Absolute Warrior V2C3: The Labyrinth
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
After the second test was completed, food was served. The remaining one hundred candidates were all smiles, relieved to have cleared another hurdle.
Considering that there were about a thousand candidates at the beginning of the exam, this meant that nine hundred highly skilled unorthodox martial artists had been eliminated in just half a day. Those who had failed to pass the first test but survived were the lucky ones. Of those who failed the second test, many had died, and the rest were severely injured.
"Hahaha! I just knew you would pass too!" Soh Bung laughed casually, strolling over to Crimson Tiger's table with his food tray.
That's my line, Crimson Tiger wanted to say, but he held himself back. Of all the candidates, he was most wary of Soh Bung. From experience, reckless troublemakers like Eum Sagwon weren't much of a threat. Those who smiled cordially while stabbing someone with a hidden dagger were far more dangerous.
Suddenly, Soh Bung put his bowl back down on the table, scowling. "Yuck. This tastes like shit."
As he had said, the food was truly terrible. The watery soup and dry rice seemed like a warning of the hardships to come.
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Crimson Tiger nodded, but ate in silence despite the appalling taste. During his training to become one of the Twelve Phantoms, there were times when he went without food altogether. He had even once survived on water alone for ten days in a desert where there was nothing to hunt. Compared to that, this was a lavish feast.
Besides, it was wiser to eat well whenever possible. Hunger tended to make people careless and emotional.
Seeing Crimson Tiger slurping his soup, Soh Bung grimaced. "Woah! How can you swallow that?"
"I have cheap tastes."
"You don't look like that sort."
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He's right. Crimson Tiger winced inwardly, struck by the sudden realization that he had unconsciously slipped up. The face he wore right now belonged to someone who had lived a rather privileged life, so he needed to adjust his behavior accordingly.
"Do you want to eat mine too?" Soh Bung asked, pushing his tray forward.
Fortunately, he seemed oblivious to Crimson Tiger's blunder.
"I'll pass," Crimson Tiger replied, shaking his head.
"……" Soh Bung paused for a moment, then took his tray back.
Crimson Tiger's eyes flickered. He doesn't look like a noble, but he acts exactly like one. Meanwhile, I'm the exact opposite. How ironic.
"…Anyway, I'm surprised that so many people passed," Soh Bung grumbled, glancing around. He counted exactly ninety-seven people left. Eighty-five men and twelve women.
Crimson Tiger nodded. He had already examined all the candidates. It was an old habit.
When surrounded by too many people, most would gloss over the details, but he never allowed himself to do that. Procrastination almost always led to regret later, so the more difficult and annoying the situation, the more meticulous he became.
Among the candidates, four individuals caught his attention. The first two were, naturally, the vicious Eum Sagwon and the suspicious Soh Bung.
The third was the young master he had noticed during the first exam. While he didn't act particularly suspicious, his martial prowess clearly stood out.
The last was a woman with dark skin, fierce eyes, and a whip sword wrapped around her waist. She sat quietly in a corner, and judging from her aura, she was definitely hiding her true strength.
There were a few other exceptional individuals as well, but nowhere near as much as these four. They seemed to be about equal in strength, but he couldn't be sure if any of them were hiding their abilities like he was.
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CRASH!
Suddenly, the sound of a porcelain bowl shattering echoed across the hall.
Eum Sagwon had kicked a man's bowl, deliberately picking a fight, but even then, no one stepped up to stop him or berate him.
That fueled his arrogance.
Before he could open his mouth, however, Soh Bung exclaimed, "What the fuck was that for?"
"Who was that?!" Eum Sagwon whirled around, and his gaze ultimately landed on Crimson Tiger. Remembering that this was the man who had irritated him during the earlier tests, he swaggered over.
"I don't think I can eat this stuff…" Soh Bung mumbled as he sneakily snuck away.
As soon as Eum Sagwon reached Crimson Tiger, he kicked his bowl without a word, sending it flying and smashing it to pieces.
"Fufufu…" Eum Sagwon sneered at Crimson Tiger, as if asking if he would tolerate this.
Crimson Tiger slowly stood up, and Eum Sagwon glared at him as if ready to devour him. Everyone immediately turned to watch them, their curiosity piqued, but Crimson Tiger simply walked over to another table in silence.
"Coward," Eum Sagwon snarled, narrowing his eyes.
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Crimson Tiger took a seat at the woman's table. Their eyes met, and her slight smile contained a hint of interest.
Though fleeting, Eum Sagwon did not miss that exchange. "Heh. Have you two fallen in love?" he teased, strutting over to the woman, eager to make a scene.
Crimson Tiger didn't bother stopping the psycho. There was no need for him to worry about the woman. Even though she and Eum Sagwon gave off similar levels of aura, he was quite sure that if they fought, the woman would win.
"What's your name?" Eum Sagwon demanded, standing in front of the woman.
"……" The woman said nothing.
