Chapter 67

Chapter 67

The majority of people don’t particularly welcome being placed in positions that draw attention.

That’s not strange when you think about it. Unlike everyday mistakes, mistakes made in front of the public are magnified and engraved in one’s mind, so when placed before the public, ordinary people naturally shrink without realizing it.

Though one can overcome this through training or pretend it doesn’t matter, few people feel no pressure in front of the public from the start. That’s because it’s not a matter of effort but a matter of temperament. And.

“Huaaaam.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, currently yawning languidly in his quarters, was fortunately the type of person who didn’t need to make an effort to stand before the public.

“It’s finally the competition day.”

“Maintain your dignity. Alliance Leader.”

The day of the competition.

“There’s no one watching anyway, so why be so uptight?”

“One’s usual conduct unconsciously becomes ingrained in the body.”

At the Sado Alliance Leader speaking with disheveled appearance while stretching languorously in his quarters, Daesageom frowned and shook his head.

“If you show a slovenly appearance normally, you’ll inevitably show a slovenly appearance in official settings with even slight carelessness. Even if there are no mistakes now, if such appearances accumulate, they’ll eventually lead to one mistake. Can you guarantee that mistake won’t be fatal?”

“……That’s quite a grand statement. It would have been nice if it weren’t reproaching me.”

“Alliance Leader.”

“Alright. I got it. When you present sound logic, I can’t refute it.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who stuck out his tongue at Daesageom’s rigid criticism, shrugged his shoulders. Though it sounded like nagging, it wasn’t wrong.

Those who stand above must be careful of their behavior. This isn’t simply considering subordinates’ reputation. The higher one’s position, the greater the repercussions of their actions.

For instance, if the Emperor walks down a road and complains once that the road is uncomfortable and hard to walk on, the officials of that region will have no choice but to gather the people and maintain that region’s roads. Even if the Emperor said it without much thought. Moreover, isn’t this the heart of the orthodox path?

The orthodox people harboring hostility toward the Sado Alliance Leader won’t miss even small actions and will try to dig into their meaning.

‘How troublesome. I shouldn’t come directly next time.’

Having finished his contemplation, the Sado Alliance Leader, who clicked his tongue, slightly changed the subject.

“By the way, what does Daesageom think of this competition?”

“There’s nothing to think or not think about.”

“Your disciple is in Muryeongwan, isn’t he? The kid who boldly declared he’d win on the first day. Isn’t that him?”

“That’s correct.”

“Don’t you want your disciple to do well? I know he’s a disciple you cherish quite a bit.”

At the Sado Alliance Leader’s question filled with mischief, Daesageom, who sighed deeply, answered as if tossing it out.

“I have no particular thoughts. Whether he does well or not in a place like this isn’t very important.”

“Ooh. Why?”

“Because that kid’s talent is difficult to fully demonstrate in this kind of child’s play.”

Seonwoo Gang. His own disciple.

When that kid first entered Hyeolgeommun, Daesageom hadn’t paid much attention. The newly entered Seonwoo Gang’s disposition was too gentle for the dark path, and he disliked seeing blood.

Generally, disposition and talent align. In the orthodox path perhaps, but in the dark path, the probability of someone with a weak disposition succeeding is extremely low. That’s why Daesageom also didn’t pay much attention to Seonwoo Gang at first.

But what was the result?

“That kid’s talent surpassed mine. And the type of that talent is this.”

Crushing and intimidating the opponent. Suppressing and killing.

Seonwoo Gang’s talent is specialized in such things. And that also means it’s difficult to properly demonstrate his capabilities in this venue whose purpose is ultimately friendly exchange.

“There’s no need to win. I just hope that weak disposition gets corrected even a little.”

“Daesageom is utterly ruthless. It’s natural for a master to want their disciple to succeed.”

“I’m the sect leader of a school before being a master, so it’s natural. More than that, is the Alliance Leader alright?”

“Hm?”

“Looking at it, Muryeongwan seems to be scheming some plan, but wasn’t the ceasefire a condition for when Mujeongwan wins? Won’t it become troublesome if Muryeongwan actually wins?”

“Hmm.”

At Daesageom’s words, the Sado Alliance Leader nodded as if something occurred to him and smiled slightly.

“It would become troublesome. The ceasefire will be concluded, but we won’t be able to have a ceasefire while saving the orthodox Murim’s face. Various troublesome situations will arise.”

“Your attitude doesn’t seem very troubled though.”

“Didn’t I say? That even if we win the bet, it’s not much of a loss. Separate from the negotiations dragging on, there’s enough to gain.”

The condition when Muryeongwan wins is one small request that can be made to the Murim Alliance. And the scope of that small request is judged by the Murim Alliance.

Whatever request is made, the Murim Alliance can just brush it off by saying ‘that’s not a small request.’ In reality, the Murim Alliance’s leadership is probably thinking to brush it off that way if it’s a request that causes them even slight loss. However.

“Words carry power. Even if that request isn’t actually fulfilled.”

Don’t they say words without feet travel a thousand li?

This competition has an unprecedented amount of attention focused on it. That means the eyes of the ‘public,’ which are usually rare, are concentrated here. Being able to make one demand to the Murim Alliance in such a place.

Even if it seems small, it’s not actually a small value. Especially if one focuses on the fact that the demand was made, regardless of whether it’s fulfilled.

“It’s about time. Shall we go then?”

The Sado Alliance Leader, wearing a faint smile, draped flowing garments over his shoulders and slowly moved to leave the lodging.

“I should see what kind of scheme that fellow has devised.”

To observe the competition starting today.

Muryeongwan lodging.

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes.” “Yes!” “Yes!”

At my low question, watching the Muryeongwando answer with determined expressions, I let out a chuckle. Well, because they all clearly looked tense.

