Chapter 50

• Things Are About to Happen

Before Bi Ryu-yeon met Moyong Hwi,
he was checking the dormitory room assignment status posted on the academy's notice board with Jang Hong and Hyo-ryong.
As they were carefully checking the names written on the notice board,
Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong let out a question that was close to a scream.

"Whaat, you're the top scorer of the special screening?"

Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong were both astonished. And they were testing the expansion rate of their pupils to their limits. Their expressions clearly showed that they couldn't believe such an astonishing fact. It was absolutely incomprehensible.

"Huh, how did you know?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked back, as if he were amazed that the two had found out that fact even though he hadn't told them. The two made a dumbfounded expression, resenting the incredibly insensitive Bi Ryu-yeon who had nonchalantly confirmed as true what they had believed to be a lie. Their expressions were close to tears.

"Of course. Look carefully at who your roommate is!"

"I'm looking with my eyes wide open right now. Who is it?"

All Bi Ryu-yeon knew was the three characters of his name written next to his own.

"You really don't know?"

"I haven't checked yet. I'm not a fortune teller, so how would I know someone I haven't even met yet?"

"Sigh, do you have to see with your own eyes to know? There's also a way to know by hearing with your ears, not just by seeing with your eyes."

Jang Hong let out a sigh. Then he tapped the name written next to Bi Ryu-yeon's at the very front of the notice with his finger. It was a silent protest, telling him to look carefully and confirm it again. But no matter how many times he looked, two or three times, the result did not change.

"Seven Absolutes Divine Sword Moyong Hwi! He's the top scorer of this Ascending Heaven Martial Festival. In short, he's the winner."

Seven Absolutes Divine Sword Moyong Hwi!
The best qilin child of the Murim, who had already obtained the title of Divine Sword at the young age of twenty. As the second son of the Moyong family, which was said to be the head of the eight great families of the Murim, he was a prodigy who had been receiving the attention of the Jianghu for his outstanding talent and genius since he was young. This time too, despite being able to easily pass the special screening with the power of the Moyong family, the head of the eight great families, he volunteered to participate in the Ascending Heaven Martial Festival. As if to show off, he defeated numerous masters and proudly won, and entered the Cheonmu Academy with the status of the top scorer, a talent among talents.

It was a praiseworthy act and a feat to have entered the Cheonmu Academy as the top scorer with his own strength and ability, without relying on his strong and powerful background. Bi Ryu-yeon was now saying that he did not know a famous person whom even three-year-old children knew.

"Oh, really?"

Unlike his words, he didn't seem very surprised. Hyo-ryong let out a sigh, thinking that he had quite a dull nerve. Wasn't this even worse than himself? It was tiresome.

"It's not 'oh'. The only person who shares a room with the winner of the Ascending Heaven Martial Festival is the top scorer of the special screening exam."

Jang Hong said to Bi Ryu-yeon again with an exaggerated gesture.

"That's right!"

"What?"

"I'm saying that this body is the top scorer of that special screening exam, or whatever it's called."

Jang Hong's eyes widened to twice their usual size. His two eyes were now wishing for only one thing. Bi Ryu-yeon stared at Jang Hong's two eyes, which were filled with a strong wish, and accurately read his wish.

"Are you hoping that I'll deny reality right now?"

"I just felt a moment of doubt about this miserable reality where a lie is spoken without hesitation as if it were the truth."

A smile appeared on Bi Ryu-yeon's lips.

"How can there be any hesitation in saying that a fact is a fact? It's natural for this body to win."

Although it hadn't been long since he had met Bi Ryu-yeon, having watched his actions while being with him for a short time, he absolutely did not want to admit the fact that Bi Ryu-yeon had won the special screening, the top exam that boasted of tradition and authority, by beating numerous next-generation figures. He did not want to despair about the future of the Cheonmu Academy and the Jianghu Murim yet. But it seemed his wish would be hard to come true.

"Are you really the winner of the special screening exam?"

"Yeah."

