Chapter 114: Human, How Can You Be So Stupid?
Yeop Hyeon ignored the mocking words. He simply turned and strode out. Just as the silk-robed man opened his mouth to say something, Mu Yun Qi stepped forward, blocking his path.
"Heh, buddy. If you keep yapping here one more time, Yeop Gangju's blade's gonna end up in your throat. Not that it'd be a big deal, but if you die, all the trash like you behind the scenes will come swarming, and that's just annoying. So, when I say nice and easy, get lost without looking back. Got it?"
The three students from the main academy ground their teeth, watching Mu Yun Qi's retreating back as he left them behind.
The situation was utterly humiliating for them.
"Let's head back for now!"
At the silk-robed man's words, the three departed from Canglan Academy.
Watching the scene from afar, O Ru-ju let out a low sigh and muttered to himself.
"The main academy folks are just as stupid..."
He turned his gaze back toward the Canglan Hall.
"Letting students like that slip away... Their heads must all be messed up or something."
O Ru-ju had heard a bit about why the Canglan Academy main branch hadn't helped Dean Ji Yuan Zhang back then.
Canglan Academy in Qingzhou had long lost its former glory, but that was in the past. If those four students now rebuilt it, regaining its old prestige wouldn't be hard at all. Even if the rebuild failed, those four had limitless futures regardless.
Until now, he'd only paid attention to Yeop Hyeon. But Mu Yun Qi, Bai Ze, and Ji An Zhi were all top-tier—no place in Jiang Kingdom, or even Qingzhou, would overlook talents like them.
Yet the main branch still viewed Qingzhou's Canglan Academy with the same old disdain.
O Ru-ju let out a small sigh and turned away. Internal academy matters weren't for him to meddle in.
Back inside Canglan Hall.
The four—Yeop Hyeon and his group—sat facing each other across a table.
Mu Yun Qi spoke first.
"The main branch bugs me a bit... What if they keep coming to harass us?"
Yeop Hyeon replied calmly.
"Can't avoid that anymore. The real issue isn't them coming—it's how we get stronger. If we've got power, no one scares us, no matter who shows up!"
Bai Ze nodded.
"Right."
Yeop Hyeon turned to Mu Yun Qi.
"So, when's your Penetrating Nether Realm breakthrough?"
"Uh... Not sure, but maybe a month?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"Too slow. Two weeks—break through in two weeks! If you're still stuck then, I'll take half your food and give it to Bai Ze."
Bai Ze's eyes lit up.
"Sounds good!"
Mu Yun Qi glared at Bai Ze and yelled.
"Fine! Let's see who wins!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded and turned to Ji An Zhi.
"You?"
"Mm... About a month for me too..."
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"I'll add a whole chicken and a roasted lamb leg every day."
Ji An Zhi pondered, then nodded eagerly.
"Deal—two weeks! Wait, throw in some pig's feet, and I'll do it in ten days!"
"Deal—settled!"
"Settled!"
Suddenly, Mu Yun Qi shot to his feet, shouting angrily.
"Yeop Gangju, this is unfair! Where's the justice in—"
At that moment, a razor-sharp knife hovered at his throat.
Mu Yun Qi grimaced at Ji An Zhi, who held the blade to his neck.
"Hey, Anji sis, this wasn't aimed at you—it's just Yeop Gangju's treatment is way too unfair..."
Yeop Hyeon stood abruptly, staring straight into Mu Yun Qi's eyes.
"Fine! Even as dean, I don't wanna force my personal views. Canglan Academy's democratic—we vote on everything!"
He asked Ji An Zhi.
"Who you voting for?"
"You!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded and turned to Bai Ze.
"You?"
"Me, uh..."
"More food!"
"You!"
Yeop Hyeon flashed a triumphant smile at Mu Yun Qi.
"There—three to one. Vote's in; your opinion's invalid. Got it?"
With that, Yeop Hyeon left.
Ji An Zhi shot Mu Yun Qi a glare, stuffed her mouth full of dumplings, and stood.
Finally, Bai Ze patted Mu Yun Qi's shoulder with a sigh.
"Human... how can you be so stupid..."
"..."
Training!
The days that followed were nothing but relentless training.
They also set a date for new student recruitment—the first in decades for Canglan Academy.
With help from the Jiang Kingdom imperial family and Chwiseonru, the news spread across the kingdom. Young martial artists everywhere buzzed with excitement.
With no Changmok Academy around, Canglan was their only choice.
