Chapter 59

When Bi Ryu-yeon victoriously led the price negotiation war and was triumphantly leaving with Uroe-mae, a young man entered at the same time and stood in front of the counter. A twenty-something young man with a valiant appearance and fierce eyes, with two falcons perched on his shoulders. Near the shoulder blades of the young man with two falcons on his shoulders, a leather protector was worn, which protected his body from being injured by the falcons' claws. No sword was visible at his waist. Instead, judging by the hard steel bracers on his forearms, he seemed to be a master of fist techniques or claw techniques. Judging by the ten fingers of the young man, which were trained to be black, he was probably a master of claw techniques.

The owner, seeing him, bowed politely. His formal greeting was by no means the attitude of treating an ordinary customer.

"Third Young Master, you've come."

"Have you been well, Manager Ha?"

The young man, with a golden falcon embroidered on his chest, acknowledged him.

He was U Seong-chan, the Ghost Eagle Claw, the third beloved disciple of the Heavenly Eagle Gang's leader, the Flying Eagle King Eung Seong-hyeon. That was why Manager Ha's attitude had to be so respectful.

"Who were the people who just left? I've never seen their faces before."

"Yes, they are first-year students who entered this year. They probably came to buy a messenger falcon to commemorate their entrance. It's something that happens every year."

Like an annual event, around this time every year, this Heavenly Eagle Gang branch was crowded with customers who came to buy their own messenger falcons. It was not a big deal. But,

"But, by any chance, was the one the customer just took that punk?"

U Seong-chan's interest was not in the person, but in the falcon that the person had taken. For now, U Seong-chan called it 'that punk' because he did not yet know the Haedongcheong's new name. What he was referring to was clearly Uroe-mae, which Bi Ryu-yeon had purchased after a fierce haggling.

"Yes, that's right. That punk has finally met its match."

"Isn't that punk a nuisance that no one could touch except for Master? I can't believe that such a punk obediently followed a customer. And a first-year greenhorn at that."

"Yes, I couldn't believe it easily either. Because it was a punk that wouldn't stay still in front of anyone except the Gang Leader. But this time, it was sitting docilely in front of that customer like a mouse in front of a cat. It was a truly unexpected event."

"Ho, that's a very interesting thing. You know the name of the customer who just left, right? Tell me."

Since a messenger falcon's function is to exchange letters, the place that sells them traditionally marks each one with a personal number and a regional mark. This was to prevent letters from being mixed up in advance. Therefore, naturally, the Heavenly Eagle Gang branch also kept a record of the owners of the messenger falcons in a ledger.

The Heavenly Eagle Gang was a sect that had accumulated enormous wealth through the operation of the messenger business, as well as the sale of messenger falcons. As messenger falcons pushed out carrier pigeons and dominated the skies of the Jianghu, the Heavenly Eagle Gang also grew in power and wealth.

Manager Ha checked the ledger once again.

"Here it is. It says his name is Bi Ryu-yeon."

"Really? I've never heard of him. Was there a person with that name among the next-generation figures of the Jianghu?"

The young man briefly looked through the list of names in his head, but such a name did not exist in his list. That meant there was a very high probability that he was an unknown.

"Anyway, I can find out later. The punk who made that punk docile... I was just curious who it was, so don't worry too much. That punk has a nasty temper, but it's no exaggeration to say that its ability is the best. Why else would Master have trained it himself?"

"That's right. By the way, what brings you here?"

"Ah, look at my mind. It's because of my Chwi-a's necklace. I wanted to change it to a new one."

Only then did the young man bring out his business. Chwi-a was the name of the brown peregrine falcon sitting on his left shoulder, one of the two he owned. Most falcons often wore necklaces according to their owner's hobby. The falcon's name and the owner's name were written on the necklace, which, in addition to its role of indicating the owner, was also often used for other purposes these days.

"What, what about the last necklace?"

At Manager Ha's question, U Seong-chan showed a briefly troubled expression and then began to speak.

"Ah... that one... I lost it."

Suddenly, Manager Ha's face brightened.

"Congratulations, young master. You've succeeded. But which young lady is it?"

How quick-witted... U Seong-chan briefly glared at Manager Ha and then changed the subject. It was because he judged that there was no need to reveal everything like that.

"Ahem... you don't need to know that, just get me a new necklace."

Oops, Manager Ha reprimanded himself for his rashness. There was no need for a useless person like himself to get involved in the love affairs of young people. It was just an act that would lose points with the other party.

"Oh my, this old man has been foolish for a moment. Then please leave it to me. I'll have it ready for you by tomorrow for sure."

"Then, I'll be counting on you."

• The Legend of the Heavenly Calamity Blood God, Wi Cheon-mu

Today is the day of the long-awaited first class.
The weather was also just sunny, without any sudden storms,
or unexpected downpours,
or lightning striking from a clear sky.

It was the first class since entering the Cheonmu Academy. How many complicated procedures did he have to overcome to take this one class? The more he thought about it, the more he couldn't help but be filled with deep emotion from the morning.

The first class was held at the Sword Dance Pavilion. It was a class named 'General Theory of Martial Arts', and it was a basic subject that all first-year students of the Cheonmu Academy had to take. Bi Ryu-yeon, Hyo-ryong, Jang Hong, and Yun Jun-ho were all in the first-year Heaven character group, so they were able to take the class at the same time. Of course, Moyong Hwi was also there, but since he had a peculiar constitution of being reluctant to associate with people, it was as if he were not there even when he was. Everyone seemed to know Moyong Hwi well, constantly making him the subject of their conversation and putting him on the tip of their tongues. But Moyong Hwi showed the epitome of an unsociable person by firmly giving no comment on the topic of conversation that was focused on him.

