Chapter 195
Chapter 195
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: A Brigade of Misfits
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For a moment, Baek Jeon-cheon doubted his own ears.
“Not a difficult task, you say?”
“That's right. Then, I shall depart immediately.”
“W-wait. Young Master Bu.”
“It's fine.”
Bu Eun-seol offered a calm smile.
Having been a member of the Gu-sal Brigade, he had a thorough understanding of the martial world's various factions.
Even without Baek Jeon-cheon saying a word, he knew just how absurd this mission was. Yet, he didn't utter a single complaint.
“If it weren't a sect in Shaanxi, I would have given up.”
“Pardon?”
“Please summon all the members of the Mubon Brigade to the training grounds.”
When Baek Jeon-cheon wore a look of utter confusion, Bu Eun-seol simply smiled instead of answering.
It was just a simple smile.
But it inspired more confidence than a grim, resolute expression screaming, 'I will complete this mission even if it costs me my life!'
*Just what does he plan to do?*
He was the master of the Manbak Hall, a strategist who could see several steps ahead of others.
But he couldn't even begin to fathom Bu Eun-seol's thoughts.
*I don't know how long it's been since I've felt this way.*
The Demonic Cult had countless individuals with outstanding martial arts, but few possessed multiple talents at once.
Moreover, Bu Eun-seol was not one to produce results slowly.
Perhaps his entire scheme was already in place the moment he asked for the Mubon Brigade.
*I'm looking forward to this. I wonder how he'll unravel this situation.*
He was incredibly curious to see how Bu Eun-seol would carry out the mission.
“Understood. I will summon the Mubon Brigade to the training grounds right away.”
Baek Jeon-cheon smiled faintly.
Sensing that the martial world was about to be turned upside down once again.
* * *
Every sect has its misfits. The Demonic Cult, of course, was no exception.
Ruffians who disobey the chain of command.
Eccentrics with peculiar minds who can't get along with others.
Cynical or timid individuals who avoid human interaction altogether.
Those whose personalities and actions are so broken they can't mix with people, and so on…
For various reasons, young martial artists of the Demonic Cult who were ostracized from their units were all assigned to a place called the Mubon Brigade.
And they were not given missions. If they were, it was for only one reason.
To be disposed of.
After all, a card you can't play is always discarded without a second thought.
“Leader of the Mubon Brigade? This is absurd.”
Hyeok So-jin, walking shoulder to shoulder with Bu Eun-seol toward the training grounds, couldn't hide his dumbfounded expression.
“Giving you a brigade full of useless ruffians and telling you to drive the Maban Sect out of Shaanxi? Even the Mount Hua Sect wouldn't dare touch that place!”
“…”
“On top of that, you're supposed to kill their sect leader, who's holed up deep inside the Maban Sect's territory? Haven't you heard they have over three thousand members?”
Even as Hyeok So-jin shouted in frustration, Bu Eun-seol just kept walking as if he hadn't heard a thing.
In truth, he had expected a trial of this magnitude.
He was actually grateful to be given even one combat brigade.
After all, he had even considered going with just Hyeok So-jin.
*Murmur, murmur.*
As they approached the training grounds, the sound of idle chatter filled the air, and some thirty martial artists were scattered about, lounging around.
They ranged from youths who looked to have just come of age to men who appeared to be nearing their thirties.
Among them were even some whose bloodshot eyes suggested they were still hungover.
“Dammit. Of all people, we get a mission under a successor of the Nang-ya-gak.”
A man squatting on the ground exclaimed in annoyance.
“I heard he's not even a proper successor, right? They say he's one of the Sip-ma-jeon-in chosen this time.”
At that, the martial artists sitting nearby sighed and muttered to themselves.
“He must have gotten on the bad side of the Ten Demonic Sects. I heard they gave him a suicide mission.”
“Damn, I managed to survive by keeping my head down, and now they're sending us off to die in one go.”
*Step, step.*
The murmuring members of the Mubon Brigade turned around at the sound of footsteps.
Seeing Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin, they reluctantly scowled and got to their feet.
A man who seemed to be the oldest among them, with hollow eyes, approached and spoke.
“Are you Young Master Bu of the Nang-ya-gak?”
“I am.”
As Bu Eun-seol nodded, Jo Nam-cheon's eyebrow twitched.
No matter that he was a candidate for the Demonic Cult's successor, he was annoyed that Bu Eun-seol spoke down to him so casually.
“Jo Nam-cheon, temporary leader of the Mubon Brigade, greets you.”
He cupped his hands in a formal greeting, but his posture was sloppy and his expression was sour, as if he'd eaten a rotten persimmon.
“Ah, my mistake. Now that Young Master Bu is the leader of the Mubon Brigade, I suppose I'm just an ordinary member.”
