Chapter 6: Chapter 6
Cheon Woo-jin’s steps were neither slow nor fast.
Neither anger, bloodlust, nor fighting spirit could be felt.
He merely walked forward calmly with his pitch-black Crescent Moon Staff hanging downward.
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin’s presence heavily weighed down upon the Martial Alliance’s vast training grounds.
The moment Cheon Woo-jin approached Gu Jin-seok, everyone intuitively felt that something was bound to erupt.
Even so, the instructors could not stop Cheon Woo-jin.
Their instincts as martial artists had brought their steps to a halt. Their competence was also still low. Since it was not the official examination but merely an evaluation of ranks, the Martial Alliance had not deployed high-ranking martial artists either.
At best, Zhuge Rin, the Vice Squad Leader of the Black Tortoise Squad, was the highest-ranking martial artist present. Originally, she was not of a rank to be deployed to such a place either, but her young age was the reason.
Feeling a shred of responsibility, Zhuge Rin blocked Gu Jin-seok’s path.
“Applicant Cheon Woo-jin. Stop. If you cause any more disturbance, both of you will undoubtedly be disqualified.”
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin’s steps did not stop.
Soon, when Cheon Woo-jin stood before Gu Jin-seok and Zhuge Rin.
For a moment, Zhuge Rin felt as though her breath was stolen away.
It was not a disposition that could emanate from a mere applicant. No, setting energy aside, the depth of his gaze felt as if she were facing an experienced master.
Gu Jin-seok was merely keeping his mouth shut.
From the moment Cheon Woo-jin picked up the Crescent Moon Staff, he already knew. The fact that he was no match for him.
Cheon Woo-jin asked in a low voice.
“It seemed you poured out killing intent.”
“…”
Gu Jin-seok could not open his mouth.
This was because Cheon Woo-jin’s gaze looked as if he could swing that staff right this instant and shatter his skull.
Even so, he could not beg for forgiveness. Rather than suffering such humiliation, biting his tongue and dying suited his temperament.
For that reason, all Gu Jin-seok could do was hide behind the back of Zhuge Rin, who was much smaller than himself.
“Applicant Cheon Woo-jin!”
Zhuge Rin’s voice rose in pitch.
Cheon Woo-jin’s gaze shifted to her for an instant.
‘Gasp!’
Zhuge Rin caught her breath.
Naturally, Cheon Woo-jin’s realm of cultivation was not visible to her eyes. Yet she was overwhelmed by the energy felt from that gaze.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a low voice.
“When a martial artist pours out killing intent toward another martial artist, it means they have prepared themselves accordingly…”
It was not a very loud voice, yet every single word was clearly audible to the ears of everyone present.
Cheon Woo-jin said to Gu Jin-seok.
“I will give you a choice. I do not know what your grievance is, but if I do not please you, you may settle the score like a martial artist right here, or you may sincerely apologize.”
“…”
Gu Jin-seok shut his mouth.
Although Gu Jin-seok was two heads taller than Cheon Woo-jin, somehow the view of his back looked pathetic.
Cheon Woo-jin’s presence completely enveloped him.
‘Telling me to apologize? In front of all these people?’
Gu Jin-seok gritted his back teeth tightly.
He could not do that.
There was a separate reason why he had deliberately provoked Cheon Woo-jin.
It was because he truly believed Cheon Woo-jin was a spy dispatched into the Martial Alliance by another faction.
He already knew the information on all the individuals participating in the Martial Alliance recruitment examination. He had grasped even the martial prowess and temperaments of the rising talents. Although it was a document handled in top secrecy, Gu Jin-seok’s family background made that possible.
On the list of figures to be cautious of, the name Cheon Woo-jin certainly was not present. In that case, the probability of him being a spy was over eighty percent.
Originally, it was not an uncommon occurrence for spies to infiltrate the Martial Alliance recruitment examination. For the factions keeping the Martial Alliance in check, there would be no better opportunity than this.
However, most were filtered out before the third exam ended.
The Martial Alliance also possessed that degree of intelligence network and capability.
That was why, when the fact that Cheon Woo-jin, who received everyone’s attention, was a spy was revealed in the future, he merely wanted to boast his prescience in having known it beforehand.
He thought that no matter how much he provoked him, he would not be able to step forward.
