Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Return to Inmu Academy
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Creak.
Snort.
The carriage came to a stop, followed by the horse's rough panting.
As the carriage halted, I peered out the window to see a familiar sight.
An open plaza atop stone steps, flanked by buildings that carried the patina of age.
We had finally returned to Inmu Academy.
Back when I attended Inmu Academy, I never sympathized with complaints about the poor facilities or it being the smallest academy around. But after visiting Cheonmu Academy, I finally got it.
It really was on the small side.
If Cheonmu Academy evoked the bustle of a small city, Inmu Academy offered a tidy simplicity—just three buildings and two open plazas.
A few instructors were already waiting at the entrance, along with the Academy Master, his long white beard flowing in the breeze. They must have known we were coming.
But they seemed utterly dumbfounded, staring blankly at the carriage as if they never imagined we'd arrive in such luxury.
"Academy Master, who was supposed to visit today?"
"...Heh heh, I haven't heard a thing..."
The old man addressed as the Academy Master stroked his long beard thoughtfully.
Cheol Woong, Pung Woon, and Namgung Hyeok disembarked from the lead carriage first. We followed suit, stepping down while watching them.
No sooner had we alighted than we clasped our fists in unison and bowed to the instructors.
"We have returned from the friendly match."
"Good work, all of you. Truly."
The Academy Master patted Cheol Woong's shoulder as he spoke.
Even so, his eyes remained fixed on the carriage.
His expression screamed confusion—what in the world was going on?—though he was clearly holding back his curiosity.
"This carriage... Never mind that for now. First, I have words for the disciples."
At the mention of words for us, we all turned to the Academy Master in unison.
With my Internal Energy Cultivation Method leveled up, I could sense it.
Every word from the man before us brimmed with profound inner power.
"I know how great a shock and pain this defeat must have brought you."
As the Academy Master began, we exchanged glances.
'Defeat?'
We debated whether to correct his misunderstanding right away or let him finish first.
"..."
"But wallowing in regret over what's already passed is meaningless!"
The other instructors nodded in agreement.
"I—"
"What matters most is the will to overcome. Not immediate results, so hold your heads high, disciples and Instructor Cheol Woong!"
The instructors burst into applause at the Academy Master's stirring speech.
We got swept up in the moment and clapped along half-heartedly, but bewildered expressions were inevitable.
We hadn't lost, after all.
In the end, it was Instructor Cheol Woong who mustered the courage.
"Academy Master."
"Yes?"
"We won."
"...Come again?"
The Academy Master's white eyebrows shot up.
The other instructors widened their eyes, as if questioning whether they'd heard right or if Cheol Woong was lying.
Silence stretched on for a moment.
"For real? We won?"
"Yes."
"...Good. Forget what I said earlier."
After confirming with Cheol Woong once more, the Academy Master cleared his throat awkwardly and corrected himself.
"It's the result that counts! Savor this moment and commit it to memory!"
"Ooh!"
"No way, we beat Cheonmu Academy..."
"Does that mean we've taken their spot..."
"Hold it, calm down. It was just a friendly match."
As the Academy Master raised his voice, the instructors finally grasped the situation and showered us with praise amid more applause.
They were eagerly gulping down the kimchi soup now.
But it wasn't time for wild celebrations just yet.
Once Seol Yeong could wield her ice arts more freely and Jeong Seon better harnessed her inner power, we could expect dominant results at the sparring tournament.
Not to mention me and Pung Woon.
Namgung Hyeok?
Well...
Just stay healthy, man.
Piercing through the instructors' festive cheers, we bolted straight for our beloved dorms.
No matter how comfy the transformed carriage was, it couldn't beat our usual digs.
"Hoo..."
"Waa..."
Jeong Seon and I let out long sighs the moment we entered the dorm.
Come to think of it, I'd be rooming with Jeong Seon here.
Having a spacious room to myself at Cheonmu Academy had its perks, but sharing this cramped dorm room with her had its own charm.
Most of that charm coming from Jeong Seon herself, of course.
"What do you think?"
"About what?"
"Seol Yeong's treatment. Think it's doable?"
Jeong Seon hit me with a sharp question right after we settled in.
The possibility of treatment.
I pulled out the pouch from my pocket.
Inside gleamed the Snow Ginseng, still radiant as ever.
My Internal Energy Cultivation Method and inner power were both at level 9.
And this was the legendary spirit medicine known as Snow Ginseng.
I'd originally planned to take it myself, but in the past, Pung Woon had fed it to Seol Yeong for her treatment.
