This was Mok Eun-pyeong's residence.
Slurp!
Having finished his breakfast, Mok Eun-pyeong was elegantly sipping Mount Gun Silver Needle, a famous tea from Hunan Province. A Guard who had reached the realm of a first-rate master, a man named Jeon Yang-pyeong, cautiously approached him.
“Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“But from Guard Gam’s reaction earlier, it didn’t seem like a lie. Do you truly believe he is trying to deceive you with a Strategy of Self-Harm?”
Thud!
Mok Eun-pyeong set his teacup down and answered curtly.
“No. It’s half and half. There must have been something Guard Gam himself didn't know. Even if it was a Strategy of Self-Harm, would he do something to arouse suspicion in just one day? No matter how much of a fool that Mok Gyeong-un is, he must have at least one hidden card.”
“What? Then why...”
“Are you asking why I gave him only two hours and said I would take his life if he couldn't find Jo Il-sang?”
“Yes. Did you not want Guard Gam for yourself?”
Mok Eun-pyeong had long desired to make Guard Gam, who belonged to the third young master Mok Gyeong-un, his own. Even after learning he was a former assassin, his desire had not changed. In fact, he had even commented that it made him all the more useful.
“If you had investigated separately and shown him your trust...”
“I could not do that.”
“That you could not...”
“If I showed him unconditional trust, he wouldn't be grateful. Instead, he would see me as a nice person or think me a pushover. This is to instill a proper sense of tension.”
“By that, you mean?”
“Do you think this master would so easily cast aside a man of his caliber?”
Mok Eun-pyeong grinned. Even if the two hours passed, he had no real intention of killing him.
“After showing him how demanding and strict this master is, I must then show him forgiveness once the truth is revealed. People are like that; the effect is greater when you treat them harshly and then are kind to them once.”
That was Mok Eun-pyeong's way of handling people. Though Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong did not agree inwardly, he spoke with feigned admiration.
“You are truly the Young Master. I had no idea you possessed such insight.”
“So just wait quietly. It is easiest to completely break a person’s spirit when they become impatient. Losing Guard Jo is unfortunate, but because of that sense of responsibility, he will serve with even greater loyalty.”
“You speak wisely.”
“Enough with the flattery.”
“But please do not push him too hard.”
At these words, Mok Eun-pyeong raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Did you not find out while investigating Guard Gam’s past?”
“Ah… you mean that?”
“Yes. Guard Gam might be from ‘that place.’ If he is truly from ‘that place,’ even if he is retired, provoking him needlessly could be… no, could become tiring for you.”
He had been about to say it could be dangerous, but he changed his words. It was because Mok Eun-pyeong had a subtle but strong sense of pride. That was how dangerous people from assassin groups were to have as underlings.
Especially if they were from ‘that place.’
Slurp! Thud!
“You say he might be. It means we do not know for sure.”
“Yes.”
“Rather than that, think about what to do with that fool Mok Gyeong-un. If he truly did something to Jo Il-sang, I can’t just let it go.”
“...”
Judging by the reaction, his pride was already wounded. Continuing on the same topic would only displease his master, so Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong stopped. It was then.
The sound of someone running in a hurry was heard.
Knock knock!
“Young Master. It is Han-saeng.”
“Enter.”
Han-saeng.
He was one of Mok Eun-pyeong’s three guards, and his martial prowess was the lowest. Like Go Chan, he was merely at a second-rate level. Therefore, he was often tasked with the most menial jobs.
As Han-saeng rushed inside, Mok Eun-pyeong asked with a puzzled expression.
“It hasn't been long since I sent you to look into the situation. Judging by your expression and haste, something must have happened, has it not?”
“Th-that is...”
“Speak.”
“Guard Gam has disappeared.”
“What?”
At the sudden news, Mok Eun-pyeong’s expression hardened. What was this nonsense?
“What do you mean? Guard Gam has disappeared?”
Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong asked in a voice filled with disbelief.
“Th-that is...”
“Don’t tell me he disobeyed the Young Master’s command and ran away?”
