Second-Rate Warrior Who Dominates the Exam (2)
Chatter, chatter.
On the evening after the exam ended,
a large sheet of paper was posted in front of the great training ground.
The examiners who graded the first exam publicly announcing the day’s results was part of the special admission exam process.
The people of the Taeul Sect who saw the results could not hide their surprise.
“Is that true?”
“How did a result like this come out?”
.......
18th place. Song Jamun.
19th place. Gye Cheolyeong.
20th place. Gwak Samnam.
.......
After seeing the exam results, Gye Cheolyeong could not bring himself to close his mouth.
The number of disciples who took the exam was sixty-three.
It could be called an upper rank, but considering that this was an exam selecting only one person, it was by no means an excellent ranking.
Moreover, he had spent an enormous sum to invite a teacher.
The teacher, who had been hired for an enormous sum, was even more unable to hide his surprise.
The very fact that a disciple he had taught had received such a score was something that should not have happened to him.
Gye Cheolyeong did not seem like a genius even to him, but he was at a level that could be considered a talented person.
He had clearly finished understanding and memorizing the predicted exam questions he had set.
In the end, the predicted questions he had made had not matched.
“This makes no sense!”
Jang Sagun caught Lee Jagon, who had been about to organize the exam and move to the lodging provided by the Taeul Sect.
“How could Cheolyeong be nineteenth? This cannot be!”
“…”
When Jang Sagun shouted, Lee Jagon’s face turned cold.
“Senior. Are you doubting the fairness of the Seeing Nature Envoys?”
“!”
No matter how much Jang Sagun was a senior who had once been a Seeing Nature Envoy, the position of Seeing Nature Envoy conducting an exam for the Murim Alliance placed fairness above all else.
Jang Sagun realized that he had made a fatal mistake in his excitement.
“What I mean is that it does not make sense for such a result to be produced.”
No matter how he phrased it, it ultimately meant that he could not accept the result.
Lee Jagon’s expression sank even further.
Jang Sagun’s eyelids trembled.
Even so, he could not back down.
If Gye Cheolyeong’s score had fallen despite there being no problem with him, that was no different from saying there was a problem with Jang Sagun himself.
“Even if it is you, Senior, I do not believe we have any need to prove the fairness of the exam… but I will show you, considering that the objection the Taeul Sect should have made was made by you instead.”
Lee Jagon took out the exam paper placed at the very top and showed it to Jang Sagun.
“This is the exam paper of the child who placed first.”
Jang Sagun quickly looked over the questions.
The fifty questions in total covered everything from basic common knowledge of martial arts to the operating methods of sword formations, the components of formations, and the distinction between poisonous herbs and medicinal herbs that a warrior should know.
“The direction of the scores was decided by the questions in the forties. Question 42, which was newly included in this exam, was about the possibility of qi deviation and how to respond to it. Question 43 was about how to distinguish face-changing arts from disguise arts. Question 46 asked for the characteristics of Hidden-Stealth Arts and how to respond to them. Question 48 was about how to expel poison energy through breathing cultivation… and so on.”
“Th-These came out?”
Jang Sagun was human too, so there were limits to his predictions about the exam.
Even so, this time, his predictions had missed by a great deal.
“Are these not things outside the scope of the basic exam?”
“Because of the excessive enthusiasm of the examinees, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between examinees. In particular, thanks to the activities of ‘teachers’ like you, Senior, many perfect scorers have appeared, and the level of the exam has clearly risen.”
Lee Jagon’s words sharply pricked Jang Sagun, but Jang Sagun still had not come to his senses.
“E-Even so, is it not strange? We also teach about these areas. But qi deviation or face-changing arts are not things examinees who have completed basic martial arts would be expected to learn, are they? How can there be eighteen people ahead of Cheolyeong?”
At Jang Sagun’s words, the scholars who had supervised the exam began stepping forward one by one with angry expressions, but Lee Jagon raised his hand and stopped them.
