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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Three Times the People, Three Times the Fools (2)
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The actual journey followed almost the same path as during the midterm exam.
However, with no axe-wielding murderer physically chasing them from behind, the three young men's steps were somewhat leisurely.
But just because they were leisurely didn't mean they were slow.
"Huuuff, huuuff, huuuff."
"Ha, haha, Yongtaek, your training, is lacking."
"It seems, so, huh, heheh."
Inside the academy, the three men had maintained a serious demeanor, mindful of any potential female gazes.
But here, on this path, there was no one to see them.
Men, by nature, tend to become childish when women aren't around, especially when it's just them.
Therefore, today's challenge:
Determining rank through lightness skill.
Geum Sihyeon, who had keenly felt the need for body movement techniques and pestered Seo Dohui into teaching him a new one suitable for long-distance travel, leisurely led the way.
Un Hak, whose realm was originally shallow and thus couldn't properly utilize the Beggars' Sect's Whirlwind Body Movement Technique, followed behind him.
Unfortunately, due to the Moyong Family's geographical characteristics, they preferred riding horses over running directly, so Moyong Taek's breathing grew rougher the further they went.
Hence.
"Alright, call me Brother Un."
"Ugh... how frustrating..."
Un Hak, who was merely ranked third, instantly ascended to second place.
The Murim was indeed such a ruthless, meritocratic society, devoid of blood or tears.
On the path from the Guanzhong Plain to Ohjangwon, the Wei River flowed.
Previously, a crude temporary bridge had been built, which they had used to cross, but for some reason, the bridge had collapsed.
Local residents were crossing the river in small boats, so if they had just asked, they could have certainly hitched a ride, even if it meant splitting up.
"Hmm... wouldn't this distance be enough to cross with the Floating Step Across Water (Deungpyeongdosu)?"
Moyong Taek, who had been grinding his teeth for a while, threw out the challenge.
The river spread before them was about 100 zhang and a bit more wide.
In modern terms, that was about 300 meters.
One might say it was a bit too far to leap across in a single bound.
"That's a good idea. Let's do it right now."
For the three idiots, high on their peak power, it was more than enough to ignite a sense of challenge.
Soon after.
In preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, the three men threw their bundles to the opposite bank and then extended their fists in silence.
The method for deciding the order was Chungkwon.
It could be considered a primitive ancient rock-paper-scissors: if you slightly bend and extend your index finger, it's a Snake (蛇); if you raise your thumb, it's a Frog (蛙); and if you only lift your pinky finger, it's a Slug (蝸).
Snake eats frog, frog eats slug, and slug chases away snake.
It was a mutually dependent relationship.
"Snake!"
"Frog!"
"Frog!"
The moment the sounds of 'Snake' and 'Frog' burst forth, everyone focused their inner sight, carefully examining each other's arms and fists.
As Moyong Taek's thumb muscle twitched, Un Hak's index finger began to slowly extend.
Just as Geum Sihyeon, sensing this, was about to put strength into his pinky finger, Un Hak quickly released the tension from his index finger and applied it to his thumb, right next to it.
At the very last moment.
"Damn it."
"Hmph, pathetic fools."
At the very, very last moment.
Geum Sihyeon's pinky finger seemed to almost extend, drawing their gaze, while simultaneously he raised his index finger.
The snake had eaten two frogs.
Soon after, Moyong Taek, who had a bit more cunning, played with Un Hak, and eventually the order of Un Hak, Moyong Taek, and Geum Sihyeon was decided.
Furthermore, Un Hak was demoted back to third place for having the most pathetic inner sight.
"Hoo, I suppose I must show the true potential of a Beggars' Sect successor who has reached the peak. Watch closely."
As Un Hak unwrapped his smelly beggar's foot-wrap, Geum Sihyeon and Moyong Taek covered their noses and took a step back.
Soon, a crane elegantly spread its wings towards the river.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Like stones skipping on water, loudly, *thump, thump, thump*.
"Ohh!"
"Just a little further, then jump across in one go!"
The two men left on the riverbank clapped, cheering on their friend's soaring attempt.
When Un Hak, somewhat intoxicated by the atmosphere, had crossed almost half the river.
*Splash!*
"Ugh, gurgle, ughhh—"
Un Hak, whose realm was still too shallow to defy the laws of nature, ultimately fell into the water and thrashed about.
