The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 135

Chapter 135
The role of Murim Academy Head carried a rather dual meaning within the hierarchy of the Murim Alliance.

When an individual who had climbed through the ranks of Captain and Hall Master was granted this position, it was widely considered a prestigious stepping stone ensuring a bright political future. On the other side of the coin, if someone who had managed to reach the height of Deputy Pavilion Master was placed in the seat of Academy Head, it was viewed as a quiet corner where they were expected to start preparing for their eventual retirement.

Evaluating the situation through this lens, the reigning administrator of the school, Three Pure Ones Self-Cultivating Dragon Buk Won-pyeong, was currently navigating a professional trajectory that was easily as distinguished as those of the top tier elites from the Nine Sects and One Gang. Such a meteoric rise was an incredibly exceptional phenomenon for a practitioner belonging to a One-Successor Lineage.

Even against the backdrop of the current martial world, where the division into political factions had turned into an ordinary reality, the prestige surrounding the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword occupied a remarkably distinct tier. This reverence was entirely justified, considering that in terms of pure spiritual and historical sanctity, it stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the renowned Dharma Tendon-Changing Classic of Shaolin and the esteemed Heaven-Earth Taiji Divine Art of Wudang.

‘How on earth did things turn out like this……’

Buk Won-pyeong found himself quietly observing the youth standing across from him.

The young martial artist, whose uniform, weapon, and even the basic fabric binding his hair were entirely shaded in pure black, was looking directly back at him with intensely dark, unfaltering eyes.

“The technique I wish to acquire is the Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Sword.”

“…….”

Confronted with an attitude that sounded less like a request and more like a demand for property that already belonged to him, the administrator, who was rapidly approaching his fortieth year, forced down a heavy sigh.

In the typical traditions of the jianghu, even if a person were simply attempting to acquire a minor technique from an ordinary, low-ranking vagabond, they would normally offer at least three respectful bows, if not the complete elegance of a Ninefold Bow……

“Surely you are not contemplating going back on your word at this stage?”

Despite the fact that the youth’s aggressive demeanor was practically identical to that of a relentless debt collector, Buk Won-pyeong found himself unable to openly voice any real objections. When it came down to the absolute facts of the matter, the terms of the gamble he had agreed to explicitly dictated that he would provide instruction in martial arts.

“Prior to fulfilling that, there is a particular detail I wish to clarify.”

“What is it?”

“In what manner does a youth who has barely crossed his twentieth year possess such profound understanding regarding the ‘theory on the correlation between acupoints and qi deviation’? That is a concept that remains largely unfamiliar even to veteran martial arts instructors.”

Up until the modern era, the collective wisdom of the martial community held that the primary triggers for qi deviation were tied strictly to impurities residing in the inner arts cultivated within the Dantian, alongside the reckless or excessive forcing of one’s internal energy.

Lately, however, a fresh perspective had started taking root among a selective circle of fighters who dabbled in medicine, as well as scholars of the healing arts who were deeply integrated into the fighting world. This new theory suggested that structural vulnerabilities in specific acupoints could independently trigger instances of qi deviation. It was the type of specialized knowledge that typical teachers would remain completely ignorant of, unless they possessed a deep, personal passion for advanced martial arts theory.

It was precisely due to this obscurity that Buk Won-pyeong had felt entirely secure when he originally agreed to the terms of the wager. Yet, against all odds, a young man who had only recently entered adulthood had successfully detailed the entire complex concept without a single stumble.

“I simply arrived at the absolute boundaries of my own faction’s techniques, which led me to study every relevant text I could lay my hands on.”

Buk Won-pyeong was perfectly aware that the Taeul Sect had dwindled into a completely negligible boundary. The contemporary reputation of the Taeul Sect within the broader jianghu was so entirely minor that even attempting to draw a comparison between it and the grand One-Successor Lineage of the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword felt like a profound insult to the latter.

“……And through that solitary pursuit, you managed to uncover the theory on the correlation between acupoints and qi deviation?”

“That is correct. My capacity for recollection happens to be quite reliable.”

“…….”

