"What?"

"..."

"I said, who the fuck are you, you son of a bitch!"

The moment I saw the fierce glare of the Yayul Jae who had turned around, I realized something.

'Fuck...'

The current Yayul Jae didn't know me. And.

"Answer me, you son of a bitch! Why did you grab someone who was just walking by fine!"

... The Yayul Jae of my past life had a filthy temper.

"... Don't tell me that bastard Jang Sik-yeong sent you?"

Yayul Jae brought his hand to his sword hilt, ready to draw the blade at any moment.

It seemed his temper in this life wasn't much different from my past life.

'What should I do...'

I couldn't exactly tell him that I had regressed to the past, nor could I just walk past him after calling out his name.

I wouldn't lose if we fought, but if we did, wouldn't it raise suspicions about me?

"Why aren't you answering! Are you mute!? But how did you call me if you're mute!"

Without considering my reasons for staying silent, Yayul Jae immediately prepared to fight.

Anyway, the bastards from the Minor Orthodox Unit all had such filthy tempers...

'Haa...'

Just as I was wondering whether or not I should unleash the World-Traversing Lone Footwork and run away.

"Jin Sowoon?"

A boy with messy, spiky hair peeked his head out from behind Yayul Jae.

He looked somewhat familiar...

"Jin Sowoon, what are you doing here!"

It was none other than Yayul Geuk.

At that moment, my brain went into overdrive.

"Y-Yeah! Yayul Geuk! I-I was calling you."

"..."

Yayul Geuk tilted his head, seemingly clueless.

I feigned ignorance and asked him.

"I... called out to you, but someone else reacted... Ahem, who is this person?"

"..."

Yayul Geuk, still looking at me suspiciously, replied bluntly.

"Why do you need to know?"

Seriously, this disrespectful brat...

He'd only come to his senses after rolling around all day back at the academy, tsk.

While I was formulating a rehabilitation plan for Yayul Geuk.

"If you're Jin... Sowoon, aren't you young hero Black Flame Dragon?"

The response came from Yayul Jae.

And.

"To think I'd meet you like this!"

The guy who had just tried to kill me to silence me, mistaking me for Jang Sik-yeong's subordinate, suddenly cupped his fists and bowed his head.

Huh? What's this?

"I've heard a lot about you. I am Yayul Jae, Geuk's older brother."

His tone had suddenly changed too. It was really hard to adapt.

"Ah, I... see. No wonder you looked familiar."

"I, too, am deeply moved to meet young hero Black Flame Dragon like this."

"Huh? Y-Young hero?"

I tilted my head.

What's with this guy? This isn't the Yayul Jae I know...

"I've heard a lot from Geuk. He said he has a friend who helps him a lot with his academy life."

"Brother!! When did I ever!"

Yayul Geuk rolled his eyes and lunged at his brother.

Standing in place, Yayul Jae reached out a long arm and subdued Yayul Geuk by his head.

"Thank you for taking care of this dishonest guy. I've heard many rumors about your great chivalry, and it seems they weren't false."

Being called a friend to that hissing brat gave me goosebumps.

Well, it seemed the brat felt the same way, as he was trying to shut Yayul Jae's mouth however he could.

It wouldn't be bad to play the part of the chivalrous academy representative for a bit.

Putting a benevolent smile on my face, I cupped my fists in return.

"Don't mention it. It's... it's naturally what I should do."

Yayul Jae's impression was definitely very different from the one I remembered from my past life.

He still had a sharp edge to him, but he didn't feel full of venom, and he even smiled sometimes when looking at his hissing brother.

Was his personality in my past life formed after Yayul Geuk died?

Man, this is really awkward.

"It seems this guy also follows young hero Jin quite a lot. I leave him in your care moving forward."

"That's not it at all! Shut up!"

Meanwhile, Yayul Geuk's face was blushing so red it looked ready to explode.

Oho, I can't just let this slide.

I stared at Yayul Geuk profoundly.

"I see. To think Geuk felt that way...! I'll have to take even better care of him from now on."

At my words, Yayul Geuk's face went beyond red, turning dark as if he were dying.

This is pretty fun to watch, isn't it?

That's why you shouldn't rashly crawl over my head, you punk.

After smiling once at the little wildcat, I asked Yayul Jae.

"May I ask what kind of work you do, Great Warrior?"

"Great Warrior... Hahaha."

Yayul Jae, having subdued Yayul Geuk—who was ready to explode and lunge at me at any second—by striking his acupoints, awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"I'm not anyone that great. I just scrape by earning a living with my sword."

"Is that so? Still, I heard the martial arts of the Flowing Cloud Sect aren't that shallow."

