Uninvited Guest at the Academy (3)
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Cheol Sunjik drummed his fingers rhythmically on the table—a habit that surfaced when he was deep in thought. After a long while, his fingers finally stilled.
"What could this be about?"
After their return from Sichuan, it was Nam Hwaseong who had spoken up first.
[Brother Cheol... what do you think about me joining the representative executive committee?]
The unexpected proposal left Cheol Sunjik at a loss for words.
[Wouldn't the others want to join too? I'll go in first and gauge the internal dynamics.]
Of course, if Jin Sowoon's shaky representative group solidified their position first, securing even one executive seat beforehand would be advantageous. That way, during the remaining academy term, he could do something—however small—to benefit the Twelve Stars.
But.
[......]
Even so, was it wise to place Nam Hwaseong in a position that demanded political maneuvering deep in enemy territory?
[Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you trust me?]
Anyone could tell from his unusually flustered, stammering demeanor that he wasn't cut out for schemes.
Just like they couldn't entrust Jang Ujae with a strategist role. Nam Hwaseong had a soft heart that belied his massive frame, and he often yielded his stubbornness when opponents pushed relentlessly. He made a fine general... but.
More importantly, Cheol Sunjik had another question.
[Do you really want to do this?]
Nam Hwaseong never took the lead in anything because he didn't trust his own brains. For such a man to step forward as a spy in a role that didn't suit him at all—this baffled Cheol Sunjik.
[After facing that guy in Sichuan this time, I realized he's brutally tough. Among the Twelve Stars, if not me... ahem, who else could endure such grueling work?]
The subject was omitted, but he knew exactly who it referred to.
In the end, Nam Hwaseong submitted his application to join the representative executive committee recruitment.
The other Twelve Stars expressed concerns or worries about his choice, but that was it. They all knew full well what impact this decision would have—not just on Nam Hwaseong himself, but on the entirety of Samwonmun.
"Interesting."
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
His fingers began drumming again.
Jin Sowoon and Nam Hwaseong had moved together for less than a week. What exactly had Nam Hwaseong seen in him during that time?
"Nam Hwaseong knows my personality well enough."
Calculated and perfectionist. Wary of variables and irregularities, he controlled events to flow exactly as planned. In short, he didn't welcome sudden proposals.
Yet this timid guy had stepped forward on his own.
Cheol Sunjik had seen something special in Jin Sowoon too, but it wasn't that extraordinary—not enough to stake his sect's fate on.
Tap. Tap. Tap—
Cheol Sunjik's fingers halted.
"Or perhaps... he sensed something so remarkable that he couldn't afford to worry about me?"
What facet of Jin Sowoon could Nam Hwaseong perceive that he himself had missed?
"Pfft! As if such a thing... exists."
Cheol Sunjik picked up a report.
Trend analyses regularly sent by the Twelve Stars' members. It detailed how the Jeongdo Council had fallen into chaos after the Sichuan incident and what moves Baekdohoe was making.
Surface-level info only, but in Cheol Sunjik's hands, it transformed.
"So Baekdohoe is making their move."
They'd shrewdly targeted the gap left by Jeongdo Council's absence. But it felt a bit premature. Jin Sowoon's influence, elevated by public acclaim from this affair, hadn't waned yet...
"Impatience, no doubt. Heh."
A clam and heron dispute. The Twelve Stars just needed to wait for both to tire, then swoop in.
"By then, Samwonmun's seat will already be gone, though..."
The Twelve Stars positions differed from those of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families. Any of the 108 Peaks could rise to them through competition at any time. That's why the other Twelve Stars hadn't actively discouraged Nam Hwaseong.
"Heh... things are about to get busy. Time for organizational restructuring too."
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Cheol Sunjik's fingers resumed their rhythm.
The Murim Alliance's supreme enforcement agency. The place even fearless Alliance members dread most, infamous even externally. Often called another absolute power within the Alliance.
"Inspection Hall?"
The mere word sent a chill through the man, who glared fiercely.
"Follow me."
