Winter approached quickly.
Cold winds were blowing fiercely, yet the Jeongmu Academy was hotter than ever.
For them, this time was the so-called “forging period” where they trained and prepared themselves for the new school year.
“Huff, huff…”
It was the same for Baek Woo Jin.
The ones he would face in the future were those who had honed their skills over many years in the martial arts world and gained recognition for their abilities. While it was true that he was achieving progress faster than anyone else, he couldn’t afford to be complacent.
The speed of his internal energy growth was relatively quick. It was no different from training all day long if he just drank alcohol and circulated his energy, so it was far more efficient than those who practiced only at set times.
What Baek Woo Jin lacked right now was his physical body itself. Although “Baek Woo Jin” had put in considerable effort, compared to the life he had lived before, his current level was far from enough. Moreover, while his efforts were commendable, he had become so absorbed in his own hard work that he failed to consider efficiency.
In many ways, he’s a frustrating and pitiful guy.
The slowness of his growth was partly due to the unreasonable settings of NovelGod’s drift and certain flaws in his plot, but about one part of the blame also lay with Baek Woo Jin’s inefficient training methods.
The first place Baek Woo Jin headed after deciding to enhance his physical body was the blacksmith’s shop. There, he had heavy and thick bracelets and anklets made to wear on his arms and legs, and he began wearing them all day long.
Moving his now heavier body required much more strength and stamina than usual. Even something as simple as lifting a spoon to eat consumed more energy and muscle than it did for others, and as a result, his growth began to accelerate naturally.
“Hoo!”
Since late autumn, he had been tormenting his body in every possible way. Now, in the heart of winter, solid muscles were starting to form on Baek Woo Jin’s once slender figure.
As the lines of his physique thickened, his appearance which had once resembled a delicate nobleman began to look more masculine. Even the male students who had previously mocked him out of jealousy and called him “male courtesan” could no longer utter those words.
“Ugh…!”
Baek Woo Jin who had roughly wiped away the sweat dripping down in the middle of winter turned his head.
Shin Ye Hwa and Jegal Yeon Ji, who had come almost every day since he began his training, were also drenched in sweat.
“Hah!”
Shin Ye Hwa, who had been building her strength to swing that large crescent blade, was moving her body with vigor, while Jegal Yeon Ji, whose body was far from strong, was struggling until now.
“If it’s too hard, why not take a break?”
Shin Ye Hwa asked as she glanced at Jegal Yeon Ji, who let out groans of pain every day without fail. In order to capture the atmosphere Baek Woo Jin had mentioned, it was clear they needed to be alone, yet despite suffering from muscle pain, she occupied a corner of Baek Woo Jin’s private training room without missing a single day.
“I… I can do more…!”
Jegal Yeon Ji knew full well what Shin Ye Hwa’s intentions were, so she couldn’t give up her spot.
Don’t let your guard down!
Though things were awkward between them now, Baek Woo Jin and Shin Ye Hwa had been childhood friends for nearly their entire lives. It was impossible to predict when even a small moment could ignite a simmering flame between them.
Each day, sparks would fly between the two as their gazes clashed. Sometimes, it would escalate into a sparring match. One would focus on an aggressive attack, while the other would dodge and counter, leading to interesting situations that occurred often.
Of course, Jegal Yeon Ji always claimed the final victory. After all, Baek Woo Jin’s favor leaned a bit more toward her.
“That’s enough for today.”
Baek Woo Jin, who had been practicing from morning until noon and filled his stomach with the fasting pill provided in the private training room, stopped his training much earlier than usual.
“Is something going on? You’re stopping way earlier than usual.”
“I have a meeting.”
“Ah! Today’s that day, huh…”
Those who earned the titles of Dragon and Phoenix in the Dragon and Phoenix Martial Arts Tournament were given a special assignment in the winter.
Starting from their second year, they had to form groups to carry out an additional group project.
Today’s meeting was a preliminary step for that. It was meant to figure out who each person wanted in their group, and how many preferences overlapped, in order to coordinate things smoothly for the first round.
But that wasn’t all. The Dragons and Phoenixes held meetings on various topics as well. Since they would be the leaders of the future academy life, they gathered to discuss different matters.
Because of this, the students referred to it as a small version of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering hosted by the Moorim Alliance; they called it either the Small Dragon Gathering or the Small Phoenix Gathering. The name depended on whether there were more Dragons or Phoenixes in that year’s group.
“Umm…”
Shin Ye Hwa gently tugged on Baek Woo Jin’s sleeve.
“You… you’ll pick me, right?”
Suddenly, she felt anxious. There was a strange sense of distance coming from the changed Baek Woo Jin. It was as if he had intentionally created that distance.
That growing gap made her uneasy. Though she had managed not to voice it until now, she couldn’t help but worry each night before falling asleep, wondering what she would do if he didn’t choose her for his group.
Her anxiety was sharp and well-founded.
What should I do about her?
In fact, Baek Woo Jin was conflicted. Whether or not to have her in his group was something he hadn’t yet decided.
He wasn’t convinced that forcing some distance between them would improve the obsessive behavior she was already showing. In fact, he feared it might only make things worse.
