Chapter 51: Summer Break and the Meetings (1)

## Chapter 16: Summer break had arrived.

The students were divided into two groups, one lined up at the Grand Training Ground and the other at the Dongcheon Hall gate.

Cho Un-hwi was assigned to the gate duty. Head Instructor Chung-hyeon had ordered him to assist with the unusually large number of students leaving the academy this break.

The war drums atop the gate boomed, and the gatekeeper waved a blue flag.

“Shinmu Academy, Dongcheon Hall.”

Another drumroll.

“Open the gates!”

The drumbeats quickened, and the gatekeepers removed the bars and pushed the gates open.

“Put your backs into it!”

“What are you waiting for? Push harder!”

“Heave! Ho!”

The massive iron gates, three zhang (9 meters) high, creaked and groaned as the gatekeepers strained against the pulleys.

Finally, the gates began to budge.

Through the widening gap, a vast crowd came into view.

And when the gates were fully open…

“Waaaaah!”

A thunderous cheer erupted from beyond the gates.

The students shouted excitedly.

“Wow, my father came himself!”

“Mother, I missed you!”

“Summer break is finally here!”

The younger students couldn’t contain their excitement at the sight of their families.

With few exceptions, Dongcheon Hall students were forbidden from leaving the academy once they enrolled.

The prospect of seeing their families after six months of confinement was enough to send them into a frenzy.

Head Instructor Chung-hyeon, surveying the scene, bellowed, “Do you want to show your families your undisciplined side?”

“No, sir!” the students shouted in unison, straightening their backs and trying to appear composed.

The older students just rolled their eyes.

The instructors rushed around, barking orders.

“Have all the departing students filled out their exit forms?”

“Anyone who hasn’t filled out the form will not be allowed to return. Double-check!”

“Don’t forget the re-entry date. Anyone who’s late will be held back a year!”

As the instructors scurried around, Head Instructor Chung-hyeon stepped onto a platform and cleared his throat.

“Ahem, ahem. I, Head Instructor Chung-hyeon, would like to take this opportunity to address the students and the esteemed guests who have come to collect their precious children. As the head of Dongcheon Hall, I am responsible for nurturing the future of the Murim…”

The students, who had been trying to maintain a semblance of order, groaned.

“Hey, you brats! Silence!”

Head Instructor Chung-hyeon glared at them, but he quickly lost his composure when the crowd of parents started cheering.

“Boo! Let the kids go! My precious baby!”

Cho Un-hwi, who was herding the students into a line, tilted his head.

“This is so embarrassing. What is he doing?”

Instructor Jo Hyeon replied, “He does this every time. He’s trying to impress the parents, hoping to get noticed by any famous martial artists.”

“He’s making a fool of himself.”

“He wouldn’t do it if he knew.”

Head Instructor Chung-hyeon droned on for almost half an hour, his speech becoming increasingly self-indulgent. He even started tearing up.

“Sob, sob… I hope that my efforts, and the efforts of the instructors, will contribute to the peace of the Murim and the prosperity of the world…”

His speech finally ended when Instructor Yang intervened.

And then, the reunions began.

“Father!”

“Mother!”

“Haha, you’re looking well!”

The students rushed into the arms of their families, savoring the warmth of their embrace.

Summer break had begun.

***

After the farewell ceremony, five instructors gathered to celebrate the start of the break.

They had become close after the incident with the mung bean pancakes.

Instructor Yang, the oldest of the group, raised his glass and said, “Cheers to all of us! We’ve worked hard.”

“Cheers!”

They clinked their glasses and took a sip.

Instructor Jo Hyeon, who looked exhausted, groaned, “Finally, some rest.”

“I wish I could say the same. My schedule is packed with family meetings.”

Instructor Yang chuckled as he saw Yeo Mae-hong’s pale face.

“Well, you have your work cut out for you, Instructor Yeo. You have a lot of students.”

Yeo Mae-hong stabbed at her vegetables with her chopsticks and nodded.

“I was so eager to take on a lot of students, but now I’m starting to regret it. I’m worried that I won’t be able to give each of them enough attention.”

“Don’t worry. You’re the most dedicated instructor I’ve ever met. You’re doing a great job.”

Instructor Yeo Mak, the new instructor, chimed in. He seemed to be quite competitive with Yeo Mae-hong, despite being in the same cohort.

“But why did you take on thirty students?”

“I made a promise.”

“A promise?”

“A promise that I can no longer keep.”

“A promise?”

Yeo Mae-hong’s eyes welled up.

“I promised Instructor Eun Hae-wol that we would meet again as instructors.”

“Ah, Instructor Eun…”

“I wanted to stand beside him…”

The mood turned somber.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring everyone down.”

“It’s okay.”

Jo Hyeon quickly changed the subject.

“Well, this cohort has been through a lot, hasn’t it?”

Instructor Yang agreed.

“Yes, I’ve been at Dongcheon Hall for a long time, but I’ve never seen a cohort like this.”

Yeo Mak, feeling guilty, chimed in.

“I never thought I’d meet Chief Administrator Seon In-hyeok and Light of the Flame Ma Gil-sang in person.”

“And now we have Master Dokgo Yul, the Rising Star of the Murim…”

Their spirits lifted as they talked about the extraordinary events of the past six months.

The conversation flowed as they reminisced and shared stories.

