Chapter 568: You're Not Actually Good at Cursing, Are You?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Yeom Baekjin laughed out loud.

"Why are you laughing?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

Yeom Baekjin wore a look of contempt. "Three newcomers are going to take over the Yellow Dragon Academy. How could I not laugh?"

"Then will you help us?" Geom Mugeuk asked, looking right at him.

"What?"

"If you help us, Master, wouldn't we be able to take it over?"

For a moment, Geom Mugeuk saw it. Yeom Baekjin's eyes wavered slightly. It was a moment where he should have laughed it off and told him not to spout nonsense.

This unconcealable agitation must have stemmed from a long-held, accumulated regret.

Yeom Baekjin slammed his cup down with a THUD.

Geom Mugeuk quickly said to him, "I'm sorry. I was just nervous about tomorrow's exam and spouted some nonsense."

Yeom Baekjin stared intently at Geom Mugeuk. This was the man who had asked to share a table while accompanied by a beauty who could be called the world number one.

"Who are you?" The intense suspicion, which had been momentarily suppressed by Lee Ahn's appearance, surged forth.

"I'm Geom Yeon. Not the 'Yeon' for fate, but the 'Yeon' for smoke. When this is all over, I'll disappear like smoke."

"I didn't ask."

"Yes. I'm sorry."

Yeom Baekjin's suspicion soon subsided. He reasoned that if someone had wanted to approach him intentionally, they wouldn't have sent such a strange fellow. They certainly wouldn't have sent such a beautiful woman with him either. The two of them simply stood out far too much.

As Yeom Baekjin stood up from his seat, he said to Seo Jin, "Let's have a drink next time when it's quieter."

Seo Jin silently bowed her head slightly.

The fact that he asked to drink with her, even with Lee Ahn right there, showed that he didn't see her as a simple object of desire. If he had, he would have hit on Lee Ahn.

Before leaving, Yeom Baekjin glanced at Lee Ahn. It truly was a beautiful face, even on second look. It seemed things would get noisy for a while if this woman entered the martial arts academy.

Once Yeom Baekjin left the inn, only the three of them remained.

Seo Jin saw it then. The change in Geom Mugeuk. In front of Yeom Baekjin, he had truly seemed like a rookie nervous about the entrance exam tomorrow. It looked like a genuine slip of the tongue, and he seemed truly flustered.

However, there was no trace of such carelessness in Geom Mugeuk's appearance now.

"He regrets not being able to become the Principal of the Yellow Dragon Academy," Geom Mugeuk said.

Seo Jin confirmed that Geom Mugeuk had seen correctly. "You saw right. When he introduced himself to me, he said he was a man who couldn't become the master of this place because he was born too late."

Geom Mugeuk nodded. Back when Seo Jin was getting her revenge, he hadn't been able to dig deep into the man named Yeom Baekjin or the Yellow Dragon Academy. He had been in a hurry for revenge back then. Now, he needed to observe him calmly.

Seo Jin said to Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn, "Please come up to my room for a moment."

Seo Jin led the two of them to her room on the second floor of the inn. She greeted Geom Mugeuk with the utmost courtesy she could muster.

"I am Seo Jin, Division Leader of the Ghost Shadow Squad, paying my respects to the Young Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk smiled and welcomed her. "Welcome to the Ghost Shadow Squad."

She would never know how moved he was right now, or with what kind of heart he was looking at her.

In this life, I suppose I won't get to hear those grateful words you said to me as a friend.

That part was a shame, but an incomparably better life would be waiting for her. She would have Lee Ahn as her Commander, Green Mask as a fellow Division Leader, and she would meet other comrades as well.

The life of dying as a mercenary in a nameless field will be no more.

This time, Seo Jin politely bowed to Lee Ahn. "Division Leader Seo Jin pays her respects to the Commander."

"Thank you for trusting me," Lee Ahn replied.

"Please speak comfortably now, Commander."