And yet, Bi Ryu-yeon just nodded his head nonchalantly, as if to say, 'so what'. At his appearance, Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong were inwardly dumbfounded. He was treating something that others would be showing off all over the place with their shoulders squared and their heads held high, as if it were nothing. But the disbelieving eyes of Jang Hong and Hyo-ryong soon turned into eyes of envy. Especially Jang Hong's side didn't change much, but Hyo-ryong's change was noticeable.

Not only Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong, but also a few new disciples around them looked at Bi Ryu-yeon's situation with great envy, regardless of Bi Ryu-yeon's own will. It wasn't a very good feeling. But he decided not to care because it was annoying. Bi Ryu-yeon really wanted to do that. He couldn't understand at all why they were staring at him with such eyes, as if there was something to admire in such a trivial and insignificant matter. So he had tried not to care much about the famous person Moyong Hwi, who had been confirmed as his roommate. But a problem had arisen, so he couldn't help but care. The problem had begun to appear in the dark from their first meeting.

It was fine that Moyong Hwi, who was considered the best talent in the Jianghu, was maintaining extreme cleanliness, lost in his own world. Who would say anything about someone wanting to live by cleaning up? The human desire for cleanliness was an object of praise, not an object of resentment. But now, Moyong Hwi's desire for cleanliness was about to become an object of Bi Ryu-yeon's resentment and annoyance.

The problem was not in the essence, but in the excessiveness of the degree. He could endure him putting in excessive effort to maintain cleanliness, being afflicted with an incurable mysophobia. But what Bi Ryu-yeon desperately wanted was for him to please not drag him into it. But he could feel from time to time that his roommate was putting unspoken pressure on him about cleanliness, cleaning, and organizing. That was unbearable. Because he had no desire to be forcibly infected with his roommate's disease.

This prig named Moyong Hwi, who was so great as to be the object of others' envy, was quite picky when they actually shared a room. Should he be called a kind of perfectionist? He had folded all his things with a firm will to not tolerate even a single speck of dust, and had cleaned the room like a pure white sheet of paper. Bi Ryu-yeon was fed up with that perfect and flawless perfection, as if measured with a ruler. He had a strange and amazing talent for making people fed up with just cleanliness. It seemed he could not tolerate even a small speck of dust in the corners and crevices, or the crookedness or bending of any trivial object. It was almost at a pathological level.

He had completely transformed the room into his own colorless and sterile space. In his territory, Bi Ryu-yeon was just a piece of filth. He seemed to be very reluctant to let any uncleanness approach his surroundings, as if he had put up a defensive wall.

It seemed that if he stayed by his side, it would inevitably lead to two outcomes. One was to be infected with his mysophobia, or to die of suffocation due to the influence of his mysophobia... Either way, it was a conclusion that Bi Ryu-yeon wanted to refuse. He didn't like that he was very difficult to approach, nor that he acted all clean by himself. From one to ten, it was full of things he didn't like. Thinking that he had to share a room with such a punk for a year and twelve months, Bi Ryu-yeon felt unnecessarily unpleasant and his future looked bleak.

So Bi Ryu-yeon began to think that he should do something for his own bright tomorrow and hopeful future. A concrete plan had not yet been made, but since Bi Ryu-yeon was not one to be easily swayed by others, he decided to devise a method. He decided to draft the plan slowly for now and to just watch for a while as a tentative conclusion. He could still endure the new stimulus. Anyway, since Bi Ryu-yeon had decided to plot some kind of conspiracy for his future, the future of Moyong Hwi, who had lived a splendid life on a smooth path so far, did not seem so smooth either.

A visitor came to Bi Ryu-yeon, who was receiving a fierce mental attack due to Moyong Hwi's excessive cleaning. The ones who had just finished organizing were Hyo-ryong, Jang Hong, and a young man in a red martial robe whom Bi Ryu-yeon had never seen before. For Bi Ryu-yeon, who was tired of Moyong Hwi's excessive mysophobia, their visit was like a refreshing drink.

