Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Heavenly Flower Path
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"Go."
"No."
It was a question that didn't require much thought. So I answered immediately. Something pitch-black came flying right at my face.
I snatched it out of the air and took a look. It was a black inkstone. Wi Seongcheon grimaced in disgust as he set it down.
"Go."
"That's exactly why I don't want to go."
Wi Seongcheon's father. The eyebrows of Rogue Expert Wi Juseok shot up. Seeing his father reach for his brush, Wi Juseok raised a hand to stop him.
"Don't throw it."
"You're the one who won't listen to me first, so why should I listen to you?"
"Come on, honestly. Heavenly Academy? What am I supposed to do there?"
Wi Seongcheon's voice rose as high as his father's eyebrows. It was a question that needed no thought, but since his father wouldn't back down, he gave it a little consideration.
The conclusion was the same. He didn't want to go.
Heavenly Academy.
The promising prodigies of the Nine Great Righteous Sects and prestigious clans—not quite on their level, but from sects and families with some renown. Even later-generation talents who stood out despite not hailing from such backgrounds.
Heavenly Academy was the place where they were all gathered and trained.
"What exactly am I supposed to do there?"
Not every sect under the Murim Alliance was as prestigious as the Nine Great Righteous Sects.
In particular, Cheonhwa Sect—which had once been part of the Four Dark Alliances—was treated like a steaming pile of dog shit dumped by the roadside.
Some people in the world avoid shit because it's filthy, but others step in it just to see, then pinch their noses and complain about the smell.
There are even those who go out of their way to clean up shit that's just sitting there quietly.
"You want to watch your one remaining son get cursed out by some nobody you don't even know?"
Heavenly Academy, where the prodigies hailed as the future of the righteous faction gathered. It didn't take much imagination to picture what the heir of the bat-like Cheonhwa Sect would go through there.
"If you do well, you won't get cursed at."
"What does it matter if I do well? The sect hasn't done anything noteworthy."
"Then just do well enough to make up for that too."
"You want me to burn my life away propping up Cheonhwa Sect's reputation?"
Me? Wi Seongcheon laughed in disbelief.
"The Nine Great Righteous Sects pamper their prodigies. The heirs of prestigious clans strut around like they own the place. What am I supposed to do there?"
"Our sect gets trashed everywhere, but it still has some backbone and solid foundations."
"Since when?"
Wi Juseok let out a dry cough at the sarcastic jab. It wasn't something to be proud of, and hearing it thrown back at him made his face itch.
"Fine, but we're still keeping the lineage alive, aren't we?"
"Sure, not getting wiped out is something, I guess."
"Those who get the most shit tend to live the longest. Same goes for sects."
"Yeah, right. Let's keep it going long and thin forever. Why try to bulk up now?"
"Too thin, and it snaps."
"Too thick, and it bursts."
Wi Juseok's fist clenched at the rapid-fire retorts. Wi Seongcheon tapped his lips, watching the veins bulge on his father's knuckles.
"I'm only like this because I learned it from you, Father."
"Call me Sect Leader."
"Yes, Sect Leader. May I get up now?"
Without waiting for a reply, Wi Seongcheon started to lift his butt, and Wi Juseok's eyes blazed. Wi Seongcheon obediently planted it back down.
"I've already spoken to Heavenly Academy and completed the procedures."
Wi Juseok said, stroking his beard. This time, it was Wi Seongcheon's eyes that flared. He clenched his fist and protested vehemently.
"Why proceed without even asking my opinion?"
"You planning to hole up in Cheonhwa Sect forever?"
"I was going to leave when the time was right, even without Heavenly Academy."
"I don't know when you think that time is, but to this father, now is perfect."
"You told me to call you Sect Leader."
Wi Juseok's shoulders trembled at the quiet mutter.
"...I know why you don't want to go, but this is a great opportunity. Do you have any idea how many young martial artists your age are dying to get into Heavenly Academy?"
"What does it matter to me if they want to go?"
"You're my son, Cheonhwa Sect's future. Surely you're not against that?"
"When the time comes, I'll do it even if I hate it. Now that my brother is gone."
Wi Seongcheon snorted derisively, and Wi Juseok's eyes grew icy.
Wi Seongcheon knew he'd said something wrong but refused to apologize. Instead, he glared at his father with steely eyes.
If someone asked whether he respected his father, Wi Seongcheon would answer without hesitation: yes.
His father never felt shame in his title of Rogue Expert and never once tried to shake off the insignificant weight of the Cheonhwa Sect name. He was a responsible and exemplary clan head and sect leader.
But when it came to 'brother'... Wi Seongcheon simply couldn't understand his father.
Wi Seongcheon was Rogue Expert Wi Juseok's blood son, but not his only one. He had an older brother named Wi Seongyeol.
Brother... though they didn't share blood. When Wi Seongcheon was young, a brother appeared out of nowhere. His father said he'd picked up a street urchin with clear eyes and brought him home. That was all, and Wi Seongcheon accepted it.
He didn't pull any stupid seniority nonsense. Honestly, he was just happy to have a brother.
The brother Wi Seongcheon remembered was a man who laughed a lot.
And that was all? Wi Seongyeol was considered the greatest prodigy in Cheonhwa Sect's history, so even though he wasn't the sect leader's blood son, everyone acknowledged and liked him.
But now, in Cheonhwa Sect, even mentioning Wi Seongyeol's name was practically taboo.
Three years ago. Wi Seongyeol—who hadn't even reached thirty—scaled Cheonhwa Sect's walls under cover of night and left Divine Spirit Mountain.
