Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Having submitted his application for the Azure Dragon Pavilion's entrance examination, Namgung Geom devoted himself to cultivation until the day of the exam.

As a result, his strength and stamina increased noticeably, and the Celestial Wind Ice White Sword's completeness rose as well.

By absorbing one more of the remaining eight clusters of extreme yang fire qi, his inner arts also grew.

Furthermore, by opening the meridian where the extreme yang fire qi had been lodged, his mastery deepened another level.

Once he absorbed the remaining seven clusters of extreme yang fire qi, reaching the pinnacle level would be only a matter of time.

Namgung Geom did not rush the absorption of the extreme yang fire qi.

As he had already noted, absorbing it all at once risked disrupting the balance of his inner arts.

Progression was important, but there was no need to court danger unnecessarily.

His current level was not low, either.

His mastery was at the mid first-rate level.

Among his peers, it was a peerless standard.

He could enter the Azure Dragon Pavilion and grow steadily from there without being late.

Of course, the story would change if his uncles posed a threat.

Namgung Geom did not let his guard down around his uncles.

They were figures who could threaten him at any time.

For now, it was highly likely they would not make a move.

Namgung Geom was not yet at a level that threatened the Young Lord's seat, after all.

But once Namgung Geom distinguished himself and gained a base of support, their thinking would change.

That was why he needed to build his strength as much as possible before then, and secure a faction that would support him.

Namgung Geom thought back to his previous life.

He had been the scorned illegitimate son of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

Treated as an outsider because of his Central Plains blood.

There had been virtually no faction within the Northern Sea Ice Palace that supported him.

Because of that, he had been unable to stop Seol Jin-ak and the Northern Sea Four Families' rebellion, and it had cost him his life.

To avoid repeating the tragedy of his previous life, he had to cultivate a faction that would support him.

At least things were better than his previous life in one regard—his status as the legitimate eldest grandson was unambiguous.

If the legitimacy of the eldest grandson was paired with outstanding ability, there would be no shortage of people willing to back him as Young Lord.

And right now, the surest way to demonstrate Namgung Geom's ability was entering the Azure Dragon Pavilion at the top of the class.

"Then let's go."

Having completed all his preparations, Namgung Geom headed for the Azure Dragon Pavilion's training grounds.

When he arrived, over two hundred children had gathered.

All of them had applied for the Azure Dragon Pavilion's entrance examination.

Of those, only around thirty would be admitted.

That meant the competition would inevitably be fierce.

As Namgung Geom stepped onto the training grounds, every child's gaze turned toward him at once.

"Isn't that Namgung Geom?"

"It is. Namgung Geom."

"So it was true that he's taking the exam?"

"This year's his last chance, so he's probably just giving it a shot even if he doesn't pass."

"Still, he's the eldest grandson of the main family. If he fails, the embarrassment......"

"If it were me, I wouldn't show up just to avoid the pity."

The children murmured about Namgung Geom.

Namgung Geom heard their whispers but paid them no mind.

Instead, he surveyed the children gathered on the training grounds.

Among them, three stood out.

'The one on the left is my second uncle's son, Namgung Chang.'

'The one on the right must be the Grand Elder's grandson, Namgung Cheon-sang.'

He recognized two of them immediately from his memories.

The last was a face he had never seen before.

The boy was notably large in build and looked solidly built. Namgung Geom had a good idea who he was.

'That must be Namgung Cheol-ung.'

Namgung Cheol-ung.

A member of a branch family, possessed of prodigious natural strength.

It was said that his swordsmanship, which crushed opponents under the weight of that brute force, had no equal among his peers.

'So those are the top candidates to take first place in this entrance exam.'

Their energy was clearly a cut above the other children.

That said, the rest were not lacking.

They simply fell short compared to those three; there were quite a few children with respectable energy.

'First, I make allies of the peers who enter the Azure Dragon Pavilion alongside me.'

Those who entered the Azure Dragon Pavilion were the most talented individuals of their generation.

This cohort in particular was so exceptional it had earned the title of the golden generation.

They were highly likely to become the masters who would one day lead the Namgung Family.

If he could make them his allies, it would be a tremendous asset.

And among their fathers and grandfathers were not a few senior figures of the Namgung Family.

Namgung Cheon-sang alone—his grandfather was the Grand Elder, and his father headed the Finance Hall, which oversaw the Namgung Family's finances.

