Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 15: Unexpected Family Visit (1)
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Midterm exams had ended, a few days prior.
On a night when the heat had yet to fully subside.
Chu Un-hwi made his way to the mineral spring behind Bronze Hall.
"Haa."
As he gulped down the cool spring water and savored the aftertaste, Sima Yul emerged from the darkness.
"Your subordinate Sima Yul pays respects to my lord."
The righteous air he'd shown during the day was gone, replaced by the aura of a dark underling wafting ominously.
Chu Un-hwi stared blankly at his subordinate before abruptly speaking.
"None."
"......"
"Not a one."
Only then did Sima Yul, who had been bowing, lift his head.
"Are you saying the principal wife is not among the Bronze Hall students?"
"Yeah. I've checked the last remaining students, so she's not here."
"What about the ones from Silver Hall? I made sure to include some who met the criteria you mentioned."
No wonder there were so many female students.
But regrettably, he had to shake his head again this time.
"Same story. None there either."
"Hmm. Then we can exclude all the Silver Hall students who participated in this sparring match. No need to check them twice."
Sima Yul's mind raced swiftly.
"In any case, it seems there's not much left for you to do in Bronze Hall now."
"Pretty much nothing."
"What about candidates one hundred eighty-three and one hundred eighty-four?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing at all."
Chu Un-hwi grumbled at his scheming subordinate.
"Hoo. I need to get to Silver Hall as soon as possible."
"That's tricky. The standard promotion only happens after the year-end advancement exam."
"Isn't there some way?"
Sima Yul firmly shook his head at the urging question.
"It's better to bide your time. Silver Hall is nothing like Bronze Hall."
"I've heard it's a bit bigger and more complicated..."
"A bit? Hardly."
Sima Yul responded with uncharacteristic gravity.
"This place isn't called the Shithole Hall for nothing. The scale is incomparable from the start, and security is airtight."
"Even if there's a difference..."
"I snuck in recently with the Flame Light Blade Demon's help, and they’ve landscaped mountains and forests right inside the academy. Something about survival training?"
"......"
Who the hell does that?
'If they've got money for that, give us a raise!'
Righteous faction folks were hopeless.
"Well, if you really put your mind to it and use your martial arts, it’s doable. But there's a reason you haven't, right?"
There was. Of course there was.
'She doesn't like violent methods much.'
That's why their first meeting was a disaster.
They clashed repeatedly afterward, each trying to kill the other. Only after it was revealed as a ploy by the Mangcheon Society did they finally stand back-to-back.
It was the achievement of over a decade of mortal combat.
"Plus, there's a reason you're fixated on being an instructor."
Sharp as ever.
It was much the same reason.
She had said:
- When I was young, my first love was an instructor.
That's when he knew.
Her ideal type was an older man. He cried from envy that night.
Sobbing quietly with his fist in his mouth.
What good was being the world's best?
An nameless instructor had shared sweet, vibrant memories with her—far more valuable.
So he decided.
'I'll fake my age and go undercover as an instructor.'
I'll become her first love.
That was why he'd handled everything at lightning speed upon reincarnating.
No changing plans now.
"Fine. I've come this far; I can't ruin the grand plan."
"Still, I'm curious. You'll gain fame here eventually, and opportunities will come. Why the rush?"
"Yeah. In three or four years, she'll enter the Emei Sect."
"The principal wife becomes a nun?"
"Yeah. Emei is a Buddhist sect. They forbid marriage... wait, no, they do now."
Sparks flew from Sima Yul's eyes.
"Those fucking dogs! My lord! How about we burn Emei to the ground?"
"......"
"Just give the order. I'll rush there in an instant and slaughter every crawling thing in Emei."
Sima Yul's hips twitched in excitement.
He'd probably already razed Emei in his imagination a hundred times over.
Nod once, and he'd make it real.
"Hey. Poison-Eyed Divine Sword."
"Poison-Eyed whatever, these bastards for real!"
"Hey!"
As voices rose, Sima Yul flattened himself.
"My lord. If I may, the principal wife seems a gentle soul who loves peace. Being by her side would be your utmost happiness."
"Now you're getting it. So, keep going. Any other reason to take it slow?"
"Of course."
Regaining composure, Sima Yul spoke cautiously.
"It's the specialist instructor system."
"Specialist instructor? What's that?"
"Unlike Bronze Hall, where one instructor handles multiple students' martial arts, in Silver Hall, specialists handle only martial arts."
"They learn non-martial stuff too?"
"Yes. They emphasize well-rounded civil and martial skills, so they spend considerable time on academics and knowledge."
