Myst, Might, Mahem

Note: How in the world is Evil a sound… All the stuff I put in *text* are basically onomatopes, or something similar, but how would evil come into this… what in the world?

Note 2: Sorry for the delay. But I finished just before the end of the Webnovel day, so let me rest now. I had a long day, and hopefully tomorrow is a Sunday so I won't have work irl. Then I can do more than 1 chapter.

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'!?'

At the words that came out of Mok Gyeongwoon's mouth, Go Chan's expression hardened. It was a something that should have been hidden now that Jangju was safe, but he never expected Mok Gyeongwoon to mention it directly.

'No, that… Are you really anxious to provoke the great lady Seok? That was like her secret.'

'Once she understood they knew about this, it wouldn't be strange for her to commit murder right here and now! Sh*t!' Go Chan became very stiff and looked at Mrs. Seok.

As expected, Mrs. Seok's expression had become more venomous than usual. But anger did not leave her mouth right away.

'This guy…'

In the first place, she came here because she thought Mok Gyeongwoon might have seen or figured out something. However, Mok Gyeongwoon's attitude was completely unexpected. Admitting that you knew the other person's secret was not much different from asking that person to kill you.

'What is your intention?'

Is this crazy guy coming out so courageously because he thinks this point would be her weakness? If that's the case, it's pointless. This guy was also someone who would have to be dealt with if Mok Yeongho became the leader…

*Papak*

Madam Seok's hand quickly grabbed Mok Gyeongwoon's neck like a snake seeking its prey. Guard Go Chan, who saw the movements of his hands, was convinced. Coming from a martial arts family, Sword Manor Seokgajang, she was clearly a top-notch expert.

'I can't deal with her unless she is sentenced to death. Then again, she is an opponent that Mok Gyeongwoon cannot handle.'

'Ah?'

Mok Gyeongwoon, whose neck was being held, had a strange look in his eyes. He was secretly surprised by her strength and unique hand movements, which were stronger than he had expected.

'Is this woman really that strong?'

In the information sheet, it was written that since she was from Sword Manor Seokgajang, she would be quite skilled in martial arts. But at this level, she was much stronger than Go Chan.

'That's interesting~'

Mrs. Seok's wrists were extremely thin. She was no different from any other woman, but she was this strong.

'As expected, the power of martial arts was mysterious.'

Mrs. Seok's eyes narrowed when she saw Mok Gyeongwoon's reaction.

'This guy… I grabbed his neck to scare him into thinking I could take his life at any moment, but he wasn't flustered in the slightest.'

Since he wasn't her child, she didn't see him often, but did this child have this much guts? On the contrary, she knew him to be the most timid among his half-brothers.

"You…"

That one word that came out of Mrs. Seok's mouth. Hearing this, Guard Go Chan swallowed dry saliva. Could it be that they got caught?

'Come to think of it, if you become a first-class expert, wouldn't you be able to tell whether or not your opponent has learned martial arts just by grabbing their neck?'

"…Have you been hiding your true colours?"

'!?' Go Chan was dumbfounded at the words that came out of Mrs. Seok's mouth, 'Should we consider this fortunate? Or should we say that we should be even more cautious?'

"This is what you were really like…"

At that time, Mok Gyeongwoon opened his mouth.

"I don't think that's… important."

"What?"

"Lord Jang…if he…returns…alive and well… it will be difficult for the Mok Yeongho to become… the Lord… I suppose~"

"This guy!"

Mrs. Seok's hands became even stronger.

"Brat! Do you think I can't kill you right here? Where and with whom are you trying to bargain?"

"This…is a little painful."

She frowned at Mok Gyeongwoon's words. If you put this much force on someone's neck, it would be difficult for them to breathe, but there was no significant change in Mok Gyeongwoon's expression.

'Isn't it painful?'

While she was wondering, Mok Gyeongwoon said, "Yes… that's right… bargaining… can only… be done… when the other party… has feeling towards you… mainly caution… and wariness… So yes… it seems possible to… bargain…"

"Wariness? Do you really think I would feel that way about someone like you?"

Among the four sons of the Mok family, Mok Gyeongwoon was the one with the least martial arts skills. Moreover, his mother was dead and the mother's family was almost ruined, so what could be done to make her feel wary?

"Demon Monk," the words were almost gone.

*Startle*

For a moment, a cold sensation that sent shivers down her spine took hold of her. Then, Mrs. Seok collided with something and was pushed backwards.

*Chrrrrrr*

Her eyes were shaking as she was pushed back about four steps.

'What was that just now? Even though I couldn't see it, something touched me. I was pushed back while generating energy for a moment, but the feeling went beyond being really unpleasant and gave me goosebumps.'

"Whoa!"

At that time, Mok Gyeongwoon, who had raised his upper body, turned his neck and cracked it.

*Wow*

*Wow*

"It's not a very pleasant feeling to have someone grab your neck."

Mrs. Seok glared harshly and spoke in a not-so-relaxed tone.

"What did you just do? What are you doing? It was empty just now…"

It was difficult to explain. Mok Gyeongwoon did not do anything to himself. But what is that strange feeling? She couldn't understand it, but Mok Gyeongwoon sat down on the bed and said, "Do you feel like bargaining now?"

