The second young master, Mok Eun-pyeong, had great ambitions. Since childhood, he had not only mastered the sword arts of the Lotuswood Sword Manor but also the fist arts of his mother, Madam Jang's, family, the Northern Huai Jang Clan, showing a remarkable talent for martial arts.
Therefore, he was confident that he would naturally be the next Manor Lord of the Lotuswood Sword Manor. The legitimate firstborn son, Mok Yeong-ho, was greedy and given to wine and women, lacking the qualities of an heir. Therefore, he naturally believed the succession would fall to him.
However, that was a miscalculation.
‘Mok Yu-cheon.’
The Manor Lord’s favor was directed toward the youngest. It was understandable, as he possessed a heaven-sent martial talent, mastering all the martial arts of the Lotuswood Sword Manor and reaching the realm of a first-rate master at the mere age of fourteen. As Mok Yu-cheon began to distinguish himself, the Manor Lord postponed naming a successor.
He was certain it was because the Manor Lord’s heart was leaning toward the boy.
‘I cannot miss this opportunity.’
He saw the Manor Lord's precarious health as an opportunity. Fortunately, Mok Yu-cheon was the son of a lowly concubine and had no power base around him. Unless the Manor Lord himself declared him the successor, the boy was in a position where it would be difficult to ascend to the Manor Lordship on his own.
Thus, the key was to overcome the other successors.
‘If it’s just between them, none of them can be my match.’
Both were incompetence itself. The first young master, Mok Yeong-ho, knew nothing but wine and women, and the third, Mok Gyeong-un, was a powerless coward. However, behind the first young master, Mok Yeong-ho, stood the Great Madam Seok.
She came from the Golden Flower Seok Family Manor and thus wielded considerable power. Moreover, there were still many old-fashioned vassals who insisted on the principle of primogeniture.
‘Mok Gyeong-un.......’
That fellow, who among the brothers was inferior in every aspect except for his courtesan-like face, had started coveting the position of successor at some point. The Great Madam looked down on him and paid him no mind, but he was different.
‘Guard Gam, was it?’
The boy had a guard who was far beyond his station. He was called Guard Gam, a man whose martial prowess was so extraordinary that upon first seeing him, he had asked the Manor Lord to assign the man as his own guard. His interest piqued, he had investigated the man's background and discovered a rather interesting fact.
Or should he say, a fact to be wary of? Because of this, Mok Eun-pyeong came to believe that he could not afford to be complacent about the third son, Mok Gyeong-un. But then, something unexpected happened.
Could it be that the heavens were helping him?
“You want to become my man?”
Mok Eun-pyeong barely managed to calm the twitching corner of his lip. The man kneeling on one knee before him, showing his respect, was none other than Mok Gyeong-un’s guard, Guard Gam. The man he had coveted so much had come to him of his own accord.
And at a very opportune moment.
“Please, accept me, Young Master.”
Watching Guard Gam, Mok Eun-pyeong stroked his chin and spoke.
“You ask me to accept you... How very tempting.”
At Mok Eun-pyeong's words, Guard Gam thought to himself that it was a good start. Guard Gam, who had intended to observe the Manor Lord’s condition and the surrounding situation a little longer before making a decision, ultimately chose the second young master, Mok Eun-pyeong.
The first, Mok Yeong-ho, was too heavily influenced by the Great Madam, and the youngest, Mok Yu-cheon, had nothing but his own martial strength.
‘He may be cunning, but this type is actually easier to handle.’
Thus, he chose Mok Eun-pyeong as the next best option to replace the dead, real Mok Gyeong-un. He was certain that Mok Eun-pyeong, though cunning and suspicious, would accept him due to his great desire for talented individuals. But then, “However, the timing is quite exquisite.”
“Pardon?”
“As you know, I hold Guard Gam in high regard. But for you to ask me to accept you now, with the succession competition just ahead, makes me suspicious.”
‘As I expected.’
At Mok Eun-pyeong's words, Guard Gam gave a slight nod. He had anticipated that a man as suspicious as him would not believe him right away.
“I understand. However, a reason has arisen for me to no longer be able to serve Young Master Mok Gyeong-un.”
“A reason you can no longer serve Mok Gyeong-un?”
“Yes.”
“And what is that?”
“I cannot tell you right away.”
At those words, Mok Eun-pyeong scoffed. What was the point if he couldn't reveal the very reason he could no longer serve? As he stood there, dumbfounded, Guard Gam spoke with a faint smile.
“It is one of Young Master Mok Gyeong-un’s weaknesses, which is why it is difficult to speak of it right away. If you accept me, I can tell you everything.”
“Ha. Are you trying to bargain with me now?”
“I ask for your understanding of the circumstances.”
“Understanding... Let’s say that’s for later. Can you tell me another weakness?”
“Of course.”
“What is it?”
