The Academy’s Iljin in Charge — Chapter 23
The students who saw Baek Iljin walking out in front of the platforms with Dang Gye-hong gathered in groups of twos and threes and struck up a lively chatter.
“Who’s that following behind the professor?”
“Wait, isn’t that the special-pass student from the written exam, Baek Iljin?”
“Him again? What evil spirit possessed him that every professor keeps calling him out?”
“Ugh, just look at the sight of him in his school uniform. I’d call him out too.”
The students who had been chattering noisily fell silent as though dead the moment Dang Gye-hong quietly pulled out a bamboo root, as if they had never made a sound.
Baek Iljin grabbed the rope and began climbing onto the platforms. The students all reacted differently upon seeing him.
Hailin watched comfortably, thinking, *He was raised by a dragon, so of course he’ll do well.*
Elia showed nothing outwardly. But perhaps because she was worried inside, her clenched fists were soaked with sweat.
Seol Hayun, Namgung Jongsu, Mo Yongseok, Jegal Muhyeok, and the others showed no particular reaction. And unlike them, Hwangbo Cheolsu shouted noisily as he cheered for Baek Iljin.
“Iljin! Fighting! Play— play— Baek Iljin!”
“Ugh, be quiet! I’m dying of embarrassment.”
Hwangbo Sujeong, who had calmed the loudly cheering Hwangbo Cheolsu, covered her eyes with her hand because she was too worried to watch properly.
Of course, since she covered them with her palm spread wide open, she could see everything in front of her perfectly clearly.
Dang Gye-hong rested his chin on his hand as he watched Baek Iljin lightly settle onto Platform No. 1.
*Is this kid really something special?*
He had sent him up there to mess with him because the kid had been nodding in the corner pretending to understand when he looked like he had understood nothing, but seeing him now, didn’t he look quite confident?
“You must absolutely not use internal energy or magic power. If you wish to give up even now, raise your hand.”
“I will begin immediately.”
“Very well, begin.”
Taking Dang Gye-hong’s voice as a signal, Baek Iljin moved his foot to Platform No. 2 without hesitation. His movements as he continued to step on the next platforms contained not a single wasted motion.
He did not sway loosely and flexibly like Dang Gye-hong, but because there was absolutely no unnecessary movement, Baek Iljin’s form was lofty and elegant.
*The platform positions are arranged more intricately than I thought.*
Even as he thought this, his feet smoothly took the platforms without the slightest pause.
By the time he had reached Platform 10, 20, and before they knew it, Platform 100, the students unconsciously let out exclamations of admiration.
“Wow……”
“Amazing……”
The same was true for Namgung Jongsu.
Namgung Jongsu, who had fallen into shock, had unknowingly unfolded his arms and was taking in Baek Iljin’s movements with astonished eyes.
*I-it’s unbelievable. How can he move like that without any internal energy?*
In Namgung Jongsu’s eyes, if Dang Gye-hong’s Drunken Steps were the movements of a completely intoxicated drunkard swaying unsteadily after downing numerous mugs of thick unrefined liquor or aromatic liquor, then Baek Iljin’s were the movements of someone who had refined the rising drunken qi after drinking high-class wine or whiskey.
*……A genius.*
A wall.
An impossibly high wall that seemed like it could never be overcome.
Namgung Jongsu had once thought of himself as a genius too, but after encountering walls twice before, that thought had completely changed.
*Hwangbo Cheolsu, Mo Yongseok.*
Hwangbo Cheolsu possessed the Cheonmujiche (天武肢體 — a divine body bestowed by heaven for martial arts), and Mo Yongseok also had immense internal energy obtained through Gyeokchejeonlyeok (隔體傳力 — transferring internal energy to another).
But those two walls had not brought him despair. Because he had considered them cheating.
He had comforted and compromised with himself, thinking, *If I exclude things with different starting lines like Cheonmujiche and Gyeokchejeonlyeok, my talent for hard work is the best.*
As a result, he had enrolled in the academy, where only prodigies gathered, as 2nd place in the martial arts exam and proved that his efforts had not been in vain. No, he had believed he proved it.
*But just how……!*
Namgung Jongsu felt a wall again that he had never thought he would encounter again in his life. The wall he felt this time was on a different dimension from the walls he had felt before.
