Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Demonic Arts Defense Studies Research Club (2)
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Meanwhile, at the Eon Family compound in Pearl of Hebei, the North Hebei Three Heroes' camaraderie meeting—which had become a regular event—was about to begin.
Normally, such gatherings were hosted by the one called the "big brother," so they were usually held at the Peng Family estate.
However, today the lady of the Eon Family compound, Plum Blossom Madam, had invited Peng Mu-hyuk and Seok Geum-pil to express her gratitude for their help with her natal family matters, so it was being held at the Pearl Eon Family.
"Brother-in-law, Seok Family Head. We haven't prepared much, but please eat your fill."
As Plum Blossom Madam brought out the soup and rice last, along with the maids, and greeted Peng Mu-hyuk and Seok Geum-pil.
Peng Mu-hyuk opened his mouth with a smile spreading across his face.
"Sister-in-law, if this is 'not much,' then aside from the Emperor himself, no one in the world gets a proper meal? The only regrettable thing is that the soup is beef mushroom soup, but... tsk, this is..."
At Peng Mu-hyuk's demeanor, Eon Jeong-ung and Seok Geum-pil muttered inwardly, 'Please, not that.'
"Oh my, is it not to your taste?"
"No, there's just too much beef."
"Pardon?"
But the two men's hopes were not realized.
"Beef-less soup should really have no beef, just plain mushrooms, but it's packed with chunks. Exaggerating a bit, it feels like a whole cow went in! Kahaha!"
However, Peng Mu-hyuk was the benefactor who had saved Plum Blossom Madam's natal family.
Plum Blossom Madam smiled brightly and used her merchant family's silver tongue to save face for Peng Mu-hyuk.
"Ahaha, how amusing. Brother-in-law's wit is the best in the world."
But if left as is, Peng Mu-hyuk—in increasingly good spirits—would go on endlessly with his odd jokes, so Seok Geum-pil quickly changed the subject.
"Ah! I heard from Eon Family Head that you personally went into the kitchen to help prepare. You must have worked hard."
"Hard work? It was just adding a few side dishes to our usual spread."
A somewhat dishonest remark slipped from Plum Blossom Madam's mouth, causing Eon Jeong-ung to start to speak.
"...We eat like this every day?"
"Don't we, Lord Husband?"
"Uh... yeah. We eat. We do."
Then he shut his mouth.
"If you need anything else, just call the maids. You all talk."
Having thus sealed Eon Jeong-ung's mouth, Plum Blossom Madam bowed to Peng Mu-hyuk and Seok Geum-pil and left the parlor.
Eon Jeong-ung then let out the breath he'd been holding.
"...Hoo."
Peng Mu-hyuk spoke toward such an Eon Jeong-ung.
"Sister-in-law seems oddly cold to you, Jeong-ung. Is it just my imagination?"
"She's actually a bit angry with me right now. This is the first time I've seen food like this since returning from Luoyang. Lately, my meals are just plain rice with soy sauce."
"...I see."
"...Well. But did I save your wife's family all by myself? You made a huge contribution too, and even got her father's recognition. What's the reason?"
Eon Jeong-ung sighed once more and spoke.
"What else? It's because I chased Yong-un out of the family."
"...Ah."
"...Mm."
"But her being cold is actually better. She cries about how lonely and tough a fight Yong-un must have fought alone, and how his father couldn't even provide shelter but chased him away instead. It's all true, so I have nothing to say and no way to comfort her. It's been tough."
"Hey, Brother Seok. Did you bring that bundle of yours?"
"I have a cloth wrapping a bottle of fine liquor. But why?"
"Give it to our friend Jeong-ung here. If there's a side dish he likes, save it and put it between the rice and soy sauce."
"...Ah. Here it is, Eon Family Head."
"...Never mind. Let's drop this. Read the letter that Brother Jae-hyuk sent."
At Eon Jeong-ung's words, Peng Mu-hyuk took out the letter he had carefully kept in his bosom and spoke.
"Ahem, then I'll read it. At the grand new-old assembly—which was unusually large this time—Mosan Sect named Yong-un..."
But then he spat out a curse.
"...Have you ever seen such damn long-nosed bastards?!"
"Brother?"
"What's wrong?"
"It says seven Upper Azure Sword Envoys stepped up against Yong-un."
"Pardon? Not one, but seven?"
"Are you sure you read it right?"
However, it was the first time a curse had come from Peng Mu-hyuk's mouth.
At Eon Jeong-ung and Seok Geum-pil's words questioning if he'd misread, he looked back at the letter, and the match result caught his eye.
