Chapter 574: I Didn't Realize the Level of Martial Arts Academies These Days

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Sword King's gaze was gentle.

The trainees liked their first impression of this new instructor.

Was it because of the leisure in his expression? Or perhaps his worn martial arts uniform, iron sword, and tied-back hair? He exuded a sense of being free-spirited.

How should one put it? He looked like the kind of person who would roam the Central Plains freely with a single sword, savoring his freedom.

That was why Geom Mugeuk grew even more tense.

He knew all too well what level of mastery that feeling of freedom stemmed from.

Geom Mugeuk took a step forward, in front of Lee Ahn and Seo Jin.

He positioned the two women behind him, to his left and right.

If he had been alone, he would not have been this tense. However, this place was filled with trainees, and more importantly, Lee Ahn and Seo Jin were here.

Was there any guarantee that the Sword King would not attack him right here and now?

Considering everything that had happened with the hidden faction so far, it would not be strange at all if something were to happen here.

Lee Ahn's gaze fell on Geom Mugeuk's back. He had not taken his eyes off the temporary instructor since he appeared.

She had watched the Young Cult Leader since she was young. Now, she could tell what he was feeling just by the way he stood. She got the feeling that Geom Mugeuk was inexplicably tense.

He's truly someone who is far from being tense.

Naturally, Lee Ahn's gaze shifted to the new instructor.

She only felt that he was distinctly different from the other instructors in the martial arts academy, who all gave off a similar impression. She could not sense any particular energy from him.

If Geom Mugeuk was truly tense because of that instructor, it meant he was a much greater master than she was.

Could it be? Is he a master from the White Snake Society?

She had never imagined that the hidden faction Geom Mugeuk had been fighting would appear here, so she thought he might be from the White Snake Society.

"Alright, you first. Introduce yourself."

The trainee closest to the Sword King stated his name. The Sword King asked the trainees various things. How old are you?

Why did you join the martial arts academy? What will you do after you graduate? Do you have a girlfriend?

Looking at him now, he was the spitting image of a martial arts academy instructor. The kind of person who was very interested in other people's business and meddled a lot.

Then it was Geom Mugeuk's turn.

"I'm Geom Yeon."

Today, there was no 'smoke' in his name introduction.

Seeing that, Lee Ahn was certain her feeling was correct. The Young Cult Leader would normally have made a point of saying the 'Yeon' in his name meant 'smoke', not 'destiny'.

This was the decisive reason for Geom Mugeuk's tension.

He came here knowing who I am.

How could his meeting with one of the Twelve Zodiac Kings be a coincidence? And not just any of the Twelve Zodiac Kings, but the Sword King himself.

The problem was that the Sword King had appeared openly. If he knew Geom Mugeuk was here, he could have moved secretly.

As most of the Twelve Zodiac Kings had done until now.

However, the Sword King stood confidently before him.

Did he think I would not recognize him?

Impossible. No matter how well he concealed his energy, how could I not recognize that presence? This was the Sword King's confidence. A challenge to have a proper fight.

The Sword King, who had been staring at Geom Mugeuk, shouted cheerfully.

"Hey! It's you!"

To Geom Mugeuk, those words sounded like this.

I've finally met the bastard who's caused our organization so much trouble!

Of course, the Sword King gave a different reason.

"The rumors are already flying around the martial arts academy. They say there's a newcomer who goes around with two beautiful women. You enviable bastard!"

He had a genuinely envious expression. At that, the watching trainees laughed here and there. It was the first time they had seen an instructor so openly envy a trainee's beautiful companions. They were already starting to lower their guard around this temporary instructor.

Geom Mugeuk tapped his chest twice, as if boasting, and said.

"That's right. I'm that cool newcomer."

"Let me have a closer look. Let's see just how cool this guy is."

The Sword King walked toward Geom Mugeuk.

In that moment, sensing Geom Mugeuk's tension, the Heavenly Demon Defense Art activated on its own.

Even as he approached, step by step, the Sword King revealed no energy whatsoever.

Approaching with a broad smile, he truly looked like an instructor who enjoyed joking around with a disciple.

The Sword King came right up to Geom Mugeuk's face.

A distance where if they drew their swords, they could cut each other's throats.

Geom Mugeuk's heart pounded.

His opponent was the Sword King.

From there, the Sword King took another step closer.

