Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Unfinished Knot (4)
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A fairly eventful night had passed.
As the rooster's loud crow signaled the break of dawn in the early morning hours, I bolted upright as usual and headed to the front courtyard.
And as always at this hour, I began my stretches while listening to Master's voice murmuring like a sutra.
- To advance the stages of the Heaven-Splitting Sword, body and mind, muscles and dantian, spirit and flesh must unite as one. To achieve this, you must ceaselessly temper yourself in both inner and outer arts without bias toward either. Begin with the Five Animals Play.
"Start with the bird."
The Five Animals Play.
According to Master, it was a set of exercises created in ancient times by Hua Tuo, inspired by observing a bear, tiger, monkey, deer, and bird.
"Next, the deer."
I performed the Five Animals Play in proper sequence, embodying the animals' properties aligned with wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, without cutting corners.
Then, following with horse stance and duck walk, sweat soon poured down like rain.
Clack-clack-
As I trained, the door of Dankang's Premier Inn creaked open. The first to poke his head out after me today was Wu So-rung.
"Huff. Doesn't Brother Eon ever get tired? You pretty much handled all those assassins single-handedly last night, yet you're up first thing this morning?"
"Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today."
"Heh. Yesterday was yesterday, today is today. 'A new day brings new renewal.' I see that ancient wisdom embodied in Brother Eon's demeanor."
Close behind, claiming third place, was Jeong Hyeon.
"Yawn."
The guy in fourth yawned wide despite his spot.
It was Eun Ha-seong.
"The last one out looks like he's got all the luck?"
"Brother Yong-un, go easy on me today. I stayed up past one helping Sis with those compensation claim forms yesterday. Barely got any sleep."
I let out a hollow chuckle at Eun Ha-seong, who beamed as if expecting praise.
"So, did you finish sorting them?"
"Yes. All neat and tidy. Sis did most of it, I just assisted. Oh, Father's coming up for the entrance ceremony, and he said to tell you the Radiance Merchant Group will handle full compensation then, so no worries."
"I see."
Then,
Eun Ha-seong put on a serious face and spoke up.
"Yeah. But Brother, I was thinking last night."
Wondering what he had to say, I asked.
"About what?"
"About what to call me, Instructor Jeong Hyeon here, Little Brother So-rung, and even Sis."
"Jeong Hyeon said it well last time. Family eats together."
"True, but 'family' might make folks think of your main household back home. And if dorms split us up later, it'd get awkward, right?"
"Fair point. So?"
"I racked my brain. Since we're gathered around you, Brother Yong-un, how about 'Eon brothers'?"
"Oh. Sounds good."
"Hm. Makes sense?"
Wu So-rung and Jeong Hyeon chimed in agreement? What are you two on about?
"What's good about it? What sense does it make?! I wondered what nonsense this was. Get your morning cultivation going, run a lap, and let's eat."
"Yes, Brother!"
"Yep!"
"Right away!"
Anyway,
I led the group—er, the self-proclaimed Eon brothers—on our usual run around the Dankang district.
After settling my quickened breath and restless qi with breathing exercises,
we drew water from the well and took turns rinsing the sweat from each other's backs.
"Little Brother So-rung. Does 'Eon brothers' sound off to you?"
"I think it's fine? But doesn't Brother Eon seem lukewarm on it?"
"Doesn't seem that lukewarm. If he hated it, he'd say so, right? Oh, looks like someone's coming. That jade-green uniform—must be a senior from Security."
The visitor was Jo Hak-su, the 11th Squad Leader from Security we'd met last night.
"No issues overnight? Wait, no. There were issues, and my words fail me."
I quickly straightened my robes and hair, then cupped my fists.
"Not at all. I understand. You mean, did I sleep well? Yes, I did. Just finished morning training, hence my disheveled look."
"On my way here, the other candidates at different inns were still dreaming. You're diligent."
"You're too kind. But what brings you so early?"
"Ah, the report on last night's incident is complete. The academy was in quite a stir too. Anyway, the Headmaster wants to see you. Lucky I arrived on time—haven't eaten breakfast yet? Why not grab some there? It's an invitation from the Headmaster."
"Just me? Or all of us?"
"Oh, I was so focused on delivering the message I forgot to ask. He said bring you, but I think the whole group is fine."
I turned to check with the others.
But they all stepped back in unison.
"I-I slept too late last night. I'd mess up in a place like that. I'm a leaky bucket indoors, you know? I'd definitely spill something. Yes."
"I-it's too intimidating for me."
"Makes me think of that old saying about venturing where one shouldn't..."
"Alright, alright. I'll go alone."
Watching them, Master clicked his tongue.
- ...Look at those cowards tucking tail.
Right?!
Eon brothers my ass.
Disbanded as of now, you brats!
Once I donned proper robes and stepped out, Jo Hak-su led the way.
Not much leading needed, really.
Leaving the merchant district full of inns in Dankang brought you straight to the academy's main gate.
Straight through that was a nine-story wooden building, the main hall of the Righteous Martial Academy, and the staff cafeteria on the first floor was our destination.
Entering the staff cafeteria,
"Brought him, Headmaster."
"Candidate Eon Yong-un reporting."
A refined nun with hair coiled under a cap spoke in a calm voice.
"Well done, Squad Leader Jo."
"No trouble, Headmaster. I'll take my leave."
She was Gyeong Hye, a senior member of the Emei Sect's leadership, known in the jianghu as the Demon-Exterminating Nun, and now Headmaster of the Righteous Martial Academy.
