Chapter 33: The Uninvited Guest (2)

“An instructor from the Shinmu Academy died?”

The Shinmu Academy was the cradle of the righteous Murim. It was the safest place in the world, alongside the Murim Alliance headquarters. It was hard to believe that an instructor had died there.

“It’s rare for an instructor to die within the academy walls. But it’s not uncommon for instructors to die while on missions outside the academy.”

She was right.

Chung-hyeon, his voice unusually somber, announced, “Ten Murim Alliance warriors, two instructors from Geumcheon Hall, and five instructors from Euncheon Hall have passed away.”

“…”

A brief silence fell over the room.

Instructor Yang asked, “Head Instructor, what happened?”

“There was an incident near Muhan City.”

“If those instructors were outside the academy at a time like this, then it must have been related to the Euncheon Hall students’ training expedition.”

“I can’t disclose any details. It’s a confidential matter.”

Instructor Yang closed his mouth at the word “confidential.”

“Let’s begin by offering our condolences to the deceased. Some of you might have known them personally.”

After a brief moment of silence, Chung-hyeon read out the names of the deceased instructors.

Yeo Mae-hong’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Instructor Eun Hae-wol…”

“Was he famous?”

“Instructor Eun Hae-wol, the Divine Wind Eight Swords master, was a renowned swordsman. He was a secular disciple of the Wudang Sect, but he developed his own unique swordsmanship style.”

She seemed to know him well.

“He was my instructor when I was in Euncheon Hall. We even threw him a farewell party when he was promoted to Geumcheon Hall…”

He was her mentor.

Cho Un-hwi watched her sniffle softly, trying to recall any relevant information from his memories.

But there was nothing about this incident in his past memories or in the things his former lover had told him.

‘The Heavenly Destruction Society didn’t start causing serious trouble until much later.’

Had he inadvertently altered the course of fate?

He had changed a lot of things.

He had destroyed organizations that were supposed to fall into the hands of the Heavenly Destruction Society, and he had warned both the righteous and demonic factions about the Society’s infiltrators.

He had even warned the Hao Clan.

‘If the mistress told the Murim Alliance about the Green Blood Swordsman and the double agents, then it’s possible that things have changed.’

Honestly, he didn’t care what happened to the Murim world.

But the changes in the Shinmu Academy’s policies meant that his lover’s fate might also be different from what he remembered.

‘Damn it, I should have ignored the Green Blood Swordsman.’

He was starting to regret his actions.

And there was another problem.

“There will be a memorial service for the deceased instructors.”

“And we’ll be selecting temporary instructors to fill their positions.”

“We might even get some new instructors in Dongcheon Hall, so be prepared.”

He wasn’t happy about the prospect of strangers joining Dongcheon Hall, which he had finally gotten used to.

***

The atmosphere in the Shinmu Academy was somber.

The usual carefree atmosphere had been replaced by a sense of restraint, and the students, who had been excited about the midterm exams, were now subdued.

Cho Un-hwi grumbled, “Damn it, I have no idea what’s going on.”

Should he visit the Hao Clan?

But the Shinmu Academy, which was already difficult to enter and exit, was now practically on lockdown.

He was feeling frustrated when Mo Yong-Seon-ya, from Euncheon Hall, appeared.

She had come to attend the memorial service for Instructor Eun Hae-wol, who had been her and Yeo Mae-hong’s mentor.

“It was bad luck,” she said.

She knew a lot, being an instructor at Euncheon Hall.

“It seems they were caught in the crossfire while preparing for the Euncheon Hall students’ training expedition.”

The Euncheon Hall students’ training expedition.

Unlike the Dongcheon Hall students, who were still greenhorns, the Euncheon Hall students were treated as full-fledged martial artists and were required to participate in a short training expedition as part of their midterm exams.

But they couldn’t send inexperienced students on dangerous missions.

The instructors had been scouting out potential training locations when they were caught in a battle between the Murim Alliance and the demonic practitioners, according to Mo Yong-Seon-ya.

“Unfortunately, they encountered some very strong opponents.”

“That’s terrible. But why are they trying to cover it up? Shouldn’t they be honoring the deceased and informing the public?”

“I don’t know. Usually, they would handle this kind of situation publicly.”

Cho Un-hwi listened to their conversation and came to a realization.

‘There’s a traitor in the Murim Alliance.’

That was the only explanation for such a devastating loss in Muhan City, which was practically the Murim Alliance’s backyard.

It was a familiar tactic.

‘Planting double agents in enemy organizations is a hallmark of the Heavenly Destruction Society.’

They sowed seeds of distrust and discord, making it impossible for their enemies to unite.

It was a classic Heavenly Destruction Society move.

And the Murim Alliance, realizing that there was a traitor in their midst, was trying to cover it up.

Cho Un-hwi’s stomach churned.

‘I should have ignored the Green Blood Swordsman.’

He was starting to feel responsible for the recent events.

He should have just stayed out of it.

Mo Yong-Seon-ya suddenly changed the subject.

“By the way, Instructor Cho, have you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“About the new instructors who are joining the academy.”

He hadn’t heard anything.

He shook his head.

“They’re quite famous,” she said. “One of them is…”

“Who?”

