Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 317 – Half-Human, Half-Monster (4)

“…I don’t know what you want, but if it’s an exceptional talent like you, not that traitorous old man, that person would want to bring you in, even if it means giving you a substantial reward.”

At the scarred middle-aged man Lee Gwang’s words, the expression of Guyang Sa-oh, the patriarch of the Guyang Clan, hardened.

This was a situation he had never anticipated.

He had barely submitted, disregarding the organization’s aftermath and his reputation, all to save his life at the moment, but that monster-like bastard said he would join the organization.

It was maddening.

If no one else had been present, it might have been different, but since this happened in front of Lee Gwang, a senior member of the second realm, he couldn’t take back the words he had uttered.

‘What should I do about this?’

If Lee Gwang attacked him together with that bastard, there would be no chance to do anything.

No, in the first place, that monster-like bastard alone could kill him.

Guyang Sa-oh’s mind became complicated.

With his arm broken, his primordial energy was also damaged, making it difficult to even run away.

‘Damn it!’

It was truly a desperate situation where he didn’t know what to do.

Then, his eyes met Lee Gwang’s.

That fellow, who still couldn’t move his lower body, looked at him with a meaningful gaze and raised the corners of his mouth, then said to Mok Gyeong-un,

“Sickle-slaying Demon. Since you said you’d join the organization, can you do one thing for the organization?”

“You’re already making demands before I even receive what I want.”

“It won’t be a difficult task for you. And if you become one of us, it’s something you must do.”

“What is it?”

“Executing a traitor.”

“Traitor? Ah.”

Lee Gwang stared at Guyang Sa-oh, revealing his murderous intent.

Seeing this, Guyang Sa-oh, who had been racking his brain on what to do, hurriedly shouted at Mok Gyeong-un,

“Hey, you. Even though I submitted to you, I did it while prepared for the organization’s aftermath. But now, if you come after me, isn’t that going too far?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lee Gwang pressed,

“Going too far? You old fox! How thick-skinned are you to utter such words?”

“Wh-what?”

“You betrayed the organization that invited and treated you well, and you have the audacity to say it proudly. Tsk tsk, this is all your just deserts.”

“Treatment? Ha!”

At his sarcasm, Guyang Sa-oh showed a reaction as if he found it ridiculous.

He wanted to say something but eventually closed his mouth.

Right now, the issue was how that monster would respond.

Then,

“So you’re asking me to kill him? There are already many tasks to do even though I haven’t officially joined yet.”

“Please understand. Strictly speaking, you bear some responsibility for that person betraying the organization, don’t you?”

“I suppose so.”

“I will definitely inform that person of your merit. So right now…”

Before he could even finish his sentence,

-Whoosh!

As if he had no other choice, Guyang Sa-oh kicked the ground and used lightness skill to rush in the opposite direction from where they were.

As Guyang Sa-oh suddenly ran away, Lee Gwang shouted,

“We must catch that traitorous old man!”

At his resounding cry, two of the few remaining masked individuals hurriedly launched themselves in the direction of Guyang Sa-oh.

‘No. These fellows?’

He hadn’t been talking to them, so it was perplexing that they went after him.

No matter how much Guyang Sa-oh had betrayed, he wasn’t someone those lowly fellows could catch even if they chased after him.

‘Could it be?’

For a moment, Lee Gwang clicked his tongue.

Come to think of it, it didn’t seem like they were really chasing after Guyang Sa-oh to catch him.

A considerable number of the masked individuals had lost their lives, and seeing himself lying on the ground covered in blood and Guyang Sa-oh running away, anyone could tell the situation was unfavorable.

They were using the pursuit of Guyang Sa-oh as an excuse to naturally attempt an escape.

So Lee Gwang shouted at Mok Gyeong-un, who was acting leisurely,

“Sickle-slaying Demon. If you let that old man go, the organization’s existence will be exposed. If that happens, you might not be able to obtain what you want.”

“Goodness. You’re troublesome in many ways.”

-Swish!

