Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 96 - Benefits (1)

Chapter 96 – Benefits (1)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Mu Jang-yak always had a light and cheerful manner, so those who looked at him felt their own spirits rise along with it.

Even now he wore a smiling face, so the morale of his group members was firm.

However, though he hid it as much as possible, Mu Jang-yak’s eyes were turning toward Mok Gyeong-un moment by moment where no one noticed.

In the end, he had safely protected his group members.

It could be said that from the very first day, he had excellently carried out his role as group leader, and yet,

‘……..Mok Gyeong-un.’

Because of what had happened last night, Mok Gyeong-un had been completely etched into his mind.

No, he had become deeply concerning.

Mu Jang-yak recalled what had happened the previous night.

[No. I’m wondering whether it would be better to kill you now, or whether it would be better to leave you alive.]

[Crazy bastard!]

[Do you even understand what situation you’re in right now?]

At Mok Gyeong-un’s ridiculous words, Mu Jang-yak’s group members had been utterly dumbfounded.

In the present situation, Mok Gyeong-un had no choice.

If he laid a hand on even one person, then everyone would be made to fail the gate.

So for him to come out like that could only be a bluff.

[Do whatever you want!]

[If you’re saying we should all fail together, do you think we’d just sit still?]

[Let’s do it!]

Even the group members of Mu Jang-yak, who had been waiting in confidence in his strategy, could no longer endure it and prepared to fight, taking up their opening stances.

Mok Yu-cheon was the same.

By contrast, Mu Jang-yak, the one who had established this plan, stared silently at Mok Gyeong-un unlike the others.

‘What is this?’

What in the world was he relying on to act like that?

Mu Jang-yak had heard from Mok Yu-cheon, who could be called Mok Gyeong-un’s half brother, what had happened in the second gate, and thus realized that Mok Gyeong-un was no ordinary man.

That was why he had crafted a plan without any openings to this extent.

‘No matter how I think about it, there is no hole in this plan. So what exactly is that attitude of his?’

Mu Jang-yak had been clever from childhood.

He was skilled at reading the minds of others, so through an opponent’s gaze, behavior, and many other factors, he was able to infer their feelings and thoughts.

Yet Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes and tone.

It was difficult to read his emotions even a little.

‘I can’t tell whether it’s a bluff or genuine.’

What in the world was it?

Had he merely said something like that because he could not control his own emotions?

But that seemed excessive too, and this bastard named Mok Gyeong-un possessed a nature as cunning as his own.

In truth, although he had not revealed it to everyone, if his first plan had succeeded, he had intended at dawn to break the legs of Mok Gyeong-un’s group members, just as Mok Gyeong-un had said.

That way, he could naturally eliminate both him and his group members.

In the end, only Mok Gyeong-un had read his thoughts.

That was why Mu Jang-yak found Mok Gyeong-un’s earlier words so unsettling.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un stared right at him, then let out a short laugh and said,

[We’ll end it at this level this time.]

[What?]

At those words from Mok Gyeong-un, Mok Yu-cheon responded as if it were laughable.

Was he talking as though he were magnanimously granting mercy, even though he was the one at a disadvantage?

They had gone along with Mu Jang-yak’s plan, but on their side too there were as many as three people who had reached the peak realm.

Yeon Mu-ung of the Secret Gate Sect, who was inside guarding the hostages, Mu Jang-yak, and himself.

They were numerically superior, so if they fought, theirs was a position that was advantageous if anything, and absolutely not disadvantageous.

[Don’t put on airs, Mok Gyeong-un.]

[Think of it however you like, and send two of your people over this way. We too ought to hold hostages until morning for the sake of fairness.]

[We’re the ones holding the hilt here, and yet you really…]

[All right.]

[What?]

Mu Jang-yak readily accepted the proposal, just when Mok Yu-cheon had been about to refuse.

At that attitude of his, Mok Yu-cheon and the rest of his group members could not hide their puzzlement.

Why should they bother humoring them?

To them, Mu Jang-yak said,

[They have yielded too, so there is no gain in provoking them further.]

[But…]

[Trust me.]

In the end, both sides agreed to exchange hostages and keep them until morning, and that night passed safely.

But Mu Jang-yak heard Mok Gyeong-un quietly mutter,

[What a pity. I was hoping you wouldn’t be wise.]

-Flinch!

The moment he heard that, his spine turned cold for some reason.

What in the world was that bastard?

Among his peers, he had always been confident that there was no one he needed to be wary of.

He had not thought Secret Gate Sect’s Yeon Mu-ung, Crimson Kill Valley’s Yeom-ga, Mo Hwa House’s Mo Ha-rang, or even Mok Yu-cheon, whom he had come to know this time, were anyone special.

