Time passed, and the exam had entered its final stages.

“Ora-boni?” (Brother?)

Bibi responded to the sound of someone approaching by turning her head.

The human who had left her, saying he’d be back soon, had finally returned.

He had taken so long to come back that she had been about to go looking for him herself... but just then, he came back.

However, Bibi was rather surprised when she saw Bi Eojin’s appearance.

“What’s going on, Ora-boni, are you okay?”

Something felt off about Bi Eojin when he returned.

“Don’t tell me, are you hurt?” “Hurt? There’s no way.”

Bi Eojin’s appearance was uncomfortable, to say the least.

‘That human... hurt?’

Was that even possible?

Bibi’s expression quickly changed, as if she couldn’t believe it.

This was the kind of human who looked like he could fall off a cliff and come back completely fine. Seeing him return looking so worn out, it was hard not to be shocked.

“…Did you run into a red demon beast or something?”

Bibi’s words made Bi Eojin chuckle unintentionally.

“In this day and age, where would you even find one of those?” “No, because if it wasn’t something like that... you wouldn’t be like this.”

Bibi curiously pressed and poked various parts of Bi Eojin’s body.

“…Stop poking.” “Does this hurt? How about here? Does it hurt?”

Leaving the oddly excited Bibi behind, Bi Eojin let out a sigh.

‘A red demon beast, huh.’

It was somewhat similar.

Whether it was a red demon beast or Guhyangcheon, both were red, so there was some resemblance.

Really. That man fought like a monster.

Because of him, one of Bi Eojin’s arms was broken, and the first hit had fractured his ribs.

‘How long has it been since I’ve been this injured?’

After his body had regressed and stabilized, he’d been carefully preserving his body, afraid that it might break if he got hit too hard.

‘But that’s why he’s the only one.’

After the fight, he was even more certain.

Despite the apparent lack of skill in hand-to-hand combat and his seemingly concealed abilities, Guhyangcheon had a natural instinct.

‘It looked like he was just charging in without any thought.’

But he quickly realized that mindlessly charging in wouldn’t work.

He stuck to Bi Eojin like he was ready to lose something.

‘At that age, with that level of skill, he should’ve been more arrogant.’

I don’t know much about his records, but for him to have reached peak martial arts at that age, he might be the youngest.

And not just the youngest to reach it; even those much older than him wouldn’t be able to compare to Guhyangcheon.

Yet there wasn’t a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

On the contrary.

He knew he was weaker, and his eyes were constantly searching for where to dig in.

‘Strange.’

Even though I’d been holding back my strength, his every move was cautious despite his rough and reckless fighting style.

It was as if he instinctively knew that Bi Eojin was stronger than him.

‘And he was cunning, too.’

After just a few exchanges, Guhyangcheon must have realized that Bi Eojin didn’t want to damage his body.

That’s why, even though he was in a situation where losing an arm or a leg was inevitable, he continued to attack even more fiercely.

‘...What a monstrous brat.’

It made him shudder.

Guhyangcheon must have known he was suffering internal injuries. And knowing that Bi Eojin couldn’t allow any damage to his precious body, he was forced to restrain himself.

As a result, Bi Eojin had to sacrifice his arm and chest just to barely subdue Guhyangcheon.

It was like looking at his own younger self. Back when he used to fight just like that during competitions.

As if there was no tomorrow. As if he was fighting for his life in that moment.

‘It’s good.’

It was satisfying.

After fighting him, he was certain that Guhyangcheon hadn’t experienced the same kind of regression as him. He was sure of it.

As he could tell from just looking, the boy’s body was like a well-crafted gem.

If he had gone through the same experience, there was no way he could have that.

So.

He couldn’t let this slip away.

‘I need to prepare.’

There was still a wager to be settled. He had to prepare for that in the near future. He couldn’t go in this condition, after all.

“Oh.” “What’s wrong?” “I forgot to give him something.”

