Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: The Master's Arrival
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"Gwangyang."
"Yes, sis."
"Should we just beat the shit out of those bastards?"
"...I was actually about to suggest that..."
Gwangyang glanced back. The martial academy students who had been snickering turned their heads.
Even with their heads turned, their blatant sneers were still plain as day.
Honestly...
They looked pathetic. Utterly so.
The Heavenly Martial Academy. An institution run by the Murim Alliance itself.
But even there, hierarchies existed. For example...
Disciples from the Five Great Families and Nine Great Schools sat at the top.
Below them were those from sects with some fame.
Under them were the rich kids or those with something to flaunt.
And at the very bottom were the poor ones who had scraped together just enough for tuition, with no background to speak of.
That's where we were. We'd gotten in thanks to Master's consideration...
But with no background at all.
The Heavenly Martial Academy might seem to offer equal opportunities to all on the surface, but the reality was far different.
They taught those who had much even more.
And all the have-nots got was mockery.
The instructors were the same. You saw it all the time- them giving special attention only to the rich kids.
With the top acting that way, naturally, a pecking order formed among the students too. The real top dogs from the Nine Great Schools and Five Great Families were treated like gods...
While those at the bottom with no background were seen as nothing but trash.
And the guys in front of us were prime examples. Eyes full of open contempt.
Their whispers were loud enough to make sure we heard.
"Grew up poor, so of course they eat that slop like it's gourmet..."
"Do they even wash? Smells like it reaches all the way here."
"And damn... tut tut... so old too."
...No. Fuck.
The funny part was, those guys weren't even from the Nine Great Schools or Five Great Families.
No, they were second-raters. Just kids from somewhat reputable sects. The real powerhouses stayed quiet, while these mid-tier tough guys strutted around bullying.
If they were actually skilled, fine. Yeah. Fuck. If they were truly top-notch, they'd have avoided eye contact.
But...
They weren't. They just looked down on all 'physical training.'
"Remember seeing them before? Repeating that useless training."
"Tut tut. No real education means they don't even know priorities. They should prioritize tempering their energy arts, but they don't get it..."
"Even the instructors laughed at their pointless brute-force methods. Who focuses on external strength these days?"
"Third-rate training. No skills, so they just bulk up on muscle."
"Don't they know one solid Internal Heavy Hand hit shreds all that muscle they've built?"
A vein bulged on Gwangyang's forehead.
Narin shot to her feet.
"Let's smash 'em."
"...Sis. Still..."
Still. Yeah, still.
"...We have to endure."
"Why?"
"We haven't spread it around, but the admissions folks know we're connected to Master... It could cause trouble for him."
"......."
Master.
The most respected person in the world.
Narin plopped back into her chair with a thud. She understood the situation too.
She just couldn't hold back any more than I could, probably for the same reason.
They're denying and insulting everything Master taught us. That's...
Disgustingly unbearable.
"What a pain..."
"Isn't that just how the world works?"
"You not pissed?"
"Right now, I'm writing the character for 'endure' with my rice grains."
"...You actually did it?"
Narin stretched long and hard, letting out an "Ahhh," then muttered.
"...Ah. Fuck. I miss Master."
"Same here, sis."
"Gwangyang. Since it's come to this, should we just go around saying Mokgeom's our backup?"
"What's that different from dirtying Master's name? You know how much he hates show-offs. Better to take the insults than become the kind of person he tells to fuck off."
"...Ughhh... If you say it like that, what does that make me?"
"The naive sis who doesn't know the ways of the world."
"Wanna die?"
"I don't die easy anymore."
Murim Alliance Inspector.
Gwangyang recalled the one who'd taught him the sword.
"...I'm worried about Master."
"He's getting treated at Shaolin. He'll be fine."
"Aren't you worried, sis?"
"Why wouldn't I be? I even sent a letter a few days ago."
"You did too?"
"...Too? You sent one too?! Damn it! We should've sent it together! Postage was insane for just one!"
"You should've said something first! Ugh! Such a waste of money!"
"Oh?! Oh?! Get over here!"
"Ack! Don't hit! Sis's arms are rock solid now!"
"You're sturdy too now! Don't play victim!"
The cafeteria buzzed. Gwangyang slyly lowered his blocking arms.
Something felt off. Even the guys who'd mocked them were quietly standing and heading for the exit.
A strangely gathering crowd. Narin asked.
"Who's coming today?"
"Nothing on the announcement board..."
"Must be someone pretty famous."
Voices grew louder. Screams of excitement rose from the crowd.
Mainly from the no-background students.
"Why are the quiet ones screaming like that?"
"Murim Alliance Leader? Or an elder...?"
"New instructor maybe? Can't hold back the curiosity. Hey! Gwangyang! Merge!"
"Merge what? Piggyback..."
Gwangyang grumbled as he hoisted Narin onto his shoulders.
Narin shaded her eyes with her hand.
"Kinda see something..."
"Who is it?"
"Hold on... Lemme see... Huh?"
Narin blinked. Gwangyang urged her.
"Who? Huh? If it's a famous face, I wanna see too."
"...Master?"
"What?!"
The crowd parted in two. Gwangyang locked eyes with a man awkwardly pushing through clinging students.
"M-Master?"
"Narin. Gwangyang."
The warrior who should be recovering at Shaolin called to them.
With the same gentle smile from their last meeting.
"Long time no see."
"Master!"
Narin bolted forward. Gwangyang scrambled after her.
The group that had sneered moments ago whispered among themselves.
