Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 4: Find the Second Student (2)
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Baek Ri-seol.
It was the name of the student Yeo Mae-hong had mentioned.
Chu Un-hwi took the student roster and skimmed through it with a frown.
"Ugh... Someone from the Baek Family."
Baek Family.
A renowned swordsmanship clan among the Ten Great Families, once even producing a Murim Alliance Leader. A prestigious house.
Their martial arts were unique, too.
White Dragon Swordsmanship.
They say that when mastered to the pinnacle, it conjures the illusion of a white dragon rising and roaring, which is why the Baek Family is also known as the White Dragon Sword Family.
"Well, their fame is widespread, that's for sure."
In his memory, the Baek Family wasn't particularly impressive.
The moment the Nether Heaven Society began its rampage, the clan crumbled in an instant.
There was no honor as a prestigious house, no revival through longstanding ties in the martial world.
The family head, desperate to save his life, reportedly knelt, crawled on the floor, and even barked like a dog.
"If they'd come seeking revival with utter sincerity, I might understand."
But what the Baek Family did afterward was the epitome of pettiness.
They betrayed the righteous factions and latched onto the Nether Heaven Society, committing all sorts of atrocities.
Not just attacking minor sects with their family forces, but even acting as loan sharks for Nether Heaven Society money.
Truly the worst kind of clan.
"Sigh. I don't want to deal with idiots from the Baek Family..."
Deep down, he wanted to ditch it all and scour the Divine Martial Academy for his bride right away.
But in this vast academy, bloated with pointless tasks, acting on whims would get him kicked out before he found her.
"Guess I'll meet her first?"
Like a thirsty deer digging a well, the student-starved Chu Un-hwi decided to dig.
***
Chu Un-hwi headed to the main training grounds.
There, Yeo Mae-hong had her assigned students lined up and was continuing their instruction.
Watching them intently, Chu Un-hwi was quite surprised.
"Thirty of them!"
He could barely handle one!
Yeo Mae-hong approached and chided him.
"Even one is a hassle for you, right?"
Sharp woman.
"Where's the kid named Baek Ri-seol?"
"There should be one who stands out among them. Take a guess."
"A bet? If I win, give me one more student."
"What kind of bet is that!"
Heh heh heh.
Putting the teasing aside, Chu Un-hwi turned his gaze to the students.
"Let me see. You said she needs my 'special' instruction, right?"
"Yes."
Yeo Mae-hong had briefly mentioned it yesterday.
A student she found hard to teach.
Coming from the ever-diligent, hardworking Yeo Mae-hong, it must be quite the talent.
After a quick scan, Chu Un-hwi was impressed.
"Ho. Quite a few promising ones catch my eye."
"I've taught them with all my effort."
She had reason to be proud.
New students had only been here a couple months.
For rookies like them to wield Divine Martial Swordsmanship—albeit just the first half—with such proficiency wasn't easy.
'Must be thanks to this passionate instructor's hard work.'
Now he saw why she had the Hall Master's trust. Chu Un-hwi noted a few.
"First row, second one. Third row, fifth one. And the one at the front of the middle row stands out."
"Right?"
Yeo Mae-hong was surprised.
Picking out standouts just from a glance.
'Amazing. It took me a whole month of watching to barely notice.'
She asked back.
"How did you know?"
"Well, even the same form varies slightly from person to person."
"What kind of difference?"
"It's like they have spirit in them? The sword tip lives. Like how some dancers make the lines come alive even in the same routine. You can spot the ones with potential."
"Hmm..."
He couldn't be certain, but it seemed the consultation had been worthwhile.
Thinking so, Yeo Mae-hong pointed to one girl.
"What about that one?"
"That little one?"
"Yes. That's Baek Ri-seol."
Where she pointed, a girl was practicing a bizarre swordsmanship, ignoring Divine Martial Swordsmanship entirely.
'Ah, stepped in shit.'
***
Clap clap.
"Alright, now loosen up and refine your forms on your own. First, Haeyang, you..."
Group training ended, and Yeo Mae-hong went to each student, pointing out fixes.
Her observations were so precise it was astounding.
"She's really diligent."
Watching her focused instruction, Chu Un-hwi approached Baek Ri-seol.
She, practicing swordplay her own way, sheathed her sword wearily and clapped.
Clap clap.
"Ryeong-ryeong."
At that moment, a woman dashed out from a corner.
She swiftly set up a small folding chair and laid out various items beside it.
"Miss, here's some cold water."
"Yeah."
"Here, you must be tired? Honey water too."
"Not bad."