Bi Eojin took out a letter from his robe.

It was a letter meant for Guhyangcheon, but he’d forgotten to deliver it.

‘Is it because I’m getting old? I seem to be forgetting things more often.’

He had thought that his memory had improved since his body had regressed, but moments like this made him realize that wasn’t always the case.

The letter was from the “Dirt Raccoon” of the Beggars' Sect. Bi Eojin had caught him snooping around, trying to gather information on him, and decided to use him.

‘I was going to deal with him quietly.’

He had intended to get rid of the raccoon, but he was more useful than expected, so Bi Eojin kept him around.

Since he listened well and worked hard, Bi Eojin had taken on his request this time.

‘I wonder what’s written in here.’

Curious, Bi Eojin opened the letter. He was the type of person who didn’t care about the common decency of not reading someone else’s letter.

“To Jinryong Dae-hyeop.”

The letter began politely enough.

“You bastard.”

But by the second line, it took a nosedive.

“…Hmm?”

Bi Eojin frowned, thinking he’d misread it. But no, he had seen it correctly.

“Do you have any idea what kind of situation I’m in right now…? You damn bastard, if you had any decency, you should’ve come to help me already! I even sent you a letter…!”

“You piece of trash… What riches do you think I’m enjoying here? You damn scum, do you know what happens when a beggar harbors resentment in winter?”

“What happens, you bastard? Of course, they starve! You damn scum.”

“I won’t forget this. I’ll make sure….”

Rip.

Bi Eojin crumpled up the letter and threw it away without a second thought.

‘It’s a good thing I didn’t deliver it.’

It would’ve been problematic if he had. Bi Eojin nodded in agreement with himself.

“What was that? What was it?” “Nothing. Just ignore it... and stop poking me.” “Does it hurt? Ora-boni, does it hurt here? It hurts, right? Oh, it does, doesn’t it... Ahhh!”

Finally, after Bi Eojin gave her a good smack on the head, Bibi’s antics came to an end.

“Ugh…”

As Bibi sat down, rubbing her head, Bi Eojin remembered something while crumpling the letter.

Why had Guhyangcheon asked the Dirt Raccoon to look into him? That was another thing he had intended to ask.

‘I’ll just ask him later.’

There was plenty of time.

All he had was time. Endless, meaningless time in which he couldn’t complete his martial arts.

“…Ora-boni.” “What is it?” “Are you going to participate in the induction?”

Bibi’s question made Bi Eojin tilt his head.

He wondered why she was asking something like that all of a sudden.

“You told me last time that you were just going to take the exam and then return home. You said you weren’t going to join the induction.” “Did I say that?” “Yes. You said you wouldn’t do it, even if it killed you…” “Hmm.”

It sounded like something he would have said, so it was probably true.

The plan had been to fail the exam at some point and return home.

To be exact, if the person called Jinryong didn’t live up to his expectations, he hadn’t intended to stay here for long.

But that had changed now.

“I have a reason to stay, so it’s fine.” “Really?”

Bibi reacted in surprise to Bi Eojin’s words. She hadn’t expected her brother to say something like that.

“Yes.”

Bi Eojin answered with a slight smile, but then he immediately clutched his chest.

“…Tsk.”

It seemed he had hit harder than expected. Even just smiling caused pain in his chest.

It looked like it would take longer to heal than he thought.

Time passed.

Whoosh!

Several arrows flew through the air.

The flaming arrows shot up quickly, streaking through the sky.

Bang!

The flames exploded, leaving a brief trail in the air.

Upon seeing the signal fire, the remaining late-stage participants finally let out a sigh of relief.

As the sun set, the bursting fireworks signaled the end of the exam.

Some people sighed in relief, while others shouted in frustration.

But no matter what they did, the result wouldn’t change.

The third exam for entry into the Jinryong Pavilion had ended with the setting of the sun.

