Chapter 46
“Is it really okay for us to just step back like this?”
“Why? You’re the one who brought Lady Jin here.”
“Well, yes, but still…”
After delivering the message to the Enforcement Unit, Yoo Hyeonhwa had taken the trouble to fetch Jin Sohee herself. Now, she was pouting.
This wasn’t what she’d intended at all.
She had brought Jin Sohee along, believing that Jin would side with Cheon Mujin.
But things hadn’t gone as expected. Hyeonhwa felt a little betrayed and clamped her lips shut. Mujin just chuckled and flicked her forehead with his finger.
“If you brought her just to have her take my side, you made a big mistake. She’s someone who separates business and personal feelings very clearly.”
At least, she had been until the day Cheon Mujin became the Heavenly Demon.
And even in this life, he intended to make sure she lived in a way where she could keep those lines sharply drawn.
“But in a way, that’s exactly why she can be trusted. She won’t handle this carelessly.”
“…Is that so?”
“Of course. You don’t get to be the captain of the Enforcement Unit just by being strong.”
Although Lady Jin was strong, too.
“So, you don’t need to worry about the evidence disappearing.”
If Jin Sohee personally supervised things, there was no chance that evidence would go missing.
It wasn’t in her nature to look the other way—and besides, in an estate of this size, there was no way anyone could hide it from her.
“More importantly—how did you do that earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
“When they attacked you together, and you cut their weapons… that wasn’t pure martial skill, was it?”
“Oh?”
At Baekwoo’s observation, Mujin’s lips curved upward as he tilted his head.
“And why are you so sure of that?”
“I couldn’t even see you move, but your arm’s perfectly fine. That means you must have used… something else.”
“Well, well. Our Baekwoo has grown a lot, hasn’t he?”
Mujin smirked, and with just a flick of his hand—
“—!”
Baekwoo froze, half-raising his hands as though to defend himself, but stopping in an awkward position. It was as if he had tried to brush something off his cheek but dared not touch it.
“Your senses have sharpened, too. That’s good. After all, spilling blood unnecessarily is never ideal.”
Lowering his hand with a chuckle, Mujin smiled.
“But forget it. That’s not something I can teach you. It’s a family technique, and it can’t be shown to outsiders.”
A secret art of the Jin clan—teaching it would mean the annulment of his engagement. He couldn’t allow that.
Seeing Baekwoo’s disappointment, Mujin smoothly changed the subject.
“Anyway, it’s time we move on.”
“Move on? To where?”
“To the next stage.”
“…The next stage?”
“Yes. We need to go find our livelihood.”
* * *
Cheonma Hall.
At the pinnacle of the Cheonma Cult, the Heavenly Demon frowned.
“What did you say?”
“Allow me to handle this investigation, Lord Inspector.”
“You’re dreaming.”
“It’s no dream. I believe it’s a very achievable goal.”
Standing tall, the eldest son met his father’s gaze without wavering. Cheonwi-gon, the Heavenly Demon himself, studied him in silence.
“You’re still arrogant.”
“If you would call it confidence instead, I’d be grateful.”
“And if I were to let you proceed… what’s in it for me?”
Profit.
“Profit, huh…”
Mujin’s lips curved into an easy smile.
“A great many vermin lurking in the shadows of our cult will be eradicated.”
“And how exactly does that benefit me?”
“There you go again.”
Mujin waved his hand playfully, as though chiding his father.
Behind the Heavenly Demon, his shadow guard, Muyoung, broke into a nervous sweat. But his master simply continued to glare at Mujin without a word.
The silence stretched—neither long nor short.
Mujin stood his ground, meeting his father’s eyes unflinchingly. Muyoung couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly.
When had this timid heir grown such backbone? No—this was more than just backbone…
“…Very well.”
The Heavenly Demon’s voice cut through Muyoung’s thoughts.
“I will grant your request.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“No thanks are necessary. This is simply a reward for the merit you’ve earned.”
“…Merit?”
“The disbandment of the Mupung Unit, and your own discharge, were rewards for slaying two dragon-class beasts.”
“True enough.”
“But you accomplished one thing more.”
“…Pardon?”
What now?
Mujin tilted his head, thinking—until realization struck and he clapped his hands.
“Ah! Has the interrogation of that man, Wuchung, yielded results?”
“No. But even from examining his body, we’ve learned quite a lot.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
Mujin’s soft smile made the Heavenly Demon’s gaze deepen.
“You captured Wuchung. That alone gives you grounds. I will grant you authority of inspection—but only for this case. Whether that authority can be extended will depend on the merits you achieve in the future.”
“That’s enough for me. I accept.”
“Good. Then withdraw. I’ll have detailed orders for you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Father.”
Mujin bowed and turned to leave, but his father’s voice stopped him.
“Why don’t you ask?”
“…Ask what, Father?”
“Don’t you want to know whether Wuchung is alive or dead?”
“Father.”
Mujin looked back and smiled.
“Why trouble myself over the life or death of a man I’ll kill the next time we meet anyway?”
* * *
“…He has changed greatly.”
“What do you think of it?”
“I believe it’s a positive change.”
“Positive, you say…”
At Chief Strategist Sima Hyuk’s answer, the Heavenly Demon flicked his fingers idly.
“You sound unconvinced, my lord.”
“Indeed.”
“There are many oddities.”
His sudden change in personality.
His inexplicable leap in martial ability.
His composure even while facing the Heavenly Demon himself.
Not to mention…
“It was as if he already knew—no, was certain—that Wuchung had escaped.”
“Yes.”
