Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 8 The Third Student (1)
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These past few days had been a string of peaceful days.
Chung-hyun was beaming, and even the instructors who had been cursing at his unexpected exploits were now looking at him with renewed eyes.
"Shall we go together? I know a good place."
Some even invited him out for drinks.
It was quite different from the past, when Yeom Gwang's scrutiny meant he couldn't even join a group dinner without getting glares.
But Chu Un-hwi couldn't just smile carefree.
"Instructor!"
Seeing Baek Ri-seol waving her hand and smiling, Chu Un-hwi let out a deep sigh.
"Baek Ri-seol of Bronze Hall! She's returned!"
No sooner had she recovered than she came straight to the training ground where he was, looking far more energetic than before.
She was so full of energy it was like a colt that had swallowed a spring牡丹.
It was good that she'd recovered so quickly from quite a grueling ordeal.
"Instructor! How should I execute this technique?"
"Try it like this—it might work even better."
"How's that? Is it okay?"
Having regained her confidence, she was starting to grow noticeably—that was a plus too.
Of course it was.
Her mindset was entirely different now that her talent had awakened, compared to when she'd gripped her sword out of desperation after losing hope.
He even helped her out in his own way.
"Seol-ah. Do you know the name of this swordsmanship?"
"Well... When it was passed down to me, not only the cover but most of the text was erased. Is the name of the swordsmanship important?"
"Of course. Swordsmanship names usually encapsulate the will that permeates the techniques."
"Like how Tai Chi Sword Radiance embodies the circle of Tai Chi, or Plum Blossom Swordsmanship expresses the scattering of plum blossoms."
"You know it well."
The name of a swordsmanship is the thread that runs through the martial art.
There was no comparing learning it knowingly versus blindly.
Having seen the completed form of this swordsmanship in the past—or the future—he felt it a shame not to tell her, so Chu Un-hwi explained.
"This martial art's name is Phoenix Flame Heaven Dance."
"Not White Crane Swordsmanship?"
He had once, while teaching her the fourth and fifth techniques, mentioned unfolding the swordsmanship like the elegant crane.
She must have remembered that.
'Well, that was just an excuse to keep the full manual out of Ryeong-ryeong's hands.'
Now that Baek Ri-seol was fully awakened, it was time to teach her properly.
"Rather than practicing the techniques thinking of the white crane, it would be better to contemplate the ultimate being above it."
"The being above it?"
"The legendary divine beast, the phoenix."
The being of calamity and immortality, also called the Vermilion Bird.
"The reason I'm telling you this is that this martial art isn't mere swordsmanship—it's in the form of a sword dance flowing in a single breath."
Along with the explanation, he passed on the perfected inner cultivation method.
Baek Ri-seol, peering at the neatly written characters, suddenly jumped in surprise.
"Wait... Phoenix Flame Dance! Don't tell me!"
Her eyes widened like saucers. Chu Un-hwi nodded.
"It's what you're thinking."
The master from a hundred years ago who had aimed for supremacy over the world despite being a woman.
"Flame Flower Divine Maiden Jang Ok-bin."
"!"
"Our little secret, okay?"
So, train diligently on your own.
You're like my performance tree that grows best alone.
...That had been just a week ago.
"Instructor!"
Now, seeing her unleash increasingly refined techniques with a smile, he let out sigh after sigh.
'Already at the third-star realm.'
This wasn't ordinary martial arts—it was an exclusive art of a previous-generation master, yet she was mastering it this quickly.
As expected of the talent the Crimson Flame Witch had coveted for over a decade.
The problem was that her rapid progress meant he had to keep watch by her side.
Her talent was exceptional, but since she'd started late, he couldn't take his eyes off her even when she practiced alone, lest something go wrong.
And that led to a problem.
"At this rate, when will I ever finish patrolling all of Bronze Hall?"
Instead of time to seek out courtesans, he was stuck at the training ground—Chu Un-hwi was burning inside.
***
"Instructor."
Today too, as he hurried to clock out, Nangong Yun-ho approached.
"Heading home?"
"Why? Jealous?"
At his sharp glare, Nangong Yun-ho waved his hands.
"No, not at all. I was just..."
As he hesitated, Chu Un-hwi sighed deeply and said,
"You're doing well."
"...Pardon?"
"No need to feel inferior watching Baek Ri-seol. She's a different type from you—her learning style is just different. Everyone has their own pace, so don't worry."
Nangong Yun-ho's expression lightened.
"Thank you for the advice. That wasn't what I came to talk about, but it puts my mind at ease."
"So, what's the other matter?"
"Do you remember the friend I mentioned before?"
Come to think of it.
He had said a friend from Silver Hall had caused some trouble and he was worried.
"I do. What about him?"
It was a story he'd quickly forgotten.
A mere Silver Hall student who wouldn't contribute to his performance wasn't worth remembering.
But an unexpected tale came out.
"My friend might end up coming to Bronze Hall."
"Huh? From Silver Hall to Bronze Hall? Usually, you move up to higher divisions, right?"
If you're not skilled enough to promote, you don't get demoted to a lower division—that was unheard of.
Like Nangong Yun-ho himself.
The Divine Martial Academy's policy was that shit philosophy of teaching entrants to the bitter end, unless they quit from exhaustion.
But there were exceptions, apparently.
"Well... There are circumstances."
