Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: No Way
-----------------------------------------------------------------
No way.
It was obviously deliberate. Of course, he hadn't aimed for things to play out exactly like this. He simply knew that the third-years who'd been out at Qinghai were returning today, and he figured Jinu would take an interest in the results of the joint-class practical training.
All he'd done was add one little spark to the mix. Up until now, he'd kept things relatively low-key, so pulling off something bold now would draw the right kind of attention.
Of course, it didn't have to be Jinu. No matter who stuck their nose in, Wi Seongcheon planned to wrap the whole thing up "appropriately."
'Lucky break.'
Jinu had just happened to walk into the cafeteria, and here they were.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hmm."
He wasn't being overt about it. Wi Seongcheon tilted his head with a puzzled look, while Jinu smiled faintly and stroked his chin.
His gaze flicked briefly toward the table where Dang Heeran and Bang Jun were seated.
"It seems you've already finished your meal, benefactor."
"Yes."
"A shame. I was hoping we might share a meal together, if it wasn't too much trouble."
"Ugh, if you eat with a guy like me, Senior, you'll get tangled up in all sorts of bad rumors."
"Haha, I don't pay those any mind."
Jinu let out a hearty laugh and clapped Wi Seongcheon on the shoulder.
"I've got a lot of questions about you, actually. Next time there's a chance, let's grab a bite."
There was no force behind the hand on his shoulder. But Jinu's eyes, fixed on Wi Seongcheon, remained as sharp as ever. Wi Seongcheon grinned and nodded.
* * *
"How was he?"
Jinu watched Wi Seongcheon, Dang Heeran, and Bang Jun leave the cafeteria before speaking. The three Shaolin monks—Jinu's classmates—sat across from him and unclasped their hands.
"Impressive."
Jin Myeong replied.
"He's underrated because of his Heavenly Flower Sect background, but if you judge him purely on skill, he'd rank among the top first-years."
"That tracks. Rumor has it he even beat Huangbo."
Jinu nodded at Jin Myeong's assessment. He hadn't gotten a proper look at Wi Seongcheon's movements. But some things didn't require seeing to know.
"Jin Pung, mind helping out?"
Jinu poured tea into Jin Pung's cup as he spoke. Jin Pung dipped his head slightly, waiting for what came next.
"I'm thinking of calling a meeting of the True Heaven Association. I'll head to the Heavenly Righteousness Hall chamber after I finish eating—can you assist?"
Jinu, Jin Myeong, Jin Pung, Jin Bae. They were of the same generation and age, but hierarchy still mattered. Jinu wasn't just called the top prodigy of his generation at Shaolin—he was the direct disciple of Grandmaster Myeongjin, the current abbot. The four of them, including Jinu, had spots as Eighteen Arhats guaranteed upon graduating the Heavenly Righteousness Academy, but Jinu wouldn't stop there. In the distant future, he could even aim for abbot of Shaolin.
"Understood."
Jin Pung nodded. The True Heaven Association was a longstanding youth society at the Heavenly Righteousness Academy.
Even among the academy where prodigies from righteous sects across the martial world gathered each year, only the absolute elite were permitted to join the True Heaven Association.
It was the epitome of what people called cliques based on school ties and regional connections. Its original purpose had been a gathering of ambitious youths to shape the future of the righteous martial world, but as with all such groups, good intentions tended to corrupt over time.
These days, the entry bar was sky-high, with only the Dragon-Phoenix and Four Blossoms ranks represented among current members.
"And Jin Bae. I've got a favor to ask you, too."
"Speak."
"Could you take a look at Benefactor Wi Seongcheon?"
Jin Bae's expression stiffened slightly at that. He fiddled with the prayer beads on his wrist and muttered.
"I'm worried I know exactly what you mean by that."
"Probably. It won't be anything tough. There's plenty of reason for it, right?"
Jinu said with a smile.
"Whatever his actual skill, Benefactor Wi Seongcheon was placed in the lower class. That's a stain on the name of your sect's elder, Venerable Won Gwangbul. And you're a disciple of the strict Pavilion Lord of the Sutra Depository, aren't you? Who would dare gossip if you stepped in to reprimand a junior? Who?"
"......Understood."
Jin Bae nodded reluctantly. A stain on the elder's name—that was justification enough for a reprimand, as Jinu said.
But now? It had already been over a month since Wi Seongcheon enrolled.
"I know what you're concerned about."
Jinu spoke soothingly, eyeing Jin Bae's subtly tense face.
"The timing's off a bit, sure. But what could we do? We needed time to send a messenger pigeon back to the sect and verify if Venerable Won Gwangbul's letter of recommendation was genuine, and we'd just returned from Qinghai."
"......I get that. But Jinu—even if reprimanding Benefactor Wi Seongcheon would be easy as you say, what if he bows his head and apologizes?"
"He won't."
Jinu shook his head.
"Doesn't seem the type."
* * *
"Why'd you pull that all of a sudden?"
"The situation's already changed. Can't keep acting consistent forever."
"Sure, but flipping the table like that? You're already catching flak from all sides—think that'll make it any less?"
"Who said I did it to avoid getting shit on?"
Fair enough. Bang Jun smacked his lips.
"You trying to hook Senior Jinu?"
