Book 10 Chapter 5

Messenger pigeons and messenger eagles take flight!

Flap, flap! Flap, flap!

From the Biingak, messenger pigeons and eagles alike were released, soaring towards each sect and the Murim Alliance.

Each carried a tradition tied to its leg, riding the wind as they flapped their wings across the vast sky.

To fulfill their respective missions.

They flew at high speed towards those who were eagerly awaiting them. The news they carried was that all those qualified to participate in the selection tournament for the Huasan Treaty Branch had to pass the upcoming Huamdong exam, and thus, they were to arrive at the Cheonmu Academy by the designated date to take the exam. This was news that would make countless warriors who had honed their skills awaiting this very moment let out a cheer. However, it also meant accepting a commensurate amount of risk. Yet, no one would shy away from this welcome news solely because of the possibility of danger.

The messenger eagles cut across the blue sky, flying without exception to the Nine Great Sects such as Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, and Emei, the Eight Great Families including Gaibang, Namgung Clan, and Sichen Dangga, and other various small and medium sects.

The Huasan Treaty Branch was now truly about to begin.

From now on, elites carefully selected from each sect would flock to the Cheonmu Academy. These would be none other than the seniors who had all graduated from the Cheonmu Academy in the past.

'Seniors who have completed all the courses at Cheonmu Academy are flocking in great numbers!'

This was a matter that caused more anxiety than the mental sparring between Ngee and Goyak. It was not a simple mental sparring. It was the Huamdong, which was reopening for the first time in 18 years.

Those eligible to attend the Huasan Treaty Branch were not limited to the current students of Cheonmu Academy. Anyone under the age of 30 who passed the qualification exam would be eligible to participate in this exam. This meant that graduates of Cheonmu Academy would also participate in large numbers, staking their honor and pride on this exam. Among them could be their senior disciples, junior disciples, or even blood relatives. However, there would be no room for compromise in this matter.

Moreover, they were individuals who had gone through all the courses at Cheonmu Academy before them. They were also competitors. They were stronger and more formidable competitors than anyone else. This meant that the current students of Cheonmu Academy had to compete with their seniors to advance to the Huasan Treaty Branch and surpass them.

The selection tournament for the Huasan Treaty Branch was thus extremely difficult.

"A lot of monsters and damn brats will be flocking here."

Jang Hong muttered with a displeased expression.

"Having to see those detestable faces when I don't even want to… My stomach can't handle it. Damn, damn, damn! If only I didn't have to see that one guy's face, I'd have no regrets…"

He continued to sip his alcohol, mumbling to himself, his demeanor clearly filled with anxiety and irritation. Hyoryong and Yoon Junho, who were quietly observing his behavior, couldn't understand the reason for it at all.

"Damn it!"

Jang Hong downed another drink in one gulp. To Yoon Junho, he seemed to be drinking too heavily.

"Oh… Oh, dear!"

Yoon Junho exclaimed with a hint of pity.

"Let's just leave him be! If he gets drunk like this, he'll just collapse and sleep right here."

Hyoryong's opinion was reluctantly agreed to by Yoon Junho. People sometimes want to be alone. Though the reason was unknown, this was not the time to protect him, but to leave him be.

"However, it is peculiar."

Hyoryong, while not outwardly showing it, was equally puzzled. This was uncharacteristic of Jang Hong, who always exuded an older brotherly aura. His usual composed demeanor was nowhere to be seen.

"Will it be okay to leave him like this?"

Yoon Junho couldn't shake off his worries.

"We promised to leave him be. Everyone has one or two unspoken circumstances buried in their hearts. In such times, it's best to leave them alone."

It seemed that for now, only alcohol was Jang Hong's solace. However, neither Yoon Junho nor Hyoryong could fathom why he was drinking so heavily.

The man walking down the street was a man of such imposing presence that passersby would stop and look back at him again. Eight out of ten would look back and admire his presence.

The young man was dressed in a jade-colored robe that further enhanced his features. And at his waist, he wore a pure white sword, to which, unusually, four-colored silk tassels of red, blue, crimson, and yellow were attached.

