Chapter 135: Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts (1)

For several days, we spent time with the masters of Myojinmun.

This was arranged by Myo Gwang to help us get acquainted, as we would be seeing each other often for a while.

“Ah, they’re so cute.”

Mo Yong So-hye, with her hand on her forehead, jumped up and down.

“Meow—”

She held a brown cat that meowed lazily in her arms.

Surprisingly, Mo Yong So-hye seemed to have a natural affinity with cats.

‘Maybe it’s because they’re both of the beast family?’

Perhaps the trait that made her beloved by humans also worked with cats.

On the other hand, Jegal Tan’s situation was a bit ambiguous.

“I’ll give you jerky, so come to me.”

The yawning cat lazily chewed on the jerky in his arms.

Then, once it finished, it nonchalantly jumped away.

‘I can’t tell if he’s popular or not.’

Watching this, Jegal Tan defensively said.

“The world runs on contracts and promises.”

I didn’t say anything.

“I prefer clean transactions.”

I didn’t say anything, really.

However, there was someone who was quite pitiful.

“Hiss—!”

“Ahhh—!”

“Grrr—!”

As soon as she approached, the cats would hiss and puff up, making Baek Ri Seol look dejected.

“Why do they hate me?”

Indeed.

Even her secret weapon, the catnip sachet, seemed ineffective for Baek Ri Seol.

“It’s a physical attack. She won’t give up until the opponent surrenders.”

Maybe that’s the problem.

Surprisingly, there was someone unexpected.

“Instructor, help me!”

Namgung Yun-ho was surrounded by cats and looked bewildered.

“Oh, suddenly jumping on my shoulder.”

The cats climbed onto his shoulders without hesitation.

“Don’t fall asleep!”

One even tried to nap on his head.

Meow. Meow.

As Baek Ri Seol approached, the cats scattered.

“Phew. Thanks for saving me.”

Baek Ri Seol extended her hand to Namgung Yun-ho.

“Namgung Yun-ho, let’s switch sachets.”

“Sachets?”

Stop it.

‘It’ll only deepen your sense of defeat!’

Despite the warning, Baek Ri Seol switched sachets and tried approaching the cats again.

“Ahhh!”

“Hiss—!”

The reaction was even worse.

Meanwhile, Namgung Yun-ho, holding the special sachet, was surrounded by even more cats.

Maybe they mistook this tall, lanky figure for a catnip tree?

“Come here, good kitty—”

The cat ran away.

As soon as she approached, it ran away so fast it was almost hurtful.

“This is unfair!”

Baek Ri Seol threw the sachet.

Meanwhile, Namgung Yun-ho, oblivious, said.

“It’s not that great. They’re all over me, and it’s overwhelming.”

“Really?”

“I’m constantly worried about stepping on their tails.”

He wiped his brow with his sleeve, looking annoyed.

Though I couldn’t be sure, he might be thinking, ‘This is why unpopular people…’

*Thud!*

Instinctively, I kicked him.

“Ouch! Instructor, why did you do that?”

“What do you mean, why?”

“Are you upset because the cats don’t come to you?”

“I’m not that petty.”

I started to worry as an educator if it was okay for the Murim Excursion to be this peaceful.

“Are we here to play?”

“You did say, ‘Get to know the masters of the sect.’”

“I don’t remember that.”

*Thud. Thud.*

As I kicked Namgung Yun-ho, Mo Yong So-hye and Jegal Tan rushed over.

“Sister, again! Why! Why is he doing this?”

“What upset you this time?”

I’m not upset.

“I’m just disappointed in your lack of tension in the harsh Jianghu.”

I just felt like twisting you guys up.

“Training! I’ll straighten out your slack attitudes!”

That evening.

The long-overdue training session only ended when the four of them were completely exhausted.

***

That evening, while reading the Hundred Cats booklet in the dormitory, a message arrived.

When I went to the sect leader’s office, Myo Gwang bowed and handed me a bundle of papers.

“My lord, here is information on the female students who entered Suzhou.”

“Oh, good job.”

*Flip.*

As I flipped through the papers, I saw detailed sketches of the students’ faces along with their names.

The meticulous brushwork was impressive, and the accuracy in capturing each person’s features was commendable.

“We selected those with talent for surveillance from the Assassination Valley.”

Not bad.

Assassins constantly observe their targets’ every move.

‘I didn’t expect them to be so skilled in this area.’

*Flip. Flip.*

As I turned the pages, Myo Gwang explained.

“We included basic information like their sects and families, just in case.”

“Well done. This is useful.”

However, there was a downside.

“This is all?”

Shaking the thin stack of papers, Myo Gwang bowed deeply.

“There were limitations in finding skilled individuals.”

“Is there no one else you can use?”

“We had to select those with unwavering loyalty and discretion.”

It was a regrettable limitation.

‘Well, I can’t risk bringing just anyone and having it leak to the Dark Soul Black Wind Guard.’

Having worked hard to become an instructor at Shinmu Academy, dreaming of a peaceful life, I couldn’t invite misfortune by gathering Jianghu’s villains.

“Is there no way to advance the search?”

I tried to think of alternatives.

“The simplest way is for you to draw a picture of your fiancée.”

“That’s easy enough.”

