He's a Good Kid at Heart
Just as teachers in a faculty office handle misbehaving students in normal schools, the Discipline Hall manages students who cause trouble within the academy.
The moment I arrived at the Discipline Hall, the first person I saw was none other than the Discipline Hall Master, Woo Mi-do. Just as I reached the door of her office, she happened to step outside. Seeing me, Woo Mi-do spoke in a quiet voice.
“You came because you were worried about Hanseok, didn't you?”
“Yes. Is Hanseok inside?”
“He is. The investigation is currently underway.”
“Hall Master Woo, you know as well as I do that Hanseok isn't the type of kid to do something like that.”
Woo Mi-do remained silent for a brief moment before letting out a soft sigh.
“Chef Yoon, as a staff member of the academy, you have a duty to treat all Dongdo equally. You absolutely must not show favoritism toward any specific student.”
“Yes, I'm well aware of that, but wrong is wrong.”
“Which is precisely why you must be even more careful. You and Hanseok have been seen moving together quite often. If the other Dongdo begin to think you are playing favorites, it could turn into a massive headache for both of you.”
Ugh... Her words hit me with the force of an undeniable truth bomb. I couldn't say a single thing in response. If I got any more involved, the academy directors might step in, accusing me of fraternizing too closely with the students.
“Still, seeing how much you trust Hanseok, I suppose I can explain the situation to you.”
With those words, Woo Mi-do gave me a brief summary of what had transpired.
“The one who instigated the conflict was a Dongdo named Lee Yang, a nominal disciple of the Gongdong Sect and the second son of the Tianlong Sect Leader. Apparently, he said things like, 'Look how skinny you got after going to the Beggars' Sect banquet. Did you get sick from eating the scraps they threw away?' and 'Don't get cocky just because you know a little martial arts.'”
“...Wow.”
“According to Hanseok, he was used to being called a fat pig, so he let that slide. But he snapped when Lee Yang asked him, 'Is it really that great being wrapped around the skirts of those courtesans from the Demonic Cult and the Tang Clan, who hang around in the Jeongsajigan?'”
Holy crap. He heard that and still let the guy live? What is he, a living saint? If it were me, I would have turned that bastard into Geum Ho 2.0 on the spot.
“So, unable to hold back any longer, Hanseok challenged this Lee Yang fellow to a duel. But what's this about a lethal strike?”
“They held a duel, and the result was Lee Yang's defeat. However, Hanseok claims he was merely trying to protect Lee Yang during the fall, while Lee Yang, who is currently in the infirmary, strongly insists that Hanseok used a lethal strike at the end to try and kill him.”
To think that Man Hanseok, who had been a total pushover just a few weeks ago, had actually initiated a duel to settle things—isn't that an incredible change? Personally, I thought it was a pretty manly way to handle it, but looking at Woo Mi-do's expression, she didn't seem particularly pleased.
“So the issue is the lethal strike?”
“Precisely. Of some concern, while Hanseok denies using a lethal strike, both the spectator who witnessed the duel and Lee Yang himself are adamantly claiming that he did.”
“Hmm.”
For Man Hanseok to have used a lethal strike meant he had unleashed a technique with the explicit intent to kill. But there was no way he would do that. Him using a deadly technique? I'd sooner believe a Shaolin monk was wearing a hairpin.
I carefully recalled my own spar with Man Hanseok. Had he used any technique that could even remotely be considered a lethal strike?
“Hmm...”
“Is something bothering you?”
“No, it's just that I've sparred with Hanseok once before. Though his style is a bit rougher than other kids his age... Wait.”
Hold on. Was the issue actually Man Hanseok's sheer strength?
“This Lee Yang kid, is he good at martial arts?”
“He's not at the top of his class, but I hear he ranks near the upper tier.”
“And if we compare him to Lady Seonwoo... I mean, the So-cheonma, who is around the same age?”
“There's no comparison. Compared to the So-cheonma, who used to vie for the top of the class every year alongside Instructor Jegal Mu, Lee Yang is far below her.”
Since Seonwoo Seol had only recently stepped into the Peak Realm, she had likely been at the peak of the First-class realm during her sixth year. If so, my suspicion became a near certainty.
“Whatever Hanseok used, it wasn't a lethal strike.”
“Did you witness it yourself, Chef Yoon?”
“I didn't see it, but I think I know exactly why they mistook it for one.”
