Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 134 – Erosion (2)

Mok Gyeong-un received the scroll Byeok held out with a smile and asked,

“How is the new body? Demonic Monk.”

In response, Byeok answered with a satisfied expression.

“It seems useful.”

That’s right.

Surprisingly, Demonic Monk had already possessed the body of the man called Byeok.

This had happened just three days ago.

After the escort warriors and attendants were replaced for the third time, Byeok had secretly come to inspect Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.

However, this wasn’t just once but his third visit.

Mok Gyeong-un had already sent Demonic Monk to explore the entire Shadow Clan for four days, grasping how it operated and the extent of its power.

[It’s fortunate.]

Mok Gyeong-un was aware that this person named Byeok was practically the right-hand man and confidant of the Shadow Clan Master.

Therefore, he had been waiting for an opportunity and subdued him when he infiltrated the separate residence.

No matter how much his martial prowess had reached the pinnacle of the peak realm and he was skilled at concealing his presence as a former member of the Silent Sorrow Assassination Sect, there was no way he could handle the eyes of a spirit and Mok Gyeong-un’s martial prowess.

Mok Gyeong-un judged that the captured Byeok had high utilization value.

So, he had Demonic Monk possess his body.

In this way, Demonic Monk, who had taken over Byeok’s body, had been monitoring by the Shadow Clan Master’s side for three days under Mok Gyeong-un’s orders.

“Hmm. Is this what the Shadow Clan Master looks at every day?”

Mok Gyeong-un asked, holding up the old scroll.

In response, Demonic Monk, who had possessed Byeok’s body, nodded and answered.

“Yes. He looked at it without fail for about half an hour at the hour of the dog (7-9 PM) every day.”

After receiving his report for the first time, Mok Gyeong-un became curious about this scroll and ordered him to bring it for a while.

No matter what was written on it, he could memorize everything with just one look.

At that moment, Demonic Monk glanced at the man whose head was grasped by Mok Gyeong-un’s hand and asked,

“Master, but who is this person?”

-Ah, you mean that mortal? It seems he was sent by that blind bastard last time. Phew.

The one who answered this question was none other than Cheong-ryeong.

She was freely smoking a pipe while staying out of the wooden puppet inside the separate residence.

“By blind, you mean him?”

-Yes, that troublesome mortal.

It was the blind man Wi Maeng-cheon, a member of the Five Mountains Alliance and a confidant of Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Society Leader.

Unlike Jang Neung-ak, who withdrew, he showed a strange wariness, so she thought he would do something annoying in the near future, and that prediction had come true.

He had boldly sent someone to Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence within the Shadow Clan’s estate at night.

Of course, they had captured him as soon as he entered the separate residence.

“He was quite tight-lipped.”

At those words, Demonic Monk looked at the unconscious man’s hands.

Both hands were a mess.

All his fingers were bent backward, and even needles were stuck in his fingernails.

He had been properly tortured.

“I had hoped he would endure a bit longer, but he opened his mouth on the sixth fingernail.”

Mok Gyeong-un clicked his tongue as if regretful.

He had planned to pierce him with needles and then pluck out his fingernails and toenails.

No matter how strong one’s endurance was, it was difficult to withstand continuous torture after having one’s internal energy sealed.

Mok Gyeong-un removed his hand from the man’s head and said,

“Do you know what this guy said when he first approached?”

“…”

“He said he was from the Righteous Alliance’s Silent Strides.”

‘!?’

The Righteous Alliance’s Silent Strides?

Does he think that makes sense?

If he had mentioned someone else within the Heaven and Earth Society, he could have avoided deeper suspicion, so why did he answer in that way?

As Demonic Monk was puzzled, Cheong-ryeong exhaled a long puff of smoke and said,

-Hoo. Can’t you see if you look? He’s using his brain.

“Using his brain?”

-He probably targeted the fact that the mortal is a hostage from the righteous faction. Unlike his master, that blind bastard was suspicious and wary of the mortal.

“Ah…”

-Tsk tsk. Use your head. Your head.

At her admonishment, the Demonic Monk scratched his head.

Demonic Monk had a straightforward side but was far from using his brain.

Cheong-ryeong said to Mok Gyeong-un,

-But I don’t know what nerve that blind bastard had to blatantly send someone like this here. He could have been caught if he had made a single mistake.

At her words, Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin.

“Hmm.”

Come to think of it, that was also true.

This place was none other than the estate of the Shadow Clan.

Since it was a place that managed secrets, information, and spies, its security was thorough even within the inner city.

But how did he come to the separate residence without being discovered…

“Ah…”

Suddenly, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened.