“That is not it.”
“Then what is it? Speak clearly!”
Pressed by Jeon Yang-pyeong, Guard Han-saeng spoke as if troubled.
“There’s an uproar right now.”
“An uproar?”
“Yes. The outer hall guards are on watch, so I couldn’t get close, but I heard that Guard Gam killed three workers in the Medicine Hall, then tried to kill the third young master before he was injured and fled.”
‘!?’
Hearing those words, Mok Eun-pyeong was dumbfounded. What on earth was this? He had ordered him to find his missing guard, Jo Il-sang.
Why would Guard Gam suddenly try to kill that fool Mok Gyeong-un?
‘Don't tell me...’
Was he trying to prove his loyalty that way? Or was he trying to threaten Mok Gyeong-un to find out where Jo Il-sang had disappeared to? It was impossible to guess.
At that moment, Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong asked in a similarly dumbfounded tone.
“Are you certain? Why would Guard Gam do such a thing?”
“I do not know for certain either. However, hearing that Young Master Mok Gyeong-un’s injuries were serious enough to be life-threatening, it might be true. But that is not the problem.”
“If not that, then what is it?”
“I am afraid to report this, but...”
“Speak quickly!”
Urged on by Mok Eun-pyeong, Guard Han-saeng finally parted his lips.
“It seems that during the outer hall’s investigation, Young Master Mok Gyeong-un testified that the one who incited Guard Gam to betray and kill him was you, Young Master.”
‘!!!!!’
The moment he finished speaking, Mok Eun-pyeong’s face twisted menacingly. At his rage, Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong quickly tried to soothe him.
“Young Master, please calm yourself. Even if that fool Mok Gyeong-un spreads such rumors, the outer hall will not believe it.”
Bang!
At those words, Mok Eun-pyeong slammed his hand on the table and raised his voice.
“It is not a matter of whether they believe it or not. I have not even been chosen as the successor yet. If I get entangled in gossip, what will the vassals think of this master?”
Mok Eun-pyeong’s body trembled. He was not the Manor Lord, so the outer hall could not pressure him over this matter, but they would not overlook it either. If that happened, the support of the vassals might weaken.
“That Mok Gyeong-un!”
Pak!
Unable to hold back any longer, Mok Eun-pyeong shot up from his seat. He felt he couldn't bear it unless he went to Mok Gyeong-un right now and turned everything upside down. Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong stopped him.
“Young Master, please calm yourself!”
“Calm myself? Do I look like I can calm down? That damn fool has backstabbed this master twice. You expect me to just let this go?”
This was the second time, following the matter with Guard Jo Il-sang. This time, in particular, had truly enraged him.
“But if you go now, you will only draw more suspicion. Besides, if the outer hall is guarding him, the gazes of the vassals are bound to be drawn there as well.”
Grind!
At those words, Mok Eun-pyeong ground his teeth. Although he was furious, what Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong said was right. If he were to go to Mok Gyeong-un now to vent his anger or cause harm, it would have a negative impact on the succession competition.
But just leaving it alone was also infuriating. How smug that little brat must be. The first young master, Mok Yeong-ho, or the great madam might even be laughing at him.
As Mok Eun-pyeong struggled to quell his anger, Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong spoke in a low voice.
“Young Master. Since it has come to this, how about we move ‘them’?”
“Them?”
“I mean the group that Guard Gam belonged to.”
“... You mean that place?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean by moving them?”
“As I understand it, they have an ironclad rule and take great pride in their assassinations.”
“An ironclad rule?”
“Yes. They say they do not tolerate failure from an assassin of their school, whether retired or not.”
“And what do they do if they don’t tolerate it?”
“They say they complete the assassination, one way or another.”
At those words, Mok Eun-pyeong’s fiercely hardened expression began to soften.
“Did he not say with his own mouth that Guard Gam tried to kill him? Then this is for the best. This subordinate will leak the information to them.”
At Guard Jeon Yang-pyeong’s words, the corners of Mok Eun-pyeong’s mouth curved upward.
