How Could I Possibly Be in Debt?
Yeop Hyeon and his companions boarded a cloud ship bound for Jeoguk.
It wasn't long before an elderly man approached them.
"Young Master Yeop, I am the manager of this cloud ship. You may call me Manager Li."
The manager continued.
"For safety reasons, only your group of four will be aboard for this voyage. We've already stationed experts from Chwi Seon Ru throughout the ship. Lord Gu Lu-ju is also keeping a close eye on proceedings. Even if Changmok Academy tries any underhanded tricks like last time, Chwi Seon Ru will never allow it."
Mu Yun Qi and the other two exchanged glances of surprise.
As everyone knew, Chwi Seon Ru's domineering arrogance was no less than Changmok Academy's.
Yet here they were, bending over backward to impress Yeop Hyeon.
Yeop Hyeon cupped his fists toward the manager.
"I won't forget this favor!"
The manager beamed.
"Young Master Yeop, Lord Lu-ju has also ordered an investigation into Changmok Academy's schemes. By the time you arrive in Jeoguk, you'll have some satisfying news."
"My thanks!"
"No need. Rest well, and summon me if you need anything."
The old man bowed respectfully and departed.
Mu Yun Qi turned to Yeop Hyeon with wide eyes.
"You some hidden son of a Chwi Seon Ru bigwig or something!?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
Their goodwill stemmed entirely from the Heavenly Maiden.
"Come on, you're all tired. Let's head in and rest early."
As Yeop Hyeon descended to the cabins, Ji An Zhi followed.
Mu Yun Qi sighed at his retreating back.
"That guy's lucky he never joined Changmok Academy. Who knew they'd stoop this low?"
"Yeah."
Bai Ze nodded in agreement.
Mu Yun Qi turned to Bai Ze.
"Big guy, this time we might need ten lives and still come up short. You know that, right?"
"...Getting buried with you? That sounds awful."
"......"
Yeop Hyeon had just opened his door when Ji An Zhi slipped inside after him.
She faced him squarely.
"Changmok Academy won't touch that girl."
"I think so too."
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
Yeop Ryeong served as Changmok Academy's shield. Destroying her themselves would unleash Dean Ji Yuan Zhang's wrath like a massive storm.
Changmok Academy wouldn't dig its own grave.
But they couldn't just let Yeop Hyeon grow unchecked either. They knew his rise spelled doom for their future.
Ji An Zhi met his gaze.
"Rest up. Ryeong will be back with us soon."
"This time might really be dangerous."
Ji An Zhi stared into his eyes.
"If it wasn't, I wouldn't have come."
She pulled two steamed buns from her bundle and offered them.
"Don't starve."
"......"
Alone now, Yeop Hyeon drew a small wooden doll from his robes—Yeop Ryeong's likeness.
Staring at it, calm gradually returned to his eyes.
I'm still too weak!
He'd never once considered himself weak, from childhood to now. He alone among the young generation could rival An Ranxiu.
But it was all illusion.
This brutal reality hammered home his shortcomings.
What had he done when I Hyeon-chang kidnapped Yeop Ryeong?
Nothing but watch. Without Dean Ji Yuan Zhang, he wouldn't even have had that chance.
Who to blame?
Only himself for being weak!
Too weak!
Yeop Hyeon slowly closed his eyes.
The weak have no right to speak.
The weak suffer endlessly.
The weak must endure every inequality!
Fresh blood trickled from his clenched fist. Suddenly, the Spirit Water Sword within him stirred wildly, making his body tremble violently.
Then a faint energy seeped from him, manifesting a sheet of paper before his eyes.
On it was a single sword, surrounded by sword intent.
A massive ? loomed above.
As if challenging him to guess what sword it was...
Imperial City.
News of Changmok Academy kidnapping Yeop Ryeong spread like wildfire.
Public outrage boiled over.
Their shared emotion was pure fury.
People had always favored Changmok over Cheongran Academy. Simple reason.
Changmok was stronger!
The weak naturally sided with the mighty.
But when Changmok recruited even warriors from the enemy state Danguk to kill Yeop Hyeon, opinions shifted.
How much blood had been spilled in wars against Danguk? Countless Jiang Kingdom citizens had lost family to them.
Inviting enemy warriors for mere prestige? Unforgivable.
