Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Fire Demon Winds over Soho (4)
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Zhang Cheol-sim raised his hand to stop the instructors.
"You say you're confident you can handle it, so why not give it a shot?"
But oblivious to the undercurrents, Chu Un-hwi kept provoking.
"Just words won't cut it, though."
"Hmph. Fine. Extra credit, is it?"
"That's a bit weak."
"How about throwing in a month off paperwork too?"
Whistle!
Chu Un-hwi, whistling sharply, shot to his feet and pumped his fist in a sharp salute.
"You promise?"
"I stake my sect's honor on it. But if you fail..."
"I told you. If I can't handle something this easy, how could I even call myself an instructor?"
"I'll retire in shame."
It was still provocative, but staking his position made even the doubters back off.
"Cocky, aren't you?"
"Wonder if your skills match your mouth."
"We'll see. If it works out, great. If not, at least we get rid of him."
"The Transport Blade Demon's luck is running out anyway."
Zhang Cheol-sim sighed, eyeing the sharp tension around him.
'This guy's making enemies just by breathing.'
He wondered why provoke needlessly and stir up hostility, but the water was already spilled.
"Fine."
Deciding to lay the groundwork, Zhang Cheol-sim declared,
"From today, I delegate full authority over the security commission to you."
***
The sudden announcement left Jegal Tan's mouth agape.
"Instructor! How can you make a promise like that on the spot?"
"I told you. I've got a way."
Jegal Tan wasn't the only one flustered.
"Instructor, are you getting tired of instructor life already?"
"Don't abandon us."
As everyone tried to dissuade him, Yeo Mae-hong cut in.
"Instructor Chu. Are you really confident?"
"Of course. How could I lack confidence in a mission that practically hands me rewards?"
Exactly.
You lot who want those extra points.
"Open wide and follow me."
'What the hell does that mean?'
As everyone puzzled over it, Chu Un-hwi grinned at Jegal Tan, who looked the most baffled.
"Jegal. I told you not to just think logically, right?"
Exactly.
"Let me show you the logical madman's way."
***
Chu Un-hwi led Yeo Mae-hong and the students to the tail end of the refugee procession.
There, a cluster of rough-looking men huddled together, keeping a deliberate distance from the refugees.
"Hey there."
His casual greeting made a man lounging with his sword in his arms blink.
Whoosh.
But those around him didn't take kindly to the light tone.
Shing.
Grind.
They gripped their weapons, glaring with murderous intent.
"What's this? Not open for business?"
"Tch!"
Recalling the slick-talking face from before, the ronin scowled.
"You lot, ease up. This is a VIP from the boss."
A mantis-faced man with twin hooks at his belt gnawed his lip at the words.
"Damn VIP from the boss."
"Boss, what does this punk have that we're playing nice?"
"Yeah, looks like a lowly instructor at best."
The junior ronin grumbled, but spotting the slippery face made sweat trickle down Sang-gwang's back.
'Fuck. Seeing the Grim Reaper in broad daylight.'
The gap between the terrifying memory and the current sight was huge, but his survival instincts had him straightened up.
"If the commission's good, who cares who the client is?"
Hiding his pounding heart, Sang-gwang asked,
"What business do you have with me?"
"What else but a commission to hire ronin?"
"State the job and pay. I'll decide if it's fair."
"The pay's not huge."
Plop.
Sang-gwang eyed the pouch in his palm, disappointed.
'Just ten silver taels? Stingy.'
That wouldn't even buy him, let alone a couple cheap ronin.
"Add the balance I left last time, and it should cover it."
The balance left behind.
Sang-gwang's face paled as if doused in ice water, nodding vigorously.
"Should cover it, yeah."
Of course it did.
No way it wouldn't.
'The balance the Reaper left was my life fee.'
Meeting the trembling gaze, the grinning Reaper said,
"The job's simple. Just assist with security."
"Assist? Be specific."
"Just keep an eye on the guy I point out, make sure he doesn't cause trouble."
"Sounds easy. No need for me personally."
"The success fee's pretty tempting, though."
Whish. Thud.
Another small pouch arced through the air.
Sang-gwang peeked inside, his face lighting up in shock.
His expression shifting repeatedly, he cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Deal. With the Sword Cave burned, some pocket work's fine."
So, what's next?
"Follow me. I'll show you a demo first."
"Got it."
Without a second question, Sang-gwang barked at his ronin and fell in behind Chu Un-hwi.
***
Murmur. Murmur.
Moyong So-hye glanced back at the rough ronin trailing them and whispered,
"Instructor, your 'way' was ronin?"
"Yeah. Sword Cave's toast, so figured we could hire 'em cheap."
