Chapter 15
“So, freezing them for a moment is all I could manage.”
As he drew upon the demonic energy, Cheon Mujin replayed what had just happened.
Eonryeong (Speech Command).
A simple technique that imbues speech with authority to issue commands.
The difficulty lies in achieving the condition required to grant authority.
The Demon King’s soul still resided in this body, but the vessel was far too small to allow much.
It was a miracle he could even use Eonryeong in such a body.
It’s a technique that only works on beings with demonic energy.
The reason the exorcists froze was simple—they’d been on the frontlines for a while and had unknowingly accumulated demonic energy.
The exorcists regained their senses slightly faster because they had less demonic energy than those who built it up through inner cultivation.
Still, they’d need years away from the front to slowly purge it.
That is, if they survived this place.
Grrrr!
As a demonic beast charged at him, Cheon Mujin swung his fist.
He couldn’t afford to overdo it.
There weren’t any beasts too strong for him to handle, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming.
In a battlefield like this, energy management is crucial.
“Phew.”
He steadied his breath and drove his elbow upward.
With a whimper, a beast’s jaw cracked and it crumpled to the ground. Mujin pressed forward.
More beasts came at him.
Half the beasts on the field had wolf-like forms. The others were twisted abominations of varying grotesque shapes.
Mujin grabbed one aiming for his leg, crushed one of its eyes with his knee, then twisted his waist and rolled.
He crushed the skull of a hideous beast that looked like a mix between an insect and an animal with his elbow.
Though it left him on the ground, he used the rebound to spring up and kicked the chest of a beast mid-leap.
His posture was full of openings, but—
“Hup!”
Mujin placed his hand on the ground and flipped mid-air. His foot narrowly caught the leaping beast’s neck.
Using that foot as an axis, he pulled his body up, redirecting his head skyward.
Using the airborne beast as a stepping stone, he regained balance and twisted his lips at the beasts glaring up at him.
“Not bad at all.”
Even this chaotic skirmish.
The tension of never knowing where the next strike will come from.
His lacking body was growing wildly excited just from standing in a battlefield like this.
The corner of his mouth rose and refused to come down.
“Let’s pick up the pace, shall we?”
If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
* * *
“…He’s a real monster.”
“When I heard he took down a peak master, I didn’t believe it. But this…”
Roughly one sikgyeong (about 30 minutes) had passed.
Members of Units 3 and 7, who had been prepared to die, now sat collapsed with relief.
Only thirty minutes had passed since they stood on the brink of death—but now, they were vividly reminded they were still alive.
All thanks to one man.
“Is everyone alright?”
“…You have my thanks. I will repay this debt.”
“Oh come on, we’re all eating from the same pot. No need for repayment.”
Cheon Mujin waved dismissively with a grin and turned his head.
“How about over there?”
“…We’re fine.”
“That’s good. I’m Cheon Mujin, by the way.”
As the Konlun sect exorcist answered, Mujin walked over boldly.
The exorcists flinched for a moment, then, realizing their situation, blushed.
“No need to be so tense. With the great migration happening, fighting among ourselves is pointless, don’t you think?”
“Appreciate the courtesy. I’m Ho Hyeon. …My thanks come late, but I’m grateful. I will surely repay this debt.”
“No need for that, but if you’re offering, I won’t say no.”
Mujin chuckled, then tilted his head while observing the exorcists.
“Are only first disciples on patrol? That’s unusual.”
Patrol duty is, of course, an assignment.
Unless it’s extremely dangerous, second disciples are usually mixed in for experience.
That way, they’d be better prepared once they become first disciples.
“Hmm? No, I do see a second disciple. If it had been an assignment strictly for first disciples, you’d have noticed, right?”
“Well, yes, but…”
Suddenly, Mujin’s head turned sharply.
There was only one reason he’d thought there were only first disciples.
When he used Eonryeong, all the Konlun exorcists had frozen.
That meant they all had enough demonic energy in their bodies to be affected.
Even if the demonic influence in the Frontier was strong, it would still take a long time to accumulate that much energy naturally—typically only long-serving first disciples had it.
But a second disciple was here?
Suspicious, Mujin’s gaze turned to someone among the exorcists.
If they were a second disciple, they’d probably be in their early to mid-twenties.
His eyes met with the exorcist’s.
“…Huh?”
Eyes flickering with demonic energy.
The moment Mujin met those eyes, an uncharacteristic irritation escaped his lips.
The man suddenly began to move.
“What a pain.”
One step. Then another.
That was all he needed to gain speed.
Ho Hyeon, startled by Mujin’s abrupt mumbling, had no idea how to respond.
Just then, wind rushed past him.
This man was clearly among the elite of the second disciples—his speed was superb.
None of the other battle-weary exorcists could even react.
Without resistance, the exorcist reached Mujin and extended his hand.
A deadly technique among Konlun’s martial arts.
If it landed, it would crush the sternum—at minimum a fatal injury, potentially instant death.
As the fierce blow neared Mujin’s chest—
“Tsks.”