Plus, admirers of Yeop Hyeon overflowed the kingdom. Backed fully by the imperial family and Chwiseonru, lines of applicants stretched from every corner toward Canglan Academy.
Canglan Academy, back mountain.
Yeop Hyeon sat cross-legged amid the bamboo grove, his Spirit Water Sword hovering beside him.
Suddenly, sword intent and sword light gathered at his eyes in an instant.
Yeop Hyeon opened his eyes.
Ching!
Sharp sword light shot from his eyes like lightning, slicing two bamboo stalks dozens of feet away clean in half.
The corner of Yeop Hyeon's mouth curved up.
When he first unleashed Sword Eyes, controlling the power had been a struggle. But now, he'd precisely directed it into two beams. Still, it wasn't enough to satisfy him yet.
Endless training!
Not just Yeop Hyeon—the other three threw themselves into it like madmen.
And cleanup fell to Dean Yeop Hyeon. Every few days, he'd descend the mountain, procuring training resources for Mu Yun Qi and the others.
Plus, with reconstruction nearing completion, money drained like an ebbing tide.
But the spending on Canglan Academy and the three was never wasted.
The academy's funds existed for its students, after all.
As dean, Yeop Hyeon was like a big brother to them—duty-bound to care for them. Fight when fighting, scold when scolding, but protect them with his life when needed.
* * *
Time passed, and the day before recruitment arrived.
Late at night, Yeop Hyeon sat cross-legged in the bamboo grove as usual, eyes closed. Spirit Water Sword guarded his side. Within thirty feet, sword intent spread like a dense spiderweb.
Anywhere it touched felt as clear as if right before his eyes.
The world he'd once seen with his eyes, he now perceived with his heart!
Eyes and sword—different concepts, different realms.
Eyes saw only surfaces; the heart pierced essences.
All day seated there, Yeop Hyeon sensed wind, earth, mountains, grasses, trees—even clouds in the sky.
Things his eyes could never grasp easily.
Only now did he understand the Heavenly Maiden's offhand words: feel gratitude for the living world.
The third stage of Sword Eyes was thought itself.
All worldly thoughts were insights.
Sinking into quiet meditation, eyes closed, Yeop Hyeon gained many realizations.
For years, he'd been gripped by impatience.
In the hush where even insects fell silent, Yeop Hyeon pondered quietly.
Meanwhile, though Bai Ze had recently entered Penetrating Nether Realm, he never slacked. Letting Mu Yun Qi grow stronger while he lazed would be disastrous—Mu Yun Qi would target him first.
Getting hit by Yeop Hyeon? Fine. By Mu Yun Qi? Unacceptable.
Bai Ze focused on fully controlling his demon beast bloodline's power. His physical strength outmatched any same-realm foe—even Divine Fusion Realm experts wouldn't overwhelm him.
Money!
Yes! His body's might stemmed from slathering it in cash!
Lately, he'd popped pills and supreme tonics daily without fail. He didn't even know how much he'd spent. Just the Body Quenching Pills? At least hundreds of thousands in gold taels.
On a mountain path in Canglan Mountain, Mu Yun Qi dashed like a feral wolf, iron balls now weighing him down.
Effort! Struggle!
Recently, Mu Yun Qi couldn't shake his gloom. Getting smacked by Yeop Hyeon was routine, but Bai Ze—now Penetrating Nether Realm—constantly picking fights and mocking him? Intolerable. Officially sparring, but Bai Ze just wanted to beat him.
"Arrrgh, can't take it!!"
Mu Yun Qi roared, accelerating. His body tore across the ground like a gale.
Born with his ethereal physique talent, sure—but training wasn't optional. Innate edges shone only with effort.
Mu Yun Qi consumed heaps of resources too. Yeop Hyeon specially fetched him Wind Spirit Pills, unlocking his potential to wield surrounding winds—wings for his already swift lightness skill.
Another was Qi Gathering Pills. His lightness skill guzzled energy like mad; without them, half a day of training would be impossible.
Talent mattered, effort too—but money was king!
No denying it—cash ruled all!
In the kitchen, Ji An Zhi sat on a wooden chair, a sleek knife in hand. Stacked firewood loomed to her left.
She picked a log, swung the knife gripped tight.
Shwick!
The middle sliced mirror-flat.
Expressionless, she bit huge into a steamed bun, then grabbed another log.
Shwick!
Speed invisible to the eye.
Ji An Zhi stacked the neatly cut firewood aside.
Another massive bite of bun, then—somehow—a chicken leg appeared, which she eyed with fiery hunger.