Chapter 107: Lost Property (5)

*Crash!*

Another table was shattered.

But Jang Cheol-sim still couldn’t contain his anger.

“What… what did you say?”

“Seven students from Euncheon Hall were injured. Two of them are seriously injured.”

“Who… who did this?”

“Temporary Instructor Cho Un-hwi.”

That man again.

“Grr.”

An involuntary cry of frustration escaped his lips. Jang Cheol-sim bit his lips hard and swallowed his anger.

‘I should have expelled him, not just confined him.’

Why did I keep such a troublemaker here?

I was swayed by his seemingly chivalrous behavior.

Even a random stone on the roadside can sometimes look pretty.

It was a fleeting mistake.

“…What about Chung-hyeon?”

“He is currently reviewing the new appointments for Euncheon Hall for next year.”

“Cancel it. No, tell him to prepare for disciplinary action.”

“What? Ah, understood.”

It was a mistake, but Chung-hyeon, the head of Dongcheon Hall, also contributed to this mess.

*- He’s unpredictable, but sometimes useful.*

A person who makes me take stomach medicine every day is sometimes useful?

‘He deserves disciplinary action.’

Jang Cheol-sim, his eyes wide open, returned to the main issue.

“Where is Cho Un-hwi now?”

“He is currently detained in the Academy’s punishment room.”

Even though he’s an instructor, he was involved in a brawl with students in broad daylight.

He severely damaged the dignity of an instructor, and there were multiple victims, so it was only natural to detain him.

“Grr. The Academy, huh. Let’s go. I need to assess the situation.”

“I’ll escort you, Senior Instructor.”

*Thud.*

Jang Cheol-sim rose, his robe billowing.

***

“It’s been a while.”

Cho Un-hwi, sitting on a long bench inside the cell, turned his head.

There, covered in dust and dried blood, was Mok Yeon-seong, smiling.

“Did you see? I took down one of them properly.”

“I saw. You did well.”

“Especially the part where you struck his head with the stone knife.”

“Whether it’s a person or a fish, you have to break the head first.”

As he praised him, Mok Yeon-seong beamed.

“Haha. I took down that bastard.”

His face, swollen and bruised, grimaced in pain.

“Ugh. This really hurts.”

“But I was right, wasn’t I? They couldn’t kill you.”

“It was true.”

“Do it a few more times, and they’ll think of you every time they turn a corner.”

“That would be satisfying.”

“Give and take, that’s how the world works.”

“I never thought… this day would come…”

“They say if you laugh and then cry, you’ll grow hair on your butt.”

“Who says that?”

“My mom.”

“You said you didn’t have a mom.”

“Wow, you were listening to everything.”

They laughed for a while. Finally, Mok Yeon-seong, feeling relieved, looked worried.

“What will you do now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Over there.”

He turned his gaze to the people glaring at them from beyond the bars.

They all looked like they came from good families, judging by their polished appearances.

*Crunch.*

Some even used their aura to exert pressure.

The ability to oppress someone from afar with just their aura was something only those at the peak level could do.

“Why do successful people live like that?”

“…That old man with the white beard is the Grand Elder of the Fire Sword Sect.”

“Is he important?”

“He’s quite famous among the notable figures of the Murim Alliance.”

“This is bad. I should pray for him to die of natural causes before he can retaliate.”

*Clang.*

The old man, glaring at them, grabbed the bars.

*Crunch.*

The iron bars, forged from tempered steel, bent under his grip.

A scholar from the Academy, panicking, ran over.

“S-Senior Yang! This is the Academy! Please restrain yourself!”

“Hmph. I overdid it. I’ll compensate.”

The old man, glaring at the scholar, stepped back.

Then, in a sharp voice, he said,

“Temporary Instructor Cho Un-hwi, was it? I won’t forget this.”

*Grit.*

At his words, the people around him also began to speak harshly.

“That’s the bastard who injured our youngest.”

“Our child’s legs are broken. He lost five teeth.”

“He treated our precious disciple like a thug.”

“We won’t let this go.”

Mok Yeon-seong’s voice grew smaller under their fierce glares.

“…Will it be alright?”

“It’ll be fine. I might have overdone it, but it was self-defense.”

“But still…”

“Don’t worry. If you’re scared, you’ve already lost.”

Seeing Cho Un-hwi lounging back without a care, Mok Yeon-seong sighed.

“How can you be so calm?”

“That’s just how I am.”

“They’re powerful people. They can fabricate charges.”

“Then I’ll break out of this cell and find the ones who schemed and crush their heads.”

He continued with absurd threats about beating everyone up and setting the Academy on fire if things didn’t go his way.

Mok Yeon-seong, horrified, stopped him.

“Where do you come up with such ridiculous ideas?”

Cho Un-hwi replied shortly.

“My skills.”

***

In another room of the Academy.

Eon Ho-seung and his group, who had volunteered as witnesses, received an unexpected proposal.

“So…”

Eon Ho-seung repeated the proposal.