In the end, Mok Gyeong-un moved.

As his figure dispersed and disappeared, Lee Gwang gritted his teeth.

If only his lower body had been intact, he would have personally chased after that traitorous bastard and sliced off his head.

But he became inwardly anxious.

If that Sickle-slaying Demon bastard caught Guyang Sa-oh, that old man, it would be fortunate, but if he deliberately let him go, that person might punish him with death.

‘That bastard must catch him.’

Otherwise, it would truly become problematic.

***

-Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Despite suffering an injury where his arm was twisted and the bone protruded, befitting his status as an expert of the transformation realm who had surpassed the wall, the Eight Poison Sect Leader Guyang Sa-oh was using lightness skill at a tremendous speed, cutting through the thicket.

His speed was much faster than a horse running at full speed.

Guyang Sa-oh ran with all his might, to the point where his surroundings were barely visible.

He had never run so desperately even in his youth, but there was no other way to survive.

‘Anyway, that Lee Gwang fellow can’t even walk right now, so if I can just shake off that monster…’

A sliver of possibility would arise.

While running like this, he used all the hidden weapons and even poisoned the path to hinder the pursuit as much as possible.

‘!?’

But then, Guyang Sa-oh’s expression suddenly hardened.

He had only been paying attention to what was behind him.

But in the direction he was using lightness skill, a figure appeared.

‘Damn it!’

Guyang Sa-oh could instinctively be certain that it was Mok Gyeong-un.

Realizing it was no use, Guyang Sa-oh shot a powerful energy infused with poison energy towards that figure.

-Swoosh!

Then he changed direction and headed east.

It was just a temporary measure, but he had to try everything in this situation.

Still, it was a powerful energy infused with the power of ten stars and the Eight Poisons, so he thought it would at least buy him some time, but,

-Smack!

At that moment, a blurry shadow appeared just five steps ahead of him.

And that shadow quickly solidified,

‘Oh no!’

It was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.

Guyang Sa-oh’s face contorted as he clicked his tongue.

No matter how much he had surpassed the wall, he didn’t know the gap would be this wide.

In the end, no matter what he did, he was no different from being in the palm of Buddha’s hand.

Eventually, Guyang Sa-oh stopped, unable to hide his sense of futility.

Seeing his expression that seemed to have given up, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Don’t you have any intention to resist further?”

“What resistance can I put up? Are you toying with me?”

“Of course not.”

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.

Then Guyang Sa-oh made a disgusted expression and spoke in a choking voice,

“Look here. I still have many attachments to life, so I surrendered while being prepared for the organization’s aftermath. But this is really too much. Do you have to kill me to feel satisfied?”

“It’s unfortunate that you have attachments to life. I had no intention of killing you.”

“…”

Right. It was Lee Gwang’s request.

So Guyang Sa-oh spoke in a pleading voice,

“Then please, can’t you let me go? No matter how much that Lee Gwang fellow made the request for the sake of the organization, isn’t a man’s word as heavy as a thousand gold? How can you speak with a forked tongue?”

“Well, depending on the situation, I might do that.”

“If you’re a gentleman, you should…”

“I’m not a gentleman, and I’ve never considered my words to be like gold.”

“…”

When even his desperate plea didn’t work, Guyang Sa-oh was at a loss for words due to frustration and futility.

It seemed like no words would get through to this bastard.

At the very least, if he had a sense of righteousness, he should have released him or shown a bit of mercy, but that seemed difficult to expect.

‘Is this the end?’

He had even thrown away his pride and begged for his life, but he didn’t expect it to turn out like this.

Even if he couldn’t see the end through poison, there was just one thing he wanted to accomplish somehow.

But it seemed impossible in this life.

So, Guyang Sa-oh, having given up, plopped down on the ground, closed his eyes, and muttered,

“Ah, in the end, I can’t settle the match.”

“Match? What match?”

“What’s the point of telling you when you won’t spare my life even if I do?”

Guyang Sa-oh didn’t want to become any more pitiful.

