Chapter 150: Hundred Cats Chaos (2)

“Do you really have nothing to say?”

Those eyes were the eyes of someone who had found a suspect.

Despite this, Cho Un-hwi responded with a question.

“What is there to say?”

If there was anything to say, it might be,

“Have you been well?”

He greeted with a smile, but Jang Cheol-sim’s expression became even more severe.

“Hah, really.”

He seemed exasperated, but Cho Un-hwi remained confident.

‘There is no evidence.’

He had meticulously cleaned up, so there was no way he could be caught.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m innocent.”

“Are you really sure?”

“My heart is as pure as the clouds.”

Despite his assertion, Jang Cheol-sim’s questioning wasn’t without reason.

“You did say you were Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim from Euncheon Hall.”

Everyone caught at the scene repeated his name.

So he asked something else.

*Snap!*

He pulled out several wanted posters from his robe.

“Do these faces look familiar?”

Oops.

“These kids who follow you look quite familiar.”

The wanted posters weren’t definitive.

But they weren’t unrecognizable either.

‘Tall guy, a dandy-looking young man, a glamorous beauty, and a cute little girl.’

Cho Un-hwi remained silent.

“Why are you silent?”

“Well, this seems different.”

He quickly smeared dirt on his finger and dotted each face like lightning.

“They all have spots now.”

“Quick hands. But the posters I remember didn’t have spots.”

What could he say to the growling Jang Cheol-sim?

Remaining silent, Jang Cheol-sim glared.

“We can go for a confrontation right now.”

There are plenty of witnesses.

“Why are you so eager to catch my innocent students?”

“Why are you so eager to drive me crazy?”

*Sigh.*

Jang Cheol-sim sighed, suppressing his anger, and spoke wearily.

“Honestly, I don’t want to conduct a confrontation.”

Even if it’s true, this matter needs to be covered up by me.

We must avoid having students taken by the authorities.

“You’re absolutely right.”

“The problem is you. You.”

*Sigh.*

Pressing his fingers to his temples, Jang Cheol-sim warned with renewed intensity.

“I’ll let it go for now.”

Because I came for a good reason.

“But after the Hundred Cats Chaos, be prepared. I won’t let this slide.”

Cho Un-hwi clicked his tongue at the warning.

“Haha, I’ll greet you later. Don’t worry too much.”

“I’ll try to calm him down.”

Instructor Shim’s words of reassurance were the only comfort.

***

Instructor Shim followed.

“Senior Instructor.”

When he called, Jang Cheol-sim couldn’t ignore him.

Though he was a lower rank, Instructor Shim was a senior in the Jianghu and a master from the Wudang Sect.

“Don’t be too harsh on Instructor Cho.”

He feared excessive questioning, but it seemed unnecessary.

“Sigh, don’t worry. I’m more worried.”

“Worried?”

“You don’t seem to know.”

Jang Cheol-sim, looking ten years older, began to explain.

“Do you know what the young instructors at Euncheon Hall call Instructor Cho Un-hwi?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

“The man with unbelievably good luck. Senior Instructor.”

Recently, he got a nickname.

“Great Luck Sword.”

Great Luck Sword.

It means he wields luck instead of martial arts.

A martial artist’s nickname usually relates to their skills or sect.

A nickname implying he wields luck instead of a sword is practically an insult.

“Ahem. The young instructors are quite cheeky.”

It’s a nickname that could lead to a sword fight if said to a normal martial artist’s face.

“He caught the attention of Elder Wang Woo, which caused the problem.”

“Well, that’s something everyone would envy.”

“Even I envy it.”

Jang Cheol-sim was no different.

“I get angry just thinking about his smug face. And then Elder Wang Woo’s favoritism. Sigh.”

Jang Cheol-sim added that he was jealous too.

“That’s not all. He also seems to have gained the favor of the One-Eyed Sword God, Master Dokgo Yul.”

He truly deserves the nickname Great Luck Sword.

“The problem is that many people have suffered because of him.”

First, there’s Gwak Jong-geun.

“He was involved in manipulating the preliminary exam evaluation, so he couldn’t avoid punishment.”

He had many peers at Euncheon Hall.

All of them resented Cho Un-hwi for exposing Gwak Jong-geun.

“That’s not all. He caused a big fight protecting Mok Yeon-seong, injuring many students.”

Though it was determined that his faction’s disciples were at fault, some still held grudges and were ready to attack at any opportunity.

“Moreover, he sent numerous anonymous letters, making enemies with the academic staff.”

Jang Cheol-sim couldn’t believe how creative someone could be in making enemies.

“He needs to realize how many people are out to get him.”

“He needs to understand why he should behave.”

Instructor Shim had nothing to say after hearing this.

“You’re not wrong.”

“The biggest problem is this.”

There’s more?

“He constantly causes trouble with his enemies.”

“……”

“Ugh.”

Jang Cheol-sim, clutching his chest, quickly took a small bottle from his robe and drank it.

Seeing the label ‘Cheongsimhwan,’ it seemed to be a calming medicine.

“Sigh. It’s hard for me to support such a troublesome person.”

Jang Cheol-sim seemed genuinely distressed about having to support someone so annoying.

He was good at taking care of his subordinates.

But supporting someone like this was a struggle between reason and emotion.

“Sigh.”

But Instructor Shim, watching him take more medicine, had another thought.

‘Maybe he just doesn’t want to admit there’s someone he can’t control.’

As a distinguished disciple of Cheongseong Sect, not being able to handle someone of unknown origin was humiliating.

