Myst, Might, Mayhem - Chapter 44

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Episode 12: Manor Lord (2)

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Mok YuCheon approached at a brisk pace, as if he had something to say.

Yet once he came close, perhaps because the two Inner Hall warriors escorting them were nearby, he could not say what he intended.

Mok GyeongUn smiled first.

“It has been four days.”

“Do not say such idle things. You...”

“You?”

Mok YuCheon worked his mouth but could not continue.

What was this about?

As Mok GyeongUn wondered, Mok YuCheon gestured for them to head to the Main Hall first.

So they began walking toward it.

When the Inner Hall warriors tactfully moved ahead, Mok YuCheon spoke in a low voice.

“You... Have you tried learning it?”

“It?”

“Keep your voice down.”

Mok YuCheon quietly rebuked him.

Mok GyeongUn gave a faint laugh and lowered his voice.

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you asking because you truly do not know?”

“Ah! You mean the Yeonmok...”

“Shh.”

Mok YuCheon stopped him.

After checking on the Inner Hall warriors walking ahead, Mok YuCheon whispered even more quietly.

“Do not mention it directly. Just answer what I ask.”

What Mok YuCheon was asking about was none other than the Yeonmok Heart-Transforming Method, the secret manual reserved for the Manor Lord.

In truth, Mok GyeongUn had understood at once when he saw that Mok YuCheon's complexion had become far darker and redder than four days earlier.

He had merely pretended not to know.

- It is remarkable that he has not suffered Ki Rampage yet. Hoo...

Blue Spirit spoke as she puffed out smoke.

She, too, knew that Mok YuCheon had learned a flawed Cultivation technique.

Since Mok GyeongUn had not given him the technique properly and had arbitrarily altered several characters in the verse formula, there was no way he would avoid side effects.

“Is there some problem?”

Though it was exactly what he intended, Mok GyeongUn spoke as if he knew nothing.

Mok YuCheon's brow twisted fiercely.

“You can look at my face and still say that...”

Mok YuCheon's voice began to rise, but he glanced ahead and cut himself off.

He seemed to be calming his anger.

After barely steadying himself, Mok YuCheon spoke quietly.

“Did you learn it or not? Just answer that.”

Mok GyeongUn answered indifferently.

“If you were in my position, would you say you had not tried learning it?”

Mok YuCheon narrowed his eyes and stared at Mok GyeongUn.

‘...Right. There is no way he would not have learned it.’

Even if Mok GyeongUn did not covet the Manor Lord's position, it was a secret manual of high-level Martial Arts.

Any martial artist would be curious about it.

‘Then why are you perfectly fine?’

For four days, Mok YuCheon had eagerly practiced the Yeonmok Heart-Transforming Method's energy circulation method.

Yet the more he practiced it, the more he felt the energy within his body changing in a strange manner.

On the first day, he dismissed it as something that might happen with a high-level Martial Arts Cultivation technique. But after four days, his skin had turned dark red, and something was clearly wrong.

‘...Did he deceive me?’

Because of what was happening to his body, his suspicions would not easily fade.

Mok GyeongUn had recited the verse formula nine times on the spot at his request, each time exactly the same. That made it difficult to accuse him of teaching a false version.

‘If he taught me the correct one, then I am the problem.’

That was equally difficult to accept.

Even he, who had reached the Expert realm, was struggling to learn the Cultivation technique. Yet Mok GyeongUn showed none of the same side effects.

That meant he might have misunderstood the verse formula or learned the technique incorrectly.

Clench!

Mok YuCheon's fist tightened.

No, that could not be.

There was no way this fellow, whose martial talent was so poor that he was merely Third-rate, had a greater understanding of high-level Martial Arts than him, a genius.

He did not know what the problem was, but he would overcome it.

Then Mok GyeongUn said to him,

“I do not know what the problem is, but now that the Manor Lord has awakened, will the situation not change anyway?”

At those words, the corner of Mok YuCheon's mouth rose slightly.

The Manor Lord's awakening was a stroke of heavenly luck for him.

He had begun learning the Martial Arts reserved for the Manor Lord through their deal, but many retainers still found him, the child of a concubine, untrustworthy.

That had made him deeply uneasy.

But now the Manor Lord, who cherished him, had awakened. The balance of succession had once more tilted in his favor.

