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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Second Test Begins with a Tail
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Three days had passed since the end of the Divine Hall of the Latent Demon's first test.
An official initiation ceremony was being held in the training grounds of the Divine Hall.
The ceremony was brief, without any particular fanfare.
The head instructor stood on the platform and shouted to the vast training grounds.
"This concludes the official initiation for the 500 cadets who passed the first test."
"Sir!"
"Receive the envelopes containing information about the second test and return to your designated quarters. Do not open the envelopes until you are in your private rooms."
"Sir!"
As the head instructor commanded, each cadet was given a small envelope.
The head instructor had expected the cadets to look like they were dying of curiosity upon receiving the envelopes.
But most of them showed little reaction.
It was as if their minds were preoccupied with other thoughts.
The head instructor scanned the cadets, thinking.
'Something's strange. I expected some information to leak, but not for this many cadets to already know. ...They seem to be the cause. Where are they looking?'
The head instructor's gaze stopped at a single point.
There stood So Ryong and the other rising stars of the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates.
But they weren't even looking at the envelopes; instead, they were staring intently at a single cadet.
'Is that the boy Ha Song mentioned…'
The head instructor followed the gazes of the six rising stars. His eyes landed on a cadet wearing a uniform with the number 1390.
The cadet seemed unbothered by the piercing stares directed at him.
'His name was Maeng Ak, wasn't it?'
The head instructor had heard about Maeng Ak from Ha Song, who had changed remarkably over the past three days.
It was when the instructors were drinking and ranking the cadets' expected performance.
- Come on, it's obviously Cadet 100, So Ryong. Have you seen him handle a sword? The term 'unparalleled genius' was made for him.
- Ha! You think martial skill is all it takes at the Divine Hall? Experience can't be ignored. I'd bet on either Geom Cheon-ha or Do Cheon-mu. What do you think, Head Instructor?
- I think the cunning and sharp ones like Dok Cheon-roe or Eum Cheon-myeong will do well...
- I thought you'd have a different opinion, Head Instructor, but you're no different from the rest. No matter what anyone says, I believe Hwan Cheon-hwa is the most likely candidate.
Everyone naturally chose So Ryong or the other rising stars from the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates.
Including the head instructor himself.
But not Ha Song, who was dozing drunkenly in a corner.
He shouted the name of a cadet no one had ever heard of.
- *Hic*. You all know nothing! How can you leave out our Lor… no, Cadet 1390, Maeng Ak? *Hic*. I'd bet my entire fortune on Maeng Ak! *Zzz. Snore*.
Of course, he had passed out right after saying his piece, so they never heard the reason.
But seeing him now with his own two eyes, the head instructor felt he understood why Ha Song had said such a thing.
'Solid muscles and a well-balanced physique. And not a single opening to be found, no matter how hard I look.
Except for that pretty-boy face, he has the body of a born warrior.'
In terms of appearance alone, he even seemed superior to So Ryong and the other rising stars.
Of course, that was because Maeng Ak had been training with the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger day and night for the past three days.
Maeng Ak's body was growing stronger by the day.
Just like the Indestructible Body he had achieved in his past life.
The head instructor found himself intrigued by Maeng Ak. He was exuding his presence without a hint of reservation.
'Hoh. So he hasn't been devoured by those six hidden dragons yet? That must be why they're staring so intently. This is going to be more interesting than I thought.'
The head instructor was a man chosen by the Council of Elders, unaffiliated with either the Cult Leader's faction or the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates.
In his eyes, Maeng Ak appeared to be an unexpected gem who could bring an element of surprise to the Divine Hall.
'Shall I follow him?'
His curiosity piqued, he decided to follow Maeng Ak, who was heading to his private quarters after the ceremony.
But what was this?
Led by So Ryong and the rising stars of the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates, sixty cadets were tailing Maeng Ak.
'What are they planning to do, following him in a group like that?'
The sixty cadets moved while maintaining a considerable distance, as if they already knew the location of Maeng Ak's quarters.
'It seems quite a bit of information has leaked. I'll have to clean house after this test is over.'
The head instructor thought of a few instructors who had close ties to the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates and the Cult Leader's faction.
But that was a matter for later.
For now, it was time to observe these interesting youngsters.
Concealing his presence, he secretly followed the sixty rising stars.
Not a single one of them noticed the head instructor's presence.
And so, a ridiculous scene unfolded: a chain of tails, all following a single person, Maeng Ak.
***
Having just arrived at his private quarters, Maeng Ak immediately sat down on his bed.
Soft.
"Oh, not bad at all."
He was quite exhausted, having trained day and night for three days straight after the first test.
But because of the tails he'd picked up since the initiation ceremony, sleep would have to wait.
He didn't know when they might storm in.
Maeng Ak opened the envelope first.
The paper inside read:
- Second Test Guidelines.
1. The second test will be a team competition, conducted in groups of five.
2. Each cadet must form a team of five, including themselves, by noon the next day. In other words, the test has already begun.
3. No restrictions are placed upon the cadets during this process. However, bringing in outsiders is forbidden, and leaving the grounds of the Divine Hall is prohibited.
"Hmm. This is a bit different from what Ha Song told me. Did they add this?"
Maeng Ak tilted his head as he read the third rule.
A rule Ha Song hadn't mentioned. This meant someone had added it during the three days he was training.
The only saving grace was the prohibition against bringing in outsiders and leaving the grounds.
