Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 191 - Trial (1)
Chapter 191 – Trial (1)
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Half a gak earlier.
The Society Leader’s residence, located on the very top floor of the main hall building.
The Society Leader stood there with the lamps at his back, his face hidden in shadow and wrapped in bandages.
As Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon’s gaze fell on him, his expression was far more rigid than usual.
‘…So this is why he had kept from showing himself.’
For Hwan Ya-seon, who had thought it was because he had suffered an irrecoverable wound, this could not help but come as a considerable shock.
To him, the Society Leader said while winding the bandages around himself,
“Cough, cough. Why do you think I have shown you this?”
“…”
At the Society Leader’s question, Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon could not answer easily.
The intention behind hiding this even from him, who handled secrets and information, and only now revealing it.
Naturally, there were a few things that came to mind.
The first was the impact if this fact became known.
The Heaven and Earth Society would likely face a great upheaval internally as well.
‘That is naturally the problem, and next is of course…’
The Society Leader’s trust.
It had already been that way before, but ever since the illness deepened, it seemed he trusted no one except the Vice Society Leader and a few of his very closest aides.
If that was the case,
“Do you perhaps believe there is a spy even inside the inner castle?”
“…”
At those words, Vice Society Leader Mong Seo-cheon gave a displeased snort.
That meant agreement.
‘A spy…’
Spies were something that would always arise.
The Alliance of Justice, the righteous martial world alliance that stood opposed to the Heaven and Earth Society, regularly sent a spy organization called Dark Heaven to spy on and disrupt the Society.
It was the role of the Shadow Sect to catch such spies.
But the fact that they had hidden even this from him, the head of that Shadow Sect, meant that
‘I myself am also a subject of suspicion.’
This was troublesome.
Though he managed his expression carefully and did not show it, Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon was not pleased by this situation.
That was because he was a man of the Fire Worship Sect.
For someone like him to become a target of suspicion was not good for the future reconstruction of the Fire Worship Sect.
Brief though it was, Hwan Ya-seon fell into thought.
‘I have to restore his trust somehow.’
If not, even the reconstruction of the Fire Worship Sect might become impossible.
The one fortunate point was that if he was revealing what he had concealed even now, then although there was certainly a test in it, there also still remained some trust.
At that moment, the Society Leader, now fully wrapped in bandages, rose from the bed.
Standing, the Society Leader said,
“The imperial palace has once again requested younger masters. You know that, do you not?”
For more than a decade, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the imperial palace’s special agency, had been asking not only the Alliance of Justice but also the Heaven and Earth Society to send promising younger masters under the excuse of reorganization and reform.
Though it looked like a simple request, this was in fact a policy by which the imperial palace maintained its relationship with the martial world.
The Alliance of Justice had been accepting their request and sending younger masters from the early days, but the Heaven and Earth Society had not done so.
To this, Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon answered,
“Yes. However, since it was not something approved by the Society Leader…”
“Cough, cough. It is not something worth approving. How can the martial world and officialdom coexist?”
“…”
Of course, that was not the only reason.
The imperial palace and officialdom had supported the righteous side in the war between the Heaven and Earth Society and the Alliance of Justice.
Because of that, the Heaven and Earth Society had been placed at a disadvantage in that war.
That was why the Society did not openly turn against the imperial palace, yet also did not officially move in the direction the palace desired.
“But this is no longer a situation where we can merely stand by and watch.”
“If it is no longer a matter of merely standing by and watching…”
“Vice Society Leader.”
The Society Leader called the Vice Society Leader.
Hwan Ya-seon looked at him in puzzlement.
Then the Vice Society Leader continued,
“Officially, this Society rejected the imperial palace’s request, but the offices directly under the Society Leader have been making their own investments in the palace beyond merely sending in spies.”
“Their own investments?”
What was that supposed to mean?
Did it mean they had built a friendly force inside the imperial palace?
When had they gone that far?
Then Vice Society Leader Mong Seo-cheon answered,
“Imperial Noble Consort Seo.”
“Imperial Noble Consort Seo?”