He had already thrown away his pride as much as he could, and there was no need to try to look good in front of someone who wouldn’t spare his life anyway.

To him, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and said,

“Who knows? I don’t have the discerning eye, so who can say if my heart will be moved?”

“…You’re already trying to break the agreement you made once, so how can I trust you?”

“If you put it that way, you betraying the organization’s trust to save your life is no different, so how can I trust you?”

“That’s…”

At this, Guyang Sa-oh tried to say something but eventually closed his mouth.

Even if he had his own reasons, it was meaningless if the other person couldn’t accept them.

“No, you’re right. Even if my life was hanging by a thread, I easily submitted and said I would reveal information, so I’m the one who can’t be trusted.”

“Then it’s fortunate.”

“…”

This bastard’s words are subtly biting.

It was inwardly unpleasant, but since it couldn’t be resolved by force, he endured it. Then Mok Gyeong-un said,

“But I am curious. If you could easily betray them to the point of disregarding the aftermath just to save your life, why did you follow that organization?”

“What are you trying to do by hearing that?”

To that question, Mok Gyeong-un smiled and replied,

“To decide whether to kill you or not.”

“To decide whether to kill me or not? Aren’t you taking my life too lightly, even if you’re capable?”

Guyang Sa-oh frowned and showed his defiance.

Then Mok Gyeong-un folded his arms and said with an indifferent gaze,

“Do you think I’m merely discussing the weight of a life? It’s better to keep in mind who holds the authority over life and death.”

-Shudder!

It was truly strange.

He didn’t particularly reveal his energy.

Yet there was a sharp sensation around his neck.

Startled by this, Guyang Sa-oh unconsciously swallowed his dry saliva.

Even though this fellow was clearly younger than half, no, one-third of his life, how did he possess this level of weight and pressure?

As he was puzzled, Guyang Sa-oh soon seemed to understand the reason.

‘…The caliber of a leader?’

This bastard was born with the caliber of a ruler.

Regardless of age, those with the caliber of a ruler embrace others as a leader or a dominant figure and guide everyone on the path they have created.

Guyang Sa-oh inwardly exclaimed in admiration.

It seemed that his intimidation by this fellow wasn’t simply because of power.

As he was inwardly marveling, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“Does your silence mean you’re choosing death?”

At those words, Guyang Sa-oh hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“It might sound like an excuse if I say this now, but it was to repay a debt.”

“Debt?”

“That’s right.”

“What kind of debt?”

“My granddaughter was afflicted with an almost incurable disease. Thanks to a medicinal herb called Creeping Rockfoil that they helped me obtain, she was barely able to prolong her life.”

“Creeping Rockfoil? Isn’t that a rare herb that grows in extremely cold, snowy regions?”

‘This fellow?’

Guyang Sa-oh couldn’t hide his surprise at Mok Gyeong-un’s knowledge of medicinal materials.

Creeping Rockfoil was a special medicinal ingredient that not only the medicinal merchants and physicians in the Central Plains but also those in the Western Regions, where the Guyang Clan’s estate was located, hardly knew about.

Even he had barely found out about it while trying to treat his granddaughter’s illness.

But to think this fellow knew about Creeping Rockfoil, his knowledge of medicinal materials was no ordinary.

Just who was this bastard?

Then, Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin and said,

“Anyway, you’re saying that you worked with them in exchange for your granddaughter’s life because of the hard-to-obtain Creeping Rockfoil.”

“…That’s right. I had no choice. Creeping Rockfoil was a medicinal herb that was difficult to grow naturally in both the Western Regions and the Central Plains, and even I had been searching for it for a long time but couldn’t find it, so I desperately needed their help.”

“It’s the life of your flesh and blood, so of course, you would. But then, all the more reason you shouldn’t have betrayed them, right?”

“Yes, you’re right about that. But I have sufficiently repaid my debt to them. I worked for them for nearly ten years and was dragged around too much with Creeping Rockfoil as a hostage.”

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un asked with a puzzled look,

“Wasn’t Creeping Rockfoil used only once?”

