Sorry, but I Don't Want to Hear It!
While Mu Yun Qi oversaw the exam, Yeop Hyeon and the other three entered the Canglan Hall.
The three sat facing each other across the table.
Yeop Hyeon spoke to Ji An Zhi directly across from him.
"An Zhi, I asked Chwi Seon Ru to send someone to handle the kitchen. When they arrive, could you take charge of it?"
Ji An Zhi nodded.
"Got it!"
At that moment, Bai Ze asked,
"Yeop Instructor, should we hire someone for the students' chores?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"No need. Cleaning, laundry, and all the miscellaneous tasks—they'll handle it themselves. They came here to cultivate, not to slack off."
"You're right."
Yeop Hyeon turned back to Bai Ze.
"By the way, the scholars who'll teach the students should arrive soon. They're not strong in martial arts, but their knowledge surpasses anyone here, so treat them with utmost respect. I'll leave that to you. And tell Mu Yun Qi to inform the students: anyone who disrespects the scholars gets expelled immediately, no readmission. Not just the students—we need to be careful not to offend them either!"
Bai Ze nodded.
"I'll handle it!"
"Before learning the martial path, becoming a proper person comes first. That goes for us too."
Bai Ze hesitated for a moment before speaking up.
"Yeop Instructor, that thing you said last time—about making Canglan Academy the greatest in the Qingcang Realm... you were serious?"
"Of course! If we're doing it, we do it right!"
Bai Ze met Yeop Hyeon's gaze and nodded firmly.
"Alright then—let's go big!"
Ji An Zhi silently watched the two kindred spirits.
Night had fallen.
The exam was over. A total of forty-two had passed all three gates.
Mu Yun Qi appeared with the passersby. The forty-two students bowed in unison toward Yeop Hyeon.
"We greet the Dean!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded in acknowledgment.
"Welcome to Canglan Academy. This place is your home now. Academy rules will be set soon, so mind yourselves until then. There are four instructors, including me. More will join over time, but for now, train under us four."
The students looked a bit disappointed at his words.
Yeop Hyeon glanced at Bai Ze.
"The scholars aren't here yet?"
Right then, three shadows emerged from the darkness, approaching them.
Two elderly men and a woman in a black skirt on a wheelchair.
It was National Scholar Gu Jiu.
Yeop Hyeon blinked in confusion and stepped toward her.
"National Scholar Gu, what brings you here?"
"Am I intruding?"
"Haha, you're always welcome! But... if you're here to become an instructor, I should warn you upfront—we can't offer generous pay right now."
"Doesn't matter."
Gu Jiu introduced the two elders.
"This is Mok Won, and this is Bong Nam, both renowned masters of scholarship."
Yeop Hyeon hurriedly brought Mu Yun Qi and the others forward, bowing politely. The two elders smiled warmly and returned the clasped-hand salute.
Yeop Hyeon grinned.
"You three should head the scholarly division. Teach whatever you see fit."
Then Mok Won fixed Yeop Hyeon with a piercing stare.
"I have a question."
"What is it?"
"From what I know, both Cangmu Academy and Canglan abolished their scholarly divisions centuries ago. Why reinstate it now, Dean?"
Yeop Hyeon paused before answering.
"We can't judge people by strength alone. Survival demands power, sure—but we can't neglect character."
Mok Won nodded.
"A rare mindset in these times..."
Yeop Hyeon clasped his hands toward the three.
"Canglan Academy was just rebuilt, so we're short on everything. Please bear with us!"
Mu Yun Qi shook his head.
"No issue. Just about books..."
"Don't worry! I've already asked Chwi Seon Ru to gather all kinds. Request anything through them!"
Mok Won stroked his beard contentedly.
"Perfect!"
Yeop Hyeon led the three before the students and adopted a stern expression.
"These three will teach you scholarship from now on. Fail the scholarly exams twice, and you're expelled—no reentry!"
Scholarly division?
The students' faces stiffened.
"Any problems? Step forward if you object!"
"......"
As expected of Yeop Instructor... born to intimidate.
Mu Yun Qi's lips twitched upward.
No one spoke up, so Yeop Hyeon nodded to proceed. Then someone stepped forward.
