The Second-Rate Warrior Who Dominates the Exam (2)
The exam had ended, and evening fell with a buzz. A massive sheet of paper was posted in front of the grand training ground. This was the process of the special admission exam: the examiners who graded the first test publicly announced the results.
The people from Tae-eul Gate couldn't hide their shock upon seeing them.
"Is that for real?"
"How did we get results like this?"
......
18th. Song Jamun.
19th. Gye Cheolyeong.
20th. Gwak Samnam.
......
Gye Cheolyeong stared at the results, utterly speechless. There were 63 examinees in total—certainly upper ranks, but for an exam selecting just one, it was far from impressive. Especially since he'd shelled out a fortune to hire a tutor.
The tutor, paid handsomely for his services, was even more stunned. It was unthinkable that a disciple he'd taught could score like this. In his eyes, Gye Cheolyeong wasn't a genius, but he was at least talented enough to be called a prodigy. He'd mastered the mock exams Jang Sagun had prepared.
In the end, it meant his mocks had missed the mark entirely.
"This is ridiculous!"
As Jang Sagun grabbed Ijagun, who was wrapping up the exam and heading to the lodgings provided by Tae-eul Gate, he bellowed.
"Cheolyeong got 19th? This can't be right!"
"......"
Ijagun's face turned icy at Jang Sagun's outburst.
"Senior. Are you questioning the impartiality of the examiners?"
"!"
No matter that he was a senior from the examiner corps, the Murim Alliance's examiners prided themselves above all on fairness and justice. Jang Sagun realized he'd made a fatal mistake in his excitement.
"I mean, results like this just don't make sense."
No matter how he phrased it, he couldn't accept the outcome. Ijagun's expression darkened further.
Jang Sagun's eyelids twitched, but he couldn't back down. For Gye Cheolyeong to score low despite no issues meant the problem lay with him.
"Even if you're my senior, we don't need to prove the exam's fairness to you... but since you're raising an objection that should come from Tae-eul Gate, I'll show you."
Ijagun pulled out the top sheet from the exam papers and showed it to Jang Sagun.
"This is the paper from the first-place examinee."
Jang Sagun quickly scanned the problems. Fifty in total, covering martial arts basics, sword formation operations, formation components, and distinguishing poisonous plants from herbs—knowledge every warrior needed.
"The scores diverged in the 40s. Question 42 on the possibility of qi deviation and countermeasures—new this exam. Question 43 distinguishing forward from reverse hypnosis. Question 46 on silver hypnosis traits and responses. Question 48 on expelling poison via breath regulation... and so on."
"These were on the exam?"
Even Jang Sagun, human as he was, had limits to his predictions. But this time, they'd missed wildly.
"Aren't these outside the basic exam scope?"
"The examinees' fervor made distinguishing top performers harder. Especially with 'tutors' like you boosting perfect scores, raising the bar."
Ijagun's words stabbed sharply, but Jang Sagun was still dazed.
"Still, doesn't this seem off? We covered this stuff too. But qi deviation, hypnosis— that's not for basic trainees who've just finished foundational arts. How could 18 people outscore Cheolyeong?"
The supervising scholars bristled, but Ijagun waved them off.
"Of course, not what examinees typically study... but isn't it what all foundational martial artists must know?"
"......Tae-eul Gate predicted what even I couldn't?"
"No. I asked the top three out of curiosity—they said Tae-eul Gate's senior disciple gathered the lazier kids and taught them one by one. Even made study books."
"The senior disciple?"
Jang Sagun's gaze shifted to Jin Sowoon, laughing boisterously with the kids nearby.
"Studying for exams is fine, but the Murim Alliance needs more than test-takers strong in theory. We need well-rounded martial knowledge."
With that, Ijagun left with the scholars for the lodgings. Jang Sagun glared daggers at Jin Sowoon, the hall leaders, and the Tae-eul Gate crew for a long while, stupefied.
"What the hell is this?!"
The disastrous results naturally led to an explosive outburst. Gye Yeonseok unleashed a fury he'd never shown Jang Sagun before.
"I trusted only you! You said you'd get him in!"
His formal speech had devolved to casual commands, but Jang Sagun said nothing. He'd dealt with overzealous parents' attitude shifts too often.
This world bent even nobles like courtiers before emperors when kids were involved—but poor results meant enduring the backlash.
"I'm sorry. Focusing on near-perfect scores backfired."
"If this stands... if this......"
"Don't worry. The second exam differs from the first."
"You have a plan?"
"I've poured the most effort into the second. It tests sect martial arts."
"Cheolyeong's forms are solid, but he hasn't learned inner arts!"
"No need to worry. Among the 108 Peaks, skill gaps are vast, so the Alliance excludes inner arts, testing only forms. Proficiency without qi scores higher—and no one in Tae-eul Gate surpasses Cheolyeong's mastery."
"......Hmph. We'll see."
"The second exam gauges understanding of one's sect arts."
At Ijagun's words, the Gye-ryong Merchant Group reps brightened.
"Examinees will demonstrate sect arts one by one before ten examiners. For safety, no inner arts allowed."
Gye Yeonseok let out a relieved "Yes!" so loud the elders and sect leaders on the platform glanced over, but his eyes stayed glued to the field.
"No inner arts... then Senior Brother Gye takes first for sure."
Geum Pyo muttered beside him. Among Busengdang disciples, the mill owner's eldest hated Gye Cheolyeong most. As big brother to Eunho and Dongryong—and self-appointed for others—he had plenty of followers.
"Worried?"
"I'd be lying if I said no... He always hires famous masters for private training."
