797 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"What's the meaning of this madness?!" Jeong Pal Geom's shout resonates all around. Crack-! The table he struck splits in half and crashes down. Those nearby stare at him in shock. I was no different. Why on earth is he acting like this all of a sudden? His face was beet red, visibly furious to anyone who looked. I watched him, curious, then asked. "Senior, is something the matter?" "Why the hell is he doing this?" Whoops. I covered my mouth in alarm after blurting it out. The words and my inner thoughts got reversed. The error further distorted the expression on Jeong Pal Geom's face. "Star King, what did you just say?" "Ha ha ha... My apologies. That was a slip of the tongue." It was an absurdly large slip. Feeling awkward, I added quickly. "So, why exactly are you pissed?" "...." Since it had come to this, might as well stick to my guns. That was my intention. Jeong Pal Geom's shoulders began to ripple with unbridled energy. "...You don't know why I'm asking?" "Indeed, I don't know. If I knew, why would I ask?" Squeak. I stood up from the chair. Standing, Jeong Pal Geom was a bit taller, but there was no trouble meeting his eyes. "I made it clear, didn’t I? If you don't like it, you can leave. So why the sudden outburst?" Crunch-! His fists made a harsh sound when he heard my words. "Star King." "Yes, benefactor." "Do you take this matter as a mere joke?" His voice was full of burning emotion. "A joke?" "The world reveres and praises you as a hero, so do you think everything here is also a joke?" "Hmm." I nodded as if not comprehending his words. Even showing a movement to suggest a lack of understanding. "I feel I need a more detailed explanation." "There's no need for an explanation. If this isn't a joke, what is it?" "Why? I’m working hard over here." "Ha, this is laughable. Is this what you call working hard?" Jeong Pal Geom gestured with his hand somewhere. Towards the applicants. Among them, towards those I had rejected. "It's a test to select the sword members of the Divine Dragon Division." "Indeed." "And knowing that, you choose such an absurd method to select members?" The dropouts nodded in agreement to Jeong Pal Geom's words. "The fact that so many people applied to yesterday's announced exam shows how significant it is. No matter how favorably the division sees you, you are undermining their pride, no different." The murmur grew louder as he went on. Those dissatisfied with my testing methods. Specifically, the ones I had disqualified. It was understandable. They must have prepared, only to be disqualified right off the bat, so of course they would have complaints. However. 'What am I supposed to do with what I see?' I couldn’t help what I observed so clearly. Why did they set such a standard with the Nine Wheels Flame Technique in the first place? It wasn’t mere wordplay; genuinely, that standard was my guideline. 'The standard for passing.' At the beginning of the peak of perfection. The realm of the Nine Wheels Flame Technique was just that, and it was my minimum standard. Truthfully, it might be an overly high standard. Reaching the peak is already considered mastery in the martial world. Moreover, the elite warriors are mostly at the peak, so when talking about perfection, it's at the division leader level. If one argues why such a standard is the Nine Wheels Flame Technique in this case. 'It’s my decision, so what?' To speak plainly, it was simply my choice. I eliminated them because they didn’t suit my taste, and that’s the full story. Seeking detailed meaning here was futile. "Are you going to tell me to quit if this doesn’t please me either?” A smirk appeared on Jeong Pal Geom’s face. "If you want, I’ll do so. As you said, this is your domain. However." Jeong Pal Geom added, sparing a glance at the disqualified. "If this is your way of managing from the start, it’s doubtful whether you can gain support as a leader, let alone as a martial artist." "Hmm." After listening, I also turned towards the applicants. Their reactions also seemed to indicate understanding. 'I see.' Only then did I realize why Jeong Pal Geom behaved like this. 'It's politics from the start.' He was capitalizing on the situation with the applicants. Drawing attention to my actions, instigating doubt about my qualification, and rattling the public opinion seemed the objective. I thought it wasn’t a bad move. Indeed, my actions were ripe for criticism. I had behaved excessively, and at times recklessly, so Jeong Pal Geom’s angry intervention wasn’t an unwise choice. However. "Oh, so what you're saying, senior, is in the end…." There lay a problem if there was one. "You're frustrated I rejected the spies you managed to slip in? Is that what you're saying?" It was when I had no grounds from my side to stand on. "...What...?" The smirk disappeared from Jeong Pal Geom’s face immediately. What remained was bewilderment. It quickly faded, but I caught it. "What nonsense is this about spies?!” He tried again to flare up indignantly, aghast at my accusation, as if it was groundless. "The third, the fourth, and the ninth." "…!" Jeong Pal Geom's face fell at the numbers I listed without pause. "Am I right?" The numbers I mentioned were none other than the ones Jeong Pal Geom had planted. "Besides... where...?" I was about to quickly spot any remaining applicants they might have hidden, when. "What nonsense are you spouting!" Bang-! Jeong Pal Geom slammed the table before me, interrupting my words. "Barely being fair in judgment wasn’t enough, now you're falsely accusing me?!” "Falsely accuse you?" "Yes, you're slandering me without evidence...!" "Why would you think there’s no evidence?" "...!" Jeong Pal Geom's eyes shook considerably. To be honest, I didn't have evidence to show, but from his reaction, I could be certain. “Oh, seeing your eyes tremble like that, it must be true.” "Utter nonsense...!" Only belatedly did Jeong Pal Geom realize his mistake, but it was already too late. 