‘Ho Cheon-an.’
As Mo Yong-chan-gyeong, the younger brother of Mo Yong-yeon-hwa, thought of Ho Cheon-an, a wave of irritation washed over him.
Before infiltrating the Shengsu Faction, Mo Yong-chan-gyeong had been called by Ho Cheon-an’s group.
His heart had raced at the beauty of Ho Cheon-an’s group, but as he heard their request, his blood ran cold.
[You want me to monitor a person named Ho Cheon-an?]
[It’s merely to oversee your rational acting as lovers.]
Isn’t that basically the same thing?
With such thoughts, Mo Yong-chan-gyeong couldn’t help but ignite his hostility towards Ho Cheon-an. The fact that some guy was pretending to be in a relationship with his sister was infuriating enough, but this damn kid was parading around with beautiful women and getting all the attention?
The Black Cat showed a sword made by Tang So-yeol and said.
[I’ll make you a sword of this caliber.]
[What, why me?]
[Make it.]
[Okay.]
Tang So-yeol immediately tucked his tail between his legs at the cold glare of the Black Cat. Mo Yong-chan-gyeong nodded at Tang So-yeol’s request for a sword.
He would have agreed even without a reward, but with a reward offered, how could Mo Yong-chan-gyeong refuse?
With even a nonexistent suspicion to fabricate, Mo Yong-chan-gyeong was ready to report.
Then, he spotted Mo Yong-yeon-hwa.
“Miss, miss…”
“Did I not tell you not to come tonight?”
“I’m sorry, but… I was looking for the flower you mentioned…”
With a haughty look, Mo Yong-yeon-hwa was swinging Ho Cheon-an around, while Ho Cheon-an dutifully followed behind, flowers in hand, struggling and chasing after her.
While watching the scene, the servants began to gossip.
“Yesterday, they were so clingy, and today, what’s up with that?”
“It seems she’s taken a liking to playing with men.”
“Indeed, she’s a heavenly fox.”
“From the looks on their faces, it doesn’t seem she dislikes it.”
Hearing the servants’ sly comments, Mo Yong-chan-gyeong looked at Mo Yong-yeon-hwa with a peculiar gaze.
He was treating Ho Cheon-an poorly from the back, but the satisfied smile on Mo Yong-yeon-hwa’s face up front was unmistakable.
However, to Mo Yong-chan-gyeong’s eyes, that smile seemed genuine, not an act.
‘No way, right…’
As Mo Yong-chan-gyeong shook his head internally, Mo Yong-yeon-hwa and Ho Cheon-an exchanged coded messages.
– Clean movements, so normal martial artists will have no suspicious points. But I overheard some unsettling murmurs from certain branch members.
– What kind of murmurs?
– Something about ‘soon’ and ‘not far away’—quite ominous phrases. Yet, those who murmured seemed oblivious.
– Suspicious.
– On the other hand, the key experts of the faction, including the master, haven’t shown up at the training hall or anywhere for that matter. They have no reason to be this busy.
– I haven’t seen them since the first day either.
– It seems the master and elders are secretly plotting something. The place they are hiding is likely related to the master’s dwelling.
– But the master’s dwelling is too deep for the Brain Knife Outcast to stumble upon.
– So we need to create an opportunity, don’t we?
Hearing Ho Cheon-an’s plans transmitted through the coded messages, Mo Yong-yeon-hwa internally admired him.
It was a plan with legitimate justification, and the master would have no choice but to respond.
‘Truly capable.’
Even though he was given the freedom to act, Ho Cheon-an’s ability to stir things with finesse and execute plans was almost fascinating.
“Miss Yeon-hwa… I apologize for intruding. However, with this sincerity, will you not accept this flower?”
Ho Cheon-an blocked Mo Yong-yeon-hwa’s path and knelt halfway, presenting the flower.
And as Mo Yong-yeon-hwa looked at him, maintaining her haughty demeanor…
She felt a thrill.
“Well…”
She knew it was an act.
