The Martial Genius Who Remembers Everything Novel - Chapter 28

Chapter 28
Chapter 28. A Second-Rate Warrior Dominates the Exam (3)

“The subsequent phase of our test is direct combat martial arts sparring. I request that the sixteen competitors who earned their spots across the two previous assessments step into the arena.”

Following Lee Ja-gon’s announcement, the youths who ultimately missed the threshold for the top sixteen retreated to the margins of the Great Training Ground.

Peculiarly, this reality diverged from my past existence, as no bitterness or feelings of being wronged lingered upon the countenances of these children.

Simply witnessing that Gye Cheol-yeong was prevented from isolating himself at the top purely by relying on the leverage of private fortune appeared to have completely removed any lingering regrets regarding the trial.

“The final standings shall be determined by the outcomes of these martial contests, so I urge all participants to display their absolute best efforts until the final moment.”

Just as those words were spoken, a youth positioned outside the boundaries of the arena extended his arm high into the air.

This was Gwak Sam-nam, the third son born to the Gwak family, whose father earned a living inside the kitchen of a local tavern.

“Was it not the established rule that this trial would select merely a solitary individual to enter the Murim Academy? What is the reason we are suddenly determining full placement positions based on rank?”

“Your understanding is accurate. However, distinct rewards have been arranged to honor the competitors who dedicated themselves to preparing for this examination, so please exert your full strength.”

A sudden gleam of intensity began to illuminate the gazes of the youths who had secured positions within the top sixteen.

Given that Sa-ryeon along with the Geum-pyo brothers had already firmly dominated the uppermost placements, the remaining children, realizing first place was out of reach, resolved to fight fiercely for second or third position.

Furthermore, these accolades were items provided directly by the Murim Alliance.

They were undoubtedly highly valuable treasures that one could not easily acquire even within the walls of the Taeul Sect.

“Eldest Senior Brother, what is the meaning of this?”

Geum-pyo walked over to me, his expression thoroughly bewildered.

“What troubles you?”

“What is the reason behind Eldest Senior Brother being placed down at the eighth spot?”

I had carefully managed my own score after analyzing the performance metrics Gye Cheol-yeong achieved during the initial test.

“This is simply what happens when one spends his days drifting about rather than dedicating himself to rigorous cultivation.”

Geum-pyo made a sharp sound with his tongue and countered,

“Please offer an explanation that carries actual weight. Senior Brother, you personally compiled the reference text of historical trial queries and even instructed our group in the refined version of the Minor Heaven Sword Art, so how can your personal outcome be so poor?”

“You troublesome boy. It appears your manner of speaking will only find correction once your Eldest Senior Brother delivers a proper strike to your backside.”

Because I had shared a bond identical to true brothers with the three Geum-pyo brothers since our earliest years, no rigid boundaries of etiquette existed between us.

Furthermore, a mere single year separated me from Geum-pyo, who stood as the oldest among the three siblings.

“Speak to me with total candor. Are you intentionally stepping aside to grant passage to your younger martial brothers and sisters?”

“You foolish boy, I fully resolve to claim victory in this third phase regardless, so what does it matter if my marks in the initial two evaluations were deficient?”

“……”

The retort that followed did not originate from Geum-pyo, but from a figure standing right beside our positions.

“Is that truly the case?”

Turning his head toward the voice, Geum-pyo flinched in sudden shock, quickly inclined his skull, shifted restlessly on his feet, and promptly retreated from the spot.

Regardless of how level-headed Geum-pyo normally behaved, remaining composed in the direct presence of an official Appraisal Envoy was far too daunting a task.

“What are you implying?”

“I am speaking directly about your final score manifesting in such a mediocre state.”

“I cannot say if the rumors reached your ears, but it is purely the consequence of my own negligence in scholarly pursuits and my frequent absences from formal training.”

“And a person matching that description managed to pinpoint the examination queries with the precision of a master instructor?”

By what means did this individual acquire such knowledge?

“The details came to my attention through the testimonies of the candidates who achieved the highest marks.”

