Chapter 224
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Idiots
"Hmm. Was it that bad?"
Ha Mu-baek watched from the academy rooftop as the cadets swallowed their half-strength pills.
Lacking a few key herbs, he'd whipped up a batch using whatever he could scrounge, just as a test.
The effects felt about half as potent as the original infinite pills, so he'd roughly dubbed them half-strength pills.
He'd tested one himself, of course.
Though he'd sealed off his taste-related acupoints first.
Without the herbs that softened the original's hellish flavor even a little, he'd expected it to be worse.
But even he hadn't anticipated it knocking out perfectly healthy people.
A drug that could render someone unconscious...
"What do we do?"
The cadets of Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven exchanged glances.
Who could've guessed it'd turn out like this?
"Should we have had them seal their acupoints before eating?"
Dan Mok Un-roe muttered as he surveyed the fallen.
Since they'd eaten theirs raw and survived the experience once, he'd figured these guys could handle it too.
The results had been disastrous.
Dang Jin-san released Im Dae-chi once the retching finally subsided.
"Whew. Man."
"S-sorry."
Im Dae-chi managed, his face a mask of shame.
"Nah, nah. I'll go wash up quick."
Dang Jin-san stepped away briefly, while Im Dae-chi kept gulping down the night air, taking deep breaths.
It was the only way to chase out the faint lingering ghost of that pill's taste from his mouth.
"Once you're settled, circulate your energy. Can't do much for the others."
At Yeon Ha-min's words, Im Dae-chi immediately dropped into a cross-legged seat.
It was supposed to be good for the body, after all.
And deep down, he was a little excited about the effects.
Especially after choking down a pill that vile.
Four of them lay sprawled out.
"Maybe this is for the best. Better than coming to and puking their guts out."
Baek Ri-pyeong's words drew nods from the group.
Im Dae-chi's performance just now lent them some logic.
"What the hell does it even taste like..."
Joo Woo-myung, who'd witnessed it all, muttered in disbelief.
"I could snag some for you."
Nak Woo-jin's casual reply earned an instant headshake.
"No thanks. Not curious."
"But it's good for you..."
Nak Woo-jin smacked his lips regretfully.
Yet an hour later, Im Dae-chi opened his eyes and tilted his head.
"...No change at all?"
Resentment filled his expression.
"That's a slow-acting pill. Circulating right after won't show much. Give it a month, and you'll see how amazing it is. So keep cultivating steadily, like now."
Dang Jin-san had returned, hands freshly washed.
He stared at Im Dae-chi.
"W-what?"
"What the hell have you been eating your whole life to still be conscious?"
He asked with genuine curiosity.
The other cadets' gazes turned to Im Dae-chi as well.
Fair point.
Five ate them. Four passed out.
So the four were normal, and this one was the freak.
"W-well... up north, food's scarce, so..."
Im Dae-chi scratched his head and looked away.
North was scarce, sure, but even from Ice Heaven Palace, he'd have eaten proper food, right?
Apparently, his treatment there had been worse than expected.
An hour more passed.
The unconscious ones stirred awake one by one.
Circulating their energy wrapped up the day's training.
No one was in shape for anything else.
Body or mind.
"Haa... I'm alive, right?"
Eun Hwa-ryang muttered softly, legs wobbling inexplicably as he walked.
Two weeks flew by.
Early dawn.
The five cadets of Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty, mid-cultivation, wore faces of shock.
They were finally feeling the first hints of that damned pill's effects.
"My internal energy..."
"Doubled the amount we've built in two weeks..."
Eun Hwa-ryang and Sim Cheol-san whispered in disbelief.
The other three mirrored their reactions.
Their internal energy had doubled at least, tripled at most.
Since their base reserves were so pitifully low to begin with, even a modest gain looked huge.
"A pill like this in the world..."
Im Dae-chi muttered, awestruck.
All of them hailed from prestigious orthodox sects, harboring illusions and dreams of the martial world.
Spiritual elixirs featured prominently in those fantasies.
