Chapter 8
no 5: Formation (1)
A young man, his face covered in wounds and his entire body wrapped in bandages, limped toward a boy with a pale complexion.
“J-Jinyeong! It’s huge news!”
“What is it?”
Jinyeong, effectively the leader of the “Jin” generation among the second-generation disciples of the Jeomchang Sect, looked at Jinjin with a puzzled expression.
He had just finished formation training and was practicing on his own.
“Jinseong and the others—they’ve all been taken down!”
“What?!”
The news was so shocking that Jinyeong’s eyes widened like lanterns.
“What do you mean taken down? Don’t tell me… Mujin defeated all of them?”
“Yeah! They got beaten half to death and are being dragged to the Vice Hall Master’s quarters!”
“The Vice Hall Master’s quarters?! Why there?”
“How would I know?”
“This can’t be….”
Jinyeong shook his head blankly, as if he couldn’t believe it.
Compared to before, Mujin had truly changed.
He had even overwhelmingly defeated Jinjin, who was second only to Jinyeong in strength.
But this time, Jinyeong had thought there was no way out for him.
Honestly, even he himself would have struggled to escape that trap.
There was a nine-to-one difference in numbers…
And on top of that, a fairly well-constructed trap.
Yet Mujin had overcome all of it and subdued all nine members of the “Jin” generation instead.
“I need to go to the Vice Hall Master’s quarters.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I need to find out why that bastard Mujin went there.”
“Will you be alright?”
“In any case, the Vice Hall Master, the Hall Master, and all the elders of our sect are on my side—not Mujin’s. You know that.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Don’t worry.”
Jinyeong hurried toward the Vice Hall Master’s quarters.
‘This doesn’t feel right.’
Having fought Mujin personally, Jinjin knew better than anyone how frightening he was.
So when he heard that Mujin had escaped Jinseong’s trap and instead beaten them senseless, he wasn’t particularly surprised.
It felt almost inevitable.
Jinjin stared anxiously in the direction Jinyeong had disappeared.
In Front of the Vice Hall Master’s Residence of the Mu-Won Hall
The true master of this place was Musuk, who effectively ran the Mu-Won Hall.
Officially, the Hall Master was Yeongcheol, but that was in name only; in reality, nearly all operations were controlled by Musuk.
Musuk was a disciple of Yeongcheol, the Hall Master of Mu-Won Hall and third in rank within the Jeomchang Sect. Among those of the “Mu” generation, Musuk ranked just below Mujun, the next Sect Leader.
He served as the Vice Hall Master of Mu-Won Hall, which oversaw the sect’s education, giving him considerable influence within the Jeomchang Sect.
Now Musuk looked at the visitors before him with a stunned expression.
“So… while conducting formation training, they set a trap for you, and you were forced to retaliate. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes.”
“Hah….”
Jinseong and eight other members of the “Jin” generation knelt on the floor, each showing signs of having been thoroughly beaten.
Jinseong’s face in particular was so mangled it was difficult to tell what he had originally looked like.
In front of them stood Mujin with a confident expression.
Despite having unilaterally beaten his juniors, he showed not a trace of guilt.
‘How am I supposed to interpret this?’
When hot-blooded youths trained together at Mu-Won Hall, minor disputes were common.
But the condition of these nine “Jin” generation disciples went far beyond a mere scuffle.
Especially Jinseong’s face—it was practically unrecognizable.
“So what is it you want?”
“Several juniors conspired together and dared to lure me, their senior uncle, into a trap. In a sect that values propriety and hierarchy, isn’t that a grave crime?”
“Hrmm… Go on.”
“But I saw through their trap and personally made them pay for their wrongdoing. Jinseong in particular was the ringleader, so I made him pay a higher price.”
“….”
“Ordinarily, this should be formally referred to the Hyeongui Hall for severe punishment. However, since I have already personally disciplined them, I ask that this matter be quietly overlooked this time.”
“Ha….”
At Mujin’s brazen words, Musuk let out a low sigh.
Passing judgment on his own and then granting forgiveness on his own…
It was absurd.
“Unbelievable. Fine. There’s much I could ask, but let me start with this. Do you have proof that Jinseong and these nine ‘Jin’ generation disciples trapped you?”
“Of course. I do.”
Mujin grinned and glanced at the kneeling disciples.
“Vice Hall Master! We conspired beforehand and dared to trap our senior uncle!”
“We’re sorry!”
“Everything Senior Uncle said is true. Please forgive us!”
“We deserve death!”
Starting with Jinseong, the “Jin” generation disciples pressed their heads to the ground, confessing their sins.
They looked like devout believers confessing before their god.
“Ha ha….”
Caught off guard, Musuk let out a low laugh.
