Chapter 80
A night shrouded in thick darkness.
In the quiet bamboo forest, a single cold breeze brushed past the clothes of two figures.
“Vice Cult Leader. How long do you plan to act as a spy? There are many who are asking about your whereabouts.”
“Grand Commander Hyun. It will still take some time to penetrate their core. Please make appropriate excuses to the people in the cult, except for the Cult Leader. This matter must be kept confidential until its outline is revealed.”
The two were none other than Wi-ji Chan and the Heavenly Spirit Corps’ Grand Commander, Hyun Dong-hwa.
After uncovering the Black Water Sect’s affair and witnessing the White Lotus Cult’s human sacrifice, Wi-ji Chan had since been acting as a spy and observing their movements.
“Vice Cult Leader. How about we launch a full-scale attack on the White Lotus Cult now and wipe them out?”
“I have thought about that several times, but I don’t think it will work.”
Wi-ji Chan cut off Hyun Dong-hwa’s proposal with a single stroke and added.
“They are a much more dangerous group than we think. It is still time to read the situation. If we act rashly, we could be defeated in reverse.”
Hyun Dong-hwa found it difficult to readily accept Wi-ji Chan’s words.
What on earth was this unknown group called the White Lotus Cult that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult could be defeated in reverse?
“I know well that you have been intelligent since you were young, Vice Cult Leader, but isn’t that an exaggeration? There is no force in the current Jianghu that can dare to threaten our cult.”
“Grand Commander Hyun.”
“Yes, Vice Cult Leader.”
“It is the creation of demons.”
“Yes?”
For a moment, Hyun Dong-hwa’s eyes widened.
“Beyond simple human sacrifice, they used all sorts of strange spells to cut open the stomachs of living people and collect their bodies. This must be for the mass production of jiangshi.”
“Ah…!”
“You know So-ah, right?”
“Haven’t I heard a lot from you, Vice Cult Leader? That the former Cult Leader gave him the <Treasure Map of the Ghost Valley Mountain Manor> and a Small Reversion Pill.”
“That’s right. I heard about the Ghost Demon Jiangshi from that So-ah a few years ago. The White Lotus Cult must be the manufacturing site of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi. This proves that they have been studying demons for a very long time.”
“Vice Cult Leader…”
“Give me a little more time. I will dig into their core and get a confirmation. Then, whether we send an official document to the Orthodox Path and form an alliance, or our cult moves independently, we will wipe them out somehow.”
“I will do so.”
“Then let’s meet here again in ten days at this time.”
“As you command!”
With the end of the conversation, Hyun Dong-hwa’s body disappeared without a trace like scattering dust under the moonlight.
Wi-ji Chan, who was left alone in the desolate bamboo forest, maximized his ki sense for a while and sensed his surroundings, and after confirming that there was nothing unusual, he took a step forward.
***
—White Martial Academy Student Duel Evaluation Day.
All the members of the Heaven, Earth, and Human divisions, the instructors who had guided them so far, and even the officials of the Martial Alliance, the superior organization of the White Martial Academy.
The faces of those gathered in the large training ground were a complex mixture of slight anticipation, slight excitement, and slight tension.
Of course, only one person.
So-ah was the very picture of peace.
“Hey? Why do you all look so down? Don’t tell me you’re scared?”
At So-ah’s question, the students somehow had no answer.
At that, his brow furrowed.
“Tsk tsk. I told you before. The best way to overcome anxiety is to ‘practice until you shit blood.’ Your hands and feet are trembling, your heart is pounding, right? That’s because you feel you haven’t practiced enough. A person who has truly done their best doesn’t tremble.”
Whether they were stimulated by So-ah’s words, Han Baek’s eyebrows, who had been listening, drew into an eight-character shape.
“Ugh! Are you nagging even today? Stop it. We have an important duel of our lives ahead of us, and you’re nagging again?”
But even at Han Baek’s blatant rebellion, So-ah did not get angry.
Instead, he smiled faintly and opened his mouth softly.
