Chapter 273: A World of Righteousness and Chivalry: Murim (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 273: A World of Righteousness and Chivalry: Murim (2)
The Cloud-Mist Pavilion.
Managed by the Orthodox faction, this place was known as the most combat-oriented martial arts academy among the Five Great Families and Nine Sects.
The reason was simple.
The Kunlun Sect, located in Qinghai Province, was the closest to the territory of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The Central Plains' bulwark, destined to be the first to clash with the Demonic Cult should they ever march eastward.
The pride of the Orthodox faction, surviving and maintaining its power even amidst the blood-soaked Great War between Orthodox and Unorthodox.
That was 'Kunlun', symbolized by clouds and dragons.
'I'm sick of coming up empty-handed.'
Jong Muryang, the master of the pavilion, began his day as usual by reviewing the list of applicants seeking entry.
With the war against the Empire still ongoing, and the Heavenly Demon Cult having ended its seclusion, there was no telling when or where a crisis might erupt.
One could never have too many talented individuals.
However, those knocking on the doors of the Cloud-Mist Pavilion who were actually useful were rarer than a drop of rain in a drought.
"How are the kids handpicked by the Murim Alliance this time? I see some children from martial families who, while not from prestigious clans, are somewhat known."
Jong Muryang asked Grand Steward Tae, who stood beside him.
The elderly Grand Steward Tae was the practical manager of the Cloud-Mist Pavilion, handling everything from major affairs to trivial chores.
"Yes. They are certainly quick learners, but they are too young. It will take a long time for them to truly mature."
"So, if we want immediate results, we have no choice but to bring in rogue martial artists or street thugs."
He didn't like using such loopholes behind the sect leaders' backs, but...
...now was not the time to be picky about methods if they wanted to achieve results.
Above all, to oppose the Demonic Cult, they had to cast aside notions of morality and humanity.
"In our case, isn't quantity more important than quality? In that sense, we can procure as many expendables as we need. Over three hundred people gathered today alone."
"Hmm. The more shield-fodder, the better."
Jong Muryang nodded.
Soon, the two stepped out of the inner quarters and headed toward the training grounds.
Murmurs and whispers filled the air.
The training grounds were already packed to the brim with a massive crowd.
Tsk.
Jong Muryang clicked his tongue roughly.
'I don't even expect first-rate or second-rate martial artists. Just give me some decent third-rate ones. Am I really asking for too much?'
He thought he had lowered his expectations to rock bottom, but seeing them in person, it was an absolute joke.
Then again, if they had any real skill, they wouldn't be trying to get an identity badge from a backwater pavilion like this; they would have used their family's backing to seek out a prestigious academy in the capital.
It was then.
'Hmm?'
Jong Muryang, who had been doing nothing but complaining, narrowed his eyes.
From up ahead... he felt a remarkably heavy presence.
Three men and a masked stranger.
The man grinning foolishly at the very front seemed like a nobody, but the rest of them were anything but ordinary.
'Ho. It seems they aren't all useless chaff.'
Perhaps this test might turn out to be quite interesting.
"Grand Steward Tae."
"At your command, Pavilion Master."
"Start the test immediately. I want to see the results as soon as possible this time."
Jong Muryang sat down, his eyes filled with anticipation.
* * *
"I am Cheon Do-ak, the Seven Stars Heavenly Sword."
"Oh. To think I would meet the master of the seven swords that rule Qinghai. I am Cheongho. In the world, I am commonly known by the moniker 'Thunder Command Cloud Sword'."
"Oh! Of course I've heard of you. You are a magnificent figure as well, Great Hero. Hahaha!"
"This humble one is Taeryong, the Invincible Divine Fist."
"Unbelievable. Even the famous Great Hero Taeryong!"
"To think I would personally meet the protagonist of that incident that shook the Murim."
"This test will surely be the most intense in history. With such formidable masters gathered, my heart is already pounding."
Everyone was busy introducing themselves.
Their boisterous laughter was practically deafening.