It was only at this moment that the administrator finally made sense of the earlier display where Jin So-un had effortlessly named all three hundred sixty-five acupoints when questioned by the teacher handling Acupoint Methods.

‘A man lays his plans, but destiny is forged by the heavens……’

Even when trapped in what appeared to be a completely dead-end scenario, had this youth genuinely exhausted every ounce of his being to elevate his fallen faction? For reasons he couldn’t quite name, Buk Won-pyeong began to sense that the rumors surrounding how the young man had reclaimed the long-lost True Inheritance of the Taeul Sword Emperor might not have been a stroke of random luck after all.

“You aren’t planning to nullify our agreement under the pretense that you were unaware of my excellent memory, are you?”

Jin So-un directed a deeply skeptical gaze toward him.

Up until this very period, Buk Won-pyeong had viewed the young man with considerable distaste due to his habit of constantly sparking dramatic controversies. Strangely, however, the youth’s brazen actions were slowly losing their ability to provoke genuine irritation within him.

“Word has reached me that you successfully salvaged the True Inheritance of the Taeul Sword Emperor. What reason could you possibly have to covet the secret arts of another lineage?”

“I currently lack the understanding required to manifest the Sword Force.”

“What?”

Buk Won-pyeong’s eyebrows knit together in confusion.

Whenever a style reached a sufficiently profound tier, it was standard practice for the specific methodology guiding a practitioner toward mastering the Sword Force to be clearly detailed within its core teachings. Even if one assumed that a massive portion of the historical lore was nothing more than exaggeration, it defied logic that an advanced martial manual left behind by the Taeul Sword Emperor would completely omit instructions on the Sword Force, provided at least a fraction of the tales were authentic.

“It appears that the Taeul Sword Emperor placed no extraordinary value on the utilization of the Sword Force.”

“Is that truly the case? Even if that were true, surely among the surviving seniors of your faction……”

“I have personally witnessed Hall Master Kang Chae-seok of the Swift Blossom Hall unleash the Sword Qi, but beyond that……”

Hearing those words allowed him to instantly piece together the underlying reality of the situation. Because the faction lacked any true powerhouse masters, it had naturally lost the capacity to cultivate new ones.

“Ah, that particular individual was indeed there……”

“Are you acquainted with him?”

“We walked the halls of this very academy during the same era. He was a remarkably gifted and promising peer……”

Buk Won-pyeong deliberately bit back the remaining thought: *‘but his growth ultimately stalled because his faction’s incomplete techniques could no longer sustain his potential.’*

In the grand scheme of things, that was a bitter wall encountered by roughly sixty percent of the individuals who managed to gain entry through the unconventional selection processes of the One Hundred Eight Peaks.

“As a result, I decided to bring this matter to you, Academy Head, believing that your insights might provide the breakthrough I need to grasp the concept of the Sword Force.”

“That is hardly what I would call a polite inquiry. You essentially forced it through a high-stakes gamble.”

“If the story circulates that you surrendered your sacred style because you faltered in a simple wager, wouldn’t the original creator of your sect weep in the afterlife?”

“If you truly cared about that, you shouldn’t have initiated such a shameless wager to begin with.”

“Is that so?”

The youth’s utterly unapologetic demeanor made it perfectly clear that he felt absolutely zero remorse for his conduct.

Strangely enough, a peculiar sentiment began to stir within Buk Won-pyeong. It was a deeply nostalgic sensation, almost as if the flow of time had folded backward, allowing him to converse with a companion from his youth. In days gone by, Kang Chae-seok had radiated the exact same brand of startling determination and absolute certainty that this young man was currently displaying.

“Regardless of the circumstances, a vow remains a binding matter, meaning I am obligated to provide you with martial instruction. Be that as it may, I am entirely incapable of offering you lessons regarding the Sword Force itself. To truly comprehend the Sword Force, one must be thoroughly initiated into the overarching martial discipline from its roots. Yet you possess absolutely no desire to take up the mantle of the True Inheritance of the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword, correct?”

“Is it completely out of the question to simply receive a highly focused, accelerated private lesson?”

