Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel)

Was this fellow really the Mok Gyeongwoon he knew?

Glaring at Mok Gyeongwoon with anger-filled eyes, Mok Yucheon opened his mouth in an equally low voice, "…Yes, you're right. If the secret manual goes to other brothers, my situation would be obvious without even looking."

"Since you understand your situation well, now…"

"But you know what? Have you ever thought that I could beat you to death and make the secret formula come out of your mouth?"

*Clench*

With those words, Mok Yucheon grasped Mok Gyeongwoon's wrist that was placed on his shoulder. Then, he drew upon his internal energy and applied force. Thanks to that, the veins on the back of Mok Gyeongwoon's hand swelled up as if they would burst at any moment.

Mok Yucheon spoke, exuding a murderous aura, "With a little more force, I can cripple your wrist."

*Crunch*

Mok Yucheon applied even more force to his hand. A twisting sound could be heard from the grasped hand, and if he squeezed a little more, it would be truly dangerous.

'If you know that I can also go berserk when pushed…!?'

Mok Yucheon furrowed his brow. He thought Mok Gyeongwoon would be in pain and agony to this extent. However, there was no change in Mok Gyeongwoon's expression. Rather, he was staring intently at him.

'This bastard?'

He's enduring this? The situation is just a step away from his wrist bone breaking, yet he wasn't even anxious? For a moment, Mok Yucheon was dumbfounded. This didn't seem to be a matter of patience.

"…What are you? Are you really Mok Gyeongwoon?"

'Gasp!'

At those words from Mok Yucheon's mouth, the expression of escort guard Go Chan, who was watching restlessly from behind, hardened.

It was already worrisome that they had been in contact for too long. Could it be that their identities had been exposed? If that was the case, it could truly be the worst situation.

But at that moment, Mok Gyeongwoon chuckled and looked straight at Mok Yucheon, opening his mouth, "Then what do you think?"

Seeing his unwavering demeanour, Mok Yucheon's eyes narrowed. The difference from the cowardly and timid fellow he knew was so great that it even felt strange.

To him, Mok Gyeongwoon said, "You talk as if you know me well, but what do you know to say that?"

"Are you saying that I don't know you…"

"Yes. What do you know? Aside from being half-siblings and us having an incident two years ago, what do you know to ask like that?"

"…"

At the question asked in a confident voice, Mok Yucheon closed his mouth. He was too confident, so he had nothing to say in return. His appearance had changed so much in two years that it was puzzling, but when asked in reverse like this, he didn't know how to answer.

He hadn't had many conversations with him even before their confrontation two years ago. They were half-siblings, and everyone despised and kept their distance from him, calling him the offspring of a lowly wh*re. This fellow was the same.

'Annoying.'

But why was this fellow being so arrogant in reverse? The question of what he knew about him was what he wanted to ask the people of this Mok family.

*Clench*

Mok Yucheon, who had been biting his lip tightly, finally loosened the force in his grasping hand.

Then, releasing Mok Gyeongwoon's wrist, he said, "Let me ask you one thing. Why me?"

"Why you?"

"Yes. None of you bastards ever acknowledged me. Then you could have made a deal with those proud bloodlines."

At those words, Mok Gyeongwoon nonchalantly said, "I just thought you were better than your brothers, that's all."

"…"

For a moment, Mok Yucheon fell silent. Mok Yucheon stared intently into Mok Gyeongwoon's eyes. He thought Mok Gyeongwoon would also despise him because of the incident two years ago, just like himself. But hearing these words was truly unexpected. Of course, it wasn't a matter of their relationship suddenly improving because of this.

'…Did I view this bastard too simply?'

That thought crossed his mind. He had wanted someone to recognize him, but he had never tried to understand someone else. Perhaps Mok Gyeongwoon had truly changed over the past two years.

Mok Yucheon lowered his guard and spoke while standing straight, "Phew… Alright. Let's do whatever this deal is."

"Good."

"What do you want?"

Although he didn't show it outwardly, Mok Yucheon was inwardly worried about what request Mok Gyeongwoon would make. Offering a secret manual known as the manor master's exclusive martial art was no different from making a huge concession.

Considering its value, there was no way he would ask for something trivial. He hoped it wouldn't exceed the level he could accommodate.

To Mok Yucheon, Mok Gyeongwoon raised three fingers and said, "I have three demands."

"What?"

"I think it's worth this much."

At Mok Gyeongwoon's words, Mok Yucheon didn't respond. Because it was difficult to say it wasn't. So, he thought he should at least hear what he would demand.

"Still, that's a lot. Anyway, what are they?"

"They're not that difficult for you."

"…I understand. Tell me."

"First, if you become the manor master, don't touch me, even if I don't know about the other brothers."