-Why are you doing that?

“They deliberately left the storehouse open.”

-They deliberately left the storehouse open?

What does that mean?

As she was puzzled, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and said,

“If you leave the storehouse open, you can know what the thief who entered wants. You can even find their hideout if you follow the thief.”

-Could it be?

“Yes. It seems they deliberately let him in.”

There was no way the security of a place that handled secrets could be easily breached.

Unless they deliberately let him in.

If that was the case, it meant that they had already noticed this person’s infiltration but had a high possibility of letting him in to find out his purpose.

“They’re not the Shadow Clan for nothing. To handle someone’s infiltration in reverse like this…”

-Rumble rumble!

Numerous presences could be felt from outside.

Soon, the paper on the windows and doors brightened up from the south in order, illuminated by torches.

The suddenly rushing presences seemed to have surrounded the separate residence so that there was no way to escape.

Cheong-ryeong looked at Mok Gyeong-un with sparkling eyes.

The prediction was spot on.

***

In a dark alley between the walls, about 30 jang away from the Shadow Clan’s estate.

On the opposite side of this wall, there was a middle-aged man with long hair, his eyes covered with a black cloth, leaning on a bamboo cane.

He was none other than Wi Maeng-cheon, the Second Mountain and a member of the Five Mountains Alliance.

Why was he here, not far from the Shadow Clan?

Soon, someone wearing a mask and of unknown identity jumped over the wall and approached him, whispering,

“It seems they have rushed to that fellow’s separate residence as you said.”

“It went according to plan.”

“Yes.”

“Huhuhu.”

Wi Maeng-cheon laughed softly.

Everything was going as he wanted.

He could imagine Mok Gyeong-un being perplexed right now.

Since he was an excessively cunning fellow, he must have realized his true intentions by now.

Just a few hours ago…

[What? Is it really alright to do that?]

[Yes. But not right away. Endure as much as possible. It will be painful and difficult, but you have to.]

[When you say as much as possible?]

[Until that fellow’s suspicion is dispelled.]

[… I understand. But wouldn’t it be better to disguise it as Young Master’s side or the supreme leader’s concubine’s side rather than the Clan Master, just in case?]

[No. That cunning brat will quickly notice if we mention someone who hasn’t even contacted him directly.]

[…]

[Rather, if I say I sent him, he won’t kill him right away.]

[Will he really?]

[Trust me.]

[I understand. But if that brat knows that the Society Leader sent him, how will he react?]

[If he has truly defected to our organization and has definitely become a person of the Shadow Clan, he will report it to his master, the Shadow Clan Master. If not, he will agonize over how to deal with it. But that doesn’t matter.]

[The Shadow Clan will make the first move anyway.]

[Yes.]

The Shadow Clan handled secrets, so its external and internal security was thorough.

Of course, not the entire estate was like that, but if someone tried to infiltrate from the outside to the inside, they would immediately notice.

Once inside, it was only a matter of time before getting caught.

[If the Shadow Clan’s security guards take large-scale action…]

[Yes. At that time, he will die as the Righteous Alliance’s spy, Silent Strides, again.]

This was Wi Maeng-cheon’s true intention.

To create the image that Mok Gyeong-un was in contact with the Righteous Alliance’s spy, Silent Strides.

If that happened, the Shadow Clan Master would have no choice but to suspect Mok Gyeong-un, a hostage from the righteous faction.

[I entrust this to you, Ji-hang.]

[I will certainly complete the mission.]

[… I will never forget this loyalty.]

[Yes. Please take good care of my family in Danyang.]

[I understand.]

From the beginning, it was a ploy devised with the resolution to lose one’s life.

Informing Mok Gyeong-un of the truth midway was simply to buy time until the Shadow Clan’s warriors made a move.

If he lost his life before that, he wouldn’t be able to carry out the plan.

‘I apologize to my lord, but that brat Mok Gyeong-un is not someone who can be trusted. If you take him in, he will become poison, not gain.’

So, it was better for him to become a spy of the righteous faction and be expelled.

It would be even better if he unfortunately died.

Even if he had truly defected to the Heaven and Earth Society, Wi Maeng-cheon could never trust Mok Gyeong-un.

“Then let’s go back.”

After confirming that the Shadow Clan’s warriors had rushed to Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence, the Second Mountain Wi Maeng-cheon left this place with the masked person.

***

Wi Maeng-cheon lay on the bed with a somewhat relieved heart.

He trusted his intuition.

Nothing was as accurate as the sound of the heart.