Because this bastard was a spy. Yet leaping forward without looking back was beyond Gu Jin-seok’s expectations.
It was at that moment.
Cheon Woo-jin gently lifted the Crescent Moon Staff.
At the same time, Gu Jin-seok spoke instinctively.
“A misun…”
Cheon Woo-jin aimed the Crescent Moon Staff at Gu Jin-seok.
“Who apologizes like that?”
Cheon Woo-jin had not met many people. He had lived in the mountains all his life with two old men. However, guests occasionally came, and most of those guests were enemies of Black Elder.
Of course, eighty percent of Black Elder’s enemies died, and twenty percent returned as cripples. The sight of those who had arrived swaggering only to apologize to Black Elder was still vivid in his mind.
In Cheon Woo-jin’s mind, an apology was such a thing.
Cheon Woo-jin’s staff swung lightly.
However, the outcome was not light.
Smack!
Along with a heavy sound of impact, Gu Jin-seok’s knees hit the ground with a thud. For a moment, Gu Jin-seok felt as if sensation had vanished from his legs.
“Y-you crazy bastard…!”
In the end, Zhuge Rin reached out her hand toward Cheon Woo-jin.
However, it merely cut through empty air.
Zhuge Rin turned her head with astounded eyes.
Cheon Woo-jin had already taken position behind her.
The pitch-black iron staff was above Gu Jin-seok’s head.
Cheon Woo-jin’s low voice echoed.
“This is your last chance.”
That Cheon Woo-jin gave him two chances was thanks to White Elder’s influence. Had he been a man raised solely under Black Elder, Gu Jin-seok’s limbs would have been torn apart long ago. Naturally, the same went for Zhuge Rin, who had blocked his way.
Fumbling at his pain-stricken legs, Gu Jin-seok looked up at Cheon Woo-jin.
‘…This bastard is serious.’
A man capable of shattering someone’s skull without hesitation in the middle of the Martial Alliance. That was Cheon Woo-jin. Gu Jin-seok realized it at this moment.
Meanwhile, the Crescent Moon Staff moved little by little.
Even though no particular energy was imbued in it, the crude dark-colored metal looked exceptionally hard.
Gu Jin-seok spoke urgently.
“I-I misunderstood. I am sorry for arbitrarily misunderstanding and oppressing you before everyone’s eyes.”
“And?”
“…I was wrong, please forgive me.”
“Mm.”
Cheon Woo-jin raised the Crescent Moon Staff high.
Gu Jin-seok closed his eyes and shrank his neck.
A brief moment passed like that, and…
When nothing happened, Gu Jin-seok opened his eyes.
He saw the back of Cheon Woo-jin moving away with the staff slung across his back.
At the same time as Gu Jin-seok let out a sigh of relief, an indescribable sense of humiliation welled up inside him.
* * *
Immediately after the incident ended.
Gu Jin-seok returned to his quarters filled with humiliation and rage. In that place, a middle-aged man clad in a dark-colored robe was waiting.
“Young Master, are you all right? If I had stepped forward rashly in that situation, the Martial Alliance’s suspicion…”
“Shut up!”
Gu Jin-seok huffed as he shouted.
Recalling what had just happened, Gu Jin-seok spoke with sinister eyes.
“I must kill that bastard in the second exam.”
“…There is no need to go that far, is there?”
Gu Jin-seok glared at the middle-aged man.
At that, the middle-aged man slightly lowered his head.
“I suffered humiliation from a bastard whose name and face were not even known. If he is of that level, he is probably a spy planted by one of the Black Overlord Castle, Thousand Killings Faction, or Demonic Cult.”
“…I did not sense any demonic energy at all.”
“Shut up! That is not what is important right now. The point is that I was made a fool of by such a bastard right now. I must kill him. Leaving that bastard alone is no different from dragging my father’s name through the mud!”
“…”
The middle-aged man let out a sigh inwardly.
To pick a fight first, and then after suffering humiliation, put the Clan Head’s name forward to vent his anger.
‘They say raising children is the most difficult thing, and…’
Seeing even the family head of the Gu Clan, who could be called the overlord of a region, leave his son to become such a scoundrel, those words seemed to be true.
The middle-aged man spoke.
“Then, shall I step forward personally and go kill that fellow?”
“Are you joking? What if you get caught?”
“…Do you not trust me?”
