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After the Storm

In the silence that followed the storm, I quietly prepared on my own.

I felt eyes on me continuously. Damn it, ignoring them wasn’t easy.

A whisper turned into a buzz.

Curiosity, envy, jealousy—familiar yet foreign emotions.

“Who the hell is that?”

“They look young. Which family do they belong to?”

“Maybe a minor clan or a lowly house.”

“What could they possibly have that the Master of the Martial World wants as a disciple?”

“They seem unimpressive… but that face is terrifying! Eek!”

I glared at the man who spoke, causing him to flinch.

Really annoying.

I sighed deeply, feeling an emotion I hadn’t felt in ages.

“Damn old man.”

Just when I was trying to quietly gather some information, this happened. Could it really be a coincidence?

Somehow, I didn’t think so.

“Sigh…”

I brushed my hair back.

‘What did he sense?’

What could the Master have felt when he looked at me? The Tu-Apa Cheonggong inside me surely went unnoticed.

As soon as I felt the resonance, I hid it away. I was certain the Master didn’t pick up on it.

So, it couldn’t be a resonance issue. That leaves…

‘My body from the Transformation of the Body.’

With my young appearance and my physique that had shed its old skin through transformation, it was clear that this was what the Master had been searching for.

That’s why he was trying so hard to recruit me as a disciple.

Then…

‘Was it the same this time?’

I didn’t know how he figured it out from afar, but it seemed like that was why he suddenly approached and started feeling me up.

Just…

‘Can you figure that out by touching my arm?’

What could he have learned from just touching my arm? He didn’t even send any energy my way.

It felt like he only touched me to feel something. But apparently, the Master sensed something.

‘Sigh.’

This is troublesome.

If the Master fixates on me, that could become really problematic.

‘What do I do? Should I change my identity again?’

I could change my face or body anytime, and I’d be able to keep switching identities with my powers.

That part was no issue.

‘Timing is the real problem.’

Joining the Martial Alliance. That was the issue.

I’d heard that the entrance exam would end today. Missing it meant I wouldn’t be able to join for another year.

Changing identities now would be impossible.

‘Or maybe…’

Should I steal someone else’s identity within the Martial Alliance and disguise myself?

That could work, I thought, as I pondered various options for a moment.

“Next. Step forward.”

A voice came from the front. I looked up to see someone wearing a bored expression on the sparring stage.

That was the first entrance exam of the alliance.

I could see several others standing on different stages.

The first part of the exam seemed simple.

Engage in sparring with the judge on stage. A few rounds of matches to gauge whether the applicant is worthy.

It was an incredibly straightforward exam.

And…

‘What a ridiculously easy exam.’

It was designed not to be fair. A good bribe or connections were the best path to passing.

‘Is it really the same?’

If the Martial Alliance was as I remembered, it would be filled with bribery and requests.

I wondered how it was now.

‘Maybe it’d be different during the Sword Sovereign’s time?’

The peak of the Martial Alliance.

With the Sword Sovereign as the leader, it should’ve been somewhat different now. With such hopes, I stared at the sparring stage.

‘Huh?’

Lost in thought, I didn’t notice.

My assigned judge.

‘I know that face from somewhere…’

It felt oddly familiar. Who could it be?

I squinted but couldn’t recall.

While I was staring at that familiar figure.

He suddenly looked at me. Our eyes met, and the man’s face twisted into a frown.

“Step forward.”

‘Oh.’

Was it my turn? I stepped onto the sparring stage.

The judge then looked at me with curious eyes.

His gaze seemed to scream, ‘Is this the guy who caught the Master’s attention?’

“Ahem.”

He cleared his throat for a moment and then spoke.

“I am Beomdong of the Flying Dragon Sect.”

“Ah.”

Hearing his introduction, my eyes widened.

No wonder it looked familiar. It was him!

The guy who got cocky and got slapped by me once.

“Why do you look like that?”

Young Beomdong, he seemed around an age not yet reached adulthood.

Noticing my astonished reaction, Beomdong asked with a puzzled look.

“Oh, it’s nothing. You just look like someone I know.”

“Hm. Really? It’s hard to find someone who looks like me. If you were going to mention Jiyeon, keep it to yourself.”

Beomdong spoke nonchalantly. He had a vibe that suggested absolutely no bribery would be accepted.

Interesting.

‘Was he like this back then?’

Beomdong was one of those who had fallen from grace, but he looked strangely different now.

As I was staring at him curiously.

“Don’t be too scared.”

Swish.

Beomdong drew his sword and spoke to me.

“I’ll go easy on you. I have no intention of messing around with someone at the late-stage talents level.”

He didn’t look much older than me either.

From his mention of the Flying Dragon Sect, it seemed he had already been affiliated with them at this time.