‘Heaven is helping me.’

Perhaps the reason the Manor Lord had summoned his children the moment he awoke was related to this as well.

Perhaps he intended to firmly choose his successor.

Seeing Mok YuCheon filled with expectation, Mok GyeongUn gave a faint laugh and turned his gaze away as if he had no interest.

- Oh?

At that moment, Blue Spirit looked somewhere with interest.

Mok GyeongUn glanced at her with a puzzled expression.

Then she said,

- It seems they are here.

‘Here?’

- They have quite the nerve. To see this Venerable One's Ghost-Intent Domain and still step inside without fear.

‘Ah.’

Mok GyeongUn nodded in understanding.

It seemed what he had been waiting for had arrived.

He had assumed that associates connected to the Taoist occultist Sak would come before long.

- I shall greet them first.

Sliiide.

With those words, Blue Spirit's red eyes flashed as she vanished beyond the wall beside the path.

* * *

In front of the Main Hall stood another member of the Mok Family bloodline who had arrived before them.

It was the eldest young master, Mok YeongHo.

He had circulated his internal energy to ease his hangover somewhat, but he still reeked of alcohol. First Madam Lady Seok did not look pleased.

His dissolute behavior was nothing new, so though it troubled her, she had grown somewhat used to it.

But not today.

‘Of all times.’

Mok GyeongUn had already become an unpredictable variable that was giving her a headache.

Still, that problem could be resolved by eliminating Mok GyeongUn or taking the secret manual reserved for the Manor Lord from him, and she had been considering other methods.

Yet the Manor Lord, whom she had naturally expected to draw his final breath, had awakened.

Rather than joy at her husband's recovery, anxiety seized her.

‘...Could it be?’

Why had he summoned his children first as soon as he awoke?

No matter how much she considered it, only one thought came to mind.

‘A successor.’

Since the Manor Lord had barely emerged from a long coma, perhaps he intended to choose a successor in preparation for the worst.

If her prediction was right, this was a serious matter.

Everyone knew that the Manor Lord favored Mok YuCheon, his youngest.

If YeongHo appeared before him in such a state...

Grit!

He was her child, but at times like this, he truly felt like an enemy.

Only two years ago, he had at least been considered clever, even if he was not a genius. Yet at some point, he had become consumed by drink and women.

It was all because of that bastard Mok YuCheon.

But this was not the time to resent him.

“YeongHo.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Do not say anything unnecessary before the Manor Lord. Your mother will handle everything, so simply remain quiet.”

Nothing good would come from him opening his mouth while reeking of alcohol.

Though only the children had been summoned, she did not think they would stop her, his wife, from entering.

If he intended to decide the succession at once, she had to stop him somehow.

Then Madam Jang and Mok EunPyeong, the second son of the Mok Family, came into view from the entrance of the pavilion on the left.

‘Hmph.’

Those two were hateful as well.

In front of her, Madam Jang of the Hui Buk Jang Family was always respectful, calling her elder sister. Behind her back, however, she did everything possible to make her own child the Manor Lord, even recruiting retainers.

‘What a hypocrite.’

Mok EunPyeong was the same.

Like mother, like son, he was a thief coveting Mok YeongHo's place as the eldest son.

She was not certain what the Manor Lord would say today, but things would not go as they wished.

She would stop it somehow.

As she dwelled on that, the last young masters of the Mok Family arrived through the entrance to the southern pavilion.

They were Mok GyeongUn, the third son, and Mok YuCheon, the youngest.

Seeing this, Estate Manager Jang MyeongIn stepped onto the porch and spoke toward the paper door.

“All the young masters have gathered.”

* * *

The four half-brothers of the Mok Family stood side by side.

From the left stood Mok YeongHo, the eldest young master, Mok EunPyeong, the second, Mok GyeongUn, the third, and Mok YuCheon, the youngest.

Only those four entered the Manor Lord's room.

First Madam Lady Seok and Madam Jang, the second madam, had both insisted on entering as well, but the Manor Lord firmly refused.

They waited anxiously outside.

‘Hmm?’

Mok GyeongUn found the reactions of the Mok Family brothers puzzling.

Since the Manor Lord had returned from death's doorstep and was their father, he had expected them to greet him with joy.

Instead, they all looked extremely tense.

Even Mok YuCheon, who was said to be so cherished, was the same.