Gu Jin-seok glared at the middle-aged man as if he were truly exasperating. His skills were good, but his thoughts were utterly simplistic, making Gu Jin-seok feel frustrated the more he looked at him.
“This is the Martial Alliance. As it happens, the second exam will assign missions to wipe out small-scale unorthodox sects, demonic figures, and bandits. Is it completely impossible for that head of yours to think of utilizing that?”
“…I apologize.”
“If I have said this much, you understand, right? Make sure that bastard dies in the second exam without fail. When we return to the Alliance after finishing the exam, if that bastard is alive and well…”
Gu Jin-seok swallowed his remaining words.
However, anyone could infer the next words.
The middle-aged man’s heart grew heavy. It was not Gu Jin-seok he feared. He only feared the Gu Clan Head, who would indulge this scoundrel’s tantrums to the letter and oppress him.
Straightening the folds of his dark-colored robe, the middle-aged man bowed his head.
“I will handle it well, Young Master.”
* * *
“Young Hero, are you perhaps crazy?”
Contrary to his words, a smile never left Song Yi-yeon’s face. The sight of the brutish-looking Gu Jin-seok kneeling and apologizing was still vivid.
Cheon Woo-jin let out a sigh.
“Through this incident, I clearly felt it. The fact that my training is still lacking.”
“Young Hero, please stop saying such obnoxious things. If your training is lacking, does that mean I and the people walking up ahead are all fools?”
At Song Yi-yeon’s words, the seven fools walking along the forest path ahead glared at the two of them.
However, neither Song Yi-yeon nor Cheon Woo-jin paid much attention.
As in the information Gu Jin-seok had obtained in advance, the second exam was a mission to wipe out demonic figures and the Unorthodox Path.
There were seven martial artists who had received an overall grade of ‘A’ in the rank evaluation, including Cheon Woo-jin and Gu Jin-seok.
They were divided and assigned equally to seven squads each. Naturally, the same went for the ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ grade martial artists.
Song Yi-yeon had received three ‘A’s and two ‘B’s in each category, earning an overall evaluation of a ‘B’ grade martial artist.
Of course, Cheon Woo-jin knew. The fact that Song Yi-yeon had not revealed his true skills this time either. Because among the martial artists who had received ‘A’ grades, there were two who were inferior to Song Yi-yeon.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke up abruptly.
“If I had been a master like Master Black Elder, that fellow would not even have dared to pick a fight from the beginning.”
That was usually the case.
Regardless of age, gender, or the level of martial arts, most people were terrified when they first faced Black Elder.
Of course, they were terrified even when facing him a second or third time.
However, that was not simply because Black Elder was a master. It was due to the unique, dangerous atmosphere exuded by a martial artist who had lived his entire life thoroughly as an evil person.
Of course, Cheon Woo-jin, who had lived with Black Elder since he was very young, would not know that.
Song Yi-yeon suddenly spoke with a resolute face.
“The ones we are to subjugate this time. They say they are extremely wicked. It is said they picked only small villages with few martial artists and government soldiers, raping women and slaughtering men.”
“Why?”
Song Yi-yeon looked at Cheon Woo-jin with a face that seemed to ask why he would even question such a thing.
“Where is the reason for such bastards? They are villains precisely because they go around committing such acts without reason.”
“Mm.”
However, Cheon Woo-jin thought differently.
Master Black Elder was certainly an evil person. He had said so himself, and it was a fact recognized even by Master White Elder.
Yet he did not commit evil acts without reason.
Master Black Elder was someone who perhaps considered justification even more important than Master White Elder. It was just that when acting according to his values, he chose any means and methods without hesitation.
It did not mean that Black Elder’s actions themselves were justified. Black Elder had also lived his life committing countless acts that brought tears of blood to the common people’s eyes.
Those who obstructed his path were killed without exception, whether good men, the elderly, or children. Even pitiful people used by other villains were readily killed and tortured.
In the first place, White Elder had made such a bet with Black Elder over Cheon Woo-jin partly to direct his focus elsewhere and halt his evil deeds.
It was merely that in Black Elder’s evil, even if others could not understand it, there were clear standards and justifications of his own.
Just as Cheon Woo-jin was thinking about the reasons why the subjugation targets committed evil deeds.
The rising talent at the very front raised his hand.
