Chapter 215
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 215
Chapter Title: What Is That?
"Radiant White Flower Grass... So this is it?"
Il-ro muttered as he gazed at the grass before him.
The Blood Cult had no idea such a plant existed in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
They only learned of it recently because the Demon-Sealing Corps had started harvesting it.
He always kept a close eye on the spiritual herbs the Demon-Sealing Corps gathered from the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
They had even achieved some results with a few of them.
The Radiant White Flower Grass was a recent addition, so naturally, it piqued his interest.
But it was tricky.
It looked just like any common weed.
They still hadn't figured out why it was being harvested.
It was inevitable.
Even Yeo Hong-gi, the lord of the Heavenly Poison Valley, had discovered its use purely by accident.
When he concentrated it and it reacted with one of the Heavenly Poison Valley's secret poisons, it produced the effect of dispersing one's internal energy.
The Blood Cult had no access to the Heavenly Poison Valley's secret poisons, of course.
"Did you deliver the letter properly?"
At Il-ro's question, his subordinate bowed and replied.
"Yes. They said they placed it clearly on the desk."
"That sly old fox will probably take quite some time to respond."
There was no rush.
It was true that the number of reinforced corpses was dwindling,
but it wasn't at a critical point yet.
And if it came down to it, increasing their numbers wouldn't be hard.
It was a hassle and carried risks,
but all they had to do was kidnap some commoners and toss them into the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
"What about the Cult Leader?"
His subordinate answered Il-ro's question.
"He's still there."
Il-ro frowned at the response.
"What on earth could be there to keep him?"
When they had descended deeper into the cave after the Soul-Mixing Poison failed, the Cult Leader had been full of complaints.
But then, one day,
after reaching a certain dark cavern deep inside, he had stayed there without budging.
He used to at least receive formal reports on the cult's major and minor affairs, but lately, even that had stopped.
He simply holed up in that cavern.
Il-ro had gone to check it out himself once, but it was just an ordinary place with nothing special.
What could possibly be there?
Gae Se-ak sat cross-legged in the cave.
And he ceaselessly circulated the Reverse Heaven Blood Flow Annihilation Blood Art.
He didn't know why.
An inexplicable pull had drawn him here, and once he arrived, it felt like he had to circulate this technique in this place.
It was as if someone was guiding him to do so.
Gae Se-ak simply followed the pull.
Doing so made him feel like he would grow even stronger—stronger, and stronger still.
As he immersed himself in the circulation, darkness crept toward him stealthily.
Gae Se-ak merely focused on his training.
"What's today's lesson?"
"Understanding lightness skills and footwork?"
Baek Ri-pyeong tilted his head at Dang Jin-san's question.
Everyone else tilted their heads too.
It was only natural.
They were all learning different lightness skills and footwork techniques—how could that be taught in a single class?
The question was resolved once the lesson began.
"Young Dragon Body Technique?"
The Fierce Dragon Corps cadets tilted their heads at the instructor explaining the basics of this unfamiliar technique.
The first-year Hidden Dragon Corps and Wa Dragon Corps cadets just looked bored.
The name alone warranted that reaction.
The body technique of a young dragon?
Not a hidden or wa dragon, but a mere young one?
"There's a technique like this, huh?"
Dan Mok Un-roe murmured in surprise.
"It's the Dragon Training Pavilion, so it makes sense. It's a place that teaches martial arts, after all."
Dang Jin-san replied matter-of-factly.
"Ah."
Dan Mok Un-roe nodded.
Come to think of it, the Fierce Dragon Corps did have official techniques they taught.
Dragon Training Heart Method, Dragon Training Sword Method, Dragon Training Fist Method, Dragon Training Step Method.
The ones that Ha Mu-baek had ruined even further from the Three Talents Arts, or so the rumors went.
If the Fierce Dragon Corps had them, there was no reason the Hidden Dragon Corps and Wa Dragon Corps wouldn't.
"If there's Young Dragon Body Technique, then there must be Young Dragon Sword Method and Young Dragon Fist Method too."
Baek Ri-pyeong said calmly.
That naturally brought to mind the names of other classes.
Basics of Swordsmanship, Introduction to Fist Methods.
The names sounded grandiose, but judging from today's lesson, they were probably classes teaching the Young Dragon Sword Method and Young Dragon Fist Method.
