Chapter 1
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: But What Does the Fierce Dragon Corps Do?
Dragon Training Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul spoke.
"The First Martial World War was pure hell."
"You're talking about the Blood Cult War, right?"
Fierce Dragon Corps Leader Moyong Jin-ho asked in return.
"That's right. Blood Cult Leader Gae Hong-cheon. He was a monster through and through. No one could stand against his martial arts—not even across the entire Righteous Heaven Alliance. But in the end, he died, and the Blood Cult War came to a close. Do you know who killed him?"
"It was the Alliance Leader, wasn't it?"
Moyong Jin-ho tilted his head at Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul's question. It was just too obvious.
"Ha Mu-baek."
Moyong Jin-ho jumped in surprise at the unexpected answer. He wore an expression of utter disbelief as he asked again.
"You mean Hocheon Corps Leader?"
Ignoring Moyong Jin-ho's face full of doubt, Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul poured himself a drink.
"The Second Martial World War. The so-called Demonic Cult War. That time, the orthodox sects united to fight the Demonic Cult. If the Blood Cult War was just hell, the Demonic Cult War was a true blood-soaked inferno. Demonic Cult Leader Seok Won-cho was a monster who surpassed even the Blood Cult Leader. Do you know who killed him?"
"No way... Hocheon Corps Leader?"
"Yes. Ha Mu-baek."
"Then, the current world's greatest martial artist is..."
"Ha Mu-baek."
Moyong Jin-ho lifted his glass.
"You're telling me to believe that lie?"
A hint of displeasure crossed Moyong Jin-ho's face. How could it not? He was hearing something utterly unbelievable.
"Tsk tsk. That's why the few who know the truth never speak of it. I wonder if there are even twenty people in the entire martial world who know the real story."
Moyong Jin-ho's expression shifted slightly at Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul's words.
A flicker of doubt—could that lie actually be true?
"But why tell me this...?"
"That guy's coming to our Dragon Training Pavilion."
"What? Why?"
"How should I know? Orders from above. And get this—they're assigning him as a regular instructor in the Fierce Dragon Corps."
The moment he heard it, goosebumps prickled across Moyong Jin-ho's forearms.
He even felt a trickle of urine escape.
If what Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul said was true, the man who killed the Blood Cult Leader and Demonic Cult Leader was being placed under his command.
What the hell was he supposed to do with that?
Believe it? Or not?
Hocheon Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek is hereby assigned as a regular instructor in the Dragon Training Pavilion's Fierce Dragon Corps.
Ha Mu-baek stared blankly at the order document extended by Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord Gong Son Dan-gyeong. Since it came from the Righteous Heaven Alliance's Strategist, it already bore the Alliance Leader's approval.
"What's the reason?"
Discipline Hall Lord Un Hak-ja, who had come along, answered.
"It's punishment for your screw-up."
"Give me something that makes sense."
Ha Mu-baek looked at Discipline Hall Lord Un Hak-ja with a scoff, as if it were ridiculous.
"You punk! That attitude alone is insubordination!"
"Hah, cut the nonsense. You think you're my superior, Un Hak-ja? My only superior is the Alliance Leader."
Ha Mu-baek's position was Hocheon Corps Leader, directly under Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong, responsible for his personal guard. Just as he said, his only superior was the Alliance Leader.
Strategist Gong Son Dan-gyeong simply watched the confrontation with an amused expression.
"You damned bastard! The Righteous Heaven Alliance has a clear hierarchy by rank! Even being generous, Hocheon Corps Leader barely cracks the top fifty!"
The Righteous Heaven Alliance was a massive coalition of orthodox martial sects.
Ranking in the top fifty there was an incredibly high position.
"And the Discipline Hall Lord's rank is seventh. He's clearly your superior!"
Discipline Hall Lord Un Hak-ja trembled with rage at Ha Mu-baek's insolence.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze shifted to Gong Son Dan-gyeong.
"So, what's the charge?"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong averted his eyes under the sharp stare.
He'd planned to meet Ha Mu-baek and smooth things over lightly. But now Discipline Hall Lord had set the stage.
"Assaulting a superior, something like that?"
"Did I hit the Alliance Leader?"
Ha Mu-baek shot back at Gong Son Dan-gyeong's words.
"Didn't you hear? The Alliance Leader isn't your only superior."
At Gong Son Dan-gyeong's response, Ha Mu-baek's gaze turned to Un Hak-ja.
And he nodded.
"I see. Well, I've never hit you, and I don't plan to admit to it. So I guess I really ought to beat you up then."
Ha Mu-baek shot to his feet.
"Wh-what are you doing, you bastard?!"
Un Hak-ja leaped up with a shout as Ha Mu-baek approached, radiating a terrifying aura.
