Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Emei Octagonal Kerchief
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“Ah!”
Han Ibi let out a sharp cry.
A familiar face.
The masked man's identity was none other than Maeng Gap-son, a member of the Murim Alliance's Jami Division and the instructor in charge of the Demonic Cult's lightness skills.
It was no surprise that Baek Mi-hu was just as shocked.
“Instructor Maeng...”
At that moment, Han Ibi spoke up.
“I thought Great Hero Maeng wasn't participating in the exam.”
Maeng Gap-son chuckled as he replied.
“You're right. I'm a pretty high-ranking figure in the Murim Alliance. I'm not the type to mess around with kids' games like this.”
“Then why did you take on the role of instructor...”
Maeng Gap-son responded with a somewhat displeased expression.
“Well... there aren't many people who have as deep an understanding of lightness skills as I do... cough, and also, there's something I need to verify...”
“Someone ordered you to do it.”
Maeng Gap-son looked caught off guard as he said,
“Ordered? Who would dare order me to do such a lowly task?!”
Han Ibi replied with a somewhat bored expression.
“They must have ordered you because you're the right person for it. Whatever.”
It was then.
A somewhat noisy sound of footsteps approached from outside the cave, accompanied by voices.
“Instructor Heo! I'm sorry. You told us not to disturb you at all costs... but it's already been over half a shichen. The exam time is up, and all the instructors and trainees are waiting.”
It was then.
Suddenly, Maeng Gap-son took a deep breath.
His dantian area bulged out like a pregnant woman's belly, and his vocal cords visibly writhed.
And then...
“Tell them the exam isn't over yet, so they need to wait a bit longer. Didn't I say not to disturb us?!”
he bellowed in a loud voice.
The sound of hurried footsteps retreating followed, along with the Murim Alliance disciples' voices.
“Ah, yes. Sorry. We'll wait then.”
Faint bickering could be heard from the retreating group.
“See? I told you not to go. This is your fault.”
“Damn it. What was I supposed to do when the other instructors told us to? You were all for it earlier...”
At that moment, Han Ibi and Baek Mi-hu stood with their mouths agape.
And for good reason. Shockingly, Maeng Gap-son's voice was an exact imitation of Heo Son-dam's.
Baek Mi-hu said,
“Instructor Maeng. How... how did you...”
Maeng Gap-son took another deep breath with a sharp inhale and spoke.
“Can you speak in exactly the same voice as Instructor Heo?”
Han Ibi nearly jumped and hit his head on the cave ceiling, forgetting the gravity of the situation for a moment.
Han Ibi muttered,
“This is ridiculous...”
Indeed.
Shockingly, Maeng Gap-son had spoken in a voice identical to Baek Mi-hu's.
Baek Mi-hu was equally stunned into silence...
Suddenly, Maeng Gap-son giggled.
“Ah, right. What am I doing with you kids?”
Han Ibi said,
“That's incredible. How did you do it?”
In response to Han Ibi's question, Maeng Gap-son put on a smug expression.
“Hmph. What can't the great Maeng Gap-son do? This is a technique called Voice Mimicry.”
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, his expression changed and he continued.
“Wait, why am I even explaining this to you punks? My mind must have wandered eight thousand li away. Do you think you have time to chat about this right now?”
Han Ibi replied,
“It's amazing, so why not?”
The atmosphere tensed up in an instant.
The only sound filling the space was the ragged breathing of the unconscious Heo Son-dam.
Han Ibi, who had been sitting and watching for a moment, spoke up.
“So... Instructor Maeng.”
“Don't call me instructor. It lowers my status.”
“...Yes, Great Hero Maeng. So... are you going to take me in?”
“Take you in?”
“I'd love to spar with you and make a run for it, but my body isn't listening, so I'm asking.”
Maeng Gap-son giggled again and said,
“Ha. Look at this guy. Are you trying to provoke me right now? You look like a thug, but you've got some sharp wits.”
“Then you must have been watching from the start. I didn't do anything wrong, actually. It was Instructor Heo who tried to kill me.”
Maeng Gap-son waved his hand dismissively.
“I saw it all, so shut up and stay quiet. Let me think.”
After pondering with his finger to his chin for a moment, he finally spoke as if he'd made up his mind.
“You see...”
Han Ibi and Baek Mi-hu's gazes turned to him.
“...I shouldn't even be here in the first place.”
Han Ibi said,
“I know. That uniform...”
Maeng Gap-son looked down at his black uniform.
“...is a different style and color from the other instructors'. It's a lighter shade of ink black. You must have grabbed it in a hurry.”
The Eagle's Eye Technique is pretty detailed, indeed.
Maeng Gap-son said with an incredulous look.
“You'd better stop yapping. Keep it up, and I might just leave you here.”
Han Ibi casually placed his hands behind his back and said,
“Well, if that's the case, no choice. I'll just have to report everything I saw here as is. Right, Lady Baek?”
“Ah... well...”
But Baek Mi-hu could only stammer.
Maeng Gap-son said,
“You madman! You lunatic. I...”
“Even high-ranking people have those above them. It's hard to make decisions on your own.”
Maeng Gap-son glared at Han Ibi.
Han Ibi looked back at the glaring Maeng Gap-son and said,
“Tell me what I should do. I'll follow your instructions to the best of my ability. And I'll keep quiet about everything that happened here until you give the word, Great Hero Maeng.”
Only then did Maeng Gap-son let out a deep sigh.
“Ha... That Demonic Taoist must be senile in his old age. How could he send a punk like you...”
Han Ibi's eyes lit up as he said,
“So you knew after all. I figured as much.”
Otherwise, it wouldn't explain how he remained so calm after seeing Han Ibi earlier.
