Chapter 355
Chapter 355
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 355
Chapter Title: School Trip (1)
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Thanks to the prestige of the Haenam Sect, one of the pillars of the Nine Great Sects, Haenam Island was a place known to all.
This island was the one that came to mind for Central Plains folk whenever they heard the words "southernmost tip."
If one took a boat out from Haenam Island and sailed for a good while longer...
There lay a vast sea expanse, wide enough to hold six or seven provinces if crumpled together, dotted with islands like stars in the night sky.
This area was called the Silver River Archipelago.
Despite its beautiful name, the reality of these waters was a lawless zone in the truest sense.
It had to be that way.
The Silver River Archipelago served as an unspoken border between the Central Plains and the Southern Sea Dragon Palace.
The imperial forces, the Haenam Sect, and the Southern Sea Dragon Palace.
All three powers refrained from flexing their might there.
As such, countless islands had become pirate dens.
Some islands even hosted black markets.
In one such place called Dongsi, a man in distinctive attire was speaking to a one-eyed pirate.
"The goods?"
He wore a white mask that revealed only his mouth, and below the neck, pristine white robes.
A man whose unusual outfit was rare even in the black market.
The man's name was Chae Gyu.
The second disciple of the Demon Brain, known within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as the White Constant Demon Lord.
As if this wasn't his first dealings with Chae Gyu, the one-eyed pirate naturally led the way.
"This way."
Guiding Chae Gyu to one of the many boats moored at the pier, the one-eyed pirate cracked open the hatch of the docked vessel.
Clack-
Through the gap in the open hatch, along with a faint opium scent, appeared listless people packed densely inside.
Confirming this, Chae Gyu closed the hatch with his own hands.
Thud-
He then held out a pouch heavy with gold to the pirate.
The one-eyed pirate, pleased at the clinking yellow lumps, added a few needless words.
"Say, why do you need so many slaves...? Not that it's my business, right?"
"If you don't want your remaining eye to go blind too."
"Sorry. Just like last time, take the whole ship. Return it within a fortnight. Actually, you don't have to; we'd just keep the deposit."
Mid-sentence, he realized his mistake, straightened up, and scurried off like a rat.
Once the one-eyed pirate vanished...
Chae Gyu's subordinates, who had been scattered about, gathered around one by one.
Among them, one who was not a subordinate.
A woman in a black mask over a jet-black uniform, opposite to Chae Gyu, spoke up.
"Brother. Shouldn't we kill that guy? His mouth seems way too loose."
The woman's name was Chae Hyang.
Chae Gyu's twin sister, a demoness bearing the title Black Void Princess.
Yet within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the pair had never been treated well.
"...Master said we need to draw in the Blood Demon, but if trash like that goes blabbing, it might ruin the whole plan. I say we kill him."
Chae Hyang lacked the vision for grand schemes, and Chae Gyu was impatient and short-tempered.
Thus, they had only tended to their aged master, leaving them without influence.
"I want to kill him too. I feel like carving out my ear that heard that worm's voice."
However, with Song Gil-jun's downfall, opportunity had come to the siblings.
Chae Gyu intended to use this chance to prove his change and rise as the Demon Brain's successor.
"Separate from my urge to kill, his yapping will actually pique curiosity. People will wonder why we didn't silence him."
"But won't the word reach the righteous martial world too? I heard the Red Dragon Palace's young lord went to the Righteous Martial Academy this time. Won't that guy called the Dragon sniff it out?"
"Hyang-ah. How long have you served Master, and you're still missing the forest for the trees? That's exactly what Master wants. Once the righteous fools start sniffing around, the Blood Demon side will make a move."
"Hmm."
"If things go south, we can pin everything about the Blood of Ten Thousand on the Blood Cult and let the righteous martial world fight them, fishing in troubled waters. And above all..."
"Why stop mid-sentence?"
"If that Eon Yong-un really takes the bait, it might be our chance to claim a great merit."
Chae Gyu flashed a sinister grin and waved his hand.
At that, his subordinates dispersed in perfect order, setting sail toward a remote island in the Silver River Archipelago.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Lady Zhuge."
"Yes, Lord Yong-un."
"The council has approved, and the roster is finalized. We need to hold a student council meeting to discuss the details for pushing forward this school trip."
"Hm? What about the exchange students excluding the Red Dragon Palace and Monk Won-cheol?"
"The Southern Barbaric Beast Palace said early on they have no interest in sightseeing and will sit it out. The Jade Palace and Northern Sea Ice Palace reps—Yahult Jeon and Dam Jeong-woo—just left. They're in."
"Got it. Then we should convene the student council. With the whole school mobilizing, we need to consider the organization, and we'll need input from the dormitory presidents who know their cadets best."
"We also need to disseminate what we know about the Demonic Cult."
"Attendees: autonomous committee officers and reps from the participating exchange students?"
"You're far more versed in the school rules than I am—why ask me?"
"Still need final confirmation. I'll prep right away!"
Right after confirming the exchange students' participation...
"Student Council President Eon Yong-un here. As you know, this school trip is a campaign to subjugate the Demonic Cult. No room for carelessness, so I've gathered you to discuss and relay key matters."
I presided over the student council.
"First agenda: cadet organization. Public Relations Director?"
"Ye Hae-su here. The documents being distributed outline the organization drafted by the council officers."
The proposal was to divide the Four Great Dormitory cadets into squads to form legions.
Xianglan Hall's autonomous president So Seon-chang raised a question.
"What's better about this compared to the original system of forming units by dormitory?"
Ye Hae-su spoke first.
"During the raid by the Wandering Demon Lord, time was short, and the dorms' independence was strong, so we had no choice but dorm-based units."
"We had no choice, but it worked against the enemy. It has its merits—better coordination."
