Chapter 283 Listen, Entrance Exam. (2)
A day passed.
As soon as morning broke, I came out of the inn.
Since it was a predetermined schedule, I had prepared to leave in advance.
Winter was still cold.
In contrast, the sky was clear.
The rain that had been falling for the past few days felt as if it had been an illusion.
"Horribly high."
Even while moving my steps. Deep sighs escaped me at the towering mountain.
What a crazy place.
Why is there such a mountain in Henan?
Every time I see it, I'm dumbfounded.
In my past life, I climbed this mountain and fainted from exhaustion halfway up.
'Moron.'
If it was hard, I could have just rested in the middle.
I was conscious of others' gazes and pushed myself.
And ended up embarrassing myself instead.
Just thinking about it gave me goosebumps; it was such a shameful anecdote.
I guess it's one of the big reasons I consider my regression a blessing.
"In the past..."
As I was diligently climbing the mountain, Dang So-yeol, who was following behind, spoke up.
"They say it's a mountain that was created when the Blood Demon Great War occurred."
Wiping her sweat slightly as she explained.
It seemed she noticed the question on my face: 'Why is this damn mountain here?'
"Created?"
"Yes...! I heard it was created from a battle with the Fist King of that generation."
"Hmm?"
Hearing Dang So-yeol's words, my face scrunched up completely. Because it was such an absurd story.
Speaking of the Fist King of that generation. It's another title for the Iron Fist King Yeon Il-cheon.
Then that means it's a mountain created from the battle between Yeon Il-cheon and the Blood Demon.
It's not even a natural disaster.
What kind of bizarre talk is this, that a mountain was created from a battle.
'A human natural disaster, seriously?'
How could a human create such a massive mountain through a battle.
'...Hmm.'
Even while thinking that, looking at it objectively.
I did think I could probably manage a small hill.
But this level is impossible.
This is Mount Tai.
'First of all, putting that aside.'
I don't know if it's a false rumor or an exaggerated story.
Putting that aside.
While climbing the mountain, something other than stamina was difficult.
'Damn, so many people are staring.'
The glances piercing through.
Every single one of them bothered me.
The path up the mountain was long.
And wide.
Moreover, since there was a set time, many people were moving to make it on time.
Most of them were rising stars....
No, to be exact, it would be right to say they were all rising stars.
The others interspersed among them were likely guards escorting the bloodline descendants of the prestigious families.
Excluding them, it was truly filled only with young martial artists.
Our party was enough to draw their gazes.
Whispering voices continuously reached my ears.
- Poison Phoenix...? That person is the Poison Phoenix, right?
- Next to her looks like Snow Phoenix?
- Wow.... Unbelievably pretty.
Most of the sounds were admiration.
The reason there was no talk of Namgung Bi-a amidst this was.
Because she had covered herself well with a veil.
And Namgung Bi-a herself was hiding her presence.
'It's a relief she's using it well.'
I was worried because she hadn't used it for a while.
Whew.
Perhaps feeling burdened by the crowd, Namgung Bi-a hid herself.
Thanks to that, it became relatively more comfortable.
But it wasn't completely comfortable either.
- Then who is that guy? Who is he?
- Who? The person in the back?
- No, the one at the very front.... The scary-looking guy.
- There are two men. But why only the man at the front?
- The guy in the back is handsome.
- Ah.
Those bastards...?
When I glared intensely at their constant mumbling.
They flinched in surprise and shut their mouths.
The handsome guy in the back was referring to Gu Jue-ryeop, for reference.
Appearance discrimination even when I'm outside.
Life is still look-ism.
Fuck.
'At least, fortunately, they don't seem to know who I am.'
This was probably thanks to not doing anything particularly notable after the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
Back then too.
'I did well to deliberately cover my face a bit.'
Just as Namgung Bi-a did.
I also covered my face and moved about.
To be exact, I only hid my presence.
Since I had to spar, I couldn't completely eliminate my aura.
I had adjusted it to a level where one could only remember it if they stared intently with concentration.
'That's why it's suspicious.'
A few days ago on the street.
When I subdued Jin-ryong and Yeong-pung.
- That face...! It's Jin-ryong!
There was a guy who recognized me.
At the time, everyone just let it slide, thinking it was something like that.
But I had a question about it.
'Who could it have been.'
I couldn't figure out who it was in the end.
But the uneasiness still remained.
For it to be a coincidence.
I had deliberately taken measures so that such a coincidence couldn't occur.
If it were a martial artist who had surpassed the Peak Realm, it would probably be possible to pierce through my veil and see my face.
But would a martial artist of that level.
suddenly hide among ordinary people on the street and ungracefully shout, "It's Jin-ryong!"?
Furthermore.
'He wasn't caught by my senses.'
Even the fact that he pierced through my senses and escaped.
There were more than a few reasons to be suspicious.
'I guess I need to be careful.'
I intended to just let it slide moderately.
Looking at the situation, I need to be a bit more vigilant.