His brutish yank stretched my clothes taut, on the verge of tearing. Truly, the epitome of brute ignorance.
"...Let go."
I sighed, and his eyebrows shot up.
"Can't you understand words?"
His grip felt utterly entitled. As if this was normal. As if he was allowed to do this.
In my past life, dragged from place to place, I'd felt such crude, forceful hands countless times. At first, fear gripped me, but later I realized: before death, they were nothing but the hands of cowards fleeing first.
I tilted my head to glance at his hand, then met his eyes again.
"I said, let go."
"......"
Irritated by my words, a vein bulged on his forehead.
Crunch. My clothes creaked on the brink of ripping.
"You think your petty academy representative power will protect you..."
He couldn't finish.
"Urk!"
Using the force gripping my collar, I hoisted him up and slammed him to the dirt.
Thud.
Back hitting the ground, he gasped, lungs shocked into stillness. What if he couldn't breathe from shock? I had no intention of stopping here.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
I stomped his face until white fragments sprayed from his mouth.
"Guhk—you dare against the Inspection Hall's..."
Still alive, invoking the Hall—ridiculous. I grabbed his hair, yanking up his battered face.
"Ak Family?"
"...What?"
His eyes wavered. Just as I thought.
"Impersonating the Inspection Hall is a grave crime."
"What do you—"
"Inspection Hall members never travel alone."
Looking around, only curious onlookers had gathered at the sudden brawl—no companions in sight. I caught the panic flashing in his eyes.
"And they always show their insignia first. Enough to condemn on the spot."
"......"
"What's your name?"
"......"
"Won't talk, huh?"
I smashed two fists into his face. Blood streamed from his nose; another white shard flew from his mouth.
"Eek!"
Phoenix Claw Wind Palm scattered as he retreated. He swiftly connected three iron rods from his waist into a single spear.
"Ak Family after all."
"I'm here as the Inspection Hall's proxy."
Laughable excuse drew my sneer.
"Who sent you?"
"......"
His eyes darted. Naming someone here would be tough.
"Can't say with people around, right?"
The name 'Inspection Hall' terrified all. People trembled and bent at its mere mention. My past self did, Small Justice Squad did, Baekho Pavilion did.
"And you'd exploit that."
Anyone knowing the Hall's absolute power wouldn't be delegated externally would never dare impersonate lightly.
'Guess I still look like an easy mark.'
In this life, I'd risen with promising talent, yet to them, I must seem no different from my past life's Small Justice Squad origins.
"Jin Sowoon! Aren't you scared of the consequences?!"
"Consequences?"
I cocked my head.
"You impersonated the Inspection Hall, hid your proxy's name, your affiliation."
"......"
"Could be a Black Path spy, no?"
"What the—"
As if struck by great insight, I bellowed loudly for all to hear.
"Right! You're a Black Path Murim spy impersonating the Inspection Hall to kidnap the academy representative. Or maybe a surviving Blood Cult remnant from Sichuan."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
The mood was set.
Shing.
I drew the Black Dragon Sword, channeling inner energy.
Whoosh.
Aura exploding from my robes made the encircling spectators recoil. I shouted with maximum resolve.
"To brazenly invade Murim Alliance territory! As academy representative, I'll judge you and hand you to the Inspection Hall!"
As the atmosphere turned against him, he thrashed in desperation.
"...Eek! I'm from Shandong Ak Family!"
Phoenix Soaring Spear Technique unfolded from his spear. A heat-laden thrust pierced toward my vital points—but so what?
Inciting the crowd took one sentence. Explanations and evidence could always be fabricated.
"Stealing Ak Family spear arts to impersonate them. Truly fearsome."
I unleashed Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion with the Black Dragon Sword while unfolding Cartoon Invincible Fist with my left.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang.
Retreating while parrying the Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion, he dissolved the incoming Cartoon Invincible Fist with Phoenix Covering Heaven Palm.
But— the Flying Dragon Claw shot from between the fists evaded dissolution. He stared in shock at the Thousand Silkworm Cloak threads coiled around my arm.
"Wh-when...!"
