Chapter 28 - The Second-Rate Warrior Who Dominates the Exam (3)

"The third exam is a practical martial arts sparring match. The sixteen examinees selected from the previous two exams, please step forward."

At Lee Jagon's words, the children who ultimately failed to make the top sixteen took their places on one side of the grand training ground.

Strangely enough, if there was one thing different from my past life, it was that there were no feelings of regret or unfairness left on the children's faces.

Simply seeing that Gye Cheolyeong did not dominate using his personal wealth seemed to leave them with no regrets about the exam results.

Scanning the examinees who had stepped forward, Lee Jagon said.

"Ranks will be determined based on the sparring match, so examinees, please do your best until the very end."

At that moment, one of the children outside the training ground raised his hand high.

It was Gwak Samnam, the third child of the Gwak family whose father worked in the guest house kitchen.

"Isn't the exam originally meant to select only one person to go to the Murim Academy? Why are you ranking us?"

Even though he had been interrupted, Lee Jagon smoothly continued his explanation, as if he did not mind.

"Of course, only one person can enroll. However, special prizes have been prepared to reward the examinees who have dedicated themselves to studying for the exam, so please do your best."

The eyes of the children who made the top sixteen began to sparkle as well.

With Saryeon and the Geum-eun-dong Brothers having already swept the top ranks, even if they couldn't get first place, they intended to seize the opportunity for second or third.

Moreover, these were gifts prepared by the Murim Alliance.

They were certainly precious items that could not be easily obtained even within the Taiyi Sect.

"Eldest Senior Brother, what is going on?"

Geumpyo approached with a puzzled expression.

"What is it?"

"Why is Eldest Senior Brother's rank eighth?"

I had seen Gye Cheolyeong's score in the first exam and deliberately adjusted my rank in the second exam.

"Isn't this just the result of wandering around without training hard?"

Geumpyo clicked his tongue and said.

"Don't spout such nonsense. You're the Senior Brother who wrote the book of past exam questions and even taught us the improved Lesser Heaven Sword Technique, yet this is the result?"

"Geez, this punk. Will your tone only be fixed after getting your bottom smacked?"

Since I had grown up with the three Geum-eun-dong brothers like real siblings since childhood, there was no formality between us.

Furthermore, Geumpyo, the eldest of the three brothers, was only a year younger than me.

Perhaps that was why Geumpyo often tried to grasp my intentions.

"Tell me honestly. Are you trying to yield to the junior disciples right now?"

"I'll win the third exam anyway, so what does it matter if my scores in the first and second exams are poor?"

"..."

An answer came from the side instead of from Geumpyo.

"Is that so?"

Turning his head, Geumpyo was startled, bowed his head, and after fidgeting restlessly, he quickly left the spot.

"..."

Before I knew it, the talent scout Lee Jagon had approached my side.

No matter how mature Geumpyo was, standing before a talent scout was bound to be quite uncomfortable.

I asked with a calm expression.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the state your scores came out in."

I shrugged my shoulders at him.

"I don't know if you heard, but it must be because I neglected my studies and frequently skipped training."

"And someone like that pinpointed the exam questions perfectly like tweezers, you mean?"

'How does this guy know about that?'

As I tilted my head in puzzlement, Lee Jagon said.

"I heard it from the examinees who received top scores."

"Is that... going to be a problem?"

"Couldn't it be a problem? Unless the exam was leaked."

"Leaking the exam paper of the Murim Alliance's talent scout. That's terrifying just to hear."

Lee Jagon's words were something that couldn't possibly be true from the start.

The management of the exam papers was strictly handled so that not even the Mantong Bureau, the highest authority of the Strategist Department, could carelessly interfere.

The exam papers getting leaked in such a situation?

Not only would the exam be invalidated, but everyone involved would be utterly fired.

So, Lee Jagon wasn't actually suspecting an exam leak right now.

He looked at me with an incredibly serious gaze.

"I'd like to hear your story."

"Isn't the exam starting soon?"

On the grand training ground, Saryeon, who was first place in the overall score, and Gong Jihyang, who was ninth, stepped up.

