Chapter 115
Chapter 115
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Recommendation Tournament (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Murim journey had been decided.
It was a judgment that they could no longer delay the schedule halted by the accident.
The departure date was set for a month later.
It seemed like plenty of time, but Silver Hall was buzzing with activity due to the sheer volume of preparations needed.
They were working overtime every day, making every possible preparation to ensure the journey ended safely.
That was the gist of what he'd heard.
It was a story that held no sympathy for a slacker instructor who never did overtime or extra work.
Above all, he had no spare energy to care about anything else right now.
"Ughhh... These chores never end."
Chu Un-hwi wailed as he tossed down his brush.
"Is there no such thing as human rights for instructors?"
This paperwork was excessive!
As he protested, a rebuttal came from the side.
"Self-inflicted, isn't it?"
Moyong So-hye spoke while repairing a wooden doll.
"Half of it is being handled by Brother Jegal, even."
Her cute little finger pointed to Jegal Tan, who sat at a makeshift desk crafted by Nangong Yun-ho, wrestling with the instructor's log.
His head was wrapped in white cloth, and his eyes were shadowed with dark circles from overwork—a horrific sight.
"No choice. Better than me suffering, right?"
"Wow. Truly the worst."
"Anyway, since I dumped all the remedial classes on them, I don't even know what was taught."
"Before the instructor's human rights, could you at least think of the students' first?"
No way.
It was regrettable that he was suffering, but there was nothing to be done about others' suffering.
As he grumbled, a fragrant tea aroma brushed his nose.
"Instructor. Take it easy."
Baek Ri-seol offered warm tea with a bright smile.
"It's tea leaves from Infinite Pavilion. They say it's great for recovering from fatigue."
"Oh. Thanks."
As expected of Infinite Pavilion's goods.
Being a top branch of the Baek Family, their snacks and tea leaves were all premium.
Munching on the crunchy snacks and sipping the tea improved his mood considerably.
"This is really delicious."
"I snatched some my father was hiding to eat secretly. It's the finest grade."
"Sister. Brother Jegal looks exhausted too..."
Baek Ri-seol's expression turned icy.
"Hmph. Let the unlucky jerk lap up stagnant swamp water."
Come to think of it, Baek Ri-seol and Jegal Tan didn't get along at all.
Every time he saw them, it was like dogs and cats hissing and yowling.
"Hohoho. Miss Baek is quite devoted. She'd make a fine bride."
"Oh my. You have a good eye."
Next appeared an old man with a broom.
It was Sima Baek, disguised as the righteous recluse, Poison Bee Sword Guest Wang Woo.
He always wore a smiling face while muttering something, this time whispering unintelligibly, "One hundred seventy-seven times. Add three points."
"Old Man Wang. What brings you here again?"
Lately, Wang Woo had been following him not just to the temporary lodgings but even to the swamp.
For Chu Un-hwi, who craved freedom, visits from this scheming subordinate were most unwelcome.
"Hohoho. Instructor Chu seems to find me unwelcome."
"No, I just find it annoying."
Baek Ri-seol scolded him briefly.
"No! Instructor, I think you're always cool, but you'd be even better if you showed respect to your elders."
"One hundred ninety-seven times. Add three points."
"...What does that mean?"
"Words slipped out. Hohoho."
Wang Woo laughed lightly and changed the subject.
"I came on business today."
"Business?"
"This was delivered."
Wang Woo pulled out a golden invitation envelope.
Baek Ri-seol's eyes sharpened at the sight.
"An invitation from some stray cat?"
"Heh heh. As if."
He tilted the envelope slightly, revealing the writing on the front.
In bold, heroic script:
- Recommendation Tournament.
"Ah. I've heard of this."
Moyong So-hye flapped excitedly, and Jegal Tan approached from where he'd been painfully filling out the instructor's log.
"Ahh. It's about time."
"Don't act like you know and explain."
"The Murim journey evaluations are based on individual mission performances, right?"
Yes. He knew that.
It was a subject designed to score based on real-world exploits.
"However, evaluations vary greatly depending on the assigned destination and mission."
"Makes sense."
"In the past, there were tricks where sects or families assigned their disciples to easy missions."
The result was this.
"The Recommendation Tournament. Lots are drawn publicly and fairly in front of everyone."
In short, a blind lottery.
"Hohoho. Quite an amusing event."
"I hear it stirs quite a stir among instructors, with cheers and jeers."
"The fairness and transparency are most pleasing. Heh heh heh."
Chu Un-hwi smirked at Wang Woo's smiling words.
'Fairness, my foot.'
As if from someone plotting lottery rigging with Duggo Yul just yesterday.
As he casually pondered future events, Nangong Yun-ho, who had been focused solely on grilling fish away from the conversation, struck his ladle against the pot.
"All done grilling. Have some."
What a great guy.
The tea and snacks had run low, perfect timing.
Sitting by the bonfire, Nangong Yun-ho offered fish skewered on sticks, grilled with care.
"It's hot, so eat carefully."
The crisped skin glistened with oil—visibly delicious.
Crunch.
Biting into the back, a rich flavor exploded instantly.
"Whoa. This is seriously good."
"Haha. Glad you like it."
"No joke. Maybe you should go pro?"
It could rival the gut-roasting that supposedly brought back runaway husbands from Palmi Road!
It was so good even Wang Woo slipped up.
"Two hundred one times. Ten points. Pass."
Whatever that meant.
Bustling chatter filled the air.
The Silver Hall instructors' office, which he hadn't visited in a while, was packed with people.