"What on earth is the Seven Stars Heavenly Sword? And the Thunder Command Cloud Sword? Are they absolute masters who survived the Great War between Orthodox and Unorthodox? Wolyeong, do you know them?"
Jinhyuk casually brought up the question.
"It's my first time hearing of them as well," Wolyeong replied.
"They say they're amazing figures who rule Qinghai, though?"
"To me, they only look like parasites leeching off their parents..."
"No, there's definitely something to them."
The moniker 'Invincible Divine Fist' wasn't something one could easily claim unless they were truly confident in their skills.
Just seeing how they overlapped with my past self shouting 'The sun is setting', I could feel an extraordinary aura.
My instincts told me.
They were... without a doubt, the 'real deal'.
No, they had to be the real deal.
"They said he was the protagonist of some major incident. Surely it was a terrifying event filled with all kinds of conspiracies and secret struggles among masked figures?"
"Come to think of it, I believe I heard that a grocery carriage heading to the Heavenly Demon Cult was raided recently. It happened to be a carriage driven by servants, so there were no guards."
"...Hmm. Judging by their vibe, they definitely seemed like hidden masters."
Jinhyuk scratched his cheek.
"Monikers aside, We do not like these clothes at all."
Alice looked down displeasedly at the clothes she had bought at the market before coming here.
Since she preferred wearing flashy and elegant attire, these must feel rather plain.
"Just bear with it. Your usual outfit stands out way too much here."
"But We prefer Our crown! And Our fur cloak! And Our golden staff!"
Was she planning to play the little queen forever?
Honestly, he wanted to lock her up in a stroller.
Alice whined incessantly, but Jinhyuk let all her complaints go in one ear and out the other.
Sigh, I'll have to buy her a hairpin or something later.
It was then.
"Attention!"
A shout echoed from the platform.
"We will now begin the Cloud-Mist Pavilion's identity badge test."
Grand Steward Tae looked down at the training grounds with a solemn expression.
Everyone's attention focused on him.
"You should have each received a copper coin upon entering the gates."
"Come to think of it..."
"Right. They gave me a black coin..."
"Me too. Is it this one?"
One by one, they pulled out the small coins they had tucked away.
On the surface of the coin, cast primarily from black iron, the character for 'Fight' (鬪) was engraved.
"I will give you half a shijin (one hour). Only those who collect five or more coins, including their own, within that time will be considered to have passed the first test. We do not care whether you live or die, so if you are afraid, leave now."
"F-five..."
"That means we have to defeat at least four people."
"Ugh..."
Heavy groans rippled through the crowd.
There were roughly three hundred people gathered here.
Requiring five coins meant only about sixty people could advance to the second test.
A fierce competition was expected, but reaching the second test guaranteed at least a third-class badge, so it wasn't entirely bad.
At the very least, passing this first test meant they would achieve their goal of coming here.
That was the shared thought of everyone present.
The atmosphere grew heavy, and a sharp gleam flickered in their eyes.
Shring.
Clank!
As they steadied their breathing, the sounds of weapons being drawn echoed from all directions.
In situations like this, unfamiliar outsiders usually became the targets.
Naturally, they would target Jinhyuk's group rather than those who had already exchanged names and monikers.
'They must really be looking down on us.'
Wolyeong and Alice were quite small and slender.
They looked like they could be easily subdued with just a fraction of effort.
On top of that, Jinhyuk was exposing glaring openings as if everything was a chore, making them look like the perfect prey.
"Hand over your coins quietly, and you won't have to get hurt."
As if they had been waiting for this, a group of men approached.
It was the same guys from earlier—the Seven Stars Heavenly Sword and the Thunder Command Cloud Sword.
"With great power comes great responsibility. I do not wish to wield my martial arts against the weak."
Naturally, the giant with the moniker 'Invincible Divine Fist' was among them.
Wow.
Seeing them all gathered like this made him feel like he was looking at the Avengers of the Murim.
Their solemn appearances and imposing auras wouldn't even lose to the Alliance Leader or the Heavenly Demon.