“You don’t have to be scared.”
“…”
“Because you will all win.”
“Instructor Jin…?”
On Han Baek’s face, and on the faces of all the students, a streak of bewilderment and question appeared at the same time.
It was because So-ah, who was not only stingy with praise but also often poured out curses at the end of his words, had for once acknowledged them.
“Brother Il-gi and Hwa-rin. Myo-seon and student Namgung Mun. Not to mention the former members of the Heaven division, the entire Human division will win.”
“…”
For a moment, the atmosphere sank heavily.
But it was a pleasant silence.
Instead of gloom and solemnity, fighting spirit and elation enveloped them.
“When I first became an instructor, I honestly thought that less than half of the students would survive until the end. Because my training is that harsh. But my prediction was wrong. You all endured splendidly and have come this far.”
‘Instructor Jin…’
‘So-ah…’
‘Senior Brother…’
Although So-ah’s attitude, which was usually nowhere to be seen, was foreign, the students did not dislike it.
Because some of them even felt a sense of pride at the thought of being acknowledged.
“You have all worked hard. Students of the Human Division. Today! Unleash the efforts you have made so far without reservation, achieve a beautiful conclusion, and let’s all win.”
Bow
Astonishment crossed the students’ eyes.
Wasn’t So-ah, who had committed countless acts of character assassination, not only using honorifics but also bowing his head and performing a silent salute?
But that was not the end.
Another surprising word flowed from So-ah’s mouth.
“After today, we will see each other as officials of the same Martial Alliance.”
‘Ah…!’
‘That’s right. I’m also becoming an official.’
‘I will definitely win.’
The power contained in the words was great.
On the faces of the students, who had been showing clear signs of tension just a moment ago, a firm will and a resolute determination were hung.
‘That’s right. Instructor Jin has been pushing us so hard until now for today.’
‘Come to think of it, I should be grateful. Because I’ve become this strong thanks to him pushing me like that.’
‘So that’s Instructor Jin’s true self. I’ve been cursing him as a trashy person…’
The students, who were moved by So-ah’s repeated polite attitude, even felt a sense of apology in a corner of their hearts.
At this moment, their eyes were filled with reverence for So-ah.
Just then.
“But!”
For some reason, So-ah’s voice was subtly twisted.
‘Don’t tell me…’
‘No, it can’t be.’
‘Hey!’
But an ominous premonition always comes true.
As expected.
“Students who lose disgracefully will have to be prepared. I’ll teach you what hell is. You must! No, just don’t even think about losing in the first place. If you really don’t want to die. Got it?”
Was that encouragement, or a curse?
Or was it the whisper of a demon who was secretly hoping for a dropout?
‘Damn it!’
‘Give me back my touching em, you bastard!’
‘Of course. I was a fool to believe him again after being deceived like that.’
The students’ gazes, which had been filled with emotion, were unconsciously replaced with contempt.
But even while feeling it fully, So-ah smiled slyly and let out a smirk.
“If you don’t like it, then win. Pfft.”
His stomach boiled and a fire raged.
The students were filled with a desire to plant their fists in the face of that rude instructor.
“Now… he’s teasing us, right?”
“It seems so.”
“Phew… I’m pissed.”
“Let’s win.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s win and flatten that human’s nose.”
“That’s right.”
“He said if we don’t like it, we should win, so we have no choice but to win! Damn it!”
“Let them come out now! Change the order! I’ll go first!”
Suddenly, the students’ momentum had completely changed.
Tension?
Trembling?
Such emotions had disappeared without a trace, and at this moment, only the fighting spirit to crush their opponents was heating their hearts.
‘Keke. As expected, stimulation is the best way to raise enthusiasm.’
So-ah curled up the corners of his mouth.
***
“From now on, we will begin the first duel evaluation. From the Earth Division, Jang Un-ho of the Hubei Jang Family versus from the Human Division, Moyong Hwa of the Moyong Family. Forward!”
