Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Reunited in Class
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“It's been a while since we last met for class.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
It was Friday, the day of class with their assigned professor. Wi Seongcheon faced Seo Il in the medical academy's classroom for the first time in ages. They had crossed paths in the spectator stands at the sparring arena after the joint class, but as Seo Il said, actually having a lesson like this was truly a long time coming.
Just a few days ago, Monday's professor class had been replaced by the Taiji Sword Lord's teachings, and the previous week had been entirely substituted with the joint practical combat session.
“How have you been?”
“Oh, you know, getting by just fine.”
After the spar with Jinbae ended, the students' gazes had shifted quite a bit. But it still wasn't to the point of genuine goodwill.
If anything, the jealousy seemed even worse. That's how it usually goes. Most people tend to envy those better than them rather than acknowledge them. Especially since, up until just a week ago, Wi Seongcheon had been the one scorned as a bat or whatever.
“Disappointing, is it?”
“Not really. Where in the world are things ever easy?”
If his evaluation had flipped just like that over something this minor, he would've been even more disappointed. Wi Seongcheon spoke nonchalantly as he rolled up his sleeves.
“And how have you been, Professor?”
“Yes, of course.”
Busy as ever.
He had been summoned by Yicheon Academy's Chief Nam Myeong to report on the Sword Pavilion Forest incident, and then called by the Shadow Intelligence Chief as well.
With her, there had been even more to discuss. By day, he taught classes as a professor; by night, he returned to his role as squad leader in the Shadow Intelligence, bustling between Sword Pavilion Forest and Repaying Grace Peak.
Just in case, to search for any traces that a Demonic Cult spy might have left behind—though it was unlikely.
Of course, there were no results. A Demonic Cult spy with Dead Blood Eyes leaves no traces whatsoever. The fact that the Demonic Cult's exact stronghold hadn't been uncovered in a thousand years was due not only to the entirety of the Divine River being a lair of ferocious demonic beasts, but also because it was impossible to extract anything from the cultists.
Whether through capture and torture, or persuasion—nothing could be gleaned from those who were undoubtedly human, just like anyone else.
This time was no different. They had dissected the spy's corpse and even attempted soul-summoning arts, but no information came from the Demonic Cult spy.
“No internal energy again this time?”
“No. I don't think that's necessary anymore. If I don't use it, you can't show your true skills either, right?”
Seo Il rolled up his sleeves, just like Wi Seongcheon.
“Kind of a shame. I still haven't grabbed your collar yet.”
“Haha, truth is, it's because I'm scared. What greater humiliation could there be than getting your collar grabbed without using internal energy?”
He let out a hearty laugh, tossing in the joke, but it wasn't entirely without sincerity. If he kept going without using internal energy, he'd get caught. Not today, maybe, but definitely in the near future.
‘Astonishing growth potential...’
To achieve that level of martial arts at the age of twenty. That talent was undoubtedly in the realm of prodigies. Maybe a touch short of genius.
“End it by grabbing my collar again this time?”
Wi Seongcheon steadied his breathing and asked. Grabbing Seo Il's collar with the Golden Claw Technique. That was the goal set in their first class.
“If you can manage it.”
“Still no reward, I take it?”
“I'll give you generous points reflected in your grade.”
Wi Seongcheon grinned. He wasn't particularly greedy for points. Or rewards, for that matter. At this point, all he wanted was to somehow grab Seo Il's collar.
“Love the enthusiasm.”
For real.
A cracking sound came from Seo Il's fingers. Veins bulged on his long forearms. He was quite serious this time.
It was on the orders of the Shadow Intelligence Chief, Moon Shadow Immortal Baek Cheongha.
She seemed to have considerable interest in Wi Seongcheon. It made sense. The Taiji Sword Lord felt the same, and so did Seo Il.
He was curious just how much skill Wi Seongcheon was hiding. He'd glimpsed it vaguely in the spar with Jinbae, but seeing something and experiencing it firsthand are worlds apart.
‘The Chief had him under surveillance with Shadow Intelligence agents from the day he enrolled.’
Not out of suspicion that he might be a spy from enemies like the Demonic Cult or Black Society. The reason the Chief monitored and took interest in Wi Seongcheon was something else.
Maybe she wanted to recruit him into the Shadow Intelligence. Could be. Given the organization's nature, their numbers were extremely limited.
For now, it was made up of assassins from the Killing Clouds, including Seo Il, but they couldn't stay active forever.
Without a word between them, both moved their hands. Wi Seongcheon came out aggressively from the start. He lunged forward, trying to seize Seo Il's hand. But once again, he couldn't grab it.
Perhaps because Seo Il was now circulating internal energy, it was harder to catch his hand than last time.
The same went for Seo Il. Their fingertips brushed, then parted. Even when trying to sweep up and grab, Wi Seongcheon's hand slipped away like a snake. A thin smile played on Seo Il's lips.
Though it was the Chief's command, clashing hands like this was enjoyable. His martial arts weren't for show.
