps you did not know an intruder had come in, since there was no restraint whatsoever, but that was not the case.”

At these words from Mok Gyeong-un, the area beneath Jo Yeom-hun’s eyes twitched slightly.

Though he had said it obliquely, he was, after all, pointing out that such an intruder had come in openly and yet had only been noticed now.

So Jo Yeom-hun shook his head and said,

“How could we have only just noticed the intruder? We merely left him for a short time to learn what the intruder was aiming for.”

“Ah, so that was it. I almost had the wrong idea.”

“Ha ha ha. Is that so? Even so, Young master.”

“Yes.”

“There is one thing this subordinate also wishes to ask.”

“What might that be?”

“I thought perhaps the intruder was after secret documents, but contrary to expectations, he headed straight for your detached residence.”

“Yes. As you can see, he did.”

“That being the case, I find it strange why this intruder came straight to your detached residence.”

“Would we not know if we woke him and interrogated him? I was interrogating him myself as well, but he would not open his mouth very readily.”

‘Ha!’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s attitude as if it were nothing at all, Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun inwardly thought, perfect.

Ordinarily, if an intruder came in and one captured him, then if one had no relation to the matter, it would be proper to call for others rather than to interrogate him personally.

Yet Mok Gyeong-un said with his own mouth that he had interrogated him.

Did he not know that this fact itself could create even more room for suspicion?

“You interrogated him personally?”

“Yes.”

“Hah.”

“Is there some problem?”

“This is rather difficult. It would have been better had you informed us at once after capturing the intruder.”

“I intended to say so once the interrogation was over.”

“But instead of doing that, you conducted the interrogation independently.”

“Was that wrong?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s question, Jo Yeom-hun let out a small snort and said,

“Yes. It was wrong. If an intruder came into the detached residence and you did not report it, instead interrogating him on your own, then whatever the method, it means private contact with the enemy.”

“Private contact?”

“Yes.”

“Looking at his hands, there should be traces of interrogation. Is there really anything to suspect?”

“Regrettably, the traces of interrogation can themselves serve as a means to dispel suspicion regarding contact. Ah, of course, this subordinate is not asserting that you had such intent, young master. I merely say that it could be so.”

I am not saying I think you are that way.

The true meaning of this was that he was indeed suspicious.

At the words of Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun, openly rebuking him for doing something worthy of suspicion, Mok Gyeong-un let out a small laugh.

‘He is laughing?’

He had kindly told him with his own mouth.

That he was now doing something worthy of suspicion.

Yet what was this response?

Though he felt quite displeased, Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun did not show it.

In any case, there was already a pretext, so he intended to take him in and uncover everything through interrogation with the intruder.

Jo Yeom-hun gave Mok Gyeong-un a polite cupped-fist salute and said,

“First, I must ask your understanding in advance, young master. To prepare for any contingency, you will have to accompany us to the Inner General Office for a while.”

“To the Inner General Office?”

“Yes. As I said earlier, the reason is your contact with the intruder. Until the interrogation of the intruder is complete and you are cleared from suspicion, there is no helping it.”

Now Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun was openly saying that Mok Gyeong-un was indeed under suspicion.

Yet even at these words, Mok Gyeong-un maintained an easy expression.

Jo Yeom-hun clicked his tongue.

‘Let us see how long that ease lasts.’

“What are you all doing? At once escort the young master to the Inner General Office…”

The words had not even finished.

At that moment, the intruder who had been supported suddenly opened his eyes.

Then he began to struggle wildly to shake off the arms of the warriors holding him.

-Pak!

“Hold him tight!”

“You bastard!”

But the intruder’s strength was no ordinary thing.

In an instant he slammed the warrior holding his right arm to the ground.

-Thump!

“Hrk!”

Then, as he tried to seize the throat of the warrior holding his left arm,

-Pak!

At that moment someone appeared and, in a flash like lightning, struck the acupoints on the intruder’s back and pressed down on his shoulder.

Pressed down by powerful inner force, the intruder was immediately forced to his knees.

-Thump!

“Guh!”

“Sect Master!”

The one who had suddenly appeared and subdued the intruder was none other than the Shadow Sect Master.

He had just arrived after receiving the report.

The Shadow Sect Master clicked his tongue and said,

“It has been a long while since a night guest came to this Sect.”

“Sect Master. You have come?”

Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun stepped forward and greeted him with a cupped-fist salute.

