Chapter 91

• Moyong Hwi Decides to Take the Sword Dragon Rank

"I've decided to take the rank of Sword Dragon."

Moyong Hwi said.

"Is that so?"

Bi Ryu-yeon replied.

"That's right! I don't really have a favorable impression of such an external skill evaluation system, but without it, various restrictions are hindering my studies."

"Do you still have more to study? Isn't it enough now? What are you going to use all that you've learned for? I haven't even been able to use all that I've learned so far."

"I'm still far from it. I'm still immature."

"Sigh, you're always like that. Do as you please."

The reason why Moyong Hwi, who had not shown any particular interest in the promotion exam at the beginning of the semester and had only been concentrating on his studies and martial arts training, had felt the need for the promotion exam was for one reason.

The beginning of the incident was yesterday. Moyong Hwi, who read at least six times more books than others on a daily basis, had once again visited the library, the Heavenly Book Pavilion, as if to show off his sickening passion for reading. Having read most of the secret manuals, he had approached the bookshelf where the books he had not yet read were kept separately on another side and was about to pick out a book.

"Wait a minute. You can't take the books there."

"Why not?"

The librarian in charge of the Heavenly Book Pavilion was someone he knew well. Of course, the librarian also could not not know Moyong Hwi, who came to visit every day without getting tired and increased his workload. But he had no choice but to stop Moyong Hwi.

Because the secret manuals and insight books on the bookshelf that Moyong Hwi had reached out for could only be read by those with a qualification of the Five Sword Dragons or higher. The librarian explained the situation to Moyong Hwi with a heart full of apology, and Moyong Hwi, who abided by the law as strictly as his mysophobia, had no choice but to turn back with a regretful step and leave the Heavenly Book Pavilion with only a few trivial books.

From the story he had heard from the librarian as an addendum, he had also learned that in the Cheonmu Academy, there were qualification restrictions according to the grade of the Sword Dragon rank not only for such secret manual loans, but also for the selection of special lectures or training courses. Moyong Hwi's disappointment at being blocked from borrowing a secret manual due to the qualification requirement was great. Besides, how surprising it was that there could also be a risk of not being able to take the courses he wanted to take. So, the next day, as soon as the day broke, Moyong Hwi had immediately decided on the promotion exam. Moyong Hwi, who did not want to be restricted in his reading of secret manuals, selection of training, and selection of lectures again, had finally made up his mind.

But until this time, he had only had the intention of participating in the Three Sages Festival, but he had no particular greed for winning. He had always thought that excessive greed and overconfidence would ruin the body. But he had to change his mind a few days later.

Chaeng-gang!

Sparks flew fiercely in front of his eyes. His wrist was so sore and his grip was so numb that he almost dropped the sword he was holding, but Yun Jun-ho did not have the luxury to make a sad face at the pain. It was because he was busy just trying to save his own life from the ruthless saber ki that was once again rushing at his whole body.

Yun Jun-ho wanted to cry. He shouldn't have gone to the place written on the letter of introduction that Bi Ryu-yeon had written as if he were doing him a favor in the first place. The person that Bi Ryu-yeon had introduced as the one who would cure his chronic plum blossom hypersensitivity was a person so high up that he couldn't even lift his head. When he had found out that the person Bi Ryu-yeon had introduced was Yeomdo, the person who had made the tongues of his senior and junior fellow disciples move and his ears ring when he was in his sect, Mount Hua, the extremely timid Yun Jun-ho was so surprised that he almost fainted.

It was astonishment itself. It was just a mystery how Bi Ryu-yeon had known a peak master of the Jianghu like Yeomdo, and how he had had a close enough relationship to even ask him for a favor. Because he had never heard a story that the person called Yeomdo, who was so quick-tempered and dirty that he was even called the burning piece of trash in the streets, had obediently listened to someone's request.

