In the center of a large table, laden with food to the point of bending the legs, Pang Sahyeok laughed heartily and addressed the gathered instructors and students.
"Come on, today I’m treating you all, so feel free to eat to your heart's content!"
In addition to us, dozens of new instructor applicants were also invited to the dinner.
Pang Sahyeok showed great generosity by renting out an entire three-story inn. 'It's quite a luxurious inn for a mere student to rent,' I thought.
After all, he was the heir of the Odaese family.
He must have more than enough money.
Thanks to him, my income was also looking good.
"But why is that guy here?" My gaze fell on Kwak Duyong, who was surrounded by students from the club union, drinking and laughing.
"Hahaha! Back when I was studying at the Zhuozhu Academy..."
That chubby guy seemed to only talk about his days at the academy whenever he drank.
His face was as red as a jujube as he rambled on about his glory days.
The students around him looked exhausted from trying to keep up with his stories.
Seeing this, Ak Yeonho clicked his tongue.
"He looks pitiful now. Does he not realize how the students see him?"
"Maybe he doesn't care," I replied.
Anyway, I occasionally spotted familiar faces from the interview. 'It seems like everyone here has some skills.' I thought about the generally high level of the instructors gathered here.
"To the esteemed instructors who have graced us with their presence."
With a single remark from Pang Sahyeok, the inn fell silent.
Among the instructors present, there were those with stronger martial arts skills or much older than Pang Sahyeok.
However, it was clear that the one in control of this space was Pang Sahyeok.
"On such a fine day, I would like to say a few words, so please do not think of me as rude and fill your cups."
Everyone filled their cups as Pang Sahyeok requested.
He looked around leisurely, enjoying the attention.
"Congratulations to everyone for passing the interview. I hope you achieve good results in the upcoming practical exam as well."
"!!" Gasps of surprise erupted from various corners.
Some even spilled their drinks.
"Passed?!" "W-What? The results are out already?" The official announcement of the interview results was scheduled for tomorrow.
Yet, Pang Sahyeok claimed that the instructors present had passed.
In other words... 'He called us here knowing the results in advance.' Naturally, I was not the only one who caught on to this.
Anyone with a bit of wit could understand why Pang Sahyeok had invited us here.
"Future instructors, I look forward to working with you."
"......"
With just a few words, Pang Sahyeok demonstrated to us the extent of his power and influence within the academy.
The reason for this was also quite clear. 'He intends to train the new instructors in advance.' The reactions of the instructors varied.
Some frowned in discomfort, others began to watch Pang Sahyeok closely, and then there were those like Kwak Duyong, who simply continued to eat and drink.
The ones who adapted to reality the quickest gathered around Pang Sahyeok.
"Hehe. We should be the ones to ask for your guidance."
"Thank you for your consideration, young master of the Pang family."
"If you need anything, I will assist you in every way possible."
Surrounded by these sycophants, Pang Sahyeok burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! If someone hears this, they might misunderstand! It sounds like I’m trying to gain something by gathering you all here!"
"How could that be!" "Who would make such an accusation!" The sight of a student manipulating the instructors with just a few words made those who felt uncomfortable frown.
Ak Yeonho was one of them.
He whispered to me, "That guy, the heir of the Odaese family... Should we just leave?" The fact that he could even say this was thanks to Ak Yeonho being from the Sandong Ak family.
Most instructors had no choice but to stay, even if they felt uncomfortable. 'That young brat knows how to enjoy the taste of power.' I chuckled at the arrogance of the Pang family's young heir.
I then patted Ak Yeonho on the shoulder and whispered, "Don't worry about it. Just order some expensive drinks and snacks."
"I can't drink in this situation..."
"Even if you can't, just order them. It’ll boost the store's sales."
"What does the store's sales have to do with us..."
At that moment, Pang Sahyeok stood up, holding a cup, and strode toward us.
His gaze was fixed on Ak Yeonho, who had been looking displeased.
"Instructor Ak, is there something uncomfortable for you?" Sitting down next to him without hesitation, Pang Sahyeok asked, and Ak Yeonho replied with a somewhat reluctant expression, "I... don't have any particular issues."
"Haha. If there's anything bothering you, please feel free to speak. The Ak family and our Pang family have a deep connection, after all." "......"
"I’m worried that I might have been too boisterous and acted rudely in front of you. Please speak frankly. I will correct myself."
Pang Sahyeok was the heir of the Pang family.
No matter how much Ak Yeonho was from the Sandong Ak family, he would still be at a disadvantage unless he was a direct descendant of the family head.
After a moment of hesitation, Ak Yeonho sighed deeply and spoke.
"To be honest, I think it’s a bit excessive."
"Yes, yes. I will listen, so please speak honestly."
Pang Sahyeok looked at Ak Yeonho as if he were a new toy.
I glanced at Pang Sahyeok's profile and then stood up.
"Hmm? Where is Instructor Baek going?" Pang Sahyeok frowned, looking displeased, and I smiled gently.
"I’m just going to the restroom for a moment."
"...... Ah, go ahead. Just don’t take too long."
With his last words sounding almost like a warning, I headed downstairs for a moment.
Of course, I had no intention of going to the restroom.
"Hey."
Once downstairs, I called over a passing servant.
"Can you bring some people here?"
"Yes? I’m sorry, but I’m busy right now..."
I whispered in the servant's ear, who seemed annoyed, and moments later, the servant looked at me in surprise.
"Yes, what?"
"If you understand, you should move quickly."
