Chapter 4: Yeonmok Sword (1)

Mok Gyeongwoon, after unwrapping his bandages, saw his upper body reflected in the mirror. There were traces of wounds from a sword stab on his left chest and abdomen.

'Scar?'

Normally, most wounds wouldn't leave scars. However, the wound inflicted by that person's black sword remained as a scar. It seemed it would last a lifetime.

'Well…can't be helped.'

He had to be satisfied with surviving. He himself had thought that such a wound would be fatal. But contrary to expectations, he survived. He was aware of his extraordinary healing ability, but this was beyond his imagination in terms of vitality.

'Does this mean I shouldn't go there yet?'

If he was going to die and meet his grandfather, and listen to his nagging constantly, he wanted to complete his revenge first. It would be less regrettable then.

'Revenge…'

Thinking of revenge made him feel lucky. Who would have thought that there was someone in the world with the same face as his? Thanks to that, he was able to wash his identity.

'Should I say I'm lucky?'

Since the identity of a death row inmate was killed, there would be no bounty for his escape. In fact, he had something else in mind rather than the bounty issued by the government.

'Now they'll believe I'm dead, right?'

The middle-aged man with the black sword he encountered while following the trail of his enemy. That person appeared to kill him. If it were discovered that he was still alive, he would undoubtedly appear again.

'…Martial Arts.'

He had clearly experienced it. That person was a monster he had encountered for the first time in his life. It seemed impossible to deal with him without learning martial arts.

In that sense, it seemed like a stroke of luck. The person with the same face as his was the third son of the Mok Sword Manor, a sect in the Murim. Not as Scythe Killer Demon, but as the third son of the Mok Sword Manor, he was able to deceive the world and, moreover, had the opportunity to learn martial arts.

'It is an opportunity, but…' there was just one problem.

Mok Gyeongwoon, putting on his shirt, saw a dark figure standing outside his room door. It was a person placed by Guard Kam to monitor him. Thanks to him, he was unable to move except when going to the outhouse, trapped in the villa.

'Annoying.'

The situation was not easy. It was almost no different from being imprisoned. Although a deal was made, Guard Kam obviously did not trust him at all. Probably, it would continue to be so. It was natural, considering he boldly killed the 'real one' right in front of his eyes.

'What should I do?'

If he stayed passive, he would just be manipulated. The opportunity to learn martial arts might not come. A dilemma with no action possible. Despite this, Mok Gyeongwoon smiled faintly with a calm face.

*Knock*

*Knock*

At that moment, someone knocked on the door, "Young master. I've brought lunch."

Then, the door opened, and a female servant came in with a tray of food. Beef and eggplant stir-fry, mung bean sprouts, and rice. As always, the female servant placed the tray on the round table near the window.

She glanced at Mok Gyeongwoon as he buttoned up his shirt and sat down on a chair, 'He's handsome.'

Among the four sons of the Mok Sword Manor, Mok Gyeongwoon's beauty was unrivalled. The female servants were eager to take care of his meals, just to catch a glimpse of his face. Shouldn't there be such small pleasures?

But then, 'Huh?'

The female servant frowned slightly. Even with a slight smile, he didn't seem any different from the usual Mok Gyeongwoon. But what was this strange sense of unease?

'What is it?' something felt different.

It was difficult to pinpoint exactly what it was. As the puzzled female servant was about to take the tray and leave, "Wait."

"Yes?"

"About the beef and eggplant stir-fry."

"Yes?"

"I'd like it if the beef were less cooked next time."

"If it's undercooked, there might be blood…"

"Beef tastes better when it's undercooked, with the meat being tender and slightly soaked in blood."

With those words, he smiled broadly. The moment she saw the smile, the female servant felt a chill down her spine. She felt like she understood why she sensed unease. His lips were smiling, but his eyes did not move at all as they stared at her.

"Is there a problem?"

She felt her body stiffen, "That…that is…"

Once seized by fear, it was hard for her to answer. That was the moment.

"The preparation of meals is for the chef to decide, Young Master," Mok Gyeongwoon turned his head towards the door. Through the open door, Guard Kam was entering. He shook his head disapprovingly at the female servant, then waved his hand dismissively at her.

Following this, the female servant bowed her head and quickly left the room.

