Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Loach and Catfish (3)
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The head chef at Tan River's Number One Inn wasn't half bad.
"How was it? Did the food suit your tastes?"
It was enough to plant the desire for a return visit in the heart of Nosam, a beggar with surprisingly discerning tastes.
"...Not bad. You've got some real skill."
But separate from the taste of the beggar-roasted chicken the innkeeper had grilled, a bitter tang of defeat lingered in Nosam's mouth.
And the one who'd left that bitterness on Nosam's tongue was none other than Eon Yong-un.
Tch. Somehow, it feels like I lost.
Still, it didn't feel bad.
It did feel a bit like he'd been fleeced, though.
But the Anti-Dragon Palm had been taught with the intention of instructing him from the start.
Some foods are meant to be savored with a bitter edge.
The more he thought about it, the more Nosam realized that a guy like Eon Yong-un was exactly the talent Azure Bamboo Hall needed.
This one's a keeper.
True, the kid had called him a loach or a catfish or whatever.
That prodigal title might not be for nothing. He's got rough edges that make calling him a dragon a stretch right now, but this guy's destined to become a true dragon and rule the world someday.
In Nosam's mind, Eon Yong-un was an imugi poised to claim the dragon's throne.
No mere pond scum dares puff up its chest around an imugi coiling to ascend.
Once the waters cleared and the mountains turned lush, when the imugi became a dragon, a few others might even ascend alongside it now and then.
And a few more would at least transform into spirit beasts, even if they didn't reach full dragonhood.
Let this one loose in Azure Bamboo Hall, and we'll see something similar.
Even he, a professor, had to stay sharp or risk getting steamed alive.
Anyone without rock-solid resolve would end up collared and dragged around by Eon Yong-un.
Yet that image didn't seem half bad.
Not bad? It's perfect!
He'd risked elimination to aim for top spot even after passing.
He befriended everyone, regardless of faction or background.
He was polite even to the lowly restaurant and cleaning staff.
He called out wrongs no matter who was at fault.
Xiaoxie— not just a term for young later-generation disciples, but a true young hero.
Isn't this exactly the kind of talent I—no, Azure Bamboo Hall—want to cultivate?
Of course, those rough edges needed a little polishing.
Let him become a dragon as is, and he'd be a rampaging mad dragon for sure.
Fortunately, there was a plan.
I can apply the precedents used when passing down the Anti-Dragon Palm.
Truth be told, there were restrictions when fully teaching the Anti-Dragon Palm to complete outsiders.
First: Non-benevolent non-transmission. In other words, no teaching to those of poor character. That one was already settled in his mind.
Second: Not all eighteen forms were taught—only fifteen.
Third: It was taught for only one day.
Nosam planned to exploit that third restriction.
One look and he knew ten—the Eon kid's aptitude seemed sharp.
But no matter how skilled, he was still a green later-generation disciple with shallow experience.
As a martial world newbie lacking deep understanding, limiting it to one day meant he'd take away maybe four or five forms at most.
Once he tastes the Anti-Dragon Palm?
He'd surely get hooked and come begging Nosam by the trouser leg for more.
Then I can take him as a Beggar Clan disciple. The kid's got a neat streak—can't wait to smear some soot on that pretty face! Heh heh heh!!
His thoughts reached that point.
A natural "Heh heh—" leaked from Nosam's lips.
And Eon Yong-un reacted instantly to the laugh.
"......? Why are you laughing like that?"
"Ahem! Can't a man laugh as he pleases?!"
"Who said anything about laughing freely? You're laughing at me, Professor."
"My back's warm and my belly's full—bound to bring some pleasant thoughts!"
"Save the pleasant thoughts for later. How about heading to the backyard to teach me the Anti-Dragon Palm, Professor? Assuming I join Azure Bamboo Hall, beyond personal prep, we need to form the student council and all that. Time's pressing."
Nosam flashed a broad grin at Eon Yong-un's words.
"Very well. I've been waiting for this. Let's work off that meal."
But that grin didn't linger long on Nosam's face.
"Alright, first form: Ascending Dragon's Regret. Start by drawing a semicircle with your palm. Your lower body and waist rotation must flow seamlessly into it. The essence is motion like a dragon swimming through the skies."
"Like this?"
"......?"
"Why the stare? Is my form off?"
"N-no, it's too perfect. Did some other beggar teach you the Anti-Dragon Palm?"
"No."
"Then how'd you nail the stance so fast...? Even that donkey Cheon Jang-ho couldn't follow at first."
"Ah, didn't you demonstrate it during the entrance exam? I have good concentration and memory."
A chill flashed through Nosam's mind.
But a promise was a promise.
He chanted no way to himself and continued the instruction.
"...Anyway. Back to the point: Ascending Dragon's Regret comes from the Book of Changes. It means a dragon that has risen too high realizes there's nowhere left to go and must descend in regret."
"Oh."
"What's that 'oh'?"
"Didn't know you knew the Book of Changes. You're not what you seem."
"...The former clan leader taught it—just memorized the whole thing."
"...Ah, figures."
"What’s that '...Ah, figures'?! Anyway! The key to Ascending Dragon's Regret is the regret. Unleash your full palm power as shown, but at the instant it bursts from your palm heart, pull it all back. That's the completion."
