Chapter 8

-The Strange End of 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun

On the top floor of a stylishly built three-story pavilion.

In a tastefully decorated room there, a dignified old man with a pure white, beautiful beard was seated, and in front of him stood a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties.

The old man with the pure white, beautiful beard was sitting in a grand chair engraved with a dragon ascending through clouds, and his mere presence exuded a power that could overwhelm all. Despite his age of seventy, with a white beard that reached his chest, the power he radiated was by no means false. A stern dignity that was hard to describe in words flowed from the entire body of the old man in the red dragon robe sitting in the grand chair.

The old man's eyes were deeply sunken, holding a profound vertigo, and his hair, though white in color, was as glossy as that of a young man in his twenties. Moreover, his face was full of vitality, like that of a red-cheeked boy. The age spots and spiderweb-like fine wrinkles that usually appear on the faces of old men eroded by time were nowhere to be found, no matter how closely one looked. It was a sight that showed just how deep the old man's internal energy and training were.

The old man was the kind of person who could make one feel an immense presence just by being near him. An ordinary person would probably find it difficult to even stand properly in front of him, feeling suffocated and their chest tight. However, the middle-aged man with a huge build, standing like an unshakable great tree in front of the old man who sat like a great mountain in the grand chair, did not seem to be particularly affected.

The aura of the middle-aged man in black was as powerful as the old man's, in no way inferior. If the old man in the red dragon robe was a great mountain, the middle-aged man with an impressive black beard that forked out roughly was the owner of a huge build reminiscent of an iron tower, and from his whole body, a hard and intense power like steel was being emitted. Moreover, his two flashing, tiger-like eyes were radiating a stern energy.

"Please, sit."

"Yes."

When the old man in the red dragon robe offered the middle-aged man a seat, he sat down next to the old man without hesitation. It was evidence that showed the middle-aged man's status was anything but ordinary. This was because, in the current martial world, there were not even five people who could sit side by side with the old man in the red dragon robe. Furthermore, it was no exaggeration to say that there was only one person who could receive semi-formal speech from the old man.

The old man with the white beard in the red dragon robe, who had been sitting in the grand chair first, asked the large-bodied middle-aged man, who was reminiscent of an iron tower standing tall on the rough earth.

"Tell me, Heavenly Master, how are things going? Is it proceeding well?"

Heavenly Master. He had clearly said Heavenly Master. There were many academies and halls in the martial world, but the place whose head was called the Heavenly Master was the only one in the current martial world, no, in this world. It was the greatest training ground of the righteous path's martial arts, the land of crouching tigers and hidden dragons that boasted the second-largest power in the righteous martial world, the Cheonmu Academy.

Of the three great powers that constituted the righteous martial world, the first was, without a doubt, the Murim Alliance, and the second was the Cheonmu Academy. Although it possessed the second-largest power and military force, the place that was considered the best in terms of potential was none other than the Cheonmu Academy. The reason the Murim Alliance was the number one power, surpassing the Cheonmu Academy, was an open secret: most of its core members were from the Cheonmu Academy. It was an event from which one could easily guess how large a role the Cheonmu Academy played in the martial world of the Jianghu.

And it was clear that this black-robed, middle-aged man with a strong impression reminiscent of an iron tower was the master of that famous Cheonmu Academy. Perhaps that was why even the old man, who held the status of the leader of the Murim Alliance, the de facto head of the righteous martial world, had to show courtesy as if speaking to someone of equal status. In fact, this old master with white hair and a white beard, who seemed to be going against the flow of time, was the owner of an immense status, holding the position of the leader of the 'Righteous Path Jianghu Martial World United Alliance', commonly known as the Murim Alliance.

"Yes, please do not worry. This year, we have selected the 64 most outstanding children and formed four groups of 16 each. We have named the four groups the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird groups. The Azure Dragon group is scheduled to be sent to Mount Wudang, the White Tiger group to Mount Tai, the Black Tortoise group to Mount Hua, and the Vermilion Bird group to Mount Emei."

