The Power of Systematic Hunting
The next day, Gwancheol came to Cheongongbang. His face looked far brighter than before, and that alone put me at ease.
"Young Master Hyeon! It’s been a while."
"Guild Leader Gwan, have you been well?"
Gwancheol’s expression as he looked at me was warm with obvious favor. I had pulled him back from the brink of death, and on top of that, the success of our campaign against a Profound Class beast had put him on a fast track to success within the Martial Alliance.
"Thanks to you, I have been. The reason I came today is that the Alliance Master has ordered a reorganization of the subjugation force, just as Young Master Hyeon suggested."
I felt quietly pleased, but I kept my expression calm.
"That’s good to hear."
"Which is why I’d like to ask Young Master Hyeon for help in setting training plans for each squad."
Duseong stepped forward at the right moment.
"I am in charge of training, Guild Leader. Let’s work out the plan together."
The three of us sat around the table. The real discussion began.
"How should we train the scouting unit?" Gwancheol asked.
Duseong answered with confidence. It was clear he had already thought through this thoroughly.
"First, their lightness skill must be pushed to the limit. Stealth and observation are just as important. More than anything else, judgment is the key. They need to know when to retreat and when to relay information."
"What kind of training methods do you have in mind?"
"I’m thinking of setting up obstacle courses they have to clear within a time limit, exercises for finding hidden targets, and drills for responding to real combat situations."
I could see Gwancheol’s admiration. I was impressed too by Duseong’s systematic plan.
"Remarkable! What about the main assault unit?"
This time, I answered.
"For the main force, coordination is life. Teamwork matters more than individual strength. They need to be divided into dedicated defenders, attackers, and support, and trained to perform their roles perfectly."
"What would be the ideal formation?"
"As a baseline, I recommend a 3-3-2 formation: three defenders, three attackers, and two support members. But it has to remain flexible depending on the beast’s traits."
We talked late into the night, refining the training plans piece by piece. Watching the outline sharpen into something concrete, Gwancheol seemed to grow more convinced that this really would work.
A week later, the first official shipment left Cheongongbang. One hundred recovery pills were sent to the Martial Alliance that day. The pills were said to have earned enthusiastic praise from the Alliance’s martial artists. They had tested them on injured members during training, and the wounds had healed in the blink of an eye.
Their extraordinary effectiveness brought an additional reward from the Martial Alliance as well. It was far more generous than expected. Before long, a celebratory atmosphere spread naturally through Cheongongbang.
Jinu shouted, "The first delivery was a success!"
All the staff cheered. Cheolsan rubbed his rough hands together and said, "Now we’re getting started. From here on, we’ve got to make even better things."
Unguk’s eyes also shone as he added, "I’d like to deepen our research on Illusion Stones and develop new pills as well."
I looked at the excited staff and spoke calmly.
"This is thanks to all your effort. But let’s not grow arrogant. Our goal is to develop even more and move forward as an overwhelming pioneer in the martial world."
Everyone nodded seriously. The joy of this moment mattered, but more important was not losing sight of where we started.
A few days after that, Zhuge Hyeonggeon came looking for me with a worried expression.
"Young Master Hyeon, we have a serious problem."
"What is it?"
"We’re nearly out of Profound Class Illusion Stones. At this rate, next month’s deliveries won’t be possible."
I had expected this, but the problem had arrived sooner than I thought. I frowned.
"We can’t substitute lower-grade Illusion Stones?"
"We tried, but the effect drops off drastically. The recovery pills fall to roughly one-third of their normal effectiveness."
With an enormous stream of orders pouring in from the Martial Alliance, the situation had become troublesome. But it wasn’t as though there was no solution. If we lacked Profound Class Illusion Stones, then we simply had to go hunting for them.
Just then, Hwaung rushed in.
"Senior Brother! The subjugation force just contacted us. A Profound Class beast was spotted in Mount Cheonrang to the west!"
Zhuge Hyeonggeon and I looked at each other. It was dangerous, but it was also the necessary choice. I made the decision at once.
"Then I’ll have to go myself."
