RDK 8

Chapter 8

Cheon Mujin, who had been looking down at the man in the basement, clicked his tongue lightly and shook his head.

“Tsk. I’m still lacking.”

Just a bit of old memory resurfacing, and he’d lost control of his energy.

In that instant, the strange, oppressive energy that had dominated the basement vanished.

Having regained his composure, Cheon Mujin calmly placed a hand on the man’s shoulder.

“You’ve lost too much blood. If we’re going to transport him to headquarters, we’ll have to end the physical torture here.”

“Yeah. Any more than this, and we’re out of our depth.”

“Then we haven’t learned much, have we?”

“True. We’re not a unit trained for interrogation, so I didn’t expect much to begin with.”

Mu Pung Daeju responded calmly to Cheon Mujin’s words, but internally, he was deeply unsettled.

Not just because of the inexplicable chill he’d felt moments ago—Cheon Mujin’s demeanor was just… bizarre.

There was no reaction.

How?

It wasn’t that he was consciously hiding it.

Revulsion, disgust—those kinds of visceral responses to cruelty were instinctive.

Even if someone tried to suppress them, there would always be traces.

And from this distance, no matter how skilled Cheon Mujin was, there’s no way Mu Pung Daeju would have missed those traces.

In other words—

‘…He really feels nothing?’

Is he just that innately cold? Or…?

Just as Mu Pung Daeju’s gaze began to darken—

‘So it really was demonic energy. They’ve been active, even now.’

He’d expected it, but the realization left a bitter taste.

Those bastards had been moving under the surface for over a decade, and neither he nor his father had noticed.

He could accept his own failure—but that his father had failed to notice?

Or maybe… he had noticed.

“May I conduct a brief interrogation? It’ll be a bit rough, but I won’t inflict any more wounds.”

“As long as it doesn’t threaten his life.”

“Thank you.”

Lost in thought, Cheon Mujin failed to notice the strange look that crossed the faces of both Mu Pung Daeju and Oh Jiyeon.

He grabbed the man’s shoulder firmly.

And then—

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!”

At the sudden scream, Mu Pung Daeju looked down at the man in shock.

This was someone who barely groaned even when his flesh was carved with a blade—what the hell?

“Ki…LL! ME! AAAARGH!!”

“Tsk.”

But even as he screamed, the man’s eyes burned with unwavering defiance. Cheon Mujin clicked his tongue again.

Truthfully, he wasn’t very skilled at torture either.

When he held the position of cult leader, he had specialists beneath him. The same during the civil war.

In the Demon Realm, it was either kill or dominate.

There was no point in torture.

He had stimulated the demonic energy mixed with the dark qi and forcibly drew it out, twisting the man’s insides—but even that hardly qualified as torture.

“I don’t think we’ll be able to make him talk.”

“Could you try a little more?”

“He’ll die.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Mu Pung Daeju nodded calmly at Cheon Mujin’s response.

“Let’s leave, then. The stench of blood is too much.”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Consideration? Hardly.”

The three exited the basement and began walking slowly toward the large barracks used as a meeting room.

“Come to think of it, I was holed up for three days and didn’t hear any reports. Vice Commander Oh, fill me in as we walk.”

“…Right here?”

“Of course. Is there a problem?”

“The subject is right next to us.”

“All the better. If we have questions, we can ask him directly.”

“That’s… Haah. Understood.”

Oh Jiyeon sighed at the Daeju’s shameless tone and hesitated.

How should she say this…?

“What’s got you so worried? Just tell it as you heard—”

It’ll be fine.

Just as Mu Pung Daeju was about to say that—

“Long time no see, kid.”

A massive shadow loomed over them.

Suddenly, his whole body froze.

Mu Pung Daeju forced himself to look up and confirmed the figure.

“You’ve grown. Can finally open your eyes properly.”

The towering man who praised him looked at the others behind him.

The Daeju was half-collapsed under the pressure, his head bowed completely.

Still only a beginner-level master. The fact that he hadn’t collapsed entirely was already impressive.

The problem was…

‘…Huh. He’s completely different from a few months ago.’

The man chuckled to himself as he met Cheon Mujin’s eyes.

Judging by his aura, Cheon Mujin still seemed like a second-rate fighter at best. And yet—he was withstanding the pressure?

No, more than withstanding it—

‘He’s smiling.’

Cheon Mujin was looking at him with a smile. He even seemed… happy to see him.

Maybe that part was just his imagination.

“It’s been a while.”

“I should’ve greeted you first, but I’ve been a bit scattered. I apologize.”

“…It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

The unexpected reply made him pause for a second.

Is this really the Cheon Mujin I know?

Did someone skin his face and wear it?

No—if that were the case, it’d be easier just to live as themselves. There’s no reason to act this differently.

Then…

“You’ve changed a lot.”

“Thanks to your guidance, Lord Spear Demon.”

“You’ve even learned how to flatter.”

At Cheon Mujin’s reply, the Spear Demon chuckled and withdrew his aura.

“Seems we’ve got a lot to talk about. I must return to the main sect, so we’ll have to continue later.”

“I’ll be sure to visit when I return.”

“Good. But first, there’s something we should discuss here and now.”

Something to talk about here?

Mu Pung Daeju tilted his head in confusion—just as the shadow disappeared from his vision.

And then—

“KYAAA!”

Oh Jiyeon’s sharp scream—first in a while—and Mu Pung Daeju spun around urgently.

“Impressive.”

An ambush from the Spear Demon himself.

It had been a casual strike, but still—

“…You flatter me.”

“No, the praise is deserved. You blocked that blow.”

Under Cheon Mujin’s chin, his hands had laced together and caught the spear tip. His hands were trembling.

“Then, would you kindly move your spear?”

