#124. The Black Flame Dragon Who Grants Opportunities (4)
Rumors about the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin shook not just the academy but the entire Murim Alliance.
"Is there really a solution to that thing?"
"There is a solution, but you have to memorize all two hundred thousand paths."
"No way he's planning to teach us every single one and call it a day, right?"
"I heard Jin Sowoon's going to teach a method that lets you escape without memorizing them all."
The rumors swelled even larger because the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin could only operate for ten days, and there was a strict limit on how many could enter.
Excluding the people who'd been with me, the academy representative office—which had always been empty—suddenly buzzed with visitors: some questioning the headcount limit, others voicing complaints.
"Why spend all that money just to run it for ten days?"
"Because the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin is so dangerous that one mistake could turn the academy into a death trap."
"Then why only two hundred people?"
"Again, because it's so dangerous—we're preparing for potential casualties among the students."
"These decisions all feel like arbitrary choices by the academy representative!"
"It's too dangerous to gather everyone's opinions. I hope you understand."
Whatever the opinion or question, wielding the trusty shield of "too dangerous" shut down even the nosiest inquisitors.
Then the conspiracy theorists started crawling out.
"They're deliberately setting up a deadly formation to kill off academy students, aren't they?"
"That's why we set the limit at two hundred—to prevent such dangerous situations."
"What if they're only telling those two hundred to solidify their own faction?"
"Do I even have a faction? And doesn't that contradict what you just asked?"
True to their sheltered upbringings, these softies couldn't handle a world that didn't revolve around them, so all sorts of nonsense poured out.
To teach them the world's harsh realities, I unleashed a barrage of "So what?" and quashed the controversy for good.
"What if no one shows up because of this?"
"What do you mean?"
"The mood toward the academy representative is already so negative. Shouldn't we coax and persuade people?"
I stared straight at Seong Moran as she asked.
"W-Why? Why are you staring like that all of a sudden...?"
"Seong Junior Sister."
"Y-Yes!"
"If you knew a place with a divine weapon you could only use once, would you go get it?"
"Huh? What're you suddenly... Hm, even if it's one-time use, if it could save my life, I'd have to go."
"But what if it's smack in the middle of the Black Path Murim, and your family forbids it? Would you still go?"
"I'd still go. It's a divine weapon, right? Even one use is worth it."
"Exactly. You'd go—for yourself and your family. This is the same. No matter how unfair or inconvenient it feels, if they can learn the solution to the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin, any true martial artist would seize it."
"Ah..."
My words left Seong Moran, Namgung Seonhwa, and Moyong Jaehwa gaping in surprise.
"Always scheming with that clever head..."
Eunho muttered softly from the side, his hand half-raised like a sore loser.
"What'd you say?"
"N-Nothing! As expected of Big Brother! The best! Absolutely the best!"
"Keep that hand properly raised."
"Yes, sir!"
Namgung Seonhwa, who'd been staring in shock, suddenly piped up as if struck by a thought.
"If that's the case, why limit the numbers? Wouldn't it benefit you more to let three hundred join and tie it into the academy schedule?"
"I've got five more academy events lined up over the next three months. Filling the spots now wouldn't mean much."
"Ah... Solve one crisis, and another pops up."
"That's fine. That's exactly why I set the limit."
"Huh?"
#
"What bullshit is that?!"
Jang Seokdo of the Jongnam Sect bellowed.
Geum Pyo calmly wiped the spit from his face and replied.
"I told you, didn't I? If you want the solution to the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin, you have to attend five of the academy representative's future events mandatorily."
"There was no such thing!"
"Normally, you show the terms when they fill out the application, right?"
"These little shits are getting cocky!"
"Dongryong."
At Geum Pyo's call, Dongryong stepped forward, clutching his sword tightly.
Jang Seokdo flinched and backed up two steps.
He knew the rumors about the Three Black Blood Dragons of Tae-eul Gate.
'They say the three of them together can take on a whole squad?'
Not just the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, but all Twelve Bongseong resented Tae-eul Gate's moves. Like how he'd underestimated Jin Sowoon and charged in, others from Muban had rushed these three brothers—only to end up with broken arms.
Unsated, they'd tried isolating the scrawniest-looking one, Dongryong, for a beating.
'That tiny kid's got rough hands, they said.'
But all three attackers ended up with broken limbs, bedridden for half a year. Jang Seokdo knew that story too.
"If you're not doing it, step aside quick. There's a line behind you."
Looking back, Jang Seokdo saw a long queue of people like him—sneaking in to apply. None of them were heavy hitters in their own factions.
As a Jongnam disciple standing with them, it grated on him, but he'd come on orders from headquarters the moment Muryangbulgolmokhonjin rumors hit: "Find the solution."
He endured the disdainful stares to get here.
"Damn it... Hand it over. Where do I sign?"
No matter how tough academy life got, obeying headquarters was right—for his future in the Alliance and back home.
"Here, here, here, and stamp here."
"That's a lot."
"Note that these are notarized by Mantongbu, so breaking the agreement means a hundred taels penalty."
"What?"
"This chance is only for the two hundred limit. Mantongbu doesn't want losses from no-shows."
"..."
"Of course, if you attend properly, no payment needed."
"..."
Unjust or not, he couldn't defy orders.
"Yes, wise choice. Next."
#
Murim Academy's grand training ground. Here, where the special Muryangbulgolmokhonjin was being set up, I met a welcome face.
