The teachers looked at Kang-hyuk with an astonished gaze. One teacher then approached him.
It was Dang Du-go, who taught the first-year Am-gi weapon course.
Since he was from Sacheon's Dang Family, he knew more about sacred herbs and plants than the usual person.
"About the fruit we're eating Kang Seonsaeng…."
"What's the matter? Is there a problem?"
"No, not at all. I was just wondering if the fruit we're eating is the Immortal Peach…."
Kang-hyuk nodded.
"It is the Immortal Peach."
"Ho-how did you find such a precious fruit?"
Kang-hyuk responded calmly, "I'm the Academy's Horticulture teacher. I should be capable of this much, no?"
"…..Ahem, ahem ahem."
Dang Du-go cleared his throat.
"I'm saying this just in case, but could you make sure that no one gets greedy and eats more than one fruit? If two of the fruits are eaten, all of one's satiation is sapped away, one's hunger is doubled, and double of one's strength is lost."
Kang-hyuk was telling the truth. Dang Du-go too had come across this information during his studies within his family.
But alas, all were satiated by one fruit, and no one attempted to eat another in greed.
Kang-hyuk grinned as he looked at the expression of the teachers that heard his conversation with Dang Du-go. He then looked over at Yun Hseong.
"Now that all bellies have been filled, it would be good to get going."
"Indeed, it would."
Ok Hae-mi then signalled at the man whose job was to sound the drum.
*Deung deung deung!*
Kang-hyuk slowly began to move in Gyeongong, and in a similar fashion, the rest of the Academy began to move.
Their return to the Academy had begun once more.
When they had all left, the forest surrounding the cave disappeared, as though it had been a mirage.
As if the forest hadn't really been there at all.
***
The location was Hwacheon Academy.
The Princ.i.p.al Eun Myeong-myong couldn't hide his concern. It had already been a while since the carriages carrying the academy's maids, servants, and liberal arts teachers had returned from the trip.
He expected the rest of the group to have returned by now, but even the advance team, let alone the rest of the Academy, had yet to arrive.
'What on earth is wrong? Did they get lost? Or have they been attacked?'
Hundreds of potential possibilities swirled around within his mind. He abruptly stood up, deciding that it would be more efficient for him to find out what happened personally.
"Princ.i.p.al!"
But at that moment, the voice of the school's administrator rang out.
"What's the matter?"
"It's a message, a message from the returning group!"
Eun Myeong-myeong cried out with urgency, "What are you waiting for, come in and give me the message!"
The administrator rushed inside the room and began to unveil the contents of the message.
"S-so....the advance team…."
Eun Myeong-myeong's face paled as he heard the full account of what had transpired.
"What? They suspected that there were people waiting to ambush the students?"
"Indeed. And so, the message says that they have decided to travel through the third route, the Snaketail Valley."
"...!"
*Bang!*
Eun Myeong-myeong slammed his fist onto the table.
"Those fools!"
Eun Myeong-myeong was aware of the tragedy that had taken place at Snaketail Valley, despite the event not being widely known throughout Moorim.
An event where two units of warriors had been deployed, and where one unit had been completely annihilated.
"It's a 'mouse walking into poison' scheme of operation!"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"They shouldn't go through Snaketail Valley! It's a trap! I'm telling you that it's a trap!"
He was indeed the former head of Hyeonmugak, having almost instantly pierced through to bring out the true intentions behind the group having to go through Snaketail Valley.
"Immediately go to the Clan and ask for their a.s.sistance…..."
But then.
"Princ.i.p.al! There's a message! A message from the returning group!"
Another message had arrived.
"Come in!"
The door opened and the administrator, Jeon Cheong-gwan walked in once more.
"I've brought the message personally, as I thought that the situation was urgent."
"Bring it here!"
Eun Myeong-myeong grasped the letter as though he was s.n.a.t.c.hing it away, and began to read.
"...!"
His eyes had widened.
"I-is this true?"
Jeon Cheong-gwan then received the letter from Eun Myeong-myeong, and looked over it.
"They safely got through Snaketail Valley, and are on their way back? And they expect to be back within an hour?"
Eun Myeong-myeong released his tensed nerves, relieved that he hadn't misread the letter.
