Chapter 36
Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 11 Uninvited Guest (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Heh heh. The duty log is right here, sir.”
Yeom Gwang let out a light chuckle as he politely handed over the ledger.
The usual sight of him dumping work on others and slinking away was nowhere to be seen.
He was sticking close like a shadow, behaving just like a candy in Dokgo Ryul's mouth.
“Whoa. Gross.”
“Quiet. A master's ears are extremely sensitive.”
Smack smack.
Chu Un-hwi twisted away from the hand slapping his shoulder.
'These guys?'
Under Yeom Gwang's glare, he quickly bowed his head and pretended nothing had happened.
The flustered Yeo Mae-hong fiddled aimlessly with her brush, pretending to work.
“Excellent.”
The instructors' office was shrouded in utter silence.
Normally, it would be abuzz with the voices of the hard-drinking instructors droning on about last night's booze-fest like it was their major subject, but today, even the sounds of chewing and the scratch of brushes on paper rang out crystal clear.
It was unavoidable.
Dokgo Ryul, the Lone Eye Divine Sword.
With this fierce master of the jianghu—and a man certain to claim a key position at the Divine Martial Academy in the future—holding down the fort, who could relax?
Thud.
After poring over the duty log for a long while, Dokgo Ryul expressed his thanks in his signature low, gravelly tone.
“This has been most helpful.”
“Haha. I'm just glad it could assist you, sir.”
“No need for that. Even if it's temporary, we're squad leader and instructor under the same roof. Don't be so formal. Speak freely.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha. R-Really?”
Despite the words, Yeom Gwang couldn't drop the honorifics.
It was only natural—no soldier cuts class just because the commander says to chill.
Considering their standings in the jianghu, the gap between them was even wider than commander and grunt.
One was Dokgo Ryul, the Lone Eye Divine Sword, one of the Ten Great Swordsmen and proudly listed among the world's top hundred masters.
The other was just a nobody warrior whose minor fame only held sway in the back alleys of Infinite City.
But those words seemed to ignite the affections of some of the female instructors.
“How can he have such great character, fame, and even a gentle side?”
“Now I get why everyone's calling him 'sir' this and 'sir' that.”
“Sigh. If only our Bronze Hall instructors could match even the tip of his toe.”
Seizing the moment, the female instructors whispered among themselves from the corner.
Yeo Mae-hong, beside them, wore an impressed expression too.
“They say he's detached from fame and treats people without airs, and it's true.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Chu Un-hwi gave a half-hearted reply.
“Phew. I nearly suffocated.”
Only after Yeom Gwang led the sightseeing Dokgo Ryul away did Yeo Mae-hong let out a sigh.
“Just sitting there was oppressive enough.”
“Right? Masters really are on another level. Did you see that eye smile when he laughed? So charming.”
“Oh my, Instructor Jo-hyeon. No way.”
“I'm just saying.”
“You never know.”
The female instructors huddled together, gossiping about Dokgo Ryul.
The male instructors were down in the dumps.
“Damn. How am I supposed to survive this suffocating vibe?”
“I've been off booze for a week already since the temporary squad leader arrived. How am I gonna last the next half year...?”
“Please, just finish the inspection quick and head to Gold Hall or Divine Hall—anywhere but here.”
Amid the chatter around him, Chu Un-hwi frowned and stared at the door Dokgo Ryul had exited.
Lone Eye Divine Sword? Dokgo Ryul?
'How?'
His mind was a whirlwind of confusion.
Only when a headache started throbbing from the nonstop thoughts did he sluggishly head to the training grounds.
Noticing his more dejected mood than usual, Moyong So-hye asked.
“Instructor, why so down?”
“Grown-ups have their own troubles.”
Huff.
Sighing as he paced like a dog desperate for a poop, Moyong So-hye subtly read his mood.
Unlike the usual [Laziness], [Hunger], and [Sleepiness], she picked up [Fear], [Anguish], and [Sense of Crisis].
'The instructor feels a sense of crisis?'
The man who stayed laid-back no matter the situation, now sensing crisis?
Something was seriously off.
Racking her brain for what could have happened, Moyong So-hye quickly guessed the reason.
It wasn't hard.
The rumors were rampant throughout Bronze Hall.
“Has Lone Eye Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul taken up his post?”
She knew well about the Lone Eye Divine Sword. Predicting what came next wasn't tough either.
If a righteous hero straight out of a storybook arrived, the outcome was obvious.
Nine times out of ten, the instructor was marked.
Even she, the youngest student, had vowed multiple times that he mustn't grow up into a man like that.
No need to wait and see what a famous hero would think.
“Mm. What to do?”
He might nag her to fix her wooden dolls and tease her when bored, but Moyong So-hye really liked her instructor.
Lazy as he was, he was the one who'd made her a true martial artist.
She didn't want her favorite instructor in hot water.
Glancing at him as he sighed heavily, she whispered to Baek Ri-seol.
“What do we do, sis?”
She now called Baek Ri-seol with familiarity.
Even the iron-walled Baek Ri-seol had long accepted the puppet master Moyong So-hye.
“What's going on?”
“I think the instructor's been targeted by the new temporary squad leader.”
