Chapter 42: Is There Anything You Want to Ask Me?

    Do you have any idea how nervous I was back there? Because of you, Hyung-nim, I MMMMPH!

    Youre hurting my ears. Just shut up and eat, I said, stuffing a large dumpling into Ak Yeon-Hos mouth.

    Myeong Il-Oh sipped his wine and giggled, Dont blame him. If Yeon-Ho hadnt asked the examiners to delay your turn, wed be throwing a consolation party for you right now.

    Nom Zats wight, you sood sank me! Ak Yeon-Ho complained even as he chewed on the dumpling, then shot me what he thought was a fierce look.

    Unfortunately, with his pretty boy face, he looked cute rather than scary.

    I smirked and refilled his cup, saying, Isnt that why Im treating you to drinks now?

    After getting back from the demonstration lecture, the three of us gathered in my room and ordered room service to celebrate.

    Anyway, what were you doing that made you so late? Myeong Il-Oh asked.

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    Recalling the grueling past few days, I let out a long sigh. Dont remind me. I went to meet some friends

    My plan to cure Wiji Cheons Qi Deviation and come to Nanchang with Wiji Yeol and Wiji Cheon was good in itself. However, they were both wanted criminals by the Murim Alliance, and there was the possibility of us being tracked by the black-cloaked man who had given Wiji Cheon the fake Unlimited Sword, so we had no choice but to avoid the main road and go on a long hike across the mountains. If that wasnt bad enough, even when we finally arrived in Nanchang and I summoned Cheong Cheon from outside the city with a smoke signal, making fake identities for the Wiji Clan duo and obtaining passes to enter the city took much longer than I had expected.

    Well, I couldnt tell Ak Yeon-Ho and Myeong Il-Oh the whole story, so I simply complained about going to help an acquaintance and ending up having to endure a terrible ordeal.

    Thanks to them I was forced to practice my movement arts to death on the way here, I sighed again, shaking my head.

    Myeong Il-Oh smiled wryly and looked at Ak Yeon-Ho. Yeon-Ho here thought that you were busy scouting out possible locations for the White Dragon Academy.

    White Dragon Academy?

    Didnt you mention that if you failed the exam, you would build the White Dragon Academy across the road from the Azure Dragon Academy and surpass them within ten years? Man, you should have seen the look on the Headmasters face when Yeon-Ho told him about that

    Ahem! Hey, would you mind not talking about someone elses embarrassing history? Thats already in the past! Ak Yeon-Ho interrupted.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

    I refilled his wine cup again as thanks and said, Aww shucks. Its my treat today, so drink to your hearts welcomes you.

    Heehee, I wont say no to such a generous offer. Here, you drink too, Hyung-nim.

    Suddenly, Myeong Il-Oh asked worriedly, By the way, you two havent forgotten about the duel tomorrow, have you?

    The practical exams for new Azure Dragon Academy instructors consisted of two parts, and the first was the demonstration lecture they had finished earlier. The second part of the exam was a duel with one of the existing instructors that was scheduled to take place the next day.

    It wasnt mandatory to win the duel, but winning definitely gave an applicant a huge advantage. Unfortunately, since the duel pairings were traditionally decided by the Principal, they would not know the identities of their opponents until right before the exam, preventing the applicants from investigating and analyzing their weaknesses.

    The Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva, Noh Gun-Sang Even back when the Blood Cult was active, he was already known as one of the top hundred martial artists in the orthodox murim and was renowned for killing countless masters of the Cult.

    Although we were enemies during that turbulent time, for some reason, hes being surprisingly friendly to me now. Does he want something from me? Even though Im currently a total nobody with nothing of value?

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    Hmmm Well, I am indeed handsome and competent

    Wow, seriously Hyung-nim? Youre praising yourself out loud? Myeong Il-Oh clicked his tongue in mock amazement.

    I refilled his wine cup and confidently said, Its just a duel. Whats the big deal?

    Thats right, its just a duel! It doesnt matter who the opponent is, all I have to do is beat them to a pulp! Ak Yeon-Ho blurted.

    Having reached the three-star level of the Heaven Defying Divine Art, I wasnt too worried about the duel, and Ak Yeon-Ho was also a peak-level master in his own right.

    Its good that youre both so relaxed Myeong Il-Oh, whose skills were roughly equal to the current Azure Dragon Academy instructors, sighed, feeling a bit lonely.

    You have only yourself to blame for not working harder on your martial arts, I teased.

