Chair Snatched (2)
“Let's head in for now.”
I spoke to my dazed companions, and they snapped out of it, starting to follow me. As we began moving, the eyes of those working in the corridor gradually turned toward us. They looked unwelcome to visitors like us outsiders. Some even stepped forward to block our path.
“This is the area with the representative executive offices. Outsiders...”
Ha, look at this.
“What.”
The Baekdohoe member who spoke flinched at my twisted expression, mumbled something, and scurried off. Seong Moran snorted derisively.
“Unbelievable.”
Her feelings mirrored mine. The deeper we went, the more people stopped their work to stare. Not just unwelcome glances, but open discomfort, even muttered curses. It felt like we'd dropped right into the heart of enemy territory.
“They've really decked this place out proper,” Jang Ujae remarked.
Looking around, I saw what used to be storage rooms transformed into lavish spaces. Drawers and desks crammed full, stuffed with documents. Far more executive-office-like than our own messy pile-up of papers back home.
The academy wouldn't have footed the bill for this, so Baekdohoe must've shelled out themselves?
Lost in that escapist thought, a group emerged from the representative executive office. They acted like the bosses here, scanning reports and documents handed to them from all sides and passing them on with quick decisions. They took a few steps out, then sensed the odd atmosphere and glanced around.
“Why isn't everyone working...”
“Jeonggi oppa. What's going on here?”
At Namgung Seonhwa's question, Jegal Jeonggi spotted us and sighed. Then, instead of answering her, he looked at me.
“You really came.”
“It's not like I came somewhere I shouldn't.”
“After being away from the academy program for so long... I didn't realize you were this shameless.”
“...”
This bastard, what the hell?
The representative seat hadn't changed hands yet. This vacancy was all because I'd been busting my ass cleaning up Jeongdohoe's mess. So why were Jegal Jeonggi and the Five Great Families moving like this?
What the hell are they banking on?
Namgung Gipyo whispered something in Jegal Jeonggi's ear. Jeonggi nodded, then eyed me.
“Care for a cup of tea, if you'd like?”
His attitude was like a host welcoming a guest. Totally backwards, but it made him look so pathetic that I decided to hear them out.
“Got any Gunsan Silver Needle? That's what I've been craving lately.”
Jegal Jeonggi and Namgung Gipyo's faces stiffened.
Why? Spent all this cash decking out the place but can't prep tea for guests?
Pour.
Steam rose as hot water hit the teacup, and the flower buds began unfurling one by one. Each petal bloomed in different colors, instantly dyeing the clear water with their hues. Mesmerized by the bizarre, wondrous sight, I stared until Jegal Jeonggi smiled faintly.
“It's called Seven-Colored Flower.”
“Seven-Colored Flower?”
“I hear Beijing's high officials are all into it these days.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“...Gunsan Silver Needle and Dragon Well tea have become so common even dogs and pigs drink them, so no one seeks them out anymore.”
Yeah, after seeing this magical bloom, the plain old dried leaves of Dragon Well or Gunsan Silver Needle lost their appeal.
Jegal Jeonggi elegantly lifted his cup to his lips.
“Ordinary folk taste something special once by luck, then think they've risen to a special status themselves. But really, it's just that the rarity's worn off, making it available to them.”
“What are you getting at?”
He grinned slyly.
“Just chatting about how the world turns.”
Jegal Jeonggi sipped the Seven-Colored Flower again, holding the tea in his mouth to savor the aroma, eyes closed. Was there a special way to drink it? I deliberately ignored mine.
He swallowed and opened his eyes.
“Must've been a bit disconcerting.”
“Does the Jegal family teach 'a bit' differently?”
I'd gone on a short trip and come back to find a stranger squatting in my house, playing host. Could anyone call that just 'a bit' disconcerting?
“Shouldn't I smash his head in first and talk later?”
Despite my harsh words, Jegal Jeonggi chuckled softly.
“Position changes, but the roots stay the same, huh.”
Provoking me. But it was such amateur bait that I just snorted.
“Guess you didn't know this rootless guy's got a piss-poor temper?”
“I know. You left Ak Jupyeong with a limp, right?”
“I don't go easy on those who cross the line.”
Jegal Jeonggi casually stroked his chin.
“Sure, Jupyeong did mess up a little.”
“Normal people don't call nearly killing someone a 'mess-up.'”
“Haha!”
Jegal Jeonggi burst out laughing, shaking his head like he couldn't hold it in. For some reason, his laughter grated on me. It wasn't the familiar type from dealing with entitled pricks—it felt like he was used to this treatment, like he'd shamelessly pushed buttons before to rile people up more.
“What's so funny?”
“It's amusing, coming from someone who spilled plenty of blood just to pass the entrance exam.”
