The Academy’s Unrivaled Professor - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Academy Absolute Professor Episode 116
Second Cohort Students, Team Assignment
The twenty-four moved swiftly, as if they’d already settled their choices beforehand.
Kang Hyun’s gaze swept across them.
The Spear Ghost Unit first.
“Two?”
“Yes, sir.”
Gye Mu-jin answered with a smile.
“Well, there are only these two who handle spears. We’ve continued training together outside of class hours.”
Students who wielded spears had virtually no choice in the matter.
They simply had to train with Gye Mu-jin.
Kang Hyun offered them a light word of encouragement.
“The Double Handed Spear is a sound martial art. Master it well and put that strength toward hunting Demon Beings in the future.”
“Yes, sir!”
By now, the students understood the role of Taejeong Martial Officials and the existence of teams.
The team leaders had taught them as much.
We train to confront Demon Beings, they’d said.
Of course, it wasn’t mandatory—after graduation, those who wanted to fight could stay with the team, and those who didn’t could leave freely.
“Next, Rang Team: Cha Yu-sik.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Quite popular, aren’t you.”
Six students stood before him.
Was it because he was the son of Cha Ha-rang that they wanted to forge connections?
“It’s still slightly fewer than Hunter Ma Chul-ung’s group, sir.”
“…True enough.”
Over on Ma Chul-ung’s side stood eight students.
With an S-rank Hunter as team leader, who would pass up the chance to learn from him?
“First.”
Kang Hyun examined the six students standing before Cha Yu-sik.
It was good that Namgoong Seo-ha was among them.
Though the Imperial Sword Form that Cha Yu-sik would learn traced its roots through Namgoong blood, their temperaments matched well enough.
But.
“Song Tae-min.”
“Yes, yes! Professor!”
“What are you doing here?”
“Sir?”
His eyes widened at the sudden question.
Was he asking why he’d been drawn to Rang Team?
“The Cangqiong Wuya Swordsmanship that Senior Cha Yu-sik demonstrated looked amazing!”
“You can’t stay here. Move over to Yun Hyun-jong’s group.”
Song Tae-min was bewildered.
He’d been told it was autonomous assignment, so why was he being moved…?
“May I ask the reason, sir?”
“You have a wide field of vision and extraordinarily good bilateral hand coordination. You’re built for Dual Sword.”
“…Dual Sword.”
Song Tae-min’s spirits sank.
A man ought to know the satisfaction of overwhelming an opponent with a single blade, yet Dual Sword seemed somehow lighter by comparison.
It simply didn’t suit his taste.
“I don’t recommend team leaders to just anyone. But you’re the type who will reach Grand Completion with Dual Sword—that’s why I’m telling you. Of course, the choice is yours.”
Song Tae-min’s deliberation was brief.
‘Professor Kang has never spoken at such length before. I have to follow this.’
He scrambled hastily toward Yun Hyun-jong’s position.
The corners of Kang Hyun’s mouth lifted.
‘The Dual Dragon team will have a new leader before long.’
Yun Hyun-jong would be overshadowed, but that didn’t matter.
‘He’ll need to balance his duties as Taejeong’s successor after graduation anyway.’
With Song Tae-min’s transfer, Rang Team was reduced to five, while Dual Dragon grew to four.
And the Extermination Demon Unit under Gwak Do-jin now had four, including Kim Chul-soo!
‘Last.’
Before Han Tae-ho of Team Blossom stood only a single student.
Han Tae-ho’s face flushed red, then purple, as if it might burst.
‘Damn it. Those traitors. In the end.’
The fellow students who had shared information with him before the selection and helped him along the way had ultimately all chosen Ma Chul-ung.
Over the course of a month’s training, his pride had stung as he watched them continuously show interest in the other team leaders.
So he’d thrown caution to the wind.
— “Hey, don’t worry about my feelings. I’m really fine with it. Tomorrow, choose whatever you want to learn from, whatever you want to study. If you’re going to walk the martial path, you have to choose your own direction. Isn’t that right?”
Of course, he hadn’t meant a word of it.
But his classmates had taken him at his word, and in the end they’d gone to the S-rank Hunter.