If Namgung Geom could win them over as allies and gain their connections as well, he could build his faction in one sweep.

Meanwhile, the three whom Namgung Geom had noted were also studying him with curious eyes.

But their discernment was not sharp enough to gauge Namgung Geom's energy.

As silent gazes were exchanged, his cousin Namgung Chang was the first to approach Namgung Geom.

"It's been a while."

"It has."

Namgung Geom returned the greeting.

They were cousins, but he did not feel particularly glad to see him.

Their bond was not deep enough for that.

"I never thought you'd be taking the Azure Dragon Pavilion's entrance exam."

Namgung Chang said, as if surprised.

"If you're a direct descendant of the Namgung Family, entering the Azure Dragon Pavilion is a given."

"Of course. But weren't you unable to cultivate martial arts because of the Nine Yang Severed Meridians?"

Namgung Chang asked, as if probing.

His intent was to learn how Namgung Geom had managed to cultivate martial arts.

But Namgung Geom had no intention of telling him.

"So does it bother you that I can cultivate martial arts now?"

"Of course not. I'm simply curious how you overcame the Nine Yang Severed Meridians and managed to cultivate martial arts."

Namgung Chang replied without losing his smile.

'Was he put up to this by Second Uncle?'

Namgung Geom suddenly wondered whether Namgung Chang might be acting on the instructions of his second uncle, Namgung Byeok.

If so, all the more reason not to share.

"Is there any reason I should tell you that?"

Namgung Geom's prickly reply caught Namgung Chang slightly off guard.

He had not expected Namgung Geom to respond this way.

But he quickly composed himself and spoke.

"Since you've suddenly started cultivating martial arts, I imagine quite a few people within the family have questions."

'Look at this one.'

Seeing Namgung Chang invoke the family's public opinion, it was clear that Namgung Byeok had given him instructions.

Namgung Chang was only fifteen years old.

It was hard to imagine a boy that age wielding the family's opinion as a tool to pressure someone on his own.

If Namgung Geom had been an ordinary fifteen-year-old, he might have been rattled by Namgung Chang's words.

But for Namgung Geom, who had been forged by Seol Jin-ak's scheming in his previous life, this was child's play.

"It's not them who are suspicious—it's you, isn't it?"

"What do you mean by that? Naturally I trust you."

Namgung Chang said, as if the suggestion were absurd. Namgung Geom scoffed.

"If that were true, you wouldn't have brought it up in the first place."

"I only said it because I'm worried about you."

"There's nothing to worry about. Grandfather hasn't said a word about it, so who would dare question my martial arts?"

At Namgung Geom's words, Namgung Chang's expression stiffened.

If Family Head Namgung Pae had given his tacit approval, it was no longer possible to press Namgung Geom about his martial arts cultivation.

To do so would be to defy Namgung Pae's will.

"Ha ha. If Grandfather has approved, then there's nothing to worry about."

Namgung Chang spoke as though his concern had been needless all along.

"If you understand, then off you go."

Namgung Geom waved his hand dismissively, as though shooing him away.

Namgung Chang shot Namgung Geom a glare, then returned to his place.

Namgung Geom paid him no further attention and shifted his gaze to Namgung Cheon-sang and Namgung Cheol-ung.

Namgung Cheon-sang was watching him with curious eyes, while Namgung Cheol-ung regarded him with an insolent gaze.

'At least things won't be boring.'

When Namgung Geom smirked at Namgung Cheol-ung's gaze, Namgung Cheol-ung's brow twitched.

Just then, the Azure Dragon Pavilion's instructors entered the training grounds.

The children's attention naturally shifted to the instructors.

Among them, a middle-aged man wearing a shoulder badge engraved with an azure dragon stepped forward.

He swept his gaze across the children gathered on the training grounds and spoke.

"Welcome. I am Namgung Pil, the Chief Instructor of the Azure Dragon Pavilion."

He had served as an instructor at the Azure Dragon Pavilion for over twenty years.

Among the martial artists of the Namgung Family's elite Three Great Sword Corps, there was not one who had not passed through his hands.

"Before we begin the entrance examination, I will give a brief explanation of the exam."

Namgung Pil explained the Azure Dragon Pavilion's entrance examination.

"The entrance examination is divided into the first and second rounds. The first round is the Banner Contest."

The Banner Contest was a test in which participants had to find and retrieve the Azure Dragon Banners hidden on Celestial Sword Peak.

