Chapter 325: Hands-on Training (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 325: Hands-on Training (5)
The practical training at the Heavenly Dragon Academy was nothing out of the ordinary.
Its purpose was straightforward: to test whether students had properly absorbed the lessons on defending against demons and could apply them in actual combat. Just as I’d suspected—and expected—it involved hunting demons.
Still, a couple of things did catch me off guard.
Is this the same place they used for the entrance exams?
The designated hunting grounds were far more expansive than I had imagined. The two mountains from the entrance exam were now being repurposed for this training. Not that they were small to begin with—they were massive.
Furthermore, I couldn’t quite grasp the logic behind using such a vast area. If the instructors simply wanted to grade us individually, they could have just observed each student fighting a demon one-on-one. Why go through the trouble of releasing demons across such a wide area, only to have to round them up again? And despite their presence, I doubted they could effectively monitor everyone for danger.
“You have until sunset. Instructors will be watching you from all around, so I suggest you refrain from any foolish actions.”
After Cheol Hwanho’s warning, nervous looks spread across the students’ faces. In reality, however, the situation wasn’t as perilous as they feared. At their current level, battling demons was nothing to be afraid of. Most likely, only green-rank demons and a scant few blue-rank ones had been released. Fighting alone might be risky, but with so many instructors present, that wouldn’t be an issue.
If anything, the real danger came from other people.
With more than a few unhinged individuals in our midst, the instructors had explicitly warned us not to fight each other. Some were dangerously quick-tempered and easily provoked. Of course, most held back for the sake of their clan or sect’s reputation, but as I’ve said before, there were always a few bastards who didn’t care.
For example,
Like me.
It’s only natural to retaliate when someone provokes you. I can tolerate it once or twice, but that’s the limit of my patience.
Maybe that’s why? It felt like Cheol Hwanho’s gaze was fixed directly on me as he spoke.
“Fighting amongst yourselves is forbidden. Anyone caught doing so will be punished—you have been warned.”
Our eyes met. It must have been a coincidence.
“You better… be warned!”
…Or maybe not?
It really did seem like that warning was meant for me. But I was probably just imagining it.
Mhm.
Still, why spring a test on us when we’ve barely learned anything?
I went along because it was mandatory, but it felt absurd. Testing us after only two months of training? I couldn’t make sense of it. Sure, many of us had prior experience hunting demons, but now we were required to use the methods taught by the Heavenly Dragon Academy. I heard this test would significantly impact our grades, so naturally, everyone would be giving it their all.
But in my opinion, the Academy’s techniques weren’t particularly effective.
To put it kindly, they focus on the fundamentals.
Or perhaps I should call it the most standard approach? They taught only the most basic methods for these situations, and I’m certain the instructors knew this wasn’t the optimal way. Instead of teaching us how to properly handle different types of demons, they stuck to the bare minimum. Even the instructors seemed aware of this, but they were just following orders from above.
That’s why there’s no real growth.
I understood the intention—to gain practical experience after mastering the basics—but that made attending the Academy feel somewhat pointless. Every time I thought about it, I reached the same conclusion. What truly mattered here were the connections you forged and the reputation you built. The education itself held little value.
It’s fucked. Seriously.
The Murim Alliance’s premier military academy was now running on reputation alone. People flocked here for the prestige of the name, but when calamity struck, they were all swept away by the broken system. What were the Ten Sect Alliance, the Four Noble Clans, the Murim Alliance, and the Orthodox Faction, really? Just fools drunk on peace.
How could hope ever grow from such rotten roots? Without the Celestial Sword, they would have been annihilated instantly.
Based on my past life’s experience, I had long lost hope in the Orthodox Faction. I knew the demons that festered within their corrupted core.
I’d rather not dirty my hands with them, but I’ll have to eliminate them if I want to live.
Soon, I would have to start getting rid of those nasty bastards, one by one. Only then would the future become a little easier to manage.
“Brother.”
“Hmm?”
Pe Woocheol spoke up abruptly as we walked.
“What are your plans for the summer?”
“Summer?”
Summer? Out of the blue? Was something important happening then?
“Do you plan to return to your clan?”
“…The clan? Oh.”
I realized he was referring to the upcoming Academy break, where students could either use the training facilities or return home. Some would train in the enclosed chambers or practice grounds, while others would go back to their families.
As for me…
“…It might be difficult for me to return home.”
It was obvious the clan had been informed about the trouble I’d caused with the secret vault. Facing my father’s punishment was a distinct possibility, so it seemed wiser not to go back just yet. Ideally, avoiding the trip altogether was the best course of action.
I’m not sure about the others, though.
Gu Jeolyub and Gu Yeonseo would likely return when the time came. Especially Gu Jeolyub—with Gu Sunmoon waiting for him, he’d have no choice.
If he tries to skip out, I’ll make sure to put him to work this time.
Seeing him get completely crushed by Yung Pung last time made me realize I needed to be stricter. I’d initially planned to go easy on him because it was such a hassle, but remembering his stupid, nervous expression made my teeth grind.
It would be one thing if he had no potential.
But he learned everything I taught him, and he had talent. So why did he always act like that?
Back in my day, I had to figure everything out on my own—there was no one to teach me.
