‘How?’
To his surprise, Mok Gyeong-un was moving perfectly fine, and not only that, he had even untied the ropes binding him. How on earth did this fellow release the point-striking? As he wondered, Mok Gyeong-un lightly struck a few points on his chest. -Tat-tat-tat-tat-tak!
Soon, as if his mute point had been released, his voice began to come out.
“You...”
To him, Mok Gyeong-un whispered.
“Shh.”
At that, Mok Yu-cheon lowered his voice and whispered a question.
“... How in the world did you release the points?”
Mok Gyeong-un did not answer his question. Because, in the first place, the points had never been truly sealed. No, they were sealed for a very brief moment, but because of his yin death energy, the true energy of Underworld Blade King, Son Yun, had dispersed soon after.
Mok Gyeong-un had merely been observing the situation quietly.
“You don’t need to know.”
As he avoided the answer, Mok Yu-cheon frowned and spoke.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to… escape?”
Mok Gyeong-un smiled without a word. It was a sign of affirmation. At this, Mok Yu-cheon asked in disbelief.
“By what means? The guards of the Heaven and Earth Society must be guarding all around.”
“Now is the chance. From the Underworld Blade King to almost everyone else, they’re gone. There are only four guarding outside the cart, and six more watching from a distance.”
‘!?’
For a moment, Mok Yu-cheon was filled with doubt. He, like himself, had been blindfolded and his vital points sealed this whole time. How on earth did he know this?
Moreover, this fellow was merely at the third-rate realm; it should have been difficult for him to even sense presences within a few yards. To the disbelieving Mok Yu-cheon, Mok Gyeong-un said, “If you tell me one thing, I’ll help you escape too.”
“What?”
“That’s why I only released your mute point.”
‘Huh?’
Come to think of it, his body was still numb. It wasn't because the ropes weren’t untied, but because his paralysis points hadn't been released.
“What are you doing? If you’re going to release them, do it properly…”
“Sorry, but there’s no need to cater to you outside. I’d appreciate it if you just answer my question.”
A subtle killing intent emanated from his voice. And a strange atmosphere exuded from his expressionless face and indifferent eyes. He felt completely different from his usual self.
“Who on earth are you…”
“Who is the Ghost Sword?”
“What?”
“I asked, who is the Ghost Sword?”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s question, Mok Yu-cheon furrowed his brows. Was he really asking because he didn’t know who the Ghost Sword was? There was no martial artist who didn’t know of that man’s infamy.
“... Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“Yes.”
“Are you joking with me…”
“Just answer the question.”
He didn’t add anything else, but Mok Gyeong-un projected an intimidating pressure, as if he would kill him if he didn’t answer. He had found it strange before, but was this fellow really the coward Mok Gyeong-un?
“Are you not going to answer?”
“... He’s one of the Six Heavens and Eight Stars.”
“Six Heavens and Eight Stars?”
“You… what are you, really?”
Mok Yu-cheon couldn’t understand his reaction, which seemed to genuinely be of ignorance. In the current martial world, there were six grand masters called the pinnacle. Because their martial prowess was like the heavens above the heavens, the martial artists of the Central Plains called them the Six Heavens.
And though they couldn’t quite reach their level, there existed eight masters who had reached the highest realm. They were the Eight Stars.
“How can you not know of the Six Heavens and Eight Stars…”
“I don’t know about any Eight Stars, but where is this Ghost Sword?”
At that question, Mok Yu-cheon stared intently into Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes before letting out a sigh and saying, “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“How would I know about someone who vanished seventeen years ago.”
“Vanished?”
“Yes. And to this day, no one has discovered the Ghost Sword’s true identity.”
“‘Discovered’ means no one knows?”
“I just said so.”
“Hmm.”
At Mok Yu-cheon’s words, Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin as if troubled. The scar remaining on his dead grandfather and the one on the side of the Lotuswood Sword Manor’s Lord were very similar. Therefore, the one called the Ghost Sword was the most likely culprit.
But if no one knew his identity, it would be difficult to know where to even begin. But here, there was a point of doubt.
