Chapter 9
Murmur, murmur.
The dining hall buzzed with unrest after the sudden سلسلة of events. Two applicants, unaware of anything, had sat in seats they were not supposed to occupy. Soon after, Mo Geuk-il appeared and picked a fight with them.
Up to that point, it had been nothing unusual.
What followed, however, left everyone in the hall flustered. A complete stranger had forced Mo Geuk-il to his knees and was pressing him down with one hand.
Mo Geuk-il’s face was red with fury.
This was no small matter.
On his own, Mo Geuk-il wasn’t especially remarkable—but he was connected to the real power brokers of the academy.
Which meant that laying a hand on him could very well make enemies of those who truly ran the academy behind the scenes.
Everyone was worried about that possibility. Everyone except Hyeok Ryeon-hwi, the man involved, who showed no sign of loosening his grip.
“Urgh!”
Mo Geuk-il tried desperately to pry Hyeok Ryeon-hwi’s hand off his shoulder. Even using both hands, he couldn’t budge it in the slightest.
Mo Yang-ui, Mo Geuk-il’s younger brother, shouted angrily,
“Let go of him this instant!”
“I told you I’ll let him go if he wipes it.”
Through clenched teeth, enduring the pain, Mo Geuk-il spat,
“You think I’ll listen to the likes of you?”
“Then let your shoulder shatter.”
Hyeok Ryeon-hwi spoke as if it were nothing and tightened his grip. Unable to endure it, Mo Geuk-il screamed.
“Aaagh!”
The onlookers frowned at his unsightly shrieks. Few people harbored any fond feelings for him.
Even the martial artists of the Demonic Cult disliked him.
That was the kind of man Mo Geuk-il was.
Still, they couldn’t simply stand by while a senior was being humiliated. It was a matter of pride.
One by one, those nearby rose from their seats.
They couldn’t afford to be made a laughingstock by someone who hadn’t even been admitted yet.
Hyeok Ryeon-hwi sensed their movement—but remained unmoved. The one growing anxious instead was Bi Seol.
“Hyung-nim, please stop.”
Despite her attempt to dissuade him, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi didn’t even respond.
Others approached, clearly unwilling to tolerate his actions any longer.
In the blink of an eye, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi was surrounded.
“Enough.”
At that single word, everyone froze.
As if on cue, the crowd parted.
Four people stood there—three men and one woman. All were young martial artists with striking appearances.
But everyone’s gaze focused on the man in the center: gentle-looking, tall, with a bright face and refined features.
At his single word, all movement had ceased.
Even Mo Geuk-il, trembling in pain, turned pale at the sight of him.
The man smiled faintly.
“What’s going on here?”
“Th-that is…”
Mo Geuk-il stammered, his voice shaking with pain and fear.
“I asked what’s going on.”
“Those guys sat in your seat, so I went to warn them, and suddenly he—”
The man nodded, as if he grasped the situation.
Then he turned his gaze to Hyeok Ryeon-hwi.
“It seems my friend made a mistake. He’s a bit meddlesome. I suppose he acted without being told. I’ll apologize on his behalf.”
His words stunned everyone in the hall—including Mo Geuk-il.
Yet even at that apology, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi remained seated, still gripping Mo Geuk-il’s shoulder.
The man studied him with a curious look.
“My apology isn’t enough?”
“What I need isn’t an apology from someone I don’t even know. It’s my pants that got splashed.”
“Splashed?”
Hyeok Ryeon-hwi pointed at his trousers.
“Your friend did that. I said I’d let him go if he wiped it. Seems he’d rather have his shoulder crushed.”
The man fell silent.
He had assumed that once he stepped in, the other party would immediately back down. Anyone intending to enter the academy should know who he was.
And even if they didn’t, the atmosphere alone should’ve made things clear.
He had publicly apologized first to appear magnanimous—showing his virtue while subtly asserting his presence.
Yet Hyeok Ryeon-hwi valued the water stains on his pants more than that apology.
His pride was pricked.
After a long look, he spoke slowly.
“Wipe it.”
“Th-that—!”
“I said wipe it.”
Though he was smiling, Mo Geuk-il swallowed hard.
He knew well what kind of cruelty lay behind that smile.
With trembling hands, he wiped the water from the trousers using his sleeve.
At once, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi released him and stood.
Turning to Bi Seol, he said,
“Finished eating?”
“Yes, Hyung-nim.”
“Let’s go.”
They began walking out.
As they passed the man, he spoke.
“You—what’s your name?”
“Hyeok Ryeon-hwi.”
“Hyeok Ryeon-hwi… You’re an applicant this time, right? Ah, that explains why I don’t recognize your face.”
