A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation Chapter 854 Chapter 851: Side Story - Employment Heavenly Lord (4)

Chapter 854 Chapter 851: Side Story - Employment Heavenly Lord (4) 

Even though Ji Hwa ends up at the police station, she somehow settles the matter and returns.

Following that, Seo Eun-hyun and Ji Hwa spend the weekend carefully examining the campsite before going back home...

And soon enough,

The eagerly anticipated athletic meet between Silver Sword Kindergarten and New Spring Kindergarten finally takes place.

***

"Th...this outrageous...!"

Shin Young-man shakes with fury throughout her body.

The decisive clash between the two kindergartens arrives today.

And it's only now, on this crucial day, that Shin Young-man lays eyes directly on the rival kindergarten's director, Yang Ji-hwang, without any messenger, and rage overtakes her completely.

"How!? How dare a parent issue such a challenge against our kindergarten!?"

Indeed.

Silver Sword Kindergarten's director, Yang Ji-hwang, turns out to be the guardian of the newly enrolled student, Seo Eun-hyun.

To New Spring Kindergarten, she appears as just a parent, yet once Shin Young-man discovers this parent scheming to devour their kindergarten, only one thought springs to mind.

'A spy! Did she plant that child to conduct espionage and gather intel on our kindergarten?'

Yet shortly after, Shin Young-man dismisses the idea.

'No, absolutely not. I refuse to falsely accuse a child like that no matter what. Seo Eun-hyun likely didn't spy directly; as a parent, she simply placed the child here to gauge the environment. Of course, even that counts as serious espionage, but...'

Regardless, a deep sense of betrayal makes Shin Young-man quiver, her eyes burning fiercely.

'We must not lose... We'll claim victory in this battle at any cost!!!'

She balls her fist tight, igniting her resolve.

Meanwhile, Seo Eun-hyun, face turned icy, grips a kindergarten teacher's hand while scanning the Silver Sword Kindergarten children.

"Teacher Boram, but those Silver Sword Kindergarten kids... don't they all seem kinda alike?"

"Uh... yeah. For some reason... their hair lengths match. Their faces look similar... They're all quite pretty."

"It's kinda weird..."

Every child from Silver Sword Kindergarten boasts silver hair and silver eyes, and even the staff shares the exact appearance.

All of them resemble one another perfectly.

'Did you divide yourself, Ji Hwa?'

Seo Eun-hyun casts a mildly disbelieving glance at the nearest Ji Hwa clone among the Silver Sword children, who beams toothily, clueless to the issue, flashing a V-sign.

'And she's... dividing even now.'

The teacher clones at Silver Sword Kindergarten count the New Spring children and signal accordingly, prompting the student clones to relay to those in the rear.

The back-row clones then discreetly divide to even out the numbers.

Stunned by this odd display, Seo Eun-hyun pulls on the teacher's hand he holds.

"Uh... teacher, my tummy aches, so can I skip the beanbag toss?"

"Oh dear, tummy trouble? In that case..."

Just as Seo Eun-hyun's Elephant Class teacher prepares to send him to rest,

A Silver Sword Kindergarten teacher clone dashes up, eyes wide in exaggeration, yanks out first-aid gear, and yells.

"Oh no, poor little one! Is the child unwell? Our Silver Sword Kindergarten always has a health teacher ready, healing any injury or sickness instantly. Want us to fetch ours?"

"Uh, what? Uh..."

The Elephant Class teacher flusters briefly but accepts the kind offer for the child's care, allowing Seo Eun-hyun a quick visit to Silver Sword's 'health teacher'.

Seo Eun-hyun tries speaking again amid Ji Hwa's brazenness.

"Teacher, I feel better now. I'll join the match properly."

"Nonsense! You could have hidden issues, so at least let's check with a stethoscope."

The Silver Sword health teacher clone, donned in a doctor's coat convincingly, prods Seo Eun-hyun's belly with a mischievous grin, harassing him briefly before he slips away once more.

