Chapter 165
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: What the Hell Is That Nonsense?
Deep into his early morning training, Ha Mu-baek was catching a short nap back at his dormitory.
"Huh?"
He opened his eyes.
A familiar yet unfamiliar presence had snagged his senses.
"Did they send someone from Zhongnan Sect?"
The aura of those who practiced Zhongnan martial arts. One of them felt oddly familiar.
Someone he shared battlefield memories with.
"One of Zhongnan's Eight Swords, huh. Why is Silver River Sword here..."
Silver River Sword was Nam Hwa-ryong's moniker, earned through countless battles in the last war.
It bore a striking resemblance to the nickname of Zhongnan's former sect leader, Silver River Sword Hero—which left him endlessly embarrassed yet thrilled.
That's why he preferred being called by his moniker over his real name.
He could guess why he'd come to Muchang.
It had to be because of Baek Ri-pyeong.
Even so, for Silver River Sword to show up in Muchang.
"Overkill."
Yeah.
Way overkill.
Among Zhongnan's current top disciples, the one poised to inherit Silver River Sword Hero's prowess and claim the title of Zhongnan's Greatest Sword was Silver River Sword Nam Hwa-ryong.
That was Ha Mu-baek's assessment.
To dispatch someone of that caliber just to drag back a mere nineteen—no, now twenty-year-old punk.
"Guess I should go check it out."
The students were throwing themselves into training at the drill ground as usual.
With Ha Seol-ran back in the fold now, Han Seol-bing was there too.
"What the hell are you lot doing during break week?"
Ha Mu-baek grumbled irritably. But a pleased smile tugged at his face.
"Where'd you say that little shit Baek Ri-pyeong is at?"
"Junior Brother Jang said he's been showing up at the Fierce Dragon Corps drill ground every damn day."
Three of the Eight Swords hurried to reply to Joo Si-woon.
"We're heading straight there. You confirmed the spot, right?"
"Yes."
They'd gotten the rundown on Dragon Training Pavilion and Baek Ri-pyeong from Jang Yi-geol, who happened to arrive at Zhongnan right as they were leaving.
Jang Yi-geol's face had been a complicated mess when talking about Baek Ri-pyeong, but the Three Swords couldn't care less.
Dragon Training Pavilion's main gate.
Joo Si-woon marched right in like he owned the place, and the gate guards blocked their path.
"Halt! Who the hell are you?"
His tone was stern.
"Who the hell are you? Some lowly guard blocking Great Zhongnan's senior disciple? You got a death wish?"
Killing intent flickered in Joo Si-woon's eyes as he glared at the spear in his way.
The guard swallowed hard at the pressure. He could feel the faint killing aura leaking off the guy.
A senior disciple from prestigious Zhongnan—with this kind of vibe?
Another guard rushed over.
The other dashed inside to report.
Nam Hwa-ryong shook his head at the scene and stepped forward.
"Nam Hwa-ryong from Zhongnan Sect. Here on sect disciple business."
He handed over the official letter from Zhongnan.
Only then did the brewing tension ease.
"...Should've led with that. I'll report up. Go on in—the reception hall's straight ahead. Wait there."
The guard lowered his spear and stepped aside.
"Don't stick your nose in where it doesn't belong."
Joo Si-woon shot Nam Hwa-ryong a sinister warning, then strode inside without a second glance.
The pissy attitude from fresh off the road to Muchang? Gone.
In its place, his true colors—reeking of killing intent. Probably pissed about the guard shoving a spear in his face.
A scrub warrior daring to point a weapon at him.
Nam Hwa-ryong had seen that side of his senior brother back home plenty of times, so he let the jab slide.
Instead, he gave the guards a quick nod and trailed after him.
Joo Si-woon ignored the reception hall directions entirely.
He followed the Three Swords' lead instead.
"Senior Brother. Where to? Reception hall first, no?"
"Shut it, Hwa-ryong. No plans to linger where scum waves spears at me. Grab that worm Baek Ri-pyeong and we're out. Daring to defy the sect leader."
He stomped off irritably.
But that wasn't the half of it.