He said grumpily, then glanced at Hyeok So-jin.
“And the person beside you is…”
“Hyeok So-jin.”
When Hyeok So-jin answered informally, just like Bu Eun-seol, Jo Nam-cheon grinned and said.
“Are you a member of the Demonic Cult?”
“No.”
“A pity.”
Jo Nam-cheon said with a smirk.
“If you were also part of the Demonic Cult, you'd surely have ended up in this brigade.”
“Hilarious. As if I, the successor of Jeolcheon Myeolji, would ever join the Demonic Cult.”
“Oh, the successor of Jeolcheon Myeolji, you say?”
Jo Nam-cheon cupped his hands toward Hyeok So-jin once more, as if seeing him in a new light.
“It's an honor to meet you.”
His tone was polite, but his expression was bored and tinged with a yawn. The intention to disrespect him was obvious.
“Why are you yawning while looking at my face?”
“I didn't sleep well last night, so I'm tired.”
“I can wake you right up.”
“I look forward to it.”
As Hyeok So-jin and Jo Nam-cheon's glares intensified, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward and spoke.
“Is this everyone in the Mubon Brigade?”
“Yes.”
Bu Eun-seol stared at the faces of the slouching Mubon Brigade members one by one.
It was like looking at a collection of junk scattered about in a marketplace.
Some glared menacingly at Bu Eun-seol, while others kept their heads down, unable to even meet his gaze.
Some wore weapons, some had hidden weapon devices, and there was even one wearing protective gear like a Bronze Shell Armor or concealing form-fitting hidden weapons.
“Good.”
As Bu Eun-seol nodded in satisfaction, Hyeok So-jin's jaw dropped.
“Good?”
“They all have strong personalities, don't they?”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“In the martial world, individuality can be a weapon.”
“It can also be the reason for self-destruction. Especially in a group.”
Ignoring Hyeok So-jin's retort, Bu Eun-seol stood before the Mubon Brigade members.
At that, Jo Nam-cheon, who had been glancing around, gestured to a few members and said quietly.
“Get up and form ranks.”
But Bu Eun-seol waved his hand and said calmly.
“No need to make them stand.”
He revealed his white teeth in a smile and said.
“Whether you're lying down or standing up, your ears are still open.”
Hearing this, the members' eyes sparkled as they looked at Bu Eun-seol.
They sensed that he, too, was not a man of ordinary thinking.
“I am Bu Eun-seol, the new leader of the Mubon Brigade.”
Bu Eun-seol swept his gaze over the members with a solemn look and spoke in a low voice.
“You will leave the Demonic Cult with me and go to Yurim.”
*Yurim? Does he mean the Yurim in Shaanxi?*
As the members looked at each other and frowned, Bu Eun-seol continued.
“It is the Heavenly Demon's command to drive the Maban Sect from the lands of Shaanxi and kill its leader, spreading the might of our cult.”
At Bu Eun-seol's words, the faces of the Mubon Brigade members crumpled mercilessly.
“With just this many people, we're supposed to drive the Maban Sect, with over three thousand members, out of Shaanxi?”
“Damn, this is just a suicide mission.”
“Instead of this, how about you, our esteemed leader, give up your candidacy as a successor? Then we could go back to getting normal missions.”
At the blunt words from a few members, Bu Eun-seol actually grinned, showing his white teeth.
“You're acting exactly as I expected. Is it because of your defective way of thinking?”
For a moment, a heavy silence swept over the training grounds.
Bu Eun-seol swept his gaze over the Mubon Brigade members again and said in a low voice.
“Don't worry. I've seen morons like you who think you're special since I was a child, more times than I can count.”
In that instant, killing intent flowed from the eyes of the Mubon Brigade members.
These men were simply unable to blend in with others due to various circumstances.
They were by no means morons with weak martial arts or low intelligence.
There were even some among them who couldn't fit in because of their high status.
Yet, Bu Eun-seol, who wasn't much older than them, had just negated their very existence?
“Leader.”
Unable to watch any longer, Jo Nam-cheon advised in a low voice.
“I don't know about other things, but it's best not to provoke the members' pride.”
“Pride?”
“I know you are a successor of the Nang-ya-gak, but… the Mubon Brigade also has members with special status.”
Jo Nam-cheon, smiling slyly, pointed to a young man who had been keeping his head down.
“That member over there, hiding his eyes with his bangs, Wi Cheon-gyeong, is the half-brother of the Cheonsal Brigade's leader. And Won Se-mun over there, with the twin swords, is the grandson of the Master of the Three Secret Gates, who is in charge of the main hall's mechanisms. Do you understand what I'm saying?”
“That's ridiculous.”
