Golden Night Journey (3)
"……Thus, Sahyeokryeon has fully organized its internals and is in the process of completing its structure. We are sending letters to sects that have not yet joined Sahyeokryeon, urging them to come aboard, and black path martial artists who have heard the rumors of Sahyeokryeon are gradually making their way there one by one. Sahyeokryeon's future expansion……."
A report that had arrived from Shanxi Province. It detailed information that hadn't yet leaked to the outside world.
It came from the 12 Bongseong's information analysis organization—nicknamed the "Research Institute"—created by the major sects of the 12 Bongseong to close the intelligence gap with the Nine Great Sects and the like.
"Even if it's natural for desk jockeys to view the world through a negative lens, this is a bit much."
Cheol Sunjik shook his head.
Not once since the Research Institute's founding—not even before, or the time before that—had they ever issued a positive forecast.
Yet the 12 Bongseong never denied their reports or twisted them to suit their tastes.
Because their perspective was cold and precise.
Cheol Sunjik knew this well too. Only by examining oneself objectively could one move forward.
To upend the unyielding hierarchy of the martial world that hadn't changed in five hundred years, sleeping on a pile of firewood and keeping bile in one's mouth wouldn't suffice.
To advance, one had to endure bitter words daily.
Even so, this report's prediction for the 12 Bongseong's future was so despairing that previous ones seemed optimistic by comparison.
"The emergence of the Blood Cult and Sahyeokryeon's rise. The expansion of massive sects with righteous cause, and the mid- and small sects sacrificed in their wake……."
The picture it painted was all too clear.
And naturally, the 12 Bongseong—no, the 108 Peaks—would be among those "mid- and small sects."
After all, the very purpose of the 108 Peaks' existence was merely to suppress emerging powers that threatened the established order.
It looked impressive on the surface, but in reality, it was a position with no authority or power—a seat handed over with a "be content with this much."
Rights without responsibilities? No—responsibilities without rights.
The problem was that this wasn't a one-off occurrence.
Over the past five hundred years, whenever a new force rose to prominence, all sorts of incidents had inevitably shattered them.
Even if there was no direct connection between individual events, no one would dismiss the repetition as mere coincidence when viewed in the grand sweep of history.
"Hwaseong, what do you think?"
"……."
The massive man simply clamped his mouth shut with bullheaded silence.
He had joined the delegation to monitor Jin Sowoon's movements, but Nam Hwaseong had never once relayed any "intelligence" on what Jin Sowoon or the delegation was up to.
"Do you really see Jin Sowoon as the one to bring change?"
Nam Hwaseong's eyes, heavy with sealed lips, flashed for a moment.
"Brother Cheol, honestly, I don't know much about that stuff."
He continued plainly and calmly.
"I'm not the brains type anyway. I just pass on what I see and hear."
Nam Hwaseong feigning ignorance like he knew nothing.
A smile crept onto Cheol Sunjik's lips as he watched him.
With that thick skull of his, trying to relay useless info—it was obvious to Cheol Sunjik.
Truly bizarre. Lately, Jin Sowoon had been away from the academy for ages on delegation duties.
So why was Nam Hwaseong shying away from spy work?
Cheol Sunjik stared at him steadily.
"Is he that great?"
"Wh-what the hell are you talking about?!"
As if a family secret had been exposed, Nam Hwaseong's composure shattered in an instant, despite his efforts to maintain it.
"What could be good about that damn bastard? He treats me like a spy every day and just piles on the grunt work."
A spy getting pissed at being treated like one.
Cheol Sunjik, quick to read a man's inner thoughts, could sense it.
The massive trust hidden beneath the anger and curses.
Trust he hadn't shown even after over fifteen years with Cheol Sunjik, now given to Jin Sowoon—someone he'd known less than a year, and a fierce rival during the entrance exam.
Cheol Sunjik, who trusted no one and sought no one's trust, had thought he'd be fine seeing such a sight.
Yet inexplicably, a question arose unbidden.
"Is your personal feelings more important than your sect's revival?"
"……."
Nam Hwaseong halted his excited huffing abruptly.
"The astronomical sum Samwonmun spent for this entrance exam. They pulled every string to get you in. Do you really intend to betray the sect that forced you into the academy?"
