CH2: Go Home

The Hidden Dragon Hall head office, after the storm had passed. Only Pang Doyul and Murong Jinho remained, looking awkward and uneasy. Hamubaek had already left the office.

"What do you think after seeing him in person?" asked Pang Doyul.

"I'm not sure," Murong Jinho replied.

"I'll say it again. Don't mess with him."

Murong Jinho nodded at Pang Doyul's words. His instincts were also strongly warning him to stay away from that man.

"He came as a regular instructor. We still have to assign him to a team. Otherwise, we won't have enough instructors."

The Fierce Dragon Corps was composed of twenty teams, each with five members, and each team was trained by one instructor. The twenty instructors for this year's group had already been decided, and one of them was Hamubaek.

"This is a headache," sighed Pang Doyul, suddenly lifting his head.

There was another headache he had to deal with.

"By the way, aren't there some troublesome recruits among the new Fierce Dragon Corps trainees this year?"

"Ah... yes, there are," Murong Jinho confirmed.

Some recruits who should never have entered the Fierce Dragon Corps had joined this year's group. Reports about this had already reached the Alliance. The reactions would undoubtedly be noisy when the time came.

Murong Jinho was already full of worries.

"Good timing. Assign those troublesome ones to Instructor Ha, to make up the numbers."

"Excuse me?" Murong Jinho was taken aback.

"That guy said he would stay quiet if his surroundings didn't bother him. Let's see if that holds true this time."

***

Three days had passed since Hamubaek unpacked his belongings in the instructors' dormitory at Hidden Dragon Hall. Today was finally his first day at work. His position within the Fierce Dragon Unit had already been assigned.

"Instructor in charge of the seventh team," he mused.

The Fierce Dragon Unit's induction ceremony the previous day was something he only watched from a distance. Since the Fierce Dragon Unit leader said it was okay, he didn't bother to attend.

At least the Fierce Dragon leader, Murong Jinho, hadn't bothered him yet. That was good news for Hamubaek. It was likely due to the word given by Hidden Dragon Hall leader Pang Doyul.

"Well, living leisurely like this isn't so bad," he muttered to himself, heading toward the training ground assigned to the seventh team.

The training ground wasn't far from his dormitory, so he arrived quickly. In the distance, he saw five people. They were the trainees he was responsible for.

"Huh?" Hamubaek frowned at the sight of the five.

There were some who were strangely familiar. People who wouldn't normally be in the Fierce Dragon Unit, which trained human shields.

"That one looks like someone from the Tang family..."

One of them, standing casually, had a posture that suggested they had learned the Tang family's whip techniques.

"Hmm. I don't see any traces of hidden weapons or poison... did they only learn the whip? Are they an underachiever?"

Hamubaek tilted his head.

The Tang family's secret techniques were, without a doubt, hidden weapons and poison. The whip was only a secondary skill. Yet, here was someone who had only learned the whip.

"That one is from Southern Edge Sect."

Another person had the posture that naturally came from training in Southern Edge sect's basic sword techniques.

"And that girl... hmm, it's ambiguous, but is she from the Yan family?"

There was also a girl who seemed to be from the Yan family of Hubei, one of the five great families.

What was going on? He began to doubt whether he was actually an instructor for the Fierce Dragon Unit.

"Well, I should confirm it first."

With a low murmur, Hamubaek focused his inner energy in his eyes.

In an instant, a brief flash passed through his eyes, and he scanned the five trainees in the training ground.

Limitless Clear Eye. [1]

A unique eye technique that only Hamubaek could master due to his innate constitution. It allowed him to read the flow of inner energy and its source in others, a technique almost akin to cheating.

"Oh? Look at this. They've pulled a cute trick," Hamubaek's expression changed subtly.

He recognized the inner energy of each one.

'Tang family, Yan family, and Southern Edge Sect. And that one...'

There were five people, but he only read the inner energy of four.

One of them had never practiced martial arts. That was troublesome in its own right.

The Tang family, Yan family, and one of the Nine Great Schools, the Southern Edge Sect.

Having these people in his team meant that the Fierce Dragon Corps leader was up to something interesting.

"I said I wanted peace and quiet..." he muttered softly.

Hamubaek, continuing his walk, soon faced the five trainees gathered with tense expressions.

"Sigh..."

A sigh escaped his lips as soon as he saw them.

The five trainees turned their eyes toward Hamubaek.

"Is this the Fierce Dragon Corps's seventh team?"

"Yes!" they responded, each in their own way.

'That guy,' Hamubaek thought, noting their various reactions.

'One from the Southern Edge sect.'

"Yes! That's correct!"

