Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Back to the Divine Martial Academy (1)
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After the chaotic journey through the martial world came to an end, peace returned to the Divine Martial Academy.
It wasn't complete peace.
The sorrow of losing loved ones wasn't something that could be easily forgotten.
But one thing had changed: the atmosphere among the students.
Having survived life-and-death battles while completing simple missions, the students had produced talents so outstanding that people were calling them the best in history!
And it wasn't just the students who had changed.
Silver Hall Instructor's Office.
Jang Cheol-sim, who had gathered the instructors, briefly relayed the news.
"I know it's been tough on everyone, but just hold on a little longer. There will be a major reorganization soon."
It was somewhat expected.
A significant number of instructors had lost their lives, after all.
"Is there really going to be a reorganization?"
"Last time, there wasn't any solid support, was there?"
"If this is just false hope, please spare us."
The instructors, who had been stuck cleaning up the aftermath, visiting the families of injured students, working overtime into the night, and practically living in the office, raised a clamor.
Even these usually composed individuals were wailing, a sign of how severe the recent workload had been.
But this time, Jang Cheol-sim's response was firm.
"Don't worry. Not only the Ten Great Families but also the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Schools have agreed to send formal disciples."
"The Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Schools?"
Surprise spread among the instructors.
And rightly so, as the disciples of the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Schools were even more reclusive than those of the Ten Great Families.
They typically lived in the mountains and rarely showed themselves in the mundane world, fearing contamination by worldly affairs.
There were rare cases of them entering as students, but because mastering their sect's secret arts was already burdensome, almost no one volunteered to support the instructors who handled mostly menial tasks.
Jang Cheol-sim and Instructor Sim were unusual exceptions.
"They must have acknowledged the gravity of the situation."
Though it had been a painful loss, the performance of the Divine Martial Academy students this time had many impressive aspects.
"They seem to have united in the belief that they need to nurture the next generation. I heard the Alliance Leader persuaded them personally."
"Ah, the Alliance Leader."
Murim Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho usually lived leisurely, but when it mattered, he got things done properly.
"The Chief Supervisor put in a lot of effort too."
But the one who had moved all of the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Schools was a single person's presence.
"Regretting the loss of the Kunlun Sect's secret arts, they are sending precious talents with renewed determination to refine their own arts."
Elder Wang Wu.
He was the last true inheritor of the Kunlun Sect, now even called Grand Master Wang Wu.
"How could those around him be the only ones moved by his heroic display?"
No matter how high the mountain ridges blocked the way, the echo of his life-burning cry had reached everyone's hearts.
"Ahh. Indeed."
As the instructors recalled those empty smiles and reddened their eyes with tears.
Jang Cheol-sim switched back to a stiff, businesslike demeanor as he gathered the official documents and spoke.
"Everyone, you'd better stay on your toes."
Stay on their toes?
"From now on, you'll be competing with instructors from the main branches of the Nine Great Sects."
"No way. Personnel evaluations too?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Ahh—.
Sighs erupted amid the group.
"Everyone, keep up the good work."
Jang Cheol-sim left the instructor's office.
"This is unfair."
Moyong So-hye, walking alongside the grumbling Baek Ri-seol, made ripples with her lips.
"Wasn't this what you wanted? You were happy that fewer assassins were targeting the instructor."
"That was then, but not in this form."
Baek Ri-seol irritably kicked a stone at her toe.
A yelp rang out, and a student turned around with a fierce glare.
"Gasp! Blood Palm Fairy."
He quickly pretended not to notice, creating a heartbreaking scene.
'Why me alone.'
As she made a pouty face, Baek Ri-seol grumbled.
"The criticism is too harsh."
"Indeed, Blood Palm Fairy, Iron Fist of Floating Wealth—the insults really stab at the heart."
"Not that."
With a hmph, she turned her head sharply and held up an index finger.
"It's about our instructor. Isn't the gossip too malicious?"
Moyong So-hye let out an "Ah!" and recalled the rumors tickling her ears.
- A monster who even devoured senior instructors.
- A villain who takes colleagues hostage and doesn't hesitate to use them as shields.
- A lunatic with a broken personality.
'Every word rings true.'
But knowing Baek Ri-seol would get angry, she subtly agreed.
"Honestly, it's a bit harsh."
"I'll be the one devouring the instructor."
"That's what you're mad about?"
"Joking. Actually, I'm worried."
Baek Ri-seol let out a soft sigh.
"He risked his life fighting, but the evaluation is too stingy, don't you think?"
"There is some truth overshadowed by the personality issues."
"They praised him as a hero just a while ago, and now they're subtly trying to sideline him."
"Honestly, that vibe is there."
This had become especially prominent lately.
"They seem jealous more than envious."
"Instructors have nothing better to do."
"Moreover, just recently, a weird rumor circulated among the instructors and students."
"I heard. The one about getting close to the instructor brings misfortune?"
"Yes. They say he has so many enemies that the closer you get, the more disadvantages you'll face."
Some instructors had even advised her to keep her distance.
Even her grandfather was the same.
- Being around that harsh guy is like inviting lightning. He has some skill, but keep a proper distance.
Her older sister, Moyong Seon-ya, had mentioned having drinks with the instructor and endured endless nagging.
'She ended up flipping the table and storming out.'
The instructor's personality issues were even tearing apart harmonious families.
Honestly, it was regrettable but self-inflicted.
'Who punches the Nangong Family Head in front of everyone?'
