365. The Invisible Undercurrent (5)
Namgung Seonhwa was at a loss for words for a while. No, more precisely, she had no idea what to say.
“……”
Of course, Jin Sowoon had been drawing a lot of attention lately. Being a Murim Academy student already gave him above-average appeal to the opposite sex, and on top of that, he was the top-ranked student in skill.
Recently, rumors had spread about how he'd responded to crises in Mukrim and led the academy students through them, causing interest in him—especially romantic interest—to explode.
Fallen noble families and wealthy merchant houses had been sending people to the representative committee without fail. Even among the female academy students who had previously ignored him due to his humble background, fervent attention was now pouring his way.
Yes, that was all true, but…
No matter how she looked at it, she never imagined Dang Seo-hee would enter the competition as a rival.
And to come asking if he was open to becoming a son-in-law, no less.
“Wh-why are you curious about that?”
The potentially rude question slipped out before she could stop it. By the time she realized, it was too late.
Fortunately, Dang Seo-hee didn't seem to mind at all as she munched on her candy.
“I'm curious, that's how it is.”
“Ah! Really?”
Namgung Seonhwa's relief was short-lived. Dang Seo-hee swallowed the candy in one gulp and added,
“It's my grandfather who's curious.”
Namgung Seonhwa's heart plummeted again with a thud.
“Y-your grandfather… you mean the Poison King, sir?”
“Yeah, that's how it is.”
Namgung Seonhwa tried her best to sound nonchalant as she asked,
“Wh-why would your grandfather be curious about that?”
Dang Seo-hee picked up another candy, stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, then tilted her head.
“No idea, that's how it is.”
“……”
Dang Seo-hee herself might not know, but Namgung Seonhwa suddenly felt like she did.
There was no one else in the Dang family of marriageable age besides Dang Seo-hee. Surely her grandfather wasn't asking about her ten-years-younger cousin.
A sense of urgency began to build.
The Poison King of this generation, Dang Hyeokje, was notoriously stubborn—especially when it came to things he'd set his mind on. Once he targeted something, it was nearly impossible to escape his grasp.
In that case…
'Hoo…'
She had no choice but to change the person's mind.
“Um, Senior Dang… Have you ever thought about marriage?”
“Marriage?”
Dang Seo-hee made a face like she'd just heard of the Four Books and Three Classics, then nodded.
“Ah, marriage! Hmm… Never really thought about it, that's how it is.”
“Right?! You're still too young to be thinking about marriage.”
Namgung Seonhwa clapped her fist into her palm.
“You must have so many things you want to do… Even if your family pushes for it, you wouldn't want to marry someone you don't care for, right?”
When it came to stubbornness, Dang Seo-hee was a match for Dang Hyeokje. She'd earned her place as the Dang family's successor not just through her brilliant talent, but also by starving herself for an entire month—nearly to death—out of sheer will.
Moreover, she'd now gained the moniker of White Water Divine Maiden through the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, making her a heavyweight in the martial world. No marriage against her wishes could possibly happen.
As Namgung Seonhwa caught her breath for a moment,
“If it's a marriage arranged by the family elders, I'd consider it, that's how it is.”
“Pardon???”
It hit like a thunderbolt.
“Marriage is important, that's how it is. As long as it's not someone too disagreeable.”
“……”
As long as it's possible… possible…
Up to the very last moment, Namgung Seonhwa hesitated. She knew not asking was best, but she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight without knowing.
“Um… Senior Dang, what do you think of… Young Master Jin?”
“Jin Sowoon? I think he's an excellent academy student, that's how it is.”
“Well… if you had to say like or dislike…?”
“Hmm? Why keep asking weird questions, that's how it is.”
Namgung Seonhwa puffed out her cheeks and offered another candy. Dang Seo-hee continued,
“…If I had to say, I like him, that's how it is. Nom nom… He does hero work well, and he even bought Dang candy for me.”
“……”
Dang Seo-hee, about to pop another candy into her mouth, glanced at Namgung Seonhwa and tilted her head.
