Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Life's Goal
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Even after Baek Hyun's exam concluded, the mountain entry trials continued.
"No way... We're up next after that guy...?"
"...You're saying I have to take the exam with that monster? Me?"
"Ha... Life really sucks."
The initiate disciples assigned to slots right after Baek Hyun fell into despair.
However, lowly initiates who hadn't even entered the sect yet couldn't complain to their lofty seniors, so the trials proceeded as planned.
Of course, the first-generation disciples were well aware of this and tried their best to judge fairly.
"Hmm... Isn't that a bit too sloppy?"
"He's still young, so I get it, but..."
No matter how fairly they tried to evaluate, the skyrocketing expectations from that one moment led to harsher judgments on the initiates.
In the end, the trials for the initiates following Baek Hyun wrapped up in a lackluster fashion.
"Everyone, you all worked hard fighting the malevolent spirits. Facing them is never easy, but today's experience will prove invaluable to you in the future."
Once the last participant finished, Sect Leader Mokheon spoke on behalf of the elders.
"Those who passed the trial have every right to be proud. At this moment, you have been reborn from ordinary boys into true martial artists.
Engrave in your hearts the weight of the sword you wield and the sensation of taking a life. That is the burden of responsibility you must carry for the rest of your lives."
At those words, about half the children touched their wounds and smiled proudly, while the other half hung their heads in deeper gloom.
"Those who failed need not feel ashamed. The mere fact that you endured harsh training to reach this point proves your strong will and resolve. There's no need to blame yourselves for a single mistake.
If, even after losing to the malevolent spirits today, you still wish to become disciples of the Starpoint Sect, you will have the chance to train for one more year at the Ascension Pavilion and try again to become true mountain-entry disciples."
At that, the eyes of the failed children began to shine once more, and only then did Baek Hyun grasp the true meaning of this trial.
'No wonder it felt so brutal. There's a second chance, huh.'
Having heard the sect leader's words, Baek Hyun had no choice but to revise his view of the Starpoint Sect's mountain entry trials.
He'd initially thought them excessively harsh, but upon reflection, they were the grand finale of a training process designed specifically for initiate disciples.
It imposed the brutal condition of subjugating malevolent spirits, yet allowed them to safely accumulate priceless real-combat experience worth billions.
For those with exceptional talent, it provided a chance to catch the eye of the first-generation disciples, the sect's ruling class.
Even for failures, it taught young children the true meaning of living as a martial artist.
The Starpoint Sect's mountain entry trials were, in essence, a meticulously designed 'rite of passage' for cultivating elite warriors.
'Well, if their training system wasn't solid, the sect would've collapsed long ago.'
As Baek Hyun pondered the sect's training system, the first-generation disciples who had observed the trials were seriously discussing the placements for the successful children.
These first-generation disciples were heads of the sect's various organizations or inheritors of key martial arts.
They gathered each trial to infuse fresh blood into their respective groups.
Usually, they distributed the passers according to their own needs and preferences.
"I will take Third-Generation Disciple Baek Hyun as my personal disciple. His talent was just thoroughly proven, so I assume no one objects."
But if the sect leader or elders at the top of the recruitment pyramid declared their intent, things changed.
The sect leader and elders had stringent standards, so direct recruitment was rare.
Typically, only two or three per generation, if any at all.
But if they chose a disciple, that child became their direct successor, treading the so-called 'elite course' toward sect leadership.
Among them, the sect leader Mokheon's personal pick meant the next-generation sect leader disciple had been decided.
This was a pivotal matter for the sect's future, yet...
"Baek Hyun is more than qualified. Let the sect leader have his way."
"Indeed. Who else but that child could be the next sect leader disciple?"
All the first-generation disciples present had inwardly expected Baek Hyun to be chosen, so they showed little surprise.
"Baek Hyun shone brightest, but that Jang So-ya kid wasn't bad either. The youngest son of the Heavenly Fragrance Merchant Group, right? He seems to have a decent sense for money, so I'll take him as my disciple."
They were more surprised by Finance Pavilion Master Mok-seon's recruitment of Jang So-ya.
Though Jang So-ya had shown notable talent after Baek Hyun, no one expected the notoriously picky Mok-seon to choose him.
It seemed his merchant family background was a huge plus in the eyes of the Finance Pavilion Master.
"I'm glad even Junior Brother Mok-seon has found a successor. Decide the rest among yourselves. I have... something to attend to briefly."
With that, Mokheon quietly gazed at Baek Hyun, who was lost in serious thought.
Feeling the gaze, Baek Hyun immediately met the sect leader's eyes.
Mokheon let out a hollow chuckle.
He hadn't deliberately hidden his presence, but hadn't advertised it either—yet amid all these experts, Baek Hyun had pinpointed it exactly.
'!!'
Mokheon sent him a secret transmission, then stepped out of the trial grounds.
-Tat-tat, tat!
'As expected, the sect leader moves at an insane speed.'
Baek Hyun followed behind Mokheon using the Azure Hawk Seven Forms, thinking to himself.
Even strolling leisurely, the sect leader's pace matched Baek Hyun's when sprinting all out.
He was probably adjusting to Baek Hyun's speed.
'But why'd he call me out here?'
He'd certainly stood out earlier, but there didn't seem to be reason to summon him separately.
Why had the sect leader come all the way to this remote spot just to speak with him?
"This seems a good spot for a chat. No one around to eavesdrop, and the view's nice."
Wondering as he hurried along, they soon reached the summit of the tallest peak nearby, where the sect leader finally stopped.
