Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 52

Chapter 52“You… become my disciple.”

‘!?’

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes sharpened at diviner Jo’s words.

He was already quite displeased from being manipulated by the technique earlier.

‘Did he do something unnecessary?’

Mok Gyeong-un surveyed his surroundings, rolling his eyes.

No one was visible for now, and no unusual presences were detected.

Was it because of his confidence in handling things alone that he lured him here with the technique?

‘Ten steps.’

With this distance, he seemed capable of subduing him.

He had become faster after learning the Light Body Technique.

And compared to martial artists, the physical abilities of sorcerers were significantly inferior.

‘If I kill him before he uses sorcery…’

“There’s no one around, so it’s a misconception if you think you can do anything to me.”

“…”

He wasn’t as inattentive as expected.

But there was definitely no presence.

And he hadn’t taken out any talismans or anything.

Trying once wouldn’t hurt…

-Gasp!

Mok Gyeong-un hesitated.

The moment he slightly lifted his foot off the ground, he felt the surrounding energy distorting.

That strange energy when he let go of the carriage.

It was similar to that, but this time it was sharp like swinging a weapon.

“Quite sensitive, aren’t you?”

A glint of interest flashed in diviner Jo’s eyes.

Naturally, he had expected that if the fellow was smart, he would find a way to escape the technique.

That’s why he had prepared in advance.

“To survive in this treacherous world, preparation must be thorough. That’s the first lesson I’ll give you.”

“…”

At his words, Mok Gyeong-un surveyed his surroundings.

No talismans or anything like that were visible.

But why did he feel that ominous sensation the moment he tried to take a step?

Sorcery indeed had depths the more one delved into it.

Mok Gyeong-un looked at diviner Jo and spoke.

“…I never said I would become your disciple.”

“Do you think you have a choice?”

“I can see you have a lot of interest in me, but I also have my own stance.”

“Stance? Ha.”

Diviner Jo scoffed.

Then he immediately took something out from his waist.

It was a wooden puppet with a talisman attached that read “Seal”.

Diviner Jo tossed and caught it, saying,

“Don’t you want to get this back?”

Seeing this, Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head slightly.

Then, out of curiosity, he sent death energy into his eyes and looked at the wooden puppet, and it seemed like something was inside.

But the energy was barely detectable, making it difficult to notice without focusing.

“Have you already forgotten what you were trying to protect?”

“Don’t tell me that’s…”

“Yes, it is. Did you think I would leave such a dangerous thing there?”

“…”

“You’re an interesting fellow. Even among excellent sorcerers, few have taken a vengeful spirit as a familiar.”

Diviner Jo only realized it after sealing the evil spirit into the wooden puppet.

Not only did he self-learn sorcery, but he also took a vengeful spirit as a familiar, something even outstanding sorcerers struggled to do.

He was undoubtedly a talent that couldn’t be more desirable as a disciple.

“I don’t know how you did it, but if you obediently agree to become my disciple, I can return this to you.”

He thought it was a pretty good offer.

The fellow must have done considerable re

“To obtain this.”

Mok Gyeong-un waved the Corpse Inquiry Secret Manual at her.

She snorted and said,

-You did that to get that sort of thing? Did you suddenly become stupid? Or are you confident you can escape that curse?

“There’s no need to escape or anything.”

-What?

Mok Gyeong-un casually removed the iron chain he had on his arm.

She frowned and asked,

-Is it originally that easy to take off?

“No. In the first place, an oath is something you have to swear by staking your own name.”

-Ha!

At those words, Cheong-ryeong finally understood why Mok Gyeong-un had made such an oath.

Mok Gyeong-un wasn’t his real name in the first place.

Naturally, there was no way the oath would be established and a curse imposed.

‘So that’s how it is.’

That brat wouldn’t do something detrimental just to learn sorcery.

-Since you got what you wanted, are you going to attempt to escape again?

“… I was considering it, but now I’m conflicted.”

-Changed your mind?

“Yes. I’m thinking it might be better to enter the darkest place.”

Although the risk was significant, in a way, it was the darkest place.

Cheong-ryeong showed a peculiar gaze at Mok Gyeong-un’s words.

Mok Gyeong-un asked,

“Seems like you have something to say. I also had something I wanted to ask.”

-What kind of sophistry is saying you have something to ask when you say I seem to have something to say?

“I mean I want to ask first.”

-What is it?

“Why do they think it’s real after seeing the sword techniques you showed, not the Eight Postures of Destruction?”

That was something he had been curious about.

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Cheong-ryeong closed her mouth.

-…

“Do you not want to tell me?”

-Phew.

She silently smoked her pipe and exhaled the smoke.

Usually, such a reaction meant she had no intention of telling him.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do.”

-…

“I need to take a look at this for now. That way, both the evil spirit and Cheong-ryeong can be by my side…”

-Are you really going there?

“What?”

-To Heaven and Earth Society.

At her somewhat serious question, Mok Gyeong-un recalled the gaze on the rooftop.

Those blood-red eyes seemed as if they would dye everything in blood.

But even now, that fury slightly shows.

“Depending on the situation.”

-… How coincidental.

“What is?”

-The situation.

“Hmm. What are you trying to say?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s question, Cheong-ryeong exhaled a long puff of smoke and extended her hand to Mok Gyeong-un, saying,

-If you’re really going there, become my disciple.

“… Hm.”

Mok Gyeong-un scratched his head.

Today, he seemed to hear people telling him to become their disciple here and there.

He even heard it from Cheong-ryeong of all people.

“Uh… I don’t know your reason for saying that, but there’s no need for a master-disciple relationship between us…”

-The weight is different.

“What?”

-Becoming my disciple means you will bear the karma of the moon and carry out a bloody purge.