He left no letter behind, and his room was stripped bare as if he'd never return.
Where had his brother gone? Why did he leave? Wi Seongcheon had no clue. He'd inquired around as best he could, but there were no rumors anywhere about Wi Seongyeol after he left Cheonhwa Sect.
He'd asked his father countless times out of longing, but got no proper answer.
Once, dead drunk, his father muttered that Wi Seongyeol had probably died as a vagrant somewhere. Those words still festered in Wi Seongcheon's chest.
"...Which is all the more reason you need to go."
After a silence, Wi Juseok spoke. He steadied his breath, stroking his rigid cheek.
"...You never know. Heavenly Academy draws prodigies from all over the righteous murim. You might hear something about Seongyeol."
"I can't even curse about this."
It wasn't a joke; it was sincere. Wi Juseok sighed deeply and waved his hand dismissively.
Wi Seongcheon burned to snap back, but his father's sigh buried the words in his chest.
The image overlapped with his father, who had taken to drinking alone far more often since Wi Seongyeol left.
"If even I leave, won't you be too lonely, Sect Leader?"
"Better than watching my son hole up in the mountains."
"Chasing honor now, after all this time?"
"I've always chased honor. That's why the sect's signboard is still up."
Wi Juseok spoke lightly, like a joke, but Wi Seongcheon couldn't laugh. His father showed his face at every Murim Alliance event despite the mockery, all to uphold the sect's dignity.
Ten years ago, just once. Wi Seongcheon had accompanied his father to a Murim Alliance event.
Those memories were hardly fond ones. Most of the ten days spent at the Alliance were cursed recollections. The one or two that could be called memories... were too faded now.
"Understood."
They say parents always win against their children, but Wi Juseok was the exception. Wi Seongcheon knew his father wouldn't bend.
If he was going to bend now, he wouldn't have started this. With the enrollment procedures already done, Wi Seongcheon's only choices were to go late or go soon.
"I'll go, but what if I go and act like a thug?"
"The signboard's already shit-stained. A few more loads from you won't change much. But remember this: Cheonhwa Sect has no one who can clean up your shit."
"Didn't you just say we had backbone and solid foundations?"
"That's separate from shit-cleaning ability."
Wi Juseok snorted sarcastically. It was just another way of saying, "Handle it yourself." Wi Seongcheon agreed Cheonhwa Sect lacked that ability.
No need to think about it. Among Heavenly Academy's top sects and clans, Cheonhwa Sect would be dead last.
"Well... if you get tangled in some plot and die... I might write a petition demanding they investigate my son's wrongful death."
"Oh, thank you."
"But Cheonhwa Sect won't get tangled in plots. Plots are for targets worth scheming against."
"What if they bully me just because they don't like me?"
"Why ask me? Handle it yourself."
"So I can snap back?"
"Why ask me? At your age, you should take responsibility for your own actions."
"What kind of irresponsible..."
"I think raising you this far earns me immunity from that word."
Wi Juseok straightened his back and spoke sternly.
"And why do you keep thinking negatively?"
"Is this a situation that inspires positive thoughts?"
"Go make some friends your age, meet a nice girl. Won't that be great?"
"What nonsense is that?"
"The only people you know are me, your father; the Deputy Leader's family; and the woodcutters and hunters in the village below. That's it, right?"
Wi Seongcheon clamped his lips shut, unable to retort. That was the extent of Cheonhwa Sect's size. At this point, they should drop the sect signboard, but his father stubbornly clung to it.
"Is that my fault? You're the one who wouldn't take more disciples."
"Got to have people who want to join first."
"There were a few, I think."
"Just a bunch with rotten attitudes. Thugs who wanted to learn martial arts for banditry. What good's taking in trash like that?"
"You're too picky for no reason..."
"Anyway. Since you're going, think positive. Enjoy your youth. Make friends..."
"Ah."
Something suddenly clicked. Wi Juseok tilted his head at Wi Seongcheon's exclamation.
"What?"
"The Heavenly Being!"
Wi Juseok winced at the shout.
"The Heavenly Being what?"
"I heard the Heavenly Being enrolled in Heavenly Academy this time. Is that why you're sending me?"
"What kind of nonsense..."
Wi Seongcheon slowly closed his gaping mouth as Wi Juseok roared with laughter.
"You pick up some rumor and... Hey, kid. Don't you know birds of a feather flock together? The Heavenly Being's already surrounded by shiny types from the Nine Great Righteous Sects and prestigious clans—perfect faces, perfect backgrounds. The lesser ones are all eyeing chances to connect. And you think I'm sending you for the Heavenly Being? Ha!"
"...Ahem."
"You think the Heavenly Being would even notice you or our Cheonhwa Sect?"
"...They might like me."
"Sure, there's always some fool in the murim who'll dive headfirst into shit, but the Heavenly Being doesn't have those tastes."
The sarcasm stung.
"Dreams are dreams, but don't chase a connection with the Heavenly Being. You'll just earn resentment."
"Going to Heavenly Academy alone will earn me plenty of that."
"...Could be."
Wi Juseok muttered reluctantly, stroking his beard.
"So you'll go?"
"You'll nag me to death if I don't, so yes, I'll go."
He'd already stood, and given his father the answer he wanted. Wi Seongcheon turned on his heel.
"Where you going?"
"Gotta pack for a long trip."
"What do you have to pack? Sword, saber, spear? You're fine empty-handed..."
"Sure, but I need spare clothes and underwear."
Wi Seongcheon shot back, unwilling to hear more sarcasm.