Special Graduate (1)
The final training session before the ultimate graduation exam concluded successfully. Unfortunately for us, the story of our fierce battle with a demonic cultist midway through didn't spread.
Cheonmu Squad 3. Sorry, but this matter... we'll report it to the Murim Alliance and keep it under wraps.
That was what Flame Flower Divine Army Baek Ho Jun, the academy head, summoned us to say.
When I asked why, it turned out that news of a demonic cult high-rank being slain by a righteous faction member could spark a massive war. And more than that...
The demonic cult is far larger and more relentless than we imagine. If word spreads that one of their great captains fell to the hands of Cheonmu Academy students, they'll surely come for revenge without fail.
Baek Ho Jun regretted burying our achievement, but he prioritized our safety above all—ours, the students'. Only Cheonmu Squad 3, our instructor Huang Yi-cheon, and the academy leadership knew of that day's events, so keeping it secret was simple enough.
Still, it's a bit of a shame, isn't it?
I hadn't done it expecting anything, but the thought of this monumental feat vanishing entirely left a pang—right up until then.
But what do you know? Before the fatigue from final training had even faded, the academy heads summoned Cheonmu Squad 3.
Wondering what was up, we went and—get this!
"Greetings. I am Bi Sa Myeong Geom Seo Mun Gi-ryong, commander of the Murim Alliance's Black Tortoise Squad."
Seo Mun Gi-ryong, clad in tight black martial robes, awaited us.
Azure Dragon Squad's leader, Azure Cloud Sword Sage Won Gwang, was a shocking figure destined to become Alliance Leader, but this man was no slouch either. As future vice leader, if Won Gwang was the sun rising in the light, Seo Mun Gi-ryong was the moon in the shadows.
What that meant was...
"Our Black Tortoise Squad is a shadow sect. We handle the Alliance's special missions, operating in secrecy. Our main duties are battling the demonic cult and safeguarding the martial world."
Unlike other envoys, they specialized in covert ops.
Seo Mun Gi-ryong would also go down as the most renowned Black Tortoise commander, rising and setting faster than any before.
"As Black Tortoise leader, I take genuine pride in the feats of Cheon Myeong and Cheonmu Squad 3. Though it won't be known to the world, know that the Leader, Vice Leader, and I here recognize it all—take comfort in that."
His words revealed our achievement wouldn't vanish; it would live on in the Alliance's secret annals.
And the surprises didn't end there.
"I hear even the restless Azure Dragon leader covets you. I'm no different. You and your squad intrigue me greatly."
First the next Alliance Leader, now the vice—both eyeing me.
For a covert ops commander like him, our talents must have been especially precious.
"I hear you're graduating Cheonmu soon. Consider joining Black Tortoise. You may not get applause in the spotlight, but if you crave action from the shadows' edge..."
He praised us one by one before leaving those words.
Unlike Won Gwang's lavish rewards, this was just a scout offer—but forging ties with him was a huge win.
"Wait, no. I heard you're exempt from the final graduation exam. Straight to Black Tortoise, then?"
And then—boom. Seo Mun Gi-ryong dropped a massive bombshell.
"Pardon?"
"What do you mean?"
I blinked in shock, my two friends right behind me.
"Oh, you didn't know?"
He glanced at Baek Ho Jun and Dan Ri-cheong.
"Things were hectic; we haven't had time to tell you."
"We're telling you now."
They exchanged words, then Baek Ho Jun stepped forward with a calm explanation.
"Cheonmu Squad 3: Cheon Myeong, Peng Jincheon, Meng Yuon. As students, you've racked up another monumental achievement. Hiding it in the shadows without proper reward pained us."
His words set our hearts racing.
Yeah, no way it'd end with empty words!
"Above all, the moment Flying Dragon Hero Spear Huang Yi-cheon, whom you saved, awoke, he declared: 'Without these three, I'd have died ages ago.' So we've decided."
Huang Yi-cheon knew what was right, after all.
Baek Ho Jun glanced at Dan Ri-cheong, who handed over a document—something astonishing.
