Chapter 225
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: What the Hell Are You Guys Doing!!
Deep into the night.
Stars twinkled brightly across the dark sky.
A thick silence had settled over the mountains.
"Snooore."
Ha Seol-ran's faint snoring occasionally broke the quiet.
No other sounds could be heard.
"...Are they asleep?"
Then came Dang Jin-san's low voice.
Ha Seol-ran and Joo Woo-myeong.
The Wa Dragon Corps Squad 20 cadets were all asleep, and that's when Dang Jin-san quietly asked.
"Nope."
"Not yet."
"Can't sleep."
"Same here."
Four voices answered as if they'd been waiting.
Dang Jin-san stared at the stars in the pitch-black night sky for a moment before speaking again.
"Sorry."
It was a calm statement, but one brimming with sincerity.
"For what?"
Baek Ri-pyeong asked.
The other three just lay there, gazing up at the sky.
"For stirring things up on my own."
A short reply.
Silence fell for a moment.
Quiet settled in.
"I would've done the same."
Unexpectedly, it was Nak Woo-jin who broke the silence.
"It felt like you were looking out for me."
Then Nak Woo-jin fell silent again.
"Woo-jin's right."
It was Yeon Ha-min.
She had been the most proactive in this matter alongside Dang Jin-san.
"Yeah. Honestly, it felt kinda refreshing."
Dan Mok Un-roe chuckled softly as he spoke.
"I could picture smashing those bastards to pieces."
He'd only suggested qi, but picturing them getting smashed?
"I trust our squad leader."
Finally, Baek Ri-pyeong's words.
"Thanks."
Dang Jin-san's quiet response carried a hint of moisture.
Silence fell once more.
"Snooore."
Ha Seol-ran's faint snoring slipped into the quiet for a moment.
Hefei.
This bustling hub, the capital of Anhui Province, was also famous as the seat of the Namgung Clan.
A middle-aged man named Nam Hwi sat on the second floor of an inn with a clear view of the Namgung Clan, nursing his cup of liquor.
A one-armed man whose face was marred by a hideous scar.
The inn's patrons glanced at him warily but paid him no more mind than that.
It was just because he looked like a black path martial artist.
They believed no one would dare cause trouble in front of the Namgung Clan's front yard.
Nam Hwi gazed at the Namgung Clan with complicated eyes.
It was still a massive clan.
The world's greatest clan.
A title that had referred to the Namgung Clan up until just twenty years ago.
"Oh? Is that so? Then it looks like the young clan heir will finally be decided soon."
The gossips' conversation drifted into Nam Hwi's ears.
He naturally tuned in to their talk.
They were discussing exactly what he wanted to hear.
"Tch. But no one can figure out what the Namgung Clan Lord is thinking. He has that outstanding eldest son, Namgung Ji-hu..."
"Well, that's just how fair and just he is. He's the lord of the great Namgung Clan, after all."
"Heh. But the Emperor's Sword Brothers..."
It was a conversation that caught Nam Hwi's ear.
Namgung Ji-hu, and the Emperor's Sword Brothers.
A sharp pain stabbed his right shoulder.
"Heh."
With a small laugh, he brought the cup to his lips.
One sip of liquor suppressed the sudden pain.
To think he could gather all the info he wanted just by listening.
Nam Hwi thought he'd chosen his seat well as he downed cup after cup.
By the time the buzz hit.
The gossips left their seats.
He'd heard everything he needed.
He felt profoundly grateful to those nameless men.
"Dragon Training Pavilion..."
Nam Hwi muttered softly.
He drained his last cup, settled the bill on the table, and rose.
He staggered out.
The Namgung Clan.
Turning his back to it, Nam Hwi staggered away.
It was a level of drunkenness he could shake off in an instant, but right now, he wanted to walk like this.
His next destination was Wuchang in Hubei Province.
The Dragon Training Pavilion.
The evening hour when the sun dipped lazily toward the western sky.
They were utterly exhausted.
How could rolling around like this wear them out so badly?
The twenty cadets of Wa Dragon Corps Squad 20 entered Wuchang City looking like beggars after just one day.
Their stomachs growled incessantly for food.
They hadn't eaten since lunch the day before.
This was training too, of course.
The Fierce Dragon Corps cadets were in the same boat.
The only difference was they didn't look quite as ragged as beggars.