"This tonic's good for your health. Drink up."
"Tastes bad."
Watching this, Chu Un-hwi was dumbfounded.
'She brought a maid to the training grounds?'
He'd heard some spoiled rich kids brought attendants or maids to the academy.
He figured they were just bratty, but to witness it firsthand.
His opinion of the Baek Family sank further.
'Ah, let's quit.'
He was about to turn away.
But looking at Baek Ri-seol, Chu Un-hwi felt a sense of familiarity.
"Huh? Wait."
Where had he seen her before?
As he leaned in, the maid Ryeong-ryeong, fanning nearby, snapped and blocked him.
"You! What business with the miss?!"
"Oh, no big deal."
"Do you know who this is? The Forbidden Jade Leaf of the Baek Family! Show respect!"
Yeah, fine.
Time to go.
As he turned,
"Ryeong-ryeong. Step back."
"Miss, you shouldn't talk casually with strange men. Especially filthy ones like this! The Pavilion's Central Treasure of Infinite Pavilion, the Baek Family's— you shouldn't deal with him!"
"It's fine."
She waved the maid aside and stared at him with bright eyes.
Thanks to that, Chu Un-hwi could examine Baek Ri-seol more closely.
'Definitely looks familiar.'
Looking intently confirmed it.
"You're that person, right? I heard from Instructor Yeo."
"Oh. Yeah?"
"You have a request for me?"
Seeing her sit primly in the folding chair, arms crossed, nose upturned, he wanted to bolt.
What a rude brat. Yet something nagged at him.
'Should I check it out?'
The reason he didn't flee was a budding curiosity.
"You won't learn Divine Martial Swordsmanship?"
"Yes."
"I heard you mastered it diligently at first."
"I did."
Surprisingly, Yeo Mae-hong said Baek Ri-seol learned it faster than anyone.
"Divine Martial Swordsmanship is a solid art. Too basic and boring maybe, but that's why it's the foundational sword style."
"I know."
"So why ditch it suddenly?"
"Because I'm special."
Baek Ri-seol lifted her chin.
"I'm the Pavilion's Central Treasure of the Baek Family. I deserve rarer, more special martial arts."
"Ah..."
"I hate basic stuff anyone can learn."
Ah, hate Baek Family types.
'Should I drop it?'
He thought.
"Ryeong-ryeong."
"Yes! Miss!"
Clapping, she placed a heavy pouch on the table.
Tok.
Tilting it with a finger, jewels poured out.
A fortune.
Gulp.
Silence fell over the training grounds.
Amid it, Baek Ri-seol spoke.
"If you help me learn a new swordsmanship, it's all yours."
"...Gulp."
"Need anything for instruction? Ask the family. Food? The best. Weapons? Prime named swords. My father's the White Dragon Swordsman!"
How about it?
Confident?
To her question, Chu Un-hwi replied.
"Milady."
***
"Instructor Chu!"
After the brief commotion, Yeo Mae-hong rushed over.
"What on earth are you thinking?!"
"Just reborn as a diligent Bronze Hall instructor starting today."
"The trigger was bowing to a student and calling her milady?"
"You know it well."
"Sigh."
Yeo Mae-hong sighed deeply.
This spot was arranged with difficulty, hoping it'd help Baek Ri-seol or Chu Un-hwi.
She'd struggled to persuade the strong-willed girl.
Yet he made a fool of himself in front of everyone; she felt ashamed watching.
As she fanned her flushed face, Chu Un-hwi chuckled.
"You find this funny now?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Really..."
Had she misjudged him?
As she slumped,
"Instructor Yeo."
"Yes?"
"What's Infinite Pavilion of the Baek Family?"
"The Baek Family wields influence across the Nine Provinces, with branches everywhere. Infinite Pavilion is the one here in Infinite City, where the Divine Martial Academy is. Baek Ri-seol is the only daughter of the Pavilion Master, White Dragon Swordsman Baek Ri-jeong-sun."
"To get a manor in a key spot with the Murim Alliance and academy, must be influential."
"Yes. One of the top direct bloodlines."
"One last thing."
"Wait, let me—"
About to scold, Yeo Mae-hong froze.
'Why...'
Chu Un-hwi looked the same as always.
Smaller build, messy bangs hanging frustratingly.
That ever-present smile.
'But this feeling?'
As she steadied her trembling fingers, another question came.
"Just one more."
"Y-yes."
"Is the Baek Family righteous?"
"O-of course. One of the top Ten Sword Families—naturally righteous."
"I see."
Swish.
With that, Chu Un-hwi grinned.
"It had better be."