“You can tell without even seeing it?”
“Yes. It'll be easiest to understand if we call in an instructor who is skilled with the sword and have them reenact the situation.”
Woo Mi-do tilted her head at my suggestion. Well, it made sense that she wouldn't understand, considering she had never clashed with Man Hanseok herself.
With that, Woo Mi-do stepped away for a moment and returned with an instructor. He was someone I had met before—and the very man who caused a collective stomachache of jealousy among all the nearby men whenever he appeared.
“Instructor Jegal Mu, it's been a while.”
“Chef Yoon. I heard you visited the Beggars' Sect banquet. Word has it that your Beggar's Chicken was an absolute masterpiece.”
“Oh, please, it was nothing. I simply roasted a chicken with a bit of care.”
The man was none other than the 'White Fan Young Master,' Instructor Jegal Mu. As someone whose skills rivaled Seonwoo Seol's, he would easily be able to grasp what had actually happened during the duel between Man Hanseok and Lee Yang.
After Woo Mi-do and I took turns explaining the situation, Jegal Mu nodded and pointed toward the academy's Small Martial Arts Ground.
“Let us reenact it ourselves. We can summon Lee Yang, the spectator, and Man Hanseok to confront them directly.”
Thanks to his prompt approval, the three individuals were soon gathered, all wearing incredibly uncomfortable expressions. The incredibly scrawny, lightweight-looking guy had to be Lee Yang of the Tianlong Sect. The boy beside him, looking utterly devoid of confidence, was the spectator and classmate, Jang Ri of the Jang Family Manor. Finally, Man Hanseok arrived at the training ground, his shoulders slumped as he trudged forward.
It was probably his first time being summoned to the Discipline Hall since entering the academy, so it was only natural for him to be worried. Still, why was a guy built like the reincarnation of Lu Bu looking so incredibly depressed? He looked like he should be swinging a Sky Piercer halberd and shouting, “Who will be my next adoptive father?!” instead of moping around.
“Why did you bring us here to stand next to an attempted murderer?”
What a lovely way with words. There weren't even online multiplayer battle arenas in the Central Plains, so where on earth did he learn to talk like that? As Lee Yang stood askew, one leg wrapped in a splint and bandages, Woo Mi-do replied with her hands clasped behind her back.
“We are here to determine whether what Man Hanseok used was indeed a lethal strike. Nothing has been decided yet, so please refrain from using terms like 'attempted murderer.'”
At Woo Mi-do's cold reprimand, Lee Yang snapped his head away in frustration. On the other hand, Jang Ri, standing beside him, was fidgeting nervously. I could smell something fishy from a mile away.
Holding a standard wooden sword and a staff, Jegal Mu tossed the staff to Man Hanseok.
“I assume you remember the techniques you used during the duel?”
“Yes. I remember.”
“I will take Lee Yang's place. Simply execute your moves according to your memory of the fight.”
Judging by his words, Jegal Mu seemed quite familiar with the sword techniques Lee Yang used. When Jegal Mu took his starting stance before the spar, Lee Yang's face filled with shock.
“T-The Demon-Subduing Sword?”
“I am merely mimicking the form of the Demon-Subduing Sword. There is no true essence behind it.”
Jegal Mu let out a soft chuckle. He claimed he was only mimicking the form, but to anyone watching, it was a flawless representation of the Gongdong Sect's Demon-Subduing Sword. Even Man Hanseok, who had been completely dispirited a moment ago, looked slightly startled. Furthermore, even if it was just the form, the sheer presence Jegal Mu exuded while executing it was on an entirely different level.
His expression turning serious, Jegal Mu asked Man Hanseok.
“Who made the first move?”
“It was me.”
“Then, begin.”
Whoosh! Man Hanseok unleashed a technique I had faced a few times myself. Watching the strike closely, Jegal Mu nodded and immediately moved to counter.
“He must have moved like this here.”
When Jegal Mu's wooden sword blocked the staff, Man Hanseok nodded silently. Thus, the reenactment began. A handsome face, but a deliberately clumsy performance. In a real fight, Jegal Mu would have won in an instant, but because he was actively mimicking Lee Yang's actual skill level, he was struggling to keep up.
