"I've been waiting."
As the stranger suddenly blocked the path, Henyuan Gang immediately placed his hand on his weapon, exuding a ferocious aura like a wild beast.
Nangong Seok, who was approaching, halted in surprise.
"…What is it?"
"What are you doing, you punk?"
Nangong Seok felt a cold sweat bead on his forehead from Henyuan Gang's overly sensitive reaction.
'I’ve heard he’s a famous troublemaker, but I didn’t expect it to be this intense.
Moreover…'
Swallowing dryly, Nangong Seok found himself unconsciously taking a few steps back.
He had heard many rumors about Henyuan Gang, but seeing him in person felt completely different from what he had imagined.
According to his uncle, Henyuan Gang had talent but was lazy by nature…
'Can a lazy warrior exude such a fierce aura?'
"Hey. What’s the matter? Is your ear blocked?"
For a moment, Nangong Seok was startled, but Henyuan Gang’s tone, which seemed to provoke a fight, made his expression harden.
Even if the opponent’s momentum was strong, he was a descendant of the proud Nangong family, and he would not bow his head to anyone.
"I have no business with you. The person I need to see is behind you."
"…What?"
At that moment, for some reason, Henyuan Gang's expression turned even more menacing.
Blocking the way of Gong Sonsu, Henyuan Gang half-drew his weapon and growled.
"What do you need with my grandfather?"
"…I mean the one next to him."
"Wu Zhi Tian?"
Finally, Henyuan Gang's expression relaxed a little, but he still did not lower his guard.
In the somewhat tense atmosphere, Wu Zhi Tian stepped forward with a bewildered expression.
"Yes? Why are you looking for me…?"
Although the atmosphere had become somewhat comical due to Henyuan Gang, Nangong Seok did not care and declared his prepared challenge.
"This year, I will be the top student."
"What?"
"Don’t act all high and mighty just because you defeated some small fry."
"When did I…?"
Seeing Wu Zhi Tian’s confused expression, Nangong Seok scoffed and said,
"Are you pretending, or are you laying the groundwork to avoid embarrassment later? You must have heard what people are saying around you."
"…."
Nangong Seok's mood had been at its worst for the past few days.
It was all because of the name 'Wu Zhi Tian' that echoed everywhere.
They said he was the best talent in the last decade, that a dragon had entered the Qinglong Academy, and that the top spot was practically guaranteed for him.
Even Nangong Seok's respected elder, Nangong Je Hak, had mentioned that name during lunch today.
- Do you know about that kid named Wu Zhi Tian?
'Damn it…'
The one who should be receiving everyone's expectations and attention was supposed to be him.
A descendant of the great Nangong family.
He had always fulfilled the enormous expectations and burdens that came with it.
Although he had entered the Qinglong Academy after being pushed back in line by his older brothers, Nangong Seok had seen it as an opportunity.
- From your era, the Qinglong Academy will change.
His uncle, Nangong Su, had confidently said so, and Nangong Seok agreed.
He was confident that he would not fall behind anyone in talent or effort among his peers.
He believed there could be no rival in the Qinglong Academy, which was said to be the weakest among the five great academies, until the thorn in his side, Wu Zhi Tian, appeared.
"…I have never been arrogant. I never thought I would naturally be the top student."
"Hmph."
At Wu Zhi Tian's cautious words, Nangong Seok scoffed and wore an arrogant expression.
He thought Wu Zhi Tian was scared by his declaration of war.
"Fortunately, you seem to know your place. It’s a bit pathetic that you’re already tucking your tail between your legs, though…"
"But I think I can win against you."
"…What?"
Nangong Seok's expression twisted at the sudden reversal.
Henyuan Gang, who had been watching with a disapproving expression, chuckled and said, "Look at this?"
Gong Sonsu, with sparkling eyes, murmured while watching the two boys confront each other, "Ah, youth…"
Wu Zhi Tian continued calmly, not avoiding Nangong Seok's gaze.
"You were the one who provoked me first. Our teacher said that if someone throws the first punch, we should repay them double."
