Chapter 202
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: Ten Days
Early morning.
Namgung Ji-hu had already been swinging his sword since dawn.
Anhui Province, Hefei.
The seat of the Namgung Clan.
The retainers had watched Namgung Ji-hu, returned from the Dragon Training Pavilion, train solely in the practice hall for days on end.
Their praises spread naturally.
"With the young master training so diligently, the clan's future looks bright."
"Exactly. He could take the heir's seat any time now. I can't fathom what the clan lord is thinking."
"I wondered why he sent such fine children as the young master and young lady to the Dragon Training Pavilion. But it seems the clan lord had his reasons. Look how earnest they are."
Conversations like these echoed everywhere.
The clan lord's office in the main hall.
The highest building in the clan, offering a clear view of the practice hall through the window.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon, lord of the Namgung Clan, watched his son endlessly practicing the forms of the Heavenly Bow Carefree Sword. His eyes brimmed with complex emotions.
His eldest son, hailed as one of the top rising stars of the orthodox faction.
Never arrogant or complacent, he trained with such fervor.
It was only natural to take pride in him.
Yet Namgung Hwa-hyeon had not yet named him heir.
Thus, the retainers still called him young master.
Even at an age when he should be mastering the clan's secret arts, he had been sent to the Dragon Training Pavilion.
And upon graduation, he would have to serve as a warrior of the Righteous Heaven Alliance for a set period—yet the clan lord had sent his eldest son there anyway.
A decision unlike other clans.
'How can he be so exceptional?'
He far surpassed Namgung Hwa-hyeon's own youth.
Gazing at him, Namgung Hwa-hyeon clenched his fist, his face twisting.
Judging solely by the completion of the Heavenly Bow Carefree Sword forms,
No one in the Namgung Clan had reached such a level at that age.
'The Dragon Training Pavilion. What could be there?'
He had heard that Ha Mu-baek, that monster, had become an instructor in the Fierce Dragon Corps.
But
Namgung Ji-hu was in the Hidden Dragon Corps.
He shouldn't have any connection to that monster.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon couldn't even imagine his son seeking out Ha Mu-baek for guidance.
He even overheard retainers praising Namgung Ji-hu.
Even that grated on him.
Then Namgung Ji-yu appeared in the practice hall to begin her training.
A daughter exceptional in both martial arts and intellect.
Sons and daughters anyone would envy.
Yet Namgung Hwa-hyeon's gaze upon them was chillingly cold and bleak.
'I can't leave the heir's seat vacant forever.'
He had sent Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu to the Dragon Training Pavilion last year to delay it as long as possible.
But after just one year back, showing such prowess, talk of the heir arose again.
Even his father, the former clan lord, had visited just yesterday.
'Clan lord, don't you cherish your lineage? Raise Ji-hu as heir and arrange his marriage to secure descendants.'
"Descendants... Descendants..."
Namgung Hwa-hyeon's face twisted as he muttered.
For those descendants, what had he done?
Without that precious child, he never could have risen from heir to clan lord.
To gain a child, he had committed heartless deeds.
The result: his eldest daughter Namgung Ji-yu and eldest son Namgung Ji-hu.
Thus, he ascended to clan lord without issue.
Over a dozen years as clan lord.
Now it was time to decide the next generation.
That past deed haunted him.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon thought of his younger brothers' children.
His own lineage was precious, but the Namgung Clan's was not so rare.
He had three younger brothers, each with a son.
Those boys were exceptional too.
Namgung Ji-hu merely stood out more.
"I can't delay forever."
Namgung Hwa-hyeon resolved to enact the plan he had mulled over through the night.
No matter how he thought, he couldn't give the heir's seat to his own eldest son.
Though obtained to become clan lord,
The purpose was fulfilled; their use was spent.
There was no reason to elevate that child as heir.
And he dared not allow it.
Come spring, the boy would depart for the Dragon Training Pavilion anyway.
There were clear limits to what he could achieve there.
Dan Mok Un-roe closed his eyes.
Then slowly moved his sword.
From the first form to the second, third, in sequence.
Plenty of rough edges, but the blade traced a straight, correct path.
A bead of sweat dripped onto the sword blade from Dan Mok Un-roe.
His body gradually soaked with sweat.
Yet the sword never stopped.
The slow-moving blade sliced through the air countless times.
Gradually, Dan Mok Un-roe's arm began to tremble.
Inevitable.
Unfurling eighty-one forms slowly was no easy task.
Especially for one newly learning the sword art.
How many forms had passed?
The eighty-first.
Completing the final form, Dan Mok Un-roe slowly opened his eyes.
"Hoo."
He took a deep breath.
Drenched in sweat from head to toe.
His body trembled finely.
Deep into the night.
In the empty practice hall, he had finally executed the full eighty-one forms of the Galaxy Illusion Sword Art.
"Done."
Ha Mu-baek watched Dan Mok Un-roe and shook his head slightly.
"Stubborn one."
Inevitable.
He had expected eight days.
Accomplished in just three.
His bedraggled state revealed the intensity of his training.
"You've barely taken the first step."
Dan Mok Un-roe whipped his head around in surprise at Ha Mu-baek's words.
He hadn't expected anyone watching.
"Instructor..."
"Still way too rough. But you've got the basic paths down."
"Yes!"
Brightening at the acknowledgment, Dan Mok Un-roe replied.
"First, smooth out those rough spots. Sparring comes after."
"Yes."
"Rest now."
With that, Ha Mu-baek strolled away leisurely.
This stubborn kid had kept him working late lately.
