The Uninvited Guest at the Academy (2)
“Wha—how did you… use Lianhua…?”
Yaryul Geuk wore a dumbfounded look for the first time, perfectly fitting for someone his age.
“Lianhua?”
I played dumb and asked back. Of course I did—Lianhua was just the Jeoksamsik variant I’d reworked from the Flower Grafting Technique.
“You mean the Flower Grafting Technique?”
“…It’s not Lianhua?”
“No.”
Suspicion flickered in his eyes, but what could he do about it? I said it wasn’t.
Yuyunmun didn’t have a monopoly on the Flower Grafting Technique, after all.
“You done charging at me? Guess you and your brothers really are as useless as I said.”
“…”
Yaryul Geuk’s face twisted in fury once more.
“Why you of all people…”
“Hm?”
“Why’d you bring all the senior brothers with you?!”
That was the reason for his outburst at me.
“That’s what pissed you off?”
We’d been in the same boat, but I’d come out on top. The brighter I shined, the darker his own shadow must have felt.
“You really don’t get why?”
“Why?”
Yaryul Geuk’s eyes went wide. He looked like he was hoping for an answer his thick skull couldn’t dream up.
“Because you suck.”
“…”
His inferiority complex was almost welcome. If he’d truly given up, he’d have surrendered to that darkness and gone numb to everything.
“Why blame others for how pathetic you are?”
If even a shred of will to change remained, that’s what fueled his rage at me now.
“Go on, spew more of that pathetic bullshit, you worthless punk.”
“Raaagh!”
That’s why I kept prodding him. I figured he could channel that darkness and pitifulness into real strength.
Yaryul Geuk threw everything he had into his inner energy and lunged. He unleashed Strong Brain Fist Method and Heavy Rain Palm Method, but those weren’t even secret arts—there was no way they’d land on me.
Tat-tat-tat-tat.
I neutralized his attacks with one hand, not even both. Realizing it was hopeless, he switched to Yuyun Divine Art’s Seolhwa.
If Lianhua was a counter based on Flower Grafting, then Seolhwa was an offensive move rooted in the Four Taels Toppling a Thousand Catties principle.
It was meant to inflict massive damage with minimal force, but…
“What is this, child’s play?”
His Seolhwa felt like nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
Thwack—
“Gaaah!”
Yaryul Geuk shrieked as his wrist twisted, stumbling back.
“Position and momentum are the basics of Flower Grafting and Four Taels Toppling a Thousand Catties.”
He grimaced, rubbing his wrist, and glared daggers at me.
I grabbed his collar and hurled him into the air.
“Gaaah!”
Yaryul Geuk flailed midair, trying to right himself. I poured more power into my throw.
“That’s position—the force of an object falling from a height.”
Thud.
I slammed him into the ground.
“Urk.”
He ground his teeth, springing up and swinging a wild fist. I dodged effortlessly, hooked his leg, and yanked his clothes in the direction he was moving.
“The force of a moving object is momentum.”
Thump-thump-thud.
He tumbled across the ground several times before staggering to his feet, pain making him wobble.
“If your sect’s arts focus on Flower Grafting and Four Taels Toppling a Thousand Catties, you should’ve learned the basics. Or did you skip that part?”
“…Heh, heh, heh.”
Yaryul Geuk panted raggedly, ignoring me completely. The sight was all too familiar.
“Like brother, like brother.”
I muttered under my breath, too quiet for him to hear.
Not just Yaryul Geuk—Yaryul Jae had the same stubborn streak. They forced power into Flower Grafting and tensed up even more for Four Taels Toppling a Thousand Catties. Their tempers made them overcompensate, wasting energy.
It might work with domineering arts, but not ones that borrow the enemy’s force. Ironically, he’d only completed Yuyun Divine Art late in the Upright-Demonic War because constant battles without proper recovery forced him to relax and flow with it.
‘He needs to learn to ease up.’
And what better way than tough love? Not brute violence like with Ak Jupyeong, though—my goals were different.
Keep hitting his Pursuit Blood points, disrupt his energy recovery, and he’d figure it out eventually. Plus, I’d be his excellent(?) teacher.
‘What a pain-in-the-ass pair of brothers.’
His breathing was still ragged.
“Tired already?”
That set him off again, eyes blazing as he charged.
So predictable.
Tap, tap, tap, boom.
Strong Brain Fist Method, Heavy Rain Palm Method, then chain attacks. Yaryul Jae’s favorite combo—I knew it inside out.
A light counter, and…
Thud.
Yuyun Divine Art came right on cue.
“Tsk tsk. Told you it won’t work.”
I redirected his Lianhua and slammed him down.
Slam.
“Nngh…”
This one hit hard—he writhed in agony.
“The soft overcomes the hard. Rethink that. Flower Grafting or Four Taels—it’s not just technique. Without grasping the core principle, you’ll never master your sect’s arts.”
Even flat on his back, he glared fiercely.
“…”
Like a wounded cat hissing pitifully.
Anyway, I’d shown him hints for Lianhua and Seolhwa. No more quitting now.
I sneered and walked away.
“F-Fuck! Jin Sowoon! Watch your back!”
…This bastard was still gunning for my head, even sprawled out.
#
The next morning, after tidying my robes and stepping out, I sensed someone above.
“Good grief…”
Yaryul Geuk, clutching that same jagged rock, leaped from the roof.
“For an ambush, wouldn’t the academy sword be better?”
Couldn’t fathom what was in that empty head. I hadn’t understood Yaryul Jae either, so expecting sense from the brother was pointless.
