Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 36: Night of a Hundred Ghosts (1)
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Spend a few days with the masters of the Cat Truth Sect.
It started as a courtesy from Myo Gwang, since they wouldn't see each other often.
"Eung-ah. So cute."
Moyong So-hye, hand to her forehead, bounced in place.
"Nyaang."
She cradled a brown cat purring lazily in her arms.
Surprisingly, Moyong So-hye had a constitution that cats took to well.
'Maybe because they're both from the beast family?'
Perhaps the charm that won over humans worked on cats too.
On the other hand, Jegal Tan's situation was a bit ambiguous.
"I'll give you jerky, so come here."
The yawning cat listlessly munched the jerky in his arms.
Once it finished, it hopped away indifferently.
'Popular or not? Hard to tell.'
As he watched, Jegal Tan protested toward him.
"The world runs on contracts and promises, after all."
Didn't say anything.
"I prefer clean transactions."
Told you, didn't say anything.
But the most pitiful one was there.
"Kyasha!"
"Kyaak!"
"Kasha!"
Baek Ri-seol made a tearful face as the cats bristled whenever she approached.
"Why do they hate me?"
Indeed.
Even her secret catnip sachet seemed useless for Baek Ri-seol.
"It's a meat bullet attack. They won't stop until the target submits."
Maybe that personality was the issue.
On the other hand, the most unexpected was there.
"I-Instructor! Help!"
Nangong Yun-ho was surrounded by a pack of cats, in a panic.
"Ack. Don't just climb on my shoulder."
Cats hung shamelessly from his shoulders.
"Don't fall asleep!"
One even tried to nest on his head like a brick.
Nyang. Nyang.
Nyaaang.
As he approached with Baek Ri-seol, the cats scattered.
"Phew. You saved me."
Baek Ri-seol extended her hand to the sighing Nangong Yun-ho.
"Young Master Nangong. Swap sachets with me."
"The sachet?"
Stop.
'It'll just build resentment!'
He tried to stop her, but Baek Ri-seol swapped sachets and tried again with the cats.
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Sshaak!"
Even fiercer reactions came back.
Meanwhile, Nangong Yun-ho with the plump special sachet was trapped in an even grander encirclement.
Were they mistaking this lanky giant for a catnip tree?
"Come here. Nice kitty~."
The cat fled.
It darted away so fast it hurt his feelings.
"This is unfair!"
Baek Ri-seol threw her sachet.
Meanwhile, oblivious Nangong Yun-ho blabbered on.
"Not that great. They're hanging everywhere; I can't think straight."
"Really?"
"Worried I'll step on a tail."
He rubbed his brow with his sleeve, looking awfully smug.
Probably thinking inside, 'This is why the unpopular ones...' or something.
Thwack!
His foot shot out reflexively.
"Agh! I-Instructor, why again?"
Again? What again?
"Don't tell me you're sulking because cats won't come to you."
"I'm not that petty."
Suddenly, as an educator, he worried if the jianghu journey could be this peaceful.
"Are we here to play?"
"You clearly said 'bond with the sect masters'... "
"Don't remember."
Thud thud.
As he kicked Nangong Yun-ho, Moyong So-hye and Jegal Tan came running.
"Sis! Why! Why again?"
"What twisted your mood this time!"
Twisted mood? What twisted?
"Deeply disappointed in you all for lacking tension after entering the jianghu."
Just wanted to twist you all.
"Training! Time to toughen that flabby resolve!"
That evening.
The long-overdue training ended only when the four were utterly spent.
That evening. While thoroughly reading the White Cat Catalog in his lodgings, a message arrived.
At the sect leader's office, Myo Gwang bowed and handed over a bundle of papers.
"My lord. Data on the female students who entered the Silver Hall."
"Oh. Good work."
Flip.
Flipping through, each had a name and detailed portrait sketch.
The delicate brushwork was impressive, but capturing each personality and feature accurately was even more so.
"Selected those with scouting talent for targets from the Valley of Assassins."
Not bad.
Assassins constantly observe their target's every move.
'Didn't expect talent like this here.'
Flip. Flip.
As he turned pages, Myo Gwang explained.
"Just in case, annotated basics like sect origin or family."
"Well done. Any standouts?"
But there were shortcomings.
"This all?"
He shook the thin stack—not even book-thick—and Myo Gwang bowed deeply.
"Limits in finding skilled ones."
"No decent substitutes?"
"Had to filter for proven loyalty and tight lips."
Hard to avoid regrets.
'Well, can't drag in randos and risk word reaching other Dark Union Black Wind killers.'
After all, he'd worked hard for a peaceful life, even becoming a Divine Martial Academy instructor.
No need to summon jianghu villains and invite disaster.
"Any way to expand the search?"
Thought other angles, but.
"Simplest: have you draw the principal wife's portrait."
