Hwa Yeonmok Sword Manor (3)
A man in his fifties lay on the sickbed, his face pale.
Even breathing seemed too much for him, and he kept coughing incessantly.
Each time the old physician at his side wiped his mouth with a cloth, dark-colored blood stained it.
"Haa…"
A heavy sigh escaped the old physician's lips at the sight.
His condition was only worsening, and the end seemed near.
The physician had exhausted all his knowledge and experience in treatment, but never in his long years of practice had he encountered an illness like this.
'Is there truly nothing more I can do?'
As the personal physician of the master of Yeonmok Sword Manor, he couldn't help but foresee the chaos that would soon follow.
A bloody struggle would erupt between the brothers.
'Master, you should've appointed an heir…'
The manor lord had not named a successor.
Because of this, even the retainers could only watch helplessly, filled with unease.
But in truth, everyone knew.
'If you were so fond of the youngest, why didn't you just name him as the heir?'
The manor lord cherished the youngest, Mok Yucheon.
His talent was exceptional—something seen only once in three generations.
At the age of fourteen, he had mastered the family's martial arts and reached the level of a first-class expert. Now, just two years later at sixteen, he stood at the threshold of mastery.
His overwhelming talent was such that even among other promising youths, he was easily considered among the top ten.
Moreover, his character closely resembled that of the manor lord.
'Young Master Mok Yucheon…'
Had the manor lord publicly supported him, the retainers would have helped solidify his position.
Even if he were the son of a mere courtesan.
Of course, such a move would have incurred the wrath of the Matron.
'This is serious. Very serious.'
The Matron doted on her firstborn son, Mok Youngho, with unwavering devotion.
Even though he was known as a scoundrel, her love never wavered.
Because of this, the second and third sons had begun to show their greed more openly.
Once the manor lord drew his last breath, Yeonmok Sword Manor would surely be stained with the blood of sibling conflict.
'What will become of this place… Sigh…'
He was but a mere physician—there was nothing he could do to intervene.
He sighed deeply at the thought—when suddenly, the door to the lord's chamber opened.
'Who is it?'
The old physician turned his head—and his expression froze.
A pale face powdered to perfection, lips painted a vivid red, and adorned in jewelry and splendid clothing.
With upturned eyes filled with pride and arrogance, this middle-aged woman was none other than Lady Seok, the Matron of Yeonmok Sword Manor.
The physician bowed deeply.
"M-Matron."
"As I expected."
At her words, the physician let out a soft sigh and nodded.
"My humble skills are insufficient. I fear… there is nothing more I can do."
"So it's true. Medicine cannot save him."
"It is entirely my failure. If I could just—"
–Swish.
Lady Seok waved her hand, signaling she didn't want to hear it.
She sighed and said:
"Every physician of renown in the region, yourself included, has failed to even identify the illness. You all call it an unexplainable anomaly. That leaves only one option."
"Madam!"
The old physician's white beard trembled as he looked at her in shock.
But she stared him down coldly and said:
"My husband's life hangs by a thread. Are we really in a position to be picky?"
"But madam, the so-called 'fangsul'—occult methods—are nothing more than suspicious, nonsensical tricks…"
"You yourself called his illness an anomaly."
"That may be true, but…"
"So why do you oppose bringing in a fangsa—an occult practitioner—who deals with such mysteries? Are you telling me to just watch my husband die?"
"That's not what I meant…"
"I don't want to hear it. I've already summoned a fangsa to the annex. Physician Ha, your services are no longer needed. Please step aside."
"Madam!"
"Or would you rather be dragged out?"
With that, the old physician had no choice but to retreat, practically driven out.
There was nothing more he could do.
Assemblyman Noh, who had come outside, clicked his tongue with pity as he looked toward the inner quarters where the sickbed lay.
"To bring in a radioactive healer to treat a cursed being? Hah. They're really going to get someone killed with a half-baked shaman."
"...This is the current situation regarding Acting Sword Master Mok Yeonmok."
"What an amusing family this is."
"Amusing?"
He just learned about the situation he's in, and that's what he has to say?
Go Chan clicked his tongue at Mok Gyeongun's reaction.
In a way, Mok Gyeongun was standing at the most perilous center of everything.
If it was revealed that he was a fake, he wouldn't be torn apart by rival heirs but by the retainers themselves.
And yet, even after hearing this, he seemed completely at ease.
'I have no idea what this guy is thinking.'
If it were him in Mok Gyeongun's shoes, he would have done anything to escape.
It was a hopeless situation.
Even his own superior, Escort Gam, was preparing to abandon this guy.
In the end, the guy was bound to get chewed up and eliminated one way or another.
'...Even if you subdued me with poison, this is not a situation you can handle, you bastard.'
For now, he had no choice but to follow orders.
But he had absolutely no intention of helping Mok Gyeongun succeed.
That's why he withheld some information.
If he revealed about 70% of the truth, he hid about 30% that was connected to himself and his allies.
'Hmph. Just wait and see.'
Once he finds a way to detoxify the poison, he will definitely take revenge...
– Twitch!
Go Chan shuddered when he locked eyes with Mok Gyeongun.
Just looking into those eyes sent chills down his spine.
He felt pathetic for being this intimidated, but this guy was clearly different from ordinary people.
There was something about him that instilled fear in others.
'Demonic bastard.'
Yeah, that was the most fitting way to describe him.
He still couldn't forget those ominous eyes.
"Escort Go Chan."
"Y-Yes, sir."
Go Chan snapped to attention and responded.
