Chapter 285: Entrance Exam. (5)
by Afuhfuihgs
Fsss-
Pieces of stone rolled around the surroundings.
Small dust particles mixed with the wind, creating a commotion.
The gentle heat lingering in the air also quickly swept away by the winter wind.
“What… what in the world just happened?”
Starting with the words inadvertently uttered by a junior disciple from an unknown family.
The previously quiet surroundings instantly filled with murmuring voices.
“They said it was mixed with ten-thousand-year-old iron, but how did it end up like that?”
“There’s a hole in it!”
Those who had taken the test before.
Had passed after barely managing to make a fingernail-sized scratch, while on the other hand.
Someone else had shattered it to pieces.
Such reactions were inevitable.
Though the one who actually caused this mess wasn’t in a situation to enjoy the admiration.
‘Should I have controlled it more?’
No, I shouldn’t have mixed in the heat in the first place.
Even if it wasn’t just a small scratch like others.
Shattering it like this was a bit excessive.
‘I told you to take it easy, you idiot.’
Even if I needed to blow off some steam.
It was way too much.
And on top of that.
“Heh heh…”
Why is that person here again?
From around the time I moved to the plains for the test.
Among the instructors confirming the schedule.
I saw a familiar face.
‘Was that what they meant by ‘you’ll find out’?’
The woman suppressing her laughter while watching me cause trouble.
Was none other than the Plum Blossom Sword Queen.
‘They said this time the Divine Dragon Pavilion is managed by Kunlun.’
In that situation, why is that person here?
Putting aside the fact that the Sword Queen is working as an instructor here.
‘The Kunlun Sect Leader agreed to this?’
Rather than an elder-level martial artist from another sect helping out.
The existence of the Sword Queen herself is the surprising part.
More so than the news that Qinghai Ilgeom, the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Sect, would be the Pavilion Master.
The fact that the Plum Blossom Sword Queen is an instructor is more eye-catching.
In an era where reputation and attention are important.
It’s unusual that Qinghai Ilgeom readily accepted this.
‘There must have been discussions back and forth.’
But I couldn’t know all that.
Anyway.
‘…This. There must be more, right?’
I said this looking at the stone pillar I destroyed with my own hands.
Surely they wouldn’t be without spares.
It’s Kunlun, the greatest sect in the world; they wouldn’t have done that.
What if there aren’t any?
‘What can I do about it?’
It’ll work out somehow…
As I wiped my face and assessed the situation.
The Sword Queen, who had been chuckling for a while.
Finally managed to speak while holding back her laughter.
“Group 2, Gu Yangcheon. Pass.”
As my name came out of the Sword Queen’s mouth, mixed with amusement.
“Gu Yangcheon…?”
Only then did the people around.
“The Azure Dragon Gu Yangcheon?”
Start recognizing me.
Oh… but damn, I still can’t get used to that epithet in front.
In the meantime.
Kwaduk.
I caught a glimpse of someone subtly making a scratch on another stone pillar and passing.
A slight strike caused a very fine crack to appear.
Amidst the murmuring voices.
A watching instructor said.
“Group 2, Bi Yijin. Pass.”
Hearing that, Bi Yijin glanced this way and smiled slightly.
‘That guy?’
Bi Yijin seems to be planning to slip by unnoticed amidst the commotion I caused.
Clever bastard, damn it.
…I was thinking of doing the same.
‘I’ve been had.’
To think he’d have the same idea.
‘Right, it’s past the point where someone calling himself the ‘Pinnacle of Style’ would want to stand out here.’
In a place where kids who’ve just started growing hair are playing.
What’s the point of standing out?
‘And yet, he’s acting like this, knowing that.’
From that perspective, I’m no different.
This is why one must control their anger well.
Because failing to control emotions leads to unnecessary trouble.
I turned my back, looking at the fragments swept across the floor.
I walked into the midst of the noisy, murmuring voices.
The test still had a long way to go.
As I subtly blended into the crowd, I thought.
‘…Since it’s already like this.’
If I’ve already drawn attention anyway.
Perhaps it’s better to make it definitive.
