Chapter 75
“Dare you?”
The sheer presence of Salsung made everyone present immediately place their hands on their weapons.
Only Gong Mun-woo remained frozen stiff, unable to move.
At the moment Salsung’s eyes narrowed in displeasure at his attitude,
“Long time no see, senior.”
Cheon Mu-jin had quietly seated himself in front of Salsung, smiling as he rearranged the pieces on the chessboard.
Caught off guard by his brazen face, Salsung was momentarily speechless, and Cheon Mu-jin, after arranging the pieces, made his move.
“Now, let’s begin.”
Salsung glanced at him briefly at Cheon Mu-jin’s gesture, then moved his pawn.
Thus began the match.
Cheon Mu-jin slowly solidified his defense.
Salsung made several moves to break through before the defense was fully formed, but Cheon Mu-jin’s moves blocked him every time.
“Senior, do you remember the proposal I made before?”
“I remember the arrogant words you left behind.”
Salsung looked up at Cheon Mu-jin, who, as if waiting, made his moves.
The eyes hidden behind Salsung’s mask shone brightly.
“What is it that you want? To the point of risking wiping out three clans that follow me?”
“What I want…”
Cheon Mu-jin, resting his chin on his hand while looking at the board, then lifted his head to meet Salsung’s gaze.
“Calling it revenge would be too grandiose… let’s call it ‘cleaning.’ That seems to be the right expression.”
“You sure care a lot for your younger brother. But calling it cleaning feels a bit over the top, doesn’t it?”
“Senior, even our school is still a world where humans live. It’s a place that honors strength, but the strong also have a duty to protect the weak.”
“You speak like those righteous types.”
“Well, something like that. The difference is, they hide their intentions, while I speak mine openly. The reason to protect the weak is simple.”
Before Cheon Mu-jin could finish, Salsung made a sharp move, digging in.
Cheon Mu-jin smiled and responded with a move.
He could block Salsung’s piece but it would ultimately be sacrificed.
Salsung’s eyes filled with curiosity.
“…Ah.”
Gong Mun-woo’s voice, almost a sigh, caught Salsung’s attention as he stared intently at the board.
He hadn’t seen it, but Gong Mun-woo had.
“The time when the strong display their power is brief. As humans, life must be lived. And that life is built upon the lands made by those called the weak, the truly ordinary.”
“Meaning to live comfortably, you must protect the weak?”
“Call it that if you want. Or, put positively, it’s mutual survival. Protect them, handle the troublesome tasks for them—that’s mutual survival.”
“A futile life, huh? You promised to give me an exciting life, and yet this is what you talk about?”
“Isn’t your life already exciting enough? Being good at something doesn’t always mean you enjoy it.”
“Work is inherently boring.”
“Yes. That’s why everything outside of work should be enjoyable.”
Salsung stared at him briefly after Cheon Mu-jin’s answer, then made his next move.
And then,
“Three moves left.”
“…Three moves?”
Cheon Mu-jin, as if waiting, moved his pieces again. Salsung stared at the board for a long time before finally placing his piece down.
“…I’ve lost.”
“You’re very skilled. Gong Cheksa could say you’re the best among those he’s taught.”
Cheon Mu-jin smiled as he watched Salsung silently look at the board.
“Brazen kid.”
Clicking his tongue, Salsung stood.
“I won’t interfere in whatever the subordinates do below.”
“Thank you, senior. That is enough.”
“…Tsk, such a monstrous brat.”
Salsung glanced down at Cheon Mu-jin, who had bowed in gratitude, clicked his tongue, and then turned to leave.
“…What just happened?”
Salsung appeared out of nowhere and suddenly started a chess match with Cheon Mu-jin.
By the time the match ended, those present were finally able to breathe.
“Hmm? What do you mean? It was peacefully resolved through conversation.”
“How is that peaceful?! Salsung declared he would completely withdraw…”
That meant the Salsung clans could still target Cheon Mu-jin at any time.
Seeing the evident unease on Yoo Hyun-hwa’s face, Cheon Mu-jin looked at Gong Mun-woo.
“Do you think the same, Cheksa Gong?”
“…I think it’s the best outcome.”
“Really? Why?”
“Simply because Salsung did not directly act against Master Cheon, the clans that follow him will bow their heads voluntarily.”
“I see. They avoid action because they can’t gauge his power?”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Yoo Hyun-hwa tilted her head in confusion.
Beside her, Geom Yu-jin explained.
“When Master Gong alone wiped out three Salsung clans, it sends a clear message that any other clan could be erased just as easily.”
“Eh?”
“…You’ve become so used to it that it’s hard to grasp, huh?”
Cheon Mu-jin performed these feats so casually, but many of them were incredible even by normal standards.
Particularly, erasing three Salsung clans at once was a huge shock for the remaining clans.
It required an individual to be at the peak of ultimate skill—or beyond—to accomplish such a feat alone.
Even a group would need two or three supreme warriors to erase three clans in a single night.
Cheon Mu-jin had done it alone, effortlessly.
Even if people doubted he did it alone, it was natural to assume he had that level of hidden power.
