WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Episode 15: Proposal (3)
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“The weight of it is different.”
“Pardon?”
“For you, a mortal, to become this Venerable One's disciple means taking on the Moon's karma and carrying out a bloody purge.”
‘A bloody purge?’
Blue Spirit's air, thick with killing intent, was unlike usual.
But when he thought about it, she was a vengeful spirit.
Her resentment was deep enough for her to remain in the world of the living for over a century.
Mok GyeongUn met her gaze and spoke.
“As expected, you are connected to the Heaven and Earth Society.”
“...This Venerable One will not deny it.”
“But why does becoming Blue Spirit's disciple involve talk of the Moon's karma and a bloody purge?”
“Because this Venerable One wants the price of blood.”
“In simpler terms, revenge.”
At those words, Blue Spirit took a long draw from her pipe, then blew smoke across Mok GyeongUn's face.
“Hooo. It carries a different weight, but in your terms, yes. It is revenge.”
A strange light entered Mok GyeongUn's eyes.
It was because he felt a kinship with her desire for revenge.
He, too, had wandered like this to avenge his grandfather.
But unlike her, he would settle this resentment while alive.
She spoke.
“What will you do? Will you become this Venerable One's disciple?”
“Shouldn't you tell me, at least roughly, why I have to become your disciple before I decide?”
“That is...”
“That is?”
“Never mind. If you are not going to the Heaven and Earth Society, simply forget what this Venerable One said.”
“...You seem to have a talent for stirring someone's interest, then letting it cool.”
“Hmph. This Venerable One did not say it to pique your interest.”
“...”
Mok GyeongUn stared at Blue Spirit.
In truth, he had no interest at all in other people's circumstances or stories.
Even if he shared her desire for revenge.
He had only asked Blue Spirit to explain because he wanted her to convince him why he should become her disciple.
“May I ask something?”
“If it is a question this Venerable One cannot answer, refrain from asking it from the beginning.”
“That is up to Blue Spirit. At your level, you must have been dead for a very long time. Hasn't time already taken revenge for you?”
Blue Spirit gave a derisive snort.
Then she asked,
“If it were you, would you leave an enemy alone because you believed time would resolve everything?”
“No.”
“Why not? Was that not what you just said?”
“...You got me there.”
Mok GyeongUn shrugged and continued.
“You are right. If one seeks revenge, one must see it through to the end. You cannot simply leave everything connected to that person alone.”
Their family, relatives, and everything precious to them had to be taken away.
If one sought revenge, there was no reason to make allowances for anything.
At least, that was what revenge meant to Mok GyeongUn.
Blue Spirit's red lips twitched as she spoke.
“Our wills align. This Venerable One feels the same. This Venerable One cannot forgive the sight of that bastard's bloodline still drawing breath, nor can this Venerable One forgive the truth being buried to insult me. Even devouring that bastard whole would not satisfy this Venerable One. Rather than allow that, this Venerable One will take everything away with my own hands, even if it stains all things in blood.”
Whoooooosh!
Mok GyeongUn looked around and gestured with his hand.
Perhaps her immense rage had burst forth, for the surroundings were in chaos as though a storm had swept through.
Even the area around them was turning blood-red.
“Calm down.”
“...”
Perhaps realizing it herself, Blue Spirit calmed herself.
The abrupt changes around them ceased as though they had never happened.
Watching this, Mok GyeongUn clicked his tongue inwardly.
Blue Spirit was already this powerful. How dangerous and strong would vengeful spirits of an even higher rank be?
He was curious.
But that was not what mattered now.
“Blue Spirit.”
“Speak.”
“Even if I do not become your disciple, can't we pursue your revenge together when circumstances align?”
“No!”
“Pardon?”
“It only has meaning if you, a mortal, inherit the Moon's karma.”
“Then what exactly is the Moon's karma?”
“If you become this Venerable One's disciple and go there, you will naturally learn.”
“You are quite stubborn. Then I simply will not become your disciple.”
“What?”
A crease formed between Blue Spirit's fine brows.
She spoke in a voice full of irritation.
“Then you will not go to the Heaven and Earth Society?”
“No. I will go. I have decided to.”
“Then why!”
Her thunderous shout rang in his ears, and Mok GyeongUn frowned.
Blue Spirit wanted to force him to obey, but she could not due to the relationship between spirit familiar and master.
It was truly an irritating relationship.
Because of that shackle, she could do nothing.
Then Mok GyeongUn said,
“My apologies, but I dislike being controlled by others. That includes Blue Spirit, whom I trust at least for now.”
“...How irritating.”
“Still, there is nothing you can...”
“I said it is irritating!”
Blue Spirit's hand trembled as she shrieked.
The reality of becoming this callow brat's spirit familiar and being pushed around by him made her furious.
