Chapter 74: Entering Euncheon Hall (1)

After a tumultuous summer break, Head Instructor Chung-hyeon gathered the instructors before the start of the new semester. An air of unease still lingered as he made a bombshell announcement.

“Some of you may have already heard the rumors, but for those who haven’t, I’ll let you know. We’ve decided to dispatch temporary instructors from Dongcheon Hall to Euncheon Hall.”

*Wow!*

A wave of gasps and murmurs swept through the Dongcheon Hall instructors.

“The rumors were true?”

“I don’t know what rumors you’re talking about, but if it’s about staffing, then yes.”

Another instructor raised his hand.

“Head Instructor, I heard that the Euncheon Hall instructors were strongly opposed to this. How did…”

“Ahem!”

Head Instructor Chung-hyeon stroked his goatee and said, “Euncheon Hall is in a difficult situation due to the recent unfortunate incidents. As fellow Shinmu Academy instructors, we can’t just stand by and watch them struggle.”

He was right.

Even though Dongcheon Hall was often called “Dungcheon Hall,” they were still part of the Shinmu Academy.

It was only natural to offer assistance in times of need.

The problem was that this was unprecedented.

“Euncheon Hall is asking us for temporary instructors?”

“Those who always looked down on us for being incompetent are asking for our help?”

“I never thought this day would come.”

It wasn’t just the students who looked down on Dongcheon Hall.

The Euncheon Hall instructors also considered Dongcheon Hall instructors to be inferior and often treated them with disdain.

“Are there any volunteers?”

Perhaps that was why no one stepped forward when Chung-hyeon asked for volunteers.

No one wanted to be subjected to the scorn of the Euncheon Hall instructors.

As if he had anticipated this, Chung-hyeon unfurled a scroll.

“Ahem, I prepared a list of recommendations, just in case.”

*Ugh…*

Groans of dismay filled the room, and Chung-hyeon glared at them.

“Instructor Dokgo personally selected these instructors, so if you have any complaints, go complain to him.”

“…”

Everyone fell silent.

Chung-hyeon then began to call out the names on the list.

“…Instructor Sa-seom, Instructor Jo Hyeon, Instructor Yeo Mae-hong, Instructor Cho Un-hwi. The instructors I just named are hereby appointed as temporary instructors for Euncheon Hall. You will all follow Instructor Yang Dae-cheol’s instructions and carry out your duties diligently.”

Instructor Yang, the oldest and most respected among them, was in charge of escorting them.

It was a good choice.

Yang Dae-cheol, known as the Nine Hundred Iron Fist, was a renowned expert with a strong character and many followers.

Instructor Jo Hyeon timidly raised her hand.

“Head Instructor, what about our students?”

“You’re only temporary instructors, so you’ll have to assist the Euncheon Hall instructors while also taking care of your own students.”

“We have to take care of all our students?”

“Did you think getting paid was easy?”

Chung-hyeon sounded as if he was paying them out of his own pocket.

“Ugh… help…”

“I’m going to die this semester.”

Sensing their distress, he added, “It’s only temporary. We’ll reduce your workload as soon as we find replacements.”

“When will that be?”

A young instructor asked, and Chung-hyeon turned away.

“Ah… my neck hurts.”

He was clearly avoiding the question.

He decided to change the subject and immediately spotted his target.

“Why are you here?”

“What do you mean?”

“The laziest instructor in Dongcheon Hall is being sent to Euncheon Hall as a temporary instructor? There must be some mistake.”

“It’s probably because some capable people recognized my immense talent.”

Chung-hyeon snorted at Cho Un-hwi’s answer.

“As if.”

***

Yang Dae-cheol, the Nine Hundred Iron Fist, had recently been promoted to the position of head instructor.

He was pleased with the promotion, but it came with a heavy burden.

“Head instructor at the start of a new semester…”

And not just any head instructor. He was also responsible for leading the temporary instructors who were being dispatched to Euncheon Hall.

“I have a stomach ache from all the stress. Anyway, let’s do our best. Think of it as serving the Shinmu Academy. Does anyone have any questions about Euncheon Hall?”

The selected instructors had all achieved outstanding results through their hard work and dedication.

Yang Dae-cheol made eye contact with each of them, then noticed Cho Un-hwi slouching in the corner. His eyes widened in realization.

“I’ll explain, in case anyone is unfamiliar with Euncheon Hall.”

“…Why are you looking at me?”

“Listen carefully and remember this.”

“Why are you only looking at me?”

Ignoring his protest, Yang Dae-cheol continued, “Euncheon Hall is different from Dongcheon Hall in many ways. The instructors are stricter, and the students are more demanding. The Shinmu Academy instructors are probably familiar with this, right?”

Instructor Jo Hyeon nodded.

“Unlike Dongcheon Hall, which is known as a playground or a cradle, Euncheon Hall is where students learn about real combat and practical skills.”

