Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: To the Heavenly Academy
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Since things had come to this, Wi Seong-cheon decided to head to the Heavenly Academy with Dang Heeran and Seok I-jin.
There was no good reason to back out now, nor did he want to. Their meeting hadn't felt pointless.
Dang Heeran. Daughter of the Sacheon Tang Clan, a prestigious house among prestigious houses.
From her subtly revealed attitude, it seemed her standing in the Tang Clan wasn't all that high, but so what?
Even a rotting fish was once a king. She was a daughter of the Tang Clan—no, the flesh-and-blood daughter of the Tang Lord, the Poison Righteous One.
And Seok I-jin. A professor at the Heavenly Academy. Wi Seong-cheon hadn't even officially entered yet, and here he was already getting familiar with a professor.
The clincher was that both of them showed considerable curiosity toward Wi Seong-cheon.
"What martial art does the Heavenly Flower Sect teach?"
"The Heavenly Flower Chain Technique."
"Heart method? Anything else? Footwork or fist techniques?"
"Do I have to tell you everything?"
"It'd be good if you did. Then I could give some advice."
"You don't trust me yet."
Seok I-jin grinned and nodded. Just as Wi Seong-cheon said, Seok I-jin didn't fully believe he was a recommended student for the Heavenly Academy.
He had checked the sealed letter of recommendation... but hadn't broken it open to read the contents.
*Do you really think Master Won Gwang Bul wrote that letter?*
*It's too early to judge, but among those who could write a recommendation, he's the only one who uses the character 'Won' (圓).*
Dang Heeran and Seok I-jin exchanged those words via transmission.
"Then I won't say."
"It's not fair to demand blind trust."
"I'm not foolish enough to blab every detail about my arts just because you ask."
"If you really enter the Heavenly Academy, I'll be in a position to teach you. It wouldn't hurt to score some points early."
"That's true. But if I answer every question straight, I suspect Great Hero Jeolmyeong Sword might not think highly of me."
"Good point. Then I won't pry further."
Seok I-jin didn't ask any more. There was no need to rush anyway. If Wi Seong-cheon truly became a student, he'd learn all about it naturally.
* * *
Heavenly Academy.
The largest martial arts educational institution in the orthodox martial world, with a history spanning centuries.
It once accepted students regardless of alignment, but after the Four Black Alliances formed the Black Forest and went independent, it only taught prodigies from orthodox sects and families.
Gathering talents from every corner of the martial world meant its grounds had to be vast.
The mountain that took up most of the Heavenly Academy's grounds had another name originally, but now it was called Uicheon Mountain.
Wi Seong-cheon looked up at Uicheon Mountain, larger than even Spirit Spirit Mountain, and the walls and grand gates encircling the entire grounds.
"See you later."
They didn't need to go together from here. Dang Heeran suddenly extended her hand toward Wi Seong-cheon.
Wi Seong-cheon blinked, then chuckled and grasped her hand in return.
"Don't pretend you don't know me when we meet."
"I won't."
Dang Heeran laughed merrily.
Kindly enough, Seok I-jin volunteered to escort Wi Seong-cheon himself.
The guards at the main gate opened it immediately after receiving some prior word from Seok I-jin.
Wi Seong-cheon could hear what he said to them. His voice wasn't low.
"Do you think I'll run away?"
"If the recommendation is fake, you might."
"I would've run long ago if that were the case."
"Even with me here?"
"I'd have tried."
Wi Seong-cheon replied with a deadpan expression, and Seok I-jin chuckled.
Wi Seong-cheon felt the many gazes clinging to him. He couldn't see them, but he sensed their presences trailing him.
Their stealth was impressive. Wi Seong-cheon gave up trying to pinpoint their numbers and positions.
"Heavenly Guard Corps."
Seok I-jin, walking ahead, spoke up.
"Fancy name, but they're just guards. Can you sense them?"
"Not how many or where."
"That's how it should be. No point in a guard corps if you could detect them perfectly. Don't take it personally. This happens a lot."
"A lot?"
"The Heavenly Academy has many enemies."
"Makes sense. It's the orthodox world's top training ground."
It had no choice but to have enemies. Since its founding, demonic cult spies had attempted infiltration multiple times.
There were cases of forged recommendations, and even famous elders colluding with the cult to write real ones.
Some had even passed the official exams. Most such spies were caught, but rooting them all out... impossible.
Even now, unidentified spies might be lurking within the academy.
It wasn't just the demonic cult. The Four Black Alliances and Black Forest had tried infiltration too, succeeding at times.
"We have to be more cautious now."
"Because of the Heavenly Person?"
"Heavenly Demon Hyeok Wol-un killed the previous Heavenly Person, making the title a joke... but that doesn't mean it ceased to exist. Especially the Four Black Alliances and Black Forest resent the Heavenly Person entering the Heavenly Academy."
The Black Forest, the unorthodox training ground, had steadily tried recruiting Heavenly Persons since its founding.
But in centuries since, not one had entered Black Forest. The Four Black Alliances had no choice but to be dissatisfied.
Though paths differed, the demonic cult was a common enemy to orthodox and unorthodox alike.
"You think I might be a spy?"
"Four Black Alliances or demonic cult. Or maybe a third force—but I'd prefer not. That'd mean more enemies."
"Sheesh, even if I say no, you say that."
