The sun had already started to rise, illuminating the surroundings with its bright rays. Min Hoo had managed to sleep, but that didn't mean he had slept well.
"Ding dong! Ding dong! Host, wake up, or you'll be late for class, causing you to fail your assignment." The System's cold voice rang out, causing Min Hoo to jump up abruptly from the bed.
Min Hoo grumbled and walked over to the mirror, brushing his long snow-white hair. This had become a daily routine as his hair was constantly tangled. If it were up to him, he would have cut it long ago. This time he decided to tie his hair into a high ponytail, securing it with a stud.
Min Hoo rummaged through Mo Chou's wardrobe, a collection of flowing hanfu that felt more like an elaborate costume than actual clothing. He tugged on a crisp white garment, the fabric brushing against his skin like a soft whisper. It looked good—too good for someone who was trying to embrace the villain role, he thought with a smirk.
He pulled on a pair of dark trousers and fastened a crimson sash around his waist, the colors clashing in a way that somehow worked. As he glanced back at the mirror, he noted how ridiculous he looked—like a romantic hero from one of those silly novels he adored.
"Looking sharp today," the System chirped in its metallic tone. "Though you might want to tone down the 'I'm here to seduce my enemies' vibe."
Min Hoo rolled his eyes but couldn't help but chuckle as he grabbed Mo Chou's signature umbrella—an odd accessory that now felt oddly comforting in his hand. He stepped outside into the crisp morning air, determined to uphold his cold façade.
The path to Zhenmi Peak twisted through lush greenery, flowers blooming vibrantly alongside him. The scent of dew-kissed grass wafted up, almost inviting him to stop and admire nature instead of pretending to be heartless.
As Min Hoo arrived at the square where fencing classes took place, students milled about, practicing their stances and swings under the watchful eyes of lesser teachers. They scattered when they saw him approach, their chatter quieting down as they straightened up.
"Elder Mo Chou!" Xue Yang called out from across the square, excitement brightening his violet eyes.
Min Hoo glanced at him but maintained his aloof expression. A tiny flicker of warmth sparked in his chest, quickly doused by memories of how he was supposed to treat Xue Yang—like an irritating bug rather than an eager disciple.
"Form up!" he barked instead, putting on his best imitation of authoritative indifference.
Xue Yang's face fell slightly but then perked back up as he hurried into position with the others. Min Hoo's gaze wandered over the group, assessing their stances with feigned scrutiny.
"You're all like fledgling ducks learning to fly," he remarked dryly, stifling laughter at their serious expressions.
One student fumbled with his sword and nearly dropped it; Min Hoo suppressed a grin.
Xue Yang shot him a look—a mixture of determination and nervousness—as if hoping for a hint of approval amidst all this mockery. But in front of others? That was out of the question. Min Hoo shrugged off the moment and turned away, gesturing for them to begin their drills while silently wrestling with himself over how much longer he could keep up this charade without cracking entirely.
The morning light danced across the training grounds, casting long shadows as Min Hoo surveyed his students. They stood in awkward rows, their stances as varied as the excuses they'd no doubt give if they were to mess up. Min Hoo suppressed a sigh. This was going to be a long day.
He picked up a wooden stick—a makeshift pointer that he had come to love for its dual purpose of instruction and gentle prodding. It was a far cry from the elegance of Mo Chou's sword, but it served its purpose well.
With a twirl of his wrist, he approached the first student, a tall boy with a square jaw and the muscle coordination of a newborn deer. Min Hoo cleared his throat. "Your stance is all wrong," he said, poking the boy's side with the stick, causing him to jump. "You're supposed to be as stable as a mountain, not a leaf in the wind."
The boy tried to correct his posture, but his legs wobbled, threatening to buckle. A snicker rippled through the ranks, and the boy's face turned a shade of red that could rival the fiercest sunset.
Min Hoo moved on to the next victim, a girl with a braid so tight it seemed to be pulling her eyebrows upwards in surprise. "Relax your shoulders," he instructed, using the stick to gently nudge her shoulders down. "Tension will slow you down, and your braid seems to be doing enough of that already."
She shot him a grin, the tension visibly leaving her body as she adjusted her stance. Min Hoo nodded in approval, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Perhaps this wasn't going to be such a tedious day after all.
He continued down the line, correcting postures and offering advice with a blend of sarcasm and genuine care. The students began to relax under his tutelage, their movements becoming more fluid, their stances more grounded.
When he reached Xue Yang, the boy's eyes were wide with anticipation. Min Hoo rolled his eyes. "I swear, you look at me like I'm about to reveal the secrets of the universe," he muttered, half to himself.
Xue Yang's cheeks colored, but he didn't break eye contact. "Teacher, I... I just want to learn and improve," he said earnestly, his words causing a tiny crack in Min Hoo's carefully constructed façade.
"Fine, fine," Min Hoo said, waving away the sentimentality that threatened to bubble up. He turned his attention to Xue Yang's stance, noticing the slight hunch in his shoulders—a sign of self-doubt that Min Hoo was all too familiar with.
He reached out, using the stick to gently lift Xue Yang's chin. "Hold your head high," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "A warrior does not cower. He meets his challenges head-on. You don't want to ruin the reputation of our peak, do you?" Min Hoo said in a cold tone, narrowing his golden eyes and staring intently at Xue Yang.
