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0.
While the students felt anticipation for the approaching winter break, the atmosphere remained heavy due to tension over the practical evaluation, which carries the highest weight in the score.
The students who had been in seclusion for a short period came out on time.
Everyone was busy forming teams, looking for people they could work well with.
Of course, those who had finished forming groups to some extent also handled other tasks.
And the most urgent task facing Jin So-un is.
“You did something truly extraordinary at the Black Alliance, Senior Brother.”
“Ahem… It is only natural for a disciple of the Taeeul Sect to do this. Anyway, Ryeonmae, you have grown a lot in such a short time.”
“Ryeonmae…… Ryeonmae…… I told you not to call me by that name!”… …
It was to survive against Sa-ryeon, who had emerged from closed-door training.
“Wait, wait! That’s not bad enough to raise the bet!”
“Die quietly!”
“To tell someone who struggled to return home to die!”
No questions asked!
And so, the day of the strategic and tactical evaluation approached.
“Sa-ryeon… what’s with the expression?”
Namgung Seon-hwa, who had grown much closer while entering secluded training together, looked at Hong Sa-ryeon with concern.
I couldn’t land a single hit.
“huh?”
Namgung Seon-hwa tilted her head.
Then Saryeon let out a deep sigh.
“Senior Brother. He definitely attacked with all his might, but he couldn’t land a single blow… Could it be that my secluded cultivation went wrong?”
Namgung Seon-hwa furrowed her brow.
Hong Sa-ryeon devoted himself to training with terrifying intensity during his short period of seclusion.
Some days, to the point where I forget even the basics of eating and sleeping.
It was a level of concentration Namgung Seon-hwa had never seen before.
As her efforts paid off, Saryeon’s skills improved dramatically in a short period of time.
Even considering the difference in skill levels among the academy students, it was quite hard to understand how Jin So-un hadn’t taken a single hit.
“Are you sure you gave it your all?”
Yes. It was full power.
Saryeon looked as if she were about to burst with rage at any moment, showing just how wronged she felt.
In addition to his duties as the representative, Jin So-un is going back and forth to the Mantong Department to help with work.
Since you even went to the Black Alliance recently, naturally you must have been short on time to train…
It was quite hard to understand how Jin So-un’s skills had improved in the meantime.
at that time.
“Why are you thinking so deeply? He was always someone who defied common sense. Ugh.”
Seongmo-ran spoke as she relaxed her body.
If you try to understand every single thing like that, you’ll end up knowing even less.
What happened?
Seong Moran wore a look of dumbfoundation at Namgung Seonhwa’s question.
“Well, actually, Young Master Jin knew all the weaknesses of the Pasan Sword Technique. On top of that, he even knew the areas for improvement.”
“…….”
“The elders of the sect tried so hard to hide it, yet I wonder how you know every single detail.”
Come to think of it, didn’t Grandfather, the creator of the Divine Sword, also create the Changgungunwi Sword Technique after conversing with Jin So-un?
As Seong Moran said, the more Namgung Seon-hwa tried to understand, the more she felt like she was falling into a labyrinth.
“What were you talking about?”
Just then, Jin So-un, the person involved in the story, appeared with his brothers.
Seong Moran grumbled.
“There are people. The more you get to know them, the more you don’t understand them.”
Jin So-un’s brow furrows with worry.
“……
That sounds quite dangerous. Are you a con artist?
Well, it’s similar.
Seeing Seong Mo-ran stammering, Jin So-un also did not ask any further questions.
Saryeon’s gaze was also scary.
Ahem, anyway, I look forward to working with you.
We are the ones who should be asking for your cooperation.
“There are many disciples of the Taeeulmun; are you really sure you will be okay?”
“Actually, I should be the one asking for a favor. I’m hanging by a thread because of the Wu (戊) evaluation. Seonhwa probably joined Young Master Jin’s group for a similar reason, too. Right?”
“Yes. Actually, I’d like to ask you for a favor. Anyway, I need to get a high score on this practical evaluation to get a higher score than you.”
Jin So-un nodded at the two people’s words.
I will do my best.
