Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Observation Class (4)
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Clatter clatter.
The people pouring out into the spacious mock training ground quickly moved to their assigned positions.
They began acting out their respective roles.
"We've got some fine fabrics in stock."
"Come on, come on. These don't come around every day."
"Oh my, you're back again."
The street, which had been meticulously staged just moments ago, was now bustling with people.
It wasn't just those with specific roles.
"The first row is in position. Let the next row in."
Thump thump thump thump.
A loud drumbeat echoed as another group emerged from the opposite alley.
"Oh dear, time to head home."
"What the hell is taking that guy so long?"
"Hey, make way there."
If the first row consisted of people assigned specific missions, this row seemed to be ordinary crowds.
The passersby dressed as everyday folk crisscrossed the alley chaotically, exchanging lively banter filled with everyday realism with the actors already in place.
'Do they really have to go this far?'
How serious were they about this training?
Unlike him, the senior members of the Murim Alliance watching the demonstration from one side gave quite favorable reviews.
"As expected of the Beggars' Sect training ground. It feels pretty realistic."
"Their acting has improved a lot since the last time I was here. Elder Sa-gong must have worked hard."
"Haha. Shall we watch our dear disciples shine?"
At the positive reactions, Elder Sa-gong leaped gracefully to the street corner with flashy footwork.
Clap clap.
As he clapped his hands...
Silence fell over the lively street.
The middle-aged woman (an instructor in disguise) froze mid-hold with her vegetables, the smithy worker stiffened with his hammer raised, and the passing pedestrians halted mid-step or mid-chat.
In the alley where time itself had stopped, Elder Sa-gong clasped his hands in greeting and spoke.
"Heh heh. The main sudden lesson will begin in about half a shichen (one hour)."
"In the meantime, please enjoy the Beggars' Sect to your heart's content."
"Alright then. Let's resume."
Clap clap.
As he clapped again...
Murmur murmur.
Time in the frozen alley began to flow once more.
The observers who witnessed this buzzed with excitement.
"Shall we enjoy ourselves a bit before the main demonstration?"
"Haha. I miss that Ilpung Noodles from the Beggars' Sect."
"Really? I'm more into the beef soup place. It's exactly like back home."
"Where to first?"
Elder Sa-gong held out a small wooden box toward those entering the alley.
"If any observers notice unnatural elements or areas needing improvement, please write them down and drop them in the box."
This seemed to be framed not as a mere spectacle, but as part of official duties for improving the mock training ground.
With the 'official excuse' in place, the excited observers— like children eyeing toys—relaxed their expressions.
"Right, it's all part of the job."
"Come on, let's take a look around. We'll note anything that needs fixing."
Now without hesitation, they wiggled their hips eagerly and plunged into the alley, buying what they wanted or sightseeing the Beggars' Sect street.
Watching this, Chu Un-hwi thought...
'Unnatural parts?'
Wasn't the whole idea of building a mock training ground on this insane scale unnatural to begin with?
"...I don't even know where to start criticizing."
On the other hand, the students seemed quite excited.
"Oh— they're selling special Henan province spices over there."
"Yun-ho, that shop's not bad, but there's a cheaper, better one that way."
"Next time, I want to observe the Chengdu mock training. I hear Sichuan spices are unique."
Or...
"Wow, Instructor. Is today's lesson theme 'The instructor and student's first outing after eloping last night'?"
"Sister, it's fine to be excited, but watch your words. Everyone's staring weirdly."
Feeling like the only sane person here brought on a wave of depression.
"Sigh. Life sure is..."
He felt like crying.
As he looked up at the sky holding back tears, Kwak Jong-geun returned after mingling with the observers for a while.
"Oops. I forgot to mention something."
"What now?"
"I forgot to explain about the sudden lesson."
"What's a sudden lesson?"
"Heh heh. It'll be fun. When the bell rings later, come find me."
Without giving him a chance to respond, Kwak Jong-geun dashed off again to join the observers.
"Tch. Why me?"
Chu Un-hwi looked at Un Ho-seung, who grumbled nonstop without rest.
His hair tied sloppily without combing, robes worn loosely.
His face screamed 'I'm super pissed off,' and paired with his unusually dark complexion, he looked like a mischievous rascal.
"Hey, kid."
"What, kid? Why am I a kid?"
Un Ho-seung stomped over aggressively and measured atop his head with his palm.
"We're not that different in height."
"Still taller than you."
"Not by much."
"Plus, I'm still growing."
"What? You're the instructor. Older than me. How are you still growing?"
"It happens."
"If you're growing, so am I. I'm only nineteen."
At his words, Baek Ri-seol interjected from the side.
"Instructor's growing! You're the shorty!"
"What's this now?"
Un Ho-seung's expression darkened menacingly, so Moyong So-hye stepped in.
