I Like Men
In the deathly silent hall, Go Cheonjin furrowed his brows as he realized something was amiss and scanned the surroundings.
"What..."
At that moment, Ye Su stepped forward, bowed deeply to Go Cheonjin, and explained in detail everything that had just transpired.
The other two vice deans and the supreme elders shot Ye Su icy glares upon hearing his words.
Their expressions were utterly ferocious. If not for Go Cheonjin's projection, they would have lashed out immediately.
Go Cheonjin shook his head and spoke.
"This formation was originally created by former Dean Mok. I found its power lacking and supplemented it by turning wooden puppets into sword cultivators. If someone under twenty destroys this formation, no matter what trickery they use, it would be forgivable. Moreover, that child just now used no tricks whatsoever—and he didn't even have a dantian. For a boy without a dantian to break the Nine Palaces Formation... how extraordinary is that!"
At his words, Ye Su's face paled. Thinking back to An Ranxiu's attitude moments ago made it drain of color entirely.
What kind of existence was An Ranxiu?
And could someone she acknowledged truly be an ordinary martial artist?
Ye Su forced a bitter smile and bowed his head to Go Cheonjin.
"This fool failed to recognize true talent."
"Fortuitous encounters don't come at will."
Go Cheonjin glanced around and continued.
"It's been centuries since I left Qingzhou. I left a mere remnant shadow back then because I wanted to see with my own eyes if anyone could break through mine and former Dean Mok's formation. But to think it would end like this... Enough. I can no longer interfere in Changmok Academy's affairs, so handle it yourselves."
As he finished speaking, his projection began to fade.
The Changmok Academy martial artists bowed deeply toward him in unison.
"We bid farewell to Elder Go!"
Soon, Go Cheonjin's projection vanished completely.
Now, only the two vice deans, professors, and elders remained, glaring daggers at Ye Su.
Ye Su gave a pained laugh and said,
"From this moment, I will begin my self-imposed seclusion. When the dean emerges from retreat, I will accept his punishment. Brother Mo Song, I entrust you with acting in my stead regarding my authority."
Mo Song, one of the three vice deans, sighed deeply and replied.
"You were indeed at fault this time. What's the point of saying such things now? Go. The rest will be decided when the dean emerges..."
"Hold on!"
At that moment, an elder in black robes shouted.
He was Go Mak, another vice dean of Changmok Academy.
Go Mak spoke in a cold tone.
"It's true that the boy was exceptional, but his failure to enter Changmok Academy is his loss, not ours. Punishing a vice dean of Changmok Academy over missing one mere martial artist makes no sense."
The hall fell silent at his words. Go Mak pressed on.
"If Changmok Academy punishes Vice Dean Ye Su, we'll become the laughingstock of the world. So we should announce to everyone that we cast out Yeop Hyeon. Even if he's a genius of unparalleled talent, to Changmok Academy, he was nothing but trash!"
At his shout, the Changmok Academy martial artists exchanged glances. Some hesitated, but many seemed to agree with Go Mak. He continued without pause.
"Changmok Academy has never bowed its head to anyone since its founding! Nor will we now or in the future!"
Go Mak swept his gaze around and bellowed,
"Disciples of Changmok Academy, hear me! I hope the head of Yeop Hyeon, who defected to Canglan Academy today, ends up hanging from Cheongsan Mountain someday. So the whole world can see what a colossal mistake it was for him not to choose us. Understood?!"
At that, the Changmok Academy disciples rose as one and shouted,
"We will surely hang Yeop Hyeon's head on Cheongsan Mountain!"
Go Mak, Ye Su, and the elders nodded in approval.
The rumor that Yeop Hyeon had become a disciple of Canglan Academy spread like wildfire throughout the entire Imperial City.
As if Canglan Academy had merely picked up the trash discarded by Changmok Academy.
Yeop Hyeon's name was on everyone's lips in the Imperial City for a fleeting moment. Of course, not in a good way. And people began murmuring about Canglan Academy.
"Canglan Academy's picking up the trash Changmok threw away!"
Changmok Academy's prestige and popularity remained as sky-high as ever.
On a remote mountain path, Yeop Hyeon followed an old man carrying Yeop Ryeong on his back. The elder took swigs from his wineskin every few steps, as if his throat were parched.
"Oppa... I think I'm warming up now!"
"Feeling better?"
"Yeah!"
"Good!"
"Oppa, promise me. From now on, never kneel before others because of me!"
"For you, I'd kneel before the whole world!"
"Oppa, in my next life, I wanna be your little sister again. No, the life after that, and the one after that too..."
"..."
Moments later, the old man ahead halted. Yeop Hyeon stopped as well.
