Bargaining (1)
'!?'
At the words that came from Mok Kyung-un's mouth, the expression of his guard, Go Chan, hardened.
Since Jangju was safe, it was something they could have easily hidden, and he had never expected Mok Kyung-un to bring it up so directly.
'No way...'
Was he really trying to provoke Madam Seok, the Grand Madam?
That secret was practically her lifeline.
To say out loud that he knew it was as good as inviting extermination on the spot.
'Damn it!'
Go Chan stiffened and turned toward Madam Seok.
Sure enough, her face had become even sharper and more vicious than usual.
But, surprisingly, she did not immediately burst out in anger.
Because—
'This brat...'
She had already suspected that Mok Kyung-un might have seen or found out something, which was why she had come here in the first place.
Still, Mok Kyung-un's attitude was completely unexpected.
To confess that he knew her secret was no different from asking to be killed.
'What is he aiming at?'
Was this brat acting boldly because he thought he had a grip on her weakness?
If that was the case, it was a foolish move.
Either way, he was someone who would need to be dealt with once Mok Young-ho became the new clan leader.
Papak!
Madam Seok's hand shot out like a snake snatching its prey, gripping Mok Kyung-un's neck.
Seeing her movements, Go Chan was certain.
She was definitely a first-rate martial artist from the Seok family of Geumhwa.
'Unless it's Senior Brother Gam, we can't handle her.'
That also meant Mok Kyung-un had no chance against her.
'Huh?'
Mok Kyung-un's eyes flashed with interest as his neck was grabbed.
He was genuinely surprised at her strength and the unique way she moved.
'This woman is strong.'
The information they had only said she was somewhat skilled because she came from the Geumhwa Seok family.
But she was way stronger than Go Chan.
'Fascinating.'
Madam Seok's wrist was incredibly slender.
It looked no different from any other woman's, yet the strength she possessed was extraordinary.
Indeed, martial arts had wondrous power.
Seeing Mok Kyung-un's reaction, Madam Seok's eyes narrowed.
'This brat...'
She grabbed his neck to terrify him into submission, yet he showed no fear or even confusion.
She hadn't seen him often, since he wasn't her biological son, but she remembered him as one of the more timid of the siblings.
"You..."
A single word escaped Madam Seok's mouth.
Hearing it, Go Chan swallowed dryly.
Had they been found out?
Thinking about it, a martial artist of her level could probably tell whether someone had trained in martial arts just by grabbing their neck.
But then—
"...Were you hiding your true self?"
'!?'
Hearing those words from Madam Seok left Go Chan completely dumbfounded.
Was this a good thing?
Or did it just make her even more suspicious?
She hadn't been doubting them before, but now she seemed to think in a much worse direction.
"So this was your true nature..."
At that moment, Mok Kyung-un spoke up.
"That's... not the important... thing... right now."
"What?"
"If the Clan Leader... were to... pass away... it would be... difficult... for the First Young Master... to become the new leader."
"You brat!"
-Crack!
Madam Seok tightened her grip even harder.
"You insolent fool. Do you think I won't kill you right here and now? How dare you try to bargain with me?"
"This is... getting a little painful."
At Mok Kyung-un's words, Madam Seok frowned.
With this much pressure on his neck, he should be struggling to breathe, but his expression barely changed.
Was he not feeling pain?
As she wondered, Mok Kyung-un continued speaking.
"That's... right... Bargaining... usually... requires... a certain level... of caution... towards the other party... doesn't it?"
"Caution? You think I would feel something like that toward the likes of you?"
Among the four sons of the Mok family, Mok Kyung-un was the one with the weakest martial arts skills.
Besides, his mother was dead, and his maternal family was practically destroyed—what could possibly make anyone feel cautious of him?
It was at that moment.
"Ma-Seung."
As soon as those words left his mouth—
-Flinch!
A chill so cold it made her spine tingle instantly seized Madam Seok.
And then, in the next moment, she was slammed backward, as if struck by something.
-Chrrrk!
She stumbled back about four steps, her pupils trembling.
'What... was that just now?'
She couldn't see anything, but something had definitely touched her.
She had instinctively raised her qi and bounced back using reactive force, but the sensation was more than unpleasant—it was downright terrifying.
"Whoo."
Mok Kyung-un calmly sat up and rotated his neck.
-Crack, crack!
"Having someone grab you by the neck is not exactly a pleasant experience."
With his relaxed tone, Madam Seok glared at him sharply and demanded,
"You... What did you just do?"
"What do you mean, what did I do?"
"Just now, you clearly..."
She found it hard to explain.
Mok Kyung-un hadn't visibly done anything to her.
And yet, that eerie sensation—what the hell was it?
As she struggled to understand, Mok Kyung-un casually perched himself on the edge of the bed and said,
"Are you feeling ready to bargain now?"
"Bargain? What a joke. Maybe you have some trick up your sleeve, but do you think that kind of luck will work again?"
"Maybe not yet, huh? Then... shall I use a maid instead?"
"What?"
"I think... the one on the left will do."
"The left...? What are you talking ab—"
She was just about to retort when—
"Agh!"
Everyone's attention snapped toward the source of the scream.
'!?'
Madam Seok's eyes widened in shock.