*Thud*

After closing the door, Guard Kam approached Mok Gyeongwoon and said, "I warned you not to make a spectacle."

To this, Mok Gyeongwoon, slightly lifting some rice with his chopsticks, replied, "Is asking for the beef to be undercooked considered making a spectacle?"

"You are Mok Gyeongwoon, not a death row inmate."

"The paper you gave me to memorize didn't mention anything about what kind of meat the 'real' one preferred," Mok Gyeongwoon retorted calmly.

'This bastard,' Guard Kam's expression hardened menacingly.

He didn't like being contradicted at the end of every sentence, even if it wasn't technically wrong. It was also irritating to see him munching on his food annoyingly.

Sitting across from him, Guard Kam said, "Seeing you talk like that, it seems you have memorized everything you were supposed to, haven't you?"

 "Yes. There wasn't much to it."

"Not much? Ha! Then what's the name of the first son?"

"Mok Yeongho. Twenty years old. A mole on the left cheek, and as devoted to wine and women that he visits the brothel every other day. The most incompetent among the brothers but greedy and brutal."

'…' one of Guard Kam's eyebrows raised. Not a single detail was incorrect. It was vividly written from the perspective of the real young master himself.

"And the second son?"

"Mok Eunpyeong. Eighteen years old. Eyes like the late lady of the house, sly and cunning. Trash that would do anything to become the head of the family," Mok Gyeongwoon recited exactly as it was written. The strength in the handwriting conveyed a strong dislike.

'It'd be easier if he was just a fool,' Guard Kam inwardly clicked his tongue. As expected, the cunning guy had memorized everything. It seemed there was no need to check further.

"Shall I talk about the fourth son? Or perhaps about the real Mok Gyeongwoon's usual habits…"

"That's enough. That will do."

"Then, since I haven't finished my meal, may I continue?"

"Hmph. Eat and listen." 

"Understood."

Guard Kam stood up, turned towards the window, and, with his hands clasped behind his back, said, "Even though you've memorized the contents of the dossier, you will hardly meet the other members of this household."

"Why is that?"

"Even if you have the same face as the young master, a long tail will be stepped on. It's better not to create such situations in the first place."

"So, you mean to keep me cooped up inside all the time?"

"You catch on quick."

"It doesn't seem much different from being a stand-in."

"You chose to be a puppet instead of a stand-in. Since you've chosen that path, you just need to do as you're told," Guard Kam made his point clear. To ensure this cunning bastard couldn't entertain any other ideas.

"Just do as I'm told, you say."

"Yes."

"Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Nothing," At Guard Kam's last word, Mok Gyeongwoon's gaze narrowed as he continued with his meal.

He had been told to memorize certain details, but nothing beyond habits or personal information that wouldn't easily reveal him as a fake. Especially the most crucial information.

'He's not telling me why a stand-in was needed.' Of course, he guessed that Guard Kam might choose not to tell him. This allowed Mok Gyeongwoon to be certain of one thing.

'He plans to leave me in dangerous situations that require a stand-in, just as he are.' There was no reason not to tell him unless he intended not to use him.

Given that he had been poisoned and the 'real Mok Gyeongwoon' was dead, he thought he would be utilized for a while as the only substitute. But it seemed that wasn't the case. There probably was another hidden card they had. Lost in thought, the corners of Mok Gyeongwoon's mouth twisted into a bitter smile.

'He's planning to switch me out.'

*Thud*

After closing the door, Guard Kam spoke to a sharp-eyed middle-aged man guarding outside, "Make sure he can't escape at all. And if someone comes looking, use the excuse that he's unwell to prevent him from meeting anyone else."

"Understood."

"I'll be out for a while."

As he was about to leave, the middle-aged man whispered, "Executioner. Is there really a need to change horses?"

"Hm?"

"Since he's already been poisoned. Why not just use this fake guy? Especially since you chose the third son…"

"He's not the one."

"What? What do you mean?"

"He's not someone easy to control," Guard Kam's words made the middle-aged man scoff internally. No matter if the guy was a death row inmate, he was just a civilian who hadn't learned martial arts. It was amusing to see the executioner overreact like this.