It was both frustrating and a testament to his patience.

“Senior Instructor, perhaps…”

Cheongsu was about to speak when.

“Haha! Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim?”

A man holding a cat approached with a bright smile.

“And you are…?”

“I’m Myo Gwang, the leader of Myojinmun.”

“Oh, the sect leader.”

As he was about to bow.

Suddenly!

Myo Gwang, putting down the cat, grabbed his hand with a bright smile.

“Haha. Thank you so much.”

Thanks to you, our sect is deeply grateful!

“Grateful…?”

As Jang Cheol-sim wondered what he meant.

“For sending Instructor Cho Un-hwi to save our sect from danger.”

“Is that so?”

Jang Cheol-sim, who had been grinding his teeth, widened his eyes.

Trying to discern if the praise was genuine or a veiled reprimand.

‘That troublesome person being praised?’

But there was no need to doubt the sincerity.

“If it weren’t for Instructor Cho Un-hwi, our sect would have suffered greatly.”

Sensing the threat for his lord, Myo Gwang even shed a tear in his performance.

“Is that so?”

“Haha. Since we’re here, please join us for tea.”

Pulling his sleeve, Myo Gwang invited him.

“Sect leader, wait.”

“I’m on my way to see Elder Wang. Please join us.”

Jang Cheol-sim quickly changed his tune.

“I would be honored to accept your hospitality.”

Let’s go quickly.

***

Hearing the commotion with Jang Cheol-sim outside.

As soon as he entered the medical hall, Yeo Mae-hong’s sharp gaze followed him.

“…Instructor Cho.”

“How could you?”

“Tell me the truth. I’ll keep it a secret.”

Under her stern gaze, Cho Un-hwi stammered and gave a half-truth explanation.

Roughly, they were chasing the cat abuser and an incident occurred.

Yeo Mae-hong clapped her hands.

“Coincidence upon coincidence?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya also gave a favorable evaluation.

“You worked hard to catch the culprit. Wow, amazing.”

“It was tough.”

Did I get away with it?

Their expressions turned cold.

“Believe what you want.”

“We’ve known Instructor Cho for more than a day.”

Damn. I should have known when they were agreeing soullessly.

“How can you be so indifferent when a colleague is injured?”

“You’re too insensitive!”

As the two women started to scold him.

“Hahaha!”

Laughing heartily, Yang Dae-cheol suddenly clutched his side with a groan.

Seeing this, Instructor Jo Hyeon quickly ran over and slapped his arm.

“Your wound will reopen.”

“Ouch, it hurts.”

Yang Dae-cheol, glancing at the stern-faced Instructor Jo Hyeon, spoke.

“Let’s not be too harsh. Instructor Cho must have had his reasons.”

Smiling, Yang Dae-cheol met his gaze.

“I can’t stand by and let you scold my lifesaver.”

“Such loyalty.”

Raising his thumb in admiration, Cho Un-hwi got smacked on the back by Yeo Mae-hong.

*Thwack!*

***

After the women left, Yang Dae-cheol spoke.

“Haha. I never thought I’d laugh and chat like this again.”

“When I found you, it seemed hopeless.”

“Really?”

With a strange expression, Yang Dae-cheol looked back and laughed.

“When I had one foot in the River Styx, it felt like someone grabbed my collar and pulled me back.”

“Maybe the Grim Reaper left early.”

“Haha, maybe.”

Laughing, Yang Dae-cheol looked out the window and spoke.

“I think this is it for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“My life as a martial artist.”

Are you planning to retire? he was about to ask, but Yang Dae-cheol continued.

“My master said something when he taught me martial arts.”

Frowning as he recalled, he said.

“The Nine Hundred Iron Fists is a supreme technique, but not invincible. When the time comes, leave the Jianghu.”

“I didn’t understand as a child.”

“I only thought of making a great name for myself in the Jianghu with my master’s martial arts.”

“I thought if I worked hard, I’d reach the top of the Jianghu.”

Yang Dae-cheol continued.

“Now I understand. ‘When something other than ambition rests on your fists,’ leave the Jianghu.”

“Is that time now?”

“……”

After a moment of silence, Yang Dae-cheol spoke.

“Instructor Jo Hyeon is a good woman.”

And.

“I think she’s too good for me.”

But I’m not sure.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know if she really likes me, if I really like her, or if our feelings are just because we saved each other’s lives.”

“……”

“The truth is, I’m scared when I think of being together.”

“That’s not like you.”

Hearing the reserved martial artist talk like this was surprising.

Yang Dae-cheol, with a serious expression, replied.

“I’m human too. Only something other than human wouldn’t have fears.”

“……”

(TLN: he just roasted our mc)

Their gazes clashed in silence.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because of you.”

“Me?”

“I feel like you’re going to leave suddenly.”

The women didn’t seem to notice.

“Sometimes, men can sense each other’s feelings the quickest.”

“……”

He hit the mark.

As he swallowed his words, Yang Dae-cheol got to the point.

“Whatever you decide, I respect you.”

But.

“Sometimes, looking at the same place with someone is more important than following your heart.”

“……”

“I’ve become strangely emotional.”

“Forget it.”

He scratched his head, embarrassed by his own words, and joked.

“If things work out with Instructor Jo Hyeon, I’ll invite you. I’ll prepare ten bowls of noodles.”

Cho Un-hwi laughed and replied.

“Ten bowls won’t be enough.”

*Bubble bubble.*

As the medicinal pot in the medical hall emitted a fragrant aroma.

The day of the Hundred Cats Chaos was approaching.