"Ah. Don't mind me, please continue what you were doing."
Mok Gyeong-un spoke casually, flicking his blood-stained hands. At this sight, the boy didn't know what to do. He had been happy to share a room, even for a short while, with Yeom-ga from the Killing Curse Valley, but in just a moment, this was the result.
‘What… what in the world is that guy?’
He had to admit that Mok Gyeong-un had been particularly outstanding up to the second gate. But now, the restriction on their internal energy had been lifted. To do this to Yeom-ga of the Killing Curse Valley, of all people, whose internal energy was now free… was that man a monster?
Mok Gyeong-un paid no mind to the boy's reaction. On the contrary, as if his business was done, he grabbed the unconscious Yeom-ga by the hair and dragged him out into the hallway.
"Ah!"
The boy, wondering if he should try to stop him, started to get up.
"Why? Do you want to come along too?"
Mok Gyeong-un asked. The boy froze, and in his bewilderment, he shook his head rapidly without realizing it.
"N-no, that's not it..."
"Wise choice. Then just stay put."
Thump!
As the door closed, the boy’s legs seemed to give out, and he sank onto the bed. He simply didn't have the courage to follow and help Yeom-ga. Outside the room, Mok Gyeong-un looked at Yeom-ga’s face and let out a small groan.
"Hmm."
The face, beaten to a pulp, was quite a sight. The moment he saw Yeom-ga’s tattoo glow red, he had instinctively felt that the other boy was trying to kill him, which led to this. -You could have gone a little easier on him. At Blue Spirit's voice, Mok Gyeong-un muttered under his breath.
"You're right."
He had planned to rough him up a bit and then make him a group member, but this was well beyond 'a bit'. However, apart from the result, there was one thing that was different from his expectations.
"Was the Peak Realm always this weak?"
After the restriction on internal energy was lifted, there were seven boys among the eighty who were estimated to be at the Peak Realm. One of them was Yeom-ga of the Killing Curse Valley.
Mok Gyeong-un had chosen Yeom-ga as his first target not only to recruit him but also to test his own strength against someone who showed him open hostility. But he was weaker than expected.
‘He was slow.’
Back at the Lotuswood Sword Manor, even though he could see the movements of those called first-rate masters, his body’s reaction had been slow. But now, Yeom-ga’s movements, which could be considered the Peak Realm, felt slow. -…
‘Those are the words I wanted to say, mortal.’
Blue Spirit, too, was inwardly surprised by the unexpected result.
Although he had opened his middle dantian through the profundity of the Eight Arts of Shattering Thought, and his death energy had reached the extreme of the Peak Realm in terms of internal energy, she had predicted that he would be on par or only slightly ahead due to his lack of enlightenment. Yet, Mok Gyeong-un had completely overwhelmed Yeom-ga.
‘Does this boy’s martial genius far exceed my expectations?’
Confirming this, a certain excitement wouldn't subside. There was still a long way to go, but at this rate of development, there was certainly something to look forward to. Inwardly, she wanted to reveal her thoughts, but the mortal might become arrogant and neglect his enlightenment, so... -Don't be too hasty.
Although you subdued him rather easily, a large part of it was because this foolish boy was careless. At Blue Spirit’s words, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged. There was some truth in what she said.
It was too early to judge the skill of a master at the Peak Realm based on Yeom-ga alone. -Besides, this has become interesting.
"What has?" -I was curious about how the death energy would work, and now I have confirmation.
At these words, Mok Gyeong-un recalled what Yeom-ga had said.
[It's not energy-scattering poison, so why does my internal energy dissipate when I touch you?]
That remark had been quite puzzling.
"Can you tell me why that is?" -It seems to be canceled out by the death energy.
"Canceled out?" -Yes.
You said that when others infused their true energy to strike your vital points or check your body’s condition, they experienced their energy dissipating, right?
"Yes." -The energy you possess is completely opposite to the energy of a living human.
"Are you saying it's canceled out because it's a completely opposite energy?" -That seems to be the case.
The life-nurturing energy promotes vitality, but your death energy brings death. It seemed that was likely what caused the energy to dissipate even more. That was the conjecture so far.
Since it was an unprecedented event in the history of the martial world, even she couldn't know for sure how this death energy would affect things in the future. But if this energy could truly act like an energy-scattering poison and dissipate an opponent's energy, it was as if a formidable natural enemy to all martial artists had appeared.
"It's quite useful."
To the pleased Mok Gyeong-un, Blue Spirit said. -Just in case, you should learn to control it.
"Control it?" -Yes.
If it becomes known that you can dissipate an opponent's internal power, you might become a target for everyone before you've even fully matured.
"Hmm. That could happen."
Just as she said, martial artists would likely be wary. If they were to fight Mok Gyeong-un, they would be at a significant disadvantage as their internal energy would scatter unless they possessed superior strength.
