My Note: I will upload the rest of volumes 2 and 3 after 40-50 days.
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Struggling to keep his eyes half-open, Bi Ryu-yeon surveyed his surroundings with a groggy gaze. The stinging sensation on his skin and the itchiness in his ears made him feel extremely uncomfortable and uneasy. It was tremendously irritating. As he looked around with eyes that still refused to fully open, he confirmed that several warriors were indeed glaring at him with accusing eyes, as if asking how he could possibly behave in such a manner. Nonetheless, they seemed to be individuals who had surpassed a certain level, as their eyeballs appeared to glisten and shine. It was likely due to the inner energy contained within them.
Only then did Bi Ryu-yeon finally realize where he was, how he was standing, and why. He also understood the reason behind the merciless glares directed at him from all around.
'Ah, this is the entrance ceremony for the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy…'
Indeed, this was the solemn and sacred entrance ceremony for new disciples of the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy. And he was currently standing here, trying to stave off drowsiness, in order to participate in the ceremony. Now that he understood everything, his heavy eyelids attempted to descend once again without any hint of remorse. However, the continuous barrage of scorching, disgusted glares from those around him ultimately forced even someone as insensitive as him to abandon his steadfast will. Bi Ryu-yeon, who had failed to get a good night's sleep, felt utterly devastated. Tragically, his slumber had been disrupted.
'Is it my mistake?'
Bi Ryu-yeon felt the need to reconsider his actions up until now. What was the reason he had wanted to enter the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy in the first place? Wasn't it to escape the boredom and tedium of everyday life and find something fresh, invigorating, and intellectually stimulating?
Of course, his longing for the children he had previously taken as disciples played a significant role as well. He wasn't completely denying that fact. However, he wasn't entirely acknowledging it either… Facing continuous oppression and exploitation from his master every day, he found himself missing the children who used to follow him and call him 'Master'.
Bi Ryu-yeon himself was surprised and amazed to discover that he had developed the unfamiliar emotion of 'missing' someone else. Where were those kids now, and what were they doing? Were they doing well? He couldn't help but worry if they were getting beaten up every day, just like when they were under his tutelage. Nevertheless, even if it was a fraudulent act, weren't they the children who had learned from him and regarded him as their master? It was only natural for him to miss them. Bi Ryu-yeon, like any ordinary person, was a living, breathing human being made of flesh and blood. Although many people were skeptical about this fact, it was undeniable that Bi Ryu-yeon was indeed human.
Month after month, thirty days a month, three hundred and sixty sijin[1], one thousand four hundred and forty meals, two thousand eight hundred and eighty cups of tea, two thousand eight hundred and eighty incense sticks burned! In other words, if he could eat without stopping, he could empty one thousand four hundred bowls of rice, and if he could drink tea without stopping, he could consume two thousand eight hundred and eighty cups. If he had the courage and patience to persistently observe, he could witness two thousand eight hundred and eighty incense sticks burn down. How unpleasant and painful it was to periodically calculate and present the income to his master at each interval! Every time, Bi Ryu-yeon felt a sense of crisis that if things continued this way, his life might end up being filled with continuous exploitation, overwork, and permanent abuse from his master. Therefore, as part of his plan to overcome the current crisis and design a new life, he decided, no, he was determined to enter the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy where the children were residing. He couldn't remain shackled to his master forever, living like a slave or a servant, so he made a bold decision with his eyes firmly shut.
Honestly, he had been meticulously preparing for this life-or-death plan for quite some time. It was an extremely arduous, grueling, and precarious task, but with his indomitable spirit, he had been secretly making thorough preparations while avoiding the eyes of his monstrous old master.
'Now is the time to break free from the clutches of that old man and become independent!'
Evading his master's devilishly keen observation skills and ghostly sharp intuition, he had cleverly manipulated the records of income and expenses, and diligently embezzled money through overwork. Hadn't he secretly robbed bandit hideouts and accumulated wealth and valuables, all in preparation for this moment?
