The day of the final practical evaluation for the end of the term arrived.

While the academy students felt anticipation for the approaching winter break, they also maintained a heavy atmosphere due to their nervousness about the practical evaluation, which carried the highest weight for their grades.

The academy students who had gone into closed-door training, even if only for a short time, came out in time for the date.

Everyone was busy trying to form groups, searching for people they could coordinate well with.

Of course, those who had somewhat finished forming their groups took care of other matters.

And the most urgent matter that befell Jin Sowoon was...

"I heard you did something veeeery amazing at the Underworld Alliance, Eldest Senior Brother."

"Ahem... It is something I naturally had to do as a disciple of the Taiyi Sect. By the way, Junior Sister Ryeon, you have grown a lot in such a short time."

"Junior Sister Ryeon... Junior Sister Ryeon... I told you not to call me by that name!"

...surviving Hong Saryeon, who had just come out of her closed-door training.

"W-Wait! It's not like I did something wrong enough for you to raise your internal energy!"

"Just die quietly!"

"Telling someone who barely made it back alive to die!"

"No need for words!"

Thus, the day of the strategy and tactics evaluation arrived.

"Saryeon... what's with that expression?"

Namgung Seonhwa, who had grown much closer to her after going into closed-door training together, looked at Hong Saryeon with worry.

"I couldn't land a single hit."

"Huh?"

Namgung Seonhwa tilted her head.

At that, Saryeon let out a deep sigh.

"Eldest Senior Brother. I definitely attacked him with all my might, but I couldn't land a single hit on him... Could it be that my closed-door training went wrong?"

Namgung Seonhwa furrowed her brow.

Hong Saryeon had devoted herself fearfully to her training during her short closed-door training period.

To the point where, on some days, she even forgot basic things like eating and sleeping.

It was a level of concentration Namgung Seonhwa had never seen in her life.

Her efforts yielded results, and Saryeon's skills had skyrocketed remarkably in that short time.

No matter how much of a skill gap existed between academy students, she simply could not understand how Jin Sowoon hadn't taken a single hit.

"Are you sure you went all out?"

"Yes. I went completely all out."

Showing just how wronged she felt, Saryeon looked as though she would burst into anger at any moment.

In addition to his duties as the representative, Jin Sowoon was traveling back and forth to help with the work at the Mantong Bureau.

He had even recently traveled to the Underworld Alliance, so he naturally should have been short on time to train...

She could hardly understand how Jin Sowoon's skills had improved during that time.

Just then.

"Why are you thinking so deeply about it? He was originally someone who couldn't be understood with common sense anyway, heave."

Seong Moran spoke as she warmed up her body.

"If you try to understand every little thing like that, you'll just end up more confused."

"Did something happen?"

At Namgung Seonhwa's question, Seong Moran put on an expression of utter disbelief.

"Well, it turns out Young Master Jin knows all the weaknesses of the Mountain-Shattering Sword Technique. Not to mention how to compensate for them, too."

"..."

"The elders of my sect tried so hard to hide them, yet I can't believe he knew everything inside and out like that."

Come to think of it, hadn't her grandfather, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword, also created the Cangqiong Unwi Sword Technique after having a conversation with Jin Sowoon?

Just as Seong Moran said, Namgung Seonhwa felt like she was falling deeper into a labyrinth the more she tried to understand.

"What were you talking about?"

Just then, Jin Sowoon, the very subject of their conversation, appeared along with his junior martial siblings.

Seong Moran grumbled as she replied.

"There's someone. A person who becomes harder to understand the more you know them."

Jin Sowoon's brow furrowed with concern.

"... That sounds quite dangerous. Is he a con artist?"

"... Well, close enough."

Seeing Seong Moran trailing off, Jin Sowoon also didn't ask any further.

Saryeon's glare was quite scary, as well.

"Ahem, anyway, I look forward to working with you."

"We are the ones who should be saying that."

"There are a lot of Taiyi Sect disciples; are you sure you're okay with this?"

"I'm the one who should be asking for a favor. I'm barely hanging on because of my Mu evaluation. Seonhwa probably joined Young Master Jin's group for a similar reason, too. Right?"

"Yes. I would rather ask for your help. Either way, my score for this practical evaluation needs to be high so I can get a higher score than my brother."

