Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Demonic Arts Defense Studies Research Group (4)
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Eon Yong-un had proposed climbing Wudang Mountain on the holiday to gauge the reactions of external supporters, including Shim Yul.
"Professors No Sam and Young-hwan, along with three beggars, have chosen to guard the lab. Aside from Cadet Eon Yong-un and the other research students who expressed their intent not to participate, there are no issues with the rest. We can depart. Chancellor, Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong, Professor Han Young."
"Shall we?"
But the event itself was proceeding as planned.
"It's a famous mountain. Truly a famous mountain."
"Hahaha. Hearing the Chancellor say that makes it feel all the more special. Isn't Wudang Mountain the very peak visible when you open the window in your office? You've climbed it many times yourself."
"That's true, but whenever I've ascended Wudang Mountain, it was always for consultations with the Wudang Sect. My mind was filled with such thoughts, or I'd rush up using lightness skills, leaving no chance to take in the scenery. But walking slowly along the pilgrims' trail like this... it's truly wonderful."
"You only encounter certain things when you move slowly. It's been a long time since I transferred from Kunlun to the Righteous Martial Academy as a professor, but today, Wudang Mountain feels refreshed to me."
"Professor Han Young's words ring true. Thanks to Cadet Eon Yong-un, we've carved out this time. It's really nice."
"I agree. A truly good time. I should occasionally do something like this with the graduate students in my personal lab."
If the professors participating in simple attire were basking in warm comfort,
Then the research students climbing the mountain—each shouldering loads as big as themselves, with sandbags or iron weights strapped to their limbs according to their martial prowess—were positively boiling over.
"I was waiting for the holiday. Waiting for the holiday. Waiting for the holiday."
"...Just kill me."
The external support research students, experiencing such a hike for the first time in their lives, were letting out death rattles.
Of course, this wasn't something that improved with experience, so the so-called "Eon dongsaengs" weren't much different.
"Uwaaaah. What kind of twisted mind does Brother Eon have to come up with something this horrific?"
"Kaaack!!! Exactly! And yet where did the guy himself disappear to? That fraud!"
"Ditching just himself... This is the first time I've felt so betrayed by Brother Yong-un!"
Of course, not everyone was just whining.
"Ditch us? There's no way Young Master Eon would do that. He must have had unavoidable circumstances or some other arrangement."
"……."
"……."
"……."
"And since we've started this hike anyway, if you just curse and complain, the whole world turns foul. The Master said there's no one who follows those who don't enjoy it, and in Buddhism, viewing the world through Buddha's eyes makes everything Buddha..."
There was Jeong-hyeon, silently patrolling the front and rear of the hiking group, "encouraging" the groaning research students (?).
"Sometimes I think... I hate Jeong-hyeon, who's nagging from the side, more than Eon Yong-un who's ordering it."
"I agree, Sister Ok-gi."
"M-me too."
"You two are from the Tang family."
And some had ignited their own fires.
The first to catch fire was Namgung Yun.
"Do we really have to maintain formation?"
"Are you asking me, Young Master Namgung?"
"Right. Did Eon Yong-un leave any message?"
"Well? He didn't say anything specific. Why do you ask?"
"I doubt Eon Yong-un would just tell us to climb the mountain casually. Plus, doesn't he favor first-come-first-served or something?"
Upon hearing from Yin Xia Lian that there was no message, Namgung Yun immediately posed the same question to the professors.
The professors nodded toward Namgung Yun, and soon his strides grew bold and swift.
"I can tolerate losing to Yong-un, but not to anyone else."
At that, fire lit in Jeon Gal-seolji's eyes as well.
"...Brother Namgung must have energy to spare."
"It's him, but look at Seolji's eyes—they've gone feral. Why does she get like that? Childhood friends or not, it's scary every time."
"In a way, they might be even scarier than Brother Yong-un."
As those two surged ahead with flames ablaze,
A fiery roar erupted from Yin Xia Lian's mouth.
"Azure Bamboo Pavilion! Are we falling behind Yun-guk and Hyang-ran?! Full speed to Sea-Cleaving Cliff!!!"
Thus began an unprompted race to be first.
Watching the scene, Gyeong-hye, Jeong Geuk-gyeong, and Han Young smiled warmly.
"Youth."
"An age that could chew through iron."
"The best time."
Anyway,
The research students raced toward their destination, Sea-Cleaving Cliff.
At the end of the chaotic arrival, besides the Wudang Sect Taoist guarding Sea-Cleaving Cliff, there was a slightly out-of-place figure.
It was Paeng So-cheon, squatting and frog-jumping alone.
"One, two, three. Four thousand eight hundred fifty-two. One, two, three. Four thousand eight hundred fifty-three."
Wu So-ryeong, who arrived first atop Yin Xia Lian's back and caught her breath, spoke up.
"...Uh, are we doing some kind of training here?"
"Huh? Nah."
"Then why frog-jumps...?"
"Oh, this? Just bored and didn't want to lose muscle."
Sighs of relief burst out here and there.
"...Phew."
"Seriously, who does that out of boredom? Nearly scared me to death."
Cutting through those sighs, Eun Ha-seong spoke.
"Brother So-cheon, why are you out here? You've done over four thousand frog-jumps—that's half a day, right?"