She had only just escaped from where she had been sealed. She was no earthbound spirit and possessed a rank that allowed her to move freely, yet this was what awaited her?
She wanted to kill him and vent her frustration.
But if she did, the hundred years she had endured while dwelling on her resentment would become meaningless.
‘Damned, stubborn mortal!’
He had not even lived a quarter century, yet he was so irritating.
After glaring at Mok GyeongUn for a long while, she spoke.
“Fine. This much this Venerable One will teach you. The Heaven and Earth Society was originally founded by three sect lineages, though this Venerable One does not know its present condition.”
“Three sect lineages?”
“One of them was the Moon Vein.”
“...And Blue Spirit was from that Moon Vein?”
He truly was quick-witted.
Blue Spirit did not deny it.
“This is as much as this Venerable One can tell you now. A hundred years have passed, so there is no point in learning about what happened then. Not everything from that era could possibly have remained unchanged. You need only carry on the Moon's karma.”
She stared intently into Mok GyeongUn's eyes.
She could tell what other humans thought from their eyes or expressions, but she could not tell what this mortal was thinking.
She did not even know whether his emotions beyond anger were real.
Then Mok GyeongUn readily said,
“Fine.”
“Hoo. Your stubbornness truly... What?”
“I said I will learn from Blue Spirit.”
“You will become this Venerable One's disciple?”
“Yes. On one condition.”
“...What condition?”
“Let us dispense with formal expressions such as master and disciple.”
“Arrogant mortal.”
“I do not make you call me master simply because you are my spirit familiar.”
“...”
Blue Spirit clicked her tongue at Mok GyeongUn, then nodded.
It did not matter anyway.
Ordinarily, the relationship between master and disciple should be made clear when one received Martial Arts instruction, but she was already dead.
What meaning did the proprieties of the living world hold for her?
“Tsk, tsk.”
Mok GyeongUn smiled faintly at her reaction.
In truth, if he was going to the Heaven and Earth Society anyway, he needed to learn the remaining techniques and the ki circulation essential formula of that sword style from her.
He was the one who should be asking her for a favor.
“What are you grinning about?”
“It is nothing. More importantly, we should hurry.”
“What do you mean?”
“It will be difficult to keep doing this here.”
Mok GyeongUn opened the Corpse Inquiry Secret Book he was holding.
Within one two-hour period, he needed to undo the sorcery so he could move freely and learn occult arts that could conceal Blue Spirit's presence.
* * *
Half a gak before the two-hour period was up.
The area was restless.
The masked warriors who had left their positions were returning one by one.
‘Hmm.’
Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong looked toward the northwestern forest with slightly disappointed eyes.
It was taking longer than expected.
In truth, a two-hour period was not especially long.
Even if the sorcery was specified, learning occult arts within two hours was quite difficult.
And if one first had to find the relevant sorcery in the Corpse Inquiry Secret Book, the time was extremely tight.
‘I thought it might be possible.’
If he failed, the situation might simply have been more difficult than Jo Ui-gong expected.
Then there was no helping it.
Jo Ui-gong would have to go and undo the sorcery personally.
Just then,
‘!?’
A figure emerged from the dark forest.
It was Mok GyeongUn.
“What?”
“How did he...?”
The masked warriors spotted Mok GyeongUn outside the baggage wagon and moved to restrain him again.
Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong stopped them.
“Stop.”
“But...”
“That child is now my disciple. I merely gave him some instruction.”
“What?”
The masked warriors looked back and forth between Mok GyeongUn and Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong in mild surprise.
They seemed not to have expected Jo Ui-gong to truly accept him as a disciple.
But Jo Ui-gong was their superior, and they could not disobey, so they soon returned to their positions.
Jo Ui-gong spoke to Mok GyeongUn, who was looking around.
“You are later than expected.”
No, in fact, Mok GyeongUn had exceeded expectations.
He had truly found the sorcery and undone it within a two-hour period.
But now that Mok GyeongUn was Jo Ui-gong's disciple, Jo Ui-gong intended to refrain from praising Mok GyeongUn as much as possible.
Mok GyeongUn bowed his head slightly.
“If I am late, forgive this disciple, Master.”
“I expect much of you, so do not disappoint me.”
“I will remember that.”
“Either way, undoing the sorcery must have exhausted your mental energy. Rest for a while. We will leave once the Saber King arrives.”
“Understood.”
With that, Mok GyeongUn looked around.
He had been wondering about something for a while.
The masked warriors had returned in pairs with boys who appeared to be between fifteen and eighteen years old.
Their heads were all covered in cloth, leaving them unable to see.
Mok GyeongUn asked in a low voice,
“What are they?”
At that question, Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong smirked.
“They are new recruits taken in by the various factions.”
“New recruits?”
