Chapter 71

Chapter 71
Chapter 71. The ‘First’ Trial of the Hell Regular Exam (5)

A warrior’s mental fortitude possessed an influence every bit as potent as raw martial ability.

A deep-seated dread of an adversary, once etched into the core of one’s psyche, was not something that vanished simply because one’s own combat skills had progressed.

“Eldest Senior Brother…….”

That precise psychological paralysis gripped the Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers at this moment.

It was their terror of Gye Yeon-seok, the man who had dominated the Taeul Sect for so many years.

That lingering trauma was not an obstacle they could easily shatter merely by acquiring superior martial techniques.

“Perhaps we should seek lodging elsewhere……?”

Gye Yeon-seok’s piercing, hostile glare and Gye Cheol-yeong’s distorted countenance were overwhelming.

Unable to handle the suffocating tension, the three siblings anxiously looked to me for guidance.

“What is the issue? To my eyes, this establishment seems perfectly adequate.”

“No…… It is just that…….”

Dong-ryong stole a glance toward Gye Yeon-seok before quickly looking away.

I demanded bluntly,

“Did you commit some offense against them?”

“……No, it is not that…….”

“Are you indebted to them in some way?”

“…….”

“The Gyeryong Merchant Guild has already been fully reimbursed for all past financial support due to Gye Cheol-yeong’s departure. And that was paid back with interest. They possess no legal claim over us.”

They closed their mouths as if acknowledging the truth of my words, yet their trembling eyes betrayed their internal panic.

Just then, a voice called out to me from behind.

“Jin So-un.”

The speaker was Gye Yeon-seung, the individual who had formerly served as our Busaeng Hall Master.

“It has been quite some time.”

“It truly has. I trust you have been keeping well?”

“…….”

The edge of Gye Yeon-seung’s mouth twitched.

It was obvious the Gyeryong Merchant Guild’s fortunes had taken a turn for the worse.

That was entirely predictable, given that Gye Yeon-seung had ultimately been nothing more than a pawn utilized to groom Gye Cheol-yeong.

Now that Gye Cheol-yeong had been reduced to such a pathetic state, Gye Yeon-seung’s standing had undoubtedly plummeted.

“The Guild Master requests your presence for a brief discussion.”

I shifted my gaze upward to look directly at Gye Yeon-seok.

His eyes were bloodshot.

His expression was a raw, unadulterated display of malice toward the one who had bested his son.

It was entirely natural that the youthful Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers would shrink back before him.

“If he wishes to converse with me, tell him to walk down here himself.”

“…….”

But what did I care?

To me, those individuals were nothing more than opportunists who had sought to exploit us and cast us aside when convenient.

“Can you not see we have traveled far? We were just about to sit down for a meal.”

“……He intends to extend an invitation for you to dine with him.”

“For what reason? Is he offering to settle the tab?”

“……Regardless of present circumstances, I was once the instructor who guided you all.”

“Hall Master. The sole lesson you ever imparted to us was absolute submission to Gye Cheol-yeong, was it not?”

“……!”

Gye Yeon-seung’s face contorted like crumpled parchment.

Despite my blatant provocation, it was remarkable that he managed to restrain himself from instantly drawing his weapon.

Ordinarily, he was the type to unsheath his blade while boasting of his status as a Lay Disciple of Mount Hua Sect.

“…….”

Gye Yeon-seung’s fingers twitched anxiously as he looked up at Gye Yeon-seok for direction.

Gye Yeon-seok, who had been analyzing us in silence, gave a curt nod.

“The Guild Master has agreed to provide the meal, so let us ascend to the upper floor together.”

“……Wonderful. Merchant!”

I immediately signaled a nearby employee.

“Cancel our previous order. Instead, prepare eight of the most lavish delicacies this establishment offers. Oh, and you understand that those gentlemen over there will be covering the bill, correct?”

“……Ah, yes. Understood, sir.”

Hearing this, both Gye Yeon-seung and Gye Yeon-seok flashed looks of deep irritation.

“Let us go up.”

“……Senior Brother, can we not simply dine down here?”

“I was just contemplating your upcoming regimen. Now that you have finally grasped the Footwork Art, how do you feel about practicing your forms while balancing on your hands?”

“Brother Geum-pyo! What nonsense are you spouting?! We cannot possibly allow Eldest Senior Brother to go up there unprotected!”

