Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 396 – Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul (1)

“Cough… cough… Damn it…”

Mok Yu-cheon, his internal organs severely shaken by just one punch, staggered as he barely managed to stand up.

He wanted to circulate his qi right there, but the incoming crowd made it impossible.

From what he could sense, there were hundreds of people approaching. Were they mobilizing this many to catch that bastard Mok Gyeong-un?

Mok Yu-cheon clicked his tongue.

Just how strong had he become for so many people to be deployed?

“Hah…”

It was mind-boggling.

He and that guy had been imprisoned here for barely half a year.

Yet Mok Gyeong-un seemed to be causing a storm in the Heaven and Earth Society, one of the three major powers currently dividing the Central Plains.

If even the elders, known as Heaven and Earth Society’s hidden strength, were getting involved, what the hell had he done?

‘…Is this really the same guy?’

Now he couldn’t help but think he was a completely different person.

“Cough, cough.”

For now, it seemed he’d have to think about what that bastard had done to cause this uproar later.

-Rumble!

The crowd was getting closer.

If he didn’t hurry and escape, even he could get caught up in this.

-Whoosh!

Mok Yu-cheon launched his body.

Though it was difficult to sense qi due to his internal injuries, he had to get out of this estate while avoiding the crowd as much as possible.

But before he could get far, someone blocked his path.

It was a middle-aged man holding hook-shaped exotic weapons in both hands.

-Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Mok Yu-cheon and the middle-aged man exchanged four moves in an instant before creating distance between them.

After crossing hands with him, Mok Yu-cheon’s expression darkened.

Whoever this was, with this level of martial arts he had to be at least a branch leader in Heaven and Earth Society.

No, was he a grand branch leader level?

‘…Early stage of Transcendent Realm.’

It seemed the rumors about Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang recruiting many neutral masters into his ranks weren’t unfounded.

“Over here!”

As the middle-aged man shouted, Mok Yu-cheon could sense part of the crowd that had been heading towards the rear garden rushing towards them.

Mok Yu-cheon bit his lip hard.

‘Shit.’

In his current injured state, this was quite overwhelming.

If he used the reverse blood circulation technique to explosively increase his power, he might be able to subdue them within 10 moves, but due to his internal injuries, he wasn’t sure how long he could maintain the technique.

But he had no choice now.

Just as Mok Yu-cheon was about to perform the reverse blood circulation technique…

“Stop!”

At someone’s shout, the gazes of both the middle-aged man who seemed to be a grand branch leader and Mok Yu-cheon naturally turned.

There, standing proudly on top of the wall while fanning himself, was a man with curly hair and a bright appearance.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man furrowed his brows and muttered.

“Second Young Master?”

The one who appeared on the wall was none other than Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Heaven and Earth Society Leader.

More precisely, it was Go Chan who had possessed him.

In any case, with the sudden appearance of Jang Neung-ak, the second disciple of the Heaven and Earth Society Leader, a look of embarrassment clouded the eyes of the middle-aged man who seemed to be a grand branch leader.

‘Why the hell is that Jang Neung-ak here?’

As a competitor for succession, he wasn’t someone who would rashly appear here at Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang’s estate.

But with his sudden appearance, it was inevitable to be at a loss on how to deal with this situation.

‘Second Young Master?’

Having become a disciple of Bright Blade King Son Yun, Mok Yu-cheon had come to know some of Heaven and Earth Society’s internal affairs.

That’s why this situation couldn’t help but seem strange to him.

Then Jang Neung-ak pointed his fan at Mok Yu-cheon and said:

“I’ll take this one with me.”

‘What?’

Why would Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak try to help him?

It made no sense to Mok Yu-cheon.

Of course, that’s what he thought, but Go Chan, who had possessed Jang Neung-ak, was helping Mok Yu-cheon purely because of his master, Mok Gyeong-un.

‘There must be a reason why our lord wants to keep Mok Yu-cheon alive.’

And although everything had been overturned, he wanted to help because of their past connection when he had once tried to retire as an assassin and settle down at Yeon Mok Sword Manor.

From an outsider’s perspective it might seem random, but Go Chan’s intentions were pure.

However,

“I apologize, Second Young Master… but we’ll have to keep that man here. This is the Eldest Young Master’s domain. I don’t know how you came in here, but this is overstepping your bounds.”

“Overstepping my bounds? Did you just say I’m overstepping my bounds?”

-Rumble!

Go Chan, possessing Jang Neung-ak, deliberately released his aura.

-Flinch!

