Chapter 3

3. The Secret Manual of the Ten-Dragon Pavilion

'He looks younger than in the video, but it’s definitely the same face. What’s going on? I thought fellow heroes were chosen through the lottery system.'

I don’t really understand what’s happening, but since there’s an empty seat, I went and sat in front of Nangong Jian.

'The characters in the video were either heroes or demons. Nangong Jian is one of the heroes.'

Among the countless heroes that can be obtained through the lottery, only a select few appeared in the intro video.

That means, they are either major characters related to the story or extremely powerful heroes that users would want to add to their wish lists.

'They wouldn’t have included a weak hero in the video. The nickname itself gives off a strong vibe. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to get to know him.'

"Is there something on my face?"

Nangong Jian, feeling the piercing gaze, looked at So Jong-cheon with a puzzled expression.

"Ah, just a familiar face. Is it Nangong Jian, right?"

"That is indeed my name."

"Sky-Soaring Sword Saint?"

"…Hmph! Are you teasing me? While some people have given me a nickname that doesn’t match my status, I certainly don’t have the right to call myself a Sword Saint."

Nangong Jian frowned and asked, almost challenging.

"To think you’d make such a joke on our first meeting. Who are you?"

'Well, a 15-year-old can’t possibly have a nickname like Sword Saint. I spoke without thinking and now it might ruin our relationship. But he does have some kind of nickname, which is impressive.'

So Jong-cheon scolded himself for speaking carelessly and tried to explain.

"I’m So Jong-cheon. If I offended you, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease. I can read faces a bit, and I felt a strong aura from you, so I said it without thinking. Do you know? Maybe you’ll really be called a Sword Saint someday."

"…Ahem! You’re a strange classmate. Go somewhere else and spout such nonsense. Sword Saint! Hmm, Sky-Soaring Sword Saint…? Hmph…."

It seems to have passed smoothly.

Though the words weren’t entirely unpleasant, Nangong Jian blushed slightly and repeated the word 'Sword Saint.'

'In the video, he looked like a middle-aged man in his 40s. Is this the young Nangong Jian? If I get Nangong Jian through the hero lottery, what happens? The world setting is a bit strange.'

The situation was puzzling, but there was no way to find out immediately.

Since we’ve introduced ourselves, I focused on my meal without trying to force more conversation.

He seems like someone I could get along with, but today is enough.

'Now that I know his face, I can just greet him whenever I see him. Forcing a friendship might have negative effects.'

After finishing his meal, So Jong-cheon headed to the Second Training Ground according to the schedule he received during the initiation ceremony.

The path was still unfamiliar, but he followed the other students without getting lost.

Since everyone had to attend the first day’s class, they were all moving in the same direction.

The training ground was crowded, but not chaotic.

Since they didn’t know each other well, few were chatting.

Being young martial artists, they naturally lined up and waited quietly without being told.

"Seems like everyone is here."

As the students stood around, a middle-aged man appeared and climbed onto the platform.

He was introduced during the initiation ceremony.

Chu Ouming, the Third Section Fist Master.

He was said to be in his early 40s and quite famous in the Anhui region as a martial artist.

"Welcome. You saw me yesterday, but let me introduce myself again. I am Chu Ouming, your instructor for the next year. I am also the leader of the Yellow Dragon Corps. From now on, you are not only students of the Hidden Dragon Academy but also members of the Yellow Dragon Corps, a military group of the Formal Alliance. You need to distinguish between these two roles."

Chu Ouming scanned the students and continued.

"Whether you participate in my classes or receive guidance is your choice. However, as members of the Yellow Dragon Corps, you must strictly follow orders when performing tasks. Disobeying orders during a mission can result in immediate punishment."

This means he has the power to control the lives of these people in certain situations.

The atmosphere became a bit tense as he spoke.

"You should have been assigned to rooms in groups of four. Each group is a team. The Yellow Dragon Corps is divided into four divisions, and each division has thirteen teams. I believe you remember your room numbers."

So Jong-cheon recalled.

'Four people living together form a team. Our room is definitely 30.'

"Rooms 1 to 13 are Division 1. The rest follow the same pattern up to Division 4."

According to this, So Jong-cheon belongs to Division 3.

"From now on, we will select the leaders of each division. When called, please step forward. Division 1 Leader, Tang Jin!"

"Present!"

"Division 2 Leader, Jin Yulin! Division 3 Leader, Nangong Jian! Division 4 Leader, Murong Xuehu!"

Among those who stepped forward, there was a familiar face.

'Nangong Jian is the leader of Division 3? We’ll see each other often then.'

"Those four are your representatives. If you have any suggestions for the corps, go through your leader."

"I have a question."

Someone raised their hand and spoke up.

The class turned to look, and it was the girl from the same room whose name I hadn’t heard.

"Speak."

"Isn’t the leader chosen based on martial arts skill? I don’t think I’m weaker than them."

Her face was full of dissatisfaction, and she glared at the four leaders with a sharp expression.

"Hmm. Your name?"

"Han Sahui."

I finally learned the name I hadn’t heard yesterday.

Chu Ouming took out a stack of papers from his pocket and started searching.

'Is it a record of some sort?'

That was correct.

"There it is. Han Sahui, you’re from the Red Serpent Sect?"

"Yes."

Red Serpent Sect.

Just the name gives off a strong impression of a villainous group.

'I don’t know much about Chao Yinghu, but Zhang Zijun is from the Jiaozhang, one of the Nine Great Sects, so he’s from the righteous side. Han Sahui is from the Red Serpent Sect, a villainous group.'

And So Jong-cheon is from a minor, unknown family.

Seeing people with different backgrounds in the same room, it’s clear that the academy doesn’t discriminate based on origin.