But what was this? From the very beginning, the situation was proceeding in a completely different direction than he had anticipated. Just like when he first accepted disciples and taught them, Bi Ryu-yeon had been secretly hoping for exciting things to happen in abundance.
'But this is really not it. This place seems like a foolish den where pathetic humans who risk their lives for worthless things gather.'
Bi Ryu-yeon couldn't shake off the feeling that he had wasted all his money on this boring and unproductive event that lacked any sense of substance. From the perspective of his extreme money-oriented values, spending money on such an event was no different from throwing away money into the void, an utterly foolish and uneconomical act. The despair of realizing that something so uneconomical, unproductive, and inefficient could exist made him feel dizzy, but no one truly understood his despair.
How could his heart not feel suffocated? He was on the verge of feeling a surge of rage. Only yawning seemed to properly respond to the emotions called boredom and tedium. It couldn't be anything but a futile and hollow, regrettable affair.
***
Escape from the Entrance Ceremony
The entrance ceremony of the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, which should have been filled with solemnity, grandeur, and waves of emotion!
However, for Bi Ryu-yeon, it was nothing more and nothing less than an event so boring that it made him yawn repeatedly.
Looking around, he could frequently spot new disciples overcome with emotion, shedding tears here and there. But in Bi Ryu-yeon's eyes, they were simply regarded as pathetic creatures, eliciting only a sneer from him. For ordinary people who had gone through countless trials and overcome numerous obstacles to reach this place, it would be impossible not to feel moved. So, in a way, it could be considered natural for the new disciples to occasionally show tears of emotion. However, their feelings were not well understood by Bi Ryu-yeon. No, he could not even recognize them. The natural emotions they were experiencing now were too unfamiliar and foreign to him.
'How can they be moved by such a terrible waste?'
He simply could not comprehend it. Bi Ryu-yeon was someone whose thought process could not flow smoothly without money. For someone like him, the thousands of people lined up in the training ground and the colorful flags fluttering high above in various shapes and colors failed to evoke any sense of excitement. The harmonious symphony of excitement, spirit, and passion that permeated the ceremony only brought him boredom.
The welcoming speech by the senior disciple representative, the presence of key figures within the pavilion who were difficult to see on other occasions, the Vice Academy Master who was said to be as elusive as plucking a star from the sky, and the Academy Master of the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy whose mere sight was considered a family honor for seven generations! Even the Left and Right Guardians who were said to protect him like an iron wall, all of this was merely mundane to Bi Ryu-yeon.
Bi Ryu-yeon was currently seeking an opportunity. The perfect chance to escape from this suffocating and unbearably boring entrance ceremony and fly away to somewhere… Finally, when the welcoming speeches by the Academy Master, Vice Academy Master, Elder Representative, and Senior Disciple Representative, whom others wished to see even once in their lifetime, turned into a brutal torture for Bi Ryu-yeon, he finally put into action the decision he had been contemplating for a long time.
'If an opportunity doesn't come, you can create one!'
The fact that he had managed to endure this far could be considered as showing the minimum courtesy towards the impossible for someone like him.
"Swish!"
His body blurred as if he were a phantom, his form and shadow becoming faint, and soon, his figure could not be found anywhere within the ceremony grounds. It was a high-level, supreme ascension body technique that left no sound or trace. The group of people who had been relentlessly sending sharp glares at him until now almost had their livers fall out. They thought their hearts would leap out of their throats. They should consider themselves fortunate for not stumbling and falling by accidentally stepping on their protruding hearts. Bi Ryu-yeon, who had clearly existed until just a moment ago, had vanished like a phantom in an instant. Moreover, it was someone they had been nervously observing with attention. They couldn't even guess in which direction or at what speed he had disappeared. He had completely escaped their line of sight and concealed his whereabouts.
'This, this can't be… We, we lost track of him!'
