Chapter 116 - The Black Flame Dragon Wearing Golden Clothes

The Murim Alliance's Elder's Hall is not an easygoing place.

One must have over twenty years of experience within the Murim Alliance, or possess representation for one's own sect or multiple factions.

Looking at the faces of those who received the position of elder after such a strict screening, the vast majority are either hardliners who despise the Underworld or natural-born politicians.

Because of this, the incident caused by the Underworld Murim and Jin Sowoon tore the Elder's Hall into two factions.

Those who held various grudges against Jin Sowoon felt their blood boil upon witnessing this event.

"You want to let someone who colluded with the Underworld into the Murim Academy?! Are you speaking sense or just blowing hot air?"

"Calm down. You're frivolously talking about farts in the Elder's Hall. And honestly, can you assert that it was collusion?"

"They threatened, intimidated, and stood guard so that the examinees couldn't even go near! If this isn't collusion, what is?!"

Conversely, the personnel of the Five Great Noble Clans who had ties with Jin Sowoon were putting up a desperate defense.

"Indeed, what were you doing, mobilizing disciples who had finished their exams and sending them all the way to Henan Province?"

"Wh-What! D-Do you have proof?!"

"Proof my ass, do you think we don't know that the reason those who took the exam in Jiangnan crawled all the way up to Henan Province was to strike down Jin Sowoon, who had the most outstanding grades?"

"I-It must have been because they wanted to get even better grades. Ahem."

Seeing the faces of the Orthodox Council's personnel turn sullen, the White Path Council's personnel threw mocking sneers.

The biggest point of contention was not actually whether Jin Sowoon had cozied up with the Underworld.

In this exam, the disciples of the Nine Sects and One Gang took the spots from 2nd to 5th place. If it weren't for Jin Sowoon, they could have claimed first place, but because of Jin Sowoon alone, the entire ranking was about to be pushed down by one.

As the minds of the Murim Alliance elders were filled with the conviction of 'Even if it's not a gain for me, if you take a loss, I can accept it,' the fact that this incident could touch upon the profits of the Orthodox Council was something the White Path Council could not let slip.

"Saying we should fail Jin Sowoon is tantamount to saying we should fail everyone who moved with Jin Sowoon, so are you saying we should even fail the children of the Moyong Noble Clan and the Namgung Clan?"

Furthermore, Jin Sowoon's group included children of the Moyong Noble Clan and the Namgung Clan, who belonged to the White Path Council. It was a situation where the White Path Council could absolutely not back down.

"... They say it was Jin Sowoon who plotted and led the matter, so let's just fail him for now."

"If you put it that way, what about Jin Sowoon's junior brothers? The most cheered-for people in the world these days are those three brothers. If we fail them, it is obvious that the Murim Alliance will be criticized for favoring only the disciples of prestigious sects."

"... Didn't they also just move as their Eldest Senior Brother, Jin Sowoon, told them to? Let's pass them too."

"Then what is the reason for Jin Sowoon's failure?"

While compromising properly after taking a step back is the basics of politics, the White Path Council, having bitten into the Orthodox Council's weakness once, showed no signs of backing down.

The justification was also good.

That they could not damage the prestige of the standard exam, widely known as a fair and just test.

Thus, forgetting their original duty of legislating Alliance laws, the Elder's Hall held endless discussions and debates, ultimately deciding to drag their heavy, aged bodies down to the Murim Academy to personally judge the existence of the crimes Jin Sowoon committed and bring the whole matter to light.

* * *

Fortunately, it wasn't a failure.

To be precise, it meant I had to undergo a screening.

Since it was a highly unusual occurrence in the standard exam, where passing and failing were determined solely by the number of Admission Tokens, the examiner had spoken like that, and thanks to that, a massive incident had almost taken place.

"... Seonhwa, even so, you shouldn't act out right away like that."

"I'm sorry, unnie. But I just couldn't hold on to my reason."

The moment she heard I failed, Namgung Seonhwa had quite literally almost murdered the examiner.

The examiner, who was about to notify me of the failure and explain the reason, almost had his neck cleanly sliced off by several streaks of Sword Qi unleashed through the Cangqiong Boundless Sword Technique.

Thanks to Kang Seopyo, Seong Moran, and Cho Mubin barely blocking it, the examiner was able to save his life, but the examination desk was completely smashed, and those who entered the academy after us had to receive dirt-stained passing notices from a mat laid out on the ground.

"However... if Young Master Jin Sowoon truly fails the exam, I also will not enter the academy."

"... You..."

Moyong Jaehwa, who was fiddling with the Admission Tokens he received from me, added his words.

"I too will follow hyung to the Taiyi Sect."

Huh?

Setting aside not entering the academy, why would you follow me to the Taiyi Sect?

Whether they knew my inner thoughts or not, even The Geum-eun-dong Brothers were about to say something with faces full of resolve, so I quickly stopped them.

"Stop it. The results haven't even come out yet. Do you think I'd obediently accept a failure?"

If I hadn't been able to pass in the first place, I wouldn't have done something like throwing myself at Four Emperors Peak.

