Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Boar Leg Truce
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Finding Hwangbo Seongwoo didn’t take long. If he’d been deliberately hiding his presence, it might’ve been a different story, but he was brazen beyond belief.
The feral aura radiating from him made his position obvious without even trying.
“Damn, what a show-off.”
*Ptui.* Bang Jun spat on the ground and grumbled. They were both first-years, but it wasn’t even a fair comparison. Even if every low-class scrub piled on him at once, they wouldn’t take down Hwangbo Seongwoo.
Hell, half of them would bolt at the first glare and shout from him, while the rest froze in terror right where they stood.
“Makes it easy, no hunting required.”
Wi Seongcheon snickered. Bang Jun shot him a doubtful glance. The overconfidence wasn’t limited to Hwangbo Seongwoo.
Bang Jun couldn’t make heads or tails of Wi Seongcheon’s behavior. The declaration back in combined class practicals to take down Hwangbo Seongwoo.
Frankly, he didn’t buy it. And yet, here he was sticking with Wi Seongcheon.
Curiosity. And amusement. Life at Uicheon Academy had been a dull slog with zero excitement.
This random Wi Seongcheon guy who popped up out of nowhere was a breath of fresh air in that boring routine. Whether he could actually take down Hwangbo Seongwoo or any other Dragon-Phoenix didn’t really matter.
Crazy stunts were fun to watch, and even more fun to join.
‘That said...’
Now that they were facing the crazy stunt head-on, a nagging sense of reality started creeping in.
Bang Jun eyed Wi Seongcheon suspiciously as he strode ahead. They said fools were fearless, but this was pushing it.
“Bit late to ask, but whatever.”
Bang Jun spoke up. Wi Seongcheon didn’t turn around. All his senses were locked forward.
“You got this?”
“Probably.”
Even so, he had the leisure to answer. *Probably*. Bang Jun let out a dry chuckle. Talk about vague.
And yet, strangely, it rang true. If he’d said it with total certainty, it would’ve sounded less believable.
No one expected anything from Heavenly Flower Sect anyway. Unlike the Dragon-Phoenix elites, defeat wouldn’t sting. If he had absolute confidence in his skills, he wouldn’t phrase it like that.
‘Whatever. Watching him crash and burn would still be entertaining.’
Even if Wi Seongcheon’s boast about catching Hwangbo Seongwoo turned out to be empty bluster and reality hit hard, Bang Jun had nothing to lose.
“There they are.”
Wi Seongcheon muttered.
Hwangbo Seongwoo’s group had already claimed a spot and finished prepping for the night.
A massive wild boar—big enough to feed them for days—lay gutted on its back, and right beside it, Ha Ji-tae of the Twin Moon Wheels was butchering it.
Nearby, Dang Heeran leaned against a tree, staring straight at Wi Seongcheon.
‘...What the hell...?’
Dang Heeran’s eyelids twitched as she watched him. She couldn’t fathom why Wi Seongcheon had come here.
Wi Seongcheon grinned at the visibly flustered Dang Heeran and waved.
“You.”
Hwangbo Seongwoo.
He was sprawled out near the campfire. Wi Seongcheon stopped waving and turned to him. Hwangbo Seongwoo snapped upright from his prone position.
“What’re you doing here?”
His lips were stained crimson with blood. He swallowed a chunk of boar liver he’d been chewing, baring teeth slick with gore.
“Just came to say hi.”
A chilling hostility prickled down his spine. Not from Hwangbo Seongwoo. This insidious vibe... Wi Seongcheon glanced at Ha Ji-tae. He kept butchering without sparing a look, but his killing intent pressed down unmistakably.
“And maybe score some grub while I’m at it.”
“Hey, what the hell are you—”
“Truce till noon tomorrow, right?”
*Truce* might be a stretch. Wi Seongcheon chuckled and shook his head.
“We haven’t even really started. Haven’t hunted food yet. Hate those Wall-Grain Pills.”
“What a clown.”
Hwangbo Seongwoo burst out laughing. He wiped the blood from his lips and glanced at Ha Ji-tae.
“Hey. Rip off a leg and toss it.”
“Why not eat together?”
“Nah, can’t do that. Like you said, we haven’t started, but tomorrow’s the real deal.”
“One meal won’t change anything.”
“Who knows? Might like your cheeky ass over dinner... hesitate to beat you tomorrow.”
Hwangbo Seongwoo grinned.
*Crack!*
Ha Ji-tae’s knife sliced cleanly through the thick boar leg.
“Come get it.”
Hwangbo Seongwoo beckoned him over. Expression, tone, gesture—all prodding at his pride. But Wi Seongcheon grinned without a hint of hesitation.
“Thanks.”
He strode right up to Ha Ji-tae and took the boar leg.
“I’ll go easy on you for one leg.”
Ha Ji-tae’s eyes narrowed.
“Puhaha!”
Hwangbo Seongwoo clutched his belly laughing. Wi Seongcheon slung the hefty leg over his shoulder and turned.
Sprawled and roaring with laughter, Hwangbo Seongwoo gasped between chuckles.
“Hey, hey! What’d you just say?”
“One leg’s worth of mercy.”
“Uhaha, uhahaha! No need, no need. Don’t bother!”
“Cool, won’t if you don’t want it.”
“Hey, Wi Seongcheon.”
