Chapter 16

## Chapter 16. Map of Demon Arts

Aekyeonho was weak against alcohol.

Unbelievably weak.

"Hehehe. Big brother... just one more drink..."

"What the hell are you doing, really."

I carried Aekyeonho, who was half-drunk, up to the guest room.

Since he hadn't reserved a room in advance, I brought him to my room.

I even paid for the drinks he just had.

It wasn't much since he passed out after just a few sips...

"Ughhh..."

"Really, you."

When I laid him down on the bed, I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.

His handsome face, which made several women look at me with envy as we walked to the room.

But the reason I was staring at Aekyeonho wasn't because of his good looks.

'Does a martial artist get so drunk on their first meeting that they pass out?'

Even if he wasn't a martial artist, getting so drunk on a first meeting didn't make sense.

Suspicion crept in.

Either this guy was testing me, or he was the most reckless martial artist in the world.

'Should I check which one it is?'

I thought about it for a moment but decided against it. There was no point in making an enemy of a rich kid.

He was also starting to sober up.

"Ugh..."

He woke up quickly, which was surprising. It was due to his peak martial artist metabolism.

"Awake?"

Aekyeonho held his head with both hands and sat up.

"Ugh. It's been a while since I drank, so I got carried away. I guess that's why my father told me not to drink when I go out into the world..."

I shouldn't be lecturing him, but you should listen to your father.

"Why did you drink so much when you can't handle it? You could have used your inner energy to expel the alcohol from the start."

Usually, a peak martial artist can resist most alcohol if they want to.

Even if they do get drunk, they can easily expel the alcohol using their inner energy.

Aekyeonho smiled sheepishly. It was the kind of smile that could make a woman's heart flutter.

"If I was going to expel it with my inner energy, why would I drink in the first place? I drink to get drunk."

"Damn. So a martial artist got so drunk they couldn't stand?"

"I didn't expect to get that drunk. It's been years since I last drank."

"Boastful."

Aekyeonho continued with a sly smile.

"And big brother is so handsome, it made the alcohol taste even better. Of course, it's a joke! If you leave like that, I'll really look strange!"

When I tried to sneak out, Aekyeonho waved his hands.

"Why can't you take a joke? Anyway, my father is so strict that I hardly drank at home until I was this age. I thought my martial arts skills would improve my alcohol tolerance, but..."

This guy.

He looked like a prince charming who could make any woman swoon, but he had an unexpectedly innocent side.

After all, the way he scolded the fat guy earlier showed that.

It might have felt good, but he just made an enemy in the martial world for no reason.

In the martial world, where grudges are never forgotten, that's a bad move.

'Guys like that usually have messy endings. Might as well finish them off cleanly...'

Maybe because I was from the Blood Sect, I couldn't understand why righteous martial artists showed mercy.

If you're worried about the surroundings, you either quietly follow and kill them in a secluded place or at least cripple them so they can't use their martial arts again.

Aekyeonho took out a thick money pouch from his robe and shook it.

"Big brother, how about one more drink? This time, I'll really pay."

"Order a decent amount of food with the drinks."

Whatever, it's not my problem if he makes enemies. I decided to ignore it.

We ordered drinks and food and chatted in the room.

"Ah! This is the taste!"

He sipped like a drop of ant's tears, but his words were those of a heavy drinker.

"Anyway, my father. He's way too obsessed with his children!"

"Hmm? I know someone like that too."

Strangely, we hit it off.

We started talking by complaining about our fathers.

"My father made me eat all kinds of elixirs when I was young, which made me unable to drink alcohol."

"My father even followed me to the bathroom. Once, I fainted while pooping and almost drowned."

"Big brother, that's a bit... inappropriate to bring up while drinking."

"What?"

"Anyway, when I was young, my father wouldn't let me make friends. He said I should focus on martial arts first."

"I secretly tried to learn strange martial arts and almost died several times."

"Almost? You make it sound like someone else's story."

"Um, yeah, I did."

"Strange big brother. Anyway, I have quite a talent for martial arts. I love it, and I don't really like going outside. So I followed his orders and practiced hard to become a peak martial artist..."

I let him talk while eating the food.

Suddenly, Aekyeonho slammed the table and shouted angrily.

"Damn! Now he says I'm of marriageable age and should get married quickly! How can I get married alone? I need a partner! Do you know what he said when I told him that?"

"What did he say?"

"Well, he said I should find my own partner and kicked me out of the house!"

"Seriously? So you came out into the world for the first time at this age to find a partner?"

"Um, yeah, something like that."

How pathetic.

That's the most ridiculous reason I've ever heard for someone entering the martial world.

'Sure enough, he's a strange guy.'

I suddenly had a thought and asked.

"But someone like you, shouldn't there be a line of people wanting to marry you? Your family is good, and you're handsome."

Aekyeonho blushed and shook his head.

"No, not really. My father is quite scary, and... well, I'm a bit..."

