You Again?
"The hall master wants to see you."
The teacher stood with his hands clasped behind his back, regarding me with a solemn expression.
...
Why?
That was the first question that came to mind.
It wasn’t anything to brag about, but Jin Sojin at this point in the story was so obscure that the academy students mocked him as a useless young master. In other words, there were never many people looking for him to begin with.
Now that he’d been cast out of the family, there was even less chance of anyone caring.
Much less a master with no connection to me at all, like the Jeongdo Academy hall master. There was no reason for him to seek me out, no matter how hard I searched for one.
It’s not Namgung Hye.
Just by looking, it was obvious there had to be another reason.
Namgung Hye was quick on the uptake. If her grandfather was the sort of doting fool who would summon me in secret, she’d surely have given me a warning first.
As for what I’d done to deserve being called by the academy’s greatest expert…
While I was thinking it over,
"Sojin, are you worried?"
Teacher Raeji’s stern look softened into a gentle smile.
"To be honest, yes, Teacher. I don’t understand why he’s summoning me."
"Hohoho, you little brat. Think about it. There’s only one thing that’s happened recently, isn’t there?"
Right.
There was, after all, a perfectly obvious reason on the surface that anyone could think of.
"...You mean Wei Shiyun?"
"As expected of my disciple."
...
He nodded with a satisfied smile.
"That’s right. The hall master is the martial alliance leader’s one and only friend, isn’t he? Of course he’d throw himself into it. We’re desperately in need of testimony right now."
"I see."
Teacher Raeji sighed as he looked out the window. No doubt he was staring toward the Martial Alliance.
"You don’t know how ill-tempered the alliance leader has been these days."
But it couldn’t be that simple.
Would they really have me meet him directly when there was already a subordinate available?
The hall master wasn’t some idle, lightweight position, so there was no way a nobody academy student like me would be summoned for no reason.
...
I hoped it was just my paranoia, but...
this was the kind of place where they’d cut your nose off while you were still blinking.
Ever since I’d heard that an investigator had been dispatched from the Martial Alliance, I’d had a faint suspicion that something was off.
"Let’s head out soon."
I looked at Teacher Raeji, who was still trying to carry himself with an air of gravity, hands behind his back.
Are they keeping even the master in charge of the entire dormitory uninformed?
I had my guesses, but I still didn’t have enough information.
I’d have to meet the students who’d gone to the Central Plains with me and get the story out of them.
"Teacher, I’m sorry to say this, but I can’t right now."
"You little punk! What are you saying? Do you not know who the hall master is?"
"Of course I know his reputation. Isn’t he the one who went to Yunnan, crushed the demonic bastards with nothing but his fists, and raised the banner of the orthodox path?"
One of the Ten Great Experts of the orthodox faction, the Red Shadow Hand Emperor, Baekli Jijeong.
When I’d heard that he was Namgung Hye’s grandfather, I’d genuinely been surprised.
After all, the Namgung family stood on two pillars: the Red Shadow Hand Emperor and the Namgung Sword King.
The Namgung family’s power as a single force was already beyond the level of an ordinary clan.
"You know him well. If I were to make a bold guess, even among the masters of past generations, and even across the righteous, demonic, and evil paths alike, he’d rank among the top three in fist technique."
Teacher Raeji puffed out his chest as if pleased by the praise.
But even a clan that formidable...
...was one of the people who would die when the injuries worsened near the end of the Blood and Steel War, wasn’t he?
Once the Blood Cult began to rise, everything would be shattered.
That was how hellish the martial world would become.
"That’s exactly why."
"Why what?"
I lifted the hem of my martial robe and showed it to Teacher Raeji.
"I’ve admired the hall master for a long time too, just like you, Teacher. I’d like to meet him once I’ve made myself a little more presentable."
It didn’t smell, and it wasn’t especially dirty, but I’d been wearing it while training in the cultivation room for weeks, so it clearly showed its age.
After a long moment of thought, Teacher Raeji slowly nodded.
"Hmm... so you want to leave a good impression on the hall master. Fine, then I suppose I can...—"
"Would it be all right if I visited after Yousi?"
