Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: The Fire Demon Blowing Through So-ho (5)
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People who caused trouble yesterday were roughly dealt with.
"Now, time to clean up the ones who are going to cause trouble."
Dragging the students along once more, Chu Un-hwi headed to another isolated group.
The people gathered here had a very bizarre appearance.
Women dressed in splendid palace attire stood in the center, surrounded by shabby men—it looked just like worker ants protecting their queen.
"Let's have a talk."
No sooner had he approached than the men on the outskirts lit up with fierce glares.
"Stay put."
A dignified middle-aged woman raised her hand to hold them back and offered a graceful smile.
"What brings you here?"
"We're looking to buy and sell some tea, but the spot isn't great."
The middle-aged woman, upon hearing the Hao Clan's code phrase, wore a subtle expression.
'This must be the one the noisy branch head told us to look after with utmost care.'
Recalling that, she responded politely.
"For a noble of the Divine Martial Academy to request tea from the Heavenly Maidens—truly a rare occurrence."
"I've got some questions, and some things to pick up. What do you say?"
With the follow-up Hao Clan passphrase, the woman was convinced.
'Indeed, this is him. He knows the Hao Clan's advanced codes.'
She was just about to reply.
[Dangerous bastard. Guy I don't like. Just plain hate him. Got any?]
[...That's it?]
He'd asked for some grand intel, but this was a completely unexpected question.
[While we're cleaning out the X-like trash, want me to handle yours too?]
Reading the confidence in the man's sly grin, she shook her head.
'Even more unpredictable than the rumors said.'
She smacked her lips.
"Please wait a moment. I'll bring out some cheap tea at least."
Right away, Chu Un-hwi went to the spot the middle-aged woman had pointed out and immediately started picking a fight.
"What the hell? Why do all you double-platers look like rotten fish heads?"
Outrage!
The disciples of the Investigation Evil Sect huddled in one corner scowled at the uninvited guest.
Rumble...
Unlike the other places he'd visited, there were a few who had trained in martial arts.
"Hold it. Striking first will cause problems."
The Investigation Evil Sect's leader waved them off as he eyed those standing behind the intruder.
'Instructors, students... and even the So-ho Black Wolf.'
Why were these guys here all of a sudden?
He was the leader whose reputation had been soaring lately with the downfall of the Jang Cheon Sect.
In the midst of these dream-like days, an evacuation order had come out of nowhere, forcing him here—and now this arrogant punk was mouthing off, irritation boiling over.
"Hey. Just scram."
"What? You the boss? So what if you are? Gotta go just 'cause you're glaring?"
"This X bastard."
With the So-ho Black Wolf glaring daggers from behind, he was pissed but held back from exploding.
"No chit-chat. Word is your goons looted family food stores. Gotta investigate."
Step. Step.
As the opponent strode boldly into their midst, the leader gnashed his teeth.
'Should I hit him?'
Evil sects ran on the logic of power.
'Showing weakness to a punk like this means I'm finished.'
Above all, failing to handle one lowly instructor would shake his men's loyalty.
'Threaten him just enough and chase him off.'
He was thinking of striking within acceptable bounds.
Thud!
He realized he'd involuntarily launched himself at the opponent.
'Wha—what?'
Grab!
In an instant, his left hand seized the opponent's collar against his will.
Shing.
His right hand drew a dagger and thrust at the throat.
'Stop! Stop it!'
As he screamed inwardly amid this bizarre loss of bodily control.
"Oh!"
The mouth beneath the disheveled hair split into a wide grin.
"Even picking a fight, huh?"
Clack!
With a casual wave, he knocked the dagger aside, then slammed his elbow onto the arm gripping the collar.
Puk!
As the dagger flew off and his body lurched, the opponent's head pulled back—then rocketed forward.
Crack!
"Guh!"
The headbutt to the bridge of his nose sent the leader reeling.
But the opponent didn't stop there.
Crack!
Pain like his side had been pierced followed.
Puk! Crack!
A fist to the jaw made his vision explode in white.
"Khek!"
His neck wrenched as if the joint had popped, mind going blank.
'Wha—what the...'
His vision flared and faded like fire—next he knew, he was on the ground, dumbfounded.
A sneering face swam into his blurry view.
"Ha. Almost died there."
The guy rubbed his neck and lifted a foot.
'No, don't!'
He screamed inwardly, but.
Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!
The merciless stomps spared neither chest nor head.
Pukpukpukpukpukpuk!
"Almost died, you shit!"
Stomped relentlessly, the Investigation Evil Sect leader was floored.
'This is a foot kicking me?'
Not like being flattened by a two-horse cart barehanded?
The vicious blows targeted only the sore spots.
Puk!
Kicked in the jaw, the leader tumbled into a heap.
But this villainous bastard kept kicking obstacles aside and stomped on relentlessly.
'You guys! Save me!'
It had happened so fast that his cackling underlings finally panicked and rushed to join—but.
"Looks like you lot don't see me."
The So-ho Black Wolf stepped forward.
"What is this commotion!"
Whoosh. Whoosh!
With a stern shout, experts in Silver Hall uniforms descended like raptors, freezing the Investigation Evil Sect disciples in place.
"This guy struck first with lethal intent."
"Is that so."
The clear evidence plus the surging killing intent left the underlings ashen-faced.
Especially since among them.
"Hoo. Evil riffraff really lost their minds."
"Indeed. Even with us here, but Wang-woo Elder is present."
Chill...
Overwhelmed by the skin-slicing killing intent, the disciples dropped their weapons one by one.
"Any more malcontents? Come on out!"
It wasn't the noisy brat.
It was the experts arrayed like a folding screen behind him that terrified them.
Once the situation was sorted, Jang Cheol-sim asked.