Along with the need for fame.
This was the part I was worried about.
'Once my name gets out, fucking bastards will start clinging to me.'
It's the same in any situation.
It was something I had already expected.
'But it's faster than I thought.'
Who could it be.
To be exact, where could they be from.
No.
If I'm curious, I should look for them.
If I just catch them, I'll be able to find out.
Because I'm somewhat of an expert in that area.
As I was thinking and smoothing my lips.
"Are you okay?"
Mo Yong-heui-a, who was walking beside me, asked.
"Okay about what?"
"Your expression... it's a familiar expression."
"Familiar?"
Do I make this expression often?
"Ah, no. It's an expression I often make."
"Hmm?
What do you mean.
When I had a question, Mo Yong-heui-a added an explanation.
"Just try getting caught, I'll show you what hell is."
"...Huh?"
"It's an expression I often make when I feel the same way, and you, young master, were making exactly that expression."
"...."
It was so accurate that I lost my words for a moment.
Seeing my dumbfounded face, Mo Yong-heui-a smiled brightly.
"Young master, you really can't hide your true expressions."
"...I hear that a lot."
I thought I had hidden it quite well.
After my regression, that hasn't been working well.
Why is that.
Is it because I've gotten a little used to peace?
"I need to fix it."
"You don't have to."
"Hmm? Why?"
"Because I like you better that way, young master."
At the words she spilled as naturally as flowing water. A brief silence fell.
Wondering what was going on, I checked her face.
'...She turned red?'
I could see that Mo Yong-heui-a's cheeks were rarely tinged with red.
It seemed like it was a word she hadn't intended to spill out.
"The apple is ripe. Red."
"Ugh...."
At my playfully thrown words.
Mo Yong-heui-a's cold face crumbles.
Looking like that, she's cuter than I thought....
'...Cute?'
Crazy bastard.
To think I considered Mo Yong-heui-a of all people cute.
Did I lose my mind because climbing the mountain is hard?
'But it's not particularly hard.'
.
!..
.
With the training I've done so far. There was no way I'd struggle with something like this.
I must just be a little tired today.
I brush my hair back.
Then, as the cool breeze continued to blow, I felt a bit better.
The Shinryonggwan is located at the top of the mountain.
But that wasn't where we were heading.
A place a little less deep than that.
To enter the prestigious Shinryonggwan.
Damn it, I had to take an entrance exam.
This meant they wouldn't accept just anyone.
It also meant that as an educational institution, they would only accept those with high-quality talent.
From prestigious families with renowned reputations.
Since they were rising stars sent by recognized prestigious sects, they were already composed entirely of outstanding individuals.
And they were saying they would filter them out again and only accept the best.
In a way, this could be hurtful to one's pride.
But for those selected, it implicitly meant they were even more outstanding among the talented.
So those who valued honor and name value so highly would drool over it.
If you get in that way.
Birds of a feather flock together, making networking easier.
It felt like the original purpose of education was unimportant.
Of course, even excluding all that.
Ultimately, I had long known I was coming because of the name value of being a Shinryonggwan graduate.
'And.'
Just like the saying that it's the best swordsmanship educational institution.
The level of education isn't bad either.
'...Though most prestigious families could teach it at home.'
Especially if you're a bloodline descendant.
With the family head and elders there, there's no need to deliberately go to an institution.
"Gu Yang-cheon of the Shanxi Gu Family. Verification complete. Proceed to Group 8."
Perhaps because it's the Alliance's territory.
The ones verifying were also people from the Murim Alliance.
After moderately finishing the identity verification, I even received my group assignment.
Glance.
During the verification, the person who confirmed my place of origin and name glanced at me.
The look in his eyes clearly said, 'Is this guy really that guy?'
I'll probably have to receive those looks for a while.
Now, even getting angry was bothersome.
'The guys who aren't here, is it tomorrow for them?'
The reason figures like Jamryong and Geomryong weren't visible.
Was probably because those belonging to sects would take the exam separately tomorrow.
Today was the situation where only the bloodline descendants belonging to families took the exam first.
With a bit of exaggeration, it was a situation where all the rising stars in the country had gathered.
With just one day, it wouldn't be enough.
'Group 8, huh.'
It was obvious at a glance that they had divided the ranks by group.
As evidence, Mo Yong-heui-a and Dang So-yeol.
And Namgung Bi-a were assigned to Group 1.
'Then why am I in Group 8?'
It's not that I'm angry about not being treated as a prestigious family.
It's because I objectively felt something was strange.
The Gu Family isn't at a level to be ignored anywhere. Being in Group 8 isn't exactly a level to be ignored either.
When considering the position the Gu Family currently held in the Central Plains.
It was a slightly ambiguous number.
"Hmm....
Honestly, it didn't really matter.
I know they just divided the groups and there are no special privileges.
So it shouldn't matter much.
What I'm a little worried about is, if the other Gu bastards throw a fit....
'That probably won't happen....'
