Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Where To (1)
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Our group exchanged greetings with the Taoist priest Myeong Han, who then hurriedly set off after the four Taoists who had left ahead of him.
"They've gone quite far already. Senior Brothers! Let's go together!"
Jeong Hyeon stared blankly at his retreating figure.
"...".
Watching that, I thought to myself.
'Wudang and Jeong Hyeon.'
It wasn't a relationship that could be resolved overnight.
Jeong Hyeon's act of reporting Taeheo-ja—who held the rank of Grand Martial Uncle—was objectively righteous.
However, to those affiliated with the Wudang Sect, it likely didn't appear as simply the right thing to do.
'Because the method was so very Jeong Hyeon.'
Though only Taeheo-ja himself was implicated.
If viewed through a slightly cynical lens, it came across as Jeong Hyeon standing alone in noble isolation, lumping everyone else together as rotten filth.
'It borders on the realm of gisa-myoljo (betraying one's master and extinguishing one's ancestors), which martial artists regard as the gravest sin.'
The act itself was righteous, so Jeong Hyeon faced no particular punishment.
But Taeyeong-ja, who had taken Jeong Hyeon into Wudang, shouldered the blame and entered secluded cultivation, losing the trust of his fellow Taoists in the process.
Thus, the label "Wudang's Shame" came to trail after Jeong Hyeon's Taoist title.
'That's why scum like Unhyeok go around openly claiming he tarnished the sect.'
Even I couldn't think of an immediate solution.
'If the reinforcements we'd encountered while pursuing the fleeing Song Gil-jun had been Wudang Taoists instead of Zhuge clansmen, would the atmosphere have been different?'
...No, with Demonic Cult remnants right in front of us, it might have sown discord.
It was no simple matter.
Still, Jeong Hyeon would untangle the knotted threads with his sect in his own way, eventually.
'Because he's Jeong Hyeon.'
My presence had veered the story far from its original course.
But the rift between Wudang and Jeong Hyeon wasn't about the incident itself—as Myeong Han Taoist had put it, what mattered was the other Taoists recognizing Jeong Hyeon's true heart.
A man who sought the Way and righteousness in any circumstance could surely turn the hearts of Wudang's Taoists.
With those thoughts, I patted Jeong Hyeon's shoulder.
"As Myeong Han Taoist said, a day will come when they all recognize your true heart."
At my words, Jeong Hyeon shook off his dazed look and nodded.
"Yes, Young Master Eon."
After comforting Jeong Hyeon that way, my eyes fell on the other Eon family juniors serving as deputy instructors.
They knew the full story between Jeong Hyeon and Wudang, so they'd been holding their breath—the overall mood had sunk.
To rally the subdued atmosphere, I spoke up.
"Since our Jeong Hyeon Taoist seems down, shall we make the Fragrant Orchid Hall owls hustle even harder?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We had always been busy, but after the Demonic Cult's academy raid swept through like a gale, we were truly rushed off our feet.
Recurrence prevention training for Fragrant Orchid Hall cadets took top priority.
Beep! Beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep!
Since it ran for four straight weeks, it became our daily routine.
And beyond that, tasks piled up like mountains.
"Young Master Yong-un. Should we classify the Nangjung Demon Army and Black Thread Demon Army's relationship like this?"
One such task was compiling an incident analysis report under the Ma Bang-yeon banner.
Zhuge Seolji handled much of it.
But genius or not, she couldn't infer the Demonic Cult's inner workings from thin air—it had to pass through my hands, the one who knew them.
"It won't be that hierarchical. More like a partnership where the Demon Brain Division—Nangjung Palace's affiliate—holds a slight edge."
I unpacked what I knew, factoring in timing and context, and Zhuge Seolji organized it into notes.
"Ah, then that Song Gil-jun fellow might've been in a bind too?"
"Possible."
"By the way, you pulled so much intel infiltrating Horyeon Forge."
"...".
"Keeping your cool amid Demon Army-grade fiends slaughtering people right there. Truly admirable."
"...Enough gilding. Let's work."
"Not gilding."
And Ma Bang-yeon wasn't the only thing.
Cheongjuk Hall's reconstruction needed oversight too.
"Young Master Eon. Check these, these, and this."
"These the extras the admin office requested?"
"Yes. For now."
Rebuilding Cheongjuk Hall was an ongoing project anyway, so submitting estimates and plans sailed through smoothly.
'Result: the building itself goes up free...'
But in exchange, busywork looped back.
With academy funds now covering what Cheongjuk Hall's budget was for, we had to document proof of payments for materials already procured.
"Everything else checks out, but the lumber payment lacks the merchant guild's seal?"
"Ah, the fetcher's not back yet. Hence 'for now'."
Reviewing the submission docs, one worry bubbled up in my mind.
"...Hmm."
Drumming fingers on the desk lost in thought, Yin Xia Lian tilted her head.
"Problem?"
"No issue with your docs, Miss Yin."
"Then?"
"Academy's footing the new dorm funds, leaving our original allocation surplus, right?"
"Ah, pondering a good use for it? I've mulled that too..."
"Something spring to mind?"
"How about Horyeon Forge?"
Horyeon Forge.
