Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Proof of Strength (4)
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“Looks like an uninvited guest has crashed the party.”
“Eom Ho? Of all people, that lecherous bastard with his third-rate skills had to make the first move.”
Grind. Grind.
Un Ho-seung ground his teeth.
The twins’ expressions darkened as well.
“That guy. His personality is shit, but his skills are the real deal.”
“Think he got that nickname for nothing?”
Flower-Peeking Mad Dog.
A nickname bordering on an insult, likening him to a dog gone mad for women, but he wasn’t someone to take lightly.
Nicknames didn’t stick to just anyone—they required a certain level of fame and skill.
Just look at how most Silver Hall students didn’t even have one.
Regardless of how infamous the title, the fact that everyone knew it was proof enough of Eom Ho’s considerable prowess.
On top of that, he backed it with the prestige of the Jeomchang Sect, one of the Nine Great Righteous Sects, putting everyone on edge.
“Damn it. Should I shove him aside?”
“Don’t. Your styles don’t match up well.”
Im So-jeong held Un Ho-seung back.
“The Jinju Un Clan’s Azure Net Divine Fist is a powerful striking art, sure, but he wields the Sun-Shooting Sword.”
Sun-Shooting Sword Technique.
A peerless swift sword style said to pierce the sun’s rays.
Even among the Jeomchang Sect—famed for its swordsmanship within the Nine Great Sects—it ranked among the top three ultimate arts.
“A swift sword that prizes speed is the perfect counter to a power-focused fist art.”
Im So-jeong’s words rang true.
But Un Ho-seung, having lost the initiative right before his eyes, couldn’t shake his growing itch.
“That’s true, but…”
What if he overwhelmed him with sheer spirit? He was fidgeting with the thought when—
The twins, who had been craning their necks, perked up.
“Things are getting interesting now.”
“The Instructor Hunter has stepped in.”
The students watching Jegal Tan move let out impressed oohs.
Im So-jeong murmured in a strangely heightened tone.
“Heh. A genius despaired by talent versus a genius intoxicated by it?”
With those cryptic words, Im So-jeong blinked her sleepy eyes prettily.
“For now, let’s just watch this touching reunion.”
“...Yeah?”
It was a rare chance to witness the Instructor Hunter’s skills firsthand, known only by rumor.
Un Ho-seung’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Baek Ri-seol’s mood soured.
“Whew. What a beauty.”
It was because of the gaze slithering over her body like a lick.
“Still young, but already this fine. She’ll be even more stunning once she ripens.”
“Well, she’s exactly my type right now. Where’d this gorgeous junior come from?”
“How about it? Wanna chat up front with me?”
The man circled her leisurely, tossing flirtatious lines, until Baek Ri-seol finally snapped.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Tch. Calling a senior ‘you’ like that.”
What? This guy?
“You’ve got some cute quirks. The kind of junior that’d be fun to teach in all sorts of ways. Heh heh.”
At his words, the female student beside him—adorned with overly flashy hair ornaments—pouted.
“Honey. Praising another girl in front of me?”
“Hahaha. Sorry. Sorry.”
What the hell was this even about?
As he continued his sticky displays of affection as if no one else was around, Baek Ri-seol realized something.
Dialogue wouldn’t work with the man before her.
‘Better not even bother with him.’
She was just about to back away when—
“What? Turning your back mid-conversation without a word?”
“That’s enough.”
Nangong Yun-ho, face hardened, grabbed Eom Ho’s shoulder as Jegal Tan stepped forward.
“Still the same as ever, huh?”
“Well, if it isn’t my ‘friend’ Jegal Tan?”
“Never had a friend like you.”
“That hurts. You’ve gotten awfully cold while we were apart.”
“Spit it out however you want. What’s your business?”
Eom Ho grimaced exaggeratedly, as if the sharp retort spoiled his fun.
“Business? I just got disciplined for a little slip-up during class. Coming here was pure coincidence.”
Coincidence, coincidence.
Jegal Tan shot back at the emphasis.
“Someone put you up to it?”
“Heh heh. Sharper instincts than before, I see?”
Zing. Zing.
A chill hung between them. Surprisingly, Eom Ho backed off first.
“A rematch with you wouldn’t be bad, but sadly, I’ve got business elsewhere right now.”
Elsewhere?
As Jegal Tan tilted his head, Eom Ho’s hand shot out like lightning, snatching Baek Ri-seol’s wrist.
“Well, now.”
Sniiiiif.
He buried his nose in it.
“Haaa. So fragrant.”
“!”
Baek Ri-seol, who had been half-listening to her sleazy companion’s past, felt like she’d been struck by lightning.
First, she was shocked that someone dared touch her.
Second, that someone could embrace their lover and commit such depravity so casually.
Baek Ri-seol’s eyes twitched.
“You.”
“Oh? What’s this? First time feeling a thrill like that?”
“How dare you do something so filthy while your partner’s right there?”
“Ah, that?”
Eom Ho flicked a grin and shoved the female student away.
“Eek!”
“You’re done. Ugly.”
Thud.
She crumpled pathetically at his gesture.
By the time Eom Ho turned back, he was smiling again.
“I’m a promising disciple of the great Jeomchang Sect. Women? I can have as many as I want.”
“Disgusting.”
“Heh. ‘Impressive’ would be nicer. With you, I might even stick around longer.”
Right?
The students trailing him nodded.
“A man’s gotta have skills first.”
“Heard he’s even better at night?”
