The Enemy's Grace
"Hoo... this... never ends..."
Even after pouring an entire day into paperwork, Eunho couldn't help but sigh at the mountain of documents still piled before him.
He was splitting the work with the twenty academy students Jang Ujae had brought in—mostly sons of merchants and officials—but there was no sign of the workload letting up.
And to top it off, these tasks were only half of what Jin Sowoon had handled alone. That fact alone drew out an even longer sigh.
Because in the end, Eunho and the other executives would have to take over all of the paperwork Jin Sowoon had managed single-handedly.
Even Jang Ujae, who had volunteered for this, now looked dazed as the reality hit him.
"What the hell kind of monster is the Representative, anyway?"
"...Who knows."
Eunho could only manage a wry smile at Jang Ujae's question, laced with disbelief.
It wasn't the first day that guy had acted utterly inhuman.
Just when you'd think you'd gotten used to it, he'd reveal yet another side, leaving you too drained to even be surprised anymore.
"He's always been unpredictable..."
"..."
Jang Ujae seemed to hold some idealized image of Jin Sowoon, and Eunho worried briefly if shattering it was the right move—but he shook it off.
'It's not like the truth about what a weirdo he is won't come out soon anyway...'
Better to rip off the band-aid quick. That way, at least, you'd have time to run.
Back when he was clueless, he'd dreamed some nonsense about helping his senior brother enter the academy out of blind loyalty—and suffered for it.
Now? He'd sooner die than do it again.
'Though... if he ordered me to, I'd probably do it anyway. Sigh...'
That was only possible because he was a Tae-eul Gate disciple and Jin Sowoon's junior brother.
He didn't want to see the upright Jang Ujae fall into that demon's(?) clutches and suffer needlessly.
One less victim, at least.
"Anyway... if you're gonna run, do it fast."
"Huh? What do you...?"
Jin Sowoon had clearly mastered some strange sorcery that warped people around him.
Just look at Namgung Seonhwa.
Hong Saryeon, who handled external affairs alongside her, had said that when Namgung Seonhwa noticed the instructors and supervisors favoring Baekdohoe, she'd gathered them, slammed her spear-sword into the table, and declared:
"If you fear the Jegal family but not the Namgung, then go ahead and scheme all you want. You'll pay the price in full."
Namgung Seonhwa wasn't the type to flaunt her clan or hide behind it to intimidate others.
Despite having so much, she shared without hesitation, like a pure-hearted neighborhood big sister who never bragged.
That was why even Dongryong—who turned into a bit of an idiot outside of fights—followed her around like a long-lost sister.
So how had she turned so cold and bold...?
'Senior Brother... seriously...'
Why did the image pop into his head of that guy grinning slyly with a vile kyahaha chuckle?
He was admirable in how he made people move and things happen.
But damn suspicious.
The Tae-eul Divine Canon he'd learned himself was supposed to be a righteous art that steadied the heart...
Did it hide some secret where improper use turned it demonic...?
While Eunho eyed his senior brother suspiciously, Jang Ujae—who hadn't fled yet(?—scanned the room with a weary face.
"Still, things are finally settling into place."
"This is all thanks to you and your academy students, Jang Ujae."
"No way I could've done it alone. It's because you and everyone worked so hard."
Jin Sowoon's representative team was handling their duties smoothly, even as he busied himself preparing for external activities.
Eunho and Jang Ujae managed the practical administration.
Seong Moran and Nam Hwaseong met with people from the 108 Peaks, persuading them one by one.
Namgung Seonhwa and Hong Saryeon handled external relations.
Few in number, but everyone faithful to their roles.
If it kept running this smoothly, there'd be no more major threats to the representative team's future.
No risk of disbandment.
Yeah, just get past this crisis... just get past it...
"Ahem... well... participation numbers are rising steadily..."
Jang Ujae sighed deeply, his face clouded, and Eunho sighed along without thinking.
