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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Understanding Demonic Martial Arts
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Seo Dohui casually surveyed the manor grounds.
As expected of the pampered brats from the Righteous Factions. Just having their internal energy restricted was enough to make them flounder, unable to easily subdue her subordinates.
For internal energy, it's a fundamental principle that it can only truly exert its full power when supported by a strong physique. To think there are so many greenhorns who don't even grasp such a basic truth.
Of course, there were a few who fought surprisingly well. Lads with potential, one might say.
"Hyaap!"
A male student, seemingly from the Beggar's Sect, was a prime example. The moment he clashed with the bandit group, he swiftly seized a club using his Golden Capture Hand Arts and proceeded to rapidly quell his surroundings with his Dog-Beating Staff Arts. It was quite impressive.
"Ku-aahk—"
...For whatever reason, though, he was handsome enough, but the moment his eyes met a woman's, he froze. He then took a palm strike from the furious woman bandit and stumbled, unable to even counterattack. Aside from that idiotic behavior...
He could be considered a student who met the passing criteria, in his own way.
Then there was another, a female student who seemed to be from the Beast Palace, who utilized her given situation with remarkable cleverness.
She was apparently adept at physical techniques from the start. Even without a weapon, she skillfully unleashed her Fist Arts and Leg Arts, easily subduing even a burly man much larger than herself.
"Squirrel Punch!"
"Squeak!"
The way she filled any openings that arose by coordinating with animals was impressive.
Well, of course.
"...!"
"Hehe, my dear. That's nowhere near enough, is it?"
The real contenders were right before Seo Dohui's eyes.
Even if she dangled the prize of midterm exam exemption rights, there probably weren't many people in the entire martial arts world of their era who would dare to charge at her so boldly.
As a reward to the Little Cult Master, who seemed to have already surpassed the first-rate level and reached the peak realm, constantly firing off Demonic Energy Blasts with her tiny, slender fingers...
Thwack!
"Ugh."
Seo Dohui, having delivered a light flick to the forehead and quickly retreated her body, wore a mischievous smile on her lips.
Seeing the slight vein throbbing on the Little Cult Master's expressionless face, it seemed she was truly pissed off.
So what can you even do? What can a mere Peak-level brat do besides sulk?!
Seo Dohui, harboring such an audacious thought that uttering it might immediately spark a war between the Righteous and Demonic Factions, lightly adopted the Iron Plate Bridge stance this time.
"Damn it."
"Is that how you speak to your instructor, who's like the heavens themselves?"
She fulfilled her duty as an educator by harshly kicking the man's side, which had barely grazed her chest.
"Gah!"
"Ugh—!"
Watching Geum Sihyeon, who had been kicked, fly vigorously through the air and collide forcefully with the student wielding the Dog-Beating Staff Arts, Seo Dohui felt a refreshing satisfaction.
To think that guy was the young master of the Ten Thousand Gold Commerce Guild. How dare that impudent fellow steal my adorable Silver Wolf.
If she had to be critical, his momentum was decent, but compared to his momentum, his external martial arts and the depth of his learned techniques were abysmal. It was probably due to the Blue Sky Association's constant interference.
Still, she had a personal curiosity, and besides, she owed the Ten Thousand Gold Commerce Guild quite a bit. For the sake of the Guild Master, she'd train him enough to at least be a decent human being.
"Eek!"
"Hehe."
Nevertheless, the Little Cult Master, despite being at the Peak level, still managed to charge at her, aiming for an opening. Seo Dohui simply pressed her finger firmly against the Little Cult Master's forehead, pushing her back again.
If she wasn't so cute, Seo Dohui would have beaten her up as easily as Geum Sihyeon. Cuteness truly is justice.
"You brats, straighten up! Any of you who fall flat on your faces here will get no dinner tonight!"
"Yes, Sis!"
"You brat who called me 'Sis', you'll be facing the wall on your knees later!"
After thoroughly motivating her subordinates, she savored the brief moment of leisure that followed.
Still, as if harboring some romantic feelings, Geum Sihyeon, who had been circling the Beast Palace girl like an eyesore, beating up a few bandits, eventually charged at her again.
Seeing him somehow acquire a club and charge at her again, Seo Dohui cheered, "Yes, that's the kind of spirit you need!"
At the same time, the Little Cult Master, whose forehead was bright red right in the center, showed off her slightly pouting cheeks as she charged forward with him.