‘He said he vanished seventeen years ago… so why did he target grandfather?’
If the scars were the work of the same person, then it had to be the Ghost Sword. But he couldn’t understand why a man who had supposedly vanished would suddenly target his grandfather. As he pondered this, Mok Yu-cheon opened his mouth.
“Perhaps you could find out if you go to the Heaven and Earth Society.”
“What?”
“I heard that the targets the Ghost Sword aimed for were all masters who had made a name for themselves in both the righteous and demonic paths, so there were rumors he might be a master from the Heaven and Earth Society or the Imperial family.”
“The Heaven and Earth Society or the Imperial family?”
“Yes. Though I don’t know why you’re so curious.”
At these words, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened. If so, the culprit who killed his grandfather might be in either the Heaven and Earth Society or the Imperial family. Just then, a voice reached his ears. -Mortal.
Hurry.
It was Blue Spirit’s voice. At that, Mok Gyeong-un said, “I will keep my promise.” With those words, he reached out his hand to release the other vital points.
But then, “I’m grateful for you releasing the points, but don’t do anything foolish.”
“... Foolish?”
“If we escape now, the Lotuswood Sword Manor will be in danger.”
“In danger, you say.”
“We’re hostages. You know what that means. What do you think they’ll do to the Lotuswood Sword Manor if we disappear?”
At Mok Yu-cheon’s words, Mok Gyeong-un let out a sneer. Mok Yu-cheon frowned. What kind of reaction is this? he thought, as Mok Gyeong-un spoke in a cold voice.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“What?”
“Then stay here.”
“You!” -Thwack!
Struck on the back of the neck with the side of a hand, Mok Yu-cheon passed out. With his usual martial prowess, he would never have allowed Mok Gyeong-un to land a blow, but since his points were sealed, he was unable to circulate his internal energy and could do nothing. -Shhh!
Mok Gyeong-un carefully laid the unconscious Mok Yu-cheon on the floor. From his perspective, his words might be infuriating, but it truly had nothing to do with him. Whether the Lotuswood Sword Manor fell to ruin or they all died, it wasn't his business.
It was the real Mok Gyeong-un’s business. And, ‘I was planning to use him as bait, what a shame.’ That was the reason he had intended to release Mok Yu-cheon’s points.
‘The Heaven and Earth Society.’
Mok Gyeong-un looked down at Mok Yu-cheon and thought. If what he said was true, that the one called the Ghost Sword was in the Heaven and Earth Society, this might also be an opportunity. But the risk was quite high.
They were interested in the secret manual in his head. Therefore, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that they would kill him without hesitation after finding it out.
‘It’s better to approach after making thorough preparations.’
That was the rational choice. With his current martial prowess, a clumsy approach could lead to him being taken down instead. Well then, shall I head out?
Mok Gyeong-un carefully walked toward the door of the cargo wagon. The four masked men guarding the vicinity had been made to temporarily lose consciousness by Blue Spirit’s hand, so he just had to leave. -Creeeeak! Mok Gyeong-un opened the door.
But then, -Flinch! The moment he opened the door, for a very brief instant, he felt something strange. He hesitated, and Blue Spirit appeared, saying, -Go northwest.
Do not stop. I will take care of the watchers.
“Very well.” -Phat!
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un shot forward. Although he had trained in the light body technique for four days, this was the first time he had truly used it. The light body technique can be fundamentally divided into footwork andlight body technique.
Gyeonggong could be called a running technique for moving long distances more quickly or for closing the distance. -Pah-pah-pah-pah-pat! As death energy flowed through his dragon spring point, his body shot forward at great speed. It was a speed incomparable to his usual running.
The surrounding scenery changed rapidly. It seemed he had covered a considerable distance in just half a gak. But then, -Mortal, why are you making such a face?
“It’s the same.” -The same?
“It keeps repeating.” -Repeating? -Tak!
Mok Gyeong-un stopped his light body technique and pointed a finger at a tree covered in vines.
