Chapter 283
Chapter 283
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 283
Chapter Title: The Jang Family's Eldest Son (4)
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Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong stepped out of the lab with a polite nod, as if merely going through the motions.
"Hold on. As a cadet yourself, Eon Yong-un, you'd have more opportunities to observe the other cadets up close than professors like me or the others, wouldn't you?"
He stood before the training ground and addressed me as if delivering a lecture.
"Moreover, you hold a position equivalent to an academy board member. And with your extensive connections... Even if it's not me, you could recommend promising talents to other renowned experts. This could even count as part of your coursework."
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
Only then did he shift his gaze toward Jang Seon.
"Assessing innate physique is something only a physician who's studied meridians and constitutions for years can do accurately. But even liberal arts cadets learn the Six Harmonies Steps, which can give a rough idea of one's martial aptitude. You there—what's your name again?"
"J-Jang Seon, sir!"
"Jang Seon. Then, from now on, follow the steps I'm about to demonstrate."
"Yes, sir!"
"Your spirit is commendable. First, these are steps for advancing, retreating, and defending from the four cardinal directions."
He faced Jang Seon and slowly demonstrated the Six Harmonies Steps.
"Like this—step, pivot, and extend again. Normally, you'd follow footprints on a marked board, so for a first-timer like you, Jang Seon, it might be tricky..."
"Like this?"
"...Yes. You're picking it up quickly."
When Jang Seon replicated the steps convincingly, the professor's expression turned to surprise.
"The Haenam Sect's South Sea Thirty-Six Swords and footwork, in terms of martial principles, can be seen as an advanced form of these Six Harmonies Steps."
He swallowed dryly before continuing.
"...However, accounting for use on ships or sand, they include steps not used by mainland schools. That's the basis for people calling Haenam swords sharp and bizarre."
"Are you going to teach me that?"
"...Not yet."
"...Ah, sorry."
"No need to apologize. Even if I did, you couldn't learn it right away. First, let's see if you were born with legs suited for Haenam profound arts. Use the footwork I just taught you to block my attacks. We'll need wooden swords..."
"I'll get them."
I returned to the lab, grabbed two wooden swords, and handed them to the professor and Jang Seon.
Jang Seon, gripping the wooden sword awkwardly, spoke up.
"...I-I don't know how to swing a sword. Is that okay?"
Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong smiled faintly.
"If you have talent, the footwork you just learned will guide you. And I'll adjust my forms considering you have no martial training."
"Ah. Got it."
Jang Seon nodded tensely.
"Then, begin."
The professor pushed off the ground slowly.
His wooden sword swung at the same time.
Shwick!
Jang Seon blocked the first attack easily.
Clack!
The professor's eyes widened slightly.
He nodded with interest and increased the speed of his swings a bit.
Clack! Clack!
Clack!
Jang Seon relied on the basic Six Harmonies Steps he'd just learned and his natural sense to block the professor's sword diligently.
But he couldn't block everything.
There were moments when attacks landed.
Thwack!!
"Ugh!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Sea Wave Striking Rock 'One of the South Sea Thirty-Six Swords forms.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ No speed or infused energy, so less momentum, but it's still an ascending form. Using it on a complete novice like Jang Seon? Is the righteous professor annoyed his attack was blocked? 'Do you think Professor Jeong sees you as his master?'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ? 'He's raising the level because he's blocking well.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ That's not what intrigues me. What do you mean by thinking the professor sees me as his master? While dodging my master's question, the assessment of Jang Seon's aptitude ended.
The professor stood about ten paces from Jang Seon, lost in thought with a dazed expression.
"......"
Mistaking the expression for negativity, Jang Seon shrank back and said to me,
"...I-I guess I have no talent. I couldn't block everything. Sorry for wasting your recommendation."
Of course he couldn't block everything.
The hits Jang Seon took were tests to see if he could handle even those.
The professor hadn't adjusted his level fully.
'Out of five unadjusted forms, he blocked two.'
He took three but didn't falter and even counterattacked in his own way.
In real combat, it would have been a flesh-severing exchange.
'Haenam swords are unyielding swords.'
That attitude matched the values the Haenam Sect's swordsmanship pursued.
To hide my emerging smile, I cleared my throat unnecessarily.
"Ahem. From what I saw, he did well. Professor? What do you think of Jang Seon's aptitude now that you've seen it firsthand?"
Snapping out of his reverie, Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong stammered as he turned to me.
"H-He seems mild-mannered, but this young man truly has the qualities to master Haenam swordsmanship to perfection."
"Right?"
"Where did you find such fine timber?"
"I mentioned Yangyang, didn't I?"
"That's not what I mean. I thought you were just born with personal talent and leadership... Now I see you have an eye for talent too, Cadet Eon Yong-un."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Jang Seon seemed set if he asked Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong.
The professor would likely take him to Haenam or include him in a rivers-and-lakes excursion to secure his academy admission.
"Jang Seon. Take this sword for now."
"P-Professor? Why give me this all of a sudden..."
"Strap it to your waist."
"......"
"Cadet Eon Yong-un, why are you looking at me like that?"
"...It's nothing."
He'd seemed reluctant earlier, but now he was marking Jang Seon as Haenam property before other professors could claim him.
"Is it okay for me to accept this...?"
"Become a Haenam disciple, enter the academy later, and show good results in my graduate... I mean, my classes."
With remarks like that, he must have been quite taken with him.
After entrusting Jang Seon to the professor,
I informed him of the dorm location and the senior who'd guide him on paperwork, then returned to the student council room.
"Young Master Yong-un?"
Upon reporting back, the room was bustling.
Zegal Seolji, Namgung Yun, Eon Yong-myeong, Paeng So-cheon, and Moyong Gil had all gathered.
