Episode 5: Bargain (3)
The second Confucius, Mok Eun-pyeong, had great ambitions.
In addition to the swordsmanship of Yeonmokgeomjang, he has also mastered the fighting skills of his mother, Mrs. Jang’s home, Hoebukjangga, and his talent in martial arts is quite outstanding since he was young.
Therefore, he was confident that he would be the next leader of the Yeonmok Swordsman.
As the eldest son, Mok Yeong-ho was greedy and showed off his personality, making him unqualified as a successor, so he naturally assumed that he would be the next in line for succession.
But that was a miscalculation.
‘Mokyucheon.’
Jangju’s favor was with him, the youngest.
What made this possible was that he possessed an innate martial talent that allowed him to master all the martial arts of the Yeonmok Sword Master at the age of only fourteen and rise to the level of a first-class expert.
As Mo Yu-cheon rose to prominence, Zhuang Ju took care of deciding the successor.
I was sure it was probably because I was attracted to that guy.
‘I can’t miss this opportunity.’
He saw the fact that Zhuang Ju’s life was in danger as an opportunity.
Fortunately, Mo Yu-cheon was the son of a lowly concubine, so there was no power around her.
It was difficult for him to ascend to the position of lord on his own unless the lord himself declared succession.
Therefore, the key was to beat the remaining successors.
‘If you look at them alone, no one can be my opponent.’
Both were completely incompetent.
The only thing Grand Duke Mo Yong-ho knows how to do is the coloring, and the third, Mo Gyeong-un, is an incompetent coward.
However, behind Grand Duke Mok Yeong-ho was his godwife, Lady Seok.
Because she was from Jinhua Shijiazhuang, she was quite powerful.
Moreover, among the vassals, there were still many old kkondaes who advocated the priority of the eldest son.
‘Mokgyeongun……’
Among his brothers, the one who is inferior in every way except his face, which looks like a gisaeng brother, has been coveting the position of successor for some time.
The great lady thought the guy was funny and didn’t pay any attention to him, but she was different.
‘Did you say it was a persimmon escort?’
This guy had an escort who was very helpful.
He was called Guard Gam, and when he first saw him, he was so inactive that he asked Lord Jang to be his guard.
So I was interested, so I looked into it and found out some pretty interesting facts.
Or should I say that it is a fact that needs to be paid attention to?
Because of this, Mok Eun-pyeong came to believe that the third child, Mok Gyeong-un, should not let down his guard too hastily.
But something unexpected happened.
Is heaven helping you?
“Do you want to be mine?”
Mok Eun-pyeong managed to calm the twitching corner of his mouth.
This man kneeling down on one knee in front of him and bowing was none other than Gam Howie, Mokgyeongun’s bodyguard warrior.
The man who wanted it so badly came to me on his own.
At a very odd time.
“Please accept it. Confucius.”
Seeing this persimmon guard, Mok Eun-pyeong stroked his chin and opened his mouth.
“Please accept it… It’s really tempting.”
Hearing Mok Eun-pyeong’s words, Gam Guard thought to himself that it was a good start.
Gam Howie, who was trying to make a decision after observing Jangju’s condition and the surrounding trends, eventually chose Mok Eun-pyeong, the second Confucius.
The eldest, Mo Yong-ho, was greatly influenced by the great lady, and the youngest, Mo Yu-cheon, had nothing but his strength.
‘It’s cunning, but it’s better to deal with it this way.’
Therefore, Mok Eun-pyeong was chosen as the next best alternative to the real dead Mok Gyeong-un.
Although he was cunning and suspicious, he was confident that Mok Eun-pyeong, who was greedy for talent, would accept him.
however,
“But. “The situation is truly exquisite.”
“yes?”
“As you know, I think highly of Gam Howie. However, I doubt that it would be normal, but since they are asking me to accept it in a situation where a succession competition is ahead, I am suspicious.”
‘As expected.’
Guard Gam slightly nodded his head at Mok Eun-pyeong’s words.
Naturally, I assumed that he, who had a lot of doubts, would not believe it right away.
“I understand. However, I now have a reason why I can no longer serve Confucius Mokgyeongun.”
“Why can’t we serve Mo Gyeong-un?”
“yes.”
“What is that?”
“I can’t tell you right now.”
Mok Eun-pyeong snorted at those words.
If you can’t reveal the reason why you can’t attend, what’s the point?
I thought it was absurd, but Gam Howie said with a grin.
“It’s just that it’s difficult to tell right now because it’s one of Confucius Mo Qingyun’s weaknesses. “I can tell you as much as I want if you accept me.”
“hot. “Are you bargaining with me now?”
“Please understand the circumstances.”
“Understand… Then, let’s just say that what you do now is for later, and can we talk about your other weaknesses?”
“of course.”
“What is that?”
——————
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“Confucius Mu Qingyun is currently unable to practice martial arts at all.”
“what?”
One of Mok Eun-pyeong’s eyebrows twitched as if he was interested.