Nam Hwaseong's gaze turned icy.
"Watch your mouth, Brother Cheol."
Even without killing intent, his eyes felt razor-sharp.
"Since joining the exam, I've never once forgotten my sect. I've never betrayed it for my feelings."
"Is that so?"
Cheol Sunjik didn't believe in trust between people.
He even found those who exchanged such loyalties laughable.
Yet why did watching this foolish Nam Hwaseong stir a twisting discomfort in his chest?
"Pity, but Jin Sowoon can't change the world alone. At best, he'll leverage the Nine Great Sects to boost himself and his sect."
"……."
"No denying he's talented. But in the end, he'll climb to a suitable spot and stop."
With this delegation role, Jin Sowoon had become a bridgehead between the Murim Alliance and Sahyeokryeon.
The Alliance would have no choice but to use him heavily.
But even if he reached a key position, the Alliance's incumbents wouldn't yield their seats.
They'd offer a token gift—shifting the 108 Peaks' status just enough—and Jin Sowoon would feign refusal before accepting it.
'And be content with that.'
Just as the 108 Peaks had for five hundred years.
"And that position could replace Samwonmun's."
Cheol Sunjik stared straight into Nam Hwaseong's eyes.
Hoping this rising unease in his chest would dissipate quickly.
"When Tae-eulmun swaps places with Samwonmun, can you still stand by Jin Sowoon's side?"
That was what the 12 Bongseong thrashed against.
They had toiled through long years to make those who lorded over the martial world generation after generation realize nature's order didn't favor them.
Yet Jin Sowoon was sabotaging that grand cause.
For his own gain alone.
"Responding the same way changes nothing in the end."
"……."
"Wasn't what you wanted to change the world?"
Nam Hwaseong was simple-minded. Once immersed, he fixated deeply without looking around.
That allowed great achievements young, but blinded him to the big picture, unfit for grand affairs.
"The world will change soon."
"What are you plotting, Brother Cheol?"
Cheol Sunjik shook his head.
"You know I can't tell you yet."
"……."
"When the time comes, you'll have to choose."
Cheol Sunjik rolled up the lengthy report and stood.
"Decide what serves the greater cause."
He patted Nam Hwaseong's shoulder and headed out.
Nam Hwaseong stared at the door long after he left.
After wrapping up the delegation's report, I headed straight for the Murim Academy.
I'd already parted with the escort guards, and I wanted to bid final farewells to Ilgak and Dang Seohui.
But…….
"It's been a while since I've missed you, Junior Brother Ilgak."
"I just wanna sleep more. Yawny yawny."
……Sleep at home!
In the end, I had no choice but to head to the academy with them.
It hadn't been long since leaving the academy, but seeing the main gate stirred fresh emotions.
'Well, I've spent more time away than actually living here.'
The facilities hadn't changed.
But the academy students' atmosphere was different from usual.
Ahead of the grade evaluation, they were locked in fierce training.
Ilgak seemed aware, a hint of pity in his gaze toward them.
"They must all be anxious over the grade evaluation."
Quite unexpected.
"Were you worried about it too, Senior Brother Ilgak?"
Ilgak's name had been famous even before his Jianghu exploits.
For even such a figure to fear the grade evaluation…… it felt odd.
But his response differed from my expectation.
"No. I've seen everyone gripped by that anxiety every time."
Ilgak smiled like a Buddha who had transcended worldly worries.
"……."
Ah, somehow irritating.
Genius invites envy and jealousy by nature.
See? Just standing here reeks of good fortune.
Ilgak glanced around before continuing.
"That said, watching classmates who shared a year of hardships return home isn't exactly pleasant."
Some say the academy's rules are too harsh.
No need to cull by grades inside an academy that's already hard to enter.
But the Murim Alliance's stance never wavered.
Only the absolute elite, winnowed repeatedly, could wield authority.
Only those who could bear responsibility's weight could shoulder others' lives.
This cold principle never changed.
'Of course, even that got us crushed by the Demonic Cult—a contradiction.'
As I recalled my past life, Ilgak spoke with a strangely bitter expression.
"You're handling representative duties, right, Sowoon? It won't feel pleasant."
"What do you mean?"
"I attended with Yong So-a, so I didn't feel the full weight of expectations or the representative's heavy responsibility. But as Sorimsa's rep, I know the burden of such positions."