“Young Master Mok Gyeong-un is currently unable to use any martial arts.”
“What?”
One of Mok Eun-pyeong’s eyebrows twitched with interest.
“Is that true?”
“There is not a shred of falsehood in my words.”
“Did he suffer from qi deviation?”
“... You could say it's something similar.”
In truth, the man was a fake, so he had never learned martial arts in the first place. But he couldn't reveal this fact and publicize the fake Mok Gyeong-un’s death, so he fudged the details.
“Ha!”
At Guard Gam’s words, Mok Eun-pyeong’s face brightened. It was only natural. The Lotuswood Sword Manor was a martial family.
If the one who would become the head of a martial organization could not use martial arts, it was as good as forfeiting his qualification as a leader.
“So the brat has lost his martial arts.”
He was never martially talented to begin with, but if he was completely unable to use martial arts, the situation was different. He didn't even have the right to enter the succession competition. To the overjoyed Mok Eun-pyeong, Guard Gam said, “If you would just accept this subordinate, I can provide you with more useful information.”
At his words, Mok Eun-pyeong pretended to deliberate for a moment, then grinned and said, “I thought Guard Gam was volunteering for the role of Huang Gai at the Red Cliffs.” The Strategy of Self-Harm.
There is a story from the Battle of Red Cliffs where Huang Gai, a vassal of Sun Quan of the Wu kingdom, pretended to be tortured and then offered a false surrender to Cao Cao of the Wei kingdom.
Mok Eun-pyeong had suspected that Guard Gam might be a spy sent by Mok Gyeong-un, who knew he had long coveted the guard.
At this, Guard Gam let out a small laugh and said, “It is embarrassing to speak of my former master, but Young Master Mok Gyeong-un is not a man of the caliber to conceive of such a plan.”
“Hahaha. I suppose you’re right.”
“Then, will you accept me?”
“I must. How could I let such a talent slip away?”
At Mok Eun-pyeong’s words, Guard Gam bowed his head in thanks.
“Thank you for accepting me.”
“Not at all. It is I who should be thankful that Guard Gam has made the right decision for the Lotuswood Sword Manor. However, I’m sorry to ask this as soon as you’ve joined me, but I have a job I’d like you to do.”
At those words, Guard Gam thumped his chest and spoke heartily.
“Please, command me as you will.”
For now, he had to make a good impression on Mok Eun-pyeong. But then, unexpected words came from his mouth.
“I believe Guard Gam, who was once an assassin, is more than capable of handling it.”
‘!?’
Guard Gam’s expression stiffened. He hadn’t thought it possible, but Mok Eun-pyeong had investigated his past. He knew the man was cunning, but he had considered him a greenhorn.
It seemed he had been careless. Late in the hour of the rat. It was a time when everyone was asleep, and even the guards standing watch in front of the Medicine Hall were nodding off.
Drrrk!
‘Hoo.’
As he opened the medicine drawer labeled ‘Oyang’, a hidden entrance was revealed. Perhaps because it was a secret space, it did not make as much noise as he had feared. Mok Gyeong-un held a lamp and entered the hidden passage.
Shhh, shhh!
He quietly descended the underground staircase. The stairs led down much deeper than he had expected.
‘It’s deep.’
He was descending past the depth of one floor, then two. Something felt suspicious. It was quite deep for a space made to hide just the Manor Lord’s seal and a secret manual.
It was around the time he had descended nearly three floors deep. A cavern, about a third the size of the Medicine Hall, was revealed.
‘Ah!’
In the cavern, there were what appeared to be four entrances, each a stone door. And above those stone doors were carved the characters: Armor, Second, Soldier, and Fourth.
[Medicine... Hall... underground... Fourth... stone... door... inside...]
Mok Gyeong-un recalled the Manor Lord's words. He had said it was inside the Fourth stone door among the four passages, so there was no need to check the others first. He could just go inside.
Mok Gyeong-un approached the Fourth stone door. As he opened the stone door, a straight cave tunnel was revealed.
‘About twenty paces?’
That was the distance. Just as Mok Gyeong-un was about to step inside, he paused. It was because he had suddenly spotted something on the ceiling of the tunnel.
‘What’s that?’
On the rough ceiling of the cave tunnel, he could see holes drilled into it, large enough to fit two or three fingers. If there had been just one, he might not have thought much of it, but they were spaced at regular intervals all the way down the tunnel. Puzzled by this, Mok Gyeong-un looked around.
He saw a few fist-sized stones in one corner of the cavern.
‘Just in case.’
Mok Gyeong-un picked up a stone, tossed it in his hand a few times, and then threw it into the tunnel.
Clack!
Before the stone could even hit the ground and roll.
Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!
In that instant, sharp, pointed spears shot out from the right and left sides of the floor. If he had walked in without knowing, his legs or thighs would have been pierced by the spears. Seeing this, a corner of Mok Gyeong-un's mouth curled up.
