Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 88 - Origin Kill Pavilion Lord (3)

Chapter 88 – Origin Kill Pavilion Lord (3)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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‘Master?’

What in the world was this supposed to mean?

For a moment, In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, was left dumbfounded by Green Spirit Gyu So-ha’s cry.

He was the very one who had used the Four-Nurtured Fate-Linked Divine General Method, the secret art that forcibly turned a resentful spirit into a shikigami.

And yet the Green Spirit born through the Spirit God Gu Poison Art was suddenly calling that boy who looked seventeen or eighteen years old her master.

What in the world was going on here?

It was then.

“Gyeong-un!”

Occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong cried out when he saw Mok Gyeong-un.

At that cry,

“Gyeong-un?”

Did he know that boy?

As he was wondering, occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong said in a greatly excited voice,

“Master! Master! That child is the very child I told you about.”

“What?”

In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, narrowed his eyes.

That boy was the child his disciple Jo Ui-gong had said he took into his own school?

Wait.

But how had that boy ended up here?

Was he not supposed to be carrying out the gates in Corpse Blood Valley?

And why, on top of that, was the Green Spirit calling him master? He could not understand it.

“That child…?”

-Sseuk!

Occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong was about to say something, but In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, raised a hand as if telling him to stop.

“Master?”

“Stand aside and watch. Are you the boy called Mok Gyeong-un?”

At that question from In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, Mok Gyeong-un looked at occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong.

Then occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong sent him a look and said quietly,

“He is your Grandmaster and the Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion.”

‘!?’

At those words, a strange light appeared in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.

On the way to the Heaven and Earth Society, occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong had briefly explained Origin Kill Pavilion to him, so he roughly knew what sort of figures were within it.

So that old man who looked to be in his seventies was that Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion?

‘So this is an occult practitioner of Pavilion Lord level.’

Mok Gyeong-un, whose Ghost Eyes had opened, possessed eyes that could concretize qi.

So he could see it clearly.

The tremendous spell force unconsciously emanating from that old man.

‘To think the difference is this great.’

It seemed to be more than three times what occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong possessed.

He was not yet at a level where he could handle that, so Mok Gyeong-un brought his hands together in courtesy and said,

“Ah, so you are a respected elder of my school. I am Mok Gyeong-un, who entered under Master Jo.”

“………”

At this greeting from Mok Gyeong-un, occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong only stared at him in silence.

On the other hand, Green Spirit Gyu So-ha, whose face had brightened because her master had arrived, widened her eyes.

‘What is this supposed to mean?’

Her master belonged to this old bastard’s school?

Then did that mean he was connected to those who had confined her in that hellish place?

If so, it would make things very confusing.

Then In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, opened his mouth.

“Say that again.”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un, whose hands were still together, tilted his head and then smiled.

“Ah, so you are a respected elder of my school. Under Master Jo’s…”

-Thud!

Before Mok Gyeong-un could finish speaking, In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, struck the end of his cane against the ground.

Then, scowling fearsomely, he said,

“Are you making a mockery of this Pavilion Lord right now?”

“No. How could that be?”

At that glib answer, it was instead occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong who grew anxious.

He knew that this boy was bolder than ordinary people and not an ordinary sort, but the one before him was his own master and the Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion.

Then what in the world was this attitude?

“Will you not apologize to the Lord at once!”

Jo Ui-gong raised his voice and demanded it harshly.

At that, Mok Gyeong-un lowered his head with both hands still together and said,

“I apologize to the Lord.”

There was no rise or fall in his voice, so it did sound polite, but it still felt unpleasant somehow.

Still, since he had done as told, Jo Ui-gong could say nothing more and instead glanced slyly at the face of his master, In Seo-ok.

‘Ahhh.’

As expected, his expression was not good.

Just a little while ago, he had shown a rather favorable reaction, and Jo Ui-gong had even hoped he might somehow be able to pull him out of Corpse Blood Valley.

But now it was the complete opposite.

It was then that In Seo-ok snorted and said,

“Did you say that you are this resentful spirit’s master?”

At that question, occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong furrowed his brow and looked at Mok Gyeong-un.

Come to think of it, the boy had definitely said so earlier.

[That thing’s master is me.]

What in the world was that supposed to mean?

As he stood there puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un slowly raised the head he had lowered and said,

“Yes. Is there some problem with that?”

“What?”

Jo Ui-gong’s expression hardened.

The boy had not denied it, but affirmed it?

Then had he truly made that resentful spirit, which had been progressing as gu poison, into his shikigami?

‘How in the world?’

