Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Must Save Him (2)
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- From the looks of it, both the ones in black uniforms and the guy in white seem to be Wudang bastards?
‘Yes, Master. Excluding that rude Jo Cheol-seong who acted all high and mighty toward me, the other two are Wudang second-generation disciples, and the pale one kneeling over there is a third-generation disciple.’
- But how are they grabbing those poor guys by the throats like rats? I remember the Wudang bastards as the oddballs who prance around in pristine white robes amid the blood and filth of the jianghu, but when something happens to their own, they come charging in with their slow-ass swordplay. Must be some circumstances, huh?
‘There are.’
- What circumstances? Doesn't seem like half-assed ones. I'm mighty curious.
‘It'd take a while to explain in full, but to sum it up in one line: that guy in the white uniform over there is named Jeong Hyun, and he reported one of Wudang's elders—who's his great-grand martial uncle—to the authorities.’
Even the clearest water from the beginning will rot if it stagnates, and when that rotten stench spreads, someone's bound to plug their nose and step up.
‘Just your typical story.’
It's something that happens everywhere humans form societies, regardless of era or place.
Wudang is a sect renowned as one of the two pillars of the orthodox jianghu alongside Shaolin, and it's called the world's greatest Taoist sect. But these aren't the Taoists who left for inaction and nature—they're the ones who gripped swords and stayed in the jianghu.
Where there are positions and hierarchies, power is inevitable.
With the massive costs of feeding, clothing, and raising countless disciples, they have businesses and lay affiliates stretching into the secular world like an octopus's tentacles. Conflicts over those are unavoidable.
Adults' circumstances tangle up, and an incident occurs.
‘There's a guy in Wudang named Taeheo.’
- Putting (Void) right in his Taoist name means he was greedy from the get-go, huh.
‘Oh, spot on. He was originally in charge of Wudang's finances and tried to secure the next leadership by making his disciple the head disciple with his wealth. But recently, he botched an investment and took a huge loss, so this Taeheo deliberately turned a blind eye to the Jagwi Gang—one of the black path factions—running rampant to cover it up.’
- Tch. Couldn't fleece the common folk directly, so he planned to let the Jagwi Gang suck them dry and then rob them, eh?! Eyyy!!
‘Yes. Jeong Hyun found out and reported it to the authorities and the Murim Alliance, stirring up the jianghu for a while, from what I know.’
- A hundred years should have been enough for a purge, but those shady bastards are still around! Well, at least this Jeong Hyun seems to have some conscience. From our perspective as outsiders, it's righteous, but for a third-generation disciple to publicly tarnish his own sect isn't easy....
Master's right.
‘Even in my previous life's South Korea, whistleblowing wasn't easy. Let alone in this era where you don't even step on your master's shadow....’
In vulgar terms, he's nuts.
‘Hm, but the kid's good-hearted, so a straight-up lunatic, I guess?’
Jeong Hyun is the frustratingly upright type who can't tolerate injustice and jumps in without regard for his own status or ability.
‘His personality has a lot of opposites to mine, so he really frustrated me sometimes.’
The current situation was one of those frustrating moments.
‘If it were me, I'd have confronted them or slapped them right away—never let it get to this.’
Muttering that, I recalled how this incident resolved in the original story.
‘In the original, the special admits entered early in the morning, got dorm assignments on the way, and witnessed this....’
One of them steps up and makes the current students back off.
Thinking back now, the one who stepped up was none other than Eon Yong-myeong.
So, with a thought of ‘Haven't seen Yong-myeong's face in a while?’, I scanned the area.
And sure enough.
Among the examinees watching the scuffle between Jeong Hyun and the black-uniformed seniors, there was a group that stood out a bit.
Yong-myeong was there.
‘There he is.’
A fleeting joy like finding the hidden picture in a seek-and-find passed through my chest,
but at that moment, a completely different thought flashed through my mind.
‘But why isn't that Yong-myeong bastard stepping up? He's just watching while Jeong Hyun's about to strip off his uniform himself...?’
Come to think of it, Yong-myeong's gaze was fixed not on Jeong Hyun or the black-uniformed seniors, but on me.
Judging by the expression on his face, he was clearly thinking something like ‘Why is hyung coming out from there?’
Jeong Hyun wasn't even in his sights.
‘Shit.’
I bit my lip unconsciously and quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Generally, minding your own business—or rather, not sticking your nose into other families' affairs—is a virtue in this era.
These opponents are even academy seniors acting as TAs or guides.
With entrance exams in full swing, would anyone step up to intervene?
‘...Probably not?’
Even though the seniors are at fault here, the scenes from the entrance process will stick in their minds, so examinees fear deductions or disqualification.
Beyond that, there's academy life after passing—no one wants to piss off seniors.
‘No one's stepping up.’
What happens if no one does...?
“Your great-grand martial uncle and some elders let it slide because they valued your talent, but not everyone in Wudang has forgiven you. Do you think you belong here? You must go around every palace and hall in Wudang daily to atone. Staying here now insults your martial uncle Taeyoung who took you in!”
Finally, Jeong Hyun's reverse scale snapped amid the escalating seniors' denunciations.
Taeyoung-ja.
He's the one who took in the orphaned Jeong Hyun, fed him, raised him.
That name weakens Jeong Hyun.
If left like this, he might truly decide that being at Righteous Martial Academy insults Taeyoung-ja and actually strip off his examinee uniform to return to Wudang Mountain—no joke.
