106 - Missions, Investigation (13)

"Mok So Hyup! Are you alright?" The first thing Mok Riwon saw as he opened his eyes was the surprised face of Dang Hwa-seo. Beyond her, an unfamiliar ceiling, and a bitter medicinal scent invaded his nostrils. "Where is this..." In the midst of his speech. "Ugh!" Mok Riwon felt a headache. A sharp pain, as if his head was being sliced open with a knife. Memories resurfaced along with the pain. - You're intoxicated with killing intent. Yeon Ri Gun's voice and the sensation of that moment. The thrill that surged with the intensifying killing intent. And the vividly appearing scars on Yeon Ri Gun's body. Mok Riwon's eyes wavered. "So Hyup! Regain your senses!" Dang Hwa-seo grabbed Mok Riwon's cheeks. Mok Riwon came to his senses and looked at her. The touch on his cheeks was incredibly warm, allowing him to quickly recover his rationality. "...What happened?" "We successfully activated the formation. The enemies fled immediately, and it has been two days since." "Two days..." Attempting to rise, Mok Riwon's body jolted and stopped due to the pain. "You should lie down longer. Your fractures are severe, and you need to recover." "Where are the other members?" "They're all recovering. Jegal San, who was relatively unharmed, is assisting with outside matters." "I see..." Mok Riwon relaxed his body. Then, Dang Hwa-seo, with a belated smile of relief, gently stroked Mok Riwon's cheek. "You've suffered greatly. That man..." "He introduced himself as Sword Demon Yeon Ri Gun." "The Sword Demon..." Dang Hwa-seo's brow furrowed. Lost in thought, her expression grew serious. Mok Riwon quietly observed her, then reached out and gently touched her cheek. "...Hmm?" "Are you alright? You aren't hurt anywhere, are you?" Dang Hwa-seo's face reddened slightly. Her glance wavered, and she stuttered with her lips, deepening Mok Riwon's bewilderment. "Lady?" "...I'm fine." Dang Hwa-seo's lips quirked into a slight smile. "Are you sure you’re fine?" Her face didn't look alright at all, so Mok Riwon frowned. He stood up and grabbed Dang Hwa-seo's cheeks again. After sweeping under her eyes with his thumb, checking her forehead for fever, and even confirming her breathing by placing his finger under her nose, he concluded something was off. Her face was too hot, and her breathing was rough. "Lady, you don't seem well at all. Come here. Let me check your pulse." As he reached towards her neck. Thwap! Dang Hwa-seo batted Mok Riwon's hand away. Startled, Mok Riwon looked at her with confused eyes. She, with shoulders heaving from rough breaths and her lips quivering, looked back at him with fear-inducing eyes. Mok Riwon flinched. "L-lady...?" Instinct told him. Dang Hwa-seo was dangerous at that moment. However, Mok Riwon's concern for her outweighed any sense of danger, prompting him to cautiously approach her again. Dang Hwa-seo grabbed Mok Riwon's hand and spoke. "...I'm fine, so please rest a bit more. Ah, I'll go fetch some water for you. Could you wait for me?" Her voice was strangely flat. Harsh and stiff. Mok Riwon nodded frantically. "I'll wait." Quickly, Dang Hwa-seo stood and headed towards the door. Bang! As if to break it, she opened and closed the door. Gulp. Mok Riwon swallowed dryly. * Not long after Dang Hwa-seo left, the sound of the door quietly opening caught Mok Riwon's attention. Hoping it was Dang Hwa-seo returning, he was about to speak when a different voice greeted him. "Mok younger brother?" Peeking in was Jegal San. Mok Riwon's face brightened. "Jegal hyung!" Having heard he was less injured than others, Jegal San stood at the door looking neat. He glanced quickly around outside the door as if searching for something, then sighed and entered, closing the door behind him. He sat quickly beside Mok Riwon and asked, "Nothing happened, right?" "What do you mean? About what?" "You know. That lady... no, never mind." Jegal San went through the motions of washing his face with air, then shook his head vehemently. Regaining his composure, he then said, "Well, it's good you woke up safely. I was seriously worried since my younger brother wasn't waking up." Mok Riwon felt moved by his words. Was this the bond of sworn brothers? Despite probably being busy being dragged here and there, Jegal San had still come to visit, and Mok Riwon felt grateful. "I'm glad you're safe too, hyung! I heard you had a hard time defending the entrance! Are you injured anywhere?" "Me? My special skill isn't running away for nothing! I just turned tail and ran! It was lucky the enemies chased me. I was anxious they might give up on me and go straight for the chamber!" Mok Riwon burst into laughter. It was so typical of Jegal San. "Anyway, I'm relieved you're safe. How's everything going with the help you're giving?" "Don't even mention it. These black path folks don't know the first thing about gratitude, treating me as if I'm their servant. If you're wondering about the specifics..." Jegal San unfurled his tales. Truly a master storyteller, Mok Riwon got absorbed into his words. An incident involving the cleanup of a building's ruins where he stumbled upon an outhouse mishap. Disgusted, he left to assist elsewhere, ending up feeding porridge to the weakened courtesans. Then there was the time he flirted with a courtesan, only to flee here from her husband. Mok Riwon's face contorted with disdain after hearing everything. "...Jegal hyung, there must be a reason you're behaving this way?" Though he was fond of Jegal San, such moments brought an involuntary sense of repulsion. But Jegal San was just being himself. "Mok younger brother, the grass always looks greener on the other side. Ah... I must share this taste