The weight is different “What?” -Becoming this master's disciple means that you, mortal, must bear the karma of the Moon and carry out a bloody purge.
‘A bloody purge?’
The air around Blue Spirit, thick with killing intent, was different from usual. But then again, she was a vengeful spirit. One whose grudge was so deep, so profound, that she had lingered in the mortal realm for over a hundred years.
Mok Gyeong-un met her gaze and spoke.
“So you are connected to the Heaven and Earth Society after all.” -…I will not deny that.
“But why do you speak of the karma of the Moon and a bloody purge in relation to becoming your disciple?” -It is as you heard.
This master desires a price paid in blood.
“To put it simply, revenge.”
At his words, Blue Spirit seemed displeased. She took a long drag from her long pipe and blew the smoke into Mok Gyeong-un’s face. -Huuu. The weight is different, but if you put it in your terms, yes, it would be revenge.
At her words, a strange light flickered in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes. It was because of the shared feeling of revenge. He, too, was wandering like this to avenge his grandfather.
However, he would resolve this grudge while alive, not dead like her. She spoke. -What will you do? Will you become this master’s disciple?
“Shouldn’t you at least tell me why I must become your disciple before I decide whether to accept?” -That is…
“That is?” -Never mind.
If you are not going to the Heaven and Earth Society, then forget what this master said.
“... You seem to have a talent for bringing something up only to drop it.” -Hmph.
I did not say it to pique your interest.
“..........”
Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at Blue Spirit. In truth, Mok Gyeong-un had no interest in other people’s circumstances or stories. Even if he felt a sense of kinship over the idea of revenge.
He had asked Blue Spirit to explain her situation, but that was just his way of telling her to convince him why he should become her disciple.
“May I ask you something?” -If it is a question that cannot be answered, refrain from asking it in the first place.
“That is for you to decide. For someone of your rank, you must have died a very long time ago. Wouldn’t the passage of time have already enacted your revenge for you?”
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Blue Spirit scoffed. Then she asked. -Would you simply let your enemy go, thinking that time will solve everything?
“No.” -Why not?
Did you not just imply otherwise?
“... You’ve got me there.”
Mok Gyeong-un shrugged and continued.
“You’re right. If you’re going to get revenge, you must see it to the end. I can’t just leave anything related to that person alone.”
Family, relatives, everything precious must be taken away. If one was to seek revenge, there was no reason to consider this or that circumstance. At least, that was what Mok Gyeong-un thought revenge was.
Blue Spirit’s red lips twitched as she spoke. -We are of the same mind. It is the same for this master. I cannot forgive the fact that the bloodline of that bastard I could devour whole and it still wouldn't be enough is still breathing, nor can I forgive the insult of the truth being buried, defiling this master’s name.
If that is the case, I will take everything with my own hands. Even if it means staining everything with blood. -Goooooooooo! Mok Gyeong-un looked around and gestured with his hand.
As if her immense anger had been unleashed, a storm seemed to be raging, and chaos erupted in all directions. The surroundings were even being dyed in a crimson hue.
“Calm yourself.” -…
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, she seemed to become aware of it and calmed herself down. Then, the sudden change in the surroundings ceased, as if it had never happened. Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un inwardly clicked his tongue in amazement.
If Blue Spirit was this powerful, how dangerous and strong would a vengeful spirit of an even higher rank be? He was curious. But that wasn't what was important right now.
“Blue Spirit.” -Speak.
“Even if I don’t become your disciple, couldn’t we proceed with your revenge together if the situation aligns?” -No!
“What?” -It is only meaningful if you, mortal, inherit the karma of the Moon.
“So what exactly is this karma of the Moon?” -It is something you will naturally come to know when you become this master’s disciple and go there.
“You’re stubborn. In that case, I won’t become your disciple.” -What?
A wrinkle formed between Blue Spirit’s fine brows. She spoke, her voice laced with irritation. -Then you won’t go to the Heaven and Earth Society?
“No. I’m going. I’ve decided to go.” -Then why!
The deafening shout rang in his ears, and Mok Gyeong-un frowned. Blue Spirit wanted to force him to do her will, but she couldn’t because of the relationship between a Spirit Guardian and its master. What a truly annoying relationship.
To be bound by this shackle and unable to do anything. Just then, Mok Gyeong-un spoke.
“I apologize, but I don’t like being swayed by others. That remains true even for you, Blue Spirit, whom I trust more than anyone else right now.” -…How irritating.
“Still, there’s nothing…” -I said, it’s irritating!
Blue Spirit’s hands trembled as she shrieked. The reality of being swayed after becoming the Spirit Guardian of such a brat infuriated her. She had barely escaped from where she was sealed, and she was no longer an earthbound spirit, possessing a rank that allowed her to move freely, yet what was this?
