Chapter 155: Taking on New Students (3)

“The others said you were busy when I asked about your whereabouts.”

Thank goodness.

The principles of the Jianghu are still intact.

“Instructor Yang said you were in the infirmary.”

“Yet the person with broken legs and arms attended the meeting.”

‘Is this some kind of high-level sarcasm?’

His heart sank.

Now that he was a man bound to the organization by his family, it seemed possible.

“Instructor Jo Hyeon confessed. She said you were the one who didn’t show up even though your colleague was injured and lying there.”

Damn it.

It’s unfair that I’m alone while they team up against me.

Being alone is tough.

“Instructor Yeo Mae-hong tried to be clever. She said you were training with the students early in the morning.”

As expected from Instructor Yeo Mae-hong.

The principles of the Jianghu are still alive….

“I asked her if I should believe that a lazy person like you would get up before breakfast.”

“……”

“She couldn’t answer.”

I didn’t realize my colleagues’ trust in me was so thin.

Indeed, the world is a lonely place.

Jang Cheol-sim let out a long sigh.

“Ha. Why do you always try to make my life difficult?”

“It’s not like that…”

“I got my fortune told at the cat fortune-telling. Do you know what it said? ‘A large parasitic plant is growing near the main figure!'”

It’s the first time in my life I’ve heard a warning like ‘main figure’ in a fortune!

Jang Cheol-sim, who was yelling, suddenly spoke in a low voice.

“Let’s talk about the Jangcheon Sect incident first.”

“I repeat, that incident has nothing to do with me.”

“Then why was Baek Ri Seol, who never left the academy, drooling over the ‘Black Cat Tile Collection’?”

“……”

“And this morning, I saw Jegal Tan carrying a ‘limited edition cat-shaped gambling box.'”

He said he wanted to win big.

Why have your students suddenly changed like this?

“Why is that?”

“As someone who claims to train students from early morning, you should know.”

“If you have a mouth, at least make an excuse.”

As he remained silent, Jang Cheol-sim slammed his fist on the table.

“I’ll give you a choice.”

“A choice?”

“Yes, a choice.”

Jang Cheol-sim raised two fingers.

“First, you can accept the punishment.”

“Ugh.”

“Second, you can accept my proposal.”

“Ugh.”

“Personally, I’d prefer you choose the first option. Watching your lazy face is not easy.”

His words suddenly became violent.

He had insisted on a private meeting just to scold him.

At this point, Cho Un-hwi had to ask cautiously.

“May I at least hear the proposal?”

“Too bad. If you ever want to choose the first option, just let me know.”

Jang Cheol-sim covered his mouth with his hands and spoke.

“The proposal is simple. You need to take on new students.”

“What?”

“Are you aware of the recent unfortunate incident?”

He vaguely recalled what Mo Yong Seon-ya had mentioned.

“Oh. The incident at the water mill.”

“Can you be more discreet with your words?”

“Haven’t you heard that I’m a disciple of the Cheongseong Sect?”

Cho Un-hwi quickly corrected himself.

“…I heard there was an incident where students were caught in a scandal?”

“That’s right. They are the ones who caused the creation of the inspection department.”

So.

“I want you to take them away and protect them for a while.”

“Protect them?”

“Yes, protect. I know you well. I don’t expect you to take them on as your students.”

“Why protect them? I heard the inspection department is coming soon.”

“That’s exactly why. I want you to leave with them before the inspection department arrives.”

It was an unexpected proposal.

He didn’t think someone as strict and by-the-book as Jang Cheol-sim would make such an illegal proposal.

“Why?”

“One of them is a disciple of the Cheongseong Sect. That’s the only reason.”

The answer was so straightforward that it raised suspicion.

“Is that really the only reason?”

Seo Ok-rang is a disciple of the Cheongseong Sect.

If it was about saving face for the Cheongseong Sect, he could have just taken her away.

‘Is he hiding something?’

But Jang Cheol-sim didn’t seem willing to explain further.

“My proposal is to protect the two of them.”

“Before the inspection department arrives, you need to move quickly.”

“It’s something only a Murim Excursion instructor can do. It’s possible to temporarily recruit students for a mission.”

“What do you think?”

“Are you willing to accept my proposal?”

“……”

The more he explained, the more suspicious it seemed.

‘It feels like there’s something else.’

As he pondered, Jang Cheol-sim added.

“You might need time to decide. But I can’t give you much time. I need your answer by tomorrow morning.”

With that, Jang Cheol-sim pointed to the door.

It meant he should leave.

‘This is strange. Something feels off.’

Cho Un-hwi cautiously left the room.

***

Curiosity couldn’t be ignored.

Fortunately, there was someone he could ask about the suspicious parts.

*Clink.*

Mo Yong Seon-ya put down her empty glass and concluded.

“It doesn’t seem like a proposal made out of favoritism for a fellow disciple.”

“Sister, is there another reason?”

They were at the Hundred Cats Tavern, a popular spot during the Hundred Cats Chaos.

As they shared drinks in the courtyard where cats roamed leisurely, they exchanged glances.

“Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim takes great pride in his sect, but he wouldn’t make an unreasonable proposal.”

“But asking to hide students from the inspection department is clearly illegal.”