"Ah, understood!" Watching the servant hurry downstairs, I heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Baek-hyung. You said you were going to the restroom, but what are you doing here?" It was Myung Il-o.
He approached me with a restless expression.
"It’s chaos up there right now. Pang Sahyeok keeps provoking Ak-hyung... It feels like something bad is going to happen."
"Is there a fight?"
"Not yet, but..."
Myung Il-o sighed heavily and continued.
"I knew that Pang Sahyeok had a bad reputation. He manipulates the instructors as he pleases... But I didn’t expect it to be this bad."
"Well, it’s understandable."
After all, he was the heir of the Odaese family.
He probably had never been ordered around in his life and enjoyed acting like a king at the Qinglong Academy.
"He must be enjoying seeing the instructors squirm in front of him."
"Damn it... We’re supposed to be the teachers..."
Myung Il-o clenched his fists in frustration.
I patted his shoulder and headed back upstairs.
"Don’t worry. I won’t just sit back and watch this."
Pang Sahyeok, huh? From the moment I first saw him, I didn’t like the look in his eyes.
He was like a snake in a bear's skin.
But I had dealt with many like him before.
Heh. 'Is this brat daring to climb up to me, who will teach him martial arts in the future?' During my time in the Blood Sect, I had never tolerated insubordination.
Even if the location changed to the Qinglong Academy, that fact would not change. 'Brat, I’ll show you the bitter taste of life.'
At that moment, a sudden scream echoed, and we all rushed up to the third floor.
A female student had collapsed next to Ak Yeonho.
She was covering her torn skirt with her hands, revealing her skin.
In front of her, Pang Sahyeok sighed with a serious expression.
"Oh dear... Instructor Ak, no matter how drunk you are, this is unacceptable."
"......"
In Pang Sahyeok's hand was the torn hem of the skirt.
He placed it down at Ak Yeonho's seat and said, "To harass a female student of the academy... How can you become a new instructor at the Qinglong Academy like this?"
"...... You tore it."
Ak Yeonho's voice had turned icy.
It was a sight I had never seen before.
But it was clear that he was filled with rage.
"Haha. Me? I tore this skirt? Everyone, did I do that?" As he looked around, most of the new instructors who met his gaze quickly averted their eyes.
"The young master would never do such a thing!" "He must be drunk..."
Some even began to side with Pang Sahyeok.
Although I hadn’t witnessed the incident, I knew that no matter how much Ak Yeonho was a womanizer, he wouldn’t be the type to tear a female student's skirt.
I looked around and murmured in admiration, "Oh, so this was your plan from the start."
The only ones present were the newly accepted instructor candidates and the club union executives who seemed to be Pang Sahyeok's loyal followers. 'He was trying to find a weakness to dominate us.' For the new instructors who had just passed the interview and were about to take the practical exam, even the slightest blemish could be a huge disqualification.
Pang Sahyeok was using that fact to create weaknesses among the new instructors present and trying to dominate them.
"Did you hear? Other instructors are saying that Instructor Ak did that too?" "......"
Ak Yeonho glared silently at Pang Sahyeok.
Pang Sahyeok smirked and called over a male student with a gesture.
"Oh dear... Not only sexual harassment but also violence against students... I never thought you would go this far."
"What...?" Thud! The student fell to the ground, bleeding from his nose after being struck by Pang Sahyeok's fist.
In front of Ak Yeonho, whose expression had turned to stone, Pang Sahyeok grinned.
"This is really troublesome. If this escalates, it won’t just be the Qinglong Academy's exam at stake; you might end up trapped in the Murim Alliance's prison."
To Pang Sahyeok, all of this seemed like a game or a joke.
Ak Yeonho's body trembled with rage.
Just before he exploded, I intervened.
"Hey. Enough already?" I walked up to Pang Sahyeok.
Upon seeing me, Pang Sahyeok smirked.
"Instructor Baek has returned. I thought you had scurried away like a rat..."
Without hesitation, I slapped Pang Sahyeok across the face. -Slaaap! The slap was imbued with the techniques I had diligently trained in the Green Forest Eighteen Styles.
Unintentionally struck, Pang Sahyeok stumbled and rolled on the floor.
"Y-You crazy bastard..."
Pang Sahyeok quickly got back up.
He looked at me in disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe the situation.
I smiled brightly and replied, "Crazy bastard? Is that something you say to your esteemed teacher?"
"...... Ha. So there really is a crazy bastard."
Sometimes, when anger reaches its peak, one becomes calm instead.
Pang Sahyeok was exactly that case.
His face turned bright red at first, but he quickly regained his composure and laughed as if he found it amusing.
"Alright. I’ll treat you specially. Sexual harassment, violence against students, property damage... What other charges should I add?"
Pang Sahyeok began to tear the clothes of female students and slap male students in front of me.
He smashed tables and threatened other instructors to say that I was a thief.
Pang Sahyeok grinned at me.
"Instructor Baek, do you have any last words?"
I brought over a chair and leisurely crossed my legs.
"Let’s sit for a moment? It doesn’t seem like there’s anything urgent."
"......"
Seeing my nonchalant behavior, Pang Sahyeok's brows twitched.
However, he looked around the scene, which was perfectly manipulated in his favor, and scoffed.
"You’re still putting on airs. Do you think there’s an escape route?"
"Why is it taking so long? It’s been ages since I sent for them."
"Sent for them? What do you mean..."
Just then, dozens of guards stormed into the chaotic scene.
Leading them was a familiar face, the head of the guards.
"We are here for the underage drinking inspection."
Cheongcheon said, climbing the stairs with his usual expressionless face.