Uninvited Guests at the Academy (6)
Rumble.
The intense tremor in the air made the warriors' faces twist in discomfort. They wore expressions of utter confusion, unsure how to respond.
I had expanded the range of my Radiant Heaven Divine Palm as much as possible, drawing in the largest number of foes. The destructive power per target would be diluted, of course—but the noise was louder than ever.
Kaboom!
A deafening explosion roared as if the sky itself were collapsing. Half the small hill behind the training ground vanished in an instant.
Given the absurdly wide area, the damage per unit was relatively light, but everyone's faces paled at the sheer, impossible scale of destruction.
"He's trying to escape! Stop him!"
The Ak family warriors maintained their encirclement, lunging to grab me, but I made no real effort to flee.
'No reason to run now!'
Whummm— A blade of blue sword aura bloomed along the Black Dragon Sword. I swung it straight at the dazed Ak Byeongbi.
Kaboom!
The training ground quaked, the ground ripping up as the sword wave crashed into Ak Byeongbi.
"You damned bastard…."
Ak Byeongbi's face crumpled like paper for the first time. Yes, that's the expression I wanted to see.
I followed up seamlessly with the Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion after the Socheon Sword Technique. Illusory and true blades assaulted him without mercy.
His hardened external arts prevented deep wounds, but so what?
'Just keep striking until the scars form.'
Ak Byeongbi fiercely swung his iron spear to counter my relentless assault, dispersing the Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion.
Kr-boom!
I pressed on with the Cartoon Invincible Fist, then the Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Like hammering a boulder to dust. I poured every ounce of strength into overhead strikes, again and again.
His iron spear occasionally stabbed at openings, but I dodged with minimal movement and swung back.
One of us dies—let's see who falls first. That was my desperate resolve.
The air began to heat up, the spear's energy turning red. The Ak family's secret Blazing Spear was about to unleash again.
Reading his intent, I couldn't help but smirk.
"You think flame arts belong only to the Ak family?!"
If he brought Blazing Spear, I'd counter with the demonic Sacred Fire Demon-Exterminating Hand. I summoned the glowing red palm strike while unleashing the Cartoon Invincible Fist.
Pum-pum-pum-pum-pum-pum-pum-bam!
The Blazing Spear's heat was nothing compared to the Sacred Fire Demon-Exterminating Hand. Ak Byeongbi was engulfed in an instant, his body swallowed by the flames.
"Gahhh!"
Even with his external arts, the heat was too much. He ignored defense, frantically shaking off the fire clinging to him.
Seeing that, I unleashed the Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth again.
Shrieeek— Four blades spat out Socheon Sword Technique strikes, precisely targeting his vital points.
"…!"
Ak Byeongbi whipped his iron spear to block the sudden intrusion.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He parried several, but the searing pain from the heat broke his guard. The Black Dragon Sword pierced his flesh.
Slice—Thud—
Not vitals, but blood began flowing from his arms, legs, belly—every corner of his body.
One Ak family warrior shouted.
"Damn it… Everyone, form up!"
As Ak Byeongbi's condition worsened, they prepared their spear formation.
I charged straight at him regardless.
"Jin Sowoon!!!"
Ak Byeongbi finally looked the part of his "Blood Ghost" moniker.
I asked him point-blank.
"Did you think I was some pure orthodox martial artist?"
I sheathed the Black Dragon Sword and drew on the Sword Demon's arts.
Ak Byeongbi glared like a wounded tiger. I met his gaze without flinching.
"Maybe you're right about that."
I'd never expected kid-glove treatment as an elite of an orthodox sect anyway.
White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms, First Form: Extreme Swiftness
What did I have to hold back for?
Shing— The Black Dragon Sword rasped free, the sound echoing thunderously.
Sensing danger, Ak Byeongbi drew his own ultimate technique—but the Sword Demon's arts weren't so easily blocked.
Slash—
The swung Black Dragon Sword bore not a drop of blood.
But—
Slither.
Ak Byeongbi's clothing sash fell away, revealing rock-hard chest muscles now etched with red blood.
"Wh-what is…."
Crack— The blood deepened into a long gash from left shoulder to right side.
Blood streamed down. Ak Byeongbi knelt before me in disbelief.
"Cough…."
"You bastard! How dare you to the division head!"
The Ak warriors had formed their spear array, ready to strike.
My body trembled. I'd poured out all my internal energy; no strength left to fight.
My goal had always been to overwhelm Ak Byeongbi with sheer power. Facing their formation? Never crossed my mind.
A voice like ice fell over my head as I barely stood.
"Had you cooperated quietly, you might have lived."
