Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Nangong Family (6)
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When Nangong Yun-ho first picked up the tree branch, the surrounding area was filled with mocking snickers.
"With a tree branch?"
"Looks like he's picked up some humor while we weren't watching."
"Maybe he's gotten drunk on some hero tale he read about."
Even when the tree branch in Nangong Yun-ho's hand began to move, the reactions remained the same.
"Slow."
"Too slow."
"Can he even catch a fly like that?"
It was only natural.
The initial movement was nothing special.
Srrr.
The crude tree branch merely thrust forward at a yawn-inducingly slow pace.
"Student Nangong. Do I look like a joke to you?"
It was a perfectly reasonable response to snort at the approaching branch.
Twirl.
But instead of the branch snapping, it landed atop the blade.
Tap, tap.
As it slowly drummed against the blade, the laughter faded from everyone's faces.
'It didn't break?'
What snapped wasn't the tree branch.
On the contrary, the rigid branch bent like a snake, dismantling the technique.
Hummm.
Just as the instructor urgently channeled his energy, making his sword gleam...
Thwack!
The branch struck a single point on the blade.
That was the end.
Ting!
The blade, which had been radiating clear sword light moments before, snapped clean in two.
Spinning. Thud.
The severed half of the blade spun through the air before embedding itself at the instructor's feet.
All the onlookers' eyes went wide.
Nangong Mu-san was among them.
"What in the world."
But what shocked him even more was the transmission from his father, who had been observing silently until now.
[Mu-san. Did you see that?]
As if he hadn't.
[Impressive skill. He struck the sword's weak point precisely.]
Nangong Mu-san shook his head.
[I've heard the Divine Martial Academy instructors are useless in real combat, and now I see why. Carrying around useless hunks of iron they can't even use properly.]
In Nangong Mu-san's view, the reason for this victory was the instructor's sword.
'They avoid real battles, so they carry swords they can't even use?'
He sneered, but one thing was clear.
'We must have him.'
Though it was just a single technique, someone of Nangong Mu-san's caliber could gauge the skill level involved.
It wasn't hard to spot the potential from one move alone.
'Grown this much?'
How had he failed to notice?
As thoughts raced through his mind, the two continued chattering heedless of the surroundings.
"No need to knock him down completely, right?"
"Fool. In a fight, you finish it once it starts."
"He's lost his sword. Isn't the match decided?"
"Leave mercy in your strikes, and someday your complacency will choke you."
"I see."
Step.
Nangong Yun-ho narrowed the distance to the instructor, who stared dazedly at his broken sword, and spoke lowly.
"Don't hold back. This must be the path."
"W-Wait."
Crack!
A thunderous strike claimed the instructor's forehead, and he toppled over like a rotting log.
"Is that enough?"
"I'd have crushed his groin first before asking."
"Haha. Go easy on him. I'll follow step by step."
Soon, Nangong Yun-ho supported Chu Un-hwi and moved to leave the garden.
'Can't let him go like this.'
Thinking so, Nangong Mu-san infused his voice with energy and shouted.
- Halt!
Rrrrumble.
A few with weak inner strength staggered at the energy-laden voice.
But surprisingly, Nangong Yun-ho's steps didn't falter.
He paused briefly at the garden's edge, glanced back, then continued walking.
'Unfazed?'
He had clearly projected his energy.
'Not something someone without proper cultivation methods can withstand.'
How many at that age could endure his direct aura projection?
"Looks like I've been lacking in talks with my son."
Now that he knew, come back.
He tried subtle persuasion, but Nangong Yun-ho didn't even turn.
Limp. Limp.
Instead, he focused entirely on the fragile burden he supported, as if it were the world's most delicate object.
'Insolent brat.'
Ignoring his words completely.
And with all these onlookers present.
'He's deliberately embarrassing me.'
Nangong Mu-san shouted again.
"Didn't you hear me say stop?"
Boom!
Rumble rumble rumble!
The ground within a zhang trembled from the energy in his stamp.
Nangong Yun-ho wobbled briefly but resumed walking.
This finally provoked Nangong Mu-san's ire.
"You insist on defying your father?"
Unfilial conduct.
Disrespecting the Nangong Family's dignity, no less. How could he not know?
"Your judgment hasn't improved despite your skill."
Swoosh.
He moved to intercept Nangong Yun-ho personally.
But Little Sword Dragon Nangong Yong-ho stepped forward to stop him.
"Father!"
"Out of my way. This is the family head establishing authority."
"We can't lay hands on academy personnel."
"Trivial taboos mean nothing before the family head's authority."
He had already swayed the instructors.
'Even if I use some force, they'll cover it up.'
As he schemed to push Nangong Yong-ho aside...
Chu Un-hwi, who had just crossed the courtyard and passed the gate, suddenly spun around.
'Changed his mind, has he?'
Of course.
'A mere temporary instructor can't defy the family head.'
Or so he thought.
Instead of approaching, the opponent lightly raised both hands.
"I surrender."
Surrender?
"What nonsense is that?"
As Nangong Mu-san faltered, a tongue-click from Nangong Chan echoed.
Nangong Mu-san froze, then understood the meaning of "surrender" from what followed.
Tat tat tat tat!
A group of instructors rushed like the wind, surrounding Chu Un-hwi in an instant.
'Them?'
Shouldn't they be confined in the annex?
"Temporary Instructor Chu Un-hwi!"
They latched onto his raised hands, pinning and shouting as if they'd been waiting.