Then he slowly raised his hand and extended it toward Geom Mugeuk.

At that sight, it was Lee Ahn, standing behind Geom Mugeuk, whose heart pounded as if it would burst.

If the two of them started a fierce battle, what should she do? Should she help the Young Cult Leader? Or should she trust the Young Cult Leader and retreat with Seo Jin?

The hand extended toward Geom Mugeuk reached its destination.

TAP.

The Sword King placed a hand on Geom Mugeuk's shoulder.

"You're cool."

Until then, Geom Mugeuk had stood perfectly still. It was harder to do nothing and let him place his hand on his shoulder than to engage in a fierce fight. The mental toll of not knowing when or how he might attack was extreme.

Geom Mugeuk smiled and said.

"You're cooler, Instructor."

"Me?"

"Usually, people are burning with jealousy. But you, Instructor, are telling me I'm cool."

At that, the Sword King moved even closer to Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk silently watched as his two eyes drew near. It was the same this time. It was more difficult to endure this without revealing any energy.

The Sword King whispered in Geom Mugeuk's ear.

"Honestly, I'm jealous. I'm a man, too."

Then he grinned at Geom Mugeuk.

The Sword King was different from what he had expected. Very, very different.

So this is the kind of person the Sword King is.

He surely knew it too. That Geom Mugeuk did not see him as an ordinary instructor. That is what made his actions all the more remarkable.

Even then, the Sword King's hand remained on Geom Mugeuk's shoulder. The moment he felt even a hint inner qi from his fingertips, a crazy fight would break out.

The Sword King's gaze shifted to Lee Ahn, who was standing behind Geom Mugeuk.

When her eyes met the Sword King's, Lee Ahn bowed her head in greeting and stated her name.

"I'm Lee Ahn."

The Sword King took his hand off Geom Mugeuk's shoulder and this time, took a step toward Lee Ahn.

Geom Mugeuk turned to follow.

If you cut down Lee Ahn, you die too.

However, he would not risk such a move with Geom Mugeuk at his back. He too must know the extent of the Young Cult Leader's skills.

Indeed, the Sword King did not attack her. Instead, he looked at her and exclaimed in admiration.

"Amazing!"

It seemed as if he was admiring her appearance, but Geom Mugeuk knew.

He read Lee Ahn's accomplishments.

In other words, it meant he had seen through Lee Ahn's martial arts level, her complete mastery of the Soaring Sky Sword Art, in a single glance.

Even though she showed no sign of tension and had thoroughly concealed her energy, she could not deceive his eyes.

The Sword King stared intently at Lee Ahn, then turned his gaze to Seo Jin.

"I'm Seo Jin."

In the Sword King's eyes as he looked at the two women, there was no trace of lust or desire.

That was the bigger problem. After returning to his original spot, the Sword King called them out.

"Lee Ahn, Seo Jin. Step forward!"

This was a clear provocation aimed at Geom Mugeuk.

After all, an instructor telling trainees to step forward was something he could do anytime.

Now, what are you going to do?

Having taken a step forward, Lee Ahn looked at Geom Mugeuk.

From the look in Geom Mugeuk's eyes as he watched the instructor, Lee Ahn now knew for sure.

That man is the master who is making the Young Cult Leader so tense!

She could feel that Geom Mugeuk was worried. Worried that they would be in danger.

On the other hand, Seo Jin, unaware of the gravity of the situation, looked at Lee Ahn with an expression that said, 'Let's go together.'

At that moment, one of Lee Ahn's nine tails unfurled.

She grabbed Geom Mugeuk's wrist.

When a surprised Geom Mugeuk looked at her, Lee Ahn pulled him forward with her.

"Let's go together."

Seo Jin followed behind them. She too had a gut feeling that something unusual was happening.

The Sword King watched them with a strange smile.

"I believe I only told the two of you to come out?"

Lee Ahn said to him.

"There's a reason I brought this friend with me."

Lee Ahn looked at Geom Mugeuk and said.

"This friend promised to be our sword and shield for the rest of his life."

Originally, he had promised to be a sword and shield for her, but now she used the word 'our'. It was because she had to protect Seo Jin now as well.

The trainees, hearing this for the first time, grew noisy. Most of them frowned rather than laughed, and jeered rather than applauded.

"Since we're martial artists, we should carry a sword and shield wherever we go."

