Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 93 - Reducing (1)

Chapter 93 – Reducing (1)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Mok Yu-cheon stared blankly at the small round copper token resting on his palm.

This was the item Ma Sang had handed over to him before fleeing.

He had not explained at all what this was or what it was for.

Ma Sang had only left him with these words.

[Do it in my place.]

They were words that seemed to carry many meanings.

If a spy was caught, death would inevitably follow.

That was likely why he had asked him to handle what came after.

‘What on earth am I…’

Why would he entrust such a thing to me?

Besides, if he himself had been in Ma Sang’s position, he would have been furious.

Even if they were half brothers, this outcome had happened because that brother had informed on him.

Yet Ma Sang did not resent him.

Of course, the situation had been urgent, so perhaps he had not even had the leisure to resent him.

“Haa.”

Mok Yu-cheon let out a long sigh.

How had he ended up in this situation?

Back then, when he had been looked down on as the son of a gisaeng, he had thought those days were hell, but now that he thought about it, that had been nothing.

The real hell was outside.

-Crunch!

He bit his nail.

The habit he had as a child whenever he grew anxious had returned.

He had thought that at least, as a half brother, that bastard was someone he could rely on, but only now had he realized that was not the case.

That man was no longer the figure he had known before.

He did not know whether he had hidden it all along or not, but regardless of righteous or evil sects, he was close to evil itself.

He suited this filthy hellhole all too well.

‘Son of a bitch. Fucking bastard.’

-Clench!

Mok Yu-cheon, who had been biting his nail, bit down on his finger instead.

It hurt.

This was reality.

The more he accepted reality, the more painful it became.

But just because it was painful, he could not give up.

Seeing Mok Gyeong-un’s wickedness made him angry, but that bastard might also be struggling in his own way to adapt and survive here.

Rather, perhaps he himself had been the one steeped in complacency.

He seemed to have still believed that if he survived here, he would return home and his original life would be waiting for him.

‘No…’

In the end, there was no such thing.

-Craaack! Drip, drip!

Blood ran from the finger he had bitten, and drops of blood wetted his tongue.

As he tasted the hot blood, his chest instead grew cold.

-Sweep!

Mok Yu-cheon brushed back his hair and steadied his posture.

He would now cast away that shallow thought of merely surviving in a place like this.

If evil was strong, then he too had to become strong in order to overcome it.

‘Surviving isn’t everything. I’ll smash every last one of them apart with my own hands.’

It was a truth he had also gained at Yeon Mok Sword Manor.

After reaching the peak realm, the gaze of everyone at Yeon Mok Sword Manor had changed, and the way they treated him had changed as well.

That was the true truth.

Whether righteous or evil, if a martial artist wished to survive and be treated well, he had to grow strong.

Strength itself was the law of murim.

‘…….Mok Gyeong-un. The one who rises from here won’t be you, it’ll be me.’

Having thus firmly steeled his resolve, Mok Yu-cheon entered circulation of qi.

The cultivation method he circulated was the Wood-Transforming Heart Cultivation Method, which he had stopped practicing because it seemed to have some side effect, but in the current situation, this was the only advancing cultivation method that could make him stronger quickly.

-Sssssss!

The skin on Mok Yu-cheon’s face gradually flushed with a brownish hue as he practiced the cultivation method.

* * *

“Hmm. We’ve gone over.”

Mok Gyeong-un said this as he looked at the eight boys standing before him.

Three had been brought by the demon monk possessing Yeom-ga of Crimson Kill Valley, and five had been brought by Mo Ha-rang of Mo Hwa House.

With an awkward expression, Mo Ha-rang looked at the people she had brought.

In order to save time, she had separately gathered people apart from the demon monk possessing Yeom-ga.

[If he’s possessed by a ghost, it might be hard for him to gather people.]

She had thought that she needed to gather as many group members as possible herself.

The number she had gathered in that way was five, which could be called the maximum.

In truth, even these were five chosen from among ten who had wanted to join her group.

Since she had selected them, she had also said she would take responsibility for getting them through this gate, so she felt rather troubled.

Then Mok Gyeong-un spoke.

“We only need five besides me, so would you all mind leaving on your own?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the eight boys looked at him as though he were being absurd.

That was only natural, because they had agreed to join this group because they trusted the reputations of Crimson Kill Valley and Mo Hwa House and thought of them as the group leaders.

“Hoo.”

One of the boys let out a sigh and simply left the room.

Because that boy had been in the same group as Mo Ha-rang, he had seen Mok Gyeong-un’s true nature with his own eyes.

That was why he withdrew from the group without the slightest hesitation.

But by coincidence, the remaining seven boys had seen nothing except Mok Gyeong-un breaking one boy’s neck in the first gate.

So their reaction was somewhat fierce.

“Who the hell are you to tell us to leave? I joined this group because of Mo Ha-rang.”

“Same here. If anyone’s leaving, it should be you.”

“Looks like everyone thinks the same thing.”

One after another, they all showed hostility toward Mok Gyeong-un.

Unlike during the first gate, their blocked meridians had now been opened, so they were brimming with confidence.

