Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Unexpected Might of the Demon Archery Technique
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Did the Demon Archery Technique I created possess such power?
Ibija blinked in astonishment, unable to close his slackened jaw for quite some time.
The archery he had taught was faithful to the basics, so even infusing it with internal energy, producing such devastating power was utterly unimaginable.
"Uh?"
"What's that noise?"
"L-look over there!"
"The rocky mountain blocking our path...!"
The unit members preparing the meal soon turned their gazes toward the source of the sound, fixing on the mountain.
A massive hole gaped open in it, as if a cannonball had punched straight through its chest, and a cool breeze whistled out from the void.
Those who witnessed the sight immediately focused their eyes on one spot.
"No way... the newbie did that...?"
They stared at Hyeok Mulin, then slowly turned to one another, letting out hollow chuckles as they shook their heads.
"Nah, couldn't be."
"Must've been the captain putting on quite the show."
"No one with that kind of power would join as a regular squad member."
The sheer magnitude of the destruction made them dismiss the possibility that Hyeok Mulin was the one who had loosed that arrow moments ago.
But Ibija, the only one privy to the truth, broke into a cold sweat and cautiously ventured,
"Your Excellency, perhaps it's best to refrain from using excessive internal energy..."
"I didn't even put in half the amount you mentioned."
"......Pardon?"
"Exactly as I said. I only used this much internal energy."
Hyeok Mulin channeled demonic energy into the arrow in his hand.
A tiny flicker of demonic qi, no bigger than a fingernail, danced at the arrowhead's tip.
Even seeing it with his own eyes, Ibija couldn't bring himself to believe Hyeok Mulin's words.
The Demon Archery Technique was basic archery, yet classified as a martial art for one simple reason.
Infusing internal energy into the arrow while executing the form.
'Even a single arrow doesn't take much internal energy.'
As basic marksmanship, it was designed to hold just enough qi at the arrow's tip to slay a foe.
Yet Hyeok Mulin had used far less and wrought this devastation. It was unbelievable, even if he wanted to believe it. But the Cult Leader wouldn't lie, so believe it he must.
'Is this true demonic qi?'
Ibija, hailing from the Central Plains, hadn't been overly shocked by the demonic qi he'd seen when training the unit members.
But the demonic qi from Hyeok Mulin now was of a different caliber entirely.
In one word...
'Superior.'
There was no better way to describe the overwhelming purity of his demonic qi.
Collecting his thoughts, Ibija lowered his voice and said,
"It seems best if Your Excellency refrains from infusing arrows with internal energy altogether."
They could no longer afford to draw attention to the Cult Leader.
"Understood."
Hyeok Mulin leisurely raised his bow again, aiming in a different direction.
Soon after, he drew the bowstring repeatedly.
Twang!
The first shot struck dead center in a withered tree over a hundred zhang away.
Twang!
The next two followed in quick succession, flying to the exact same spot and splitting the previous arrow cleanly as they embedded themselves.
Twang-twang!
The final three arrows took different paths but likewise buried into the same point.
Ibija, stunned by the sight of arrows embedding freely into a single target point, asked Hyeok Mulin,
"Have you perhaps trained with the bow before?"
Hyeok Mulin denied it simply.
"First time."
It was the unvarnished truth.
Even in his previous life, while researching martial arts in the Heavenly Demon Secret Vault, he'd tried many weapons but never once touched a bow.
There were few manuals on archery, and he'd never felt the need to learn it.
At Hyeok Mulin's words, Ibija glanced back at the arrows in the withered tree.
'Really his first time?'
Not a single miss; every one hit the mark.
And without a trace of internal energy, at optimal speed and power.
If he hadn't known the shooter, he'd have pegged it for a master archer.
Yet the owner of those arrows claimed today was his debut.
Ibija, who had lived his life hearing he was a genius without peer, now felt the wall of true talent.
"I worried when you said you'd learn the Demon Archery Technique, but it was all for naught."
"The newbie's got some insane archery skills."
"Must've been handling a bow since he was a kid."
After the initial boom, the unit members who glanced over again marveled at Hyeok Mulin's archery while nodding in a semblance of understanding.
Someone with such talent practicing for over a decade? Not impossible.
But no one could have guessed he'd picked up the bow less than a day ago.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. There's nothing more to teach."
Ibija threw up his hands at Hyeok Mulin's effortless mastery of the Demon Archery Technique in the blink of an eye.
"Then let's head back. The unit's waiting."
With that, Hyeok Mulin slung his bow over his shoulder and turned away.
Returning to the unit members, they welcomed him warmly.
"Newbie! That archery was incredible!"
"You're the first to shake off the captain's training that fast."
"Now I can trust my back to you."
"Come on, you've earned it—grab some tea."