"Ahem, how are the children's skills? Can I have high expectations?"

"Yes, all 64 are prodigies who had the best grades in the academy over the past year. They have been divided into Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird in order of skill. The children belonging to the Azure Dragon group have the best grades, and the skills of the Vermilion Bird group children are the lowest, but in fact, there is not such a big difference. After all, they are geniuses who are within the top 64 in the overall average grade within the academy. However..."

"However, what? Speak without hiding anything."

"Well, the children of the Vermilion Bird group are indeed the furthest behind. Since it is composed of 12 students ranked below 50th, I am worried they might have an inferiority complex. There were two students with the same score at 50th place, so it became 12 students below 50th. Almost all of them are either the second or third in line among the rising generation of their own sects. So I am worried that they might have a more severe inferiority complex than others. Well, it's not like martial arts skill is necessarily in order of grades."

"That's right. The overall grade is an evaluation of various things such as academics, etiquette, and theory, so one cannot evaluate martial arts skill by grades alone... Hmm, 12 people? But didn't you say earlier that there were 16 people in a group?"

"Yes. In addition to those 12, I plan to send two dragons and two phoenixes from the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes as group leaders to lead them. So that makes 16. For this training camp, I plan to divide the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes into four each to lead each group."

"Ahem, sending the two dragons and two phoenixes who are said to be the most outstanding among the second-year disciples... It seems like a flawless idea, Master!"

"You praise me too much, Alliance Leader! They are children who have taken the positions of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes, surpassing their seniors of 3 or 4 years. You can trust them."

"I also have high expectations. Especially this year, the skills of the second-year disciples are outstanding enough to have seized the names of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes, surpassing their seniors, are they not? By the way, who have you decided on to teach them?"

"Yes, I have asked 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun to teach the Vermilion Bird group."

"Oh, you mean the great hero Jin, of whom it is said, 'the thrown iron gall pierces the heavens, and the flying ring that soars tears the sky'? Is he still well?"

"Yes, he is still perfectly fine. He himself is boasting that he is in the process of rejuvenation. He will be able to manage the children well and bestow much teaching upon them. That is what this training camp is for."

"Good. I will trust the Master's decision. By the way, what is the movement on that side these days?"

The face of the middle-aged man, who held the immense status of the Cheonmu Academy Master, hardened for a moment. It was that much of a troublesome headache.

"Are you speaking of the Demonic Heaven? Well, they are probably raising children to counter our children, just like us. There is no detailed information yet, but it seems that side is also building up considerable strength."

"That would be so. In any case, this training exercise is an event that boasts the tradition of the academy, so please handle it well. They are currently the most promising rising generation within the academy. The same goes for within this martial world."

"Is there any doubt?"

"I will trust everything to the Master. It seems it will not be long now."

---

"Phew, the weather is so hot. My throat is parched. I wonder if there's a valley or something nearby?"

Although it was not yet past May, the weather was strangely hot. The sun was shining brilliantly, fiercely heating the earth, and the wind that should have driven away the heat had vanished without a trace, not a single breeze blowing. If there was a drawback to the clear day without a single cloud or breeze, that was it. 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun, who was climbing the mountain in search of his destination, felt a strange, intense thirst.

'Heh heh, am I getting old now? To feel tired and even thirsty from just this much...'

He was one who held a top rank among the hundred great masters of the Jianghu. No matter that his hair and beard had turned white and he was now of an age to soon celebrate his eightieth birthday, it was laughable that he, who had mastered martial arts to the peak and reached the state of reversing aging, would feel fatigue and thirst from just this much mountain climbing. Wasn't he on this path because the Cheonmu Academy, which highly valued his skills, had earnestly requested it? In such a situation, to feel thirsty from just this much mountain climbing seemed to Jin Joun to be nothing but the harmony (or mischief) of nature.