Thus, sympathy swung to Yeop Hyeon and Cheongran Academy.
Now, kidnapping his little sister reignited the fury.
She was just an innocent girl!
Afterward, Imperial City folk openly condemned Changmok. Streets buzzed with denunciations of their shamelessness.
One misstep to catch Yeop Hyeon, and their reputation plummeted.
Chang Mountain. Changmok Hall.
"Who dares?!"
A furious roar echoed across the mountain.
In the grand hall, I Hyeon-chang trembled with rage, face ashen.
"What force backs those framing us?!"
Yeo Su rose to answer.
"Likely Chwi Seon Ru or the Jiang Kingdom imperial family..."
"No reason for them to side with Cheongran!"
Yeo Su glanced at the dean.
"Lord Gu Lu-ju of Chwi Seon Ru personally accompanied Yeop Hyeon to Jeoguk. The imperial family is covertly providing escorts too."
Faces darkened around the hall.
Two of Jiang Kingdom's three great powers backing Cheongran? Dire news!
All eyes turned to I Hyeon-chang. He closed his eyes slowly.
"Yeo Su, do you know Yeop Hyeon's origins?"
"Yes. He's from Qingcheng..."
"Nonsense!"
I Hyeon-chang bellowed.
"A sword cultivator—no, a great sword cultivator—from a backwater like Qingcheng? He was already one before Cheongran. After Yangjie City, he crushed Fen Jue effortlessly. Ordinary origins? Is your intel department full of slackers!?"
Yeo Su paled, bowing his head. He was Changmok's biggest scapegoat. Had he accepted Yeop Hyeon back then, none of this would have happened. With him, Changmok's dominance would last decades.
Cheongran wouldn't dare challenge them.
Now it was reversed—Changmok on the ropes.
All from letting one boy slip away.
A boy who'd walked in offering to join!
Everyone in Imperial City, Changmok included, had mocked him as trash. Now that trash killed their top student. Infuriating.
"Enough. No point rehashing the past."
I Hyeon-chang scanned the warriors.
"We must unite now. No matter his backers or origins, we'll kill him. You all remember how Cheongran fell."
They nodded.
Internal unity was key. Scolding now helped nothing—the dean knew that.
"Mak Song, preparations?"
"Nearly complete. Jeoguk's lord Cheok Bal-eon seems on board."
"Good. Daeun Empire students?"
"They demand Celestial-grade weapons. Accept, and they'll send students."
"Agree. Tell them: kill Yeop Hyeon, get Celestial-grade weapons, techniques, and Peak Mystic-grade spirit artifacts."
Celestial-grade!
The hall erupted.
A Celestial weapon rivaled a city's worth!
Changmok had only five in a millennium, three damaged. Peak Mystic spirits? Just six total!
Trading millennium treasures for one life? Students stirred.
I Hyeon-chang quelled them with a cold glare.
"If Yeop Hyeon lives, Cheongran rises, and we fall like they did. Items can be replaced; a vanished academy cannot."
Silence fell.
"Mak Song, other forces?"
"Daeun aside, students from other nations are interested. Some on Mubang rankings. Mountain hermits too. With his strength known, no amateurs. Assassin groups sending people."
I Hyeon-chang's eyes narrowed.
"Even the Shadow Realm?"
"Unconfirmed."
His expression darkened.
"Spread word: anyone killing Yeop Hyeon gets a Celestial-grade weapon. No—plus technique and Peak Mystic spirit!"
"B-but... that's enough for ten Divine Fusion experts... even those old monsters might bite..."
Eyes widened, mouths agape. Enough to assassinate Dean Ji Yuan Zhang, success or not.
I Hyeon-chang's lips curled viciously.
"If Cheongran wants to protect him, we'll make them the world's enemy!"
Half a shichen later, the bounty on Yeop Hyeon's head was proclaimed across nations.
Qingzhou erupted. The reward was colossal.
Even nearby mountain sects licked their chops.
Yangjie City's barracks.
Gang Gu stared at the secret missive before her, then rose slowly.
"Go to Father. Request Elder Lim to take command here."
She mounted her horse outside.
An elder hurried after.
"Princess, the supreme commander leaving...?"
Gang Gu flashed a golden nameplate. The funds inside were spent, but she kept it.
"I've received a gift. How could I possibly be in debt?"
With that, she spurred her horse and vanished.