CHAPTER: Chapter 24
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Chapter 24
“There is no need to grant the same wish twice, is there?”
“What do you mean…?”
Gal Muheun smiled as if he found Uncheon’s reaction amusing.
“Hahaha. Cadet Yuha has already requested that of me. I have already sent word to the Life-and-Death Exalted One, the honored Demon Physician. So name another wish.”
“…Yuha did?”
In that instant, Yuha’s face, smiling like a sly old serpent, flashed through Uncheon’s mind.
That fellow had seen through everything.
What Uncheon wanted, and what path he would choose.
‘Is this the investment he spoke of?’
A method of placing what the other person wanted into his hands one step ahead at the necessary moment, and making him owe a debt.
It was just like Yuha.
‘That fox-like bastard….’
Now that he had unexpectedly ended up saving his Black Iron Plaque, Uncheon thought for a moment.
What should he ask of the Demonic Martial Hall Master?
‘It is not as if I failed to obtain a Black Iron Plaque, so there must be a reason he deliberately used his before me at this point.’
The answer came quickly.
‘…He is telling me to save mine for now.’
If it were Yuha, he would certainly say that.
Just as Uncheon finished organizing his thoughts and was about to answer, Gal Muheun spoke first.
“You must be conflicted. You may take your time thinking it over. Thanks to the spar you fought against Instructor Jeok Mugwang, this Hall Master’s pride has risen as well.”
Gal Muheun’s attitude was relaxed, as if Uncheon did not need to use the Instruction Token immediately.
“Hehehe… Even those fellows who usually looked down on the instructor post as a sinecure have asked my permission to meet you at least once.”
The reward was not a treasured sword, a secret manual, or a spiritual medicine, but a simple Black Iron Plaque.
Yet with that alone, Uncheon could display even greater authority than those things.
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which revered the strong, an outstanding talent carried that much meaning.
So how could Gal Muheun not smile simply by looking at Uncheon?
“Do you know how many such people there are? The Inspectorate, the Hall of Myriad Demons, the Black Shadow Corps, the Blood Wolf Corps… They want you regardless of whether they are martial forces or special forces. You may choose anywhere you like. You are in a position where you need only make your choice.”
The place Uncheon wanted.
‘If meeting the Demon Physician comes to pass….’
His next goal was clear.
A place that could bring him closer to the position of the Heavenly Demon.
However, a child who had been dragged here could not suddenly say such a thing.
Uncheon decided to reveal only an appropriate level of ambition and aspiration, enough for Gal Muheun to accept.
“…I was taught that this sect pursues skill as its highest value. Anywhere is fine, so long as it is a place where I can become strong.”
“Hehehe. A fine attitude. You are still young. No, more than young—you are a child.”
Gal Muheun’s attitude was not one of mockery over his youth.
“Enjoy that privilege. Which is more attractive, reaching the Peak Realm at forty, or reaching the Peak Realm at twenty?”
Naturally, most would choose the latter.
If one reached the Peak Realm at twenty, one could train for a full twenty years more before turning forty.
However, in truth, no one could predict the achievements of a martial artist who had crossed a wall. There were many who crossed a wall at a young age yet remained in the Peak Realm for the rest of their lives.
Even so, people tended to value those who reached the Peak Realm at a young age more highly.
“The latter.”
“I am precisely the former. I reached the Peak Realm after I was over forty. I was originally a scholar who merely read books, so I was late to begin with.”
However, even judging generously, Gal Muheun’s appearance still seemed to be that of a man in his forties, so Uncheon tilted his head.
‘…His realm is above the Peak Realm. But he does not seem to be a master who has undergone rejuvenation.’
“Yet thanks to that, I had time to delve into the profound formulas of the orthodox factions without being swept away by the madness of demonic arts. That is why, though I was late to reach the Peak Realm, I crossed the next wall more easily than others. Before I turned fifty.”
Gal Muheun laughed heartily as he spoke.
“But who in the Demonic Cult would place an old man who used to read books in an important position? So I suppose it was perfect to stick me here in the Demonic Martial Hall. They likely meant for me to organize all the secret manuals seized from the Central Plains.”
