Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 186 – Pinnacle (1)

“Heheh.”

Gyu Soha, who ended up possessing the body of the female Fourth Mountain Grass Smoke Group’s leader Seo Hye-in according to her wishes, snickered as if satisfied.

Seeing Gyu Soha like that, Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue.

– Tsk tsk. I don’t understand how she can insist that she’s a man while being so happy.

– Indeed.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.

In fact, it didn’t matter to him whether Gyu Soha was a woman or a man.

He just needed a card that could move as he wished.

– By the way, what are you going to do? Regardless of the process, it seems you’ve gotten the factions of the second disciple Jang Neung-ak and his junior sister Wi So-yeon under your control, just as you intended.

– Not completely yet.

– Why do you think so?

– We can only say we’ve succeeded in merging the two groups when we can move the real powerhouses.

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Cheong-ryeong said as if impressed,

– Oh? Is that so?

– Isn’t this the natural course of action?

– Yes. You’re right. The greenhorn subordinates may follow their masters’ orders, but the real ones are different.

The real ones Cheong-ryeong was talking about.

It didn’t refer to the loyal subordinates of the two successors.

The majority of the subordinates were disciples of the next generation who would take responsibility, but currently, the executives behind them were the real power holders.

– If we try to hastily merge the two forces, we may face opposition from the elders behind them.

– Indeed.

The subordinates following Jang Neung-ak or Wi So-yeon are disciples of the next generation of similar age.

Unless it’s an extraordinary case, they have no choice but to move according to their lord’s will.

However, as Cheong-ryeong said, the executives were different.

– If it goes against their interests, they are likely to react differently.

– Do you have a plan for that?

– Well… What do you think is the best way?

At Mok Gyeong-un’s question, Cheong-ryeong asked in puzzlement,

– Are you asking seriously?

– Yes.

– …Are you seeking advice from me?

– Yes, that’s right.

– Ha? The sun must be rising from the west. You’re the one who doesn’t even listen to the advice I give and does whatever you want.

– You seem more familiar with handling an organization than I am.

– …

– Am I wrong?

– …Hmph. You’re talking nonsense.

Cheong-ryeong, who was looking at Mok Gyeong-un while within a wooden puppet, seemed surprised.

Judging by his actions, she thought he might act on his own until the end.

But at some point, he had started adopting her advice little by little.

Especially in matters of handling an organization like this.

‘This guy… He may have the qualities of a leader too.’

It was an unexpected aspect.

The Mok Gyeong-un she had been watching so far was close to a lone wolf who never trusted others.

But as he began to face enemies with an organized force, his judgment and insight were gradually rising to match it.

This was truly the quality of a leader.

A leader doesn’t just lead an organization with pressure or stubbornness, but must be able to contemplate and discern the situation with a broad perspective and utilize talented individuals in the right place at the right time.

Without realizing it, Mok Gyeong-un was gradually doing that instinctively.

‘Is it not just his martial arts that are growing?’

He’s a truly peculiar fellow.

Usually, when one thing is outstanding, another tends to be lacking, but it was strange to the point of being remarkable that he was growing in various aspects.

To her, who inwardly found him admirable, Mok Gyeong-un said,

– If there’s no particular plan…

– Move people.

– Move people?

– Yes.

– How?

– No matter how much you run around alone, it’s difficult to make the elders behind them move as you wish. But if you move people, it will become a bit easier.

– …

– It doesn’t seem to click with you. There’s a good example related to this.

– What is it?

– When that old King of Poison said he would clean up his surroundings and talk to the Shadow Clan Master about the current situation and pursue an alliance, what did you do?

– …I asked him to do it.

– Yes. Didn’t you entrust that to the old man and do what you had to do?

– That’s right.

– That old man is not your servant spirit, nor do you have any leverage over him, so why did you casually entrust that to him?

– That’s…

Mok Gyeong-un didn’t continue.

It was because he realized what intention Cheong-ryeong had in saying these words.

When Cheong-ryeong said to move people, it wasn’t with a simple intention.

The true meaning of her words was,

‘…Is she telling me to trust?’

Mok Gyeong-un never trusted others.

That’s why, until he became a death row inmate, he didn’t trust anyone and moved alone.

But at some point, the situation changed.

It was because he encountered the limit of his own strength.

If the one he considered an enemy had not been a martial artist or someone associated with a huge organization like the Heaven and Earth Society, he would have still tried to solve everything alone.

However, now it was different.

He realized that he needed various cards to face a huge organization.

‘Trust…’

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

He was aware that he needed various cards, so he was gradually increasing the number of servant spirits.

However, there was something he realized while newly turning spirits into servant spirits this time.

It was that he couldn’t infinitely increase the number of servant spirits.

[Oh? There was one more.]

He thought only one spirit was born among the martial artists on the terrace, but two entities were trying to be created at that time.

So Mok Gyeong-un tried to make that one spirit a servant spirit as well.

However, he couldn’t.

It was because the karma wasn’t formed.

[As I thought.]

[What do you mean by that?]

[Karma is literally like forcibly connecting fate. Fate is inevitable and like the yoke of law, so it would be stranger to infinitely increase it in the first place.]

[Is there a limit?]

[If karma could be endlessly connected, that would rather go against inevitability.]

Mok Gyeong-un couldn’t understand the enlightenment of the dead because he wasn’t dead.

However, what was certain was that the act of increasing servant spirits itself was close to going against inevitability and law, so there had to be restrictions.

In conclusion, there was a limit to the number of servant spirits that could be maintained.

Therefore, there was a limit to increasing the number of cards that could be utilized by increasing servant spirits.

‘No other way?’

As Cheong-ryeong said, in order to increase the cards, that “trust” might be somewhat necessary.