of life with Mok younger brother…" "What are you trying to share?" At that moment, a new voice interjected into the space. It was charged with a cold fury. Mok Riwon rolled his eyes towards Dang Hwa-seo, whose forehead veins were popping with anger. Gulp. Mok Riwon swallowed hard. Turning his gaze back, he saw Jegal San's complexion had turned deathly pale. Cold sweat was pouring down like a waterfall, his pupils were shaking as if he was caught in an earthquake, and his smile seemed more like a prelude to tears. Squeak, squeak, Jegal San's head turned. He looked as if facing an unspeakable horror, his eyes darting around before freezing in fear. "...Sister, how are you?" "Thanks to you, not well at all." Dang Hwa-seo, who had placed a tray with a cup on the floor, unfolded her hands. Crack. With that threatening sound, a dark green Qi wrapped around Dang Hwa-seo's fist. "I'm sorry..." Jegal San tried to apologize, but Dang Hwa-seo's fist was faster. Thwack! "Ugh!" Jegal San was struck squarely in the solar plexus. His legs trembled, and his back bent like a bow. Mok Riwon closed his eyes, turning away from the scene and muttered inwardly. ‘Jegal hyung…’ It was indeed a self-inflicted outcome. * A day passed, and Mok Riwon was able to walk again. Stretching lightly and practicing Qi circulation, Mok Riwon smiled. 'I've finally reached the transcendent state.' The fifth star emerged in his mind, marking the path there. Breaking through walls wasn't just a show of increased martial power. Mok Riwon felt a deeper and fuller internal energy. Though the ferocity of his internal energy deepened, his control over it had significantly strengthened. The Star Union Divine Art was a study of the heart. As one's realm ascends, they gain a deeper mental fortitude and an unshakeable steadfastness, unaffected by any adversity. Mok Riwon recalled Mok Seon-o's words from when he was a first-rate warrior. "At your current realm, managing your internal energy consumes a lot of mental energy, but that will become easier over time. Star Union can also be seen as martial arts of unshakeable mind." "Does that become possible just by accumulating realms?" "That's why it's called a Divine Art." Those words, delivered with a splendid smile, were indeed true. 'Master was right. Controlling my internal energy isn't as difficult as it used to be.' Of course, the sequential danger-filled situations added to his experience, but fundamentally, the merit of the Star Union Divine Art was significant. Mok Riwon opened his eyes. 'I must not become complacent.' This, too, was something Mok Seon-o had said. "Ultimately, martial arts are just a tool. The most important thing is your will, Riwon. Thus, devote yourself even more to cultivation. Focus all your efforts not on gaining strength but on honing an unwavering conviction. After all, strength is nothing but a secondary concept that naturally follows a sturdy conviction." Mok Riwon got up. He stretched and put on the grey martial attire provided by the Hao Mundoo. "A martial artist must wear martial attire, indeed!" As he was about to leave the room, belt-clad with a sword, Mok Riwon sensed someone outside. It was an unfamiliar presence. "Who is it?" He assumed it was one of the guards and asked. The reply came. "I am Hao Mundoo elder Ma Cheol-gon. May I enter?" Ma Cheol-gon, an elder of Hao Mundoo. Mok Riwon had heard of him. According to Dang Hwa-seo, Ma Cheol-gon was the benefactor who treated the members. A smile emerged on Mok Riwon's lips. "Ah! Please, come in!" - Then, I shall take you up on your offer. With a slide, the door opened, and Mok Riwon was able to see Ma Cheol-gon's appearance for the first time. His white hair was tied up in a round bun without a single strand falling. His eyebrows long like a mustache, and his beard reached down to his chest, giving him an almost immortal-like appearance, with tanned skin and wrinkles to match. Mok Riwon greeted him with a bow. "Though you probably already know, allow me to introduce myself. I am Mok Riwon of the Martial Alliance's Yongbong Brigade. It’s an honor to meet our benefactor." "I am Ma Cheol-gon of Hao Mundoo." Ma Cheol-gon returned the bow and relaxed his posture. Mok Riwon did the same, sitting down thereafter. “What brings you here?” “Are you feeling well?” “Yes, indeed! The treatment was so effective that I can now walk around without much difficulty!” He mentioned choosing the best quality ointment from the treasury for treatment. Truly, Mok Riwon was realizing why a monster is called a monster. At this rate, he believed he could return to his prime condition within three days. A smile stretched across Mok Riwon's face, but it soon faltered at the sight of Ma Cheol-gon's grim expression. “Is something bothering you?” Wrinkles furrowed Ma Cheol-gon's brow. His fist was clenched for some reason, and his gaze was fixated on the floor. Tension and concern were apparent. “...Elder Ma?” “There's something I wish to ask you.” “Hmm?” “I took your pulse for the treatment.” Thud. Mok Riwon's body stiffened. His eyes widened as though they might tear apart, and his lips twitched. ‘Pulse…’ His secret was discovered. The Extreme Demonic Body. A physique in which the meridians through which internal energy flows are inverted, opposite to that of ordinary humans. Normally, merely taking one's pulse wouldn't reveal such an anomaly. However, he is a physician who knows medicine. Furthermore, a physician who had sent his own energy into my body for treatment. Thump. Mok Riwon felt his heart sink. Unable to say anything, he clenched his fist. “I will ask.” Ma Cheol-du posed the question. “You are…” Filled with tension and caution. “...a demon?”