His voice contained self-mockery, along with a cold understanding of reality.
‘As expected… It seems he has his own story. Now I understand his method of evaluation.’
The Comprehensive Evaluation of the Demonic Martial Hall was an evaluation method Chief Instructor Gal Muheun had thought of because he himself had entered martial arts late.
It was not meant to judge immediate martial might.
It was meant to determine how quickly one had grown.
“…That is why this Hall Master hopes that you, with your bright future ahead of you, will not follow the same path I did. That talent… is too precious to be broken so easily. Using the body ignorantly is not the entirety of martial learning. Do not rush. Learn the written word.”
Gal Muheun’s gaze fixed on Uncheon.
His eyes no longer belonged merely to a superior officer.
They were serious, like those of a senior martial artist who had seen potential and wished to show a junior the way.
“There are many organizations that want you. However, it is difficult to say with certainty that any of them would be best.”
As if examining stones on a Go board, he continued while weighing Uncheon’s value.
“The Inspectorate? They want you, but only after placing a blade at your neck. Those fellows fundamentally do not trust people. They grasp weaknesses and use people as they please. That is the Inspectorate.”
Uncheon listened silently.
“Would martial forces such as the Black Shadow Corps or the Blood Wolf Corps be any different? They want a blade they can swing immediately.”
That, too, was reality.
As long as Uncheon had the weakness of the Severed Meridian Affliction, it would not be easy for him to operate in a regular martial force.
After all, opponents would not restrict their internal energy as they did in sparring.
“…Then what about the Hall of Myriad Demons?”
“To think you considered the Hall of Myriad Demons. It seems you have already received advice from the cadets.”
Gal Muheun seemed to know even about Yayul Hui’s visit.
“That place is filled with half-mad old monsters. If their minds are still intact, most of them are old fiends whose greed remains full even in old age. You had best choose the boat you board carefully.”
Uncheon nodded.
‘The greed of old men… I experienced that painfully in the Martial Alliance as well.’
If they had survived in the Demonic Cult until old age, then in martial skill alone, they would be peerless.
However, as the instructor said, finding a normal person there would be far more difficult.
“Most Demonic Practitioners learned their lifelong ultimate arts through oral transmission or actual combat. It is difficult for them to transmit martial arts systematically. Even if you gain their favor, it will not be easy to humor them and learn one or two forms.”
Without putting down his brush, Gal Muheun continued in a low voice imbued with the scent of ink.
It was as though he could see straight through the calculations inside Uncheon’s head.
This was Gal Muheun’s true point.
“Everyone covets fruit that has not yet ripened. Until you bloom, this Hall Master will become a sturdy fence for you.”
“……!”
“So instead of belonging to any organization, why not remain directly under me for the time being?”
It was an unexpected and unprecedented proposal.
Uncheon’s interest was piqued.
At the moment, when he had yet to treat his Severed Meridian Affliction, being caught in the excessive attention and power struggles of various organizations would be poison.
Gal Muheun drove the wedge into Uncheon’s vital point as he hesitated.
“Furthermore… seeing as you are urgently seeking the Demon Physician, you must be in need of treatment. Since I cannot sense any internal energy from you at all, perhaps there is a problem with your dantian or your blood and qi.”
His insight pierced through Uncheon’s condition without even checking his pulse.
As expected of a transcendent master called the One-Brush Soul-Stealer, his eye was extraordinary.
“…….”
“I will not ask deeply. It would be rude to a martial artist. However, this is a matter that would benefit both you and me. What do you think?”
A chance to grow safely under the protection of the Demonic Martial Hall Master.
However, Uncheon did not miss the experienced intention hidden beneath it.
‘He means to raise me as his own card instead of handing me over to another organization early.’
His scheme was to monopolize the finest uncut gem and increase his own influence.
But that, rather, was reassuring.
‘However… he is right. Our interests align. Calculated benefit is more trustworthy than pure goodwill.’
