Chapter 324: Hands-on Training (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 324: Hands-on Training (4)
The morning training session had just concluded, and students milled about in the hallway leading to their rooms.
Their attention was universally drawn upward, their conversations hushed as they stared at a massive wooden board hanging above them. Every student's name was listed there for a single reason: it displayed their grades for both training and academic performance over the past two months.
"Brother Chu, how did you fare?"
"I'm doomed… My name's closer to the bottom than the top. My father is going to beat me."
"Same here… I'll probably be kicked out of the house when I return."
A palpable mix of joy and despair hung in the air. Some students sank into dejection, while others sighed in relief upon finding their names near the top. Although they would face this ordeal again in the future, it was their first time experiencing such pressure. They were still young prodigies, largely inexperienced in the ways of the Central Plains. For those from prominent sects or prestigious clans, this was likely their first time being formally ranked against their peers—a stark wake-up call to reality. They had been chosen for their talents, but there were always greater geniuses above them.
Step.
The hallway fell silent at the sound of a single, deliberate footstep.
"Hey, hey!"
All eyes swiftly turned away from the board, focusing instead on the figure approaching them.
Step.
With each step he took, the crowd of students instinctively parted, clearing a path.
"Thank you."
The young man offered a warm smile as he passed.
"...The Meteor Sword!"
The man cutting through the crowd was a well-known figure at the Heavenly Dragon Academy. Not only was he strikingly handsome, but he was also incredibly talented. He was none other than Jang Seonyeon, the Meteor Sword, and the son of the current Leader of the Murim Alliance. In just two months, most sword-specializing martial artists had gravitated to his side, a testament to the respect he commanded for both his talent and his character.
A student, likely a swordsman, addressed him with a trembling voice. "C-Congratulations, Master Jang."
Jang Seonyeon glanced at the nervous student, who flinched under his gaze. However, Jang Seonyeon merely smiled kindly. "Thank you."
His response was met with admiring gazes from all around. Everyone was congratulating him, for his name sat near the very top of the board, marked with the number "two"—denoting he had ranked second out of hundreds of students. It was an impressive achievement. Rumours said he excelled in both lectures and hands-on training, and no one questioned his accomplishments. Nearly everyone agreed that the Meteor Sword was more than deserving of his high rank, a reflection of the excellent image he cultivated.
It was common knowledge that this year's Academy was filled with monsters—a fact known not only to the students but to everyone in the Central Plains. Among the student body were scions of the Four Noble Clans, as well as descendants of sects and clans just beneath them. To earn second place in a field of such prodigies, which included members of the Six Dragons and the Three Phoenixes, was a remarkable feat worthy of praise.
Crack.
Yet, as congratulations poured in from every side, Jang Seonyeon ground his teeth, struggling to suppress the anger welling up inside him.
…I feel sick.
The students' voices were nothing but noise to his ears, and his frustration threatened to make him physically ill.
I just want everyone to shut their mouths.
Despite his thoughts, Jang Seonyeon's expression remained perfectly composed. He couldn't let this minor annoyance unravel everything he had worked for. Blocking out the noise, he began scanning the names on the board. He barely recognized any listed at the bottom; he didn't waste time remembering the names of those he considered beneath him.
…The Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon ranked low.
He noticed that two of the Dragons and one of the Phoenixes had surprisingly low rankings. Rumour had it the Sleeping Dragon skipped lectures to nap, while the Sword Dragon struggled with academic subjects. Their poor rankings made sense; it was clear they didn't particularly care about their standings at the Heavenly Dragon Academy. With that thought, Jang Seonyeon clicked his tongue in annoyance.
I feel a bit better now.
Geniuses without greed. The fact they lived their lives so carelessly made him feel a bit glad, though he couldn't fully approve of their attitude. He wasn't able to explain the emotion, but…
But it's better this way.
