CDF Chapter 17

Ma Dong-pil bowed to Gi Yang.

“First Captain, you’re here too. It’s been a while.”

Gi Yang couldn’t find words to respond. Neither could Lee Gunseong.

This was their first glimpse of Ma Dong-pil in eight months.

His stoic expression remained unchanged, but there was now a vertical scar near his left eye.

It wasn’t a wound from a weapon. Rather, it looked like a deep gouge from something both sharp yet blunt. Thankfully, his eye seemed unharmed, but…

However, the scar wasn’t what shocked the two men.

Swoosh.

The air in the room rapidly grew cold.

Both men flinched at the dangerous aura emanating from Ma Dong-pil’s body.

…Killing intent?

An unusual murderous energy permeated his flowing qi.

It was killing intent so potent that even these two masters, the strongest in the Law Enforcement Court after the Court Chief, felt chills.

Ma Dong-pil turned to face Lee Gunseong.

Flinch.

Lee Gunseong felt moisture gathering in his unconsciously clenched fist. Just that gaze was enough to make him tense.

Confusion crossed Ma Dong-pil’s face.

“Are you perhaps unwell?”

He doesn’t realize?

Indeed. Ma Dong-pil was completely unaware of just how intense his killing intent was.

“Third Captain.”

“Yes?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“…I see.”

Ma Dong-pil’s confusion only deepened as he watched Lee Gunseong’s hesitation.

“…”

“…”

“…”

An inexplicable silence.

Ma Dong-pil bowed politely.

“I seem to have come at a bad time. I’ll take my leave.”

Lee Gunseong started in surprise and waved his hands.

“Not at all. It’s been so long since we’ve seen you, that wouldn’t do. Please, sit.”

“Would that be alright?”

“Of course.”

“I apologize, but I can’t stay long for conversation as I need to leave soon. I came to see the Captain because I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“Do you happen to have any Cave Pine Tea^[1] leaves?”

Lee Gunseong tilted his head.

Cave Pine Tea was made from dried tea leaves grown in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, and due to its overwhelmingly heavy aroma, few people enjoyed it.

“I do have some.”

Lee Gunseong happened to be one of those rare individuals who did.

“May I have a small portion?”

“That’s no trouble, but what do you need it for? I thought you didn’t like Cave Pine Tea?”

“The Third Young Master requires it.”

“The Third Young Master?”

“Yes.”

“…I understand. Wait here a moment. I’ll bring it right away.”

After Lee Gunseong left with a puzzled expression, silence once again fell over the office where only the two remained.

Gi Yang felt awkward. Though he was overjoyed to see his junior after so long, he found it difficult to speak up.

Why?

Because of this terrible killing intent? No. The frightening scar? Within the Demonic Cult, such scars were commonplace.

This isn’t the Third Captain I knew. He’s fundamentally different.

It was because Ma Dong-pil had changed as if he now lived in another world.

He had become someone alien, as if belonging to a different realm entirely, no longer the Third Captain of the Law Enforcement Court. And this transformation had occurred in mere eight months.

The bond between Law Enforcement Court captains, the rapport between a boisterous senior and his steady junior – it had all been severed. It felt as if they had been living in different worlds from the very beginning.

Moreover…

Gi Yang looked at Ma Dong-pil’s hands.

They were covered in small scars he had never seen during the Law Enforcement Court days. Even his visible palms showed clear signs of repeated bursting and healing.

What kind of life has he been living?

He had always trained rigorously even outside of missions. But even then, he had never carried such wounds.

The more he looked, the more puzzling and concerning it became, and the more awkward he felt.

Just then, Ma Dong-pil, who had maintained his silence, spoke.

“It must feel bittersweet.”

“Hmm?”

“I heard the Deputy Captain of the Second Division is getting married.”

“Ah!”

Gi Yang shook his head.

“People leave when it’s their time. But how did you hear about that while being busy in the Solitary Bamboo Forest?”

“I enter the inner palace twice a month to collect supplies.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Gi Yang spoke reproachfully.

