Chapter 68
Chapter 68
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Professor and Student
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The relationship between professor and student was clear-cut, but Hwa In-ah harbored no illusions that her position as a professor made her superior to Dang Seona in any way.
Poisons and hidden weapons were often dismissed as underhanded tricks and scorned, but the Tang Clan of Sichuan had risen to the pinnacle of the righteous martial world by wielding them proudly.
To any warrior who employed poisons and hidden weapons, the Tang Clan represented an ideal aspiration, a mountain to overcome, or at the very least an opponent they yearned to clash with once.
Poison Mandarin Duck Hwa In-ah was no different. She had made her name in the righteous martial world through poisons and medicines, earning her a position as a pharmacology professor at the Heavenly Academy. Dang Seona was the first Tang Clan warrior she had met since taking up that post.
When she first encountered Dang Seona, Hwa In-ah had thought this: Even if Serpent Beauty Dang Seona was called the successor to the Poison Martial Queen and a genius for it, wasn't she still young?
No matter how superior the Tang Clan's poison arts were said to be, Hwa In-ah believed her own poison techniques were in no way inferior by comparison.
That notion had been shattered at their very first meeting. The Tang Clan's poisons—no, Dang Seona herself—was on another level entirely. None of the poisons Hwa In-ah took pride in could so much as faze Dang Seona, who had countered them starting from the lethal venom stage.
In contrast, Hwa In-ah hadn't been able to identify Dang Seona's poisons, let alone neutralize them.
Those who particularly excel in the same field inevitably draw the envy or admiration of those who fall short.
Hwa In-ah chose admiration over envy for Dang Seona. Though Dang Seona always addressed her as "Professor," Hwa In-ah never once considered her a student coming to learn from her.
That feeling had only grown stronger after Dang Seona became the observing professor for the Poison Pleasure Society, where she served as president. She was every bit the genius people called her.
"Thank you."
In the private room of the medical ward, Hwa In-ah lay naked atop the bed. Dang Seona sat nearby, selecting needles spread out before her.
"You volunteered to experience the Qi Dispersing Poison firsthand... Heh. It can't feel good."
"Among the lower-class students under my care, you have the most passionate attitude toward lessons."
"You must like that."
"No professor dislikes an enthusiastic student. Not just me—I've even noticed that Professor Sang Myeong-jung, who doesn't care much for students, seems fond of that kid, Wi Seong-cheon."
"That's understandable. Professor Sang Myeong-jung's martial world history class is the least popular among students, isn't it? It's been ages since he's had an eager pupil—who wouldn't cherish that?"
Dang Seona chuckled softly as she picked out a needle and held it between her fingertips. Hwa In-ah, lying on the bed, gazed at the needle in Dang Seona's grasp, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
It was a common acupuncture needle, the sort used routinely in medicine. But its tip was coated with a poison Dang Seona had prepared. No visible signs, no scent.
"A new poison?"
"I refined my existing sensory poison. It's still in the testing phase, so don't get your hopes up too much."
Dang Seona said with a soft laugh.
Hwa In-ah's body, honed over long years of poison training, had built up resistance to most toxins.
It had been Hwa In-ah herself who first asked to serve as a test subject for her own body. The reason was simple. She wanted to contribute to the advancement of Dang Seona's poison arts using her own flesh.
And she craved experiencing Dang Seona's poisons even more.
"Don't get your hopes up, she says...'
How could she not? The sensory poison from last time had been so ecstatic it left her mind hazy. To most people, it would be a nightmare they'd never want to relive—but not for Hwa In-ah.
What greater thrill could there be for a poison master? Being poisoned by a novel toxin she'd never encountered before—one that wouldn't kill or leave lasting harm. It was poison play in its purest form.
"How has my little sister been?"
Dang Seona's long fingers slowly trailed over Hwa In-ah's body. Each touch made Hwa In-ah's body twitch and tremble.
"As for your sister... nothing too out of the ordinary. Ah... If I had to say, she seems to be giving separate advice on poisons to students Wi Seong-cheon and Bang Jun."
"In what way?"
