Chapter 3: Battle 1

Another supervisor asked.

“So your father retired?”

“He passed away a few years ago, so I took over.”

“I’m sorry, but could you tell me how he passed away?”

Though the question was unexpected, Baek Moo-jin replied with an impassive expression.

“Due to the chronic illness he had been suffering from, he spent several years recuperating…”

“I need to be honest with you. If he passed away due to a duel or a grudge, we’ll need to investigate further. Don’t misunderstand. It’s just standard procedure.”

“Ah, it’s nothing like that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Even as Baek Moo-jin emphasized his point repeatedly, the two supervisors merely gave perfunctory nods, continuing to jot something down on the documents they were reviewing.

‘These guys don’t trust people easily.’

It was an unexpected question, but upon reflection, Baek Moo-jin realized it wasn’t something to be openly displeased about.

From that moment on, Baek Moo-jin silently observed the supervisors’ expressions and intentions. Aside from the representative supervisor seated in the center, none seemed to possess particularly high martial arts prowess.

The questioning continued.

“If you were the head of a family, wouldn’t you be in a position to look after it? What do you plan to do if you pass?”

“Actually, I don’t have many family members left.”

“Well, if things turn out well, bringing your family here later wouldn’t be so bad.”

One examiner spoke as if trying to be considerate, but another continued in a blunt tone.

“That’s only possible if you pass.”

The representative supervisor in the center spoke as if to wrap things up.

“Let’s end this awkward exchange here. Anyway, you should know that the military rank examination has a high standard for the physical combat test, right? Even if you pass the paperwork, most fail the physical combat test.”

Baek Moo-jin gave a faint smile and nodded.

“I’ve heard that.”

The examiners interpreted Baek Moo-jin’s smile as confidence and chimed in one after another.

“Seems you’re confident.”

“Well, he wouldn’t have challenged it without confidence. We’ll be watching.”

“Many have slipped up after taking on challenges. Better steel your resolve.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The representative supervisor seated in the center spoke as if he had finished reviewing the documents.

“Anything else you’d like to ask?”

As the central supervisor looked left and right, more questions followed.

“Have you considered any organizations?”

Baek Moo-jin knew little about the detailed structure of the North Heaven Alliance.

“I wish to join a military organization to gain experience.”

At that, one supervisor replied in his consistently curt tone.

“Is passing the exam your only goal?”

Baek Moo-jin didn’t respond. He just stared at the supervisor and thought.

‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’

But the nonsense continued a bit longer.

“There are more than a few like you who begged to be placed anywhere, only to give up and return home within a year. Money wasn’t the issue. I’ve heard many times that they left because it didn’t suit their aptitude. It’s not a question with an easy answer.”

Baek Moo-jin almost chuckled at that absurd remark but managed to stifle his laughter.

Then the supervisor, who had been showing goodwill, added,

“You must state your desired department in advance. For the military ranks, we need to select those with a clearer purpose.”

Baek Moo-jin nodded and replied.

“Actually, I don’t know what kind of organizations exist.”

Isn’t that obvious?

After answering, Baek Moo-jin looked at the supervisors. Their expressions were priceless. Their eyes seemed to say, ‘Shouldn’t you have checked that beforehand?’, full of reproach.

Meanwhile, Baek Moo-jin, though the son of a fallen family, wasn’t naturally the type to be intimidated. He just blinked his eyes and stared back at the supervisors.

One supervisor chuckled and said.

“There’s no better place than the Sword Corps to gain experience. If he wants to go, we should send him.”

Baek Moo-jin laughed along. He could sense the sharpness hidden in the supervisor’s words.

The lead supervisor spoke as if wrapping things up.

“Alright, alright. We’ve dragged this post-qualification business on long enough. Go stretch your legs at headquarters. Your opponent will be here soon. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Understood.”

As Baek Moo-jin rose and walked toward the center, the supervisors exchanged whispers.

“Who’s coming for the martial arts evaluation?”

“I heard the commander of the Black Sword Corps is coming, but I don’t know which one.”

“The Black Sword Corps… Whoever comes, it’ll be tough to pass.”

“We’ll see, won’t we? Watch how they respond. They must have confidence to challenge.”

“How many have gone out looking foolish after challenging with confidence?”

“By the way, was there any more information about this person who’s the candidate’s grandfather? Like his martial arts level or…”

“I looked into it a bit. Only that the Snow Mountain Hundred Families participated in the Demon-Slaying War. That was quite a long time ago, so it’s surprising any records remain.”

