Chapter v8c11

“Do you know why I called you?”

Ma Jin ga asked in a quiet voice.

“I’m not quite sure yet.”

Mo Yong hwi answered honestly. In fact, he had no clue at all.

“Hahaha! You haven’t done anything wrong to be called here, so don’t be too nervous.”

Seeing Mo Yong hwi’s still stiff and tense posture as they sat across from each other with tea cups set down, Ma Jin ga spoke. It meant to relax and be at ease. But it seemed Mo Yong hwi didn’t quite catch the meaning of his words.

“It’s okay.”

His response was still stiff. For Mo Yong hwi, who was always neat and orderly, sitting face to face with the head of Cheonmu Academy, Ma Jin ga, on an ordinary platform was a great burden. His attitude didn’t seem to fit that of the grandson of the Sword Saint, one of the Cheonmu Tri Stars.

“Oh dear, oh dear! You’re not getting my point at all. I’m telling you to relax and be comfortable.”

Despite Ma Jin ga’s attempt to ease the tension, Mo Yong hwi didn’t budge. His posture remained as precise as if measured. Some time had passed since they sat together, but Ma Jin ga had never seen Mo Yong hwi relax his stance. About half an hour had passed, and the only movements Mo Yong hwi had shown were blinking and moving his lips when he spoke briefly.

“Please tell me your business!”

Mo Yong hwi was still not relaxing. By this point, Ma Jin ga himself started to feel uncomfortable.

“Your bluntness is more than the rumors say.”

Before the air became more awkward, Ma Jin ga decided to finish the business.

“You know that an investigator from the Dark Heaven Alliance is coming to investigate the tragedy at Mount Wudang, right?”

“Yes!”

Of course, Mo Yong hwi knew. It was already a widespread rumor within the academy. Among them, many were angry about the unilateral dispatch of an investigator by the dark faction. The reason was injustice. If it was the tragedy at Mount Wudang that needed clarification, Mo Yong hwi honestly felt a sting in his heart.

The one who had crossed swords with Gal Hyobong until the very end was himself. Gal Hyobong, whom he couldn’t defeat despite giving his all until the end, was a respectable and excellent martial artist. Even he, always as sharp as a knife with all rules, still had things left unsaid. It was something even he couldn’t understand. However, once he had sworn an oath to the path of the sword, he had to keep it.

“The young ones are quite vocal with their complaints about this matter. They are spirited youths, after all. But since we’ve agreed to receive an investigator according to the rules, protecting the investigator is our academy’s responsibility.”

Mo Yong hwi knew this fact well without needing a detailed explanation. But he didn’t rudely interrupt and put Ma Jin ga in a difficult position.

Ma Jin ga continued speaking.

“If the investigator is harmed, it would be quite troublesome! It could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings, and that could directly lead to conflict. You, being so clever, must know this. To avoid being wrongfully accused, there’s a need for thorough protection.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Mo Yong hwi asked, filled with questions.

“This matter has more than one or two suspicious points. There might be a huge conspiracy involved. An unseen dark force could be targeting here! I’m considering even the worst case scenarios. The most terrible nightmares that could happen.”

“What do you mean by the worst case scenario…?”

“For now, that’s all you need to know. It’s not yet the stage to tell you everything. That’s why I want you to take on the task of escorting the investigator.”

“Yes!”

Mo Yong hwi was astonished, his mouth agape. It was the first expression of emotion he had shown in front of Ma Jin ga today. Ma Jin ga continued speaking.

“We are also deeply upset about the annihilation of the Secret Pavilion First Unit Pursuit Team… But there’s nothing we can do about it! It’s frustrating, but we can’t formally protest to the other side until our suspicions are cleared. And we can’t just leave the person coming as an envoy unattended, so I’m requesting this from you, a reliable person. I’m counting on you!”

Ma Jin ga used the word ‘request’ rather than ‘order.’ But that made it even more impossible to refuse.

“How could I dare take on such a task? There must be many experts available for such a job?”

He was still a student. Being a guardian was out of the question.

“Not at all! In my view, you’re the only one for the job. In fact, having a student like you as the escort might ease their guard. Experts might give off the feeling of being watched. I’m really counting on you.”

The task Mo Yong hwi had to take on was that of a protector and observer. He must not miss any detail of the investigator’s actions. However, the role of the observer must not be apparent. Mo Yong hwi was perfect for performing these two tasks simultaneously, although his lack of flexibility was a big problem.

