Chapter 333
Chapter 333
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 333
Chapter Title: The Prince of Chu's Residence (1)
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After confirming that the Vital Blood Pill business was finally running smoothly, I wrapped up my schedule by promoting the scholarship program to the nearby martial academies and the common folk.
My younger siblings from the Eon Family and the other cadets had also returned to the academy safely, without getting caught up in any incidents.
"Phew. Now the semester's schedule is done once we get through finals."
I delivered tea and snacks to the student council for the cadets pulling all-nighters to study for exams.
And on my end, after diligently preparing and taking the tests, vacation would begin.
But before that, there was one other matter I had to take care of.
- Where are you going without studying for exams?
'To Mount Jaso.'
- To Wudang? Ah. You're going to meet Myeong-yeong, I see.
'Yes.'
- You should pass on the message that you won't be able to come for a while. You'll need to prepare for those finals, and right after they're over, you'll have to head straight to Guangxi, right? That Sayko fellow made time to spar with you, so you owe him that much courtesy.
'Yes. I was planning to tell him I won't be able to come for a while and to thank him anyway.'
- Just do it for me!
'......? Weren't you the one who just told me to show courtesy, Master?'
- Hearing you say you'd do it without me telling you suddenly makes my blood boil! Just do it for me! For me!
After a short while climbing Mount Wudang while bantering with my grumbling master,
I arrived at Mount Jaso via the Sea Sword Branch.
After greeting the sect leader and coming out, Myeong-yeong, who had been waiting, spoke up.
"Looks like the relief mission to the people went well. So the academy's entering finals period now? We won't see you for a while."
"Yes. And then summer vacation starts right after. I was planning to thank you after today's sparring, but you beat me to it."
"No need for thanks... Hmm. How about a walk with me today instead?"
"A walk, sir?"
"Yes. Sparring with swords every time isn't the only training. Sometimes taking a break and taking in the scenery clears the mind even more."
"I understand."
"Beyond there is off-limits to outsiders, so there are many scenic spots known only to us Wudang disciples. At sunset like now, there's a spot where you can see the night view around Dan River Port. Let's head there."
"Yes. Sounds good."
As we walked, Myeong-yeong asked a question.
"So, did sparring with me help your studies at all?"
Myeong-yeong didn't give direct instruction during our spars.
Thus, sparring with him was like throwing a stone into the lake that is Myeong-yeong.
Through that process, I was able to observe my own level more clearly.
"Mm. It felt like a time to see myself more sharply."
"Proper observation. You've done some profound study."
"It wasn't any great step forward."
"The clearer you see yourself, the better you can gauge others' levels too. It's not from the Daoists, but to borrow their words, 'Know yourself and your enemy, and you need not fear a hundred battles,' right?"
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. True enough."
"Exactly. You can avoid needless fights, and seize the advantage in those that arise."
After walking a bit more,
I arrived at a ridge overlooking Dan River Port at a glance.
"Oh."
Lanterns hung on boats moving along the waterways, and the colorful lights from shops starting their evening business.
With the dorms and libraries already lit up brightly—perhaps because classes were starting—the night view was a sight to behold.
Then Myeong-yeong asked,
"By the way, where's Jeong-hyeon?"
"His relief schedule ended before mine, didn't it? Didn't he come this morning?"
"...He did come. But he said he can't come for a while because of exams, and that he has plans for vacation, without so much as a word to us first-generation disciples."
"...Ah."
"Anyone would think you're the Wudang disciple and he's the young master of the Pearl Eon Family."
"He's probably just set on turning the hearts of the second- and third-generation disciples and meeting the Wudang Five Heroes. I haven't given a firm answer on my vacation plans either."
"He's so rigid sometimes..."
We gazed at the night view visible from Wudang, chatting about this and that.
At some point, Myeong-yeong's hand casually brushed a nearby pine branch.
Pluck-
He tore off some pine needles and flung them at me.
Whish! Whish!
Whish! Whish! Whish!
A master of Myeong-yeong's caliber could turn anything in his hand into a weapon.
"!"
No— the Mystic Realm he had attained was truly the realm of manifesting the sword with the mind.
Even without holding anything, he could harm people.
The pine needles Myeong-yeong suddenly threw were no different from secret weapons hurled by a top assassin.
