Chapter 121 :

Chapter 121. The Black Flame Dragon Gives Them a Chance

"What on earth are you thinking, Young Master Jin?"

One of the best things about being the academy representative was that, along with having private lodgings, servants were always standing by.

As the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew increasingly hostile, the instructors hurriedly brought the banquet to an end, and before heading back to the dormitories, our entire group gathered at my lodgings.

"The tea has a wonderful aroma. Please have a taste."

The middle-aged maid who had forcibly dressed me in this bundle of humiliation brought out tea and refreshments without me even saying anything.

Namgung Seonhwa, Moyong Jaehwa, and Seong Moran seemed completely unfazed, probably because they had received this level of treatment even at home, but the children from our Taeul Sect fell silent, stiff with tension at the sight of maids appearing soundlessly around them.

"Young Master Jin. Are you really all right?"

"Are you all right, Young Lady Seonhwa?"

"About what?"

"I appointed you as an officer without even asking for your opinion..."

"Of course I'm happy about it. I'm just worried because everyone else got so angry because of it."

"If they're angry, there's nothing we can do about that."

They could have joined the forces of the Five Great Families, yet they had all chosen to follow me.

From my perspective, I had simply appointed the best possible staff.

"But once the academy schedule begins, what if no one follows the schedule you create, Young Master Jin...?"

"Then I'll simply step down as representative."

"What?"

"I didn't come to the Martial Academy seeking wealth, glory, or promotion in the first place."

I would have to give up this comfortable lifestyle and lose access to servants, but so what?

I had entered the academy in the first place to protect my people, and I could do that well enough without being the representative.

Before long, an incident would occur in which the majority of the Martial Academy would die.

The Corpse-Mountain Blood Cult.

They were a branch of the Blood Demon Sect that had split from the Demonic Cult two hundred years ago, established an independent force, and operated in Tibet.

Before the Righteous-Demonic War broke out due to the Demonic Cult's schemes, the Martial Alliance's opponent would be this Corpse-Mountain Blood Cult.

And the first sacrificial lambs ground beneath them would be the students of this Martial Academy.

"I came here to protect myself and my people. I have no interest in the representative position or in whatever post I might receive later at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering."

At my words, everyone's gazes went blank.

In my previous life, the Demonic Cult had acted far too secretly, and the schemes they had spread throughout the murim world had been so complicated that no one had been able to recognize what they were doing.

But now I was here, and the information I had increased was gradually spreading.

Because of that, the future had already changed greatly.

Perhaps the battle against the Corpse-Mountain Blood Cult would never happen, and perhaps the Martial Academy students would never be massacred.

"I'll simply do my best at what I can do. And I won't compromise with them for the sake of my own benefit."

"...Um, are we also your people, Young Master Jin?"

At Namgung Seonhwa's cautious question, I tilted my head.

"Isn't that obvious?"

"...Hehe."

No matter what happened, my goal was clear.

To protect those I had failed to protect in my previous life.

"And no matter what tricks they try to pull, things won't go according to their wishes."

And to properly screw over the bastards who had made my life miserable.

***

Jegal Somyeong absolutely despised the Elder Hall.

Most of those capable of entering the Elder Hall of the Martial Alliance were politicians skilled more in politics than actual ability.

To Jegal Somyeong, the Elder Hall was where every flaw of the Martial Alliance gathered together: people filled with lust for power and steeped in a sense of privilege.

They ignored regulations, overstepped rules, and behaved as though they belonged to some privileged class.

That was why he firmly rejected their habit of barging into the Intelligence Department without appointments and forcing in people who lacked the proper qualifications.

However, even Jegal Somyeong occasionally had moments when he had to put aside his mountain of work and meet someone from the Elder Hall.

Those moments came when they actually followed the proper "procedure."

"Why are they suddenly doing things they never used to do? It feels awkward."

They had contacted him several days beforehand, coordinated schedules, and even arranged a location.

If anyone had been bewildered by the sudden appointment with someone from the Elder Hall, it had actually been Jegal Somyeong.

"What serious matter could you possibly have to discuss that required arranging such an inconvenient meeting?"

At Jegal Somyeong's words, Daoist Myeonghyeon smiled faintly.

"Must there always be some appointment before people can meet? We can simply sit together like this and reminisce about the old days."

As if the two of them had ever shared such memories.

Moreover, back when Jegal Somyeong had been making a name for himself in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering of the Martial Alliance, he had not even known where Myeonghyeon had been crawling around.

