Chapter 97: Everyone Here Dies!
Imperial City. A bustling avenue.
Yeop Hyeon and his three fellow Canglan Academy students strode swiftly toward their destination, a crowd trailing in their wake. With every step, the procession swelled as more onlookers joined the throng.
By the time Yeop Hyeon reached Cang Mountain, thousands had gathered. Even more spectators were pouring in.
Yeop Hyeon pointed to a spot a dozen paces ahead. A sword streaked through the air and embedded itself in the ground there.
His gaze turned icy as he stared up at Cang Mountain.
"Yeop Hyeon of Canglan Academy hereby challenges Cangmu Academy to a duel!"
Duel!
The word crashed like thunder, rattling eardrums and pounding hearts.
Cangmu Academy's reputation had already plummeted thanks to their overbearing antics. Dragging even the kingdom's own students into their brawls had earned them the scorn of the Jiang Kingdom's people—especially its soldiers.
In stark contrast, Yeop Hyeon's popularity soared after he slew those kingdom officials in a single stroke. Hordes now clamored to join Canglan Academy, though the academy had no intention of recruiting new students.
Even after a long wait, not a single soul emerged from Cangmu Academy.
As the silence dragged on, the crowd began to murmur. Some hurled mocking jeers and sneers at the academy without restraint.
How many had ever dared cause such a commotion right at Cangmu Academy's gates over the long years?
How would Cangmu Academy respond?
Thousands gazed up at Cang Mountain, each harboring their own speculations.
If Cangmu Academy ignored the challenge, they would become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial City from this day forth. Their millennium of prestige would crumble into dust.
Cangmu Academy surely knew this. Would they really refuse Yeop Hyeon's provocation?
Just then, a shadow fell before Yeop Hyeon.
The newcomer was Yeo Su.
Yeo Su glared at Yeop Hyeon with venom and bellowed,
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"Let's throw down. What, does the mighty Cangmu Academy have no one who can fight?"
Yeo Su furrowed his brow.
"Yeop Hyeon... You're a dead man walking anyway. You trying to hasten your end?"
"Cut the crap!"
Yeop Hyeon roared in fury.
"Answer my question. You gonna fight or not? If there's no student up to the task..."
At that moment, Yeop Hyeon extended his hand toward Yeo Su. The Spirit Water Sword flew into his grasp.
"I don't care if you step up yourself."
He was challenging Yeo Su one-on-one!
The crowd erupted in chaos.
Weakest or not, Yeo Su was one of Cangmu Academy's vice deans. For Yeop Hyeon to take him on directly...
Mu Yun Qi and the others were stunned too. They hadn't expected Yeop Hyeon to boldly challenge a vice dean.
Meanwhile, Yeo Su's face darkened as he wrestled with the dilemma.
He had heard how Yeop Hyeon slew multiple experts in the secret realm. The young man was more than capable of matching him now.
But refusing the duel would tarnish not just his own name, but Cangmu Academy's as well.
Caught in a bind, Yeo Su hesitated.
What do I do?
His fists clenched, his expression growing graver by the second.
Yeop Hyeon sheathed his sword and said flatly,
"From today, I'll consider Cangmu Academy a den of spineless cowards."
"You insolent brat! How dare you..."
"Shut your trap! I asked if you'd fight—yes or no? Why waste breath on bullshit?"
Killing intent flickered in Yeo Su's eyes.
"If you want it that bad, this old man will oblige..."
Then another figure appeared before them.
It was I Hyeon-chang.
I Hyeon-chang said to Yeop Hyeon,
"Doesn't Canglan Academy teach respect for one's elders?"
Yeop Hyeon sheathed his sword and shot back,
"Then does Cangmu Academy only teach trash talk, with no one fit to fight?"
I Hyeon-chang scowled.
"Of course Cangmu Academy has fighters. It's just you..."
"Dean and vice dean—both full of hot air. Fine. You've bored me."
Yeop Hyeon turned and shouted to Mu Yun Qi and the others,
"Let's go! No point jawing with these ball-less wonders."
"Right? What are they, a bunch of laundry haggling washerwomen? Come on!"
Mu Yun Qi chimed in, following Yeop Hyeon.
I Hyeon-chang watched the four depart, his face an arctic mask.
He had waited for Yeop Hyeon to challenge him directly, planning to unleash a killing blow and sever the boy's head.
But Yeop Hyeon hadn't taken the bait. He wasn't fool enough to pick a fight he couldn't win.
As Yeop Hyeon's group vanished, the crowd ebbed away like a receding tide, leaving Cang Mountain silent once more.
I Hyeon-chang snapped at Yeo Su,
"Why didn't you step up? You could've killed him right there!"
"But if I, a vice dean, intervened, it would've damaged Cangmu Academy's reputation!"
I Hyeon-chang lowered his voice.
"Hah... Cangmu Academy has no reputation left to lose..."
"If only I'd accepted Yeop Hyeon from the start..."
Yeo Su hung his head.
I Hyeon-chang stared in the direction Yeop Hyeon's group had gone.