But even if it was, the sense of omnipotence that came from being able to manipulate such a capable man was intoxicating.
Mo Yong-yeon-hwa desperately tried to suppress her feelings and blamed Ho Cheon-an for no reason.
‘That Brain Knife Outcast is acting too well, isn’t he?’
As if trying to grab the flower he offered, she slightly extended her hand, and Ho Cheon-an’s expression lit up immediately.
I can have him wrapped around my finger.
That look of a mesmerized person perfectly communicated that feeling, and even knowing it was an act felt real.
“Ah!”
A gasp escaped from Ho Cheon-an.
Mo Yong-yeon-hwa had pulled back a step instead of accepting the flower.
The corners of Mo Yong-yeon-hwa’s mouth rose as she looked at Ho Cheon-an.
“Just a single flower? Isn’t that pitiful?”
“W-Well…”
“At the very least, you should have brought a bouquet.”
Ho Cheon-an immediately turned deflated. Watching him, Mo Yong-yeon-hwa snatched the flower from his hand.
“Alright, just this once.”
“Miss!”
With that, Mo Yong-yeon-hwa turned and left, leaving Ho Cheon-an shouting.
“I-I swear to bring a fitting bouquet for you next time!”
Hearing his shout, Mo Yong-yeon-hwa’s mouth twitched with amusement. Meanwhile, the servants were whispering behind her, gossiping incessantly.
“Could it really be… No way…”
Having witnessed it all, Mo Yong-chan-gyeong could only mutter to himself.
*
In the secret room of Shengsu Faction.
Upon entering, the master, Mo Yong-jin-gyeong, confirmed Mo Yong-seok-jil displaying the power of the sword.
“Report.”
“Yes. Mo Yong-yeon-hwa seems completely oblivious.”
“Surely, the main family wouldn’t search so carelessly. Why is that?”
Mo Yong-seok-jil made a strange face for a moment before speaking.
“It seems like they’re occupied with other matters.”
At Mo Yong-seok-jil’s vague report, Mo Yong-jin-gyeong narrowed his eyes and emitted pressure.
Sssssss!!
Mo Yong-seok-jil’s complexion turned pale in an instant.
“Report clearly without hiding anything.”
“Cough, I’m sorry…!”
The pressure that had been pressing on him for some time dissipated silently. Mo Yong-seok-jil gasped for breath and spoke.
“Uh, uh… There’s a person named Ho Cheon-an, a guest of Mo Yong-mo. It appears Mo Yong-yeon-hwa has taken a liking to him.”
Silence filled the room.
“Preposterous.”
“However, it’s true. That Ho Cheon-an seems to actively pursue Mo Yong-yeon-hwa, and she enjoys playing with him. That’s been witnessed by many in the faction, including me… the reports from the monitoring personnel are consistent. Numerous servants have also seen them together.”
“Any chances it’s an act?”
“They met by coincidence. After all, Ho Cheon-an was brought by Mo Yong-mo… And you know his character very well, Master. I cannot believe Mo Yong-mo would betray the faction so shamelessly.”
“Hmm.”
“Moreover, that Ho Cheon-an is a martial artist who can be called a post-peak expert. His abilities appear to be significant, surpassing that of Mo Yong-mo. It would be impossible for an expert of that caliber to play such a despicable act.”
Silence once again hung in the air.
“…So even the post-family experts cannot manage their romantic feelings?”
“Should we strengthen the surveillance on Mo Yong-yeon-hwa?”
“If she’s infatuated, let it be. As long as we maintain our vigilance, that’s sufficient. There’s no need to provoke and awaken her.”
“Understood.”
The master waved his hand, and Mo Yong-seok-jil exited the secret room.
“Phew.”
Mo Yong-seok-jil let out a sigh, revealing his complicated emotions.
‘His martial arts have grown even stronger.’
He recalled the pressure he had felt from Mo Yong-jin-gyeong just moments ago, shivering at the thought. Even as a peak expert, just recalling it made him tremble in fear.