Yet for the first time, a feeling of wariness had arisen toward someone.

That person was Mok Gyeong-un.

‘If he is someone who may become an enemy, I may have to kill him without fail…’

* * *

An unprecedented state of affairs in which nearly a quarter of the trainees had been eliminated before even taking the gate.

This became a considerable controversy, but because no rules had been broken, it was not made an issue, and the gate proceeded.

Of course, because of this incident, one further restriction was added.

“From now until all gates are complete, private fighting or acts of harming one another among the trainees are absolutely forbidden.”

This was to prevent any further variables.

As announced in advance, the third gate was one in which they had to subdue the opponent using a sword formation.

The sword formation was called the Heaven and Earth Eight Inscription Formation.

It was a sword formation based on the changes of the Eight Trigrams, created by a previous Society Leader of the Heaven and Earth Society, and to deploy it perfectly and subdue the opponent with it was to pass.

The period given for practice was only three days.

Those three days passed in an instant.

The sixteen remaining boys, the two surviving groups, were all among the very highest tier of trainees who had entered Corpse Blood Valley.

Naturally, both groups passed the third gate with ease.

The one who received the top plaque in the third gate was not Mok Gyeong-un, but Mu Jang-yak.

Mok Gyeong-un’s group had also skillfully used the sword formation to subdue their opponents, but Mu Jang-yak’s group had perfectly subdued the opponent with the sword formation alone without receiving a single wound.

In short, there was no flaw.

Because it was judged that he was superior as a group leader and in the judgment required to operate the sword formation, Mu Jang-yak was able to receive the top plaque for this gate.

* * *

The fourth gate was a test of passing through a formation laid with mechanisms in invisible darkness.

The standard was simple.

An incense stick that could be used to measure time would be lit, and if one emerged before one third of it burned, then one would pass this gate and gain the qualification of provisional unit leader, making one eligible to take the final gate.

And if one emerged before about two thirds had burned, then one would gain the qualification of squad leader, but be deprived of the right to attempt the next gate.

Naturally, anyone who did not even meet this standard was eliminated while retaining only the qualification of senior martial artist.

Originally, the gate to be held this time had been a test making use of the iron beads acquired in the bead-snatching battle, but because there were only sixteen people, they were unavoidably moved directly to the fifth gate.

This was virtually the same as things turning out according to Mok Gyeong-un’s intentions.

Thus the sixteen trainees took the fourth gate.

The result was six who came out within one third.

Five who came out within two thirds.

And five who failed to come out within two thirds, meaning that in total ten people were unable to enter the final gate.

The five who failed to pass the gate were disappointed, but had to content themselves with the qualification of senior martial artist, and the five who came out within two thirds could at least receive the qualification of squad leader.

The senior martial artist Gwak Mun-gi said to Yi Ji-yeom, the Valley Master,

“There were two variables, but to some extent the ones we expected have passed.”

The two variables Gwak Mun-gi spoke of were the hostages from the righteous Yeon Mok Sword Manor whom the Society Leader had sent.

He had naturally thought those two would die without even surviving the first or second gate.

But that expectation had been completely shattered.

“I see. These are the ones.”

The six people lined up in the square.

Those who had passed the fourth gate were Mok Gyeong-un, Mok Yu-cheon, Yeom-ga of Crimson Kill Valley, Yeon Mu-ung of the Secret Gate Sect, Mo Ha-rang of Mo Hwa House, and Mu Jang-yak.

“Who passed through the hidden formation the fastest?”

“……..Mok Gyeong-un.”

“Mok Gyeong-un?”

‘As expected, it is that lord.’

Yi Ji-yeom nodded as though he had already expected it to some extent.

Even if he had not yet recovered his former martial arts, Yi Ji-yeom had naturally thought that someone like him would easily pass such a gate.

“How much time did it take?”

“He came out when not one third but only about one sixth of the incense had burned.”

“One sixth?”

At those words, interest flashed in Yi Ji-yeom’s eyes.

He had naturally expected him to pass the fastest, but this was beyond expectation.

At this level, it was almost as though he had not traversed a hidden formation at all, but had simply run straight across open ground.

“……Your subordinate was very shocked as well.”

Gwak Mun-gi had been left staring blankly at the incense stick.

No matter how exceptional someone’s qi sense was, this was absurd.

How could a bastard who, on the surface, seemed barely to scrape into first-rate level come out before those who had reached the peak realm?

‘Was he hiding his martial arts?’

No, that could not be.

If that were true, then he would have to be in a realm higher than his own, though he himself had already reached the peak realm, and Gwak Mun-gi was certain that seventeen-year-old Mok Gyeong-un could not possibly be on that level.