Dipping the brush in ink and moving it swiftly, I noticed Myo Gwang frowning.

“Is your fiancée human?”

What?

“On second thought, you don’t need to trouble yourself.”

Myo Gwang banged his head on the floor.

“I will try harder.”

“Fine. If you say so.”

Rolling the brush, I suppressed my disappointment.

“I’ll have to make time to search personally.”

The Black and White Twin Cats provide a good excuse.

Thinking that my fiancée might be nearby made it hard to stay still, but I restrained myself.

‘After waiting decades, what’s another day or two?’

*Flip. Flip.*

“She’s not here. It seems she won’t show her face easily.”

“Don’t worry. I will find her no matter what.”

As I was about to get up, hiding my disappointment, Myo Gwang hesitantly spoke.

“There’s something you should know.”

“What is it?”

“Remember the leader of the Jangcheon Sect?”

Yes.

“The lucky guy who stumbled upon demonic martial arts?”

“That’s right. While tracking his movements, we found something strange.”

I chuckled at Myo Gwang’s words.

“What? Is it so surprising that the Heavenly Destruction Society is involved?”

“How did you know?”

As he looked shocked, I released a chilling aura.

Startled, Myo Gwang quickly bowed his head.

“I apologize. I forgot for a moment that you possess omniscient powers.”

“It’s impossible to stumble upon demonic martial arts by chance.”

Especially those that increase strength so rapidly.

‘They’re the same guys who played similar tricks in Anhui Province in my past life.’

Several similar schemes came to mind.

“Leave them alone for now. Just keep an eye on them.”

“Just observe?”

He questioned why I wouldn’t take action.

I called him softly.

“One-Day General.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Danya wouldn’t have made the mistake of questioning me.”

Myo Gwang’s face turned pale.

“If you need everything explained, pack up and go back to the desert.”

“My lord.”

*Thud.*

The office door closed.

***

Unfortunately, the intensive training didn’t last long.

A new visitor arrived at Myojinmun.

“Instructor Cho! Long time no see!”

Waving energetically was Yeo Mae-hong.

Even though it had only been a few days, she looked as excited as if it had been years.

“Haha. Isn’t it too soon to say long time no see?”

“Hehe. I was looking forward to it.”

Smiling shyly, another familiar face was with her.

“Instructor Go, where’s Cho Yang?”

“Who’s Instructor Go?”

“Haha. What did I say?”

Mo Yong Seon-ya, with a mischievous voice, spoke.

“How about it? Did you make friends with the sect leader as promised?”

Her intimidating gaze suggested she’d grab my collar if I said no.

“Of course.”

I pounded my chest.

“I’m a legend in socializing. The embodiment of diplomacy.”

“That answer somehow lowers your credibility.”

Hmm.

Mo Yong Seon-ya narrowed her eyes, and Yeo Mae-hong also squinted.

‘People have no trust.’

After several reassurances, their expressions softened.

“Phew. That’s a relief. The sect leader must be a saint.”

“Indeed. To be friends with Instructor Cho, he must be incredibly kind.”

“That’s quite rude.”

As we exchanged jokes, Yeo Mae-hong looked around.

“But it seems no one else has arrived yet.”

“Only you two would rush here as soon as the Murim Excursion started.”

But Yeo Mae-hong shook her head.

“Instructor Cho, didn’t you hear the news?”

News?

“What news?”

“There have been some disturbing rumors lately.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya, her playful tone gone, spoke in a low voice.

“Apparently, a large number of demonic practitioners have appeared.”

“Demonic practitioners?”

“Several members of the Beggars’ Sect have already been affected.”

“She’s right. They’re so elusive that the damage is severe, and the instructors are on high alert.”

“Didn’t you receive an official notice?”

Something did arrive.

I saw the Shinmu Academy seal and crumpled it up.

Yeo Mae-hong, looking serious, said.

“That’s why we came earlier than planned. We hurried to Anhui Province to avoid any accidents.”

Anhui Province is safe because it’s the territory of the Namgung Clan.

Adding to this, Mo Yong Seon-ya shared more news.

“Strangely, there have been frequent incidents since the Murim Excursion started.”

“Though unlikely, it feels like someone knows our route.”

“We should be cautious for a while.”

Listening to their stories, I got a sense of what was happening.

‘It seems people like Jeong Yang are active everywhere.’

After a series of warnings, Mo Yong Seon-ya concluded with concern.

“The academy will take measures, but I hope it’s not too late.”

Yeo Mae-hong nodded.

“Right. Anyway, Instructor Cho, you’re lucky. Your post is Myojinmun.”

“‘He’ is here, isn’t he?”

Smiling, Yeo Mae-hong asked, and Cho Un-hwi replied.

“Who is ‘he’?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?”

Hearing the answer, Cho Un-hwi frowned.

***

*Step.*

Stopping in front of the door, Cho Un-hwi sighed deeply.

It should be an empty space just for him.

“Phew.”

After a few deep breaths, he mustered the courage to open the door.

*Creak.*

The door opened to reveal a well-organized interior.

*Swish. Swish.*

The sound of sweeping stopped.

A familiar voice, accompanied by a bowing figure, spoke.

“First Seat of the Dark Soul Black Wind Guard, Sima Bai, greets the lord of the world.”

It was a reunion that felt oddly familiar.