Had this boy not been going through the gates of Corpse Blood Valley until now?

Then how could he possibly have made that resentful spirit, while the gu poison process was underway, into his shikigami?

And a resentful spirit could not be made into a shikigami…

‘Ah!’

Come to think of it, this boy had one resentful spirit of Yellow Spirit rank as a shikigami.

According to him, there had been no special method at all. A being that had tried to possess his body had been captured by chance and made into a shikigami.

Jo Ui-gong had checked the extent of the boy’s knowledge of occult arts, so he had thought it was merely incredible luck.

But now, of all things, he was saying he had made a resentful spirit of Green Spirit rank into his own shikigami?

‘…….How can this be?’

This was not something that could be dismissed as luck.

Had not even his master, In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, tried to use the lost forbidden secret arts of the Maoshan Sect in order to make a resentful spirit into a shikigami?

“Can that really be…”

“Order it once.”

Before occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong could finish what he was saying, once again it was In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, who spoke.

“What do you mean?”

“Anything at all.”

‘Is he trying to confirm it?’

It seemed In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, intended to confirm it himself.

There were several ways to confirm a shikigami, but the simplest was for its master to issue it a command.

So Mok Gyeong-un said lightly,

“So-ha. Get up and come here.”

“Yes, Master.”

The moment Mok Gyeong-un’s order fell, Green Spirit Gyu So-ha rose to her feet.

Then, as though she had been waiting for it, she went over toward Mok Gyeong-un.

Seeing that, occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong clicked his tongue.

‘Ha!’

It was real.

The Green Spirit was truly following orders.

Even when it had been Yellow Spirit rank, he had been quite startled, but a Green Spirit was a resentful spirit too much for ordinary occult practitioners to handle, and this boy had made it his shikigami?

Unable to endure it any longer, Jo Ui-gong asked,

“How in the world did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Are you pretending not to know? You should have been going through the gates of Corpse Blood Valley, so how could you possibly have made that resentful spirit, while the gu poison process was underway, into your shikigami?”

At this question from Jo Ui-gong, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged.

“Who knows. As I told you last time, I never intended to do anything in particular.”

At that answer from Mok Gyeong-un, occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong’s eyes narrowed.

Last time, he had thought it might truly have been chance, but now that he answered in such a way, it only seemed as if he was hiding something.

“Oh ho. So now you intend to make a fool of this master. Then let us see whether you still refuse to answer even after this.”

-Pak! Pak!

Occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong formed hand seals.

At the same time, he recited a spell.

“As the ring returns without stone, as the ring is mirror-like, as there is no self…”

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un watched where the gaze of occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong was directed.

It was the chain around Mok Gyeong-un’s wrist.

Seeing that, Mok Gyeong-un guessed in an instant that Jo Ui-gong was trying to do something through that chain.

‘As expected?’

[Wear that around your wrist and say this. I, Mok Gyeong-un, will become Jo Ui-gong’s disciple and uphold his will.]

[What happens if I make that oath?]

[A restraint will be placed on you.]

[A restraint?]

[Once you make that oath, you will no longer be able to harm me in any way. It is nearly absolute.]

That was what occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong had said.

But Mok Gyeong-un had believed there was surely some other hidden restraint here.

And just as he expected, Jo Ui-gong now seemed intent on showing that restraint.

-Pak!

“Swift as law!”

Occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong concluded the spell, pointing his Vajra Finger at Mok Gyeong-un.

Hearing that final Swift as law, Mok Gyeong-un understood.

Swift as law meant that, like a command of statute, it had to be enforced immediately without fail.

In other words, it was an expression that meant obey the order.

‘So that was it.’

The restraint was a method of controlling him.

Mok Gyeong-un saw the gaze of occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong shift from the bracelet to his face.

So without showing it, Mok Gyeong-un wore a blank expression as though his soul had left him.

Seeing this, the corners of Jo Ui-gong’s mouth rose slightly.

“From now on, you must answer my questions exactly.”

“Yes.”

Mok Gyeong-un answered in a slack voice.

Seeing this, In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, looked at the chain on Mok Gyeong-un’s wrist and said,

“A chain of incantation words.”

“Yes, Master. I had only just taken him as a disciple, and as you can see, he still cannot be controlled and is like an untamed colt, so I put it on him while taming him.”

At that, In Seo-ok let out a small snort.

Among the disciples who had received his instruction, the one most cunningly similar to himself was precisely Jo Ui-gong.

As expected, he had taken the proper measure.

The chain of incantation words laid restraints by binding one through one’s own oath, and so it could compel the will.