At the same time, the column came to an abrupt halt.
Inside the dense thicket.
From straight ahead, the faint sound of grass leaves rustling could be heard.
Of course, it was a presence Cheon Woo-jin had already sensed from long ago.
With a tense face, a rising talent lowered his voice and spoke.
“Someone is ahead. Seeing how they are intentionally hiding their presence, there is a chance of an enemy ambush, so let us carefully verify and…”
“No.”
Cheon Woo-jin cut off his words.
The real world of martial artists was not as easy as the rising talent had just said. The theory learned in the Righteous Path was upright, but at times somewhat detached from reality.
Verify because it might be an enemy?
They would die before that. The enemies were already waiting, having completed their preparations.
Above all, the enemies’ martial prowess was strong enough to lightly overpower the rising talents.
“They are not intentionally hiding their presence, but revealing it.”
With their martial prowess, even if not Cheon Woo-jin, it would not have been difficult to deceive the rising talents’ senses.
Yet the fact that the rising talents noticed meant they were luring them on purpose.
However, would the Martial Alliance really have assigned masters of that level as mission targets for applicants?
After pondering for a moment, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.
“Something seems to have gone wrong.”
Having said that, Cheon Woo-jin casually glanced behind him.
Naturally, the Martial Alliance did not send only rising talents. An aura he had noticed long ago was approaching at tremendous speed, and…
“Everyone, stop!”
Zhuge Rin suddenly revealed herself.
She was the supervisor in charge of Group 3, where Cheon Woo-jin and Song Yi-yeon belonged.
At the sudden appearance of a Martial Alliance member, the rising talents wore bewildered expressions. Sneaking a glance at Cheon Woo-jin, Song Yi-yeon spoke.
“Young Hero, did you know again?”
Cheon Woo-jin silently nodded.
With an exasperated face, Song Yi-yeon shook his head from side to side.
“From now on, tell me as well. Do not keep it all to yourself.”
Zhuge Rin smacked the back of Song Yi-yeon’s head.
Thwack!
Clutching the back of his head with both hands, Song Yi-yeon looked at Zhuge Rin. At that, Zhuge Rin brought her index finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.
Although Song Yi-yeon felt somewhat aggrieved, as it was a situation facing the enemy, he followed Zhuge Rin’s instructions.
Zhuge Rin lowered her voice and said.
“Something has gone wrong. Everyone, conceal your internal energy, neither too fast nor too slow. Change direction and pull out at the exact same speed and demeanor you came with.”
Zhuge Rin had also sensed the opponents’ presence. An aura far stronger and more dangerous than the enemies previously identified by the Martial Alliance was felt.
Around the time the rising talents were turning direction to leave the area following Zhuge Rin’s instructions.
Snap!
A rising talent stepped on a tree branch, snapping it.
At the same time, immense killing intent poured forth from all directions.
Squeezing through the dense thicket, men in black shot forward like arrows.
Their disposition was quite stealthy yet sharp.
Hastily drawing her sword, Zhuge Rin bit her lip.
‘It is impossible. Their numbers are too great.’
Had she been alone, she would have fled somehow, but she was not confident in escaping while protecting the rising talents.
“Everyone, gather over here! If you scatter, you die!”
Shouting like that, Zhuge Rin looked toward Song Yi-yeon and Cheon Woo-jin.
‘The only ones who could be of help are those two, but…’
Song Yi-yeon had drawn his saber and was preparing to fight the men in black. Yet Cheon Woo-jin was not there.
Zhuge Rin opened her eyes wide and searched all directions.
Not only was he nowhere to be seen, but she could not detect Cheon Woo-jin’s presence with her senses either.
Zhuge Rin gritted her teeth tightly.
Did he really run away in that brief moment? Alone?
‘It is fortunate, but…’
If even one person escaped alive, it was fortunate.
Zhuge Rin genuinely thought so.
On the other hand, it was also true that it felt absurd.
Soon, around the time some twenty men in black closed in to hack Zhuge Rin and the rising talents to pieces.
For a moment, Zhuge Rin doubted her eyes.
Whoosh!
A heavy sound of tearing wind and pitch-black energy filling the surroundings in an instant.
Cheon Woo-jin standing solitary in the very center, and a black full moon drawn around him.
Dark Sky Full Moon.