"Don't dwell on the past. We'll just watch how their enemies carve up Canglan Academy. When that happens, even Yeop Hyeon won't survive.
Go to the kingdom officials right now. Tell them if they make Yeop Hyeon vanish from this world, Cangmu Academy will cooperate fully from here on."
Yeo Su eyed I Hyeon-chang.
"Isn't that too risky a deal?"
I Hyeon-chang replied calmly,
"If the kingdom swallows Jiang Kingdom whole, it's no loss for us. Focus on killing Yeop Hyeon. If he lives, we'll die someday..."
Yeo Su nodded.
"Understood. I'll handle it."
I Hyeon-chang fixed a cold glare on the spot where Yeop Hyeon's group had vanished, then turned and departed.
News of Cangmu Academy dodging Yeop Hyeon's provocation soon rocked the entire Imperial City.
Once the dream of every martial artist, Cangmu Academy now had even its students hiding in shame. Their families dared not breathe a word outside.
Cangmu Academy's face had been dragged through the mud.
Conversely, Canglan Academy—barely a whisper for decades—overnight became the center of attention.
Yeop Hyeon, Mu Yun Qi, Bai Ze, and Ji An Zhi.
No one in the Imperial City didn't know those four names.
And their fame would soon blaze across the entire Jiang Kingdom.
Yeop Hyeon's renown rivaled even An Ranxiu's.
Inside Canglan Academy.
Night had fallen, and the students sat around a table.
Yeop Hyeon arrived with a massive tray piled high with meat dishes and set it down.
Ji An Zhi licked her chopsticks and stabbed straight into the tray.
Right then—
"I have something to say to you all."
Everyone froze mid-bite at Ji Yuan Zhang's words, eyes turning to him.
"Uh... let's eat first and talk after!"
Ji An Zhi's chopsticks flashed like lightning, stripping a grilled fish to its bones in seconds.
Mu Yun Qi hurriedly dug in at the sight.
Moments later, the feast was wiped clean.
"There's more—take your time!"
Mu Yun Qi flashed a thumbs-up at Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop Gangdo, your cooking's as good as my mom's—top-notch!"
Before long, the table was empty again.
Mu Yun Qi lounged back in his chair, patting his belly.
"Old man, what was that thing you wanted to say? We've got training—spit it out!"
Ji Yuan Zhang took a swig of liquor and spoke.
"Pack your things right now and get out of the Imperial City."
The four froze solid.
"I just checked with the head academy. They couldn't care less about us—no reinforcements coming."
Mu Yun Qi said,
"But you've got our back, right? What's to worry?"
"I'll handle one. You take the rest?"
"..."
Yeop Hyeon asked gravely,
"Dean Ji, is it that bad?"
Ji Yuan Zhang nodded.
"Worse than bad. Scatter in all four directions—and the farther, the better."
"What about Canglan Academy?"
Ji Yuan Zhang met Yeop Hyeon's eyes.
"Your lives matter more."
Silence descended like a shroud.
Leave Canglan Academy?
None of them had ever considered it. This place was home.
Seeing no one move, Ji Yuan Zhang shook his head.
"No time for sentiment. Stay here, and you'll die for nothing. Go now. Your talents are exceptional—train hard, and a bright future awaits."
"What about you, old timer?"
Mu Yun Qi asked. Ji Yuan Zhang replied evenly,
"Someone's gotta draw their eyes. Unless you want to?"
"..."
As Yeop Hyeon opened his mouth, an intangible pressure enveloped the entire hall.
The four gasped, crushed as if by a mountain.
Ji Yuan Zhang murmured,
"Fast... And not just one. They're dead serious."
He flipped his palm. Vast energy erupted from him.
Boom!
The hall shattered, debris rocketing skyward.
The pressure vanished; they could breathe again.
Under the moon's silver glow, an old man in simple mourning robes appeared. Long hair cascaded down his back; he stood with hands clasped behind, beard reaching his chest.
A cold-faced youth in his twenties stood beside him.
The old man's gaze fixed on Ji Yuan Zhang.
"Peak Myriad Laws Realm... To think Qingzhou harbors a powerhouse like you."
"From the Great Cloud Cangmu Academy?"
The old man nodded at Ji Yuan Zhang's question.
His eyes shifted to Yeop Hyeon.
"So you're the Yeop Hyeon who killed Gam Samsip in the secret realm."
"That's me."
The old man appraised him.
"Solid foundations, peerless sword dance... even external arts mastered. Talents like yours are rare even in the Great Cloud Realm."
He asked Yeop Hyeon,
"I looked into you. True enough, Cangmu Academy rejected you when you came knocking?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded silently.
"Hah... What fools. But things have gone too far—no turning back. Great Cloud Cangmu Academy demands vengeance for Gam Samsip."
Yeop Hyeon glanced at the youth beside him.
"Mind if I spar with him?"
The old man nodded.
"Granted. But even if you win, you die today."
His gaze returned to Ji Yuan Zhang.
"To be precise—everyone here dies."