Chapter 339
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 339
Chapter Title: Spend It Well
Shing!
The saber sliced through the empty air.
A fierce saber wind whipped up in its wake.
The saber's movements dancing through the air were both majestic and beautiful.
"Hoo."
Gwan Ha-kyung let out a deep sigh after executing all the forms.
Nearly half a year had passed since arriving at the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
This place was truly insane.
But in exchange...
He had grown that much stronger.
Thanks to the countless real battles.
Moreover, the pressure from performance quotas coming down from above had been immense lately.
"Baekhwa Jagwangcho."
Why were they shoving martial artists to their deaths over some damn weed like that?
"What are you doing?"
A sudden voice made Gwan Ha-kyung turn his head.
"Squad Leader?"
It was Poong Geon, squad leader of Demon-Sealing Corps' Black Squad Two.
"We're heading out tomorrow. Don't waste your strength needlessly. Go get some rest."
He spat the words curtly and turned away.
Gwan Ha-kyung smiled faintly.
He knew the man had a warm heart despite his gruff words.
Two months ago.
Even then, the squad leader hadn't abandoned Fierce Dragon Corps.
They had survived thanks to that mysterious master from Namhwi.
Since that day...
No casualties had occurred in Black Squad Two, at least.
Demon-Sealing Corps and Fierce Dragon Corps.
Trust had formed between them, allowing them to entrust each other's backs.
Gwan Ha-kyung's gaze turned toward the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
He had to enter there again tomorrow.
The territories had become completely tangled.
Still, through two months of desperate effort, they had mapped out a new area to some extent.
The reason was laughable.
It wasn't to reduce sacrifices for Demon-Sealing Corps and Fierce Dragon Corps.
'Baekhwa Jagwangcho.'
It was to harvest that weed as efficiently as possible.
This time, Gwan Ha-kyung's gaze shifted toward Luoyang.
Righteous Heaven Alliance.
He couldn't fathom what the higher-ups there were thinking.
"Haa..."
A sigh escaped him naturally.
He had to survive tomorrow again.
And if he did, he'd grow stronger still.
Before sheathing it, Gwan Ha-kyung lifted his saber.
Blue energy rippled along its edge.
Saber energy incomparable to two months ago.
In that time, Gwan Ha-kyung had grown unrecognizably strong.
'Can I at least become as strong as that person?'
He couldn't forget the sword aura on that youthful blade he had witnessed that day.
Gwan Ha-kyung's goal was saber aura to rival that sword aura.
He sheathed the saber.
Then, he headed toward his quarters.
The morning of the last day of the eighth month.
The final day of the month.
It was a meaningful day.
The last day of the break period.
Tomorrow marked the first of the ninth month.
The start of the Dragon Training Pavilion's second semester.
The once-empty Dragon Training Pavilion had gradually filled with people over the past few days.
Now, it bustled with activity.
All the disciples had returned to begin the second semester.
The five members of Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven looked at each other.
"He's not here?"
Nak Woo-jin nodded at Dang Jin-san's question.
"Nope."
"S-Senior Brothers!"
Just then, Eun Hwa-ryang came rushing toward them, panting.
The five, including Eun Hwa-ryang, had spent the break training at the Dragon Training Pavilion.
"Th-That is..."
He hemmed and hawed, unable to speak.
"What's going on?"
Dan Mok Un-roe asked.
"B-Bi Gyeom..."
The moment the name was mentioned, all five sets of eyes focused on Eun Hwa-ryang.
It was one of the servants assigned to attend them during the second semester starting tomorrow.
"H-He suffered a major injury during training at his sect..."
That was as far as he got.
"Ha?"
Dang Jin-san let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Then the other four are injured too, right?"
His question implied he already knew.
"W-Well... I heard Cheol Ryeong, Gong Go-pae, and Hwa Bo-myeong for the same reason, but no word from Tak Mu-jeon."
Bitter smiles tugged at the lips of the five Fierce Dragon Corps members.
Who would have thought they'd escape like this.
They needed to recuperate from injuries, so they'd skip the Dragon Training Pavilion.
That was their excuse.
A clever exploitation of the loophole in their bet.
They had only said no quitting the pavilion—nothing about resting due to injury or illness.
"How sly."
Nak Woo-jin muttered in disbelief.
"Truly befitting a massive sect—petty to the core."