“My friend, if that’s the case, you should have stopped by to show your face earlier instead of coming only now.”

“I apologize.”

Ma Dong-pil scratched his head sheepishly.

Seeing his junior appear more at ease, Gi Yang’s expression softened as well.

“How is it serving the Third Young Master? Not too difficult?”

“The harder it is for me, the more comfortable the Young Master will be. It should be difficult, naturally.”

Gi Yang smiled slightly.

That’s right.

He thought perhaps the unfamiliarity he had felt earlier was just his imagination.

Though his appearance and temperament had changed, Ma Dong-pil was still Ma Dong-pil.

“It’s a shame you don’t have much time. Make sure to stop by soon. Let’s share a drink and catch up.”

“I will. Please tell the Deputy Captain I’m sorry I can’t attend the ceremony.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Shortly after, having received the tea leaves from Lee Gunseong, Ma Dong-pil rose without delay.

Watching Ma Dong-pil’s retreating figure from afar, Gi Yang spoke.

“Did you feel it too, Senior?”

“I did.”

Concern clouded Gi Yang’s face.

“No matter how I think about it, that killing intent isn’t normal. Even a murderous fiend who kills as easily as eating wouldn’t emit such killing intent.”

“…”

“I wonder if something’s wrong.”

“It means he’s living a life dangerous enough to naturally emit such killing intent.”

“Of course, but what I mean is…”

“People change when their environment changes. The Third Captain has adapted to his environment. And he’s still alive with all his limbs intact.”

“…”

“Though it’s regrettable, isn’t it fortunate that he at least appears healthy?”

Gi Yang sighed.

A look of concern suddenly crossed Lee Gunseong’s face.

He’s gotten stronger.

The martial prowess of Third Captain Ma Dong-pil after eight months.

He had become unbelievably strong in less than a year. His internal energy had increased remarkably, as if he had consumed some spiritual medicine, and his qi control had become equally masterful.

That’s why he’s worried.

Such killing intent leaked despite his qi control. It was impossible to imagine how terrible Ma Dong-pil’s killing intent would be when engaged in actual combat.

What kind of life has he been living?

He must have frequently fought against demonic beasts. But what kind of demonic beasts remained unknown.

Even the Law Enforcement Court’s guardians who had managed the Solitary Bamboo Forest for years had never entered its core. The same was true for Lee Gunseong.

The position of personal guard to the Third Young Master. He must feel pressured. He probably crossed countless lines between life and death to protect the Young Master.

Gi Yang asked quietly.

“Will he continue to manage well?”

“Of course.”

Lee Gunseong forced a smile as he answered.

“He’ll return even stronger. That’s what I believe.”

***

Swoosh.

At the entrance to the Solitary Bamboo Forest.

Ma Dong-pil checked his condition one more time.

I’ve gathered everything.

He had acquired new weapons, obtained medicinal herbs from his Blood Soul Pavilion colleague, and received Cave Pine Tea leaves from the First Captain.

Shall I go?

Whoosh!

Ma Dong-pil’s body shot forward like a white streak.

Though he wasn’t using his movement technique at full power, he seemed twice as fast as eight months ago. His once rigid posture had become fairly free-flowing, and his formerly forward-fixed gaze now swept freely left and right.

The ease with which he employed martial arts proved how well he understood them. The brutal experiences of the past eight months had elevated his martial way to a new level.

Having found his identity as a proud warrior rather than just a guard, Ma Dong-pil was a master whose future growth held great promise.

After running for some time.

Ahhhhh!

A beautiful woman’s voice echoed from somewhere in the forest.

Of course, it wasn’t a real woman. It was the sound of a demonic beast that had crawled to the forest’s outer reaches.

An eerily beautiful voice.

A Siren Bird^[2].

It wasn’t a particularly dangerous demonic beast. Though its voice could cause seizures in those with weak internal energy, this didn’t apply to Ma Dong-pil.

Ma Dong-pil passed by the sound with familiarity.

Before adapting to the forest, he would have hunted it down without fail. He had feared future consequences.