Zegal Seolji spoke up toward me.
"Heard you brought someone new? You keep coming back with family additions these days."
"He's not officially admitted yet, but yeah."
"Anyway..."
She handed me a sealed letter.
"My aunt sent this via personal messenger."
"The Grand Strategist?"
Unfolding it revealed documents on the righteous and demonic movements tracked by the Murim Alliance's Sichuan branch.
I scanned it carefully, then burned it.
Fwoosh—
Jeong Hyeon then asked,
"What did it say?"
"The Grand Strategist will explain details at the Wuchang naval camp, but in short... Looks like we'll be heading to Sichuan this winter break."
Rattle—
Bang!
At that moment, Dang Ok-gi, with dark circles under her eyes, flung open the student council room door with a shout.
"Eon Yong-un! If you're back, say so! Everyone knew but me! Do you know what your brother just said to me?!"
"What'd he say?"
"That we're not close!"
"...You got good results from your samples, so I didn't want to disturb your research. You know my personality."
"You workaholics! Who do you think you're dealing with?! Samples can be remade, but I was worried because you were late when it seemed like time to return!"
Toward the raging Dang Ok-gi, Yin Ha-ryeon spoke apologetically.
"We overdid the consideration by our standards. Sorry, sorry. Young Master Eon, what are you doing?"
"Sorry. I'll let you know next time."
"Hmph! Ha-ryeon, you're just like Eon Yong-un!"
Dang Ok-gi huffed verbally, but her furrowed brows relaxed.
I asked her curiously,
"So, how's the research?"
"Got meaningful results, but I need to discuss with the elders at the Dang family forge."
"Then head straight to Sichuan. You already did your finals as substitute assignments anyway."
At my words, Dang Ok-gi yawned.
"Yawn. My brother came inviting me along too, but I'm so tired I'll sleep for three days straight first."
"No can do. No time. Pack your research and luggage now."
"?"
"We're going to Sichuan this break. We were just talking about it."
"Wait, it's my home—why discuss without me?! Annoying! I'm not going!"
"Fine, stay here then. We'll go without you."
"Kyaa!!!"
Dang Ok-gi stomped and reached for me, but Woo So-neung and Yin Ha-seong hurriedly restrained her.
"D-Dang sis, hold back!"
"Right. How can you strike... er, Brother Yong-un like that."
Ignoring the scene, I asked the other siblings,
"Anyone else have separate break plans?"
Yin Ha-ryeon spoke first.
"I've got a ton of 'homework' from you, Young Master Yong-un."
"......"
"Planned to spend it with my master anyway. Fighting those purgatory egg corpse puppets in the North Sea made me realize I need to refine my sword calmly."
Zegal Seolji followed.
"Same thought as Ha-ryeon."
"Lady Zegal staying at the academy too?"
"Yes. Planning to polish my sword here. Also handle student council duties and relay messages if needed."
"Good. Ah, then you stay at the academy too, Gil-i."
"Moyong... Wait, why no choice for me?"
"Gil-i, you don't have the luxury to choose."
"......"
"Lady Zegal, put some brains into this guy's tasks. Lady Yin, call him if you're short-handed."
Then Yong-myeong cautiously spoke up.
"I'll visit Jinju to see Mother and Father. Want to refine fist techniques under Father too."
Brother So-cheon and Cheon Jang-ho followed.
"I'll go with Yong-myeong to North Hebei."
"Not tagging along this time."
I narrowed my eyes at Cheon Jang-ho.
"Cheon Jang-ho. Slacking?"
"...No. I've lived sloppily, so things feel overwhelming lately. Thought I'd go to Kaifeng, meet the sect leader, and temper myself."
"Sword training?"
"Y-... No. Why so strict only with me when you tell others it's fine?!"
"You know why."
"......"
"Give my regards to the sect leader."
"Yes, sir."
"You'll train with the sword?"
"......"
After reining in Cheon Jang-ho, I said to Jeong Hyeon and Woo So-neung holding Dang Ok-gi,
"You two?"
"I'll go with Brother Eon."
"Me too!"
Jeong Hyeon and Woo So-neung agreed readily. Yin Ha-seong looked to Namgung Yun.
"I improve faster sparring with Brother Yun, so I'd like to stick there."
I turned to Namgung Yun.
"My brother's preparing for entrance exams, so no returning to the main family in Anqing. If it's alright, I'll join you."
"So, me, Jeong Hyeon, Ok-gi, So-neung, Ha-seong, Gong-yun... six people?"
Senior Ye Hae-su tentatively raised her hand then.
"Senior coming too?"
"Yes, junior. Can't just write from hearsay. Need to do some field reporting."
At her words,
Some siblings muttered simultaneously.
"You'll regret it..."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After selecting the Sichuan group, I hurriedly finished student council president duties.
Checked on Jang Seon once more.
"Innkeeper. Take good care of his food and clothes. I'll settle the bill later."
"Aigoo, whose orders? No worries."
Reported the Sichuan trip to the chancellor and got ready approval.
"As expected, perfect handling. Travel safely."
The chancellor handed me a rectangular jade plaque.
The back depicted a mountain landscape; the front bore the dharma name 'Gyeonghye' in two characters.
"What's this?"
"A plaque proving you're an Ami Sect disciple. Sichuan has the Dang family, but we Ami Sect are there too."
"Ah, to seek help if needed."
"From Wuchang's naval camp, the Grand Strategist's with you, so no big worries. But the world's unpredictable. It'll be of use in emergencies."
I tucked the plaque away carefully.
Left the chancellor's office.
And departed the academy with the Sichuan-bound siblings.
"Let's go."