RUUUMBLE.

The violent trembling of the atmosphere made the warriors grimace in discomfort.

Their expressions showed they had no idea how to respond.

I expanded the range as much as possible, ensuring as many of them as possible were caught within the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm.

The destructive power would drop as a result, but—

The noise became louder than ever.

BOOOOOOOOM!

A deafening explosion erupted, sounding as if the sky were collapsing.

Half of the small hill behind the training ground was blown away.

Because the range was absurdly large, the damage inflicted per unit area was low, but everyone still put on expressions of utter horror at the ridiculous destructive power.

"He's trying to escape! Stop him!"

The warriors of the Ak Clan tried to grab me while maintaining their encirclement, but I didn't even bother trying to escape.

'Because there's no reason to run away now!'

VWOONG—

Blue Sword Force shimmered over the Black Dragon Sword.

And I swung it straight at the dumbfounded Ak Byeongbi.

CRASH!

The floor of the training ground shuddered and was swept up as the power of the sword wave poured down on Ak Byeongbi.

"This fucking bastard..."

For the first time, Ak Byeongbi's face crumpled like a piece of paper.

Yeah, that was the face I wanted to see.

I immediately unleashed the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique, followed by the Twin Heaven Sword Art.

The phantom sword and the true sword indiscriminately rushed at Ak Byeongbi.

He must have learned a sturdy external martial art, as the scars on his body weren't deep, but so what?

'I just have to keep striking until they are.'

Faced with my relentless assault, Ak Byeongbi fiercely swung his iron spear to neutralize the Twin Heaven Sword Art.

CRASH!

I then continuously unleashed the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist, immediately followed by the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

As if hammering and shattering solid rock.

I poured all my strength into striking down again and again.

The iron spear occasionally thrust sharply into my openings, but I barely dodged with minimal movements and swung my sword once more.

A desperate resolve to see it through until one of us died, whether it was him or me.

That familiar heat began to warm the air, and the energy at the spear's tip turned red.

It looked as if the Ak Clan's secret spear technique, the Blazing Fire Spear, was about to be executed again.

A snicker escaped me as I read his intentions.

"Do you think the Ak Clan is the only one with fire techniques!"

If he unleashed the Blazing Fire Spear, I had the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand derived from demonic arts.

I raised the red-hot Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand and simultaneously poured out the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist.

BAM BAM BAM BAM!

The heat of the Blazing Fire Spear was nothing compared to the heat of the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand.

Instantly enveloped in heat, Ak Byeongbi's entire body was soon swallowed by the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand.

"AAAGH!"

Even Ak Byeongbi, who had mastered external arts, found the heat of the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand hard to endure; he ignored his defenses and busied himself trying to shake off the flames clinging to his body.

Watching him, I drew out the Ten Thousand Seas Heaven and Earth Sword Art once more.

SWOOSH—

The Lesser Heaven Sword Technique pouring out from four swords sharply targeted only Ak Byeongbi's vital acupoints.

"..."

Ak Byeongbi hurriedly swung his iron spear to block the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique digging into him unawares.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

He managed to block a few times, but ultimately unable to endure the agony of the heat digging into his skin, Ak Byeongbi allowed the Black Dragon Sword to pierce his body.

SWISH— STAB—

Though they weren't fatal spots or vital acupoints, blood began to flow from every corner of his body, including his arms, legs, and stomach.

One of the Ak Clan's warriors shouted.

"Damn it... Everyone, gather!"

As Ak Byeongbi's condition steadily worsened, the warriors of the Ak Clan prepared to form a spear array.

Whether they did or not, I charged straight at Ak Byeongbi.

"Jin Sowoon!!!"

Ak Byeongbi finally looked like a blood ghost, fitting of his martial title.

I asked him.

"Did you think I wasn't a pure Orthodox practitioner?"

I sheathed the Black Dragon Sword and brought out the Sword Demon's martial arts.

Ak Byeongbi glared at me like a wounded tiger.

I didn't bother avoiding his gaze.

"Perhaps that judgment might be correct."

Since I never thought I would be treated as an elite of the Orthodox sects anyway.

White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms

First Form 'Extreme Speed'

If so, what did I have to hesitate about?

CLAAAANG—

The frictional sound of the Black Dragon Sword being drawn as it swept out of its scabbard rang out loudly.

Perhaps sensing something extraordinary, Ak Byeongbi also brought out his ultimate technique, but...

The Sword Demon's martial arts weren't something that could be blocked so easily, were they?

SLASH—

Not a single drop of blood was stained on the swung Black Dragon Sword.

However—

SLIP.

Ak Byeongbi's severed coat strings fell away, and bright red blood was carved into his fully exposed, rock-hard chest.

