Chapter 17 — Competitor
The warriors of the Hall of Martial Law began dragging the criminals away.
Even as they were being hauled off, the bastards flailed and screamed through their tears.
“I was wrong! J-just one more chance, please!”
“I’m sorry! Please spare me! Please!”
But no one answered their desperate cries.
After several meaningless pleas, the criminals were dragged away like animals, disappearing into the depths of the hall.
I watched with my own two eyes until the very end as the trash that deserved to disappear from this world was taken care of.
‘Haa… That feels so refreshing.’
My mood was excellent. I’d probably sleep like a baby tonight.
A refreshing sense of fulfillment washed over me as if a heavy weight had been lifted from deep inside my chest.
Now that the situation had been cleanly resolved, there was no reason to stay in the Hall of Martial Law any longer.
Staying too long in a place that existed solely to punish people would only be bad for my mental health.
I turned toward Hall Master Hyun-yul across from me, cupped my fist in a polite salute, and spoke.
“I didn’t expect the verdict to be delivered so swiftly. Today, I truly understood why the Hall of Martial Law is called the symbol of Kunlun’s justice. I trust that a fitting punishment will be carried out just as quickly, Hall Master Hyun-yul.”
“Worry not. Justice will be upheld, just as you said.”
Hyun-yul nodded at me.
‘I won’t have to see those pieces of trash ever again.’
Since I had clearly conveyed my true feelings about wanting them to receive severe punishment, it was finally time to leave the Hall of Martial Law.
“I’ve truly come to understand the Hall of Martial Law’s strictness today. Then, I look forward to seeing you again someday.”
Just as I was about to turn around after giving the formal farewell, Hall Master Hyun-yul spoke.
“Yes, you’ll get your wish. We’ll meet again sooner than you think.”
“…Pardon? I’ll be seeing you again, Hall Master?”
What kind of nonsense was that? Why would I meet him again?
Unless I committed some major crime, I had no reason to ever step foot in the Hall of Martial Law again.
Seeming to read my confused expression, Hall Master Hyun-yul let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha. What are you thinking? Don’t worry. Next time, we’ll meet somewhere other than the Hall of Martial Law.”
“Somewhere else?”
Hall Master Hyun-yul asked with a mysterious smile.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know under whose will the Hall of Martial Law truly moves?”
“Well, of course, it moves under your will as the Hall Master…”
“No, no. It seems you’ve forgotten the true great elder of the Hall of Martial Law.”
Great elder…? Ah!
The moment a certain person came to mind, Hall Master Hyun-yul’s voice reached my ears.
“Steel Lion Elder Gwang-heon still resides within the Hall of Martial Law.”
The instant that name was spoken, the air around me felt noticeably heavier.
Iron Lion Gwang-heon.
The previous Hall Master of the Hall of Martial Law and the direct master who had trained Hyun-yul.
He was a heavyweight who had led the Hall of Martial Law for decades — a true man of power.
I already knew how formidable Iron Lion Gwang-heon was.
But the reason his name struck me now was different.
He was one of the Four First Elders.
Only then did I fully understand what Hyun-yul meant.
The Great Assembly of Elders.
Iron Lion Gwang-heon would also be attending that meeting.
Which meant he too would be putting forward his own proxy.
And that proxy would obviously be…
‘Someone from the Hall of Martial Law.’
I slowly lifted my head.
At that moment, my eyes met a sharp gaze head-on.
‘…So it’s you?’
The young martial artist who had been standing silently beside Hall Master Hyun-yul.
The only man with two crimson bands on his sleeve cuffs.
That young martial artist was staring at me with eyes as sharp as daggers.
***
Our gazes — mine and the young martial artist’s — clashed fiercely in mid-air.
Neither of us looked away.
A taut silence stretched between us for several seconds.
Hall Master Hyun-yul was the one who broke it.
“Enough. No disputes are allowed within the Hall of Martial Law.”
At Hyun-yul’s low and solemn voice, the young martial artist finally withdrew his gaze.
I asked Hall Master Hyun-yul.
“Is he your disciple, Hall Master?”
