Time flew like an arrow.
“What’s this! The weapon management team here!”
“The supply officer said to leave it as it will be recycled next month!”
“Get rid of it! How can you leave such dirt when the princess is visiting!”
“Understood!”
With Princess Yuya’s visit, meaning the selection exam for the Commander of the Golden Guards was just around the corner, the Golden Guards were in a frenzy preparing for the final touches.
“Clean up!”
“Throw it away!”
“Repair it!”
The entire Golden Guards were bustling with activity for an unexpected makeover. Song An-seong was running around the Golden Guards all day long, leading the efforts.
“Wait, does it make sense that there’s not enough space in the storage? According to the ledger, there should be 30% empty right now.”
“That’s… it seems that there are miscellaneous items that can’t be recorded…”
“Organize it immediately. What are these unlisted items? Aren’t those just the result of lazy administrative officers who didn’t record small items? Tell the officials to stay up all night and finish recording everything by tomorrow morning!”
“Understood!”
Song An-seong held his throbbing head. As the entire Golden Guards were rummaged through, old remnants popped out everywhere, and with work continuously piling up, it was no wonder his head was aching.
“I need to cool my head for a moment.”
Of course, cooling his head didn’t mean taking a break. He planned to head to the training center, which was currently the most important place in the Golden Guards, to keep an eye on the situation.
While the entire Golden Guards was in a flurry, the hottest spot was undoubtedly the Golden Guards training center.
Everyone was passionately pushed by the instructors and ramping up their final training.
“Hm.”
Song An-seong nodded. Though the ongoing batch had been average in abilities compared to previous ones before the mock battle, after the mock battle, they had engaged in training more passionately than any other batch, showing results that were now becoming apparent.
The trainees weren’t going to be embarrassed compared to any other batch.
Of course, among those well-trained trainees, there were some who really stood out.
“Do not attach commands to 3, 6, and 9. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
“Prepare for the 8th motion!”
“Ah!!”
This was still the Twelfth Squad.
The satisfied expression Song An-seong had just been wearing shifted to one filled with concern as he sighed.
Now, the skills of the Twelfth Squad were clearly superior to all other squads.
After the mock battle, other training squads grimaced and worked hard to catch up, but while other squads were just starting to sprint, the Twelfth Squad’s growth rate had already accelerated.
Although the growth rate of other squads wasn’t bad, the acceleration of the Twelfth Squad’s growth was on an entirely different trajectory.
It was apparent to anyone that the Twelfth Squad was the front-runner for victory.
“I wonder what the external advisor is planning.”
The operation to tarnish Ho Cheon-an’s reputation had begun due to an imperial decree. Even though that decree was unofficial, it was still an imperial decree. Was Ho Cheon-an going to openly defy such a decree?
Song An-seong looked at Ho Cheon-an from a distance. He had tried talking to him several times, but all Ho Cheon-an kept repeating was that he had not forgotten his original goal.
Frustrated, he had even complained to Song Chang-sik, but as the commander, Song Chang-sik merely expressed respect for the decisions of the external advisor and didn’t take any action.
“Well, it’s his decision…”
Song An-seong shook his head. He had tried to persuade him enough; talking about it again now would only be a waste of time. He was far too busy for that kind of waste right now.
“Next is the inspection of the exam venues, I guess…”
Thinking of the pile of inspection items flooding his mind, Song An-seong sighed and resumed his steps.
The group exams were looming with half of the trainees expected to be eliminated.
*
Spiritual medicine of the Seven Attributes.
Sun, Moon, Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth.
The Yang Attribute Spiritual Medicine was handled by the Jeomchang Faction.
The Yin Attribute Spiritual Medicine was resolved with confiscated property from the Hwang Gold Clan.
The Fire Attribute Spiritual Medicine could now be obtained by going back to the Jeomchang Faction.
The Water Attribute Spiritual Medicine had been synthesized from Hwari’s Inner Dan.
The Wood Attribute Spiritual Medicine was purchased from a merchant robbed by bandits.
The Metal Attribute Spiritual Medicine was also resolved with confiscated property from the Hwang Gold Clan.
And today, I visited the Imperial Palace Treasury to procure the final piece of the Seven Attributes: the Earth Attribute Spiritual Medicine.
I had high hopes about the Imperial Palace Treasury, but I never actually entered it.
Usually, in martial arts stories, characters stumble upon extravagant swords and spiritual medicines while wandering about, but…
The reality I faced in the Martial World involved waiting in the reception room at the entrance while the treasury keeper fetched the items I desired.
“This is a talisman made from Eternal Pure Earth. It can be said to have the most unmistakable Earth Attribute.”
“I see.”
I merely nodded at the treasury keeper’s words.
Since it was pure dirt, it made sense that it had 100% Earth Attribute. Even when I was a 15-year-old Ho Cheon-an living in poverty, I never had to eat dirt, but now I had to eat dirt to become a Peak Expert.