"What else? Trying to assault a superior."
"You arrogant little shit!"
Un Hak-ja's hand moved faster than his roar.
From it unfolded the Kunlun Sect's signature technique, Falling Goose Fist, flying toward Ha Mu-baek.
Some no-name third-rate sect nobody who got a bit of favor from the Alliance Leader thought he could challenge them?
Perfect timing.
Time to give him a proper beating and kick him out.
For the Strategist's sake, he hadn't drawn his sword, but there was no way this punk could handle even one of Kunlun's signature techniques.
"Pathetic."
Ha Mu-baek swiped his hand once, and Un Hak-ja's chaotic fist shadows vanished entirely.
He swung his fist again.
Thwack!
A sharp impact rang out from Un Hak-ja's gut.
"Guhk."
A scream burst forth.
"What's wrong? Over already? We're just getting started."
Ha Mu-baek grinned, his hands a blur.
"Aaaak! Kraaak! Aak!"
Screams poured from Un Hak-ja's mouth.
"Hoo."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong let out a low sigh and sealed the area with his internal energy to block the noise. No good if it leaked out.
Thanks to that, Ha Mu-baek could swing even more freely.
Un Hak-ja, unable to comprehend what was happening, screamed until he passed out.
"Acting all high and mighty when you're nothing. Tsk."
Ha Mu-baek dusted off his hands lightly. Then,
"Oops? I just assaulted my superior. What now?"
His wooden puppet impression was awkward at best.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong shook his head at the sight, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward in a smile.
"You going?"
"I caused a scene, so what choice do I have? Fine."
"I feel bad about this. Truly heartbreaking. The great Ha Mu-baek rotting away in some backwater post."
"Then why's your mouth grinning?"
"Me?"
"You look thrilled."
"Ahem. What are you talking about?"
"Like you just lost a nagging tooth."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong averted his gaze at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"But what does the Fierce Dragon Corps even do?"
"The Fierce Dragon Corps, huh..."
On his way to the Dragon Training Pavilion, Ha Mu-baek stopped at a small roadside inn for a meal.
He muttered softly, thinking of his new assignment.
It was just around this time that the Fierce Dragon Corps recruited trainees, or so he'd heard.
"Hey, listen. The Dragon Training Pavilion's Fierce Dragon Corps is selecting trainees."
Two men at a nearby table were discussing the Fierce Dragon Corps.
Ha Mu-baek's ears perked up.
"Tsk tsk. Time to round up more meat shields."
The middle-aged man tsked at his bearded companion's words and downed his drink in one go.
He spoke as if he knew something.
Ha Mu-baek didn't hesitate and moved to their table.
"Mind if I join you for a bit?"
The two eyed him curiously at his sudden appearance.
"I couldn't help overhearing you talk about the Fierce Dragon Corps."
"Hah. Don't even think about it."
The middle-aged man spoke with pity, but Ha Mu-baek plopped down in an empty seat anyway.
"Tell me more, please. As thanks, this round's on me."
With that, Ha Mu-baek called the waiter and ordered more dishes and drinks.
"Well, if you're buying... ahem."
The food and drinks were quite decent, so the middle-aged man cleared his throat unnecessarily.
"You mentioned 'meat shields' earlier. What does that mean?"
"They're just cannon fodder to throw at those demonic beasts."
Ha Mu-baek listened silently to the middle-aged man's answer. No particular expression crossed his face.
"Look at the qualifications. Healthy men and women fourteen or older. No background checks, no origin checks. Not even martial talent. And it's under the Righteous Heaven Alliance, but not part of any of the seven corps—it's under the Dragon Training Pavilion."
"Tsk tsk."
The bearded man shook his head at the middle-aged man's words.
"At least the monthly pay is decent—small mercy, I guess. But if you think of it as hazard pay, it's not much."
"Hazard pay?"
Ha Mu-baek asked.
"Yeah. Hazard pay. And even that's thanks to Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong changing it. Before, it was pocket change."
The middle-aged man, explaining the Fierce Dragon Corps, gulped down another drink in frustration.
"So whatever you do, stay away from the Fierce Dragon Corps."
He glanced at the sword Ha Mu-baek had set aside. The man clearly looked like a martial artist.
"No plans to poke around there."
Ha Mu-baek gave a wry smile and tossed back a drink.
"Survival rate's five percent. Five percent. Out of a hundred who join, five come back alive. I'm not joking."
The middle-aged man emphasized it, just in case.
'So I'm the instructor assigned to train those meat shield hopefuls? Damn old bastards. They sent me to the shittiest spot.'
Ha Mu-baek's stomach twisted at the mention of the five percent survival rate.
The middle-aged man went on for a good while about how awful the Fierce Dragon Corps was.