The atmosphere was heavy as a result.

‘...Was that why?’

He finally understood why they had been so concerned with whether the bedridden Manor Lord would live or die.

It seemed they had all been wary of the Manor Lord.

How strict was he that they were this nervous?

Mok GyeongUn covertly looked at the Manor Lord's face as he sat half-perched on the bed.

Though he had lost consciousness after being afflicted by malign force for quite some time, his eyes remained sharp enough to feel alive.

‘Was this person said to be the strongest in Yeonmok Sword Manor?’

The information sheet left behind by the real Mok GyeongUn had said as much.

Mok InDan, Manor Lord of Yeonmok Sword Manor.

He was said to be the strongest in Yeonmok Sword Manor and one of the ten greatest sword masters in all Anhui.

Mok GyeongUn remembered asking the late Guard Gam about it out of curiosity.

[How strong is someone ranked among the top ten?]

[Do you think becoming one of the ten greatest sword masters in an entire province is so easy?]

Guard Gam had said that Manor Lord Mok InDan was a martial artist who had reached the realm of Master.

At the time, Mok GyeongUn had not truly understood how remarkable that was.

But after experiencing the skill of Mok YuCheon, who had reached the beginning stage of the Expert realm, he could somewhat imagine how strong a master of that realm would be.

Yet this raised another question.

‘How was he afflicted by malign force?’

It was said that masters of the Master realm handled ki as naturally as breathing.

How could someone so formidable have been struck by malign force, a type of curse?

Since he was studying occult arts, it was even more puzzling.

Then Mok GyeongUn's eyes met those of Manor Lord Mok InDan.

He considered lowering his gaze like his brothers, but chose not to.

No matter how strict he was, there was no reason to avoid his father's gaze.

“...”

A glint appeared in Manor Lord Mok InDan's eyes.

The reason was simple.

Ever since his mother died, the boy had never once looked directly into his eyes. Yet now, he did not avert his gaze.

But that was all the Manor Lord wondered about.

Mok InDan opened his mouth.

“Do you know why I summoned you?”

“...”

All of them fell silent.

Of course, they all suspected one thing.

‘A successor.’

But none of them could voice it openly.

They could not appear too eager here.

Yet someone broke the silence and spoke.

“Did you summon us all to discuss a successor, since you called us as soon as you rose from a long illness?”

Everyone looked with slight surprise at the person who had spoken.

It was Mok GyeongUn.

‘You?’

‘He said it openly?’

After glancing at Mok GyeongUn, they cautiously watched Manor Lord Mok InDan's expression.

They wanted to see whether he had been displeased.

But unexpectedly, Manor Lord Mok InDan showed no displeasure at all.

Instead,

“Yes. It is to decide on a successor.”

He readily admitted it.

Everyone looked tense at that.

Until he awoke from his sickbed, the Manor Lord had never once mentioned a successor himself.

Yet now, he had brought it up for the first time.

‘Will he decide right here?’

‘Did he summon all of us to hand the position of successor to that bastard Mok YuCheon?’

‘Is Father giving me an opportunity?’

Their minds became tangled with thoughts.

Mok GyeongUn, however, had no attachment to the Manor Lord's position and only intended to match the mood appropriately.

Perhaps because of that, he was more relaxed than anyone.

Yet this appearance came as a surprise to the Manor Lord.

‘Does he have no expectations? Or has he changed?’

His reaction differed greatly from the other children, drawing Mok InDan's interest.

The Manor Lord had already heard from the Estate Manager what had happened.

[Mok GyeongUn, that child, saved me?]

[Yes. At first, this subordinate could scarcely believe it either, but the Third Young Master stopped the Taoist occultist who had been possessed by an aberration and sought to harm you.]

It was quite unexpected.

He would have believed it if Mok YuCheon, the youngest, had done it.

But this child, whom he had considered the most timid, lacking in martial talent, and without prospects, had saved him.

[But that is only the Third Young Master's account, and the truth is...]

[Enough. That will do.]

[Yes?]

[Summon all the children.]

[The young masters?]

[That is right.]

Less than half a two-hour period after awakening, the Manor Lord had summoned all the young masters.

For the first time, he thought that the time given to him might not be long.

He had expended much life energy while bedridden for so long, and this incident had nearly made him close his eyes forever.