"Fine by me, as long as it's a student who won't be a hassle."
He needed one more student anyway.
He had no intention of refusing even if they were a bit lacking.
Nangong Yun-ho smiled happily.
"Great. That's a relief."
"But if they bother me, I'll kick them out."
"My friend would understand that much."
"Good. Then I'll make time later to meet them. I'm off now?"
"Someone who won't be a hassle... For someone like that."
As he bolted out at full speed for clock-out, a chilling presence approached from behind those seeing him off.
"I have a question."
Turning, he saw Baek Ri-seol staring at him with a cold expression.
"Ah, Miss Baek."
"Where are you off to, Instructor?"
Her voice was flat, her gaze icy. She seemed like a completely different person from moments ago.
Nangong Yun-ho, knowing she was usually like this outside Chu Un-hwi's sight—and even more variable lately—swallowed a wry smile and answered.
"At this hour, he's probably heading to the cafeteria."
"The cafeteria?"
"He usually hangs out there after clocking out."
"I thought he ate not long ago..."
"He goes to the cafeteria out of habit. Even if he doesn't eat, he sits at the entrance and kills time."
Baek Ri-seol's eyes narrowed.
"Hmm... And then?"
"Well, before or after duty, I've heard he prowls the training grounds or dark corners."
"I see."
Her eyes narrowed further. She looked like a cat that had often had snacks stolen, grown distrustful of its owner.
'Why is Miss Baek acting like this?'
Not that he could know.
***
At that moment.
As Nangong Yun-ho predicted, Chu Un-hwi was loitering at the cafeteria entrance, passing time.
As serving time ended, he knew today was another bust.
"None today either."
Haa.
Nothing was going right.
"Well, maybe it's to be expected."
She was the woman who had fought back-to-back with him against the Heaven-Defying Society.
No matter how young, she wouldn't be a Bronze Hall student among those with inferior talents.
"If I'd known, I should've asked more about her childhood stories."
It was regrettable.
Of course, there were reasons.
They'd met as enemies at first, so he had no interest in her background.
She was someone he'd kill and forget. No need to know a corpse's past.
The problem was the Heaven-Defying Society rearing up unexpectedly, changing everything.
Yesterday's enemy became today's ally, today's ally tomorrow's enemy.
In the chaos of blood washing blood, there was no need for chit-chat.
When wounded and shaken, they just stood shoulder-to-shoulder, facing the same direction, raising swords at the same foes—that was enough.
"...My ass!"
Chu Un-hwi kicked a stone and clawed at his hair.
"I should've at least learned her name!"
He knew her name.
The problem was it was the name she'd changed to evade the Heaven-Defying Society.
He knew why she'd changed it but hadn't pried.
They trusted each other so deeply they'd used nicknames only.
Honestly, communicating with just eye contact felt cool and profound.
Like they were special to each other—that vibe.
"What vibe! There was nothing!"
Waak!
Die, past me.
To attain the Way, kill the Buddha if you meet him, kill Confucius if you meet him—something like that?
If he could get news of her, he'd kill his past self a hundred times over.
But he couldn't obtain it, couldn't kill— that was the issue.
Chu Un-hwi lamented.
"All I know is she was around that ambiguous age, and her looks..."
He didn't know her name.
Didn't know her exact age.
All he remembered was teasing her as younger?
If her face had changed with growth, he might not recognize her.
"No, that's not it. We spent plenty of days together..."
Using a stick to scratch her facial outline on the ground, Chu Un-hwi muttered.
"I'll definitely recognize her. Even if she passes by, I'll know. Yeah, absolutely."
The drawing got smudged.
In conclusion, Chu Un-hwi had no idea who she was.
That was why, upon opening his eyes in this life, he'd given up searching with people, sorted his affairs, and rushed to the Divine Martial Academy.
"She was definitely here now."
He just needed to meet her face-to-face.
Shaking off impure thoughts with full force, Chu Un-hwi muttered.
"I haven't checked all the students yet, so if I wait..."
About 70%.
That was the proportion of students he'd discreetly checked so far.
He'd covered most, but the issue was progress had slowed unlike before.
Room-bound shut-ins didn't even come to the cafeteria for meals or the training grounds.
What a pity.
"Grk. First, finish checking everyone."
Even shut-ins had to attend the group training every half-year.
Calming his boiling frustration, he pondered where to go next when he sensed footsteps.
"Oh? Isn't that Instructor Chu?"
It was Moyong Seon-ya.
Apparently just clocking out in uniform, she'd spotted him passing by.
"Instructor Moyong? Weren't you with Instructor Yeo?"
"Ah, Mae-hong got suddenly called away with Squad Leader Yeom."
With Yeom Gwang?
Come to think of it, Yeom Gwang was the type to flirt hard with Yeo Mae-hong.
'Up to something again?'
Reading his silent thoughts, Moyong Seon-ya shook her head.
"No need to worry. Senior instructors got summoned en masse due to a sudden incident."
"I wasn't particularly worried."
Moyong Seon-ya smirked and continued.
"Anyway, my plans fell through right when I was in a bind—perfect timing. Want to grab a meal together? With drinks?"
"I was just about to eat..."
"I'll pay."
"...somewhere."
At his quick retort, Moyong Seon-ya pouted playfully.
"Great timing then. I had something to ask you anyway."