"I will, Division Leader Seo," Lee Ahn said with an unreadable smile. "You know I went through a lot of trouble because of you, right?"

The two women looked at each other and laughed. Her words revealed just how much trouble Lee Ahn must have gone through to persuade her. Seo Jin did not have an easygoing personality.

"Still, I wanted to make Division Leader Seo one of my people even a day sooner," Lee Ahn added.

"Thank you."

After exchanging greetings, Lee Ahn asked, "Division Leader Seo, tell me what the situation is now."

Seo Jin told them everything that had happened since she came to the Yellow Dragon Academy.

"So you're saying that the Master, Giseok, and the instructor, Pyo San, are hiding something, and that Yeom Baekjin we saw today also seems to know something," Lee Ahn summarized.

"Yes, that's right."

Lee Ahn looked at Geom Mugeuk. When she asked with her eyes what to do now, Geom Mugeuk took a step back.

"Don't look at me. This is a matter for the Ghost Shadow Squad, so handle it yourselves. I'll just play the role of shield and sword."

This was what Lee Ahn had hoped for as well. She wanted to resolve this matter herself with Seo Jin if possible.

"With the most reliable sword and shield in the murim, there's nothing in the world to fear. Should we go and conquer the jianghu just like this?" Just as she said, Lee Ahn didn't hesitate.

"First, let's get through the entrance ceremony tomorrow, and then we'll decide what to do."

"Alright!" Geom Mugeuk was excited, saying it was the first time in his life he was entering a martial arts academy.

However, he didn't let his guard down. Geom Mugeuk went down to the inn owner and got the room next to Seo Jin's.

"It might be inconvenient, but you two share a room. I'll stay next door."

In the unlikely event of a surprise attack, they would be safer together. It would also be a chance for the two of them to get closer.

That night, Geom Mugeuk trained his martial arts by using the Heavenly Space Secret Art within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. There, Geom Mugeuk strived and strived to break through the seventh level of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art and ascend to the eighth. Since he was given far more time than others, his efforts were also multiplied several times over.

This space was for him alone. For Geom Mugeuk, the real martial arts academy was right here.

The next day, Seo Jin was attending the martial arts class of Pyo San of the White Dragon Class.

"With energy! With discipline!"

The number of trainees in the White Dragon Class led by Pyo San was about thirty. He was in charge of the class for the new recruits because he was monitoring Seo Jin.

Among them, those who were skilled enough would be sent to the next class. After going through several stages within the White Dragon Class, they would take the test to advance to the Blue Dragon Class.

The trainees feared the instructors and tried hard to look good. If they got on their bad side, they wouldn't even be able to take the promotion test. Today, too, everyone was sweating hard, worried they might get on Pyo San's bad side.

When the class was almost over, an instructor walked over, leading two people.

A trainee practicing a technique missed a step and his posture collapsed. However, no one paid him any mind. Everyone was too busy staring at the two people approaching to notice their surroundings.

"These are the new recruits for the White Dragon Class."

The two people who drew everyone's gazes were none other than Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn. They had passed the entrance exam and joined the White Dragon Class.

Not only the trainees of the White Dragon Class, but even Pyo San, who was teaching them, had his gaze stolen by Lee Ahn.

Soon, Pyo San said to the two of them, "Come forward and introduce yourselves."

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward first and introduced himself. "I'm Geom Yeon."

"I'm Lee Ahn."

Pyo San said to the two of them, "Report here starting tomorrow."

Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn said energetically, "Yes, sir."

Pyo San's gaze turned to Seo Jin. Seo Jin was also looking at Lee Ahn. She, too, acted normally like the other trainees.

"That's all for today's training."

As Pyo San withdrew, all eyes focused on the two newcomers. Some stared openly, while others stole glances. Among them, one person stepped to the forefront of the blatant staring.

"I'm Yoo Gwang."

He had a somewhat swaggering demeanor, a rather large build, and a loud voice.

"I'll be direct. I like you."