Joo Si-woon had tried out for Hidden Dragon Corps as a youth—and washed out.
They took pretty much anyone from the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans.
Coming back to Dragon Training Pavilion like this, only to get stonewalled at the gate? Rage fuel.
'Martial Uncle. I'm not sure I can handle this.'
Nam Hwa-ryong steeled himself, recalling his martial uncle's quiet plea amid Joo Si-woon's antics.
When the sect leader threw his fit, Discipline Hall Lord So Jung-san had pulled him aside. Watch yourself—trouble might brew. So Jung-san handed him the letter too.
He hadn't dreamed they'd actually send him.
Hell, sending him solo would've been mercy.
Stuck with that maniac senior brother.
Hot-tempered, explosive, zero mercy. Ruthless and ice-cold when he turned cruel.
Unpredictable as hell.
One thing for sure: not the temperament of a proper prestigious sect senior disciple.
The lineup was a masterpiece.
Senior brother's go-to Three Swords and Six Swords, plus him tacked on.
Nam Hwa-ryong hesitated.
Let 'em run wild? Sketchy.
Ditch reception hall? Bad form.
In the end, he bolted to the hall, briefed the guard there, and chased after at top speed.
They'd pulled a good lead.
No map of the place, but their trail was fresh—he hauled ass after it.
"You bastard, Baek Ri-pyeong!"
Just as he closed in.
Senior Brother Joo Si-woon's bellow echoed.
Nam Hwa-ryong had no choice but to lightness-skill his way to the noise.
Joo Si-woon was glaring daggers at Baek Ri-pyeong on the drill ground, face twisted in fury.
Everyone else there gawked, baffled by the crashers.
All but one.
Baek Ri-pyeong stared back at Joo Si-woon, looking majorly inconvenienced.
As Baek Ri-pyeong's eyes met his, Joo Si-woon opened his mouth again.
"Sect elder shows up, and a worthless worm like you just stands there gawking. Suits you."
Not a rage-shout this time. A low, killing-intent whisper.
But packed with inner power—it rang crystal clear in Baek Ri-pyeong's ears.
Baek Ri-pyeong grudgingly cupped his fists and bowed.
"...Zhongnan disciple Baek Ri-pyeong greets Martial Uncle."
Only then did the students clock they were from Zhongnan.
But why here? Big question mark.
"No chit-chat. With me. Now. Straight back to Zhongnan."
The students swapped looks at Joo Si-woon's order.
What the actual fuck kinda nonsense was that?
Why's Baek Ri-pyeong gotta bounce to Zhongnan?
They knew he'd joined Fierce Dragon Corps on sect leader orders.
Bonded through thick and thin since.
Never pried deeper.
"What the hell is that nonsense?"
The comeback came from offside.
Ha Mu-baek had shown up, eyeing Joo Si-woon with a lopsided scowl.
"Who the fuck are you?"
Joo Si-woon fixed him with cold eyes.
"Me? These kids' instructor. Who the fuck are you?"
"More trash? This whole place sucks. You dare mouth off to me, Great Senior Disciple of Great Zhongnan Sect?"
Joo Si-woon growled, voice dripping killing intent.
"So? This is Dragon Training Pavilion. Not Zhongnan."
Ha Mu-baek shot back like whose mutt is this?—even picking his ear one-handed.
Air turned ugly.
Students edged toward Ha Mu-baek.
Nam Hwa-ryong hovered awkwardly by Joo Si-woon.
Awkward as hell.
Baek Ri-pyeong's instructor.
Knew the face.
Couldn't not.
The guy who always dove into the bloodiest fights last war.
"Rootless trash can't be fixed. Dragon Training Pavilion, Zhongnan—who cares. I'm Great Zhongnan Senior Disciple. Fact."
Killing intent seeped from Joo Si-woon bit by bit.
But that missed the point.
Nam Hwa-ryong swallowed a sigh and reined in Joo Si-woon first.
No incidents here. Especially not with him.
"Senior Brother. Cool it."
Nam Hwa-ryong murmured low.
"That instructor ain't ordinary. Frontlined the fiercest battles last war."