“It’s close to illegal.”

*Pour.*

Mo Yong Seon-ya refilled the glass and added.

“In most cases.”

“Is there another story?”

“Yes. The first thing that comes to mind is external pressure.”

“External pressure?”

Suddenly, external pressure?

Shinmu Academy is the top educational institution backed by the Murim Alliance.

It guarantees independent operation, and the people in the academy are highly skilled, making it difficult for even powerful figures in the Jianghu to interfere.

“This time, it’s different.”

“Different how…”

“In the summoned group, there’s a student that the academy is paying special attention to.”

Recalling something, Yeo Mae-hong clapped her hands.

“Could it be… Little Sword Dragon?”

“Yes. Recently known as the Ten-Second Slayer, Little Sword Dragon Namgung Yong-ho is in the same group.”

“Oh my.”

Hearing a familiar name, Cho Un-hwi found it quite interesting.

‘The world is indeed small.’

He roughly understood the situation.

“The Murim Excursion has the highest points for promotion, right?”

“Yes. No matter how talented, if they mess up the Murim Excursion, promotion is unlikely.”

This is quite a mess.

“Also, the fact that a high-ranking guest from the Namgung Clan is coming is a problem.”

“Yes. The sudden visit request has increased our workload.”

Yeo Mae-hong’s eyes drooped.

Feeling sorry, Mo Yong Seon-ya raised her index finger.

“Do you know who the guest is?”

“I heard it’s someone very high up in the clan.”

Looking around, Mo Yong Seon-ya whispered with her hand over her mouth.

“It’s the head of the Namgung Clan himself.”

“The head of the Namgung Clan?”

Gasp!

Yeo Mae-hong covered her mouth with both hands and looked around.

It was a cute sight, but Mo Yong Seon-ya’s words were so impactful that Cho Un-hwi felt a headache.

“So, the external pressure.”

“The head of the clan has ended his seven-year seclusion and is attending for the first time.”

If his child is detained by the inspection department?

“It would be a complete provocation.”

Moreover, they weren’t even the main culprits but got caught up in it.

If he doesn’t immediately draw his sword, it would be a miracle.

Mo Yong Seon-ya agreed.

“Exactly. The inspection department knows this, so they’ll try to quickly handle the disciplinary process.”

In such cases.

“They’ll try to impose a heavy punishment swiftly and close the case.”

“How troublesome.”

It was a common issue.

People often overreact and take excessive actions to please higher-ups or powerful figures.

The problem is that in the rush, the person involved might not get a fair chance to defend themselves.

“This is really messed up.”

“Yes, it is.”

At least now, Cho Un-hwi understood Jang Cheol-sim’s intention.

– Protect the two of them for a while.

He didn’t want to permanently avoid the inspection department but buy some time.

‘If the head of the Namgung Clan leaves, the inspection department won’t force harsh punishment.’

Afterward, he intended to follow proper procedures for punishment.

Mo Yong Seon-ya seemed to agree.

“Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim probably wants to protect the students from the swift and harsh actions of the inspection department.”

This is quite a tricky situation.

***

On the way back.

Recalling Mo Yong Seon-ya’s parting words.

“Seo Ok-rang. I remember her well.”

“She was a very talented and lively student.”

“But after the incident two years ago, she changed.”

“Sadly.”

When he asked about the incident, Mo Yong Seon-ya remained silent.

Instead, she shared her opinion.

“Recently, she seems to be chasing after popularity.”

“Young students like attention, but she’s taking it too far.”

“She’s even creating scandals with other students to gain attention.”

“Not only that. As interest in her waned, she started openly talking about relationships with older people.”

He recalled how she often clung to Dokgo Yul.

“Kids these days are hard to understand.”

It seemed complicated and troublesome, making him want to give up, but the fact that she was a friend of ‘her’ kept bothering him.

“If this girl disappears, who knows how the future might change.”

Though troublesome, maybe he should pay more attention.

***

Returning to his quarters, Cho Un-hwi opened the door.

“You’re back?”

As expected, Wang Woo greeted him with a smile while sweeping.

Ignoring him, Cho Un-hwi spoke.

“Danya.”

*Whoosh.*

Before he finished speaking, a figure appeared in the air.

“My lord, you called?”

Seeing the cheerful Danya, Cho Un-hwi spoke.

“Find out about the Namgung Clan immediately.”

“The Namgung Clan?”

“The head of the clan is coming, and I have a bad feeling.”

“If that’s the case.”

Excited to finally move, Danya received another command.

“And one more thing.”

“There’s more?”

“Find out about Seo Ok-rang.”

Seo Ok-rang.

Recalling, Danya made a hand with his bandages and tapped his forehead.

“Oh, I remember. The girl from the Cheongseong Sect?”

The one who made advances on Little Toe.

“Yes. Find out about the Namgung Clan, Seo Ok-rang, and Il-pyo.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Danya, creating a hand with his bandages and bowing, was joined by Wang Woo.

“I will look into the Namgung Clan.”

“It doesn’t matter who does it.”

Just one thing.

“By tonight, I don’t want to have any unanswered questions.”

At the stern command, Danya and Wang Woo bowed and shouted.

“Yes, my lord!”