Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Observation Class (1)
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Deep into the night shrouded in darkness.
A group clad in the white uniforms of the Murim Alliance stared down at the cliff below.
In the devouring blackness, a remote manor stood out, brightly lit all on its own.
After watching for a long while, someone suddenly descended like a gust of wind with a swift movement technique.
The Murim Alliance warriors bowed in unison toward the disheveled old man with a scruffy beard and tattered clothes.
"We greet Elder Beggar."
Tugging at the end of his beard, the Beggar Elder straightened his back.
"Is that the place?"
"Yes. Jangsan Manor. We've confirmed multiple times that the traces lead there."
"They've finally been cornered."
The Beggar Elder glared at the manor, his voice thick with emotion.
It hadn't been easy getting this far.
'Traitors from the Murim Alliance, the death of Green Blood Emissary Kang Sok, and unidentified groups connected to it.'
Even unprecedented cooperation with the Hao Clan.
Chasing one lead after another, they'd finally uncovered the lair.
"No gaps anywhere?"
"Not even an ant could escape from Jangsan Manor alive."
The Beggar Elder nodded in satisfaction at the firm reply.
"Good. Let's strike now."
Whiiik—
With a low whistle.
Sasasasasak.
The Murim Alliance warriors hidden in the darkness leaped forward as one, swarming the manor.
Chaeng chaeng chaeng!
Clangs of metal rang out here and there.
No sooner had they assaulted the manor than fierce warriors charged out, sparking a chaotic melee.
It was considerable force.
'How did scum like this stay hidden from the world's eyes?'
Fooling the jianghu's attention and concealing such power.
It was a fact he'd realized multiple times, but their hidden strength was astonishing anew.
"Kill!"
A Jangsan Manor warrior with bloodshot eyes raised his sword and charged.
Shiiik.
The keen energy splitting toward his brow was chilling.
"Hmph."
But the Beggar Elder slowly stepped into a footwork stance and shook both sleeves.
Wuuuung.
Energy rising from his wrists momentarily formed a brilliant blue dragon before him.
—Toying with the dragon frolicking in the air by waving one's hand.
Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms. First Stance: Dragon Frolic.
Kwaduduk.
"Kuhuk!"
The warrior's chest caved in as he vomited blood and flew back.
"Hm."
The Beggar Elder flicked his hand briefly and strode inside.
Crossing a well-maintained inner gate.
Chaeng chaeng chaeng!
Fierce combat raged deeper within the manor as well.
Fortunately, the tide of battle was overwhelmingly in their favor.
'Worth bringing the Alliance's elites.'
Without stopping, he pressed onward, and soon a bang! echoed.
Kwakwakwak.
Beyond the Jangsan Manor warriors falling like autumn leaves, figures entered the main hall.
"Elder Beggar. You need to see this place."
At the urgent voice, the Beggar Elder quickened his pace.
There, Murim Alliance warriors with grim faces stood before a small building that looked like a warehouse.
"What is it?"
"We found drag marks, and upon checking, there's a hidden space."
"Hmm."
A secret chamber?
"Scummy lot like this probably have an emergency escape route."
But as he approached, the Beggar Elder's face twisted.
Even before entering, a fishy stench assaulted his nose.
A veteran of the jianghu like him knew exactly what it was.
"The stench of rotting corpses is thick."
Kwang!
Blasting the shattered gap wider with palm force, the Beggar Elder rushed inside.
And what he saw was...
"My god."
Chalpuk.
A pool of blood deep enough to soak his ankles, and countless corpses.
"...What in the world."
"What's this?"
The warriors following behind couldn't close their mouths either.
Scanning the pile of bodies with sharp eyes, the Beggar Elder spoke.
"An altar."
An altar carved from stone with a fearsome demon in relief.
Used for so long, black blood had crusted it pitch dark.
Fresh blood still flowed thickly atop it, as if the ritual had just ended.
Tatat.
A warrior quickly inspected the altar and groaned.
"Traces of human sacrifice."
"Jars containing hearts and organs over here."
"This seems to be the ritual knife used on the altar."
Turning from the blood-soaked ritual tools, the Beggar Elder asked.
"Where's Hero An?"
A warrior inspecting the corpse pile replied.
"...He's here."
"......"
"Too damaged to be certain, but this one is."
His face darkened at the words.
'Not just a simple martial clan?'
A bizarre religious cult.
An identity he hadn't even imagined.
And no wonder—their secrecy and power were astounding.
'To think such an atrocious evil cult existed.'
Even the Heavenly Demon Cult, which ruled the jianghu in terror, didn't perform such mindless human sacrifices.
They had demonic arts refined from killing, but always to grow stronger by taking lives.
This place was different.
From children to women to adults.
Indiscriminate slaughter for their faith, offered as tribute.
"Damn it, the worst outcome."
For ordinary sects, crushing the leader sufficed to dismantle them.
But fanatics like these moved blindly for their object of worship, heedless of comrades dying.
It meant killing every last zealot, not just a few leaders.
'Hiding such secrecy from the Alliance's notice, immense power, and this mad faith?'
What did they believe in? What drove them to such horrors?
"Hm?"
Then, something glittering caught the Beggar Elder's eye as he examined the altar.
