Chapter 56
It had been three days since they entered the northern snowy mountains.
Yoo Hyunhwa painfully realized why the northern front was called the Frozen Hell.
“It’s… so cold.”
“Disciplined bodies and internal energy exist for times like this.”
Sitting by the campfire and tearing into some meat, Cheon Mujin chuckled and pointed at Baekwoo next to Yoo Hyunhwa.
“Look at Baekwoo. He’s enduring it well.”
…This?
Yoo Hyunhwa, staring at Baekwoo’s half-blank expression, shook her head.
Right. If I want to survive, I have to make an effort myself.
Following Cheon Mujin’s advice, Yoo Hyunhwa raised her internal energy, feeling the cold slightly recede as she gripped her spear.
“The faster we finish, the sooner we can rest.”
Aligned with Cheon Mujin’s chuckle, axes flew along with the roar of the gray-furred monsters.
Twisting her stiff body with effort, Yoo Hyunhwa narrowly avoided an axe, her spear piercing the gray-skinned monster’s neck.
It had already been half a “sijin” fighting the group of monsters drawn to the fire.
Unlike Cheon Mujin, who sat by the fire, the four others fighting to their limits had grim expressions.
No matter how much the heat of battle could drive away the cold, humans had their physical limits.
Three days without proper rest had left their bodies unable to warm themselves with the heat of combat.
It felt as if fatigue was consuming even the heat of the battle.
Clenching her teeth, Yoo Hyunhwa drew her spear and forced her breathing under control.
Still, these three days hadn’t been entirely in vain.
She had learned how to quickly heat her body and how to fight with minimal strength.
Her martial skills hadn’t advanced, but the feeling of becoming stronger was undeniable.
Look.
Swish! Swish!
Baekwoo moved with a face devoid of thought, swinging his sword.
His movements, optimized for maximum efficiency with minimum motion, were awe-inspiring.
Though if one understood his inner thoughts, admiration would turn to a sigh.
“You’re cold too, huh.”
Yoo Hyunhwa shook her head, knowing Baekwoo was struggling to conserve internal energy to drive away the cold.
The path for both of them was clear: finish off the monsters as quickly as possible and join Cheon Mujin by the fire for a meal.
Cheon Mujin, smiling at Yoo Hyunhwa’s determined fighting, turned his gaze to the other side.
There, Do Woojin and Geom Yujin were fighting.
Do Woojin, wielding a sword, and Geom Yujin, with daggers, surprisingly coordinated well.
Well, just like Yoo Hyunhwa and Baekwoo, they were fighting hard for the same reason.
“Kyuu?”
Cheon Mujin gently patted Cheonghwa’s head, who was tearing into meat by his feet, and slowly closed his eyes.
Three days in the northern snowy mountains, and the number of monsters was slightly higher than Cheon Mujin had expected.
For training, this discrepancy was welcome.
However, the presence of the truly dangerous ones was absent.
Considering how many demons had entered since the opening of the Purgatory Mirror, it wasn’t strange that there were no dragon-level monsters.
If they were normal dragon-level monsters, that is.
“Has that one not appeared yet?”
Cheon Mujin recalled the energy of the monster that had been hiding on the northern front for years, tormenting Hyungha, and slowly expanded his senses.
It might not have appeared in this Purgatory Mirror yet, or it might be holding back due to insufficient strength.
If they met it now, they could attempt to fight, but…
“Running away is probably the best option.”
After all, it was a demonic-level monster.
This was different from the Malwons Fortress incident; retreating was the sensible choice.
Well, considering the monster’s personality, it probably wouldn’t even appear before him, so there was little to worry about.
“Done!!”
Yoo Hyunhwa, exhausted, ran to the campfire as Cheon Mujin opened his eyes, having confirmed nothing appeared on his senses.
“Cheonghwa!”
Kuh!
She immediately hugged Cheonghwa, pressing against the fire to warm herself.
“Ahhh… I’ll survive…”
“Tch, so weak.”
“Not everyone in the world is a superhuman like Gongja-nim.”
Her body and mind warmed by the fire, Yoo Hyunhwa relaxed, and Cheon Mujin chuckled as he stood.
“Rest.”
“I’ll follow too.”
“Follow? The sword guards are resting as well.”
Cheon Mujin stopped Geom Yujin, who was trying to rise, with a gesture and lightly sprang into motion.
Not exceptionally fast, but moving nimbly through the trees, he ran a considerable distance before stopping.
“Phew.”
He controlled his breathing and restrained the energy flowing through his body.
Never overdo it.
If it’s released excessively…
Krkrkrkr.
The monster in his path exuded thick malice.
A Churagwi adapted to snowy terrain, like Seoldonggui, with near-white skin and roughly 20% larger than ordinary Churagwi.
Cheon Mujin grinned.
“Not bad.”
Repeatedly entering the monsters’ territory to eliminate them.
The forced march with minimal rest drained both body and mind.
Of course.
“It’s a monster…”
“You’re becoming more honest, huh.”