“Is that true?”
“There is not a single lie.”
“Are you wearing a coin coat or something?”
“…….You could say they are similar.”
In fact, because it was fake, I couldn’t even learn martial arts in the first place.
However, because we could not reveal this fact and make the fake death of Mok Gyeong-un public, we glossed over it.
“under!”
Mok Eun-pyeong’s face brightened at these words from Gam Guard.
As expected, Yeonmok Geomjang was from a military family.
If the person who was supposed to be the head of a group practicing martial arts was unable to use martial arts, it was no different from losing the qualifications to be the leader.
“That guy lost his martial arts skills.”
Originally, there was no martial talent, but the situation was different if one could not use martial arts completely.
He was not even qualified to participate in the succession competition.
Guard Gam said to Mok Eun-pyeong, who could not hide his joy.
“If you would only accept me, I can give you more useful information.”
Mok Eun-pyeong pretended to be worried about his words and then said with a grin.
“I wondered if Gam’s guard was claiming to be Hwanggae’s role at Jeokbyeok.”
It’s a struggle to overcome hardships.
There is a story about Huang Gai, a vassal of Sun Quan of the Wu Dynasty, pretending to be tortured and falsely surrendering to Cao Cao of the Wei Dynasty in the Battle of Red Cliffs.
It was Mok Eun-pyeong who thought it might be Ganja sent by Mok Gyeong-un, who had known that he had been coveting persimmon guards for a long time.
At this, Howie Gam chuckled and said.
“I am embarrassed to tell you this because I am the former owner, but Confucius Mokgyeongun is not capable of even thinking of such a plan.”
“Hahaha. “I guess so.”
“If I do, will you accept it?”
“I should get it. “How can we miss out on such a talented person?”
Guard Gam bowed his head and expressed his gratitude at Mok Eun-pyeong’s words.
“Thank you for accepting me.”
“no. I am thankful that Guard Gam made the right decision for Chief Yeonmok. “But I’m sorry for asking you to do this as soon as you came under my wing, but I want you to do one thing for me.”
At those words, Howie Gam pounded his chest and spoke loudly.
“Please give me as many orders as you want.”
Right now, I had to show off to Mok Eun-pyeong.
But then something unexpected came out of his mouth.
“I think Gam Howie, who was once a salsu, can do the job.”
‘!?’
Howie Gam’s expression hardened.
I never would have thought that Mok Eun-pyeong would have investigated his past.
I knew he was clever, but I still thought he was a kid, so I guess I let my guard down.
* * *
At the end of the Zisi period.
It is a time when everyone is asleep and even the warrior guards guarding the front of the medicine hall are dozing off.
-Drur!
‘Hoo.’
When I opened the medicine drawer labeled Oyang (梧凉), a hidden entrance was revealed.
As I was worried, perhaps because it was a secret space, there was no loud noise.
Mo Kyung-un held a lantern and entered the hidden entrance.
-Sabagsabag!
I quietly went down the basement stairs.
The stairs went much deeper than I thought.
‘It’s deep.’
I was going more than two floors deep, not one floor, and something felt suspicious.
It was quite deep for a space created to hide the main seal and a secret book.
It was around the time when we went into a depth of about three stories.
A cavity about one-third the size of the pharmacy appeared.
‘ah!’
There were stone gates in the cavity that appeared to be four entrances.
And above the stone gate was engraved: Gap-eul Byeong-jeong (甲乙丙丁).
[About…..Dang….Underground….Jeong (丁) Seok…….Moon…….Inside. [……]
Mok Kyung-un recalled what Jang Ju had said.
Since I said it was inside the main stone gate among the four passages, it seemed like I could just go in there without having to look at the other passages first.
Mok Gyeong-un approached the front of the Jeong (丁) stone gate.
When the stone door was opened, a straight cave passage was revealed.
‘About twenty steps?’
It was about that distance.
Mok Gyeong-un, who was about to go straight inside, stopped as soon as he put his foot down on the floor.
That was because I suddenly discovered something at the top of the cave passage.
‘what?’
When I reached out to the top of the rugged cave passage, I saw a hole that could fit two or three fingers.
However, I don’t know if there was only one, but it was located all the way inside the passage at regular intervals.
Mok Gyeong-un became puzzled and looked around.
I saw a few fist-sized stones on one side of the cavity.
‘just in case.’
Mok Gyeong-un picked up a stone and clinked it in his hand, then threw it into the passage.
– Perfect!
This was before the stone even hit the floor and rolled.
-Papapapap!
At that moment, something pointed and sharp like a spear protruded from the right and left sides of the floor.
If I had just gone in without knowing how to do it, my leg or thigh would have been pierced by the spear.
Mo Gyeong-un saw this and raised one corner of his mouth.
‘That’s fun.’
Did you set up this trap because you were worried that your official seal and secret certificate might be stolen?
For something like that, it seems quite excessive.
Is it true that there are really official seals and secret documents inside?
