Chapter 36

"A teacher? How so?"

Yeomdo retorted. It seemed Yeomdo was also slightly interested in Na Jung-hae's impassioned speech, which was spraying saliva.

"Right now, the Cheonmu Academy is suffering from a severe manpower shortage, with the number of martial instructors being absolutely insufficient compared to the number of disciples. Of course, compared to other sects in the Jianghu, the number is enormous in both quality and quantity, but considering the current scale of the Cheonmu Academy, the current number of martial instructors is far from enough. For the Cheonmu Academy, which originally aimed for a small, elite education, the number of disciples assigned to each martial instructor these days is too many. For that reason, the Cheonmu Academy is now desperately hoping to recruit supreme masters of the highest level, even in their dreams. Even at this very moment, hundreds of envoys dispatched from the Cheonmu Academy are wandering through the deep mountains and hidden valleys all over the world, their feet worn out, in search of eccentric masters who are in seclusion."

Having explained this far with an impassioned speech without a break, Na Jung-hae, who had been speaking with tireless flattery and eloquence, paused for a moment to catch his breath and then continued. He was so anxious about when Yeomdo's temper might explode that he, pitifully, didn't even dare to rest. Yeomdo, whom he glanced at, was lost in thought, blinking his eyes, as if pondering something. But that didn't mean Na Jung-hae could stop his explanation. He had an ominous premonition that if he stopped his explanation now, Yeomdo's saber would not stay still. So Na Jung-hae encouraged his tiring tongue and facial muscles and continued his explanation.

"Given this situation, there is no doubt that the Cheonmu Academy will welcome a supreme master of the highest level like Great Hero Yeomdo Gwak with open arms. I, Na Jung-hae, stake my 30-year life in the information trading business on this."

Na Jung-hae confidently affirmed, thumping his chest with his right hand as if to break his ribs. The sight of Na Jung-hae thumping his chest so hard as if to break his ribs instilled a strange sense of trust in the onlookers. Trust is indeed the greatest weapon of an information merchant. It seemed to prove that the reputation of being the best information merchant in Nanchang was not just empty bravado.

"Moreover, if you wish to enter the Cheonmu Academy as a teacher, that is, a martial instructor, you can enter at any time, on any day of the year, regardless of the date. Furthermore, if you become a martial instructor at the Cheonmu Academy, you can enjoy enormous benefits compared to a disciple. You will be given an excellent private residence within the Cheonmu Academy that is incomparable to that of a disciple, and you will also be able to have a dedicated servant. In addition, you will be given a huge salary provided by the Cheonmu Academy, fame, and the privilege to enter and exit the territory of any sect within the orthodox path without interference. What do you think of my idea?"

"..."

"Hmm, that's a very interesting proposal. This is going to be fun."

Yeomdo remained silent, and instead, Bi Ryu-yeon answered with a grin. The person Na Jung-hae had been passionately speaking to was Yeomdo, but the answer had come from the unexpected direction of Bi Ryu-yeon. Na Jung-hae couldn't help but be puzzled. Although Na Jung-hae's underestimation of Bi Ryu-yeon had greatly diminished, he was still mistaken in thinking that Yeomdo was the decision-maker. Of course, this was a huge misjudgment, and Na Jung-hae had no idea that the real decision-maker here was not Yeomdo but Bi Ryu-yeon, and that Yeomdo was currently cautiously watching the situation, carefully observing Bi Ryu-yeon's reactions.

However, one could not question or blame Na Jung-hae's foolishness in this matter. Who in the Jianghu could have guessed that Yeomdo Gwak Yeong-hui, one of the five great saber masters of the world, had fallen to the position of having to watch the reactions of a young brat? It was no one's fault.

"So, how do I do that?"

It seemed Bi Ryu-yeon had made up his mind to put Yeomdo in as a martial instructor at the Cheonmu Academy. So he asked Na Jung-hae about the specific method of execution. Na Jung-hae's answer was surprisingly simple. There was no need to take a test, nor was there a need to be tested. Na Jung-hae's story was that he didn't even need to have an interview. Na Jung-hae's story was that with the fame he had built up so far, he could skip all the complicated procedures and become a martial instructor at once.

"Yes, for someone of Great Hero Yeomdo Gwak's stature, you can just go there empty-handed. Go there empty-handed and just say this one sentence: 'I have come to become a martial instructor.' With that, the whole situation is complete. No, there's no need for your precious self to go all the way there. You have me, don't you? The two of you can go to your lodgings and rest comfortably. I will take care of everything and send word to the Cheonmu Academy. Someone will probably come running from the Cheonmu Academy barefoot. Then, Great Hero Gwak, you can listen to their proposed conditions, and if you are satisfied with the treatment they offer, you can accept and finalize everything. In other words, you will become a martial instructor of the Cheonmu Academy."

Anxious to send the two ruffians away even a second sooner, Na Jung-hae, in his haste, said things he didn't mean, claiming he would take responsibility for everything, thus putting a noose around his own neck and shackles on his own feet. There was an old saying that if you stay quiet, you'll at least be in the middle, but Na Jung-hae, who couldn't do that, ended up taking on the cleanup that he didn't have to.