When Yeomdo's impression had hardened after receiving his letter, which he had held out with a hand that was trembling like an aspen tree, Yun Jun-ho was terrified that he would be beaten to a pulp by his pot-lid-like fists. When he had seen the sixteen-man mixed group that had been sprawled out and had stood up before he had stepped forward to Yeomdo, he had felt as if he had caught a glimpse of a side of his ruthless personality. Yun Jun-ho had been watching from hiding as the sixteen of them had fallen and had stood up like a roly-poly. It was a matter of astonishment that Yeomdo, who had seemed to be about to issue an expulsion order with a fiery reprimand (and it would be lucky if there was no fist-fighting), had surprisingly accepted him obediently.

Besides, when he had found out that the people who were receiving his teachings under the name of special reinforcement training (abbreviated as special training) with him were the famous Vermilion Bird Squad, whom no one in the academy did not know these days (and when he had found out that their identity was the sixteen people who had been lying with their heads on the ground and had stood up when he had arrived here), he had been in a situation where he did not know whether to cry or laugh. To be honest, it would be a correct expression to say that he could not be happy because it was too much for him. After that, it was a continuous series of hardships and trials day by day. He could not dare to withdraw from the work he had started once. For that, Yeomdo's presence was too great. From then on, Yun Jun-ho had to return to his room half-dead or almost dead. He was respectful when he saw the members of the Vermilion Bird Squad, who were holding up quite well under that ruthless Yeomdo.

And from that day until this moment, Yun Jun-ho was screaming with all his might.

"Uwaaaaaaak!"

He had barely managed to block Yeomdo's incomparably ignorant saber strike, but it was too early to be relieved. He didn't know what Bi Ryu-yeon had scribbled on the letter, but Yeomdo's teachings were extremely harsh. Yun Jun-ho could not help but be terrified of Yeomdo, who boldly(?) threw a saber strike that threatened his life without any mercy. The duel with Old Master Yeomdo was always like this.

He didn't know what he was thinking, but Yeomdo had swung his saber at him without any warning. Of course, there was no way the weak Yun Jun-ho could easily block Yeomdo's terrifyingly powerful saber strike. Even if he had held back a little, it was fifty steps or a hundred steps for Yun Jun-ho. If he had not been able to unfold the Whirling Wind Dancing Willow Sword, which he had no problem unfolding, he would have already had his coffin made a long time ago.

"Huk!"

It was time to stop, but Yeomdo once again swung his saber ignorantly. Besides, this time, the energy was somehow unusual. The energy that made his whole face hot, the unusual heat that hit his whole body!

Damn it. Old Master Yeomdo, as if he had lost his mind, had scattered a saber ki of a level that could be called an ultimate technique, a level that Yun Jun-ho, who was now a plum blossom hypersensitivity patient, could not block even if he died and came back to life. An ultimate technique that could not be blocked by any of the basic Plum Blossom Sword Method he knew, the immature Whirling Wind Dancing Willow Sword, and any other palm technique or any other technique he had learned before. If there was one, it was only one. It was the fantasy Seven Plum Sword that had once again reminded him that he was a plum blossom hypersensitivity patient and had made him unable to unfold the Plum Blossom Sword Method again. At the threat to his life that was approaching him, Yun Jun-ho's mind went blank. A strange cry burst from his mouth.

"Uwaaaaaaak!"

Yun Jun-ho's sword was swung fiercely. Soon, with the transparent red sword ki that was emitted, a subtle and fragrant plum blossom scent wrapped around the training ground. The saber ki that had been emitted from Yeomdo's saber was now gone.

Yun Jun-ho was standing in the middle of the training ground, where the red sword ki that had bloomed with the fantasy of the full bloom of plum blossoms had subsided and the faint plum blossom scent had settled, with a dazed face. Fortunately, he was alive and not dead.

Yeomdo was looking at him, who was standing blankly as if he had temporarily rented out his soul and leased his body, with a subtle gaze as if it were unexpected.

Yeomdo was honestly surprised. He had never dreamed that this extremely timid and even weak Mount Hua Sect disciple punk would block one of his ultimate techniques, the , which he had unfolded unconsciously and by mistake (to be honest, he had made a mistake while thinking about something else). If it weren't for Bi Ryu-yeon's strong recommendation, he would not have accepted such a weak punk. What was there to see in him to have to take on such a troublesome burden?