“It wasn’t just once, but she had to take it regularly and consistently. I don’t know where they obtained Creeping Rockfoil from, but they always supplied a certain amount, and that’s why I had no choice but to help them, even if it was to pay the price.”

There was a subtle sense of disillusionment in Guyang Sa-oh’s voice as he spoke.

His granddaughter’s life was practically held hostage, so he had no choice but to work with the organization, but most of the things they did were not to his liking.

Moreover, when countless civilians, not just martial artists, lost their lives due to the poison he created, his desire to cut ties with them grew even stronger.

Seeing him like this, Mok Gyeong-un said with twitching lips,

“In the end, you chose your own life over your granddaughter’s.”

At those words, Guyang Sa-oh raised his voice, flaring up,

“What do you take me for? Even if I was dragged around by them, I take pride in being one of the top three in terms of medicinal knowledge in both the Central Plains and the Western Regions.”

“Oh, could it be that you found a solution to replace Creeping Rockfoil?”

“…You’re really quick-witted.”

Guyang Sa-oh clicked his tongue and nodded.

“You’re right. For ten years, I analyzed the remaining Creeping Rockfoil and created a medicinal material that could replace it.”

“You were gradually preparing to cut ties with them.”

“That’s right. In fact, although it got twisted because of you, I was going to settle things with that bastard Tang In-hae after this job and retire with my family.”

“…The settlement you’re referring to is with the Thousand Poisons Hand, Tang In-hae.”

“I’ve been competing with that fellow for a long time but could never settle it. That has always remained a lingering attachment.”

The Eight Poison Sect Leader Guyang Sa-oh and the Thousand Poisons Hand Tang In-hae were widely recognized as rivals by anyone in the Central Plains.

And they, too, had always been conscious of each other and competed.

Seeing Guyang Sa-oh’s pure lingering attachment, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes turned strange.

-Why don’t you agree with it?

Cheong-ryeong asked Mok Gyeong-un.

At this, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged and replied,

-Who knows.

-You may not understand, but having a rival to compete with for a lifetime is something to envy.

-Is that so?

-Of course. Even I have someone like that… No. What are you going to do? Sparing his life or not is up to you, mortal, but you need to consider the impact it will have later.

-I should.

Then Guyang Sa-oh, looking refreshed as if getting the secret off his chest had relieved him, opened his mouth.

“So what will you do with me?”

To his question, Mok Gyeong-un stroked his chin and replied,

“Hmm. It’s definitely a waste to just kill you.”

At those words, Guyang Sa-oh’s face brightened.

“Then will you let me go as agreed?”

“That’s not difficult, but if I let you go, it will be hard for you to have the settlement you want while running away, and your family will also be in danger. Are you okay with that?”

At this question, Guyang Sa-oh’s expression suddenly hardened.

Certainly, he could save his life for now, but the organization would try to eliminate him somehow, and they would target his family members who hadn’t escaped yet to find him.

If things had proceeded according to the original plan, he could have quietly disappeared, but now it was thoroughly entangled.

What should he do about this?

Faced with the complicated situation, Guyang Sa-oh sighed with frustration.

“Sigh…”

To him, Mok Gyeong-un said,

“But there’s not necessarily no way out.”

“Are you saying there’s a way?”

“Yes. Because if you just die, it will be resolved.”

“What?”

Guyang Sa-oh was dumbfounded by Mok Gyeong-un’s answer.

He talked as if there was some solution, but in the end, he was saying that it would be resolved if he died. What the hell did that mean?

To the perplexed Guyang Sa-oh, Mok Gyeong-un said with a sarcastic smile,

“It’s quite painful, but you can endure the pain of having your skin peeled off, right?”

‘!?’

***

-Swoosh!

The rain had weakened a bit, but it was still pouring down.

Lee Gwang, a member of the second realm, looked in the direction where Guyang Sa-oh, the patriarch of the Guyang Clan, had fled with a somewhat impatient expression.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

That old man was almost like having his granddaughter held hostage, making it difficult for him to betray the organization.