“Precisely! Your lack of loyalty shocks me, Brother Geum-pyo!”

Dong-ryong and Eun-ho instantly leaped to their feet, leaving Geum-pyo to look at them as if they were turncoats before he, too, slowly stood up.

Gye Yeon-seok had secured the entirety of the second floor for his party.

Groups of sellswords were scattered about, eating and drinking, and at the table shared by Yeon Chu-ak, Han Geum-tak, and Dam Cheol-gak, the finest culinary dishes and spirits had been arranged.

Before approaching Gye Yeon-seok’s table, I motioned the three brothers toward an unoccupied spot and instructed,

“Take your seats here.”

“Ah! As you wish! Please take care, Eldest Senior Brother!”

Geum-pyo offered a respectful hand-salute, looking vastly relieved.

I took a seat directly across from Gye Yeon-seok and Gye Cheol-yeong.

“It has been a long time.”

“……You look exceptionally healthy. After abandoning the Gyeryong Merchant Guild to become a parasite of Wang Estate, has your standard of living risen?”

“To correct the record, the Taeul Sect did not abandon the Gyeryong Merchant Guild. The Gyeryong Merchant Guild chose to desert the Taeul Sect of its own volition. Gye Cheol-yeong merely suffered the consequences of that choice.”

“Nghh, ahh, nghh.”

As if consumed by an internal rage, Gye Cheol-yeong drooled continuously while staring at me with murderous intent.

“So, did the coin from Wang Estate satisfy you more?”

“Are you unaware? The Taeul Sect recently laid claim to a valuable mine. Furthermore, we have taken control of the Hefei Branch of the Azure Sky Merchant Guild. We no longer have any reason to tolerate arrogant individuals who think their wealth gives them the right to lord over others. Naturally, the master of Wang Estate possesses a far nobler character than the leader of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild.”

“…….”

“Ah, of course. You must have caught wind of the fact that we recovered the true legacy of the Taeul Sword Emperor, correct? Haha, you truly ought to have maintained your alliance a bit longer. Had you done so, perhaps even Gye Cheol-yeong could have trained in the Taeul Sword Emperor’s true legacy and entered the Murim Regular Exam with distinction.”

A profound sense of regret for the grand prospect he had lost at the final moment flickered in Gye Yeon-seok’s gaze.

Even a common man, placed in his shoes, would feel consumed by bitterness.

Given his intense avarice, I could scarcely conceive of the tormenting thoughts that must have plagued him daily.

“State your business. Why have you requested our presence? Surely we are not here to casually enjoy a pleasant meal together, are we?”

From the moment he decided to drag his broken son along to participate in the Murim Academy Regular Exam, Gye Yeon-seok’s ambitions had clearly driven him into a personal purgatory.

I derived no pleasure from kicking a man who was already suffering in his own hell.

He was welcome to remain there.

“……The Taeul Sect is indebted to me.”

What absurd revisionist history was he spinning now?

“It was the Gyeryong Merchant Guild that offered a lifeline when the Taeul Sect was on the brink of ruin.”

The proud, wealthy Gye Yeon-seok of old was gone.

His guild and assets likely remained intact, but with Gye Cheol-yeong broken, all his meticulously crafted aspirations for the future had shattered.

Now reduced to commanding a band of mercenaries to navigate the Murim Academy Exam, the grand authority he once derived from his immense fortune had completely dissolved.

“The reality that the Taeul Sect could forge an alliance with Wang Estate, and your current possession of both the mine and the Azure Sky Merchant Guild’s Hefei Branch, stem entirely from the foundation laid by the Gyeryong Merchant Guild.”

I maintained my silence, listening to his delusions.

“…….”

“This is not a matter that concludes simply because funds were transferred or interest was settled. A debt born of benevolence can only be cleared through benevolence!”

Fully convinced of his own twisted logic, he pressed on.

“Your obligation. The obligation of your entire sect. You will fulfill it.”

“……?”

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers, who were busy eating at their designated table, froze mid-bite and looked in our direction.

“Ensure our Cheol-yeong’s safety. Cooperate with one another to secure entry into the Murim Academy. I have secured the services of one hundred renowned mercenaries. This arrangement will yield nothing but benefits for your side as well. Fulfill your obligation to me in this manner.”

“…….”

I pondered his words in silence.

What could possibly drive Gye Yeon-seok to make such a request of me, given his profound contempt for the Taeul Sect, and considering I was the very person responsible for ruining his son’s life?

