Star Instructor, Master Baek

Chapter 280: Tell the Chairman This...

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Murim Alliance Jiangxi Branch Manager felt cold sweat trickling down his back.

Why? Why did it have to be my office…?

Normally, he enjoyed almost as much authority as the Murim Alliance Chairman in Jiangxi, but today, the tense atmosphere between the two guests sitting across from him left him feeling anxious and out of place.

"Uhm, would you two prefer to speak in private? I have some matters to discuss with the Vice Principal outside…"

Since the Azure Dragon Academy Vice Principal Kwak Cheolwoo waited outside his office, the Branch Manager hoped to use him as an excuse to slip away. As for the 'matters to discuss,' they could simply complain about their superiors or something along those lines.

Unfortunately, his guests had no intention of letting him escape.

"Not at all. Please, stay here. It doesn't make any sense for us, the guests, to send our host out of his own office".

"Also, it would be best if you listened as well, Branch Manager."

The Branch Manager sighed inwardly. How could he refuse their refusal? After all, one guest was Noh Goonsang, the Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy and a legendary senior of the murim, while the other was Jaegal Sojin, the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist who was effectively his boss's boss.

Jaegal Sojin greeted Noh Goonsang respectfully, "First, I apologize for the trouble. I should have been the one to visit you, but since the Azure Dragon Academy is in the middle of exam period, I was concerned that my visit might disrupt the students."

Noh Goonsang smiled kindly as he sipped his tea. "No worries. I am not so petty as to insist on formalities over such a trivial matter. The academy is not far from here anyway. You, on the other hand, have traveled quite a distance."

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"Thank you for your understanding," Jaegal Sojin replied, but she knew better. This old man before her was by no means as gentle as he seemed.

He was the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva Noh Goonsang, a martial artist so talented that he was the first among his peers to be recognized as one of the Top 100, even before the now deceased Blue Sky Sword King.

If not for his injuries in the war against the Blood Cult, he would surely be one of the Ten Supremes now.

Fifty years ago, Noh Goonsang had been lucky enough to survive near-fatal wounds, but the lingering effects had significantly weakened his martial arts and permanently halted his progression.

Among the principals of the Five Great Academies, Noh Goonsang harbors the deepest grudge against the Blood Cult.

Jaegal Sojin recalled the Chairman's warning about Noh Goonsang shortly before leaving for Nanchang.

"The Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva… In his youth, he fought so recklessly that even the Blood Cult called him a mad dog. I heard that he has mellowed out now… but just in case, tread carefully around him."

A mad dog…

Jaegal Sojin winced at the thought, but fortunately, the Noh Goonsang before her seemed more like a warm-hearted neighborhood grandpa than a crazed beast. ??????S

Did he really mellow with age? Or is he just hiding his true nature?

Noh Goonsang took another sip of tea. "How's the Chairman?"

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Jaegal Sojin carefully noted the nuances in Noh Goonsang's speech. Although he addressed the Murim Alliance Chairman formally, his tone was casual. Still, unlike usual, she saw no need to correct him.

"Lately, he has been working tirelessly to destroy the Blood Cult. He wanted to visit you as soon as possible, but he simply has too many responsibilities, so he asked me to come here first and give you his regards," she replied politely as she took out a small wooden box and placed it on the table.

A pleasant fragrance filled the room, indicating that the box held a rare elixir.

"Please accept this humble gift from the Chairman," she added.

Noh Goonsang chuckled. "Hoho, a 'humble gift,' you say…"

Sending an emissary with an expensive gift before making a formal visit? Hmph, this is not a gift, it is a bribe.

He pushed the wooden box back toward Jaegal Sojin. He was not naive enough to accept this as pure goodwill.

"Tell the Chairman that I appreciate the thought, but I must decline. He may have been my junior once, but he is now the Murim Alliance Chairman. If I accept this thoughtlessly, I might run into some dilemmas later."

"You don't need to worry about that. As I mentioned, this is purely personal…"

"I said, I must decline."

"…My apologies." Jaegal Sojin quickly apologized and quietly put the box away. She had intended to insist, but the cold gleam in Noh Goonsang's eyes intimidated her.

