Chapter 36: Overwhelming First Place (2)
Chapter 35 – Overwhelming First Place (2)
“Namgung Cheon took first place?”
Murong Sin twitched his eyebrows and turned to look at Gale Squad Captain Cho Rip-pyo.
Cho Rip-pyo shrugged his shoulders.
“I was also surprised. To think that the overwhelming first place would be that Namgung Cheon.”
“Overwhelming… first place?”
“Yes. The gap between him and the other cadets was considerable.”
“That cannot be. Murong…”
Murong Sin, who was about to ask what had happened to Murong Gang, closed his mouth.
However, there was no one in this place who did not notice his inner thoughts.
Tang Ye-seol smirked and asked, as if wanting Murong Sin to hear.
“What place did Murong Gang get?”
At that, Murong Sin shot back at Tang Ye-seol, looking displeased even as he showed interest.
“Haven’t you already checked the results on the tower ship?”
“Ah, that’s right. But I was only paying attention to first place. Well, I didn’t have much interest in the small fry below that anyway.”
Tang Ye-seol smiled brightly.
It was a smile fresh enough to melt the hearts of many men, but to Murong Sin, it only looked detestable.
Cho Rip-pyo anxiously watched the two’s reactions.
For some reason, sparks flew between these two whenever they met in the same space.
Indeed, since they were the leaders of the largest combat organizations in the Martial Alliance, their power struggle was no small matter.
However, because the Red Wave Corps took charge of large-scale battles in the outer regions, while the Blue Wave Corps took charge of incidents and accidents within the interior, there was a slight difference in their duties.
Cho Rip-pyo quickly spoke up.
“Murong Gang was in second place.”
He had brought it up to somehow reassure Murong Sin, but instead, Murong Sin’s expression stiffened dramatically.
‘Damn, did I speak for no reason? If I even mention that I recommended the Gale Squad to Murong Gang, he looks ready to kill me.’
Of course, the Gale Squad was by no means a push-over organization, but in Murong Sin’s eyes, it would be sorely lacking.
“How much of a difference was there?”
Murong Sin asked in a voice cold as ice.
If one were to consider age alone, Cho Rip-pyo was about fifteen years older, but his casual speech was extremely natural.
“That… well…”
Tang Ye-seol suddenly interjected.
“I heard there was a huuuge difference? Enough for Namgung Cheon to take a nap and wake up.”
Vein pop.
Veins bulged on Murong Sin’s forehead.
However, if he took a joke-like comment seriously and argued, he would only end up becoming a petty person.
Murong Sin sneered.
“Hmph, then what rank did the child of our grand Sichuan Tang Clan achieve?”
“He boarded a different ship, but… it was confirmed that he was around fiftieth place.”
“Heh. Around fiftieth place…”
Vein pop.
This time, veins bulged on Tang Ye-seol’s forehead.
She pulled out a dagger from her bosom, and said as she repeatedly tossed and caught it.
“Well, it is fine. Our clan originally prefers throwing over running around anyway. After all, isn’t a dagger faster than feet? I don’t know why everyone runs so desperately.”
“If you only throw daggers in front of enemies swarming in crowds, it is the perfect way to die. In that case, please run for your life.”
Swoosh.
In an instant, the dagger that left Tang Ye-seol’s hand flew straight toward Murong Sin.
Clang.
Murong Sin quickly deflected it with the edge of his hand, and the dagger bounced off and embedded itself in a wooden pillar.
‘Hieek!’
Cho Rip-pyo gasped and swallowed hard.
Tang Ye-seol gently waved her slender hand.
“Oh my, a mistake.”
“What… are you doing?”
“I said it was a mistake. My hand slipped.”
“In the Jianghu, one can kill a person because of a mistake. And… one can also die.”
“Oh, the world-renowned Leader Murong Sin is not someone who would die from a mistake of this level.”
Murong Sin snorted and changed the subject.
“Anyway, for the child of the Great Killing Star to take first place. The Alliance Leader’s mood must be uncomfortable.”
“That child is not the Great Killing Star, so why would he be uncomfortable?”
“Because it will not look very good.”
“Hmm… That might be true, but this is probably as far as he goes anyway. Since the exam starting tomorrow is a group battle.”
“Indeed…”
Murong Sin narrowed his eyes and scanned the list of successful candidates.
Until tomorrow was the period for the cadets to form their own groups.
With whom would Namgung Cheon, known as the official pushover of Dragon Heaven Academy, form a group?
