Chapter 16: Rumors of Demonic Arts Practitioners


    Ak Yeon-Ho turned out to be a lightweight drinker.


    An absurdly lightweight drinker.


    Heeheehee, Hyung-nim One more cup


    Why did I ever agree to this?


    I helped the half-unconscious Ak Yeon-Ho up the stairs to my room, since the bastard hadnt reserved any amodations for himself. However, what was more upsetting was the fact that I had to pay for the drinks as well.


    Well, we only managed to have a few drinks before Ak Yeon-Ho waspletely wasted, so it wasnt too expensive, but still


    Ugh


    Ahh, for crying out loud.


    I dumped the dead drunk punk on the bed and smiled ironically, recalling the looks on the female patrons faces as I carried Ak Yeon-Ho to my room.


    Well, this guy was indeed handsome, but that wasnt the thing that bothered me the most.


    <em>Why the fuck would a martial artist let himself get wasted in front of a person theyre meeting for the first time? No, never mind a martial artist, no normal person would show their vulnerabilities so easily.</em>


    <em>Is this guy really that innocent and trusting, or is he just that confident in his strength? No, what ifhes testing me?</em>


    This is a non-profit trantion. There are no ads.


    <em>Should I do something to confirm his intentions?</em>


    I thought about it for a while, then subsequently gave up. There was no benefit in making enemies out of a rich kid.


    After a while, Ak Yeon-Ho started to regain his senses. It seemed that he was the type who got drunk fast, but also recovered fast. Well, him being a peak-level master probably gave him a better metabolism than most.


    Guhhhh


    You awake?


    Ak Yeon-Ho sat up on the bed, holding his head in his hands.


    Yeah, I havent drunk wine in a really long time, so I went a little overboard. Sigh, this is probably the reason why Dad forbade me from touching alcohol once I entered the gangho


    <em>Im not exactly in any position to say this, but you should listen to your father.</em>


    Why did you do that if you knew that you couldnt handle your drink? Also, why didnt you just drive the alcohol out of your body using your qi?


    Normally, it was nigh impossible for peak-level masters to get drunk on wine, because they could simply remove it using their qi.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Ak Yeon-Ho beamed in a way that would make any womans heart pound and replied, Whats the point of drinking if not for the alcohol? I drink to get drunk.


    Oh, so is that why you drank yourself into oblivion?


    No, I just didnt think that I would get so wasted. After all, I only drink once every few years.


    Wow, good boy, Im so proud of you.


    Ak-Yeon Ho suddenly grinned slyly, saying, Well, what can I say? Hyung-nim is just too handsome, and that made the wine taste all the more delicious. As expected, wine is something that should be enjoyed while admiring the best artwork


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    Suddenly, Ak-Yeon Ho noticed me trying to sneak out of the room. He immediately waved his arms frantically and corrected himself, Wait! I was just kidding! If you leave me behind in my current state, Ill really be thought of as a weirdo! Ahh, you really cant take a joke, can you? Anyway, the reason I never got to drink much wine was because my strict father forbade it. Also, I thought that with my martial arts skills, my alcohol tolerance shouldnt be that bad


    Seriously, this guy. He looked like a yboy who had hit on a lot of girls, so I thought that he was a lot more mature than this, but it seems that he unexpectedly has an extremely nave and innocent side to him.


    Well, Mr Fattest from earlier was also a person whose easygoing appearance belied his shrewd, recalcitrant personality. When he left, he had acted like it was nothing, but I knew that the fatass would definitely not let things go so easily.


    The gangho was a ce wherepassion meant nothing, and vengeance was never forgotten, after all.


    <em>Instead of letting him run off, Ak Yeon-Ho should have just killed him. Only then would the problem have been solved for good.</em>


    Perhaps it was because I belonged to the Blood Cult, but I really couldnt understand why these orthodox folks liked showing sympathy to their enemies so often.


    Well, many of them did care about their reputation, but then all theyd have to do was hire an assassin to quietly murder their enemies and bury the corpses where no one would ever find them, or at least beat the guy up till he could no longer practice martial arts for the rest of his life. That kind of industry flourished for a reason, you know.


    Just then, Ak Yeon-Ho took a bulging wallet and waved it in front of me, asking, Hyung-nim, want to go for another round? I swear that the drinks will be on me this time.


    Go light on the alcohol, and order more food.


    I guess its none of my business whether this guy goes around randomly making enemies or  wees you.


    We ordered room service and resumed the drinking party in private.


    Kuhaa! Now this is the stuff!


    When people drink, they often begin talking about anything and everything. We were no exception.


    Anyway, my dad is just waaaay too overprotective!


    Hmm? My dad is like that, too.


    Somehow, the conversation eventually started going in a weird direction. Insulting our fathers turned out to be amon topic between the two of us.


    Do you know why Im so bad at drinking? Its because he force-fed me so many miracle medicines and pills, I gained a body that cannot handle alcohol.


    My dad secretly stalks me even into the backyard toilet. Once, I was so shocked at seeing him that I slipped and fell into the pit while taking a shit.


