Chapter 122: The Shinmu Murim Excursion (1)

Baek Ri Seon-ho of the Muhan Branch received a visitor.

Recently, Baek Ri Jeong-sun had recovered his energy and was managing the household, leaving Baek Ri Seon-ho with some leisure time. He was surprised by the unexpected visitor.

“Mo Yong-ju! What brings you here?”

Mo Yong-ju and Baek Ri Seon-ho were well-acquainted.

Not only did they share significant responsibilities in the Murim Alliance, but they had also been close since childhood.

However, it was unusual for Mo Yong-ju to visit without any notice.

‘I heard he was quite busy.’

Like himself, Mo Yong-ju was managing the branch of the Mo Yong Clan in Muhan City.

“I have something to discuss.”

“Discuss? About what?”

“About the Shinmu Murim Excursion.”

The Shinmu Murim Excursion.

That’s what outsiders called the “Murim Excursion” organized by Shinmu Academy.

“What about the Shinmu Murim Excursion?”

“Are you planning to just sit idly by?”

Sit idly by?

“Shouldn’t we provide some support?”

“Support…”

Indeed, families sometimes provided various conveniences for the Murim Excursion.

The more prestigious the sect, the more connections and related sects they had across various regions, and they would subtly leave messages for them.

– If a child from our family visits your sect during the Murim Excursion, please take good care of them.

Then, the sects would discreetly provide support to ensure the Murim Excursion went smoothly.

Officially, external support was prohibited, but there was no way to prevent this type of support.

It was often tacitly allowed.

The most important thing was the “safe” completion of the Murim Excursion.

However, upon hearing this, Baek Ri Seon-ho frowned.

“I know about the support. But is it really necessary?”

Although it happened frequently.

“Isn’t it officially against the rules?”

Baek Ri Seon-ho, who tended to follow rules and regulations, was not keen on the idea.

“I’m sure Instructor Cho will handle it well.”

At his relaxed response, Mo Yong-ju pounded his chest with his fist.

“Have you not heard about what happened to So-hye?”

“So-hye? What about her?”

“The incident where Instructor Cho worked my granddaughter to the bone for four days and nights.”

“That happened?”

He then recounted the dreadful story of So-hye being soaked in morning dew and laboring hard.

“Even during the holidays!”

“Hmm.”

“I was so worried when the children suddenly disappeared!”

“I was extremely worried.”

They had scoured Muhan City all day with people looking for her.

– The gatekeeper said Mo Yong So-hye had gone on an outing with Instructor Cho.

If the gatekeeper hadn’t mentioned her whereabouts, they would have spent days searching for her.

The worst was the culprit’s reaction.

“We went on an outing because the weather was nice.”

He showed no remorse.

It was a half-hearted response from someone who had been missing for a month.

“We’re alive. It’s civilization.”

“Oh, home sweet home.”

The children’s reactions behind him only fueled his anger.

Mo Yong-ju’s passionate outburst continued.

“The problem started when they returned!”

“So-hye developed a strange habit!”

“She started making arrowheads from pebbles by the pond!”

“To my precious granddaughter!”

Baek Ri Seon-ho’s expression grew serious.

“Indeed, Instructor Cho is unpredictable.”

He’s someone who would readily neglect the students’ convenience for his own.

Baek Ri Seon-ho, who prided himself on his judgment of people, trusted his assessment.

‘In that case.’

Realizing this, it felt like a stone had settled in his heart.

‘I must do something for Seol.’

Baek Ri Seol had grown up in unfortunate circumstances. Knowing her situation, he wanted to take extra care of her.

“What should we do?”

“We must do something.”

“Contact the branches near Muhan City and Anhui Province.”

“That’s not enough. It would be troublesome if Instructor Cho went off into the wild on his own.”

They deliberated for a long time.

But no matter how much they thought, they couldn’t come up with a good solution.

“Hmm… it’s still lacking.”

“There are limits to unofficial support.”

Moreover, they had little experience with such covert activities.

Ultimately, they thought of another helper.

“How about seeking help from the Namgung Clan? I think there’s a Namgung child too.”

“That’s impossible. Have you forgotten about the Namgung Clan’s eldest son?”

“Oh.”

In their haste, they had forgotten.

The decision to abandon the eldest son in favor of the younger one due to talent was a fact they had kept quiet for a while.

‘Though seeing the talent, it’s understandable why they made that choice.’

In any case, cooperation with the Namgung Clan was not an option.

“In that case, yes. The Jegal Clan.”

“There’s a Jegal child too.”

Their faces brightened.

“The Jegal Clan is better at such covert operations than we are, aren’t they?”

“Indeed. Why didn’t we think of this sooner?”

The two hurriedly prepared to visit.

And, not long after.

They arrived at the Jegal Clan’s estate and saw the person waiting for them through the slowly opening gate.

“I’ve been expecting you.”

A middle-aged man in a scholar’s hat and robe.

“Is this about the Shinmu Murim Excursion?”

It was Jegal Yang-so, who managed the Jegal Clan’s branch in Muhan City.

***

In the Dongcheon Hall instructors’ room.

Chung-hyeon was giving a lengthy speech.

“…So, safety first, safety second.”

Got it?

The temporary instructors on the dispatch team stood up straight and responded, “Yes, sir!”

“Good. Remember, it’s not just about achieving success.”

