Chapter 82 - Those Who Chase the Dragon (3)

The Murim standard exam held in my past life was more fierce than ever.

It was an arena where the sects across Jianghu, spearheaded by the Murim Alliance, reached their absolute peak during a long peace and unleashed all the power they had been saving.

Even so, some evaluated that the competition was only at that level because the prominent Orthodox sects swept up in the Demonic Spirit Plateau incident had declined to participate, unable to even recover their disciples' corpses.

But the Murim standard exam now, without the Demonic Spirit Plateau incident, was a much fiercer, close-quarters battle than what I had seen in the reports in my previous life.

[Murim Standard Exam Status Report]

-Total eliminated groups to date: 89.

-Total injured to date: 500.

-Total deceased to date: 57.

※ Special Note: Attacks on the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans have begun earlier than before.

-The Ascending Divine Star of the Qingcheng Sect was eliminated with major injuries.

-Ak Museong of the Shandong Ak Clan was also eliminated after falling into critical condition.

Things that had not happened in my past life.

Even though those taking the hellish standard exam tended to view the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans as a last resort, the fact that attacks had already begun meant that this life's Murim standard exam was unfolding more fiercely than my past life.

※ Special Note Two (二): Reporting in case you might be curious.

A story that began with that preface.

-The group consisting of the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect moving together passed the First Gate but suffered a major blow and is currently hiding in an undisclosed location.

The news that even the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect had suffered a blow was quite a shock.

'They surely must have completed the Cangqiong Unwi Sword Technique.'

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword went into closed-door training with half of Zhuge Cheongi's Ascension Form for the Cangqiong Boundless Sword Technique.

If he had completed it, Namgung Seonhwa would have undoubtedly participated leading the level of Namgung Clan warriors she was originally supposed to lead.

'Did he fail to complete it?'

Moreover, if they had been moving together with the Iron Sword Sect, it was certain that no one in Anhui Province could match them.

If those two were at the point of having to hide to evade attacks, it didn't mean they were powerless, but rather that a problem had occurred.

'Even though I received a request from the Azure Emperor Divine Sword...'

Right now, I was too busy sorting out the Geum-eun-dong Brothers.

"Gasp!"

Dongryong woke up in shock.

With scabs of blood that were not his own plastered all over his face, Dongryong looked around with nervous eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"... Senior Brother."

"It seems you had a nightmare."

"..."

It was the third day since we left Mount Cheonmok.

Due to repeated attacks, the kids hadn't been able to sleep a wink and had to fight back.

Having fought a fierce close-quarters battle just moments ago, the three brothers had fallen fast asleep while trying to perform the qi circulation method as soon as I told them to rest a little ways away.

They were desperately circulating their moving cultivation, but there was a limit with only ten years' worth of internal energy.

The bigger problem was rest.

The continuously ensuing battles with gritted teeth for three days had already begun to gnaw away not only at the kids' bodies, but their minds as well.

"... I'm sorry, Senior Brother."

Even at my words to get some more shut-eye, Dongryong, who was staring blankly at me, deeply bowed his head.

"It is not your fault."

"..."

"Right now, rather than thinking about your faults, recovering even a little bit of your internal energy is the utmost priority."

Nodding at my firm words, Dongryong quickly began his qi circulation method.

"Then I'll leave it to you."

If I had to point out the reason why the kids were so exhausted despite using the moving cultivation and the White Tiger Sword Array, it was because of Dongryong.

The three, who moved as one body up until they left the Taiyi Sect, were now more out of sync than complete novices after Dongryong's Heavenly Murderous Star awakened.

To be precise, Dongryong's elevated skills were breaking the sword array.

The Heavenly Murderous Star's instinct to grow stronger with every person killed made Dongryong advance a step with every battle, and Geumpyo and Eunho were no longer in a state to keep up with Dongryong's rate of development.

Even so, they couldn't fight without Dongryong either, as the White Tiger Sword Array required a minimum of three people occupying the Three (三) Directions of Heaven, Earth, and Man to be executed; Geumpyo and Eunho alone couldn't form the sword array.

"... I think it might be better for us to turn back."

Before I knew it, Eunho had woken up and quietly broached the subject.

"Are you awake?"

Eunho hesitated, then spoke again.

"... Wouldn't that be better?"

Knowing what Eunho was worried about, I ignored it and said,

"Has your fatigue relieved a bit?"

"... My internal energy has recovered to some extent, but my senses are gradually dulling."

It was time for the side effects of replacing sleep with the qi circulation method to slowly start showing.

"Eat something for now."

I tossed the pouch of jerky I was eating to Eunho.

Eunho was about to put his hand into the pouch but then subtly pulled it back at the thick scent of blood wafting from beyond one side of the forest.

"If you don't eat now, who knows when you'll be able to eat again."

"..."

Eunho forced the unappetizing jerky into his mouth, dry heaving a few times.

"Eldest Senior Brother, you've been practicing a different footwork technique than us."

He was likely talking about the World-Traversing Lone Footwork I had shown a few times during battle.

"I was lucky enough to learn it. When the time comes, I will pass it on to you as well."