And a moment later, the talent scout warrior acting as the referee announced the start of the match.

"... You are coincidentally in eighth place."

I let out a small sigh.

Since I couldn't say I saw the exam paper in my past life, an excuse naturally flowed out.

"The exam is practically a mere formality anyway, isn't it? For most sects, the person who will go to the Murim Academy is already predetermined. Though in our case... it's a little special."

I slyly glanced at Gye Cheolyeong.

His eyes, watching the arena, were bloodshot like someone who hadn't slept a wink, and his chest was heaving as if he were excited.

Lee Jagon followed my gaze and looked at Gye Cheolyeong.

"I know about your sect's circumstances. It's not a particularly special story. What I'm curious about is something else."

Then he shifted his gaze back to me.

"This exam is different from the past. Meaning you can't just come up with a book of expected questions by referencing previous exams."

A sharp gaze shining as if it would pierce through everything.

Lee Jagon didn't seem to like beating around the bush.

I obediently nodded.

"I was simply lucky."

"You were lucky?"

"I just used the exam as an excuse to teach the junior disciples things that would be helpful to them later. It serves as good motivation, doesn't it?"

Lee Jagon's brow subtly contorted.

"Then why did you deliberately place yourself in eighth?"

"Who could possibly match..."

"I've already heard about you. They say you never forget what you've seen once?"

Lee Jagon was someone who would become famous enough later to make the moniker of Gentleman Iron Sword widely known.

He was renowned for displaying flawless sparring with his meticulous and thorough personality, and it seemed that trait was manifesting from here.

It seemed there was a limit to half-heartedly convincing him.

"It is to make the exam fair."

"Are you saying this exam isn't fair?"

I shook my head.

"The exam is fair. But I simply wanted to take the test on the same footing as my junior disciples."

"And lowering your rank on purpose is the result of that?"

"That's right."

Lee Jagon fell silent for a moment at my answer.

Eventually, he asked me.

"Why go out of your way to do such a thing?"

"Isn't there someone already viewing the exam unfairly?"

My gaze turned to Gye Cheolyeong once again, and Lee Jagon's gaze followed mine.

Lee Jagon watched him for a moment before speaking.

"That senior still hasn't realized that a shortcut can sometimes become a road to death."

"Aren't you going to stop him?"

"Stop what?"

There was no way an expert of Lee Jagon's level wouldn't sense that something was wrong.

He was clearly pretending not to know on purpose.

I asked more directly.

"Do you need to save face for your senior?"

Previously, Lee Jagon had spoken of the strictness of the exam to Jang Sagun and completely shot down his opinions in front of everyone.

Thanks to that, the disciples were also able to believe that this exam was fair.

Lee Jagon let out a small chuckle.

"A talent scout is unaffected by any institution within the Murim Alliance. Much less by some past, fleeting old sentiment."

"I see."

Lee Jagon seemed to have some sort of intention, but what it was did not easily reveal itself.

As I withdrew my gaze from Gye Cheolyeong and quietly watched Saryeon's sparring match, I could feel him staring intently at me.

"You seem to be suspecting something... Aren't you going to appeal your grievance?"

"..."

'What's this? He seems to be hoping I'll ask him for a favor.'

'... Why?'

"Are you thinking of having me owe you a debt?"

A strange light flashed in Lee Jagon's eyes at my counter-question.

"What if I am?"

"I'll refuse."

"I haven't even told you what the price of the debt will be."

"Whatever it is."

"Will you be okay with that?"

I hadn't even started real work for the Alliance yet, and I didn't have the slightest intention of owing a debt to anyone.

Moreover, Gye Cheolyeong pulling that stunt was entirely within my range of predictions.

"It doesn't matter."

I gave him a wide grin.

"I plan on making it fair myself anyway."

"..."

At some point, Lee Jagon's gaze had changed, looking at me as if wondering what kind of fascinating creature I was.

And just then.

"Waaaaah!"

"So cool!"

Gong Jihyang's sword went flying, and the talent scout warriors declared Hong Saryeon the winner.