"Yes. Candidate Eon Yong-un?"
"Yes."
"Thank you for accepting my invitation so readily, despite the burden. I have matters to discuss directly, so I called you here."
"Ah, I'm fine."
"I see. First, my thanks. You prevented what could have been a tragedy. Stepping beyond candidate and headmaster, as a jianghu wanderer, this nun offers her gratitude."
"...You're too kind. I wouldn't know where to put myself. Headmaster."
"No. You handled the crisis perfectly. I heard you even spared the Orthodox Sect's later-generation disciples? Is that true?"
"...Yeah. It is."
"Not easy for a young man. I'm impressed. At your age, I lacked such restraint. The more I think on it, the more admirable it is. How you earned that scoundrel moniker in the North... Ah, I meant to praise, not..."
"It's fine. It's true. And I deserved it in the North."
"Accepting past disgrace humbly and moving forward. You're the very model of talent this academy seeks. I called you today about scholarships."
With that opener, Headmaster Gyeong Hye explained the academy's scholarship system and rules.
It was lengthy, but boiled down to this:
We want to give you a scholarship.
But you're already the top recipient: Four Great Heavenly Scholar and Academic Excellence Scholar.
Now, Security wants to award you and your 'Eon brothers' the annual True Diligence Scholarship they select.
"Contacting the Martial Alliance to punish those killer ghosts and Orthodox later-generations might earn you the Alliance Leader's Scholarship too. But rules limit one candidate to three scholarships max."
"Ah. Really?"
"Yes. So, regrettably, we must forgo the Alliance Leader's. Any other candidate you'd like to pass it to?"
The esteemed Headmaster Gyeong Hye, sweating profusely with genuine apology, relayed this.
'If I get to choose who, that's perfect. No, great!'
I inwardly cheered.
Though I'd cleanly resolved the 'Current Top Candidate Assault Incident' unlike canon, I worried I'd hogged the spotlight too much.
Passing the Alliance Leader's Scholarship to Jeong Hyeon?
'Perfect. Spot on.'
Publicly, he'd be credited with resolving it.
He did contribute a bit, so not entirely unfounded.
'The fallout goes to him, and we align a step closer to canon tracks.'
I get compensation via Yin Xia Lian.
Best of both worlds.
Decision made, I spoke without hesitation.
"To Candidate Jeong Hyeon."
With last night's matters neatly tied up, I returned to the inn with light steps.
But amid the Eon brothers stood two unfamiliar women.
- New kids in the mix.
'Yeah?'
Turning at my approach, they weren't total strangers.
The one in cyan palace robes, smiling awkwardly, was Tang O-ki of the Sichuan Tang Clan, future "Solitary Eagle's Mercy."
The one in pristine white scholar robes, eyes gleaming confidently, was Zhuge Seol-ji of the Little Southern Palace Zhuge Clan.
'What the?'
I'd glimpsed them during entrance exams and knew them from canon, but uninvited guests nonetheless.
Even recalling canon, they never visited Jeong Hyeon at this point.
Puzzled despite racking my brain, I just asked.
"What brings you here?"
Tang O-ki, sweating as if aware of her rudeness, chose her words.
"...W-well. I'm Tang O-ki of the Sichuan Tang Clan. And this is..."
"Zhuge Seol-ji of the Zhuge Clan. I've heard much from your brother Yong-myeong. And we locked eyes at the end of the entrance exam."
"True. But my question is why you're here."
"To answer directly: Are you satisfied with the top candidate result that day, Lord Yong-un?"
"Why wouldn't I be? The instructors recognized me as top."
"Not that. Beyond others' acknowledgment—what's your heart say? Can you swear you bested this Zhuge Seol-ji?"
Master tsked from my waist at her tone.
- ...This kid's a bit off. Her eyes are...
Then it hit me.
'Right, after the entrance ceremony in canon, Zhuge Seol-ji started hounding Jeong Hyeon like this.'
She'd pestered him with the same "heart" talk, demanding a rematch.
Now interpreting that event...
Canon Jeong Hyeon was injured from the final exam gate and assault, so she waited till he recovered.
Here, no injuries from those, so it triggered early.
A spark of disgust rose at her emphasis on "heart."
'Damn! I just yielded a scholarship to Jeong Hyeon to deflect the spotlight, and now this win-obsessed leech latches onto me?!'
Ugh.
Totally unwanted!
'Wait.'
But I could redirect this to Jeong Hyeon.
Idea struck, I spoke up.
"Lady Zhuge. I appreciate the sentiment. But when in another's home, follow house rules."
"House rules?"
A grin slipped out at the perfect ploy.
Smiling, I pointed at Jeong Hyeon with a finger.
"See those guys?"
"Yes."
"Eon brothers. Means my brothers under Eon Yong-un. Not the point—cold water has hierarchy. Why skip ranks?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're not yet my league. Beat the brothers first. You might top Ha-seong and So-rung, but that Jeong Hyeon guy's still beyond you, I'd say?"
"Ha!"
Perfect.
She snorted just right.
"Beat him. Then I'll gladly face you."
Her eyes blazed.
"No takebacks?!"
"A warrior's word is gold. Hundred or thousand times, I'll oblige."
Jeong Hyeon gaped.
"B-Brother Eon?"
Hey, punk.
I saw you bail with that "shouldn't venture" crap earlier.
This shit's yours originally.
Clean it up.