'One who knows nothing.'

"......"

'A girl from the Yan family.'

"Yes..."

'And a Tang family kid.'

A chorus of distinctive voices. Hamubaek, already knowing their backgrounds, made a face full of displeasure. The five trainees showed a range of expressions in response to his look.

Hamubaek stepped forward.

"Nice to meet you. I am Hamubaek, the instructor in charge of the Fierce Dragon Corps's seventh team."

A short introduction.

"After two years of training in the Fierce Dragon Corps, you'll be assigned to the Sanwol Fortress. You know that, right?"

There was no answer, but their faces showed they knew and had accepted this fact.

"Then, since today is the first day of training, I'll give you your first order."

Five pairs of eyes focused on Hamubaek's mouth.

"Go home. This is it for today."

With that, Hamubaek turned back towards his dormitory.

"?!?"

"Uh, um..."

"What?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

Before the five trainees could react, Hamubaek was already far away.

They were left bewildered, not expecting this.

Hamubaek didn't return for the rest of the day.

The five confused trainees remained at the training ground until nightfall.

"Wow. The instructor is quite a character. Well, if he says go home, I should go. Lucky for me," said the young man leaning against a tree, stretching.

Even for him, he had shown the utmost sincerity by enlisting in the Fierce Dragon Corps, waiting at the assigned training ground, and now, following the instructor's orders to go home.

"Who are you people?"

Before he could leave, someone appeared, causing him to stop.

"I-I greet the leader!" exclaimed a nervous boy, bowing to the middle-aged man who had suddenly appeared.

Murong Jinho looked around in confusion.

This was definitely the training ground for the seventh team. But there were no instructors, only five trainees.

What was going on?

"Where is Instructor Ha?"

Murong Jinho's question made the five trainees exchange glances.

The answer came from the nonchalant young man.

"He left."

"When?"

"As soon as he arrived."

Murong Jinho frowned at the response.

"Tang Jinshan."

"Yes."

"Is there any falsehood in what you said?"

"None at all."

"Understood."

Leaving those words, Murong Jinho left the training ground. The five trainees were left standing there, abandoned once again.

Murong Jinho wanted to rush to Hamubaek immediately, but he didn't. The leader had told him not to mess with him.

Instead, Murong Jinho headed to the head office.

"Ha, that guy."

Pang Doyul had to get up from his heavy seat. He had told Murong Jinho not to mess with him, so he had to handle this himself.

"Instructor Ha!"

Pang Doyul called for Hamubaek at his dormitory. Still groggy from his nap, Hamubaek got up with disheveled hair.

"What brings you here, leader?" he asked, his voice still thick with sleep. Despite his appearance, Pang Doyul remained calm. He knew a bit about what kind of person Hamubaek was.

"Come in."

"Yes, what's going on?" Pang Doyul began, sitting at a small table.

"What do you mean?"

"You are the instructor for the Fierce Dragon Corps's seventh team. You have an obligation to train your team," Pang Doyul said.

Hamubaek just chuckled.

"You..."

"Tang family. Yan family. Southern Edge sect."

Hearing the three names from Hamubaek's cold face, Pang Doyul's expression hardened.

"Hmm..."

"How foolish do you think I am, sending children from prestigious families to a place like the Fierce Dragon Corps and dumping them on me? Leader, do you think those three belong in a unit training people to be human shields? Adding two more random kids to make up the numbers, what do you expect me to do? Take care of the three while sending the other two to their deaths?"

"That..."

"I knew you were a bastard, but this is something else."

Despite Hamubaek's harsh words, Pang Doyul's expression didn't change.

"It's obvious pressure will come from those families to manage the children. You planned to use me as a shield? Why accept those three in the first place? Even in the Fierce Dragon Corps, which accepts anyone and everyone."

"......"

"I clearly told you before. I want to stay quiet. Don't make a fuss around me."

Hamubaek's body surged with a powerful energy.

"Urgh."

Pang Doyul groaned under the immense pressure.

"This is a misunderstanding," he managed to say.

Hamubaek's energy subsided.

"The Tang family head and the Southern Edge sect master sent their children personally. Yan Hamin came on her own..."

Hamubaek's energy faded completely.

"In any case, they're going to die. Sending them home seems like the best solution."

"Other instructors won't be able to handle them."

"So?"

"Do you think other instructors can handle interference and pressure from the Tang family or Southern Edge sect? Those in the Fierce Dragon Corps are barely between first and second rate at best. They'd be lucky if they don't end up groveling in fear."

“…….”

“They will inevitably cause problems for their teammates, no matter which group they join. What fault do the other kids have in this? You're the only one who can handle this situation.”

