Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: To the Murim Alliance (1)
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"Murim Alliance field trip? Azure Bamboo Hall won the spring dorm tournament, so how am I supposed to tag along? Isn't it just for your dorm's students? And what was that about a sword suiting me better than a saber anyway?"
Pang So-jin fired off two questions at once, and neither was entirely incomprehensible.
The freshmen field trip to the Murim Alliance had always been the exclusive privilege of the winning dorm from the spring dorm tournament.
So her reaction was only natural.
And the comment about a sword suiting her better than a saber was plenty to provoke that response too.
Still, I only answered one of her questions.
"Up until now, the Murim Alliance field trip spots have gone only to members of the winning spring dorm tournament team. But we're planning to make room for outstanding students from other dorms as well. Yun Nation Hall will probably send Jeokgal Seol-ji and your older sister."
"...What? ...Uh, thanks, I guess. But is that really okay?"
"If you're asking about the policy, I can tell you it aligns with the original intent."
"No, I mean reputation and all that. Won't there be expectations within Azure Bamboo Hall? They might not be grateful just because you're being generous to other dorms."
True to form as the first Yun Nation Hall student from the Northern Pang Clan, she had a broad perspective.
'Pang So-cheon would've just gone 'Wow! Awesome!' and left it at that.'
Anyway.
I couldn't exactly say 'that's the royal road' like in the original story, so I came up with a suitable excuse and opened my mouth.
"What's happening inside Azure Bamboo Hall is something your sister can worry about. And what others think or gossip about isn't my concern. I'm just doing what I believe is right."
At my words, Pang So-jin made a face like she'd been slapped, then consciously snorted.
"Look at you, acting like some great hero. Then why did you give the Northern Pang Clan such headaches..."
But that attitude didn't last.
At some point, her voice trailed off into mutters like, 'Did Yong-un's scoundrel antics have some deeper meaning too?'
Then she shook her head vigorously and demanded an answer to her second question.
"...A-Anyway! I still haven't heard the second answer!"
But that was a problem Pang So-jin had to wrestle with on her own.
Switching from saber to sword wasn't something a few words from me could fix right away.
"No, I already told you. You just didn't accept it as an answer. Didn't I say you'd understand if you come on the field trip?"
"...That's!"
Pang So-jin started to say something in response.
I could guess what it was without hearing.
'She wants a more direct, immediate answer.'
But you can't cook rice just by pouring water on uncooked grains.
Pang So-jin needed time to stew over it alone.
So I didn't allow her any further input.
I raised my palm to cut her off, then pointed toward Yun Nation Hall with my finger.
It was an order for her to return to her dorm.
Of course, Pang So-jin didn't obediently accept my dismissal.
But I treated her as if she weren't there and went about my business.
Pop—
I uncorked the Two Rivers liquor and poured it into Regret.
I had come out in the first place to share a celebratory drink with my master.
The Righteous Martial Academy freshmen field trip to the Murim Alliance was an annual event, but it wasn't held on a fixed date.
You might wonder how it's annual if the date isn't set.
The Murim Alliance Leader wasn't a leisurely sort.
And while the Murim Alliance had less prestige than in other wuxia tales despite its hardships, it was far from idle.
'They're the ones keeping the jianghu turning.'
Of course, the headquarters building was always in the same place.
The reason the academy handpicked freshmen for a mid-semester Murim Alliance visit was to let them witness and learn from the most active senior martial artists working for the good of the world.
Fitting that purpose, the Alliance side had to align with times when the Leader and key figures from the Strategy and Enforcement Divisions were at headquarters.
On our end, we had to compile a list of visiting students and get it approved by the Alliance.
'This time, something came up on their side.'
It wasn't anything tragic.
The anonymous report I had Yin Xia Lian submit had borne fruit: the government loaned ships and navy, and the Alliance dispatched a strike force to wipe out the Sea Ban Gang just recently.
'That's why the Alliance is swamped with cleanup.'
The Leader had returned, but the Grand Strategist and Medicine King hadn't yet. They sent word asking if it was okay.
