Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Ecosystem Disruptor (1)
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"Yul-ah. I heard a bunch of new instructors are joining us this time."
"That's right. They said the Nine Great Sects would provide replacements for the dead instructors."
"It won't be easy to use them as instructors right away, will it?"
As expected, even Dokgo Yul's voice was filled with doubt.
"What would fresh mountain-descenders know? We're lucky if they don't cause any trouble, let alone be useful right off the bat."
"Yeah. So that means it takes time for them to become official instructors?"
"...Yes, that's correct."
"He's someone who could be a huge help to the righteous faction if he stays alive. He's perfectly suited for fighting the Nether Heaven Society."
Unlike before, he had now decided to cut down the Nether Heaven Society.
Letting a talented Nether Heaven Society meat shield live didn't sit well with him.
"More than that, I believe in my fate with my bride-to-be. She'll fall for me in no time."
"In that case, there's no need to force it."
Of course, given who she was, he couldn't let his guard down completely.
"Naturally. I still need to plan ways to kill him if he becomes a problem."
"If you just give me time, I can prepare thoroughly and make it look like he vanished without a trace."
They even had a good pretext.
"Have you heard anything about the promotion exam?"
"Promotion exam?"
"It's a test where confirmed promotees are sent on real missions to verify their skills."
"What? They squeeze you for low pay, that's not enough, they make you teach, and now they want to use you for free too?"
"Isn't the Murim Alliance the place that splurges on useless stuff while whining about no money?"
"True."
If they cut back on even one or two mock training grounds like the Sacheon Cave Marshes or the Beggar's Branch, they could pay in gold instead of silver.
"Lately, with the disaster on the Jianghu Tour, the sects sponsoring the Divine Martial Academy are voicing complaints."
The Divine Martial Jianghu Tour wasn't just a simple field trip for students.
Sects provided modest support, and in return, students carried out requests for the sponsoring sects—that was the core deal.
"Centered around the Myo Jin Sect, complaints are coming out openly, so they're saying to assign urgent requests to promotion candidates."
Chu Un-hwi chuckled at the subtle tone.
"Clever guy."
"I figured it'd be more convenient for you to move freely, so I pulled some strings."
He really was a capable retainer.
He anticipated exactly what was needed before any orders and acted first.
"But to make that happen, you need to get on the list of Silver Hall promotion candidates."
"Don't worry. Upper Instructor Jang Cheol-sim promised it, even staking his sect's name."
Of course, there was one condition attached.
Chu Un-hwi recalled their recent conversation.
"However, if you punch the Chief Supervisor, I'll let it slide."
"Why would I hit the Chief Supervisor?"
"Isn't that what you did to Nangong Family Head, who has even higher prestige and dignity?"
The White-Clothed Judge Seon In-hyeok wielded absolute power within the Divine Martial Academy, but in the wider Jianghu, his influence couldn't match the Nangong Family Head.
After all, he was the head of the Nangong Family, called the Supreme Heavenly Clan.
This seemed to be what Jang Cheol-sim was worried about.
"Especially since the Chief Supervisor personally summoned talents from the Nine Great Sects to join as instructors."
"Good, that means less work for me."
"Didn't you originally do astonishingly little work?"
He struck with a painful truth and warned him.
"If you brawl with them or commit another act of disciple disrespect like before, even I can't cover for you anymore."
That was why he had promised under the name of the Qingcheng Sect, referring to him as 'someone whose promotion is practically assured.'
Snapping out of his thoughts, Chu Un-hwi nodded.
"I'm a definite promotion candidate."
"This is our chance."
Dokgo Yul's eyes gleamed darkly as he licked his lips.
"Give me a list of those thorn-in-the-side bastards. I'll bundle them up, send them into Jianghu, and kill them all at once."
"Just hearing it feels satisfying."
"But please, my lord."
Thud!
Dropping to one knee, Dokgo Yul shouted solemnly.
"You must win the heart of the First Wife!"
"Hahaha."
Don't worry about that, Yul-ah.
[If our time together held even a shred of value, come find me again.]
"She's the woman I reunited with at last. We built love even in a world of ruin—do you think I can't win her heart in this peaceful one?"
His confidence wasn't just a feeling.
"I know what she likes. What she cherishes. What she wants! I know her tastes, so how could she not fall for me?"
An older instructor.
Bangy forehead bangs.
Slightly loose-fitting clothes, but a righteous personality.
Even her extreme aversion to violence.
And recently, by lucky coincidence, he'd become her lifesaver.
"Now all that's left is for fate to lead to the fruit of love!"
'...That's what I thought back then.'
Less than a week after the banquet, at a suddenly called instructor meeting, thunderbolt news struck.
"Therefore, mixed classes are banned for the time being, and we'll strictly separate male and female students."
'Banning mixed classes?'
Jang Cheol-sim's declaration hit like lightning from a clear sky, just as he was planning to advance his relationship with his bride-to-be through close teaching.
'Why! Why now!'
Back to male instructors teaching males and females teaching females—Chu Un-hwi slammed the desk.
"I object!"
Bang!
As he shot to his feet, Jang Cheol-sim's indifferent gaze followed.
"Something to say? First time you've raised your hand."
"Why on earth make such a ridiculous decision?"
"Are you asking because you don't know?"
Rubbing his brow wearily, Jang Cheol-sim replied.
"You know about that unsavory incident with Student Seo before."
"Wasn't that resolved?"
"The Inspection Department disagrees. They say we need minimal measures to prevent romances between male and female students."
"...That's."
"Wait. You're acting weird. Surely not..."