The spot I'd infiltrated—the smithy the Demonic Cult used as their forward base for the raid.
'Original owners Won Hong and wife vanished traceless; facilities seized by academy.'
Too swamped with academy work now to mind it.
Once maintenance wrapped, they'd pick a new owner.
Yin Xia Lian proposed we claim it.
"...A forge."
"Good, no? You've mused taking one over before."
Nearby smiths and arms dealers gouged us in cartel, so I'd grumbled that now and then.
"Current vibe? We snag it no contest."
"Our merits?"
"Yes. Academy's hemorrhaging cash everywhere—if we volunteer for Horyeon, breathes easy. They'll cheer."
"Timing's spot on."
Conversation there, Yin Xia Lian machine-gunned ahead, barely breathing.
"Yes. Even sans Cheongjuk cadets' use, prime investment. Young Master Eon's name rings through the land now—brand blades as 'Eon Yong-un wielded,' recoup before third-year, with surplus. Tie to newsletter? Ripple explodes."
"Whoa, simmer. Pupils went coin-shaped."
"Ah, got carried away. Good, right?"
"Seems so. Greenlight it."
"Heh. But this too? Sleep shrinks more awhile."
"Yeah. Two bodies short at this rate."
Master, from my waist pouch, tsked at us.
- Tsk tsk. Piling work on yourselves?! Others aside, you two griping busy? World's workaholics...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Such duties as Ma Bang-yeon exec, Cheongjuk cadre, instructor—work aplenty.
But cadet work too.
'...Studying.'
Academy facilities—four dorms included—three-tenths ash heaps.
Most courses got cadet nod: midterms double as finals. Semester closed.
Yet stubborn profs pushed on.
"Demons wrecking four dorms? Tragedy past 'devastating.' But prime for our Jianghu Life Encyclopedia. Textbooks out."
Prime example: Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong.
Deliberately slating ruins for class, Dang Ok-gi tongued in awe.
"...Professor Jeong looks fiercer than Demonic Cult scum up close. Classes here?"
Jeong Hyeon stated plainly.
"Professor said it: environment fits Jianghu Life Encyclopedia. Frequency-wise, survival training syncs perfectly with..."
"Kek!"
Veins popped on Dang Ok-gi's brow.
Yin Xia Lian smirked sly.
"Ok-gi, hold. Don't wilt on Jeong Hyeon Taoist. Today's that day."
"Ah, right. That day. Yeah. Vent here."
How in sync? Realized: Fragrant Orchid owls' CBRN drill day.
"Set, Ok-gi?!"
"Naturally, Ha-yeon!"
I deadpanned.
"Miss Yin, Dang Ok-gi. Sounds like you see it as grudge-match or torment pit—but recurrence prevention's legit class, grounds sacred."
Ha-seong dry-chuckled.
"Heh. True, but Brother Yong-un saying it?"
Neighbor So-neung nodded.
"Silver Brother's got point."
"Brats grew mouths. Here. Come?"
"B-Brother. Class ongoing."
Meantime, Dang Ok-gi gnashed again.
"Whatever. Later, Fragrant Orchid. Tears, snot—you'll bawl."
...Always think it.
She forgets she's Fragrant Orchid sometimes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, in Jinju of Northern Hebei, the Northern Hebei Three Heroes shared a meal.
Shocked at academy Demonic raid news, relieved at repulsion.
Usual trio meet: fine liquor flowed.
But gravity soberized today's.
"Then, wrap here. As said: I eye north, Moyong east; Jeong-ung, in-laws west; Seok Head, south, land routes."
"Yes, Elder Brother."
"Wise."
Meeting: mere spoonfuls, done.
Inner quarters: Plum Blossom Madam emerged at guests departing, wistful smile.
"Uncle, Seok Head. Already?"
"Ah, sister-in-law. Jeong-ung said: Demonic Cult hit academy."
"Heard."
"Such bold scum? Northern Hebei can't slack. Crave more cooking, but muzzle ox quick."
Paeng Mu-hyeok's 'wit' unflagging.
"...Ox muzzle?"
"Checkpoints, Madam."
"...Ah. Haha. Uncle."
She hand-covered, ho-ho laughing.
Seok Geum-pil, envious:
"Eldest son struck again. Madam, Yong-un slew demon barehanded, saved academy. Congrats."
Eon Jeong-ung's lips twitched smug.
Plum Blossom Madam, forlorn:
"Proud, yet heart rends—why chase perils? Whose nod seeks he?"
"...".
Twitch halted abrupt.
Paeng Mu-hyeok, Seok Geum-pil sensed: bolt now.
"...Heh heh. Then, off. Fine meal, sister-in-law. Later, Jeong-ung."
"...M-Me too."
Guests gone, Madam's warmth chilled stark.
"Lord Husband."
"...Speak, Madam."
"Sent letter bidding Yong-un home?"
"...My hands banished him, no reinstatement—how bid return? Defies decorum."
"Hence I from start! ...Sigh. Your affair, Lord Husband?"
"...".
"Struck from rolls, yet womb-borne son true—mother feeding one meal breaches what decorum? Then, I go now to Yong-un. Someone..."
"I'll write. Letter. Now."