#134. Proving Himself: The Black Flame Dragon (4)
Namgung Seonhwa had been spending her days in a whirlwind of busyness lately. It was the time for the first evaluation since entering the Murim Academy, and the method was so different from the studies she'd done in her sect that she was struggling just to keep up.
The academy's evaluations were divided into two main parts: the written exam and the practical exam. The written test mainly assessed common martial theory basics, energy circulation methods, and acupoint techniques, while the practical built on that foundation by testing what they'd learned in action.
The Namgung family's education, which had produced many academy graduates, wasn't all that different from the academy's style. Even so, juggling representative committee duties with exam prep made her wish she had two bodies. At least the practical this time was a sparring match—that was a relief.
If it had been emergency treatment or acupoint release techniques, she might have had to send a long, pitiful letter back to her sect explaining her dismal scores.
"It'd be nice to have some excuse at least. Why does he have to be so annoyingly flawless?"
As the exam approached, Jin Sowoon had convinced the academy executives to lighten the representative committee's load, taking most of it on himself. Even though his workload had doubled or tripled, he showed no real strain.
When she suggested he should prepare for the written exam too, his response was...
"I've got a good memory, remember? I already memorized everything."
It was a cool, considerate gesture, said with a cheerful grin, but for some reason, it just rubbed her the wrong way.
"Kinda hurts my feelings."
Passing the entrance exam and entering the academy meant late-night study sessions together during exam season, soaking in the academy vibe, and sometimes getting drunk and talking till dawn...
"Ugh! Snap out of it, Namgung Seonhwa!"
She shook her head, pulling herself out of that rosy daydream. Things had definitely improved for her in many ways. Her grandfather had finally perfected the Cloud Palace Soaring Tail Sword Technique, and after relocating the Cloud Palace Merchant Group inside the sect, the collateral branch's influence was waning.
Support from the sect was increasing, and her parents had even sent a letter saying everything was stable now—no need to worry.
But Jin Sowoon's situation had worsened. Tensions with the Jeongdo Council were rising, the elders disapproved of him, and bad rumors were spreading through the Murim Alliance. In the worst case, he could lose his representative position and make countless enemies.
Even burdened with his juniors and the committee in this perilous spot, he never lost his composed demeanor or confident smile. What an incredible man.
"Ugh... I can't even blame my grades on committee work."
Determined not to embarrass him, Namgung Seonhwa shook off her stray thoughts and headed to Manseogo.
The usually empty library was packed with academy students cramming for exams. Searching the shelves for the reference book Jin Sowoon had tipped her off about, she locked eyes with someone and quickly looked away.
Pretending not to notice as she hunted for the book, a voice called from behind.
"Seonhwa."
A frown creased her brow as she turned. "Here to study?"
The guy who'd once dismissed her clique like dirt was now acting chummy, sending chills down her spine. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, but couldn't hide his irritation.
'After the Cloud Palace Soaring Tail Sword Technique came out, the sect flipped upside down.'
Even the collateral branch, who hadn't flinched at rumors of an exclusive sword technique being created for the direct line, realized things had gone south when Namgung San crushed the Cloud Palace Unfettered Sword Technique master in ten exchanges with the new seven-star art. But it was too late.
The Cloud Palace Unfettered Sword Technique remained the sect's mainstay, but those who'd learned it now had the Cloud Palace Soaring Tail Sword Technique like a leash around their necks.
She knew why Namgung Gipyo was acting this way, but knowing didn't make it any less uncomfortable.
"What do you want?"
"...Haha, do we need a reason to chat?"
"'The collaterals ruling the direct line is just around the corner. Everything's already prepared,' or so you were saying?"
"..."
Namgung Gipyo sighed, his eyes sharpening. "The sword technique your grandfather made denies the sect's roots."
"Stagnant water rots. No one calls constant progress a denial of roots."
The Cloud Palace Soaring Tail Sword Technique inherited the Cloud Palace Unfettered Sword Technique while boasting even sharper principles. No one in the martial world could mistake it for something designed to shatter the old art.
"If we're just trading barbs, can I go? Exam prep doesn't leave me much time."
As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her. "...Sigh. If not for your father... You plan to let that arrogant punk run wild alone?"
She knew exactly who he meant by "arrogant punk."
"What are you talking about?"
"You seem to like him. If you're thinking of bringing him into the sect..."
"What are you implying!"
Namgung Seonhwa's shriek drew unhappy glares from the crowd in Manseogo.
"Keep it quiet in the library!"
"Who are you to..."
Ignoring her incredulous look, Namgung Gipyo pressed on. "I know tensions with the Jeongdo Council are escalating. But he can't face them alone. Wouldn't it be smart to back that arrogant punk—er, anyway—with the Baekdo Council?"
