Entrance Exam (3)
Ooooh!
As I raised my hand, all the exam participants let out sighs and turned to stare at me. And who could blame them? No one had expected anyone to challenge Huang Bo Taeung of the Giant Force Fist, yet here I was—a guy of fairly average build—shooting my hand up high.
"He's not that big."
"He looks kinda pretty too. What's he thinking?"
"Which sect is this guy from anyway?"
Not only that, but the crowd in front of me parted like the Red Sea, left and right. I pushed forward step by step, ignoring the murmurs buzzing around me.
Voices chattered freely from all directions. Some predicted I'd fold in half against Huang Bo Taeung right from the start; others figured I just wanted attention.
But above all...
"Hey, isn't that guy a servant from Cheonmu Academy?"
"Yeah, he is."
"I remember him. Pretty sharp-looking for a servant."
"Puhahaha!"
"These are the end times, man. A servant taking the Cheonmu Academy entrance exam."
Mocking jeers poured down, poking fun at my background. With plenty of academy students and instructors among the crowd today, it was no surprise so many recognized me.
"Hoo~"
While everyone else sneered, only one person—Soft Wind Silver Sword Dan Ri-cheong—grinned from ear to ear, clearly amused. He seemed to like that I was stepping up to Huang Bo Taeung.
"You're not joking, are you?"
As I climbed onto the training ground alongside Huang Bo Taeung, the massive brute muttered under his breath.
He's even bigger up close.
Having only read about him in text before, this was my first time seeing Huang Bo Taeung in the flesh. He was way huger than I'd imagined—more imposing than any pro wrestler from my old world. I couldn't help but marvel at his sheer bulk.
The old me would've never dreamed of facing him. But now? I had full confidence.
"Joking? As if."
I brushed off his condescending words lightly and started loosening up.
"I hear you're some servant or whatever... I don't do half-measures. If you're just after attention, you should quit now."
Huang Bo Taeung snorted as he watched me stretch, looking utterly baffled.
"Man, you talk too much."
His nonstop yapping—like a marketplace hawker—lit a fire under me.
"W-what?"
He'd expected me to cower at his threats, so my retort made his eyes bulge.
"I'll worry about myself. You just watch your own back."
If this were a full-on inner energy fight, I wouldn't have jumped in. But pure barehanded brawling without qi? Nothing beat Great Power Iron Hardening Skill there. That was a fact, backed by my knowledge of building this world.
Grit!
His pride stung, Huang Bo Taeung ground his teeth furiously before focusing up. His eyes screamed murder—he looked ready to charge and rip me apart any second.
"Are both challengers ready?"
Intrigued by the first match of the first trial, Dan Ri-cheong stepped up to judge and officiate. The other instructors waved him on, buzzing with excitement.
"Yes!"
Huang Bo Taeung bellowed with savage energy.
"Of course."
I, on the other hand, was totally relaxed. No fear at all. It was like fighting with an invincible cheat code—what was there to worry about?
"Begin!"
The barehanded duel finally kicked off.
No sooner had Dan Ri-cheong spoken than Huang Bo Taeung exploded forward like he'd been waiting his whole life.
Paaaat!
His momentum was pure force that could uproot mountains and aura that blanketed the world—a beastly power that'd make even massive predators tuck tail. It felt like a mountain crashing down on me.
"Die!"
Huang Bo Taeung, pissed to his core, unleashed a massive fist straight at me. Even in his rage, it wasn't some wild haymaker; it was a clean, razor-sharp straight punch, screaming elite clan disciple.
—Giant Bear Strike!
Definitely from the Huangbo clan's mid-level art, Giant Bear Twin Hands Fist. Fitting its name—like the paws of a colossal bear.
I didn't know the details—my maternal uncle had created it, not me—but one thing was sure.
Even peak experts would black out from a graze.
Woooong!
Just look at that fist slicing the air. No inner energy, yet it hummed with destructive force. Pure physical power, poised to shatter anything in its path.
Kwaaaang!
It slammed right into my forehead. The impact was so brutal, dust exploded across the training ground, visibility dropping to zero beyond a couple feet.
"Aigoo, what an idiot!"
"Told you not to show off."