With help from a prestigious Huashan Sect elder, no less—but it had clearly made a huge difference.
"What if we split the Snow Ginseng in half? Would it still work?"
"Hmm... Probably? It'd be less potent than taking the whole thing solo, but..."
Could we treat Seol Yeong?
Honestly, yesterday's events showed promise.
Inside the carriage, I'd confirmed that when Seol Yeong got aroused—or more bluntly, reached climax—she expelled a substantial amount of yin energy.
Leveraging that right might make it possible.
"..."
I was starting to suspect the world I'd transmigrated into wasn't a pure wuxia tale, but something steamier.
Too late to realize it?
Anyway, we had to proceed carefully.
Ideally, I'd level up my cultivation method to 10 first, but after hitting 9, my instincts screamed one thing.
'No further without more.'
It felt like shackles holding me back.
Progress beyond this wouldn't come from mere effort or training.
Enlightenment, a fortuitous encounter.
Heaven's luck to break through the wall.
But we didn't have time to wait for that.
"Anything else that could help..."
Jeong Seon patted my shoulder with a grin, like she'd just had a bright idea.
"Overflowing yin and yang energy would amplify it, right?"
"...Yeah?"
"Then I've got just the place."
Her words clicked instantly.
The place where she grew up, where she started cross-dressing.
A spot where yin-yang exchanges happened daily, where extreme yang practitioners like me went to train.
The brothel.
"Right, that place."
It would definitely help.
But...
"...Think it'll be okay?"
What if word got out that Seol Yeong, Young Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, was frequenting a brothel?
Headache waiting to happen.
"Don't worry. I've got a plan."
"...Alright."
I nodded.
When the iron's hot, strike it—they say. After resting till evening, we'd head to the brothel once everyone was asleep.
"Do we really have to dress like this?"
"Don't want rumors of Inmu Academy disciples hitting the brothels?"
"..."
Our trio now looked like a high-class courtesan flanked by two burly bodyguards.
According to Jeong Seon, top courtesans often traveled with escorts like this.
We slipped through the deathly quiet streets, then turned into an alley—
"Ooh..."
And suddenly, a vibrant street bathed in red lights stretched before us.
The infamous red-light district.
I knew I had to act natural, but my eyes kept darting around busily.
Any man would in a place like this.
A spot that made your heart race for reasons unspoken.
People strolled by, intoxicated by the tantalizing atmosphere.
And one of those drunken district denizens approached us.
"My, what a beauty. If it's not too forward—"
"...It's forward."
"...Don't say that."
Seol Yeong shut him down coldly, but the man persisted.
Clearly hammered.
Time for me to step in.
"Step aside."
"...Hah, think you're a man? Can't you see I'm talking to the lady?"
"I said step aside."
"..."
The man glanced back, and two hulking brutes stepped forward.
"Ever heard of the Luoyang Twin Ghosts?"
"Luoyang Twin Ghosts?"
I shot a subtle look at Jeong Seon, but she shook her head—she'd never heard of them either.
Strong? In their own way, maybe.
But compared to Jeon Pung or Namgung Yu from Cheonmu, or the bastard who ambushed me? Laughable.
I slowly placed my hand on my sword.
Low-level or not, no room for carelessness.
These guys had a nickname, unlike Pung Woon.
My blade began to glow faintly red.
"Th-that's sword aura...!"
"..."
The Luoyang Twin Ghosts' faces twisted in shock.
They exchanged glances and nodded.
"Y-you bastard!"
"Die!"
Whoosh!
With a mighty roar, the Twin Ghosts swung massive fists.
But not at me—their target was the flirtatious drunk.
"Argh!"
A thud echoed as the man flew back, and the Ghosts pummeled him mercilessly.
"D-do you have any idea who these ladies are?!"
"Thinking you can buy us off for chump change?!"
"This punk tried to kill us over a few coins!"
At this point, the guy almost seemed pitiable.
"...Ease up."
"Yes, sir!"
"We'll watch ourselves!"
They stopped at my command.
The man's state?
Fine, mostly.
A few teeth missing.
"Since when sword aura?"
"This counts as sword aura?"
I chuckled awkwardly at Seol Yeong's question.
Truth was, I had no clue.
Just mimicking what Pung Woon and Seol Yeong did.
"Follow me from here."
Jeong Seon took the lead, guiding us as we trailed her back.
And we arrived.
"This is my home."
"...Ooh..."
A massive brothel filled our view.