Mok Gyeong-un chuckled as he thought about this.

The fact that he, who could never absolutely trust anyone, was contemplating trust in others to increase the cards he could utilize.

Cheong-ryeong said to him,

– You’re quite peculiar too. How can someone who needs to move people not be able to trust people?

– Is it a contradiction?

– Contradiction… Yes, that’s a word that suits you well. But suddenly I’m curious.

– About what?

– Why is it that you can’t trust people?

– Who knows? Do I have to trust them?

At Mok Gyeong-un’s dry response, Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘A peculiar brat.’

If he had been betrayed by someone he trusted like her, it would be understandable.

What was the reason why a guy who had barely lived a youthful age couldn’t trust others to this extent?

Simply because he had a way of thinking that deviated from ordinary people?

Of course, that could be the case.

Considering his appearance that she had been observing so far, he was full of irregularities and surprises.

But somehow it didn’t seem like that was all.

‘…I’ll know if I keep watching.’

What he ultimately wanted to do was revenge.

If she watched the process of that revenge, she would be able to understand why Mok Gyeong-un couldn’t trust people to this extent.

Until then,

– Well, whether you trust someone or not is up to you. But in order to organically move an organization, you need to have some level of trust.

– Since you say that, I’ll keep it in mind. Then what’s the best way to do it?

– What do you think is the most important card on Jang Neung-ak’s side?

– It would be Ho Jong-hyeok’s master.

Ho Jong-hyeok’s father, or the Axe King Ho Tae-gang, was one of the Five Kings and the Eight Stars considered the top masters of the current Central Plains martial world.

– Yes. He would be the main pillar of the forces supporting Jang Neung-ak.

– If he moves, the others will naturally have no choice but to follow the trend.

– That’s right. So move the Axe King through Ho Jong-hyeok.

– That makes sense.

Wi Maeng-cheon was possessing Ho Jong-hyeok.

As a servant spirit, Wi Maeng-cheon had no choice but to move according to Mok Gyeong-un’s orders, so he would be helpful in persuading Axe King Ho Tae-gang, the father of that body.

– The problem is not Jang Neung-ak’s faction, but Wi So-yeon’s faction.

– …That seems to be the case.

– The biggest supporter and main pillar of Wi So-yeon’s faction… You wouldn’t be able to like him even if you wanted to.

– The biggest supporter of Wi So-yeon’s faction.

– He was Bright Blade King Son Yun, one of the Five Kings.

As Cheong-ryeong said, the most tangled relationship since entering the Heaven and Earth Society was with Bright Blade King.

He had also refused when Bright Blade King said he would accept him as a disciple, and his relationship with his disciples Woo Ho-rang and Yeop Wi-seon was close to bad karma.

Even Bright Blade King Son Yun’s newly accepted disciple Mok Yu-cheon was like that.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders and said,

– Not everything can go smoothly.

– You don’t think it’s the grave you dug even if you die soon?

– Is there any meaning in arguing about what has already happened?

– Tsk tsk. Anyway.

Cheong-ryeong clicked her tongue.

Then she soon said,

– Anyway, it’s obvious that even if you move, the relationship will only worsen, so move someone else.

– It seems his disciples are already like that.

There was no way Woo Ho-rang or Yeop Wi-seon would move for Mok Gyeong-un’s sake.

Moreover, since he had made Wi So-yeon his woman, if they found out about that, they would have even more antipathy.

– It would be better to persuade through the Shadow Clan Master or the King of Poison.

– Through the Shadow Clan Master or the King of Poison?

– Yes. It would be easier to persuade if a fellow executive moves. But the King of Poison would be better than the Shadow Clan Master. You should know well why, right?

At Cheong-ryeong’s words, Mok Gyeong-un chuckled.

It was because he understood her words.

The Shadow Clan Master had also confronted Bright Blade King Son Yun at the Corpse Blood Valley’s Succession Ceremony to obtain Mok Gyeong-un.

If he stepped up and asked Bright Blade King to help the two factions join forces, would it even work?

– Then I’ll have to move quickly.

The night wasn’t very long.

He had to quickly establish an alliance system before the Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang regained consciousness.

***

Mok Gyeong-un, who had left Jang Neung-ak’s residence, hurried to head to the King of Poison Baek Sa-ha’s estate.

However, on the way there, he encountered a martial artist from Shadow Clan running towards him out of breath.

“Young Master! You were here.”

Mok Gyeong-un asked in puzzlement,

“What’s the matter?”

“The Shadow Clan Master is urgently looking for you.”

“My master?”

“Yes, it’s a very urgent matter, so he told me to bring you right away.”

‘An urgent matter?’

What on earth was it that he was like this?

Could it be because the King of Poison Baek Sa-ha had talked about the incident with the Eldest Young Master Na Yul-ryang and suggested forming an alliance?

But now he had to go find Baek Sa-ha first and talk about Bright Blade King Son Yun.

So Mok Gyeong-un said,

“I understand. For now, a moment…”

“You have to go right now.”

“It won’t take long. First…”

Before Mok Gyeong-un could even finish his words, the martial artist from Shadow Clan said impatiently,

“No. You have to go right now.”

“Ah, this is quite troublesome. I’ll return to Shadow Clan soon…”

“It’s not Shadow Clan.”

“What?”

“Right now, the Shadow Clan Master is paying respects to the Society Leader at the main hall of the inner city.”

‘!?’

At his words, Mok Gyeong-un’s expression changed.

The Shadow Clan Master was paying respects to the Society Leader of the Heaven and Earth Society and urgently called for him?

In the end, this meant…

‘Can I meet that person?’

Mok Gyeong-un had tried to enter the factions of the successors in order to create an opportunity to contact the Society Leader.

But unexpectedly, the opportunity for a meeting had come.