Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 41: Seo Ok-rang (7)
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Clack-clack. Clack-clack.
A white carriage speeding swiftly along the road.
Inside the resplendent carriage adorned with golden fittings sat an elderly man facing a middle-aged man.
Among them, the old man gazed intently at the clouds drifting past the carriage window.
With his white hair neatly draped and clad in a flawless white robe, the old man resembled an immortal descended from the heavens.
But there was something at odds with his cloud-like ethereal appearance: the old man's aura.
Though the spacious carriage could comfortably seat ten people, the old man's presence filled it to the brim and beyond.
The old man, whose abundant white beard flowed down to his navel, opened his mouth.
"Time has flown by."
A trace of wistfulness filled the old man's eyes.
At that moment, the middle-aged man sitting opposite reacted.
"They've forgotten. Those fools."
Where the old man directed his gaze, a sturdy-built middle-aged man was roughly crumpling a scroll.
"Ten years is a long time."
"But it's a short time to forget the prestige of the great Nangong Family."
A faint smile played on the old man's lips.
"Don't scold them too harshly. They are ignorant souls."
"The Murim Alliance."
As he shoved the crumpled missive aside, the middle-aged man filled his clear black-and-white eyes with fury.
"They must see our main family as a laughingstock to send such one-sided demands."
The middle-aged man, Nangong Family Head Nangong Mu-san, revealed his deep displeasure.
"Don't take it too hard. It seems the Murim Alliance has its own circumstances."
The Heavenfall Society.
They were evidently struggling greatly to deal with them.
"No matter the circumstances, the Murim Alliance's demands are excessive."
Nangong Mu-san was steadfast.
For a man with immense pride in the Nangong Family, the idea of their family stepping up just to capture a few apostles grated immensely.
"And their request doesn't sit well either."
- We request the Blood Dew Stone.
To mobilize the family's power for something as trivial as safeguarding a mere stone.
It was a matter that sorely wounded his pride.
"It's not entirely bad. The Blood Dew Stone has piqued my interest as well."
Nangong Chan had traversed the martial world countless times and beheld many rare treasures.
Even to him, the Blood Dew Stone was an unheard-of marvel.
"A stone hiding the secrets of foreign true energy."
Isn't it fascinating?
"Moreover, unraveling the secrets of the Blood Dew Stone could greatly bolster our family's strength."
Even at Nangong Chan's words, Nangong Mu-san showed no particular approval.
"No matter how extraordinary an alien object may be, it cannot compare to our family's martial arts."
It was certainly remarkable to wield foreign true energy.
"However, what value is there in power gained by relying on artifacts rather than enlightenment earned through deep cultivation?"
"You're right."
Nangong Chan chuckled.
"And wrong at the same time."
"What do you mean?"
"Once you've mastered the Emperor Sword Form, you could surely defeat any powerhouse in the world."
A flicker of pride crossed Nangong Mu-san's face at his father's words.
"But."
Nangong Chan's voice sank low.
"Our family's martial arts are too profound."
"Isn't that precisely why our family's arts are the world's finest?"
Ho ho. Nangong Chan slowly stroked his beard and smiled.
"Yet it has a flaw."
A flaw?
"Only select individuals like you and I can master our family's profound arts."
"Ah!"
"With talent so exceptional required just to grasp a single sword stance, how many can truly comprehend the essence of our arts?"
This was his lifelong regret.
"You are the family head."
Merely attaining the title of world's best through your own honing is not enough.
"Throughout history, countless powerhouses have been called the world's best."
"But most merely shone in their era and faded."
"Whereas you, as family head, must lay the foundation for our house's thousand-year legacy."
That is the role of a family head.
Adding to his admonition, Nangong Chan lectured his son.
"You must embrace even the deficient ones generously."
In that regard, the Blood Dew Stone might present a fine opportunity.
At the rebuke, Nangong Mu-san mulled it over before speaking.
"...My thinking was shortsighted."
The Blood Dew Stone was no trifling matter.
"Moreover, this Heavenfall Society sticks in my craw."
Claiming they would topple the heavens.
"Doesn't the 'heavens of the martial world' refer to our family, the Nangong Family?"
Nangong Chan burst into hearty laughter at the bold declaration.
"Ha ha ha! Indeed! Just as you say."
"Not because of the Murim Alliance's request, but as head of the world's foremost family, I shall decide."
The Blood Dew Stone and the Heavenfall Society.
He would handle these ill omens as the Nangong Family willed.
"You are the family head. Your decision is the family's decision."
Nangong Chan nodded vigorously.
"All shall proceed as you decree."
When the Nangong Family desired it, it became the natural law.
Gazing proudly at his son, who had grown into a dignified family head, Nangong Chan turned his eyes back to the window.
"The Blood Dew Stone, eh..."
Muttering to himself, Nangong Chan stroked his beard.
"It would be nice if it could alleviate this old man's boredom."
By now, even the Beggars' Sect's warning had long faded from mind.
"Oh!"
Chu Un-hwi, reading the letter sent by Jang Cheol-sim, let out an exclamation.
"What does it say?"
Not long ago, they had handed over the rogue captured in the Sword Tomb Cave via Jang Cheol-sim.
They had briefly reported recent events afterward, and now the reply had arrived.
"Nothing much."
Nonchalantly, Chu Un-hwi unfurled the letter for them to see.
"They acknowledge the merit and will nullify your disciplinary actions."
Seo Ok-rang, upon hearing this, jumped up in joy.
"Wow! Really?"
Her face, gaunt from prolonged worry, now bloomed with emotion.
"Say what you will, the academy's goal is to cultivate talent."