"It clearly says seven here. The seven Upper Azure Sword Envoys deployed the Demon-Exorcising Northern Dipper Formation... and got dismantled by Yong-un and beaten like dogs?"
Peng Mu-hyuk's recitation resumed smoothly like flowing water.
And in rhythm, Eon Jeong-ung's mouth corners began to twitch upward.
"Thus, the Righteous Martial Academy's executive committee established the Demonic Arts Defense Studies Research Club and appointed Eon Yong-un as director!"
When Peng Mu-hyuk finished reading.
Seok Geum-pil burst into laughter.
"Congratulations, Eon Family Head. Not only did he make those Upper Azure Sword Envoys call him a dragon, but at his age, research club director? Haha. So what if it's just rice and soy sauce? Yong-un is advancing triumphantly! Even Yong-myeong crushed the Huangbo Family with his fists!"
"Hrm, heh heh."
Peng Mu-hyuk added a word.
"Yeah, the day other sides join the rice and soy won't be far off. He outdid all the notable peers in restoring the corpse servant lineage by first drawing out the 'dragon' sound. Just reinstate him on the family register."
"...Ha. But it's not that simple. As you know, Little Uncle has the elders' council under his thumb. Still, the justification is there, so it should proceed naturally. Ah, we've talked only about Yong-un too much. Congratulations on Ho-yeol and So-cheon's victories too."
"Hahaha. Compared to Yong-un, they're like fireflies under the moon, but thank you for the kind words."
"......"
However, Peng Mu-hyuk's expression grew somewhat grave.
Eon Jeong-ung spoke up.
"Brother, why the long face now that So-cheon comes up? Aren't you proud of knocking down the Moyong Family, who've been wrestling for the Taoist clan's top spot?"
"As a father, yes. As family head, it's a worry."
"Hm. You're concerned about the Moyong Family's moves."
This was the moment the North Hebei Three Heroes shifted from talk of their children to worries about the world.
"Exactly. With the Demonic Cult raising its head, their actions to protect profits and family prestige are deeply concerning. To stoop to such schemes?! Yoreong, where the Moyong Family is located, is one of the routes for North Sea Ice Palace goods, isn't it?"
"Come to think of it, back in our generation, when Peng Family Head beat Moyong Family Head, the Moyong Family tightened inspections on Ice Palace goods as retaliation, right?"
"Yes. It's quite worrying. Back then, Shansi was fine, so only Hebei suffered a bit. But now Shansi—where Father-in-law is—is in chaos, and the northern markets paralyzed, so shortages of cold iron and ice crystals could hit everywhere."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ For some reason, hardly any current students had submitted applications to our research club.
'What's up with that?'
Well, even I had tilted my head at the 'graduate-level' label, so that might be why.
Still, all the protagonist generation applied—except Cheon Jang-ho.
I accepted all of them except So-cheon hyung.
Then immediately held interviews.
The first called to the interview room was Yin Xia Lian.
She opened her mouth, ready to hand over her prepared statement.
"Shall we start?"
"No need."
At my words, she furrowed her brows sharply.
"Why? Am I rejected again? Eon Gongzi, don't do this for real. That's not right."
"Calm down. Professor No Sam and Professor Yeong Hwan are here too."
"No! Because professors are here, you should interview properly!"
"No, hear me out. You're accepted."
"Ah?"
"Go to the next room right now and straighten out those Taoists messing around with the ghosts."
Next was Zhuge Seolji.
He was one of the top students who'd followed to Shansi and gained experience against demon cultists.
And with his excellent brain suited for research and planning, I'd already decided to take him.
'I've seen what he's done. Why not pick someone who's proven his ability?'
However, referencing Yin Xia Lian's case, I gave him a chance to speak.
"Respected professors and Yong-un nim. I saw Demonic Cultists in person in Shansi and fought corpse servants too. My grades are excellent. Is there anyone more qualified for this research?"
He boldly stated his ambitions and was accepted.
After Zhuge Seolji came Jeong Hyeon.
"Professor No Sam, Professor Yeong Hwan. And Eon So-hyeop. I am Jeong Hyeon of Wudang."
But from introducing his name—which everyone knew—he seemed stiff, and he started a long-winded speech.
"Since ancient times, many compilations used the character 'mirror'. The reason is to reflect the present by using the past as a mirror. Accordingly, before stating my motivation, let me review what happened in Shansi..."
"Accepted."
I cut him off hurriedly and sent him to the next room.
Thus, after sending Dang Ok-gi, Yong-myeong, So-reung, and even Ha-seong to the next room, it was Namgung Yun's turn.
