Chapter 173: I've Already Secured the Instructor
Yeop Hyeon was a bit taken aback.
He asked once more, just in case, since she'd agreed so readily.
"You really want to join Canglan Academy?"
Geom Cho-cho nodded.
"Of course! Teaming up with someone as strong as you will be a huge help to me! But if the day comes when I surpass you, I'll leave."
"Hahaha! That's intriguing! Then let's head to Canglan Academy together!"
And just like that, Yeop Hyeon unexpectedly took on a Sword Master as a student.
He was inwardly thrilled.
A Sword Master, no less!
From their brief clash moments ago, she was already at the peak of the Sword Master realm. She might even ascend to Sword Lord soon.
If so, Canglan Academy's strength would soar even higher.
Returning to Canglan Academy with Geom Cho-cho, Yeop Hyeon immediately summoned all the students.
Only thirty remained now. Having survived the battle at Gaeyang Fortress, they had matured far beyond their previous selves.
In front of Canglan Hall.
Yeop Hyeon stood facing the students, flanked on either side by Bai Ze, Mu Yun Qi, Ji An Zhi, and the newly recruited Geom Cho-cho.
He opened his mouth toward the students before him.
"Survive. Got it?"
The students blinked in confusion, not grasping his words.
Yeop Hyeon continued in a gentle voice.
"Countless brothers died at Gaeyang Fortress."
The hall fell deathly silent.
"Today, I want to share words from one of my brothers with you all. Once you've chosen to step into this brutal world, dying from lack of strength is no tragedy. Our world isn't always kind—sometimes it's downright cruel. But the stronger you are, the better your odds of survival. With that in mind, starting today, I'm doubling your training intensity."
As he finished speaking, a single point of brilliant spiritual energy materialized in his palm.
The students' eyes sparkled at the sight.
"Want it?"
They nodded eagerly.
"Good. I'll gift it to whoever reaches Divine Fusion Realm first."
Divine Fusion Realm?
Their expressions darkened instantly. Those still stuck at Soaring Realm looked especially grim.
Yeop Hyeon pressed on.
"One more thing. Monthly exams from now on. Top three get Earth-grade weapons and techniques as prizes. First place wins a top-grade spiritual stone. Last place? Expelled!"
Expelled!
Students and even Mu Yun Qi stared at Yeop Hyeon in shock.
Expulsion seemed overly harsh.
"Rewards come with punishments. That's all—dismissed for today!"
The students' faces remained tense.
Expulsion from the rolls.
Joining Canglan Academy was a tremendous honor for Jiang Kingdom's youth. Expulsion would strip that away forever.
No one could afford expulsion!
In that moment, every student gripped the strings of tension in their hearts.
After the students dispersed, Mu Yun Qi sidled up to Yeop Hyeon and whispered.
"Yeop Sword Master, isn't this a bit too cruel?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"You've seen Changmok Academy's Dao soldiers, my old Nine Ghosts Mercenary Group, and the Daeun Empire's Black Flame Cavalry. How do our students stack up?"
Mu Yun Qi fell silent.
They were leagues beyond.
"If we're not tough on them today, they'll meet even crueler ends tomorrow. And Yun Qi, Ze, An Zhi—your skills still fall short of Jungto Sinju's elites. I'll procure whatever resources you need. Train harder! I truly want us all together when we return here someday."
With that, Yeop Hyeon turned and walked away.
Mu Yun Qi and the other two said nothing.
They had all reached Divine Fusion Realm. But as Yeop Hyeon said, they were among the weakest there.
Heading to Jungto Sinju like this? Survival wouldn't be easy.
A moment later, Mu Yun Qi spoke up.
"Let's double our own training intensity too!"
Bai Ze nodded.
Ji An Zhi just chewed on a mantou in silence.
Geom Cho-cho, standing nearby, chimed in.
"The Daeun Empire is formidable."
The three turned to her. She continued with a grave expression.
"I just ran the numbers in my head. If Canglan Academy clashed head-on with the Daeun Empire, you wouldn't stand a chance. Throw in your other foes—Changmok Academy and the Dark Realm—and it's even grimmer."
Mu Yun Qi scowled.
"But we won the last war!"
Geom Cho-cho gazed at him pityingly.
"You're a bit dense, aren't you?"
Mu Yun Qi nearly lunged in anger.
She went on.
"Don't you get it? Once Yeop Hyeon hits Divine Fusion Realm, Jungto Sinju can deploy Myriad Laws Realm experts."
Mu Yun Qi and the others paled sharply.
They'd completely forgotten.
Myriad Laws Realm powerhouses!
The Sword Immortal and Changmok Academy had once agreed not to send anyone two full realms above Yeop Hyeon. But once he reached Divine Fusion Realm, Myriad Laws experts could move freely.
Could Canglan Academy stop them then?
The three bolted off somewhere.
Training was all that mattered now. It was time to train with their lives on the line.
