Chapter 176: Signs of War (2)

Among those who were upset by the disciplinary actions was So Yang-un.

“I object!”

As an aide to the Inspection Department, he had been waiting for this moment, only to find that the person he had been targeting had slipped away again.

“This is a clear misjudgment!”

“What seems to be the problem, Master So Yang?”

“How can someone who incited mutiny and injured people be found innocent?”

Several biased aides to the Inspection Department echoed his sentiments.

“Right, he put several people in the hospital, and he only gets a slap on the wrist?”

“Even the instructors who tried to stop him received severe punishments.”

“He should be punished more severely for being more malicious!”

As shouts erupted from all sides, the senior inspector of the Academy waved the paper listing the charges.

“We simply followed the rules.”

“Maybe the rules are wrong?”

At So Yang-un’s criticism, the senior inspector pulled out the thick Shinmu Academy rulebook and flipped through it.

“A crime committed by an instructor under ‘suspension’ cannot be punished by the Academy’s rules.”

“Why is that?”

“Because during suspension, the individual is considered a civilian.”

“Ugh.”

As he swallowed his frustration, the explanation continued.

“But we couldn’t just let this incident go, so we scoured the laws.”

“And?”

“The problem is that this rulebook is based on precedents.”

In other words, it records what punishments were given for specific wrongdoings and applies the same punishment for similar incidents.

“This is the issue.”

The inspector spoke with a tone full of fatigue.

“No matter how much we looked, there was no precedent for an instructor taking a senior instructor hostage and using them as a weapon.”

Relying on precedents made it difficult to determine the punishment for unprecedented cases.

“We are just as frustrated.”

Flipping through the rulebook, the inspector gritted his teeth.

“Who would have thought someone would take a fellow instructor hostage and use them as a shield?”

“Then shouldn’t we create a new rule and impose a severe punishment?”

“That’s right!” came the shouts from the spectators.

“You’re correct.”

But the inspector’s voice remained weary.

“It’s not that we haven’t considered it.”

But as a civilian.

“Moreover, the one who stabbed the senior instructor wasn’t the temporary instructor. It was the people here.”

That was true.

“Even with his internal energy sealed. If we apply the rules, we should hold all the instructors accountable for failing to control a temporary instructor with sealed internal energy. Are you okay with that?”

“……”

As the unexpected consequences loomed, the instructors in the audience fell silent.

Only So Yang-un continued to press.

“So, you’re just going to let that slippery bastard go free?”

“Of course not. We’ve all put our heads together and found the most applicable rule.”

With a voice full of malice, the inspector struck the table with the wooden block.

“Temporary Instructor Cho Un-hwi! Guilty!”

The charge was.

“Property damage!”

“Property… damage?”

“Broadly speaking, instructors are considered Academy property.”

The inspector proudly declared.

(TLN: you cant make this shit up)

“We sentence you to ten days of probation and a fine!”

So Yang-un, who had been growing hopeful, screamed in disbelief.

“Isn’t that too lenient?”

“The maximum punishment for property damage is this much.”

“I can’t accept this! As an aide to the Inspection Department, I absolutely reject this!”

As So Yang-un continued to shout, the inspector waved his hand wearily.

“If you have any complaints, discuss them with the two gentlemen behind you.”

Behind?

As So Yang-un turned his head, he saw two hands pressing down firmly on his shoulders.

Trembling, he looked back to see two men with terrifying smiles.

“You seem to have a lot of complaints.”

“Why don’t you tell us all about them?”

Baek Ri Seon-ho and Mo Yong-ju.

Seeing their menacing eyes, So Yang-un immediately backed down.

As the situation quickly settled, the inspector efficiently wrapped things up.

“This concludes the disciplinary process!”

***

Hearing about the disciplinary actions, Namgung Musan frowned.

‘This is problematic.’

He had heard that this was the person Namgung Yun-ho relied on. It would have been better if he had been severely punished and removed, but he was still around. Namgung Musan called over the inspector passing by.

“Excuse me.”

“Gasp. Head of the Namgung Clan.”

“I was impressed by the verdict. But I have a question.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“How much is the fine?”

A disaster had put several people in the hospital.

‘It must be a significant amount.’

If it was difficult to get rid of him, he thought it might be good to show kindness when he was struggling with the fine.

Giving a few coins to a poorly paid instructor wouldn’t be hard.

But the answer was unexpected.

“The fine is ten nyang of silver.”

“…That’s surprisingly low.”

“People seem to be cheaper than property.”

“……”

“Since he returned unharmed, there’s a rule that the fine is minimal.”

“…I see. Thank you.”

It seemed he would have to find another opportunity to win over this person.

***

“Whew.”

After the disciplinary process, a small gathering was held in Instructor Cho Un-hwi’s room.

“I was so worried.”

Yeo Mae-hong sighed with relief.

“Really?”

“Of course. You practically committed mutiny. It’s a miracle.”

