Chapter 293 – Joining Forces (2)

===================

Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

-Smack!

As the whip came flying down, the boy curled his body into a hunchback and wrapped himself around himself.

As the whipping continued, the boy’s clothes were gradually dyed with blood.

The face of the boy, screaming in pain, twisted like that of an evil ghost, as if he resented everything in the world.

‘What… what did I ever do wrong?’

He had merely been born mixed-blood.

Was that a crime?

Did he have to be treated with such contempt and humiliation simply because his eyes were not black and his skin was a little paler?

He did not know how he had ended up like this.

-Smack! Smack!

[Die, you damned blue-eyed bastard! Die! It would be better if trash like you just died!]

At the constant abuse and whipping, the blue eyes of the boy trembled.

Suffering and pain gave way to rage, and in the end that rage overflowed into murderous intent.

‘I will kill him. I will kill him.’

The shackles on his arms no longer mattered.

If he could just bite through that bastard’s throat, it would be over.

So the boy, driven to frenzy, watched for an opening with the eyes of a beast.

Then, the moment the hand wielding the whip paused from exhaustion,

“Aaaaaaah!”

With a beastly cry, he lunged at the slave merchant who had been whipping him.

There was only one goal.

To bite through the bastard’s throat.

Even if he died on the spot, he would kill that one man first with sheer single-minded obsession…

-Thud.

But before he could even reach him, he was knocked over by someone’s kick.

The one who threw him down was the slave merchant’s escort warrior.

[How dare this damned blue-eyed bastard lunge at anyone!]

-Thud!

The slave merchant, eyes bloodshot, stamped violently on the fallen boy.

The man’s kicks held no concern whatsoever for whether the boy lived or died.

He cared only for venting his own rage.

-Thud! Thud!

-Clench.

It hurt terribly, but the boy bit his lip hard and held back his cries.

That was because he felt that showing the slave merchant that he was suffering would only help him vent his anger.

-Thud! Thud!

‘Would it… would it be better if I just died like this?’

As the pain slowly dimmed his consciousness, he began to long for death.

It was then.

-Slash! Thud! Roll, roll.

Something rolled before the boy.

[You bitch, what are y…]

-Slash.

A hot liquid splashed over the boy’s body.

Still curled up, the boy slowly lifted his head in confusion.

What he saw with his own eyes was astonishing.

It was the head of the slave merchant, eyes still bloodshot as though he had not even realized his neck had been severed.

What in the world had just happened?

Still dazed as he stared at the severed head, the boy finally looked up toward the person standing before him.

It was a beautiful girl, her hair fluttering red like blood.

The girl shook the blood from her blood-stained sword, glanced over him once, and then started to walk out of the tent.

He did not know why.

But the boy, who had been staring in shock, suddenly staggered to his feet and ran after her, shouting,

[Please… please take me with you too.]

* * *

[Please… please take me with you too!]

As that first meeting with So Ye-rin, the Deputy Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, suddenly came back to him, the eyes visible through the mask of Mara Hyeon, the Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, trembled faintly with complicated emotion.

She was the benefactor who had saved his life after it had fallen into the abyss, and the teacher who had even taught him martial arts.

Now that he was telling her that he would leave her side, despite the fact that she had accepted him without any prejudice at all, even moving his lips felt unbearably heavy.

If no one else, he at least did not want to disappoint her, his master.

At that moment, So Ye-rin spoke.

“…….Why? Why do you mean you cannot return to the imperial palace?”

“I am sorry, my lady.”

“Do not merely say you are sorry. Tell me the reason.”

“My lady.”

“I said tell me the reason.”

She spoke as calmly as ever, but because he had been with her for so long, Mara Hyeon could detect the faint agitation in her voice.

At that, Mara Hyeon’s heart grew heavy, and after hesitating he opened his mouth.

“The Southern Suppression Envoy saw me. If I return, I will be branded a traitor.”

It was the justification he had prepared beforehand.

No, in truth it was not merely a justification, but fact.

Unlike her, whose face had remained hidden behind a veil, he had acted in his original identity in order to safely get the others out of the imperial palace, and so he had become someone who could not return to the palace.

If he did return, he would be seized immediately by the Southern Suppression Envoy.

If that happened, even though her face had not been exposed, his master So Ye-rin, who had entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard together with him, might also come under suspicion.

“I am sorry. I cannot become a burden that drags you down, my lady.”

“Who says you would be a burden? Do you think I am incapable of protecting even one person like you?”

“…….I would only hold you back.”

“That does not matter. I will protect you somehow, so…”

“I have already made my decision.”

“A decision? You call deciding on your own to leave me a deci…”

“No. It is not merely that I am leaving.”

“What?”

“I wish to serve the Young Master Mok Gyeong-un standing here as my lord.”

‘!?’

At those words from Mara Hyeon, So Ye-rin’s expression froze.

