Chapter 231
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: If You Don't Like It, Don't
The cadets, occupying about three tables, picked up their chopsticks the moment the food arrived.
Hunger was the best side dish.
Their chopsticks flew at blinding speed.
It had to be that way.
It was well past dinnertime.
While they were devouring their meal like madmen...
Instructor Ha Mu-baek stepped into the first floor of the Golden Dragon Tower.
He spotted the cadets right away and headed straight over.
The first to notice him was Dan Mok Un-roe.
"Instructor?"
Instructor Ha Mu-baek plopped down into an empty seat.
"Eat slowly, all of you. No medicine for indigestion."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek said, scanning the cadets.
"What brings you here?"
Baek Ri-pyeong asked.
He hadn't shown up for the afternoon Fierce Dragon Corps training either.
"Got something to pass along."
"What is it?"
Ha Seol-ran tilted her head.
Nothing came to mind.
"Eat first. You all look starved."
At Instructor Ha Mu-baek's words, their paused chopsticks sprang back to life.
Instructor Ha Mu-baek watched with a soft chuckle.
'Hm?'
He glanced up at the upper floors.
A martial artist had pinged his senses.
Only up close did he grasp the true caliber.
From the Dragon Training Pavilion, he'd sensed only ordinary folk.
Who knew a Reversal Realm peak expert lurked on the fifth floor.
He hadn't clocked it properly until entering the Golden Dragon Tower.
'Any issue?'
The world was vast, experts plentiful.
Could be some eccentric passing through Wuchang.
As long as no harm came his way, Instructor Ha Mu-baek paid it no mind.
'Time to head out?'
He'd sat too long.
The Dragon Training Pavilion had gone quiet after the day's end.
Torches and lanterns flickered sporadically, the only light.
Scarce human stir.
Time to hit the inn he'd picked for lodging.
Namgung Hwi descended the stairs slowly.
True to an inn, the place buzzed louder as night deepened.
Reaching the first floor, Namgung Hwi spotted a thick huddle blocking the door.
The group that had swarmed in from the Dragon Training Pavilion earlier.
His eyes met one man's among them.
'That one?'
Namgung Hwi inwardly startled, recognizing the face.
Not a stranger.
Years back.
Namgung Hwi's village was prime battleground in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong had come to clear it.
Leading his elite Hocheon Corps.
'Hocheon Corps Leader.'
Namgung Hwi had lent a hand then.
His skills laughable now, but he'd known the local terrain cold.
Hadn't even given his name.
Instructor Ha Mu-baek spotted Namgung Hwi too.
And flinched.
Face scarred from sword wounds.
Empty right sleeve.
Sword at the hip.
Unforgettable.
When he and Hocheon Corps were green to the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
The man had guided them through its fiercest hotspot.
'Asked to call him Mubyeong...'
Even then, heavy backstory vibes.
Eyes lifeless.
Fleeting sparks of life, gone in blinks.
But now? Changed.
Still burdened, but eyes alive.
What happened meanwhile?
Peak absolute realm.
Like total rebirth.
Their gazes locked briefly.
Namgung Hwi kept walking.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu sat facing Instructor Ha Mu-baek—backs to Namgung Hwi.
So he slipped out unseen.
"What's up?"
Ha Seol-ran asked.
"Top-tier expert just passed."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek's reply rounded the Fierce Dragon Corps cadets' and Namgung siblings' eyes.
This monster calling someone top-tier?
Curiosity piqued, Namgung Ji-hu twisted to peek.
But Namgung Hwi was gone.
"Already left."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek said curtly.
"Anyway, meal's about done."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek pulled a wooden box from his bosom, set it on the table.
"Eek?"
"S-Sniff."
Wa Dragon Squad's twenty cadets recoiled in horror.
Had to.
Traumatic memory surged.
"That...?"
Baek Ri-pyeong ventured.
Dan Mok Un-roe's eyes gleamed expectant.
Click.
Box opened: several paper-wrapped white pills inside.
Muryang Pills.
"You lot don't need 'em."
Wa Dragon Squad's twenty nodded furiously.
They'd halved doses via Dang Jin-san already.
Still digesting effects.
"Wanna try?"
Instructor Ha Mu-baek eyed Namgung Ji-hu, Namgung Ji-yu, Ju Wu-myeong.
"What is it?"
Namgung Ji-hu asked.
Siblings clueless on Muryang Pills.
"Good for the body."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek said shortly.
Wa Dragon reactions screamed suspicious for "body good."
Nak Woo-jin and Baek Ri-pyeong looked sour too.
"Don't like it? Don't."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek doled one each to Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-roe, Nak Woo-jin, Ha Seol-ran.
Seeing that...
"I'll try one."
Ju Wu-myeong blurted.
Curiosity overload.
What could provoke that?
"Me too."
Namgung Ji-yu committed.
Reactions reeked danger.
But this instructor didn't lie.
His word? Gospel.
She rolled the dice.
Instructor Ha Mu-baek eyed Namgung Ji-hu.
Still undecided.
"Really good for you. Can't explain."
Wa Dragon cadets shivered.
Heard that line from Dang Jin-san too.
Instructor Ha Mu-baek reached for the lid.
About to close...