“...Is that so?”
“From his reaction, he's either been singled out or fallen out of favor. What now?”
Baek Ri-seol pondered, her face darkening then brightening, before blurting something out of left field.
“Five kids. Exactly five would be perfect.”
“What are you talking about?!”
“Being son-in-law to a prestigious family beats being a Divine Martial Academy instructor for stability. Of course.”
This won't do.
Conversation impossible.
And those eyes flickering with strange heat? Scary.
That's when Nangong Yun-ho, who'd been listening stoically, chimed in.
“Sounds like you're in a bind.”
“Nangong oppa.”
Jegal Tan, who'd been listening, sidled closer too.
“Wouldn't surprise me. His skills as instructor might be top-notch, but his conduct and attitude give plenty of ammo for criticism.”
Moyong So-hye nodded.
“Right. If they nitpick his behavior or demeanor, he's like a walking bullseye.”
A huge target you hit every time with a single shot?
Jegal Tan scratched his chin in agreement.
“Yeah, and he can't imagine bootlicking the boss or playing the good boy.”
“Mm. Too lazy to leave the house, no social skills—if only he could just mooch off his wife's earnings quietly at home.”
They chattered on, but agreed on one thing.
“We can't let the instructor get fired...”
Mm. What now?
“Any ideas?”
“If he could just shape up while the storm passes...”
“As if that's possible.”
“True.”
“Son-in-law it is, then.”
As the three groaned over his future, Nangong Yun-ho spoke bluntly.
“You're agonizing over something like that?”
“Yun-ho, aren't you worried about the instructor?”
Shrugging at Jegal Tan's question, Nangong Yun-ho replied.
“If trouble brews, go straight to them and hash it out. Kneel, beg, sell the house if needed—to protect the instructor. Even if I'm the forgotten son, if I vow to live like I'm dead forever, they'll grant one favor, right? Worst case, ask them to disown me from the family register in exchange for help.”
“......”
Jegal Tan was struck speechless by the resolute answer.
“I'm not as smart as you, but I can tell what's doable from what's not.”
Jegal Tan chuckled at the follow-up.
“Clearer strategy than some armchair theorist like me, Nangong Yun-ho.”
The straightforward solution lightened their hearts.
“I can't monopolize him, but if you want the instructor to stay, count me in. After recent events, my family will do anything if I ask.”
“Same here. They're not the type to ignore their spoiled son if he straightens up.”
“Worry solved, then.”
Watching them dive back into training like nothing happened, Moyong So-hye thought.
'Good thing I stayed here.'
It felt like their bond had grown a notch tighter.
“Yawwwn.”
As evening darkened, rolling around in his room, Chu Un-hwi heard Yeo Mae-hong's voice from beyond the wall.
“Instructor Chu, you not going?”
“Where to?”
“Squad Leader Yeom Gwang's called all instructors to review the upcoming midterms again.”
“Not going.”
“Hall Master Chung-hyun said everyone should attend if possible.”
“Zzz. Snore. Mmm. Mmm.”
“Sigh.”
With a sigh, Yeo Mae-hong's presence bustled about.
The sound of her packing up, then a firm voice.
“I'll relay any important news.”
Clunk. Bang.
Her presence faded away.
Lying on the bed, he stared blearily at the dim ceiling.
As darkness settled in twilight hues, Chu Un-hwi rose.
“Man. Such a hassle.”
Smack.
Clicking his tongue, Chu Un-hwi peered out the window.
The world outside was pitch black, moonlight veiled by clouds, deathly quiet.
But he felt it.
Zing. Zing.
The killing intent aimed at him.
“Yawwwn.”
Yawning wide, Chu Un-hwi propped his foot on the railing.
“Seriously. Such a pain. For real.”
Gauging the presence watching from the darkness, Chu Un-hwi kicked off the window.
Whoosh.
In an instant, his body melted into the shadows.
Swoosh!
Swoooosh!
Deploying lightness skill at speed, the scenery warped around him.
His destination: a remote, desolate spot in Bronze Hall.
A small clearing devoid even of footprints.
Tap tap.
Stepping the air to flip his body, Chu Un-hwi descended with hands behind his back, floating down like swimming in water.
Slower than a feather, silent as can be—pure lightness skill.
Touching down with hands clasped behind, he shot a glare into the darkness.
“You called?”
No presence had been there moments ago.
Yet the shadows rippled, spitting out a man.
Rough black uniform, disheveled black hair.
Prominent jawline, thin straight lips.
A man with beast-like, piercing eyes.
—Lone Eye Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul.
The rumored temporary squad leader who'd just arrived.
Exuding energy in waves, he stepped forward.
Step. Step.
Chu Un-hwi's voice carried irritation as he watched Dokgo Ryul approach without a word.
“What's your game?”
“......”
Dokgo Ryul flashed fierce eyes instead of answering.
“Hey. Ryul. What's this Lone Eye Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul crap?”
Only then did the fierce gaze vanish like it was washed away, joy blooming on Dokgo Ryul's face.
“Your subordinate Sima Ryul! Pays respects to my lord!”
Thud!
Dokgo Ryul—no, Sima Ryul—prostrated himself and shouted.