His realm…

‘Peak, huh.’

He seemed just to have passed the peak level.

Considering his age, it was indeed impressive.

Besides, the Beomdong I remembered was also a Transformation Realm Martial Artist, so his talent would be remarkable.

“What weapon do you use?”

“I don’t rely on such things.”

“A martial arts category fighter. Good.”

Beomdong pointed the sword tip at me.

“Come at me whenever you’re ready.”

“…”

I stared silently at the sword.

“I’ll… let you have the first move.”

Thud.

As Beomdong spoke, he collapsed to the ground.

“Uh?”

“…Huh?”

“What the…?”

Everyone watching the sparring widened their eyes in shock at the sight of Beomdong falling over. I gave Beomdong a gentle nudge with my foot and pushed him aside.

“You said I could come anytime.”

I stepped forward and knocked him out.

I would’ve liked to smash his face in, but too many eyes were watching.

With a chuckle as I moved Beomdong aside, I turned to the judge and asked, “Is more confirmation needed?”

“…Uh… uh…”

The judge was flustered as he spoke to me.

“Baek Yangcheon of the Hundred Families. Y-You pass… You pass.”

I had passed the first exam.

As expected.

*

Immediately after, I came to take the second test. Thankfully, I wasn’t feeling as anxious.

Upon arriving at the next destination, I found others who had already passed, sitting around doing something.

It looked like papers were laid out on the table. Most of them seemed to be scratching their heads over something.

“Are you all passers?”

One of the judges inside asked.

“Yes.”

“Please sit here.”

I walked to where he pointed. There were also papers and a brush on the table.

Taking a seat, I confirmed.

‘This is…’

Quite literally a test.

There were countless questions about demon beasts.

“Answer the questions, you have a half a time point limit.”

“…”

I stared at the letter quietly. Most of the questions were about green and blue demon beasts, and occasionally about red ones.

But there were an incredibly low number of questions.

Of course.

‘Red demon beasts haven’t appeared yet.’

The problem was that the demon beast attacks had stabilized, and a relatively systematic part of things was in order at this time.

With this part resolved, it was a time when disputes among people were increasing.

“Hm.”

I examined the questions.

But…

‘This is easy.’

The questions were unbelievably simple.

‘After all, I was a top student.’

For someone who was the top of Shinryong Temple, this was nothing.

I picked up the brush and swiftly scrawled answers down, and not long after, I raised my hand to the judge.

“Hm?”

Seeing my raised hand, the judge smirked.

“Let’s see you try a little harder. If you give up this early…”

“I finished it.”

“What?!”

The judge’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You… finished it?!”

“Yes.”

“…That makes no sense.”

I had been given a half a time point, but less than half a quarter had passed.

Yet here I was, saying I was done, which left the judge astounded.

“You better not be half-assing your answers.”

“I assure you, check it yourself.”

“…”

He looked at me dubiously before taking the letter to check.

As a brief moment passed.

“Ha…”

He let out a short sigh.

“…Every answer is correct?”

None of them were wrong.

“Can I go now?”

“No…”

How is this even possible?

After pondering for a moment, the judge seemed to understand something and nodded.

“…I see. Who the hell are you?”

“Excuse me?”

“No… Just… Ha. There’s no point in asking, is there? You can go.”

He looked at me with a somewhat eerie gaze.

His expression was filled with dissatisfaction. At that sight, I realized.

‘Ah, so this guy…’

Because I finished too quickly, he likely suspected I had some way of cheating and got the answers.

Especially considering his recent words.

‘Who the hell are you?’

Implying that someone has created a ruckus already.

‘Hmph.’

Even though I couldn’t believe I was being misjudged, I had passed nonetheless.

And so, I turned on my heel and walked straight out.

‘For the third one…’

Once I finish the last test, will I finally be a member of the alliance?

‘Geez.’

In my previous life, I had done everything to avoid this place, yet here I was again, taking tests and all.

What a joke.

As I scratched my cheek and prepared to walk away, someone called out to me.

“Excuse me.”

“Hmm?”

I turned to see who it was.

“That one. Are you coming out after passing?”

A woman spoke in a low, cold voice. I was curious who it could be.

Then…

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t help but react loudly upon seeing who spoke to me.

An incredibly beautiful woman.

Despite having a somewhat chilly look with slightly upturned eyes, she was a beauty who would undoubtedly attract attention anywhere.

She seemed to have just crossed the threshold of adulthood, reminding me of someone from the Moyong Family.

But above all else, I recognized this woman.

“In that case, I have a proposal—”

“Lady Mi…?”

“…What did you say?”

At my words, the lady, Mi Hyo-ran from the Baekhwa Sect, made a face of disbelief.

 

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