But it was futile.
"Uh-buh—"
Her forehead looked like it would bruise if she hit it again, so Seo Dohui lightly pinched the Little Cult Master's cheek, pushing her back.
"Cough—"
As for Geum Sihyeon, who lacked any particular cuteness, she simply kicked him mercilessly, sending him sprawling.
After several exchanges, a curious glint began to appear in Seo Dohui's eyes.
Initially, Geum Sihyeon and the Little Cult Master had attacked haphazardly, each on their own. But before long, they subtly began to coordinate their movements.
For instance, just as the Little Cult Master's True Qi, coiling around her arm like a black flame dragon, was fired at Seo Dohui, Geum Sihyeon would aim for the angle Seo Dohui would use to dodge and preemptively take up a defensive position.
Or when a palm strike landed on Geum Sihyeon's chest, the Little Cult Master would pop out as if on cue, dissipating the True Qi and diverting it away.
Watching them gradually grow accustomed to each other's movements, without exchanging a single word, Seo Dohui inwardly smiled with satisfaction.
Although their martial arts had become unnecessarily flashy compared to the past, they weren't just for show; they possessed a considerable amount of power as well.
But that alone wasn't enough.
"Kyaa!"
She swiftly grabbed the Little Cult Master's soft, slender leg, which had been stretched out towards her, spun her twice in the air, and then tossed her towards Geum Sihyeon.
A moment of hesitation flickered in Geum Sihyeon's eyes, clearly filled with panic.
Of course, a Peak-level expert wouldn't get hurt even if they took a grand tumble on the ground.
"Ugh!"
Despite Seo Dohui deliberately making a large movement to expose an opening, Geum Sihyeon chose to shield the Little Cult Master with his own body rather than seize the opportunity given to him.
"Ah, youth!"
She threw out a mischievous remark, but. "Please call it camaraderie."
Neither of the two youngsters' expressions changed. The moment they regained their stances, they once again coordinated their movements and rushed at her.
Their persistence was commendable, but they should know that repeatedly charging would be meaningless.
If only they were a little wiser? They would have temporarily given up at this point, returned to their companions, first beaten down the bandits, and then strategized their attack.
Well, even if a bunch of first-rate nobodies gathered, they wouldn't be able to do much. But wouldn't it at least be more promising than just one first-rate and one Peak-level expert charging in?
That's a pity, so a slight deduction in their evaluation.
Just as she was thinking that.
Thump.
From the tree she was casually leaning against, something dropped onto her shoulder.
Thinking it was an insect, Seo Dohui calmly turned her head, and her gaze met.
"Squeak!"
A squirrel she had seen somewhere before.
While Seo Dohui was slightly bewildered, the squirrel that had landed on her shoulder chewed a hole right through her clothes with its adorable teeth. Then, it swiftly scampered back up the tree.
"No way."
The squirrel, having climbed to the very top of the tree, performed a leap of faith.
Seo Dohui instinctively tried to leap up to catch it, but.
"No."
The Little Cult Master, having exploited that opening, suddenly popped up right in front of her, obscuring her vision.
"Agh."
Of course, Seo Dohui immediately retaliated with a flick to the forehead, but the squirrel had already landed on its destination—
Geum Sihyeon's palm.
The squirrel spat out what it had been munching on.
It was a piece of her torn clothing, ripped off by its teeth.
Beside Geum Sihyeon, who was holding the torn piece of her clothing between his thumb and pinky, waving it back and forth with an annoying grin, the Beast Palace girl, whom she had noticed earlier, exclaimed, "Kyaa! D-Ram, that's amazing!"
So, when he briefly went over to that girl earlier, he was borrowing the squirrel? Only then did the slightly odd behaviors make perfect sense.
She had found it strange earlier that they were only attacking from one side. They had planned for this tree from the start. And slowly, without her noticing, they had woven a path to ensnare her.
—If they managed to break through these guys and even a single finger brushed against this lady's clothes—
A finger *did* brush, didn't it? Even if it was a torn piece of clothing.
"Pfft." Seo Dohui let out a hollow laugh.
That brat, that guy. Seeing how utterly cunning he is, he belongs in the Demonic Faction, not the Righteous Faction.
"You beggar! I'm coming!"
Geum Sihyeon, having confirmed her laughter, bowed briefly, then turned his back without hesitation and walked towards his friend. Watching his retreating figure, Seo Dohui made a decision.
