Chapter 48: Model Answer (2)
Chapter 47 – Model Answer (2)
The reception room of the Alliance Leader’s Hall was decorated simply yet neatly.
Not a single trace of luxury could be found anywhere, and it was difficult to see even a common framed painting.
‘Normally, they would hang at least one antique painting in a place like this.’
Clearly, this old man was thorough.
The reception room being like this meant he was extremely cautious about every single gaze of others.
Anyway, he had not expected the day of a private audience to come so early.
Namgung Cheon clenched his fists tightly.
Thinking about it again, hatred boiled up from deep within his stomach.
Just what kind of grudge did the Alliance Leader hold to torment him for such a long time?
Even now, it was vivid in his memory.
That face, which had worn a snake-like smile at him as he lay dying, all while pretending to be so benevolent.
Even after reincarnating, to the extent that whenever he recalled the Alliance Leader’s face, he had imagined sticking his fingers into the man’s eyeballs, nostrils, and mouth one by one and tearing them wide open.
However, a true man could not ruin the greater cause by putting personal feelings first.
Even if the Alliance Leader were right before his eyes, it would be difficult to inflict even a single wound with his current body.
Although that old man was not at the absolute realm like the Seven Stars of the Martial World, he was still at the mature transcendental realm, and since he had spent years living by the blade, he had to be careful.
“…Cheon?”
Only then did Namgung Cheon, hearing Jin So-hong’s voice, turn his head.
Looking at Jin So-hong’s expression, it seemed she had already called his name several times.
‘Ah, I got too absorbed.’
He was still lacking in self-discipline.
Well, even so, if he had felt even a hint of killing intent, his body would have reacted first.
“Why do you have such a scary expression on your face?”
Jin So-hong tilted her head.
Namgung Cheon shook his head as if it were nothing.
“It’s nothing. Just a bit tired.”
“Why… does the Alliance Leader want to see us?”
“I wonder. I think it’s because of the Golden Blood Rat.”
“As I thought… right?”
Jin So-hong quietly read Namgung Cheon’s reaction before continuing.
“So, about that…”
“Huh?”
“How did you do it when you caught the Golden Blood Rat? How were you able to catch such a fast spiritual beast?”
“It was a coincidence. I told you to run up onto the rock, and as I was following you, the Golden Blood Rat happened to run over and bite the Emerald Silk Sword.”
Every answer was the truth.
However, he hid only his intention.
Jin So-hong quietly looked at Namgung Cheon and nodded.
“I see.”
Was she really convinced?
He did not know.
However, she did not ask any more questions.
Instead, Jin So-hong spoke after hesitating for a moment.
“…Thank you.”
“Huh?”
“For saving my life.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Namgung Cheon understand what she meant and nodded his head.
Come to think of it, he had ended up saving her life. He had only stepped forward because he had to catch the Golden Blood Rat anyway. Well, it was mutually beneficial.
Anyway, just how long was this old man going to make them wait after calling them here?
Although irritation flared up, Namgung Cheon took a deep breath and calmed his temper.
He knew it.
That all of this was the Alliance Leader’s psychological warfare.
The Alliance Leader was such a sly person. Even when dealing with young cadets, he resorted to such petty tricks.
It was a method to exhaust the opponent’s mind and body by deliberately making them wait for a long time.
‘Just like a sly old serpent.’
Namgung Cheon grumbled inwardly and glanced back at Jin So-hong.
Since waiting was boring anyway, he brought up a question he was curious about.
“But why did you go out of your way to…”
It was then.
“The two of you have waited long. The Alliance Leader had some urgent business for a moment. He will be here shortly.”
A moment after the Chief Administrator spoke, the Alliance Leader indeed opened the door and walked in.
A short old man with a grey-streaked beard approached with his usual benevolent smile. Although his stature was small, the presence radiating from his entire body was indeed magnificent.
“Haha, this old man has kept our dragons and phoenixes waiting. I apologize for being late. There was some urgent business.”
“If it was urgent business… a sudden bathroom emergency?”
It was something he did not need to say, but since his mind was already twisted, Namgung Cheon blurted it out.
On the other hand, there was also an intention behind it.
Because acting this way would make him look more like an immature cadet.
Well, if it didn’t work, so be it. Would he execute a young cadet over something like this? What was he going to do?