They must have added such restrictions because they believed someone was backing the suddenly powerful Maeng Ak.
Either that, or they were trying to ensure fairness in the competition after dealing with him.
But the ones who added this rule had overlooked something.
The strength of Maeng Ak himself.
Maeng Ak was no mere rising star, groomed by someone to keep the Cult Leader's faction or the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates in check.
He was a warrior whose very existence could overturn the board they had set.
A true warrior, not some fledgling rising star.
No matter how many cadets banded together within the Divine Hall, they could not control him.
Because before he was Cadet 1390, he was the Hegemon of the Green Forest, once said to be the closest to becoming the strongest under heaven.
As if to prove it, Maeng Ak roused the special internal energy he had created by harmonizing demonic qi with the Divine Arts of the Green Forest Tiger.
He could feel the tails that had been following him since the training grounds had just arrived.
"*Yawn*. I almost fell asleep waiting. Let's get this over with quickly and get some sleep."
Shing.
With his right hand, Maeng Ak drew the sword from his waist.
'Might as well test out my still-lacking Green Forest Tiger-Demon Sword.'
Even this situation, with dozens of cadets coming to capture him, was merely another part of his training.
The Divine Hall itself was nothing more than a stepping stone on his path to take the Alliance Leader's head.
Just then, those surrounding his quarters must have sensed him raising his internal energy, as they began to move.
Figuring they would break down the door if he just waited, Maeng Ak kindly stepped outside.
'I need to sleep right after this. It would be a pain if things get messy.'
He looked like he was walking willingly into the serpent's maw.
But the serpent did not know.
What it was trying to swallow.
That something was a serpent of a far greater class. No, a leviathan.
Creek.
As he opened the door, ten burly cadets surrounded him.
"What, where'd everyone else go?"
Maeng Ak had sensed the presence of at least fifty people on his way to his quarters.
In particular, the presence he felt furthest away was even stronger than those of the six rising stars.
But none of them were in sight.
Clang!
In response to Maeng Ak's question, the ten men drew their weapons instead of answering.
In a normal situation, it would have been enough to frighten or fluster someone.
But Maeng Ak was different.
He simply spoke as if bored.
"*Sigh*. Are you guys trying to stall for time? Or are you supposed to lead me somewhere?"
At his accurate assessment, the men exchanged troubled glances.
"..."
"Agh. This is so frustrating. I'll play along, so just tell me. It's better for both of us if we get this over with quickly, right?"
The cadets were simply dumbfounded by Maeng Ak, who spoke as if dealing with a bothersome chore.
One of the men, who appeared to be their leader, spoke up.
"Quite confident, aren't you. Fine. Follow me."
From the moment he'd felt the internal energy stir inside Maeng Ak's room until the door opened, he hadn't let his guard down.
But Maeng Ak himself was completely at ease. He even used the hand holding his sword to scratch his chin and yawn.
It was a clear sign of disrespect.
But they couldn't find a single opening in his stance.
'Ugh. He's like a different person from the first test. He was strong then, but not like this... What happened in the last three days?'
It was frustrating, but Maeng Ak was right. Their role was simply to stall and lead him to the designated location.
What they needed to do now was not let their emotions ruin the plan.
Maeng Ak sheathed his sword, crossed his arms, and followed the man.
The other nine men followed Maeng Ak, their bodies tense with nerves.
After walking for about ten minutes, they reached a small pond. This must have been the designated spot, as the guide stopped and turned around.
"Wait here."
Rustle.
Then he disappeared into the bushes behind the pond. The other nine men also vanished, leaving Maeng Ak alone.
They didn't think Maeng Ak, who had followed them willingly, would try to escape now.
It was time to proceed with the plan as quickly as possible.
He showed no openings, but he looked incredibly tired. This could be their chance.
As if to prove it, not long after the men disappeared, Maeng Ak began to doze off, his head nodding.
***
"Young Master. We've brought him."
"Sooner than I expected. Any casualties?"
"None. He seemed to have noticed our arrival, came out on his own, and told us to lead him here."
"Ha! The nerve of him. Tsk. His arrogance will be his undoing. Let's go!"
Upon hearing from his subordinate that Maeng Ak had arrived at the pond, Geom Cheon-ha's eyes blazed as if he were about to strike at any moment.
He looked ready to dash forward, but stopped as if he had almost forgotten something.
He took a small flute from his sleeve and blew it.
Peeee-
At the sound, the bushes behind the pond rustled violently, and dozens of cadets emerged.
Among them were So Ryong and the other rising stars of the Five Heavenly Pillar Gates.
Their appearances were as follows.
In a red uniform, with a sword larger than his own body slung over his shoulder and one corner of his mouth curled up, was So Ryong.
Next to him, grinding his teeth and gathering energy in his palms, was Dok Cheon-roe in a green uniform.
The young man in the blue uniform, stroking the hilt of his sword with the hand that had just put away the flute, his eyes blazing, was Geom Cheon-ha.
Holding a broad saber, with a fierce look in his eyes and wearing a navy uniform, was Do Cheon-mu.
With a grin that contrasted with his deeply thoughtful expression, holding a pipa and wearing a yellow uniform, was Eum Cheon-myeong.
At the very back, fanning herself and observing the scene, was the lovely Hwan Cheon-hwa, dressed in a purple uniform that matched her hair.
All of them raised their internal energy as they advanced toward Maeng Ak.
Their subordinates did the same, carrying a variety of weapons, from swords and sabers to iron whips, staves, and bows.