Chapter 340
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 340
Chapter Title: Benefactor
Yeon Ha-min.
Her footsteps led toward the Pavilion Lord's office.
It was a rare pocket of free time.
She didn't even want to think about the Hubei Yeon Clan.
But her family—who had taken care of her and her mother—was here at the Dragon Training Pavilion. She couldn't not go see them.
Thanks to them, she'd managed to hold on in the Hubei Yeon Clan.
The others didn't know about her relationship with her youngest uncle.
A mere Fierce Dragon Corps cadet seeking out the vice pavilion lord might seem odd.
But she didn't care.
They were family she hadn't even properly seen lately amid all the busyness.
Not a drop of blood connected them.
Yet her father's youngest brother had loved her more than his own child.
Because of her late father's influence, Yeon Ha-min had kept the cursed Yeon surname.
He wasn't blood family, but he was family enough to call as such.
Her youngest uncle.
On this rest day, Yeon Ha-min suddenly thought she should go pay her respects.
When he'd first come to the Dragon Training Pavilion,
she'd avoided him out of fear that her whereabouts in the Yeon Clan would leak out.
The guard at the Pavilion Lord's office tilted his head curiously but duly notified the vice pavilion lord of her visit.
Soon, she was escorted to the vice pavilion lord's office.
And what Yeon Ha-min saw there
was her youngest uncle buried under a mountain of documents.
"Thank you for coming to see me first."
He greeted her with a beaming smile.
Yeon Baek-jin welcomed Yeon Ha-min.
"Sit over here."
A low table sat in one corner of the office.
Yeon Baek-jin led her there and heated water in the teapot.
He used a light burst of Three Realms True Fire to warm it.
Steam soon rose from the pot.
In moments, a fragrant tea was ready.
Seated at the low table, Yeon Ha-min looked around.
The office was a total mess from stacks of papers everywhere.
But her youngest uncle's face didn't look bad.
Yeon Baek-jin gazed at her with a mix of pride and delight.
"I've been watching you all this time."
Yeon Ha-min was slightly startled by his words.
"But I was too embarrassed to come find you first. Even during the last Summer Combat Festival. Ah, no. That's sentimental nonsense."
Yeon Baek-jin caught himself and cut off.
He couldn't bring himself to admit he'd paced in front of Graceful Dragon Dormitory out of worry for her.
"Thank you for your concern."
Yeon Ha-min replied calmly.
"I'm just sorry."
Yeon Baek-jin said as he brought the teacup to his lips.
Then he looked at her again.
"I heard the Fierce Dragon Corps doesn't even get rest periods and stays busy. You somehow carved out time to see me."
As vice pavilion lord, he had a general grasp of the pavilion's affairs.
No, he had no choice but to know, thanks to the reports from Ki Yu-chan.
"I got a full day off today. Uncle suddenly came to mind."
Yeon Baek-jin smiled warmly at her words.
It was a smile brimming with emotion.
"That's truly touching."
Yeon Ha-min bowed her head slightly.
It felt awkward facing her uncle directly.
"You've grown strong. Strong enough to protect yourself and your mother."
Yeon Baek-jin's sudden praise.
Yeon Ha-min felt a lump in her throat.
She'd heard the words she'd most longed for—acknowledgment of her efforts—completely off guard.
"No plans to visit the main house?"
But her face hardened at the follow-up question.
"I have to see Mother. I'm strong enough now."
Her following words.
Yeon Ha-min's expression crumbled in an instant.
The biggest reason she hadn't abandoned the Yeon Clan.
Her mother.
"After your eldest brother passed... things have gotten better. And I hear Gong-hu is paying close attention."
"Ah..."
A sigh of relief escaped Yeon Ha-min's lips.
Her mother, whom she hadn't forgotten for a single day since escaping the Yeon Clan.
She's safe.
She's doing well.
What a relief.
"Before you head to Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest, you should go once."
"Yes..."
Yeon Ha-min bowed her head and replied.
Just as the uncle-niece conversation was about to continue,
"Vice Pavilion Lord. Pardon the intrusion."
A voice called for Yeon Baek-jin from outside.
Yeon Baek-jin's face paled slightly at the sound.
As Yeon Ha-min tilted her head at her uncle's sudden change,
"Then I'll come in."
With that, a man entered pulling a cart loaded with documents.
He spotted Yeon Ha-min and his eyes lit up.
"Ah, you're in a meeting with a cadet. Does that mean the work's already done?"
Ki Yu-chan's gaze shifted to Yeon Baek-jin's desk.
"Ah, Officer Ki. Well, you see..."
Yeon Baek-jin stammered.
