Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Taking on New Students (3)
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"When I asked about your whereabouts, they all hemmed and hawed that you seemed busy."
Thank goodness.
The ways of the jianghu are still alive.
"Instructor Yang said you were at the infirmary."
The very guy with his leg and arm broken actually showed up to the meeting.
'What is this? Some high-level shade?'
His heart sank.
Now that he had a wife and kids as hostages back at the company, it seemed plausible.
"Instructor Jo spilled the beans. Said you're the kind of bastard who wouldn't even poke his head in when a fellow instructor's laid up injured."
Right. Damn it.
One against two teaming up—it was downright unfair.
Being alone sure makes it tough.
"Instructor Yeo tried to think up an answer. Said you'd been training with the cadets early on."
Instructor Yeo Mae-hong, as expected.
The bonds of the jianghu haven't died yet...
"So I asked her. Should I believe that a lazybones like you got up before mealtime?"
"......"
"She couldn't answer."
To think his colleagues' trust was this shallow.
The world really is best lived alone.
Jang Cheol-sim let out a long sigh.
"Hah. Why are you so hell-bent on devouring me?"
"Not particularly..."
"I got a reading from the White Cat Divination. Know what the fortune said? 'A massive parasitic plant grows beside the lord!'"
First time in my life a fortune warned me about a 'lord'!
To the bellowing Jang Cheol-sim, he cautiously raised a counterargument.
"I don't think it's right to put stock in superstitions like divination."
"For a practitioner of the Pure Purity Sect like me to cling to cat divinations— that's not something you should say, the one who drove me to it."
Jang Cheol-sim shot back sharply, then spoke in a subdued tone.
"First off, shall we talk about how you fleeced the Jang Cheon faction?"
"I said it again, that had nothing to do with me."
"Then how did Baek Ri, a cadet who's never left the academy, end up drooling over the 'Black Cat Gambling Manual'?"
"......"
"This morning, I saw Instructor Jegal heading out with a 'limited edition cat-shaped dice cup.'"
Said he wanted to win big.
Why have your cadets suddenly changed like this?
"Why, you ask."
"Shouldn't you know, since you're the one teaching them from dawn?"
"If you've got a mouth, at least try defending yourself."
He countered with silence, and Jang Cheol-sim slammed his fist on the table.
"I'll give you a choice."
"A ch-choice?"
"Yes. A choice."
Jang Cheol-sim held up two fingers.
"First. Take the punishment as is."
"Ugh."
"Second. Accept my proposal."
"Guh."
"Personally, I'd prefer you pick the first. Watching your lazy mug in silence isn't easy."
His tone suddenly turned violent.
He'd demanded this private meeting just to chew him out, it seemed.
At this point, he had to ask carefully.
"First... I'd like to hear what this proposal is?"
"Too bad. If you ever want to pick the first option, just say so."
Then Jang Cheol-sim clasped his hands behind his back and said,
"The proposal is simple. Take charge of some new cadets."
"Wha—?"
"You. Heard about the recent unpleasant incident?"
Suddenly, what Moyong Seon-ya had told him came to mind.
"Ah. The water mill thud thud."
"Watch your words."
Didn't he hear he's a disciple of the Pure Purity Sect?
With that, Chu Un-hwi quickly rephrased.
"...Cadets enjoying a secret rendezvous amid the noise?"
"Right. The culprits who got the Inspection Department started."
That's why.
"I want you to spirit those two away and protect them for a bit."
"Protect them?"
"Yes. Protect. I know you well. I'm not asking you to take full responsibility as their instructor."
"Why protect? I thought the Inspection Department was coming soon."
"Exactly because of that. I want you to leave with those two before they arrive."
It was a pretty unexpected proposal.
He never imagined such an illegal suggestion from the strict, rule-bound Jang Cheol-sim.
"Why?"
"Because one of them is a Pure Purity Sect disciple. No other reason."
The answer was so straightforward it raised suspicions instead.
"Really no other reason?"
Seo Ok-rang was a Pure Purity Sect disciple.
If it was about saving face for the sect, couldn't he just spirit her away alone?
'He's hiding something.'
But even pressed, Jang Cheol-sim showed no sign of answering.
"My proposal is to spirit them away and protect them."
"We have to move before the Inspection Department arrives, so time's tight."
"Only the jianghu expedition instructor can do it. You can temporarily pull cadets for a commission."
What do you say?
"Will you accept my proposal?"
"......"
The more the explanation went on, the more his suspicions grew.
'There's some other motive.'
As he pondered, Jang Cheol-sim added,
"You need time to decide. But I can't give you much. Give me your answer by morning."
With that, Jang Cheol-sim pointed to the door.
Meaning it was time to leave.
'Weird. Something feels off.'
Chu Un-hwi cautiously slipped out of the room.
Curiosity killed the cat—or rather, he couldn't stand it.
Luckily, there were people to ask about the suspicious parts.
Clink.
Moyong Seon-ya set down her empty cup and stated firmly,
"It's not just favoritism toward fellow sect members."
"Sister. There's another reason?"
This was the White Cat Tavern, popular even in White Cat Chaos.
In the yard where cats roamed freely, the three shared drinks and locked eyes.
"Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim has great pride in his sect, but he's not one to make outrageous proposals."
"But asking to hide cadets from the Inspection Department is blatantly against the rules."
"Close to illegal."
Pour.
Moyong Seon-ya refilled her cup and added,
"In ordinary cases."
"There's more to the story."
"Yes. The first thing that comes to mind is external pressure."
"External pressure?"
Sudden external pressure?
The Divine Martial Academy was the Murim Alliance's top educational institution, backed by them.
Independent operation was standard, and its members were formidable experts—no jianghu power could easily overstep.
"This time it's different."
"Different how?"
"In the summoned group, there's a cadet the academy's paying close attention to."
Racking her memory, Yeo Mae-hong clapped her palms together in front of her chest.
"No way. Little Sword Dragon?"
"Right. Nangong Yong-ho, the Little Sword Dragon recently dubbed Ten Kills, is in the same group."
"My god."
The familiar name surprised Chu Un-hwi.
'The world's small.'
The situation started to take shape.
"Jianghu expeditions are the biggest factor in promotions, right?"
"Yes. Even a once-in-a-generation genius can't get promoted if they botch the expedition."
This is seriously tangled.
"Plus, a VIP from the Nangong Family is coming."
"Right. Sudden visit request means overtime galore."
Yeo Mae-hong's eyes drooped pitifully.
Pitying her, Moyong Seon-ya raised her index finger.
"Know who the VIP is?"
"No idea. Just that it's someone really high up in the family."
Moyong Seon-ya glanced around, cupped her hand to her mouth, and whispered,
"It's the Nangong Family Head himself."
"The Family Head?"
Eek!
Yeo Mae-hong clamped her mouth with both hands and looked around in shock.
It was cute, but Moyong Seon-ya's bombshell made Chu Un-hwi's neck ache.
"So that's the external pressure."
"The Family Head, emerging from seclusion after seven whole years."
Invited to his first event in ages.
And his kid gets nabbed by the Inspection Department?
"That's basically picking a fight."
And not even the direct culprit—just caught up unluckily.
Lucky if he doesn't draw his sword first.
Moyong Seon-ya agreed.
"Right. The Inspection Department knows this, so they'll arrive first and rush the punishment."
In such cases, usually.
"They'll slap on heavy penalties quick and close the case."
"Geez."
Regrettable, but common.
Overzealous bootlickers exist everywhere.
The issue was the parties wouldn't get a fair chance to defend themselves in the rush.
"This is a goddamn mess."
"A goddamn mess."
Now he roughly understood Jang Cheol-sim's intentions.
- Protect those two for a while.
Not permanent evasion from the Inspection Department, but buying time for now?
'Once the Nangong Family Head leaves, they won't force harsh punishments.'
Then handle discipline through proper channels later, probably.
Moyong Seon-ya seemed to think the same.
"Likely. Senior Instructor Jang Cheol-sim wants to shield the cadets from the Inspection Department's hasty, razor-sharp blade."
What a tricky situation.
On the way back.
He recalled Moyong Seon-ya's parting words.
"Seo Ok-rang. Yeah, a cadet who sticks in the memory."
"Quite clever and talented, as I recall."
"But after that incident two years ago, it's like she changed."
"Poor thing."
He'd asked what incident, but Moyong Seon-ya clammed up.
Instead, she continued her opinion.
"Lately, she's all about chasing the spotlight."
"Kids that age love attention, but she's overdoing it."
"Wrong direction too. Makes scandals with cadets left and right for buzz."
"Not just that. When interest waned, rumors say she's been openly seeing older guys lately."
He recalled her clinging to Duggo Yul.
"Kids these days are incomprehensible."
It was complicated and a hassle—maybe give up?
But her being 'that girl's' friend nagged at him.
"If this woman disappears, who knows how the future changes."
Hassle or not, maybe pay a bit more attention?
Back at the dorm, Chu Un-hwi flung open the door.
"Back now, sir?"
Wang Wu, ever the smiling face, greeted him while sweeping.
Ignoring him, Chu Un-hwi moved his lips.
"Dan-ya."
Whoosh.
Before the word finished, a figure dropped from thin air.
"M-master. You called?"
To the beaming Dan-ya, Chu Un-hwi said,
"Investigate the Nangong Family right now."
"Nangong Family?"
"Family Head's coming, and it feels off."
"If it's that..."
Thrilled to finally get moving, he gave Dan-ya another order.
"And one more."
"Another?"
"Look into Seo Ok-rang."
Seo Ok-rang.
Pondering, Dan-ya formed a bandaged hand and tapped his forehead.
"Ah. Got it. The girl from Pure Purity Sect?"
The one who flirted with the pinky toe, he'd heard.
"Right. Nangong Family. Seo Ok-rang. And this Il-pyo kid too."
"As you command!"
Dan-ya made a fist salute in the air with bandages again.
Beside him, Wang Wu bowed deeply.
"I'll handle the Nangong Family."
"Doesn't matter who."
Just one thing.
"Before night's end, no more questions left unanswered."
To the stern command, Dan-ya and Wang Wu grimaced grins, bowed, and shouted,
"As you command!"