Zhuge Hyeonggeon’s face tightened with concern.
"Isn’t that too dangerous if it’s Profound Class?"
"We need the Illusion Stone. Besides, this is a chance to test our new equipment too."
Zhuge Hyeonggeon sighed, but he understood the necessity.
"Then I’ll go as well. I need to test whether the detection lens is functioning properly."
Hwaung added, "I’m coming too."
I nodded.
"Good. Contact Duseong as well. It’s been a while since we hunted."
At last, the time had come to properly test Cheongongbang’s strength. At dawn the next day, we set out for Mount Cheonrang. Thirty martial artists from the Martial Alliance’s subjugation force came with us as well.
Gwancheol approached me.
"It’s reassuring to have Young Master Hyeon personally leading the way."
"I’ll be counting on you as well."
"Haha! Even if there’s a Profound Class beast, it won’t amount to much in front of Young Master Hyeon."
It was true that we had slain a Profound Class beast before, but even so, I couldn’t deny the tension building inside me.
"Ah, that detection lens of yours. I’m curious whether it really can sense things from ten li away."
Zhuge Hyeonggeon took out the detection lens with confidence.
"Let’s verify it now."
As he injected it with internal energy, a fierce red light appeared in the lens. It pointed toward the northwest.
"It’s in that direction. The distance is... about eight li?"
Gwancheol’s eyes went wide.
"Incredible! Then we won’t need to send scouts."
"But we still can’t know the exact number or formation, so scouting is necessary."
The party climbed Mount Cheonrang cautiously. As we went higher, the light in the detection lens grew stronger. My own heart began to beat faster and faster.
"We’re getting close," Zhuge Hyeonggeon whispered.
Duseong raised a hand and halted the group.
"Senior Brother, there."
On a wide clearing halfway up the mountain, a massive shadow lay in wait. A gigantic wolf covered in silver fur.
It was the Profound Class beast, the Silver Wolf.
"It’s at least ten times the size of an ordinary wolf..." Hwaung muttered.
I swallowed hard and gave my orders in a steady voice.
"Move according to plan. Scouting unit, sweep the surroundings. Main force, maintain the 3-3-2 formation. Support unit, keep fifty paces behind us."
Gwancheol nodded and relayed the orders to the subjugation force.
"Begin the attack!"
At Gwancheol’s shout, the subjugation force moved. Three defenders stepped forward first, drawing the Silver Wolf’s attention.
Rooooar!
The Silver Wolf’s howl shook the mountain. Even that alone carried staggering pressure. It swung a massive forepaw. The defenders barely managed to block it, but the impact drove them backward.
"Now!"
The attackers struck from both sides with their swords. But the Silver Wolf’s hide was far too tough. The blades bounced off.
"Normal attacks won’t work!"
I could not stand by any longer.
"Use swords forged from beast remains!"
I drew the blade at my waist. The sword made from beast remains gleamed with a blue light. With this, I could definitely wound the Silver Wolf.
"Young Master Zhuge, find the weak point."
Zhuge Hyeonggeon adjusted the detection lens.
"Qi is concentrating around the heart. But the front is too hard; we’ll need to aim for the flank or beneath the neck."
I nodded and launched myself forward. The tension of real combat, something I hadn’t felt in a while, sharpened every sense in my body. In an instant, I circled to the Silver Wolf’s left.
Slash!
My sword skimmed its flank. Red blood sprayed into the air.
Grrrraaaah!
The Silver Wolf roared in fury and charged me. Its speed was monstrous. I barely dodged, but even the wind pressure from its rush made my body sway.
"Over here, beast!"
Duseong and Hwaung attacked from the opposite side. Duseong’s sword slammed into the wolf’s hind leg, and Hwaung’s spear drove into its back. But the Silver Wolf would not fall so easily. Instead, it grew even more vicious, whipping its tail and flinging nearby subjugation members away.
Grawrrr—!
"Retreat! Pull back for now!"
Gwancheol shouted. The subjugation force withdrew to regroup. Several of the retreating members had been injured. The support unit hurriedly began treatment.
"Use the recovery pills here."
