Chapter 298
As time flowed by, the exam had already moved into its later stages.
“Brother?”
Vivi turned her head, reacting to the presence she sensed.
It was because the person who had said he would be back soon had finally returned.
He had taken so long that she was about to go out to search for him herself…
And just like that, he was back.
However, Vivi was rather surprised by Bi Eejin’s appearance.
“What’s wrong, brother?”
The aura of the returning Bi Eejin felt peculiar.
“Did you get hurt?”
“Of course not.”
Despite his protest, Bi Eejin appeared somewhat uncomfortable.
‘Could it be that guy actually got hurt?’
How is that even possible?
Vivi’s expression changed in an instant, as if overcome by shock.
He was the kind of person who would come back unscathed even after rolling off a cliff.
So seeing him return looking so worn out was a shock.
“…What… did you meet a red monster?”
At Vivi’s words, Bi Eejin couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Where would you see something like that in this day and age?”
“No, unless that’s the case… this shouldn’t be happening!”
Vivi pressed Bi Eejin’s body here and there, as if it were some kind of new gadget.
“…Stop poking me.”
“Does it hurt? Does it hurt here too?”
Leaving behind Vivi, who seemed oddly excited, Bi Eejin let out a sigh.
‘It’s a red monster.’
Well, it was somewhat similar.
Whether it was the red monster or Gu Yangcheon.
They were similar if you think about it, considering they were both red.
Really.
How rampant it was, almost like a monster.
As a result, one of his arms was broken.
The first strike had shattered his ribs.
‘How long has it been since I was hurt like this?’
Ever since his physical body became younger, it was a body he had been delicately protecting, fearing even a slight touch would break it.
‘But that’s why it’s only him.’
After going head-to-head, he became more convinced.
Compared to the visible levels or talent, he was lacking in fighting skills.
Leaving behind movements that seemed to be concealing something.
That guy, Gu Yangcheon, had an instinctive sense.
‘He seemed to just be charging in without thinking.’
Did he immediately realize that just blindly crashing in wouldn’t yield results?
He clung on as if prepared to give everything up.
‘With that age and level, it’s understandable to be arrogant.’
Records aside.
If you said he peaked at that age, he could very well be the youngest in some aspects.
Moreover, he wasn’t just the fastest to reach it.
Even higher than that age.
After climbing for quite some time.
There wouldn’t be anyone in the later indexes who could compare to Gu Yangcheon.
In his eyes, there wasn’t even the slightest trace of arrogance.
On the contrary.
He seemed aware of his own weakness.
A look searching for vulnerabilities.
‘It’s strange.’
Even though he was doing plenty to suppress his own strength.
Compared to his rough movement.
Each motion was remarkably careful.
It was as though Bi Eejin knew instinctively that the being standing before him was stronger.
‘He might even have been overly cautious.’
In a few exchanges.
Gu Yangcheon seemed to have noticed that Bi Eejin didn’t want to harm his own body.
That’s why, even more so, if arms or legs were captured, it would become an irreversible situation.
He pressed forward with relentless intensity.
‘… A monster of sorts.’
His teeth were chattering.
Bi Eejin was aware that Gu Yangcheon had sustained internal injuries.
In a situation where he couldn’t afford to inflict damage on that precious body.
He had to be as restrained as possible.
As a result.
By offering up his arms and chest.
He barely managed to subdue Gu Yangcheon.
It felt like looking back at his own childhood.
Even back when he engaged in martial arts competitions, he fought just like that.
As if there were no tomorrow.
As if he were in a life-or-death struggle.
‘Nice.’
He felt satisfied.
In the fight, he realized that Gu Yangcheon wasn’t merely a reflection of himself.
He was absolutely certain.
As could be seen at a glance.
The guy’s body was a finely crafted jewel.
If he had experienced a similar situation—
That could never happen.
So.
He definitely couldn’t let this opportunity slip.
‘I need to get ready.’
