Chapter 12: Reversal of Relations (2)
Chapter 11 – Reversal of Relations (2)
Namgung Cheon pondered for a moment.
Should he react to the compliment of being interesting, respond to the comment about being treated to a good meal, or answer the question about whether he had grown stronger?
Was this also a new way of speaking to tease a pushover?
As Namgung Cheon remained silent while trying to organize the disjointed words, Baekli Hyang asked with her usual refreshing smile.
“What is the secret?”
“What secret?”
When Namgung Cheon replied bluntly, her fine brow furrowed slightly.
But it was only for a brief moment; she soon asked with a charming smile.
“The secret to becoming stronger, of course. Perhaps an elixir? I doubt that, though. The Namgung Clan wouldn’t have the luxury for that anymore.”
Look at her.
She was strangely sarcastic. Or was she being openly sarcastic?
Perhaps she had become so accustomed to it that even normal conversations turned crooked like this.
Namgung Cheon let out a chuckle.
“I was always strong.”
“Pardon? Ah… pfft!”
She was openly mocking him.
She had no basic manners.
Baekli Hyang slightly covered her mouth as she continued.
“As expected, Young Master Namgung is interesting. Then why did you hide your skills all this time?”
“The Jianghu is originally that kind of place. If you reveal everything you have, it’s the perfect way to end up dead.”
“Then what about now?”
“After dying once, I realized I need to reveal a certain amount.”
An outspoken tone, and fearless eyes.
Certainly, many aspects of Namgung Cheon had changed.
However, Baekli Hyang did not care.
Rather, the more confidently he acted, the greater the likelihood that her plan would succeed.
“A pushover young master hiding his strength. Is it something like that?”
“Well, something like that.”
Looking at her now, she definitely had a crazy side to her as well.
Baekli Hyang continued with an interested expression.
“Then… could you perhaps teach me a thing or two? How about this evening in the rear garden of Hoyeon Pavilion?”
“Are you requesting a spar?”
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not trying to play a mischievous prank like before. As a martial artist, I truly want to know at least a little of the secret behind how you became strong, Young Master.”
Speaking like this, she seemed like a sane woman again.
“Please, Young Master Namgung.”
Clasp!
She even cupped her hands in a polite request.
The other students just stared, wondering what was going on.
Of course, he had no intention of wasting precious time to help this crazy woman.
Without a doubt, she had concocted some strange scheme.
Just as Namgung Cheon was about to reject her flat out, the door burst open and a middle-aged man strode in.
Baekli Hyang did not say anything more, only winking with one eye before heading back.
The middle-aged man was an instructor.
He briefly introduced himself as Gye Pyeong-ryang, and the students already seemed to know about him.
Gye Pyeong-ryang paused while opening a book and looked at the grimy Yun Jong-seung.
“What happened?”
Then, instead of Yun Jong-seung, Song Won-gyo replied sneeringly.
“He slipped in the latrine and fell into the cesspool, they say.”
“Bwahahaha!”
“Snicker, snicker…!”
The students clutched their bellies and laughed, as if finding it incredibly hilarious.
With his face flushed bright red, Yun Jong-seung could only grit his teeth.
Of course, the instructor actually… believed Song Won-gyo’s nonsense?
“Tsk tsk. You should have been careful. Go wash up and come back.”
Only then did Yun Jong-seung stand up from his seat and walk out.
They had probably threatened him not to even leave his seat before the instructor saw him.
By the way, for an instructor to believe such nonsense.
No, the instructor’s expression showed he clearly knew everything and was just letting it slide.
Perhaps he felt burdened by the students’ families and sects, or he wanted to turn a blind eye to troublesome matters.
Sigh, to think that such people are instructors.
It was dumbfounding, but since it was not something happening to Namgung Cheon himself, he just watched.
“Now, now, the atmosphere of the academy is chaotic, so do not act rashly. Fortunately, the Great Killing Star has died, but as you all know, several instructors of our main academy also lost their precious lives. So, behave yourselves and do not cause any disturbance.”
When he mentioned that instructors had lost their lives, Gye Pyeong-ryang shot a precise, displeased look at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon was inwardly flared up.
‘What are you looking at? Did I kill them? Ah… well, I did kill them.’
Still, in the eyes of that instructor, he would only be seen as Namgung Cheon, the child of the Great Killing Star.
Was he not sending a menacing gaze, as if intending to apply guilt by association?
Gye Pyeong-ryang continued as he opened the book.