Even if some wrongdoing occurred, as long as they proved redeemable, it wouldn't coldly cut them loose.
"Ha... I didn't think it was possible."
Yeah, I figured as much.
'Truth be told, I didn't know either.'
He had merely overheard Jang Cheol-sim, the senior instructor, muttering to himself.
'The background checks on my subordinates helped quite a bit too.'
In any case, this matter was now safely concluded.
"Now we can head back. It seems they'll offset the demerits with merits."
But it wasn't wise to relax too much.
"You can't avoid some period of restriction, though."
He spoke sternly on purpose, but Seo Ok-rang and Il-pyo were beaming.
"Well, confinement is fine. Compared to expulsion."
"Mental retraining is a hassle, but we can endure it."
Just not being kicked out was a blessing.
Though the rumors weren't great, they figured they could weather them going forward.
'So this headache is finally over?'
Time to return to slacking off in lazy routine.
But first, there was business.
"You all know, right? This is all thanks to me."
So, you know.
"When evaluation time comes, make sure to write, 'Double the monthly pay at least.'"
Il-pyo asked in horror.
"Do we really have to go that far?"
"Of course."
Time to escape my low-pay life.
The road back to So-ho Fortress was leisurely.
As Seo Ok-rang quickened her light steps, she muttered beside him.
"When we snuck out in the middle of the night, things looked so bleak."
Leaning close, Seo Ok-rang tilted her body and smiled.
"I never imagined we'd return in glory so soon."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Instructor, do you have separate plans afterward?"
"I'm a busy man."
Even with his half-lidded eyes trying to brush her off, a busy adult wouldn't be fooled.
She pouted her lips.
"Always saying you're busy..."
"I'm popular and capable, so being busy is natural."
"They say you eat alone and slacking is your daily routine?"
"All lies."
To Chu Un-hwi's ironclad deflection, Seo Ok-rang showed a sulky expression.
"Stop pretending to be busy and make some time. I'll treat you big."
"Just give me the money instead."
"Tch. Tch. Tch."
Clicking her tongue, Seo Ok-rang huffed.
Truth be told, she had grown quite fond of this temporary instructor through this ordeal.
'Seems capable, and he shines in peculiar ways.'
What she liked most was his subtly mature aura.
'Our age gap isn't that big.'
Just being near him felt reliably reassuring. Unlike the businesslike instructors she'd known, his human side sparked fondness.
'I need to find a connection.'
Having narrowly escaped expulsion, her budding affections and playfulness resurfaced.
"Don't look at me like that."
"What kind of look was that?"
"Like a female lion eyeing prey."
"What an insulting thing to say!"
Yelling, Seo Ok-rang switched tactics.
"Hmph! I was just trying to help out a bachelor."
"Help? What help."
"I'm pretty popular in Silver Hall, you know. It'll definitely help?"
For example.
"Recommend an under-the-radar talent?"
"Why would I need that?"
"Don't you have to take charge of students once you're a full instructor?"
"Gasp!"
Seeing his startled face, Seo Ok-rang's eyes narrowed slyly.
"No way... You planned to keep slacking forever?"
"No."
Despite his words, the cold sweat trickling along his sharp jawline glistened tellingly.
'Hit the nail on the head.'
Seizing the momentum, Seo Ok-rang pressed on.
"They say snagging talented students in Silver Hall is fiercely competitive."
"Instructors even fight over promising ones?"
"Do you think you'd have an edge among all those renowned instructors, with no sect backing and zero motivation?"
"Especially with your rumors all on the bad side!"
"Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh."
Only as he began sinking did Seo Ok-rang flash a victorious smile.
"See? How valuable a talent I am."
Clutching at his chest, Chu Un-hwi asked in a dejected tone.
"Fine. What talented individual does this precious talent plan to recommend?"
"Me first."
"Rejected."
At the firm refusal, Seo Ok-rang added with a duck-lip pout.
"...Someone on my level, then."
Several names followed.
"Heh. You're acquainted with Little Poison Dragon Tang Ae-hee too?"
"Hee hee. We're quite close."
The forbidden jade leaf of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Best friends with Tang Ae-hee, no less.
She boasted, but Chu Un-hwi showed little reaction.
'Because she's from a prestigious house?'
As a temporary instructor from a rural sect, he might shy away from students from top families.
As she rattled off more suitable names.
"Who?"
Chu Un-hwi reacted for the first time.
"Huh? Seol-hyang?"
"Yeah. The name rings a bell..."
As if.
Seo Ok-rang said, surprised.
"Not many know of Jin Seol-hyang's existence."
She's such a low-presence kid.
"She hardly talks about herself either."
"No. It's familiar. Oddly so."
"That's unexpected."
As Seo Ok-rang pushed her lips up with a finger, about to say more.
Suddenly noticing Chu Un-hwi lagging behind, Il-pyo asked.
"Instructor, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing."
As Chu Un-hwi reached into his bosom, he grimaced.
"...Looks like I dropped my money pouch."
"Eek? So careless."
"Ha ha. That's me."
Il-pyo adjusted his crutches and stepped up.
"Let's go back and look together."
"It's fine. You're not fully recovered."
"But..."
"Don't worry. I'll find it quick and catch up."
Go on ahead.
Shooing them off, the two tilted their heads quizzically.
Seo Ok-rang and Il-pyo.
As the pair's figures vanished down the road.
"Ha. What a bother."
Chu Un-hwi's demeanor shifted abruptly.
"Such rare good news after so long, perfectly timed."
Irritation colored his gaze into the distance.
"And now these pests show up?"
Thwip.
Toward the irritating presence, Chu Un-hwi launched his form.