Jang Cheol-sim's eyes sharpened menacingly.
"As an adult, you're not dreaming of getting chummy with a young student or brazenly entering as a pair and leaving as three?"
"...I'm innocent."
It hit too close to home, making him feel unjustly accused.
Tsk-tsk, Jang Cheol-sim clicked his tongue.
"That's why I suspected you, someone usually disinterested in everything, suddenly getting proactive."
"......"
Silently sitting back down, he thought of the culprit behind this mess.
'Seo Ok-rang. That meddlesome wench is behind this.'
As he pondered how to overturn it, supportive instructors chimed in, thankfully.
"Upper Instructor, we understand the Inspection Department's view, but flipping rules on a whim isn't good."
"Agreed. There may be risks, but you know the benefits are just as great."
"Reversing rules every incident will only breed more chaos."
So reasonable that even Jang Cheol-sim couldn't dismiss it easily.
"...Not wrong. Even Chief Instructor Dok-an Sword Immortal and others pointed that out."
"Please reconsider..."
"Unfortunately, it's already decided. The consensus is that unprepared changes do more harm than good."
Moreover.
Clap clap.
As Jang Cheol-sim clapped, the meeting room door opened, and a group entered.
"At least until the newcomers adjust, give them some leeway—that's the opinion."
"These people are..."
Instructors' gazes turned to the entrants.
Nine people in sharply tailored instructor uniforms.
Surprisingly, a heavy silence spread among the instructors the moment they appeared.
Due to the substantial aura each newcomer exuded.
"These are the ones from the Nine Great Sects I mentioned."
"From the Nine Great Sects..."
"They just descended the mountains, so they'll need time to adjust to secular life. Right?"
No sooner had he finished than one woman stepped forward.
Short bob haircut to her shoulders, sharp and venomous features.
She lifted her chin, scanned the room, and spoke.
"I'm Geum Jeong of the Emei Sect."
Her voice was as cold as her looks.
"I acknowledge the openness of the secular world, but mixed classes when men and women are distinct? Absurd."
This was the cradle of the righteous faction, after all.
"We can't tolerate licentious behavior around young students."
"......"
"......"
The instructors wilted like folding fans before her unyielding rigidity.
She was a master from Emei Sect, renowned for its strict rules.
A skinny man behind her, rolling his bulging eyes, stepped up too.
"J-John, Zhongnan Sect's Ya So-gok. I agree with Lady Geum Jeong."
He couldn't even meet eyes, looking like talking to people—let alone women—was torture, but the atmosphere made further objections impossible.
"Haa. Talk about strict."
"Neung Gongja!"
"Call me Instructor Neung. We're family now."
Neung Pung-un smoothly parried Geum Jeong's sharp retort and stepped forward.
"Sorry to put everyone out like this. Bear with it a little, please."
Geum Jeong pouted, displeased at him easing the hard-won mood, but Neung Pung-un continued unperturbed.
"They're worn out from mountain life, eating grass and getting prickly personalities. Be generous, Instructors."
Waggling a playful fist salute, he drew chuckles from the instructors.
"Neung Gongja. You really..."
"Come on, Instructor Geum, don't be so uptight. Smile like when you begged to tour the Murim Alliance yesterday."
"Ugh, really..."
Unable to counter his quick mood-lightening, Geum Jeong relaxed her stiff face and backed off.
"...So, I'm asking for your cooperation."
Thwap thwap.
Upper Instructor Jang Cheol-sim smacked the stack of documents on the desk and added curtly.
"That's it. Go mingle and introduce yourselves."
I'll head out.
Buzz buzz.
Silver Hall instructors, who usually ignored outsiders, couldn't help but show keen interest in the newcomers.
"Um... from Zhongnan Sect?"
"...Yes. Who... are you."
"An honor! I'm a disciple of the Jangheung Sect, a secular branch of Zhongnan!"
"Oho! A fellow heir to Zhongnan's legacy."
The Nine Great Sects' arts had influenced or spread to countless sects over long history.
Even secular branch disciples took pride in their origin; meeting a main sect disciple naturally excited them.
Some already knew each other.
"Uncle Shim Ui. You're here."
"Haha. Junior Brother Shim boasted about you so much— you've grown splendidly. Makes me ashamed of my wasted years."
"How could I compare to Uncle?"
"O Five Elements Sword User—impressive. Wudang's fortune."
Conversations started warmly here and there, leaving only minor sect instructors sidelined.
Watching, Chu Un-hwi tsked.
"Is this welcoming newbies or serving nobility?"
"Shh. Be careful. Masters have sharp ears."
"It's true. Back in our day, they bullied us with hazing."
"Can't be helped. They're from the main Nine Great Sects."
"Nine Great Sects or not, aren't I the senior?"
Fresh-faced newbies who haven't even dried their hair yet.
As he grumbled softly, Squad Leader Instructor Yang Dae-cheol intervened.
"Please hold back. Being rude to Nine Great Sects folks won't slide easily."
"What do I have to hold back for?"
"Don't pick fights just because you don't like them."
Yang Dae-cheol shot back, then sighed in relief, glancing around.
"Think positive. With reinforcements, one less worry, right?"
"Fewer night shifts now that instructors fill the spots."
"Handpicked talents from the Nine Great Sects—exciting."
As everyone smiled and welcomed it.
'Still don't like the guy.'
Seeing Neung Pung-un mingling familiarly and greeting people, Chu Un-hwi turned away.
"Huh? Instructor Chu. Leaving already? No hello...?"
"No need."
Shrugging, Chu Un-hwi briskly exited the hall.