-I heard it from Maehwaseon.
When the Sword Queen met Qinghai Ilgeom.
Qinghai Ilgeom’s gaze wasn’t exactly pleasant.
Given the circumstances, it couldn’t be helped.
This meeting, with its underlying purpose, ultimately.
Could not have happened without the Sect Leader of Hwasan.
-You wish to come to the Divine Dragon Pavilion next month… as an instructor?
-Yes.
-May I ask why?
Qinghai Ilgeom’s cold gaze turned towards the Sword Queen.
It was the sharp aura of someone who had dedicated their life to honing the sword.
However, the Sword Queen did not waver.
She could have easily anticipated a situation like this.
-I won’t accept the flimsy excuse of wanting to educate the junior disciples.
-Do you believe that’s not the case, Sect Leader?
-It’s hard to believe that such a reason is the whole truth, as you know better than anyone that the world isn’t that simple.
-…
Indeed.
Such heartwarming tales.
Disappeared when the Demonic Mirror opened.
The Sword Queen knew this better than anyone.
-It seems you have a specific desire.
-Yes.
So the Sword Queen answered honestly. She had something she needed to do at the Divine Dragon Pavilion.
Upon hearing her answer, Qinghai Ilgeom stared intently at the Sword Queen.
And brought up the topic.
-It was Maehwaseon’s request, and she told me to handle it as I saw fit. So, I won’t refuse for now.
-Thank you…
-If you agree to my request.
Whoosh.
For a moment, cool wind filled the room.
The Sword Queen felt the wind and tensed up.
The wind filling the room right now.
Could turn sharp at any moment solely by Qinghai Ilgeom’s will.
-You have two options, Sword Queen.
-…I will listen carefully.
-One is to state your reason and fulfill my small request.
Why you wish to come to the Divine Dragon Pavilion as an instructor.
State your reason.
And a small request at that.
The Sword Queen, listening quietly to Qinghai Ilgeom.
-I wish to hear the second option.
Found another option.
Qinghai Ilgeom offered two choices, implying he’d only agree if she stated her reason.
There must be a reason he presented two options.
And just as expected.
-The second option is to not state your reason.
Qinghai Ilgeom gave the answer the Sword Queen had hoped for.
-…and fulfill a significant request.
-I choose the second option.
The Sword Queen chose without much deliberation.
Qinghai Ilgeom showed a slightly surprised expression.
-It seems you find the reason rather inconvenient to state.
…If there’s an option that doesn’t require stating it, I simply wish to choose that.
-Hmm… Do you know what my request is?
-I will listen to that as well.
At the Sword Queen’s seemingly unwavering words.
Qinghai Ilgeom, instead, rested his chin on his hand and pondered.
Was the request something difficult to voice?
The Sword Queen waited silently for him to speak.
After pondering for a long time, Qinghai Ilgeom.
Finally revealed his request to the Sword Queen.
-…A Red Demonic Gate appeared in Qinghai.
Upon hearing this, the Sword Queen’s eyes widened like saucers.
‘A Red Demonic Gate.’
Time passed, and it was the day of the entrance exam.
The Sword Queen had accepted Qinghai Ilgeom’s request.
Allowing her to be here at the Divine Dragon Pavilion as an instructor now.
But then and now.
Qinghai Ilgeom’s words still echoed in the Sword Queen’s ears.
‘…A Red Demonic Gate appeared, and it would open not long after.’
The timing was supposedly around next autumn.
In reality, what the Sword Queen found truly significant about this statement was something else.
If Qinghai Ilgeom’s words were true.
The appearance of the Demonic Gate was one thing.
Moreover, the trace of an already opened Demonic Mirror.
And the fact that it was said to open in autumn.
The biggest problem, if his words were true, was something else entirely.
The issue was the appearance of the Red Demonic Gate, which hadn’t shown up for a very long time.
‘If that’s true.’
Why didn’t Qinghai Ilgeom inform the Alliance about this news?
And yet, why ask me for a favor?
Furthermore.
‘The role of Pavilion Master in such a situation?’
If it was an incident occurring not just anywhere, but in the region where Kunlun is located.