The disciples and Hall Leaders spared no applause for Saryeon's excellent swordsmanship.

* * *

The exam didn't take long.

In the earlier group, Saryeon never exceeded thirty forms in any sparring match against the disciples.

Even without using a single bit of the Great Quake Divine Technique or Flash Lightning Sword Technique she had learned in secret, there wasn't a single disciple who could withstand Saryeon—who practiced all night, every night in the Sect Leader's private training ground—with just the martial arts taught in Busaeng Hall.

Defeating Eunho, who had advanced to the top four, Saryeon secured her place in the finals.

Up to this point, there wasn't much difference from my past life.

On the other hand, in the later group containing me and Gye Cheolyeong, Gye Cheolyeong displayed overwhelming skill.

If Saryeon hadn't exceeded thirty forms, Gye Cheolyeong showed off his terrifying momentum by not exceeding ten forms.

Because they could use martial arts freely in the third exam, Gye Cheolyeong used his Seeping Glory Sword without hesitation, and his first opponent had to watch as their own Blue Steel Sword was completely severed by his blade.

And finally.

"The next opponents are Gye Cheolyeong and Jin Sowoon!"

At the call of the talent scout warrior, Gye Cheolyeong and I stood facing each other on the training ground.

The one who won here would face Saryeon in the final match.

"I end up meeting you here after all."

Unlike his usual self, Gye Cheolyeong was radiating an immense fighting spirit in all directions.

His unbridled, projecting killing intent made my skin prickle just from standing still.

Furthermore, every time he breathed, thick white vapor puffed out of his mouth, creating an even greater sense of intimidation.

'... What the hell is that? It's creepy.'

"Are you tired? Your eyes are bloodshot."

"Yeah. That's right. I'm tired, so I plan to end this quickly and get some rest."

As Gye Cheolyeong adopted his opening stance, the talent scout warrior standing in the middle backed away.

Instead of adopting my own opening stance against him, I approached Gye Cheolyeong.

And I whispered softly.

"That's probably not it. You want to end this quickly because of the Blood-Detonation Pill, don't you?"

"...!!!"

Gye Cheolyeong's eyes shot wide open.

Even in my past life, Gye Cheolyeong used the Blood-Detonation Pill, worried about Hong Saryeon tailing right behind him.

Thanks to that, Gye Cheolyeong enrolled in the Murim Academy and ultimately even became a Murim Alliance officer, enjoying wealth, honor, and continuous success throughout his entire life.

On the other hand, Hong Saryeon served her mandatory duty as a low-ranking warrior, doing all sorts of menial tasks before dying as a meat shield in the Orthodox-Demonic Great War.

I only learned of this fact after the Orthodox-Demonic Great War had broken out and I got to read the documents in the Mantong Bureau.

It was long after the time had passed to set things right.

Gye Cheolyeong's eyes wavered violently.

"How..."

"I am going to set right what is wrong."

Before Gye Cheolyeong could say anything, I also adopted an opening stance and lunged straight for his throat.

CLANG!

The force of Gye Cheolyeong deflecting my sword surged in heavily.

Gye Cheolyeong bit his lip hard.

"You won't be able to do anything!"

"Is that really so?"

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG.

I drew up five-tenths of my internal energy and executed the original Lesser Heaven Sword Technique.

Gye Cheolyeong confidently unleashed the Seeping Glory Sword, and the swift sword strikes I swung were easily blocked and abruptly cut off by his sword shadows.

"Go ahead and try your petty tricks. If you reach out your hand, I will cut it off, and if you step out your foot, I will sever it. I am not indecisive like Namgung San!"

It seemed Gye Cheolyeong had built up a lot of dissatisfaction regarding the incident with Namgung San.

Gye Cheolyeong's sword, filled to the brim with the power of the Blood-Detonation Pill, was as heavy as a boulder.

I changed my sword momentum to the Ascension Form of the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique and began responding again.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The speed of the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique aiming for his vital acupoints grew even faster, and Gye Cheolyeong couldn't quite keep up with that speed.

It was because it was not easy to control the suddenly swollen internal qi.