Buk Won-pyeong looked entirely flabbergasted by the suggestion.

“Do you genuinely believe that the manifestation of the Sword Force is some trivial physical movement that can be picked up like a basic hand technique?”

Jin So-un gave a perfectly composed, compliant nod.

“I had already deduced as much. It is precisely for that reason that I specified my desire to acquire the Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Sword.”

Upon hearing the youth’s explanation, Buk Won-pyeong could only shake his head in refusal.

“Regrettably, that route is equally blocked to you. From its very inception, executing the Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Sword requires the practitioner to have successfully cultivated the Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Power, which is a core element among the Three Pure Ones.”

This precise requirement was the exact reason why the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword had been forced to maintain its lonely existence as a strict One-Successor Lineage throughout the generations.

The triad of the Three Pure Ones comprised the Great Purity, the Jade Purity, and the Supreme Purity. These specific energies could only ever be forged by tapping into the profound Heavenly Dao Power—the raw, cosmic essence defining the Three Pure Ones. They could never be mirrored using the ordinary, mundane internal energy that shifted in accordance with a mortal warrior’s conscious intent.

Furthermore, to successfully harness the Heavenly Dao Power to construct the Three Pure Ones, an individual had to be blessed from birth with a rare Martial God Body alongside a Dantian comprised entirely of unblemished Internal Qi. Any ordinary human being who had consumed standard cooked sustenance since their early childhood was, by default, structurally blocked from ever mastering the mysteries of the Three Pure Ones.

“The unique Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Power is extracted solely from the most unadulterated Internal Qi found within the triad of the Three Pure Ones. Consequently, even if you were to painstakingly memorize the physical movements of the blade……”

Buk Won-pyeong’s voice trailed off into absolute silence, his jaw dropping open in sheer disbelief.

His eyes locked onto an object resembling a Meteor Hammer that had silently unfurled from Jin So-un’s left hand.

“Th-That is……”

The weighted end drifted loosely toward the ground, and dancing vibrant along the cord attached to that weight was a shimmering, brilliant golden ring of pure light.

“The actual Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Power?”

Buk Won-pyeong stared ahead, looking utterly incapable of processing the reality of the sight even as the shocked words spilled past his lips.

“H-How can a common, secular practitioner possibly……”

“The structural framework of the martial text left behind by the Taeul Sword Emperor was entirely anchored in the principles of the Heavenly Dao Power. Call it a stroke of fortune or a curse, but since my earliest days, my training has been confined solely to the Taeul Heart Method, which serves as the foundational primer for the comprehensive Taeul True Scripture.”

It was a staggering revelation.

The elusive Heavenly Dao Power was a specialized force that manifested exclusively through the methodical cultivation of absolute void and emptiness practiced by ancient Daoist mystics. It existed on a completely separate plane from the standard worldly energy utilized by the common fighting world.

“Because the line of True Inheritance was completely severed for half a millennium, you were accidentally preserved from muddying your foundation with common arts…… Is that what occurred?”

“Well, at this current juncture, I am not entirely certain whether that outcome should be viewed as a blessing.”

“Does this Taeul True Scripture you mention lack any combat forms designed to utilize the Three Pure Ones? If the manual is built around the Three Pure Ones, it stands to reason that appropriate martial applications should have been recorded within it.”

“In all honesty, this is a realization that only dawned on me while I was studying a unique martial style developed by an extraordinary eccentric. The moment the principles of the Taeul True Scripture merged with and were altered by that eccentric’s unique style, I suddenly found myself capable of manipulating the Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Power.”

“You simply stumbled into the ability to direct the Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Power by sheer happenstance? What manner of martial discipline did this eccentric create to allow such a feat…… Or is this an individual whose identity you are forbidden from revealing?”

“It is the latter.”

“Good heavens……”

“The single greatest obstacle I am currently facing is this: while my Jade Purity Heavenly Nature Power is exceptionally potent when it comes to suppressing corrupted demons, it proves entirely hollow and ineffective when applied to offensive physical strikes.”

“That is only natural. By its very design, that specific energy exists to foster and accumulate absolute emptiness within, not to inflict physical trauma upon another living being.”