‘...Then Righteous Martial Academy becomes a Murim Academy without its sword genius.’
What, it's not like the Hongcheol-less Hongcheol Team!
If he leaves Righteous Martial Academy, who'll handle all that karma, rivals, and looming tasks?!
No way, absolutely not!!!
‘Must save him...’
I gritted my teeth and strode toward the center of the original scene.
Seeing me, Yin Ha-seong opened his mouth as if to ask what I was planning.
“H-Hyungnim?!”
Shut up.
The world's about to end right now?
Master chimed in too.
- Hm. Knew you'd step up. You're the upright type in weird spots.
Not at all?!
As I walked, I double-checked the butterfly effect one last time.
‘...Should work out somehow.’
I roughly remembered the gist of Eon Yong-myeong's lines from the original, so I could probably get the seniors to back off and calm Jeong Hyun appropriately.
It wasn't tied to any major demon outbreaks or big incidents, so it should be fine.
‘But the world doesn't always go as planned.’
Well, like with Yin Ha-yeon, I'd just crash through and sort it out.
Anyway, lost in such thoughts, the distance closed before I knew it.
One of the black-uniformed seniors—who recognized me—spotted me bursting through the onlookers and spoke up.
“...You from entrance ceremony? The special case?”
It was none other than Jo Cheol-seong, who'd tossed the mid-grade uniform at me like trash during the process.
At Jo Cheol-seong's voice, one of the apparent second-generation Wudang disciples—a higher-ranking one—spoke.
“Special case?”
This guy's Taoist name is probably Unhyeok or something.
I inwardly chanted ‘original, original’ and first offered a fist salute toward Unhyeok.
“Yes. Senior, I'm Eon Yong-un.”
“Eon family? From the Pearl Eon Family of Hanbuk?”
Up to here, it was almost exactly like the original.
But then Jo Cheol-seong snorted with a pissed look and butted in.
“He's Eon family blood, but he got kicked out. Remember the rumor last year about a scoundrel from Hanbuk's Eon family being exiled? That's him. He's barely better than a minor faction's later-generation disciple. That's why he got mid-grade. That's what I meant by special case.”
“Aha.”
Having drawn sneers from Unhyeok too, Jo Cheol-seong clicked his tongue at me and continued.
“Tch tch. Hey, special case. And why am I your senior? Don't you dare say that again, you mid-grade warrior who hasn't even passed yet.”
Hm.
I was calmly trying to deliver Eon Yong-myeong's original lines, but Jo Cheol-seong's attitude was too infuriating.
My mouth moved on its own.
“Got it, mister.”
“...What?”
At my words, some watching examinees burst out laughing—pfft.
Nailed it.
Deep irritation surged, and I slipped into my usual habit.
But it wasn't too late yet.
I quickly opened my mouth to weigh the situation.
“Ah, mister too much? But you said not to call you senior... And teacher doesn't fit with so little virtue... Hm. Then bro?”
“Look at you, getting cocky without knowing your place?”
Jo Cheol-seong's face turned red then purple, and with those words, he immediately thrust a palm strike at me.
Hm.
Thought it wasn't too late, but it was a tad.
Swaek-!
But actually, when you think it's late, that's often the fastest moment.
Shak-
I subtly twisted my shoulder, elegantly dodging Jo Cheol-seong's palm.
His eyes widened in surprise, and I seized the gap, whispering just loud enough for him.
“Bro. Let's stop. Lots of juniors watching—don't lose face.”
Then Jo Cheol-seong's face went from red-purple to pitch black,
“You! Son of a—!”
Half-clenching the palm hand like a dragon's claw, he switched to a claw grab with golden hand technique.
But getting caught by such a sloppy claw would mean endless nagging from Master about wasting Heaven-Splitting Twelve Steps, jumping off Yeonhwa Peak again till my ears blistered.
No, closer to Wudang Mountain here—jump from there.
I stepped lightly with footwork, slapping away his arm.
Papak!
Then, very lightly circulating Heaven-Splitting Divine Art, I thrust the stabbing form from Heaven-Splitting Sword Arts' first three—Heaven-Splitting Blind Thrust.
Shak-!
Of course, without a sword, just palm extended—a feint.
But enough to blast a cool breeze across Jo Cheol-seong's face.
Hwaaaak!!!!
Realizing that if I'd infused more qi or held a sword, his head would've flown, he stood frozen like a stone statue, sweat pouring.
“......”
“Tch. Told you to stop earlier, bro.”
I brushed past him, murmuring lowly,
then fist-saluted Unhyeok and spoke.
“Ahem. Watching, it seemed a bit excessive, so I stepped in. Senior. Ah, or does senior bother you too?”
“...Senior's fine. What's your reason for meddling in another sect's affairs? You know it's Wudang, right?”
“Oh man, of course. World's greatest Taoist sect! Wudang! I know it well!”
“And you're still butting in?”
“Feels like it's my business too.”
“Your business?”
“Yes. If I'm not mistaken, the academy rules and Murim Alliance pact state that anyone attempting cheating in Righteous Martial Academy's entrance exam is eternally expelled from orthodox jianghu, right?”
“What's that got to do with this?”
“Depending on how you see it, forcing this friend to quit could look like score tampering or exam fraud. Someone benefits, after all.”
“......!”
“So how about calling it quits here?”
Original lines. Anyway. Success.