The Alliance Leader and the Chief Administrator, who were briefly flustered, soon wore soft smiles.
The Alliance Leader replied with a good-natured smile.
“Indeed, there is no business more important and urgent than physiological needs.”
“I am Jin So-hong, a cadet of the Dragon Heaven Academy.”
“I am Namgung Cheon, a cadet of the Dragon Heaven Academy.”
When Jin So-hong and Namgung Cheon cupped their fists side-by-side to greet him, Alliance Leader Mok Cheon-ak waved his hand and spoke.
“Come, take a seat.”
“Thank you.”
Once the two sat down, the Alliance Leader instructed the Chief Administrator to bring some tea.
But in that fleeting moment, Namgung Cheon detected the energy rising from the Alliance Leader’s dantian spreading throughout his entire body.
Assessing Qi.
The Alliance Leader’s energy fumbled over Namgung Cheon’s entire body.
Secretly yet minutely.
It flowed into every nook and cranny, probing Namgung Cheon’s internal energy. It was as if dozens of thread snakes were crawling around, wrapping around his whole body.
He was clearly wary of Namgung Cheon.
‘This old man…!’
Namgung Cheon controlled his inner mind and pretended not to notice as much as possible.
While letting all his inner force flow naturally, he revealed just enough to avoid raising suspicion.
The Alliance Leader probably even knew that he had consumed the Golden Blood Rat’s core.
Therefore, Namgung Cheon moderately loosened the flow of his inner force while controlling it so it would not be excessive.
Since such a task was not very difficult for Namgung Cheon, who possessed the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes.
“The reason this old man called you is because I want to confirm a few things.”
‘This old man is probing me so openly.’
Namgung Cheon pretended to listen intently without showing any reaction.
If Namgung Cheon had lacked the talent of the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes, or had no memories of his past life at all, he would not have noticed the Alliance Leader’s Assessing Qi in the slightest.
Jin So-hong, knowing nothing, replied in a gentle voice.
“Yes, we are listening.”
“Haha, what a pretty and good-natured young lady. Then I shall ask straightforwardly. I heard you caught the Golden Blood Rat. Is that true?”
Jin So-hong glanced back at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon replied as if it were no big deal.
“That is correct. I caught it.”
He deliberately squared his shoulders with a hint of boastfulness. It was a behavior typical of cadets his age.
The Alliance Leader nodded and turned to Jin So-hong.
“And you witnessed it?”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“I would like to hear the story of that time… Since you watched from right beside him, you must know better.”
The Alliance Leader looked at Jin So-hong with a warm smile.
However, Namgung Cheon noticed the Alliance Leader’s gaze sharpening at that moment.
It meant he had an ulterior motive.
Although he directed the question to Jin So-hong, he would definitely observe Namgung Cheon’s reaction as well.
‘He is probably also observing how the flow of my energy fluctuates depending on Jin So-hong’s answer.’
A sly old serpent of an old man.
“Would you tell this old man about it? The situation at the time…?”
Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes while adjusting the flow of his internal qi as naturally as possible.
‘This Alliance Leader bastard, he is trying to find out if I have the talent of the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes!’
Ultimately, this was a silent battle.
Probing and defending through Assessing Qi.
Namgung Cheon spoke as if spitting it out, deliberately acting like a boastful cadet of his age.
“Well, it was just luck.”
“I am not asking you.”
“Ah… yes.”
The Alliance Leader was still smiling, but he cast an indescribable pressure.
If Namgung Cheon had truly been young, he might have been intimidated by the pressure and made a mistake, but things were different now.
‘I’m also a veteran who has gone through all kinds of hardships, you Alliance Leader bastard.’
While Namgung Cheon managed his facial expression, Jin So-hong fell into thought for a moment.
For some reason, Namgung Cheon wanted to hide the details of how he caught the Golden Blood Rat. Was it not the same now, as he repeatedly made excuses to her that it was luck?
Furthermore, he did not brag about it to anyone.
Considering Namgung Cheon’s personality that she had observed recently, he would have proudly bragged about it.
Should she moderately deceive the Alliance Leader, or betray Namgung Cheon’s expectations?
‘One thing is certain.’
That high risk comes with high returns.
Right, had she not decided to believe in Namgung Cheon and invest in him in the first place? Besides, Namgung Cheon had even saved her life.