Baek Hyun wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and took position—not too close, not too far—before politely speaking.
"Sect Leader, if I may be so bold... why did you summon me...?"
"Because it's a conversation that would cause major trouble if overheard. Child of the Dan Clan."
'!!'
The utterly unexpected words made Baek Hyun's blood run cold.
Child of the Dan Clan. The implication was crystal clear, no doubt needed.
He'd been caught.
Caught practicing the Dali Kingdom royal family's martial arts.
'When? Where did I slip up!? I definitely hid the One Yang Divine Art perfectly...!'
Baek Hyun reeled in confusion and shock, struggling even to think rationally.
Despite Clear Mind Heart Method's aid, maintaining composure was impossible after this ambush in what he'd thought was a secure area.
"Whenever you fully focused on combat, the surrounding nature resonated with you in an instant. Using natural elements like acupoints is a hallmark of the One Yang Divine Art.
Others wouldn't notice. I only knew from family records passed down through the sect."
"Sect Leader, th-that..."
"No need to panic. I have no intention of harming you over it."
Baek Hyun could only lower his head at Mokheon's words.
Though mistaken for a direct descendant of the Dali Kingdom royals due to the One Yang Divine Art, denying it would make no sense.
Practicing it without royal blood was illogical.
However, being treated as a direct royal descendant was highly problematic.
'Damn it, this is exactly why it couldn't be discovered...!'
Seething at his own carelessness, Baek Hyun could only await Mokheon's next words.
Mokheon looked at him pityingly, then continued.
"Truth be told, when I first realized, I considered expelling you. A direct descendant of the Dali Kingdom royals... is an existence unforgivable in this era. I couldn't ignore the risk of calamity to the sect.
Yunnan Province still harbors many remnants of the Dali era. In truth, little has changed beyond the emperor they serve."
After conquering Dali, the Ming Dynasty left its governance largely untouched.
Forcing assimilation on a people with deep history would spark rebellion.
Thus, most Dali commoners, nobles, and even collateral royals continued their lives unchanged.
The Starpoint Sect—Dali's core force and de facto military—was left alone as well.
But direct royal descendants and their imperial martial arts were eradicated.
Those were the key to the Dan Clan's status as 'royals.'
Without Heavenly Yang Emperor Lord Dan Sa-pyeong's imperial secret arts, no legitimacy or symbolism remained.
The moment they lost them, the Dali Dan Clan became mere influential nobles.
Without the imperial house, Dali could never be rebuilt.
Conversely, possessing the imperial arts made theoretical reconstruction possible.
A direct Dali descendant was thus a massive bomb switch for rebellion.
Of course, by the story's mid-to-late game, national chaos would render such risks irrelevant.
But for now, it absolutely could not be exposed.
"I-I have no plans for rebellion or anything..."
"I know. At first, I thought you'd infiltrated the sect to rebuild Dali and grow stronger. But observing you, I sensed no such ambition.
So I tested you by giving you the Four Days Sword, symbol of Dali's Grand General. Anyone with ambition would have wavered..."
But you didn't.
"Only then did I realize: you're not some royal descendant chasing lost glory, but a disciple of Starpoint like any other. How could I cast you out?"
Only then could Baek Hyun breathe a sigh of relief.
Even treating him as a Dali royal direct descendant, the sect leader seemed willing to accept him.
'I need to be way more careful from now on.'
He'd grown complacent, thinking few would recognize the One Yang Divine Art, even if the One Yang Finger might slip.
As Baek Hyun reflected on his carelessness...
"That realization sparked one curiosity. If not rebuilding Dali, what goal drives you to live so passionately?"
At those words, Baek Hyun forgot his self-reproach and couldn't help smiling.
His goal? Of course he had one.
Not some trivial game clear, but a grand life aspiration.
His ultimate goal—before or after entering the game—pointed unwaveringly in one direction.
"I want to marry a stunningly beautiful wife."
"...Hm?"
"Drop-dead gorgeous, my perfect soulmate in personality too. Live happily ever after, have a bunch of kids, build a family.
Spend my life without incident with that family. No matter the danger, protect them as the head of the household."
Since childhood, he'd craved blood-related family.
A bustling home, fighting and arguing sometimes, but relying on and loving each other.
"And true friends to share my heart with. Ones who make even mundane days fun together, who have each other's backs in battle."
Some joys family alone can't provide.
True friends were the best way to attain them.
"Oh, and if possible, feast on mountains of delicacies daily, have plenty of money, some reputation and fame..."
"Pfft, ahahahaha!!"
Having heard half his goals, the sect leader suddenly burst into laughter, then spoke with a wry expression.
"Truly... a most difficult goal. Easier to rebuild Dali, even."
"...Probably."
No great emperor had achieved all that.
His goal was harder than restoring a nation.
But.
"What arrow fears breaking and never leaves the string?"
Everyone harbors their own 'sun' in their heart.
Yet most don't aim for it—too blinded to even gaze properly.
Such a life leaves only regrets.
Chasing useless gold instead of the sun—what's the point?
Even if my body burns and shatters miserably.
I will shoot my arrow toward the sun.
"Indeed... well said."
-Swish, swish
Mokheon patted Baek Hyun's head fondly and continued.
"From this moment, I take you as my personal disciple. No matter who you are, if you wish to be a Starpoint disciple, the sect will always stand by you."
"...Thank you, Master."
This was the first true 'protector' Baek Hyun had ever faced.