"W-What is this..."

SPLIT—

The fresh blood gradually darkened, and soon left a long wound starting from his left shoulder and heading toward his right side.

Watching the blood trickling down, Ak Byeongbi fell to his knees before me in disbelief.

"Cough..."

"Y-You bastard! How dare you do this to the Hall Leader!"

The Ak Clan's warriors had already formed their spear array and were fully prepared to attack.

TREMBLE.

In contrast, having poured all my internal energy into that strike, I had no strength left to fight.

To begin with, my goal was to crush Ak Byeongbi with overwhelming internal energy.

Taking on the Ak Clan's spear array was something I hadn't even considered from the start.

Above my head, as I barely managed to stay standing, an ice-cold voice fell.

"You would have kept your life if you had just come along quietly."

The face of the Ak Clan warrior looking at the fallen Ak Byeongbi was filled with hatred.

He was brimming with the desire to beat me to death right then and there.

"No matter what happens afterward, you will bury your bones here today!"

He looked around and shouted.

"Advance!"

At the warrior's command, the Ak Clan's personnel simultaneously let out a spirited yell and raised their spears.

It was clearly a threatening situation.

"But what to do about this..."

A laugh squeezed its way past my lips.

Because it was already over.

"How dare you pull this stunt in the sacred and reverent Murim Academy!!"

A booming voice flew in like an arrow, cleaving through the atmosphere.

The Ak Clan warriors forming the spear array turned their heads in shock.

There stood the Director of the Murim Academy, and the victim of the Taiyi Sect's tangled seniority.

The Three Purities Formless Sword, Buk Wonpyeong, was surveying the area with blazing eyes.

Ah, look at that imposing figure.

He couldn't be more reliable.

'Welcome, Senior Brother!'

Damn right, he's my heavenly Senior Brother.

* * *

"Who are you people?!"

At Buk Wonpyeong's sharp aura, the Ak Clan people clamped their mouths shut like mutes.

Buk Wonpyeong's gaze shifted to the Ak Clan warriors' clothing.

The symbol of the Ak Clan was clearly embroidered on them.

Even so, he raised his voice once more.

"I asked who you are!"

When he unleashed the Lion's Roar infused with internal energy, the Ak Clan warriors looked even more flustered.

I quickly dropped to one knee, cupped my fist, and spoke.

"Academy representative Jin Sowoon, reporting the situation. People who refused to properly reveal their identities infiltrated the academy, so I was desperately holding them off."

"... Is that truly the case?"

A question directed not at me, but at the Ak Clan people.

He had merely asked the Ak Clan people what they were doing in the Murim Academy, but they couldn't even answer that simple question.

I stepped forward and answered on their behalf.

"My guess is that they might be spies related to the situation in Sichuan."

The moment I finished speaking, a commotion instantly broke out.

"Spies from Sichuan?"

"W-What does that...!"

The Ak Clan warriors showed prominent signs of panic.

Even if they felt wronged, what were they going to do about it?

After all, I was the only one who could speak up right now.

"Even last night, there was an attempt to kidnap me by someone impersonating a member of the Inspection Pavilion."

I pulled out the Ak Clan's identification tag from my robes and showed it.

"He was clearly wearing the Ak Clan's clothes and using the Ak Clan's martial arts while pretending to be from the Inspection Pavilion. Given that they impersonated the Inspection Pavilion during such a sensitive and crucial time when the Murim Alliance is incredibly busy, I believe they are individuals with insidious motives."

Taking the identification tag, Buk Wonpyeong stared at the Ak Clan group with a cold gaze.

"Is this true?"

"... N-No, that is..."

Right now, the Murim Alliance's entire focus was on Sichuan.

If they committed atrocities under the name of the Inspection Pavilion in a situation like this, it would become a shackle that not even the Ak Clan people could easily escape.

That was why the Ak Clan's warriors could do nothing but turn pale, unable to act one way or the other.

Buk Wonpyeong clenched his fist around the tag.

"Then did the Inspection Pavilion officially make a move?"

"..."

"If so, bring forth the written order!"

As if they would have one.

Buk Wonpyeong's angry voice shook the air that had settled into silence.

"Why can't you give any answer? Are you really spies just like Jin Sowoon said?"

The Ak Clan warriors kept their mouths shut tight like mutes who had eaten honey.

Seemingly truly infuriated, Buk Wonpyeong ground his teeth and spoke.

"In that case, I will officially arrest you all on charges of espionage!"

"T-That's...!"

The Ak Clan warriors were at a loss for what to do.

"I will explain everything, Brother Buk."

Just then, Ak Byeongbi walked out to the center.

What the hell is up with that guy.