“Does this present a difficulty?”

“It possesses the clear potential to become a grave difficulty, does it not? That is, unless the contents of the examination were illicitly exposed beforehand.”

“To compromise the secure examination documents belonging to an official Appraisal Envoy of the Murim Alliance. Such a notion is terrifying to contemplate.”

The implications of Lee Ja-gon’s commentary lacked logical footing from the very beginning.

The security protocols governing the test materials were established in such a rigorous manner that not even Mantongbu, the terminal sector of the Military Division, could meddle with them lightly.

Under such strict conditions, if an examination document had truly been exposed? It would not merely invalidate the trial itself; the foundational status of the One Hundred Eight Peaks would be profoundly compromised.

Therefore, what Lee Ja-gon was hinting at at this moment was something entirely different.

“I require your direct explanation.”

“The contests are on the verge of commencing, are they not?”

Positioned upon the Great Training Ground were Sa-ryeon, who held the highest overall cumulative score, and Un Ji-hyang, who occupied the ninth position.

A moment later, the officiating Appraisal Warrior serving as the arbiter signaled the official commencement of the duel.

“You have settled yourself into the eighth position with remarkable convenience.”

I let out a soft, controlled breath.

Because it was impossible to reveal that I had physically scrutinized the examination document during my previous lifetime, I naturally utilized roundabout language to deflect his suspicion.

“Is the testing procedure not essentially a matter of mere protocol in any case? The vast majority of organizations already predetermine which individual will be dispatched to the Murim Academy. In our specific situation…… things are admittedly somewhat unique.”

I shifted my eyes toward Gye Cheol-yeong.

His gaze fixed upon the combat arena was heavily bloodshot, indicating a total lack of sleep, and his chest heaved in ragged intervals as though he were gripped by immense agitation.

“The internal affairs of your sect are well within my awareness. That particular detail is hardly a novel revelation. What occupies my curiosity is a separate matter. This specific trial deviates completely from historical iterations. One cannot construct an accurate volume of predicted queries simply by analyzing past assessments.”

Lee Ja-gon clearly demonstrated an aversion to evasive dialogue.

I gave a compliant nod of my head.

“I was merely the beneficiary of outstanding fortune.”

“You claim it was simple fortune?”

“Using the preparation for the trial as a reasonable justification, I endeavored to impart knowledge that would prove highly advantageous to them later on once they gained entry to the Murim Alliance. It serves as an excellent source of inspiration for them, does it not?”

“Then for what reason did you precisely align your own performance to secure the eighth spot?”

“An individual possessing the capacity to precisely engineer such a result……”

“I have already gathered comprehensive intelligence regarding your capabilities. It is said that you possess the extraordinary trait of retaining flawless memory of anything your eyes behold even a single time.”

In the years that followed, Lee Ja-gon would achieve widespread renown, ultimately becoming recognized by the honorable moniker of Gentleman Iron Sword.

He gained his reputation by executing absolutely faultless martial engagements paired with an uncompromisingly meticulous character, and it appeared that very disposition was already coming to the forefront during this encounter.

Vague persuasions were clearly reaching their absolute limit with him.

“My intent was to preserve the fundamental fairness of the trial.”

“Are you suggesting that this examination is devoid of fairness?”

“The examination itself is fair. Even so, my sole desire was to engage in this testing process from the exact same starting line as my younger martial brothers and sisters.”

“And the path to that objective was the intentional depression of your own standing?”

“That is correct.”

“What purpose drives you to go to such extraordinary lengths for this outcome?”

“Does there not already exist a participant who is navigating this trial through entirely deceitful means?”

My focus shifted directly toward Gye Cheol-yeong, and Lee Ja-gon’s eyes instinctively tracked the direction of my gaze.

Lee Ja-gon observed the youth for a brief interval before delivering his assessment.

“That senior disciple remains entirely blind to the truth that a deceptive shortcut can occasionally transform into a path of absolute ruin.”

“Do you not harbor any intention of intervening to halt his actions?”

