Break It, But Don't Break It!
“Oppa, you must be hungry. I'll whip something up real quick!”
“We're hungry too!”
Yeop Ryeong turned to see Mu Yun Qi grinning ear to ear.
“Ryeong-ah, got any leftovers by chance? Even cold rice would do...”
“Even cold rice!”
Bai Ze chimed in, and Yeop Ryeong smiled, nodding.
“I'll make something fresh right away. Just hang on a bit, everyone!”
At that moment, something shot out from Ji Yuan Zhang's sleeve. Golden pills dropped one by one before the four of them.
“They'll help with recovery!”
Yeop Hyeon nodded and scooped up a pill before heading to his room.
Mu Yun Qi examined his pill from every angle, letting out a whistle.
“Dean, this ain't your average pill... With that kinda wealth, how about we upgrade our living standards? Maybe invite a few kind, pretty female students while we're at it...”
“Scram, now!”
Ji Yuan Zhang bellowed, and Mu Yun Qi laughed foolishly.
“C'mon, Dean bro, just think about it. Especially that second part—it's crucial for boosting morale...”
Mu Yun Qi bolted off somewhere, and Bai Ze and Ji An Zhi headed back to their quarters.
Once Ji Yuan Zhang was alone, Gang Wol-cheon appeared before him.
“Those three you brought back all look solid. Especially Yeop Hyeon—that kid's no ordinary talent.”
“From the imperial family's perspective, wouldn't it be better if Canglan Academy and Cangmu Academy wore each other down? Why help like that?”
Gang Wol-cheon chuckled at Ji Yuan Zhang's question.
“You're right, I thought that way once. But what happens if both academies vanish? Does it end there? Far from it. Cangmu Academy will just prop up new puppets to rebuild their Jiang Kingdom branch. Then they'll dominate the entire kingdom unchecked.”
“You sly old fox! So you want us to keep gnawing away at Cangmu Academy for you.”
Gang Wol-cheon shook his head.
“Dean, to be frank, the imperial family is on Canglan Academy's side right now. We can't openly help, but we'll support you from the shadows. Yeop Hyeon is Jiang Kingdom's National Scholar, after all. And his ties with our Gang Gu aren't bad either—the court has its eyes on him.”
Ji Yuan Zhang silently downed a swig of liquor.
“You don't oppose my view, do you, Dean?”
“No opposition. Just worried we'll use the kid and toss him aside.”
“Hahaha, no need for that concern. We'll protect him as best we can. He's got loyalty and patriotism. He helped Gang Gu before, so the court won't treat him with malice. I guarantee it!”
Ji Yuan Zhang nodded, looking relieved.
“Good enough.”
He upended the liquor jug into his mouth and vanished.
Gang Wol-cheon gazed at Canglan Hall, a faint smile playing on his lips as he turned away.
“Grand Sword Cultivator... Grand Sword Cultivator...”
In the kitchen, Yeop Ryeong was stoking the firebox with rice. A girl entered wearing a padded jacket, her long hair braided and draped down her back. She looked quite cute.
Yeop Ryeong glanced at her but said nothing.
“Your brother nearly died today. Know that?”
Yeop Ryeong stared into the flames, hugging her knees, silent.
“It's because of you he almost died again. After today, even more people will target you. Your brother might really die next time.”
Tears like chick peas streamed from Yeop Ryeong's eyes. She tried to stem them but couldn't.
The girl approached, locking eyes with her.
“You must become independent. Only by growing strong yourself can you ease your brother's burden. Hell, you could even protect him!”
Yeop Ryeong finally spoke.
“Oppa is already strong... Can I really protect him?”
“True, no denying your brother's strength. But compared to your talent? It's like heaven and earth. Follow me, and I promise—you'll surpass even National Scholar An one day.”
“H-how...?”
The girl's excitement grew at Yeop Ryeong's reaction.
“Because you were born with the legendary Cold Spirit body! Come with me, and with Bukhanjong's full support, you'll become Qingcang's greatest warrior!”
Yeop Ryeong pondered long and hard.
After a while, she looked up.
“I'll go.”
“Hahaha, excellent choice...”
“But! I want a little more time with Oppa first...”
The girl hesitated, then nodded.
“Fine. I'll come back for you!”
With that, she vanished from the kitchen.
Yeop Ryeong stared blankly at the flickering flames.
That evening, Canglan Hall buzzed with students gathered after so long.
Before them lay a feast prepared by Yeop Ryeong and Yeop Hyeon. Yeop Ryeong kept stuffing meat into her brother's mouth nonstop, while Mu Yun Qi and the others watched enviously.
This is what having a little sister is like...
They finished eating in a flash. Ji Yuan Zhang rinsed his mouth with liquor and spoke.
“First thing after reuniting, bad news. There are 72 Cangmu Academy branches across Qingcang. Today, Jiang Kingdom's branch promised high rewards and issued a summons. So, the strongest warriors from the other 71 branches will head here.”