"……."
He peered into my face again and smiled faintly.
"With anyone else, I wouldn't bother mentioning it—they wouldn't get it. But you seem to already know."
I offered no reply.
As we walked toward the representative office, whispers reached us.
"Isn't that Sowoon over there?"
"The one he's carrying looks like the White Hand Divine Maiden?"
"Did the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering come?"
Even students training in utter focus, oblivious to the world's collapse, wiped sweat and stared our way, stamping their feet.
They were already divine figures acknowledged in the martial world just for entering the academy.
Yet to them, the prior term's Dragon-Phoenix Gathering were heroically mythologized legends.
I'd thought the same once.
"Amitabha."
Ilgak made a small hapjang in response to the cheers.
Students watching from afar returned it in unison.
That spineless group action was ridiculous.
Why the hell are Daoist disciples suddenly doing hapjang? No shame?
Many whispered from afar, but none approached easily.
When we reached the representative building…….
"Representative, are you ba—gasp! And those behind you……."
"Yes, these are the ones who moved with me……."
Before I finished, the student shouted down the hall at ear-splitting volume and bolted.
"The representative's back with the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering!"
Soon, workers poured out and rushed toward us.
"Representative!"
"Big Bro!"
"Oppa!"
Familiar faces swarmed to greet me all at once.
Yeah, of course I'd lose to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
But I have these guys…….
"Gasp! Senior Ilgak!"
"It's Senior Dang Seohui!"
The students charging at me blew past without hesitation, surrounding Ilgak.
What? Am I invisible…….
"Seniors, what brings you here?! Please, sit!"
"Insane…… this cheek is so pale and squishy……!"
With me right in front, they poked Dang Seohui's cheek and chatted with Ilgak like I didn't exist.
'Ah, so damn lonely.'
I just wished they'd all vanish.
"Did you wrap things up well on your trip?"
Savoring the violet flower scent of chilsaekhwa I'd missed so much, I nodded.
"Of course. Who do you think I am?"
Eunho eyed me suspiciously, still seeming unconvinced.
"Rumors in the black path say the Black Flame Dragon's the true saint of Sahyeokryeon…… what did you…… no, what did you do out there?"
"……You gonna believe every piece of crap they spread? If I did, I'd be the black path's joint overlord too."
"……."
Eunho stared silently.
I ignored his gaze as naturally as possible.
"They say your nickname changed from Black Flame Dragon to Black Maitreya…… that's fabricated too, right?"
Pfft.
I spaced out briefly, lost in the fragrant chilsaekhwa steam.
"Black…… Maitreya?"
"Yes. They say every time a Tae-eulmun disciple used the Interest Method, black pathers bowed automatically?"
Crazy bastards, crazy bastards, crazy bastards.
Typical black path— even nicknames dripped malice.
Attaching a title that'd make Buddhist sects freak if they heard.
Sneakily flipping them off…… wait, could it be……
Did Damak use the Tea Poison Stratagem?
"Anyway, soon as Senior Sister Hong heard, she went into closed training, vowing to smash your kneecaps."
Recalling Saryeon's face right before, Eunho shuddered briefly.
What…… why, you're freaking me out.
"You'll have to prepare yourself."
"……."
Commendable to enter closed training voluntarily, but the motive—to shatter her sky-high big bro's legs?
Hmm…… should I applaud or not? Tough call.
I rubbed my throbbing temples and changed the subject.
No point dwelling—headache only.
"But why's that guy here?"
In one corner of the office, Yaryul Geuk glared sharply at me.
"You think I came 'cause I wanted to?!"
"……."
This punk still loses his shit at the sight of me.
"So why are you here? You're not even delegation……."
"I am delegation."
"Huh?"
This rebel joining the delegation? As absurd as a thief turning cop.
I froze mid-sip of chilsaekhwa, face blank, as Eunho calmly explained.
"I brought him."
Huh? I thought you were smart…… why…….
I jerked my chin at Yaryul Geuk.
"Why drag along someone who hates it?"
Eunho shrugged nonchalantly, like it was nothing.
"He's gonna die soon anyway."
"What?"
The guy I barely saved is dying again?
Fuck, what the hell happened at the academy while I was gone?