"I'll just take the finished ones."
"Sigh. Fine."
Ki Yu-chan swiftly plucked the relevant papers from the piles with quick hands and loaded them onto the cart.
He'd already unloaded the papers he'd brought.
His movements were unbelievably fast for someone without martial arts.
Once he was gone,
Yeon Ha-min looked at Yeon Baek-jin in surprise.
"The vice pavilion lord's workload is insane..."
"The pavilion lord's is even worse."
Yeon Baek-jin replied with resignation.
"Um... should I help?"
At her cautious offer,
Yeon Baek-jin's face brightened.
"Would you?"
His expression was full of eager hope.
Yeon Ha-min had no choice but to nod.
A secluded spot by the Dragon Training Pavilion wall.
Nak Woo-jin sat on a suitable tree stump, gazing up at the sky.
What a clear sky.
"Hot."
The sun beat down mercilessly from a cloudless heaven. It still felt like summer.
"What to do?"
Nothing came to mind.
Since entering the Dragon Training Pavilion,
this was his first real leisure.
He'd always been doing something.
Even last summer's full rest period—he'd trained without pause.
Not intentionally.
He'd just been swept up in the vibe of his fellow cadets.
And so,
he'd grown stronger than he could've imagined.
He'd felt it during the last Summer Combat Festival.
Who knew he'd get this strong.
"This wasn't the plan..."
Nak Woo-jin murmured flatly.
His task was to join the Fierce Dragon Corps and head to Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest in two years.
That was it.
"Hm."
Nak Woo-jin pondered while staring at the still-clear sky.
"What, only half a year left now?"
The tree shade kept the sun from stinging.
"Dunno..."
He muttered indifferently,
but Nak Woo-jin's mind was a whirlwind.
Those who'd sent him to the Fierce Dragon Corps with some agenda.
He didn't know their intentions.
But.
Over the past time, he'd formed one guess.
Maybe,
he'd end up opposing his comrades and instructors.
"Guess I should grab something tasty."
He muttered to himself, as if his worries were pointless.
It was a change since coming to the Dragon Training Pavilion.
He'd started enjoying good food.
The old him saw food as mere fuel.
"Yeah."
Decision made, Nak Woo-jin stood.
Focusing on the sensations from delicious flavors would drown out the worries filling his head.
Then he trudged toward the pavilion entrance,
pondering what to eat.
Early August, new moon.
The Dragon Training Pavilion's second half began.
But nothing changed.
Unlike last year, few had left, and no reinforcements came.
The Fierce Dragon Corps had two vacancies, Wa Dragon Corps one, but no new fills.
Fierce Dragon Corps: one from Un Do-heon moving to Wa Dragon Corps,
and another from Chu Hwi-yeon not returning.
Wa Dragon Corps: five from that bet didn't return, but four on personal leave;
only Tak Mu-jeon formally left,
and Un Do-heon filled that spot.
Net vacancy: just Chu Hwi-yeon—Gong Ya Hwi-yeon—returning to Heavenly Demon Pavilion.
No new applicants, so numbers stayed the same.
Nothing really changed.
Just that they'd rested one day.
Morning: personal training and pavilion duties.
Afternoon: group training.
Same routine.
"Hey!"
Spotting Namgung Ji-hu, Dang Jin-san raised a hand in greeting.
"Hm?"
"Ji-hu. Or should it be Hu now?"
He'd heard about the name change.
Same for Namgung Ji-yu becoming Namgung Yu.
Namgung Hu's lips curved seeing the seven Fierce Dragon Corps cadets.
Friends he hadn't seen in ages.
Namgung Yu with him felt the same.
But.
Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-roe, and Ha Seol-ran's faces shifted slightly.
The three instantly sensed Namgung Hu's changed aura.
"You've gotten stronger."
Namgung Hu nodded at Dan Mok Un-roe's words.
"While back at the main house... a lot happened. Some stroke of fortune among it."
Baek Ri-pyeong and Dan Mok Un-roe's eyes sparkled.
Baek Ri-pyeong had his own fortunate encounter last winter break.
After forced return to Zhongnan,
involving Ha Mu-baek.
"Was it the instructor...?"
Namgung Hu nodded at Baek Ri-pyeong's question.
"He's our benefactor."
The title and phrasing had changed.
The three who'd received great aid from Ha Mu-baek nodded at Namgung Hu's shift.
Yeon Ha-min, Baek Ri-pyeong, Dan Mok Un-roe.
It felt natural to them.
They'd changed the same way.
"This Summer Combat Festival will be different."
Namgung Hu grinned at Baek Ri-pyeong.
Baek Ri-pyeong grinned back.