Yeon Ha-min said coldly.
A subtle anger simmered beneath her words.
Those bastards who had leered at her mockingly.
She had planned to work them properly, but they fled with this absurd excuse.
Injured during sect training? Everyone knew that was impossible.
It was just an excuse to avoid returning to the Dragon Training Pavilion because they hated keeping their bet's promise.
Unable to outright ignore a vow sworn on their honor, they had pettily and cunningly exploited its gap.
"Spare Bingcheon Palace from your 'petty massive sect' label."
A clear voice suddenly interjected.
It was Han Seol-bing.
"I-Instructor Han!"
The disciples started in surprise.
It was inevitable.
Han Seol-bing's sect was Bingcheon Palace, Tak Mu-jeon's sect.
"Tak Mu-jeon is imprisoned for involvement in rebellion. That's why he couldn't come."
Han Seol-bing smiled gently as she spoke.
But the content was far from light.
Rebellion?
Had something like that happened at Bingcheon Palace?
The disciples now realized why she had suddenly vanished during break training.
Amid their gazes, a small boy caught their eye.
"Huh? Who's this kid?"
Dan Mok Un-roe, who had a younger sibling around the same age, noticed first.
"Oh, introduce yourself. This is my disciple. His name is Im Jang-mu. He's eleven. Also the younger brother of Wa Dragon Corps disciple Im Dae-chi."
The disciples' eyes widened at Han Seol-bing's introduction.
Eleven years old.
Im Dae-chi's brother.
Han Seol-bing's disciple.
Each revelation shocked them.
"P-Pleased to meet you. I'm Im Jang-mu."
He politely clasped his hands and bowed.
He was so cute.
"Ah, yeah. Nice to meet you too."
Yeon Ha-min recovered first and returned the greeting.
"It's your one day of rest. Spend it well."
They remembered Ha Mu-baek's words granting Fierce Dragon Corps a rest day on the last day of the break.
Han Seol-bing had arrived in Muchang last night, spent the night at an inn, and just entered the Dragon Training Pavilion.
She moved busily to handle future matters.
After she left...
The five of Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven and the two from Squad Twenty looked at each other.
"Yeah. Let's rest today. Rest up. It starts again tomorrow."
Dang Jin-san said that and left first.
The others began departing one by one.
Eun Hwa-ryang was left alone.
He snapped to and rushed toward Wa Dragon Corps.
He had to tell Im Dae-chi.
That his younger brother had become Instructor Han Seol-bing's disciple and come to the Dragon Training Pavilion.
Dang Jin-san.
He left the Dragon Training Pavilion.
Until today, during the break, there were no restrictions on going out.
He strolled toward Muchang's entertainment district.
Come to think of it, how long had it been since he last visited a place like this?
It felt like his first time since arriving in Muchang.
He remembered even the stray dogs wandering the streets in Chengdu's entertainment district vividly.
Chengdu Playboy.
A nickname attached to him after he went astray upon hitting the wall of talent's limit.
Dang Jin-san had enjoyed pleasures to some extent too.
Thus, he had turned to them as an escape from the wall of talent.
The grueling training during the break...
After breaking through that blocked talent wall, it had reminded him of pleasures he had forgotten.
And today, completely free.
A single rest day amid over two months of break.
He decided to indulge after so long and headed to the entertainment district.
Cheongbin House.
A name that didn't suit a brothel at all.
Frugal and poor?
Absurd.
That gap piqued Dang Jin-san's interest.
"Shall I check that place out?"
Thus, Dang Jin-san visited a brothel for the first time in ages.
Just as he was about to step into the entrance, he muttered as if remembering something.
"Should I bring Un-roe along too? That shy guy needs to experience a place like this..."
"Young master! Thank you for visiting our Cheongbin House!"
A booming greeting cut off Dang Jin-san's soliloquy.
He was led inside as is.
What was this setup?
True to the name, their attire was frugal.
The martial artists stationed inside to handle rowdy customers.
The errand boys.
And even the courtesans.
All wore simple, modest clothes made of cheap-looking fabric—nothing flashy.
"What kind of place is this?"
Dang Jin-san asked the courtesan pouring his drink.
"Hehe. We just opened recently."
"Does business work like this?"
When Dang Jin-san asked curiously...
"Of course. Our edge over others is the price."
