ISS-Chapter 27

Chapter 27

One day earlier.

“I will admit to plagiarism.”

“Yes?”

Seohwa and Wangpal’s eyes widened at my words, spoken after completing a week of seclusion and finalizing the modification of the Basic-Gong.

“……You will admit to plagiarism?”

“Yes.”

“You…… plagiarized?”

“Of course not.”

I chuckled and shook my head. Seohwa tilted her head, clearly puzzled.

“You didn’t plagiarize, yet you will admit to it? I don’t quite understand……”

“It’s simple. A strategy to catch the enemy off guard.”

It was around the point when a week had passed since entering seclusion to modify the Basic-Gong.

At that time, I was prepared to give up some of the future potential. No matter how talented I was, creating a martial art with infinite possibilities in just two weeks was no easy feat.

It would only be possible if my condition was perfect and enlightenment struck like lightning. Thus, I focused solely on referencing other Basic-Gong to a degree while adding my own color. Even then, I believed I could avoid the review. And then.

A status window appeared.

[Uicheonmun’s Cleanliness has reached Grade 3!]

[One or more sect grades have reached Grade 3. Unlocking a new function.]

[Artifactification has been unlocked!]

[From now on, you can consume Essence to specialize the effects of items with a ‘Grade’.]

[Currently specializable items: Uicheonpo, Socheongdan]

The newly unlocked function, Artifactification, was tremendous. What, after all, was the effect of a Spirit Pill?

The most common were increasing internal energy, treating internal injuries, and clearing the blood or mind. With Artifactification, I could sacrifice a few effects to maximize one. And the result was this.

[Consumed 30 Essence to activate Artifactification.]

[Artifact – Cheongdan has been completed.]

[The effect of increasing internal energy has been removed; thinking ability increases for a set duration.]

I consumed the completed Cheongdan and devoted the remaining week to madly modifying the Basic-Gong. The result was clear.

“No matter how much more time I spend, I won’t be able to create a better Basic-Gong. It means I’ve already done everything possible.”

“Yes. But what does that have to do with admitting plagiarism……?”

“Whose side will the Murim Alliance review panel favor?”

At my question, Seohwa pondered briefly before answering quietly.

“……Baek Ri Family. I don’t know how great the Five Great Families are, but there’s a difference in scale, after all.”

“Exactly. Even if this martial art is unique and unlike any other, they’ll force a plagiarism claim no matter what. This side is far too disadvantaged from the start.”

If my uncle at the I Military Division helped, we might somehow overcome this crisis. But Baek Ri Family couldn’t possibly be unaware of that.

My uncle would likely be unable to move in any way. Whether the family head personally applied pressure or the upper echelons of the Murim Alliance silenced him, intervention was highly unlikely. In that case?

I must handle it myself.

“Lead the atmosphere.”

I smirked, tucked the newly organized secret manual into my bosom, and turned away.

I will admit that this martial art is plagiarized. However.

“The Murim Alliance review panel won’t be able to.”

The review panel, here to prove my martial art is plagiarized,

will instead have to prove that it is not.

Back to the sect establishment ceremony.

“This sect has plagiarized Baek Ri Family’s martial arts.”

At Baek Riyun’s shocking declaration, the entire Murim Alliance review panel froze in thought.

“W-What did you just…… Did I hear that correctly?”

“He just admitted to plagiarism with his own mouth?”

The review panel fell into instant chaos. Even Lee Su, who held the position of review panel chief, let out a hollow laugh.

“What in the world is this…… Is it over before it even begins?”

“…….”

“Baek Ri Daegyeop. It seems the Uicheon Munju has given up. This matter will likely end easily……”

“Is that what you think?”

“Hm?”

Baek Rigang coldly cut off Lee Su’s words and glared at Baek Riyun, standing imposingly on the platform.

“He’s not the type to give up easily.”

