Chapter 123: The Shinmu Murim Excursion (2)

“…That’s what happened.”

At his despondent words, Yeo Mae-hong patted his shoulder.

“Such a worrisome situation.”

They were at Palmiro’s famous grill house.

It was their last modest gathering before the Murim Excursion.

“What are you going to do? Isn’t tomorrow the departure day?”

“Yes.”

As Yeo Mae-hong said, the specialist instructors for the Murim Excursion had to leave a few days earlier to secure bases at the sects that requested their missions.

“If the schedule isn’t completed, they won’t let you go. Isn’t the senior instructor being too harsh, sister?”

“Well, he’s strict but not unreasonable.”

As Mo Yong Seon-ya chewed on some grilled entrails, she lifted her chin prettily.

“Alright. If it’s for Myojinmun, I can’t stay idle.”

“Instructor Cho, did you bring the schedule?”

Here it is.

As he handed it over, the two women unfolded the crumpled paper and their faces hardened.

“Ah, this is a bit…”

“Senior Instructor Jang’s criticism is valid.”

What’s the problem?

He asked, and Mo Yong Seon-ya pressed her forehead with her fingers, frowning.

“If it weren’t you, Instructor Cho, I would’ve punched you.”

“Did you write this to deliberately mock us?”

Of course not.

Shaking his head dejectedly, Mo Yong Seon-ya stabbed a part of the paper with an empty skewer.

“First, the choice of words is a problem.”

“Right. This reads more like a child’s diary than a schedule.”

“A little refinement would make it much better.”

In short.

Dipping the skewer in soy sauce, she wrote a short phrase on the paper.

“First day: Leave Muhan City. Next, here.”

She erased the part about snacks from Manraeok and wrote new words.

– Secure emergency rations

“How’s that? Better, right?”

“Let me try this part.”

Yeo Mae-hong also dipped her skewer in soy sauce and carefully wrote on the paper.

Thus,

– Buy rice cakes from a tea shop.

became

– Secure additional rations for losses.

a necessary element.

– Sightseeing at Yeongsan Ironworks.

became

– Visit ironworks for weapon inspection.

Even ‘riding a flower boat’ turned into ‘water survival training for water combat,’ which was astonishing.

“This is fraud.”

“Isn’t it more fraudulent that you haven’t been expelled yet?”

Nodding vigorously at Mo Yong Seon-ya’s point, Yeo Mae-hong added.

“It’s common to put a positive spin on things.”

“Is that so?”

“Didn’t you write a resume when applying to Shinmu Academy?”

No, I didn’t.

‘I bribed the beggars to get in through the back door.’

Thinking about having to do such tedious tasks made him feel that his decision at the time wasn’t so bad.

‘I just don’t feel motivated when it comes to writing.’

The two women worked on the schedule as if it were their own, adding various suggestions.

The result was a ragged schedule soaked in oil and soy sauce.

But the content was exceptionally thorough.

“Phew. If we get turned away at Myojinmun after all this…”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know us.”

Nodding at their grumbling, Cho Un-hwi promised.

“Of course. I’ll never forget this favor.”

He carefully folded the ragged paper, treating it like a precious treasure.

***

The next day.

When he submitted the rewritten schedule on clean paper, Jang Cheol-sim remained silent.

Instead of rejecting it outright, he took his time reading it.

Finally, Jang Cheol-sim smiled.

“It seems you weren’t entirely wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your opinion that interacting with the world and people is as important as martial arts.”

Resting his chin on his hand, Jang Cheol-sim gave him a piercing look.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t find any use for someone like you, but making you appear human is the power of your peers, isn’t it?”

“Well, I don’t know what you mean.”

He tried to play dumb.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? The choice of words was off.”

Realizing it was pointless, he gave up.

“You just put a positive spin on it, but the plan to slack off hasn’t changed.”

It was revealed so easily?

“You may have tried to be clever, but how much do you think I’ve seen these documents? I can tell at a glance.”

He was not only meticulous but also diligent. The worst kind of person.

“…So, do I have to rewrite it?”

He asked cautiously, and Jang Cheol-sim leaned back and shook his head.

“I told you, I only care about whether the schedule looks proper.”

It’s approved.

“It would be good to maintain this level of thoroughness in the future.”

He didn’t hear the last part.

“Yahoo!”

Finally, the tedious paperwork was over.

***

“Am I late?”

Returning to the temporary residence, most of the rooms were empty.

“Where did everyone go?”

As he grumbled and packed his things, Wang Woo appeared, laughing.

“Did you forget? There’s an event to send off the advance team.”

“Is that so?”

“There’s still time, but you shouldn’t be leisurely.”

Thank goodness.

He needed time to pack. As he hurriedly stuffed his clothes, Wang Woo whispered.

More importantly.

“Someone is here to see you, Instructor Cho.”

The unusual use of “Instructor Cho” made Cho Un-hwi lower his voice.

“Someone is here to see me?”

“They have something urgent to discuss.”

Seeing the sharp look in Wang Woo’s eyes, Cho Un-hwi tilted his head.

‘Wait. These people are…’

Sure enough.

“It’s been a while, Instructor Cho.”

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

Not long ago, when he visited the Jegal Clan, he had given him a bribe in an impressive manner.

“I’m Jegal Yang-so.”

Jegal something.

***

“What brings you here?”

“You seem busy.”

“As you can see, I’m packing.”

Hmm.

