Chapter 179
My god.
Silence fell over the Training Ground.
All because of the result of a light Sparring match that had started just to check the new recruit’s skills.
Jujak was one of the Four Great Protectors of the Demonic Heavenly Cult and the strongest Martial Artist prepared for the Heavenly Demon.
No matter how incomparably stronger the White Wolf Unit had become compared to before, there was no way they could be a match for Jujak, who possessed power on par with the Twelve Venerables.
Normally, they wouldn’t even have the chance to face such a tremendous powerhouse.
Leaving behind the brothers Gi-su and Gi-sang, who were sprawled flat on the floor, the White Wolf Squad Members - having clearly witnessed the situation just now - all gulped in unison.
‘I-I didn’t… see it at all.’
It wasn’t exactly a surprise attack, either.
When the Sparring began, Jujak leisurely approached the two brothers and subdued them with utmost ease.
Flustered by Jujak’s unexpected approach, the brothers momentarily reacted with fierce attacks, but it was to no avail.
It was because Jujak had effortlessly deflected their attacks and promptly kicked them both in the rear.
She kicked them so soundly that unsightly screams burst from the two men’s mouths.
And before they knew it, Jujak had taken their backs and lightly tapped Gi-su and Gi-sang on the neck; they instantly lost consciousness and collapsed onto the floor.
They flinched for a moment.
Wondering if she had actually killed them.
Fortunately, that did not happen.
Regardless, everyone marveled at Jujak’s movements, which flowed together as naturally as water.
Above all, to be subdued without being able to do a single thing.
Because they knew the skills of the brothers Gi-su and Gi-sang better than anyone, the entire White Wolf Unit was inwardly deeply shocked.
They all prided themselves on having grown quite strong after meeting Yeo Un-hwi and training under him.
Perhaps because of that, they could see it even more clearly,
just how strong that new woman named Hongyeon was.
Soon, Deputy Commander O Chae-mu asked Yeo Un-hwi in a bewildered voice.
Gu Tae-san, Peng Do-hwan, and Do-gyeong, who were standing behind him, wore similar expressions.
“W-Who in the world is she? That friend.”
“Just the right person I happened to meet to be Yul-i’s escort. Haha.”
Just where was he wandering around to casually meet someone like that? Hehe.
Then again, come to think of it, there was no way the Commander would bring a half-baked individual to escort Young Lady Yul-i.
However, they couldn’t have imagined in their wildest dreams.
That the power Jujak had just displayed wasn’t even a tenth of her true strength.
No, rather, she had actually been trying her best to hide her power.
Yet the White Wolf Unit was shocked by just that much power.
Having dusted off her hands, Jujak returned to her spot and spoke calmly to the White Wolf Unit.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Uh. R-Right.”
With a new recruit who didn’t seem like a new recruit at all having arrived out of nowhere, the White Wolf Unit could only offer her awkward smiles.
But right then,
“Uuuugh… Aaaaargh!”
Gi-su and Gi-sang woke up screaming.
They looked as if they had suffered a nightmare in that short amount of time.
“Hoh.”
Seeing them manage to get up so quickly, Jujak wore a surprised expression.
Had she held back too much?
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
If she had used any more strength, they might never have woken up again.
Jujak thought to herself that she needed to get more accustomed to simply subduing people rather than killing them.
But even so, to think they would regain their senses this quickly.
It seemed they were sturdier than she had thought.
“…Ow, my neck hurts.”
“W-What in the world happened…”
Soon, Gi-su and Gi-sang figured out what had happened and staggered to their feet.
They also wore highly confused expressions.
“Is that it. Did we lose.”
The two, who had looked sullen for a moment, soon burst into hearty laughter.
Then they looked at Jujak and nodded.
“Right. Carelessness is indeed poison. You’re pretty amazing, huh? Newbie? To aim for that opening with a surprise attack. I couldn’t even imagine it.”
“Tell me about it. It was an excellent surprise attack.”
“No. It wasn’t exactly a surprise attack, and I never aimed for any opening.”
Jujak stated only the exact facts, but Gi-su and Gi-sang merely laughed heartily.
“Hey now. So modest. Otherwise, how could we have gone down so instantly?”
“Yeah. That would make no sense.”
“Then would you like to Spar one more time?”
“Huh? What?”
“Sparring, I don’t mind doing it one more time.”
“Hmm. No. This is enough. We might get hurt if we do more.”
“Y-Yeah. I don’t think there’s a need for that.”
Honestly, they never wanted to Spar with Jujak again.
Soon, they feigned ignorance and said.
“Anyway, yeah. With your level of skill, we can trust you with the job.”
“I acknowledge you. You’re perfect as a new recruit for our White Wolf Unit. Haha.”
What’s wrong with them.
The squad members were slowly starting to feel embarrassed to be in the same White Wolf Unit as them.
This feeling of actually watching bravado take control of a physical body.
Staring blankly at the two acting so shamelessly, Jujak said.
“You two, your tenacity is quite something.”
“Ah? Right? Haha. We certainly don’t lack when it comes to tenacity. You could say we never know when to give up.”
However, the brothers Gi-su and Gi-sang saw it.
The look in Jujak’s eyes directed at them.
Her face wore an expression as if she were looking at a hideous bug she shouldn’t have laid eyes on.
“Then could I ask for a Spar every time I see you from now on? Seniors?”
“No, there’s really no need for that, we’re fine.”
“No. I really want to. Should I say I feel a sense of duty?”
“D-Duty?”
“Yes. If I must explain, bugs keep coming back to life no matter how many times you kill them. I absolutely despise that kind of bug-like tenacity. So I feel I should thoroughly crush you on a regular basis. You could call it a concept like pest extermination.”