Then he added,
“My name is Ju Ja-ak (朱紫嶽). Personally, I hope you pass. I think academy life will become very interesting.”
Ju Ja-ak.
A man powerful enough that crossing him would twist your entire academy life. Not merely because of his martial prowess—but because of his family.
The Blood Thunder Ju Clan.
Among the Demonic Cult’s Four Great Heavenly Clans and Three Great Sects, the Blood Thunder Ju Clan stood as one of the Four Great Clans. Their authority within the cult was beyond measure.
Who would dare fall out of favor with them?
But there seemed to be at least one person unimpressed.
“I don’t see how it’ll be interesting for you,” Hyeok Ryeon-hwi replied flatly.
Then he left with Bi Seol.
Left behind, Ju Ja-ak let out a soft chuckle.
“…Interesting.”
Was the boy ignorant—or bold despite knowing?
Either way, it didn’t matter.
“I’ve lost my appetite. Let’s go back.”
Then quietly, to Mo Geuk-il, who was still on the floor:
“Follow.”
At once, Mo Geuk-il scrambled up and trailed after him.
After leaving the dining hall, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi walked ahead while Bi Seol hurried behind him.
“Thank you,” she said cautiously.
“For what?”
“For getting involved because of me…”
“Don’t misunderstand. It wasn’t because of you.”
His cold tone left her momentarily speechless.
“And,” he continued, “at least don’t go around getting beaten. I don’t care what happens to you, but if you say you’ll serve under me, I don’t want to see you getting hit somewhere.”
“I’m not your subordinate—I’m serving you as hyung-nim…”
“I just let you call me that because there’s nothing else to call me. I don’t consider you my little sister.”
He cut her off bluntly.
He had been bothered by her calling him that. But since they met at the academy, it wasn’t appropriate to have her call him “leader” or “master” like others might.
He simply tolerated it—not because he acknowledged her.
With that, he strode off before she could reply.
Watching him go, she muttered,
“What a personality.”
Still, she looked at the back of her hand.
Whatever the reason, thanks to him, she had avoided needless injury.
“An accidental hyung-nim, huh…”
Their bond had begun awkwardly, born from leverage and circumstance.
Yet unexpectedly, he had helped her.
Smiling faintly, she murmured,
“Well… I kind of like you.”
Meanwhile, Ju Ja-ak took Mo Geuk-il to a secluded area of the academy.
“Ja-ak… I’m sorry,” Mo Geuk-il said, bowing his head.
Smack!
Ju Ja-ak’s palm lashed out like lightning, striking his cheek. Infused with internal energy, the blow sent him crashing to the ground.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Ju Ja-ak’s smile had vanished.
“You pathetic bastard. You couldn’t even handle someone who hasn’t been admitted yet? From today, you’re stripped of your position.”
“Ja-ak! Please, just one more chance—!”
“Ja-ak?”
Ju Ja-ak let out a dry laugh.
He placed his foot on Mo Geuk-il’s knee and pressed down hard.
“Aaagh!”
“I indulged you too much… Do you really think I’m your friend?”
Vice-Headmaster Dan No-baek of the academy had watched everything from the second floor.
His subordinate instructor, Bu Ui-min, had been nervous.
But unexpectedly, Dan No-baek laughed heartily.
“Ha ha! Youth is certainly full of vigor. Don’t you think?”
“I apologize. I’ll discipline them again.”
“Nonsense. Youth is meant for a few fights. We were the same, weren’t we?”
“You are still young enough, sir.”
“You rascal.”
Yet soon, Dan No-baek fell into thought.
The commotion itself didn’t concern him. It ended before becoming serious.
What unsettled him was the strange feeling from when his eyes met Hyeok Ryeon-hwi’s.
He had never seen the boy before.
Yet—
He felt as though he had.
Those eyes. That aura.
An old memory stirred.
At first, he had felt irritation—a mere brat daring to act up without knowing his betters.
But that feeling faded, replaced by something familiar… oppressive.
Without realizing it, all his attention had been drawn to the boy.
Clicking his tongue, he muttered,
“I must be getting sensitive with the big event approaching.”
Then—
“Are you alright?” Bu Ui-min asked carefully.
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Your hand is trembling badly.”
“….”
Only then did Dan No-baek notice his hand shaking.
He quickly grasped his wrist with the other hand.
“See? Age is catching up with me.”
Forcing a laugh, he hid his trembling hand beneath the table.
Why…
He bit his lip.
“I must be tired lately. I should rest.”
Ignoring the inexplicable fear creeping over him, he pushed the image of Hyeok Ryeon-hwi from his mind.
Was it exhaustion?
For some reason, he felt deeply uneasy.
