Reincarnated Sword Ghost-Chapter 22 : Entrance Ceremony

Entrance Ceremony
The next day, all inducted martial officers of the Blue Scale Corps gathered at Blue Scale Hall's training hall.
There were a total of thirty-three men and women martial artists.
Among them, those who had received special entrance— including Jeong-un—numbered six.
And among them was a familiar face.
'Was her name Tang Yerin?'
He'd heard that she came from the Tang Clan, a renowned family in Sichuan. Moreover, he'd heard she was of direct lineage.
As soon as their eyes met, she beamed and nodded as though delighted to see a close friend.
Jeong-un, instead, received the greeting with a somewhat awkward feeling.
'All we did was exchange a few words.'
It was said that children of renowned families studied not only martial arts but also classical texts like the Four Books and Five Classics from an early age.
Perhaps it was only natural that she would display such etiquette.
Meanwhile, none of the other people he'd seen at the guesthouse were around.
It seemed they had all failed to pass, or perhaps they were assigned to other organizations besides Blue Scale Corps.
'There are four organizations in total, right?'
All inducted martial officers belonged to either the White Tiger Corps, Black Snake Corps, Blue Scale Corps, or Red Dragon Corps.
There were also supporting departments like the General Affairs Department or the Medicinal King's Hall, but given the number of people, the organizational structure felt somewhat loose.
He figured there must be some reason for that as well.
Jeong-un scanned the martial officers around him.
The sight of men and women in black martial garb, each with diverse features, was rather spectacular—almost like a single sword battalion.
Perhaps due to the joy of passing, none of their expressions looked especially tense.
Soon after, scholars from the General Affairs Department handed out several booklets, including the code of laws, and with that, the entrance ceremony was over.
As if it was perfectly natural, the Master of Heavenly Martial Hall didn't even show his face.
Only the Leader of the Blue Scale Corps, clad in navy and silent from beginning to end, had watched over the officers.
Yeom Baek, the Blue Scale Corps Leader, looked every bit the exemplar of a martial man.
With a firm jaw and thick brows, he was a rugged-looking middle-aged man who, to exaggerate, looked as if not a single drop of blood would flow even if he were stabbed.
'A martial artist should look like that.'
Jeong-un couldn't help but stare, captivated by the intensity of his aura.
He unconsciously stroked his own smooth jaw, feeling a twinge of regret.
'How strong must someone at the corps leader's level be?'
They were the ones leading each martial corps.
While there might be those even stronger in the martial world, these people were also symbolic figures of the righteous path.
They were those whose might could destroy a major branch of the Dark Path singlehandedly, it was said.
It was impossible to tell how long one would have to train to reach that level.
'There must be someone even higher up.'
In his dreams, he'd sought to witness the end of the sword.
The same goal he'd pursued after leaving the Yu household and starting to wield his sword.
'I can't let myself be daunted by such heights.'
That's how Jeong-un saw it.
In the end, it was nothing more than a wall he would have to surpass someday.
"Attention."
At that moment, Yeom Baek's weighty voice instantly changed the previously relaxed atmosphere.
This was right after the scholars from the General Affairs Department had stepped back.
As he took a step forward, a subtle ripple of internal energy spread outward.
Just for a moment, the soles of his feet tingled as if grounded to the earth.
It reminded Jeong-un of how Cheong Jin of Mount Hua had infused his voice with internal energy.
"Look around you. These are the comrades you'll entrust your back to as you travel the martial world."
The inducted officers glanced at each other, eyes filled with a hint of caution.
Their sense of belonging to their own Gate of Death was still stronger.
It was no wonder it felt unreal for martial artists whose names and origins they didn't know to be called their comrades.
Seeing this, Yeom Baek smirked slightly and spoke again.
"I don't expect you all to form the tight bonds of blood brothers. Heavenly Martial Hall forbids such ties in the first place. But you'll soon realize this: in the martial world, the only things you can trust are your sword, and the sword of the person standing next to you."
The martial world. He'd repeated the word twice.
To become an officer of Heavenly Martial Hall was to cast one's life on the sword edge and roam the martial world.
The price of gaining fame just by passing the entrance was thus.
"So keep this in mind: for the next five years, your only affiliation is with the Blue Scale Corps. If you survive and withdraw safely, no one will welcome you back more than your own Gate of Death."
As Yeom Baek finished, some martial officers standing to the side, each with two gold threads on their left arms, stepped forward.
Without hesitation, they grouped the new officers and led them away; it seemed the assignments had already been decided.
Jeong-un, too, was called by name by one man.
Four other new officers also had their names called, and together they went to the edge of the training hall.
"I am Baek Sang."
That was the entirety of his introduction. A two-thread officer of the Blue Scale Corps.
In this place, that was enough.
"I'm here to help you adjust for a while. Frankly, I'm not really talented at explaining things systematically. So feel free to ask whatever you're curious about."
"I have a question."
The officer beside Jeong-un raised his hand immediately. His name was Jo Gwang.
His eyes were full of excitement, as if just entering Heavenly Martial Hall was a dream come true.