   
   ******************
   

Underneath a night sky full of dark clouds, waves crashed harshly against a distant shore.

A solitary island came into view.

The local residents referred to it as a cursed island, a place no one dared approach. Even attempting to go there risked being swept away by the violent waves.

It was a dangerous island.

The inside of the island was teeming with monsters. But that wasn’t all.

Menacing figures, exuding savage energy, were seen patrolling the area.

And at the heart of the island, a massive structure stood.

Creak.

A man walked forward, his footsteps echoing.

He passed through a dark hallway, where not even a single light illuminated the way.

As the man walked, he came to a halt before a door.

Screeech.

He cautiously opened the door and stepped inside. Within, an old man sat with his eyes closed.

“…Taeju.”

At the sound of the man’s voice, the old man slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were ominous, as if the color had been drained from them.

“The one we sent has lost contact,” the man reported. “I see.”

The old man responded with indifference, as if he wasn’t particularly concerned. The man's reaction irritated the younger man, but he didn’t let it show.

After all, that’s just how the old man was. Instead, the younger man got straight to the point.

“…Another report confirms that the descendant of the Sword Sovereign is headed for the Jinryong Pavilion.” “Oh?”

This time, the old man’s eyes gleamed with interest. It was a completely different response from before.

“So, that little brat wasn’t lying after all.”

A certain person came to the old man’s mind. A young snake, coiling in secret beneath the gaze of both his father and his family.

Even from the start, it was clear that child would grow into a great darkness. The old man had extended his hand to him.

And it turned out that hand was being put to good use.

“Hyogun, you fool. If you were going to hide, you should’ve left no trace.”

The old man laughed, his dry voice crackling in amusement. What exactly he found so amusing, the younger man had no idea.

“Indeed, the time is drawing near.”

Crack.

The old man rose to his feet as he spoke. For a man who had seemed so frail while sitting, his body revealed a hidden massiveness as he stood.

“The Jinryong Pavilion, is it…?”

A gathering place for the descendants of noble families.

Not bad.

“It’s the perfect place to announce the rebirth of the Black Dragon Sword.”

As the old man stretched his stiff body, the air around him trembled.

The killing intent and energy radiating from him spread in all directions. The overwhelming force shook the entire building.

The pressure was so intense that the younger man could barely breathe, letting out a faint groan in the process.

The old man spoke to him.

“And wasn’t there word that the Poison King’s bloodline would be there as well?” “Yes… I’ve heard they call her Dokbong (Poison Phoenix).” “Dokbong, how fortunate.”

It had been a long time since the possibility of a completely poison-immune being had emerged from the Tang clan. Though she was still young, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to “harvest” her before she could grow any stronger. The opportunity had presented itself, after all.

With that thought, the old man gave his orders to the younger man.

“Relay the message to the Lord.”

The message was for someone hiding somewhere on the island. A person who would receive the old man’s words.

“Tell him that while a job is a job, he still needs to pay his rent.” “…Understood.”

With that, the younger man hurriedly left the room. The old man let out another dry chuckle, then moved towards the window.

He gazed out, far into the distance.

The night sky was still covered with dark clouds, but through the gaps, the moonlight flickered faintly.

Throb.

As he looked at the moon, the scar on his body began to ache. It always did when the moonlight shone through the clouds.

It was the reason he closed his eyes whenever night fell.

The old man had never forgotten the sword dance he had seen that night. Even now, decades later, the pain of that wound still lingered.

“Ha…”

When would the pain of this scar finally disappear?

Perhaps, not long now.

The old man stood there, feeling the chill of the winter wind for a long time. It was only when the moonlight was again hidden by the clouds that he was able to move once more.

   
   ******************
   

Right after the exam ended. Not long after, I was able to return to the inn to rest.

“This was exhausting.”

My body was thoroughly worn out.

I hadn’t even had a chance to properly manage my internal injuries, all because of that brawl with Paejon.

