"Teach? What do you mean?"
Blazing Blade questioned back. It seemed that Blazing Blade was also slightly interested in Na Junghae's words as he spoke passionately, spitting as he talked.
"Currently, Heavenly Martial Arts Academy is suffering from a severe shortage of martial arts instructors compared to the number of disciples. Of course, compared to other martial arts schools in the Gangho, the quality and quantity of our instructors are tremendous. However, considering the current scale of Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, the current number of instructors is far from sufficient. For Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, which originally aimed to provide elite education to a small number of students, the number of disciples assigned to each martial arts instructor these days is too high. For that reason, Heavenly Martial Arts Academy is desperately hoping to recruit top-level experts, even in their dreams. At this very moment, hundreds of envoys dispatched from Heavenly Martial Arts Academy are wandering around the deep mountains and secluded valleys all over the world, searching for eccentric masters until their feet are blistered."
Na Junghae, who had been speaking passionately without taking a break up to this point, paused for a moment to catch his breath, which had become rough from his tireless flattery and persuasion, and then continued speaking. Unfortunately, he didn't even dare to take a break, as he was worried about when Blazing Blade's temper would explode. Glancing at Blazing Blade, he was blinking and lost in thought, pondering over something. However, Na Junghae couldn't stop his explanation just because of that. He had an ominous feeling that if he stopped now, Blazing Blade's anger would not remain still. So, Na Junghae encouraged his tired tongue and facial muscles and continued his explanation.
"In this situation, if a top-level expert like Sir Blazing Blade Gwak were to join, Heavenly Martial Arts Academy would undoubtedly welcome him with open arms. I, Na Junghae, stake my 30 years of experience in the information trading business on this assurance."
Na Junghae confidently declared, tapping his chest with his right hand so hard that his ribs might shatter. The sight of Na Junghae hitting his chest so forcefully that his ribs could break somehow instilled an inexplicable sense of trust in those who witnessed it. Trust is the greatest weapon of an information merchant. It seemed to prove that his reputation as the best information merchant in Nanchang was not an empty boast.
"Moreover, if you wish to enter Heavenly Martial Arts Academy as an instructor, you can do so at any time, on any day of the year, without being constrained by dates. Furthermore, if you become an instructor at Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, you can enjoy enormous benefits compared to the disciples. You will be provided with a splendid personal residence within Heavenly Martial Arts Academy that is incomparable to those of the disciples, and you will also have dedicated maids at your service. In addition, you will receive substantial remuneration and prestige from Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, along with the privilege to enter any sect's territory without interference if you present your badge. What do you think of my proposal?"
"..."
"Hm, it's a very interesting offer. This'll be fun."
Blazing Blade remained silent, and instead, Bi Ryu-yeon responded with a grin. Na Junghae had passionately addressed Blazing Blade, but the response came unexpectedly from Bi Ryu-yeon. Na Junghae couldn't help but be puzzled. Although Na Junghae's disdain for Bi Ryu-yeon had greatly diminished, he still mistook Blazing Blade as the decision-maker. Of course, this was a huge misjudgment, as the actual decision-maker here was not Blazing Blade but Bi Ryu-yeon. Currently, Blazing Blade was carefully observing the situation while being mindful of Bi Ryu-yeon's reaction, which Na Junghae had no idea about.
However, Na Junghae could not be blamed or criticized for his foolishness in this matter. Who in the Gangho could have ever imagined that Blazing Blade Gwak Yeonghee, one of the Five Great Swordsmen of the World, would be reduced to a position where he had to be attentive to the whims of a young novice? It was not something anyone could be blamed for.
"But how do we go about doing that?"
It seemed that Bi Ryu-yeon had made up his mind to install Blazing Blade as an instructor at Heavenly Martial Arts Academy. So, he asked Na Junghae about the specific implementation method. Na Junghae's answer was surprisingly simple. There was no need to take a test or be tested. According to Na Junghae, there was no need to even have an interview. With the reputation built up so far, one could skip all the complicated procedures and become an instructor right away.
"Yes, for someone of Sir Blazing Blade Gwak's caliber, you just need to visit empty-handed. Go there with nothing but your body and say, 'I have come to become an instructor.' That one sentence is all it takes. With that, everything will be settled. No, there's no need for you to bother making the trip there. I'm here, aren't I? You two can go to your accommodations and rest comfortably. I will take care of notifying Heavenly Martial Arts Academy. I'm sure they will send someone running barefoot to meet you. Then, Sir Gwak, you can listen to the conditions they offer, and if you are satisfied with the treatment they propose, you can accept and conclude everything. In other words, you will become an instructor at Heavenly Martial Arts Academy."
Eager to send the two villains away as soon as possible, Na Junghae, in his impatience, took responsibility for everything, even making empty promises and tying a noose around his own neck while shackling his own feet. There is an old saying that if you stay still, you can at least reach the middle, but Na Junghae, unable to do so, ended up taking on unnecessary responsibilities.