“Should you agree to guide me in the proper application of this energy, I am perfectly content to waive my demand for the physical sword techniques themselves.”

“Hmm……”

It was a baffling paradox that a text could contain the supreme energy of the Three Pure Ones while remaining entirely silent on its practical martial execution. Then again, it was entirely possible that the masters of that ancient era simply believed such explanations were redundant. Perhaps the depths of the Taeul True Scripture were so profound that they could not even be measured against the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword, which was already universally recognized as an incredibly demanding discipline.

“Have you truly no desire to enlist as a Lay Disciple under my lineage?”

“I have none.”

Faced with such an unyielding, instantaneous rejection, Buk Won-pyeong quickly raised his hands in a dismissing gesture.

“Do not misunderstand, I am not seeking to shackle you with burdensome sect duties or oaths. I simply mean that if your ultimate goal is to wield the entirety of the Three Pure Ones, attempting to do so by learning mere scattered remnants of a style will inevitably bring you to an abrupt halt.”

“I cannot say for certain. If the current state of the Taeul True Scripture is incapable of manifesting the Great Purity or the Supreme Purity Power on its own, wouldn’t attempting to master an entirely separate martial art remain a highly impractical fantasy? Besides, if I were to introduce a completely foreign internal cultivation method into my system at this stage, wouldn’t it inevitably warp the original purity of my current foundation, regardless of how clean that new art might be?”

“Well…… your logic is sound, I admit……”

Buk Won-pyeong could only click his tongue in quiet disappointment.

He was rapidly nearing his fortieth year, a time when he desperately needed to locate a worthy successor to pass down his True Inheritance. He had originally resolved to focus on securing a disciple only after carving out a significant legacy of success within the Murim Alliance, but his political and professional ascent had not materialized as swiftly or as smoothly as he had envisioned. No matter how much deference the martial community showed him on the surface, the harsh reality was that an individual could achieve very little when relying strictly on their own isolated strength.

“Looking at it from the opposite direction, Academy Head, what would you say to entering the Taeul Sect as a Lay Disciple instead?”

“What?”

Buk Won-pyeong was on the verge of chuckling at what he assumed was a highly irreverent, sarcastic quip before beginning their actual practice, but a glance at Jin So-un’s expression revealed that the youth was completely deadpan.

Immediately after, a stunning proposition began to unfurl from the young man’s lips.

“Aren’t you currently at the precise stage in life where the search for a proper successor becomes a critical priority?”

“…….”

“Yet, tracking down a human vessel capable of safely containing and processing the intense energy of the Three Pure Ones is an incredibly daunting task, is it not?”

“How are you privy to such deep sectarian matters……?”

“Did I not mention it previously? I have spent a great deal of time quietly researching a wide array of subjects across various sources. So, taking everything into account, how does the prospect of joining the Taeul Sect as a Lay Disciple sound to you?”

“What earthly connection does my personal dilemma regarding a successor have to do with me enrolling as a minor Lay Disciple under the Taeul Sect?”

“Is it not true that the Taeul Heart Method, which stands as the foundational cultivation style of the Taeul Sect, ultimately shares its roots with the Heavenly Dao Power?”

“…….”

Buk Won-pyeong felt a sudden, violent jolt run through his mind, as though he had been struck squarely on the head.

“To be fair, this is a realization that I only fully grasped quite recently myself. However, given that the Taeul True Scripture and the Taeul Heart Method were fundamentally born from a singular, unified school of thought, any youth who constructs their initial foundation using the Taeul Heart Method should naturally develop the precise physiological attributes required to safely receive lessons in the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword.”

“…….”

If the claims being made by Jin So-un held true, it meant that even an ordinary child who had consumed common cooked food could systematically purge the accumulated fire qi from their body by utilizing the Taeul Heart Method. Furthermore, so long as that child successfully established their initial Dantian via the Taeul Heart Method, filling that container with the specialized energy of the Three Pure Ones down the road would become an entirely straightforward process.

The fundamental reason their tradition demanded a rare Martial God Body in the first place was simply to secure a physical constitution that naturally resisted the accumulation of internal fire qi.

