CH1: What's the deal with the Fierce Dragon Corps Corps?

Hidden Dragon hall leader Paeng Doyul said, "The first martial arts war was literally hell." 

"Are you talking about the Blood Sect War?"

Fierce Dragon Corp leader Mo Yong-jinho asked back.

"Yes. The Blood Sect leader, Gae Hongcheon, was a true monster. No one could stop his martial arts. Through the whole Murim Alliance. But in the end, he died, and the Blood Sect War ended. Do you know who killed him?"

"Wasn't it the Alliance leader?"

Mo Yong-jinho tilted his head at Paeng Doyul's question. It was too obvious.

"Ha Mubek."

Mo Yong-jinho was taken aback by the unexpected answer and asked again with a face full of disbelief.

"Are you talking about the Hochun leader?"

Without caring about Mo Yong-jinho's distrustful expression, Paeng Doyul poured himself a drink.

"The second martial arts war, the so-called Demonic Sect War. This time, the righteous and evil factions united to fight the Demonic Sect. If the Blood Sect War was just hell, the Demonic Sect War was truly a hell of hells. The Demonic Sect leader, Seok Woncho, was a monster surpassing the Blood Sect leader. Do you know who killed him?"

"Don't tell me, the Hochun leader again?"

"Yes, Ha Mubek."

"Then, the number one martial artist in the world right now is…."

"Ha Mubek."

Mo Yong-jinho raised his glass.

"Are you telling me to believe that lie?"

Mo Yong-jinho's face slightly twisted with discomfort. It was inevitable. He was being told an unbelievable story.

"That's why those who know the truth don't bother to speak about it. Maybe there are barely twenty people in Jianghu who know the truth? Who knows."

[Jianghu, It means Rivers and lakes aka - The Murim World, or The Martial Arts part of the world.]

Paeng Doyul's words made Mo Yong-jinho's expression change slightly.

Could that lie possibly be true?

"But why are you telling me this…?"

"That person is coming to our Hidden Dragon Hall."

"What? Why?"

"How would I know? Orders from above. And he's been assigned as a regular instructor in Fierce Dragon Corps."

Upon hearing this, goosebumps rose on Mo Yong-jinho's arms.

He felt like he had wet his pants a little.

According to Paeng Doyul, the one who killed both the Blood Sect and Demonic Sect leaders was assigned under him.

What was he supposed to do about this?

Should he believe it or not?

                                                          ***

[Hochun leader Ha Mubek is assigned as a regular instructor in Fierce Dragon Corps, Under the Hidden Dragon Hall.]

Ha Mubek stared blankly at the order presented by the military leader Gongson Dankyung. Since it was a command from the Murim Alliance ’s military, it meant it already had the Alliance leader's approval.

"What's the reason for this order?"

The chief of the Enforcement House, who was with him, answered.

"Because you messed up, this is your punishment."

"Say something that makes sense, will you? What did I do"

Ha Mubek looked at the Enforcement House leader, Unhakja, as if he found it ridiculous.

"Hey! Just speaking like that is insubordination!"

"Ha, don't talk nonsense. Unhakja, are you even my superior? My superior should only be the Alliance leader."

Ha Mubek's position was Hochun leader, directly responsible for protecting the Murim Alliance ’s leader Sohwiwoong, so his superior was the Alliance leader.

The military leader Gongson Dankyung watched their confrontation with amusement.

"You scoundrel! In Murim Alliance, there is a clear ranking by position! Hochun leader, even if highly regarded, barely makes the top fifty!"

Murim Alliance was a massive alliance of righteous martial artists.

Being in the top fifty was a high position.

"And the chief of the Enforcement House ranks seventh. Clearly your superior!"

Unhakja, shaking with rage, shouted.

Ha Mubek turned his gaze to Gongson Dankyung.

"So, what's the crime?"

Facing Ha Mubek’s piercing stare, Gongson Dankyung slightly turned his head.

He was supposed to pacify Ha Mubek with a reasonable excuse. But with the chief of the Enforcement House setting the stage like this.

"Assaulting a superior, perhaps?"

"Did I beat up the Alliance leader?"

Ha Mubek asked back at Gongson Dankyung's words.

"Didn't you just hear? The Alliance leader is not your only superior."

At Gongson Dankyung's reply, Ha Mubek's gaze shifted to Unhakja.

Then he nodded.

"I see. Even though I didn't beat him, I don’t want to admit it. So, if I really beat him, it would be fine."

Ha Mubek abruptly stood up.

"What, what are you doing!?"

Unhakja shouted, seeing Ha Mubek approach with a menacing aura.

"What do you think? I'm going to assault a superior."

"You arrogant bastard!"

Unhakja's hands moved faster than his angry shout.

He unleashed the 'Falling Goose Fist', a secret technique of the Kunlun Sect, towards Ha Mubek.

A nobody from some third-rate martial sect, just because he received the Alliance leader’s favor, dares to act out.

