Rulebook Writing Practice (1)
The idea of a 'car-do-sal-in-ji-gye' was alarming.
It was a big problem. Whether the target I was trying to kill was Mu-won or Baek Cheon-ho.
If it was to kill Baek Cheon-ho, it was treason to kill the emperor's direct subordinate. Even if using Baek Cheon-ho's hand to deal with Mu-won, moving the Jinyiwei privately would lead to punishment.
"I was merely relaying a reasonable inference based on a natural question to Baek Cheon-ho."
Gwanhon Masu had suddenly awakened to a method he didn't know how to use, causing bloodshed as a demonic path practitioner.
Mu-won, who had no connection to martial arts at all, an Anak, had even resurrected from death and caused bloodshed.
Is there no connection between these two?
If the root of the demonic arts learned by Gwanhon Masu and Mu-won is the same, then the one who created and spread it would be the true....
"So, when I said that, Baek Cheon-ho would naturally have reacted in some way, wouldn't you think?"
"I merely told him a way to resolve the old grudge that had been binding the father who lost his daughter in a just manner. Much better than bothering the Murim Alliance's etiquette and decorum."
Paeng Ju-hyeok shook his head, saying he had been hearing strange rumors. I was proud of myself.
"Hoo. I wonder if that head and tongue of yours aren't some kind of cryptid."
Ignoring the senior's unfair evaluation with a laugh, I returned to the Murim Alliance main unit.
"Wow, I missed this place."
I didn't expect to be saying this. When working in the Baekgeomdae, the Murim Alliance was just a lowly paying, hard-working evil company.
But for these few days, I had to brainwash myself by meeting the Jinyiwei Cheon-ho who had lost his mind while investigating cryptid traces.
Seeing myself in such a strange situation, I understood.
The Baekgeomdae was still a place where somewhat normal people gathered. Even if the vagabonds were narrow-minded and uneducated, those who came to the Baekgeomdae to avoid getting killed by others had at least some sociality to compromise with others.
Those who are martial artists become stronger in self-awareness as their power increases, and with high realms, they do crazy things without restraint...
Internally — I might get caught if I voiced out the badmouthing about the Jinyiwei — I scolded Baek Cheon-ho and headed to the Rituals Department with a sigh.
Since I had just returned from a business trip, I had to report.
"Friend!"
Unexpectedly, before entering the Rituals Department building, Baek Sam-byeol-ui was waiting for us.
"Huh? Senior Baek Sam-byeol-ui?"
"What took you so long?"
After sending news through the Murim Alliance branch, he had been detained by the Jinyiwei side, so it was four days later than expected.
I gave a look to Paeng Ju-hyeok behind me. This kind of thing, the senior should explain, right?
"Ah. That crazy Jinyiwei old man—"
I quickly covered Paeng Ju-hyeok's mouth. This guy was also a bit crazy.
"There was a slight issue with the Jinyiwei side."
I barely stopped some wild words that might have made the Jinyiwei go crazy if they heard it, and organized the situation in more polished language.
Baek Sam-byeol-ui reacted immediately.
"Those crazy knife-wielding bastards covered in blood?"
"Yeah, really."
***
In the central room of the Management Records Bureau, I reported to Baek Sam-byeol-ui what I had experienced.
"...To make him understand that the method of Gwanhon Masu was not the size of the wound, he suddenly changed expression and his momentum weakened, so I was afraid he might bite his tongue and told him another story."
"Huh? What story?"
"I first pointed out that Gwanhon Masu's method was completely different in form from his previous martial arts, and revealed that Mu-won, speculated to be the cause of the bloodshed, had suddenly obtained demonic arts even though he had never practiced martial arts..."
After hearing my entire explanation, Baek Sam-byeol-ui had a stern expression.
More frightening than Baek Sam-byeol-ui, like Paeng Ju-hyeok, exclaiming 'Perfect car-do-sal-in-ji-gye!' in admiration.
That strange personality's cryptid expression was so tense.
"Hoo. Even among the Jinyiwei, it's Cheon-ho... Nothing serious."
"Huh?"
"My inference is correct. There must be some cryptid existence spreading demonic arts. We call it Cheonma."
Cheonma (Heavenly Demon). A name often heard in wuxia novels.
The name for the leader of the Demon Cult. A person at the top of the hierarchy created by the absolute rule of the strong.
However....
It seems strange. I haven't heard of a Demon Cult here?
The martial world I know is divided between the Saekryeol and the Murim Alliance, and I haven't heard of the Demon Cult, which is equal or superior to them.
So my question took a form closer to religious scriptures than wuxia novels.
"Are you referring to Mara in Buddhism?"
The Sixth Heavenly Demon King who inflates desires in people's hearts. The actions of that which spreads demonic arts resembled Mara Papias in legends.