A chill settled in my head.
Jegal Jeonggi raised an eyebrow.
“Looking back at the records, you killed five times more people than anyone else.”
Trying to poke at my guilt, huh? Too bad.
“I don't forgive those gunning for my life or my spot.”
Not as soft as you think.
Jegal Jeonggi nodded as if understanding.
“Of course. That's just being a martial artist. But...”
His smile vanished, eyes turning cold as he stared me down.
“How many more will you kill from now on to hold that seat?”
“...”
“The more you cling to it, the more will die. Guys like Ak Jupyeong will keep blocking your path the higher you climb.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“What's the point?”
I met his gaze with eyes that couldn't get any colder.
“Baekdohoe's gonna stand in my way?”
He shrugged like it was no big deal after dropping that heavy line.
“Just wondering if you're prepared for that.”
I glanced around.
“If so, this goes way overboard.”
“No big deal. Even temporarily, Baekdohoe deserves the formalities of an office space.”
He emphasized 'temporarily,' stepping back a bit.
“With the academy rep back, we'll wrap up what we started soon enough.”
But his follow-up dripped with implication.
“...Of course, if the current rep keeps the seat.”
“Worrying over nothing.”
No more to say, I stood.
Jegal Jeonggi craned his neck to follow.
“Just leaving like that?”
“Anything else?”
He pointed at my untouched tea.
“It's rare. Give it a taste.”
“...”
I downed the Seven-Colored Flower in one gulp. Wrong method? Just a thick bitterness lingered on my tongue.
The representative office door shut, amplifying the heavy silence from the corridor's clamor. A strange sense of defeat crushed everyone; no one spoke easily.
What the hell's their game?
Namgung Seonhwa couldn't make sense of it. Jin Sowoon had been away briefly, but that didn't justify stealing his seat. Their excuse about forming a temporary executive committee to run the program in the rep's absence was flimsy cover.
They've gotta have something solid backing them...
She turned to Jin Sowoon.
“Young master Jin. What did you discuss with Jeonggi... er, the Baekdohoe leader?”
She needed to know their intent. What scheme were they plotting? How confident were they to impersonate the rep team outright? No way they'd stir this up just to fill a gap.
“Nothing much. Just got served some fancy tea.”
Jin Sowoon replied calmly while scanning documents.
“Tea?”
“Yeah. Seven-Colored Flower, I think? Pretty bitter.”
“...”
His nonchalant expression felt off—like he was suppressing massive emotions. Namgung Seonhwa had seen that look before: on her grandfather. Even with absolute power and justification, the Sword Creation Immortal had wavered under schemes and plots.
Dangerous...
She later heard her grandfather had been ready to spill family blood. That's when Jin Sowoon appeared. Without his help perfecting the Crimson Palace Cloud Shadow Sword, the Namgung family would've split no matter what.
This time, I need to help him.
Sharing life-and-death with Jin Sowoon, she'd learned his ruthlessness. She couldn't imagine the fallout if he truly raged. She knew better than anyone the hardships he'd endured to reach this point.
She didn't think he'd fall for Baekdohoe's plot and ruin everything. But she hated seeing him suffer.
That's exactly what Baekdohoe wants—to provoke him.
For the next three days, Namgung Seonhwa mobilized every contact to probe Baekdohoe's scheme. She got crucial info from a Namgung collateral disciple.
[Hold academy events to draw crowds, then recognize us as the rep team.]
[Don't tell Gipyo young master I said this.]
Instructors held independent voting power in the academy. The powers-that-be buying them off to undermine Jin Sowoon was predictable.
But why now?
Instructors could only set the stage. Students would decide. And now wasn't favorable for Baekdohoe—Jin Sowoon's Sichuan feats had shifted academy sentiment.
Her probes confirmed Jeongdohoe lost trust post-Sichuan, boosting support for Jin Sowoon.
So why move when it wasn't advantageous...?
“No. Maybe that's exactly why they have to move.”
Seong Moran, listening to Namgung Seonhwa, chimed in.
“If things stay, young master Jin's position solidifies. Last chance for Baekdohoe?”
“...Yeah.”
But doubts lingered. Their boldness meant they had an ace.
What was it that made them so cocky?
Events piled up, amplifying her unease.
“The instructor got notice of lecture suspension.”
Moyong Jaehwa burst into the rep office, face pale with shock. Jin Sowoon set down his documents.
“What? Who issued the suspension?”
“The new representative executive team...”
No separate archery lectures existed, so Moyong Jaehwa had private sessions. Once Yeo Samtong left, nowhere to learn.
“Haha.”
Jin Sowoon laughed in disbelief.
Grind.
He ground his teeth. His eyes blazed.