“I think this is the fourth time I’ve seen that tree.”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Blue Spirit, who was right beside him, frowned. Then she said, -Aren’t you mistaken?
“That’s impossible.” -If it were some kind of occult art or demonic art, I would not have failed to notice.
“... That’s true.” -It could be that you’re just nervous.
Hurry up.
With those words, Blue Spirit tried to move forward. But Mok Gyeong-un didn’t move from his spot. At this, Blue Spirit grew irritated. -What is it now?
If you don’t hurry, you won’t be able to escape this place. At her words, Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at Blue Spirit and opened his mouth.
“Who… are you?” -What?
“I asked who you are.”
At his words, she made a dumbfounded expression and said, -Mortal, have you gone mad? How dare you ask this master who… -Swish! Before she could finish her words, Mok Gyeong-un reached out his hand.
It was the Binding technique. At that, Blue Spirit’s body was forcibly pulled forward, and in an instant, her neck was offered up to Mok Gyeong-un’s palm. -Gack!
Th-this is…
“You chose the wrong person to imitate. No, if you were going to do it, you should have done it properly.”
If it were the real Blue Spirit, she would not have overlooked his words about the tree being the same. No, in the first place, it was impossible for someone of her high rank to be so easily caught in something like this. -Mortal. You are making a mistake right now…
“I don’t think it’s a mistake.”
A strange energy was flowing in through his palm. This was far removed from the unique death energy that a vengeful spirit possessed. And if it had been the real Blue Spirit, she wouldn’t have been pulled in by the Binding technique; rather, she would have lightly flicked him away. -Wooooong!
At that moment, a bizarre thing happened. Blue Spirit’s body wavered and then scattered, revealing a wooden doll in his palm. A talisman with the words Wood-Taking Curse was attached to the wooden doll. -Fwoosh!
The talisman in his palm immediately burned up, turning to ash. -Pa-pa-pak! At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un brought his hands together and formed the hand seal of the Immovable Heart. Then, he closed his eyes and chanted an incantation.
“Essence of Heaven, essence of Earth, essence of the Sun, essence of the Moon. Let heaven and earth's qi combine, let the sun and moon's light combine, let the forms of gods and ghosts combine. Let your heart join mine, and my heart join yours. Let thousands upon thousands of hearts join with my own. I serve the Great Supreme Elder Lord! By my command, act with haste!”
With that, the scattering ashes flew off somewhere. They then began to circle the vine-entangled tree at high speed. -Swoosh! The ashes were sucked into the tree.
Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un shot his body toward it. -Phat! He charged toward the vine-entangled tree, and the moment he collided with it, -Swoooosh! His vision changed, and with a campfire, the one-eyed middle-aged man, Occultist Jo, came into view, sitting on a large rock.
There were ashes on his upper garment, which Occultist Jo brushed off as his lips twitched.
‘Ha… look at this kid.’
Occultist Jo was genuinely impressed. He had confirmed that the boy’s talent was extraordinary back at the Lotuswood Sword Manor. However, he hadn't fully trusted that the son of a martial family could have learned occult arts on his own, so he had taken this opportunity to test Mok Gyeong-un with the Willow Spirit Cultivation Method and formation arts.
The Willow Spirit Cultivation Method. It was a technique that used a willow doll to transform into someone the target trusted or was close to. It was a high-level technique that deceived the target’s five senses, making them perceive the willow doll as a virtual someone, and it was effective for letting the target lower their guard and extracting information.
But this kid had not only seen through the fake in just half a gak, but he had also escaped the formation.
‘To find the path of life in such a way…’
There was a standard method for finding the path of life in a formation. But Mok Gyeong-un had forcibly broken the Willow Spirit Cultivation Method and then used the remnants of the talisman from that fleeting moment to find the Life Gate and his own position with a tracking art called the Summoning and Harmonizing Technique.
‘His ability to apply his knowledge is extraordinary.’
Talent this exceptional was truly hard to find. He was incomparable to the disciples he had accepted so far. Occultist Jo raised the corner of his mouth and said to Mok Gyeong-un, “You… become my disciple.”