Chapter 67: Who Will Step Up First?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67: Who Will Step Up First?
“Whoa~ Ki Mu-hyeok. When in the world did you and Yang Ha-yun become a thing?”
Shin Kang-heon didn't miss this rare chance to tease Ki Mu-hyeok. His large frame, with arms gathered and body shyly twisting, was enough to incite murderous intent in anyone who saw it.
“P-promise... I'll keep it!”
If Yang Ha-yun had seen that imitation, she would have immediately enveloped her twin palms in cold energy and charged at him, but fortunately, her face flushed with embarrassment, she had already entered the limousine with The Master.
Instead, Song Jun-ho and Oh Jung-min's faces turned serious.
“Ugh, I seriously want to kill him.”
“If I throw up before the exam, my condition will be terrible...”
Regardless of what the two of them said, Shin Kang-heon was busy teasing Ki Mu-hyeok, his nostrils flaring.
“I thought you just trained all the time, but when did this start? This bastard, they say the sly cat gets on the pot lid first...”
Ki Mu-hyeok pushed away the annoying Shin Kang-heon with his hand, as if swatting a fly.
“It's not 'sly,' it's 'gentle,' and it's not a 'pot lid,' it's a 'hearth,' you idiot. And I don't even have her phone number.”
“Stop bullshitting~ I'll keep it a secret from Bok-ja, so just tell me. Huh?”
“...”
Ki Mu-hyeok didn't reply, simply looking towards Yang Ha-yun. He might not have been interested in others, but he wasn't oblivious. He could clearly tell that Yang Ha-yun harbored feelings for him.
‘Is it because I helped her last time?’
It wasn't strange for special feelings to develop, considering they had become comrades and fought together until the end during a crisis where she was almost kidnapped. Even in his vagrant days, he'd often seen comrades who'd completed life-or-death missions fall for each other and become lovers.
‘Most of them didn't have happy endings, though...’
Ki Mu-hyeok's gaze darkened as he recalled a bitter memory.
He felt sorry to Yang Ha-yun, but at the moment, he had no mental space to be interested in anything other than martial arts. But he also had no intention of deliberately hurting her.
‘Kids that age change their minds a dozen times a day. If I leave it alone, it'll naturally fade.’
Even if she had a crush on him now, wouldn't a child's heart quickly change if someone better came along? Ki Mu-hyeok decided to think simply. He figured it was a problem that would resolve itself with time.
“Tch. You're no fun.”
With no reaction to his teasing, Shin Kang-heon lost interest, pouted, and grumbled.
Just then, a License Exam official appeared and guided them.
“License Exam participants who have completed identity verification, please follow me into the Grand Training Arena!”
The participants, who had been gathered in small groups, began to move. Ki Mu-hyeok's group moved along with them, looking around.
“About a hundred people, I guess?”
“There were nearly three thousand applicants at first... so there really aren't many left.”
Approximately one hundred martial artists had come to challenge the First-Rate Martial Artist License Exam. This number excluded those who had obtained a Second-Rate License in the previous exam but hadn't recovered from injuries or had given up, deeming themselves lacking in ability.
“In the end, only about ten people on average remain to become First-Rate Experts each year. And among those, it's rare for even one to get a First-Rate License on their first try...”
Oh Jung-min chuckled, looking back at his juniors, who were several years younger than him.
“I have a bad feeling that this year, at least three people will pass on their first attempt.”
Ki Mu-hyeok, Shin Kang-heon, Song Jun-ho—the three present here—and Yang Ha-yun, all had a high chance of easily passing the First-Rate Expert exam in anyone's eyes. Furthermore, Pi Seung-hwa of the Golden Glory Sect and a few other dark horses couldn't be ignored.
While Oh Jung-min wondered if he was unlucky to be taking the exam with them, his heart pounded at the thought of competing alongside the best generation.
“Just you wait. As someone from a Mid-Sized Sect, I'll show you an upset!”
“I don't even have a sect affiliation yet?”
“You're so many years older, why are you acting like we're competing on equal terms?”
“Anyone who fails the First-Rate exam today gets kicked out of the group chat.”
“Ugh... these bastards...!”
The four of them bickered their way to the Grand Training Arena.
The interior could easily accommodate over a thousand people. In its center, a spacious dueling stage was set up, with cameras installed everywhere.
And behind the dueling stage, opposite where the participants entered, various dignitaries who had been invited filled the seats.
“The scale is insane...”
“Isn't there... too many people?”
“Look over there. Even the Eight Great Sects' Leaders are here.”