“Choosing kids who are destined to be human shields, and now you're so concerned about them?”

“Even so, some do survive and come back. If we want to increase the survival rate even a little, we have to do our best. That’s why we gathered them and put them under your care. You can handle it.”

Hamubaek's expression softened slightly at the earnest explanation.

Pang Doyul seized the opportunity.

“Dan Mokunrae volunteered to join. He won’t just go home because you tell him to. He needs the money.”

Hamubaek's face twisted in frustration.

“Here are the personal details of the five trainees. I brought them because you didn’t pick them up. From tomorrow, please take proper care of them. Oh, and there will be no interference from the Yan family.”

“……?”

A look of confusion appeared on Hamubaek's face at Pang Doyul's last words.

“Only I know that the girl is from the Yan family. You recognized it too, of course. So, please burn the documents for the Yan family child. I prepared them personally.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Please take care of them.”

With those words, Pang Doyul hurriedly left Hamubaek's room.

Hamubaek slowly examined the documents left on the table.

“Ha.”

A deep sigh escaped his lips.

“Damn it. They’re really asking me to do the impossible. Is this guy the same as that guy?”

Hamubaek's gaze lingered on one of the documents.

After memorizing the details of the five trainees, Hamubaek used the Three Flames Transformation technique to burn the papers.

He felt a heavy weight in his chest.

For the others, it was bearable, but the personal circumstances of Dan Mokunrae and Yan Hamin made it particularly tough.

In the end, he stepped outside to get some fresh air.

Something caught his attention.

“Huh?”

In an instant, he disappeared.

“What are you doing?”

Hamubaek appeared at the training ground of the seventh team. Darkness had already fallen.

The five trainees were still there.

“Instructor!”

The most enthusiastic one was Dan Mokunrae.

He was the most nervous during their first meeting. He had never trained in martial arts, not even a drop of it.

“Che.”

The one clicking his tongue was Tang Jinsan, the most rebellious one.

“I told you to go home.”

“I-I can't go home!”

Dan Mokunrae replied loudly. His eyes were full of earnestness. Hamubaek had expected this, knowing his personal circumstances.

“I’d love to, but if I do, my old man will send me back here. The distance from Wuchang to Sichuan is too far.”

Tang Jinsan grumbled.

He seemed like someone who needed a lesson in manners first.

The remaining three stayed silent.

They also had their reasons.

Their circumstances prevented them from going home.

That's why they were still here at the training ground.

“Phew.”

A deep sigh escaped Hamubaek's lips.

“Did you eat?”

“…….”

“I asked if you ate!”

At Hamubaek's irritated shout, Dan Mokunrae shook his head.

“We’ve been waiting here for Instructor Ha.”

“This is frustrating.”

Hamubaek first met them here around 9 a.m.

It was now around 8 p.m.

These kids had been here the entire time.

By now, the Jiaolong Hall cafeteria would be closed.

“Follow me.”

Hamubaek turned and said.

But they all hesitated, not moving.

“What are you doing? Follow me! We need to eat!”

At his impatient shout, Dan Mokunrae quickly stood behind Hamubaek. That seemed to be the signal.

The other four also stood behind him.

“Let’s go.”

With that, Hamubaek led the five trainees out of Jiaolong Hall to a nearby inn.

A table full of various dishes was set before them.

Dan Mokunrae, eyes wide, didn’t even pick up his chopsticks.

Tang Jinsan, familiar with the situation, started eating without hesitation.

The other three also began to eat, though more cautiously.

“Eat. Eat up.”

Prompted by Hamubaek, Dan Mokunrae finally picked up his chopsticks and brought food to his mouth.

It was a taste he had never experienced before.

Perhaps because of that, tears welled up in his eyes.

“Damn.”

Hamubaek cursed softly at the sight of his tears. Dan Mokunrae flinched.

“You.”

“Yes.”

Dan Mokunrae flinched again at Hamubaek’s call.

“I’ll pack some food for you. Go home and take it with you. Your home is nearby, isn’t it?”

“Pardon?”

Dan Mokunrae's eyes widened.

“I said I’ll pack some food for you to take home later.”

His second remark was tinged with irritation.

“Yes, yes. Thank you, Instructor.”

Dan Mokunrae bowed his head, tears streaming down his face.

“Damn it. Stop crying. A man shouldn’t cry.”

“Y-yes. I understand.”

Despite wiping his tears with his sleeve and forcing a smile, Dan Mokunrae's eyes remained teary.

“And you lot.”

Hamubaek looked around at the five.

“Why on earth did you come here with nothing to offer? Do you want to die?”

None of the trainees answered his question.


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