Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Observation Lesson (6)
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The sudden incident occurred at the Han Shin Inn.
This building on this floor had an open structure on all sides, and the disturbance was unfolding right here on this floor.
In the pavilion overlooking the main street.
"That spot looks good."
"Heh heh. Shall we head over then?"
Tat tat.
A few observers nimbly kicked off the walls and leaped up, scrambling for the best viewing spots.
They were all skilled experts in their own right, competing in lightness skills to claim the prime seats for the show.
Sa-pong, the old man, landed lightly on the edge of the pavilion's eaves amid the bustle.
His feather-like lightness skill was proof of his considerable mastery.
Surveying the crowd, Sa-pong infused his voice with inner energy and shouted.
"Most of you here likely already know this."
"Lately, villainous spies from the unorthodox sects have been lurking in various places."
"We've set up this sudden scenario to heighten vigilance against these treacherous scum who disguise themselves as allies and strike from behind."
Oh, so he was talking about the Wangcheon Society traitor.
But for now, they were framing it as a generic 'unorthodox spy.'
'Well, it makes sense at first glance.'
The Murim Alliance wasn't ready to confront the Wangcheon Society's existence just yet.
Sa-pong's proclamation continued.
"Commendably, Student Cheong-su here detected the traitor's suspicious signs."
Student Cheong-su?
Murmuring the familiar name, Jegal Tan's explanation came from beside him.
"He's the senior disciple of the Wudang Sect, Cheong-su Taoist."
"Ah."
Come to think of it, it was a name he'd heard en route while searching for the bride candidate before.
'Even a clueless waiter sensed something special about him.'
The refined young gentleman carried a sword.
'Wait. If he's here...'
As he recalled the chaotic presence that followed, sure enough.
"Gasp. Sister Dang Ae-hee?"
Just as expected.
Sitting beside Cheong-su was a woman adorned with a flashy butterfly hairpin, her sharp eyes betraying her prickly personality.
'Never thought I'd see her like this.'
He desperately wanted to pretend not to know her.
But Dang Ae-hee's piercing gaze suddenly flicked his way.
'Gasp!'
The moment he swallowed dryly, her lips moved.
At that, Dang-gan clutched his head and slumped over beside her.
"What's wrong?"
"Is something the matter?"
Un Ho-seung and Nangong Yun-ho's questions only made Dang-gan tear at his hair, voice trembling.
"Ugh... It's nothing. Nothing at all. Just..."
Dang-gan babbled incoherently, but Chu Un-hwi, who had eavesdropped on the transmission with his absurd divine skill, breathed a sigh of relief.
'Embarrassing the family? Learn your lesson? Fail again and you're done for?'
She seemed thoroughly furious as the eldest daughter of her clan.
Well, they had no connection in this life yet, so no reason for her to recognize him.
The unexpected encounter was quickly overshadowed by Sa-pong's ensuing shout.
"Thus, I praise Student Cheong-su's keen insight and hereby declare the sudden scenario underway."
"However, some observers have just arrived, and not all students detected the traitor's presence."
"Student Cheong-su, step forward and explain how you spotted the ominous signs."
As the crowd's eyes turned to him.
Thud.
Cheong-su, who had been lounging casually at the table until now, stood up.
The elegant young gentleman offered a formal fist salute to those around him and began his stern explanation.
"The first suspicion arose from his stride. This man practices the True Word Swordsmanship, yet his steps were unusually wide."
"True Word Swordsmanship?"
"It's the sword art of the True Word Sect."
Baek Ri-seol's murmur was answered by Im So-jeong.
No further explanation was needed; awed exclamations of realization rippled through the onlookers.
"True Word Swordsmanship emphasizes quick strikes and retreats."
"They habitually take narrow steps while walking."
"What sharp eyes. A true pride of the Wudang Sect."
"Indeed."
"Instructor, that's not enough effort."
I wanted to hear you explain it yourself, Baek Ri-seol pouted amid the chatter, as Student Cheong-su continued.
"But that alone wasn't conclusive. He might practice another art alongside it. However, the calluses on his hands, the blackened sleeves, and the bulging veins convinced me."
Pointing at the man aggressively positioned at the inn's entrance, he shouted.
"This proves the scoundrel practices the Black Shadow Poison Demon Hand!"
As expected, 'oohs' of admiration erupted here and there.
Un Ho-seung and the twins, listening intently, looked utterly defeated.
"We can't win against that."
"They say he's a Wudang genius, and it shows—no weaknesses."
"Sister, we were born too early. How do we compete with a monster like that?"
Watching the three writhe in self-deprecation, Chu Un-hwi thought.
'Monsters? Those perverts meticulously recreating every detail are the real freaks.'
Replicating stride width, calluses, even veins—how obsessive could they be?
Regardless of his thoughts, Sa-pong, satisfied with the explanation, proceeded to the next phase.
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect."
Clap clap clap.
Slapping his hands enthusiastically to hype the mood, Sa-pong shouted.
"Now, let's observe how these young heroes of the jianghu shine in a real scenario."
Woooaaah!
Thunderous cheers shook the ground as the young heroes' performance began.
The role-play started with the exposed unorthodox master delivering his lines.
"Heh heh heh~ Young~. Orthodox~. Greenhorns~. Here."
Baek Ri-seol giggled.