I trudged back to the inn, and upon arriving, I saw Muyeon, who had been waiting for me.

She came over to support me, and I couldn’t help but be a little surprised.

“Muyeon, you didn’t go back?”

Muyeon smiled lightly as she responded to my question.

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow.” “You could’ve gone back today.” “I thought I should wait until the final exam was over….” “Do you really think I’m going to fail? Why worry about something like that?”

Once I’m admitted to the Jinryong Pavilion, I won’t be able to bring any guards along.

Besides, Muyeon had tasks to handle back at Gu Seon-mun (the Gu family’s sect).

In reality, coming all the way to Hanam was half her own stubbornness.

‘I told her not to bother coming.’

Leaving tomorrow, huh? I suddenly had a thought in response to her words.

“How about you take that useless one with you when you leave?” “Haha….”

I gestured somewhere with my finger as I spoke, and Muyeon let out an awkward laugh.

I was pointing at Gu Jeol-yeop.

Noticing that I had pointed at him, Gu Jeol-yeop, who had been lying down, flinched and sat up.

“…I passed the exam….” “Barely.” “If someone hadn’t stolen my sash… I wouldn’t have been cutting it so close.”

Gu Jeol-yeop spoke, clearly feeling wronged. I’d heard that he had managed to grab the last sash just before the arrows were fired.

Honestly, it was a relief.

‘If I hadn’t been in such terrible shape, I wouldn’t have been able to return the sash.’

I had originally planned to give the sash back to him, but given my condition, I couldn’t even go to return it.

It was fortunate that he managed to pass on his own, without being eliminated.

If he had failed like that, even I would’ve felt a bit guilty.

By the way, Gu Yeon-seo passed the exam as well. She went straight to her room to sleep as soon as she arrived, exhausted.

‘As for the others….’

I glanced around. It seemed like everyone else wasn’t in the best condition either.

Moyong Hee-a, usually so meticulous about her appearance, looked disheveled.

Tang So-yeol, who normally would’ve leaped up to greet me as soon as I arrived, had his forehead planted on the desk, fast asleep.

‘What’s up with him?’

When we left, he had been so confident, saying this would be a breeze. But now, he looked like a mess.

Did something happen?

For him to be in this state, there must have been some sort of incident.

The only one who seemed fine was Namgung Bia.

While everyone else was struggling, Namgung Bia quietly sipped her tea, looking as calm as ever. She was her usual self.

The only slight difference was that she wasn’t asleep.

‘…Is We Seol-ah not here?’

It seemed like We Seol-ah had returned to her own quarters.

It was the natural thing to do, but knowing she wasn’t here left me with an odd feeling of disappointment.

“Young Master.” “Hmm?” “By the way… who is this…?”

Muyeon pointed behind me as she asked.

“Oh.”

Ah, right. I had almost forgotten.

I quickly pulled out the person trembling behind me.

This guy had caused me so much trouble, forcing me to go and get another sash.

“Introduce yourself.” “Ugh…”

Now that everyone’s attention was on him, their gazes focused, Cheol Ji-seon’s trembling seemed to get worse.

Come to think of it, how should I introduce him?

“Hmm.”

After a brief moment of thought, I spoke.

“He’s a new friend I made.”

That should suffice. I said it casually, not giving it much thought.

“…!” “A friend…?” “A friend of the Young Master…?”

The group’s expressions shifted. Especially the way they looked at Cheol Ji-seon—it was strange.

As if they were thinking, ‘How did this happen…?’ ‘Poor guy…’

The most extreme reaction came from Gu Jeol-yeop.

He was staring at Cheol Ji-seon with wide eyes, as if in disbelief. Though he didn’t say anything, his expression alone said enough.

‘Run…!’

I could practically hear the message in his eyes.

I saw Cheol Ji-seon rolling his eyes nervously.

What the hell. Why were they all reacting like this?

It felt terribly unfair.