Then, reaching out to take over the intruder subdued by the Shadow Sect Master, he said,

“I will handle it.”

But then suddenly the intruder blurted out,

“M-my apologies, Inner General Chief. I ended up confessing everything to that orthodox hostage bastard.”

‘!?’

At that moment Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun’s expression stiffened.

What nonsense was this bastard saying now?

What was this business of confessing something to him all of a sudden?

As he stood there dumbfounded, he heard voices begin to murmur around him.

Some of the surrounding warriors were glancing back and forth between the subdued intruder and Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun, stirring with unrest.

‘Ha!’

Were these men actually suspecting him now?

Did they truly mean to believe the sudden words of this intruder?

It was absurd beyond words.

But then the intruder began to plead again.

“Inner General Chief! Please spare only the lives of my family. I do not mind dying, so I beg you!”

At this, the bewildered Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun demanded,

“You bastard! When have you ever even seen me, that you dare spout such lies? Have you truly gone mad wishing for death?”

Then, hastily lowering his head and bringing both hands together in a salute to the Shadow Sect Master, Jo Yeom-hun said,

“Sect Master! This is slander. How could this subordinate possibly know such a one? Interrogate him at once…”

“Inner General Chief, to cast aside your subordinate like this…”

“You bastard!”

Enraged, Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun tried to kick the intruder in the face.

At that instant someone appeared and blocked his way.

It was none other than,

‘Guard Jade?’

It was Jade, the Shadow Sect Master’s guard.

As Jade blocked him, Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun could not contain his frustration and shouted,

“What are you doing? At once…”

“Why are you trying to shut the intruder’s mouth? If you truly did not collude with him, then calm yourself.”

“Collude? Ha! Are you now accusing me of collusion?”

Inner General Chief Jo Yeom-hun could not contain his anger, so absurd was the situation.

That intruder bastard was falsely framing him, and yet instead of helping, a man who claimed to be the Sect Master’s guard was doing this?

As that went on, the murmuring from all around struck his eardrums.

“Was it something the Inner General Chief ordered?”

“It really seems that way.”

“Did he try to frame Young Master Mok by seizing the man’s family?”

At the voices of the warriors, which reached him whether he wished to hear them or not, the Inner General Chief felt as though he might truly lose his mind.

No matter how one looked at it, this was far too sudden a situation, yet were they really believing it?

This was obviously slander.

He was so unable to restrain his anger that his hands shook, when at that moment the intruder once more cried out and incited those around him.

“Sect Master. I only did as the Inner General Chief ord…”

“You son of a bitch!”

At last the Inner General Chief drew his blade.

It felt as though he could only be satisfied after killing that bastard who was framing him then and there.

Yet Jade blocked the way again and said,

“Sect Master. Shall I subdue the Inner General Chief?”

“Guard Jade! Do you truly mean to…”

It was at that very instant.

-Slash!

With the sound of something being cut, something thudded to the ground.

It was none other than,

‘!?’

The intruder’s head.

The surroundings were dyed in silence in a single instant.

All present wore stunned expressions, and the one who had cut off the intruder’s head was none other than the Shadow Sect Master.

With a face more expressionless than usual, the Shadow Sect Master said,

“The intruder who sought to sow internal strife in this Sect is dead. From this moment on, no one in this Sect will speak of this matter. Understood?”

“Loyalty!!!”

The instant those words ended, everyone shouted in unison.

Pressed down by the pressure and aura pouring from the Sect Master, they had no choice but to obey the order.

‘……..’

Though he had forced the confused atmosphere down at once with his authority, the Shadow Sect Master’s eyes grew grave.

He had forcibly suppressed the situation for now by his authority, but he felt a strong sense of incongruity in what had just taken place.

The intruder’s abrupt accusation, which felt intentional.

Some of the surrounding warriors stirring up the atmosphere.

Even Guard Jade, who never moved without his order, had suddenly stepped out, protected the intruder, and pressed the Inner General Chief.

All of it was being encroached upon by a sense of incongruity.

-Swoosh!

The Shadow Sect Master narrowed his eyes and slowly turned his head.

In the torchlit shadows that swayed within his gaze, he saw Mok Gyeong-un, the corners of whose mouth stretched all the way to his ears.

‘!?’

For that brief instant, when his eyes met Mok Gyeong-un’s, the Shadow Sect Master unconsciously swallowed dryly.

The source of this incomprehensible sense of incongruity.

It originated from Mok Gyeong-un.