Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 234 – The Disregard for the Embroidered Uniform Guard (3)

The name of the youth with torn eyes and a hooked nose was Wi Bu-cheong.

He was part of Prince Gyeongjin’s faction, who is the younger brother of His Majesty the Emperor, and a preselected candidate confirmed for the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection.

As the son of the Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a 3rd rank government post, he had directly learned martial arts from Gui Sa-man, one of the nine Sect Masters of the Evil Alliance, which could be considered one of the three great powers in the martial arts world.

Being the only one who had cultivated the martial arts of the Evil Alliance, which was not part of the orthodox martial arts world but the unorthodox realm, he was an outsider among the trainees.

Of course, he didn’t care about this either.

After all, he would ascend to higher places, and these individuals would become life’s losers.

Amidst this, Wi Bu-cheong encountered individuals who piqued his interest for the first time.

They were none other than the late-stage disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society.

‘Are they from the Heaven and Earth Society?’

The Heaven and Earth Society was one of the three great powers in the martial arts world, an organization that proclaimed neutrality rather than adherence to the orthodox path and pursued the strong-eating-the-weak principle of martial arts.

However, in reality, they were treated as part of the unorthodox realm.

Perhaps because of this, Wi Bu-cheong, who was influenced by the Unorthodox Alliance, found them more familiar.

They were better than those hypocrites who spouted nonsense about righteousness.

Wi Bu-cheong snorted and said to Mok Gyeong-un,

“Ha! Of course he’s famous. A fellow who hasn’t even properly cultivated internal energy suddenly got promoted from the junior grade to the senior grade in just five days.”

“He hasn’t properly cultivated internal energy?”

“That guy, I heard he can’t cultivate internal energy due to his constitution. He was no different from trash. But then, suddenly, he got promoted right before the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection. Doesn’t this raise your suspicions?”

“You’re saying it smells fishy?”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Wi Bu-cheong grinned and said,

“As expected, being from the great Heaven and Earth Society, we have some common ground. I’m Wi Bu-cheong.”

Wi Bu-cheong extended his hand to Mok Gyeong-un.

Interest flickered in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes.

‘Ah, he’s also part of Prince Gyeongjin’s faction, right?’

If the information was correct, that would be the case.

Between Geum Jong-hyeon, a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect, and Wi Bu-cheong, one of them would be the preselected candidate confirmed for the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection.

Of course, he wasn’t particularly curious about who among them was the preselected candidate.

And he had no interest in Wi Bu-cheong himself.

However, there was no need to create friction here, so Mok Gyeong-un took his hand and showed a smile.

“I’m Mok Gyeong-un.”

“Mok Gyeong-un? Mok is a rare surname.”

“People often say that.”

‘He talks as if it’s someone else’s story.’

Although he found it strange, it wasn’t to an unusual degree, so Wi Bu-cheong didn’t show any particular reaction.

Rather, Wi Bu-cheong wanted to take this opportunity to build ties with the late-stage disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society, even though their factions differed, as he considered them to be similar to the unorthodox realm.

However, unlike him, Mok Gyeong-un’s interest was directed towards the person he found irritating.

“Do you know his name?”

At this, Wi Bu-cheong raised an eyebrow and said,

“Why bother learning the name of such a bug?”

It didn’t make sense to him.

Even Prince Gyeongjin, who led their faction, had shown considerable interest in that fellow.

It was quite annoying, but why were the people he wanted to associate with showing interest in that fellow instead of him?

“You don’t seem to know?”

“How could I not know? It’s just, why bother learning about such a bug…”

“I thought you were a kind person, but it turns out you’re quite jealous?”

“What?”

At those words, Wi Bu-cheong furrowed his brows.

Then, as if displeased, he said to Mok Gyeong-un,

“What nonsense are you spouting? Why would I be jealous of that bug? There’s no point in bothering to learn about someone like him…”

“I also got promoted today.”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Wi Bu-cheong stammered,

“You’re different from that fellow. You’re from the Heaven and Earth Society, one of the three great powers in the martial arts world, and that fellow is…”

“What’s so important about that? I also got promoted in just a day. It seems there’s not much difference between me and that friend.”