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Eum Sagwon grinned. This was the reaction he had been waiting for. Slowly raising his foot as if threatening to kick the woman in the head, he warned, "I know just how to deal with uncooperative bitches like you."
The woman stared at Crimson Tiger, her eyes asking if he really wouldn't help her, but neither he nor anyone else made a move to intervene.
Rather, Crimson Tiger turned away, pretending to panic while secretly preparing himself to take action. If things escalated, he might have to save Eum Sagwon.
Right as Eum Sagwon's foot was about to touch the woman's face…
"Stop!"
Eum Sagwon lowered his foot and spun around. "Who's yapping now?"
The young master stepped forward. "Me."
"……" Eum Sagwon hesitated. There was something about this young master that warranted caution. Was it his dignified manner?
"Eum Sagwon. A fool who's riding on his master's fame."
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Eum Sagwon scowled. "How dare you insult my Master, pretty boy? Do you want to die?"
The young master chuckled. "As if One Slash Ten Kills is all that great!"
Eum Sagwon lunged at him, and the two men began trading blows.
POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! BAM!
After about thirty exchanges, the young master's fist slammed into Eum Sagwon's jaw.
Eum Sagwon was sent rolling across the floor, but he quickly jumped back to his feet. Since there was no qi in that punch, his jaw wasn't broken.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked cautiously. He was vicious and cruel, but he wasn't stupid enough to pick a fight with someone stronger than himself.
"Yong Hajin," the young master replied.
Eum Sagwon's eyes immediately widened in shock, and many others in the hall gasped.
"Yong Hajin? The son of the Bloody Asura Commander, Yong Cheonse?"
Although there were several prodigies named Yong Hajin in the vast jianghu, only one person could defeat Eum Sagwon so quickly.
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"Indeed. I am that Yong Hajin."
"Why are you here?" Eum Sagwon asked, baffled. Yong Cheonse was more famous than his own master, and rumors claimed that Yong Hajin was a rising young prodigy. He had no reason to join the Nine Ironblood Brigades. Whether it was connections or skill, he should have gone to the Bloody Asura Corps instead.
"Like my father, I do not wish to take the easy way out in life," Yong Hajin declared resolutely.
Eum Sagwon gritted his teeth. He was only here because he had been sold out by his master, who had accidentally murdered a captain of the Evil Coalition. Unable to tolerate his master's attempt to reconcile with the Coalition by handing him over, he was now lashing out in defiance.
"So you're saying that joining the Nine Ironblood Brigades is the hard way for you? What a joke," he scoffed.
"Everyone who joins the Nine Ironblood Brigades leaves their past behind. Don't you know that?" Yong Hajin argued.
"Do you seriously think your father's influence won't affect anything, you privileged brat?"
Yong Hajin released a hint of killing intent. "Take that back. Before I tear apart that filthy mouth of yours."
Sneering, Eum Sagwon rubbed his jaw, then shot a death glare at Crimson Tiger and the woman. "Shut up, you have no right to order anyone around. Fufufu!"
Struck by a sudden realization, the crowd's admiration for Yong Hajin quickly turned to disappointment. Only four people would pass this exam, and now one spot was all but guaranteed to go to Yong Hajin, given his skills and background.
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Ignoring Eum Sagwon, Yong Hajin approached the woman. "Are you alright?"
The woman nodded. "Thank you."
Yong Hajin turned to Crimson Tiger next. "Hey, why didn't you help her?"
"I'm not confident of winning against Eum Sagwon."
"I thought you were quite impressive during the background checks, but you only use your wits for your own benefit, huh?" Yong Hajin leered, annoyed.
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Whether it was Crimson Tiger's nonchalance or the way the woman continued to gaze at Crimson Tiger despite the fact that he had basically just ditched her, all of it got on his nerves.
It was a mistake to intervene. He should have just left them alone.
Even so, leaving quietly now was too embarrassing. Turning to the watching crowd, Yong Hajin shouted, "We may be competitors, but we're also allies who must fight the Association together! Let's at least show each other some basic respect!"
Several people applauded in agreement.
Finally feeling somewhat appeased, Yong Hajin returned to his seat.
Meanwhile, Soh Bung quietly slipped back beside Crimson Tiger. "I think she likes you," he whispered.
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"What do you mean?"
Soh Bung tilted his chin toward the woman, who had been staring at Crimson Tiger the whole time.
Noticing the attention, she quickly looked away.
Soh Bung narrowed his eyes. "Hmm… Women really do seem to fall for bad boys."
"Are you calling me a bad boy?"
"Of course." Soh Bung nodded toward Yong Hajin. "Just look at the face of that poor fool who lost the cockfight."
"……" Crimson Tiger stiffened. For a moment, he almost joked that he wasn't a cock, but a tiger.
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He had dropped his guard and nearly revealed too much. If Soh Bung had approached him on purpose, then he was far shrewder than he appeared.
