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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: For a Sweeter Reunion, There Must Be a Farewell
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In the end, as it turned out.
Solving Ruri's problem, surprisingly, turned out to be another stroke of good fortune for me.
Just as I had increased my internal energy by sharing the Ice Crystal's aura.
My dantian once again swelled to bursting as I gulped down the dense, compressed demonic energy that Ruri couldn't fully release, which would have festered inside her.
There was one minor issue, though.
The Northern Darkness Divine Art, by nature, was a martial art that devoured all the world's energy, making it its own, much like Kirby.
However, the demonic energy Ruri held was so exceptionally potent that it asserted a unique presence, like an oil rig sprouting in the middle of the ocean, refusing to easily assimilate.
In other words.
Ruri had, in a way, succeeded in corrupting a part of me with demonic arts…!
Feigning weakness to charm me.
And creating a situation that made it seem like Governor Chiba would arrive, thereby curbing my resistance.
To think such a wicked scheme was hidden beneath her cute and soft exterior.
Truly, the actions of a Demonic Cult's Young Cult Master.
And then.
"Haa…"
A stinging sensation welled up from my throat, and a new energy filled my brain—or more precisely, my upper dantian—blurring my vision.
I had no idea what kind of trick she had pulled.
My Moon-Shattering Divine Eyes had been further enhanced.
And optimized specifically for tracking demonic energy.
Even from a considerable distance, I could sense the powerful demonic energy of Sword Demon Master, and Ruri's thumping demonic energy, much closer, was also distinctly palpable.
And then.
"Is this the current state of affairs at an orthodox academy…?"
The presence of what seemed to be spies planted by the Demonic Cult, or Ruri's hidden guardians, was also intermittently felt within the academy.
It felt like I had been forcibly evolved into a living human radar, exclusively for the Demonic Cult's benefit.
Well, if it was just that far.
I suppose I could understand it as a gift of sorts.
"Ugh."
The Soul-Linking Art.
True to its sinister name, which suggested connecting souls.
Whenever Ruri wished.
I could share Ruri's vision.
Just like now.
- Hee hee.
Ruri was smiling, clad only in a thin garment.
Don't fall for it, Geum Sihyeon!
This is Kongming's trap!
I immediately put my brain into overdrive, severed the forced broadcast, and regained my peace of mind and tranquility.
Then.
[Ruri: Why?]
[Ruri: I want to see too.]
What on earth did she want to see?
I gently admonished her, making sure to educate Ruri so she wouldn't evolve into a voyeur.
I resumed my steps.
Half a year wasn't such a short time, after all.
I should go say my goodbyes to others beforehand.
***
The first place I stopped was the closest to the dormitory, the Medical Hall.
Although it had started as a medicinal connection.
It was true that Dangmok had been quite helpful in various ways.
"You've arrived."
Dangmok, too, greeted me with a face much softer than before, more like a frog than a poisonous toad.
There were two reasons for my visit.
"It seems I've found a way to resolve that thing in your stomach."
"R-really?!"
Divine Doctor had gone through quite a bit of trouble.
Perhaps if I hadn't received the Explosive Qi Pill, which actually contained a Gu poison, from Namgung Hwi, even Divine Doctor wouldn't have been able to analyze the Gu and find a suitable antidote.
"But among the ingredients, the Seven-Leaf Herb isn't available on the market, so I'll probably have to go all the way to Yunnan. That's why it might take a little time."
"I've endured this long, I can endure a little longer. The Seven-Leaf Herb… the family must have a monopoly on it."
I nodded, affirming Dangmok's deduction.
Most of the medicinal ingredients flowing in from Yunnan were monopolized by the Tang family, so no matter how much money I offered, I couldn't acquire them.
Because they wouldn't sell to us.
So, acquiring the ingredients was my role.
I planned to gather the herbs while also securing the next secret martial art manual from the Northern Darkness Secret Vault in Yunnan.
Since the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace is also nearby, I might be able to meet the Young Lady and myself under that pretext.
"Mwahaha."
"…I'd appreciate it if you didn't laugh so ominously."
"Ah, my apologies. And also, the Sichuan Tang family has been decided as the destination for the year-end graduation exam. So, I was hoping to hear a little about their family affairs."
This was my original purpose.
It would be much better to hear an explanation from Dangmok, who likely knows the internal affairs to some extent, rather than charging in headfirst like a possessed dinosaur without any information.
"Ahem, ahem. The family's affairs to an outsider…"
I instantly shed all the etiquette that had enveloped me, and enchanted my sword with the 'sparkling magic' that makes people honest.
Impressed by my show of force, Dangmok let out a deep sigh and began to explain.
"The current Tang family is largely divided into two factions. The Poison Arts Faction (毒藝派), which focuses on cultivating poison arts, and the Hidden Weapon Arts Faction (暗藝派), which focuses on cultivating hidden weapon techniques. Of course, our ancestor was proficient in both, but most ordinary talents choose one and delve deeply into it."
After that, Dangmok's tedious and pedantic explanation continued.
In summary.
The Poisoners form the mainstream, centered around the Elder Council, and naturally, these Poisoners have deep ties with the Azure Sky Society.
