***
The Great Disciple nomination ceremony took place.
I woke up early in the morning, washed my body clean, put on the cleanest clothes I had, tied my hair neatly, and applied a little oil to keep it from flying about.
After paying my respects to the Sect Ancestors at the Ancestral Hall, I went and paid my respects one by one to the Elders who were preparing.
The Hall Leaders also came out wearing the cleanest clothes they each had, different from usual.
Since most of them were new clothes made from the fabric that Wang Geum-san had brought, I had a hard time holding back my laughter inside.
After finishing paying my respects to all the Hall Leaders, it was my turn to pay my respects to Jin Tae-san, the Hall Leader of the Outer Hall and my father.
“.......”
Jin Tae-san was speechless for a long time with a faint look in his eyes.
“The Sect Leader is waiting.”
“I was the only one among the Elders and Hall Leaders who opposed your Great Disciple nomination.”
“.......”
“Are you upset?”
“Why would I be upset? It’s not like it’s been a day or two that you’ve underestimated me.”
“When you take on the duties of a Great Disciple, it is not just the authority to lead the disciples that is created.”
The faint look in his eyes soon became teary, changing as if he were recalling a distant memory.
“It is always to be the person at the very front of the disciples, and the person responsible for their lives.”
Was Father looking at me now, or was he looking at my childhood?
“From now on, you must take care of your junior brothers and junior sisters before your own life. Can you shoulder that heavy weight?”
“.......”
In the world, what parent could be willing to take on a job where their child’s life is pushed to the back?
Although I had never had children while living one life, I had had subordinates who were like flesh and blood, so I could understand it, at least indirectly.
“Father.”
“......Yes.”
“I will definitely survive, no matter where I am.”
“.......”
“And behind me, my junior brothers and sisters will always be together.”
Jin Tae-san, who looked like he would shed tears, eventually turned his head and waved his hand.
I deliberately avoided the seat and at the same time moved forward in front of Hong Mun-gi.
“Disciple Jin So-un. Do you swear before the Sect Ancestors that you will do your best for the development and glory of the Tae-eul Sect?”
“28th generation disciple Jin So-un. I swear before the previous Sect Ancestors. I will become a disciple who stands at the very front of the junior brothers and sisters for the development and glory of the Tae-eul Sect.”
Sect Leader Hong handed over with both hands a black cloth, the same as the one he wore on his head, and I also raised both hands while kneeling to receive the cloth.
On the black cloth, a silver Tae-eul Sect pattern, which proved that I was the Great Disciple, was embroidered.
I slowly wrapped the cloth around my head and approached my senior and junior brothers.
Waaaaah.
From all sides, my senior and junior brothers rushed in cheering, and each of them offered words of congratulations.
I answered them one by one and shared handshakes.
After the greetings ended like that, I approached Gye-cheol-yeong and Gye Yeon-seok, who were standing on one side.
“Please take care of me from now on. Senior Brother.”
“.......”
Gye-cheol-yeong was in a situation where he did not know whether to extend his hand or not.
At that moment, Gye Yeon-seok revealed his teeth and growled.
“It is not all over yet.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you think I wouldn't know that you are trying to steal our Cheol-yeong’s spot at the Murim Academy?”
“Aren't you mistaken about something? The special admission is a place where the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja (Enlightened Envoys) select the most excellent disciples through objective evaluation.”
“Hmph! Let’s see.”
Gye Yeon-seok urged Gye-cheol-yeong to leave the Tae-eul Sect.
I was surrounded by the disciples again and started to accept their chattering conversations.
“Damn guy.”
“Father, what do we do now?”
A look of worry now cast over Gye-cheol-yeong’s face as well.
A feeling of injustice and resentment piled up.
At the Cheol-geom-mun, he could not step forward when an incident occurred because he attended as a representative of the Gye-ryong Merchant Group.
Of course, if he had known that the Chief Military Advisor would eventually side with the Tae-eul Sect, he could have stepped forward sufficiently.
