Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Partings Make Reunions Sweeter (1)
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In the end, looking back on it...
Helping Luri with her issue had turned into yet another stroke of fortune for me.
Just like how I'd absorbed some of the Ice Crystal's energy to boost my inner power.
By slurping up the demonic qi that Luri had compressed so densely it was rotting inside her without fully releasing it, my dantian swelled up once more.
The only minor issue was...
The Northern Bright Divine Art was originally a technique like Kirby's, devouring and assimilating all the world's energies into one's own.
But the demonic qi Luri harbored was so pure and intense that it asserted its overwhelming presence—like an oil well sprouting in the middle of the ocean—refusing to assimilate easily.
In other words...
Luri had succeeded in corrupting part of me with her demonic arts...!
Pretending to be vulnerable to deceive me.
And creating a situation where it felt like a Profound Realm expert might show up any moment, sealing off my resistance.
Who would've thought she'd hide such cunning schemes behind that cute, soft appearance.
A move truly befitting the young leader of the Demon Cult.
And then...
"Ha..."
A stinging sensation welled up from my throat, and the new energy crammed into my brain—precisely my upper dantian—muddled my vision.
I had no idea what trick she'd pulled, but...
The Yin-Yang Soul Eyes had been strengthened even further.
Optimized, in fact, for tracking demonic qi.
Even from quite a distance, I could sense my Sword Demon master's powerful demonic qi, and Luri's bubbling demonic qi nearby was crystal clear as well.
And then...
"So this is the current state of the righteous academy..."
Presences that seemed like Demon Cult spies planted here, or perhaps Luri's hidden bodyguards, flickered intermittently from within the academy.
I felt like I'd been forcibly evolved into a living human radar, Demon Cult exclusive.
Up to that point, fine.
I could accept it as a gift of sorts.
But...
"Ugh."
The Soul-Linking Technique.
True to its sinister name of linking souls...
Whenever Luri wanted...
I could share the vision she was seeing.
Like right now.
-Hic.
Luri was smiling, wearing nothing but a thin layer of clothing.
Don't fall for it, Geum Sihyeon!
This is a trap from that exhibitionist!
I immediately cranked my brain into overdrive to cut off the forced broadcast and regained my mental peace and tranquility.
Then...
Why?
I wanna see too
What the hell do you want to see?
I talked her down carefully to prevent her from evolving into a full voyeur and gave her some proper education.
Then I resumed walking.
Half a year wasn't that short a time.
I should say goodbye to the others in advance too.
The first stop was the closest to the dorms: the Medical Hall.
It started as just a herb garden connection.
But it was true that Master Tang had been helping out quite a bit.
"You've come."
Master Tang greeted me with a much softer expression than before—not like a poisonous toad anymore, but more like a frog.
I had two purposes for visiting.
"It seems we've found a way to deal with that thing in your gut."
"R-Really?!"
The Divine Doctor had worked hard on it.
If he hadn't received an actual Explosive Qi Pill containing the Solitude Toxin from Nangong Hwi, even he might not have analyzed the toxin and found the antidote.
"But one ingredient, the Seven Joint Herb, isn't available on the market. We'll probably have to go all the way to Yunnan. So it might take a bit."
"I've endured this long; I can hold out a little longer. Seven Joint Herb... the Tang Family must have a monopoly on it."
I nodded, affirming Master Tang's deduction.
Most medicinal herbs from Yunnan were monopolized by the Tang Family, so no amount of money would get you any.
Because they wouldn't sell to us.
So gathering the ingredients was my job.
I planned to pick the herb while securing the next manual from the Northern Secret Repository in Yunnan.
And since the Southern Barbaric Beast Palace was nearby, it could give me an excuse to meet Little Soybean too.
"Heh heh."
"...I'd appreciate it if you didn't laugh like that—it's kinda creepy."
"Ah, my apologies. And the second thing: the year-end exam destination has been set as the Sichuan Tang Family. I'd like to hear some details about the family."
This was the main purpose.
Better to get intel from Master Tang, who knew the inner workings, than charge in blind like a headbutting dinosaur.
"Ahem. Family matters to an outsider..."
I dropped the politeness surrounding him in an instant and enchanted my sword with a sparkle of honesty magic.
Impressed by my show of force, Master Tang sighed deeply and began explaining.
"The current Tang Family is largely divided into two factions. The Poison Arts Faction, centered on poison techniques, and the Dark Arts Faction, centered on hidden weapons. Of course, the founder mastered both, but most ordinary folks delve deeply into just one."
