---

Chapter 302: Who’s Tormenting Us?

If you ask what the existence of Shinryong Temple means, I would say it is the pinnacle of swordsmanship education institutions, at least on paper. It stands as the center of the righteous faction.

It is a swordsmanship institution created by the Martial Alliance.

For centuries, it has maintained its top-tier status without faltering.

Naturally, it’s not just that.

If you say you are from Shinryong Temple, connections form by themselves, as those currently enrolled are from prestigious backgrounds.

Just by exchanging a few words, you can reap quite a significant harvest.

Take the Dragon Meeting held a few days a year, for example.

Most of the late-stage talents attending go there to build networks.

Shinryong Temple is quite a valuable place from that perspective.

Simply attending is advantageous.

Even though the significance has somewhat diminished over time, it is still a great educational institution.

They do offer quality teachings, albeit—

“Then again, it’s not that different from what you’d learn in any clan,”

I pondered over the notion of why noble families are noble.

It’s because they have firmly established themselves over a long period and continue to grow and maintain their positions.

That means they have a wealth of information and training methods available within their organizations.

So, is Shinryong Temple superior? That’s somewhat ambiguous.

It’s not just me that knows this.

Yet, everyone still sends their children to Shinryong Temple.

The value of being a graduate from this place is very important.

The inception of Shinryong Temple dates back several centuries.

After the Blood Calamity instigated by the Blood Demon had passed, things were finally in a healing phase.

Though the Blood Demon disappeared, the Demonic Gate remained closed, and the demon beasts still surged.

That’s when the righteous faction began gathering to educate sword teams.

That’s the origin of Shinryong Temple.

Of course, they don’t teach any martial arts.

Each clan or sect already has its own martial arts.

It’s even possible that the techniques learned may be the Sword Art of Poisoned Blade or even exclusive moves passed down by individuals, which makes it strange for Shinryong Temple to be teaching martial arts.

What martial arts could they possibly teach?

The changing instructors and the existence of martial arts exclusive to the Martial Alliance mean those secure in their ranks are the only ones who can learn.

But what do those who have made it here and passed find to study?

“They learn how to deal with demon beasts.”

As a swordsmanship education institution, it’s only natural they should learn to face demon beasts.

They didn’t randomly assign teams based on the weapons used.

The classifications of demon beast grades, types, and individual differences must be learned.

Methods specific to each, as well as theory.

Aside from that, they also study aspects related to the demonic factions.

Spending a few years drilling this into their heads should yield a decent education, I suppose.

Whether from a clan or a sect, those with martial arts must ultimately face demon beasts.

“A little while longer, and it will be humans I deal with more than demon beasts.”

But that was if events transpired before the Blood Calamity.

In any case, that’s why I say searching for meaning here is largely pointless.

Methods to face demon beasts?

Including my previous life, how many demon beasts have I devoured using the Demonic Absorption Technique?

How many have I killed head-on?

Adding to that experience were the Red Demon Beasts I hadn’t even encountered yet.

Without a doubt, I’d be stronger in both theory and practice than the instructors here.

So, what’s next?

Connection management?

It’s pointless since the Heavenly Demon might come out and instigate another Blood Calamity.

Connections? What a farce.

Half the humans here will eventually fall to demonic influence anyway.

Whether caught by the Heavenly Demon or seeking it out themselves to succumb.

“Cheol Hwan-o.”

Sitting in the plush chair, idly passing the time, I turned to the guy next to me.

“…Yes, yes, brother.”

The martial artist beside me was Paewoocheol, a man with black hair and an enormous build.

He had collapsed after I gave him a kick to the chin last night.

Now that he’d regained consciousness, he seemed quite obedient after a little pep talk.

People really need to converse with each other.

Even bodily communication counts as conversation, right?

My intent was conveyed, so it must be considered a conversation.

“We’ve been put in the same team? How wonderful!”

“…”

“Cheol Hwan-o?”

“Indeed. Quite wonderful.”

Hehe.

The hulking Paewoocheol wears an awkward smile.

It almost looks forced, but this fellow bears a terrifying appearance too, so his smile doesn’t evoke warmth.

‘Is the squad composed of three entirely different teams?’

There were three squads made solely of martial artists.

Other ranged fighters or specialized roles were arranged into separate teams.

Particularly, there were many members in the sword category, which exceeded double compared to others.

Implying there were a significant number of sword masters.

Interestingly, Tang Soyeol fell under the sword master category.

A dagger qualifies as a sword, but…

It seemed even she was puzzled about her presence here.