It was a peerless martial art created by the past Hell Demonic Emperor and the Taiyi Sword Emperor. I hadn't even achieved enough accomplishment to properly pass it on to anyone yet.

"I'm not talking about that. If you have that, wouldn't it be fine for you to leave us behind and go?"

In the end, the conversation returned to square one.

"..."

Eunho was looking pitifully at Dongryong, who was catching a brief nap.

Even though the sword array had crumbled because of Dongryong, there was not a hint of resentment in his eyes toward Dongryong.

"I already gave you guys a chance to back out. So just remember that you cannot turn back now."

"Wouldn't you be much freer without us, Eldest Senior Brother?"

Was that kind of freedom truly freedom?

Recalling my past where I was never free my whole life, I shook my head.

As if frustrated, Eunho raised his voice.

"Eldest Senior Brother... the sword array has already collapsed..."

"I will enter it."

"Pardon?"

"I will step in and reestablish the sword array for you."

"What nonsense..."

Eunho, who had been speaking, turned around in shock as if he had heard a ghost's laughter.

"Senior Brother... just now..."

It meant the attackers aiming for us had come that close.

"I know."

"Then quickly..."

Eunho hurriedly tried to wake Geumpyo and Dongryong.

"Leave them be. Since they are cautious, it will take them quite a while to come."

"What?"

"Isn't it still daytime? Furthermore, if they've been watching us, they would know what kind of battles we've fought over the past three days."

This was closer to psychological warfare than a battle of attrition.

They had intentionally made me aware of their presence.

And even though I sensed their presence, instead of moving immediately, I encouraged the kids to rest.

Contrary to their expectation that we would naturally flee without rest, as we sat down and began to rest one by one, they actually couldn't approach.

They likely developed the suspicion: 'Could this perhaps be a trap?'

"So you're saying we should rest until we get attacked?"

"Because they aren't the only ones aiming for us right now."

Warriors in units of tens and twenties were staring at us from all directions.

"They are just assessing the situation to see who will attack first. They won't make a move until an opportunity arises."

Even in a fight where victory is guaranteed, avoiding it if you incur damage is human instinct.

Moreover, the Murim standard exam hadn't even passed its halfway point yet.

"The exam has still only passed the First Gate. They won't move easily until they are certain they can definitely deal with us."

"..."

Eunho stared blankly with an expression like he had heard something crazy before plopping back down.

Then, as if thinking any further was too difficult, he shook his head wildly.

"I don't know anymore. I'm sure you'll take care of it, Eldest Senior Brother."

A chuckle escaped me at his words.

In my past life, he hadn't followed me this much.

"Shall I press your sleeping acupoint for you?"

"A sleeping acupoint?"

"Would you even be able to fall asleep in this situation?"

Staring at me blankly, Eunho nodded.

"Please press it."

"Sleep."

I shot finger wind to put Eunho to sleep.

The forest that had fallen quietly asleep once again.

Those sporadically announcing their presence shot out killing intent.

"Like a bunch of jackals."

In the Murim standard exam, there was no longer any of the fair play that the Orthodox faction cried out for.

* * *

Eunho was astounded in more ways than one.

A sword array wasn't something that worked just by moving exactly as predetermined.

It was only completed when the bodies of those forming the sword array felt like one's own body, and they moved as one mind, as if one's own body was being moved by the other's intent.

Because of that, a sword array wasn't something you could recklessly operate just because your martial realm was high.

Didn't the Shaolin Sect, the pinnacle of Murim, operate the genius Ilmyeong and the 108 Arhat Array separately?

But...

'This works.'

It works.

It works. It actually works.

Furthermore, it wasn't just at the level of being in sync.

It felt as though they had gained a new power they had never experienced before.

He could understand why Dongryong, who had created an asymmetry in the sword array after his martial realm went up a step following the Heavenly Murderous Star's awakening, had rolled the sword array so willfully.

The sword array had become so fierce and powerful that the sword array they had previously executed felt stifling in comparison.

'And all because Eldest Senior Brother simply stepped in.'

For that reason, Eldest Senior Brother had intentionally put them to sleep to draw out the opponents, acting crazy in a situation where enemies surrounded them from all sides.

No matter how many enemies swarmed them, Eldest Senior Brother had the confidence to face them with the sword array he joined.

'He's truly an amazing person.'

At every moment, he made choices that went beyond common sense to the point of seeming insane, but they ultimately brought about the best results.

Even now, thanks to taking a short rest, Geumpyo hyung and Dongryong's complexions were much better.

"Hold out just a little longer!"

"Yes!"

At Eunho's fiercely driven reply, he felt strength momentarily flow into Geumpyo and Dongryong's hands as well.

The roughly seventy individuals who had swarmed them like bees from all sides began collapsing to the ground the moment the moon waned.

Where weeds should have been, swords that had lost their masters took their place.

"Hah, hah, hah."

When the final remaining enemy finally fled and they leaned against their swords, the dawn's light began to shine from the east.

"Hah, hah."

Gulping down the remaining water in his canteen, Geumpyo forced the jerky into his mouth, forgetting that they had just fought a fierce battle.

CHOMP, CHOMP.