Ji Yuan Zhang met Yeop Hyeon's eyes.
“Meaning, you're not facing one or two foes—but a whole pack of elites. And by pact, I can't intervene.”
Yeop Hyeon dumped his soup bowl into his mouth.
“Just kill 'em all!”
“Right! We'll sweep 'em clean!”
Mu Yun Qi shouted confidently, then glanced at Ji Yuan Zhang.
“Dean, Cangmu's got all those branches—surely Canglan has something? Like a hidden powerhouse backer?”
Yeop Hyeon and the others turned curious eyes to the dean.
Ji Yuan Zhang set down his bottle.
“Canglan Academy's headquarters is in Jungto Sinju, like Cangmu's. And Canglan Lord has 108 branches...”
“Old man! Then why sit here? Call in reinforcements!”
Bai Ze nodded vigorously.
“Call 'em!”
“Can't!”
Mu Yun Qi blinked in confusion.
“Why not?”
“Because... we're the weakest among Canglan branches. They hate even sharing the name with us. Some don't acknowledge our existence at all. No one'd come if I called. Got it?”
“...”
Yeop Hyeon and the others' faces hardened like stone.
Undeterred, Ji Yuan Zhang kept guzzling.
Mu Yun Qi hesitated, then spoke.
“Guess you made a lotta enemies back in the day, old man...”
Ji Yuan Zhang glared, and Mu Yun Qi shrank back.
“Haha, just kidding—don't swing that fist...”
“Canglan had its glory days too, long ago... Pointless to dwell now. Food's done—follow me to the back mountain.”
Ji Yuan Zhang rose, and the other three trailed him.
Alone in the hall, Yeop Ryeong caressed her hand, murmuring.
“Oppa, I'll do my best too...”
Resolve flickered in her large eyes.
At the waterfall on the back mountain, Ji Yuan Zhang stopped and eyed Bai Ze.
“I'll ramp up your training. Gotta awaken that dormant demon beast bloodline in you ASAP.”
He pointed aside, where two man-sized iron rings hung.
“Shoulder those and head under the falls.”
Bai Ze nodded, hoisted them on. The ground cratered under his feet.
Under the waterfall, he locked the rings around his ankles himself.
Kraaaaaaargh—!
Bai Ze roared like a beast and plunged into the cascade. Mu Yun Qi couldn't watch and turned away—it was brutally harsh.
Feeling Ji Yuan Zhang's gaze, Mu Yun Qi startled.
“Dean, I reckon I'm plenty strong already!”
“Sure?”
“Dead sure!”
Mu Yun Qi nodded frantically. Ji Yuan Zhang turned to Yeop Hyeon.
“Unleash One Sword Determines Life and Death on him.”
“Eek!”
Mu Yun Qi jumped.
“Old man! Too much booze? What kinda joke is that!”
“Better to die by a friend's hand than Cangmu scum's, no?”
Yeop Hyeon clapped Mu Yun Qi's shoulder.
“Not scared, are ya? Manly Mu Yun Qi wouldn't flinch at this. Relax—you're tough enough not to die by my blade. Though, living like a proper human? Might be a stretch!”
Mu Yun Qi pouted and yelled at Ji Yuan Zhang.
“How do I do it? Go on, mess with me however!”
Ji Yuan Zhang waved. A long iron chain appeared before Mu Yun Qi, studded with small iron balls.
“Wear that and circle the mountain 100 times a day—morning, noon, night. Exceed half a shichen per lap? Add twenty more.”
Yeop Hyeon's jaw dropped.
The back mountain wasn't some hill. One lap was over a hundred li.
Chained up, in half a shichen?
Impossible for any man!
Mu Yun Qi collapsed to his knees.
“Old man, you ain't planning to cripple my legs, right?”
“Better than enemy hands doing it. Start now. Every whine adds ten laps!”
“...”
Mu Yun Qi ran, incomprehensible howls spilling from his lips nonstop.
Left were Yeop Hyeon and Ji An Zhi.
Ji Yuan Zhang eyed Yeop Hyeon, who grinned.
“What do I do?”
Complex expression on his face, Ji Yuan Zhang studied him.
“That power you used—was it Earth Force?”
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
“Mysterious bastard. Doesn't matter. Follow me.”
They arrived before a small peak—the very mountain Yeop Hyeon had half-destroyed before.
“Finish breaking it?”
“Break it, but don't break it.”
“Huh?”
Yeop Hyeon blinked in confusion.
“You're a sword cultivator and martial artist. I know a bit about martial arts, but not much about the sword path.”
Ji Yuan Zhang pointed at the mountain.
“What do you see?”
“A mountain!”
“Wrong. It's not a mountain—it's an obstacle blocking you.”
No sooner said than Ji Yuan Zhang punched out.
Boom—!
One fist, and the mountain before them crumbled utterly.
A single punch shattering a mountain!