The World's Greatest Countryside Martial Arts Academy - chapter 10

“I’m back.”

As Jin Cheong-un opened the door and entered, Jeong So-so flinched and turned her head.

“Y-you’re back early.”

Seeing that she couldn’t meet his eyes, he stealthily observed her and noticed the corners of her eyes were a little red. Quickly putting on a resolute expression, Jeong So-so said.

“I’ve cleaned up to some extent. I think we just need to do something about the large debris…” “Right, let’s do it together. Let’s finish up and get some rest quickly.”

With an expression oozing annoyance, Jin Cheong-un began to clear the debris half-heartedly. Jeong So-so, who was quietly sweeping the floor, suddenly opened her mouth.

“Now… what should we do?” “About what?” “The Black Tiger Gang is close with the local officials here. Since you handed them over to the government office, they will quickly find out about this incident, and they won’t try to just let it slide…”

Jin Cheong-un answered indifferently.

“It’ll probably be the same whether they know or not.” “Yes?” “From what I heard, it seems they are targeting the Jeong Manor with a set purpose, so no matter how we passed over today’s incident, it couldn’t have been passed over nicely.”

Jin Cheong-un tossed a large piece of wood behind his back and said.

“Whether we buried the guys who came today without anyone knowing, or whether we reasoned with them nicely and sent them away without fighting. They would probably keep causing trouble until they took over the manor, even if we paid off all the debts.” “……”

Jeong So-so bit her lip slightly. Doesn’t that mean they can’t escape it no matter what they do?

If so…

Jeong So-so stared at the back of Jin Cheong-un, who was crouching and cleaning the floor. And she said in the calmest voice possible.

“Then, Uncle, you should leave Cherry Blossom Village right now.”

In an instant, Jin Cheong-un stopped what he was doing and turned his head. Jeong So-so calmly continued her words.

“What those guys are after is the Jeong Manor. If you leave this place, they won’t go out of their way to chase you over this incident.”

The surroundings were quiet. Before they knew it, the sunset was fading, and the sky was growing dark. Jin Cheong-un looked at Jeong So-so wordlessly before throwing out a single remark.

“Are you trying to kick out the house owner in this manner.” “……Yes?” “Nice try. But no chance.” “N-no! Th-that’s not what this is!” “Anyway, I’m not leaving. No, I can’t leave. Do you know how much money I poured into this manor! Do you know what kind of money that was!!”

Jeong So-so, who had been momentarily dumbfounded, let out a deep sigh.

“Lately, there are a lot of sinister rumors circulating about the Black Tiger Gang. No matter how important money is, it’s not more important than your life, is it.” “Sinister rumors?”

Jeong So-so nodded with a subtle expression.

“Rumors that the Black Tiger Gang members killed someone without a trace, or that they kidnapped and threatened families…” “Hmm.” “If it were in the past, I would have also suggested trying to resolve it nicely. Unlike a typical underworld faction, the Black Tiger Gang used to resolve things smoothly. But even then, they made exceptions for those who messed with them… how do you think they’ll be now?”

At that moment, Jin Cheong-un suddenly asked.

“Then what about you two?” “Yes?” “Even if we ran away, shouldn’t you siblings run away first?” “I-I have to protect the house. Unlike you, Uncle, I have nowhere else to go.”

A place to go. That was the exact same for him, too.

“Why are you so tied down to this manor?” “Because it’s the house I’ve lived in my whole life.” “So what?” “Yes?” “Normally, at your age, one becomes an adult by frequently running away from home saying they hate it, making bad friends outside and causing trouble, and occasionally getting caught by the government office. Tsk tsk tsk!”

What kind of adult does that make you? To the momentarily flustered Jeong So-so, Jin Cheong-un said indifferently.

“Right, you must have your own unspeakable circumstances, too. Got it for now.” “Then leave as soon as the day breaks tomorrow. Don’t worry about the aftermath.”

Jin Cheong-un tilted his head.

“I never said I was leaving, though?” “……You’re not going to leave?” “I’m saying, don’t worry about the aftermath and hurry up and clean this up. Ugh, why is there so much?”

At his overly carefree reaction, Jeong So-so’s voice instantly rose.

“Uncle! I’m not speaking as a joke right now! You have no reason to go out of your way to help us, and if you stay here needlessly, you will suffer a great disaster!”

It was then.

“Teacher.” “……?” “You should call me Teacher, not Uncle.”

