Chapter 241: Heavenly Dragon Academy
The Heavenly Dragon Academy.
An educational institution established to train swordsmen to battle demons following the Blood Calamity caused by the Blood Demon.
Currently, it contains records of every demon’s characteristics, origins, and weaknesses, along with strategies to counter them.
There are countless records within the Heavenly Dragon Academy that are not only accessible to trainees but are also accompanied by instructors who provide education on these matters.
It may seem like a wonderful place just from the description, but…
Well, I mean, it’s not exactly a bad place…
Regardless, in the present world of the Central Plains, situations involving demons are far more common than those involving martial artists fighting each other. Thus, receiving education for battling demons isn’t a bad idea.
But the question is, do I really need to go there?
After all, it’s preferable to cultivate martial arts within one’s own clan or faction. Those who can’t do that can ironically laugh at the fact that they didn’t even have the chance to attend the Heavenly Dragon Academy in the first place.
It’s a place where everyone just looks out for themselves.
In essence, it implies that without a solid background, one cannot attend.
Without a recommendation letter from the Academy, entry isn’t possible; and even if one has it, failing to meet specific criteria means they can’t join.
This essentially means that only well-prepared noble families or prestigious lineages can even consider it.
Naturally… if you’re from a noble family, you could be training for demon slaying right at home.
Moreover, the Heavenly Dragon Academy isn’t the sole institution dedicated to training swordsmen.
There are already a couple of them in Shanxi alone, and there are various institutions authorized by the Murim Alliance training students throughout the regions.
Given this knowledge, the reason many families and descendants still flock to the Heavenly Dragon Academy isn’t because it’s uniquely the best.
…It’s primarily for networking and reputation.
It’s pretty much common sense.
When living life, the most vital elements are said to be blood relations, geographical ties, and academic ties.
After all, a noble family places immense value on those three things.
Graduating from the so-called “number one” education institution, the Heavenly Dragon Academy, also allows one to enhance their connections and even dabble in a bit of politics. It reveals the multitude of purposes this institution serves.
The significance of this is highlighted by the fact that even my father, who usually overlooks such matters, sent all his children there.
If it were me, recalling the mess that Gu Huibi caused, I wouldn’t have sent any more kids there.
But Father, seemingly unconcerned, sent everyone without a second thought.
Everything seems fine in theory.
After all, it’s rather difficult to refuse going if you’re born into a noble family.
Especially if you’re slated to become the Young Lord of the clan.
…Ideally, I should have run away from all this.
At the beginning of my regression, I planned to make a run for it before the Heavenly Dragon Academy enrollment began, but somehow ended up in a situation where running away was no longer a possibility.
Of course, it was all my own karma, so I can’t complain too much.
That said, given how things have unfolded, it’s might be worthwhile to grab that item from the basement.
After all, it was something that was only meant to be discovered after the appearance of the Heavenly Demon. Surely, taking it wouldn’t be a problem, right?
I knew deep down that it was wrong to think this way, but it was merely me convincing myself.
“…What’s… the matter?”
Noticing my troubled demeanor, Namgung Bi-ah, who had been leaning on me, opened her eyes and cautiously asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a bothersome thought crossed my mind.”
What to do now?
The Heavenly Dragon Academy would bind me for at least a year, and possibly up to two years.
For the later elite students, this could function as a vacation or a gathering among noble kin, but from my perspective, it was nothing but wasting time.
How much of what they teach there will actually help?
It would be fantastic if I could just take what I need and make a swift exit.
Certainly,
There are options available, just a bit, no—extremely troublesome to execute…
Tsk.
Setting that aside, my mind was wrestling with more questions than just that.
Why is it starting so soon?
I puzzled over the timing of the Heavenly Dragon Academy’s entrance.
It doesn’t open every year like the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament; instead, it has specific intervals. As far as I knew, there should still be some time left until then.
At the very least, we should be waiting until winter…
Ah.
While I pondered, I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah resting beside me, realizing the reasons for this sudden urgency.
“Is it because of the engagement ceremony?”
The engagement ceremony that was planned in Anhui’s Namgung family right after I concluded my business at the frontlines. The timing seemed too coincidental to ignore, implying that they must have felt they couldn’t delay it any longer.
…Hmm.
I couldn’t help but give Namgung Bi-ah a peculiar look.
I wasn’t shying away from my engagement with her after all this; it was simply too far gone, and everything had changed.
…Now that I think about it.
Is she not going to the Academy either?
That thought skated across my mind.