"There are a total of sixty-four Azure Dragon Banners hidden on Celestial Sword Peak. Only those who obtain an Azure Dragon Banner may proceed to the second round."

Over two hundred children had gathered on the training grounds.

Of those, only sixty-four would advance to the second round.

"The Banner Contest has three rules. First: you may only claim an Azure Dragon Banner after reaching the summit of Celestial Sword Peak."

To obtain an Azure Dragon Banner, one first had to reach the summit of Celestial Sword Peak.

This was a condition designed to test basic stamina and footwork.

"Second: you may seize an Azure Dragon Banner that someone else has found."

The Banner Contest did not end simply by finding an Azure Dragon Banner.

Defending it from other applicants was the crux of the challenge.

That was the essence of the Banner Contest.

"However, you cannot simply seize banners at will."

First, in line with the first condition, one could only seize a banner after having reached the summit of Celestial Sword Peak.

Waiting at the foot of the mountain to snatch banners from returning applicants was not permitted.

Next, anyone already in possession of an Azure Dragon Banner could not seize another person's.

This was to prevent someone who already had a banner from taking another and handing it off to someone else.

In short, an Azure Dragon Banner gained through someone else's strength rather than one's own would not be recognized.

Finally, it was also forbidden for four or more people to gang up and seize a banner.

While using alliances of those lacking in individual skill was acknowledged as strategy, ganging up with more than three was deemed unfair.

"Third: you must not deliberately inflict injury during the Banner Contest. Under no circumstances should anyone's life be endangered."

"What happens if someone deliberately inflicts injury?"

One of the applicants asked.

"Immediate disqualification upon confirmation."

For the record, instructors from the Azure Dragon Pavilion would be stationed throughout Celestial Sword Peak to monitor the proceedings.

With luck, one might escape their eyes.

But there was no reason to take such a risk.

Not unless one had ulterior motives.

Having heard Namgung Pil's explanation, the children were busy scheming ways to obtain an Azure Dragon Banner.

Every child on the training grounds was a competitor.

But since alliances of up to three were permitted, cooperation was also necessary.

The children sized one another up and devised their own strategies.

Those who already knew each other exchanged discreet glances, forming alliances.

In the midst of all this, there were children whose eyes glinted as they looked at Namgung Geom.

'Make sure Namgung Geom fails the second round.'

They recalled the instructions they had been given.

The one who had given them their orders had promised a generous reward if they eliminated Namgung Geom from the examination.

Their own skills were not enough to pass this session's entrance examination.

In that case, it was better to knock Namgung Geom out and collect the reward.

But what they did not know was that Namgung Geom was reading their eyes.

'Too young to hide their intentions.'

Namgung Geom could sense in their gazes a certain intent directed at him.

Children he had never met before would not target him without reason.

His uncles must have made a move.

It was more or less what he had expected.

His uncles would have already confirmed the changes in him.

They would not simply sit back and watch with folded arms.

They were highly likely to do whatever it took to keep him out of the Azure Dragon Pavilion.

'They're planning to use those kids to either stop me from finding a banner or to take the banner I find.'

But things would not go their way.

He had no intention of giving them the chance to interfere in the first place.

The method was simple.

'Find a banner faster than anyone else and come back down.'

The Banner Contest began with reaching the summit of Celestial Sword Peak.

If he reached the summit faster than everyone else and found a banner, there would be no need to clash with the other children.

The question was whether he could reach the summit before anyone else.

'That much is child's play.'

Namgung Geom was confident he could reach the summit faster than anyone.

"The Banner Contest begins now. The time limit is the hour of the Monkey. Only those who return with an Azure Dragon Banner before then will have passed, so mind the time."

The moment Namgung Pil finished speaking, a bell rang out to signal the start of the Banner Contest.

The children who had been gathered on the training grounds scrambled to begin their ascent of Celestial Sword Peak.

Reaching the summit first was already part of the competition.

Every child on the training grounds gave their all to reach the summit of Celestial Sword Peak even a moment sooner.

Namgung Geom also broke into a run the instant the bell rang.

But suddenly, three children cut in front of him.

They ran abreast, blocking the path ahead so Namgung Geom could not advance.

That was not all.

From the left and right, more children closed in, preventing Namgung Geom from slipping to either side.

It was a deliberate obstruction by any measure.

'Not a chance.'

Namgung Geom smirked with contempt and unleashed his movement arts.