*5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
I needed at least that much time to dig up some information.
Teacher Raeji stroked his chin and paced back and forth, then glanced at me and looked out the window again.
...
He really was excellent at making himself look important.
"That’s a difficult request... but if that’s what you want, then very well. Once you’re ready, come find me. But, Sojin."
"Yes, Teacher."
"Remember this: this teacher would endure anything for the sake of his disciple."
Ever since I’d returned from that last mission, Teacher Raeji had been constantly trying to advertise himself.
It was transparent theater, but...
"I won’t forget your great kindness, Teacher."
Playing along wasn’t hard.
"Sojin, are you really sure you don’t want to work under me? This kind of opportunity doesn’t come often—"
"Teacher, I’ll be going now."
I closed the door and left the room.
He still hadn’t given up, huh....
* * *
Is this it?
As expected, I found it quickly.
What the hell?
Inside the Soyeon Martial Grounds, there were dozens of people lined up in a long queue, and plenty of other students were also staring toward the inner arena.
As I approached the entrance, a man in a robe painted with clouds stepped in front of me to block the way.
"Please wait a moment. If you’re a student here to apply for the Cheongcheon Unit, please line up over here and wait..."
The instant I heard that, I understood.
All those dozens of people were students applying for the Cheongcheon Unit.
That’s quite the prestige.
The person I’d come to see first after changing clothes was
"Please tell the young lord inside that Cheon Sojin is here to see him."
Jong Jinwon, the future sect leader of the Kunlun Sect.
He’d been the representative for the return mission, he felt indebted to me, and since he belonged to one of the nine great sects, he’d also have a great deal of information.
"...Cheon Sojin?"
The moment the squad member disappeared inside, a voice thick with hostility stabbed into my ear.
A familiar voice I’d heard many times before.
With a piglike face, a cross-shaped scar on his forehead, and a glare that shifted up and down, Jin Rinmu strode toward me.
A face far too familiar for my liking.
It was the very same Jin Rinmu who’d raided the medicinal vault in the Medical Hall.
I waved and greeted him cheerfully.
"Hey, Rinmu. You been well?"
The bastard ground his teeth and snapped back, "My surname is Jin, Rinmu is the given name!!"
"Sure, Rinmu. Did you pay back the cost of all those elixirs? You should know how to eat in moderation."
"You bastard, that was because of you—!"
Maybe a dog trained in a private school really did absorb its lessons after three years?
Instead of charging at me like before, he glared at me with wary eyes.
So Rinmu had learned self-control, huh...
I might have to look at him differently.
He didn’t seem to have the time or inclination to fight me today anyway, so I’d just let him go.
After glaring at me for a while, he let out a snide little sneer and raked his eyes over me from head to toe.
What’s with this bastard?
That’s a crime, idiot.
"Cheon Sojin... don’t tell me you’ve come to apply for the Cheongcheon Unit?"
...
Did I look like that?
Jin Rinmu was making some spectacularly wrong assumptions.
"Heh heh heh... I did hear that the Jincheon Unit was disbanded, but still... come on. This isn’t a place for trash like you to get in."
I didn’t answer, only gave a small shrug.
Apparently taking my silence as confirmation, he went on gleefully.
"At the very least, you need to be the son of some distinguished family with enough skill to back it up, like me. I failed last year and the year before, but this time is different!"
The expression on his face was beyond serious.
At a glance, it was obvious that getting into the Cheongcheon Unit was Jin Rinmu’s goal.
The Cheongcheon Unit.
How high was their cutoff, exactly?
I could feel someone hurrying out from inside.
"You say you’ve got so much skill, and this is already your third attempt?"
Unable to think of a comeback, Jin Rinmu stammered for a while before suddenly shouting, "Th-that’s... none of your business!! Anyway, trash like you has no business being here! Useless bastard! Stop wasting time and get lost!"
Rinmu.
You really shouldn’t have said that.
Did he think I’d just stand there and take it because I was an idiot?
Beating someone up isn’t the only way to handle things.
"That’s a shame."
"What? What do you mean by tha—"
At that very moment,
"D-don’t come out yourself, Lord!"