At those words, Mok Yucheon's eyes flickered with interest. Indeed, it wasn't an extremely difficult request. No, from Mok Gyeongwoon's perspective, it might be a natural demand. If he were to become the manor master with the support of the retainers, he would naturally engage in a war with the other half-siblings.

'Even if I don't like this fellow, it's not a bad request from my perspective.'

Because he could reduce the number of enemies by at least one. With that, he readily answered, "Alright. I can accommodate that much. What's next?"

"If you become the manor master, I want continuous financial support."

"Financial?"

"Yes."

"…Fine."

This wasn't a particularly difficult request either. Hearing it, it sounded more like he was asking to be continuously responsible as a member of Yeon Mok Sword Manor, rather than demanding a large sum of money.

Mok Yucheon considered it not bad and accepted it. Unexpectedly, there weren't any significant demands as he had worried, so he considered it fortunate.

However, he couldn't let his guard down. The final request could be substantial.

"What's the last one?"

"This isn't a big deal either. I want the cultivation method and martial arts formulas related to Yeon Mok Sword Manor's basic techniques."

"What?"

Mok Yucheon furrowed his brow at the unexpected request. Seeing his reaction, Go Chan became inwardly anxious. Somehow, they had luckily passed the issue of their identities, but if he asked about this, it would inevitably raise suspicion again.

'Will it work?'

As he was feeling anxious, Mok Gyeongwoon nonchalantly said, "You heard me. I want the cultivation method and martial arts formulas related to Yeon Mok Sword Manor's basic techniques."

At these words, Mok Yucheon spoke in a tone of incomprehension, "You know it too, don't you?"

"I know it."

"Then why are you demanding that? It's not necessary…"

"To be honest, the third request isn't really needed."

'Huh?'

Go Chan, puzzled, looked at the back of Mok Gyeongwoon's head. What's this about? Not needed?

Like Go Chan, Mok Yucheon also asked in confusion, "Not needed?"

"Yes. The first two are what I really want. But the last third one, I'm just demanding it because I personally have something to confirm."

At those words, Mok Yucheon relaxed his furrowed brow. Then, tilting his head, he said, "What are you trying to confirm?"

"It's nothing much. I just want to confirm if what I know is correct."

"Confirm if what you know is correct?"

"Yes. There's no other reason."

At Mok Gyeongwoon's words, Mok Yucheon let out a faint smile. Seeing his reaction, Go Chan was puzzled. He couldn't understand why Mok Yucheon was showing such a reaction instead of being suspicious of Mok Gyeongwoon's ambiguous words.

But the next words from Mok Yucheon revealed the reason.

"Are you suspecting Father?"

'!?'

"Do you think Father taught me differently?"

'What?'

At those words, Go Chan's eyes widened. No, this was a completely unexpected approach. He didn't expect Mok Yucheon to make his own assumptions instead of being suspicious.

In response, Mok Gyeongwoon nonchalantly said, "I just want to confirm."

"There won't be much difference."

"I'll know that when I hear what you say."

At those words, Mok Yucheon scoffed.

Then, shaking his head, he said, "There's no point in confirming, but you're doing something unnecessary."

"If there's no difference, you can just tell me. I can immediately confirm if it's different or not just by hearing what you say."

"You're making an absurd request."

"You have nothing to lose anyway."

"…Well, that's true."

"Then you can just tell me the formulas of the basic techniques right here. I'll also let you know right after you tell me."

"What? Here?"

Mok Yucheon glanced around and frowned, asking in response.

Mok Gyeongwoon shrugged and said, "Why? Are you worried someone might eavesdrop? Or do you perhaps lack confidence in memorizing it verbally?"

At these words, Mok Yucheon spoke in an irritated tone.

"You're just in the position of confirming what you already know, but I have to memorize the formulas of an advanced martial art that I just learned. It's different!"

"Ah… Is that so? Then would it be better to write it down and send it to you?"

At these words, Mok Yucheon momentarily flinched. It would be more convenient to have it written down and sent, but upon thinking about it, that didn't seem right.

'I should hear it here.'

Just in case. Although he had confirmed the secret manual, there was a slight chance that Mok Gyeongwoon might teach him the wrong formulas. In that case, it would be better to hear it verbally here. That way, if there were any mistakes when he asked him to repeat it several times, he could discern them.

Considering it a good idea, Mok Yucheon said, "No, let's do it here. But keep reciting it until I fully memorize the formulas."

"That's not difficult at all."

Thus, the deal between the two was sealed.

…

Two hours and two quarters had passed.

On the way back to the Medicinal Hall. Escort guard Go Chan clicked his tongue as he looked at Mok Gyeongwoon's back, walking with light footsteps.

'He's truly amazing.'