At the two women's words, Jin Sowoon nodded his head.

"I will do my best."

He then swept his gaze over his group.

Geumpyo, Eunho, Dongryong, Saryeon, Seong Moran, Namgung Seonhwa, Moyong Jaehwa, Eun Seollan.

And even Yayul Geuk.

Huh? Yayul Geuk?

Jin Sowoon tilted his head and asked Yayul Geuk.

"Why are you here?"

"I-I didn't join because I wanted to!"

Yayul Geuk, whose face had turned bright red, shouted back with the veins popping out on his neck.

Eunho let out a sigh and explained.

"He didn't have anyone to form a squad with, so I brought him along. We needed to make a total of ten people, too."

Jin Sowoon clicked his tongue as if he could easily picture exactly what had happened.

"Whew, this is why you should have kept your temper in check."

"I, I...!"

"That's enough. We're starting now."

After silencing the little wildcat, Jin Sowoon looked around the practical evaluation grounds.

Ilgak and Jang Ujae had each gathered their own people to form their squads.

The instructors and drill instructors moved among the academy students to check the rosters before handing out flags colored to match their respective camps.

The academy students who received the flags utilized every method possible to hide their flag bearers.

"There's never been a time I envied those who learned fist and leg arts as much as this time."

"Doesn't everything have its own pros and cons?"

In the strategy and tactics evaluation, inflicting a serious injury on an opponent was also grounds for point deduction.

And this naturally proved to be enough to make those who used weapons feel intimidated.

It was the intent of the organizers to base the evaluation strictly on strategy and tactics.

"I heard Ilgak formed a squad entirely with members of the Shaolin Sect? He seems completely determined."

As Seong Moran pouted her lips, Jin Sowoon slowly shook his head.

"The evaluation results will not be decided by whether or not you hold a weapon..."

"I don't like it."

"Pardon?"

Seong Moran glared at him and shouted.

"Someone who has only received Gap evaluations can never understand the feelings of someone who received a Mu evaluation!"

Then she grabbed Geumpyo, who was checking his equipment, and shook him.

"Geumpyo, say something! Your Eldest Senior Brother is being so heartless."

Geumpyo, who had a blank expression for a moment at Seong Moran's words, soon spoke with a look of firm resolve.

"We will definitely get a good evaluation. Please do not worry."

At that, Seong Moran sneakily took a step back.

"... Why is he suddenly acting like this again?"

Before long, under the watchful eyes of the drill instructors, the academy students began to take the Gunja Powder one by one.

It was none other than the Gunja Powder manufactured by the Murim Alliance's Divine Physician's Pavilion, using a formula passed down by the Sichuan Tang Clan.

The drug's effects would last for exactly twenty-four hours, completely rendering the academy students unable to use their internal energy for an entire day.

"Ugh... it feels weird no matter when I take it."

As Seong Moran scrunched her face, Eunho asked.

"Have you tried it before?"

"Yeah, back when I was in my sect. They would often make us train after taking Gunja Powder. Because Gunja Powder is the most basic poison martial artists get intoxicated with."

Sorrow clouded Eunho's face, having never trained after consuming Gunja Powder.

Just then, Jin Sowoon, who had just swallowed the Gunja Powder, opened his mouth.

"Just think of the training you did in the Taiyi Sect. As long as you retain the feeling from back then, you will be able to adapt quickly."

Seong Moran asked in surprise.

"You've done training that restricted your internal energy?"

Jin Sowoon nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

"The Taiyi Sect's finances weren't well-off enough to afford Gunja Powder."

"Haa... just how far into the future is he looking, this guy."

While Seong Moran grumbled.

Buk Wonpyeong stepped up onto the podium.

[The strategy and tactics evaluation taking place today will be the final evaluation of the year. Academy students, do your best so you may reap a beautiful conclusion! Then, begin!]

At the end of Buk Wonpyeong's words, a signal flare shot up and exploded, and the academy students began to move according to the color of their flags.

* * *

There were originally no names for the three small mountain peaks located about two hours away from the academy.

However, at some point, the residents of Wuhan began to call the three mountain peaks Mount Hong, Mount Cheong, and Mount Baek, respectively.

