Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 351 – Spiritual Sword Sanctuary (2)

Moyong Hak, the eldest son of the Moyong family, sighed as if frustrated and whispered to Jeong Myeong Sa-tae of the Hangshan Sect.

“Huu. This is quite troublesome. To think we still haven’t met the most likely suspect.”

“Amitabha. Patron Moyong. There are many eyes and ears here. We should refrain from speaking.”

Jeong Myeong Sa-tae put her hands together and quietly advised.

They were currently on the path leading to the rear garden of the guest hall in Sword Dance Courtyard, at the heart of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary.

Besides the craftsmen of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, there were many guests from the martial world here.

Even just those strolling in the rear garden numbered nearly thirty.

They all wore swords at their waists or on their backs, as they were both swordsmen and sword experts.

The gazes of these people towards Moyong Hak and the Righteous Alliance warriors were not particularly friendly.

The reason was simple.

“These are people who respect Master Ou. Don’t provoke them with careless words.”

“Ahem. I understand.”

At the guest hall manager’s answer, the two decided to go to the Sword Discussion Hall.

In fact, most of the guests at Spiritual Sword Sanctuary stayed at the Sword Discussion Hall rather than the guest hall of Sword Dance Courtyard, except during meal times.

It was a place where they could discuss swords and where Master Ou’s tests took place.

***

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Southwest side of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary’s estate.

A couple was wandering around not far from the manor’s entrance.

They were Mok Gyeong-un and Ye Song-ah, the granddaughter of the Holy Fire Priestess.

Unlike Mok Gyeong-un, who was walking casually and peacefully, Ye Song-ah’s eyes were constantly moving, scanning their surroundings.

‘Is this really okay?’

She was inwardly extremely anxious and nervous.

This was because they had essentially trespassed into this place without permission.

Mok Gyeong-un, with his keen sense of qi, had identified a position with almost no people and jumped over the wall while carrying her.

‘Ugh. What if we get caught?’

Mok Gyeong-un was certain that the one who subdued and took away Ou Yeonwoo, who could be considered her lover, was either his brother or from the same school.

If his guess was correct, they certainly needed to enter this place.

However, she didn’t expect him to choose to sneak in like this.

[Is it really okay to sneak in like this?]

[Would you prefer we tell them we’ve come to find something called a sacred orb and enter?]

That wasn’t possible.

From what she had heard from Ou Yeonwoo, his brothers and most people at Spiritual Sword Sanctuary disliked the Fire Faith Order, considering it a heretical cult that deceived people.

So while she expected they would enter with hidden identities, this was too bold.

What if they encountered the craftsmen or warriors of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary?

Since they didn’t enter officially, they wouldn’t even have an excuse, right?

-Step step!

“Have you been here before?”

“No.”

“I should have asked that first.”

“Why do you say that?”

“It would have been easier to move alone.”

“……”

Mok Gyeong-un was the type not to mince words when saying something wasn’t helpful.

Though she felt a bit hurt, constantly being treated like luggage when she wanted to be acknowledged, she tried her best not to show it.

“To the right.”

Mok Gyeong-un moved his steps as she indicated.

The strange thing was that when they moved where Mok Gyeong-un directed, they didn’t encounter anyone.

However, no matter how much they tried to avoid others, since the manor wasn’t as large as the imperial palace or the Heaven and Earth Society, they eventually couldn’t avoid encountering someone.

Ye Song-ah, very tense, said as she heard footsteps approaching from the opposite direction:

“Shouldn’t we go the other way?”

“No. We’ll have to ask someone anyway, so this is good timing.”

“What? Ask?”

Just then, someone appeared from the opposite direction.

He looked like a craftsman of Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, a man with dark, tanned skin covered in burn marks.

While she was tense and stiff, in contrast:

-Step step!

The man approached where they were without any particular reaction, intending to pass by with a light bow.

‘Huh? Could it be?’

Does he think they’re guests?

Otherwise, there’s no way he would try to pass by so nonchalantly.

But then Mok Gyeong-un called out to him.

“Excuse me.”

‘!?’

At this, the craftsman stopped and turned his head.

Mok Gyeong-un said to him:

“Where should we go to see Master Ou’s youngest son?”

“……You mean Young Master Yeonwoo?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you want to see Young Master Yeonwoo?”

The craftsman, who had shown no particular reaction until now, asked with furrowed brows.

At that moment, Ye Song-ah hurriedly interjected.

“We heard that unlike the other young masters, he’s young and handsome, but we haven’t been able to see him at all.”

“My goodness.”

At her words, the craftsman reacted as if it was such a trivial reason.

At this, she glanced at Mok Gyeong-un with a look that said, ‘Wasn’t that at least somewhat helpful?’

Of course, Mok Gyeong-un didn’t seem to care at all and didn’t even look at her.

Then the craftsman shook his head and said:

“I don’t know how long you guests will be staying, but it will be difficult to see the youngest young master for a while. So don’t get your hopes up.”

“What? Why is that?”

“That’s an internal matter of our manor, so I can’t tell you guests.”

“Ah……”

As he flatly refused, she didn’t know what to do.

From the craftsman’s reaction, it was clear that something had happened, but there was no way they would willingly tell them about it.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

The craftsman was about to continue on his way.

