Book 2 Chapter 24

The Entrance Ceremony Escape Incident

The entrance ceremony of Cheonmu Academy, which should have been met with awe, grandeur, and a wave of emotion.

However, for Biryuyeon, it was nothing more than an unbearable bore that made him yawn repeatedly.

Looking around, he could easily spot new disciples shedding tears of emotion. But in Biryuyeon's eyes, they were just insignificant ants, eliciting a snicker. For ordinary people, this place, reached after countless trials and overcoming hardships, could not possibly be unimpressive. So, it was understandable that new disciples occasionally showed tears of emotion. But Biryuyeon couldn't truly understand their feelings. Or rather, he couldn't comprehend them. The emotions they felt so naturally were foreign and strange to him.

'How can one be moved by such a dreadful waste?'

He couldn't understand it at all. Biryuyeon was someone whose thought processes didn't flow smoothly without money. To him, the thousands of people lined up in the training hall and the colorful flags flying high held no emotional appeal. The harmonious blend of excitement, spirit, and fervor that filled the ceremony hall only bored him.

The welcoming speech by the senior disciple representative, the important figures holding key positions within the academy who were rarely seen except at such times, the deputy head who was as rare as spotting a star in the sky, and the head of Cheonmu Academy himself, whose mere sight was said to bring glory for seven generations – and the twin guards flanking him like a fortress. To Biryuyeon, it was all just indifferent.

Biryuyeon was looking for an opportunity. A golden opportunity to leave this suffocating and utterly boring entrance ceremony and fly away somewhere freely… Finally, the welcoming speeches by the head and deputy head, the representatives of the elders, and the senior disciples, which others wished to see even once in a lifetime, were like torture for Biryuyeon, and he finally acted on a long-held decision.

'If the opportunity doesn't come, you must create it!'

The fact that he had endured up to this point was, in itself, the minimum courtesy he could offer to the impossible.

"Swish!"

His body blurred as if it were a phantom, his form and shadow fading until he could no longer be found anywhere in the venue. It was an extremely high-level movement technique that left no sound or trace. The crowd, still glaring at him with sharp eyes, felt as if their livers would fall out. They felt as if their hearts were leaping into their throats. They should consider themselves lucky not to have stumbled and fallen due to their dislodged hearts. Biryuyeon, who had been undeniably present just moments before, had vanished instantly like a phantom. And he had disappeared without a trace, a person whom they had been cautiously observing. They couldn't even guess his direction or speed. He had completely disappeared from their sight.

'H-how could this be… I've lost track of him!'

To lose track of a carefully observed opponent, and not even be able to guess their direction – in a real battle, it wouldn't be strange if a sword attack came from an unexpected angle and severed their necks. Losing track of an opponent meant defeat. Nothing else could exist beyond those two words. They had managed to add one more day to their lifespan on the ledger today. It was a mistake that even tens of thousands of pages of a 320-line reflection essay wouldn't forgive.

All the new disciples felt their scalps tingle and a chill run down their spines. They all tasted a deep sense of defeat simultaneously. The taste was far from sweet, and it even made them feel as if they were possessed by ghosts.

The new disciples beside Biryuyeon diligently doubted their eyes, ears, and all their senses, but it was in vain. They stood there blankly, without understanding why. They couldn't even guess the direction, let alone catch a glimpse of his shadow. Were their eyes merely decorations? This was no different from them being reduced to novices compared to the disappeared opponent. Therefore, their shock was even greater.

Biryuyeon exited the ceremony hall and went to the rooftop of a nearby, antique-style pavilion. It was a rather tall building with five floors. From the rooftop, the colorful scene of the training hall, where the ceremony was in full swing, unfolded before his eyes, offering a breathtaking view. Lounging on the pavilion's tiles, with the bright sunlight as his blanket, Biryuyeon breathed in the warm sunlight and the gentle breeze that caressed his face, as if he were inhaling the breath of life, as if he were clearing his stuffed chest. The sunlight was warm. So, he soon fell asleep. It was an extension of the deep sleep he had been unable to continue earlier, which had ended disappointingly. But even this deep sleep didn't last as long as he had hoped.

'Huh?'

His dream, enjoyed on the tiles with sunlight as his blanket, was short-lived. A shadow fell across his face. It was clearly not natural. It was an obstruction blocking the warm spring sunlight directly.

"Flash!"

