Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Must Save Her (1)
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As soon as I snapped the drawstring of the Mighty Power Bow.
Pang Jae-hyeok's face filled with bewilderment.
"……?"
Well, I have no idea what kind of mess the old Yong-un got into with the Northern Hebei Pang Clan.
But judging from his pupils shaking unnaturally for his size and his jaw hanging wide open, his head was clearly crammed with thoughts like, 'How the hell did this bastard do that?!'
Anyone who knew the original Eon Yong-un couldn't help but react that way.
Even I had cursed at the fact that it had to be this guy of all people.
Anyway.
With the supervisor in such a fluster, the confusion spread through the testing ground in an instant, and soon the entire exam hall was buzzing.
"Haha. They dared to judge me as a first-rate warrior, so I thought it was some worthless place run by blind fools, but if even a guy like that gets first-rate status, I suppose I have no choice but to acknowledge it."
Some were looking at me, rationalizing their own first-rate judgments.
"…D-Did I see that right? That guy just drew and broke a five-point bow?!"
"One point… two points… three points… All the other bows are in place. No matter how many times I look, it's definitely the five-point Mighty Power Bow."
"M-Maybe they put a crappy one as the five-point bow on purpose to test the examinees' courage? Remember how the supervisor was talking about bravery when it was the other guys' turns?!"
Others were thinking of it as a test within a test.
But soon, someone shattered that notion.
"…No way. Listen, if you're thinking of grabbing the five-point bow just in case, drop it right now. Remember that warrior who challenged the Mighty Power Bow early on? The folks from other regions might not know, but I'm from Shandong, and I knew him. The young escort master from Southern Escort Agency—he was famous enough in Shandong that everyone had heard of him. If even he failed to draw it, then that bow is the real deal."
"…D-Does that make sense? If that's a real Mighty Power Bow, it means at least thirty years of internal energy, right? No, he didn't just draw it—he broke it outright. That means way deeper cultivation. Why would someone like that be here taking the first-rate warrior exam?!"
Not just the examinees in plain white uniforms stamped with 'Jeong' on the chest and numbers on the lapel.
Even the assistants in colored uniforms and the current students helping out were the same.
"Breaking the Mighty Power Bow… Among last year's incoming freshmen who are now in our grade, only the top-tier students could do that, right…?"
"P-Professor Pang didn't help him, did he? Earlier, number seventy-nine mentioned something about his uncle…?"
"Watch your mouth. I was supervising too, and nothing like that happened. You're talking dangerous nonsense."
"S-Sorry. A first-rate warrior breaking the Mighty Power Bow… I was so shocked I misspoke."
"Be careful. That could get you in real trouble. And is Professor Pang the type to do that anyway?"
"R-Right. The Northern Hebei Pang Clan got two special admission slots thanks to Professor Pang's influence, yet he insisted all latecomers start from this stage."
"Exactly. And when number seventy-nine called him 'uncle,' I saw the professor's face straight on. Professor Pang was always so jovial, but I'd never seen such anger on his face."
"…I see."
"Anyway, this intake is something else. I heard a top scorer from the civil division already locked in first place with outstanding marks. Now a first-rate warrior who breaks the Mighty Power Bow shows up."
"Yeah. And the Zhuge family's Little Martial Marquis and Nangong clan's Flying Dragon Sword, who've been hyped since before enrollment, haven't even participated yet."
"Well, that's irrelevant for us heading into labs, but the underclassmen must be sweating. Anyway, we should wrap up. I'll tell Professor Pang to hurry this guy along so we can continue with the other examinees. You direct the helper students: send one to the admissions office for a spare Mighty Power Bow, and calm down the examinees."
"Yes, sir!!"
They were all muttering among themselves like a marketplace, making me wonder how long this would drag on.
"Hng."
Pang Jae-hyeok finally clamped his gaping mouth shut, walked over to me, wrote '5 points' in the martial prowess section of the exam ticket I'd handed over upon entering, and returned it as he spoke.
"…Pass."
"Pardon?"
What did you say?
Your voice is too small for your size—I couldn't hear!
"…You pass. Number seventy-nine, follow the assistant senior's guidance to the dorms."
The Righteous Martial Academy's entrance exam period falls between the students' vacation periods.
Thus, passers use the existing dorms for lodging.
- The scale really is impressive.
'It is.'
Four dormitories arranged in a cross around a circular garden called the Academy Student Plaza.
Plum Blossom Hall
Orchid Hall
Chrysanthemum Hall
Bamboo Hall
Though called halls with boldly inscribed plaques, they resemble paifang gates without the red arch, beyond which stand proper dormitory buildings fit for a small village.
'Definitely impressive.'
