Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Nangong Family (4)
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Rubbing his wrists chafed by the ropes, Chu Un-hwi asked,
"What happened?"
"We all got disciplined."
"Disciplined? Why?"
"We don't know either. The Inspection Department suddenly barged in and seized all the documents."
He asked the approaching Squad Leader Yang and Instructor Jo Hyeon, but they all seemed clueless.
"No idea. It was all so sudden."
"They even said we might hide evidence and locked us up here."
In this baffling situation, a single remark from a familiar instructor provided a slim clue.
"They say hanging around the Great Fortune Sword drains your luck dry. Talk about bad luck."
His tone was rude as hell, but he seemed to know something, so Chu approached.
Four official Silver Hall instructors sat there—faces he'd seen in passing a few times.
"Know anything?"
"You think we'd tell you if we did?"
The sharp retort came back, but knowing Silver Hall instructors looked down on him, he patiently asked again.
"Just thought it might help."
"Ha! You, a temp instructor, helping us?"
"Hey, you're with the Great Fortune Sword. Who knows?"
"Fair point."
They grumbled, but without real malice, one instructor shrugged.
"Only one thing fits this."
"Lost a political fight."
"You don't get yanked from duties this abruptly otherwise."
"The Inspection Department's fishy too. They don't clamp down this hard before results come out."
One started, and the others chimed in.
'Political fight, huh...'
The instructor, explaining listlessly, pointed to one side.
"Ask a senior instructor. Faster that way."
He was under Inspection Department watch too.
"Where's the senior instructor?"
"Small shed behind the annex. Probably there."
"They locked a senior instructor in a shed?"
Sure, the Inspection Department moved, but this treatment seemed too harsh for someone of his rank.
"Nah. He sneezes nonstop if cat hair's around."
"Ah."
Seemed a shred of jianghu decorum remained.
Clank.
There really was a small shed behind the annex.
Hard to imagine living in it, but if it was the only spot safe from cat hair, fine.
"Senior Instructor."
Stepping inside, Jang Cheol-sim looked up from an old chair, uniform off.
"You're here."
"You look surprisingly well."
"Qingcheng Sect disciples never lose their dignity, anytime, anywhere."
Even in the shed, his white robes were pristine, hair neatly combed back—striking.
'Classic Jang Cheol-sim.'
That's what he thought.
But checking his energy subtly, his qi was unstable—suppressed and long neglected.
"You look calm, so no need for roundabout talk."
Pretending ignorance, Chu Un-hwi greeted and asked.
"What's going on?"
"Inspection Department summoned me. Nitpicked the thing with Rang-i."
"Wasn't Seo Ok-rang's case settled nicely?"
"Right. Decisions on those two are done. Issue was elsewhere."
"Elsewhere?"
"Silver Hall instructors accused me of abusing authority for personal favoritism—tipped off the department."
Who investigates a senior instructor willy-nilly?
"Honestly, not spotless. Can't deny I fudged some. They might've sniffed it out."
Painful blunder there.
"Why not just deny it flat out?"
"Wasn't entirely without conscience."
Rubbing his brow, Jang Cheol-sim painted the picture.
'In my old life, the cleanest guys died first.'
Survivors to the end were thick-skinned bastards.
Blame others for mistakes, play dumb on their own screw-ups.
Those ashamed of even minor stains got denounced first, vanishing into jianghu history.
'In the end, only crows survived.'
Crows sold murim to the Demonic Cult for safety; world drowned in blood.
'Tch. Seeing this familiar shit here.'
Bitter taste.
Jang Cheol-sim continued.
"Anyway, under investigation, can't celebrate your return."
"Wasn't expecting a welcome."
Though not this gloomy vibe either.
"Replacement for Myo Jin Gate is Ajeong-geun."
"Saw him. Tore up my report, threw it in my face."
"...Easy to say. He's twisted inside—watch your back."
Saying that, Jang Cheol-sim stood, walked aside rag in hand, stained.
"Go. Meeting me could drag you in."
"Was leaving anyway."
"Rest up awhile. No duties till cleared anyway, right?"