The games kick off.

Beanbag toss comes first.

Players hurl scattered beanbags to burst the opponent's gourd first.

The beanbag toss wraps up swiftly.

Puh-buh-beong!

As a Ji Hwa clone grabs a beanbag and launches it, the gourd shatters instantly, shards flying everywhere.

"Beanbag toss, Silver Sword Kindergarten victorious!"

A masked Ji Hwa clone, referee garb echoing Radiance Hall, proclaims Silver Sword's win, making Shin Young-man gnash her teeth.

Next up: ring toss.

They fling red and blue rings onto a central tree's branches amid mixed competitors from both sides.

Oddly, Silver Sword kids stick solely to Seo Eun-hyun, faking throws, handing New Spring the win.

"Ring toss, New Spring Kindergarten wins!"

The masked clone announces New Spring's triumph, and the clinging Silver Sword kids retreat happily to their side.

Third: chicken-leg fighting.

Once more, kids scramble on the field; Silver Sword ones assault Seo Eun-hyun like fierce roosters.

Ultimately, Silver Sword kids ignoring others get overrun by New Spring's Hippo Class pals.

"Chicken-leg fighting, New Spring Kindergarten wins!"

Fourth event.

Tug-of-war this time.

Classes from each kindergarten compete directly, placing Seo Eun-hyun at the front of his Elephant Class line.

Weary from Ji Hwa's antics, Seo Eun-hyun mutters.

"...Sorry, but I won't play into your scheme anymore. What are you even doing across the whole kindergarten!? If you enrolled me, just let me be!"

"Hahaha, such kid stuff. Who ripped off my mask and turned me into this? If you awakened my heart, own up to it!"

"I didn't awaken this kind of heart in you!"

"Hush! The heart knows no bounds!"

Elephant vs. Silver Sword tug-of-war commences; Seo Eun-hyun, determined now, infuses the rope with vigor and hauls fiercely.

Kigigik!

Limits on Seo Eun-hyun's clone body loosen, siphoning some main body power.

"Huaaaaaah!"

Seo Eun-hyun's core authority.

A fragment of that might flows into his clone as he wrenches the rope.

Still, Ji Hwa's clones gaze adoringly at him, smirking.

"Adorable. Remember I'm the original? Main vs. main might differ, but clone-wise, you can't beat me!!!"

Kugugugugu!

Over Silver Sword clones' heads.

A vision only Seo Eun-hyun perceives emerges.

A colossal silver king phantom grips the rope behind Silver Sword line, yanking mightily.

"Kuugh...uuuuugh!"

Seo Eun-hyun compensates with martial skill for the power gap, but the disparity proves immense.

Tug-of-war relies heavily on raw strength, so he flies toward the Ji Hwas helplessly.

Ji Hwa clones snag the flying Seo Eun-hyun, cuddling him endearingly, prompting his sigh.

"Silver Sword Kindergarten wins!"

Across four events, both kindergartens claim two victories each.

Yet the quiz crushes Giraffe Class utterly, and parents' relay sees Silver Sword dominate.

Sixth event seals it 2-4, Silver Sword leading.

"No... this can't stand! Losing our strongest suit, the English quiz, with Giraffe Class..."

New Spring's Principal Shin Young-man's eyes bulge red, staring daggers at Silver Sword.

"Unacceptable. We must reverse this. Reverse it...!"

One final reversal chance remains.

"Relay race...!"

Relay features three rounds, each worth one point, differing from prior events.

"Sweeping all three relay rounds secures our win...!"

Shin Young-man chomps her lip.

"For relay victory... I may need to deploy those kids."

Giraffe, Elephant, Hippo.

A class sharper and hardier than these.

But filled with sly, scary children.

Using them could guarantee triumph.

'Yet basing victory on them means dealing with pesky parents... Above all, it troubles my conscience...'

Shin Young-man shuts her eyes tight, opting first for other classes' children.

