Chapter 27: Sword-Seizing Spar (4)

How could you feed such a thing to your younger brother?

There was a limit to cowardice. If you had any human decency, how could you do that? As an older brother, how could you do that to your own younger brother?

Yi-gang’s scolding felt like a knife scraping across Moyong Tak’s heart. His face twisted uglily with anger and shame.

Moyong Tak, too, had his innocent days.

Seventeen, or was it eighteen? It was before he started his activities as a member of the Seven Stars Conference.

Wooreureung—

It was a noisy night with loud thunder and heavy rain.

But his steps were light. It was a happy day.

His entry into the Seven Stars Conference was confirmed. He had become a representative candidate for the next generation martial master of the Moyong clan.

Moyong Tak, who had been told he was not suitable for mastering the Star Cloud Sword Technique, had worked even harder.

How happy his mother would be to hear the news.

The pitiable mother, struggling between the first and third wives as the second wife of the Clan Head. She would be surprised as he did not even send a message before visiting.

In his arms, he brought some sweets. It had been a long time since he returned home, so he would be able to see his younger brother Jin. He would be very happy to receive the sweets.

Just a moment ago, he was so happy.

In front of his mother’s residence—

The merchant who had been visiting the clan for a long time, and a supplier of tea leaves — Until he witnessed his mother committing adultery.

Crack!

With a flash of lightning, Moyong Tak’s face was revealed.

His handsome face was twisted as if in agony. Because he had flung his umbrella aside and drawn his sword, his hair and clothes were completely soaked.

“Ah, no, don’t!”

His mother was clinging to Moyong Tak and wailing like that, but her voice was drowned out by the thunder.

All he could hear was the sound of his heart pounding fiercely.

In front of Moyong Jin, a middle-aged man was writhing, clutching his bleeding wrist. The filthy hand that had been touching his mother’s face had been cut off by Moyong Tak.

Glancing at the severed hand, Moyong Tak raised his sword again. This time, he intended to behead him.

It was fortunate that the thunder was loud and the rain was heavy. They would not be able to hear this commotion. Somehow, neither the guards nor the attendants were in sight, so it might not matter.

Amidst the rumbling noise, a word from his mother reached Moyong Tak’s ears.

“He, he might be your biological father!”

Frozen in the posture of holding his sword, Moyong Tak stiffened.

It was an unbelievable revelation. His mother seemed to guess Moyong Tak’s disbelief, spilling truths she had not been asked.

Her pitiful situation, caught between the first and third wives, only receiving cold stares from the Clan Head.

And the tea leaf merchant, who had been kind to her, a relationship that had already lasted 20 years.

The secret that his blood might have been passed on to Moyong Tak or his sibling, Moyong Jin.

It was a situation that could not be more horrifying.

In front of the fierce storm of fate, Moyong Tak seemed on the verge of collapse.

“Please, forgive me. Your father, he even took in the third wife to…”

“…”

That day, Moyong Tak ultimately could not bring himself to kill the merchant.

It was not that his resolve weakened at the words that the man might be his biological father. Dealing with a severed hand was one thing, but disposing of a corpse was difficult.

He could not expose his mother’s shame to the clan.

“Never speak such nonsense again. My father is the Gentleman Sword Moyong Jeong-cheon.”

Looking down at his weeping mother, Moyong Tak spoke coldly.

Moyong Tak returning to his residence.

He walked as if he had become a ghost.

He had lived his entire life with pride in the Moyong surname.

The child of a prestigious clan. He lived as the son of a righteous father and a wise mother.

“…Lies.”

There was no way he, of such esteem, shared blood with that worthless trash. He could not be the product of such disgrace.

“It’s a lie.”

The notion that the merchant, who had been begging for his life with a severed wrist, trembling, could be his biological father…

“Brother!”

Before he knew it, Moyong Tak had arrived at his own residence. There, Moyong Jin was waiting for him.

It was his younger sibling, whom he had not seen in a year. Now, what, seven years old?

Seeing his brother, Moyong Jin ran towards him with a bright smile, not minding the rain or running on the muddy path.

Moyong Tak reflexively tried to lift and hug Moyong Jin rushing towards him.

“Ugh.”

Unintentionally, he shoved his approaching sibling.

Moyong Jin, who had fallen butt-first into the mud, looked up at his brother blankly.

He seemed so startled by the situation that he could not even cry.

“Bro-brother. Why?”

“…”

Moyong Tak halted unsteadily, then walked past his younger brother, who sat there blankly.

From behind, he could hear Moyong Jin starting to cry, but he ignored it and kept walking.

‘It’s an illusion.’

The merchant’s face seemed to reflect in the face of his younger brother, Moyong Jin. It had to be a misconception. There was no way his young brother, merely seven years old, could be like that.

