Chapter 126: The Shinmu Murim Excursion (5)

It was a satisfying meal.

For the first time in a while, they filled their bellies with freshly cooked rice, along with rehydrated dried vegetables and provisions they had brought.

They had used so many ingredients for this rare feast that they wondered if they could finish it all, and quite a bit was left over.

But for now, they decided to enjoy the pleasant afterglow of a happy meal.

“Ugh. I can’t eat anymore.”

“Ah, I’m so full I can’t move.”

As they sat without lifting their bottoms from their seats, chatting lightly, Instructor Cho Un-hwi put down his spoon.

Seeing that the meal was over, Jegal Tan asked the question that had been on his mind.

“Instructor, can we really get a carriage using common sense in the Jianghu?”

“Yeah, don’t you trust me?”

“It’s not that.”

Baek Ri Seol, frowning, snapped her fingers.

“Maybe. Are you thinking of targeting wanted criminals?”

“Sister, wanted criminals?”

“Yes. Since we’re carrying pouches, a petty thief might come after us.”

“That’s a possibility.”

But Jegal Tan was skeptical.

“Not a bad idea, but…”

He pointed out the flaw.

“Will a wanted criminal conveniently appear?”

Even though they were outside Muhan City’s territory, this was still within the righteous faction’s domain.

Moreover, the bounty for petty criminals was so low that it was doubtful they could get a carriage.

“Now that I think about it, it’s a bit risky.”

“The instructor said he’d show us tonight.”

What is he planning to do?

They wanted to ask, but the instructor was acting strangely.

He was staring into space, muttering something.

He didn’t seem to have any intention of answering.

Namgung Yun-ho decided to think positively.

“Anyway, it’s a good opportunity.”

A good opportunity?

“It’s our first time encountering strangers in the Jianghu.”

That’s true.

During the holiday trip, they hadn’t met any people, only struggling with wild animals.

They had no memory of meeting any communicative animals.

“Well, that’s true.”

“When camping, if a stranger approaches, we’re supposed to keep our weapons close and be on guard, right?”

It was something the instructors had warned them about so often that it was ingrained in their minds.

“Indeed, it’s true that in the Jianghu, you should be cautious of everyone you meet.”

‘Is that what the instructor intended?’

It seemed like a logical explanation, but they couldn’t dwell on it further.

Rustle.

A sound came from beyond the darkness, followed by a voice.

“Is someone there?”

They each grabbed stones from their sleeves and rested their swords on their knees, staring into the darkness.

***

A moment later, a man with a friendly expression appeared.

He was dressed in a well-fitted blue martial arts uniform and held a well-worn long sword in one hand.

“I was worried about catching the night dew, but this is fortunate.”

He sighed in relief.

“I am Jeong Yang from the Poyang Sect.”

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

“Poyang Sect?”

Muttering, Jegal Tan returned the gesture.

“You belong to the same sect as the renowned Poyang Divine Hero, Master Jeong.”

“Haha. That’s embarrassing. My skills are far inferior to my master’s.”

After cautiously confirming who they were, Jeong Yang’s voice grew softer as he shook his cupped hands.

“You’re students from Shinmu Academy.”

“I’m envious. I failed to get in due to my lack of talent.”

Adding this with a hint of sadness, Jeong Yang requested to join them.

“The delicious smell drew me in. If it’s alright, could you spare some food?”

Jegal Tan looked at Cho Un-hwi.

“Instructor.”

Can we let him join?

He asked with his eyes, but Cho Un-hwi continued staring into space.

‘He’s observing.’

Jegal Tan thought and pointed to a spot.

“I apologize. The instructor is quite worried about the Murim Excursion.”

“I understand.”

“Please come and warm yourself by the fire.”

The man smiled brightly and thanked them.

“Thank you for your kindness.”

***

Jeong Yang was a talkative man.

He sat a bit away and chatted about various topics.

“Poyang County is a good place. My master is very concerned about public safety.”

“There’s not much to see, but if there’s something to boast about, it’s the canal that runs through the county.”

“Have you heard of the water village, even if you don’t know the county’s name?”

After talking about his hometown for a while, he moved on to the Murim Alliance.

“I’m on my way to Muhan City. I wanted to work in a big place.”

“I thought I’d do some odd jobs at the Murim Alliance.”

“I heard they were urgently recruiting instructors for Dongcheon Hall.”

His eyes, filled with admiration for the instructor’s uniform, seemed to be urging a conversation with the instructor.

“…”

But the instructor remained silent.

Feeling embarrassed by the lack of response, Jeong Yang scratched his head.

“I apologize.”

As the man awkwardly tried to retreat, Cho Un-hwi finally spoke.

“Well.”

For the first time, Cho Un-hwi responded.

“You might become a friend sharing the same pot of rice.”

Jeong Yang’s face brightened at his words.

“Haha. That would be great, but…”

“It’s quite difficult. They look at your resume and the sect you come from.”

Though he spoke as if it were someone else’s story, Jeong Yang didn’t seem to notice and revealed his complicated feelings.

“I see. Unfortunately, my sect is righteous but not well-known.”

He smacked his lips, and Cho Un-hwi, rare for him, offered some encouraging words.

“Don’t worry. I come from an unknown martial family.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yet here I am, a famous instructor at Shinmu Academy.”

“That’s amazing!”

“You just need to embrace the students with love and passion.”