“Of course, these are not studies that examinees would normally learn, but… are they not studies that all warriors learning the basics should do?”
“…Are you saying the Taeul Sect predicted something even I could not?”
“That was not the case. I also found it strange, so I gathered the first, second, and third place examinees and asked them. They said the head disciple of the Taeul Sect gathered the children who were neglecting their studies and taught them one by one. He even made a book himself.”
“The head disciple?”
Jang Sagun’s gaze turned toward Jin Sowoon, who was noisily chatting with the children on one side.
“Of course, studying for the exam is good, but in the end, I believe the talent the Murim Alliance needs is not someone who is strong only in such exams, but someone who has grounding in martial arts as a whole.”
With those words, Lee Jagon headed toward the lodging with the scholars, while Jang Sagun stood blankly for a long while, staring at Jin Sowoon and the people of the Taeul Sect, including the hall masters, with blazing eyes.
#
“What on earth happened!”
It was only natural that the bewildering result would lead to a frost-like shout.
Gye Yeonseok poured out all the anger he had never once shown in front of Jang Sagun.
“Did you not tell me to trust only you! Did you not clearly say you would make him pass!”
His extremely respectful tone had at some point turned half-informal, but Jang Sagun said nothing in particular.
He had experienced far too many changes in attitude from overzealous parents.
When their children were involved, even high-ranking officials and nobles bowed as if meeting the emperor in this field. But conversely, if the results were poor, one had to endure the opposite treatment as well.
“I apologize. It seems the focused study to bring examinee Gye Cheolyeong’s score close to full marks ended up holding him back instead.”
“If it stays like this… if things stay like this…”
“Do not worry. The second exam will be different from the first.”
“Do you have a countermeasure?”
“The second exam is what we have put the most effort into all this time. In the second exam, they test the martial arts of one’s sect.”
“Cheolyeong has learned the techniques, but he has not learned the internal energy heart method!”
“Do not worry. Because the level of the One Hundred Eight Peaks varies greatly between high and low, the Murim Alliance excludes internal energy and only tests techniques. Especially, those who can skillfully unfold techniques without internal energy can receive higher scores. Within the Taeul Sect, there is already no one with higher martial arts proficiency than examinee Cheolyeong, is there?”
“…Ahem. I will be watching.”
#
“The second exam is a test to measure how high your understanding of your sect’s martial arts is.”
For some reason, the faces of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild’s people brightened at Lee Jagon’s words.
“For the exam, each person will unfold their sect’s martial arts before the ten Seeing Nature Warriors. However, for safety, the use of internal energy is completely forbidden.”
At Lee Jagon’s words, Gye Yeonseok let out an exclamation of “Good!”
He shouted so loudly that the elders and sect leader on the platform looked at him, but Gye Yeonseok’s gaze was fixed on the exam area.
“If we cannot use internal energy… then Senior Brother Gye will end up first.”
Geumpyo, who stood beside me, muttered.
He was the eldest son of the miller’s family, the disciple who hated Gye Cheolyeong the most among those attending Busaeng Hall.
He was the eldest brother of Eunho and Dongryong, and he also took good care of the other disciples as if he were their eldest brother, so many children followed him.
“Are you worried?”
“It would be a lie to say I am not worried. Senior Brother Gye always finds famous martial arts masters somewhere and does private training, does he not?”
The Taeul Sect’s techniques, which mainly focused on swift swords, had a simple side, so from Gye Cheolyeong’s position, having already learned a variety of techniques, he could have greater proficiency.
In fact, when sparring with techniques without using internal energy, the only person who could defeat Gye Cheolyeong in most matches was me, and only Saryeon could fight him evenly.
“Head senior brother, please take first place.”
“Did you not score higher than me on the written exam?”
I had deliberately adjusted my score to around fifth place.
Geumryong was fourth place, just above me.
“Even so, I hope you go to the Martial Academy, Senior Brother.”
