“You… become my disciple.”
‘!?’
At Occultist Jo’s words, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened. He was already in a foul mood from being manipulated by the magic art.
‘Did I do something unnecessary?’
Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes darted around, surveying his surroundings. At first glance, no one was visible, and he felt no other presence. Was he lured here by a magic art because the man was confident he could handle him alone?
‘Ten paces.’
He felt he could overpower him from this distance. He had grown faster after learning the light body technique. And Occultists were significantly inferior to martial artists in terms of physical ability.
‘If I kill him before he can cast a magic art...’
“If you think you can do something to me just because no one is around, I’ll tell you that you’re mistaken.”
“...”
He wasn't as unperceptive as he thought. But there was definitely no presence. And he hadn't taken out a talisman or anything of the sort.
There was no harm in trying once...
Flinch!
Mok Gyeong-un froze. The moment he tried to lift his foot slightly from the ground, he felt the energy of his surroundings twisting. That same alien energy he had felt when he took his hand off the carriage.
It was similar, but this time it was as sharp as the swing of a weapon.
“You’re quite sensitive.”
A strange light shone in Occultist Jo’s eyes. He had naturally expected that a clever fellow would find some way to escape the formation art. That was why he had prepared for it beforehand.
“To survive in this harsh world, one must be thoroughly prepared. That is the first lesson I will give you.”
“...”
At his words, Mok Gyeong-un scanned his surroundings. He couldn't see any talismans or anything like them. But why did he feel such a sense of foreboding the moment he tried to lift his foot?
The occult arts certainly had depth the more one delved into them. Mok Gyeong-un looked at Occultist Jo and opened his mouth.
“... I don't recall ever saying I would become your disciple.”
“Do you think you have a choice?”
“I know you seem very interested in me, but I have my own circumstances to consider.”
“Circumstances? Ha.”
Occultist Jo scoffed. Then, he took something out from his waist. It was a wooden doll with a talisman attached that read ‘Seal.’
Occultist Jo tossed it up and down as he spoke.
“Don't you want this back?”
Seeing it, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head slightly. Then, on a whim, he sent the aura of death into his eyes and looked at the wooden doll. It seemed there was something inside.
But the energy was so faint that it was hard to tell without concentrating.
“Have you already forgotten what you were trying to protect?”
“Is that, by any chance...”
“Yes. That’s it. Did you really think I would have left something this dangerous back there?”
“...”
“What an interesting fellow. There are almost no occultists, even skilled ones, who have taken a vengeful spirit as a Spirit Guardian.”
It was only after sealing the Demonic Monk in the wooden doll that Occultist Jo had realized. Not only had the boy learned the occult arts on his own, but he had also taken a vengeful spirit as a Spirit Guardian, a feat even skilled occultists found difficult.
He was a talent that was impossible not to covet as a disciple.
“I don't know how you did it, but if you obediently agree to become my disciple, I can return this to you.”
He thought it was a decent proposal. The boy must have done a considerable amount of his own research to make a vengeful spirit his Spirit Guardian. So he figured the boy would be reluctant to lose his Spirit Guardian so easily.
However, “You don't have to return it.”
“What?”
“It's already out of my hands, what can I do?”
“... Ha?”
Look at this kid. He must have gone through a lot of trouble to make a vengeful spirit his Spirit Guardian, yet he gives it up so easily? Was he intentionally acting tough?
“Does that mean it’s all right if I destroy this vengeful spirit?”
“Do as you please.”
The lack of any regret was simply dumbfounding. His way of thinking was different from other occultists. No, was it because he was a martial artist to begin with?
“Hmm.”
If he were to destroy this vengeful spirit as the boy said, it would make his own capacity seem small. A master's capacity must always appear large. Occultist Jo threw the wooden doll toward Mok Gyeong-un.
“Catch.”
Thwack!
“... Why are you giving this to me?”
“Do you think my capacity is so small that I would covet the possession of the one who will become my disciple?”
At these words, Mok Gyeong-un inwardly sneered. He desperately wanted to take him as a disciple. What should I do?
He had three options. Should he take a risk, not knowing what trap lay ahead, kill Occultist Jo, and escape? Or should he pretend to become his disciple, deal with him, and then escape?
The last one was, ‘... It's dangerous, but I could become that man's disciple and infiltrate the Heaven and Earth Society.’ This was the most dangerous of the three.
If he were to run into the man who had noticed his pursuit and appeared at that time, he could be killed for certain before he could even get his revenge.
‘The second option is probably better.’
