The lights of the manor, seen from the bottom of the hill. In the darkness, two figures watched them with indifferent eyes. One of them, a tall figure, asked the one beside him.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes.”
At that answer, the tall figure took out something the size of a finger from his robes. It looked like a seal.
“They said the owner of this was released from the killing curse. What was the cause?”
To that question, the figure who was forming a sword seal with one hand raised the corner of his mouth and spoke.
“Gojo.”
“What is that?”
“It is an evil spirit monster from Green-Tailed Mountain.”
“An evil spirit monster?”
“I've heard a story that in Dream City, not far from here, there is an Occultist who handles the fierce Beast Gojo as a Spirit Guardian. It seems that person is over there.”
At those words, a strange light glinted in the tall figure's eyes.
“So it was. There was an Occultist's intervention.”
“The answer is clear. What will you do?”
“I must retrieve it.”
With those words, the tall figure raised his hand. At that moment, the presence of numerous people could be felt from behind them.
“I will decide who is qualified to be this manor's heir through a test.”
‘!!!!!’
At the Manor Lord's declaration, the air in the room changed completely. The youngest, Mok Yu-cheon, could not hide his joy at the Manor Lord's words, his lips twitching. And why not?
When it came to a test, he had the advantage over anyone else.
‘Ah! Father is giving me a chance.’
In a martial family, what would a test be? Naturally, it would be something to showcase one's martial genius. The first young master, Mok Yeong-ho, was at the second-rate realm; the second, Mok Eun-pyeong, was first-rate; and the third beside him, Mok Gyeong-un, was merely third-rate.
No one could defeat him. Whether it was a martial contest or anything else, he had the advantage. -Grip! The second, Mok Eun-pyeong, bit his lower lip hard.
He too was thinking something similar to Mok Yu-cheon. Anyone who heard the Manor Lord's declaration would have thought it was surely for the youngest, Mok Yu-cheon, who possessed the greatest martial genius. If it came down to martial arts, who could defeat that monster who had reached the cusp of the Peak Realm at the mere age of sixteen?
‘How could you do this?’
If it was going to be like this, it would have been better to just name Mok Yu-cheon as the successor outright. Mok Eun-pyeong, feeling all of this was unfair, mustered the courage to speak, something he normally wouldn't have been able to do.
“Father, I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“If it is a test, what exactly will it entail?”
At that question, the Manor Lord Mok In-dan stared intently at the second son, Mok Eun-pyeong. Under his father's imposing gaze, Mok Eun-pyeong, who had just barely gathered his courage, lowered his head slightly and avoided eye contact. At that, Mok In-dan snorted softly.
To think he would offer an opinion, yet couldn't even meet his own father's gaze.
How pathetic.
However, having come back from the brink of death, he had resolved to give everyone a fair chance in the process of selecting the next Manor Lord. Thus, he spoke.
“If we were to simply compete in martial genius through a contest, none of you would be able to defeat the youngest.”
“.........”
At those words, Mok Eun-pyeong's expression momentarily crumpled. His pride was wounded. But being in front of his father, he quickly controlled his expression.
The Manor Lord Mok In-dan paid it no mind and continued speaking.
“Therefore, I will determine who is qualified to be the Manor Lord.”
‘Qualified?’
At those words, the expressions of the Mok brothers became puzzled. Mok Yu-cheon, too, had assumed that since this was about choosing the heir of a martial family, everything would be decided by martial prowess. But with the mention of 'qualification,' a flicker of anxiety appeared in his eyes.
If that qualification wasn't about martial genius, then conversely, he would be at the greatest disadvantage.
‘Ah!’
Perhaps for that reason, this time Mok Eun-pyeong's expression brightened. Just a moment ago, he thought the Manor Lord's intention was set on the youngest, Mok Yu-cheon. But if it came to qualifications, Mok Yu-cheon, that son of a concubine, would have a hard time gaining the vassals' recognition.
‘Then it will be a fight between that guy and me.’
Mok Eun-pyeong glanced sideways at the first young master, Mok Yeong-ho, beside him. He was a fellow whose thoughts were impossible to guess. The great madam was trying everything to make him the heir, but he himself had gone so far astray that he had only brought disappointment to the Manor Lord.
‘A chance has appeared.’
Mok Eun-pyeong had been unable to hide his disappointment at the news that the Manor Lord had woken up. But now, he was filled with a glimmer of hope. If things went well, he might be able to receive his father's recognition and formally become the Manor Lord.
At that moment, Mok Yu-cheon carefully spoke up.
“Father. May I ask what it means to look at qualifications?”
“The position of Manor Lord is that of the head who leads this single group called the Lotuswood Sword Manor. I will test who is a person befitting of it.”
‘A person befitting of the Manor Lord?’
It was becoming even harder to guess what kind of test it would be. Sweeping his gaze over his sons, the Manor Lord Mok In-dan continued.
“Though your mothers may be different, you are all my children. Therefore, in choosing an heir, a fair opportunity will be given to everyone. So for now, return, and each of you ponder and prepare for what kind of test there might be.”
Having said his piece, he ordered his sons to leave. At this, everyone clasped their hands, bowed their heads, and was about to withdraw, when, “I apologize, but this son will not take the test.” Everyone's gaze turned to the one who had spoken.
It was Mok Gyeong-un.
‘What is he talking about?’
‘He won't take the test?’
Both Mok Eun-pyeong and Mok Yu-cheon stared at him with looks of incomprehension. Was he saying he would refuse the official chance to become the heir himself? As they were wondering, the Manor Lord Mok In-dan questioned him.
“You won't take the test?”
“That is correct.”