“Halt what action?”

It was completely impossible for a martial master of Lee Ja-gon’s advanced caliber to have overlooked the profound abnormalities present in the scene.

He was consciously adopting a posture of deliberate ignorance.

“Is it necessary for you to protect the public dignity of your senior?”

A short time prior, Lee Ja-gon had openly declared the absolute impartiality of the testing process to Jang Sa-gun, entirely dismissing the man’s assertions in the presence of the gathered crowd.

Owing to that decisive action, the gathered disciples had likewise been reaffirmed in their belief that this trial was untainted.

“An official Appraisal Envoy remains completely insulated from the leverage of any branch within the Murim Alliance. They are entirely unswayed by matters as trivial as affection rooted in ancient acquaintances.”

“I comprehend.”

“You clearly harbor deep suspicions regarding these events, yet you choose not to launch a formal protest against the injustice?”

“It is of no consequence. I fully intend to restore the balance of fairness through my own actions.”

Lee Ja-gon stared at me with an expression that suggested he was examining a highly peculiar and unfamiliar specimen of life.

“““Waaaaaaaaah!”””

“Spectacular!”

At that precise juncture, Un Ji-hyang’s weapon was sent flying through the air, and the officiating Appraisal Warriors loudly proclaimed the triumph of Hong Sa-ryeon.

The watching disciples along with the various hall masters generously bestowed their approval, applauding the magnificent sword technique displayed by Sa-ryeon.

The progression of the matches moved swiftly.

Within the front bracket, Sa-ryeon consistently concluded her engagements against the other disciples without ever exceeding thirty distinct exchanges of form.

She entirely abstained from executing the Great Advance Divine Art or the Flash Thunder Sword Art which she had covertly acquired; yet, relying strictly upon the fundamental teachings she had mastered within the Busaeng Hall, no ordinary disciple possessed the capacity to withstand her skill—especially given her dedication to practicing through the night within the Sect Leader’s private cultivation grounds.

After securing a decisive victory over Eun-ho, who had successfully advanced into the semifinal tier, Sa-ryeon successfully established her position in the ultimate championship match.

Up to this specific juncture, the sequence of events aligned closely with the experiences of my past existence.

Conversely, within the lower bracket where Gye Cheol-yeong and I were positioned, Gye Cheol-yeong displayed a terrifyingly dominant level of martial prowess.

While Sa-ryeon contained her bouts within thirty exchanges, Gye Cheol-yeong generated an astounding spectacle by completely overwhelming his opposition within a mere ten exchanges of form.

Because the parameters of the third phase permitted total freedom regarding choice of martial styles, Gye Cheol-yeong showed zero hesitation in unleashing the Three Shadows Sword. In fact, his initial adversary suffered the misfortune of witnessing his own standard Blue Steel Sword shattered into fragments by the overwhelming force of Gye Cheol-yeong’s blade.

“The upcoming engagement features Gye Cheol-yeong against Jin So-un!”

Responding to the clear summons of the Appraisal Warrior, Gye Cheol-yeong and I advanced to face one another upon the expanse of the arena.

The individual who emerged triumphant from this encounter would earn the right to challenge Sa-ryeon in the final match.

“Inevitably, our paths converge at this exact spot.”

Deviating completely from his ordinary demeanor, Gye Cheol-yeong was radiating a massive, unfettered aura of hostility in every direction.

Because this energy poured out wildly rather than being contained and focused, merely standing within his immediate perimeter caused a sharp, prickling sensation against my flesh.

“Are you suffering from exhaustion? Your eyes are heavily bloodshot.”

“Indeed. That is accurate. Fatigue weighs on me, which is precisely why I intend to conclude this matter with extreme haste so I may seek rest.”

The moment Gye Cheol-yeong shifted his body into his opening martial stance, the officiating Appraisal Warrior positioned between us retreated to the margins.

Rather than adopting a corresponding opening posture, I chose to close the physical distance between myself and Gye Cheol-yeong.