Even the position of Pavilion Master of the Divine Dragon Pavilion.
Could not possibly be more important than the appearance of a Red Demonic Gate.
Green and Blue Demonic Gates could be handled by martial artists who reached a certain level.
They could be dealt with relatively easily.
However, the level of Red Demonic entities recorded was not like that.
The Sword Queen truly wondered why Qinghai Ilgeom would head to the Divine Dragon Pavilion, leaving his own territory behind.
Because she believed he wouldn’t choose honor and fame over the danger in Qinghai.
‘What could be the reason?’
Not just for herself.
There must have been discussions involving Qinghai Ilgeom as well.
If not.
He wouldn’t have come despite knowing the dissatisfaction of the sect members.
However.
Despite all these thoughts.
The Sword Queen accepted the proposal for now.
If, in the future, the Red Demonic Gate were truly to open.
It was a request for help.
From the Sword Queen’s perspective.
Even if it concerned another region.
If a Red Demonic Gate opened.
She would have gone even without this deal.
‘So, it’s better to focus on this matter for now.’
The Sword Queen thought about the reason she came here.
‘I need to find it quickly.’
The Plum Blossom Stone, expected to be somewhere in the Divine Dragon Pavilion.
It’s an item that even Maehwaseon doesn’t know about.
The Sword Queen also wouldn’t have known about it if ‘he’ hadn’t told her.
But now that she knew, she had to find it.
Especially for the events that were yet to come.
“…Group 2, Seon Uiseok. Pass.”
After announcing the last passer for Group 2.
The sun had already begun to set.
Since the second stage of the exam had to be completed by the end of the day.
It would likely continue until dawn.
Afterwards, the instructors gathered to sort out the day’s events.
From members of the Murim Alliance to martial artists affiliated with the Kunlun Sect.
Most of them had their own epithets or, even without one, possessed distinct levels of skill.
Their gazes were almost entirely directed towards the Sword Queen.
The status conferred by the epithet Sword Queen (劍后) wasn’t meant for a place like this.
Even with all eyes on her, the Sword Queen seemed unfazed, simply concluding her work.
“…Only half of it broke off.”
“It’s surprising how much is left, isn’t it?”
“Yes, this batch is certainly different.”
“Over a hundred people in this situation…”
Since the number of admissible candidates was fixed, it was quite a hassle for the instructors.
While organizing this and that.
One instructor spoke up.
“Based on what we’ve seen so far, there are probably about ten definite candidates, wouldn’t you say?”
Perhaps it was a reasonable statement.
Most who heard it nodded.
Everyone immediately knew who those ten people were in their minds.
“…The top spot seems to be decided as well.”
At the instructor’s words, many gazes turned to one spot.
The remaining debris, not properly cleared, was clearly fragments of the pillars brought from Kunlun.
Those who witnessed the scene still had the memory vivid in their minds.
Someone not yet twenty years old.
The moment they brought down the pillar with a single thrust.
The words that came to mind simultaneously were.
‘Could I do that?’
The same question.
Wondering if they themselves could possibly achieve it.
And also.
‘Azure Dragon.’
That was the moment the young man’s epithet was etched into the instructor’s mind.
The Sword Queen looked at such people with a peculiar gaze.
‘He did hit it a bit too hard.’
Of course, she was rather satisfied with that display.
While it was true the Sword Queen came to the Divine Dragon Pavilion with a purpose.
Gu Yangcheon was definitely part of that reason.
Her disciple had talked so much about her older brother getting into the Divine Dragon Pavilion this time.
Moreover, she was inwardly curious about how much that child had grown.
The Sword Queen then recalled a young man with a fierce face in her mind and thought.
‘If there’s a future Number One Under Heaven, it will be that child.’
In a way, it was a bold statement, almost unthinkable.
Leaving aside the current Three Sovereigns and the rising new generation.
She was speaking about a rising talent who was just beginning to grow.
But even so.
The Sword Queen was certain.
If Gu Yangcheon continued to grow like this.
And reached his prime.
The title of Number One Under Heaven in the future would undoubtedly belong to that child.