As far as Baek Rigang knew,

Baek Riyun was the kind of man who, even surrounded by paths of death on all sides, would claw out a sliver of survival. To Baek Riyun, a dead end wasn’t despair itself—it was merely an obstacle to break through.

How was that possible?

Simple. Because he never even considered surrender, no matter how hopeless the situation, endlessly seeking and devising solutions.

“He must be hiding something.”

“Hmm. What could he possibly hide in this situation to make a difference…… Understood.”

Baek Riyun was not someone who would surrender so meaninglessly. Judging thus, Lee Su nodded at Baek Rigang’s caution, letting out a low groan. And then.

Baek Riyun’s words continued.

“I believe the review panel dispatched by the Murim Alliance is present. Could you step forward?”

“……Murim Alliance?”

The murmuring crowd’s confusion accelerated with Baek Riyun’s words. And just before the chaos peaked.

Someone who recognized Baek Rigang as he stepped forward shouted loudly.

“That’s…… the Changwolgeom!”

“Changwolgeom? Who’s that?”

“You don’t know Changwolgeom? The expert from Baek Ri Family who single-handedly slew the Four Fiends of Henan! He hasn’t appeared in the martial world for a while……”

Confirming the murmuring crowd, Baek Rigang relaxed his tense body, casually raised his gaze to meet Baek Riyun’s eyes, and spoke.

“Long time no see, Uicheon Munju.”

“…….”

“I don’t know why you admitted to plagiarism so readily, but you have a plan, don’t you?”

At Baek Rigang’s direct strike to the core, Baek Riyun nodded with a faint smile.

“You’re not wrong.”

“……As expected, nothing has changed. Lying a bit won’t grow thorns on your tongue.”

Baek Rigang knew.

Baek Riyun was exceptionally skilled in mind games. If Baek Riyun had been plotting something in secret, Baek Rigang wouldn’t have even suspected anything before being swept up.

Yet the current Baek Riyun was radiating the feeling that he had a move prepared. That meant this had already transcended mind games and entered the realm of knowing yet being unable to avoid it.

“So, may I hear what that plan is?”

“Nothing difficult.”

As Baek Rigang, having grasped that much, opened his mouth, Baek Riyun erased his smile and took one step forward. And.

“I, in this place open to all,”

The moment Baek Riyun’s words fell.

“wish to undergo the ‘Plagiarism Verification Review’ right here.”

“……!”

Baek Rigang, grasping Baek Riyun’s true intent, was shocked. And for good reason.

Baek Riyun was, in effect,

declaring a challenge to the Murim Alliance’s authority!

“P-Plagiarism Verification Review, right here on the spot?”

“Yes.”

“Are you in your right mind?”

Even Baek Rigang, who had been observing, couldn’t maintain his composure and asked me directly.

“Is there a problem?”

“……Of course there is! Holding a Plagiarism Verification Review on the spot—does that even make sense? By principle, reviews undergo strict verification before judgment, and are not open to the public!”

“But in this case, it’s different.”

“……What?”

I smiled faintly at Baek Rigang’s nonchalant response.

“Didn’t I already admit to plagiarism?”

“…….”

Unable to retort, Baek Rigang fell silent as I let out a soft laugh. At the very least, my words were flawless in terms of justification.

“The result of the review is already determined as plagiarism. Thus, this review is not a place to decide whether it is plagiarism or not, but a place to demonstrate how I plagiarized Baek Ri Family’s martial arts. There is no reason it cannot be public. Isn’t that so?”

“That’s……”

Of course, normally, the review process is not open to the public. Reviews consider various complex factors, and many cases would leave the public wondering, Is this plagiarism? Or is it not?

But this case is different. I have already admitted to plagiarism and declared I will demonstrate how it was done.

There is no justification to block it.

“Let me say it once more. I wish to hold the Plagiarism Verification Review right here, in this place.”

It must be here.

In a closed setting, no matter how they claim plagiarism, it cannot be overturned. But this place is the Uicheonmun sect establishment ceremony.