"You're mistaken. I'm just a coward," he finally replied.
"Cowards never admit they're cowards. That's what makes them cowards."
"Then what kind of person are you?"
Soh Bung grinned. "I'm a real man overflowing with hidden charms."
Crimson Tiger shook his head. Even now, he still couldn't get a good read on Soh Bung.
Just then, an examiner announced, "End of meal!"
Most of the candidates had already eaten, and those who hadn't were too distracted by the commotion to care about the terrible food anyway.
Wol Seongcheon entered the hall and gave them another chance to withdraw. The tests had claimed dozens of lives already, proving that this offer was no mere formality, but still no one backed down.
Seeing their determination, Wol Seongcheon, who had been treating them like trash, finally changed his tone. "As you know, the Nine Ironblood Brigades are the pride of our organization. Once you become a part of it, you'll gain wealth and fame. Do your best until the very end."
While the Nine Ironblood Brigades took on some of the most dangerous missions in the Coalition, their ordinary members were treated better than the captains of most other groups. Moreover, the current era was a peaceful one, making life in the Brigades safer than it would be during wartime.
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"Alright, let's move."
Everyone stood and walked outside, where about twenty wagons were waiting. Two instructors sat on each driver's bench.
"Everyone, get in!"
Crimson Tiger climbed into one of the wagons, followed by Soh Bung, the woman, an evilly grinning Eum Sagwon, and Yong Hajin. Soh Bung and the woman sat beside Crimson Tiger, Eum Sagwon sat across from them, and Yong Hajin took the last seat next to Eum Sagwon.
The wagon set off.
For a long time, no one spoke.
Unable to bear the tension, Soh Bung broke the silence. "Since we all got on the same wagon, how about we get to know each other? I'm Soh Bung."
"Bang Soso," the woman said without hesitation, though she seemed to be talking to Crimson Tiger rather than Soh Bung.
Yong Hajin frowned in irritation. Although he wasn't particularly attracted to Bang Soso, he didn't like the way she kept staring at Crimson Tiger.
Similarly, Eum Sagwon traced a finger across his neck while staring at Crimson Tiger.
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"I'm Yang Hyeon," Crimson Tiger said, narrowing his eyes.
It seemed that Eum Sagwon had decided to kill him, but the madman wasn't the only one he had to watch out for. First of all, there were only two people with known backgrounds on the wagon: Yong Hajin and Eum Sagwon. Although he couldn't trust them, it was at least possible to find some information about them.
Soh Bung and Bang Soso, on the other hand, were complete mysteries.
He couldn't afford to let his guard down at any time. Spies and backstabbers were everywhere.
"You don't belong here," Eum Sagwon said suddenly.
Crimson Tiger glanced at him.
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"You pretend to be harmless, but your eyes are different," Eum Sagwon continued.
Soh Bung chimed in, "Yes, compared to all the passionate people here, he looks kind of detached, doesn't he?"
"Hey, who's your master?" Eum Sagwon asked coldly.
Crimson Tiger remained silent.
"…I'll find out eventually."
Crimson Tiger scoffed inwardly. The Mystery Pavilion wouldn't give him a traceable identity, so it didn't matter how hard this madman tried. He wouldn't find anything.
Soh Bung sighed, "I heard they'll choose four people this time… So even if four of us here pass, one will end up being kicked out, huh?"
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Eum Sagwon sneered. "Dream on!"
Soh Bung looked at Eum Sagwon, then at Yong Hajin, then at Bang Soso, and lastly at Crimson Tiger.
"Sigh, I really doubt I'll make it."
Crimson Tiger disagreed, but said nothing. He felt that Soh Bung had the best chance, followed by Bang Soso, then Yong Hajin. Despite acting tough, Eum Sagwon was actually the least likely to pass.
It was intriguing. There were only five of them here, yet they were all strong contenders.
Is it really just a coincidence?
A faint uneasiness weighed on his mind.
After about an hour of travel, when night had fallen, the wagons came to a halt at the base of a mountain.
"Everyone, get out!" Wol Seongcheon shouted. "There are exactly twenty Ascension Flags hidden on that mountain. If you return here with a flag, you pass. There are no other rules. Begin!"
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The next test, in which only one in five could pass, began.
A bloody battle raged in the murky gloom. The flags gave everyone a motive, and the obscurity of darkness brought out their hidden malevolence.
Some flags were easy to find, while others were hidden in hard-to-reach places, like at the top of a giant tree.
Needless to say, heated fights broke out over the easily found flags. All of the remaining candidates had come this far at the expense of many others, so they had no qualms about killing each other.
Despite the intermittent screaming in the distance, Crimson Tiger strolled leisurely through the forest. The surroundings were pitch black, but he could clearly distinguish the objects around him.
Halfway up the mountain, he found a flag. As he approached the flag, however, a vague figure appeared from the opposite direction.