The young man's steps came to an abrupt halt as he reached a certain spot. He raised his head and gazed at the large plaque above the main gate. There, written in a calligraphic style that conveyed a sense of dragons and snakes soaring, was 'Cheonmu Academy (天武學館)'.

"It's been a while since I've been here too!"

His voice conveyed a sense of familiarity. He stepped forward without hesitation. His stride was so uninhibited that even the guards at the main gate let him pass without checking his identity.

The two Cheonmu Academy disciples on guard duty were utterly bewildered.

"Halt!"

Clang!

Jeong Il-geon and Jeong Dae-chu, who were guarding the main gate, drew their swords. However, the young man slipped between the two of them with agile footwork. The two felt as if a gust of wind had passed through them. They were stunned by the fact that they had been so easily bypassed.

"A master!"

Jeong Il-geon was about to take out his emergency whistle to blow it.

"Hahahaha. Sorry, sorry. It felt like coming home after a long time, so I played a little trick. Hahahaha! If I surprised you, I apologize! So, why don't you put away that noisy thing you're about to blow?"

The young man laughed heartily, stopping Jeong Il-geon's action. The two felt as if they had been bewitched. The young man in the jade robe took out a silver plaque from his pocket. Upon seeing the plaque, the two immediately clasped their fists in greeting and bowed.

"We apologize for not recognizing you, senior!"

The plaque the young man in the jade robe presented indicated his affiliation with the Murim Alliance. Furthermore, it was a silver plaque, not an iron or bronze one. This signified the young man's high status. Moreover, the symbol of the Cheonmu Sword Dragon engraved on it indicated that he was a graduate of Cheonmu Academy. And when their eyes fell upon his name written below, they were even more astonished.

"May I proceed now?"

"Of course."

"Then, keep up the good work."

As the shadow of the young man in the jade robe receded, Jeong Dae-chu said to Jeong Il-geon in a slightly excited tone.

"Th-that person is none other than!"

Jeong Il-geon nodded.

"Yes, it is undoubtedly that person. To not have realized it even after seeing the four-colored tassels attached to his sword…"

"You're right. What useless, pathetic eyes. That person is none other than Cuiying Jian, Shin Yu-seong, one of the Four Powers from the previous Huasan Treaty Branch."

A glint of admiration flickered in their eyes. That young man was precisely the goal they aspired to. The young man in the jade robe was one of their idols.

Shin Yu-seong's eyes widened as he walked towards the head of the academy. Someone he vaguely recognized had just passed by him.

'Could it be…?'

A man's face suddenly came to Shin Yu-seong's mind. However, there was no way that person would be here. And he looked much younger and gentler than that person. But he couldn't just pass by.

"You look a lot like someone I know. You!"

Hyoryong was surprised as the young man suddenly appeared and blocked his path. He was on his way to the restaurant with Eun Seol-ran and Mo Yong-hwi.

"Who are you?"

Hyoryong asked. He had never seen this face before.

"What? You don't know me? But how can you not know someone as famous as me?"

While everything else was fine, the problem was that Shin Yu-seong occasionally exhibited sudden bursts of frivolousness.

"It's a problem if you don't know me, a graduate of this academy and a finalist in the previous Huasan Treaty Branch competition. Do you really not know me? I'm so famous that everyone in the martial arts world knows me! If you don't know me, you're considered insignificant. Do you really, truly not know me?"

His theatrics showed no sign of stopping.

"Huh? W-what are you talking about?"

Although it was a jest without malice, Hyoryong was startled. It was fortunate that his heart hadn't leaped out of his throat.

"Calm down a little. Tsk tsk, seeing your clumsy behavior, who would consider you insignificant… You're too simple-minded."

"I-I'm sorry."

He said so, but Hyoryong's back was already drenched in cold sweat.

Sometimes, a lack of malice can be the worst.

"Y-you are…"

It was only then that Eun Seol-ran, realizing who the man was, was astonished. Shin Yu-seong, on the other hand, seemed puzzled.

"Miss, have we met before? That's strange. I couldn't possibly not remember a dazzling beauty like you."