Tae-eul Gate's forms centered on quick sword, somewhat monotonous. Gye Cheolyeong, versed in variety, had an edge in proficiency. In form-only spars, only Jin Sowoon beat him consistently; Hong Saryeon could match at best.
"Big Senior Brother, you have to take first."
"Didn't you outscore me on the written?"
I'd intentionally aimed for around 5th. Geum Pyo—Gold Dragon—took 4th, right above.
"Still, I'd love for you to go to the academy."
"Not over yet. And did you master the Socheon Sword Technique I taught you before?"
"Of course."
"Then watch."
"For what?"
I eyed Ijagun continuing.
"Thus, examiners will use only Tae-eul Gate's basic Socheon Sword Technique. Examinees must do the same—break the examiners' forms within 50 moves."
The hall leaders' and sect leader's faces stiffened. Examiners were third-class Alliance warriors or higher. Even Tae-eul disciples, masters of their arts, would struggle to shatter those forms.
But.
"Only Socheon Sword Technique?"
"That's what he said."
"I heard it clear."
The disciples buzzed with barely contained excitement. After my bout with Namgung San, they'd begged for Socheon Sword Technique lessons. I'd taught the advanced forms: evolutions from Breaking Sword Style, refining transitions, eliminating weaknesses, amplifying strengths. Perfect for smashing the original.
The Gye-ryong side heated up for different reasons.
"Hey! Tutor Jang Sagun! What is the meaning of this?!"
Gye Yeonseok bellowed, forgetting the silence. Jang Sagun's face hardened.
......
6th. Gwak Ilnam
7th. Gye Cheolyeong
8th. Song Gyeongmun
......
On the second day's results, Gye Cheolyeong barely scraped into the top 10.
"What now?!"
Gye Yeonseok's half-respectful tone devolved to outright commands. Humiliation made Jang Sagun's eyelids quiver.
"Father. We still have a chance."
Even using honorifics, desperation in his voice, Gye Yeonseok's eyes filled with distrust.
"The third exam weighs most in this special track. Thankfully, his second score's decent—we can flip it."
"Keep talking."
"......The third selects the top 16 from the prior two for spars. Those were just prep."
A lie, of course. The third gauged overall depth without excessive fervor. If skills were even, prior scores mattered.
But.
Overwhelming victory rendered them irrelevant.
"Hmph! Tae-eul Gate's third-rate, but they've got some talented brats. How can you guarantee Cheolyeong crushes them?"
Gye Yeonseok now treated him like a subordinate. Jang Sagun gritted his teeth.
"I know. Geum Pyo, Eunho, Dongryong—the mill brothers have solid depth. Hong Saryeon, the sect leader's daughter, shines brightest in Busengdang."
"You missed one. Jin Sowoon! Unbelievable, but he beat Blood Wolf Iron Sword Seong Mohyeon and World-Shaking Dragon Namgung San. How's Cheolyeong overwhelming him?"
Gye Cheolyeong trembled, lumped in with the insults—but stayed silent, knowing the stakes.
"Father. Trust me."
"Earn it first!"
"I've heard the rumors. Jin Sowoon's feats were suicidal mutual destruction. Examiners will stop it before that."
"Get to the point!"
At Gye Yeonseok's urging, Jang Sagun swallowed hard. He nodded to a female warrior, who hesitated then drew a red wooden box from her bosom.
Opening it revealed five sinister red pills.
"What are those?"
"The secret to getting Cheolyeong into the academy."
"......"
"Pogeukdan."
Gye Yeonseok's eyes bulged, lips trembling.
"Y-you're set on ending the Gye line?! Where'd you get such poison?!"
"Father. Know why the Demonic Cult fell?"
"Why bring that up?!"
"Odd, isn't it? Countless unorthodox and black path scum wreak havoc, yet the Alliance doesn't wipe them out. Why only the Cult?"
"......"
"Many reasons, but the big one? This. Pogeukdan doubles your power unconditionally."
"And turns you into a cripple."
"No."
"What?"
"That's the rumor, but untrue. That's why the Alliance, fearing the Cult's might, destroyed them."
"First I've heard."
Jang Sagun nodded to a male scholar, who opened a turquoise wooden box from a carrier.
"Jamhyeoldan. After Pogeukdan boosts power, this suppresses it—with minimal side effects for maximum force."
"......"
Gye Yeonseok's eyes wavered. No pill was side-effect free, or Pogeukdan wouldn't circulate secretly. But he had to weigh it: the antidote's existence, Cheolyeong's failing score.
Gazing at his son, Gye Yeonseok told Jang Sagun.
"Lie, and I'll hunt you to hell and ruin you. ...What're the side effects?"
Jang Sagun gulped.
"......Over 100 exchanges scars the dantian permanently."
"You bastard... I'll kill you......"
"But think, Father. Cheolyeong's dantian holds 30 years' worth. Even if that mill girl or Jin Sowoon grind with Tae-eul arts, they won't hit 20. He won't falter easily."
High-level fights turned on 100 exchanges in a blink—but at their level, exhaustion hit first. With spars capped under five, it wasn't bad.
"Father. Trust me."
Gye Cheolyeong stepped forward.
"Father! I'll take it."
"Not your call."
"Consider: Great hero Namgung San, with just three stars' qi, couldn't last 50 exchanges with Jin Sowoon."
After agonizing, Gye Yeonseok gnashed his teeth.
"One scar on Cheolyeong's dantian, and I'll tear you apart."
Cornered himself, Jang Sagun replied.
"Just trust me, Father."