A burst of laughter, mocking his pathetic state, continued for a short while.
"Indeed, Un Hak is just perfect as the youngest. I'll show you how it's done."
Following him, Moyong Taek, who had just declared Un Hak's role as the youngest, dashed towards the river.
Strictly speaking, Moyong Taek's steps were a little far from true Floating Step Across Water.
Just before his foot lightly touched the river.
A surge of cold energy from his Yongcheon acupoint slightly froze the river's surface.
Though not as much as his older sister, Moyong Seol.
This was an art he could shine in, as he too could utilize the Ice Arts he had inherited from his mother to some extent.
Watching Moyong Taek calmly advance, carving ice beneath each step as if walking on solid ground, Un Hak ground his teeth.
However.
"Oh, come on. That's cheating."
Geum Sihyeon, the eldest brother and an embodiment of fairness, swung his sword, sending a fiery bird soaring along the river's surface.
"No, ah, hot, hot, you crazy bastard, ugh!"
The ice supporting Moyong Taek's feet quickly melted away.
*Splash!*
Geum Sihyeon, who had been smiling contentedly while watching Moyong Taek also fall in and thrash about, finally sprinted towards the river.
Since there were already two failures.
There was no need to repeat the same path of failure.
Instead of stepping onto the river, Geum Sihyeon gathered his maximum strength and leaped high.
"Hahaha."
"He's going to make the grandest splash."
Even as they gurgled and swam towards the riverbank, smiles were plastered across Un Hak and Moyong Taek's lips.
No matter how they looked at it, reaching the riverbank with that much jumping power and speed seemed a distant dream.
They were gleefully anticipating teasing Geum Sihyeon, who was about to create a magnificent splash, but.
*Whoosh!*
Geum Sihyeon, who was losing momentum and falling, transformed the Bow-Sword he still held in his hand into the shape of a bow.
"No, no, hey, hey, hey!"
"That crazy bastard!"
Un Hak, who had forgotten to even use the honorific "Brother Geum," was horrified.
Geum Sihyeon, however, paid no mind and fired the inner energy fully charged in his bowstring straight back in the direction he had started from.
*Pwaaang—!*
With a tremendous sonic boom, Geum Sihyeon's body flew due to the recoil, reaching the riverbank and then grandly tumbling several times.
At first glance, it was a rather undignified sight.
Unfortunately, the two spectators who should have been watching his spectacle and applauding were swept away by the waves Geum Sihyeon had created, instead enjoying a vigorous water play.
A short while later.
Two of them looked like drowned rats.
One looked like a stray dog that had rolled in the dirt.
They say that fools are happy just by looking at each other's faces.
"At least the beggar dipped his body in the water; his feet don't stink anymore. He's cleaner now."
"Brother Taek, isn't using Ice Arts a bit cowardly?"
"Indeed, it's just like 'Cold Water Taek.' Still, it might be better than thoughtlessly trying to cross the river by actually practicing Floating Step Across Water."
"Are you saying that, you bastard who even swung sword energy?"
"How rude. It was bow energy."
While vehemently debating who was more pathetic, they changed their clothes and began to hasten their steps again.
It was summer.
* * *
* * *
Under my great leadership, having an overwhelming position in terms of birth date, lightness skill, internal energy, rank, and even handsomeness.
We successfully set foot in Ohjangwon.
"Wow..."
"What on earth happened here?"
The first thing we discovered were the traces of the fierce battle between Master Chicken and Master Sword Demon.
A perfectly circular crater, as if a meteorite had fallen, but clearly man-made.
It was the very spot where I had unknowingly poked my head last time.
The traces of Master Sword Demon's Domain Expansion... no, his Innate Domain.
Within the remnants where Martial Arts Reversion had unfolded, a desolate landscape remained, utterly devoid of any living plants or animals.
It made me wonder just how obsessed with fighting one had to be for their ultimate technique to be a one-on-one duel *without* internal energy.
Past the traces of that horrific environmental devastation.
"Huh..."
"This, too, is the skill of a formidable swordsman. A very clean slaughter. Probably the Sword Demon... Senior, right?"
Moyong Taek paused mid-sentence, glanced at me, then subtly upgraded his address.
Everyone around me knew where Master Sword Demon was currently staying, so it must have been a consideration for me.
I nodded in affirmation.