Bu Eun-seol said in a low voice, a cold smile on his lips.
“What status could a bunch of meat puppets carrying out my orders possibly have?”
At those words, fire erupted in the eyes of the young man with the twin swords, Won Se-mun.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me.”
“Hmph, trying to control us like this from the very beginning? How childish.”
As a composed Won Se-mun scoffed, Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“Listen carefully. I became your temporary leader simply because it was the Heavenly Demon's command. In other words, I have no expectations of you whatsoever.”
In that moment, it felt as if a chilling cold wave had swept through the training grounds.
“Why bother taking members you have no expectations for?”
Han So-ung, the member in the back wearing the Bronze Shell Armor, asked, and Bu Eun-seol replied.
“I already told you. I'm taking meat puppets who will receive the Heavenly Demon's command and carry out my orders. And…”
A ghastly, blood-red light surfaced in his chilling eyes.
“Don't make me repeat the same thing twice.”
Witnessing Bu Eun-seol's terrifying aura, the Mubon Brigade members showed three different reactions.
Surprise, as if it were unexpected. Or a nod, as if in acknowledgement.
Or a menacing glare.
*As expected…*
Bu Eun-seol clearly memorized the faces of the members who reacted in these three ways.
Lost in deep thought for a moment, he nodded.
*It seems there aren't many who can be subdued by force.*
The Demonic Cult is filled with masters of incredible skill.
If these were men whose loyalty could be won by a display of overwhelming martial might?
They would never have been dragged to the Mubon Brigade.
*“Everyone has something they want to hear.”*
These were the words of Sim Wol, a disciple of the Manbak Hall he had met in the Demonic Cult in the past.
*“And if you say it to them… they will always remember the one who said it as a good person.”*
All humans have a strong desire to be acknowledged by others.
This is especially true for those with aggressive and rebellious personalities.
“You.”
Bu Eun-seol's finger was pointed at Won Se-mun, the one who had just challenged him.
When Bu Eun-seol stared straight at him, he actually broke into a smile.
His posture suggested that if force were used, he would not hesitate to cause an uproar.
“Do you have something to say?”
“You carry twin swords, so from now on, I'll call you Twin Swords.”
“What?”
“And you are the leader of Squad One.”
“S-squad leader?”
Taking his eyes off him, Bu Eun-seol promptly pointed to nine other members who had been giving him challenging and menacing looks.
“You nine will be the members of Squad One. Go stand behind Twin Swords.”
The gazes of the members chosen by his finger grew even fiercer.
But when Bu Eun-seol's expression didn't change, they lined up behind Won Se-mun as if they had no choice.
But something was strange. The look in Won Se-mun's eyes, having been given the position of squad leader, had changed slightly.
Instead of defiance, his eyes were now filled with bewilderment and curiosity.
“Why am I the squad leader?”
“Because among all the foul-tempered bastards, you're the strongest.”
For a moment, Won Se-mun was speechless, his mouth agape.
“Hmph, well, it can't be helped.”
After a dry cough, he scoffed and turned around.
“But remember this. I'm not following your orders, I'm following the Heavenly Demon's!”
He said that, but a faint light of pleasure shone in his eyes.
Those with aggressive personalities and pride in their martial arts desire a position of superiority over others.
And so, when Bu Eun-seol acknowledged his martial prowess and gave him a title, he was instantly pleased.
*Aggressive and simple-minded ones are easier to handle.*
Bu Eun-seol had a deep understanding of human nature, no less than an eighty-year-old man.
By giving a position to Won Se-mun, the one with the fiercest temper and strongest martial arts, and entrusting him with the management of the rebellious members, he would take responsibility and manage them.
“Bangs.”
Bu Eun-seol pointed at Wi Cheon-gyeong, who was staring at the ground, his long hair covering his eyes.
“From now on, I'll call you Bangs. And you are the leader of Squad Two.”
But he just kept his head down as if he hadn't heard a thing.
“Did you hear me?”
“I can't. I won't be a squad leader.”
But Wi Cheon-gyeong shook his head.
“I'm not strong in martial arts like Won Se-mun.”
“I didn't pick you to be a squad leader because you're strong, so shut up and take the position.”
Then, Bu Eun-seol once again pointed out the members one by one.
“And you nine also belong to Squad Two. Go stand behind him.”
The men Bu Eun-seol pointed to were all slender with long legs.
For a moment, a faint glimmer appeared in Wi Cheon-gyeong's eyes.
*This man…*
The men Bu Eun-seol had pointed out not only had similar builds to Wi Cheon-gyeong, but they also shared the same specialty.
They were all exceptionally skilled in lightness techniques compared to others.
*Can he tell what kind of skills someone has learned just by looking at them?*