Not just instructors, but also those in Murim Alliance uniforms—quite the grand event, as Jegal Tan had said.
"Should've come a bit earlier?"
Weaving through the crowd with stacks of overdue logs and reports was quite the ordeal.
"Ah, sorry..."
One instructor bumped his shoulder, scanned him up and down, and grimaced.
"What? Temporary instructor?"
As he considered punching the guy who turned away snidely.
"Oh! Instructor Chu!"
Yeo Mae-hong appeared beside him, cute as ever. Another beauty accompanied her.
"First time seeing you inside Silver Hall, right?"
Moyong Seon-ya smiled sweetly but added gloomily.
"Though we've met in the training hall's iron cage."
"No need to dredge up painful memories."
After a light rebuke, Yeo Mae-hong bounced excitedly.
"Really. You're sure to draw a good one!"
Unlike the enthusiastic Yeo Mae-hong, Moyong Seon-ya looked downcast.
"What do I do? My lottery luck is terrible."
"Sister, it'll be different this time."
"I hope so."
A mutter slipped from Moyong Seon-ya's darkened lips.
"First year, I drew Susu-hyeon. Mission to catch a demonic lustful fiend."
The mission itself wasn't bad.
The problem was the fiend fleeing to Iron Chain Alliance territory, turning it into hellish labor.
"Next year, Jiangsuxing's Gangpo-hyeon. Mission wasn't hard."
But that year, floods hit Gangpo-hyeon. The villages were all submerged on arrival.
Couldn't even start the mission.
"Next was Jeongyang Mountain. Remember? The massive record-breaking wildfire..."
Chu Un-hwi cut off her teary explanation bluntly.
"Not bad luck—your life's just cursed, isn't it?"
"That's harsh!"
Ah, ears ringing.
Moyong Seon-ya, her spirits recovered, placed hands on hips and declared boldly.
"But this year! This year will be different!"
When asked the reason for her baseless confidence, came a curt reply.
"Got a talisman from a famous fortune teller on Palmi Road."
Palmi Road had gut-roasting joints and fortune tellers too?
What a place for everything.
Silver Hall instructors' building courtyard.
As time came, people gathered in the open space.
Dong-dong-dong-dong.
Bells rang soon after, and three figures ascended the ornate platform.
First was a dignified man with graying hair.
"Oh my. It's the Silver Hall Master."
"Silver Hall Master?"
"Yeah. First time for you, Instructor Chu?"
Affectionate Sword Guest Hyun-wook.
A Wudang swordsman famed for his gentle nature.
Following were Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim and a newcomer.
Clearing his throat on the platform, Silver Hall Master Hyun-wook began.
"Thank you all for attending this Recommendation Tournament."
He cupped hands toward the surroundings and continued.
"Lately, many events have occurred—some good, some regrettable, it's true."
Bad feeling.
Sure enough, a pointless speech dragged on for a full incense stick's time.
'Sleepy.'
Personality might be kind, but no consideration.
As faces grew bored, Jang Cheol-sim subtly nudged his side.
Then it got to the point.
"...Thus, ahead of this crucial Murim journey, we've gathered for a fair and transparent mission draw. Please witness it."
Dong-dong-dong-dong.
Bells rang, and Murim Alliance-uniformed figures ascended one by one.
"We ask the Alliance's esteemed guests to watch closely for any unfairness."
The Alliance dignitaries replied in unison to his request.
"We'll watch closely."
"No worries!"
"The draw will be fair!"
It showed some clever planning.
'If experts decide to rig it, they could.'
But with experts watching, it was different.
Even the boldest wouldn't dare foul play under their gaze.
Tricking the senses of the perceptive was another issue.
'Best part: this formality prevents any backtalk.'
The Murim Alliance was sincere in weird ways.
As he chuckled inwardly, the first name was called.
"Instructor Ja-gyeom!"
Silver Hall Master Hyun-wook's call brought an instructor from the crowd to the platform.
Jang Cheol-sim pointed to a large box.
It had a small hole on top—clearly for reaching in to draw.
And sure enough.
Jang Cheol-sim explained.
"Reach in and draw a ball."
"Yes, Senior Instructor."
Ja-gyeom reached in and pulled out a wooden ball.
Jang Cheol-sim split it in half and shouted loudly.
"Shanxi Province! Zhangzhi County! Mission: Low-grade!"
Tan sighs of "Ahh—" erupted here and there at the shout.
"Why the long faces?"
"Sister, low-grade means easy mission, right?"
Seemed like a jackpot.
Moyong Seon-ya shook her head at murmuring Yeo Mae-hong.
"They're divided into upper, middle, lower, but Silver Hall missions don't differ much in difficulty."
Not Gold Hall, she added, then asked.
"Hong-ah. Know where Shanxi is?"
"Sure. Borders the Great Wall."
"Right. What about Zhangzhi County?"
"Not really..."
Moyong Seon-ya's face twisted in disgust.
"Absolute backwater. A remote mountain valley with no garrison."
"No water, no toilets, no bustling streets—dragging kids there!"
"Baths are a dream; it'll be grimy."
"Kids will whine!"
"Unlucky, and you'll have deserters from the forced march!"
"It's the start of hell!"
Clearly bad memories; Moyong Seon-ya gripped Yeo Mae-hong's shoulder after her rant.
"So listen well. You must draw somewhere near Infinite Province."
And bustling areas.
Land ruled by civilization!
"That's how we survive."
The path to no new wrinkles.
Moyong Seon-ya added.