Jiang Kingdom and Canglan Academy's victory in this war wasn't true victory. The real war would begin once Myriad Laws Realm experts entered the fray.
Yeop Hyeon headed straight to Yeongryeong Hall. Slumping to the floor, he stared wordlessly at the memorial tablets for a long while. At last, he spoke.
"Dean Ji, don't worry. Canglan Academy is growing stronger by the day. I'll lead them well and prove we're no lesser than the main academy..."
In the brightly candlelit hall, Yeop Hyeon kept murmuring endlessly to someone.
At some point, he collapsed onto the floor and fell asleep.
Early morning, as the red sun began to peek over the horizon.
Yeop Hyeon awoke. Somehow, a thick blanket had been draped over him—smelling faintly pleasant.
A faint smile crossed his lips as he folded the blanket neatly and stepped out of Yeongryeong Hall.
Basking in the sunlight streaming down, he stretched contentedly.
"It's been a while!"
Turning, he saw Kang Gu approaching with a smile. She looked her best in that silver armor.
"I've picked the people!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded at her words.
"Let's take a look."
Kang Gu led him to an open clearing. Yeop Hyeon's eyes fell on seventy-odd men standing in perfect formation. The oldest looked in his thirties, the youngest barely in his twenties. All radiated thick killing intent—veterans at a glance.
As Yeop Hyeon appeared, the seventy men dropped to one knee.
"We see Lord Yeop!"
Excitement tinged their faces. The man they truly revered stood right before them.
Meanwhile, Kang Gu breathed a quiet sigh of relief that Yeop Hyeon harbored no malice. If he did, he could seize control of Jiang Kingdom in an instant using his fame.
"Rise, all of you."
The seventy soldiers stood, eyes still alight with fervor.
"From this moment, you are all warriors of Canglan Academy. Anyone who doesn't wish to stay may leave now."
No one budged.
Yeop Hyeon nodded lightly.
"I'll provide you with the finest resources and equipment to forge you into Qingzhou's mightiest elite Dao soldiers. But the path will be grueling. Monthly exams ahead— the bottom three performers will be cut."
Cut?
The soldiers' faces grew stern.
Yeop Hyeon turned to Kang Gu.
"So you'll need to recruit replacements for those three each month!"
Kang Gu nodded.
"Got it."
"And I'd like them removed from the military registry. They answer only to me."
Kang Gu looked up at him.
"Can you manage that?"
Kang Gu didn't reply.
Yeop Hyeon silently watched her lips.
After a pause, she spoke.
"Do you not trust us?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"Might seem selfish, but I want to raise them solely for Canglan Academy. If that's an issue, I'll find others."
These Dao soldiers would become terrifyingly powerful someday. Yeop Hyeon didn't want them taking orders from anyone else. They must serve only Canglan Academy.
"Don't worry—we won't lay a finger on them."
Her voice came out chilly. A self-mocking smile tugged at Kang Gu's lips as she turned.
Yeop Hyeon swiftly blocked her path. Kang Gu's gaze was icy.
"Why?"
"Angry?" Yeop Hyeon asked softly.
She nodded.
"Feeling off."
It wasn't about the kingdom losing control of the soldiers. It was that Yeop Hyeon seemed to distrust her.
Yeop Hyeon smiled gently.
"I want you to lead them as commander."
Kang Gu's eyes widened as she stared at him.
"Kang Gu, I don't want the royal family owning them. It would twist their founding purpose. If anything happens to me, Canglan Academy needs its own strength to defend itself. And I trust you."
After a silent moment, Kang Gu replied.
"Don't worry. They're Canglan Academy's cavalry, not the royal family's. Even the kingdom can't summon them lightly. Just... if Jiang Kingdom ever faces crisis, I'd hope they'd step up for the nation."
"Naturally. If Jiang's in danger, we won't sit idle!"
Kang Gu peered into his eyes. Her expression had softened.
"With you and me around, that won't happen."
"Haha, exactly!"
Kang Gu murmured softly.
"And I'd like to train with them too... Who's going to drill them?"
"I've already found someone."
Moments later, Yeop Hyeon and Kang Gu moved to a grand hall. Before them stood Bong Nam, Muk Won, and Gu Jiu.
After a stretch of silence, Muk Won spoke.
"So... you want us three to handle the Dao soldiers?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Training even one Dao soldier costs a fortune!"
"I know. I'll cover the funds."
Muk Won and Bong Nam glanced at Gu Jiu. As a Bing family scion, she'd have the most insight.
Gu Jiu paused before addressing Yeop Hyeon.
"Our Bing family has a technique called the Killing Intent Art. It's ideal for training soldiers. The issue is the cost. Excluding sundries, it's at least fifty million nyang per person."
Yeop Hyeon nearly fainted on the spot.
Fifty million?
"But raise them right, and they'll be among Qingcang Realm's strongest Dao soldiers. Provided you can foot the bill."
Yeop Hyeon grew grave for a moment, then bit his lip hard.
"Let's do it!"