WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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Episode 23: Corpse-Blood Valley Lord (1)
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Mok GyeongUn listened with interest to the fragments of memory Gyu Soha had read from Neung Hwa-yang's body.
He still had no interest in how the martial world operated, but Soha's information allowed him to infer the relationship between the Justice Alliance and the Heaven and Earth Society.
They are hostile to one another.
What interested him was why they fought.
They regarded each other as enemies simply because their beliefs and ways of thinking differed.
Mok GyeongUn found that terribly outdated.
What sort of feeling made people risk their lives not over a simple grudge, but because the values they believed in differed?
“The orthodox and evil paths... How inefficient.”
- Inefficient. Yes, that is one way to put it. But nothing is more frightening than values or beliefs.
“Why is that?”
- More than grudges, what exhausts people is believing that they alone are right.
“Ah. I can understand that.”
Blue Spirit was right.
Mok GyeongUn had not met many people, but he too found those who believed they were always right the most tiresome.
Most of them believed everything but themselves was wrong.
Perhaps that was why Mok GyeongUn hated such people the most.
“Just hearing that organization's name tires me out. The Justice Alliance? Is that because they consider themselves justice?”
“That is simply the kind of people they are.”
“But the Justice Alliance calls the Heaven and Earth Society the evil path, or a force of evil.”
- Nonsense!
Blue Spirit raised her voice at Mok GyeongUn's words.
- They think in absolutes. If they are white, they believe everything else is black. They are stubborn fools.
“Is that so? Then I suppose the Heaven and Earth Society is not the force of evil they believe it to be.”
- The Heaven and Earth Society we created was not such a simple organization.
We created?
Mok GyeongUn narrowed his eyes.
Had she also contributed to the creation of this vast organization?
He did not show it and instead asked about another matter.
“You said it was not a simple organization?”
- Yes. The force of evil and evil path are labels those disgusting hypocrites forced upon us. But the Heaven and Earth Society was founded to reject that and create the true martial world.
“The true martial world?”
- Since when has the orthodox path been justice, while everything else became the root of evil?
“I do not know that either.”
- Ah...
There was no way Mok GyeongUn would know.
He had lived a life far removed from the martial world in the first place.
Blue Spirit clicked her tongue.
- What the Heaven and Earth Society sought was for the martial world to return to its most primordial state.
“Primordial? What does that mean?”
- The strong devour the weak. The fittest survive. Strength reigns supreme. The essence of martial arts is ultimately proving one's own strength. In the beginning, people became entangled and intertwined to distinguish pure strength, which was why it came to be called the martial world. But the martial world of today is merely a war of rotten values.
“...”
- Where in this world are black and white? White paper turns black when ink is poured over it, and even a butcher becomes a Buddha once they put down their knife. If you insist on speaking of the world in colors, should it not be gray?
Her voice was full of anger.
It did not feel like the simple anger Mok GyeongUn himself held. It felt like anger directed at the world.
Mok GyeongUn asked curiously,
“Then is the Heaven and Earth Society gray?”
- ...
Blue Spirit suddenly fell silent.
I see.
That alone told him what she thought of the Heaven and Earth Society now.
At the very least, it was not the gray she had spoken of.
That was likely why she had grown sick of the current Heaven and Earth Society.
Mok GyeongUn changed the subject.
“Setting that aside, I learned useful information thanks to you. A Justice Alliance spy...”
When Soha possessed someone, she could read some of that person's memories.
Not all of them, but enough to gain useful information.
- When an organization's scale grows into the thousands or tens of thousands, gaps naturally appear, and it becomes common for them to send spies into each other's ranks. There is nothing surprising about that. Still, they are dumber than I thought.
“What do you mean?”
- These Dark Tread spies.
“Them?”
- Yes. A spy's life is secrecy, yet the spies they sent in have shared information about one another to this extent. Tsk, tsk.
Mok GyeongUn nodded as though agreeing.
This was his first time encountering spies, but considering they infiltrated other organizations as false members, it seemed like a serious strategic mistake.
As things stood, if even one of them talked, the rest would be exposed in turn.
But their foolishness was not what mattered now.
- In any case, what will you do?
“I am not sure.”
- It seems too late to simply leave them alone.
From the look of things, the Dark Tread spies had come to hate him deeply.
He could understand why.
Because of him, their numbers had dwindled, and their chances of succeeding in their mission had dropped sharply.
- They want revenge for their fallen comrades, but they also seem to think killing you will make it easier to pass the gates ahead.
“From the latter perspective, it is not exactly a wrong choice.”
- It is not a right choice either.
“True.”
Success was one thing, but failure demanded a fitting price.