Then he glanced at his party.
Geumpyo, Eunho, Dongryong, Saren, Seongmoran, Namgung Seonhwa, Moyong Jaehwa, Eunseolran.
And even Yelu Ke.
Huh? Yelu Ge?
Jin So-un tilted his head and asked Ye Yu-geuk.
“Why are you here?”
“I, I didn’t come in because I wanted to, either!”
Yalu Ke, his face flushed bright red, lashing out with veins bulging in his neck.
Eunho sighed and explained.
“I brought him because there was no one to form a platoon with. We need to make up at least ten of us, too.”
Jin So-un clicked his tongue as if he could see right through it without even looking.
“Ugh, I should have kept my temper under control.”
“Me, I!”
“Okay. I’m starting now.”
After covering the lynx cub’s mouth, Jin So-un looked around the practical evaluation area.
Il-gak and Jang Woo-jae had each formed platoons with their own people and were gathered together.
The instructors and school leaders went back and forth among the students to check the list, and then began distributing flags of the appropriate colors for each camp.
The students who received the flag mobilized every possible method to hide the flag bearer.
“I’ve never envied someone who has mastered fist and foot techniques as much as I do now.”
Doesn’t everything have its pros and cons?
In the strategic and tactical evaluation, inflicting serious injury on the opponent is also a penalty factor.
And this was naturally enough to intimidate those using weapons.
The organizers’ intention is to conduct the evaluation strictly based on strategy and tactics.
“I heard Monk Ilgak formed a squad with members from the Shaolin Temple, right? He was really determined.”
As Seong Moran pouted, Jin So-un slowly shook his head.
“The evaluation results are not determined by whether or not a weapon is held………”
I don’t like it.
“yes?”
Seongmo-ran raised her eyes and shouted.
“Someone who has only received a Grade A evaluation cannot understand the feelings of someone who has received a Grade B evaluation!”
Then, he grabbed the gold marker that was inspecting the equipment and shook it.
“Geumpyo, say something! Your senior brother is so heartless.”
Geumpyo, who had been wearing a blank expression for a moment at Seongmoran’s words, soon spoke with a determined look on his face.
We will definitely receive a good evaluation. Don’t worry.
At this, Seong Moran quietly takes a step back.
Why is he suddenly acting like this again?
Eventually, the students began to eat the Gunjasan one by one in front of the instructors.
It is Gunjasan, created by the Divine Pavilion of the Murim Alliance using a manufacturing method passed down from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
The effects of the medicine last for exactly twelve hours, and during that day, the academy students are unable to use their internal energy at all.
“Ugh… it feels weird no matter when I eat it.”
As Seong Moran frowned, Eunho asked.
Have you ever tried this before?
“Yeah, when I was at the sect. We often had them train by eating Mount Gunja. Because Mount Gunja is the most basic poison that poisons martial artists.”
A look of worry clouded over Eunho’s face, as he had never eaten Mount Gunja and trained before.
Just then, Jin So-un, who had just swallowed Mount Gunja, opened his mouth.
“Just think about the training you did at Taeeulmun. If you retain the sensations from back then, you will be able to adapt quickly.”
Seongmo-ran asked in surprise.
Have you ever practiced training that limited your internal energy?
Jin So-un shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
Taeeulmun was not wealthy enough to save Mount Gunja.
“Haa… Just how far ahead is this guy seeing?
While Seong Moran was grumbling.
Buk Won-pyeong stepped onto the podium. [The strategic and tactical evaluation being held today will be the last of the year. Student council members, do your utmost to finish strong! Now, begin!]
With Buk Won-pyeong’s words as the finale, a signal flare flew up and exploded, and the students began to move in accordance with the colors of their flags. The three small mountain peaks located about an shijin away from the academy originally had no names.
However, at some point, the inhabitants of Muhan began to call the three mountain peaks Hongsan, Cheongsan, and Baeksan, respectively.
As strategic and tactical evaluations had been conducted here for generations, the words of the academy students were passed down and spread even to the residents of Infinite.
