I'd Rather Die Standing Than Kneel!
The crowds that had surrounded Yeop Hyeon had, at some point, backed away to a safe distance. And in the spots where they had stood lay headless corpses, sprawled out grotesquely.
Only then did they realize that the man before them was not someone to be trifled with lightly.
The forest fell silent in an instant. Now, within the grounds, all jeers and mocking voices had vanished.
Yeop Hyeong and the other Canglan Academy students bowed deeply to Yeop Hyeon before marching forward. At that moment, the crowds blocking their path parted like the receding tide, clearing a way. No one dared stand in their way.
Suddenly turning back toward Canglan Academy, Yeop Hyeong began to weep. Were tears contagious? One by one, more students followed her example, tears streaming down their faces.
To them, Canglan Academy had been like home.
Yeop Hyeon tried to maintain a calm facade, but his heart ached.
From the day Canglan Academy was founded to this very moment, nothing within its walls had escaped his personal touch. His attachment to it was unmatched.
His decision to disband it was partly to protect the students from enemies, but also to give them the chance to grow on their own.
Wasn't it true that Canglan Academy had relied far too heavily on him alone?
Unconditional protection would only harm martial artists in the end. To grow strong, they needed to venture out, gain experience, and shed blood.
Yeop Hyeon was certain of it. The next time they met, they would all be far stronger than now!
As his students faded from view, Yeop Hyeon turned and headed back toward Canglan Academy. Suddenly, he halted and glanced over his shoulder.
"Get lost!"
His sudden shout left the people bewildered, but then his sword flashed, slashing through the empty air. Yeop Hyeon's eyes burned with fury. Seeing those he had protected twisted like this filled him with self-loathing.
Only then did the people scream and flee.
"Hahaha! They wouldn't listen to nice words, but one swing of your sword and they scatter like children! Who knew you'd look good as the villain?"
"Nonsense! You've always been a born villain!"
At that moment, an old man stepped out from behind Yeop Hyeon.
It was none other than Sa Do-myeong of the Sado family.
Yeop Hyeon sat on a large rock nearby and spoke.
"Seeing Hogye Meng step in personally, it seems you're desperate to seize Qingzhou's main branch as soon as possible. You should prepare yourselves in advance."
Sa Do-myeong approached Yeop Hyeon.
"Wasn't it you who decided to block them?"
"Hey now! Didn't you all agree that True Law Realm powerhouses would be your responsibility? Yet when Yuk Jon Ju showed up just now, where were you hiding? Not even a glimpse!"
Sa Do-myeong fell silent at those words.
Yuk Jon Ju was one of the top experts in the entire Qingcang Realm. And behind him loomed Hogye Meng.
Sa Do-myeong had no desire to risk his life fighting them. No, he lacked the courage.
Yeop Hyeon chuckled and continued.
"Though we can't stop Hogye Meng ourselves, we're still allies against a common enemy, aren't we?"
"Hogye Meng won't let you go. And the other factions..."
"Other factions? Ah, come to think of it, aside from Hogye Meng, the ones who want me dead most are your Sado family! Planning to turn me into an enemy now?"
Sa Do-myeong replied in a cold voice.
"Don't worry. We're not ready to make you an enemy yet. You'll learn who I mean in time. One last thing: beware Hogye Meng. They won't allow another Cangjie Sword Lord to emerge in the Qingcang Realm!"
With that, Sa Do-myeong vanished from the spot.
After he left, another old man appeared before Yeop Hyeon as if waiting.
It was O Ru-ju.
"I come to Jiang Kingdom after so long, only to find Canglan Academy has already taken down its sign..."
Yeop Hyeon smiled in response.
"It's just temporary."
"I see. That's a relief. Oh, the items you entrusted to me last time? All handled. Total comes to thirty-seven billion top-grade spirit stones."
O Ru-ju handed Yeop Hyeon a storage pouch.
Thirty-seven billion top-grade spirit stones!
Yeop Hyeon accepted the pouch with a satisfied expression. With this wealth, he could accomplish much.
O Ru-ju hesitated a moment before asking.
"So, what are your plans from here?"
"Haha, time to tackle the things I've been putting off."
"Hm... Be careful. Now that they've dropped their masks, they'll stop at nothing."
O Ru-ju was referring to Hogye Meng.
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind."
O Ru-ju patted Yeop Hyeon's shoulder lightly.
"If you need anything, contact me anytime. Take care."