Crimson Tiger squinted his eyes to make out the person's features, and as the moon emerged from behind the clouds, he realized that it was Yong Hajin.
"Fancy meeting you here," Yong Hajin greeted with a smile.
Did he follow me on purpose? Crimson Tiger wondered, aware that Yong Hajin didn't have a favorable impression of him because of Bang Soso.
He took a step forward, making it clear that he had no intention of giving up the flag. He didn't want to stay in this accursed place, where people exchanged pleasantries and then swung their swords at each other without hesitation, any longer than absolutely necessary.
Although he had gone through far more hellish training than this in the past, at least it didn't involve stabbing his comrades in the back. The way the Evil Coalition conducted the tests did not sit well with him.
He wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.
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"Greed breeds disaster. Find another flag while I'm still being nice," Yong Hajin warned, approaching Crimson Tiger slowly.
Soon, the two men stood close enough to touch each other's swords, with the flag between them.
"You will regret being stubborn," Yong Hajin added icily.
Crimson Tiger shrugged. "I'm lazy."
"Then shall I help you fix that bad habit of yours?"
Yong Hajin unsheathed his sword, and Crimson Tiger followed suit, drawing his sword with exactly half the speed and strength of his true abilities. This was the level of skill that Crimson Tiger had set for Yang Hyeon.
CLANG! CLANG!
Crimson Tiger parried Yong Hajin's sword, then used the momentum to thrust his own blade at the young master's chest. Yong Hajin immediately blocked, but the unexpected weight behind the blow sent him stumbling backward.
"Not bad," Yong Hajin remarked, even though his wrist ached as if it were about to break. Still, he refused to admit that Crimson Tiger was much more than just 'not bad.'
Crimson Tiger's response to Yong Hajin's comment was simply to press the attack. Unable to withstand the intense pressure, Yong Hajin took several steps back to create some distance, but to his surprise, Crimson Tiger promptly abandoned his offensive and instead grabbed the flag.
Killing intent surged in Yong Hajin's eyes. "You're asking to be killed!" he shouted, lunging forward once more.
This time, his swings were much faster, and he no longer pulled his punches, unleashing his most deadly techniques.
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CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks flew, lighting up the darkness as the two men's swords clashed.
After about twenty exchanges, Yong Hajin found himself gritting his teeth. He had expected Crimson Tiger to be somewhat skilled, but not to the extent that he would struggle to win.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
As time passed, Yong Hajin grew more and more anxious. No matter how he struck, Crimson Tiger always deflected his attacks smoothly and perfectly.
Finally, the two combatants paused and fell back to catch their breaths.
Yong Hajin's face contorted in pain. His arm felt as if it were about to fall off.
"Let's finish the duel later. At this rate, there won't be any other flags left to find," he said, glaring at Crimson Tiger.
He was forced to acknowledge Crimson Tiger's strength. No matter who ultimately won, the battle would surely take a long time. However, if he was eliminated here, he would have to face his father's wrath.
It would be more efficient to just find another flag before the time limit.
"One day, you will bow down to me," he declared, reluctantly disappearing into the darkness.
Crimson Tiger chuckled. "At least he's not a complete idiot."
He quickly descended the mountain amid the sounds of clashing weapons. As he approached the base of the mountain, though, he paused. Beyond the bushes in front of him, someone was exuding an intense killing intent.
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He stepped cautiously through the bushes, only to witness Eum Sagwon stab a man in the side, search his body, and take his flag.
Eum Sagwon looked up. His eyes met Crimson Tiger's, and he grinned darkly.
Crimson Tiger immediately understood Eum Sagwon's intention. Judging from the fact that the madman's clothes were drenched in blood and several flags were sticking out of his pockets, he was hiding here to ambush anyone with a flag.
The lunatic wasn't just aiming to pass the test. He was thoroughly enjoying this opportunity for sanctioned murder.
"Fufu, you've walked right into my trap." Eum Sagwon chuckled as he approached Crimson Tiger.
Crimson Tiger focused all his senses and scanned his surroundings. When he had confirmed that there was no one else around, he calmly walked towards Eum Sagwon.
Eum Sagwon scoffed. "I will fillet you like a fish!"
Crimson Tiger sighed inwardly, annoyed by the baseless resentment. It seemed that Eum Sagwon was the type who couldn't control his anger and took it out on random people.
Lunging forward, Eum Sagwon unleashed his ultimate technique at lightning speed. Three consecutive slashes targeted Crimson Tiger's vitals faster than the eye could see, but Crimson Tiger effortlessly dodged the deadly blows by swaying his body from side to side.
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"W-What?" Eum Sagwon gasped, dumbstruck. His master had once dodged his attacks in similar fashion, but Crimson Tiger's movements were so fluid and natural that his mind blanked out.
SWOOSH! SWISH! WHOOSH!