Of course, he could submit since it was a matter of his own life, but the Guyang Sa-oh he had observed wasn’t such a small-minded person.

Why did he struggle so desperately to live?

He even ran away.

Just as he was thinking that, someone emerged from the bushes.

-Splash! Splash!

Walking through the pooled rainwater was none other than Mok Gyeong-un.

As Mok Gyeong-un appeared, Lee Gwang’s gaze naturally turned to something, which was what he was holding in his right hand.

Seeing it, the corners of Lee Gwang’s mouth rose.

‘As expected! As expected! As expected!’

The reason for his reaction was simple.

What Mok Gyeong-un was holding in his hand was none other than Guyang Sa-oh’s severed head.

The sight of his tongue hanging out and his dead appearance was horrifying beyond words.

‘This bastard is really something.’

He had anticipated a situation where Mok Gyeong-un might let him go or release him.

But he had brought the head, cleanly cutting it off.

Having reached the level of a great sage, he had easily caught up and executed the traitor despite taking it easy.

‘That’s fine.’

With this much, that person would also be satisfied despite losing Guyang Sa-oh.

Because he had gained an even more outstanding talent.

“Is this enough?”

-Thud! Splash!

Mok Gyeong-un threw Guyang Sa-oh’s head close to Lee Gwang.

Despite his tongue sticking out, his expressionless face, as if he didn’t even know he was dead, made Lee Gwang inwardly gasp in admiration.

He still couldn’t understand this pace of advancement, but it was truly remarkable.

Considering that even an expert of the transformation realm was dealt with like this.

“Good work. The leader of the organization, that person, will also praise your merit.”

“I don’t need praise. I just hope to receive what I want.”

“Don’t worry. As long as it doesn’t interfere with that person’s doubts or the organization’s work, he will unconditionally grant it, just as you said.”

“I would be grateful if he does.”

“Of course, it’s natural.”

“Then I guess this is no longer necessary.”

With those words, Mok Gyeong-un walked over and then,

-Squish!

“Wh-what are you…”

Before he could even say anything to stop him, Mok Gyeong-un crushed Guyang Sa-oh’s head with his foot.

This sight left Lee Gwang speechless.

Of course, he had directly confirmed it with his own eyes, but he had intended to take the head and have it verified.

But now that it was crushed, that was no longer possible.

Dumbfounded by Mok Gyeong-un’s hasty action, Lee Gwang clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘Ha!’

If he were just a subordinate, it would have been a matter to reprimand him, but this fellow had monstrous potential, reaching the level of a great sage despite not even being of age.

He would undoubtedly be valued by that person.

They had already started on bad terms, so there was no point in scolding him over this matter and making things awkward between them.

“Is there a problem?”

“…No.”

Seeing him give up without saying a word, Mok Gyeong-un’s lips twitched.

He had anticipated that Lee Gwang would react this way to some extent.

With this, Guyang Sa-oh became a dead man to them, and there was no way to confirm his corpse or anything else.

The image of Guyang Sa-oh’s shocked face flashed in Mok Gyeong-un’s mind.

***

Guyang Sa-oh asked, startled,

[Y-you’re going to peel off my face?]

[Yes.]

[Are you serious?]

[Yes. It might be a bit painful, but if you can’t sacrifice one face to break ties with them, isn’t it a cheap price to pay?]

[No, how the hell are you going to deceive that Lee Gwang fellow with just the face skin? Unless you cut off my head, he absolutely won’t believe it.]

[I just so happen to have something useful.]

Saying that, Mok Gyeong-un brought something that was lying far away.

It was the severed head of a dead masked man.

While chasing after Guyang Sa-oh, he had discovered two masked men running away and had beheaded them both in an instant.

[What are you going to do with that?]

[I’m going to put your face on this head.]

‘!!!!!’

Hearing this, Guyang Sa-oh couldn’t hide his astonishment.

[No way. You know how to make human skin masks too?]

