Chapter 325: Practical Training. (5)

The practical exercises offered by the Divine Dragon Hall aren’t anything special.

Since they educate on theories and how to deal with monsters.

Ultimately, the practical exercise is also about how to deal with monsters.

To be precise.

Whether one properly understood the education taught within the Divine Dragon Hall.

And whether one can implement it in actual combat.

Judging by this alone, the practical exercise was highly likely just monster hunting.

Indeed, the practical exercise was primarily about monster hunting.

If there was anything slightly different.

‘Is this the place where I took the entrance exam last time?’

The first thing was that the scope was much wider than expected.

The two mountains where the entrance exam was held previously constituted the entire area for the practical exercise.

Not small hills at the level of mere mounds.

Because they were quite large mountains, even if not Mount Tai, the area was quite extensive.

‘Moreover.’

I don’t really know how the practical exercise would proceed, but…

Traditionally, if instructors were to grade each person individually.

It would make sense to watch them deal with monsters one-on-one.

Designating such a wide area as the location for the practical exercise.

Wasn’t easily understandable.

If they released monsters for the practical exercise.

Cleaning up afterwards would also be a hassle.

And although they would deploy instructors, I wondered if it would really be easy to stop them if unexpected accidents occurred.

“The time limit is until sunset. Instructors will be watching in various places, so it would be best not to mess around.”

Cheol Hwan-oh’s warning tone could be heard.

While the other hall students wore expressions filled with tension.

Frankly, it wasn’t really a dangerous schedule.

They weren’t people who would fear dealing with monsters, moreover.

At most, there would likely be mostly green ones with a few blue monsters scattered around.

Even if it’s dangerous alone, the risk is relatively low if there are many hall students.

What one needs to be careful about is actually people.

Since there are more than one or two crazy bastards in the world.

The instructors would likely be most wary of fights among the hall students.

Since they are martial artists, they’re dangerous guys who might do anything if they snap.

Of course, if they are normal guys who have the name of a noble family or a sect.

Even if they fight recklessly, emitting killing intent.

Because they anticipate the repercussions that will hit later.

Most of them endure, if possible.

As I mentioned before.

The problem was that there are guys who aren’t like that.

For example.

‘Like me.’

If someone acts like a jerk, it’s only natural to repay them doubly, yet…

Enduring it is only for once or twice.

How can a person just live enduring everything?

If you’re wronged, you have to pay them back.

Perhaps that’s why.

I felt like Cheol Hwan-oh was specifically looking at me as he spoke.

“Fighting among the hall students is forbidden. If you are caught even once, we will impose severe punishment, so be careful.”

‘It must be my imagination. Eyes move around constantly, so they meet occasionally.’

“Definitely… be careful!”

…Or am I wrong?

It really feels like he’s talking while looking at me.

It’s probably my imagination.

Whatever.

‘A practical exercise after learning only this much?’

I’ll do it for now, but…

My thoughts were utterly blunt.

Having learned for just two months, what kind of practical exercise they’re doing is a mystery.

In the first place, since they are guys who have hunted monsters, I can see why, but…

Putting what was learned in the Divine Dragon Hall style to use is another matter entirely.

I heard this practical exercise receives quite a lot of points.

Thinking about that, everyone will probably do it desperately.

In my opinion, they weren’t particularly efficient techniques.

‘To put it nicely, I guess you could say they are faithful to the basics.’

Should I call it the standard way?

It teaches the most basic methods for the situation.

Even the instructors teaching this would know it’s not the best way.

Not the most basic counter-strategies.

That teaching efficient countermeasures suitable for them is right, they probably know that well.

Even knowing that, they are probably ordered from above to teach it this way.

‘That’s why there’s no growth.’

Learning the basics.

I understand it means to master the rest in actual combat after completion.

If it’s going to be like this, why learn here?

Even thinking about it every day, the answer is the same.

The reputation of the Divine Dragon Hall and the connections made there are what’s important.

The education received there is actually not important.

‘It’s rotten. Anyway.’

The words “top sword legion training institution” managed by the Martial Alliance.

With this kind of state, they were pushed back in an instant when the bloody disaster broke out.

What are the Nine Sects and Five Clans.

