Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 13: Midterm Exam (3)
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Baek Ri-seol swiftly claimed victory in six consecutive matches.
The matches didn't last long.
Before even one breath had passed, the opponent admitted defeat upon seeing their own sword flying away helplessly.
Truly like a flower wielding a sword.
"Hahaha. A complete victory."
Baek Ri-seon-ho racked his brains as he watched Baek Ri-seol descend the stage without so much as a backward glance, as if it were only natural.
'I'm not seeing things. What incredible talent. Not even all the resources of the main family would be too much for her.'
Watching the sparring had washed away Infinite Pavilion's worries in an instant.
Having a talent like that as a child made even Baek Ri-seon-ho's blunders forgivable.
'They say she created the White Crane Swordsmanship on her own?'
Her aptitude for martial arts went without saying, and at such a young age, she had the genius to complete a half-formed sword art. Top-tier in every way.
Considering her age, it was impossible to even imagine how far she might grow.
'Perhaps in my lifetime, I can see the Baek Family stand tall over the world once more.'
Baek Ri-seon-ho couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.
In the meantime, Nangong Yun-ho, Jegal Tan, and Baek Ri-seol continued their winning streaks one after another.
Dung-dung-dung-dung.
The matches pressed on relentlessly.
There were a few noteworthy students among the others, but having witnessed the trio's performances, it was inevitable that things felt a bit dull by comparison.
Sensing the waning excitement, Ma Gil-sang asked,
"Squad Leader Duggo Yul. Are those three the only ones under Instructor Chu's charge?"
Duggo Yul replied calmly.
"There's one more. But since it's bare-handed combat, their appearance is running a bit late."
"I see. And what might that student's name be?"
"Student Moyong So-hye."
Those who had already been impressed by the earlier matches naturally turned to Moyong Zhu, the observer from the Moyong Family, with words of praise.
"Can't wait to see how impressively the Moyong Family's child performs."
"Haha. Even that stubborn instructor was full of admiration? I wonder what she'll show us..."
"Oh my. We should congratulate you in advance."
Moyong Zhu, drawing all eyes, cupped his hands with a broad smile.
"Haha. Your words alone are thanks enough."
His inner thoughts were a bit different.
'Heh heh heh. Our So-hye made even that stubborn instructor praise her endlessly?'
According to Duggo Yul, she was top-tier as an instructor but had an unpredictable personality and unconventional teaching methods.
'For someone like that to praise our So-hye until his mouth went dry.'
She was a granddaughter he cherished more than his own eyes. An orphan who had lost her parents, she had always tugged at his heartstrings.
Though the talk of her martial talent brought back memories of her late parents in vain, now was the time to enjoy.
"Haha. I truly look forward to seeing what she shows us."
Moyong Zhu was simply in high spirits.
Dung-dung-dung-dung.
Swordsmanship matches concluded, and bare-handed combat followed.
"Student Moyong So-hye. Fourth sparring stage."
At Duggo Yul's words, all eyes in the special viewing area turned to the fourth stage.
But oddly enough...
"Huh? What's going on here?"
"They're forfeiting without even fighting?"
"Bronze Hall Master. Don't your students have any spirit?"
Chung-hyun's face flushed red at this.
Not once or twice, but three forfeits in a row.
For the students he taught to avoid sparring was a humiliating disgrace that left him speechless even with two mouths.
"These days' students have no grit at all."
"No wonder there are no combat-ready talents."
"Is Bronze Hall particularly lacking? Righteous factions shouldn't lack chivalry like this."
As the evaluations bordering on reprimands continued and Chung-hyun's face turned beet red as if it might burst...
"Oh. This student isn't backing down."
"Of course they shouldn't."
Finally, Moyong So-hye's match was underway.
"Here it begins."
"Haha. Let's see what she shows..."
As attention focused, Moyong Zhu tilted his head watching Moyong So-hye take her stance on the stage.
"Was there a stance like that in the main family?"
No matter how he thought, he didn't recall it.
'Does it matter? As long as she shows a splendid performance.'
What mattered was his proud granddaughter shining brightly.
Dung-dung-dung-dung.
The drum sounded.
And the scene that followed was utterly unlike what he had imagined.
"Uh..."
"Hm..."
"...That, that..."
The special viewing area, brimming with anticipation moments ago, fell silent as if doused with cold water.
"Sh-shouldn't we stop that?"
"This is a spar! A spar!"
"Hey! Referee! The kid's gonna die!"
"Referee, you bastard! Stop it now!"
It was truly brutal.
Moyong Zhu's face, smiling just moments before, had drained to a deathly pallor.
His gaze fixed on his granddaughter, who stood with her back turned, fists dangling loosely.
The opponent who had charged the instant the drum sounded lay sprawled at her feet, limbs crumpled like a rag doll.
Face-down, so his features were hidden, but the pool of blood spreading from his nose was considerable.
No reaction at all—he must have lost consciousness completely.
Beside him, his adorable granddaughter's shoulders heaved up and down.
Her fists hung limp, dripping blood in steady drops.
"Hic. Sniff."
Whether she was choking back sobs or venting frustration from the dull match before, it was hard to tell.
"Forfeit!"
"Forfeit! We forfeit!"
"Mercy! Forfeit!"
Red flags shot up everywhere. The special viewing area's evaluations had shifted too.
"They should forfeit."
"What kind of spar is that?"
"Wise people know when to back off sometimes."
A sense of distance crept in from those who had offered blessings just moments ago.
Moyong Zhu covered his face with both hands.
'Instructor Chu. You bastard...'
What talent did you see in my precious granddaughter?
Moyong Zhu ground his teeth.
Unlike the special viewing area, evaluations of the matches continued in the general seats as well.
'Thank you.'
