Myst, Might, Mayhem Chapter 2

The intruder was unable to conceal his shock.

Even martial artists who had tempered their internal energy would succumb to a profound slumber if caught off guard by this sleeping incense.

For commoners devoid of martial arts training, a single breath of the smoke was enough to induce immediate unconsciousness.

Yet, a strange anomaly had occurred.

While every soul in the government prison was dead to the world, this boy remained wide awake.

‘Who exactly is this brat?’

To verify his suspicions, the intruder pressed his palm against the boy’s abdomen.

He proceeded to circulate his internal energy into the boy's body.

Had the youth possessed even a shred of internal energy, a natural rebound would have occurred.

However,

‘There is no resistance.’

The boy had clearly never practiced internal energy cultivation.

The reports from the government official earlier that day were correct; he was a mere ordinary person.

Why, then, had the sleeping incense failed to affect him?

‘…This one?’

Furthermore, the boy showed no signs of terror.

It was one thing to resist the incense, but even after a stranger had breached the prison and paralyzed him with acupuncture, the boy showed no fear.

Instead, he was fixated on the intruder with a steady, calculating gaze.

It was as if he were the one studying his captor.

‘He is different.’

Though he was labeled a death row inmate, he lacked the typical desperation of boys his age.

There was an unsettling aura about him that the intruder couldn't quite name.

As the intruder stood there lost in thought,

‘I suppose…’

A voice suddenly drifted from the shadows behind him.

“Have you not located him yet?”

Another figure stepped into the prison from the rear entrance.

This newcomer was also masked, though their frame was noticeably smaller.

Their slender build and shorter height suggested they were not yet a fully grown man.

The intruder whispered back.

“Young Master, I instructed you to remain outside and stand guard…”

“Is this the one?”

Ignoring the intruder, the masked youth pointed a finger and demanded an answer.

His target was the grimy, immobilized prisoner boy.

The intruder gave a curt nod.

“Yes, this is him.”

“His face is obscured. Guard Gam, pull his hair back.”

He clearly wished to inspect the prisoner’s features.

Hesitating for a brief second, the intruder reached out and lifted the matted hair of the paralyzed boy.

An audible gasp escaped from behind the youngster’s mask.

“Ah…”

The masked youth was visibly shaken by what he saw.

The prisoner boy, meanwhile, was confused by their behavior.

He couldn't comprehend why both the intruder and this newcomer were reacting with such shock.

Then, the masked youngster reached up and pulled off his face covering.

‘!?’

The prisoner’s eyes widened.

The face revealed beneath the mask was startling.

It was like staring into a reflecting pool; the youth’s face was a mirror image of his own.

The resemblance was so uncanny that they could have been mistaken for twins.

Aside from their hair styles and perhaps the finest details of their expressions, they were identical. If dressed in the same robes, even close acquaintances would struggle to tell them apart.

“Do we truly look so much alike?”

“…It is almost a perfect match.”

“This is… incredible.”

“I was equally stunned when I first laid eyes on him.”

“I understand why now.”

The probability of two unrelated strangers sharing such a face was practically zero.

It was a freak occurrence of nature.

Yet, here they were, the prisoner and the noble youth, possessing the same countenance.

After a moment of marveling at the sight, the unmasked youth stepped closer to the prisoner.

“You. You are a death row prisoner, correct?”

“…”

Because his mute acupoint was still sealed, the boy remained silent.

The youngster glanced at the intruder.

In response, the intruder’s fingers blurred as they struck the prisoner’s chest.

Tap tap tap tap tap!

Once the acupuncture was undone, the youth spoke again.

“You can speak now. You are on death row, aren't you?”

The prisoner remained quiet for a heartbeat before answering,

“…I am.”

The youth smirked, seemingly pleased by the respectful tone.

“You seem to understand your predicament well.”

To him, no matter how dangerous a criminal the boy was, he was still just an ordinary person.

Compared to a martial artist, he was merely a kitten facing a tiger. Politeness was the only logical choice.

The youth folded his arms, his voice dripping with arrogance.

“I am told your execution is set for the day after tomorrow. Is that right?”

“It is.”

“What if you were offered a chance to extend your life?”

“…I wish to live.”

“Heh heh heh. I thought as much.”

The youngster’s satisfaction was evident.

A condemned man with no future would naturally cling to any lifeline offered to him.