‘Interesting.’
Did he set up such a trap because he was afraid the seal and the secret manual would be stolen? For that, it seemed rather excessive. Were the seal and secret manual really inside?
Mok Gyeong-un looked down the cave tunnel, then clenched and unclenched his hands.
‘I’ll know when I see it.’
It seemed he had to go in to find out. Mok Gyeong-un put the handle of the lamp in his mouth, and without hesitation, he leaped up and inserted three fingers into a hole in the cave ceiling.
Grip!
A normal person would have difficulty supporting their body with just two fingers, but for Mok Gyeong-un, it was not so difficult.
Swoosh! Grip!
Mok Gyeong-un reached his left hand toward a hole further ahead and inserted his index and middle fingers. In this manner, Mok Gyeong-un moved about two paces along the ceiling.
‘I was right.’
It was just as he had expected. He could move by inserting his fingers into the holes in the ceiling without touching the floor. That way, the cave’s trap would not activate.
Realizing this, Mok Gyeong-un advanced without a shred of hesitation, inserting his fingers into the holes in the ceiling and moving forward with unstoppable momentum.
Grip! Grip! Grip!
After moving about 20 paces, the cave tunnel ended, and a space of about seven pyeong was revealed. As Mok Gyeong-un entered, a strange light entered his eyes.
‘What is this?’
Inside were several sacks, and the place was filled with countless marks.
‘Footprints?’
There were numerous footprints in the deeply indented parts of the floor, and the walls bore many signs of being shattered by impact. Mok Gyeong-un walked over and looked inside a sack. Inside were small, grain-like pellets.
Sniffing them, Mok Gyeong-un recognized what they were.
‘Fasting Pills?’
Fasting Pills.
They were pills made from pine pollen and various grains, created by Daoist practitioners for secluded training in places like caves. While their purpose was to provide minimal sustenance, depending on the combination, they could also help expel waste from the body. Mok Gyeong-un, who was knowledgeable about medicinal herbs, had often snacked on the Fasting Pills his grandfather made.
‘Why are there sacks of Fasting Pills here?’
It looked like they were meant for a long stay. Did someone practice martial arts here alone? Fiddling with the Fasting Pills in the sack, Mok Gyeong-un turned his gaze elsewhere.
On one wall stood a shelf-like structure, and on it were several wooden boxes.
‘Is it that?’
He approached it and opened one of the more conspicuous wooden boxes. Inside lay a single book.
[Lotuswood Sword Formation Art] ‘Is this that secret manual?’
Mok Gyeong-un took out the book and skimmed through it. Inside, numerous incantations and movements related to sword forms were described in detail. Though he had not learned martial arts, he could tell this was a sword art.
‘This must be it, right?’
He wasn’t sure if this was the exact secret manual the Great Madam was after. He had no concept of what the martial arts of the Lotuswood Sword Manor even were, so he couldn't be sure. Mok Gyeong-un opened another wooden box.
Click!
When he opened the box, a book titled [Lotuswood Heart Transformation Method] was inside. Taking it out and quickly flipping through it, Mok Gyeong-un nodded. It seemed to be a companion to the Lotuswood Sword Formation Art.
It detailed breathing techniques and energy circulation techniques for gathering and controlling internal energy.
‘I should take this too.’
Mok Gyeong-un opened the other boxes in succession. The other boxes did not contain any books related to martial arts, but there were a few surprisingly interesting items. But he still hadn't seen the Manor Lord’s seal.
‘This is the only box left.’
There was nothing else around. Mok Gyeong-un picked up a box that was near the floor. But unlike the other wooden boxes, this one had a worn piece of paper with a pattern on it stuck over the opening.
Judging by the torn paper, it seemed to have been placed there as a sign not to open the box. Without much thought, Mok Gyeong-un opened it. He had naturally expected the Manor Lord’s seal to be inside, but, ‘!?’
Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head. Inside, the Manor Lord’s seal that should have been there was missing. Instead, there was an old book surrounded by red prayer beads, emitting a terribly pungent smell.
But the surprising thing was the book’s cover.
‘Is this... human skin?’
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed to be made of something like human skin. A normal person would have been horrified upon realizing it was made of human skin, but Mok Gyeong-un wore a rather intrigued expression.
‘What could this be?’
Just as he was about to reach for it.
Swoosh!
In that moment, something appeared like smoke, passing through the ceiling. It was none other than the Demonic Monk. He had been ordered to keep watch from above, just like Guard Go Chan.
His appearance meant that someone was approaching the Medicine Hall. … As expected, the Demonic Monk was about to say something. But when the Demonic Monk saw what was in the wooden box in Mok Gyeong-un’s hand, —!!!!!
Its entire body trembled violently, and then, Thud! It fell flat on the floor, its face filled with reverence as it raised its hands and began to bow.