Chapter 25
“I’ll take care of them all before they get here.”
The moment Cheon Mujin declared that he would lead a special assault unit to strike the horde of monsters, the mood of the meeting shifted immediately in his favor.
And for good reason—this wasn’t just empty talk.
Coming from Cheon Mujin, who had already proven himself through tangible achievements, the words carried a weight that was hard to ignore.
Just when it seemed the plan would be decided without much trouble—
“I’m against that idea.”
One of the squad leaders raised his hand.
Although it was a dissenting voice against the prevailing momentum, the Division Lord of Mupungdae nodded in satisfaction.
Meetings existed to hear a variety of opinions, after all.
The meeting was being swept along by Cheon Mujin’s characteristic force of presence, and this was a timely opposition to break that flow.
“All right. Your reason?”
Of course, in a meeting of this importance, if he failed to give a proper reason and basis, he would have to bear the consequences.
When the Division Lord asked for an explanation, all eyes turned to the squad leader who had spoken up.
“The reason is simple. I think this plan is needlessly risky.”
Despite all eyes being on him, Squad Leader of the 17th Squad, Ha Won-hae, spoke calmly.
“The last horde of monsters was of an ambiguous size, but this time is different. It’s clearly a scale we can’t handle alone.”
“So you’re saying we should ask for reinforcements?”
“Yes. For a horde this large, the Main Corps will send reinforcements. If we wait for them and block the enemy with maximum numbers, we can minimize casualties.”
“That makes sense.”
“Once reinforcements arrive, that might indeed be the better approach.”
Several other squad leaders nodded at Ha Won-hae’s suggestion.
It wasn’t a bad choice to wait for support rather than forcing Mupungdae to fight alone.
“If we’re preparing for a large-scale battle, preserving our forces is the right move. We must avoid being picked off piecemeal at all costs.”
The look Ha Won-hae gave Cheon Mujin was full of distrust.
It wasn’t just that he didn’t believe in Cheon Mujin’s accomplishments—he doubted the man’s ability altogether.
Just as Cheon Mujin curled his lips, ready to respond, the Division Lord spoke first.
“No, that won’t work.”
At those words, Ha Won-hae’s expression twisted.
“You mean there won’t be reinforcements, even with over three hundred monsters approaching?”
“That’s right.”
“But without support, we risk total annihilation—and losing an entire forward base in the Demon Wastes. How could—”
“A Purgatory Gate has opened on the northern front. News came in just yesterday.”
“The Purgatory Gate?”
“In the north… then the Hyun Clan would be in charge there. How did…”
The northern front was infamous for its harsh conditions, on top of having to deal with barbarian tribes and monsters.
If a Purgatory Gate had opened there—
“…That’s hell.”
“The north might fall.”
It was only natural to envision a grim future.
If such a gate had appeared here on the southwestern front, it would already feel hopeless—let alone in the north.
Now the lack of reinforcements was easy to understand.
“Most of the forces the Main Corps can deploy are being sent north. Even four Demon Generals have moved out.”
At the Division Lord’s twisted smile, Oh Ji-yeon, who had been silently listening, nodded.
“So, to them, losing a single forward base here and suffering a few years of setbacks is of no concern.”
“That’s right. Which means we have a choice: fight desperately on our own, or abandon the base and accept mission failure.”
In the Demonic Sect, the consequences for failing a mission were severe.
While extenuating circumstances could sometimes be considered, the standards were harsh.
Abandoning the base without fighting for survival would mean the Division Lord’s execution, and the squad leaders could expect to rot in prison for decades.
If they could frame it as having no choice because of Cheon Mujin, the sentence might be reduced to just over ten years—but still.
“You already know, but the second option isn’t worth considering. We fight—without any outside help.”
The confirmation of no reinforcements weighed down the room.
“So, if anyone has a good idea, speak up.”
No one answered.
A long, heavy silence followed.
When it was clear there were no other suggestions, the Division Lord concluded:
“We’ll go with Squad Leader Cheon’s plan. We’ll form an assault team to whittle down the monster horde so they never even set foot near our base. That’s all.”
The assault team wasn’t put together by volunteers.
As expected, the Division Lord handpicked those with both fighting power and adaptability.
The assault team wasn’t marching to their deaths—they were going to weaken the enemy.
And—
“…We’re really going to operate separately?”
“Yes. Separately.”
On the road toward the monster horde, Do Woo-jin spoke up with rare dissent at Cheon Mujin’s decision to move apart from the other units.
“There are three hundred monsters. If we approach with too few, we could be surrounded in an instant.”
“It’s also a great chance to learn how to fight without getting surrounded.”
“…What?”
Was that supposed to make sense?
Do Woo-jin wanted to say as much, but held his tongue.
The man in front of him had already annihilated a horde of over a hundred monsters without being surrounded.
If he claimed it was possible, denying it would only make Do Woo-jin look like a cowardly incompetent.
“The plan is simple. We’ll rest and train, then attack the horde two or three times a day. There’s no quota—just kill as many as you can.”
“Yes.”
“Got it.”
“…Understood.”
“Good. Now, Yoo Hyun-hwa.”