Gye Cheolyeong's clothes were slashed apart one by one, and small wounds began to appear underneath.

"You son of a bitch!"

Seeing blood, Gye Cheolyeong began to draw up every ounce of energy in his entire body.

The pouring killing intent was as intense as that of any renowned expert.

"I will never forgive you."

I didn't know what I had done so wrong, but Gye Cheolyeong's sword, carrying all his past resentment, was no longer at the level of a mere sparring match.

Yet what was strange was that the talent scout, Lee Jagon, was not stopping the match.

'What's going on?'

I put aside my distracting thoughts for a moment and drew up my internal energy to seven-tenths.

Gye Cheolyeong felt frustrated at himself for being unable to cut me down when it seemed he could do so at any second, and his mindset showed through his sword.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

Gye Cheolyeong's sword strikes that clearly had all his internal qi drawn out.

Because of the condition that treasured swords could not be used in the exam, I had not brought the Black Dragon Sword, so I could only watch helplessly as shards of my Blue Steel Sword scattered in all directions.

The agitated Gye Cheolyeong began to scream.

"You ruined it! You ruined everything!"

The speed of the sparring match between Gye Cheolyeong and me had already far exceeded the level of examinees.

The disciples could not take their eyes off the clash between Gye Cheolyeong and me.

RUMBLE.

CRASH!

As Gye Cheolyeong's sword slammed into the grand training ground, the marble shattered into pieces and fragments flew everywhere.

"S-Shouldn't we stop this?"

"Cheolyeong's condition seems a bit strange, doesn't it?"

The Hall Leaders, as well as the talent scout warriors, felt something was wrong and looked at Lee Jagon, but Lee Jagon himself just silently shook his head.

And thinking the time was right, I drew out all ten-tenths of my internal energy.

CLAAANG!

The state where my sword was not pushed back by Gye Cheolyeong's sword for the first time.

I whispered softly to Gye Cheolyeong, who was huffing hard right under my nose, trying to push me back.

"Senior Brother, this is exactly the hundredth form right now. It'll probably be dangerous if you go any further than this... Are you sure you're okay?"

"!!!"

The stable range of the Blood-Detonation Pill was one hundred forms.

Gye Cheolyeong, who had already unleashed one hundred and twenty forms, was well past the stable range.

I looked at him trembling all over and gave him a soft smile.

"Just give up. A scar will remain, but it shouldn't cause a major issue for living as a merchant."

I don't like Gye Cheolyeong.

Even so, the reason I'm giving the guy a chance.

It's because I really, really hate him.

Because I want him to regret for the rest of his life, constantly thinking about how he had the chance to stop.

At the generosity I displayed, Gye Cheolyeong didn't know what to do with himself.

"You... You... You interfere with my grand ambition to the very end!"

'As expected. He doesn't deviate from my predictions in the slightest.'

I gave him the chance because I was certain from the start that he wouldn't let go of his greed.

An even larger wave of qi exploded from Gye Cheolyeong's body.

The Blood-Detonation Pill had triggered its second explosion.

"Gasp!"

"That's...!"

"Sword Qi?!"

People let out gasps of shock when they saw the red energy gathered on Gye Cheolyeong's sword.

Thanks to using power beyond his original level, Gye Cheolyeong was even able to emit Sword Qi.

But it was absolutely not something to be happy about.

Now, a permanent scar had been left on Gye Cheolyeong's Dantian, and if he wasn't careful, he was in a situation where he could even succumb to qi deviation.

While everyone was in shock.

"No!"

Someone shouted as if squeezing the voice out of their throat from the spectator seats, but no one turned their gaze that way.

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I will absolutely kill you...!"

Gye Cheolyeong rushed at me like a man who had lost his mind.

I lightly dodged him.

"Senior Brother, do you know? Just how many sins you've committed?"

As if my words weren't even reaching his ears anymore, Gye Cheolyeong charged at me again like a madman.

To this, I didn't step back either and dashed toward Gye Cheolyeong.

The sin of using the Murim Academy to become a Murim Alliance officer in my past life and using the position of Eldest Senior Brother to work the junior disciples like slaves.

