Chapter 80: Proving Their Worth (4)

“We have an unwelcome guest.”

“Eom Ho? Of all people, that sleazy pervert had to make the first move.”

Eon Ho-seung gritted his teeth, and the twins’ expressions darkened.

“That bastard… he might be a jerk, but he’s the real deal.”

“He’s called the Mad Dog for a reason.”

Flower-Chasing Mad Dog.

It was an insulting nickname, but he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.

Nicknames were usually given to those who were skilled enough to be recognized.

The fact that most Euncheon Hall students didn’t have nicknames was proof of that.

Even though his nickname was closer to infamy, the fact that everyone knew it meant that Eom Ho was a formidable opponent.

And he had the backing of the Point Spear Sect, one of the Nine Sects, so everyone was hesitant to confront him.

“Damn it, should we just ignore him?”

“No, he’s a bad matchup for you.”

Im So-jeong stopped Eon Ho-seung.

“The Jinju Eon Clan’s Jade Nettle Divine Fist is a powerful fist technique, but he uses the Sun-Piercing Sword.”

The Sun-Piercing Sword Technique.

A peerless swift sword technique said to pierce through sunlight.

It was one of the three most powerful techniques of the Point Spear Sect, a sect renowned for its swordsmanship.

“A swift sword technique is a bad matchup for a power-based fist technique.”

Im So-jeong’s words were sound.

But Eon Ho-seung, who had been robbed of his chance to make the first move, was getting impatient.

“But…”

Maybe he could overwhelm him with his aura? He was wavering.

The twins, who had been watching intently, suddenly brightened.

“This is getting interesting.”

“The Instructor Slayer is making his move.”

The students gasped as they saw Jegal Tan approaching Eom Ho.

Im So-jeong murmured, her voice strangely excited, “Hehe, a battle between a genius who despairs at his talent and a genius who’s intoxicated by his talent?”

She blinked her sleepy eyes.

“Let’s just watch this heartwarming reunion for now.”

“…Alright.”

This was their chance to witness the legendary skills of the Instructor Slayer firsthand.

Eon Ho-seung’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

***

Baek Ri-seol was feeling uncomfortable.

“Whew, aren’t you lovely?”

It was because of the way he was looking at her, his eyes lingering on her body.

“You’re so young, and yet you’re already this developed. I can’t imagine how stunning you’ll be when you’re older.”

“Well, you’re perfect for my taste right now. Where did such a beautiful junior come from?”

“How about we have a little chat over there?”

The man circled her slowly, flirting shamelessly. Baek Ri-seol finally snapped.

“Who are you?”

“Tsk, tsk, don’t call your senior ‘you.’”

What’s wrong with this guy?

“You’re quite cute. You’ll be a fun junior to teach. Hehe.”

The female student clinging to his arm pouted.

“Honey, are you flirting with another girl in front of me?”

“Hahaha, sorry, sorry.”

What was going on?

They were acting as if she wasn’t even there, lost in their own world. Baek Ri-seol realized that she couldn’t reason with this man.

‘I should just ignore him.’

She was about to turn away when he said, “Hey, don’t turn your back on me while I’m talking to you.”

“That’s enough.”

Jegal Tan stepped forward, pulling Namgung Yun-ho, who was about to intervene, back.

“You haven’t changed a bit, have you?”

“Well, if it isn’t my friend, Jegal Tan!”

“I don’t have friends like you.”

“That hurts. You’ve become quite cold-hearted.”

“Mock me all you want. What do you want?”

Eom Ho, finding his sharp retort amusing, said with an exaggerated frown, “What do I want? I was just disciplined for a minor mistake during class. I’m here by coincidence.”

Coincidence, coincidence.

Jegal Tan asked, “Are you working for someone?”

“Hehehe, you’ve become quite perceptive.”

A tense atmosphere filled the air. But surprisingly, it was Eom Ho who backed down.

“Well, a rematch with you wouldn’t be bad, but unfortunately, I have other business right now.”

Other business?

He was about to ask when Eom Ho suddenly grabbed Baek Ri-seol’s wrist.

“Well, well.”

He sniffed her wrist.

“Ahh, you smell divine.”

“!”

Baek Ri-seol, who had been listening to the gossip about her annoying colleague, was caught off guard.

She was shocked that someone had dared to touch her.

And she was even more shocked that he was doing it so brazenly, with his girlfriend right next to him.

Her eyes narrowed.

“You…”

“Oh? Is this your first time experiencing such a thrill?”

“How dare you do this to me, with your girlfriend right there?”

“Ah, that?”

Eom Ho chuckled and pushed the female student away.

“Aah!”

“You can go now. You’re ugly.”

She collapsed on the ground pathetically.

Eom Ho turned to Baek Ri-seol, a smile on his face.

“I’m a disciple of the Great Point Spear Sect, a promising talent. I can have any woman I want.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“Hehe, I’d prefer it if you said I was capable. I’d be willing to date you for a while.”

“What do you say?”

The students behind him nodded in agreement.

“A man’s abilities are what matters.”

“I heard he’s even more amazing at night.”

“Hey, why don’t you dump your useless boyfriend and switch to him?”

“He’s a night slayer!”

