A middle-aged man with a very grim look on his face. He was Sang Ung-baek, the Outer Hall Master of Lotuswood Sword Manor.
Known as the Merciless Fierce Fist in northern Anhui Province, he was a master of fist arts and one of the most loyal servants, having served the Mok family for two generations, since the time of the current Manor Lord’s father.
Unlike the Inner Hall Master Jang Myeong-in, who had joined the manor out of faith in the Manor Lord, he was a man of strong conviction among the vassals. For that reason, Madam Seok could not win him over. As a pillar of the Lotuswood Sword Manor, he held considerable influence among the vassals.
Thus, she had no choice but to be cautious around Sang Ung-baek.
“It's true, Outer Hall Master. No matter the circumstances, why would I order someone to harm that child?”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Despite her explanation, Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek showed that he did not believe her. At this, Madam Seok fumed inwardly. Thanks to what that Occultist wench had done, not only were things complicated, but she was now under suspicion.
‘Damned wench.’
I don't know what on earth happened. To take a thousand silver coins and then betray me as easily as flipping her palm.
‘Ghost Shadow Pavilion… Sak…’
I will make her pay the price. For now, this man was the problem.
“Hoo.”
Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek possessed a rather tenacious personality. Once he became suspicious, he would surely continue to watch and scrutinize her. If that happened, she would have no choice but to keep her distance from Mok Gyeong-un for a while.
‘This is troublesome.’
She had to take the secret manual from that brat, Mok Gyeong-un. If she lost it to that cunning second son, Mok Eun-pyeong, because of Sang Ung-baek's surveillance, Yeong-ho's position could be jeopardized. She needed another plan.
Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek looked at her with suspicious eyes. He clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘It's a mess.’
Ever since the Manor Lord had been hovering between life and death, the Lotuswood Sword Manor had become utterly fragmented. He thought they would at least be discreet until the Manor Lord drew his last breath. But this was the worst.
While the Manor Lord was still alive, they were openly trying to kill the other heirs, vying for the position of the next Manor Lord.
‘Manor Lord…’
If the Manor Lord were to learn of this, his disappointment would be immense. At the same time, it was regrettable. If the Manor Lord had solidified the matter of succession from the beginning, the vassals, including himself, would have upheld his will and protected the chosen heir.
But because he had not, this disaster had occurred. Now, even the vassals were mostly divided, so the moment the Manor Lord stopped breathing, the Lotuswood Sword Manor might truly become a battlefield among blood relatives.
‘What should I do?’
In the end, must I also make a choice? Normally, it would be right to support the eldest son, the first young master Mok Yeong-ho, but seeing this was nothing short of disappointing. He was reluctant, if only because of the great madam.
For the person who would become the eldest of the family after the Manor Lord's passing to be orchestrating such things. But suddenly, he could not understand.
‘Come to think of it, the second young master as well…’
Why are they targeting the third young master, Mok Gyeong-un? If they were fighting amongst themselves or targeting the youngest young master, who possessed heavenly martial talent and was most cherished by the Manor Lord, it would have at least been understandable. But the third young master, Mok Gyeong-un, had absolutely nothing.
He had no martial talent, and his standing weakened after his mother's maternal family fell into ruin. Since none of the vassals supported him, neither the great madam nor the second young master had any reason to see him as a threat. And yet, they had targeted his life.
‘Because he's the easiest target?’
No, for that, the timing was too early. The Manor Lord had not yet passed away, so doing this would only cause them to lose the support of the vassals. Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek was seriously puzzled.
For what reason on earth were they targeting Mok Gyeong-un? There must be something about him that they felt threatened by, to cast everything aside and target him first.
‘... I must find out what it is.’
This was not a matter to be overlooked. If there was something that made them all target his life, it needed to be investigated.
-Swoosh!
Someone passed through the ceiling and entered the Medicine Hall. Wearing a ceremonial crown and with a long pipe in her mouth, it was none other than Blue Spirit. The Demonic Monk greeted Blue Spirit with a polite bow.