The crowd here all hold at least some goodwill toward Uicheonmun, and many have some connection to me. If the Murim Alliance’s public authority and my personal ties clash and cancel each other out, what remains is fair judgment alone.

Thus, it must be here.

“……Hmm.”

At my question, the scribe from the review panel let out a low groan after a moment of contemplation. And after a brief pause.

The silent scribe quietly nodded in agreement.

“……Let us proceed that way.”

“Lee Su Bugunsa! What do you think you’re doing!”

Baek Rigang, startled by Lee Su’s sudden action, raised his voice. In response, Lee Su answered with a cold expression.

“Baek Ri Daegyeop. You seem to misunderstand what this place is.”

“……What?”

“This is not a place for Baek Ri Family to interrogate Uicheonmun for crimes, but a place created for the Murim Alliance to mediate the conflict between Baek Ri Family and Uicheonmun. It would be troublesome if you mistake the subject as Baek Ri Family.”

Baek Rigang, mouth agape at Lee Su’s icy reply, fell silent.

It must be confusing. The Murim Alliance, supposed to side with them, suddenly turning to conduct a fair review.

But this proposal is one the Murim Alliance cannot refuse.

It must be so. After all, who truly supports the backbone of the Murim Alliance?

The Nine Great Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Families. Of course, all are crucial pillars of the Murim Alliance, but the true ‘foundation’ consists of the affiliated mid-to-small sects and the eccentric masters. They are the core and cornerstone of the Murim Alliance.

If, in a place where such people are watching, the Murim Alliance is seen as not handling matters fairly and squarely?

In that instant, the Murim Alliance is finished.

“We will accept. However, since the Munju has admitted to plagiarism……”

“Yes. I will accept the restrictions. If it is indeed plagiarism, Uicheonmun’s current Basic-Gong will not be transmitted for the next ten years.”

Now it begins.

I smirked at Lee Su, who gazed at me coldly. No matter how they try to appear fair, the Murim Alliance and Baek Ri Family are already in collusion. The review panel will surely latch onto any pretext to slap a plagiarism label on Uicheonmun’s Basic-Gong.

The surroundings are already filled with the enemy’s voices on all sides. In that case, all that remains is to resolve myself for a desperate struggle and break through.

With that thought, I assumed my stance.

“May we begin?”

“Proceed.”

“Let us do so.”

Chae-aeng!

As soon as the words ended, I immediately drew the Uicheongeom from my waist.

“This is one of this sect’s two Basic-Gong, Cheonggong.”

Kwadeuk!

I step forward and twist. The raised sword points to the heavens, the stepping foot aligns with the earth, and the eyes lock onto the opponent where they should.

Slowly.

The rotation begins at the toes, climbs the ankles, growing in size. Then, passing the waist and shoulders, it descends through the wrist.

In the void, three lines tear across.

Cheonggong Modified Deepened First Form

Heaven-Earth-Man

Chwaaaaak—!!!

“……Heo.”

Lee Su, momentarily entranced by the unfolded technique, let out a sigh of admiration.

“This is…… a Basic-Gong?”

“It’s not just any Basic-Gong. Horizontal or vertical slashes cannot reasonably be called plagiarism, so I omitted those and showed only this.”

“That may be, but…… you really did this alone?”

“Yes.”

Lee Su, briefly staring at me as if looking at a monster, let out a hollow laugh and shook his head before his expression hardened again.

“A fine technique. And this plagiarized Baek Ri Family’s martial arts?”

“Yes. I took the Three Powers from Heaven-Earth-Man.”

“I see. Even to my eyes, it certainly……”

“And at the same time.”

“Hm?”

I cut off Lee Su’s words and smiled faintly. Lee Su and Baek Rigang looked at me with uneasy eyes.

They must be afraid of what I will say next. After all, this situation itself is not what those two intended.

But it’s already too late. Because.

“It is also a technique that plagiarized Namgung Family’s martial arts.”

Now, even I cannot stop.