“No, what on earth…”

“Don’t I also give off a bug-like stench?”

“…”

Wi Bu-cheong tightly shut his mouth.

He had thought he could build ties with the Heaven and Earth Society, but now his mind had changed.

This person didn’t match well with him at all.

Somehow, he newly understood why the Evil Alliance had never formed an alliance with the Heaven and Earth Society, even though they were practically the same as the unorthodox realm.

‘Damn it.’

Wi Bu-cheong glared at Mok Gyeong-un with annoyance and then left.

-What an asshole.

Cheong-ryeong snorted and said.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.

-Who knows?

It didn’t seem to be simply a matter of personality.

Considering the level of hostility he displayed just for being promoted, it didn’t seem like he disliked him merely because of the promotion.

‘What could be the reason?’

It probably wasn’t for the same reason as himself.

As Mok Gyeong-un intently stared at the person who was engrossed in doing push-ups while standing on one hand, he eventually opened the power of the Third Eye in his right eye.

It was to find out what that subtly irritating feeling he sensed from that person was.

However,

‘!?’

Mok Gyeong-un tilted his head.

That was because he truly lacked internal energy.

It wasn’t that he had concealed it or hidden it through a special technique or forbidden method.

This was truly an unexpected result.

-Why are you acting like that? Mortal.

-It seems he really hasn’t cultivated internal energy.

-Internal energy, you say? Then, does that mean he has only cultivated external techniques?

-…For now, that’s what it looks like, but I don’t understand why he’s in the senior-grade class.

Only those at the first-rate level or above could be in the senior grade.

However, it was nearly impossible to face a first-rate expert with only external techniques.

At this, Cheong-ryeong spoke nonchalantly.

-As that mortal fellow said earlier, if there’s someone backing him up, it might be possible. After all, the palace is ultimately a playground for political games.

-Hmm.

-If there’s nothing, then don’t bother. Your goal isn’t to get involved in their factional strife anyway.

-That’s true.

Mok Gyeong-un soon deactivated the power of the Third Eye.

If he truly hadn’t cultivated internal energy, then as Cheong-ryeong said, there was no need to pay attention to him.

However, he couldn’t understand why he felt something irritating from that person.

His original source of life force, which could be considered the source of life, seemed slightly larger compared to ordinary individuals, but that was about it.

***

And so, the next day of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Warrior Examination arrived.

The senior-grade trainees were waiting in the training grounds with tense expressions.

At that moment, a group of people gathered on the platform of the training grounds.

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the front.

Wearing red and blue fish-scale armor and golden belts, they were the supervisory Embroidered Uniform Guards in charge of this Embroidered Uniform Guard Warrior Examination.

“Wow.”

Some of the trainees who were looking ahead let out exclamations of admiration.

That was because the Embroidered Uniform Guard in red fish-scale armor standing at the forefront was an exceptionally beautiful woman.

However, unlike these trainees, Mok Gyeong-un had a puzzled expression on his face.

‘Hmm.’

He had heard about the rank indicated by the golden belt on the red fish-scale armor.

They were the Six Commanders, who could be considered the heads of the Six Offices among the Embroidered Uniform Guards in charge of practical affairs.

Excluding the Southern Commander-in-Chief and Northern Commander-in-Chief, who were called the pinnacle of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, he had heard that the six Commanders possessed the most outstanding martial prowess among the Embroidered Uniform Guards in charge of practical affairs.

Two of those Commanders were on the platform.

The male Commander had reached the pinnacle-stage of Transcendent Realm, which was exactly the level he had expected, but the energy he sensed from that beautiful female Commander was merely at the Peak Realm.

He wondered if she was concealing her energy, but that didn’t seem to be the case either.

‘What’s going on?’

Mok Gyeong-un stared intently at her, then shifted his gaze to the person who had been diligently training yesterday by doing push-ups while standing on one hand.

