Chapter 81

Yeomdo, who had returned to his quarters after finishing his daily routine, was surprised by an unexpected presence. It had already been a minute since he had opened the door and entered. Yet, Yeomdo was surprised that he could not feel the opponent's presence. It was questionable whether there was a person in the Jianghu who could remain undetected by his senses for so long.

Yeomdo unhesitatingly drew his Crimson Flame and swung it. A sword flame ki like a blazing fire swept through Yeomdo's room. It was not a full-power strike, but it had no problem easily destroying some of the furniture in the room. As the hot heat fiercely stirred the living room, only a thick, acrid smoke rose from the innocent wooden furniture. But unfortunately, there was no sensation of it sweeping past flesh and bone.

'A failure?'

Yeomdo chided himself with a faint voice that only echoed in his mind.

'Oh dear, it seems the edge and spirit of my sword flame ki have also become quite loose. A failure... Would I have succeeded if I had used the Sun-Piercing Flame Jade Kill?'

Yeomdo carefully pondered the cause of the failure. It seemed that more training was needed.

"Is this the new way of entertaining guests these days? The greeting is grand. This kind of fervent welcome is a bit burdensome. It's nice that it's warm, though..."

Yeomdo's fervent welcoming event was on the verge of developing from warmth into a fire. The voice of an uninvited guest was heard from a place hidden by the thick smoke beyond the room. The resonance of that voice, which was annoyingly unshaken even by the surprise attack, was that of someone Yeomdo knew well. The owner of that voice, which he had no great desire to hear, was none other than Bi Ryu-yeon.

"Uninvited guests are an exception."

Yeomdo spat out bluntly.

Yeomdo's strike just now seemed to be a special etiquette for uninvited guests, and it was a powerful skill that would have left any ordinary uninvited guest without even their bones. In fact, from the moment he had felt the presence, Yeomdo had known that its identity was Bi Ryu-yeon. There was no way he could not feel the presence of Bi Ryu-yeon, who was trying to act as his master.

But the words that Bi Ryu-yeon was an uninvited guest were true. Yeomdo did not say that Bi Ryu-yeon's name was written at the very top of the list of uninvited guests in his head, along with the Ice Sword, Gwan Cheol-su. It was his personal judgment that there was no need to reveal such a thing and unnecessarily stir up trouble.

Besides, since it was not a success but an attempted one, it was not something to be blamed for, and Yeomdo simply dismissed it light-heartedly. Of course, if it had been a success, it was self-evident that he would have been happier than anyone.

The identity of the uninvited visitor was revealed by the moonlight that squeezed in through the window. Yeomdo's impression was nicely crumpled. Although he already knew that the identity of the opponent was Bi Ryu-yeon, who had not appeared before Yeomdo's eyes for several days and had contributed greatly to his increased appetite, there was a considerable difference from seeing him in person.

Bi Ryu-yeon raised his hand and greeted him.

"Hello, my disciple."

Yeomdo almost failed to suppress his surging anger and was about to draw his beloved Crimson Flame and swing it in one breath. But he mobilized his enormous patience and barely managed to endure the impulse. Because he was not sure if Bi Ryu-yeon would be cut in two by a surprise swing of his saber. Yeomdo gritted his teeth, thinking that he would have tried it once if there had been even a 70% chance. These days, Yeomdo was keenly feeling that his patience, endurance, perseverance, and grit were increasing day by day, but he was not at all pleased with such an increase in his emotional abilities. Because that was synonymous with becoming not like Yeomdo at all.

"You don't look happy to see me. It's been a while since we've had a reunion between master and disciple, so wouldn't it be too dull and shabby if there's no joy and emotion?"

Bi Ryu-yeon said with a good-natured smile.

"How can I be just happy?"

These days, he was repeatedly agonizing over whether the person he hated the most in this world was the Ice Sword, Gwan Cheol-su, or the fake, swindler, fake master, Bi Ryu-yeon. Yeomdo, who could have unhesitatingly shouted the Ice Sword, Gwan Cheol-su, if anyone had asked him three months ago, was not so sure these days. His ill feelings towards Bi Ryu-yeon were that great.

"But wouldn't it be better for your well-being to be happy?"

It was a tone with a strange nuance.

"What are you trying to say?"

"No. I'm just saying that what's good is good."

Bi Ryu-yeon just smiled good-naturedly. Yeomdo was more anxious about that.

"What is it... sir?"

Yeomdo asked bluntly.

