Chapter 264

Chapter 264
## Chapter 264. Walking in Silk Clothes at Night (5)

—

A soft lament slipped from Ak Byeong-bi’s lips after the full account was laid bare.
“……Therefore.”
The narrative he had just received was simply too absurd to readily accept.
“You are claiming to be tormented by a boy named Ya-yul-geuk?”
“That is exactly it!”
Ju-pyeong-Ak vented his grievances with the fervor of a man who had been wrongfully convicted and tortured.
“That lowborn wretch relentlessly targets me, regardless of whether it is day or night. What is worse, ever since that previous incident, the Academy has refrained from taking any meaningful action whatsoever.”
“Is Ya-yul-geuk not the very student whom you were systematically tormenting in the past?”
“That may be true. But since that day, I have not laid a single finger on him……! And yet, this lunatic persists in making my existence an absolute misery at every turn.”
Initially, observing his nephew’s distorted countenance, Ak Byeong-bi had suspected that So-un-Jin had inflicted some sort of harm upon him. But as it turned out,
“So your issue is not with So-un-Jin, but rather with Ya-yul-geuk……”
“That creature Ya-yul-geuk is cut from the exact same cloth as So-un-Jin. He is merely a commoner of meager origins who managed to worm his way into the Academy by a stroke of fortune, and now he is behaving like a mad dog, oblivious to his proper place.”
Ak Byeong-bi, who had been nodding along, froze completely mid-motion.
“What did you say?”
Misinterpreting this stiffness as a sign that Ak Byeong-bi was furious on his behalf, Ju-pyeong-Ak eagerly pressed on with his tirade.
“From what I have gathered, the connection between So-un-Jin and that wretch Ya-yul-geuk goes far beyond ordinary companionship. It is rumored they conduct private spars, and the disciples of the Tae-eul-mun—which is So-un-Jin’s own sect—are reportedly looking out for Ya-yul-geuk’s well-being.”
“……”
“Ever since So-un-Jin managed to seize the title of Academy Representative, the entire institution has fallen into disarray. Word has it that the current Academy Head, Buk-won-pyeong, shares an overly familiar bond with So-un-Jin…… and because of this corrupt tie, the instructors and administrative leaders refuse to take any action against them.”
At this point, Ju-pyeong-Ak, assuming an expression of utmost victimization, allowed a sharp gleam to enter his eyes.
“For this very reason, the intervention and severe censure of my Suk-bu, who commands authority within the Inspection Pavilion, is absolutely required.”
As Ak Byeong-bi gazed at the youth before him, the conversation from a few days prior flashed vividly through his mind.
『When unnatural privileges are treated as though they are a natural birthright, a person inevitably becomes blinded by arrogance. Even within the illustrious Ak family, are there not numerous insolent fools who take such unearned advantages for granted?』
At the time, he had disregarded those words, attributing them to the bitter envy of So-un-Jin, an outsider who understood nothing of the Ak family’s internal dynamics. Yet here was the nephew he had so tenderly nurtured, acting as the living embodiment of the very mockery So-un-Jin had leveled against them.
“Censure, you say……”
The true reason the Academy administration turned a blind eye to Ya-yul-geuk’s conduct was undoubtedly due to the mountain of malice Ju-pyeong-Ak had accumulated through his past behavior. Furthermore, having witnessed the humiliating spectacle of Ak Byeong-bi himself, the esteemed Third Hall Master, being brought to the Academy to bow his head in apology, the instructors and leaders had likely concluded that they had no right to meddle in the friction between the two youths.
Yet this ignorant fool standing before him could not even distinguish “dung from soybean paste.” Imprisoned by his own narrow perspective and petty arrogance, he wallowed in self-pity, fully convinced that the entire world was conspiring to oppress him.
“Indeed, Suk-bu! A severe reprimand is the only solution.”
Completely oblivious to the dark storm brewing in the older man’s mind, the boy harbored not a shred of doubt that a glorious, unobstructed path was about to be laid out for his future endeavors.
‘How on earth did the bloodline of the Ak family degrade to this level?’
Ak Byeong-bi had raised Ju-pyeong-Ak with the devotion one would accord to their own flesh and blood. He recalled the ocean of tears he had wept upon the birth of this boy, who entered the world just a year after he had suffered the tragic loss of his own wife and offspring. Even if one were to disregard that deep emotional attachment, Ju-pyeong-Ak held a position of vital importance within the lineage. Though he was not the direct firstborn grandson, he was the eldest male heir of the second brother. While the supreme leadership of the Ak family would not fall to him, it was a certainty that he would be entrusted with heavy responsibilities regarding the clan’s affairs and labor on behalf of the family.