At the most prominent seats, the Leaders of the Eight Great Sects and their representatives exuded a heavy presence. Most of the exam participants were busy gazing at them with admiration, but Ki Mu-hyeok stared at one person with a cold gaze.
‘Sun Moon Sect Leader. How brazen of him to sit there.’
No emotion was visible on Sun Moon Sect Leader Jang Jin-myeong's face.
If Ki Mu-hyeok hadn't personally visited the Great Heaven Sect's business premises, if he hadn't known the relationship between them and the Sun Moon Sect. And if he hadn't heard the real reason for the Great Heaven Sect Master's disappearance from Hwang Suk-su.
‘I would have been completely fooled too.’
He would have regarded him as a martial artist worthy of the Orthodox Martial World's respect and looked at him with admiring eyes. Indeed, the young Ki Mu-hyeok of his past life had done just that.
‘That you are such a disgusting human being, so much so that it's shameful to even call you a martial artist...’
If he could, Ki Mu-hyeok wanted to ask. What exactly was he lacking, even after rising to the position of a Leader of the Eight Great Sects, to commit such heinous crimes?
“I'll find out soon enough.”
Ki Mu-hyeok's gaze, after a soft murmur, passed Jang Jin-myeong and moved to the Leaders of the Taiji Sword Sect and Golden Glory Sect, who were seated beside him.
‘How different are you all?’
Ki Mu-hyeok didn't believe all the Eight Great Sects were in cahoots. Though they had maintained a close alliance out of necessity for a long time, their individual beliefs differed, and what each sect pursued would also be different.
In fact, some of the Eight Great Sects had suffered near-annihilation fighting against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult when it turned the world upside down. For example...
“Huh? The Changcheon Sword Sect Leader came in person too!”
“Korea's Greatest Swordsman—!”
“Why would someone famous for rarely attending such events...?”
The participants, who had spotted the Changcheon Sword Sect Leader arriving late, began to murmur.
The Changcheon Sword Sect Leader was a white-haired elder of venerable age. His hazy eyes and sluggish movements made him seem like an elderly person with difficulty moving, yet when he walked in, the Leaders of the Eight Great Sects, who had been rooted to their seats, sprang up and greeted him respectfully.
“Senior, you've arrived.”
“If you had told us in advance, we would have come to meet you.”
“Please, have a seat here.”
“Heh heh. What am I, an old man? Please, sit comfortably, everyone.”
Changcheon Sword Elder Na Il-cheon. As the Leader of the Changcheon Sword Sect, he was a figure whose age was, at most, twice that of the other Leaders of the Eight Great Sects.
“As I've grown old, I have no hobbies and get bored, so I just came to watch. Don't mind me, just make yourselves comfortable.”
The Sun Moon Sect, Taiji Sword Sect, Golden Glory Sect. It was their unspoken tradition for only the Sect Leaders of the Eight Great Sects whose Rising Stars were likely to acquire a First-Rate License to attend the exam. Perhaps it was a consideration to ensure that their respective sects could receive ample attention as the protagonists.
Therefore, this time too, despite the Martial Alliance Leader's strong request, the other Eight Great Sects only sent representatives, using excuses like overseas schedules or training to avoid participating. But for the Changcheon Sword Sect Leader to suddenly appear, it was no ordinary matter.
Ki Mu-hyeok narrowed his brows and muttered.
“Why suddenly? Last time, they sent a representative...”
“What if he came to see the Rising Stars who have been called the most outstanding generation since Richard Han's appearance?”
Ki Mu-hyeok turned his head at the familiar voice, to see a familiar face approaching with a smile.
“...Team Leader Bu Yeon-ha?”
“Long time no see. You've become incredibly famous again in the meantime, haven't you?”
The Team Leader of the Changcheon Sword Sect's Scout Team, who had recognized Ki Mu-hyeok's talent and tried to scout him multiple times but ultimately failed. However, today Bu Yeon-ha wasn't wearing a suit; her face was bare of makeup, and she wore a navy martial uniform with the Changcheon Sword Sect's logo embroidered in white. To Ki Mu-hyeok's eyes, that appearance suited her much better.
“And I left the Scout Team a while ago. Now I'm a swordsman belonging to the Changcheon Sword Sect's Second Sword Unit.”
Bu Yeon-ha tapped her sword hilt, a proud smile on her face. Ki Mu-hyeok also smiled in welcome and asked.
“Team Leader, did you come to take the exam too?”
“How about you stop calling me 'Team Leader' so formally and just call me 'Senior'? By the way, you still haven't joined any sect, right?”