    Hyung-nim, I know youre drunk, but thats a bit too much information


    What?


    Anyway, when I was a kid, my dad wouldnt let me make friends. He told me that I had to learn martial arts first.


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    My dad wouldnt let the past me learn martial arts, so that me tried to learn some strange martial arts in secret and ended up almost dying multiple times.


    Huh? If you did it, then you did it? Why are you talking like its someone elses story?


    Err, yeah, that was me. Right.


    Hyung-nim, youre weird. Well, I do like martial arts a lot, and Im pretty damned good at it to boot. I also dont really like going outdoors, so I obediently did as my dad told me and became a peak-level master


    At some point during this drunken conversation, I had given up eating and drinking and started just listening to Ak Yeon-Ho ramble on.


    BAM!


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Suddenly, Ak Yeon-Ho mmed his hands into the table and angrily hollered, And then! He fucking ordered me to go get married! How am I supposed to get married alone? I need a partner, right? You know what Im saying?


    What are you saying?


    Ak Yeon-Ho ignored my half-hearted answer and continued raving, He told me to go find a girlfriend, and then outright kicked me out of the house!


    So thats the full story behind why this is your first time entering the gangho, even though youre already this old?


    Yes, well, yes.


    That. Is. The. Dumbest. Reason. Ive. Ever. Heard.


    <em>As I thought, this guys one hell of an entric punk!</em>


    Suddenly, a strange thought struck me, so I asked, Dongsaeng, with your family background, wouldnt they have arranged a marriage for you if you wished it? Youre pretty good-looking, and it shouldnt be hard to find you a match.


    The moment he heard me mention that he was good-looking, Ak Yeon-Ho immediately blushed. He then shook his head and replied, Well, theres that, butmy dads really scary, anderr, Im


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    Ak Yeon-Ho scratched his head in embarrassment, then giggled, Im pretty picky when ites to girls, tee hee.


    I see, good for you. I grinned and sipped a bit of wine.


    As I listened to Ak Yeon-Hos story, memories of the times I shared with Dad resurfaced in my mind.


    Your situation is the exact opposite of mine. Ive been weak and sickly ever since I was a child, so my dad was very adamant about me leaving home.


    I guess you do look like a feeble, delicate schr


    Is that supposed to be an insult?


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    This is just a wild guess, but youre actually a really strong supreme master, right?


    Think whatever you want.


    Supreme master my ass.


    Though, it was only natural that Ak Yeon-Ho would misunderstand as he couldnt feel any qi from me.


    The truth was, I still had very little qi. Although I had already reached the first stage of the Heaven Defying Divine Art a while ago and created the foundations for a contaminated qi dantian, just that alone did not allow me to freely use qi.


    <em>If I want to be able to use qi without suffering from any side effects, I will have to reach the third stage</em>


    No, that wasnt enough. I had to fully cure my Heavenly Yin Blocked Meridians, and the only way to do that was to keep raising my mastery of the Heaven Defying Divine Art. To do that though, I needed a lot of medicines and formations, all of which cost a lot of money.


    Money that I didnt have.


    As I recalled the astronomical amount of money I needed, I couldnt help but sigh softly.


    Why are you sighing?


    Its nothing. By the way, Dongsaeng, where are you headed after this?


    Im going to the Azure Dragon Academy.


    I stiffened up.


    No way


    You ought to read this at .


    Then again, the town where I was at right now was only a few days away from Nanchang,1 where the Azure Dragon Academy was located.


    With a feeling of dread in my heart, I asked, What a coincidence! Im on my way to the Azure Dragon Academy, too. However, Dongsaeng, arent you a little too old to enroll into the academy?


    The same goes for you, right, Hyung-nim? Waitit cant be!


    Are you also applying for a job there?


    Are you also going there to look for a wife?


    We shouted at the same time.


    <em>What the fuck are you saying!?</em>


    I narrowed my eyes at Ak Yeon-Ho, who coughed awkwardly and meekly confessed, Ahem. I mean, Im going there to take the instructors exam.


    Ah, so that was why he got so riled up by Mr Fattests words.


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    Oi, what exactly did you mean when you said that you were going there to look for a wife?


    Who said that? Me? Since when?


    <em>So youre going to act stupid now? Too bad, its already toote.</em>


    I stared suspiciously at Ak Yeon-Ho, and then the answer suddenly hit me. I immediately drew my sword and pointed it at the punk, saying, Youre not going toy your hands on the students, are you? Youre crazy!


    Cough, cough! What are you using me of? I didnt mean it that way!


    Shut up! Im going to cut off your balls and save all the innocent young girls of the murim!


    And Im telling you thats not what I meant!


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    Ak Yeon-Ho desperately tried to exin himself, but that wasnt enough for me to lower my suspicion of him.


    So what youre saying is, your dad told you that you werent allowed to return home before finding a fiance? And that youre going to the academy to find a nice woman?


    Yes!