Sure, the Second Elder pushed me to my limits, but I ran away because I genuinely thought I’d die if I continued. Anyway, he should be grateful and work hard when someone is willing to teach him. I really couldn’t stand him.
Kids these days… tsk, tsk.
I couldn’t help but frown whenever Gu Jeolyub crossed my mind. Pe Woocheol flinched when he noticed my expression. Why was this bastard flinching?
“So?” I asked, my tone slightly irritated.
Pe Woocheol scratched the back of his head. “It’s nothing special… but if you don’t have any plans, would you like to come with me to my clan?”
“Your house?”
The Pe Clan was based in Sichuan. Wasn’t that where the Tang Clan was located?
“…Sichuan, huh.”
Returning home wasn’t an option, and I had been considering searching for the White Demonic Stone if I couldn’t break through my wall in time—
…Wait, isn’t that in Sichuan?
Not exactly in Sichuan, but in the same general direction. The White Demonic Stone was formed centuries ago when white demons went berserk, and it was hidden deep beneath a lake.
“Hmm…”
Since it’s in the same direction, if I haven’t broken through by then…
“I’ll think about it.”
“Oh…! Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me? You’re the one who invited me.” If anything, I should be thanking him.
I replied, somewhat speechless, but Pe Woocheol just smiled brightly. “My father would be delighted to meet you.”
“It’s not confirmed yet, you know.”
I had to consider it carefully. It would be risky to go before breaking through my barrier, especially with that dangerous bastard guarding the area. Consuming the White Demonic Stone would be far more effective after reaching the Fusion Realm, but could I handle that ‘monster’ at my current level?
There was another potential problem, too.
…Though I’m sure he wouldn’t go that far.
My father might come after me personally and drag me back. If that happened, I’d have no choice.
Surely he wouldn’t.
It was rare for my father to leave Shanxi unless it was an emergency, like the incident with Gu Huibi or a True Gate of Demons opening. He wasn’t called the Tiger Warrior, the guardian of the Gu Clan and Shanxi, for nothing.
But me not returning is a problem in itself.
The future Young Lord, running off with Pe Woocheol instead of facing a little trouble at home? Well, it was an issue, but what could I do? They shouldn’t have made me Young Lord in the first place. I’m sure they’d be more lenient with me now.
With that thought and a smile, I spoke to Pe Woocheol. “You should get going. I think it’s about to start.”
“Yes, understood.”
Pe Woocheol bowed his head and quickly left. I had only one reason for sending him away like that: we had been told not to cooperate. We were instructed to keep our distance, and students were already beginning to spread out.
Moreover,
It’s better if Pe Woocheol isn’t involved.
Even without that rule, I would have sent him away, so it worked out conveniently for me. It gave me a perfect excuse.
I looked around. Wherever I turned, I saw mountains thick with trees. Focusing my senses with qi, I detected several presences scattered about—likely other students. The larger presences interspersed among them were probably the instructors lying in wait.
Two nearby.
In addition, demons were scattered throughout the area. The sight was fascinating in its own way. How could the Orthodox Faction justify releasing demons in a perfectly good mountain like this? And how did they even capture them to begin with? Was no one questioning this?
Or maybe the Alliance got rid of anyone who asked.
That sounded plausible.
-Whoosh!
As I glanced around, arrows shot high into the air. Not just one or two—it was just like during the entrance exams. The arrows were infused with qi, and as they reached their peak,
Pop!
They burst with a faint sound, dispersing the qi within. It was the signal for the test to begin.
I watched for a moment before slowly starting to move. With each step, I sensed demons nearby, but I made no move to hunt them. It was obvious. The demons weren’t the objective of this training for me.
Soon, I began leaping through the trees, concealing my presence with my qi. I noticed a few people nearby growing confused—likely instructors who had been watching me but lost track once I vanished. After shaking them off, I reached the highest point of the mountain.
“…Ugh, my joints.”
I sat on a nearby rock and began massaging my knees. It didn’t make sense for my body to ache at this age, but my joints had been sore lately from all the mental strain.
“Is it going to rain tomorrow or something?”
Muttering idly, I glanced up at the sky. It was clear and beautiful, with no sign of rain. I watched the clouds drift by. The scene was picturesque, with a few clouds dotting the azure expanse.
“Why is it so frustratingly slow?”
But I wasn’t the type to be mesmerized by scenery. I was only watching because there was nothing better to do.
“I wonder when he’ll show up.”
I’d climbed all the way up here to make it easier for him to find me. It would be a problem if he couldn’t. Pathetic, really, if I had to go looking for him after all this effort.
After a while, I considered plucking a leaf to whistle with,
Rustle.
But then I sensed a presence approaching from one direction. I shifted my gaze toward it. Not to see who it was—that much was obvious. It felt like the right time to unleash the frustration I’d been holding back for so long.
“I almost thought you weren’t coming.”
I smiled as I spoke, but the bastard who appeared looked utterly disgusted. The pleasant smile he usually wore around others was gone, replaced by a foul aura that cloaked him completely. I wondered how a person could change so drastically in an instant, but this was the side of him I’d been waiting to see.
He fixed his gaze on me and spoke. “…You were waiting for me?”
“Not for long. I just got here myself.”
I greeted him like an old friend, but this bastard—no, Jang Seonyeon—only scowled darker in response.