"How do you distinguish between the other corps?"
"Hmm?"
Baek Sang tilted his head, puzzled.
"Besides the Blue Scale Corps, aren't there three other martial corps, each with a color—White, black, and Red? I'm curious how we distinguish each other. The uniforms are all black, wouldn't it be easier if the uniforms matched the corps colors...?"
"Why would you need to distinguish them?"
"Sorry?"
Baek Sang frowned as if he'd heard something odd.
"Is there any reason to advertise your affiliation to an enemy?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"If it's just to intimidate with your affiliation, the black uniform is enough. Most Evil Faction scum run at the sight of it. I don't see why we'd need to wear gaudy colors."
"..."
The officer who asked the question closed his mouth, face flushing bright red.
Jeong-un, who had been watching quietly, raised his hand.
"Why are you talking down to us?"
"What?"
Not only Baek Sang, but everyone else looked at Jeong-un in surprise. But Jeong-un's expression remained calm.
"Didn't the corps leader just say there's no such thing as senior-junior bonds here? Yet you talk to us as if we're beneath you. I'm just curious why."
"..."
Baek Sang stared at Jeong-un with his mouth half-open.
He'd already found the previous question surprising, but now he seemed genuinely taken aback.
"Does my casual way of speaking bother you?"
"It doesn't."
He replied immediately. Truly, he didn't feel bothered at all.
He was simply curious. He'd assumed there must be strict discipline and codes in an organization this big.
Baek Sang looked Jeong-un over for a moment and let out a dry laugh before slowly nodding.
"You're right. In Heavenly Martial Hall, everyone is equal. But as a martial organization, our rules are somewhat like the military. I suppose you haven't read the code of laws yet. Make sure you do so when you return to your room."
He then tapped his left arm with his index finger.
"With two threads, you get command authority. Just like the corps leader can command us at any time. With two threads, you can give orders to one-thread officers during missions. Naturally, that creates a hierarchy."
Jeong-un nodded as if convinced. Indeed, in battles of life and death, a clear chain of command could prevent trouble.
Baek Sang, seeing Jeong-un nod, looked at him with amused eyes.
Perhaps because the question could have seemed rude, but his clear gaze prevented any negative impression.
"That's not all. The more merit you accumulate, the more benefits you get. For example, from two threads up, you get assigned a single room."
Now there was an even bigger reason to earn threads, Jeong-un thought.
"Do you also teach martial arts?"
This time it was another officer's question. Baek Sang shook his head.
"What martial artist would teach their sect's secret technique to someone else? Instead, at Heavenly Martial Vault, you can view all sorts of martial arts manuals. And at the training hall, there are plenty of opponents for duels. Keep training and learning through actual combat. You'll develop high-level martial arts much sooner than you expect."
If he needed to study new martial arts, he could look at the manuals in Heavenly Martial Vault.
The training hall was always open, and if he was injured during training or combat, he could immediately get treated at the medicine hall.
Everything was ready for martial arts training. Truly, calling this the cradle of martial arts was no exaggeration.
"Well, that's it for now. From here on, train or rest as you wish. And you—stick around a second?"
Baek Sang pointed at Jeong-un with his index finger.
'Did I get on his bad side?'
He'd told them to ask questions freely, yet...
Jeong-un muttered quietly.
***
"I was just curious who you were."
Baek Sang, who walked ahead, turned back and smiled at Jeong-un.
"You mean me?"
"I heard a monstrous martial artist joined, one who doesn't even let an opponent make a move."
"...?"
No one outright asked each other's age, but everyone here was of similar age.
When living as martial artists under the same sky, you couldn't help but take note of those with outstanding talent.
"If a strong martial artist joins, it's only natural to pay attention. That's why I remembered your name. I'm sure I'm not the only one."
"I see."
Jeong-un could sense the powerful aura Baek Sang exuded—Baek Sang clearly also was sizing him up.
"But you surprised me, asking such bold questions."
"I didn't mean to offend you."
"No, I could tell."
"So why did you call me here?"
Jeong-un asked directly. Was he asking for a duel?
If so, he was ready any time. In fact, he had looked forward to a duel with a strong martial artist.
Just two days ago, he'd had a valuable experience dueling with a second-year Heavenly Martial Hall officer.
But Baek Sang shook his head.
"No, although I am curious about your grappling technique, today isn't the day. We have a mission tomorrow."
'Grappling technique...?'
As Jeong-un cocked his head in confusion, Baek Sang continued, lips still curled in a subtle smile.
"I simply wanted to see the face of the one who took my disciple's Cloud Dragon Token. That's why I volunteered for this role today."
"...!"
Jeong-un's eyes widened for the first time.
He'd taken the Cloud Dragon Token? That could only mean one thing.
"Are you, by any chance, from Mount Hua...?"
"That's right, I am a 2nd-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. Because you took Elder Cheong Jin's Cloud Dragon Token, my cherished disciple had to take the standard test."
Jeong-un finally understood the strange look in Baek Sang's eyes.