Swish.
In the dreary shed, about to meditate again—Chu Un-hwi turned to leave.
As he reached the door.
Suddenly, Jang Cheol-sim's voice.
"Oh. One thing I'm curious about."
Turning, Jang Cheol-sim asked over his shoulder casually.
"You got beef with the Nangong Family?"
"Dunno."
"Never mind then. Forget I asked."
Seeing him resume wiping intently, Chu realized Jang Cheol-sim held something back.
'Playing it like this?'
Pretty novel, Nangong Family.
Reminds me of old times.
Confined to the annex, wandering outside wasn't easy.
"No one leaves till investigation ends."
Rude Inspection Department warriors glared.
"...Just following orders. Understand."
Urging back inside, Chu Un-hwi smirked watching.
'Now blocking visitors too?'
They're serious.
'Fine, I have ways.'
"Oh dear. How'd this happen."
Annex visitor: Myo-gwang.
Cut off from outside, but even Nangong Family wouldn't threaten a guest sect leader here.
"Brought some snacks."
Trailing Inspection tail unavoidable though.
Sweet scent drew slack instructors over.
"Plenty. Have some."
Cat-loving fellow's kind offer teared up instructors.
"Thank you, Sect Leader."
"Even us."
"Only you looking out in this mess."
Some might prefer rest after overtime grind, but all looked glum.
'Yeah. Already hooked on the grind.'
Idly playing with cats might be torture instead.
Watching them cluster, munching sweets and tea—transmission hit.
[Nangong Family?]
Nod.
Chu Un-hwi tilted at the slight jaw twitch.
And more.
Other reason? Unexpected.
Damn.
'Eyeing Baek Ri-seol too?'
Irritation surged at hands reaching for his nurtured achievement tree.
Myo-gwang explained: this sparked Nangong Family's covert moves.
Seen him.
Classic righteous sect lazybones ploy.
'Borrow another's blade to stab backs.'
They call it "Borrow Knife to Kill" or "Two Tigers Fight Over Food."
Just dirty.
'Letters make it less sleazy?'
Not my style—ram if hate, hug if like.
Grabbing a snack from the basket, Chu Un-hwi grinned.
"Flip the whole table."
Crunch.
Chewing, Chu Un-hwi's eyes gleamed.
As hoped, they moved first.
"Temp Instructor Chu Un-hwi."
Senior Instructor Ajeong-geun arrived, five pet instructors in tow.
"No business with you lot."
Coldly snapping at approaching instructors, he said.
"Figured out the situation yet?"
"What situation?"
"Tsk tsk. Still clueless."
Grinning, Ajeong-geun licked his lips.
Shrewd type—started via transmission.
"Play nice, I'll play nice."
"That so?"
"Recognize your return, reinstate duties."
How's that? Tempting?
"Just me?"
"Heh. I'm capable. Can make everyone happy."
Jang Cheol-sim excepted.
"I see."
"Well? Do what I say?"
"Real tempting."
"Not brainless after all."
Follow me.
As he turned—Chu Un-hwi asked casually, like an afterthought.
"By the way, if my return's not approved, what's my status now?"
"Don't play dumb. Ghost like them."
Intimidating against funny business.
"Gho~st?"
Under shaggy hair, his lips split in a death's grin.
'Something's off!'
Instinct screamed.
Crack—!
Vast pain— Ajeong-geun's head snapped around.
Crunch!
Jaw spun wildly, joints screaming without response.
No time for pain.
'Wha—what?'
Flash—world spun first.
Pain followed, then.
Crack——!
Head whipped opposite.
"Kek!"
This time, couldn't hold— Ajeong-geun screamed.
This mad bastard yanking hair, now pounding gut.
"Urk!"
"Instructor Chu!"
"Chu Instructor!"
"Temp Instructor!"
Shocked cries everywhere.
Dazed.
Trailing instructors looked up late, grasping what happened—saw Chu Un-hwi digging ear.
"So you got beat by a ghost?"
Brat.
"Shoulda played nice with the ghost."
Jaws dropped all around.