Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: New and Old Face-Off (4)
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After the main event of the New and Old Face-Off concluded, a farewell banquet for the esteemed seniors was held, doubling as an afterparty for the students.
"I hope you all set aside any emotions stemming from victory or defeat and cherish the experiences gained from participating in and witnessing the matches."
The freshmen were full of energy, but the upperclassmen remained silent.
The seniors' expressions were, to put it bluntly, far from pleased.
- Puahaha. Where did all that swagger from the day they arrived go? Every one of those old fogeys looks utterly dejected.
'Can't be helped.'
They had participated in the event under the pretext of demonstrating the vitality of the Orthodox Murim.
But in truth, they had hoped it would revolve around their own sects.
They had singled out our generation as the protagonists for that purpose, only to suffer defeat after defeat.
"So Azure Bamboo Hall had real talent after all."
"Talent? More like people. The top student of the current year—no, now it's the Dragon of the Academy, right? Eon Yong-un was impressive, but there were quite a few other students worth watching."
"Indeed. When I heard Azure Bamboo Hall won the Spring Tournament, I thought it was just kids kicking a ball around or something. I stand corrected."
In the end, the ones whose names rose in prominence were me and Azure Bamboo Hall.
'They served up the kill on a platter for us and ended up with egg on their faces. No wonder they're not thrilled.'
Thus, the so-called prestigious sects and their seniors wore sour expressions.
Those who hadn't formally enrolled or could cite adherence to original rules had some excuses, so they fared a bit better.
'But not Mosan Sect...'
To sum it up: pathetic.
Unlike yesterday's grand welcoming banquet led by their sect leader and elders, with the Senior Sword Inspectors adding to the splendor,
today, Mosan Sect had only one attendee.
'The Senior Sword Inspectors were carried off to the infirmary covered in blood.'
Song Yang-ja was absent, claiming illness—whether genuine or not, who knows.
As a result, the only one here was Song Cheong-ja, who looked like he'd aged half a day in that short time.
Given the situation,
the guests from minor sects, who had come as the seniors' entourage, began recalculating their abacuses.
"But if the Dragon of the Academy's name goes to the Pearl Eon Family, how will that shake up the Orthodox Murim's demon-exorcism frontlines?"
"Won't it go to the Pearl Eon Family? Even to me, who knows nothing of sorcery halls, Eon Yong-un's spells seemed on another level."
"Still, for now, Mosan Sect has to take the lead."
"Why do you think that?"
"For one, his current enemy isn't the Pearl Eon Family, right? And even if the corpse soldier lineage is restored, he's just one man for now. Say Eon Yong-un is in North Hebei and something happens far away in Sichuan or Guangdong—what then? You can't handle the world's affairs with one person."
"Fair point."
"Of course, that's just for now. Once he returns to the Pearl Eon Family and makes even more of a name for himself, people will flock there like clouds. And then..."
"Then?"
"Not only will one of the Five Great Families change, but the Nine Great Sects will feel the ripples too."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Some of those abacus-clickers subtly made their way to Azure Bamboo Hall's table and struck up conversations with me.
But what they said was mostly along these lines.
"Do you have a fiancée set? Our family has a fine young lady. A solid in-law connection would speed up your revival."
Thinking of their clan's future was the duty of any leader, but
'Pick the time and place.'
Seeing this as their last chance to pull me into their fold was utterly pathetic.
'This is why the Demonic Cult finds openings.'
They came off like utter flies; I didn't even want to deal with them.
"I'll step out for some air."
"With a bottle of liquor? Ah, going to pour some on your sword?"
"Something like that."
"Take care, Young Master Eon."
After brushing off a few, I left the management of the students to Brother Kyung-ryong and Yin Xia Lian and slipped out of the banquet hall.
I passed through the colonnade behind the main hall toward the rear garden.
'Come to think of it, the infirmary's around here?'
The thought that the infirmary was in the main hall's rear garden had just crossed my mind when
"Huh?"
[P"]"!"
the remnants calling themselves Senior Sword Inspectors, their faces swollen, supported each other as they exited the infirmary and locked eyes with me.