He had been scared to death when he heard of their pa.s.sing through the Snaketail Valley.
Nonetheless, he couldn't stop thinking that something was a little strange.
From his perspective, their pa.s.sing through the valley was almost definitely a trap.
'Whatever the reason is, it's a relief. It truly is a relief!'
He then spoke while wiping his sweat, "Jeon Cheong-gwan."
"Yes, Princ.i.p.al!"
"The students are on their way. Go and make preparations for their arrival."
"Understood!"
Jeon Cheon-gwan hurriedly began to work.
***
"Will that really be okay?"
Kang-hyuk nodded at Yun Hseong's question.
"Of course."
"Is it really okay to not mention the danger that almost befell us?"
"There's more to lose than there is to gain if it is mentioned."
"I see…I understand."
Despite his response, Yun Hseong was struggling with the fact that he had sent a false message to Eun Myeong-myeong.
'I can't believe that I have to hide this! This is no small matter, it almost certainly should be known to the Princ.i.p.al…'
As though he was aware of Yun Hseong's internal conflict, Kang-hyuk made an elaboration to his reason.
"I don't wish for my ident.i.ty to be known to the Princ.i.p.al yet."
Yun Hseong nodded as though he understood.
He had no idea how Kang-hyuk had wiped out so many warriors. The only explanation for the situation was Kang-hyuk being the Clan Leader's secret envoy.
'I guess the Princ.i.p.al would be uncomfortable if he knew that the Clan Leader has sent his envoy to the Academy.'
Despite Yun Hseong quite obviously being under an illusion, Kang-hyuk didn't attempt to correct him, instead, igniting his misunderstanding further.
"I understand."
"Thank you for understanding."
In truth, there were quite a few good reasons that Kang-hyuk had for not revealing what had happened at the Valley to Eun Myeong-myeong. Of course the biggest reason was in fact because it would bring about a bothersome situation for him.
He had realized that there were more infiltrations within the academy than he had initially thought after Shim-gu's discovery of the spy.
It was obvious to him that if one of the infiltrators got wind of his true ident.i.ty, many complications would arise.
'Ah…I'm suddenly irritated!'
He clenched his fists, as a furious energy spurted out of him at the thought of the infiltrators that had caused so many issues for him.
'Huh?!'
Feeling Kang-hyuk's sudden enraged energy, sweat dripped down Yun Hseong's back.
'I-is this a threat? Is he warning me to keep my mouth shut about his ident.i.ty?'
A thought entered his mind…that for many reasons, Kang-hyuk was a fellow he should be careful around.
***
Samjo, the third group within Hwacheon Academy's returning formation.
The team member with the weakest martial skill within the group wasn't Dang So-mun. He had received acknowledgment from the rest of the group when he used his skills with the Am-gi weapon to break the tree branch and collect the red ribbon.
But even if he had received acknowledgment in that area, his Gyeonggong was still slow. Therefore, he was the recipient of angry glares from the other team members.
"Hey! Three groups have already gone past us because of you!"
"We're right at the end because of you!"
"I want to get back early and rest!"
Dang So-mun wanted to fall into the earth and disappear as the group expressed their frustrations towards him.
He reflected that his legs hadn't always been this way, they had been normal when he was a young boy. It was only after 'that accident' that his legs stopped moving as he wanted them to.
Whilst he couldn't remember it well, there had been an accident.
"Are you okay?"
Someone beside him held out a handkerchief.
"Wipe your sweat."
It was Baek Mun-ji.
Dang So-mun took the handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
Since it was early spring, the weather wasn't too hot, but sweat was pouring down Dang So-mun's forehead like falling rain at the increased activity of his body from the Gyeonggong.
"Th-thanks."
"It's fine."
"Why am I like this?"
Baek Mun-ji flinched as he overheard Dang So-mun's murmurings to himself. He was well aware of what he meant by what he said, but replied with a feigned expression, "What do you mean?"
"Nothing. It's nothing."
Guilt rose up within Baek Mun-ji as he saw Dang So-mun's resigned eyes, but he couldn't say anything.
Because the moment he said it….
He felt guilty towards Dang So-mun, but the reason he didn't speak was also for Dang So-mun's own sake.