Dang Seona flicked her gaze sideways. She had asked Hwa In-ah personally about Wi Seong-cheon out of concern, but originally, she sought updates on her sister Dang Heeran's class attitude and the overall class atmosphere. As a pharmacology professor, Hwa In-ah was also Dang Heera's homeroom instructor.
Hwa In-ah explained the antidotes Wi Seong-cheon and Bang Jun had created with Dang Heeraan's help. Dang Seona listened silently without interrupting.
Once Hwa In-ah finished, Dang Seona nodded with a soft chuckle.
"That's good news. I hope those juniors can ease my sister's loneliness."
Dang Seona quietly suppressed the emotions surging from deep within her heart. At the same time, she slowly inserted the needle into one of Hwa In-ah's acupoints.
"Ah...!"
Hwa In-ah's body jolted. Her eyes rolled back as they trembled violently, her breathing growing ragged. Dang Seona rested her chin in her hand, staring down at her. What should she do? Heavenly Flower Sect and the Beggars' Sect. Frankly, they didn't measure up by Dang Seona's standards.
If it were when they were young, she wouldn't have let them get close.
'But they're not kids anymore.'
Neither my sister nor I.
Dang Seona thought that to herself and clicked her tongue.
* * *
"Huh."
An involuntary chuckle escaped him. Seo Il shook his head as he looked down.
Wi Seong-cheon's hand was touching Seo Il's chest. Admittedly, Seo Il's hand was resting on Wi Seong-cheon's chest as well.
'I was too slow.'
Friday's homeroom professor class. Just a week ago, Wi Seong-cheon hadn't been able to breach Seo Il's defenses. But today... he had.
Even without using killing strikes, for Seo Il—who had devoted his life to hand techniques—it was astonishing that Wi Seong-cheon had pierced his guard.
'His movements... have become uncanny.'
His speed and power hadn't surged dramatically. Nor had the complexity increased. It was just infused with an indescribable 'subtlety.'
The clearly predictable trajectories would veer off slightly, time and again, until finally—he was caught.
"What happened?"
Seo Il glanced at Wi Seong-cheon's hand still on his chest as he asked. It was just touching. A killing strike would have crushed his chest.
"A slight change in mindset."
Wi Seong-cheon smirked in reply. He'd achieved his goal, but it didn't bring the overwhelming joy he'd imagined. Instead, his immediate accomplishment paled next to the swelling anticipation for what came next.
"The Taiji Sword Lord's teachings?"
"Yes."
Seo Il let out a quiet sound of admiration. It was only the second time Wi Seong-cheon and Paeng Yeon-hwa had received instruction from the Taiji Sword Lord, and even that last session was just four days ago. The Taiji Sword Lord's guidance was undoubtedly superb, but Wi Seong-cheon's talent in assimilating it so thoroughly was even more impressive.
"Next is both hands?"
Wi Seong-cheon grinned and asked. Only then did he withdraw his hand from Seo Il's chest. One hand versus two was an entirely different matter.
"Or would you like to get a bit more serious?"
"Haha, how far do you intend to humiliate me?"
Seo Il gave a wry smile. But Wi Seong-cheon shook his head.
"I touched you, but it still feels off. I thought I did pretty well, but you had plenty of room to spare."
"No helping it. My art has clearly defined boundaries."
Seo Il's Heavenly Net Ghost Trap was an assassin's technique. To get serious as Wi Seong-cheon wished would require resolve to shatter his arms, even if not to kill.
"I figured as much."
He hadn't attended Seo Il's classes many times yet, but in that short span, they'd clashed hands hundreds, thousands of times—it felt that way. Each time, Wi Seong-cheon had sensed 'hesitation' in Seo Il's hands.
This time, he'd reached Seo Il's chest thanks to the Taiji Sword Lord's advice—and by reading that hesitation.
"Still, let's try for real next class."
"You're saying you'll break both my arms?"
"Surely not."
Even in earnest with Heavenly Net Ghost Trap, shattering Wi Seong-cheon's arms wouldn't be easy. If Seo Il went all out, so would Wi Seong-cheon.
If they truly sought to kill each other... Could I do it? At that thought, a chill ran down Seo Il's spine.
'At first, I could have killed him.'
But not now. It wasn't because of whatever Wi Seong-cheon was hiding. Even based on what he'd shown in class...