"Y-You?"
Nangong Seok was more concerned about the way Wu Zhi Tian addressed him than the content of his words.
Could it be…
"Do you not know my name?"
"And now that I’m going to be the top student, I have things I want to do."
"You…!"
Wu Zhi Tian naturally changed the subject, but that was enough to infuriate Nangong Seok.
Gong Sonsu, with a curious expression, asked, "Tian, can I ask what you want to do as the top student?"
"…I want to give a speech as the representative of the new students."
"Oh?"
If one became the top student, they would have the honor of giving a speech as the representative of the new students during the entrance ceremony.
It was a chance to express one’s aspirations in front of teachers, fellow new students, current students, and many seniors from the martial world.
Among the new students entering the Qinglong Academy, it was a glorious position that only one could occupy.
"…I have something I want to say when I get up there."
For someone like Wu Zhi Tian, who usually had a quiet personality, saying he wanted to stand in front of many people was quite unexpected for Gong Sonsu and Henyuan Gang.
Of course, to Nangong Seok, it only felt like a provocation.
"No. You won’t be able to say anything. Because both the new student speech and the graduation speech will all belong to me."
"…I’m not interested in the graduation speech."
"You arrogant brat…!"
The two boys glared at each other with expressions that said they would never back down.
Their gazes clashed in the air, sparking like fire.
Henyuan Gang pressed his throbbing temples and spoke to Nangong Seok.
"Hey. If you’re done here, can you move aside? I’m feeling a bit sensitive right now."
"You step aside."
"Huh?"
If he could just step aside when told to, he wouldn’t be called the troublemaker of the Qinglong Academy.
Henyuan Gang unleashed a torrent of foul language.
"What kind of little punk do you think you are, talking back to your senior? When I tell you to move, you should say yes and step aside, not argue back at every word! You must really want to die today!"
With a posture that would put any troublemaker to shame, he tilted his head and glared down at Nangong Seok.
He truly looked like a thug here to collect his dues.
"Hah. What kind of punk is this…!"
Nangong Seok, raised in a prestigious family and educated from a young age, was taken aback, his mouth agape as he had never heard such words before.
Henyuan Gang tilted his head and continued,
"Punk? Punkkkk?"
"D-Don’t come any closer!"
The genuinely flustered Nangong Seok placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Henyuan Gang approached with a grin, as if daring him to try.
"Oh, oh. Shall I see how capable this junior aiming for the top student is? I just needed a place to vent this internal pain I can’t tell anyone about. If I catch just one of you, I’ll tear you apart limb from limb. Just one… hehehe."
"Is he… insane?"
Nangong Seok was not the only one startled by Henyuan Gang’s slightly deranged approach.
"…Tian, it seems that Senior Gang has a lot built up inside him."
"Indeed…"
"Hehehe. You come here, you little punk!"
Just as Henyuan Gang was about to grab Nangong Seok by the collar,
"Stop!"
With a roar filled with internal energy, a figure suddenly dropped between the two.
The crowd, who had been watching the confrontation with great interest, gasped in surprise at the newly appeared figure.
"Student Council President!"
"It’s Dokgo Jun!"
"It’s the Student Council of Qinglong Academy!"
Leading the way was Dokgo Jun, followed by other student council members like Dang So So and the Qinglong Twin Stars, who pushed through the crowd.
"I came to see what all the commotion was about…"
Dokgo Jun looked at Henyuan Gang with an expression of annoyance.
He had encountered this troublemaker several times over the past three years since they entered together.
"Henyuan Gang. I thought you had calmed down for a while, but you’re causing trouble again."
"Hey. This time, they started it first!"
"…The afternoon exam is about to start. Stop this and step back. Nangong Seok, you too."
As Dokgo Jun said this, he quietly raised his internal energy.
From past experiences, he knew that this troublemaker would not go quietly.
Some level of conflict would be unavoidable.
'Suppress them as quickly as possible and manage the situation…'
However, the clash Dokgo Jun anticipated did not occur.