I’ll have to tease her later.

As I sat quietly waiting since morning,

Thud!

Finally, the long-awaited figure entered through the door.

He was a middle-aged man similar in size to Paewoocheol and Huangbo Cheolwi, adorned in a blue hero’s garb.

This meant he was an instructor affiliated with the Martial Alliance.

“Nice to meet you!”

His deep voice matched his bulky stature.

Along with his words, an air of energy reserved for an experienced martial artist overwhelmingly filled the spacious room.

It was evident he was far beyond the peak stage.

‘Who is this?’

With this level of power, I should know who he is, especially in the martial arts circle.

“Cough…”

“Gasp…”

The late-stage talents struggled to handle the dense air and released pained moans.

It felt as if he was testing everyone’s resolve to see who would buckle under pressure.

Indeed, it seems effective.

The eyes of the previously indifferent candidates had transformed.

The instructor surveyed the room, exuding a fierce gaze that systematically scanned each late-stage talent.

‘He’s gauging their potential.’

I checked over at Paewoocheol beside me.

Though he frowned, he didn’t seem to be straining too much.

‘Oh, unexpectedly impressive?’

He was more capable than I initially judged.

With a single punch, he looked like he could send me flying, but the guy had a bit more substance than I thought.

Besides Paewoocheol, several others could also handle the energy or let it flow around them.

In total, there were four men and one woman, all unfamiliar yet felt quite capable.

The instructor’s gaze passed over each member, eventually landing on me.

The moment he spotted me, he flinched.

His eyes widened, and I could see his pupils tremble.

It was amusing to witness his surprised reaction.

‘He noticed me.’

I thought I had hidden my internal injuries well, but it seems the instructor’s level was higher than I expected.

‘Should I show a bit?’

I briefly considered showing off but decided against it.

I only opted for a light smile.

“Ahem.”

The instructor finally resumed his composure and shifted his focus back.

“I am Cheol Hwan-O, the Deputy Lord of the Blue Dragon team of the Martial Alliance.”

‘Oh.’

Hearing the name made me gasp inwardly.

I now recognized him.

“The Deputy Lord…?”

Cheol Hwan-O is known for the righteous martial artist, Yi Cheoncheongwon…!?

Murmurs arose among the surrounding candidates.

Yi Cheoncheongwon Cheol Hwan-O.

It seems he’s somewhat renowned.

However, the significance of being the Deputy Lord of the Blue Dragon team carries even more weight.

Of course, Cheol Hwan-O’s name registered differently in my mind.

This instructor’s thick presence brought to mind my previous encounters.

‘He’s a subordinate of the Sword Demon.’

The very thought made me chuckle.

The Sword Demon, probably cooped up in the mountains training the exclusive martial arts his master left him.

He’s unlikely to show his face for a while, trapped by his madness.

That pernicious Heaven Kill Spirit lurking within those mountains…

I couldn’t pin down his exact location, but I knew he’d pop up in the Central Plains eventually.

In my previous life, Cheol Hwan-O was one of the subordinates the Sword Demon had under his wing.

Given that the Sword Demon’s henchmen always donned masks, I…

…

…

While I’d never seen their faces, upon hearing the name, it clicked.

‘I’ve heard he was from the Martial Alliance.’

Turns out he used to be the Deputy Lord of the Blue Dragon team.

Quite nostalgic.

Yet, with the Deputy Lord of the Blue Dragon team right here, the thought he might fall to demonic influence was unnerving.

“In the next six months, I will be your instructor for this swordsmanship training.”

Six months.

Considering that the Shinryong Temple’s educational period lasts two years, that’s both a long and short span.

“Any questions?”

His dull greeting contrasted sharply with the lightness of the Cheonghae Ilgeom’s introduction.

I liked it, quite a bit.

In response to the question about inquiries, several raised their hands.

“I have a question.”

“What is your name?”

“Cheon Il-Seon from the Cheon Il Clan.”

“I will not accept formal introductions. Just state your name. You were warned, were you not?”

He cut him off succinctly.

Shinryong Temple had to maintain the pretense of belonging equally to everyone, regardless of their clan or sect.

That seemed to be the reason behind his words.

‘…Will that really work?’

I remained skeptical.

“I am Hyo Unbyeok. Deputy Lord, could you explain why you came to be an instructor?”

As one person sacrificed himself to ask, thankfully the next had the sense to change the question.

It was a rather straightforward inquiry.

Cheol Hwan-O thought briefly before responding with a smile.

“I had some time to spare and was curious if there were any exceptional candidates.”

