#99. Hell's Entrance Exam: The Third Gate (2)

"Really, I can't help but be amazed."

Maeng Ju-won let out a gasp of admiration as he glanced at the report on Jegal Somyeong's desk.

"……."

Jegal Somyeong was curious. Why was it that while most of the Myriad Communications Division was buried in work and couldn't spare a thought for anything else, this guy was always slacking off whenever he showed up?

"Chief Strategist. Have you seen this?"

The document Maeng Ju-won handed over was a report from the branch where the third gate was being held.

Of course, he hadn't reviewed it yet.

Jegal Somyeong considered giving him a scolding but shook his head instead. The fact that this fool was slacking off meant he'd already handled more than his share.

"What is it?"

"It's a report from the Murim Alliance's Namak Branch."

There it is.

Lately, Maeng Ju-won hadn't been able to take his eyes off Jin Sowoon.

"Jin Sowoon again?"

"No, it's about the incident at the Bokyang Plains."

"Heavenly Eye Pavilion already reported on that."

"This is about the details of what happened. Aren't you interested?"

"……Bring it here."

Jegal Somyeong set aside the documents he was working on and shot to his feet.

Was this report arriving already? The Namak Branch Chief was connected to the Jeongdo Council. Important reports went through them, not the Myriad Communications Division.

He'd assumed they'd only learn the full story after the Alliance's investigation team was dispatched, but here it was.

"So there was a vicious beast."

"A vicious beast?"

Jegal Somyeong quickly scanned the report Maeng Ju-won handed him.

The date and time of the incident, a brief overview, and a detailed account of what had transpired. It was a remarkably thorough report, rare these days.

"It says a girl named Namgung Seonhwa drafted it."

That made sense for someone from the Namgung family. Their report formats were probably similar to the Alliance's.

"Sorcery using darkness?"

But the content that followed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was hard to believe.

"This probably confirms what we suspected."

"Hmm……."

It was impossible to take it all at face value from the report alone. Stories this outlandish could be hallucinations from dream-scent incense or deliriums.

"It says at the end they'll send physical evidence as an attachment."

A bizarre corpse with tough, black skin like animal hide and a sword emerging from its palm. Hard to picture just from words.

As he read, Jegal Somyeong tilted his head.

"But they're sending the evidence to the Myriad Communications Division?"

If this was real—and that important—the branch chief wouldn't let the opportunity slip. Routing it through the Jeongdo Council would boost his status and their influence.

"Hah, is the sun rising in the west?"

He even wondered if they'd all taken some drug.

Then Maeng Ju-won shook his head.

"That's not it, Chief Strategist."

"What?"

"Look closely. It says our Sowoon offered ten nyang of silver."

Jegal Somyeong couldn't help but chuckle at that part too. The branch chief had been outmaneuvered by Jin Sowoon.

On the other hand, injecting money into a major Alliance matter didn't sit entirely right.

"See? He said to use the ten nyang for the casualties and injured of the Bokyang Plains."

"Yeah."

"Isn't that all for the good of our Myriad Communications Division?"

"……."

Jegal Somyeong stared at Maeng Ju-won like he was a drunk rambling nonsense.

"Ten nyang isn't pocket change for the branch chief to spend personally."

"True."

"So it has to come from branch funds, which means filing the report properly."

"……."

"If it were me, I'd do the same to keep the info from leaking midway. Just like Sowoon."

It sounded plausible, but felt like interpreting a dream more vividly than the dream itself.

At least they'd get the evidence soon, accelerating the vicious beast investigation.

Jin Sowoon was changing more things than one or two.

"Chief Strategist, this is no time for that. Why not just bring our Sowoon to the Myriad Communications Division?"

Maeng Ju-won looked genuinely lovesick as he spoke. A face he'd never shown while working.

"What if those brutes at the third gate bash his head in? And after? Will our Sowoon really come out unscathed from that hell?"

"Hey."

"Yes? ……Ah! I've finished all my work. And even handled the things you didn't mention."

"……."

Maeng Ju-won had beaten him to the punch, grinning cheekily at Jegal Somyeong.

Jegal Somyeong crooked his head rebelliously.

"Your speech is awfully rude."

"Pardon?"

#

"Hyung-nim! I knew you'd come."

Jin Sowoon's group was greeted by a familiar face inside the Murim Alliance Namak Branch.

"Jaehwa?"

"Yes! It's me, hyung-nim!"

Moyong Jaehwa rushed over excitedly, like he'd found a long-lost brother.

He then exchanged greetings with the gold-silver-bronze brothers, with whom he'd grown close during his stay at Tae-eul Gate.

"Hey, you ignoring us?"

At Seong Moran's rough words, Moyong Jaehwa jumped and turned.

"Eek! Moran unnie, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seonhwa unnie?"

"Haven't seen you in a bit, and you've lost all discipline."

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, who apparently knew him, teased him, leaving Moyong Jaehwa flustered.

"Um…… but."

Moyong Jaehwa glanced cautiously at the two girls.

"Did the two of you not pass the first and second gates?"

"Huh?"

"What're you talking about?"

At their retorts, Moyong Jaehwa looked even more shocked.

"Then you are here for the third gate exam?"

"Obviously. What do you take this unnie for?"

"Jaehwa, I'm not that weak."

The two spoke as if it were natural.

Moyong Jaehwa's face turned utterly baffled.

"In that getup?"

"……."

"……."

The Murim Regular Entrance Exam's third gate was decided by duels. Those who passed the first and second gates gathered, designated opponents, dueled, and only winners received the third gate plaque.