“Those bastards…”

Namgung Yun-ho was about to step forward when Baek Ri-seol smiled sweetly.

“I just remembered something.”

Her hand shot out like lightning, freeing her wrist from his grasp.

“Huh?”

Eom Ho’s hand grasped at empty air.

“He warned me that I would face all sorts of bullshit when I became a martial artist.”

She slapped him across the face.

“My mistake.”

*Slap!*

Eom Ho’s head snapped to the side, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“You… you… you bitch…”

He couldn’t believe someone had dared to slap him.

His eyes were unfocused, as if he couldn’t comprehend the situation.

Baek Ri-seol said coldly, “Thank you for reminding me to stay vigilant. As a reward…”

She unsheathed her sword.

“I’m going to tear you apart.”

***

“Hahaha! This is perfect! Absolutely perfect!”

Eom Ho was thoroughly amused by the situation.

‘She fell for it so easily…’

He had been worried because Jegal Tan was with her.

He hadn’t expected it to be this easy to provoke her.

He hadn’t been planning to accept the request when he first received it.

The Euncheon Hall instructors had no power over him.

‘But it’s a different story if they’re inviting me to something this entertaining.’

Eom Ho was a notorious womanizer.

This beautiful but arrogant junior was a rare treat.

Someone had once told him that there was a beauty who resembled a peony when she sat and a Chinese herbaceous peony when she stood.

‘I thought it was an exaggeration, but I guess not.’

She was incredibly innocent-looking when she was calm, but when she frowned, she was as beautiful as a blooming flower.

“A duel. I’m challenging you to a duel.”

She had even demanded it so confidently, like a rose with thorns.

He felt a surge of sadistic pleasure.

‘I want to see that face contorted in pain.’

What kind of beauty would she bloom into then?

His heart pounded with anticipation.

***

What was he doing?

Baek Ri-seol tilted her head, watching her opponent, who was just standing there, grinning.

‘Isn’t he going to attack first?’

This wasn’t good.

The instructor had said,

“You can be aggressive in real fights, but always yield the first move in a duel.”

When she asked why, he said,

“If you strike first and beat them to a pulp, people will criticize you.”

He added,

“Especially in the righteous faction, the one who starts the fight is always in the wrong. So yield the first move, and then beat them a hundred times, a thousand times.”

He had also taught her how to gather witnesses, destroy evidence, bribe her way out of trouble if she was caught red-handed, and other useful skills.

Baek Ri-seol, snapping out of her thoughts, repeated the instructor’s words in her mind.

‘The instructor is perfect.’

It was as if he had anticipated this situation.

Her opponent, on the other hand, was…

“Why are you making that face?”

“Keep smiling like you did before.”

“Who knows, maybe I’ll let you off the hook if you seduce me.”

He was just trying to get under her skin.

Why did people like him even exist?

She wondered why the amazing instructor was the same species as this creature.

She decided to provoke him.

“Hey.”

“What? Are you finally ready to submit to your senior?”

“Mongrel.”

*Gasp!*

The onlookers gasped.

This was the Flower-Chasing Mad Dog.

Eom Ho, who was known for his vicious and violent temper.

But no one had ever dared to call him a dog to his face.

‘I must have misheard.’

‘She must have misspoken.’

They dismissed it as a mistake, but Baek Ri-seol’s insults were just beginning.

“I never knew there were mongrels that walked on two legs and barked.”

“The world is a vast place. I guess anything is possible.”

“But I’m at a loss. What am I supposed to do when all you do is bark? I only understand human language.”

“Are you in heat? the white dog in my backyard is looking for a mate.”

When she finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the training ground.

Her opponent’s face turned red and blue.

“You… you… you bitch…”

Baek Ri-seol, seeing him stammer, knew she had succeeded.

‘It worked.’

This was the same reaction people had when the instructor was being a jerk.

*Clang!*

‘Oh my, this is perfect.’

The senior had even drawn his sword first.

“You foul-mouthed bitch, I’m not going to play nice with you.”

And he was even giving her time to prepare for his attack.

‘I don’t even need to fabricate evidence.’

She couldn’t believe her luck.

“Don’t even think about leaving in one piece!”

*Whoosh!*

He charged towards her, throwing his scabbard aside and unleashing a swift thrust.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

It looked like a simple thrust, but as she dodged, the tip of his sword trembled, and seven sword beams erupted.

‘A swift sword technique.’

Baek Ri-seol quickly backpedaled, her body spinning gracefully.

The White Crane Steps, which she had mastered to the point where it felt like breathing, allowed her to evade his attacks.

“Hmph! Not bad!”

How about this!

Eom Ho, smirking, pursued her relentlessly, unleashing a series of thrusts.

*Thud!*

He was cutting off her escape routes. Baek Ri-seol leaped into the air, her body spinning.

*Spin! Thud!*

She landed gracefully, and he chuckled.

“Hehe, you seem surprised.”

“…”

“Was I too harsh on you, not even giving you a chance to draw your sword?”

Then, Baek Ri-seol raised three fingers.

“Three preemptive strikes.”

She remembered the instructor’s words.

*‘After Three preemptive strikes. There is need for punishment.’*

“he said that after three preemptive strikes, it’s considered self-defense.”

So now…

Get ready, mongrel.