“Relax.”

Over the past week, I focused more on building strength as a group rather than improving the Muryeongwando’s individual martial power.

That’s natural. The capabilities of each individual Mujeongwando this generation were, even to my eyes, worthy of the term golden generation.

Not only are Namgung Hyeon, Paeng Jin, Cheonggyeong, and Baek Risan firmly guarding the front, but the other kids also hold a slight advantage over the Muryeongwando when simply compared. In this situation, the possibility of wasting time without results while trying to raise individual martial power is more than abundant.

So I sought an alternative. It wasn’t particularly difficult. I could assess the Mujeongwando.

“You’ve all worked hard enough over the past week. It’s not limited to just one week. Two months at Uicheonmun, and four years at Muryeongwan before that. I know you’ve never stopped working hard.”

These are children who’ve been crushed by environment and talent.

“There will be no cheers when you leave this door. Even if there are, they’ll be smaller than Mujeongwan’s. The world all thinks you will lose.”

These are Muryeongwando who have even betrayed their own expectations. When they arrived at Uicheonmun, they were steeped in a consciousness of defeat. However.

“Is that true?”

What about now, what about now if anything?

“No.”

There’s no need to even ask.

“Just because you’ve lost until now, abandon the thought that you’ll lose this time too. I say repeatedly, the true victor is one who wins just once at the end even if defeated ninety-nine times, so don’t doubt yourselves. Understood?”

“””Understood!!!”””

“Good.”

Watching the Muryeongwando answer in unison, I smiled faintly and slowly raised my hand to push the door behind me. Then soon, the main gate opening with a heavy sound.

“Now go and prove yourselves.”

The moment the door opened, the Muryeongwando all took one step forward simultaneously. Like an army marching out to wage war.

Footsteps continued. With Seonwoo Gang and Seomun Cheok at the front, they placed hands on their weapons one by one, calming their tense hearts while continuing their steps toward the location where the competition would be held. And.

“Team leader Seonwoo Gang and fifteen others, attendance complete.”

The moment the Muryeongwando finally arrived at the location where the first competition would be held and faced the Mujeongwando.

“It’s starting!”

Shouts erupted.

From the mouths of the crowd gathered in dizzying numbers, shouts of indistinguishable types poured out. Cheering shouts toward Mujeongwan. Jeers toward Muryeongwan for not forfeiting immediately. Even words about betting money on someone.

The shouts that filled the surroundings in an instant gradually reduced their sound over time. And around when that sound almost stopped.

“The competition is a venue for exchange.”

First Military Advisor Guyang Jeok, who had already climbed onto the platform, opened his mouth.

“Mujeongwan and Muryeongwan—it has meaning in the same class from both great academies, who will be colleagues in the future, building friendship with each other and comparing themselves to each other.”

“The victor gains confidence and vigilance, the defeated gain frustration and motivation.”

“This competition was arranged to encourage each other’s motivation.”

It’s not wrong. After all, when first establishing the academy, it’s said the founding Mujeongwan Director and Muryeongwan Director were the ones who split what was supposed to be one academy into two.

The two, who were close friends but, no, precisely because they were close friends, burned with passion saying they couldn’t lose to each other, knew how helpful competition was in polishing martial arts and decided to make the academy this structure.

“I have one thing to say.”

“Do your best.”

Guyang Jeok, who swept his cold eyes over the Mujeongwando and Muryeongwando, quietly continued.

“This year, quite a lot has changed compared to last year or the year before. You might feel pressure competing in front of this many spectators.”

“However, what you must do is no different from last year. Whether you lose or don’t lose at this moment, you are all pillars of the Murim Alliance. Just as you have until now, you academy disciples need only do your best. Do you understand!”

“””……Yes!”””

“Good.”

At the resounding answer, Guyang Jeok, wearing a faint smile, raised his hand. And the declaration that immediately followed.

“Then, we will now begin the competition.”

Along with his words, Guyang Jeok lowered his hand. And at that moment.

Filling the air, talismans began to rise.

“……Sect Leader. What’s this?”

“Illusion talismans .”

“Illusion talismans?”

“Yes.”

Watching the hundreds, thousands of illusion talismans rising brightly, I nodded. The competition has always been like this.

To comprehensively evaluate a military corps’s capabilities, there are limits in a restricted location. Not only is it not easy to create an evaluation venue, but even if created, it’s difficult to grasp at a glance everything happening throughout the entire evaluation venue.

One can’t evaluate everything with just results, so the process must also be observed. If a fluke occurs and they win by chance, one might judge incorrectly looking only at results. But naturally, human eyes can’t reach everywhere.

Then what should be done?

It’s simple. Just create an environment where eyes can reach everywhere.

The Murim Alliance’s divination practitioners and illusionary arts practitioners activated the illusion talismans while reciting incomprehensible incantations. The talisman papers filling the air and emitting bright light.

Slowly, the talisman papers increased their light. The sight of them condensing the qi in the air, crystallizing it, and completing preparations to manifest the technique was mysteriously beautiful.

One by one, the talisman papers filled with light trembled and emitted vibrations. And soon, the moment all talisman papers were filled with light.

“Activate!”

With the lead practitioner’s words.

The world transformed.

“……This is.”

“It’s a type of illusion technique. Don’t be alarmed.”

Calming Seohwa, who was startled by the suddenly transformed surrounding scenery, I looked at the image  forming before my eyes. In a dimly dark passage, the trainees from both great academies looking ahead with stiff expressions.

“It’s begun.”

Exchange tournament between the two great academies. First battle.

Its content is.

“Secret manual seizure .”

Being the first to excavate this Sword Tomb .

The curtain has finally risen.