Chapter 231: Chapter 228- The Underground Academy

Sol silently looked at the horizon where Woo-Seong had been taken away before he asked.

“Brother Gion, why is it that we’re the ones who are investigating Geon-Soo’s death? Shouldn’t the Elders be the ones to do so?”

Gion stood behind him with his hands hidden in his sleeves. After looking at Sol’s back, he responded.

“You know the answer to that question, right?”

Sol paused before he nodded slowly.

Indeed, he knew the reason for such inaction from the Academy. Perhaps if it were someone like Woo-Seong who was killed, then they would see the need to step in themselves.

Geon-Soo’s background was outstanding as his mother was a high-standing figure in the Emei Sect, while his father was the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect. But because of the circumstances of his birth, he was considered to be of a lower status than someone like Woo-Seong.

His mediocre talent didn’t help either. If he were somewhat talented, maybe his death would have warranted more attention. But this was just the nature of the cultivation world.

“However, don’t be mistaken that they aren’t involved somewhat. They’re busy covering their image in the outside world. Since it got out that a disciple was killed while in the Academy, their reputation would take a hit. Perhaps if we fail to find the real culprit, they would pin it on you and deal out an appropriate punishment. Or given your reputation, maybe they’ll pin it on someone else.”

Sol scratched his head.

“The inner workings of the Academy are so politically driven. I understand now why Brother Byeong-Ho didn’t want to enter such an environment. You’ll end up being tangled in so many schemes that you wouldn’t even have the time to cultivate.”

“Don’t such responsibilities come with being a genius?”

Sol turned to Gion and said with a smile.

“I guess you’re right. I, too, will eventually need to navigate such things in the future.”

Gion swept his gaze across Sol before saying.

“You probably won’t have an issue with that given your carrot-and-stick personality.”

Sol blinked.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Gion didn’t respond and only stared at Sol silently.

Sol got slightly embarrassed by Gion’s silent stare, and he scratched his cheek.

“Ehem.”

After clearing his throat, Sol changed the topic.

“Shouldn’t we be heading to the Administrative Mountain to check those false records?”

Gion shook his head before he turned to leave the courtyard.

“We aren’t going to the Administrative Mountain.”

“We aren’t?”

Sol tilted his head in confusion and followed Gion out of the courtyard.

….

…

..

“Why are we here?”

Sol said as he looked at the small, unassuming three-story Pavilion in front of him.

They were currently on the Emei Sect’s Mountain, where their Dual Cultivation Pavilion was located.

Sol had no idea why they came here instead of the Administrative Mountain.

Gion, without looking back at Sol, said.

“Even though this place isn’t a secret and any disciple has the right to enter, I’d like for Brother Sol not to mention its existence carelessly.”

This statement by Gion made Sol even more curious than before.

The two then went to enter the Pavilion, but suddenly, two disciples came walking out.

“Oh, Brother Sol, what a coincidence.”

Dae-Hyun said with surprise when he saw Sol. Following closely behind him was Wei-Sun.

Sol perked up, and he cupped his fist and bowed while saying.

“Brother Dae-Hyun, I regret we had to meet in these circumstances to tell you this, but I unfortunately have to retract our agreement.”

Dae-Hyun paused in his steps and looked at Sol. He was smiling, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“It’s fine, you’ve probably already sold all the medicinal plants you have to those lowly Sects and Clans in Pearl City.”

Sol sighed in his heart when he heard Dae-Hyun’s words. They were obviously said with dissatisfaction behind them.

But Sol had no way to remedy the situation. The medicinal plants he had prepared to sell to Dae-Hyun were given to Yoon-Jae so his Uncle Master could concoct pills to help Little Zeel. He only had a little remaining.

“If there is time, I’ll visit Brother Dae-Hyun to make it up to you.”

“…Fine.”

Dae-Hyun said with a sigh.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll be waiting for you to make it up to me then.”

Sol nodded before he watched Dae-Hyun and Wei-Sun walk off.

He didn’t need to be so polite or apologetic for breaking his agreement with Dae-Hyun, but rather than making their relationship sour over this, he could squeeze them for more resources in the future.