After seeing O Ru-ju off, Yeop Hyeon headed back to Canglan Academy. This time, Yuk Ban Jang and the others, who had been hidden, revealed themselves.
Yeop Hyeon forced a smile toward them.
"Damn... We meet, and now we have to part again..."
"Yeop hyung, are you really enemies with Hogye Meng now?"
Yeop Hyeon shrugged at Neung Han's question.
"Pretty much."
"Of all people, Hogye Meng..."
"Haha, no choice. If I went to them, knelt, and clung to their pant legs, maybe they'd let it slide—but I've never bowed my head, let alone knelt, to anyone."
Neung Han shook his head.
"Hogye Meng's reputation isn't great, but excluding the Cangjie Sword Lord's era, no faction has challenged them in a thousand years. That's proof of their strength. And that's why the Qingcang Realm is in their grasp. This is too serious!"
Yeop Hyeon laughed.
"Don't worry. They won't move against me for a while. You all head back to Jungto Sinju first. I'll come soon, and we'll regroup then. Oh, and don't forget to train hard!"
Yeop Hyeon handed out storage pouches matching their numbers. Each contained one hundred million top-grade spirit stones.
Neung Han glanced at the others, then shook his head.
"Yeop hyung, we can't take this. Use it where you need it..."
"Take it!"
Yeop Hyeon grinned.
"I've got plenty more. And some advice: aim for Myriad Laws Realm and Law Realm as fast as possible. Otherwise, I won't call you next time we fight!"
As Neung Han opened his mouth to protest, Yuk Ban Jang snatched her pouch and approached Yeop Hyeon.
"Don't die. I don't want to clean up your corpse later!"
"..."
With that, Yuk Ban Jang led the others away from Canglan Academy.
Now, Yeop Hyeon was the only one left on all of Giun Mountain.
He was truly alone now.
From here on, he wouldn't worry about protecting anyone. The only one he needed to fret over was himself.
Free from the role of dean, Yeop Hyeon felt unburdened.
A moment later, he entered the Spirit Hall alone. It was empty now, stripped bare. The students had taken even the memorial tablets before leaving.
Yeop Hyeon slumped against the entrance and pulled a gourd of liquor from his robes, downing it in gulps. With each swig, old memories flashed through his mind.
Yeop Ryeong, An Ranxiu, Gang Gu, Ji An Zhi, Mu Yun Qi, Bai Ze, Yuk Ban Jang, Neung Han, and Dean Ji Yuan Zhang...
Drinking alone while reminiscing, Yeop Hyeon soon passed out.
News of Yeop Hyeon disbanding Canglan Academy spread across all of Qingzhou, and many locals cheered.
Jiang Kingdom citizens were especially thrilled. They firmly believed that without Canglan Academy, Jungto Sinju's warriors would leave them alone.
Right after Yeop Hyeon left Jiang Kingdom, the imperial family declared seclusion. They even disbanded their entire army. In such chaotic times, soldiers were useless anyway—a logical choice.
Gang Wol-cheon knew well that without Yeop Hyeon and Canglan Academy, the imperial family would meet a miserable end unless disbanded. He had no choice.
Thus, Jiang Kingdom's Imperial City became a lawless haven of freedom.
After Canglan Academy and the imperial family vanished, groups committing murder, looting, and arson proliferated.
When order crumbles, humanity's dark side emerges. The city's residents unleashed their hidden desires without restraint.
Not long after Yeop Hyeon departed, warriors from Jungto Sinju—who were thought to have left—returned to the Imperial City.
At least twenty thousand strong, most in Penetrating Mystery Realm or Divine Fusion Realm.
The city gates opened, and a group of Qingzhou warriors emerged to meet them.
'Why are they back?'
Looking caught off guard, they faced the intruders with uneasy expressions. A middle-aged man among them cupped his fists toward the Jungto Sinju warriors.
"Everyone, Yeop Hyeon has already disbanded Canglan Academy and left the Imperial City. If you're looking for him, perhaps search elsewhere..."
Suddenly, a fist smashed into the middle-aged man's head.
Boom!
His skull exploded like a bursting watermelon, spraying blood.
The Qingzhou warriors froze in shock. The man who crushed his head strode toward them.
Staring coldly at the Imperial City's warriors, his sharp voice pierced their ears.
"Find Yeop Hyeon? Pathetic... Still don't get why we've returned? Because he's gone. Now, all of you—die quietly!"
At his words, the twenty thousand Jungto Sinju warriors charged the city.
The Qingzhou warriors' faces drained of color, twisted in terror.