RDK 5

Chapter 5

While everyone was preparing to retreat, Cheon Mujin clung to the demon beast, pretending to be learning how to butcher it.

He ended up killing it, though it wasn’t really his intention…

‘Still plenty left, huh.’

He had a job to do.

The biggest weakness of the Ten Thousand Demon Divine Art (Manma Singong) was the small amount of demonic energy it produced.

Naturally, there was a way to overcome that flaw.

If there weren’t, he wouldn’t have learned it in the first place.

Cheon Mujin approached the beast and began manipulating the residual demonic energy in its corpse.

Since it was dead, the natural resistance that came with being alive was gone, making absorption easier.

The Manma Singong was a cultivation technique perfected outside the Central Plains.

More precisely, it was completed once he gained control over “demonic” energy.

Which meant—

‘There’s a lot.’

Even the demon priests of the Heavenly Demon Cult couldn’t dare absorb this kind of energy, but he could.

Of course, refining it into usable, pure energy took time, and even then, the yield wasn’t much.

But compared to what he gained through conventional circulation, it was plentiful—almost reassuringly so.

Especially now, absorbing energy from even a tiger-class beast was taxing for Cheon Mujin.

“Huh? This demon stone is murky. What’s going on?”

A senior squad member cocked his head at the murky demon stone, but it was a minor issue.

‘I feel bloated.’

Stuffed full of demonic energy, Cheon Mujin returned to camp feeling content.

‘More than I expected.’

So this is what a tiger-class beast holds.

Weakened from the earlier fight with Jinbaek, and with the beast frenzied by overexcitement, he was able to finish it quickly by exploiting a single opening.

He’d dislocated its cervical spine in an instant, and still, the thing had moved.

If it had been a direct confrontation, he wouldn’t have stood a chance in his current state.

The risk would have outweighed the reward.

“Let’s rest for now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Unexpectedly, Oh Jiyeon didn’t interrogate him right away and let him go without protest.

Needing time to digest the absorbed demonic energy, Cheon Mujin headed toward his tent with the intention of meditating.

“Cheon Mujin!”

“Hm?”

Until someone stepped in front of him.

“How did you do that?”

“…Sigh, my heart aches.”

Cheon Mujin shook his head slightly at the boy trying to hide his fear behind a hardened stare.

He was the older one, so he had to be patient.

“You’ve been keeping that secret quite well.”

“…I just didn’t feel like explaining it.”

“Manners come from respect. Those who guard themselves with lies are the embodiment of rudeness.”

“Look who’s talking…”

The boy scoffed, hesitated for a second, then spoke again.

“…Fine, I was curious, alright? I wanted to learn. That’s why I kept quiet, okay?!”

“Well, I appreciate your honesty. So, why did you block my way?”

“Obviously, to ask about what you did earlier! That technique you used to beat the Taoist guy!”

A burning desire lit in his eyes.

Seeing what Baekwoo wanted, Cheon Mujin smiled faintly.

“Forget it. You’re not ready to learn that yet.”

“You can do it, so why can’t I? What’s so different between us? I can do it too, can’t I?”

“What’s different?”

So many things that he didn’t even know where to begin.

“For starters, it’s not about physical ability. It’s not just about being fast or strong.”

“Then what?”

“Technique. It’s about what you can see, hear, and feel. And you’re not there yet.”

“And if I want to learn? Is there really no way?”

“You want to learn?”

Cheon Mujin widened his eyes in surprise.

“You still want to learn, even after all I just told you?”

“…Yeah. I need to get stronger. What we learned at the training camp—those third-rate martial arts—they have limits.”

“Ambition is good, but forget it. It’s too dangerous. And even if you learn it, it might not be a good fit for you.”

“Still, it’s better than doing nothing.”

His eyes were filled with unwavering resolve.

Only fifteen years old.

Was it that he had eyes like that because he’d been dragged to the battlefield—or was it those eyes that led him there?

Cheon Mujin studied him for a moment and finally nodded.

“Alright. But on one condition. Though the choice is yours, once you start, you can’t stop just because you feel like it.”

“Hmph, I never planned to stop anyway.”

“Good. Then let’s begin right away. Follow me.”

Once he’d decided, Cheon Mujin didn’t hesitate.

He brought Baekwoo to the nearest training ground.

Naturally, other members of the Muwung Squad were already training there.

“Huhhh?”

The squad members looked flustered at Cheon Mujin’s sudden appearance, but he simply gave a polite martial salute.

“Cheon Mujin. It’s been a while since I greeted you all like this. I look forward to working with you. May I use this part of the training ground?”

“Uh, y-yes, go ahead.”

“Thank you.”

Chatting with the seniors and smiling, Cheon Mujin then turned to Baekwoo, who looked openly displeased.

“You haven’t even learned the basics.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said when I beat that Taoist guy? Respect comes from reverence, and reverence means being able to bow your head to someone.”

“That’s not reverence. That’s groveling. And you beat the crap out of your own seniors.”

“That was just cause and effect. Anyway, if you can’t tell the difference between courtesy and groveling, you’ll never be respected.”

“Hmph, says the guy who drank himself into a stupor for three months.”

“Tsk tsk.”

He really knew how to leave someone speechless.

Cheon Mujin shook his head at the boy pouting.

He was still too young to understand the difference between fear-induced submission and bowing with true respect.

Especially a kid who’d barely survived three grueling months since graduating from training camp.

Even he himself hadn’t realized the difference until middle age.

Of course, there were bright kids who understood from a young age.

More accurately, it could be taught.

Being young didn’t mean you couldn’t learn manners.

“This is a good opportunity. If you want what you’re after, you’ll have to learn how to respect others.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to—”

Before Baekwoo could finish his irritated complaint—

Whack!

“Guh!”

A fist slammed into his ribs, and Baekwoo’s eyes widened.

When did that even happen?

Before he could even process it—

“I told you you lacked the basics.”

Baekwoo tried to retaliate, but it was useless.

Cheon Mujin read his every move, cutting off his attacks half a beat early with the shortest, most efficient responses.

His counters were clean, his movements never overextended.

When to retreat, when to break—he read everything.

“Understand your opponent. That’s the first step to truly seeing and hearing.”

“Bullsh—agh!”

Bit his tongue?

Careless.

Cheon Mujin beat him thoroughly without knocking him out—just enough to make sure Baekwoo felt every hit.

No martial forms, no flashy internal energy techniques.

It was just—

“Damn… kid can fight.”

Someone muttered in awe.

But Cheon Mujin didn’t check who it was.

He had no time to spare.

‘…Oh?’

Baekwoo, despite being beaten, began analyzing how and why he was getting hit.

But—

“If you don’t understand respect, no matter how long you live, you’ll never truly see or hear.”

Cheon Mujin’s blows only got sharper.

“Gah! Aaagh!”

Baekwoo flailed in desperation, but Cheon Mujin calmly dodged and punished each opening with even harsher strikes.

Those pitiful, sloppy struggles?

He made sure Baekwoo’s body learned just how useless they were.

What other teacher in the world was this thorough?

“…Whoa, this is way different than I expected.”

The Muwung Squad leader, who had just returned and witnessed everything, let out a dry laugh.

He’d been at the main sect for a few days.

What happened while he was gone?

The same Cheon Mujin who’d been a shut-in for three months was now showing up at the training ground?

“Has everyone at the main sect gone blind?”

Third-Rate Martial Artist? More like Third-Rate My Ass.

Watching Cheon Mujin’s display—not a spar but a beating—the squad leader stroked his chin with an amused grin.

‘Things just got interesting. Once the main sect hears about this, there’ll be quite the uproar.’