Chapter 111
Chapter 111
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter Title: The Eve of the Journey to the Rivers and Lakes (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The return of the Beggar Elder caused quite a stir in the Murim Alliance for a while.
A senior figure of the Murim Alliance and a respected elder of the Beggars' Sect had suddenly vanished, only to reappear in a pitiful state. It was only natural.
"I need to see the Alliance Leader right away."
But even for the Beggar Elder, he couldn't meet the Alliance Leader looking like this.
After a quick bath to wash away the travel grime, as he was resting, one of the Beggars' Sect beggars came to his quarters.
"Elder. I have urgent news to report."
"What is it?"
"It's about the Divine Martial Academy."
A memory he'd buried for some time resurfaced.
"Ah. Come in."
The beggar who cautiously opened the door hesitated upon seeing Wang Wu there with him.
Recognizing the beggar's dilemma about speaking in front of an outsider, the Beggar Elder waved it off.
"He's an honored guest of mine. Speak freely."
"Ah, yes."
The beggar then explained everything that had happened at the Divine Martial Academy.
From the recent deaths of instructors to the latest scandal involving corruption.
Finishing his lengthy report, the beggar said,
"If it were anything else, I might not have rushed over, but you specifically told me to keep a close eye on that person before."
"Right. There was that."
Suddenly, an old memory came back.
Of basking in the sun on a quiet street in the Beggars' Sect headquarters when someone approached, radiating a sinister aura.
'He seemed like quite a dangerous fellow.'
But the stories he'd heard were anything but ordinary.
'A bit lazy, maybe, but not so bad after all.'
No, from the tales alone, he seemed exceptionally capable.
Unearthing hidden talents.
Handling troublesome delinquents with ease.
And now, even rooting out corruption at the academy that no one knew about.
"He's so unremarkably average it's suspicious instead."
He, a Beggars' Sect elder of renown, had felt threatened upon meeting him.
He'd instinctively known that even his Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms couldn't hold the man back.
Thinking that far, the Beggar Elder tilted his head.
'Wait. Was that really it?'
Revisiting the memory, it felt hazy.
'Come to think of it, it wasn't sharp—more soft, perhaps.'
His face grew faint, his impression hard to recall.
'Sharp eyes? No, maybe a gentle face.'
No matter how hard he pondered, it was like a fog shrouded his recollection.
That was when it happened.
"Brother Chu."
The voice calling him pulled the Beggar Elder back to reality.
"You seem troubled. If it's not too much, care to share?"
"Ah. It's nothing serious."
He briefly explained about the man he'd recommended, and Wang Wu pondered for a moment before smiling.
"Haha. If it's just keeping an eye on one person, leave it to me. I'm heading to the Divine Martial Academy to see my disciple anyway."
"I see. You'd have to go there to meet the Lone-Eyed Divine Sword anyway, Brother Wang."
Brightening up, the Beggar Elder earnestly requested,
"He's a mysterious one. Please keep a close watch."
"Don't worry."
Wang Wu replied with sincerity.
"I won't miss a thing."
In the Chief Supervisor's office at the Divine Martial Academy.
The White-Clothed Judge, Seon In-hyeok, let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha. I truly can't match you, Hero Dokgo."
The Flame Light Blade Demon, Ma Gil-sang, shook his head as well.
"They say justice incarnate took human form as the Lone-Eyed Divine Sword."
Dokgo Yul responded to their words.
"You're too kind. Without your help, I couldn't have weeded out the corrupt so cleanly."
Tap tap. Finishing the disciplinary roster after much deliberation, Dokgo Yul continued.
"That said, I'm not without worries."
"It's the instructor shortage, right?"
"Exactly. Disciplining the corrupt is just, but we're short-handed now. I don't know what to do."
"That's true."
The academy was always understaffed as it was.
With this incident, the number of people facing discipline made it far from simple.
Ma Gil-sang grew serious too.
"Filling the ranks is the issue."
"Yes. We can't just hire anyone hastily."
Not with unknown groups lurking in the shadows lately. It was hard to bring in unvetted people easily.
The Divine Martial Academy was the cradle of the righteous factions.
What vicious groups craved most was crushing the sprouts that would grow into future heroes.
Tap tap. Dokgo Yul made a proposal to Seon In-hyeok, who was drumming his fingers on the desk.
"How about giving maximum authority to the remaining instructors first?"
"They're vetted, so using them heavily is fine, but do you have a follow-up plan?"
"The divisions are too rigidly separated now. Even splitting students by gender is overly strict."
"It has its excesses, but it's to prevent unforeseen incidents. No choice there."
There were plenty of precedents.
Ma Gil-sang agreed with Seon In-hyeok.
"The training methods are problematic too. Boys and girls differ in build and frame. You know that well enough."
Dokgo Yul slightly frowned at Ma Gil-sang's point.
"I'm not saying merge blindly. We should start with classes that can be mixed, like the journey to the rivers and lakes."
Testing the waters, Seon In-hyeok pondered briefly before nodding.
"True. For the journey, it should be fine. Rarely do they pair by gender out in the world."
"Not a bad idea, but we can't allow mixed dorms, so it'll need thought."
Dokgo Yul replied flawlessly to Ma Gil-sang's objection.
"I have something in mind for that."
The meeting dragged on.
Only late into the night did the three finally feel some satisfaction.
"Success."
Leaving the Chief Supervisor's office, Dokgo Yul wore a triumphant smile.
In his bosom was the hard-won reform plan.
One: Expand mixed-gender classes.
Two: Guarantee instructors' authority and autonomy.
Three: Reduce pointless paperwork to alleviate overload.
