Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Inferno Battlefield (2)
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Shoooosh!
Nangong Chan, emitting blue sword qi like beams of light, advanced without hesitation.
"Hah. Did you think this old man had fallen into a trap?"
The world had turned into a flaming inferno, but the momentum of the sword in Nangong Chan's hand showed no sign of waning.
"Do you think I've survived only a handful of battles in my lifetime?!"
Vwoooong!
The moment the sword's cry erupted, a beam-like sword strike burst forth, cleaving through the flames.
It was the hellish blaze that had been scorching the mountains and fields, yet the moment the swirling sword qi touched it, the flames were pushed back along with a vortex, instantly clearing the sky.
Roooar.
With a single sword, he had erased the fiery demon that seemed intent on burning even the heavens—a divine feat truly akin to a god of war.
Admiring exclamations erupted from the members of the Sky-Soaring Hundred Swords Squad following behind.
'As expected of the elder.'
'As long as we follow him, defeat is impossible.'
However, Nangong Chan's complexion was poor as he rested his sword on his shoulder.
'I've been drawn in.'
The inexperienced squad members didn't realize, but the seasoned captains had a rough idea.
'This fight brings us no gain.'
They couldn't even grasp the enemy's whereabouts, let alone their intentions.
The current situation, forcing a war of attrition, was far from ideal.
'My power as a Fifth Cycle expert won't deplete easily.'
But getting entangled in the enemy's schemes—who knew when his strength might run out?
And there was something even more troubling.
- Indeed. Sword Saint. Not an easy foe.
It was an arrogant voice, as if this much had been anticipated.
- However, if you can't even manage this much, where's the fun in it?
"Tch!"
Nangong Chan ground his teeth and bellowed.
"Coward! Show yourself!"
- Haha. Can't do that.
"Spineless cur. Did you dare step forth without even the courage to face this old man?"
- Well. Something more amusing has caught my interest.
Vmmm.
The flames distorted, forming the shape of a demon beyond the haze.
- How about ripping apart a young tiger cub right in front of an old tiger?
'Oh no!'
Whoosh!
Nangong Chan's gaze shot toward the sky.
His senses expanded in an instant, seeking Nangong Mu-san, who was heading this way.
Kaboom!
But something interfered with his sharpened senses—a massive blaze surging into the air as if lying in wait.
"Urk!"
- Keh keh keh. Foolish old man. Do you think you alone can withstand this seat's wrath?
The Eight Thousand Hellfire burns hotter than the sulfur flames of hell.
- I'll swallow the entire Nangong Family!
"Damn it!"
- Starting with the young tiger who dared covet this seat's treasure.
'Oh no! What it wants isn't me—it's the Blood Dew Stone!'
Finally grasping the enemy's intent, Nangong Chan cried out pallidly.
"Everyone, break through! Full speed retreat!"
He was the master of the still-incomplete Imperial Swordsmanship.
He couldn't let it fall into enemy hands like this.
At that moment.
People in disheveled states began arriving at the clearing one after another.
"Instructor Moyong!"
All of them looked utterly defeated.
With faces pale as ghosts, the instructors shouted urgently.
"It's an ambush!"
Singed by flames, they cried out in despair.
Moyong Seon-ya bit her lip gently.
"How many enemies?"
"Unknown. But plenty."
"Ten? A hundred? Maybe even hundreds."
Moyong Seon-ya couldn't get a handle on the situation amid the instructors' panicked testimonies.
'Just how many are there?'
The confused instructors claimed dozens, some even hundreds.
"They all wielded terrifying martial arts."
"Instructor Jin was engulfed in flames in an instant!"
"If we stay, we're all dead!"
The unfamiliar true qi terrified even the instructors.
Watching people burn alive before their eyes was enough to strip away their will to fight beyond mere confusion.
'They're all panicking and can't think straight.'
The once-quiet clearing had become a scene of pandemonium.
"Sister! Too many wounded!"
"We need the medical squad. Hand over everyone who's left!"
"Fetch water! Treat the burns first!"
As the area turned into a madhouse, Moyong Seon-ya ground her teeth.
'What should we do?'
No matter her experience, Moyong Seon-ya hadn't faced such horrors often.
'My decision could get many killed.'
The weight of responsibility pressed down on her shoulders.
But after agonizing, Moyong Seon-ya reached only one conclusion.
"Those who can move, prepare! We need to return and fetch the senior instructors."
It was the most rational judgment she could make.
'The senior instructors are with Father.'
And not just that?
With the headquarters' experts, they could surely turn the tide.
'We can't handle this alone.'
Better to counterattack than burn to death in the flames.
"With our forces scattered, even fleeing is futile."
We must gather our strength, rendezvous, and consolidate power.
It was Moyong Seon-ya's hard-won decision.
But someone cut her off.
"Um. Instructor Moyong."
A young instructor spoke cautiously.
"Sorry to say this, but we can't."
"What do you mean?"
"Even the senior instructors might not escape. Charging back unprepared will just increase the casualties."
That sparked it.
Instructors began voicing opposition one by one.
"We don't even know the enemy or their numbers. One wrong move, and we're dead for nothing."
"It's not too late. We should observe cautiously..."
"Blind fighting isn't the answer."
Moyong Seon-ya glared at the evasive instructors, her eyes flashing.
"The senior instructors stayed behind to save you. Are you saying we abandon them and run?"
"It's not running. It's facing reality."
A young instructor added cynically.
"Someone needs to protect the students left here."
"Everyone's exhausted from the march and wounded. Half surviving is a blessing."
"At least prepare before heading back to fight, right?"