"N-no. I was just surprised to see the renowned Cuiying Jian, Young Master Shin Yu-seong, for the first time. Don't mind me. Indeed, your martial prowess is as impressive as I've heard."

Her demeanor was visibly flustered, but the careless Shin Yu-seong didn't notice it at all. Only then did Shin Yu-seong look closely at Eun Seol-ran and his jaw dropped in admiration at her beauty. Who would think of him, gaping like that at a beautiful woman, as a finalist of the previous Huasan Treaty Branch? But it was undoubtedly true.

Shin Yu-seong, instead, smiled broadly with his mouth agape. Who wouldn't be pleased when a transcendent beauty like Eun Seol-ran clearly acknowledged him?

"Hahaha, you flatter me! Today, you've truly graced my face. To commemorate this day, I won't wash my face for the next week. Hahahaha!"

"Hohoho, thank you for your interest, but please save your advances for later."

Eun Seol-ran added with a sweet smile.

"And before you make any advances, you must follow the proper procedures, you know?"

"Procedures? Oh, there are such things?"

Shin Yu-seong seemed intrigued.

"Gasp!"

Mo Yong-hwi was startled. Suddenly, Eun Seol-ran linked her arm with his. Eun Seol-ran smiled brightly. It was a smile as if a million flowers were in full bloom.

"I-I am Miss… no… that…"

Her words and sudden action were enough to cause misunderstanding. Mo Yong-hwi was flustered.

"Oh, are you a 'lover'?"

Shin Yu-seong meticulously examined Mo Yong-hwi from head to toe. Mo Yong-hwi felt extremely displeased.

"What is this? Glaring at someone like that without their permission. Don't you think that's very rude?"

"Ah, I apologize. I was merely observing the man who might become a rival for a certain lady. If it was unpleasant, I apologize. I heard people from the Mo Yong family lack flexibility… Seeing the sword energy emanating from your body, you are indeed Mo Yong-hwi, the Seven Absolutes Divine Sword, who has been making waves in the martial arts world recently."

Shin Yu-seong showed no sign of genuine apology. It was a grave mistake to think that a verbally expressed apology was sufficient, as some foolish people did. An apology that does not come from the heart is not an apology at all.

Mo Yong-hwi was surprised that Shin Yu-seong had quickly figured out his identity. He seemed frivolous at all times, but his perceptiveness was sharp.

"Would you grant me the honor of knowing the lady's name?"

Shin Yu-seong asked with excessive politeness.

"My apologies for the late introduction. I am Eun Seol-ran, dispatched on an investigative mission from the Heukcheon Alliance."

"Ah! So you are that!"

Only then did he grasp her identity. However, despite her surprising status, he showed no signs of great agitation.

"Hahaha. They say love knows no borders, don't they? Your origin or affiliation is of no consequence, so don't worry."

"Hohoho. Why should I worry? There's absolutely no reason to."

Eun Seol-ran smiled and wittily parried his words.

"Looks like I've been bested. Hahaha."

Shin Yu-seong chuckled sheepishly, then turned to Mo Yong-hwi, clasped his fists, and said,

"It seems we will be rivals from now on, so please take care of me. Let us both do our best."

"Yes…? Y-yes…"

Caught off guard, Mo Yong-hwi felt extremely awkward.

"Hey! Hyoryong, Hwi! If you're going to eat, then… "

From behind Hyoryong, Jang Hong's voice could be heard. However, as Jang Hong shouted while approaching them, his voice suddenly stopped. It was the very moment Jang Hong saw Shin Yu-seong.

'Th-that damned fellow, why is he here?'

Hyoryong's eyes widened. He had seen one of the people he least wanted to see in the world.

"Have we met somewhere before?"

Shin Yu-seong asked, gazing at Jang Hong. He too felt like he had met Jang Hong somewhere before. Jang Hong replied with a hearty laugh.

"Haha! I decline a man's advances. Senior! It's not right to come to me like this after Miss Eun rejected you."

"Am I crazy to make advances on an old geezer like you? Don't frame me!"

