Chapter 10
"Why are you asking about the Division Leader?"
Seo Mugyeom asked, wondering if there was something about the Division Leader he didn’t know.
"Others don’t want to join the Tenth Division, but the Division Leader wasn’t like that. Even when others looked down on the Tenth Division, the Division Leader was determined to change it. Even though he joined the Tenth Division after being evaluated as lacking combat ability, he had a strong will to lead those people and make the Tenth Division stronger than any other."
It was the first time Seo Mugyeom had heard such a story.
"You really don’t know what kind of person our Division Leader is, do you?"
"I have a rough idea."
"No. What you think you know is probably wrong too. Who do you think would win in a duel between our Division Leader and the Vice-Division Leader of the First Division?"
"That’s obviously the Vice-Division Leader of the First Division."
Even if he had been asked to compare a regular martial artist from the First Division, Seo Mugyeom would have said without hesitation that the First Division's martial artist would win. Ho Jo-yeong looked as if he had expected Seo Mugyeom to say that.
"Most people think like you. It’s also because that’s the image the Division Leader has shown in front of others so far."
"So you're saying that's not really the case?"
Seo Mugyeom didn’t understand that statement. And he had a reason.
Seo Mugyeom thought he might know the Division Leader better than Ho Jo-yeong did. Though he didn’t know about the Division Leader’s past, he knew about his future.
And the Division Leader he knew had lived in obscurity, never standing out until his dying moment, dying miserably. Maybe something happened in places Seo Mugyeom didn’t see, but every moment he witnessed had been like that.
He hadn’t seen the Division Leader’s death with his own eyes, but he imagined he had probably swung his sword a few times against the weapons of the Suppression Army, then quickly gave up and offered his neck.
But Ho Jo-yeong shook his head.
"The truth is, there are many things people don’t know. There were internal conflicts and power struggles within the Guardian Ten Division. The most serious issue was that promising martial artists were being poached. The Tenth Division didn’t always consist of unskilled people. When assigning martial artists from the beginning, the First Division had the privilege to choose first, and there was no limit to their number. So, a lot of unskilled people ended up in the Tenth Division."
Seo Mugyeom nodded as well.
What mattered was that there was no limit on the number of people.
At the Divine Martial Sect, among those of a certain age, children who wanted to learn martial arts were admitted into the Martial Arts Academy and taught.
And once they completed the academy, they were assigned to the Guardian Ten Division.
They often held group duels, and the Division Leaders and top brass of the Guardian Ten Division would observe and select young martial artists for recruitment.
Dozens completed the academy each year and joined the Guardian Ten Division, and if the First Division wanted to take them all, they could.
Such extreme cases weren’t common, but there were often years when no one was assigned to the Tenth Division.
Sometimes, those who couldn’t withstand the intense training and expectations transferred to the Tenth Division midway. The opposite also happened.
Though rare, there were some who, after enduring and improving within the Tenth Division, were transferred to the First Division.
Though only once had someone moved from the Tenth Division to the First, transfers to the Eighth or Sixth Divisions occurred fairly often.
"The Division Leader must have felt betrayed. Other divisions might have made offers, but they probably weren’t forced. Still, everyone left. Since that happened year after year, he must have found it hard to trust people. Probably didn’t even want to trust them."
Seo Mugyeom was rather surprised, thinking, ‘Was it really that bad?’
"Then why did the Division Leader come to the Tenth Division?"
"As far as I know, it was the Division Leader’s own decision. He was someone the First Division tried to hold onto by offering him the Vice-Division Leader position."
"From the beginning?"
"Yes. Hard to believe, right? They offered a young martial artist who had just completed the academy the Vice-Division Leader position in the First Division from the start."
Seo Mugyeom stared blankly at Ho Jo-yeong, unable to believe it.
Rather than thinking how impressive it was, Seo Mugyeom was more curious about what kind of feelings the Vice-Division Leader of the First Division must have held toward the Division Leader at that time. Everyone knew how competitive and prideful the First Division members were.
But they must have felt insulted by a young martial artist who had just completed the martial academy.
Not only the Vice-Division Leader, but the leaders and regular martial artists of the First Division probably felt the same.
Seeing that Seo Mugyeom remained silent, Ho Jo-yeong quickly spoke.
"Mugyeom, one of the things the Division Leader can’t stand the most is when others pity him. If you show that kind of face in front of him, you might not make it out safely, so be careful."
"Yes, senior. I’m glad I talked to you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known that happened."
However, it seemed Ho Jo-yeong wasn’t really listening to Seo Mugyeom's words. He suddenly let out a deep sigh, as if he had too many new worries.
"I guess we should consider the good days to be over. Since the Division Leader has made up his mind, we’re going to go through a truly harsh time."