However, doubt and confusion began to twist deep within Moyong Tak’s heart.

Entering a room where not even a candle was lit, Moyong Tak stood still. He had placed a mirror next to the bed, but due to the darkness, he could not see his reflection.

He stood quietly, staring into the black mirror.

Indifferently, the sky struck with lightning again.

Crack—

The nearby bolt illuminated the room for a moment.

And in the mirror, the reflection of Moyong Tak’s face—

The man who had been crying in front of him just a while ago with a severed wrist, he was crying with the exact same face as that man.

The room darkened once more.

Moyong Tak shattered the mirror he had gotten from the Western Regions with his bare hands.

Clutching his bleeding hand, he made a resolution.

He would prove that he carried the Moyong bloodline more intensely than anyone.

Moyong Tak was determined to gain his father’s approval and inherit the Clan Head position.

Live like the Gentleman Sword, Moyong Jeong-cheon.

He had lived with this thought.

However, Moyong Tak increasingly resembled the tea leaf merchant.

He was the child of sin.

“Brother!”

Moyong Jin ran towards Moyong Tak.

He was not as affectionate as before. Now thirteen, he seemed more childlike than Moyong Tak did at the same age.

As Moyong Tak drew his sword and aimed it at Yi-gang, he came running, trying to stop his brother out of concern.

Despite being treated so coldly and tormented.

Even now, knowing that Moyong Tak had given him something akin to poison. How could he wear such a worried expression?

In Moyong Jin’s face, the thick blood of their father, Moyong Jeong-cheon, was now clearly visible. The thick eyebrows, the slightly upturned corners of the eyes, all of it was the same.

Contrary to himself, who, as he grew, increasingly resembled the tea leaf merchant of that day.

“Stay back!”

Moyong Tak warned, extending his sword further.

As the sword seemed to target the neck of Yi-gang, the people rushing in hurriedly halted.

“You’re playing a dangerous game.”

Yet, even in a situation where his life was threatened, Yi-gang showed no fear.

Or perhaps, he was just pretending.

“So, you’ve decided to back me into a corner, Yi-gang.”

“Don’t blame me.”

With fiery eyes, Moyong Tak glared at Yi-gang. Then, he swung the sword he was holding.

The onlookers gasped in shock.

But what Moyong Tak swung his sword at was not Yi-gang. He slashed the table in two.

Crash-!

Bottles fell and shattered, and food spilled over them. Yi-gang gave a hollow laugh.

“Destroying evidence, are we?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Huh.”

Moyong Tak’s smile was not as relaxed as before.

“Don’t play dumb. The Golden Essence Liquor didn’t contain your poison.”

“…What?”

Yi-gang laughed.

“I had already taken it out separately. Can’t you tell, seeing that your brother and I are unharmed?”

Of course, the Golden Essence Liquor that Moyong Jin received didn’t contain any Pilinu powder.

Yi-gang came to meet Jeong Gu, saying he was going to the bathroom. After roughly figuring out the composition of the drug, he had hidden it away.

“I kept it safe, ready to be used at any time.”

“…”

Yi-gang clearly had Moyong Tak by the throat.

“I’ll give you a choice.”

Yi-gang licked a droplet from the Golden Essence Liquor on the back of his hand.

“If you comply with my demands, at the very least, I’ll ensure that no one outside of those present here will know of your deeds.”

“…”

Moyong Tak’s gaze wavered.

If what happened today were to be known throughout Jianghu, it would be the end of Moyong Tak’s life.

Of course, they would not dare to openly harm a child of the Moyong clan, but it was the clan’s reputation at stake. Instead of becoming the Young Clan Head, he would be treated like an abandoned child of the clan.

Yi-gang’s lips held the fate of Moyong Tak.

“First, return to your clan. I’d prefer not to see your face from tomorrow onwards.”

“…And?”

“And, do not lay a finger on the Low Down Sect members you’ve employed. Forget about seeking revenge.”

Moyong Tak must have realized that the sect members he hired had sided with Yi-gang.

“Respond.”

“I understand.”

Yi-gang had plans to continue using the Low Down Sect members.

“And…”

What he would demand next was not for others’ ears. Unable to speak it out loud, Yi-gang whispered into Moyong Tak’s ear.

Moyong Tak’s face contorted.

“…That’s difficult.”

“It seems you have plenty of money. You can slowly repay it by converting it into silver slips of the Golden Ruler Merchant Group.”

Yi-gang demanded material compensation. Moyong Tak was flabbergasted, but Yi-gang spoke as if it were a matter of course.

「You dare to demand money outright.」

‘If you want to strike a deal, you need to pay for it. That’s common sense.’

「You have quite the peculiar sense of common sense.」

‘Is it so common to find something more sincere than money?’

Moyong Tak would have to pay a rightful price. And that price would be something for Yi-gang to collect.