A serious atmosphere she had never seen before flowed from Jin Cheong-un. Jeong So-so was momentarily at a loss for words.

“I-I… never said I would do that.” “I decided it so.” “Wh-what does that mean.” “You wouldn’t know, but Cheong-un Martial Arts Academy has originally been like this since the old days.”

Jin Cheong-un smirked and said.

“Playing the teacher is a first for me too, but I at least know that a teacher shouldn’t abandon their disciple. Leave the aftermath to the adults and put your worries down.”

Why was it? Suddenly, something surged up within her. Unable to swallow it down, Jeong So-so choked back tears and continued speaking.

“You said you were hurt… You said you had a hard time retiring…”

Jin Cheong-un let out a deep sigh.

“My insides are burning up too. Burning up. I regret and agonize over whether I retired for this. What on earth kind of retirement is this, I can’t even rest properly… Ah, heavens.”

Jin Cheong-un, who had been grumbling, looked at Jeong So-so and chuckled.

“But since I decided to become a teacher, what can I do? My disciple is in trouble, so I must help.”

Jeong So-so looked at Jin Cheong-un blankly. At that moment, Jin Cheong-un reflected in her eyes was wearing a gentle smile she had never seen before.

“……Um.”

The tip of her nose suddenly felt sore, and she bit her lip hard. Absolutely not knowing what to say, Jeong So-so just bowed her head.

“I’m sorry.” “……?” “Actually, I wanted to say this first, but I ended up just yelling needlessly… so, I mean…”

Rambling words continued.

“I didn’t want to cause a nuisance. But I ended up dragging you into my family affairs, and moreover, you said you would fix the academy and my brother, yet instead of repaying a person like you, I just keep receiving help… So what I mean is… I’m really sorry. I will definitely repay this grace someday.”

Jeong So-so bowed her head once again. Jin Cheong-un quietly looked at her straight crown and chuckled.

“Such a tiny thing is already pretending to be an adult. A kid shouldn’t say things like that.”

Jeong So-so blankly lifted her head.

“K-kid? I’m eighteen years old.” “That is a kid.”

At a loss for words, Jeong So-so only opened and closed her mouth. Yawning lazily, Jin Cheong-un tapped his waist.

“When an adult helps you, you just say ‘thank you’ and leave it at that. If you understand, get back to cleaning that up. At this rate, we’ll stay up all night.”

Jeong So-so’s pupils trembled greatly.

Teacher…

Until now, no one had ever stepped forward for such a reason. No, she hadn’t even hoped for it. There is nothing free in this world. There is no help without a price. Behind every kindness, there is a calculation. Even if there were, it would only be possible among blood-related family. But she was abandoned even by that family, her father. From the moment she vowed to survive in this world alone, she had repeatedly carved those words into her heart. However.

“……Thank you.”

Jeong So-so bowed her head deeply.

“Thank you for helping me, Teacher.”

So there are adults like this, too. An adult who helps despite a shallow relationship that is ambiguous to even call destiny, having only seen each other for two days, and even that wasn’t a very good start. ……A Teacher.

“Yeah.”

At those words, Jin Cheong-un just answered indifferently.

Central district of Yichang County. At the top of a splendid high-rise pavilion, the Black Tiger Gang Leader, Yeop Ji-chang, took a sip of alcohol and said.

“I should at least hear your excuse once. Go ahead and speak.”

The gang member in front of him was prostrated flat on the floor, sweating profusely.

“Th-that is…”

When the man stammered through the end of his report, Yeop Ji-chang let out a hollow laugh.

“Academy head?” “Yes! He is a man who looks to be around thirty years old. It seems the young wench of the Jeong Manor lured a Murim person from somewhere.” “It seems a strange guy crawled in.”

Seeing that he settled in a rural village to open an academy at that age, it was obvious what kind of guy he was.

“So you’re saying four of you were defeated by such a riffraff.”

The man flinched and shouted.

“Th-that! There is a reason!” “A reason?” “Didn’t you, Gang Leader, strictly order us not to cause a commotion? It seems S-Squad Leader Song was defeated while trying to avoid a fight as much as possible!”

Of course, Song Woon-chan hadn’t thought anything like that and was merely defeated while fighting in a fit of anger. But the man, thinking he had to say something, just blurted it out for now.

“So it happened while trying to follow orders.” “Yes, yes!”

Yeop Ji-chang looked to his side.

“General Manager, it seems my orders were the problem after all. How are the other districts?”