Someone whose heartbeat remained steady and emotions unchanged in any situation was far from an ordinary human being.

Such an existence must have something twisted about them.

He had conveyed this opinion to his lord, the second disciple Jang Neung-ak, several times, but it was all ignored as his desire for Mok Gyeong-un had already grown.

So, what could he do?

He had no choice but to resolve it on his own.

Fortunately, what he had gained from becoming blind was not only the maximization of other senses, including hearing, but also the deepening of his ability to observe and his insight.

It was a move he had devised through dozens of simulations over seven days.

No matter how cunning, he would not be able to escape and would eventually be dealt with by his master, the Shadow Clan Master.

‘It’s quite refreshing now that I’m at ease.’

With that, Wi Maeng-cheon fell asleep in a good mood.

How much time had passed since he fell asleep?

‘!?’

Soon, Wi Maeng-cheon quietly lifted his head from the bed.

Since he was originally blind, all his senses that did not rely on sight were twice that of ordinary people, and his hearing was even sharper.

Although he was asleep, these developed senses always made him detect danger.

‘What is it?’

At some point, it was quiet outside.

It was too quiet to the point of feeling discomfort.

Four warriors were taking turns standing guard around his residence.

He couldn’t feel their presence.

-Swish!

Wi Maeng-cheon, who had silently gotten up from his spot while suppressing his presence, grasped the handle of the bamboo cane containing the Bamboo Sword.

And he carefully opened the door and went out.

Wi Maeng-cheon slowly walked towards where the warriors were standing guard, suppressing his presence.

-Huff! Huff!

He could hear breathing.

The steady breathing he heard was not that of someone awake.

‘Are they sleeping?’

Wi Maeng-cheon frowned.

These warriors took turns standing guard, so they never worked half-heartedly.

But no matter how much he listened, they were all asleep.

At this, Wi Maeng-cheon felt inexplicably disturbed.

Did it make sense for all the escort warriors around the residence to be asleep?

As he was puzzled, footsteps could be heard from somewhere.

Although they were approaching while suppressing their presence as much as possible, it was clearly audible to his hearing.

-Thump, thump!

Wi Maeng-cheon grasped the handle of the cane and assumed a kicking stance.

These footsteps…

He had heard them somewhere before.

It was only once, but he had accurately remembered them.

‘It can’t be?’

That fellow should be in a situation where he was imprisoned in the Shadow Clan’s Golden Jade and being interrogated right now.

But how…

-Whoosh!

At that moment, the presence reached in front of him at a tremendous speed.

-Clang!

Wi Maeng-cheon, who had instantly kicked, blocked the sharp aura flying towards him.

The sound of metal clashing against metal strongly resonated in his ears.

-Tremble!

The two people who had been locking swords clashed a few times like lightning and distanced themselves.

-Clang clang clang! Bam bam bam!

As they gained some distance, Wi Maeng-cheon opened his mouth.

“… How did you come here?”

“You seem quite surprised.”

The owner of that voice was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.

Wi Maeng-cheon couldn’t understand at all.

He knew that the Shadow Clan’s guards had stepped forward and surrounded Mok Gyeong-un’s separate residence.

But how did he come here?

The puzzled Wi Maeng-cheon soon drew up his internal energy.

‘First, I need to subdue that bastard.’

He didn’t know how he had come out of the Shadow Clan and arrived at his residence, but subduing him was the priority for now.

But then…

“Ah! Before that, you should take this.”

“What?”

-Whoosh!

Something heavy that cut through the air.

Since it felt too heavy to be a hidden weapon, Wi Maeng-cheon lightly stepped back about two steps and dodged what Mok Gyeong-un had thrown.

It rolled on the ground and stopped in front of Wi Maeng-cheon’s feet.

“What are you doing?”

“I returned what you gave me, so is there a problem?”

“What do you mean by what I gave… !?”

Suddenly, Wi Maeng-cheon stopped speaking midway.

After losing his sight, his senses had become twice as good as ordinary people.

Naturally, this sense included the sense of smell.

With the scent of blood rising from under his feet, Wi Maeng-cheon stretched his foot forward with a suspecting heart and flicked up what Mok Gyeong-un had thrown.

And he caught it with his left hand.

-Tap!

‘!!!!!!!’

At that moment, Wi Maeng-cheon’s expression stiffened.

Coincidentally, the sensation felt on his palm was a face.

The owner of that face was none other than…

‘Ji-hang?’

It was Ji-hang, whom he had sent to frame Mok Gyeong-un as a spy of the righteous faction.

To be precise, it was Ji-hang’s severed head.