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Taking another sip of tea, Noh Goonsang asked, "So, what is the urgent matter that the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist needed to discuss with me?"

"…Before the Chairman visits the Azure Dragon Academy officially, I wished to explain in detail the matter I mentioned in my letter."

Noh Goonsang frowned. He had expected this and attended this meeting precisely to reject the Murim Alliance's proposal outright.

He placed his teacup down on the table.

"I believe I made my rejection very clear," he said firmly.

A few days earlier, he had received a letter outlining the Murim Alliance's intention to incorporate the Azure Dragon Academy as a militia under its command, in preparation for war against the Blood Cult.

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Furious, he had immediately sent back a written refusal. Rather than accept his decision, however, the Murim Alliance dispatched their Chief Strategist to negotiate with him.

"Have you not received my letter?"

"We have, but I believe that perhaps our written explanation was insufficient, so I wished to speak to you in person to ensure better understanding…" Jaegal Sojin's voice trailed off. An invisible force was pressing against her like blades were slicing through her entire body, draining the color from her face until she resembled a corpse.

Noh Goonsang had released his aura.

"I tried to be courteous, but you have crossed the line. Do you take me for a senile old man who cannot understand a simple letter?" he whispered in an icy tone.

"T-That isn't what I meant…"Jaegal Sojin refuted.

The innocent bystander, the Jiangxi Branch Manager, pleaded desperately, "E-Elder Noh, please, calm yourself! A-At least for my sake…"

"I'm sorry! I was… thoughtless." Jaegal Sojin hurriedly bowed in apology.

Despite her ghastly complexion though, she did not avert her gaze from Noh Goonsang.

She had not been sent because she was a martial artist who could rival Noh Goonsang. She was chosen because her job involved meeting powerful figures daily and negotiating on behalf of the Murim Alliance.

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As Chief Strategist, she dealt with countless high-ranking martial artists, many of whom were dissatisfied with the Alliance's decisions. Since the Murim Alliance Chairman, the Fist King, was one of the Ten Supremes, no one dared challenge him directly, so she bore the brunt of their complaints.

She had endured this environment for years. The pressure from Noh Goonsang would not deter her.

"…Will you allow me a chance to persuade you?" she asked.

"Persuade me?" Noh Goonsang's eyes flashed with rage

Deep down though, he admired Jaegal Sojin.

She has guts. If she lacked courage, she would never work under that ill-tempered Yayul Hwang.

He withdrew his aura. Pushing too hard would not be ideal. He had to at least give the woman a chance to speak before chasing her away.

"Go ahead and try, but it will not be easy," he said sharply.

Now able to breathe easier, Jaegal Sojin began respectfully, "…Thank you for the opportunity. The threat of the Blood Cult is spreading across the world. What happened to the Namgung Clan was only the beginning. According to our intelligence, the forces they deployed there were only a fraction of their true strength."

Noh Goonsang nodded as he sipped his tea. "Continue."

"We must learn from the Namgung Clan's mistakes. If we only react after the Blood Cult makes their move, it will be too late. The entire murim must unite and take preemptive action to minimize bloodshed."

"……"

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"We have already secured agreements with the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans. Over a hundred medium-sized sects have also pledged their support."

"……" Noh Goonsang narrowed his eyes. The Murim Alliance was preparing for war far more aggressively than he had expected.

"Principal Noh, having experienced the last war, I'm sure you know better than anyone how terrifyingly powerful the Blood Cult is."

Noh Goonsang snorted. Of course he knew…and that was precisely why he did not want to send his students to war. Even if they were forced to go, he could not allow them to die in vain as the Murim Alliance's cannon fodder.

"The Murim Alliance extended their suggestion to the Azure Dragon Academy for the same reason. Please understand that only by uniting the entire murim, can we completely eradicate the Blood Cult."

Noh Goonsang's eyebrow twitched. "Murim Alliance, huh? Do you call it an 'alliance' when one side is unilaterally absorbed under another's command?"

"…It is merely a temporary measure to ensure a clear command structure."