That was his conclusion. Yes, it was better this way. If they had taken things seriously and become his rivals, it would have only caused him more trouble. Jang Seonyeon kept his eyes scanning the board, his face still a mask of a smile.
The Poison Phoenix… as I expected.
As expected, the weakest of the Phoenixes, the Poison Phoenix, hadn't achieved a high rank. He'd heard she had been spending time with the daughter of the Peng Clan, but it didn't concern him. She was far too weak for Jang Seonyeon to waste a single thought on. For that reason, she held no interest for him.
The Snow Phoenix…
The Snow Phoenix, whose martial prowess was similar to the Poison Phoenix's, had ranked higher than he anticipated. She had excelled in lectures, earning one of the top scores in that category. It was impressive. He knew the Snow Phoenix was more talented in scholarly fields than martial arts, but he hadn't expected her to rank so well. Of course, none of them had claimed the highest rank.
As his eyes moved closer to the top, he began to see familiar names. One of them…
The Sword Dancer is unexpected.
It was Namgung Bi-ah.
…Ugh.
The sight of her name made Jang Seonyeon fight to suppress a fresh wave of anger. The memory of their encounter during the entrance exam still stung. He was still unhappy about his defeat. He recalled the overwhelming presence she had exuded, how she had effortlessly commanded intense Lightning Qi with a single hand.
I didn't expect her to do well in the lectures.
She had scored lower in lectures compared to the Snow Phoenix or himself, but it seemed her exceptional martial strength had buoyed her overall score. He wasn't fond of that. Whether it was the fact that he had lost to someone he had once defeated, or the words she had said to him—You are boring—he wasn't fond of any of it. He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts.
…What about her?
He then started looking for the name he wanted to see most. She was the one he desired above all others. He already knew where her name would be, so he didn't have to search for long.
Third. Wi Seol-Ah.
Her name was directly underneath his.
So she worked hard, it seems.
She had been an idiot without much intellect before, but Wi Seol-Ah had clearly worked on her flaws and earned a good score in lectures as well.
After all… She is the descendant of the Sword Venerable.
Her talent in martial arts was monstrous, and she never forgot anything she learned. Her beauty was also incredible. Jang Seonyeon's thoughts continued to churn.
So I'll make her mine.
He swore to himself that he wouldn't let Wi Seol-Ah slip away. He remembered the promise he had made with her. If he claimed first place by the end of the term, she would be his. For that reason, he had no intention of letting her outscore him, no matter the cost.
…There is a problem, though.
Crack.
Despite how well things seemed to be going, Jang Seonyeon clenched his fist at the sight of the problem that lay before him—the same problem that had been gnawing at him for years. He raised his eyes and looked at the name written above his.
"...Ha."
He struggled to contain his emotions as he gazed at it. Why? How could that bastard's name be on the list? Seeing it sent a wave of darkness through his heart.
"The first place this time will probably be…"
"Probably the Meteor Sword…"
"What about the hands-on training…"
Shut up.
The voices around him seemed to grow louder, as if determined to make him feel worse. He wanted to rip their mouths shut. Wouldn't that silence them?
I can't do that, though…
He couldn't afford to do such a thing. He had to protect the image he'd carefully crafted and endure, just a little longer, for the sake of his future. As Jang Seonyeon secretly fixed his expression with that thought…
"What's all this fuss about?"
A sharp voice cut through the crowd.
Step.
Unlike Jang Seonyeon's calm, measured steps, these footsteps were rough, carrying the irritation of someone dragged there unwillingly.
"...Eek!"
One student recoiled in shock at the sight of the newcomer—a stark contrast to his reaction upon seeing Jang Seonyeon earlier. The new arrival frowned at the response.
"What's wrong with him? Woocheol, is something happening today?"
"I heard something was being announced, so wouldn't that be the reason why everyone is gathered here?"
"Announced?"
A man with a towering physique—Pe Woocheol, whom even Jang Seonyeon recognized—explained the situation to the smaller young man in front of him.