[Yes. It’s not that difficult. Especially if I peel off the face of a living person, it’s even easier.]

At these words, Guyang Sa-oh was at a loss for words, clicking his tongue.

Just how far did this fellow’s abilities go?

***

Although he was terrified at the mention of peeling off his face, in the end, Guyang Sa-oh realized that this was the only way to break free from them, so he accepted Mok Gyeong-un’s proposal.

Of course, there was a small price to pay for this proposal as well.

As a result, since Lee Gwang was deceived, the plan could be considered successfully concluded.

Then Lee Gwang cautiously spoke up.

“By the way, since we’re practically family now, can you dispel the energy in my lower body?”

Lee Gwang gestured towards his lower body with his eyes.

While Mok Gyeong-un had gone to catch Guyang Sa-oh, he had tried to dispel the energy that kept penetrating his lower body.

However, although he could release some of the energy, he couldn’t completely dispel it, so his muscles and tendons still hadn’t recovered.

“Is there anything difficult about that? But before that, can you first provide me with information about the person I want?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Lee Gwang furrowed his brows.

What was he doing, trying to bargain with his lower body after saying he would join the organization?

A hint of suspicion arose in Lee Gwang, and he said,

“Do you not trust me?”

“Not yet.”

Hearing those words, Lee Gwang’s eyes narrowed.

He had temporarily put aside his doubts, getting carried away by the thought that such an outstanding fellow joining as a talent would be praised by that person.

But with the current conversation, his suspicions grew a bit more.

If the fellow was pretending to join under false pretenses to obtain information, the worst-case scenario could unfold.

So Lee Gwang cautiously opened his mouth.

“I see. But it’s the same for us. What if you kill me after hearing only the information you want?”

“I said I would exercise flexibility.”

“How can I trust those words?”

“I even killed the elder who used poison as he wished for you, yet you’re being quite tiresome. It’s going to become quite troublesome at this rate.”

With those words, Mok Gyeong-un lightly exerted his pressure.

Then Lee Gwang spoke with a somewhat pale face due to the pressure.

“Then prove one more thing.”

“What more do you want me to prove, and how?”

“Have your subordinates send away Holy Fire Priestess first. In return, since I need your help anyway, I’ll stay here with you for five days.”

At his proposal, Mok Gyeong-un snorted inwardly.

This fellow was also using his head more than he thought.

Considering that he was trying to achieve what he wanted while preparing for any contingencies.

Lee Gwang stared intently at Mok Gyeong-un.

If he couldn’t readily accept this proposal, then the fellow’s claim of joining their organization was a blatant lie.

‘How will he respond?’

As he observed the reaction,

“Well, if that proves it, let’s do that.”

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders and readily accepted it without any fuss.

This made Lee Gwang inwardly puzzled.

‘…Was it just my misunderstanding?’

Had he been too suspicious?

The fellow kept agreeing to his demands without question.

Moreover,

“Should I send her away right now?”

Mok Gyeong-un dispelled the true energy surrounding him and gestured while shouting,

“Please bring the elder here.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s command, the subordinates guarding the vicinity of the residence were puzzled, but soon Seop Chun brought Holy Fire Priestess closer.

However, something happened here that piqued Mok Gyeong-un’s interest.

Upon discovering Lee Gwang, Holy Fire Priestess’s complexion darkened with a stiff face, as if she knew him.

Likewise, Lee Gwang seemed to know her as well,

“Holy Fire Priestess. It’s been a long time.”

“…”

Holy Fire Priestess averted her gaze and remained silent.

Seeing her reaction, Lee Gwang chuckled and gestured to summon the surviving masked individuals.

As they approached, Lee Gwang said to her,

“Where is the prophecy?”

“…”

At that question, Holy Fire Priestess clenched her mouth even tighter.

Then Lee Gwang shook his head and spoke in a low voice,

“I guess you couldn’t find Guardian Jang, no, that old man Mun-no?”

‘!?’

As soon as those words ended, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened.

‘Mun…no?’

That was his grandfather’s name.