"...Tch. Sorry."
"N-no, don't apologize. It's not your fault, Eunho."
Jang Ujae waved his hands and shook his head in denial.
Then, cautiously, he spoke up.
"But... is this really okay? I mean..."
He glanced around, then lowered his voice further.
"Shaolin won't just sit still."
As if they would.
Dragging out one of their own—Ilgak, who'd mastered the Iron Body Technique—no less, for some hawking stunt.
Forget Shaolin; even Buddha might smite them for such irreverence.
If a crisis hit because of this...
It'd all be senior brother's fault.
Yeah, all his fault.
"No idea. If something blows up, he'll clean it up. His mess anyway."
"..."
Anyway, that's that.
As the first event of the second semester kicked off, excitement buzzed through the academy.
More interest in the representatives' events than the usual instructor-led schedules, naturally.
This one pitted the real representatives against the fake ones.
Students could pick one to attend, showing their support.
Apart from the events themselves, curiosity swirled about which side would win.
"So if Jin Sowoon loses, he steps down?"
"Ridiculous. He got in with top scores and became rep. Of course he stays."
"Guess you're going to his event then."
"Ahem..."
"No answer?"
"...Got a message from my sect to learn more about qimen dunjia formations."
As they weighed personal stakes and influences...
"Ahem, patrons... got a moment?"
"...?"
"I-Ilgak?"
"What brings you here...?"
Ilgak, sporting a ridiculous shoulder sash and clutching flyers, wore a benevolent smile oddly at odds with his outfit.
"I've come with good tidings."
"...Mm."
"...Uh."
"Pardon?"
The students shook off their stunned looks.
They wanted to head to the events, but a chat with the legendary Ilgak? Rare chance.
The academy events lasted a week; this was one-shot.
"Sure! Yeah, let's hear it."
Ilgak nodded at once.
"Do you know of zhengxin—true heart?"
Fundamental, almost empty question.
"Upright mind, right?"
Easy answer, but Ilgak shook his gleaming bald head.
"Sadly, zhengxin is more than mere uprightness."
The air thickened with anticipation of profound wisdom.
Students leaned in.
"Zhengxin means an unshakable, steadfast mind. An innate pillar unmoved by circumstance."
"...Isn't that the same...?"
As doubt flickered on their faces amid Ilgak's sermon...
Righteous light burst from his eyes.
"You there! Do you think you possess unshakable zhengxin?"
They recoiled under his piercing aura.
"Ahem... w-well, as a lay disciple of Namgung, I'm steady compared to most..."
"Wrong!"
"Pardon? What do you...?"
Ilgak's gaze bored like it could pierce flesh.
"Zhengxin doesn't stem from sect or martial arts."
Common wisdom held zhengxin as inner strength from cultivating pure heart methods—stronger in orthodox sects like Namgung than black path arts.
Ilgak rejected that outright.
"Zhengxin isn't gained merely from meditation or heart methods. If it were..."
He turned, eyes closing in sorrow.
"I wouldn't have lost comrades in Sichuan."
Knowing Jeongdohoe's Sichuan ordeal, they sighed in sympathy.
"I was confident in conventional zhengxin above all. But that proved my arrogance."
His gaze, clear as an enlightened monk's, drifted far.
Students gulped, stepping closer.
"...Th-then, how do we cultivate true zhengxin?"
Even without Blood Cult, black path users wielded mind-bending sorcery.
They craved escape.
Ilgak pressed his palms together, flyers in hand.
"There's an excellent method: learning posha—evil-breaking—and zhiling—spirit control."
"..."
"..."
"..."
He swiftly handed out flyers.
"Attend Hyeongsanpa's event now, and test posha and zhiling against the Blood Cult's vile illusion array on the drill ground. Special event perk—don't miss it."
Stunned eyes widened.
"R-really?"
His bald head bobbed vigorously.
