Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Eyes from Honam
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From Honam onward, countless gazes and tails latched onto them.
Honam could be called the border between the righteous and unorthodox factions.
The beggars who had swarmed every shadowy corner of the streets were now nowhere to be seen, replaced by martial artists openly carrying their weapons.
The one dominating Honam was the Shangguan Clan, one of the twin prestigious families of the unorthodox world.
Yet, as they crossed through Honam, there was no friction with the Shangguan Clan.
The trailing gazes and tails were annoying but kept a clear distance.
The journey to Guangdong, where the Black Society awaited, was grueling, but nothing worth calling a problem arose along the way.
In fact, it was so quiet it bordered on boring.
During that time,
Wi Seong-cheon mingled with the other students heading to the Black Forest together.
His interest was drawn above all to the new freshmen.
Namgoong Jiu showed particular favor toward Wi Seong-cheon, following him around calling him "Senior, Senior."
At first, it had felt terribly awkward, but after more than a month of hearing it, he had grown completely used to it.
“I’ve heard that Senior has the Black Society Leader’s favor.”
Among the first-year juniors, the one with the least charm was Yuk Jin-il of the Kunlun Sect.
The Kunlun Sect was a sect located at the edge of the righteous martial world.
Originally based on Kunlun Mountain in Qinghai, they were called the Kunlun Sect, but like the North Sea Ice Palace, they could no longer handle the overflowing demonic beasts and had abandoned their sacred mountain to retreat.
By now, they were called the Kunlun Sect in name only, no longer on Kunlun Mountain.
For hundreds of years, they had migrated to Gansu and rebuilt the Kunlun Sect there.
Around the time the Demonic Cult and demonic beasts began their rampage, the Kunlun Sect had clashed daily with demonic beasts and the Demonic Cult on Kunlun Mountain.
Excluding the Heavenly Ones in the righteous martial world, the sect with the deepest hatred for the Demonic Cult was the Kunlun Sect.
Even after leaving Kunlun Mountain, its disciples roamed the front lines and the demonic realms more than the martial world.
“I’ve heard the Black Society is tied to the Demonic Cult. Is that true?”
Yuk Jin-il asked, his eyes gleaming.
Wi Seong-cheon was dumbfounded by the blunt question but answered without ignoring him.
“If you spout that nonsense in front of the Black Demon King, he’ll rip off your limbs, Junior.”
“So it is true?”
“You don’t catch on quick, do you, Junior? I said it’s nonsense.”
“You never know.”
“Of course. If your suspicions are right, Junior, then we’re tribute sent from Uicheon Academy. Shall we board a ship now, sail around the sea, and get shipped off to the demonic realm?”
Yuk Jin-il made a sullen face at Wi Seong-cheon’s sarcasm.
He might lack charm, but teasing him was amusing.
“How was fighting the Poison Blood Ghost Demon?”
“Do you remember how many times you’ve asked that on this journey?”
“Twelve.”
“You keep good count. It’s just strange that you keep asking when you already know the answer.”
“It could be an achievement for the history books.”
“I’ve heard that one plenty of times too, Junior. No matter how much you ask, my answer won’t change much from the first time.”
Wi Seong-cheon grinned.
“The reason I could land one on the Poison Blood Ghost Demon was because he underestimated me. Not just me—he looked down on everyone there. He let his guard down, and I got lucky exploiting that gap.”
It wasn’t just Yuk Jin-il listening intently to Wi Seong-cheon’s response.
U Heera and the other first-years in the opposite carriage had their ears wide open too.
“It’s common for experts to get done in by underestimating juniors, but for one of the Ten Demons, the Poison Blood Ghost Demon, to cough up blood from a late-stage junior’s strike? Unbelievable.”
“I’m not giving you the answer you want to hear, Junior.”
Wi Seong-cheon teased.
“The Poison Blood Ghost Demon coughed up blood because he let his guard down. And frankly, because I’m that good. Bragging about how great I am isn’t hard, but if I did, Senior U Hayeon over there would tease me mercilessly.”
“I won’t tease you, so go ahead and brag.”
U Hayeon, sitting on the roof of the lead carriage, glanced back as she spoke.
Wi Seong-cheon chuckled and shook his head at her reply.
“You say that now, but I know you’ll tease me plenty later.”
“I’m a graduating senior, and I can’t even do club activities anymore. Can’t you put up with a little grumbling?”
U Hayeon pouted and grumbled.
Even if she pretended otherwise, her voice carried a thick undercurrent of loneliness.
Wi Seong-cheon let out a short sigh and stood up.
“Anyway, Yuk Jin-il Junior. If you really want a way to face the Poison Blood Ghost Demon—or any of the Ten Demons—the advice I can give as your senior is obvious. Train hard. If the Kunlun Sect’s arts feel lacking, join Heavenly Flower Sect.”
“It’s a closed sect now.”
“You’re not planning to leave the Kunlun Sect anyway, right?”
Wi Seong-cheon patted Yuk Jin-il’s shoulder as he spoke.
Yuk Jin-il wore a dissatisfied expression but watched Wi Seong-cheon’s back with admiring eyes as he lightly leaped onto the carriage roof.
Among the Kunlun Sect’s many arts, the most renowned was their lightness skill, the Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms.
It was a lightness skill that danced through the air rather than the ground, a systematic art distinct from Heavenly Steps or Void Trampling.
‘Light and fluid…’
Even a simple leap inspired awe.
“How does it feel to bask in admiring gazes?”
“Embarrassing and ticklish.”
“You seemed to be enjoying it a bit.”
U Hayeon giggled as she looked at Wi Seong-cheon, who had landed beside her.
U Hayeon was trimming stems with various flowers laid out before her.
“Don’t be too disappointed, Senior.”