Not a bad approach.
'Useless for survival, though.'
But Sima Yul added:
"This is both your limitation and opportunity."
"Opportunity?"
"Yes. To those blind righteous fools, you're just a nameless nobody."
"Yeah. Go on."
Skip the acorn eyes bit.
That stung a little.
"So even in Silver Hall, few will seek your guidance."
Now he caught on.
"So, make a name as a specialist instructor and draw the students in?"
"Not just that. Some subjects are required for special courses. No need to seek them out—the principal wife candidates will come to you."
Chu Un-hwi's eyes lit up.
The clear strategy made him feel like he'd already found her.
"Perfect. That's the way."
"Ideally, if we knew subjects she'd seek or prefer... Any favorites?"
"Swords."
"Hmm. Fierce competition... But let's hear it. Blades come in many forms—swords, sabers, daggers, etc."
True enough.
One-sided edge: saber. Double-edged: sword. Names varied by length.
Racking his brain, Chu Un-hwi groaned.
"She liked all blades, I think..."
"Hmm. Vague."
Pressing a finger to his brow, Chu Un-hwi dredged up old memories.
"No, wait—she was good with blunt weapons too. Oh? And hidden weapons, probably? Right, when fighting some demonic faction elder, she smashed his skull with a sharp rock..."
Sima Yul, listening intently, looked up in dismay.
"My lord. Is such a bride truly suitable?"
"What're you on about?"
"I mean, she sounds like the perfect match for you. Soulmates just from the sound of it."
Sima Yul backpedaled.
"Even if not martial arts, something she likes. A specialist subject she'd favor."
"Yeah, I'll think on it."
Seemed like reviving memories would take time.
"Here's the list of specialist subjects. Pick a few, and I'll forge the paperwork."
"Got it. I'll choose wisely."
"Tell me early, and I'll assassinate the designated instructor to free up a spot. Just give me time."
Thanks.
The righteous faction's hope.
The Poison-Eyed Divine Sword's support was rock-solid.
Flip. Flip.
"Hmm..."
Chu Un-hwi's eyes clouded with annoyance as he flipped through the booklet.
"What's with all these? Why learn this random crap?"
Tap tap.
His finger landed on [Mechanism Trap Disarmament]. How to disable traps and escape.
"Spend half a year on this? Just smash it."
He'd bulldozed the Heavenly Demon Cult's trap palace with brute force.
It screamed time-waster.
Finally, after scanning various items, Chu Un-hwi tossed the book aside.
"Ugh. Pointless."
He'd decide if memories surfaced later.
Putting it off for now. Then, a clunk from beyond the wall, followed by a warm presence.
Yeo Mae-hong had returned.
"Instructor Chu. You're early today?"
Chu Un-hwi replied to the floating voice from the other side.
"Yeah. Just pondering some things."
"Pondering what this time?"
Her gaze fell on the discarded booklet, sparking an idea.
'Right. Better than a boring, silent book—someone knowledgeable who talks.'
Chu Un-hwi explained.
Laughter followed from beyond the wall.
"Oho. Already aiming for specialist instructor? Confident your promotion's locked in?"
"Know anything? Especially popular ones that draw crowds..."
"Hmm."
After a brief hesitation, her voice came.
"Martial arts-related are versatile skills. Poisons are popular, as are formations and tracking."
"Non-martial ones too?"
"Some students prefer refined pursuits. Poetry, painting, embroidery."
Still baffling.
Deepened his dilemma.
"Hmm."
"Hehe. For reference, I learned qin for sound arts. Didn't master it due to lacking inner power."
Yeo Mae-hong playing qin? Plausible.
Didn't stir him, though.
"Plenty of time. Think it over slowly. Still months till advancement exams."
She added:
"But focus on urgent matters now."
Urgent matters?
Any?
"With midterms over, it's summer break. After that incident, experts from various sects have come to Infinite Citadel."
Referring to the Murim Alliance outer experts and Divine Martial Academy instructors killed.
'First damage to the Alliance in ages—quite the uproar.'
No major incidents in the current martial world.
Not sure it warranted gathering at Alliance HQ, though.
'Maybe using this to summon and inspect experts from everywhere.'
None of his business anyway.
"Break means free外出, so students wanting to visit elders from their sects or families will go."
Whatever.
'With them on break, I'll have free time?'
Free外出 meant scouting students wandering Infinite Citadel.
...That was a huge miscalculation.
"Instructor Chu Un-hwi, was it?"
Chu Un-hwi tilted his head at the sudden warriors.
"Yes?"
"Spare a moment."