No, This Isn't How It's Done?
Yeop Hyeon and his group were heading toward the Imperial City of Dangguk.
After walking for some time, Yuk Ban Jang approached Yeop Hyeon.
"Any thoughts on hiring some mercenaries? I know people from Jungto Sinju. Reasonable prices, too."
Yeop Hyeon pondered for a moment before nodding.
"Let's do it. Get in touch for me."
Yuk Ban Jang nodded and returned to her spot.
Watching Yeop Hyeon's group from the city gates, O Lu Ju let out a soft sigh and muttered to himself.
"Hoo, young blood runs hot, doesn't it..."
In truth, he had advised Yeop Hyeon's group to leave Dangguk.
But no one wanted to do that.
They had been oppressed by their enemies—they had to pay them back. That was their reasoning.
These people never shied away from a fight. They were firm believers in settling grudges without fail.
Especially Yeop Hyeon, who absolutely couldn't tolerate being wronged.
O Lu Ju had offered to send Chwi Seon Ru warriors to escort them to the Imperial City, but Yeop Hyeon refused.
They had already received too much help from Chwi Seon Ru. Moreover, Chwi Seon Ru was on the verge of losing its business rights in Dangguk because of this incident.
In such a situation, they couldn't ask for more favors.
At the same time, in Yangjie City, Gang Gu was quietly gazing at the sky.
By the time the Black Guards and Inspector Corps had retreated, Gang Gu had already led her army back to Yangjie City. Standing atop the walls in her silver armor, staring at the distant horizon, she murmured softly.
"You have to come back alive..."
At the same time, on a certain mountain peak, Ha Hu Do and a dozen warriors knelt on their knees.
In front of them stood a middle-aged man with his hands behind his back, staring straight ahead.
It was none other than the dean of Qingzhou's Changmok Academy, I Hyeon-chang.
After some time, I Hyeon-chang finally spoke.
"Rise."
The warriors stood up.
"If we'd known they came from Jungto Sinju, we never would have touched them. To make enemies like this for no reason..."
"Master, what do you plan to do now?"
"If we wait, others will show up again. His enemies aren't just Changmok Academy and the Dark Realm. When that time comes, we'll see how long Yeop Hyeon can hold out. And we'll see how long that Sword Immortal behind him can protect him."
Inside Dangguk's Imperial City.
Until now, Yeop Hyeon had always stormed straight through enemy gates. Unlike previous cities, the Imperial City wasn't fully fortified on all fronts. Because of that, they infiltrated without spilling blood far more easily than expected.
As they walked along the official roads inside the city, Yuk Ban Jang asked,
"Where are we headed now?"
Ya Ri and the others looked at Yeop Hyeon.
Currently, Yeop Hyeon and Yuk Ban Jang were the leaders guiding them.
They all harbored deep respect in their hearts for Yeop Hyeon, who always charged ahead first in battle, displaying terrifying might.
At that moment, Yeop Hyeon gazed into the distance and replied,
"Changmok Academy."
"There'll be Myriad Laws Realm experts there!"
Yuk Ban Jang lowered her voice as she spoke.
Yeop Hyeon's lips curled into a savage grin.
"Myriad Laws Realm experts can't make a move anyway!"
With that, Yeop Hyeon quickened his pace.
Ya Ri sidled up to Yuk Ban Jang.
"Sis, Yeop bro seems really hot-tempered."
"It's a good trait."
"Huh...?"
Moments later, Yeop Hyeon's group arrived at Dangguk's Changmok Academy. As expected, it was built atop a mountain. In terms of scale, it couldn't compare to Gangguk's Changmok Academy.
That was because Gangguk's had an outstanding warrior named Go Cheon-jin.
Ya Ri approached Yeop Hyeon, who was staring at the academy.
"Yeop bro, you really planning to attack the whole academy?"
Going up against the entire academy?
This was something they'd never done before.
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"We're hitting it."
"H-how?"
Yeop Hyeon looked up at the academy on the mountaintop.
"Head-on!"
[This single strike fused battle intent and sword intent.]
At his words, the Spirit Water Sword shot out from his body. Gripping it, Yeop Hyeon soared straight toward the mountain peak.
Neung Han blinked in astonishment.
"W-wait! Even so, skipping the intro and jumping straight to the main event!?"
Yuk Ban Jang, who had been watching Yeop Hyeon, immediately launched her form skyward.
Soon, twelve shadows streaked toward Changmok Academy.
Right then, an enraged voice boomed across the entire mountain.
"Who dares cause a commotion at Changmok Academy!"
Yeop Hyeon laughed ferociously and shouted back,
"Who else? Yeop Hyeon!"
'Yeop Hyeon?'
The name sent murmurs rippling through the entire academy.
In Qingzhou nowadays, who hadn't heard of Yeop Hyeon?
Martial arts grandmaster and sword path grandmaster. The storm child under the Sword Immortal's protection—that was Yeop Hyeon.
Countless warriors poured out from Changmok Academy, blocking Yeop Hyeon's path. The elder at the front opened his mouth to say something, but Yeop Hyeon gripped his sword with both hands and charged.
One Sword Determines Life and Death!
This single strike fused battle intent and sword intent.