Good timing.

He thought it was a chance to properly deal with him and kick him out.

Out of respect for the military leader, he didn’t draw his sword, but there was no way this guy could withstand Kunlun’s 'Falling Goose Fist'.

"Ridiculous."

With a single wave of his hand, Ha Mubek dissipated Unhakja's fist energy.

Then he swung his fist again.

Thunk!

A solid thud echoed from Unhakja's stomach.

"Ughhh."

And a scream followed.

"Why are you so weak? We’re just getting started."

As Ha Mubek grinned and moved his hands busily.

"Aaaagh! Arghh! Agh!"

Screams burst from Unhakja's mouth.

"Huu."

Gongson Dankyung sighed lightly and used his inner energy to block the noise. It wouldn't do any good for this sound to leak outside.

Thanks to that, Ha Mubek swung his fists even more freely.

Unhakja, unable to comprehend what was happening, just screamed until he lost consciousness.

"Pathetic. Acting up for nothing. Tsk."

Ha Mubek lightly dusted off his hands. Then.

"Oh dear? I accidentally assaulted a superior. What should I do?"

Ha Mubek spoke awkwardly, like a wooden doll.

Gongson Dankyung shook his head but couldn’t hide his smiling lips.

"Shall we go?"

"Since I caused trouble, what choice do I have? Let's go."

"I'm terribly sorry. It's heartbreaking to see the great Ha Mubek rot in a backwater position."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Am I?"

"You look overjoyed. Why?"

"Ahem. What nonsense."

"You look like a toothache just got cured."

At Ha Mubek's words, Gongson Dankyung averted his gaze slightly.

"By the way, what does the Fierce Dragon Corps do?" 

"Fierce Dragon Corps…."

While heading to Hidden Dragon Hall, they stopped at a small inn for a meal.

Ha Mubek murmured, thinking about his new assignment.

It was around the time when Fierce Dragon Corps was recruiting trainees.

"Hey. I heard Hidden Dragon Hall's Fierce Dragon Corps is recruiting trainees."

Two men, a bit away from Ha Mubek, were talking about Fierce Dragon Corps.

Ha Mubek's ears naturally pricked up.

"Ah, it's that time of year again when they recruit cannon fodder."

The bearded man clicked his tongue as the middle-aged man downed his drink in one gulp.

Seemingly knowing something, the middle-aged man's words intrigued Ha Mubek.

He moved closer without hesitation.

"Excuse me for interrupting."

The sudden appearance of Ha Mubek made the two look at him with curiosity.

"I overheard you talking about Fierce Dragon Corps."

"Ah. Don’t even bother with it."

The middle-aged man spoke with a regretful face, but Ha Mubek plopped down in an empty seat.

"Could you please tell me more? I know it’s not much, but I’ll cover the bill."

He then called for the waiter and ordered some dishes and drinks.

"Well, if that's the case, ahem."

Seeing the quality of the ordered items, the middle-aged man cleared his throat.

"You mentioned 'cannon fodder.' What do you mean by that?"

"They use human lives to block those monsters, that's why I called them cannon fodder."

Ha Mubek listened quietly to the middle-aged man's answer, his face showing no particular emotion.

"Just look at the recruitment qualifications. Fourteen years old or older, healthy men and women. They don’t care about your past, your origins, or even your martial arts talent. They don’t even require you to be from the seven major factions. And even though it’s under Hidden Dragon Hall, it’s not part of any of the seven divisions."

"Tsk, tsk."

The bearded man shook his head at the middle-aged man's words.

"It's a small consolation that the monthly pay is decent, but considering it's the price of their lives, it's not much at all."

"The price of their lives?"

Ha Mubek asked.

"Yes, the price of their lives. Even that was changed by Leader Soh Hui-woong. It used to be a pittance before."

The middle-aged man, who had been explaining about the Fierce Dragon Corps, took another swig of his drink, looking frustrated.

"So, don't even think about getting close to the Fierce Dragon Corps."

The middle-aged man glanced at the sword Ha Mubek had set aside. Just by looking at him, it was clear that Ha Mubek was a martial artist.

"Well, I don't plan to."

Ha Mubek smiled bitterly and downed a glass of liquor.

"The survival rate there is five percent. Five percent. Out of a hundred who go in, only five come out alive. I'm not making this up."

The middle-aged man spoke again, just in case.

'So, I’ve been assigned to train the recruits who are destined to become those meat shields? Damn those old bastards. They've sent me to such a dreadful place.'

Ha Mubek's insides twisted at the thought of the five percent survival rate.

The middle-aged man continued for quite some time, detailing just how awful the Fierce Dragon Corps was, as if he had lost a close friend there.

After a lengthy exchange of drinks, the two men said they had to go and left, leaving Ha Mubek to drink alone.

There is a place called Sanwol Marim (Mountain Transcendence Demon Forest).

It was once the stronghold of the Blood Sect.