Then, another handsome young man spoke with a smile. "It seemed like they made a ranking." It was the Sleeping Dragon. The Sleeping Dragon, who had previously brushed off Jang Seonyeon's approach with a lazy expression, now wore a completely different look.
"How pointless. They need to calm down," the young man responded bluntly to the Sleeping Dragon, then continued toward the board. The students parted instantly as the fierce-looking young man drew nearer.
Gulp.
Some even gulped nervously.
…Bastard.
Jang Seonyeon frowned the moment he laid eyes on him. The young man noticed him too and responded with a smile. Ignoring how unsettling that smile was, Jang Seonyeon ground his teeth again, knowing full well it was meant to mock him.
"Been a while, huh?"
"...Good to see you. Master Gu." Jang Seonyeon forced the greeting out, each word painful to utter.
"Your face twists every time you look at me."
"I'm not sure what you are talking about."
"I see, just keep pretending then."
By now, Jang Seonyeon's teeth were nearly worn down from all the grinding. That bastard never failed to get under his skin. Maybe it was the way his insults were always so blatant.
"Oh, brother."
"What."
"You came in first."
"Is that so?"
But more than that, he was the biggest obstacle standing in his way.
First place.
Gu Yangcheon.
He had claimed the top rank among all the students at the Academy. He had the highest score in the entrance exams and was the most infamous student at the Heavenly Dragon Academy, though for all the wrong reasons.
…True Dragon.
He was the one person Jang Seonyeon wanted to eliminate the most.
Why?
Jang Seonyeon already knew Gu Yangcheon was immensely talented in martial arts. How could he forget the humiliation he'd suffered during the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament? He was a monster, after all. Jang Seonyeon had no choice but to admit that much. The True Dragon was a monster.
But he is also intelligent?
It was unbelievable. Jang Seonyeon never thought Gu Yangcheon would put in the effort, yet he'd outscored even the Snow Phoenix.
…How is that even possible?
How could that be? Perhaps he'd made a deal with the instructors behind the scen—
"Hey."
"...!"
"You must be very frustrated, huh?"
Gu Yangcheon's words snapped Jang Seonyeon out of his thoughts, and he quickly masked his expression. Gu Yangcheon smirked at him.
"Work harder next time. Though I'm not sure if there will be a next time."
"...Master Gu."
"It's because you don't eat that much. Work on your appetite."
Gu Yangcheon continued to mock him, getting on his nerves. What made it worse was that Gu Yangcheon didn't even seem to care about his rank. Jang Seonyeon wasn't fond of it.
Are you saying it was obvious?
Was he implying that being in first place was a given? Jang Seonyeon wasn't happy about it. He did everything he could to build his image and maintain it, but Gu Yangcheon did whatever he wanted and didn't care what others thought of him.
…
Jang Seonyeon's fists clenched as a powerful emotion surged within him. It was jealousy. The Meteor Sword, feeling jealousy over a bastard like him. He couldn't admit it.
I have to get rid of him.
He truly needed to wipe him out. He had to ensure Gu Yangcheon ceased to exist before it was too late, before the wall between them became insurmountable. Jang Seonyeon's gaze shifted to a member of Gu Yangcheon's group—the person hiding in fear behind Pe Woocheol.
Cheol Jiseon.
He was the most important key to Jang Seonyeon's plans, and a very useful person for his future paths as well. Thanks to him, Jang Seonyeon had been able to endure all the insults. Soon enough, the smirk on Gu Yangcheon's face would turn into despair.
"Congratulations, Master Gu." Knowing this, Jang Seonyeon maintained his smile. "As expected, you are impressive."
Gu Yangcheon's face twisted in disgust at the congratulations. "You really are a nasty bastard… I wouldn't be able to smile due to anger, yet you somehow manage."
"Haha, why would I be mad at you when you deserve my praise?"
"I might lose my appetite if I stay here any longer. Let's go."