No, even so. Pests?
Seriously, even for us, that’s just hurtful, isn’t it?
And what’s with that expression, and why is she glaring like that?
“So I look forward to working with you, Bug Seniors.”
The brothers Gi-su and Gi-sang, who were always full of mischief and bravado anytime and anywhere, had truly met their match today.
Thus, a terrifying new recruit whom one should never treat carelessly had arrived at the White Wolf Unit.
Inside the rattling carriage.
Yul-i was smiling brightly as she looked at Jujak, who was sitting across from her.
The carriage was on its way to Sowol Academy.
“Young Lady. Is there something on my face?”
Jujak asked Yul-i, who had been staring intently at her face the entire time.
“Because I feel good!”
“Pardon?”
Looking at her face because she felt good, what did that mean?
When Jujak wore an uncomprehending expression, Yul-i smiled brightly once again.
Then she pointed out the carriage window.
“The clear sky, the flowers blooming here and there, and the babbling brook are all so pretty that looking at them makes you feel good, right? You’re like that too, Sister!”
“I am?”
“Yes! You’re so pretty that it makes me feel good!”
At Yul-i’s words, Jujak’s eyes widened slightly.
It wasn’t that she had never been called pretty before.
Because she was also quite a beauty.
However, this was the first time she had ever heard a compliment like this.
The clear sky, flowers, a brook…
Why was it.
She felt as if she had received a pleasant compliment that would remain in her memory longer than any other compliment she had ever heard.
Before she knew it, a gentle smile spread across Jujak’s lips.
Without any pretense.
It was rare for her to give such a sincere smile to another person.
Her eyes turned toward Yul-i.
‘To think someone like this is the Heavenly Demon’s daughter. Who would believe it.’
Then again, Yeo Un-hwi also gave off a completely different vibe from the Heavenly Demon that people imagined.
In truth, when she first heard the mission given by the Heavenly Demon, she had been inwardly disappointed.
Because it was a completely different mission from what she had expected.
However, she hadn’t shown it in the slightest and willingly accepted the mission.
The child she subsequently met was incredibly adorable and possessed a dazzling smile.
It hadn’t even been a few days, but Jujak was already starting to like this mission.
Jujak vowed to risk her life to fulfill this mission bestowed upon her by the Heavenly Demon.
Beneath the clear sky, the carriage continued to run toward Sowol Academy.
“The tea is very good.”
“It’s a tea my wife and I enjoy drinking. I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Peng Family Head’s Office.
Family Head Peng Mugang was drinking tea with Black Emperor Dokgo Yeong.
It wasn’t just them.
Beside them, Yeo Un-hwi and Peng Seo-jin were also present.
As a moderately polite and friendly conversation was in full swing, and the atmosphere seemed ripe, Peng Mugang subtly brought up another topic.
In fact, this was what he had wanted to say the most today.
“So, around when are you thinking of returning?”
“Haha. Are you hoping I’ll return quickly?”
That’s right! You old geezer!
To Peng Mugang, Dokgo Yeong had transformed from someone who seemed like a good friend into a wretched old geezer he wished would hurry up and leave.
Why were the old men aiming for Yul-i only increasing in number? Goodness!
However, he couldn’t just reveal his inner thoughts as they were.
Wasn’t the other party not that Hwangbo bastard, but the Black Emperor, the Alliance Leader of the Demonic Alliance?
Thus, Peng Mugang cleared his throat and beat around the bush.
“Ahem. It’s not that, but if it’s alright with you, I was planning to pack some tea for you to drink with your wife when you return.”
“It’s fine. There’s no need for that. I’ve already been widowed for a long time.”
For a moment, Peng Mugang was left utterly speechless.
Before he knew it, his son and son-in-law were looking at him with eyes that seemed to say, “How could you say something so harsh?”
I didn’t know! I’m telling you, I didn’t know!
Smiling slightly at the flustered Peng Mugang, Dokgo Yeong brought the tea to his lips.
“And since I’ve come all this way, having traveled quite a long distance, I plan to relax just a little bit before I go.”
“Is there really a need for that? The Demonic Alliance won’t run properly without the Black Emperor around.”
“My, for the Peng Family, one of the top Prestigious Families even in the Orthodox Martial World, to worry about the Demonic Path like this, it’s truly a touching matter.”
No, this man is saying something that could cause huge trouble! Who said I was worrying about that!
Peng Mugang felt like he was getting more and more tangled up the more he spoke.
Listening to their absurd conversation, Peng Seo-jin sent a Telepathic Message to Yeo Un-hwi with a nervous expression.
-Older Brother, shouldn’t we stop them? The conversation seems so precarious it’s killing me.
-Just leave them be. They’re the type to stop eventually. Besides, it’s nice to see. Haha!
-I-Is that so. That’s a relief then.
From Peng Seo-jin-jin’s perspective, it was a truly absurd situation.
When else would he be able to see the Demonic Alliance Leader and the Family Head of the Peng Family drinking tea so amicably(?) like this?
On top of that, the Heavenly Demon happily watching them.
Perhaps a true grand harmony of the Orthodox, Demonic, and Heretic Factions was taking place inside this room.
Although the parties involved didn’t seem to realize it at all.
Thus, only Peng Seo-jin let out a hollow laugh at this ridiculous situation.
It was then.
“Patriarch.”
Someone came to the Family Head’s Room.
It was Nak Il-do, the Deputy Commander of the White Tiger Unit.
“What is it.”
Peng Mugang asked as he drank his tea.
At that, Nak Il-do respectfully gave his report.
“The Heavenly Seer has come to visit.”
“What?”
Instantly, the eyes of everyone in the room widened slightly.