#117. The Black Flame Dragon in Golden Clothes (2)
"What brings the elders, who must be busy with legislation back at the Alliance, all the way here?"
Instead of Myeonghyeon, who was too agitated to speak properly, Moyong Cheong stepped forward.
"We have raised an issue regarding the treatment of that boy called Jin Sowoon. I'm sure the Chief Strategist is aware?"
"Not only I, but even the Alliance Leader is aware of the gravity of this matter. And I'm on my way back after receiving the Alliance Leader's opinion."
"……!"
"……!"
The fact that the Myriad Communications Division and the Alliance Leader's Hall, which divide the Murim Alliance's power into three, had unified their stance meant they intended to handle it that way.
"The key issue in this situation is whether Jin Sowoon committed any irregularities or not. Correct?"
"Yes."
Jegal Somyeong swept his gaze over the Murim Alliance elders once each before speaking.
"If there were no irregularities, he passes. If irregularities are proven, he fails."
He then turned to look at me.
"As you said, the Murim Academy's regular admission is solely for the future peace and stability of Murim. Nothing more. It's not a place swayed by personal interests or factions. If you insult the Murim Academy's regular admission again, I will personally throw you into the golden prison. Understand?"
The hall's atmosphere chilled at Jegal Somyeong's stern words.
"…Understood."
"Good. Now, speak on the most central matter."
The Murim Academy director came forward holding a scroll and said,
"There are two major issues. As mentioned earlier, collusion with the Black Path."
The director paused briefly, glancing toward Elder Myeonghyeon, before continuing.
"And regardless of whether the collusion is proven or not, receiving aid from more people than the limit allows. These two."
No matter the reason, it amounted to the same thing: disqualification. A perfect checkmate.
In the Murim Alliance rife with schemes and intrigues, no one who reached the Elder Hall would be a pushover.
"In that case… there's no room for reconsideration."
As Jegal Somyeong spoke, Myeonghyeon Dojang smiled for the first time.
"Since he came mixed in with the Black Path procession, he won't claim that wasn't aid, will he?"
At Jegal Somyeong's words, all eyes turned to me.
With even Jegal Somyeong saying that much, denying any connection to the Black Path wouldn't fly anymore.
I had no choice but to admit it straightforwardly.
"If traveling with the funeral procession counts as aid… then yes. I received aid."
"As expected…!"
"Just as we thought!"
Small exclamations burst from the elders, who should have maintained their dignity.
"But since it doesn't violate the rules, my qualification stands without issue."
"What… what nonsense…."
"That kid's utterly mad."
"Drag him out right now!"
As complaints erupted from the elders, Jegal Somyeong barked,
"Quiet down! Keep it up, and I'll have you removed!"
"……."
"Speak. You haven't forgotten you're before the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist, have you?"
"No."
"As I recall, the regular admission rules limit hired or received aid to a hundred people. And the Black Path procession far exceeded that. If we go by the letter, not only you, but all Tae-eul Gate disciples, the Namgung and Moyong heirs, and even Iron Sword Sect disciples—all disqualified."
I pulled the Murim Regular Admission Rulebook from my mental library.
"But by those rules, my group and I aren't disqualified."
"What?"
"'Murim Regular Admission Rule Article 3, Clause 7: Examinees may not receive aid from Alliance members, ronin, or any White Path warriors!'"
The contentious rule. But.
"This rule doesn't prohibit aid from the Black Path, explicitly labeled as the 'enemy.'"
Jegal Somyeong's eyelid twitched.
He signaled his deputy, who quickly flipped through the thick rulebook and showed a page.
"……."
Jegal Somyeong alternated between the rulebook and me, his eyes full of disbelief.
While Jegal Somyeong was speechless, Myeonghyeon Dojang shouted,
"What nonsense! It's common sense that White Path disciples don't receive Black Path aid!"
"Then that common sense should have been in the rules. Isn't it the Elder Hall's fault for not including it?"
The Murim Alliance's authority rested on absolute rules. They came and went with time, but while they existed, they were the standard for all.