They were elite enough to pass the prior gates, facing mortal combat like old foes—yet Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran looked like they were out on a casual outing.

"Wh-what're you saying? Jaehwa, this is my usual look."

"Huh? What do you……."

"You saw me like this during training, remember?"

Namgung Seonhwa, who rarely lost her smile, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had trembling lips.

She sidled up to Moyong Jaehwa and lightly placed a hand on his arm.

Sudden agony hit him like a thunderbolt, and he screamed.

"Argh!"

"Oh? What's wrong? Hurt in the first or second gate?"

Moyong Jaehwa gazed at Namgung Seonhwa in terror as flesh seemed to tear from his arm.

-Hey! You wanna die?

A thunderclap echoed in his mind. The transmitter was none other than Seong Moran.

-That shocked look gives it away.

Moyong Jaehwa hurriedly bowed his head.

-One wrong word, and this.

Behind Jin Sowoon, Seong Moran mimed slitting her throat with her thumb.

Moyong Jaehwa had no clue why this was happening, but changing the subject seemed wisest.

"Hy-hyung-nim, you're here to register, right?"

"Yeah? But why're you sweating bullets?"

"Ah, haha. Uh, probably 'cause I've met so many familiar faces after so long."

Third gate opponents were chosen first-come, first-served. That's why Jin Sowoon's group had hurried since dawn.

"For that, there sure are a lot of people already."

"Some arrived the day before and have been waiting."

As Moyong Jaehwa said, warriors from various sects clustered around the vast training grounds of the Namak Branch.

Some spots had three or four; others, hundreds.

"The first to arrive were from Shaolin."

Nearly twenty bald heads gleamed as they scrutinized entrants, hunting for suitable opponents.

"You? Decided?"

"No suitable opponent yet, so I'm waiting."

Seong Moran lightly smacked Moyong Jaehwa's head.

"Don't overthink it—just pick anyone. They're all the same."

"Unnie, that's why you always…… Ah, never mind. Anyway, you know the third gate demands the fiercest game of chicken."

"Isn't that Wudang over there?"

The group ahead of the registration desk wore uniforms marked with Wudang's signature white clouds.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Wudang usually heads to Shanxi Province. What's going on?"

"Exactly. Hubei Province is always cutthroat thanks to Shaolin, and now Wudang joins in."

Five candidates, visibly superior to others.

"Huh? They pick opponents already?"

"Weird. It's only the first day; not all examinees are here."

The Wudang disciples filed out of the training grounds in unison.

"Jin gongja, Jin gongja!"

Seong Moran urgently called Jin Sowoon.

"What?"

"Eyes down."

"Pardon?"

"Your rebellious glare might irk Wudang."

"……."

"For the third gate, always duel someone weaker. Best strategy."

"……."

Then, the young man at Wudang's lead halted abruptly and eyed Jin Sowoon's group.

Geum Pyo and Moyong Jaehwa, who'd been staring blankly at the sudden move, startled.

"Wh-what's that?"

"They going back in?"

"Maybe they know unnie Namgung Seonhwa or unnie Seong Moran?"

Geum Pyo glanced at the two, but they just subtly shook their heads.

The youth approached, scanned the area, and fixed on Jin Sowoon.

"Jin Sowoon, I presume."

"……."

"I'm Hyeonsu of Wudang."

Jin Sowoon had no idea why Wudang's Hyeonsu was calling him out.

"Hyeonjeong's senior brother."

"Is that so?"

Jin Sowoon's nonchalant reply made Hyeonsu's brow twitch.

"Hyeonjeong moved with Huashan's Yeonwoomen to catch you."

The other candidates—likely his juniors—quietly flanked him, exuding draconic auras.

"Yet I can't reach my junior, and here you are."

"So?"

Hyeonsu's brow twitched again.

"……I'd like to know what happened."

Jin Sowoon tilted his head.

"Didn't they teach you to show manners when asking a favor of an opponent?"

Hyeonsu and the Wudang disciples' faces hardened.

"You think casual rudeness on first meeting gets friendly answers?"

"……Hyeonjeong is like blood kin to me."

"Then ask properly. How can I answer politely when the guy who came to kill me is questioned so rudely?"

As Jin Sowoon spoke, the gold-silver-bronze brothers edged away.

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, unable to adapt, did the same.

Only Moyong Jaehwa stepped closer to fill the gap.

"Words won't work."

Hyeonsu sighed, and his juniors' eyes flashed.

But they didn't resort to violence like outsiders might.

"Looks like we'll have to settle it in the ring."

With that, Hyeonsu and the Wudang disciples exited the training grounds.

Seong Moran, who'd been tense, exhaled deeply.

"What the hell's wrong with people? I just warned you. He was itching for a fight."

"No. I don't want to fight."

"Then why act like that?"

"If I don't, his juniors—and Tae-eul Gate disciples—will face the same. Better I handle it."

"……."

Seong Moran gave Jin Sowoon an odd look.

"Anyway, let's register quick."

"Y-yes!"

The registration desk was quiet. Few examinees had arrived, and some delayed to play the waiting game.

After everyone registered, Jin Sowoon told the academy member.

"I'll pick opponents once more arrive."

"Hm?"

The academy member rifled through papers and shook his head.

"Tae-eul Gate examinees already have opponents."

"What?"

"The moment you entered the branch, someone registered and picked you all."

"How…… We just……."

Eunho trailed off.

"Who?"

At Jin Sowoon's question, the academy member turned the papers to show them.

"What the……."

The group gaped at the list.