“…So, you mean to say you are here to select new members for the Blue Dragon team?”

“I won’t be taking any further questions.”

Finishing his answer, Cheol Hwan-O dropped hints laden with meaning.

He intended to imply that if someone stood out here, they might get selected for the Blue Dragon team.

Several who understood the implication brightened their eyes.

Though for my part, I questioned what I could do joining the Alliance’s sword team.

The Blue Dragon team is among the top factions within the Martial Alliance.

Once led by Wang of the Azure Sky Sword, Nangong Jin, it’s a place where only powerful warriors from the righteous faction are allowed.

Getting accepted would undoubtedly be a challenge.

From this angle, the words spoken by the instructor carried significant weight.

I figured I’m likely the only one who is nonchalantly listening in.

After that, the instructor fielded several questions, providing answers.

Questions about what we could learn from him, why only six months were he teaching.

As he brushed off further personal inquiries flatly.

From this, I gleaned that he had deliberately let slip about the Blue Dragon team.

Whether to ignite the late-stage talents’ ambition or perhaps to weed out those genuinely interested didn’t matter at this stage.

“Let’s end the questions here.”

Though many hands lingered in the air, the instructor concluded.

It seemed time was up.

Ah, I was actually getting to hear this.

In my previous life, I failed the entrance exam and had never gotten to listen to what they could teach at Shinryong Temple.

The buzz of conversation simmered down.

After exchanging questions and answers, the atmosphere relaxed.

Just then, a heavy energy burst forth from Cheol Hwan-O.

WHOOSH!

Unlike the previous, this energy felt completely different.

It was so heavy that none could even utter a sound.

The previously laid-back ambiance tightened in an instant.

“This is your first training session.”

He continued without releasing the energy.

“While other teams are probably beginning with theory, I’m different.”

Theory on various grades.

It was an incredibly boring thought.

“Fundamentally, warriors must face demon beasts rather than just learning theories.”

Crack!

The sound echoed from Cheol Hwan-O’s forearm.

“One unfortunate aspect is that I can’t bring the demon beasts to you right from the start.”

As he spoke, a smirk graced his face.

With the aura matching his form, it twisted maliciously.

“I will take the role of the demon beast. It’s simple, really. You merely have to dispatch me.”

As soon as I heard those words, I tilted my head.

We’re starting off with a ruckus, huh?

What he means is that he intends to contend with twenty-odd individuals all on his own.

I hadn’t anticipated this from the start.

‘What a foolishly reckless method.’

I understood his intentions.

The moment he uttered that, a small doubt flickered across the faces of the late-stage candidates who struggled to catch their breath due to his heavy aura.

“Can he really take on this many people at once?”

That thought no doubt echoed within them.

No matter how much the Blue Dragon team’s deputy lord was touted as strong, how could he manage twenty opponents in one go?

That’s likely what they were thinking, as he was likely aiming to shatter their complacency from the get-go.

Well played.

They need a wake-up call to put forth genuine effort.

Most importantly, Cheol Hwan-O was certainly skilled enough to carry out and achieve that aim.

Although, there was one minor detail he hadn’t anticipated.

“Instructor.”

As the oppressive energy from Cheol Hwan-O crashed down, rendering everyone breathless, one individual casually raised their hand.

“…!”

The instructor displayed surprise at the unanticipated situation, clearly not expecting such a bold move.

Among these high-tension circumstances, I was the one to venture a question.

“I have a question.”

“…Didn’t I say I wouldn’t be accepting any further questions?”

“It’s a rather important question. Is that alright?”

With a smile, I spoke, causing the instructor’s brows to furrow.

“What is your name?”

“Gu Yangcheong.”

He showed no reaction at my name, likely because he already knew about me.

“What is your question?”

“I just wanted to confirm.”

Though the context was a bit abrupt, it felt oddly satisfying.

My intention was to finish what usually takes two years in a mere year.

To achieve this, I needed to navigate a somewhat complicated and tiresome process.

In that light, this situation was exactly what I hoped for.

“Can I take him on alone?”

“…What did you say?”

His expression twisted in bewilderment.

Though he appeared quite furious, I was okay with that.

I enjoyed seeing that kind of expression.

With a grin, I reiterated, “I’m asking if I can take on the task of demon beast hunting alone.”

Understanding the implied meaning, Cheol Hwan-O’s aura began to darken.

It was clear that I had pricked a nerve.

And rightly so.

What I had implied was that taking him out would be a cinch for me—no need for anyone else.

 

---