Even as she said it, Lee Ahn's heart was pounding like crazy.

It was something she had thought up in the moment, so she did not know if this method would work. Still, it was the path she chose out of a desire to help Geom Mugeuk in some way.

The Sword King walked up to Lee Ahn.

"What will you do if this shield shatters?"

A moment of silence passed. Then, Lee Ahn replied with a bright smile.

"That's why we're always recruiting for shields."

The Sword King, who had been momentarily stunned, soon burst out laughing.

"Good, that's fun. Is there an age limit for that shield?"

It was a joke implying he might want to join, so the trainees burst into laughter.

"All three of you, go back to your places."

As if accepting her wit, the Sword King let them return.

As they were about to return to their original spots, the Sword King called out to Geom Mugeuk.

"You said your name was Geom Yeon, right?"

"……"

"Two women, but only one shield? What if both are attacked at the same time?"

He asked it like a joke, but it was a meaningful question. A question of who he would protect if both women were attacked simultaneously.

It was a truly difficult question. Without these two women, Geom Mugeuk would not even be here. He would have already died if Lee Ahn had not blocked for him with the Self-Petrification Art, and he would not have been able to return if Seo Jin had not told him about the Great Regression Technique.

Geom Mugeuk smiled and turned back.

"I probably won't have to save anyone."

"Why is that?"

"What kind of fool in this world would stab such beautiful women to death? Would you, Instructor?"

At the unexpected answer, the Sword King laughed out loud again.

"I wouldn't be able to stab them. I'd have stabbed you three times instead."

"Why three times?"

"I'd have to stab you for their shares, too."

This time, Geom Mugeuk smiled and looked at Lee Ahn.

"Fellow entrant, did you hear that? This is the kind of danger your shield is in."

Lee Ahn replied with a smile.

"I'll somehow block one of them for you. So you only have to get stabbed twice."

Then Seo Jin, on the other side, said.

"I'll work hard too, so you only have to block one."

Geom Mugeuk looked back at the Sword King.

"So they say."

The two men looked at each other. The Sword King's face was full of leisure, while Geom Mugeuk wore a comfortable smile.

The introductions of the other trainees continued. As if to show that Geom Mugeuk and the two women were not receiving special treatment, the Sword King again asked the trainees all sorts of things. What's your family situation? What will you spend your money on when you earn it?

In the meantime, the training session ended. As soon as the bell signaling the end of training rang, the Sword King left without a single look back.

"See you tomorrow!"

His retreating back as he hurried away made him look like a slacker instructor, as if he had just successfully killed another day.

As he grew distant, Geom Mugeuk finally let out a light sigh. He had not used a single strand of inner arts, but he had fought a fierce battle with him. And it was more difficult than any other fight.

Lee Ahn carefully asked Geom Mugeuk.

"Did I mess things up by any chance?"

"No. You did well."

Only then did Lee Ahn let out a sigh of relief.

"You told me before, right? That to describe my strength, I should ask how many techniques it would take to kill the Azure Dragon Principal here? That's what you said! But now my heart almost exploded because of a mere instructor!"

Geom Mugeuk met her joke with one of his own.

"I didn't realize the level of martial arts academies these days."

Of course, Lee Ahn knew. That instructor from a moment ago was a master from the hidden faction Geom Mugeuk had been fighting all this time. A master from the White Snake Society could never make Geom Mugeuk this tense.

"When you reach your level of skill, enemies like that start to appear before you."

"Then what should I do?"

Geom Mugeuk gave her the answer.

"You must achieve Twelfth Star mastery."

Lee Ahn nodded, resolving that she absolutely had to achieve Twelfth Star mastery.

"You can't do this to me then! Saying, 'Sorry, now you have to face an even stronger enemy!'"

Geom Mugeuk smiled with an expression that said, 'I just might.'

Seo Jin, standing next to the two of them, also felt a desire to become stronger.

"I will work hard too."

"Right, we need a real ghost now, not a baby ghost."

The Sword King's question today about who he would save instead became a powerful motivation for Lee Ahn and Seo Jin to become stronger. They were the types to protect others, not to live a life where someone else protected them.

Lee Ahn looked in the direction the Sword King had walked and said.

"It looks like dangerous lessons will begin tomorrow."

Geom Mugeuk replied with a meaningful smile.

"The more dangerous it is, the more there will be to learn."