The sin of driving the disciples to the very front lines of the Orthodox-Demonic Great War just for his own achievements.

The sin of feigning ignorance even when the Taiyi Sect was thrust into a desperate crisis.

"I might not be able to wipe away all those sins, but I will at least clear a portion of them now!"

"Die! Die! Die! Die!"

Gye Cheolyeong continuously shouted 'die' as he swung his sword indiscriminately, and I dodged those strikes and dug into his guard.

Then, I executed Lotus Flower, a hand technique of the Flowing Cloud Sect's Shifting Flowers Grafting Wood, and spun Gye Cheolyeong around three times.

THUD.

CRASH.

Gye Cheolyeong shot up from the ground like someone who felt no pain and charged at me once again.

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG-CLANG.

It was imperfect, but Sword Qi was still Sword Qi.

It wasn't something that could be blocked with an ordinary Blue Steel Sword.

As proof of that, my Blue Steel Sword gradually began to crack.

"Serves you right! Jin Sowoon!"

Gye Cheolyeong shouted triumphantly as if his victory were already certain.

'It makes sense.'

Sword Qi, which could only be manifested after entering the ranks of the first-rate, was an object of admiration for children of this age, no less than any divine sword.

"I will kill you! Go to the Murim Academy! And rise to success!"

His glistening lips and bloodshot eyes.

Gye Cheolyeong was already convinced of his victory.

I blocked his sword and said.

"If you kill me, you'll be disqualified with a loss. Senior Brother."

"Shut up!"

'That was actually true, though.'

The size of the red qi doubled as Gye Cheolyeong unleashed the Seeping Glory Sword with all his might.

Three imposing waves of Sword Qi aimed for my vital acupoints, bearing down so I couldn't move an inch.

Even though he used the Blood-Detonation Pill, it was undeniably an outstanding move.

'However...'

My enemies in my past life were bastards who shot out not just Sword Qi, but Sword Force like it was a toy.

"Do you think you can kill me with barely this level of achievement!"

One step.

With the step I took into the momentum of the Seeping Glory Sword, its Sword Qi narrowly grazed past my vital acupoint.

Two steps.

Following the second step I took, the red Sword Qi brushed past my earlobe.

Three steps.

I thrust the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique toward the final swing of the Seeping Glory Sword.

SWOOOSH!

CLANG!

Along with a sharp metallic screech that seemed to pierce my eardrums, half of the Blue Steel Sword I was holding flew off.

At that sight, Gye Cheolyeong's eyes lit up and he laughed.

"I won, Jin So..."

But that only lasted a moment; piercing past his arm, which was thrown wide open along with his sword because I deflected it, I took my final step.

"Live repenting for the rest of your life. Senior Brother."

I swung the half-remaining sword twice.

SLAASH!

SLAASH!

Once from his left shoulder to his right waist, once from his right shoulder to his left waist.

Two sword wounds swept across Gye Cheolyeong's body.

SPURT!

"Aaaargh!"

Blood exploded from Gye Cheolyeong's body like bursting fruit pulp.

"Cheolyeong...!"

Gye Yeonseok, who was in the spectator seats, rushed over like a flash of lightning and gathered Gye Cheolyeong in his arms.

"Pull yourself together! Cheolyeong!"

Seeing his son covered in crimson blood with his eyes rolled back, Gye Yeonseok screamed furiously.

"What is everyone doing! That bastard! Jin Sowoon used a killing move on my Cheolyeong!"

At Gye Yeonseok's cry, Lee Jagon stepped up onto the training ground.

"The match is over. The winner of this bout is Jin Sowoon."

At Lee Jagon's declaration, Gye Yeonseok handed Gye Cheolyeong over to the physician who had come with him and foamed at the mouth.

"What are you saying! That bastard used a killing move! Are you completely blind in both eyes!"

Lee Jagon, who had spoken politely even to the young disciples of the Taiyi Sect, narrowed his eyes sharply.

"The one who manifested Sword Qi in a sparring match and used a killing move first was Gye Cheolyeong!"

"But... But...!"