Biryuyeon's eyes snapped open as he enjoyed his peaceful and pleasant nap. As he lay spread out, with only his chin raised, he saw a human shadow appear in his vision. The person looked about twenty years old. A handsome young man with sharp eyebrows and a prominent nose, and a relaxed smile. A bright, beaming face. Two strands of blue hero's ribbon, tied diagonally across his forehead, drew the viewer's attention. And the twin swords tied to his back, on either side. Both of these twin swords were identical in shape and color, making them very impressive. Perhaps, not only in form but also in weight and feel, they were identical.

"Hi!"

The young man he had never seen before greeted him first.

There was no formal bow. No honorifics. He merely waved his left hand. It was a somewhat awkward greeting for someone he was meeting for the first time, but the young man seemed completely at ease. He had a peculiar charm that drew people in, so anyone who heard it would have felt welcomed. He had an incredibly refreshing impression that inspired goodwill.

"I didn't know there was someone with the same hobby as me!"

He seemed very happy to have met an unexpected companion, a kindred spirit with whom he could share his thoughts, and his words were full of life.

"Who?"

"Ah, my name is Hyoryong. My friends also call me Euljin Musaenggeom, though I'm undeserving of it. In fact, ceremonies might look cool from the outside, but they are too boring for the people inside. Extremely tedious. Don't you think? That's why you're here, isn't it? Meeting an unexpected kindred spirit at a time like this, in a place like this, perhaps this is why life is so enjoyable. Meeting a wonderful connection after skipping a ceremony? Hoho, don't you think it's wonderful? It must be a blessing from heaven."

Hyoryong, this noisy fellow who chattered incessantly without giving Biryuyeon a chance to speak, beamed at Biryuyeon and smiled broadly. His expression seemed amused and fascinated. Biryuyeon thought his smile was very bright and refreshing.

In fact, Biryuyeon's interest in others was so rare that it should have been recorded. He originally had little interest in people outside of financial relationships. However, Hyoryong was exclaiming in wonder, as if he had found a kindred spirit in an unexpected place, something he hadn't anticipated at all. Anyone could see he was excited. It's not easy to find a friend with whom you can share common ground in life. However, Biryuyeon remained outwardly unfazed by Hyoryong's fuss.

"Are you done talking?"

Biryuyeon, who had been silently watching Hyoryong the whole time, frowned and finally spoke.

"Yes."

"Um, but…"

"Yes?"

Hyoryong, who had been talking to himself while looking down at Biryuyeon, turned his gaze and asked.

"It's all good, but please move now. You're blocking the sunlight. I don't like that."

Biryuyeon's words went far beyond Hyoryong's expectations. At that moment, Hyoryong seemed to realize his mistake, saying 'Oops' as he took a step to the side. The sun once again embraced Biryuyeon's entire body warmly. Satisfied, Biryuyeon relaxed his frown and smiled, savoring the warmth and coziness of the sun. It was an extravagant indulgence that couldn't be bought with money.

Hyoryong, looking at Biryuyeon with envious eyes, seemed to make up his mind and lay down next to him, spreading out just like Biryuyeon. The sunlight pleasantly tickled Hyoryong's face.

"Oh? Aren't those clothes new? Are you okay with them getting dirty?"

Biryuyeon asked. He was still worrying about trivial things.

"It doesn't matter. I feel good!"

Hyoryong's tone had changed to casual. But Biryuyeon didn't pay much attention to it. Their conversation was that unreserved. Biryuyeon asked Hyoryong.

"How is it?"

"I feel great, this sense of liberation! This fullness! Hahaha."

Hyoryong replied with a hearty laugh. Biryuyeon smiled along with his answer. Biryuyeon was satisfied with his response. Biryuyeon extended his right hand. It was unprecedented for him to extend his hand to another man first, since the creation of heaven and earth. Even if someone worried about the end of the world tomorrow, no one could blame them.

"I'm Biryuyeon. Let's get along."

Hyoryong grasped his hand. They smiled at each other. While the area below the pavilion was bustling with the ceremony, the two people on the rooftop enjoyed their leisure like immortals who had cut ties with the mortal world. Everything seemed peaceful and leisurely.

The two had no intention of ending their sunbathing on the rooftop, nor did they seem to intend to come down, until the signal for the new disciples to gather separately after the entrance ceremony was over.

"Hey, Ryuyeon?"

Hyoryong tilted his head slightly to the side and called out to Biryuyeon.