"You alright?"
Instead of answering, Chu Un-hwi slicked back his hair and turned to those behind him.
"Kids, see that? That's how you do it."
In other words.
"Hurry and go collect those extra points."
Four days later.
Nangong Il-jun, leading a contingent of the Nangong Family's Soaring Heaven White Sword Squad, arrived at the refugee site and was utterly shocked.
Neigh!
Pulling the reins, he widened his eyes.
"What in the world?"
The refugees scattered through the east, west, south, and north gates were in utter chaos.
Unable to grab their belongings and food, the people were uniformly fierce-tempered, with fights breaking out constantly.
How much hardship from the daily infighting?
But this place?
"Very... orderly atmosphere."
"After four days of long march, their faces are bright."
"Huh. Some even sharing food."
A soup kitchen was even operating in one corner of the camp.
"Strange. Can't figure why only this spot is so disciplined."
Nangong Il-jun nodded at the assessment from the Soaring Heaven White Sword Squad vice-commander trailing behind.
"There must be a reason."
What set it apart from the others?
"Wang-woo Elder and the realm's luminaries are here. With their江湖 experience, they have their ways."
"Weren't the other camps similar? Especially where Senior Instructor Eo Jeong-geun was—it was a mess."
"True enough."
Muttering, Nangong Il-jun tugged the reins.
"Let's hurry. We can get answers after we arrive."
Yah!
Dudududu.
With the Nangong Family's Soaring Heaven banners fluttering, they pressed toward the heart of the refugee column.
"You've arrived."
Seeing their tidy appearances, Nangong So felt an even stranger vibe.
'Inexplicable. The other instructors looked exhausted.'
Unlike the Divine Martial Academy instructors he'd seen en route.
"First orderly refugee column I've seen. Impressive."
Nangong Il-jun subtly nodded toward Wang-woo.
"Not me."
As if reading his mind, Wang-woo spoke up.
"Not you, then."
"Not us either."
Baek Ri-seon-ho and Moyong Ju, catching his gaze next, also shook their heads.
"Thanks to Temporary Instructor Chu Un-hwi."
Nangong Il-jun was thrown at Jang Cheol-sim's words.
'Temporary Instructor Chu Un-hwi?'
This guy again?
Whenever something inexplicable happened, Chu Un-hwi's name came up.
'Coincidence... or skill?'
The following explanation was even more astonishing. But there was no time to dwell on doubts.
Jang Cheol-sim questioned him right away.
"Nangong Elder. What's a Nangong Family heavy like you, leading the Soaring Heaven White Sword Squad, doing here?"
"My explanation was tardy."
Bowing to those around, Nangong Il-jun spoke.
"Merchants dispatched from the main house will arrive here soon."
"What a relief. We were short on rations."
"Beyond that, half a day's travel brings Soyang Village. Small place, but guarded by officials—ideal temporary refuge."
"Whew. Thank goodness. Some were starting to collapse from the camping."
With worries eased, Nangong Il-jun revealed his other purpose.
"Thus, leave the aftermath to the main house and officials. Best to depart."
"Understood. Anything else?"
"Actually..."
Such news could come via carrier pigeon or messenger.
But Nangong Il-jun, an elder, had come personally for another reason.
"Please permit me and five Soaring Heaven White Sword Squad members to escort Student Nangong Yun-ho."
"Student Nangong Yun-ho?"
Recalling the prior Myo Jin Sect incident, Jang Cheol-sim fell deep into thought.
Sensing it, Nangong Il-jun quickly added.
"No repeat of last time. I stake my name on it."
"With Namcheon Ilgeom's guarantee, how could I not trust?"
Murim families didn't meddle in academy affairs.
Shaking that precedent casually wasn't auspicious.
Of course, Nangong Il-jun had prepared accordingly.
"Eyewitness reports of unidentified foes nearby."
"Hm. Don't tell me... Mangcheon Society?"
"Patriarch led the Soaring Heaven White Sword Squad to repel them, but concerns linger. Precautions for the what-if—surely you understand."
For sect goals, fine—but for student safety.
With justification in place, Jang Cheol-sim had no grounds to refuse further.
"Very well. Joining permitted."
Thud thud.
He scribbled a brief permit and spoke with expectation.
"Take good care of it. Nangong Elder."
"Worry not."
Thus, a brief companionship was decided.
Ding ding ding ding.
Seeing the pack animals laden with food arrive, instructors and students let out cheers.
"Finally, some relief."
"Was so nerve-wracking."
Even the capable Yeo Mae-hong found dealing with non-martial folk a real ordeal.
"Thought I was decent at mediation, but overestimated myself."
Moyong So-hye comforted the downcast woman.
"It's fine, Instructor Yeo. Only someone like our instructor could pull off such tyranny."
"...Why are you picking on me?"
"It's true. Normally, ronin don't leverage their prestige for bullying."
"For justice. Strategic calculus."
"Heard you dragged off five guys you didn't like last night and beat them."
"...You saw?"
Speechless, Chu Un-hwi smacked his lips and turned to head back to his seat.
Tap tap.
With light footsteps, Moyong Seon-ya appeared, face crumpled.
"Sister?"
"Sister!"
Yeo Mae-hong and Moyong So-hye lit up and rose—then froze at the one following.
"Haha. So you were here."
Trailing Moyong Seon-ya was Nangong Il-jun. He appeared shoulder-to-shoulder with five Soaring Heaven White Sword Squad members.
In a slightly sharper tone, Moyong Seon-ya pointed at the two.
"This is Nangong Family Elder, Great Hero Namcheon Ilgeom Nangong So."
The introduced Nangong Il-jun and Nangong So stepped forward.
"Familiar faces."