Namgung Hu might've grown, but he hadn't slacked either.
After Namgung Hu and his sister left,
Dang Jin-san tilted his head.
"That strong?"
"Definitely stronger."
At the puzzled question,
Ju Woo-myeong answered.
"How much?"
Ju Woo-myeong couldn't reply.
Couldn't gauge it.
"Judging by his aura alone, he seems the strongest here."
Ha Seol-ran said calmly,
but the impact was big.
Flames of rivalry sparked in Baek Ri-pyeong and Ju Woo-myeong's eyes.
Ha Seol-ran sensed something in Namgung Hu akin to what she'd felt from her brother, but didn't say.
She wasn't sure herself.
'No idea what happened in Namgung Clan. But if so, I'll catch up again.'
Baek Ri-pyeong thought.
As always.
An inn near the Dragon Training Pavilion.
The same inn where Namgung Hwi had stood two months ago overlooking the pavilion.
Now a middle-aged man sat there.
He surveyed the pavilion with deep, thoughtful eyes.
Second half's start—maybe that's why?
The pavilion's vibrant energy seemed to reach him too.
"Ha Mu-baek..."
Flames flickered in the middle-aged man's eyes.
He recalled his youngest nephew, back from the pavilion's first half.
Thoroughly crushed by Ha Mu-baek, he'd said.
"Brother just laughed it off."
But he couldn't.
Especially after that disciple of Dorim Sect, Han Pyeong, got smashed.
Han Pyeong was at fault, sure.
But it stained Dorim's face regardless.
Han Pyeong wasn't ordinary.
He'd mastered Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
Yet Ha Mu-baek mocked it.
Han Pyeong.
Un Do-heon too.
Forest Lord brother said Ha Mu-baek wasn't the type, and those two were at fault.
Was he Dorim's lord or Ha Mu-baek's spokesman? Unclear.
Couldn't take it anymore, so he came to Wu-chang with his nephew.
To show that bastard Ha Mu-baek a lesson.
Un Gyo-taek, fourth brother of Dorim Forest Lord Un Gyo-cheol.
Fire blazed in his eyes.
"I'll show you true Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade. A mere Hocheon Corps Leader dares..."
Un Do-heon finished morning duties with eager eyes.
Yesterday.
His fourth uncle who'd come with him to Wu-chang.
Dorim's strongest.
As far as Un Do-heon knew.
Father rarely showed his skills, so unknown.
But he'd never heard of fourth uncle Un Gyo-taek losing to anyone in Dorim.
Worthy of Dorim's top swordsman title.
Regrettably, in this life, uncle wouldn't claim it.
World's Greatest Swordsman hailed from Dorim.
Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong.
Father's junior brother— no one else could take that title while he lived.
Anyway, mighty fourth uncle would visit the pavilion that afternoon.
Ha Mu-baek.
To teach that damned instructor there was heaven beyond heaven.
Father had already approved.
Dorim had sent official notice of visit.
Uncle just had to crush Ha Mu-baek upon arrival.
A smile crept onto Un Do-heon's lips unbidden.
Reason he'd clung to Dragon Training Pavilion, even transferring to Wa Dragon Corps.
To witness Ha Mu-baek's utter defeat.
For that, he'd stayed in Wa Dragon Corps and complained to father about unfair treatment during break.
Father dismissed it, but uncle reacted to Ha Mu-baek mocking Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
"Some things you learn by experiencing... but that fool might not even then."
Father's words flashed by, but
Un Do-heon shook them off.
"Hoo..."
So Hwi-woong exhaled deeply in the training hall.
He gazed quietly at the sword in his hand.
"Excellent."
A sixtieth birthday gift from Myriad Things Alliance.
Forged from precious millennium cold iron blended with even rarer millennium ink-gold iron, they'd said.
The blade gleamed with a subtle golden hue.
"Fine brushes don't pick masters, fine weapons don't pick wielders," went the saying.
Wrong.
At least in So Hwi-woong's view.
If martial levels were equal, weapon quality could decide victory.
Thus, he always sought the best.
His current favorite was the one from the Martial World Great War.
None better till now.
But this was different.
He'd felt it the moment he gripped it.
How it fit his hand perfectly—testament to Myriad Things Alliance's dedication.
"Should've tried it sooner."
It arrived last year for his birthday, but he'd been busy.
Only now picking it up.
And today, his favorite changed.
"Ink-Gold Divine Sword. That's your name. Heh."
He resumed Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade forms.
Thanks to the new sword?
He glimpsed a clue to breaking through the wall.
Seize opportunities when they come.
So Hwi-woong swung again.
The gap with that guy mustn't widen further.