What are the Four Great Families.

And what are the Martial Alliance and the Orthodox Factions?

Idiots bloated by peace.

What hope can be found from rotten roots?

If not for the Divine Sword, they would have deserved to be wiped out and killed without complaint.

My expectations for the Orthodox Factions.

Weren’t even a speck left after experiencing reincarnation.

How dirty they are.

On the outside, they seek righteousness and chivalry.

But I knew that hidden within, demons were rampant.

‘I don’t even want to touch them, but to survive, I have to clear them out.’

Therefore, I must eliminate those kinds of guys one by one in the near future.

It’s to make it even slightly easier to deal with the events that will unfold.

“Hyung-nim.”

“Hmm?”

As I was walking.

Pae Woo-cheol spoke to me.

“By any chance, what will you be doing around summer?”

“Summer?”

Suddenly summer? Was there something in summer?

“Do you plan to return to your family’s estate?”

“…To the family estate…? Ah.”

I wondered what Pae Woo-cheol was asking about, but it seems he was referring to the period when training at the hall is briefly paused.

At that time, one could train in the secluded training caves made within the hall.

Or normally use the training grounds.

Or return to one’s own family home.

As for me…

“…Returning home might be difficult.”

The news of the trouble I caused regarding Vigo must have surely reached the family estate.

And inevitably, my father might properly scold me for it.

Regardless of summer or anything else, it was best not to go for the time being.

If possible, it would be good to keep not going.

‘I don’t know about the others, but…’

When the time comes, I might go see Gu Jeolyub or Gu Yeonseo.

Especially Gu Jeolyub, I think they might go even because of the matter concerning the Nine Immortal Sect.

‘If I’m not going, I really need to train them properly this time.’

Seeing how they were handled by Yeong-pung last time made me feel I really had to train them properly.

I intended to do it half-heartedly because it was bothersome.

Recalling the foolish display they put on due to nervousness there, even after being trained like that.

I couldn’t help but grind my teeth.

‘If they were just incompetent, fine.’

They learn as they are trained.

Someone who seems talented, I really don’t know why they act like that.

‘In my time, since there was no one like me, I learned desperately on my own.’

Of course, Elder Lee at that time tried to catch and train me somehow, but…

If caught and trained by that old man, it felt like I would really die, so I kept running away.

Anyway.

If someone is doing it for you.

You should work hard and be grateful.

Anyway, I don’t like it.

Tsk tsk, these kids these days.

Whenever I think of Gu Jeolyub, my expression naturally sours.

Seeing my expression like that, I saw Pae Woo-cheol flinch.

‘Why is this bastard flinching again?’

“So what about it?”

As I asked, slightly annoyed.

Pae Woo-cheol replied, scratching the back of his head.

“It’s just that… if you don’t have other plans, I was wondering if you’d like to come to my family’s estate together.”

“Your place?”

If it’s the Pae family, that’s in Sichuan.

Isn’t that where the Tang family is?

“…Sichuan.”

Normally, returning home is screwed up too.

If I don’t see any signs of overcoming the wall by then.

I was thinking of going to look for the White Horse Stone or something…

‘…It’s not exactly in Sichuan, but the direction was that way.’

The White Horse Stone was embedded beneath a deep lake created centuries ago when a Rank 100 monster rampaged.

“Hmm…”

Since the direction is similar anyway.

If I still don’t feel any signs of overcoming the wall by then…

“I’ll think about it.”

“Oh…! Thank you.”

“You invited me, why thank me?”

If I were the one invited, I should be the one thanking you.

Although I said it incredulously, Pae Woo-cheol just smiled happily.

“My father will like you very much.”

“I might not go, you punk.”

To go without overcoming the wall would really be…

The guy guarding it is dangerous, so I had to consider it.

The reason I thought I wanted to consume the White Horse Stone after reaching the Mirror Realm.

Is that it’s more efficient, but…

I also have the worry about whether I can break through that ‘monster’ at my current level.

Furthermore, if there’s a slight problem.

‘…Although it’s unlikely.’

There’s also the risk of my father coming himself and dragging me away.

‘Surely he wouldn’t?’

Unless a demonic scripture incident occurs.