"The gateway test was to obtain spirit cores. Common sense says it's a hunt for spirit beasts or yokai. But most examinees bought cores for their gateway passes, since it didn't say 'hunt personally.' By that logic, most here should be disqualified, right?"
"……."
"Any passers here who personally hunted spirit beasts or yokai? Step forward."
Those treating our group like plague and keeping distance now ground their teeth with sharp glares.
"I… uh…."
Myeonghyeon Dojang flapped his mouth like a goldfish.
Honestly, if they call this sophistry, they've pulled far worse. Mine won't even raise eyebrows.
Besides, I even warned them of the Demonic Cult's presence in advance, giving them a chance to draw in the Black Path Murim. Myeonghyeon might miss it, but no way Jegal Somyeong would.
This debate was won before it started.
"Enough, Myeonghyeon."
"……But."
"Didn't I say enough? How long will you overstep?"
"……."
Jegal Somyeong looked at the bowed Myeonghyeon and muttered to himself,
"…Unbelievable. Passing the test like this."
Jegal Somyeong turned to the director.
"The results seem clear, but anything to add?"
"……No."
"Anyone from the Elder Hall?"
The Jeongdo Council members wore sour expressions with no reply, so Moyong Cheong from the Baekdo Council answered instead.
"Digging further would only expose more of our flaws. Proceed as is."
Jegal Somyeong nodded lightly.
"I will announce the results."
Though spoken softly, his voice filled every corner of the training ground and spectator seats.
"In the name of the Murim Alliance Leader: The top scorer of this Murim Academy regular admission is Tae-eul Gate's Jin Sowoon!"
------------!
-----------------!
Everyone gathered in the academy gaped.
Our group rushed me without restraint, shouting in joy.
But as the celebration continued, their faces hardened, scanning the surroundings.
No one clapped.
"……."
"……."
"……."
Even for a Tae-eul Gate disciple like me, this was too stingy.
Clap clap clap clap—
From one side of the spectator seats, the Black Path heavyweights clapped with veiled killing intent.
Clap clap clap clap clap—
Clap clap clap clap clap—
Clap clap clap clap clap—
Only then did others start clapping one by one, following suit. Our group, snapping out of it, rushed me again, tears streaming as they stood there.
#
"This is the place."
Following the maid's guidance led to a annex with a small garden and private training ground attached.
By the standards of fancy pavilions or high-end inns, it seemed lacking, but as dormitory facilities, it was jaw-dropping.
Meals cooked by a chef inside, maids on call all day, a personal training ground, and private bath.
A special residence granted only to top admittees.
"What color training uniform do you prefer? Or do you have a sect uniform?"
"None specific. I usually wear black."
"We launder daily, so color doesn't matter."
They even handled this?
"Fine. Black's comfortable, so keep preparing that."
"Understood. Call anytime if you need more."
The head maid left after speaking.
Alone in the room, I reflected on recent events.
"Phew… have I cleared one hurdle?"
So much had happened, with moments I nearly quit the exam.
Fortunately, I'd overcome all trials to reach here.
"Still, things are going roughly as planned."
The seemingly impossible Murim regular admission and top score—achieving it all brought a chest-swelling emotion I'd never felt since regressing.
"At this rate, no major worries ahead."
I hadn't aimed for top score for luxury.
Maintaining it grants the right to choose assignment after graduation.
That's why the effort.
Most eye the Dragon-Phoenix Meet, but no time for kids' games.
Enter Baekrang Pavilion, prepare to accept Tae-eul Gate disciples, properly arm its low-rank warriors.
That was my plan.
Knock knock—
Snapping from thought, I stood.
The gold-silver-bronze brothers and others had gone to check their dorms, so no expected visitors.
"What? Already toured the dorms… who are you?"
Outside stood a scholarly-looking man I'd never seen, smiling amiably.
Though smiling, his sunken, dark eye sockets looked pitiful.
"Ah, Young Master Jin Sowoon? Long time no… wait, first time, right? Nice to meet you."
The hollow-eyed man barged in without asking.