But what was strange was the fact that there were three visitors, not two. One was a person Bi Ryu-yeon had never seen before, a young man who had not yet shed his boyishness. The young man in the red martial robe had followed behind Hyo-ryong and Jang Hong as if he were an appendix. Bi Ryu-yeon pointed at the boy with his index finger and asked.

"Who's this? I've never seen him before."

Bi Ryu-yeon's gaze turned to a young man standing behind the two. He was a neat-looking young man with a somewhat timid impression and a face that seemed to be good-natured.

"Ah, let me introduce you. This is young master Yun Jun-ho, who will be sharing a room with us. He's from the Mount Hua Falling Goose Peak, right?"

At the words 'young master', the young man blushed and said.

"Young master is an undeserved title. I am Yun Jun-ho of the Mount Hua Sect."

"Ah, that Mount Hua Sect! I know that place. Nice to meet you. I'm Bi Ryu-yeon."

He uttered words that would make one think of the natural question, 'Is there anyone in this world who doesn't know the Mount Hua Sect?', and this time too, he greeted him without any hesitation. The young man's first impression did not seem so bad. No matter how dark Bi Ryu-yeon was about the political situation and power structure of the Murim, he knew about the Mount Hua Sect. He didn't know before, but among the 16 disciples of the Vermilion Bird group, there was a tomboy from the Mount Hua Sect, Hwa Mu-yong, and he came to know about it through her. Before that, he was almost a blank slate about the famous nine sects and one faction.

This young man was from the same special screening as Bi Ryu-yeon, and unlike his delicate appearance, he was a young man who had entered here with the recommendation of the former head of the Mount Hua Sect, the Plum Blossom Sword Emperor, Jong Hak-yeon. Seeing that he couldn't even make proper eye contact with Bi Ryu-yeon, he seemed to have a somewhat timid and introverted personality.

A slight strange light appeared in Bi Ryu-yeon's gaze as he looked at Yun Jun-ho. He, who did not look like a martial artist at all and just seemed timid, was now sending a hot(?) gaze of envy at one person, and the object of that envy and respect was none other than the cleaning maniac, Moyong Hwi. He couldn't understand why he was looking at Moyong Hwi, who was still diligently removing every single speck of fine dust from the corners of the room, with eyes full of respect and envy.

"What are you staring at so intently?"

"Yes?"

Yun Jun-ho, who had been staring at Moyong Hwi as if in a daze, was startled as if he had just come to his senses and answered. He had been so lost in another place that he surely didn't know what Bi Ryu-yeon had said. Looking at him, who was bewildered, Bi Ryu-yeon had to take the trouble of asking the question once more.

"I'm asking what you're looking at so intently. You'll burn a hole in him."

At his words, Yun Jun-ho blushed and bowed his head deeply. Ugh, does he have a strange hobby? To blush at such a trivial question...

"Ugh, don't tell me you like him?"

"Yes? What on earth are you talking about? I am a perfectly normal person. Please don't misunderstand."

But he made an excuse with a flushed face that was perfect for misunderstanding.

"Then why were you staring at him like that?"

"That's because he's my idol."

Yun Jun-ho said in a small voice, like a mosquito crawling. If Bi Ryu-yeon's hearing had not been trained with martial arts, his voice was so small that he might not have heard it. Bi Ryu-yeon tilted his head and gave him a look that said, 'you're really strange'.

"What's so admirable about that stone-statue-like cleaning maniac that you've made him your idol? Well, his cleaning skills and organizing skills are surprisingly amazing, though."

This time, Yun Jun-ho looked at Bi Ryu-yeon as if looking at a strange creature.

"Seven Absolutes Divine Sword Moyong Hwi is an idol for all of us, the next-generation figures of the Jianghu of our age. Didn't you know?"

Of course, he didn't know. What would he do with that knowledge? To judge the truth of his words, Bi Ryu-yeon looked at Hyo-ryong. Surprisingly, Hyo-ryong nodded his head. Was it a consideration to give his friend respect and surprise? If so, it was not a very grateful consideration.