“Yes!”
“Come here.”
“Yes!”
Snapping to attention, Yoo Hyun-hwa stepped to Cheon Mujin’s side, glancing nervously around.
“Scared?”
“Yes! Ah—no, sir!”
“Of course you’re scared. That’s normal. Second-class fighters are supposed to be afraid.”
First-class fighters weren’t much different, but second-class fighters were even more limited—they could sense qi, but couldn’t yet integrate it into their bodies.
That meant limits not only in physical strength but also in the techniques they could perform.
“Do you remember what you learned from the Spear Demon?”
“Yes! Of course! But…”
“You still lack the mastery to use it properly, right? That’s fine.”
Tap.
Cheon Mujin rested a hand on her shoulder with a gentle smile.
“By the time this sortie is over, you’ll be stronger than those two behind you.”
“…What?”
Hyun-hwa’s eyes widened, but Cheon Mujin said no more.
The best way to make her overwhelming talent bloom was to force her down a path opposite to her gentle nature—
Real combat.
In the blood-soaked chaos of the battlefield, she would blossom into the most beautiful flower.
Let’s see you bloom—Hyun-hwa, Baek Woo, and Woo-jin.
The first recruits under his wing.
Hearing Baek Woo grinding his teeth in denial and sensing Woo-jin’s quiet dissatisfaction, Cheon Mujin smiled.
Those two only needed the right push. As long as he held the reins and didn’t overstrain them, they’d do fine.
And most importantly—
I didn’t lie.
The 13th Squad encountered the horde three days after leaving the base.
The over-three-hundred-strong horde was spread through the forest, making it hard to gauge their full numbers.
“…You really mean to attack?”
“Of course.”
“This is madness.”
“Most new methods look like madness from the outside.”
Still objecting, Do Woo-jin felt Cheon Mujin pat his shoulder.
“But you’re still usually right in your judgment.”
“…What?”
After all the disagreements, now this?
“I trust your judgment, Senior Do. You think constantly about the mission and survival, lead the two rookies well—your leadership is exceptional.”
While Woo-jin hesitated, unsure how to respond to the unexpected praise, Cheon Mujin stretched lightly.
The other assault units hadn’t arrived yet, but luckily, they didn’t need help for this first raid.
“But when I’m here, you don’t need to fight for survival. Keep thinking for the mission, but leave staying alive to me.”
He stepped forward naturally.
“As long as I’m in front of you, no enemy will ever touch you.”
His words, though now addressed to all three, made Do Woo-jin simply bow his head.
“Yes.”
“Then, let’s begin. First raid.”
Cheon Mujin charged ahead, Baek Woo on his heels.
Hyun-hwa followed after a brief pause, and Woo-jin, after scanning for possible ambushes, brought up the rear.
Knowing that was why he’d taken the position, Cheon Mujin smiled.
Woo-jin had been assigned by the Division Lord for a reason—he was exceptional at watching over the inexperienced.
He’d make a fine instructor someday.
Of course—
Grrrk?
—That would be far in the future.
The horde noticed them.
The misshapen monsters raised their heads—hunched backs, oversized heads, clammy skin.
Tongue-fish ghosts, as they were called, their slick, sticky secretions made them loathed by most martial artists.
Of course—
Crunch!
—That meant nothing to Cheon Mujin.
He rammed his open palm into a monster’s neck, shattering its spine, and smiled at the strength he felt in his fingertips.
It had only been days since he reached first-class level, yet the difference was already stark.
Just absorbing qi into his body changed him this much.
And this was only the beginning—the purer demonic energy would soak into his flesh faster and faster, making him stronger, tougher, and more supple with each round of training.
“Hah!”
Kieeeek!
Baek Woo swung his sword with a sharp shout, but failing to kill in one strike, the monster thrashed at him.
In that instant—
Thwack!
A spear pierced its neck from the side—Hyun-hwa’s doing.
Yet Baek Woo, without even a word of thanks, immediately moved on to his next target, Hyun-hwa trailing after him as if it were only natural.
“No, that’s not right.”
Catching Hyun-hwa by the collar and dragging her away, Cheon Mujin placed her opposite Baek Woo.
“…Sir?”
“For this raid, there’s no need for joint attacks. Move on your own and kill as many as you can. Understood?”
“Then… isn’t that too dangerous?”
Her eyes were full of doubt, but Cheon Mujin only grinned wider.
“The more dangerous it is, the more valuable this mission will be, Corporal Yoo.”
“They’ve already started.”
“They’re insane.”
Goo Pyeong, who had gone ahead for reconnaissance, clicked his tongue at the sight of the 13th Squad clashing with the monsters.
The original plan was for the assault units to draw attention with small-scale skirmishes while Cheon Mujin’s team picked off numbers from the flank.
But to charge in without coordination?
Unless he had a death wish, this was incomprehensible.
“Do we support them?”
“No. There’s no need to get dragged into a madman’s folly. Return to base.”
“Yes.”
Watching the 13th Squad fight in the midst of the horde before withdrawing toward the rear, Goo Pyeong shook his head.
There was no reason to concern himself with those who were bound to die soon anyway.