“To entrust me with such an important mission…”

Mo Yong hwi’s sense of responsibility began to burn fiercely. It was a very exemplary attitude, the complete opposite of Bi Ryu yeon, who was indifferent to responsibility. How could his sense of responsibility not ignite when the future of Cheonmu Academy rested on his shoulders?

“I’m asking you!”

“Leave it to me!”

Mo Yong hwi said with a resolute voice.

“Now I feel a bit relieved hearing you say that!”

Ma Jin ga smiled with satisfaction. The most worrying issue had been resolved for now.

“But who is the investigator coming this time?”

Mo Yong hwi asked, thinking that he should be prepared by knowing who the opponent was.

“Well, I haven’t been notified who it will be. They’ll probably send an old devil worn out from use. They wouldn’t send a young girl for such a serious matter, would they? They have their considerations… The person coming this time might be a very troublesome old lady with a meticulous and fussy personality. Hahaha! Then you’ll have a hard time!”

It was a story told to make him relax and laugh. But Ma Jin ga truly thought so. It was a correct argument without any flaws.

“I see. I understand.”

Waiting without knowing who it might be could also be fun. With a slightly excited heart, Mo Yong hwi waited for the scheduled visit of the investigator.

And he would have to bitterly regret not being mentally prepared in advance.

“Gather all your comrades immediately!”

bi yeon tae shouted with fiery passion.

As soon as a carriage entered the premises, the activities of a group affiliated with the Cheonmu Academy’s club, known as the ‘Ae Sojeo Hwe’ (Lovers of Young Ladies) commonly referred to as the Women’s Natural Enemy, began to whirl breathlessly. Numerous pieces of information were exchanged, verified for authenticity, and sorted according to importance.

It had been a while since such a big case, so everyone was brimming with energy. The flowing vitality and burning passion were so intense that they almost seemed on the verge of madness.

What a racket! Such a commotion! A complete uproar!

It was almost miraculous how they moved so busily without bumping into each other. But to those in the know, it was expected. They were all using martial footwork in their movements, allowing them to narrowly avoid and deftly sidestep each other. It would be foolish to force physical contact with others while using such footwork.

“Why is everyone so busy?”

That was Bi Ryu yeon’s impression upon seeing people moving so swiftly that their hands and feet were a blur. He was on his way to the clubroom after a long time with his friends. Everyone seemed too busy, silently making excuses, and no one responded to Bi Ryu yeon’s question. His words echoed without response and felt as hollow as a stone dropped into an abyss.

“Were there always this many people here?”

Bi Ryu yeon looked around with wonder.

“I’m quite surprised myself! What an event!”

Hyo ryong also seemed very surprised. His astonishment was clearly visible on his face.

The Ae Sojeo Hwe clubroom was bustling with people. The usual tranquility and abundance of space were nowhere to be seen. The atmosphere, which usually seemed to ooze decadence and laziness, was completely transformed.

There’s a saying that if you hold onto curiosity for too long, it becomes a sickness. Bi Ryu yeon, who believed in strict self discipline, had no desire to fall ill.

“What’s going on?”

Finally spotting a familiar face, Bi Ryu yeon grabbed his shoulder, turned his head to meet his eyes, and asked. He felt a sense of urgency, fearing that he would once again be left shouting into the void without an answer.

“Oh? Ryu Yeon, is that you? It’s been a long time.”

The one who answered was a man of massive stature, with limbs as thick as logs, a master of the Bong technique, Jin Sung gon.

“It’s good to see you after such a long time. It proves we haven’t parted forever. But what exactly is going on? I think it’s better for my mental health to know before it starts.”

The best way to maintain mental health was to resolve curiosity as quickly as possible.

“Don’t you know yet? It’s a major event! A major event!”

“A major event?”

Bi Ryu yeon naively exposed his ignorance. But it wasn’t just his fault.

“What? You still don’t know?”

It felt like an accusation, as if saying, ‘How could you not know!’

“Of course, I don’t know. I may be smart and know a lot of things, but even a genius sometimes wants to be ignorant.”

To avoid further nonsense, Jin Sung gon needed to provide a reason.

“It’s about the investigator dispatched by the Dark Heaven Alliance for an investigation. Do you know who it is?”

“How would I know? Haven’t I strongly asserted several times that I don’t know? Aren’t you dragging this out too long?”

Jin Sung gon was verbose, like a novelist who wants to add more lines just to increase the length of the story. Bi Ryu yeon urged him for an answer.

“She’s an incredibly, incredibly, incredibly beautiful woman.”

“Beautiful woman?”

Bi Ryu yeon momentarily showed a stunned expression. Although his face was obscured by his hair, the wide open mouth was enough to predict his current state. It was a gaping expression mixed with disbelief and absurdity.