He then looked at Seo Mugyeom.
Looking closely, it seemed like he was blaming Seo Mugyeom for everything. Realizing what that expression meant, Seo Mugyeom looked at Ho Jo-yeong and spoke.
"Senior, you may resent the Division Leader or me right now, but later, you’ll come to thank the Division Leader. How long do you think this peaceful time will last? Even now, we just don’t know it, but there could be many people plotting wicked schemes against the Divine Martial Sect."
"You’re right. Once you choose the path of a martial artist, these are things you have to endure. I’ll go and warn the others. It’s better to be prepared, even if they still have to face it."
His steps as he turned around looked as heavy as a mountain.
Seo Mugyeom was about to return to his quarters when he became curious about what had happened to Gwei.
He wanted to know where Gwei was staying now.
With that thought, Seo Mugyeom went to the medical office to find the physician who had treated him. The physician immediately recognized Seo Mugyeom and tilted his head as if puzzled.
"Aren’t you a martial artist from the Tenth Division?"
"Yes, physician. My name is Seo Mugyeom. Thanks to your care, I’ve fully recovered and even completed a mission."
"Strange. I’ve seen countless people here at the Divine Martial Sect, but I’ve never seen anyone recover as quickly as you. Of course, those with internal strength who can regulate their energy are an exception, but that’s not your case, right?"
Hearing that, Seo Mugyeom realized that the things he couldn’t understand before were all due to his internal strength.
The Golden Wound Medicine given by the Division Leader must have helped, but it seemed his quick recovery was thanks to his internal strength.
"Have you, by any chance, taken spiritual medicine?"
The physician asked curiously, and Seo Mugyeom shook both hands. He felt it would be best not to tell anyone about that matter for now.
"I thought so. I don’t think the Sect Leader would give spiritual medicine to a martial artist of the Tenth Division. Alright, off you go now."
The physician waved his hand as if he had lost interest.
Seo Mugyeom was once again reminded of how poorly regarded the Tenth Division was even outside. But the reason he had come wasn’t just to thank the physician—it was also to ask about Gwei.
"Physician, do you know where Life-and-Death Demon is currently staying?"
The physician looked at Seo Mugyeom as if he had just heard a ridiculous question.
"Do you think I’d tell you where Life-and-Death Demon is? Even if I knew. And don’t think I’m withholding information. I really don’t know."
Though disappointing, it sounded plausible. As he thought about it, the physician continued.
"That elder is someone completely different from regular physicians like us. He’s someone you could call heaven beyond heaven. We can’t even dare to assist him. I’d love to help him, but I wouldn’t even understand half of what he says."
There was probably no one else like Seo Mugyeom who could understand what Gwei said.
"Once he hides himself, no one knows where he is. I know he’s back in the Sect, but I don’t know what kind of research he’s doing or where he’s holed up. Even the Sect Leader probably doesn’t know where he is."
He didn’t even ask why Seo Mugyeom was looking for Gwei and soon immersed himself back into his work.
In the end, Seo Mugyeom left with only the answer that the physician didn’t know where Gwei was.
‘Even if I don’t go looking for him, if I almost die and return, then the elder will come to find me.’
With that thought, Seo Mugyeom’s heart felt lighter, and his steps grew lighter as well.
Seo Mugyeom didn’t forget what Pyo Inhaeng had said and went early to the training hall to begin his practice. Before training at the martial grounds, he had to complete his breathing exercises, so he had to wake up much earlier than what Pyo Inhaeng had mentioned.
‘It’s not as hard as I thought. My body’s fully recovered and I feel like I have more energy than I need.’
If he had been his old self, he would’ve collapsed long ago, but now he didn’t even feel tired despite barely sleeping.
The techniques that had once floated vaguely in his mind were now fully mastered, and he had no difficulty executing them. It seemed the duel with the Division Leader had helped. Blocking the Division Leader’s attacks had clarified which techniques were needed in what situations.
‘I’m glad I told the Division Leader in advance.’
Seo Mugyeom thought he was lucky. It was really fortunate that Pyo Inhaeng was the Division Leader of the Tenth Division.
Even while thinking that, he didn’t let his body rest.
While lost in thought, Seo Mugyeom continued repeating the same movements hundreds of times. Sweat dripped endlessly from his body and pooled on the floor before it could dry.
Before he knew it, his clothes were soaked in sweat, but he didn’t even notice. His mind was too preoccupied with other thoughts.
‘If I can gain a body immune to blades with this level of internal energy... If I could become a Blood Demon at a young age, the Divine Martial Sect might not be destroyed like before. No matter how powerful the Imperial Family is, they couldn’t wipe us out so cruelly.’
At some point, a surge of anger boiled within him.