They offered every excuse, but Moyong Seon-ya read the emotion in their eyes.
'They're all scared.'
As disciples of prestigious clans and sects.
Always proud and arrogant instructors were cowering before their first real ordeal.
'Not just them.'
Moyong Seon-ya's gaze turned to the students.
Receiving her cold stare, they averted their eyes desperately.
The elite talents of the jianghu looked like frightened mice.
"I'm disappointed."
"......"
Aware of their shame, the first to object spoke softer.
"We can't decide rashly on emotion."
Bang! Boom!
Amid signal flares bursting chaotically in the sky, the instructor shouted.
"Think coldly. The living must survive, right?"
'How can you call that talk?'
As Moyong Seon-ya's red lips trembled with passion,
"That's some fresh bullshit."
A voice rang out from somewhere.
"Instructor Chu Un-hwi!"
The instructors snapped irritably at the intruder digging wax from his ear.
"A country bumpkin warrior like you who knows no strategy wouldn't understand, but this is the best option."
"Right. Regrettable, but we must be realistic."
"If students die in vain, will you take responsibility?"
"The survivors must live!"
Chu Un-hwi cut through their shouts bluntly.
"Scared?"
"...Wh-what..."
"You're scared. Heh heh heh. Brag about prestige and strategy all you want—it's just fear."
Receiving sharp glares, Chu Un-hwi snorted.
'Still the same.'
A common sight in his previous life.
Braggarts who talked big when safe, then went silent when danger struck.
'They strut about their sects and origins, but bolt at the first sign of trouble.'
These were the ones who ruined the jianghu.
Fighting over profits and positions even on the brink of destruction, leading the jianghu to ruin.
Seeing it again twisted his guts, but he wasn't surprised.
'That's the jianghu for you.'
He already knew better than to expect more.
Still, thinking of the bride and others who'd suffer because of them in the future—or distant tomorrow—he couldn't stay silent.
"Strategy my ass."
It's just fancy excuses from scared puppies.
"What strategy is abandoning students as an instructor?"
Flutter.
Chu Un-hwi, exuding chill, turned and strode out of the area.
"Instructor Chu. What now?"
Seeing the tense mood, the following temporary instructors asked.
"Calm down. Time to control your emotions."
"True. It burns me up, but they're not entirely wrong."
They chattered, but Chu Un-hwi half-ignored them as he grabbed his sword.
Finally noticing something off, Yeo Mae-hong asked.
"No way. Alone?"
"I can't even breathe the same air as those anymore."
"I'll go too. Better than solo."
"No need. I prefer alone."
As he slung his sword over his shoulder to leave, Nangong Il-jun stepped forward.
"You can't do it alone. Why not persuade them again?"
"Persuade? Heh."
The smile vanished from his usually relaxed lips, sending a chill through Nangong Il-jun.
"Persuasion is for those with even a shred of potential."
"...You."
"When instructors choose to abandon students, there's no compromise."
If abandoning comrades and students is a 'choice' for unavoidable reasons,
"Then abandoning them is my choice too."
Despite the sudden shift to curt speech, Nangong Il-jun was overwhelmed by the aura and couldn't speak.
Shing. Click.
After drawing to check the blade and sheathing it, Chu Un-hwi shrugged.
"Thanks for everything."
Then he left without looking back.
Step step.
Gazing at the distant flames, he thought.
'Not a bad farewell.'
He'd always known he'd leave someday.
He was the type to leave the jianghu behind.
'Didn't expect it now.'
Just when he'd overcome hardships and was about to meet his bride, leaving the academy felt regrettable.
A bit disappointing, but he shook it off.
"I won't stand with the unjust."
Those who talk big but act slow will stab you in the back eventually.
Regrettable, but cutting ties like this might be best.
As in his previous life.
"Skipping goodbyes too harsh?"
Sorry, but maybe this is fine.
"I'll leave a solid gift behind."
Shrug.
As he raised his sword and stepped forward, he suddenly clicked his tongue.
"Farewells aren't easy either."
With quick strides, figures waiting at the path's end came into view.
"Instructor."
Nangong Yun-ho stood rigidly, carrying his worn pack.
"What if you vanish without a word?"
"Isn't that too heartless?"
Baek Ri-seol and Moyong So-hye too.
Seeing Jegal Tan nervously licking his lips, Chu Un-hwi was stunned.
"What are you kids doing here?"
Nangong Yun-ho tapped his scabbard firmly.
"You said no instructor abandons students and flees."
"Right."
"Same for us."
Nangong Yun-ho shrugged and added.
"No student leaves their instructor behind."
Since when did this kid talk so well?
"We'll follow with resolve to die."
"Ha, well then."
Didn't expect to get owned by rookies.
'Saw them as kids, but underestimated too much.'
He had to correct himself.
'Not exactly like the damned old jianghu.'
With idiots like these around.
A strange, grinning feeling welled up, leaving Chu Un-hwi oddly at a loss for words.
"Temporary Instructor! Take us too!"
Not just them.
Un-ho-seung came panting with Im So-jeong, Dang-gan, the twins.
Behind, stern-faced Moyong Seon-ya and Yeo Mae-hong.
Even the two squad leaders, temporary instructors, and some Silver Hall instructors who'd been ashamed earlier rushed over.
"Baggage changes things."
He'd planned a carefree enemy-slaying spree, but it was doomed from the start.
But.
'Not a bad feeling.'
A cool breeze stirred his parched heart, and a smile crept up.
Since it was like this,
Chu Un-hwi raised his index finger.
"Want this instructor to show you how to utterly crush them?"