Chapter 19 - Act 3. Daemudo Entrance Examination (12)

The day after all the tests ended, sixty-seven successful applicants stood in the examination grounds. The relaxed, excited mood was a far cry from the day before. Eight were ordinary people who would become outer affiliates; the other fifty-nine were Cultivators who would become inner disciples.

They had gathered for the induction ceremony, the final step of the entrance examination. The applicants stood in orderly ranks, with the five highest scorers in the front row.

First place, Yise.

Second place, Hae Unchan.

Third place, Hong Wonseo.

Fourth place, Seol Ryeong.

Fifth place, Pi Garam.

Except for Hong Wonseo, a member of Hong Mihui's own Flame Blossom Hong family who had taken third, they were all Yise's teammates. It was likely thanks to their striking performances and overwhelming victories in the final test. Seol Ryeong's leap from eleventh to fourth was particularly dramatic.

"Didn't think I'd be standing up here with you two."

At Hae Unchan's teasing remark, Yise chuckled and replied,

"With all those ritual implements she poured into the fight, you could say the artisan who made them practically won her that place."

"What are you talking about? Handling ritual implements takes skill too, you know. Do you think just anyone can use that many in just the right place at just the right time, like I can?"

"Hmm. Is it really that impressive...?"

Grumbling, Seol Ryeong nudged Pi Garam and told him to say something too.

"I thought I'd be fourth."

At his dry remark, she stuck her lips out in an enormous pout and muttered that there was no reasoning with them.

"We will now begin the induction ceremony."

The chatter died away as Kang Itae and Hong Mihui appeared on the dais. After a series of largely ceremonial formalities, Cultivators brought out a cauldron as large as a person. Judging by the auspicious energy filling it, it was a ritual implement—or, more precisely, something closer to a supernatural treasure.

"Come forward one at a time, shed a few drops of blood, and swear your oath. This is a soul-binding contract that will mark you as a member of Daemudo. Our top entrant will go first."

Yise stepped forward and stood before the cauldron. He drew his hand axe, cut his palm, and let drops of blood fall into it. A faint ripple of spiritual energy spread outward.

The covenant had two provisions.

One. Do not betray Daemudo.

Two. Do not share, record, or pass on Daemudo's secret cultivation arts to others.

"What happens if we break it?"

Yise was merely asking to make sure. Kang Itae fixed him with a level stare.

"Nothing will happen immediately."

"..."

"But Daemudo will know and send someone to punish you."

"What counts as betrayal?"

"That depends on your intentions."

It was a puzzling answer. Did that mean an action that ultimately harmed Daemudo would not violate the covenant, as long as it had genuinely been done for the sect's sake?

Yise had many questions, but he stepped aside for those waiting.

Soon, every disciple had completed the soul-binding rite, and the presentation of rewards to the highest-scoring applicants began.

First came the private audience with a great Core Formation Cultivator awarded to the first- and second-place finishers. Without hesitation, Yise chose Hae Il, the Azure Dragon Hall Master.

"The Azure Dragon Hall Master is always busy with many affairs. There is no telling when your lesson will take place. Do you still wish to choose him?"

"Yes. I will accommodate his schedule, whenever it may be."

"Very well. I will pass that along."

Next came Hae Unchan's choice. He too had wanted instruction from his ancestor, the great Core Formation Cultivator Hae Il, but that option was no longer available. Instead, he chose a private lesson with Asan, the White Tiger Hall Master.

"Cultivator Kang, may I have a little chat with the children?"

Kang Itae glanced at Hong Mihui as she abruptly stepped forward, then nodded. She never even attended the annual event, so he had suspected she wanted something from the moment she joined the induction ceremony.

She approached the five highest scorers and asked, her gaze as bewitching as ever,

"Why did you become Cultivators? Is there something you hope to achieve?"

Caught squarely in her gaze, Yise struggled to answer the unexpected question. Hong Mihui smiled softly and asked again.

"You can be honest. It won't earn you any favors or penalties. I'm only asking because I thought I might make ritual implements suited to your dispositions and goals."

Still, Yise could not answer. His foremost goal was revenge, but he had chosen to walk the path of Cultivation. He did not know whether he could say that.

When his deliberation dragged on, Hong Mihui turned to Hae Unchan beside him.

"It seems our top entrant has a lot on his mind. You answer first."

"I want to become a great Core Formation Cultivator and explore all the continents, beyond the Eastern Continent. Ultimately, my dream is to draw a world map."

"A world map..."

Hong Mihui nodded with interest at his unembellished answer.

"And what about the scion of our family?"

Hong Wonseo answered without a moment's hesitation.

"To bring prosperity to our family and ascend to the heavenly realm."

"Oh? Quite the ambition!"

It was as good as declaring that he would become a Spirit Transformation Immortal. Hong Mihui laughed merrily and fluttered her fan.

Her gaze turned to Pi Garam next.

"Nothing in particular."

"It doesn't have to be related to Cultivation."