"Ho ho. Sounds like he's reading from a book."
"Right? Terrible acting."
Agreed. He seemed summoned for his skills, not his thespian talents.
'Replicating unorthodox arts is tricky.'
The villain pressed on with his stilted delivery.
"Oh ho~? Even a~. Pretty~. Lady here~."
So nuanced a villain he even provoked the students' outrage.
Sure enough, the top students in the sudden drill rose resolutely.
"How dare you! With that filthy mouth!"
"We won't let you off."
"You'll regret your insolence."
Watching the solemn scene, Moyong So-hye fidgeted her toes in tension.
"Sister, look. He's drawn everyone's attention."
"Indeed. Next, he'll probably deploy hidden weapons from his sleeves or scatter poison?"
"Or throw darts."
"Maybe an ambusher under the floorboards."
As if.
'That'd kill them all?'
Starting advanced training too soon had its pitfalls.
A twinge of regret hit him.
As expected, things proceeded straightforwardly.
A pure martial clash.
Clang!
Cheong-su Taoist drew his sword and leaped onto the table, charging.
"Kekeke. Receive my Black Shadow Poison Demon Hand!"
His blackened hands wove dozens of palm shadows, clashing with Cheong-su's blade.
Clang! Clang clang clang!
Amid the cacophony, Gwak Jong-geun shouted to the spectating students.
"Watch closely. Keeping your sword at hand is key to countering attacks!"
"Jianghu common sense. Review Inn Section, Clause 15 precautions."
"Students unfamiliar with Black Shadow Poison Demon Hand, read Appendix: Unorthodox Sects, Item 128!"
As Cheong-su's assault continued, the other students joined in, showcasing Divine Martial Swordsmanship or their own basics.
"I'll take the left!"
"Pin his feet so he can't escape."
Some held swords high, others drew sabers, coordinating cleverly with Cheong-su to corner the foe.
Clang clang clang clang!
The intensified barrage had the villain instructor sweating bullets.
Seeing it, Chu Un-hwi understood why they'd picked an actor with abysmal skills.
"Impressive for kids. They'd overwhelm most instructors."
Really? Four gazes turned his way, alongside other reactions.
"Cheong-su's swordplay is sharp, but his boldness is truly fearsome."
"Yeah. We're twins confident in synergy, but we couldn't mesh so seamlessly with strangers."
"It's Cheong-su's commanding presence that makes it possible."
"Especially with scary Sister Dang along. Truly invincible."
Invincible, my foot.
Teasing the four as they exaggerated, Chu Un-hwi quipped.
"You guys eat failure for breakfast?"
The remark set all four off.
"Failure for breakfast? Mind your words!"
"From some unheard-of sect."
"Right. A twenty-year-old eyeing the peak realm."
"Sister Dang could crush you with one finger. Don't talk if you haven't experienced it."
As they fumed, Chu Un-hwi taunted.
"Failure. Failure."
"Argh."
By now, the drill was overwhelmingly one-sided.
Fortunately, the instructor, forced to take hits, smartly avoided open battle by using terrain.
Gwak Jong-geun, darting among the students, grew busier.
"See? Kicking a chair as a projectile is strategy."
"Backing against walls while moving maximizes evasion of encirclement."
"Watch. Wild swings in tight spaces rebound off walls or pillars."
"Get unlucky, and you eat a counter like that."
"Scan surroundings even mid-fight. Maintain dignity in speech too."
Dang Ae-hee ended the relentless duel.
"Dang Ae-hee, joining in."
Fiddling with her butterfly hairpin, she snapped her fingers.
The instant her slender finger twitched, the villain instructor shoving a table to fell two students gasped.
"Gasp!"
Pheew!
The eerie whistle made him twist his torso desperately.
Thud!
But that was it.
The villain instructor collapsed, stunned as the flying dagger grazed his temple.
His trembling pupils reflected the dart quivering in the wall.
"Th-that's it."
The instructor raised his hand.
Cheers erupted from the tense students.
"Amazing. They beat an instructor."
"Whoa, incredible."
"I've got a long way to go."
As students buzzed with excitement or rivalry.
Ting. Ting.
Sa-pong's bell signaled the mock training's end.
The finale felt quite lesson-like.
As students dispersed to enjoy Kaifeng's streets, the role-playing instructors returned.
They had each group recap the lesson.
Pointing out strengths and flaws, they issued improvements.
Gwak Jong-geun approached after bustling about, greeting observers one by one.
Acting every bit the venue's host, he puffed up proudly.
"How was it? Felt like a real Silver Hall class, right?"
"Impressive, yeah."
Especially their obsessive fidelity, questionable in sanity.
Oblivious, Gwak Jong-geun boasted.
"This is practical instruction."
"..."
"You've heard from the senior instructor: your task is forging those kids into true combat-ready warriors."
"So they said."
"Not easy. Especially with students lacking environmental awareness or preferring solo breakthroughs—they're a handful."
"...Is that so?"
"But persevere. Temporary or not, you're part of Silver Hall."
Chu Un-hwi eyed Gwak Jong-geun, his prior discipline's shadow gone, arrogance restored.
"I'll head back. More business awaits."
At 'dinner?' invitations, the world's busiest man yelled, 'Of course, elders!' and dashed off.
"He does seem busy."
Shrugging at the receding figure, Chu Un-hwi remarked.