"Is that okay? Ronin are supposed to be brutal."
Baek Ri-seol and Yeo Mae-hong voiced concerns.
"Instructor Chu, ronin are vicious and merciless."
"That's why they're perfect."
"I'm serious. If blades come out..."
Sang-gwang, walking seventy paces back, called out casually,
"Miss, even ronin don't spill blood for nothing."
"Eek."
Yeo Mae-hong flinched cutely, not expecting him to hear the whisper from afar.
"Especially sharp blades—depends on who's swinging 'em."
"Who's swinging blades?"
Yeo Mae-hong puzzled over the laid-back Chu Un-hwi but dropped it.
Seizing the moment, Seo Ok-rang sidled up.
"Hehe. Reminds me of our commission trip."
"Hot. Seo girl, back off."
"Tch."
Shooing her away like a stray dog, Chu Un-hwi leaned toward Moyong So-hye.
"Scan around for anyone harboring dark thoughts."
Read people's minds.
Moyong So-hye narrowed her eyes and mouthed back,
"Instructor, I can only read emotions. Not exact intentions."
Positive or negative feelings, sure.
But pinpointing schemes from emotions alone was tricky.
"I know. That's enough."
I've got ways.
***
First catch: the thugs from last night's ruckus.
"What now?"
Thinking they'd learned how to handle him, the thug spoke slickly.
"Gonna pick another fight? Got proof this time?"
Undeterred, Chu Un-hwi replied,
"Not picking a fight."
"Hah. Knew it."
"But complaints rolled in about your ugly mug, crude speech, and antics bothering everyone. Tone it down."
"Hah. What?"
Ptoo!
Spitting on the ground, the thug lurched up and shoved his face close.
"What? Picking a fight? Get him! Do it!"
"Divine Martial Academy instructors don't strike civilians first."
"Hah. Thought so. Spineless bastard."
The cackling thug turned to his crew with a smug grin.
"You learn martial arts and think you can act like this? Righteous sects bullying without proof?!"
Riling up, he shouted, and the others chimed in.
"Hey, monk-boy. Mind your own. Hit the road."
"Yeah, big brothers handle our own."
"Not leaving? Really picking a fight?"
Like shooing clueless students, the thugs yapped.
To these bullies—weak against strong, strong against weak—the vague youth seemed easy prey.
"This instructor warned you."
That's it.
As Chu Un-hwi turned to leave with that short reply,
"Bastard, all scared."
The thug smirked, dreaming of a payout,
Shing.
He froze at the cold steel on his throat.
"S-sword..."
The blade was oddly serrated, like a saw.
At its hilt stood a man whose mere sight weakened knees, glaring murderously.
"Y-you're gonna kill me..."
"What are you saying? How could a proud righteous warrior like me kill an innocent?"
"Th-then hurry and remove this sword..."
"But this guy's not righteous folk."
Finally recognizing the saw-sword's infamous owner, the thug blanched.
"Soho... Black Wolf. Sang-gwang..."
Sang-gwang's lips twitched with the blade at his throat.
"Heh. You know my name—not your average thug."
"I-I just..."
Swish.
The saw drew a thin line of blood; the thug shivered.
Chu Un-hwi said lightly,
"I just made a righteous request to cooperate with security."
Something went wrong?
"What do you want from me? I scraped together cash, hired ronin—even I've done my part."
Just a tip.
"If you wanna live, handle your side."
Done.
Chu Un-hwi strode out without a backward glance.
***
Crunch.
"Gaaahhh!"
Ignoring the screams behind, humming a tune, the thugs scattered.
"Shit, it's Soho Black Wolf Sang-gwang."
"How's he handling a monster like that?"
"That's not it! Even our chief got his head taken by Sang-gwang!"
No one in the underworld hadn't heard of Soho Black Wolf.
Thus easily sorted, Chu Un-hwi boasted proudly,
"See, Jegal? That's outsourcing the hate sponge."
"...Is this okay?"
"Why not?"
Shaking his empty pouch, Chu Un-hwi grinned.
"Dipped into my own pocket for outsourcing on top of low pay—who else takes the hate?"
"......"
Gaaahhh!
More bone-cracks and screams from the thugs.
Sang-gwang soon returned, blood on his hem.
"They won't dare speak to you again."
"No need for process reports. Results matter."
Am I not the best boss?
Sang-gwang chuckled at the brag.
"Heh. I take the hate?"
"You get it. Worth every coin."
Chu Un-hwi called Moyong So-hye again.
"So-hye. Eyes open."
Time for the next target.
***
"Waaah. Can't do more."
Even Moyong So-hye couldn't probe thousands' intents fully.
"Yeah? Time for backup, then."