“That is a falsehood, is it not? Is the true reason for your haste not the volatile influence of the Blood-Explosion Pill coursing through you?”

“…!!!”

Gye Cheol-yeong’s eyelids flew open in profound shock.

Even within the timeline of my past life, Gye Cheol-yeong had resorted to the consumption of the Blood-Explosion Pill out of a deep anxiety regarding Hong Sa-ryeon, whose rapid progress had been threatening his superior position.

I had only uncovered this historical reality long after the massive Righteous-Demonic War erupted, while sorting through the confidential archives of Mantongbu, meaning the opportunity to rectify the distortion had passed long ago.

“By what means could you……”

“I intend to realign what has been bent out of course.”

Before Gye Cheol-yeong could utter a response, I assumed my own combat stance and instantly executed a rapid thrust targeted directly at his throat.

CLANG—!

The violent kinetic energy with which Gye Cheol-yeong deflected my weapon reverberated with immense mass.

“You lack the capacity to accomplish anything against me!”

“Is that truly your belief?”

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.

I summoned forth the internal energy of the Fifth Star tier and unleashed the unadulterated, original variations of the Minor Heaven Sword Art.

Exuding total confidence, Gye Cheol-yeong deployed the intricate Three Shadows Sword, and the rapid strikes I directed toward him were consistently obstructed and neutralized by the dense manifestations of his weapon’s shadows.

“Go ahead and rely upon whatever trivial stratagems you possess. If you extend a hand, I shall sever that hand, and if you advance a foot, I shall sever that foot. I do not harbor the hesitant nature of Namgung San!”

It was readily apparent that Gye Cheol-yeong had accumulated a massive reservoir of resentment regarding the previous occurrences involving Namgung San.

Gye Cheol-yeong’s weapon, supercharged by the unnatural augmentation of the Blood-Explosion Pill, descended with the crushing weight of a falling mountain.

I immediately transitioned my tactical approach, adopting the highly aggressive Breaking Strike Form of the Minor Heaven Sword Art to mount my counter-offensive.

CLANG—! CLANG—! CLANG—!

The velocity of the Breaking Strike Minor Heaven Sword Art, which focused intensely on exposing vital energy nodes, accelerated to a degree that Gye Cheol-yeong found impossible to match.

It was an exceedingly complex task for him to regulate the sudden, massive influx of internal energy flooding his meridians.

One by one, Gye Cheol-yeong’s garments were sliced away, and fine lacerations began to manifest upon the surface of his skin underneath.

“You wretched bastard!”

The sight of his own blood caused Gye Cheol-yeong to begin mobilizing the total reserves of energy contained within his physical frame.

The raw, murderous intent emanating from his person intensified to such a degree that it could easily rival the pressure exerted by widely celebrated martial masters.

“I shall never grant you clemency.”

While I remained entirely uncertain as to what transgression I had supposedly committed to earn such profound malice, the blade of Gye Cheol-yeong, saturated with all the accumulated grievances of his past, had entirely transcended the boundaries of a standard testing duel.

Yet, what struck me as profoundly bizarre was the fact that Lee Ja-gon, despite his role as Appraisal Envoy, refrained from stepping forward to terminate the engagement.

‘What logic dictates this passivity?’

I purged my consciousness of all extraneous deliberations for the moment and elevated my internal energy reserves to the Seventh Star tier.

Gye Cheol-yeong was visibly deteriorating into deep frustration because it appeared as though he could cleave through my defenses at any given moment, yet the decisive blow continually eluded him; this psychological unraveling reflected clearly in the erratic path of his blade.

CRASH—! CRASH—! CRASH—!

Gye Cheol-yeong’s weapon strikes were undeniably drawing upon the absolute limits of his amplified internal arts.

Because the regulations of the examination strictly prohibited the employment of legendary or treasured weapons, I had been prevented from bringing forth the Black Dragon Sword; consequently, I could only observe as shards of the standard Blue Steel Sword fractured and scattered into the surrounding air.