Jinu distributed the recovery pills he had prepared. The injured members quickly swallowed them. And then something astonishing happened. The wounds in front of our eyes began to close.
"The wounds... they’re healing!"
"Unbelievable!"
Deep gashes visibly mended. The look in the subjugation members’ eyes changed. Fear vanished, and their fighting spirit ignited once more.
"These recovery pills seem even better than before?"
"We can fight again!"
It was only natural. The recovery pills were especially effective against wounds inflicted by beasts. Once the force had regrouped, I gathered them again.
"This time, we’ll be more systematic. Defenders, block only the Silver Wolf’s frontal attacks. Attackers, strike only when I give the signal."
Gwancheol also entrusted me with command.
"Understood! Everyone, follow Young Master Hyeon’s orders."
Everyone’s eyes had changed. Now it was our turn to seize the initiative. The second assault began, and this time it played out very differently.
Whirl. Whirl.
I kept moving, drawing the Silver Wolf’s attention. My movement was irregular, but not random. I was guiding it toward a specific position.
"Now!"
At my signal, the attackers struck all at once with weapons made from beast remains. The perfectly timed attack tore deeper into the Silver Wolf’s flesh.
Raaaaaagh!
The wolf staggered. Zhuge Hyeonggeon shouted, "The Silver Wolf is weakening! Just a little more!"
Duseong and Hwaung rushed in for the finishing blow.
"In the name of Cheongongbang!"
Their combined strike was flawless. They aimed precisely for the Silver Wolf’s heart.
Thud.
The massive Silver Wolf collapsed. For a moment there was silence, and then cheers erupted from the subjugation force.
"We did it!"
"We took down a Profound Class beast!"
I let out a breath of relief. We had done it. We had really done it. A huge Profound Class Illusion Stone emerged from the wolf’s body. It was smaller than the one we had taken from the previous Profound Class beast, but still substantial enough. The translucent crystal gleamed with a mysterious light.
Zhuge Hyeonggeon was delighted.
"At this rate, we can make twenty detection lenses."
Jinu could not hide his excitement either.
"And five hundred recovery pills would be no problem."
I smiled. The risk had been worth it. Gwancheol came over and patted my shoulder.
"Young Master Hyeon, thank you for your hard work. I learned a great deal from this battle. I never imagined systematic combat could be this effective."
"This is only the beginning. We’ll keep improving from here."
In truth, I could still see plenty of shortcomings. But the direction was right. Now we only had to keep refining it. On the way back to Cheongongbang, everyone was excited. Each of them was replaying the day’s battle in their mind and planning what came next.
"I need to analyze today’s fight and turn it into a proper training manual," Duseong said, brimming with energy.
"We need to improve the equipment too. Especially the armor—we’re short on it," Hwaung added.
Zhuge Hyeonggeon already seemed to be designing new things in his head.
"I should study other uses for the detection lens as well. Not just detection, but..."
Jinu had fallen into new thoughts too.
"We need to make more than just recovery pills. Something for strengthening stamina, maybe, or antidotes for poison..."
Watching my companions burn with that passion, I felt a deep sense of pride. I was certain now that Cheongongbang was truly headed down the right path.
When we returned to Cheongongbang, the staff had come out to greet us.
"Guild Leader! We heard you took down a Profound Class beast!"
Cheolsan asked in excitement, his eyes shining.
"That means we can make even more new equipment!"
Unguk also wore an anticipatory expression. I looked over everyone and spoke seriously.
"Today is Cheongongbang’s first great victory. But this is only the beginning. There is still much we have to do."
I held up the Profound Class Illusion Stone. It reflected the sunlight and glowed with an even more mystical brilliance.
"With this, we will make tools that can save more lives. Cheongongbang is not just a workshop. It is both the shield and the spear that protect the martial world."
Everyone nodded seriously. I could read the same resolve in their eyes. That night, a small celebration was held at Cheongongbang. The staff and the subjugation members mingled together, celebrating today’s victory.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges again, but for today, everyone was allowed to savor the joy.
I still have a long way to go. But the direction is right.
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