Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Lunch and Team Plans
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It was when the Martial World Studies class at Shangming High ended. Right at lunchtime, everyone left the classroom for the cafeteria or to kill time elsewhere.
Normally, he'd head to the cafeteria with Bang Jun once class ended for the day. But today, they didn't go straight there.
"Hello."
Wi Seongcheon approached Dang Heeran, who hadn't stood up yet, and greeted her abruptly. It was the first time he'd run into her properly since classes had formally begun.
Earlier, class had started before he got the chance, but now there was plenty of time for a greeting.
"What's up? I thought you'd forgotten."
Dang Heeran, who was organizing her books, looked up at Wi Seongcheon with a surprised expression. Her words said one thing, but her face didn't mean it. Wi Seongcheon grinned at Dang Heeran's smiling eyes and glanced around.
The one who inevitably drew his attention was Yeong Sojin. On the first day of school, she'd grabbed Dang Heeran and picked a fight by dragging Wi Seongcheon into it.
But she merely glanced their way once and didn't start anything.
"Yeonjun, you're eating, right?"
Yeong Sojin, beaming sweetly, clung to Mu Yeonjun. Mu Yeonjun showed no particular reaction and left the classroom, with Sang Irin naturally following behind.
She'd been openly ignored, which should have been embarrassing, but Yeong Sojin seemed used to such treatment. Once Mu Yeonjun and his followers were gone, the classroom was nearly empty.
"No way. It was just hard to run into you, so no chance. Plus, I had to watch my step a bit."
"Watch your step?"
"What if I act too friendly and she picks a fight like last time?"
"Oh dear, worrying over nothing."
Dang Heeran giggled. When Wi Seongcheon asked if she was eating, she pushed her chair back and stood.
"Of course I am. Why? Wanna eat together?"
"If you don't want to, eat alone."
"I do want to. Just the two of us..."
Dang Heeran paused mid-sentence. She glanced at Bang Jun, who was perched on the desk behind Wi Seongcheon. He was yawning lazily, his breath reeking.
"...not quite, huh?"
"If he's a bother, we can ditch him."
"No, it's fine. Really... So, we're good to talk?"
"Who are we to pick and choose?"
Bang Jun replied. He hopped down from the desk and sauntered over. Smacking his lips, he cupped his fists in greeting toward Dang Heeran and bowed his head.
"Fellow students at the same academy, but first time chatting. Name's Bang Jun of the Beggars' Sect."
"Dang Heeran of the Tang Clan."
"Now that we've greeted, drop the formalities? My face is itching just watching."
Dang Heeran returned the fist-cup greeting with a bow of her own, and Wi Seongcheon shook his head between them, looking disgusted.
"Why are you suddenly being polite? You hit me with casual speech right off the bat."
"You and this young lady the same?"
"No need for titles. As Brother Bang says, we're fellow students here."
"Look at that—'young sir' from a Tang poison expert. Never thought I'd live to hear it."
Bang Jun joked around. Dang Heeran seemed a bit tense at first, but in the end, the three of them decided to head to the cafeteria together.
"Wanna come?"
They didn't go straight to the cafeteria.
Wi Seongcheon spoke to Paeng Yeonhwa. She was sitting in a corner, chair pushed back just enough, preparing to flop down and sleep.
"No."
The refusal came without a moment's hesitation. It was immediate, but not embarrassing. Not the first time, after all.
"Don't you learn? You know I'll say no, so why keep asking?"
"Even a tree falls after ten strikes."
"Is Paeng Yeonhwa a tree? She's a person. And you've struck more than ten times."
Bang Jun grumbled. Aside from Mondays and Fridays with personal lessons from their instructors, the rest were mostly class-based. Every time, Wi Seongcheon had asked Paeng Yeonhwa to eat together, and every time, she'd refused.
"I get that you two were close back in the day, but ten years is enough time for a personality change."
"...You knew her before?"
"We met once, ten years ago."
Seated in the cafeteria, he briefly explained the encounter from a decade prior. Dang Heeran looked genuinely surprised by the unexpected connection.
"Wow. Ten years ago this spring... the Tang Clan was at the Martial Alliance then too."
Of course, Dang Heeran and Wi Seongcheon hadn't met then. The Martial Alliance wasn't just one building—dozens just for visiting diners and guests.
Out of all those, Paeng Yeonhwa had been in the same one as Wi Seongcheon, while Dang Heeran was elsewhere.
"Maybe.
What if they'd met back then? The thought crossed her mind briefly, but Dang Heeran didn't dwell. Pointless.
"...Sis. You met her?"
Their ordered thin noodles arrived. Dang Heeran stirred hers as she asked. Dang Seona, her blood sister but an awkward presence. Wi Seongcheon nodded at Bang Jun, who was messily devouring chicken legs, looking disgusted.
"She didn't say much."
"What'd she say?"
"Told me to take good care of her little sister."
"...Really?"
Dang Heeran shrugged. Wi Seongcheon caught the subtle stiffening of her expression. He couldn't verify what Yeong Sojin had said.
Dang Seona asking him to look after her sister wasn't odd between siblings.
But Yeong Sojin's bristling before hearing her out, and the way Dang Heeran's face hardened at the mention.
'Something's there.'
He didn't know exactly what.
"Anyway. You sure about this?"
Bang Jun spoke up, midway through cracking a bone to suck the marrow.
"About what?"
"Hanging with the lower-class troublemakers."
"I'm doing it 'cause I want to. You guys didn't drag me in."