"Is that so? Then I feel too sorry…"
Bi Ryu-yeon spoke with a bright smile, not sounding sorry at all. Na Junghae momentarily felt a surge of anger at Bi Ryu-yeon's attitude but faced reality and swallowed his anger, continuing the conversation with a service-oriented smile and demeanor.
"There's no need to feel sorry at all. I will gladly undertake this task for Sir Gwak's sake."
"..."
"Alright then, I'll leave it to you!"
Na Junghae kept talking to Blazing Blade, but the responses always came from Bi Ryu-yeon's side. This time, too, Bi Ryu-yeon answered. Bi Ryu-yeon and Blazing Blade left after leaving a simple remark, saying they would take care of it. No, they tried to leave. But they didn't. Why didn't they leave?
The two had forgotten something, something very important. So, they stopped in their tracks and sat back down. The thing they had almost forgotten was none other than the most significant reason and purpose for their visit: whether Bi Ryu-yeon would be admitted to Heavenly Martial Arts Academy and how. They had been so focused on Blazing Blade's admission that they nearly forgot their main objective. It was truly an absurd situation. Sitting back down, crumpling the cushion with his unpleasant buttocks, Bi Ryu-yeon looked at Na Junghae again and spoke.
"Ah, by the way, what about me? How do I get into Heavenly Martial Arts Academy?"
"...!"
***
Na Junghae's Desperate Professionalism
-
Na Junghae felt like he had been unexpectedly hit on the back of his head.
His head rang with a ding. Na Junghae's eyes widened. Anger rose within him.
Just as he was about to shout for joy, thinking that the two people were about to leave,
and had let his guard down, thinking that one deal was settled, Bi Ryu-yeon's question
poured cold water on Na Junghae's heart. Na Junghae felt like crying.
Had he done so many bad things in his life?
Enough for the heavens to punish him so severely? He felt regret.
-
"Well, you see, the thing is….."
Shocked by the fact that the unwelcome burdens he thought he had painstakingly dealt with had sat back down, Na Junghae couldn't immediately answer Bi Ryu-yeon's question. At the moment, he was struggling just to gather his tangled thoughts. His mind was in disarray, like a tangled skein of thread that wouldn't unravel. Expecting a proper answer from him in this state was simply absurd.
"Does this silence and hesitation mean you haven't found a solution yet?"
Bi Ryu-yeon spoke in a chilling voice laced with a hint of threat. The way he clenched and unclenched his right fist looked ominous at a glance. The menacing sight of his fist clenching and unclenching, accompanied by the cracking sound of his knuckles, came across as a great threat, both visually and auditorily. This intimidation seemed to work wonders, as Na Junghae, having regained his composure, waved his hands and spoke.
"No, no, that's not it. Who am I? I am Na Junghae, the master of information trade with 30 years of experience. Do you think someone like me is an incompetent person who can't solve such a trivial and minor problem?"
Intentionally ignoring Bi Ryu-yeon, who was about to nod his head and say "yes," Na Junghae cleared his throat and continued speaking. It wasn't just simple words, but rather a persuasive speech. However, as he was about to deliver his speech, his face suddenly lit up, and his eyes sparkled with an unusual light, indicating that Na Junghae had some other intentions in mind.
"The Ascension Martial Arts Festival is a qualification test for the talented individuals in the martial arts world who want to make their dreams soar by entering Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, currently the top martial arts training institution. The number of participants who take part in this test, which is held once a year, is truly countless. However, the difficulty and rigor of this Ascension Martial Arts Festival are so high that out of the thousands and tens of thousands of participants, only about five hundred manage to overcome this hurdle and become true members of Heavenly Martial Arts Academy. This iron wall is so high and solid that countless people fail even at the first stage of document screening, and the difficulties of the preliminary rounds are needless to say. Among the numerous participants, only a handful of people can actually reach the main stage of the finals and showcase their skills and talents in front of everyone."
Na Junghae demonstratively counted on his fingers. Then, he tidied up his breathing, which had somehow become rough, making it neat again.
"As this is the Ascension Martial Arts Festival, its rules and regulations are extremely strict and rigorous. It is known for being as solid as Mount Tai. So, if you haven't applied by now, long past the application deadline, there is honestly no way to participate in this year's Ascension Martial Arts Festival."
"..."
Up to this point, everything was already known to everyone, so Bi Ryu-yeon was puzzled as to why Na Junghae was bothering to give a long-winded explanation again.
"How·ev·er.….."
Na Junghae particularly emphasized this part, breaking it down syllable by syllable. It was the moment when the most important part of his speech was about to begin. The previous part was just a simple introduction to lead up to the story that was about to start. From now on, it was the real main point.
"That doesn't mean all paths to entering Heavenly Martial Arts Academy are blocked. There is one way to enter Heavenly Martial Arts Academy without going through the Ascension Martial Arts Festival, or that is, the Promotion Martial Arts Festival."
