Chapter 5
While everyone was preparing to retreat, Cheon Mujin pretended to learn how to butcher and approached the monster.
It had suddenly attacked him, so he had no choice but to kill it…
‘There’s still plenty left.’
He had to do what needed to be done.
The greatest weakness of the Ten Thousand Demons Divine Art (Manma Singong) was that it generated only a small amount of demonic energy.
Of course, there was a way to overcome that flaw.
If there hadn’t been, he wouldn’t have learned the art in the first place.
Approaching the monster, Cheon Mujin manipulated the residual demonic energy within its corpse.
Since the creature was dead, the barrier that its existence naturally held had vanished, making absorption easier.
Manma Singong was a mental cultivation technique developed outside of Zhongyuan (the Central Plains).
To be precise, it was perfected when he gained the ability to dominate demons.
Which meant—
‘There’s a lot.’
Even the demonic energy of monsters—something even the Demonic Cult’s own Demonic Lords couldn’t dream of absorbing—was within his grasp.
Of course, refining it into pure, clean demonic energy took time, and the yield wasn’t high.
But compared to the amount he gained from circulating his energy the normal way, it was a reassuringly large quantity.
Especially now—absorbing the energy of a high-level monster was still overwhelming for Cheon Mujin.
“Huh? Why is this demon stone so murky? What’s going on?”
A senior member looked puzzled at the murky demon stone that had been drained of energy, but it wasn’t a big deal.
‘Ugh, I feel bloated.’
Having absorbed a generous amount of demonic energy, Cheon Mujin returned to camp with a satisfied smile.
‘Even more than I expected.’
So this is what a high-rank monster yields.
Since the monster had been exhausted and frenzied from its battle with Jin Baek, he had been able to strike at its opening and finish it quickly.
Even though he had dislocated its cervical spine in one blow, the creature had still moved. Had he fought it head-on in his current state, it would’ve been a tough battle.
The risks would’ve outweighed the gains.
“Get some rest for now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Surprisingly, Oh Jiyeon, who seemed ready to interrogate him on the spot, let him go without resistance.
Cheon Mujin, who needed time to digest the demonic energy he had absorbed, headed to his tent to circulate his energy.
“Cheon Mujin!”
“Hm?”
That is, until someone stepped in front of him.
“How did you do it?”
“…Sigh, this is really painful.”
Seeing the guy who was forcing himself to keep his eyes wide open to mask his fear, Cheon Mujin shook his head lightly.
‘I’m older, so I should be the one to endure.’
“You’ve been good at keeping secrets.”
“…I just didn’t feel like explaining.”
“Respect comes from reverence. Someone who guards themselves with lies is the very definition of rude.”
“You’re one to talk…”
The guy let out a hollow laugh, hesitated for a moment, then spoke up.
“…Fine! Like you said—I was curious! I wanted to learn, so I kept my mouth shut, okay?!”
“Well, I appreciate your honesty. But why are you blocking my path?”
“Obviously—what you did earlier! That thing you did to beat up that Taoist guy!”
There was a deep yearning in his eyes.
Realizing what Baekwoo was after, Cheon Mujin gave a faint smile.
“Forget it. You’re not ready to learn that yet.”
“Why not? If you can use it, what’s the difference between you and me? I can do it too, right?”
“What’s the difference?”
Too many to even begin listing.
“Well, let me point out just one. It’s not about physical ability. It’s not just a matter of being fast or strong.”
“Then what?”
“Technique. The difference in what you see, hear, and sense. That’s why it’s still too early for you.”
“What if I want to learn? There’s no way to learn it?”
“You really want to learn?”
At Baekwoo’s question, Cheon Mujin opened his eyes wide in mock surprise.
“You’re serious? Even after all that explanation?”
“…Yeah. I need to get stronger. The half-assed third-rate martial arts they teach at the academy have their limits.”
“It’s good to have ambition, but forget it. The chances of getting seriously injured are high. And even if you manage to learn it, it might not even suit you.”
“Still, it’s better than doing nothing.”
A resolute gaze, unwilling to break.
Only fifteen years old.
Was it because he had been dragged into this hellish battlefield that he could hold such a gaze?
