Enveloped in Silence
The National Imperial Junior Academy. Inside the Martial Arts Hall.
"Ak Hong-hyang! One-Cauldron Strength! Grade D!"
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s mechanical voice echoed through the hall. Ak Hong-hyang was drenched in sweat, looking as if she could barely walk. She had just exhausted every ounce of her physical strength lifting the first cauldron. The other students watched the beautiful girl behind the silver mask, thinking that if it weren't for her unnervingly powerful mental fortitude, she wouldn't have even been able to budge that first pot.
Han Bul-bu stepped forward to support her, but Baek Geum-un was faster.
"Hong-hyang! Are you okay?!"
Ak Hong-hyang’s hair was matted with sweat. She managed a weak smile and shook her head slightly.
"I'm fine. Once the exam is over and I can step outside to recover my Hyeongi and catch my breath, I'll be better."
"Then let's go out right now," Baek Geum-un urged.
But Ak Hong-hyang shook her head again. "It’ll be Brother Han and Brother Im’s turns soon. I have to stay and cheer for them until they're done. It won't be too late to leave once everyone has finished."
Just then, the examiner shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Next! Jo Pacheon! Step forward!"
Finally, it was Jo Pacheon’s turn. With his golden hair fluttering, he strode toward the testing area. Boasting a sturdy build and striking features, Jo Pacheon exuded the sophisticated aura of a refined nobleman from a great metropolis. The students' eyes sparkled as they watched him.
"I shall begin my conquest," Jo Pacheon declared in a clear, resonant voice.
He walked straight past the smaller weights and stopped in front of the 4th cauldron.
"Whoa! He's starting right at 2,000 jin?"
"What incredible confidence!"
"Physical strength of... 2,000 jin? Isn't he overdoing it?"
Surprised voices rippled through the crowd. Jo Pacheon stood before the 4th cauldron, gripped the handles with both hands, and lowered his hips slightly. Then, in a single burst of power, he lifted the 2,000-jin cauldron as if it were light as a feather.
"He actually lifted it!"
"He's not joking around!"
"To lift it that easily...!"
"He looks like he could lift the 5th cauldron, the 2,500-jin one!"
The hall grew noisy. The expressions of the teachers who had come to supervise their respective academies darkened significantly.
'That boy is terrifyingly strong.'
Gu Cheon, the teacher from the 6th Academy, was flushed with excitement. He had recently visited the temple to treat the wound on his hand, and it had recovered about halfway—enough for him to observe the competition. He was so thrilled he almost let out a cheer.
'Stay calm. First place in this exam is definitely Jo Pacheon's. There's no doubt about it.'
Gu Cheon believed that the 6th Academy taking first place was a foregone conclusion. When Jo Pacheon had first joined the 7th Academy as a temporary exchange student to participate in the competition, some of the senior teachers at the 6th Academy had adamantly opposed it. But at this moment, Jo Pacheon was proving his worth, and Gu Cheon was certain his choice had been correct.
Unable to contain his joy, Gu Cheon turned his head toward the 3rd Academy teachers. There sat Ryu Gye-hae, along with Cho Heun and Ban Oe-min, who had come to watch the competition for the first time today. All three of them looked grim.
Seeing them like that only made Gu Cheon feel better.
THUD—!
The massive 2,000-jin cauldron was set back down heavily on the floor. Jo Pacheon returned to his starting position and lightly rotated his arms to loosen up. From the moment he lifted 2,000 jin, his score was already at the top of the pack.
Watching him, Dongbang Jeon let out a sigh. He had given his absolute all to the exam, but compared to a monster like Jo Pacheon, the gap was simply too wide.
Jo Pacheon glanced at Bukjin, shook his head, and made a provocative gesture. Then, as every student expected, he walked over to the 5th cauldron—the 2,500-jin weight.
In the next instant, every student watching held their breath. This competition was held every year, but it had been nearly four years since a student had successfully lifted the 5th cauldron. The last person to do so was none other than the "peerless genius carrying the hopes of the entire empire," Im Cheong-seon.
Standing before the 5th cauldron, Jo Pacheon lightly loosened his body, circulating the blood and energy within him. He turned his head to look at Bukjin and spoke.
Having finished his declaration, Jo Pacheon dropped into a horse stance and gripped the handles of the 5th cauldron tightly. He drew power up from his legs, through his waist, and into his shoulders, exploding with strength like a dragon ascending to the heavens.
"HAAAH!"
Jo Pacheon let out a thunderous shout. Slowly, the massive 2,500-jin cauldron began to rise from the ground.
"He... he really lifted it!"
"My god! It's a new record!"
"First place is undoubtedly Jo Pacheon's!"
The surrounding students felt the result was already decided, even though the exam wasn't over. They watched the miraculous sight before them in a mix of shock and admiration.