“You have utterly destroyed it! You have brought ruin to everything I built!”

The sheer velocity of the engagement unfolding between Gye Cheol-yeong and myself had already left the capabilities of ordinary examinees far behind.

The watching disciples were completely transfixed, unable to avert their eyes from the high-level combat displaying before them.

RUMBLE. BOOM—!

As Gye Cheol-yeong’s blade impacted violently against the surface of the Great Training Ground, the solid masonry shattered into countless splinters, sending debris hurtling outward in all directions.

“Should… should we not step in to halt this madness?”

“Cheol-yeong’s mental and physical state appears highly anomalous.”

It was not merely the various hall masters who perceived the profound strangeness of the situation; even the officiating Appraisal Warriors sensed the impending danger and cast looks of inquiry toward Lee Ja-gon. However, Lee Ja-gon merely offered a silent, negative gesture of his head.

Recognizing that the critical juncture had finally arrived, I drew upon the absolute plenitude of my Tenth Star internal energy.

CLANG—!

Gye Cheol-yeong, whose weapon collided squarely with my own, was forced backward by three full paces for the very first time in our match.

“Senior Brother, this exchange marks precisely the hundredth form we have completed. I believe it could prove highly hazardous to your well-being should you attempt to advance beyond this boundary. Are you capable of sustaining this?”

“!!!”

The threshold of relatively safe operation for the Blood-Explosion Pill was strictly limited to one hundred forms.

Having already executed one hundred and twenty forms, Gye Cheol-yeong had advanced deep into perilous territory.

“Yield the match. There exists no rational justification for forfeiting your very existence for the sake of entering the Murim Academy.”

“You…… you…… continue to obstruct the fulfillment of my grand destiny until the bitter end!”

An even more massive surge of raw internal energy erupted violently from Gye Cheol-yeong’s physical frame.

The chemical properties of the Blood-Explosion Pill had initiated a secondary internal detonation.

“Hup!”

“Look at that!”

“Could it be sword qi?!”

The surrounding spectators unleashed collective exclamations of profound astonishment as they witnessed a distinct crimson energy coalescing along the edge of Gye Cheol-yeong’s weapon.

By virtue of accessing a tier of power completely divorced from his natural capabilities, Gye Cheol-yeong had unlocked the ability to manifest actual sword qi.

However, this development was fundamentally a cause for horror rather than celebration.

At this precise moment, Gye Cheol-yeong was operating under conditions that would inevitably inflict irreversible trauma upon his Dantian, and should his control fracture further, he risked succumbing to total qi deviation.

“Cease this!”

An individual positioned within the viewing stands cried out, their voice strained to the absolute limit, yet not a single spectator diverted their focus away from the center of the arena.

“I shall end your life. I shall end your life. I shall absolutely slaughter you!”

Gye Cheol-yeong lunged forward, his behavior mirroring that of an individual who had completely severed ties with sanity.

“Senior Brother, do you possess any true awareness? Do you comprehend the sheer magnitude of the transgressions you have committed?”

As though his capacity to comprehend human speech had entirely evaporated, Gye Cheol-yeong pressed his assault like a manic force.

Observing this, I chose not to retreat; instead, I advanced directly into the path of Gye Cheol-yeong’s charge.

The transgression of ascending to a position of high executive authority within the Murim Alliance by exploiting the passage granted by the Murim Academy in my past life, only to abuse the status of eldest senior brother to exploit the junior disciples like common laborers.

The transgression of deliberately deploying those very same disciples to the absolute vanguard of the Great Righteous-Demonic War purely to augment your personal prestige and record of merit.

The transgression of maintaining a posture of total indifference while the Taeul Sect teetered on the precipice of absolute destruction.

“I intend to exact full retribution for every single one of those misdeeds right here!”

“Perish! Perish! Perish! Perish!”

Gye Cheol-yeong repeatedly screeched his demands for my death as he swung his weapon in wild, chaotic arcs. I systematically evaded those lethal trajectories, penetrated his immediate defensive perimeter, and executed Lotus—the sophisticated manual technique belonging to the Flowing Cloud Sect’s Transplanting Flower and Grafting Tree Art—forcibly rotating Gye Cheol-yeong’s entire frame through three rapid revolutions.

