For some reason, there was a strange, unsettling feeling that he shouldn't work with him. Because of that, the boy from Killing Curse Valley, who had given up on cooperating with Mok Gyeong-un, whispered to the boy from the Secret Mirror Sect standing next to him.
“You’re from the Secret Mirror Sect, right?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll get straight to the point. Let’s not waste our strength. Let's get through this gate together.”
“........”
At the Killing Curse Valley boy’s proposal, the boy from the Secret Mirror Sect furrowed his brow as if in thought. It certainly wasn't a bad offer. Sticking together with the more capable ones was an easier way to pass the gate.
‘Hmm.’
The Secret Mirror Sect boy had seen the Killing Curse Valley boy hiding in the water earlier, ambushing another boy and snatching his steel bead. It could be called a rather clever strategy. From that perspective, he could be helpful in this gate, which required a more strategic partnership than the battle for the steel beads.
But, ‘...
Is there any need to reveal even a bit of my secret techniques to someone I might clash with in the next gate?’ If they were together for six hours, he would reveal quite a lot. Revealing your own sect’s martial arts secrets was always a loss.
He judged that it was more advantageous not to cooperate with the boys from Killing Curse Valley and the Ensnaring Flower Room, who had a high chance of surviving until the end in this Corpse Blood Valley along with him. At this, the boy from the Secret Mirror Sect said, “I refuse.”
“... You’ll regret it.”
“We’ll see who regrets it.”
The boy from the Secret Mirror Sect scoffed at his aggressive reply. Then, he finally asked the short-haired girl from Ensnaring Flower Room.
“Hey. Ensnaring Flower Room. What about you...”
“Get lost.”
“.........”
A rejection before he could even finish asking. The boy from the Secret Mirror Sect shut his mouth, his face full of irritation. It seemed that cooperating with these people might have been impossible from the start.
“Hoo... hoo...”
The boys stared at the mountain beyond the valley stream with tense faces. From the moment the signal was given, six hours that were even more physically demanding than the previous battle for the steel beads would begin. It was a moment when all eyes and ears were focused.
“Begin!”
As soon as the cry of the demon mask fell, the boys all ran toward the valley stream at once. Just like before, rushing in this gate was the way to gain the high ground. -Splash splash! The valley stream, stained entirely with blood from the dead bodies.
The scent of blood flowing from such a stream heralded another trial. A guard watching them spoke to the demon mask.
“They will soon realize that the previous gate was the easier one.”
“........”
No gate was ever easy. However, this gate was not just about finding suitable team members and defending the flag.
‘It would be best to find the flag quickly.’
Those who were perceptive would soon understand the meaning of the flag.
The 468 boys entered the mountain after the starting signal fell. Once the guards with red sashes were out of sight, the boys took one of three actions. The first were those who ran toward the mountain without stopping.
‘The flag... I have to find the flag!’
These were the type who believed they had to find the flag first. Because the number of flags was limited, they considered it a higher priority than finding team members. Of course, this was not the wrong choice.
After all, finding team members would be meaningless if they couldn't secure a flag. This type made up about half of them, around 200 boys. This included the boy from the Secret Mirror Sect and the girl from Ensnaring Flower Room, who were considered strong candidates to survive until the very end.
And the second type.
“Hey. Let’s team up.”
“... You want to work together?”
“Yeah. There’s no point in grabbing a flag first like those guys. It’s better to form a team in advance and then snatch a flag.”
“Ah?”
“That way, it’ll be easier to defend the flag too.”
The boys who stopped like this formed teams with others they liked or who seemed helpful. Since time was short, this was done quickly. Still, while forming teams, they did not attack each other.
They also tacitly avoided fighting here, knowing that their stamina would drain even more severely from the moment they entered deep into the mountain after their teams were formed.
‘Right. This is how it should be.’
The boy from Killing Curse Valley sneered inwardly. He succeeded in making those who finished between fifth and fifteenth place his team members, with himself as the leader. No, it was more accurate to say that they had willingly come under his command.