Eon Yong-un stroked his chin at Nosam's words, his face turning pensive.
His expression shifted as if in conversation, but no voice leaked out, nor was there any transmission arts.
So Nosam had no clue what he was thinking.
But whatever it was, he was clearly struggling.
Nosam secretly sighed in relief.
But before that breath fully dispersed, Eon Yong-un spoke.
"Hm. I think I get it."
"Good. You can't fill a belly on the first bite... Huh? You get it?"
"Yes. It aligns surprisingly well with my cultivation method's principles. Let me show you."
That ended the talk.
Eon Yong-un regulated his breath and executed the form flawlessly.
Sssshrieeeek!!!
A pitch-black aura like a dragon born from ink burst from Eon Yong-un's hand in palm form.
Krrrrumble!!!
As Nosam's jaw dropped in shock, the black dragon tore through the air like thunder.
Boom!!!!
It utterly demolished a nearby tree.
"Ah, shoulda used a log or something. Guess I owe the innkeeper for the tree?"
Suddenly, one day felt endlessly long to Nosam. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his back.
Outsiders could learn up to fifteen of the eighteen Anti-Dragon Palm forms.
I'd wondered how many I'd retain, but surprisingly, the Anti-Dragon Palm's principles closely mirrored the Heaven-Splitting Divine Art's foundations.
With Master's help to boot, I successfully memorized all fifteen forms.
"...What, are you a sponge or something? How is this possible?"
I fully mastered six of them.
Unlike the first day, I wore a satisfied smile as I invited Professor Nosam to dinner.
"Exactly one day. How about dinner together again?"
"...Lost my appetite. I'm heading to the professors' quarters to rest. Eat without me and wrap up the Azure Bamboo Hall enrollment with that Jin kid."
"Understood. We'll do that."
Professor Nosam seemed worn out from a full day of instruction and trudged off, declining dinner.
Right?
Anyway.
Thus, my dorm for Azure Bamboo Hall was set.
"Thanks, Eon junior! No, you're our vice president now—Vice President! Looking forward to it! Let's create a new flow for Azure Bamboo Hall together!!"
Threads eager to follow the needle rushed to fill out enrollment forms.
"I've always liked Azure Bamboo Hall alongside Fate Thread Hall from the start."
"You said as much, Jeong-hyeon."
"Yes. Four Seas Brotherhood—the dorm embodying the Confucian teaching that all people are brothers if you treat them as such. And when the orthodox martial world faced challenges from the unorthodox and demonic paths, Azure Bamboo Hall and Fate Thread Hall alumni sacrificed the most."
"...Spouting that old-fashioned nonsense again. Spend that time filling out the form. The president's next door—if approved, we can move in today."
"O-old-fashioned. Ahem. Yes, I'll write it quick."
"But Eon hyung. Just to be sure, you didn't pick Azure Bamboo Hall because other dorms might reject us, right?"
"...U dongsaeng. At that point, it's not caution—it's self-consciousness overload. Brother Yong-un always tells us to use our brains, but sometimes emptying them is better. Like now. Just write your name straight there, no thinking."
"Yes, Eun hyung."
It was then.
As we chatted and filled forms, it hit me—I'd pushed ahead without confirming Yin Xia Lian's intentions.
"Miss Yin?"
"Yes?"
"On second thought, it seems I proceeded without asking your preference."
"Pardon?"
"The others talked about threads following needles, but you never said that. Didn't you want Yun Nation Hall? You can choose it if you wish."
"...Are you doing this on purpose, Young Master Eon?"
"Purpose? I'm just checking since I didn't ask. Ah, be honest. The introduction to the Sword Maiden or whatever will proceed even if you go to Yun Nation Hall."
"...Me too ..."
"......? Mumble like that, and even my sharp ears can't catch it."
"I'm a thread too!!"
With my dongsaengs' forms done.
We stayed one more day at Tan River's Number One Inn.
I was too exhausted from a full day on the Anti-Dragon Palm.
The next morning.
"Visit often for outings or overnights! We'll serve you with all our hearts!"
We packed and left the eventful inn, heading to Righteous Martial Academy to move into Azure Bamboo Hall.
"Hyungnim?! The door's locked tight."
"We at the wrong place?"
"Check the banner, U xiaoxie. Congratulations. Welcoming current top scorer Eon Yong-un. Right spot."
"Oh, yeah, Jeong-hyeon dojang."
"But Ha-seong. Isn't that a letter on the door knocker?"
"Ah, looks like it, noona?"
"Bring it here to show Young Master Eon."
The letter said to come to East Yun Hall for the initiation rite, skipping formal welcomes.
In this world's terms, the newbie welcome party.
Man. Popping the lid off on day one.
Judging by their antics, it wouldn't be tea and mild intros.
East Yun Hall, too.
East Yun Hall honored Azure Bamboo Hall founder South Beggar East Yun—a dojo banning weapons, like Wudang's Washing Sword Ground.
And publicly, four of us were sword students, one liberal arts.
Bluntly: prying swords from sword students.
"Miss Yin, take this letter to the professors' quarters and show Professor Nosam now."
"Yes!"
"The rest, to East Yun Hall."
The seniors were up to cute pranks. As juniors, time to show them fresh Beggar Clan Black Flame Dragon flavor I'd learned yesterday.