The Ak warrior glaring at the fallen Ak Byeongbi overflowed with hatred, eager to kill me on the spot.
"No matter what comes after, you're burying your bones here today!"
He turned to the others.
"Deploy!"
At his command, the Ak warriors shouted in unison, raising their spears. A truly threatening sight.
"But here's the thing…."
A laugh slipped out. It was already over.
"What insolence is this in the sacred Murim Academy?!"
A booming voice sliced the air like an arrow. The Ak warriors in formation whipped their heads around in shock.
There stood the academy head and Tae-eul Gate lay disciple Buk Wonpyeong, eyes blazing as he surveyed the scene.
Damn, look at that presence. Solid as a rock.
'Senior brother, hurry up and come!'
Yes, my sky-like senior brother.
"Who are you people?!"
Buk Wonpyeong's sharp aura sealed the Ak family's lips like mutes.
His gaze fell on their clothing—the Ak family emblem starkly visible.
Still, he raised his voice again.
"I asked who you are!"
Infusing his roar with internal energy, the Ak warriors grew even more flustered.
I quickly dropped to one knee, cupping my fists.
"Academy representative Jin Sowoon reporting. Intruders who refused to identify themselves infiltrated the academy, so I desperately held them off."
"…Is that true?"
His question was aimed not at me, but them. He only asked what they were doing in the Murim Academy, yet they couldn't answer even that.
I stepped forward and replied for them.
"I suspect they're spies connected to the Sichuan incident."
Chaos erupted instantly.
"Sichuan spies?"
"Wh-what does that…?!"
The Ak warriors' panic was obvious.
Innocent or not, who could speak now but me?
"Last night, they impersonated Inspection Hall members and tried to abduct me."
I pulled out their Ak family badge.
"He wore Ak family robes, used Ak family arts, and posed as Inspection Hall. With the Murim Alliance overwhelmed and times so sensitive, this reeks of sinister intent."
Buk Wonpyeong took the badge, his cold gaze sweeping the group.
"Is this true?"
"…N-no, that's…."
The entire Murim Alliance's focus was on Sichuan. Impersonating the Inspection Hall now? Even the Ak family couldn't wriggle free easily.
They paled, frozen in indecision.
Buk Wonpyeong clenched the badge into a fist.
"Then this is an official Inspection Hall operation?"
"…."
"Show me the orders!"
As if they had any.
Buk Wonpyeong's angry voice shattered the silence.
"No answer? Does that mean Jin Sowoon is right—you are spies?"
The Ak warriors clamped their mouths shut like honey-mutes.
Buk Wonpyeong ground his teeth in genuine fury.
"Then I arrest you formally on suspicion of spying!"
"Th-that's…!"
They floundered, lost.
"I'll explain everything, Brother Buk."
Ak Byeongbi stepped forward from the center. What the hell? Is his spine made of solid bone?
I'd held back with the White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms, but he shouldn't be standing yet.
Surprisingly, though supported, he'd recovered enough to walk.
"Ak Byeongbi?"
"Sorry for the disturbance."
They seemed acquainted, but Buk Wonpyeong remained icy.
"You came personally?"
"Yes."
"Then you did impersonate the Inspection Hall?"
"…."
Buk Wonpyeong's brow furrowed.
"Clearly not official."
Ak Byeongbi bowed his head in shame.
Buk Wonpyeong clicked his tongue.
"Bringing Ak family warriors and posing as Inspection Hall… Do you grasp the gravity?"
Ak Byeongbi hunched defensively.
"…I'll explain everything."
"Fine. Let's move."
"Now?"
Ak Byeongbi clutched his wound, feigning agony. Look at that petty act from such a hulking brute.
But Buk Wonpyeong's gaze stayed frigid.
"You have until the Execution Hall investigators arrive. Get treated if you want."
Sensing it wouldn't work, Ak Byeongbi nodded meekly.
"…No. I'll go now."
"Academy student Jin Sowoon, you too."
"Yes."
Buk Wonpyeong turned sharply—his back somehow reassuring. Man, our old senior brother is the best.
No tea was offered in the headmaster's office. Tension hung cold; only Ak Byeongbi's occasional groans broke the silence.
"Explain."
"…."
Ak Byeongbi's eyes shook violently at Buk Wonpyeong's demand. What could he possibly say?
As silence dragged, Buk Wonpyeong slammed the desk.
Bam! "Do you not realize the Murim Alliance's crisis? Explain why you caused this chaos!"
Our old senior brother hammered the desk like he meant to split it, ranting furiously. Ak Byeongbi bowed repeatedly like a man guilty of capital crime.
My turn now.
"Ahem, Headmaster. Do you know him?"