    Of all ces, why did you choose the Azure Dragon Academy?


    For the longest time, my ideal type of woman has always been the elegant, intelligent kind, Ak-Yeon Ho replied, grinning from ear to ear, as if he was embarrassed.


    He didnt seem to be lying, so I decided to let him off the hook for now.


    What about you, Hyung-nim? Why are you applying to the academy as an instructor?


    Without a twinge of guilt, I confidently answered, Im going there to make money. My goal is to be a Star Instructor and earn tons of money.


    Thats so pragmatic.


    You better control that thing in your pants. If you dare touch the kids, Im going to cut them off.


    Read this at , or else.


    For thest time, Im telling you that is not what I meant!


    Amid the clink of wine cups, night soon fell.


    Ak Yeon-Ho and I decided to travel together until we reached Nanchang, where the Azure Dragon Academy was. It was like traveling with apetitor, but


    <em>Theres going to be more than one applicant anyway, andpared to the benefits of freeloading food and inn fees off the rich kid, something like that is trivial. Besides, having apanion to talk to on the road makes the trip a lot less boring.</em>


    Hahaha, as long as I hang out with Baek-hyung, Im sure the women will be lining up for us!


    <em>On second thought, is this really okay?</em>


    A few dayster, we arrived at Nanchang.


    Uncle!2


    Long time no see, Su-Ryong, A man greeted me with a big smile on his face. It was Go Ju-Yeol, the Flying Eagle.


    As Nanchang was thergest city in Jiangxi Province, both the Jiangxi Branch of the Murim Alliance and the Azure Dragon Academy were located here.


    Also, the reason why I went to look for Go Ju-Yeol was because there was something I needed from him.


    I heard from Mu-Heun that you wereing here, so I wrote your rmendation letter in  wees you.


    Thank you, I replied, taking the rmendation letter from him.


    Compared to a few months ago, Go Ju-Yeol looked a lot more worn out. Even then, hed taken some time out of his busy schedule to meet me and help me.


    Go Ju-Yeol looked at me with satisfaction and asked, You look a lot healthier now than you did before. Also, is the young man next to you your friend?


    Yes, hes a friend that I made on the way here.


    My name is Ak Yeon-Ho, and its my first time in the gangho.


    Are you from the Shandong Ak n?


    Just like that, the three of us talked for a while, but because of Go Ju-Yeols work, we couldnt hang out for long.


    Go Ju-Yeol patted me on the shoulder, saying, A letter of rmendation is just a letter of rmendation. Pretty much every applicant has one. Im sorry, but among all the referees, Im probably one of the least influential ones.


    You ought to read this at .


    No, dont be, Im already grateful that youre even willing to write me one. Ill take care of the rest myself.


    Being good at martial arts was not the only criteria for an instructor. One also needed toe from a good family, have a clean background, an illustrious career record, and excel at the interview.


    Furthermore, Go Ju-Yeol hinted to me that this yearspetition was going to be fierce.


    I believe in you. Well, Id like to talk more, but Ive really got to go. Ive been so busytely that I havent got any energy.


    Are you normally this busy?


    Im always busy. This is the murim after all, where stuff happens every single day. Sigh I havent got enough manpower, and I get paid peanuts


    Suddenly, as if realizing that this wasnt information that he should be telling us, Go Ju-Yeol coughed and said, Anyway, I at least want to treat you to a meal before you go


    Please dont worry about that.


    Then, next time, Ill throw a party to celebrate you passing the instructors exam. Oh, and I hope you pass too.


    Yes! Thank you!


    Go Ju-Yeol rose from his seat, and we bowed our heads in respect. He took a few steps forward and was just about to leave, when suddenly, he spun around and walked back toward us.


    You know, there is one way you can earn some big bonus points for the interview Therefore, Su-Ryong, want to help me with something?


    This is a non-profit trantion. There are no ads.


    What? Are you asking me to help you with your work?


    About that Go Ju-Yeol hesitated for a moment, then carefully continued, Recently, there was one case in which a civilian was killed by a group of martial artists.


    !!


    Unlike Ak Yeon-Ho next to me, I wasnt particrly surprised by this news. Such things weremon, especially back when I was part of the unorthodox sects.


    However, as if that wasnt all, Go Ju-Yeol looked around to check that no one would overhear us and whispered, We suspect that the people who did itused demonic arts.


    What?


    Now <em>this</em> was surprising, even to me.<hr><ol><li role="doc-endnote">


    Nanchang: The capital city of Jiangxi Province, China. It is located next to Poyang Lake and is one of the many cities along the Yangtze River. The most notablendmark there would probably be the Pavilion of Prince Teng, one of the Three Great Towers of Southern China along with the Yueyang Tower (Hunan) and the Yellow Crane Tower (Wuhan).</li><li role="doc-endnote">


    Uncle:  baekbu, meaning older uncle on the dads side (in this case, Su-Ryongs dad and Go Ju-Yeol are sworn brothers). English just hasnt got enough vocabry for all the different types of rtives.</li></ol>