"Awaaah. Don't fight."
"Un Ho-seung, cut it out."
Im So-jeong tugged at Un Ho-seung's side.
The sharp tension from both sides already gave him a throbbing headache.
"Anyway. Jegal."
"Yes, Instructor."
"What the hell is this place?"
Explain.
At his chin gesture, Jegal Tan explained eagerly, as if waiting.
"As you see, it's a mock training ground prepared for real combat. It recreates reality to simulate the jianghu."
"Those people?"
"Hired by the Divine Martial Academy. Those with special missions are usually instructors. I hear some volunteered for personnel evaluation points."
"That's tempting."
He wanted to join as the Demonic Cult leader here and smash everything.
"Know about the sudden lessons?"
"Sudden lessons recreate specific people or events in mock training."
For example.
Jegal Tan cleared his throat and continued.
"When I was here, it was 'Discovering a hidden unorthodox master.'"
"It recreated the showdown three years ago at an inn between the Yangtze Deathsword fleeing Wudang pursuit."
"The goal was to identify the disguised Yangtze Deathsword at the inn and cooperate with allies to face him."
These ignorant fools were systematically thorough about useless things.
"But if Wudang's chasing him, the Yangtze Deathsword guy's a top expert, right? Can greenhorns handle that?"
"It's just a lesson. Instructors usually lower their skills appropriately. There are scenarios where reinforcements arrive after holding out or meeting conditions."
Chu Un-hwi was certain.
'Whoever built this mock training ground isn't your average lunatic.'
Otherwise, they wouldn't think to recreate streets, people, and situations so meticulously.
"Ugh. Tricky."
But no choice.
Right now, priority was finding clues to pass the makeup exam through this observation class.
"Alright. We just wander for half a shichen?"
"Yes. Usually..."
"We'll figure it out. Hey, kid."
Un Ho-seung scowled.
"Don't look so dead. It bugs us too."
"What do you want to say?"
What he wanted to say?
"Hmm. For now, let's go in, grab something to eat, and introduce ourselves."
Headache aside, he hadn't eaten since morning prepping for the observation class.
Wondering where to go, Chu Un-hwi turned back.
'Right. Gotta figure out why these guys failed.'
Amid their petty mind games, Chu Un-hwi slipped in and asked his comrades.
"Anyone here been to the Beggars' Sect before?"
Silence.
'Beggars' Sect is kinda far.'
Start easier.
"Anyone traveled other provinces?"
"Having an eye for good inns is useful. Or food spots."
"What? No one?"
Is this for real?
'These guys shut-ins too?'
Golden spoons who never left home—how pathetic.
Un Ho-seung grumbled in a voice tinged with defeat.
"For stuff like this, escorts handle it if you wait..."
Ah, the rich kid excuse.
"......"
The sole woman opted to ignore.
"Not that we haven't gone out."
"Travel's just riding in a carriage till you arrive."
"Wake up in an inn, eat and boom, destination."
That's novel.
They'd never even traveled on foot.
Baek Ri-seol seemed equally appalled.
"Oh my. This is what they mean by worthless shut-in loners."
She covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed, prompting Un Ho-seung's retort.
"Rookie! You don't know either!"
"Oh dear. The kid has no eye. Can't recognize a seasoned aide."
Starting with Baek Ri-seol, their side unleashed prepared barbs.
"Showing fight to a child like me—how unsightly. Maybe because you're an ignorant kid with no experience startling awake to prairie rain?"
"...Pathetic."
Un Ho-seung glared at the easiest target.
"That lanky one too?"
"Oh my. Can't recognize a true master. That's the real tribal chief. King of Survival."
"Jeez. I'm so dumbfounded."
Un Ho-seung grumbled softer now. Meanwhile, Chu Un-hwi's face darkened.
"What... How have you survived?"
"W-what!"
"Not kids, almost twenty, and you don't know how to pay? Joking?"
"T-that's unavoidable. Servants usually handle billing after picking."
"That's some excuse."
Shamed, Un Ho-seung deflected.
"I-it's just focusing on martial arts over trivia. True masters prioritize."
"Says the lucky bastard. Does your 'great prioritization' include the golden spoon umbilical cord?"
Kid.
Your best choice was luck.
Under the onslaught, veins bulged in Un Ho-seung's eyes.
"You... you..."
He wanted to retort but couldn't find words.
"Sigh. That's why pampered kids are..."
Where to even start teaching? Headache incoming.
Awkward, they mumbled yet...
"Hmph! That's nothing."
Stepping up confidently was Dang-gan, previously fleeced by Nangong Yun-ho.
His small eyes wide open, nose haughtily raised.
"Servants do it, so we can too. Find an inn? Piece of cake for me."
I followed clan elders into Tang family haunts!
Puffing up arrogantly, Dang-gan strode toward the crowd.