A land teeming with monstrous creatures created by the Blood Sect's nefarious sorcery, creatures that seemed like they shouldn't exist in this world.

The Blood Sect had vanished, but the monsters remained, their numbers even increasing.

To fight the Blood Sect and contain the monsters, a massive wall was built around Sanwol Marim.

It was called The Sanwol Wall.

The Fierce Dragon Corps is a military unit of the Murim Alliance that assists the Demon-Sealing Unit, which guards the Sanwol Wall.

However, it belongs to the Hidden Dragon Hall.

The term "meat shield" was indeed fitting.

"Damn it. What am I supposed to do with people who are destined to die..."

With a grimace, Ha Mubek gulped down another drink.

"Well, I have to go anyway."

Having finished his meal, Ha Mubek paid the bill and got up from his seat.

Hidden Dragon Hall in Wuchang was now just a stone's throw away.

***

"Should I say it's been a while?"

Hidden Dragon Hall Head Paeng Doyul spoke, and Ha Mubek gave a slight smile.

"I guess so. It's the first time seeing you since the war."

Ha Mubek looked around the Hall Head's room.

"What exactly happened at the Alliance?"

Paeng Doyul's face was filled with confusion as he asked.

"How would I know? I came because I was told to."

"Someone like you compiled so easily? And as a regular instructor? Do you expect me to believe that?"

"Tsk. I didn't expect a warm welcome, but isn't this a bit much from the start?"

"Hmph. Try being in my position and see if you can say that."

"What did I do to deserve this?"

Ha Mubek feigned an aggrieved expression.

"The fact that you look genuinely clueless is even more surprising."

Paeng Doyul shook his head.

"Please, just stay out of trouble while you're here at the Hidden Dragon Hall."

"I've always been quiet. It's just the others who were noisy."

Paeng Doyul rubbed his face with his palm. That was the problem.

The statement that it was always the others who were noisy was indeed true.

It was always members of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Major Clans who provoked Ha Mubek.

To them, Ha Mubek's existence was a thorn in their side.

Not many in the Murim Alliance knew what kind of monster Ha Mubek truly was.

Fortunately, Paeng Doyul was among the few who knew his true abilities. That's why he had preemptively warned Mo Yong-jin-ho to avoid any trouble.

"Alright. Seeing as you're here, the Alliance must be quite chaotic."

"I don't really care about that."

Paeng Doyul chuckled at Ha Mubek's response. As if.

He had witnessed from afar what kind of monster Ha Mubek was during the last war.

"I ask again, please stay out of trouble."

"What exactly is the Fierce Dragon Corps? I heard something about meat shields on my way here."

"Well... that's not wrong. The survival rate is about five percent. It's essentially a place to train people who are sent to die."

Ha Mubek frowned at that.

"Damn it. Out of all the places they could send me, they chose the worst."

"They select a hundred recruits once a year."

"And they still manage to gather a hundred every year?"

"They don't look at anything. As long as you apply, you're selected. If there are vacancies, they do an additional recruitment around August."

"The more I hear, the less sense it makes."

"And after two years of training here, they are sent there."

"Truly a place for gathering people to die. Only two years of training for those who know nothing? These bastards are really something."

Ha Mubek's blunt assessment made Paeng Doyul grimace.

He had been insulted to his face. Naturally, he was angry.

But he couldn't direct his anger at Ha Mubek.

He knew well what would happen if he did. It was wise to control his temper.

"Did you call for me?"

At that moment, Mo Yong-jin-ho's voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

Entering the Pavilion Head's room, Mo Yong-jin-ho flinched upon seeing Ha Mubek. He hadn't sensed any presence outside.

With his perceptiveness, he quickly guessed Ha Mubek's identity.

"This is Ha Mubek, who will be joining the Fierce Dragon Corps as an instructor. This is Mo Yong-jin-ho, the Head of the Fierce Dragon Corps. He will be your superior."

Upon Paeng Doyul's introduction, Ha Mubek rose from his seat.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ha Mubek."

"I'm Mo Yong-jin-ho."

Having been briefed in advance, Mo Yong-jin-ho greeted him with a tense expression.

"So, does this mean you will be joining them after two years?"

Ha Mubek's question was answered by Paeng Doyul.

"No. The Fierce Dragon Corps only handles the training here at the Hidden Dragon Hall. Only the recruits are sent there, where they will be under the command of the Demon-Sealing Unit."

"You're all bastards."

Ha Mubek's immediate response.

Mo Yong-jin-ho trembled slightly, unable to react to the insult.

The aura emanating from Ha Mubek was so overwhelming that it would shut anyone up.

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T/L : This novel is really, really difficult to translate, especially since it's a murim novel from Korea. I would really appreciate that you rate it on the NovelUpdates page so more people can enjoy this novel with you! this would greatly help in motivating me.

Also! If you see any mistakes, any edits, suggestions, or anything then please post a comment. I always read all the comments!

I'm going to update a few more chapters in just a bit

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