Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Divine Martial Academy New Instructor (2)
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Ma Gil-sang turned and left.
He gave everything a quick once-over, wore an inscrutable expression, and vanished without a word.
Thanks to that, Bronze Hall—now rid of the tiger—regained its original clamor.
"Ah. My. God."
"Sweeping and scrubbing since morning's got my back all twisted."
"If he was just gonna leave without a word, why bother assembling everyone?"
As the instructors grumbled, Bronze Hall Master Chung-hyun eyed the appointment letter with half-lidded eyes.
"So... your name is Chu Un-hwi?"
"Yes, that's correct."
His crisp response and upright posture made him seem fairly competent.
Even so, Chung-hyun couldn't shake off his unease.
'He seems pretty diligent, so why the chills?'
Having raised countless students over the years, he'd developed a keen eye for people.
Right now, looking at the man before him, he felt an ominous premonition on the level of utter disaster.
'Let's see here.'
There was nothing particularly off about him.
His uniform looked cheap but was neatly pressed and clean. His hair was neatly combed back and tied.
The only flaw, if any, was his long bangs half-covering his face, making him look a bit stuffy.
But that was just a matter of taste.
'His limbs... pretty slender.'
Too slim to be those of someone trained in martial arts.
'Is he really a first-rate master?'
There was no mistake. Divine Martial Academy wasn't so lenient as to appoint someone who could fake their skills.
Chung-hyun asked,
"Uh... you're twenty-five?"
"Yes, that's right."
"You look pretty young."
"It's a family trait—we age well!"
"I-is that so?"
"I hate to brag, but despite appearances, I'm a fine, upstanding man who's ready for marriage anytime."
Ah, I see.
Chung-hyun asked again.
"What about your sect?"
"I was instructed by Pure Sword Sect."
"Pure Sword Sect... Never heard of it."
"It's a backwater sect with zero fame, so that's no surprise."
"Even so, for them to produce a first-rate master like you, they must be pretty solid..."
"It's because I was exceptional!"
"......"
What was this?
People usually tried to boast about their sects somehow.
Even if it was a ragged beggar sect, they'd scrape for something to brag about.
But this guy had none of that.
He seemed to live off his own greatness.
Chung-hyun had a gut feeling.
'Ah, he's a lunatic.'
This guy was a lunatic.
A proper lunatic had arrived as a new instructor.
His head began to ache.
"Ugh. Got it. You're dismissed. Yeom Gwang!"
"Yes, Hall Master."
"Have Squad Leader Yeom take this fellow and explain the details. Assign him a few Bronze Hall uniforms too!"
"Yes, Hall Master."
Yeom Gwang was a squad leader.
Squad leaders oversaw all instructors. While Chung-hyun handled administration, squad leaders directed the instructors' duties as superiors.
Yeom Gwang, the toad-like merchant, was as unlikable and perfunctory as he looked.
"This is the training ground."
He strode ahead briskly.
"And that's the mess hall."
He jerked his chin in a half-hearted explanation.
"Dorms are here. Use the room at the very end of the fifth floor."
Casual speech was par for the course.
As Chu Un-hwi stared silently, Yeom Gwang scowled.
"What? Got a problem?"
"No, sir. Bronze Hall is pretty spacious, though. Just the training ground and dorms?"
"Figure the rest out slowly on your own."
Suddenly switching to casual speech.
"Top floor for the dorms?"
"You think I'd huff and puff up there at my age?"
He'd thought it was a room with a nice view, but it was actually the most inconvenient floor.
'Great scenery, though. Won't get boring.'
Perfect for escaping, too.
As he instinctively scanned the surroundings and mapped an escape route, Yeom Gwang turned.
"Ptooey!"
He spat with a thwack and planted his feet wide.
"Un-hwi, was it?"
"Chu Un-hwi, sir."
"Chu whatever, Un-hwi."
He grimaced, twitching his lips.
"You got connections?"
"What brought that on?"
"First time I've seen that heavy-ass Ma Gil-sang come calling."
"Who knows. First time meeting the man."
"Maybe some mix-up. Makes sense— no reason for the Blade Demon to care about a new instructor."
Muttering to himself and nodding in satisfaction, Yeom Gwang scowled even more.
"Whatever. Thinking about how you made us sweep up this morning grinds my teeth."