"I looked for you right after arriving at the academy. Why didn't you attend the Murim Alliance event on time?"
Yu Ji-ryang, slimmer than last time, chuckled wryly.
"The academy's a great opportunity, but Tae-eul Gate has an even bigger one right now, so I skipped it."
After passing my plans to Mosanpa via Mantongbu, Yu Ji-ryang—who'd been installing qimenjinbeop at the Wang family estate in Hebi—raced here like an arrow.
"Plus, a chance to set up a pure Muryangbulgolmokhonjin? Of course I had to come."
He looked thinner, but his eyes burned brighter than ever.
"Had some breakthrough?"
"Thanks to the books you left and my research with Jegal Cheongi, I've made real progress."
Yu Ji-ryang was naturally flexible and humble. For him to claim progress meant it was substantial.
"Impressive as always. Congratulations."
He bowed his head at my words, then pierced me with his gaze.
"I think you're the impressive one, Jin Hero."
"Me?"
He glanced at the grand training ground.
Five hundred carpenters swarmed, erecting three hundred pillars and temporary structures without pause.
"I've heard rumors of your situation. Even in your shoes, I wouldn't have revealed the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin solution."
"Fair point."
"May I ask why you chose this?"
I could've drawn students other ways. But two reasons stood out.
One: the Demonic Cult. Knowing most qimenjinbeop solutions already, I decided to reveal this one.
And two:
"Isn't it tragic?"
"Pardon?"
"The inside of the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin is pure void. No monsters leap out, no disasters strike. Those trapped inside, and those outside waiting for their safe return—they all endure endless agony."
"..."
Suddenly, I pictured Taesa-jo, waiting for death amid that torment.
"Beyond black and white, we sometimes face foes that demand raw human resistance. To me, the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin is one. A soul-extinguishing formation gone for three centuries, resurfacing? It'll strike again someday. Better to solve what manpower can handle."
"Whoa..."
Yu Ji-ryang stared at me with wide, rabbit-like eyes.
"As expected, you're beyond my view entirely, Jin Hero."
"You're too kind."
Smiling faintly, I added,
"Besides, knowing the solution doesn't guarantee you can solve it."
As long as I'm representative, the soul-extinguishing formation becomes a regular event. Those who've tasted it will fear it yet crave mastery, driving steady attendance.
Classic bait-and-hook strategy.
"..."
Yu Ji-ryang's blank expression shifted to a sly grin. I pressed, confirmed.
"You know something too, don't you, Yu Hero?"
He nodded slightly.
"Could you memorize five hundred twenty thousand four hundred eighty paths?"
"Whoa."
As I marveled, he continued.
"Useless to you, probably, but even the original creator couldn't escape my version."
So that's the smile of the knowledgeable. We shared that cunning grin.
#
"We still haven't filled the spots."
"It's only the first day."
With the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin complete, bizarre pillars and buildings of unknown purpose dotted the grand training ground's center.
Not just participants, but curious students and instructors craned their necks to watch.
"You think more will come?"
I nodded at Namgung Seonhwa.
"Everyone here stakes their life on survival forever. No fool passes up a free miracle right in front of them."
For lifelong martial artists, it's instinct. They're probably locked in a fierce game of chicken over when to apply.
"Shall we start?"
"Yes, please."
Yu Ji-ryang raised a blue flag on the platform, then lowered it and raised a red one.
"Launch!"
Fifty Mosanpa shamanists manned one pillar each, activating the formation.
As fifty streams of qi stirred, sensitive horses bolted in their stables, and all eyes locked on the center.
"Whoa!"
"Is that the formation?"
White mist seeped from the central temporary structures, slowly spreading outward before halting at the shamans' perimeter, layering up like a massive cloud birthed on earth.
The mist wove between the odd pillars, enveloping the entire ground until pillars and buildings vanished entirely.
"Time to test it."
As Yu Ji-ryang approached, I asked,
"Should I go in?"
Grinning, he replied,
"I can enter now too."
While building it, we'd added a safety: entering wrong gates bounces you out harmlessly. Yu Ji-ryang had nailed my concept after intense study at Tae-eul Gate in Hebi.
Gulp.
The grounds fell silent as Yu Ji-ryang stood before the formation.
Step.
He took one step, vanishing into the mist.
"..."
Moments later.
Thud, thud.
Eyes closed, Yu Ji-ryang walked out unscathed.
"I kept my eyes shut and went straight."
Safety confirmed perfect.
"Well done."
I turned to the first group.
"Ready?"
#
Seeing the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin activate drew fifty more applicants in a day. And many from the Nine Great Sects? That irked Jeongdohoe.
They'd ordered members not to join Jin Sowoon's events.
"Some inside are still confused. We need more vigilance."
"Instead of that, talk to the academy—get the solution for everyone."
"Already tried. No dice."
But more were following headquarters' orders lately, fraying internal unity.
And they couldn't forbid chasing an unmissable chance like this.
"Then let's share the solution ourselves."
"What? Torture Jin Sowoon for it?"
"Possible? No—send our own to learn it, then share internally."
"..."
"Everyone's gotten orders from home by now. Their sects won't pass this up either."
"Do this: Rally everyone via the elder hall. Select our people to learn it, then we'll share after."
"Got it."
"This stays secret. The contract demands a hundred-tael penalty for sharing."
No matter the tricks, there's always a counter. Scoffing at Jin Sowoon's schemes, the leaders ended the meeting.