Chapter 82: A Day of Rest (1)

“What?!”

*Crash!*

Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim was speechless with disbelief upon hearing the news.

He stammered for a moment before finally regaining his composure.

“So… what happened?”

Instructor Gwak Jong-geun lowered his head, ashamed to see the usually stoic Jang Cheol-sim so flustered.

“…Student Eom is seriously injured. Five other students were also badly hurt.”

“How could this…”

“A duel broke out, and it quickly turned into a disaster.”

You incompetent fools!

“What were you doing while all this was happening?”

“…We have no excuse.”

“His jaw was shattered, and twelve of his teeth were knocked out in a duel?”

The injuries he had heard about were severe.

“The physician said he’ll have to eat only porridge for six months. And that’s not all! He suffered such severe internal injuries that he’ll be bedridden for over a year.”

And the victim was…

“How could you handle this so poorly?”

There was another problem.

There were victims, but no perpetrator.

The instructors stammered.

“Well… it was a clear-cut case.”

“All the students saw Student Eom behaving rudely.”

“And we can’t hide the fact that he used a lethal technique.”

“Sigh…”

He felt a headache coming on.

There had been a serious incident, but no one was to blame?

This was entirely the instructors’ responsibility.

‘This isn’t something I can resolve by simply resigning.’

If the Point Spear Sect decided to pursue the matter, a major disciplinary action was inevitable.

If it had been a student from a minor sect, he might have been able to smooth things over, but the victim was a disciple of one of the Nine Sects.

This was beyond his control.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Jang Cheol-sim, massaging his temples, said sharply, “Who was responsible for this?”

Everyone looked at Gwak Jong-geun.

“I think I have a good idea. I did tell you to handle it within reasonable limits.”

“…I have nothing to say.”

“Of course not.”

Jang Cheol-sim gritted his teeth and shouted,

“Not only was there an accident, but everyone witnessed it. How ridiculous do you think we look now?”

As a proud member of the prestigious Nine Sects, he was more humiliated by the fact that they had been embarrassed in front of the Dongcheon Hall instructors than by the student’s injuries.

“How can our hall hold its head high after this?!”

Gwak Jong-geun, speechless, lowered his head.

“…I apologize.”

“Sigh… You… leave. Go home and reflect on your actions.”

“Please be lenient.”

*Thud.*

Gwak Jong-geun left, and Jang Cheol-sim, after calming down, asked, “So, who was it?”

Instructor Jayeom, who had taken Gwak Jong-geun’s place, answered, “It was a student named Baek Ri-seol.”

“…The talented student that the Baek Ri Clan is so interested in.”

Of course, a child from a prestigious clan would be different.

Jang Cheol-sim, coming up with a plausible explanation, said, “Cooperate with them for now.”

“Are you really going to accept the help of those Dongcheon Hall nannies?”

“We’re already overwhelmed with this incident. Don’t argue.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

The instructors reluctantly nodded. They knew that if another incident occurred, they would be the ones held responsible.

“Don’t think of it as accepting their help. Think of it as stepping back because of the students’ backgrounds.”

Their expressions softened slightly.

It was just a matter of semantics, but it was easier to accept that they had been forced to back down because of the assistants’ powerful families than because of the Dongcheon Hall instructors they had looked down on.

Of course, some instructors were still unhappy, especially the older ones.

“I understand your intentions, Instructor Jang, but teaching is a different matter.”

“How much help can those inexperienced instructors be?”

“What’s the most important thing in an organization? Discipline. I doubt those incompetent fools will be able to follow orders properly.”

“That’s right. If they teach the students their half-baked techniques and something goes wrong, we’ll be the ones held responsible.”

Jang Cheol-sim couldn’t ignore their concerns.

“You have a point.”

The most important thing in an organization was a clear chain of command.

He thought for a moment and said, “Then let them prove themselves.”

“…What?”

“If they keep making mistakes, the students will realize their incompetence.”

The older instructors’ eyes gleamed at his cryptic words.

“Give them some tasks and see how they handle them.”

***

“…It was an accident.”

Baek Ri-seol insisted in a low voice.

The Dongcheon Hall instructors, seeing her state, felt a headache coming on.

“Sigh, she couldn’t even wait.”

“When did this happen?”

They had been caught up with the sudden influx of students, and then they heard a commotion. When they finally managed to break free from the crowd, they were greeted by a scene of carnage.

“He started it!”

Baek Ri-seol, who had been brutally beating someone just moments ago, claimed.

“It was self-defense. Hmph.”

Mo Yong So-hye, who had broken the arms of two students and was repeatedly punching another in the chest, chimed in.

“Really…”

Instructor Yang massaged his temples and turned to Namgung Yun-ho.

“Student Namgung, I thought you were different.”

“…I apologize for disappointing you.”

“And you too, Student Jegal…”

“It could have been worse if I hadn’t held back.”

What’s the problem?

His cold reply reminded the Dongcheon Hall instructors of Jegal Tan’s past exploits at Euncheon Hall.