"Since President Eon took office, Righteous Martial Academy cadets have trained together. No coordination issues."
"Hm."
So Seon-chang didn't relax his furrowed brow at Ye Hae-su's words.
That's when I spoke.
"The area we must cover is vast. We can't form legions biased toward any one dormitory's banner. Imagine Xianglan Hall isolated, as in the last battle Ye-sunbaenim mentioned."
"...Khm."
"Not blaming Xianglan Hall. It could happen to anyone. Yunmae Hall's courage could turn reckless; Yunguk Hall might fall to its own schemes. Same for Cheongjuk Hall. Unbridled devotion leads to disastrous casualty rates."
"......"
"......"
"......"
As the four presidents swallowed their reservations at my words...
I continued.
"There will be times Yunmae Hall's courage is needed, Yunguk Hall's wisdom vital. Xianglan cadets' pride, Cheongjuk's devotion—each legion must be a mini Righteous Martial Academy."
Once I finished, So Seon-chang asked again.
"...I get it. But won't we need a new command structure?"
"That's where you presidents come in. Organize and dispatch legions considering cadets' friendships, origins, sects, and operational zones."
The meeting delved into various discussions.
Once we'd covered the planned agendas...
"Organization's done. Budget for mobilizing the whole school is roughly tallied."
Yin Ha-yeon spoke, her brow furrowed.
"Leading cadets into campaign is proceeding steadily, but the issue is where... Reading the enemy's intent is key. Why would the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult make the Blood of Ten Thousand now?"
Yin Ha-seong spoke first at Yin Ha-yeon's words.
"After getting smashed everywhere, maybe they're turning to blood refinement to boost demon levels?"
"Too extreme for that. Even Demonic Cult maniacs wouldn't risk this much outrage if they had any sense."
Zhuge Seolji chimed in.
"Lady Ha-yeon's right. How many Blood of Ten Thousand pills from such a recipe? To raise many demons' levels, improving existing Subduing Frenzy Pills makes more sense."
Amazed inwardly at their deductions without original knowledge, I spoke.
"You're both right. Especially that only a few—or one—benefits. Spot on."
If to raise demon levels, they'd improve Subduing Frenzy Pills, as Zhuge said.
'Or search for Master's tomb to make Demon Transformation Pills.'
Recalling only one could partake in the Blood of Ten Thousand, I thought of the current cult leader Hyeok Ryeon-gang.
'No way he'd enter qi deviation now.'
Then a thought flashed.
"A lure?"
Jeong Hyeon spoke at my words.
"Prime Heavenly Lord. You're saying they committed this atrocity to lure us?"
The lure target in my mind was the Blood Demon, not us.
But I nodded.
'Could rally their officers too... If Demon Brain's involved, he's chasing two hares. Not entirely wrong.'
Anyway.
If truly to lure the Blood Demon, orders would go to Duggo Cheol too.
'This needs more time.'
Deciding the last agenda required intel first, I spoke.
"Let's end today's meeting here. Crucial decision—better gather info from all channels first."
As all nodded...
I gazed at Red Dragon Palace's young lord Jeong Won-hae and spoke.
"What do you think?"
"...What do you mean by that?"
"When you first confided in me, I said I'd think it over, and you thought it a refusal—disappointed, right?"
"...Ah. Yes. That was then."
"Feel our resolve and sincerity now?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Now that you know our heart, in upcoming training, don't mistake any actions of mine for humiliation."
"...Pardon?"
"Since it's come up, let's train now. Zhuge and Yin ladies, plus those analyzing Demonic Cult land bases, stay. Rest, assemble at the main drill ground."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ From the day of the student council, Eon Yong-un led the reorganized cadets—dubbed the "School Trip Unit"—into grueling training.
⚡ TRAINING ALERT ⚡ Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep-beep! "Hold that position!"
"...Argh!!"
"Think this training is useless!?"
"Nooo!!!"
"In desperate moments, clench your teeth and take one more step to survive. Survive individually, and your comrades on your shoulders survive too! Got it!?"
"Argh!"
"What powers you then is muscle trained to every corner and unyielding spirit! Understand!?"
"Aaaargh!!"
Jeong Won-hae's first impression as an exchange student at Righteous Martial Academy was how brutal the daily morning training was.
Yet now, those felt like nothing.
Eon Yong-un's tempering for the Demonic Cult subjugation was merciless.
⚡ TRAINING ALERT ⚡ Beep-beep-beep! Beep-beep-beep-beep! With bizarre exercises from who-knows-where, he built knots in muscles Jeong Won-hae didn't know he had.
"Warm-up ends here."
Just as that hellish time barely ended...
"Now, main training. Heading to subjugate the Demonic Cult, any of you could face a grand demon lord. From now, I'll attack assuming that moment. First squad to eighth, forward."
Times when Eon Yong-un, a Fusion Realm master, struck with true sword intent followed.
Shrieeeek!
Bam! Crack! Baaaam!!!
Jeong Won-hae's body shredded like a rag, mind fogging.
'I knew the swan gliding on water paddles furiously beneath, but training with the Dragon is truly...'
It felt like his soul was being shaken out.
Of course, Jeong Won-hae wasn't alone in this.
Even among Eon Yong-un's close kin, some laughed madly.
"Kekekekek. Thought I'd gotten stronger, but why do I end up like this training with Yong-un hyung?"
"Hahaha. It's 'cause that Eon Yong-un bastard's a yokai in disguise."
"Dang Ok-gi. Yin Ha-seong. Talking nonsense? Got slack? Seon-ah! Grab bigger iron shackles for Hyun-cheol!"
Yet none among them suggested stopping.
"Kyak!! Here I gooo!!!!"
"Uwaaaaa!!!"
Thus, Jeong Won-hae gritted his teeth, using his sword as a crutch to rise.