'Frankly, it was something I was already convinced about.' The reason I suspected them of being infiltrators was simple. 'Some of them have similar auras.' The energy emanating from their bodies—detected by my heightened senses and mind's eye—revealed they used similar martial arts. Of course, it wasn’t enough to label them as infiltrators just for that. They might have come from the same sect or family. Their skills weren’t too shabby either, so I could have selected them. However, the similarity in their aura wasn't just with those three. 'Even Jeong Pal Geom has a similar aura.' His aura was somewhat akin to those of the Hwangbo Yeol Wi Family. This suggested these individuals likely belonged to Jeong Pal Geom's sect. Considering their level, why else would they apply to the Sacred Dragon Division instead of the Hwangbo Yeol Wi Division? If they weren't spies, it simply didn't make sense. Jeong Pal Geom was evidently furious because I had caught and removed such spies. "So who exactly was playing around with this exam?" It was absurd from my perspective. "It couldn't be me, now could it?" I continued with a slight smile as Jeong Pal Geom's expression twisted even more. "Wh-what nonsense are you spouting...! I was mentioning how you’re disregarding this exam and the Divine Dragon Division! Don’t change the subject!" In desperation, Jeong Pal Geom tried to shift the topic. Before I could address that— "Indeed, Star King." Another voice cut in. It was Wudang Seom Seon, who had been listening quietly from the side. "I agree with Jeong Pal Geom that there is something wrong with this test." ‘What’s with this guy?’ Seom Seon butted in, seeing that Jeong Pal Geom might not prevail. ‘Why jump in like that?’ From his actions, it seemed he was involved too, despite his composed demeanor. "Do you share a similar opinion, Wudang Seom?" "...As the exam is overseen solely by you, we can't intervene, but the apparent bias is a clear issue." "Bias?" Furrowing my brows, I questioned what he was implying. "What sort of bias are you referring to?" "Upon checking, there are several participants who seem to know you personally." As Seom Seon continued, he glanced at the dueling stage. "Among them is Nine Wheels Flame himself. And the woman beside him..." He hesitated momentarily as he looked at Namgung Bia. She ignored him, fixing her gaze solely on me. "...I believe she’s the one engaged to you, isn’t she?" "What?" "What are you—!" His statement made those watching Namgung Bia turn their eyes to me, laden with unreasonable hostility. 'Who do they think they are?' The absurdity of them expressing such displeasure baffled me. "Star King’s fiancée...?" "Is it true she’s Star King’s woman?" "...Now that you mention it, I’ve heard. The Star King's fiancée is known as the Sword Dancer of the Namgung family." "What? Sword Dancer... You mean the most beautiful in Anhui?" "I only heard rumors... To think she’d be so stunning." Their reactions changed noticeably. Having noted this, Seom Seon quickly elaborated. "And additionally..." Rustle. He shuffled through documents in his hand. "It seems a number of warriors from the recent battle with the White-Rank Beast have registered." "..." I nodded in response. That was indeed true. Many of the warriors who had fought in the last battle chose to apply for this selection for some reason. "So, does Wudang Seom believe I’m conducting a biased assessment for my connections?" "It's hard to say definitively, but the circumstances suggest as much, don't they?" "Ah..." So that's how it was going to be? I chuckled drily before addressing him. "Oh, so it seems to you?" "If not, why reject capable individuals without a thorough evaluation? I can't comprehend any other reason." "Hmm." Seom Seon’s insinuation was that I was rejecting candidates to make room for my connections. Frankly, it did not concern me. Among the conditions I set with Muk Yeon— 'I would bring in five people of my choosing, no matter what.' That was one of the terms. So imagining those future recruits, this accusation didn’t bother me, though— ‘It’s really starting to grate on my nerves.’ Inhaling deeply to stifle my irritation, I spoke to Seom Seon. "I'm sorry, but I rejected them simply because they didn’t measure up to my standards. It has nothing to do with any connections. As for that woman being my fiancée, I was actually inclined to disqualify her due to that." "Disqualified due to inadequacy... What makes you say that? Seom Seon shifted his gaze to Namgung Bia. "And the notion that Lady Namgung is eligible, unlike the others, is equally baffling. It's nothing but a hasty excuse." "...What?" "Isn't that so?" Wow. This is a problem. ‘...Really annoying.’ I was about to leave it be, but his disrespect towards Namgung Bia infuriated me. ‘What should I do?’ Perhaps I should take decisive action, render him incapable of standing up again. Such thoughts crossed my mind when— '...' An idea occurred, and I glanced at Namgung Bia. -Hey. I sent her a soundless message, to which she responded with a puzzled tilt of her head. -How’s your condition? -...What...do you mean...? -How do you feel? -...I'm alright. -Be honest with me. -... She stayed silent for a moment, seemingly in contemplation. A few seconds passed. -What do you mean by alright...? Her reply came, prompting me to look over at Seom Seon and ask— -That man next to us. Can you take him on? -... Gazing at Seom Seon after hearing my question, Namgung Bia took only a moment before she answered. With her reply, I turned back to Seom Seon and spoke. "Wudang Seom." "Yes? Is there something more...?" "Care for a wager with me?" "...Pardon?" Seom Seon’s eyebrow twitched at my sudden proposal for a bet. It was an unbelievably absurd proposal. However. "What strange thing are you suddenly talking about...?" "If I lose the bet, I will hand over the Sacred Dragon Division to you, Wudang Seom. If you wish, I'll even kneel and lick your shoes." "..." "What do you say?" Seom Seon's face took on an unusual expression as he asked. "...What kind of bet are you suggesting?" Got him.