Good. In that case...
Jinhyuk nudged Cheon Yu-seong in the ribs.
"Yu-seong."
"Ugh... What?"
"I can't let this slide. They just called you a pathetic loser who'd lose to a stray dog raised by the Beggar's Sect. That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
He had to go right now and show them the bitter taste of the Sword Saint.
There was no way he could let this go.
"Don't make me laugh. Why should I dance to your tune? Besides, someone of your caliber could easily sweep them all away alone. Why are you ordering me around?"
"Because... I have this."
Jinhyuk activated a status window.
An all-too-familiar sight appeared on it.
It was Cheon Yu-seong.
To be precise... Cheon Yu-seong wearing a high-end French maid outfit.
"Should I leak this all over the Korea University community boards and spread it around? That the ice-cold mascot of Korea University's pre-med department actually has a secret hobby."
The video uploaded to the Hall of Fame during the fight with Antrad had been partially edited at Cheon Yu-seong's request.
But this was different.
There was no mosaic, no editing...
...it was the pure, unadulterated 'original'.
"You... you still had that?"
"Of course. Why would I throw away something so precious? I've already made about three thousand copies. If, by some unfortunate chance, I suffer an unexpected accident, it will be uploaded worldwide immediately."
"You... you absolute bastard!"
A terrifying, murderous intent erupted from Cheon Yu-seong.
Of course, Jinhyuk wasn't one to be intimidated by such a thing.
"Once at the freshman welcoming party, once at the membership training, once at the end-of-semester party, and finally, once at graduation. Good things are meant to be shared, right?"
"You will never die a peaceful death. Even if I have to sell my soul to the Demon King one day, I will kill you."
Cheon Yu-seong, seething with rage, soon hung his head in resignation.
The Demon King, huh...
[The deity 'Rotting Heart' quietly shakes its head.]
It would probably be impossible.
Since Jinhyuk's body had already become something even the Demon King couldn't touch.
* * *
Shring!
The sword unleashed a dazzling flash of light.
Cheon Yu-seong walked toward the center of the training grounds, his face stiff.
"You looked like the strongest of your group, so you step forward indeed? I am the Seven Stars Heavenly Sword's..."
"Shut up."
Cheon Yu-seong cut him off.
"I am in an extremely foul mood. So instead of flapping your gums, swing your sword."
"To fight without even revealing your name. It is always the amateurs who let their emotions get the better of them and lose. As your senior in the Murim, I shall yield the first three exchanges to you."
Slash.
"...Huh?"
The shattered pieces of the Seven Stars Sword clattered to the ground.
His pants being sliced open to reveal his undergarments was a bonus.
A strike too fast for the eye to follow.
Cheon Do-ak still hadn't even realized what had happened.
Instead, a familiar liquid began to trickle down his pant legs.
"Ho. I have finally met an opponent worthy of my Invincible Divine Fist. Now, take this! First Step! Fist King Mu—Gwaaargh!"
Those were the last words left by the giant.
Wow.
I didn't know a human could fly that high.
Jinhyuk let out an exclamation of admiration as he watched Mr. Taeryong soar high into the sky.
I guess the word 'Invincible' wasn't a complete lie.
Seeing how his limbs were still twitching even after being slammed into the ground from a height of ten meters.
In an instant that was almost simultaneous.
Rumble, rumble!
The training ground floor, made of white gold stone, began to crack like a turtle's shell.
[Cheon Yu-seong activates his unique ability, 'Song of the Sword'!]
"Spit out the coins or whatever they are. Before I kill you all."
Cheon Yu-seong, whose stress had reached its peak due to the video, unleashed a terrifying aura.
"Yu-seong, we only need about sixteen coins, including ours. Go easy on them, okay? You're a doctor, not an undertaker."
Even if he said this, it probably wouldn't reach his ears.
Although Yu-seong held back enough to avoid killing anyone, watching the martial artists—who had made such grand entrances—fleeing in tears was quite a sight to behold.