“Junior, why the long face? Did you think of an enemy or something? Just say it, that's how it is. I'll beat them up for you.”
“No. I must have been mistaken. I thought he was the clean type with women… guess not? Hehe…”
The dying embers in Namgung Seonhwa's chest roared back to life.
#
'Huh?'
Turning at the ominous feeling, he saw only a blank wall.
But something still felt off.
'What's this?'
Everyone has those moments, right? Even if you're usually proper and composed, suddenly feeling like you've made a huge blunder in front of someone—back tingling, nape prickling.
“Academy student Jin Sowoon, is there a problem?”
The heavy voice snapped him back to reality.
Come to think of it, feeling uneasy in this situation would be the weird part.
“Nothing, sir.”
“Continue.”
He'd come at the request for help with the investigation, but this didn't feel like it was just about probing Mukrim.
“So, that giant bear shows up—what did you do?”
“It's not a bear, it's a spirit. The Ten-Thousand-Year Earth…”
“That's why it's a bear.”
Why else would Jang Boguk, the great leader of Jeokryonggak, join Cheonmogak's investigation?
“It takes the form of a bear, but… haa, never mind.”
“Huh? Did you just sigh at me?!”
“Great Leader Jang, stop interrupting. And put your foot down. Aren't we here to hear the report?”
Reprimanding Jang Boguk from the side was Hwang Seoyul, great leader of Cheongryonggak.
And it wasn't just those two. Baekhogak, Heukmugak, Hwangbonggak, Jeokbonggak—all were present.
They weren't officially representatives of their divisions yet, but these were the future leaders who would helm the Mugak divisions and become heroes.
'Gathering all these people like this isn't easy…'
For reference, no one from Baekranggak—the division he was preparing to apply for—had shown up. It was clear proof of their current status as an outsider unit.
He felt a pang of regret. It was a missed chance to impress his future superiors.
To make matters worse, the listeners' attitudes were downright sloppy.
“Sorry about that, academy student Jin Sowoon. They just returned from Sichuan and are still relaxed. Please be understanding.”
Hwang Seoyul, the one with the most proper demeanor, offered some comfort.
Jang Boguk, still with his foot on the table, propped his head with a rough hand and said,
“Why'd you go into Magyeong in the first place? You ran into the spirit because of that.”
These people had nothing to do with him anyway. Their attitudes or thoughts didn't matter.
“You could've just bolted for the exit, but you had to overthink it.”
Yeah, it shouldn't matter…
But damn, listening to this crap was seriously uncomfortable.
“Why no answer? Got something to hide?”
“You! That's enough…”
“If Jeokryonggak had been in our situation… your men would've all died.”
“……!?”
“……??”
Oh crap, he'd said it.
Even Hwang Seoyul, who'd been holding Jang Boguk back, looked displeased. The others did too.
Ha, no fixing it now.
Whatever—he let it rip, figuring it didn't matter since none were his superiors anyway.
“Didn't hear me clearly? We deployed a Heaven's Net. And besides murderous intent, some eerie energy was badly shaking the students' minds. Charging straight into the enemy camp where the path out was obvious…”
He smirked at Jang Boguk, curling his lip.
“Why not just tell your men to carry rocks and jump off a cliff?”
“……”
Jang Boguk's face flushed red.
His rigid expression hardened further as he slammed his fist on the table.
Bam!
Teacups toppled amid the chaos, the long table cracking loudly before shattering to pieces.
Definitely on another level from a dangju. Even without overt killing intent, the aura radiating from him choked the breath from the room.
“What… did you just say?”
But he knew all too well that backing down here would leave him truly helpless.
Jang Boguk despised excuse-makers trying to save face.
“Let me be precise. If you and Jeokryonggak had been there…”
He preferred those who charged head-on, even if it meant breaking.
Staring straight into Jang Boguk's eyes, he answered,
“Not a single one would've come back alive.”
Whoosh—the air froze in an instant.
“You know who I am… and you dare say that shit?”
But it didn't faze him much.
“Well, it's not wrong, is it?”