"Mokgeom Jeokun's their master...?"
"Why didn't anyone tell us...?"
"L-Let's bail. Quick...!"
Gwangyang felt a surge of satisfaction he couldn't hide.
Yeah, you bastards. This is my master! The training you mocked all this time came from him!
Ah! I was suffocating, but now I can breathe!
"Master! Heard you were hurt! You okay...?"
"Master! How've you been...?"
Narin and Gwangyang, mid-greeting, locked eyes with a kid peeking out from behind him.
"...Who...?"
The little one ducked back.
"D-Daddy..."
Gwangyang thought he'd misheard and cupped his ear. But seeing Narin's wide eyes, he knew he hadn't.
Daddy...?
Master's married?!
...
Narin and Gwangyang.
I reunited with the disciples I'd raised. Their clothes were neat, no visible wounds, so my light worries eased.
Looks like they've been doing well.
"M-Master! Explain! When did you get married?!"
"Master's a married man... No way...!"
I pushed the two away as they kept exclaiming in shock.
"I've never been married."
"Then... a playboy...?!"
"M-Master... that kind of person..."
Before the misunderstanding deepened, I brought Sua forward.
Sua, who'd been gauging the crowd, bowed politely.
"H-Hi. I'm Sua..."
"Aww. Cute."
"Looks like Daddy, so she's pretty... Well, Master's no slouch in the looks department."
"Not my biological daughter."
"Then what? What kind of relationship makes this kid call you Daddy?"
Sua glanced at me. I picked her up as she tugged at my clothes.
If I had to define it, she'd be a stranger.
...But.
"Not biological, but..."
I stroked Sua's head.
"She's my daughter."
"...Daddyyy..."
Sua teared up and rubbed her cheek against my face.
Narin smacked her own forehead.
"Not even lovers, and you already have a stepdaughter... What about when you get married later, Master..."
"Sis, someone as great as Master would still have plenty of takers even with a kid."
"True that. Master, introduce us too!"
I pointed at Narin and Gwangyang.
"Sort of disciples..."
Their eyes narrowed, so I corrected myself.
"My disciples. This is Narin. That's Gwangyang."
"Heeey! Sua, I'm Narin. Master's top disciple."
"...She's so tiny... Like a doll... Miss Sua, call me Gwangyang."
"Eck. Why formal with a kid?"
"She's Master's daughter, whom I respect. Of course she's my senior. You should use formal speech too, sis."
"She's this cute? Nah, I'll be big sis. Okay?"
Sua looked at me. I nodded slightly.
Sua beamed.
"Yes. Big sis. Nice to meet you."
"Aww. Adorable. Master, can I show her around?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"C'mon, follow big sis."
Narin took Sua and left. Gwangyang scanned my body.
"Master, heard you got hurt... You okay?"
"I'm fine. No need to worry. No troubles?"
"None... but your visit here has caused one thing."
"One thing?"
"We'd kept being your disciples secret... but so many saw us just now, it's pointless now. Word that we're Mokgeom's disciples is probably all over the Heavenly Martial Academy already."
They'd hidden being my disciples?
I hung my head weakly.
"...Yeah... I get it."
"W-What?! Why are you disappointed, Master?"
"Learning sword from a no-name nobody must be embarrassing. It's okay. I understand."
"No, it's the opposite! Master, we kept quiet because we didn't want to tarnish your reputation."
"My reputation?"
"What happened at Shaolin has spread everywhere. Mention your name, and even those nine dragons up top would come running. Mokryong Jeokun! You're famous. And besides..."
Gwangyang scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"If we can't fit in, it could hurt you. That's why."
"You two hurting me?"
"Sis and I aren't used to places like this. We try to stay low-key... but we might slip up."
"That's why teachers exist-for when students slip."
I patted Gwangyang's shoulder.
"No need to hide if that's the reason. Just use my name freely."
"...Master..."
Gwangyang scratched the back of his head sheepishly and grinned.
"As expected of Master. But did you come here just to see us?"
"That was the plan, but things changed."
"Huh?"
"I'll be staying here a while."
"What... You here to learn something too, Master? You're way beyond that... You'd be better teaching..."
"You're right."
"Huh?"
"I'm here to work at the Heavenly Martial Academy. As a temporary instructor."
"What...?"
I glanced around the academy.
"On my way to see the head. Alliance Leader said to stick by the academy head and learn much while his injury heals. Under the title of temporary instructor."
"Weren't you an inspector?"
"Think of it as a temporary position change."
Putting me in this Murim Alliance temporary instructor role so suddenly was clearly...
A way to keep tabs on me.
After the Shaolin incident, the Alliance Leader must have grown suspicious.
Feats that seemed beyond even what he'd seen of my skills.
So he'd use proxies to watch me.
Luckily, nothing to worry about. With Heavenly Tribulation, hiding my true nature was easy.
In fact, it worked out. I was worried about leaving Sua alone, and I wanted to check on Narin and Gwangyang again.
"Gwangyang. I heard you're in the beginner class."
"Master, that's bullshit. We are beginners, but... they don't promote poor kids with no background. They just milk tuition and don't teach properly. There are kids weaker than us swarming the intermediate class."
"Good. I'm joining as assistant instructor for the beginner class too."
"Gasp! You mean...!"
"I'll check personally..."
I smirked.
"What you've been up to."
"Gwangyang."
Gwangyang grinned brightly.
"Yes! Master! I'll show you! I haven't been slacking!"