Fine, let’s bet on it to the end.
She was not believing in Namgung Cheon, but rather believing in her own choice.
‘Father, you said so, didn’t you? That one must start by believing in oneself first!’
Having made up her mind, Jin So-hong raised her head, smiled brightly, and answered.
“Actually, it happened so instantly, and I was flustered, so I couldn’t see well. The surroundings were very dark, and the Golden Blood Rat was just too fast.”
Since it was not entirely a lie, there was no change in her expression.
Rather, the Alliance Leader observed Namgung Cheon’s expression changing in response to her answer, rather than Jin So-hong herself.
Whether Jin So-hong told a lie or the truth, if there was anything to be wary of, there would certainly be a reaction from Namgung Cheon.
However, Namgung Cheon was not the son of the Great Killing Star that he knew.
‘Old man, it’s me, me. I am the very Great Killing Star you shuddered at and gnashed your teeth over.’
Did he think staring at him like that would reveal anything?
Namgung Cheon remained faithful to his role as an innocent cadet who knew nothing.
When he remained that way for a long time even after Jin So-hong finished her answer, it was Jin So-hong who spoke first again.
“Um… Alliance Leader?”
“Haha. I apologize. I was lost in thought for a moment. But how did you think of infusing inner force into a deer horn and burning it?”
This time, Jin So-hong could not answer either, so she looked back at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“I heard it from my maternal grandfather. He said if you infuse inner force into a deer horn and burn it, the Golden Blood Rat goes crazy for it.”
“Indeed, that is so.”
Namgung Cheon bringing up Namgung Geom was not just a random excuse.
In fact, Namgung Geom had gone through many organizations within the Martial Alliance in his youth, and he had heard through Namgung Seon in his past life that his grandfather had been in the Spirit-Tracking Corps as well.
The Alliance Leader slightly raised the corners of his mouth as he continued.
“It seems the Namgung Family Head doted on you. Considering he told you even such trivial stories.”
“No way. Although I am the illegitimate child of the Great Killing Star, he must have reluctantly taken me in out of consideration for my mother.”
“Haha, there is no need to think that way. Should the father’s sins be passed down to the son? Though I do not know, perhaps your father is repenting for his sins in the afterlife and looking down at you, who has grown up uprightly, with satisfaction.”
Wow, that one was a bit strong.
He had almost revealed his true nature as his qi circulation nearly faltered.
If he were not careful, he would have punched that old raccoon’s face.
Come to think of it, he felt like he had said something similar before…
‘Ah… I told Paeng Su-hyeok before that his grandfather in heaven would be pleased.’
Looking back, he was the trash.
He had to apologize to Paeng Su-hyeok later.
Fortunately, Namgung Cheon tightly gripped his sanity and replied without much agitation.
“Thank you. I will do my best to practice righteousness and chivalry to make up for my father’s sins.”
This much should have been a model answer.
The Alliance Leader gently curved the corners of his eyes and withdrew his qi.
The energy that had been spying on every corner of his body withdrew like mist and seeped back into the old man’s body.
Relentless old man.
Not satisfied with just me, he is struggling desperately to bind my son as well.
“You managed to digest the Golden Blood Rat’s core. And in a fairly short time, at that.”
“That was also thanks to my grandfather.”
“Indeed. I understand the situation well. Since there has been no precedent of handling a special-grade spiritual beast in such a manner, I called you. The two of you may return now. I wish you martial luck during the Joint Conference.”
“Thank you, Alliance Leader.”
The two cupped their fists simultaneously and stood up.
As Namgung Cheon and Jin So-hong left the reception room, the smile slowly faded from the Alliance Leader’s face.
Soon returning to a heartless face, he quietly murmured.
“It seems I was being oversensitive.”
Indeed, was the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes such a common talent? It was not something passed down, either.
However, the child of the Great Killing Star standing out so much was certainly something to be wary of. Therefore, he had to investigate thoroughly and persistently.
As all destruction begins with the smallest crack.
The Alliance Leader spoke to the empty air.
“Tell the Blue Wave Corps Leader to go to the Namgung Clan and find out the truth about the Golden Blood Rat. Check if they really taught that child the details.”
“By your command!”
Soon, the presence in the air vanished.