“Since we came all this way, we might as well.”
Mok GyeongUn could not understand what he meant.
It seemed Jo Ui-gong was deliberately being vague.
“You will learn later, so there is no need to concern yourself with such things now. From now on, you will travel with me in my carriage, so go rest there first.”
A clean-looking carriage, rather than a baggage wagon, stood where Jo Ui-gong pointed.
Mok GyeongUn shook his head.
“My apologies, Master, but may I remain in the baggage wagon I was originally in for a while?”
“What?”
Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong looked puzzled, then spoke as if Jo Ui-gong understood.
“Ah, is it because of your younger brother?”
Of course not, but Mok GyeongUn nodded as though it were.
With a click of their tongue, Jo Ui-gong said,
“You are choosing needless hardship. If you change your mind, switch to my carriage.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, and a warning. You were able to leave this time because I intended it, but do not even dream of freeing your younger brother or doing anything similar. If you do something foolish, you will see Yeonmok Sword Manor exterminated.”
“I will remember. Since I have joined you as a disciple, nothing of the sort will happen.”
“Of course it will not.”
Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong grinned.
Since Mok GyeongUn wore the Chain of Command, he could not disobey Jo Ui-gong's commands anyway.
Mok GyeongUn spoke to Jo Ui-gong.
“Could you use your authority to send out the person who was watching inside the baggage wagon?”
“That...”
“If even that is difficult with your authority, it is fine. I only asked because I wish to read this quietly and memorize it in the wagon.”
Mok GyeongUn raised the Corpse Inquiry Secret Book.
Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong, who had been about to refuse, nodded.
The earlier part of Mok GyeongUn's words bothered Jo Ui-gong more than the latter.
“Do you think I lack even that much authority? Very well.”
“Thank you.”
“However, do not do anything that would invite suspicion. Even if you have become my disciple, there is nothing to gain from provoking the Saber King.”
“Understood.”
The corner of Mok GyeongUn's mouth rose as he bowed in thanks.
* * *
Mok GyeongUn entered the baggage wagon, shut the door, and took something from his robes.
It was a tiny wooden human-shaped doll the length of a finger, carved with the word Connection.
Mok GyeongUn smiled and whispered softly.
“It worked.”
“...Success, my foot. Being trapped inside a wooden doll like this is suffocating.”
The voice coming from the wooden doll belonged to none other than Blue Spirit.
Mok GyeongUn had successfully concealed her presence.
If Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong learned that Mok GyeongUn had also managed to learn this sorcery within a two-hour period, Jo Ui-gong would not have been able to hide their surprise.
Jo Ui-gong believed Mok GyeongUn had barely managed to undo the sorcery before returning.
Mok GyeongUn placed the wooden doll on his palm.
“Please endure it for a little while.”
If she came out, the distinctive presence of a vengeful spirit would be revealed.
There was nothing to gain from Taoist occultist Jo Ui-gong noticing her.
Then the wooden doll trembled and wriggled across Mok GyeongUn's palm by itself.
A grumbling voice followed.
“To think that I would end up possessing a wooden doll of all things. You do not know how difficult this is, mortal.”
The method Jo Ui-gong had taught him was to make a spirit possess a medium.
It was a form of sorcery nearly identical to sealing.
Thus, Blue Spirit could not display any power while inside the wooden doll... or so he thought.
The Demonic Monk could not do it, but she could freely break the doll and emerge from it.
It seemed to be due to the difference in their ranks.
“Be careful. It cracked again.”
“How much more careful must this Venerable One be? Even an ordinary physical body cannot endure me.”
“True.”
The wooden doll could only endure Blue Spirit's energy because of the sorcery that controlled it.
Otherwise, the wooden doll would have shattered long ago.
Blue Spirit, now a wooden doll, sat on his palm and spoke.
“Still, if this sorcery is used well, this Venerable One could enter a weak body and endure it more or less.”
That was the one thing she could take comfort in.
“Yes. So please bear with it a little longer. Once we arrive, I will find you a suitable body to enter.”
“Very well.”
“Either way, we have secured a reasonable place to train until we arrive there.”
He had not expected much, but securing the baggage wagon was a considerable gain.
Otherwise, it would have been difficult to do anything.
At least while traveling, he now had the conditions to quietly receive instruction in that sword style from Blue Spirit and practice reverse ki circulation.
“But what will you do with that one?”
Creeeak!
Blue Spirit moved the wooden doll's stubby hand and pointed at someone.
It was Mok YuCheon, who was still unconscious.
Mok GyeongUn approached him, tied the loosened cloth back over his eyes, then
Tap tap tap tap!
struck his Mute Point again.
Mok YuCheon had returned to his original state.
“He will stay quiet if I leave him like this, right?”
“...You are truly something else.”
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