Chu Un-hwi chuckled softly as Nangong Yun-ho bowed toward them.
Envious glances from the instructors followed.
"Student Nangong Yun-ho's achievements stand out head and shoulders above the rest."
"His mastery of Divine Martial Swordsmanship seems to surpass the norm."
"He can even manifest sword aura. Just recently, he couldn't even grasp the forms properly..."
"His promotion this year is all but certain, wouldn't you say?"
Sword aura manifestation.
The mark of a proper second-rate swordsman.
But perhaps due to his age nearing twenty, the instructors' praise stopped there.
"Grind. Grind."
With Yeom Gwang visibly irritated on the side, the others held their tongues.
For Yeom Gwang, it grated to see a talent he'd written off surging ahead.
'Damn it. What to do about that punk?'
He wanted to eliminate him right there, but the sharp killing intent from the equipment room before made him hesitate.
'I have to make a move somehow...'
As he swallowed his irritation, another drumbeat echoed.
Dung-dung-dung-dung.
"Student Baek Ri-seol. Victory!"
Dung-dung-dung-dung.
Flutter!
"Student Jegal Tan. Victory!"
Their clean winning streaks, as if on another level entirely, twisted his guts.
What irritated him even more was...
"Well, an obvious result."
That insufferable slacker's self-praise.
There was more to irk his nerves.
Dung-dung-dung-dung.
Flutter!
"Sa-son! Defeat!"
Sa-son of Eternal Sword House, whom he'd invested in heavily, barely lost in his fifth match.
"Grrrr."
Meanwhile, in the following bare-handed combat, that annoying punk's student was racking up wins by default.
"Forfeit! Forfeit!"
"Eek! We forfeit!"
'Agh, my neck.'
His stomachache had turned into skyrocketing blood pressure.
'Everything goes wrong when that guy's involved!'
As he massaged his stiff neck to calm down...
"Too bad. Blood Wind could have rewritten the legend of Iron Fist."
"Aw, the cute kid's crying."
"She won't become a true wanderer until she's cried herself dry..."
"Why are you so mean?"
Pat. Pat.
Yeo Mae-hong, the object of his affections, lightly patted Chu Un-hwi's arm.
The familiar, well-matched sight only fueled Yeom Gwang's irritation.
"Fuck."
He wanted nothing more than to smash everything right then.
But what fanned his jealousy even more was...
"Where's Instructor Chu?"
The prideful Chief Supervisor White-Clothed Judge Seon In-hyeok and legendary Top Ten Wanderer Swordsman Flame Light Blade Demon Ma Gil-sang had arrived with a throng of Murim Alliance notables.
Yeom Gwang's eyes blazed with envy.
"Fine sparring."
The instructors froze as Chief Supervisor Seon In-hyeok himself visited the general seats.
It was unavoidable.
Seon In-hyeok, total supervisor of Divine Hall, was like the heavens above to Bronze Hall instructors.
"Aw, what. Cough."
Chu Un-hwi twisted awkwardly after a casual reply.
Turning, he saw Yeo Mae-hong glaring while pinching his side.
'Be. Po. Lite.'
In the end, Chu Un-hwi cupped his hands and lowered his voice.
"All thanks to the students' hard work."
"Haha. You know how to be humble too. Not like the rumors."
"Well, I know how to act according to the situation."
"I saw your students all performing splendidly one after another. Quite impressive. I thought to give a simple prize, but they wouldn't stay put."
Jegal Yang-so stepped forward first.
"Our Tan got a fine teacher. I'll never forget this and repay you."
"Repay in cash, please. Bronze Hall pay is pretty stingy... Gah."
As his body twisted again, Jegal Yang-so burst into laughter.
Evidently in high spirits, he brushed off the minor impropriety.
Next, Baek Ri-seon-ho spoke up.
"Instructor Chu, was it? Thanks so much for looking after Seol-i. Let's set up a meeting sometime. I have important matters to discuss."
Officials from the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families followed with greetings. Impressed by the matches, they showered praise.
"With instructors like you, I feel at ease."
"Looking forward to the promotion exam."
"I'll make time to attend."
The mood was generally warm, but not everyone was friendly.
"You're Yun-ho's instructor?"
It was Midheaven's Single Sword Nangong Il-jun.
He eyed him warily before stepping back.
"I'll be watching."
And one more...
"You. You. To our So-hye."
Moyong Zhu, face flushed red, wearing a complicated expression?
In any case, as Chu Un-hwi exchanged greetings with the Murim Alliance officials, Seon In-hyeok smiled inwardly.
Notably, luminaries rarely attended Bronze Hall midterm exams.
Even less so to praise instructors directly.
'They say seeing is believing? They still don't realize what treasures Instructor Chu has unearthed.'
He watched Chu Un-hwi navigate the flustered, bewildered gazes while greeting the officials.
'Building rapport with Murim Alliance notables is an honor. Bolstered like this, he'll redouble his efforts for the academy.'
Duggo Yul had said as much.
'Underrated relative to his skill.'
'No background, and his personality doesn't fit organizational dynamics.'
'Give him freedom and win his heart slowly.'
Seon In-hyeok thought as he watched Duggo Yul observing Chu Un-hwi with sharp, unwavering eyes.
'Truly impeccable. Recruiting Lone-Eyed Sword God may be the best decision of my life.'
Seon In-hyeok smiled warmly.
"I've interrupted your break. On to the next exam."
On the other hand, Duggo Yul's inner thoughts were different.
His eyes darted wildly at the woman pinching his sky-like lord's side.
'The hundred-eighty-third?'
Then, Student Baek Ri-seol was rushing over from that side.
Her sparkling eyes and momentum were far from ordinary.
'Hundred-eighty-fourth?'
Truly, what a lord.
His magnanimity knew no bounds.