    Ak Yeon-Ho giggled, Yup, heeheehee Anyway, Hyung-nim, why did you have to go and be so cool back there?!

    Fuck, I forgot how easily this guy gets drunk.

    Ak Yeon-Ho snuggled up next to me, smirking deviously. Did you see the looks on the girls faces when you cut the Blade Wind in half? They were ecstatic. You must have enjoyed listening to all their swooning too, right?

    Get off me before I cut you in half as well. I pushed Ak Yeon-Ho away in disgust and stood up.

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

    He floundered for a bit, fell on his butt, then looked at me with teary eyes. Where are you going, Hyung-nim?

    Im going to the toilet. Are you going to follow me there?

    Ak Yeon-Ho blushed. Boo, what are you saying, so embarrassing Hurry up, okay? I cant wait anymore!

    You, do you know what youre saying?

    This is just a drunk dude babbling nonsense, right? Right.

    I bowed to send him off, saying, See you tomorrow, Grandpa.

    Without a word, he turned around and strode out of the inn.

    I watched him go, then looked at the pill hed given me. It doesnt look like the type that needs to be eaten right away

    Huh, I didnt realize you two were related, someone suddenly said.

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    I spun around, startled. Someone came this close to me without alerting me? How Oh, its him.

    The Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy, the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva Noh Gun-Sang stood behind me, smiling like a gentle, kindly saint.

    I apologize. I didnt mean to eavesdrop. The atmosphere seemed serious, and I didnt want to interrupt Hohoho, the man who was once called the Devil by the unorthodox sects laughed bashfully.

    I sat down across from Noh Gun-Sang, my vision of him only slightly obscured by the steaming tea. He picked up his teacup, slowly savored the aroma, and took a sip.

    Mmm, this is delicious. I wonder if tea is something that tastes better as one ages? I seem to prefer it more and more, he lamented, a slight frown on his face.

    Should I order wine instead?

    Heehee, its okay. I know its quite a chore for a youngster like you to drink with an old man like me.

    No, I

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    Who taught you martial arts? Noh Gun-Sang suddenly asked, bringing an end to the small talk.

    I narrowed my eyes. Is he onto something? Well, even if he is, I have nothing to lose. I havent used any Blood Cult martial arts in front of him or done anything suspicious.

    I answered confidently, My father.

    Was your father once a student at the Azure Dragon Academy?

    Yes. I heard that he was the academys worst delinquent around thirty years ago.

    Cough! Cough! Noh Gun-Sang choked on his tea.

    Perhaps my answer was too blunt for him.

    After some time, he smiled and continued asking, Why did you wait so long to reveal yourself to the gangho?

    It was a question that could be interpreted in several ways, but I suppose what he wanted to know was: If youre that strong, why havent you made a name for yourself in the murim yet?

    It was a compliment from one of the top hundred martial artists, so I replied with a grateful smile, When I was younger, I was too weak and sickly to fight, and when I grew older, I realized that risking my life just to see who was stronger is meaningless.

    Hohoho Noh Gun-Sang laughed heartily. Did you know? Im actually someone who enjoys peace and boredom.

    Well, everyone has their likes and dislikes. I much prefer teaching over fighting, and if I can make a living from it, then all the better.

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    In short, you simply dont want to get involved inthe ganghos complicated web of intrigue, right?

    Something like that.

    Noh Gun-Sang pondered my words deeply for a while, then said, You know, you arent the first person like that who has applied to the academy as an instructor. Some of them were afraid to take a human life, and some were afraid to lose their own. I do not condemn them or look down on them.

    I appreciate your understanding

    But you are not like them. Suddenly, Noh Gun-Sangs gaze sharpened to the point where it could piece a persons heart. You dont strike me as someone who is afraid of shedding blood, rather

    Somehow, I get the feeling that youre someone who has shed so much blood that youre tired of it. Hohoho. Noh Gun-Sang smiled and looked straight at me.

    I didnt avert my gaze. It wasnt like he could figure anything out just staring at me.

    Our eyes met, and there was a moment of silence.

    After sizing me up to his satisfaction, Noh Gun-Sang looked away. He took another sip of his tea and said, Thats all I wanted to ask you. Is there anything you want to ask me?

    Yes.

    I immediately answered, Tomorrow, I want you to let me fight Namgoong Su.

    Noh Gun-Sang broke into laughter as if he already knew what I would say.

    Translators Note: Just recovered from the flu, ughand still coughing.