Chapter 201
Chapter 201
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come to My House (7)
As I poured out words that would turn Song Gil-jun's insides upside down.
The Azure Bamboo Hall students who had come with me unleashed mocking jeers one after another, like a chant in a round dance.
"The Demonic Cult lost to Righteous Martial Academy cadets!"
"Scared that we're chasing them, they loaded up every damn boat and fled like that!"
"I thought they were only good at digging holes in the ground, but damn, they row like pros too! Puahaha!"
The boat carrying Song Gil-jun departed from Dangan Port amid the ridicule.
'With that temper of his, his guts are probably twisting ten times over. I hope he falls into qi deviation.'
Thus, the Demonic Cult bastards' scheme to raid the Righteous Martial Academy was thwarted.
However, the crisis bearing down on us wasn't over yet.
Because enraged remnants still lingered.
"You dared to insult our sacred cult!"
"We held back to prioritize the Young Master's escape, but now we have no reservations. Some of you will cross the afterlife's threshold with us!"
With the burning docks at their backs, the Demonic Cult remnants discarded their scabbards in unison.
They roughly tore strips from their clothes to bind their swords to their hands.
- Yong-un, you know this, but discarding the scabbard means they won't sheathe their swords again. The Azure Bamboo Hall kids seem a bit too excited, so rein them in.
'Understood.'
As Master said, those bastards' goal was to drag at least one of us down the road to the afterlife.
This might turn into the most desperate fight yet.
"Everyone, stay sharp. They'll go for mutual destruction. Don't underestimate them as mere routed soldiers."
I steadied my breath and spoke up.
"Don't even think about taking prisoners out of some misplaced sense of honor. Even if they raise both arms in surrender, cut them down without mercy. They'll strike with killing blows, no holds barred."
At my words, the Azure Bamboo Hall students wiped the smirks from their faces and assumed their stances.
"Got it!"
"We'll follow!"
Snap! Snap! Snap!
In truth, those words were also meant for Professor Chang-ryang, conveyed through the Azure Bamboo Hall students.
"......"
Without a word, but clearly understanding, Professor Chang-ryang stepped forward into stance as well.
The moment he did, the demons kicked off the ground from their side, unleashing deadly strikes.
Swaaaa!!
As we prepared to counter them by forming the Chejak Formation.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over our heads.
Shuu shuu shuu shuu!!!
Glancing up, I caught sight of a dense barrage of black arrows blotting out the sky.
'...What the?'
Fortunately, the arrow volley flew not toward us, but at the demons.
'Allies?!'
The demons' weapons busied themselves deflecting the arrows.
In other words, they no longer had the capacity to engage us.
"Now!"
I and the Azure Bamboo Hall students seized the perfect opening.
We instantly united as one to deploy the Chejak Formation.
Puk! Puk!
Pupu-puk!
Hands tied fending off arrows, the demons became instant beehives.
Those who ignored the incoming arrows to target us turned into porcupines.
Pupu-pupu-puk!!!!
After a few volleys like that, not a single living demon remained on the smoke-shrouded docks.
Confirming the fact, I turned my gaze toward where the arrows had come from.
'Zhuge family reinforcements.'
Zhuge Family, famed for utmost loyalty in archery.
Centered on a flag emblazoned with eight characters, a group wielding crossbows known as Zhuge Nuh came into view.
Among them, a man in academy robes walked over and spoke.
"Professor Chang-ryang. Glad you're unharmed."
I recognized him from his attendance at the academy's entrance ceremony as a guest.
His name was Zhuge Gyu.
Patriarch of the Zhuge family and father to Zhuge Seol-ji.
"Thank you for the support, Patriarch Zhuge. Thanks to you, we exterminated the Demonic Cult remnants with ease."
Professor Chang-ryang offered a polite fist salute toward Zhuge Gyu.
Following his lead, we cupped our fists as well.
"Thank you for your support, Patriarch!"
"Thank you!"
"We hurried over, but gathering family and nearby villagers delayed us, and by then the battle had reached this point. I judged the Wudang Sect best suited to aid with remnants near the academy, so we came here. Glad we could help. Oh, you're safe too, Ok-gi."
"Yes, Uncle... I mean, Patriarch."
However, Patriarch Zhuge seemed to be scanning our group for someone.
No one else it could be, so I spoke up immediately.
"...Young Lady Zhuge should be at headquarters in the main academy building."
"Ahem. Wasn't specifically looking for Seol-ji, but you're the rumored Little Dragon, aren't you."
