Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Poison Technique! Poison Technique! Poison Technique! (1)
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“Why were our kids attacked by assassins on their way back from touring the Murim Alliance this time?”
“…What bullshit. A guy who hasn’t even gotten married is calling them ‘our kids’ so casually?”
“Not that I couldn’t get married, I just didn’t. I’m sticking with the Dirty Clothes Faction because I like it, but if I switch to the Clean Clothes Faction and scrub off all the grime, I’d be quite the catch.”
“…Does that academy not have mirrors?”
“Of course they do.”
“?”
“?”
“Anyway. After a few more years eating academy food, that kid’ll forget he’s a beggar. Hey, take better care of those beggar brats.”
“The world needs to be at peace for beggars to beg in comfort. That only happens when the sprouts who’ll shoulder the Orthodox Murim grow strong.”
Right words, but...
The one saying them, No Sam, had lost so much passion over the past few years that his nickname had changed to Breeze Moon Flower Claw. A snort escaped Man Bok’s lips.
“…A guy who wasted years doing nothing now talks so glibly with that loose mouth of his.”
“…I get I have no right to say it, even if you put it that way. But the words themselves aren’t crap, right? And Cheon Jang-ho was in that touring group too. This ties into the Beggars’ Sect’s interests as well. You know that, don’t you?”
“Is that punk Jang-ho doing well?”
“He’s the same at the academy. His personality’s like he ate a boiled turtle.”
“Tch. To survive in the jianghu, he needs to fix that thick skull of his.”
“Well, Paeng Jae-hyuk seems to be looking out for him. Being around peers his age probably stimulates him a bit.”
Anyway.
The two beggars’ conversation, which had veered off-topic for a moment, returned to the main point.
“Anyway. I wondered if there was other gossip, but it was about that attack after all?”
“Yes. It’s not something the Sect Leader would ignore, but when I asked the Dan River District branch, they said no word had come down from headquarters yet. Figuring it shouldn’t spread, I came in person.”
“Right. No cadets were hurt, but can we just let Righteous Martial Academy cadets get attacked? The moment word came from Namsohyeon, I sent messenger birds and beggars out to investigate.”
At Man Bok’s words, No Sam’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“So, who were they?”
“Don’t know.”
“……? You afraid I’ll rush off to kill them if you tell me? I’m not the old No Sam anymore.”
“I’m saying I genuinely don’t know. Looking at those assassins’ behavior, they were fanatically devoted, throwing their lives away even in a botched operation. And their skills weren’t pushovers either. Experts like that don’t just drop from the sky, do they?”
“True. Orthodox Murim folk have clear affiliations, and even Black Dao scum get bounties on their heads once they can emit sword qi and show off. But these guys had zero traces like that?”
“More precisely, we couldn’t find any. There were matching burn scars on their bodies, but they claimed those were just from lamps. Stuff like that—Burning Arm marks—is something monks, Taoists, and shamans slap on daily.”
At Man Bok’s explanation, No Sam furrowed his brow and asked.
“What about Giyeom Valley or Heaven Kill Veil?”
“Those guys sit on their asses. They wouldn’t crawl out into the jianghu just to target fledglings. Even if they did, they wouldn’t escape without casualties.”
“Hm. True enough. So this was a wasted trip?”
As No Sam let out a faint sigh, Man Bok crossed his arms and continued.
“If you’ll humor a senile beggar’s delusions, I can share my guess.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“But don’t go blabbing it anywhere. It’s just speculation; shouldn’t spread carelessly.”
“…Hm. I split up with that Mount Hua punk— he’s gathering intel from the Murim Alliance, I’m from the Beggars’ Sect. If the Sect Leader says so, I’ll shut my incompetent mouth even if I get chewed out.”
“In my view, the Evil Legions. Or the Demonic Cult. Or some shadowy force on their level.”
No Sam instantly understood why this couldn’t be spread lightly.
The academy curriculum often pitted students against evil demons and heretics in lessons or exams.
But that was just for teaching convenience.
If they’re really targeting the Orthodox Murim’s next generation, the scale changes entirely.
And whether Man Bok’s guess was true or not, the rumor alone could upend the jianghu’s prices and order.
It might even draw those dissatisfied with the current order to follow the heretics.
Anyway.
It was hard for No Sam to accept easily.
For good reason.
The Evil Legions had quieted down after gnawing at their own flesh while fussing over a new leader.
…And the Demonic Cult.
It had been over sixty years since they were chased beyond the Kunlun Mountains.
Demonic cultists had snuck into the Central Plains since, and demonic arts had leaked in, turning some experts demonic.
No Sam had fought such demons.
But never an organized uprising.
The Orthodox Murim’s order was that solid.
Yet Man Bok had uttered those names.
What does he know more?
No Sam narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Any basis?”
Man Bok’s response was enough to deflate him.
“None.”
“Damn it!”
The Beggars’ Sect had a tradition of spitting on new Sect Leaders.
No Sam felt the urge to hawk one right in Man Bok’s face, like the day he ascended.
But he held back and spoke again.
“You spout world-shaking nonsense without evidence!”
“That’s why I said keep it to yourself! I called it a senile beggar’s delusion! Weird shit happened, no clues beyond those marks on their bodies. Never seen elites marked like that before, so I thought of the weirdest group. Could be barking up the wrong tree.”
