< Chapter 24. Grudge Killing Pavilion Master (1) ‘Damned mortal!’ Was he really going to find out about her past this way? For a moment, she wondered if she should break the wooden doll's seal and escape.
Just then, the Corpse Blood Valley Master, Lee Ji-yeom, spoke.
“Since my lord has commanded it, this subordinate will be so bold for a moment. What happened that day, and how it relates to our Society…” -Damned mortal!
Make him stop at once. Discovering this master’s past in such a manner… In her urgency, she screamed for him to stop.
But Mok Gyeong-un had no intention of doing so. Sooner or later, just like with the Lee family, he would encounter something related to her past and would find out what had happened one way or another. Just what had she experienced to become a vengeful spirit… -Flinch!
At that moment, the Corpse Blood Valley Master, Lee Ji-yeom, and Mok Gyeong-un simultaneously looked in the same direction. It was toward the outside of the building. -What is it? Why are you doing that?
Blue Spirit, sealed within the wooden doll, could not sense the energies outside. So, she was puzzled by their simultaneous reaction. The Corpse Blood Valley Master, Lee Ji-yeom, had already moved to the window. -Fwip!
When he opened the paper-screened window, the plaza in front of the lodging came into view. Red-belted guards stood watch in front, and nothing seemed to be happening. At this, Lee Ji-yeom tilted his head slightly.
Something had definitely stimulated his spiritual sense just a moment ago. But it had vanished in an instant.
‘What was that?’
The energy he had just felt was far too ominous to simply ignore. But since it had disappeared, finding it would be difficult. While he was pondering, Mok Gyeong-un spoke.
“Valley Master Lee.”
“Ah. Yes, my lord. It seems to be nothing…”
“May I step out for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
Lee Ji-yeom frowned in confusion at Mok Gyeong-un’s sudden request to go out. Meanwhile, Blue Spirit, inside the wooden doll, felt a sense of relief. She didn't know what was happening, but it had thankfully diverted their attention.
About one incense stick of time ago. On a mountain hill in Corpse Blood Valley, about a li away from the lodgings. About ten red-belted guards were transporting four spies whose dantians had been crippled and bodies bound.
Among the spies was Ling Hwa-yang, the only woman. The other spies had resisted, had their arms and legs cut off, and their dantians crippled. Unable to bear the pain, they had all fainted.
But she was the only one who remained conscious. The reason was that she was possessed by Gyu So-ha.
‘Aaaah.’
Gyu So-ha couldn't hide her disappointment. She had finally obtained a decent body, and it was a waste to use and discard it like this, but she had to carry out her master’s orders. She believed her master would find her a suitably good body when the time came.
If that happened, ‘…Will I be able to see him again?’ Her younger brother, who had driven his own blood relative to death. Her rage toward him had allowed her to endure on the cliff of Gu poison.
If her master went to the inner city of the Heaven and Earth Society, she might see him again. Fifteen years had passed since her death. There was no way he would have died in such a short time.
[Damn you. If only you die, everything will be solved.]
[You… you…]
[Always acting so superior, pitying me as if you had everything…]
[I… I… never…]
[You were just born before me, that’s all.] -Grip!
Her hands clenched. The last thing she saw as she died was his face, filled with elation. With that face, he had smashed her own face with a rock, over and over.
It was a yoke of hatred that could never be erased. -Creeak! Just then, the cart carrying them came to a halt. What is it?
Puzzled, Gyu So-ha squinted her eyes to see what was happening.
‘Hm?’
The red-belted guards were bowing to someone. Both were dressed in Daoist robes; one was an old man with white hair, and the other was wearing an eyepatch and leaning on a staff. One of the senior guards leading the red-belted guards clasped his fist and bowed.
“Bong-yang, senior guard of Corpse Blood Valley, pays his respects to the Pavilion Master of Grudge Killing Pavilion.”
The old man’s identity was none other than In Seo-ok, the Pavilion Master of the Grudge Killing Pavilion, which advised the Heaven and Earth Society on occult arts. And beside him, the middle-aged man with the eyepatch and staff was his disciple and a Sun-rank Occultist, Occultist Jo Ui-gong.
‘Why are they here?’