A brief silence hung between us.
Thump.
Thump.
- Why are those guys heading your way? Not beaten enough yet?
Gardens aren't places where you can just wander freely without paths.
As Master said, they had no reason to come this way, yet the Senior Sword Inspectors limped toward me.
'Really? Well, the infirmary's close, so getting beaten here means straight to the morgue, I guess?'
As I exchanged a few words with Master, they stopped in front of me.
Thinking I'd give them extra lessons if they spouted nonsense, I clenched my fist and spoke.
"What do you want?"
In response,
Hyeong-un, the only one among the Senior Sword Inspectors who hadn't clashed with me and had left the arena unscathed, spoke up.
"I'm sorry."
But disappointingly, from Hyeong-un's mouth came an apology.
"As an alumnus of the academy, I know the post-Face-Off banquet is meant to set aside competition emotions and foster harmony. I hope you can let go of the grudge between Mosan Sect and you here."
"Is that Mosan Sect's will? Or your personal sentiment, Senior Brother?"
"For now, it's my personal thought."
"For now?"
"...The elders are bedridden from heart demons, and I haven't seen the sect leader yet. I only spoke with Professor Yeong-hwan. The elders will try persuading alongside the professor."
Hmm.
Old stubbornness doesn't bend easily, does it?
I gazed at Hyeong-un, organizing my thoughts.
'Professor Yeong-hwan. And Mosan Sect's disciples.'
I'd eliminated Gwak Sa-hong, but he wasn't a main force in the Demon King's monster corps led by Reverse Heaven Demon Gu Cheon-seo.
'At best, a promising talent.'
The Demonic Cult's methods outclassed Orthodox Murim's Daoists in both quality and quantity.
And the Central Plains were vast.
'Plus, poor transportation and communication.'
I couldn't handle them all alone.
'Even if I could, I'd need to at least hold out.'
Training successors was a distant prospect for now.
'I can reestablish parts of my necromancy based on this era's sorcery.'
But setting aside whether the bloodline-based Pearl Eon Family or anyone in this era had the straight mind for necromancy studies,
entering necromancy required talent to open the lower dantian as well.
Finding talent was one thing; nurturing it would take time and money.
'But the crises are right around the corner.'
Thus, reforming and using Mosan Sect's Daoists was optimal.
'It'd reduce my busywork, and it'd be far cheaper.'
But first, something prerequisite.
To confirm it, I dug my ear with a rude attitude and spoke.
"But that's not how you apologize. Been in the mountains too long and don't know?"
"......?"
"Proper apologies start with kneeling. Whether the recipient accepts is secondary."
This wasn't just to soothe my mood; it was a test.
First, to check if they were simply following Professor Yeong-hwan or if the seven Daoists were sincere.
And whether they could humble themselves to a junior and seek instruction.
'If Mosan Sect's elders differ from the disciples, whether they'd defy them to seek learning.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A bit earlier in time.
When Eon Yong-un was still at the main hall's banquet.
Nangong Yun stared at Azure Bamboo Hall's table.
'When I enrolled, it was where students from other dorms got dumped. But after the Spring Tournament and now this, Azure Bamboo's win rate beat even our Fragrant Orchid.'
Two thoughts came to mind.
'...Being around Eon Yong-un makes you grow. Probably because he sees beyond events and grades to the greater world.'
So why didn't he call me this time?
Nangong Yun believed the sword of the Nangong Clan, whose motto was to harbor the world in one's heart, existed to protect the world.
Thus, when he heard Eon Yong-un fought Demonic Cultists in Shanxi, he lamented not being there.
But that was because Nangong Yun himself hadn't joined whatever One Origin thing; procedurally, Eon Yong-un had no reason to take him.
'But why not invite me to this training session, Eon Yong-un?'
I taught your left-behind Yin Ha-seong with utmost sincerity.
'Eon Yong-myeong aside, you called Cheon Jang-ho and Paeng So-cheon—why not me?'