But the guy who entered the interview room skipped his self-introduction.
[Do I have to kneel first to get accepted?]
He sent a transmission that could make ghosts choke.
"?"
"?"
"Gongyun-ah, did you eat something bad? There was bean sprout salad at lunch, but bean sprouts digest well. Did you eat spoiled food?"
"...I didn't eat bean sprout salad. And my name is Yun. Namgung is the surname."
"Who doesn't know that? I'm sitting here as research director. During research, if you question every order you dislike, will applicant Namgung 'Yun' complain about everything?"
"...Call me Gongyun. No, fine."
Thus, I first accepted the protagonist generation applicants and my Eon siblings.
Then, at a quicker pace, screened external applicants and notified acceptances.
And a few days passed.
External applicants who received preliminary acceptance notices began gathering from all over.
I interviewed them too.
"Eon Gongzi? Applicant Sim Yul has arrived at the main gate."
For external applicants, distances from their sects to the academy varied wildly, so unlike students, I couldn't set fixed interview days.
"Got it. So-reung-ah."
"Yes, Eon hyung."
"You go fetch Professor No Sam and Professor Han Yeong. Ha-seong, you prepare the reception room for interviews."
"Yes sir!"
Thus, I interviewed them in arrival order, accepting those to accept and sending back the rest.
"And Silver Sojeo, please fetch the pressure interview materials for applicant Sim Yul. They're in one of those drawers over there..."
"Right here."
"As expected, in sync. Thanks anyway."
"But, out front, Jeong Hyeon dojang is 'educating' the prior final acceptees, right? Should we stop him? It's the first time interview and education times overlap, so what to do?"
"What's the problem?"
"......"
"No need. Better to watch. Then Silver Sojeo, handle my duties briefly. ...Zhuge Sojeo is doing what only he can. Then Dang Ok-gi."
"Kyaaak! Then what about Dang Ok-gi? That pisses me off."
"Need a scribe to record the interview. Called you because your handwriting is neat. If not, Namgung..."
"Me..."
"My handwriting is plenty neat! Got it! I'll do it!"
Since Kunlun Sect was at the westernmost edge of the Central Plains, attached to Qinghai at Kunlun Mountain's base.
Thus, Sim Yul dojang of Kunlun—whom I'd noted early on—was the last among acceptees to interview.
"I am Eon Yong-un, director of the research club. You know Professor Han Yeong, and this is Professor No Sam."
"Sim Yul of Kunlun Sect."
Professor Han Yeong was from Kunlun Sect.
He'd come to verify Sim Yul's identity and the interviewers' questions' propriety.
The interview began with Professor No Sam.
"Why did applicant Sim Yul apply for this research?"
"I was injured by a demon and can no longer wield a sword. To prevent anyone else like me, I'm applying to contribute my experiences and what I learned at Kunlun."
"I see. As notified to each sect, our research director—as you see—is lower in Jianghu standing and younger than you. Can you follow Director Eon Yong-un's lead?"
"Yes. Of course."
"Then, Student Eon Yong-un will conduct the interview from now."
And I handled the key questions.
"...You said overtime is no issue. Then, last question."
At the final question, I posed the most important one.
"Your application shows no external or sect activities after the injury. What did you do during that gap? Never thought of wielding the sword left-handed?"
"...I wasted time. My temperament is prickly, so I just stayed in my room."
"And from now on?"
"Pardon?"
"Did you see people training in the practice hall on your way? Prior acceptees who passed before you."
"Yes?"
"Our research club isn't just desk research—we train body and mind in spare moments. No exemptions. Actually, to wield the sword awkwardly left-handed, you'll face harsher training than other researchers. Are you prepared?"
"...Uh, yes. I am prepared."
"You promise before Professor Han Yeong?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes."
"Then, accepted."
At my demeanor, my master at my waist spoke puzzled.
- That Sim Yul long-nose punk.
'Yes.'
- When you saw the application, didn't you say he seemed iffy?
'Yes.'
- Hm. The answers sound good, but to me, it feels more like he wants acceptance than truly wants research. Your suspicions cleared?
'No. I think the same as Master. Still suspicious.'
- Then why accept him?
At Master's words, I smirked and transmitted my thoughts.
'Isn't there a saying to keep friends close and enemies closer?'
It's just suspicion for now.
First, grind him so he has no time for funny business.
'If it turns out he truly means to overcome his injury and rise again, I'll cheer him on.'
- Hm. And if not sincere?
'Why ask such a thing?'
I grinned and replied.
'Beat him half to death.'