Tainted by Evil (2):
"What... What the hell did you do to my body?"
To that question, Mok Gyeong-un replied with a gentle smile.
"Well now, what do you think I did?"
– Chill runs down the spine!
His lips were clearly smiling.
But his eyes… motionless like those of a dead man.
Seeing that, Jo Ilsang felt a chill for the first time in his life.
'This guy… Is he really Mok Gyeong-un?'
The Mok Gyeong-un he knew was, without exaggeration, the most worthless among the Mok family brothers.
But this was completely unexpected.
The atmosphere was entirely different.
It didn't feel like he was facing an ordinary human being—more like a being of an entirely different nature.
At that moment, Mok Gyeong-un stepped closer and spoke.
"You seem to be trembling quite a bit. Well… don't worry. Normally, I would have started by slicing something off, but I used Mochwi-san this time."
"Mochwi-san?"
In response to Jo Ilsang's question, Mok Gyeong-un pointed upward with his finger.
"This place is really nice."
"What?"
"Before, if I needed herbs, I had to search every corner of the mountains to find them. But here, they're overflowing. I can mix whatever I want depending on the need."
"Mix herbs? What did you do to me?"
"Nothing special. If you grind Bi-gwi, Yeongmasan, and Yeongcho root and mix them just right, you can paralyze the entire body—except for the part where your head is."
'!?'
Mok Gyeong-un spoke nonchalantly.
Seeing this, Jo Ilsang swallowed nervously, eyes trembling.
What the hell is this guy?
Since when did he have such knowledge of medicinal herbs?
As Jo watched in disbelief, Mok Gyeong-un slightly bent his knees to meet his gaze and grabbed Jo's head.
– Grab!
"But really, none of that matters. What matters is why the second son, Mok Eun-pyeong, sent you."
At those words, Jo Ilsang clamped his mouth shut.
If he were going to talk, he wouldn't have worn a mask in the first place.
Mok Gyeong-un smirked at the silence.
"Cat got your tongue, huh? Of course, you wouldn't plan to talk nicely if you came here wearing a mask. What should I do with you?"
Just a moment earlier.
[…This man is Jo Ilsang, the bodyguard of the second young master Mok Eun-pyeong. But, young master, how on earth did you…?]
Go Chan was dumbfounded.
Jo Ilsang was a formidable fighter, just shy of reaching first-rate level.
And yet, Mok Gyeong-un, who had a hole through his thigh and could barely move, had subdued him?
Just how much is this guy hiding?
It made no sense.
[He's from the second young master, you say?]
[Yes.]
[Why would he send him?]
[I don't know. But seeing as he came masked, it likely wasn't for a good reason.]
[No theories at all?]
[The family head isn't dead yet, so it's unlikely even the second son would attempt an assassination. But as for why he was sent—I truly don't know.]
[Then we'll have to find out directly.]
[Wait… directly? You're not seriously thinking of… torture?]
[That might be a good method.]
[Y-Young master! It would be better to just release him.]
[Release him?]
Go Chan warned the puzzled Mok Gyeong-un.
[The second young master has loyal retainers and his own faction. If you carelessly provoke someone from his side…]
[There might be consequences?]
[…Yes. I know you're angry, but provoking him might put you in danger.]
[Hmm.]
'Hmm?'
Go Chan looked at Mok Gyeong-un nervously.
He was sharp—almost scarily intelligent—but impossible to predict.
One thing was certain:
Even if the second young master sent this masked intruder, Mok Gyeong-un couldn't do anything about it in his current condition.
He had no option but to endure.
[Well, I'll think about it.]
[…Really, don't push this.]
[Yes, I understand what you're trying to say, Go Chan.]
Right.
Even if Mok Gyeong-un was unpredictable, he wouldn't recklessly make enemies while understanding the situation.
Unlike the overly cautious first son, the second son was clever but young and emotional.
Jo Ilsang, who had been tense, seemed to relax a bit as he took a deep breath and spoke.
"Do you really think you can do anything?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"If you know who I am, you should realize it's better to let me go."
"You think it's better to let you go?"
"Exactly. What's done is done, but if you hurt me further, do you think the second young master will just stand by?"
Jo Ilsang deliberately mentioned his backer.
He didn't know what Mok Gyeong-un's goal was in capturing him like this, but he figured this was the end of it.
So what if he knew who Jo was?
The mask was only meant to keep things quiet.
The second young master, Mok Eun-pyeong, was proud—he would never forgive anyone who touched his people.
With one eyebrow raised, Mok Gyeong-un listened as Jo Ilsang continued.
"Since it's come to this, let's make a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes. Let me go, and give me the Yeonmok Seonggeomgyeol manual, and I'll speak to the young master so he leaves you alone."
"Leaves me alone?"
"I mean, even if he becomes clan leader, you'll be left in peace."
"And the price for that is the Yeonmok Seonggeomgyeol manual?"
"Exactly."
It was a tense and unfavorable situation, but Jo Ilsang pressed boldly.
He believed people like Mok Gyeong-un respected clear hierarchy.