Losing sight of the person they had been carefully watching and failing to even detect the direction, if this were a real battle, it wouldn't be surprising if a single sword strike flew from an unexpected blind spot and severed their necks. Losing track of the opponent meant immediate defeat. Nothing else could exist beyond these two words. They could now enter an extra life into the inventory column of their life-extension ledger. Even if they wrote dozens of pages of a 320-line, lengthy reflection letter, it would be an unforgivable mistake.
All the new disciples felt their souls tremble and chills run through their bodies. They had all simultaneously tasted a deep sense of defeat. The taste was far from sweet and even made them wonder if they were under a ghostly illusion.
The new disciples who were standing next to Bi Ryu-yeon diligently doubted their own eyes, ears, and all five senses, including their minds, but to no avail. They just stood there blankly, unable to comprehend the situation. They couldn't even guess the direction or grasp the slightest hint of his shadow. Were their eyes merely decorative? This was no different from instantly becoming inferior to the person who had disappeared. That's why their shock couldn't help but be even greater.
The place Bi Ryu-yeon had escaped to was the top of the roof of an elegant pavilion located nearby. It was a fairly tall pavilion with five floors, and upon reaching the top of the roof, the colorful and magnificent scene of the training ground where the ceremony was in full swing came into clear view, providing a spectacular sight. Using the tiles of the pavilion as a mat and the brightly shining sunlight as a blanket, Bi Ryu-yeon lay sprawled out, inhaling the warm sunlight and the gentle breeze caressing his face as if breathing in the breath of life, as if piercing through his stuffy insides. The sunlight was cozy. So, he soon fell asleep. It was a continuation of the nap that had been interrupted earlier, regrettably ending prematurely. However, even this time, his slumber did not last as long as he had hoped.
'Huh?'
The dream of enjoying the sunlight using the tiles as a mat was short-lived. A streak of shadow fell across his face. It was definitely not natural. It was an obstruction that directly blocked the warm sunlight of the spring day.
"Blink!"
Bi Ryu-yeon's eyes, which had been peacefully enjoying a pleasant nap, snapped open. Lying flat on his back with only his chin raised, the shadow of a person seemed to loom in his vision. Was he around twenty years old? He was a handsome young man with sharp, sword-like eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and a relaxed smile. A face filled with a bright, beaming smile, and two strands of blue hero ribbons crossed diagonally and tied on his forehead, drawing the attention of anyone who saw him. And the pair of swords mounted on his back, left and right, were also very impressive, as both swords had the same shape and color without the slightest deviation. It was certain that these two swords would be identical not only in shape but also in weight and feel.
"Hello!"
The unfamiliar young man greeted first.
There was no formal bow or salute. No honorifics either. He simply raised his hand and waved. It was a somewhat awkward greeting for someone he was meeting for the first time, but there was no awkwardness felt from that young man. He had a strange charm that attracted people, making anyone feel welcomed by his greeting. That's how much he possessed a refreshingly pleasant impression that appealed to others.
"I never thought I'd find someone with the same hobby as me!"
He seemed extremely happy to have unexpectedly found a kindred spirit, a comrade to share his feelings with, and his words were full of vitality.
"Who?"
"Ah, my name is Hyo-ryong, but my friends also call me Eul-jin Mu-ssang-geom[1]. Although it's too much for me. Actually, ceremonies may look cool on the outside, but they're incredibly boring for the people inside. Tedious beyond words. Don't you think so? That's why you're here too, right? Meeting an unexpected and unforeseen kindred spirit at a time and place like this, this might be what makes life enjoyable. A wonderful connection made while skipping the ceremony? Haha, don't you think it's amazing? It must be the virtue of heaven."
Without giving Bi Ryu-yeon a chance to open his mouth, this noisy man named Hyo-ryong, who had been rapidly firing his own words, grinned brightly at Bi Ryu-yeon. His expression showed that he found it incredibly amusing and fascinating. Bi Ryu-yeon thought his smile was truly bright and refreshing.