To think that a youth destined for such a pivotal role possessed a mind of such shallow depth…… A profound wave of disillusionment washed over Ak Byeong-bi. Utterly blind to this shift, Ju-pyeong-Ak confidently struck his own chest, his expression radiating a naive certainty.
“I took the liberty of dispatching a missive to the main estate beforehand.”
“A missive?”
“Yes. I requested that they send capable enforcers to crush Ya-yul-geuk and the faction surrounding So-un-Jin. The moment you step forward to lead the charge, Suk-bu, I shall personally oversee the cleanup of the aftermath.”
“……”
Ak Byeong-bi clamped his eyes shut, forcing down the fiery wrath that threatened to erupt from the depths of his chest to the crown of his head.
‘True, this is merely the typical behavior of pampered children. Are the rising prodigies of the Jianghu, reared under a blanket of indulgence, not universally stunted and foolish in this manner……’
Yet, even as he attempted to pacify his surging anger, the visages of Il-myeong, Seo-hee-Dang, and So-un-Jin—individuals with whom he had shared life-and-death struggles over the past several days—passed before his mind’s eye.
『Nothing erodes human character and transforms an individual into a narrow-minded frog at the bottom of a well faster than an unearned sense of entitlement. If a grand lineage is populated by nothing but such creatures, how long can its legacy truly endure?』
Crash!
With a violent downforce of Ak Byeong-bi’s palm, the sturdy wooden desk splintered cleanly in two. An array of official documents and the elegant implements of the Four Friends of the Study scattered wildly across the floorboards. The instant Ak Byeong-bi flung his eyes open, he met the face of Ju-pyeong-Ak—a face still frozen in a look of eager anticipation, unable to suppress a smug grin.
“You utterly worthless creature……”
This was a boy whose growth he had monitored since infancy. A child he had treasured above all others, to the point of personally selecting his maiden spear and instructing him in the foundational arts of the thrust.
“A wretch of your caliber……”
Now, that same boy appeared as nothing less than a parasitic demon destined to consume the family’s honor from within, leaving it to rot and disintegrate. It felt like an insulting mockery of his own lifetime of devotion.
“Shall we mobilize the enforcers immediately, Suk-bu?”
Ju-pyeong-Ak maintained his arrogant grin, looking for all the world like a man who believed he was riding a ferocious tiger. At the precise instant Ak Byeong-bi was about to drive his balled fist directly into the boy’s smug countenance—
“Hall Master! A visitor has arrived!”
The sudden announcement drifting through the threshold caused him to freeze instantly.
“A visitor?”
Given that his subordinates were fully aware that Ju-pyeong-Ak was currently engaged in a private meeting inside, for them to interrupt meant the guest was of no small consequence. Ak Byeong-bi forced his fury into check and called back out.
“State their identity.”
“It is the Academy Representative, So-un-Jin.”
“So-un-Jin?”
“T-That bastard?”
Upon hearing those three syllables, Ju-pyeong-Ak’s complexion drained of all color in an instant. His boastful expression withered like dry parchment, and his legs began to visible tremble as panic seized him. Ak Byeong-bi, coldly observing this pathetic display of cowardice, issued a sharp directive to the door.
“Permit him entry.”
“Su-Suk-bu?!”
Ju-pyeong-Ak’s eyes stretched wide with terror, looking as though they might burst from their sockets. The two were not divided by social status within the institution; they were peers who had crossed the threshold of the academy in the very same intake. How could the caliber of their spirits be so vastly, laughably disparate?
‘Alas……’
Ak Byeong-bi forcefully suppressed the heavy sigh that threatened to tear from his throat. In the preceding generation, Ak-buk-san had been utterly eclipsed, failing to garner any significant recognition due to the presence of transcendent geniuses like Yong-so-ah and Il-myeong. And now,
“S-So-un-Jin…… Hieek……!”
He could plainly see that the current generation would suffer an identical fate.
‘It appears our lineage must endure a far longer period of obscurity before the grand ambition of my eldest brother can ever be realized.’
The yearning of the Young Patriarch to make the entire world tremble beneath the banner of the Ak family seemed a prospect far beyond the reach of the current crop of heirs.

If one were to poll the martial artists of the Murim Alliance regarding the locations they most dreaded visiting, the Inspection Pavilion and the Execution Pavilion would unquestionably occupy the top ranks. Barring an official deployment to those sectors, being escorted to the Inspection Pavilion typically signified that one’s chances of emerging in one piece were astronomically low. Yet, here I was, strolling into the lion’s den entirely of my own volition.