“Honestly, I’m not that bummed. Even if we stayed at Uicheon Academy, I doubt any new juniors would’ve joined.”
Her long fingers picked up a trimmed flower.
U Hayeon smiled brightly and handed the flower to Wi Seong-cheon.
“Even this year, it would’ve just been you and me anyway. Nothing to miss there. The place changed, but I’m still with you, Junior.”
“We won’t be together in the Black Forest.”
“That can’t be helped. It’s not like I want to recklessly keep doing Romance Elegy activities.”
U Hayeon nudged the vase with her fingertip. It already held a few flowers.
Wi Seong-cheon pondered for a moment, then shortened the stem of the flower she’d given him a bit more.
After removing a few leaves, he inserted it into the vase.
“How’s that?”
“Your sense of aesthetics is still lacking, but I like seeing the effort you put in.”
“Not that. The trimming.”
“It’s natural.”
U Hayeon smiled brightly.
“I don’t know if you’re still pursuing living sword, but from that one flower you just arranged, I can vaguely sense what you’re after.”
“What?”
“Harmony.”
Wi Seong-cheon smiled back at her answer.
“Your flower harmonizes with the others. It doesn’t stand out alone, nor does it look shabby by itself. It blends so naturally, as if it was always part of the bunch, yet its absence would leave it feeling empty.”
“It doesn’t clash.”
“That depends on your mindset too, Junior. I might end up fighting you in the Black Forest, so I’ll have to be careful then.”
“Who are you thinking of allying with, Senior?”
“I haven’t heard the exact details yet, but based on what you told me… hmm.”
U Hayeon tilted her head.
“I’m leaning toward Black Hawk or Snow Flower, one of the two.”
“…Really? That’s unexpected.”
“Only if it matches what you told me. Iron Ghost and Mad Dog are too rough; I don’t want to team up with them. Black Dragon seems finicky. Island Orchid chases women, so no thanks.”
“Thunder Punishment?”
“Jeogal Ihyeon? If what you said is right, he’s too ambitious. Unreadable too. Teaming with him would mean endless hassle.”
“If it’s ambition, Snow Flower and Black Hawk have that too.”
“Blatant ambition is better. Snow Flower seems petty but not evil, and Black Hawk… well, affection-starved maybe?”
She’d never met Black Hawk, but
U Hayeon giggled and added,
“Anyway, if they force alliances, I’d go with Snow Flower or Black Hawk.”
“And if not forced?”
“Then I’ll go solo. Feels freer that way.”
“You’d start from the First City States.”
“So what?”
It was just like U Hayeon.
* * *
“So, what do you want to do?”
“Same. I’ll decide after meeting them.”
Paeng Yeonhwa and Dang Heeran’s answers hadn’t changed.
“I’ve got no interest in sticking with the Black Tyrant. There are other upper city states besides his. I’d rather team with someone weaker who knows their place. Less hassle for the body.”
Bang Jun’s answer stayed the same.
The unreadable ones were Muyeon Jun and Sang I-rin. Among the seniors, Tae Heemyung and Dang Seona.
Tae Heemyung had never been fond of the unorthodox to begin with, and he hadn’t outright asked Dang Seona yet.
Though they traveled together, Dang Seona hardly ever left her carriage.
“I’m training.”
When he cautiously approached her during one of her rare outings, Dang Seona gave a cold smile and that reply.
The air mixed with the salty tang of the sea.
The sound of crashing waves reached them from afar.
Feeling a pleasant thrill, Wi Seong-cheon climbed onto his carriage roof.
“Here.”
He extended a hand toward Paeng Yeonhwa, who poked her head out.
Paeng Yeonhwa blinked, then took his hand and climbed up.
Wi Seong-cheon and Paeng Yeonhwa weren’t the only ones stepping out.
For most righteous faction martial artists, the sea was unfamiliar.
Many students gazed at the vast ocean with eyes full of anticipation and curiosity.
Most felt awe at the majestic natural wonder.
Some sensed the same fear of the unknown that Wi Seong-cheon had felt.
Guangdong’s port looked utterly different from the sea Wi Seong-cheon had seen at the North Sea Ice Palace.
He took in the multitudes of ships, the bustling sailors, escort agencies, and merchant groups.
“Which ship are we taking?”
“I heard it’s the one with black sails…”
Seo Il trailed off, glancing at the other guide instructors.
There were more than one or two ships with black sails.
Which one among the many?
No need to search.
“Perfect timing.”
The carriages halted in unison.
Without even pulling the reins, the horses neighed softly and lowered their heads.
A clear voice pierced their ears, followed by a crisp ‘crunch.’
The sound of biting into firm fruit flesh.
That sound too drilled clearly into the students’ ears.
A massive presence arrived a beat late, overwhelming the students.
“Twenty-eight. Certain?”
The Black Society Leader.
Black Demon King Baek Ri-mu-won descended from the sky.
His long hair and robes billowing, he landed before the stopped carriages and stood with hands clasped behind his back.
“Th-the Black Society Leader…!”
Seo Il and the other guide instructors gasped in shock.
No one had imagined the Black Demon King himself coming to greet them.
But it was too early to be surprised.
A moment after the Black Demon King, someone else descended from the sky.
“So these are the so-called greatest geniuses of the righteous faction?”
The Black Demon King was tall, but the latecomer seemed a full head taller.
Even in weather not that cold, he was decked out in vividly patterned tiger and leopard pelts.
“For now, yeah. What do you think, seeing them up close?”
The Black Demon King turned and grinned.
The man standing behind him with arms crossed let out a hollow laugh.
“Pathetic.”
One of the Ten Heroes, Green Forest Demon Emperor Sama Jin.
He shook his head as he sized up the Uicheon Academy students.