With that, I had used both tokens received as a reward from the audience.
I felt relieved as the burdensome tokens disappeared from my possession.
“Congratulations, Senior. Since the Jeomchang Faction won’t mess with the spiritual medicine, you’ve gathered all the Seven Attributes.”
“Thanks.”
Now, the Black Cat had become fully accustomed to wearing the veil and controlling her qi with her eyes. Despite wearing a veil, she had mastered the art of eating without showing any gaps.
Now she could travel around normally wearing a veil.
“Tomorrow marks the end for the Golden Guards’ instructors, right?”
“To wrap it up perfectly, we have to finish the exams and the assignments.”
“Hmm.”
Today marked the end of four weeks of training.
Tomorrow would be the day of the exams that would determine the rise and fall of the trainees.
As soon as the exams concluded, their fates would be determined, but the instructors’ missions wouldn’t end there. Even for the trainees whose fates had been decided, there were still things to take care of for about a week.
First, there was the ability examination, second, the squad training and group examination, and third, upon completing the training process, they would officially become part of the Golden Guards.
Before this third training process commenced, instructors were required to manage the trainees. If they passed, they needed to manage the trainees, and even if they failed, they had tasks to carry out. They would have to send the trainees back to their regions or persuade them to join the Imperial Army. Administrative processing would need to be done as well.
“The princess is coming, so make sure to comport yourselves well. If you get too friendly, it could be a big problem!”
I forced a smile. The day when the Black Cat dragged me to the gambling den. After the gambling was done, the two left me and chatted for a while. Something must have happened between them at that time.
They probably shared secrets with one another. Until then, the Black Cat might have only seen Hyeok Gi-rin as just one of the royals, but now she clearly recognized him as a prince.
If that’s the case, did the Black Cat also reveal her secrets to Hyeok Gi-rin? I was curious if she confided about the Wolbok-dang or her particular circumstances.
“How far did you discuss with Great Hero Hyeok Gi-rin?”
“You don’t need to know that, Senior. It’s a secret among girls!”
“Alright, I got it. You all do as you please.”
I had asked occasionally over the past four weeks, but the Black Cat had shut me out and revealed nothing.
“Don’t worry about unnecessary things and focus on tomorrow’s tasks, Senior!”
I regretted asking as all I got were nagging responses.
“Tomorrow…”
Yeah. Tomorrow is indeed important.
It’s the day to reap the rewards of the month-long effort invested.
“Right. Since tomorrow is important, I should head up and absorb the spiritual medicine quickly.”
“Senior… is that really how you treat an important day?”
The Black Cat looked at me incredulously, but I thought differently.
The dice had already been cast. I was simply waiting for the rolled dice to stop moving.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the results were already out.
So now, I needed to prepare for the next steps. Absorbing the spiritual medicine as quickly as possible was the best way to prepare for the future.
“I’ll eat dirt and go to sleep.”
“…What?”
I stood up, presenting the Black Cat with a puzzled expression.
*
“Princess, please!”
“Everyone, bow your heads!”
Everyone present in the examination hall knelt in unison.
Shuffle. Shuffle.
Despite having over a thousand people, an eerie silence fell, with not even a single breath heard, while the sound of golden carpets being walked on echoed through until it reached the high podium.
“Commander.”
“Understood! Commander of the Golden Guards, Song Chang-sik, responds to the princess’s call!”
“I’m truly pleased to be so warmly welcomed by the Golden Guards. I’m worried about the efforts of the Golden Guards, so please allow me to dismiss formalities.”
“Everyone, stand up!”
“Understood!”
Feeling a mix of tremors, the trainees, instructors, and Golden Guards stood at attention.
Then upon witnessing Princess Yuya, they internally gasped in admiration.
Princess Yuya, adorned in a splendid golden attire and all kinds of luxurious decorations, had enough charisma to overshadow everyone. Nevertheless, the warmth she radiated felt more significant than that.
The overwhelming aura existed alongside her gentle and embracing nature. While it wasn’t intense enough to be described as powerful, it was sufficient to leave a good impression on everyone’s hearts.
Princess Yuya smiled lightly as she slowly surveyed the trainees and instructors, and for a moment, her gaze met Ho Cheon-an’s before naturally dispersing.
“It’s reassuring to see not only the Golden Guards but even the momentum of the trainees being honored in this way.”
“Understood! Your praise is truly glorious, Princess!”
“Wow!”
“Hehe, rambling too much isn’t good, is it? I’ll be watching the results of the trainees’ sweat and efforts. Everyone, give it your best!”
“Understood!”
The trainees, motivated by the fact that the princess was watching, answered in loud voices. Regardless of the battalion, a firm resolve appeared on the faces of the trainees.
Feeling that momentum among the trainees, Song Chang-sik raised his hand and shouted.
“Begin the selection exam!”
Waaaaaaah!