"Hmm, I borrowed the title of Demon King from Buddhism. However, it's not an existence that can be explained by just that."
"You can't explain it?"
"Would a Demon King in myths practice martial arts?"
Baek Sam-byeol-ui explained about the martial prowess of that Cheonma. By dropping raindrops with evil intent, turning those who receive them into demons.
"What is that?"
"In theory, it seems like one form of Geukcheonjeonjeong (Body-qi transfer)."
Geukcheonjeonjeong was a technique where the master transfers inner energy collected to the disciple.
Usually, the one giving inner energy loses most of the accumulated training, and even if the receiver takes all measures, it's an inefficient method that can't fully absorb the inner energy.
Therefore, among the true disciples of the sect's secret art, only exceptionally talented ones complete the gold powder division and become retired without entanglement with the martial world, attempting it under the sect's massive support.
"So, just with raindrops?"
"It's called the Human Ghost Incident in Cheong-eup. There should be a book compiling the incident at the time somewhere in the library over there. We couldn't believe it either, but yes. The notable point at the time was that there was nothing but the raindrops."
A bloodbath involving the entire village. And at the end, one demon born. The incident where a Murim Alliance military unit was wiped out and a Taoist elder intervened to end it, as Baek Sam-byeol-ui briefly explained.
"A truly cryptid existence. I can't know where it comes from or where it goes. I can only guess that it appears at the place and time it wants."
In terms of being the originator of demonic arts, it evoked the Cheonma of the Demon Cult.
But unlike establishing and ruling a cult, it appears and disappears suddenly, resembling the Mara in myths.
I took a few deep breaths and asked.
"Is he a Heavenly Grade cryptid?"
"Yes."
Baek Sam-byeol-ui briefly explained the three grades of heaven, earth, and man.
In-gwi (Human Ghost), an ugly human like a ghost.
Ji-byun (Earth Change), a disaster shaking the ground.
Cheon-jae (Heavenly Disaster), a catastrophe sent by heaven.
"Hey, how did Paeng-hyung survive meeting that?"
"Huh?"
Baek Sam-byeol-ui tilted his head at my words. As he stroked his chin, the intent was clear.
This is too much. As far as I know, he hasn't met Cheonma.
Then, at some point, Baek Sam-byeol-ui nodded.
"Ah. That happened. What that guy faced wasn't Cheonma."
"Huh?"
"There is another cryptid you can see if you go further into Haenam. It's not something we can handle right now, so just erase it from your mind."
Baek Sam-byeol-ui added an ominous one-word: 'But is it correct to express that as existence?'
I missed the Baekgeomdae anew.
"First, please tell me what the next task is. We need to write the rulebook based on the information gathered."
"Huh? No, I can't write the rulebook with this."
"Huh?"
An immediate counter-question came out. In that cool, eerie, and haughty atmosphere, I had braced my mind and recorded every bit of what I heard.
"You didn't directly face the blood demon, right?"
...Thinking about it, I hadn't directly faced the source of the Changsu Village incident.
"According to what you said, the one named Mu-won who appeared in the tomb has a high possibility of being a blood demon. However, even if Mu-won is indeed the blood demon, whether his current appearance is the same as before or different is uncertain."
It was saying that the possibility of the body also being mutated by the demonic arts injection couldn't be excluded.
"So, it's not something that can't be done by simply using the previous rulebook for Gwanhon Masu."
"Each individual's twisted consciousness points would be different. When applying the response guidelines written in Gwanhon Masu's rulebook, Mu-won might even reveal murderous intent."
Baek Sam-byeol-ui nodded. There were many who had learned similar types of demonic arts, and the rulebooks for them were similar to response rules for martial arts.
Such and such martial arts are meant to aim for Baekhoe blood, so advice like 'guard your head' would likely have common effect.
But the response for the individual's demonic nature was different.
Suppose there is a demon with green rotten skin all over the body due to the demonic arts' side effects.
When meeting A, you must ignore it and treat normally to avoid the situation.
When meeting B, you must actively show sympathy for the appearance to survive.
In the end, unless directly facing the cryptid main body, it was difficult to establish clear response guidelines.
"...Compiling experience into rules isn't an easy task either."
Baek Sam-byeol-ui nodded and opened his mouth.
"But don't worry. There is already a rulebook writing practice process prepared for you, a new record keeper like you. Go see Ok Rin."
"I just returned from a business trip?"
"Tomorrow, when you come to work. Today, just go rest. That crazy Jinyiwei guys... believe only in the emperor..."
I couldn't hear the rest of Baek Sam-byeol-ui's words.
If my classmates or the Jinyiwei had their ears to the Management Records Bureau, they might close the imperial court with a single day of royal insult.