It was the method he liked the most. It was also the method he had always favored. Just then, Occultist Jo spoke.
“If I were you, I would not refuse the offer.”
“Why?”
“Becoming my disciple would slightly increase your chances of survival. Is there any reason to hesitate?”
“...”
“Having brazenly learned our society's secret manual, do you think your chances of survival are high if you go there? I think not." "It is a place where your life can depend on the mood of the leader or the executives. If you become my disciple instead, you can at least increase those chances.”
“...”
Mok Gyeong-un's expression remained unchanged. Seeing him, Occultist Jo inwardly clicked his tongue. Is this method useless on this kid?
Then again, this was the kid who had held a sword to his own neck and negotiated with the Underworld Blade King.
‘Does he have no attachment to life? Or is he thoroughly calculating?’
If it was the latter, he needed to change his approach. Occultist Jo clicked his tongue and said.
“So you’re the type to just break if I push you hard. Fine. How about this then? You'll learn it anyway if you become my disciple, but I'll teach you the magic art that allows you to contain a Spirit Guardian in a medium.”
“... What does that mean?”
“Exactly what you heard. It's a bit different, but you have a similar example in your hand right now.”
At those words, Mok Gyeong-un looked at the wooden doll he was holding. No energy could be felt from the wooden doll marked with the character ‘Seal.’ As Mok Gyeong-un stared at it intently, his eyes sparkled.
“It seems you're interested in things like this.”
Occultist Jo jeered. He had thought the boy would naturally show interest.
‘If he wants to carry that vengeful spirit around safely, he'll naturally need it.’
Otherwise, every occultist who saw it would try to exorcise it without even knowing it was a Spirit Guardian. He judged that what Mok Gyeong-un needed right now was this magic art. And his prediction was correct.
‘To be able to hide the Spirit Guardian's energy...’
Mok Gyeong-un had been trying to figure out a method like this anyway. It was a more appealing proposal than the one that had just brandished his life. Without it, he couldn't keep Blue Spirit or the Demonic Monk close if skilled occultists or great masters like the Underworld Blade King were around.
Occultist Jo spoke to the intrigued Mok Gyeong-un.
“How about it? Do you feel like becoming my disciple now?”
“If I become your disciple, can I learn what you just spoke of?”
“Of course.”
To this, Mok Gyeong-un said.
“Then teach me that magic art first. Then I will become your disciple.”
“You want me to teach you first? Hahahahaha. What would be so difficult about teaching you? But if you want to learn it, you must first make a vow.”
He wasn't going to give in so easily. Since he had naturally expected him not to give in, Mok Gyeong-un licked his lips slightly. Occultist Jo then pulled something else from his waist.
It was a small chain link.
“Catch.”
Whoosh! Clang!
Mok Gyeong-un caught it, looking puzzled. Then the man said.
“Wear that on your wrist and say this. I, Mok Gyeong-un, will become the disciple of Jo Ui-gong and follow his will.”
“...”
At those words, suspicion filled Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.
“While wearing this chain?”
“Yes.”
“... You're not just making me do this for no reason.”
“Isn't it obvious? How could I trust and simply take as a disciple a boy who tried to run away despite being little more than a hostage?”
“Then what will happen if I make that vow?”
To that question, Occultist Jo, no, Occultist Jo Ui-gong, answered with a smile.
“A restriction will be placed.”
“A restriction?”
“Once you make that vow, you will be unable to harm me in any way. It is almost absolute.”
‘Of course, you will also be obligated to follow my orders.’
Occultist Jo Ui-gong always handed over this Chain of the Master's Word when he took on a disciple he liked. Once a person made a vow upon themselves through the Chain of the Master's Word, they could never refuse his commands. However, he didn't mention this, as the boy was unlikely to comply easily if he did.
‘How will he react?’
But he wasn't sure if such a suspicious boy would easily make the vow. As he was thinking, Mok Gyeong-un put on the chain and opened his mouth.
“Please keep your promise. I, Mok Gyeong-un, will become the disciple of Jo Ui-gong and follow his will.”
The moment those words ended. The chain rattled subtly and trembled. Seeing this, Jo Ui-gong’s lips curled up in satisfaction.
‘With this, he is mine.’
He was the type who couldn't rest until he got what he wanted. Jo Ui-gong took out something folded in cowhide from his bosom.
“Catch.”
Whoosh! Thwack!
Mok Gyeong-un snatched it with one hand. On it was written: [Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual] “What is this?”