She was one of the two consorts who currently enjoyed the Emperor’s greatest favor.
That favor was so great that the child she had borne, who was only seven, had become Crown Prince over the grown children of the Empress.
Because of that, she had become one of the Four Who Hold All Power within the imperial palace.
‘Ha.’
The Shadow Sect Master clicked his tongue inwardly.
Naturally, the Shadow Sect also had spies within the imperial palace.
But most of those spies moved to gather information, not to actively intervene in palace affairs.
Yet while outwardly taking the hard line that the Society could not coexist with the palace, the Society Leader had in fact intervened behind the scenes in the palace’s inner court.
In a way, it was truly astonishing skill.
“…Even without a word to the Shadow Sect. Remarkable indeed.”
“It was only a measure for contingencies. In any event, through information from Imperial Noble Consort Seo’s side, we learned that this information is more than ninety percent certain.”
“…Then will you attempt a retrieval?”
“Yes.”
It was the Society Leader who answered.
The firmness in his voice made the Shadow Sect Master feel his resolve.
The Society Leader had been searching constantly for “that person” rather than for physicians ever since his illness had deepened.
He would absolutely refuse to let this opportunity go.
Yet for that person to end up in the Society Leader’s hands was a situation as bad as that person’s being detained by the imperial palace.
What should he do about this?
At that moment, the Vice Society Leader continued,
“That is why this time we will accept the imperial palace’s request.”
“Ah… Then you mean to dispatch younger masters?”
“That is correct.”
At those words, the Shadow Sect Master stared at him in silence.
It was truly too fitting.
He had predicted just this kind of situation when he first heard that that person had been detained.
The imperial palace was on the verge of civil unrest because of the Emperor’s chronic illness.
For that reason, the factions in power were fiercely struggling to seize control over various departments.
This was indeed an opportunity.
“Then shall we gather the younger masters to be dispatched…”
“No. There is no need for that.”
The Vice Society Leader shook his head.
That made Hwan Ya-seon frown in puzzlement.
To retrieve that person who had been detained in the imperial palace’s underground golden prison, suitable people had to be gathered, so how could there be no need for it?
Unless,
“…You intend to proceed in secret?”
At those words, the Society Leader coughed and smiled faintly.
As expected, he had guessed correctly.
The Society Leader was cautious enough to be convinced there was a spy even within the inner castle.
If so, then officially gathering younger masters for the mission and dispatching them to the imperial palace would allow the information to flow through the spies to those behind them, creating major interference.
“Then how do you intend to do it?”
If they could not gather them, there would be no choice but to secretly designate people and hand down a covert order.
But then,
“Shadow Sect Master. Did you give your disciple any prior word?”
“Prior word? No. I merely had him brought here at once…!?”
In the midst of answering, the Shadow Sect Master’s brows knitted.
Then he glared at the Vice Society Leader and asked,
“Surely you do not intend to send my disciple?”
“That is exactly the plan.”
At that answer, the Shadow Sect Master was dumbfounded.
He had feared as much, and it had proved true.
When it came to covert missions under secret order, this sort of sudden proceeding was indeed common.
That was how one prevented information from spreading outside.
But there was one matter here to object to.
“Vice Society Leader… I only just took that child as my disciple after he graduated from Corpse Blood Valley. He is not yet at a stage where he can be entrusted with a dispatch mission…”
“If he passed through the Corpse Blood Valley passage in first place, then in terms of ability he is sufficient.”
“But you know that child’s origin as well, do you not? Though I trust that child…”
“What problem is there with trust?”
“Pardon?”
“I heard that during the graduation ceremony of Corpse Blood Valley, he displayed his will to be loyal to this Society before everyone present.”
‘…So it has reached the ears of the Society Leader and Vice Society Leader as well.’
As expected of men who maintained their own direct intelligence force, they were aware of nearly everything.
But he still could not understand.
Even if Mok Gyeong-un had indeed made such an oath, neither the Society Leader nor the Vice Society Leader would accept it at face value so quickly.
