Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Hidden Under the Lamp
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All eyes turned toward Han Ibi.
Even those of Yang Je and Yeom Gyeong-bin, who had been secretly watching...
"...Isn't the secret right at the starting point?"
So Eun-ri said.
"What do you mean?"
Han Ibi said.
"Of course, it's just a guess. But there's no harm in it, right?"
Then Jong Ri-hyeok chimed in as if something had dawned on him.
"Hmm. It's a possibility. A strategy to pierce their expectations. Hiding in the one place no one would think to look."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
'What the hell? Why did they eye me so suspiciously when I said it!'
At that moment, Baek Mi-hu spoke up.
"That pine forest..."
Han Ibi said.
"Exactly. The shelter for the eliminated trainees."
In that instant, Yang Je—who was hidden—turned to his group and whispered.
"Let's move out first. This fight ends the moment we grab Instructor Heo. Once we meet Instructor Heo, our temporary alliance is over."
The one who snatches the instructor's towel claims ownership.
No sooner had Yang Je's words fallen than they slipped out of the reed forest in perfect, silent unison.
Clutching the fleeting dream of claiming the Yellow Dragon rank...
Han Ibi shook the two silk towels.
"No, really—no one's taking these?"
Golden and striking against the trainees' plain white towels, they belonged to Dang Hyo-bi and Na Sin-su.
Han Ibi said again.
"Don't stand on ceremony. Take them. I won't razz you for it."
Jong Ri-hyeok finally couldn't hold back.
"I told you, it's fine. You did the heavy lifting, so you take them."
Baek Mi-hu added.
"Yes. Jong Ri young hero—if you hadn't shown up back there, who knows how it would've ended. I'd rather walk away with a clear conscience."
Whoa...
What stand-up folks.
If he had to label this alliance, maybe the 'Moral Union'?
'Eh, whatever.'
Han Ibi tucked both of Instructor Yang's silk towels into his robes.
"Don't regret this later."
Then So Eun-ri spoke.
"Looks like we're almost there."
Indeed.
The forest path was thinning out, the distant sandbar coming into view.
They had circled back to their original starting point to test Han Ibi's theory.
The pale yellow-white beach stretched out beautifully as ever, and at the pine forest's edge, the eliminated trainees lounged—resting or chatting idly.
Someone spotted Han Ibi and waved.
"Ah! Jong Ri young hero."
Han Ibi waved back casually.
It was Mun Won-bi of the Beggar Clan.
Han Ibi thought.
'That tall drink of water dropped out right on schedule, just like I figured.'
His beaming smile flashed unnaturally perfect white teeth.
Mun Won-bi glanced around the group.
"Oho. Baek young lady's here too. Tough break on the elimination... Huh! You all still wearing your towels?"
Han Ibi said.
"Yeah. Special circumstances."
Mun Won-bi cocked his head.
"Weird. The Wudang Sect's Yang young hero and his crew said something similar when they passed through."
Han Ibi blinked in surprise.
"Really? Where'd they head?"
Mun Won-bi pointed into the dark pine forest, puzzled.
Baek Mi-hu frowned.
"Oh dear. We'd better check it out quick."
They unleashed their lightness skills and raced into the pine forest depths.
Left behind, Mun Won-bi scratched his head and picked up his chatter with the other dropouts.
The pine forest was thicker than it looked.
Pine scent saturated the air, blending crisp freshness with cloying density.
Han Ibi's group had no leisure to savor it, though.
Baek Mi-hu said.
"Hmm. Instructor Heo really in here? And the Wudang bunch actually came this way?"
Han Ibi replied.
"No way to know till we look."
Then So Eun-ri pointed.
"Something over there."
All eyes followed.
Sure enough.
Where the pines met the lake at the forest's fringe.
A modest erosion cave, carved by whispering winds over endless ages.
This little island crammed every terrain imaginable—ideal for trials, unless some fool turned it into a tourist trap.
Han Ibi pressed a finger to his lips, urging the group to silence.
Then they crept toward the cave.
Han Ibi locked eyes with Jong Ri-hyeok.
A wordless exchange.
Tough to say if they synced perfectly.
One thing was crystal clear, though.
Jong Ri-hyeok's gaze.
It demanded Han Ibi take point.
Han Ibi thought.
'Look at this punk. Playing nice made him think I'm a doormat, huh?'
He nearly muttered aloud.
"You think I'm still that sniveling Jong Ri-mae from before..."
Then—
Boom!
A massive blast from the cave mouth, a figure tumbling out.
None other than Wudang's Yeom Gyeong-bin.
"Ugh... urk."
A thin trickle of blood lined his groaning lips.
Looks like it packed a wallop.
Han Ibi turned to the group.
"By the way... anyone know Instructor Heo's sect? We oughta know who we're up against before diving in."
A beat of silence, then Baek Mi-hu.
