Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 23: Proving One's Strength (1)
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As soon as class began, it was Instructor Mal-sang who stepped forward.
The instructor, who introduced himself as Gwak Jong-geun with his stern features, declared,
"As announced in advance, today's remedial lesson is on herbal identification. Distinguishing between poison and medicine in emergencies is the basics of the basics."
Where he looked, there were piles of herbs dragged out for sun-drying.
They were the herbs that the Bronze Hall instructors had painstakingly laid out.
"As you can see, Silver. Hall. possesses a staggering five hundred varieties of herbs."
"There aren't many places in the jianghu with such a diverse collection."
"Even seasoned herbalists, not to mention renowned physician families, envy us for it."
With that, Gwak Jong-geun shrugged at the Bronze Hall instructor.
It was blatantly obvious he meant, 'Bet your place doesn't have anything like this?'
'What a childish guy.'
Pretending not to notice, the flustered man added,
"This is all because of the high expectations placed on Silver Hall. Unlike some, we teach knowledge that's actually useful in real combat."
Oh, really?
While I stared blankly, the naive Bronze Hall instructors clapped like seals.
Truly slow on the uptake.
Only then did Gwak Jong-geun's satisfied expression return as he gestured to his fellow instructors.
"Let's begin the lesson."
At his words, the instructors started moving among the herbs.
They casually dumped random herbs into prepared sacks, which made Yeo Mae-hong tilt her head.
"Huh? That one's not a herb..."
"They're mixing poison weeds and herbs without distinguishing them?"
Having graduated from the Divine Martial Academy herself, she explained,
"Usually, classes start by looking at herbs and memorizing their names..."
"Maybe the curriculum changed?"
"I've heard they've shifted to more practical lessons recently. But even for Silver Hall students, distinguishing poison from herbs doesn't look easy..."
It was a natural question.
Many herbs looked similar.
Moreover, when dried thoroughly in the sun for storage, they were even harder to tell apart than in fresh form.
Overhearing, Instructor Yang furrowed his brow.
"...Now that I hear it, this seems pretty dangerous."
"What if an accident happens?"
Instructor Jo Hyun let out a worried sigh as well.
In the end, Squad Leader Yang stepped forward.
"Instructor Gwak. I have a question."
"Speak."
"Is it necessary to mix them like that for distinguishing herbs from poisons? What if the inexperienced students mistake a poison for a herb and ingest it..."
It could be dangerous.
In response to the concern, Instructor Cha merely smirked.
"To make it useful in real combat, we need to train them harshly, don't we?"
"Real combat is fine, but what's the point if the novices get hurt?"
"The weak have no place in Silver Hall."
"...Is that so?"
"It seems the temporary instructors doubt our students' abilities."
Sneering, Instructor Gwak pointed at a few students.
"You. You. You. Step forward."
The three selected students rose reluctantly, looking annoyed.
"Ugh, such a hassle..."
"What now?"
"Ah, I just wanna rest..."
They shuffled out like veterans one day from discharge.
"The esteemed guests from Bronze Hall doubt your skills. What do you think?"
The narrow-eyed youth among them swaggered first.
"Pfft. Bronze Hall trash wouldn't get it."
"How could they wander the jianghu if they can't handle something this simple?"
"We're not fragile greenhouse flowers."
Instructor Gwak shrugged.
"See?"
"...If it's as safe as you say, that'd be good."
Despite the open mockery from the students, Squad Leader Yang couldn't shake his worries.
For the quiet but kind-hearted man, his students mattered far more than his pride.
Instructor Gwak, however, showed no intention of backing down.
"It seems the temporary instructors lack faith in you all."
"Want us to demonstrate?"
"Do well, and we'll end class early."
"Heh. Sure. Right now."
The narrow-eyed boy strode to a sack, plunged his hand in,
and began delicately sorting the herbs to left and right.
Left for poisons, right for herbs.
"This is poison. This is Rehmannia glutinosa. This one..."
Before a full incense stick had burned, the youth stepped back from an empty sack.
"All done?"
Following his lead, the other two raised their hands from their sacks.
"Ours too."
"No need to waste time on something this easy, right?"
Arrogant words all around, yet Instructor Gwak looked pleased.
"Squad Leader Yang—or should I say, temporary Instructor Yang. I get your concerns, but our students are beyond what you fear."
"...My apologies."
Confirming the neat sorting at a glance, Instructor Yang stepped back.
The Bronze Hall instructors seemed shocked by the demonstration.
"Ugh. I wouldn't be confident sorting that fast..."
"Silver Hall's level really is on another tier."
Yeo Mae-hong, Instructor Jo Hyun, and the others shrank back.
"Personality aside, they've got skills."
"If a single student is this good, how skilled must the instructors be?"
"Do we even belong here?"