Because the strategy and tactics evaluations were held here generation after generation, the words of the academy students had been passed down and eventually spread to the residents of Wuhan.

"WAAAAAAH!"

"WAAAAAAAAH!"

Those who had formed squads began battling for ranking among the squads within their respective Blue Army, White Army, and Red Army.

Those whose flags were taken began taking orders from those who took their flags, and sometimes, squads merged by mutual agreement to form companies.

"There are still a lot of people just watching."

At the words of Seong Moran, who was looking around, I nodded my head.

"They are probably watching to see who looks like an easy target first."

Losing one's flag didn't mean the end. Even then, how many flags one had taken before being defeated had a crucial impact on the evaluation.

Not only the White Path Council, the Orthodox Council, and the Twelve Peaks and Castles, but even those without a foundational faction desperately searched for squads weaker than themselves.

Being the closest within the Red Army's camp, we slowly shifted our steps toward the center.

The battles within the Red Army hadn't overheated yet.

Just then, a squad blocked our path.

"Representative."

They were none other than Jang Ujae and his friends.

"Are you trying to be eliminated already?"

At my question, Jang Ujae grinned.

"Because strategically assimilating into a squad certain to win is also considered excellent tactics, which earns bonus points."

"So you're going to hand over your flag?"

"Shouldn't we at least give it a try first?"

'As expected, he's a guy I like.'

I nodded as I drew the Black Dragon Sword.

"It seems we'll be getting some highly spirited squad members."

At my words, Jang Ujae also drew his sword.

Before long, the Red Army's first battle for ranking commenced.

* * *

Starting with Jang Ujae, several Red Army squads attacked us one after another.

Each time, our squad continued our winning streak, and seeing our numbers grow after every battle, some of the squads within the Red Army even resorted to strategically merging their forces.

Although no force larger than a company had attacked us all at once yet, our squad had to continue fighting against endless challenges.

"Urgh!"

"Academy student Song Muyeol eliminated!"

"Academy student Kang Chasuk eliminated!"

In the midst of the battle, people began to be eliminated due to reaching their physical limits or suffering severe injuries.

Moving their bodies without the use of internal energy was not an easy task for martial artists who had devoted their entire lives to cultivating internal energy.

People frequently ended up exhausted after using more strength than their physical stamina allowed, and there were also cases where people were eliminated for overexerting their strength and severely injuring an opponent.

Fortunately enough, there had been no eliminations among our squad members so far.

While I was thinking that things were flowing smoothly.

"But this is a bit strange."

Seong Moran said while looking around.

"Why is everyone not moving actively?"

"..."

Prompted by her question, Eunho and Moyong Jaehwa climbed atop nearby rocks and trees to inspect the surroundings.

I also turned my gaze to check the areas where the Blue Army and White Army were.

Although there were places that had combined their flags and formed companies, everyone was merely observing the situation with a wait-and-see attitude.

Just as Seong Moran pointed out, no one was moving actively.

Considering there was a time limit, it wouldn't have been strange if the atmosphere had gotten a bit overheated, yet everyone showed no major movement, as if they had a specific goal in mind.

'What is this? It feels like there's a foul stench to this.'

As if responding to my ominous hunch, Eunho's voice rang out from atop a rock.

"Eldest Senior Brother, the Blue Army is starting to move."

Jaehwa's voice quickly followed.

"Brother, the White Army is also starting to move. But..."

Jaehwa's face contorted as he observed Mount Baek.

"No one is fighting."

"Huh?"

"... They are heading straight for Mount Hong."

It was an unexpected movement.

"What's their scheme?"

The members of the Blue Army and the White Army moved at the same time.

In a time where clashing shoulders and fighting over flags wouldn't be enough, they were marching toward Mount Hong in an orderly fashion, let alone fighting.

"They're almost at Mount Hong."

"What the hell are they doing!"

Beside me, Geumpyo tightly gripped his shield and reported in a low voice.

"... The Red Army isn't drawing their swords either."

"What kind of scheme are these bastards..."

Just then.

SWISH!

The members of the Red Army scattered across Mount Hong began to open a path.

Thanks to that, the members of the Blue Army and White Army were climbing Mount Hong without any interference.

"Brother... those bastards aren't coming this way, are they?"

"..."

Moyong Jaehwa wore an expression of disbelief.