Chapter 6: The Screams of Dragon-Severed Valley

1. Fog of the Battlefield

The wind howled through the jagged rocks of Dragon-Severed Valley.

It was a sharp, piercing sound—like the synchronized wailing of a thousand vengeful ghosts trapped inside the stone.

Mu Jin bit his lip, suppressing the feral hunger clawing at the edges of his mind.

The starvation was not merely physical.

It was a biological void, a hunger that demanded to be filled by any means necessary.

[Minerva: Bio-signals detected at 512.4 meters ahead.]
[Detection: Metallic friction and high-frequency screams.]
[Status: Active combat situation.]

Mu Jin’s gaze shifted toward a bend in the canyon.

It was the only road leading toward the Qinghai Highlands.

A dozen wagons had formed a defensive circle.

They were surrounded by warriors dressed in pitch-black veils.

The tattered flag fluttering above the wagons read:

Man-Ri Merchant Company.

[Minerva: We must pass through there to head west.]
[The density of killing intent is high. Calculating potential physical backlash.]

Before Minerva could finish her analysis, Mu Jin’s hand was already resting on the hilt of his blade.

His senses—sharpened to a lethal edge by hunger—read the battlefield air with unnatural clarity.

His eyes began to glow with a chilling silver radiance.

The killing intent leaking from his skin threatened to freeze the air itself.

[Minerva: Administrator, calm down.]
[Sync rate is dropping.]
[Low-output stabilization is sufficient to suppress them.]

Mu Jin exhaled slowly, forcing the rising urge to slaughter back into his chest.

“I’ll try… to be gentle.”

---

2. The Phantom’s Strike

Mu Jin kicked off the ground, leaping forward with the grace of a hunting leopard.

The veiled men were seconds away from driving their blades into the throats of the caravan guards.

Mu Jin slipped between them like a ghost.

No flashy techniques.

No thunderous battle cries.

Just a light motion of his arm.

A casual kick delivered with the indifference of a god.

Each strike carried the essence of Archeon—pure, unfiltered power.

CRACK—!
KABOOM—!

The weapons of the veiled men shattered into powder.

Their steel collapsed like tofu beneath Mu Jin’s overwhelming physical strength.

The assassins slammed into the canyon walls before they could even scream.

“Wh… what in the world…?!”

The people inside the defensive circle stared in shock.

A middle-aged man dressed in rich silk approached cautiously.

“Young Hero, thank you for saving our caravan!”

The man introduced himself as Wei Myung-hwan, head of the merchant company.

Mu Jin simply pointed toward the western horizon.

His daughter, Wei So-yeon, stood beside him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“We’re also heading to Qinghai! Would you consider traveling with us?”

“Food and compensation will be provided!”

At the word food, Mu Jin’s stomach roared loudly.

[Minerva: Efficient proposal.]
[Bio-energy levels are approaching the critical threshold. Accept.]

Mu Jin kept his expression perfectly blank and gave a short nod.

“Fine. I will accompany you until Qinghai.”

---

3. The Bottomless Void

After joining the caravan, Mu Jin’s first destination was the table.

Minerva projected his status into his mind in real time.

Wei Myung-hwan brought out dried beef and bowls of steaming porridge.

Fresh rice balls released clouds of savory steam.

Mu Jin devoured the food without caring about dignity.

Each bite came with burning pain in his empty stomach.

[Minerva: Energy efficiency below 1.84%.]
[However, continued intake is required to maintain metabolism.]

Only 1.84%…

The road ahead will be long.

Mu Jin chewed the jerky with a faint trace of irritation.

Wei So-yeon watched him with fascination before finally speaking.

“Young Hero, what sect did you learn your martial arts from?”

“I’ve never seen such fluid movements without killing intent.”

Mu Jin hesitated.

Minerva answered first.

[Minerva: Identity concealment recommended.]
[State you are the disciple of a mountain hermit.]

“I trained under a master in the mountains,” Mu Jin said calmly.

“The sect has no name.”

