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Chapter 285: The Entrance Exam

At Bi Yi-jin’s words, I couldn’t help but shake off my body.

Could it be a curse?

If it were a real curse, I would grab that brat and burn him alive.

“Anyway, besides that…”

Bi Yi-jin seemed to want to say something more.

I listened, though I was slightly scowling.

No, I guess I should say I was pretending to listen.

“What’s wrong?” As he was about to say something, Bi Yi-jin took a small step back, looking at someone.

“I suppose not; if I say more, it might turn into a bloodbath.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“Let’s meet again next time.”

“There’s no answer, so I’ll take that as a yes.”

“No, why is this…!”

Without waiting for a reply, Bi Yi-jin dashed off.

The buzzing crowd, sensing that everything had ended without a hitch, had already started to move.

Gu Jeolyub and Gu Yeonseo had vanished without a trace.

Slowly, I took a breath.

“Ha…”

I could finally gather the energy that had been filled in my Lower Dantian.

‘…I didn’t expect Pejon to intervene.’

I vaguely knew he was interested in me, but I didn’t think he’d directly interrupt and change the conversation.

‘It’s awkward, but…’

He actually helped me just now.

I had been so caught up in my emotions that I couldn’t see the obvious.

Still, it was a relief.

I had been worried he might have changed even a little.

But he was still the same.

Confirming that brought me some peace.

‘While I’m at it.’

Since I was here now.

With someone to look for.

‘I might be able to kill him this time.’ That was enough justification to murder him.

Jang Seonyeon would die here.

That was also part of why I came here.

Pulling out the sharp killing intent that was bubbling inside, I suddenly glanced in the direction where Pejon had been.

I wondered what he had seen while speaking.

“Huh?”

There, wearing a deep hood over her head just like yesterday, was Wi Seol-Ah.

Even with the distance and the people moving quickly, it was definitely Wi Seol-Ah.

99

The moment I tried to walk closer to Wi Seol-Ah—

-1st Group, it’s time to start the entrance exam! Please gather!

As I momentarily shifted my gaze to the commotion mixed with my energy, when I turned back—

“Darn it.”

Wi Seol-Ah had already disappeared into the crowd.

If I wanted to find her like last time, I could have.

Using a little of my energy wouldn’t cause me to tremble in the exam.

But.

‘Why that expression?’

For some reason, Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes, which I barely saw, seemed to be pleading for me not to look for her.

From the start, there was a thick feeling of unease.

“Ha.”

Nothing seems to be going my way.

I wanted to vent somewhere, but sadly Gu Jeolyub seemed to have fled.

“Tch, heh—”

I clicked my tongue briefly and finally moved on.

First, there was something I needed to do.

…

!

.

The second disciple of Kunlun, Gu Wi-seok.

Known by the alias “Supporting Sword,” is a martial artist.

He has made quite a name for himself in the Central Plains, showing promise and gradually growing as a young martial artist.

Among the martial artists who crossed the threshold into adulthood, he is considered outstanding.

Excluding geniuses like the lesser clan leader of the Tang Clan or Shin Hyeon, the second disciple of Hwasan.

It’s safe to say he has established himself quite well.

“First group, Gu Tae, pass.”

So, he was able to find Shinryong Temple following Cheonghae Ilgeom and even secured the position of instructor.

However, Gu Wi-seok wasn’t fond of this position too much.

What does the sect leader think?

There are mountains of issues happening in Cheonghae right now, so why did he have to pass everything off to the elders and head here?

As a sect leader, he had to hold his tongue, but the dissatisfaction brewing inside him was still there.

In a place like this now.

It wasn’t the time to be teaching these young kids.

Let alone.

‘Sword Demoness?’

Gu Wi-seok thought of the only female instructor present among the other instructors of the sect.

He had already known through the sect leader’s words, but he never expected the legendary Sword Demoness to come and take a position here instead of working with her own sect.

Honestly, considering her reputation, it wouldn’t be strange if she were in charge instead of just being a mere instructor.

For someone of her caliber to intentionally submit herself to a position orchestrated by another sect like Hwasan seemed to carry some other meaning.

While his thoughts kept swirling, his expression deepened as his head ached.

Bang!

With a clear sound, Gu Wi-seok’s eyes shot wide open.

When he looked in the direction the sound came from, numerous late-stage talents were exclaiming in admiration at someone.

Moreover, Gu Wi-seok’s reaction was the same.

‘Huh.’

It’s no wonder.

Before a pillar that seemed to be ten feet long, a handsome young man was sheathing his sword.

Whoosh.

Just before the young man put his sword into its sheath.

Wooong.