"Got it. Hippo Class first. Deploy the Hippo kids."

Relay race starts now.

Hippo Class, New Spring's toughest and most energetic, performs superbly.

But Shin Young-man's eyes pop wide.

"Wh-What!?"

Silver Sword kids move insanely fast.

Shiiiiiiik—

Not human speed, but ghostly, defying air resistance.

Seeing them glide effortlessly, Shin Young-man sweats coldly.

'Oh no... Must I risk calling those kids? Will New Spring fall to that villainous Yang Ji-hwang...!?'

Then.

"Teacher, my hand scraped in tug-of-war stings... Got a bandage?"

"Oh dear, what now? Other kids scraped too; we're out of bandages..."

Seo Eun-hyun shows his scraped hand; teacher looks worried.

Silver Sword's 'health teacher' rushes in, grinning wildly.

"At our Silver Sword Kindergarten, emergency first-aid supplies abound. Come here, little one. Ohoho, this health teacher will check you so it stops hurting."

Right after Seo Eun-hyun gets whisked away like a kidnapping by the health teacher.

Suddenly, Silver Sword kids' pace drops noticeably.

Their focus clearly shifts elsewhere.

Shin Young-man's eyes blaze as she bellows.

"Now!!! Charge!!! Seize the moment!"

Hippo Class surges past distracted foes, claiming round one victory.

"Relay race round one, New Spring Kindergarten wins!"

Score ties at 3-4 for New Spring and Silver Sword.

But spotting the next runner darkens Shin Young-man's expression.

"What... hold on. How!? That next runner... why him!?"

"Ah, Principal... Elephant Class's fastest is ultimately... Eun-hyun."

Relay round two.

Seeing Elephant's Seo Eun-hyun slated, Shin Young-man despairs.

"A child tied to Silver Sword family... School loyalty might not beat blood ties...? What if he lags deliberately for them?"

"S-Sorry... swap him now?"

"No, too blatant. Even if Yang Ji-hwang's shady, she's a parent; can't override publicly... Ugh... fine. Minimize risks: make Eun-hyun last."

Due to worries, Seo Eun-hyun shifts to final leg.

"Elephant kids are speedy; a big lead means even slow Eun-hyun leaves hope!"

Silver Sword kids crush Elephant Class, winning round two decisively.

"Kuaaaaaaagh!"

Tears flow as Shin Young-man glares bitterly at Silver Sword's relaxed final runner.

Mocking her, the runner takes the baton leisurely, laps half the grounds swiftly.

Only then does Elephant kid pass to Seo Eun-hyun.

'Ah... defeated.'

No spy suspicions needed; such a lead dooms them naturally.

'At least, relief. No need to doubt our own student shamefully...'

Loss stems from Silver Sword's superiority, not betrayal.

As teacher, no call to resent her pupil.

Just as Shin Young-man resigns gracefully,

Kwaaaang!

A explosive boom rumbles under Seo Eun-hyun's feet.

An unforeseen twist unfolds.

***

Seo Eun-hyun, gaze stern, transmits to Ji Hwa.

—Sorry, but I'm halting your sneaky plot. This isn't fair play.

—Unfair how!? I'm going all out against you!

—Issue is a Heavenly Venerable unleashing full power on mortal toddlers!

—So what? We match physical levels equally. I'm winning purely via movement arts. Silver Sword teaches them; New Spring's lapse for skipping lightness skills!

Seo Eun-hyun eyes Ji Hwa seriously, voice transmission sobering.

—...Push that far, and I'll go full throttle too.

—Hah, you know pulling main body power cheats. I'm just boosting kindergartener physique with movement.

—Agreed. Pure kindergartener abilities for me.

—Catch this lead instantly!? My clone lapped half the campground. Your martial depths can't...!

Next instant,

Baton from Elephant classmate in hand,

Seo Eun-hyun bolts at max speed.

Kwaaaaaang!

When Seo Eun-h