"I heard once... he's originally from Haenam Sect. Not sure if it's legit."
Han Ibi frowned.
"Haenam? That backwater down south?"
"Pretty sure."
"They're righteous affiliation, but not Murim Alliance these days, right?"
'Heard Haenam went off the rails worse than Qingcheng.'
"Dunno. Just rumors to me..."
Then another boom.
Jeonjin Sect's So Tae-suk and Jumchang Sect's Yun Bang-mun slid out like they were greased.
Their silk towels long since shredded.
Their eyes met Han Ibi and the trio's.
Han Ibi said.
"Yun young hero. Nice seeing you outdoors—always Hyangseol Hall before."
But he was too busy propping Yeom Gyeong-bin to reply.
"Goddamn it."
Jeonjin Sect's So Tae-suk spat a curse unworthy of a Taoist and stalked off.
Yun Bang-mun followed, supporting Yeom.
Han Ibi watched them go, then to Jong Ri-hyeok.
"We don't have to snag that Yellow Dragon spot..."
But Jong Ri-hyeok was already marching toward the cave.
"...nah, we do. Real jianghu folk don't dodge a challenge. Haha."
So Eun-ri and Baek Mi-hu trailed him.
Han Ibi had no choice—followed suit.
'Alliance name's off. Not Moral Union. Reckless Union.'
And so Han Ibi entered last.
Letting out an awed yelp.
"Whoa."
Far roomier inside than out.
And there: the masked instructor locked in fierce spar with Wudang's Yang Je.
'Fierce' being generous—it was brutally one-sided.
The masked instructor gripped a mid-sized sword right-handed, unleashing palm strikes left.
No telling how long they'd gone at it, but Yang Je teetered on collapse.
Boom!
The masked left palm finally smashed Yang Je's chest, ripping away his towel.
The masked instructor said.
"Impressive. But not nearly enough."
A soft, silky voice.
Instructor Heo Son-dam, no doubt.
To the downcast Yang Je.
"Catch you later, Yang young hero."
Then he wheeled toward Han Ibi's crew.
Sharp glint through the mask.
Heo Son-dam said.
"Now... you didn't come just to spectate..."
Suddenly, his form blurred like a ghost—to So Eun-ri.
She startled, sword flashing out—but her silk towel was already in his grasp.
"...did you?"
Caught in a blink, So Eun-ri bit her lip hard.
Han Ibi bristled.
"Hey, that's low even for a test."
Heo Son-dam burst into laughter.
"Low? Hahaha! You're training to face Demonic Cult swarms. In a fight for your life, complacency is enemy number one."
In a flash, he rocketed forward.
Movement like coiled springs unleashed.
Target: Emei Sect's Baek Mi-hu.
But it missed this time.
She was ready.
Her piercers whipped toward his incoming sword.
Clang! Clang!
Thunderous clashes as their bodies danced in a flurry.
Piercers' edge: wield like sword or fist.
Fist as sword, sword as fist.
She flowed through Emei Nine Turns Phantom Step—like a cat, light yet ferocious, pressing Heo Son-dam relentlessly.
Yet... Heo stayed casual, holding back.
Baek Mi-hu dove in fully, forgetting he was ally and instructor.
Heo Son-dam said.
"Splendid. Truly splendid. Emei Sect's rise owes much to weapons like these piercers."
She ignored him, slashing for his throat.
Suddenly, Heo froze—slammed his sword into the ground.
Raised both arms...
Jong Ri-hyeok bellowed.
"Baek young lady! Watch out!"
And caught her piercers barehanded.
Heo Son-dam said.
"But... a deadly flaw against foes with superior strength. The striking surfaces are too limited. Hahaha. Anyway, time's short—let's do this for real."
Panicked, she strained to wrench free.
Her quivering arms told the tale.
Heo Son-dam? Utter poise.
Black mask made him look like some dual-faced slasher—Han Ibi's spine crawled.
Han Ibi glanced at Jong Ri-hyeok.
"Hyung! We gotta jump in."
As Jong Ri-hyeok nodded—
Heo Son-dam crossed her piercers in his grip, pressing down with a grin.
"All three at once? Oh ho. And if you beat me—who gets Yellow Dragon? Towel-snatcher? One who draws blood? Or draw straws?"
Han Ibi was stumped.
Hadn't considered that.
"Or take turns, like the last dropouts? Fairest way."
Then Baek Mi-hu let out a stifled groan.
His raw power overwhelming.
Han Ibi snapped—charged forward.
"Instructor! Yellow Dragon or not, manhandling a lady like that's outta line."
Heo Son-dam's eyes flashed.
"Too late."
He abruptly went limp.
Baek Mi-hu pitched forward off-balance.
Heo Son-dam snapped his left palm open—slammed her solar plexus.
His palm glowed blood-red.
Boom!
Explosive impact hurled her like a snapped kite straight to the cave mouth.
(Continued next chapter)