36 Chapter 35 (1/2)
Byeok Ae-rin sighed as she spoke.
”Why don't you just call me Noonim (1)? I don't want to be called 'Elder' by you as well.”
”Then you should just call me Mu-jin if that's the case.”
”I can't do that.”
”Why not?”
”My lord has ordered against it.”
”....”
Nothing more could be done.
Byeok Ae-rin took out the bottle of liquor.
”You have some time to have a glass of liquor, don't you?”
Mu-jin quickly nodded. He had been craving alcohol for a while now.
They sat down, facing each other at a small tea table that was in the centre of the office. Byeok Ae-rin took out two glasses and poured liquor into them.
The edges of Mu-jin's mouth rose up at the fragrant scent of liquor diffusing throughout the room.
”This is expensive liquor, isn't it?”
”That's right. I bought it, thinking about my health. Now that I'm getting old, I don't want to be drinking cheap liquor. Go and get drinking.”
They both lifted their glasses, drinking the alcohol in one glug. After finishing two glasses, Byeok Ae-rin spoke up and asked.
”Why didn't you say anything?”
”About what?”
”About my lord becoming a teacher at the Academy?”
”Gasp!”
Mu-jin pounded his chest, as though the alcohol he had just drank gave him intense indigestion.
”You should drink more carefully! It's dangerous to get something stuck in your windpipe when you're old, you know!”
”I know, I know!”
Mu-jin looked at Byeok Ae-rin with a dumbfounded glance.
'You're the reason why I'm choking anyway!'
Byeok Ae-rin had served Kang-hyuk, who was widely known as 'The Dragon' Leader for fifty years.
She was also notorious for her wrath. This was why Mu-jin held back on what he had wanted to say.
”I apologize Noonim. I couldn't tell you that because I was afraid that the Retired Leader would find it quite bothersome.”
”I understand.”
”Thank you.”
”But!”
Mu-jin looked up. Her face was plastered with an icy smile.
”You'll have to cooperate with me.”
”Pardon?”
”I'll need your cooperation to finish things up a little faster, silent, and without bloodshed.”
”H-how can I help you then?” Mu-jin asked nervously.
”You'll need to order that there should be a field trip.”
”A-a field trip?”
”Yes. The early spring weather is quite nice.”
However, unlike the expression of most people when speaking about early spring weather, Byeok Ae-rin's expression had traces of brutality.
***
It was the next day.
”A field trip?”
The teachers' morning meeting had gone on as usual until the Principal, Eun Myeong-myeong, had thrown a random spanner in the works.
In the Academy, there were many spring events, but field-trips weren't part of the spring itinerary, and usually occurred later in the term.
But surprisingly, Eun Myeong-myeong had announced that there would be a field trip much sooner than expected.
”Why is there a field trip?”
One of the teachers raised a query. Eun Myeong-myeong replied, ”The Clan Leader said that it would be good for us to have a field trip.”
”....”
The teachers realized that they had no room for compromise, since the owner of the Academy was the Clan Leader.
”Therefore, we'll organize the trip to be held tomorrow. Is it too soon for you all?”
”No, not at all.”
Of course, their reactions were feigned. It was indeed far too soon, considering the amount of preparation that a field trip needed.
”The location will be in the mountains. Seeing as there is limited time, the Clan Leader personally chose the location. Anyway, I hope you'll all work hard at organizing it.”
”Understood.”
”Are there any other items on the agenda?”
There was no response.
”In that case, this concludes the meeting.”
As Ok Hae-mi, sitting next to Eun Myeong-myeong, was finished speaking, Kang-hyuk stood up.
'The Clan Leader instructed this?'
He felt as though the matter had a definite connection with Byeok Ae-rin having asked permission to leave the evening before.
'She doesn't have the intention of using her traditional methods, does she?'
The thought subsided as soon as it entered his head. He was aware of how well Byeok Ae-rin knew him, and so, his concern dissipated. 'You used the excuse of not wanting to work. I've discovered you now.'
Kang-hyuk also had confidence in his ability to resolve things if anything got out of hand.
He hurriedly headed back to his residence to prepare for his next lesson.
'Isn't today…. the first-year students' lesson?'
***
Dang So-mun was walking in the direction towards Yeongyowon.
His recent lessons weren't within the classrooms, but within the practice plot.
Walking alongside him was his best friend, Baek Mun-ji.
He looked over at Baek Mun-ji.
He felt that Baek Mun-ji's behaviour as of recent was a little...odd.
He couldn't put his finger on what exactly was off, but he knew that something was definitely off.
'What is it? Is he ashamed of being seen with me?'
After considering a variety of possibilities, he came to a conclusion. He sighed, looking down at his legs.
Whilst the foundation of martial arts was within energy, and one's cultivation, what was most important besides that, was one's stance.
Unfortunately, his legs would never move as he wished, and as a result, his stance would always become twisted in some way.
He had always felt confident in his skills in all other aspects, and felt that he had great potential, but the only issue were his legs.
This was why he was constantly ridiculed during his martial classes, where even the teachers clicked their tongues at him.
He bit his lips and raised his head to look up at Baek Mun-ji.
”Mun-ji-ya.”
”....”
”Mun-ji-ya!”
”Huh? What?”
”Well, I was wondering… do you dislike being with me?”
”What are you talking about?”