Maeng Gap-son shot Han Ibi a sidelong glare.
At that moment, Baek Mi-hu spoke up.
“Wait a minute.”
Han Ibi and Maeng Gap-son turned to her.
She seemed to have recovered from her shock and accepted the current reality.
“You two are talking like I'm not even here.”
Baek Mi-hu paused for a moment before speaking with a resolute expression.
“If you don't explain exactly what this situation is from beginning to end, I'll go out and tell everything just as it happened.”
Maeng Gap-son's expression darkened.
“You don't seem to grasp the situation. I could kill you right now to seal your lips. I'm in a pretty tight spot, so nothing's off-limits.”
But Baek Mi-hu remained composed.
“As a disciple of the great Emei Sect, I'm not attached to life. I'm no match for you, Instructor Maeng, so if you do that, there's nothing I can do.”
Han Ibi was impressed inwardly.
I've felt it before, but she's got real guts. But... this isn't helping me at all!
Maeng Gap-son glared fiercely at her.
But Baek Mi-hu stared right back without flinching.
A strange tension filled the air.
Han Ibi didn't know what to do and fidgeted inwardly.
It was then.
Maeng Gap-son let out another deep sigh and said,
“The snot-nosed kids have grown up, and this old Maeng's temper has mellowed. Mellowed a lot.”
Then he suddenly turned to Baek Mi-hu and said,
“Everyone else can act that way, but not you.”
Baek Mi-hu frowned and said,
“What do you mean...”
“You really can't do that. Why? Because I am...”
He suddenly reached into his bosom.
Baek Mi-hu jumped in surprise and raised her hands defensively.
But what Maeng Gap-son pulled out wasn't a hidden weapon.
It was something that looked like a ragged piece of cloth.
But its shape was different from a handkerchief, folded into an octagonal form.
Upon seeing it, Baek Mi-hu recoiled in shock.
Curious, Han Ibi asked,
“What's wrong, Lady Baek? What is that?”
Baek Mi-hu stammered, still unable to hide her surprise.
“Th-that's...”
Maeng Gap-son interjected.
“It's an Emei Octagonal Kerchief.”
Han Ibi tilted his head and asked,
“What's that?”
Maeng Gap-son explained,
“It's the insignia of Emei Sect disciples. After three years of entry, their direct master embroiders it by hand.”
Huh? What was that?
Then...
Han Ibi asked in surprise,
“Does that mean, Great Hero Maeng, you're...”
“That's right. I'm from the Emei Sect.”
Han Ibi was stunned for a moment. Then his expression began to change.
Maeng Gap-son hurriedly said,
“Wait! Don't! If you do, you're dead...”
“Pfft!”
Han Ibi burst out laughing despite himself.
“Wait, isn't the Emei Sect an all-women sect?”
Maeng Gap-son scowled deeply.
Baek Mi-hu, who had somewhat recovered her senses, said,
“A lot of people think that, but there are a very few men. However, most of them...”
Maeng Gap-son continued,
“Yes. My mother was an Emei disciple. But due to an unexpected incident...”
Maeng Gap-son cleared his throat awkwardly at the "unexpected incident" part before continuing.
“...she had me. Since she had no other family, it was only natural that I became part of the Emei Sect.”
Han Ibi thought,
Oh ho. That's quite the interesting story. So an Emei female disciple got in trouble outside, had a kid. Gotta sympathize with such a tragic backstory.
“That's quite the story. Still... you made it big. Climbing all the way to a high position in the Murim Alliance.”
Maeng Gap-son's twisted expression softened a bit.
“Yes. All of this... ah, it would take too long to explain.”
At that moment, Han Ibi glanced at the fallen Heo Son-dam and said,
“No wonder it feels like you and Instructor Heo have something in common.”
Hearing that, Maeng Gap-son irritably waved his hand.
“How dare you compare me to a guy like that.”
Then he stopped shaking his head and added,
“Though I suppose becoming the Murim Alliance's dog and taking on dirty jobs is similar...”
Han Ibi said,
“Great Hero Maeng.”
“What?”
“I get the heartfelt backstory, but this doesn't seem like the time to get sentimental.”
Maeng Gap-son slapped his forehead with his palm and said,
“Ah, right.”
He turned to Baek Mi-hu and said,
“Anyway, we'll talk later. You're O Ryeo-hae's disciple, right?”
Baek Mi-hu jumped in surprise.
“Ah! Y-yes.”
Maeng Gap-son shook his head.
“You look just like your master. No wonder you've never married... Anyway, family talk later. You must keep quiet about this. There's a story behind it...”
At that moment, Han Ibi clapped his hands as if realizing something.
“Great Hero Maeng!”
“What?”
“You weren't tailing me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I almost misunderstood. You came because you were worried about your subordinate disciple's safety.”
“Think whatever you want.”
Han Ibi wore a slightly sly expression.
“Got it. I understand. Even with Young Lady Wang here, you're staying, so you must have some grand history with Lady Baek's master in the past... Mmph!”
Before he knew it, Maeng Gap-son had covered Han Ibi's mouth.
Voices could be heard approaching from far outside the cave.
“Quiet. The other instructors will barge in soon. No time for nonsense.”
Maeng Gap-son released Han Ibi's mouth.
“Eww. Salty! Ptui, ptui.”
He then pressed the sleep acupoint on the lying Heo Son-dam.
Looking toward the cave entrance, he examined the wall and said,
“Tsk tsk. The Chaoyang Sect kids already got done in by Heo. The guy's got some real skill.”
Maeng Gap-son suddenly twisted his body slightly and executed a roundhouse kick.
(To be continued in the next chapter)