"That's difficult to believe when such busy people went through this troublesome pro-ce-dure just to come here."

"Hoho. This recent incident taught us quite a lot as well. About just how important pro-ce-dures and reg-u-la-tions truly are. Thanks to that, we ended up admitting a child connected with the heretical faction into the academy."

I knew it.

Reminiscing about the old days, my ass.

If he had not been furious that Jin Sowoon had been admitted as the top-ranked student, he never would have gone through this annoying trouble in the first place.

"Incidentally, the Elder Hall has decided to draft a new law. We've nicknamed it the 'Jin Sowoon Law.'"

"That doesn't sound like a very good name. It makes it sound as though Jin Sowoon committed some kind of crime."

"Of course, once the legislation is formally drafted, it will be given another name."

"...Even if you create a law now, you cannot expel a child who has already been accepted into the academy. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course. We simply wish to create a detailed, airtight screening process so that such an unfortunate incident never occurs again."

He seemed to have given up on the matter of Jin Sowoon to some extent, but Jegal Somyeong still could not figure out what Myeonghyeon's actual objective was.

"Now that the academy examination is over, shouldn't we begin properly looking after the murim world?"

"My! Elder Myeonghyeon, you must already be extremely busy handling Alliance affairs, yet you even have time to worry about the murim world?"

Even at Jegal Somyeong's sarcasm, Daoist Myeonghyeon's expression barely changed.

"Did traces of heretical practitioners not appear in the northwestern examination region this time?"

"..."

"I believe investigating that area should be our immediate priority."

Jegal Somyeong was also aware that during this examination, candidates had clashed with a group suspected of belonging to a heretical faction around the Kunlun Mountains.

However, because of the traces of the Demonic Cult discovered on the Fuyang Plains, the investigation had been repeatedly postponed.

"The Intelligence Department is also aware of the matter and is preparing an investigation."

"Is that so? Yet I have heard nothing about the investigation actually beginning."

"We are handling matters according to their importance."

"Hoho. Is there truly something more important than the appearance of heretical practitioners?"

Signs that appeared to belong to the Demonic Cult had been surfacing throughout the murim world.

However, those were still merely suspicions that only made sense if one assumed the Demonic Cult was behind them.

More detailed investigations were required to prove their identity, and nearly all of the Alliance's investigators had been concentrated on that task.

"We should be able to deal with it in the near future, so there is no need for you to worry."

"Hoho. That is difficult to believe. The Chief Strategist, who should stand at the forefront of demon-cleansing and evil-destroying, seems remarkably distracted by other matters."

Jegal Somyeong wondered if this was Myeonghyeon's way of taking revenge over Jin Sowoon.

He was just about to casually pull out a few pieces of dirt on Daoist Myeonghyeon that he had obtained from Simhyeon Pavilion when—

"...But I suppose the Chief Strategist must have difficulties of his own."

"So I've been thinking. Why not entrust this matter to the students of the Martial Academy?"

"They may only be academy students, but in terms of martial arts, aren't they already around deputy captain level? It would likely be valuable experience for them as well."

It was not uncommon for Martial Academy students to gain experience in the murim world as part of practical training.

However, Jin Sowoon had failed to bring the academy students under his control.

'So this is how you're going to play it.'

If the students moved out in their current state, problems would inevitably arise because of the disorganized command structure.

And those problems would hasten Jin Sowoon's impeachment.

But Daoist Myeonghyeon had clearly prepared thoroughly and had a proper justification, so Jegal Somyeong could not simply reject him outright.

"I don't particularly like the idea of entrusting such a major matter to students who haven't even adjusted to the academy yet."

"Adjusted? Something like that—"

"Ah, of course I'm not saying they can't do it. The students should be capable of handling something of that level. I'm merely saying we should give them a little time. They need to establish some kind of structure and get things organized before they can move properly, don't they?"

Jegal Somyeong had heard that Jin Sowoon had ultimately failed to appoint a complete officer corps.

He had filled half the positions, but even those were all with his own acquaintances.

Everyone who should have supported Jin Sowoon was currently disregarding him.

And Jegal Somyeong suspected that Daoist Myeonghyeon standing before him had influenced that situation.

The only thing Jegal Somyeong could do for Jin Sowoon was buy him time.

Without even that, Jin Sowoon would be forced to leave on an investigation before he had time to bring the academy students under control, and would undoubtedly be impeached for incompetence.

In the end, Daoist Myeonghyeon backed off there.

"Dealing with bastards who've spent their whole lives scheming is giving me a headache."

