Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: Forming the Archer Corps
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Heavenly Demon Hall.
Hyeok Mulin lounged loosely on the throne, curling up the corner of his mouth as if amused.
"Who would've thought you'd become a hunter in the meantime."
A few months ago, Yi Bi-ja had been brought along from the Thousand-Year Prison with Gwang Ui.
After arriving at the main cult, Hyeok Mulin had put off deciding his disposition, saying he'd determine it later.
But then he'd entered the Demon God Realm sooner than expected, and half a year had flown by.
And upon returning, he'd thrown himself into preparing and hosting the Demon Martial Combat God Tournament, letting another few months slip away.
'Truth be told, I knew exactly how to use him from the moment I brought him back.'
Hyeok Mulin hadn't agonized over where to assign him.
Thus, he'd deliberately held off on placement instead of slotting him into the well-oiled Divine Demon Blood Death Squad.
But after the tournament wrapped up, when he went looking for the man, his quarters were empty.
He hadn't been able to sit still and had slipped out.
And Jang Wi knew where he'd gone.
'Mixing with the hunters and roaming Heavenly Mountain, huh.'
Fitting for him.
Recalling how he'd effortlessly traversed the treacherous terrain of the Thousand-Year Prison, it somehow suited him.
He must've grown bored stiff glued to his quarters.
As Hyeok Mulin pictured the man's stoic face and chuckled softly, Jang Wi spoke up from the entrance.
"He's arrived."
"Bring him in."
At Hyeok Mulin's command, the doors opened, and soon Yi Bi-ja strode straight in.
He halted a short distance away, dropping to one knee in salute.
"I pay my respects to the exalted Cult Leader."
"It's been a while."
Hyeok Mulin greeted him warmly, but quickly noticed the change.
"You've recovered your dantian."
"Yes. I received grace from Gwang Ui."
Yi Bi-ja was the sole survivor besides Gwang Ui to escape the Thousand-Year Prison.
They'd traveled a long road through the Central Plains afterward, forging a bond of sorts, and through that connection, Gwang Ui had healed his dantian.
Now, with a substantial portion of his internal energy restored, he was building his strength more positively than ever.
"Good. With your health back in order, there's no reason to delay any longer."
Hyeok Mulin gave Jang Wi a glance.
Jang Wi promptly approached Yi Bi-ja holding something.
Yi Bi-ja's pupils dilated slightly upon seeing it.
It was the black uniform worn by the cult's demonic soldiers as standard issue.
"This is...?"
Yi Bi-ja looked up, puzzled.
"You."
Hyeok Mulin smiled lightly and replied as if answering.
"Form a unit of your own."
"......Pardon?"
Caught off guard, Yi Bi-ja asked again.
"A unit... you say?"
He wondered if he'd misheard, but Hyeok Mulin repeated himself.
"That's right. One made up primarily of archers like yourself. I'm granting you full authority over its creation and organization."
Yi Bi-ja pondered the sudden order for a moment before responding crisply.
"I accept."
Forming a unit.
Honestly, it was something he'd never even considered before.
But an archer-focused unit?
Nothing could intrigue him more. He accepted the proposal readily.
"There is one problem, however."
That said, a separate issue loomed beyond his enthusiasm.
Martial artists always sought out peers to measure themselves against.
Since arriving in Shin-gang, he'd put considerable effort into finding warriors versed in archery.
However.
"Finding someone who shoots a bow in Shin-gang is like plucking stars from the sky."
The Central Plains had plenty of bow-wielding warriors, thanks to imperial influence.
But in Shin-gang, they were virtually nonexistent.
"I know what you mean. It's undeniably hard to find bow users here."
That was precisely why Hyeok Mulin wanted an archer unit in the first place.
"But if they have a feel for the bow, teaching them to infuse it with qi and proper archery techniques should be far easier, no?"
"Are there... such people here?"
Yi Bi-ja tilted his head.
Hyeok Mulin nodded slowly.
"You already know the answer. Aren't there people in Shin-gang you know better than anyone?"
Yi Bi-ja touched his chin thoughtfully.
Then, realization dawned, and he looked up at Hyeok Mulin with wide eyes.
"Don't tell me... the hunters into the unit...?"
Hyeok Mulin merely smiled without a word.
Feast Demon Inn.
This was a tavern where cheap food came out fast, frequented by laborers and hunters who did rough work.
And in one corner of that inn.
Song Jwa, leader of the Heavenly Mountain Wraiths, sat waiting for someone.
It didn't take long for his guest to arrive.
"You're here early."
"Haha. Good to see you again."
Song Jwa beamed and welcomed Yi Bi-ja.
As he sat, two bowls of noodle soup were promptly placed on the table.
"I took the liberty of ordering for you."
"Perfect. Let's eat and talk."
Slurp―
True to their past and present hunter roots, they dug into the meal first.
Once suitably filled, Song Jwa posed the question burning in his mind.
"Master Archer, were you originally from the Heavenly Demon Palace?"