Yayul Jae politely shook his head.

"That's all a thing of the past. Still, recently, it seems that guy Geuk has found some new path, which I consider a relief."

Then he cupped his fists again.

"I heard you helped him greatly with his enlightenment. It couldn't have been easy to share that... I offer my thanks to you once again."

"..."

It was originally a path Yayul Jae had found on his own, but Yayul Jae, who couldn't possibly know my circumstances, felt as if he had received the enlightenment he'd found after much hardship as a gift.

"No. I merely passed it along."

"... Huh? Passed it along?"

I slowly nodded.

Thinking of the Yayul Jae from my past life who must have suffered more than anyone.

"Yes. Because its original owner would have wanted it that way."

Yayul Jae tilted his head.

It was something he wouldn't understand even if I explained it anyway.

I quickly changed the subject.

"Do you plan to continue living as a wandering warrior?"

"Ah, actually, even that hasn't been easy, so I'm looking for a place to settle down."

"By a place to settle down..."

"I heard the Murim Alliance is recruiting lower-class warriors this time, so I'm thinking of applying there."

Will it end up like this after all?

The events that had occurred so far were definitely on a different trajectory than my past life, but the unfolded results hadn't changed much.

Out of needless anxiety, I pressed him.

"Haven't you thought about trying other work? Like commerce..."

"What do you..."

The character cheon (川) appeared between Yayul Jae's brows as he furrowed them.

I braced myself to hear him curse at me and said.

"It's because I know the work of a lower-class warrior in the Murim Alliance isn't easy."

"..."

However, contrary to my expectations, he didn't immediately spit out curses or draw his sword.

"I appreciate your concern, but as a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect, I am confident I can overcome any difficulty."

And in that moment, I realized.

That he had no intention of leaving the Jianghu he was a part of.

Thinking of the Flowing Cloud Sect's revival, he had never abandoned his life as a martial artist for even a single moment, and he would continue to do so.

Just like how he hadn't regretted it until the moment he died in my past life.

"I see..."

"Ah... I apologize. I got worked up for nothing..."

I bowed my head politely.

"Not at all. I was the one who spoke rudely."

Even if it weren't the Murim Alliance, he wouldn't escape the Jianghu in the end.

Just as he had in my past life, the man in front of me would also endlessly strive for the Flowing Cloud Sect's revival.

And eventually.

He would set foot into the Orthodox-Demonic Great War.

'If it's going to end up like that anyway...'

If he couldn't escape the Jianghu, it would be best for him to be by my side.

"If you pass, I recommend you apply to the White Wolf Pavilion."

"The White Wolf Pavilion?"

"Yes. I've heard many exceptional people are assigned there."

"Hmm... Is that so?"

"Yes."

Hoping he would end up in the White Wolf Pavilion's Minor Orthodox Unit just like in my past life, and sincerely hoping we could meet again.

I turned my body and returned to my group's side.

* * *

"Sob, I'm trash."

"That's right, a certain Lord Geumpyo is trash."

At Eunho's words, Geumpyo shot him a sharp glare.

"Why do you keep changing my surname (姓)!"

"Don't tell me you plan to keep the surname Lee even after receiving a Mu (戊) evaluation?"

"It was a mistake! A mistake, I tell you! I can just turn it around in the practical exam!"

But Eunho didn't back down either.

"As if someone who loses to my younger brother Dongryong every time could..."

"You... Lee! You wanna die!"

"Yes, yes, I'm the one who's a true Lee, while Lord Geumpyo has no surname..."

CRASH!

While Geumpyo lunged at Eunho and Dongryong tried to stop them, creating a chaotic scene.

Nam Hwaseong, who had been wearing a sullen expression for the past few days, bluntly spat out some words.

"Why did you bring me along?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you bring a spy to a gathering with your group."

Look at him. Such a huge guy pouting his lips—it's incredibly gross.

I gave him a small chuckle.

"If a spy stays behind in the delegation by himself, he'll leak secrets, won't he? That's why I brought you."

"Fuck..."

Nam Hwaseong downed his drink in one gulp and roughly wiped his lips.

Just as he filled his empty glass again and was about to throw it back, Nam Hwaseong suddenly snapped his head toward me.

"I don't even know what I'm doing anymore."

After hesitating for a moment, Nam Hwaseong emptied his glass again and asked me with blazing eyes.

"Let me ask you one thing. If I become your person... will you protect my sect?"

"What are you suddenly talking about?"

"I'm serious, Jin Sowoon. If I follow you around... I'm asking if you can protect our Samwon Sect's position among the 108 Peaks."

Seeing Nam Hwaseong looking more serious than ever, it seemed something had happened.

