Chapter 5
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Freeze!!
Dan Mok Un-roe kept stealing glances at Ha Mu-baek, who was leaning against the shade of the tree.
He had offered advice on Dan Mok Un-roe's horse stance, and about half an hour had passed since then. Not a word had been spoken after that.
Was it just a momentary whim after all?
Dan Mok Un-roe steeled his resolve once more and focused on his horse stance.
Sweat dripped from his entire body in thick drops. It was truly grueling, agonizing work. Yet he had no choice but to cling to the horse stance.
It was the only training method he knew.
Among his squad mates, two seemed to know some martial arts for sure. One had mentioned the famous Sichuan Tang Clan.
And the cadet named Yeon Ha-min also appeared to know something about martial arts.
Compared to them, he was utterly clueless.
Two years from now.
He was certain to die on that cursed land the instructor had mentioned. But he couldn't just sit idly by.
He had to struggle, at least.
For Dan Mok Un-roe, that struggle was the horse stance. The only martial training he knew.
Ha Mu-baek watched him with half-closed eyes, pretending not to notice.
Time passed like that.
A shadow fell over the sunlit ground at his feet.
"You've stirred up another fuss, I see."
It was Dragon Training Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul.
"Calling this a fuss is too timid, don't you think, Pavilion Lord? And as I said last time, I was just sitting quietly. They were the ones who started making noise first."
"That's what I heard. Still, you let it pass more quietly than I expected."
"What's the point of making a racket over trash?"
"Not because you got one-upped by a wet-behind-the-ears kid?"
Pang Do-yul asked with a teasing grin and a subtle smile.
"What nonsense is that?"
"Loser, runaway, trash. Didn't that kid call you all that? The great Ha Mu-baek."
"I've long passed the age where I'd care about some clueless brat's nonsense."
"Not because he hit a nerve? I saw you earlier, giving pointers to Dang Jin-san and Dan Mok Un-roe."
Ha Mu-baek opened his eyes and stared steadily at Pang Do-yul.
"The Fierce Dragon Corps might look like a den of injustice. You might think of this place as just a brief rest stop. But everyone has their reasons. So how about taking good care of those kids? Get their survival rate over fifty percent."
"......"
"Sado Gwang's one thing—he's built that way. But Jegal Myeong? That fearless pup. Still, he's the most responsible instructor here. That's why he knows the Hidden Dragon Corps' side while being their instructor. He's paying attention in his own way."
"What's your point?"
"Just saying."
"By the way, is it true that the Devouring Dragon Pavilions are fixed for use?"
"Hm. Not something I know. No such rule in the pavilion regs. Well, take care."
Pang Do-yul walked away.
Ha Mu-baek watched his retreating back with an inscrutable expression.
Time flew by, and soon the sky was dyed red.
The afternoon training session had ended.
"Alright, that's it for today. Time to eat."
Ha Mu-baek stood, stretching as he spoke.
"Yes!"
Dan Mok Un-roe, soaked in sweat, answered energetically. The others remained silent.
This time, they headed to the southern Devouring Dragon Pavilion.
It wasn't because of the daytime incident.
The Fierce Dragon Dormitory, where the cadets lodged, was closest to the southern one. It was set up so they could head straight back after eating.
At the entrance to the southern Devouring Dragon Pavilion.
There were noticeably more shabbily dressed people compared to the east. It didn't matter to Ha Mu-baek.
He just closely examined the menu posted at the door.
Ha Mu-baek stopped dead after checking it.
It was different.
The east and south were different.
He had seen the dinner menu already posted when he'd come for lunch. This was way off from that.
The quality gap was huge.
The food at the eastern Devouring Dragon Pavilion was far superior.
"Hmmm."
Ha Mu-baek let out a low hum. Still, he entered the dining hall to check the food himself, tray in hand, joining the line.
The line was decent but moved quickly.
Soon it was his turn, and he received his food on the tray.
Unlike the east, here the assistant cooks served the portions directly. Meaning, small servings.
In the east, you could scoop as much as you wanted.
Ha Mu-baek's eyebrow twitched.
No, the moment he first saw the food, a cold blizzard was already raging across his face.
The five cadets' faces showed clear bewilderment too. This was nothing like the eastern one they'd visited at lunch. They'd eaten here during the entrance ceremony before heading south—this was their first time back since. They'd skipped lunch the first training day, ate out with Ha Mu-baek for dinner, skipped breakfast to rush to the training ground. At least ceremony day hadn't been like this.
The food quality was abysmal. Few varieties. Worse than the menu.
And the portions? You took what they gave, and it was meager.
Who were they kidding?
As the five cadets moved to sit at an empty table, a chilling voice emanated from Ha Mu-baek's mouth.
"You expect people to eat this dog slop...? Don't eat yet. Wait."
With that, Ha Mu-baek vanished in an instant. He first ripped down the entrance menu and pocketed it.
It was ghostly swift movement.
Ha Mu-baek's form vanished again. He reappeared at the eastern Devouring Dragon Pavilion.
He tore down its menu and checked inside.
He did the same at the west and north.
After checking all four Devouring Dragon Pavilions, rage twisted Ha Mu-baek's face.
"Hoo. Hoo."
Ha Mu-baek did rapid deep breaths to calm his excitement.
He needed to go slow, but he couldn't.
Ha Mu-baek was deadly serious about food, so his fury boiled over.
"Pavilion Lord Pang......"
His mutter carried killing intent.
Ha Mu-baek stormed toward the pavilion lord's office, radiating menace.
Lights were still on—reports unfinished.