I put Senior Kyung-ryong forward, arguing it wouldn't align with the event's purpose.
As a result, the schedule got pushed back a bit.
'It just gives Pang So-jin more time to stew. A little extra wait doesn't hurt me.'
We needed both the Leader and the Medicine King present for the trip to have meaning anyway.
'Introduce Pang So-jin to the Leader and collect the referral fee.'
And the pulse diagnosis from the Medicine King.
'Followed by the Golden Needle Great Technique and its tools.'
The Medicine King's supreme art varied by patient, but I remembered it producing effects similar to the Damcheon Elixir from the Southern Jiang Merchant King.
'It expelled the poison from the spirit pill and shortened the recovery period.'
The Heavenly King Five Elements Pill that leaked from Bo-joon's house, passed through auction, and ended up in my hands.
The Red Plum Pill awarded for being the top student in this tournament.
Having two spirit pills but unable to consume them was a waste.
Meeting the Medicine King would solve that, so I couldn't help but look forward to the wait.
That was when.
As I was lost in those thoughts during the Corpse Manipulation Fundamentals lecture.
Dang Ok-gi's grumbling voice pulled me out.
"I don't get a word of this."
I looked up to see the blackboard at the front of the classroom already filled with writing.
Clack— clack—
Swipe— clack clack clack—
"Now, look at the writing on the blackboard. Even talisman novices have probably seen this form before. This top part is the talisman head, or Fu Shu. The section below tied together is the talisman body, or Fu Shin. Among the body, the core of the spell is the Fu Dan we've discussed all class. Finally, this part forming the path for the spell's manifestation is the talisman foot, or Fu Jiao..."
The writing was still expanding, and the other students were frantically copying and drawing it.
The only ones not wielding brushes were me and Dang Ok-gi.
"Not taking notes? You say you don't get it, but skipping notes means how'll you pass the department exam later?"
"What about you? You weren't taking notes either. Looked like your soul was scattering. Weren't you dozing with your eyes open?"
"I get it all, that's why."
"Pfft. Big talk. Even the Mosan Sect kids in the front row, this being their prof's class, had glazed eyes during the Fu Dan explanation. And you claim to understand after napping?"
Just then, as Dang Ok-gi's eyes curved into half-moons and a snicker escaped her lips.
The Mosan Sect Elder Huan professor in charge of the class finished writing, dusted his hands, and spoke.
"Alright, then how do we improve this talisman's efficiency? The study of manipulating stiff corpses ultimately revolves around this question. So, from the basic talisman I've drawn on the board, who can suggest ways to boost efficiency? Good answers earn extra credit."
It was a field I knew inside out, just with different terminology. I couldn't pass up extra credit.
I shot my hand up and turned to Dang Ok-gi.
"If the professor approves my answer, that's two taels of silver for me?"
"...For those reasons, combining the Fu Dan and Fu Jiao could improve efficiency. Depending on the sorcerer, we could even consider engraving it directly onto the corpse."
"Excellent. Candidate Eon Yong-un of Azure Bamboo Hall. I knew the Pearl Eon Family's stiff corpse lineage ended over sixty years ago. Did you figure this out on your own?"
"Your lectures are so good, Professor, my thoughts naturally flowed here."
"Ahem. I-Is that so? Well, preparation pays off. Anyway, I'll note the extra credit next to your name in the attendance book. Class dismissed for today. Next time, we'll practice drawing talismans, so review what we covered and don't forget your supplies."
And so the Corpse Manipulation Fundamentals class ended.
On my way to the student council room to swap books for the next class, I held out my palm to Dang Ok-gi.
"...What. What do you want."
"Two taels of silver. Hand it over."
"I never agreed. You just declared it unilaterally."
But Dang Ok-gi wasn't coughing it up easily.
"Heard from Silver Fox you made a killing betting on me in the Go event at the spring dorm tournament? Gonna be stingy now?"
"......"
Left with no choice, I brought up the asymmetric leverage.
"Which dorm was Jeokgal Seol-ji in for that class? Your childhood friend needs to know you bet on me instead of her."
