Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Exam Has Already Begun
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Moonlight streamed through the window.
Amjon sat alone, drinking.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Drinking alone is so damn boring. Care for a glass?"
Amjon's gaze fell on Green Hall Captain Dang Sa-uk, who stood there with an expressionless face.
"I'm on duty."
"You're just standing there."
"My duty is to protect the Patriarch."
"I'm fine, so sit down. Drinking alone is boring."
"No."
"I'm the one paying you, and I say it's fine?"
"I'm not fine with it."
Dang Sa-uk didn't so much as blink an eye despite Amjon's persistent prodding.
Amjon's face quickly soured with boredom.
"Argh, you're no fun at all. People need emotions, you know. You're always so rigid, like a stone statue."
"I apologize."
"I've been hearing that for twenty years now, it feels like."
"I apologize for that too."
Dang Sa-uk remained as unyielding as ever, not a drop of blood to be drawn even if pricked with a needle.
Amjon shook his head in exasperation.
He knew better than anyone that Dang Sa-uk would never change.
Dang Hoseon had been inflexible too, but at least he showed his emotions clearly. Dang Sa-uk showed nothing.
"This won't do. I'll just drink all this expensive liquor myself and finish it off."
For a brief moment, he considered calling Dang Chuk-yung, but dismissed the idea immediately. That guy would hog all the good stuff.
In the end, Amjon drained every last drop from the gourd bottle by himself.
Yet it barely touched his liver.
Tsk.
He smacked his lips.
One more round?
But drinking alone was no fun.
Who to call?
Dang Ye-won?
No way. She'd just nag about it being bad for his liver.
Yi Cheolsan?
He liked the guy deep down, but he was even more boring at drinks than Dang Sa-uk.
He wasn't close to Dang Gyujin, and calling any of the Later Eight Saints would just make them too intimidated around him.
That left only that recklessly bold fool Unhwi...
He could hold his liquor, and with his wild personality, he'd make for an entertaining drinking buddy.
The problem was the confinement order issued just hours ago.
Cancel it now?
Or find some excuse for a temporary release—
"No."
But Dang Sa-uk cut off Amjon's thoughts in an instant.
"What?"
"I'm just saying no."
"What do you mean, no?!"
"I don't know. Just no."
"You insolent bastard, interfering without even knowing what I'm thinking?!"
"Still no."
Had he boiled a pumpkin whole? He was unyieldingly firm.
Amjon fumed, but it didn't faze Dang Sa-uk one bit.
"Whatever you're thinking, it's not allowed. Order another round, or call it a night. That's my advice."
"Argh, that's why having a subordinate is such a pain. Why don't you take over as Dang Clan head while you're at it?"
"If you appoint me, I won't refuse."
"What makes you think I'd trust you with this position? You're so stubborn, it'd torture the retainers!"
"Then I refuse."
"Argh!"
The guy never yielded an inch!
If there was one person in the world Amjon hated pranking the most, it was this one.
Thud!
Amjon slammed the gourd bottle irritably onto the table and crossed his arms.
"If you have complaints, just say them outright. Stop nitpicking."
Dang Sa-uk stared straight at Amjon.
His face was still impossible to read.
But emotions flickered in his eyes.
Finally, he spoke.
"Do you know what the mood is like in the current procession?"
"I do. It's a mess."
"It's more than a mess. The conflicts simmering beneath the surface are on the verge of exploding."
"Is that so?"
When issuing the ten-day confinement to Unhwi and Gongson Beom, Dang Sa-uk had gauged the mood among the warriors and scholars.
Everyone was full of grievances.
Those following Yi Cheolsan and the Penalty Squad protested that Gongson Beom started it, so why punish Unhwi for stopping him? Gongson Beom's faction countered that the Penalty Squad's involvement was an abuse of authority from the start.
Even those who had been friendly with both sides split into factions based on their views, and the scholars were divided too.
It looked for all the world like a clash between prestigious clans and minor sects.
Dang Sa-uk believed that if things continued, conflicts could erupt into a major incident, exam or no exam.
He had been about to bring it up when he noticed Amjon grinning broadly.
'No way?'
It hit him like a bolt.
It was the exact same smile he made when scheming pranks on his granddaughter Dang Ye-won.
"...Did you orchestrate this?"
"You're too sharp for your own good. Ruins all the fun. Figuring it out already?"
"Why—"
"Why what? It's simple. Let them vent before the entrance exam."
"!"
"Conflicts were inevitable in this exam anyway. The higher the sect's prestige, the more likely their disciples pass. Lower sect disciples will grow resentful at constant failure."
"......"
"And even among the passers, they won't know their place. The qualified ones will have their own complaints. Then the new Stormwind Corps fractures before it's even formed. And if that happens... you know."
A disunited force, no matter how many experts, couldn't beat a well-drilled elite unit.
"If we had time, we'd focus on building unity... but you know we don't."
Dang Sa-uk nodded gravely.
The Demonic Cult loomed in the west, the South Palace Clan in the east, both ready to invade Sichuan at any moment.
Hadn't even the Alliance Mountain started falling into chaos?
"After the exam, they'll be thrown straight into the front lines. The Alliance will launch right after. So they need to purge all their pent-up frustrations beforehand. And if they can't handle it without causing trouble, they leave."
"So that means—"
"Exactly."
Amjon grinned mischievously, spinning the gourd bottle.
"The exam has already begun. Just a little while ago."
"!!"
* * *
"Ugh...! If I could just punch that old bastard's face once! Just once, that'd be my life's wish!!"
Yi Cheolsan gave a wry smile as he watched Dang Gyujin grind her teeth in drunken fury.
After Unhwi's confinement order came down, Dang Gyujin had marched to the Green Hall on her own.
She insisted she should take the punishment instead, since it was all because of her.
