Chapter 214
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Stronger Than Him?
In the dimly lit office.
Yeon Ja-kyeong, who had just returned to his own office, didn't light the lamp.
Instead, he stared blankly at his desk.
A neatly placed sealed letter.
There was only one person who would leave a sealed letter on his desk like this.
All other letters or documents came through his attendant disciples.
The insolent fools who would dare place a letter directly on his desk...
'Insolent Blood Cult bastards...'
That's right.
It was the Blood Cult.
For revenge, he was temporarily joining hands with these filthy scum.
Yeon Ja-kyeong first reached into his robe.
After the chaos in Muchang.
The Tang Clan had sent antidotes to the Righteous Heaven Alliance just in case.
Even now, the Tang Clan was steadily producing and stockpiling more antidotes.
Yeon Ja-kyeong had received three of them.
He took one out and swallowed it for now.
Who knew what tricks those Blood Cult bastards might have pulled inside that sealed letter?
This was a transactional relationship based on mutual gain.
In other words, they could target him anytime if it suited their interests.
He had to stay cautious at all times.
Once he confirmed the antidote was fully absorbed, Yeon Ja-kyeong reached for the sealed letter.
He tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter inside.
His expression hardened coldly.
"Insolent..."
A chilly voice slipped out unbidden.
'Blood Cult matter. Insolent punk.'
To summarize the letter's contents:
Due to the recent activities of the Demon-Sealing Corps and Fierce Dragon Corps over the past few years, the number of jiangshi in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest has been steadily decreasing.
They requested measures to address this.
In short, they were demanding more sacrificial lambs be sent into the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
'After devouring even my son...'
Yeon Ja-kyeong's hand trembled finely as he held the letter.
He had forcibly averted his eyes from his son's death, but now it resurfaced.
The boy had died in a frenzy of lust, but he was still his eldest son.
How could his heart not ache? How could he not feel rage?
He had simply buried it deep for the sake of the future.
The Blood Cult's letter had slightly unearthed that fury.
'The price is White Flower Radiant Herb...'
At that part, Yeon Ja-kyeong furrowed his brow.
It reminded him once again that the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest was still firmly the Blood Cult's territory.
They were watching the Demon-Sealing Corps' movements from somewhere.
They even knew they had started gathering White Flower Radiant Herbs.
In the end, it meant everything was in the palm of their hands.
'They can control the jiangshi.'
In the previous war, they had attacked using countless jiangshi.
That meant they could move freely in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest without worrying about the jiangshi.
And now, with their numbers dwindling, they were demanding countermeasures.
'White Flower Radiant Herb. The more, the better.'
It wasn't just for Ha Mu-baek's sake.
The mountain-breaking poison made from the White Flower Radiant Herbs he already had was potent enough to poison most people except Ha Mu-baek.
Yeon Ja-kyeong pondered briefly.
Soon, he made his decision.
"The Summer Combat Festival, was it? Around the time that ends would be ideal."
He felt exhausted to the bone, like food would taste like ash.
But with the meal right in front of him, it was sweet as honey.
Moreover, training had ended right on time for dinner today.
Thanks to that, the Devouring Dragon Pavilion was bustling.
Once their hunger subsided a bit, the Fierce Dragon Corps cadets finally looked around.
Their gazes converged on one spot.
Everyone was sneaking glances there.
It was the table where the Seventh and Twentieth Squad cadets of the Fierce Dragon Corps were eating.
They were just focused on their meals as usual, exchanging quiet chatter.
Whether they were ignoring the stares from all sides or truly oblivious...
Someone wanted to approach and ask them something, but no one dared.
Some cadets' gazes shifted elsewhere.
To Cho Mu-ha.
A silent pressure: you go.
Cho Mu-ha, who had been wolfing down his food mindlessly, gradually sensed the stares and shrank back.
In the end, he stood up.
And slowly approached Dang Jin-san.
They'd only spoken once, but he seemed the most approachable among them.
"Um, Senior."
Cho Mu-ha cautiously called out to Dang Jin-san.
"Yeah? What?"
Dang Jin-san turned his head from his meal.
"This kind of training... how long does it last?"
It was a question voicing the feelings of all second-year Fierce Dragon Corps cadets, not just Cho Mu-ha.