Raised as an assassin in the Killing Clouds since childhood, his skills were always meant for stealth and certain kills.
‘You're not suited to be an assassin.’
It was something he often heard from Ilun, the Chief's confidant. Seo Il knew it well himself.
But what could he do? He had learned martial arts... and gained power. Assassins must not reveal themselves. They always had to hide.
He understood that. But Seo Il preferred the days wandering the martial world as Golden Capture Whip Flash Seo Il, professor at Yicheon Academy, over the time living as the Killing Clouds assassin Ghost Thunder Yiun the Second Cloud.
‘Your eyes shone the brightest then.’
Twenty years ago. During a meeting of the Ten Righteous Wanderers at the empty temple that was the Killing Clouds' base. Seo Il had been nearby, and the Taiji Sword Lord had ‘remembered’ his gaze.
Seo Il yearned for the life of a warrior over that of an assassin, and preferred the life of a Yicheon Academy professor over that of a Shadow Intelligence squad leader.
‘Can't catch it.’
Didn't seem like he could. To pinpoint the Qi Explosion Points, he needed steady contact with the opponent's body and energy.
Right now, with proper contact eluding him, it was hard to even locate them.
“The Demonic Cult spy.”
Wi Seongcheon spoke up. Without internal energy, their hands and arms had constantly clashed; now, there wasn't even a sound of impact.
Instead, only the sound of slicing wind filled the air. Within the limited radius their arms could move, Seo Il and Wi Seongcheon's right arms danced.
“Was he strong?”
“Yeah, he was.”
As he answered, the speed ramped up further. Meridians stirred within Wi Seongcheon's body. Reversal Flow. The shift in his energy flow altered the speed of his arm movements. Unknowingly, Seo Il took a step back.
Because Wi Seongcheon's hand suddenly closed the distance, lunging for his collar.
‘As expected... can't do it without using it...’
Just using internal energy wasn't enough. Wi Seongcheon's movements with Reversal Flow couldn't be handled by experience alone. It wasn't merely fast.
Like all martial arts, the Golden Claw Technique was a contest of hands. How well one could read the opponent's movements, attacks, defenses, and evasions. Wi Seongcheon was methodically restricting and reading Seo Il's motions.
“Those eyes. Dead Blood Eyes, right?”
“You knew?”
“Learned it in class.”
The martial world's archenemy was the Demonic Cult, and Yicheon Academy trained prodigies to confront that foe.
Naturally, they learned about the ‘enemy’ as well. Bloodlight Humans created via Bloodlight Pills. Demonic humans. And the Dead Blood Eyes of Demonic Cult spies.
Dead Blood Eyes transmit everything the spy sees and hears directly to the Demonic Cult in the Divine River.
From the Demonic Cult spy's Dead Blood Eyes, Wi Seongcheon had sensed the gaze of someone who wasn't the spy. Who that was... he couldn't be certain. But he had a vague idea. That destructive, ominous gaze.
The Heavenly Demon.
“If it weren't for this situation, he said he'd have kidnapped me.”
“Lucky it didn't come to that. There's no precedent in martial history of someone kidnapped by the Demonic Cult returning ‘intact.’”
Righteous or unorthodox martial artists had been kidnapped by the Demonic Cult several times. Especially those skilled ones operating in the Demonic Realm, rife with demonic humans and beasts—they became the Cult's prey.
The Martial Alliance had even deliberately sent infiltrators disguised as kidnap victims into the Demonic Realm.
Superior martial prowess, bone-deep hatred for the Demonic Cult, a sense of justice... great heroes whose spirits wouldn't break even if captured.
But the results were tragic. They all ‘changed.’ Not every agent sent to the Demonic Realm was kidnapped, but those who were turned from great heroes into demonic humans.
“One of the Ten Demons, the Ghost Cry Demon. Do you know who?”
“The Demon-Exterminating Fairy.”
“Right. After her, the Martial Alliance stopped trying to infiltrate spies into the Demonic Cult.”
A famous tale. Forty years ago, the Demon-Exterminating Fairy was a righteous faction's female supreme expert, her hatred for the Demonic Cult forged into her sound arts that drove listening demonic humans and beasts mad.
To uncover the Demonic Cult's stronghold, she ventured into the Demonic Realm and was kidnapped.
Now, she was one of the Ten Demons.
“The Demonic Cult's brainwashing turns even hatred into loyalty. Or rather... it stops making them human altogether...”
This time, Wi Seongcheon stepped back. Seo Il's movements had changed. Just as Wi Seongcheon used Reversal Flow, Seo Il had unleashed Heavenly Net Ghost Strike. He absolutely could not let himself get caught. Wi Seongcheon knew it instinctively.
His judgment was correct. Seo Il's Heavenly Net Ghost Strike didn't end at merely ‘grabbing.’ It crushed.
Of course, he had no intention of going that far, but the pressure was undeniably real.
“Honestly.”