Jegal Yang-so’s restrained response returned. But with a practiced expression, he spoke gently.

“It seems urgent, so I’ll be direct.”

Go ahead.

“Take these with you.”

He handed over three silk pouches of different colors.

With red, blue, and white pouches in his hand, Jegal Yang-so spoke.

“What are these?”

They looked quite fancy.

“Haha. Do you know about the ‘Silk Pouch Strategies’ of Jegal Mu-hu?”

“Silk Pouch Strategies?”

Though he hadn’t studied much, he had heard of it.

It was quite famous.

Jegal Mu-hu referred to the military strategist of the late Han Dynasty, Zhuge Liang, also known as Zhuge Kongming, the founder of the Jegal Clan.

He was known for leaving three silk pouches with the warrior Zhao Yun, instructing him to open them in times of difficulty.

Waving his fan, Jegal Yang-so said.

“As a tradition, we give silk pouches to those embarking on a difficult journey, following the example of our ancestor.”

“I see.”

Indeed, these fancy silk pouches looked impressive, even if he didn’t know what was inside.

They might fetch a good price if sold later.

“Open them.”

Following Jegal Yang-so’s instructions, he opened the pouches, and three different-colored tokens rolled out.

“‘Jegal,’ ‘Baek Ri,’ ‘Mo Yong.’ Are these…?”

“Correct. They are tokens proving connections to the Jegal Clan, the Baek Ri Clan, and the Mo Yong Clan.”

Though he understood what they were, he didn’t understand why they were given to him.

‘I heard that family tokens aren’t given to outsiders easily.’

Usually, they were given to significant benefactors or special individuals connected by blood.

It made sense.

Who knew how someone might misuse a family token, so they weren’t given out lightly.

If misused, it could bring disgrace to the family that issued the token.

Jegal Yang-so said.

“Don’t overthink it. It means we trust you to take care of them.”

“Mo Yong Clan and Baek Ri Clan too.”

“To you, they may just be young students, but they are precious children to their families. It’s only natural to want them to have a comfortable and safe Murim Excursion.”

“I see.”

Though he understood, he didn’t know how to use them.

Sensing his confusion, Jegal Yang-so covered his mouth with his fan and whispered.

“For travel expenses.”

“!”

“Comfortable lodging.”

“!!”

“And unlimited food and drink.”

“!!!”

Jegal Yang-so waved his fan and said.

“Unofficially, of course.”

“Unofficial…”

“If you show these tokens to related families, they will treat you well.”

Indeed, the Jegal Clan.

They knew exactly what he wanted.

‘They gave us a pittance for expenses, saying hardship is experience.’

Is this why they are called prestigious students?

Amidst his wavering gaze, Jegal Yang-so, radiating warmth, said.

“These children were raised with care. Please don’t be too harsh on them.”

Nod. Nod.

Cho Un-hwi nodded rapidly.

***

Time passed.

Near noon at the gates of Euncheon Hall.

As the sun reached the top of the walls, a grand drumbeat echoed.

As the scorching sun heated their heads, Yeo Mae-hong murmured worriedly among the lined-up instructors.

“Instructor Cho is late.”

He’s always late.

“I didn’t think he’d be late even on a day like this.”

“He’s really bold.”

Yang Dae-cheol and Instructor Jo Hyeon agreed.

Today was the significant day when the advance team would depart, marking the official start of the Murim Excursion.

To celebrate this, many notable figures had gathered.

‘Even the head of Euncheon Hall is here.’

The head of Euncheon Hall, rarely seen, was present.

There were also guests from the Murim Alliance to give congratulatory speeches.

With superiors and rarely seen dignitaries present, being late was audacious.

‘If he were in the next room, I would’ve dragged him here myself.’

As she fretted.

“Sorry I’m here!”

With a carefree voice, Cho Un-hwi appeared, carrying a small bundle.

He quickly joined the line of instructors.

“Am I late?”

Did he even know he was wrong?

“It was unavoidable.”

Seeing his clothes spilling out like a burst dumpling, it was clear he wasn’t remorseful.

Sighing, Yeo Mae-hong glared at him.

“How can you be late on a day like this?”

“You’re mistaken. I was late and realized it was an important day.”

Yang Dae-cheol groaned softly.

“Don’t talk. Be quiet. Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim’s gaze is terrifying.”

“Oops.”

Seeing him desperately hide behind Yang Dae-cheol, Yeo Mae-hong chuckled.

‘He really doesn’t feel any tension.’

She noticed his disheveled appearance.

He must have hurriedly thrown on his uniform.

Yeo Mae-hong pulled him aside.

“Come here for a moment.”

She carefully straightened his clothes, glancing to the side.

Beyond the line of instructors, a colorful girl was biting her sleeve.

If not for the girl clinging to her waist, she would have rushed over.

‘Haha.’

Feeling oddly satisfied, she took her time fixing his clothes.

“Oh my, how embarrassing.”

“Ah.”

Blushing, Yeo Mae-hong quickly fixed his clothes and stepped back.

Yang Dae-cheol’s voice, even more depressed, came from beside her.

“Please. The senior instructors are watching.”

The surrounding instructors also looked displeased.

Late and now drawing attention, they were glaring at him.

“Sorry.”

Answering in a small voice.

*Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum!*

The grand drumbeat echoed again as the head of Euncheon Hall stood on the platform.

“Let the departure ceremony for the advance team begin!”

Thus, the Murim Excursion had officially started.