Bong-yang, the senior guard of Corpse Blood Valley, couldn't hide his confusion. It made sense, as there were Occultists dispatched within Corpse Blood Valley, so there was rarely a reason for the Pavilion Master of Grudge Killing Pavilion to come here. He had no idea why they had come.
Just then, the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master, In Seo-ok, asked the senior guard.
“Were there any unusual incidents during the gates?”
At his question, the senior guard frowned slightly. They were cooperating under the Lord's command, but matters concerning the gates were the responsibility of the Corpse Blood Valley Master and his subordinates. There was no obligation to report to the Pavilion Master of Grudge Killing Pavilion.
‘Is this old man trying to stir up trouble again?’
They were already going through the trouble of sorting and moving the corpses one by one because of the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master. Perhaps because of this, he was even more reluctant to speak. Did his thoughts show on his face?
“Hey. Do you look down on the Grudge Killing Pavilion? The Pavilion Master is asking a question, why don't you answer?”
Occultist Jo Ui-gong scowled and challenged him. Flustered, the senior guard quickly replied.
“No, sir. Of course not. There were no major problems during the gates.”
At his answer, Jo Ui-gong clicked his tongue in displeasure. The guards from the main fortress were wary of the Grudge Killing Pavilion, which was favored by the Lord. But the guards of Corpse Blood Valley were not.
Was it because, as the Underworld Blade King had said, the Corpse Blood Valley Master himself was a rebel at heart?
“Tsk, tsk. Do you think the Pavilion Master would come all this way if there was nothing special going on?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“On the cliff…” -Ssk!
Just then, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok held out his hand, cutting off Jo Ui-gong's words. Unable to displease his Pavilion Master and Master, Jo Ui-gong closed his mouth and quietly stepped back. Then, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok spoke with a rather serious expression.
“Do not take my words lightly. Something unusual is happening. If there was anything even slightly concerning or strange, tell me. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to report to the Lord and halt the Corpse Blood Valley gates.”
“What?”
What was he talking about? Why would he halt the Corpse Blood Valley gates, which were proceeding normally? The senior guard couldn't help but be bewildered.
What on earth was happening that the Grudge Killing Pavilion Master would come here himself and say such things?
“Was there really nothing?”
Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok asked again. The bewildered senior guard Bong-yang hastily replied.
“There was nothing that would cause a problem. The fierce beast that made pig-like squeals died during the last gate, but the Occultist in the cave said it was fine…”
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“What did you just say?”
In Seo-ok asked, his eyes narrowing. The senior guard Bong-yang carefully repeated what he had said.
“The fierce beast that made pig-like squeals died…”
“The Horned Beast? The Horned Beast is dead?”
Did that fierce beast have a name? He wasn't sure, but it seemed to refer to the wolf-like monster that squealed like a pig, so the senior guard Bong-yang nodded and replied.
“Yes. It seems to have died during the second gate.”
“How?”
Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok couldn't hide his surprise. He knew how the gates were conducted because of ‘that thing’ in the cave and the Spirit God Gu Poison Art. Besides, hadn't the Grudge Killing Pavilion made the flags used in the second gate?
The point of that gate was to escape the fierce beast; no one was supposed to be able to kill it.
“That can’t be…”
“One of the gate trainees killed it.”
“What? One of the trainees killed the Horned Beast?”
At these words, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok couldn't hide his astonishment. Even an ordinary wolf was hard to face without a weapon or martial arts. But to think a boy between the ages of sixteen and nineteen had killed an evil spirit monster with his bare hands?
“Is that really true?”
It was utterly unbelievable. Occultist Jo Ui-gong, sharing his master In Seo-ok's thoughts, asked again in disbelief. Frustrated, the senior guard Bong-yang said.
“Hah. It’s true. We didn’t believe the report at first either, but that kid tore the beast’s jaws apart and killed it. If you really don’t believe me, the beast’s corpse should be in the cave…”
“What? Tore its jaws apart?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself?”
The senior guard Bong-yang’s words left Occultist Jo Ui-gong dumbfounded. There were ranks even among evil spirit monsters. Even the lowest-grade lesser beast required an Occultist of Adept-rank or higher to handle.
So a fierce beast, a grade higher than that, was out of the question. It was not something an ordinary human could handle. While he was still in disbelief, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok asked.
“Is the trainee unharmed?”
“He is. In fact, he was less injured than the other trainees.”