The realization surfaced almost instantly.

‘Ah, it concerns the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.’

The specific occurrences at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly had been kept quiet from the general public.

Our sect had enforced strict confidentiality, and the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly certainly had no desire to publicize their own humiliation.

Nonetheless, if someone had been keeping a hyper-vigilant eye on the Taeul Sect’s affairs……

If someone had been plotting a way to enact vengeance upon us eventually……

‘They would inevitably discover the truth.’

He must have concluded that my ability to stand firm against Hwa Jeong-san and Jong Byeok-gi of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly made me an asset worth exploiting.

Viewed through that lens, Gye Yeon-seung’s uncharacteristic restraint and compliance made perfect sense.

“Pfft, hahahaha.”

As the pieces of the puzzle clicked together, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“……!”

Though it was merely a light chuckle, a suffocating silence instantly blanked the entire second floor.

Even the sellswords dining with Yeon Chu-ak froze with their drinking cups halfway to their lips.

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers instantly dropped their utensils, hovering their hands near their weapons.

“If that was your goal, you truly ought to have demonstrated actual benevolence back then.”

“…….”

“You should have provided your financial aid while offering these children a few words of warmth. When hosting banquets, you should not have begrudged them food. And when Cheol-yeong committed his offenses, you should have offered a genuine apology instead of attempting to sweep everything away with coin.”

“……Nghh, ughh, ahh.”

“We owe you for your benevolence? One must first receive benevolence to be indebted to it, wouldn’t you agree?”

“…….”

“If his purpose in entering the Taeul Sect was solely to qualify for the Murim Academy Rolling Admission, he should have at least made an effort to integrate with us. Whose bright idea was it to strictly forbid him from studying our inner cultivation methods under the pretense that the Taeul Sect’s arts would corrupt his foundation? After acting in such a manner, you dare speak of benevolence?”

“…….”

“Save your ridiculous fabrications. If anyone displayed mercy, it was our side. Gye Cheol-yeong is alive because we chose to spare him, though we had every right to take his life. At this moment, it is the Guild Master who stands indebted to the Taeul Sect.”

Yeon Chu-ak, Han Geum-tak, and Dam Cheol-gak stood up simultaneously and strode toward our table.

“Listen here, young man, your tongue is wagging a bit too boldly, isn’t it?”

“Remove yourselves from this discussion. Sellswords ought to act only when their contractor issues an explicit command.”

“Well, well, look at the arrogance on this child.”

Observing the unfolding confrontation, Gye Yeon-seok gave a slight shake of his head, prompting the mercenaries to spit on the floor and retreat to their seats.

“……Am I to understand you refuse to cooperate?”

“If my entry into the Murim Academy required ensuring Gye Cheol-yeong’s entry as well…… I would rather abandon the academy entirely.”

“…….”

The skin around Gye Yeon-seok’s eyes twitched violently.

“I…… If my Cheol-yeong is denied entry to the Murim Academy, I will ensure the Taeul Sect never sets foot inside its gates either.”

“…….”

“Even if it costs me every single asset I possess, I will dismantle you and your sect.”

Clatter.

In his agitation, Dong-ryong accidentally dropped his eating utensil onto the table.

“Shall I interpret your words as a formal declaration of hostility?”

“…….”

“I am entirely prepared to risk my life to safeguard the honor of the Taeul Sect.”

Staring straight into Gye Yeon-seok’s bloodshot gaze, I declared,

“Therefore, the Guild Master had best be prepared to risk just as much the moment he targets us.”

I pushed myself up from the table.

Simultaneously, Yeon Chu-ak, Han Geum-tak, and Dam Cheol-gak rose once more, fixing me with intense glares.

“Boy, have you never encountered the martial maxim that warns against making adversaries so carelessly?”

“Within those same maxims, there is also a warning against underestimated an opponent simply due to their youth.”

Turning to the three siblings, I inquired,

“Have you concluded your meal?”

They had barely finished half of what was served, but given the oppressive atmosphere, they nodded rapidly in agreement.

“Let us depart.”

Gye Yeon-seok’s entourage was the first to leave the establishment that day.

Following our original schedule, we completed our washing, took a full day of rest, and only readied ourselves to move out the following morning.

Prior to hitting the road, I called the youngsters together.

“You witnessed the events of yesterday evening, did you not?”