If those who attended heard Nangong Yun, they'd spin their fingers at their temples calling him crazy or tell him to crawl there if he wanted so badly.
But that was Nangong Yun's true feeling and nature.
He had considered going on his own.
But he was the type who couldn't step out without an invitation.
'What would I even say if I went uninvited?'
Suddenly, the moment during the Face-Off flashed in Nangong Yun's mind.
'World's Greatest Junior Prodigy, Flying Dragon Sword.'
Unable to acknowledge it himself, such titles only soured his mood.
No, they angered him.
'With Eon Yong-un right there, why spout that nonsense?'
Just seeing the seniors flock to Eon Yong-un proved those names suited him better.
Yet amid it all, Eon Yong-un grabbed a bottle and left the hall, ignoring the attention.
'Right. You're not interested in that either.'
Watching, Nangong Yun nodded to himself.
And thought,
'Going to perform the rite?'
Eon Yong-un's sword name was Regret.
He sometimes poured liquor on his sword to repent past mistakes, like that name.
'I once thought it was atonement for his scoundrel days.'
But the Shanxi trip revealed he'd been secretly hunting the Demonic Cult.
'Then that act must be remorse for wielding violence called martial arts for justice.'
Nangong Yun imagined sharing heartfelt thoughts on harboring the world in one's heart with Eon Yong-un.
'......'
Eon Yong-un hadn't told him to follow.
But stepping out for air from a stuffy banquet was common.
Coincidentally meeting a classmate for a drink could happen.
'I'll follow.'
Of course, leaving Fragrant Orchid required some procedure.
By the time he finished and reached the rear garden, it was a bit late.
'Mosan Sect seniors?'
Someone had beaten him to Eon Yong-un.
"Proper apologies start with kneeling. Whether the recipient accepts is secondary."
"These guys are unwell, so may I kneel on their behalf?"
The conversation between the guests and Eon Yong-un stabbed Nangong Yun in the gut.
'......'
Come to think of it, the Nangong Clan had wronged him too.
He hadn't properly apologized since.
He'd turned himself in to the Murim Alliance's prison, thinking that atoned.
Nangong Yun glanced at his own knees.
'......'
Then, he glimpsed someone behind a pillar on the opposite colonnade.
'!?'
It was none other than Zhuge Seolji.
Focused on Eon Yong-un and the Mosan Daoists, he hadn't noticed, but she'd followed him too.
'Zhuge Seolji, you came out too?'
'What? Don't talk to me.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I conditionally accepted the disciples of Mosan Sect's apology.
The condition was simple: consult Professor Yeong-hwan, and if aligned and not holding key positions in Mosan Sect, join Professor No Sam's lab.
"What research does Professor No Sam do?"
"No real research there. The actual work will be in Professor Yeong-hwan's lab."
"Then why there?"
"Easier to exchange ideas if you're under our affiliation."
"...Understood, if that's the reason."
Thus, the night of the New and Old Face-Off drew to a close.
The next day, Hyeong-un and Hyeong-jun, the two Senior Sword Inspectors staying behind after the seniors left, first submitted applications to Professor No Sam's lab.
Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep-beep!
I spent time refreshing body and mind with the two new Daoists, the Solgo beggars, fellow students unsatisfied with their defeats, and a few cheeky ones.
Beep! Beep-beep-beep-beep!
In the midst of blowing the whistle vigorously, a senior acting as the Chancellor's assistant professor came looking for me, face etched with fatigue.
He glanced indifferently at the rolling students and spoke.
"Student Eon Yong-un, there you are."
I removed the whistle from my mouth and replied.
"Yes. What brings you here?"
"The academy's operations committee decided to research formalizing the Demonic Arts Defense course. The professors nominated you as a special research student."
Research student? Like grad school?
"Whoa, such frightening words? You're joking too far."
"No joke. Come with me to the main hall for now."
Watching me, Ha-seong, mid-squat jumps, spat out a phrase he'd learned from Jeong-hyeon.
"...Wicked deeds bring retribution."
"...Ugh. What does that mean again?"
"...The wages of sin are inevitable."