Chapter 264: Chapter 264
“Failed.”
Cheon-hwi’s selection was without hesitation.
Dozens of people had already stood before Cheon-hwi, but not a single person had passed.
“Just who is he planning to pass?”
“Don’t tell me he has no intention of selecting subordinates at all?”
The atmosphere, which had been full of anticipation at first, had already cooled down icily.
A coldness like the north wind and cold snow.
Even in the midst of that, Cheon-hwi repeatedly said the word disqualified and continued to screen the personnel.
The number of people decreased rapidly.
The reactions of those who came confidently and drank the bitter cup of disqualification varied.
“Just because he gained fame recently, how can he be so arbitrary?”
“I came to the wrong place, deceived by the great name of the Plum Blossom Divine Hero. If I had known he was such a person earlier, I would have visited Great Hero Jade Qilin first… I wasted my time for nothing.”
Anger, doubt, sense of betrayal, disappointment, and the like.
Occasionally, there were some who showed passionate reactions.
“I cannot accept this!”
A young man wearing a neat yellow martial arts uniform, Jeong Cheong, shouted in a fit of anger.
He was bursting with rage right now.
He had refused his master’s words to go to the Jade Qilin and instead chose the Plum Blossom Divine Hero.
However, what was this?
Far from even drawing his sword, he was immediately eliminated just by facing him.
How could he not be angry?
“Where is the sense in not even looking at the martial arts one has learned, and just selecting by eye measure!”
His voice rang out loudly.
Those who were watching nodded their heads.
It was because they sympathized.
In fact, they didn’t say anything, but they had the exact same thought as that Jeong Cheong.
Encouraged by that reaction, Jeong Cheong glared and spat out all his dissatisfaction.
“How is this a simple mission? It is a detached force that will set out for an all-out war with none other than the Four Black Alliances. However, to select squad members just by facing them… Is the Plum Blossom Divine Hero thinking of the detached force as a joke right now?”
As every word poured out was right, those who were waiting or those who could not leave even after being disqualified agreed and shouted.
“Those words are correct!”
“I think so too!”
Cheon-hwi scratched his head at the increasingly loud shouts as they began to ride the momentum.
“You mean you don’t like this method, right?”
Jeong Cheong glared and answered.
“That is right.”
“Then isn’t it a good thing?”
“What…”
Cheon-hwi twisted one corner of his mouth.
“I don’t have any intention of selecting people who dislike this method anyway. Since we dislike each other, let’s each go our own way, shall we?”
Along with his words, Cheon-hwi pointed out the main gate with his finger. In other words, it was a gesture meaning to leave, so Jeong Cheong bit his lip gently and swiftly turned his body around.
He had realized that it would not get through even if he spoke further.
“With that kind of method, you won’t be able to form a proper detached force.”
Just before leaving, Jeong Cheong, who could not suppress his resentment in the end, spoke while glaring at Cheon-hwi, but.
“I understand, so hurry up and go. There are still a lot of people I have to see, so don’t eat up time for nothing.”
He ended up only receiving a scolding.
“…”
Jeong Cheong furrowed his brows and left.
Silence flowed.
In that situation, Cheon-hwi scanned his surroundings with half-closed eyes and moved his lips.
“You just saw, right? If you don’t like my method, you can leave even now.”
At Cheon-hwi’s indifferent words, those standing in line flinched and fell into serious contemplation.
“It would be better to leave now…”
“If we go to the Young Hero Jade Qilin even now, wouldn’t he accept us?”
“But we still might pass.”
In a situation where even those belonging to the Nine Great Sects and One Gang were dropping like autumn leaves, some trembled in anxiety.
When no one moved like that.
“I’m going.”
A young man hurriedly turned his body as if he had made up his mind.
“T-Then me too.”
“Rather than here…”
And as if that had become a starting point, those who had been studying the atmosphere turned their bodies one by one and followed behind.
In an instant, one-third left.
‘There are still this many.’
Cheon-hwi clicked his tongue.
Even though a large number of personnel had slipped away, the line still had a long way to go.
‘At this rate, I’ll be doing this all day.’
Cheon-hwi, who clicked his tongue for a moment, slowly scanned them again and moved his lips.
“Next two, come.”
Thus, the screening work resumed, but as expected, only disqualified people continued to come out.
Most of the disqualified people left this place immediately, but some glared at Cheon-hwi with lit eyes, as if out of stubbornness they would check exactly who would pass.
How much time had passed like that?
“Stand in the back.”
At the different words that came out for the first time, some people were surprised and looked at Cheon-hwi.
“What did he say?!”
“Could it be a pass?”
Their gazes turned toward the person in front of Cheon-hwi.
A woman was there.
When she too made a bewildered expression as if she didn’t expect to hear such words.
“This makes no sense!”
Someone yelled out in anger.
He was a person who had been disqualified a little while ago.
It wasn’t just him.
As if protesting Cheon-hwi’s choice, a few exuded a sharp momentum.
It was because they absolutely could not agree that woman was superior to them.
The woman’s expression distorted at such a reaction.
