Chapter 29

## Chapter 29. An Uncomfortable Dinner

"Mad Demon? Are you talking to me right now?"

The guy who had been poking the bloodied male student lying on the floor of the dormitory raised his head and glared at me.

His eyes were bloodshot.

His hair was disheveled like a lion's mane.

Baring his teeth, he growled fiercely, looking like a wounded beast.

He glared at me with eyes that seemed ready to tear apart whoever stood in front of him.

"Did you dare mention that nickname in front of me? Ha..."

The guy stepped on the bloodied male student at his feet and walked straight toward me.

"...Brother Baek."

Mingyilo pulled me aside.

It was a gesture to avoid getting involved in unnecessary trouble and to leave the scene.

But I didn't move.

Instead, a smile that I couldn't hide spread across my lips.

'Right. After all, this is more familiar to me.'

The murderous intent and fighting spirit, which were rarely seen in the righteous sect that valued dignity and propriety.

The face that openly displayed his emotions, regardless of whether the other person was a senior, an elder, or a teacher.

Having taught countless students with such faces, I even felt a sense of nostalgia.

And it was the first time.

The first time I saw a student who made me think teaching would be enjoyable.

The guy, who had already walked up to me, glared at me askew and said,

"You look like someone I've never seen in the dormitory... Hey, you, with the pretty-boy face. Before I beat you up, I have one question. Did you know who I am when you started this trouble?"

The murderous intent was so intense it made my skin tingle.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something with a smirk, the sound of sliding footsteps came.

"Student Xianyuan Jiang."

"What is the meaning of this?"

The creepy-looking twins from earlier blocked my path.

'Xianyuan Jiang?'

Thanks to the twins, I learned the name of the guy who looked just like Master Mad Demon.

'Now I understand why they looked so alike... They're from the same family.'

Master Mad Demon (狂魔) Xianyuan Hou.

One of the four masters who escaped from the prison together, he was once called the greatest prodigy in the history of the prestigious Xianyuan family.

However, he betrayed the family's expectations by becoming obsessed with martial arts and participated in a hundred duels, earning the title 'Mad Demon' for his excessively cruel methods.

Master Mad Demon became a public enemy in the martial world and was trapped in the prison by the Blood Sect's scheme.

- I just wanted to see the ultimate level of martial arts.

Master Mad Demon said he had no regrets about his actions and would participate in the hundred duels again even if he could go back in time.

But he had one lingering regret.

- ...I caused great harm to the family. If I ever return...

- Hmph. Why would the prestigious Xianyuan family want to take you back?

- Bandit. Shut up.

- Heh heh. How about becoming my subordinate? Your appearance is fierce and cunning, perfect for a debt collector. Let's build the Great Green Forest Gang together...

- I'll tear out your tongue as soon as I get out of here.

...These guys are always fighting whenever I recall their memories.

Anyway, this Xianyuan Jiang.

He looked so much like the reincarnation of Master Mad Demon.

Not just his face, but his aura and even his bone structure were almost identical.

'I heard he has no children. Is he a close relative?'

As I recalled the old stories Master Mad Demon told me, Xianyuan Jiang, blocked by the twins, frowned irritably and said,

"What are you doing? Didn't you hear what that kid said? He called me Mad Demon. Don't you know who Mad Demon is?"

"..."

"..."

The twins looked at me with a gaze that asked if I really said that.

I shrugged and said,

"I never said that."

"What?"

Xianyuan Jiang looked bewildered at my words.

The twins turned their expressionless faces back to Xianyuan Jiang.

"That's what he said."

"Step back."

"These guys really..."

Xianyuan Jiang gritted his teeth and took another step forward. At the same time, the twins drew their weapons.

'Six-section staff? Rope?'

The weapons the twins drew were a six-section staff and a rope, more commonly used by bailiffs than martial artists.

The twins aimed their weapons at Xianyuan Jiang and said,

"If you come any closer."

"We will subdue you."

Do they always speak in unison?

"Ha ha. So that's how it is?"

Xianyuan Jiang didn't back down and raised his sword to face them.

The guy bared his white teeth and exuded a strong murderous intent.