This time, it was Crimson Tiger's sword that sliced through the air three times. No longer bothering to hide his skill, Crimson Tiger's first strike severed Eum Sagwon's arm, the second cleaved him at the waist, and the third pierced his heart.
Unbelievably, each wound was inflicted with a different style of swordsmanship.
Eum Sagwon was already dead, but Crimson Tiger didn't stop attacking. Before Eum Sagwon's corpse could even hit the ground, he quickly pulled out throwing knives from his chest holster and ruthlessly stabbed Eum Sagwon's right chest in rapid succession, then punched him in the forehead.
CRACK!
Eum Sagwon's skull shattered, and the corpse finally crumpled to the ground.
Crimson Tiger carefully inspected his handiwork. Right now, Eum Sagwon's body was covered in wounds that looked like they were inflicted by five different people. Even if the examiners examined the body later, they would never think that these wounds were the work of a single person.
Nodding in satisfaction, he searched Eum Sagwon's body and discovered six flags.
He ambushed and killed six people here.
"…Be thankful that I even left your corpse intact," Crimson Tiger spat in disgust, scattering the flags randomly and walking away.
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The results of the third test were announced at daybreak. There were more casualties than expected. Out of the hundred people who went up the mountain, forty had lost their lives, and more than twenty were injured.
Naturally, Eum Sagwon was among the dead.
"Eum Sagwon is dead? Just who killed him?" Soh Bung asked incredulously.
Going by his lackadaisical attitude, one might think that he hadn't even gotten close to a flag, but he had managed to get one. In addition, Bang Soso and Yong Hajin had also secured flags.
Crimson Tiger pretended not to notice Yong Hajin glaring at him and focused on Wol Seongcheon and the examiners, who appeared quite flustered by Eum Sagwon's death.
It must be because of his master, Pung Yang.
Eun Sagwon's master, Pung Yang, was known to be violent and hot-tempered. There was no way that man would let the death of his disciple go unpunished.
Wol Seongcheon sighed, shaking his head. This is a mess.
He carefully examined Eum Sagwon's corpse. Judging from the many wounds on the madman's body, he had died from a gang attack. Considering what Eum Sagwon had done, it was likely that several people with a grudge against him had ambushed him. He only had himself to blame for his death.
Wol Seongcheon looked at the remaining forty candidates with a grim expression. The culprits must be among them, but he couldn't make a special case out of Eum Sagwon's death.
"We will continue with the final test tomorrow, so rest well today. Good work, everyone."
A small cheer went up from the candidates who had obtained flags.
Those who failed had to return home immediately, but at least they were alive. Except for the four who would be chosen, no one knew how many of the final twenty would survive the last test.
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"All those who passed, follow me!"
An examiner led the twenty passing candidates to a campsite at the foot of the mountain.
Walking side by side, Soh Bung glanced at Crimson Tiger. "Was it you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Eum Sagwon. Did you kill him?"
Crimson Tiger shook his head firmly. "I didn't even run into him."
"Hmm…" Soh Bung stared at him suspiciously.
"You did it, didn't you?" Crimson Tiger asked.
Soh Bung jumped back. "How could I?! Why are you accusing an innocent man?"
"How does it feel to be falsely accused?"
"Not great, hahaha." Soh Bung burst into laughter.
Crimson Tiger shook his head. Soh Bung was an unpredictable character.
Meanwhile, he could sense Yong Hajin and Bang Soso following behind him. Although no one had decided on it, they naturally formed a group.
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"This year is fucked. Even if we pass the test, we're in deep shit," Soh Bung remarked.
"What do you mean?" Yong Hajin asked.
"Do you think Eum Sagwon's master, Pung Yang, will just let this go? He's famous for his arrogance. Do you think he will just ignore the fact that his disciple was ganged up on and killed? No, he will definitely try to avenge his disciple. Then who will be the target? The examiners? No way! No matter how brazen Pung Yang is, he won't dare confront the Evil Coalition directly."
"Are you saying that he'll try to take revenge on the four people who pass this exam?" Crimson Tiger asked.
Soh Bung nodded. "Wouldn't he assume the culprit is among them? He'll think that only those with their level of skill could have killed his disciple."
Yong Hajin and Bang Soso nodded in agreement. Soh Bung's words made sense.
Only Crimson Tiger disagreed. "I think the opposite."
"What?"
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"If we don't get chosen this time, we will die."
The three exchanged puzzled looks, not understanding what Crimson Tiger meant.
"What makes you think Pung Yang can do whatever he wants to new recruits of the Nine Ironblood Brigades? The Brigade will definitely protect its new members. That's why, in the end, the target of Pung Yang's wrath will be those who fail this test, especially if he is as petty and narrow-minded as the rumors say."
"Oh! You're right. I wasn't thinking straight." Soh Bung clapped his hands in admiration, then clutched his head in despair. "Gasp! Then we have to pass! Well, it would be great if the four of us passed together."