If they say they cannot permit my entry because I cozied up with Underworld bastards under the alias of Black Flame Dragon, I have no intention of dying alone either.

"Attention! Everyone stand straight! The entrance ceremony hasn't even started yet."

"You there, stick to the side. Why are you standing so far apart!"

The instructors told them to stand in line, but no one moved hastily.

Except for where we were, the surrounding incoming students stood in a wide circle, not daring to approach us as if we had caught the plague.

The instructors tried raising their voices further, but befitting their prominent backgrounds, the students showed no signs of being swayed by clumsy authority.

In the end, they couldn't get the lines sorted out before the entrance ceremony began, and those who entered alongside the Director frowned at the chaotic atmosphere of the venue.

"What on earth is all this commotion?"

"Ah, well, it's because the matters regarding admissions haven't been completely sorted out yet."

They needed to proceed with the entrance ceremony, but the admission matters weren't sorted out.

At this unprecedented situation, even the parents and officials of the examinees watching their children's entrance ceremony from the spectator seats were murmuring.

'Man... What a hell of a picture this makes...'

Right in the middle of the spectator seats were people who, much like us, the other parents and officials didn't want to go near.

Namely, the bigwigs of the Underworld Murim.

'Why are you guys even attending this?'

The funeral procession, which I naturally thought would head for the Murim Alliance, stopped its march alongside my notice of failure.

With things like this, even if I wanted to deny having relations with Underworld sects, I couldn't.

In any case, just like the Underworlders they were, they were casting dark clouds over the brilliant future of an Orthodox martial artist.

"Everyone, please pay attention. Prior to the entrance ceremony, there is a serious controversy regarding the exam results, so we will tie up that issue before proceeding."

Everyone's gazes pierced right into me.

Looks that made it obvious they knew it was related to me without even needing to hear what the problem was.

"As it has become such a highly contested issue, we have invited esteemed guests from the Alliance to judge the results of this exam."

The people the Director of the Murim Academy respectfully introduced were none other than those who occupied the Murim Alliance's Elder's Hall.

At their appearance, not only the incoming students but also everyone seated in the spectator stands rose from their seats.

Of course, the Underworld bigwigs remained seated, giggling amongst themselves about seeing someone they knew.

"..."

Nearly thirty figures from the Elder's Hall came flocking in. Seeing them move their heavy rears just to fail me alone showed just how much they hated the Underworld.

However, a strange scene was also caught: the elders belonging to the Orthodox Council, led by Daoist Myeonghyeon, and the elders of the White Path Council, led by Moyong Cheong, were subtly keeping their distance from each other.

"Candidate Jin Sowoon, step forward!"

Leaving behind the quiet cheers of Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, I stood at the front with a calm expression.

Daoist Myeonghyeon, with whom I had ties in my past life, glared at me with a face full of contempt similar to back then.

"I have heard that Candidate Jin Sowoon dared to act out against the strict and solemn regulations of the standard exam, causing the screening process to end in a fiasco."

"..."

The one who tried to slit the examiner's throat was Namgung Seonhwa, though...

"The Murim Academy is a training ground to nurture talents who will execute the subduing of demons and exterminating of evil on the frontlines of the Murim Alliance. Yet you dared to collude with the cruel and heartless Underworld, damaging the essence of the exam and inflicting a sense of relative deprivation upon the other examinees."

Not only Daoist Myeonghyeon, who was foaming at the mouth as he spoke, but also the examinees and academy officials were all looking at us with scornful eyes.

"Therefore, no matter how high of a score you achieved, we declare that we cannot permit your entry."

CRACK, CRACK.

Behind me, Namgung Seonhwa was cracking her joints to loosen up. Had she forgotten the fact that a member of the Namgung Clan's branch line was watching from the elders' seats over there?

"Is that the Murim Alliance's decision?"

"What—Right now, I—"

"Or is it the opinion of the entire Elder's Hall?"

"..."

Daoist Myeonghyeon sneaked a glance toward the White Path Council. Perhaps the Orthodox Council had won the battle for justification, but if one folded their opinion just because they lost a fight, they wouldn't be a politician in the true sense of the word.

"As you just said, the Murim Academy is a place to nurture future scholars full of righteous chivalry for the sake of subduing demons and exterminating evil."

I took a step forward and imbued my voice with internal energy.

"Looking at it from that perspective, I, Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect, can declare that I took the exam fairly without a single speck of blemish!! Therefore, I can only think that your attempt to fail me is simply Daoist Myeonghyeon and the Orthodox Council pulling strings because the prepared talent from the Nine Sects and One Gang failed to take first place."

"!!"

"The four of us passed the First Gate without hiring a single warrior, passed the Second Gate without spending a single penny, and passed the Third Gate fair and square. What reason is there for someone like me to be denied entry into the Murim Academy?"

"Do you not think that is the problem! Who on earth could take the exam like that?!"

Just like in my past life, Daoist Myeonghyeon lost his reason when excited and made moves against his own interests.

"Ah... Then was the standard exam originally designed so that those without money and power could not pass it? And I ended up passing such an exam?"

"Y-You...!"

Daoist Myeonghyeon's face contorted fiercely. Being pressured by the elders behind him, he recovered his complexion and spoke again.