He resented himself for getting more and more used to honorifics these days. To the point where he wanted to pull out his tongue...

"I just have a simple favor to ask."

"A favor?"

Yeomdo was certainly shaken by Bi Ryu-yeon's sudden favor. But he was clearly aware of the fact that he was not in a position to refuse. And it was not Bi Ryu-yeon who would obediently accept it by saying, "Oh, is that so? Then I can't help it," if he refused. What kind of human was that human to obediently accept Yeomdo's firm refusal? It was not even worth half a penny.

"It's a very, very simple and easy favor."

Bi Ryu-yeon said with a suspicious smile that could not be trusted at all. At that ominous smile, Yeomdo became anxious inside but did not show it.

'Let's not be shaken. I know well that he is not a person who would visit without any business.'

Muttering this to himself, Yeomdo composed his mind. He was just resentful and indignant at his position of having to grant the favor of a punk who called himself his master.

"Alright, what is the content?"

"Ah, I just want you to take care of a few kids."

"Kids?"

Yeomdo showed a bewildered expression. No, I'm not a nanny, so what do you mean by kids?

"Yes, kids! They are still immature greenhorns."

Bi Ryu-yeon said with a wide smile. As the meaning contained in that ominous smile suggested, his favor was by no means simple.

In a wide and magnificent hall. A middle-aged man, reminiscent of an iron tower, was sitting upright on the grand master's chair at the head of the table, which was boldly carved with a dragon and a phoenix.

The owner of an extraordinary prayer that overwhelmed all people. Although he looked like a middle-aged man in his forties on the outside, he was a person who had already passed 120 years of age, and he was none other than the Cheonmu Academy's master, the Iron Fist, Ma Jin-ga, who was in charge of all the affairs of the Cheonmu Academy, one of the two great powers of the righteous path.

The Cheonmu Academy's master, the Iron Fist, Ma Jin-ga, had been happy and surprised by three things this year. Three unexpected happy events—one of which was not—had happened at once. For the academy's side and the righteous path's orthodox faction, it was an event worth holding a grand celebratory banquet with loud music.

The first was the amazing improvement in the skills of the Vermilion Bird Squad. Although they had caused a lot of worry to the academy's leadership by being late in their return to the academy without any news, the improvement in their martial arts skills upon their return was enough to dispel all the worries that had been there. They had changed so surprisingly, as if they had literally undergone a complete transformation.

When he had first met the members of the Vermilion Bird Squad who had returned to the academy, Ma Jin-ga had even felt a sense of wonder at the unfamiliarity, as if he were facing a completely different person. And then he had expressed his deep gratitude to Old Master Jin of the Iron Gall Flying Ring, who had taught them. Although the object of his gratitude was wrong, and Old Master Jin, who had once been called the Iron Gall Flying Ring, Jin Joun, was now living in the heavens, so it was not known whether he had properly received the academy master's thanks, but as long as the Cheonmu Academy's master, the Iron Fist, Ma Jin-ga, was not a god, it was not something to blame him for.

When they met again, they had transformed into super-strong masters who were not inferior at all even when competing with the Azure Dragon Squad, which was said to be the strongest of the four divine squads, and Ma Jin-ga was just overjoyed at the improvement in their skills.

The second surprising thing was the appointment of Yeomdo as a martial instructor of the Cheonmu Academy. This was a happy event and a shock that no one had expected at all. He had not known that the maverick Yeomdo, who was extremely reluctant to associate with people, would voluntarily express his intention to be appointed as a martial instructor of the Cheonmu Academy. Because it was an act that did not fit Yeomdo's personality, who extremely disliked being affiliated with somewhere, his surprise was even greater. Of course, Ma Jin-ga immediately approved his appointment.

It was something he would not dare to ask for, but was his heart's desire. He was on the verge of not hesitating to visit three times, but for him to voluntarily express his intention to be appointed... It was an event worth welcoming with both hands, so there was no reason for him to refuse. He accepted all the proposed conditions and welcomed Yeomdo as a martial instructor of the Cheonmu Academy.

This Cheonmu Academy was a gathering place of talents that could not be taught by masters of an ordinary level. In the current manpower shortage, the recruitment of even one more peak master who could take on the role of a teacher was desperately needed. The current number of personnel was not without a sense of being severely insufficient. That's why the numerous envoys of the academy were now scouring the deep mountains and valleys of the Jianghu Murim and were enthusiastic about recruiting strange and extraordinary people.