At this, wariness flashed in the eyes of the middle-aged man who seemed to be a grand branch leader.

As Jang Neung-ak’s body had reached the peak of the Transcendent Realm, he didn’t have many equals even within Heaven and Earth Society.

But then,

-Rumble!

-Clank! Clank! Clank!

Just then, martial artists who could be considered reinforcements rushed to this location.

They were heavily armored individuals in thick iron armor, advancing in full battle gear.

Seeing the one at the forefront, the face of the middle-aged man who seemed to be a grand branch leader lit up.

It was none other than Gong Jonggak, one of the Three Clan Masters and leader of Heaven and Earth Society’s Mobile Armor Corps, a high-ranking executive.

“Clan Master Gong!”

Regaining confidence at the appearance of a master with outstanding skills, the middle-aged man who seemed to be a grand branch leader shouted at Go Chan, who was possessing Jang Neung-ak:

“If you don’t withdraw right now, it’s you, Second Young Master who will regret it!”

“Regret?”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Second Young Master, it doesn’t negate the fact that you can’t face us alone.”

“You’ve gained some confidence because your numbers increased a bit? Hehe. But who said I came alone?”

No sooner had those words ended.

-Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Warriors in black attire revealed themselves, climbing over the wall where Go Chan was standing.

With “Shadow” written on their chests, they were warriors of the Shadow Clan.

And someone lightly jumped up next to Go Chan with nimble movements.

It was,

“Shadow Clan Master?”

Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon.

“Ohoho. It’s been a while, Gong Clan Master.”

At his appearance, Gong Jonggak, who had appeared leading the Mobile Armor Corps, clicked his tongue and said:

“Have you come to help your disciple?”

“Of course. What kind of master would send their disciple alone into danger?”

While saying this, Hwan Ya-seon inwardly sneered.

The truth was, he hadn’t come to help out of worry.

It didn’t seem likely that the monstrous Mok Gyeong-un would be in any real danger, but he wanted to use this opportunity to decisively crush Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang’s momentum.

Gong Jonggak drew his thick sword and said:

-Shing!

“Then it seems you’ll be going to the afterlife with your disciple today.”

“Shouldn’t we see who’s better first? Ohoho.”

-Shing!

Likewise, Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon drew his treasured sword.

Gong Jonggak mocked him.

“If you’re relying on the Second Young Master’s influence, that’s a foolish judgment. You were already on the kill list before the Eldest Young Master’s ascension anyway. And you think you can overturn the situation with just Shadow Clan warriors who only deal with information…”

-Boom!

Before those words could even finish.

Someone launched a sudden attack into the middle of the Mobile Armor Corps, instantly sending about five men flying.

-Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Ugh!”

“W-What the?”

Gong Jonggak hurriedly raised his sword to block the momentum of the fist strike that had even sent armored men flying.

“Who dares!”

-Clang!

“Kuk!”

Charging in like a rampaging boar with unstoppable momentum, the Gong Clan Master’s form was pushed back nearly five steps.

-Screech!

The Gong Clan Master Jonggak, pushed back like that, frowned.

And for good reason, as the being that appeared before his eyes was none other than the renegade monk Bogwon-sa Jageum-jeong.

With his broken prayer beads and tattered kasaya, he was instantly recognizable.

“Mad Monk?”

No, isn’t this one of the Three Madmen?

How did this wandering lunatic monk who doesn’t even belong to Heaven and Earth Society suddenly appear here?

While he was bewildered, Jageum-jeong excitedly clashed his fists together and said:

-Thump! Thump!

“Kekeke. Very good. You seem quite capable. Why don’t you have a match with this monk?”

“Huh? Was this your trump card?”

Jonggak clicked his tongue and took a stance with his sword.

Though it was an unexpected appearance, this alone wasn’t enough to overturn the situation.

To him, Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon raised the corner of his mouth and said:

“You think that’s all? Surely you don’t think this is the extent of it?”

“What do you mean by that?”

What is he talking about?

-Waaaaaaah!!!

-Clang! Clang!

While he was puzzled, from the opposite side, the western part of the estate, sounds of battle cries and clashing weapons erupted as if a war had broken out.

‘What the? What’s going on?’

Could there be other reinforcements besides the Shadow Clan?

That ominous prediction turned out to be exactly right.

The masters from the Elder Council and grand branch leader and branch leader level experts who had tried to enter from the west side of Elder Young Master Na Yul-ryang’s estate had their path to the rear garden blocked by the sudden appearance of Axe-Destroying King Ho Taegang and his subordinates of the same group.

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Argh!”