Mok Gyeong-un sat with his legs crossed, his eyes closed as if in meditation. Mok Gyeong-un was currently trying something called a breathing technique. No matter how strong his recovery was, a dagger had been lodged between his ribs and in his thigh; there was no way it could heal in an instant.
So, since things had come to this, he decided to try forming a dantian.
‘That should be the only way to do something about this, right?’
In the area below Mok Gyeong-un’s navel, a cold and yin death energy had gathered. It was the energy he had absorbed from the deceased Jo Il-sang and Guard Gam. But even though he had absorbed it, unlike when he had handled the internal energy absorbed through the Binding technique, it simply accumulated in his stomach and did not move.
So he was now trying to see if he could form a dantian with it. But, ‘Is this how it’s supposed to be?’ The Lotuswood Heart Transformation Technique described the breathing technique, the method of breathing, in detail.
Of course, it also included methods for energy circulation and breath control, and energy circulation techniques. In any case, to properly circulate energy, one had to take in the energy from the air through breathing techniques, gather it toward the dantian, and form a small seed. But something was strange.
‘Why does the energy I take in through breathing scatter?’
The energy gathered through the breathing technique was extremely fine. It was much smaller than what he had absorbed with the Binding technique, but the secret manual stated that this was normal. So, thinking that every little bit helps, he guided it toward the area below his navel.
Swoosh!
But as soon as it entered, it dispersed. Just as the internal energy he had absorbed with the Binding technique had naturally scattered, this simply vanished.
‘Why?’
He could not understand. Was it in the nature of energy to scatter so easily? There was no one to ask, and he could only follow what was written in the book, so Mok Gyeong-un had to follow the instructions.
“Hoo... hoo...”
He recited the incantations of the heart technique through the breathing technique and gathered energy. He did this for half a day, almost until the sun set, but the fine energy that entered still scattered the moment it reached the area below his navel.
‘... What is this?’
Why was this happening? The secret manual said that forming a seed, no, a dantian, was extremely difficult. From that perspective, it was certainly difficult.
But there was no mention of the energy scattering the moment it was gathered. It was written that it scattered slowly.
‘It disappears right away.’
But unlike what the book said, it vanished as soon as it entered. What could be the reason? Was martial arts really not something one could learn through self-study?
‘Hmm.’
Mok Gyeong-un glanced at Guard Go Chan, who was lying on the bed next to him as if dead. He had been unconscious in his annex after having his left ring and pinky fingers cut off and being subjected to the Muscle-Separating and Bone-Dislocating Torture. Mok Gyeong-un had asked the outer hall guards to bring him here.
He had considered letting him sleep, but he decided he should wake him.
“Guard Go Chan.”
“...”
“Guard Go Chan.”
“...”
“Hmm.”
Ssk!
Mok Gyeong-un raised his palm over Go Chan’s face.
Then, Pak!
Go Chan’s eyes flew open, and he quickly sat up, answering in a hurry.
“Yes!”
“Well now. This is interesting. Weren't you sleeping?”
“I-I was sleeping.”
In truth, Go Chan had woken up about fifteen minutes ago. After waking, he didn’t know what was going on, so he had kept his eyes closed to assess the situation. Thanks to that, he learned that this was the Medicine Hall and that Mok Gyeong-un was right next to him.
Perhaps because of that, he just couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. It was a form of escapism. Mok Gyeong-un spoke to him in a whisper.
“There was something I wanted to tell you when you woke up.”
“Wh-what is that?”
Gulp!
Go Chan couldn't hide his nervousness. He felt an inexplicable anxiety. Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and said to him.
“Contrary to my expectations, your lips are quite sealed.”
“... Haa.”
Go Chan let out a sigh of relief. In truth, he had thought there wasn’t much difference between dying this way or that way, but he had endured because he felt that dying at Mok Gyeong-un’s hands would be the most excruciating.
“I'm starting to like you, Guard Go Chan.”
“Th-thank you.”