Seeing Lee Yang's face gradually stiffen, it was clear Jegal Mu's reenactment was spot-on. Knowing both the form of the Demon-Subduing Sword and Lee Yang's exact level of skill—he truly was worthy of being called a leader among the younger generation. Way to go, Lee Yang! Fighting Man Hanseok with that level of skill, it was only natural that the tide of battle immediately turned in Hanseok's favor.
After clashing for about ten exchanges, Jegal Mu glanced briefly at Lee Yang before asking Man Hanseok.
“This should be around the point where Lee Yang's strength began to flag. What did he do next?”
“He raised his wooden sword and charged forward to end the fight quickly.”
“Ah, a technique utilizing the Downward Descent.”
Swish! As Jegal Mu lunged forward in an instant, Man Hanseok's face hardened, and he immediately swept at his legs. Crack! Ouch, anyone could tell that hurt. That wasn't just a bruise; that was enough to crack a bone. Yet Jegal Mu merely winced slightly, his expression otherwise remaining completely calm. Look at that sheer cool factor, enduring the pain like it was nothing. Absolutely badass.
“Hold on. That was quite a powerful strike. What happened to the actual Lee Yang?”
“He spun half a turn in midair, stopping with his head pointing directly toward the ground... He was about to crash headfirst. In that split second, I rushed forward to protect his head.”
“How is that protecting me?! You clearly used a lethal strike to make me crash on my head on purpose!”
When Lee Yang pointed an accusing finger and shouted at Man Hanseok, Hanseok's face darkened.
“I believed that if I hadn't rushed in to catch your neck, your neck would have snapped.”
Hearing Hanseok's explanation, Jegal Mu nodded, then turned his gaze toward me.
“You made the right call, Chef Yoon.”
“Pardon? Ah. You realized it too?”
“Yes. Hearing only the description, one might easily mistake it for a lethal strike. But after actually sparring, the root of the problem becomes glaringly obvious.”
“I'm glad you see it that way.”
A clean acknowledgment from Jegal Mu. That was the terrifying truth you could only realize after actually clashing with Man Hanseok. However, unlike Jegal Mu, who understood immediately, Lee Yang seemed completely unable to accept it.
“W-Wait a minute! What do you mean by that?! Are you saying that bastard didn't do anything wrong?!”
As Lee Yang pointed and screamed at Man Hanseok, Woo Mi-do, who had been watching quietly from the side, pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Lee Yang, do you really not understand what Instructor Jegal Mu is saying?”
“To me, it looks like Instructor Jegal Mu is just shielding that bastard and Chef Yoon!”
“Sigh, what a fool...”
How could someone be this dense? As Woo Mi-do remained speechless with her hand still on her forehead, I stepped forward. Since gentle words weren't getting through, I needed to drop a carpet bomb of truth on him like a B-52.
“Dongdo Lee Yang.”
“What?”
“Don't 'what' me. Come over here for a second. I'll explain exactly what Instructor Jegal Mu meant.”
I leaned in close to Lee Yang and whispered.
“Your body simply couldn't handle the technique Man Hanseok unleashed.”
“What?”
“You saw Man Hanseok strike Instructor Jegal Mu's leg with his staff just now, right? But Instructor Jegal Mu didn't spin half a turn in the air.”
“.......”
“Why do you think that is? The reason you spun in midair is because Man Hanseok's striking power was so overwhelming that it didn't just break your lower-body balance—it literally sent you spinning.”
At those words, Lee Yang's face soured as if he had just chewed on a lemon. It seemed he finally understood what I was getting at.
“In short, your physical strength is nothing compared to Man Hanseok's, your control over internal energy is pathetic, and your skill is so low that a sudden blow completely shatters your balance. The technique Hanseok used wasn't a lethal strike; it was a mistake born from the massive gap in your abilities.”
Lee Yang was left utterly speechless, while Jang Ri, watching the scene unfold, hung his head low.
“It looks like your friend over there figured it out a long time ago, didn't he?”
“How could that fat pig...!”
Even now, Lee Yang muttered in bitter resentment, unable to accept it. Man Hanseok might look slow, but he was a kid who cut into his sleep to train until the Hour of the Rat (from eleven at night to one in the morning). He already possessed natural talent, and with that level of effort on top of it, there was no way some arrogant punk looking down on him could ever win. Well, now that the undeniable truth was out, should we wrap this up?
“Hall Master Woo, I believe this is simply a case of someone failing to control their strength while sparring with a 'friend.' Isn't it quite common for such accidents to happen when there's a significant gap in skill?”