The four students listening felt their mouths itch.

‘Who is he talking about?’

‘Which famous instructor?’

‘Love? Passion?’

‘…’

There were many things they wanted to say, but strangely, they couldn’t find an opportunity to interject.

After offering some words of encouragement, Cho Un-hwi snapped his fingers.

“As a senior, let me give you a winning strategy.”

“I’m all ears. Please tell me.”

“Well. It’s such valuable information that I can’t just give it away…”

After hesitating several times, Jeong Yang, who was getting impatient, fidgeted.

“Please tell me. I’ll pay if necessary.”

As he fumbled with his pouch, Cho Un-hwi spoke.

“I don’t need money.”

“I’ll do anything. Just tell me.”

“Is that so?”

Cho Un-hwi smiled.

“Give a gold bar to a beggar.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Or ace the interview and submit a resume filled with impressive words.”

Confused by the cryptic advice, Jeong Yang tilted his head.

At that moment.

*Thud!*

“Ugh!”

Jeong Yang, who had been leaning forward, jumped up.

“What are you doing?”

“By the way, did you know there’s a written test on ‘Common Sense in the Jianghu’?”

“Remember it well.”

“Failing could ruin both the test and your life.”

*Thud!*

The future Dongcheon Hall instructor was knocked down.

“The price of advice is a life behind bars.”

***

Everyone was speechless at the sudden turn of events.

Cho Un-hwi walked over to the collapsed Jeong Yang and grabbed his hair.

“Hmm. Hmm. Let’s see.”

He pulled out the wanted posters he had seen earlier and spread them out.

“Let’s go with this one.”

He selected three posters with similar facial features to Jeong Yang.

“Lesson one. Cheap wanted criminals are usually small fry, so the sketches are rough.”

So?

As he spoke, the instructor drew back his fist.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Jeong Yang’s face quickly swelled.

“It’s still not enough.”

Comparing Jeong Yang’s swollen face to the sketches, Cho Un-hwi drew back his fist again.

*Thud! Thud!*

“Now it’s similar.”

Letting go of his hair, Jeong Yang, with a swollen face, passed out.

Seeing this, Mo Yong So-hye finally regained her senses and jumped up.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh? You don’t know? I told you.”

Seekers are not good.

“Good people never come close.”

Those who come are not good.

“Those who approach are bad.”

I taught him a lesson.

Baek Ri Seol’s mouth opened and closed.

“So, we’re the bad ones?”

“That’s how the world is. Is there anyone good in the Jianghu?”

You become both good and bad as you live.

Jegal Tan’s mouth opened and closed.

“You said you’d give a lesson…”

“We learn and teach each other.”

Mutual aid, you know?

He continued with more absurd reasoning.

The instructor, who had turned a potential colleague into a wanted criminal, smiled brightly as he gathered the limp Jeong Yang.

“Hey. Let’s go get a carriage.”

“Isn’t this a perfect three-in-one deal?”

“…”

No one could respond.

***

The instructor took Jeong Yang down the mountain and handed him over to the guards.

Seeing his swollen face, the guard captain clicked his tongue.

“With his face swollen like this, it’s hard to recognize him.”

“Doesn’t he look exactly the same?”

“We need to verify further…”

“I had to use excessive force in an emergency, but he’s the real deal.”

“I need to verify…”

The guard captain tried to back away, but Cho Un-hwi skillfully followed.

After whispering something, the guard captain’s face lit up.

“You know your stuff.”

He disappeared into the guard post and returned with three pouches.

“This is the reward for the wanted criminal.”

“I see.”

He poured out the contents, counted the silver and iron coins, and handed over half.

It was a crime scene.

The guard captain, now holding the pouches, cleared his throat.

“You’re quite adept for a newcomer to the Jianghu.”

“As an instructor of Shinmu Academy, I’m just upholding justice.”

“Haha. Admirable.”

The four students watched in silence as Jeong Yang was quickly taken away.

“I’m innocent!”

Jeong Yang, regaining consciousness, shouted as he was dragged away.

*Thud! Thud!*

But he was met with relentless violence.

*Thud! Thud!*

“Ugh!”

Struck with a spear and trampled, the aspiring instructor collapsed again.

The guard captain waved them off.

“Don’t worry. This man will face justice.”

Everyone was speechless.

***

“A future instructor.”

“Turned into a wanted criminal.”

“He might have been a colleague.”

And he wasn’t even guilty.

It was a complete false accusation. Not just one, but three.

As they looked at the instructor with eyes filled with disbelief, he scolded them.

“You could tell he was trouble just by looking at him.”

How is that possible?

“You kids don’t understand.”

Came the reply.

With dead eyes, Mo Yong So-hye asked.

“What if he was innocent?”

“That’s for the judge to decide.”

He spoke confidently. Too confidently.

He was so sure that they almost believed him.

At that moment.

“…”

Namgung Yun-ho, who had been silent, spoke.

“Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“You once said that common sense in the Jianghu is flawed.”

Now that you mention it.

They recalled a distant memory.

– When camping alone, if a stranger approaches?

The instructor had answered.

– The correct answer is to kill them if they’re annoying, and spare them if you like them.

The instructor’s lips curled.

“…Well, who knows?”

He didn’t give an answer.

He just jingled the pouches cheerfully.

“Cheer up. We earned our travel expenses.”

And he smiled.