"Go back. No matter if you are a parent, I will not overlook any further actions."

When Lee Jagon turned his head and looked at me as if fascinated.

"Kuhhhh... Kill... Kill...!"

Gye Cheolyeong, who was held in the physician's arms, shot up.

His entire eyes burned crimson and white vapor spewed from his mouth.

Evidence that the Blood-Detonation Pill had gone out of control.

'Looks like he'll have to spend the rest of his life lying in bed.'

Just as I was about to turn around.

"It's because of you... You! You ruined all my grand plans...!"

Gye Cheolyeong shoved aside both the physician and his father, kicked off the ground, and launched himself into the air.

"... Even if I meet my end right here, I will absolutely kill you!"

The moment Gye Cheolyeong's voice rang out loudly, making the disciples' shoulders flinch.

I also fixed my stance to respond.

However.

SWOOSH.

Lee Jagon, who had been standing between Gye Cheolyeong and me, flew up quickly, positioned himself above Gye Cheolyeong's head, and smashed down with a hand blade.

THWACK.

CRASH!

Slammed into the training ground in a single strike, blood leaked from all seven orifices of Gye Cheolyeong's head.

"Cheolyeong! Cheolyeong!"

Gye Yeonseok rushed over to his son and checked his condition.

Then he shrieked at Lee Jagon.

"What is the meaning of this! For a talent scout to do this to an examinee...!"

Lee Jagon issued a low warning toward Gye Yeonseok, who was screaming furiously with a bright red face.

"Do you know the penalty an examinee receives for using prohibited drugs?"

"...!!!"

"You ought to know. Because as soon as my special admission exam is over, I plan to visit the Gyeryong Merchant Group."

"..."

Clenching his teeth, Gye Yeonseok turned around and frantically looked around.

"Jang Sagun!!! Jang Sagun!!! You son of a bitch...!"

He was looking for the cause that drove things to this point. However, Jang Sagun and his two assistants, who had been stuck right next to Gye Yeonseok whispering in his ear just a moment ago, had completely vanished without a trace.

"Group Leader! We must move the Young Master first."

"Gah! What are you all doing! Hurry up and move Cheolyeong!"

As Gye Yeonseok frothed at the mouth and spoke, the warriors who hoisted Gye Cheolyeong on their backs and the physician quickly exited the Taiyi Sect.

The commotion died down, and I looked at Lee Jagon standing beside me.

"As expected, you knew."

"You were also certain of it."

I asked with an incredulous feeling.

"Are you admitting that you turned a blind eye to cheating on the exam just now?"

Lee Jagon shook his head.

"Of course not. I didn't know from the start."

"..."

Then he gazed in the direction Jang Sagun had disappeared and muttered to himself.

"It was unsightly how he pranced around acting like a senior at every exam, anyway."

"..."

For a moment, I felt a chill run down my spine.

'Is he saying he used me to get rid of his senior?'

A relieved expression surfaced on Lee Jagon's face.

"Anyway, thank you for not reporting it to me. Now I won't have to deal with annoying solicitations anymore."

"... I almost died."

"Hmm... Is that so?"

"If I had died... or at least been severely injured, what did you intend to do?"

Stroking his beard for a moment, Lee Jagon replied.

"Then it couldn't be helped. Jianghu is inherently such a place."

"..."

Even knowing that, hearing such callousness directly didn't feel very good.

No, should I say it felt fucking awful?

"Besides, I didn't think you would lose either... Anyway, good work."

I spoke to Lee Jagon, who patted my shoulder and was about to turn away.

"You owe me a debt."

"Huh?"

I pointed it out to him clearly.

"I cleaned up your senior in your stead, so you owe me a debt."

Tilting his head, Lee Jagon burst into a hearty laugh.

Then he stepped close and whispered in my ear.

"Sure. When you reach a level where you can collect a debt from me, I will repay today's debt then."

Lee Jagon's lips twitched as if he were forcefully holding back his laughter.

I didn't avoid that face, and smiled back at him.

"You promised."

Because I grew up with so little, I'm someone who can't stand taking a loss.