'Are his bones made of solid iron?'

I had held back my strength when using the White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms, but it still shouldn't have been to the extent that he could stand up right away.

Surprisingly, although he was being supported, Ak Byeongbi had recovered enough to walk on his own.

"Ak Byeongbi?"

"I apologize for causing a disturbance."

The two seemed to know each other, but Buk Wonpyeong's attitude remained endlessly frigid.

"Did you come here yourself?"

"I did."

"Then did you truly cause a disturbance with a written order from the Inspection Pavilion?"

"..."

Buk Wonpyeong's brow contorted.

"Clearly not."

Ak Byeongbi lowered his head in shame.

Buk Wonpyeong clicked his tongue with a tsk.

"Impersonating an operation of the Inspection Pavilion while accompanied by warriors of the Ak Clan... Do you have any idea how huge of a deal this is?"

Ak Byeongbi hurriedly hunched his body.

"... I-I will explain everything."

"Very well. Then let's change locations."

"Right now?"

Ak Byeongbi suddenly clutched his wound and pretended to be in pain.

Wow, look at him acting so pathetic with that mountain-sized body.

However, as expected, Buk Wonpyeong still didn't erase his chilling gaze.

"The only time you have left is until the investigators from the Disciplinary Pavilion arrive. If you wish, go get treated first."

Sensing that it wouldn't work at all, Ak Byeongbi ultimately gave an obedient nod.

"... No. I will go now."

"Academy student Jin Sowoon, you follow as well."

"Yes."

The back of Buk Wonpyeong as he swiftly turned around seemed somehow reassuring.

Wow, our old Senior Brother is truly the best, isn't he?

* * *

Not even a common cup of tea was brought inside the Academy Director's office.

A chilling tension circulated, and only Ak Byeongbi's occasional groans could be heard.

"Explain yourself."

"..."

At Buk Wonpyeong's demand, Ak Byeongbi's eyes shook violently.

Just what could he possibly say?

As the silence continued, Buk Wonpyeong eventually slammed his hand onto the table with a BANG!

"Are you unaware of how critical the Murim Alliance's situation is right now? I told you to explain why you caused such an incident!"

Our old Senior Brother fervently shouted while repeatedly slamming his fist down as if he were trying to split the table, and Ak Byeongbi kept bowing his head over and over like a man who had committed a deadly sin.

It was about time for me to step in.

"Ahem, Director. Do you perhaps know him?"

I asked shamelessly.

Buk Wonpyeong seemed to ponder my intent for a moment before nodding.

"That's correct. He's a friend who studied under the same master as me, and he's from the Ak Clan."

"Then the possibility of him being a spy is low."

"... Indeed."

Ak Byeongbi also raised his head as my words continued.

Did he think the matter was entirely over just because they were revealed to be acquaintances?

Just what on earth was this guy feeling relieved about?

"If that's the case, I have a guess of my own."

"What is it?"

"I couldn't endure Ak Jupyeong's wicked deeds and punished him. Because of that, it seems the Ak Clan attempted to retaliate against me."

"What?!"

"...!"

The eyes of Ak Byeongbi, who had been wearing a relieved expression, flew wide open.

"Director, you must have heard about my disciplinary action as well, right? They probably thought it wasn't enough, harbored a grudge over that incident, and even sold the Inspection Pavilion's name to punish me."

Buk Wonpyeong glared at Ak Byeongbi and spoke.

"Is this true?"

Ak Byeongbi only gaped his mouth silently; ultimately unable to spit out a word, he hung his head down low.

BANG!

"I asked if this was true!"

The table suddenly wobbled.

As Buk Wonpyeong pressed him, the large-framed Ak Byeongbi barely opened his mouth with a voice as quiet as a crawling ant.

"... I have nothing to say."

"So it's true."

"..."

Buk Wonpyeong let out a long sigh as if he was absolutely flabbergasted.

"Just what were you thinking, selling the Inspection Pavilion's name during a time like this?"

Ak Byeongbi must be feeling like he was dying inside.

In the first place, his plan hadn't included a meeting with the Academy Director.

He just wanted to take me to the Inspection Pavilion and lock me in the Golden Jade Prison.

And just like always, he would have employed his 'water knows the truth' method, forcing me to spit out confessions for crimes I hadn't even committed.

Because after that, he would have officially declared that there was no issue with the Inspection Pavilion's actions.

He was probably just acting out of sheer habit, as he always did.

Buk Wonpyeong glared at the man who was his friend with eyes full of disappointment.

"Furthermore, you held a grudge because Ak Jupyeong was injured? Do you even properly know the correlation of events here?"

"... What does that..."