Moreover, as long as he had the Black Iron Plaque, Uncheon could leave Gal Muheun’s embrace whenever he wished.
The reason Yuha had deliberately used his Black Iron Plaque first to open the path to the Demon Physician became clear.
‘That fox-like bastard… Did he make me save my Black Iron Plaque for this moment? Just how far ahead did he see?’
Above all, if he was directly under the Demonic Martial Hall Master, he would gain a justification to move freely around the Demonic Martial Hall.
In that case, he would be able to look for an opportunity to investigate Gonryun’s old site, especially the secret cave.
Having finished his calculations, Uncheon clasped his hands respectfully.
“How could I refuse the Hall Master’s offer? I will follow your orders.”
Satisfied creases formed at the corners of Gal Muheun’s eyes.
“Good. A wise decision. From now on, you are directly under me. Since you received the highest evaluation, you must know letters… Do you like books as well?”
It was a sudden question, yet somehow sounded meaningful.
“…If they are martial arts books, I like them.”
“Hehehe… Excellent. The task I will entrust to you is to systematically classify the vast collection of books in my inner archive and reevaluate their value.”
Uncheon’s brow narrowed slightly.
Was the great Demonic Cult so lacking in people to organize martial arts books that it would entrust such work to a formal warrior?
“It is no simple organization. The countless orthodox secret manuals plundered from the Central Plains… most of them are encrypted, so they cannot even be read.”
“Do you mean ciphers?”
“Yes. Those so-called prestigious orthodox factions weave their own philosophies into the martial arts they leave behind.”
Gal Muheun lifted his brush and wrote the character “Dao” on the paper as he spoke.
“Of course, this includes the teachings of the Three Doctrines of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, as well as the intellectual backgrounds of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Without those, a secret manual is nothing more than black scribbles written on white paper. Even a single phrase such as ‘empty your mind’ differs as vastly as heaven and earth when interpreted through Daoism or Buddhism. How could ignorant Demonic Practitioners know that?”
“Ah…….”
Only then did Uncheon understand why peerless martial arts such as the Heaven-and-Earth Dynamic Art and the Limitless Step had been left to gather dust in a corner of the basic martial arts archive.
Simply knowing the characters was not enough to read the profound principle contained within them.
“I was originally a scholar, so I know a little of that flavor, but with books from all over the Central Plains flowing in, it is overwhelming to handle alone. With your intellect… I believe you can distinguish the jade from the stones hidden within them.”
“…….”
“Of course, it is only a nominal task. Your training and treatment come first. I will also give you a private stone chamber within the archive, so you may freely read any books there.”
Gal Muheun had, in effect, handed over the Demonic Martial Hall’s inner archive, a treasury of knowledge, to Uncheon in its entirety. For a martial artist, there was no greater favor.
“…Thank you for your consideration.”
“No need. Strive in both your treatment and your cultivation, and live up to my expectations. Ah, and….”
Gal Muheun stopped Uncheon as he was about to leave. A strange interest settled in his eyes.
“Do not relax too much. In the inner archive, there are others besides you whom I have selected.”
“…Do you mean other warriors?”
“Yes. When it comes to persistence in digging through books, they are eccentrics no less than you. That is why they are called the Book Ghosts.”
Book Ghosts.
Ghosts of books.
“The competition with them will be different from Hidden Demon Cave. Discussing sentences and martial principles is quite amusing in its own way.”
Uncheon quietly nodded.
He had thought it would be a comfortable refuge, but it seemed that place, too, was a battlefield where unseen blades came and went.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Good. Then, since you have now formally become a warrior, go to the quartermaster and receive your uniform and weapons.”
After Uncheon withdrew, a quiet stillness settled over the office once again.
Gal Muheun lifted his brush and dipped it deeply into ink.
Across the white rice paper, a black stroke was drawn in a single sweep.
‘A treasure truly is a treasure.’
He had seen countless uncut gems since taking office, but Uncheon was in a different class.
A fundamental depth that went beyond simple martial talent.