"Huh? Yong-un asked if I had weekend plans, said no, so he told me to do some work with him? We came up before dawn together. He went back down, and I've been waiting for you all."
"...What work?"
"Stamp the arrivals at Sea-Cleaving Cliff?"
At Paeng So-cheon's words, people like Jeong-hyeon and Namgung Yun nodded with a knowing "As expected."
But the others gulped and rubbed their arms again.
The chill made sweat from the climb cool instantly.
"Ughhh. So Executive Director Eon climbed up here at dawn? What a ruthless guy."
"He said it wasn't mandatory. Shouldn't have skipped. He set this up."
"...What about those who didn't come? Some heard he wasn't there and snuck off thinking they were safe."
Still, they rolled up sleeves for the stamp on their wrists.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That evening, I assessed which research students got the stamp and which didn't.
The next morning, they came to me.
"The director is disappointed."
Based on last night's tally, I gathered the no-shows and spoke.
"I trusted you all, yet the participation rate is this low."
Did my words spark sad yet ominous premonitions?
Some no-shows in the training ground swallowed dryly but cautiously protested.
"...Y-you said it wasn't mandatory, right?"
"Correct."
I shook my head firmly at them.
"But that doesn't mean skipping is fine, does it?"
From my waist, Master shook his head disapprovingly from the scabbard.
- ...My disciple, but still.
I ignored Master and continued.
"I have many duties, so unavoidable circumstances kept me away. But I showed the will to join."
My claim that 'skipping isn't okay' was sophistry.
But climbing Wudang at dawn made it reasonable.
Speechless no-shows appealed to emotion.
"...I-I was too tired, wanted a day off. Even horses need rest to run, Director."
"You're not ordinary horses. The Demonic Defense Seminar prepares against Demonic Cult threats. You must run like thousand-li steeds represented by Red Hare."
Still, I shook my head firmly.
"After last night's reflection, I concluded it's due to lack of stamina."
Then I unveiled the long-sealed burpee exercise.
In modern terms, burpees.
"No tire —this 'Burpee Exercise' I'll demonstrate. Do it diligently, and stamina skyrockets—no more gathering here like today. Now, the assistant instructor's demo."
I showed the motions step by step.
"...Then push-ups like this, and finally frog-jump in place. Like so! That's one!"
I blew the whistle.
Piiip! Peep! Piiipeep!!
"One!!!"
Burpees combine squat thrusts, push-ups, and frog jumps—the devil's exercise.
'Without internal energy, even martial artists sweat like rain, arms flop like reeds, thighs melt later.'
As whistle blasts increased, no-shows' limbs shredded, eyes glazed.
"...Heuk."
"...Kuhuk."
I watched Shim Yul closely among them.
'Eh, what's that?'
Shim Yul, in trance, instinctively pushed off the ground with his supposedly injured right arm.
That clicked the one unresolved question: how a Kunlun Taoist became Demonic Cult pawn.
I smirked, approached Shim Yul, and sent a transmission.
[You just used your right hand?]
"!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I finished the makeup training.
Heading to the dorm with Shim Yul, I organized thoughts.
'Someone like Shim Yul wouldn't swallow poison unknowingly.'
If he did, he'd notice and expel it.
That removes reason for Demonic Cult servitude.
'Considering original plot, probably fed poison needing antidote?'
Unlike minor poisoning before.
At the dorm, I locked the door.
Drew Regret.
Slash—
Sliced desk corner like tofu with blood arts-coated pseudo-sword aura.
"This room is now the Room of Truth. Lie or act out, and this happens."
Straight to the point.
"Yesterday in Medicine City, I saw a senior contacting a Demonic Cult pawn. Today, using right arm. Did they fix it?"
Shim Yul tried to deflect.
"Th-that's..."
I didn't allow it.
"Room of Truth? I sense lies instantly. I give one chance like now. You know my temper by now? Starting count. Three."
"……."
"Two."
"……."
"One!"
Whoooosh!
Drenched in cold sweat, as my sword swung mercilessly, Shim Yul squeezed eyes shut and confessed.
"Y-yes! But I haven't harmed Academy or Orthodox Murim yet! Y-yesterday too..."
He started, pleading no info passed to contact.
"So what did they want?"
"...Said report what I hear/see as research student."
Answered my questions on orders received.
Then lamented from right arm injury to recontacting Demonic figure.
While he muttered, I sorted thoughts.
'Probing seminar members/research data, timing when school defenses lax.'
Shim Yul no original Demonic, so little known.
Enough for me.
'Disguised as wanderer—Disciple of Demon Brain? Demon Brain Division involved?'
Ultimately targeting assassination/kidnapping of promising heirs from major clans.
'Precious clan blood dies/kidnapped?'
Orthodox Murim loses juniors, but clans thunderstruck.
'Just look at Namgung Uk doting on Namgung Yun.'
Cracks in Orthodox Murim accelerate naturally.
More openings for Demonic Cult.
'Clever.'
Choosing Shim Yul as pawn too.
Who suspects Kunlun Taoist, arm lost to Demonic, as spy?
'Even I was half-doubting till confirmed.'
Anyway,
Rough picture formed.
I grinned.
"Senior, from now on, pass the info I give to them?"