He paused, then scratched the back of his head and laughed.

"My standards are quite high. Hehe."

"Damn."

I chuckled and took a sip of my drink.

Listening to Aekyeonho talk about his father, I naturally thought of my own.

"Why are you sighing?"

"Just thinking. So, where are you headed?"

"Qinglong Academy."

My expression stiffened.

No way...

It's only a few days' journey from here to Nanchang, where Qinglong Academy is located.

I asked, hoping it wasn't true.

"By coincidence, I'm also going to Qinglong Academy. But you're not going there to enroll, right?"

"That's the same for you, big brother. Oh, no way...!"

And we both shouted at the same time.

"Are you also going for the entrance exam?"

"Are you going to seduce women?"

What a ridiculous thing to say.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him. Aekyeonho, embarrassed, cleared his throat and quietly said,

"Ahem. I'm also going for the entrance exam. I'm applying to be a new instructor at Qinglong Academy this year."

No wonder he was so enthusiastic about what the fat guy said earlier.

"Why would you think I'm going to seduce women?"

"Um? Me? When?"

It was too late to pretend.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at him, then suddenly drew my sword and pointed it at him.

"Are you planning to... seduce the students? Are you really that crazy?"

"Cough! No! What are you talking about! I would never do that!"

"Shut up! I'll cut off your balls to save the girls in the martial world!"

"Really, I wouldn't do that!"

Aekyeonho had to explain himself for a while.

But he couldn't change my skeptical gaze.

"So, your father told you not to come home until you find a proper fiancée? That's why you're going to the academy to find a good partner?"

"Yes!"

"Why Qinglong Academy?"

"I've always admired elegant and intellectual people."

He scratched his cheek and laughed, looking embarrassed.

His reaction didn't seem fake, so I sheathed my sword.

"So, what's your purpose for applying, big brother?"

I could answer confidently.

"I'm going to make money. My goal is to become a part-time instructor and earn a lot of money."

"You're a materialist."

"You take good care of your balls. If you mess with the kids, I'll cut them off right there."

"Really, I wouldn't do that!"

As the drinks kept coming and the night grew deeper, we decided to travel together to Nanchang, where Qinglong Academy is located.

Even though we would be competitors...

'Anyway, there will be many applicants, so it doesn't matter.'

More importantly, I needed the travel expenses and the meat dishes for each meal.

Traveling with this guy might not be boring.

"Hehe. Traveling with Big Brother Baek, we'll have a line of women following us!"

...Really?

* * *

A few days later, we arrived in Nanchang.

"Uncle Baek!"

"Su-ryong. It's been a while."

The man who greeted me with a broad smile was Gao Zhuyue.

Nanchang is the largest city in Jiangxi, home to both the Jiangxi branch of the Martial World Alliance and Qinglong Academy.

I came to see Gao Zhuyue first because I had something to receive from him.

"I heard from Wu Heng that you were coming. I already wrote the recommendation letter for you."

"Thank you."

Gao Zhuyue looked more tired than a few months ago.

I carefully put away the recommendation letter he gave me.

Gao Zhuyue looked at me with satisfaction. He had taken some time out of his busy schedule to meet me.

"You look better. Is this young man a friend?"

"Yes. A friend I met on the way."

"I'm Aekyeonho, a newcomer to the martial world."

"Are you from the Shandong Aek family?"

We chatted for a while. Gao Zhuyue said he had a lot to do and needed to leave quickly.

He patted my shoulder and said,

"The recommendation letter is just a recommendation letter. All the applicants probably have one. I'm not the most influential, but I'm still grateful you wrote it. I'll have to rely on my own abilities for the rest."

The criteria for selecting new instructors aren't just about martial arts.

They include background, experience, and interview results.

Gao Zhuyue hinted that the competition would be quite fierce this year.

"Right. I trust you. I'd like to chat more, but I'm very busy. I have to go now. It's been a while since I've had a moment to myself."

"You seem very busy."

"I'm always busy. The martial world is full of incidents, but there are few people to handle them, and the salary is peanuts... Ahem."

He cleared his throat, realizing he shouldn't be telling us this.

"Anyway, I'd like to treat you to a meal, but..."

"Don't worry about it."

"Let's celebrate your success next time. I hope you both get in."

"Yes! Thank you!"

Gao Zhuyue stood up, and we bowed.

But after a few steps, he turned around and came back to us.

"There's a way to score big points in the interview... Su-ryong, would you do me a favor?"

"Huh? A favor?"

"It's... about this..."

Gao Zhuyue hesitated, deep in thought, then cautiously began.

"Recently, a civilian was killed by a martial artist."

"..."

Unlike Aekyeonho, who was shocked, I wasn't surprised.

In the evil sects, it was common for civilians to be killed by martial artists.

But Gao Zhuyue looked around and lowered his voice.

"But the martial arts used... might be demon arts."

"..."

This surprised me.