Chapter 16
“Kkeueoh…“
The masked figure could only let out a faint groan and couldn’t manage to continue speaking.
Whether it was due to his injuries or because he didn’t want to reveal his identity, the situation was ambiguous.
In fact, this wasn’t an ordinary predicament for Yeo Un-jin either.
The incident had grown larger than expected, and he had suffered such humiliation in front of so many people that he didn’t know how to handle the aftermath.
Cheon Se-myeong’s group, who had been quietly watching this scene, couldn’t help but feel anxious.
If Yeo Un-jin’s identity were to be revealed, they might face all sorts of criticism without gaining anything.
Of course, it would be fortunate if Yeo Un-jin took all the blame alone.
In any case, the only silver lining in this misfortune was that Yeo Un-jin’s identity hadn’t been exposed yet.
Deung Bu-hyeong whispered in Cheon Se-myeong’s ear.
“Things have gone wrong. What should we do?”
“Hmm.“
Cheon Se-myeong let out a groan with a hardened expression.
Meanwhile, Ju Yu-cheon shouted again.
“You bastard! Aren’t you answering now! What is your identity that you dare ambush an instructor of this hall? Hurry up and remove your mask!”
“Kkeueeu.“
Yeo Un-jin wouldn’t easily open his mouth.
Then.
“It seems he’s suffered such severe injuries that he can’t even speak. Let’s move him to Busin Pavilion for treatment first…”
The person who carefully spoke up was none other than Cheon Se-myeong.
But Sa Bigang flared up and shouted.
“Treatment? He’s the one who tried to attack me!”
“But this way, he can’t even speak, can he? Even if we remove his mask, we wouldn’t be able to identify him just by looking at his face.”
Cheon Se-myeong gently tried to persuade with good words, but inwardly he was extremely anxious.
In fact, he was thinking of using treatment as an excuse to get Yeo Un-jin out of there and then let him escape.
For now, that method seemed best.
But Sa Bigang didn’t back down easily.
“If there’s will, anything can be done. Not speaking means there’s no will.”
He grabbed the masked figure’s hair again and threatened.
“Now, speak! Under whose orders did you plan this?”
“Kkeueuk…!”
“Who is your mastermind!”
Yeo Un-jin’s gaze briefly turned toward Cheon Se-myeong.
It was a look hoping for rescue.
Sa Bigang raised his fist.
“You need to be beaten more after all. Before that, let me first check your face.”
“Wait! Wait!”
Finally, Yeo Un-jin reached out his hand and shouted.
Sa Bigang smiled faintly.
“Huhu. Now you feel like talking?”
Yeo Un-jin glared fiercely at Sa Bigang and then suddenly stood up.
Having poured out even the last handful of his remaining internal energy, he suddenly ran toward Ju Yu-cheon!
The Guard Unit captain hurriedly blocked Ju Yu-cheon’s front and drew his sword.
“What are you doing!”
But just before reaching him, Yeo Un-jin dropped to his knees with a thud and hit his head on the ground.
His forehead split open and blood streamed down.
At this sudden turn of events, not only the students but also the instructors and Ju Yu-cheon were startled and bewildered.
Yeo Un-jin hit his forehead on the ground once more.
Bang!
“Th-this is…”
Ju Yu-cheon began to speak with a dumbfounded expression.
“Dean, pl-please forgive me! B-but I did th-this for j-justice! Cough!”
Yeo Un-jin poured out his words with difficulty.
He no longer scratched his throat to make a hoarse voice, but perhaps because his teeth were missing, his pronunciation wasn’t clear.
Ju Yu-cheon asked back with a completely stunned expression.
“Justice? Planned? What are you talking about? Who exactly are you?”
Finally, Yeo Un-jin removed his mask with trembling hands.
Instantly, the gathered people were swept with shock and began to murmur.
“Wh-what? That person is an instructor!”
“Ah! Right! Instructor Yeo Un-jin! He’s the first-year Fist technique instructor!”
“Gasp! That’s our homeroom instructor!”
“My goodness, why is our homeroom instructor doing that? What on earth is going on?”
It was truly a crucible of shock.
Who could have imagined?
That the one who attacked an instructor’s quarters would be another instructor.
But the more incomprehensible a situation is, the more interesting it becomes from a bystander’s perspective.