Grinning, the youth continued,

“Such a chance is rare. You are quite fortunate for someone destined for the block.”

“…Are you offering me this chance?”

“Indeed. A magnificent opportunity.”

“What must I do?”

“For a mere five days, a wretch like you will get to live as Mok Gyeong-un, the Third Young Master of the prestigious Yeon Mok Sword Manor.”

‘Yeon Mok Sword Manor?’

The name meant nothing to the boy.

He gathered it must be some influential estate.

Though the boy was ignorant of it, the Yeon Mok Sword Manor was a venerable martial arts clan of high standing in northern Anhui Province.

Regardless of the details, one thing was clear.

“You want me to act as a decoy?”

Mok Gyeong-un’s smile widened at the boy’s quick wit.

“You aren't dim-witted. Precisely. Why else would I bother with a convict? It is that face of yours I require.”

The motive for finding a doppelganger was obvious.

He needed a substitute.

“…And I only need to be a stand-in?”

“Just for five days. Did you expect some legendary quest? You will simply stay within the clan’s villa and play the role of the Young Master.”

“I understand.”

“You get to taste the luxury of a noble clan for five days, and you keep your head in exchange. It is a bargain, is it not?”

On the surface, it sounded ideal.

However, the boy was no fool.

The role of a substitute inherently involved absorbing the risks meant for the original person.

Danger was undoubtedly lurking in the shadows.

‘A stand-in…’

But he had no other cards to play.

He had already been racking his brain for a way to escape this cell.

If he stayed, he faced the agonizing death of dismemberment.

The choice was simple.

“I accept the opportunity.”

“Heh.”

Mok Gyeong-un chuckled and gave a signal.

The masked intruder reached into his robes and produced a small silk pouch.

Confused, the boy asked,

“What is that?”

“Consume it.”

“…?”

The intruder pulled a dark, pungent pill from the pouch.

The foul odor made it clear that this was no healing tonic.

The intruder held the pill to the boy’s lips.

The boy stared at it and asked,

“…Is it poison?”

Mok Gyeong-un scoffed at the question.

“Did you truly believe I would trust a common criminal based on his word alone?”

“…”

“If the five days pass without incident, you will receive the antidote. Heh heh heh.”

It was a leash to ensure the boy wouldn't attempt to flee or betray them.

The intruder pressed the pill harder against his mouth.

“Open up.”

There was no alternative.

Casting a glance at the smirking Mok Gyeong-un, the boy slowly parted his lips and took the poison.

As the boy began to chew, the intruder’s eyes sparked with curiosity.

Usually, a person forced to eat poison would show signs of dread or physical revulsion, but the boy chewed and swallowed with an eerie lack of emotion.

He didn't even try to gulp it down quickly.

‘He truly is different.’

Despite sharing the Young Master’s face, this boy was a predator.

It made sense why he was on death row for multiple murders despite having no martial training.

‘It was wise to prepare the poison.’

With the toxin in his system, the boy’s survival was now tied to their success. He wouldn't dare run.

The boy finished chewing and opened his mouth wide to show it was empty.

“I have swallowed it, Young Master.”

The pill had been far too large to conceal under his tongue.

Satisfied, Mok Gyeong-un gave the order.

“Release him.”

“As you command.”

The intruder used a stolen key to unlock the heavy wooden stocks binding the boy’s wrists and ankles.

‘Phew.’

As the weight fell away, the boy felt a surge of relief.

The restraints were reinforced with iron, making them deceptively heavy and painful.

The intruder moved toward the cell door and spoke softly.

“I will lead. You, follow directly behind me. Young Master, stay behind him.”

“Very well.”

The poison was their primary insurance, but they were taking no chances.

With the boy sandwiched between a martial arts expert and the Young Master, escape was impossible.

To these men, the prisoner was no more threatening than a child.

“Follow me.”

Just as the intruder reached for the door,

“You! Ugh!”

Thud! Thump!

Startled by the violent sounds behind him, the intruder spun around.

The sight that met his eyes was impossible.

Mok Gyeong-un was sprawled on the stone floor, his expression frozen in terror, his neck twisted at a grotesque, unnatural angle.

‘!!!’

The suddenness of the act left the intruder paralyzed with shock.

In the silence, the boy spoke with chilling indifference.

“What should we do now? The death row inmate who was supposed to be the stand-in is dead.”