Chapter 49: An Unexpected Home Visit (4)

As Cho Un-hwi stepped into the instructors’ office, he was greeted with a burst of energy.

“Instructor!”

Baek Ri-seol, who resembled a flamboyant peacock in appearance but possessed the boundless energy of a wild jungle cat, dashed towards him.

“Meeting time! Charge!”

He flicked her forehead as she lunged at him with outstretched arms.

“Ow.”

“The instructors’ office is a place for restful slumber. Causing a commotion is a major disturbance.”

“Hehe, sorry.”

Restful slumber?

The instructors who frequently worked late nights would probably disagree, but he decided to ignore their bewildered stares.

“Are you here to request a family meeting too?”

“Hehe, So-hye told me about it. I want to request one as well.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure about the Baek Ri Clan…”

It was the Baek Ri Clan, after all.

He had beaten up the clan leader and trashed their house during his last home visit.

‘And now I’m supposed to go back there willingly?’

He tried to live a carefree life, but even he had his limits.

Baek Ri-seol, however, was unconcerned.

“It’s fine. My father deserved it.”

That was true.

“Besides, this time, it’s Elder Baek Ri Seon-ho who’s inviting you. Even my father wouldn’t dare to disrespect him.”

“You never know.”

“Then I’ll become an unfilial daughter.”

She smiled sweetly, but there was a steely glint in her eyes.

She was confident.

He couldn’t refuse her request if she was this determined.

“Alright, give me the meeting authorization form…”

“I already got it. You just need to sign it.”

“Oh, you’re efficient.”

He was happy to avoid the paperwork and dipped his thumb in the inkpad.

Then, he noticed something strange.

“If my eyes aren’t deceiving me, this isn’t a meeting authorization form. It’s a marriage registration form.”

“Oh dear, you must be tired. You’re seeing things. You should get some rest.”

“You little…”

He clenched his fist, and Baek Ri-seol smacked her forehead.

“Oops, my mistake.”

She stuck out her tongue and winked, then pulled out another document.

“Here, sign this one.”

She muttered under her breath, “Tsk.”

Cho Un-hwi flicked her forehead.

“You mischievous little…”

“Ow! That’s mean!”

She wailed like a wounded pheasant.

“Go pack your bags.”

“Yes, sir!”

She grabbed the meeting authorization form and skipped away.

***

After Baek Ri-seol left, Instructor Jo Hyeon approached him.

“That’s strange. I’ve never seen Baek Ri-seol act like that before.”

What was she talking about?

“She’s noisier than a cicada in summer.”

“Haha.”

Jo Hyeon didn’t believe him.

“No way. If that was true, she wouldn’t be known as the Ice Queen of Dongcheon Hall.”

Yeo Mae-hong agreed.

“Instructor Jo is right. She’s so cold and aloof that some students are afraid of her.”

What Baek Ri-seol were they talking about?

He looked at them with a puzzled expression.

Instructor Yang chuckled.

“Haha, you’re close to your students.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Just be careful. Some instructors have been fired for having inappropriate relationships with their students.”

“Children aren’t my type.”

“Haha, that’s good to hear.”

The other instructors joined their conversation.

“Wow, Baek Ri-seol is different around you.”

“How did you do it? I’m having trouble connecting with my students…”

“My students were calling me ‘Baldy’ behind my back yesterday. I’m so jealous.”

Even the instructors he had recently befriended were envious.

But there was one person who wasn’t happy.

“Instructor Cho, can I have a word with you?”

It was Yeom-gwang.

***

Yeom-gwang pulled him aside and said, “You haven’t forgotten about the Namgung Clan’s invitation, have you?”

“Oh, right, I forgot.”

“Honestly…”

“I’m just a little concerned about a few things.”

“What do you mean?”

Yeom-gwang avoided his gaze, but Cho Un-hwi could see right through him.

He decided to play along.

“I’m not comfortable with the late-night invitation.”

“And it’s strange that Student Namgung is so opposed to the meeting.”

“I heard that the Southern Heaven Sword has been seen at the training ground lately. Do you really think it’s necessary for me to go?”

Yeom-gwang feigned ignorance.

“Are you crazy? It’s an invitation from Master Namgung. If you have any concerns, you can ask him directly.”

“It wasn’t a formal request, and I’m his instructor. I have to look out for my student.”

“Honestly…”

Yeom-gwang launched into a tirade.

He lectured him about the Namgung Clan’s power and the Southern Heaven Sword’s reputation.

He accused him of being unprofessional and disrespectful.

His message was clear.

*- Go to the Namgung Clan.*

He was so transparent.

‘He’s not even trying to hide it.’

Not only was his argument incoherent, but he couldn’t even meet his eyes.