The burden entrusted to him with just the sixteen members of the Vermilion Bird Squad was already excessive. Still, the Vermilion Bird Squad had a pretty good reaction, so there was at least the fun of teaching them. He didn't know where or how they had learned it, but it seemed that they had trained quite harshly in the past, so they were holding up quite well. Besides, there was also a part that strongly stimulated his fighting spirit, as it was intertwined with the sense of competition with the Ice Sword.

Compared to that, this Yun Jun-ho punk was terrible. For a Mount Hua Sect disciple punk, who was quite a big shot among the nine sects, to not be able to unfold the Plum Blossom Sword Method was so stuffy that he was on the verge of getting sinusitis, and yet, it was also unbelievable that he had reached the quite high level of the Sword Scent. Among the few Mount Hua Sect punks he had beaten up, there were only one or two who had reached the level of the Sword Scent. Hearing about their recent situation, it seemed that they were living well as elders of the Mount Hua Sect.

But for such a timid greenhorn punk to be at the level of the Sword Scent, it was something that anyone would point a finger at and say it was a lie. Besides, what was this strange disease called plum blossom hypersensitivity? He had heard stories of people who could not learn martial arts due to the Five Yin Severed Meridians or the Seven Yang Severed Meridians, but it was the first time in his life that he had heard that someone could not unfold their martial arts due to hives because of plum blossom hypersensitivity.

The treatment method(?) written on Bi Ryu-yeon's letter was even funnier. What did it mean that the fear of death would make one overcome the limits of the body? To put it simply, it meant that when a person was pushed to the brink of death, they didn't know what they would do, so they should expect such an absurd ability. It was a truly thoughtless statement. Still, since he was his master, he had done as he was told. He had pushed Yun Jun-ho to the death. So, the duel with Yun Jun-ho was made up of fierce moves that aimed for his life with every strike. Of course, since he had not expected it to happen overnight in the first place, he had gradually increased the intensity. It was very difficult for Yun Jun-ho, who could not unfold his Plum Blossom Sword Method even though he had learned it, to escape Yeomdo's offensive.

About two months had passed like that, but there was still no particular progress. Today was no different from any other day, and he had not had any special expectations. Today too, Yeomdo had pushed Yun Jun-ho to the limit. But he still had some leeway and had a moment to think about something else. In a fight with a master, it was an extremely dangerous thing to be distracted during a duel, but since the skill difference was so great, there was no danger to Yeomdo at all. Rather, the danger came to Yun Jun-ho. Yeomdo, who had been thinking about something else for a moment, had unconsciously unfolded his ultimate technique without holding back. It was a moment where his life could have been in danger if he had made a mistake. Yun Jun-ho, who was in a moment of life and death, had to unfold a life-saving movement of his body with all his might, with a feeling that his head was going blank.

And so, the fantasy of the full bloom of plum blossoms that had finally burst out, the faint plum blossom scent that pricked his nose, and the plum blossom sword of a form he had never seen before. Thus, Yun Jun-ho was able to barely escape from the crisis of life and death.

Yeomdo said only one word to Yun Jun-ho, who was standing there dazed, with a questioning gaze.

"Were you really at the Realm of Sword Scent?"

Yun Jun-ho was silent. Yun Jun-ho, who had unfolded the Seven Plum Sword for the first time since that day at the Mount Hua training hall, just stood there, dazed. Yun Jun-ho, who had barely come to his senses after a long time. His mind returned to him. But his mind was still just confused.

The sense of smell, one of his five senses that had returned first, detected the faint plum blossom scent that was lingering in the training ground. Without even looking, red, bumpy hives rose all over his skin.

"Uwaaak!"

At the itchiness, Yun Jun-ho finally dropped his sword. The sword, which was no different from a martial artist's life, fell to the ground without any resistance. At Yun Jun-ho's pathetic appearance, a sigh naturally escaped from Yeomdo. It seemed that training was needed again. A more harsh training... It seemed that the shock that had gone into the shock therapy was insufficient.

