I got the top spot in enrollment?
Feeling like something was off, I rubbed my eyes and looked at the notice again, but my name was still glaringly present.
For reference, Dokgorin ranked 21st, and Tang Sosu was 28th.
“Wow, Chilbongi, you studied well! Even a maggot can roll if it tries hard enough,” said Tang Sosu next to me, sounding impressed.
Dokgorin also seemed taken aback by my grades.
“I knew Chilbongi was smart, but I didn’t expect this much.”
Um, if you’re that shocked, it just makes me feel more embarrassed, you know?
Thinking back, I should have felt something was off when the questions seemed way too easy.
After all, this was an entrance exam; they surely wouldn’t be handing out questions suitable for elementary school students.
Thus, the obvious conclusion is:
“The average intelligence level of martial artists is pretty low.”
People often say those who can’t study have short straps on their bags, but in a world where strength equals justice, slacking off in studies isn’t a crime.
At a time when life and death hinge upon whether I can swing a sword, the classics won’t provide any extra lives.
Sure, I felt like my head got sharper since I possessed Chilbongi’s body, but that doesn’t mean the people here are any dumber than me.
After all, geniuses can be born in any era.
“If I had known this would happen, I should have eaten a more lavish dinner last night.”
“Well, you didn’t know you’d get the top spot, did you?”
“Oh, is that so?”
Realizing something was off with her own logic, Tang Sosu scratched her head.
As I watched, Dokgorin suddenly linked her arm with mine and said,
“Since we celebrated after the exam yesterday, we should celebrate today for your enrollment!”
Warmth surged as I felt Dokgorin’s ample softness against me.
Seeing that, Tang Sosu, not wanting to be outdone, wrapped her arms around my left arm as well, but when she caught sight of Dokgorin’s fierce gaze from the other side, she quickly let go, thinking, “Yikes! It’s hot!”
Why are you trying to pick a fight you can’t win, you foolish being…
While I was clicking my tongue in thought, suddenly—
“Wow! All three of you passed!”
With a cheerfully energetic voice, another familiar face appeared.
It was Namgoong Ruby, who had enrolled in Cheonmu Academy through recommendation.
She came bouncing in, completely resembling the same sight I saw yesterday, with a sword almost her size strapped to her back.
“How did the exam go for you three? Was it really hard?”
To that, Tang Sosu replied with a wry smile, “The practical part was easy, but the written exam….”
“What? There was a written exam?”
Namgoong Ruby’s eyes almost popped out in disbelief.
“So that’s why my father recommended me for admission…”
Finally, as if the mystery was solved, Namgoong Ruby murmured that, and then, upon discovering my name on the notice, she began exclaiming, “Wow! Top enrollment! Chilbongi, you really studied well!”
“Honestly, it was just luck.”
“Oh come on! Don’t be so humble! You’re definitely my candidate for a friend!”
As she said this, she playfully poked me in the side with her elbow, her attention turning to Dokgorin, who was silently standing by like a beast who encountered its natural enemy.
“Rin! Hello!” she waved with a bright smile.
In response, Dokgorin just scrunched her face, replying, “…Hello.”
That was the end of the exchange between the two.
Who would have thought that the notorious Dokgorin would choose silence over confrontation?
Living this long, one is bound to see everything, I suppose, and then we decided to move together to the gym where the entrance ceremony was to be held.
*
“Spring is blooming! The season of new meetings and a new semester has finally arrived this April. As for me…”
The entrance ceremony began with the principal’s speech, which any student would be very familiar with.
However, what was surprising was that the principal of Cheonmu Academy was Jeongalgyun, a former military officer and vice president of the Murim Association.
I never imagined I would reunite with an old acquaintance here, which was shocking in many ways.
Yet, it was also somewhat reassuring.
I could finally ask the person directly about the conversation that Dokgoseok had with Jeongalgyun two years ago.
Having worked alongside Weijichun in the Murim Association for a long time, I had no doubt that he possessed extensive and rich information regarding enemies.
“Now, the representative of the freshmen, Ichilbok.”
Called by the staff conducting the event, I stepped onto the podium in the center of the gym, just as I had been instructed.
When our eyes met, Jeongalgyun initially looked a bit surprised, then returned to his usual expression.
“Congratulations on being the top student.”
“Thank you.”
After exchanging typical greetings, I received a scroll along with a handshake.
Upon unfurling the scroll, I noticed it contained an oath meant for the freshman representative.
‘Can I just speak in my own way?’
As I glanced sideways at the staff, they gestured for me to go ahead and speak.
Eventually, I steeled myself and began reading each word from the scroll with weighty emphasis.