“Are you prepared to instruct me in the oral formulas of the Taeul Heart Method?”

Before either of them had fully realized it, the roles of the master granting knowledge and the student receiving it had completely inverted. Yet, neither man paid the slightest bit of attention to this strange shift.

“Haha……”

The moment he finished guiding his internal energy through one minor revolution in strict accordance with the mnemonic verse Jin So-un had detailed for him, a breathy, stunned laugh escaped Buk Won-pyeong’s lips. There was absolutely no friction or resistance whatsoever as the energy circulated through his Dantian, which was packed with pure internal qi. This single trial offered undeniable proof that the Taeul Heart Method was an authentic discipline designed to cultivate the genuine Heavenly Dao Power.

“A Lay Disciple…… To become a Lay Disciple, of all things……”

Even though he was on the cusp of forty and possessed a wealth of seasoned experience navigating the dangerous currents of the jianghu, he found himself feeling remarkably little prideful resistance toward the notion of submitting to the Taeul Sect as a subordinate student. If anything, a deep, urgent desire was blooming within him to ensure they would welcome him into their folds.

Should this arrangement succeed, the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword would finally shatter the historical shackles of its lonely One-Successor Lineage tradition, allowing it to be completely reborn as a thriving, expansive sect.

“Do you truly believe the leadership of the Taeul Sect would be willing to receive someone like me as a Lay Disciple?”

“It isn’t as though you are seeking to pry into the deepest, most guarded secrets of the Taeul Sect; your goal is merely to utilize our foundational entry-level art. Therefore, there shouldn’t be any major hurdles. Our Sect Leader is an exceptionally open-minded individual.”

“Ha! That is genuinely the most marvelous piece of news I have received in a long time. Would it be acceptable for me to journey to offer my formal respects to the Taeul Sect on the morrow?”

Jin So-un’s brow furrowed slightly at the suggestion.

“We are currently right in the thick of the academic term, are we not? Furthermore, there is a pressing matter you are obligated to teach me first.”

“Ah…… you are entirely right. My apologies, we shall begin.”

In this manner, as Buk Won-pyeong found himself rendering martial instruction to another human being for the absolute first time in his existence, a sudden curiosity crossed his mind, prompting him to voice it aloud.

“Why is it that you…… choose to constantly position yourself in direct opposition to the Righteous Path Association?”

He was well aware of the various whispered rumors and intense debates currently circulating among the academy’s faculty members. While it was the formal duty of anyone belonging to the Education Pavilion to maintain absolute, unyielding neutrality, did the turbulent affairs of the mortal world ever truly remain so pristine?

This recent examination controversy had flared up precisely because a handful of instructors with deep under-the-table ties to the Righteous Path Association had harbored intense suspicion regarding Jin So-un’s true capabilities.

“The Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Clans, and the Twelve Peak Citadels are gargantuan, overwhelming structures. They are simply not the kinds of adversaries you can recklessly challenge based on the shallow, arrogant confidence of youth.”

Buk Won-pyeong offered these words with a tone that suggested he was speaking directly to the ghost of his own younger self. The young man’s current defiance was a near-perfect mirror of the way he himself had operated long ago.

Yet, in his own past, Buk Won-pyeong had ultimately been thoroughly crushed by the system. At the end of the day, there were certain institutional monoliths that simply could not be moved, no matter how fiercely an individual fought or how much raw willpower they marshaled to break through.

“I have never once intentionally positioned myself as their adversary.”

“…….”

“I have simply pointed out, plainly, that a particular matter was profoundly wrong.”

“Nevertheless, those very actions are highly likely to cause those powerful entities to brand you as an incredibly disruptive and dangerous nuisance.”

“I am entirely indifferent to how they label me.”

“Are you suggesting that professional elevation, immense wealth, and historical renown carry absolutely no weight in your eyes?”

A shallow, fragile conviction was entirely incapable of withstanding the relentless pressure of intense worldly ambition. Whether the youth fully grasped that fundamental truth or not, Jin So-un delivered his response without a single shred of hesitation.