Now twenty-two, with the status of firstborn and a strong maternal family, Cheon Mu-jin’s position was beginning to blur the notorious reputation of his past.
Naturally, a sense of caution arose.
“So, they’re being careful?”
“Yes. Could even become the next minor sect leader, perhaps.”
Nodding at Geom Yu-jin’s explanation, Yoo Hyun-hwa sighed in relief.
“So we don’t have to worry about the Salsung clans?”
“No. We must still be vigilant. The school’s Salsung clans aren’t all the Salsung clans in existence.”
There are external forces and those operating in the shadows. The Salsung threat will persist.
However…
“Just crushing the clueless, and forming a good bond with Senior Salsung is enough.”
Hearing Cheon Mu-jin, Yoo Hyun-hwa remained silent.
‘…Good bond?’
It didn’t exactly feel that way.
Cheon Mu-jin, the Fallen Demon, and Salsung
Cheon Mu-jin had only seen Salsung’s bare face once. Age, gender, name, face—all were veiled. Even then, he wasn’t certain if it was truly Salsung’s real face.
Yet…
“…Brat.”
“What?”
“You should have moved faster.”
Salsung tore off his mask, blood streaming unchecked, and pushed Cheon Mu-jin with a grin.
“If you’d moved faster, this fun wouldn’t have been so brief.”
Falling off a cliff after being pushed by Salsung, Cheon Mu-jin barely held onto consciousness.
He survived tenaciously and sparked a war.
During the so-called Cheonma Civil War, Cheon Mu-jin gained and lost countless people.
At one moment, he entered the Cheonma Castle and saw horrific corpses, swearing to erase all the cursed beings.
Monsters made from Salsung’s grotesquely stitched corpses confronted him, but he vowed vengeance.
A brief encounter, yet he was determined to exact the price in blood.
Morning Reflections
“…Hoo.”
Awakened by a nightmare, Cheon Mu-jin chuckled.
After the incident with Salsung ended, he had dreams like these.
Was it because he had grown weak in this world, or because his goals had become more certain?
Unable to answer, he rose and went for a walk, which often helped him sleep.
Or he didn’t need to sleep again.
His steps naturally led him to the training grounds.
“Hmm?”
“…Yes?”
“You’re doing quite well.”
Seeing Baek Woo training alone, Cheon Mu-jin smiled and sat on a nearby chair.
“You’ve been working hard lately.”
“I thought I should at least try to keep up, even if I can’t stand beside you.”
“Good. Practical and ambitious goal-setting. That’s how it should be.”
Baek Woo put down his sword after noticing Cheon Mu-jin nod.
“May we spar?”
“Hmm, your gaze says otherwise.”
“I know I’ve grown stronger.”
“Sharp observation.”
Cheon Mu-jin stood before him.
“Let’s do something else instead. Did Yoo Hyun-hwa visit Master Changma?”
“…Yes.”
“Impressive. Studying under that master isn’t easy.”
Rising early to train under Changma was remarkable. Both Yoo Hyun-hwa and her master were commendable.
“Others are also training?”
“Yes. Training in secret martial arts out of sight.”
“What about Geom Ho-wi and Do-senior?”
“They’re climbing the cliffs.”
“…Wow.”
This deserved praise. Training voluntarily in life-threatening conditions—cliff climbing was rare and dangerous, usually reserved for warriors.
Essential for building strength in hands, shoulders, back, and core, but risky for life.
Even artificial cliffs weren’t as effective if there was an easy escape.
Yet they voluntarily undertook this dangerous training. Truly impressive.
“Why didn’t you join that training?”
“…I have a request.”
“A request?”
Baek Woo’s words made Cheon Mu-jin smile.
With his skills at peak, he was ready to teach. Yoo Hyun-hwa had a competent master; others needed guidance.
“Good. I’ll properly teach you Gak-Yeong.”
“…Thank you.”
Before Baek Woo could speak, Cheon Mu-jin explained his terms, and Baek Woo bowed.
“Let’s begin. You’re talented and will learn quickly. Most of what I teach now is what I’ve already told you before.”
“…So I knew but couldn’t execute?”
“Exactly.”
Cheon Mu-jin disappeared briefly.
Thwack!
Baek Woo blocked a punch aimed at his jaw. His eyes shook violently—not because the punch was heavy, nor because it was fast…
“It’s to hit physically so you can understand it.”
Cheon Mu-jin’s grin triggered his instincts: flee immediately.
Training Geom Ho-wi
“Geom Ho-wi.”
“Yes.”
“There’s something I want you to learn.”
“I will do my best.”
Geom Yu-jin glanced at the corner of the training ground, noticing Baek Woo, battered like a rag.
Slight shivers ran down his spine.
“Nothing major. I’ll teach you how to conceal your energy. As a bodyguard, it’s necessary.”
“Conceal energy? I’ve already learned that.”
Before he could protest,
“How is it?”
“…I feel nothing.”
“Good. At least reach a level where you can cleanly hide your magical energy. That’s enough.”
“I’ll do my best. But why now?”
Cheon Mu-jin smiled and shrugged.
“Soon it’ll be useful. I just thought I’d teach each of my people a skill. No need to stress about it.”