“See, not everyone would be able to do what you just did without Dae-Hyun writing them off completely. You’re already expertly navigating your way through those muddy waters.”

“…Yeah.”

Sol answered Gion without much thought.

“Hey, is that him? The one who killed Woo-Seong’s Brother?”

“Yeah, that’s Brother Sol.”

Sol’s ears twitched, but he didn’t look over at the two disciples who were walking by.

However, Gion glanced at them with a frown. The two female disciples, seeing this, realized they had been heard and hurriedly scurried off.

“Let’s go.”

Sol nodded and followed behind Gion.

Upon entering the small Pavilion, the first thing Sol saw was… nothing.

The entire first floor of this Pavilion was empty.

The only thing in the middle of the room was a plain desk and chair, behind which sat a female disciple from the Emei Sect.

Seeing Gion, she showed a surprised expression before she hurriedly stood up.

“Senior Brother Gion, what brings you here?”

“The false record you gave me of Brother Sol’s Teleportation to the Irregular Dharma Pavilion Mountain; I need all the names of the people who entered this building when the report was made.”

“Wah-A false record?”

The girl was shocked by Gion’s claim.

Waving his hand dismissively, Gion said.

“I know it wasn’t you, just bring me the list of names.”

The girl nodded before turning and walking to a certain position behind her. Afterward, she formed a hand seal and pointed at the ground.

A yellow rune appeared on the ground where she pointed, and Sol realized that the rune was connected to the Formation that surrounded this Pavilion.

Sol watched as the girl took out a jade slip and placed it against the yellow rune.

She was recording the list of names onto the jade slip.

Sol was confused at first, but he quickly came to realize what was happening.

“Brother Gion, does our Disciple Token track our movements in the Academy?”

Gion nodded.

“Each Pavilion built by the Academy has a Formation around it that records the Disciple Token of a disciple when they enter it. The Emei Sect is the one who oversees these things.”

Sol nodded, but another thought suddenly came to him that made his expression change.

“Brother Gion… does our Disciple Tokens track our location outside of the Academy?”

Gion remained silent for a moment, then said.

“You’ll find out soon.”

Sol, hearing this, had his blood run cold. If that really was the case, then did his Disciple Token record their movements while they were robbing the Dimension? Or worse, did it record Sol’s being at the valley where he battled Elder Hyun-Joo?

’This isn’t good.’

As Sol was thinking this, the girl came back to hand Gion the jade slip.

“The day the false record was made was the twelfth day of the sixth month. All the names of the disciples who entered this Pavilion have been recorded on the jade slip as Senior Brother Gion requested.”

After taking the jade slip from the girl, Gion asked.

“Did you record the Elders’ names as well?”

The girl nodded.

“Good.”

Gion then turned and walked towards the stairs leading up to the second floor.

However, he suddenly paused at the base of the staircase and flipped his hand to take out his Disciple Token.

Sol watched as Gion’s Disciple Token glowed before the staircase disappeared to reveal another staircase leading down.

It was an illusion Formation. One that was at a high level where Sol wasn’t able to see through it. Perhaps the only way he could was if he fully activated his Heavenly Eyes.

Gion unhesitatingly headed down the staircase. Sol followed behind him; his curiosity growing as to why there was a place like this on the Emei Sect Pavilion Mountain.

After walking down the staircase, which was illuminated by the pearls on the walls, the two came face to face with a massive underground cave where disciples were walking around busily.

Some disciples were seated on desks and chairs, while others were standing around the giant pillars that seemed to hold up this underground cave.

“Wah, just what is this place?”

Sol was completely taken aback by this scene.

Just what exactly was the purpose of a place like this?

Sol looked around at all the disciples, and he realized they were either disciples from the Emei Sect or the Jieun Clan.

He also spotted a few others from the Disciplinary Pavilion in white robes, but rarely did he spot a disciple from the other Pavilions.

“Come take a seat. I’ll explain what this place is before we go through the list.”

Gion sat down, and Sol took a seat across from him.

Sol was still looking around as Gion said.

“This place is called the Underground Academy. The disciples from the Jieun Clan and the Emie Sect who work here make sure the Martial Alliance Academy above can operate smoothly.”

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