The person in charge of the duel was Jong Jin-do, the first-rate disciple of the Hainan Sect and the vice-instructor of the academy, who had served So-ah as his ‘older brother’ for a while.
At his command, just as Moyong Hwa was about to walk to the training ground.
“Junior Sister.”
So-ah called softly and then took out something small from his bosom and handed it to her.
“What is this?”
Moyong Hwa, for a moment, carefully examined what So-ah had handed her.
It was a glove intricately woven with transparent threads.
“A fist glove made of Diamond Heavenly Silkworm Silk.”
“Th-The Diamond Heavenly Silkworm Silk?!”
“That’s right. You know, right? The Diamond Heavenly Silkworm Silk that has the effect of being impervious to swords, sabers, water, and fire. I had a hard time getting it.”
“Senior Brother!”
“You know Young Lady Yuk Jeong-ran, who is in charge of the Moyong family’s commercial district, right? I specially asked her and got it at a veeeery expensive price.”
Emotion crossed Moyong Hwa’s eyes.
She had originally learned the Moyong family’s family martial art, the Heaven and Earth Hundred Severing Sword Art, and had mainly used a sword.
But since she had taken her first step as a brawler instead of a swordswoman through the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, So-ah had wanted to give her a suitable gift.
But a fist glove made of Diamond Heavenly Silkworm Silk was by no means something that could be dismissed as just a suitable gift.
The Diamond Heavenly Silkworm Silk was a spiritual beast with a tremendous hardness that could cut through even iron like tofu and a strong durability against fire, so it was a rare item that could not be easily obtained even with money.
To have refined such a Diamond Heavenly Silkworm Silk countless times to make a single fist glove, there was no need to mention its value.
“Do you know why I was so obsessed with money? Of course, you can’t buy it just with money. Young Lady Yuk Jeong-ran has a wide network and knows a lot of people, so she got it for me. It’s a rare item that even the heads of most commercial districts can’t even see.”
“Senior Brother… what? Why are you making me feel so touched. Ahhh.”
Moyong Hwa, with a playful voice, playfully patted So-ah’s arm.
So-ah, finding his junior sister’s childish behavior cute, stroked her head once and then said in a gentle voice.
“Junior Sister. Go. Go and show them what kind of place the Moyong Family is. What kind of martial art the Ten-Second Invincible Arts is.”
“Okay, Senior Brother.”
In that moment.
Jang Un-ho of the Earth Division, who had already come out to the center of the training ground and was waiting, sent a glare at Moyong Hwa and grumbled.
“Hey! Hurry up and come out. I’m waiting!”
At that.
“I’m coming, I’m coming! Where’s the fuss?”
“You brat, you’re asking for it, really.”
“Hey? Hey, hey, hey? You’re being rude for a fellow student. Hey, you!”
Weren’t the students of the Human Division collectively glaring at Jang Un-ho and shouting as if to intimidate him?
‘Th-These guys are crazy.’
Although Jang Un-ho was dumbfounded, he was somehow intimidated by the soaring momentum of the Human Division’s firepower and could not say anything.
It wasn’t just Jang Un-ho who was flustered.
All the officials and students of the academy were speechless at the momentum of the Human Division.
‘Are they… the Human Division?’
‘Why are they more spirited than the Heaven Division?’
‘Does that mean they’re that confident in their skills?’
That question would soon be resolved.
Moyong Hwa, with a determined face, put on the Diamond Heavenly Silkworm Silk fist glove that So-ah had given her and strode to the center of the training ground.
At the same time.
“Infinite!”
“Staminaaaa!”
“Body!”
“Remodelingggg!”
“Let’s go!”
“Ajaaaaaa!”
From behind, the ‘stamina training’ slogan of the entire Human Division, led by So-ah, erupted.
‘Ugh! How embarrassing. Is this a life-and-death duel? What’s all this fuss?’
Moyong Hwa was embarrassed by her colleagues’ encouragement and her face turned red.
But the corners of her mouth were slightly turned up.
(End of Chapter)