Before the three of them stood twin mountain peaks. They looked barely a dozen zhang high—pitiful compared to the majestic Cheongsan Mountain of Changmok Academy.
A narrow path wound between the peaks, flanked by a stone stele overgrown with weeds. Amid the weeds, four pitch-black characters were engraved.
Canglan Academy
The inscription on the stele exuded desolation.
Under the old man's guidance, they began ascending the narrow mountain path. At its end, another peak appeared—slightly taller than the ones they'd passed, with a few structures visible at the summit.
The old man trudged ahead slowly, and Yeop Hyeon silently followed, still carrying Yeop Ryeong.
"You're the first in ages to wish to become a disciple of Canglan Academy."
"Elder, if I may ask... how many disciples does Canglan Academy currently have?"
"Two, with you."
The old man answered without turning.
Yeop Hyeon froze for a moment, then hurried to catch up.
"You're not joking, are you?"
The old man stared up at Yeop Hyeon's face.
"Do I look like someone who'd joke around with you?"
"Well... So it's really just two, including me..."
The old man nodded indifferently.
Confirming it wasn't a joke, Yeop Hyeon gave an awkward smile.
"So those two are us..."
Unable to finish, Yeop Hyeon trailed off. The old man patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. I've already recrui—er, gathered two more. It'll be four when they arrive."
The old man said no more and quickened his pace up the mountain path.
Yeop Hyeon stood rooted, staring at his retreating back.
Then Yeop Ryeong, gazing at the elder, said,
"Oppa, it feels like we've fallen into a trap..."
Yeop Hyeon shook his head with a laugh.
"He saved you, so even if it is a trap, I'd jump in gladly!"
Yeop Hyeon hastened toward where the old man had vanished.
Atop the summit, a dilapidated grand hall and a handful of small huts sprawled before Yeop Hyeon. The hall's exterior paint had long peeled away, holes pocked its walls letting wind whistle through, and one door hung askew while the other was missing entirely. Weeds choked the grounds.
Sensing Yeop Hyeon's gaze, the old man said,
"That's Canglan Hall. Where we discussed matters or received guests. Ages ago, of course. Hmm, it's a bit filthy, so you'll clean it up later."
"..."
The old man pointed behind the hall.
"All those rooms back there are empty—pick any. You've come a long way; I'm tired. I'll rest first."
Left alone with Yeop Ryeong on his back, Yeop Hyeon stared blankly at the crumbling hall.
He'd heard about Canglan Academy's state, but not that it was this bad. It was practically ruins.
One mysterious old man and two disciples: him and Yeop Ryeong. It could pass for an orphanage.
Moments later, Yeop Hyeon let out a small sigh. Yeop Ryeong slid off his back and tugged his hand.
"Oppa, go inside first. I'll clean up here."
"Ryeong-ah..."
"Hehe, I'm not cold at all now. Don't worry—go rest!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded lightly, stroking her hair.
"Take it slow. I'll unpack, find some food, and come back."
Yeop Ryeong nodded eagerly.
As Yeop Hyeon left with a bright smile, Yeop Ryeong fetched a broom and began cleaning.
About a dozen zhang behind the hall stood several buildings. Once doubtless splendid, they were now an eyesore of decay. The one before Yeop Hyeon had half its roof blown away.
Yeop Hyeon shook his head and pressed on through weed-choked paths. Soon he stopped. To his right stood a decent-looking manor house. It seemed newer than the others, surrounded by blooming flowers—not bad at all.
"This should be good enough for Ryeong!"
Yeop Hyeon approached lightly and flung open the front gate. He froze solid.
In the manor's center was a small pond, crystal-clear to its depths. Inside lay a woman, sprawled spread-eagled.
The bigger issue was her attire—or lack thereof.
The woman in the pond was utterly naked, without a stitch on!
Unlike the panicking Yeop Hyeon, the woman who met his eyes remained serene as a deep lake.
As Yeop Hyeon whirled to flee, a sharp blade pressed against his throat.
His face drained of color. He threw up his hands and shouted,
"I didn't mean to look on purpose! I'm not interested in women. I... I like men!"
Face beet-red, Yeop Hyeon resorted to an extreme lie to convey his intentions. In that instant, time seemed to stop.
His expression stiffened, cold sweat beading on his forehead. Her skill surpassed his expectations. Had they clashed from the start, maybe—but with his back turned, he was at her mercy.
Just then, the blade at his throat slowly withdrew.
Yeop Hyeon exhaled deeply and turned. The woman was now fully dressed.
She wore a long black skirt adorned with a landscape painting. A sash cinched at her waist accentuated her lithe figure. Her cold, transparent eyes seemed to pierce all things.
She's beautiful!