If she had her way, she would kill this punk to vent her frustration. But if she did that, the hundred years she had endured, chewing on her grudge, would become meaningless.
‘Damned stubborn mortal!’
He hadn't even lived a quarter of a century, yet he was so annoying. After glaring at Mok Gyeong-un for a long time, she spoke. -Fine. I will tell you this much.
I do not know the current situation, but the Heaven and Earth Society was originally founded by three ancestral lines.
“Three ancestral lines?” -One of them is the Moon Vein.
“... And you are a person of that Moon Vein?”
He was quick on the uptake, at least. Blue Spirit did not deny it. -This is all I can tell you for now, mortal. In any case, a hundred years have passed, so it’s meaningless to look into what happened back then.
It’s not like everything from that era would have remained the same, so you just need to inherit the karma of the Moon. She stared intently into Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.
With other humans, she could tell what they were thinking just by looking at their eyes or expressions, but with this particular mortal, she couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. She wasn't even sure if his emotions, other than anger, were real. Just then, Mok Gyeong-un spoke readily.
“Alright.” -Huuu.
Your stubbornness is really… what?
“I said I’ll learn from you.” -You’ll become my disciple?
“Yes. But on one condition.” -…What condition?
“Let’s just skip the ceremonial titles like Master and disciple.” -You impudent mortal.
“I don’t make you call me master either, even though you’re my Spirit Guardian.” -…
She clicked her tongue at Mok Gyeong-un, but then nodded. It didn’t matter anyway. Normally, as the one receiving martial arts instruction, it would be right to clarify the master-disciple relationship, but she was already dead.
What meaning could the etiquette of the mortal realm hold? -Tsk, tsk. Watching her, Mok Gyeong-un smiled faintly. In truth, if he was going to the Heaven and Earth Society anyway, he was in a position where he had to learn the remaining moves of that Sword Art and the energy circulation techniques from her.
If anything, he was the one who should be asking for a favor. -What are you grinning about?
“It’s nothing. More importantly, we should hurry.” -What do you mean?
“It’s hard to keep staying here like this.”
Mok Gyeong-un opened the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual he was holding. He had to undo the magic art to be able to lift his feet within one shichen, and he also had to master the occult art to hide Blue Spirit's energy.
Half a quarter-hour before one shichen was up. The surroundings were bustling. The masked men who had left their posts were returning one by one.
‘Hmm.’
Occultist Jo Ui-gong looked at the northwest forest with slightly disappointed eyes. It was taking longer than he thought. In truth, one shichen could not be considered a long time.
Because even for a designated magic art, mastering an occult art in just one shichen was quite a difficult task. On top of that, having to find which magic art it was within the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual made the situation quite tight.
‘I thought it might be possible.’
If he failed, it could mean that the given situation was more difficult than he had expected. If so, it couldn't be helped. He would have no choice but to go and undo the magic art himself.
It was at that moment.
‘!?’
He saw a figure walking out of the dark forest. It was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.
“What?”
“How did that punk?”
The masked men who spotted Mok Gyeong-un were surprised to see him outside the cargo wagon and moved to subdue him again. But Occultist Jo Ui-gong stopped them.
“Stop.”
“But…”
“That child is now my disciple. I was just training him for a moment.”
“What?”
The masked men looked back and forth between Mok Gyeong-un and Occultist Jo Ui-gong with slightly surprised eyes. They looked as if they never expected him to actually be taken in as a disciple. However, Occultist Jo was their superior, and they couldn’t disobey him, so they soon returned to their positions.
Occultist Jo spoke to Mok Gyeong-un, who was looking around.
“You’re later than I expected.”
No, in fact, he had exceeded expectations. He had actually found and undone the magic art within one shichen. However, now that he had taken him as a disciple, he intended to refrain from praise as much as possible.
Mok Gyeong-un bowed his head slightly and replied.
“I apologize if I am late, Master.”
“I have expectations for you, so do not disappoint me.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“In any case, you must have expended a great deal of mental energy undoing the magic art, so rest for a while. We will depart as soon as the Underworld Blade King arrives.”
“Understood.”
With those words, Mok Gyeong-un looked around. He had been curious about something for a while. The masked men, in pairs, had brought boys who looked to be between 15 and 18 years old.
All of them had hoods over their faces, so they couldn’t see ahead. Mok Gyeong-un asked in a low voice.
“Who are they?”
At his question, Occultist Jo Ui-gong smirked and replied.
“They are new recruits gathered from each faction.”
“New recruits?”
“You could say we’re killing two birds with one stone since we’re here anyway.”