Xue Yang's eyes shone with determination as he straightened his spine, his posture now mirroring the confidence Min Hoo hoped he felt inside. Strange...but Xue Yang no longer felt the same fear that enveloped him at the mere sight of the elder.
The sun climbed higher in the sky, its rays warming the training grounds as Min Hoo continued his round of corrections. The wooden stick became an extension of his hand, tapping shoulders, aligning spines, and occasionally, playfully, whacking the backside of a student who was caught daydreaming.
Min Hoo briefly walked away from the practicing students and stood under a tree with a shadowy smell. He stood like that for a few minutes until a servant came up to him and bowed politely and handed over a rolled up scroll, saying that it was from the head of the Hanqin School.
The head of the Hanqin School was an esteemed person and according to the information in the novel, was the Shixiong Mo Chou. Min Hoo unfolded the scroll and ran his golden eyes over the beautifully written text.
Briefly, it said to invite all the elders as well as some teachers to a regular meeting.
Min Hoo rolled his eyes. How much he hated this Zhenmi Peak Elder's job..... The never-ending paperwork, as if it would never end. Although he was a math professor in his previous life and was literally up to his ears in paperwork, but that didn't mean he liked it.
His back was in constant pain from being in the shrimp pose. It wasn't until he was reborn into the body of Mo Chou's antagonist that he felt the lightness he felt as a child. After all, he is now 30 years old.
Min Hoo clicked his tongue as he remembered his terrible age. Eh...before he could even find a wife and have cute children, he had already died. Could he find a wife in this life? Although it was also unlikely since it was still unknown whether Xue Yang would kill him or not.
Min Hoo nodded to his senior teacher to keep a close eye on the students, and once again rolled up the scroll, he slowly walked down the path towards his hometown.
Min Hoo made his way back to the residence, the sun casting long shadows as he navigated the winding path. The scroll from the head of the Hanqin School crumpled in his hand, its weight a reminder of the obligations that loomed over him.
Once inside, he pushed open the door to Mo Chou's study. Dust motes danced in the slanting sunlight as he stepped over piles of scrolls and books, cluttered evidence of a life dedicated to swordsmanship and spells. Min Hoo scanned the room for anything that might provide insight into the other elders.
He moved toward a large wooden cabinet, its surface intricately carved with swirling patterns. Pulling it open, he found shelves filled with scrolls—some tightly wound while others lay haphazardly. He reached for one that caught his eye, unrolling it to reveal details about various techniques and historical notes on Hanqin School's legacy.
"System," Min Hoo muttered, his fingers brushing against another scroll. "Give me detailed information about the head of the Hanqin School."
The familiar blue translucent dialog box flickered into view beside him.
"Processing," the System replied with its usual robotic cheerfulness.
As he rummaged through more supplies, Min Hoo glanced at a second scroll, noting references to past conflicts among peaks. Interesting reading material but not what he needed at this moment.
"Head of Hanqin School: Shen Wu," the System announced suddenly, drawing Min Hoo's attention back. "Age:??? Looks 35 years old. Appearance: Dark hair flecked with gray, tied neatly at the back; sharp features and piercing blue eyes; known for his stern expression that softens only in rare moments."
Min Hoo imagined Shen Wu—a commanding presence yet slightly worn by age and experience. The head elder's reputation loomed large in both memory and myth throughout Hanqin School.
"Personality traits: Highly disciplined, revered but feared among peers; has a tendency to favor strict rules over flexibility."
Min Hoo frowned as he mulled over this description.
"Any notable weaknesses?" Min Hoo pressed further, rifling through another drawer filled with assorted weapons and old tomes.
"None reported; however, known for being overly protective of students."
Hmm...maybe he's not as serious as he seems?
Min Hoo dismissed these thoughts for now and decided to search for information about the other elders. He couldn't find anything in the study, but he could find it in his chambers. The former professor went to his chambers, opening the door and first going to close the window.
It was too cold...somehow uncomfortable.
And so Min Hoo once again began to rummage through the drawers and cabinets. There were various improvement books. There were so many books about refining. From the information about the elders, there were only some letters. For example, there was a letter with the head of the medicine peak, apparently to deliver the medicine to Zhenmi Peak.
But not a single piece of information about the other elders! Not even their names! Is Mo Chou the villain who didn't keep some dirt on his colleagues?
"System" called out Min Hoo in his thoughts. "Give me basic information on all the elders."
At first, the System was silent until a bored robotic voice was heard. "Hmm...Host, free cheese is only in a mousetrap. The cost of this information will be 50,000 points."
How much?! What kind of robbery is that? I only have 6000 points!
"..." Min Hoo remained silent and snorted as he continued his search through the cabinets.
Min Hoo approached the last cabinet made of sandalwood reaching out to open the door.
Bang!
A jar of some kind of ointment fell directly onto his head, causing Min Hoo to wrinkle his nose in displeasure.
"..." Min Hoo was frankly shocked when he looked at the contents of the cabinet. There were ointments and masks for the body, hair, face, hands, lips... Mo Chou is definitely a villain and not some pampered master? Although it's not surprising considering the state of his soft snow-white skin and soft silky white hair.
"Ding Dong! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the 'Mister #$%@ Treasure'. You receive items such as +lavender scented hair ointment, +hair mask, +cream for..." The system began to list various items. There were so many items that Min Hoo's head ached.
When the system stopped listing 101 items, Min Hoo finally asked.
"Why is there a censored word after 'Mister'?"
"It's a spoiler."
...I get it.