The vague answer only seemed to intrigue So-yeon further.

“I won’t ask if it’s uncomfortable!”

“Our caravan carries many rare jewels and medicines from the West.”

At the word jewels, Minerva’s tone brightened.

[Minerva: High-energy ores detected.]
[Acquiring them may increase my calculation capacity.]
[Scanning the caravan warehouse is recommended.]

Mu Jin wiped crumbs from his lips and looked toward the horizon.

This escort might yield more than just food.

---

4. The Poisonous Flower of Night

During the day, the caravan had seemed peaceful.

Night revealed its true nature.

The camp was set earlier than usual.

Bowls of savory meat porridge were distributed.

The cook, Mr. Jang, smiled kindly.

“Eat well, everyone. Tomorrow’s pass will be difficult.”

Fooled by his gentle tone, the guards emptied their bowls.

But the moment Mu Jin tasted the porridge, his senses sharpened.

A faint metallic aftertaste touched his tongue.

[Minerva: Chemical analysis complete.]
[Detected substance: Soul-Dreaming Powder.]
[Initiating detoxification.]

Mu Jin’s Dantian spun quietly, devouring the poison before it reached his bloodstream.

He collapsed beside the fire, pretending to fall asleep.

One by one, the guards collapsed.

Even Wei Myung-hwan sank into deep unconsciousness.

A soft rustle broke the silence.

“Is everyone out?”

Mr. Jang’s voice had changed.

Cold.

Predatory.

Dark figures emerged from the forest like living shadows.

Black Wind Bandits.

---

5. Shadow Hunting

“Well done, Jang. That was almost too easy,” the bandit leader said, resting a massive greatsword on his shoulder.

Mr. Jang bowed eagerly.

“Don’t forget the jewels you promised. Enough for a lifetime.”

“Relax,” the leader laughed.

“The dead don’t tell stories.”

One of the bandits approached Mu Jin’s body.

“This brat looks well-fed. I’ll take his clothes.”

The moment his hand touched Mu Jin’s shoulder—

Mu Jin’s eyes snapped open.

“Didn’t you learn not to touch what isn’t yours?”

“W-What?! How are you aw—ACK!”

Mu Jin grabbed the bandit’s wrist.

CRACK.

The bones shattered instantly.

The man collapsed before he could scream.

The temperature of the entire camp dropped sharply.

“Who is that?!” the bandit leader roared.

Dozens of blades pointed toward Mu Jin.

Mu Jin stood slowly and brushed dust from his robe.

[Minerva: 32 enemies detected.]
[Includes three first-class experts.]
[5% output sufficient for total neutralization.]

“Minerva.”

“Release the energy.”

A translucent silver pressure erupted from Mu Jin’s body.

It was a gravity so heavy it felt capable of crushing the earth.

---

6. Merciless Judgment

Mu Jin vanished.

He crossed the camp in an instant.

THUD!
THUD!
THUD!

His fists struck the chests of the nearest bandits.

The sound of bones shattering tore through the night.

Mu Jin moved through them like a scythe through wheat.

[Minerva: Strike trajectory error 0.01%.]
[Efficiency maximized.]

Each blow struck only vital points.

“You monster! Die!”

The bandit leader lunged with his greatsword.

Mu Jin didn’t dodge.

He simply extended his palm.

Archeon’s essence fused with Murim Qi.

KABOOM—!

The greatsword shattered like glass.

The leader flew backward, smashing into a tree with his chest crushed inward.

The battle ended in a single exchange.

The remaining bandits collapsed to their knees in terror.

The guards began waking up.

Before them lay broken bandits and the trembling figure of Mr. Jang.

“M-Mu Jin So-hyup… what happened?”

Mu Jin kicked a pouch of Soul-Dreaming Powder toward them.

His cold gaze pierced the traitorous cook.

“The enemy was already inside your camp.”

Mr. Jang shrieked and clung to Wei Myung-hwan’s leg.

“Please save me! I was forced into this!”

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