"For injuring a fellow instructor and causing a disturbance, we arrest you!"
Nangong Mu-san was dumbfounded as his prey was snatched away before his eyes.
But the moment he saw the man striding rigidly through them, he grasped the situation.
"Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim."
Jang Cheol-sim approached with weary but disciplined steps and offered a fist salute.
"Nangong Family Head. We'll handle this unruly academy member per academy rules, so please understand."
"...Didn't expect to see you so soon."
"Nor I."
He glanced at Chu Un-hwi being tightly bound on the ground and continued.
"Senior Instructor Eo Jeong-geun got injured in a personal squabble, so I returned in his stead."
"Oh? Such a thing happened?"
He feigned ignorance.
"I've heard Senior Instructor Eo Jeong-geun is quite capable. Pity."
"......"
"Then what of the culprit who fought him?"
"We'll investigate and discipline if warranted."
"I see. Personally, I'd like to see severe punishment."
He pressed subtly, but Jang Cheol-sim remained politely unmoved.
"We'll handle it internally per regulations."
Unshaken.
Pride wounded, Nangong Mu-san had no choice but to back down.
'Not good. Too many eyes.'
Among the onlookers were Baek Ri-seol-ho, Moyong Joo—people from the Ten Great Families.
And even Poison Bee Swordmaster Wang Wu, drawing all attention in the current martial world.
No more greed allowed.
'Tch.'
Tongue clicking inwardly, Nangong Mu-san pretended magnanimity and withdrew.
"Very well. The family head respects your position."
"Thank you, Nangong Family Head."
Flick.
Shaking his sleeve, he turned, ending the brief commotion.
Bound with ropes, Chu Un-hwi looked around.
This was the annex warehouse.
Jang Cheol-sim's former quarters, now his sudden prison.
But called a prison, it had no bars, and the faces crammed inside were all familiar.
"Ugh."
Moyong Seon-ya furrowed her pretty brow and snapped.
"What on earth were you thinking, causing this mess?!"
"Sister, Instructor Chu must have had a plan."
"People with plans don't cause messes in the first place!"
Beside Moyong Seon-ya, who creased her forehead, Instructor Jo Hyeon counted on her fingers with a soulless expression.
"Insulting a superior, assaulting a colleague, and brawling to boot."
"New record. Congratulations."
At the squad leaders' words, Chu Un-hwi spoke.
"I'm innocent."
"Where do you get the grounds to claim innocence?"
"From start to finish, all of it."
Moyong Seon-ya, who asked, rolled her eyes and swallowed a deep sigh.
This time, even Yeo Mae-hong had no help to offer.
"You're awfully bold for someone caught red-handed."
"This boldness is proof of my innocence."
Where did this unfounded confidence come from?
As she wondered...
Silent Jang Cheol-sim, looking a decade older, finally spoke.
"Temporary Instructor Chu Un-hwi."
"Yes."
"Thanks to you, I don't know whether to cry or wail."
"Can't you just smile?"
His snide retort made Jang Cheol-sim rub his jaw, shadowing his face.
"I admit the situation flipped dramatically because of you."
Normally, internal affairs would drag them through investigations and hassles.
Against Eo Jeong-geun, they'd face smears and plots too.
But it flipped in a moment.
"Not just any instructor—a temporary one beat him. Even awake, Eo Jeong-geun won't show his face."
That's why they rushed his return.
"We're educators, but also warriors. No matter how vital rank and hierarchy, no one follows the weak in martial arts."
Beaten by a temporary instructor whose energy meridians were even sealed?
Humiliation enough to lose followers among instructors and students alike.
Who would seek teachings from someone outdone by a temporary instructor?
Another boon too.
"Caught off guard by the sudden turn, they couldn't erase traces of corruption and favors."
"Good for us."
"Very good. For us."
But.
Grinding his teeth, Jang Cheol-sim said.
"You went too far."
"Self-defense."
"How do you explain taking a fellow instructor hostage?"
"Can't I say I felt my life in danger and overdid the defense?"
"Hah."
Fine, that much.
"Using a colleague as a shield or swinging him as a weapon—how do you excuse that?"
"Still self-defense."
"What will others think?"
"Whoa, no weapon so he grabbed a person and swung. Must've been dangerous."
"Urk."
Jang Cheol-sim clutched his furrowed brow and groaned.
After calming himself, he explained patiently again.
"Self-defense means protecting your safety."
Never taking hostages as shields or using them as sword-breakers.
"Especially not a fellow instructor."
"If I explain it nicely, won't they understand?"
"Shut your mouth. Keeping quiet helps."
With weary eyes, Jang Cheol-sim issued an eviction to Chu Un-hwi and turned away.
Moyong Seon-ya shook her head at his gaze.
"It's tough. Even if Father or Uncle Baek step in."
Assaulting a superior, hostage-taking rampage—too grave even for the Murim Alliance Leader.
"Sigh. If it were milder, we could've pushed it as them providing cause."
No excuse justified this disaster.
"Isn't there some way..."
As everyone's insides burned black from the unprecedented crisis...
"I think I can help."
All heads turned at the voice from the doorway.
Yeo Mae-hong gasped upon recognizing the panting face.
"Student Jegal!"
In the sunlight, exhausted Jegal Tan waved the book in his hand.
"Instructor. Am I not too late?"
Chu Un-hwi grinned back at the confident Jegal Tan.
"Right on time, punk."