But her plea was denied.
No reason given.
So she had latched onto Yi Cheolsan, venting her frustrations for ages.
The complaints repeated so much that Yi Cheolsan could predict every word.
'Just once.'
"Just once!"
'That ugly mug of his.'
"That ugly muuug!"
'I feel so sorry to Unhwi.'
"I'm really... so sorry to Unhwi."
How could she repeat it word for word without a single slip?
"Sister, this isn't your fault. Why keep blaming yourself?"
"Unhwi young master will understand. Don't worry too much."
Yu Sumin and Sima Seon-ui, thoroughly drunk and sprawled out, babbled nonsense beside her.
Only clear-headed Dang Ye-won wore a wry smile.
Then her expression hardened.
'It was really dangerous.'
She was replaying her duel with Gongson Beom.
His swift footwork, leaping ability, and ultra-fast hundred-strike technique.
Everything shattered her preconceptions in a barrage of shocks. Even if they fought again, could she respond properly?
If she threw hidden weapons, he'd dodge with lightness skill, wasting them.
Poisoning him wouldn't be easy either.
Everyone's defeat at Gongson Beom's hands weighed on her, and Unhwi overwhelming them all stunned her.
"I... to Unhwi... can't... help at all... I'm... Unhwi's sword... but..."
Dang Gyujin mumbled with her head planted on the table.
It felt like just yesterday she boldly declared she'd be his sword. But that sword couldn't even sharpen its edge, filling her with self-loathing.
Unhwi flew high for his dreams, while she felt like dead weight. She was sorry.
She wanted to be Unhwi's sturdy sword and wings.
To help him soar toward his dreams.
Her heart raced whenever she saw him.
She wanted to join him.
To cheer him on.
That's why she tried to stop Gongson Beom from badmouthing Unhwi, only to end up embarrassing herself.
Reality differed from dreams.
"A sword... like this..."
Yi Cheolsan watched his junior quietly clawing at the ground, then spoke warmly.
"Junior Sister."
Dang Ye-won looked at Yi Cheolsan.
Yu Sumin, Sima Seon-ui, and Dang Ye-won all turned to him.
They had long known Dang Gyujin admired Yi Cheolsan.
It was all because of his warm nature.
So surely this time too, he'd comfort her—
"Don't talk weak."
"!"
"!"
"!"
A completely unexpected response.
Dang Ye-won's eyes widened. Yu Sumin and Sima Seon-ui jerked their heads up.
Yi Cheolsan's voice was still warm. But it carried strength.
This resolute side was new to them.
"Eldest Senior Brother—"
Dang Gyujin fought off her drunken haze and stared at Yi Cheolsan.
Yi Cheolsan spoke.
"You said you were Dang Je's sword, right?"
"...Yes."
"What happens if a sword's edge dulls? Its teeth break? Or its durability runs out and it snaps mid-battle? What happens to the swordsman?"
"He dies..."
"Do you want to get Dang Je killed, Junior Sister?"
"No, of course not!"
Dang Gyujin shot to her feet. The alcohol fled her system.
"Then why keep whining weakly?"
"!"
"Sharpen the edge on a whetstone. Maintain it so teeth don't break. When durability fades, thrust it back into the forge fire and hammer it. Until it's sturdy again. No, sturdier."
"!!"
"But seeing you like this instead? It doesn't suit you."
"......"
"Honestly, I was really disappointed in you today."
"...Eldest Senior Brother."
"It's not about losing. Defeat comes to all. The problem is what follows. If you don't analyze why you lost and fix your flaws, just wallowing in pity... who will care? Your sword master, Dang Je? Think he'll understand?"
"......"
"He'll understand. But from then on, you're just blood kin, not a sword."
"......"
"So enough. Get up. Grip your sword. Endure somehow. Win somehow."
"......"
Yi Cheolsan grinned at Dang Gyujin's turbulent eyes.
"I'll help you. A sword needs a blacksmith, right? I'll hammer you into shape."
Dang Gyujin's eyes widened slightly, then drooped bashfully.
"...Yes."
Her voice was a bit subdued, but carried more strength than before.
Her cheeks flushed faintly too.
'She's smitten.'
'Totally smitten.'
'Note to self: how to seduce... men....'
Dang Ye-won, Yu Sumin, Sima Seon-ui, in that order.
They all let out awkward chuckles.
Dang Gyujin sank into thought.
'Right. Moping like this isn't me.'
If she'd hindered Unhwi this time, she'd redouble her efforts next time to become stronger and helpful.
Unhwi had done the same.
Abused by his mother. Scorned by Dang Yu-chang. Finger-pointed by all.
He endured relentlessly, rose up, earned everyone's recognition.
Now he shone brilliantly.
She had to do the same.
Tempering.
Hammer it, hammer it again.
To become a sword worthy of Unhwi.
To not lag behind him.
She had her pride too— a big sister weaker than her little brother? Awkward.
'Forgive me. Sorry for resenting you. And please help.'
「Ehehehehe! I was wondering when you'd snap out of it! Now that's the Dang Gyujin I know! Become the Demon King's sword? Scary as hell... no, terrifying... but if you're doing it, I'll be a demon sword too. One that dices up anyone I don't like! Hehehe!」
'Right. You be the demon sword. I'll be the divine sword.'
With her resolve hardened, Dang Gyujin finally saw the path before her.
Harsh and ruthless to villains, but protective and salvific to the good.
The divine sword and demon sword.
In that moment.
Click!
She felt something inside her shatter.
Like a seed in her heart or soul's depths sprouting.
Whoosh!
Pure light flashed in her eyes.
Her spirit core advanced to the spirit sprout stage, divine energy wafting like forest scent.
Yi Cheolsan, noticing, smiled.
"Congratulations, Junior Sister."