Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: News from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains (3)
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Neung Pung-un's claim was simple.
"Make it so the academy's budget office doesn't even dream of cutting funds."
His low but unobtrusive voice continued with passion.
"Why? The reason the budget office obsesses over cuts."
It's all because of performance evaluations.
"Instructors get rated on their students' growth, but the budget clerks get judged on how much they slash expenses."
Savings only! Savings!
Savings is the sole path to their high marks.
"Then think the opposite. What makes them get low evaluations?"
When budgets suddenly skyrocket.
Bang!
Pounding the table with his fist, the future Murim Alliance leader—the prodigy of the righteous sects—shouted.
"Attack is the best defense! Before they can cut budgets, flood them with new budget requests!"
At his cry, Yeo Mae-hong shot up her hand.
"Instructor Neung. Budget requests almost never get approved. Is this feasible?"
"Heh heh. The real goal is to bury them in reviews so they're too swamped to breathe."
"Fair point. If approvals pile up, they'll have less time to nitpick cuts."
Moyong Seon-ya added her question after some thought.
"...Not a bad idea, but spamming proposals will just breed resentment from the budget office."
"Of course, they need solid justifications. Plausible reasons they can't dismiss out of hand."
And that's not all.
"There's someone with connections in the budget office. A little nudge..."
The words that followed were deviously cunning schemes.
Listening made it feel fortunate they'd chosen this cozy private room.
'If it'd been somewhere public, eavesdroppers would've shown up.'
What if a budget clerk had overheard? Might've ended in hair-pulling brawls?
Sip. Sip.
As they drained the liquor and snacks.
Impressed, Yeo Mae-hong and Moyong Seon-ya clapped like seals and cheered.
"Brilliant! Such an ingenious plan!"
"We won't go down alone! Everyone sinks together!"
Watching them, it felt like society corrupting two people in real time—left a bitter taste.
'Dear lord. Not the last Murim Alliance leader, but the last Murim villain?'
The schemes to screw over the budget office were so inventive and wicked that even one success might turn it into an eternal beacon of flames.
No wonder Yeo Mae-hong joked amid the drinks.
"Great we found a solution, but I feel more depraved by the day."
To her, Moyong Seon-ya advised.
"Once you're in this game, corruption's inevitable. If you're falling, better as a villain with deep pockets."
The gathering broke up right then.
"Thanks, Instructor Neung!"
Grinning wickedly, Moyong Seon-ya bundled up the papers of nefarious plots and bounced out.
"I'll repay the favor later!"
Yeo Mae-hong followed suit.
'Really just business talk and gone.'
From someone who'd hoped for deep conversation with the handsome Neung Pung-un, it felt hollow.
"Why'd I even come here?"
Her self-mocking mutter drew a wry smile from Neung Pung-un.
"That's exactly what I want to say."
"?"
"There's a limit to being clueless."
Clearing aside the abandoned glasses, Neung Pung-un shook the remaining bottle.
"Anyway, feels like I'm back at the academy after ages."
"You helped a ton."
"I'm one of you for a while, so aiding colleagues is natural. And..."
Filling the glasses, Neung Pung-un's voice softened a touch.
"...Not sure how long this leisure lasts."
"Any news?"
"Nah, nothing big."
Clink.
Toasting, he said.
"Someone presumed to be an apostle was spotted again."
"Faster than expected."
"Lucky side? Seems he went into hiding from the Iron Chain Alliance's pursuit."
Tasked with hunting the apostle, Neung Pung-un wore a strange expression.
"Good we found an evil targeting the jianghu, but knowing I might leave anytime leaves a void."
"Eh, over something like that."
"Especially after meeting someone worth bonding with."
He winked one eye; Chu Un-hwi smirked.
"Save winks for ladies."
Gonna gouge those eyes.
"Haha. Such a harsh senior."
Gulp.
Draining his glass, Neung Pung-un grinned.
"Can't tell you how delightful it is making memories like this before leaving. Honestly, my sect folk rarely drink, and other instructors get awkwardly wary."
Downside of the Plum Blossom Sword Master's name?
"You seem to mingle fine."
"Confident in my social side. But few I can bare my heart to and chat freely with."
Especially.
Neung Pung-un winked again.
"Rarely anyone overwhelms me like this and treats without designs, right?"
Snap!
Chu Un-hwi flung his chopsticks; Neung Pung-un dodged swiftly, laughing.
"Haha. Truly merciless. That's why I like you, senior."
"Shut it and drink."
"Yes, yes, Senior."
Clink!
Back in his seat, Neung Pung-un toasted once more.
Next day, morning.
After a rare night in the dorms, Chu Un-hwi trudged toward the swamp.
"Instructor Chu!"
En route, Bronze Squad Leader Yang Dae-cheol waved from afar.
"..."