"Our decision: Cheonmu Squad 3—the three above—are hereby passed without the final graduation exam. You graduate immediately."
"...!!"
Every eye in Cheonmu Squad 3 locked on that insane reward.
This was no ordinary prize.
Even top advanced-class students often fail the final graduation exam.
Cheonmu's hardest hurdle wasn't class promotion—it was graduation. And exempting us entirely? That was an enormous honor from the academy.
"And one more thing. To squad leader Cheon Myeong, who led Cheonmu Squad 3 so brilliantly..."
With that, Baek Ho Jun extended something to me: a certificate marking me the top among all final graduates—a special graduate.
"We designate you special graduate, proving you're the strongest of this class!"
Fortune upon fortune—we were too stunned to speak, my friends and I.
Seeing our joy, Bi Sa Myeong Geom Seo Mun Gi-ryong and the academy heads all chimed in with praise.
"This is historic."
"Unprecedented in academy history."
"Exam exemption a month early, plus special graduate status."
Their acclaim became immense honor for Cheonmu Squad 3 and me.
And that wasn't all.
"This was possible only with the advanced class students' consent and their instructors' pleas."
Dan Ri-cheong approached with his signature smile, heaping praise on me.
"The students... and instructors?"
My vision blurred misty—damn it, at a time like this.
Those we'd shared joys and hardships with, grinding through training—they'd vouched for us.
More moving and honorable than any reward I'd ever gotten.
"Yes. Without their support, even I couldn't have made it happen."
Baek Ho Jun's eyes reddened too. All our toil washed away in that instant.
"A month remains, but you're graduates now. Take the time as vacation."
Even better: with a month till the exam, we'd already passed—so vacation it was.
"Thank you."
"Truly grateful."
"This is an honor!"
Overwhelmed, we bowed deeply in unison, showing proper respect.
Coming to Cheonmu was the right call—again.
But the blessings continued.
"Special graduate Cheon Myeong. You may know, but special graduates choose a privilege."
I nodded at Dan Ri-cheong's words.
"I do. An elixir, martial art, or weapon, right?"
"Exactly."
Why had I, free to roam, bound myself to restrictive Cheonmu?
To fulfill original Cheon Myeong's dream, sure—but mostly for this final privilege.
All my efforts here—training, arts, connections—were for this day.
Finally, the fruit ripened. Joy surged.
"Special graduate Cheon Myeong, follow me."
Special graduates picked from the academy's treasures, so off to the vault with the head.
"Congrats."
"All thanks to our leader."
I moved with Baek Ho Jun amid cheers from Peng Jincheon and Meng Yuon, plus applause from all the instructors, heads—even Seo Mun Gi-ryong and his Black Tortoise crew, who'd carved out time for us.
Glancing back, memories flashed: from servant days to special graduate today.
"Thank you."
Emotion welled, but Cheonmu was an academy, cradle of warriors.
My true ascent begins now.
That joy and ambition fresh, it was privilege time.
We trekked to the rearmost vault holding Cheonmu's rarest treasures, following Head Baek Ho Jun.
Ku-ung!
Vault? More like an intricate trap-laden mechanism.
Without the head's pass—opening all of Cheonmu—no one gets in.
"Special graduates don't come yearly. If none qualify, we fail the whole class."
Baek Ho Jun chatted en route, easing the quiet.
"Really?"
"Yes. It's been years since a true special over a regular graduate."
He was right. No worthy talent? No special. My first in 3-4 years.
"And the privilege? Cheonmu lacks top treasures, so even Nine Great Sects or Five Families skip gunning for it."
Flame Flower Divine Army Baek Ho Jun scratched his head, embarrassed.
But I disagreed entirely.
Far from it. Do you know this academy vault hides a massively underrated ultimate attack art?
No top elixirs, famed swords, or divine gear here, as he said.
Yet I'd obsessed over this privilege.
Others dismissed it as useless, but for me, it was the supreme offensive art I needed.
Still, I played it cool.
"Who cares about rewards? The honor of special graduate is what matters."
As if. Honor and reward—I'd claim both, no question.