“It is not over yet. Also, did you fully learn the Small Heaven Sword Art I taught you before?”
“Of course.”
“Then you can look forward to it.”
“To what?”
Instead of answering, I looked at Lee Jagon, who continued speaking.
“Therefore, the Seeing Nature Warriors will use only the Taeul Sect’s basic sword art, the Small Heaven Sword Art. The examinees must likewise use only the Small Heaven Sword Art and break the Seeing Nature Warriors’ techniques within fifty moves.”
At Lee Jagon’s words, the faces of the hall masters and the sect leader stiffened.
The Seeing Nature Warriors were beings formed from warriors of third-grade rank or higher in the Murim Alliance.
No matter how skilled the Taeul Sect’s disciples were in their sect’s martial arts, breaking their techniques would be extremely difficult.
However.
“They said to use only the Small Heaven Sword Art?”
“They definitely said that, right?”
“I heard it clearly too.”
For some reason, the disciples could not hide their excitement, their voices full of enthusiasm.
After the fight with Namgung San, the children who came to me asking me to teach them the Small Heaven Sword Art were taught the ascending form of the Small Heaven Sword Art.
It was a technique that removed weaknesses and further developed strengths through transformation of the techniques based on the sword-breaking form.
Because of that, it would not be an exaggeration to say it was the most specialized in breaking the original Small Heaven Sword Art.
The Gyeryong Merchant Guild heated up in a different sense.
“Hey! Teacher Jang Sagun! What on earth is the meaning of this!”
The one who shouted in anger, forgetting even the solemnity of the exam, was Gye Yeonseok.
Jang Sagun’s expression also grew even stiffer.
......
6th place. Gwak Ilnam.
7th place. Gye Cheolyeong.
8th place. Song Gyeongmun.
......
On the second day’s exam, Gye Cheolyeong’s final score barely made it into the top ten.
#
“What are you going to do now!”
Gye Yeonseok’s tone, which had at least maintained a half-respectful form, eventually turned fully informal.
Jang Sagun’s eyelids trembled with humiliation.
“Father. There is still a chance.”
Jang Sagun spoke desperately, even using respectful language, but Gye Yeonseok’s eyes were filled with distrust.
“In the end, the third exam takes up the greatest share of points in this special admission. Fortunately, Cheolyeong’s second score was not bad, so the situation can still be overturned.”
“Keep talking.”
“…The third exam is a sparring exam where only the top sixteen from the previous two exams are selected. The previous exams are essentially nothing more than preparation for this exam.”
Of course, that was a lie.
The third sparring exam was a test to see the overall depth of one’s martial arts at a level where the heat would not become excessive.
In the end, if there was not a clear difference in skill here, the scores from the previous exams would have an effect.
‘However.’
Conversely, if one could win overwhelmingly in the sparring, the scores from the previous exams would become meaningless.
“Hmph! The Taeul Sect may be a third-rate sect, but there are still some boys and girls there who show decent aptitude. How can you guarantee that Cheolyeong can overwhelm them and win?”
Gye Yeonseok was now speaking as if he were dealing with his own subordinate.
Even so, Jang Sagun clenched his teeth and spoke.
“I know that as well. Geumpyo, Eunho, Dongryong. Those three brothers from the miller’s family have decent depth in martial arts within the Taeul Sect, and Hong Saryeon, Sect Leader Hong’s daughter, displays the greatest skill among the children of Busaeng Hall.”
“You left one fellow out. Jin Sowoon! Even now, I cannot believe it, but that fellow defeated Blood Wolf Iron Sword Seong Mohyeon and Namgung San, the Divine Dragon of Creation. How on earth can Gye Cheolyeong overwhelmingly defeat them?”
Gye Cheolyeong, who was being lumped together and insulted wholesale because of Jang Sagun, trembled.
But because he knew the importance of the matter, he said nothing.
“Father. You must trust me.”
