Chapter 8: Not a Student, but an Employee


    Ugh


    Having spent the whole of thest night drinking, Go Ju-Yeol couldnt wake up until afternoon the next day.


    Im dying


    As he rubbed his throbbing head, I politely handed him some honey water that I had prepared in advance.


    Uncle, please have some honey water. This honey was harvested by Yi Go-Eul, the vige beekeeper, and its perfect for hangovers.


    OohThank you,  wees you.


    As Go Ju-Yeol gulped down the honey water, Dad, who was lying weakly next to him, looked at me with foggy eyes. He opened his mouth, which stunk of alcohol, and groaned, What about my honey water?


    Were out of honey. I used up thest of what we had making Uncles share.


    Couldnt you have just diluted the honey water and made enough for two?


    Absolutely not. That would reduce the effectiveness of the honey. Besides, Uncle is our guest, and your best friend whom you havent met in almost thirty years. You wouldnt be thinking ofpromising our guest for your own sake, would you?


    Dad somehow managed to hold himself back and only red at me with piercing eyes like he wanted to turn me into a porcupine.


    Wow! I feel alive again! eximed Go Ju-Yeol as he finished his honey water. He then stood up abruptly, picked up a coat that he had tossed on the floor at some point during the drinking party, and put it on.


    Yikes! Its already midday. Anyter than this, and Ill have to write an apology letter.


    Although heined about the possible extra work, Go Ju-Yeol looked happy about it. Last night, while he was wasted, I even overheard him mumbling to himself, Even if my workload increases, its worth it because I got to chat with a friend I havent met for thirty years.


    <em>Hes an unexpectedly good person.</em>


    The Second Captain of the Murim Alliance Jiangxi Branch Investigation Team is by no means in a low-ranked position. In a rural vige like this, hes a warrior who can end the lives of everyone in the vige with one simplemand. However, even before he recognized Dad, he was polite to us and did not abuse his authority.


    Most importantly, I can tell that hes a person who treasures rtionships, seeing as he hasnt med Dad for mysteriously disappearing thirty years ago. He also still treats Dad as a friend, even though the current Baek Mu-Heun is merely a poor martial arts instructor in the rural  wees you.


    <em>Hes a man worth being friends with.</em>


    Whew! I should get going now.


    Right before leaving, Go Ju-Yeol turned back to look at us. He grinned mischievously at Dad and said, Buddy, the next time I visit, Ill bring you the good stuff. Lets see who gets wasted first!


    Err, Im not sure we should be doing that at our age


    Oh ho? Is the famed Handsome Prince who once conquered the Jiangxi Entertainment District really saying something so pathetic?


    This is a non-profit trantion. You should not be seeing ads.


    H-Hyung-nim! Dad protested, eyes wide open despite his hangover.


    Please stop with the jokes! What if my son misunderstands you?


    Hmm? Care to tell me more about that, Dad?


    A joke? Do you dare swear upon the heavens that I was just joking?


    The moment Go Ju-Yeol asked Dad to swear upon the heavens, Dad hesitated.


    <em>Wait, it was true!?</em>


    Ahem. After dating Yakbing, I changed my ways


    KEKEKEKEKE!


    BWAHAHAHAHA!


    Why arent you reading this at ?


    Go Ju-Yeol and I had fun teasing Dad together.


    Suddenly, Go Ju-Yeol stoppedughing and looked at me with a pleased expression, saying, Ryong, have you decided to whether or not to ept my offer fromst night?


    Last night, Go Ju-Yeol had told me many things about the Murim Alliance and the Five Great Academies. In particr, he described the students and instructors at the Azure Dragon Academy, where he and Dad studied together thirty years ago, in detail.


    He said that the Azure Dragon Academy in Jiangxi Province was an institution where the young generation of the Eastern Murim gather to exchange, practice and polish their martial arts together, cultivating masters who will one day be leaders of the orthodox sects.


    Although the Azure Dragon Academy has the lowest evaluation among the Five Great Academies, numerous boys and girls still do their best to enter the academy every year.


    Im still thinking about it.


    The truth was, I had already made my decision. However, I gave Go Ju-Yeol a vague answer because Dad was making a really worried face next to me right now and I didnt want him flipping out.


    Go Ju-Yeol nodded, saying, Is that so? Since there are still three months left until the deadline, take your time and consider it carefully. If you decide to do it,e and see me and I will write you a letter of rmendation.


    Thank you.


    You dont have to thank me. Its the least I can do for my best friends son.


    I could see a mixture of regret and otherplex emotions hidden in Go Ju-Yeols eyes, but I smiled gently and pretended that I hadnt noticed it.


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    The more time we spend saying goodbye, the harder it gets. I really should be leaving now.


    Have a safe trip, Hyung-nim.


    Be sure to take care of yourself, Uncle.


    Thanks. Then, until we meet again.


    Go Ju-Yeol patted me on the shoulder and turned around.


    WHOOSH!


    He used a mesmerizing movement technique befitting the title of Flying Eagle and quickly vanished over the horizon.


    What a shameless bastard. As soon as Go Ju-Yeol disappeared, Dad narrowed his eyes and stared at me, asking, So, since when did you start sucking up to random old men and calling them Uncle, Uncle~ oh so sweetly?


    Aww, hes sulky because he didnt get any honey water earlier. Still, I think hes the one who has a lot more exining to do.


    What about you? Since when did you have such a good friend? Also, did you know? You nearly became sworn brothers with him yesterday.


    It had taken me a lot of effort to stop those two drunk old men from pledging to die on the same day.1 Its a good thing that I rarely drink because of my poor health, or I wouldnt have been sober enough to realize the seriousness of what they were trying to do.