“The perpetrators have confessed of their own accord. Isn’t that proof enough?” Mujin said smugly.
“Isn’t it more likely that you beat and threatened them into making a forced confession?”
Musuk asked sharply.
‘Nine of them couldn’t defeat one Mujin?’
Just yesterday, Jinseong had reported to him that they would be holding a practice match with another group for formation training.
Musuk had also known that the “Jin” generation bore a grudge against Mujin.
In truth, he himself couldn’t help but harbor ill feelings after his own disciple, Jinjin, had been brutally beaten.
Considering everything, it was probably true that the nine had used formation training as a pretext to trap Mujin.
He had tacitly allowed it.
But instead of falling into the trap, Mujin had delivered a harsh lesson.
It was hard to believe.
“The perpetrators are confessing with their own mouths, yet you doubt me instead? Even if you dislike me, that’s a bit much.”
“You insolent brat! Are you daring to lecture me?”
“Vice Hall Master—no, Senior Brother. I’m saying let’s just quietly let this go.”
“Senior Brother? You…!”
By addressing Musuk not by his official title but by generational rank as “Senior Brother,” Mujin was subtly implying equality.
Despite their age difference, both were first-generation disciples of the “Mu” generation.
Musuk understood the implication and flared with anger.
“What is all this ruckus?”
At that moment, the inner chamber door opened, and a middle-aged man stepped out.
He looked more like the leader of an unorthodox faction than a righteous sect figure.
It was Yeongcheol, second in rank within the Jeomchang Sect and Hall Master of Mu-Won Hall.
“Greetings, Hall Master!”
Everyone present cupped their fists in salute.
“Musuk, calm yourself. What disgraceful display is this?”
“My apologies.”
Musuk lowered his head deeply.
“I’ve heard roughly what happened. The ‘Jin’ generation trapped you under the pretense of formation training.”
Yeongcheol’s already fierce face darkened further.
“And you saw through it and harshly punished them instead. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Senior Uncle.”
“Hmm….”
Yeongcheol studied the nine kneeling disciples, especially Jinseong’s ruined face.
“You came here to report this. What is your true purpose? To boast?”
“Of course not. I merely felt this was an important matter between the juniors and myself, so I reported it to our supervisor, Senior Brother Musuk.”
“And perhaps to plead leniency for them, in case they face additional punishment over this.”
“Ha ha! Interesting.”
Yeongcheol laughed heartily, looking at Mujin with keen interest.
“Even if what you say is true, do you think you can remain unpunished after beating them like this?”
“Senior Uncle, if I tried to trap you and you beat me half to death, would you be punished?”
“What?”
“Hierarchy is sacred. These men dared to trap their senior uncle. What great sin is it that I merely struck them a few times? I didn’t kill them or cripple them, did I?”
“Heh….”
Though Mujin’s tone was blunt and arrogant, his logic was sound.
“This is not something I can decide alone. That’s enough—return for now.”
Given the seriousness, Yeongcheol would need to consult the other elders.
“Ah! Since I’ve met you, Hall Master, there’s something important I must mention.”
Mujin said proudly.
“What is it?”
A sense of foreboding crept over Yeongcheol.
“There is a mastermind behind this attempt on my life. These are merely branches.”
“A mastermind?”
“Jinyeong.”
“Jinyeong?”
Both Yeongcheol and Musuk looked startled.
“Yes. Those pathetic fools wouldn’t dare attempt such a thing on their own. They confessed it clearly. Right? Isn’t that so?”
“…Yes. This happened under Jinyeong’s direction….”
Jinseong answered in a dispirited voice.
‘He picked the wrong opponent. Jinyeong is finished now.’
There was a reason Jinseong, Jinyeong’s right-hand man, betrayed him so easily.
Their carefully prepared scheme had failed, and they had been beaten senseless.
More than that, Mujin’s martial prowess and schemes were simply too formidable.
Jinyeong was talented, yes—but compared to Mujin, he was lacking.
There was one variable: his master was Mujun, the next Sect Leader, and many elders supported him.
But even considering that, Jinseong felt Jinyeong could not defeat Mujin.
He realized that switching sides now was his only path to survival.
“So what is it you want? For Jinyeong to be punished?”
“Oh come now. Would that not make me a petty tattletale?”
“Then what do you truly want?”
“Allow me to face Jinyeong in a duel before the entire sect. When disputes arise among martial artists, aren’t they properly settled through combat?”
With a crooked smile, Mujin boldly requested a duel with Jinyeong.
“….”
“….”
Yeongcheol and Musuk were momentarily speechless at the audacity.
—Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded from the inner chamber door of the Vice Hall Master’s quarters.