“Was it just about that?”

Having barely regained his composure and escaped from a mental panic, Bi Ryu yeon spoke nonchalantly. It was such a trivial matter that, of course, he wouldn’t have known. It was normal not to know. It had been less than an hour since the carriage arrived. Who could have imagined that the investigator dispatched by the Dark Heaven Alliance would be a bewitching young woman!

It was astonishing how quickly such a large number of people had gathered in such a short time. These people were too quick to act, especially when it involved women, particularly beautiful ones.

“Just that? What kind of cursed talk is that! Don’t you know the Ae Sojeo Hwe’s rule that a beauty takes precedence over all situations and lives? That’s why we’re currently searching and organizing the original documents.”

Honestly, Bi Ryu yeon hadn’t memorized a single character of the Ae Sojeo Hwe’s rules.

“But who is it that requires such a massive mobilization of people to organize documents?”

The number of people mobilized for the organization of a single person’s documents was excessive.

“Ah! It’s none other than one of the five great beauties of the Dark Heaven Alliance! A peerless beauty who commands more than a third of the men in Heavenly Demon’s Pavilion as her followers! This amount of documentation is only natural. Besides, the information coming from the Dark Heaven Alliance side is so scattered and messy that it takes a lot of effort. We need to open up more exchanges. It’s too chaotic and takes too much effort…”

Jin Sung gon grumbled. Apparently, there was also a gathering of like minded eccentrics on the Dark Heaven Alliance side.

It seemed to be the case. The limits of men were clearly visible.

“If you had organized it beforehand, this wouldn’t have happened!”

Jang Hong, who had been watching until now, spoke up. His usual principle was that information should always be organized in the most accessible state. There was nothing more dreadful than disorganized, messy information.

“Huh? Isn’t organizing something you do all at once when there’s a big event?”

Jin Sung gon’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“What nonsense are you talking about! Organizing is a series of actions you do every day to prevent messiness from invading the room.”

How could people be so lazy and careless! Jang Hong raised his voice to scold these scoundrels for their habitual laziness. He sorely missed Mo Yong hwi, the embodiment of organization, the genius of cleaning, the patient of obsessive compulsive disorder, who was not by his side. However, Jang Hong was too naive. It was absurd to think that this would be enough to subdue the members of the Ae Sojeo Hwe. Jin Sung gon waved his index finger back and forth in front of Jang Hong’s eyes.

“Tsk tsk! You still have a long way to go! A long way! Our Ae Sojeo Hwe’s second rule: Don’t do anything until it’s necessary. Got it?”

It was a rule he was hearing for the first time. A ridiculous, unsatisfying rule. A rule perfect for leading to ruin. Jang Hong hastily waved the white flag, surrendering.

“So who is this renowned beauty? You’ve told us all the trivial details, but you haven’t mentioned the most important thing, her name?”

Even if he wasn’t interested, Bi Ryu yeon thought it was only polite to at least know her name.

“It’s about…

Thud, thud, thud!

From a corner of the room, there was a loud noise of someone flipping a desk and rolling on the floor. It seemed that the body, which had been steeped in laziness and sloth, had rebelled from working too hard.

“… that’s it!”

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, Hyo ryong’s face turned pale, and he staggered. His complexion was as pale as a corpse that had been embalmed. His face was devoid of any color.

“Are you alright?”

Jang Hong asked with a worried face, seeing Hyo ryong’s sudden reaction. Hyo ryong seemed to be in a state of shock as if he had been possessed.

“I’m… I’m fine! Fine! Ah… It’s nothing! Just a slight case of anemia.”

Hyo ryong waved his hand, trying to assert that he was alright.

“Don’t make it so hard to say that you’re not okay! You’re not one of those women who faint once a month, and for a martial arts master to have anemia, is that even a reasonable thing to say?”

“Um!”

Bi Ryu yeon and Jin Sung gon nodded in agreement with Jang Hong’s opinion.

“I’m really fine! Sorry if I caused any concern!”

Now, cold sweat was running down Hyo ryong’s face.

“Go and rest for a while! There won’t be any major events for some time.”

Jang Hong was genuinely concerned.

“That sounds like a good idea!”

Jin Sung gon agreed.

“Then I’ll go and take a break.”

Pretending to be persuaded by the others, Hyo ryong turned to leave. He desperately needed a break to escape from the immense mental turmoil and psychological panic he was experiencing. There was no room for stubbornness.

Jang Hong’s gaze followed the retreating Hyo ryong, sharp as a blade.