“…….”

Reflecting on that intense clash of wills, the youths remained quiet.

“That is the harsh reality of the martial world. Even if you harbor no ill intent toward others, a lack of strength means you will fail to shield those you hold dear.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The gaze of the three siblings burned with a ferocity I had never seen before.

I reached into my luggage and retrieved two polished wooden containers.

“The Sect Leader granted these to us before our departure.”

“What exactly are they?”

“They are the legendary Great Swallow Divine Pills, sourced from the Namgung Clan.”

“What?!”

The three brothers’ jaws dropped in sheer disbelief.

“The reason I pushed you to the brink of exhaustion mastering the Moving Circulation via the Taeul True Scripture is precisely for this moment—so your bodies can handle the volatile energy of these Spiritual Pills.”

Regrettably, the trio’s internal cultivation spanned only about a decade’s worth of accumulation.

Eun-ho, who possessed the sharpest aptitude for internal arts, commanded roughly twelve years of cultivated energy, whereas Geum-pyo and Dong-ryong had yet to even cross the ten-year threshold.

“Your current internal reserves are insufficient to naturally endure the raw Spiritual Energy packed inside a Great Swallow Divine Pill. Consequently, the moment you consume this medicine, you must execute your Moving Circulation with absolute focus, fighting harder than you ever have before.”

“……Senior Brother.”

“Speak.”

“There are a mere two pills available, so how do we intend to distribute them?”

I tilted my head in curiosity.

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers were typically so devoted to one another that they would gladly go hungry to ensure another sibling ate.

I wondered if even their bonds would falter when faced with invaluable Spiritual Medicine.

“Seeing as there are four of us and only two doses, would it not make the most sense for you, Senior Brother, to consume both pills yourself?”

“……How did you arrive at that conclusion?”

Following Geum-pyo’s remark, Eun-ho chimed in,

“Brother Geum-pyo speaks the truth. Even if we swallow them, the process of assimilation would take far too long, and we would merely become a burden to you. It is best that you utilize them to maximize your own strength, Senior Brother.”

“I concur with my brothers’ assessment. Furthermore, medicinal supplements have never agreed with my physical constitution; even during my childhood, I could never properly digest restorative tonics.”

Observing their attempts to deflect the benefit to me, I proceeded to slice the two Great Swallow Divine Pills precisely in half.

Instantly, a sharp, refreshing aroma permeated the entire room.

I proffered a half-portion to each of the boys, who were staring at my actions in stunned silence.

“…….”

The youths swallowed hard as they eyed the divided Great Swallow Divine Pills, yet none of them dared to rashly take the medicine from my hand.

“Did you not swear to the Sect Leader that you would secure my placement in the Murim Academy and return victorious?”

“Uh…… Well, that is…….”

“Ahaha.”

“…….”

Looking at their self-conscious expressions, I remarked, “I have absolutely no desire to step into the Murim Academy alone. We will enter its gates together, as a complete group.”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

Though I had intended it as an inspiring statement, the boys merely traded bewildered glances and scratched their heads.

“Senior Brother, speaking frankly, is such a feat even remotely feasible under current conditions?”

“Then do you honestly believe it is feasible for me to gain entry entirely on my own?”

“……If we are talking about you, Eldest Senior Brother, would it not be simple?”

“Indeed. I am certain you could manage it.”

Just what kind of omnipotent being did these boys take me for?

“If that is your belief, then place your faith in me and follow my lead.”

“……We desire to do so, but the reality is that we are…… fundamentally inadequate, are we not? Just yesterday, we lacked the courage to even hold our heads high in front of those veteran sellswords.”

“To be completely honest, I was terrified.”

That mirrored the exact sensation I had experienced during my past life when I first set out to fulfill my mandatory obligations within the Murim Alliance.

“Banish those worries. By the time you step into the Murim Academy, not a single soul will dare to meet your gaze directly. I will personally guarantee that outcome.”

“…….”

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze brothers remained speechless, their mouths hanging open.

—

Even after they had attained a high degree of fluid mastery over the Footwork Art while simultaneously executing the Moving Circulation, I refrained from sending them up the peaks again.

Instead, for this phase of their instruction, I commanded them to traverse the main highway while maintaining an active Sword Formation.

They were tasked not just with holding the alignment, but executing fluid maneuvers while bound to the tactical structure.

