"Do you know how anxious I was earlier? Because of you, brother, I really... mmph!"
"You're going to pierce my ears. Stop nagging and eat this."
I stuffed a large dumpling into the mouth of Ak Yeon-ho, who was nagging non-stop.
Next to him, Myeong Il-oh sipped his drink and chuckled.
"Don't blame Yeon-ho. If he hadn't asked to delay your turn, we'd be drinking a farewell toast here by now."
"Mmph... Right! You should be grateful to me!"
Ak Yeon-ho swallowed the dumpling and furrowed his brows menacingly.
But with his delicate features, he looked more amusing than intimidating.
I chuckled and filled his glass with wine.
"Yeah. I'm buying drinks to thank you."
After finishing the demonstration lecture, we returned to my room, where we had a table full of food and drinks, and we were drinking to our heart's content.
"But what took you so long?" Myeong Il-oh asked, and I sighed deeply, recalling the hardships of the past few days.
"Don't even ask. I went to meet someone..."
The plan to solve Wi Ji-cheon's inner demon problem and come to Namchang with Wi Ji-yeol and Wi Ji-cheon was good.
"The problem was that both of them were wanted, so we had to take a detour through the mountains."
To avoid possible pursuit by the Martial Alliance or the black-hatted man who received the fake Wuji Sword manual from Wi Ji-cheon, we had to move through the mountains, avoiding populated areas as much as possible.
Naturally, this delayed us more than expected.
After finally arriving in Namchang, we sent a message from outside the city to Cheongcheon, got temporary identification, and barely managed to enter the city.
I didn't go into detail about all this and just said I went to help someone I knew and had a hard time.
"Thanks to that, I practiced my lightness skill like crazy on the way here."
As I sighed and shook my head, Myeong Il-oh mischievously looked at Ak Yeon-ho.
"We almost had to find a place for Baekryong Academy."
"Baekryong Academy?"
"Didn't you say before that if you failed, you'd build an academy right opposite Cheongryong Academy? When Yeon-ho mentioned that, the student director's expression was priceless..."
"Ahem! Why bring up something that's already over?"
When the story of Ak Yeon-ho's exploits in my absence came up, he coughed awkwardly.
I filled his glass again, appreciating his efforts.
"Kid. I'll treat you today, so drink as much as you want."
"Hehe. I won't refuse a drink. Brother, have a glass too."
As we exchanged drinks, Myeong Il-oh spoke with a slightly worried expression.
"But you two, you haven't forgotten about the martial arts sparring tomorrow, right?"
The practical test for new instructors at Cheongryong Academy consisted of two parts.
The first was the demonstration lecture we finished today.
The second was the martial arts sparring tomorrow.
The 'martial arts sparring' was where the new instructor applicant would compete against one of the existing instructors to prove their martial arts level.
Winning wasn't necessary.
"In other words, winning would obviously be advantageous for passing."
However, who would face whom in this sparring was unknown to the participants until the day of the event.
The matchups were traditionally decided by the academy head.
"Cheonsugwanum No Goon-sang."
Even decades ago, when the Blood Sect was active, he was renowned as one of the top hundred masters, having defeated many masters of the unorthodox sects.
He was once almost an enemy, but now he was surprisingly friendly towards me.
"Does he want something from me?"
But even if he did, I had nothing of value to offer.
"Hmm... All I have is being handsome and capable..."
"Wow. Look at this brother, seriously bragging to himself."
I filled Myeong Il-oh's glass to the brim and said, "What's the big deal about sparring?"
"Right. Whoever comes out, just beat them!"
Having reached the third level of the Reversal Divine Art, I wasn't too worried about the sparring, and Ak Yeon-ho, who seemed a bit silly on the surface, was also quite a master.
"Both of you seem so relaxed..."
"Why didn't you practice martial arts more diligently?"
While the somewhat mediocre Myeong Il-oh sighed and drank alone, Ak Yeon-ho and I teased him, laughing.
"Hehehe... Brother, you were really cool earlier, you know?"
...
Right.
This guy couldn't handle his liquor.
Already drunk, Ak Yeon-ho grinned slyly and clung to my side.
"Earlier, when you split the wind. Did you see the expressions of the female students? They were all thrilled. Brother, you liked it too, right? Hearing them squeal?"
"... Get off before I hit your pressure points."
I pushed Ak Yeon-ho's face away with my hand as he kept clinging.
He was so drunk that he flailed and fell backward.
As I got up, Ak Yeon-ho looked at me with a face about to cry.
"Brotheeer. Where are you going again?"
"To the restroom. Want to come?"
"Wh-what are you saying... But don't be late! Come back quickly!"
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
His drunkenness seemed to be getting worse.
I sighed and asked Myeong Il-oh to keep an eye on him.
"Il-oh, make sure he doesn't follow me out."
"... I'll try, but I'm not very strong in martial arts, so it might be tough."
That guy was surprisingly narrow-minded.
On my way back from the restroom, I sensed a familiar presence and slowly turned around.
"This presence..."
Gulp.
Swallowing hard, I spoke with a tense face I hadn't shown even during the demonstration lecture.
"Grandfather?"
"Your life seems easy. Do you think you've already passed the final test?"
An old man who carried a cold aura like the north wind.
As Mae Geuk-ryeom glared at me with icy eyes, the tipsiness I felt vanished instantly.
"You insolent brat. You love drinking just like your father..."
As Mae Geuk-ryeom's eyebrows twitched and the veins on his arm bulged, I immediately switched to a humble and respectful posture.
"Haha. I just had a light drink to relieve the day's fatigue... But what brings you here, grandfather?"