But for a big shot of Yeomdo's level, he had not expected it because of his personality, but for him to voluntarily express his intention to enter the academy was an unexpected windfall. At first, the academy master himself had thought that Sunpung nae daei Na Jung-hae, who had brought Yeomdo's message, had momentarily lost his mind and was playing a prank.

And the third was the entrance of a super-genius who had already caused a stir in the Jianghu even before entering the academy. The name of that genius was none other than the Seven Absolutes Divine Sword, Moyong Hwi. Since he had known that the time was slowly coming, his entrance to the academy had naturally become a fait accompli. At the age of twenty, he was already a super-genius famous as the successor of the Sword Saint, one of the Three Sages of Cheonmu. Naturally, his interest as the Cheonmu Academy's master was also extremely high. The Cheonmu Academy, by its nature, needed one outstanding genius more than dozens of ordinary talents.

But since it was already a tentatively decided matter, it was not as surprising and happy as the first two. Although the taste of astonishment was less, it was just as happy. Because of these three things, the Cheonmu Academy would develop even more. Ma Jin-ga, who had been lost in thought for a moment, thinking about the things that had happened, received a visitor.

Unexpectedly, the visitor was Yeomdo, who had given him one of the three joys. As the identity of the visitor was revealed, the complexion of the great martial instructor, the Ice Sword, Gwan Cheol-su, who had come to the hall for a report, suddenly crumpled like a failed painter's canvas. There was no way his mood would be good at the sudden appearance of the being he loathed the most in a place where he had come for a regular report. He did not like the existence of Yeomdo, who could uniquely have a negative effect on his emotional changes. But he did not show it in front of the academy master. Unlike Yeomdo, he was a person who knew how to control his emotions with reason, and he was proud of it. Gwan Cheol-su, who always maintained his composure and coolness anytime, anywhere, just like his title, could not be as cool as ice and his reason did not work properly only in front of one person.

"Welcome, Old Master Gwak. What is the matter?"

The academy master, Ma Jin-ga, greeted him warmly with a good-natured smile. Yeomdo's complexion, who was taking a fist-and-palm salute lightly in return, crumpled more than twice as badly as soon as he saw the Ice Sword, Gwan Cheol-su. It was an attitude that he had not known that that punk would be there. He would never have come in if he had known.

"I am very curious what wind has blown Old Master Gwak to visit this place today."

As much as today's visit was very unexpected, his curiosity was proportionally great.

"I have come to see the academy master, braving the rudeness, because I have a favor to ask."

"Is that so? I am curious what kind of favor it is that Old Master Gwak has come to see me in person."

At Yeomdo's awkward words of a favor, a look of puzzlement appeared on the Ice Sword's face. His cool reason knew well, regardless of his extreme dislike (close to hatred) for him, that Yeomdo was not a person who would ask for a favor from others easily.

'A favor? A person who hates to lose to others and hates to bow his head so much is asking for a favor? What kind of grand favor is he trying to ask for?'

For that extremely stiff person to suddenly ask for a favor, a stream of curiosity suddenly rose from the bottom of his heart.

"It is not a particularly difficult matter. Just one thing is enough."

"Is that so? What is it?"

Ma Jin-ga was willing to grant any favor, as long as it was reasonable. Yeomdo was more than worth it (of course, he himself was not well aware of it because he was lazy).

"I would like you to entrust the Vermilion Bird Squad to me."

"The Vermilion Bird Squad?"

A mixture of surprise and astonishment appeared on the academy master Ma Jin-ga's face, and it soon turned into joy.

"If it's about that, it's something I would like to ask you first, even with my hands clasped together. A favor is out of the question. It is rather this side that should be asking for a favor."

The academy master, Ma Jin-ga, was overjoyed that Yeomdo himself was asking to take charge of the Vermilion Bird Squad. It was something he had wanted to accomplish even by packing his bags and begging. It was something he had wanted to ask for first, seeing the talent and potential of those kids. But wasn't it something he had not even thought of because the possibility was almost non-existent?

'What wind has blown into a punk who doesn't even raise a disciple because it's troublesome, to take charge of the Vermilion Bird Squad? Is he serious?'

Gwan Cheol-su could not believe it. And in the Ice Sword's heart, an unexpected emotion that he himself had not noticed suddenly arose without permission and popped out of his mouth before he could even recognize it. The name of that emotion was what was called competitiveness or a desire to win.