Or was it because he held such a gaze that he was dragged here in the first place?
Cheon Mujin looked at Baekwoo for a moment and finally nodded.
“Fine. But there’s a condition. This is your choice, but stopping it won’t be up to you.”
“Hmph, I don’t plan to stop.”
“Good. Then let’s begin right away. Follow me.”
Once the decision was made, Cheon Mujin didn’t hesitate.
He led Baekwoo to the nearest training ground.
Naturally, there were already other members of the Mupung unit training there.
“Hmm?”
The members looked surprised at Cheon Mujin’s appearance, but he simply bowed with a calm expression.
“This is Cheon Mujin. It’s been a while since I’ve greeted you like this. I look forward to working with you. I’d like to use the training grounds—where can I train?”
“Uh, over there is fine.”
“Thank you.”
After exchanging polite words with his seniors, Cheon Mujin turned to Baekwoo, who didn’t bother to hide his sullen face.
“You haven’t learned the basics.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier when I beat up that Taoist? Respect comes from reverence, and reverence begins with the ability to bow your head.”
“That’s not reverence, it’s groveling. Besides, didn’t you beat those same seniors to a pulp?”
“That was karmic retribution. Anyway, if you can’t distinguish between courtesy and groveling, you’ll never live a life where you’re respected.”
“Hmph, and you were just a drunk hiding in your tent.”
“Click, click.”
He really leaves me speechless.
Cheon Mujin shook his head at the sight of Baekwoo pouting.
There’s a difference between bowing out of fear and bowing out of true respect—something he was probably too young to grasp.
Especially for someone who had spent the last three months being beaten half to death after graduating from the academy.
Even he hadn’t understood the difference until well into middle age.
Of course, there were plenty of sharp kids who understood from a young age.
More precisely, they could learn it.
Being young doesn’t mean you can’t be taught manners.
“This is a good opportunity. If you want what you’re after, you’ll have to learn to respect others.”
“Hah? What the hell—”
Before Baekwoo could finish his irritated sentence—
Wham!
“Guh!”
A fist slammed into his side, and Baekwoo’s eyes widened.
When did that happen?
Before he could even process the question—
“I told you—you don’t have the basics down.”
Baekwoo struggled wildly to resist, but it was pointless.
Cheon Mujin read his movements and acted a half-beat faster, using the shortest path and most efficient timing.
He cut off all of Baekwoo’s moves before they could generate any power.
Every strike was quick and precise—never too deep.
He dodged when he had to and countered when there was an opening.
“Understand your opponent. That’s where seeing and listening begins.”
“Bullsh—ack!”
Did he bite his tongue?
Sloppy.
Cheon Mujin struck just hard enough not to knock him out, cutting off every movement and beating him down.
No flashy techniques or elaborate internal energy.
This was simply—
“Wow… this guy can really fight…”
Pure, raw fighting skill.
A voice admiringly observed, but Cheon Mujin didn’t look to see who it was.
Because—
‘…Ho.’
Baekwoo, who was getting beaten, had begun narrowing his eyes, trying to analyze why and how he was being hit.
But—
“If you don’t understand respect, you won’t see or hear a thing even after a hundred years.”
Cheon Mujin’s punches only grew fiercer.
“Ugh! Aaagh!”
Baekwoo flailed wildly from time to time, but Cheon Mujin effortlessly dodged and struck even harder at the now-exposed openings.
Such desperate, sloppy flailing only led to more pain—a lesson firmly burned into his body.
Where else in the world could you find such a kind teacher?
“…Hah, this is way different from what I imagined.”
At the edge of the camp, having just arrived and watched the whole scene, the Mupung unit leader let out a hollow laugh.
He’d only just returned after staying at headquarters for a few days, and now this?
After hiding away for three months, Cheon Mujin suddenly shows up at the training ground?
“The kids at HQ must all be blind.”
The “Third Useless Scion”? More like “Third Useful Scion.”
As he watched Cheon Mujin’s sparring—or was it just a beatdown?—the leader rubbed his chin with a smirk.
‘Things are getting interesting.’
If word of this got out to HQ, things were going to get chaotic.