“And it seems he believes those people are involved in this incident as well. But…”
Sima Hyuk trailed off, troubled. Because if his suspicion was right…
“…Surely not.”
If so, the young master had many ambitions still to pursue.
* * *
“Master!”
“What is it?”
Three days after his visit to Cheonma Hall, Mujin was in his chambers, buried in paperwork for a new unit reorganization, when Yoo Hyeonhwa burst in breathlessly.
“Have you heard the rumor?!”
“What rumor?”
“See, this is why you shouldn’t work yourself to death! You don’t even hear rumors about yourself. You need to get out more, clear your head!”
“…So what’s the rumor?”
“Ahem. Well, apparently…”
Plopping into a guest chair, Hyeonhwa reached for the snacks on the table.
“There’s word that you’ve been practicing a forbidden martial art.”
“A forbidden martial art? What kind?”
“The Absorption Great Art!”
“…The what now?”
“The Absorption Great Art! Supposedly, when you fought the other day, some of the corpses were found looking shriveled and drained. The Enforcement Unit men saw it!”
“So now there’s a rumor that I’ve mastered the Absorption Great Art?”
“Yes!”
Cheerfully, Hyeonhwa nodded as she polished off the entire plate of snacks in moments—soldier’s appetite indeed.
“And how did you hear this?”
“How could I not? The rumor’s spread everywhere by now!”
“Has it, now…”
Mujin set down his brush and chuckled.
“That’s not bad at all.”
Not just “not bad”—in fact, it was quite useful.
While Hyeonhwa tilted her head at his reaction, a voice called from outside:
“Master, you have a guest.”
“Show them in, Yu Squad Member.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hyeonhwa leapt up and moved behind Mujin’s chair as the door opened.
“An honor to see you again, Lord Mujin.”
Wi Jiheon entered, smiling as always. Mujin met him with a blank face and a curt nod.
“I doubt we’re close enough to be meeting this often. But since you’re here already, sit.”
“My, how cold. You wound me.”
Ignoring the frost in Mujin’s tone, Wi Jiheon sat down.
“So, why are you here?”
“I’ve heard certain rumors.”
“Rumors, is it…”
Mujin tapped the table lightly and smiled thinly.
“Didn’t we finish our conversation last time?”
“Yes, you told me you had no intention of joining hands with anyone just yet.”
“And yet, you’ve come again. Why?”
“Because this won’t be a wasted trip, Master.”
“Bold words. Speak.”
“First, I must ask one question.”
“If I can answer honestly, I will.”
“The Absorption Great Art.”
Speaking the name aloud, Jiheon paused, then looked straight into Mujin’s eyes.
“Is it true you’ve been cultivating it?”
“That’s what you came to ask? Now I’m the curious one. Even if I had learned it, do you think your Wi clan’s meager support would be enough for me to share such a technique with you?”
Mujin’s cold voice made Jiheon bow his head.
“Forgive my rudeness. But, surely you have the Heavenly Demon’s divine arts. Would you really need such a thing as the Absorption Great Art?”
If he could cultivate the Heavenly Demon’s Art, he wouldn’t need anything else. It was a tempting trade.
‘That’s what he thinks, anyway.’
Mujin smirked inwardly.
In truth, this was where he should seize the opportunity and make a pact.
The Wi clan supported his younger brother, Cheon Muyang. By joining hands now, he could at least neutralize them—or perhaps even win them over.
But…
“Get out. Not worth the words.”
He had no intention of ever dealing with them.
A loss? He could stomach it.
Touch filth once, and you’ll find it easier the next time.
Think you can wash it off afterward? No—you’ll grow used to it, until the day you don’t even feel the need to wash.
Therefore—
“Your words are harsh, Master. We only wished to—”
“Deals are made between those who trust each other.”
Mujin cut him off without room for reply.
Jiheon finally rose, forcing a polite expression as he turned to leave.
But just then—
“Lord Cheon Mujin!! Are you inside?!”
A booming voice rang so loud it reached all the way to Mujin’s chambers.
All three of them turned toward the front gate.
“I’ve come to report a martial artist who uses drugs! Please, hear me out!!”
“What lunatic has shown up now? I’ll deal with him on my way out.”
“No need.”
Mujin rose for the first time since Jiheon’s arrival, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
“This is the guest I’ve been waiting for.”
“What do you mean—?”
Ignoring Jiheon’s baffled question, Mujin strode quickly toward the front gate.
He felt Jiheon following, but he didn’t care. It might even be better this way.
“Please! Even a moment of your time!”
At the gate, a man knelt on the ground, voice ragged from shouting.
“There’s another guest inside. Come back later.”
“No, it must be now! Please, if you delay it’ll be too late! At least pass word inside!”
“You insolent—do you need a beating to learn your place?!”
A guard raised his hand to strike.
But—
“Looks to me like you’re the one who needs a beating. Who are you to decide who my guest is?”
Crack!
Mujin smacked the guard’s head, sending him sprawling. Then he casually shoved the unconscious man aside with his foot.
Saved from a collision, the kneeling man gaped up at Mujin in shock.
“Y-You’re… Lord Cheon Mujin?”
“That’s right. You mentioned something rather interesting. Speak.”
“Y-Yes! I… I’ve come to report martial artists who use drugs! I’m an officer of the Patrol Corps in charge of my district!”
“The Patrol Corps?”
Well, well.
Mujin smirked and turned to glance at Jiheon.
The faint twist of Jiheon’s face was a most satisfying sight.
“Isn’t the Patrol Corps funded by the Wi clan?”