Shin Yu-seong's face suddenly turned red. He shouted indignantly.

"Oh my, you have such tastes? That's a very refined hobby."

When Eun Seol-ran chimed in from the side, Shin Yu-seong was beside himself.

Hyoryong's expression also turned serious.

"Could it be that you were pretending to know me because…?"

Hyoryong's face turned pale.

"This is problematic."

Mo Yong-hwi also said with a stern expression.

"No… that… no… I…"

Shin Yu-seong was at his wit's end amidst the sudden wave of misunderstanding.

"It seems there has been a misunderstanding, so let's meet again with a calmer mind next time. See you then."

After hurriedly bidding farewell, Shin Yu-seong quickly disappeared before them.

"Serves him right!"

Jang Hong said, looking in the direction he had disappeared.

'If only that guy wasn't here, those four tassels…'

Even recalling it again, it was not a pleasant memory. Hyoryong, Eun Seol-ran, and Jang Hong exchanged glances and smiled with smug satisfaction.

"Heh!"

Eun Seol-ran could no longer contain her laughter.

"Heh heh!"

Hyoryong was the same.

"……??"

Only Mo Yong-hwi seemed clueless as to what was happening.

"Hahahaha!"

"Uwahahaha!"

"Hohohoho!"

The laughter of the three, bursting out simultaneously, filled the training ground. They laughed heartily for a long time, holding their sides.

"Young Master Hyo, be careful of that person."

"Yes?"

Her face was incredibly serious. It was hard to believe she was the same person who had just been laughing heartily with him.

Mo Yong-hwi and Jang Hong had excused themselves under the pretext of errands.

"That person was one of your brother's strongest rivals during the last Huasan Treaty Branch. Although he appears frivolous, his sword energy is by no means light. He displayed skills comparable to your brother's. Although he lost by a narrow margin, your brother narrowly avoided being defeated by that man's sword multiple times. Despite acting like a flirt, he is by no means someone to be underestimated. The four-colored tassels attached to his sword are proof that he is a finalist of the Huasan Branch. And he is fully deserving of it. It was not obtained by luck."

Hyoryong's face immediately darkened. He doubted whether he could defeat a man who was evaluated to have skills comparable to his brother.

Bi Ryu-yeon got up and looked at the bed where he had been staying. He had been indebted to it for quite some time.

"Are you finally leaving?"

"Yes, thank you for everything, Doctor Heo."

"Hohoho, what did I do? You healed mostly through natural recovery. I apologize for not being more helpful. Is your body alright now?"

"Yes, it's much better."

As Bi Ryu-yeon replied, Heo Ju-woon's face showed concern.

"Can you really undergo the Huamdong exam with such a weak body?"

Heo Ju-woon's words were filled with affection.

"I will have to try my best. Besides, even if something goes wrong, wouldn't it be alright since Doctor Heo is here?"

Bi Ryu-yeon smiled faintly.

"Oh, dear. Don't make an old man suffer, and take good care of yourself. Always mind your health!"

"Yes!"

Heo Ju-woon was a very worrying person.

Bi Ryu-yeon busily packed his books and other belongings. Until that day, Bi Ryu-yeon had only played around in his sickroom, neglecting his training. Every night, climbing over walls was his daily routine. To achieve a more perfect excursion, he had studied various stealth techniques using books as his teacher, but he hadn't done much else.

"Then, you may go."

"Yes, thank you for your service! I shall take my leave."

After bowing respectfully, Bi Ryu-yeon strode out of the medical building. Brilliant sunlight permeated his entire body.

"Ah, how long has it been since I walked proudly under the midday sun…"

Bi Ryu-yeon was deeply moved. A pink hue returned to his pale cheeks, and his slightly hunched shoulders and back straightened. It felt as if the faint moon had instantly transformed into a blazing sun.

"Indeed, acting like a sickly beautiful youth is too strenuous…"

Trying to do something that didn't suit his constitution felt like it was causing side effects all over his body. He resolved to refrain from such character settings in the future.

His acting ability, which had successfully deceived even the discerning Heo Ju-woon with feigned illness, had been improving lately.