"Is that so?"
At Na Junghae's words that there was a way, Bi Ryu-yeon's eyes began to sparkle with interest. Na Junghae, who had succeeded in arousing the other party's interest and making them focus on his story, continued speaking.
"As you know, the Promotion Martial Arts Festival is a general exam where anyone, whether ordinary people or martial artists of the Gangho, can apply fairly and be tested on their qualifications and abilities. However, apart from this Promotion Martial Arts Festival, Heavenly Martial Arts Academy has a special entrance exam for special people, by special people, and only for special people."
"Oh, what is that? It sounds like a very interesting story."
"Yes, apart from the Promotion Martial Arts Festival, Heavenly Martial Arts Academy reserves a portion of the admission quota for special talents, so-called prodigies or geniuses. It's about giving them privileges that match their talents and abilities. The details are as follows."
Na Junghae began to give a long-winded explanation based on his desperate professionalism.
"This system can be considered a kind of recommendation admission system. It allows the leaders of renowned orthodox sects and the heads of major forces in the Gangho to recommend talented individuals, and with a simple qualification check, those individuals can be admitted to Heavenly Martial Arts Academy. At this time, it is documented in the regulations that the background and sect of the recommended talent are not considered. This is to preserve the original purpose of this system, which is to discover special talents hidden in the Gangho regardless of their background or status. However, this original purpose has been completely lost, and it is hardly being followed in reality. Who would sacrifice the opportunity to gain the glory of producing a Heavenly Martial Arts Academy disciple that could bring honor to their sect? In reality, all one hundred percent of them are recommending disciples belonging to their own sects and forces. But rules are rules, and it is clearly stated in the regulations related to the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy admission system. In principle, it is possible to receive a recommendation from the leader of another sect. However, as this is a special exam, the number of beneficiaries is strictly limited in inverse proportion to the benefits. Only a very small number of sects and forces recognized as first-class by Heavenly Martial Arts Academy are allowed to recommend only one person each. Moreover, the simple qualification screening is not as easy as it sounds, and if Heavenly Martial Arts Academy deems the talent and ability of the recommended individual to be unqualified, they can fail them at any time at their discretion. They are constantly sifting and filtering to distinguish the gems from the stones. So, that door is as narrow as the eye of a needle. Why would any sect give up that spot? This is the biggest problem..."
Na Junghae trailed off his words with a hint of ulterior motives. As expected, Bi Ryu-yeon's reaction was exactly what Na Junghae had hoped for. This simple and straightforward behavioral response was characteristic of Bi Ryu-yeon.
"Is that so? Then we should go directly and settle it peacefully."
Bi Ryu-yeon just kept smiling brightly, whether he knew he was falling for Na Junghae's scheme or not.
"So, which is the closest first-class sect around here? Of course, I mean a sect that has that recommendation qualification. It's bothersome to go far, and it costs a lot, so the closest one in terms of distance would be the best."
Bi Ryu-yeon seemed to be concerned about the expenses and efficiency—a way to make things less bothersome—even in such matters. His attitude suggested that as long as he could increase efficiency, reduce the hassle, and cut costs, the size or power of the sect didn't matter to him at all. Na Junghae was delighted to answer.
"There is only one place that fits those conditions."
"Where is that place?"
"Yes, it is a martial arts villa called 'Tiger Fang Manor (Tiger Fang Manor)' located within Nanchang City."
"Tiger Fang Manor[1]?"
"The owner of that place is a man named Ho Cheon-sang, also known as the Blind Tiger of Hoa. Tiger Fang Manor is a villa he built from the ground up with just a sword, and with his martial prowess alone, it has become a first-class sect in the Gangho. His unique skill, the 26 Forms: Fierce Tiger Flying Strike Sword Art, is said to be so powerful and variable that few in the Gangho can match it."
"What about the distance?"
"Yes, since it is located within Nanchang City, you can reach it in less than two hours on foot."
"Is that so? Then let me know the location."
Even after listening to Na Junghae's lengthy explanation, Bi Ryu-yeon didn't seem to be very impressed.
"The, the location of that place? Don't tell me..."
While acting surprised and trying to stop Bi Ryu-yeon's actions, Na Junghae was inwardly grinning with satisfaction.
"Don't tell me what? Hurry up and tell me."
Na Junghae inwardly shouted with joy. Bi Ryu-yeon was too simple-minded and ignorant, so he easily fell into the net Na Junghae had set up. All of Na Junghae's words and actions up to this point were arranged to lead to this very moment. He had analyzed and grasped Bi Ryu-yeon and Blazing Blade's personalities and behavioral patterns and skillfully led them to produce this result. And as planned, Bi Ryu-yeon fell into the net he had set up without a hitch. Of course, Blazing Blade was also caught in his net along with him.
Although the relationship between the two was still ambiguous, Na Junghae decided to worry about that later. Anyway, it was clear that they were in it together, so that was enough. Now, there was a more important matter at hand.