Although she had no background and hadn’t made a name for herself in the Jianghu, it was absolutely hard to endure hearing such words right to her face.
However, the disqualified people shouted, not caring what the woman’s expression was like.
“We cannot accept this!”
“Why is it that woman!”
Cheon-hwi glanced at them and spoke.
“My eardrums are going to fall out. If you’re going to be loud, leave. Tsk tsk, since you failed anyway, what exactly are you trying to do…”
At Cheon-hwi’s words that left them without even anything to say, the disqualified ones gritted their teeth.
“I watched for nothing.”
“…”
Those who mumbled subsequently exited the pavilion.
Cheon-hwi didn’t even cast a glance at them, and spoke while twitching his finger again.
“Now, the next two come.”
From some point in the situation that was proceeding again, the number of people standing behind Cheon-hwi gradually increased.
And those still standing in line examined the passed ones and racked their brains.
‘Wouldn’t there be some commonality?’
However, they soon shook their heads.
The people standing behind Cheon-hwi were each different.
While there were those belonging to the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, right next to them was a disciple of a small sect whose name they had never even heard of.
Was their martial arts strong then…
‘Their momentum is weak.’
It made them tilt their heads in confusion.
Among them were rising stars who had made a name for themselves in their respective regions, but a few were disciples of places where even the sect’s name was heard for the first time.
They could not know the standard.
“Is he really picking randomly?”
When most had reached that conclusion.
“What do you think?”
The Taoist of the Zhongnan Sect, Mu Hong, asked the Beggars’ Sect’s Ho Gwang-gae.
“Do you think the Plum Blossom Divine Hero is picking squad members however he pleases like those people say?”
“No, there is a clear standard.”
Ho Gwang-gae spoke with certainty.
However, Mu Hong was puzzled.
It was because he couldn’t find a commonality among those standing in the back to say there was a standard.
“What is the reason you think so?”
“If he was going to pick randomly, would he make them stand in line like this?”
The gaze of Ho Gwang-gae, who answered at once, turned to Cheon-hwi.
It was an expression strongly exuding annoyance.
“Look at that face. If he just intended to pick anyone however he pleased, he would unilaterally notify them and leave. He wouldn’t judge by looking at them one by one like this.”
Moreover, before coming here, Ho Gwang-gae was already in a situation where he had heard about Cheon-hwi’s disposition roughly from the Beggars’ Sect Leader.
‘I heard he’s arbitrary and finds everything bothersome, but.’
He scratched his greasy hair.
It was worse than what he had heard.
‘Making enemies like that…’
He stealthily looked at those leaving.
Their expressions were not very good.
They were probably barely holding back their desire to disobey the current outcome.
At that time, Mu Hong narrowed his forehead.
“Then what do you think the standard is?”
Ho Gwang-gae wiped the hand that was vigorously scratching his head on his rag clothes and snickered.
“I don’t know that either.”
Meanwhile, there was someone nearby silently listening to their conversation.
‘…A standard.’
The highly renowned rising star of the Qingcheng Sect.
It was the Fine Stream Blade, Danli Gwancheon.
He was lost in thought and unconsciously lowered his head. And he ended up observing the feet of the two walking in front.
‘I see.’
Looking at the two walking, his eyes sparkled as he realized something.
And it wasn’t just him.
A few quick-witted people also realized what Danli Gwancheon had realized, and spewed out blue light from their eyes as they looked at those walking in front.
“Stand in the back.”
“Is it really true?”
“If you don’t want to, then don’t.”
“A-No!”
Cheon-hwi, who added another passer, stared at the young man next to him.
“You are disqualified.”
“…Understood.”
Was it thanks to experiencing commotions several times?
The disqualified people, perhaps realizing it was useless to retort, obediently stepped back.
“Next, come.”
Cheon-hwi, who was speaking, narrowed his eyes.
‘He’s here.’
There was one among the people he had kept an eye on.
It was none other than the Taoist of the Qingcheng Sect.
‘Oho, look at this?’
Watching him approach by taking a step at a time, Cheon-hwi’s eyes curved greatly.
“I am Qingcheng’s Danli Gwancheon.”
“Fine Stream Blade?!”
“That guy is Qingcheng’s…”
Everyone looked at Danli Gwancheon in surprise.
Although the alias of Fine Stream Blade was widely known in the Jianghu, because his appearance wasn’t known very detailedly, the surroundings stirred.
“I-I am Bright Pacification Sect’s Jang Hak-il.”
The man next to him shrank back and spat out his words.
Cheon-hwi didn’t even lay his eyes on him, and only looked at Danli Gwancheon in front of his eyes.
Then he smiled with satisfaction.
“Pass.”
For the first time, the word ‘pass’ came out of Cheon-hwi’s mouth.
When everyone looked on in surprise at that.
“…Are you selecting just by seeing this?”
Danli Gwancheon, who was about to go to the back, let out the question that suddenly popped up in his mind out of his mouth.
“Yes.”
“Other things…”
“You just accomplished that right now.”
At Cheon-hwi’s words, Danli Gwancheon made a complicated expression for a moment before soon standing behind him.