Rather, they were the sort who would continue testing him for a long while to confirm it.
Yet they intended to trust him and entrust him with such a critical mission?
What in the world were they thinking?
The Shadow Sect Master spoke in a troubled voice.
“As his teacher, I can only be grateful that you would say so. But if a child who has not yet even been trained as a spy is assigned this mission and it fails…”
“He is not being sent alone.”
“Pardon?”
“There are already three people who were unofficially dispatched in advance, and in the official dispatch according to the request, your disciple and two others will be added.”
“Ah…”
“Imperial Noble Consort Seo’s side requested men they could trust, so they had to be selected quickly, and your disciple happened to be selected as well.”
“…”
‘Happened to be?’
The Shadow Sect Master’s eyes narrowed.
Could this truly be explained away by saying it merely happened?
If Mok Gyeong-un were not a righteous-path hostage but a disciple he had taken ten years ago, then perhaps this would be understandable.
This was more likely…
‘A test?’
And not a test meant only for himself.
It seemed to include a test for Mok Gyeong-un as well.
It was profoundly troublesome.
To him, the Vice Society Leader let out a faint sigh and said,
“Do not be too displeased. It is not only your beloved disciple we are watching. My own son is being sent as well.”
“If by your son you mean young lord Mong Mu-yak?”
“Yes.”
At that, Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon could not hide his inward shock.
He had thought it was merely a test meant to trouble himself and Mok Gyeong-un, but if Mong Mu-yak, the Vice Society Leader’s son, was included, then the matter changed.
Was Mong Mu-yak not the heir of Vice Society Leader Mong Seo-cheon and one of the Five Tigers, called the greatest younger masters of the Heaven and Earth Society?
And even he was being dispatched on a mission this dangerous?
‘What is the intent here?’
In any case, he had no choice but to obey the Society Leader’s command.
This certainly was not some bitter measure meant to reassure him.
Yet to go so far as to send the Vice Society Leader’s own son…
‘Could it be?’
Hwan Ya-seon cast a sidelong glance at Vice Society Leader Mong Seo-cheon.
The Vice Society Leader’s eyes held an oddly bitter light.
Judging from that expression, even the Vice Society Leader himself did not seem pleased about sending his son on this retrieval mission.
It seemed to be to prove his loyalty to the Society Leader.
‘That position is hardly an enviable one either.’
Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon clicked his tongue inwardly.
It was almost pitiable that even the Vice Society Leader, one of the closest aides, had to keep proving his loyalty in this way.
“My own son, the Deputy Commander of the offices directly under the Society Leader, is being dispatched as well, so make no further objection.”
“…Understood.”
In any case, further objection was impossible.
If he kept pressing the matter, it would only stir the Society Leader’s displeasure and suspicion.
‘There is no helping it.’
Now that things had turned this way, it seemed he had no choice but to trust Mok Gyeong-un.
Fortunately, Mok Gyeong-un, like himself, was as good as a member of the Fire Worship Sect.
No.
On second thought, this might actually turn out well.
‘It may become an opportunity to keep that person from falling into the Society Leader’s hands.’
It was then,
Dalcak.
The Society Leader threw open the window.
Then, looking down below, he said,
“Cough, cough. They have come.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The three to be dispatched.”
With those words, the Society Leader, looking down at the training ground below, narrowed his eyes.
‘Is it that brat?’
That righteous-path hostage brat who had learned the Moon sword form.
The Society Leader’s eyes turned strange.
With Wi So-yeon present, he had judged that neither the treasure manual nor the Moon sword form had any more meaning.
That was why he had sent the boy to Corpse Blood Valley without regret, yet not only had he survived, he had even become the Shadow Sect Master’s disciple.
Truly a strange child.
[In the end, he will find his rightful place. That is destiny and the natural order.]
The words of that man came back to him.
If so, was all of this because of that natural order?
Even the fact that the brat had survived there?
After staring down for a long while, the Society Leader formed a sword-finger mudra and lightly flicked his fingers.
At that instant,
Gooooooo.
A sharp sword force rose from him.