"Yeah, what?"

"Someone's watching us."

"Yeah, I know. They've been there since you climbed up earlier. Weren't you following them?"

Hyoryong's body flinched imperceptibly. But soon, as if nothing had happened, Hyoryong scratched the back of his head awkwardly and said.

"Well? I'm not that beloved, am I? Hahaha…"

Unlike his reaction a moment ago, his voice was calm.

"Really? Then just ignore it."

Biryuyeon said, as if it were not a big deal. But it was not as easy to execute as it was to say. He couldn't help but feel bothered by the unseen gaze.

"Maybe it means they want us to stop slacking off and go down?"

"Is that so? What does it matter to me if someone makes pancakes out of vomit?"

Biryuyeon said, with a hint of annoyance. He truly wanted to be free from others' interference at this point.

"Oh, has that happened before?"

Hyoryong asked with a very interested look.

"Not me, but someone I know has that history. We were drinking with friends and sleeping, and one of them woke up drunk and vomited into a bowl. In the morning, that guy woke up, mistook the solidified vomit for pancake batter, and made pancakes out of it."

"Was it edible?"

"Yeah, it seems it was quite edible. Because the ingredients were pale and not very sticky, he added a little egg and flour to make a pancake, and then shared it with his friends. They said it was a delicacy. Of course, everyone was horrified when they later found out."

"Ignorance is bliss. Shall we try it too? We might discover a new horizon of amazing taste."

"I strongly advise you to give up."

"Really? Then let's put the new cooking practice on hold for now. But who was that friend, anyway? I'm really curious."

"Oh, it's nothing special. His name isn't well-known…"

Biryuyeon evaded the question, trailing off. He certainly couldn't tell Hyoryong that the culprit of that incident was Nohak.

"The signal for the new disciples to gather sounded a while ago. We have to get our room assignments, so let's go down."

"Room assignments?"

Biryuyeon asked with an expression that said, 'Was there something like that? I didn't know.' Hyoryong was inwardly speechless.

"You mean you didn't even know that until now?"

"Yeah!"

Biryuyeon nodded indifferently, as if knowing ignorance was something to be proud of. Suddenly, Hyoryong jumped up from his seat and pulled Biryuyeon's hand, heading towards the place where the gathering signal had been ringing. Biryuyeon offered no resistance, being dragged along by Hyoryong like a bundle of goods. Hyoryong's movement technique was astonishing, as if Biryuyeon's weight was no burden at all. One could easily infer that his internal energy level and lightness skill were extraordinary.

As Hyoryong led Biryuyeon towards the assembly area, he smiled playfully at Biryuyeon.

"Ryuyeon?"

"Yeah?"

"If he was really from Cheonmu Academy, we'd be in trouble already, right? Since we got caught slacking off."

Despite what he said, there was no trace of bewilderment on Hyoryong's face. He even wore a subtle smile, as if he were enjoying the situation. His attitude was that he didn't care about any observers. The signs of someone secretly watching them had also disappeared, and fortunately, the assembly area was not far from the training hall, so they quickly crossed a few pavilions and arrived in front of a building with the sign 'Cheongsingwan'. This was the gathering place for new disciples.

The building was spacious and grand enough to accommodate a large number of people. As they opened the door and entered, a large number of new disciples were already gathered inside, waiting. Despite nearly six hundred people gathered, the main hall did not feel crowded. The building was that spacious. Furthermore, despite hundreds of people gathered, the inside of the pavilion was eerily quiet. Biryuyeon didn't like that. It made him feel uneasy. At that moment, a resonant voice echoed through the pavilion.

"The Head of Muhongak is entering."

All the new disciples' gazes turned in unison towards the source of the sound. Then, an elderly man, accompanied by three martial artists, walked out. The pattern of three sword dragons embroidered on the chests of the escorting martial artists indirectly indicated the old man's high status.

Biryuyeon later learned from Hyoryong that at Cheonmu Academy, the measure of ability, regardless of seniority, was determined by the patterns embroidered on their chests. Three sword dragons meant a pattern with three crossed swords and three dragons wrapped around the swords. Of course, as the number of sword dragons increased, the difference in skill widened immensely. Each number represented a martial arts rank.

Three sword dragons indicated a level of skill that looked down upon disciples from any major sect. With three such escorts, what further explanation was needed regarding the old man's status? All eyes were focused on the old man. The gazes of the observing disciples were filled with admiration and respect.