“Well, now that we have some time to relax, I should share some wisdom with you youngsters.”

“Yes, Instructor Cho, are you seeing anyone?”

“I heard from a friend that the Bottom Merchant Guild…”

Their laughter filled the empty Dongcheon Hall.

***

“Ugh…”

Cho Un-hwi yawned as he entered the instructors’ office.

He was surprised to see a familiar face.

“Oh, Instructor Cho?”

“Yes, you’re here?”

It was summer break.

Yeo Mae-hong smiled.

“Instructor Yang gave me some good advice yesterday.”

“Really? I don’t remember that.”

He walked over to her desk and saw that she was writing something in the student roster.

The sheer volume of text made his head spin.

“What’s that?”

“I’m listing the students’ strengths and weaknesses, and outlining my future guidance plans.”

Wow, that was tedious.

“It’s what families want. They want to see their children succeed. We have to show them that we care.”

She was right.

It was so reasonable that he couldn’t help but nod.

‘But I’m not going to do it.’

He noticed something interesting.

“What’s this? A hardworking deer? And there’s a cute little drawing.”

“Hehe, I’m writing down things that remind me of the students. Instructor Yang said that drawing pictures helps you remember their characteristics and creates a sense of closeness. I’m sure the families will appreciate it.”

“That’s actually quite fun.”

He imagined a bipedal cow and a nine-tailed fox wearing a sheepskin coat.

He tried to draw something, but Yeo Mae-hong, who was peeking over his shoulder, tilted her head.

“Is that some kind of monstrous creature?”

“It’s a squirrel. A squirrel.”

“Hmm… and this is… a demon with a trident?”

She didn’t see the fox holding a fan.

He slammed the roster shut, his inspiration gone.

Yeo Mae-hong apologized.

“I’m sorry, I’m not very good at art.”

“Don’t apologize.”

It just made him feel worse.

“It’s okay, Instructor Cho. You’re resourceful. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”

“I’m never drawing again.”

“Really?”

I’m not drawing bulging biceps or cute little hopping motions. Those would just distract people.

It’s too late.

The spring sprout that had just bloomed after a long winter had been trampled.

It was gone forever.

“I’ll just show up in person. My presence alone is enough to inspire confidence.”

“…Confidence is good, but prestigious families like the Five Great Clans have complicated etiquette. You’re visiting the Mo Yong Clan first, right? They seem to be quite eager to meet you. You should at least learn how to express your gratitude and practice your table manners.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“What do you say when you arrive at their residence?”

“Hmm… ‘Come out here’?”

“…”

“…”

“…Please.”

“You’re welcome.”

***

That evening, Cho Un-hwi set off for the Mo Yong Clan’s manor.

He wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the location.

It was near the path he had taken to the Muhan Branch.

“Is this it?”

He squinted at the ornate calligraphy on the sign.

He saw a red-tiled house in the distance.

The walls were whitewashed, and the gate was painted black and gold.

“The Mo Yong Clan. This is it.”

***

He stood before the massive gate, which seemed too grand for a mere manor.

The gate creaked open.

He saw Mo Yong-ju, the man who had yelled at him in the instructors’ office, and Mo Yong So-hye, who was dressed in fine clothes.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Hehe, you’re here!”

There was another unexpected guest.

“Haha, it’s good to see you again, Instructor Cho.”

A beautiful woman stood before him, surrounded by maidservants.

She was tall and slender, her figure accentuated by her flowing pink robe. He felt a sense of familiarity.

“Oh, you don’t recognize me?”

She tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear.

He finally recognized her.

“Ah, Instructor Mo Yong-Seon-ya.”

“Haha, I didn’t know you wouldn’t recognize me just because I changed my clothes.”

“You look like a different person.”

“I’m not sure if I should be flattered or offended.”

She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.

She was a far cry from the boisterous woman who had guzzled wine and devoured meat at the tavern.

The difference was as stark as the contrast between Sima Yul, who wanted to destroy the righteous Murim, and Dokgo Yul, the Hope of the Righteous Faction.

As he was marveling at her transformation, a gruff voice interrupted him.

“Excuse me for interrupting your youthful chatter, but do you not see this old man standing here?”

“Thank you for the invitation, Master Mo Yong.”

“That’s a decent greeting. Not perfect, but you’ve learned well.”

Mo Yong-ju’s reaction was surprisingly pleasant.

‘Is he not angry anymore?’

Perhaps Yeo Mae-hong’s emergency etiquette lesson had worked.

As he was feeling relieved, Mo Yong-ju turned to his granddaughter and said, “So-hye, I thought you said he was hopeless. You said it would be easier to dress a horse in clothes and teach it to bow than to teach him manners.”

What? Dress a horse in clothes?

Cho Un-hwi’s voice turned cold.

“Our Bloodthirsty Asura has grown up. She’s even insulting her instructor now.”

“W-who’s the Bloodthirsty Asura?!”

“Who else? The Bane of the Righteous Faction, the Bloody Fist of Dongcheon Hall, the legendary Mo Yong So-hye.”

“Oh, come on.”

Mo Yong-ju chuckled as his granddaughter stomped her foot.

He gestured towards the manor.

“Come inside, Instructor Cho Un-hwi.”

What was going on?

He was baffled by the change in Mo Yong-ju’s demeanor. The man had been ready to breathe fire just a few days ago.