“I swear!”
*
Though it was a short span of just over 3 minutes, the time spent reading the scroll felt like an eternity.
Finally done, I descended the podium, and Dokgorin and Tang Sosu welcomed me, praising my effort.
Namgoong Ruby, standing a little way off, was waving her hand with a bright expression, so I could almost guess what she wanted to say.
After catching my breath, I turned to Dokgorin.
“Rin, do you have a moment after the ceremony?”
“Yeah. You want to meet Jeongalgyun?”
“Right. I just made an appointment with him up there. He said we could talk after the ceremony.”
Somehow, I ended up learning about the Tangmun rights at the Sicheondang and making my way into Cheonmu Academy, but not once had I forgotten my original goal.
Revenge on the enemies who wiped out the Dokgo clan.
Dokgorin and I were moving with a common purpose.
Enrolling in Cheonmu Academy was, after all, to grow safely in a place beyond their reach.
As we killed time until all the events concluded, we headed straight to the principal’s office right after the entrance ceremony ended to meet Jeongalgyun.
*
Knock! Knock!
[Come in.]
Hearing the voice from inside, I cautiously opened the door and entered the principal’s office, where Jeongalgyun was sitting at his desk, meticulously trimming the branches of a pine bonsai.
“Hello.”
As I said that and bowed my head, Jeongalgyun set down the scissors he was holding and replied.
“It’s been a long time for both of you. Has it been almost 2 years?”
“Seems about right.”
I answered while stealing a glance at Dokgorin beside me.
Expressionless.
I had no idea what she was thinking.
With revenge causing her mind to spiral, I couldn’t let my guard down, fearing she might do something unexpected.
But those worries turned out to be unwarranted.
“Good to see you again, Jeongalgyun.”
Surprisingly, Dokgorin continued the conversation calmly.
“…Yes, I heard about the Dokgo clan’s misfortune. To be honest, I don’t even know how to comfort you.”
Dokgorin shook her head.
“I didn’t come just to receive comfort. On that day, two years ago, my brother consulted with you at Weijichun’s funeral, and I came to find out what you discussed.”
“Oh? Why the sudden interest?”
“I believe the black-clad cultists mentioned by my brother, who attacked various sects and clans, are the same ones who annihilated ours recently.”
“…You’re aiming for revenge, then.”
Seemingly understanding everything from just our dialogue, Jeongalgyun looked at Dokgorin with a complex expression.
“You’re not going to say some cliched line about how revenge gets you nowhere, are you?”
As Dokgorin said that with a calm demeanor, Jeongalgyun shook his head.
“I’m aware that I have no standing to say such things. I just felt sorry seeing the daughter of an old friend getting involved in such matters.”
And just like that, two good drinking buddies have left.
Muttering that, Jeongalgyun closed his eyes for a moment before finally speaking.
“On that day, Seokyi mentioned to me that the common point of the sects and clans attacked by the black-clad cultists is that they possessed martial arts training related to the upper dantian.”
“…As expected.”
It seems Dokgorin’s expectations were somewhat on point.
In the current martial world, the use of upper dantian is very rare.
Because upper dantian is connected to the brain, it is primarily practiced by those who use magical or occult powers.
While ancient masters trained in upper dantian to become immortals, those tales have long passed, and most martial artists today, whether they are from the Mudaeng or Jeonjin sects, only focus on training the lower dantian.
In such a situation, collecting martial arts related to upper dantian implies a special purpose.
“Do you know anything about the perpetrators behind this incident?”
Jeongalgyun shook his head.
“After stepping down from my military position in the Murim Association, I have personally investigated for two years, but I found no significant clues. Whoever they are, they are very adept at obscuring their operations and information. My informants even ended up in trouble.”
At that, Dokgorin fell silent for a moment.
It seemed she was at a crossroads in deciding whether to trust Jeongalgyun.
Eventually, she posed a question to him.
“Can I ask you just one thing, sir?”
Jeongalgyun nodded calmly instead of answering.
Without hesitation, Dokgorin then said, “Can I trust you?”
“…That’s a tough question.”
Jeongalgyun said as he clasped his hands together.
“If it was your father or brother, I could understand, but coming from someone I’m not particularly close to, it wouldn’t be a matter of just believing. So I will say this: The person in front of me is not just a martial artist; before anything else, I am a teacher concerned for my student’s future. So I hope you won’t hesitate to consult me.”
After a brief pause, Dokgorin looked directly into Jeongalgyun’s eyes and spoke.
“In fact, what caused the annihilation of the Dokgo clan was the Ming Dynasty imperial family.”