“Waaah!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
Those who have formed platoons begin a struggle for hierarchy within their respective Blue, White, and Red armies.
Those whose flags were taken began to take orders from those who had taken them, and sometimes, by agreement, platoons were combined to form a company.
There are still many people watching.
I nodded at Seongmo-ran’s words as she looked around.
“They are probably looking to see which spot is easy first.”
Losing a flag is not the end. Even within that, the number of flags captured before defeat has a critical impact on the evaluation.
Not only the Baekdohoe, Jeongdohoe, and the 12 Peaks, but also those without a power base are desperately searching for platoons weaker than themselves.
We, who were closest to the Red Army camp, slowly moved toward the center.
The fighting within the Red Army has not yet heated up.
Then, a platoon blocked our path.
“CEO.”
They were none other than Jang Woo-jae and his friends.
Are you trying to get eliminated already?
Jang Woo-jae grinned at my question.
“Because being strategically incorporated into a platoon that is certain to win also earns extra points as an excellent tactic.”
Then, are you going to hand over the flag?
Still, shouldn’t we give it a try?
As expected, he’s a guy I like.
I nodded and drew the Black Dragon Sword.
“I guess some very spirited platoon members are coming in.”
At my words, Jang Woo-jae also draws his sword.
Soon, the first power struggle within the Red Army began. Starting with Jang Woo-jae, several Red Army platoons attacked one after another.
Each time, our platoon continued to rack up victories, and seeing our numbers increase with every battle, some platoons within the Red Army reached a strategic agreement to merge with us.
Although more than a company of personnel had not yet attacked all at once, our platoon had to continue fighting against the endless challenge.
“Ugh!”
“Song Mu-yeol, the student at the academy, is eliminated!”
“Kang Cha-sook, student at the academy, eliminated!”
Some began to drop out during the battle due to hitting their physical limits or sustaining severe injuries.
Moving the body without using internal energy was not an easy task for martial artists who had devoted their entire lives to internal energy training.
There were often people who became exhausted after using more strength than their physical capacity allowed, and there were also cases where people were eliminated after inflicting serious injuries on their opponents by expending too much strength.
The good news is that no one in our platoon has dropped out yet.
Just when I thought things were going smoothly.
But that’s a bit strange.
Seongmo-ran looked around and said.
“Why isn’t everyone taking proactive action?”
At her question, Eunho and Moyong Jaehwa climbed onto nearby rocks and trees to survey the surroundings.
I also turned my gaze to look where the Blue and White armies were.
There were places that combined their flags and formed companies, but everyone was merely watching the situation with a wait-and-see attitude.
As Seongmo-ran said, there were no people actively moving.
Considering the time limit, it wouldn’t have been surprising if the atmosphere had heated up a bit, but everyone seemed to have a specific objective and didn’t show much movement. ‘What is it? I feel like something foul smells.’ As if responding to my ominous intuition, Eunho’s voice came from the rock.
“Senior Brother, the Qing army is starting to move.”
Jae’s voice follows immediately as well.
“Brother, the White Army is starting to move as well. But…”
Jaehwa’s face contorts suddenly as he looks at Baeksan.
No one is fighting.
We are heading straight to Hongsan.
Unexpected movement.
“What’s your ulterior motive?”
The personnel of the Blue and White armies move simultaneously.
At a time when even fighting shoulder to shoulder wouldn’t have been enough, they were coming to Hongsan in an orderly fashion, far from fighting.
We are almost at Hongsan.
“What on earth are they doing!”
Geumpyo, gripping his shield tightly from the side, reports in a low voice.
Even the Red Army does not wield swords.
“What on earth are these bastards up to…?”
Whoosh
The Red Army personnel scattered across Hongshan begin to open the way.
Thanks to that, the personnel of the Blue and White armies were climbing Hongsan without any hindrance.
“Brother… those bastards aren’t coming this way, are they?”
Moyong Jaehwa wearing a look of disbelief.
However, none of our group responded to his concerns.
No, there was no need to answer.
“Damn it, fuck it…….”
Because the Blue and White platoons were marching unhindered toward exactly where our platoon was located.