Drained of all energy, they trudged powerlessly toward the Dragon Training Pavilion's main gate.
All they wanted was to head to the Devouring Dragon Pavilion for a meal, then wash up in the dormitory baths.
As they shuffled along, they ran smack into a rowdy group sauntering over, laughing uproariously.
"Pft. Puahaha! What the hell are these beggar bastards? Kuhaha!"
The laughing bunch.
Was Wa Dragon Corps Squad 1.
Their faces still flushed, it was clear they'd just come from whoring it up at a brothel.
The Squad 20 cadets grimaced.
How could they not?
They'd been worked like dogs in the mountains.
Those guys.
They reeked of booze and the scent of courtesans.
Cheol-ryeong's gaze shifted to the Fierce Dragon Corps.
What a pathetic sight.
It should've been laughable, but Yeon Ha-min and Ha Seol-ran still shone with beauty amid the mess.
A beauty incomparable to the brothel girls they'd just been with.
Cheol-ryeong's eyes fixed on Yeon Ha-min.
"Keke. You'll end up serving us anyway. How about practicing by attending this young master right now?"
Was it the lingering drunkenness?
Or the full day spent reveling in the brothel?
Cheol-ryeong approached Yeon Ha-min, lecherously reaching out.
"Nice!"
"Cheol-ryeong! Go for it!"
"Show her what you got!"
"Wheee!"
The other Squad 1 cadets whistled and snickered as they watched.
At that moment.
Whoosh!
Thud.
The sound of a fist swinging and blocking it rang out.
Cheol-ryeong still stood with a lecherous grin.
Dang Jin-san's fist hovered just an inch from his face.
Cheol-ryeong belatedly noticed and paled in shock.
But what had blocked the fist.
Was Yeon Ha-min.
Staring at him with icy eyes.
Confirming that, Cheol-ryeong's lips curled smugly.
"Keke. You like this young master too, huh?"
No sooner had the words left his mouth.
Smack.
Yeon Ha-min's other fist uppercut his jaw from below.
Cheol-ryeong floated an inch off the ground before tumbling backward.
"You fucking bastard. I've put up with you long enough. Time to die."
Her voice was ice-cold, colder than a northern blizzard.
Like the legendary eternal ice crystal.
"Y-You bitch..."
Cheol-ryeong tried to rise but staggered.
The uppercut had rattled his brain good.
The surrounding cadets froze at the unexpected scene.
"H-Ha-min..."
Dang Jin-san said in a slightly trembling voice.
"Squad leader. Sorry for jumping in. But today, we end this."
With that, Yeon Ha-min stepped forward.
Waiting for Cheol-ryeong to recover.
The four Wa Dragon cadets watched with uneasy expressions.
Should they step in or not?
If Dang Jin-san had thrown the punch, they'd have reason to intervene.
Since three had joined in.
But now it was Yeon Ha-min who'd struck.
And Cheol-ryeong had clearly harassed her first.
They'd even egged it on.
Stepping in now would look ridiculous.
A brief moment passed.
Cheol-ryeong shook his head and stood straight.
Yeon Ha-min watched him coldly, raising her right hand.
Flick.
She crooked her index finger.
"Come on. Let's see it."
Cheol-ryeong trembled with rage.
"You... filthy whore. Today, you'll spread your legs under this young master."
Cheol-ryeong's eyes gleamed with fury and lust.
Thud.
He kicked off the ground, charging at Yeon Ha-min.
His hands unleashed a claw technique.
Iron Wave Claw.
One of the Iron Weapon Sect's arts, meant for when one lost their spear.
But his intent in using a claw technique was vile.
There were fists, strikes, even steel hand skills, yet he chose claws.
And his hands aimed straight for Yeon Ha-min's chest.
The purpose was obvious.
Harass her even in the attack.
Yeon Ha-min's lips curved slightly.
It was unmistakably a killer's smile.
The killing intent rising from her body proved it.
Swish, whoosh.
Yeon Ha-min's fist traced a graceful arc.
Yet its power was like a storm.
Graceful Dragon Fist Method.
That was unfolding from her hands now.
Smack! Thwack!
She easily dodged Cheol-ryeong's attack and smashed his face.
Two hits.
"Eek."
Cheol-ryeong doggedly pressed Iron Wave Claw, targeting her chest.
His tensed nails screamed with desire to rip her clothes to shreds.
Crack.
"Grrraaagh!"