"Your performance in the initiation exam was not bad. If we only consider martial arts skill, there’s not much difference between you and the four in front."

"Then why not?"

"You’re asking an obvious question. Was the initiation exam only about martial arts skill? While martial arts skill is a significant part of the overall evaluation, it’s not everything."

"…"

"The leaders were chosen based on the overall ranking. If you have any complaints, try to score higher in the exams held every semester."

"…I understand."

Since it’s based on ranking, there’s nothing more to say.

Though not entirely convinced, Han Sahui closed her mouth and stepped back.

"The class schedule is posted in your dorms. Find your classes on time. Today, we will open the Ten-Dragon Pavilion. Everyone, look to the right."

Instructor Chu Ouming pointed to a large building on the right.

"That is the Ten-Dragon Pavilion. While it doesn’t contain all the martial arts manuals known in the martial world, it does have quite a collection."

'Ten-Dragon Pavilion? Why does everything here have 'dragon' in the name?'

"Regular students can only access the books during designated periods. However, today, as it’s the first day, you are allowed to browse."

Some students nodded, as this was common knowledge for those who had been recruited before.

For So Jong-cheon, who wouldn’t have been admitted without his father’s contributions, it was new information.

"There are many books, but each person can borrow only one. Borrowed books cannot be taken outside. Once you choose a book, you cannot change it until the next designated period. Register the book in the storage area and visit it when needed. We will reconvene in two hours. Go!"

Instructor Chu Ouming clapped his hands, and the students started moving towards the Ten-Dragon Pavilion.

"…Why aren’t you going?"

"Ah? Oh, I’m going."

So Jong-cheon, who had been standing there, slowly moved when Chu Ouming frowned.

'I only know martial arts from the memories in my body. Even then, I only know a few family techniques. How can I choose what I need?'

Most students entering the Hidden Dragon Academy at 15 have already laid the foundation through their family or sect.

They already had their own styles and had received advice before entering, so they knew what kind of martial arts manuals to choose.

So Jong-cheon was the exception.

'Two hours is not a long time… but I can at least take a look at what’s available.'

The instructor’s words about the collection were not exaggerated.

As soon as he entered the Ten-Dragon Pavilion, he saw rows of bookshelves, and books filled his view wherever he looked.

'There’s no separate library, just a collection of martial arts manuals. Impressive.'

Two hours was a short time.

Just reading the titles would take more than two hours.

"Martial arts manuals."

So Jong-cheon thought about the martial arts he knew.

Qingming Tona Gong and Chuying Quan.

Qingming Tona Gong is the only cultivation method passed down in his family, and Chuying Quan is a basic martial arts technique that combines fist techniques, footwork, and defensive techniques.

'Neither is particularly impressive.'

From memory, there were other family techniques.

He started training with Chuying Quan at 5 and began learning Wuxing Lianhuan Jian at 10. After achieving some success, he would learn Qingyun Jieling Jian.

'The problem is that my father passed away too early.'

So Jong-cheon’s father died when he was 9.

If the martial arts manuals were stored, he could have tried to learn them on his own, but they were lost in the accident.

In the end, he only learned Qingming Tona Gong and Chuying Quan.

'Our family’s main martial art is sword techniques, but I never learned them. Damn… Still, I must have trained hard to be admitted here with just basic techniques.'

Chuying Quan, while not as advanced as the techniques sold by street vendors, has some unique aspects.

However, it’s not top-tier.

Qingming Tona Gong is even less impressive.

It’s a cultivation method rooted in Daoism that helps build pure internal energy, but it’s not particularly outstanding and is only passed down in the family because there’s no better alternative.

'An opportunity to learn new martial arts. What should I choose?'

"Hey, So, have you chosen a book?"

While thinking about martial arts, someone spoke to him.

Turning around, he saw Zhang Zijun and Chao Yinghu from his room.

"Ah? Not yet. You’ve already chosen?"

Both held books that looked like manuals.

"I can’t replace the martial arts from my sect with something new, but I found a footwork technique that I can apply. My current footwork is fast but consumes a lot of energy, so it’s not efficient for normal movement."

So Jong-cheon naturally turned to Chao Yinghu, asking what he chose.

Chao Yinghu avoided eye contact and turned away, ignoring So Jong-cheon.

"Hey, Yinghu! Didn’t you hear what the instructor said? We’re not just roommates; we’re teammates who need to watch each other’s backs. Don’t be so stiff, let’s get along."

"Hmm."

As the atmosphere worsened, Zhang Zijun tried to mediate, and Chao Yinghu responded with a displeased tone.

"I’m going to study some footwork techniques. I did some research beforehand, so I could find them quickly."

"Got it. You both already knew what to choose."

"Jong-cheon! You can, ah! Call me by my name, right?"

"Of course."

"Great. You didn’t think about it beforehand?"

Since he didn’t know about this schedule, it’s natural.

"I didn’t know. I’ll think about it now."

So Jong-cheon’s response made Chao Yinghu frown.

"You didn’t know? Hmph, what kind of sect are you from that you don’t even have this information?"

"I didn’t learn from a sect; I only know the family techniques."

"Tsk…"

"Ha, you’re a unique one. We just finished registering, so we’ll start browsing. You should choose something soon, Jong-cheon."

"Ah, right. I’ll catch up."

Unlike Chao Yinghu, Zhang Zijun smiled and patted So Jong-cheon’s shoulder before leaving.

Chao Yinghu, who was following, stopped and said to So Jong-cheon.

"Don’t expect me to take care of you just because we’re in the same team. Don’t be a liability."

"…Huh?"

From his tone, it was clear he looked down on So Jong-cheon.

Chapter 4 of the Strongest Martial World Lottery