“Hey, wanna dump that weakling boyfriend and switch?”
“This guy’s the Night Slaughterer!”
“You bastards—.”
Nangong Yun-ho was about to step in when—
“Come to think of it. I forgot.”
Smile.
Baek Ri-seol’s hand flashed like lightning, slipping free from his grip.
Snap.
“Huh?”
Eom Ho’s hand clutched empty air.
“They warned me over and over that joining the martial world means dealing with all sorts of trash.”
Tap tap.
She slapped his hand away repeatedly, her palm flying toward Eom Ho’s face in an instant.
My bad.
Slap!
His head whipped to the side, eyes filling with bewilderment.
“You… just… what did you….”
The idea that someone in the world would slap his cheek was beyond comprehension.
His pupils shook as he struggled to process it.
Baek Ri-seol spoke coldly to him.
“Thanks for snapping me out of my complacency. As payment…”
Jingle.
She shook the sword at her side.
“I’ll tear you apart.”
“Ha ha ha! Masterpiece! An absolute masterpiece!”
Eom Ho found the unfolding scene utterly delightful.
‘Falling for it so easily…’
He’d worried with that Jegal Tan hanging around.
Never dreamed he could reel in the target this effortlessly.
Truth be told, when the request first came, he had no intention of accepting.
A mere Silver Hall instructor couldn’t force him anyway.
‘But if they invite me to fun like this, that’s different.’
Eom Ho was a womanizer.
To him, this pretty yet arrogant junior was a rare treat.
Someone once said it, didn’t they?
About a beauty who resembled a peony when standing and a rose when sitting.
‘Thought it was exaggeration, but not quite.’
Serene and pure when still, but fierce as a vibrant flower when scowling.
Her bold demand for a duel—rose with thorns bristling, wasn’t it?
A sadistic urge suddenly welled up.
‘I want to see that face twisted in agony.’
What other floral beauties would she reveal?
His heart raced at the pleasures ahead.
What’s he doing?
Baek Ri-seol tilted her head at the opponent grinning creepily across from her.
‘No intention of attacking first?’
This wasn’t good.
The instructor had said:
“Hey, hey. Real fights aside, in spars, yield the first strike.”
Why? she’d asked.
“Land the first blow, turn ’em into mincemeat, and everyone calls you the bad guy.”
Then he added:
“Especially in the righteous sects, starting the fight makes you wrong. So yield the first punch. Then pummel them a hundred, a thousand times.”
“Remember: a well-yielded first strike prevents comebacks.”
He’d meticulously taught her how to secure witnesses, destroy evidence, bribe her way out if caught red-handed.
Snapping from her thoughts, Baek Ri-seol pondered the lesson.
‘Instructor’s perfect, as always.’
As if he’d foreseen this exact scenario.
Meanwhile, her opponent?
“What’s with that look?”
“Keep grinning like an idiot. Like before.”
“Who knows? Seduce me right, and I might let this slide.”
All he offered were empty, grating provocations.
What was the point of trash like him existing?
She questioned how such a creature shared the same species as her magnificent instructor.
With that thought, Baek Ri-seol provoked him.
“Hey.”
“What? Finally ready to play nice with your senior?”
“Mongrel dog.”
Gasp.
The bystanders paled.
This was the Flower-Peeking Mad Dog.
Eom Ho, vicious and violent enough for a mad dog nickname.
No one dared call him “dog” to his face.
Much less hurl insults right in front of him.
‘Must’ve misheard.’
‘Slipped out by accident?’
They dismissed it as illusion, but Baek Ri-seol’s venom was just warming up.
“Never knew the world had mongrels walking on two legs and barking.”
“Blame the world’s vastness? Anything can exist, I suppose.”
“Problem is, when a mutt barks at nothing, how’s a person supposed to respond?”
“Oh, in heat, are we? No wonder even the white stray in the yard seeks a mate.”
When her words ended.
Silence.
Not a sound from the surroundings.
Her opponent’s face flushed purple.
“You… you… you bitch.”
Seeing Eom Ho stutter, Baek Ri-seol knew intuitively.
‘Nailed it.’
Everyone reacted like this when the instructor insulted their character—spot on.
Shing!
‘Oh my, perfect opening.’
The so-called senior even drew his sword first.
“Filthy-mouthed bitch. Can’t play nice and slow with you.”
Graciously paving the way for her first strike.
‘No need to rig witnesses.’
What luck.
“Don’t think you’ll walk away pretty!”
Swoosh!
He flung his scabbard and charged, unleashing a sharp thrust.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
A simple stab, but as she retreated, his blade tip quivered, erupting seven sword lights.
‘Swift sword.’
Caught off-guard by the speed, Baek Ri-seol swiftly stepped into footwork, spinning her body.
The now-familiar White Crane Steps, as natural as breathing.
“Hmph! Not bad!”
How about this!
Eom Ho, shouting triumphantly, pursued with consecutive thrusts.
Tap!
His precise sword shadows cut off escape, forcing Baek Ri-seol to kick off and whirl into the air.
Spin. Tap.
She landed lightly, and his jeer followed.
“Heh. Quite startled, huh?”
“……”
“Not even giving a junior time to draw? Maybe I overdid it?”
That was when.
Baek Ri-seol, who had been listening, held up three fingers.
“First strike: three forms.”
Recalling the instructor’s teaching.
‘First Strike Three Forms. No Mercy for the Guilty.’
“Three free punches make you the perp, no excuses.”
So now.
Get ready, mongrel dog.