Chapter 62: Searching for Traces (3)

“Can you tell me more about that?”

“Of course. It’s not a secret. An official announcement will be made soon.”

The senior instructors of Dongcheon Hall had already anticipated this.

The Shinmu Academy was already short-staffed, and the recent incidents had resulted in the deaths and injuries of several instructors.

It was only natural that there would be a shortage of manpower.

‘It won’t be easy to find replacements.’

They had recently discovered that the Heavenly Destruction Society had infiltrated the Murim Alliance and the Shinmu Academy.

They would be even more cautious in their recruitment process, making it even harder to find suitable candidates.

The problem was that the instructor position was already unpopular due to the low pay and lack of prestige. With the added scrutiny, it would be even harder to find anyone willing to take the job.

‘So they’re going to draw from Dongcheon Hall as a temporary measure.’

Creating vacancies to facilitate promotions to Euncheon Hall.

It was all going according to Dokgo Yul’s plan.

But Yeo Mae-hong was skeptical.

“Do you think it will work? Even if it’s temporary, many instructors will be reluctant to accept a lower-ranking instructors.”

“That’s true. The instructors in Euncheon Hall have huge egos. Some of them even look down on Dongcheon Hall instructors, calling them ‘nannies.’ There will definitely be some resistance.”

“Those brats.”

“Well, it’s not entirely their fault. Many of them are actually quite skilled, and they’re used to being arrogant.”

“And it’s true that many students value background and lineage over actual teaching ability.”

It seemed like getting promoted to Euncheon Hall wasn’t as simple as he had thought.

‘Well, it’s not my problem.’

They had big egos?

‘Their lives are more important than their egos.’

They valued background over skill?

‘I’ll beat them until they can’t see straight.’

He had subdued some of the most stubborn and arrogant people in the world in the desert.

He was confident in his ability to handle people.

But Yeo Mae-hong’s concerns weren’t limited to the students.

“I heard the initiation ceremony for new instructors in Euncheon Hall is quite harsh…”

“When I was a newbie, the senior instructors would make us do drills every morning. Many instructors quit because they couldn’t handle it.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya shuddered at the memory.

Yeo Mae-hong asked, “The higher-ups must know about this. Do you think they’ll still go through with it?”

“Yes, they will.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya replied confidently, then asked Yeo Mae-hong, “Think back to when we were students. What happened in the second half of the year?”

“Back then…”

Yeo Mae-hong’s eyes widened.

“That’s right! The Murim Expedition!”

“Yes. It was canceled because Instructor Eun, who was in charge of it, passed away. But do you think they’ll cancel the most important event in Euncheon Hall?”

“I doubt it. It’s a crucial part of their evaluation.”

“Especially since the Chief Administrator has publicly announced his intention to train practical martial artists. He won’t give up on the Murim Expedition, which gives the students their first taste of real combat.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya’s conclusion was that the academy would recruit instructors from Dongcheon Hall, even if it meant bending the rules, to address the urgent shortage of manpower and prepare for the Murim Expedition in the second half of the year.

‘It’s a reasonable assumption.’

It was a logical and practical conclusion.

But was this perfect chain of events really just a coincidence?

‘No way.’

He had made the right decision by keeping Dokgo Yul as his subordinate.

“It seems the Chief Administrator is also looking for skilled martial artists to recruit.”

“Do you think any skilled martial artists would be satisfied with an instructor position?”

“I don’t know. But he seems determined to find a way…”

The conversation shifted from work to romance, and then to gossip about the higher-ups.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve had such a pleasant time.’

His only regret was that he hadn’t found any trace of his lover.

“Nom nom.”

He would have to be content with discovering a new favorite restaurant.

***

“Haaaah…”

Cho Un-hwi stepped out of the tavern to get some fresh air and headed for the well in the backyard.

“This place is great, but the ventilation is terrible.”

The air inside was thick with smoke from the grilled intestines and the cigarettes of the drunken patrons.

“Haaaah… the air is so fresh out here.”

He took a deep breath, savoring the cool night air.

“Haaaah… haaah…”

The smoke cleared from his lungs, replaced by the crisp night air.

“Haaaah… I can finally brea… hmm?”

He froze.

He caught a faint scent.

‘This scent…’

His relaxed muscles tensed, and his senses sharpened.

His sense of smell, which had been dulled by the smoke and alcohol, was now incredibly acute.

“It’s her scent.”

He shot into the air, his body soaring ten zhang high.

He landed lightly on a rooftop.

“Sniff sniff.”

The scent was fading.

This wasn’t the right direction.

He leaped to another rooftop and focused his senses.

He picked up a faint trace of the scent and turned his head.

“West.”

His vision sharpened, and he saw a figure in the distance, as if he was being drawn to it.

His heart raced.

‘I’m running out of time.’

She was approaching the main street.

If her scent mixed with the scents of the crowd, he would lose her.

‘I have no choice.’

He shattered the tiles beneath his feet.

**Whoosh!**

He soared into the air, gathering his internal energy.

A black aura gathered at his fingertip, distorting the air around him.

He had to be quick.

There were many skilled martial artists in this bustling district. Someone might notice his unusual Qi.

As he had expected…

‘Someone’s already reacting.’

He sensed a powerful aura emanating from the Green Wall Tower.

