I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

Chapter 42 : Zhuge Paegang (1)

“What do you think?”

“It’s amazing.”

In the academy head’s office. Cheon Mujin, who was sitting at one end of the desk, nodded his head.

“It’s worth the elder’s attention. That’s why I’m also worried. What that child used was…”

“It’s just a possibility. A genius is like a seedling that you don’t know where it will stretch to.”

Mi Tae-eul put down his teacup and continued.

“It could spread its branches in all directions and cast a shadow over the whole world, or it could stretch up aloofly and reach the ceiling of the world.”

“Or it could be broken before that. The heavenly thunder always aims for a solitary old tree.”

Cheon Mujin added in a low voice, looking at the view of the Martial Academy spread out beyond the window.

* * *

“What in the world was that at the end?”

Mo Yonghan, who had approached as soon as the event was over, asked.

“Since you couldn’t maintain your protective qi, it’s difficult for me to answer.”

When I answered politely, Mo Yonghan, who had let out a groan once, stared at me.

“Then let’s fight again later. Not as a guidance duel, but as equal martial artists.”

“Let’s do that.”

Unlike my answer, I had no intention of doing so. Why would I fight that monster of strength again?

The moment he was standing perfectly fine even after being hit by a blow that had poured out all my mana was still a horror in itself.

Although not as much as Namgung Bihwa, who was glaring at me from afar.

‘It seems I won’t even have time to make an excuse.’

If I approach now, only a future of being slaughtered is drawn.

Considering that she had defeated Peng Geun-u in three exchanges, she could probably cut me down in a single blow.

I gave up my lingering feelings and turned around right away. I could only hope not to run into her for the time being.

Still, perhaps because I had recovered a little thanks to the nap, there was no major problem with my gait.

‘If there’s a problem, is it those guys?’

The two guys who were approaching this way.

“I was surprised. It’s interesting that you have that much power with sorcery.”

“To think that such a technique is possible with a talisman! Let’s fight sometime.”

Baek Cheong and Peng Geun-u, who had approached before I knew it, each added a word. I had barely managed to pass the aggro to Baek Hasin, but it seemed their interest was focused on me again.

‘Do you think I’m crazy enough to fight a peak-level master?’

Even if I had reached the second circle, it was still not enough to win against a peak-level master head-on. The gap between a first-rate and a peak was that big.

“Ask Baek Hasin for a duel. I’m leaving now.”

With that, I shook off the top students.

- Where do you think you’re going?

Just then, a telepathic message came. The very voice I didn’t want to hear the most.

It was Wu Hwiryeong.

“…What is it?”

Under the wall, I, who had been called out, managed to control my stiffening expression.

What was in front of me was Wu Hwiryeong.

On the outside, she was a voluptuous beauty, but inside, she was a ruthless master. To the extent that even if all the intermediate students rushed at her, they wouldn’t be able to leave a single scratch.

Feeling like a student who had been caught by a delinquent but popular older sister, I cautiously asked for her business.

“Why did you call me?”

“Our cute student has caused quite a big incident, hasn’t he?”

At a glance, it was a tone that seemed to be praising me for defeating an intermediate student.

But the essence was probably a reprimand for messing up the finale of the event.

“Unfortunately, my energy was extremely depleted at the last moment, so I couldn’t step up in time.”

“Right, there’s that too…”

Although I had answered with a sense of the situation, Wu Hwiryeong just shook her head as if she were not pleased. And then she suddenly stared this way and opened her mouth.

“What is that power of yours?”

In an instant, the tone of her voice changed. Unlike her usual playful tone, it was a serious expression.

“I’m afraid it’s difficult for me to tell you that.”

Whether that was the case or not, Wu Hwiryeong continued to talk to herself as she pleased.

“It resembled the sorcery that the guys from the Mosan Sect use. But something was different. The reaction of that middle dantian… no, what in the world is that power that is churning in your heart?”

She, who was approaching, slowly pressing. It was a confident gaze.

I had thought that a super master like Wu Hwiryeong would be able to see to some extent.

Especially since it was the moment I had reached the second circle, it would have been even more obvious.