“…No matter how I look at him, he is not like a boy of that age. If it is him, he may be able to read new phrases.”
Deep within the inner archive, ancient books that had been abandoned because no one could interpret them flashed through Gal Muheun’s mind.
Profound martial studies that had never seen the light of day amid the Demonic Cult’s climate, which shunned scriptures and learning and revered only strength.
“That fellow Uncheon should also serve as a good stimulus to the existing Book Ghosts.”
Gal Muheun’s eyes shone deeply and sharply, like those of a Go player placing stones upon a vast board.
“Whether they become fortunate encounters for one another or ill-fated ties… it will be amusing to watch.”
***
After finishing the meeting and leaving Gal Muheun’s office, Uncheon headed straight to the quartermaster.
“…Cadet Uncheon. No, now you are a proper warrior of this sect, Uncheon. I heard from the Hall Master. Is there a weapon you want?”
“A saber and a sword of basic form will be sufficient.”
“Oh… both a sword and a saber? Very well.”
The quartermaster soon brought out a saber with a well-balanced center of gravity and a long sword from the armory.
“Wear these clothes. They should fit roughly well enough.”
Uncheon received the supplies and put them on.
The black martial uniform had no special ornamentation, but compared to his shabby appearance when he had first entered, it was practically a complete transformation.
“I measured it by eye, but it fits perfectly. You look quite like a warrior now.”
Uncheon looked down at the Demonic Cult’s martial uniform, which clung neatly to his body.
‘…To think I would wear the Demonic Cult’s martial uniform, not the Gonryun uniform I had worn my entire life.’
CLACK—.
Uncheon fastened the saber case and scabbard at his waist.
“Draw the weapon once and examine it yourself.”
Uncheon quietly drew the saber.
SHRING—.
“A sharpened weapon must be handled carefully. At first, it will naturally feel awkward….”
His movement was as smooth as someone who had handled weapons for a long time.
“If you are careless, you may cut your hand…! Huh…? That was natural…?”
The draw was so natural that it startled the quartermaster, who had been about to offer various pieces of advice.
He had merely drawn the saber, yet the aura he exuded was also that of a seasoned warrior.
“…Now I understand why the Chief Instructor told me to support you personally. It is hard to believe you are a cadet who has only just passed through Hidden Demon Cave. I have nothing more to add….”
The quartermaster scratched his head awkwardly.
“If you need anything from now on, come to me at any time. I can provide as many basic supplies as you require.”
“Can you also craft items? The Iron Weights I used before can no longer be used….”
“Ah, those crude Iron Weights you used in the spar? Understood. How heavy should they be?”
“For now, roughly three gwan for each part should be appropriate.”
It was a weight slightly heavier than the Iron Weights he had worn before.
Since he now possessed iron weapons rather than wooden ones, that amount would be suitable.
“If you wear them on all four limbs, that alone makes twelve gwan… That is easily the weight of a small child. Are you truly all right with that?”
“It is perfect.”
“Very well. I will prepare them right away. These will be different from the things you were using before. I will make them properly.”
“Thank you.”
After receiving weapons and new Iron Weights from the quartermaster, Uncheon did not head straight to the inner archive.
Instead, he headed toward the stone chamber in Hidden Demon Cave where he had stayed for nearly a year.
After all, he still had belongings there that he had not organized.
On the path toward Hidden Demon Cave,
‘…What is this presence?’
Uncheon’s senses caught an unpleasant gaze.
‘Is it the shadow that has been following me since a few days ago?’
The shadow was following closer than before, and more openly.
Uncheon deliberately turned toward a corridor with few people.
The moment he rounded a corner, he swiftly moved, killed his presence, and hid.
A moment later, a black shadow cautiously appeared around the corner.
The figure wore a mask, but its agile movements and concealed presence were anything but ordinary.
‘Who is it? The Inspectorate? The Black Shadow Corps? Or the Hall of Myriad Demons?’
The moment Uncheon held his breath and observed the other party, the shadow stared precisely at the place where Uncheon was hiding.
“…To think you noticed my pursuit. Not bad.”
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