But excluding such things, the Cheol-geom-mun was the second largest sect after the Nam-gung-se-ga in Anhui Province.
From the position of the Gye-ryong Merchant Group, which does business based in Anhui Province, he could absolutely not step forward.
He felt even more resentful that Nam-gung-san of the Nam-gung-se-ga had visited.
In any case, didn't Nam-gung-san show mercy at the end?
If Nam-gung-san had just pulled his sword at that time, all of Jin So-un’s fingers would have been blown away, and in the end, Nam-gung-san would have taken the victory.
He was enraged by the foolishness of those who saw this as the Tae-eul Sect’s victory.
On top of that, what was this about the Wang Manor all of a sudden......
His plan to enter the Murim Academy through special admission, build connections with the talents of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Clans, roam the Murim with them, and later make the Gye-ryong Merchant Group the best merchant group in the world, had all become a mess.
“There is no need to be disappointed. Even if they use ungrateful tricks, the talent for special admission will eventually be you.”
Gye Yeon-seok’s vague story didn't even enter his ears.
“Don't you know? Even if you become the Great Disciple, if you fall in the total score, you cannot be selected for special admission.”
“What does that mean?”
“Special admission is divided into a total of three tests. The first tests knowledge about martial arts and Murim, and the second tests understanding of sequences and internal energy. Finally, there is even a duel test for actual combat.”
“In the end, as long as I don't know what that test is, aren't I in the same position as them?”
“You guys! Who are you!”
Gye Yeon-seok snapped and shouted loudly.
“You! You are the legitimate son of the Gye-ryong Merchant Group! Are you still unable to realize that you are different from those bunglers of the Tae-eul Sect from your birth, from the very beginning!”
“.......”
Just in time, three human figures entered the precincts.
They were figures of various atmospheres, including a man with the appearance of a scholar, a woman with the appearance of a warrior, and even a middle-aged man carrying a sword who exuded a gentle energy in the middle.
“Merchant Group Leader. It has been a while.”
“Oh my! You have finally come! I have been waiting for you until my neck fell out.”
“I don't know what to do if you welcome this Jang. Is that person really Gye-cheol-yeong, who they said was a famous talent?”
“Haha, talent, you say. It is just that he is a little outstanding. What are you doing, greet him.”
Gye-cheol-yeong looked at Gye Yeon-seok with a bewildered expression at the situation that was proceeding suddenly.
“You have heard the nickname Il-ta-gang-sa (Top-tier Tutor), haven't you?”
Gye-cheol-yeong’s eyes grew as big as chestnuts.
“No way.”
“Yes, he is Mr. Jang Sa-gun, the Il-ta-gang-sa who worked as a Gyeon-seong-sa-ja for 15 years, and recently sent all the students he taught through pinpoint tutoring to the Murim Academy.”
Jang Sa-gun looked at Gye-cheol-yeong with proud eyes.
“Even if you were a dull person, I have never failed to send someone to the Murim Academy. If it is an excellent talent like you, this work will be easier, so I am even more pleased.”
Along with his confident tone, Gye-cheol-yeong’s feeling of injustice, which had been heard so much in his ears until now, melted away at his reputation.
‘Jin So-un, that cheeky guy, let’s see!’
“Who is talking about me?”
“Wouldn't one or two people be doing that?”
I, who was picking my ear, asked Sa-ryeon while tilting my head.
“I have never done anything to be cursed at by anyone?”
“But you have done many crazy things that could make people vomit.”
“.......”
“Do you know what the children tell me when they come running to me as soon as their practice is over? It is, ‘Junior Sister, please tell us the story of what happened at the Cheol-geom-mun.’ I have done it so much that I can do it even if I wake up from sleep now.”
“Hey, what kind of crazy thing is that? It was just...... my resolve was different.”
“What about the duel with Great Hero Nam-gung?”
“.......”
“And to the Hall Leaders, you gather the children and always say, ‘Never grab a sword with your hand.’ Is this education that should be done in a normal martial arts sect!”