“Returning safely is more important.”

“When I say ‘Absolutely!’ you respond with ‘Safety!’”

Absolutely! Safety!

As he added, Instructor Jo Hyeon whispered to Instructor Yang Dae-cheol.

“He’s even worrying about us. What’s going on?”

“If we come back injured, the already short workforce will be even shorter.”

“True.”

“He requested additional staff from the Academy yesterday but was turned down.”

“Oh dear.”

Various murmurs could be heard.

“Absolutely! Absolutely! Don’t come back injured.”

After saying that, Chung-hyeon handed out departure passes to each temporary instructor.

When he reached Cho Un-hwi, he stopped.

“Instructor Cho, why are you dozing off?”

“I’m not dozing off.”

“Wipe the drool from your mouth first.”

*Ssssss.*

As Cho Un-hwi wiped his mouth, the temporary instructors looked at the floor or the ceiling, muttering, “Here we go again.”

With a stern voice, Chung-hyeon asked.

“Did you listen properly?”

“I was really listening.”

“What did I say?”

“Good morning?”

“You weren’t listening at all!”

Chung-hyeon grabbed Cho Un-hwi by the collar and shook him.

“Why won’t you let my hair rest in peace?”

“Do you want to see me collapse?”

“Do we have to do this right before the Murim Excursion?”

Ahhhhh!

As Yang Dae-cheol pulled Chung-hyeon away, he shouted.

“Take Instructor Cho with you!”

Ahhhhh!

“Hall Head! Hall Head! Calm down!”

Another day at Dongcheon Hall began.

***

“Darn. More demerits.”

This was truly unfortunate.

Though he had indeed dozed off, Cho Un-hwi had his reasons.

“I’ve been making these schedules for five days straight.”

In his hand was the “Murim Excursion Schedule.”

Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim, not trusting him, had specifically demanded it.

“If I had a helper, I would’ve made them do it.”

With everyone busy preparing for the Murim Excursion, he had to handle the tedious paperwork himself.

The result?

“Rejected every time.”

But today was different.

He had put a lot of thought into detailing the schedule.

“I’ll pass today for sure.”

Determined, he stomped the ground.

***

“Rejected.”

*Flutter.*

In the senior instructor’s office, his schedule floated in the air.

‘My carefully crafted schedule.’

Picking up the schedule dejectedly, he heard Jang Cheol-sim’s voice.

“Redo it.”

Frustrated, after five days of hard work going to waste, Cho Un-hwi couldn’t hold back anymore.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Don’t you know?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t be here.”

“That’s the problem.”

A suppressed groan escaped him.

But this time, Cho Un-hwi couldn’t back down.

It had been five days.

With the Murim Excursion approaching, Jang Cheol-sim’s constant demands for revisions had kept him from getting proper sleep.

“Didn’t you say the Murim Excursion was at the discretion of the temporary instructor?”

“To a certain extent.”

“This is overstepping!”

Seeing his defiant expression, Jang Cheol-sim snapped his fingers.

“Recite your plan.”

It wasn’t difficult.

“First day.”

First day. Leave Muhan City.

Note: Before leaving, get snacks from Manraeok. The walnuts are delicious.

“Isn’t it strange from the start?”

Not at all.

“Read it again.”

He continued to the next part.

Second day. Walk the main road.

Third day. Walk the main road.

“That’s the most decent part.”

Encouraged by the faint praise, he continued reading.

Tenth day. Probably arrive at Hwanggang.

Visit a tea shop and buy rice cakes. Famous grilled rice cakes.

Buy gifts on the way back.

Rice cakes aren’t good when they get soggy.

Fifteenth day. Arrive at Yeongsan?

Visit Yeongsan Ironworks.

Famous for silver products, so buy a silver hairpin.

XX day. Arrive at Suzhou.

Ride a flower boat.

The night view while drinking on the boat is said to be great.

Hope it doesn’t rain.

As he read on, Cho Un-hwi tilted his head.

“There’s nothing wrong.”

“Nothing wrong?”

Jang Cheol-sim’s eyes twitched.

His face turned red, looking ready to explode.

“What do you think the Murim Excursion is?”

“A long-distance trip?”

“It’s the first real experience! Real experience!”

*Bang!*

Slamming the desk, Jang Cheol-sim’s neck veins bulged.

“Do you think all these people are preparing so you can have a leisurely trip?”

“It’s to show the young students the raw world and give them experience!”

“A precious opportunity to gain insight, and you plan to waste it on food and sightseeing?”

Darn it!

Slamming the desk repeatedly, Jang Cheol-sim was intimidating, but Cho Un-hwi had his reasons.

“Kids grow by playing.”

A life of constant training is pitiful.

“And it’s not just playing.”

It’s people-watching.

Seeing different ways of life is a valuable experience.

“Spending all their time on martial arts from centuries ago only makes them narrow-minded.”

Kids who can’t even count coins.

What they need isn’t martial arts secrets but ordinary life.

Perhaps the key to enlightenment lies in ordinary life.

Jang Cheol-sim clicked his tongue.

“You have a knack for making excuses.”

Just a slacker.

But Cho Un-hwi was confident.

“I’m a bit of a free-range type.”

“Free-range is still free-range. It can’t surpass a detailed plan and thorough curriculum.”

With a voice as cold as ice, Jang Cheol-sim said.

“Redo it.”