There was nothing he could say.
In the same situation, he would have gone to Ma Chul-ung too.
‘So what do I do now?’
The other teams would be running joint training sessions together and going on guild missions… but would Team Blossom really have to function with just a single member?
He couldn’t bring himself to look at the expression on his classmate’s face standing before him.
He was afraid it might show regret.
But there was no way around it.
Professor Kang Hyun didn’t involve himself much in team selection.
Everything was left to their discretion, and he only offered recommendations in clear-cut cases like Song Tae-min’s just now.
Naturally, he didn’t concern himself with balancing the teams either.
He regarded building a team as a test of the team leader’s ability.
‘This won’t do.’
In the end, Han Tae-ho gathered his courage and made a decision.
If nothing else, it was for the sake of the classmate who had trusted him and stood at his side.
“Professor!”
Han Tae-ho shouted with grim determination.
“Please, help me!”
“Help with what?”
“They don’t seem to understand what they’re missing! And honestly, if things go on like this, Team Blossom will disband…! I’m on the verge of going to Hunter Ma Chul-ung myself! You know that’s true, don’t you?”
His honesty made him sound all the more desperate.
‘Hmm.’
Kang Hyun looked back and forth between Han Tae-ho and the lone student standing before him.
It was true that Han Tae-ho appeared weaker by comparison.
Especially since Han Tae-ho hadn’t even completed his first year yet.
But he couldn’t fault the second-year student for not choosing him.
Once you committed to a martial path, you’d be dedicated to that single discipline for the rest of your life—naturally Ma Chul-ung seemed more attractive.
‘I suppose I should lend him a hand.’
Though he favored a hands-off approach, the Plum Blossom Sword Technique was far too good to waste.
Kang Hyun’s mouth curved upward.
“And what will you give me in return?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re asking me to help you for free?”
Han Tae-ho’s words caught in his throat.
In truth, there was nothing he could offer.
The professor was wealthy, well-connected, knowledgeable, and strong.
What could a first-year student possibly give to such an absolute being?
But desperation drove him to speak without thinking.
“Sir, when our team makes its first profit, I’ll buy you a bottle of whiskey! A rare, limited-edition whiskey—the kind that’s a pain to source! I’ll beat the pavement day and night to find one, so please, I’m begging you, just help us this once!”
A soft chuckle.
Kang Hyun’s lips curved into a smile.
He’d only thrown it out as a jest, but whiskey wasn’t a bad idea.
“You’re an amusing one. Are you trying to make me into a professor who accepts bribes from students?”
“No, no! That’s not what I meant at all!”
It didn’t really matter to him.
Since this was now a private institution, and given the value of the Secret Techniques he was providing them, he could easily accept that much without complaint.
“Still, you showed sincerity, so I’ll take the gesture to heart.”
“Then… then…!”
“And if you do buy it, use your own pocket money, not team funds. Do you really think you’ll be able to keep your position as team leader?”
“I will keep it!”
“We’ll see.”
Kang Hyun set down his glass and gestured with his hand.
“Give me a sword.”
“Yes.”
Han Tae-ho drew his sword from his waist, and Kang Hyun snatched it from the air with empty-handed skill.
“Everyone, watch carefully.”
Shing!
Kang Hyun drew the blade, and everyone swallowed hard.
The second-year students in particular had never once seen Kang Hyun’s true strength.
“The path Han Tae-ho walks on — right now, it looks most humble.”
Kang Hyun’s sword moved slowly.
Clumsy, straightforward strokes.
Up and down, left and right, forward and back — the principles of the Six Harmonies Art, the foundation of all martial arts, flowed through his blade.
Fundamentals of fundamentals!
“Never walk this path if you’re chasing whatever looks strong right now. The impatient have no business here.”
But then.
Whoosh.
The seemingly ordinary blade path suddenly bent, fluid and graceful.
“Once you sink your roots deep enough to bloom, that’s when it becomes beautiful.”
Seven vibrant variations began to seep into the clumsy strokes.
The Seven Plum Sword.
A plum blossom swordmaster’s technique, containing seven layers of subtlety.