THUD. BOOM.

Gye Cheol-yeong bounded upward from the stone surface instantly, resembling a creature entirely immune to physical agony, and renewed his frenzied assault against me.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.

Though highly erratic in its stability, genuine sword qi remained an incredibly lethal force.

It was a phenomenon that could not be indefinitely contained by utilizing a commonplace Blue Steel Sword.

Providing immediate confirmation of this reality, a series of fine fractures began to manifest sequentially along the length of my weapon.

“What a pathetic sight you present, Jin So-un!”

Gye Cheol-yeong bellowed, his tone dripping with the absolute certainty of an imminent triumph.

‘His conclusion is logical from his perspective.’

Sword qi, a manifestation accessible exclusively to those who had successfully penetrated the echelons of the first-rate tier, stood as an object of profound aspiration for youths of our generation, carrying a mystique no less significant than that of a legendary divine blade.

“I shall slaughter you! I shall claim my place at the Murim Academy! And I shall ascend to the absolute heights of this world!”

His lips gleamed with an unnatural moisture, paired with eyes completely mapped by ruptured capillaries.

Gye Cheol-yeong already viewed his victory as a finalized reality.

“Should you claim my life, Senior Brother, your only reward shall be immediate disqualification from the trial.”

“Hold your tongue!”

The volume of the crimson energy expanded to twice its previous dimensions, and Gye Cheol-yeong unleashed the Three Shadows Sword with the absolute entirety of his physical and internal strength.

Three massive, coordinated lines of sharp sword qi converged upon my vital acupoints, pressing inward with a suffocating density that left zero physical space for evasion.

Even though this performance was fueled by the artificial stimulation of the Blood-Explosion Pill, it remained, without question, an extraordinarily executed martial maneuver.

‘Be that as it may….’

Throughout the course of my previous existence, the adversaries I routinely faced were populated by entities capable of projecting not merely basic sword qi, but advanced sword force as though it were a trivial amusement.

“Do you genuinely believe you can withstand the true perils of this world relying strictly upon this mediocre level of mastery!”

A single step forward.

Simultaneously with the step I executed directly into the active field of the Three Shadows Sword’s destructive zone, the sharp energy of the technique narrowly bypassed my vital areas, merely grazing my garments.

Two steps forward.

Maintaining my momentum with an immediate subsequent advancement, the crimson energy brushed past the skin of my earlobe.

Three steps forward.

As the final manifestation of the Three Shadows Sword descended, I drove the Minor Heaven Sword Art straight into the center of the strike.

SWOOSH.

CLANG—!

Accompanied by a violent, high-pitched metallic resonance that threatened to pierce the ears of everyone present, the upper half of the Blue Steel Sword I wielded was severed and sent tumbling through the air.

Beholding that specific development, Gye Cheol-yeong’s eyes widened to their absolute limits as a massive grin spread across his face.

“The triumph belongs to me, Jin So……”

However, that exultation endured for a mere fraction of a second.

Because my defensive strike had successfully deflected his weapon outward, his thoracic region was left completely exposed, and I surged through that vulnerability, executing my final advancing step.

“Spend the remainder of your natural existence offering penance for your sins, Senior Brother.”

I delivered two rapid slashes utilizing the fractured remnant of my blade.

SLAAAAASH.

SLAAAASH.

The initial strike carved a path from his left shoulder descending to his right flank, while the subsequent blow tracked from his right shoulder down to his left flank.

Two intersecting lines of trauma manifested across Gye Cheol-yeong’s torso.

SPURT—!

Resembling the sudden bursting of overripe fruit, a violent torrent of crimson fluid erupted from Gye Cheol-yeong’s physical frame.

“Cheol-yeong!”

Gye Yeon-seok, who had been observing the events with rising horror from the spectator platforms, descended upon the training grounds with the velocity of a lightning strike, catching Gye Cheol-yeong’s collapsing form.

