Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Yuanwo Court (1)
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I'd confirmed that the civil aid notice had gone up.
But I didn't pay it much attention right then and there. Beyond my confidence that I could assemble whatever personnel I wanted if I set my mind to it, the next class was fast approaching.
'Murim Life Manual.'
This course was one that checked attendance with ironclad precision before starting.
'Wind-Meal Sword Guest Jeong Geuk-gyeong.'
The professor in charge was a bit of an eccentric. That attendance check didn't happen at the official class time but the moment he himself stepped into the lecture hall.
'Events in the jianghu come suddenly, or so he says.'
To avoid any penalties, I had to get to the lecture hall as quickly as possible.
'And snag a good seat too.'
Jeong Geuk-gyeong hailed from the Haenam Sect.
I called him an eccentric only because I couldn't think of a better term, but as his unique attendance method showed, he had his own philosophy.
'Not some bookish type who only swings a sword in his sect's manuals—he's got the real deal.'
Wind-Meal—meaning he took the wind for his meals—his moniker came from wandering the jianghu through every trial, from mountains and rivers to naval battles. He had a silver tongue, and the classes themselves were enlightening.
That made the course hugely popular.
'If I don't hurry, I won't get a good seat.'
On top of that, my younger Eon brothers and I trained in the Converged Needle Formation every morning, unlike students from other dorms. Plus, we had autonomous committee duties to handle, putting us at a disadvantage for prime seating compared to others.
So we'd set a rotation, with one person going ahead to hold seats. Today, that was me.
With that, I set aside my fretting over the civil aid team lineup for a trip to Sanshi and hurried to the lecture hall.
But when I arrived, having rushed there myself, the professor hadn't shown up yet.
"Saw the notice on the academy square?"
"The one about civil aid?"
"Yeah, that."
"But there were two notices up. One said the scheduled civil aid's been postponed indefinitely, and the other was recruiting for a trip with Eon Yong-un?"
"Obviously the latter. What do you think—interested?"
"I didn't give it much thought until just now. Seems like you're the one who's keen?"
"Of course I am. Sure, plenty still dismiss Eon Yong-un as a wastrel, but think about it—has anyone who tagged along with him ever come back empty-handed?"
The other early arrivals—fellow first-years—were chatting about the very dilemma I'd tabled for now.
"That Woo So-reung guy was on the cutoff list for the entrance exam but somehow passed with flying colors. And those who went to the Murim Alliance with him? Word is they got some new spirit pill from Qingzhu Hall yesterday."
"...Not always, though, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"You saw the state of the Qingzhu Hall kids during exams, didn't you? They looked like they were rolling on the edge of death."
"...Ah. Yeah, from what I heard, those Qingzhu Hall guys were like living asuras."
"And about that spirit pill—I get hesitating to take some freshly developed elixir. Even if it's a fated encounter..."
"Even if?"
"Y'know I get work-study benefits helping at the infirmary, right? So I overheard Professor Bae Jong-do mention it. From what I gathered, they didn't just hand it out."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Something about a Harmony Chamber or Vitality Chamber test. Get this—Pang So-cheon, who claims he's never bathed except at birth, and that Namgung Yun of all people were bawling their eyes out!"
Wait, why are they treating people like asuras, Master?
'...?'
What! Anyway!!
As the first-years bantered, a hulking Pang clansman at the far left of the room flinched, along with a Namgung scion who'd slathered his hair with camellia oil for this period, seated at the far right.
The civil aid notice sparked all sorts of chatter that bubbled on.
Meanwhile, my Eon brothers arrived, changed into training uniforms, furrowing their brows in hushed debate among themselves.
"No, if Big Bro Yong-un's going, of course I..."
"Sure, but frequency-wise, the rear guard..."
"What's that supposed to mean? Haseong, last time you went with Ok-gi, you were just baggage duty, right?"
"...D-Don't fight, guys."
They were getting veins popping in their necks over it, so I tossed in a question to see what the fuss was.
"What's this about? Talking so heatedly?"
Jeong Hyeon and Yin Xia Lian abruptly played it cool.
"Oh, it's nothing Young Master Eon needs to worry about."
"Yes. Nothing for Lord Eon to concern himself with. Just some internal chat."
...?
What are they hiding?
I shot them a glare loaded with intent to make them spill, but they'd grown numb to it. They all averted their eyes to dodge.
Well, if it were truly important, these weren't the types to keep it from me. They'd tell me later.
Once the Qingzhu Hall Eon brothers settled in, a bit more time passed.
Then Wind-Meal Sword Guest Jeong Geuk-gyeong arrived and began calling roll.
"Aigoo, a tad late."
But Dang Ok-gi hadn't arrived yet when her turn came.
"No Yeong-beom."
"Here!"
"Dang Ok-gi."