“What genuine fulfillment could possibly be found in basking in career advancement, vast fortunes, and grand glory if they are secured through corrupt and dishonorable channels? My singular aspiration is to develop into a man who can stand tall, completely unashamed, before the eyes of my junior brothers and the respected seniors of my faction.”

dishonesty.

“…….”

“Furthermore, I reject the notion that any institution or power structure holds an absolute, permanent dominion. If I firmly demonstrate a willingness to fight back, then even if I am ultimately broken and fall, my junior brothers will step forward to inherit and carry out my intent. And should my junior brothers also fall in battle, their own disciples will rise to bear that very same torch. Is that not the fundamental, true ethos that is supposed to define the current Orthodox Path?”

“……!”

Buk Won-pyeong could do nothing but gaze ahead with his mouth hanging open, utterly stunned by the profound, heavy truth woven into Jin So-un’s words.

A lengthy, heavy silence settled over him as he reeled from the mental shock, which felt precisely as though a bolt of lightning had erupted inside his skull. Finally, he let out a low, groaning murmur.

“Even if a creature is born within the shallowest mud of a common stream, a true dragon remains a dragon nonetheless…… Is that the reality of it?”

For reasons he couldn’t entirely explain, Buk Won-pyeong found himself thinking that if he took the leap to join the Taeul Sect as a Lay Disciple, he might one day possess the incredible privilege of raising a student of Jin So-un’s extraordinary caliber.

“Be that as it may, you must exercise extreme caution moving forward. I occasionally happen to catch snatches of private conversations among the faculty, and it appears they are currently orchestrating an highly irregular plot against you.”

“You are on the verge of transforming into a fellow member of my very own faction, Academy Head. With you by our side, what possible anxiety could I have?”

Amused by Jin So-un’s sharp, playful wit, Buk Won-pyeong let out a booming, genuine laugh.

—

The overall mood permeating the academy ground once the written testing phase concluded began to grow increasingly vibrant and restless. This shift occurred because the upcoming practical examination was designed as a direct, full-contact martial-duel arena, offering a stage where the exact ranking and combat proficiency of every single student could be laid bare for all to see.

To a student body comprised of young martial artists who possessed competitive combat instincts woven directly into their marrow, an event of this nature was viewed as nothing less than a grand celebratory festival.

“The event is only in its opening hours, yet the sheer volume of spectators is already immense.”

In order to closely monitor the combat trials which were scheduled to commence with Class A, the stands were packed not only with eager academy students but also with a massive influx of external figures from the Alliance. These guests had journeyed specifically to evaluate the growth and live performances of their respective factions’ junior brothers and chosen disciples.

“Looking around today, the vast majority of the audience seems to hail from the Nine Sects and One Gang and the prestigious Five Great Clans.”

Seong Mo-ran offered this observation while sweeping her gaze across the various spectator tiers, where large groups sat clustered together clad in matching faction robes.

“Given the circumstances, wouldn’t an arena like this naturally transform into an intense battlefield of pride and reputation among their various houses?”

Hearing Eun-ho’s perspective, Seong Mo-ran gave a slow nod of total agreement.

“On another note, which specific opponent has been selected to face Young Master Jin?”

Before any response could be formulated, Namgung Seon-hwa interjected.

“Considering that Class A is comprised exclusively of individuals belonging to the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Clans, it seems highly probable that a challenger will be drawn upward from Class B, don’t you think?”

My own assessment aligned perfectly with her logic. To begin with, if the administrators paired combatants whose respective skill levels were separated by too wide a gulf, it would completely defeat the purpose of accurately measuring their combat growth. Therefore, the faculty’s detached, objective calculation was bound to dictate the matchmaking process in these affairs.

“If the choice truly falls upon Class B…… then wouldn’t the most logical opponent be Black Whirlwind Yuk Ja-gwang after all?”

Yuk Ja-gwang, representing the Beijing Yuk Family, was an exceptional prodigy whose raw martial talent was easily comparable to the most celebrated elites emerging from the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Seong Mo-ran fixed her eyes intently on my face before speaking.