"I have a problem!"
The resounding voice made everyone turn. Four warriors strode out slowly. The leader wore ornate silk robes, a smooth white jade pendant at his waist.
The man sneered at Yeop Hyeon.
"Looks like Canglan's dean is blind. When you asked if there was a problem, I already raised my han—"
He never finished. Yeop Hyeon vanished from his spot in an instant! As the man recoiled in panic, a sharp sword pierced between his brows.
The students gasped in shock.
Yeop Hyeon retrieved his sword, voice flat and emotionless.
"Any problems? Sorry, but I don't want to hear them right now."
The hall fell deathly silent, like ice water doused over flames.
The students stared, breathless.
So overbearing!
Bai Ze and Mu Yun Qi remained calm— they knew Yeop Hyeon best. His nature was extreme: kind to friends, ruthless to foes, beheading without blinking.
Mok Won and Bong Nam glanced at him but said nothing.
Yeop Hyeon sheathed his sword and turned to the remaining three. They paled, stumbling back wildly.
He killed so easily...
Did we pick the wrong fight...?
No hesitation at all...!
Fear of Yeop Hyeon took root deep in their hearts.
"You three—any problems?"
Yeop Hyeon wasn't a murderer. But these weren't friendly visitors. No mercy for enemies!
Their eyes shook like they'd seen a demon.
One finally spoke.
"We're from Cho Country. We came to confirm something. In the secret realm... you killed our third prince?"
Cho Country's prince?
Yeop Hyeon raised a brow, recalling.
Right—that guy in silver armor!
He nodded.
"I did. Problem?"
Their faces twitched violently, barely containing rage. They turned to flee.
"Hold it!"
They froze, faces ashen. Yeop Hyeon pointed at the corpse.
"Clean it up!"
Without a word, they hoisted the body and vanished from sight.
With order restored, Yeop Hyeon addressed the students.
"Study hard, cultivate diligently! Dismissed!"
He strode off into the distance.
The stunned students exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"Too brutal," Bong Nam muttered.
"Not at all."
Gu Jiu spoke softly as Bong Nam turned.
"He instilled fear."
"Fear?"
Bong Nam's brow furrowed.
"Seemed like making enemies for no reason..."
Gu Jiu smiled.
"Yeop Hyeon got their identities from Chwi Seon Ru. No good intentions there, so he met them with maximum pressure."
"But with a Sword Immortal behind him, would Cho Country dare touch him?"
"Only Gang Lao, O Lu Ju, Dark Realm, and Cangmu know. The rest who did? Dead."
Bong Nam fell silent.
"Your Confucian school vanished from Qingcang after that day. Want to revive it? Shed old ways. Working with Yeop Dean is perfect."
Mok Won and Bong Nam's faces darkened.
Gu Jiu sank deeper into her wheelchair.
"Yeop Hyeon truly wants to build Canglan. He seeks more than martial growth from students—that's your opportunity."
Mok Won met her gaze.
"And you? What do the Military Strategists seek?"
Gu Jiu just smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Inside Canglan Hall.
The four gathered around the table. Yeop Hyeon drummed his fingers thoughtfully, silent.
Mu Yun Qi broke the quiet.
"Those two scholars aren't ordinary."
He eyed Bai Ze.
"Where'd you find them?"
"National Scholar Gu helped."
"Yeop Instructor, your thoughts?"
Yeop Hyeon paused, then spoke.
"Nothing changes. We stay vigilant and proceed."
Mu Yun Qi nodded.
"Agreed."
"Also, from tomorrow, we'll rotate instructing the students. An Zhi, handle resource distribution—thanks."
Ji An Zhi nodded.
"Yun Qi, Bai Ze—you just hit Penetrating Mystery Realm, so focus on basics for now. Lots to do before Divine Fusion Realm."
"Got it."
Yeop Hyeon stood.
"Within half a year, Daeun Empire. Within a year, Central Divine Continent for Master Ancestor! Think we can?"
Mu Yun Qi paused, then replied.
"Just bow once to Master Ancestor?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head vigorously.
"Nah—we're throwing down first!"
"Hahaha! Conquer Qingzhou, then Central Divine Continent!"