Book 19 Chapter 17

A Sudden Visit

—The Sword Saint's Instinct

"Huh? A visitor?"

Ma Jinga, who had been diligently working through a mountain of tasks with his windows firmly shut due to the incessant noise pollution masquerading as a protest, paused his battle-worn brush, hundreds of documents already fought today, and asked in bewilderment.

"Didn't you say I wasn't meeting anyone today?"

Yeo Mae, a personal maid directly serving the Prefect, bowed her head apologetically.

"I felt this person was someone you absolutely had to meet."

Even Yeo Mae, who had served as his maid for a long time, understood that a formidable figure had arrived, making it difficult for her to refuse the request.

"Who has come?"

"Yes, the Sword Saint wishes to have a word with the Prefect."

"The Sword Saint?"

"Yes. That is correct, Prefect!"

Yeo Mae replied politely.

"Why would he want to see me?"

In the past few years, he had never once requested a private meeting outside of official occasions. Yet, he couldn't think of any particular reason.

"Usher him in quickly!"

Ma Jinga rose from his seat to show respect to the Sword Saint. It was rare for him to stand up for someone else while exercising his authority and power as Prefect in his office.

"Well, Respected Master Gongson! What brings you to such a humble place?"

Ma Jinga exclaimed, jumping up from his seat and warmly greeting the Sword Saint.

"I apologize for troubling you during your busy schedule, Prefect Ma. This old man has something important to discuss with you today."

"Trouble? You say the most unexpected things. My ears and my heart are always open. Furthermore, if it's your profound teachings, I'm ready to leap out of bed even in my sleep to hear them. Hahaha!"

"Ho ho, Prefect Ma praises this old swordsman too highly."

"Hahaha! This is an assessment of the Sword's Supreme. No matter how highly I assess you, it would be insufficient. What profound wisdom do you bring to visit this ignorant one today?"

"It is because of the shadow of unease that has fallen upon the Cheonmu Academy recently!"

Gongson Ilchwi's tone suddenly changed as his expression turned serious.

"Then have you brought the light to dispel that shadow of unease?"

"Indeed. The people are stirring."

"I am aware of that. It has been causing me no end of worry lately."

"If we don't quell their unrest as soon as possible, it may explode. If that happens, the reputation of the Cheonmu Academy will plummet, and we will be unable to escape disgrace."

"What should we do?"

"We need an example!"

"An example…?"

Gongson Ilchwi did not beat around the bush. He conveyed what he wanted to say without any reservation.

"Execute the culprit immediately!"

Ma Jinga's hand, which was bringing a teacup to his lips, froze.

"The culprit… are you referring to that child, Bi Ryuyeon?"

Carefully placing the teacup on the table, Ma Jinga asked again.

"Then is there another culprit?"

"But… for now, he is only a suspect, not yet confirmed as the culprit. In such a situation, an execution… Moreover, that would be illegal."

A private death sentence was a serious violation of the law, encroaching on the domain of the court. This was why so many organizations had punishments in the form of self-exile.

"There are many ways to handle this legally. The important thing is to quell the noisy public opinion as soon as possible."

"You are concerned about the murmurs of the masses, whose specialty is to follow the crowd? This is unlike you, elder. You weren't like this before. Or is there another reason besides that superficial one?"

Ma Jinga's question held a sharp edge.

"……"

Gongson Ilchwi's previously unhesitating words paused for a moment.

"You are evading the question. If you do not tell me the reason, even you, elder, I will not listen to you any further."

Ma Jinga said resolutely.

"Cheoltap! You can't do this to me?"

Gongson Ilchwi's address to Ma Jinga, the Prefect of the Cheonmu Academy, suddenly changed. However, Ma Jinga remained unfazed and responded calmly.

"Teacher, I cannot help it. Even though I once learned the principles of martial arts under you, I am currently the Prefect of this Cheonmu Academy, and I have a responsibility to exercise my rights fairly and fulfill my duties. Why do you hate that child, Bi Ryuyeon, so much?"

The word "hate" felt insufficient. "Detest" would be more accurate. However, Ma Jinga couldn't find any plausible reason for the Sword Saint, a senior figure in the martial arts world, to detest and be wary of a young man decades his junior, no matter how hard he tried.

"He is an ominous fellow!"

Gongson Ilchwi replied with a serious expression.

"Do you have any basis for that?"

"I do not. It is simply an instinct."

"So, you have suspicion but no evidence. I certainly didn't want to believe that was all… I was hoping you would present a more convincing reason."

"Are you saying you don't trust me?"

For a master like the Sword Saint, their intuition often carried unusual credibility. However, administrative decisions could not be made solely based on such feelings.

"No. Of course, I respect your intuition, Master. I believe you have the ability to see what I do not. However, you cannot punish that child based solely on that. Instinct, whether it is accurate or not, is unreliable as evidence, isn't it? Even an emperor of a nation could not do such a thing. Please understand."

"What if I don't understand?"

Gongson Ilchwi presented the most difficult response to counter. It was a declaration that he would sever the conversation and cease even the minimal effort towards understanding.

"Th-that is…"

Ma Jinga was at a loss for how to respond. At that moment, what saved him was the commotion outside the door.

*Clang!*

The commotion outside the door seamlessly transitioned into a commotion inside without any pause. A messenger wearing a red special dispatch marker burst through the door in haste. When this red marker was attached to a messenger's body, they were authorized to deliver information or correspondence to Ma Jinga at any time.

"What is it, coming in such a hurry? You are before the Sword Saint! Behave yourself!"

"Th-that is…!"

"Speak calmly."

"It's a r-raid! There's another victim!"

Gongson Ilchwi and Ma Jinga leaped from their seats simultaneously and exclaimed,

"What!"