On his way back to the Intelligence Department, Jegal Somyeong pressed hard against his temples.

It would feel incredibly satisfying if someone else could deal with all those slippery old foxes in his place.

But the only guy whose mind seemed sharp enough for that currently had his own neck on the line at the academy.

"Heeheehee... You idiot. I'll make you cling to my trouser leg and beg me. Heeheehee."

The nearby staff member could not hide his astonishment.

"Jin Sowoon desperately needs someone's help anyway. As long as we reach the destination, does the path really matter?"

Besides, if Jin Sowoon ended up with one foot inside the Intelligence Department because of Maeng Juwon, Jegal Somyeong's own work would become much easier.

For the past several days, Maeng Juwon had wandered around lifelessly, muttering, "My youth... my rabbit-like wife... my fox-like children..." as though he were half dead.

But now his eyes were burning as he worked feverishly on something.

"What the hell is that bastard doing?"

A passing member of the department sighed softly and pointed to the book of regulations tucked beneath Maeng Juwon's arm.

"Didn't the formation of the Martial Academy representative officers ultimately fall apart?"

"Yes."

"As soon as he heard the news, he started creating work like that, saying he'd been given another chance to get married."

Judging by what he was doing, he seemed to be planning to inflate the amount of paperwork sent from the Martial Alliance to several times the usual amount.

His plan was clearly to create a situation where Jin Sowoon, unable to receive help from either his officers or the academy students, would desperately need Maeng Juwon's assistance.

"Should we stop him?"

"Leave him alone."

"What?"

The staff member was stunned that Jegal Somyeong, who normally would never tolerate Maeng Juwon doing something like this, was allowing it.

***

The academy students were divided into a total of ten classes according to their grades.

Morning lessons were limited to no more than three periods, leaving time open for future classes conducted by the academy representative group, while the students were given plenty of time to practice their individual cultivation.

"What is martial arts?"

I was the only member of our group assigned to Class A, and this was currently our first lesson.

"In the end, martial arts are merely one kind of strength. No matter how powerful a martial artist may be, he cannot overcome the power of the government. Even absolute authority cannot endure for ten years when confronted by wealth. Yet wealth is ultimately an indirect power, and before physical force, it has no choice but to tuck its tail."

"I have a question."

The instructor looked toward the academy student who had raised his hand.

"Are those the only three kinds of power? I believe there may be another kind."

"Another kind?"

"Yes. Among our class this year, there is someone who achieved excellent results thanks to his outstanding personal connections."

"Personal connections?"

"Yes. Someone whose connections extend even into the heretical faction, allowing him to pass the examination."

"...Puhahahaha!"

"Kwahahahaha!"

Loud laughter erupted among the students who had been sitting in silence.

And naturally, all eyes turned toward me.

The instructor was no different.

He had laughed so hard that his stomach hurt before finally composing himself.

"Ahem! You shouldn't look down on a comrade you'll be fighting alongside in the future like that."

"I don't know. I'd actually feel anxious. Who knows when he might switch sides and stab us in the back?"

"Pfft. Very well. Then what do you think about what this fellow just said?"

In the end, the instructor singled me out.

I rose from my seat and looked at the student who had asked the question.

"Well. If he truly believes I achieved such good results solely through personal connections, then I suspect he lacks far too much intelligence to be learning martial arts. At least now I know the Martial Academy doesn't test intelligence."

The others had been making jokes, so I joined in and made one of my own.

Yet they suddenly looked as though they had seen a corpse.

This is seriously too annoying to deal with.

"Then are you saying you possess plenty of other kinds of strength as well?"

"I don't know whether I'd call it plenty, but the Martial Academy's threshold is far too high for someone to enter through personal connections alone."

"Mm... Indeed. From what I've heard, the other students don't acknowledge you?"

"I suppose I'm lacking in many ways."

"I'll give you an opportunity to prove yourself. At the very least, don't you need to show everyone that you aren't lacking in martial strength?"

"Are you telling me to spar?"

"How else would we measure it? By having you debate martial philosophy?"

"..."

The instructor turned toward the student who had asked the question.

"You must have been prepared for this much when you carelessly opened your mouth, correct?"

"Of course!"

The instructor looked back at me.

"Well? Will you do it?"

"I don't think that would be enough to prove anything."

Mocking smiles appeared on the academy students' faces, and snickers came from all around the room.

Ignoring them, I stepped forward and spoke.

"I think I'd need at least five opponents before I could properly prove myself."