Since it was a completely different reaction from a normal martial art, it was only natural to feel that it was strange.

She tilted her head slightly towards me. Her reddish-brown hair that was cast down touched my shoulder, and my face was reflected beyond her fierce eyes, like those of a feline beast.

“You saw the talisman, didn’t you? You should be able to guess to some extent.”

“In the first place, I didn’t feel any qi wave from the talisman. A ridiculous trick like that only works on the level of a student or an instructor. Not me.”

A declaration close to a certainty. I was startled for a moment. Still, it was a response that I had paid quite a bit of attention to, but as expected, it didn’t work on a master at the level of a professor.

“I’m just asking out of curiosity…”

Wu Hwiryeong brought her slender fingertips to my neck.

Along with a soft touch, the pulsation of my pulse grew even louder.

It was just the act of bringing her fingertips to me without any true qi. However, I even had the illusion that I was being targeted by a sharp sword.

“Is that even a martial art?”

Wu Hwiryeong’s pressure was gradually getting stronger. However, I also had a trump card.

“Please ask my family officially.”

The family shield. Even if I look like this, I am a direct descendant of the Five Great Families. I was not a person who would be easily taken down.

- Are you threatening me now?

Then, a sharp telepathic message came. As if she had learned a sound art, my brow furrowed at the voice that echoed throughout my head.

“No. I am just protecting my honor as a member of the family.”

Of course, it was a lie, but the effect was not bad.

When I brought up the family and honor, Wu Hwiryeong, who had been glaring this way, slowly withdrew her momentum.

“There will be more eyes watching you suspiciously from now on. Among them, there will be those who will try to win you over or take you by force.”

“It wasn’t that strong of a power, though?”

Of course, I also knew about the versatility and specialty of magic. That’s why I had tried to hide it. But was it at a level where a professor would step up and warn me directly?

“You should know that the professors each have their own martial arts faction.”

A martial arts faction, a new martial arts force that had been analyzed and reconstructed through research after the era of martial arts liberalization.

Now that several decades had passed since the disappearance of the Heaven-Shattering Demon, they were the ones who were pioneering a new realm of martial arts and monopolizing the new martial arts knowledge that had not been spread by the Heaven-Shattering Demon.

“Among them, the number of people who are watching you closely has increased. Because martial arts masters are always those who pursue novelty.”

Among them, the radical martial arts factions were to the extent that they could be classified as mad scientists.

So much so that there was even a case where a martial arts faction that was researching the heretical path had secretly forced human experiments and had been annihilated and expelled.

“It’s hard to understand. It wasn’t that great of a power, though?”

At most, it was to the extent of barely peeling off the protective qi of a peak master for a moment. And that was the result of attacking with all my might, something that Mo Yonghan had said he would take head-on.

Although it was spectacular, it was not fast or strong enough to work on a master. But to think they would come to find me?

“The problem is that your power is a type of martial art that no one has ever seen before. The power of that middle dantian and the reaction of the upper dantian. And all the changes of the five elements that dominated the area.”

Although I had guessed to some extent, I never thought such an immediate reaction would come back.

‘But I don’t regret it.’

It’s not a world where you can survive by hiding your talents.

If there’s something you want to gain, there’s always a risk.

‘It’s not like there’s no alternative.’

“Then it might be a good thing. Because it means the professors are interested in me.”

“…I felt it from the first time I saw you, but you’re really bold.”

Wu Hwiryeong showed a smiling eye and moved away from me.

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

“Why, are you burdened?”

“No, I have something I want to ask.”

I said, without waiting for her answer.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“For some reason, I feel like you and I will have a chance to face each other someday. Think of it as a favor on the side. And while you’re at it, take an interest in my martial arts faction too.”

“I will think about it positively.”

I finished the conversation with an empty word and moved away from Wu Hwiryeong.

‘She’s a dangerous person to be close to.’

Because Wu Hwiryeong was a master of a representative heretical martial arts faction.

Since the martial arts of the heretical path itself had subtleties close to assassination, survival, strength, and other tricks and desires, it was not easy to know their true intentions.

Although it was a martial arts faction that was ostracized in the righteous path, on the contrary, it also meant that they had the strength and resourcefulness to survive despite being ostracized.