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t attend the Academy in my previous life, and it makes sense—an individual with her prowess would certainly be the talk of the town if she did attend.
Whether it was her looks or abilities, a legend would have blossomed around her.
Considering her age, she should have had a chance to enroll ages ago.
Namgung Bi-ah passed the age of 20 this year.
This meant she could have easily enrolled the last time the Academy opened its doors.
Did the Namgung Clan intentionally delay her enrollment?
Rather than saying she delayed it, it’s more like she was never sent at all, as she never attended in my past life.
Looking back at it now, it feels rather strange.
I didn’t pay much mind back then to her rising infamy or the calamity engulfing her clan, I was simply far too disinterested.
No sane individual would join the Demonic Cult. Even more so, when a martial artist from the Orthodox Sects turns rogue and joins the Demonic Cult, they usually end up obliterating their own clan.
It was just surprising given that she hailed from one of the Four Noble Clans.
I wonder what she experienced.
What kind of events transpired in the life of the girl resting her head against my shoulder to make her kill off her entire bloodline?
By now, I found myself curious about her past.
Yet I wasn’t even the slightest bit curious in my previous life.
Though I was in a situation where I had to stick with her, whether out of desire or necessity, I was honestly never curious about what kind of life the Demonic Sword Queen led.
I guess it was one of those moments where my own miserable existence kept me from delving into another person’s misery.
After gazing intently at Namgung Bi-ah, I shifted my sight toward the moon illuminating the night sky.
It wasn’t a full moon nor a crescent one.
The moon, having filled only halfway, shone brightly captivatingly.
What kind of life did you lead?
I regretted not asking her that question back then.
After momentarily staring at the moon, I cleared my throat.
Here I am, rambling again.
This was just pointless musings.
What a waste of time…
Pulling up old memories I should have buried deep was utterly pointless.
“You should wake up too and… huh?”
I attempted to stir Namgung Bi-ah awake, but she had already risen at some point, her gaze focused straight ahead.
“…What, what are you doing?”
“…”
I called for her in confusion, yet she remained fixated forwards.
Sssss…
Gradually, I sensed her energy rising like a tide.
Snap.
“…What!?”
Bi Yeonsum, who had been silently observing until that moment, jolted at the sudden surge of energy.
“What on earth are you doing all of a sudden…!”
I tried questioning her again, but in response, Namgung Bi-ah swiftly drew her sword and swung it forward, seemingly oblivious to me.
Crack!
“Guhkk!”
Her sword energy, charged with lightning, swept through the trees around us.
One strike.
With a mere slash, dozens of trees collapsed, clearing a considerable area.
This signified just how much Namgung Bi-ah had evolved.
“Hey! What are you doing all of a sudden at this hour!?”
I remained utterly baffled by her outburst.
I checked the area just in case there was a demon lurking nearby, but sensed no presence at all.
It made no sense that Namgung Bi-ah could detect a demon before I could.
Could it be that she had a nightmare?
Considering that thought, I looked back at her, only to find her gaze still fixed ahead, addressing the matter without turning to me.
“…Stench.”
“What?”
“There was a stench…”
A stench?
After hearing Namgung Bi-ah’s comment, I sniffed around
“What stench? I can’t notice anything.”
If I had to describe the smell, I’d say it’s merely the earthy scent of the forest, along with grass and soil.
This was a forest teeming with demons, yet ironically, the night air was refreshing and fragrant.
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t provide further commentary.
Still keeping her gaze ahead, she tilted her head as if pondering something.
“…Was it—illusion?”
“What are you yammering on about?”
You suddenly drag me into this mess, blitzing past every tree, and now mention “illusion?”
As I stared at her with utter disbelief, Namgung Bi-ah reset her expression to neutral and plopped back down onto the ground.
Tap tap.
Then she knocked the ground, signaling me to sit beside her once more.
“…This is just absurd.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics.
As I settled down next to her again, Namgung Bi-ah leaned back against me again as if nothing ever happened.
The atmosphere around us slipped back into the tranquil night air.
Brrr…
Yet, it was clear that Bi Yeonsum, having witnessed Namgung Bi-ah’s earlier behavior, was shaken and trembling.
He seemed more frightened than surprised, to be honest…
“He’ll manage on his own.”
I didn’t feel the need to worry about him that much.
Also…
I glanced in the direction where Namgung Bi-ah had swung her sword.
Even though she appeared as a bit of a spacier,
…which is undoubtedly true,
She had a finely tuned instinct and awareness in moments such as this.
Meaning her instincts and five senses as a martial artist were incredibly sharp.