"Easy enough."
Dipping the brush in ink and stroking, Myo Gwang's brow furrowed as he watched.
"The principal wife... is human, right?"
What, punk?
"On second thought, no need for you to trouble yourself."
Myo Gwang banged his head on the floor.
"I'll redouble efforts."
"Tch. If you say so."
Rolling the brush away, Chu Un-hwi swallowed his regret.
"Guess I'll check them out myself soon."
Good excuse with the black-and-white twin cats.
Thinking a bride might be nearby lightened his hips, but he endured desperately.
'After decades of waiting, a day or two is nothing.'
Flip. Flip.
"None. Seems the bride won't show easily."
"Don't worry. I'll find her, whatever it takes."
As he rose, hiding disappointment, Myo Gwang hesitantly spoke.
"One thing you should know."
"What."
"Remember the Jang Cheon Sect boss I mentioned?"
Yeah.
"The lucky punk who got demonic arts by chance?"
"Yes. Tracking him, found something odd."
Chu Un-hwi chuckled at Myo Gwang's words.
"Why? Surprised the Nether Heaven Society's involved?"
"H-How did you know?"
Startled, Myo Gwang realized his slip and bowed frantically.
"S-Sorry. Forgot you possess omniscience, my lord."
"No way someone just happens on demonic arts."
Especially ones that boost power this fast.
'In my past life, same tricks from An Hwi Province.'
Memories surfaced several similar schemes.
"Leave it for now. Just monitor."
"Monitor only?"
Questioning why not act directly.
Chu Un-hwi called lowly.
"Iljo-jang."
"Yes, my lord."
"Danya wouldn't question me."
Myo Gwang paled.
"If you need explanations to move, pack up and return to the desert."
"M-My lord."
Slam.
The office door shut.
The special training that resumed after so long, regrettably, didn't last.
A new visitor stormed the Cat Truth Sect.
"Instructor Chu! Long time no see!"
Yeo Mae-hong waved energetically.
Despite just over ten days apart, she acted like years had passed.
"Haha. Too short for 'long time'?"
"Hehe. Got excited."
Shyly smiling beside her was another familiar face.
"Instructor Ko. Where's Instructor Chu's cat?"
"Who's Instructor Ko?"
"Hoho. Did I say something?"
Moyong Seon-ya teased playfully.
"How's it going? Built rapport with the Cat Truth Sect leader as promised?"
Her sharp eyes said denial meant a grab by the collar.
"Of course."
He thumped his chest.
"I'm the legend of social life, incarnation of charisma."
"That answer somehow drops your credibility."
Hmm.
Moyong Seon-ya narrowed her eyes; Yeo Mae-hong squinted too.
'People have no faith.'
Only after repeated assurances did their expressions soften.
"Phew. Truly a relief. Sect Leader Myo Gwang seems a living bodhisattva."
"Right. Friends with Instructor Chu? Incredibly broad-minded."
"Quite the rude remark."
As they bantered and reunited, Yeo Mae-hong looked around.
"Others not here yet?"
"With the jianghu trip just starting, maybe only you two came full speed?"
But Yeo Mae-hong shook her head.
"Instructor Chu hasn't heard?"
Heard what?
"What news?"
"Nasty rumors lately."
Moyong Seon-ya continued gravely, playfulness gone.
"Demonic cultists appeared in droves recently."
"Demonic cultists?"
"Several Beggars' Sect branches hit already."
"As sis says. Elusive, heavy casualties; instructors on alert."
"No official notice?"
Something came.
With the academy seal, he crumpled it unread.
Yeo Mae-hong said seriously.
"We came early for that. Worried about incidents, rushed to An Hwi Province."
An Hwi is Nangong Family territory, safe, right?
Moyong Seon-ya added details.
"Strangely, this jianghu trip's accidents from the start."
"Unlikely, but maybe routes are leaked."
"Better stay cautious."
From the talk, he got the picture.
'Punks like Jeong Yang scheming around.'
Moyong Seon-ya, after warnings, ended worriedly.
"Academy will act, hope not too late."
Yeo Mae-hong nodded.
"Yeah. Lucky for Instructor Chu—post here at Cat Truth Sect."
That 'lord' is here too?
Chu Un-hwi smiled at Yeo Mae-hong's grin.
"Who's 'that one'?"
"Oh? You don't know?"
His jaw tightened at the reply.
Step.
Chu Un-hwi stopped before the door, sighing deeply.
This should be his private space, empty.
"Hoo."
After deep breaths for courage, he pushed the door.
Click.
The tidy room appeared.
Swish. Swish.
The brisk sweeping stopped.
Soon, a gentle voice; a familiar figure bowed.
"First Seat of the Dark Union Black Wind Division, Sima Baek, greets the master of the world."
A reunion with strong déjà vu.