Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 11 Uninvited Guest (2)
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“An instructor at the Divine Martial Academy is dead?”
The Divine Martial Academy was the cradle of the righteous Murim world. It was the safest place alongside the Murim Alliance, so the idea of an instructor—not just anyone—dying there didn't make sense.
“Inside the academy, danger is rare. But instructors who head out into the jianghu often meet their end.”
That matched her explanation.
In an unusually somber tone, Bronze Hall Master Chung-hyun began to speak.
“Ten warriors from the Alliance, two instructors from Gold Hall, and five from Silver Hall have passed away.”
“……”
After a brief silence, Instructor Yang spoke up.
“Hall Master. What happened?”
“There was an incident near Infinite Castle.”
“At a time like this, if the instructors left the academy, could it be for Silver Hall's jianghu excursion?”
“I can't go into details. It's Alliance classified information.”
Classified information.
Those words silenced Instructor Yang.
“First, let's pray for the souls of the departed. Some here may have known them well.”
With a short moment of silence, Chung-hyun quietly read out the names of the fallen instructors.
Yeo Mae-hong, listening intently to the names, began to tear up.
“Ah… Instructor Eun Hae-wol…”
“Is he famous?”
“Instructor Eun Hae-wol of the Eight Whirlwind Swords is a renowned swordsman. A lay disciple of the Wudang Sect, he forged his own unique swordsmanship.”
I thought she knew a lot about him, but more backstory followed.
“When I was in Silver Hall, he was my personal instructor. We even threw him a celebration when he was promoted to Gold Hall…”
Someone she knew personally?
Watching her quietly sob, I suddenly searched my memories.
But nothing in my past memories—or words from my former lover—matched this.
‘The Mangcheon Society didn't start spilling blood in earnest until much later, right?’
Could my presence be twisting fate?
Thinking about it, I'd changed quite a bit.
I'd dismantled organizations already in the Mangcheon Society's grasp and tipped off both the righteous and unorthodox factions about their pawns.
Even the Hao Gate recently.
‘If the branch leader leaked word to the Murim Alliance about the Green Blood Sorceress and the double agents, that could easily alter events.’
Honestly, it had nothing to do with me.
The problem was that this halted all academy activities.
“There's a chance the culprits are still in Infinite Castle, so all internal and external activities are suspended for now. Keep your students in line—no room for mistakes.”
I didn't care what happened in the jianghu, but the academy's policy shift meant my lover's fate might diverge from what I knew.
‘Damn. Can't believe a few double agents caused this mess.’
And another issue.
“A memorial service will be held for the fallen instructors.”
“We're also selecting temporary instructors to fill their positions.”
“Some might come to our Bronze Hall, so keep that in mind.”
Unknown outsiders infiltrating the Bronze Hall I'd just gotten used to.
Either way, it wasn't good news for Chu Un-hwi.
The atmosphere at the Divine Martial Academy had sunk into gloom.
The once-free vibe was now restrained, and even those excited for midterms had reined themselves in given the situation.
In this stifling mood that seemed endless, Chu Un-hwi grumbled.
“Damn. No clue what's going on.”
Should I check with the Hao Gate?
But the academy, already hard to slip in and out of, was practically sealed after these events.
In this suffocating frustration, someone appeared to share updates.
Silver Hall's Instructor Moyong Seon-ya.
She'd dropped by with Yeo Mae-hong for the memorial of their former master, Eight Whirlwind Swords Instructor Eun Hae-wol, and got straight to it.
“Bad luck.”
As a Silver Hall instructor, she knew plenty.
“It happened while prepping Silver Hall students' jianghu excursion.”
Silver Hall's jianghu excursion.
Unlike green rookies in Bronze Hall, Silver Hall students—treated as proper jianghu folk—took short excursions instead of midterms.
Of course, they couldn't throw inexperienced students into danger.
Instructors had gone ahead to scout risks and got caught in a clash between the Murim Alliance and fiends on their way back, per Moyong Seon-ya.
“Unfortunately, the ones they ran into were seriously strong.”
“It's tragic. But, sister, if they died in action, why hide it instead of honoring them publicly?”
“No idea. Normally, you'd announce it officially.”
From their conversation, I pieced it together.
‘The Murim Alliance has a mole.’
That was the only reason for such losses in Infinite Castle, the Alliance's front yard.
A familiar plot twist.
‘Planting double agents in enemy ranks is the Mangcheon Society's signature.’
They sowed traitors everywhere to breed distrust.
No one trusts allies behind their backs, so they never unite till the end.
A classic Mangcheon tactic.
Once the Alliance sniffed it out, they'd cover it up as best they could.
Now that I grasped the situation, it left a bitter taste.
‘Should've ignored that Green Blood Sorceress.’
Events unfolding that shouldn't have—thanks to me—were getting under my skin.