Joo Si-woon's gaze swung to him.
"You calling this senior brother a coward who hid in the sect?"
Killing intent zeroed on Nam Hwa-ryong.
How'd it twist like that?
Just advising caution—the guy's no pushover.
"Whatever that punk did last war, I'm Zhongnan Senior Disciple. He's low-rank instructor trash."
Ha Mu-baek watched the show, amused.
Middle-aged warrior busting ass to corral the "senior disciple."
Familiar mug after ages. Sensed him coming earlier.
Silver River Sword.
Zhongnan top dog who swung like mad behind Silver River Sword Hero Baek Ri-dan amid the meat grinder.
If Baek Ri-dan lived, he'd be next sect leader material.
Waste, kowtowing to that tool.
"Figures. Zhongnan's on the downslope."
Ha Mu-baek muttered.
Joo Si-woon's head whipped back.
"Loose lips can get you killed."
He snarled, loading killing intent. Clothes puffing slow.
Ha Mu-baek bugged his eyes at him.
Face screaming now that's rich.
Baek Ri-pyeong jolted.
Sudden skill matchup with him?
"Kuhuku. Kuhahaha! KraHAHAHA!"
Joo Si-woon roared laughing. Eyes blazing murder and ridicule.
"Hilarious. Lumping me with that worm second-gen? Step up. One arm gone now."
Hand on hilt. Aura surging, clothes near-burst.
Cut the instructor's arm—with the kid right there to fetch?
Nam Hwa-ryong winced.
Three Swords and Six Swords flushed beet-red at the taunt.
Acting like they got dissed.
"To scrap with me, beat Baek Ri-pyeong first. You? Not qualified. Prove it."
Murder poured from Joo Si-woon's eyes.
That glare locked on Baek Ri-pyeong.
"Your 'instructor' says so. Sword. Now."
Command dropped on Baek Ri-pyeong.
Baek Ri-pyeong ping-ponged looks between Ha Mu-baek and Joo Si-woon, lost.
"Senior Brother. Easy. First- and second-gen match? No precedent."
Nam Hwa-ryong jumped in frantic.
Knew the guy's power inside out. Knew Ha Mu-baek's rep from battlefield hell.
No win here.
Stop it cold.
"Not your call. I got insulted. Siding with him?"
Joo Si-woon's voice iced deeper.
"Senior Brother. Sect rules still stand."
Nam Hwa-ryong pressed on, shrugging off the murder vibe. Wasn't scary anyway.
Sect rules mention shut Joo Si-woon up short.
"Ah, sect rules!"
Ha Mu-baek perked instead.
"Yeah. Big sect like Zhongnan's got 'em ironclad."
He nodded sage.
What's this clown's angle now?
"Rules check first then. Fine. Baek Ri-pyeong. With me to Zhongnan. Verify rules, then scrap that trash."
"I-Instructor... Me spar Martial Uncle...?"
Baek Ri-pyeong stuttered, blindsided by Ha Mu-baek's bulldozer mode—no input asked.
Ha Mu-baek eyed him.
"What, scared? Think you'll fold to that clown?"
Provoke him now.
No clue what Ha Mu-baek was scheming.
"Uh, well..."
Baek Ri-pyeong floundered, trapped.
Can't say yes. Can't say no.
Truth? Martial Uncle or not, win on lock.
Scary aura, sure. But up close? Nah, no loss vibe.
So no yes.
No even harder. Elder diss—filial impiety max.
"Picking your grave? Why say no. Zhongnan it is."
Joo Si-woon grinned murder.
Eyes murder-shiny.
Swords cross in Zhongnan? Dead for real.
"I-Instructor..."
Baek Ri-pyeong near-tears, staring at Ha Mu-baek amid chaos.
Just wanted Squad Seven, Fierce Dragon Corps. Chill.
Instructor nixed expulsion, stay put.
Zhongnan crew crashes, instructor beefs, now Zhongnan duel maybe?
What. The. Fuck.
Instructor's brain what?
"One thing though. Still no approval on this punk's expulsion."
Ha Mu-baek tacked on.
Three Swords by Joo Si-woon got a weird glint.