With the stakes involved in their wager.
Preparations had to be made soon.
He couldn’t continue like this, after all.
“Ah.”
“Why are you like that?”
“Come to think of it, I forgot to pass this on.”
Bi Eejin took a letter from his bosom.
It was a letter meant for Gu Yangcheon.
He had completely forgotten about it.
‘I guess getting old makes me forget things often.’
He had thought that since his body was becoming young, his memory was getting better too.
Looking at this, he realized it wasn’t quite the case.
The one who entrusted him with the letter was the earth raccoon of openness.
He was using the fact that he came looking for information as leverage.
‘I wanted to bury it properly.’
He tried to dispose of it though.
It turned out it was more competent than he thought.
He was quite obedient too, making him useful.
It also seemed like he was working hard, hence why Bi Eejin decided to take on this request.
‘What does it say?’
While wondering, he unfolded the letter.
There’s a common sense about not peeking at other people’s letters.
But this guy didn’t seem that important.
-To the True Dragon.
It started the letter politely.
-You bastard.
It fell apart like a ghost by the second line.
“… huh?”
Bi Eejin furrowed his brow, momentarily thinking he misread it.
But he hadn’t misread it at all.
-Do you even have any clue what state I’m in…? You bastard! If you have a conscience, you should come and help me!
I even sent you a letter…!
-You rotten piece of… Why would I even want to taste the fruits of glory? You scoundrel, do you know what happens when a beggar holds resentment during winter?
-What happens, you jerk…? He’d just be hungry! You rotten bastard!
-I’ll remember this. I will definitely…
Crinkle.
While reading down the letter, Bi Eejin crumpled it up and tossed it aside.
‘Good thing I didn’t hand it over.’
It would have been quite troublesome if he did.
Bi Eejin nodded in agreement with himself.
“What is it? What is it?”
“Nothing. Just ignore it… stop poking me already.”
“Does it hurt? Brother, does it hurt here? Is it painful? So painful… uh!”
Finally, after Bi Eejin’s fist collided with Vivi’s head, her antics came to a halt.
“Ugh…”
As Vivi plopped down, diligently rubbing her sore head,
‘Come to think of it.’
He recalled something as he crumpled the letter.
Why had Gu Yangcheon told him to look for the earth raccoon?
That was something he had meant to ask as well.
It was a part Bi Eejin had forgotten.
‘I can just ask later.’
There was plenty of time.
What remained for him was time.
Meaningless time where he couldn’t complete his martial arts.
“… Brother.”
“What is it?”
“Are you going to join?”
At Vivi’s words, Bi Eejin tilted his head in confusion.
It felt like such an unrelated thing to say at this moment.
“You said last time that you would just take the exam and return home. You said you wouldn’t even join.”
“Did I say that?”
“Yes. You said this time, you can’t die even if you try…”
“Hmm.”
Given that it sounded like something he would say, it probably was true.
If there was an exam, he had planned to drop out appropriately and return.
To be specific.
The existence known as the True Dragon.
If that guy turned out to be inadequate and just an average person.
He wouldn’t have planned to linger around this place for long.
But that was no longer the case.
“Now that a reason has come up, it’s fine.”
“Really?”
Vivi reacted in surprise at Bi Eejin’s words.
She didn’t expect her brother to say such a thing.
“Yep.”
Bi Eejin replied with a slight smile.
And then he rubbed his chest.
“… Tch.”
It seems he struck it a bit too hard.
As soon as he smiled, pain shot through his chest.
It seemed it would take longer than expected for the injured area to heal.
Before long, time passed.
Whoosh!
A few arrows were shot into the air.
The arrows, surrounded by flames, sped upward into the sky.
Boom!
They burst into flames, leaving a brief trace behind.
Seeing the fireworks, the participants finally let out a sigh of relief.
The fireworks that exploded as the sun set.
Signified that the exam was over.
At that, some sighed in relief, while others yelled in frustration.