They had finished meal prep and were brewing crude tea in a small pot, sharing it around.
Whether dried or boiled, he wasn't sure, but it seemed a hunter's way to rest before eating in the mountains.
"......"
Hyeok Mulin accepted the rough cup from them and peered into it.
The murky tea, ingredients unknown, gave off a strange aroma he'd never smelled before, but he soon brought it to his lips.
Slurp.
His first impression of their brew was singular.
Bitter.
A deep, astringent bitterness filled his mouth, turning his insides sour.
But Hyeok Mulin savored it slowly without complaint.
'Keep drinking it, and I can see why they like it.'
Bitter had its own flavors. Better than bland water for something to enjoy.
Not this strong, but back when the Hyeok Clan was tightening belts, he'd drunk cheap tea aplenty.
Reminiscing on those days, Hyeok Mulin sipped in nostalgic silence.
"Heh, looks like the tea suits you."
"Worried the bitterness might not sit well with a young one, but glad it does."
"Sipping that one cup with such refined poise... from a fine house, are you?"
The casual question hushed the group momentarily. Those nearby swatted the speaker lightly, whispering reproaches.
"Hey, don't bring up the past."
"C'mon, look at him. Born different from riffraff like us. Gotta be from a high demon clan."
Hyeok Mulin hid his identity, but his innate nobility as a Seven Great Demon Clan heir and Heavenly Demon couldn't be fully concealed.
So the unit members guessed at his noble origins but tactfully never voiced it. Their own courtesy.
"Why would someone from such a house become a hunter?"
"Family must've hit hard times."
"Doesn't hurt if you were always poor like us, but falling from wealth? That's the real pain."
The unit members gossiped, speculating on Hyeok Mulin's background, reason for joining, and trials endured.
In the end, they shot him encouraging looks and said,
"Our unit doesn't judge on that stuff."
"You can rebuild your house anytime."
"Any troubles, don't hesitate to speak. We'll help as much as we can."
Hyeok Mulin smirked quietly at their words.
He could guess what they'd imagined.
'If they're like this, it works in my favor.'
No need to act like a commoner to blend as an ordinary hunter.
Seeing his positive reaction, they laughed together and added,
"His Excellency took in folks like us, so stay true to your duty, and you'll be rewarded."
"Yeah, we're the Heavenly Demon Army serving the Cult Leader, right?"
"No more worries."
"The Cult Leader, huh..."
Hyeok Mulin trailed off at their chatter.
Then, in a subdued tone, he posed,
"Got a question."
"Shoot, make yourself at home."
"I've lived in remote parts so long, out of touch with current events, but... what kind of man is the current Cult Leader?"
Cough!
Ibija, eavesdropping covertly with perked ears, spat out his tea.
The conversation was bound to choke him; he clutched his pounding heart.
"You alright?!"
From spewing tea to clutching his chest in agony...
Songjwa rushed over to support him, but Ibija just sweated and heaved roughly.
Ignoring Songjwa's concern, Ibija wiped his mouth hastily and stared desperately at the unit members.
'No!'
It's a trap question!
The Cult Leader himself asking for his reputation.
One slip, and it'd be the end of them.
Ibija wanted to sew their mouths shut but could only pray they'd answer positively.
"The current Cult Leader..."
Unaware of Ibija's turmoil, the unit members stroked their chins thoughtfully.
Soon, between desperate Ibija and impassive Hyeok Mulin, they spoke.
"Truth be told, we don't know much..."
The vague reply drew nods of agreement from the others.
"We're Heavenly Demon Army, but haven't even seen His Excellency yet."
"Never dreamed I'd meet him doing hunter work before."
"Felt like someone from another world."
Oblivious that the man before them was the Cult Leader, they chatted freely.
Then one spoke with conviction.
"But one thing's certain: life’s way better since His Excellency took the throne."
"Agreed. Before, the Seven Great Demon Clans checked each other, leaving the cult unstable."
"Previous Leader cared little for internal affairs."
"As a believer in Shinjang, I'm just grateful."
Hyeok Mulin smiled faintly at their words.
Since regressing, he'd clashed with the Seven Great Demon Clans while steadily implementing policies for the faithful alongside Sima Jin.
After subjugating the Sima Clan and gaining Great Military Strategist Sima Geuk fully, he'd expanded further under the cult's banner.
Not yet transformative changes to their lives.
But hearing direct gratitude for policies they felt made Hyeok Mulin's spent manpower, time, and funds feel more than worth it—a deep sense of accomplishment washed over him.
"Glad you're satisfied. Yet the cult will develop even more."
"How would you know that?"
Hyeok Mulin grinned at the puzzled query.
Because I'll make it so.
On the land I lead, no one will shiver in cold or hunger.