Turning threateningly, Yeom Gwang growled.
"Looks like you've lived easy relying on some half-baked martial arts, but watch yourself now that you're at Divine Martial Academy."
What was he supposed to do?
Chu Un-hwi shrugged as Yeom Gwang trudged away.
Thud.
Entering the room at the far end of the fifth floor, the musty scent of dust tickled his nose.
"Pretty rundown room."
It was small, too.
Bare, without a single decoration.
Just a barely-there bed, a desk, and a low table.
He approached and patted the bed—tap tap—sending dust billowing up.
"Not just unclean—totally abandoned."
From the dust caked on the floor to the window frame blanketed in gray.
Hard to believe it was meant for living.
"Guess I should tidy up first."
Chu Un-hwi raised his hand.
Surprisingly, a small gust swirled around his hands.
Whooo.
With a slight motion, the deeply embedded dust rose with the wind, trailing his hand like a Milky Way.
If anyone had seen this, they'd rub their eyes in disbelief.
Any decent master could stir wind with inner energy.
But controlling the wind itself to reach every corner at will was no ordinary feat.
A technique beyond human limits in qi control.
"Hah."
Extending his hand, the floating dust formed a line and flew out the window.
"Gotta shake out the bedding, too."
Paang!
He pinched one corner of the blanket with his index finger and flicked it into the air—it was spotless in an instant.
The dusty room vanished, leaving only an antique charm.
Truly astonishing.
Finishing in a flash, Chu Un-hwi unpacked his bundle.
It was a modest grass-woven sack, but its contents were anything but ordinary.
"Great Reversion Pill goes here."
The ornate, sealed box held the Great Reversion Pill, called Shaolin's Priceless Treasure.
For a martial artist, it granted a decade of inner energy; for a commoner, lifelong health.
A legendary elixir.
And that was just the start.
"Seven Steps Instant Death Poison here, and Glass Flying Dagger there."
The legendary poison that killed before seven steps, and the fabled hidden weapon, rolled out casually.
The shabby sack overflowed with treasures empires couldn't buy.
"Good enough."
He shoved the items under the bed and lay down.
Squeak.
The bed creaked, but it felt pretty good.
Finally arriving at his goal lifted his spirits.
"I'm finally here."
It had taken five whole years.
Five years since regaining his life.
The road ahead was long, but he'd taken a crucial step.
Perhaps that's why.
He slept soundly for the first time in ages.
The sweetest sleep in a century.
"Did you meet him?"
In the Hall Master's office, deepest in Divine Martial Academy, White-Clothed Judge Seon In-hyeok awaited Flame Light Blade Demon Ma Gil-sang.
Two absolute masters together was no small affair.
Especially over a new instructor—how many would believe it?
Ma Gil-sang replied,
"I did."
"What did you think?"
"Nothing particularly unusual. Doesn't seem to practice demonic arts."
"Really? Pretty ordinary for someone Beggar Elder wanted us to watch."
In truth, Ma Gil-sang's visit to Bronze Hall was at Seon In-hyeok's request.
His signature art, Asura Flame Blade, was pure yang energy.
It had a hidden trait: instantly detecting demonic arts, like the sun banishing darkness.
Ma Gil-sang nodded.
"More than the art's origin, his skill level raises doubts. His hands show no training scars."
"Could be left-handed."
"Both hands were pristine. No calluses, not even a scratch."
"Not common, but not impossible."
Some warriors grew wild through battle; others trained safely like greenhouse flowers.
"His skill is guaranteed by Beggar Elder, so no mistake there."
"Doesn't matter, right? Even if appointed, if he's lacking, he won't last at Divine Martial Academy. Temperamental students will expose him quick."
"Agreed. Our students are the world's geniuses. No fool could handle them."
Time would reveal his true ability.
"Still, I'm looking forward to it. As you know, mastering martial arts and teaching them are worlds apart."
Ma Gil-sang smiled bitterly.
Many great masters excelled at self-cultivation but flopped at teaching.
He himself had despaired over disciples who never improved, no matter the explanation.
—Like this! Like this! That's how it's done!
—When gathering energy, feel like swallowing the sun!
—Why can't you do something this simple!
Recalling those disciples, he smiled wryly.
"Hope he has teaching talent."
"Thanks anyway. Appreciate you making time."
And with that, the matter of the new instructor faded away.