Not just her—everyone inside the side hall was left gaping.
One of the maids she had brought with her was floating about one jang (roughly three meters) in the air.
"Mmph, mmph!"
The maid tried to scream, but it was as if her mouth was sealed—only muffled noises escaped her.
The scene left everyone speechless.
What on earth was happening?
Why was a perfectly normal maid suddenly floating in the air like that?
'N-No way...'
Madam Seok's mind raced as she struggled to comprehend the bizarre phenomenon.
She had heard that among the truly profound masters, some could manipulate objects with pure qi or jin-gi (refined internal energy).
But there was no way this boy could be one of those high-level masters.
Moreover, if he had used that much jin-gi to lift a person, she should have sensed at least some ripple of energy.
'What... what is this?'
Go Chan, the bodyguard, was just as stunned.
What was going on?
Had the fake Mok Kyung-un been hiding such a mysterious ability all along?
-Swish!
Then Mok Kyung-un, nonchalantly, raised one hand and made a slicing motion across his throat.
At that instant—
"Urk!"
The maid floating in the air suddenly convulsed.
Her veins bulged grotesquely on her face, and her eyes rolled back.
It looked like she was about to die at any moment.
'T-This...'
The image of the corpse of the dead Bangsa (an earlier figure) flashed in Madam Seok's mind.
Panicking, Madam Seok shouted,
"S-Stop!"
"What are you saying?"
"This—this is your doing! I don't know what black magic this is, but stop it now!"
"Well..."
"You!"
"I'm simply proving that I'm qualified to bargain with you. Isn't taking just one life a fair price?"
Mok Kyung-un smiled sweetly.
And at that smile, Madam Seok's face stiffened even further.
The maid, on the brink of death.
If it were just any maid, she might have been able to abandon her, but this girl had served her personally since her days back at the main Seok family house.
-Grit!
Clenching her teeth hard, Madam Seok shouted—
"Stop! Stop it! I'll hear you out about this bargaining or whatever, so stop right now!"
At her desperate cry, Mok Kyung-un nodded lightly.
And then—
-Thud!
The maid, who had been on the verge of death, collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
"Sohwa! Sohwa!"
One of the other maids hurried over and checked on her.
Fortunately, she seemed to be alive, and the maid breathed a sigh of relief.
Madam Seok also felt relieved, but more than that, a deep suspicion toward Mok Kyung-un's bizarre ability began to grow inside her.
What on earth was this?
It didn't seem to have anything to do with qi (internal energy).
Rather, it was closer to witchcraft or some form of monstrous strength.
When had he learned such an eerie power?
'...This brat.'
Her mind was tangled with suspicion, but without knowing exactly what this power was, it was too dangerous to act recklessly.
She should have brought only bodyguards skilled in martial arts if she had known this would happen.
Madam Seok, still glaring at Mok Kyung-un, finally spoke.
"...What exactly do you want to bargain about?"
"Since the clan leader might pass away today or tomorrow, don't you need the clan leader's seal?"
"......"
She didn't answer, but she didn't deny it either.
There was no need to.
There was only one surefire way to secure the succession: possessing the clan leader's seal.
But she couldn't understand.
"If you knew about it, you could have just kept it hidden. Why are you telling me?"
"Why am I telling you?"
"Yes. If you are truly of the Mok family, you must also want to become the clan leader."
This was what puzzled her the most.
If he just kept this information to himself, he could have used it to his own advantage later.
By using the seal, he could gain the support of the vassals.
And yet—
"I don't really want to become the clan leader."
"What?"
At those words from Mok Kyung-un, Madam Seok was momentarily speechless.
He didn't want to be the clan leader?
He could become the head of a prestigious martial family that held great influence in the north of Anhui Province, and yet he didn't want it?
"...And you expect me to believe that?"
"Is it hard to believe?"
"If it were you, would you believe it?"
"Probably not. You could easily think I'm trying to deceive you."
"Unless you give me a convincing reason..."
"First, like I said earlier, I'm just not interested. Second, I simply don't want to get caught up in a pointless succession battle."
"You don't want to fight?"
"Yes. To be more precise, I'm not interested at all, and I don't want to waste my time on something so meaningless."
Hearing this, Madam Seok frowned deeply.
Did this boy think that deciding the next master of the Great Mok Sword Manor was just a waste of time?
How hard had she worked to make her son, Mok Young-ho, the next clan leader?
It was infuriating in another way entirely.
Staring straight at Mok Kyung-un, she spoke.
"...If you really want nothing, then tell me the location of the clan leader's seal and the secret manual. Only then will I believe you've truly given up."
At her words, Mok Kyung-un chuckled softly.
"I can't do that."
"Then I can't fully trust you..."
"Then don't trust me. I'll just go bargain with the Second Young Master's side instead."
"What?"
For a moment, Madam Seok's composure wavered.
"What are you saying..."
"Exactly what you heard. Since it seems you're not quite understanding, let me spell it out for you: even if I don't want the seal, aren't there others besides you and First Brother Mok Young-ho who would?"
'!!!!!'
Her expression completely froze.
Seeing this, Mok Kyung-un smiled brightly and said,
"Looks like you finally realized who's holding the knife now."