The path that had seemed humble just moments before now rippled like a serpent, ensnaring every student’s gaze.
Kang Hyun slowly demonstrated all seven moves in sequence.
“Plum blossoms don’t simply bloom in spring. They can only bloom after enduring the harshest winter.”
Swish!
As Kang Hyun’s sword speed intensified, the air of the Practice Grounds transformed entirely.
The fluid blade divided into twenty-four paths, slicing through all directions.
The Twenty-Four Hand Plum Blossom Sword Technique!
“Gasp!”
“The fragrance…….”
Someone’s breath caught in their throat.
Impossibly, a rich plum blossom scent began rising wherever Kang Hyun’s blade passed.
Each individual movement carried the distinct transformation of a season, and each complete cycle represented a full year’s passage.
Twenty-four blade paths and twenty-four secret techniques flowed endlessly, overwhelming the Practice Grounds.
From this point on, it was closer to art than martial prowess.
“Ahhh…….”
“Insane.”
The students were utterly captivated.
Beyond beautiful — they trembled.
Ma Chul-ung and Gye Mu-jin couldn’t tear their eyes away either, when.
“And when that flower reaches full bloom.”
Flash!
At last, a crimson blade aura burst forth from Kang Hyun’s sword tip.
Dozens, hundreds of red points hung in the void, then bloomed full, saturated with blade energy.
The culmination of this entire display.
The Plum Blossom Sword Technique!
“The first flower.”
The first plum blossom bloomed in empty space, slicing through the void.
“The second flower.”
A second blossom unfolded, cutting off all escape routes.
“The third flower.”
Fully opened petals scattered, creating a spectacle beyond compare.
Flowers continued blooming from the blade’s edge.
Tap.
Kang Hyun descended lightly to the ground from his leap, sheathing his sword.
“Remember this well.”
As the blade stilled, the plum blossoms withered, signaling the end of the illusion.
Silence.
Everyone could barely breathe when Kang Hyun spoke flatly.
“The moment you catch that fragrance from somewhere…… your opponent’s neck will crumble like falling petals.”
“Wow.”
Ma Chul-ung clapped his hands.
“That was magnificent, sir!”
He meant it.
He had seen the Five Tigers of the Five Tiger Single Slash Saber before.
But honestly, that plum blossom that had just bloomed moments ago looked slightly stronger.
“I agree. Of all the martial arts here, this one appears to have the highest potential.”
Of course, Ma Chul-ung knew.
What Kang Hyeon had demonstrated was merely a typical form of Grand Completion; what lay beyond it depended entirely on the cultivator’s own effort.
“There’s nothing special about it. All the martial arts I teach have potential. What matters is who uses them.”
At Kang Hyeon’s words, Ma Chul-ung laughed heartily.
“Ha, that’s true!”
At the same time, he clenched his fists.
‘Until the day I can tear that blooming plum blossom to shreds with a tiger’s fangs…… I won’t rest.’
His fighting spirit ignited once more.
“I’ll transfer to Team Blossom. I did want to grow stronger immediately, but I think it’s better to take the longer view.”
“You can change now if you wish?”
“…… I apologize, Hunter Ma Chul-ung.”
Four from Ma Chul-ung’s side, one from the Extermination Demon Unit, one from Dual Dragon, one from Rang Team.
Seven moved over to Han Tae-ho’s side.
The final tally was this.
Tiger Research Institute: 4
Extermination Demon Unit: 3
Dual Dragon: 3
Rang Team: 4
Team Blossom: 8
Spear Ghost Unit: 2
Precisely twenty-four students had been divided in this way.
‘Thank you, Professor.’
Han Tae-ho released a relieved breath.
Thanks to that, he had saved his team.
He wasn’t ashamed.
He had come to believe that the willingness to set aside pride and ask for help was itself one of a team leader’s abilities.
Yet what struck him even more was the swordsmanship the Professor had displayed.
‘Someday…… I too will make a plum blossom bloom with my own blade.’
And then he would show that beautiful sword dance to his wavering juniors.
Han Tae-ho clenched his teeth, steeling his resolve in silence.
The moment when all Team Assignments were complete.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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