He'd grown tremendously in mere months. At an astonishing pace. His hand movements had improved, but what stood out most was Wi Seong-cheon's eye for detail. Through repeated clashes, he'd memorized Seo Il's motions and begun predicting them.
"...May I ask something?"
Seo Il swallowed hard, fixing his gaze on Wi Seong-cheon. Wi Seong-cheon, shaking out his stiff wrists, tilted his head.
"Sure."
"Are my classes helping you?"
Wi Seong-cheon's eyes widened at the sudden question. Seo Il's expression was grave. Before being a professor, he was the head of the Shadow Division—an assassin.
Teaching someone was utterly foreign to him, and he'd never once received praise as an outstanding professor from the students.
Compared to him, what of Wi Seong-cheon? Sure, students badmouthed him out of jealousy and envy, but among the professors, his reputation was solid.
No need to mention his homeroom professors— even those who hadn't taught him acknowledged Wi Seong-cheon. Thanks to his duel with Jin Bae. Not every professor 'liked' him, but even they conceded his skill.
"Why ask that?"
"You're an outstanding student. But I'm no outstanding professor."
Seo Il spoke with a bitter pang. It was inevitable. He'd learned his martial arts too, but he and the other Shadow Assassins had been taught not by masters, but 'instructors'—who ultimately died at the hands of the assassins they trained.
"I'm not accustomed to teaching students. I can offer pointers or critiques to those unskilled in Golden Claw Technique, but you... I'm in no position to advise you."
"I prefer it that way."
Wi Seong-cheon smirked in response.
"Teaching doesn't have to be all talk. Advice neither. I've never once been dissatisfied with your classes."
Wi Seong-cheon meant it sincerely. Clashing hands with Seo Il had taught him more than words ever could.
He'd marveled countless times at the variations in Seo Il's hands: Ah, it can move like that too.
"I'm glad you're my homeroom professor. So don't blame yourself. You're not thinking of quitting now, are you?"
"...If my classes dissatisfied you, I would have stepped down."
"No need. I'm satisfied with your classes. And for starters, I don't want lessons from any other professor."
Wi Seong-cheon shrugged exaggeratedly, shuddering.
"Among the first-year professors, the only fitting ones for me would be Professor Hwangbo Gwang or the other fist technique professors. Ugh, just thinking about it chokes me. Besides, fist arts and Golden Claw Technique are different, right?"
"They are."
Seo Il chuckled at his banter.
"It's a first—having a student say something like that."
As he spoke, Seo Il pulled down his rolled-up sleeves.
"I said next class, but I'm not sure we can even have it."
"Why?"
"Students haven't been informed of the full schedule yet, but next week, the first- and second-years have a demon beast subjugation."
Wi Seong-cheon's ears perked up. Bang Jun had mentioned a subjugation soon, but as Seo Il said, no exact dates had been announced.
"Where to?"
"You're asking outright."
"You're the one making me ask outright."
As Wi Seong-cheon's eyes lit up, Seo Il chuckled.
"Gansu."
Quite a distance. To align with the Heavenly Festival in fifty days, departing next week made sense. Round trip alone would take at least a month even rushing.
"Are the second-years going too?"
"To be precise, not all of them. Thirteen upper-class second-years will accompany as support."
Even Gansu demon beasts weren't overly dangerous for student levels, but subjugations carried all sorts of risks.
Professors alone couldn't control and protect everyone, and first-years lacked experience. Hence, elite second-years provided aid.
"Now that I think of it, this'll be your first subjugation. Ever seen a demon beast?"
"No. My hometown has no outbreaks."
"Ah, I see. No need to worry too much. 'Demon beast subjugation' sounds grand, but Gansu's are barely stronger than fierce beasts."
Even such demon beasts were monsters no ordinary person could face.
"We'll squeeze in some lessons amid the subjugation."
Seo Il smiled faintly. He had high hopes for this subjugation.
In demon beast subjugations, first-year students paired with their homeroom professor.
For Seo Il, who'd never been a homeroom professor before, teaming with a student would be a first.
'And it will be the last.'
Homeroom assignments only went up to first-years.
Seo Il felt a pang of bitterness thinking of the farewell still to come.