Regardless of his inner thoughts, his instincts told him to obey this man unconditionally for now.
"So, the real Mok Gyeongun and Escort Gam originally planned to use a body double to manipulate the First Young Master Mok Yeongho into killing Mok Eunpyeong, the Second Young Master?"
"...Yes, that's correct."
That was the best plan they had initially devised.
The operation was codenamed "Reaping Without Fishing."
The idea was that Mok Yeongho, the first son, would strike down Mok Eunpyeong while the latter was relaxed, thinking he had eliminated a fake.
To make this happen, they even used a courtesan to feed delusions into Mok Yeongho.
'They really thought this through.'
Mok Gyeongun let out a quiet chuckle.
The plan was quite clever.
If executed correctly, it would prevent the mothers of the two heirs or their maternal families from intervening.
In fact, it would even reveal their dirty secrets.
'Would've gone smoothly... if it weren't for me being the variable.'
Now he understood why they were switching sides.
Escort Gam didn't trust him.
If he did trust him, or believed he could control him completely, he would've gone ahead with a modified version of the original plan.
But because of that lack of trust, he wouldn't.
In the end, the change in Escort Gam's loyalty and the situation of this household could only work against him.
'So there's only one conclusion.'
He had to either kill Escort Gam or bring him to his side.
But both options were difficult.
The latter was hard because the man had no trust in him to begin with, and the former—unlike Go Chan, Escort Gam was undeniably stronger than him.
Which meant killing him wouldn't be easy.
"Escort Go Chan."
"....Yes?"
"How much stronger is Escort Gam compared to you?"
"Compared to me?"
"Yes."
"...He's a first-rate expert, so he's probably two to three times stronger than me."
Go Chan was a second-rate martial artist.
Escort Gam, on the other hand, was a first-rate master.
Even his internal energy was nearly equivalent to that of someone who had trained for thirty years. In terms of raw stats, you could say Gam was over twice as strong, but factoring in understanding, technique, and overall skill—it was closer to three times stronger.
That was the typical difference between a second-rate and a first-rate martial artist.
"Escort Go Chan, do you think I can kill Escort Gam?"
"Pardon?"
"I meant exactly what I said. Do you think I could kill him?"
At that question, Go Chan frowned.
Did he decide to kill Escort Gam after understanding the way things were unfolding within the family?
But... this guy didn't yet know they were planning to switch allegiances.
Or was he piecing it together from limited information?
Gulp.
If it was the latter, then his insight was nothing short of terrifying.
What kind of person is this?
Compared to the real Mok Gyeongun, his strategic thinking was on an entirely different level.
"Is the question too difficult? You've fought me before, so you should at least have a general idea."
At Mok Gyeongun's prompt, Go Chan hesitated before answering.
"Y-You're definitely strong, and your movements are sharp, but… when it comes to a first-rate expert, their technique and internal strength are simply on a whole different level from people like me."
"So, the conclusion is that I can't win."
"....Yes."
"No need to sugarcoat it. I agree."
"...."
If he knew that, then why even ask?
Go Chan was puzzled, but then Mok Gyeongun changed the question.
"Then if I were to learn martial arts, would the odds change?"
"Excuse me?"
"I said, what if I learned martial arts?"
Go Chan nearly let out a laugh at that question.
He admitted that this guy was stronger than him, a second-rate warrior. He also accepted that Mok Gyeongun was different from ordinary people.
But learning martial arts was an entirely different matter.
Keeping his expression in check, Go Chan answered.
"...Young Master, the foundation of martial arts is what we call 'inner cultivation.'"
"Inner cultivation?"
"Yes. Inner cultivation refers to breathing techniques—absorbing and circulating the energy of nature within the body to build internal power."
"And then?"
"When internal energy builds, you become stronger and more powerful."
"I figured as much."
Mok Gyeongun had never in his life met anyone stronger than himself.
But martial artists were clearly different.
"However, internal energy is not something you can accumulate overnight."
"You mean it takes time?"
"Yes. It varies by individual and by breathing method, but internal energy forms and builds through long years of training. Even if you start learning martial arts now, do you think you could catch up to someone who has trained for decades?"
'Besides, it's already too late for you.'
There was also an ideal window for starting internal energy training.
The best age was between five and nine years old—because at that age, the body is flexible, and the energy channels (meridians) are still free of impurities.
In Mok Gyeongun's case, at his age, those meridians would already be clogged with impurities and narrowed.
"So, it's not possible in a short period of time."
"That's right."
'No… even if you trained your whole life, it would still be impossible.'
Go Chan didn't say that out loud.
He didn't feel the need, and even if he did say it, he figured it would only irritate Mok Gyeongun—and who knows what he might do then?
'Struggle all you want. You know your position now, right?'
Jangju was on the brink of death.
Not just the household physician, but even renowned doctors had said it was hopeless.
It was a disease so mysterious and unnatural, they were calling it a "curse" rather than an illness.
If Jangju died, no matter how much Mok Gyeongun struggled, it would be over for the fake as well.
'Just wait. When that time comes, I'll pay you back for all this humiliation...'
– Tap!
At that moment, Mok Gyeongun stood up.
Then he gestured toward Go Chan and spoke.
"Let's go."
"Huh? Go where?"
Was he trying to run away?
If so, that would be a foolish decision...
"Take me to where this Jangju person is."
"What? How do you suddenly know about where Jangju is?"
Mok Gyeongun gave a small, amused smile as he replied.
"Since my life is apparently tied to his, I'd like to see for myself just how critical his condition is."
'!?'