Before, because he had the mindset that the starting lines were unequal, he had rationalized to himself that the wall had not been erected in front of him, but off to the side. That was how he could avoid it.
But this time, his own starting line was actually ahead.
*This…… is a wall blocking my path ahead……*
The shadow of jealousy that had been hidden behind the mask of bravado rose up and devoured Namgung Jongsu.
*Then what does my effort even amount to?*
Was it no longer of any value?
Having encountered a monster with overwhelming talent, Namgung Jongsu began to look pitiful even to himself.
“Ha, haha……”
Didn’t they say the final destination of jealousy toward others is hatred of oneself?
Without even realizing it, internal energy flowed out from Namgung Jongsu’s dantian. And the flowing internal energy raced through his acupoints in reverse order.
Soon, red and blue blood vessels bulged all over his body, and the capillaries in his eyes burst, dyeing his eyeballs red.
*Namgung Jongsu, that bastard……!*
Mo Yongseok, who had quickly noticed Namgung Jongsu’s state, instantly approached his side. And he slapped Namgung Jongsu hard across the cheek.
*Smack—*
The students who had been watching Baek Iljin’s Drunken Steps turned their heads toward Mo Yongseok and Namgung Jongsu at the sudden sound of the slap.
Professor Dang Gye-hong also put on an expression of interest and watched with his hands behind his back.
“Get a hold of yourself, Namgung Jongsu.”
“……?!”
“Are you planning to break down like that?”
“……Piss off. What do you know, what does someone who had everything from the beginning know—!”
Namgung Jongsu let out a roar filled with emotion, but not a hint of change appeared on Mo Yongseok’s expression as he looked at the howling Namgung Jongsu.
“I don’t. And I don’t particularly need to know either.”
“What?”
“Have you lived understanding the hearts of those born with less than you, born as the legitimate son of the Namgung Clan?”
“……”
“Pathetic bastard.”
Mo Yongseok, his eyes sharp, continued to fire back without his expression changing one bit.
“If you’re going to talk to me about starting lines, shouldn’t you have been the first to recognize that while living?”
“Th-that’s……”
“I considered your efforts sincere. I was even nervous at your words that you would surpass me someday.”
“……”
“But seeing your sorry state blinded by jealousy, you’re no different from a cockroach. If you don’t think you can endure it, get the hell out right now.”
Having said that, Mo Yongseok kicked Namgung Jongsu in the stomach to knock him down and approached Dang Gye-hong.
“I apologize, Professor. Since I caused a disturbance, I will accept demerit points without complaint.”
Dang Gye-hong lifted up Mo Yongseok, who remained bowed at a 90-degree angle and did not rise.
“Keh, keh. The situation seems too ambiguous to give only demerits, so let’s offset merit points against demerits and cover this matter up.”
“Thank you.”
Dang Gye-hong looked at Mo Yongseok, smiled as if satisfied with something, and nodded.
*One bastard.*
And he turned his head to Namgung Jongsu, who had dusted himself off and gotten up, now steadying his gaze.
*Two bastards.*
Finally, he gave his gaze to Baek Iljin as well, then pulled up the corners of his mouth.
*And lastly this monster bastard too…… This year’s freshmen are quite something.*
Dang Gye-hong called out to Baek Iljin, who had already finished the Drunken Steps and come down.
“Yes, Professor.”
“What enlightenment did you gain while watching and attempting the Drunken Steps?”
Hearing the word enlightenment, the students closed their mouths and perked up their ears, waiting for Baek Iljin’s answer.
Clues about enlightenment were a topic of interest to anyone regardless of examination type.
“I thought it was movement of extreme efficiency.”
“Keh, keh, keh— The staggering footsteps of a drunkard wandering this way and that?”
“Yes.”
When the desired answer did not come out, the students let out disappointed sighs. But Dang Gye-hong did not stop smiling and asked again.
“But your Drunken Steps looked quite different from mine. Is there a reason you executed the footwork that way?”
“I modified the upper body’s movements to move more efficiently.”
“Then does modifying the upper body’s movements mean that I was not moving efficiently?”
“No. It is just that there were parts in the Drunken Steps you showed that did not match my body type, so I adjusted those parts to fit my physique.”
Baek Iljin spoke indifferently. But Dang Gye-hong could not hide his surprise inwardly.
