Chapter 8: Not a Student, but an Employee

Chapter 8: Not a Student, but an Employee

Ugh

Having spent the whole of the last 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 village beekeeper, and its perfect for hangovers.

OohThank you, welcomes 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 the last 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 of compromising our guest for your own sake, would you?

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

Wow! I feel alive again! exclaimed 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. Any later than this, and Ill have to write an apology letter.

Although he complained 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.

Hes an unexpectedly good person.

The Second Captain of the Murim Alliance Jiangxi Branch Investigation Team is by no means in a low-ranked position. In a rural village like this, hes a warrior who can end the lives of everyone in the village with one simple command. 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 relationships, seeing as he hasnt blamed 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 welcomes you.

Hes a man worth being friends with.

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?

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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.

Wait, it was true!?

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 stopped laughing and looked at me with a pleased expression, saying, Ryong, have you decided to whether or not to accept my offer from last night?

Last night, Go Ju-Yeol had told me many things about the Murim Alliance and the Five Great Academies. In particular, 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 become 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.

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 even last 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 nice lady in the village 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?

Your voice is so hoarse, you sound a lot like a toad right now.

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 glance at the door to the Baek Academy. It was about time the sniveling brats showed up for their afternoon class, 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?

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!

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

What do you mean, why? Isnt it obvious?

Searching for treasure alone is tiring, so Im going to make you help me.

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.

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 translate slang 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.