Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 432 – Political Situation (5)

Seop Chun spoke with a concerned tone.

“My Lord. I find it difficult to trust that woman Chunchu. Wouldn’t it be better to interrogate her further?”

Most of those in the main hall nodded in agreement with his words.

This was because Chunchu, the highest-ranking executive of the Secret Society who claimed to be blood-related to Ghost Blade, hadn’t said anything since then.

[How do you plan to persuade someone who would rather die than submit to force? Do you have some sort of secret method?]

[The best secret method. Because Ghost Blade and I are connected by blood.]

[Connected by blood? You mean you’re siblings?]

[Well… You could say that.]

[Then instead of going to find him, couldn’t we summon Ghost Blade here?]

[If that were possible, I would have done it long ago.]

[… What do you mean?]

[For some reason, all communication channels with Ghost Blade have been cut off. No matter how I try to connect, I can’t reach him.]

[… And you expect me to believe that?]

[Strictly speaking, I participated in this operation to meet the Heaven and Earth Society Leader.]

[Why?]

[Because Ghost Blade started to align his intentions with the Heaven and Earth Society Leader instead of Mok Gan.]

[Are you saying he betrayed them?]

[I don’t know about that. It’s not like I’ve been inside his head. But complete betrayal is impossible. As far as I know, at least.]

[What is it that you know?]

[That’s all I can tell you. From here on, it’s a matter of decision.]

[What?]

She claimed that she was the only one who could persuade Ghost Blade, and demanded to accompany whoever was assigned to this task.

Mok Gyeong-un tried to force her to speak by applying pressure, but she maintained her silence even under bone-breaking pain.

She had much more endurance than Kang Yeom, another highest-ranking executive of the Secret Society.

Because of this, most of the executives, including Seop Chun, judged that she couldn’t be trusted.

Of course, Mok Gyeong-un wasn’t much different from them.

Normally, he would have found a way to make her talk, but now he didn’t have much time.

Although he had stayed briefly to handle important matters after winning the war, he needed to quickly seize Wi So-yeon’s body and follow Cheong-ryeong.

‘… Should I take her?’

At this point, he had only two options.

Either kill her right here to eliminate future trouble, or use her as a card to persuade Ghost Blade as she claimed.

However, if her words were lies and this was just an act to find Ghost Blade, she would pay the price.

After a moment of contemplation, Mok Gyeong-un made his decision.

“… We’ll take her.”

“What?”

“My Lord!”

“Please reconsider! My Lord!”

“What do you mean you’ll take her? Are you planning to go yourself, My Lord?”

“My Lord, surely you’re not planning to go in person? It can’t be!”

As soon as Mok Gyeong-un’s words fell, nearly half of the executives spoke up, causing an uproar in the main hall.

Mok Gyeong-un raised his hand, gesturing for them to be quiet.

Only then did the main hall become silent again.

-Tap!

Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon stepped forward, clasped his hands in respect, and said,

“May I say a word?”

“Speak.”

“As this is an official setting, I’ll speak with due respect to you as our lord, setting aside our master-disciple relationship. My Lord, you are now becoming the leader of this massive organization that will replace the Heaven and Earth Society, unlike before. It is unthinkable for someone in such a crucial position to move lightly. Please reconsider. And…”

-Swoosh!

As Mok Gyeong-un raised his hand, Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon had to stop speaking.

Then Mok Gyeong-un said,

“As you’ve seen in this war, there’s a third force. No one but me can deal with their leader.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Axe-Destroying King Ho Tae-gang stepped forward.

“Even if that’s the case, the Shadow Clan Master’s words have merit. Your personal involvement means taking on that much risk. Just as we’re about to lay the foundation for a new era…”

“It won’t take long.”

“Pardon?”

“Once I secure Ghost Blade… No, once I secure Ghost Blade, I’ll return.”

Axe-Destroying King Ho Tae-gang couldn’t hide his embarrassment at Mok Gyeong-un’s stubbornness.