'It seems the shock was weak this time too. I'll have to increase the intensity of the shock even more next time.'

Yeomdo was inwardly determined to increase the intensity of the mental shock even more the next time he did it.

To be taught by Yeomdo, who was counted and revered as one of the five great saber masters of the world, could be said to be a fortune and an honor as a martial artist. But the reason why Yun Jun-ho could not honestly rejoice and shout 'hurray' was because Yeomdo's hands were too ruthless.

Although learning inevitably involved pain, and the deeper and higher the learning, the more it was, this seemed to be too much. Besides, since the teaching was so ruthless, it was the honest feeling of the one being taught that he could not feel the depth or the breadth of it.

"I wish I could be like the Vermilion Bird Squad..."

"What?"

Bi Ryu-yeon, who was surprised by Yun Jun-ho's sudden complaint, looked at him with eyes filled with astonishment. It was a statement that Yun Jun-ho had muttered to himself after being swayed by Yeomdo again today and returning, exhausted like a water-soaked cotton ball, and collapsing on his bed. No matter how hard the special training was, Bi Ryu-yeon thought that Yun Jun-ho was too young to end his life already.

"Huh? Don't look at me with those eyes."

"Why? Is it burdensome?"

"Yes."

It seemed that the silent protest of being treated like a madman was hard to bear. It was not unreasonable for the weak-hearted Yun Jun-ho.

"Why? Are you trying to say that it's too much of a dream for me, who can't even unfold the Plum Blossom Sword Method properly?"

"No, of course not."

Bi Ryu-yeon shook his head vigorously from side to side. That was sincere.

"Then?"

"Because your dream is too trivial."

Without a moment's hesitation, Bi Ryu-yeon said as if it were natural.

"Whaaat?"

But Yun Jun-ho's eyes widened. His body was so limp that it was now difficult to even widen his eyes once. He could not understand what Bi Ryu-yeon meant by his words.

"What are you going to do by becoming like those trivial punks? At best, you'll only become a weak third-rate. If you're going to become someone, you should become a handsome pretty boy like me."

Bi Ryu-yeon's argument was simple. He wanted to argue that the Way and the Truth were not far away, but were in a close place. At Bi Ryu-yeon's sincere words, which sounded so absurdly ridiculous, Yun Jun-ho shook his head from side to side.

"How about it, are you interested?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked in a subtle tone. Yun Jun-ho could not tell whether he was being serious now or was teasing him.

"No, I'll give up on that."

Bi Ryu-yeon looked at Yun Jun-ho with a pitiful gaze. It was clear that he was very sorry.

"Why? It's impossible, but isn't there a meaning in trying? Wouldn't this body be a much more rewarding goal than the Vermilion Bird Squad?"

Yun Jun-ho tried to look away from Bi Ryu-yeon's gaze, which was eagerly seeking his agreement. He was a person who was completely incomprehensible to him, an ordinary person, whether that person was joking or being serious.

'He's a severe case.'

Yun Jun-ho was desperate, but he did not show it. Because in life, there were times when you had to say things you didn't mean, but there were also many times when you shouldn't say things you meant. Yun Jun-ho was keenly feeling and learning that point while spending time with Bi Ryu-yeon these days. His choice was an excellent one.

I shouldn't have said anything... He exercised his right to remain silent and closed his mouth. In fact, he did not even have the energy to argue any more. Even Bi Ryu-yeon could not do anything about his resistance.

"Those punks, they are really pathetic punks..."

Bi Ryu-yeon was very worried that Yun Jun-ho would follow the Vermilion Bird Squad, which was nothing special, for no reason.

And the next day, Bi Ryu-yeon was once again confirmed by someone else that his disciples were truly pathetic punks. He suddenly thought that it would be a better deal to not think about it any more with a headache and just think about the sound arts class that would be held tomorrow. Since it was one of the few classes he was properly taking, he decided to just sleep to his heart's content today without any more troublesome thoughts.