"How do I control it?" -…Sigh.
You really are learning things in the wrong order, you are. Blue Spirit clicked her tongue. If he had reached the Peak Realm through the normal path, he would have properly mastered how to transmit qi.
But Mok Gyeong-un, despite being at the Peak Realm, couldn't even perform a direct transmission like external energy, let alone internal energy or energy release, which could send energy into the body.
‘I’ll just have to beat it into him whenever I get the chance.’
Now that the order was already messed up, there was no other way. Just then, he arrived at his lodging room. There was no one inside.
While everyone else was sharing a room, two to a room, Mok Gyeong-un was an exception. Since everyone refused to share a room with him, he was fortunate enough to get a spare room to himself.
"Ughhh."
Just then, Yeom-ga, who had lost consciousness, let out a groan and woke up. Mok Gyeong-un looked down at him as if on cue and met his eyes.
Flinch!
Waking up to see Mok Gyeong-un's face, Yeom-ga had a fit. It was understandable; while being beaten to this state by Mok Gyeong-un, he had fallen into an extreme fear that he might die. It was only natural for him to react this way.
"Are you awake?"
"You... you bastard... Ugh. Ptoo."
Yeom-ga spat something out, feeling pain and a foreign object in his mouth. It was his own broken tooth. His tongue felt numb from being bitten several times, and his whole mouth was filled with the taste of blood.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"..."
Did he even have to ask? Yeom-ga looked at Mok Gyeong-un with a dumbfounded expression. To him, Mok Gyeong-un scratched his head and said.
"I wasn't going to kill you, but I might have hit you a little too hard. Still, you have a more manly face now, so I guess it's not so bad."
‘This bastard is now…’
Was he toying with him? Even the slightest movement of his facial muscles felt like being seared with a hot iron. To make his face such a mess that it was hard to even open his eyes, and then to say something like that, felt like he was being mocked.
Mok Gyeong-un then said to him, "How about it? Would you like to join my group?" Yeom-ga gritted his teeth and barely squeezed out his voice.
"Get... lost!"
He would rather die than ever join this man. He knew he was no match, but even in defeat, Yeom-ga did not want to submit to his opponent. At this, Mok Gyeong-un clapped his hands lightly and said.
Clap, clap!
"A firm will that does not yield."
"..."
"What a shame. I thought you were quite useful and wanted you on my team."
At Mok Gyeong-un's words, Yeom-ga, who had been inwardly tense, let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried that this crazy bastard would kill him if he was in a bad mood, regardless of the rules. But it seemed he wasn't that impulsive.
That was a relief.
‘I should never get involved with him.’
This incident made him realize it for certain. This man was exactly as he had first felt—an ominous and crazy bastard. He knew nothing good would come from getting involved with or provoking him.
Tremble, tremble!
Yeom-ga tried to get up, wanting to leave this room as quickly as possible. Just then, Mok Gyeong-un placed a finger on Yeom-ga's forehead and gave a slight push. It wasn't a strong push, but Yeom-ga, who was trying to stand, fell back down.
Thump!
"What... are you... doing?"
"Who said you could go?"
"What?"
What was he saying? Didn't he just say he had given up on making him a group member? Then there was no reason for him to be here.
What was this all about?
Ssk!
Just then, Mok Gyeong-un took out a wooden doll from his clothes. Then, forming a hand seal with one hand, he chanted a Curse.
"Power of karmic ties, return to the source. Release!"
‘!?’
What did he just do? At Mok Gyeong-un's bizarre action, Yeom-ga, who knew little about occult arts, couldn't hide his confusion. He tried to draw out the energy from his dantian, but…
‘Damn it!’
He hadn't realized, but his vital points had been struck at some point. There was a reason why his body felt unusually weak. Just then, a strange sensation sent a chill down his spine.
Sssssk!
Something felt like it was seeping into his body, and the sensation was so unpleasant and cold that it was hard to bear.
"Heok. You... you? What are you doing to me? Keuk."
Twitch, twitch!
Yeom-ga’s back arched like a shrimp. To him, Mok Gyeong-un smiled brightly and said.
"I'll make good use of that body."
"W-what does that... keok!"
Th-th-thump!
The sight of Yeom-ga, with black veins bulging all over his neck and face, was grotesque beyond measure. But it didn't last long. Yeom-ga’s body, which had been twisting and convulsing with his eyes rolled back, returned to normal after a while.
Of course, when he opened his eyes, someone else was residing within.
"How is the body, Demonic Monk?"
"It seems quite usable."
The vengeful spirit that had performed the possession was none other than the Demonic Monk. Having obtained the young body of a Peak Realm master, the Demonic Monk wore a satisfied expression.
"I should have given it to you in better condition."