The students now watched this situation with excited expressions.
It was certainly the biggest incident since they had entered the hall.
On the other hand, Cheon Se-myeong’s group looked as if they had eaten shit.
However, they could only hold onto a faint hope that Yeo Un-jin, going to such lengths, must have some plan.
Ju Yu-cheon stammered with a surprised expression.
“You… you are…”
“Yes, it’s me. Kkeueuk, it’s Yeo Un-jin.”
“Why would you…”
As Ju Yu-cheon couldn’t continue his words, the hall became noisy again due to the students’ murmuring.
Unable to bear it, Deung Bu-hyeong raised his voice.
“You brats! Why don’t you hurry back to your dormitories? What good show is there to see that you’re making noise here!”
But Sa Bigang stepped forward to stop him.
“No. All the students here are essentially witnesses. Besides, if they go back like this, only unfounded rumors will spread. So please let them watch until the end. It could even be a learning opportunity, couldn’t it?”
“Kkeeum.“
Deung Bu-hyeong ground his teeth and glared at Sa Bigang.
But hearing that voice, Yeo Un-jin inwardly sneered.
‘Hoot, stupid fool. You’re digging your own grave! The reason I’m going this far is to completely bury you! Rather, this is perfect. In front of everyone watching, I’ll expose your identity!’
Meanwhile, as the students’ murmuring subsided, Ju Yu-cheon asked Yeo Un-jin with a cold gaze.
“What happened? Instructor Yeo. Did you really attempt the ambush?”
“Y-yes. It was something I did.”
“Why would you do such a thing!”
“Cough! Dean. Please listen carefully to what I’m about to say! This is truly important. Everyone here needs to know this clearly!”
Although his pronunciation was unclear, Yeo Un-jin’s expression was more determined than ever.
Cheon Se-myeong and others nodded faintly.
‘He’s decided to make it public. Given the situation, that’s not bad either.’
Meanwhile, Ju Yu-cheon asked back with an incomprehensible expression.
“What on earth is it that you’re saying this?”
“Dean, that Sa Bigang!”
Yeo Un-jin staggered to his feet and pointed straight at Sa Bigang.
After a brief pause, he continued.
“He’s someone who has learned Demonic Arts!”
“What?”
Ju Yu-cheon’s pupils shook.
Not only that, but everyone gathered in the hall murmured and became agitated.
“Instructor Sa learned Demonic Arts?”
“Come to think of it, hasn’t Instructor Sa become much stronger than before?”
“My goodness. A demon was working as an instructor at Jeongdo Alliance’s Yongcheon Hall?”
“How did this happen? Is what he’s saying true?”
Hearing the murmuring, Yeo Un-jin inwardly laughed.
‘Keke. Sa Bigang! It’s true that your Demonic Arts were stronger than I thought. But you’re finished now! Justice always triumphs! Kekeke!’
Ju Yu-cheon composed himself and looked straight at Sa Bigang.
“Instructor Sa. Is what Instructor Yeo said true? Did you really learn Demonic Arts?”
“Me learning Demonic Arts? I’ve never done such a thing.”
Sa Bigang didn’t blink an eye.
Then Yeo Un-jin quickly stepped forward and shouted.
“Dean, don’t believe that guy! Actually, I tried to press Demon Detection Cinnabar on that guy’s forehead! Cough, cough! Rather than actually harming him, I thought to give him a slight threat to induce him to use Demonic Arts. However, my abilities were insufficient, so it didn’t go as planned. Cough, cough!”
“Even so, what’s your reason for being certain he learned Demonic Arts?”
“Because I saw it clearly with my own two eyes! That guy used strange techniques from start to finish while fighting me! That was definitely not righteous martial arts!”
Now everyone’s gaze turned to Sa Bigang.
Sa Bigang let out a deep sigh.
“Instructor Yeo. Why are you lying? I fought fairly with righteous martial arts. I’m really wronged.”
“L-lies! Bullshit! Nonsense! Where do you get off with such trickery! I saw everything! You disappearing like a ghost before my eyes with strange techniques! And the black energy exploding in front of me! The fire spear flying around! Even the evil energy wrapping around and protecting you!”