His dull, pedantic explanation continued after that.
To sum it up...
The poison fanatics, centered on the Elders' Council, held the mainstream, and naturally, they were deeply tied to the Azure Heaven Society.
The relatively weaker overt weapon users were struggling valiantly, spamming Lucky Sevens, but at least the current family head was from their side, securing some voice.
"So, the way to survive there is to stick close to the family head if possible."
"Stick close... Well, not wrong. Yes. Avoid clashing with the Elders' Council as much as you can. There might be issues if you die inside the Tang compound, but some in the council don't care about methods or means."
"How many elders have high-level martial arts?"
"Our family's arts are specialized, so it's hard to equate to standard realms... Ahem. Most are at Peak Realm or above. The council head has reached the mature stage of Super Peak."
I pulled out the desired answer again with more sparkle-talk.
Hmm...
Mature stage of Super Peak? Still just a mortal who hadn't even touched the Flower Realm?
Sichuan Tang Family.
Might not be such a big deal after all?
No, wait.
It was just that I was surrounded by too many monsters...
Teacher Crook and Chicken Master had definitely numbed my power balance sense.
I took a moment for some self-reflection.
Next, I headed to the Western Family Manor.
Usually, Green Forest types lounged around tending to Chicken Master's needs.
Seeing it empty really drove home that the semester was over.
I strode straight to my master's quarters.
"Master, it's me."
I flung the door open.
"Kyau?!"
"Ah."
Pathetically, Chicken Master was sprawled on the floor, wolf pup on her belly, rolling around playfully. Her flustered face greeted me.
The rascal would sneak out windows for walks on its own sometimes.
So it had come here to play with Chicken Master.
I picked up the wolf pup, which wagged its tail sheepishly at its owner's arrival and approached hesitantly, cradling it in my arms.
"Y-You should mind your dignity... Gahk!"
I tried teasing her once, and she immediately blew up.
"You're the rude one, barging into your master's quarters without notice. ...So, what brings you here?"
Her words were gruff, but her eyes crinkled with a smile.
The epitome of tsundere features.
"I'll be leaving for the Western Capital soon for the year-end exam, so I came to pay my respects beforehand."
"What brought on this rare thoughtfulness? Sit comfortably there first."
I pulled up a chair at the table she indicated and waited a moment.
Soon, Chicken Master served me a cup of green tea.
"Drink."
"Thank you."
I sipped the green tea...
Whew.
After so long in the martial world, if I don't throw in some Central Asian terms now and then, my brain feels like it's atrophying.
Anyway, the green tea was decently stable.
Holding back the mean thought that liquor suited her better than tea...
"Do you have any special plans, Master?"
I cautiously tried to add an S-rank party member for some sweet gains, but...
"I was planning to stay at the academy and live leisurely, but the aquatic scum's movements have been suspicious lately, so I was about to go deal with that. Why?"
"Ah... Nothing."
Regrettably, it fell through.
Things in the world don't go that smoothly.
Tsk.
"You be careful out there too, disciple. Sirang says there've been a lot of bloody incidents lately suspected to be assassins. Best to stay vigilant."
"I'll keep it in mind. But no need to worry about that."
Oh yeah, there was the assassin issue too.
But this body had already mastered the Ghost Killer Squad's arts.
A hundred hearings are no match for one sight, as they say.
I activated the Shadow Concealment Technique, hiding my body in nature.
"Hoh."
Chicken Master let out an exclamation.
"Shadow Hide? Looks like advanced arts. How'd you come by it?"
"Cro... No, Master Wijiryang taught me."
"Demon Cult arts... Well, depending on who's wielding them, demonic arts become divine, and divine become demonic. In my hands, it'd be divine arts."
As expected, her open mind was Green Forest style.
But it pierced the core of martial arts philosophy, so I nodded in agreement.
"Let me think... As your master, I should give you something... Ah, this'll do."
Chicken Master rummaged in her bosom and pulled out a jade plaque, handing it to me.
Green Forest Bandit King
Seo Dohee
"What's this?"
"My nameplate. If Green Forest kids block your path, show them this. They'll treat you with the respect due to me."
"Ooh."
A VIP express pass for the toll roads.
I bowed deeply to express my gratitude to my master.
After that, I diligently buzzed around here and there.
Saw the academy head, the monk from each hall.
Said goodbye to most of the elders I knew.
This is social life.
Preemptive score farming for connections!
I planned to see Sister Seol separately, since she didn't need points anymore.
The last person to meet at the academy...
"Young lord!"
Was, of course, Little Soybean.