“......Uhem, wouldn't they know soon when they grow up a little?”
Zzing.
Sa-ryeon’s gaze became even sharper, and I eventually turned my head to avoid her gaze.
“So, why did you tell me to come here? You didn't bring me here to build a hideout with me, did you?”
The place where I brought Sa-ryeon out was Mt. Hwa-un near the Tae-eul Sect. It was a place where I climbed up and down and played almost every day when I was young.
Among them, the clumsy hideout I had built with a few of my junior brothers in the wide vacant lot in the middle of the mountain still remained.
“A Gyeon-seong-sa-ja will come in a while.”
“That is right.”
“We must prepare too.”
“We?”
“Usually, in the case of applying to the Murim Academy through a secular disciple like Gye-cheol-yeong, they invite someone who knows well about the test given by the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja as a teacher and receive private tutoring.”
“Yes?”
Sa-ryeon had the expression of someone who heard something wrong.
“The decision of the Gyeon-seong-sa-ja is made regardless of the sect’s decision, so those are the methods that were born. Perhaps by now, someone who used to be a Gyeon-seong-sa-ja in the past is invited as a teacher to the Gye-ryong Merchant Group and is giving private tutoring to Gye-cheol-yeong.”
Even in my previous life, Gye-cheol-yeong’s habit of liking to show off appeared as bullying in front of the junior brothers who were frustrated by failing the Murim Academy.
Jang Sa-gun, the Il-ta-gang-sa who said he had never failed in the special admission to the Murim Academy. It is said that his prediction rate for test questions is 70 to 80 percent.
“Th, then this is unfair.”
“Yes, it cannot be seen as fair. But most of the past Murim Academy tests were like this.”
Sa-ryeon’s face became sullen like a wilted puppy.
“This is really too much.”
“There is no need to be so disappointed. Because we can use the same method.”
“Yes?”
“Didn't I tell you, preparing for the test in advance is not subject to the Murim-maeng’s sanctions.”
“But we don't have money to invite such a teacher.......”
Even though the living conditions had straightened out because of the Wang Manor, it was not a situation where we could spend a huge amount of money for the children’s private tutoring.
“I knew that, so I extracted the expected questions.”
“Senior Brother? With what talent?”
I handed one book to Sa-ryeon.
“Don't you know how good my memory is? When I went to a second-hand bookstore in Hefei during my last outing, I memorized all the questions that had appeared during the last sessions and organized them.”
Of course, it was a lie. I just applied the tests that appeared in my previous life by changing a few sentences and words.
At least if you just memorize the whole book, you won't fail the written test.
“Senior Brother...... Can I trust this?”
“Why can't you trust your Senior Brother?”
“......Well, because you are too childlike?”
“Uhem. It is the first order as the Great Disciple. Tell all the junior brothers to copy this book and memorize it by heart.”
“......I understand.”
Eventually, Sa-ryeon nodded.
Thinking that she wouldn't have to feel vague anxiety anymore thanks to the book, she felt better.
After that, I started the main story for which I had called Sa-ryeon to this place.
“What is that box?”
I opened the box I received from the Wang Manor’s Chief Steward and showed it to her.
“Ooh, it’s cold. What on earth are these? Why is there such cold energy...... cold energy?”
When Sa-ryeon, who was talking, felt suspicious and approached the objects in the box.
“Senior Brother, no, no way, these.......”
“Yes, they are spiritual medicines.”
“Are they just spiritual medicines? I don't think so? There is clearly cold energy.......”
Spiritual medicines also have grades. Those at the level of general health tonics have no effect in increasing internal energy and stop at invigorating the energy in the body. Most of these spiritual medicines are no different from general food.
However, spiritual medicines that carry special energy such as cold or heat energy bring several times greater efficacy than general spiritual medicines.
Of course, there is a limit to consumption as much as that, but if they meet their right owner, it was clear that they could give wings to that target.
“They were given to me by the Wang Manor.”