“Sheesh. Even if you want to frame me, how can you make up such elaborate stories that don’t exist? It’s not like I’m some ghost.”
“You, you, you…! Dean! You must not be fooled by that guy’s silver tongue! Cough, I saw it directly! Please believe me! You bastard! Didn’t you admit it yourself? That you learned Demonic Arts!”
“Demonic Arts? Me? What nonsense. Even if I had learned Demonic Arts, who would blab about it with their own mouth? Unless they’re someone who lives proudly as a demon.”
“Noooo! You’re making excuses to the end! Cough, cough! Kueueeek!”
Yeo Un-jin, who had been coughing violently, soon spat out a handful of blood.
“It seems Instructor Yeo might have injured his head. I never thought he would say such nonsense. I’m only sorry that I didn’t recognize Instructor Yeo and didn’t hold back.”
When Sa Bigang spoke with a truly pitiful expression, Yeo Un-jin was practically foaming at the mouth.
In reality, rather than dying from physical pain, he was dying from injustice.
“That guy is shamelessly lying! Dean, please believe me!”
“Hmm.“
Ju Yu-cheon closed his eyes tightly and fell into thought.
Then Cheon Se-myeong stepped forward.
“There’s one way to determine the truth.”
“Speak.”
Cheon Se-myeong glanced at Sa Bigang briefly and answered.
“We press Demon Detection Cinnabar on Instructor Sa’s forehead.”
People murmured again.
Yeo Un-jin’s eyes lit up with venom as he shouted.
“That’s right! This! We just need to press this Demon Detection Cinnabar! Please allow it! That guy used Demonic Arts until just a moment ago, so the instant we press this Demon Detection Cinnabar, a red dot will appear!”
“Shut up! What has Instructor Yeo accomplished to be shouting so loudly?”
Suddenly, when Ju Yu-cheon scolded with an angry voice, Yeo Un-jin’s expression wavered.
“D-Dean…? But that guy… definitely used Demonic Arts…”
“Even so, attempting an ambush without clear evidence. Do you think that’s something an instructor who teaches righteousness should do? Whatever the outcome of this matter, I will definitely hold you responsible, so know that!”
Ju Yu-cheon glanced at the Demon Detection Cinnabar that Yeo Un-jin held out, then soon turned his gaze toward Sa Bigang.
In this situation, there are no hall rules that specifically apply to Sa Bigang.
Even if following the rules, there’s no forceful way to make instructor Sa Bigang press the Demon Detection Cinnabar.
“No matter how much I am in the position of Dean, I cannot easily force you to press the Demon Detection Cinnabar. Besides, there’s no proper evidence right now, is there?”
At this stubborn attitude, the expressions of Yeo Un-jin and Cheon Se-myeong’s group became distorted.
But…
“However, I can make a request. How about it? Won’t you press this Demon Detection Cinnabar to prove yourself?”
Again, gazes turned toward Sa Bigang.
Sa Bigang frowned deeply.
“Dean. I’m feeling tremendous humiliation right now. The only wrong I’ve committed is earnestly training my martial arts and teaching students with sincerity. But now I’m receiving jealousy and envy all at once and hearing false accusations of learning Demonic Arts. If you were in my position, would you willingly press the Demon Detection Cinnabar?”
“Of course, I don’t fail to understand your feelings. But if it’s really a false accusation… I would suppress my anger and press the Demon Detection Cinnabar.”
“Then would you forgive someone who falsely accused you of being a demon and hunted you?”
“I couldn’t forgive them. Even so, if it were me, I would press the Demon Detection Cinnabar here. That’s my sincere feeling.”
Sa Bigang calmly met Ju Yu-cheon’s gaze.
“Let me think about it for a moment.”
Yeo Un-jin inwardly let out a cheer.
‘That guy has finally been cornered. You’re finished now!’
After this matter ends, he’ll be held responsible for his ambush, but compared to that guy being a demon, it’s truly nothing.
After a moment, Sa Bigang raised his head.
“Fine. I’ll press the Demon Detection Cinnabar.”
The hall murmured again.
The situation became even more exciting.
Ju Yu-cheon also let out a sigh of relief.
If Sa Bigang had refused here, things would have become really complicated.
“However, there are a few conditions.”
“Conditions?”
Sa Bigang’s expression became more serious than ever.