"For the past half-year, Ak Jupyeong gang-bullied and assaulted a student, dragging him to the brink of death. Jin Sowoon merely laid his hands on Ak Jupyeong in the process of saving that student."

A gaze that had gone beyond disappointment and was now laced with contempt.

BANG!

Buk Wonpyeong slammed his hand onto the desk once more and thundered.

"He was referred for disciplinary action, but the one who should have been disciplined from the very beginning was none other than Ak Jupyeong, not Jin Sowoon!"

Ak Byeongbi's face turned completely dark.

It seemed he finally realized what a massive mistake he had made.

"Regardless, this incident will be officially reported to the Inspection Pavilion and the Mantong Bureau. Consider yourself notified."

Buk Wonpyeong's unyielding stance showed not even a shred of mercy.

Ak Byeongbi, who had tried to somehow smooth things over through his hometown and school ties, ended up sinking before he could even try anything.

Eventually, as Ak Byeongbi tried to leave the Academy Director's office with his shoulders slumped...

"Director, you're not going to just end it like this, are you?"

"... What?"

It would be a bit disappointing if he just left like this.

I pointed at Ak Byeongbi with a jut of my chin.

"That man dragged in people from his family, caused a ruckus in the Murim Academy, and destroyed property. Isn't this entirely the same as exercising armed force within the Murim Academy?"

"So?"

I widened my eyes and replied.

"Naturally, he needs to pay for the damages."

Buk Wonpyeong looked at me with a gaze that clearly said, 'I knew it.'

What the hell is with that look.

I take back calling him Senior Brother.

To think he couldn't even properly grasp the grand schemes of his heavenly Eldest Senior Brother.

Honestly, these junior brothers these days lack all discipline.

While I was inwardly thinking about instilling some discipline.

The youngest—no, Buk Wonpyeong shifted his gaze to Ak Byeongbi.

"Of course, the Ak Clan will have to compensate for everything regarding this incident. Will you not?"

Oh, our Senior Brother really is the best!

Ak Byeongbi answered with clenched teeth.

"... We will."

Ak Byeongbi then clutched his wound and tried to walk away again.

No, but why does this guy keep trying to leave when I haven't finished speaking?

The most important part is still left.

"Wait, then what about me?"

"Huh?"

"... Ahem?"

Doubt surfaced in the eyes of the two men.

At their stares, I tilted my head.

"I was almost dragged away to the Inspection Pavilion to be water-tortured and forced into confessing to crimes I never committed, wasn't I? What's more, the memory of the Inspection Pavilion suddenly ambushing me will probably make me too anxious to sleep for quite some time..."

I wrapped my hands around my own shoulders and put on a pitiful expression.

"Why is there no mention of compensation for my mental and physical trauma?"

Buk Wonpyeong stared at me with an utterly baffled look before eventually asking Ak Byeongbi.

"What will you do?"

Ak Byeongbi trembled furiously, grinding his teeth as if filled with rage.

What an Ak Clan bastard devoid of all manners and etiquette.

"I suppose you're planning on just overlooking this?"

With a pathetic face, I looked at my Senior Brother—no, at Buk Wonpyeong.

"Sigh... Then I guess I'll just have to take my anger out on Ak Jupyeong. I already broke both of his legs, so will breaking both of his arms this time suffice?"

Buk Wonpyeong pressed Ak Byeongbi with a disgusted expression.

"A-Ahem... Are you really going to just overlook this?"

Bloodshot eyes glaring at me, Ak Byeongbi spoke.

"Grind... I will compensate you."

"How much will you compensate me?"

"... How much do you want?"

"Just pay me the price of Ak Jupyeong's life."

"... Then can you promise you won't lay a finger on Jupyeong?"

I gave a big nod.

"I won't touch a single hair on his head."

"Fine, I will pay."

"I'll be looking forward to it. The price of Ak Jupyeong's life."

When I gave him a bright smile, Ak Byeongbi, who had been grinding his teeth, hurriedly left the Academy Director's office.

As soon as the door closed, Buk Wonpyeong asked me with a questioning look.

"When I visited the Taiyi Sect, the financial situation didn't seem that dire. Why are you acting like a person possessed by a money ghost?"

For the record, even in my second life, there was one absolute truth that remained unchanged.

"Do you think any of the money earned there would make its way to me? They'll be too busy spending it on the junior disciples. That's why I need to save up money whenever I have the chance."

The more money, the better.

And that one must absolutely exact a tenfold price from those who cause them harm.

Thinking about the price of Ak Jupyeong's life that would soon fall into my hands, a silly grin leaked out.

It seemed like Buk Wonpyeong was looking at me with eyes that said, 'Just what kind of guy is this?', but so what?

You have to rake it in while you can.