Dang Heeran brushed it off casually. The only ones who'd pick a fight over it were Hwangbo Seongu or Yeong Sojin. But after Dang Seona had sided with Wi Seongcheon in the cafeteria over money, Yeong Sojin had been quiet lately. That was part of why Dang Heeran found her annoying.
"Four days left?"
"Huh?"
"The joint practical class."
They left the cafeteria and headed to the Muhak Hall classroom. Afternoon was first aid class—not joint, but class-specific.
He'd heard about first aid from Bang Jun beforehand, though it was his first time. Contents included emergency wound treatment, antidotes, golden sore medicine production, and such.
"Oh, right."
Thanks to the new schedule posted Sunday, Dang Heeran knew about the joint practical too. She grinned, eyes crinkling, and poked Wi Seongcheon's side.
"Guess I'll see your real skills then?"
"Probably not you."
Dang Heeran tilted her head at Wi Seongcheon's reply. It sounded like his skills were lacking—easy to misunderstand.
"Why?"
"Got someone else in mind."
Bang Jun glanced up at Wi Seongcheon's words. Wondering if it was okay to tell Dang Heeran. But he didn't interrupt. He figured it was fine.
Bang Jun knew Dang Heeran was isolated even in the upper class, especially on bad terms with Hwangbo Seongu and Yeong Sojin.
"Who? Not... Mu Yeonjun, right?"
Dang Heeran asked, face hardening. Recalling the cafeteria clash and the subtle tension in Martial World Studies, Mu Yeonjun was the first who came to mind.
"Nah."
Not yet certain.
From leaving Cheonhwa Sect to arriving at Yicheon Academy. And ten days here. Wi Seongcheon was convinced he wasn't weak.
No decent benchmarks in Cheonhwa Sect, but too many here.
At least among classmates. Only Yongbong gave him no sure win.
Among them, Heavenly Person Mu Yeonjun stood alone.
Even if the Heavenly Person title had lost prestige, a rotting fish was still a fish, right?
Raised as disciple to Kunlun's Ten Chariots, Mu Yeonjun felt leagues above Yongbong Sang Irin or Hwangbo Seongu. Confirmed in the cafeteria exchange.
Wi Seongcheon's internal energy, boosted by the summoning pill, was profoundly deep beyond his apparent mid-twenties age. But in that brief clash, he couldn't surpass Mu Yeonjun's.
Could call it a tie at best... but while Wi Seongcheon squeezed desperately, Mu Yeonjun was relaxed. Even grabbing his wrist.
Seemed breakable then. Now... probably not.
"Not Mu Yeonjun."
"Then who?"
"Hwangbo Seongu."
Unexpected name. If not Mu Yeonjun, she'd thought Yeong Sojin. Shouldn't have brushed it off verbally? But Hwangbo Seongu?
"...What exactly are you planning?"
Dang Heeran glared, eyes wide.
* * *
"See? Told you."
After parting with Dang Heeran and returning for first aid, Bang Jun spoke as soon as they sat.
"To target Hwangbo Seongu precisely, we can't do it alone."
The schedule revealed joint practical details. Much as Bang Jun described.
Location: Yicheon Mountain. Content: Group spars.
90 first-years. Lower class: 24. Upper: 9. Upper split into 3 groups of 3, lower into 3 of 8.
Joint practical started Friday, four days away, lasting a week camping on Yicheon Mountain. No mid-way group changes.
"Hwangbo Seongu will definitely pick the group with Paeng Yeonhwa. No matter how much you bruise his ego, he'll choose her group."
Dang Heeran said the same. To face him for real, must be in Paeng Yeonhwa's group.
"Yeah, they were pretty close as kids. Rare common ground."
Bang Jun's brow furrowed.
Hwangbo Seongu and Paeng Yeonhwa. Both rare martial bone marrow bodies. Among history-tradition valuing clans, Huangbo and Paeng were prime examples of deliberately cultivating such 'mutants.'
Key difference: Paeng fallen, Huangbo still one of Three Great Clans.
"Still close?"
"Look close?"
"Nope."
No direct clash. But Wi Seongcheon hadn't missed the blatant vibe.
During Martial World Studies, Paeng Yeonhwa ignored the instructor—no questions, barely paying attention—while Hwangbo Seongu stared openly from the back.
"No idea why they're on the outs. Maybe Hwangbo's sulking 'cause she distanced herself... Or his clan-'bloodline' pride makes him despise her."
Fellow mutants. Natural for Hwangbo Seongu to scorn Paeng Yeonhwa's 'blood.'
"Pulling her in won't be hard. No lower-class guy wants her group."
Paeng Yeonhwa's group means facing Hwangbo Seongu's for sure.
"...Not the whole reason, though. Truth is, I don't wanna group with her either."
Bang Jun muttered lowly. Not because of Hwangbo Seongu, obviously.
Paeng Yeonhwa just rubbed even this cheeky young beggar the wrong way.
"8 vs 3. Isn't the gap too big?"
Wi Seongcheon didn't press on Paeng Yeonhwa. She'd been face-down at lunch; now gone.
Rumor had it she skipped normal meals, sneaking to the kitchen for bloody raw meat. Wi Seongcheon didn't buy it.
"Big? Lower class never beat upper in joint classes. Not last year, not the year before."
Bang Jun waved it off. Then—creak—the door opened. Paeng Yeonhwa entered. The classroom atmosphere seemed to freeze just from her.
"Yeonhwa."
Wi Seongcheon waved and called to her as she entered. She glanced at the sudden familiarity, other students gaping in shock.
"...What?"
"Wanna be in our group?"
"No."
So much for easy recruitment.
Wi Seongcheon deflated a bit at the instant rejection.