If he were someone who could be persuaded, it might have been different, but Mok Gyeong-un had an even stronger will than the Society Leader.

Sensing that he couldn’t dissuade him, Ho Tae-gang hesitated on what to say next, when,

“Then let this old body go instead.”

Poison King Baek Sa-ha stepped forward.

Although he considered Mok Gyeong-un his disciple, he maintained formality due to the official setting.

“I’m acquainted with Ghost Blade and have some connection from our previous encounter.”

Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon nodded in agreement.

“Let’s do that. Send Baek Sa-ha and other trusted executives. Even if they’re not as capable as you, My Lord, some of our executives are on par with or even surpass the Eight Stars. They can meet your expectations…”

-Rumble!

At that very moment.

Everyone froze as an incredibly fierce energy filled the entire main hall.

The only one who moved in this situation was Ou Cheon-mu, the sect leader of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary and one of the Seven Heavens, who had already placed his hand on his sword hilt.

It became clear that only one person could somewhat resist the overwhelming pressure that enveloped the entire main hall.

“If I were determined to kill you all here, who could stop me?”

-Swoosh! Woong!

As Mok Gyeong-un raised his sword-formed fingers, three massive formless swords materialized, targeting those in the main hall.

Even though they had merely formed, most of the standing executives broke out in cold sweat from the sharp energy of the formless swords.

‘Was he this powerful?’

‘It’s hard to even breathe.’

Although they didn’t really believe he would attack, just the pressure from Mok Gyeong-un forming the formless swords heightened their alertness to the extreme.

“You alone cannot survive.”

Then, Ou Cheon-mu, the sect leader of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, spoke up.

“But their words have merit. If something were to happen to you, My Lord, this massive organization that’s just starting to stand would be shaken. In that case, I’ll go instead. Don’t you trust even this?”

Sect Leader Ou Cheon-mu was one of the Seven Heavens, the peak of the current martial arts world, and a Great Master.

Apart from the other Seven Heavens, there was no one in the entire martial arts world who could match him.

However,

“Let me make this clear.”

“What do you…”

“I trust you all.”

‘!?’

At Mok Gyeong-un’s sudden words, the executives, who had been suppressed by the pressure of the formless swords, couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

-Swoosh!

As Mok Gyeong-un waved his hand, the three formless swords in the air disappeared.

The fierce energy that had filled the entire main hall also dissipated.

As it became much easier to breathe, Mok Gyeong-un continued speaking.

“It’s not that I can’t entrust this to you because I don’t trust you. I’m doing this because I’m the only one who can and should do this.”

“……”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, everyone’s expressions became complex.

They had all formed connections with Mok Gyeong-un through various circumstances and events.

Therefore, most of them knew Mok Gyeong-un’s personality well.

But as they heard his words, delivered more solemnly and weightily than a long persuasion, they all instinctively realized something.

‘… He’s changing.’

The qualities of a leader.

They were gradually blossoming.

The weight of his words and every single utterance from Mok Gyeong-un was moving and resonating with them.

He was truly growing into a vessel befitting a lord.

At this, Poison King Baek Sa-ha spoke with a satisfied expression.

“When you put it that way, it’s hard for us as subordinates to dissuade you from doing what you must. Then please take those who will assist you. If you refuse even this, we cannot let you go.”

“The Poison King is right. Please take an escort with you.”

The Axe-Destroying King also suggested this.

In response to their words, Mok Gyeong-un shrugged and replied.

“Given the urgency, I can’t take many people, so I’ll bring a small group.”

As soon as Mok Gyeong-un finished speaking, Mong Mu-yak stepped forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in respect, and said,

“This humble one will serve as your escort, My Lord.”

“This humble one will also serve you.”

Seop Chun also stepped forward, not to be outdone.

As they came forward, the rogue monk Ja Geum-jeong also stepped up and said,

“It seems this monk won’t have much to do here without the master, so take me along.”

As he joined, Seop Chun scratched his nose bridge and grinned.

