Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Why Now?
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Why now?
Nam Myeong didn't know exactly what those words meant, but he didn't ask Baek Cheonha about it.
"I wasn't told to treat you specially."
Nam Myeong said, stroking his beard. Even if he had been told, he wouldn't have treated her any differently.
Iron-Blood Emperor Nam Myeong. His stubbornness was what had allowed him to serve as the Yicheon Academy Chief for a full decade.
"I don't know any reason why I should."
He had received a recommendation letter from Wonkwangbul. That alone would be reason enough for special treatment, but Nam Myeong had no intention of doing so.
No matter the method, once someone entered Yicheon Academy as a student, the academy chief had to treat them no differently from any other.
"Do as you wish."
Baek Cheonha gave a faint smile. Nam Myeong stared into her eyes for a moment before bowing his head slightly and standing.
He had heard just before arriving here that Seok Ijin had passed through the main gate. Given his personality, he wouldn't have stopped anywhere else—he should be arriving soon.
"Don't try to manage the other instructors."
Baek Cheonha said with a laughing voice to Nam Myeong as he turned to leave. At her words, Nam Myeong gave a silent wry smile.
"You're being mischievous."
"If you try to manage them, the rumors will only swell."
"There will be more than one or two who resent it without accepting it."
"Wonkwangbul wrote the recommendation letter himself. If he had wanted to sneak you in quietly, he would have made you take the formal exam."
"......If the flames grow too large, I'll step in. Understand, as the one in charge of the academy."
"Yes."
Nam Myeong swallowed a rising sigh. What would happen next was as clear as day.
It was only natural for eyes to turn to a student admitted through a recommendation letter. A recommendation from Wonkwangbul... Even more eyes would turn.
And the recipient was the young lord of the Heavenly Flower Sect. There was no way favorable gazes would come his way.
'......Acknowledgment, acknowledgment.'
Admissions via recommendation letter had to be publicly announced without concealment. Just as Baek Cheonha had said. If he had wanted to bring him in quietly, he wouldn't have chosen such a 'noisy' method.
'Wonkwangbul is mischievous too.'
Nam Myeong recalled the face of Wonkwangbul, whom he had known for a long time.
The next face that came to mind was that of the polite young man who always wore a gentle smile.
One of the Dragon-Phoenixes and the greatest prodigy of this generation's Shaolin, the Little Buddha Jinwoo.
Would he still smile like his nickname if he learned that someone other than himself had received a recommendation letter from such a senior figure in his sect?
Nam Myeong found himself curious.
* * *
First impressions.
They weren't bad. Or rather, they weren't good either. Nam Myeong couldn't deny that the prejudices created by the world still lingered within him.
It was unavoidable. The name 'Wi Seongcheon' was completely unknown, and all that came to mind was the Heavenly Flower Sect called the 'Bat' and its lord with the moniker 'Fiend Knight'.
"It's you."
Nam Myeong muttered, stroking down his beard.
Seok Ijin was not in the spacious chief's office. Only Nam Myeong and Wi Seongcheon sat facing each other. Nam Myeong stared fixedly at Wi Seongcheon seated across from him.
'Poised.'
Wi Seongcheon sat with his back straight, looking at Nam Myeong. The sight was somewhat unexpected.
He had expected him to be at least a bit intimidated... but there was no sign of it. Only after Nam Myeong spoke did Wi Seongcheon stand and offer a fist salute.
"Young lord of the Heavenly Flower Sect, Wi Seongcheon."
"Do you know who I am?"
"The Yicheon Academy Chief. Also known as the Iron-Blood Emperor."
"Chief is sufficient."
Have a seat. Nam Myeong added. Wi Seongcheon sat back down.
"Unless something special happens, we won't meet often after today. Maybe at academy events or occasionally."
"Is that so?"
"Of course, it might not be. If you cause an incident big enough to meet me, or... if you become outstanding enough to warrant it. Then we might meet again."
"In that case, I should end today's meeting on a good note so our next one isn't awkward."
Wi Seongcheon said with a grin. At his words, Nam Myeong's hand, which had been stroking his beard, twitched.
Wi Seongcheon chuckled as if he had expected Nam Myeong's expression.
"......Unexpected. Quite unexpected."
"I heard the same from Instructor Seok Ijin."
"You're not declaring in advance that you'll cause trouble, are you?"
"My sect is already covered in shit. I don't want to smear more shit on it after coming all this way."
"......Hmm."
Only the top students in their year could have a private audience with the chief. Nam Myeong stared piercingly at Wi Seongcheon's face before lifting his gaze to the table between them.
There lay the recommendation letter Wi Seongcheon had brought himself, still sealed.
"Do you know who wrote this recommendation for you?"
"No."
"Any guesses?"
"That it's someone great."
With that, Wi Seongcheon gave an awkward smile. Ignoring Nam Myeong's gaze, he quickly scanned the surroundings.
No other presences... He couldn't sense any. Was it masterful concealment beyond detection? Or maybe there really was no one.