Yeo Mae-hong added, “That’s why the instructors there are more assertive than us.”

The other young instructors chimed in.

“Many of them were active in the Murim until recently.”

“They’re mostly from prestigious sects, so they have big egos.”

“They often look down on those with humble backgrounds.”

“But you have to endure it.”

So, why were they all lecturing him?

“Alright.”

Yang Dae-cheol clapped his hands to get their attention.

“There might be some friction between the instructors, but the most important thing is the students. They’re all disciples of renowned sects, so they’re skilled. And their egos are as big as their skills.”

“It sounds like both the instructors and the students are a pain in the ass.”

He felt everyone’s gaze on him.

Then, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.

He turned to see Yeo Mae-hong smiling kindly.

“We can do this. Let’s be patient and endure.”

Jo Hyeon patted him on the shoulder.

“It will be tough, but we can do it.”

“Don’t be reckless and get your ass kicked.”

“The Euncheon Hall instructors might be arrogant and annoying, but they’re skilled.”

“That’s right, they’re different from Dongcheon Hall.”

“It’s not just the instructors. The students might even challenge us directly.”

He had a feeling this wasn’t going to be easy.

***

*Rumble…*

The massive iron gates began to open.

The gates, gleaming silver, were clearly a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

“Step back. We’re lowering the drawbridge.”

*Clank! Clank!*

Someone turned a crank, and the drawbridge, which had been raised like a tower, began to descend.

A drawbridge, usually reserved for important fortresses due to its high cost, was being used to separate two sections of the same academy.

‘They’re wasting so much money.’

And yet they paid their instructors peanuts.

*Creak…*

He felt a surge of emotion as he watched the drawbridge slowly descend.

‘We’re finally entering Euncheon Hall.’

He had worked so hard to get through these gates.

Cho Un-hwi, who had spent countless hours observing the gates from the shadows, knew better than anyone how sturdy they were, how many traps and formations were hidden around the drawbridge, and how many deadly creatures lurked in the river below.

‘It was a formidable obstacle.’

He could overcome most traps and formations, but it was incredibly difficult to bypass such a large-scale security system without leaving a trace.

And even if he could get through, there was another problem.

The strange spatial distortion he sensed beyond the walls was most likely a deadly formation.

This massive artificial wall, built and reinforced over a century, was not something to be trifled with.

‘You cowardly Murim Alliance bastards, let’s settle this with guts and fists, not history and tradition.’

It was unfair that they were hiding behind these elaborate defenses, built by reclusive engineers over decades.

As he was grumbling to himself, the drawbridge came to a stop with a loud clang, and he heard the security systems deactivating.

*Click! Click!*

*Clank! Clank!*

After a series of mechanical noises, the guards stepped aside, and Instructor Yang stepped forward.

“We are now entering Euncheon Hall territory. Be on your guard.”

The usually stoic and taciturn martial artist led the way with an unusually grim expression.

Finally, they were entering Euncheon Hall.

***

They walked for half an hour after passing through the gates.

They finally arrived at a massive training ground.

Several silver banners bearing the Euncheon Hall emblem fluttered in the wind, and a dozen instructors and fifty students were lined up in formation.

It was an impressive sight.

“Why are there so few people?”

He tilted his head, looking at the vast training ground, and Yeo Mae-hong chuckled.

“This is the small training ground.”

“This is the small training ground?”

It seemed larger than Dongcheon Hall’s main training ground.

“The main training ground is ten times larger than this. And there are many other training grounds that are even bigger.”

“Oh my god.”

Even this “small” training ground was large enough to accommodate a thousand people fighting at once.

He wouldn’t be surprised if they held cavalry battles here.

And this was just the small one?

“This is Euncheon Hall for you.”

“No wonder they look down on Dungcheon Hall.”

“That’s right. It’s several times larger, but there are far fewer students. It’s only natural that they feel a sense of pride and superiority.”

Pride and superiority?

Shouldn’t they be questioning the sanity of this absurdly large academy before feeling proud and superior?

‘Now I understand why Yul was complaining so much.’

It was understandable that he, who had grown up eating dirt in the desert, was having trouble adjusting.

Instructor Yang stopped and said, “The students we’ll be in charge of are the ones Euncheon Hall is particularly concerned about.”

Particularly concerned about?

He assumed it meant promising young talents, but…

“As expected.”

Yeo Mae-hong said something cryptic.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, they wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of summoning us if it was an easy task.”

“Just tell me what you mean.”

“It’s simple.”

She sighed deeply.

He watched her chest rise and fall, then she continued, “They’re all wearing red armbands, right?”

“Yes, they are.”

“That means they’re failing students.”

“What?!”

“They’re called ‘students of concern.’ I thought they would give us some troublesome students, but it seems they’ve gathered all the worst ones.”

This wasn’t what he had expected.

No wonder things had gone so smoothly.