Chapter 46

Chapter 46
The following day, a contingent of ten fighters was ordered to gather from Bi-gak. Among their ranks were original members of the division, while the Murim Alliance Lord and On Byeok-hwa had brought in the rest from outside forces. Baek So-cheon assembled them on the grounds alongside the Iron Sword Unit martial artists who had arrived the previous afternoon.

Addressing the Bi-gak contingent directly, Baek So-cheon asked if anyone among them wished to step forward voluntarily. Only three hands were raised in response. Every one of those three had been steadfast subordinates during his former tenure as Bi-gak Lord. Even with the draft in place, offering to join Hyun-cheon-dae under the current circumstances was no simple gesture. Baek So-cheon voiced his gratitude to them.

As for the remaining seven, their presence was strictly due to the official mobilization decrees issued by the Bi-gak Lord. Baek So-cheon assured them that as soon as the operation concluded, they would be permitted to return to their prior posts, leaving them no reason to worry.

At that moment, an imposing martial artist stepped out from the group, introducing himself as Wang-ho. He was one of the recruits scouted from beyond the alliance, possessing a rugged, powerful frame and a fierce visage that lived up to his tiger-like moniker. Wang-ho declared firmly that his personal creed throughout life was never to bow before or take orders from anyone inferior to him in combat.

When Baek So-cheon questioned this conviction, Wang-ho asked if he might test the captain’s martial capabilities in person. Baek So-cheon readily accepted the proposition, though he cautioned that he needed to establish one matter beforehand.

Experienced fighters naturally recognized the necessity of seizing psychological dominance early in an encounter, and setting terms openly served that purpose. Naturally, this situation carried a distinct nuance. Most of the gathered assembly already held Baek So-cheon in high regard, meaning an overt show of force was largely unnecessary for them. The dominance he aimed to establish was reserved solely for those who still harbored doubts.

Baek So-cheon remarked that while he honored Wang-ho’s personal code, he fully intended to turn him into a public lesson. Hearing that, Wang-ho’s expression visibly stiffened. Baek So-cheon then proposed that once their contest concluded, Wang-ho would likely remain incapacitated in bed for an entire month, and asked if he would spend that recovery period serving as the training drillmaster for Hyun-cheon-dae.

Wang-ho was utterly flabbergasted by the statement. In essence, the captain was suggesting that he would be thrashed so severely he would be unable to move, yet would still be expected to oversee the squad’s routine during his bed rest. It was an astonishingly audacious proposal that caught everyone off guard. Baek So-cheon offered him the opportunity to withdraw, noting that both their factions would fully understand if he stepped down.

Refusing to back out, Wang-ho accepted the terms, adding that since the captain had framed it so boldly, he also had something to say. He warned that he would hold nothing back and intended to fight with unrestrained lethality from his very first technique. Baek So-cheon acknowledged this as proper, asking if a warrior’s pledge remained unbreakable. Wang-ho affirmed that his word carried the weight of an entire peak, to which Baek So-cheon responded with approval.

The assembled fighters formed a broad perimeter, leaving the two combatants alone in the clearing. Every spectator watched the confrontation with intense focus. The members of Bi-gak were thoroughly familiar with Wang-ho’s capabilities; he was a formidable peak realm combatant whose swordplay never wavered. Concurrently, whisperings persisted regarding how Baek So-cheon had dismantled high-difficulty contraptions without the aid of internal energy.

With a crisp metallic ring, Wang-ho drew his weapon.

A dozen strides away, Baek So-cheon waited with his arms resting loosely at his sides, his gaze locked upon his opponent. Though his demeanor appeared entirely relaxed, his concentration remained razor-sharp. Just observing Wang-ho’s unsheathing posture revealed the depths of the man’s mastery.

Much like the prior engagement with Chung Yang, this encounter was an unavoidable ordeal. It represented the toll exacted by his three vacant years of wandering. He was obligated to bridge that lingering chasm; attempting to bury it without facing it head-on would only transform it into a fatal trap later.

Without warning, Wang-ho darted forward, closing the intervening space in an instant. His momentum was breathtakingly rapid.

Baek So-cheon shifted his footing using a lightness art, initiating the second defensive posture of the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists: Sea Not Raising Waves. Twisting his torso away, he let Wang-ho’s incoming blade whistle past his ribs.

Displaying the refined instincts of a veteran peak realm master, Wang-ho immediately redirected the angle of his blade upon missing, executing a seamless transition that few could emulate. A sharp whistling sound tore through the air, matching the lethal precision of the slash. Relying on simple agility alone was futile against an opponent of such refined cultivation.

Refusing to stay stationary, Baek So-cheon brought forth the second form, Wind Submits Below, leaning swiftly backward to avoid the strike. The steel cut through nothing but empty air.

Having his lethal thrust evaded twice in succession rattled Wang-ho’s composure. Wondering how an opponent allegedly devoid of inner power could evade sure-kill blows so effortlessly, his internal focus fractured for a fraction of a second, driving him to suspect that Baek So-cheon was simply concealing his true cultivation.