"Pavilion Lord. It's Ha Mu-baek. Mind if I come in?"
The escorts startled at his sudden appearance at the door, but his call was unwavering.
The door opened, and Pang Do-yul appeared.
"What brings you so suddenly?"
Subtle anticipation on Pang Do-yul's face hardened upon seeing Ha Mu-baek's expression.
The aura was ominous.
"Come in."
The door closed.
"Take a look at this."
Ha Mu-baek set down four sheets of paper.
Menus from the east, west, south, and north Devouring Dragon Pavilions.
"What's this?"
Obviously papers listing foods and dishes.
"Menus from the four Devouring Dragon Pavilions."
"So why bring them to me?"
Pang Do-yul's eyebrow twitched as he scanned them.
One caught his eye. He wasn't much of a foodie.
Just ate when hungry, as long as it wasn't awful.
Even so, something seemed off about that one.
"The southern one."
Ha Mu-baek spat it out bluntly.
"And you know? That's actually prettied up."
"......"
"Ever been to the southern Devouring Dragon Pavilion?"
"No. As you know, the office is closest to north, so I use that mostly."
"Then you know what the north serves."
"Yes."
"Let's go then."
"Where?"
"South."
"......"
Pang Do-yul said nothing. Ha Mu-baek's eyes blazed fiercely.
"This ain't right. It's all for survival, and these Fierce Dragon punks are meat shields dying in two years anyway. Messing with their food? You people at all?"
Ha Mu-baek shot up, glaring murderously at Pang Do-yul.
Pang Do-yul stood too.
"Let's go."
"Full speed."
Meaning, race to the south at top speed.
Pang Do-yul's eyebrow twitched, but no choice. Otherwise, Ha Mu-baek looked ready to grab him by the collar and drag him.
Ha Mu-baek flung open not the door, but the window.
Pang Do-yul bit his lip and leaped out.
As a peak master, he dashed south with elegant lightness skill.
Ha Mu-baek followed right behind.
The escorts hurriedly trailed the sudden lord's movement.
The two arrived at the southern entrance in moments.
Cooks from the pavilion rushed out at news of the lord's visit.
They blocked his path with excuses.
A delicious aroma began wafting faintly from inside.
As Pang Do-yul's face twisted, a fat man with shallow eyes came hurrying over.
"Devouring Dragon South Pavilion Lord Hong O-cheol greets the Pavilion Lord."
Hong O-cheol bowed hastily, sweating profusely.
"Pavilion Lord Hong. Why are the cooks blocking me?"
"It's not fit for you yet, Pavilion Lord—still cleaning. Wait a moment, I'll guide you myself."
"What about the people eating in the unclean place?"
Hong O-cheol ground his teeth at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"He's right. I come and go from north anytime. Why block me from south? Clear the way."
"North and south have different circumstances..."
"This afternoon, didn't you tell me all four pavilions are the same? Pavilion rules say so too."
Because of onlookers?
Ha Mu-baek unusually used honorifics.
Pang Do-yul nodded vigorously.
"I-I know the rules, but on-site, staff have their own issues..."
Meanwhile, the food smell grew more appetizing.
"Move, or get hit."
Ha Mu-baek growled, eyes bulging.
Ferocious aura spread around him.
"Eek."
Hong O-cheol flinched.
Ha Mu-baek strode in, Pang Do-yul following.
"This is..."
Handymen were dumping tray food frantically. Shelves meant for dishes stood empty. Instead, noisy cooking sounds came from the kitchen.
An appetite-stimulating aroma flowed from there.
"Freeze!! Everyone stop right there!!"
Ha Mu-baek's shout, laced with inner power.
The effect was immediate. All froze in place.
"Take a good look."
Pang Do-yul eyed the handymen still holding trays. Fierce Dragon members dotted about.
His brow furrowed involuntarily.
"This stuff..."
They'd been serving this as human food?
Anger surged, along with shame.
Ha Mu-baek, mere three days in, spotted it instantly—what he'd missed as lord for years.
He prided himself on overseeing—patrolling during duty hours. He'd heard of the eastern ruckus today, even seen Ha Mu-baek briefly teaching cadets.
But he'd overlooked the pavilions.
Never visited anywhere but north in years.
'Food's all the same'—complacent thinking.
Hong O-cheol, who'd rushed in, shut his eyes tight at Pang Do-yul's expression.
"Pavilion Lord Hong."
A cold, savage voice from Pang Do-yul.
"Y-yes... yes, Pavilion Lord."
Hong O-cheol's voice trembled roughly.
"You said all four dining halls equal. South serves dog slop to Fierce Dragon and handymen by custom. Impressive. Real Dragon Training Pavilion."
Ha Mu-baek sneered.
Pang Do-yul's face flushed crimson.
Not anger.
Shame.
How many hours since he'd assured Ha Mu-baek?
And this pathetic state.
'Embarrassing.'
Just then, food started emerging busily from the kitchen.
The noisy kitchen hadn't noticed the dining hall mess.
Cooks and assistants carrying heaping platters halted at the tense atmosphere.
"Let's get everyone fed first."
With proper food out, Pang Do-yul addressed the room.
His escorts arrived panting.
Pang Do-yul said with a 'perfect timing' look.
"Good timing. Arrest Pavilion Lord Hong here. Then ransack his office."
Hong O-cheol paled at the casual order.
"Don't mess with food. We're all barely scraping by."
With that, Ha Mu-baek vanished.
The five cadets in the hall stared at his back, baffled.
Pang Do-yul watched the shrinking figure, face still red.