“By the Wang Manor? No way. No matter how much money they have, such precious spiritual medicines....... And not just one, but three.”
“.......”
I felt a bit of a pricking conscience at the word three.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and the White Snake Divine Gall, which I could consume, had already entered my mouth out of the five.
‘Thanks to that, my internal energy has now exceeded one Gap-ja.’
In addition to that, my whole body was still full of the energy of the spiritual medicine that I hadn't absorbed properly yet.
However, the point had arrived where higher-level martial arts became more desperate if I wanted to absorb all these spiritual medicines.
“......No. Still. I don't want to eat them. Instead, instead. Tell the Sect Leader and give them to other junior sisters.......”
“That is why I deliberately called you.”
“Yes?”
I deliberately did not reveal the existence of the spiritual medicines that came through the Wang Manor.
Right now, I need someone to lead the disciples of the Tae-eul Sect.
It takes too long for everyone to grow together equally, and if that happened, it was easy to get dragged away by being held back before leading them.
‘At least 3 people.’
It is the minimum number of personnel that I expect to enter the Murim Academy.
Even including me, two more are needed, and as of now, the only people who have a chance to enter the Murim Academy are Sa-ryeon, Dong-ryong, who gave me a rice cake that was several days old, and his brothers Geum-pyo and Eun-ho.
Moreover, these spiritual medicines are of extreme Yin property that only women can consume.
If I had informed the Sect Leader, they could have shared them through a fair process, and if that happened, it was clear that the amount returning to Sa-ryeon would be small.
“No matter how much......”
“I will do my best in this Murim Academy test.”
“......?”
“And if I fall, I will take the regular exam and enter the Murim Academy.”
“Yes? Why go that far.”
“If we don't enter the Murim Academy, we can't be a shield for the junior brothers who will perform mandatory service in the Murim-maeng. In the end, we will also be swept away with them.”
“......Hey, Senior Brother, in such a peaceful time, what...... you are just returning after suffering for a few years.”
Sa-ryeon’s face, which had been accepting it as a joke, started to distort slowly while looking at my stiff face.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“Even in peaceful times, battles occur every day with the Black Forces on the front line in the west. And the higher-ups of the Murim-maeng do not care much about the disciples dying on the front line. Do you want to entrust the lives of the junior brothers to them?”
“Of course not!”
“Then eat.”
“!”
“Eat and do whatever it takes to enter the Murim Academy. Only then can you protect the junior brothers.”
Sa-ryeon, who was thinking deeply, looked at me with shaking eyes with a face that seemed moved.
“I understand. I will eat, so stop saying scary things.”
“You have learned the Dae-jin-sin-gong, right?”
The Dae-jin-sin-gong is a high-level martial art within the Tae-eul Sect that can only be learned by entering the Kwae-hwa-dang. Sa-ryeon had been learning the Dae-jin-sin-gong and the Seom-roe-geom-beop for a long time by begging her father, the Sect Leader.
Sa-ryeon, who hesitated for a moment, nodded.
“How much on earth do you know?”
“You eat the Inner Core of the Snow Carp and the Snow Lotus Seed.”
“Both of them?”
“I heard the news that Gye-cheol-yeong bought the Mae-hwa-dan again. Can you not be pushed by Gye-cheol-yeong in internal energy?”
“.......”
“And give the remaining Yeong-cheong-seok-gyun to the junior sister who you think is most attached to the Tae-eul Sect. Of course, you must pass it secretly.”
“It is all for the Tae-eul Sect, right?”
“Yes.”
Sa-ryeon put one spiritual medicine in her mouth, sat in a lotus position, and started Woon-gi-haeng-gong.
I watched her for a moment and then turned my body and started standing guard.
‘I did everything I could.’
Mosa-jaein Seongsa-jaecheon (Man proposes, God disposes). I had changed my past, but this was the first time I was changing the huge flow.
I watched the setting sun, swearing that I would not repeat the same life.
One month later.
The Gyeon-seong-sa-ja visited the Tae-eul Sect.