The relatively weaker Hidden Weapon users are struggling, throwing out their 'Lucky Sevens' or whatever they can, and at least the current family head is from the Hidden Weapon faction, so they have some say.
"So, if possible, sticking close to the family head is the way to survive there, then."
"Sticking close… well, it's not wrong. Yes. Try to avoid conflict with the Elder Council if possible. If you were to die within the Tang family, it could cause problems, but there are also those among the Elder Council who wouldn't hesitate to use any means necessary."
"How many of the elders are highly skilled in martial arts?"
"The martial arts of our main family are specialized, so it's a bit difficult to convert them into general cultivation realms… Ahem, ahem. Most should be considered to have reached the Peak Realm or above. The Head of the Elder Council has reached the perfected stage of the Transcendent Realm."
Since he insisted on adding unnecessary explanations, I once again used my 'sparkling magic' to elicit the answer I wanted.
Hmm…
Even if it was the perfected stage of the Transcendent Realm.
Isn't he just an ordinary person who hasn't even reached the Hwakyung Realm?
The Sichuan Tang family.
Perhaps they're not as formidable as I thought?
No, that's not right.
It's just that there are too many monsters around me…
Old Man and Chicken Master had clearly warped my sense of power balance.
I took a moment for self-reflection.
***
The next place I headed was the Seo Family Estate.
Normally, people who seemed to be from the Green Forest would be loitering around, attending to Chicken Master.
Seeing no one around, it really hit me that the semester was over.
I immediately strode towards my master's quarters.
"Master, I'm here."
As I pushed the door wide open and entered.
"Kyawoo?!"
"Ah."
Chicken Master's flustered expression greeted me; he was carelessly sprawled comfortably on the floor, a wolf-dog on his belly, rolling around.
He often opened the window himself and scurried out for a walk.
So he'd been coming here to goof around with Chicken Master.
Still, when its owner arrived, the wolf-dog awkwardly wagged its tail and hesitantly approached me. I picked it up and held it in my arms.
"Please, consider your dignity… *cough*!"
I tried to be cheeky just once, and immediately my head was set ablaze.
"It is you who are ill-mannered, daring to come to your master's dwelling without warning. …So, why have you come?"
Even as he spoke so brusquely, the corners of his eyes were smiling.
Truly, the countenance of a tsundere.
"I'm thinking of leaving Xi'an soon for the year-end graduation exam, so I came to pay my respects beforehand."
"What a surprisingly thoughtful idea? For now, sit comfortably there."
I pulled up a chair at the table Chicken Master indicated and waited for a moment.
Soon, Chicken Master served me a cup of green tea.
"Drink."
"Thank you."
I downed the green tea…
Phew.
Having lived in the martial world for so long, I feel like my brain goes numb if I don't occasionally throw in some Western words like this.
Anyway, the taste of the green tea was just stably decent.
Suppressing the rude thought that alcohol suited him more than tea.
"Master, do you have any special plans?"
I cautiously attempted to execute my grand plan of adding an S-rank companion to my party and leeching off their power.
"Originally, I was thinking of staying at the academy and living a leisurely life… but recently, the movements of those pirates have been suspicious, so I was just about to go resolve that issue. Why do you ask?"
"Ah… no reason."
Regrettably, it all came to naught.
Things in the world wouldn't turn out so easily, would they?
Tsk.
"You, my disciple, also travel carefully. I heard from Sirang that many bloody incidents, presumed to be the work of assassins, have been occurring recently, so it would be good to be sufficiently careful."
"I'll keep that in mind. Well, you don't need to worry about that part."
Come to think of it, there was the assassin problem too.
But this body has already mastered the martial arts of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Seeing is believing.
I activated the Ghost-Chasing Stealth Technique and hid my body within nature.
"Hoh."
Chicken Master let out an exclamation of admiration.
"Is that an invisibility art? It seems to be a rather advanced martial art. How did you come across it?"
"Old… no, Master Wi Jilyang taught me."
"Demonic Cult martial arts, huh… Well, depending on who wields it and how, demonic arts can become divine arts, and divine arts can become demonic arts. If it's in my hands, isn't it a divine art?"
As expected, Green Peace has an open mind.
However, it was a remark that pierced through the essence of martial arts, so I nodded in affirmation.
"Let's see, as a master, I should do something for you… Hmm, this should be good."
Chicken Master rummaged through his robes, then pulled out a jade token and handed it to me.
[Green Forest Fighting King]
[Seo Dohee]
"What is this?"
"It's my nameplate. If any of the Green Forest children block your path, show them this. They will treat you with the same respect they show me."
"Ohh."
A paid road express pass, then.
I bowed my head respectfully and expressed my gratitude to my master.
***
After that, I diligently went around to various places.
I met the Academy Head, and also Master Gakwon.
I paid my respects to most of the elders I was acquainted with.
This is what social life is all about.
The secret: earning points in advance!
As for Senior Sister Seol, whom I probably don't need to earn points with anymore, I had decided to meet her separately.
The last person I needed to make sure to meet at the academy was…
"Young Masterrrr!"
It was, as expected, the Young Lady.