Watching from afar, just in case.
"Even I didn't think it'd take just seven days to master..."
Eight days—nine, really—was a tight schedule already.
A month had flown by.
Fortunately, the antidote was dissipating the Latent Soul Poison even after a month.
Complete.
Mid-February already.
The Dragon Training Pavilion's first semester would begin soon.
Cadets entering their second year.
Antidote production continued meanwhile.
Confirming twenty days of efficacy,
Mass production began.
Twenty days was plenty.
Better to have a twenty-day antidote than none, even if remade.
The refined antidote pills now exceeded two thousand.
Dark circles under Dang Ji-yeon's and Gong Son Bi-yeon's eyes.
Stuck to the furnaces all day refining.
Fifty furnaces lined one side of the grand practice hall.
Dang Ja-cheong, Gong Son Mu-oe, Wi Ji-gun, Dang Ji-yeon, Gong Son Bi-yeon.
The five refined nonstop.
Ha Mu-baek occasionally helped.
Henceforth, the Tang Clan and Seon Yu Valley would continue production.
Uncertain when or where the Blood Cult might scatter Latent Soul Poison.
Stockpile as much as possible.
The antidote worked preemptively or during the incubation period post-poisoning.
"You've all worked hard."
"Good job."
"Heh heh. Glad it's done."
The three elders exchanged smiles and greetings.
Time to part.
Urgent matters resolved.
Furnaces cleared from the grand practice hall.
One thousand antidotes left at the pavilion; Dang Ja-cheong and Gong Son Mu-oe each took five hundred.
Formula left behind too.
Passed to Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord Gong Son Dan-gyeong.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance would handle production.
Thus ended preparations against Latent Soul Poison.
"Witch. One last bout before you go?"
Dang Jin-san taunted Dang Ji-yeon, exhaustion plain on her face.
Nonstop refining, then cleanup.
Cadets and workers helped with cleanup, but she hadn't rested.
She smirked at her brother's provocation, grabbing her fan.
"I'll end it in one."
Her fan surged like a spear, cloaked in qi.
The qi on the fan had deepened over the month.
Several spars had helped her too.
Dang Jin-san grinned and stepped back.
"No, no. You're tired. Hurry on."
They could rest a day, but Dang Ja-cheong insisted on leaving immediately, citing time at the pavilion.
Dang Ji-yeon naturally joined.
"Pity the semester starts soon. Visit the Tang Clan whenever you have time."
Dang Ja-cheong addressed Ha Mu-baek and the cadets.
"We'll treat you as honored guests."
His face suggested he'd drag them along if the break were longer.
"Thank you for the invitation."
Ha Mu-baek bowed politely.
"Well then. Thanks for everything."
"No, thank you for your help."
Dang Ja-cheong bid farewell to Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul and Yeon Baek-jin outside, boarding the prepared carriage.
Dang Ji-yeon followed.
The carriage rolled slowly at first, then sped away.
"How many days till semester starts?"
Dang Jin-san watched the departing carriage.
"Ten."
Yeon Ha-min answered curtly.
"Felt less like a break and more like work."
Everyone nodded at Dang Jin-san's words.
Not just from training.
Events in between.
Baek Ri-pyeong's trip to Zhongnan.
And that mess with Mu-chang.
The Blood Cult.
Unimaginable.
Dang Jin-san shook his head.
"We should rest a few days before heading out."
Gong Son Mu-oe said, eyes on the carriage.
"A drink first."
"Agreed."
Gong Son Mu-oe nodded at Wi Ji-gun.
The past month had forged friendship among the elders.
Wi Ji-gun, wandering alone after meeting Ha Mu-baek and his sister, had spent over a decade on Cheongran Island.
A like-minded friend was rare for him.
With one departing hastily, a farewell drink with the other was in order.
Gong Son Mu-oe and Gong Son Bi-yeon headed to a pre-scouted tavern.
The rest:
Ha Mu-baek and Han Seol-bing, Fierce Dragon Corps cadets, Wi Ji-gun.
Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul, Yeon Baek-jin, Gi Yu-chan.
"Elder. What are your plans now...?"
Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul cautiously asked Wi Ji-gun.
No hiding his identity anymore.
At least Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul, Yeon Baek-jin, and Gi Yu-chan knew the truth.
"I'm fine as is."
Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul nodded at Wi Ji-gun's words.
If that's what he wanted, so be it.
Ha Mu-baek's master, after all.
The one who raised this monster.
Perhaps even stronger.
Having such a figure at the pavilion was reassuring.
Providing every convenience was natural.
Gi Yu-chan had already planned measures without instruction.
Thus, they dispersed to their paths.
"Now it's truly over. A real break."
Ha Mu-baek muttered with relief.
"Ten days left."
Han Seol-bing beside him said.
"Yeah. Ten days. I'm gonna enjoy them fully. Don't look for me."
With that, Ha Mu-baek headed to his quarters.
As if determined to rest completely.
And for the next ten days, no one saw Ha Mu-baek.
Early March, first day.
Start of the Dragon Training Pavilion's first semester.
The once-quiet pavilion buzzed with life two days prior.
Cadets and instructors returning from their sects and clans.
"Second year. Whew. One year left."
Baek Ri-pyeong sighed deeply.
Steeling himself as he walked to the grand practice hall.
Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest, already endured once.
One year until the next.
The practice hall was already crowded.
Some tense, some swaggering.
First-year rookies of the Fierce Dragon Corps, Hidden Dragon Corps, and Wa Dragon Corps.