Gu Yangcheon possessed the presence and talent for it.
At least, in her eyes.
As the Sword Queen folded the letter and put it in her pocket.
“Group 1, did anything unusual happen?”
The instructor from Group 2 asked towards Group 1.
“Things… well, there were many…”
He held back his words.
Group 1 was where most of the prominent figures were gathered.
Tang Clan’s Poison Phoenix.
Moyong’s Snow Phoenix.
Peng Family’s daughter.
Even Namgung’s Sword Dancer.
The daughters of the Four Great Families were all present.
Along with the blood relatives of the Hwangbo family.
And even the Alliance Leader’s son.
The only peculiarity was Lei Long giving up his entrance due to family matters.
Looking at this.
Most of the main figures who would lead the martial world in the future were gathered in Group 1.
Ironically.
No incident quite matched the one Gu Yangcheon caused.
If anything notable comes to mind.
Sword Dancer, famous for her beauty.
Appeared wearing a veil.
And, perhaps tired, casually made a shallow cross-shaped mark on the pillar before disappearing.
Shinseong left a long sword mark.
And then.
“Is that true? That there’s a descendant of the Sword Saint there?”
“…It is.”
A descendant of the Sword Saint.
It was a topic already being discussed since the moment that woman appeared and swung her sword.
Such beautiful energy and movements.
Were clearly characteristic of the Moon Dance Swordplay created by the Sword Saint.
If the Azure Dragon hadn’t shattered the pillar.
The talk would have been entirely about the descendant of the Sword Saint.
Among them, Jo Wi-seok, the instructor for Group 1, quietly kept his thoughts to himself.
‘Shinseong as the top scorer? What a ridiculous thought.’
He felt ashamed for having tried to make a judgment based on just a partial view.
He also had to swallow hard, recalling the performances of the junior disciples belonging to Group 1.
Sword Dancer, who left behind a shallow sword mark.
Was by no means at such a casual level.
Despite her relaxed and seemingly careless movements, the sword line drawn was distinct.
It was impossible to estimate how much more she could have done if she had tried properly.
Snow Phoenix was somewhat disappointing.
But Poison Phoenix was at a considerable level, contrary to what was heard.
The others as well.
When compared to the junior disciples of his own generation.
Were on a different level entirely.
The descendant of the Sword Saint they spoke of.
‘It was one sword strike.’
Around the time of the very last participants.
She made her presence clearly felt by slicing the pillar in half.
The clean cut surface seen while clearing the pillar.
Showed how perfectly the sword had been wielded.
The moonlight aura the woman displayed at the time.
Was undoubtedly the Sword Saint’s martial art, captivating everyone.
Truly, monsters are swarming.
Jo Wi-seok had to face the reality.
Is this the generation of shooting stars?
If so.
This Divine Dragon Pavilion selection process certainly wouldn’t be smooth sailing.
‘It’s strangely….’
Truly strangely.
So many blazing stars had gathered.
And so, the second stage of the exam began.
Gu Yangcheon had to frown deeply.
He was already annoyed due to the long waiting time, and hearing the test details only made it worse.
The content itself was one thing.
But what was far more absurd was…
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“First, I must ask.”
To the pleasant voice reaching his ears, Gu Yangcheon retorted curtly.
It was understandable.
While others were facing pathetic weaklings.
For some reason, his opponent was anything but ordinary.
“…Is this assignment truly random?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
The woman answered Gu Yangcheon’s question with a radiant smile.
But he didn’t believe her one bit.
Sarak.
Along with the sound of petals falling from somewhere.
A beautiful plum blossom fragrance wafted pleasantly.
Of course.
Seureureung…
Despite the lovely atmosphere.
The killing intent imbued in the sword was terrifying.
Whether she knew Gu Yangcheon’s inner turmoil or not.
The woman whispered while looking at him.
“Let’s have some fun.”
Seeing that smile, Gu Yangcheon said with exhaustion.
“This isn’t right… really.”
The one standing before Gu Yangcheon, drawing her sword and taking a stance.
‘…Seriously, why do they always pick on me?’
Was the Plum Blossom Sword Queen.
0 Comments