“Why will you not take it?”
“This son is lacking in many ways compared to my elder brothers and my youngest brother. Therefore, I believe I am not qualified to be the heir. Thus, I will not take the test.”
At these words, Mok Eun-pyeong let out a small sneer. He didn't know what scheme this was, but if he was withdrawing on his own, it wasn't a bad thing. It meant the competition would become that much easier.
‘Was it true?’
Mok Yu-cheon found it unexpected. Unlike when the Manor Lord's life was uncertain, refusing this official opportunity to become the heir meant that what he had said to him was true. He hadn't known he truly didn't want the position of Manor Lord.
What on earth is he thinking?
‘This is good.’
Mok Gyeong-un, on the contrary, was pleased with this situation. If he officially withdrew from the succession struggle, they would no longer bother him. His goal was martial arts, anyway.
Once he established a certain foundation, he would leave the Lotuswood Sword Manor. There was no reason to be tied down. But, “Why do you think yourself lacking?”
The Manor Lord's question continued. Mok Gyeong-un was puzzled by such a question. He clearly knew that the Manor Lord considered the first young master, Mok Yeong-ho, and the deceased Mok Gyeong-un to be pathetic.
If so, there should be nothing to regret about him withdrawing from the succession test.
‘He's being troublesome.’
It would have been over if he had just said he understood. However, there was nothing to be gained by getting on the Manor Lord's bad side here. So he had no choice but to give a suitable reason.
“It is said that for an heir, one should first prioritize the eldest son, and if not, it is right to establish one who has outstanding ability and great achievements.”
“.........”
“Furthermore, this son's maternal family is not what it once was, and cannot be a source of strength for the Lotuswood Sword Manor, so I am even less qualified to be the heir.”
He explained the reasons why he couldn't, as fluently as flowing water. At this, Mok Eun-pyeong nodded his head.
‘He knows his place.’
He was satisfied. He thought that with this, the Manor Lord would surely no longer argue about Mok Gyeong-un not taking the succession test.
‘Huh?’
But something was strange. The Manor Lord's expression as he looked at Mok Gyeong-un was not bad. In fact, it was closer to a look of seeing him in a new light.
‘What?’
And that guess was correct. What Mok Gyeong-un said was self-deprecating, so it couldn't be called exceptional. But from the Manor Lord's perspective, the sight of Mok Gyeong-un clearly assessing himself and expressing his opinion forthrightly was so different from before.
That weak and pathetic appearance was gone. What in the world had happened while he had lain with his eyes closed in his sickbed for so long?
‘He's changed.’
What could have changed this boy so much? Or had he been changing during the few years he hadn't paid him any attention? The Manor Lord became curious about Mok Gyeong-un. -Shhhhk!
Suddenly, the Manor Lord threw back the upper garment he was wearing. And then, the Manor Lord's upper body, covered in scars, was revealed. Among them, what stole everyone's gaze was, ‘.......
Ah.’ a severed arm, wrapped in bandages but clearly visible. Everyone knew the story that he had been in an accident a few days ago due to some assailant. But they did not know that his arm had been severed.
The Manor Lord, Mok In-dan, was a swordsman. For a swordsman who used his right hand to lose that arm was a very unfortunate event, no different from losing his prime. However, the man himself opened his mouth as if he didn't mind it at all.
“You said it with your own mouth.”
“Pardon?”
“That one should make the eldest son, or one with outstanding ability who has made achievements, the heir.”
“........ Yes. But this son is neither.”
“I heard that you stopped and killed the one who cut off this father's arm.”
‘What?’
At those words, everyone looked at Mok Gyeong-un. They had heard that Mok Gyeong-un, who had visited the main hall, had been injured and stayed in the Medicine Hall for a while, but they had no idea such a thing had happened. Of course, this fact had been embellished by Mok Gyeong-un.
‘Ah......’
Mok Gyeong-un had not expected that the story he had suitably embellished and passed on would lead to such a troublesome result. The Manor Lord showed his severed arm and spoke.
“As you said, one who has made an achievement is also sufficiently qualified to be the heir. Therefore, that reason doesn't seem to be a valid excuse to refuse the test.”
“.........”
At the Manor Lord's words, Mok Gyeong-un's face became expressionless. He was trying to insist he wouldn't take the test, but being drawn in like this was becoming quite bothersome. So Mok Gyeong-un decided it would be better to just say he would not take the test.
But then, something caught Mok Gyeong-un's eye.
‘!?’
It was a scar visible on the Manor Lord's side. The scar, though healed, remained distinct and seemed to have been made by something sharp like a blade. The moment he saw it, Mok Gyeong-un's eyes narrowed.
‘The scar......’
It's very similar. To that mark he had been searching for. Perhaps because of this, nothing else, like being the heir or whatever, entered Mok Gyeong-un's mind.
Only how the Manor Lord got that scar...... -Flinch! At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un frowned and turned his head slightly. The Manor Lord asked with a puzzled expression.
“What is it? Is something......”
Before his words could even finish. The Manor Lord Mok In-dan's eyes also sharpened as he shot up from his seat.
“Father?”
The other Mok brothers were bewildered. No sooner had that happened than chaotic noises suddenly erupted from outside. -Enemy attack! The enemy has invaded! -The Manor Lord!
Inform the Manor Lord!
‘!!!!!!’
A sudden emergency. No one could hide their bewilderment. Meanwhile, the youngest, Mok Yu-cheon, who had sensed the presences almost at the same time as the commotion, looked at Mok Gyeong-un with surprised eyes.
‘What is this guy?’
A mere third-rate fellow had noticed it even before his father or himself.