"If I had to name something, I would like to grow stronger and get closer to the truth."

"The truth... That's a rather dangerous thing to say, isn't it?"

His answer gave her pause, but she moved on without pressing him.

Seol Ryeong had been fidgeting ever since Hong Mihui came to stand before them. When her turn finally arrived, she blurted out before the woman could even ask,

"I want to become a supreme shaman like you, Senior!!"

"Oh, how adorable. What lovely eyes you have. Eyes that can see through the heavens."

"Gah! How did you know...?"

"I wonder. How did I know? With your gifts, you'd make a perfectly worthy next Vermilion Bird Hall Master. Hurry up and grow, then come to me, hmm?"

Seol Ryeong trembled with joy, then died on her feet.

Having smiled at each of their answers, Hong Mihui finally put the question to Yise once more. His companions' frank replies prompted him to answer just as plainly.

"My original goal was revenge. But now that I've joined a cultivation sect to walk the path of Cultivation, I wonder whether it's right to live as a Cultivator with such troubling intentions."

Hong Mihui answered as though she now understood his hesitation.

"Cultivating the Dao doesn't mean you must abandon the goal you started with. So long as that goal does not stray from Principle, it can serve as a useful motivation."

Yise considered her words for a moment before adding,

"I want to grow strong. For now, it's for revenge, but that's only a narrow goal... Ultimately, I want power that gives me freedom."

"Power that gives you freedom. What sort of power is that?"

"I want the freedom not to lose anything. Whether it's what belongs to me, my people, or my convictions."

This was his first time saying it aloud, but the thought had circled through his mind for years, from the loss of his family in Subu Village through his fight with the Wailing Dragon Demon.

It was not some noble goal of protecting others. It was closer to a personal determination not to lose anything.

"That's a fine goal."

Hong Mihui gently waved her fan, regarding the five applicants with interest.

"Normally, I make standard-issue ritual implements as your rewards... But for you, I shall make a special exception and devote my full abilities to creating things worthy of being called supernatural treasures."

The five top-ranked disciples' faces lit up, while envious exclamations escaped the others.

A few more rites followed, and the ceremony drew to a close. Kang Itae delivered his final address.

"For the next year, you will train here as novice disciples, carry out missions to earn contribution points, and gather resources. If you all survive safely and come to the main mountain a year from now, be sure to greet me with proper respect."

Thunderous cheers and applause erupted.

'Now I can finally begin my training.'

Yise could not contain his excitement either. He had long awaited this moment.

"Lastly, we will close the entrance examination by repeating the Ten Commandments of the Demon-Exorcizing Arts after me. Well done, all of you."

The applicants' powerful voices rang through the examination grounds.

First. Do not advance against an enemy you do not know.

Second. Protect yourself before attacking your opponent.

Third. Judge calmly, whatever the situation.

Fourth. Know your quarry well, but do not trust that knowledge blindly.

Fifth. Secure victory before beginning the hunt.

Sixth. Hunt with all your might, however weak the Demon.

Seventh. Make certain a fallen enemy is dead.

Eighth. Once you believe it dead, check again.

Ninth. Do not be ashamed to join forces or retreat.

Tenth. When retreating, abandon everything but your life and flee.

* * *

By the time the ceremony ended, evening twilight was falling. A crescent moon hung askew in the sky, as though suspended by a silk thread.

His assigned dormitory room was a private one, slightly larger than the room he had used as an applicant. The difference in size was small, but even the entrance was unlike the old one.

Yise grasped the door handle. Light passed between it and his spiritual energy, as though the two were resonating. It was a kind of barrier that barred entry to anyone other than the room's designated occupant.

Everything inside was of fine quality. There was even a locked safe, complete with a warning to take care of the key: if lost, the safe would be all but impossible to open again.

As he unpacked and looked around, a knock came at the door. He opened it to find a smiling Cultivator who looked about his age. The boy extended a hand and introduced himself.

"I'm Park Gangseo. I joined the year before last. I've been assigned to help you settle in over the next year. Let's get along."

"Ah..."

Yise shook his hand.

He was a Qi Refining Cultivator whose realm differed little from Yise's own. He did not look particularly reliable as someone responsible for teaching another person.

'Didn't they say they concentrated their resources on Cultivators who survived by fending for themselves?'

Yise was reminded anew that Daemudo begrudged even the time it spent on Qi Refining Cultivators.

He put those thoughts aside and replied politely.

"I look forward to your guidance. What should I call you? Senior? Fellow Daoist Park?"

"Keep it casual. You can call me your big brother, or Mr. Park Gangseo. We're both at Qi Refining, so 'Senior' isn't quite right, and 'fellow Daoist' feels a bit distant."

"Yes, Mr. Gangseo."

"All right, little brother. My job is to show you life at the training compound and answer your questions. I'll also lead you when you go out on an official mission once every half year. I'm sure you have plenty of questions, but I'll explain more next time. I need to introduce myself to the other novice disciples first."

He gave Yise a few pats on the shoulder.