Yin Xia Lian beside her and Jeon Yeol-seol's head in front twisted with the dilemma of 'Should I answer for her?'.
"Dang Ok-gi."
"......"
"......"
"Dang Ok-gi? No Dang Ok-gi cadet?"
Drag!
Dang Ok-gi herself burst through the lecture hall door like she was kicking it down.
"Here!!!"
"Ho. An entrance straight out of poetry."
"...Pardon?"
"You know, Du Fu's line about good rain knowing its season? Your arrival was just like that. So, in that spirit, shall we all give Cadet Dang Ok-gi a round of applause?"
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap—
The professor meant well, but it was too much spotlight for Dang Ok-gi to handle.
"...I-I'll be here early next time!"
With that, beet-red Dang Ok-gi squeezed her eyes shut and dashed to an empty seat.
"Embarrassing."
I kept sending her silent applause and spoke up.
"What's embarrassing? You're always late for events—knew it'd bite you someday."
"Ack! I went to feed the kids, forgot my textbook there, that's why!"
Anyway.
Roll call wrapped up, and class began.
"Pang So-jin's out on Murim Alliance dispatch study, everyone else present? Let's dive in then. Oh, no textbooks needed today—I switched up the content a bit."
"Kyaaak!!"
"...? Cadet Dang Ok-gi, something wrong?"
"Must be parched from running. No need to worry, Professor."
"Oh, Cadet Eon Yong-un? The reason I changed today's content is closely tied to you."
"Pardon?"
"You ran into assassins on the way back from the field trip but still decided on civil aid to Sanshi, outside the academy's influence?"
"Ah. Yes. That's right."
"The moment I heard this morning, I reordered the lessons. Today's Murim Life Manual topic: Surviving Assassins."
With that opener, Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong began sketching on the blackboard with white chalk.
When finished, it was our formation from facing assassins in the hills near Nanso Plain.
"This is the campsite layout your fellow cadets used then. Moats, traps, water channels, barriers, campfire placements. I was impressed. Only proper armies or organized escort agencies set up like this."
"......"
"And the one who led this wasn't the Strike Team leader, but Cadet Eon Yong-un? Can't not applaud at this point. Everyone, for Cadet Eon Yong-un."
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap—
"...This is embarrassing for sure. Sorry, Dang Ok-gi."
Clap clap clap clap clap—
Ah.
Sorry.
Clap clap clap—
Well, anyway.
The lesson then shifted to handling assassin encounters.
"You were well-prepared, had the drop on their ambush advantage. That favorable setup let you end it unscathed—a rare case in the jianghu. Now, assume a sudden strike. Pang So-cheon, your take?"
"Hm? Just fight and win, no?"
"Spot on, but assassins mean one loss is death. 'How' is missing. How fight?"
"...Uh. Hard?"
"Pang So-cheon just died. Dead men don't talk—next. Let's see, Woo So-reung, you?"
"...Uh. Can't I just run?"
"Some cadets laughed, but Woo So-reung's right—it's one answer. If you're fast, flight works."
With the topic being exactly that, I listened intently while pondering my Sanshi team.
'Gotta bring Yong-myeong.'
Recalling the original story.
Even back when his maternal Taewon Clan kin found no real fault in Eon Yong-myeong, they weren't thrilled.
'So I, disowned from Mother's and Father's registry officially, might hear it at the gate.'
Thus, Yong-myeong was essential as my access pass.
But beyond him, I didn't need to stick strictly to the original.
'The plot's diverged enough.'
So prioritize those who could judge situations independently or trust and follow my lead.
'Of course, weigh academy growth vs. field gains too.'
Still, original hero Jeong Hyeon had to come, right?
Me, Yong-myeong, Jeong Hyeon.
Three spots left?
The first day of the civil aid notice passed.
Like all notices, reactions split: 'No way!' or 'Yes!'
The latter started gaining momentum.
"Bro Eon, Gongbo jerky's out after ages? Oh? But you're skimping on the Sa-go-go today?"
"I got here first today. Can't have Gongbo short if you're last— I turned down extra."
"Then have some of mine."
"Bin-do's too."
What're these guys on about?
"Freeze. Stay put. So this is you begging to join civil aid? Saw you 'debating' whenever you had a moment yesterday and today. Right?!"
"...Y-Yeah. Spot on."
"We really wanna go!"
"Unbelievable. Hiding it over what? And bribing with Gongbo jerky? Y'all know zilch about the world."
That was when.
As I shoved the Gongbo jerky from my tray into my mouth mid-lecture.
Master chimed in.
'Pardon?'
The Yin siblings arrived from afar. Sis with hands on hips, bro jabbing a finger at Jeong Hyeon, brows furrowed.
"Wow, traitors! Slipped out at class end—aiming for Lord Eon's lunch?!"
"I told you, he's no priest!"