The fruit of nearly half a year's labor.
'The Lord will be pleased.'
Every clause aided in finding the principal wife.
Did she know?
Of her loyal subordinate's desperate efforts from the shadows.
'She's not one to miss it.'
Even if she didn't, it didn't matter.
A subordinate following their lord was as natural as a fish swimming.
If swept by the current, just flap the fins harder and catch up.
But Dokgo Yul was human too, with a small wish.
'I want to see the Lord's joy firsthand.'
After so much time and effort, this greed was permissible, right? As he thought that,
"Um... Hero Dokgo."
Someone called out, stopping him.
Unusual. Few dared approach amid the subtle pressure he exuded.
'A nuisance. I wanted to see the Lord soon.'
But no helping it.
Steeling his voice righteously, Dokgo Yul turned.
"Who calls me?"
In view was a filthy man in ragged clothes.
A quick glance at his waist showed the Beggars' Sect knot.
'A low-ranking Beggars' Sect disciple?'
Why would one from the Alliance headquarters stop him?
"Sorry to bother you when you're busy. Elder Beggar Elder sent me to guide an honored guest to you."
"The Beggar Elder? An honored guest?"
As Dokgo Yul was about to continue,
"Ho ho ho."
A laugh that could haunt dreams echoed from the darkening corridor.
Thud. Thud.
From the gloom emerged a figure that froze Dokgo Yul solid.
At that moment.
Chu Un-hwi was out at a pork intestine grill house in the Eight-Mile Lane for the first time in ages.
"Ahahaha! Congratulations for real, Instructor Chu!"
Moyong Seon-ya clinked glasses, giggling wildly.
Yeo Mae-hong timidly followed suit.
"Hehe. You really worked hard."
Meanwhile, Chu Un-hwi, recipient of their cheers, had drooping lips.
"Today was my first move-in day."
He'd expected a warm silk bed and lavish delicacies.
Why end up eating intestines at a dive like this, fit only for drunks?
"My feast! My mountains and seas of flavors!"
"You can eat anytime, not just today."
Moyong Seon-ya giggled.
"We'll see each other often now. Celebration first, right?"
"Why does Instructor Moyong pass up fine dinners for a place like this?"
"Well."
The answer came from Yeo Mae-hong.
"It's tasty, fancy, and cheap... but."
With an uncomfortable expression, Yeo Mae-hong chose her words.
"It feels awkward somehow. Like stares everywhere. You know."
"I'll sum it up in one word."
Clink. Downing her glass, Moyong Seon-ya fixed her gaze.
"Perfect for superiors!"
"There's a senior instructor right in front."
"Chopsticks up—perfect!"
"Another senior instructor beside you."
"Think about it. Boss here, boss there. Food goes down easy?"
"Why wouldn't it? Free food's the best."
"Does free food go down anytime?"
"Yes. Perfectly."
No reasoning with her.
Unlike the joking Moyong Seon-ya, Yeo Mae-hong looked disgusted.
"It's not simple. You order heaps of tasty stuff excitedly, and everyone's watching."
Munching intestines, Moyong Seon-ya chimed in.
"Some senior instructor sniped, 'You eat more than you look. Won't you gain weight?' Ugly jerk."
"Mine scolded, 'A heavy body sets a bad example for students.'"
With grudges piled up, Moyong Seon-ya crunched skewers fiercely.
"They paying or what?!"
"What's so fascinating about others eating?!"
"Not just men! Some auntie asked, 'What's your secret to not gaining weight eating like that?'"
"I said constitution, and she badmouthed me behind my back!"
Watching her stuff skewers down, he wanted to ask if it all fit, but kept quiet.
Though he didn't know for sure, she'd probably rank today's choice among her life's best decisions on her deathbed.
"Annoying! I didn't stay single 'cause I eat a lot!"
Lately, Moyong Seon-ya seemed prone to outbursts.
'She seemed like a sharp noble lady at first.'
Noticing his thought, Yeo Mae-hong whispered.
"The recent corruption crackdown meant audits and lots of overtime."
Overtime, as expected.
It wrecked people, made them savage.
"Plus running around to help Instructor Chu."
Is this my fault?
He felt truly sorry.
Humm.
Returning to his Silver Hall dorm, Chu Un-hwi circulated his qi to dispel the lingering stench.
"Intestines are great, but the grease smell is too much."
Tasty, at least.
Recalling the room he'd scoped earlier, he groped his way in the dark.
He reached a long, squat single-story building.
"Spacious, huh? Pretty nice for temp housing."
Ten rooms for temp lodging.
The one at the far end was his new place.
"Everyone's quiet. More night owls than I thought?"
He'd heard it was rowdy.
Shuffling to his room, Chu Un-hwi pulled out his metal token.
Just insert into the door latch groove and turn.
As he pushed the token in, his lips twitched.
"Forgot a housewarming gift."
Click.
He quickly turned it and yanked the door open.
Beyond the opened door were unexpected guests.
"My Lord. Apologies. We've been caught."
Dokgo Yul, looking sheepish.
"You fool! Didn't I tell you repeatedly? When the Lord returns, bow your head low in welcome!"
An old man berating Dokgo Yul.
He finished lecturing on 'etiquette toward the Lord,' then turned with a beaming smile.
The ghostly scowl from moments ago vanished, replaced by utmost reverence.
"Ho ho ho. To welcome the Lord's return like this again— this old man dies without regrets."
Tears streaming in emotion, he kowtowed fiercely on the floor.
"The First Seat of the Dark Marriage Black Wind Killers, Sima Baek, greets the master of the world."
'It's over.'
The worst housewarming gift ever.