That was their situation now.
Gyu Soha, who had taken over Neung Hwa-yang's body, spoke eagerly.
“Master. Shall I go deal with them one at a time?”
She had obtained the body of their comrade, Neung Hwa-yang.
Since they knew one another's identities, she could easily lead them into lowering their guard before killing them. Or, as they had intended to do to Mok GyeongUn, she could destroy their dantians and leave them half-crippled.
Mok GyeongUn shook his head.
- What is this? Are you going to spare them?
“No. It does not seem necessary to go through that trouble.”
- It is not necessary? Then what will you do?
“This might be better.”
The corners of Mok GyeongUn's mouth curled up in a chilling smile.
* * *
Pat, pat!
“Hahahahaha! Finding the spies, this is all thanks to you!”
One of the warriors with a red leather belt patted Mok GyeongUn on the back and praised him.
Mok GyeongUn's choice regarding the Dark Tread spies had been simple.
There was no need to deal with them one by one.
He merely needed to tell the red leather belt warriors who the spies were.
Two birds with one stone.
He had eliminated them without staining his own hands with blood. At the same time, exposing the spies gave him an opportunity to earn merit with the Heaven and Earth Society.
It truly was two birds with one stone.
Of course, only Gyu Soha, the Green Spirit, regretted having to discard the body she had only just obtained after using it to confess to being a spy.
“Ah? That person over there is Dark Tread, just like me!”
Still, Soha faithfully carried out her role.
She pointed toward the stairs leading to the upper floor, where a boy stood in confusion.
Hm?
Mok GyeongUn recognized the boy.
It was the boy who had passed the second gate in his group.
He remembered the boy because Masang had tried to kill Mo Ha-rang, who had been injured and lost consciousness even as Masang scuffled with Mok YuCheon. Had his name been Masang?
Then,
Whoosh!
Masang hurriedly leaped up the stairs.
“Catch him!”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The red leather belt warriors shouted and pursued Masang.
If the information in Dark Tread spy Neung Hwa-yang's memories was correct, Masang was the last of the four spies who had barely survived.
How unfortunate to come walking right into this.
However,
Why is he glaring at me like that?
Mok GyeongUn looked at Mok YuCheon, who was staring at him as though he wanted to kill him.
His eyes were filled with resentment.
Come to think of it, he seemed to have been descending the stairs alongside Masang, the Dark Tread spy.
Mok GyeongUn narrowed his eyes.
He must know something.
Otherwise, there was no reason for him to glare at Mok GyeongUn like that.
He was such a simple fellow.
If Mok GyeongUn had been connected to, or colluding with, the spies, he would never have revealed his emotions so openly.
But Mok YuCheon was painfully honest about his feelings.
Mok GyeongUn gave a short laugh.
Simple.
Was it because he was still young?
Should he take this chance to accuse Mok YuCheon of being a spy alongside the fleeing one and have him dealt with as well?
Mok GyeongUn considered it for a moment, then dismissed the thought.
Not yet.
Though he was an impostor, he and Mok YuCheon were both from Yeonmok Sword Manor as far as the Heaven and Earth Society was concerned.
If he gave them even the slightest reason for suspicion, it might hinder his efforts to blend into the Heaven and Earth Society's ranks.
I should leave him alone a little longer.
There would be plenty of opportunities to deal with him.
Mok GyeongUn waved at Mok YuCheon with a smile.
That only seemed to anger Mok YuCheon further. His face flushed as he stomped up the stairs.
Then someone approached him.
“Mok GyeongUn.”
“Ah. Yes.”
It was a middle-aged person who appeared older than the other red leather belt warriors.
A senior warrior, perhaps.
They pointed toward the lower floor.
“The Valley Lord summons you.”
The Valley Lord?
Did that mean the one wearing the Evil Spirit Mask?
Mok GyeongUn followed the senior warrior downstairs.
* * *
The red leather belt warriors conducting the gates used the first-floor quarters. The Valley Lord of Corpse-Blood Valley occupied the room adjoining the central office.
Knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door and said,
“Valley Lord, I have brought him.”
At the voice from outside, someone sitting in the office chair and looking into a bronze mirror spoke.
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes.”
The person in the chair moved the bronze mirror aside.
A face marred by burns briefly appeared in its reflection.
Soon after, the person put on the mask resting atop the office desk.
It was the Evil Spirit Mask.
“Send him in.”
“Yes.”
At the Evil Spirit Mask's command, the door opened, and a fine-featured boy entered the room.
It was Mok GyeongUn.
Mok GyeongUn greeted the Valley Lord with a slight bow.