Seo Il gave a wry smile.
“There’s nothing theoretical I can teach you.”
It was sincere. Wi Seongcheon's martial arts and Seo Il's followed different paths. In Seo Il's eyes, Wi Seongcheon's Golden Claw Technique had no wasted movements. Energy circulation, joint motions—beyond the basics, even improvisation.
“But I can help you gain experience.”
“That’s plenty.”
True experts in the Golden Claw Technique were rare. Accumulating experience was a fine lesson.
Wi Seongcheon was still a young twenty, and back at Heavenly Flower Sect, his sparring partners had only been his father, Steward Woo, and his senior brother. He inevitably lacked experience.
“Good to hear.”
Seo Il smiled faintly.
* * *
“I figured you'd show up around now.”
Jinu leaned against the windowsill, reading a book. His gaze remained fixed on the pages, not sparing Jinbae a glance.
“How's the arm?”
Flip. Jinu turned a page and asked. Jinbae slowly nodded. His right arm, broken by Wi Seongcheon just days ago, was splinted and wrapped in bandages.
“Then you're fortunate. Be careful not to end up with a permanent disability. Wouldn't want to burden the sect, now would you?”
“Wi Seongcheon.”
“Ah, so that's what you came to talk about. Looks like you've finished sorting your thoughts.”
Only then did Jinu close the book and turn to Jinbae. After the spar, Jinu hadn't questioned Jinbae about what needed asking. In the first place, Jinbae's duel with Wi Seongcheon had been at Jinu's request.
A favor to check out Wi Seongcheon.
Jinu had watched the duel himself. But that wasn't enough. He hadn't fought Wi Seongcheon directly. For a more precise gauge, Jinbae's opinion as the one who had was crucial.
That's why, for three days after the spar, he hadn't pressed Jinbae. He gave him time to replay his defeat and organize his thoughts.
“Impressive.”
Jinbae spoke in a calm tone.
“I replayed it countless times. What if I'd fought differently? If I'd pressed from the start, not yielded the first move. If I'd focused more on defense than offense. More on evasion than defense. If I'd fought again in perfect condition.”
Jinu's eyes sparkled. He grinned like a child eyeing a gift box.
“So?”
“You know the answer already.”
“Your take matters more than mine. You’re the one who fought him.”
“...The outcome wouldn’t have changed. No matter how I fought, I would’ve lost.”
“I see!”
Jinu replied brightly. He rolled his prayer beads, nodding vigorously.
“Good thing. As expected, Ancestor's judgment was spot on. Yes, indeed. I was worried Wi Seongcheon might tarnish Ancestor's reputation, but now I don't have to.”
So.
Jinu smiled as he asked.
“How was Wi Seongcheon's martial arts? I watched, but it was awfully strange. I get why the junior disciples are talking nonsense. From some angles, it even looked like you ‘let’ him win.”
“...I didn’t. No reason to. I meant to win.”
“Of course. That’s why I’m asking your opinion. You experienced it firsthand.”
“I had plenty of internal energy left. But it drained faster than expected.”
“You think Wi Seongcheon used the Star Absorption Great Method?”
“At the very least, something akin to it.”
“Hmm...”
The smile vanished from Jinu's face. He let out a long sigh, shaking his head.
“That’s unfortunate. But inevitable, I suppose... Heavenly Flower Sect was unorthodox just a century ago.”
“...But Wi Seongcheon's internal energy was pure. Not sinister at all.”
“Hm. Not built through energy absorption? But that final palm strike on you—it seemed to reverse-use your own internal energy.”
“That much is certain.”
“Strange martial art.”
Jinu muttered as he rolled his beads. He closed his eyes briefly, deep in thought.
“No need to spread it around. Wi Seongcheon's internal energy isn't from absorption, nor has he mastered the Star Absorption Great Method... but something similar is undeniable. And the Star Absorption Great Method has a poor reputation.”
It had to. The Star Absorption Great Method steals the opponent's internal energy for one's own power. Not normal energy accumulation, but absorption. And it doesn't stop at internal energy—it sucks away a person's life force, their innate essence.
Mastering it allows amassing vast internal energy in a short time. But that energy isn't pure. That's why it's an unorthodox art.
Currently, two experts wield fame with the Star Absorption Great Method: White Blaze Witch Joo Eun, one of the Ten Wanderers aligned with the unorthodox sects.
And the Blood-Sucking Ghoul, one of the Demonic Cult's Ten Demons.
“We finally bolstered Ancestor's prestige, can't have it tarnished anew.”
Jinu smiled faintly again. A smile utterly different from before.
“Your defeat did raise Ancestor's prestige, but... hmm. Regrettable.”
Jinbae said nothing. In the end, he had lost to Wi Seongcheon. A third-year Shaolin disciple defeated by a first-year Heavenly Flower Sect disciple.
“The sect's reputation has fallen.”
His hand stopped rolling the beads.
“Time to raise it again.”
The Yicheon Festival was not far off.