Dang Heeran let out a hollow laugh and turned to Wi Seongcheon. He didn't answer directly, just shrugged, but that was answer enough for her.
"Good lord."
"Doesn't it make you wanna hammer in a nail when one sticks out?"
Like bam-bam with a hammer. Wi Seongcheon chuckled as he said it.
"Once a smug bastard gets so annoying you can't stand looking at him, don't you gotta smash him flat?"
"Oh yeah? And if you end up the one getting squashed?"
"Then that's that."
Meaning his own caliber was only that much.
Wi Seongcheon's mind was utterly calm. He wasn't dreaming of nonstop victories. The martial world was vast, full of talented people.
Jinu of Mount Buddha.
The core of the Dragon-Phoenix ranks, the genius hailed as Shaolin's future. Wi Seongcheon's background paled in comparison. In other words, he had little to lose.
"Did you check?"
"Check what."
"My big bro."
They parted ways with Dang Heeran in front of the dorm building. As Wi Seongcheon headed into the lower-class dorm, he asked Bang Jun.
"Hey, I sent a messenger pigeon earlier. You think a reply's come back already?"
"So you did write about my bro."
Bang Jun was at a loss for words. He glared at Wi Seongcheon, brow furrowed, then let out a sigh.
"What is this, an interrogation?"
"I wasn't asking with that in mind. You just answered that way."
It sounded just like he was trying to rile him up. Bang Jun's fists trembled.
"......Like I said during practicals, don't get your hopes up too much. Missing three years, right?"
"I don't think he's the type to die as some roadside corpse."
"Yeah, big bro. Stronger than you?"
"Never beat him once."
"And now?"
"If I trained for three years, so did he."
Bang Jun smacked his lips.
"Someone that skilled......there'd be rumors. The gossipmongers in the jianghu go nuts for rising stars from nowhere."
A young expert in his twenties who'd started making a name three years ago. Bare-handed fighting, mastered in Golden Claw Technique and joint locks.
Plus the scar below his ear. Among young masters skilled enough to make waves, that alone narrowed it down plenty.
But. At least Bang Jun had never heard of anyone matching that description.
"Could be hiding his skills."
"That'd make him even harder to find."
Bang Jun snarked. But Wi Seongcheon just smirked, unphased.
"Never thought it'd be easy."
If it were, he'd actually be disappointed. He'd feel let down by his father and brother, too. Why didn't you find him if it was this easy?
And why'd you leave Heavenly Flower Sect if it was this easy to track?
"You didn't join any youth society, right?"
"Why would I?"
Bang Jun plopped into his usual spot in the first-floor dorm lounge and dug at his ear.
"Why? Youth societies are great. Where else you gonna build connections like that?"
The Heavenly Righteousness Academy, where righteous martial world prodigies gathered. School ties, regional ties, blood ties—all mattered in the martial world. Blood you couldn't help, but just graduating the academy gave you one school tie.
Even without close bonds during school, bumping into a fellow alum later meant instant rapport.
And for deeper school or regional ties? That's where youth societies came in. Students from obscure clans or sects obsessed over them as much as classes.
"Why bother building connections? Once I'm a Beggars' Sect branch leader, people will come crawling to buddy up."
Bang Jun blew the earwax off his finger with a puff of air, strutting. Wi Seongcheon's face crumpled.
"You mangy mutt."
"What're you yapping about, you beggar?"
"Look at you, all high and mighty."
Wi Seongcheon grumbled as he rummaged in his robes and pulled out a neatly folded sheet of paper. Bang Jun's eyes went wide at the sight.
"......A youth society application. You're joining one?"
"Yeah."
"Why? Decided to chase school ties now? Gonna get more shit flung at you?"
"I've got my reasons."
Wi Seongcheon muttered as he pulled over the ink and brush on the lounge table.
Elegant Pleasures Society.
Bang Jun's jaw dropped at the name scrawled across the top. He stared at Wi Seongcheon in disbelief.
"Elegant Pleasures? You......do song and dance?"
"Nope."
"Poetry?"
"Nope."
"Painting?"
"Nope."
"......Calligraphy......nope......"
The four characters for "Elegant Pleasures," scribbled out. Bang Jun wasn't an expert, but he could tell it was crap handwriting.
"You don't have to be good at it to join."
"......True. Question is whether they'll let you in."
"Gonna give it a shot."
Hold on.
Bang Jun's mind raced. The Heavenly Righteousness Academy had countless youth societies. The Dragon-Phoenix True Heaven Association. Sword Talks, for those who swung blades.
The Poison Playfellows centered on Dang Seona, and more. Major ones focused on martial training numbered several, with dozens more for hobbies like reading or travel.
Elegant Pleasures Society. A hobby-based one.
"Ah!"
The name had rung a bell, and Bang Jun finally placed it with a gasp.
"That's the one with Flame Flower and Sword Summit!"
The president of Elegant Pleasures was Jeong Mi-ju, one of the Four Blossoms, and the vice president was Woo Ha-yeon of the Dragon-Phoenix Sword Summit.
"Yep."
Wi Seongcheon furrowed his brow, lost in thought. His brush, which had been flying across the page, paused at the purpose section.
Because I love elegant pursuits.
After agonizing, Wi Seongcheon wrote the textbook answer.