"What about heart methods?"
Yeon Ha-min asked.
"The Hidden Dragon Corps and Wa Dragon Corps cadets already practice their sects' heart methods. They probably don't have a separate one."
Yeon Ha-min nodded at Baek Ri-pyeong's answer, looking convinced.
Only the Fierce Dragon Corps cadets were the ones who entered without even mastering a heart method.
"The content's pretty good, though—not just the technique, but the lesson itself. There's stuff to learn. Theoretically speaking."
Joo Woo-myeong said as he listened intently. He was taking it quite seriously, nodding occasionally.
"What's the point?"
Dang Jin-san jerked his chin forward.
The Hidden Dragon Corps and Wa Dragon Corps cadets were yawning nonstop or fiddling around.
Some had their eyes elsewhere, others were lost in thought.
However...
Zing.
The instructor's sharp gaze flew straight toward Squad Seven of the Fierce Dragon Corps.
It was well-deserved.
They were listening, sure, but chattering nonstop.
The seven members of Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven flinched and ducked their heads slightly.
With heads bowed, Dang Jin-san whispered.
"Those guys never intended to learn it in the first place. They're only interested in their sect techniques. I don't get why they even hold these classes. What a waste of the techniques they made and the class time."
"Still, it seems pretty useful for us, right?"
Baek Ri-pyeong said, glancing at Dan Mok Un-roe, Yeon Ha-min, and Nak Woo-jin.
The three were focusing intently, eyes gleaming.
It couldn't be helped.
The lesson delved into the theory of martial arts, focusing heavily on interpreting the oral formulas.
These were aspects Ha Mu-baek, who taught through brutal practical combat by hammering techniques into cadets' bodies, hadn't covered yet.
Naturally, the three cadets' eyes burned with enthusiasm.
Dan Mok Un-roe had received some guidance from Ha Mu-baek on interpreting her Dan Mok Clan techniques,
but it wasn't enough to quench her thirst for martial arts knowledge.
And Yeon Ha-min and Nak Woo-jin's only technique was the Three Talents Arts.
Now they were learning something new.
Their concentration was at its peak.
The three absorbed the lesson content like sponges soaking up water.
'Whoa! It's not just some simple body technique? This isn't an ordinary heart method.'
Joo Woo-myeong, who was also focused, marveled inwardly.
Young Dragon Body Technique might be the name, but it was good enough to just call it Dragon Body Technique.
The variations were diverse, and the speed was impressive.
Especially remarkable was that it didn't discriminate based on one's internal energy cultivation.
This was clearly designed with the Dragon Training Pavilion's unique characteristics in mind.
'Who the hell created this body technique...'
The more he learned, the more impressive it became.
It accounted not only for individual use but even group maneuvers.
It was too good to be dismissed as just the pavilion's basic technique.
At this level, it could stand toe-to-toe with the body techniques of most prestigious sects.
And yet, people dismissed it just because of the name without even listening?
Pathetic.
The class ended.
"It's good, right?"
Dan Mok Un-roe said with a grin.
Yeon Ha-min nodded.
"The Hidden Dragon Corps and Wa Dragon Corps got to take this great class from their first year."
As Dan Mok Un-roe murmured enviously,
Snicker.
A few Wa Dragon Corps cadets passing by smirked mockingly.
Dang Jin-san furrowed his brows.
He thought smashing Un Mu-woong would get rid of those types, but apparently not.
They might not have seen the spar, or even if they did, they could be ignoring both Un Mu-woong and Dang Jin-san.
Besides, the cadets in each class varied.
Fierce Dragon Corps Squads Seven and Twenty always had the same classes, but the others from Hidden Dragon, Wa Dragon, and Fierce Dragon rotated.
Dan Mok Un-roe grabbed Dang Jin-san's arm and shook her head.
Dang Jin-san started to say something, but they had already left the classroom.
He scowled, clearly displeased.
Then, other Wa Dragon Corps cadets followed hesitantly, peeking back at the first group.
"What?"
Dang Jin-san stared at them curiously.
They were different from the others.
They looked utterly cowed,
almost like Fierce Dragon Corps cadets facing them.
"Wa Dragon Corps has kids like that too?"
Dang Jin-san muttered, tilting his head.