All those who had stepped forward were individuals who had shared joys and sorrows with Mok Gyeong-un since their time at the Imperial Palace.

Seop Chun glanced slightly at the masked Ma Ra-hyeon.

Ma Ra-hyeon sighed and stepped forward.

“I will also serve as your escort, My Lord.”

As they came forward, this time Lee Ji-yeom, the Corpse Blood Valley Master, stepped up and said,

“Please allow this humble one to accompany you as well.”

He was the one who regarded Cheong-ryeong as his true master in his heart.

Thus, he had a strong desire to accompany them.

However, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head.

“No. You, Corpse Blood Valley Master, will remain here.”

Faced with this firm rejection, Corpse Blood Valley Master Lee Ji-yeom showed a bewildered expression and said,

“Why only this humble one…”

“You have much to do here.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s point, Lee Ji-yeom was at a loss for words.

This was because the recent war had resulted in numerous casualties within the society, and many hands were needed to reorganize.

In particular, there were many roles that the executives had to take on and matters to settle.

Since the internal war had been so large-scale, it would soon become known to the outside world, and they needed to prepare for that as well.

Therefore, executives who were well-versed in the society’s affairs were not in a position to easily move externally.

This was why other executives couldn’t readily step forward.

At that moment, a voice was heard from the entrance of the main hall.

“Hohoho, then may this humble one serve as your escort, My Lord?”

Everyone’s gaze naturally turned towards the entrance.

There, two figures leaning on walking sticks could be seen.

One was the elderly Holy Fire Priestess, and the other was Eight Poison Snake Staff Guyang Sa-oh, the head of the Guyang family, wearing a human skin mask despite his young face.

As they entered the main hall, everyone couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

At this, Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon said,

“The Lord has summoned them. That person over there is…”

Hwan Ya-seon glanced slightly at Mok Gyeong-un.

He had already been puzzled when Mok Gyeong-un said he would introduce the Holy Fire Priestess to everyone in the main hall as a new member of the Heaven and Earth Society.

Given that the perception of the Fire Faith Order was not very positive among the righteous factions, he thought it could be done slowly, but Mok Gyeong-un’s opinion was different.

[There is no longer a Heaven and Earth Society or a Fire Faith Order.]

The meaning was clear.

It meant that he would subjugate the Fire Faith Order just like the Heaven and Earth Society into the newly created organization.

After briefly observing Mok Gyeong-un’s expression, Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon then said,

“This is the Holy Fire Priestess of the Fire Faith Order.”

‘!?’

At these words, the executives who belonged to the Heaven and Earth Society stirred.

They had been wondering who that old woman was, and now they’re told she’s the Holy Fire Priestess of the Fire Faith Order?

This was quite surprising.

Then, is the person next to her also from the Fire Faith Order?

‘That snake staff… It looks familiar.’

Poison King Baek Sa-ha’s eyes narrowed as he saw the snake-head shaped staff.

He had definitely seen that staff somewhere before.

As he was pondering this, Eight Poison Snake Staff Guyang Sa-oh grasped the head of his staff, clasped his hands in respect, and greeted the executives in the main hall.

-Pak!

“As the Lord has allowed me to reveal myself to the executives here, I greet you thus. Due to certain circumstances, I wear this face, but I am Xiao of the Western Guyang family.”

“G-Guyang Sa-oh?”

“Eight Poison Snake Staff?”

The executives couldn’t hide their surprise upon learning his identity.

Along with Poison King Baek Sa-ha and Thousand Poison Hand Tang In-hae of the Sichuan Tang family, Guyang Sa-oh was considered one of the top masters of poison.

And even he had sworn loyalty to Mok Gyeong-un?

‘What mission could he have been assigned outside? Huh.’

Baek Sa-ha inwardly clicked his tongue.

From Ou Cheon-mu, the sect leader of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary and one of the Seven Heavens, to the Mad Swordsman Ji-oe, the Subduing-Demon Ja Geum-jeong, and Eight Poison Snake Staff Guyang Sa-oh, they were all renowned and formidable masters.