Chapter 99: I Can No Longer Protect You...
Yeop Hyeon waited cautiously for a response from the entity on the second floor.
Suddenly, a sheet of paper floated toward him. This time, it was blank—no words at all.
It seemed the other side was signaling there was nothing left to say.
As Yeop Hyeon faltered, wondering what to say next, another paper arrived, this one bearing two simple circles, just like before.
His face twitched repeatedly. The entity was utterly ignoring him.
Yeop Hyeon grasped its intent. It was eagerly awaiting his death. If he perished, the second-floor entity might escape the tower—or even claim mastery over it.
He shook his head. In truth, he should be grateful it hadn't attacked him outright. Expecting it to fight in his stead was foolish.
A moment later, Yeop Hyeon scanned his surroundings and called out.
Heavenly Maiden, are you there?
He called to her desperately. With both himself and the entire Canglan Academy in peril, he had to try everything.
But despite his repeated cries, she did not appear.
Finally, Yeop Hyeon let out a soft sigh and stepped out of the Gyeok Ok Tower.
Back in reality, the first thing that caught his eye was the fierce clash between Dean Ji and the old man in coarse hemp robes. They were evenly matched, locked in the arena's most intense battle.
In contrast, O Lu Ju and Gang Wol-cheon were holding back, focusing on containment rather than all-out assault.
Yeop Hyeon tore his gaze from them and surveyed the surroundings.
In the shadows, countless figures lurked, observing the chaos.
Each exuded the aura of a grandmaster.
The reason they hadn't intervened yet was simple: they were biding their time like jackals, with Daeun's Chang Mok Academy as their vanguard. The moment the tiger—Dean Ji—fell, the hunt would begin.
Gazing at Dean Ji, who battled desperately in the air, Yeop Hyeon murmured quietly.
Mu Yun Qi, Bai Ze, Ji An Zhi... This might be our last day...
Mu Yun Qi sighed softly at his words, pulling a sheet of paper and brush from his bosom to scribble something.
What are you doing? Bai Ze asked.
W-writing my last will and testament. What else is there to do?
Who'll deliver it if we all die?
Mu Yun Qi paused at Bai Ze's question, then shook his head and resumed writing.
Don't worry about that. Just write yours. You gonna?
To who?
Your family, obviously.
Bai Ze shook his head.
I was raised by beasts in the mountains. Don't know my birth parents.
Yeop Hyeon and Ji An Zhi looked at him with pity, as if hearing this for the first time.
Mu Yun Qi's voice softened with sympathy.
Big guy, turns out you're the pitiful one.
My adoptive father is a spirit beast. He's family enough.
Mu Yun Qi choked up, his expression somber.
All this time, I never knew...
Boom!
At that instant, a thunderous roar shook the heavens, and the earth trembled, cracking open.
Yeop Hyeon and his disciples paled, scrambling to safer ground.
Boom!
Another massive explosion echoed through the arena as two shadows separated in midair from the imperial palace.
It was Dean Ji and the old man from Daeun's Chang Mok Academy.
The old man stared at Dean Ji with a grave expression.
I wondered why Canglan Academy endured so long. So it was because a powerhouse like you held the line!
Dean Ji yanked a gourd from his belt, gulping down liquor fiercely before bellowing down at Yeop Hyeon's group.
Hey, you brats! Regretting joining Canglan Academy yet?
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
Never once!
It was the truth. Without Dean Ji, Yeop Ryeong might have died back then. And at Canglan, he'd met true friends like Mu Yun Qi and Bai Ze.
To him, Canglan Academy felt more like home than the Ye family manor in Qingcheng, where he'd spent most of his life.
In Qingcheng, there was only cold, ruthless strife for clan gain.
But Canglan had taught him the meaning of friendship.
Mu Yun Qi, standing beside Yeop Hyeon, pondered briefly before speaking.
Dean Ji, truth be told, I regretted it at first. But over time, I saw you're not a bad guy. I got to spend fun times with you, Bai Ze, and that glutton Ji An Zhi. Sure, Yeop Hyeon and Bai Ze were jealous of my stunning looks sometimes, but...
Enough, stop there!
Dean Ji waved him off, cutting Mu Yun Qi short.
Too wordy! Next, Bai Ze!
...
Bai Ze shouted without hesitation.
Never regretted it!
Never regretted it...
Dean Ji stared at him, then poured more liquor into his mouth.
No regrets... Good, damn good! Hahaha!
Gripping the gourd tightly, he shattered it to pieces.
