Chapter 16: A Person Must Be Positive (1)

Chapter 15 – A Person Must Be Positive (1)

“Even if you return as a corpse, it wouldn’t be strange at all.”

At Gye Pyeong-ryang’s words, the cadets stirred.

Waiting for the commotion to quiet down for a moment, Gye Pyeong-ryang continued.

“It means it is that dangerous this time. Furthermore, you must sign a consent form stating that neither the academy nor the Alliance will be held responsible even if you die during a real combat mission. So, apply with caution.”

At that, Song Won-gyo, who was sitting in the back seat, curled the corners of his mouth and spoke.

“Isn’t this a subjugation expedition to defend justice? If cadets like us who pursue the orthodox path refuse to participate because we value our lives despite knowing of injustice, with what face would we walk around? Everyone in our class will probably participate. Isn’t that right, everyone?”

“Of course, Brother Song!”

“You are right!”

One after another, they nodded their heads deeply in agreement.

However, Song Won-gyo had said this with Namgung Cheon completely in mind.

If Namgung Cheon did not participate in the Dabie Mountains expedition, what Jo Gang-min had painstakingly planned might go down the drain.

After suffering a humiliating defeat to Namgung Cheon last night, had he not swallowed his pride to ask Jo Gang-min for revenge?

He could not let such a good opportunity fly away in vain.

“Of course, I understand your sincerity. But I am saying this because there might be those who think differently.”

Gye Pyeong-ryang’s gaze blatantly turned toward Namgung Cheon.

It was as if he was sarcastically saying, ‘An illegitimate child of the Great Killing Star like you will obviously opt out,’ or pressuring him with a look that said, ‘Will you dare to back out even after I said this much?’

Of course, Namgung Cheon had no intention of not participating.

He had already been pondering how to go to the Dabie Mountains, so to have such an opportunity roll in on its own was a welcome surprise.

If anything, he felt like he should offer his gratitude.

‘Whether in my past life or now, the public enemies of the Jianghu scattered everywhere are helping me.’

Well, looking at Song Won-gyo’s eyes, it seemed he had prepared some scheme of his own, but he did not care much about such things.

At best, it was just child’s play, wasn’t it?

Compared to his past life, where he crossed the line between life and death with his life on the line at the tip of a blade, the obvious tricks of such greenhorns could be considered a minor amusement.

Rather, he was simply glad that he could go to the Dabie Mountains at the exact time he wanted, as if it had been waiting for him.

This was why people said that those destined to succeed would succeed.

Namgung Cheon grinned at Song Won-gyo as if to show off.

Whether he disliked that smile, Song Won-gyo snorted coldly and looked away.

‘Tsk tsk. To be so negative and narrow-minded.’

‘Look at me.’

No matter what those greenhorns plot in the Dabie Mountains, do I not smile brightly with a generous attitude?

‘A person must always be bright and positive like this.’

* * *

During lunchtime, Namgung Cheon ate his meal with an exceptionally positive mind.

Today’s lunch dish was boiled duck.

It was also a dish with a special story for Namgung Cheon.

This was because it was the dish he had eaten when he first met Namgung Seon.

In short, seeing boiled duck reminded him of his first meeting with Namgung Seon, when they bared their fangs and growled at each other, not knowing they would fall in love.

‘We fought for our lives like that, pointing lethal swords at each other, and my cheek was cut long.’

Namgung Cheon unconsciously stroked his cheek at the sudden memory and chuckled.

Since his body had changed now, there was no way a scar would remain, was there?

Although the scar on his face was gone, some lingering resentment remained in his heart.

‘Ah, thinking about it again makes me slightly annoyed.’

To think she would unfold a lethal sword style so desperately on our first meeting, despite having such a pretty face.

Even though I threw so many flirtatious glances her way, she completely ignored them!

Feeling a sudden surge of negative energy, Namgung Cheon tried hard to shake off the painful(?) memory and focused solely on the tender texture of the boiled duck.

Just then, the sound of the dining cadets stirring could be heard.

Turning his head, he saw a youth with a somewhat cute face and a rather small build entering along with a man of large build.

Since the atmosphere of the two was so contrasting, they stood out even more.

They were none other than Jo Gang-min and Gwak Cheol-ju.

Several female cadets sparkled their eyes and bustled upon seeing Jo Gang-min.

They were mostly exclamations of him being cute, cool, or handsome.

Although Namgung Cheon harbored doubts about whether being ‘cute yet cool’ was truly possible, he did not care anymore.