"Then I will take charge of the Azure Dragon Squad."

Due to that surprise, unexpected proposal, Yeomdo and Ma Jin-ga looked at him with eyes filled with astonishment. They were curious whether he was telling the truth.

The will to take full charge of the Vermilion Bird Squad was not Yeomdo's own. Yeomdo would not have volunteered for such a troublesome thing himself. The owner of that will was none other than Bi Ryu-yeon. Bi Ryu-yeon was very displeased with the fact that his disciples, the Vermilion Bird Squad, had drawn with the Azure Dragon Squad. He did not need the praise of those around him. He could absolutely not tolerate an evaluation that his disciple was equal to others. Even though the result was a great development that had astonished everyone, he was stubborn.

He had judged that the Vermilion Bird Squad still needed a tremendous amount of tearful training, and he had sent Yeomdo without consulting their opinions. It was still too early for him to step forward himself. And a tentative judgment that Yeomdo would be enough also followed. If something happened, he could help from behind.

Yeomdo, for his part, had been forced to take on a job he did not want, so he had no particular motivation for it. But that was until just now. From the moment the Ice Sword, who did not know the whole story of the incident, had said that he would take charge of the Azure Dragon Squad against Yeomdo, it had become a situation that had lit a flame like a hot active volcano in Yeomdo's motivation, which had been like an ember in a frozen pile of ashes. As long as the Ice Sword had come out as a competitor, this side could not be easy either. Yeomdo firmly resolved to make the Vermilion Bird Squad win against the Azure Dragon Squad by any means necessary. A hot desire to win surged up in his heart.

On the other hand, the Ice Sword's sudden proposal had made Ma Jin-ga very flustered. He had not known that even the Ice Sword would volunteer for the job. But there was no reason to refuse.

"This is another unexpected proposal. Are you serious?"

Ma Jin-ga asked for confirmation. Although he knew better than anyone that he was a person who would keep his word no matter what, he could not help but ask again.

"This will be interesting!"

Startled by the voice that had suddenly come from behind, Yeomdo and the Ice Sword turned around. They carefully examined the opponent who had approached them, deceiving their eyes and ears to this extent, with a sense of caution.

"You have come."

It was the Ice Sword who recognized the opponent first and showed his courtesy. In a way that did not suit his high status as a great martial instructor, his greeting was very polite.

'What's with that ice block being so polite?'

Yeomdo's curiosity surged as to what kind of person he was that that punk, whose neck bones were as if frozen, was so polite.

"Haha, please put away the courtesy. You know well, Old Master Gwan, that this old man is always healthy. If I receive such a greeting every day, I might get old even faster. Excessive courtesy is rather a rudeness."

The old man with the air of an immortal had a smile on his face. An extraordinary energy that could not be dared to be approached was flowing through the old man's body like water.

A strange pressure that seemed to squeeze the soul. There were very few people who could give him this kind of pressure. Yeomdo knew well who this kind of person was. It was something he did not want to admit, but it meant that the opponent was a super master who was beyond his imagination.

"Hahaha, even time will not be able to break Senior Gongson's spirit."

It was the academy master, Ma Jin-ga, who received the words with a burst of laughter. From this, it meant that the immortal-like old man was of a status that would receive respect even from the academy master, Ma Jin-ga.

Only then did even the slow-witted Yeomdo realize who this old man with the air of an immortal was. And he was surprised.

'It's natural that that punk is so polite!'

The Ice Sword's courtesy contained the respect of a swordsman who walked the same path for a martial artist who had achieved a higher way before him.

The Sword Revered, Gongson Il-chwi. A super-peak sword master who was revered as one of the Four Great Sword Gods of the Jianghu along with the Sword Saint, Moyong Jeong-cheon, and his sword way was said to have reached the supreme and unparalleled realm of the immortal realm. He was the current head of the Senate of the Cheonmu Academy, and at the same time, the top consultant and advisor of the academy, and even the Cheonmu Academy's master, the Iron Fist, Ma Jin-ga, could not dare to despise his existence. He was also the one and only being in the Cheonmu Academy who was not interfered with by the academy master.

Yeomdo, who was evaluated by the world as the owner of a stiff neck, also quickly showed his courtesy this time. The Sword Revered, Gongson Il-chwi, was more than qualified for that.

"I have heard much of your great name. I am Yeomdo Gwak-ga."

Gongson Il-chwi's gaze finally moved towards Yeomdo. It was a face that did not contain as much laughter as before.