At those words, the Demonic Monk touched his face a few times, and the broken nose straightened, and his face returned to a semblance of its original form.
"Hoh."
This was rather fascinating. A broken bone itself couldn't be completely fixed, but it had healed considerably. At Mok Gyeong-un's reaction, Blue Spirit spoke. -Adjusting a possessed body to a desired state is not that difficult.
Unlike humans whose souls are bound, we can freely control the bodies we occupy.
"It seems so."
It seemed this, too, could be used in some useful way. Just then, Thump, thump! Hearing footsteps, Mok Gyeong-un looked toward the door.
Someone was approaching his room. The footsteps were light, but the sound was somewhat unnatural, suggesting that the approaching person was not in good condition.
Knock, knock!
Just then, someone who had arrived in front of the door knocked.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing an unexpected person. It was none other than Mo Ha-rang of the Ensnaring Flower Room. He had thought she would be focusing on recovering from her injuries through energy circulation and breath control after receiving treatment, so why was she here?
At that moment, the voice of Green Spirit Gyu So-ha reached Mok Gyeong-un's ears. -Master!
Master!
Please give me that human's body! It seemed she had taken a liking to Mo Ha-rang’s body. At this, Blue Spirit said. -Hey, brat.
You kept insisting you were a boy, so why are you making a fuss over a girl's body? -… Gyu So-ha fell silent. Ignoring their conversation, Mok Gyeong-un smiled lightly and spoke.
"What brings you here?"
Ssk!
At his question, Mo Ha-rang's gaze shifted to the Demonic Monk, who was possessing the body of Killing Curse Valley's Yeom-ga, standing behind Mok Gyeong-un. At this, Mok Gyeong-un spoke nonchalantly.
"Ah. This person has decided to join our group."
At his words, the Demonic Monk nodded his head, pretending to be Yeom-ga. Seeing this, Mo Ha-rang turned her head towards Mok Gyeong-un and said.
"... What did you do?"
"What do you mean, what did I do?"
"That's not Yeom-ga."
At those words, one of Mok Gyeong-un's eyebrows rose slightly. On what conviction was this woman basing her words? Mok Gyeong-un said casually.
"What are you talking about?"
"... That prideful bastard would never submit to you so easily. And Yeom-ga is not the type to ever be under anyone."
At her words, Mok Gyeong-un’s lips twitched. Come to think of it, he remembered how she had been sharp enough to quickly grasp his objective from his actions during the flag defense battle. And, ‘She said our eyes met.’
Mo Ha-rang had said that her eyes met with Green Spirit Gyu So-ha. At the time, he hadn't paid it much mind, thinking it could have been a coincidence. But if that was true, could this woman also have talent as an Occultist?
His interest piqued, Mok Gyeong-un gestured towards Yeom-ga and opened his mouth.
"Then if this person isn't Yeom-ga, what is he?"
"... I don't know."
"If you don't know, why would you say such a thing?"
"I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"That... thing next to you, wrapped in iron chains."
"That?"
"A ghost-like thing."
She herself seemed half-convinced, as if she wasn't sure if what she was saying was right. She wanted to know if what she saw was real. If it was, then this man was controlling a ghost, which could be called an anomaly.
"A ghost-like thing..."
"My mind was hazy then, but I saw you talking to it."
As she spoke, she trailed off, as if she couldn't be certain of what she had seen. At this, Mok Gyeong-un stared at her with a smiling face. At his expression, Mo Ha-rang became confused.
As someone from the Ensnaring Flower Room, one of the four great assassin groups, she had undergone numerous forms of training, including the skill of reading a person's psychology through their expressions and gaze.
‘…I can’t read him.’
But Mok Gyeong-un's expression and gaze were impossible to fathom. She could read simple emotions, but anything more was impossible. At this, she bit her lip.
‘Was I mistaken?’
Even when she shared her suspicions and what she saw, Mok Gyeong-un showed no particular reaction. Instead, he just looked at her with an interested gaze. This made her think she might be making a fuss over nothing.
Therefore, in the end, she said, "Sorry. I must have seen things due to the severe blood loss back then." With those words, she turned to leave the room.
But then, P-p-p-pak!
"Power of karmic ties, return to the source. Release."
She heard what sounded like a Curse being chanted from behind her. Mo Ha-rang stopped in her tracks and slowly turned her head.
Shudder!
As she turned her head, goosebumps erupted all over her body. Next to Mok Gyeong-un, she saw the translucent, hazy figure of a girl with half-white hair, wrapped in iron chains.
‘Ah!’
What she had seen back then was real. As she stood in astonishment, Green Spirit Gyu So-ha extended her hand, and iron chains whipped around Mo Ha-rang's body. As her body was bound by the chains, Mok Gyeong-un spoke with a smile full of malice.
"The price for seeing what you wanted to see is quite steep. Are you sure you're okay with that?"