Yong Hajin scoffed, but he glanced at Bang Soso out of the corner of his eye. Normally, he wouldn't even spare a glance for someone with her looks, but he was jealous because she seemed to be interested in Crimson Tiger. It made him feel inferior.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Crimson Tiger was the one who had snatched his flag.
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"Tomorrow is the final test! Get plenty of rest until then!" the examiner shouted.
"HAAAAH! YAH!"
Powerful shouts echoed across the training ground as more than twenty men and women swung their swords in unison. Even their smallest movements revealed that they were first-rate masters, yet they swung their swords without using any qi.
This strength and endurance training had been going on for three hours without a single break. Sweat poured from the trainees' bodies like rain, and their legs wobbled as if they were about to keel over.
Yet, no one fell. The trainees simply gritted their teeth, their eyes burning with fierce determination. After all, this was the training ground for the Twelve Phantoms.
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A short, muscular middle-aged man stood in front of the group. He was Instructor Hwang, the head instructor for the Twelve Phantoms.
"Faint and you die! Give up and you also die!" Instructor Hwang shouted.
The grunts of effort grew louder.
"The Association is spending a fortune to train you, so you better not turn out to be half-baked weaklings! You are all martial arts masters, so you should know this better than anyone else. You know how terrifying those who wield sword qi and enhanced sword qi are. Out there, you will face such people every day. If you can't even survive this level of training, you're already dead. You will be brutally murdered, your corpses riddled with wounds. So don't die in shame, die training here instead!"
The trainees clenched their jaws at Instructor Hwang's harsh words.
"Humans may betray you, but training never will! Remember, in the end, the only one who can save you is yourself!"
"Yes, sir!" The trainees shouted determinedly.
Just then, another instructor ran up behind Instructor Hwang and whispered gravely, "We've just received word from the Association."
Instructor Hwang froze. The Association only ever requested one thing from him. "Who was it this time?" he asked grievously.
"Black Sheep."
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Instructor Hwang sighed and looked at the trainees. After observing each and every one of them, he shouted, "Today's training ends here!"
The twenty or so trainees collapsed in unison.
Instructor Hwang turned back to the instructor who had given him the report. "Send Number Three to my office."
Several minutes later, Number Three entered Instructor Hwang's office. Reeking of sweat, he saluted energetically. "You called for me, Instructor?"
"Have a seat."
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"I'm fine!"
"Sit down. That's an order."
Number Three nervously sat down across from Instructor Hwang. He rarely summoned trainees, so it must be about something important.
"Why did you apply to join the Twelve Phantoms?"
"I thought it was a challenge that every man should attempt at least once."
"Not for the money?"
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"That's part of it, but… for me, it's more about testing my limits."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Instructor Hwang fell silent for a while. "Myeongwoo," he suddenly said.
Number Three's eyes widened in shock. Myeongwoo was his real name, but this was the first time he had heard it since coming to the training center. Struck by a flash of realization, he gasped, "No way…"
Instructor Hwang nodded. "From this moment on, you are one of the Twelve Phantoms."
"Wow!" Myeongwoo's face glowed with excitement.
Instructor Hwang, in contrast, looked grim. Years ago, he had sent the recently deceased Black Sheep off in exactly the same way, but the memory was as vivid as if it had happened only yesterday.
That boy had been just as happy as Myeongwoo was now.
"Your new codename is Black Sheep, the eighth of the twelve zodiac animals."
"B-Black Sheep!"
The Twelve Phantoms were masters in all fields, though each specialized in something unique. Assassination, espionage, security, infiltration, and rescue were just a few examples.
Whenever one of the Phantoms died, Instructor Hwang would select a replacement trainee with similar abilities. In terms of martial arts, Myeongwoo wasn't the best, but Black Sheep's specialty was espionage.
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Considering Myeongwoo's quick wit, astuteness, and expertise in movement and stealth, he was the most suitable person for the role of Black Sheep.
Instructor Hwang retrieved a bottle of liquor and two cups from a shelf to the side. He filled one cup for Myeongwoo, then the other for himself. "You've worked hard," he praised.
"No, Instructor. You're the one who has worked hard," Myeongwoo replied sincerely.
Everyone resented Instructor Hwang because of the harsh training, but no one truly hated him. It was impossible to hate someone who treated you with utmost sincerity.
"Today will be the last time you see me," Instructor Hwang said.
Myeongwoo looked at Instructor Hwang with gratitude. Simple words of thanks were not enough. He was, without a doubt, a remarkable instructor.
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Instructor Hwang looked down at his cup wistfully. "A long time ago, someone told me he wanted to join the Twelve Phantoms because he needed money. Not only is that guy still alive, he's also the Phantom who has survived the longest. Do you know why I'm telling you this?"
"No."
"Don't romanticize this job."
"……"
"And don't devote yourself entirely to it."
That was all Instructor Hwang had to say. When he first started this job, he used to rant about loyalty and justice, sometimes even honor, to newly promoted Phantoms.