It was hard to understand what he was saying. It seemed he was being intentionally vague.
“You will find out later, so there is no need to be concerned with such things now. More importantly, you will be traveling with me in my carriage from now on, so go ahead and rest there.”
He pointed to a clean-looking carriage, not a cargo wagon. Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head and said.
“My apologies, Master. For the time being, would it be alright if I just rode in the cargo wagon I was in before?”
“What?”
Occultist Jo Ui-gong looked puzzled for a moment, then spoke as if he understood.
“Ah. Is it because of your younger brother?”
Of course not, but Mok Gyeong-un nodded as if it were true. Jo Ui-gong clicked his tongue at him and said.
“You choose to suffer needlessly. If you change your mind, switch to my carriage.”
“Understood.”
“Ah. And let me warn you, you were able to get out this time because this master intended it, but don’t even dream of trying to escape with your brother." "If you do something foolish, you will witness the fall of the Lotuswood Sword Manor.”
“I will keep that in mind. Now that I am your disciple, such a thing will not happen.”
“Of course it won’t.” Occultist Jo Ui-gong grinned.
He was wearing the Chain of the Master's Word, so he couldn’t disobey his command anyway. Mok Gyeong-un spoke to the smiling man.
“If I may ask, with your authority, Master, could you have the person monitoring the inside of the cargo wagon leave?”
“That is…”
“If it is difficult even with your authority, Master, then it is alright. I only ask because I wish to quietly memorize this while in the carriage.”
Mok Gyeong-un said, holding up the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual. Occultist Jo Ui-gong, who was about to refuse, nodded his head. The first part of the sentence had irked him more than the latter.
“Do you think I don’t have that much authority? Very well.”
“Thank you.”
“But do not do anything to arouse suspicion. Even if you have become my disciple, there is no good in provoking the Underworld Blade King.”
“Understood.”
As Mok Gyeong-un bowed his head in gratitude, the corners of his mouth crept up slightly.
After entering the cargo wagon, Mok Gyeong-un closed the door and took something out from his robes. It was a small, finger-sized wooden doll in the shape of a person, with the character for ‘Connect’ carved into it. Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and whispered.
“It was a success.” -…Success my foot, I'm dying of frustration.
To think I'm trapped in this damned wooden doll. The voice coming from the wooden doll was none other than Blue Spirit’s. Mok Gyeong-un had succeeded in hiding her energy. If Occultist Jo Ui-gong found out that he had managed to learn even this magic art within one shichen, he would have been unable to contain his astonishment.
He had assumed Mok Gyeong-un had barely managed to undo the magic art and come out. Mok Gyeong-un placed the wooden doll on his palm and said.
“Please bear with it for a little longer.”
If she came out of this, her unique aura as a vengeful spirit would be revealed. There was no good in letting Occultist Jo Ui-gong notice. Just then, the wooden doll trembled and began to squirm on its own in Mok Gyeong-un’s palm.
Then, a grumbling voice emerged. -Of all the things, to be possessed by a damned wooden doll like this. You have no idea how difficult this is, mortal. The method Jo Ui-gong had taught him was none other than possession of a medium.
It was a magic art almost similar to a Seal. Therefore, Blue Spirit couldn’t exert any power inside this wooden doll. …Or so he thought, but that wasn’t the case. The Demonic Monk couldn’t have done it, but she could break the wooden doll and come out at will.
It seemed to be due to the difference in their rank.
“Be careful. It’s cracked again.” -How much more careful can I be in here?
Even a decent physical body can’t withstand this body.
“I know.”
It was only holding up thanks to the magic art that controlled her energy. If not for that, the wooden doll would have shattered long ago. Blue Spirit, now a wooden doll, sat on his palm and said. -Still, if I use this magic art well, I think I can manage to endure even in a weak body.
That was the one thing she could find solace in.
“Yes. So please bear with it a little longer. I’ll help you enter a suitable body when we get there.” -Understood.
“In any case, I’ve secured a decent place to train until we arrive there.”
He hadn’t had high hopes, but securing the inside of the cargo wagon was quite a gain. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to do anything.
At least for the duration of the journey, the conditions were set for him to quietly receive instruction on the Sword Art from Blue Spirit and practice reverse energy circulation and breath control. -But what are you going to do about that guy? -Kkiigigik! Blue Spirit moved the wooden doll’s blunt hand and pointed at someone.
It was Mok Yu-cheon, who was still unconscious. Mok Gyeong-un approached him, re-tied the loosened cloth to cover his eyes, and then— -Tatatatatak! He struck his mute point again.
With that, Mok Yu-cheon was returned to his original state.
“He should be quiet if I leave him like this, right?” -…You’re really something else.