‘They have keen senses.’

But even the most skilled martial artist wouldn’t be able to pinpoint his location from this distance.

‘I have to be quick.’

He flicked his finger, sending a surge of black Qi towards the source of the scent.

“Ouch, that’s cold!”

A young woman, who had been about to disappear into the crowd, touched the back of her neck.

‘Success!’

He had marked her.

Now, he had to escape.

He twisted in the air and landed on another rooftop.

He leaped again, his toes barely touching the edge of the roof.

**Whoosh!**

The wind whipped past him, blurring his vision.

And then, he was back where he had started, standing by the well in Eight Flavors Road.

He had returned in the blink of an eye.

“Oh, you’re out here?”

Yeo Mae-hong emerged from the tavern, her face flushed.

“Ugh, I ate too much.”

“You should have paced yourself.”

“I couldn’t help it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a drink.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya appeared, her face also red.

“This place is great, but the ventilation is terrible.”

“Who cares about ventilation when the food is cheap and delicious?”

Yeo Mae-hong sniffed her clothes.

“Sniff sniff… I smell like grilled meat. I’m going to need a bath.”

“The smell of grilled meat is a badge of honor. People will be envious.”

He was about to go inside to pay the bill when Mo Yong Seon-ya smiled mischievously.

“I already paid.”

“But I’m supposed to be treating you.”

“You can buy us a more expensive meal next time.”

He had a feeling he would be dragged to many more drinking parties with these two, but…

“Well, I’m not complaining.”

He agreed readily.

***

Meanwhile…

A figure landed lightly on a rooftop.

“That’s strange.”

The old man, his long white hair flowing in the wind, brushed his beard thoughtfully.

He looked around the spot where Cho Un-hwi had been standing just a moment ago.

“I could have sworn I felt a presence here…”

He stroked his beard again.

“Perhaps I was mistaken.”

But he was certain he had felt something.

“It wasn’t a mistake. It was a powerful and profound… hmm?”

He saw a figure leaping from the eaves of a building. The figure froze when he saw the old man, then quickly turned away.

“Light of the Flame greets the Alliance Leader.”

“Haha, Light of the Flame. You felt it too, didn’t you?”

Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho smiled.

‘As expected of the Chief Instructor. He was the first to arrive.’

He was one of the youngest members of the Alliance’s leadership, but his skills were unparalleled.

He was now certain.

“I wasn’t mistaken.”

“It was a faint but powerful aura. It couldn’t have been a mistake.”

“It was such a strange aura. I can’t even begin to guess its origin.”

Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho was a seasoned martial artist who had mastered countless techniques, both righteous and demonic.

But he had never encountered anything like the aura he had just felt.

‘It wasn’t like an aura… it was more like the aftermath of a natural disaster.’

It was like the feeling he had gotten when he had stood in the ruins of a town that had been ravaged by a typhoon.

But his thoughts were interrupted.

“Alliance Leader.”

A figure in white robes landed beside him.

“Alliance Leader!”

“Haha, White Robe Judge. You’ve arrived.”

“I apologize for my tardiness.”

“Not at all. You’ve arrived at the perfect time.”

Just the three of them?

It was a secluded alley on the outskirts of the city, but it was still surprising that only three people had sensed the aura.

‘This is dangerous.’

He stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“There are four of us.”

A deep voice boomed from the rooftop.

A powerful presence descended upon them.

The White Robe Judge and Light of the Flame smiled.

“Instructor Dokgo.”

“Haha, I was wondering when you’d show up.”

Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho finally got a good look at the newcomer.

He was a tall, muscular man with a stern face and a tightly closed mouth.

He saw the black eyepatch covering the man’s right eye and realized who he was.

“You must be the One-Eyed Sword God, Dokgo Yul.”

“The title of ‘Sword God’ is too much. Please, just call me One-Eyed Sword.”

His deep voice made Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho smile.

‘He’s a humble man.’

He was only in his forties, but he had already earned the title of Sword God. He could have been arrogant, but he was incredibly humble.

And it wasn’t just his words.

His aura was pure and refined, and his clothes were simple and unassuming. He was clearly a man of integrity.

‘This is good. He’s a blessing to the righteous Murim.’

(TLN: funnily enough he actually is)

He smiled warmly and asked, “As you all felt, it was a very strange aura. Even I can’t guess its origin. What are your thoughts?”

“I’ve never felt anything like it, Alliance Leader.”

The White Robe Judge was one of the most knowledgeable people in the Murim.

If even he couldn’t identify the aura, it was truly something special.

Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho turned to Dokgo Yul.

“What about you?”

“…”

The One-Eyed Sword God pondered for a moment, then said, “I’m also unfamiliar with the aura. But it’s not completely unidentifiable.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think we should consider the recent events.”

The three men’s faces hardened.

Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho nodded.

“You think it’s related to the traitors within the Alliance.”

“We don’t even know who they are or where they came from. It’s not surprising that they might know some unusual techniques.”

“Indeed…”

It was a plausible theory.

“I thought we were making good progress in our investigation…”

The Murim Alliance’s experts were working tirelessly to find the traitors. And yet, they had left behind such a distinct trace?

“They’re underestimating us.”

Alliance Leader Lee Jun-ho smiled coldly.