Turning to the old man, Dean Ji's voice grew solemn.
Shall we play a round then?
With those words, a torrent of immense energy surged, shaking heaven and earth, whipping through the arena.
The old man narrowed his eyes, clasping his hands. The sky around them began to warp.
Distortion of All Things!
This was a technique only Myriad Laws Realm experts could unleash.
At that moment, qi from heaven and earth endlessly gathered around Dean Ji. The sheer force rocked the entire mountain, startling the hidden onlookers into hasty retreat.
The old man gaped, shouting.
You—you're going to self-destruct!
Just then, two black shadows flashed beside Dean Ji.
Slash!
Slash!
With chilling sounds, crimson lines erupted from Dean Ji's throat and abdomen.
The devouring energy vanished, and his body plummeted to the ground.
Shadow Realm assassins! Be careful!
O Lu Ju cried out in alarm.
Meanwhile, Yeop Hyeon's group stared in horror at the falling Dean Ji, their eyes bulging. Ji An Zhi's face looked utterly vacant, as if her soul had fled.
Yeop Hyeon leaped into the air, catching Dean Ji.
On the ground, he urgently checked the dean. Blood poured from his throat and gut.
Yeop Hyeon's hands trembled as he fumbled for a Golden Wound Pill to feed him. But Dean Ji clutched his neck, weakly shaking his head.
No use...
With mournful eyes, Dean Ji gazed at the four students surrounding him. His lips parted, a faint voice emerging.
I can no longer protect you...
No one could respond to his words.
They simply wept thick tears, almost in unison.
Yeop Hyeon gripped Dean Ji's hand. In that moment, he realized the dean had been like family.
True family.
Mu Yun Qi, stripped of his usual swagger, sobbed like a child.
Bai Ze clenched his fists, fighting back tears, but his eyes were already wet.
Ji An Zhi just bowed her head silently.
Dean Ji's breathing grew shallower. With dimming eyes, he scanned their faces, then addressed Yeop Hyeon.
When I die, you become dean. Promise me. Take good care of them, so they never suffer scorn again.
Yeop Hyeon nodded through sobs.
I will!
Dean Ji smiled faintly. Blood gushed between his fingers at his throat. Straining, he looked skyward.
Two favors. If you can, bring those kids hanging on Chang Mountain. It's the dean's sacred duty. And... go to Canglan Academy in Jungto Sinju, find my master. I owe the academy nothing, but I always felt guilty toward my master. If possible, bow three times in my stead, express my gratitude for his past kindness...
With that, Dean Ji's body floated upward. A barrier of qi descended, enveloping Yeop Hyeon's group.
In an instant, that power whisked them to the base of Canglan Mountain. Simultaneously, countless strands of mighty energy erupted from Dean Ji's body in all directions.
The warriors in the arena grew grim at the explosive force.
The old man from Daeun's Chang Mok Academy, staring at Dean Ji, cried out in dread.
No way...
Dean Ji charged at the old man.
The two Shadow Realm assassins who had struck him clung to his side in a flash.
Gazing at their shadows, Dean Ji slowly closed his eyes, murmuring.
Come with me...
And then...
Kaboom!
Vast energy detonated from within Dean Ji. His flesh instantly vaporized into a mist of blood.
The self-destruction of a peak Myriad Laws Realm expert—what terrifying power!
The two nearby warriors were hurled hundreds of feet away. The old man snatched the boy he'd brought and fled madly. Every martial artist in the arena gritted their teeth, desperate to escape the blast.
Moments later, half the summit of Canglan Mountain was obliterated.
At the very instant of Dean Ji's self-destruction, O Lu Ju and Gang Wol-cheon appeared before Yeop Hyeon's group at the mountain's base. O Lu Ju shouted at Yeop Hyeon.
Let's go—to Chwiseonru!
Gang Wol-cheon stared at him in shock.
Taking Yeop Hyeon to Chwiseonru meant Chwiseonru would bear the full brunt of their pursuit.
Was Chwiseonru truly ready to defy all those factions!?
Yeop Hyeon's group wore equally incredulous expressions. Over a dozen Myriad Laws Realm experts lurked nearby. Heading to Chwiseonru with them meant open war!
As Yeop Hyeon hesitated, O Lu Ju bellowed.
No time to waste!
He glanced at Gang Wol-cheon.
Brother Gang, join us!
O Lu Ju flicked his sleeve, and Yeop Hyeon and Ji An Zhi vanished in a blink.
Gang Wol-cheon drew a deep breath.
Damn it, it's a gamble!