At this, she grumbled. -Is it because I became a damned Spirit Guardian? Or is it because she's an Occultist? -... She had been looking for a chance to seize Sak's body.
But she had failed. She was confused about what the problem was. Occultists take measures beforehand to protect their spirit with incantations or talisman arts.
That's why low-rank vengeful spirits couldn’t seize the bodies of such Occultists or humans with strong qi, even if they wanted to. But Blue Spirit was not a low-rank vengeful spirit. And yet, she could not take the body. -Tch.
I tried to sever the forced bond through possession, but I failed. Is the problem really that I became a Spirit Guardian? With a sullen expression, Blue Spirit descended and looked at Mok Gyeong-un, who was sitting on the bed, concentrating on his reverse energy circulation. -There's no way to escape.
But this brat... A strange light flickered in her blood-red eyes. Seen through her spirit eyes, Mok Gyeong-un's energy was becoming quite stable. -Oh?
Mok Gyeong-un had absorbed the energy of the monster Guyeo through the Binding technique. The energy of evil spirit monsters is more yin and purer than the death energy that arises from a deceased human. She had thought he would be unable to control it or would have to expel a large amount, but this was unexpected.
He was absorbing this energy stably. -Hm. Blue Spirit drew closer to Mok Gyeong-un. And she thrust her face right in front of Mok Gyeong-un, who was focused on his energy circulation technique.
‘Strange.’
The scar on his forehead. It had not been long since he was cut, but the wound already looked as if several days had passed. At this rate, it would likely heal within a few days.
‘... It surpasses human healing abilities.’
She had thought it strange that he had survived what could be considered a serious injury before she became a Spirit Guardian. But looking closely now, she was certain. This brat possessed a healing ability incomparable to that of an ordinary human.
How could a human possibly do this?
‘There's something about him.’
He is definitely not an ordinary human. If she had not lost the initiative by being forcibly turned into a Spirit Guardian, she could have seized his body and found out why. It was a pity.
Clicking her tongue, Blue Spirit stared intently at Mok Gyeong-un's face.
‘He's quite handsome.’
She had felt it before, but Mok Gyeong-un's face could be called exceptionally beautiful. He met the standards of a pretty boy. She did not particularly like this mortal brat, but at least a beautiful face like this was tolerable.
It was perfect for ornamental purposes. -Pak! Just then, Mok Gyeong-un suddenly opened his eyes. Thanks to that, their eyes met, face to face.
What a surprise. This brat even startles a vengeful spirit.
“What are you doing?” -...
To say she was admiring his face would be beneath her dignity. At his question, Blue Spirit created some distance, stealthily turned her head to the side, and pretended to be nonchalant with the long pipe in her mouth. -What do you mean, what am I doing?
“Hmm.”
Staring at Blue Spirit, Mok Gyeong-un asked.
“Did you take care of that matter?” -Hmph.
Who do you take this master for?
“As expected of Blue Spirit.”
Mok Gyeong-un smiled gently. As if she did not like this attitude, she raised an eyebrow. She felt she had made a mistake in saying she would help this brat.
She had said she would help just to see what would become of him, as he had defied expectations and dealt with the monster Guyeo and the Occultist wench on his own, but now she was having second thoughts. To her, Mok Gyeong-un said.
“You were gone for so long, I thought perhaps you had left for good.” -...
Left, my foot. At Mok Gyeong-un's perceptive words, Blue Spirit grumbled bluntly. She wanted to leave more than anything.
Separate from her promise to help, her true intention was to sever the Spirit Guardian bond whenever the opportunity arose. -Stop spouting nonsense and continue your energy circulation. If you want to make even a little of the energy you took from Guyeo your own, don't just laze around...
“Ah! There's one thing I need to check.” -Check?
“Yes. I was wondering if this is what they call a dantian.” -Dantian?
It's still unknown whether a dantian can be formed with death energy. You mortal must constantly...
