Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Horse Head Island
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Lush thickets and white sandy beaches...
The uninhabited island revealed itself with considerable grandeur as an island.
That's right.
According to Heo Son-dam, no one lived here except for the beasts.
Commonly known as Horse Head Island.
There was supposedly a massive, oddly shaped rock on the western side that resembled a horse's head...
Anyway, this was the final testing ground where the grand selection for the Five Young Dragons would take place.
What a fresh concept.
The final exam on an uninhabited island...
Did it mean they could fight to their hearts' content without interference...?
They docked the boat on the shore, and the trainees began climbing onto the island one by one.
Tension and resolve filled their faces.
And rightly so—this was the grand finale to nearly a hundred days of grueling trials.
Footprints began imprinting one by one on the sandy beach.
Han Ibi thought to himself.
'Whoa. Is this really a lake? It feels like a full-on beach... just without the salty smell.'
Han Ibi couldn't help but be overwhelmed once again by the continent's sheer scale.
All the instructors who had trained them up to now were present at the site today.
Heo Son-dam, Na Sin-su, Meng Gap-son, and even Tang Ho-yeon, who had joined despite his injuries...
For some reason, they were all uniformly dressed in black lightweight uniforms.
Everyone except the injured Tang Ho-yeon...
Han Ibi frowned with one eye as he thought.
'Making themselves easy to spot, huh.'
Their expressions were equally flushed with excitement.
Heo Son-dam raised his voice toward the trainees.
"Alright, everyone gather here once you've all arrived."
He raised his hand, and together with the other instructors, he lined the trainees up on the sandbar.
Thus, over forty prodigies gathered from all corners of the martial world stood in perfect formation.
Their attire, genders, and ages varied wildly—a rare sight these days.
Heo Son-dam spoke.
"Young heroes, you've all worked incredibly hard to reach this point. As the head instructor of the Dragon Society, I'm proud and want to commend you all."
Silence fell again once he finished.
Then, a voice broke the quiet.
"Instructor, what exactly is the final exam?"
It was Bang Gwang-sil of the Huashan Sect.
Heo Son-dam smiled faintly.
"I was just about to explain. As you know... this training you're undergoing was crafted after long deliberations with consultations from the martial world's luminaries."
Han Ibi thought to himself that it didn't seem all that impressive.
'Felt kinda half-baked to me...'
Of course, he'd long forgotten that he'd unintentionally stirred up trouble and caused chaos.
Heo Son-dam continued.
"By now, many of you might have forgotten the purpose of this training. Why we're pouring so much manpower and funds into this ordeal."
At that moment, Ban Bang-geum of the Kunlun Sect muttered.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Just smash the Demonic Cult to bits. Let them show their faces if they dare. Hmph."
Heo Son-dam glanced briefly in that direction before pressing on.
"Warnings are coming from all sides that the Demonic Cult is awakening from its long slumber. Right now, the Murim Alliance—myself included—has grown so accustomed to peaceful days that we've forgotten the horrors of the past."
Then, Meng Gap-son, standing beside him, bellowed suddenly.
His target was Seo Dong-rip of the Quan Zhen Sect, who had been dozing off with his eyes softly closed—probably from sleepiness.
"Who's daring to sleep during this crucial moment?! Head Instructor!"
"Yes."
Heo Son-dam responded politely.
Though Heo Son-dam held the position of head instructor, Meng Gap-son's higher rank in the Murim Alliance hierarchy made this possible.
"Kick that fool out right now. With that pathetic mindset, he'll lose his head before he even starts against the Demonic Cult."
Most trainees wore expressions of disbelief. But...
"Understood."
Heo Son-dam immediately issued the order.
"Seo Dong-rip of the Quan Zhen Sect is stripped of his eligibility for the final exam."
Seo Dong-rip's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
The gathered heroes' eyes widened in shock.
Seo Dong-rip rushed forward desperately.
"I'm sorry! That can't happen. I've prepared so much... Please give me a chance."
Heo Son-dam replied with his usual courteous smile.
"The Dragon Society has no room for reversals. A single moment's lapse can mean death."
Seo Dong-rip's expression grew more desperate by the second.
And for good reason—he was considered a top talent in the Quan Zhen Sect, sent here for this training.
Returning empty-handed...
Not from defeat in sparring, but just for dozing off briefly!
The moment this reached the ears of the Quan Zhen Sect Leader, expulsion from the sect was inevitable.
Especially for a sect that prized face and propriety above all.
Seo Dong-rip pleaded frantically.
"Instructor, please! Just once! Forgive me this one time."
Heo Son-dam said.
"Young hero Seo, please step outside the line and wait."
But Seo Dong-rip stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do.
Then Meng Gap-son's icy roar followed.
"Get out now!"
Only then did Seo Dong-rip realize this was no bluff.