-Why are you acting like that?

-…No, it might just be my imagination.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders.

At that moment, the male Commander on the platform stepped forward and spoke,

“All training disciples, be quiet.”

With his resounding voice filled with internal energy, the hall instantly became silent.

Surprised expressions were evident here and there.

Everyone knew that the martial prowess of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commanders had reached the Transcendent Realm, but directly experiencing the internal energy of such a Commander seemed to leave them in awe.

“Amazing.”

“So this is a Commander.”

For those who aimed to become Embroidered Uniform Guards, they were objects of admiration.

As if sensing the gazes of these individuals, the male Commander shrugged his shoulders with a satisfied expression and opened his mouth again,

“I am Chae Ho-seong, the supervisory Commander in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection process this time…”

“I am Commander Seo Yerin.”

The trainees cheered at the introduction of the female Commander that followed.

Seeing this scene, Chae Ho-seong shook his head.

Indeed, there was no way to surpass the popularity of this beautiful, sole female presence.

“Quiet!”

At Chae Ho-seong’s reprimand, the hall became silent once again.

Then, he continued,

“As you have heard from the Head Instructor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, through this Embroidered Uniform Guard Warrior Examination, we will select the second-round applicants for the Embroidered Uniform Guard selection.”

Up to this point, it was a fact that everyone already knew.

The main point was right after.

“Now, we will begin the first selection process, which is the test to measure internal energy. Those who fail to reach the minimum standard of first-rate internal energy level for the Embroidered Uniform Guards will be eliminated.”

‘Internal energy test?’

The training grounds instantly became chaotic at the selection process that was about to begin.

***

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Warriors moved busily, preparing for the internal energy measurement.

In the meantime, Commander Chae Ho-seong descended from the platform and looked at the six individuals in blue fish-scale armor.

They were the assistant supervisors dispatched from the Six Offices, collectively known as the Six Officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The blue fish-scale armor symbolized the rank of Commander.

And the number embroidered in silver thread on their right arm indicated which office they belonged to.

The ranks of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in charge of practical affairs were as follows:

Lesser Banner, Sogi (Junior 7th rank); Chief Banner, Chonggi (Senior 7th rank); Probationary 100-men Commander, Sibaekho (Junior 6th rank); One Hundred-men Commander, Baekho (Senior 6th rank); Deputy Thousand-men Commander, Bucheonho (Junior 5th rank); Thousand-men Commander, Cheonho (Senior 5th rank); Six Offices Commander, Yukcheonho (Junior 4th rank); and Pacification Commissioner, Jinmusa (Senior 4th rank).

Above them were the Associate Military Commissioner, Deputy Military Commissioner, and Military Commissioner who controlled all the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Since the Military Commissioners were essentially responsible for issuing orders, the actual power could be considered within the hands of the Thousand-men Commanders, which was why the latter were referred to as the pinnacle of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

These Thousand-men Commanders were assigned to the six offices of the Six Officers, with a minimum of two to a maximum of four per office.

Therefore, it could be said that the second-in-commands of each office had come.

Through this examination, the Thousand-men Commanders had to carefully observe the training disciples to assess their aptitude and fill the personnel for each office.

“How is it? Are there any trainees that catch your eye for each office?”

The Thousand-men Commanders had already familiarized themselves with the personal information of the senior-grade trainees for each office.

In response to Commander Chae Ho-seong’s question, Thousand-men Commander Hwa Yeong-in from the First Office, which was in charge of the safety of the imperial family and the Inner Palace Bureau (including the Empress and concubines), let out a soft sigh and said,

“The First Office doesn’t have much choice in the Embroidered Uniform Guard Warrior Examination anyway, so I didn’t take a close look.”

“We’ll talk about that later.”

Commander Chae Ho-seong cut off his words at an appropriate point.

It was because there were many eyes and ears watching.