Even though she had left the Scout Team, she still seemed to covet Ki Mu-hyeok. After all, the rumors circulating about him were all equally unbelievable.
Bu Yeon-ha lowered her voice and asked.
“You stopped the assassin who was trying to kidnap Yang Ha-yun, by yourself? Is that true?”
Ki Mu-hyeok merely gave a slight smile. At that, Bu Yeon-ha muttered, “My instincts were right after all...” and sighed with regret.
“Senior, you're here to get your Peak Master License, right?”
“Yeah. Ours was also suspended midway through the last exam.”
Peak Masters were considered the elite force even within the Eight Great Sects. The exam's difficulty was accordingly high, and the qualifications stringent, but it had unfortunately been suspended when chaos erupted near the end of the exam. In the end, only a few who had been highly rated in the previous exam were granted the right to retake it.
‘Indeed...’
Ki Mu-hyeok gauged Bu Yeon-ha's aura, which was far sharper than before. The fine hairs on the back of his hand stood up slightly, and Bu Yeon-ha, noticing his reaction, smiled sweetly.
“Oh, look at you? Sizing me up again? Why don't you just openly challenge me to a duel?”
“If I only had the chance, even today...”
Just then, a booming voice interrupted their conversation.
“The Martial Alliance Leader is arriving! Everyone, please rise!”
A moment later, Martial Alliance Leader Yeo Pil-geuk, his long robe fluttering, executed a Lightness Skill as if flying, landing squarely on the dueling stage.
CRASH—!
At the deliberately heavy sound, the participants swallowed dryly. Everyone held their breath under the Martial Alliance Leader's piercing gaze as he surveyed the crowd, and their shoulders instinctively hunched at his aura, which surpassed even that of the Eight Great Sects' Leaders.
‘He's deliberately setting the mood.’
As the Alliance Leader unreservedly revealed the aura of an Absolute Master, the Leaders of the Eight Great Sects, with the exception of the Changcheon Sword Elder, showed displeasure on their faces.
But the Alliance Leader, as if unconcerned, glanced around once more before opening his mouth.
“It's good to see you all again. Juniors who will illuminate the future of the Orthodox Martial World.”
With a grin, he released his imposing aura, and the participants, who had been holding their breath, could finally breathe properly.
“I don't know how I've spent the last few weeks. I've been overwhelmed with all sorts of incidents. Many unfortunate events have occurred in the Martial, and as the Alliance Leader, my heart is heavy, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility.”
The Alliance Leader paused, swept his gaze over the participants, and added power to his voice.
“However, I hope you all consider today a festival and enjoy yourselves! For the emergence of so many outstanding Rising Stars amidst this crisis can only be called a blessing for the Korean Martial!”
Martial Alliance Leader Yeo Pil-geuk, the man known as the Fist King in the Korean Martial, began to stretch his neck from side to side. Crack. Crackle.
“We have decided to conduct the First-Rate License Exam and the Peak Master License Exam in the simplest possible manner. It might even be over within an hour, if we're quick.”
“Huh?”
“An hour?”
As everyone was flustered by the unexpected announcement, Yeo Pil-geuk shed his long robe and tossed it off the dueling stage. As the outline of his steel-hardened physique was revealed beneath his white martial uniform, a few quick-witted individuals muttered with pale faces.
“S-surely not...”
“Nah, it can't be...”
“That's impossible...”
At that moment, Yeo Pil-geuk, standing in the center of the dueling stage, stomped his foot hard on the ground.
BOOM—!
A tremor, like an earthquake, spread in all directions. It was to the extent that the entire building felt like it was shaking from a single stomp.
“The exam content is a sparring match against this Alliance Leader. First-Rates will pass if they can withstand three moves, and Peak Masters if they can withstand ten moves.”
“...”
“...”
As everyone fell silent in shock, Yeo Pil-geuk lightly clenched his fist and declared to the participants.
“Don't worry too much. This Alliance Leader won't be going all out.”
It would be troublesome if someone were to die, wouldn't it? The Martial Alliance Leader muttered a joke that sounded like the truth, creating a terrifying atmosphere.
“Now, who will step up first?”
Normally, sparring with the Martial Alliance Leader himself would be an honor. However, seeing that fist, which seemed unusually large today, the Rising Stars swallowed dryly.
‘Being the very first is a bit...’
‘Wouldn't it be better to step up after he's a bit tired?’
As most of them thought this, hesitating and unable to easily step forward.
“Me! Definitely me—!”
“I wish to be the first.”
Two people, as if they had been waiting, eagerly raised their hands.