Should've just laid low, damn the jianghu's fate.
As I berated myself, Moyong Seon-ya dropped a bombshell.
“Heard about it, Instructor Chu?”
“About what?”
“The new hires for the academy.”
I hadn't heard a thing.
No clue.
Shaking my head, she answered.
“Some big names are joining. Don't freak out—one's none other than!”
“None other than?”
“The One-Eyed Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul!”
One-Eyed Divine Sword? Dokgo Ryul?
An exclamation burst beside my ear.
“Dokgo Ryul the hero?!”
“White-Clothed Judge Chief Supervisor Seon In-hyeok personally recruited him, given the severity!”
“Heavens! My god!”
They squealed like kids meeting a celebrity. I tilted my head.
“One-Eyed… whatever. Who's this guy?”
One-Eyed (獨眼). Single eye.
Divine Sword (神劍). Divine sword.
‘What a lame nickname.’
One-eyed swordsman? They couldn't be bothered.
Problem was, I seemed alone in that thought.
“You don't know One-Eyed Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul?”
“One of the Ten Great Jianghu Swordsmen!”
They rattled off tales of top hundred masters, recent exploits—endless chatter.
Headache incoming.
“To move the One-Eyed Divine Sword… The Chief Supervisor made a bold call.”
“Think we'll see a duel between Flame Light Blade Demon Instructor Ma Gil-sang and One-Eyed Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul?”
Clapping excitedly, they beamed. I felt uneasy.
Listening closely.
‘Stuffy righteous hero type, huh?’
I clashed hard with rigid, self-righteous types. Worry bubbled up.
‘Please. Don't come. Please. Stay away.’
Please. Silver Hall.
Gold Hall, even.
‘Pleeeeease!’
Chu Un-hwi prayed desperately.
But misfortune strikes without warning, they say?
That morning, Chung-hyun announced, barely hiding his excitement.
“As mentioned, our Bronze Hall will get reinforcements too.”
“Us too?”
Squad Leader Yeom Gwang followed up.
His displeasure was obvious—he hated the situation.
Chung-hyun continued.
“Gold and Silver Hall have huge gaps. Their students are in chaos without guidance—unavoidable.”
“But we took no losses. Why reinforce us?”
His sharp tone showed wariness of new rocks rolling in.
Natural, fearing diluted influence.
Unaware or not, Chung-hyun pressed on.
“Ideally, fill Gold and Silver directly. But outsiders won't adapt fast. So, those interested can observe here temporarily.”
“If it's just observation…”
Temporary observation softened Yeom Gwang.
Bronze. Silver. Gold. Divine.
Higher ranks meant stronger students, demanding stronger instructors.
Higher up, hands get short naturally—they wouldn't stay long.
But Yeom Gwang's face cracked at the next words.
“Thus, we'll create temporary squad leader posts for a while.”
“Squad leader?!”
Yeom Gwang finally snapped.
“How can an outsider take a squad leader role?”
“Exactly, Hall Master. Squad leader needs not just skill, but leadership.”
“No need to give such roles to short-timers and cause chaos.”
Led by Yeom Gwang, his followers erupted.
Chung-hyun eyed them coolly and added.
“One-Eyed Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul.”
“Pardon?”
“Personally recruited by White-Clothed Judge Chief Supervisor Seon In-hyeok, acknowledged as a rival by Flame Light Blade Demon Divine Martial Squad Leader Ma Gil-sang. You want to stick him as a mere temp instructor? Insane?”
“……”
Yeom Gwang's crew, and the whole room, shut up.
“I'd offer my Hall Master seat if I could. He specifically chose Bronze Hall—proper etiquette. He refused, settling for temp squad leader. Still a problem?”
Chung-hyun tacked on.
“Complain to him directly.”
No one spoke.
“Ugh. Worst case.”
The morning news made my head throb.
Not just the One-Eyed Divine Sword's arrival.
Chung-hyun's follow-up stuck more.
- Dokgo Ryul stopped by Zhangseong County en route.
- Punished a black道 sect sucking villagers dry.
- Without moving a step, flung his sword, turning the sect leader and five elites into one-sword lone souls.
Yeom Gwang writhed hearing it.
Fearing rumors of opposing Dokgo Ryul, he flipped instantly.
“Truly a hero.”
Seamless pivot.
Problem: my stomach twisted too.
‘Damn. Why's a guy like that…’
Coming to Bronze Hall, of all the academy's dumps?
“To a low-pay sweatshop! Why!”
Skill aside, his path irked me.
Stick to your road—why smash upright unorthodox sects?
Pummeling black道 tormentors and bandits like it's nothing.
Pure righteous hero vibe.
Chills and tremors just hearing it.
“No one clashes with me like this guy…”
Know your enemy, win every battle.
Time to dig on this pest.