This midterm exam would have no written test, only a practical one.
It was indeed a cruel idea, befitting the Green Forest Fighting King.
* * *
"That's enough! Everyone, well done!"
When Seo Dohui's voice announced the end of the lesson, hardly anyone was left standing. Most were simply sprawled on the ground, utterly exhausted and spent.
Of course, if you weighed the severity of the damage, the bandits had suffered far worse.
Initially, they had charged with clubs in an intimidating manner, but there was no way any of them genuinely intended to smash the Righteous Faction kids' heads in.
If anything, I was the one who got hurt the most.
My side, where I'd been kicked earlier, throbbed especially fiercely. It felt like a bone might have even cracked.
But patience is bitter, and its fruit is sweet.
"Heh heh heh."
I savored the soft texture of the 'Perfect Score Maker' that I still clutched tightly.
I had already shown the mercy of allowing myself, the Little Cult Master, Unhak, and Murong Taek to touch it.
But there was still one pitiful lamb left to whom I hadn't yet shown mercy.
In the end, I approached Cheon Ruri, who had been brawling with Seo Dohui alone until the very end, and was now sprawled out on Myo Narang's lap.
"...Traitor."
Her sulky voice pricked my heart.
Well, from Cheon Ruri's perspective, I must have looked like a coward who gave up halfway and ran away.
Without a word, I pressed the piece of cloth firmly into Cheon Ruri's hand.
"This is..."
"You worked hard."
Though we hadn't fought back-to-back, I still handed over the reward that was rightfully due to a comrade-in-arms who had transcended the Righteous and Demonic divide to fight against the great evil that was the bandit boss.
Cheon Ruri's slightly sharp eyes quickly softened and rounded.
"Squeak!"
"Yes, yes. I'll bring you plenty of acorns later."
"Squeak! Squeak!"
I exchanged glances with the Little Cult Master and gave the squirrel, today's top contributor, the praise it deserved.
Just as I was about to leave the manor with the two bumbling idiots who were leaning against the wall, limping.
"Geum Sihyeon, is it?"
Annoyingly, the still-energetic old lady's voice reached my eardrums.
Rebelliousness surged within me, as she had been particularly violent towards me, a mere first-rate expert, while leaving the Peak-level one alone. But I couldn't ignore her.
"Y-yes?"
I replied weakly.
"Come with me."
What is it? Why are you doing this to me?
I desperately cast glances in every direction, seeking help, but.
"Ahem, ahem. Brother Murong. Let's go ahead."
"That would be best."
What returned was a drop in sales... no, it was betrayal.
Like a cow being led to the slaughter, I trudged weakly. I followed the Violent Auntie into the manor.
And then.
"You don't have a master, do you?"
The Violent Bragging Auntie's first words, as if saying, 'You don't have this kind of thing at your house, do you?'
A chill ran down my spine. Something felt off.
"You, become my disciple."
"...?"
Instantly, a nostalgic song echoed in my mind.
In my... childhood, by chance... I heard... unbelievable words...
This is a bandit, so... 'Inherit the Bandit King's will'? Teacher Higuma, could it be you?
How did she read my expression?
Wham!
"Gah!"
The Violent Bragging Bandit Auntie swung a club at my head without warning.
Overwhelmed by the pain, I involuntarily sank to the ground.
"Hmm. Well, you've bowed once, so you only need to do eight more. Refusal is not an option."
This, this crazy woman... Who accepts the Nine Bows of Respect like this...!
I tried to resist this outrage, but.
"Oh, didn't your father tell you?"
The Violent Bragging Bandit Hag Auntie offered me a smartphone with a very unpleasant smile. My hand touched hers as I took it. On the screen was.
[He is a child with many shortcomings, but please take good care of him. Still, knowing that our Great Hero Seo is at the academy puts my mind at ease.]
Why... was my father's name... on the sender line...?
Only then, from the faint depths of my memory, did I recall the 'Toll Road Party' project my father and eldest brother had once pushed for.
"You still have eight more bows to do, don't you?"
At that single remark, which was both gentle and incredibly ominous, a chilling aura, a terrifying sensation, surged through me.
I suddenly looked up and confirmed the letters floating above the Violent Bragging Bandit Extortionist Hag Auntie's head.
[IWantGYOMI]
"Hwaaak! Hwaaaaaaak!"
Having faced a cosmic horror reminiscent of Cthulhu's second coming, my consciousness blurred.