Or an incident like the one Gu Huibi experienced last time.

My father doesn’t travel easily from Shanxi.

Not for nothing are Hu Xia and Gu Jia called the guardians of Shanxi.

‘It’s also a problem that I’m not going, but…’

The guy who is the next Young Master.

Instead of sneaking back home after causing trouble and running off somewhere else with Pae Woo-cheol.

That would also be a problem in its own way, but…

What can I do?

If they don’t like it, they shouldn’t have made me the Young Master.

That level of deviation should be acceptable now.

Thinking that, I chuckled once and then said to Pae Woo-cheol.

“You should get going too. Because it seems like it’s about to start.”

“Ah. Understood.”

At my words, Pae Woo-cheol slightly bowed his head, then leaped away into the distance.

The reason I sent him off like this was none other than…

There was an order even before the start not to cooperate.

Because there was an instruction to keep distance from each other.

The hall students were already spacing themselves out.

Moreover, above all else.

‘It would be quite troublesome if Pae Woo-cheol were involved.’

Even if there wasn’t such a rule.

I had intended to start without Pae Woo-cheol.

It worked out perfectly.

It served as a good excuse.

I look around.

Wherever I look, it’s a mountain full of trees.

As I expanded my senses using my internal energy.

I could sense signs of people here and there.

They were probably other hall students.

Those whose presence felt faint among them.

Were probably hidden instructors.

‘Two around me.’

In addition to that, and the monsters spread out in all directions.

It’s truly amazing even seeing this.

What are those Orthodox Factions doing releasing monsters in a perfectly fine mountain?

In the first place, how did they contain them?

Aren’t there people who question this?

‘Or perhaps, they eliminated everyone who questioned it.’

That’s a rather likely scenario.

-Fwip!

Just as I was looking around.

An arrow is shot high into the sky.

It wasn’t just one or two.

Just like during the entrance exam.

They were arrows containing internal energy.

Soon, as they reached high into the sky.

Pak!

The arrows burst with a small sound, spreading their contained internal energy.

It meant the practical exercise was starting.

I watched that calmly.

Then slowly started walking.

Every time I moved.

I could sense the presence of monsters nearby.

But I didn’t move to catch them deliberately.

I couldn’t help it.

In the first place, my goal in this practical exercise.

Wasn’t the monsters.

I attempted a brief leap.

Using my internal energy, I hid my presence.

As soon as I hid my presence, I sensed confusion from several people nearby.

They seemed to be instructors watching me.

They seemed to be acting like that because they lost track of me.

After evading the instructors.

The place I found was the highest point on this mountain.

“…Oh, my joints.”

Sitting down on a nearby rock, I tapped my knees.

Since my body is young, my joints shouldn’t ache.

Maybe because I’m mentally tired, my joints have been aching a bit lately.

“Will it rain tomorrow, perhaps?”

After muttering such trivial words.

I gaze up at the sky.

It was a bright, clear day, and it didn’t seem like it would rain.

I watch the clouds drift by.

A few scattered clouds in a bright and clear sky would be ideal, but…

“Why are they flowing so slowly and frustratingly?”

I wasn’t exactly lost in contemplation.

Since there was nothing else to see, I was just looking at that.

“When will they arrive?”

I came to a high place, hoping they would find me well.

If they couldn’t find me here, it would be troublesome.

Going to find them now would be a bit embarrassing.

So.

Just as I was wondering if I should pick some grass and play a flute.

Crinkle.

Only then did I sense someone’s presence from one side.

I shift my gaze.

It wasn’t to confirm who it was.

Because it was an obvious outcome anyway.

If they were provoked that much.

They should react now.

“I thought you weren’t coming.”

As I said with a smirk.

The expression of the guy who appeared hardened completely.

The smile he usually wore in front of others was gone.

He was filled with an unpleasant aura.

I wondered how he could change so drastically.

But I welcomed such an appearance.

Because that was the appearance I had so desperately wanted from him.

The guy looking at me slowly opened his lips.

“…Did you wait for me?”

“Not for long. I just arrived too.”

I greeted him as if meeting a welcome friend, but…

That guy. No.

Jang Seon-yeon’s face only hardened further.