I asked brazenly. Buk Wonpyeong pondered my intent, then nodded.
"Yes. A fellow student from my sect, an Ak family man."
"Then low chance of spying."
"…Indeed."
Ak Byeongbi lifted his head as I continued. Think we're done just 'cause he's known?
What the hell is he so relieved about?
"In that case, I have a theory."
"What?"
"I couldn't tolerate Ak Jupyeong's misdeeds and punished him. Seems the Ak family came for revenge."
"What?!"
"…!"
Ak Byeongbi's eyes bulged, his relief shattered.
"You've heard of my disciplinary action, right? They must think it insufficient, harboring grudge and even selling the Inspection Hall's name to punish me."
Buk Wonpyeong glared at Ak Byeongbi.
"Is this true?"
Ak Byeongbi's mouth flapped silently before he bowed again.
Bam!
"I asked if it's true!"
The desk wobbled. Prodded, the massive Ak Byeongbi mumbled ant-like.
"…No words for it."
"So yes."
"…."
Buk Wonpyeong sighed in disbelief.
"Selling the Inspection Hall's name in this crisis—what were you thinking?"
Ak Byeongbi must be dying inside. His plan never included meeting the headmaster.
Drag to Inspection Hall, lock in cell, torture with "water reveals truth" until false confessions spilled. Then declare no issues—as always.
Inertia, nothing more.
Buk Wonpyeong eyed his old friend with disappointment turning to contempt.
"And grudge over Ak Jupyeong's injury? Do you even know the facts?"
"…What do you…."
"For half a year, Ak Jupyeong and his group bullied and beat a student near death. Jin Sowoon acted to save him."
Contempt now full-blown.
Bam! Buk Wonpyeong slammed again.
"Discipline was called, but it should have been Ak Jupyeong—not Jin Sowoon!"
Ak Byeongbi's face blackened. Finally grasping the mess he'd made.
"This goes officially to Inspection Hall and Myriad Communications Division. Understood?"
No mercy in Buk Wonpyeong's stance. Ak Byeongbi's attempts at nepotism sank before launch.
As he slumped toward the door….
"Headmaster, you won't let this end here, right?"
"…What?"
Too anticlimactic. I nodded at Ak Byeongbi.
"He brought his clan, rampaged in the academy, smashed things. That's unauthorized force here."
"So?"
I widened my eyes innocently.
"Obviously, compensation."
Buk Wonpyeong eyed me like 'Of course.'What? Senior brother status revoked. Can't even read our sky-high senior brother's depths. These juniors these days.
As I mentally disciplined him, Buk Wonpyeong—no, the "maknae"—turned to Ak Byeongbi.
"Naturally, the Ak family compensates fully. Right?"
Oh, senior brother supreme!
Ak Jupyeong ground his teeth.
"…Agreed."
As Ak Byeongbi clutched his wound to leave again—Why does he keep trying to bail mid-convo?
"Wait. What about me?"
"Hm?"
"…Ahem?"
Confusion in their eyes. I tilted my head.
"I nearly got dragged off for water torture and false confessions. Plus, the shock of their ambush means sleepless anxiety ahead…."
I hugged my shoulders dramatically.
"No mention of compensating my mental and physical trauma?"
Buk Wonpyeong stared incredulously, then asked Ak Byeongbi.
"What now?"
Ak Byeongbi trembled with rage, grinding his teeth. Such ill manners, typical Ak scum.
"Think you'll just walk?"
I gazed pitifully at Buk Wonpyeong—er, our senior brother.
"Sigh… Then I'll take my anger out on Ak Jupyeong. Broke his legs last time—arms this round?"
Buk Wonpyeong looked queasy, prodding Ak Jupyeong.
"Ahem… Really letting it slide?"
Ak Byeongbi glared bloodshot.
Grind… "Compensation it is."
"How much?"
"…How much you want?"
"Just Ak Jupyeong's life value."
"…Promise not to touch Jupyeong?"
I nodded vigorously.
"Not a hair on his head."
"Fine. Paid."
"Looking forward to it. Ak Jupyeong's life price."
I smiled sweetly; Ak Byeongbi bolted, teeth gnashing.
Door shut, Buk Wonpyeong eyed me curiously.
"Tae-eul Gate seemed fine financially when I visited. Why act possessed by money?"
Some eternal truths persist across lives.
"What trickles down to me? Juniors eat it up. Gotta save when I can."
Money: more the better. Harm-doers: extract tenfold payback.
Imagining Ak Jupyeong's life price inbound, a grin crept out.
Buk Wonpyeong looked at me like 'What a guy.' Whatever.
Grab it while you can—grab hard.