With another fierce hiss, Wang-ho’s blade drove toward Baek So-cheon’s torso once more. However, noticing Baek So-cheon darting inside to seize his weapon hand, Wang-ho hastily pulled his arm back to defend his grip.

That lunging reach, however, had been a deliberate feint.

By prioritizing the defense of his weapon, Wang-ho exposed an opening along his flank. Baek So-cheon drove his knee sharply upward into the man’s ribs, utilizing an altered variation of the third technique, Long Wind Breaking Waves. Though typically intended to shatter an adversary’s shoulders or elbows, he had repurposed the strike into a devastating knee bash mid-exchange.

A blunt impact resounded, forcing Wang-ho backward on unstable footing. He lashed out with a broad slash to force separation, but the defensive sweep proved completely unnecessary; Baek So-cheon was already standing completely stationary.

A strained gasp slipped past Wang-ho’s teeth. The single blow had fractured his ribcage, and as he pressed his hand beneath his chest, an agonized groan escaped his throat.

He attempted to steel his resolve to renew the attack despite the swelling pain, but his eyes locked with Baek So-cheon’s steady gaze. In that calm expression, Wang-ho realized that had the captain shown even a trace of true malice, his entire ribcage would have been pulverized. The strike had been measured precisely to enforce a four-week convalescence.

Lowering his blade, Wang-ho admitted his defeat.

A wave of astonished gasps rippled through the spectators. In fewer than half a dozen exchanges, he had completely neutralized one of Bi-gak’s most prominent champions.

In truth, Baek So-cheon had chosen to conclude the duel rapidly not out of effortless superiority, but because an extended battle would heavily disadvantage a fighter lacking internal energy. He had pursued a swift, decisive resolution. Plainly speaking, prior to mastering the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists, attempting to face Wang-ho empty-handed would have resulted in an agonizing, life-or-death brawl with no certainty of triumph.

Baek So-cheon asked if he conceded the outcome, to which Wang-ho affirmed his surrender and declared his intention to uphold every part of their wager. Bowing with unfeigned deference, he stated that until he was summoned back to Bi-gak, he would follow the captain with absolute dedication.

The skill Baek So-cheon had displayed was nothing short of extraordinary—clean, precise, and nearly impossible to deflect even when anticipated. Moreover, the impact of the blow had made the reality undeniably clear: the strike was driven entirely by raw physical mechanics, completely devoid of inner energy. To overcome such an insurmountable handicap demanded genuine reverence that transcended formal rank.

Baek So-cheon instructed him to seek medical attention, and Wang-ho bowed low before departing. His personal code of only yielding to the strong was clearly far from empty arrogance.

Turning to face the rest of the gathered martial artists, Baek So-cheon ordered them to carry out their conditioning under Wang-ho’s supervision for the immediate future. He warned them that dangerous, lethal missions lay ahead, emphasizing that none of them should leave room for bitter regrets about neglected training when facing death.

Their synchronized roar of obedience shook the field. To their eyes, the legendary commander of the past was truly returning.

Thus, through two martial exhibitions and a pair of duels, Hyun-cheon-dae was officially established from the unified contingents of the Iron Sword Unit and Bi-gak, bringing their total strength to twenty-five members.

—

From the earliest hours of the morning, Baek So-cheon had secluded himself inside Man-seo-go.

Man-seo-go held a legendary reputation as the repository containing every written work across the land. Common belief dictated that if a text could not be discovered within its walls, it simply did not exist anywhere in the world, earning it the celebrated status of the Central Plains’ greatest library.

Its initial repository was accessible to every member of the Murim Alliance. Built on a monumental scale, it housed hundreds of towering bookcases overflowing with countless texts. Naturally, instructional manuals were included, though these were strictly confined to elementary and intermediate disciplines. Taking volumes off the premises was strictly forbidden, obliging the readers to commit whatever they required to memory on the spot. Numerous martial artists sat throughout the hall, studying as diligently as scholars preparing for civil service examinations.

The subsequent archive was reserved exclusively for commanders and higher-ranking officers, containing refined martial treatises. Beyond that lay the chamber for unit leaders, and finally, the deepest sanctum accessible only to pavilion lords. Within that innermost vault, the volume of books was sparse, yet every manual was an irreplaceable, peerless legacy.

It was within this restricted sanctum that Baek So-cheon sat reading.

Ever since regaining control over his physical form, he had painstakingly reviewed the peerless breathing scripture known as the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method. However, unable to direct any internal energy through his meridians, his cultivation remained utterly stagnant regardless of how many times he poured over the principles.

The next scripture he committed to memory was the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists. By then, he had thoroughly mastered the opening three forms of the style’s nine techniques. It was a manual he had repeatedly bypassed in his earlier life; though he had noticed it sitting upon the shelves countless times, he had never once bothered to pull it from the rack.

A familiar voice suddenly broke through his concentration.

Expressing pleasant surprise at their encounter, Bi-gak Lord On Byeok-hwa greeted him with an easy familiarity, teasing that a grand library hardly seemed like a fitting environment for Captain Baek.