“No. Kwon is not my disciple.”
Hyun-yul shook his head lightly.
Then the young martial artist who had been glaring at me earlier finally spoke.
“Han Mujin, was it? I am Hyun-kwon, the Junior Hall Master of the Hall of Martial Law.”
His tone carried a subtle arrogance and confidence.
As if his very name carried undeniable authority.
I instantly understood the hidden meaning behind it.
‘If he’s from the Hyun (玄) generation… then he’s a direct disciple of a First Elder?’
And at such a young age? He didn’t look much older than me.
At that moment, Hall Master Hyun-yul stepped in and answered my unspoken question.
“Junior Hall Master Hyun-kwon is currently receiving guidance from First Elder Iron Lion Gwang-heon. In terms of seniority, he is my youngest junior brother. As you probably guessed, he will also be participating in the upcoming Great Assembly of Elders as a proxy, just like you.”
Only then did everything click into place.
The reason why Hyun-kwon had been staring daggers at me the moment I revealed myself as Jin Gwang-ung’s direct disciple.
‘He wants to fight me.’
This guy named Hyun-kwon.
His heart must be burning with competitive spirit right now. After all, his rival for the Great Assembly of Elders was standing right in front of him.
Same status as direct disciples of First Elders, and around the same age.
There was no way his competitive drive wouldn’t flare up.
His youthful fighting spirit was raging wildly.
Of course, that didn’t mean I was going to tolerate his rudeness.
‘This little brat dares to glare at his elder?’
Even though I currently looked like a teenager, if you added up my previous life and all the years before my regression, it would be extremely difficult to find anyone in Kunlun who could call themselves my senior.
If I had just gotten married and had kids in my previous life as a hunter, I’d be old enough to have a grandson around this kid’s age.
‘A kid whose head hasn’t even dried yet should lower his eyes when facing his elders. The audacity!’
What an ill-mannered, arrogant punk.
It was only proper for an adult to discipline a disrespectful brat who didn’t know how to behave in front of his seniors.
That was my duty as a Kunlun practitioner who walked the path of the Dao and as a respectable elder.
‘Yeah, kid. I’ll remember this well. Just wait a little longer.’
This was the Hall of Martial Law, after all.
It wasn’t the right place to lecture the ill-mannered Junior Hall Master.
Once we faced each other properly at the Great Assembly of Elders in a week, I’d give him a proper, stinging lesson.
(Note: It’s definitely not because the kid who became Junior Hall Master at such a young age seems strong. Absolutely not. Really…)
I didn’t want to waste any more time on pointless staring contests.
Besides, Jin Gwang-ung might have finished his meeting with the Sect Leader and could be looking for me.
I cupped my fist toward Hall Master Hyun-yul and spoke.
“Hall Master, I will take my leave now. Until we meet again.”
“Yes. We’ll see each other at the Great Assembly of Elders.”
I gave a light bow and turned around.
As I did, I glanced sideways at Hyun-kwon.
He was still staring at me with fiercely burning eyes.
‘I’ll teach you properly what respect for elders means next time.’
I kept a calm expression on my face as I walked toward the exit of the Hall of Martial Law.
***
When I returned to the Affairs Hall, the first thing I saw was the group of Affairs Hall members waiting for me with anxious faces.
The moment they spotted me, they rushed over in a crowd.
“Mujin! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“They say once you enter the Hall of Martial Law, you never come out unscathed…”
“Are your arms and legs really fine?”
It was clear they had been extremely worried that something serious had happened to me.
Just as I was about to answer their questions—
“It was insane! You guys are going to faint when you hear this!”
“Everyone, listen to me!”
Yi Sogwang and Wang Dusik suddenly stepped forward from behind me.
They immediately began recounting what happened inside the hall like a rapid-fire barrage.
“Mujin suddenly pulled out the Head Plaque right in front of the Hall Master and—”
“That bastard Myeong-hoon was crying and begging Mujin for mercy—”
“The Hall Master was looking at Mujin with such respect—”
Yi Sogwang and Wang Dusik excitedly told the story of what happened in the Hall of Martial Law…
…Well, they told it with a slight bit of exaggeration.