As Thousand-men Commander Hwa Yeong-in from the First Office said, it was difficult to bring in truly capable individuals to the First Office in the Embroidered Uniform Guard Warrior Examination because they were assigned preselected candidates.

However, if they openly discuss this, it would reach the ears of the preselected candidates.

“What about the Second Office?”

“Looking at the list, the fellow named Geum Jong-hyeon seems the most interesting.”

“Oho. Geum Jong-hyeon.”

At the words of Thousand-men Commander Si Wooryang from the Second Office, the other Thousand-men Commanders also showed interest.

They had also been interested in his unique background.

Not only was he the son of a 5th rank Lecturer at the Hanlin Academy from a scholarly family, but he had also become a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect and was among the top five in terms of performance among the trainees.

“He’s similar to us. Isn’t that right, Thousand-men Commander Oh?”

“That’s right, Commander.”

Thousand-men Commander Oh Moo-gi from the Third Office agreed with Commander Chae Ho-seong’s words.

They had also been keeping an eye on Geum Jong-hyeon.

With his outstanding martial prowess and excellent performance, as well as his sharp intellect coming from a scholarly family, he was a talent that the Third Office, which was an intelligence office, would covet.

“The Third Office already received the top scorer last time, so please yield a bit this time.”

“Hahahahaha.”

At Si Wooryang’s words, Chae Ho-seong laughed heartily.

And he firmly refused.

“No way.”

“You’re being too much.”

“Then hurry up and get promoted.”

“Ahem.”

In any case, the final decision on who passed the Embroidered Uniform Guard Warrior Examination would be made by a gathering of all the heads of the Six Offices.

Therefore, there wasn’t much significance in chattering like this now.

Commander Chae Ho-seong, who had been enjoying teasing Thousand-men Commander Si Wooryang, now turned to Thousand-men Commander Mak Myeong-bo from the Fourth Office and asked,

“What about the Fourth Office?”

“Our Fourth Office has our eyes on Namgoong Chunghyeon from the Namgoong Clan. Given the nature of our Fourth Office, which is in charge of the armory, it would be best to have someone with the most outstanding martial arts join us.”

“Indeed. That’s true.”

Everyone had expected Namgoong Chunghyeon’s name to be mentioned at least once.

He was the grandson of Namgoong Jin, the wielder of the Heavenly Sword, from one of the seven great clans, a renowned martial arts family.

From the moment he entered, he had already reached the early stage of the Transcendent Realm and was a genius who could overwhelm all the trainees with his swordsmanship alone.

Thus, it was acknowledged by all the Thousand-men Commanders of the Six Offices.

“I don’t know about that.”

At that moment, someone spoke.

Everyone’s gaze turned towards him.

He was the man with the darkest impression among the six Thousand-men Commanders.

This Embroidered Uniform Guard, with numerous scars on his face, was Maek Ha-gyun, the Commander of the Fifth Office, which was responsible for the most secretive affairs.

“What do you mean by that?”

“The most outstanding individuals in this class might be the late-stage disciples from the Heaven and Earth Society. Especially the trainees named Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak, their martial prowess was difficult to gauge.”

“…Ah!”

At these words, Commander Mak Myeong-bo of the Fourth Office didn’t deny it.

He had also belatedly received a report about the participation of the late-stage disciples from the Heaven and Earth Society, so as soon as he entered the training grounds, he had carefully observed them.

And the result was undeniable.

Just as Commander Maek Ha-gyun of the Fifth Office said, especially the individuals named Seop Chun and Mong Mu-yak were difficult to gauge in terms of martial prowess, even for him, a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This couldn’t be categorized as the level of late-stage disciples.

“It seems they deliberately sent them.”

Indeed, it was characteristic of the Heaven and Earth Society, which was said to pursue the most fundamental martial arts among the three great powers in the martial arts world.

In this Warrior Examination, an entirely unpredicted outcome might unfold.

“I think the person named Yeom Gyeong is also quite formidable.”

At that moment, Commander Tae Ho-in of the Sixth Office chimed in.

At his words, the others chuckled and laughed.

