Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Defying Superiors
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“Yes, I'm here.”
I gave a light bow toward the Senior Physician in greeting.
The training ground was buzzing with energy from early morning. It seemed a good number of Azure Dragon Squad members who had gone out to subjugate the Secret Cave had returned. Even a quick glance showed at least eighty percent of the pre-departure force was back. Pairs wielding wooden swords sparred, while others swung their blades alone, sweat pouring down as they filled my view. Roaring shouts and the sharp cracks of wooden swords clashing rang in my ears from all directions.
Then, from amid the sparring crowd in the distance, one particularly massive figure spotted me and called out joyfully.
“Brother!”
It was Paeng Daesan. Forgetting he was in the middle of training, he grinned wide and waved at me.
Thwack!
In that instant, the squad member's wooden sword didn't miss the opening and slammed into his side. A heavy thud echoed across the training ground, but Paeng Daesan just brushed off the spot as if it didn't hurt and let out a hearty laugh. What a blockhead.
I chuckled softly and waved back lightly. He grinned even wider, clearly delighted, and refocused on his sparring. His opponent looked skilled, on the verge of first-rate expert level. But Paeng Daesan had grown enough to handle such foes with ease now. His movements after switching to bare-handed fighting were far sharper and more menacing than when he used sword techniques.
At this point, he might even stand a chance against a squad leader. The guy's durability seemed to grow ridiculously by the day. And lately, I hadn't even sparred with him personally. Must be the result of his nonstop training day and night.
I turned to the rabbit standing quietly beside me, along with Soso and Ha-eun.
“Soso. Watch the rabbit for a bit.”
At my words, she thumped her chest confidently.
“Yes! Soso can do it! Leave it to me, Senior Brother!”
I smiled faintly at her innocent reply and whispered to Ha-eun standing quietly nearby.
“Keep an eye on Soso.”
“...Got it.”
Ha-eun gave a short, reluctant response. Yeah, this one's more reliable.
I moved to a shaded corner of the training ground and slowly closed my eyes, focusing my mind.
Shoooo...
My qi sense spread out thin and wide like mist. Hundreds of Azure Dragon Squad members training diligently, including Paeng Daesan. The physicians, led by the Senior Physician prepping herbs on one side. And nearby, Soso chattering away with Ha-eun silently watching over her and the rabbit.
The entire vast Azure Dragon Squad training ground felt like it was right in the palm of my hand.
My mental energy was plenty. Thanks to pushing it to the limit last night communing with the rabbit, the total capacity had noticeably increased. Hanging light suggestions over this many people was no issue. If it fell short, I could just borrow Soso for a quick top-up.
'Recover.'
'Focus.'
As vice squad leader, I had to show some authority, right?
The Alliance Leader and strategist might not know exactly that I used hypnosis, but they already suspected I had some special ability. Most of the experts in this Azure Dragon Squad probably had a vague idea too. No need to hide it anymore.
Even Cheonha Young and the Black Elder gunning for me... well, with Zhuge Jin vouching so strongly, I should be safe within the Martial Alliance. This wasn't their playground.
As my suggestions spread, the air in the training ground subtly shifted.
The squad members' ragged breaths evened out bit by bit. The arcs of their wooden swords became concise and sharp, free of wasted motion. Pairs sparring synced up more smoothly than before, and solo trainees' stances lost all their flaws.
Tiny changes the squad members themselves wouldn't notice. But with hundreds affected, the overall training efficiency visibly soared.
Mental energy still plentiful. It really had grown a ton.
Satisfied, I opened my eyes with a smile. But scanning the training ground, one expected face was missing. Nowhere was Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi, who should be overseeing this training.
I approached the Senior Physician, casually trimming herbs, and asked.
“Senior Physician. Where's Squad Leader Byeok?”
He glanced at me once, then turned back to his herbs with a gruff reply.
“The Alliance Leader summoned him.”
“The Alliance Leader?”
When I double-checked, he nodded.
“Yep.”
Hm. Makes sense. Who else could casually summon that boisterous squad leader? Probably nothing major.
That was when it happened.
“Brother!”
A booming voice came with vibrations like the ground was shaking. Paeng Daesan, who had been sparring across the way, was charging toward me. His hulking frame barreling over with ferocious momentum made it feel like the earth itself was quaking.
“Brother! Spar with me, please!”
Stopping before me, Paeng Daesan panted, his sweat-drenched face alight with pure awe and challenger’s fire.
Why not. My body had been itching for a workout anyway.
I nodded silently and walked toward the center of the training ground. As I moved, the training squad members froze in unison, parting like they'd rehearsed to clear a path. Hundreds of eyes locked onto me. Kinda burdensome.
Standing in the center, I watched Paeng Daesan clasp his fists in formal salute.
“Brother! Please go easy!”
I just nodded in reply and beckoned him.
“Come at me.”
“Yes, sir!”
Paeng Daesan let out a short shout and launched off the ground.
Boom!
The spot he'd pushed off cracked like a spiderweb. The momentum surging from his massive body crashed toward me like a beast.
In that split second as he closed in, I applied body enhancement self-suggestion and activated the Akashic Records. Amid the flood of memory fragments flashing through my mind, I pulled out the clearest image.
'Byeok Cheonwi. Fist.'
Before I knew it, his rock-like fist was right in front of me. A whirlwind of fist wind savagely whipped my hair. But it was enough. I could see it perfectly.
I shifted half a step lightly, deflecting his fist. The massive blow grazed my ear and sliced empty air. At the same time, power surged into my own fist.
Krunch!
Just clenching it tight made a sound like flesh twisting and bones compressing. Paeng Daesan's exposed side—right where the liver sat. Without a moment's hesitation, I drove my fist straight in.
Liver Blow.
Splat!
A dull crunch of twisting innards, and his huge body flew like a paper doll.
“Guhk!”
He couldn't even scream fully before soaring dozens of yards to smash into the far wall of the training ground.
Kaboom!
Cracks spiderwebbed out from the impact point across the wall. Moments later, Paeng Daesan slid limply down. He slumped to the ground, hacking up blood, but my qi sense showed he was fine overall. The guy had cockroach-level vitality.
His durability had really shot up. At this rate, he was probably super first-rate now, like I'd joked before. Next time, I could crank up the intensity.
“...”
The cheers filling the training ground vanished, replaced by heavy silence. Hundreds of squad members who had stopped training to watch stood frozen, as if time had stopped.
One squad member's shout broke the quiet.
“Whoa... whoaaa!”
That sparked admiring exclamations everywhere.
“Vice Squad Leader!”
“Spar with me... please!”
“Me too, Vice Squad Leader!”
Suddenly, they all swarmed me, begging for matches. Uh, too many. And way over there, Paeng Daesan was already staggering up and charging back.
Whatever.
I said lowly to the crowding squad members.
“All come at once.”
Their faces lit up.
“As expected of the Vice Squad Leader!”
“Thank you!”
They cheered, pulling out wooden swords and various training weapons. Gleaming blades, sharply honed spears, hefty iron maces.
Hold up. A few non-wooden ones mixed in.
No helping it. I reached into empty air. Crimson-black Demonic Energy swirled in my hand, soon condensing into solid form. What I held was a club as thick as a baseball bat.
This should be non-lethal.
Defying superiors with a beatdown? I'll thrash them right to the edge of death.