What a relief. It seemed his choice had not been wrong.
‘... Wait a minute. Is this something to be happy about?’
He felt like he was being tamed by Mok Gyeong-un. Realizing this, Go Chan began to feel a sense of self-loathing. Then, as if remembering something, he looked chagrined and apologized, watching Mok Gyeong-un's expression.
“Um, but Young Master... My apologies. I was caught by Guard Gam along the way, and the item you entrusted to me was taken...”
“Ah, I got that back.”
“Pardon?”
He got it back? What did that mean? To the bewildered Go Chan, Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and whispered.
“Keep this just between us, Guard Go Chan. I killed Guard Gam and took it back.”
‘!?’
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Go Chan’s eyes went wide. Did he hear that correctly? He killed Senior Brother Gam?
The man who, despite being retired, was an intermediate-level assassin from the Flying Kill Sect, one of the three great assassin groups in the Central Plains?
“H-how...”
“Shh.”
Mok Gyeong-un gestured with his eyes toward the entrance of the Medicine Hall. Beyond the paper door, the shadows of about four martial artists could be seen. There were four more guarding the other side as well.
They were guards from the Lotuswood Sword Manor's outer hall.
“They think Guard Gam attacked me and then disappeared. So, Guard Go Chan, you should just assume that’s what happened too.”
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Go Chan lowered his voice and whispered.
“Is that truly so?”
“Is there any reason for me to lie about something like this?”
“...”
Go Chan swallowed dryly. Indeed, a demonic fellow like him would not tell a lie about such a thing.
‘No way... What on earth is this kid?’
He definitely hadn't learned any martial arts. But now he had even killed a first-rate master? It was something that, by common sense, just couldn't happen.
Was this even possible? To Guard Go Chan, who was still finding it hard to believe, Mok Gyeong-un said.
“I have something to ask you.”
“Ye-yes? What might that be?”
“I want to create a dantian, but it’s not going well. I thought I had a good understanding, but I feel like I’m not properly understanding the contents of the secret manual.”
“... A dantian, you say?”
Go Chan frowned and asked back. This kid still wants to learn martial arts? But Mok Gyeong-un was not on the young side to be starting martial arts.
‘Seventeen... Impurities have built up in his meridians, so even if he uses the breathing technique, it will be hard for him to properly absorb energy.’
That was why it was best to start the breathing technique from as young an age as possible. Putting the issue of comprehension aside, it was natural that forming a dantian would be difficult. He was at a loss as to how to explain this.
He didn't have the courage to say, ‘Sorry to rain on your parade, but you're already too old to learn martial arts.’ After a moment of thought, Go Chan spoke.
“C-could you tell me which part you are finding difficult?”
For now, he would help. Telling him in words would only get on his nerves. It was better to let him experience for himself that he was too late to learn martial arts.
Unaware of his thoughts, Mok Gyeong-un explained his problem.
“...and because of that, no matter what I do, the energy scatters.”
“...”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Go Chan was momentarily stunned. Did he mishear? He had just started the breathing technique, yet he had come to understand what qi was, and even guided it along the path of circulation to the dantian area below his navel on his own?
Although it did scatter?
‘No. He must be joking, right?’
A brat who didn't know the first thing about martial arts, even with a heart technique secret manual, managed to get that far on his own? This was, by any measure, impossible. Even with the most basic Three Talents Heart Technique, it was difficult to easily grasp the definition of qi without learning the fundamentals of martial arts.
“Guard Go Chan?”
“Ye-yes!”
“Why are you making that face?”
“Th-that is...”
“Is something strange?”
“No. It's not that, it's more like...”
“More like?”
“Young Master... did you really feel qi through your breathing?”
He felt that in less than half a day?
“Yes. Why?”
“Young Master. This is something we must be absolutely certain about...”
“I felt what I felt. Is there any reason for me to joke about it?”
“...”
This is insane. From Go Chan’s perspective, it was exactly this: It was as if Mok Gyeong-un himself was declaring that he was a heaven-defying talent.