"That's right. It's no exaggeration to say that Seven Absolutes Divine Sword Moyong Hwi is an object of envy for the next-generation figures of our age, he's that outstanding. His skills are so outstanding that there are even rumors that he is the most likely candidate for the future number one master under heaven. Among them, there are also groups who follow him. Especially the Seven Absolutes Society, a female organization and fan club that fanatically follows him, their deeds and activities are beyond comparison. It's beyond amazing, it's even scary. At one time, they were said to have observed his daily routine from the moment he woke up in the morning until he fell asleep, without missing a thing. If you were to make a remark that ignores him like you did in front of them, even inadvertently, you probably wouldn't be safe. Be careful."

The more he heard Hyo-ryong's explanation, the more amazing it was.

"Really?"

"Of course. A while ago, there was an incident where a next-generation figure in his late 20s made a remark that seemed to look down on him while drunk at a tavern, and had his left arm cut off by a young lady who was sitting at the next table. That female swordswoman was a member of the Seven Absolutes Society. That man became a one-armed swordsman after that. It's a pretty famous story."

"Wow, that's amazing."

After Hyo-ryong's detailed information ended, Bi Ryu-yeon looked at Moyong Hwi with new eyes. But that didn't mean Bi Ryu-yeon's attitude would change.

"Hmm, of course, that guy is a bit handsome, seems to know some martial arts, and seems to be on the smart side, but that alone is not enough to be an idol for others."

A faint smile appeared on Hyo-ryong's lips at Bi Ryu-yeon's words.

"Of course, according to your expression, there is a bit of a lack to be an idol. But the general public's evaluation of him is that he is a super-peak handsome man, his level of martial arts is at the highest peak and difficult to measure, and his wisdom is said to surpass ten thousand books, so he is fully qualified to be an idol. Because they are not as stingy with their scores as you are. Besides, his family is also powerful, so isn't he the number one groom material? He is fully qualified to make the hearts of many women flutter. And he is already doing so right now."

"Really, does he look that amazing? No matter how I look at him, he doesn't look that amazing to me."

Bi Ryu-yeon spoke his true feelings. And he kept tilting his head and raising an objection. He was just continuously suspicious of what was so amazing about that cleaning and organizing maniac over there.

"That's the difference in perspective. The evaluation of an object is bound to change depending on the standards and level of the person looking. Even a single inanimate inkstone can look different in various shapes depending on the direction you look at it, that is, just by a single shift in the position of your gaze, so what more is there to say about humans, who each have their own individual personalities, characters, and levels?"

"Hmm..."

Only then did Bi Ryu-yeon make a face as if he understood. Of course, he did not stamp his approval on Moyong Hwi's idol qualification review, but he decided to drop any further debate about it. Suddenly, Bi Ryu-yeon asked Hyo-ryong.

"Then are you like that too?"

It was a question asking if he was also in the same category as the sub-par brats who considered Moyong Hwi an idol.

Hyo-ryong shook his head.

"If you're asking if I'm one of those many followers, you're wrong. I'd rather say I'm his competitor."

Hyo-ryong said with a smile. But his answer was a remark that an ordinary person might feel was excessive. And if it were a member of the Seven Absolutes Society, it was a statement that would be firmly treated as that of a madman. Yun Jun-ho and Jang Hong looked at him with surprised eyes at his answer. Because they knew well, even from their short meeting, that he was not a person who would run his mouth with just empty boasts.

'A sword master who has reached the realm of being able to use a perfect sword curtain at that age would be capable of anything.'

Jang Hong thought, recalling Hyo-ryong who had blocked the storm of terrifying sword fragments with a silvery-white sword curtain during the destruction of the sword forest a while ago. In his eyes, he thought Hyo-ryong was an outstanding master who would not lose even if compared to Moyong Hwi. The only flaw was that his origin was ambiguous.

Well, in terms of the ambiguity of origin, Bi Ryu-yeon over there was also not to be taken lightly. The ambiguity of their origins was one of the biggest headaches that was currently bothering Jang Hong. No matter how much he looked, he still couldn't find a clue. It was something he had never forgotten. But he was still avoiding the worst-case scenario. If the worst-case scenario were to unfortunately come true, he would have to lose these two pleasant friends he had just made forever. And by his own hand... His usually carefree head throbbed for the first time in a long time. Damn it, it was a really unpleasant feeling.