‘And making my way into the Third Hall, of all places.’
When observing unfortunate souls dragged into the depths of the Inspection Pavilion on fabricated charges, onlookers would often comment derisively that such individuals must have been heinous villains in their previous incarnations to merit such atrocious luck. Appraising the situation through that lens, I must have been a criminal of grand proportions in my own past life. Then again, considering my close camaraderie with the rascals of the So-jeong-dae, if associating with them qualifies as a transgression, I suppose the logic holds. Regardless, those miserable bastards are never of any practical use to me.
Fortunately, my path led toward the administrative office rather than a blood-stained interrogation chamber. The guard escorting me maintained an exceptionally grim and rigid demeanor, a perfect reflection of the austere reputation of the Third Hall. It was a classic case of the servant mirroring the master.
“I recall hearing rumors that the Third Hall Master prefers to conduct his administrative duties within an active torture chamber; I trust I am not being led to a rack as we speak? Hahaha!”
“……”
I attempted to break the tension with a lighthearted quip, but I was met with a gaze cold enough to freeze water. Confound it, my skin is prickling; how am I even supposed to maintain a conversation under these conditions? The guard, utterly unmoved by my attempt at humor, came to a halt outside the designated chamber.
“Hall Master, the individual has arrived.”
“Grant him entry.”
The stern-faced guard gave a terse nod of his head, and I turned the handle, stepping across the threshold with a deliberately awkward smile. The heavy stare that bored into my back until the heavy door clicked shut was deeply unsettling. What was that about? Was he attempting to intimidate me on purpose? Shrugging off the unpleasant sensation, I cast my eyes about the interior of the office.
“Oh?”
An entirely unforeseen spectacle greeted me. A shattered desk lay ruined on the floor, surrounded by a chaotic flurry of official documents. And to top it all off,
……Ju-pyeong-Ak sat nearby, his forehead creased in a profound scowl. When in the world did that nuisance arrive? As if tracking the movement of my eyes, Ak Byeong-bi offered an explanation.
“I deliberately summoned him to this chamber, as it occurred to me that your unannounced visit likely pertained to this youth. If his presence causes you discomfort, we can easily adjourn to a private room.”
I gave a dismissive wave of my hand.
“There is no need. Even if I were to discuss the matter with you in private, Hall Master, every word would inevitably find its way into Ju-pyeong-Ak’s ears regardless.”
“In that case, take a seat.”
“……I am entirely uncertain as to what caused the destruction of that desk, but given the circumstances, would it be acceptable if I declined to sit amidst the wreckage?”
“Hmm…… an excellent point.”
Ak Byeong-bi rose from his place without the slightest hint of embarrassment, transferring the meeting to a lengthy boardroom table. Consequently, Ju-pyeong-Ak and I found ourselves seated directly across from one another, with Ak Byeong-bi positioned firmly as the mediator in the center.
“Very well. What urgent matter has brought you to my quarters?”
“It appears Ju-pyeong-Ak has presented himself for the exact same reason……”
“Keep my name out of your mouth, you insolent commoner!”
“……”
Ju-pyeong-Ak snarled, flashing his teeth like an angry pup. What has made him so incredibly sensitive today? Well, if it genuinely causes him that much distress, I suppose I can accommodate his wishes. After all, I consider myself a righteous and noble warrior who avoids causing needless aggravation to others. I gestured toward the boy with a subtle tilt of my chin and resumed my explanation.
“Have you been informed of the ongoing friction existing between this individual and Ya-yul-geuk?”
Bang!
“So-un-Jin!!”
Ju-pyeong-Ak glared at me, his eyes practically radiating heat.
“What is the issue now? You explicitly demanded that I refrain from utilizing your name.”
“How dare you adopt such a tone…… Do you have the slightest inkling of who stands before you!”
“……Pfft. Enlighten me, who exactly are you?”
“What did you say?”
“I am asking for your identity. You are Ju-pyeong-Ak, an heir of the Ak family line, and a mere disciple within this Academy…… beyond those titles, what else do you possess?”
Ju-pyeong-Ak sputtered, his mouth working silently as he turned an indignant gaze toward Ak Byeong-bi.
“Suk-bu!”
Despite the clear provocation, which might have driven Ak Byeong-bi to a furious outburst under normal circumstances, his face remained entirely devoid of emotion. Instead, he simply looked toward me and gave a brief nod.
“Representative Jin, you may proceed with your account.”
“……!”