“You must give me trust first before I can trust you!”
“I have also heard the rumors. The divine might that child Jin Sowoon showed was ultimately no different from a suicidal attack on the level of mutual destruction. In this exam, before things can reach such a situation, the examiners will all stop it.”
“Get to the point! The point!”
At Gye Yeonseok’s urging, Jang Sagun swallowed.
Then, when he nodded toward the female warrior, the female warrior hesitated for a moment before taking a red wooden box from her robe.
When she opened the wooden box, five sinister red pills appeared inside.
“What is that?”
“It is the secret method that will send Cheolyeong to the Martial Academy.”
“…”
“It is called the Blood Explosion Pill.”
Gye Yeonseok’s eyes widened, and his mouth trembled.
“Y-You bastard, you are determined to cut off the Gye family line! How dare you bring such a sinister medicine!”
“Father. Do you know why the Demonic Cult was destroyed long ago?”
“Why are you suddenly bringing that up!”
“Is it not strange? In the murim world, countless evil sects and dark faction forces commit all kinds of tyranny, but the Murim Alliance does not destroy them. Then why was only the Demonic Cult destroyed?”
“…”
“There are many reasons, but if there is one greatest reason, it is this secret method. It is because the Blood Explosion Pill has the effect of awakening one’s potential by as much as twice the amount without any condition.”
“Yes, and it turns a person into a cripple.”
“No, it does not.”
“What?”
“That is how it is known, but in reality, it is not so. That is why the Murim Alliance of that era, fearing that the Demonic Cult’s strength would grow powerful enough to covet all under heaven, destroyed the Demonic Cult.”
“I have never heard such a thing before.”
This time, Jang Sagun nodded toward the male scholar.
The male scholar took out a blue-green wooden box from his carrying frame and opened it.
“This is called the Latent Blood Pill. After awakening potential with the Blood Explosion Pill, if one uses the Latent Blood Pill to suppress the potential again, one can exert maximum strength with minimal aftereffects.”
“…”
Gye Yeonseok’s eyes began to waver.
There was no way there would be completely clean side effects as Jang Sagun claimed.
If such a medicine existed, the Blood Explosion Pill would not be circulating secretly like this.
However, he had no choice but to hesitate.
There was the fact that a counteracting medicine called the Latent Blood Pill existed.
Moreover, as things stood now, Gye Cheolyeong did not have enough points to go to the Martial Academy.
Gye Yeonseok, who had been looking at Gye Cheolyeong, spoke to Jang Sagun.
“If you do not speak honestly, I will chase you to the end of hell and ruin you. …What are the aftereffects of that medicine?”
Jang Sagun gulped.
“…If it goes beyond one hundred techniques, it leaves permanent wounds on the dantian.”
“You… damned…”
“But think about it, Father. Cheolyeong’s dantian contains no less than thirty years of power. Even if that girl Saryeon and that child Jin Sowoon worked themselves to death with the Taeul Sect’s martial arts, they would not have even filled twenty years of internal energy. They will not be able to easily withstand even one move from Cheolyeong after he takes the Blood Explosion Pill.”
In a fight between experts, one hundred techniques was only a fleeting moment, but at Cheolyeong’s level, one hundred techniques would exhaust them before they could even fill them all.
Moreover, considering that there would be no more than five sparring matches in total, taking the Blood Explosion Pill was not such a bad idea.
“Father. You must trust me.”
At that moment, Gye Cheolyeong stepped forward.
“Father! I will take it.”
“This is not the time for you to step forward.”
“Think about it, Father. Even though Great Hero Namgung San could only use three-star internal energy, he and Jin Sowoon did not even exchange a total of fifty techniques.”
After thinking for a long while, Gye Yeonseok finally ground his teeth.
“If even a fingernail-sized wound appears on Cheolyeong’s dantian, I will tear you to death.”
Jang Sagun also answered as if he were standing at the edge of a cliff.
“Trust only me, Father.”
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