Watching this from behind, Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon was seized with unease.
What in the world was he trying to do?
As he stood puzzled, the Society Leader kept moving his sword-finger mudra.
He wanted to observe up close what he was doing, but he could not.
Then it happened.
Like a commander leading from the very front, the Society Leader continued moving his sword-finger mudra and then suddenly stopped his hand and trembled slightly.
And then,
“Ha? Well now, this brat.”
He reacted as if something were absurd.
His eyes had even opened wide, so what in the world had happened?
Then,
Pak.
“S, Society Leader!”
The Society Leader leaped straight out through the window.
Startled, Vice Society Leader Mong Seo-cheon and Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon rushed over and looked down through the window.
* * *
After landing lightly on the ground, the Society Leader glanced once at the fallen sword, then turned his gaze back to Mok Gyeong-un and asked,
“How did you disperse the true qi loaded into the sword?”
‘What?’
At those words, the eyes of Seop Chun, Third Guard Captain of the main hall, went wide.
What was that supposed to mean?
Was it not he who had blocked the sword flying toward Mok Gyeong-un and cut off its true qi?
It made no sense at all.
Then,
‘Could it be?’
Seop Chun recalled how the sword had revived for an instant and then lost its power and fallen.
Could it be that that had not happened because the Society Leader withdrew his true qi?
No. Something was strange.
If it had been like his own method of forming a net with saber forms, then one could have cut the connected true qi, but if not, how could such a thing be possible?
Papapapak.
At that moment, two other figures landed inside the training ground.
They were none other than Vice Society Leader Mong Seo-cheon and Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon.
Because they did not know exactly what had happened below, they asked in confusion,
“Society Leader, what in the…”
Swish.
The Society Leader lifted a hand and wordlessly indicated that they should not interfere.
At that, Vice Society Leader Mong Seo-cheon stopped speaking midway and looked around the surroundings.
The sword hilt lying on the training ground floor.
And the many saber marks spread all around it.
Just by seeing that, he could roughly guess what had happened.
‘Did the Society Leader test them?’
Judging from the way he had been moving his sword-finger mudra, it seemed he had used a sword-riding technique.
But midway through, the Society Leader had reacted as though he found something absurd.
[Ha? Well now, this brat.]
Had one of those here startled the Society Leader?
But was such a thing even possible?
No matter how grave his illness, the only people capable of blocking the Society Leader’s sword-riding technique were the two who had received the title of Eight Stars, or the one who headed the council of elders.
At that moment, the Society Leader spoke again.
“Why do you not answer?”
Following the Society Leader’s gaze, the two executives also looked toward Mok Gyeong-un.
Then Mok Gyeong-un spoke.
“I do not understand what you mean.”
Everyone found it strange that he answered as if he truly had no idea.
At that, the Society Leader gave a faint laugh.
“Cough, cough. Do you think you can deceive my eyes?”
“…”
“It was certainly you.”
The Society Leader spoke in a voice full of certainty.
Then, keeping his head bowed, Mok Gyeong-un repeated the same words once more.
“I truly do not understand what you mean.”
At that, the Society Leader gave a snort.
Then,
“Is that so? Then I suppose this will become an unfortunate accident.”
Swoosh.
No sooner had those words ended than the Society Leader lightly inclined his head,
Chaeng. Shuk.
and a sword from the weapon rack at one side of the training ground drew itself and shot toward the head of Mok Gyeong-un, who was kneeling with both hands clasped.
‘How could…’
At the Society Leader’s sudden action, Shadow Sect Master Hwan Ya-seon flinched for an instant.
That was because he had to decide in a fraction of a moment whether or not he should stop it.
But in that instant, something astonishing happened.
Pak. Chaenggeurang.
The sword flying at Mok Gyeong-un’s head abruptly stopped as if it had lost all its strength and fell to the floor.
‘!!!!!!!!!!’
All those present were stunned beyond belief.
That brat had just blocked the Society Leader’s sword-riding technique without moving a finger?
That brat had just blocked the Society Leader’s sword-riding technique without moving a finger?