At the question, the Seventh Squad cadets eating together all smirked.
"It'll end soon."
Dang Jin-san replied with a grin.
At his answer, smiles crept onto the lips of the Fierce Dragon Corps cadets, even more than on Cho Mu-ha's.
"I told you before, right?"
"Yes?"
"Go home."
Hearing the same words again, Cho Mu-ha didn't know how to react.
"If hearing that this training ends soon makes you smile like that, then yeah, that's about right."
Dang Jin-san nodded firmly.
"This is just the beginning."
The Fierce Dragon Corps cadets' faces twisted grotesquely at his follow-up.
"The beginning?"
"It means this training ends soon, but something even tougher awaits."
"..."
Cho Mu-ha was speechless.
"I told you, right? That one monstrous instructor might grab you by the collar and make sure you survive."
Cho Mu-ha nodded.
"That's now."
Cho Mu-ha's face went blank.
"Better to train like you're dying now than actually dying later. If you hate this, go home."
"To get stronger, you have to put in that much effort. Sitting in the Fierce Dragon Corps won't make you strong on its own."
Dan Mok Un-roe, who had been listening silently, added his piece and stood up.
He had already finished eating.
"Done already? Where you off to?"
Dang Jin-san asked, though he knew.
"Training."
Leaving only those short words, Dan Mok Un-roe walked away.
Cho Mu-ha watched his retreating back.
Dang Jin-san smiled at Cho Mu-ha.
"You. Stronger than him?"
"No..."
"What's your plan after dinner?"
"Wash up and rest in the dorm..."
Cho Mu-ha's voice trailed off stammeringly.
"And where's he headed?"
"Um... training..."
Cho Mu-ha's gaze dropped lower.
"Exactly. That's the difference between Un-roe and you lot. You're wondering when this hellish training eases up, but Un-roe thinks it's still not enough and heads back for more."
"Yes. I was short-sighted."
Cho Mu-ha accepted it readily and lifted his head.
"I'll start training right now too. You're heading to train after dinner too, right, Senior Jin-san? I'll join you!"
Cho Mu-ha shouted loudly enough for the whole Devouring Dragon Pavilion to turn and look.
Dang Jin-san's face stiffened.
"What?"
"Heh."
Ha Seol-ran, who had looked sour all day, let out a small laugh.
It was inevitable.
Dang Jin-san's schedule for the day matched what Cho Mu-ha had described as his own.
Dang Jin-san still hadn't recovered from the brutal aftermath of his spar with Un Mu-woong.
And now this eager-eyed junior...
Dang Jin-san, who had been looking troubled, soon nodded.
"Fine. Let's do it. This must be my karma. Off to train. I'm done eating too."
Dang Jin-san stood up.
Dan Mok Un-roe diligently swung his sword in the Fierce Dragon Corps Seventh Squad training ground.
Eighty-One Forms Galaxy Illusion Sword Method.
The more he practiced it, the harder it got, so he could only give it his all.
Stacking it up little by little each day would yield results someday.
With that mindset, he silently swung his sword.
How long had he been at it?
He saw other squad members arriving to train.
And their gazes on him.
Dan Mok Un-roe turned toward them.
"What?"
"Mind if we talk for a sec?"
It was Namgung Ji-hu.
Dan Mok Un-roe nodded, sheathed his sword, and followed Namgung Ji-hu.
In his view, he caught sight of Cho Mu-ha diligently moving his sword and shield.
Dan Mok Un-roe chuckled softly and kept walking after Namgung Ji-hu.
Their destination was the empty training ground of the Hidden Dragon Corps First Squad.
No one around.
"Seemed like a good spot to talk."
Definitely better than the crowded Fierce Dragon Corps Seventh Squad ground.
"What's up?"
"Spar first?"
Namgung Ji-hu placed his hand on his sword hilt.
Dan Mok Un-roe shrugged and took position at a distance.
Their swords drew simultaneously.
The two charged at each other.
Their first spar since the first semester began.
Their blades flew fiercely at one another.
Clang! Clang clang!
The early phase was probing.
Once that ended, both went all out with their swords.
Dan Mok Un-roe no longer used the Three Talents Sword Method.
In its place: the Eighty-One Forms Galaxy Illusion Sword Method.
'So that's the new clan sword art he got.'