Stopping to stare blankly, Yang ran over himself.
"Come here, didn't I say?"
"...Too far; didn't spot you."
"Just a hundred paces?"
Laziness blocked my eyes and ears.
Appending that drew dry chuckles; he launched into complaints.
"Hyeon is so frosty."
Seemed the fallout from the comet-like handsome instructor's arrival was still brewing between lovers.
"That's all you wanted?"
As Chu Un-hwi tried to pass, Yang blocked again.
"So impatient."
Pointing aside, he said.
"Look. What do you make of them?"
His fingertip aimed at two students sparring fist arts amid a dozen onlookers.
Bam! Bam bam!
No inner power loaded, yet the whooshes rang sharp—even audible from a hundred paces.
"Impressive, right?"
"Somehow mimicking fist techniques decently."
"High praise from you, given past ratings."
To his hollow laugh, Chu Un-hwi asked.
"Seem to know real hitting. How'd you snag them?"
Even as Bronze Squad Leader, here in Silver Hall he was just a temp instructor.
In a hall crawling with flashy pedigreed skilled formals, wearing 'temp' meant quality students rarely sought guidance.
"Haha. Actually my long-term concern students. Back then, barely scraping passing."
"Look solid for that."
Just those whooshes cleared Silver Hall average.
Hard to buy as recent concerns—leaps ahead.
Then Yang Squad Leader dropped the unexpected.
"Hesitate saying amid so many dead and hurt, but the jianghu excursion disaster lit a fire under the students."
"True, surviving life-or-death forges strength."
"Arrogant stubbornness mostly vanished too."
"That's good."
By measure, pointless pride hindered Silver growth most.
Gone alone was progress.
What followed was intriguing.
"Low-key students suddenly awakening, surging ahead."
"Really?"
"Sorry to the departed—we hush it—but instructors whisper a historic golden generation incoming."
Come to think, Yeo Mae-hong had mentioned offhand.
- Standouts popping up left and right. Silver rankings in chaos.
Eye-opening growth.
Kids that age rub eyes and boom?
Similar words, but unlike Yeo Mae-hong, Yang Squad Leader added counsel.
"You should tense up too."
"Huh?"
"Gotta compete with this year's explosive growers. Plus old faction instructors eyeing them ain't few."
Oh yeah?
"Hmm. Tough call..."
Muttering drew Baek Ri-seol scampering from the Sichuan Cave swamp entrance.
"What dilemma? Your diligent student Baek Ri-seol's here for counsel!"
"Mess hall tonight: beef stir-fry or pork steam—which?"
"Tch! Eat both!"
"Good. All in today."
Dilemma shrugged off, she whined aggrieved.
"Mean! Wanted deep, sincere, intimate talk!"
Baek Ri-seol grumbled the whole trek inward.
Flick.
"Kyaa!"
Flicking her nose-tip drew a shrill squeak.
"Uing."
Recalling Yang Squad Leader's advice while she clutched her nose, teary-eyed.
'Skills improve, still same old.'
Glancing at sniffling Baek Ri-seol up close.
Her dazzling looks shone brighter daily, speech cuter, growth evident.
'Even White Human Cave survivors from the Demonic Cult wouldn't match this.'
Hundred enter, handful emerge alive from White Human Cave.
Veterans of bloodbaths and brink-of-death—even they lagged her now.
'Fed her spirit pills laced with Great Return Pill; inner power holds firm.'
Baek Ri-seol, new to arts, wouldn't know—but her power neared one full cycle.
In Silver Hall, mid-teens hitting that: countable on fingers.
Big sect or house heirs barely managed.
'Add talent and effort? Losing's the challenge.'
Moreover, she trained Phoenix Flame Heaven Dance.
Art of a woman who'd claimed world's top—future boomed brighter.
'Practical spars lacking was the one snag.'
She'd crammed survival lore, patched via recent true battle.
She thrived in combat too.
'Average inches; she sprints.'
Eying the self-sprouting achievement tree, Chu Un-hwi let slip a sly leer.
"Heh heh heh."
Grinning head-to-toe, she hugged herself, squirming.
"Um... heart not ready yet."
Her words acted wed with kids, but timidity lingered.
"You rascal."
"Ow!"
Another nose-flick; clutching, she scampered deeper into the swamp.
Moyong So-hye inside, halting her fist forms, spotted the perp like a bailiff nabbing fourteen felons and yelled.
"Ah! Evil instructor bullying big sis!"
Bullying what.
"Waaah. So-hye. Instructor too rough~."
"Scram! Shoo shoo!"
Like chasing a rabid dog with air punches, Chu Un-hwi muttered chuckling.
'Yeah. Gonna be busy awhile, but gotta mind these two.'
Resolved, Chu Un-hwi clapped.
"Been ages—time to check your progress, everyone."
Assemble!