"Then what about completing the grand journey by colluding with the Underworld crowd?"

"I have never colluded with the Underworld crowd!"

"What absolute nonse—"

I pointed at the Underworld bigwigs whom people were trying to avoid like the plague and spoke.

"Since they just happened to be here by coincidence, why don't you ask them directly? Listen up, Underworld lackeys! Did I, Jin Sowoon, a righteous warrior of the Orthodox faction overflowing with a sense of justice, collude with you bastards?"

At my words, the Underworld bigwigs simultaneously crumpled their faces and spat curses.

"I'll peel the skin off that fucking bastard."

"You greenhorn Orthodox brat! Do you want to be beaten to death in a single strike?!"

The Peak Master of Four Emperors Peak giggled and answered.

"The crazy bastard is spouting dog shit. You aren't even the Murim Alliance Leader, so why on earth would we have any reason to collude with a mere disciple of the Taiyi Sect?"

I turned my head again and looked at Daoist Myeonghyeon.

"Did you see that? The issue of colluding with the Underworld crowd has also been resolved. Then what is the legitimate reason for my inability to enter the academy now?"

Daoist Myeonghyeon's face flushed bright red. The elders of the Orthodox Council just stared blankly at the Underworld bigwigs with dumbfounded expressions.

I poured more internal energy into my voice.

I made sure it could be heard not only across the training ground but into every nook and cranny of the spectator seats as well.

"In the end... is the real reason because the disciple of the Nine Sects and One Gang couldn't take first place?! Is that truly it!"

The greatest driving force that moved the Murim Alliance was not martial prowess or power.

'Justification.'

The Murim Alliance was a place that moved on this justification, and I had an armful of weapons regarding the justification they loved so much.

I'd be an idiot not to throw such good weapons right in the opponent's face.

And I wasn't an idiot.

"If that is the case! If not only the Murim Academy but even the Murim Alliance has forgotten its fairness and degraded into a group solely out to line their own pockets!"

Lumping others together into one group along with the opponent's weakness was a technique politicians truly loved.

Sure enough, the expressions of the Council of Elders personnel who received the attack were not good.

Now it was time for the finishing move.

"I will not enter the academy according to your wishes. No, even if you told me to enter, I wouldn't."

With those words, I threw the Admission Tokens I had obtained onto the ground.

The Admission Tokens, each one more expensive than a palatial mansion, rolled around like pebbles on the ground.

At that moment, Namgung Seonhwa, who stood behind me, threw the Admission Tokens from her embrace on top of the ones I had thrown.

"I also feel there's nothing to learn in such an unfair place. I won't enter either."

CLATTER.

Compared to mine, it was a pitifully small number.

However, the spectator seats stirred to a degree incomparable to my turn.

Following that, as Seong Moran, The Geum-eun-dong Brothers, and even Moyong Jaehwa poured theirs out, the admission tokens thrown to the ground looked as insignificant as gravel by the river.

"Ghk...!"

Looking at Daoist Myeonghyeon's bright red, flushed face, I put on a resolute expression.

"I have never once questioned the standard exam! Why the disciples of our Orthodox sects had to fight each other until blood splattered, why we had to squander our family fortunes to the roots to take the exam. I have never once questioned it!"

When running a scam, the most important thing is emotional empathy.

I thumped my chest as if to break it and spoke.

"Why! Because I thought all of this was for the peace and stability of Murim, I accepted it as natural.

However!! If all these acts were nothing more than a ranking system you created! If our desperate efforts were merely a folding screen for your sake!! No matter what glory it is, I will reject it!!"

Historically, the vast majority of first-place entrants came from the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Though they occasionally came from the Five Great Noble Clans as well, it was customary for the Nine Sects and One Gang, who were on a completely different level in sheer numbers, to take most of the first-place admissions.

However, the small pebble I threw caused a massive ripple in the river. Because even they thought the exam was always strange. They had merely lived on thinking it was natural.

"Y-You...! How dare this damn brat..."

Perhaps thinking he had been insulted, Daoist Myeonghyeon's face flushed bright red. With his martial robes swelling, he looked like he wanted to jump out and snap my neck at any moment.

Just as I was secretly drawing up my internal energy just in case.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What were you old folks thinking, dragging your heavy rears all the way here just to smear shit on your own faces..."

At the voice clearly mocking the Elder's Hall, the heads of Daoist Myeonghyeon and the other elders snapped around.

The owner of the voice trudged into the center, seemingly entirely unbothered by the fierce glares of the elders.

"Step aside. And did you forget that, from the very beginning, you had no authority to decide passes or failures?"

Daoist Myeonghyeon's eyes bulged open.

"W-What does that... Strategist Zhuge, are you saying you're going to defend that guy, Jin Sowoon, right now?"

Regardless of what Daoist Myeonghyeon said, every person in the venue braced their tension at the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest.

And as if he didn't care about the people around him, he sat in the Director's seat—which had been proactively vacated for him—and gently fanned his folding fan.

"You truly cause trouble wherever you go."

The Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist.

Zhuge Somyeong had arrived.