At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un called out to him.

“Our conversation isn’t over yet.”

“Why are you doing this again?”

The craftsman turned his head with a somewhat annoyed expression.

Then Mok Gyeong-un suddenly stretched his hand towards him.

-Sseuk!

The craftsman asked, bewildered:

“What are you doing……”

-Tak!

Before he could finish speaking, Mok Gyeong-un lightly flicked his finger, and the craftsman’s expression became blank before his eyes glazed over.

Mok Gyeong-un smiled at him and said:

“Please tell us where the youngest young master is.”

“The… youngest… young master is imprisoned in the underground cell of Jiyul Hall……”

‘!?’

At this answer, Ye Song-ah looked at Mok Gyeong-un with wide eyes.

What on earth did he do to make him answer so obediently?

***

Inside Young Master Ou Woong-hwang’s room.

Someone was searching for something there, suppressing their presence.

It was none other than Ou Yeonwoo.

Why was he, who should have been locked in the underground cell of Jiyul Hall, searching a room without its owner?

It was to find the sacred orb of the Fire Faith Order.

‘Where on earth is it?’

Thanks to the wire he had hidden, he had managed to undo his restraints and escape from the cell.

But when he came to Ou Woong-hwang’s room to find the orb, he couldn’t find it despite searching everywhere from the study to the desk and bed.

Ou Woong-hwang disliked carrying cumbersome things, so he didn’t even wear accessories, let alone carry unnecessary items.

So he thought it would naturally be in the room, but he was perplexed.

‘Could it be?’

If, contrary to expectations, he was carrying it around, there was no way to retrieve it.

He would be furious just knowing that he had escaped from the cell, so what could he do?

As he was contemplating this:

-Creeeeak!

‘Oh?’

At that moment, the closed door opened.

There wasn’t even a presence approaching the door, so he had no time to hide anywhere.

The person who appeared as the door opened was:

“Haa. I told you to reflect, yet you were here?”

It was Young Master Ou Woong-hwang.

Ou Yeonwoo’s expression froze as their eyes met.

Usually at this time, he would be at the Sword Discussion Hall, so this was a completely unexpected situation.

Ou Woong-hwang approached the flustered Ou Yeonwoo and said:

“I came to check if you were eating properly, but to think you came out like a rat and headed to my room. Ha!”

He had been furious when he went to the cell and found Ou Yeonwoo missing.

Then, remembering how Ou Yeonwoo had been particularly obsessed with that orb, he came to his room suppressing his presence, just in case.

And sure enough, he was searching the room like this.

“This won’t end with just locking you up.”

“Brother……”

“Even though we’re half-brothers, I didn’t want to be too harsh because we share the same blood, but you’ve brought all this upon yourself.”

-Jjirit jjirit!

Under Ou Woong-hwang’s tremendous aura, Ou Yeonwoo’s skin stung.

Ou Woong-hwang was the greatest swordsman in Spiritual Sword Sanctuary, second only to their father, Master Ou Cheonmu.

Naturally, not only his sword skills but also his inner force was immensely profound, comparable to the elders of the Nine Sects and One Clan.

“I’ll have to break those two legs of yours so you won’t think of escaping again.”

-Step! Step!

As Ou Woong-hwang’s footsteps drew closer, Ou Yeonwoo felt suffocated.

He could now understand how much Ou Woong-hwang had been holding back when they desperately fought in the cave.

No, he hadn’t even used 30% of his skill against him.

‘Damn it…… I couldn’t even find the orb.’

If he was imprisoned again, he wouldn’t be able to face her.

But then,

-Flinch!

Ou Woong-hwang, who had been walking forward emitting a terrifying aura, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

There was still about nine steps distance between them.

But why did he stop?

As Ou Yeonwoo was wondering, Ou Woong-hwang furrowed his brows and spoke:

“……Who might you be?”

‘You?’

Who on earth was he talking to?

Then, a shadow flickered at the entrance, and a figure appeared.

The moment that figure’s shadow covered the room, Ou Yeonwoo’s eyes shook wildly.

It was only for an instant, but it felt as if the entire room was being engulfed in darkness.

Ou Woong-hwang’s aura was already so strong that it was hard to breathe, but this made that seem laughable.

In an instant, his face was covered in cold sweat.

But it seemed he wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

-Drip!

At the sound that rang in his ears, he looked forward and saw a drop of water on the floor where Ou Woong-hwang was standing.

Naturally looking up, he saw that Ou Woong-hwang’s face was also beaded with sweat.

His eyes, caught from behind, were filled with extreme tension.

‘……This can’t be.’

He had never seen this before.

Had his brother ever shown such fear of someone, except for their father?

As he was marveling at this, a voice was heard:

“Quite wise. I advise you to stay still.”

“……”

Though the words were spoken politely, the pressure and arrogance in that voice made Ou Woong-hwang’s expression distort greatly, as if he felt deeply insulted.

However, seemingly not caring about this at all, the voice said:

“Is that person Ou Yeonwoo?”

“Yes, it is!”

At the familiar voice, Ou Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.

As he was thinking ‘could it be’, the face he had been longing for so much was approaching him.

‘Song-ah!’

It was Ye Song-ah, the granddaughter of the Holy Fire Priestess.