"What's this?"
Fished from near a child's heart on the altar.
"A gem?"
A small, dark red gem.
About the size of a finger joint. Tilting it toward a dying ritual candle, it gleamed demonically—not an ordinary item.
"A keepsake? Or something they left? Looks like a blood jade, but hard to say."
He knew the jianghu well, but as a lifelong beggar, gems were beyond him.
'Definitely not common.'
As an eerie feeling prickled him while inspecting it, a warrior handling the bodies returned.
"Elder. All bodies accounted for."
"Good. Clean up the rest and send a messenger pigeon to the Alliance. We need experts on this."
"Right away."
"And."
Tucking the gem into his bosom, the Beggar Elder turned.
"I'll be stepping out briefly."
He needed to dig into the Mangcheon Society again.
At that moment.
In the lowly instructors' haven.
At a small inn in the Paradise of Eight Beauties Alley, haven for light-pursed patrons, Chu Un-hwi scowled.
"Ahaha. Ahahaha. Oh man, my sides."
Watching Moyong Seon-ya clutch her belly laughing, Chu Un-hwi spoke flatly.
"What's so funny?"
"Come on, isn't it hilarious?"
This was serious.
"Classic Instructor Chu. Defying expectations from day one."
"Sister. Are we really okay? Feels like we'll get kicked out."
Only then did Moyong Seon-ya stop laughing, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve.
"We're fine. No need to worry."
"But lately, Silver Hall instructors are oddly putting up walls."
"...We're getting openly ostracized here."
"No worries."
Moyong Seon-ya brushed it off.
"Silver Hall desperately needs temporary instructors anyway."
"...You think?"
"Yeah. They even requested reinforcements from Bronze Hall unusually. They won't ditch valuable hands over some fuss."
"Hope so."
"Everyone expected it. Newbies get bullied early with heavy hands or rough initiations—accidents happen all the time."
The outcome was a bit different, though.
Moyong Seon-ya added.
"Especially for makeup class instructors—they're all green ones with little seniority. Veterans avoid troublemakers."
"The grunts handle the trash duty."
"Hehe. Exactly. So even if young instructors whine, the higher-ups won't budge."
Ugh ugh.
Skewering offal on a spit and popping it in her mouth, Moyong Seon-ya continued.
"Plus, with the jianghu expedition prep coming, send back precious manpower? No way."
"Right, the expedition."
Their dispatch to Silver Hall was to support the halted expedition after an accident.
'Prep for the expedition takes a ton of work.'
Even without Dugoyul's words, herding rookies into treacherous jianghu wouldn't be easy.
Preparations galore.
"Sister, I don't have much jianghu experience either. Can I help?"
"You'll do great. Absolutely."
A shadow crossed Moyong Seon-ya's face at Yeo Mae-hong's question.
"Updating new jianghu intel. Memorizing terrain. Endless tasks."
Her voice grew gloomy.
"Detour every bandit-prone path you remember."
"Pick a rainy, puddle-filled route and seniors chew you out."
"Meanwhile, students are hyped and uncontrollable."
"Why dump senior spawn's duties on me?!"
"And what's with Dad nagging marriage?!"
'Last one's off-topic.'
Pounding the table with her fist while attacking the offal spit, Moyong Seon-ya declared.
"You'll help! Definitely!"
Even a person wasn't necessary.
A quick, diligent monkey would do—load it with work.
Didn't need to walk upright.
Even a viper to bite that senior would be welcome.
Yeo Mae-hong's gaze softened at Moyong Seon-ya mumbling nonsense.
Pulling her face into her ample bosom.
"There, there. You've worked hard. Truly."
"Sniff. Sniff."
"Good job. You're the best, sister."
"...Yeah."
Pat pat.
"Come on, have a drink and cool off."
After pouring liquor and ordering more grilled meat, Moyong Seon-ya's sobs subsided.
"Yehatoon."
Slurring from drink, she waggled a threatening skewer as she summed up.
"No worries."
On the way back to Bronze Hall dorms.
"Wasn't it fun?"
Yeo Mae-hong giggled, cheeks flushed red.
"It's been a while."
The drinks were nice, but the gossip was plentiful.
Most intriguing among them.
"Myojin Sect..."
Yeo Mae-hong's eyes sparkled.
"Such an amazing place exists."
Puffing excitedly, she swung her fist with zeal.
"No wonder girls always talk about Myojin Sect. Didn't know it was that cool."
"Pretty famous?"
"Lately, yeah. Since the new sect leader, they've opened their doors."
Unusually hyped, Moyong Seon-ya made a fuss.
"Wow, wanna visit so bad. Hope the expedition's nearby. Or detour on the way."
"Deserting post is punishable."
"Harsh! Dreams are free. Minor route changes are instructor discretion."
Tears welling as she pleaded, she looked ready to sneak off without permission.
Yeo Mae-hong clasped her hands, eyes shining.
"A sect raising cats? Precious!"
"Hundreds of cats in perfect formation dances?"
"Even a Nyan Nyan Fist demo!"
"Like a dream."
Even this hot-blooded instructor was enchanted.
'Impressive, Danya.'
His subordinate's suspicious bait seemed more useful than expected.
Now, just rack up achievements and join the expedition.