‘Now that I think about it, Student Jegal has quite a temper.’

They often forgot about it because he had been behaving himself recently.

“Ugh.”

They had caused trouble on their first day at Euncheon Hall.

What were they going to do?

“This is outrageous! I thought a two-legged mongrel was attacking me!”

Baek Ri-seol, seeing that the instructors were speechless, started making ridiculous claims.

Namgung Yun-ho joined in.

“She just challenged him to a duel to test his skills.”

“Sigh…”

Mo Yong So-hye sighed and raised her hand timidly.

“Actually, the two-legged dog… was kind of cool name.”

“Hehe, So-hye knows what’s up.”

They weren’t even remorseful.

‘How does Instructor Cho handle these troublemakers so easily?’

Come to think of it, where was he?

“Where’s Instructor Cho?”

“I’m here.”

The door opened, and a small figure shuffled in.

“Instructor Cho.”

“What’s going on?”

“Where were you during all this commotion?”

He wanted to ask if he knew what had happened while he was gone, but…

Cho Un-hwi beat him to it, pouting and saying, “They called me to fix an error in the assistant roster.”

“Huh? Was there an error?”

“And then I was summoned to the infirmary and held there.”

He turned to Baek Ri-seol.

“…You really messed him up. I thought he was a bloody pancake with eyes.”

Baek Ri-seol’s voice, which had been loud and confident just moments ago, was now barely a whisper.

“I’m sorryyy…”

“Why? You beat him to within an inch of his life. Why didn’t you just finish him off?”

“…”

Baek Ri-seol lowered her head, and Cho Un-hwi, his hands clasped behind his back, walked past the four students. They straightened their backs and began to confess their sins.

“I realize I went a bit overboard.”

“I’ll try to be more gentle in the future.”

Instructor Yang was surprised to see Namgung Yun-ho and Jegal Tan cowering under his gaze.

‘They’re reacting completely differently than before.’

Yeo Mae-hong’s eyes sparkled.

‘He’s a natural-born teacher. He’s got them under control with just his aura.’

‘He’s full of surprises.’

The other instructors were also impressed.

“I know I did wrong, but…”

Mo Yong So-hye raised her hand timidly.

“That jerk harassed my sister…”

She whispered, but…

“What?!”

Cho Un-hwi’s voice boomed.

“That bastard?!”

“He grabbed her wrist…”

“You broke his wrist, right?”

Baek Ri-seol, who had been dejected, suddenly perked up.

“Yes! Yes! Both of them!”

“What about his mouth?”

“I rearranged it nicely.”

“His groin? Did you kick him in the groin?”

Baek Ri-seol hesitated for the first time.

“Ah, well…”

Cho Un-hwi’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. Baek Ri-seol quickly raised her hand.

“But I yielded the first three moves! Three preemptive strikes, no need for punishment!”

“You remembered my teachings well. Three preemptive strikes, and the attacker is automatically at fault.”

“I also made sure to gather plenty of witnesses, just like you said.”

“Perfect. I’m proud of you.”

Instructor Yang’s jaw dropped.

‘So these kids caused trouble…’

‘Because of Instructor Cho?’

‘Oh my god.’

Ignorance was bliss. His admiration for Cho Un-hwi crumbled, replaced by worry.

Cho Un-hwi, oblivious to his inner turmoil, continued, “Good job. Next time something like this happens, beat them senseless.”

“Don’t stop until you’re sure they’re done. And then hit them a few more times.”

“If you hesitate in a fight, you’ll get stabbed in the gut.”

He then launched into a lecture about how dangerous the Murim was, how it was better to kill your opponent than to die from carelessness, and other questionable philosophies.

Yeo Mae-hong, massaging her temples, said, “Instructor Cho, what are you teaching these kids? They’re young and impressionable!”

Cho Un-hwi replied in a sullen tone, “Huh? There are no dreams or hopes in the Murim. They’re screwed. They’re martial artists now.”

“Oh my god.”

Yeo Mae-hong, aghast, placed her hand on her forehead and groaned.

Instructor Jo Hyeon clicked her tongue.

“I knew they were becoming more and more alike.”

“I have high hopes for them.”

“…That’s a terrifying thought.”

Instructor Yang, however, had a different perspective.

‘He’s being extreme, but he’s not wrong.’

He had survived the harsh realities of the Murim with his bare fists, with no family or sect to back him up.

Cho Un-hwi’s words might have been crude, but they resonated with him.

But he was more interested in something else.

‘The students’ spirits have been lifted.’

The students, who had been timid and hesitant just moments ago, were now cheering Cho Un-hwi on, shouting, “That’s right!” and “You tell them!”

Instructor Yang chuckled at their childlike behavior, hiding behind their father figure.

‘Could someone who doesn’t care about them gain their blind trust?’

It was impossible.

‘He’s full of surprises.’

He was curious about Cho Un-hwi’s past.

What kind of life had he lived in the Murim?