Cho Un-hwi couldn’t stand to listen to him any longer.

“I’m warning you. If you ignore my advice, you’ll regret it.”

“Hey, Yeom-gwang.”

“Wh-what?”

Cho Un-hwi leaned in and whispered, “Listen here, you little…”

“You’ve been talking down to me this whole time. Are you out of your mind?”

“Keep talking, and you’ll regret it.”

Yeom-gwang’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

“I-Instructor Cho, you…”

But Cho Un-hwi’s voice was low, and he was smiling sweetly, so the other instructors just looked at them with puzzled expressions.

“What’s going on?”

“You… I mean, you! Honestly…”

Cho Un-hwi leaned in again and muttered, “I’d love to crush this little insect.”

Yeom-gwang started trembling, whether from anger or fear.

The other instructors stared at them curiously.

Just then…

“What’s going on here?”

A deep, authoritative voice boomed from down the hallway.

It was a calm but powerful voice, a voice that could vanquish evil with a single word.

“Master Dokgo!”

Dokgo Yul, the One-Eyed Sword God, appeared at the end of the hallway, his presence as imposing as a mountain.

The instructors and students gasped and bowed their heads as he approached.

His aura was overwhelming.

“M-Master Dokgo!”

Yeom-gwang, who had been on the verge of a breakdown, was overjoyed to see his savior.

“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. As Chief Instructor, you should maintain a proper demeanor. Set a good example for your subordinates.”

“Insubordination! I’ve been subjected to insubordination!”

“Insubordination?”

Dokgo Yul’s aura surged.

“Gasp… gasp…”

“Cough… cough…”

“M-Master Dokgo, your aura is…”

The instructors and students who were passing by were overwhelmed by his presence.

“Oh dear, my apologies. So, who was insubordinate?”

“It was that…”

Yeom-gwang’s trembling finger pointed at Cho Un-hwi, but Dokgo Yul interrupted him.

“Yes, what did he do? Do you have any evidence? We can report this to the academy’s disciplinary committee.”

Evidence? There was no evidence.

“I-I don’t have any evidence.”

“What are you talking about? Insubordination is a serious offense that undermines the academy’s hierarchy. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

“…”

“What? You don’t have any evidence? Well, we can find witnesses. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

There were no witnesses.

No one had seen Cho Un-hwi’s true colors except for him.

‘Damn it, I was too relieved to think things through.’

He broke out in a cold sweat.

Dokgo Yul’s voice was filled with disappointment.

“Tsk, I’m disappointed in you.”

“I-it’s not a lie!”

“I don’t want to hear it. You can’t even control a junior instructor, and now you’re accusing him of insubordination? Shame on you.”

Yeom-gwang cowered under Dokgo Yul’s piercing gaze.

Dokgo Yul looked at him with disdain.

“Instructor Cho, let’s have a chat.”

***

They arrived at a secluded clearing.

Dokgo Yul, the One-Eyed Sword God, the Hope of the Righteous Faction, knelt before Cho Un-hwi.

“My lord, I apologize for interrupting.”

“It’s alright. You did well. I was about to smash his head in.”

I would have regretted it.

Dokgo Yul’s intervention had been timely.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were busy exploring Euncheon Hall.”

Dokgo Yul had been spending all his time in Euncheon Hall, trying to infiltrate the key positions.

Cho Un-hwi was surprised to see him back so soon.

“My infiltration of Euncheon Hall is going smoothly. But I witnessed something disturbing, so I had to come back and report to you.”

Something disturbing?

What could it be?

“There are people who are plotting against you, my lord.”

“What? Against me?”

“A few Euncheon Hall instructors have been hired to assassinate you.”

“Ha, I knew it.”

So that was why Yeom-gwang had been so persistent.

“That bastard Yeom-gwang has recruited Euncheon Hall instructors.”

“I agree, my lord.”

“That creative son of a bitch.”

He had crossed the line.

‘Should I go kill him right now?’

Dokgo Yul, sensing his killing intent, said cautiously, “It would be easy to eliminate Yeom-gwang, but the people who hired him are quite influential within the Murim Alliance and the Shinmu Academy.”

“Old dogs and young dogs taste the same when you boil them.”

“They’re rotten dogs. They deserve to die for disturbing your peace, my lord. I would love to chop off their limbs and feed them to the dogs and fish, but…”

“Hey, you’re a righteous hero. Watch your language.”

“…I agree that they should die a gruesome death, but we can’t afford to attract attention.”

“Yes, that would be problematic.”

Euncheon Hall had been closed for almost a month after the instructor’s murder.

If another instructor died, it would cause a major uproar.

‘I hate trouble, but I can’t let this slide…’

Dokgo Yul offered a suggestion.

“How about this?”