While Yeo Mae-hong remained positive, Mo Yong Seon-ya was visibly upset.

“Miracle, my foot.”

“Why, sister?”

“When did you start planning this?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

– I’m just an innocent instructor.

Though he whistled, Mo Yong Seon-ya’s intense gaze didn’t waver.

“Really.”

Having spoken with Jegal Tan before the incident, Mo Yong Seon-ya could bet everything that this cunning man had meticulously planned the whole thing.

‘If he had told me beforehand, I wouldn’t have been so anxious.’

But now, she had more pressing questions.

“How did you take down the senior instructor?”

“He got in my face, so I just punched him.”

“That was lucky.”

“Yes, it was.”

“But is that all?”

Senior Instructor Eo Jeong-geun wasn’t someone to be taken down so easily.

“Defeating a renowned martial artist in real combat isn’t as simple as it sounds.”

“Indeed. Several other instructors were also taken out.”

At this point, it was natural to suspect that he had hidden his martial arts skills.

“I’ve been receiving some guidance recently.”

“From which esteemed master… Ah!”

“Wang Woo, the Elder!”

At their exclamations, Instructor Cho Un-hwi smiled.

“The martial arts of the Kunlun Sect seem quite useful.”

*Chomp chomp.*

Even as he chewed on cold vegetables, Mo Yong Seon-ya felt uneasy.

‘Even with the Kunlun Sect’s martial arts, could he have become this strong so quickly?’

Though she was curious, pressing further would be rude.

Instead, she changed the subject.

*Clink!*

After clinking glasses, Mo Yong Seon-ya asked something else.

“What will you do next?”

“What do you mean?”

“Sister, do you know something?”

Recalling the official notice she received in the morning, Mo Yong Seon-ya explained.

“Soon, there will be an official notice. We’ll be returning from the Murim Excursion within ten days.”

“In ten days?”

While Yeo Mae-hong was surprised, Instructor Cho Un-hwi remained calm.

“Travelling in the martial world is troublesome. I wish I could go back to the swamp soon.”

Does he like his home or the swamp better?

Thinking she couldn’t understand, Mo Yong Seon-ya shared what she knew.

“My father told me, so it’s reliable. The demonic practitioners are being dealt with, so we can’t delay any longer.”

“But how many disciples will be able to complete their missions or achieve merits within ten days?”

The results of the Murim Excursion are crucial for a disciple’s annual evaluation.

“The competition will be fierce.”

“Indeed. Returning empty-handed would mean failing the evaluation.”

“We’ll be quite busy too. Thanks to someone sending several people to the infirmary, we’re short on manpower.”

Seeing Instructor Cho Un-hwi pretending not to hear and sipping his drink, they thought.

‘He’s really annoying.’

***

“Did the conversation go well?”

After the two left, while he was drinking alone in his room.

*Swish.*

A slight breeze blew, and Wang Woo appeared before him.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Seeing the old master bowing politely to him, Instructor Cho Un-hwi, twirling his drink, smiled.

“You worked hard too. Want a drink?”

“Haha. If it’s from you, I’ll never refuse.”

*Pour.*

In the silence, only the sound of pouring drinks filled the room.

“It was quite chaotic, wasn’t it?”

“Haha. The students were quite amusing to teach.”

While he was confined, Wang Woo, also known as Sima Bai, had taken over the training.

“It’s been a long time since I handled fresh recruits.”

“Don’t get too attached. They’re meant to live in the light.”

“Resisting the urge is quite a challenge. Especially disciples Namgung and Baek Ri, their future looks even brighter.”

“Right? I put a lot of effort into training them.”

“The shameless Namgung Clan seems to be eyeing them. What should we do?”

“Well, it would be nice to cut them off.”

“……”

Sima Bai, who had been silently looking at his drink, spoke.

“But you might leave.”

“…Yes.”

“If you plan to leave, it’s better not to form attachments. Short goodbyes are less painful.”

“I know.”

“…I received a message from Danya.”

“!”

“He found traces of Jin Seol-hyang.”

“Really?”

“It seems she was farther away than expected. He had to use his son to find her.”

*Rustle.*

Sima Bai took out a portrait from his sleeve and handed it over.

“Jin Seol-hyang. Her hometown is unknown. Her origins are unclear.”

“……”

“But we heard some stories about her past from someone close to her.”

– Seol-hyang.

The scent of snow blossoms.

“At least the meaning of her name is related to the season.”

Sima Bai’s words brought back hazy memories.

– I hate winter.

– But I love snow.

She had once said, watching snowflakes fall in a hidden cave.

– Winter is cold and brings back painful memories.

Yet she had smiled and added.

– But I love the pure scent of snowflakes.

As the vivid memory surfaced, Sima Bai cautiously asked.

“My lord, is this the woman?”

“Yes. I think so.”

“The portrait should be accurate.”

Instructor Cho Un-hwi replied bitterly.

“Actually, I don’t remember everything about her.”