Shaolin's Great Rejuvenation Pill, Azure Spirit Oil, Millennium Snow Ginseng, millennium spirit fox inner core.
Legends said such elixirs melted on the tongue, sliding down effortlessly, or demanded immediate circulation of an ascension technique to harness the flood of energy.
Right?
But theirs...
Everything was different.
Sim Cheol-san drew his sword.
He unleashed Flowing Dragon Swordsmanship.
It flowed smoothly, without a hitch.
Parts that used to stutter from lack of energy now connected seamlessly.
The other four drew theirs too.
Same result.
No hitches.
"Incredible."
Na Jung-cheon murmured blankly.
His eyes reddened.
He'd never dreamed a day like this would come for him.
Just doing odd jobs at Iron Flag Hall his whole life.
Now unfolding proper martial arts.
Emotion welled up.
The others felt it too—their eyes brimmed red.
"We head to the hills near Wuchang tonight, right?"
Yeong Hu-in hastily composed himself and spoke.
Nods all around.
Couldn't reach Mount Mokran, but they'd camp and train guerrilla tactics in nearby hills.
Evasion, stealth, ambushes, raids, etc.
By now, their energy should be up somewhat, he'd said.
The five eyed each other.
Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven.
Truly wondrous people.
And right now, they were sincerely grateful for their help.
"Alright, alright. Let's move."
The seven, camping gear ready.
Soon as Fierce Dragon Corps group training ended, they headed straight to Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty's drill ground.
Dinner hour, but they'd skipped eating to depart.
Tomorrow was rest day.
Hurry out of Dragon Training Pavilion now, camp in the hills tonight, train all day in the mountains tomorrow.
Ha Seol-ran's face lit with faint anticipation as she trailed behind.
First time for her too.
"All set?"
Dang Jin-san called to the five on the drill ground.
"Yes!"
A crisp, unified reply.
"Dinner?"
"Skipped it."
Eun Hwa-ryang answered for them.
Dang Jin-san nodded approvingly.
"Let's go!"
Out the main gate of Dragon Training Pavilion, Dang Jin-san took the lead at a run.
Once in quieter areas, they unleashed full-body techniques.
The trip there was training too.
Northwest of Wuchang Castle.
A nameless hill range sprawled.
Small, but dense with trees—perfect for mountain combat drills.
Dang Jin-san and Dan Mok Un-roe scouted ahead to a suitable deep spot.
"We'll camp here."
Ha Seol-ran's eyes sparkled brighter at Dang Jin-san's words.
'Bonfire, dinner too, right?'
Pure picnic vibes.
Training with camping? Naturally, such thoughts bubbled up.
New experience—natural to be excited.
But.
"Move as quietly as possible. Find spots to conceal yourselves. Wrap in blankets and sleep silent."
Yeon Ha-min whispered low.
Ha Seol-ran's eyes quivered finely.
Not the camping she'd imagined.
"Uh, what about food...?"
Im Dae-chi ventured softly.
"None. We're fasting dinner tonight."
Everyone's faces stiffened at Dang Jin-san's abrupt declaration.
Should've eaten at Devouring Dragon Pavilion before leaving.
They'd rushed out without eating, assuming chow at the destination.
"Settle your spots first, then talk."
Dang Jin-san checked the cadets' bedding sites.
Yeon Ha-min oversaw Ha Seol-ran's, lips pursed in a pout.
First-timer, after all.
Yeon Ha-min smiled faintly, guessing the reason for her expression.
Joo Woo-myung, with his Mount Wudang experience, picked a decent spot.
"Everyone listen up."
Yeon Ha-min whispered.
The quiet mountain night carried her voice clearly.
"Summer Combat Festival runs till one squad remains. Could last all night."
"..."
Silence.
"This is prep for that. Endure a night without food. Fight through the next day. Moving at night is suicide. Hold out till dawn like this."
"Did you seniors too?"
Eun Hwa-ryang whispered cautiously.
Bitter smiles tugged at Squad Seven's lips.
"No. We didn't last the night. Different goal back then."
Dan Mok Un-roe replied.