Cheon Mujin chuckled at Yoo Hyunhwa’s murmur and lightly flicked her forehead.
“Instead of mumbling, carry this.”
“Y-Yes.”
Yoo Hyunhwa hoisted the massive corpse of an Aselpyo, which Cheon Mujin could barely bite in half like a tiger, over her head.
Exhausted to the point of death, she found new strength.
Of course, this was the last one.
After ten days of training, Cheon Mujin announced their return. Rest awaited them.
Humming happily, Yoo Hyunhwa brought a smile to Cheon Mujin’s face as they reached the barrier where they had arrived on the first day.
However, seeing the group gathered below, he shook his head.
It had been quiet entering, but it seemed there was trouble now.
“Well, I am Bum Gudo, captain of the Third Barrier Defense.”
“I am Cheon Mujin. Such a warm welcome is unexpected.”
“If a soldier goes to the front and reports victory, it’s only natural to praise and welcome them.”
“That’s fair enough.”
Do Woojin frowned at Bum Gudo’s words.
Soldier? It sounded like an insult.
However.
“I’m glad you think that way. Now, can you help the soldiers rest?”
“Of course. I’ve told them to prepare, and the soldiers will guide you.”
“Thank you.”
Cheon Mujin smiled and followed the soldier, patting Do Woojin on the shoulder.
“Don’t be offended. That person is just straightforward. It wasn’t meant to belittle me.”
“Then that’s a relief…”
Cheon Mujin laughed.
“And what’s wrong with being treated as a soldier? Some people live here their whole lives fighting monsters.”
“…I was short-sighted.”
“No, it’s good that you care.”
Hearing their conversation, Yoo Hyunhwa’s eyes widened.
“Being treated as a soldier means being ignored?”
“Outside this place, probably.”
“Ahh.”
Her innocent nod brought smiles to the group.
Led by the soldier to their quarters, the party washed in warm water and ate a hearty meal.
It was clear the captain hadn’t intended to disrespect them.
After two days of rest, Cheon Mujin met Bum Gudo again at his request.
“Rested well?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I rested thoroughly.”
“Good.”
Bum Gudo, expressionless, nodded and looked at Cheon Mujin for a moment before speaking.
“To be honest, I want to borrow your strength, Gongja Cheon.”
“My strength?”
“Yes.”
He placed his hand on a map on the table.
“Reports indicate mid-to-high level monsters nearby. Scouts discovered them this morning.”
“If they’re mid-level, the barrier’s troops should be enough.”
“The leader is mid-level, and there are about seventy of them.”
Ah!
Seventy monsters, including a mid-level leader, the scale of a mass migration.
“Is this the effect of the Purgatory Mirror?”
“Seems so. Dragon-level monsters were handled by the demons, but some strong survivors formed this group. Their territories collapsed, forming this cluster.”
It was practically a situation similar to a mass migration.
Cheon Mujin examined the map and pointed to a spot.
“What’s here?”
“Oh, it’s marked for unusual incidents. Sometimes sleeping monsters are found, or warriors in the area suddenly fall asleep.”
“How long has this been happening?”
“For quite some time. With no time to act, we’ve just been observing since nothing significant happened recently.”
Even knowing there’s a problem, lack of time meant postponing action.
“Good.”
Cheon Mujin found it advantageous.
He had expected it but hadn’t anticipated finding it this way.
“Very well.”
“Thank you. Then, the schedule…”
“We’ll handle the monsters.”
“…What did you say?”
“We’ll deal with the monsters.”
Cheon Mujin laughed at Bum Gudo’s reaction and stood without hesitation.
“However, I’ll take what’s here.”
“Wait, I don’t know what you mean, but there are over seventy monsters, including a mid-level leader…”
“It doesn’t matter. Talking long only exhausts us. See you in three days.”
Breaking free from Bum Gudo, Cheon Mujin took his party back to the frontlines.
This time, passing the barrier without the Celestial Pass, Cheon Mujin ran the mountain path without hesitation.
“Seventy?”
Geom Yujin’s expression stiffened as Cheon Mujin explained the situation.
Seventy monsters… after barely surviving against ten in the snowy mountains, now facing seventy, including a mid-level leader?
The thought of risking death crossed Geom Yujin’s mind.
“Do we take the leader?”
Do Woojin’s calm question startled Geom Yujin.
Mid-level leader? Was this Do Woojin’s personality?
“Hm, we’ll handle it quickly this time.”
“So, securing a retreat?”
“Not difficult.”
Yoo Hyunhwa and Baekwoo’s calm response made Geom Yujin realize she was overthinking.
Could it be…
“…Was this common in Mupungdae?”
She knew the unit had been active on the frontlines, but this much?
At that moment, Cheon Mujin’s next words shook Geom Yujin’s pupils violently.
“No, fight with full strength this time. We won’t waste time. We’ll clear them all at once.”
Clear them all at once? What?
Do we ask how?
The other three accepted it naturally.
As they raced forward, Geom Yujin finally realized the meaning of Cheon Mujin’s words.
He truly intended to clear the monster group in one swift strike.