His attitude was on the borderline between brave and rude, but to the current Lee Ahn, it was just cute. Besides, the guy's voice, trying so hard to sound imposing, was trembling slightly.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"I said I understand how you feel."

Yoo Gwang was flustered, as if this wasn't the reaction he had expected. Was it because everyone's eyes were on him? He didn't back down.

"Let's have a drink to welcome you."

"All of us?"

"No, just the two of us."

"I don't feel like drinking on the first day. Maybe next time."

If she had refused nicely, he could have just suggested another time, but Yoo Gwang acted as if he had made up his mind.

"A junior who rejects a Senior's request on the first day. You've got some nerve, don't you?"

Even though they were in the same White Dragon Class, he was trying to act like a Senior just because he had joined earlier.

Lee Ahn glanced at Geom Mugeuk. He and Seo Jin were watching them with expressions that said they were enjoying the interesting spectacle.

"I like a woman with guts."

It was at that moment that someone else stepped forward. "Shouldn't you stop?"

The person who stepped forward again was Gyo Seok. He was a trainee with a smaller build than Yoo Gwang, who had come out earlier. But despite that, he was brave.

"Why are you forcing someone who said no?"

Yoo Gwang's expression hardened instantly. The anger from being rejected was now directed at Gyo Seok.

"This bastard always has to pick a fight with everything I do, doesn't he?"

Seeing him curse right away, it seemed they didn't usually get along.

"It's not picking a fight, I'm telling you not to harass people."

"What the hell do you mean, harass? I just asked her for a drink."

"That is harassing."

It seemed Gyo Seok, like Yoo Gwang, had also fallen for Lee Ahn at first sight. He didn't seem like the type to step forward like this.

"You might get a beating for acting up, relying on your family." From those words, it was clear that Gyo Seok, who had stepped forward, was the scion of a rather well-known prestigious family.

"There you go again!"

"What's there to you besides your family? You moron! If you feel it's unfair, then come at me!"

Geom Mugeuk and Seo Jin were enjoying the situation from a short distance away.

"It's gotten quite chaotic," Seo Jin commented.

"She has a face that incites brawls, doesn't she? It'd be strange if the youths' blood didn't boil seeing Lee Ahn."

Seo Jin had to agree. She possessed a beauty that even other women had to acknowledge.

"Division Leader Seo, you like pretty women too, don't you?"

"How did you know?"

How would I know? I know because you told me. The pre-regression Seo Jin really liked pretty women. She said that seeing pretty things made her feel good. She liked not only beautiful women but also flowers and pretty clothes.

Seo Jin got a strange feeling from the deep gaze directed at her. The Young Cult Leader's gaze wasn't like those wild, blood-boiling ones. And yet, looking at him, she felt an inexplicable resonance.

Seo Jin asked, looking at Lee Ahn, "You must have known this chaos would happen. Why didn't you have her wear an ugly disguise?"

Then, Geom Mugeuk gave an unexpected answer. "She was born beautiful, so she should live enjoying her beautiful face."

Having spent a long time suffering from the side effects of the Self-Petrification Art, he hoped Lee Ahn would enjoy things like this.

"She's never experienced anything like that in her life, living to protect me. Men dueling and lining up for her because they like her. Isn't that a good memory to brag to her children about later?"

Geom Mugeuk hoped she would continue to live with her own face in the future. He would guide her to train her martial arts in the time she would have spent on disguises, so that living with that face wouldn't be bothersome or difficult.

For a moment, Seo Jin looked at Geom Mugeuk with an uncomprehending heart.

You're really that considerate of your subordinate's personal life?

She still didn't know Geom Mugeuk very well.

Just then, a female martial artist from the White Dragon Class walked toward Geom Mugeuk.

"She's coming to see me. Right, just because she's a woman doesn't mean she isn't a youth with boiling blood, right?"

The woman approached the two of them. "You said you're Geom Yeon, right?"