As if he'd lost someone close there.
How long did they drink back and forth?
Eventually, the two rose, saying they had to go, leaving Ha Mu-baek alone to nurse his glass.
There exists a place called the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
The former headquarters of the Blood Cult.
A land teeming with monstrous creatures born from the Blood Cult's vile sorceries—beasts that shouldn't exist in this world.
The Blood Cult was gone, but the monsters remained, their numbers even growing.
To fight the Blood Cult and contain those monsters, a massive great wall had been built around the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
The Mountain-Crossing Great Wall.
The Fierce Dragon Corps was the force aiding the Righteous Heaven Alliance's Demon-Sealing Corps in defending it.
Yet it was under the Dragon Training Pavilion.
The term 'meat shield' fit perfectly.
"Damn it. What am I supposed to do with a bunch of guys who are gonna die anyway...?"
Ha Mu-baek scowled and downed his drink.
"Well, gotta go see it for myself."
He finished the remaining food, paid, and stood.
Wuchang, where the Dragon Training Pavilion was located, was just ahead.
"Long time no see?"
Ha Mu-baek gave a slight smile at Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul's words.
"Guess so. First time since the war."
Ha Mu-baek glanced around the pavilion lord's office.
"What the hell happened at the Alliance to cause this?"
Pang Do-yul's face was full of exasperation as he asked.
"Beats me. They told me to go, so here I am."
"Someone like you just obeys? As a regular instructor? You expect me to buy that?"
"Tch. Wasn't expecting a warm welcome, but this is a bit much right off the bat."
"Ugh. Would you say that if you were in my shoes?"
"What exactly did I do wrong?"
Ha Mu-baek put on an innocent face.
"That 'I have no idea' look is what's shocking."
Pang Do-yul shook his head.
"Please, just stay quiet while you're here at the pavilion."
"I've always been quiet. Others just make noise."
Pang Do-yul rubbed his face with his palm. That was the problem.
'Others make noise.'
It was true, unfortunately.
The ones who always provoked Ha Mu-baek were from the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans.
To them, Ha Mu-baek was a thorn in the side.
A guy from some obscure, nameless sect—not even a prestigious orthodox one—serving as the Alliance Leader's closest Hocheon Corps Leader? Unacceptable.
Few in the Righteous Heaven Alliance knew what kind of monster Ha Mu-baek really was.
Fortunately, he was one of the few who did. That's why he'd called Moyong Jin-ho ahead of time.
To warn him not to cause trouble.
"Sigh. Fine. Just seeing you here tells me the Alliance is in an uproar right now."
"Not really my concern."
Pang Do-yul chuckled at Ha Mu-baek's reply. As if. He'd witnessed what a monster the guy was, even if from afar, during the war.
"One more time—please, just keep it quiet."
"More importantly, what the hell does the Fierce Dragon Corps do? Heard some meat shield talk on the way."
"Well... not wrong. Survival rate's about five percent. Might as well be training them to die."
Ha Mu-baek scowled at that.
"Damn. Stuck me in the unluckiest hole."
"They recruit a hundred once a year."
"They manage to scrape together a hundred every year?"
"They don't look at anything. Just sign up, you're in. They do extras around August if needed."
"Ugh. Sounds worse the more I hear."
"Train 'em here for two years, then ship 'em off."
"They're literally recruiting people to die. Two years? For that place? Picking total noobs? What absolute bastards."
Pang Do-yul's face twisted at Ha Mu-baek's blunt assessment.
Hard not to, getting cursed to his face.
But he couldn't lash out at Ha Mu-baek directly.
He knew exactly what would happen if he did. Good anger management.
"You called for me?"
Moyong Jin-ho's voice came from outside.
"Come in."
Moyong Jin-ho entered the office and flinched upon spotting Ha Mu-baek. No presence detected from outside.
Quick on the uptake, he guessed the identity immediately.
"This is Ha Mu-baek, the new Fierce Dragon Corps instructor. And this is Fierce Dragon Corps Leader Moyong Jin-ho. Your superior."
Ha Mu-baek rose at Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul's introduction.
"First time meeting. Ha Mu-baek."
"Moyong Jin-ho."
Having been warned ahead, Moyong Jin-ho greeted him with a tense face.
"So, Corps Leader Moyong, you head there with them after two years?"
Pang Do-yul answered Ha Mu-baek's question.
"No. The Fierce Dragon Corps just handles training here. Only the troops go there, under Demon-Sealing Corps command."
"This place is full of bastards too."
The words slipped from Ha Mu-baek's mouth the instant he heard it.
Moyong Jin-ho flinched at the curse to his face, body trembling.
The aura emanating from Ha Mu-baek was anything but ordinary.