Last survivor of Squad Seven then.
"Different purpose from you. You're prepping to survive as long as possible."
Dan Mok Un-roe's voice was calm, kind.
"What was yours?"
Im Dae-chi asked.
"Revenge. Vengeance."
Dang Jin-san answered.
He'd sketched the gist at the tavern last time, right?
"We succeeded."
Baek Ri-pyeong chuckled.
Memories flooded back.
First time ever training flat-out for one goal.
A vicious one: revenge and payback.
"Festival itself came after. We fought our payback battle first."
Nak Woo-jin added, nostalgic.
Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty listened quietly.
They'd heard it once before.
But that was Dang Jin-san and Yeon Ha-min's tale.
Hearing it from Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-roe, Nak Woo-jin felt different.
"Can we succeed too?"
Na Jung-cheon ventured.
Uncertain tone.
"You can. No—you will."
Baek Ri-pyeong said firmly.
"Honestly, if we'd aimed just to survive back then... runner-up at least?"
"But no payback."
Nak Woo-jin and Dan Mok Un-roe chimed.
"It's a group battle. Guerrilla war. Fishing in troubled waters works too."
Yeon Ha-min cut in.
"Right. That's how we got got."
Dan Mok Un-roe recalled.
"Lure squads into fighting each other, then strike the last survivor."
Dan Mok Un-roe shared his experience.
"Isn't that kinda cowardly?"
Eun Hwa-ryang asked hesitantly. Joo Woo-myung nodded faintly.
"No."
Squad Seven's five spoke in unison.
"Not a spar. Combat. Victory and survival first."
Dang Jin-san said.
"That's your tactic for the festival."
Yeon Ha-min explained.
"Needs fast movement, stealth. Guerrilla methods too."
Baek Ri-pyeong added.
"Plenty tomorrow. Sleep now."
Dang Jin-san concluded, falling silent.
"Snooore."
Only Ha Seol-ran's soft, unladylike snore echoed.
She'd drifted off already.
"Kya! Good stuff!"
Cheol Ryeong slammed back his cup.
"Try this too."
The courtesan beside him delicately picked up tasty-looking food with chopsticks, feeding it to him.
Her hand trembled faintly.
How could it not?
In the corner slumped an unconscious courtesan, one cheek swollen red.
Just for spilling a bit of food, deemed unfit to serve—he'd slapped her face. This man.
Cheol Ryeong gobbled it down.
"Oh, you handle chopsticks well."
As he spoke, his hand dove into her bosom.
"Oho. Nice. Why hide it?"
Chewing away, his hand busied itself.
The courtesan couldn't resist.
He toed the line without crossing it fully.
Considering their spending, the brothel turned a blind eye.
Trash.
The other four snickered at Cheol Ryeong.
Brothels beat taverns, hands down.
Tomorrow: rest day.
Party all night? No issue.
Dragon Training Pavilion gates shut or not.
"Those losers headed out of Wuchang to the hills, right?"
Tak Mu-jeon, groping his seatmate's curves, recalled suddenly.
He'd roughly tracked Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty's moves.
Others had informed him.
"Idiots."
Byeok I-gyeom snorted.
"Still pests either way."
He downed his cup.
"After we win, what for the second half?"
Gong Gu-pae asked eagerly.
"Yeon Ha-min. I'll take her."
Cheol Ryeong grinned slyly.
"No way!"
"Ridiculous!"
"Hey!"
"Mine."
The four burst out together.
Five pairs of eyes met.
Sudden chuckles.
All on the same page, after all.
"Here's the deal."
Byeok I-gyeom set down his cup.
"Whoever bags the most cadets gets first dibs on her."
Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty? Not even on their radar.
They assumed longer survival, naturally.
Instead, divvying up Yeon Ha-min.
"Good plan."
"Perfect! Time to show my skills."
Groping, guzzling—the five reveled in booze and lust.
Thus they drowned the night away.
Atop Wuchang's tallest brothel.
Ha Mu-baek lounged, gazing at the starry sky, murmuring softly.
"Idiots."