The Evil Spirit Mask waved a hand and pointed to a guest chair.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
Once Mok GyeongUn sat down, the Evil Spirit Mask rose from the office chair, walked over, and sat across from him.
The Evil Spirit Mask stared intently at Mok GyeongUn.
Mok GyeongUn did not avoid that gaze and met it directly.
Well, look at this one.
He was bold enough not to avert his eyes.
Interest flashed in the eyes visible through the mask's slits.
Since becoming the Valley Lord of Corpse-Blood Valley, this was the first person like this.
There had occasionally been clever people with exceptional martial talent who cleared the gates quickly or used unexpected methods, but this boy was different.
They said that a promising tree could be recognized from its first buds.
This boy seemed to possess something that could take him higher than anyone the Valley Lord had seen thus far.
But there was one matter that had to be made clear.
“Mok GyeongUn.”
“Yes.”
“You are from Yeonmok Sword Manor of the force of justice, are you not?”
“Yes.”
“You do not need to answer in single words now.”
“...Understood.”
“From what I was told, you and one named Mok YuCheon were brought here as hostages in exchange for allowing Yeonmok Sword Manor to remain after closing its gates. Is that correct?”
Mok GyeongUn found the Evil Spirit Mask's words strange.
Did the Valley Lord not know exactly why he had come here?
He had assumed the Valley Lord knew it was because he had memorized and learned the martial arts book called the Heaven and Earth Society's treasure.
Then...
There seemed to be no need to reveal that.
Mok GyeongUn simply nodded.
“That is correct.”
At that answer, the eyes visible through the Evil Spirit Mask narrowed.
Then the Valley Lord spoke in a somewhat heavier voice.
“But something is strange.”
Shing!
The instant those words ended, a sword was already touching Mok GyeongUn's throat.
Mok GyeongUn's eyes sharpened.
He had clearly heard the sword being drawn and even seen the muscles move.
Yet although he had not closed his eyes, the sword had touched his throat in an instant.
...Fast.
It was a swift sword so fast that it was difficult to perceive.
Now he understood why Blue Spirit had said his current strength was still far from enough to accomplish anything within the Heaven and Earth Society.
It was difficult to gauge how strong the Valley Lord was.
Then the Evil Spirit Mask continued.
“You were brought here against your will. Why, then, did you reveal the Justice Alliance spies?”
That was what the Evil Spirit Mask wished to confirm.
No matter how the Valley Lord thought about it, Mok GyeongUn's actions made no sense.
“I revealed the spies because I hoped for a reward. I am surprised you find it strange.”
“Before speaking of rewards, you must first convince me of this.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
One of the Evil Spirit Mask's eyebrows rose.
The tip of a sword was against Mok GyeongUn's throat. A little force was all it would take for the sword to pierce through.
He was under suspicion, yet he did not show the slightest sign of wavering.
The Evil Spirit Mask spoke in disbelief.
“Do you understand that this is a situation where you might be suspected?”
“How could I not, when there is a sword at my throat?”
“Then are you simply reckless? Or do you have something that can clear away suspicion at once?”
“Let us say it is the latter.”
The Evil Spirit Mask clicked their tongue at Mok GyeongUn's answer.
Then the Valley Lord warned him in a low voice.
“I will tell you this beforehand. Within Corpse-Blood Valley, I hold the power of life and death. You may leave this office as a corpse.”
Sizzle!
The instant those words ended, fierce heat flowed from the sword.
As Mok GyeongUn wondered what it was, Blue Spirit's voice sounded beside his ear.
- So that is who it is. It seems to be that one's descendant.
Hm?
What did she mean?
As he wondered, Blue Spirit said,
- Mortal. Ask the one before you.
At the same time, Blue Spirit told Mok GyeongUn something.
Then the Evil Spirit Mask brought the heated sword's tip even closer and spoke.
“My patience is not so great. Quickly convince me...”
“Has the Lee Family learned to control the blazing Yang ki within their bodies now?”
The Evil Spirit Mask's pupils trembled the instant those words left Mok GyeongUn's mouth.
The eyes were the only visible part of the body beneath the mask, but it was clear the Valley Lord had been greatly startled.
As Mok GyeongUn expected, the Evil Spirit Mask was truly shocked.
How did this boy know of that?
Only a select few within the Heaven and Earth Society knew about blazing Yang ki.
Grab!
The Evil Spirit Mask withdrew the sword, seized Mok GyeongUn by the collar with the other hand, pulled him close, and demanded in a whisper,
“What are you? How could you possibly...”
Mok GyeongUn smiled at the unfinished words.
“You mean how I know about the Crimson Fire Sword Technique?”
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