Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 36

Mok Yu-cheon, the youngest young master of Yeon Mok Sword Manor.

He had no choice but to mature earlier than his peers.

Upon learning that his mother was merely a gisaeng, Mok Yu-cheon realized the harsh reality at a young age.

At first, he was in despair.

No one acknowledged him as a young master of Yeon Mok Sword Manor.

He was just a bastard born with lowly blood.

It was misfortune itself.

After spending his childhood in despair, Mok Yu-cheon had only one breakthrough.

‘…Become stronger.’

The world was fair.

His blood might be lowly, but his martial talent was exceptional.

No, it was innate.

The only way for him, who had nothing, to stand out was through martial arts.

He believed that if he became strong enough that no one could look down on him, everyone would have to acknowledge him.

‘I will be recognized.’

And that actually came to fruition.

The manor master, who had shown no interest in him as a bastard, gradually began to favor him due to his outstanding martial talent, and even the retainers acknowledged him.

His half-siblings, who had scorned him and his mother, could no longer treat him casually.

‘Perhaps…’

He, who had been ridiculed as lowly, might become the manor master.

He had gradually swelled with hope.

However, that expectation recently turned into anxiety.

‘What will happen when the manor master passes away?’

The manor master hadn’t designated anyone as his successor.

If things continued like this, the prodigal eldest son or the cunning second son, Mok Eun-pyeong, could become the manor master.

If that happened, the chief wife, who considered him a thorn in her side, might try to kill him.

‘Ah…’

It became complicated again.

He had hoped that his efforts could change everything.

But it felt like hitting a wall once more.

Yet, there was nothing he could do.

He didn’t have the capacity or financial means to scheme or build his power like his other half-siblings.

Right now, there was only one thing he could do.

To continue practicing martial arts.

So, even today, he was immersed in training to clear his mind of distracting thoughts.

However, the face he least wanted to see in the manor, no, the face he despised the most, appeared.

‘Mok Gyeong-un.’

Why did that bastard show up here?

Putting aside his stupidity, he had no interest in practicing martial arts.

Seeing him, his mind, which he had barely emptied while sweating, was about to become unpleasant.

“Get out of the training ground.”

Given that he had been beaten to death once before, if he had any sense, he should understand.

However, an unexpected response came out of his mouth.

“Do you also want to become the manor master?”

“What?”

For a moment, it was absurd.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“It’s exactly as you heard. I asked if you also want to become the manor master.”

At those words, Mok Yu-cheon raised his voice and said, “I don’t know what trick you’re trying to pull by appearing in front of me, but stop talking nonsense and get lost. If you don’t want to crawl out of here like last time…”

“Well. I think you’ll want to have this.”

With those words, Mok Gyeong-un took something out from his bosom.

Seeing this, Mok Yu-cheon’s eyes widened.

“You… How did you get that?”

“Do you want it?”

Mok Gyeong-un waved the secret manual and asked Mok Yu-cheon.

The Ignited Wood Heart Transformation Method.

It was a breathing technique and internal energy circulation method that only the manor master of Yeon Mok Sword Manor could learn.

As someone with the blood of the Mok family, there was no way Mok Yu-cheon wouldn’t recognize this secret manual.

‘How did that fellow…?’

Mok Yu-cheon couldn’t understand this situation.

The manor master was bedridden and hadn’t woken up yet, so how did that bastard Mok Gyeong-un have the secret manual of the Ignited Wood Heart Transformation Method?

But then, his mind suddenly became complicated.

‘Could it be?’

Did Father give the secret manual of the Ignited Wood Heart Transformation Method to this bastard?

No way.

That couldn’t be.

Regardless of their origin, the two sons Father considered the most pathetic were the eldest, Mok Yeong-ho, and the third, Mok Gyeong-un.

The reason was that both of them lacked martial talent and didn’t put in effort.

Didn’t Father openly tell him?

[If only your brothers were half as good as you.]

Those words weren’t said for no reason.

Mok Yu-cheon glared sharply at Mok Gyeong-un and said, “Where did you get that? Did you steal it behind Father’s back?”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and said, “That’s not what’s important, is it?”

“Not important? There’s no way Father would give the secret manual to someone like you.”

“Who knows? If the manor master was attracted to me, he might have given it.”

“Nonsense!”

Mok Yu-cheon raised his voice.

‘Hmph.’

At that moment, Go Chan, who was standing behind, grimaced as his eardrums rang.

He must really hate Mok Gyeong-un.

He had even infused his internal energy into his voice, making it dizzying.

On the other hand, Mok Gyeong-un showed no significant reaction other than slightly furrowing his brow.

This caught Mok Yu-cheon’s attention.

‘No reaction at all?’

Normally, Mok Gyeong-un would have made a big fuss.

But he endured it.

Had he diligently practiced martial arts without anyone noticing?

If that was the case, why did his energy feel even weaker than before?

Puzzled, Mok Yu-cheon spoke again.