"..."
It wasn't like she hadn't considered it. But Jin Sowoon had antagonized not just the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, but even the Twelve Bongseong.
"Why bring it up now, after all this time?"
"It's for his benefit."
"I hear the Baekdo Council hates Jin Sowoon just as much as the Jeongdo Council."
"Precisely—we'd rather take him in before he crashes and burns."
"Crashes?"
Her delicate brows furrowed.
"The Jeongdo Council's making real moves now."
"..."
"This isn't just academy bullying. For some reason, the Alliance itself frowns on him. Expect pressure from all sides."
Namgung Seonhwa could guess the "reason."
"If the whole atmosphere turns hostile and aims to crush him, even he can't hold out. How many instructors here aren't under Alliance influence?"
"..."
"Better we take him under our wing than let him get wrecked. You don't want Jin Sowoon ruined, do you?"
She said nothing. Namgung Gipyo left first, tossing over his shoulder, "Think it over. Once his value's gone, even his few allies will vanish."
The written exam results were posted on the academy bulletin board, ranking from first to last. These score sheets always brought tears and cheers, but no one complained.
The scores defined their worth. Accepting that judgment was drilled into them from childhood amid cutthroat competition.
But.
"This is rigged!"
"Perfect score? No way!"
"Even the legendary Yong So-a never got a perfect score!"
"There's a conspiracy!"
Jin Sowoon topping the list was one thing—he'd entered as top scholar, so he was bound to be sharp. But a perfect score? No one bought it.
The instructors had even included trick questions designed to trip up even the best, yet he'd aced them all. Impossible.
"And he's the academy rep! Can five people even handle that workload?"
He hadn't assembled a proper team or gotten any help. No genius could split their time like that and still ace the test.
The results put not just students, but instructors and the academy on high alert. Already disliked by the elders, Jin Sowoon's perfect score triggered orders for a strict cheating probe.
"Jin Sowoon, confess honestly, and we'll let you step down from rep duties as punishment."
"What are you talking about? Should an outstanding student step down for good grades?"
Before the instructors and the academy head, Jin Sowoon stood tall.
"So this score is truly your skill, not cheating?"
"No one scored higher. How could it be cheating?"
"..."
"Or are you saying I snuck into the secure vault and stole the test?"
In a place full of top talents, some might dream of swiping exams. But no mere student could breach the academy's vault, rivaling the Alliance's top-secret Simhyeongak.
That left one way to retest his skill: another exam.
"Then take a retest?"
It seemed obvious. The instructors nodded, but Jin Sowoon tilted his head.
"That doesn't make sense. Just because I scored well, I have to retest?"
"..."
The instructor who'd spoken faltered at the perfectly logical retort.
"...It's a clearly suspicious situation."
A sneer escaped Jin Sowoon's lips, as if he'd caught them. "Or is it because I'm from Tae-eul Gate?"
"What?"
"If I were from Wudang or Shaolin, this ridiculous suspicion wouldn't exist. So even the Murim Academy kowtows to the powers that be."
BAM!
"Watch your mouth!"
One instructor erupted in killing intent, face flushed with humiliated fury. But Jin Sowoon's calm poise made him second-guess himself, freezing in place.
"..."
The academy head, who'd been silently observing, rested his chin on steepled hands, eyes cold.
"...I don't see you as some brash kid acting on youthful impulse. Your actions so far have been meticulously planned."
After the Muryangbulgolmokhonjin incident, he'd abandoned any notion of Jin Sowoon as a lucky punk. Too many inexplicable events otherwise.
"You're provoking us because you want something from me, right?"
The instructors looked baffled at the unfolding drama. From the academy's view, retesting a suspicious student was standard.
Speechless, they clamped their mouths shut, staring at Jin Sowoon. And sure enough, without missing a beat, he smiled and spoke.
"I hear your martial arts are quite unique, Academy Head. I'd like to learn them."
"..."
"..."
The room chilled like ice water had been dumped in.
Not some ronin hawking wares—the academy head's arts were exceptionally rare, even among Daoist schools, treated as the Alliance's most precious treasures.
"You want to inherit the Three Pure Ones Unfettered Sword?"
"What? I'm already a disciple of Tae-eul Gate."
"..."
It was said that if Buddhism had the Dharma of No Clinging and No Roots, Daoism had the Three Pure Ones Unfettered Sword—the supreme art pursuing the essence of the Three Purities.
For Jin Sowoon to demand it as a wager? The instructors gulped, imagining the fallout.
"So, how about a bet? If not, I won't bother with a retest."