Mok Gyeong-un, who was looking inside the cave, immediately closed and opened his hands repeatedly.
‘You’ll know when you see it.’
I felt like I had to go in to find out.
Mo Kyung-un put the lamp’s handle in his mouth, jumped up without hesitation, and put three fingers into the hole visible in the cave ceiling.
-closely!
It would be difficult for an ordinary person to support his body with only two fingers, but for Mo Kyung-un, it was not that difficult.
-Sigh! closely!
Mok Gyeong-un extended his left hand into the hole in front and inserted his index and middle fingers.
In that way, Mok Kyung-un climbed the ceiling and moved about two steps away.
‘That’s right.’
It was as expected.
You can move by inserting your fingers into the holes in the ceiling without touching the floor.
Then the trap in the cave will not activate.
Mok Gyeong-un, who found out about this, without the slightest hesitation, pushed his fingers into the holes in the ceiling in front of the passage and advanced forward.
-closely! closely! closely!
After moving about 20 steps, the cave passage ended and a space measuring about 7 pyeong appeared.
As Mok Gyeong-un came inside, a strange look appeared in his eyes.
‘what?’
There were several artillery-like things inside, and there were numerous traces everywhere.
‘footprint?’
There were numerous footprints in the deep depressions in the floor, and there were many traces of damage on the walls as a result of impact.
Mu Qingyun walked over and looked inside the battery.
There was something like a small kernel inside, and after sniffing it, Mok Gyeong-un realized what it was.
‘Byeokgokdan?’
Byeokgokdan (辟穀丹).
It is made by combining pine powder and various grains, and is a single ring made by Taoist practitioners for the practice of closing the tube in places such as caves.
It is used to supplement minimal grain intake, but depending on the combination, it can also play a role in expelling waste from the body.
Mok Gyeong-un, who had a wealth of knowledge about medicinal herbs, always ate Byeokgokdan made by his grandfather as a snack.
‘Why is Byeokgokdan here as a battery?’
It seemed like it was meant to be here for a long time.
Did he do some sort of martial arts training here alone?
Mok Gyeong-un, who was fiddling with Byeokgokdan in the battery, soon turned his gaze elsewhere.
There was something like a decorative cabinet built on one wall, and there were several wooden boxes there.
‘Is that it?’
Mok Gyeong-un approached the place and opened one of the wooden boxes that caught his eye.
When I opened it, there was a book inside.
[Yeonmokseonggeomgyeol (然木成劍結)]
‘Does this mean that it is an emergency document?’
Mo Kyung-un took out the book and flipped through it.
Inside, numerous phrases and movements related to sword cutting were written in detail.
Although I didn’t learn martial arts, I knew at least that this was swordsmanship.
‘I guess that’s right?’
I don’t know if this is exactly the kind of non-level book that the lender is aiming for.
In the first place, I couldn’t help it because I didn’t even know the concept of what Yeonmok Geomjang’s martial arts were.
Mok Gyeong-un also opened another wooden box.
– Sweet!
When I opened the wooden box, there was
[Soft Tree Transformation Method]
There was a book called
Mok Gyeong-un took it out, flicked through it quickly, and nodded.
It seems to be paired with the Yeonmokseonggeomjeok in front, and it contains detailed information on breathing and luck techniques for gathering and manipulating internal energy.
‘I guess I should take care of this too.’
Mo Gyeong-un opened other boxes one after another.
There were no books related to martial arts in other ships, but there were surprisingly some interesting ones.
However, the Jangju seal was not yet visible.
‘All that’s left is this ship.’
There was nothing around anymore.
In response, Mok Gyeong-un took out the box near the floor and lifted it up.
However, unlike other wooden boxes, there was an old piece of paper with a pattern attached to the opening of this box.
Looking at the paper torn in half, it looked like it had been put on the wooden box as a sign telling people not to open it.
Mo Kyung-un opened it without much thought.
Of course, I thought there would be the master’s seal inside.
‘!?’
Mok Kyung-un tilted his head.
Inside, there was no seal that should have been there, and there was an old book with an extremely pungent smell surrounded by red prayer beads.
But what is surprising is the cover of the book,
‘Is this…skin?’
No matter how I looked at it, it looked like it was made of something like human skin.
An ordinary person would have been shocked if they knew this was made from human skin, but Mok Kyung-un looked quite intrigued.
‘I wonder what this is.’
It was just as I was about to put my hand on it.
-Sleep!
At that moment, something like smoke appeared through the ceiling.
It was none other than a demonic horse.
Just like the guard Gochan above, he was placed under guard, and his appearance like this meant that someone was approaching the pharmacy.
-…………
As expected, Ma Seung was trying to say something.
However, when Ma Seung looked at the wooden box in Mo Gyeong-un’s hand, he immediately said,
-!!!!!
My whole body trembled,
-Park!
He fell flat on the floor and began bowing, raising his hands up with a look on his face full of awe.
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martial arts,
