Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Midterms Are Coming (1)
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Time sure flies.
It drags on when you're in the moment, but looking back, it races by.
It felt like just yesterday that Cheon Luri was up at the entrance ceremony, shrinking like a little chick, mumbling her way through her speech in that timid, halting voice.
[Luri: Bring stick candy when you come]
Now she was yanking me around by the hair like it was nothing.
Heading to Baekhwa Market with a massive bundle of candy, I suddenly felt tears welling up.
I'd tried a half-hearted rebellion just the other day.
- Don't want to?
She dangled my smartphone teasingly, her lips curling up just a bit.
It felt like a threat to expose my precious gallery collection, so I tucked tail and gave in...
Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I asked how she'd cracked my pattern lock.
- I saw it.
She confessed so brazenly to peeking into someone else's phone—like it was the most natural thing in the world.
All I gained was the realization that you really can't trust Demon Cult folks.
Still, it was a small comfort that I'd bantered with what could barely be called a kid anymore.
Every time I'd used formal speech with Luri, it felt like my limbs were twisting awkwardly.
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Anyone got the Understanding Advanced Swordsmanship past exam answers PDF???? Plzㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ (0)
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Grinning to myself, I scrolled through today's feed of menthal breakdowns, gore posts, fishing bait, and overflowing peace in the Hundred Flowers Gallery.
Along the way, I took in the fully bloomed plum blossoms scattering petals everywhere as I headed to our meetup spot.
"Young master! Over here! Hehe."
Today, she was 100% generous, 100% sweet, 100% ample-chested.
Just looking at her and Luri greeting me like a spring breeze was enough to warm my heart.
"Candy."
Luri slinked over from her slumped position at the table like an autumn gale, eyeing my candy pouch.
"Here."
I pulled out a stick candy and held it up.
She chomped down and started sucking on it noisily.
She's kinda cute when she's eating.
"Hehe. Luri seems to really look up to you, young master! You two look like siblings—it's so heartwarming!"
"Haha, you think so?"
I ignored Luri's eyebrows twitching into a scowl and chimed in agreement with her and Sojeo.
Come to think of it, she does remind me of an insolent little sister always trying to devour me.
Ha... Why do I have to live a life with a vicious brat for a sister instead of a kind, caring big sis...
At least she's not power-tripping in front of me and Sojeo.
Guess she's managing her image as our roommate.
The group started with Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art practice sessions.
But lately, with midterms looming, we'd been doubling as a study group.
And I could be a ray of light for these ladies.
Cheat sheets!
Unhak, true to his Beggar's Sect roots, had scrounged up scribbled exam past papers from everywhere and generously shared them with me, Luri, and Sojeo.
Southern Barbaric Beast Palace.
Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress.
Let's go.
Looking at it like this, our combo really has no roots...
"Hmm, what was this stance again?"
"Ah. That's Spread Wings Stance. Easy to mix up with Folded Wings, but Spread Wings has arms extended, Folded Wings has them tucked in—that's how you tell them apart."
"Aha!"
Truth be told, Unhak was better at teaching than me.
But with his gynophobia, and lately practicing social distancing from him...
- Haha. Goldie! How's Peak feel?
- I wanna hit Peak already!
- Sigh, wonder what Peak feels like...
- Today I'm reaching Peak no matter what! Channeling qi!
This guy.
His phrasing is so damn... off.
Every time he went on about Peak with creepy obsession, it gave me chills.
So I'd channel Buddha and mutter something profound like 'Let go—it's already within you,' then ignore him.
Moyong Taek?
That guy's obsessed with mahjong.
- Hah, the dream of clearing Nine Gates eludes me again—off to the Guksa Musang Mahjong Parlor today!
- Haven't even arrived, but today's tiles are dancing in my eyes. Luck's on my side today!
Written exams? Memorize the cheat sheets.
Practical? Just do well—that bullshit he barked while slacking off like a bum.
Felt like his wrist was gonna get chopped soon.
Still.
You can't call yourself a true friend if you watch a buddy go astray.
Every time Moyong Taek slunk off to the mahjong parlor, I'd report him like a PTA hotline!
Straight to Lady Seol.
Pulled that scam-coin-peddling dropout wannabe back from the brink and prepped him for the toughest written exam.
...Couldn't tell him or Sojeo, though.
Tipped off Luri that it was "breadth" not "bread," and for the first time in my memory, both corners of her mouth shot up.