Yi-gang needed a lot of money. With his current inability to freely use his clan’s funds, the debt Moyong Tak owed him would be helpful.

「If you, my descendant, were strong in martial arts, you would have finished this annoying matter by beating him up and calling it a day.」

‘That’s for sure.’

Yi-gang thought the same.

Anyway, he had thwarted Moyong Tak’s petty plan.

“Then… is that all?”

Moyong Tak asked bitterly.

“Yes. If the Young Master keeps his promise, nobody would dare spread rumors recklessly, right?”

As he had been doing all along, Yi-gang addressed Moyong Tak with respect.

Moyong Tak glanced at Jin Ri-yeon and Peng Mu-ah. There was no one among them who would carelessly spread the rumors of today’s events.

“Alright, let’s leave it at that.”

“Please leave your younger brother behind.”

“…”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to let the kids get closer? They won’t need to mind you. Please, let them play at ease and leave.”

Moyong Tak sneakily glanced back at Moyong Jin.

Moyong Jin, not knowing what to do, kept alternating his gaze between his brother and Yi-gang.

After a moment of silence, Moyong Tak opened his mouth.

“Stay here.”

“Brother, I too!”

“Stay put.”

With the firm command, Moyong Jin reflexively shut his mouth.

“I’ll send some people in about a month. Return then.”

“That’s wise.”

Yi-gang, smiling slyly, approached Moyong Tak.

And he swiftly extended his right hand.

“Have a safe journey back. The party was enjoyable.”

“…”

Was this an offer for a handshake? Moyong Tak extended his right hand to grasp Yi-gang’s.

The handshake was much more convincing than the one with his younger brother, Moyong Jin.

“Our father said he hopes the Baek Clan and the Moyong Clan will maintain a good relationship moving forward. I wholeheartedly agree with this,”

Yi-gang whispered, so softly that others could hardly hear.

“My younger brother, Ha-jun, will become the Clan Head someday, though I’m not sure about your side.”

“…”

“Let’s get along. So that we can smile the next time we meet.”

Yi-gang’s eyes.

Moyong Tak felt a freezing chill as he looked into them. How could the eyes of a boy, barely a year older than his brother, look like that?

Like a night swallowing light, his pupils made Moyong Tak feel momentarily overwhelmed.

It soon turned into a strong impulse.

A desire to scream that he was not scared, that he had not lost. An animalistic urge to crush Yi-gang’s slender hand in the handshake, to show he was stronger.

The veins in Moyong Tak’s hand bulged.

Crack—

Surely, Yi-gang’s hand would be more fragile than the pickpocket’s he had broken earlier in the day. It was similarly slim, much paler, and softer.

However, unlike the pickpocket, Yi-gang did not scream.

He just looked back at Moyong Tak with indifferent eyes.

Had Yi-gang shown any pain, Moyong Tak would have let go, but he continued to grip Yi-gang’s hand tightly.

“Don’t feel wronged. It’s all your fault.”

From their clasped hands, drops of blood dripped down. Drip, drip.

And then, cold sweat trickled down Moyong Tak’s forehead.

“Both the humiliation you’ve suffered and the hole in your hand are all self-inflicted.”

“…Ugh.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Moyong Tak was the first to let go.

His right hand was pale, and the palm was lacerated as if pierced by a sharp stone, bleeding. It would be difficult to wield a sword for a while.

Yi-gang, indifferent, was wiping his own hand with a handkerchief. Unlike Moyong Tak, his hand was clean. However, the ring he wore was splendid, with sharp jewels embedded on the side of the palm.

It was Moyong Tak’s hand, which he had exerted so much force with, that was torn by the jewels.

“External art…?”

He could not help but mutter that.

It was only the skin that had been soft. That slender hand of Yi-gang’s was like steel.

“Ha ha.”

Yi-gang just sneered in lieu of a response.

“Young Master Yi-gang.”

Then, a voice calling for Yi-gang was heard from the direction of the stairs. Neung Ji-pyeong and his subordinates were standing there.

No one had noticed them ascending the stairs, so everyone was taken aback.

“We hurried over when we heard you had collapsed from poisoning.”

Neung Ji-pyeong and his Biyeon Squad were the pride of the Baek Clan, specializing in covert operations and escort duties.

“It seems you are alright after all.”

From the beginning, the Biyeon Squad and Neung Ji-pyeong had been guarding Yi-gang and Ha-jun from outside the Greatest Gold Tower.

“It’s just that I was greatly surprised when Young Master Moyong Tak said he wanted to leave in a hurry.”

“What does being surprised have to do with collapsing?”

“It was a disappointment so deep it could make one collapse, wasn’t it? Isn’t that right?”

As Yi-gang asked this, looking at Moyong Tak, Moyong Tak gave a bitter smile and said,

“That’s right…”

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