Noh Goonsang regarded Jaegal Sojin with an icy gaze. "I'm surprised. How on earth can someone can speak so comfortably when talking about recruiting child soldiers?"

Jaegal Sojin shuddered, finally realizing that persuading Noh Goonsang was far more difficult than she had anticipated. His reaction differed so greatly from her expectations that it bewildered her.

I thought his grudge against the Blood Cult would be enough for him to agree easily… but was I wrong?

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The Murim Alliance Chairman planned to visit the Five Great Academies to persuade their principals. The first meeting was the most important because if they succeeded with one academy, they could use it as leverage to pressure the others.

Thus, they had opted to start with Noh Goonsang, who had the biggest grudge against the Blood Cult of all the principals.

"Even the Azure Dragon Academy has joined the cause! Are you cowards going to sit back and do nothing?"

That would give them justification to force the remaining academies into compliance, and they had staked everything on this plan.

However, if Noh Goonsang resists this strongly… then was the plan flawed from the start?

A foreboding sense of unease crawled up Jaegal Sojin's spine, but she did not let it show. No matter what, she had to persuade Noh Goonsang here… or at least stall for time until the Chairman made his move.

"Do you remember how many martial artists died or were injured in the last war? I did not fight myself, but I have heard the horrors from the elders of my clan," she continued.

"……"

"And what about those who lost their families? That kind of suffering must never be repeated."

"……"

"The Murim Alliance would only hold a nominal command—the true leadership would be in your hands. Please, lead the Azure Dragon Academy to the front lines against the Blood Cult. We need your experience, Principal Noh."

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"……"

Noh Goonsang had suffered devastating injuries fifty years ago, permanently halting his martial arts growth. It was impossible for him to hold no grudge against the Blood Cult, and Jaegal Sojin subtly rubbed on that wound.

To her satisfaction, the old man's expression gradually hardened.

"…If the Blood Cult rises again, I will drag this old body to the front lines and fight them myself," Noh Goonsang declared.

Jaegal Sojin's face brightened. "Thank you, Principal!"

"Did you not hear what I said? I will drag this old body to the front lines and fight them myself."

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Jaegal Sojin blinked, dumbfounded. "…Excuse me?"

Noh Goonsang chuckled. "Why do you look so shocked? You said you needed my experience, so I agreed to join the fight."

"Then… what about the Azure Dragon Academy…?"

"Chief Strategist Jaegal, have you forgotten my job title? I am the Principal of the Azure Dragon Academy, not the General of the Azure Dragon Army."

"W-What…?"

"Do you still not understand? As a school principal, my most important duties are to educate and protect my students."

Noh Goonsang sighed. After suffering serious injuries in the previous war, he had struggled far more than people knew. He had despaired, raged, and for a long time, he had lived in utter stagnation.

It was only a few years ago that he finally pulled himself together and became the principal of the Azure Dragon Academy.

I thought that the academy and I were in the same situation.

The academy, once glorious but now in decline, reminded him of himself—growing older and weaker with each passing day. For a man seeking a place to spend his final years, there was no better place.

I believed there was no need to desperately chase strength anymore. I felt that as long as all the kids graduated safe and healthy, that was enough.

He knew many instructors and opportunists whispered behind his back, calling him an incompetent principal, but he hadn't cared… because they were right. He barely involved himself in the academy's management, and even during meetings, he only smiled and said hoho.

However, his perspective had changed recently.

"At this year's Heavenly Martial Festival, I will lead the Azure Dragon Academy to victory."

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When that young man had spoken those words, Noh Goonsang, who had initially only observed with mild interest, felt a spark he thought had long been extinguished rekindle inside him.

…The Azure Dragon Academy is changing. The imoogi is shedding its old skin and transforming into a true dragon.

He would not lead that change, but at the very least, he could be the wall protecting it.

"Give up trying to persuade me. Even if some Azure Dragon Academy students eventually decide to join the war, it will be of their own free will, and not because I ordered them to. Also… tell the Chairman this: If he ignores my warning, then he should soon expect a mad dog to go on a rampage in the middle of Murim Alliance HQ."

Noh Goonsang smiled a serene, yet ominous smile.