If he showed weakness, Mok Gyeong-un might pounce harder.
'In the end, he'll have no choice but to give in.'
The Yeonmok Sacred Sword Technique was like a pearl on a pig's neck to Mok Kyungwoon.
His maternal family had already fallen, and none of his retainers supported him.
Since it was too much for him to handle anyway, passing it on in exchange for preserving his life wasn't a bad deal at all…
— Grab!
At that moment, Mok Kyungwoon yanked on Jo Ilsang's hair, which he had been gripping tightly.
"Huh? You—?"
"This is amusing. Proposing a counteroffer in a situation where your body might not come out intact, all while relying on your backer — it's ridiculous."
"You bastard…"
"I've heard enough. I'll start with your fingers now, one by one."
With those words, Mok Kyungwoon pulled out a strangely shaped blade.
'!?'
"This is a tool called a Hasak. It's a blade used for trimming herbs. Since it's made for cutting hard things, it easily slices through fingers or toes."
"What?"
"It's been tested. You can trust it."
He had used it quite a bit.
Startled, Jo Ilsang hurriedly pleaded with Mok Kyungwoon.
"Y-You! Did you not understand what I said? I came under orders from the second young master. If you harm me, he will—"
"Yeah, you're talking too much, so let's just cut one and then continue."
With that, Mok Kyungwoon grabbed Jo Ilsang's limp wrist, which was paralyzed.
Then, he inserted Jo Ilsang's right index finger into the hole of the Hasak.
Jo Ilsang's face turned deathly pale as he watched.
"S-Stop! Are you really insane? This is—"
— Crack!
A sharp sound rang out — the sound of something hard being severed.
Jo Ilsang, his expression frozen, turned his head to look at what had fallen on the floor.
It was two segments of his index finger.
"......"
Jo Ilsang was speechless.
He felt no pain, as he had no sensation outside his head due to the paralysis.
But seeing his severed finger left him dumbfounded and at a loss for words.
Mok Kyungwoon grinned and said,
"It doesn't feel real since it doesn't hurt, right? That's why when you use a Hasak, you usually don't paralyze the body with Mochwisan — you just tie them up. That way, they can feel the pain. But since you know martial arts, I had no choice."
So Mok Kyungwoon had no option but to use Mochwisan.
To deliver at least a visual impact, he cut the finger right in front of Jo Ilsang's eyes.
"I've gone on too long. From now on, I'll keep cutting until you talk."
— Clack!
With those words, Mok Kyungwoon grabbed Jo Ilsang's second finger — the middle finger on his right hand.
Jo Ilsang froze for a moment, then panicked and shouted,
"S-Stop!"
"....."
— Crack!
Despite the command to stop, Mok Kyungwoon cleanly severed Jo Ilsang's middle finger with the Hasak.
The severed finger twitched as it hit the floor.
Forced to stare at it, Jo Ilsang felt like his mind would break.
Then Mok Kyungwoon's voice rang in his ears.
"Shall we do the thumb next?"
Without a pause, Mok Kyungwoon grabbed Jo Ilsang's thumb and slid it into the Hasak's hole.
Jo Ilsang could no longer hide his panic.
He was right-handed.
If he lost his thumb here, he wouldn't be able to use his right hand for anything anymore.
"S-Stop…"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
No matter what he said, this madman would cut it off anyway.
— Squeeze!
Just as Mok Kyungwoon started to apply pressure with the Hasak,
Jo Ilsang shouted,
"P-Prince Eunpyeong sent me to confirm whether you really lost your martial arts or not!"
At those words, the pressure from Mok Kyungwoon's grip on the Hasak eased.
Though the blade had slightly pierced the skin of the thumb, it fortunately wasn't severed.
— Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Even though his body was paralyzed, Jo Ilsang could hear the loud beating of his heart.
It was strange.
He had been tortured before.
But Mok Kyungwoon's method had pushed him to the brink far too quickly.
"Huff… Huff…"
"You said he sent you to confirm whether I've lost my martial arts?"
"Y-Yes, that's right."
Without realizing it, Jo Ilsang's tone had grown significantly more polite under the weight of fear.
Whether or not he noticed, Mok Kyungwoon was unable to hide his suspicion.
It made no sense — he hadn't revealed that he was a fake, so why such an order?
'Hmm.'
Mok Kyungwoon's thoughts quickly approached the truth.
'If I haven't been exposed but such an order was given, then someone must have provided that information. But only two people know I'm a fake.'
It was Guard Gochan and Guard Gam.
Among them, Guard Gochan had remained loyal.
The corners of Mok Kyungwoon's mouth curled up.
"Switched sides quickly, huh."
He was now certain that the source of the leaked information was Guard Gam.
His betrayal had been inevitable from the beginning.
But Mok Kyungwoon hadn't expected him to change allegiances this quickly.
Thanks to that, things had gotten a bit annoying.
"Still, he used his head at least."
It seemed that in order to avoid taking direct responsibility, Gam had tried to leak the information without exposing that Mok Kyungwoon was a fake. Instead, he framed it as if Kyungwoon had simply lost his martial arts.
