Myth of Martial Arts - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11
“Jang Wook, shall we be heading out, then?”

Jang Wook came back to himself and looked Mu Jin over, his eyes suddenly lighting up. He rolled his eyes once, then let a gentle smile spread across his face.

“Mu Jin, Patriarch Mu! I’m sure you’ve noticed as well, but doesn’t our academy have far too few students?”
“Jang Wook, if you have any instructions, please just tell me.”

In front of Jang Wook, Mu Jin did not dare to call himself Patriarch Mu.

“Very well, then I’ll be frank. Changung Academy needs more students. But it wouldn’t look right for me, as director, to step forward myself… so I need your help.”

Jang Wook smiled and looked at Mu Jin.

“You’re the head of the Mu Clan, so you know far more people than I do, and your influence is greater. A few words from you, and we could recruit a considerable number of students for Changung Academy.”
“That’s…”

Frankly, Mu Jin wanted to refuse.

To him, Changung Academy was a huge rice cake, and naturally he had no wish to share it with anyone else.

But he knew it too: this was not something he could stop. Even if he refused, Jang Wook could easily recruit students through other channels.

If that was the case, it was better to take on the task himself, winning Jang Wook’s favor and seizing the initiative in the process.

Countless thoughts flickered through his mind before Mu Jin finally gave a resolute nod.

“If you place your trust in me, leave this matter to me!”
“Don’t rush. I have one more requirement. It’s this… you must recruit seven students within two days.”

Jang Wook said it in an unhurried tone.

Never put all your eggs in one basket. Jang Wook couldn’t pin all his hopes on Mu Jin alone.

The System had demanded three days, so he demanded two, keeping one day in reserve. Even if this old man interfered behind his back, he wanted to leave himself at least some room to maneuver.

Afternoon. Jang Wook kept Mu Muk behind and passed on the art of Pill Crafting.

Mu Muk had never once touched pill crafting, so when Jang Wook told him he had a talent for it, he could hardly believe his ears.

“You say I have a talent for pill crafting?”

Alchemists held a lofty station. And now there was a chance he might become one himself.

The sheer shock left Mu Muk’s head a little muddled.

Watching Mu Muk grow excited, Jang Wook let out a silent sigh.

‘Ultimately, the Imperial City is too small and remote. If Mu Muk had been born in Hamdan City, the capital of Jujo, this talent for elixirs would have been discovered long ago.’

The Imperial City was nothing but a backwater on the edge of Jujo. Strong cultivators rarely came through, and an Alchemist as rare as a panda was rarer still.

Composing himself, Jang Wook explained the basics of elixirs to Mu Muk, then had him watch the pill crafting from the side.

Just then, the System’s mechanical voice rang out.

“The System has detected that the Host is teaching Pill Crafting. A quest is now being issued.”

【Main Quest 5: Cultivate one One-Star Alchemist】

【A great academy must unearth its students’ potential, nurture them in the most proper direction, and ensure that every student can fully exert their particular talents.】

【Quest Reward: Two-Star Elixir Refinement Technique】

【Quest Time Limit: 1 month】

【Quest Failure: No penalty】

Jang Wook heard the System’s voice, but he did not let his focus scatter. When refining pills, he had to concentrate with his whole being.

Mu Muk watched Jang Wook refining in deep concentration, and was astonished beyond words.

‘Jang Wook is an Alchemist?!’

Even a One-Star Alchemist, the lowest of the rank, held a lofty and untouchable status.

That someone as formidable as Jang Wook was also an Alchemist left Mu Muk utterly stunned.
* * *
The Im Family was one of the second-tier clans of the Imperial City.

Though it could not compare to the Five Great Top Forces, namely the Mu Clan, the City Lord’s Administration, the Gold Response Sect, Sinwang Academy, and Unsan Academy, it was still a power not to be taken lightly.

The Im Family’s patriarch was a Gyeseon Realm 8th Stage expert, and because of his close friendship with Mu Jin, the Mu Clan’s patriarch, even top forces like the City Lord’s Administration and Sinwang Academy did not dare to provoke the Im Family.

The rear garden of the Im Residence had a bamboo grove, and beside the grove lay a small lake.

Now, a boy who looked about sixteen sat by the lakeside, fishing. On his still-immature face hovered a self-deprecating smile.

“One more month and I’ll turn sixteen.”

The boy raised his head to gaze at the sky, his eyes heavy with deep regret and resentment.

“Once I turn sixteen, they’ll send me off to East Street… to become a shop clerk!”

He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingers began to turn blue.

“A shop clerk! Ugh… it’s so unfair!”

For ordinary people, even landing a clerk’s post for life would be cause for celebration, but how could someone who had witnessed the world’s tumultuous turns be content with a petty shop job?

The word “clerk” had become a great laughingstock to everyone in the Im Family.

The Im Family had prospered in the Imperial City for several hundred years, rich in talent and deep in foundation.

But those who lacked talent to an extreme degree and were utterly abandoned by the clan were sent to shops to become clerks.

In the end, every shop clerk in the Im Family’s stores was an outcast, someone cast far from the clan’s heart.

So this boy would be neither the first to be sent off as a clerk nor the last.

“One month. I can enjoy my last month of leisure.”

The boy fell silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. His young face bore a melancholy that did not suit his age.

Just then, a mocking voice sounded from behind him.

“Well, well. Our clerk Im Myeong is brooding over his life again?”

Im Myeong did not turn around. He could tell who it was from that familiar voice alone.

“Say what you have to say quickly, and if you’ve got any crap to spout, spout it fast.”