“I must wonder, how is it that you do not display even a flicker of anxiety? The absolute piercing speed and precision of the Yuk Clan Spear Form is universally recognized as one of the most lethal, definitive martial arts in existence today.”

Whether this should be chalked up to a stroke of luck or a twisted twist of fate, the reality was that due to my extensive history with Yuk Si-rang, I was intimately familiar with the six ultimate structures that defined the core of the Yuk Clan Spear Form. Furthermore, through the direct assistance of Jegal Cheon-gi, Yuk Si-rang had successfully mapped out and perfected the specific Shattering Forms designed to completely dismantle those six foundational techniques of the Yuk Clan Spear Form.

His lifelong aspiration of eventually returning to the ancestral Yuk Estate once the flames of conflict died down to exact his bloody vengeance had ultimately been cut short, never finding fulfillment in his lifetime. Yet, perhaps I might finally bring that unfulfilled dream to its realization right here on this very floor today.

“We aren’t entering a life-or-death execution ring, so what valid reason do I have to let nerves master me?”

As I allowed my gaze to roam across the surrounding spectator sections, I could see various members of Class B positioned throughout the stands, keeping a watchful vigil, likely because a portion of their own peer group was slated to undergo testing over the course of the day.

“The Murim Academy practical examination is hereby officially commenced! Let those individuals whose names are called step forward onto the central training ground!”

The instructor’s massive, internally amplified voice reverberated powerfully across the vast expanse of the Grand Training Ground.

The officiating teacher focused his eyes down on the document gripped in his hand and bellowed.

“Jin So-un representing the Taeul Sect!”

In an instant, the collective attention of the entire stadium converged squarely upon my form.

A chaotic torrent of conflicting human emotions washed over me from every direction—bitter envy, sharp jealousy, deep-seated hatred, intense wariness, burning dissatisfaction, and cold calculation. This heavy mixture of feelings seemed to physically coat my skin as I stood up from my bench and began making my way down toward the open dirt of the training field.

Catching sight of my movement, Eun Seol-ran, who had been quietly seated directly adjacent to Sa-ryeon, called out.

“Show them the absolute maximum of your abilities, Brother!”

I offered a brief, reassuring nod in Eun Seol-ran’s direction. Curiously, the moment I did so, both Seong Mo-ran and Namgung Seon-hwa locked their eyes onto me, their expressions suddenly radiating a distinctly sharp, venomous intensity.

“Ensure your mind remains entirely sharp and execute your forms flawlessly. Do not dare to allow your focus to slip for even a fraction of a second.”

“The common consensus dictates that Black Whirlwind Yuk Ja-gwang adheres to a brutally disciplined, ascetic lifestyle, pouring every waking hour into his martial development…… It will prove an incredibly steep mountain for Young Master Jin to secure a victory.”

I let my features shift into a look of mild, put-upon grievance, but the two women simply snapped their heads away in unison, letting out synchronized, dismissive snorts. It was a exact mirror of the patterns I had observed throughout my previous existence—the inner workings of a woman’s emotional landscape remained an absolute enigma that I could never hope to truly unravel.

As I continued my descent toward the field of combat, I spotted Yuk Ja-gwang, outfitted in a crisp, deep blue martial arts uniform, pushing himself up from his seat located in the spectator stands on the directly opposing side of the arena.

The presiding instructor watched my approach with an strangely unreadable expression, then turned his attention back to the official registry paper before shouting at the top of his lungs.

“The designated martial duel opponent for this match shall be…… Il-gak representing the Shaolin Temple.”

My advancing footsteps froze instantly.

Across the arena, Yuk Ja-gwang ground to an identical, sudden halt within the stands.

Over in the specific section where the visiting monastic community of the Shaolin Temple had established their seating array, a solitary monk silently rose to his feet.

“What in the absolute hell……”

Triggered by a sharp, involuntary curse spat out by an anonymous spectator somewhere in the upper tiers, the peaceful atmosphere of the Grand Training Ground instantly shattered, erupting into a roaring, chaotic din that made the stadium sound precisely like a frantic, overcrowded marketplace.