Was I mistaken?
Even if I claimed that my perception now was significantly stronger than Namgung Bi-ah’s,
Hooook…
With her eyes still shut and Bi Yeonsum quaking behind, I gently amplified my energy.
Whoosh.
The energy emanating from my Dantian spread quietly through the air.
I carefully controlled the faint energy as it swept past the fallen trees, extending far into the distance.
Tap.
In the dark of night, an unknown figure dashed through the forest, stepping lightly over branches.
Despite their hurried footwork, the mind of the assassin was swirling in confusion.
How perplexing.
The strike from the girl.
Contemplating her fierce yet refined energy sent chills down their spine.
…That lightning energy was definitely from the Namgung Clan.
Initially taken aback by her beauty, the assassin found themselves astonished once again by her swift sworddraw upon sensing their presence.
After establishing a proper distance, the assassin paused and began to reflect.
How peculiar indeed.
The assassin prided themselves on their proficiency at remaining unseen and melding into the environment.
Over time.
It was due to their talents that they had survived many scrapes and climbed the ranks to become an Elder in their clan.
Almost caught by a mere girl.
The situation felt both humiliating and unnerving.
Reaching her peak martial arts at that age was astounding, yet this was another matter entirely.
Though they should have remained unnoticed, it felt as if that girl somehow was aware of their presence.
Though to say she noticed me…
It felt distinctly different.
But nonetheless, the result remained unchanged.
This Ghostly Dark Tiger… spotted by a martial artist barely twenty years old?
Rather than shock, an unsettling feeling surged within the assassin.
Given Master Il’s request, I personally took action…
In the current circumstances, the Lord’s blood relatives were hesitant to solicit help from anyone due to the sensitive situation.
To request assistance meant to lay a foundation for future favors, mostly when the Young Master would one day ascend to the Lordship.
Moreover, to think I’d be asked…
Having primarily focused on covert operations, they were a stain within the so-called righteous faction known as the Hwangbo Clan.
As they began to erase their own past, Il Gongja came forward to convey a request directly.
In agreeing to this unwanted task, there came an implied assurance of assistance in removing some of their past troubles.
How unsophisticated it seemed to frighten a young genius.
It wasn’t a request for murder.
Just enough intimidation to silence a young prodigy and dampen their spirit seemed too simple to go unnoticed, particularly in a frontline setting.
But then, an unexpected hurdle emerged.
The assassin had come merely for reconnaissance rather than initiating their mission.
The girl registering my presence is one concern…
The more significant issue lay with the so-called True Dragon that Il Gongja had mentioned.
The fact that Il Gongja and his protectors had been defeated piqued the assassin’s curiosity about that individual’s true strength.
…I can’t fathom it at all.
What abilities did that True Dragon possess?
Unlike the clarity they had when they saw the girl breaking through her limitations as a martial artist, the True Dragon remained an enigma.
“…Such a scenario shouldn’t be occurring.”
This presented two interpretations.
It could mean that the True Dragon displayed incredible prowess in concealing and controlling their energy, to the extent that even the assassin couldn’t detect it or that they operated at a level higher than the assassin.
A bemused snicker escaped the assassin’s lips, for that notion sounded utterly ridiculous.
“Ha, perhaps I have lost my marbles in my old age.”
Certainly, a mere child couldn’t have possessed the skill to evade detection by the assassin; the second possibility was even more laughable.
“Seems like I’ve become a bit daft since I haven’t undertaken a job for some time.”
It had genuinely been several years since their last assignment, making it understandable for their rusty skills to lead to a mistake.
“…I should head back and wait for a better time…”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
At the sound of a sudden voice behind him, the assassin’s eyes widened as he swung his arm without hesitation.
His strike was as fast as wind, the energy swirling around him.
Whack!
But before he could accomplish his goal, someone seized his arm.
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, the energy spiraling around his arm fizzled out into nothingness.
“How did you…?”
Sweat dripped down the assassin’s forehead as he stared at the individual who had intercepted him.
While that person maintained a relaxed expression, the pressure on the captured arm began to intensify.
“You…!”
The pressure far exceeded what the assassin had anticipated.
While astonishment colored the assassin’s views, he suddenly noted the young man’s obsidian eyes turning crimson; that color was so dazzling it almost felt intimidating.
The lips of that young man curled slightly upwards, mingling with an ambient violent energy.
Realizing that something wasn’t right struck the assassin too late.
“What business do you have, Old Rat of the Hwangbo Clan?”
A fiery surge erupted as he asked the question.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.