"I'm Geom Yeon, with the 'Yeon' for smoke. They call me Geom Yeon because I'm here one moment and then disappear like smoke. Want to get a drink? I'm fine with it even if it's the first day. Oh, what's your name? What do you like?"

As he poured out words she hadn't asked for, a hint of disappointment crossed the woman's face. He was handsome and had a good vibe, but to be this chatty from the very first word!

The woman stealthily backed away. "I have something to do today."

As she retreated, Seo Jin teased Geom Mugeuk. "She really did disappear like smoke."

Geom Mugeuk wore a regretful expression.

Of course, Seo Jin knew. That Geom Mugeuk had intentionally driven the woman away.

"You pathetic bastard! Get lost!"

"You're the one who should back away from the newcomer!"

Yoo Gwang and Gyo Seok, who were fighting with words, looked ready to trade blows at any moment, but Geom Mugeuk just watched with a smile, feigning ignorance.

In the end, Seo Jin stepped forward. She was a Division Leader, after all, so she couldn't just stand by for her Commander's sake.

"Assaulting someone over a personal matter will result in immediate expulsion."

At Seo Jin's words, Yoo Gwang and Gyo Seok looked at her.

"It was written in the entrance documents. I'm the type to read those things meticulously."

Geom Mugeuk smiled faintly. She was the same during her mercenary days. While most mercenaries would sign contracts carelessly, Seo Jin would read them meticulously and fix any strange parts. Her personality hadn't changed.

Even at the mention of expulsion, the two did not back down.

"If a Senior can't protect a newcomer, he deserves to be expelled!" Gyo Seok shouted.

Just then, Lee Ahn said in a bright tone, "Considering the passionate friendship between you two, I guess we'll have to have that drink."

Yoo Gwang and Gyo Seok flinched at the word 'friendship'.

"Friendship?" When Yoo Gwang asked demandingly, Lee Ahn gave an unexpected answer.

"You two are close friends, aren't you?"

"What are you talking about?"

Lee Ahn stepped closer to Yoo Gwang. "You're not actually good at cursing, are you?"

Yoo Gwang flinched. As Lee Ahn brought her face close, he, who had been shouting curses, couldn't even meet her eyes.

"I grew up in an environment where I heard a lot of curses. I'm good at telling real curses from fake ones." She moved her face to where Yoo Gwang had averted his gaze and said, "Actually, you're the nicer one, aren't you? That's how you look to me."

Yoo Gwang averted his gaze again. Lee Ahn met his eyes once more, and finally, Yoo Gwang squeezed his eyes shut.

Gyo Seok, who had been listening, confessed. "Sorry. I asked my friend to do it. Because I like you."

The plan was for Yoo Gwang to pick a fight so he could step in like a righteous hero and save her. In truth, the two were best friends.

"How did you know?"

Lee Ahn laughed at Gyo Seok's question. "Your eyes are innocent, and your acting is awkward."

Yoo Gwang gave Gyo Seok an apologetic look. "Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I ruined it because of me."

Lee Ahn stepped between them and linked arms with both. "You guys are so cute."

The two were startled, their faces turning bright red.

"Right, this is how a martial arts academy should be. It has to be this innocent to be a martial arts academy. Let's go have that drink. I have some things to ask you guys, too."

With their arms linked, the two guys were dragged away by Lee Ahn. The onlookers were also all surprised by Lee Ahn's unexpected side. The words spoken by the beauty, who seemed difficult to even approach, were so friendly.

Seo Jin was also surprised. She already knew her personality was this bright, but it was because Lee Ahn had noticed their scheme. She herself hadn't noticed. Of course, she was standing farther away than Lee Ahn, but she didn't think she would have noticed even if she were closer.

I'm still a long way from the Commander's level.

If the Commander knew, did the Young Cult Leader know too? Seo Jin was curious about that.

Lee Ahn, who was walking ahead, turned her head toward Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk beamed and mouthed words to her without a sound.

"You're ready to go independent now, Lee Ahn."