"Haha, couldn't even dodge the first hit. Servants just can't cut it."
The dust hid the crowd, but their chatter rang crystal clear. Everyone assumed I'd lost. But the real twist was just beginning.
"Gaaahhh!"
A guttural scream pierced the haze, echoing across the entire Cheonmu Academy. Most thought it was me groaning—or worse, my death rattle.
But nope. Not me.
"Aaaack! Aaaah!"
The screamer? None other than Giant Force Fist Huang Bo Taeung.
As the dust settled, his crumpled form was laid bare for all to see. Clutching his fist and rolling on the ground—it was comical.
No warrior, no matter how skilled, handles sudden agony well. You brace for expected pain, but the unexpected? Brutal. Even Huang Bo Taeung's tanky build couldn't save him.
I grinned brightly down at him.
He'd figured I'd dodged or passed out. Wrong.
I didn't dodge on purpose.
I wanted to test Great Power Iron Hardening Skill's defense in real combat. So I even stuck my forehead out. And the result?
Perfection. Not just unbreakable defense—it wrecked his fist, inflicting massive damage right back.
My forehead? Pristine, not even flushed.
Felt like a breeze brushing by.
"That all you got?"
I taunted him as he writhed, scrubbing the dirt with his body.
All that talk, and he couldn't breach it.
"Y-your forehead! It's not a rock head—no, steel skull or something...!"
His right hand mangled, Huang Bo Taeung writhed in agony, tears welling up. Not bawling—just shock from the pain.
But he'd overlooked something else.
"My turn now."
He'd struck first; I hadn't really counterattacked. And Dan Ri-cheong hadn't called it.
Meaning? He wasn't fully neutralized—finish it properly.
Slipping forward, I slid one hand under his armpit, the other over his shoulder.
"Wha—huh?"
Distracted by his throbbing wrist, he couldn't defend—let me maneuver freely.
Great Power Iron Hardening Skill was the ultimate external art for body strengthening.
But not just defense. In the original, Gabul used it offensively too. Like this...
Crunch!
Power up the body with the skill, then throttle the foe's neck with both arms. One of Gabul's sure-kill moves.
"Guh! Gaaak!"
Caught off guard, Huang Bo Taeung collapsed as I squeezed his throat. Face turning purple, strength draining fast.
"Huang Bo Taeung. Tap my arms, and I'll call it your loss and let go."
Victory was sealed. Dragging it out would just be bullying, so I offered mercy. But he...
Huangbo clan's elite direct descendant, proud pureblood supremacist. A mere servant choking him? No way he'd tap.
Think I'll go easy?
Already disliked him from the original. Time for the spicy version.
Squeeze harder!
He didn't last.
"Grk, grrrk!"
Huang Bo Taeung's eyes rolled back, whites showing, foam at his mouth. Pants soaked—yeah, he pissed himself.
Whoa!
The crowd went nuts watching a prestigious Huangbo heir crumble live.
Thud!
His pointless pride led to ruin. Out cold, massive body flopping down, face and pants a mess.
I confirmed he was down, released the hold, and deactivated the skill.
"What's your name?"
Dan Ri-cheong, who'd watched with keen interest, asked.
"Cheon Myeong."
He nodded approvingly, then bellowed with inner energy across the academy.
"First match: Cheon Myeong wins!"
Total victory. A shock to everyone who'd mocked the servant boy.
I clenched my fists, pumping in triumph.
No one—not a soul—had predicted this.
Probably Dan Ri-cheong either.
Proof? His eyes sparkled at me.
Beating a Huangbo elite in barehanded—where they dominated? Major upset.
"Cheon Myeong. Impressive. Any sect or master?"
As expected, Dan Ri-cheong warmed to me.
"Just self-taught. No sect or master."
His interest felt good. He was just vice-head now, but later—in the novel's late game—he'd skyrocket via some event, becoming Dan Ri clan head.
And his daughter? A top-tier beauty.
No harm cozying up to a future bigshot.
Building connections with high-potential folks. A perk only I, with original knowledge, could exploit.
"Remarkable talent and grit. Pass the exam, and I'll keep an eye on you."
Dan Ri-cheong, ever the nurturer of talent, was already salivating.