Now, he didn't know. What was the meaning in saying all that when he was basically sending them off to their deaths?
…Maybe it was time he retired.
"Farewell, Myeongwoo. Instructor Yong will tell you the rest." Instructor Hwang emptied his cup in a toast.
Myeongwoo finished his as well and stood up. When he was about to leave, he spun around and bowed deeply. "I'm sorry, but I decided to devote myself to my work. That's why I've endured until now."
Instructor Hwang nodded and smiled brightly. "Then just remember this: No matter what, don't you dare die on me!"
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The next morning, twenty people stood before a large building for the final stage of the entrance exam.
Wol Seongcheon once again gave them a chance to withdraw, but no one stepped forward. This was the final hurdle. Four people would be chosen, and there were twenty examinees. The chance of success was now only one in five.
"Enter this building, find the exit, and escape. There's only one rule: You're not allowed to break through the walls. If you try that, it's an automatic fail. Got it?"
Everyone nodded, but the tension in the air was palpable. As this was the final stage, they expected unimaginable dangers ahead.
"Enter one at a time, keeping your distance. The first four to pass will be chosen, so it is advantageous to enter early. However, it's also more dangerous to enter early. The choice is yours."
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Crimson Tiger nodded. Once again, the content of the test reflected the unchanging intention of the organizers. Luck was also a part of skill, and they wanted to select martial artists who could overcome all odds.
Someone bravely stepped forward, and the others followed, forming a line. With a slight delay between each person, they entered the building one at a time.
Crimson Tiger was the tenth in line.
When it was finally his turn to enter the building, he was greeted by a narrow corridor illuminated by dim red lamps, giving it an eerie atmosphere. Strange geometric shapes, unrecognizable characters, and bizarre paintings, such as those of naked women dancing and monsters devouring people, adorned the walls.
He advanced slowly, but the deeper he went, the more serious his expression became. Something was wrong, and it wasn't just the eerie wall murals. The room itself radiated a mysterious energy, an energy that excited people…
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Alarmed, Crimson Tiger focused on his sense of smell.
Bewitching Essence!
In small doses, Bewitching Essence acted as a potent aphrodisiac, but in large doses, it caused mental paralysis, hallucinations, and eventually madness.
So this is the reason why entering early is dangerous!
Crimson Tiger drew his sword. By now, it was obvious that he was trapped in a labyrinth as complex as a spider's web. At every fork, he subtly marked his chosen route on the floor with his blade.
He walked for what seemed like forever, but never came across any dead ends or exits. The interior of the building was much larger and more complex than he had imagined. This place had probably been built especially for this test.
"Ugh…"
Hearing a faint whimper in the distance, Crimson Tiger slowly moved toward the source of the sound.
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The man who had entered first was squatting in a corner, drooling and looking dazed. The moment he saw Crimson Tiger, however, he shrieked, "No! Stay away from me!"
Crimson Tiger shook his head and continued to approach the man. Since the Bewitching Essence caused hallucinations, he probably looked like a hideous monster in the man's eyes.
"I said stay away!" Panicking, the man drew his sword and charged.
In one smooth motion, Crimson Tiger kicked the man's legs to knock him off balance, grabbed his wrist, and threw the man over his shoulder.
The man spun around in the air before crashing to the floor. The impact knocked him unconscious.
Better to be out cold than wallow in madness.
Suddenly Crimson Tiger froze. He could still hear moans echoing from all directions, but his instincts were screaming, warning him of imminent danger.
Sensing someone shooting toward him at breakneck speed, he immediately wheeled around and ran back the way he came. There was no need to confirm what it was.
Spying a corner up ahead, he dove to the side without slowing down.
SIZZLE!
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A dark liquid splattered against the wall behind him. A moment later, smoke started rising from the wall, accompanied by a foul smell.
Crimson Tiger rolled on the floor and sprang back to his feet. The way the wall sizzled and dissolved told him everything he needed to know. The liquid was a highly corrosive chemical, potent enough that even its fumes were likely deadly.
Before he could catch his breath, though, a trapdoor in the ceiling above him opened with a clang and someone swooped down, thrusting a sharp sword at him.
Crimson Tiger thew himself to the side, dodging the ambush, and at the same time, he kicked his attacker mercilessly.
The assassin quickly blocked Crimson Tiger's kick with his blade, but he was thrown back.
Crimson Tiger observed his opponent. The assassin had long, flowing hair and wore a disturbingly real demonic mask. Blood trickled down the mask, producing a chilling sight.
How elaborate. If someone under the influence of Bewitching Essence saw it, I'm sure they'd mistake him for a ghost.
The assassin lunged at him again, and their swords clashed, sending sparks flying. Crimson Tiger leaned forward and to the side, allowing the assassin's sword to graze his ear, then delivered a powerful punch to the man's solar plexus.