The General Manager standing respectfully by his side bowed his head and answered.

“Except for a couple of places, everything is going smoothly.”

Only then did the man realize his slip of the tongue and turned pale.

“G-Gang Leader…!”

THWACK!

Suddenly, the man’s head snapped backward.

Thud!

A pool of blood formed where he collapsed. When on earth did he throw it? In the silence, only the sound of the blood-stained sake cup rolling clink-clatter could be heard. The gang members outside the door came in as if accustomed to it and dragged the man out.

“Shall I send a message to the magistrate?”

The General Manager said while bringing a new cup and pouring alcohol.

“Forget it. It’s a waste of the money we’d use to get them out.”

Yeop Ji-chang clicked his tongue after downing the alcohol in one gulp.

“I just can’t bring myself to like the guys who were originally from this neighborhood. To handle matters in this shape.” “Still, we were able to fill the head count quickly.”

Seeing the cup empty, the General Manager tried to grab the alcohol bottle again. Yeop Ji-chang waved his hand to dismiss him and filled the cup to the brim himself.

“Come to think of it, what that guy said isn’t entirely wrong.” “Yes?” “Arguing over laws and weighing justifications… Lately, it’s to the point where I mistakenly think I’m part of the White Faction (Orthodox). Isn’t that right?”

Watching Yeop Ji-chang sneer, the General Manager broke into a cold sweat. It was a self-deprecating tone, but considering the Gang Leader’s usual personality, he shouldn’t take it literally.

“……Isn’t it thanks to your decision, Gang Leader, that our gang could quietly establish itself?”

Yeop Ji-chang let out a scoffing laugh.

“You package the story of living in hiding like cowards quite grandly.” “G-Gang Leader.” “Haha, the great Yeop Ji-chang of the world has completely become a toothless tiger. Punks from the Janggeum Gate or the Youth Association are snooping around… and now some outsider is fearlessly touching my gang members.”

The General Manager swallowed dry saliva. Just as he said, since taking over the Yichang underworld, Yeop Ji-chang had run his business as quietly as possible. He only collected half the original protection fees, avoided using force as much as possible, and sought justification when making moves. Occasionally, when his subordinates caused trouble, he even personally bowed his head to local officials and magnates.

Thinking of the Gang Leader in his prime… it’s surprising he has held back until now.

Yeop Ji-chang was an expert once renowned for his bloodthirstiness. The patience that had lasted a long time might have now reached its limit.

“If you just give the order… I will quickly clear away everything that gets in the way.”

Silence flowed for a moment. Yeop Ji-chang, who had been rolling the sake cup in his palm wordlessly for a long time, opened his mouth.

“Forget it. We have a major event ahead.” “……” “It seems the Murim Alliance has finished cleaning up the aftermath of the war and is slowly starting to meddle here and there, so we should avoid doing anything to stand out unnecessarily.”

At first glance, it sounded like an excuse to himself. But the General Manager, who inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, said.

“There is only one step left. Once the ongoing work is finished, this Yichang will become your world, Gang Leader.” “……” “I will go and wrap up this incident myself.”

Yeop Ji-chang gulped down his alcohol as if he didn’t want to care.

“Handle it yourself. But it seems that academy head guy is full of hot blood and doesn’t hesitate to pick a fight… just make sure there’s no commotion.” “To ensure there is no commotion… Yes, I understand.”

The General Manager smiled meaningfully and nodded. Suddenly, Yeop Ji-chang asked.

“Where is Pyeong-i right now?” “The Young Leader is probably focusing on his training right now.” “That guy training? He’s probably drinking himself stupid.”

Yeop Ji-chang lightly clicked his tongue and said as if tossing the words away.

“Take him with you.” “With the Young Leader… you mean?” “Even if he’s a rascal, he’s my only son, so I can’t let him play around forever. Start teaching him bit by bit, starting with easy tasks.”

As if the Young Leader had the disposition to obediently learn when taught. Yeop Ji-chang seemed to entrust his son because he thought it wasn’t a big deal anyway, but for the General Manager, taking the Young Leader along on a task that needed to be handled quietly was the last thing he wanted.

“Yes, then… I will take him with me.”

But he didn’t have the confidence to refuse the Gang Leader’s order. The General Manager bowed his head, thinking he should just stick the Young Leader in some tavern.

“Go.”

Yeop Ji-chang grabbed his sake cup again, waving his hand as if it were too bothersome to care anymore.