Yeon Ha-min's fist crushed those fingers.
His left middle and ring fingers snapped clean.
Cheol-ryeong groaned in agony.
But only for a moment.
Yeon Ha-min's fist hammered his face again.
Smack! Thwack!
Blood sprayed.
Yet Yeon Ha-min's expression remained utterly cold.
Like pounding trash to dust.
"Gulp."
Eun Hwa-ryang unconsciously swallowed dryly.
Yeon Ha-min during training was scary enough.
But this.
Truly.
He couldn't even describe how terrifying it was.
"Damn..."
Squad 1 cadets glared, faces twisted.
Should they jump in and stop it?
Or watch till the end?
They couldn't decide.
If it were just Yeon Ha-min, they'd have stepped in.
But there were seven of them and five here.
If they intervened, the others would too.
It'd be a fight they couldn't win.
"That's all you've got?"
Yeon Ha-min asked incredulously.
"Raaargh! You bitch!!"
Cheol-ryeong channeled all his inner energy at full power.
The last of his drunken haze vanished instantly.
His clothes swelled as if about to burst.
A chilling sound emanated from the arm he swung at Yeon Ha-min.
Iron Wave Claw's momentum sharpened further.
Still using claws.
He had no choice; without a spear, Iron Wave Claw was the Iron Weapon Sect technique he wielded most skillfully.
The difference from before: his hands, no longer slyly targeting just her chest, now sought her vital points.
His two broken left fingers dangled, but he ignored them and pressed the claws.
Yeon Ha-min stepped with Graceful Dragon Divine Method footwork, unleashing Graceful Dragon Fist Method.
Thwack! Thwack-thwack-thwack!
Exchanges blurred in an instant—who could count them?
Hands and fists tangled chaotically.
Yeon Ha-min's momentum surged.
Her clothes fluttered from the rising inner energy.
Cheol-ryeong faltered back step by step.
Her fists grew faster, fiercer.
Even as he gritted his teeth and clawed.
Smack.
His side took a hit.
Smack.
A fist buried in his gut.
Smack.
His left eye got pummeled.
Cheol-ryeong staggered back.
"Urgh..."
"I'd love to gouge out that filthy eye, but I can't."
Chilling words from her beautiful lips.
"So I'll smash that foul mouth instead."
As Cheol-ryeong swung both hands again.
Thwack!
Yeon Ha-min's full-power fist slammed into his mouth.
Five teeth shattered and flew.
Blood sprayed with them.
"Whoa!"
The gathering crowd gasped.
People had started trickling in, now a massive audience surrounded them.
How could it not?
The world's most entertaining spectacle: a fight.
And Dragon Training Pavilion cadets using martial arts.
Ordinary folk rarely saw such a sight outside the Combat Festival.
The crowd swelled instantly, encircling them.
"Is this okay?"
Eun Hwa-ryang muttered uneasily amid the throng.
Ha Seol-ran scanned the crowd worriedly.
Something felt like it was about to blow up big.
She sensed someone from the pavilion approaching fast.
"What the hell are you guys doing!!!"
A booming roar erupted from the main gate.
It was Hidden Dragon Corps Leader Neung U-dam.
The gate guards had realized it was beyond their paygrade and rushed to inform him.
Recognizing Wa Dragon and Fierce Dragon cadets, they'd smartly gone to the Hidden Dragon Leader.
With Neung U-dam's roar, the fight halted.
Or rather, it was over.
Cheol-ryeong's teeth had just shattered mid-air.
He collapsed to the ground.
Yeon Ha-min stood aloof, gazing down coldly.
Her eyes fixed on one spot.
Precisely, between his legs.
After wrecking his mouth.
Her toes twitched as if ready to crush that too.
A little more time, and she might have.
For Cheol-ryeong, Neung U-dam was a lifelong benefactor.
Though he'd never know it.
"Dragon Training Pavilion cadets brawling in the street? Have you all lost your minds?! Follow me—all of you!"
At Neung U-dam's words, Wa Dragon Squad 20 cadets involuntarily bowed their heads and flinched.
Fierce Dragon Squad 7 cadets shrugged and started walking.
Ha Seol-ran looked at Yeon Ha-min with worried eyes.
Squad 1 cadets stiffly supported the rigid-faced Cheol-ryeong as they moved.
Only after they vanished inside the pavilion did the massive crowd slowly disperse.