‘Does he have some curse that kills him if he doesn’t keep his word?’
Targeting my back every time was beyond weird.
I stepped back and nailed his gut with a roundhouse—the losers’ specialty.
Thud.
He flew three zhang, rolling across the private training ground, then retched.
But only yellow bile came up—no food.
“Tch… Skipped breakfast?”
I’d planned to hunt him down anyway, so him coming to me was convenient. Didn’t mean I’d go easy, though.
“Was gonna give you a fair fight after my peaceful morning, but you ruined it.”
I unleashed Cartoon Invincible Fist, hitting every Pursuit Blood point on his body.
“Kkh.”
He flew another zhang, staggered up, then retched again—this time dark red blood.
Stagnant congestion from long-term damage, rising through his organs.
“Damn it…”
A normal warrior might hesitate, worrying about internal injuries. Not him.
He wiped his mouth—
—smeared away the blood, and assumed his stance. Then bolted at me like lightning.
‘Oh? Recovered this much overnight?’
Yesterday’s Pursuit Blood hits must’ve stirred his channels. Smoother and faster than before.
But—
“The soft overcomes the hard! The soft overcomes the hard! You idiot! Forgot what I taught you already?!”
Pure brute force, no Yuyunmun principles. I sighed, unfolded Yuyun Divine Art Lianhua with one hand, and smashed him down.
“Urk…”
Hard marble floor—he writhed like a stomped worm, pain overwhelming.
I ground my heel in lightly.
“If you’re gonna charge blindly, use a different art. If you’re using sect techniques, apply the principles. Pick one.”
“Heh— heh—.”
He panted, glaring. I beckoned.
“Come on. Glaring won’t crack my skull.”
“Raaagh!”
He roared and charged. Before two breaths passed, I’d drained him dry.
“Hah, hah, hah.”
Sprawled and heaving. I smirked deliberately.
“Not coming at me anymore?”
“…You, you. Once I master… Yuyun Divine Art…”
“Don’t worry. You’ve got zero talent for it.”
“Iik!”
He bulged his eyes in rage, but what could he do from the floor?
“Young Master Jin Sowoon.”
A maid from the hall approached.
“Breakfast time. Shall I bring some for your friend as well?”
I glanced at Yaryul Geuk.
“You eating? Rep team dorm food’s famous for tasting great.”
“…N-No!”
His face flushed oddly. What?
“He says he doesn’t want to eat inside.”
The maid nodded.
“I’ll bring it here, then.”
“Thanks.”
As she headed in, Yaryul Geuk yelled.
“I said no!”
Why scream “no food” with such passion? What a temper.
“Eat. I’d love to beat you more, but pounding a guy on the ground isn’t my style.”
“…You dog bastard!”
Soon, the maid led three others with trays of light breakfast foods, setting them before us.
He held out stubbornly while they waited, but finally took a spoonful.
“!!!”
His eyes bugged out like a rabbit’s after one bite.
“Good, right?”
“…I could eat this anytime if I were rep!”
I burst out laughing despite myself.
“Hahaha! With your skills?”
“…!!!”
He clamped his mouth shut, trembling with a glare.
“Yuyun Divine Art can counter any technique! You think it wouldn’t work on you?!”
Now it clicked. Why he’d never sought help. Why he kept charging at Ak Jupyeong despite daily beatings. Why his defenses were so prickly.
‘This guy…’
He was desperately clinging to his pride. Rejecting help from anyone but his brothers—that was his ego talking.
Charging headlong despite knowing he’d burst? Last-ditch effort not to burden the siblings who’d sacrificed for him.
He’d thrashed and struggled right up to death’s door to protect that.
A hollow chuckle escaped at his sheer willpower.
‘…Crazier than I thought.’
Glaring all the while, he wolfed down the food. Never breaking eye contact, utensils flying faster than mine.
Clack.
“Done.”
He gave the maids an awkward bow, then eyed me.
“How long you gonna eat?”
This bastard… Why the same shitty glare for me? I’d treated him, damn it.
Needed education on all fronts.
“You’re dead.”
Training was fine, but personality came first. Yaryul Jae had mellowed after enough beatings—proven method.
#
After feeding Yaryul Geuk all three meals and making him puke them right back up, I changed for my evening appointment, wrapping up the day.
With the semester restarting soon, time to assemble the rep team.
‘Jang Ujae first.’
One of four spots filled, three left. And unexpectedly, one more got taken.
‘Nam Hwaseong, huh…’
Never saw that coming. If it was internal intel, I’d expected Cheol Sunjik himself.
‘That guy trusting anyone else doesn’t make sense anyway.’
For some reason, Nam Hwaseong applied. I asked his motives, but he dodged: “Just wanted to. Problem?” “Why couldn’t I be rep staff? I’m not that dumb.”
“Suspicious, but not unforeseen when forming the team.”
Some oversight was fine if he cooperated minimally—no real loss for me.
“Fill the last two, and the rep team launches for real.”
With that, I headed to the meeting spot.
Muhwan’s pleasure district had more armed warriors than most. Led to frequent scuffles.
I slipped through the crowds using subtle Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps illusions.
‘Hm?’
But I halted before one man. I’d scattered illusions and darted through empty space, yet he blocked me again.
Deliberate. Looking up, a hulking brute stared down with bulging eyes.
“Jin Sowoon?”
‘Knew it…’
Ignoring my answer, he continued.
“From the Inspection Hall. Come with me.”
His meaty hand clamped my shoulder.