In fact, for Bi Ryu-yeon to show interest in others was a rare occurrence that deserved to be recorded. Originally, he had almost no interest in people other than those involved in financial relationships. However, Hyo-ryong kept expressing his astonishment, finding it so amazing to have met an unexpected comrade in such an unlikely place. Anyone could see that he was excited. It was not easy to find a friend who shared the same sentiments in life. However, despite Hyo-ryong's fuss, Bi Ryu-yeon outwardly remained unfazed.
"Are you done talking?"
Bi Ryu-yeon, who had been silently observing Hyo-ryong all this time, frowned and finally spoke.
"Yes."
"Well, but…"
"Yes?"
Hyo-ryong, who had been looking down at Bi Ryu-yeon while talking to himself, turned his gaze and asked.
"Everything is fine, but could you please step aside now? You're blocking the sunlight. I don't like that."
Bi Ryu-yeon's words far exceeded Hyo-ryong's expectations. Only then did Hyo-ryong seem to realize his mistake, saying "Oops" and taking a step to the side. The sun once again warmly embraced Bi Ryu-yeon's entire body. Only then did Bi Ryu-yeon, seemingly satisfied, relax his furrowed brows, smile, and savor the coziness and warmth of the sun. It was a luxurious indulgence that was difficult to buy even with money.
Watching Bi Ryu-yeon with envious eyes, Hyo-ryong, as if making up his mind, came to his side and lay down sprawled out just like Bi Ryu-yeon. The sunlight pleasantly stimulated Hyo-ryong's face.
"Oh? Aren't those clothes new? Is it okay if they get dirty?"
Bi Ryu-yeon asked. He was still the same Bi Ryu-yeon who was good at worrying about unnecessary things.
"It doesn't matter. Because I'm in a good mood!"
Hyo-ryong's speech had already changed to a casual tone. However, Bi Ryu-yeon didn't particularly mind that fact. That's how comfortable the conversation between him and Hyo-ryong was. Bi Ryu-yeon asked Hyo-ryong.
"How is it?"
"It feels amazing, this sense of liberation! This fulfillment! Hahaha."
Hyo-ryong answered with a hearty laugh. Bi Ryu-yeon also smiled at his answer. Bi Ryu-yeon was satisfied with his response. Bi Ryu-yeon extended his right hand. For him to be the first to reach out to another man, wasn't this the first time since the beginning of the world? Even if someone were to worry about the end of the world tomorrow, no one would be able to criticize him.
"I'm Bi Ryu-yeon. Let's get along well."
Hyo-ryong grasped his hand. The two looked at each other and smiled. The area below the pavilion was bustling with the ongoing ceremony, but the two people on top of the pavilion enjoyed leisure like immortals who had cut ties with the secular world. Everything seemed peaceful and relaxed.
Even when the signal to gather only the new disciples separately rang out after the entrance ceremony had ended, the two had no intention of ending their sunbathing on top of the pavilion. Of course, they didn't seem to have any intention of coming down either.
"Hey, Ryu-yeon?"
Hyo-ryong slightly turned his head to the side and called out to Bi Ryu-yeon.
"Yeah, what?"
"Someone is watching us."
"Yeah, I know. They've been there since you came up. Didn't they follow you?"
Hyo-ryong's body flinched so slightly that it was imperceptible. However, as if nothing had happened, Hyo-ryong awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said.
"Well, I wonder? I don't think I'm loved that much. Hahaha…"
Unlike his earlier reaction, his voice was nonchalant.
"Really? Then don't worry about it."
Bi Ryu-yeon spoke as if it wasn't a big deal. However, it was impossible for the execution to be as easy as the words. The continuous feeling of being watched by an unseen presence was unavoidable.
"Could it mean that we should stop slacking off and go down?"
"Is that so? Whether others fry and eat feces as pancakes, what does it matter to us?"
Bi Ryu-yeon spoke in a slightly irritated tone. He really wanted to refuse any interference from others at this point.
"Oh, have you had such an experience before?"
Hyo-ryong asked with a very intrigued look in his eyes.