Because even to me, it was the epitome of neatness.
Wooden palisades, now boasting clean cross-sections, proving that half the mountain stronghold had been split by a single sword strike.
Though a considerable amount of time had passed, the scent of blood still lingered, and buildings were burnt black in places.
I had thought it was just trolling until now, but considering he massacred other bandits here, Master Sword Demon had, in a way, helped us without realizing it.
No, wait.
Considering he tied up Master Chicken, he was definitely a complete troll.
This is why people should grow old gracefully.
"So, where do we go now?"
"Expand your senses."
"What nonsense is that?"
Possessing the body of a monk skilled at "Iku-kick," I closed my eyes and spread the energy of the Northern Darkness Divine Art around me.
I felt the uniformly spread energy subtly being drawn into one specific point.
"That way."
The foolish mortals didn't understand my confident declaration and instead gave me looks of disbelief.
"If I'm wrong, I'll donate all of Moyong Taek's assets to you, Hak."
"As expected, Brother Geum's generosity is extraordinary. Hahaha."
"No, if you're going to bet, bet your own money, why mine?"
After securing the right to speak with a 2:1 vote.
I moved my steps as the Northern Darkness Divine Art guided me.
Soon.
"The beggars of Xi'an will receive the Moyong Family's benevolence!"
"Just tear open my stomach instead."
Within a natural cave that seemed to hold nothing, we discovered a massive stone gate.
On the stone gate, as Master Sword Demon had mentioned, were two characters, "Northern Darkness" (北冥), engraved in 궁서체 (gungseo-che, a traditional Korean calligraphic style), and Hangul engraved in Nanum Gothic font.
[Northern Darkness Secret Vault – Shaanxi Province]
[This is a treasure vault 'chance encounter' added by the 'More Martial Arts Added Mod.' For more detailed information regarding this mod, please check the 'Soyogaekjan Cafe.']
"What kind of writing is this?"
"It feels completely different from Hanja. I sense an unusual aura."
"..."
The text was too meta to read aloud, so I deliberately pretended not to see it, injecting Northern Darkness True Qi to swing the stone gate wide open.
Shaanxi Province, it said.
Did that mean there were other secret vaults like this in other regions?
*Rumble, rumble, rumble—*
A staircase leading underground appeared before our eyes.
We briefly looked at each other, exchanging glances.
The meaning was clear.
Who would go first?
If it had been a trivial pride battle or a lighthearted situation, I would have kicked the lazy youngest's backside and pushed him in.
"This big bro will lead the way."
I stepped onto the stairs first.
This was the fate of the eldest brother.
The footsteps of a true leader.
At the end of the quite deep staircase.
We encountered another stone gate.
This time, there was no Hangul explanation, but it clearly had "Chamber of Delusion" (迷惑之室) embossed in 궁서체 (gungseo-che).
Having come this far, there was no turning back, so I confidently opened the door and entered the room.
Within the not-so-spacious stone chamber, a strange aroma wafted.
"—!"
"Poison?"
*Tsk, tsk.*
This is why I shouldn't associate with rookies who haven't even achieved Immunity to All Poisons.
"It doesn't seem to be poison."
If it were poison, I should have felt a tingling sensation, a feeling of my immune system working inside my body, but no such phenomenon occurred.
I turned around and declared confidently.
However.
Un Hak and Moyong Taek were nowhere to be seen.
"Welcome! This is Poopooh!"
The surrounding scenery had, at some point, changed into a scene from my past life, one that was slowly fading from my memory.
It had become a sushi buffet.
Raw Korean voices filled my ears.
The smell of freshly grilled steak.
The sound of knives slicing sashimi in real-time.
Even the cool air blown by the air conditioner.
My excellent insight immediately detected a sense of incongruity.
Considering the name "Chamber of Delusion," or "Room of Enchantment."
It must be a place that shows enticing illusions to those who enter, preventing them from breaking free.
Certainly, I had really wanted sushi lately.
And a cola too.
However, my Clear Mirror-like Mind, which remained calm and unswayed by any emotional manipulation, was not so pathetic as to crumble before such a mere illusion.
"Hmm. An illusion."
The moment I calmly murmured this.
The scenery flickered, trying to revert to the original stone chamber.
"Hmm. I believe it. It's reality."
The scenery returned to the sushi buffet again.
My mouth watered completely.