“Hm.”
“But focusing on that weirdness, one of the cadets you call ‘our kids’ stuck out like a sore thumb.”
“…Eon Yong-un?”
“Right. I was on the fence, but if No Sam, you taught him the Anti-Dragon Palm, that makes him the weirdest guy under heaven. Right? Why would a talent like that live like a total scumbag in northern Hebei?”
No Sam unconsciously crossed his arms at the question.
Man Bok kept going.
“Too big a gap to chalk up to simple reform. Means something’s up. He clams up tighter than a genealogy book if you ask, right?”
“…Hm.”
“His lost Eon family manual vanished like smoke, his gambling buddies went missing or turned up dead, now he’s attacked. Not sure if related, but recently, the Tae Won family ancestral graves—his maternal family’s—were robbed. And this is Shanxi, where Righteous Faction dens are, so info on that robbery’s thin.”
“Right. Deok-geun, that guy leading the Righteous Faction, treats headquarters’ words like shit and’s always uncooperative. He clammed up like a clam on that case, so even this falls under senile speculation. Might be overreaching, but I reckon Eon Yong-un knows something.”
Man Bok, about to wrap up, stroked his chin and changed tack.
“No, more precisely, that kid’s been chasing something alone for a long time.”
Midterms were over.
The assassin attack was now in the elders’ hands.
Professors debated whether to proceed with community service, but we cadets had nothing to do with it.
So we returned to academy routine.
“Young Hwan. No objections to the midterm questions? Were they fair?”
“…Tough.”
“Then my guidance was lacking. Let’s start class. Oh, before that—I said submit assignments with answers. One cadet’s caught my eye. Had TAs copy it onto big paper. You there, Mu Gil cadet?”
“Yes! Professor Mo San’s third disciple, Mu Gil!”
“Good. I trust you won’t peek. Go to the back of the classroom.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes! Here?”
“Perfect. I’ll unveil it. Read the title if visible.”
“…Uh, yes. Reflections on Nullifying Corpse Control... Cheongjuk Hall. Eon Yong-un.”
“Visible enough. Well-written, but as cadet work, validation steps are lacking. Eon Yong-un, come forward and explain why you conceived this and the process to that conclusion.”
We attended classes per schedule.
And diligently handled duties.
“Eun So-jeo?”
“Yes?”
“This dorm improvement project for break.”
“Yes. Speak.”
“Budget’s a bit much, no?”
“Civil works must be done right once started. And didn’t Zhuge Seolji say last time after seeing our student council room that theirs is better? Ridiculous.”
…Well, something like that.
But not so negative?
“Alliance Leader sponsored, so we saved some. Newsletter idea from Murim Alliance should cover it. If not, I’ll pay private. Just approve.”
“…….”
What could I say to that?
No reason to oppose.
“Speaking of, your dorms are crap. Even this ‘best’ student council room has mold behind the president’s bookshelf.”
“…Signed. Take the papers, Eun So-jeo. Dang Ok-gi, why linger? Back to research?”
“…….”
“That damn Hundred Poison Pill is taking forever…”
“When’s it done? It is! Just finished! Sick of sour poison fumes—unrelated to poison immunity, it’s stifling! Need fresh air, stretch my neck and back. I’m not a grad student!”
“Think like one. At your level in grad school, you’d wash tools. Be grateful. I’d bow to your dorm daily, pull all-nighters for results.”
“Kyaak!!! It’s done, just needs reagent cool-down for check. Came for break, you jerk! I’m going!!”
“Good. Dang Ok-gi, back to lab. Evening training soon. Senior Go, Jeong Hyeon, U So-reung, Eun Ha-seong—assemble cadets at drill hall. Brother Gyeong-ryong, fetch Elder Myeong from guest quarters.”
We honed the Thorn Array morning and evening.
“You’re getting familiar daily, so from today, we set clear goals. Thus, Cadet Jin Gyeong-ryong?”
“Yes, Senior.”
“What’s the soonest you’ll use this array?”
“Probably Autumn Inter-Dorm Tournament.”
“Right, assuming no issues. Annual Autumn Tournament joint formation limits max entrants. Third-year like you knows.”
“Yes. Thirty-six.”
“Correct. But thirty-six doesn’t fit Thorn Array well. For clean deployment, seven per direction totals thirty-five. So today, groups of thirty-five.”
“Yes!”
“Ah, Eon Yong-un sits out today.”
Myeong Tae-seong told me to step back.
My master at my waist voiced doubt.
-Aiming for Autumn Tournament, then sidelining you?
‘Recall Spring Tournament. Rule limits cadets to two events each?’
-Right.
‘Yes. Elder Myeong assumes I’m Cheongjuk’s Go representative, other slot for individual or polo over formation.’
We’d confirm closer, but likely.
I quietly withdrew, watching cadets form the array.
“Flanks and front sealed! Tail, circle back!”
“Eon Yong-un!”
Dang Ok-gi, who’d stormed off earlier, ran up flushed.
“Hello!”
She formally cupped hands to Myeong Tae-seong, then rushed at me.
“Medicine King said success reaction appeared!”
“Meaning?”
“Yes! Success! Hundred Poison Pill! Complete!”