"Bargain? That's funny. I guess there was some trick you were hiding, but do you think you'll have the same luck as before?"

"I guess it's still there. Then should I just take a maid?"

"What?"

"The one on the left over there would be better."

"What are you talking about on the left…?"

It was a moment to ask a question.

*Evil*

Everyone's eyes turned in the direction of the sound.

'!?'

Mrs. Seok's eyes wavered. No, not just her, but everyone in the medicine hall's eyes widened.

That was because one of the maids that Lady Seok had brought with her floated up to a height of about a foot.

*Whoop*

*Whoop!*

It looked like she was about to scream out of surprise, but the maid muttered as if her mouth was blocked by something. Everyone was speechless at this sight. What on earth is going on? Why was she acting like that when she looked perfectly fine?

'That's ridiculous,' Mrs. Seok's mind became confused by this strange phenomenon.

She had heard that among the profound Martial Arts masters, there are those who can manipulate things with inner energy, or true energy. But there was no way this brat was such an expert.

Moreover, if he had shown such a profound spirit that he lifted the maid, she would have sensed the energy to some extent.

'What, what is it?' Go Chan, the guard, was equally surprised.

'What does this mean? Was the fake Mok Gyeongwoon hiding this strange ability?'

 "Oops!"

At that time, Mok Gyeongwoon casually raised one hand and pretended to slit his throat.

*Sigh*

Then, the veins on the face of the maid, who was floating in the air as if caught by something, bulged and her eyes rolled back. It looked like she was going to run out of breath at any moment.

'This, this?'

The body of the dead shaman came to mind. Mrs. Seok, flustered by that sight, shouted, "Huh, stop!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You're doing this right now! I don't know what curse it is, but stop now!"

"Well~"

"You!"

"I'm trying to prove that I'm worthy of bargaining with the great lady, so wouldn't it be okay to risk the life of at least one person?"

Mok Gyeongwoon smiled.

Seeing that, Mrs. Seok's expression hardened even more. A maid who looked as if she will run out of breath at any moment. She wouldn't care if she was an ordinary maid, but the maid was a child she had brought from her hometown, Sword Manor Seokgajang.

She bit her lip and shouted, "Stop! stop! I'll listen to you talk about bargaining and all, so stop now!"

Hearing her words, Mok Gyeongwoon nodded lightly.

'OK'

*Thud*

The maid, who was on the verge of losing her breath, fell unconscious on the floor.

"Are you okay?!" Another maid hurriedly examined the details of the unconscious woman. Fortunately, she breathed a sigh of relief after confirming her life was not in danger.

Mrs. Seok was also relieved, but more than that, she had doubts about Mok Gyeongwoon's strange abilities.

'What on earth is this? It is a power that had nothing to do with energy. This was almost like a magic trick or supernatural power. When did you acquire these strange powers? …This guy.'

Her mind was filled with doubts, but since she didn't know what this power was right away, it was too risky to fight against him. To do that, they should have brought only guard warriors who knew how to do martial arts.

Mrs. Seok, who was glaring at Mok Gyeongwoon, opened her mouth, "…What are you bargaining for?"

"Since the Lord Jangju might awaken at any moment, don't you need the lord's official seal?"

"…"

She didn't answer, but she didn't deny it. It wasn't something to deny in the first place. It was the only way to ensure succession. But she didn't understand something.

"If you knew that, you could have kept it hidden. Why are you talking about it?"

"Why am I talking?"

"Yes. If you were to keep it a secret, you could have become the lord."

It was this that made her suspicious. She couldn't understand why someone would tell her something that could be kept secret. If he used the official lord's seal, he can gain the power of all the vassals.

"I don't really want to be the lord…"

"What?"

Mrs. Seok was momentarily speechless at the words that came out of Mok Gyeongwoon's mouth.

'You don't want to become a leader? You could become the owner of the historic Mok family, a powerful family in northern Anhui Province, but you don't want that?

"…Are you telling me to believe that now?"

"Isn't it possible?"

"Would you believe it?"

"I won't believe it. I might think you are cheating."

"If there is no compelling reason…"

"Firstly, as I said just now, I am not interested, and secondly, should I just say that I don't want to get involved in the fight for succession?"

"You don't want to fight?"

"Yes. To be precise, I'm not interested. But I should say that I don't want to waste my time on something pointless?"

She frowned at Mok Gyeongwoon's words like this. Did this guy think that deciding on the owner of the Yeonmok Sword Hall was a waste of time? How much effort did she put into making his son, Mok Yeongho, the lord? It was truly absurd.

She said while staring at Mok Gyeongwoon, "…If you really don't want anything, tell me the location of the main seal and the non-level seal. Then I'll believe you've really given up."

Mok Gyeongwoon snorted at her words.

"I can't do that."

"Then I don't believe you…"

"Don't believe it. I will make the same bargain with the second young master."

"What?" For a moment, Mrs. Seok's composure was shaken, "What are you talking about now….."

"You heard it correctly. But since it seems that you don't understand what I'm saying, let me put it simply. I don't need you to believe me. There are other people who want the lord's official seal other than Great Lady Seok and the eldest young master Mok Yeongho?"

'!!!!!'

Her expression completely hardened.

Seeing this, Mok Gyeongwoon smiled and said, "Now I think you know who has the sword hilt, no?"