“You want us to fabricate our statements?”

Gwak Jong-geun, sitting across from him, responded.

“That’s not it. Just consider the circumstances.”

With a small smile, Gwak Jong-geun leaned forward.

“After all, you didn’t see much, did you? You were just looking for your friend and saw the situation from a distance.”

“We saw and heard everything.”

*Tap. Tap.*

Tapping the stack of documents on the desk, Gwak Jong-geun continued.

“Many people have already agreed. They all said they didn’t know the details of the fight because they saw it from afar. Isn’t it strange that only you saw and heard everything?”

“…”

As they remained silent, he continued.

“Moreover, Mok Yeon-seong testified that the fight started because of organized bullying. But no one witnessed any bullying.”

Gwak Jong-geun concluded.

“So, internally, we’ve decided that it was ‘Mok Yeon-seong’s violent outburst due to his delusions from poor skills.’”

They had already concluded the internal discussion?

“The Nanju Mok Clan may have converted, but they’re still a demonic sect. They belong in the Iron Thread Alliance, not the Murim Alliance. What about the victims?”

The Peng Clan’s branch family and the Huashan Sect’s affiliated sect. Even without them, they were all from prominent families in the Murim Alliance.

“Think carefully. This is for your own good.”

You can’t afford to fail the upcoming exam.

Eon Ho-seung fell silent at his words.

“Guaranteed pass for the supplementary exam and convenience during the Jianghu excursion.”

“The eldest son of the Jinju Eon Clan can’t remain in an intermediate position forever.”

Gwak Jong-geun glanced at the others.

The twins, Tang Gan, and Im So-jeong’s expressions twisted.

Then Eon Ho-seung responded.

“We’ll accept the proposal.”

“!”

Everyone was shocked, except for Gwak Jong-geun, who smiled broadly.

“Haha. Really?”

“I was actually dissatisfied. He kicked us out when we were about to take the exam.”

“Oh? Did that happen?”

“He was an annoying person. Didn’t know his place.”

Eon Ho-seung’s eyes gleamed.

“Moreover, a guaranteed pass for the supplementary exam and support for climbing the ranks? It’s a generous offer for getting rid of a troublemaker.”

Gwak Jong-geun smiled, pleased with the response.

“Wise decision. The future of the Jinju Eon Clan is bright.”

“But I want to confirm something…”

Eon Ho-seung’s eyes sparkled.

“Is the guaranteed pass for the supplementary exam possible? I heard the results are strictly controlled.”

“Don’t you trust me?”

“I’ve been betrayed too many times.”

Eon Ho-seung’s arrogant tone made Gwak Jong-geun’s eyebrow twitch.

But only for a moment.

‘He was always like this.’

Remembering Eon Ho-seung’s impulsive and short-sighted nature, Gwak Jong-geun relaxed.

“Don’t worry. There’s a way.”

***

Even Cho Un-hwi, who had been lounging around, tensed up when he saw the new arrival beyond the bars.

“I can’t believe!”

It was Mo Yong Seon-ya.

She rushed over, having heard the news, and frowned at Cho Un-hwi, who was lounging around.

“I thought I heard a familiar name.”

“Meeting you at Euncheon Hall is new.”

“Technically, this is the Academy. This is the visiting room.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya, gritting her teeth, asked,

“What were you thinking, causing such a big incident?”

“You’ve heard the story.”

“I heard there was bullying among the students, but I didn’t expect this.”

“Better late than never.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya sighed at his nonchalant reply.

“It’s not that simple.”

Furrowing her brow, she said,

“Each student involved is significant. Do you know the people who were here earlier?”

“The ones who almost broke the bars?”

“They’ve gone to the Academy head’s office, saying they can’t overlook this.”

“If they have time to waste, they should focus on educating their kids.”

“The situation isn’t good.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya’s explanation was grim.

“Some instructors have started investigating the bullying. It’s not just an investigation. They’re saying those who stood by are accomplices.”

It was already a hush-hush matter, and now they’re going after the bystanders?

“No one will testify.”

“They’ll be punished as accomplices if they do.”

Most will choose to remain silent.

But that wasn’t the only problem.

“Everyone’s keeping quiet, so it’s becoming evidence that there was no bullying.”

In conclusion, the situation wasn’t in their favor.

But Cho Un-hwi remained calm.

“The Academy is amazing. They’re teaching the dirty side of the Jianghu early.”

“Is this a joke to you?”

“You should be preparing a defense!”

After scolding him, Mo Yong Seon-ya left, determined to do something.

“Instructor.”

“Don’t worry, kid. Don’t you trust me?”

Seeing the boasting instructor, Mok Yeon-seong felt downcast.

But, contrary to Mo Yong Seon-ya’s warning, something happened that evening.

“Temporary Instructor Cho Un-hwi from Dongcheon Hall. Student Mok Yeon-seong from Euncheon Hall.”

A scholar from the Academy, accompanied by a strong martial artist, spoke.

“Come out and attend the disciplinary hearing.”