Mara Hyeon was an upright and loyal man.

Because they had been together so long, he was both a disciple, a comrade, and almost like a younger brother to her.

So for him suddenly, without even the slightest sign beforehand, to say that he would leave her side and enter the service of someone else threw her into confusion.

“Wh… why…”

Seeing her reaction, Mara Hyeon felt a deep ache inside.

But he steadied himself and said,

“I am sorry. Young Master Mok Gyeong-un saved me when I was on the verge of dying from the blood gu. So I wish to devote the rest of my life to him.”

“………”

At those words, So Ye-rin closed her mouth.

If it had only been a matter of his identity being exposed and causing trouble, then there were means to be devised, such as a human skin mask.

But for a reason such as this, she could not hold him back.

No, to do so would be to ignore Mara Hyeon’s own decision.

“Mara Command… no, Mara Hyeon.”

“My lady… so…”

“Enough. Why would that be something to apologize for? If you say you wish to repay a debt of grace, how could I possibly hold you back?”

‘Ahhh, my lady.’

Mara Hyeon, who had kept his head lowered, shut both his eyes.

He still did not believe he had fully repaid the grace she had shown him.

But the person who knew the truth behind his father’s death, the burden he had carried for so long, was right there.

If he let this chance slip by, it might never come again.

‘I will definitely repay your grace… if the chance ever comes again.’

She was the teacher who had allowed him, a mixed-blood, to live as a human being.

He had no selfish desire to return to her side after leaving in this way.

He only wanted to repay the grace he had received from her, somehow.

Then So Ye-rin approached Mok Gyeong-un, gathered both hands together in salute, and said,

“Young master. Then, since I cannot be away from my post for long, I will return to the imperial palace now.”

“Ah, yes. Of course you should.”

“If you learn anything regarding the organization of the mark, I ask that you arrange contact. Naturally, if I also come to know anything, I will share it.”

“I will do so.”

“Then I wish you fortune in battle.”

With those words, she turned to leave, but then stopped for a moment, turned her head, and said to Mok Gyeong-un,

“Please take care of Mara Hyeon.”

At that request, Mok Gyeong-un gave a slight shrug.

Taking that as a sign of assent, So Ye-rin gave a bitter smile and then looked toward Dam Baek-ha, one of the Six Blood Saints.

Dam Baek-ha then likewise offered Mok Gyeong-un a fist-and-palm salute and tore off a strip of her robe and handed it over.

Embroidered on that strip of cloth was the number [126].

“And this is?”

“Thanks to the young master, the successor of the elder, I have been able to return to the world like this. I will never forget this great grace I have received from you.”

“I did not do it with that intention, so you need not be so grateful.”

“Even so, had it not been for you, I would never have come out. That fact does not change.”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un’s lips twitched and he said,

“Well, if you feel that way, then as a gesture of thanks, that technique of suggestion…”

“That is a skill only the master of our sect and our line may learn. I cannot teach it to you.”

Before Mok Gyeong-un could even finish, Dam Baek-ha cut him off flatly.

Mok Gyeong-un, who had been about to ask for the incantatory formula of the art of suggestion, smacked his lips in disappointment.

It was a rather interesting method, and he had wanted to know the exact formula.

To Mok Gyeong-un, who looked regretful, Dam Baek-ha pointed with her eyes to the strip of cloth she had handed him and said,

“Even so, how could I fail to repay the grace I owe you? I intend to go to the Evil Alliance, where the remnants of our cult have gathered in order to rebuild it. If there comes a time when my meager strength can lend even one hand, send this to me. I will come to your aid at once.”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un smiled faintly.

Though she modestly described herself as meager, she was a remarkable master near the realm of the Profound Realm.

For such a master to say that she would rush to help whenever requested meant he had gained a rather useful piece on the board.

* * *

Thus, So Ye-rin and Dam Baek-ha went their separate ways.

When the traces of their presence had finally vanished completely, Mok Gyeong-un gave a faint laugh and turned his gaze toward Mara Hyeon.

“Now then. They are gone, so shall we hear the real reason?”

At those words from Mok Gyeong-un, the eyes visible through the gaps of Mara Hyeon’s mask narrowed.

Those eyes held bewilderment.

“I do not know what you mean…”

“You should not be able to lie to me.”

-Sliiiither.

As he said that, Mok Gyeong-un raised his demonic qi.

At that instant, Mara Hyeon’s eyes turned black with demonic qi, and the truth he had been trying to hide revealed itself of its own accord.

“Because of that damned old woman you snatched from the prison, my mother and that cursed man I called father died.”

‘!?’

-Paht!

The moment those words ended, Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak hurriedly stepped in between the Sacred Fire Leader and Mara Hyeon.

Their purpose was to bring the Sacred Fire Leader safely to the Heaven and Earth Society.