“It is a magic art created by this master. Memorize it all on our way back to the Heaven and Earth Society and return it.”
“... Are you not going to keep your promise?”
“How could that be? The magic art you want is also within it.”
“Thank you.”
“Call me Master.”
“Thank you. Master.”
Wearing a satisfied expression at being called Master, Occultist Jo Ui-gong came down from the rock he was leaning on, picked up his staff, and started walking somewhere. Mok Gyeong-un then said.
“Aren't you going to release the magic art you cast?”
He couldn't take a single step unless it was released. To this question, Occultist Jo Ui-gong smiled brightly and said.
“I will give you about two hours.”
“Pardon?”
“The way to release the magic art is also in there, so look for it well. If you can't find it and return within that time, something quite troublesome will happen. Hahahahaha.”
With those words, Occultist Jo Ui-gong disappeared into the forest to the southeast. At this, Mok Gyeong-un let out a faint snort. Was he already trying to teach him?
‘Interesting.’
He didn't care what the method was. All that mattered was that he could take what he needed.
Swoosh!
Just then, not long after, someone lightly descended from the sky. It was none other than Blue Spirit.
“The occultist has finally left your side.”
Mok Gyeong-un looked at her with suspicious eyes.
“You're not a fake, are you?”
“A fake? What kind of nonsense is that? Besides, it was amusing to see you caught in a magic art, running in place. You should have done it a bit longer.”
“You're the real one.”
“... On what grounds are you so sure that I'm real?”
“Well... there's just something.”
A feeling, should he call it? Blue Spirit asked Mok Gyeong-un.
“But unlike you, mortal, why did you do such a thing?”
“Do what?”
“That chain seemed to hold a strong curse power. I'm asking why you made such a vow.”
“To get this.”
Mok Gyeong-un waved the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual at her. She then snorted and said.
“You did that just to get something like that? Did you become a fool in an instant? Or were you confident you could break free from that binding curse?”
“There's no need to break free or anything.”
“What?”
Mok Gyeong-un nonchalantly removed the chain he was wearing on his arm. At this, she frowned and asked.
“Does it come off that easily?”
“No. A master's word is a vow that must be made by staking one's own name in the first place.”
“Ha!”
At those words, Blue Spirit finally understood why Mok Gyeong-un had made such a vow. Mok Gyeong-un was not his real name to begin with. Of course, the master's word could not be established, and the binding curse could not take hold.
‘I knew it.’
There was no way this cunning boy would do something disadvantageous just to learn a magic art.
“So, now that you've got what you wanted, are you going to try to escape again?”
“... I was thinking of it, but now I'm having second thoughts.”
“It's changed?”
“Yes. I'm wondering if it's better to go under the lamp.”
Although the risk was greater there, in a way, it was the darkest place. At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Blue Spirit gave him a strange look. Mok Gyeong-un then asked.
“You seem to have something to say. I had something I wanted to ask as well.”
“Saying you have something to say and then saying you have something to ask, what kind of sophistry is that?”
“I mean I want to ask first.”
“What is it?”
“Why did they think the sword move Blue Spirit showed was real, and not the Eight Arts of Shattering Thought?”
He had wanted to ask that anyway. At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Blue Spirit closed her mouth.
“...”
“Are you unwilling to tell me?”
Hoo.
She silently smoked her long pipe and exhaled. Usually, this kind of reaction meant she had no intention of telling him. At this, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged.
“Well, if that's the case, there's nothing I can do.”
“...”
“For now, I need to take a look at this. That way, both the Demonic Monk and Blue Spirit can stay by my side...”
“Are you really going there?”
“Pardon?”
“To the Heaven and Earth Society.”
At her somewhat serious question, Mok Gyeong-un recalled the gaze from the rooftop. The blood-red eyes looked as if they would stain everything with blood. But even now, that anger was slightly showing.
“Depending on the situation.”
“... How truly coincidental.”
“What is?”
“The situation, that is.”
“Hmm. What are you trying to say?”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s question, Blue Spirit exhaled a long stream of smoke and extended her hand to him, saying.
“If you are really going there, become this master's disciple.”
“... Hmm.”
Mok Gyeong-un scratched his head. He seemed to be hearing the words ‘become my disciple’ from all over the place today. To even hear it from Blue Spirit.
“Uh... I don't know your reasons, but between us, there's no need for things like disciple...”
“The weight is different.”
“Pardon?”
“To become this master's disciple means that you, mortal, must bear the karma of the Moon and carry out a bloody purge.”