True to her evil Demon Cult seed, she seemed to relish others' misfortune.
Not that I didn't smirk along.
The greatest truth since time immemorial.
As long as it's not me.
"More."
"Gonna rot your teeth."
"More."
"Young master? Give me the candy pouch. Come on, Luri. Memorize this, then candy?"
"Uuu..."
Unable to stomach the sight of poor me getting robbed of candy in broad daylight, she and Sojeo unleashed auto-hunt knowledge beatdown.
Reliable personality pouch!
Filling the campus life romance I missed in my past life like this...
What's happiness anyway?
This is it.
From here on.
I hope our peaceful days continue without any incidents.
As the specter of midterms slowly crept over the students...
Some were tightening their nerves just as fiercely.
"Amitabha. Time to decide the midterm formats."
In the conference room where all the instructors had gathered.
The academy head—
Abbot Wolseong intoned as he tossed out the koan from the head seat.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Hundred Flowers Academy midterms were usually two types.
A written exam to test understanding of martial arts theory.
And a practical to see if you could apply it.
Written exams were fine—prep per subject.
But practicals were a different beast.
Objectively gauging students' martial levels was tough, and clashes arose often.
"Share your thoughts."
The instructors' eyes flicked around, aligning by seniority based on history and tradition.
"...For Basic Swordsmanship, we'll do spars with instructors."
The rookie instructor.
Moyong Seol was the first to break the silence.
It would've been fine if she'd just stated her position.
But the reason everyone held back—
"Amitabha. Spars for what, how, through what process, by what measure?"
Abbot Wolseong's boomer energy exploded without mercy.
Why sacrifice Moyong Seol? Simple.
While one got grilled, gauge the hooks and prepare countermeasures.
She knew it well.
Didn't want to speak up at all.
Wanted to submit her overnight draft as a document for review.
But what could she do?
If it bugs you, eat more tenure.
With Moyong Seol getting threshed live by Abbot Wolseong as BGM, Seo Dohee sank into thought.
Originally, planned to round up some bandits and let the orthodox newbies taste Green Forest strength as a demo.
But look at her proud disciple.
Faithfully following her teachings, he'd hit Peak before twenty—not even from a famed sect.
Real combat is best, after all.
So for Understanding Unorthodox Martial Arts practical midterm, make it real-world training.
Not fully trustworthy, but she could slave-drive the Tang Family guy.
Mobilize the entire Medical Hall—if some blind blade hit, they'd handle it.
Masters too much for students?
Instructors? Even me?
Why would such monsters wander the Central Plains idle?
Probably chanting hail to their cult lord in Tianshan or some million-mountain range.
Or cackling while spraying blood everywhere.
No matter how crazy the Blood Cult, they wouldn't easily set foot in Shaanxi with Zhongnan, Mount Hua, and Hundred Flowers Academy holding strong.
A moment later.
As pale-faced Moyong Seol finally escaped the octopus boomerhead.
"For Understanding Unorthodox Martial Arts midterm practical, field trip to the Taebaek Mountains area. Got intel on bandit remnants scheming there. We'll sweep 'em clean."
Seo Dohee dropped a bombshell into the now-slack conference room, thanks to Moyong Seol's sacrifice.
"Shaanxi at last."
The weirdos absent from Gansu.
The Sword Demon fully realized it upon seeing bandits chanting 'We prepare the path'—a slogan unheard of until recently.
Already carved up plenty of horse thieves.
No need to kill the ones offering passage for cash.
Shiiiine.
Infusing sword aura into his blade for a 100% toll discount special, the Sword Demon smiled and breezed through the toll road for free.
To commemorate stepping on Shaanxi soil for the first time since the Upright-Righteous War.
The Sword Demon pulled out his smartphone to check if this land had any properly enlightened souls.
Title: Anyone wanna talk Romance of the Three Kingdoms with me?.,
Honestly think it ends at Five Zhang Plains., Disagree? Send proof,, or GTFO., ㅎㅎㅎ.
Heh heh.
The Sword Demon posted pure historical truth and smiled in satisfaction.
Come to think of it.
Zhuge Liang—that heaven-sent colossal star.
The great strategist who deserved Ten Excellencies over a corner post slept right here in Shaanxi.
Not much reason to venture into the Central Plains—might as well sightsee.
The Sword Demon impulsively set his next stop.
Wuzhang Plains at the foot of the Taebaek Mountains, where the star had fallen.
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