So if Mara Hyeon, the masked officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had spoken of loyalty to Mok Gyeong-un, was actually seeking revenge on her, then they could not possibly allow him to remain near her.

“What is this? Were you not on the same side?”

Ja Geum-jeong, the Broken-vow monk, also reading the mood, raised his qi and prepared to strike at any time.

At that moment, the Sacred Fire Leader staggered, looking bewildered.

‘This cannot be…’

She had already harbored suspicion when she saw Mara Hyeon’s blue eyes.

But now, from what he had just said, she could be certain of his identity.

With a trembling voice, she opened her mouth.

“A-are you the son of Priest Maiera?”

“Shut up!”

At that moment Mara Hyeon violently tore off his mask and shouted at her.

Even though his eyes had turned black with demonic qi, his emotions had already grown intense.

“Maira Hyeon…”

“I said shut that mouth!”

With that shout, Mara Hyeon launched himself toward her.

At that instant, someone pressed down on his shoulder.

-Clamp.

Mara Hyeon tried to shake it off by raising his internal energy, but his opponent’s internal energy was so overwhelming that one of his knees was forced down to the ground.

-Thud.

‘Wh-who? Ah!’

He had wondered who it was, but of course, it was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.

With both hands resting on Mara Hyeon’s shoulders, Mok Gyeong-un smiled faintly and said,

“It would be troublesome if you started acting on your own. Whatever your circumstances may be, I did not bring that person out so that Commander Mara could do as he pleased.”

He sounded casual, but it was a clear warning.

It felt as though if even a little more force entered those hands, it would not end with mere pressure on the shoulders.

Enduring the pain, Mara Hyeon spoke.

“Young Master… if you would entrust the handling of… that damned old woman… to me… then I swear to serve you with the toil of a dog or horse…”

“Are you negotiating with me?”

“I… will be of more use to you… than… that old woman…”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un let out a faintly mocking laugh.

Then he leaned close to Mara Hyeon’s ear and whispered,

“You hold your own value in rather high regard.”

“Young Master… it is true. For your sake, I could throw away my li…”

“That is unfortunate.”

“What do you mean by…”

“Value changes depending on the situation. Commander Mara was considerably useful to me in the imperial palace, but right now, to me, that person’s value is greater.”

“Young Master!”

“So let us make this clear here and now.”

-Clench.

Force entered Mok Gyeong-un’s hand.

A groan escaped Mara Hyeon’s lips at the pain that made it feel as though his shoulder would be crushed.

“Ghk.”

“Until my own business is finished, I expect you to remove from your head any thought of laying a hand on that person.”

“Hah… hah…”

“I rather like you, Commander Mara. But if you ignore this kindly warning of mine, then regrettably I will have no choice but to weep as I execute Ma Su with my own hands.”

Weeping while executing Ma Su.

It was an expression born from the tale of Zhuge Liang, the military strategist of Shu, who beheaded his beloved general Ma Su with a heavy heart for violating his orders and causing a disastrous defeat, in order to enforce military law.

It also meant that no matter how talented a person was, if he violated commands and discipline, he would not be forgiven.

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Mara Hyeon said nothing.

At that sight, Mong Mu-yak and Seop Chun felt worried inwardly.

‘If the Sacred Fire Leader is no different from the murderer of his parents, will that master from the Embroidered Uniform Guard really obey our lord’s warning so meekly?’

‘If he is going to become a liability, it would be better to separate him from us now rather than merely warning him.’

This was a man who had chosen revenge even at the cost of leaving the people with whom he had originally belonged.

Would such a man truly obey their lord’s orders without resentment?

Then Mok Gyeong-un removed both hands from Mara Hyeon’s shoulders.

‘Ah…’

Was he really going to let the matter pass with just a warning of this degree?

Just as that thought crossed their minds,

-Thud.

Mara Hyeon suddenly dropped to one knee before Mok Gyeong-un and brought both hands together in salute.

Then, bowing his head, he respectfully said,

“Mara Hyeon wishes to serve Young Master Mok Gyeong-un as his lord. I wish to remain at your side, serving with the toil of a dog or horse and with utmost loyalty, so please keep your promise.”

‘Hm?’

‘What is this?’

Both men could not hide their confusion at that sudden oath of loyalty.

They had thought that being forcibly prevented from taking revenge would only make him resentful, and yet now he was swearing loyalty instead.

And what exactly had he meant by that promise at the end?

Had their lord promised something?

They could not make sense of it.

As Mara Hyeon bowed his head and swore loyalty, the words Mok Gyeong-un had said were still ringing in his head.

[I expect you to remove from your head any thought of laying a hand on that person until my own business is finished.]

The key was the condition, until my own business is finished.

Mok Gyeong-un patted Mara Hyeon’s shoulder and said with a sharp smile,

“You catch on quickly. I like that.”

Mok Gyeong-un.