‘A warning from her. I have to be careful.’

The threat that Wu Hwiryeong was talking about would not just mean the righteous path.

* * *

For a few days after that, it was noisy with rumors surrounding me.

“Amazing!”

“How did you hide such a move? As expected, you were worthy of winning against Baek Ra-uk and Do Sogi in the battle test last time.”

Gu Dong and Lee Huimun came up, chattering away.

“Ahem. Can I see that sorcery once? Didn’t I teach you the Six Harmonies Sword last time?”

“Professor Baek Yuhwan is looking for you. Just go and have a chat. As expected, it was worth giving you the Muhak Sword back then.”

Professors and instructors also came to find me.

‘Was this place always like this?’

I wondered inwardly, avoiding the shadows of the professors I could see in the distance. It was a completely different aspect from the route of playing by the book.

‘In Baek Hasin’s case, he learned demonic arts or something.’

It was even more so because I had almost never received such heated attention in the work. Thanks to that, I had been sweating bullets, being called here and there for a while.

Of course, it was somewhat understandable. Because in the last 10 years, there had only been two cases where a junior student representative had beaten an intermediate student representative.

‘Of course, I’m conditional.’

Nevertheless, the rumors were exaggerated, and thanks to that, it was bustling with people looking for me for a while.

Perhaps it was a natural thing.

Currently, in the Central Plains, the Martial Academy is the center of martial arts research. To put it another way, since it was no different from the mecca of an academic society, it was even more so.

Of course, the rumors didn’t last for a few days, and since I had used the Zhuge family shield generously every time I was called out, I was able to be released without any problems.

‘Although Professor Maeng Dong and Maeng Ha were persistent.’

I shuddered, recalling the two old men who were shining their two eyes, unbefitting of their age.

Just then, I felt a presence from the side.

“Great Hero Cheonwu, have you heard the news?”

A bald head that was waving its hand with a sparkling smile. It was Gu Dong.

“What is it?”

“They say the mid-term evaluation will be held soon. The time has already come!”

Come to think of it, it had already been a few months since I had entered the academy. It was a time when the weather was getting humid.

‘Is it time for the exam soon?’

When the mid-term evaluation is over, the vacation will begin.

Then I will have two choices left. Whether to stay at the academy or to return to the family.

Of course, the conclusion was already set.

‘I’ll have to go to the family.’

Right now, Baek Hasin is at the level of the end of the first-rate, but he has an unbelievable talent and opportunities.

‘He’ll probably come back with a remarkable achievement during the vacation.’

Since he was a guy who would come back as at least a peak-level master, I couldn’t rest either.

‘And most of all, the family will have that.’

That ‘artifact’ that I had glimpsed in the strategy guide.

And so, after parting with Gu Dong. As I was walking down the back road leading to the training ground, checking my future plans, I suddenly felt an unusual energy and stopped in my tracks.

When I lifted my head, the background of the area wavered, and something black tore through the space and appeared.

A very heterogeneous sight. As if pulling back a transparent curtain, what revealed itself was a handsome man dressed in a black martial arts uniform.

In an instant, my eyes couldn’t help but widen.

‘An advanced student!’

I showed my vigilance at the appearance of an advanced student, the pinnacle of all students and of whom there were not many even in the Martial Academy.

‘That illusion art he just showed… no, that illusion formation was not ordinary.’

It wasn’t just his skill or identity that was the problem.

‘Something’s strange.’

It was definitely the first time I had seen him, but for some reason, I felt a sense of déjà vu. Along with a feeling that could be called an instinctive repulsion.

I stared at the opponent without a word. The man who was slowly approaching this way with a leisurely gait.

He, who was tilting his head as if to look down on this side, suddenly contorted his expression and opened his mouth.

“You’re showing your foolishness. You don’t even greet your older brother when you see him?”

I was stiff for a moment and then blinked my two eyes. I was able to grasp the situation belatedly.

Dark eyebrows, and a narrowed brow and sharp eyes.

‘Zhuge Paegang.’

He was Zhuge Cheonwu’s second older brother.

(End of Chapter)