It wasn’t just Mo Yong-jin-gyeong whose martial arts had intensified.
The other three key experts and senior members of the faction exuded a pressure incomparably stronger than before.
Just entering the secret room was enough to make it hard to breathe.
As a member of the Shengsu Faction wishing to surpass the main family, he should be pleased by the growth of the master and the key experts, but Mo Yong-seok-jil couldn’t relax.
While Mo Yong-jin-gyeong had been ambitious and temperamental, he also cared for the branch families.
But now, Mo Yong-jin-gyeong had changed.
The more his martial arts grew, the fewer words he spoke, and his nerves grew sharper.
Recently, just stuttering while reporting led to the release of pressure, making it feel as though his life force was decreasing each time he reported.
Was this the right path?
Momentarily enveloped in doubt, Mo Yong-seok-jil gritted his teeth.
“This is the right path.”
After opening a mine in the purchased forest, all members of the Shengsu Faction united as one and worked hard to develop the mine enthusiastically.
The mine of Shengsu Faction had an overwhelmingly massive impact on the region. Miners, merchants, technicians flocked there, and as people gathered, they naturally called upon each other, giving rise to logistics and settlements.
The mine of Shengsu Faction became the new heart of the region.
The branch families of Shengsu Faction took pride in this fact. With pride came inflated expectations.
Though they hoped to gain renown and recognition on par with the volcanic and Jongnam factions, not to mention the Mo Yong Clan’s main family.
However, the world didn’t recognize the hard work of the branch families of Shengsu Faction.
They were still considered a mere branch.
The entire economy of the region revived, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that no faction or power escaped its influence, yet Shengsu Faction still wasn’t treated as a primary faction.
To the people, the outstanding ones were not the branch families of Shengsu Faction that developed the mine, but the Mo Yong Clan.
The branch families of Shengsu Faction worked hard to change that perception.
They wished to receive acknowledgment for their effort in developing the mine and revitalizing the economy.
However, the result of their efforts returned to only whispers of being treated like a secondary faction, unworthy of receiving the same treatment as the main family.
Recalling that time, Mo Yong-seok-jil clenched his fist tightly.
Having poured so much sweat and hard work into developing this region, facing the main factions that inquired about the will of the Mo Yong Clan’s main family from over a thousand miles away in Liaoning.
And those direct descendants of the main family, who were completely unaware of their grievances, took advantage of the hospitality built on the efforts they had accumulated.
Yet, the branch families of Shengsu Faction never gave up and finally reaped a reward.
Master Mo Yong-jin-gyeong had opened up the realm of Hwa-gyeong.
The Shengsu Faction was engulfed in a festive atmosphere. Now that a master of Hwa-gyeong had emerged, surely they could gain great recognition!
But.
Even with the emergence of a Hwa-gyeong master, only Mo Yong-jin-gyeong’s personal fame rose, while the perception of the Mo Yong Clan towards Shengsu Faction remained unchanged.
Realizing this, the members of Shengsu Faction finally understood.
As long as this was ‘Shengsu Faction,’ the world would forever see them merely as an accessory to the Mo Yong Clan.
The mine they built was not the mine of Shengsu Faction, but the mine of Mo Yong Clan.
And the achievements brought about by their hard work would be viewed not as the accomplishments of the branch families of Shengsu Faction, but as a result produced by Mo Yong Clan.
“Why do we gaze longingly at the main family in Liaoning, thousands of miles away, despite being here?”
Recalling the frustration of that day, Mo Yong-seok-jil turned his head toward the secret room.
Soon, it wouldn’t be long.
The representative experts of Shengsu Faction would soon be finishing their training.
Shocking the martial world with their powerful strength and the emergence of new skills, Shengsu Faction would become what they whispered about, causing a new wave in the martial world as the Mo Yong Clan itself.
‘Only then will Shengsu Faction finally be recognized for all our past efforts.’
With renewed determination, Mo Yong-seok-jil’s steps began to move with force.