“Isn't this tiny, sesame seed-sized lump below my navel a dantian?” -...
What?
Blue Spirit furrowed her brow. Is this brat saying he has formed a dantian? -That can't be. Blue Spirit looked at Mok Gyeong-un with an expression of disbelief.
No matter that he had absorbed the monster's energy and secured a sufficient amount, she could not accept that he had already formed a dantian. Even in her life, she had never seen such a precedent. How could he form a dantian so soon after just feeling the energy and circulating it for a short time? -I'll check, alright?
“Yes. I was curious if I was right anyway.”
At this, Blue Spirit brought her palm toward Mok Gyeong-un's abdomen. The method of confirmation was very simple. As a formless vengeful spirit, she just had to enter his body directly to check.
But, -!?
It won't go through. Her palm did not enter his abdomen, stopping at the surface. A high-rank vengeful spirit like her could materialize her spiritual body for a short time.
But this was not because she had materialized. -Tap, tap!
“What are you doing?” -I can't get in.
“Why not?” -How should this master know?
Even she could not figure out the exact reason. She was clearly in a spiritual state, so why was this happening? Wondering if something was wrong with her, she approached Guard Go Chan, who was snoring on the next bed.
And she thrust her hand right into Guard Go Chan's stomach. It went in so naturally. -It works?
Then...
She briefly materialized the fingertips she had inserted and gently touched his dantian. The moment she did, Go Chan's eyes shot open in shock.
“Hiiik!”
Then he started trembling violently, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted. Blue Spirit had completely forgotten. The fact that once a dantian is formed, it becomes the most sensitive part of the body's interior.
But whether Go Chan fainted or not, she did not care. On the contrary, -Tsk, tsk, what a weakling. In any case, the problem isn't with this master.
She was focused only on the conclusion. For some reason, her spiritual hand was not passing through Mok Gyeong-un but colliding with him. It was a very strange phenomenon. -Strange.
Could it be because I became a Spirit Guardian?
Hey. Bald monk.
You try it too. At her words, the Demonic Monk shuffled over and carefully touched Mok Gyeong-un's body. As expected, the Demonic Monk's spiritual body also couldn’t pass through his physical form.
At this, the two vengeful spirits could not hide their bewilderment.
“Do you know why?” -Hmm.
Unless it's a collision between two spiritual bodies, this shouldn't be happening.
“Then it'll be difficult for you to check if I have a dantian or not, Blue Spirit?” -Well... even if not that way, there are other...
Before she could finish her sentence. -Creeeak! The door to the Medicine Hall opened with a small sound. Wondering who it was, he looked over and saw a middle-aged man with a grim face entering.
‘The Outer Hall Master?’
It was Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek. He remembered the face because he had been interrogated by him once.
“Ahhh.”
Upon spotting Mok Gyeong-un sitting in a cross-legged position, Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek's expression darkened somewhat. It was because he saw that he was covered in wounds. Although he was recovering at a rapid pace, the scabs still made it hard to tell.
Sang Ung-baek approached and spoke.
“You haven't slept yet, Young Master.”
“Ah. Yes.”
Having come almost right in front of him, Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek lowered his head deeply and said.
“My apologies. If I had been more attentive, this would not have happened.”
From the outside, Mok Gyeong-un's condition was terrible. Believing he had ended up like this from an attack, Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek truly considered this his own fault. That was why he was apologizing.
To this, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and said.
“No. It's alright. These things can happen.”
“This is not a matter of 'these things can happen.' The outer hall guards were on duty, and yet you were injured, Young Master. This is entirely my fault.”
“You don't need to blame yourself.”
Mok Gyeong-un said with a smile. A strange light appeared in Sang Ung-baek's eyes as he looked at this Mok Gyeong-un. Although not often, as the Outer Hall Master, he had contact with the young masters from time to time, so he had a rough idea of their personalities.
There were also the rumors circulating within the manor.
‘... Just like last time, this is strange.’