The assassin crumpled to the floor, and Crimson Tiger removed his mask. As expected, he was one of the examiners.
Crimson Tiger calmly searched the examiner's pockets, ignoring the screams all around him. He found hidden weapons, medicine, money, and finally a small, round bronze coin.
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Crimson Tiger's eyes sparkled, and his gaze shifted to the ceiling trapdoor from which the examiner had jumped. The door was closed now, but there was a small hole in the middle, a hole exactly the same size as the bronze coin.
Crimson Tiger jumped up and pushed the bronze coin into the hole.
CLANG! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The ceiling door opened, and dozens of needles shot out from inside. Fortunately, Crimson Tiger had already dodged to the side, having detected the subtle vibrations that were characteristic of such trap mechanisms when he inserted the coin.
He leaped through the trapdoor, and as he climbed inside, the door closed automatically. It was a space just big enough for one person to hide in.
Crimson Tiger took out a throwing knife and carefully examined the ceiling. He didn't dare touch the walls for fear that they might be covered in poison.
Before long, he found a trigger to open another door. He activated it with the knife, and a hatch leading to the rooftop opened.
He warily jumped onto the roof, only to be greeted by applause from behind. Turning around, he saw Wol Seongcheon and some of the examiners clapping.
Yong Hajin stood in the distance. It seemed that he had found the escape route on the roof even before Crimson Tiger.
That cheating bastard knew the solution to this stage beforehand.
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Crimson Tiger was confident in his deduction. With Yong Hajin's skill and experience, it was impossible for him to pass this stage.
The key to the labyrinth was that there was no exit. More specifically, there were no normal exits.
When ordinary people get lost in a maze, they usually focused only on not getting lost. They would make use of various techniques, such as markings on the walls and floors, or turning in only one direction, in order to avoid returning to the same place.
Worse, the corridors were saturated with Bewitching Essence, traps were hidden everywhere, and there were surprise attacks by masked figures.
With no time to think deeply, the candidates would simply wander around endlessly, trying to find a nonexistent exit.
Suddenly, a trapdoor opened with a clang, and someone crawled up.
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It was Bang Soso. She was exhausted and blood was dripping from her injured arm, but she had passed.
Wol Seongcheon and the examiners applauded, but Yong Hajin frowned. He wanted to tell Bang Soso that he was the first one out, not Crimson Tiger, but now wasn't the right time.
Several minutes later, the final successful candidate emerged.
"Wow! This maze is crazy!" Soh Bung complained, groaning dramatically.
Crimson Tiger narrowed his eyes. Soh Bung didn't even have a single scratch on him. He already knew that Soh Bung was no ordinary person, but this test was not easy even for seasoned masters.
Wol Seongcheon, who was applauding, was also greatly surprised.
Aren't there a lot of talented guys this year?
This final test was constructed and administered for the first time this year, so they hadn't expected anyone to complete the stage in such a short time. In fact, they had planned to give the candidates clues by gradually disabling the traps over time. First, they would neutralize the Bewitching Essence, then the corrosive acid traps, then…
Well, there was no need for that now. All four successful candidates had cleared the test without any hints.
"Let's go down," Wol Seongcheon said, jumping down from the roof.
The four candidates followed him.
Wol Seongcheon gestured to one of his assistants. "End the test."
The assistant operated a device on the side, and the examiners climbed onto the roof one by one. After confirming that all their colleagues had escaped, the assistant activated the device again.
The building rocked violently, and a chorus of anguished screams erupted from within. Every deadly trap had sprung to life at once, leaving no one inside alive.
Crimson Tiger frowned, resisting the temptation to cut down all these unhinged fiends. Even for the unorthodox, this was going too far.
He had a feeling that many more people had been sacrificed than the ninety-nine they had announced last year. Unless the families of the victims gathered in one place, no one would ever know exactly how many had died.
"No one will know who passed the exam now," Wol Seongcheon said smugly, as if this was all for their benefit.
Yong Hajin smiled, while Soh Bung made a fuss about how cruel it was. Bang Soso was unfazed.
As Soh Bung had said, four out of the five in the wagon really did pass. Coincidentally, they were all people who had formed connections with Crimson Tiger during the exam.
Wait, is this really just a coincidence?
Suddenly, his master's voice echoed in his mind.
"There are no coincidences in the jianghu, only inevitabilities disguised as coincidences. If something seems too good to be true, draw your sword immediately."
Crimson Tiger tensed. There was definitely something fishy going on here.
Wol Seongcheon and the other examiners lined up in front of the four passing candidates and bowed respectfully. The moment they passed, their status became higher than that of ordinary examiners.
""Congratulations!"" they shouted in unison.
Grinning, Soh Bung said to Crimson Tiger, "I look forward to working with you, bad boy."
"Likewise," Crimson Tiger replied, smiling brightly.
Yes, you should look forward to it indeed. If you can't dispel my doubts, I'll have no choice but to kill you myself.
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