Normally, if everyone up to the eleventh finisher had joined, it would have been a team of eight, but since some of them chose to find the flag first and ran on without stopping, the team was formed this way.
‘Done.’
It could be called the most overwhelming team. Since they had passed the battle for the steel beads with high ranks, it was composed of those who had both skill and strategy. Therefore, once they secured a flag, they would only need to focus on conserving as much stamina as possible.
“Alright, let’s go!”
And so, the boy from Killing Curse Valley, who had formed a team first, headed for the mountain. Other boys also quickly formed teams and moved out. Among them was Mok Yu-cheon, who thought, ‘...
Not that bastard.’ Mok Yu-cheon shook his head as he saw Mok Gyeong-un in the distance. He had considered asking him to join forces, as they were brothers, even if they had different mothers.
But he just couldn't bring himself to do it. His affection had completely vanished after being helplessly struck at his vital points on the way here.
‘Whether he lives or dies is none of my... No.’ For now, his own survival was the priority.
Fortunately, Mok Yu-cheon was able to join a group when some nearby boys proposed they team up. He felt uneasy since they weren't from the righteous path, but he had no choice if he wanted to survive. He had to grasp at straws.
‘I will survive.’
No matter what it takes. Thus, convincing himself inwardly, Mok Yu-cheon also set off with his team members. Meanwhile, -What are you trying to do, mortal?
The Blue Spirit, who was in Mok Gyeong-un's bosom, asked. Mok Gyeong-un replied quietly in a whisper.
“I was thinking of finding some team members.” -...
Why are you doing something so useless? If you just get a flag, they’ll flock to you on their own. Mok Gyeong-un shrugged.
Of course, she was right. It was still the beginning and no one knew the flag's location, so if he could just secure it first, others would join him without him needing to recruit them in advance. -Are you trying to conserve your stamina? Finding team members in advance was a way to join forces, reduce risks, and conserve stamina.
It could be seen as preparing for the next gate in advance. However, “That’s not it.” -What? If that's not it, why is he trying to find a team now?
The Blue Spirit couldn't help but be puzzled. She knew well that he wasn't the type to cooperate with others in the first place. But here, Mok Gyeong-un ran into an unexpected problem.
“This is awkward.” -Pfft.
The Blue Spirit let out a scoff. It was understandable. Unexpectedly, when Mok Gyeong-un approached to find a team, the boys moved away as if on guard.
Although he had passed first, some had seen Mok Gyeong-un's cruel methods. Perhaps because of that, they were reluctant to form a team with Mok Gyeong-un. They whispered quietly, but their voices could be heard.
“It might be better to get rid of that guy now.”
“Did you see it? How he tore out the throat to get the swallowed steel bead.”
“He’s a complete psycho.”
Such things made them wary of Mok Gyeong-un. A considerable number of them felt burdened by the thought of being with someone of Mok Gyeong-un's disposition and thought it better to isolate him and get him eliminated. Perhaps because of this judgment, they were busy avoiding him whenever he got close. -You've really made an impression, mortal.
“It seems so.” -So you've just wasted your time.
“Hmm.”
As the Blue Spirit said, at this rate, finding team members might be difficult. I wanted an easier start, should I change my method? Just as he was thinking that.
A short-haired boy hesitantly approached Mok Gyeong-un.
“... Do you happen to need a team member?”
“Yes. Why?”
“There are seven of us. Want to join?”
At the boy's proposal, those nearby started whispering. Who on earth is trying to pull that guy in? Anyone with half a brain would know it's better to exclude that guy now, who'll be a troublesome competitor later on.
It was— -Ssk! There was a girl who was extending and waving her hand toward Mok Gyeong-un. She was quite beautiful, and around her were five boys standing together like guards.
It was a team formed around the girl, the only female. One boy whispered quietly.
“So-hwa. Are you sure? That guy is a bit...”
“That’s right. The others aren't accepting him on their teams because they judged it's better to exclude him now.”
Another boy agreed. To this, the girl named So-hwa smiled sweetly and said, “Trust me.”
“We do. But...”
“The other fools think the answer is just to exclude him now, but they're wrong. Having him with us will be beneficial.”