Wi Seong-cheon grumbled. Seok I-jin, chuckling, nodded.
"I'd prefer not too. Personally, I like you quite a bit."
"You do?"
"You're mysterious. Heavenly Flower Sect. A sect everyone looks down on. Sect leader's moniker is Rogue Hero, nickname Bat. Once affiliated with the Four Black Alliances. A prodigy from such a shady sect—that's you."
"You're laying it on too thick."
"You seem humble sometimes, but not others. Lack of confidence in your skills?"
"No place to test them."
"Then let me assure you. You're exceptional. Better than most of the so-called prodigies here."
"Not the best, though?"
Wi Seong-cheon replied in a flat tone.
At that, Seok I-jin's eyebrows shot up.
"Want to be the best?"
"If possible."
"Hmm..."
More inscrutable than ever.
Seok I-jin turned to stare at Wi Seong-cheon's face.
From their meeting at Three Valleys Mountain to arriving here, they'd talked plenty. The Wi Seong-cheon that Seok I-jin sensed was...
Desireless.
He'd spent most of his life in the Heavenly Flower Sect.
Except for following his father the Rogue Hero out a decade ago, he'd never left its territory once.
Even coming to the Heavenly Academy wasn't his choice—the Rogue Hero had pushed him into it.
He hadn't wanted to go, didn't now. If possible, he'd drop everything and go back, he'd said.
Intimidated?
No, Seok I-jin didn't think so. Wi Seong-cheon carried himself openly. He acknowledged his sect's weakness and his words carried subtle self-mockery... but he wasn't servile.
Yet now it was different.
If doing it, aim for the top? In the Heavenly Academy gathering all orthodox prodigies, from a minor sect like Heavenly Flower?
"The Heavenly Academy has its dragons and phoenixes."
Wudang's Sword Dragon, Tae Hee-myeong.
Shaolin's Smiling Buddha, Jin U.
Hwangbo Clan's Fist Bone, Hwangbo Seong-u.
Huashan's Sword Phoenix, Woo Ha-yeon.
Tang Clan's Serpent Beauty, Dang Seona.
And Sang I-rin, Flying Swallow, who made the list despite not being from Nine Great Righteous Sects or prestigious clans.
"The Four Flowers' two daughters are here too. They're not called that just for their beauty."
Golden Name Escort Agency's Flame Flower, Jeong Mi-ju.
Mysterious Cheongnim Sect's White Orchid, Cheong Wu-bin.
"And the Heavenly Person."
The seventh, Mu Yeon-jun.
"You're outstanding, but the Heavenly Academy is full of prodigies. It's always been that way generation after generation, but this current class of students... I dare say they're the finest in the academy's history. Even so, you want to be the best?"
"If possible."
Wi Seong-cheon shrugged. Seok I-jin eyed him oddly at the response.
Seok I-jin still couldn't read Wi Seong-cheon completely, but one thing was clear.
'Not desireless.'
He just doesn't show it.
* * *
The Heavenly Academy's Chief is decided by the Martial Alliance Leader and orthodox luminaries.
Hundreds of students. Calling them the future of the orthodox martial world wasn't exaggeration.
Managing them, the Chief position was naturally coveted.
It could yield vast wealth if exploited, and was perfect for forging priceless 'connections.'
Thus, the role went only to those passing strict scrutiny. The top condition, naturally, was 'virtue.'
Free of personal greed, and preferably not direct descendants of Nine Great Righteous Sects or prestigious clans—to avoid needless scandals.
The current Heavenly Academy Chief, Iron-Blood Emperor Nam Myeong, was a man of high virtue. He despised scheming and cherished justice and heroism.
Ten years as Chief, and no scandals had arisen under him.
Thanks to that, he'd been reappointed this year too.
"That child came with Professor Seok I-jin."
"I heard."
Heavenly Academy Chief. The highest position here, but not really.
Nam Myeong wasn't awkward in this situation. Ten years already.
"I heard in advance, but... really Master Won Gwang Bul recommended the Heavenly Flower Sect's young leader?"
"You seem doubtful."
"I try not to prejudge, but it's hard. Must be my own shortcomings."
Nam Myeong stroked his beard with an embarrassed smile.
Deep in Uicheon Mountain.
Nam Myeong was there now. This strictly restricted area held the residence of the academy's top figure.
'Her' position in the Heavenly Academy was, for starters, leader of the Heavenly Guard Corps.
The Heavenly Guard Corps were watchdogs protecting students from outsiders. They all answered to her.
And that was just the beginning. She also headed the Shadow Command, handling internal disturbances.
"Don't be ashamed."
At the soft voice, Nam Myeong looked up at the woman across the tea table.
Clear blue eyes smiled gently beneath mysterious green hair.
Her features were utterly unlike Central Plains folk. Not just hair and eyes—every contour differed.
Especially her ears.
Long ears rising on either side.
One of the sub-races that began appearing after the God-Demon Great War: the Long-Ear Tribe.
"I too wonder why Master Won Gwang Bul... sent the Heavenly Flower Sect's young leader here now."
Baek Cheong-ha.
Her known moniker was Moon Shadow Immortal.
One of the Ten Heroes, deemed strongest in orthodox and unorthodox circles, former leader of the mysterious Cheongnim Sect.
Baek Cheong-ha caressed her teacup.