He always spoke the truth. The problem was it often got him beaten.
Crunch.
Jang Boguk pulverized the chair armrest to powder and glared with bulging eyes.
“Jeokryonggak that laughable to you?!”
“Then let me ask one thing. What does Jeokryonggak have as countermeasures for demons, heretics, and demonic path users?”
“……Those filthy things…”
He cut him off.
“Overcoming with deep mental training? Nah, not you guys.”
Jang Boguk flapped his mouth like a carp.
“Hmm… guess so.”
“……”
“Heard Jeokryonggak bought up all the Spirit-Control Orbs and struggled in Sichuan. Mental training lacking then?”
His body began to tremble.
He wasn't hiding his explosive aura anymore.
“They couldn't stop them either—how the hell would you stop Mukrim's things…”
“You little shit!!!”
He finally erupted, hurling a full-force fist strike.
Thud!
The punch barely grazed past his ear, nicking his neck and leaving a deep fist mark in the wall.
“Hah… dodged that?”
“Some balls on you.”
“Tougher than most black path guys, huh…”
Admiring murmurs rose from around the room.
…Though no one seemed to grasp the reality.
'F-fuck… he actually went for it.'
He'd thought it was just a threat, but Jang Boguk was crazier than expected.
Anyway, not showing panic made him look more composed, so he stood nonchalantly.
Jang Boguk, the one who'd thrown the punch, ended up looking awkward instead.
“Y-you damn punk…”
As Jang Boguk hesitated, Hwang Seoyul spoke gravely.
“Enough, Jang Boguk.”
His plain tone somehow made Jang Boguk flinch and shudder.
Hwang Seoyul, sorting the situation, gave a slight bow.
“Academy student Jin Sowoon. On behalf of everyone here, I apologize. If you're shaken, we can reschedule.”
“I'm fine.”
“Thank you. Please continue?”
Maybe because he hadn't flinched at the punch—the listeners' attitudes shifted noticeably.
Throughout the report, they went from anger to awe to stunned disbelief.
When it ended, a strange silence fell again.
Hwang Seoyul, lost in thought, nodded faintly and murmured,
“Impressive.”
What, that's the reaction?
He hadn't expected applause, but it was a solid success—worthy of acknowledgment.
Somehow it felt lukewarm.
“Is this really a plan an academy student could devise and execute? What do you all think?”
At Hwang Seoyul's question, opinions started flowing one by one.
“Absurd. That kind of improvisation isn't easy even for dangju-level…”
“Spit in my face if I'm wrong, but our guys would've all died.”
“Honestly, even half-true sounds unbelievable.”
“The Chief Strategist was skeptical… now I get why.”
Finally, Hwang Seoyul looked at Jang Boguk.
Lips tightly shut, he shook his head under the gaze and said,
“Pretty… pretty damn useful, I'll admit.”
A sudden doubt hit him.
Wasn't he called to Cheonmogak to share intel on Mukrim enemies?
Why were Mugak's real powers sitting in Cheonmogak members' seats?
“Any more questions?”
Thinking they might deploy to Mukrim soon, he opened for more to share what he could…
“Yes, what division are you aiming for?”
“Pardon?”
Career questions out of nowhere…?
Well, he had to answer.
“I was thinking Baekranggak…”
“Huh? Baekranggak? Not the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament team?”
“With the jianghu atmosphere tense, I figured adapting to the front lines and preparing countermeasures is better than tournament activities.”
“Hoo… even so, why Baekranggak specifically?”
Then unrelated questions poured in.
“Any interest in special forces?”
“Heard your martial skills are top-notch—any other specialties?”
“Doesn't seem you really want Baekranggak… anywhere else? Like, say, Jeokbonggak or… ahem.”
“You like drinking?”
“……”
Eventually, even “Do you like booze?” came up, and he stared at the asker.
Jang Boguk averted his eyes slyly.
“Th-this is an important question!”
“……”
He couldn't fathom what they were after.
These guys weren't busy or anything…?
“So… what's your drinking capacity?”
His head throbbed.