Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: The Fire Demon Blowing Through So-ho (6)
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'Why has this guy come here?'
Feeling like a ton of annoying trouble was about to unfold, he grimaced at the corner of his mouth. Nangong Il-jun chuckled good-naturedly and spoke up.
"I've gotten permission from the senior instructor. I'll be traveling with you all for a while, so take good care of me."
He turned his gaze to confirm if it was true. Moyong Seon-ya pursed her lips and mouthed silently.
- It's true.
Her expression wasn't great either, suggesting she wasn't thrilled about the company.
But remembering her duties, she quickly reverted to a businesslike face and addressed Squad Leader Yang.
"Squad Leader Yang."
"Speak, Instructor Moyong."
"As of now, we're departing this place and returning to the academy."
"Has the movement been decided already? We haven't even rested yet."
"The situation is urgent, so the orders came down hastily. Normally, we'd send a formal writ, but time is of the essence."
This was the first time in years of service at Bronze Hall that he'd received a request without official paperwork. The usually gruff Squad Leader Yang raised his eyes in rare surprise.
"Is it that pressing?"
"The South Heaven One Sword mentioned that a group of unidentified enemies was spotted not far from here."
"...Hm. Could it be the Heavenly Destruction Society?"
"The senior instructor's judgment aligns. Therefore, we're to leave this area as quickly as possible and return."
"Understood. We'll prepare to move out immediately."
"Speeds will vary based on the students' abilities. Return at your own pace, but if danger approaches, pull on this."
Moyong Seon-ya handed over a small bamboo tube and stepped back, offering a salute.
"Then. Good luck."
"Good luck to you all."
Whoosh.
Moyong Seon-ya spun on her heel and vanished back into the crowd of refugees with cat-like agility.
'This is something.'
Nangong Il-jun's joining was irksome enough, but something even more grating caught his attention.
"Move out!"
Chu Un-hwi's gaze, watching Squad Leader Yang and the students lead the way, shifted toward the empty sky beyond.
'This isn't good...'
His expanded senses picked up faint presences flickering hundreds of zhang away.
'Irritating auras are appearing.'
For now, they numbered only a handful.
The problem was that the numbers were steadily increasing.
'Looks like we'll have to work hard for this.'
Just a few days ago, he'd dealt with the ones hiding among the refugees. Was that not enough?
'The silver lining is that they're just small fry.'
That meant the Eight Thousand Emissaries hadn't arrived yet.
'For now, I'll keep watch.'
Chu Un-hwi closed his eyes and added a bit more effort to his lazy stride.
As expected, Nangong Il-jun stuck close to Nangong Yun-ho, true to his purpose.
"Heh heh. No troubles anywhere?"
"It seems you've dedicated yourself to rigorous training since we last met."
"Don't worry. As long as we're here, no harm will come to you, young master."
Whether trying to win favor or not, he showered nothing but sweet words, leaving Nangong Yun-ho looking burdened.
As he watched them across the campfire, a small figure suddenly stuck right by his side.
"Is it okay to just leave them like that?"
It was Moyong So-hye.
"Yeah."
"It looks like he's trying to take Nangong oppa away, right?"
"Seems that way, doesn't it?"
"Instructor!"
Like Moyong So-hye, Jegal Tan's expression soured too.
"Instructor, this seems excessive."
"It's nice seeing family together. What's excessive about it?"
"The other students and instructors are clearly uncomfortable."
Chu Un-hwi smirked and poked at the campfire with a stick.
"With the Nangong Family's top powerhouse and the Heavenly Thousand White Sword Squad as escorts, that's nothing."
To be honest, even among the temporary instructors, the strongest like Nine Hundred Iron Fists Yang Dae-cheol would struggle against the weakest Heavenly Thousand White Sword Squad member.
Especially since two of the five matched Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim in skill.
And the other one? Probably a notch above.
"More importantly, are preparations going well?"
"Yes."
Baek Ri-seol, who had gathered a bunch of pebbles in the hem of her skirt, dumped them out by the fire.
"These are the ones I picked from the valley like you said. I tried to choose carefully."
Baek Ri-seol tilted her head.
"Yeah, hard to spot the good ones easily."
Glance.
As he sifted through the pile, Seo Ok-rang came toddling over from afar and plopped down beside him.
"Hehe. I found prettier stones."
Pretty, right?
Baek Ri-seol's face went blank.
"Can't you see we're talking? Seo, you woman."
"Hmph. What'd you say?"
Here they go again.
As the two bickered, Un Ho-seung popped up behind him with a yelp.
"Temporary Instructor. What's that?"
"Take these."
He picked a few from the pile and tossed them over. Un Ho-seung tilted his head.
"What's this? Why pebbles?"
"They'll come in handy."
"Hmm? These worthless little rocks?"
Unable to shake his doubt, Un Ho-seung laughed heartily anyway.
"Well, if the temporary instructor says so!"
"Right. You racked up bonus points this time too."
"Im So-jeong. Come check out these pebbles."
The group grew rowdy, distracting Nangong Il-jun from his conversation. He scowled.
The students picking stones by the fire looked more like they were on a picnic than a journey through the martial world.
"That's why those without proper training..."
Tsking his tongue, he turned to Nangong Yun-ho.
"He's decent as an instructor, but his knowledge is shallow and trivial."
"Is there such a thing as trivial learning in the world?"