"Somehow earned that name. Eon Yong-un. Anyway, this seems wrapped up. Patriarch, Professor. Let's head to the academy."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ How long had it been since we set off toward the academy with the Zhuge family reinforcements?
Amid the ruins where yesterday's grand gate had stood under its majestic hipped roof, bearing the plaque "Righteous Martial Academy."
There stood people, led by Director Kyung Hye, each gripping their weapons.
'...Hmm.'
It was regrettable that the imposing gate lay in rubble.
But the sight of those people standing atop the debris.
Confirmed that the principle of protecting lives over buildings had been upheld.
'We somehow held the line.'
The thought flashed through my mind, and a natural sigh of relief escaped my lips.
"Phew."
Of course, I wasn't the only one.
"...Ha. Thought I was a goner for real. Earlier, when we went to help the Fragrant Orchid Hall guys from the east wing, a demon's sword came right up to my nose, and my whole life flashed before my eyes."
"Heh. So treat me nice from now on. You owe me your life, right?"
"Your life-saving grace? In the Chejak Formation, when one wing gets pressured, the tail comes to help—that's standard! You just did your job. If it's grace, it's thanks to Vice Chairman Eon who taught you!"
As everyone let out sighs of relief, some bantered.
Others had their legs give out from released tension, supported by comrades beside them.
Yet amid it all, Yin Xia Lian covered her mouth with dirty hands, chuckling alone.
"Kuh."
"What's so funny? Let us in on the laugh."
"...Ah. With Professor No-sam over there and Professor Chang-ryang here, the chaos just struck me as hilarious."
Come to think of it, it was funny, so I chuckled unwittingly too.
"...It is kinda funny."
Fragrant Orchid and Azure Bamboo.
The two dorms were like water and oil.
Not just different goals, but temperaments too, so they naturally clashed.
But today was different.
Until yesterday, we couldn't stand each other.
Today, we staked our lives to protect one another.
'And that should hold true from here on out.'
With the Demonic Cult's appearance, the era of peace was effectively over.
We're all human, and the academy's systems encourage rivalry, so clashes will happen.
But when similar crises strike again, we need to become a bond where we can trust each other with our backs.
'Countless wounded, buildings reduced to ash.'
Today's wounds won't heal easily, but I hoped they'd forge the cadets' hearts into one.
"Ahem, ahem."
Lost in such thoughts, I noticed Mae Jin-ak, Fragrant Orchid Hall's student council president, staring at me.
"......"
His needless throat-clearing seemed like his way of offering thanks for saving his dorm's cadets.
I gave a slight nod.
'But I must set up a proper thrashing session so he never pulls stupid stunts again.'
For now, this would suffice.
Too much had happened today.
As I shared that brief eye contact with Mae Jin-ak.
A soft voice addressed us.
"Cadet Eon Yong-un, and everyone from Azure Bamboo Hall."
It was Director Kyung Hye, who must have had the hardest day of all.
She offered us a faint smile, then grew serious and continued.
"The reason we defended the Righteous Martial Academy today is, without doubt, thanks to Azure Bamboo Hall's dedication."
She brought her sleeves together and bowed deeply in respect.
At Director Kyung Hye's action, the faculty and cadets behind her began bowing one by one.
But the Azure Bamboo Hall students looked utterly stunned.
"Uh."
"Mm."
Especially the seniors—their eyes and noses reddened without exception.
I got it, really.
'Of course.'
Rumors had spread far and wide that this year's Azure Bamboo Hall was different, but that praise was mostly aimed at me and the freshmen.
The spring tournament, the freshman-senior face-off.
But today's victory was one the seniors claimed with their own hands.
'No wonder it's overwhelming.'
Seeing the seniors like that stirred something poignant in my chest too.
But we couldn't let appearances slip.
I deliberately spoke in a firm tone.
"Did the Azure Dragon catch it from his brother? Why's everyone tearing up?"
"...Dust got in."
"Shoulders back. Chins up."
Then, Azure Dragon bro nudged my arm with his elbow.
His face was on the verge of bawling.
Meaning, accept the salute.
I swallowed a groan inwardly and stepped forward.
"We merely did our duty."
Not just a simple victory, but confirmation of trust in each other and the righteous martial world's strength.
I returned fist salutes to those bowing, thinking we could grow even stronger.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Song Gil-jun's boat swiftly left the Dangan Port area.
After switching to several boats along tributaries, they finally boarded a massive river vessel.