I turned to Woo Mi-do as I asked, and she nodded in agreement.
“Do you agree, Instructor Jegal Mu?”
“I do. If he has recently made rapid progress in his martial arts, controlling his output would naturally be difficult. A minor mishap during a friendly spar is entirely plausible.”
Hearing Jegal Mu's response, Woo Mi-do cast a sharp glare at Lee Yang and Jang Ri.
“By my authority as the Discipline Hall Master, I declare this matter resolved. As for you two, Lee Yang and Jang Ri, follow me. Hurling such vile insults within the academy grounds will not be tolerated.”
Suddenly transformed from victims to perpetrators, Lee Yang and Jang Ri limped after Woo Mi-do without uttering a single peep. Jegal Mu smiled warmly and patted Man Hanseok on the shoulder.
“Judging by your skill, it looks like the Eastern Pavilion will take the victory in the sixth-year division of this year's tournament.”
“T-Thank you, Instructor Jegal.”
“You should thank Chef Yoon for believing in you. I merely spoke the truth.”
Jegal Mu brushed it off lightly as if it were nothing. Truly, even saying the exact same words, a handsome man just hits different.
“It seems your keen eye shines brightly in all matters, Chef Yoon.”
“Oh, not at all. I only did what needed to be done. It was Instructor Jegal's swordplay that truly cleared a student of a false accusation.”
“Hahaha, you flatter me too much. If I may be so bold, when might I have the pleasure of tasting your cooking again, Chef Yoon?”
“Of course. I'll make sure to whip up something spectacular for you soon.”
Having successfully built a bit of guanxi with Jegal Mu, I sent him on his way. Now, only a very awkward-looking Man Hanseok remained.
“Hanseok.”
“Yes, Chef Yoon.”
Seeing him shrink back into his timid self, just like when we first met, I patted him on the back.
“You did well, kid.”
“Pardon?”
“Why on earth should you have tolerated those insults? If you had held back any longer, I would've been the one getting angry at you. Settling it with a duel like a true martial artist was the right call.”
“I-Is that so?”
“My only complaint is that you only cracked his leg. You should have beaten him until he pissed himself.”
“B-But Lee Yang is a fellow Dongdo!”
“Can you really sleep at night after taking that kind of abuse from a fellow student? When I thrashed Geum Ho, I didn't give a damn about the consequences and shattered his jaw.”
“I can tolerate insults directed at me, but it's a different story when they insult Lady Dang and the So-cheonma...”
“Did you go and achieve enlightenment at some temple while I wasn't looking? You need to know when to let your anger out, kid.”
I thumped my chest in sheer frustration. Aigoo, how frustrating. But on second thought, even if he was exasperating, Man Hanseok was definitely far more suited to be called a great hero than I was. To think a kid ten years younger than me was capable of such mature thoughts.
“By the way, what were you doing when he started insulting you?”
“Ah, that... I have a classmate from Guangdong who came up here with me. He's in the Western Hall, and his younger sibling is a first-year in the Eastern Pavilion. I was on my way back after asking him to look into Gongson Yeongji's situation. But then Lee Yang spotted me and suddenly started hurling insults...”
“You two weren't close, right?”
“I've kept my distance from him since our first year. To use your phrasing, Chef Yoon, he had a bit of a 'trashy' vibe.”
It was highly suspicious that a nominal disciple with ties to the Gongdong Sect would suddenly show up and start picking a fight out of nowhere. I'd have to keep a close eye on those Gongdong Sect bastards.
“So, what did you find out about Gongson Yeongji?”
“I asked why she was being bullied. He said at the beginning of the semester, everyone was just awkward around her, but because she's so timid and extremely shy, she naturally ended up being isolated.”
“I'm sure the rumors about the Gongson Clan Estate played a part in it too, right?”
“Undoubtedly. The younger students tend to just parrot whatever they hear from their families at home.”
“Is there any way to help her? It breaks my heart to see that tiny kid trembling like a leaf while trying to eat her meals.”
At my words, Man Hanseok lowered his head in deep thought, then suddenly snapped his head up as if a brilliant idea had struck him.
“Actually... there might be a way.”
“Oh, really? What is it?”
“But... will you be able to handle it?”
“Handle what? What do I have to handle?”
“The Student Council President.”
Don't tell me... Yang Seoran? I couldn't help but grimace.