This year's first-years were intriguing in many ways.
"They seemed to listen pretty diligently, though?"
Baek Ri-pyeong commented, having observed them during class.
"Really? That's weird."
Dang Jin-san watched their retreating figures.
Byeon I-gyeom, a first-year from Wa Dragon Corps Squad One of the Thunder Citadel, found the Fierce Dragon Corps idiot's mutterings from earlier utterly ridiculous.
Calling that garbage class a good one?
It perfectly matched their level.
Yeah,
just like Squad Twenty, who trailed after them like servants.
Dorim's Un Do-heon wasn't the only one who brought a servant disguised as a cadet.
All of Wa Dragon Corps Squad One had done the same.
Those who entered to serve Squad One were grouped together and assigned to Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty.
It was an absurd loophole,
but the New Eight Sects had colluded to make it happen.
Squad assignments for Hidden Dragon, Wa Dragon, and Fierce Dragon Corps were handled by mid-level managers unless something special came up.
They had greased the right palms.
Unless something stood out as odd about the assignments, no one paid attention.
In fact, since Squad Twenty consisted of disciples from five of the New Eight Sects, even Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul, who checked all cadets' backgrounds, hadn't noticed anything suspicious.
Thunder Citadel, Great Sea Gate, Iron Flag Hall, Ice Heaven Palace, Heavenly Sword Sect.
These five sects.
"Ugh, frustrating. So frustrating. I'd rather train alone than sit through this nonsense."
Byeon I-gyeom grumbled as he lounged in the academy garden, basking in the sun.
The other Squad One cadets nodded vigorously, grumbling along.
Just then, Squad Twenty cadets arrived.
"Hey! Why'd you come out so late? What's taking so long with that crap class? You should've come out first and waited for us!"
Spotting Squad Twenty, Byeon I-gyeom yelled irritably.
The five hurried over, clasped their hands behind the group, and stood quietly.
Nearby cadets glanced over but didn't interfere.
Wa Dragon Corps was made up of disciples from the New Eight Sects and their allied major sects.
They knew the gist and minded their own business.
After all, Wa Dragon Corps Squad One were promising young talents even among the New Eight Sects.
Squad Twenty? They weren't even real disciples.
Just errand boys.
They'd been hastily taught basic techniques from their sects just to sneak into Wa Dragon Corps.
No different from Fierce Dragon Corps rabble.
"My mouth's dry. Go grab some pancakes from Devouring Dragon Pavilion before class starts. Get some for yourselves too."
At Byeon I-gyeom's words, they all nodded, and the five bolted toward Devouring Dragon Pavilion.
Break time wasn't long.
"Our seniors didn't know about this trick?"
Byeon I-gyeom leaned back against the long bench's backrest and muttered.
"Un Do-heon—that moron made it possible. Heh. Insisted he needed a servant even if it killed him, so Dorim found a way. We just followed suit."
Tak Mu-jeon from Ice Heaven Palace snickered.
"Oh yeah, didn't you say one of your sect's experts is an instructor here?"
Byeon I-gyeom asked as it came to him.
"Yeah. Supposed to be an incredible master. Even held a key position in the Righteous Heaven Alliance. No idea why he's stuck in a dump like this."
Tak Mu-jeon muttered, baffled.
"You paid respects?"
"Nah. Our families aren't on great terms..."
Ice Heaven Palace was a coalition of northern powerful clans,
so internal power struggles were rife.
"I see. Still, maybe worth visiting?"
"Wa Dragon Corps, sure. But Fierce Dragon Corps?"
Byeon I-gyeom snickered at Tak Mu-jeon's reply.
"Fierce Dragon Corps? Must've been demoted."
He dropped interest in the instructor.
Just then,
Squad Twenty came panting back.
"Hurry up!"
The five handed pancakes to their respective sect-mates.
Byeon I-gyeom scowled as he took his.
"Damn it. Where's the water?"
"Uh, w-well..."
"Ugh... You idiots. I said get pancakes, not just pancakes! Use your brains! How am I supposed to eat dry pancakes without choking?"
"W-We’ll get it now!"
The five dashed off again.
At that moment, Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven, out for some fresh air, witnessed the scene.
"Those guys... what the hell is that?"
Dang Jin-san muttered in disbelief.