“Do you have any proof that it’s genuine?”

“Proof?”

Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and then casually held out the secret manual of the Ignited Wood Heart Transformation Method.

Mok Yu-cheon frowned at this.

What trick was this?

After a brief hesitation, Mok Yu-cheon took the secret manual.

It wasn’t out of greed but because he was curious if it was the real secret manual.

‘Huh?’

However, the secret manual was thin.

Wondering what it was, he opened the secret manual and found only two pages inside the cover.

The formula for the cultivation method could be short, but there was no way it would be just two pages.

Was it really fake?

So, he read the formulas on the front pages.

But the moment he read them, Mok Yu-cheon could be certain.

‘…It’s real.’

He could discern it because he had perfectly mastered the basic techniques.

Naturally flipping to the next page to examine the remaining formulas, Mok Yu-cheon unknowingly swallowed his saliva in regret upon seeing the torn traces.

‘Ah…’

He was seized by a momentary thirst.

As a martial artist, he couldn’t help but yearn for higher martial arts.

The Ignited Wood Heart Transformation Method and the Ignited Wood Sword Formation, which were exclusive to the manor master, were the secrets to advanced martial arts.

If he learned them, he could reach the complete peak realm and even ascend to a higher realm of martial arts based on that foundation.

“Why are the contents missing from the back?”

At that question, Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and tapped his head with his finger.

Understanding the meaning, Mok Yu-cheon’s eyes narrowed.

‘This fellow…’

Has Mok Gyeong-un always been this cunning?

Memorizing 90% of the original and showing this with only traces of it being genuine was a way to solidify that there was no way to obtain the secret manual without him.

It seemed like he had even prepared for the possibility of the secret manual being snatched away.

‘Is this fellow’s thinking really correct?’

He glanced at the escort guard Go Chan behind him.

However, judging by his nervous appearance, it didn’t seem to be the case.

Then it was true.

‘…He has changed.’

What has happened in the past two years?

After that day’s incident, he had never directly confronted or conversed with Mok Gyeong-un.

It was because Mok Gyeong-un had been scared and constantly avoided him.

However, the Mok Gyeong-un he saw after two years was very different from back then.

“Who are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Putting aside how you obtained this, what trick are you trying to pull now?”

“Does it seem like a trick?”

-Pak!

Mok Yu-cheon threw the secret manual on the ground, stood face to face with Mok Gyeong-un, and said, “Do you think it’s normal for someone who has been running away and avoiding me and my brothers for two years to bring this and mention the manor master position?”

“Hmm. I thought you’d want to become the manor master, but I guess not?”

“What?”

“If you don’t want to become the manor master, then this proposal is rather meaningless.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Mok Yu-cheon was dumbfounded.

Proposal?

What is happened is he talking about?

While he was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un picked up the secret manual from the ground, dusted it off, and said, “If you don’t want to become the manor master, then you don’t particularly need this either, right?”

“…”

At those words, Mok Yu-cheon couldn’t respond.

Even if he didn’t want to become the manor master, Mok Yu-cheon wanted to learn the advanced martial arts of Yeon Mok Sword Manor.

That was natural for a martial artist.

However, the reason he was hesitating was that he couldn’t discern Mok Gyeong-un’s true intentions.

This was clearly bait.

“…What game are you playing?”

“Game or not, if you’re not interested, I’ll just leave for now.”

With those words, Mok Gyeong-un put the secret manual into his bosom and tried to leave without any lingering attachment.

Mok Yu-cheon stopped Mok Gyeong-un, who had only walked a few steps.

“Stop!”

At those words, the corner of Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth curled up.

As expected, he took the bait.

Although he had only conversed with this fellow just now, he roughly understood what kind of person he was.

He was quite stubborn and moved according to his own beliefs.

This type doesn’t simply take the bait.

You have to lay out the situation appropriately like this.

Without turning his head, Mok Gyeong-un nonchalantly said, “I thought you weren’t interested?”

“…Not interested, but what game are you playing?”

“The same question over and over.”

“Shut up. Just answer my question. What’s your intention in asking me if I want to become the manor master?”

“Intention?”

“If you had one, you would have quietly learned it in secret and then aimed for the manor master position. But what’s the point of bringing this to me and asking if I want to become the manor master?”

At that question, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.

Then, slightly turning his body, he said, “Believe it or not, I have no particular interest in the manor master position.”

“What?”

At those words, Mok Yu-cheon glared at Mok Gyeong-un with a suspicious gaze.

No interest in the manor master position?

Was he expecting him to believe this?

“Ha…”

Mok Yu-cheon let out a hollow laugh.

Yeah.

It was an absurd situation.

The fact that he obtained that secret manual, came to him, and spouted such words was a trap in itself.

Whatever his intention was, he must have schemed something sinister.

In the first place, due to the incident two years ago, he also disliked this bastard, but this bastard also greatly feared and disliked him.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un approached him and said, “Unable to believe…”

Before he could finish his sentence…

-Bam!