"Confirms you're a spy. No true Shandong Ak Family member would be this sloppy."
Shrrk.
Taut threads yanked; unable to resist the pain, he was dragged toward me.
Using the momentum, he tried thrusting his spear tip. I twisted aside, flowing it off effortlessly.
"Quick thinking... but such predictable moves just make you prey."
Infusing Lotus Mystery into the Black Dragon Sword, I lifted him half-turn with his spear and slammed down.
Splat.
Rolling into the dirt a second time, he writhed, lacking strength to rise. I regripped the Black Dragon Sword, striking his face with the flat repeatedly.
Thwack—thwack—thwack—
Silence fell; only the sound of pulverized flesh echoed.
He lasted less than a moment before passing out.
Underestimating an opponent without skill or justification was the dumbest thing a warrior could do.
"Or he overestimated his backing."
Rifling his pockets, out came an Ak Family nameplate, as expected.
Fourth Branch, O Woon-kyeong. No affiliation listed, and not surnamed Ak—clearly not direct lineage from Shandong Ak Family.
I took his money pouch and checked for promissory notes.
Onlookers buzzed.
"Is he really a Black Path spy?"
"His martial arts and clothes scream Ak Family, though."
"What if he is Ak Family...?"
Not their business, yet they fretted. I wasn't too worried.
'I knew what I was doing from the start.'
Impersonating the Inspection Hall was routine for them, but if other agencies learned, it'd be major trouble. They probably didn't want a big fuss either.
"Troublesome. Ak Family moving directly..."
I'd hoped to wrap things up and enjoy peaceful academy life, but another mess.
Was my past life cursed, or this one's fate just as rough?
"...All because of that rude prick Yaryul Geuk."
I cursed the guy groaning in the dorms, draining bruises, then headed to the meeting spot.
Guided by a servant into the annex, the already-waiting group's mood was off.
"Ahem..."
"......"
"......"
Why? Hmm, Jang Ujae—we'd fought together in Akyang, no grudges between us anyway. So the culprit behind this awkward tension was...
"Nam Hwaseong actually came."
"...Fuck."
Nam Hwaseong crumpled his face like paper, radiating displeasure.
"Y-you told me to come!"
His perceptiveness was annoyingly sharp.
"Sure, since you're on the representative executive committee now. Didn't think you'd actually show."
"...Goddamn it."
His face flushed red, on the verge of exploding. But honestly, I hadn't expected him.
Before Sichuan, he'd been directly clashing with our group.
"Well, you must have your reasons?"
"......"
As I sat, the tension eased somewhat. I scanned the gathered faces.
"You all know each other from the existing committee, right?"
Across from Jang Ujae and Nam Hwaseong, they introduced themselves politely in turn.
Our crew never slipped up anywhere.
Satisfied, I smiled and gestured opposite.
"Everyone knows him, right? Yujangmun's Jang Ujae."
"Pleased to meet you again. Yujangmun's Jang Ujae. For Akyang... thank you once more."
He bowed formally; the originals grinned and waved it off.
"No need. The sect elders doing well?"
"Yes. Rebuilding Yujangmun day and night."
"Good to hear."
All nodded at Namgung Seonhwa's words—except clueless Nam Hwaseong, whose eyes widened blankly.
"What happened?"
"......"
"......"
No answers. Sheepish, he scratched his head vigorously.
Serves him right for inserting himself. Anyway, unable to ignore, I quickly continued his intro.
"This is Samwonmun's Nam Hwaseong."
Nam Hwaseong shot up, clasping hands in salute.
"Pleased to meet you. Samwonmun's Nam Hwaseong here. Let's wash away past grudges down the Yangtze and forge new history together."
His booming voice echoed through the annex. Awkward claps followed.
I pressed on with his explanation.
"Twelve Stars member, infiltrated as a spy. So no secrets in front of him."
"......"
Air turned icy. Nam Hwaseong blinked like a robbed calf, staring at me.
"What? Why?"
"......"
If you're planting a spy, send someone smarter. Couldn't fathom Cheol Sunjik's thinking.