"Yes. If skeptical, just experience the illusion first. You'll grasp zhengxin's importance. Namu Amitabha."
Hyeongsanpa's event had faltered because skills learned had no immediate practice spot.
Now with hands-on? Irresistible.
"Monk! I'll join Hyeongsanpa's event!"
A surge of accomplishment hit Ilgak, but he schooled his face.
"...Then hurry. Lines are growing."
"Ah! See you later!"
"H-hey! Wait up! I'm going too!"
"Me three!"
Ilgak watched them dash off benevolently, then sighed with a complicated expression.
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.
Someone approached, applauding.
"Jin... patron..."
Ilgak's face grew more tangled.
Jin Sowoon approached, shaking his head in apparent disbelief.
"I must apologize."
"...For what?"
"Shaolin's future leader is a cut above. Wow—"
He flashed double thumbs-up in lavish praise...
But Ilgak clutched his flyers tighter, torn between tears and laughter.
"How is this all?"
Event day three. Jeonggi's brows furrowed at participation numbers barely half the expectation.
"Th-that's..."
The Jegal clan's formation expert, overseeing the qimen dunjia, fidgeted like it was his fault.
"Must be a labeling error. Right? Otherwise..."
"It's accurate."
"What?"
Jeonggi pawed the paper, denying reality.
"More people went to Jin Sowoon's event than expected..."
"Absurd!"
Harsh truth.
A brand-new qimen dunjia from the Jegal clan, surpassing the coveted Seven Stars Seven Metals Formation.
How could anyone ignore it? Especially for basic posha and zhiling learnable at the Alliance anyway.
"...Jin Sowoon's illusion array is so bizarre and realistic..."
"Realistic how?"
The expert groaned.
"...Students who survived Sichuan say it's like the Blood Cult's arrays."
"Hah..."
"Word spread, so everyone's at Hyeongsanpa learning posha and zhiling to practice breaking illusions. Drill ground's packed daily..."
Jeonggi trembled with rage-clenched fists.
He'd anticipated some defection from Ilgak's hawking, but this gap? Unacceptable.
Needed a breakthrough.
"Improved... did you bring the improved gear?"
Expert's face paled in dismay.
"Y-Young master... that's still in R&D..."
"Install it now. Tell people they can try the upgraded Yang's Eight Trigrams Myriad Phenomena Formation too."
"No! Young master!"
Jeonggi glared bloodshot.
"Lose to some illusion array—not even proper qimen dunjia—with the Jegal clan's formations? To Jin Sowoon?!"
"..."
"Install it. I'll handle fallout."
Defeated by that burning frustration, the expert bowed.
"...Understood."
Experts hurried off for gear.
'Jin Sowoon...'
Jeonggi clenched his whitening fist.
"Impressive... that young latecomer from back then's already this formidable..."
His tongue stumbled under the blatant flattery.
"Sorry to hear that from the Seven Slaying Soul Great Hero."
Song Jeongmu—Ha Minjung's senior brother from Ma-ryeong Plateau, who'd gifted the Demon-Exorcism Talisman.
His presence showed Hyeongsanpa's investment.
"Didn't expect you personally."
Song Jeongmu smiled kindly at my courtesy.
"Heh. Sect leader tasked me specifically: no gaps. Had to come."
I tilted my head.
Debt from Ma-ryeong repaid with talismans—why this extra care?
"Hm... you don't know yourself well."
"Pardon?"
"Know how much 'Black Flame Dragon' choosing our talisman boosted Hyeongsanpa?"
"Huh?"
Eyebrow twitched at the sudden moniker—Seong Moran had mentioned something similar.
Song Jeongmu clapped my shoulder.
"Alliance bulk orders, reservations flooding from everywhere. Our Daoists are drained churning talismans day and night."
His face screamed even bigger profits than she'd said.
Why'd my stomach twinge?
Separate from their gains, I regretted not stockpiling more effective talismans.
Used most in Sichuan.