Just what sort of bastard was he?

As he was thinking this, Valley Master Yi Ji-yeom clicked his tongue and asked,

“Who came out next fastest?”

“Yeom-ga of Crimson Kill Valley.”

“Hooh.”

“Yeom-ga passed through the hidden formation when about one fifth of the incense had burned.”

That too could be called an outstanding result.

In truth, in the history of this hidden formation gate, no one had ever passed it within one fifth.

Today, Mok Gyeong-un and Yeom-ga had both broken that record.

The two of them had come through so quickly it was as if they had not passed through darkness but through a bright place.

“Crimson Kill Valley has sent proper talent.”

“It seems so.”

Still, the timing seemed unfortunate.

Because of the complete monster called Mok Gyeong-un, Yeom-ga was unable to draw the attention he deserved.

“And third?”

“Mu Jang-yak and Mo Ha-rang of Mo Hwa House both passed before one fourth had burned, and Mok Yu-cheon and Yeon Mu-ung of the Secret Gate Sect both passed within one third.”

“The overall level has risen greatly this year.”

Many variables had been at work, but in all the time he had overseen Corpse Blood Valley, this was the first time that more than one or two had passed within one fourth.

In truth, merely passing within one third could already be said to show remarkable qi sense.

From that point of view, it might even be said that this round of selection had succeeded, from the standpoint of the executives who wanted the best talents.

“What do you intend to do? As for the top plaque, then…”

“Has it not already been decided?”

“……That is true.”

The senior martial artist Gwak Mun-gi answered reluctantly.

A hostage forcibly dragged in from the righteous path was about to sweep aside all the Society’s own talents and receive the top plaque three times.

It was only natural that this sat poorly with him.

‘Yeon Mok Sword Manor…’

By what method had that place taught its children, for not just one but both of them to reach the final gate of Corpse Blood Valley?

Yet they had been sent by order of the Society Leader and were no more than hostages, so if those two ended up holding positions in the Society, would the Society’s warriors really be able to accept it?

-Tap!

Standing before the platform in the square, Yi Ji-yeom, the Corpse Blood Valley Master, held the top plaque and said,

“Mok Gyeong-un, step forward.”

“Yes.”

Mok Gyeong-un walked to the front of the platform.

Then Yi Ji-yeom gave him a light look and handed the top plaque to him.

Then he said in a voice for all to hear,

“The fourth top plaque is awarded to Mok Gyeong-un, who passed the gate the fastest.”

At these words, the other five lined up beside him all looked toward Mok Gyeong-un with different expressions.

In truth, because this made the third time already, most of them felt little in particular about him receiving the top plaque.

But at the next words from Yi Ji-yeom, they had no choice but to react.

“Before the final gate, those who have received top plaques so far will be granted rewards from this Valley.”

‘!?’

Rewards?

Had it not merely been something given as a symbol of honor?

But here, there were only two people who had received top plaques at all.

Mok Gyeong-un and Mu Jang-yak.

And of them, Mok Gyeong-un held three.

Whatever the reward was, it was practically being monopolized by him.

“One who has obtained one top plaque will be given a Heaven and Earth Pill, made by this Society’s secret method, as a reward.”

‘!!!!!’

At those words, Yeon Mu-ung of the Secret Gate Sect, Mo Ha-rang of Mo Hwa House, and the others inwardly could not hide their surprise.

They had heard that the Heaven and Earth Pill was a spiritual medicine secretly created by the Heaven and Earth Society, and that just preparing and maturing it took a full ten years.

Moreover, they had heard that the ingredients for just one pill cost nearly a thousand gold, and so the quantity was quite limited.

Yet to think it would be given as a reward.

‘How fortunate.’

Mu Jang-yak too did not show it, but inwardly he was pleased.

That was because if one consumed the refined spiritual medicine, the Heaven and Earth Pill, one could gain close to ten to fifteen years’ worth of internal energy.

-…….That damn thing. They changed the name.

‘The name?’

At Blue Spirit’s sudden remark, Mok Gyeong-un felt puzzled.

Then Blue Spirit let out a snort and said,

-It’s not the Heaven and Earth Pill, it’s the Moonlight Pill. Secret method of the Heaven and Earth Society, my foot.

Judging from how angry she sounded, there seemed to be some backstory to it that only she knew.

As this was happening, Yi Ji-yeom, the Corpse Blood Valley Master, continued speaking.

“This is the benefit for one who possesses two top plaques. He may enter the treasury vault of Corpse Blood Valley and take one secret manual of his choosing. Naturally, most of them are secret manuals of advanced martial arts.”

‘Advanced martial arts!’

At the second benefit, all of them showed interest for the first time.