To them, Mo Ha-rang said awkwardly,

“…….I’m sorry, but I’m not the group leader.”

“What?”

“What are you talking about?”

At those words from Mo Ha-rang, they could not hide their bewilderment, for they had thought of her as the group leader.

From the start, when Mo Ha-rang gathered group members, she had said she was looking for people to be in the same group, but she had never mentioned that the actual group leader was someone else.

From their standpoint, it was no different from being deceived.

“Mo Ha-rang. Is that true?”

“We thought you were the group leader.”

“I’m sorry. The group leader is this person here.”

‘This person?’

At those words of hers, the boys furrowed their brows.

If they had not heard wrong, Mo Ha-rang had referred to Mok Gyeong-un as “this person,” as though he were someone above her.

Even if he was the group leader, that only meant he was the head for this gate.

Then Mok Gyeong-un said,

“It looks like most of you came in without knowing I was the group leader. If you’re dissatisfied, you may leave whenever you like.”

At those words, one boy gave a snort.

“Ha! I can’t accept that. Mo Ha-rang. You become the group leader instead. Then I’ll follow without question.”

At that boy’s words, the other boys also chimed in.

“That’s a good idea. Same for me.”

“I agree too.”

“If Mo Ha-rang is the group leader, I’d gladly follow.”

At the unanimous opinion of the boys telling her to take the role of group leader, Mo Ha-rang cast a sidelong glance at Mok Gyeong-un with an awkward expression.

Mok Gyeong-un was still smiling.

That very sight made her even more wary.

She had experienced for herself that his smile was filled with malice.

Thinking she had to make things clear now so trouble would not erupt, she said,

“I’m sorry, but I’ve decided to follow this person.”

‘!?’

When Mo Ha-rang drew the line this firmly, the expressions of the boys all changed in different ways.

But the common point among most of them was the question of why she acknowledged someone like Mok Gyeong-un as the group leader.

At that moment, one of the three boys who had come following the demon monk possessing the body of Yeom-ga of Crimson Kill Valley asked,

“You too? Don’t tell me you’ve acknowledged that bastard as the group leader?”

“I have.”

“What?”

At that short affirmation, the three boys also became troubled.

They too had voluntarily asked to become group members because they knew the reputation of Crimson Kill Valley.

But the one they had hoped to serve as group leader was instead serving someone else as leader, so they had no idea what to do.

To them, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“In any case, you’re choosing a group leader in order to pass this gate, so it seems you have many worries. Doesn’t the fact that these two came under me already give you the answer?”

“………”

At those words, the boys looked back and forth between Mo Ha-rang, Yeom-ga, and Mok Gyeong-un.

Something about this bastard displeased them, but there had to be a reason why these two, who would seem perfectly natural as leaders themselves, were following Mok Gyeong-un.

‘That makes sense.’

‘If they’re from Crimson Kill Valley and Mo Hwa House, they’d have their pride.’

‘If they’re following him on purpose, then…’

One by one, their hearts began to waver.

But not everyone felt that way.

One boy stepped forward and said to Mok Gyeong-un,

“What exactly are we supposed to see in you and then follow you? No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand.”

“If I don’t inspire trust in you as the group leader, then you may quietly leave this room.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the boy’s face twisted viciously.

The boy drew up the qi in his dantian and said,

“Who says I have to come and go according to your will? Ridiculous bastard. I don’t acknowledge you.”

“And what will you do if you don’t?”

Mok Gyeong-un said this with a smile.

Then the boy took up the opening stance of a fist art and said,

“If you’re so great, let’s have a match.”

At the boy’s suddenly aggressive attitude, everyone glanced at one another and read the room.

In truth, there was one question they all had.

As they recovered their internal qi, they were able to estimate the opponent’s martial level to some degree through qi sense.

But no matter how they looked at it, Mok Gyeong-un only felt to be barely at first-rate level.

By contrast, in the cases of Yeom-ga of Crimson Kill Valley and Mo Ha-rang of Mo Hwa House, it was different.

The qi revealed through qi sense was incomparably sharp, and they judged them to be opponents they could never defeat even if they attacked with determination.

Because of that, rather than stop him, they too wanted to confirm it.

Just how strong was Mok Gyeong-un?

It was at that very moment.

“How dare you presumptuously ask to measure yourself against my lord here in what safe place?”

Suddenly Yeom-ga of Crimson Kill Valley frowned deeply at the boy who had taken up the stance, openly showing his displeasure.

At that sight, the boys could not hide their puzzlement.

It was one thing for Mo Ha-rang, but even Yeom-ga was acting as though he had sworn loyalty to Mok Gyeong-un.

They had no idea what this was about.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un raised a hand and restrained him.

“Ah, don’t be too hard on him. From his point of view, he may naturally have his doubts.”

“But master… no, my lord. This insolent human…”

-Slide!

Mok Gyeong-un lightly glanced at the demon monk possessing Yeom-ga.

At once the demon monk stopped speaking and stepped back.

‘What? Did he just say my lord?’