"I'll take one."
Namgung Ji-hu decided.
Instructor Ha Mu-baek handed it over, snapped the lid shut.
"I'm out."
Dusted off, bounced from Golden Dragon Tower.
Heading to Dragon Training Pavilion, Instructor Ha Mu-baek halted sharp.
Namgung Ji-hu's eyes deciding on the pill.
Same as when advising on Imperial Sword Form, watching training.
Familiar spark, nagging déjà vu.
Memory clicked.
Where.
"Mubyeong..."
Yes.
Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest guide crisis.
Desperate blaze in dead eyes.
Identical.
Lifeless usually, but crisis revived them.
Some do-or-die tale.
Instructor Ha Mu-baek glanced back at Golden Dragon Tower.
"Hm. Namgung Clan..."
Not sure yet.
No Namgung sword arts in Mubyeong's arsenal then.
Just basics: Three Talents Sword, Five Elements Sword.
"Watching'll reveal."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek wrapped up Mubyeong thoughts.
"Man, spending like water. Tsk."
Nearing lodging, he muttered, tongue-clicking.
Muryang Pills.
Tougher to craft than thought.
Saved 'em tight, now Pavilion handouts.
Well, burn through, remake.
Issue: key herbs depleted.
"Gotta restock soon."
Recalling sect annex, Instructor Ha Mu-baek mused.
Master said leftovers there.
One exclusive grower.
"Plenty Muryang Pills left anyway."
Not pressing.
"Forgot something though..."
Instructor Ha Mu-baek tilted his head.
"What is this?"
Namgung Ji-hu's question.
They knew.
"Dunno details. Tastes like hell though."
Ju Wu-myeong shrugged.
"Hell."
Eun Hwa-ryang declared.
"Hell yes."
Im Dae-chi said, face ashen.
Namgung Ji-hu scowled.
"Good for body, right?"
"Good."
Yeong Hu-in affirmed.
"Bliss."
Na Jung-cheon nodded along.
Namgung Ji-hu's scowl deepened.
What nonsense?
"Eat and see. Theirs was worse."
Dan Mok Un-roe dumped hers in, no pause.
Grimaced while chomping.
Third go: bearable.
Taste irrelevant anyway.
Post-pill inner power boost mattered.
Baek Ri-pyeong, Nak Woo-jin munched blasé now.
Seeing, Ju Wu-myeong eased pill to lips.
First-timer.
In.
Chew once.
"Guh."
Eyes popped.
Groan leaked.
'Worse exists?'
Ju Wu-myeong eyed Wa Dragon crew.
Suddenly heroic.
Heroic chew, gulp.
Tears brimmed.
Namgung Ji-hu, Namgung Ji-yu gulped dry.
"Hell" clicked.
"Ah!"
Ha Seol-ran gasped low.
"What?"
Namgung Ji-yu asked.
"Tongue... acupoint. Seal taste first..."
Namgung duo's eyes bugged.
Such hack existed.
Taste the foe—numb it.
But.
"Such point exist?"
She didn't know spot.
"No help for it. Down."
Namgung Ji-hu tossed it in.
"Hrgh."
Eyes bulged.
Ju Wu-myeong twin.
Somehow swallowed; eyes bloodshot.
"How you eat calm?"
Namgung Ji-hu gaped.
"Three times in? Fine."
Baek Ri-pyeong deadpanned.
"Three?"
Baek Ri-pyeong nodded.
Namgung Ji-hu shook head, done.
Left: Namgung Ji-yu, Ha Seol-ran.
Namgung Ji-yu squeezed eyes shut, ate.
Fierce Dragon thrice? Legit effect.
She weathered horror, trembling all over.
Last: Ha Seol-ran.
'Can't lean on brother, master forever.'
Decided.
Eyes clamped, in it went.
"Hngh."
Freakish horror exploded on tongue.
Indescribable.
Gooseflesh riot, pores gaping.
Taste alone warping body so?
Ha Seol-ran strained, chomped, gulped.
'B-Brother!! Seal the point!!!'
Silent inner wail.
No reach to Instructor Ha Mu-baek.
Dawn broke.
Early morn.
Namgung Hwi scarfed cold duck roast from yesterday's inn buy.
Asked errand boy: Dragon Training Pavilion way.
As old-timer said, always hiring hands.
Boy knew too.
But pity eyes on Namgung Hwi.
One-arm scream "tough gig."
Namgung Hwi shrugged it off, hit west wall small door as told.
Knock. Voice inside.
"What?"
"Here for labor work."
Door swung; man emerged.
Saw him, face stone.
"Martial man?"
Waist sword prompt.
"Nah. Carry for safety, this state."
Namgung Hwi calm.
"Work proper?"
"This body got jobs. No daily first—watch days, then decide?"
Man mulled.
One-arm limits galore.
Plus.
Cadets wild.
Crazies bully laborers; quits daily one-two.
One bailed today.
"Fine. No-pay fuss useless? Proper work, pay daily."
Hand shortage: day trial.
"In, wait."
Namgung Hwi slipped through small door.
Short wait; man back with elder.
"Eh?"
Familiar face.
Yester-drink buddy.
"You. Heh, some drive."
Wi Ji-gun recognized, grinned.