But keeping her close made him feel as if he was doing something wrong. He couldn’t return her feelings, and just by keeping her near, it felt like he was giving her false hope.
“Well…”
Baek Woo Jin mumbled his response. He couldn’t give her any clear answer for now.
“Hey, don’t joke around…”
She tried to smile while shaking the hem of his sleeve in her hand, but her expression looked pitiful.
Baek Woo Jin gently pulled his sleeve from her grasp.
“I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Oh…”
With her heart heavy with anxiety, she could only watch as Baek Woo Jin walked away.
As he stepped outside, the cold air crept into his chest. Though he felt it, it wasn’t as bad as he expected. His body, at its peak, wasn’t completely immune to extreme temperatures, but it was resistant enough to protect him from intense cold or heat.
On his way to the dormitory to change out of his sweaty clothes, Baek Woo Jin suddenly stopped.
“Big brother?”
Baek Moo Hyeok was lingering near the dormitory.
“You’re here.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Yes.”
His face was more somber than usual which meant there was something he wanted to say.
“Today is the day of the first Small Dragon Gathering, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you decided on your group members?”
“Uh… more or less.”
From his awkward smile, Baek Woo Jin could already guess what he wanted to talk about.
“Is Ye Hwa included in that group?”
“I’m still thinking about it.”
Baek Woo Jin answered honestly, which caused Baek Moo Hyeok to let out a small sigh before speaking.
“If possible, could you include Ye Hwa in your group?”
The expected request made Baek Woo Jin’s expression tighten slightly.
“Honestly, I don’t understand why you’re pushing for this.”
Baek Moo Hyeok had made it blatantly clear, both through words and actions, that he was trying to connect Shin Ye Hwa and Baek Woo Jin. To Baek Woo Jin, it just didn’t make sense why his brother was so insistent.
“Did Ye Hwa ask you to help her or something?”
Baek Woo Jin asked, but Baek Moo Hyeok shook his head.
“No, that’s not it. It’s just…”
He continued with a complicated expression on his face.
“I’ve watched for a long time how much you both cared for each other.”
There had been some confusion, but no one had seen better than Baek Moo Hyeok just how deeply Shin Ye Hwa cared for and looked after Baek Woo Jin over the years.
Baek Woo Jin too remembered that moment, so he hesitated to make a choice.
“That’s why I’m even more conflicted. Honestly, right now… I don’t have the heart to respond to Ye Hwa.”
He couldn’t respond to her feelings because he was no longer the same person she once knew.
“I wonder if keeping her close is nothing more than giving her false hope.”
“I see…”
Baek Moo Hyeok nodded as if he understood.
“You and Ye Hwa have known each other for a very long time.”
“That’s right.”
“Which is why I think a little confusion in your feelings is understandable.”
Just like Shin Ye Hwa had once been confused, thinking her heart was with Baek Moo Hyeok instead of Baek Woo Jin.
“You too might feel that way for now, but what if it’s just a momentary confusion?”
It was something that didn’t apply to Baek Woo Jin in his current state. However, from Baek Moo Hyeok’s perspective, he didn’t know the full story so it was a reasonable thought.
“So, I hope not only Ye Hwa but you as well can take some time.”
Time to keep her by his side and confirm his own feelings a bit more.
“Even if you’re sure your heart won’t change, I think that’s the right thing to do.”
“Why?”
“Do you really think that just by pushing her away, her heart will also give up?”
In that thought, Baek Woo Jin and Baek Moo Hyeok were in agreement.
The obsession had already begun, and Baek Woo Jin wondered if trying to forcibly push her away would only fuel her resistance even more.
Baek Moo Hyeok smiled faintly and patted Baek Woo Jin’s shoulder.
“With this, I won’t interfere between the two of you anymore. Whatever happens from here… it’s now up to you both.”
“…….”
“After all, we’re all adults now.”
He realized that any further involvement would be excessive. Even so, the reason he had decided to meddle one last time was because he had been the one to urge Shin Ye Hwa to confess.
That push seemed to have only distanced the two of them, leaving Baek Moo Hyeok with a heavy heart. That weight had led him here.
“My part ends here. I hope you make a decision you won’t regret. And if you need any help with the group project, feel free to come to me anytime.”
Leaving those words behind, Baek Moo Hyeok quietly departed.
Left alone, Baek Woo Jin ran a hand through his hair, then headed back to the dormitory. After changing clothes, he took a sip from the gourd he had and made his way toward the main building where the Small Dragon Gathering was being held.
A plaque with the name “Small Dragon Gathering” was hung outside the meeting room on the second floor. Setting aside his lingering thoughts, Baek Woo Jin pushed the door open.
Bang!
The door swung open harder than he expected.
He saw nine men and women seated widely apart around a long, round table.
It seemed like he was the last to arrive.
A single chair sat empty at the highest seat. Baek Woo Jin naturally took that seat and raised his hand toward the group, who were watching him with a variety of expressions.
“Hey everyone, how’s it going?”
The expression on everyone’s face changed from moment to moment in response to his bright smile and greeting.
The Small Dragon Gathering had begun.
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