‘Why is Yeom-ga of Crimson Kill Valley calling that bastard my lord and cowering before him?’

‘Is he really hiding his strength?’

From the boys’ standpoint, they could only grow more doubtful.

Likewise, unlike the others, the boy who had boldly proposed the match to Mok Gyeong-un also began to feel uneasy because of Yeom-ga’s attitude.

Had his qi sense been wrong?

It was at that moment.

-Slide!

Mok Gyeong-un, who had been sitting on the bed, stretched out his hand.

At that very moment,

-Snatch!

“Huh?”

The body of the boy who had taken up the stance was pulled forward, and his head and upper body tipped toward the front.

At the strong suction force, the boy’s eyes went wide.

But only for a moment.

To stop himself from toppling forward, the boy spread his right leg and stamped down with rooted force.

-Thud!

“Hup!”

And as soon as he did,

-Thwack!

“Guh!”

Mok Gyeong-un sprang from the bed, grabbed the back of the boy’s head with both hands, and drove his knee up into his face.

The boy, struck in the face by the knee, reeled backward.

Mok Gyeong-un grabbed such a boy by the hair.

-Clench!

“Ah, ah. You mustn’t go down from just this much.”

Then he slammed the bleeding boy’s head straight into the floor.

-Bam!

The wooden planks shattered, and the boy’s face was driven straight into the floor.

The force had been so great that the boy’s body convulsed for a moment, then, as if he had fainted, stopped moving.

“Oh? Did he pass out already?”

Mok Gyeong-un muttered, sounding rather disappointed.

‘!!!!!!’

At that scene, the boys stared blankly, apparently at a complete loss for words.

The boy who had just matched up with Mok Gyeong-un had been at the very end of first-rate level, someone whose martial ability was sufficient to reach the peak realm at any time if he only gained enlightenment.

And yet,

‘……..He wasn’t any match at all.’

‘What was that just now?’

Moreover, what had that thing Mok Gyeong-un showed just now been?

When he had opened his hand, the body of the unconscious boy had lurched forward as though trying to topple.

‘Could that have been grasping objects through the void?’

Grasping objects through the void.

It was a feat of skill by which one could move objects with deep and abundant true qi.

He looked no older than about seventeen, so how could such a thing even be possible?

‘Impossible.’

‘There’s no way.’

They simply could not believe it.

To the boys, who could not hide their astonishment, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Anyone else want to confirm it too?”

“………”

At that question, none of the boys answered.

They had seen it clearly with their own eyes, so who would dare object now?

To them, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Then I suppose no one has any complaints. Good. Then with one person gone here, it seems we’ll only need one more to leave.”

“………”

At those words, everyone watched one another.

That was only natural, because not only was Mok Gyeong-un strong, but Yeom-ga and Mo Ha-rang were also masters who had reached the peak realm.

If they stayed in this group, passing was guaranteed, so who would easily give that up?

“The atmosphere has improved. To think everyone’s become so motivated.”

With those words, Mok Gyeong-un swept his eyes over the boys, then stroked his chin as if troubled.

“Since it’s a gate done by groups, I can’t exactly tell you all to fight each other…”

‘Ha!’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Mo Ha-rang inwardly clicked her tongue.

This bastard truly was full of malice.

Then Mok Gyeong-un stared fixedly at one boy.

Was he telling him to leave?

Alarmed, the boy said,

“I, I’ll do my very best to follow you as group leader…”

It was before he could even finish saying those words.

Mok Gyeong-un approached him and stopped right in front of him.

Then, smiling broadly, he said,

“You’re the weakest one. Sorry, but I think you’ll have to leave.”

“……….”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the boy trembled and could not say a single thing.

The truth was that he admitted he was weaker than the other boys.

So he turned silently to leave, but,

“Ah, wait a moment.”

‘No way?’

Had he changed his mind?

Thinking that, he turned his head with a flicker of hope, but,

-Thud! Crack!

At that very moment, his body lurched sideways and spun.

Then he fell, striking his head against the floor.

-Thump!

“Aaaaargh!”

The fallen boy clutched his leg and cried out in pain.

Just now Mok Gyeong-un had kicked his ankle, and the force had been so great that his body spun like a windmill and the bone snapped.

“What the hell are you doing? He was giving up and leaving on his own…”

At this, one of the boys shouted at Mok Gyeong-un in shock.

Then Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.

“Is there some problem?”

“No, you told him to leave, and he was going with his own feet, so why did you make his leg like that…”

He could not bring himself to say, “break it.”

Then Mok Gyeong-un said,

“They said not to kill anyone. Did they ever say I couldn’t break a limb somewhere?”

“……….”

At those words, the boy became speechless.

To think he would make someone fail here and now by breaking his leg just because he was no longer a member of the same group.

This bastard was truly…

They had no words, and then Mok Gyeong-un loosened up his body as though stretching and said,

“This won’t end with just this one, so why react like that?”

“What exactly are you saying?”

“From now until the gate begins, we’re going to be quite busy. We have to break the legs of every group member from every group except our own.”

‘!?’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the expressions of the boys all froze at once.