"Tch."
I smacked my lips unwittingly; he chuckled heartily.
"Regret our profits?"
I shook my head with feigned sincerity.
"Of course not. Hyeongsanpa's posha and zhiling outclass others. Just wish I'd bought more beforehand. Prices skyrocketed, huh?"
He nodded vigorously.
"Can't produce fast enough."
"That's the pity. Need 'em ongoing. Should've stocked up."
"Hmm... so you foresee more talisman use post-Blood Cult?"
Slipped on future knowledge amid talisman talk.
Eh, minor leak.
"Alliance flagged demonic arts already. Who knows what brews unseen."
"Hmm..."
I wrapped up hastily.
"Just greenhorn ramblings—ignore."
But Song Jeongmu stayed grave.
"No. From the Black Flame Dragon? Worth heeding."
"...My words carry no weight."
He shook his head slowly.
"Opponent's new Jegal qimen dunjia? Heard rumors, expected low turnout."
Then grinned, scanning around.
"But results?"
"...Haha."
"Exactly—must heed you."
No idea the relevance, but event was smash success.
Tripled Baekdohoe's numbers by day three; they paused theirs day four, gap widening.
Just nail the 'master invitation' finale.
Baekdohoe's facilities, fancy chairs, seven-color paintings—all mine.
Muhahaha. Stomachache fading.
Grinning inwardly at bright future...
Song Jeongmu's voice intruded.
"Back to earlier."
"Yes?"
"If you kept using Hyeongsanpa talismans... thoughts?"
Huh? Odd question.
"Obviously great."
"Ahem. But no other sects' posha items?"
I tilted head.
Past life Great War: many sects offered, but Hyeongsanpa and Mosanpa shone brightest—Hyeongsanpa tops.
No brainer.
"Hyeongsanpa talismans only."
"I see."
At my firm nod, he offered three thick leather pouches, beaming.
"What's this...?"
His gaze crystal clear.
"Keep using ours, and Hyeongsanpa ensures your supply never dries."
Jaw dropped.
"For real?"
"Absolutely. If you promise..."
"Done! Promise sealed! Toss other sects' junk!"
He looked stunned at my fervor.
"Eh? R-really?"
Hell yes.
Their profits? Irrelevant. Unlimited talismans? Pure win.
"...Such generosity how?"
"Your choices set trends now. Securing you early."
"Big sects think different!"
Deny all I want, it is partly my credit.
Suppressing grin, I asked Song Jeongmu:
"Oh, got a Demon-Exorcism Sacred Wood by chance. Can you ritual it into a talisman holder?"
"Hm? With material ready, easy. You really expect hordes of sorcerers ahead?"
Sorcery's tame; worse demonic qi users coming.
Prepare for rain, don't want demonization.
Can't have too many tools.
Then—
Crash!
Commotion outside.
"What?"
"I'll check."
Outside: unknown held down by executives.
"What's up?"
"Baekdohoe guy. Demanded Song Jeongmu."
"Song Jeongmu?"
I nodded; Jang Ujae released his pressure point.
Baekdohoe man knelt urgently.
"P-please! Let me see Song Jeongmu!"
"What is it?"
"..."
Song Jeongmu emerged, eyeing him.
"Causing this ruckus why?"
Face irked.
But the man yelled desperately.
"Great hero! Hear me out!"
"Urgent?"
"Yes!"
"Speak."
"...It's..."
He glanced at me, clammed up.
Song Jeongmu's face hardened unpleasantly.
"Nothing to say? Or not urgent."
Under pressure to speak publicly, the man's face blanched.
He bowed head.
"N-no! H-help! Problem at our event!"
"Problem?"
Curiosity rippled among us.
He continued, near tears.
"S-students trapped in the qimen dunjia—can't escape."
Song Jeongmu tilted head.
"...Why tell me?"
"W-well, details fuzzy, but they added new gear... shaking students' zhengxin."