He trudged out reluctantly.
Heo Son-dam pointed to the pine grove.
"Wait over there. Not just young hero Seo—all those who drop out midway should gather there."
Now, all the trainees stiffened like blocks of ice.
Meng Gap-son shouted loudly.
"Anyone not taking this seriously gets sent packing!"
This was a far cry from the atmosphere when they first met Han Ibi's group.
'Whew. He's one scary old man...'
Heo Son-dam spoke again.
"The rules are as follows."
The young heroes' gazes focused on him.
"You are all on a special mission to infiltrate deep into the Demonic Cult and execute their cult leader. Each of you must locate the cult leader's hideout and take him down."
Then Wang Qing-lin asked.
"Do we form teams?"
Heo Son-dam shook his head.
"No. You'll move individually. The primary goal is to be the first to find the cult leader and snatch the silk scarf around his neck."
Murmurs rippled through the tense group.
Heo Son-dam continued.
"The one who takes down the cult leader... will automatically claim the title of Yellow Dragon among the Five Young Dragons."
The surroundings grew even noisier.
Heo Son-dam raised his voice to clarify.
"Regardless of subsequent written exams or prior scores, the Yellow Dragon holder becomes one of the Five Young Dragons outright. True glory."
The young men's eyes sparkled at his words.
Especially those who hadn't fared well in previous tests.
This was their chance for a dramatic reversal.
Then Yang Je of the Wudang Sect asked.
"What if we encounter each other en route?"
Heo Son-dam replied.
"Do as you please."
The trainees exchanged confused glances, tilting their heads.
"Team up if you want, or take each other down. Ah, speaking of which—time to hand these out."
At Heo Son-dam's gesture, staff members swiftly distributed papers to the trainees.
The young men read the text.
Their puzzled faces turned to shock.
It was a waiver stating they wouldn't hold the Murim Alliance liable even if they died during training.
Heo Son-dam said.
"If anyone fears this, you can quit now."
A few hesitated, their faces showing reluctance.
Then...
"Do we just thumbprint it?"
It was Baek Mi-hu of the Emei Sect.
Han Ibi thought.
'As expected... quite the brave woman.'
A waiting staff member handed her a brush and ink pad.
Baek Mi-hu wrote her name, inked her right thumb, and pressed it down.
They say the first step into water is the hardest.
Led by her, the other youths rushed forward like a flock of penguins, signing and thumbprinting one after another.
Thus, all Dragon Society trainees completed their oaths.
Heo Son-dam smiled.
"Excellent. As expected of prestigious sect disciples—truly bold. Out of caution, let me say: no real killing among ourselves. No one here intends that... This is just preparation for any accidents."
That's right.
The Murim Alliance was a somewhat loose coalition of the jianghu.
An accident could cause massive repercussions.
They needed safeguards.
Then a familiar voice rang out.
"So, who's playing the Demonic Cult Leader?"
It was Yeon Nan-ju of the Qingcheng Sect.
Heo Son-dam grinned.
"It's me. Just find me."
He pulled a silk handkerchief from his bosom.
Embroidered with "Cult Leader" in Hanja.
He folded it to hide the text and wrapped it around his neck.
"Snatch this from me."
Murmurs rose again.
Heo Son-dam added.
"But if it's too easy, it's no fun."
He drew a black mask from his bosom and donned it.
Some instructors followed suit.
Now, clad in black masks and uniforms, the instructors looked nearly indistinguishable.
They all wore identical scarves around their necks.
The difference? Theirs read "Elder" inside, not "Cult Leader."
The murmurs grew louder.
"Wait, so we have to find the real Cult Leader among them, distinguish the elders, and watch out for rivals too?"
"This is insane."
"Why go this far?"
Heo Son-dam said.
"I understand your confusion. But to graduate our Dragon Society and become the next Five Young Dragons, this is necessary."
Then Hui Gwan of Shaolin asked.
"Do we all start together in a group?"
Heo Son-dam shook his head.
"Of course not. Horse Head Island is vast. Plenty of places to hide. You'll have to move to catch the leader..."
Murmurs spread again.
"I'll signal soon, then scatter on your own. Starting in groups is strictly forbidden. We'll expel anyone caught. Once everyone's in position, the proctors will confirm. Questions?"
Yun Bang-mun of the Jeongsang Sect spoke.
"If trainees fight, how do we determine winner and loser?"
Heo Son-dam replied.
"Good question. Basic rules apply."
At his signal, staff tied scarves around the trainees' necks.
The sudden action startled them.
Heo Son-dam explained.
"Snatch the scarf or injure your opponent—that decides the match. If injured, you must remove and hand over your scarf. Fail to do so, and you're disqualified."
Murmurs rose once more.
Heo Son-dam said.
(To be continued in the next installment)