“Regain your consciousness! Cheol-yeong!”

Staring down at his son, who was entirely bathed in brilliant crimson fluid with his ocular spheres rolled back into his skull, Gye Yeon-seok let loose a desperate, throat-shredding shriek.

“What is the meaning of your inaction! That wretched creature! Jin So-un deliberately deployed a lethal, prohibited strike against our Cheol-yeong!”

In direct response to Gye Yeon-seok’s furious accusations, Lee Ja-gon advanced onto the surface of the training ground.

“The engagement has reached its formal conclusion. The victor of this specific martial duel is Jin So-un.”

Upon hearing Lee Ja-gon’s official declaration, Gye Yeon-seok, who had just transferred the care of Gye Cheol-yeong to the medical practitioner accompanying their entourage, began to foam at the mouth with unbridled rage.

“What absurdities are you uttering! That bastard clearly utilized a lethal finishing technique! Are the eyes in your skull mere decorative knots of wood!”

“The participant who initially manifested illicit sword qi within this testing arena and initiated the employment of lethal force was none other than Gye Cheol-yeong!”

“……Even so… regardless of that….”

“Retreat from this arena. Even taking your status as a parent into account, I shall not tolerate any additional disruptions beyond this point.”

Just as Lee Ja-gon shifted his head to observe my form, his expression betraying a deep sense of curiosity regarding my nature.

“Khheuuh… I shall slaughter… I shall slaughter….”

Gye Cheol-yeong, who had been resting securely within the grasp of the medical practitioner, suddenly forced his body upright onto his feet.

The entirety of his eyes had transformed into a solid, brilliant crimson hue, and despite the absence of winter conditions, thick plumes of white vapor billowed continuously from his oral cavity.

This was the absolute, undeniable manifestation of the Blood-Explosion Pill entering a state of total rampage.

‘He is destined to spend the remainder of his days confined to a sickbed.’

Precisely as I resolved to turn away from the scene and conclude my involvement.

“It is entirely because of your existence… You! You have utterly dismantled the entirety of my designs.”

Gye Cheol-yeong violently broke away from the restraints of both the medical practitioner and his sire, struck his feet against the masonry, and launched his body through the air.

“……Even if my path terminates at this exact moment, I shall absolutely ensure your demise!”

The instant Gye Cheol-yeong’s voice reverberated across the space like a thunderclap, causing the surrounding disciples to instinctively tense their shoulders, I immediately adjusted my physical alignment to absorb and neutralize his incoming assault.

However.

SWISH.

Lee Ja-gon, who had been positioned precisely between Gye Cheol-yeong and my location, accelerated with incredible velocity, materialized directly above Gye Cheol-yeong’s airborne frame, and brought his hand blade downward with total force.

THWACK. CRASH—!

Gye Cheol-yeong was driven violently straight into the stone surface of the arena by the singular strike, fluid actively leaking from all seven cranial orifices.

“Cheol-yeong! Cheol-yeong!”

Gye Yeon-seok scrambled back to his son’s side, frantically evaluating his physical status.

“What monstrous behavior is this! For an official Appraisal Envoy to execute such a strike against a young examinee!”

Turning his gaze toward Gye Yeon-seok, whose countenance was completely flushed with absolute fury, Lee Ja-gon delivered his response in a measured, low octave.

“Are you unaware of the severe penalties mandated when a candidate employs a forbidden substance during an official examination?”

“!!!”

“You ought to be intimately acquainted with those laws. It is my full intention to pay a formal visit to the headquarters of the Gyeryong Merchant Guild immediately following the conclusion of this Special Admission Track assessment.”

“……”

Gye Yeon-seok clamped his jaws together with immense force, pivoting his body to scan the immediate surroundings.

“Jang Sa-gun!!! Jang Sa-gun!!! You treacherous son of a bitch!”

He was frantically seeking out the individual responsible for engineering the circumstances that had culminated in this absolute disaster.