Facing Yeop Hyeon's overwhelming power, the elder's expression hardened. He slammed his palm downward, then upward.
Boom-!
The ground beneath the elder erupted, rising to block between him and Yeop Hyeon.
Bang-!
The risen earth blocked Yeop Hyeon's sword, but the impact sent the elder flying backward. At that instant, a shadow flashed in front of him like lightning and whipped a leg like a lash.
Thwack-!
The elder's head exploded.
The shadow was none other than Yuk Ban Jang.
The academy students gaped in horror at the elder's death in just two strikes.
He had been the vice dean, at the peak of Divine Fusion Realm.
With the vice dean slain in the blink of an eye, the students panicked.
Yeop Hyeon didn't stop, launching forward again. As the students desperately tried to block him, a voice rang out from the mountaintop.
"Stand down!"
With the voice came immense pressure crashing down on Yeop Hyeon. Simultaneously, an elder in black robes appeared before the group.
Yeop Hyeon lowered his sword hand.
A Myriad Laws Realm expert!
This warrior was Changmok Academy's dean.
The black-robed elder glared at Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop Hyeon, do you truly think Changmok Academy has no one?"
Yeop Hyeon raised his sword, pointing it at the elder, and bellowed,
"Come at me then! Do it!"
"......"
The black-robed elder clenched his fists, his face darkening.
He couldn't make a move against Yeop Hyeon.
How had Qingzhou's Changmok Academy's Myriad Laws Realm experts died?
How had Gangguk's Changmok Academy fallen?
All because they underestimated Yeop Hyeon.
And behind him loomed the colossal figure of the Sword Immortal.
At that moment, Yeop Hyeon turned to Yuk Ban Jang.
"Go ransack Changmok Academy's treasury. Kill anyone who gets in the way!"
"Got it!"
Yuk Ban Jang led Ya Ri and the others toward the treasury.
"Insolent whelp!"
The black-robed elder glared at Yeop Hyeon with fury.
"Yeop Hyeon, there's a limit even to overstepping..."
Yeop Hyeon advanced on the elder.
"Overstepping? Then hit me if you dare!"
The elder's face twisted further.
Meanwhile, Yuk Ban Jang kicked a student blocking her path, sending them flying far away.
As other students moved to block her group, the black-robed elder roared,
"Stop!"
The students halted and looked to the elder.
Yeop Hyeon pointed at his own chest mockingly.
"Please, hit me. I beg you!"
"......"
Yuk Ban Jang glanced at Yeop Hyeon and sighed.
"Pervert..."
Her form vanished into the academy grounds.
The black-robed elder stood before Yeop Hyeon, deep in grave contemplation.
He seriously debated striking down this arrogant punk.
Of course, he wanted nothing more than to snap Yeop Hyeon's neck in an instant.
He was confident he could. But he couldn't act on it.
Because of the Sword Immortal behind Yeop Hyeon.
If that Sword Immortal appeared for revenge after his death, not only he but the entire Changmok Academy would be massacred.
Even watching Yuk Ban Jang's group casually loot their treasury, he couldn't lift a finger.
Ya Ri's group entered the treasury bloodlessly. The moment they opened the doors, their eyes widened.
Mountains of treasures piled before them.
How many years had it taken to amass all this!
Yuk Ban Jang pulled a massive pancake from her sleeve, bit into it, and yelled,
"Grab it all! Sweep everything!"
At her command, they frantically looted the treasures.
Most weren't from ordinary families—they had high-grade storage rings. Storing all this wasn't difficult.
After clearing the treasury without leaving a speck of dust, Yuk Ban Jang's group headed to the Merit Hall and Martial Arts Pavilion.
"Take anything of value!"
At that moment, they looked no different from a band of thieves.
And Changmok Academy could only watch helplessly as their stores were plundered.
Without a Myriad Laws Realm expert, no one could stop them.
Most crucially, the Sword Immortal backed Yeop Hyeon.
Before that existence, neither Changmok Academy nor the Dark Realm dared crush him by force.
In this situation, the black-robed elder was making the wisest judgment possible. His goal was simply to prevent further sacrifices.
If he weren't here and Changmok Academy clashed with Yeop Hyeon's group,
If he sat it out and they fought, victory wasn't guaranteed. Even if they won, the academy would suffer massive losses. Sacrificing so many young warriors would doom its future.
The elder didn't want Dangguk's centuries-old Changmok Academy legacy to end on his watch.
Humiliating, yes. But better to endure shame than watch the academy fall. Until reinforcements arrived from the main branch, they had no choice but to bear it.
Soon, Yuk Ban Jang's group emerged from the treasury, faces smug with satisfaction.
The watching students' eyes burned with killing intent.
Today would go down as the most humiliating day in Changmok Academy's history.
With Yuk Ban Jang's group back at his side, Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Then let's go?"
He had no desire for a full fight. Battling the whole academy risked losses to their forces.
Suddenly, Ya Ri strode boldly up to the black-robed elder. Grinning right in the elder's face, he patted his cheek.
"Old geezer, hit me!"
Thwack-!
Ya Ri flew hundreds of feet, crashing into the ground.
Struggling up, spitting blood, he shot Yeop Hyeon a resentful glare.
"No... isn't this how it's done?"