“Then today, we will study the structure and main duties of the Martial Alliance’s Administration Hall.”
The class began.
The class was more interesting than expected.
To learn the internal structure of the Martial Alliance, his arch-nemesis in his past life, so clearly brought a strange sense of pleasure.
During the short breaks after class, the childish game of tormenting Yun Jong-seung continued.
They set him up as a target and shot arrows, tripped him to the ground and covered him with a cloak to beat him as a group, and even stuffed poisonous insects like centipedes down the back of his neck.
It was a childish yet malicious form of harassment.
Despite this, Yun Jong-seung gritted his teeth and endured.
‘Considering how he came to find me in the middle of the night whining, I thought he would have run away long ago. He has more grit than expected.’
Wait, could he be enduring because of what I said last night?
Because of the words that enduring hell would make him stronger?
No way, Yun Jong-seung wouldn’t be that stupid.
However…
No matter how one looked at it, he seemed exactly that stupid right now.
At any rate, that side of him was a somewhat new aspect.
* * *
After finishing dinner, Namgung Cheon completed his meditation and circulation of qi in his room and stepped outside.
While taking a walk, he saw Yun Jong-seung, covered in wounds and bruises, stumbling over from a distance.
It seemed he had been harassed by the students without even being able to eat dinner.
Yun Jong-seung glanced at Namgung Cheon and asked in a heavily hoarse voice.
“Are you… going to meet Baekli Hyang?”
“Huh?”
Come to think of it, did he make such a promise?
Since he had completely forgotten to reject her, was she waiting in the rear garden of Hoyeon Pavilion by now?
“I didn’t particularly plan to, but now that you remind me, I should head over.”
“Don’t.”
As Namgung Cheon stared blankly at him, Yun Jong-seung continued, grimacing deeply as if his split lip was painful.
“I know you’ve somehow grown stronger. But facing those guys is reckless. No matter how strong your martial arts are, they won’t leave you alone. They will trouble you in all kinds of ways. Because you are different. Yes, because you are the child of the Great Killing Star!”
It was certain.
This guy enjoyed getting beaten.
Whack!
As Namgung Cheon smacked him on the back of the head, Yun Jong-seung, whose eyes were bloodshot, glared at him fiercely.
“You bastard!”
“Oh? A heart like steel that hardens the more it gets hit. Is it something like that? Shall we see how hard it can get?”
“Dammit, I said that for your sake!”
“Cut it out. Why are you acting out of character and playing the fool? Act like you usually do. Did we suddenly become kindred spirits just because you became the official pushover?”
“I went out of my way to speak for your sake, and yet…”
“Shut up. I take care of my own business. I don’t want to hear advice from an official pushover bastard.”
“……”
As Namgung Cheon waved his hand casually and walked away, Yun Jong-seung, who had been standing in place for a long time, muttered in a barely audible voice.
“I told you that because of our past connection, you idiot. I said it because I remembered those damn times when we were close when we were immature.”
“What are you blabbering about? Speak up.”
“It’s nothing.”
Yun Jong-seung looked at the ground, sighed, and then moved his feet.
Pathetic bastard.
Still, they had been close in their youth, but had he turned his back because he had become the official pushover?
He would have to beat that guy up a bit more later.
* * *
Standing in the rear garden of Hoyeon Pavilion, Baekli Hyang smiled softly under the bright, cascading moonlight.
“You really came out, Young Master Namgung.”
“You told me to come.”
When Namgung Cheon replied indifferently, Baekli Hyang wore a smile as bright as the moonlight.
But she was inwardly surging with irritation.
Up until now, no one had treated her so carelessly.
Anyone who saw her would flatter and fawn over her in every way to win her favor.
There were also many men who trembled or made ridiculous mistakes out of sheer nervousness.
In this harsh world, beauty superior to others was a weapon in itself.
An innate ability that required no effort.
Because of that, Baekli Hyang even thought that her very existence might be nobler than others.
But what was with Namgung Cheon?
Was he not looking at her as if she were a stone rolled on the roadside?
Namgung Cheon had been like that from the beginning.
Yet, after surviving a brush with death this time, that indifferent gaze of his had become even worse.
How dare he, when he was just the official pushover of Dragon Heaven Academy.
“Young Master Yun spoke highly of you, saying that Young Master Namgung’s martial prowess has progressed by leaps and bounds.”
“So? Why did you call me?”
“You have an unexpectedly impatient personality.”
“You seem to have an unexpectedly strange mind. Alternating between informal speech and formal politeness.”