Dang Jin-san nodded.
The price guided by the errand boy was about a third of what he paid at his regular in Sichuan.
What kind of brothel was this?
He was curious, but his thoughts didn't linger.
The courtesan beside him wasn't unattractive, and her witty banter was enjoyable.
So Dang Jin-san savored the moment.
"Dang Jin-san, huh. An interesting one has arrived."
The Cheongbin House owner spoke with interest at his subordinate's report.
"Anything to uncover?"
"Who knows. Probably nothing beyond the info circulating in the Dragon Training Pavilion. Don't try any funny business."
"Understood."
The subordinate bowed quietly and withdrew at the owner's decision.
Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven training ground.
Dan Mok Un-roe stood holding his sword.
A rest day?
There was no such thing as rest in training.
Just steady progress day by day.
Thus, Dan Mok Un-roe cultivated his family's internal energy method and practiced his swordsmanship.
He built his energy with the Void Lake Misty Heart Formula and unleashed the Eighty-One Galaxy Illusion Sword Style at full power.
The empty training ground was perfect.
Swinging his sword alone, sweating—it felt so refreshing.
Looking up at the sky, it was still morning.
"Great. I can train to my heart's content today."
Truth be told, group training with Fierce Dragon Corps had left little time for personal practice lately.
He trained alone daily, but there had been times he felt frustrated by the lack of time.
To have a full day for himself like this...
It was pure joy.
A pleasant smile lingered on Dan Mok Un-roe's lips, refusing to fade.
"Until dinner before heading home. Focus on training as much as possible."
Dan Mok Un-roe murmured like a vow to himself.
He sat cross-legged again and immersed himself in the Void Lake Misty Heart Formula.
After completing a cycle, Dan Mok Un-roe opened his eyes and drew his sword.
Starting from the basic stance, the moving sword.
Forgetting nothing of the Void Lake Misty Heart Formula's subtleties, he focused on the sword's movements.
Energy swirling around his body flowed into the sword.
Dan Mok Un-roe's sword glowed faintly, tracing the paths of the Eighty-One Galaxy Illusion Sword Style.
Yet he was so absorbed he didn't even notice.
Baek Ri-pyeong returned to his room in Fierce Dragon Dormitory.
Sudden complete free time.
He couldn't decide what to do.
Today's training was already done at dawn.
This was group training time.
He had received notice from Ha Mu-baek yesterday.
Ha Mu-baek, who had only started teaching them again with days left in the break.
Perhaps because the previous Chief Instructor Ji Gun-wi's training was so intense.
Ha Mu-baek's sessions even felt manageable.
Plus a full day of rest.
He slumped in a chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Rest, huh..."
He had never properly rested before.
Last summer break, he had trained autonomously with his squadmates.
Winter break, chaos at his sect.
A day to do nothing.
To think of nothing.
First time since growing up.
"What should I do?"
Thus, he didn't know.
What to do.
With the time, he had considered more training and headed to the grounds.
But seeing Dan Mok Un-roe dash off excitedly, he stopped.
He knew how thirsty that guy was for training.
Wondering what others were up to, he looked around.
Dang Jin-san seemed headed outside with a delighted expression.
Seeing that face...
He didn't feel like joining.
The guy was brimming with expectations; he couldn't intrude and ruin it.
So he ended up back at his quarters.
"Hm. Wonder if everyone's doing well back home?"
Suddenly, Zhongnan came to mind.
Come to think of it, last winter.
After returning to the Dragon Training Pavilion, he hadn't sent proper news.
A letter from the sect leader had arrived personally.
Zhongnan had been stable since that winter chaos.
New sect leader So Jun-san had properly reorganized and led it on the right path.
'Knight.'
The single character Baek Ri-pyeong recalled briefly.
They had regained the sect's form befitting that word.
With rare free time...
He thought it good to reply to the sect leader's letter and send greetings to the sect members.
Baek Ri-pyeong gathered brush, ink, and paper.
He diligently ground ink on the inkstone with care.
Then Baek Ri-pyeong's hand paused.
Because of the content at the end of the sect leader's letter.
'Zhongnan may never be the strongest sect in the martial world, but in knighthood, we will be the greatest in the jianghu. I, and the next sect leader, will give our all. That way, when you become sect leader, you won't feel ashamed.'
Him, sect leader?
Absurd.