Mok Yu-cheon’s fist, which had suddenly extended forward, accurately struck Mok Gyeong-un’s face.

Upon receiving the blow, Mok Gyeong-un was pushed back and immediately fell flat on the ground.

-Drip drip!

Blood flowed from his nose.

He should have shown signs of pain, but the corners of Mok Gyeong-un’s mouth trembled as he lay there.

‘It’s different.’

That was Mok Gyeong-un’s state of mind.

Putting aside the man with the black sword, he had directly experienced the skills of escort guard Go Chan, escort guard Gam, and others.

Through that, he learned the difference between second-rate and first-rate.

And now, directly experiencing the fist of the genius Mok Yu-cheon, who had reached the beginning of the peak realm at the mere age of sixteen, he realized the difference in strength.

He understood why Go Chan had described him as several times stronger.

This strength wasn’t something that could be dealt with through luck.

‘My body can’t react.’

Although he saw it in an instant, his body couldn’t keep up.

It was a level that would be extremely difficult to confront unless one approached this level of strength to some extent.

‘…What is it?’

On the other hand, Mok Yu-cheon narrowed his eyes, keeping his fist extended.

He had thrown his fist to shut him up.

He knew that with his mere third-rate skill, Mok Gyeong-un naturally wouldn’t be able to block it.

But there was one thing different from the fellow he knew.

‘He didn’t close his eyes.’

He was looking straight at his fist.

Usually, when faced with a fist that couldn’t be blocked, one should flinch and close their eyes out of fear.

But he continued to stare at the fist even at the moment of being hit.

‘He wasn’t afraid?’

That Mok Gyeong-un?

While he was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un sat up.

Then, wiping the flowing blood from his nose with the back of his hand, he said, “Your fist is fierce.”

“Fierce?”

A scoff escaped his lips.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a proper punch.

He was certain that Mok Gyeong-un was trying to deceive him, so it was a single punch meant to teach him a lesson.

“It would be better not to get up. If you get up again, the intensity will increase to the point where you’ll find what just happened laughable.”

Mok Yu-cheon warned him.

And he actually intended to carry it out.

However, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and said, “It’s natural to be suspicious.”

“It’s not suspicion but certainty. I don’t believe anything you say.”

“Really?”

“So, I’ll make you regret coming to me with such a trick.”

Mok Yu-cheon clenched his fist.

Since it had come to this, he had to make it clear, like two years ago, no, even more so than back then.

Only then would Mok Gyeong-un be unable to engage in such antics.

With that determination, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and said, “Then I have no choice but to give it to the First Madam or Mok Eun-pyeong.”

“…What?”

“Whether you believe me or not is your choice, but if you decide that way, I’ll have no choice but to give the secret manual to the two sides to get what I want.”

At those words, Mok Yu-cheon flinched.

Because he understood the meaning of these words.

Mok Gyeong-un continued, “When the manor master passes away, the retainers will eventually support the bloodline of the Mok family who has learned the secret manual as the manor master. What will happen if the manor master is chosen between Mok Yeong-ho and Mok Eun-pyeong?”

“…”

“Do you think they will leave you alone?”

Mok Yu-cheon was at a loss for words at the remark that hit the nail on the head.

He had been frustrated, unable to fathom what would happen in the future.

That’s why Mok Gyeong-un’s words couldn’t help but stick in his mind.

Seizing that opportunity, Mok Gyeong-un stood up and continued, “I’m not sure, but you received the manor master’s favor and were an outstanding successor who stood out more than himself or his own children. I don’t think they’ll just leave you alone.”

‘…’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, escort guard Go Chan couldn’t hide his inner perplexity.

‘Why is he provoking him further?’

This wasn’t persuasion but almost close to a threat.

Provoking him like that was no different from asking to be killed, so what was he thinking?

As expected, Mok Yu-cheon’s face turned red with anger.

“…Are you threatening me now?”

“You’re not entirely clueless, are you?”

“What?”

It seemed like it would end with Mok Gyeong-un getting beaten up.

With anger rising, Mok Yu-cheon tried to use force once again.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un spoke in a chilling voice, “It’s a matter of life and death. I guess you don’t hear the threat as a threat?”

-Flinch!

At those words, Mok Yu-cheon stopped his hand.

He was very angry, but he couldn’t possibly ignore Mok Gyeong-un’s words.

Since the manor master hadn’t clearly designated a successor, in the current situation, as Mok Gyeong-un said, the probability of the one who learned the secret manual becoming the manor master was extremely high.

And if it fell into someone else’s hands other than his own…

-Clench!

The result he had feared would unfold.

To him, Mok Gyeong-un approached with light footsteps, gently placed a hand on his shoulder, and whispered in a small voice, “I think you understand the situation now. Who holds the handle of the knife.”

Mok Yu-cheon’s eyes trembled.

‘This bastard…’

Was he really the Mok Gyeong-un he knew?