“If you have any questions, please ask them.”

Occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong pointed at Mok Gyeong-un with his hand as he spoke.

At this moment, whatever they asked, he would answer without falsehood.

-Step, step.

At those words, In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, walked toward Mok Gyeong-un.

“Master?”

“One must always confirm whether it truly took hold.”

Then he swung the head of his cane and struck Mok Gyeong-un across the face.

-Thwack!

Mok Gyeong-un’s head snapped to the side.

No matter how much martial arts one had learned, if one were struck in an unguarded state without circulating qi, naturally one would feel pain.

One had no choice but to react somehow, but

‘Hm.’

Mok Gyeong-un showed no change in expression, as if he had felt no pain at all.

He had been hit across the face with the cane head, yet if he was still like this, then it certainly seemed his will had been bound.

But In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, was a cautious man.

-Thwack!

He struck Mok Gyeong-un across the other side of the face with the cane.

Apparently not satisfied with that, he kicked him in the abdomen and knocked him over.

-Thud!

“Master, there is no need to go that far…”

“Wait.”

-Pak!

In Seo-ok stepped onto Mok Gyeong-un’s chest and pressed down hard on his throat with one foot.

-Craaaack!

As he crushed his throat, the veins in Mok Gyeong-un’s face rose, and his face reddened.

Yet Mok Gyeong-un’s expression still did not change.

If he stepped down only a little more, his breathing would stop.

And yet he remained still.

-Creeeak!

Having stared at him, In Seo-ok finally nodded as if he now believed it, then stepped down from Mok Gyeong-un’s chest.

Then he said to occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong,

“Now ask him whether he entered the cliff valley.”

“Understood. Gyeong-un, rise.”

-Sseuk!

Mok Gyeong-un silently rose with a blank expression.

Looking at his face, now covered in wounds, occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong clicked his tongue inwardly.

His master was cautious to the point of excess, and on top of that his hands showed no mercy.

‘Well, when he regains his senses, he will not remember any of this.’

That was the power of the chain of incantation words.

Jo Ui-gong asked Mok Gyeong-un,

“Did you enter the cliff valley where the gu poison art was being carried out?”

“Yes.”

At that question, Mok Gyeong-un answered at once with a blank face.

At that, In Seo-ok clicked his tongue.

“So the culprit has been revealed.”

While the Spirit God Gu Poison Art was unfolding, no one was supposed to enter it.

No, to be precise, one was not to enter because it was dangerous.

In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, frowned and looked at Mok Gyeong-un.

‘But how did he survive?’

That point, rather, was what puzzled him.

At first, what had puzzled him was that the boy had made a Green Spirit into his shikigami, but now he was even more curious about that.

And no wonder, because that cliff valley, where resentful spirits lost their sense of self and devoured one another, was literally like hell.

Yet this boy, who had not even learned occult arts for very long, not only survived but also made a Green Spirit into his shikigami?

“Ask him what happened there.”

“Yes. Explain in detail what happened inside.”

What in the world had happened there?

The two men stared at Mok Gyeong-un in focused attention, and then,

“The Society Leader…”

‘!?’

In an instant, both their expressions hardened.

The Society Leader? What on earth did that mean?

Did he mean the Society Leader of the Heaven and Earth Society?

“The Society Leader…”

But after saying Society Leader, Mok Gyeong-un began murmuring so quietly that they could not hear him.

Occult practitioner Jo Ui-gong raised his voice and said,

“What do you mean the Society Leader did? Speak properly and loudly.”

“The Soci… Society Leader…”

Mok Gyeong-un mentioned the Society Leader again and muttered in a voice that seemed to sink back inward.

At that, In Seo-ok, Lord of Origin Kill Pavilion, frustrated that he was muttering after mentioning none other than the Society Leader, the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society, walked over and grabbed Mok Gyeong-un by the hair, pulling his head toward his ear as he said,

“Tell him to speak clearly again.”

“Mok Gyeong-un, speak properly.”

At that order, Mok Gyeong-un opened his mouth again.

“The Society Leader…”

“Yes. What about the Society Leader?”

“Why would he come?”

‘!?’

-Crunch!

“Ghk!”

In that instant, In Seo-ok’s eyes widened as though they might split.

Before he knew it, Mok Gyeong-un’s hand had pierced into his chest.

How in the world had this happened?

This boy had clearly been bound by the chain of incantation words…

‘!!!!!!’

In the enlarged pupils of In Seo-ok, Mok Gyeong-un no longer wore a blank expression.

Instead, the corners of his mouth were curled up in a sinister smile.