He had no choice but to acknowledge it this time. He knew Mok Gyeongwoon was smart from his continuous experiences, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent. Originally, Mok Gyeongwoon's only desired request was the basic techniques.

However, he first mentioned plausible demands to dispel Mok Yucheon's suspicion. Moreover, he also requested the basic techniques, saying he just wanted to confirm if they matched what he already knew, naturally guiding the atmosphere.

'Ah… Really…'

He was incredibly cunning. Of course, luck played a part to some extent. Thanks to Mok Yucheon's own assumptions, Mok Gyeongwoon was able to take advantage of the situation well. That's because his intuition was extraordinarily sharp.

'It would be hard to be more natural than this.'

He was an amazing fellow. But there was one thing he was curious about. It seemed like Mok Gyeongwoon had managed to hear the formulas of the basic techniques from Mok Yucheon, but due to the purpose of confirmation, it seemed like he only heard them once.

Was it possible to memorize so many formulas after hearing them just once?

After pondering whether to ask or not, Go Chan finally inquired, "…Young Master, but it seems like you only heard the formulas once. Is that alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"There are too many formulas to memorize at once…"

"What's difficult about that?"

"Pardon?"

"Isn't it possible to memorize that much after hearing it just once?"

'!?'

At those words, Go Chan's eyes widened. He memorized those many formulas of the basic techniques, which took nearly half an hour, after hearing them just once? The basic techniques included fist techniques, sword techniques, basic qi circulation methods, and even body-tempering methods.

It was an amount that couldn't possibly be memorized after hearing it just once. Even Mok Yucheon, who was called a heavenly martial talent, had to hear it recited by Mok Gyeongwoon almost eight or nine times before he could barely memorize it, didn't he?

"…Did you really memorize it after hearing it once?"

"Yes. It's not particularly difficult, so what's strange about it?"

"…"

Not particularly difficult? Then did that mean he and that young master Mok Yucheon were idiots? He had considered it amazing that Mok Yucheon was able to memorize it in about two hours just by listening to the recitation.

'Ha.'

If these words were true, this fellow's mind could truly be extraordinary. Go Chan, who was inwardly dumbfounded, shook his head. This fellow couldn't be judged by common sense. So, it would be better for him to just go along with it.

"…No, it's nothing. I asked because I wasn't confident in memorizing it after hearing it once. Anyway, it's fortunate that the deal was completed without any issues. But will it be alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"Even if it was a deal, is it alright to teach the secret manual to Young Master Mok Yucheon so readily?"

Given Mok Yucheon's temperament, he was better than the other young masters. He would probably keep the agreed-upon deal unless something significant happened. But there was a sense of regret. Didn't he essentially give up the opportunity to gain the support of the retainers?

To him, Mok Gyeongwoon nonchalantly said, "It's not even the proper formulas, so there's no problem in teaching them."

"…Pardon?"

Go Chan furrowed his brow. What was he talking about now?

"Young Master… What do you mean by that?"

"Ah. I should have kept it to myself."

"Pardon?"

Mok Gyeongwoon put his arm around Go Chan's shoulder and whispered in his ear with a grin.

"It's a secret, so only you know, Go Chan. I taught him the formulas of the Ignited Wood Heart Transformation Method and the Ignited Wood Sword Formation by reversing the characters or changing them to have different meanings every thirteen or fourteen characters. I was nervous that I might get caught, but somehow it worked out well."

'!?'

Upon hearing those words, Go Chan couldn't hide his bewilderment for a moment. He had found it strange that Mok Gyeongwoon handed over the secret manual too readily. But he taught the formulas of the cultivation method and sword technique incorrectly by arbitrarily rearranging them? If one practiced them incorrectly, they could suffer from Qi Deviation, become a cripple, or even die.

"Young Master, if you do that…"

"Why?" Mok Gyeongwoon asked with his characteristically chilling smile.

'!!!!!!'

At this, Go Chan felt shivers all over his body. This fiend had no interest whatsoever in whether the youngest young master, Mok Yucheon, would be harmed or not.

'…This fellow is truly a devil.'

The atmosphere earlier had been somewhat warm. He thought it was a deal that both sides could be satisfied with, but it wasn't at all. The winner of the deal was this devilish fellow.

"Whew."

However, there was another being observing their appearance from the air, clicking its tongue.

It was Cheongryeong. Cheongryeong looked at Mok Gyeongwoon while puffing on her pipe.

'Crazy mortal.'

It was truly absurd. That mortal named Go Chan was completely unaware of this fact. Mok Gyeongwoon had improvised and temporarily changed around eighty characters in the formulas, and he had recited them to Mok Yucheon nine times without a single mistake, exactly the same each time.

It goes beyond the level of having an extraordinary mind.