Chapter 160

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 160

Chapter Title: Six Meridians Divine Sword (1)

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Three days had passed since our exciting and hopeful pre-trip scouting for the school trip ended up stained with blood and sweat.

We finally set off on our return journey after compensating the commoners who'd suffered from the Illusion Demon's rampage as best we could and helping with the island's restoration.

The scenery around Lake Dongting was truly spectacular.

But it looked like we'd have to scout a new location.

What if the Illusion Demon had hidden the trap more cleverly and timed it for our actual school trip?

Someone like me, who hadn't reached the Peak Realm yet, and all the other frail friends—we would've taken a real beating.

There was no guarantee they wouldn't dig new traps while we were away, so a little caution never hurt.

"That's right. It does feel uneasy."

Even Teacher Dakbu, whose vibrant personality had faded a bit after shedding her shell, nodded in agreement.

"......"

Baek Riyeon, who'd been strangely prickly since three days ago, just turned her head slightly and breezily dismissed the opinion of this unparalleled genius.

For some reason...

She seemed to have gotten the wrong idea from that incident.

I couldn't just stand by and watch my one precious male junior underling acting all girly like that.

I couldn't exactly hurl abuse like "cut off your dick" at the Virgin Merit practitioner...

I needed to arrange a chance to clear up the misunderstanding properly.

.

.

.

Late into the night.

It was a rundown inn midway on our return trip, so the setup wasn't lavish, but I'd brought some Dongpo pork and a few bottles of liquor.

Knock knock—

"Junior, you in there?"

I knocked on Baek Riyeon's door.

No answer came.

Instead...

Crash! Rustle! Slither! Thud!

A symphony of all sorts of household noises poured through the non-soundproof door.

I waited patiently for a moment.

"......What... is it?"

A slightly panting, pathetic-sounding voice drifted out from inside—who knew what she'd been doing.

"Let's have a drink."

"Drink by yourself."

"You gonna talk back to your senior?"

After waiting plenty, I shoved my way into the room, ignoring the refusal.

"......Haa."

I boldly met Baek Riyeon's sullen sigh and gaze, then shook what I held in my hand.

She's in her room alone but dressed in her full outing outfit.

Anyway.

"You worked hard. Time to take a breather, even if just lightly."

"For 'lightly'... isn't there a bit too much liquor?"

Time for the magic spell.

"Scared?"

Backing down from booze?

No matter how decorative our Riyeon junior's equipment might be for life, I had to believe there was still a man's soul burning inside.

"Sigh. Drink in moderation and be on your way."

"......"

What if... there isn't?

.

.

.

We shared a few drinks after forcing the reluctant Baek Riyeon to sit.

Only then did the mood soften a little.

Once I confirmed her pale complexion had flushed a healthy pink...

"So, junior. What had you so upset?"

I dove into the main event: prying out her side of the story.

Baek Riyeon's lips twitched.

Yeah, that's it.

Spill it honestly.

This big bro's got a generous heart.

I waited patiently for a bit.

"......An improper relationship with the instructor violates school rules. End it."

"......?"

Utter nonsense I couldn't just brush off spilled from Baek Riyeon's mouth.

"Improper relationship? What're you talking about?"

"......Do I really have to spell it out?"

How does someone even come up with an idea like that?

Is one of Virgin Merit's side effects cranking weird imagination into overdrive?

"You saw it yourself—we're master and disciple. How could we commit such a heaven-defying abomination?"

"But back then, clearly...!"

She started protesting loudly, then drooped her head.

Back then...

Ah.

That time, huh.

"Junior, there's a misunderstanding. Nothing like what you're imagining happened. Here's what went down—"

I explained the events of that day as plainly and thoroughly as possible.

Her face twisted weirdly the moment she heard the eight characters on the stele, but she let out a relieved sigh upon hearing how I'd handled it.

I emphasized that I'd shouldered the whole onslaught of bugs and beasts at the Trial of Patience gate by myself, and she finally nodded like she got it.

Watching her like that made me want to tease her a bit.

"Hmm...... Junior. What kind of depraved thoughts were running through that head? Kinda disappointing."

"Ah, that..."

Her stiff posture wilted, and the true colors of gold-certified azin-Riyeon started filling back in.

Scrape.

I pushed back my chair and approached Baek Riyeon, who sat facing me.

And then.

"Hmm. Could it be—"

To the eardrum of a vigorously growing twenty-year-old youth, I whispered a crystal-clear masterpiece of a sex joke.

Her reaction?

"Th-th-this... lowly pervert...!"

Baek Riyeon's entire face turned beet red as she started hurling whatever she could grab from the table at me.

"Hahaha! Have a good night!"

As I got chased out, I sneaked a glance at her lower half.

And felt a twinge of guilt.

Doesn't it stand up?

Another Virgin Merit side effect?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Successfully readjusted my recently plummeted junior's favorability, back to my alone time.

"Ahh, feels good."

I soaked in the bath— a bit rundown, but with hot water provided—enjoying a pleasant half-bath.

Powered by soul power instead of electricity, complete with waterproofing, I gripped my cutting-edge smartphone and savored the peace.

I circled through Murim Talk, firing off fitting replies to the backlog of concerns and considerations.

Then dove into gallery browsing.

Lately I'd stuck to the Hundred Flowers Academy Gallery, but my true heart's home was elsewhere.

The Central Plains Martial World Gallery—Jung-gal.

Right after possession, with my frail body unable to fuse the new phone, I'd spent nights begging elites for help there.

Back then, it wasn't ruled by weirdos like Pikapika, Ddaissung, or Gyongdujjang.

All warriors upheld the gal-ticket, laughing haha hoho ahhet together in cultural exchange—that was Jung-gal, the culture capital.

But now...

Not a culture capital anymore—more like a sewer.

The fate of big, crowded galleries.

Transformed into a horrific space overrun by trolls or straight-up assholes.

"It's ruined......"

Truly malicious.

Even the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult praise post was a flat-chested Cheon Luri composite meme.

They'd even subtly stretched the width and height, faking massive boobs without it looking obvious.

Martial world's dignity had hit rock bottom.

170cm 65G Cheon Luri doesn't exist.

If you spot a flat-chested one, close your eyes and call management...

Whatever.

I didn't come to gawk at the chaos.

Saved the image, then searched the author: 'Historian Teacher'.

Wondered if he was still active.

......

An old-school regular from my era, still cranking out steady posts like crazy.

Unlike worthless daily drivel, these were top-tier info posts packed with detailed events from across the Central Plains— the kind that make you blurt "best post ever?"

His identity? Unknown.

From fellow old-timers' guesses:

Probably the Hao Sect Leader. Female. Narrow-minded enough to keyboard-battle critics until victory. Freaks out at flat-chest memes, so small-chest complex.

That's all the dirt we had.

Anyway, no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠arguments on mini-boob mini Historian Teacher's spot-on intel.

Checked recent uploads for local trends and Surochae movements.

And sure enough.

Exactly the topic I wanted.

"Hmm......"

Checking upload times...

The suspected rear guard was about to pass near where we were staying.

Better nip any loose ends.

After the bath, I slipped out of the inn with the excuse of a short walk.

Sat by the village's pitiful excuse for a pier, contemplating the river's flow.

Coming up the Yangtze, no way I'd missed them.

If their luck was bad, they'd pass here today.

And sure enough.

"Here they come."

Far off, a bunch of warriors on boats—their inner energy slightly impure, laced with killing intent.

My fingers had been itching anyway.

Time to test the Six Meridians Divine Sword's performance.