Well, he thought it was similar to men applying all sorts of flowery language when looking at a pretty woman.

Jo Gang-min scanned the dining hall once and approached Song Won-gyo, who was sitting by the window.

“Brother Song, it seems the food goes down well.”

It was a statement that could be interpreted strangely depending on how one heard it.

However, the other cadets were too busy watching this young genius, who had appeared after a long time, to care much about his tone.

Except for one person.

“I-I’m just eating.”

“Oh, come on, you seem to be eating very well. Is it that delicious? So much so that you wouldn’t notice even if you died while eating?”

“No. Actually, I don’t have much of an appetite.”

When Song Won-gyo put down his spoon and chopsticks, Jo Gang-min patted him on the shoulder and laughed.

“Hey, it’s a joke. I also came here because I wanted to eat the food here for a change. Then, please finish your meal.”

However, it was when Jo Gang-min had moved three or four steps away.

“Uh-oh!”

Suddenly losing his balance, was Jo Gang-min not falling right toward where Namgung Cheon was?

While trying to regain his balance, Jo Gang-min reached out his hand in confusion, and coincidentally struck Namgung Cheon’s back.

*Thud!*

Under the impact, Namgung Cheon knocked over his dish, causing a mess.

*Clatter!*

The front of Namgung Cheon’s robe was soaked wet with the spilled soup, and the food that had been in the bowl lay scattered haphazardly on the table and floor.

Jo Gang-min quickly corrected his posture and apologized repeatedly.

“Ah, dear! I am truly sorry! I was so engrossed in thinking about the footwork I newly learned that my feet ended up tangled! I am really sorry!”

“Sigh, they say even a dog isn’t disturbed while eating.”

“Excuse me…?”

At the unexpected response, Jo Gang-min’s eyes widened.

Usually, in this kind of situation, it was one of two things.

Either they knew he was picking a fight on purpose but let it slide because they were suppressed by his aura.

Or they were a fool who did not even realize a fight was being picked.

But this guy was openly showing his hostility?

Moreover, the meaning of the words that followed was even harder to understand.

“Well, since today is a positive day. Actually, the saying that even a dog isn’t disturbed when eating is absolute nonsense. Isn’t that right? The true battlefield known to all Jianghu people is the tavern, after all. Although this place isn’t a tavern, it feels somewhat similar. Come to think of it, are the Jianghu people who disturb others so well while eating worse than dogs? The boundary between dog and human is always a difficult question.”

“Um, what do you mean by…”

“Just think of it as me talking nonsense too.”

At that, Gwak Cheol-ju, who was standing beside him, stepped forward abruptly and thrust his fist.

“Watch your tone!”

*Swoosh!*

It was truly a movement like a flash of lightning!

But surprisingly, Jo Gang-min blocked his fist lightly with the back of his hand first.

The movement was so fast that even the watching cadets let out low exclamations of admiration.

“Cheol-ju, stop. Although I am a senior at the academy, this person is older than me.”

He pretended to understand and be considerate, but the wit of pointing it out so that everyone would be reminded of the fact that he was the senior of the academy.

Excellent. Highly commendable.

He is well-equipped with the qualities to become a bad guy.

If he became just a bit more recklessly twisted from there, he might even be able to become a public enemy of the Martial World.

Ah, since an ordinary rising star’s future dream wouldn’t be to become a public enemy of the Martial World, was it a useless thought?

Perhaps I had a bit too much pride in facing the entire Martial World in my past life.

“Right, it’s not like being a public enemy of the Martial World is some grand title or anything.”

As I muttered unconsciously, Jo Gang-min asked with an even more bewildered expression.

“Um, what have you been talking about since earlier…”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Just an extension of the nonsense. More than that, since I have lived life much longer, as you said, don’t feel too bad about me speaking informally.”

After looking blank for a moment, Jo Gang-min smiled brightly.

“Now that I see, Brother Namgung is a very interesting person.”

“Indeed. I hear that I’m quite a funny guy.”

“Haha. It seems so. I apologize once again for today’s incident.”

“It’s fine. Instead, since spilling it is your responsibility, please clean it up. Then, I’ll be off.”

Namgung Cheon waved his hand coolly and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure for a moment, Jo Gang-min let out a meaningful chuckle.

‘Namgung Cheon. Not bad.’

And there was also someone silently watching the two from a corner.

A cadet who did not put down his large broadsword even when eating, it was none other than Paeng Su-hyeok.

* * *

‘I held back well.’

Namgung Cheon patted his own shoulder as if proud of himself.