With a soft cluck, Mujin twisted the man’s arm.
He hadn’t deflected it. He merely nudged it aside with a gentle touch, altering its trajectory.
Whoosh!
The attack narrowly missed Mujin’s head, whipping up the air.
Through his fluttering hair, Mujin’s sharp eyes locked onto the man.
In those flustered eyes was the shock of a failed attack.
Time to defend or counter, not stand there stunned.
Keeping his upper body steady, Mujin’s foot shot out.
A clean strike to prevent his foe from reading the attack.
The moment it struck the man’s ribs—
“Gaaaaaaaahhh!”
He screamed and tumbled to the ground.
“What are you doing?!”
“Jinho!”
The Konlun exorcists erupted in alarm as their junior disciple writhed in pain.
To them, second disciples were like their own children. It was natural they’d react.
But that was Konlun’s problem.
“Showing your true colors, huh? Hypocrites of the righteous sect.”
“Tch. This is why I hate dealing with you bastards. You stink.”
Mujin’s allies from Mupungdae raised their killing intent around him.
Their trembling legs didn’t stop them from exuding a fierce aura, ready for battle.
They made it clear—they would not shy from a fight.
Especially—
“Ungrateful mutts who don’t even acknowledge being saved.”
Unit 3 Leader Geom Muyeol radiated bloodlust.
So intense, it made even the Konlun exorcists raise their guard.
If they didn’t, they’d die right then.
The tension was suffocating. Everyone clutched their weapons.
But then—
“Alright, alright! Let’s stop, everyone. This is getting out of hand over something so small.”
A calm, easygoing voice shattered the tension.
As if it were no big deal, Mujin casually approached the fallen Jinho and crouched before him.
“Hard to keep up with exorcist trends these days. Demonic energy, huh…”
“…What are you talking about?”
The only Konlun exorcist who hadn’t drawn his killing aura—Ho Hyeon—asked.
Mujin gestured at Jinho, who was gasping for breath.
“Do you know what I just did?”
“No.”
“Nothing much. I just stimulated the demonic energy in him.
When demonic energy takes root unnaturally in a body, it goes wild when provoked.”
“…Demonic energy?”
“Yes. I’m very sensitive to it. Remember I asked if only first disciples were present?”
“I remember.”
“I asked because I sensed demonic energy in all of you.
Those who’ve been active on the frontlines for a long time naturally accumulate it.”
“…So you assumed Jinho was a first disciple too?”
“Exactly. I thought he was just a younger one.”
Looking at Jinho, who still glared at him like a mad dog, Mujin brushed off his hands.
“Well, he’s already affected by madness. This won’t be easy.”
“He’s affected by madness?”
“I don’t know what grudge he has against the Demonic Sect,
but attacking me like that in this situation means rational thought is gone.”
Before Mujin even finished his sentence, Jinho lunged again.
He timed it for the moment Mujin leaned back, hoping to catch him off guard.
It was a sharp move, exploiting a rare opening.
Unfortunately—
“Guhk!”
Surprise attacks only work if your opponent isn’t ready.
Geom Muyeol, standing beside Mujin, swung his sword and severed Jinho’s arm.
“Jinho!”
As the others stepped forward to retaliate—
“Stop. Tend to Jinho.”
“Senior Brother!”
“I said, stop!!”
Ho Hyeon roared.
“Have you forgotten your humanity after bathing in demon blood on the frontlines?! Who here is right, and who is wrong?!”
The Konlun exorcists bowed their heads at Ho Hyeon’s clenched-teeth rebuke.
They knew, all of them, who was in the wrong.
“We’re grateful for your mercy. May we take Jinho with us?”
“Hmmm. I save someone’s life, and that same person tries to kill me twice…
And now I just let him go?”
Mujin laughed and looked at Jinho, who was still trying to stop his own bleeding.
“Do you think I will?”
“We will repay this debt. We want to treat him.”
“Still shameless, just like the rest of you.”
“Exactly,” added Unit 7 Leader Oh Miyeon, her voice full of killing intent.
She made it clear—they would not hesitate to fight if Konlun pushed further.
‘…It won’t work, will it?’
If the Demonic Sect took Jinho now, his fate was obvious.
Torture. Death.
Even if they returned him, he’d be broken beyond repair.
He had to take Jinho with them, somehow, some way.
“Responsibility lies with the elders. I…”
I’ll go instead.
Just as Ho Hyeon began to speak—
“Mmm. Okay, I’ve decided. I’ve actually been very curious about the Konlun camp.”
“…What?”
Where did that come from?
“Just show me around your base. Then I’ll let the kid go. I’ll even help treat his demonic energy.”
“Sir!!”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
Amidst the outcry, Mujin smiled and gave a thumbs-up.
“Come on, aren’t you curious too? About Konlun’s camp?”
How could he not be.
If someone was deliberately infusing Konlun warriors with demonic energy—
He had to see it for himself.
Besides…
‘I wonder how that old man’s doing.’
There was a face he needed to see.