"Really? Then I'd feel too bad..."

Bi Ryu-yeon said with a bright smile, in a tone that didn't sound sorry at all. Na Jung-hae was momentarily choked up by Bi Ryu-yeon's attitude, but he faced reality, swallowed his anger, and continued the conversation with a business-like smile and tone.

"You don't have to feel sorry at all. For Great Hero Gwak, I will gladly take on this task."

"..."

"Alright, then. Good luck!"

Na Jung-hae kept talking to Yeomdo, but the answer always came from Bi Ryu-yeon's side. This time, too, Bi Ryu-yeon answered. Bi Ryu-yeon and Yeomdo left with this one simple word of 'good luck'. No, they were about to leave. But they didn't leave. Why didn't they leave?

The two had forgotten one thing, a very important one. And so, they stopped their steps that were about to turn back and sat down again. The thing they had almost forgotten was the biggest reason and purpose for their visit here: whether Bi Ryu-yeon could enter the Cheonmu Academy and how. They had been so focused on whether Yeomdo could enter that they had almost forgotten their important purpose. What an absurd pair of companions they were. Crushing the cushion with his butt that he didn't want to see again, Bi Ryu-yeon looked at Na Jung-hae again and said.

"Oh, right. Let's say this side is taken care of, but what about me? How do I get into the Cheonmu Academy?"

"...!"

---

• Na Jung-hae's Desperate Professionalism

Na Jung-hae felt as if he had been hit on the back of the head out of the blue. The back of his neck rang. Na Jung-hae's eyes widened. Anger flared. It was a question that poured cold water on the heart of Na Jung-hae, who had been inwardly rejoicing at the sight of the two about to leave, and had let down his guard, thinking he had solved one problem. Na Jung-hae wanted to cry. Had he really done so many bad things in the past? To the point where the heavens would inflict such a great punishment? He even felt a sense of regret.

"Well, you see. That is..."

Shocked by the fact that the unwelcome nuisances he thought he had painstakingly dealt with had settled down again, Na Jung-hae couldn't answer Bi Ryu-yeon's question right away. Right now, he was in a situation where it was overwhelming just to sort out his own tangled mind. His mind was a jumble of tangled threads that showed no sign of unraveling. To expect a correct answer to come out of him when he was asked a question was absurd.

"Does this hesitation, accompanied by silence, mean that you still haven't found a solution?"

Bi Ryu-yeon said in a cold voice, with a clear hint of a threat. The way he clenched and unclenched his right fist looked ominous at a glance. The ominous sight of his clenching and unclenching fist and the cracking sound of his knuckles at this time came as a great threat, both visually and audibly. It seemed this threat was very effective, as Na Jung-hae, who had regained his composure, waved his hands and said.

"N-no, sir. Who am I? Am I not Sunpung Sanbui Na Daei, with 30 years of experience in the information trading business? Do I look like an incompetent person who can't solve such a small and trivial problem?"

Intentionally ignoring Bi Ryu-yeon, who was about to nod his head and say 'yes' for a moment, Na Jung-hae cleared his throat and continued to speak. It would be more correct to call it an eloquent speech that persuades others, rather than just simple words. But as he was about to deliver his eloquent speech, his face suddenly lit up, his two eyes sparkled with an unusual light, and a strange current swirled deep in his pupils, it seemed Na Jung-hae had some other trick up his sleeve.

"The Ascending Heaven Martial Festival, this is a qualifying exam for the talented martial artists of the Murim, who are said to have a move or two, to enter the Cheonmu Academy, the best martial artist training institution in the current Murim world, to make their dreams soar. The number of people who participate in this exam, which is held once a year, is truly countless. However, the difficulty of this Ascending Heaven Martial Festival is so high and rough that only about five hundred people out of thousands and tens of thousands of people pass this wall and become true members of the Cheonmu Academy. This iron barrier is so high and solid that the number of people who fail the first document screening alone is countless, and the difficulty of the first and second preliminaries is also needless to say. Among the numerous participants, the number of people who can actually make it to the main stage, the finals, and show off their skills and talents in front of everyone is truly countable on one's fingers."

Na Jung-hae, as if to show off, actually counted on his fingers. And then, he neatly calmed his breath, which had become rough at some point.

"Because of this Ascending Heaven Martial Festival, its rules and regulations are strict and severe. It is well-known for being as solid as Mount Tai. Therefore, now that the registration date has long passed, if you have not been able to apply, there is frankly no way to participate in this year's Ascending Heaven Martial Festival."

"..."

Bi Ryu-yeon was just puzzled as to why he was bothering to go on a long-winded speech again when he had already heard and knew all of this so far.

"H-o-w-e-v-e-r..."

Na Jung-hae emphasized this part, breaking it down syllable by syllable. It was the moment when the most important part of his speech was about to begin. The previous part was just a simple introduction to lead into the story that was about to begin. From now on was the real main point.

"That being said, it doesn't mean that all paths to entering the Cheonmu Academy are blocked. There is one way to enter the Cheonmu Academy without going through the Ascending Heaven Martial Festival, that is, the Ascending Martial Festival."