Before Jo Pacheon took the stage, the highest score had been Three-Cauldron Strength. Jo Pacheon had just lifted 1,000 jin more than that in a single go. For warriors who practiced martial arts, this kind of test—simply lifting heavy objects—forced them to use their physical capacity to the absolute limit. At that threshold, even a single extra jin felt like trying to lift an entire mountain; the slightest lapse in concentration could cause the lifter to collapse instantly.
The moment Jo Pacheon lifted the 5th cauldron, the examiner Lee Cheong-hyeon’s expression shifted dramatically. He knew Jo Pacheon’s character was questionable, but he realized he could never underestimate the boy’s skill.
Jo Pacheon hoisted the 5th cauldron above his head, held it for five breaths, and then slammed it down onto the floor. He burst into a boisterous laugh that echoed throughout the hall. He didn't seem to have any intention of challenging the 6th cauldron. He judged that lifting the 5th was more than enough. Jo Pacheon was certain that no one would surpass his achievement.
"Hahaha! I'm definitely winning this bet!"
"2,500 jin! That kid is insane!"
The gamblers inside the official betting parlor cheered with joy. Everything happening inside the testing hall was being transmitted in real-time onto crystal screens installed in the parlor.
A middle-aged bald man named Gong laughed loudly. "Everyone! Didn't I tell you? Jo Pacheon is the undisputed number one! Hahaha! We're all going to make a fortune this time!"
After saying that, he glanced at Wang Chung and shook his head. "But this fellow here... tsk, tsk."
Wang Chung decided he didn't need to act anymore. After all, everyone had already placed their bets. Stroking his goatee, Wang Chung spoke calmly.
"It's too early to jump to conclusions. Let's wait and see."
The bald man approached Wang Chung with a booming laugh. "Give it up, friend. There's no chance. If Im Bukjin manages to surpass Jo Pacheon, I'll eat this entire table right in front of you!"
"Jo Pacheon! Five-Cauldron Strength! Grade A!"
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s voice rang out through the hall.
"So the Im family's record ends here," Jo Pacheon said triumphantly. His voice was clearly audible to everyone in the hall.
"Is that so?"
A single voice rose from among the students.
"You seem to be under a delusion. Five-Cauldron Strength, Grade A merely means you've tied the record set by Im Cheong-seon. What kind of confidence makes you think you've surpassed her?"
The speaker was Bukjin. He walked out slowly, looking at Jo Pacheon with a mocking sneer.
"Besides, do you really think a mere Five-Cauldron Strength is that impressive?"
Jo Pacheon gave a cold laugh. "And can you even achieve that much?"
Bukjin smiled in response. "You're about to learn the true meaning of despair."
Bukjin turned his head to the examiner. "Lord Examiner, I request to change the order and take my exam now."
Before Lee Cheong-hyeon could even respond, Im Yeok, standing in the ranks, spoke up first.
"I object!" Im Yeok shouted. "The exam must proceed according to the numerical order. There are rules to these tests. Brother Bukjin! Has the provocation finally made you lose your mind? Disregarding the rules of the testing ground could lead to your disqualification!"
A commotion broke out. A faint, hard-to-detect sneer played on Im Yeok’s face.
Bukjin looked at Im Yeok as if he were looking at the world's biggest idiot. "Is your head filled with nothing but dung? I hold the record for the highest score on the written exam. According to the rules of the competition, any student who takes first place in one category has the right to choose their turn in the next. How stupid do you have to be not to know such basic rules?"
Im Yeok’s expression froze.
Then, Lee Cheong-hyeon, the chief official, spoke loudly. "The request is granted. Im Bukjin, step forward and begin your exam."
Jo Pacheon stood to the side with his arms crossed, a cold smile on his face. Under the gaze of countless people, Bukjin slowly walked forward.
And then, Bukjin...
Stopped in front of the 1st cauldron.
'Huh? The 1st cauldron that only weighs 500 jin?'
In that moment, Im Yeok, whose face had been stiff, couldn't help but burst into a mocking laugh. "Only—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Bukjin lightly lifted the 1st cauldron with one hand. He tossed it from hand to hand as if it were a toy before setting it back down. Then, he immediately moved to the 2nd cauldron.
Still using only one hand.
As if he were pulling a weed from the ground, Bukjin lifted the 2nd cauldron with an incredibly casual posture and set it back down. As things progressed this way, any student who wasn't a fool could guess what Bukjin was trying to do.
In an instant, Bukjin stood before the 3rd cauldron. The 1,500-jin weight. Still using only one hand, he picked it up as if it were a small sandbag, hoisted it effortlessly above his head, and set it down.
Next was the 4th cauldron. And then the 5th.
From the 1st cauldron to the 5th, Bukjin used only one hand for every single lift. He didn't even switch hands; he used his left hand consistently from start to finish. Despite lifting cauldrons five times in a row, he didn't show even a hint of fatigue.
The Martial Arts Hall was instantly enveloped in a heavy silence.