"Why should I?"

"What?"

"Why do I have to look after your sect's position too?"

From the beginning, the reason I didn't align myself with the Orthodox Council, the White Path Council, or the Twelve Peaks and Castles was to take a step back from their petty political squabbles.

The same went for not promising a rosy future to the academy's representative delegation.

"..."

Nam Hwaseong, who had a stiff expression, raised one corner of his mouth.

"Right, it's not your responsibility."

Just as Nam Hwaseong was about to down his glass again, I continued.

"Instead, I'll teach you how to protect your sect."

His motion of throwing back the glass came to a dead halt.

"What?"

"I'll tell you how to keep your sect from being annihilated in the coming war, and if it's in danger, I'll fight alongside you."

"..."

A sudden silence fell over the noisy drinking gathering.

Even the representative officers, including Ilgak, and my group, including my junior brothers, all stopped talking and listened to the conversation between me and Nam Hwaseong.

"What do you..."

Unable to grasp the situation, Nam Hwaseong asked me with a blank expression, and I gave him a clear answer.

"That's as far as I can promise. You guys can take care of your own success and your sect's ranks yourselves. I have neither the ability nor the desire to do that kind of crap for you."

"..."

Still failing to grasp the situation, Nam Hwaseong stared blankly at my face for a long time, fiddling with his glass.

The one who asked a question in his stead was Ilgak.

"Benefactor Jin... Do you think a war will break out?"

I obediently nodded my head.

"Why do you think there wouldn't be a war?"

"But the Blood Cult is already..."

"Is the Blood Cult our only enemy?"

"..."

"The Murim Alliance is experiencing a more radiant golden age than ever before. But that doesn't mean we don't have enemies."

I raised my head and looked around at the group one by one.

"When this golden age ends, great chaos will flood in, and the Jianghu will be trapped in the flames of a massive war."

"..."

While everyone was pondering who the 'enemy' I mentioned was based on the fragmented future I'd spoken of.

Nam Hwaseong opened his mouth, having apparently made his decision.

"Jin Sowoon, will you really fight for the Samwon Sect?"

I nodded.

"The sect of a comrade and subordinate is my sect."

"Comrade and subordinate..."

Mumbling my words, Nam Hwaseong downed his glass in one shot.

"Kueu... Jin Sowoon, there's something you need to know."

"What is it?"

"I met Cheol Sunjik a while ago. And... it seems the guys from the Twelve Peaks and Castles are plotting something."

Cheol Sunjik, is it about time for him to start making his move?

* * *

Cheol Sunjik, the Schemer (謀事).

That was his nickname in my past life.

He had another alias, but people called him the Schemer (謀事).

Because when it came to trickery and plots, no one could easily match him.

During the war, he secured the most victories with the fewest casualties.

Considering that most of the people assigned to his unit were members of the Twelve Peaks and Castles, it wasn't simply because their skills were great or his strategic tactics were extraordinary.

From the start, the Demonic Cult wasn't an opponent against whom strategic tactics worked properly.

Then where lay the reason he could achieve so many victories?

He always fought against the weakest enemy units.

Whenever it was time for his unit to face a strong enemy, he mobilized all sorts of means to pass the enemy onto other units.

'I guess you could call that a talent if it's a talent.'

From the very beginning, even before entering the Murim Academy, the person I had picked as the number one target to watch out for was none other than Cheol Sunjik.

Because in my past life as well, the place that suffered the most damage because of Cheol Sunjik's unit was none other than the White Wolf Pavilion.

Perhaps my ill fate with him carried over from my past life.

'That bastard has endured for a long time too.'

Considering our connection that had continued since taking the standard exam, from Cheol Sunjik's perspective, it was no different from a long wait.

Since I, too, strongly felt that it was slowly becoming time for him to move for his own goals.

Sure enough.

"Representative, the academy students want to arrange a discussion with you."

"A discussion session?"

I tilted my head at this talk I hadn't heard in my past life.

Jang Ujae continued his report with a worried expression.

"Yes. They say they want to discuss the future direction of the academy."

"All the academy students?"

"No. There are specific individuals representing the academy students."

"..."

Jang Ujae, finding it absurd as well, let out a scoffing laugh and replied.

"They call themselves the 'Academy Councilors'."

The moment I heard the unprecedented word 'councilor', a single face came to mind.

"Is Cheol Sunjik among them?"

"Huh? How did you..."

How did I know?

The idea of newly selecting people to represent the academy students when there was already a proper academy representative...

"Haa, you bastard. I can hear the gears in your head turning all the way from here."

Because no one other than that guy Cheol Sunjik would be capable of it.