Still, perhaps the heavens were on Jin Joun's side. As Jin Joun walked along the mountain path, lost in various thoughts, the clear and cool sound of water caught his ear from a distance. It was a faint sound coming from a distance of at least a ridge away, but it could not deceive Jin Joun's ears. His ears had long since become 'blood ears' (similar in meaning to bloodshot eyes) to catch the sound of water. It was not as good as the art of hearing a thousand li, but there was no way the hearing of a master, which surpassed that of an ordinary person by several times, would miss it. Jin Joun immediately chased the sound of water and began to run up the mountain path like a flying tiger.

Gradually, the clear and strong sound of water became more distinct. It seemed a waterfall was nearby. What Jin Joun found after running for about half an hour chasing the sound of water was a small waterfall existing like a picture in a wonderful scenic view. The water surface, churning with white foam, was surrounded by smooth rocks like a folding screen, and the other side of the waterfall was also surrounded by a high rock wall of about 9 meters, creating a truly spectacular view. It was not an overstatement to say it was a waterfall trapped in a folding screen of strange rocks and bizarre stones, and it naturally refreshed the hearts of those who saw it.

'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun slowly approached the waterfall, which boasted a cool and refreshing sound. Unaware of what fate this waterfall, which he believed would be a cool blessing to quench his burning thirst, was approaching him with...

"Thwack!"

It happened in an instant. Suddenly, 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun's neck was jerked back as if looking up at the sky. In that moment, Jin Joun's mind grew faint, and a cluster of stars spun and danced in circles before his eyes. He had only been wetting his mouth and stomach with the clear, clean valley water and washing his face coolly with the cold water in his hands. He had absolutely not done anything that would pollute the water quality, like urinating in the water or doing something bigger, which would deserve a lightning strike. But to him, who was so exemplary and moral, an event so absurd, inexplicable, and for which no comfort could be offered, occurred in a fraction of a second.

Suddenly, something heavy shot out of the water and struck 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun's face as he was washing it. Was it the silent rebuke of the water god to one who pollutes the water, this act of washing one's face? Or was it a silent anger? A brilliant shower of sparks flashed before Jin Joun's eyes. At the same time, his consciousness drifted away from him. He was engulfed in a strong impact and couldn't even control his body properly.

What had shot out of the water like a bolt from the blue and mercilessly crushed 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun's face was a rock as large as a watermelon. The rock, which had fiercely struck Jin Joun's forehead, shot up into the air about 3 meters above Jin Joun's face, then soon lost its momentum and stopped precariously in mid-air. And the rock, having given up on its ascent, naturally began to fall at high speed towards the ground according to the laws and principles of nature. But unfortunately, at the intended landing spot of that falling rock was the face of 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun, who was staring blankly at the sky with his head tilted back by an external force.

"Crack!"

Again, the sound of a rock breaking was heard. 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun, who had bravely taken the watermelon-sized rock with his face, with the round rock placed on his face, began to fall backwards in an unsightly manner. It was inevitable that the back of Jin Joun's head, who had lost the strength test between the rock and his own skull, would collide with the ground.

"Thud!"

The moment 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun's head hit the ground, a sharp, pointed, and intense lightning bolt transmitted from the back of Jin Joun's head shook his entire mind white. Along with that, Jin Joun let go of the last thread of consciousness he was barely holding onto and slowly began to be sucked into a deep and distant world of darkness.

The roundish, but incredibly heavy and hard-looking rock that had rolled off 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun's face rolled down the sloped surface towards the water's edge again and disappeared into the water with a plop. Now, in the place where only the sound of the water splashing faintly echoed, the one who was once called Jin Joun was lying spread-eagled.

If there was one fortunate thing, it was the fact that 'Iron Gall Flying Ring' Jin Joun himself no longer had to worry about the gazes or evaluations of others. It was an event that occurred on a clear afternoon in May, in a nameless valley in some mountain, where the sunlight warmly shone on the earth, a cool breeze quietly embraced the green earth, and among it, mountain birds sang peacefully.