Ju-pyeong-Ak’s eyes bulged in utter disbelief before he deflated, sinking heavily back into his chair. I gave another careless flick of my chin toward him and pressed on.
“At any rate, I received word that this fellow sought intervention from his primary household regarding this dispute. Come now, there is absolutely no justification for involving mature guardians in what amounts to a petty squabble between youths, is there?”
“……”
Ak Byeong-bi spared a brief, calculating glance at Ju-pyeong-Ak before returning his focus to me, opening his mouth to speak.
“According to the testimony I have received, this nephew of mine was subjected to rather extreme harassment. It was reported that Ya-yul-geuk initiated unprovoked ambushes at every conceivable hour.”
“I have already taken measures to address that specific behavior with him. Moving forward, he will restrict himself strictly to formal challenges and sanctioned duels.”
“Yet, one could argue this scenario mirrors the very offense that once drove you to righteous fury. In retribution for that past transgression, you permanently crippled Ju-pyeong-Ak’s physical capabilities.”
My face contorted in sheer disbelief. Are you truly attempting to equate this situation with a coordinated mob assault? Good grief, the comparison is utterly preposterous.
“How can you possibly drag that past incident into this conversation? On that occasion, this fellow mobilized a gang of his compatriots to brutally assault a solitary individual. Conversely, Ya-yul-geuk suffers from an abrasive temperament and possesses no allies whatsoever, meaning he fought back entirely on his own. The two situations are fundamentally distinct.”
“Is that your assessment?”
“That is the absolute truth of the matter.”
“Then am I to understand you have no personal stake that requires your intervention?”
“Provided that the Ak family and you, Hall Master, refrain from meddling in the dispute, I have absolutely no incentive to interfere.”
Ak Byeong-bi nodded slowly, immediately conceding the point.
“Very well. I shall personally communicate this resolution to the primary estate. The Ak family will maintain a position of strict neutrality.”
Wow. Just like that? The terms were accepted with such effortless ease that my prior anxieties—specifically regarding whether I would damage the hard-won, amicable relationship I had cultivated with Ak Byeong-bi—felt entirely foolish in hindsight.
“Suk-bu!”
Predictably, Ju-pyeong-Ak, who had been stewing in silence throughout our exchange, was thoroughly displeased by the arrangement we had struck.
“What could possibly possess the illustrious Ak family to show fear and capitulate to a lowborn wretch of his stature……!”
The instant Ju-pyeong-Ak’s disrespectful outburst echoed through the room, Ak Byeong-bi’s fist came crashing down upon the wooden surface.
Bang!
Crrrack!
The lengthy conference table split apart under the immense force of a solitary blow. Ah, so that explained the demise of the previous desk.
“Hold your tongue!”
“Su-Suk-bu……!”
Ju-pyeong-Ak continued to look at Ak Byeong-bi with an expression of profound confusion, utterly unable to comprehend the older man’s actions. However, Ak Byeong-bi’s countenance had transformed into a mask of pure ice.
“If you dare to tarnish the honor of the Ak family with that foul excuse for a mouth one more time…… I shall personally tear it open from ear to ear.”
“U-Uh……”
Ju-pyeong-Ak looked as though he were on the verge of tears, completely bewildered by the sudden hostility directed at him. Yet, Ak Byeong-bi showed no intention of softening his stance.
“Answer me this one question. You chose to target Ya-yul-geuk solely because his lineage was common and his proficiency in the martial arts was inferior to yours, is that not correct?”
“……”
It was a self-evident truth. In the cruel reality of the Jianghu, where martial prowess dictates one’s standing and strength reigns supreme, children reared under such doctrines often weaponized those laws with far greater malice than any seasoned warrior.
“Though a minor physical impairment lingers within your body, the exceptional medical treatment you received ensured your combat efficacy remains largely uncompromised. Despite this, the sole reason you have crawled to my office begging for aid is because you were utterly outclassed in sheer martial skill, correct?”
“……”
His volume steadily escalated, filling the chamber.
“Did it never cross your mind to refine your own techniques and confront him honorably? Did you lack the fortitude to hone your skills to the point where Ya-yul-geuk would flee in terror from your mere gaze!”
“……”
When Ju-pyeong-Ak offered no defense, Ak Byeong-bi’s eyes blazed with an even fiercer intensity.
“And yet, despite such cowardice, you possess the audacity to invoke the noble name of the Ak family!”
“……”
Under the stinging rebuke of his Suk-bu, Ju-pyeong-Ak clenched his jaw so violently that his teeth groaned under the pressure.