That did it.
Dang Ok-gi swallowed hard, face sour as mustard, and opened her money pouch.
"Here! Take it!"
At the sight, my master chimed in from my waist.
- ...You really eat flea livers.... Even as my disciple, you're something.
'If Dang Ok-gi's a flea, there are no fleas left in the world. Give me the lab, fund my research, buy me Red Jade and Pomegranate, hand over tournament prize herbs for study. Where's a flea like that?!'
- Is that the same? In the end, you're the biggest beneficiary when results come out!
'No, Master. This benefits our entire Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect.'
- 'Entire' my foot, it's just you...
We bickered over the two taels I'd squeezed from Dang Ok-gi.
But once she paid up, Dang Ok-gi seemed relieved and smirked as she spoke.
"But you really knew your stuff. How do you know so much? Can I hire you as a private tutor when you're free?"
"Private tutor means one-on-one study, right? Did I get that correct?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah?"
"Hm. Not impossible, but it'd cost extra. One-on-one would be pricey. Maybe cheaper if you form a study group. But don't you only have me in this class?"
"Kyaa!!"
"And take proper notes before talking big. Why take the class if you're not gonna do that?"
"It said Corpse Manipulation Fundamentals, so I thought it'd cover corpse poison! And solo lectures too! Then that Ju Dam? Fu Dan? My head started hurting there, but I took notes fine before. Look!"
Hm. She did.
"From now on, take notes even if your head hurts. Ask about what you don't get later."
"Got it."
"But why come to Azure Bamboo Hall instead of your dorm? On Corpse Manipulation days, you usually have no afternoon classes, hole up in your room till lunch, then slink out."
"Our dorm's like a funeral home lately. Can't breathe there."
Hm. I could picture it without looking.
Fragrant Orchid Hall had recorded its first single-digit total score ever, while perennial single-digits Azure Bamboo Hall claimed the top spot this tournament.
'Good mood would be weirder.'
That was when.
As I imagined Fragrant Orchid Hall's unseen scenery in my head.
Dang Ok-gi asked me something.
"Oh, but is that real? The field trip thing? Including other dorms? But Cloud Plum and Yun Nation get two spots each, and ours only one?"
"Is that why you Fragrant Orchid Hall folks are all griping again?"
"...Yeah. Pretty much."
I'd hit the nail on the head, so Dang Ok-gi stammered before denying she'd thought that way and cursing her own dorm for not knowing when to quit.
But I'd anticipated Fragrant Orchid Hall's behavior, and actually, they were misunderstanding.
So I smirked and spoke.
"Fragrant Orchid Hall gets two spots too."
"Huh? Really? I heard one, sending Namgung Yun or whatever. Did I hear wrong?"
"One spot you decide and submit yourselves via student council. The other is you."
"Me?"
"Yeah. You wanna pass on meeting the Medicine King Elder?"
"But I did nothing in the dorm tournament."
"By that logic, Namgung Yun was team leader for Fragrant Orchid Hall's sparring prelims dropout and nothing else."
There was no real issue.
Twenty spots total.
Past trips filled them exclusively with tournament participants from other dorms, even including non-participants.
When I explained, Dang Ok-gi was already nodding.
"...Come to think of it, yeah."
"Exactly. So go whether you want to or not."
She had to go.
Broaden her horizons, take research materials to get the Medicine King's advice.
"Say it like that, and sure, whatever."
With Dang Ok-gi confirming her participation, recommendations started rolling in from other dorms.
Yun Nation first, Cloud Plum next, Fragrant Orchid dragging its feet till last.
I finalized the list by adding my picks to each dorm's recommendations.
As our visitor list solidified, the Alliance wrapped up its big matters too.
A few days later, scheduling between the academy admin office and Alliance Enforcement Division was complete.
Thus, the freshmen field trip holiday was set.
And on a day when fresh green sprouts began coloring mountains and fields.
We gathered before the Righteous Martial Academy's main building, all four dorms together in crisp white uniforms for the first time in ages.