Meanwhile, those who were standing first were busy glancing at Danli Gwancheon.
‘To think the Fine Stream Blade would come to the detached force.’
It was an astonishing matter.
With a background, fame, and martial prowess at the level of Danli Gwancheon, it would be a matter of welcoming him with open arms not in a detached force like this, but even in the Three Squads, Four Units.
‘In a detached force with Danli Gwancheon?’
‘Is this a dream or reality?’
Around the time a few people gulped dry saliva while looking at Danli Gwancheon.
“I am Zhongnan’s Mu Hong.”
“Hahaha! I am the Beggars’ Sect’s Ho Gwang-gae.”
Yet again, formidable individuals appeared.
“Stand in the back.”
Cheon-hwi spoke without delay.
“…Hmm, it’s not a pass.”
“Tsk, is there really something?”
Even though they had passed, the two stood in the back while grumbling as if slightly dissatisfied with Cheon-hwi’s words.
Thus, time continued to flow.
When the sun that was beating down fiercely had already tilted, scattering a faint sunset glow.
“Disqualified.”
Cheon-hwi spoke while looking at the last person, and stretched out his stiff arms.
“Ah, it’s finally over.”
He lightly loosened up his body and turned around.
“One, two, three, four…”
Cheon-hwi, who was counting the martial artists standing in the back one by one, nodded his head.
“Forty-two people in total? It’s just right.”
Meanwhile, the martial artists who confirmed the end of the screening froze stiff.
However, not all were like that.
Swish!
Ho Gwang-gae raised his hand high.
“Squad Leader, I have a question.”
Cheon-hwi looked at Ho Gwang-gae, who immediately called him Squad Leader, and laughed as if dumbfounded.
“What is it?”
“Why did you pick us?”
Everyone flinched at those words.
In fact, they were also curious about the reason, but it was because they couldn’t bring themselves to ask.
Cheon-hwi looked at Ho Gwang-gae and smirked.
“Why? You don’t like being picked? You can leave now then.”
“Tsk, you know that’s not what I’m asking…”
Just when Ho Gwang-gae was scratching his head.
“Wasn’t it our footprints?”
Danli Gwancheon spoke quietly.
Ho Gwang-gae was flustered at his voice that suddenly cut in, but then his eyes widened.
‘So that’s why it was a pass!’
Danli Gwancheon approached Cheon-hwi.
“I believe you judged by looking at the footprints engraved on the floor, though.”
“That’s right. I judged by looking at the footprints left behind. How consistent and straight the stride was. If it passed that standard, I passed them.”
Only then did those who realized the reason they got in unable to hide their surprise.
“However, isn’t it too dangerous to only look at footwork? The opponent is the Four Black Alliances. But if one’s martial arts skills are lacking…”
Danli Gwancheon, who trailed off for a moment, stealthily looked to the side.
“Putting aside dying, they will only be a hindrance to their fellow squad members.”
A few flinched at the cold gaze.
Just as he said, the difference in skill between him and some of the people here right now was large enough that it would be difficult to become a single unit.
However, Cheon-hwi spoke calmly.
“Hmm, you seem to be confusing the task at hand… What is it that a detached force does?”
At the question, Danli Gwancheon narrowed his forehead.
“Operating independently from the main body and carrying out missions…!”
In an instant, Danli Gwancheon whispered with a dazed face as if he had been hit by a hammer on the head.
“So that’s why it was footwork…”
The most important things for a detached force were mobility and survival, and footwork was truly the most important above all else.
“But if that were the case, wouldn’t it have been better to just test us by having us perform our footwork?”
“The difference between what is ingrained in the body and what is not is large. No matter how much one knows how to perform profound footwork and movement arts, if they cannot naturally perform it at every moment, is there anything as useless as that?”
Cheon-hwi let out a cold voice.
“Moreover, a war has broken out right now, so we can’t wait until one becomes proficient just because they’ve learned outstanding footwork, right?”
Not to mention Danli Gwancheon who had asked, everyone else was struck speechless.
No matter how outstanding a martial art is, if one is not accustomed to it, it is just a good-looking apricot.
“Certainly, if it’s footwork…”
“It is a field I have confidence in, though.”
Seeing them nod as if they were convinced, Cheon-hwi snickered.
‘Of course, that isn’t everything.’
If he had picked solely on footwork skill, there would have been more who passed.
However, he did not do so.
The reason was simple.
‘Every guy here has learned martial arts that I’ve never seen before.’
His personal greed for martial arts was mixed in.
‘It would be great to see them perform it later.’
Cheon-hwi, who had scanned them once with eyes filled with interest and curiosity, spoke.
“Then I’ll give you a last chance. If there’s anyone who wants to leave even now, leave.”
Cheon-hwi spoke quietly, but no one moved.
Cheon-hwi saw them displaying looks of determination, and nodded his head.
“Then it seems we’ve finished selecting the personnel. Come on, hurry up and bring your luggage.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“Why suddenly luggage…”
When everyone was flustered at the unexpected words, Cheon-hwi’s lips tore long horizontally, revealing pure white teeth.