“Mm, unfortunately, I can’t do that.”

The moment the Spear Demon spoke, Cheon Mujin released his grip without hesitation.

‘…Ho?’

The Spear Demon had been trying to twist the spear loose but was caught off guard by Cheon Mujin’s reaction.

Cheon Mujin, having let go of the spear, ducked forward without pause.

Leaning his upper body leftward, he picked up speed quickly.

He dashed forward, taking two quick steps.

During that time, the spear was already slicing past Cheon Mujin’s side.

Though the blade didn’t connect—this was a spear wielded by the Spear Demon.

Even without internal energy, getting hit by the shaft alone would shatter bones.

So—what now?

You’re not going to claim you defeated a top-tier master without being able to handle this, are you?

Eyes widening, the Spear Demon watched with anticipation.

He’d come here without any expectations—but the changed Cheon Mujin had sparked curiosity.

And Cheon Mujin didn’t disappoint.

His right arm rose gracefully, lifting the spear shaft upward.

A nearly perfect, fluid motion.

But with the power in the shaft, lifting it any higher than his shoulder was impossible.

At this rate, his head would be hit—it was a risky position.

WHAM!

But Cheon Mujin twisted his upper body entirely and used that rotation to drive his right foot into the Spear Demon’s abdomen.

Right in the liver.

“…Impressive.”

The Spear Demon caught the kick with his left hand and nodded.

“Hah. I understand it in my head, but I still can’t believe it.”

Lifting the spear using internal wave principles—

Turning the rebound into a spinning counterattack—

“How did you see all that coming?”

With Cheon Mujin’s level, he shouldn’t be able to react in time.

There’s a reason martial realms are separated by stages—because the difference is that stark.

And yet, Cheon Mujin moved as if he’d surpassed that gap.

Only one explanation.

He didn’t react—he’d read it all from the beginning.

Without a single misstep.

“I just… kind of saw and felt it.”

“…Huh.”

Letting out a breathy laugh, the Spear Demon retrieved his spear.

“I’ve got something to report to the Cult Leader now. That’ll do. And there’s no need to torment the patient further.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Consideration? Please.”

Waving a hand dismissively, the Spear Demon looked at Mu Pung Daeju.

“Take the prisoner.”

“Yes, this way.”

Mu Pung Daeju took the lead, and with a half-hearted wave toward Cheon Mujin and Oh Jiyeon, the Spear Demon followed him back to the basement.

And—

‘Did he always have such talent?’

The lingering ache in his liver made the Spear Demon chuckle.

It had happened because he didn’t use internal energy—but still, for that short moment, Cheon Mujin had packed enough force to pierce his palm.

Not to mention that earlier exchange.

He hadn’t used any martial arts techniques.

Just responded purely to the opponent’s movement.

This wasn’t some secret divine technique.

It was simply—

‘He’s just really good at fighting?’

The thought of reporting this to the Cult Leader made the Spear Demon smirk.

—

“Has Lord Spear Demon left?”

“Yes. Seems he’s very busy. He checked to make sure the prisoner was alive, then left immediately.”

“Something must be going on at headquarters. If someone like him is moving so quickly…”

“Purgatory is opening. I was summoned to see if there were any signs of it appearing in our Demon Sea sector.”

There is a strange rift, rarely seen even in the Demon Lands, called the Purgatory Mirror.

It usually appears in high-grade demonic zones like the Demon Forest.

But even among those, the danger level depends on the zone.

“There were no signs of it here in the southwest sector, so…”

“It’s either in the north or east.”

“Neither will be easy.”

The north is harshly barren. The east is heavily suppressed by orthodox sects.

Either way, it won’t be easy.

No wonder the Spear Demon was in a rush.

“…Did you ask?”

“Ask what?”

“What Lord Spear Demon saw in Young Master Cheon.”

He had briefly assessed Cheon Mujin.

What conclusion did he come to?

“I asked how Young Master Cheon defeated a top-tier master, and he said: ‘You just have to fight well.’ I don’t know if that makes sense, but…”

“It probably does. Lord Spear Demon gave a similar answer. And so did I.”

“…What?”

“What, you didn’t notice anything odd until now? Movements far too sharp for someone second-rate. Manhandling a talent like Baekwoo like a child.”

Baekwoo was someone Mu Pung Daeju himself had acknowledged and brought here despite his young age.

Even for a top-tier fighter, to beat him that easily was no small feat.

“That’s just… being really good at fighting.”

“Fighting?”

“Yeah. No techniques, no forms. Just perfectly reading the opponent’s movements and striking at the exact right moment.”

“That doesn’t…”

“Confusing, right? That’s normal. That’s why martial arts exist—because that isn’t supposed to be possible.”

There are limits to human strength, speed, and reaction time.

That’s why hesitation or slight missteps can decide life and death in battle.

Martial arts were created to overcome those human limitations.

Repeated training ensures a certain level of consistency in speed and power.

Reaction time, especially, is critical—moves not ingrained in the body won’t come out under pressure.

That’s why martial arts forms are essential—and why they greatly affect a martial artist’s strength.

However—

“In theory, it’s possible. Just theoretically.”

If you can dodge, block, and strike back at the right time, you can win.

But can you really do that without any ingrained technique—just reacting in the moment?

Even if it’s possible, wouldn’t you need an incredible physique?

And yet Cheon Mujin’s body was average—barely above a commoner’s.

“…Well, whatever.”

Though a flurry of thoughts swirled in his head, Mu Pung Daeju swept them all aside.

Worrying alone wouldn’t solve anything—and there was no need to worry in the first place.

This was the front line.

The belly of the beast called the Demon Sea.

“Promote Cheon Mujin to squad leader.”

Here, only skill and results mattered.

If the results were false, the price would be paid.