However, Jang Sa-gun along with his two subordinates, who had been hovering incessantly at Gye Yeon-seok’s shoulder and murmuring counsel into his ear mere moments prior, had already dissolved into the surroundings without leaving a single trace.

“Guild Master! Above all else, we must immediately transport the Young Master for emergency care.”

“Ghk! What are you doing standing about! Move Cheol-yeong with absolute haste!”

As Gye Yeon-seok barked his orders while actively foaming at the lips, the assembled martial guards and medical practitioners hoisted Gye Cheol-yeong onto their shoulders and rapidly departed from the perimeter of the Taeul Sect.

“As I suspected, the truth was within your awareness.”

“Rather, for what reason did you choose not to voice your objections with greater emphasis? Had you presented your case with absolute firmness, Gye Cheol-yeong would never have deteriorated to this extreme point.”

I offered my commentary, my tone filled with genuine skepticism.

“Are you suggesting to me at this moment that I should have initiated a direct confrontation against an official Appraisal Envoy?”

“If a regulation is fundamentally flawed, an individual possesses the moral obligation to speak out, even if they must personally endure the resulting fallout.”

Lee Ja-gon delivered his words in a manner that suggested he had been deliberately evaluating my character.

“Observing you now, it is clear you possess an extraordinary amount of audacity.”

“Your character diverges somewhat from the expectations I had formulated.”

Regardless of what specific archetype he had projected onto me, Lee Ja-gon clicked his lips together as though harboring a touch of disappointment.

“Had the situation escalated beyond your capacity to manage, I would have intervened to terminate the examination by some means.”

“You possessed the absolute authority and capability to accomplish that, yet you consciously chose to withhold action?”

“The premeditated act of employing a prohibited substance within an assessment that demands absolute impartiality is equivalent to the ultimate crimes of turning on one’s master and desecrating one’s ancestral lineage. As you are well aware, our Taeul Sect lacks the structural framework to penalize him through standard internal protocol. However, that reality does not dictate that the matter can simply be ignored.”

“Huh. Consequently, you intentionally permitted the scenario to play out, despite possessing full comprehension of his actions?”

“Indeed.”

Lee Ja-gon’s eyes exhibited a subtle, involuntary tremor.

“And now, Envoy, you shall be required to shoulder full accountability for harboring knowledge of this violation while choosing to let it proceed unhindered.”

Lee Ja-gon’s mouth curved slightly, as though he were actively suppressing an impulse to laugh.

“Accountability to whom, precisely?”

“Does the Education Pavilion not operate directly under the administration of Mantongbu? It is my full intention to forward a formal grievance to that sector. I happen to possess a personal acquaintance within that division.”

Naturally, given that maintaining close proximity to him would necessitate my own permanent settlement within Mantongbu, this assertion was constructed purely as a tactical bluff.

In response to my statement, Lee Ja-gon let loose an open, unreserved chuckle.

“The Education Pavilion does indeed operate under the broad umbrella of Mantongbu, yet it remains entirely insulated from external leverage, answering exclusively to the directives of the Pavilion Master himself. However, should the directive originate from the Grand Strategist, the paradigm shifts entirely.”

I found myself completely unable to decipher the true objective behind his commentary, causing me to incline my head in confusion.

“Prior to my departure from the central headquarters of the Murim Alliance, the Grand Strategist personally delivered a specific mandate. He brought Jin So-un of the Taeul Sect to my attention and explicitly instructed me to compile and submit a comprehensive evaluation regarding him.”

Contextualizing those words, it became glaringly obvious that Jegal So-myeong had absolutely not abandoned his designs on me, despite the clear rejection I had delivered.

“By virtue of that assignment, I shall possess the means to document not only your exceptional cognitive faculties, but also your martial proficiency, which manifests as arguably even more extraordinary than your intellect. Would the Grand Strategist not find immense satisfaction in such a report?”

For the very first time throughout this entire ordeal, my composure cracked completely, and a deep, severe frown settled upon my brow.