The sword seemed to unleash a resonant cry, and though the mark on the pillar was deep but not too apparent, it was a long scar etched into it.

As Gu Wi-seok saw that, he had to drop his jaw in surprise.

‘Not just a scratch, but a scar?’

That long pillar was the challenge for this entrance exam.

It was to leave a mark on the pillar in some way.

Though it said “in any way,” everyone implicitly understood it meant to use their own martial arts.

While some might chuckle at the thought of merely leaving a mark, if one were to hear what that pillar was made of, they would join in agreement.

‘Evergreen Iron.’

Among the metals in the Central Plains, it is widely known as the hardest steel mixed in certain proportions.

Even though it was a tiny amount, it was enough to turn into something not easily breakable.

That simple black stone pillar was just the same.

How did they manage to mix Mandarin Iron into a stone pillar for just an entrance exam?

I couldn’t possibly understand that, but the truth was that the identity of that stone pillar was just as it was.

The task for the entrance exam that changes every year was at the discretion of the sect leader.

That means that pillar was given to them by Cheonghae Ilgeom.

What kind of test is this?

What did it mean to give it?

Gu Wi-seok saw no need to know that.

What mattered was whether the late-stage talents achieved success or not.

Knowing that, Gu Wi-seok gazed at the one who had created that long scar.

He soon recalled the young man’s name.

‘Was it Shin Hyeong?’

The current clan leader’s only son, a rising star.

The previously mentioned sword name would then be an extension of the clan leader’s Sword Art of Poisoned Blade.

‘It’s really not just a rumor.’

It didn’t seem to be mere gossip.

While the other late-stage talents struggled to leave even a scratch, Shin Hyeong had created that mark with just one strike.

It was no wonder the other late-stage talents were visibly impressed.

‘The level of late-stage talents these days is indeed extraordinary.’

Whether it was the Goryeo of the Six Dragons or the newly arriving Shin Hyeong.

Even the successor of the Sword Sovereign, whom I once went to find personally, was all on a different level when viewed through Gu Wi-seok’s eyes.

‘But still, it seems that this top spot is already decided.’

He thought it would be that way.

If someone could leave such a mark on that pillar, it was anticipated that this late-stage talent surpassed the others.

Although he would have to wait to see what the other dragons and peaks would do.

It was very likely that the top position would be claimed by that young man.

While Gu Wi-seok was lost in thought, he opened his mouth.

“First group, Jang Seonyeon. Passing…”

Crack!

Just as Gu Wi-seok was about to declare Jang Seonyeon’s passing, an odd noise erupted from a distance.

“What’s that?”

“What is making that sound?”

He shouted out in his betting demeanor to the buzzing late-stage talents surrounding him.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but don’t move!”

At that, Gu Wi-seok also took a defensive stance and surveyed his surroundings.

Where the sound came from was…

‘Could it be the area where the second group is doing their exam?’

Then could it be an ambush?

With the Kunlun Sect’s and the Clan’s martial artists stationed nearby, unless it was a King of Demons level, it shouldn’t be able to penetrate easily.

While contemplating what could happen next and planning to evacuate the late-stage talents first, a voice reached his ear that gave him the information.

“…What?”

Hearing that, Gu Wi-seok exclaimed as if he had misheard.

He was so surprised; instead of responding in thoughts, he vocalized.

“Did someone break the pillar?”

That was indeed an absurd statement.

After the loud noise reverberated, from the square, among the scattered stone fragments lay a young man holding his face and repeatedly sighing.

‘Cough cough…’

Meanwhile, the Sword Demoness struggled to hold back her laughter.

What could possibly be so amusing, constantly stifling her laughter before the situation where a giant hole was left in the pillar mixed with Evergreen Iron.

Fractures scattered in all directions seemed it might collapse at any moment if bumped.

And.

The one responsible for such brutality against the pillar was still quietly mumbling with their face covered.

“Ah…”

The instigator of this situation, Gu Yangcheong, was regretfully recalling the sight he had just glimpsed.

‘I should have controlled my strength better.’

In a moment of frustration, he had slammed the pillar.

‘How could something mixed with Evergreen Iron break so easily?’

There was something ridiculous about it.

Recalling the Evergreen Iron he had seen in his previous life, that one had been far superior.

Nevertheless, it shouldn’t have broken like this.

As the commotion mellowed out after the pillar had been cracked, a sense of eerie tranquility settled over the area.

This calm undoubtedly carried multiple implications.

It was certainly not something Gu Yangcheong would be happy to entertain.

He never intended for this to happen.

Feeling that, Gu Yangcheong muttered to himself.

“I messed up.”

Somehow, it seemed he had already made a serious blunder from the start of the exam.

 

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