Chapter 912

After the final exams ended and the grades were confirmed, summer vacation would begin immediately.

Though the exact dates hadn’t been set, we would have a few days off before starting the training camp.

In order to finalize the schedules and secure the locations for the Youth Exchange representatives, we needed to plan ahead.

Since time was tight, it seemed that the student council had already started preparing during the exam period.

Yeom Jun-yeol shared his plan to select the participants based on the competition categories and then organize training accordingly.

"The schedule management is entrusted to the students, but let me know if you need any help from the school," he said.

"…I’m looking for someone to act as the coach. Please check the teachers’ schedules. The faculty advisor has agreed to participate," I replied.

The old tiger’s presence in this room made it hard to tell whether he was here as a senior or as the chairman.

Yeom Jun-yeol smiled awkwardly as he made his request, and Huang Ji-ho quickly took action.

Without any intention of hiding his use of a clone, Huang Ji-ho immediately sent a hologram through his device.

"I’ve put together a preliminary list. It will increase once the camp duration is finalized," Huang Ji-ho said.

"…Thanks. I’ll use it to contact the teachers," I replied.

Their conversation was awkward, but with Yeom Jun-yeol’s effort, it moved along somewhat smoothly.

While Yeom Jun-yeol was confirming the list, I turned on my device and quickly wrote up a training plan.

Most of the selected participants were my playable characters, so I already had some thoughts, and creating a training plan didn’t take long.

Honestly, anyone who had played Plmago properly would be able to do this.

You have to create a training plan that fits each character’s traits and then execute it to level up all of them.

"Jo Eui-shin, you’ve already written the plan? That was quick," Yeom Jun-yeol said.

It was slower than the old tiger’s use of a clone to compile a list, but still fast.

Instead of responding to Huang Ji-ho’s comment, I sent a hologram to Yeom Jun-yeol.

"I’ve created a training plan based on the categories. Since the participants haven’t selected their events yet and my personal opinions are heavily reflected, there will likely be many adjustments needed," I explained.

"To do it this quickly… Thanks, Eui-shin. This will help us finalize the schedule quickly!" Yeom Jun-yeol responded, expressing his gratitude.

He sincerely thanked me, even though Huang Ji-ho was right there.

"I wanted to ask my teacher. Thank you," he added.

"Hahaha! The sight of Jo Eui-shin receiving gratitude from his disciple is quite amusing. There are many shameless dragons, but this descendant knows manners," Huang Ji-ho said, observing with interest before bursting into laughter. I ignored him.

Yeom Jun-yeol seemed to still feel Huang Ji-ho’s presence strongly, but he would likely get used to it soon.

‘If the student council plans the schedule according to this, it will be easier to make strategic moves.’

In the training plan I created, participants who chose certain categories or positions were given slightly longer personal training times.

Though no one had decided on their categories yet, I could already guess based on the participants’ tendencies and skills.

I planned to actively engage and observe the training process, particularly focusing on those who had shown weaknesses during the selection rounds.

"Jo Eui-shin, what are you thinking again? Don’t forget your body isn’t fully healed yet," Huang Ji-ho warned.

"…I was thinking about the letters used in the Inung Eating link," I replied.

I wasn’t lying since I had been thinking about Yeom Jun-yeol’s first consultation as well.

Huang Ji-ho’s unnecessary words led to Yeom Jun-yeol apologizing for the extended consultation, but I relaxed and handed him a cup of tea while the old tiger observed us both.

I decided to listen closely to Yeom Jun-yeol’s details.

"According to Huang Long, it doesn’t necessarily have to be that letter for the Inung Eating link. In fact, depending on the caster, using something else could be more effective," Yeom Jun-yeol explained.

The first person to discover the Inung Eating link was the group led by Kim Chan-wang.

The seniors used a code that they created themselves to gather the Inung for the Inung Eating link.

To an outsider, the code was so complex it was nearly impossible to decipher. The phrase "Jeogal Jaegeol" written in that madman’s code solidified their bond.

Since Kim Chan-wang, the founder, used it, it made sense, but it was easy to guess that another medium would be more efficient.

‘Huang Long must have noticed that too and advised Kim Shin-rok to try a different medium.’

The medium used in the Dragon Palace was the one that Kim Shin-rok had written beforehand.

Kim Shin-rok had used that code to write a four-character idiom involving the tiger and dragon.

After returning from the Dragon Palace, I asked Kim Shin-rok what he had written at the time, and instead of Kim Shin-rok, Yongi-gun answered freely.

The characters Kim Shin-rok had written were "Yonghaeng Hobu" (龍行虎步), meaning to move like a dragon and walk like a tiger.

It made sense that if Kim Shin-rok did the Inung Eating link in the Dragon Palace, he would have linked with either a dragon or tiger.

‘It worked then, but we’ll need a stronger medium. Kim Shin-rok and Huang Long are both ancient beings, so they likely didn’t struggle much. If we find a better-fitting medium, it will definitely unleash more power.’

Anyone familiar with the Inung Eating link would think the same.

Especially Yeom Jun-yeol, with his strong desire to improve, would have been actively seeking out a new medium.

After his defeat to Ju Su-hyeok, he must have pushed himself even harder to become stronger, and would have likely been more proactive in this matter.

"I’ve practiced the Inung Eating link with the dragons and with my older brother and sister, but they’re so familiar with me that it feels like they adjust to fit me…" Yeom Jun-yeol began.

"So, did Huang Long suggest that Jo Eui-shin should find a new medium with you?" Huang Ji-ho cut in.

As if agreeing with Huang Ji-ho’s comment, Yeom Jun-yeol nodded slightly.