Having such a person as her guide was a bit worrying.
"Anyway!"
Baek Ri-seol's point was clear.
"The problem is next. Once he becomes a formal instructor, he'll need assigned students, but at this rate, it's doomed."
"Wasn't it doomed before too?"
"This time it's different. The incoming instructors are said to be amazing. Masters from the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Schools, no less."
What about our instructor?
Moyong So-hye asked, seeing her sister's pitiful expression as if it were her own issue.
"If he becomes unemployed, isn't that better for you?"
With the instructor's personality, he'd latch onto somewhere like a leech, and if he freeloading at the Baek Family, it would fulfill her dreams.
But Baek Ri-seol shook her head firmly.
"A unemployed instructor sounds good, but what I want is something else."
"What is it?"
Her face melted into a silly grin, as if imagining something.
"Hehe. I want to hold and comfort the instructor, who comes back crying after being crushed under the heels of those well-born instructors."
"......"
Doomed on this side too?
With a disgusted look, Moyong So-hye drew a line.
"I can't understand sister's husband material at all."
"You're too young. Too young."
It didn't seem like an age issue.
"Fine. Shall we start by warmly hugging the depressed instructor over the bad reviews?"
What if I fall for him at first sight?
Baek Ri-seol fussed dramatically, and Moyong So-hye gave her a reluctant look as the two headed side by side to the Four Rivers Cave marsh in Silver Hall.
"Ah, that?"
Splash.
The instructor, leisurely flicking his fishing rod, spoke.
"It's a rumor I spread."
"Pardon?"
"They kept swarming me annoyingly."
In his utterly lazy voice, the instructor yawned widely.
"Begging for lessons, tips, and such. Not just one or two of those worthless punks."
"...So you spread malicious rumors?"
"Effective, right?"
Moyong So-hye wondered how such an adult could exist, seeing his beaming smile.
"Instructor, aren't you systematically lazy?"
"I'm a busy man."
"You look completely free."
"How would kids understand an adult's circumstances?"
Whoosh!
Reeling in the rod, he looked at the baitless hook and muttered, "Got eaten again."
Wasn't this the epitome of idleness?
"Don't look at me like that. Honestly, I might take a long trip this winter."
"Instructor! You're not running away, are you?!"
As Baek Ri-seol teared up, he laughed haha.
"Just thinking of visiting my hometown."
"Oh my. So the instructor has a hometown."
"That's surprising. I thought someone like you hatched from an egg floating on water."
Or crawled out slimy from the gates of hell.
"...So-hye. What kind of person am I in your head?"
"Well, the idea of you having normal parents is more surprising."
Since you seem to have received zero family education!
She thought it logical, but the instructor quickly grew gloomy.
"This kid's words are too harsh. Your fists are scary, but your mouth is scarier."
"Whose fault is that?!"
Moyong So-hye snapped back and yelled in frustration.
"If you spread the rumors, then the other one you heard is your doing too?"
"What rumor?"
"Bronze Hall's Blood Fist goes berserk if he doesn't drink human blood every day."
"Yeah. That's one I spread."
Yeon Ho-seung did well.
"You can't go anywhere now. The instructors eyeing you have started avoiding you."
"Demon! Instructor is a demon!"
"Heh heh. It'll boost my record until graduation!"
"Ughhh. Instructor is mean!"
As Moyong So-hye burst into tears, Baek Ri-seol clicked her tongue for once and took her side.
"Did you hear the news?"
Jegal Tan, who appeared next, had an oddly flushed face.
"What news?"
"An instructor from the Huashan Sect is arriving soon."
"Really? That's fast."
"Apparently stopping by the Murim Alliance to join. And it's a Plum Blossom Sword Saint."
Plum Blossom Sword Saint?
Those who mastered the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques were counted among Huashan's elites.
Plum Blossom Sword Saint was a title given only to those with exceptional attainment.
"Tan. For real? A Plum Blossom Sword Saint can emanate sword qi with just a single reed."
A level incomparable to Silver Hall instructors.
It wouldn't be strange if they aimed for Gold Hall—no, Divine Hall senior instructor positions.
"Damn it. Why are these hotshots eyeing our rice bowls?"
This wasn't just intensifying competition. Jegal Tan summed it up briefly.
"Isn't this ecosystem destruction level?"
The competitors were too strong.
No matter how hard one tried, an instructor scraping the bottom in evaluations due to demerits couldn't compete.
"It's fine. They're all crap."
"Instructor, your lip is twitching."
Thwack!
Jegal Tan, who poked his head in, took a hit to the eye socket and fell on his butt.
"......"
Strong denial equals affirmation, as they say?
But no one stepped forward to point it out.
'Sigh. He stuck his neck out and got punished again.'
'Serves him right. Feels good.'
'Jegal brother is smart but hopeless with the instructor...'
They all blamed their reckless comrade.
The result of hot camaraderie clashing with survival fervor.
"Quiet. Self-study today."
As always, declaring neglect, the instructor said.
"But don't make footsteps. You'll scare the fish away."
Returning to their peaceful routine, the four dispersed into the marsh.
Splash.
Staring at the bobber dancing on the water surface, he recalled a recent memory.
"I prepared this because I thought the young master would be curious."
In the pale moonlight, Yo-ran smiled disheveledly and murmured a name with her red lips.
"Just as that man called Wind Guest said."
Beyond the desert. News from the New Frontier was hard to believe.
"It seems the Blood Cult has fallen to the Mangcheon Society."