Baek So-cheon countered by asking if she was implying he lacked the intellect for scholarly pursuits. Laughing lightly, she clarified that weapons simply seemed to match his nature far better than ancient texts. Baek So-cheon extended his thanks to her for providing her subordinates, to which she dismissed the matter as a natural contribution to the safety of the murim, remarking on how quickly he had secured Wang-ho’s complete allegiance on their very first day together.

Baek So-cheon wondered quietly if the dynamic might actually be the reverse. He knew very little regarding On Byeok-hwa on a personal level. While he was well acquainted with her public reputation, her inner character remained a mystery to him. Considering that the Alliance Lord had personally brought her into the organization, their bond had to run exceptionally deep. Baek So-cheon could not help but wonder how much the Alliance Lord had revealed to her regarding his true circumstances.

Breaking the brief lull in conversation, On Byeok-hwa shifted the topic, inquiring if she could see the volume he was perusing. Baek So-cheon handed it over without hesitation.

The title read: Hwan-gol Tal-tae Dae-beop.

On Byeok-hwa gasped softly in astonishment at the heading, never imagining that Baek So-cheon would be researching the great law of bone transformation.

Baek So-cheon asked why she appeared so taken aback. She admitted that she had not anticipated him delving into something so preposterous, quickly apologizing for her blunt phrasing. Baek So-cheon brushed off the remark without taking offense.

Throughout the recorded chronicles of the martial realm, documented accounts of physical transformation were vanishingly rare and almost entirely unverified legends, causing many scholars to discard them as pure fabrication. Baek So-cheon pointed out that in his desperate situation, he was willing to reach even for intangible illusions.

Offering a subtle smile, On Byeok-hwa asked if the text offered any practical benefit. Baek So-cheon conceded that on its own, the manual was entirely useless.

Her attention then drifted toward the adjacent tome resting beside him: Mu-rim Ship-dae Seop-hon-sul Chong-ram.

She observed with mild curiosity that she had never pegged him as someone interested in the ten great soul subjugation arts of the martial world. Baek So-cheon explained that he simply needed to cross-reference a specific matter, before asking what brought the Pavilion Lord to the archives. She replied that her purpose was much the same, bidding him farewell before venturing into the deeper corridors.

Baek So-cheon returned his focus to the pages before him. When On Byeok-hwa walked past on her way out later on, she slipped by quietly, noting that he was entirely absorbed in the manual.

Emblazoned directly beneath the title of the Hwan-gol Tal-tae Dae-beop was the identity of its creator: Ban Yun-saeng.

It was the very name that had fallen from the lips of the imprisoned demon.

—

A short time later, Baek So-cheon assigned individual duties to Im Choong and Beon Saeng.

He instructed Im Choong to gather, organize, and report all intelligence pertaining to the Hyun-cheon Pavilion directly to him, while concurrently managing the entire administrative framework of Hyun-cheon-dae.

Im Choong surmised that the position effectively made him the operational manager of Hyun-cheon-dae. Baek So-cheon affirmed that the squad required someone capable of holding the logistics together, and Im Choong was ideally suited for the responsibility. Im Choong accepted the duty readily.

It was easily the most vital post within the formation, which was precisely why Baek So-cheon entrusted it solely to someone he relied on implicitly. Fortunately, Im Choong’s prior experience as a branch head had revolved heavily around administrative governance, making the role a flawless match for his capabilities.

Turning to Beon Saeng, Baek So-cheon directed him to assist Im Choong while diligently refining his martial arts so that he could join the ranks of Hyun-cheon-dae as quickly as possible. Given the young man’s innate martial talent, he would undoubtedly be combat-ready in short order.

Baek So-cheon shared that the broader martial world and the Murim Alliance were overflowing with formidable masters. What he desperately needed were not merely capable fighters, but steadfast individuals who would never deceive him and whose loyalty remained absolute under any circumstances. He asked both of them to become that pillar for him.

Both men understood that these words were born of genuine conviction rather than superficial flattery. Surrounded by countless powerful figures, true dependability was what Baek So-cheon treasured above all else.

His voice thick with deep emotion, Beon Saeng swore that although it might sound absurd, they were bonded as sworn brothers; he promised never to betray Baek So-cheon, even if it cost him his life. Im Choong echoed the sentiment with equal fervor. Baek So-cheon had already rescued his beloved wife and child, meaning his life was already forfeit to his master’s service.

Baek So-cheon clapped a hand onto each of their shoulders, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.

He handed them an exhaustive training syllabus outlining the daily drills and schedules for the unit. He informed them that he would be departing on personal business for a brief span, instructing them to supervise Hyun-cheon-dae during his absence.

When Im Choong asked about his destination, Baek So-cheon left the question unanswered.

Under the cover of night, Baek So-cheon quietly slipped past the boundaries of the alliance grounds, carrying the unspoken answer silently within his mind.

He was setting out to gamble with fate.

His path led straight toward Gireon Mountain, the secluded hermitage of Ban Yun-saeng.