"Not me. But I know someone who has. He was drinking and sleeping with his friends, and one of them woke up drunk and vomited into a bowl. In the morning, when that guy woke up, he must have mistaken the slightly solidified vomit for pancake batter. So, he fried it into a pancake and ate it."
"Was it edible?"
"Yeah, apparently it was quite edible. The ingredients were dark and less chewy, so he added a bit more flour to the eggs and fried it into a pancake, then shared it with his friends. It was a real delicacy. Of course, when they found out the truth later, they were all terrified."
"Ignorance is bliss, as they say. Shall we try making it ourselves? We might unexpectedly discover a new horizon of amazing flavors."
"I strongly advise you to give up on that idea."
"Really? Then let's put the new cooking experiment on hold for now. But who exactly is that friend of yours? I'm really curious."
"Well, it's nothing special. He's not well-known, so…"
Bi Ryu-yeon trailed off and avoided answering Hyo-ryong's question. He absolutely couldn't tell him that the culprit of that incident was Nohak.
"The signal for the new disciples to gather has been ringing for a while now. We need to receive our dormitory assignments, so let's go down."
"Dormitory?"
Bi Ryu-yeon asked with an expression that seemed to say, 'There was such a thing? I didn't know.' Hyo-ryong was inwardly dumbfounded.
"You mean you didn't even know about that until now?"
"Yup!"
Bi Ryu-yeon nodded his head as if not knowing was something to be proud of. Suddenly, Hyo-ryong sprang up from his spot, grabbed Bi Ryu-yeon's hand, and headed towards the place where the gathering signal had been ringing for a while. Bi Ryu-yeon allowed himself to be dragged by Hyo-ryong like a piece of luggage without any resistance. Hyo-ryong's body technique was remarkable, as if Bi Ryu-yeon's weight was not a burden at all while pulling him along. It was easy to guess that his inner energy level and lightness skill proficiency were extraordinary.
As Hyo-ryong was leading Bi Ryu-yeon to the gathering place, he grinned at Bi Ryu-yeon with a mischievous smile.
"Ryu-yeon?"
"Yeah?"
"If that person was really from the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, we would have been caught already, right? We've been caught slacking off from the start."
Despite his words, there was not a hint of perplexity on Hyo-ryong's face. He even had a subtle smile, as if he was enjoying the situation. It was an attitude that showed he didn't care about the observer at all. The presence that had been secretly watching them had already disappeared, and fortunately, the gathering place was not far from the training ground, so they were able to quickly reach a building with the name "Clear Mind Hall" written on it after passing a few pavilions. This was the gathering place for the new disciples.
The building was spacious and grand enough to accommodate a large number of people. Upon opening the door and entering, many new disciples were already gathered and waiting inside the main hall. Despite the presence of nearly six hundred people, there was no feeling of crowdedness in the main hall. That's how spacious it was inside the pavilion. Moreover, despite the gathering of hundreds of people, the inside of the pavilion was so quiet that it felt desolate. Bi Ryu-yeon didn't like that. It made him feel uncomfortable. At that moment, a resonant voice echoed throughout the pavilion.
"The Hall Master of Martial Spirit Hall has arrived."
The gazes of the new disciples simultaneously focused on the source of the voice. Soon, an elderly man walked out, accompanied by three warriors. The embroidered pattern of three swords and dragons on the chests of the escort warriors indirectly explained the old man's high status.
Although Bi Ryu-yeon only learned about it later from Hp-ryong, in the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, the measure of one's ability, regardless of seniority, was determined by the pattern embroidered on their chest. The three swords and dragons pattern consisted of three intersecting swords and three dragons surrounding the swords. Of course, as the number of sword dragons increased one by one, the difference in skill level became vast. This was because each number represented a stage in martial arts.
The three swords and dragons indicated a level of skill that looked down on the chief disciples of ordinary sects. When three such individuals with the three swords and dragons pattern were escorting the old man, what further explanation was needed regarding his status? Everyone's attention was drawn to that old man. The eyes of the disciples looking at him were filled with admiration and respect.
[1] a traditional Chinese unit of time equal to 2 hours