Uroe-mae was left at the Flying Eagle Pavilion. By now, it would be living in luxury, receiving the kind care of the falcon breeding and management specialists of the Flying Eagle Pavilion. Of course, Uroe-mae seemed to find soaring through the sky more interesting than being tied down in one place.

The classroom was spacious enough for about 50 people to come in and sit, and on the front, a wide blackboard, 6 meters wide and 1.5 meters high, was hung. Today's class was a basic lecture on martial arts in general, but at the same time, it was also the class where the master in charge of the Heaven character group was decided. So everyone was full of anticipation with a pounding heart. Since nothing was known about the master in charge yet, everyone was looking at the still-unopened door with an expectant heart.

Just then, the slight murmur that had existed in the classroom suddenly disappeared.

"He's here!"

Hyo-ryong said, his eyes shining. The other disciples had clearly noticed it as well. Even though the opponent had not deliberately erased his presence, there was no fool in this classroom who would not notice a presence that had approached within 9 meters.

Creeak.

Finally, the door opened, and the master who would be in charge of them from now on walked in.

"That person is!"

The one who recognized him first was the always old-man-like Jang Hong. Bi Ryu-yeon called him 'mister' whenever he was bored. Whether it was a natural talent in this field or the product of effort, he was a person with considerable knowledge of the entire Jianghu.

"Who is it?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, nudging Jang Hong's side with his elbow.

"Ugh, that hurts. You don't even recognize that famous person?"

He sent a sharp gaze with the intention of giving Bi Ryu-yeon a piece of his mind once again, but he soon decided to give up. Because he knew it was just a useless act. As the silent air became active again, the surroundings became noisy again. It seemed that Jang Hong was not the only one who had recognized the master's identity. Bi Ryu-yeon poked Jang Hong's side once again—this time, he increased the intensity a little in the sense of revenge for the scolding—and sent a signal to tell him quickly.

"Ugh, that person is the sword master of Mount Wudang, Ok-hyeon Jin-in. His sword is said to be able to save even the dying, he's a peak master of the sword."

Jang Hong explained in an excited state, unable to hide his admiration. His words were filled with a genuine respect and admiration for Ok-hyeon Jin-in.

'That's strange.'

Although it hadn't been long since they had been together, it was a new thing to see Jang Hong respecting someone so sincerely today. He had always been one to complain and grumble like an old man, sometimes like an old man. In short, he had to be seen as a nag.

As Jang Hong had already said, the master who would be in charge of the first-year Heaven character group that Bi Ryu-yeon belonged to, the elder of the Wudang Sect, Ok-hyeon Jin-in, had a first impression that was overall soft and gentle. In particular, he was an old master with an impressive snow-white beard that came down to his chest and his rolled-up white hair. Befitting his appearance, which was reminiscent of an immortal in a fairy tale, his eyes were as calm as a tranquil lake.

But it was still too early to judge him rashly by his appearance alone. Although his appearance was that of an endlessly gentle and benevolent old man, he was a peak master who could scatter sword ki like child's play. Sword Gang Qi would probably not be difficult for him either. He was a person with the ability to destroy a mountain with just one sword.

The gazes of nearly 50 disciples were all focused on him. The class had finally begun. They could not control their pounding hearts at the emotion of the first class. The class began with Ok-hyeon Jin-in's greeting.

"Everyone, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Ok-hyeon of the Wudang Sect, who will be in charge of the 'General Theory of Martial Arts' this time."

The Cloud Gathering Sword, Ok-hyeon Jin-in, was using semi-honorifics to the disciples, despite being in the position of a master. Of course, not all martial masters used honorifics to the disciples like him. There were individual differences here as well.

Most of the classes at the Cheonmu Academy did not require writing instruments. Because they focused on understanding and the application of principles. Of course, they did not regulate the use of writing instruments, that is, paper, brush, and ink. It was entirely left to the individual's judgment.

Since the Cheonmu Academy starts its education on the premise that the disciples are above a certain level, most of the lectures often skipped the basic content of martial arts and went straight to the main subject. But even so, there were almost no cases of raising a white flag because they couldn't follow the class. Weren't they the best talents, sifted and sifted and selected? A lecture on the basics was just an insult to them.

One of the purposes of the Cheonmu Academy was to act as a guide to help those outstanding next-generation figures of the Murim quickly reach their destination, the peak of a peak master.

"Hey, isn't Ok-hyeon Jin-in one of the Eight Swords of Wudang, a super master?"

A disciple acted as if he knew. Ok-hyeon Jin-in, who had become their master in charge from today, was a peak master, one of the eight top masters of the Wudang Sect, which was called one of the two great mountain ranges of the Murim along with Shaolin. The Eight Swords of Wudang were an object of respect that no one in the Jianghu did not know, and at the same time, the spiritual pillar of the Wudang sword sect.

"He's famous for the story of making the Seven Heroes of Hasak submit with a single sword strike last time."

"You mean the incident five years ago where he made the Seven Heroes of Hasak kneel with a single sword strike without injuring anyone?"

"Yes, that incident. You know it well."

"Of course."

That incident was as follows.