Gu Yangcheon turned around as if he wasn't amused anymore. His group immediately followed without hesitation. It seemed it wasn't just Gu Yangcheon; no one in his group cared about their rankings. Jang Seonyeon had to continue working hard. If he let his guard down for even a moment, his killing intent might slip. He kept the smile plastered on his face as he watched Gu Yangcheon walk away.
Then, he silently vowed.
Just you wait.
I'll have you on your knees.
* * *
I scratched my back as I headed toward the cafeteria.
It's so itchy.
The constant prick of killing intent tickled my back. I suppose having sharper senses wasn't entirely a good thing. It made it impossible not to feel Jang Seonyeon's irritating killing intent.
Ha.
Seeing Jang Seonyeon's face was bad enough, but that nasty aura of his made it unbearable.
I might've actually lost my appetite if I stayed there longer.
Nothing ruins my appetite faster than looking at that bastard's face.
As I continued to walk, Pe Woocheol spoke up. "Brother, you're amazing as always…! First place!"
"You've already said that three times." My name was at the top, but he seemed happier about it than I was. "Where was yours written?"
Pe Woocheol paused, thinking. "...I think it was written around the middle, but I'm not sure. I didn't really pay that much attention."
"You should've focused on your name more than mine, you idiot…" I didn't expect him to score high; he always looked half-dead during lectures. As expected, he'd landed somewhere in the middle.
But first place, huh?
I didn't really feel proud, since I'd expected it. However, I had been worried the instructors might deduct points for how rude I was to them. Thankfully, it seemed none of them held a grudge.
Or maybe they did take some points off, but I ended up in first place anyway.
I'd said it before: I knew more about Demons than anyone else. I'd encountered countless Demons during my time serving the Heavenly Demon and had consumed endless Demonic Stones for Qi. I obviously should know a lot.
"Stop the flattery, and let's go eat. I'm hungry."
"I heard there's meat today."
"Why are you happy? You know you're supposed to be a Taoist, right?"
"What's a Taoist? Is that something to eat?"
"...Never mind. Just eat it all, will you?"
By now, I was used to the Sleeping Dragon's constant nonsense. Despite being in a different group, he was always hanging around mine. It really seemed like he was going to follow me around every day.
Also,
Ignoring the Sleeping Dragon, I shifted my gaze to Cheol Jiseon, who trailed behind us silently.
-Are you going to continue acting that way?
"...!"
Cheol Jiseon flinched when I addressed him telepathically. That sour expression of his had been obvious since earlier.
-I told you it's fine.
I knew exactly what was on his mind. Because of that, I had to give him a helping push.
-Don't worry about it, and do what the Jang bastard tells you to do.
"Um…!"
"Hmm?"
Cheol Jiseon started to speak aloud without realizing, then quickly clamped his mouth shut. "Sorry… I bit my tongue accidentally."
"Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes."
Seeing that, I sighed. What if he failed his mission?
-Hey friend, you know that…?
Cheol Jiseon shook his head, unsure of what I meant. It seemed he didn't know what I was referring to.
-If you don't do as I say, I'm going to kill you.
"...!"
-You said you wanted to live.
Cheol Jiseon's face went pale at my threat, which was laced with killing intent. I didn't want to push him this far, but if he failed, it'd be a huge problem.
-So, let's do a good job, yes?
Cheol Jiseon nodded as I spoke with a smile. Judging by Jang Seonyeon's expression, he was planning exactly what I'd expected. Everything now depended on how well Cheol Jiseon followed him. I could tell from the way Jang Seonyeon had looked at me earlier, and from the prick of his killing intent.
It wouldn't be long now. I'd even made a backup plan just in case. All I had to do was wait. Everyone was playing their part, just as I had planned. I just hoped nothing unexpected came up.
And just like that, a few days passed.
"Your hands-on training begins now."
The day that bastard and I had been waiting for finally arrived.