"Why? Is there a place I can't come to?"
"..."
"A grandfather comes, and you don't even offer him a seat."
"Hey, waiter! Bring a cup of tea here! Grandfather, the view here is nice, please have a seat."
Before the waiter even arrived, I polished the table with my sleeve.
Mae Geuk-ryeom sat down with a displeased expression and bluntly asked me.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"... Pardon?"
"The technique you used to cut the wind earlier. It seemed too much for your body."
"..."
As expected of a skilled swordsman, Mae Geuk-ryeom knew that the sword technique I used earlier was quite taxing on my body.
In truth, my muscles were quite sore.
But thanks to my diligent practice of the Green Forest Eighteen Techniques, it wasn't to the point of being excessive.
That's why I was able to drink like this.
"I'm fine."
"Don't be overconfident just because you're young."
Mae Geuk-ryeom glared at me, then sighed softly.
"... Your mother was frail. Even after searching the martial world for a skilled doctor, we couldn't find a way to make her healthy. When I first saw you, you didn't look very healthy either."
His eyes seemed indifferent, but I could sense deep regret within them.
"Keep this with you. It might be useful someday."
Mae Geuk-ryeom took something out of his pocket and handed it to me.
It was a pill wrapped neatly in paper.
The subtle fragrance suggested it was a precious item.
Feeling a bit guilty, I tried to refuse.
"I'm really fine, though..."
"When an elder gives you something, just take it."
"... Thank you."
Well, it's not polite to keep refusing a gift.
After finishing his business, Mae Geuk-ryeom got up to leave without even touching the tea the waiter brought.
"I'll be going now."
"Already? Why don't you have something before you go..."
"I'm busy. You should drink in moderation too."
"I'll stop drinking today."
"..."
Mae Geuk-ryeom looked at me for a moment, then spoke.
"Don't hate the student who sent the wind blade too much. I scolded him enough before coming here. He said he acted out of youthful impulsiveness..."
I smiled and replied, "Don't worry. I'm not petty enough to take it out on a student."
Instead, I planned to take it out on the person who ordered the student to do it.
Unaware of my thoughts, Mae Geuk-ryeom nodded approvingly.
"Is that so? I understand."
"I'll escort you back to the academy. Let's go together..."
"No need. Don't do unnecessary things."
With a stern look, Mae Geuk-ryeom stopped me and walked away.
I bowed to his back.
"Take care, grandfather."
"..."
Without a word or a backward glance, Mae Geuk-ryeom left the inn.
I watched him go, then looked at the pill he had given me.
"I don't think I need to take it right away..."
It was then.
"Huh. I didn't know you two were grandfather and grandson."
Startled by the sudden voice, I turned around.
"I didn't notice until you were this close?"
But seeing who it was, it made sense.
The head of Cheongryong Academy, Cheonsugwanum No Goon-sang, stood behind me, smiling like an immortal.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. The atmosphere seemed serious, so I hesitated to interrupt... Haha."
The martial artist once called a demon by the unorthodox sects was now smiling awkwardly.
Sitting across from No Goon-sang with a steaming cup of tea between us, he slowly savored the aroma before taking a sip and furrowing his brows.
"Hmm. Even at this age, I can't tell if tea is really delicious."
"... Shall I ask the waiter to bring out some drinks?"
"Haha. No need. Isn't drinking with an old man a chore?"
"Not at all..."
"Who taught you martial arts?"
The sudden question made me narrow my eyes.
"Did he notice something?"
But even if No Goon-sang had noticed something, I had nothing to worry about.
I hadn't used any martial arts from the Blood Sect, nor had I done anything suspicious.
So I answered confidently.
"I learned from my father."
"Did your father also study at Cheongryong Academy?"
"Yes. I heard he was quite notorious as a troublemaker about thirty years ago."
"Ahem."
Perhaps my answer was too honest, as No Goon-sang seemed momentarily at a loss for words.
But he soon chuckled and asked another question.
"Why haven't you ventured into the martial world until now?"
It was a question that could be interpreted in many ways, but I understood it as asking why I hadn't made a name for myself in the martial world despite my skills.
Grateful for the compliment from a martial artist of his caliber, I bowed and replied.
"When I was young, I was too frail to venture out, and as I grew older, I realized that risking one's life to see who's stronger was futile."
"Haha..."
No Goon-sang seemed genuinely amused.
"Do you know? I'm also someone who clings to that futility."
"Everyone has different thoughts. I prefer teaching and learning martial arts over fighting. I'd like to live well doing that."
"In short... you don't want to get entangled in the complex grudges of the martial world."
"Something like that."
No Goon-sang pondered my words for a moment before speaking.
"Sometimes, there are people like you. Those who come to the academy because they're afraid of taking lives or losing their own. I have no intention of criticizing or looking down on them."
"Thank you for understanding..."
"But you're different from them."
Suddenly, No Goon-sang's gaze turned sharp, as if piercing through my soul.
"You don't seem like someone who fears bloodshed. Rather..."
"..."
"You seem like someone who's seen a lot of blood and is tired of it. Haha."
No Goon-sang laughed while looking straight at me, and I didn't avoid his gaze.
No matter how much he looked, he wouldn't find anything.
"..."
"..."
Our gazes clashed in the air, and a moment of silence passed.
After a while, No Goon-sang, who had been assessing me, finally smiled wryly and looked away.
Taking another sip of the unappetizing tea, he asked me.
"... One last question. Do you have anything to say to me?"
I did.
Without hesitation, I answered.
"Please let me fight Namgung-su in tomorrow's martial arts sparring."
No Goon-sang smiled as if he expected that.