Looking at Gu Yeon-seo with a hint of worry.
Gu Yeon-seo was making a somewhat blank expression.
Seeing that, it seemed the Sword Empress did listen to my request and actually visited in the middle of the night.
Seeing that, I could let out a slight sigh of relief inwardly.
'Even if it's not perfect.'
Rather than removing the demonic mind.
It felt like it was covered with something else.
The best method for a sword practitioner in the end.
If they cannot escape it themselves.
Is to implant a proper figure for them to chase.
Or captivate them with the sword.
So they can't even think of anything else.
Of course, even with that, one can still be trapped in the demonic mind.
Chasing a sword path that doesn't work is also a sin.
However.
I thought it wouldn't be bad for Gu Yeon-seo.
'Of course, if this doesn't work...'
I was going to try 'something else', but it seemed I wouldn't need to.
At least for now, that is.
'Will she even pass in the first place?'
I had rolled something out for Gu Jue-ryeop, so I wasn't worried.
Gu Yeon-seo was a bit ambiguous.
It was true she was outstanding compared to other rising stars.
Since she was at the tail end of the second-rate, it wasn't bad.
But whether she was at the level to enter the Shinryonggwan was a bit ambiguous.
In contrast, Gu Jue-ryeop.
As long as he didn't let his guard down like an idiot, he was at a level where he wouldn't fail.
Rather, I should worry about what happens if he fails.
'Because he'll get beaten to death by me.'
Making a fool out of me in the neighborhood, after I raised him so diligently.
If he can't even pass this one thing.
He needs to be scolded. Severely, I mean.
Flinch.
Gu Jue-ryeop, who was in the back, suddenly flinched and distanced himself from me, perhaps feeling a chill.
Seeing that, I asked.
"Why."
"...It's nothing. For some reason, I just felt like I was going to get hit."
"Tch... At least you're quick to catch on."
"Yes...?"
It was amusing seeing Gu Jue-ryeop make a shocked expression.
Ah, but it's not a joke.
If he fails, I really intend to smash him to pieces.
As I was passing the time teasing Gu Jue-ryeop like that.
I felt a presence approaching this way.
Who could it be, the person approaching me.
There was no one who would come to me right now.
Wondering who it was, I focused a little.
'Tch.'
I had to click my tongue as soon as I recognized them.
An aura full of unpleasantness rose up.
'Right, that bastard would be here too.'
I had originally entered remembering that.
It wasn't strange.
Even so, it was still.
"It's been a while."
An annoying guy to face, that much hadn't changed.
Especially since the intention of coming this way was obvious.
Seriously, why is he coming?
This guy is quite something.
The guy came closer and offered a smiling greeting.
The black patterns on his white martial uniform were still there.
His overly handsome face was the same as well.
Perhaps he had trained diligently during that time.
His improved physique compared to back then also caught my eye.
"Have you been well?"
"Yeah."
I forcefully suppressed the killing intent that threatened to rise to my throat.
If I couldn't hold it back and erupted here, things would really get messed up.
Not me, but the people around me, I mean.
If it were up to my heart, I'd flip him over first.
But I had to endure a little for the future.
So first, I had to hold it in tightly and spit it out as comfortably as I could within my limits.
I smiled at the guy in front of me.
And spoke to Jang Seon-yeon.
As affectionately as possible, that is.
"You motherfucker."
Phew.
This was the best I could do.
Whoosh.
The aura that was about to emanate through my shoulders scattered in the air.
I tried to slash out at once with a moderate amount of aura.
Funnily enough, the aura I tried to contain failed to be contained and fluttered away.
Click.
My arm, which was about to reach out and grab the hilt in an instant, froze.
Because it was blocked so that it couldn't be drawn by another's hand.
The very person who was about to draw the sword.
Wi Seol-a looked with somewhat cold eyes at the person who had blocked her hilt.
"You're more violent than expected, miss."
Fast yet slow.
Slow yet heavy voice.
At the unknown atmosphere emanating from there.
Wi Seol-a sharply raised her instincts.
As if noticing that, the young man continued speaking.
"Well, if you resemble your master, it's bound to be." "...."
"I don't know what you were trying to do, but it'd be better to hold back. Unless you don't want to go home as you are."
The young man grinned and gave her a warning.
How did he know?
The moment Jang Seon-yeon tried to approach him.
Wi Seol-a had tried to draw her sword.
To prevent him from getting close.
However.
'When?'
This young man had approached her side without her even realizing it.
He had killed his killing intent.
So no one could notice.
Wielding a sword without holding killing intent, that much was an easy task for Wi Seol-a.
So the young man who noticed this was even stranger.
As Wi Seol-a looked at the young man with a sharp gaze.
"You must be curious who I am."
The young man said to Wi Seol-a with a somewhat meaningful smile.
"Bi Ui-jin. Bi Ui-jin of the Bi Family."
Hearing the name, Wi Seol-a.
Had to make a visibly surprised expression.