He passed by the still-laughing Hwangbo Seongwoo, who suddenly called his name. Voice still laced with mirth.
“Where’s Paeng Yeonhwa?”
He’d laughed so hard tears welled up. Hwangbo Seongwoo wiped them away.
“Somewhere in this forest, I guess.”
“Already fighting with your teammate?”
“Nah, no clue for real.”
“...Alright then. Go eat. You’ll sleep easy tonight. Oh, one tip?”
Wi Seongcheon paused and looked back. Hwangbo Seongwoo sat up now, twisting his blood-smeared lips into a smile.
“Skip breakfast tomorrow if you can. Wouldn’t wanna puke and suffer.”
“No kidding? Hadn’t thought of that. Thanks, man.”
“Burn it into your brain.”
Unless you wanna hurl.
After Wi Seongcheon and Bang Jun left. Hwangbo Seongwoo stared hard at Dang Heeran. She’d been leaning against the tree, caressing her hidden weapons, but tilted her head at his blatant gaze.
“Spit it out if you got something to say. Don’t creep around.”
“Heavenly Flower Sect’s Wi Seongcheon.”
“So?”
“What’s with that punk?”
“...What’s with him?”
“Then what? Just got balls of steel?”
Hwangbo Seongwoo’s brow furrowed. It’d been brief, but enough to gauge his skill.
If he’d wanted, he could’ve killed Wi Seongcheon a dozen times over in that short window.
* * *
Wi Seongcheon opened his eyes just before dawn.
Near the dying campfire, Bang Jun lay with his back turned, breathing steady. He wasn’t asleep.
Wi Seongcheon didn’t bother greeting him. He stood, stretching out.
Bang Jun kept his eyes shut, ears sharp. He’d always prided himself on thick nerves. But compared to Wi Seongcheon? Laughable.
Unlike Bang Jun, who’d tossed and turned all night, Wi Seongcheon had slept like a rock without stirring once.
If not for the spot, Bang Jun wouldn’t have lost sleep either.
They were only a few paces from Hwangbo Seongwoo’s camp.
‘Not even fazed?’
One sleepless night wouldn’t break him.
Still, sleep was preferable. He knew that... but couldn’t manage it. Bang Jun sneaked a peek at Wi Seongcheon.
In the crisp blue dawn, Wi Seongcheon moved through slow stretches.
Nothing special about them.
Horse stance.
Basic for anyone who trained. Bang Jun had seen it plenty since Wi Seongcheon joined the dorms—he started every morning with it, no exceptions.
“Food.”
A voice cut in.
Legs spread and bent, arms extended forward. Basic horse stance, but on closer look, Wi Seongcheon’s body was *moving*.
From toes to fingertips. Joints quivered silently, muscles rippling independently. First time this close, Bang Jun jolted upright in shock. Horse stance meant *immovable*...
Yet Wi Seongcheon’s body thrummed with more passion than anything Bang Jun knew.
“Gonna eat?”
His face serene despite the intricate control. Bang Jun blinked.
“...You?”
“I am.”
Wi Seongcheon grinned.
* * *
Hwangbo Seongwoo was relaxed.
He’d devoured most of the leftover meat from yesterday, washed up at a nearby stream, then casually scouted the area like a stroll.
When he returned, Ha Ji-tae was packing up the campfire.
“Ha Ji-tae.”
“Yeah.”
“You handle the others. Go easy. Still six days left.”
Figured as much. Ha Ji-tae nodded curtly. Hwangbo Seongwoo’s real target was Paeng Yeonhwa anyway.
“Dang Heeran. What about you?”
*Swish, swish.*
Dang Heeran, filing her nails, flicked her eyes up at him.
“Dunno.”
“Do whatever. Not like you listen anyway. Worst case, tag along with me?”
Hwangbo Seongwoo grinned, thumbing behind him.
“That bat punk. Still hanging around over there.”
He knew damn well Wi Seongcheon and Bang Jun were nearby. Let them be.
No need to chase them off. Sun’d be high soon, and combined class practicals would kick off for real.
Not running... That fool’s choice.
“Be straight with me. We’re not strangers.”
*Crack, crackle.*
Hwangbo Seongwoo cracked his knuckles loudly.
“You cut some deal with that bat? Like, you’ll go easy on him this practical, hook him up with points... something?”
“Bullshit.”
“Makes no sense otherwise. What’s that idiot thinking, still here? Dang Heeran, c’mon, be real. Spill it, and... yeah. I can help out. Neither of us gives a damn about points, right?”
Hwangbo Seongwoo coaxed slyly. Total nonsense to Dang Heeran. She glared daggers, and he smacked his lips, scratching his jaw.
“Then what?”
“Maybe he thinks bravery scores extra points.”
Ha Ji-tae muttered, standing after finishing the fire. He slung his twin wheels onto his back.
Hwangbo Seongwoo blinked. Then—
“Puhah!”
He cracked up. To him, Ha Ji-tae’s words rang perfectly plausible. Naturally.
The idea that Heavenly Flower Sect’s little bat was *seriously* gunning for him? Not a chance.
“Fun times.”
-*Piiiii!*
A sharp horn blared from afar.
Noon signal.
“Time to teach that Heavenly Flower fool about the world.”
Target: Paeng Yeonhwa. Unchanged.
But time? Plenty.
“Reckless bravado hurts the body, after all.”