“They say a woman’s transformation is innocent, don’t they?”
“What do men and women matter in the Jianghu? There are only those who hold the hilt of a sword and those who do not. Just state your business.”
“As I said, I only wanted to experience your martial arts and learn a thing or two, Young Master.”
“So you’re saying let’s spar, right?”
“Yes. A fair spar. Since it’s dangerous, we won’t use weapons and will only use fists and kicks.”
Was this ultimately also a means to torment the pushover?
It did not matter either way.
If that was the case, he could just teach her a proper lesson.
‘But she seems quite confident. Trying to face me alone. Or is it truly for the sake of learning?’
Well, since the Baekli Clan had grown powerful enough to be counted among the Seven Great Clans of Jianghu, her martial prowess would not be at a negligible level.
Namgung Cheon beckoned with his hand.
“Come at me. I’ll let you have the first move.”
“Then, gladly.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Baekli Hyang executed her footwork and closed in at a rapid speed.
Swish!
In an instant, a red light flared from Baekli Hyang’s dantian in Namgung Cheon’s vision.
‘I can see it, as expected.’
The flow of qi running through her meridians and the path that would follow were displayed completely.
Dash!
Her fair and delicate fist stretched straight forward, following the red path exactly.
‘She is actually quite decent.’
Namgung Cheon, dodging the fist by a hair’s breadth, admired inwardly.
It seemed they were not one of the Seven Great Clans of Jianghu for nothing.
Would this be around the entry level of a first-class master?
To reach the realm of a first-class master at the young age of eighteen, she certainly possessed talent.
‘Well, not to the extent of being called a genius like me, though.’
Namgung Cheon pretended to engage appropriately while assessing the opponent’s martial arts.
On the other hand, Baekli Hyang was inwardly astonished.
‘Namgung Cheon’s martial arts were at this level?’
She had taken pride in the belief that there were only two or three students in the Blue Dragon Class, including Paeng Su-hyeok, who could face her.
Of course, Namgung Cheon could not even show his face among them.
But what was this?
Swish! Swish, swish!
She continuously executed dazzling footwork and unleashed a flurry of fists and kicks, but they kept missing by a hair’s breadth.
Although she had no intention of having a real spar in the first place, the opponent’s skill annoyed her, and before she knew it, she was fighting in earnest.
‘No. There’s no need to get swept up. No matter how much this guy has grown, I can easily break him if I do it properly. But that is not what is important right now.’
Suppressing her rising competitive spirit, she recalled her plan and wore a smug smile.
‘This is actually better. If this pushover bastard has this level of martial prowess, it makes even more sense!’
In an instant, Baekli Hyang stopped mid-reach and abruptly changed direction as if executing a grappling technique.
‘Hmm?’
This time, Namgung Cheon also could not understand, so he quickly backed away.
It was because the flow of qi suddenly disappeared, cutting off the path.
‘Is it a hidden move?’
Soon, Baekli Hyang’s hand curved in from an unexpected direction.
Tap, swish!
‘What on earth is this…?’
An attack that made no sense at all.
Although she executed a grappling technique, he could not even gauge what the movement was for.
Therefore, Namgung Cheon did not make any response until Baekli Hyang grabbed his sleeve.
With the intention of watching Baekli Hyang’s hidden motive first.
Right after that, Baekli Hyang tripped her own leg and fell backward.
‘Was this a mistake…?’
That was because it was by no means the attitude of an attacker.
Rather, was it not an act that put herself in greater danger?
Crash! Thud!
As the two suddenly collapsed together, Baekli Hyang ended up on the ground and Namgung Cheon on top of her.
What in the world was this situation?
At that moment, a beautiful yet wicked smile bloomed on Baekli Hyang’s face.
Subsequently,
Rip!
Surprisingly, did Baekli Hyang not violently tear her own clothes?
‘What the…?’
Namgung Cheon widened his eyes.
With even her undergarments completely exposed, Baekli Hyang began to scream at the top of her lungs.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
What is this…?
Ignoring the bewildered Namgung Cheon, Baekli Hyang shouted frantically.
“Young Master Namgung! Please don’t do this! Get a hold of yourself! You mustn’t do this! Someone, please help me! Sob! We agreed to just spar! Didn’t we?”
Namgung Cheon looked down at Baekli Hyang with a dumbfounded expression.
Wow, in all his life, this was truly the first time he had seen such a nutjob.
But what to do?
I am even crazier.
In an instant, the corners of Namgung Cheon’s mouth twisted strangely.