Chapter 116: Reaping What You've Sown, Whom Shall You Blame?
Half a shichen later.
The crimson sun hung high in the sky, heralding the dawn of a new day.
Canglan Academy was already swarming with martial artists who had arrived early, turning the entrance into a bustling throng.
Admission to Canglan Academy!
This was the dream of countless young people across Jiang Kingdom right now.
With Cangmu Academy gone, Canglan Academy had become the sole path to success. Entering the academy meant gaining a master to guide you and access to all sorts of training resources—naturally, people flocked to it in droves.
And so, on this day, Giun Mountain was packed with a sea of youths.
Far more than anyone had expected.
Yeop Hyeon and his three companions stood atop the mountain, gazing down in astonishment.
Who knew so many would show up!
"H-Hey, Yeop… isn't this way too many?"
Mu Yun Qi groaned, and Yeop Hyeon chuckled.
"The more, the better, right?"
A crowd like this meant Canglan Academy's reputation had spread far and wide.
Mu Yun Qi nodded vigorously, his face flushed with excitement.
"I never dreamed I'd become a master! Me, Mu Yun Qi!"
Master!
Canglan Academy couldn't yet afford to hire true experts. The four of them had to fill those roles, on top of handling all the academy's miscellaneous duties.
Today, all four were dressed in their finest. Especially Ji An Zhi—she was already pretty, but in her new clothes, she looked like a goddess in her radiant beauty.
Even more people streamed in below their watchful eyes.
"If Dean Ji could see this sight… how happy he'd be."
Dean Ji…
At those words, the other three fell solemn.
Ji An Zhi clenched her fists, saying nothing.
Yeop Hyeon tilted his head toward the clear blue sky.
"Dean Ji, watch over us. Canglan Academy will become the greatest in Qingzhou—no, in the entire Qingcang Realm!"
As Yeop Hyeon descended the mountain, Mu Yun Qi and the others followed.
The moment he appeared, the crowd erupted.
Some even chanted all four of their names.
Mu Yun Qi, standing beside Yeop Hyeon, clasped his hands behind his back and put on a stern face.
Bai Ze straightened his posture, adopting a serious stance.
Ji An Zhi, with one arm behind her back like the others, held a chicken leg in her hand.
At that moment, Yeop Hyeon raised his hand high above his head. The venue fell deathly silent.
He stepped forward toward the crowd. Mu Yun Qi instinctively moved to follow, but Bai Ze blocked him. Bai Ze's eyes darted anxiously as he whispered harshly.
"Yeop Hyeon's about to say something important— you trying to ruin it!?"
"……."
With every eye on him, Yeop Hyeon began, a faint smile on his lips.
"Welcome to Canglan Academy. I am Yeop Hyeon, the dean. Today, we will select thirty students. To do so, you must pass three trials. Of course, if more than thirty pass, everyone who succeeds will be admitted, regardless of numbers."
Cheers exploded across the venue.
Thirty had seemed too few at first. Knowing extras could still join thrilled everyone.
Yeop Hyeon smiled and continued.
"Today's exam will be overseen by Master Mu, one of our guiding instructors. He will now explain the procedures."
Yeop Hyeon nodded to Mu Yun Qi and stepped aside.
Mu Yun Qi took a deep breath. Seeing the black mass of people below made his heart race.
He steadied his nerves and spoke.
"Glad to meet you all. I'm Mu Yun Qi, in charge of Canglan Academy's… face."
The hot atmosphere on Canglan Mountain chilled instantly, like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over it.
"……."
Canglan Academy's face?
That one slip turned the venue ice-cold.
Mu Yun Qi's gulp echoed through the silence.
What the hell did I just say?
Too nervous, he hadn't even registered his own words. He glanced back at Bai Ze with pleading eyes, but Bai Ze looked away, head down.
Yeop Hyeon quickly stepped forward.
"Hahaha, Master Mu loves his jokes—don't think too hard about it!"
"R-Right. Anyway, forget the jokes… let me introduce myself properly. I'm Mu Yun Qi, instructor at Canglan Academy. Call me Master Mu from now on! The exam has three gates, and I'll be supervising. Good luck to you all!"
Hearing "supervisor," the examinees wiped the smirks from their faces.