"Wow, the Academy gives solo spaces like this? Heard maids and chefs handle food and clothes?"
"Uh… yes. But who are you?"
"So envious. When I entered as low-rank scribe, eight shared a room."
The chatty man rambled nonstop, touching items around.
"Hey! Who are you! Why barge in?!"
"You… how dare you speak to me like…."
He looked at me like a parent hurt by their child.
So who the hell are you?
"Know why you passed and entered the Academy?"
What bullshit is this?
"All thanks to me. Me."
"Sigh… last chance. Who are you?"
"If it's me…."
"Get out."
"I'm Maeng Ju-won, deputy chief of Myriad Communications."
My rough shove halted abruptly.
"Maeng Ju-won?"
A name impossible to forget.
Myriad Communications' head, long-time right-hand man to Jegal Somyeong.
"Yes, that's me."
The genius who died around my entry to Myriad Communications smiled sadly before me.
#
The Murim Alliance officially announced the end of the Academy's regular admission and scattered the list of successful admittees across the land.
The top admittee's name prominently featured Tae-eul Gate, long fading from memory, sparking frenzied gossip among Jianghu enthusiasts about Jin Sowoon.
"Heard of Tae-eul Gate? Of course!"
"This village's under Tae-eul Gate protection. I'm Jin Sowoon's grandpa's grandson."
With the world in uproar, chaos reigned inside the Alliance too.
"Idiotic! Losing top spot to some nameless sect runt? Shame on the Nine Great Sects!"
"How'd they all enter with just four escorts?"
"Hmph! Probably tied to Black Path, as rumored."
"Shut it! The Chief Strategist cleared him— you denying that?"
"Ahem, when did I deny?"
Many worried over Jin Sowoon's record.
"Tae-eul Gate's Jin Sowoon got more passes than Yong So-a?"
"Without a single warrior escort, they say. Worried our kids'll be undervalued."
"Our kids'll do fine without. From next round, I'll cut escorts in half."
One man's actions rippled massive changes.
"Phew, thinking of the hassle that kid caused…."
Hyeok Mu-gang chuckled at Jegal Somyeong's sigh.
"Haha, good stimulus for the Alliance. You did well, Chief Strategist."
"That's why I told you to go to the Leader. Know how the Four Emperors' Peak Lord glared?"
"Spoke with them?"
"Nothing much. Asked to take care of Jin Sowoon. Said he'll be their 'Yong So-a.' Nearly kept him out thanks to them."
"Ends up that way. Black Path Alliance."
Inevitable, really.
Black Path Murim, shattered by the Alliance, in chaos—necessity for a Black Path Alliance long discussed internally. Just needed a spark.
"Exactly. Unbelievable—a Academy admittee laying its foundation."
Classified info known only to Jegal Somyeong and the Leader.
"But gives us a tie to the Black Path Alliance. Alliance internals too anti-Black Path anyway."
"Normally, no worry. Situation's special now."
They unite? Just local skirmishes to large battles.
Yet now, some anticipated a Black Path Alliance.
"Demonic Cult traces?"
Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The terrifying demons thought gone 500 years ago eyed the world again.
"Many odd incidents across Jianghu. Without knowing the Cult, we'd overlook them."
"Truly fortunate."
"Yes… but…."
Jegal Somyeong couldn't shake the unease.
Everything fitting too perfectly felt off.
"Still…."
"What?"
"No, nothing."
"Worrying anyway. First time a no-background kid takes top. Can he endure? Any precedent?"
"Current director, Three Pure Ones Unfettered Sword, topped once."
"How long?"
"Stepped down after half a year."
"Too short."
Daoist sword school passed one-to-one, symbolic heavyweight.
Even he couldn't hold—existing powers' strength stark.
"He endured as Three Pure Ones Unfettered Sword. Tae-eul Gate, though…."
"Can Jin Sowoon hold?"
"Not expecting much. …He'll realize limits, step down soon? Greed gets you expelled. Not that type."
"…Then perhaps to the Leader's…."
"Ahem! Busy—must go."