It was because he was Dang So-mun's friend.
"I see the Academy!"
The students' faces lit up. The sight of the Academy meant one thing- the long yet short field trip had finally come to an end.
They rearranged their formations.
They were now proudly walking towards the Academy instead of using Gyeonggong.
"It's the students!"
"They're all back well and dandy from the field trip!"
"Wow! They all look so dashing!"
"The future of Moorim is bright indeed!"
The students unconsciously broadened their shoulders as they looked at those waiting for them in front of the Academy.
They had finally reached the main gate of the Academy.
Standing by the gate was Clan Leader Mu-jin and the Princ.i.p.al, Eun Myeong-myeong. Yun Hseong stood in front of them and bowed.
"I report that I, Yun Hseong, whilst acting in lieu of the princ.i.p.al, have brought the Academy back safely from the field trip!"
"You did well. I give permission for your return!"
Only after Mu-jin's words had the field trip truly ended.
Kang-hyuk looked up at the sky and sighed.
'This was a field trip full of various challenges.'
He straightened his head, and looked at the students.
'Well, there were some slightly bothersome events, but I guess I should be satisfied that the students are all back safe and in one piece.'
***
"You've finally arrived!"
It was the morning after Kang-hyuk had returned to the Academy.
A person was at the entrance of Nakyang.
An old man with a long white pipe hanging out of his mouth, it was none other than Ji Cheol-muk.
He gazed at Nakyang while blowing out clouds of smoke from his pipe.
"This place is always noisy."
But he didn't mind the hustle and bustle of the people of Nakyang. He continued to walk slowly.
His final destination was Hwacheon Academy.
'Shim-gu…that rascal is at the academy as a cleaner…'
He couldn't fathom the reasons as to why Shim-gu was working as a cleaner, but wanted to see the sight anyway.
'I can't believe that fellow who always pretends to be so aloof is working as a cleaner!'
He soon arrived at the academy.
"Where are you from?"
He was suddenly brought to a halt by two guards. Ji Cheol-muk wasn't angered by their actions. He knew that they were simply carrying out their job, and he also knew that if he did become angry, there would be a certain consequence.
'I would receive a great number of beatings from elder Hyung-nim.'
He took his ident.i.ty tag out from his sleeve and presented it to them.
"I'm visiting as I have some business."
The guards' eyes widened as they looked at the tag.
"Ai-aigoo! Please forgive us!"
"You didn't know, its fine."
"Our greetings to you, Elder!"
"Please come in!"
The guards fell to the ground in prostration. Ji Cheol-muk was an Elder that was known for having a somewhat unpleasant personality. The guards were aware that the consequences of annoying him could be grave.
"It's fine. I'm going in then."
"Erm…uh…would you like us to lead the way?"
"There's no need. Keep up the good work."
Waving the guards away, Ji Cheol-muk entered the Academy.
'Let's look for that fellow Shim-gu now.'
He closed his eyes, spreading out his energy to detect where Shim-gu's energetic traces were present.
But all of a sudden.
"d.a.m.n it!"
He frowned and opened his eyes. He couldn't trace Shim-gu.
He was confused, having heard that he was in the academy directly from Eun Myeong-myeong himself.
But Ji Cheol-muk wasn't aware that Shim-gu was wearing an earring embedded with the Energy Concealing Stone, and became frustrated.
"Is he not here? Have I come in vain?"
Ji Cheol-muk closed his eyes and tried to look again, but something was strange. He could feel the energy of someone he hadn't been searching for.
"It…it can't be?"
In the past, the twelve members of the group Kang-hyuk was head of within Kwaepungdae had learned to feel each other's unique energy.
Thus, they couldn't forget one other's particular energetic signature.
Ji Cheol-muk undoubtedly knew whose energy he was feeling.
'It can't be….Byeo-Byeok Ae-rin?'
Despite him feeling her familiar energy, he momentarily couldn't believe it was really her. He knew that she only dwelled in three locations. Her residence, Jimilgak, or Kang-hyuk's retired residence.
'Why would Ae-rin be here?'
He headed over to where he could feel Byeok Ae-rin's presence, filled with curiosity.