He was a lay disciple of the Huashan Sect, so he was highly evaluating Yeom Gyeong, the official disciple of his sect.

Of course, there was some bias, but the trainee named Yeom Gyeong was also a talented individual with one of the top five grades.

While preparations were being made to conduct the internal energy measurement, Commander Chae Ho-seong, who had listened to the opinions of all the Commanders of each office in the Six Offices Officials, now tried to summarize.

“Alright. I have heard the opinions of each Commander. Now, once we conduct the internal energy measurement, we will know who among them is outstanding.”

“That’s right. Now that it has come to this, Commander Chae, how about we make a bet?”

“A bet?”

“What do you think about betting on the dinner?”

At the suggestion of Commander Si Wooryang of the Second Office, Commander Chae Ho-seong showed interest.

He had already planned to gather with the supervisors and have a light dinner after work today anyway.

Commander Chae Ho-seong looked at each Commander.

“I agree.”

“Me too.”

“Let’s do that.”

With everyone in agreement, Commander Chae Ho-seong grinned and said,

“If everyone bets on the same person, the bet won’t be valid and it won’t be fun, so if two or more people gather, choose a different trainee on your own.”

“Understood.”

And so, a bet was established on the internal energy measurement of the trainees.

Each person bet on the trainees they found interesting, just as when their opinions were first asked.

The only one who didn’t express an opinion was Commander Seo Yerin, who seemed uninterested in the bet.

She had such an expressionless face that it was difficult to tell what she was thinking.

At this, her fellow Commander Chae Ho-seong said,

“Commander Seo, aren’t you going to choose? Since we’re having a dinner anyway.”

Silently observing Chae Ho-seong and the Commanders, she carefully parted her lips.

“Hasn’t our Commander Tae Ho-in already chosen Yeom Gyeong?”

“Huh? Does that mean Commander Seo has someone else in mind?”

“…”

Her silence was closer to affirmation.

Everyone became curious about this.

“Who is it that you’re acting like this?”

“Is it Seop Chun or Mong Mu-yak from the Heaven and Earth Society after all?”

“Or Namgoong Chunghyeon?”

As if burdened by the Commanders’ questions, Commander Seo Yerin silently took a step back.

Finding this frustrating, Commander Chae Ho-seong said,

“Anyway, the bet isn’t by office but by individual, so just tell us.”

At that, she quietly parted her cherry-like lips.

“…I choose Joo Woonhyang.”

‘!?’

At her words, everyone’s jaws dropped in astonishment.

It was because she had mentioned a trainee that no one had expected.

It was so absurd that even Commander Hwa Yeong-in of the First Office, who had shown little interest in the bet next to her, asked in confusion,

“Commander Seo. Could you have mistaken him for Joo Sangjae, the second son of General Seung-sin?”

“Ah, I see. Then that makes sense. That trainee also has high grades.”

“So you’re betting on Joo Sangjae?”

At their words, Commander Seo Yerin shook her head and said,

“No, it’s definitely Joo Woonhyang, the third son of General Seung-sin.”

“Ha… My goodness.”

“Are you doing this just for fun?”

“Commander Seo Yerin, that fellow only recently became an official disciple of the Kongtong Sect, but he has a constitution that couldn’t cultivate internal energy until now.”

“Perhaps you’re doing this deliberately to buy dinner.”

Everyone couldn’t accept her opinion.

Nevertheless, she stubbornly insisted on the trainee Joo Woonhyang.

She had her own reasons for choosing him.

However, unlike this choice, there was one more person who strangely caught her attention.

Glancing sideways, she looked at a trainee with exceptional beauty who was staring intently at her among the trainees standing in five rows.

‘Was his name Mok Gyeong-un?’

Despite being from the Heaven and Earth Society, he was the only one who didn’t receive attention.

The reason was simple.

His martial prowess was particularly lacking compared to the other two.

However, in her eyes, this felt like a sense of incongruity.

‘…Strange.’

Why did she feel a brutal oppressive aura behind that smiling face?