No one wanted to get on the overseer's bad side.
Then Yeop Hyeon bellowed.
"Exam begins!"
First Gate: Great Waves Sift the Sand!
A massive formation lay at their feet, installed with help from Chwiseonru and Jiang Kingdom. It tested endurance and perseverance.
Those with exaggerated realms would be washed away like grains of sand before the waves.
With so many participants, this preliminary filter for solid foundations was essential.
At Yeop Hyeon's command, immense pressure crushed down on the crowd. It was bearable at first, but soon dropouts surged.
Then, an unexpected figure appeared before Yeop Hyeon.
He couldn't hide his shock at the arrival.
It was none other than Li Yu, patriarch of Qingcheng's Li family, and Zhang Lie, patriarch of the Zhang family.
Yeop Hyeon's eyes widened as he approached.
"What brings you two here without notice?"
Li Yu and Zhang Lie, recognized, bowed with moved expressions.
"We pay respects to the dean!"
Yeop Hyeon waved them off.
"No need for that—just call me Yeop Hyeon, as always."
True, as Ye family crown prince, he'd clashed endlessly with the Li and Zhang families. But he'd never forgotten how these two—and Qingcheng's city lord, Gang Yeom—had aided him and Yeop Ryeong when they left the city.
Yeop Hyeon's warmth lit up their faces.
Li Yu smiled.
"Our family youths want to join Canglan Academy, so we came with them."
"Oh? Which ones?"
Li Yu pointed to two young men among the examinees.
"Those two. They desperately wish to enroll."
Yeop Hyeon grinned.
"If you're here to ask a favor, I'll politely decline."
Li Yu waved it off.
"Not at all. If they fail, they'll have only themselves to blame."
Zhang Lie laughed too.
"Exactly. They admire you, Dean Yeop. Cheating for them would only disappoint."
As they said, Qingcheng's youth now looked up to Yeop Hyeon with pride.
Thanks to him, the city's fame had soared across Jiang Kingdom.
"Hahaha, good. That's the spirit our Qingcheng men should have!"
Li Yu hesitated, then spoke.
"……."
"What's wrong?"
Yeop Hyeon asked curiously. Li Yu sighed.
"City Lord Gang Yeom… passed away recently."
Yeop Hyeon's eyes twisted in pain.
"Is that true? How?"
"Officially, complications from a failed breakthrough. But something's off. We suspect foul play in his death."
Yeop Hyeon furrowed his brow.
"Foul play?"
"Yes. I suspect his brother, Gang Gu. He took the vice lord position right after. Gang Yeom's family was evicted from the city lord's mansion immediately. Without our families' aid, they'd be dead."
Yeop Hyeon pondered gravely, then spoke.
"Once this is over, I'll have the king investigate. No stone unturned in the vice lord's death—you two can rest easy."
Li Yu and Zhang Lie bowed in gratitude.
Yeop Hyeon felt uneasy that trouble had struck Qingcheng so soon after his departure.
Li Yu hesitated again.
"Also… someone from the Ye family came to take the exam today."
Yeop Hyeon blinked in surprise.
From the Ye family!?
He looked where Li Yu pointed. A girl of seventeen or eighteen, hair in braids, gripped her hands tightly. The pressure overwhelmed her; she gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her face.
Yeop Hyeong?
Yeop Hyeon recognized her—she was Elder Yeop Gyeong's granddaughter. They'd crossed paths a few times at home, though never closely.
"The Ye family's fortunes haven't been good lately…."
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"I have no ties to the Ye family."
Li Yu sighed softly. As Yeop Hyeon's star rose, the Ye family's misery deepened. Now, they were the laughingstock of Qingcheng—and all Jiang Kingdom.
"Care for some tea inside?"
Yeop Hyeon offered. Li Yu shook his head.
"We're fine here, watching the kids."
"Then I'll head in—duties to handle."
"Haha, take care!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded and left with Ji An Zhi and Bai Ze.
Watching his back, Li Yu murmured with a low sigh.
"Brother Gang Yeom, Yeop Hyeon still has yi. Rest easy."
Zhang Lie nodded.
"Our choice back then was right. The Ye family now… sigh."
Li Yu replied flatly.
"Reaping what they've sown—who can they blame?"
"……."