Forming a group within the time limit would be difficult, but even if he miraculously formed a group…
‘It will be nothing but small fry.’
He seemed to have decent talent, but it could not be helped.
Because the Jianghu was such a place.
A place where it was difficult to survive alone.
That was the Jianghu.
* * *
Namgung Cheon ate dinner at an inn near the Martial Alliance.
As the opening ceremony had taken place, the inn was crowded with many cadets.
There were those who drank while lamenting their misfortune after failing the first round, and those who proudly bragged about their heroic tales of passing.
Namgung Cheon silently ate his meal alone.
He had thought about going all the way to the Ghost King Eatery to eat, but he had come to a nearby place out of laziness, and the downside was that it was too noisy.
Of all people, the cadet sitting at the table right next to Namgung Cheon was the noisiest.
He drank straight from the liquor bottle, and eventually began to wail loudly.
“Dammit! A dirty world that only remembers first place! I! I! Except for lightfootwork! Have! Confidence in everything! *Hic!*”
“Now, now, stop that. Let’s get up. You seem drunk.”
“Let go! I am going to get drunk today! Dirty world! Dog-like world!”
“Sigh! Stop it. After all, it is just a competition, right? There will be another chance next time.”
It was when the cadet, who appeared to be a companion, tried to help the drunkard up to leave.
“I told you to let go!”
“Oh!”
The drunkard swung his arm wildly and, of all places, collapsed onto the table where Namgung Cheon was.
Fortunately, his meal was almost finished, so it did not matter, but the spoon, chopsticks, and bowls fell to the floor, making a loud noise.
“Oops! My apologies. My heart is hurting today… *Hic!* I… today… Huh…? Huh? You… right! The official pushover of Dragon Heaven Academy! Namgung Cheon! First place in the first round!”
Because the drunkard shouted, the cadets in the inn turned to look at Namgung Cheon all at once.
Namgung Cheon, who suddenly drew everyone’s attention, clicked his tongue and muttered coldly.
“Drink quietly and go.”
A gaze like that of a beast before its prey.
A chill instantly seeped into the drunkard, causing his drunkenness to vanish completely.
“Ah…? Uh… Yes, sir.”
As he quickly stood up and left the inn with his companion, the people buzzed.
“That guy is Namgung Cheon.”
“They said he was the official pushover of Dragon Heaven Academy. How did he take first place?”
“I heard it was overwhelming too.”
Namgung Cheon let out a sigh.
As expected, the gazes of so many people were not very pleasant.
It was probably because of his memories of living as a fugitive.
However, he would have to get used to it now.
At that moment, someone suddenly shouted.
“Shit! What is the use of being first place? He will be disqualified without even being able to take the second round anyway.”
When the cadets turned their heads to look, they saw Tang Wu-gi laughing sarcastically.
The cadets, who guessed the meaning to some extent, nodded in understanding.
Who would want to form a group with the bastard child of the Great Killing Star?
At that moment, Murong Gang, who was sitting across from Tang Wu-gi, stood up from his seat.
“It is not something to be concluded yet.”
Once again, the cadets’ gazes turned toward Murong Gang.
Tang Wu-gi also looked at Murong Gang as if flustered.
Murong Gang wore a faint sneer and walked over with steady steps, sitting down opposite Namgung Cheon.
“Have a drink from me.”
“I will.”
As Namgung Cheon raised his cup, Murong Gang poured the alcohol and asked.
“Have you decided on a group?”
“Not yet.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“So?”
“Do you want to form a group with us?”
At the sudden proposal, the surrounding cadets as well as Tang Wu-gi gaped in surprise.
“Murong…!”
Tang Wu-gi jumped to his feet and tried to shout, but he closed his mouth as Murong Gang raised a hand to stop him.
Murong Gang refilled the emptied cup and asked.
“What do you think?”
“Is that a request?”
“Hmm?”
Murong Gang furrowed his brow slightly, then smirked shortly after.
“A request should naturally be made by the one in a hurry, shouldn’t it? It is a proposal that if you ask, we will consider it positively.”
Only then did Tang Wu-gi also breathe a sigh of relief and sneer.
He had figured out Murong Gang’s intention.
His scheme was to deal a blow to Namgung Cheon in front of everyone.
If Namgung Cheon bowed his head and begged, that would be good in its own right, and even if he refused, he wouldn’t be able to form a group anyway, so he would be disqualified.
Naturally, as the official pushover of Dragon Heaven Academy, it would be difficult for him to reject Murong Gang’s proposal.