Shing-
I moved both hands at once.
My right hand drew Regret like lightning and swung it.
My left gathered Heaven-Splitting internal energy to deflect the pine needles' path.
Ting! Ting!
Ting! Tingtingting!!!
After batting away all the flying pine needles,
A thought flashed through my mind.
'No follow-up attacks. Master's quiet too...'
No intent to harm?
I voiced the thought immediately.
"A lesson not to lower my guard?"
"Something like that. A martial artist venturing into the jianghu must always carry a thread of vigilance in their gut. Especially those who've climbed a step higher—they're even more prone to unwitting arrogance."
"Phew. Thanks to you, I'm reminded anew that there's no one in the world you can trust..."
"......"
"...completely."
"Ahem. Your ironclad personality is well-known to me. With vacation coming and you'll be traveling, I just gave you a light reminder to stay alert."
"My spine chilled for a moment there."
"Your response was pretty calm for that."
"You're too kind."
"Anyway. At your current stage, I have nothing more to teach. Head down the mountain."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After bidding farewell to Myeong-yeong and returning to the student council room,
"Junior's back!"
Senior Ye Hae-su welcomed me.
There was tension even in her voice, and a warlike atmosphere hung among my younger Eon siblings.
- ...Your siblings' mood feels off somehow?
'...Yeah.'
I quickly scanned for what was different from usual.
Come to think of it, not all my Eon siblings were present.
"Where are Yong-gil and the chicks?"
At my words, Yin Xia Lian spoke up.
"It seemed like time to discuss the Guangxi trip, so I gave them some busywork and sent them off."
Then Zhuge Seol-ji added,
"The conversation between the Alliance Leader and you at the plaque ceremony... about the Prince of Chu's Residence, right?"
"How'd you know? Did the Grand Marshal tip you off?"
When I asked back, Zhuge Seol-ji and Yin Xia Lian answered in turn.
"Obvious. If it was a big deal, you'd have told us."
"If it was minor, you'd have used us for it already."
"......"
"But you haven't said a word. So when I thought it might match the original destination, I remembered the Prince of Chu's fief is in Guangxi."
Come to think of it, only those who'd heard Tae Yeong-ja's story were left.
Soon Woo So-rung and Zhuge Seol-ji spoke up.
"It's supposed to be an incredibly perilous place! You need outstanding lightness skill or internal energy! I don't know about internal energy, but I'm confident in lightness skill!"
"When it comes to lightness skill, you can't leave out our Zhuge family's White Crane Steps. I'm confident in internal energy and martial prowess too."
Pang Ok-gi then lifted her chin and said,
"If it's just you all? Can you even tell a Woodscale Earth Dragon's neidan from a dirt clod? And untouched areas might have other spirit herbs. Honestly, my spot's secured."
Eun Ha-seong shook his head at her.
"You're extra annoying today, Sister Ok-gi."
"What?!"
"I'm taking pharmacology next semester, for real."
"Hmph! You could study a hundred years and still not match me!"
The mood heated up instantly.
"I'll go!"
"I..."
"Me too!"
I waved my hand to calm them all.
"I was pondering it anyway. No, but why are you all insisting on coming when it might be dangerous?"
With hands on hips, I continued,
"Because of the neidan? I'm not giving it to whoever tags along—I'll give it to who needs it. I need it most first. And one to Dang Ok-gi for research."
At that, Dang Ok-gi and Eun Ha-seong—who'd been at each other's throats moments ago—united to glare at me.
"Ack! You think we're going for that?! Eon Yong-un, what's wrong with your personality?"
"Exactly! Just when I think you're toying with our hearts, you always miss the most important part!"
The other younger siblings nodded in agreement.
I said to them,
"Everyone out. Last skill check, then decide who's coming."
They grabbed their weapons and poured outside at my words.
Come to think of it, no need to check Jeong-hyeon and Namgung Yun.
"Ah, Jeong-hyeon and Namgung Yun, sit this out. I know your levels roughly."
At my order to skip,
"Yes."
"...Hmph."
Jeong-hyeon saluted crisply, while Namgung Yun made a weird face and stepped aside.
To the rest, I said,
"One by one."
At that, starting with Zhuge Seol-ji marching up confidently,
Clang!
Clang clang clang!!!