“Do you truly believe that being granted entry into a prestigious clan by birth and born to influential parents constitutes the pinnacle of your personal achievements? Aside from relying on your bloodline, you are an incompetent fool who knows how to accomplish absolutely nothing on his own merits!!!”
Ultimately, Ju-pyeong-Ak bowed his head, unable to meet his uncle’s gaze. Heavy tears pooled and spilled from his eyes, staining the fabric covering his knees.
“If Ya-yul-geuk had hailed from the venerable Nine Sects and One Gang…… or if he had at least claimed ancestry from the 108 Peaks, would you have dared to treat him with such disdain?”
Sensing that the dressing-down had crossed into overly cruel territory, I decided to step in and apply the brakes. You are being entirely too severe on the boy.
“Come now, Hall Master, there is no need to take it to such extremes. When have you ever witnessed a craven coward willing to square off against an opponent who clearly outmatches them?”
“!”
Ju-pyeong-Ak snapped his head upward, shooting a venomous glare in my direction. His face, thoroughly smeared with a messy mixture of tears and fluid, looked incredibly pathetic. Despite my attempt to defuse the situation, Ak Byeong-bi showed no signs of quelling his wrath.
“Do you honestly believe your admission into this prestigious Academy was earned through your own solitary talent? If you are to reap the boundless rewards provided by your lineage, the absolute bare minimum required of you is to avoid bringing public disgrace upon our name!”
“Hic…… hiccup……”
“Vacate these quarters at once! The mere sight of your face sickens me!”
Upon receiving Ak Byeong-bi’s harsh eviction notice, Ju-pyeong-Ak, his posture entirely defeated, slumped his shoulders and dragged his feet out of the room. Ak Byeong-bi continued to breathe heavily, his internal fury refusing to subside even after the boy’s departure.
“To think he remains so utterly mediocre despite being afforded the finest environment and resources imaginable.”
Following a protracted period of silent anger, Ak Byeong-bi finally released a weary sigh and turned a hollow gaze toward me.
“I find myself deeply envious of the senior masters of your sect. They must experience profound joy. To be blessed with a pupil of your caliber, that is.”
“……I can assure you, they rarely seem to share that sentiment.”
After all, every single letter they dispatch to me contains a desperate plea to please maintain a low profile and avoid trouble. When I reached up to scratch my cheek in embarrassment, Ak Byeong-bi simply gave a solemn shake of his head.
“They merely lack the capacity to articulate the full depth of their pride in words.”
“Is that truly the case?”
“Unquestionably.”
Ak Byeong-bi murmured in a low voice, almost as if addressing his own thoughts.
“If only your talents belonged to our lineage……”
He abruptly cut his own sentence short.
“……Pay no heed to that. I am merely spouting nonsensical hypotheticals.”
Though I harbored a natural curiosity regarding the unfinished thought, I chose not to probe any further. The look stretching across Ak Byeong-bi’s features was reminiscent of a man who had already exhausted his entire lease on life.

True to the commitment Ak Byeong-bi had articulated, the Ak family refrained from interfering in the matter. It appeared Ya-yul-geuk had taken my counsel to heart as well, as he desisted from launching clandestine ambushes against Ju-pyeong-Ak. I considered it a minor victory that a youth possessing the temperament of a feral beast could still be reasoned with. However, because he now sought out his rival on a daily basis to demand a legitimate martial duel, rumors began to circulate that Ju-pyeong-Ak was constantly taking to his heels to evade Ya-yul-geuk’s approach……
Well, even under those circumstances, does this not represent a monumental shift for the better? Furthermore, looking at it from Ju-pyeong-Ak’s point of view, it was only natural that he wished to avoid the humiliation of being seen by his peers dodging a challenge issued by a commoner. Nevertheless, because his pursuer remained relentless in his tracking and demands for combat, news eventually reached my ears that Ju-pyeong-Ak had formally submitted an application to enter a state of isolated, closed-door meditation.
Honestly, both the elder sibling and the younger sibling possess an extraordinary talent for driving people to absolute wit’s end, don’t they? Right around the time the reports of Ju-pyeong-Ak retreating into the secluded training cavern solidified, I received an official directive to present myself before Jegal-so-myeong.
At long last, the moment had arrived to collect the remuneration and rewards for my arduous efforts during the foreign embassy assignment. Hearing this incredibly welcome news after such an extended drought, an irrepressible grin spread across my face.
‘What manner of treasures shall I swindle out of him this time?’
Without wasting a single second to relax, I immediately began sorting through the vast catalog of texts and techniques stored within the archives of my mind.