Jong Jinwon came running out, shouting as he did.
"Who do you think you are, speaking so rudely to Mr. Cheon?"
"M-Mr. Cheon? Young Lord Jong, what are you talking about? You’re calling a useless young master like that a great hero? Aren’t you mistaken?"
Jin Rinmu stared back in disbelief.
Wow.
You still don’t get it?
The guy really had a talent for digging his own grave.
I wish I had some popcorn.
I could practically catch Rinwon and even the Blood Sea Fortress with one hand, damn it.
"To insult someone right up to the bitter end... why does that sound so familiar? Perhaps you’ve come to apply for the Cheongcheon Unit?"
"Yes. That’s right, but..."
He trailed off and glanced at me, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Too late.
"Unfortunately, I’m afraid you’ll have to return home, student."
With that unmistakable dismissal, Jin Rinmu panicked.
"Young Lord Jong, no, great hero!! Mr. Jong!! What are you saying? Are you really going to throw me out over something this trivial, when you’re so famous for fairness and justice?"
"I’d rather ask you that question. Do you really expect me to let someone into the Cheongcheon Unit who hurls insults at others without a shred of reason?"
"Th-that’s..."
"Leave."
"I, I have nowhere else to go now! I-I’m sorry. Useless youn— no, Cheon Sojin! Great hero!"
...
Only then did he understand the situation and bow his head to me in a hurry.
"Please forgive me. Great hero Cheon..."
Jin Rinmu looked up at me with a desperate face.
"What will you do, Mr. Cheon?"
"I accept your apology."
"R-Really? T-thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cheon!"
As I granted him permission so casually, his face lit up as if he’d been saved.
"Mr. Cheon, are you all right with this?"
"I’ll leave it to you. Don’t mind me and do as Young Lord Jong wishes."
"Then..."
...
Gulp.
Jin Rinmu kept swallowing dryly.
"I don’t intend to take it back. Leave."
"H-how can this be..."
At my utterly firm words, he looked like a man who had lost every joy in the world and let his face fall in despair.
What could he do?
It was all karma.
Even if I forgave him, choosing squad members was the lord’s right.
Now that I already knew what kind of person Jin Rinmu was, there was no way I’d pick him.
That’s why you always have to watch your mouth.
A man who teaches even his enemies a lesson.
That was me.
* * *
I walked toward the rest area inside the martial grounds.
"Young Lord Jong, it seems I’ve arrived at a busy time. I’m sorry for intruding. I’ll be on my way soon."
"Mr. Cheon, what are you talking about? Haven’t we already weathered the storm together as comrades? Please, stay a while and make yourself at home."
His kind-looking face was full of smiles.
...
And then, perhaps deeply impressed, he stared at me with eyes full of admiration.
That was a little hard to take.
"By any chance, didn’t the hall master summon you?"
While we chatted casually, I slipped the question in lightly.
"No? Even if I’m the future sect leader of Kunlun, I’m still just an ordinary academy student for now. There’d be no reason for the hall master to seek me out personally."
That answer made my suspicion harden into certainty.
So I’m the only one being called?
Why?
"Could you tell me what the Martial Alliance investigator asked about regarding the last incident?"
"Ah, so that’s what you wanted to know?"
Jong Jinwon took a sip of tea, nodded, and went on.
"It wasn’t much, really. He asked about traces of the Blood Sea Fortress or the Martial Alliance strike team, things like that. Other than that... ah!"
Jong Jinwon tapped his fist into his palm and nodded as if he’d remembered something.
"Did something come to mind?"
"He kept asking whether I’d seen an altar, or whether there was anything nearby. But I didn’t even know there was an altar there."
"Something near the altar?"
Ah.
So that really was it.
There was no doubt they were searching for the purple jade orb.
"Neither I nor Miss Namgung, nor Young Lord Wei, knew anything about the altar, so we couldn’t say much... but Miss Guyang seemed to know something."
"Miss Guyang?"
Jong Jinwon nodded slowly, as though lost in thought.
"During the mission, I’d never seen her look genuinely happy before. I’m sure she must have spoken with the investigator privately after we left."
...
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Guyang Jihee...
You again?
##