"Those who tread the earth and those who look down from the heavens must differ in mindset from the start."
"Haha. That's still a distant tale for me."
Nangong Il-jun smacked his lips at Nangong Yun-ho's firm wall.
'I expected as much, but he's no pushover.'
Not only was he ignoring the offers completely.
"What are you doing now?"
He asked, watching him knead dirt with water into tight balls.
"Oh, this? It's a survival technique the instructor taught me."
"...Survival technique?"
"He said it'd be useful, so I've been making them."
The listening Heavenly Thousand White Sword Squad members chuckled in disbelief.
"Teaching them to make dirt rice balls or something?"
"His instructor qualifications are truly suspect."
They tried to demean him however they could.
"He said they'd be useful when the time comes, so we just wait."
Nangong Il-jun sighed in disappointment at the unyielding wall.
Roar!
What halted Nangong Chan, relentlessly pursuing the enemies, was the wall of flames encircling them on three sides.
"Hm."
The scorching heat that singed his skin grew fiercer with each step. Nangong Chan furrowed his brow.
Having surpassed the peak and entered the Fire Realm, piercing through flames was no challenge for him.
But not for the Heavenly Thousand White Sword Squad following behind.
"Supreme Patriarch. What are your orders?"
They'd follow without question, but how could mortal flesh move freely in such inferno?
With deep inner energy, they could endure for a while, but there was no need to take the risk.
"We turn back here."
"The trail leads inside."
Nangong Chan shook his head at the deputy's words.
"I sent out my qi and found nothing beyond the flames."
Even if traces remained, the fierce heat would have erased them.
"Turning back is the right call."
Boom!
No sooner had he spoken than the squad stomped in unison.
"We obey the Supreme Patriarch's command!"
As Nangong Chan glared at the triple-walled inferno and turned to retrace their steps,
Roar! Roar!
Flames suddenly shot skyward, dancing wildly before a massive roar echoed.
Ruuuuumble!
The power in the roar made several squad members stagger instinctively.
"What is this?!"
Nangong Chan was equally shocked by the terrifying energy.
In an instant, he drew up energy from his dantian, blocking the incoming qi wave.
-Kekeke. You've taken the bait.
A massive blaze poured down on the previously clear path.
Roar!
It wasn't mere chance.
The flames writhed like living things, raining fire down.
"Such vile trickery!"
Nangong Chan raised his left hand and clawed at the air.
Krunch! Boom!
The qi infused with horrifying power tore the sky, scattering the oncoming flames in a moment.
-Fat chance. This is your grave, Sword Saint.
But as the mocking voice rang out again, the heat surged thickly once more.
With pitch-black smoke exploding toward them, Nangong Chan finally drew his sword.
"You think you can block the Emperor's path?!"
Riiiing!
Energy rivaling the roar burst forth, and azure sword light blazed from Nangong Chan's blade.
Boom!
The flames and blue sword qi clashed, crumbling the small clearing in a rumble.
Roar!
The light atmosphere from the start of their departure shifted in no time.
Squad Leader Yang, scouting ahead, halted and looked back.
"Somehow, it feels much closer."
"Strange. We were walking with the wind at our backs."
Instructor Jo Hyeon spoke, and Yeo Mae-hong urged the group.
"Right now, putting distance from the fire comes first, even a moment sooner."
"Indeed. No time for idle worries."
But among the students, fear began to spread one by one.
"Doesn't it feel like the fire is chasing us?"
"Yeah. We've been walking nonstop, but it's getting hotter."
"Are we even going the right way?"
"Shouldn't we leave the temporary instructor and join the others now?"
Even experienced instructors were confused; for novice students on their first martial world excursion, the encroaching flames were terrifying.
The saving grace was Nangong Il-jun and the Heavenly Thousand White Sword Squad.
"The instructors' judgment is sound. Just follow them."
With Nangong Family elder and famed South Heaven One Sword Nangong Il-jun declaring it, some fears subsided.
But the relentless forced march and mounting dread took their toll, with students collapsing one by one.
"I can't go on. Can't we rest?"
"We haven't eaten or drunk properly in days."
"A short break won't hurt."
Especially those unaccustomed to rough living demanded rests at every chance.
"What do we do?"
Squad Leader Yang halted at Instructor Jo Hyeon's question and said,
"They've pushed hard enough. A brief rest might be good."
"Their first outing wasn't supposed to be this grueling."
Normally, they'd handle simple commissions and sightsee leisurely.
No matter the training, sudden crises were beyond novices.
Moreover, the temporary instructor's group had the weaker students.
It was natural limits hit fast.
Squad Leader Yang spread a map.
"Fine. But we can't rest here. Thirty ri (about twelve kilometers) ahead is a valley. We'll rest there."
In journeys, secure water and shelter first.
The weary students replied hoarsely to the drilled knowledge.
"Ye~s!"
"But get there at top speed."
Tat!
As Squad Leader Yang took off, instructors and students unleashed their movement techniques in unison.
Full sprint?
'About time for stamina to run dry.'
Nangong Il-jun, thinking so, glanced back.
"Tougher than expected. You holding up?"
But the response remained curt.
"Fine. Getting used to it."
"Used to forced marches like this?"
"Haha. Somehow."
Irked by the persistent wall, Nangong Il-jun shot a glare sideways.
'Truly not easy.'
The faint smile under that shaggy hair was especially grating.