But not anymore. Neither Ma Dong-pil nor Seo Ryang were weak enough to fall prey to such a minor demonic beast. There was no need to waste energy.

Whoosh!

After running for another quarter-hour, he finally spotted his residence, the Solitary Bamboo Courtyard.

Clack!

He stopped and extended his qi sense.

Woong!

His demonic qi spread out. It was qi that showed incomparable qualitative improvement from before.

As he surveyed the surroundings, Ma Dong-pil tilted his head. He couldn’t sense the Young Master’s presence.

“Did he go out?”

He heaved a deep sigh.

“Moving alone again.”

He wouldn’t go to dangerous areas. He had promised never to do so unless they went together.

Still, he couldn’t help but worry. He was concerned about what might happen if something went wrong.

“…Though he’s no longer someone who would fall prey to demonic beasts.”

Ma Dong-pil’s eyes flickered.

His usually stoic face showed undisguised admiration and respect that bordered on reverence.

Ma Dong-pil had grown stronger. Thanks to the spiritual bamboo they had fortunately harvested being refined into high-quality spiritual medicine through Seo Ryang’s Boundless Arts, some of which had entered Ma Dong-pil’s body.

The medicinal power was so extraordinary that he hadn’t even dissolved half of it yet. Nevertheless, his danjeon had already doubled in size.

While a larger danjeon didn’t automatically mean stronger martial arts, it was common knowledge that it would greatly aid future development. That alone was incredible luck and remarkable growth.

Meanwhile, Seo Ryang had surpassed even that level.

Even with his enlightenment…

Ma Dong-pil shook his head.

Everything about the Young Master was incomprehensible. It was all beyond what ordinary people could understand.

“I should clean up while waiting for his return.”

After entering the Solitary Bamboo Courtyard and organizing the supplies, Ma Dong-pil picked up a broom.

Swish! Swish!

With each sweep, bamboo leaves scattered. The dirty courtyard became spotless in an instant.

After easily cleaning the courtyard, he thoroughly tidied everything from Seo Ryang’s room to his own room, the storage room, and even the kitchen. His sweeping and wiping showed almost masterful refinement from familiarity.

“This should do.”

Having finished all the cleaning in less than half an hour, he glanced up at the sky.

“The sun should be setting soon.”

Rustle rustle.

Ma Dong-pil’s eyes deepened.

In the distance, bamboo stalks swayed. demonic beasts seemed to be feeding on the bamboo.

They’ve gotten closer.

The Solitary Bamboo Courtyard was the safest place in the Solitary Bamboo Forest.

But that was now a thing of the past. Currently, demonic beast appearances in the Solitary Bamboo Courtyard were as frequent as in the middle regions of the Solitary Bamboo Forest, and would only increase.

It’s going to get more and more tiring.

Just then.

Screech!

Screams of demonic beasts erupted from where the bamboo had been swaying.

Ma Dong-pil watched the area calmly while moving his hand to the long sword at his waist. He was ready to draw at any moment.

Some time passed.

Rustle. Rustle.

An unknown presence gradually approaching.

Tension filled Ma Dong-pil’s eyes. The spiritual energy of the Solitary Bamboo Forest was identical to that of demonic beasts, making it impossible to sense their presence until they came within a certain distance.

Heavy and steady footsteps. Not an Ape Beast… but dragging something?

Woong.

A subtle demonic qi rose from Ma Dong-pil’s body.

The unknown presence drew closer, slowly but surely.

Grip.

Strong force entered his hand as he gripped the sword hilt.

Shortly after, the presence revealed itself.

“Oh? You’re back already? I told you to spend some time catching up with your colleagues.”

Ma Dong-pil let out a relieved sigh as he relaxed at the familiar face.

“You’re ba-“

Suddenly, he couldn’t continue speaking.

The young man’s body was drenched in blood, and the demonic beast he was dragging was savagely mutilated.

“…A Lù Shǔ?!”

“Finally caught the bastard. Fuck, it was tough.”

The young man, Seo Ryang, grinned.

“Put water in the pot. Let’s try some deer meat.”