Eunho, who had felt squeamish about eating jerky with blood-stained hands, forced the jerky into his mouth so as not to be outdone.

Because if they didn't eat now, who knew when they would be able to eat again.

In just three days, the Geum-eun-dong Brothers had lost their leisure regarding eating.

"Senior Brother, you eat too."

Dongryong held out the pouch of jerky, but instead of replying, Jin Sowoon was staring into the forest.

Was it attackers again?

His thought that he would have no other wish if they were allowed to rest for just half a day today was brief.

From the forest where Jin Sowoon's gaze landed, three or four men wearing yellow clothes walked out.

Only four?

Thinking it was doable, Eunho quickly tried to get up from his spot, but Jin Sowoon reached out a hand to stop him.

"...?"

The yellow-clad men stood still in their spots, merely watching this side.

It was a different sight from the others who had hidden their bodies and attacked in an instant.

"What is it?"

"Their presence is quite different."

They didn't exude killing intent, but they felt heavy.

That rock-like solidity felt even more ominous.

While Jin Sowoon was glaring at them silently. A sound transmission echoed by Eunho's ear.

-May we approach for a moment? We would like to have a chat.

Startled, Eunho turned his head, and it seemed Geumpyo and Dongryong had heard the same sound transmission as they both looked shocked.

"..."

Their surprise at the miraculous technique was brief.

As Jin Sowoon nodded his head, the yellow-clad men slowly approached.

Three of the men looked to be in their early thirties, appearing similar in age, and the heavily freckled person standing in the center looked to be about Eunho's age.

The one who spoke up was the freckled young man.

"We watched with great interest."

Even as the young man looked around at the gruesome traces of battle scattered in all directions, he remained incredibly calm.

"I don't know if you are aware. But I am Jong Seogang of the Yellow Sword Sect."

Jin Sowoon replied to Jong Seogang's greeting.

"How could I not know a fellow daoist of the same 108 Peaks? I am Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect."

"It's a bit much to say we are both part of the same 108 Peaks..."

"..."

In contrast to his calm tone, sharp words flew over.

A distinct hostility could be seen within those sharp words.

"I've heard the rumors. I hear you luckily obtained First Gate admission tokens this time?"

Eunho wanted to refute Jong Seogang's rude words right that instant.

"... How could everything in the world be determined solely by luck? You gain as much as you strive for."

At Jin Sowoon's words, the corners of Jong Seogang's mouth curled up.

"I don't know if you are aware, Young Master Jin, but our Yellow Sword Sect has never failed to enter the Murim Academy."

"Is that so?"

"However, unfortunately this time, we ended up missing the First Gate's exam."

"..."

"Which is why I say, how about you concede the First Gate admission tokens you luckily acquired to us?"

Listening to Jong Seogang's words, Eunho ground his teeth loudly.

Luckily?

They waged war against two Green Woods strongholds to obtain the First Gate admission tokens. They had almost died several times, and in the midst of it, his younger brother's Heavenly Murderous Star awakened, and he could have met his death at the hands of his own brother.

He didn't like what he was saying, either.

Concession was just a nice way of putting it; how was it any different from outright extortion?

Without realizing it, Eunho fiercely raised his internal energy.

And in that moment.

'Gasp!'

Surprised by an energy that constricted the surroundings, his internal energy scattered to pieces.

'What is...'

Interfering with qi circulation was a ridiculously profound technique.

No matter how low his own accomplishment was, to interfere with his qi circulation through mere momentum?

Eunho's gaze turned toward the person standing on Jong Seogang's right.

As if he wasn't denying that it was his doing, he was staring straight into Eunho's eyes.

As if telling him not to act rashly.

'An expert... and an unfathomable one whose accomplishment cannot be measured...'

Weren't experts of the First-Rate realm or higher originally not allowed to participate?

"..."

Watching that sight, Jin Sowoon let out a small sigh and said,

"I am willing to concede about two of them."

Having experienced the true nature of the unidentifiable expert with his entire body, Eunho could understand why Jin Sowoon had been tense from the beginning.

"Two, you say?"

"If it's that much, I can gladly concede them as well. After all, aren't we two factions who each occupy one of the 108 Peaks?"

"Oho."

Jong Seogang suddenly started giggling.

"You knew?"

"It would be strange not to know when you're making it this obvious."

"It's a shame, but we cannot be satisfied with two. Because not only all the forces of our Yellow Sword Sect and Azure Blade Gang, but also all the sects who agreed to plot this matter with us have swarmed here."

"..."

"You will have to give us everything you have."

Following the Yellow Sword Sect and Azure Blade Gang, even other sects?

Just how large of a number was it?

Jong Seogang lightly raised his right hand.

"...!"

With that, mighty killing intent burst out wildly from the forest in all directions.

The birds hiding in the trees flew up all at once in shock, and the wild animals crouching at the sound of human footsteps also began fleeing in all directions, screaming as if they had met their natural enemy.

"As I just said, ALL. OUR. FORCES. are here. We are different from the ones you all have faced previously."

Under the formless killing intent that constricted their entire bodies, the Geum-eun-dong Brothers' teeth chattered violently.