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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Understanding Demonic Martial Arts (1)
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Still felt like it was buzzing.
Waking up with a frown, feeling a phantom pain rising from his lower abdomen.
"Yip!"
The beast that had nearly ended his lineage was staring at him with an utterly smug expression, its eyes sparkling brightly.
Tsk.
If only it weren't so cute.
He picked it up and gave it a good cuddle.
And then blew a raspberry on its belly.
While he was at it, he even went for a morning run with it.
Though it had no leash, its stubby little legs moved so nimbly, pattering along to keep pace with him.
And when he practiced qi circulation, it would stand majestically in front of him, as if guarding him, keeping watch over the surroundings.
Hmm.
Indeed, animals are better than humans, he thought.
After returning to the dormitory.
"Did you see that beggar's eyes? There are many people coveting you, so wait quietly in the room."
"Whine...!"
The wolf-dog and Un-hak simultaneously wore expressions of injustice.
He wasn't sure about the guy, but since he hadn't finished the pet registration yet, he'd have to leave it in the room for now.
Not knowing what it liked, he scattered all sorts of delicacies he'd pilfered from the dining hall that morning – jerky and the like – perfect for nose work, and then left the dormitory.
Grumbling at his past self for signing up for a class that started at Sashi... that is, 9 AM.
Exchanging useless jokes, the three of them headed west of the academy building.
It was a massive estate near the forest where he'd picked up the wolf-dog yesterday.
It felt a little out of place for a class on 'Understanding Demonic Martial Arts,' but...
If it was meant to be a practical, real-world setting for, say, being ambushed inside a building, then he could understand it.
Upon crossing the threshold into the estate.
"Welcome to the Seo Estate!"
Beauties in splendid attire and with stunning looks greeted them warmly, so much so that Un-hak clamped his mouth shut and fixed his gaze on the floor.
The atmosphere was like...
It felt less like a lecture hall and more like a brothel.
And even to the woman who entered after them.
"Greetings, young heroine, welcome to the Seo Estate!"
A smooth-faced man, who looked like a playboy through and through, greeted her.
Did they hire people based on looks here?
And it didn't stop there.
"Now, you must be tired from your journey, yes? This drink will relieve your fatigue. Do have a good, long sip."
They even handed each of them a cup of flower tea, with ice floating in it.
It was sweet, very refreshing, and delicious.
The aftertaste was a slight tingle, like drinking a Zero Coke after a long time.
Ah... I'm craving a Coke...
The situation inside the estate was not much different.
Tea tables scattered throughout were piled high with all sorts of snacks.
Students who had arrived earlier had each claimed a tea table, munching happily and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
It felt as if he had mistakenly walked into a 'Tea Ceremony and Social Life' class instead of 'Understanding Demonic Martial Arts'.
Something felt slightly off.
"Hey, Un—"
"The pastries are beautiful, and the women are delicious..."
That hopeless bastard.
Over thirty minutes passed after that, but.
There was no sign of the class beginning.
The students gathered idly in small groups, murmuring and chattering.
"If class is canceled, shouldn't they send a notification via the app?"
Murong Taek grumbled.
He agreed as well.
If class was delayed by thirty minutes.
It was the way of the martial world to count it as an attendance even if you took a self-imposed break.
"When does class begin?"
Someone else, as impatient as them, grabbed a maidservant who was bringing out more tea and asked, but.
"Oh, the master will be a little late today... I apologize, but would our handsome great hero be so kind as to wait just a little longer?"
"Ahem, hmm."
It seemed he had completely fallen for the honey trap.
This is why men must be wary of their own desires.
He turned his head to the only familiar faces besides the idiots—
Narang Sojeo and Ruri.
Narang Sojeo was still smiling brightly, holding onto Ruri and chattering away to herself, while Ruri wore a slightly awkward expression.
He briefly observed.
Narang Sojeo was holding a cookie, desperately trying to shove it into Ruri's mouth, saying, "Here! Try this! It's amazing!"
Even just out of politeness for her effort, one might take a bite, but.
Ruri stubbornly turned her head away, swiftly evading Narang's hand.
If she didn't like it, she could just say so.
Perhaps she couldn't, thinking it was an act of kindness.
And then Squirrel even joined in, and as he watched the Narang-Squirrel duo try to pry open Ruri's mouth...
Screech!
Just then, the estate gates, which had been firmly closed after the last student entered, swung wide open.
And then.
"Huh...?"
"Oh."
"What is it...?"
"Thugs?"
A group of burly men streamed in.
It wasn't good to judge by appearances, but.
Every single one of them had a truly villainous look, as if they'd been collecting tolls in some desolate mountain pass.
The men who had streamed in suddenly parted like water, clearing a path.
"Greetings, you brats of the righteous faction."
A beauty with bronze skin, the very picture of a healthy beauty, walked in.
She had a refreshingly tall stature and a voluptuous figure, accentuated by her ample chest.
Her face looked to be about their age, but.
Had exchange students come from the Demonic Cult as well as the Unorthodox Faction?
Don't they have a separate unorthodox academy for that?
As he thought that, he suddenly looked back at Un-hak.
...!
No matter how severe his gynophobia was.
His face was almost ghostly pale, and he was trembling uncontrollably.