Sang Ung-baek knew Mok Gyeong-un to be quite fussy and timid. This had been especially true after his martial talent proved lacking and his maternal family fell. But looking at him now, should one call it bold?
He had faced life-threatening situations twice in a row, yet how could he be so calm? This latest incident had not even been that long ago. And yet, there was no sign of fear or any emotional trauma.
‘Was he always like this?’
A question suddenly arose in his mind. To be so injured and have one's life threatened, yet remain calm and composed, was something even adults found difficult.
“Young Master... are you truly alright?”
At that question, Mok Gyeong-un instantly realized inwardly that he had made a mistake. He had not thought much of it, but he should have feigned some distress. At this, he lowered his head slightly and said.
“To be honest, I am worried that I might die without anyone knowing.”
At those words, Sang Ung-baek's eyes narrowed even more. His suspicion had deepened. To only express concern after being asked was already too late.
‘... This has become troublesome.’
Mok Gyeong-un also noticed his suspicion. He had not been greatly suspected until now, but things seemed to be getting complicated with an unexpected person. It did not seem like he was suspected of being an impostor yet, but nothing good would come from being continually involved with such an intuitive person.
Just then, Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek opened his mouth.
“Young Master... you don't look well. Would it be alright if this subordinate checked your insides to see if there are any serious internal injuries?”
At that question, Blue Spirit, who was beside him, whispered. -You'd better be careful. If a dantian has really formed as you say, no matter how small it is, its energy will be completely unrelated to that of life-nurturing. Mok Gyeong-un glanced at her with a puzzled look.
At that, she sneered and said. -I'm saying you could be mistaken for practicing the Demonic Arts.
‘What's that?’
Mok Gyeong-un still did not have much knowledge about martial arts. But from her tone, he could roughly guess the meaning behind her warning. So, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and said.
“It's alright. When the physician comes tomorrow, then...”
“Young Master. Forgive my rudeness.” -Papak!
Before he could finish his words, Outer Hall Master Sang Ung-baek swiftly grabbed Mok Gyeong-un's right wrist with a grappling technique. Sang Ung-baek's movements were much faster than Guard Gam's or Madam Seok's. There was no time to evade. Having grabbed Mok Gyeong-un's wrist, Sang Ung-baek went further and struck his vital points on his chest. -Papak!
He instantly struck the paralysis points that would stiffen the body. Having struck the vital points, Sang Ung-baek infused true energy through Mok Gyeong-un's wrist to examine his dantian. Infusing his true energy, Sang Ung-baek tried to quickly examine Mok Gyeong-un's organs and scan down to his dantian through the circulation path of his meridians.
But, -Swoosh!
The true energy traveling inside the body suddenly dissipated.
‘!?’
Sang Ung-baek's brow furrowed. Thinking the flow of true energy had been cut off midway, he sent it again. But it was the same. -Swoosh!
His true energy flowed along the path of circulation, only to dissipate. Something was strange. For a moment, Sang Ung-baek hesitated.
Normally, when examining someone's body, one infuses true energy to a degree that does not strain the other person. But if it kept dissipating like this, he had no choice but to infuse even more true energy. It was just that this method could be a bit dangerous.
“Young Master... I apologize, but I will infuse a little more true energy. I have struck your paralysis points, but even if it's uncomfortable, please bear with it for a moment...”
“Hmm. I suppose there's no choice. Blue Spirit.”
“Blue Spirit? What is that...” -Puk!
It was at that very moment. For an instant, Sang Ung-baek could not move a muscle. It was because he was seized by a strange sensation, as if something was clutching his heart.
“Huk... huk...”
Instinctively, Sang Ung-baek knew. It was clutching him very gently, but if it were to squeeze just a little harder, his heart felt like it would explode. What on earth was this bizarre occurrence?
As he was bewildered, Mok Gyeong-un said something, as if talking to someone.
“No, no. It would be troublesome if you burst his heart. Please wait a moment.”
‘!?’
In that instant, Sang Ung-baek's eyes widened as if they would tear.