“Guk!”

Despite having one arm injured, he was swinging a massive axe with his other hand, slaughtering anyone who approached, preventing anyone from passing through.

“This, this monster…”

He wasn’t just an executive, but someone who had received the title of one of the Eight Stars, considered the highest in the martial world.

How could they possibly deal with such a monstrous guy?

Moreover,

-Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

‘What? What the hell is that guy?’

‘How can his lightness skill be so fast?’

The masters from the Elder Council who had tried to climb over the walls to avoid the beast-like Ho Taegang were unable to enter due to the masked Ma Ra-hyeon, who was sweeping through the enemies with incredible lightness skill and leg techniques reminiscent of a storm.

Those trying to hurry inside couldn’t help but grow increasingly anxious.

It was then.

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

Everyone’s gaze suddenly turned towards the sky above the rear garden.

This was because countless fiery masses were raining down like hailstones.

Even the masters from the Elder Council couldn’t help but be momentarily captivated by this strange phenomenon they hadn’t expected.

***

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fiery masses raining down like hailstones began to set the rear garden ablaze.

-Crackle!

As various parts of the rear garden caught fire due to the flames, the surrounding area became hot with heat.

It was as if the surroundings had turned into a scene from hell.

-Roar!

And in the center of it all, a huge white being could be seen roaring.

It had a single horn on its head, looked like a mix between a dog and a horse, its body resembled a pure white tiger without stripes, and strangely, white flames were burning on its long tail.

Seeing this, Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue and said:

-Mortal… It’s a Spiritual Beast, White-Flaming Dokgok (Foo Dog, or Dugu).

-A Spiritual Beast, you say?

-There’s said to be a flame cave deep in Mount Beiyu that’s filled with jade and heat. It’s a Spiritual Beast that lives there.

At those words, Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

Spiritual Beast.

Even Imaemangyang had names they were called according to their rank.

The weakest Imaemangyang were called Fierce Beasts, and above them were Monstrous Beasts, Demonic Beasts, and Diabolic Beasts.

Even Demonic Beasts and above were difficult for ordinary martial artists to handle, let alone diviners, but Spiritual Beasts could be considered the highest existence among known Imaemangyang.

-To have a Spiritual Beast as a familiar. That diviner bastard is truly a monster.

-It seems so.

The magical power spreading out was on a completely different level from the diviners they had seen so far.

It wasn’t for nothing that he was called a divine diviner.

‘The Six Divine Diviners… Is this that legendary divine diviner who even made that Spiritual Beast his familiar?’

He had reason to be proud of himself.

At that moment, the words of the diviner Jo Ui-gong flashed through Mok Gyeong-un’s mind.

[The Chain of Spells is a magical tool created by Golden Origin Pavilion Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul, one of the Six Divine Diviners. It was one of four gifts given to my master who attended the 64th Corner Assembly of the Six Origins.]

‘Ah.’

He remembered.

Golden Origin Pavilion Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul.

So he was the one who made that Chain of Spells.

Given that he had the skill to create such an incredibly controlling magical tool, it was possible he had even subjugated a Spiritual Beast.

-Shing!

Mok Gyeong-un fully unsheathed the demonic Evil Commandment Sword, which he had half-drawn.

If the opponent was one of the Six Divine Diviners and his familiar was a Spiritual Beast, he could be considered an existence like the Six Heavens in the martial world.

This wasn’t an opponent to be taken lightly.

Just as he was about to step forward to properly fight…

-Sniff? Sniff?

At that moment, the Spiritual Beast White-Flaming Dokgok (White-Flaming Foo Dog), which had been roaring with tremendous magical power, started sniffing the air. Then it frowned, showing a perplexed expression.

Unaware of this, Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul, who had created a space full of scorching heat where White-Flaming Dokgok could exert its full power using sorcery, opened his mouth.

“White-Flaming Dokgok. I permit you to feast after a long time.”

-Growl…

But something was strange.

The Spiritual Beast White-Flaming Dokgok showed no intention of moving despite his command.

At this, Grand Divination Master Myeong-ryul issued another command.

“…What are you doing? I said kill him already.”

Then the Spiritual Beast White-Flaming Dokgok opened its mouth.

-Master. Must we really kill that one?

“What?”

No matter that it was a Spiritual Beast, how dare a mere familiar question his orders?

As he was dumbfounded, the Spiritual Beast White-Flaming Dokgok spoke as if troubled:

-Master. I sense the demonic energy of the Hundred-Faced King, known as the worst among the Six Demons, from that human.

‘!?’