As if he had been waiting, Henyuan Gang suddenly turned around.
"Got it. Grandfather! Wu Zhi Tian! We don’t have time, let’s hurry inside!"
"Uh?"
"Yes?"
"Let’s go get ready. Aren’t we going to take the exam?"
The fierce demeanor he had just shown towards Nangong Seok was nowhere to be found.
Henyuan Gang pushed Gong Sonsu and Wu Zhi Tian forward.
"What…?"
To the bewildered Nangong Seok, Henyuan Gang smiled and left him with one last remark.
"Make sure to pass. We’ll be seeing each other often from now on."
"Henyuan Gang!"
"I got it. I got it."
Shrugging his shoulders, Henyuan Gang brushed past the glaring Dokgo Jun and chuckled.
"Then I’ll take my leave."
As Henyuan Gang’s figure disappeared into the Qinglong Academy, Dokgo Jun frowned.
Then suddenly, a suspicion arose in his mind.
Could it be… that he caused this commotion on purpose to draw us out?
In the past, it would have been unimaginable, but seeing that sly expression, it seemed possible.
The situation had been neatly resolved with the arrival of the student council.
If all of this was intentional on Henyuan Gang's part?
'Henyuan Gang… he has definitely changed.'
Moreover, it was not only Henyuan Gang who surprised Dokgo Jun.
Though he had only seen them briefly, both Nangong Seok and Wu Zhi Tian were enough to impress him.
'Both have already surpassed the level of new students.'
Additionally, while they may not be as talked about as Wu Zhi Tian and Nangong Seok, there were quite a few promising talents among the students applying for the entrance exam this year.
"This year… it’s definitely different."
Dokgo Jun clenched his fist tightly and looked up at the massive sign of the Qinglong Academy.
Murmurs filled the air.
"The duel exam will begin shortly, so esteemed guests in the audience, please take your seats!"
The voice of the vice president of Qinglong Academy, Gwak Cheol Woo, resonated throughout the academy.
The entrance exam for Qinglong Academy was a grand festival for the local martial world.
Especially the duel exam, which was about to begin shortly, could be considered the highlight of the event.
The duel exam, where the current students of Qinglong Academy faced off against the new applicants, was an opportunity to witness both the present and future of Qinglong Academy, attracting even renowned figures from the martial world to watch.
There were a total of ten duel stages set up in the arena.
Around the waiting area, the applicants were relaxing in their own ways.
"Whooo…"
"I’m so nervous I could go crazy…"
"I can do this. I can do this. I can do this!"
They were still young martial artists.
From the perspective of those watching them from the audience, various emotions inevitably crossed their minds.
"Hey there. Is this your first time watching the entrance exam?"
"Yes."
"I thought so. I’ve been coming here for over thirty years. I can tell just by looking."
"Haha. Is that so?"
Even though the chatty old man next to him struck up a conversation, the man nodded with a smile, showing no signs of annoyance.
He was an ordinary-looking man, so common that one would not recognize him if he passed by.
The excited old man continued to chatter.
"I’m not a martial arts master, but I have a keen eye. I can tell right away whether that kid will pass or fail, and whether he will become a master in the future."
"I see."
The reply was lackluster, but the old man didn’t mind.
He just needed someone to spill his thoughts to.
"Everyone says Qinglong Academy is the weakest among the five great academies, but this year will be different."
"Why is that?"
"The flow of things is like this. The Qinglong has been coiling for ten years to soar. I can read a bit of feng shui…"
"…."
"So just wait and see. This year, Qinglong Academy will stir up a storm in the entire martial world."
"…That’s interesting."
The man nodded without particularly agreeing or disagreeing.
The chattering old man was not pleased with that attitude, but it was still better than others who left in disgust.
"By the way, what’s your name? Let’s introduce ourselves."
Even with the old man’s persistent questioning, the man smiled and said,
"I’ve forgotten my name, but my companions call me Seven."
The man who introduced himself as Seven was watching one applicant among the many with keen interest.
There, Gong Sonsu was warming up.