With a faint chuckle, Mok Kyungwoon spoke to Jo Ilsang.
"Was it Guard Gam who told you that?"
Jo Ilsang's eyes widened slightly.
Mok Kyungwoon shouldn't have known that Gam had pledged loyalty to someone else. So how did he guess it in one shot?
'Was he suspicious from the start?'
While still confused, Jo Ilsang eventually responded.
"...Yes, that's right."
"I figured."
It was just as he expected.
Nodding slowly, Mok Kyungwoon stared intently at Jo Ilsang.
"So, what should I do with you now?"
At that, Jo Ilsang pleaded desperately.
"P-please forgive me. I swear I'll keep everything that happened today a secret. I won't say a word to Prince Eunpyeong..."
"Ahh… what a shame."
"Huh?"
"I think I've already hurt you too much to let you go."
Jo Ilsang didn't even realize it, but his face was in ruins.
His nose was crushed, parts of his face were oddly protruding, and his cheekbones seemed fractured. On top of that, two of his fingers had been cut off.
No matter what he did, Prince Mok Eunpyeong would find out—and would be furious.
"P-Prince… even if I die, Lord Eunpyeong will definitely try to take revenge."
"Sure. But you don't have to worry about that."
"Why not?"
"Everyone treats the secret manual Yeonmok Seonggeomgyeol like it's sacred. If things get serious, I'll just use that to bargain. Not a bad deal, right?"
"...…"
Jo Ilsang's mind went blank at those words.
As Mok Kyungwoon said, if he used Yeonmok Seonggeomgyeol, the sword art exclusive to the clan leader, as a bargaining chip, even Prince Eunpyeong—who cherished his subordinates—might let it go.
Still stunned, Jo Ilsang hastily spoke.
"Prince… I never realized how clever and resourceful you were. I too… like Guard Gam… wish to pledge my loyalty to you."
"To me?"
"Y-yes, please give me a chance. I will devote my life to serving you."
He spouted anything he could think of.
It was all to save his life.
"Devote your life, you say?"
"Y-yes, so please..."
"Hmm. If you say so…"
Mok Kyungwoon tilted his head, then walked off somewhere.
"Prince? Prince?"
Jo Ilsang, growing nervous, called out to him.
But it didn't take long.
Soon, Mok Kyungwoon returned holding a wooden box—one that bore the marks of something strange having once been affixed to it.
He placed it directly beneath Jo Ilsang's upside-down head.
"What's this?"
As Jo Ilsang questioned, Mok Kyungwoon opened the box lid.
Inside was something resembling an old book, bound with prayer beads.
Jo Ilsang couldn't understand why it was being shown to him—but then his eyes began to shake.
'No way…'
He had realized that the material of the book was not paper.
Mok Kyungwoon explained.
"Before you woke up, I tried to read this book. Strangely enough, no matter what I did, I couldn't remove the prayer beads that bind it."
"H-how did you…"
"I saw something about it in the Yin-Yang Family's scrolls. Apparently, there are spiritual objects used to seal impure things. These prayer beads seem to be one of them."
"P-Prince?"
Ignoring him, Mok Kyungwoon continued.
"But it says that if another impure force is introduced into the sealing object, its power weakens."
"W-what are you planning to do?"
"Like this."
—Slash!
"Kuh!"
Before Jo Ilsang could react, Mok Kyungwoon slashed his throat with something sharp.
His final cry became a dying gurgle.
His voice was reduced to choking sounds, likely because his windpipe had been sliced.
Mok Kyungwoon smiled gently.
"Didn't you say you'd give me your life?"
'Y-you bastard…'
This wasn't what he meant when he offered his life.
Jo Ilsang glared at Mok Kyungwoon, eyes full of resentment.
It was unbearably bitter to die like this.
—Splatter!
Bright red blood poured from Jo Ilsang's slashed throat.
It drenched the book bound with prayer beads—made from human skin—inside the box.
The blood soaked both the beads and the book.
The blood of the dying.
Blood filled with deep resentment.
As it stained the book, a bizarre phenomenon occurred.
—Thump! Thump!
Even without touching the book, the sound of a heartbeat echoed.
As if it had become a heart, veins began to emerge along the surface of the book.
'Hooh.'
—Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The heartbeat grew louder and faster.
—Screeeeech!
Cracks began to form in the prayer beads that had bound the book.
And then—
—Crack!
The beads, trembling as if in pain, suddenly compressed as if gripped by an invisible hand and shattered completely.
The fragments were absorbed into the blood pooling in the box.
Then, something bizarre happened in the cavern.
—Rooooar!
From the ceiling, a waterfall of blood began pouring down the walls of the entire cavern.
It was a sight that defied belief.
Watching it unfold, Mok Kyungwoon's smile stretched all the way to his ears.
[Fifth Azure Spirit (Cheongnyeong)… Extremely dangerous. Requires at least ten exorcists for sealing. A malevolent soul over 100 years old. Its influence extends widely within its range, and it can induce auditory and visual hallucinations, causing immense pain.]