Just as he tilted his head, thinking something was off...
"This one is Seo Do-hee, who will be teaching you brats 'Understanding Demonic Martial Arts' for this semester. You may call me Instructor Seo."
As soon as the woman finished speaking.
"Greenwood King of Combat!"
"Twin Axe Empress!"
Exclamations burst out from all directions, in unison.
"What? Someone famous?"
Unfortunately, he wasn't yet seasoned enough in the martial world to recognize people just by their appearance and epithets.
Instead of the broken Un-hak.
He nudged Murong Taek's side with his elbow, whose expression had also hardened.
"Just as the righteous faction gives masters the title of 'Twelve Extremes,' the unorthodox faction designates masters with the title of 'Seven Evils.' ...If the introduction is correct..."
"Yes, this one is indeed the Greenwood King of Combat. Since there are brats who know me, there's no need to add further introductions."
Seo Do-hee's words followed, as if adding to Murong Taek's explanation.
At her words, he looked at her anew.
If he hadn't heard the explanation, she would have simply looked like a healthy young woman from the neighborhood, with no trace of internal energy detectable...
Returning to one's original simplicity...!
They say that truly skilled masters can completely conceal their aura, making themselves appear like ordinary people.
That's why the adage 'In the martial world, beware of old men, women, and children' came about.
In truth, robust adult men are, of course, targets to be wary of anyway.
It probably means not to be complacent with appearances and always be vigilant.
Looking at the Greenwood King of Combat, it certainly seemed true.
The fact that an old hag who had achieved 'Reversion to Youth' was hidden inside.
And if he hadn't known that her cultivation level was even at the Hwa-gyeong stage.
Even he wouldn't have been able to resist making lewd remarks, given her very 'childbearing' figure.
"...Ugh."
Was she using mind-reading?
As soon as he had that irreverent thought, she glared at him sharply.
No!
I absolutely did not think anything like 'dispenser' and 'slide' and 'ooh-la-la'!
Fortunately, her gaze was quickly withdrawn.
"Did you enjoy the snacks, brats!"
"Yes!"
"Yeah!"
The righteous faction students, who had been watching her carefully, answered a half-beat late.
She continued speaking nonchalantly, as if she hadn't been waiting for an answer.
"From now on, classes will always be like real combat! If you can last for half an hour against these guys, today's class is over! Weapons are forbidden! You must only use hand-to-hand combat! You may use internal energy!"
Seo Do-hee grinned and added one more thing.
"If you can, that is."
At that moment.
Confusion spread throughout the gathered students.
"Huh?!"
"My acupoints... are blocked?!"
"Don't tell me... Dispersing Qi Poison?!"
Seo Do-hee, wearing a satisfied smile at their reactions, said.
"Did you truly think those unorthodox bastards would fight fair and square? The first lesson of 'Understanding Demonic Martial Arts'! Always suspect unprovoked kindness from others! Kids! Show these righteous faction softies a taste of your clubs!"
"Keeheheh, understood, Boss!"
Whack!
"'Boss,' you bastard! I told you to call me 'Instructor' here!"
"Sorryyyy!"
After a brief farce played out.
"Heheh, the softies are a full catch."
"Let's give them a taste of bandit life!"
"You're already poisoned! Need an antidote? Ohoho."
The bandits, and even the maids and servants who had just been attending to them, joined in, approaching with clubs in hand.
Dispersing Qi Poison, huh.
No wonder his insides had felt a tingling sensation, like after downing a shot of soju.
But there was no need to step forward here—
"If any of you can break through these guys and even brush a finger against this one's clothes, I'll give you a perfect score on the midterm written exam, no questions asked!"
The moment he heard those words.
A fiery resolve ignited within him.
At three times the normal speed, he put the anti-poison liquor he had carefully kept in his pocket into his mouth, simultaneously channeling his internal energy.
"Geum Hyung?!"
"What, why are you—"
"Suffer well. Your brother's going first."
Un-hak and Murong Taek were aghast, but.
He revealed his gleaming white teeth, conspicuously showing off the anti-poison liquor he was chewing between them.
Tsk, tsk.
This is why rookies won't do.
You have to be prepared for everything.
He immediately unleashed his Shadowless Steps to the extreme, plunging into the midst of the bandits.
"What the—!"
"Who are you calling 'what the,' you bastard?"
Smoothly like flowing water, he snatched a club and bonked the foul-mouthed guy on the head, then lightly dodged the one trying to ram him with a shoulder.
As he shifted his gaze, following Seo Do-hee's figure, which had already moved behind the bandits.
"Oh."
One more person besides him.
He saw the small and nimble Cheon Ruri rushing towards Seo Do-hee.
Could it be that she had noticed the Dispersing Qi Poison and deliberately avoided the snacks?
She could have at least tipped off Narang Sojeo then.
What a wicked sense of humor, truly wicked.
As the two of them quickly rushed towards Seo Do-hee, she couldn't hide her surprise for a moment.
But.
"You've got some pretty smart ones here, don't you? But, this one never said I'd let myself be caught easily, did I?"
Indeed, like the cowardly and petty unorthodox woman she was, she immediately broke into a sly smile and scurried away.
Stop right there! My grades!