At Sama Cheon’s words, the color drained from Bae Sang-pil’s face.
This couldn’t be happening.
There was only one way out if he wanted to live.
With his face soaked in tears, he crawled on his hands and knees toward Yeon Woo Jin and begged for forgiveness.
“M-My Lord! I—I committed a mortal sin by failing to recognize your noble identity! Please, I beg you for your rcy!”
Yeon Woo Jin looked down at Bae Sang-pil, who was bowing and pleading for his life over and over, then gently shook his head and lowered his body toward him.
“It’s alright. You may rise.”
Yeon Woo Jin reached out and helped Bae Sang-pil up with his own hands.
As their eyes t, he continued calmly.
“You didn’t know. And... well, it’s not exactly sothing easy to believe. I understand. I probably would’ve suspected sothing too, if I were in your shoes.”
“M-My Lord...”
Tears of overwhelming relief welled up in Bae Sang-pil’s eyes.
“Please, could you forgive my teacher as well?”
Sama Cheon cleared his throat. “Ahem. Well... if you insist. Fine, I’ll let it go.”
“Thank you, sir.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s single sentence, Sama Cheon’s fury lted away.
“And don’t worry if word of this sohow reaches my grandfather. I’ll explain everything properly myself.”
Only now did Bae Sang-pil truly understand—Yeon Woo Jin was the real thing.
“Th-Thank you, my Lord. My life was already forfeit... I will devote it wholly to your service!”
“As you should,” Sama Cheon said, nodding. “From this mont forward, your life belongs to Woo Jin. Do your utmost.”
“I swear it!”
With an inward sigh of relief, Bae Sang-pil thought back to the real culprit behind this ss.
“Im Su-pyeong... That damned bastard.”
He clenched his fists at the na.
“Who was it?” Sama Cheon asked suddenly.
“P-Pardon?”
“The one who sent Woo Jin to this place. Clearly it wasn’t out of goodwill.”
“Ah, th-that would be Im Su-pyeong... He’s the teacher in charge of the class our young Lord attends. He’s never been fond of him.”
“Hoh? So he sent his own student here just because he didn’t like him?”
“Yes! If you give the order, I’ll bring him here this instant.”
Bae Sang-pil was fully prepared to storm off and drag Im Su-pyeong back by the hair.
“That’s strange,” Yeon Woo Jin said softly, tilting his head. “I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong.”
He couldn’t understand why his teacher disliked him so much.
“Is it because I keep scoring first place on every exam?”
“You idiot!” Sama Cheon barked. “If your student’s at the top, a teacher should be proud! Why in the world would he resent you for that? Hmph. So tell —why does this man hate our Woo Jin?”
“W-Well... It’s because the young Lord... didn’t bribe him.”
“What did you say?”
“Normally, a student’s parents co to the teacher to ask them to look after their child... b-but no one ever ca for the young Lord. He even dropped hints, but the Lord apparently didn’t pick up on them.”
“Unbelievable... What kind of lunatic is this?”
“...I suppose it makes sense,” Yeon Woo Jin murmured. “I don’t have any parents. I guess I’ll have to bring Grandfather with .”
“W-What? Bring him where?”
“Where does this teacher live? I think we owe him a proper visit. After all, if other parents ca to greet him and mine didn’t...”
Bae Sang-pil instinctively shuddered. Despite himself, he gave the address.
Yeon Woo Jin gave him a lingering glance and smiled faintly.
“Oh, and there’s one thing you absolutely must keep, no matter what.”
“J-Just say the word! I’ll stake my life on it!”
“My identity must remain a secret. Do you understand?”
“A secret...”
In that mont, Bae Sang-pil’s pupils trembled, his gaze becoming distant and unfocused.
Then, as though a fog had cleared, his focus snapped back. He bowed deeply.
“Unless you give direct permission, I will never reveal your secret, no matter what!”
“I trust you. Now then, go and finish your duties.”
“Y-Yes, my Lord!”
Once Bae Sang-pil had vanished, Sama Cheon turned toward Yeon Woo Jin, narrowing his eyes.