"Yeah, I was told it would be better to consult with Eui-shin, even though I understand the Inung Eating link, since it’s still relatively new to him," Yeom Jun-yeol explained.

"Let’s look for that new medium together. How about we meet during breaks in the training camp? Would that work?" I suggested.

"Of course!" Yeom Jun-yeol said with a bright smile.

Even though he had just been asked to sacrifice his break time, he seemed so happy that helping him was only natural.

As I filled in my personal schedule with the plan involving Yeom Jun-yeol, Huang Ji-ho grumbled.

"It’s necessary, but I don’t like that there are dragons in the background."

"Shall we start studying then?"

"Yeah, feel free to ask me anything. If it’s a subject I’ve taken, I can answer easily," Huang Ji-ho said, as if suggesting I should leave if I wasn’t planning to study.

The old tiger either understood my intentions or didn’t, but he sat down and leisurely drank his tea while eating the snacks brought by Unlong.

After a while, Huang Ji-ho turned on a hologram and began observing me and Yeom Jun-yeol as we read text and explored the new hall, seemingly enjoying his tour of the Dragon Palace.

Although he wasn’t studying, he didn’t leave either.

About an hour later, when it was time for a short break, Huang Ji-ho spoke up.

"This is quite a beautiful building. A dragon who cherishes his descendants would build a place like this for them to study. The layout of the Dragon Palace is so perfect that no matter which direction you look, you get a beautiful view. I don’t remember seeing this last time I visited," he remarked.

"This building was recently approved by the Dragon King and personally constructed by Uncle Qinglong. It’s called the Qingchen Pavilion," I explained.

The name "Qingchen" refers to the early morning light.

It reminded me of "Qingchen" (清晨), which means clear morning, and it fit the building perfectly.

The walls and pillars of the pavilion were made of ebony, with blue gem powder sprinkled over them, giving the impression of the night sky just before dawn.

As Huang Ji-ho said, the location was so good that it seemed like watching the sunrise from the Qingchen Pavilion would be magnificent.

However, when Huang Ji-ho heard the name "Qingchen Pavilion," he frowned and clicked his tongue.

"It’s named after Jo Eui-shin, isn’t it? Are you seriously thinking of making this pavilion yours?" he asked.

"Yeah, it’s almost like mine," I replied.

I hadn’t expected it, but it seemed the "shen" in Qingchen Pavilion was taken from my name, Jo Eui-shin.

Though it was difficult to give me Qinglong Palace, Qinglong had decided to build a pavilion named after me instead.

I had heard Huang Long had also built a new pavilion before, so it seemed like these dragons really followed through with their plans.

‘I’d like to tell Qinglong to rename it, but since he’s not here, I can’t. These things only become harder to change as time passes…’

If Qinglong or Huang Long were around, they would probably have scolded me for passing this off to them, but since only one of their descendants was here, I couldn’t say much.

I wondered why no other dragons were present while Yeom Jun-yeol was here, but maybe this was the reason.

It seemed like Yeom Jun-yeol had been waiting for this topic to come up, as he continued.

"Also, the Dragon King and Uncle Qinglong said that if Eui-shin becomes a member of the dragon race, they’ll give him the nickname ‘Morning Dragon,’ or ‘Shenlong.’"

"Morning Dragon? A member of the dragon race? It seems the dragons have forgotten that Jo Eui-shin is a human and the benefactor of the Ho Clan," Huang Ji-ho said, looking incredulous.

Despite his intimidating age, Huang Ji-ho’s presence still carried weight, and Yeom Jun-yeol responded with a smile.

"Yeah, I know. But the dragons here are mostly Eui-shin’s, so it wouldn’t be strange for him to have a dragon title. Right?"

"Jo Eui-shin, I’ll give you a title from the Ho Clan first. I’ll pick about ten candidates and let you choose from them…" Huang Ji-ho started.

"Enough," I cut him off.

After that, Huang Ji-ho continued grumbling, while Yeom Jun-yeol handled it with maturity.

Huang Ji-ho kept picking at things, saying, "I’ve heard that Qinglong and Uncle Huang Long are involved. It’s embarrassing that this body hasn’t asked my descendants to call me anything like that."

If Kim Shin-rok heard him calling Huang Long "Uncle Huang," he’d probably like it.

The other descendants, including Unseoh, Unihyo, and Unjaeho, were grandchildren of Unho, who was Huang Ji-ho’s close friend and Baekho’s younger brother.

In a way, they were older than him, so instead of calling him ‘older brother’ or ‘uncle,’ they should call him ‘Grandfather Huang.’ But Huang Ji-ho probably didn’t like it, so he never said anything about it.

"Then Kim Shin-rok doesn’t call you ‘Uncle Huang Long,’ does he? He calls you ‘Huang Long-nim,’ right?"

"…Yes."

"Well, it seems there’s a difference in naming conventions between the dragon race and humans. I’ll discuss with the dragons here about what titles to use when calling you outside, to avoid causing any discomfort."

"……"

Yeom Jun-yeol’s innocent counter made Huang Ji-ho fall silent.

It was clear that Yeom Jun-yeol was close to the dragons, unlike Kim Shin-rok, who wasn’t as familiar with them.

‘But Kim Shin-rok has changed a lot, and he’s become stronger. He’s gained enough power to face the Ong Tribe too. Maybe one day he’ll call Huang Ji-ho "Uncle." I have no idea when, though.’

I thought this but didn’t say it aloud.

Leaving Huang Ji-ho sulking, I resumed studying for the exams with Yeom Jun-yeol.