Song Jwa had suspected he was no ordinary man.
But hearing the moniker Wind Yang Divine Archer and that he was being called back to headquarters? It hit like a thunderbolt.
As a hunter, not a warrior, Song Jwa didn't know many figures striding the martial world.
Even so, he'd heard of the Wind Yang Divine Archer, master of the bow.
And from what he recalled, the Wind Yang Divine Archer had operated in the Central Plains.
Yet he'd been summoned by the Cult Leader himself?
Unable to make sense of it, Song Jwa finally voiced his pent-up question, and Yi Bi-ja answered flatly.
"I met the Cult Leader in the Central Plains. And followed him to Shin-gang."
Then why had he been slumming it as a mere hunter until now...?
Song Jwa swallowed the question rising in his throat.
Nodding with a relieved expression, he said,
"Well, at least you're back where you belong. Honestly, this scene felt too small for you."
Song Jwa took pride in being a hunter.
He'd earned his keep from childhood, built a family, bought a home, raised kids.
Sure, there were grueling nights camping mid-mountain, unable to return home, or brushes with deadly beasts where he barely survived.
But he'd never once wanted to quit or badmouth the life.
'But he's the exception.'
Overwhelming presences change one's perspective.
The man across from Song Jwa was utterly extraordinary.
From start to finish with the Heavenly Mountain Wraiths, he'd shown peerless skill, even saving everyone's lives at the end.
So Song Jwa had long suspected.
He was no ordinary hunter.
Thus, when the cult messenger arrived with his recall order, Song Jwa was less shocked than the others.
It even made perfect sense—such prowess came from that background.
Though he'd never dreamed it was the Wind Yang Divine Archer.
"My time with the Heavenly Mountain Wraiths was a valuable experience."
Yi Bi-ja spoke sincerely.
Had he stayed cooped up in quarters, he'd have gained nothing.
But hunting with the group familiarized him with Heavenly Mountain's terrain and taught him pro hunter ways.
Crucially, observing Song Jwa expanded his insight into leading groups and the leader's gaze.
"Glad it wasn't wasted time."
Song Jwa smiled contentedly and slurped more soup to wet his throat.
At that moment, Yi Bi-ja broached the subject casually.
"That's why I'm asking."
Slurp―
"How about joining my unit?"
Cough! Cough!
Song Jwa choked violently.
Staring blankly at Yi Bi-ja, he sputtered,
"Wh-what did you just...?"
"I asked if you'd join my unit."
"Me, in the cult's forces?"
"Yes. Don't worry about pay. The stipend will far exceed your current earnings."
Song Jwa waved his head and hands frantically.
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
"Then?"
"I'm asking if a nobody like me is even worthy to join the forces."
His concern was valid.
He was a hunter, hardly fit to call himself a warrior.
But Yi Bi-ja nodded confidently.
"You lot will be the core of this unit."
When the Cult Leader had first suggested it.
Yi Bi-ja had thought recruiting hunters was absurd.
But upon reflection, it wasn't reckless at all.
The more he mulled it, the more it dawned on him as the perfect strategy.
'Almost no hunters have proper archery training or qi cultivation methods.'
Yet decades-honed bow sense was their greatest asset.
With that sense, they'd learn archery swiftly; qi could be added gradually.
Even better: no worries about spies when selecting members.
Who in their right mind would assemble hunters into a unit?
Predict that and live as a hunter spy for decades?
Impossible. The odds of spies among hunters neared zero.
'Can't take them all, though.'
Hunter skill varied wildly.
Among Heavenly Mountain groups, only one or two per band met Yi Bi-ja's bar.
And in the Heavenly Mountain Wraiths, the one who cleared it was leader Song Jwa.
He shot well as baseline, but stood out in responsibility and courage.
Days ago, when the black bear charged from the cave, he alone hadn't fled or given up— he'd stood and loosed arrows.
Had he known archery, he might've been the one to pierce the bear.
"So, will you accept?"
Song Jwa looked stunned at the offer.
But soon he replied in moved tones.
"Of course. I'll shatter my bones and spill my marrow for the cult."
Song Jwa knew full well what it meant to join the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's forces.
He accepted gladly, and Yi Bi-ja welcomed him warmly.
"Looking forward to working with you."
The hierarchy had shifted, but their trust remained.
Having snagged Song Jwa first, Yi Bi-ja shared future plans.
"I'm planning to recruit only the so-called elite hunters on Heavenly Mountain."
"Elite hunters. Smart move."
Song Jwa agreed.
He had ties to the Heavenly Mountain Wraiths, but coldly assessing, they had limits.
To strengthen the unit, the answer was simple.
Bring in the standout leaders from each hunter band.
"That's why I'm off to find them next. Know anyone personally?"
"Naturally."
Song Jwa nodded with assured eyes.
"After roaming Heavenly Mountain for decades."
A grin tugged at his lips as he concluded confidently.
"There isn't a hunter I don't know."