The grounds are vast, and with most students heading home, to their sects, or out on research or escort missions during break, rooms are plentiful.
Using existing dorms for exam passers is efficient for the academy administration.
'Plus, it motivates the examinees naturally.'
Each dorm has training grounds, annexes, hot springs, the student cafeteria.
And though closed now, upon admission as freshmen, one gains access to the Scripture Pavilion stocked with manuals and books.
Honestly, nowhere in the Central Plains has facilities like this.
Even examinees who'd only passed the first stage were already acting like they'd been accepted, mingling and touring the halls.
"This year, I'll pass for sure and become part of one of the Four Great Dorms!!"
"Even among the Four Great Dorms, people have preferences. Which one are you aiming for?"
"Passing anywhere would be great, but if I could choose, it'd be Plum Blossom Hall?!"
Whatever.
I was staring at one of the blackboards placed at each dorm's gate.
'If you really want to pass, don't sightsee—study these blackboards.'
During term, they record exam rankings and such.
Now, during entrance exams, as passers arrive, helpers check scores and record rankings up to the top candidates.
Not all examinees, of course.
Just up to the 160 admission slots, as passers arrive.
- Your name isn't there.
'Yeah. Haven't made the board yet.'
My score: minus one from first stage for first-rate status, plus five from second-stage martial prowess, total four points.
Average for passers so far is around ten, with three stages left, so I'm in the high-score group.
But unlike special admits from prestigious sects who start with guaranteed five points bypassing first two stages, or second/third-rate warriors starting with plus two/one, I started with a penalty, so no board yet.
"Zhuge Seolji, Nangong Yun, Cheon Jang-ho, Tang Ok-gi, Pang So-cheon… the top ranks are insane…."
D-Dang, I know some of these people.
But it was doable.
'Hardly anyone below second-rate got five points in martial prowess.'
If few challenged for five points in the section everyone hones…?
Next stages would be more defensive.
Next up: Dismantling.
A test of formations and mechanisms within time—few experts.
Me?
I'd torn through Master's time-infused formation.
Entrance formations? Piece of cake.
'I'll allow you lot above me just until tomorrow.'
Wonder what they look like.
What personalities.
Looking forward to it.
Really looking forward.
'Hmm, wonder how Ha-seong did.'
The next morning.
I rose before the first cock crow as usual, finished morning training and meditation, and headed out for the cafeteria when I ran into Ha-seong.
"As expected. I knew you'd be out for morning training even here, Brother. I was going to look for you yesterday, but it's so vast, and you must be tired, so I figured waiting for your training would work."
Seeing him waiting in the pitch-black dawn reminded me of Master's words about such loyalty being rare, so I chuckled and replied.
"Tired? First-rate warriors draw bows for the prowess test."
"Oh, we have one first-rate in our room—I heard. Someone broke the Mighty Power Bow. Was that…."
"Yeah, me."
"I knew it! As expected of you!!"
As we chatted, loosening joints.
"Ahem! Ahem ahem!"
Ha-seong was subtly hinting for me to ask about him too.
Normally, I'd smack him.
But today I'm in a good mood.
"…How'd you pass?"
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime choice. The helper seniors kept hyping Southern Jiang Divine Escort, so I got cocky and wanted a three-pointer, but then your words hit me."
"That you're way weaker than you think?"
"Yes! Without you, I'd have packed and headed back to Huizhou. The senior at the one-point station barely won. He was barehanded; I had a wooden sword. So, in that spirit…."
Huh.
Something feels off.
"I pledge my utmost loyalty. Loyalty loyalty loyalty!"
Ah, shoulda left him.
Anyway.
I took the overjoyed Ha-seong on a dorm lap.
Alternated guarding meditation, then headed to the student cafeteria.
"Hm? Something happened, Brother?!"
The meal line wasn't straight but circled like around a spectacle.
Up close: Several black-uniformed student helpers had one white-uniformed examinee kneeling, berating him.
"Because of your arrogant antics, your martial uncles have lost their appetites and taken to bed! And you shamelessly come take the Righteous Martial Academy entrance exam?!"
"Not just that, senior! My friend Cheol-seong here manned one of yesterday's gates, and this Jeong-hyeon bastard flaunted his Wudang discipleship publicly in front of the examinees. Our Orchid Hall became a laughingstock!"
"What?! Is what your martial uncle says true?!"
"…It's not the full truth."
"Not denying, just saying it's different?!"
"…That's!"
"I don't want to hear it! You're a disgrace to Wudang! Hand over that Righteous Martial Academy examinee uniform and sect sword right here! Then get out!"
Watching quietly, I realized I was in the thick of the incident that defines the 'Righteous Martial Academy's Sword Genius' legend.