"Excuse me."
"What?"
Nam Myeong had reached out and picked up the recommendation letter himself.
"If that recommendation letter is fake, what happens to me?"
Wi Seongcheon voiced the nagging doubt he had been holding. It was an anxiety he didn't particularly want to dwell on.
In truth, he thought it unlikely. But he couldn't avoid thinking of the worst case and preparing himself.
"You won't die."
Nam Myeong said.
"We'd hear your side first, wouldn't we? It's a serious matter, but we don't execute without cause. Though unavoidable torture might happen."
"What if I try to run?"
"Don't worry too much. I know this letter is real."
Neither good nor bad.
Just the first impression. It shifted soon after the private talk began. Nam Myeong smiled faintly.
Now, he had quite a favorable impression of Wi Seongcheon. Because of that confidence that might even seem arrogant? No.
Throughout his time here, Wi Seongcheon hadn't let his guard down once. Nor did he hide that he was on guard.
Wi Seongcheon had first grasped the room's layout and identified the ideal escape routes.
Nam Myeong looked at Wi Seongcheon's hands on the table. And at his knees, just brushing beneath it.
The hands crossed above were positioned for the shortest path to strike at Nam Myeong. Or he could kick the table with his knee to obscure vision for a moment.
And the chair. Not too close to the table, just the right distance. No need for the short effort of pulling it back—he could stand immediately. Nam Myeong smiled faintly.
"The one who wrote this letter... is Wonkwangbul. Do you know who that is?"
"Former Murim Alliance Leader."
"Also former Shaolin Sect Leader."
"Why would someone so great write a recommendation for me?"
"I don't know that either. Even if I did, I couldn't tell you. Better to say I don't know. Think of it that way."
The recommendation letter opened before Wi Seongcheon's eyes. Wi Seongcheon swallowed nervously for no reason.
Nam Myeong read it carefully with a serious expression. Then he burst into quiet chuckles at something amusing. The contents weren't much.
"Read it yourself."
Wi Seongcheon read the handed-over letter and furrowed his brow. His name appeared only once in the brief lines.
[I, Wonkwangbul, stake all the honor tied to those three words to recommend Wi Seongcheon of the Heavenly Flower Sect for admission to Yicheon Academy.]
"......This is enough?"
"I've already heard the details."
"I've never met Great Master Wonkwangbul in my life."
"But he knows you. He wrote this himself and staked his honor."
"It's a burden."
"It should be. It's from Wonkwangbul himself."
Nam Myeong chuckled as he took the letter back from Wi Seongcheon.
"Won't the other students hate me?"
"Of course they will."
"What if it doesn't stop at hate and they bully me directly?"
"You're not asking me to mediate, are you?"
"If I ask, will you?"
"This isn't an ordinary school or training hall."
Nam Myeong's voice grew stern.
"Leaving the martial world aside, this Yicheon Academy exists to train elites to confront the Demonic Cult, the enemy of the world. While studying here... are you afraid of bullying from fellow students? You seem lacking in resolve."
"I never said I was afraid."
Wi Seongcheon grumbled.
"I'm just curious. And now even more so. You said Yicheon Academy trains elites to oppose the Demonic Cult, so how does fighting among ourselves help against the Demonic Cult?"
At Wi Seongcheon's retort, Nam Myeong blinked.
"......Hm. You're right."
"So you'll help?"
"......Ignoring a plea for help wouldn't be proper. Bullying the weak... goes against justice and chivalry. So if you ask for aid, as chief, I'll intervene personally."
But.
Nam Myeong's voice lowered.
"Know that it won't be a fundamental solution. As I said, this isn't an ordinary school or training hall. Every student here is keenly aware they carry the future of the righteous martial world and will be its leaders. If I, the chief, step in to help you, direct bullying will lessen for sure. But......"
"I'll eat even more shit-talk."
"Unfortunately."
"Have any students ever asked the chief or instructors for help before?"
"None."
Nam Myeong's voice changed. He smiled with pride.
"You think there's no bullying?"
"No, there is. It can't be helped. Students come from diverse backgrounds. Equality is impossible."
"Got it."
Wi Seongcheon said abruptly. Nam Myeong tilted his head at the sudden remark. Wi Seongcheon grinned, uncrossing his hands and rubbing them together.
"They all have high pride, right?"
"......Yes......?"
"Even if one of the bullies lands a hit on me by some chance. For their own pride, they can't go crying about it anywhere."
Of course, there were lines to draw. Personal matters stayed personal. It shouldn't escalate to dragging sects into it.
They shouldn't be pushed to discard their pride. Nor should he flare up first. The Heavenly Flower Sect was weak.
Wi Seongcheon recalled his father's words when he left the Heavenly Flower Sect.
No need to endure every humiliation.
He didn't want to come, truly didn't. But he had come anyway. So then......
Nam Myeong blinked as he looked at Wi Seongcheon's smiling face.