Retired from the frontline and living as a bodyguard, it seemed his sharpness had dulled. If he was so bothersome, he could have just put him in his place through some rough education. However, regardless of what he thought, it was not his place to contradict the executioner's orders.

"Understood."

"Keep a close watch. If he tries anything unnecessary, subdue him with hand-catching technique. Inflicting some pain, excluding the face, is permitted."

"Really?"

"It might even be better for him that way. Just keep a close eye."

"Understood," The middle-aged man's lips curled up in satisfaction.

…

It had been a while since Guard Kam left. The closed door opened.

The middle-aged man guarding the door blocked Mok Gyeongwoon's path as he tried to leave, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I was just going out for a bit."

"To the outhouse?"

"No. I thought I'd take a look around outside the villa. I was in need of a conversation partner anyway. Would you like to come with me?" Mok Gyeongwoon spoke casually.

At this, the middle-aged man shook his head in disbelief. How could he think of stepping outside when the executioner had just left?

The middle-aged man spoke in a cold tone, "If you don't want to see trouble, get back inside now."

"You said your name was Goh Chan, Right? It seems like nothing would happen if we both just keep our mouths shut…"

Before Mok Gyeongwoon could finish speaking.

*Swipe*

The middle-aged man, Goh Chan, swiftly grabbed Mok Gyeongwoon's wrist and twisted it behind his back. It was a hand-catching technique. According to the executioner, it wasn't external martial arts, but since his muscle density was no ordinary matter, twisting joints was easier for subduing than striking.

'Tsk, this brat is only that, a brat pulled out from death row,' using hand-catching technique after a long while, it felt like his senses hadn't dulled.

Feeling better after twisting the guy's arm, he whispered into Mok Gyeongwoon's ear, "You seem to forget your place. You're not the real Mok Gyeongwoon. Provoking me won't end well for you."

*Squeeze*

He twisted the wrist even tighter. Regardless of the muscles, a twisted joint would be painful.

"Go back inside nicely and stay put," Goh Chan warned him in a low voice.

He expected him to obediently go back on his own after this, "What if I don't want to?"

"What?" taken aback, Goh Chan involuntarily snorted.

He had heard that the guy was unusual, but this seemed beyond reason. If he didn't want to go back nicely, what could be done?

"Foolish boy!" Goh Chan struck Mok Gyeongwoon's nape with a palm infused with inner Qi.

*Thump*

With that force, regardless of muscle, he should have been knocked out by the impact. But something felt off. It was as if he had hit a wooden pillar.

'What?' he thought he would naturally fall, but instead, he was standing firm.

Wondering if he hadn't applied enough inner Qi, he was about to strike harder when he heard Mok Gyeongwoon's voice, "You seem weaker than Guard Kam."

'This bastard?'

It seemed he felt no pain at all. Otherwise, how could he talk so calmly after being hit on the back of the neck? Feeling uneasy, Goh Chan decided it was not enough and tried to twist Mok Gyeongwoon's wrist even more to throw him to the ground.

*Squeeze*

No matter how much he twisted, there was no reaction. Instead, the guy was straightening his own twisted wrist and forearm.

'What on earth…' panicked, Goh Chan pulled up his energy to the maximum. It wasn't a time to worry about whether the guy would get hurt. He had to be subdued first.

'What?'

Suddenly, the moment he tried to draw up his energy, his body buzzed and floated up. Then, he was swiftly slammed to the ground in front of him.

*Thump*

"Ugh!"

Fortunately, it didn't seem he was thrown too hard. Quickly trying to spring up, Mok Gyeongwoon grabbed his throat with his right hand.

*Squeeze*

"Ack!"

The grip was so strong it felt like his neck would break at any moment. Goh Chan's eyes trembled and began to redden. He desperately grabbed at the wrist and tried to push it away, but it wouldn't budge.

'What is this guy? How can his strength be like this…'

He had reached the second level in martial arts. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had twice the strength of an average adult male. Yet, he couldn't handle the strength of this man's single hand, who hadn't even learned martial arts.

"Gasp, gasp," he was suffocating. His face felt like it was going to explode. Struggling in agony, he suddenly caught sight of the guy's face.

'Smiling?' The corners of Mok Gyeongwoon mouth were upturned to his ears. He had the face of an innocent child playing with a toy.