“Ohhh…!”
“No way! That’s incredible!”
Exclamations of awe poured out from the crowd.
It seemed the “Great Tale of Han Mujin Conquering the Hall of Martial Law” that the two had created was quite popular.
After their story finally ended, the Affairs Hall members swarmed around me again.
“Mujin! You really became First Elder Jin Gwang-ung’s disciple?”
“You’re a Hall Master now! So you’re basically as high-ranking as the Hall Master of the Hall of Martial Law!”
“You even punished those arrogant Daoists… You’re amazing!”
“How did you become First Elder Jin Gwang-ung’s disciple?”
Everyone looked at me with eyes full of admiration and respect.
Looking at their sparkling eyes, I felt like I had become the greatest hero under the heavens.
I casually rubbed the bridge of my nose with my finger.
“Well… it’s nothing special. I was just standing there, and Master Gwang-ung recognized my talent. Sigh, this natural talent of mine… it seems no matter how hard I try to hide it, I just can’t. Master practically begged me to become his disciple. Heh heh heh.”
I answered with fake modesty, but inside, my heart was soaring.
The enthusiastic reactions and cheers from the people around me.
This was truly a beautiful sight.
This was exactly the kind of life a regressor was supposed to enjoy.
‘My eyes and ears are completely satisfied.’
My first life in Murim had been a miserable one — nothing but suffering as a test subject for the Shadow Corps.
That was why the current feeling felt so incredibly sweet and exhilarating.
At that moment, Yi Sogwang and Wang Dusik approached me with hesitant glances.
Just a moment ago they had been excitedly narrating the “Legend of Han Mujin,” but now their expressions were slightly stiff.
They looked like they wanted to say something and kept moving their lips.
Finally, Yi Sogwang spoke first, a bit awkwardly.
“Mujin…”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
“Um… from now on, do we have to call you Hall Master? Or… should we?”
Wang Dusik quickly followed up.
“Y-yeah. Since you’re the disciple of a First Elder now… your position is on a completely different level from ours…”
I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
‘These guys… I thought it was something serious.’
I waved my hand dismissively.
“Aish, what are you talking about? Aren’t we tight brothers from the Affairs Hall? Stop with the nonsense and just call me by name like before.”
“B-but still…”
“It’s fine, really. What’s with this ‘Hall Master’ talk between friends?”
I smiled and kept reassuring them.
Only then did Yi Sogwang and Wang Dusik’s faces brighten up.
Feeling relieved, Wang Dusik suddenly shouted in a loud voice.
“I, Wang Dusik, am now best friends with the Head of the Abandoned Martial Hall! From today onward, the biggest shot in the Affairs Hall is me!”
I chuckled at his shameless boasting and replied.
“Weren’t you calling me your senior brother before?”
“Nah. Being friends is way more comfortable and better!”
That night, the Affairs Hall courtyard was filled with laughter and bright voices until late.
And so, my first day back in Kunlun ended successfully.
***
The next morning, Jin Gwang-ung appeared without warning, just like always.
“Are you still sleeping? The sun is already high in the sky.”
I had been enjoying a rare deep sleep in the Affairs Hall dormitory, but at Jin Gwang-ung’s voice, I jumped up in surprise and rubbed my eyes.
I hadn’t even told him I was staying at the Affairs Hall, yet he had found me on his own.
“Master, you’re here. Did your meeting with the Sect Leader go well?”
“Yes. Now that you’re awake, let’s go.”
“Huh? Where are we going?”
Jin Gwang-ung gave his signature mischievous smile at my question.
“The Sect Leader wishes to see you. He wants to personally meet the participants of the Great Assembly of Elders.”
The moment I heard those words, the sleepy fog in my head instantly cleared.
It wasn’t just because of Jin Gwang-ung’s sudden visit.
There was another, heavier reason.
‘Meeting the Sect Leader…’
The instant those words reached my ears, I fell into deep thought.
An uncontrollable sense of unease slowly crept up from a corner of my mind.
One week from now.
The Sect Leader of Kunlun would be assassinated by someone.