Initially, their movements collided, causing the Sword Formation to repeatedly collapse under its own weight, but the duration they could sustain the cohesion steadily multiplied.

Furthermore, because I periodically unleashed the Black Dragon Sword to test their defenses, their practical command over the formation advanced at a staggering pace.

As expected of youths who had drilled the geometric patterns of the Sword Formation into their instincts with their eyes and ears entirely obscured, their efficiency skyrocketed.

“Munch, munch. Senior Brother. Is it truly wise for us to journey at such a relaxed pace?”

While the three siblings took a brief dining break by the path, I drafted a missive meant for the Hao Gate, fastened it securely to the leg of the Iron Hawk, and cast the raptor into the sky.

Immediately following that, I directed a wave of pure, crushing malice toward them.

“……Ugh!”

“…….”

“Urgh.”

Geum-pyo and Dong-ryong looked visually nauseated by the sudden psychic pressure, whereas Eun-ho managed to remain relatively unaffected.

“Haah… Is it truly impossible for us to experience a peaceful mealtime?”

“What percentage of the Great Swallow Divine Pill’s essence have you successfully absorbed?”

“……Roughly half of it.”

“Should an ambush manifest before you can react, that unrefined energy could easily trigger a severe internal backlash.”

“……Haah, I understand.”

Fortunately, owing to their mastery of the Taeul True Scripture, their assimilation of the Great Swallow Divine Pills was progressing far more rapidly than I had initially projected.

“Senior Brother, at this current rate, will we not end up missing the opportunity to clear even the First Trial? Exactly how many bandit fortresses remain active?”

“The latest intelligence indicates that eight hundred ninety-eight fortresses are left.”

Upon discovering that the opening challenge of the Murim Academy involved eradicating bandit strongholds, the more elusive syndicates had retreated deep into inaccessible mountain ranges, causing the overall pace of eradication to diminish.

Even so, the reality that three thousand one hundred fortresses had been systematically wiped out in a mere fifteen days was a staggering testament to the applicants’ ferocity.

“At this tempo, we will likely never even cross paths with a single outlaw. It feels as though we are wasting valuable time on basic drills…… Frankly, I have no metric to gauge our actual combat readiness.”

I offered a subtle grin in response to Geum-pyo’s anxieties.

“An occasion to measure the true extent of your capabilities will manifest shortly.”

Presently, despite simultaneously maintaining the Moving Circulation, executing the patterns of the Footwork Art, and holding the lines of the White Tiger Sword Formation, they exhibited no signs of physical strain.

Even when I deployed the Twin Heaven Sword Formula to assail them with an unpredictable barrage of feints and genuine strikes, they had progressed to a point where they could parry the assault with remarkable coordination.

“Senior Brother, what precisely did you mean when you suggested an opportunity to demonstrate our prowess was imminent?”

“Prior to our departure from the Gold Palace Inn, I dispatched two distinct directives via the Iron Hawk. The first was a request to closely monitor the activities of Gye Yeon-seok.”

The three brothers blinked in confusion, failing to grasp my underlying intent.

“And just this morning, confirmation arrived that three high-tier martial artists from Gye Yeon-seok’s personal vanguard have vanished from his main column.”

The primary reason I had secured the status of a “Guest Retainer” within the Hao Gate—despite already possessing comprehensive knowledge regarding the structure of the Murim Academy Regular Exam—was precisely due to my need for real-time tracking of the entities operating within the competition.

Even so, I had not anticipated putting that information network to practical use quite this early.

“Did they simply run out of funding……?”

Geum-pyo broke off mid-sentence, his gaze locking onto the road ahead as an unsettling realization struck him.

At the terminus of the highway, three figures stood shoulder-to-shoulder, completely blocking our passage.

A man balancing an unusual, specialized fishing rod upon his shoulder took a deliberate step forward.

“What took you so long to catch up? Your sluggish pace has forced our primary contractor to proceed without us, you know?”

Flanking him, a massive warrior gripping a formidable battle-axe and a slender figure whose extended sleeves completely veiled his hands stepped into view.

“……What business do those individuals have here……?”

Yama Axe Yeon Chu-ak, Windless Demon Rod Han Geum-tak, and Three-Handed Ghost Ape Dam Cheol-gak, men who by all accounts should have been escorting Gye Yeon-seok, stood arrayed against us, barring the path forward.

“They have evidently been waiting specifically for our arrival.”