“Hah.”
A gasp escaped Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s lips. What kind of person could do such a thing with his bare hands? From an Occultist's perspective, he couldn't help but be interested.
He asked.
“May I ask the trainee's name?”
That wasn't a difficult request.
“His name is Mok Gyeong-un.”
“Master!”
As soon as the words were spoken, Occultist Jo Ui-gong called out to Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok in an excited voice. He was so surprised that he had called him ‘Master’ without thinking. Realizing his mistake, Jo Ui-gong calmed his excitement and said.
“It’s that child.”
“That child?”
“Did I not tell you? The child I took as a disciple was sent to Corpse Blood Valley by the Lord's command, and I asked you to please inform him…”
At those words, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok frowned. The child his disciple had taken on had killed a fierce beast? This was quite surprising.
So he asked.
“When did you take that child as your disciple?”
“It hasn't even been half a month since I took him in.”
“What?”
Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s eyes widened. A boy who had only been taught occult arts for half a month had single-handedly killed the Horned Beast Galjeo? Having been sent to Corpse Blood Valley, he wouldn't have had any talismans or magic tools, would he?
Jo Ui-gong whispered to him.
“Just in case, I gave him a ring inscribed with an incantation, but isn't it amazing that he did this on his own?”
At his words, In Seo-ok stared intently at Jo Ui-gong. He knew better than anyone what a ring inscribed with an incantation was. He had taught him how to make it himself, so there was no way he wouldn't know.
But even with that, killing a fierce-beast-rank evil spirit monster was by no means an easy task. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was impossible.
‘If Ui-gong’s words are true, he has taken a disciple with an absurdly incredible talent.’
He had to admit it. He now understood why Jo Ui-gong had pleaded with him to inform the Lord. With that level of talent, it was only natural.
‘I want to see him for myself.’
To see what kind of person he was. But there was something that had been nagging at him. He had been about to dismiss it as impossible, but this feeling was unmistakable.
“Give me the staff.”
“Pardon?”
“Did I not tell you to hand it over?”
At his master's words, Occultist Jo Ui-gong, though puzzled, handed over his staff. Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok then lightly tapped the staff on the ground. -Thump! -Clang-clang! At that moment, the silver coins on the head of the staff began to vibrate intensely.
At the same time, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok muttered softly.
“Mayanggakseo seowonunjeong jeowongiyun…” -Chwa-rrr-rrr-rrr-rrr!
The sound of the rattling silver coins grew louder. Then, finally, -Thump! The red-belted guards, who had been nodding off, suddenly collapsed to the ground as if they had fallen asleep.
The senior guard, Bong-yang, was no exception.
"What in the world are you... Hmmm." -Thud!
“Master, why?”
Occultist Jo Ui-gong couldn't hide his bewilderment at In Seo-ok's sudden curse. This was because his master's incantation was not merely one to induce sleep or unconsciousness. Though invisible to ordinary people, Jo Ui-gong’s eyes could clearly see the gray lines that formed each time In Seo-ok shook the silver coins on his staff. -Swoooosh!
The gray lines that formed spread out over a distance of about fifteen zhang, creating a hemispherical barrier.
‘A curse power barrier.’
A curse power barrier. It was a barrier created from an Occultist's curse power. Among the Occultists of the Divine, Sun, Moon, Adept, Fathomless, and Courier, only those whose curse power reached the Sun-rank or higher could create one.
It was comparable to a ghost domain created by high-ranking vengeful spirits. But why had his master, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok, suddenly created a curse power barrier? He was wondering when, -Chwa-rrr-rrr-rrr-rrr!
At that moment, iron chains shot out from the cart carrying the spies and lunged at Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok.
“Master!” -Swish!
“Do not interfere.”
In Seo-ok shook his head and lightly swung his staff. The iron chains that had been rushing toward him all bent at once and crashed to the ground.
“This is?”
Jo Ui-gong immediately realized the chains were made of spiritual power. He looked at the cart and saw, “Guuuh.” A young girl, her entire body covered in throbbing black veins, was staggering there.
The girl was the spy, Ling Hwa-yang. Watching the girl in agony, Grudge Killing Pavilion Master In Seo-ok’s lips twisted into a sinister smile as he said in a meaningful voice.
“So this is where this Pavilion Master's Gu poison was.”