So-hwa had considered it and concluded that accepting Mok Gyeong-un was advantageous. Cruel methods aside, he was strong enough to tear out a throat with one hand even with his dantian sealed. If they had this guy with them, other teams wouldn't dare attack them rashly.
And, “We can just use him and kill him before dawn. No matter how strong he is, do you think he can handle seven people by himself?” She had even planned to get rid of him after using him.
Naturally, this would leave them one person short in the end. However, to account for this, one person had arranged to follow them from a distance beforehand. When that guy dies, he will fill the empty spot.
‘Fools. Useful cards are meant to be used and thrown away like this. We'll make him fight his heart out for us, conserving our stamina. It's killing two birds with one stone.’
She sneered at her teammates and the other boys. Brains are meant to be used.
And so, within a quarter of an hour, most had formed teams and entered the mountain. The same was true for the team led by the girl, So-hwa. From now on, they had to hurry, as it all depended on quickly finding and securing a flag.
Otherwise, they would have to snatch a flag seized by another team. While they were moving, So-hwa stealthily approached Mok Gyeong-un.
“You were quite impressive earlier.”
“Was I?”
“My name is So-hwa. What’s yours?”
“It’s Mok Gyeong-un.”
“Mok Gyeong-un?”
So-hwa tilted her head. It was a name she'd never heard before. She had asked to find out where he was from, since his cruel methods and considerable skill suggested he was from somewhere, but she couldn't tell from his name alone.
‘Among the martial families, there should be only one with the surname Mok on the side of the righteous path.’
The prestigious martial family of Anhui Province, the Lotuswood Sword Manor. But there's no way someone from the Mok family of the righteous path would be in a place like this. Then there's no choice but to ask directly.
“Where are you from?”
“Is that important?”
‘He has no intention of telling me? Well.’
Even if they were cooperating now, they would have to compete again later. Hiding as much about oneself as possible was the answer.
‘This guy... he's quite handsome.’
To say 'quite' was an understatement; Mok Gyeong-un's looks were handsome enough to be called exquisitely beautiful. It was even more so up close. Perhaps because of this, contrary to her original plan, she became slightly interested.
‘Should I try seducing him?’
Men were simple and surprisingly weak to a woman's seduction. If she just pretended to be a little interested, they would fall for it on their own. In that respect, if she could make this guy hers, she might be able to use him even more without needing to get rid of him. -Ssk!
So-hwa loosened the collar of her clothes to show a hint of her chest and moved closer to Mok Gyeong-un. Boys at this age had the strongest desires. Therefore, showing off her ample cleavage and just letting their bodies touch was sure to be effective.
Pressing her body against him, So-hwa whispered.
“You know, I like guys like you.”
At this, Mok Gyeong-un glanced at her. Then he smiled sweetly and said, “I feel the same.”
‘Hmph. As expected.’
Handsome or not, it didn't matter. If she put her mind to seducing him, any man would fall for it like this. -Thwack! Just then, Mok Gyeong-un put his arm on her shoulder.
‘Heh. Look at this.’
So he's showing his confidence so openly just because I'm seducing him. At this rate, I can win him over faster than I thought. If I coax him well, use him as my shield, and survive to the end, I'll just...
“I've been choosing since a while ago.”
"Huh?"
What's this all of a sudden? -Grip! Mok Gyeong-un's arm that was around her shoulder wrapped around her neck.
Then— -Crack!
In an instant, he twisted her neck. It happened so suddenly that she died on the spot, unable to even scream.
‘!!!!!’
For a moment, everyone couldn't hide their bewilderment. They were the ones who had been just watching, assuming she was going to wrap Mok Gyeong-un around her finger. But who would have thought a situation like this would occur?
One boy shouted.
“Y-you crazy bastard, what are you doing?”
At the boy's shout, Mok Gyeong-un's lips twitched as he spoke.
“Shall we call it a pleasant mealtime?”
All of them before him were delectable prey to replenish his aura of death. The mountain is wide, so shouldn't the beginning be comfortable?