Moreover, if he formed a group with Murong Gang, the second round was as good as passed.
‘Indeed, making him bow his head without even using force. As expected of Murong…’
“In all my life, this is the first time I’ve ever heard such a garbage proposal.”
“…!”
Murong Gang’s eyebrows twitched.
Namgung Cheon curled the corners of his mouth and drank his cup.
“By nature, a request is spoken first by the side that is in a hurry. But isn’t the one who spoke first right now you?”
“You are not in a position to say such things right now.”
“For your information, I am not the type to worry about tomorrow in advance. If I did my best today, tomorrow the sun will rise tomorrow.”
“What does that…”
“Don’t even bother trying to understand, just get lost. You are ruining the taste of the alcohol. In any case, even if you guys kneel and beg, I have no intention of accepting.”
Murong Gang’s hand gripping the liquor bottle trembled.
“Is it pride?”
“Pride? Why would the first place display pride to the second place? It is already proven that I am superior even if I stay still, isn’t it? Right? Second place?”
Now, the alcohol in the bottle began to slosh on its own.
It was because it reacted to the inner energy of the enraged Murong Gang.
Namgung Cheon glanced at the bottle and added a word.
“If that breaks, you have to pay for it.”
Finally, Murong Gang returned to his usual ice-cold face and stood up from his seat.
“Pathetic. Kicking away an opportunity.”
It was when he was about to set the bottle back in its place.
“Namgung Cheon!”
Suddenly, the door of the inn burst open and Paeng Su-hyeok appeared.
He scanned the inn, spotted Namgung Cheon, and strode over.
“As expected, that drunkard’s words were correct. You were here!”
“What is it?”
“What do you mean what is it! It is obvious why I’ve been looking for you until this hour!”
“Is it a duel again?”
“No! So this is… hmm… a way to keep a closer eye on you… it is definitely not because I like you! Ah! And it is not because you gave me something like inspiration either! So do not misunderstand! So… well… dammit!”
Paeng Su-hyeok, who stopped mid-sentence, suddenly snatched the liquor bottle from Murong Gang’s hand and began to chug it down.
Although Murong Gang’s brow furrowed, Paeng Su-hyeok paid no attention and shouted only after completely emptying the bottle.
“This great self came here to form a group with you!”
In an instant, the venue became as quiet as a dead mouse.
Murong Gang looked at Paeng Su-hyeok, forgetting even the fact that his bottle had just been snatched.
‘This guy… did they say he was from the Hebei Paeng Clan?’
Murong Gang soon smirked.
Indeed, would they call the people of the Hebei Paeng Clan blockheads for no reason? This was why they became laughingstocks.
‘With this, there are now two dropouts.’
It was just as Murong Gang sneered and was about to take a step.
The door of the inn opened again, and a woman walked in.
A female cadet in shabby clothes with freckles densely packed on both cheeks.
‘That woman is definitely….’
The one who, despite being a cadet of Dragon Heaven Academy, arrived at the tower ship relatively early.
He clearly remembered that she was even faster than Paeng Su-hyeok.
Coincidentally, the female cadet turned her head toward this side, strode over, and spoke.
“If it is fine, could you form a group with me…”
“Ah… my apologies. I already have companions that I’ve spoken with…”
Murong Gang, who was replying with a bitter smile, opened his eyes wide.
It was because the female cadet walked right past him and approached Namgung Cheon.
She asked Namgung Cheon once again.
“Would it be alright? If I join the group.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
As Namgung Cheon answered nonchalantly, the female cadet kept saying thank you.
Was everyone crazy?
Murong Gang tightly clenched his fists.
To think they would form a group with the bastard child of the Great Killing Star.
‘Looking at it now, there are two more crazy bastards in Dragon Heaven Academy.’
Even so, there are only three of them, including Namgung Cheon.
If they could not form a group of four, they would be disqualified.
Does this mean three people are weeded out?
However, Murong Gang did not know.
The fact that another crazy person was waiting in front of Namgung Cheon’s quarters right now.
* * *
Yun Jong-seung knelt down and spoke to the empty air.
“Namgung Cheon, please, form… form a group with me? Argh! This is too cringy! What kind of love confession is this!”
Yun Jong-seung, who jumped up, put on a deliberately fierce expression.
“Hey, you bastard pushover. Let’s team up since we’re both pushovers! …If I say that, I’ll probably get beaten to death, right? Uaaah! What should I do? Now that I suddenly passed the first round, another worry is…!”