“Dokgo Yul, the One-Eyed Sword God!”

The One-Eyed Sword God? Dokgo Yul?

Yeo Mae-hong gasped.

“Dokgo Yul?!”

“It seems the situation is so dire that Judge Seon In-hyeok, the Chief Administrator, personally invited him!”

“Oh my god! This is amazing!”

They were reacting as if they had just met a celebrity.

Cho Un-hwi tilted his head.

“Who’s this Dokgo Yul guy?”

One-Eyed Sword God.

‘What kind of nickname is that?’

It sounded like a lazy and uninspired nickname.

But he seemed to be the only one who thought so.

“You don’t know Dokgo Yul, the One-Eyed Sword God?”

“He’s one of the Ten Great Swordsmen of the Murim!”

They started bombarding him with information about Dokgo Yul’s achievements and his recent heroic deeds.

He felt a headache coming on.

“To think that they managed to recruit the One-Eyed Sword God… Chief Administrator Seon must be desperate.”

“I wonder if we’ll get to see a duel between Instructor Ma Gil-sang, the Light of the Flame, and Dokgo Yul, the One-Eyed Sword God.”

They were practically giddy with excitement.

Cho Un-hwi felt a sense of dread.

‘He sounds like a righteous fanatic.’

He didn’t get along with self-righteous people or heroes.

‘Please don’t come here. Please don’t come here.’

Please go to Euncheon Hall.

Or even Geumcheon Hall.

‘Please!’

He prayed silently.

***

But misfortune often strikes without warning.

Chung-hyeon announced, his voice brimming with excitement, “As I mentioned before, we’ll be getting some new instructors in Dongcheon Hall.”

“Us too?”

Yeom-gwang’s tone was laced with displeasure.

He clearly wasn’t happy about the situation.

“There are a lot of vacancies in Geumcheon Hall and Euncheon Hall,” Chung-hyeon explained. “The students who were being taught by the deceased instructors are in a state of confusion, so we have no choice.”

“But we haven’t suffered any losses, have we? Why are we getting new instructors?”

Yeom-gwang’s voice was sharp.

He was wary of newcomers, who might threaten his authority.

Chung-hyeon ignored him and continued, “Normally, we would assign the new instructors directly to Geumcheon Hall and Euncheon Hall. But it takes time for outsiders to adjust to the academy. So, we’ve decided to let them observe our classes for a while, if they’re interested.”

“Just observation, then.”

Yeom-gwang relaxed slightly.

The higher the rank of the hall, the stronger the students and the more skilled the instructors.

He assumed that the new instructors wouldn’t stay in Dongcheon Hall for long, since there were more vacancies in the higher-ranked halls.

But his expression changed when Chung-hyeon added, “We’ll also be creating a temporary Chief Instructor position.”

“Chief Instructor?!”

Yeom-gwang’s voice rose in alarm.

“How can an outsider become a Chief Instructor?!”

“That’s right, Head Instructor. The Chief Instructor position requires not only martial arts skills, but also leadership qualities.”

“There’s no need to create unnecessary chaos by giving a temporary position to someone who’s just passing through.”

Yeom-gwang and his followers protested vehemently.

Chung-hyeon looked at them with a bored expression.

“Dokgo Yul, the One-Eyed Sword God.”

“What?”

“He was personally invited by Judge Seon In-hyeok, the Chief Administrator, and Ma Gil-sang, the Light of the Flame, has acknowledged him as a worthy opponent. Are you suggesting that we treat him like an ordinary instructor? Are you out of your minds?”

“…”

The room fell silent.

“I would have given him my position as Head Instructor if I could,” Chung-hyeon continued. “He specifically requested to be assigned to Dongcheon Hall. I tried to persuade him to go to a higher-ranked hall, but he refused. If you have a problem with that…”

He paused.

“…take it up with him.”

No one dared to speak.

***

“Ugh, this is the worst.”

Cho Un-hwi’s head was spinning.

It wasn’t just the news of Dokgo Yul’s arrival that bothered him.

It was what Chung-hyeon had said afterward.

*Dokgo Yul stopped by Jangseong County on his way here.*

*He apparently punished a Dark path sect that was exploiting the local populace.*

*He killed the sect leader and five other masters with a single strike, without even moving a step.*

Yeom-gwang had squirmed in his seat, worried that word of his opposition to Dokgo Yul’s appointment might get back to him.

He quickly changed his tune.

“As expected of a true hero.”

But Cho Un-hwi felt sick to his stomach.

‘Damn it, why here…?’

Of all the halls in the Shinmu Academy, why Dongcheon Hall?

“Why this place, with its meager salary and strict rules?!”

It wasn’t just Dokgo Yul’s strength that bothered him it was his actions.

Why was he going around punishing demonic sects and bandits?

He had apparently defeated a Dark path sect and a group of bandits on his way to the academy.

He was a righteous hero, through and through.

Cho Un-hwi shuddered.

‘He’s my worst nightmare.’

Know your enemy and you will never be defeated.

He needed to learn more about this troublesome man.

(TLN: got my first unique sub on this novel so all in all its gonna be 5 chaps today enjoy ^^)