In the cabin of that large ship, an old blind man—eyes wide open yet unable to find the black pearl of his sclera—clicked his tongue despite being wide awake.
"Tsk."
The old blind man was Song Gil-jun's master, known within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as the Demon Brain.
Song Gil-jun knelt before his master and bowed his head.
"Master. I bungled the job out of needless greed."
A phlegmy rasp emerged from the Demon Brain's mouth.
"...Foolish child."
"My apologies. Even if you decree my death, I'll accept it gladly."
"...Why would I kill you? Do you think I'm scolding you for botching this matter?"
"......"
"Plans often go awry countless times by nature. A painter must endure those twists and turns. Even if you replace every limb, survive, survive again, and win in the end—that's what matters. I'm not upset about this trivial failure. I'm upset at the haggard state you're in, coming to me over something so small."
"My apologies."
"Gil-jun, you're the one who must paint colors onto the picture of demonic supremacy I've prepared. Don't show such weakness over this. Victory and defeat are mere fortunes of war. I'll handle the Black Immortal Demon Army matter myself. Focus on shaking this off your mind."
"Yes, Master."
Song Gil-jun answered affirmatively to the Demon Brain's words and left the cabin.
But he couldn't easily shake it off.
'...Three things he hates.'
Eon Yong-un's taunt had used the same phrasing as Song Gil-jun's own when making an example of a black path martial artist at the Ho-won Iron Forge.
'He was there.'
That meant Song Gil-jun had a chance to capture and kill Eon Yong-un.
'Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.'
With the thought, memories of the humiliation from Eon Yong-un as they fled Dangan Port swirled relentlessly in Song Gil-jun's mind.
Seething rage boiled in his chest, scorching his lungs with flames.
"Cough!!"
Song Gil-jun spat out bloody phlegm with the cough.
"Eon Yong-un... I will catch you, no matter what."
Unable to vomit out the fury in his heart, Song Gil-jun ground his teeth until they bled, vowing revenge.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The semester hadn't even ended, yet all the dorms had burned down.
As a result, Righteous Martial Academy cadets ended up boarding at nearby inns and private homes like a sort of homestay.
For Azure Bamboo Hall, we centered on the 'Dangan's Finest Inn'—which had ties to me—and took rooms at adjacent inns.
Remembering the innkeeper's decent cooking, I called the Eon brothers for a meal while at it.
While waiting for the food, Ha-seong piped up with banter.
"No way, bro! They say you've entered the Sword Aura Solidification realm? Show us!"
"Me too, Eon bro!"
"What, show you again? Just take my word for it."
"That's too much."
"Way too much!"
"Too much? Fine, both of you, backyard. Spar a bit, and you'll see it naturally."
"Ahem. Why's the food taking so long today? I'll go check!"
As we chatted, the innkeeper and his son-in-law couple brought out the dishes.
The innkeeper cheerfully asked how we'd been, then spotted Namgung Yun—new to the table—and rubbed his hands as he approached.
"Y-you're Young Master Namgung Yun, right? If it's not too much trouble, could I trouble you for an autograph?"
"...Autograph?"
"Yes! Not for anything else—just to hang up there like that. 'Namgung Yun, World's Top Rookie, ate well and left.' Something like that would be perfect."
"......"
But Yun just made a sour face, refusing the requested autograph.
I spoke up.
"Hey, just do one for him. Look, there's even the Alliance Leader and Uncle Mu-hyeok's. Don't act so high and mighty, Yun."
"...It's not that. Ugh. Look, innkeeper. Can I write whatever I want?"
"Yes! 'Ate well and left' or anything works!"
About then, Yin Xia Lian addressed me.
"Ah, Young Master Eon. The innkeeper refuses payment? Since you're out, talk to him. Too many people this time—we need to cover the lodging and meals, but he absolutely won't take it."
"Did you strike gold in the ancestral grave? We're not skimping—take it. You saw the grandkid, right?"
"Not even for that grandkid. You saved my son-in-law couple's lives on their way to the in-laws before, and this time the whole family. No way."
"...I don't recall personally saving you?"
"Does it have to be personal? Everyone from three-year-olds to elders knows Azure Bamboo Hall cadets chased out those demonic fiends who were grabbing people like chickens from Dangan Port. Can't face my grandkid if I took money from a benefactor."
"Good grief."
And so we ate for free again.
Then, Eon Yong-myeong, who had been picking at his food across from me, suddenly spoke up.
"Uh, bro?"
"Yeah?"
"During break, how about dropping by home?"