*What, he created movements tailored to his own body after seeing it just once…… Keh, keh. He’s the real deal! The real deal!*
Dang Gye-hong took an immediate liking to this kid called Baek Iljin. If it weren’t for his position as a professor, he would have taken him in as a disciple right away.
“But I have one last thing I’m curious about.”
“Yes.”
“If you changed the movements because of body type……”
“……?”
“Does it mean that swaying, loose movements suit my body type, while straight, stretching movements like yours suit your body?”
Baek Iljin nodded in affirmation.
“That is correct.”
Depending on one’s perspective, it was an extremely rude answer, but the honest answer made Dang Gye-hong’s mood improve even more.
Dang Gye-hong patted Baek Iljin’s shoulder and took out a token granting merit points from his bosom.
“Keh, keh— Giving merits to a delinquent who came to school without wearing his uniform….. that’s a first for me too.”
“Thank you.”
“You may return to your seat now. Keh, keh—”
After sending Baek Iljin back to his seat, Dang Gye-hong gathered the students.
“Class ends here for today. I will leave the platforms as they are in the training ground until the placement exams, so do not neglect your practice.”
“Yes!”
* * *
As soon as class ended, Hwangbo Cheolsu approached Baek Iljin, grabbed his hand, and jumped up and down.
“Iljin! You have talent in martial arts too! Congratulations on the merits!”
“Thanks.”
“By the way, I thought I’d die of boredom in martial arts class. If I didn’t know how to sleep with my eyes open, I wouldn’t have made it through alive.”
Hwangbo Sujeong grabbed Hwangbo Cheolsu’s ear and twisted it after hearing his proud words.
“Ugh— Is that something to be proud of? You’re ruining the Hwangbo Clan’s reputation all by yourself.”
“Aaaaah! It hurts!”
“Anyway, this is troublesome. The Drunken Steps look difficult to learn……”
Hwangbo Sujeong, twisting her body as she spoke, glanced at Baek Iljin.
“It would be nice if someone good helped……”
“I’m here! I’ll help…… Eek!”
Hwangbo Sujeong sent a murderous glare at Hwangbo Cheolsu, who was butting in without reading the room.
“Iljin. Can you help Crystal instead of me?”
“Sure……”
“I will help.”
Before Baek Iljin could finish speaking, Seol Hayun, who had approached his side at some point, cut in and interrupted.
“If you are learning footwork, physical contact is unavoidable, so learning from me rather than a man would be a bit more comfortable. I also did wrong last time, so I will help you with all my heart.”
“What?!”
“Why are you looking at me like that? I am quite knowledgeable in footwork as well, so you needn’t worry.”
Hwangbo Sujeong glanced at Seol Hayun, but she couldn’t very well throw a tantrum about learning from Baek Iljin in this situation.
*Ha…… Life!*
Hwangbo Cheolsu entrusted Hwangbo Sujeong to Seol Hayun and exited the training ground with Baek Iljin.
Hwangbo Cheolsu discovered Namgung Jongsu standing in front of the training ground door and greeted him.
“Huh? Jones! What happened to your cheek, are you okay? It looks like someone hit you!”
“You really got hit proper.”
Baek Iljin hadn’t seen Namgung Jongsu get hit because he was showcasing the Drunken Steps, and Hwangbo Cheolsu hadn’t seen the situation because he had been dozing off.
Namgung Jongsu blushed briefly at their words and changed the subject.
“……Don’t worry about that. I came because I have something to say to you, Baek Iljin.”
*Nod.*
Suddenly, Namgung Jongsu clasped his hands in a martial salute toward Baek Iljin and shouted.
“Baek Iljin, I have something to say!”
“……?”
The students murmured and surrounded them. Once a certain number of people had gathered, Namgung Jongsu opened his mouth.
“Baek Iljin! I, Namgung Jongsu, have decided to acknowledge you. Let me swear before the classmates gathered here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I will show you that I will work harder so as not to be caught up to by you, and so as not to show you a shameful appearan…… *Buuurp—!*”
Baek Iljin frowned and grabbed his nose at the thunderous belch that erupted from Namgung Jongsu as he spoke.
“What is that.”
Just then, the wind blew and that odor reached the students as well.
“What is this smell……?”
“It smells like a rotten Fire Burger?”
“Ugh— Where did that bastard Namgung Jongsu go! Get him!”
But Namgung Jongsu had already fled the scene.