"I didn't expect you to believe me. It's always like this. You only back off after getting a beating."

As Xianyuan Jiang openly displayed his murderous intent, the twins' expressions hardened.

"The truth of the matter."

"Is irrelevant."

"The Student Council will not tolerate."

"Any further disturbances."

Xianyuan Jiang sneered and drew his sword.

The moonlight reflected off the sharp blade.

With a grin, Xianyuan Jiang performed a few exaggerated sword movements and then pointed the tip at the twins, flicking it lightly.

"You can't even speak properly on your own. Come at me."

"..."

Naturally, the open space widened, and soon a fight broke out among the three.

'They're all quite good.'

The twins' cooperative techniques were astonishingly precise.

They moved simultaneously, like identical pictures on both sides, pressuring Xianyuan Jiang. When a counterattack came, one focused on defense while the other aimed for the opponent's weak points.

"They complement each other perfectly."

Beside me, Aekyeonho muttered in amazement.

The twins moved seamlessly, never getting tangled up, even as they continuously engaged and disengaged.

From the opponent's perspective, it must feel like facing one enemy, then two, then one again, and so on.

"They must have practiced to the point where they can read each other's intentions just by looking at each other's eyes."

Mingyilo also muttered in admiration. The twins' cooperative techniques were truly excellent.

But I wasn't particularly focused on the twins.

"The more impressive one is that guy."

Despite swaying as if drunk (he actually was), Xianyuan Jiang was dodging or deflecting all the important attacks.

He twisted his body in precarious maneuvers, swung his sword with exaggerated large movements to shake off his opponents, and provoked the twins with a nasty grin.

"Is that all you've got? I guess I know the level of this year's Student Council."

"..."

The twins' attacks grew more intense.

The six-section staff grazed Xianyuan Jiang's shoulder, and the rope, like a snake's tongue, aimed for his ankles.

By now, many onlookers, including students from the Azure Dragon Academy, were watching the fight.

Murmurs.

"Isn't that Xianyuan Jiang again?"

"He always starts violent incidents..."

"Why doesn't the academy expel him?"

Words filled with disdain and hatred.

But I could sense the underlying fear.

'A talent that can inspire instinctive fear.'

Xianyuan Jiang's current skill level wasn't that overwhelming.

But the size of his talent was, without a doubt, among the best I had seen among trainees.

"But why..."

I tilted my head as I watched Xianyuan Jiang's sword technique.

Why is he using such a technique?

The martial arts of the Xianyuan family that I know are not of such low quality.

Even if not as advanced as the unique techniques Master Mad Demon established during his hundred duels, they are still of a level that could be called a school of martial arts.

But the sword technique Xianyuan Jiang was displaying, while not terrible, was below the level expected of a prestigious family.

"Is this the original sword technique of the Xianyuan family?"

"That's..."

In response to my question, Aekyeonho hesitated before answering softly.

"I'll tell you later."

'There must be some story I don't know.'

Since I couldn't know it right away, I focused on watching Xianyuan Jiang's fight.

"Ha ha. I can see how you move now."

Despite using a sword technique that didn't suit him, Xianyuan Jiang's talent was overwhelming.

Initially struggling against the twins' cooperative techniques, he was now pushing them back.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Ugh..."

When the twins, whose movements had become disordered, showed a gap, Xianyuan Jiang's eyes turned sharp, and his sword moved like lightning.

Clang! Clang!

The battle was decided.

The twins, who had lost their weapons, stepped back with defeated expressions, blood dripping from their hands.

Xianyuan Jiang, with his sword slung over his shoulder, walked toward them with a taunting smile.

"Will you kneel now? Or do you want to be beaten first?"

The twins clenched their fists silently, showing their determination to fight even if it meant using their bare hands.

At the same time, the Discipline Committee students, who had been watching until now, surrounded Xianyuan Jiang from all sides.

"Student Xianyuan Jiang. This is your final warning."

"Don't make things worse."

"We won't tolerate this any longer."

The Discipline Committee students, wearing yellow armbands, simultaneously aimed their weapons at Xianyuan Jiang.

"Hah. Now you're trying