It was almost a bit dangerous.

Disturbing him while eating of all times, it being boiled duck associated with memories of Namgung Seon of all things, and the boiled duck being so delicious of all things.

Because these three factors aligned perfectly, he had almost crossed the line.

Had he done so, the one bleeding by now would probably have been himself.

‘Is that guy the Young Master of the Luoyang Jo Clan?’

Thinking of the physical description he had heard from Yun Jong-seung, it was almost certainly him.

‘He must be on the verge of the Peak Realm.’

Because his back was turned to the guy, he could not use the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes.

However, the survival instinct embedded in his body was triggered by the momentary energy felt from behind.

In an instant, he concentrated his inner energy on his back and mitigated the impact by bending forward.

If he had taken that palm strike in a defenseless state, he would have had hairline fractures in his bones by now, making it difficult to even walk.

Even then, since it wasn’t a strike thrown with full intention, it would have only been hairline fractures.

‘The big guy standing next to him also seems to be on the verge of the Peak Realm.’

‘If the two of them attack together, there’s no answer for now.’

‘Were they the ones behind Song Won-gyo?’

‘Indeed. Would it be just them?’

‘But as always, I will find a way this time too.’

Compared to his past life, where he frequently escaped death while surrounded on all sides, this was merely at the level of getting a slight nosebleed while picking his nose.

‘Indeed, thinking about it again, I am truly positive.’

‘Well, the urge to occasionally criticize the world, hurl curses at god, or slice up anyone holding a sword…’

‘Mmh, this sounds like a real Great Killing Star, so cancel that.’

‘Anyway…’

‘This is a bit painful.’

Namgung Cheon took off his robe and reflected his back in the bronze mirror.

In the middle of his sturdy back, a bright red palm print was stamped like ink.

‘Ugh, look at that bright red thing.’

‘What? Your feet got tangled because you were thinking about footwork?’

‘Damn it, should I have pretended my hands got tangled while practicing sword techniques?’

‘If I thrust the Emerald Silk Sword into his belly, only then would he shed tears and offer a sincere apology…’

’No. Positive thoughts today.

‘Right, I held back well.’

‘It is more refreshing to urinate after holding it in.’

‘I should accumulate them step by step and pay it back all at once.’

‘Look at that, I am even this diligent.’

‘Anyway, Jo Gang-min, not bad.’

* * *

As Song Won-gyo turned the corner of the pavilion, he suddenly felt a surge of fighting spirit and quickly thrust out a palm strike.

*Swoosh!*

However, a hand appearing from the darkness executed a joint-locking technique and twisted Song Won-gyo’s wrist just like that.

*Crack!*

“Aaagh!”

Before the scream could even fade, the opponent’s hand reached out brutally.

*Thud!*

“Urgh!”

Groaning with his collar grabbed, Song Won-gyo only then realized that the opponent was Paeng Su-hyeok.

“Y-You are…?”

“Shut up. What happened with Namgung Cheon?”

“W-What are you talking… Urgh!”

“There must be something to it, seeing as pathetic things like you aren’t touching Namgung Cheon anymore. Tell me. Why are you groveling to that bastard?”

“W-What do you mean…! Who would to that pushover bastard… Urgh!”

“Do you think I’m blind?”

As not just fighting spirit but even killing intent emanated from Paeng Su-hyeok’s entire body, Song Won-gyo felt his hair stand on end.

‘W-Was this guy this strong?’

He had been so quiet usually that Song Won-gyo had not noticed at all.

But looking at it now, he was not at a level Song Won-gyo could deal with, was he?

Having no choice, Song Won-gyo spilled everything that had happened in the meantime.

Upon hearing the story, Paeng Su-hyeok’s eyes cooled down exceptionally.

“Right… That pathetic trash defeated you easily?”

“I-It wasn’t that he defeated me easily… It was with some difficulty…”

“Shut up and get lost.”

“O-Okay. But keep it a secret that I lost to that pushover bastard… Eek!”

Before he could even finish his sentence, Song Won-gyo saw Paeng Su-hyeok’s murderous gaze and quickly ran away.

Left alone, Paeng Su-hyeok wore a somewhat cruel smile.

“So that bastard illegitimate child of the Great Killing Star really got stronger? Kuhahaha!”

That laughter, in which even madness could be felt, contained a thick killing intent.

* * *

At the sudden laughter heard from outside, Namgung Cheon cast his gaze out the window.

“Hmm. There are unexpectedly quite a few positive bastards in the world.”

But somehow, that one seems like a positively crazy bastard.