    Dads face turned red, probably because he finally recalled the utterly embarrassing state he was inst night.


    Hmph I havent seen him for almost thirty years, and I couldnt control myself.


    Just remember to drink moderately next  wees you.


    If you want me to listen to you, shouldnt you go next door and borrow some honey first? Dad grumbled like a stubborn child.


    However, right after saying that, as if something had finally hit him, Dads mood darkened. In a low voice, he asked me, Are you really going to go to the Azure Dragon Academy?


    I wasnt sure how to answer him, so I instead asked him back, If I insisted on going, would you stop me?


    Would you let me stop you? Since when have you ever listened to me?


    I smiled and nodded.


    The original owner of this body, the real Baek Su-Ryong, was so desperate to learn martial arts that he even tried practicing demonic arts and consumed poison. Baek Mu-Heun was aware of this, and after the episode where his son nearly died (or rather, actually died), hes been pretty sensitive about me trying anything dangerous.


    Dad sighed and said, As expected You didnt give up on learning martial arts.


    If I think about it from Dads perspective, having a son who was willing to risk his life to be a warrior despite being born with the Heavenly Yin Blocked Meridians was extremely worrying. To make things worse, even after a near-death experience, the son still hadnt given up trying.


    Dad sighed again, saying, Ryong, the murim is not as kind as you think it is.


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    I know.


    <em>I know the feeling of being a weakling in this merciless murim better than anyone else.</em>


    Furious at my nonchnt answer, Dad yelled, What do you mean, you know? Do you think Im a master just because I won a fight against an evil sect warrior? If he hadnt let his guard down, it would have been impossible for me to win!


    I already included your strength in the calctions, though


    GRAB!


    Dad grabbed onto my shoulders tightly and said, You were born with a defective chi center. I tried everything I could think of, but I couldnt fix it.


    Yes, I know.


    You do?


    The zing mes of anguish in Dads eyes looked like they were about to spew out as he roared, If you know that, then why are you trying to enter the Azure Dragon Academy? Do you think theyll be able to help you? If that was the case, I would have sent you to study there a long time ago!


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    What? Study?


    I was nning on going to the Azure Dragon Academy, but Im not going there to study though?


    However, before I could get a chance to retort, Dad continued, If you go there, youll definitely be looked down on by the other students because you dont have any qi. Some of them might even bully you. With your weak body, you wont evenst half a month!


    No, no, wait a minute! I think youre misunderstanding something.


    For once, please listen to Daddy!


    Still grabbing onto my shoulders, Dad started shaking me back and forth.


    You ought to read this at .


    I searched everywhere, but I couldnt find anyone who could cure you! Never mind fixing it, I didnt even find out the name of the disease!


    I knowsostop


    I know! I know the name of the disease! And how to fix it!


    SO STOP SHAKING ME!


    MY NECK IS GOING TO BREAKKKKKK!!!


    Ugh


    Please listen to me just this once. Youre twenty-seven, and the minimum age to be admitted to the Azure Dragon Academy is fifteen. How would you feel if you were beaten by a fifteen-year-old? You should just find a nicedy in the vige and get married


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    Argh, damn it! Let go of me!


    I managed to peel away one of Dads arms, but my head was still spinning. Even so, this was my only opportunity before Dad grabbed me again. I quickly screamed at the top of my lungs, What are you talking about!? Im NOT going to the Azure Dragon Academy as a student!


    and then give me a cute toad-faced2 grandchild Huh? What did you just say?


    <em>Your voice is so hoarse, you sound a lot like a toad right now.</em>


    I sighed wearily and said, This is why I told you to drink in moderation. You didnt hear a thing I discussed with Uncle yesterday.


    Youre notgoing to school? Really? Dad blinked stupidly, a big question mark on his face.


    Im not going there to study! Really!


    Then what was all that talk about going to the Azure Dragon Academy?


    To my father, who was staring at me doubtfully, I proudly announced, Im going there to make money!


    Money?


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    I heard that there was a job suitable for me.


    I grinned and shot a nce at the door to the Baek Academy. It was about time the sniveling brats showed up for their afternoon ss, and as expected, there they were.


    Hmm? Its Master!


    Master! Grandmaster! Good afternoon!


    Hurry up and teach us the strongest martial arts already!


    The brats immediately spotted me and Dad, and rushed forward to greet us.


    I looked back at my still confused Dad and firmly said, Im going to work at the Azure Dragon Academy, not study there. Okay?


    Is there any difference between these brats and the ones at the Azure Dragon Academy? Not to me, at least.


    Work?


    Yes, Im going to get a job there. However, before that, there is somewhere I must go. You seem to have already recovered somewhat, so Dad, do you like hiking?


    <em>I remember the Bandit King telling me that there he built a safe house somewhere around here, and that it was full of elixirs. Lucky!</em>


    Hiking? Why are you talking about hiking? Dad blurted.


    <em>What do you mean, why? Isnt it obvious?</em>


    <em>Searching for treasure alone is tiring, so Im going to make you help me.</em><hr><ol><li role="doc-endnote">


    Sworn brothers: Sworn brothers in murim will always make the following pledge: Although we were not born on the same day, month, and year, we swear to die on the same day, month, and year.</li><li role="doc-endnote">


    Toad-faced: As nonsensical as this sounds in English, its just referring to babies looking like toads when they scrunch up their faces. I usually trante ng by the meaning rather than what it literally says, but I had to leave this as it is because of the pun in the next sentence.</li></ol>