But regardless of what happened,
The outcome remained unchanged.
The third test for admission to the Heavenly Dragon Academy
had ended the moment the sun set.
Underneath the overcast night sky.
Where the waves crashed violently,
an isolated island came into view.
Nearby residents avoided it, claiming it was a cursed island,
And even if one wanted to get close, it was dangerous with the rough waves possibly sweeping them away.
The inside of the island was teeming with monsters.
Moreover.
There were fierce beings patrolling around, moving about.
And in the center of that island
there was a massive dwelling constructed.
Creeeak.
A man approached, making noises as he walked.
He was passing through a dark corridor without a single light.
As he took a step,
Thud.
He eventually stopped in front of a door.
Click.
He carefully opened the door and stepped inside.
Inside the room sat an old man with his eyes closed.
“… Taeju.”
At the man’s voice,
only then did the old man slowly open his eyes.
They had the eerie, faded glow of an ominous gaze.
“The presence of the one you sent has vanished.”
“Is that so?”
The old man responded in a way that hinted he wasn’t particularly concerned.
That reaction irked the man slightly, but he couldn’t let it show.
That was just how that human was.
The man shifted the topic to the main matter.
“… Upon checking other reports, it has been confirmed that the heir of the sword master is heading toward the Heavenly Dragon Academy.”
“Oh.”
At that, the old man’s eyes glimmered with interest.
It was a completely different reaction from before.
“That brat doesn’t seem to be lying after all.”
Someone popped into the old man’s mind.
A young snake that had wound itself secretly without letting his father or the clan notice.
The one who showed signs from the very beginning of turning into a great darkness.
Even though he raised a hand.
He was proving to be more useful than expected.
“The young lord, you foolish friend. If you plan to hide and survive, you shouldn’t leave traces behind.”
Chuckle, the old man cackled with a dry voice, laughing continuously.
What could be so enjoyable that he was laughing?
The man couldn’t understand it.
“Truly, it seems the time is drawing near.”
Crackle.
Saying that, the old man stood up.
The frail-looking old man revealed a hefty physique.
“Heavenly Dragon Academy, huh…”
A gathering place for the scions of noble families.
Not bad.
“This is a very good place to announce the resurrection of the Black Dragon Sword.”
As the old man stood up from his languid position,
Rumble…
A fierce aura erupted from his body, spreading all around.
The intense presence made the entire dwelling reverberate.
At the intensity of the aura, the man restrained his breath, merely managing to grunt.
The old man spoke to him.
“By the way, they say the offspring of the Poison King is also there.”
“Yes… I heard he’s called Poison Phoenix.”
“Poison Phoenix, that’s great.”
The chance for the fabled poison that hadn’t been seen for a long time.
Though young,
it wouldn’t be bad to harvest before it grows even further.
It was a timely opportunity.
Having thought that far, the old man commanded the man.
“Convey this to the Princess.”
To someone who should be hiding somewhere on this island.
To deliver the message.
“The request is a request, but you must pay the rent, don’t you?”
“…I… understand.”
As the man concluded his words in a hurry, he rushed outside.
The old man laughed once more and turned towards the window, peering out at the distant sky.
The storm clouds still filled the night sky.
But there were glimpses of moonlight skirting through.
Crack.
Looking at the moon, he felt a chill where the scar lingered.
It was always like that on nights when the moon was visible.
This was the reason he closed his eyes at night.
The old man hadn’t forgotten the sword dance he had seen that night.
Even after several decades, he still caressed the painful scar.
Chuckle…
When will the pain from this scar disappear?
Perhaps, it wouldn’t be long now.
Having felt the winter wind for some time,
the old man could finally move his halted body again when he saw the moonlight become covered by storm clouds.
Right after the exam ended.
Not long after, he was able to return to the guest house to rest.
“It’s so damn tiring.”
His physical body had worn out severely.
He hadn’t even taken proper care of his internal injuries.