In any case, these are martial artists too.

One couldn’t help but wonder what kind of martial arts the young man from Snow Mountain possessed.

But regardless, Baek Mujin stood calmly in the center, showing no sign of nervousness, waiting for his opponent. All the while, he was overhearing every whisper among the supervisors.

2.

As the door opened, a man entered and immediately bowed to the supervisor.

“Greetings, seniors.”

“Oh, it’s Kang Yeop. Heh heh, come in.”

“Welcome, Squad Leader Kang.”

The man named Kang Yeop, the deputy commander of the Silent Sword Corps, glanced at Baek Moo-jin standing in the center as soon as he entered.

The Silent Sword Corps held a somewhat unique position among the sword corps.

It was an inspection organization that supervised the discipline of the North Heaven Alliance members and also handled the surrounding security. As the commander leading that sword brigade, his martial arts level must have been comparable to that of a mid-level master in the martial world.

In any case, he was clearly no match for those who had made a name for themselves in the late stages of cultivation.

Kang Yeop, radiating confidence, shifted his gaze from Baek Mujin and addressed the supervisors.

“I have a question for the supervisor.”

“Speak.”

“Is it possible for the members to observe?”

At those words, the representative supervisor shook his head.

“Observation is not permitted. Send them back.”

“Understood.”

As Kang Yeop stepped outside briefly to send the members back, the supervisors’ conversation continued.

“Why did you refuse? Usually, you allow a few members to observe, don’t you?”

The representative supervisor replied in a low voice.

“Kang Yeop commands deep respect from both superiors and subordinates. There’s no need for him to show any weakness to his men. Not even the slightest chance of it.”

“Huh?”

Baek Moo-jin’s implication that he could win caused the other deputy supervisors to turn their gaze toward Baek Moo-jin, standing in the center.

‘Is he strong? I have no idea.’

‘Is he thoughtless, or just naturally composed? Can’t tell at all.’

Lee Yeon-seong, the representative supervisor, had more experience than the other deputy supervisors. Moreover, he was a highly skilled master whose martial arts prowess was significantly higher than that of the other deputy supervisors present.

He assessed that Baek Mujin possessed sufficient skill to challenge the fourth rank. Of course, this was purely Lee Yeon-seong’s intuition, but he sensed that Baek Mujin was thoroughly concealing his true strength, solidifying his conviction.

‘He is no ordinary man.’

That was Lee Yeon-seong’s conclusion.

3.

“Begin.”

At the supervisor’s command, Baek Moo-jin, standing in the center, bowed respectfully to Gang Yeop, the commander of the Black Sword Corps, who was slowly approaching.

“Baek Moo-jin.”

“I am Gang Yeop of the Black Sword Corps.”

Kang Yeop used honorifics, as if to maintain distance. Even as he assumed a guard stance, his gaze studied Baek Moo-jin’s breathing and expression.

Baek Moo-jin sensed the feeling of a well-honed blade.

Regardless of the level of martial prowess, it was clear enough to sense the aura of a warrior who had truly been forged in the crucible of battle.

Conversely, Kang Yeop faintly sensed a peculiar chill emanating from Baek Moo-jin.

‘Could he be someone who’s mastered ice-based martial arts?’

Kang Yeop glanced at Baek Moo-jin’s sword and spoke.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

At Baek Moo-jin’s reply, Kang Yeop drew his sword first with a crisp motion. Kang Yeop waited a moment for Baek Moo-jin to draw his sword as well. But when there was no movement, Kang Yeop tilted his head and asked.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Aren’t you going to draw it?”

“Yes.”

Baek Moo-jin’s reply was equally flustered.

He had been ready since the supervisor told him to begin. Drawing the sword or not was Baek Moo-jin’s choice. Moreover, he had never fought an outsider before, so his sense of propriety was somewhat lacking.

‘Do I really have to draw it now…?’

Baek Moo-jin sensed the atmosphere had grown slightly chilly and spoke again in a polite tone.

“I am ready.”

It wasn’t just Kang Yeop who felt annoyed by those words. The supervisors, too, looked displeased, as if they’d bitten into something bitter.

‘Is he being insolent?’

‘Does he intend to fight with his sword technique? I don’t understand.’

‘He’s saying there’s no need to draw swords, yet his attitude doesn’t seem disrespectful.’

In any case, it was something to be observed.

“Be careful.”

Kang Yeop immediately lunged forward. With a movement that showed he wouldn’t give an inch, he swung his sword vertically with all his might.