Im Myeong said calmly, still holding the fishing rod.

“What’s with the big act? You’ve spent four years cultivating and still haven’t reached Gyeseon Realm 1st Stage. What’s a washed-up good-for-nothing like you got to strut about for?”

Im Sam scoffed, then mocked him again.

“Ah, my mistake. Im Myeong, the future head clerk, huh? I’d better stay on your good side from now on. Who knows, maybe you’ll give me a discount when I buy something at your shop someday.”

Im Myeong tossed the fishing rod aside, got to his feet, and looked Im Sam straight in the eye.

“Is it really that fun, flaunting your superiority over a good-for-nothing?”

He had heard mockery like that countless times before, so it didn’t stir so much as a ripple inside him.

Sensing Im Myeong’s composure, Im Sam lost interest, twisted the corner of his mouth, and spoke.

“Enough. I can’t be bothered talking to you any longer. The Patriarch wants you in the Meeting Hall right now.”
“The Meeting Hall? There’s still a full month left. Why does he want me now?”

Im Myeong furrowed his brow, his eyes showing puzzlement.

Im Sam shrugged his shoulders.

“How would I know? Probably so you can get a taste of life as a shopkeeper ahead of time!”

Im Myeong automatically filtered out Im Sam’s barbed remarks and, lost in thought, walked straight toward the Meeting Hall.
* * *
When Im Myeong arrived at the Meeting Hall, it stood empty, with only the Patriarch inside.

The Im Family’s Patriarch was a silver-haired old man called Im Jeon.

By blood, Im Myeong should have called him ‘Second Grandfather.’

That was because Im Myeong’s paternal grandfather had been Im Jeon’s elder brother.

“You’re here.”

Im Jeon turned and gave Im Myeong a brief once-over.

Regret flickered across his eyes.

The Im Family had no shortage of talent, but refined descendants like this one were hard to find, even in pairs.

There was no doubt that, in terms of character alone, few in the entire Im Family could surpass Im Myeong.

It was a pity, though, that his Inborn Talent was so lacking.

Im Myeong quietly endured Im Jeon’s scrutiny and bowed respectfully.

“Patriarch. You summoned me?”

Im Jeon nodded, stroked his long beard, and asked:

“Im Myeong, have you ever resented me?”
“Resented you? Why would I?”

Im Myeong looked at Im Jeon with a puzzled expression.

“It’s because I won’t give you the chance to keep training. I’m sending you off to become the proprietor of a shop on East Street.”

Im Jeon broached the sensitive subject without hesitation.

“It isn’t resentment, exactly. I just… can’t help but feel a little regret.”

But Im Myeong shook his head as he answered. At that, Im Jeon asked, “What do you mean by that?”

“What do you mean?”
“I know my own talent better than anyone. If I keep training, I’ll only waste my time. Maybe a faint hope would linger in some corner of my mind, but in the end, I’d have to face reality.”

Though he was young, Im Myeong’s wisdom was remarkable.

“It’s better to find another path now than to regret it after hitting a wall. The clan head has blocked my path to cultivation, but he’s also opened another road for me. At the very least, I’ll be able to live comfortably from now on, with no worries about food, clothing, or shelter.”

Even an abandoned child of the Im Family was far better off than an ordinary person.

On the other hand, if not for the Im Family, he would have been worse off than a beggar on the street.

So by what right could he resent anyone?

A self-deprecating smile spread across Im Myeong’s lips as he finished.

“Besides… someone has to manage this vast family business of the Im Family, don’t they?”

Im Jeon smiled and looked at Im Myeong.

“In that case… what if I gave you one more chance?”

At these words, Im Myeong jerked his head up. His calm heart began to churn in an instant, like a massive boulder dropped into a pool of water.

“There’s no point hiding it now. This afternoon, the head of the Mu Clan came to see me.”

Im Jeon continued slowly.

“You surely know what Changung Academy is like. Will you go to Changung Academy, become a student, and face a destiny no one can foresee? Or will you quietly become a shop proprietor a month from now? The choice is yours.”

Going to Changung Academy might change his fate, but the more likely outcome was that he would achieve nothing, waste his time, and live in poverty for the rest of his life.

Becoming a shop manager would guarantee a wealthy life for the rest of his days, with no need to worry about survival.

Im Myeong lifted his head and drew in a deep breath of air. As though he had swallowed every bit of air around him, his voice came out slightly hoarse.

“I’ll go to Changung Academy!”

That’s right. Changung Academy had fallen into ruin over the years and held nothing, yet Im Myeong could not bring himself to let go of his attachment to it.

Even if that hope was as faint as dust, it was the only hope he had.

Im Jeon nodded and said,

“Good. Go and register at Changung Academy tomorrow. I’ll send someone of my own to manage the shop.”

Then he patted Im Myeong’s shoulder and went on.

“I respect your choice. But whether it turns out well or badly, you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself.”
* * *
The next day.

Eight young people arrived at Changung Academy early that morning.

The eight of them were a mix of men and women, drawn from different clans and dressed in different fashions, yet they shared one thing in common.

Their innate talent was, quite simply, dismal.

The oldest among them was about twenty, while the youngest could not have been more than fourteen or fifteen.

Yet regardless of age, not one of them emitted so much as a single thread of True Energy.

In other words, none of them had even crossed the threshold of cultivation. The only thing they could boast of, compared to ordinary people, was their exalted status.

As their clothing made plain, they were all born into wealthy or noble families, and their backgrounds were not to be taken lightly.

Im Myeong, the discarded son of the Im Family, was among them.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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