He had gotten caught up with the Pandemonium fight.
When he returned to the guest house in a fatigued manner.
Muyeon, who had come to wait for him, appeared and helped him
Seeing that made him quite surprised.
“Muyeon, you didn’t leave?”
At his question, Muyeon smiled lightly and replied.
“I plan to leave tomorrow.”
“You could have gone today.”
“I thought I should wait until the last exam…”
“Do you really think I would fail? What are you worried about?”
In case he were to become a member of the Heavenly Dragon Academy,
he couldn’t bring a bodyguard with him.
He had heard that Muyeon had work related to the clan, Gu Seonmun.
Even the fact that he had come to Hunan was half forced by Muyeon.
‘I told him not to come’
So he would leave tomorrow, huh?
That statement suddenly triggered a reaction in him.
“What if we bring that coward with us when you go?”
“Haha…”
As he pointed to somewhere with his fingertip.
Muyeon let out an awkward laugh.
His fingertip was indicating to Geojeyeop.
Realizing that he was referenced, Geojeyeop jumped up in surprise.
“…I passed…”
“It was pretty close, wasn’t it?”
“If nobody had taken my stripe… there wouldn’t have been a close call.”
Geojeyeop spoke as if aggrieved.
According to what he heard, he barely managed to get the last stripe just before the arrows were shot.
That was quite fortunate indeed.
‘I was in such bad shape that I almost couldn’t go return the stripe.’
Originally, he had planned to return that stripe.
But given his current state, he couldn’t even go deliver it.
So it was a relief he hadn’t self-eliminated and had survived the crisis.
If he had been rejected after all that, there was a part of him that would feel a bit guilty about it.
By the way, Gu Yeonseo also passed.
She had gone in as soon as she arrived and had reportedly crashed in her room to sleep.
‘As for the others…’
When he glanced around,
it looked like everyone wasn’t in too good a condition.
Mo Yonghee had completely lost the fashionable aura she usually had, looking somewhat haggard.
And Dang Sooyeol, who usually jumped up with excitement when he saw him,
was now dozing off, thumped against the table.
‘What’s up with that?’
When he left, he had been confident that they could easily overcome things like this.
It seemed rather strange.
Could something have happened?
If they looked so dejected, then something must’ve indeed occurred.
The only one who remained somewhat unscathed was Namgung Biya.
Everyone else seemed out of sorts, while Namgung Biya was quietly sipping tea.
Just as tranquil as always.
If there was anything different it would be—
She wasn’t sleeping at all.
‘…Where’s Wi Seolla?’
It seemed Wi Seolla had gone to her accommodation.
That was the only natural conclusion.
But saying she wasn’t here brought about a strangely forlorn feeling.
“Yours, young master.”
“Hmm?”
“One, but… who is this?”
Muyeon pointed behind him and asked.
“Oh.”
Oh no.
He had momentarily forgotten.
He turned around and grabbed the trembling figure behind him and yanked him forward.
This guy had caused so much trouble for adding to the trouble by gathering stripes.
“Introduce yourself.”
“A…ah…”
As everyone’s gazes focused on the trembling Geojeyeop, it felt like his shivering increased.
Now that he thought about it, how should he introduce him?
“Hmm.”
He pondered for a moment before responding.
“He’s my new friend.”
That should suffice.
Not paying it much mind, he spoke and
“…!”
“Friend…?”
“A friend the young master made…?”
The eyes of his companions changed.
Especially the way they looked at Geojeyeop felt odd.
Almost as if they were thinking,
‘What happened…’
‘How unfortunate…’
Among them, Geojeyeop appeared to be the most pitiful sight.
He was glaring at Geojeyeop with widened eyes.
Though he said nothing, the intensity of his gaze alone could convey it.
‘Run away…!’
Geojeyeop, meeting those watchful eyes, started rolling his eyeballs in panic.
What the hell is this?
Why is everyone reacting like this?
It felt quite unjust.
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