Namgung Ji-hu admired Dan Mok Un-roe's swordsmanship. But it was clear he hadn't mastered it yet.
'In that case, me too.'
Namgung Ji-hu immediately unleashed the first half of the Sovereign Sword Forms.
A sword art Dan Mok Un-roe had never seen before.
He instinctively knew it was the Sovereign Sword Forms.
The Namgung Clan's supreme sword art that he now had to learn.
The two clashed with unfamiliar sword arts.
In the process, Namgung Ji-hu gradually fell back.
Inevitably so.
Unfamiliar arts left many openings, and Dan Mok Un-roe never missed them.
'This time.'
Namgung Ji-hu changed his sword movements.
Up to now, it had been as his father taught.
From here, it was his own interpretation from the manual.
Dan Mok Un-roe immediately noticed the shift.
'The gaps are vanishing.'
The obvious openings faded and filled in.
Dan Mok Un-roe focused harder and swung.
But now, his own gaps widened.
Namgung Ji-hu wasn't the type to miss such flaws.
How many seconds passed like that?
Sweat drenched their faces.
They pulled back and faced each other again.
"That's enough."
"Yeah, enough."
They lowered their swords in unison.
"The Sovereign Sword Forms giving you trouble?"
Namgung Ji-hu nodded at Dan Mok Un-roe's question.
"First and second. Which?"
"Both."
Namgung Ji-hu answered calmly.
Dan Mok Un-roe tilted his head.
"They seem similar, yet different."
"First is Father's interpretation, second is mine."
"That's possible?"
"Exactly."
Namgung Ji-hu replied exasperatedly.
"Honestly, the second was trickier."
Namgung Ji-hu nodded as if he'd expected that. After all, he knew best as the one wielding it.
"How about showing the full manual to Instructor Ha and getting his guidance?"
"..."
It was exactly what he wanted to hear.
One word from Ha Mu-baek had set him on a new path with the Sovereign Sword Forms.
But the more he did, the more frustrated he felt.
No one to guide him.
Until now, he'd walked paths with set answers.
At least the direction was clear.
Now, it was utter fog.
Sword Forms.
Not "method," but "forms."
He'd set aside his father's path to forge his own.
But it was hard. Scary.
What if it was the wrong way?
The frustration from the start of training the Sovereign Sword Forms had faded, but now fear crept in.
That's why Namgung Ji-hu needed a milestone.
In the Dragon Training Pavilion now, only Ha Mu-baek could be that for him.
Even knowing that.
He wanted one last check before showing the Namgung Clan's supreme, secret sword art to another.
"Hmm... interesting, tough though. He occasionally gives pointers like 'you have to do it yourself ultimately,' detailed yet annoyed? Hard to explain."
Namgung Ji-hu nodded at Dan Mok Un-roe's words.
He had to seek Instructor Ha's help after all.
The man didn't seem particularly interested in others' martial arts.
Yet that casual remark that day had transformed his sword.
Ha Mu-baek tilted his cup alone at a tavern.
He pondered when Ha Seol-ran's anger might subside.
Frustrated, he was drinking solo, unlike usual.
"Tch. What to do..."
He muttered irritably, scratching his ear.
It itched for no reason.
Clink.
He refilled his empty cup.
And gulp.
Downed it in one go.
He picked up a piece of fried pork, chewed and swallowed.
Another cup.
The liquor cleanly washed away the greasy fried pork.
As Ha Mu-baek reached for his chopsticks again, he paused.
His senses had caught a movement.
He set down his chopsticks.
Staying still, the movement drew closer.
'No way...'
Already at this level?
Ha Mu-baek had completely suppressed his presence.
Moments later, the source of the movement entered the tavern.
The shabby place had only Ha Mu-baek as a customer.
The figure headed straight for him.
"Brother."
Ha Seol-ran.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"Felt your presence."
"I had it completely hidden."
"Just a faint trace. And it's you, not anyone else."
Ha Mu-baek let out a hollow laugh at her answer.
"You've grown a lot."
Ha Seol-ran sat across from him.
"Pour me one too."
Ha Mu-baek's eyes widened.
"You can drink?"
"I'm an adult too, you know."
And so the siblings shared their first drinks together.
The lingering resentment and apologies from yesterday flowed away with the cups.