As their colleagues' voices sank into the ground and Instructor Gwak's nose rose higher,
"Pfft."
Chu Un-hwi snickered.
Instructor Gwak's eyes sharpened instantly.
"You there. What's so funny?"
"Isn't now exactly the time to laugh?"
"So what is it?"
Tell me.
Before he could continue, Chu Un-hwi struck first.
"I thought you were calling only Sichuan Tang Clan folks for some funny play. Wasn't it?"
"Wh-what? What do you..."
"The poison stench screams Tang Clan."
Instructor Gwak's face twisted immediately.
His colleagues sensed something off too.
"Sichuan Tang Clan? The poison masters?"
"The family that teaches herbology from toddlerhood."
"If they're from the Tang Clan, this is basic."
"Wait. Picking only Tang Clan students? Isn't this a total setup?"
With their scripted play exposed, Instructor Gwak's face darkened.
"...Impressive nose. Could pass for a dog's."
"Comparing to a dog's nose might offend mine."
"Hmph. Cocky. Country bumpkin, huh? As familiar with herbs as a beggar shaman. What, climb trees like a monkey too?"
Insult meant to rile, but
was Chu Un-hwi ordinary?
"Beggar shaman? Even if they were grandpa-level, maybe. Monkey? The kids came down from trees and head-planted when they met my eyes."
"......"
He never lost in words either.
'What now?'
Gwak Jong-geun, skilled in intimidation as squad leader, was at a loss.
Finally, other Silver Hall instructors intervened.
"All talk."
"Wonder if the skill matches the mouth."
"Show us."
At their grasping words, Chu Un-hwi chuckled.
"No need to step up for such crude work."
Muttering that, Chu Un-hwi shouted,
"Experienced assistant, forward!"
"Forward!"
Only then did they spot someone charging toward them at terrifying speed.
One of Bronze Hall's silent assistant instructors, Nangong Yun-ho.
"Commencing demonstration!"
Nangong Yun-ho stood before a herb sack, let out a spirited shout, and began moving his hands at frightening speed.
Sasasasasak.
Tremendous velocity.
Without moving his gaze, his hands whipped through like wind, so fast it seemed the herbs sorted themselves.
"Is he doing it right?"
"Not even looking."
"No, look. It's not just herbs and poisons."
Yeo Mae-hong tilted her head.
"Instructor Chu. Why is Nangong student sorting into three categories?"
The demonstration was to distinguish poisons from herbs.
"Curious? Check yourself."
Chu Un-hwi sauntered over to Nangong Yun-ho, who was rifling through at breakneck speed, and crooked his index finger.
Puk.
Prodded his side.
"Ack-! Instructor! Ack!"
Nangong Yun-ho twisted with a yell.
"Don't stop hands-. Answer with mouth-."
"Ack-! Instructor! Ack!"
"What are the separately piled ones-."
Puk puk.
Each prod to the side, Nangong Yun-ho answered without pause.
"Ack-! Those! Ack! Are Gam-su grass! Ack! Pickled in vinegar, medicine! Soaked in water, poison! Set aside! Ack-!"
Usable as both medicine and poison?
The flawless response drew gasps even from Silver Hall instructors.
Soon, the sack before Nangong Yun-ho was empty.
"Final sort! Beginning!"
The last was swiftly separating the piled center herbs.
"Stem medicine! Root poison! Sort- complete! Instructor!"
Mwoeong.
The instant events left watching instructors slack-jawed.
"Amazing. More detailed sort, yet half the time."
"Was Nangong that versed in herbs?"
"Beyond most experts..."
Silver Hall instructors' faces crumpled.
They'd lost the intimidation battle.
But the humiliation didn't end there.
"Nangong student. Done? Best you got?"
"One thing to note."
Nangong Yun-ho, about to quietly exit, stopped before the Silver Hall students' sorted piles.
"Several mis-sorted herbs here."
The narrow-eyed Tang Clan youth shot back.
"Impossible. That's Ye-ro-cho. Similar-looking poison exists, but leaf count differs."
Don't you know that?
A sharp retort, but Nangong Yun-ho was calm.
"Must've missed two leaves falling during drying."
"Hm?"
Rushing over to inspect, the youth groaned.
"Damn... a mistake. No, spotted that in such short time?"
His small eyes widened noticeably.
Watching Silver Hall students murmured.
"What? Even Tang lost?"
"Monkeys fall from trees sometimes..."
"That guy's decent."
"Not total rookies."
With the mood turning against them, Silver Hall instructors' faces soured further.
Chu Un-hwi poured oil on their boiling rage.
"Simple, you said? Can't do this, no jianghu for you."
"Wonder who's the greenhouse flower."
"Hey, flower. How's wild weed taste?"
'This bastard. Won't let him off.'
The Silver Hall instructors' eyes blazed fiercer.