Bi Ryu-yeon raised his head again and looked at Yun Jun-ho.

"So you're one of his followers, is that what you're saying?"

Yun Jun-ho nodded his head in agreement.

"Yes, it's an honor to meet him like this."

Bi Ryu-yeon looked at Yun Jun-ho, whose eyes were shining with joy, as if he were pathetic.

"Honor, what damn honor. He's of the same age, and even a classmate, so how can idolization even be a thing? A man should have the spirit to surpass him. If you just idolize him and look up at him from below, you'll never surpass him even if you're reborn five times. If that happens, you'll always have to stay below him. Don't bind yourself with a trivial cleaning maniac like that. That's just a waste of time."

Bi Ryu-yeon's words were extremely scathing.

"B-but I don't have much talent..."

Seeing him lament his own talent even after entering the Cheonmu Academy, which boasted the highest competition rate and level that everyone desired, he seemed to be a very pure punk who didn't know the ways of the world.

"Idiot, there's nothing impossible if you have effort and perseverance. Besides, you have talent. Believe me because this body is saying it. So don't give up. Got it?"

"Yes..."

Yun Jun-ho answered in a crawling voice, bowing his head deeply. There was still no pride, courage, or spirit to be found in his voice. He didn't feel any perseverance. For Bi Ryu-yeon, it was a peculiar case where he had comforted the opponent instead of crushing them to a state of being unable to recover.

But Moyong Hwi was just silently and indifferently continuing to clean, even though a question and answer session about him was going on. They hadn't lowered their voices to be considerate, but had spoken loudly as if to show off, or rather, to be heard, but there was no reaction that Bi Ryu-yeon had inwardly expected.

Moyong Hwi was consistently maintaining an attitude that he was not even worth dealing with. It was clear that he had an attitude of not caring about anything other than himself and his surroundings.

"Alright, alright, let's stop the boring talk, and shall we go for dinner now?"

As the day was getting dark and dinner time was approaching, Jang Hong suggested that they all go to the dormitory restaurant and eat together. In the Cheonmu Academy, you had to do your own laundry and cleaning, but meals were provided for free. Of course, there were also general restaurants within the academy, but the decisive difference between the two was that those were paid, and this one was free. So, the private restaurants were places that were difficult to use frequently unless you were the child of a rich family or a disciple of a large sect.

Disciples of the Taoist or Buddhist lineages, or disciples of minor sects, mostly used the free dormitory restaurant. This place was also operated with a large budget from the Cheonmu Academy, so the taste and quality were not that bad. Still, it was a place that had carefully selected ingredients and cooks, befitting the name of the Cheonmu Academy. As everyone nodded their heads in agreement with Jang Hong's suggestion, Jang Hong looked at Moyong Hwi and said. Moyong Hwi was still concentrating on cleaning. A fearsome punk!

"Hey, won't you join us?"

He had asked because it was not polite to go to eat by themselves, leaving a person next to them. But an unexpected answer came back. Moyong Hwi, who seemed to be the sole honored one in heaven and on earth, nodded his head and sent a sign of affirmation. The party was quite surprised that he, who was famous as the number one talent under heaven, had accepted their proposal. Yun Jun-ho from the Mount Hua Sect's eyes widened like a rabbit's, and his expression was clearly moved. There was no way he wouldn't be moved to eat at the same table with his idol.

Thus, Bi Ryu-yeon, Jang Hong, Hyo-ryong, Yun Jun-ho, and Moyong Hwi got up from their seats to eat and headed to the communal restaurant, which was about 30 meters away from the Geomhon-gwan. The Geomhon-gwan was a male-only dormitory, but the restaurant was a communal place for the six male and female dormitories. But as it was a place where many different kinds of people gathered, it was also a place where unexpected and unforeseen incidents could occur.