"Really?"

At Na Jung-hae's words that there was a way, Bi Ryu-yeon's eyes began to sparkle with interest. Having succeeded in arousing the opponent's interest and making him focus on his story, Na Jung-hae continued to speak.

"As you know, the Ascending Martial Festival is a general exam where ordinary people and all the martial artists of the Jianghu can apply fairly and have their qualifications and abilities tested. But besides this Ascending Martial Festival, there is also a special screening exam in the Cheonmu Academy for special people, by special people, and for special people."

"Oh? What is that? That's a very interesting story."

"Yes, in the Cheonmu Academy, besides the Ascending Martial Festival, a portion of the entrance quota is reserved for specially talented students, so-called prodigies or geniuses. It's a way of giving them special treatment that befits their talents and abilities. The details are as follows."

Na Jung-hae began to give a lengthy explanation based on his desperate professionalism.

"This system can be called a kind of recommendation-based admission system. It is a system where the masters of renowned orthodox sects and the masters of large factions in the Jianghu can get their personally recommended talents admitted to the Cheonmu Academy with just a simple qualification check. At this time, it is documented in the regulations that the origin and sect of the recommended talent are not questioned. This is to uphold the purpose of this system, which is to discover special talents hidden in the Jianghu, regardless of their origin and status. However, the reality of today is that this original purpose has been completely lost and is now hardly observed. Who would sacrifice the opportunity to grasp the honor of producing a Cheonmu Academy disciple, which can bring glory to their own sect? The reality of today is that a hundred out of a hundred are recommending disciples belonging to their own sects and factions. But rules are rules, and it is clearly stated in the documents of the Cheonmu Academy Entrance System Related Regulations. In other words, in principle, it is possible to receive a recommendation from the master of another sect. However, as this is a special exam, the number is strictly limited in inverse proportion to its benefits. Only a very small number of sects and factions recognized as first-class by the Cheonmu Academy can recommend only one person, and on top of that, the simple qualification screening is not as easy as it sounds, and the Cheonmu Academy can arbitrarily fail a recommended person at any time if they think their talent and ability are below the qualification. They are weeding out and weeding out again to distinguish the jade from the stone. So, that gate can be said to be as narrow as the eye of a needle. So which sect would be willing to give up that spot? This is the biggest problem..."

Na Jung-hae trailed off, hinting that he had something up his sleeve. As expected, Bi Ryu-yeon's reaction was exactly what Na Jung-hae had been hoping for. This simple and straightforward reaction was Bi Ryu-yeon's characteristic.

"Really? Then I'll have to go there myself and settle it peacefully."

Whether he knew he was falling for Na Jung-hae's trick or not, Bi Ryu-yeon just smiled brightly.

"Then where is the nearest first-class sect around here? Of course, I mean a sect that has that recommendation right. It's troublesome to go far, and it costs a lot of money, so the closest one in terms of distance would be good."

Bi Ryu-yeon was carefully worrying about the expenses and efficiency—a way to be less bothered—even in a matter like this. His attitude was that as long as he could increase efficiency, reduce bother, and cut down on expenses, the power or size of the sect didn't matter at all. Na Jung-hae answered excitedly.

"There is one place that fits those conditions perfectly."

"Where is that?"

"Yes, that place is a martial arts manor located within Nanchang Castle called 'Tiger Fang Manor'."

"Tiger Fang Manor?"

"The master of that place is a person named Ho Cheon-sang, the Tiger Fang Fierce Sword. Tiger Fang Manor is a manor that he built up from the bottom with just one sword, and it is a sect that has entered the first-class of the Jianghu with his martial might alone. His ultimate technique, the 26 forms of the Fierce Tiger Flying Strike Sword Method, is so powerful and its changes are so unpredictable that it is said that there are extremely few who can stand against it in the Jianghu."

"What about the distance?"

"Yes, since it is a manor located within Nanchang Castle, it is a close place that you can reach in less than four hours even if you walk."

"Really? Then just tell me the location."

Even after hearing Na Jung-hae's lengthy explanation, Bi Ryu-yeon didn't seem to feel much of an impression.

"Th-the location of that place? Surely..."

Although he spoke as if he were surprised and was about to stop Bi Ryu-yeon's actions, Na Jung-hae was inwardly smiling with satisfaction.

"What do you mean surely? Just tell me quickly."

Na Jung-hae inwardly rejoiced. Bi Ryu-yeon was so simple and ignorant that he had fallen into the net he had set all too easily. All of Na Jung-hae's words and actions up to now had been arranged to induce the situation of this very moment. He had analyzed and grasped the personalities and behavioral patterns of Bi Ryu-yeon and Yeomdo and had cleverly guided them to this result. And as arranged, Bi Ryu-yeon had safely fallen into the net he had set. Of course, Yeomdo had also fallen into his net along with him.

Na Jung-hae was still unsure about the relationship between the two, but he decided to worry about that later. In any case, it was certain that they were in the same boat, so that was enough. Right now, there was something more important at hand.