The fired-up younger siblings took the training ground one after another.
Ching!
Ching ching clang!!
They seemed to think I was screening for Guangxi companions.
Actually, I was selecting who to leave behind.
'Just keep those for Shaolin.'
Using my Transcendent Realm senses, I gauged their martial prowess and mindset for a while.
'Zhuge little miss has too much fighting spirit, Brother So-cheon has no drive—they can't break through to Peak Realm. Definitely send those two to Shaolin...'
At that moment, two stood out as must-keeps.
One who caught my eye was none other than Eon Yong-myeong.
"Kuh."
Gazing at the ragged youth struggling to rise, I thought,
'Among the protagonist generation in the original, Yong-myeong's growth was the slowest.'
With his diligent nature and good food toning his body and mind, he hadn't stagnated completely.
But compared to the other younger siblings' growth, he was clearly lagging.
'Because of me?'
Originally, Yong-myeong had to kill his demonic older brother with his own hands.
That experience tormented him for years but sparked his venom and growth.
'Now I'm alive and kicking, so...'
Butterfly effect, if you will.
Anyway, he seemed headed for Shaolin over Guangxi too.
'But just sending him to Shaolin like that...'
He lacked the drive to navigate the Avici Hell.
'Hate to invoke Mother's face, but... time for harsh words.'
Decision made, I said to Yong-myeong catching his breath,
"That's enough. Why keep getting up? Didn't you see the others flop when they couldn't cut it?"
"...If it's that dangerous, I want to follow and serve you no matter what."
"Not with your skills."
"......"
"Fast steps, deep pharmacology knowledge, or good with money—something outstanding like that, or superior martial prowess. You don't have it, right?"
With a cold gaze, I finished,
Then—
Thud-
I shot forward with Shadowless Heaven-Splitting Step, grabbed his back, and struck his Seonjeong acupuncture point.
"Like Ha-seong said earlier, take pharmacology next semester or something."
Crack!!!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thus, the Guangxi roster was set.
I sent the list to the Alliance Leader in Wuchang and dove into finals prep.
After exams, I quickly wrapped up academy affairs.
[Manage the Vital Blood Pill well. When you reach the summer retreat, I'll send Eung-yong, so send regular written reports.]
[Yes.]
I ordered Duggo Cheol to manage the Vital Blood Pill.
To the two chicks and Moyong-gil, I left vacation well-wishes.
"All of you, spend vacation wisely. No slacking—I'll test you when term starts."
To Zhuge Seol-ji, Paeng So-cheon, and Eon Yong-myeong, I instructed them to go to Shaolin.
Then I led the remaining younger siblings toward Guangxi.
Nothing noteworthy happened until the Wuchang naval base.
"Come aboard."
"Yes, Alliance Leader. But where's Senior So-jin?"
"Ah, So-jin has backlog from her leave of absence, so she's prepping in Luoyang."
"Ah, not coming with us?"
"Yeah. I'm busy too, so I'll escort to Dongting Lake, but you'll handle Guangxi yourselves. Though with you reaching Transcendent Realm, and staying at His Highness the Prince of Chu's residence, no worries, right?"
"...Mm. Yes."
"...What was that slight pause just now?"
"...Just recalling the route. Avoid Dongting Lake's water bandits, then Hwasan Sect area, and soon after, it's Gyerim Commandery, right? No problem."
The Alliance Leader saw us off to the edge of Dongting Lake territory on a ship disguised as a merchant vessel.
Leaving him behind, we resumed our journey.
Nothing special after that either.
"Hyung Yong-un. May this loyal retainer speak?"
"Go ahead."
"Isn't heading further south for summer... wrong? It's getting sweltering."
"Don't feel it myself."
"Of course, since you're Transcendent Realm, impervious to cold and heat!"
Cheon Jang-ho occasionally grumbled, or merchants tried to cheat the disguised Yin siblings only to get fleeced by their business savvy—routine stuff.
After crossing mountains and rivers southward for a long while,
We finally reached Guangxi Province and Gyerim, home to the Prince of Chu's Residence.
"Primeval Celestial Venerable. As Song Dynasty writer Fan Chengda said, he painted this land and sent it to friends back home, but it was so beautiful no one believed it. This must be Gyerim."
"Yeah. The air's already sweet, making my mouth water."