“What did you do to that man?”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t play dumb. You did sothing just now, didn’t you? Did you hypnotize him?”
“...How did you know?”
“The mont he heard your voice, his eyes lost focus for a second. That’s one of the signs of hypnosis.”
“Wow! That’s impressive. You noticed that?”
“Don’t try to change the subject. What kind of hypnosis did you use?”
“I just... made it so that whenever he thinks of , he’s overco with intense fear.”
“How? What thod did you use? Where did you even learn sothing like that?”
“From the Infinite Archives.”
“There’s sothing like that in the Infinite Archives?”
“Yes, there is.”
“What’s the na of the book?”
“Uh... it didn’t have a title.”
“Hmph...”
Sama Cheon gave Yeon Woo Jin a long, suspicious look.
He was hiding sothing.
But for now, he decided to let it go.
“Looks like he’s carrying secrets he can’t share just yet. I’ll learn them in ti.”
anwhile, Yeon Woo Jin was deeply surprised.
To think Sama Cheon could detect hypnosis with just a flicker in the eyes...
He realized then that he had been underestimating the world far too much.
“He really is incredible. If my master noticed it that easily... then Grandfather might spot it even faster.”
Until the successor of the Martial God Sect was officially announced, he had to keep his true strength a secret.
“I’ve been too arrogant. I need to be more careful moving forward.”
****
That evening.
Yeon Woo Jin explained everything about Im Su-pyeong to Yeon Cheon-baek.
There was no point in dragging along his fake grandfather, Yeom Ho-rang—he’d only be ignored, and nothing would change. And even if Yeon Woo Jin handled it himself, it would be a temporary fix at best.
There was no guarantee that other teachers wouldn’t behave the sa way. And not just at Baegyeong High School—this kind of corruption could easily be happening across countless academies.
If he truly wanted to root out the rot among the teachers, there was no better way than to leverage his grandfather’s authority.
And this, too, was the most effective way to drive ho just how serious the problem was.
“Oh? So you’re telling he hated you just because your parents didn’t co to greet him?”
“That’s what he said.”
“Well, then. Let’s go pay him a visit.”
Yeon Cheon-baek replied with a thin smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“If he’s going to be teaching my grandson, I should make a very good impression, don’t you think? Now, let’s see... how exactly should I go about that...”
Despite his words, his expression looked more like he was contemplating how to kill the man.
And that was precisely why this would work.
“If I don’t co clean about my identity, I get the feeling that teacher’s going to keep bothering . And besides... you’re basically my parent, so of course you should be the one to speak to him.”
At Yeon Woo Jin’s words—calling him “no different from a parent”—sothing stirred in Yeon Cheon-baek’s heart.
“That’s right... I’m the only family you have left. And if I send that Yeom scoundrel to speak with the teacher, who knows what absurd demands he’d co up with. If I want you to have peace at school, I’ll have to handle this myself.”
“But you’re not allowed to kill him. Or maim him, either.”
“You brat—soone might think I’m a villain hearing you talk like that.”
“Well, Grandpa, your face right now looks like you’re about to burst through his door and strangle him.”
“Ahem. I-Is that so?”
Yeon Cheon-baek cleared his throat and quickly rearranged his expression.
“This probably isn’t just about one teacher. There’s a high chance others are abusing their positions in similar ways.”
“Oh? So what you’re saying is, you want to use your dear old grandfather to clean this ss up?”
“Yes. You have the highest authority in the entire Martial God Sect.”
“Well, well. I must say, you’re the only person on this earth who would look dead in the eye and say that so brazenly.”
“What’s wrong with a grandson making use of his grandfather?”
“Hahahaha! You’ve got a point!”
“Grandpa, I need you to give not just this teacher—but the entire academy system—a good, hard warning.”
“Very well. Since it’s my precious grandson asking, I’ll take care of it thoroughly.”
“Thank you.”
“That’s it? Just words?”
“...Huh?”
“You haven’t hugged this old man in ages, you know.”
The mont the words left Yeon Cheon-baek’s mouth, Yeon Woo Jin ran straight into his arms and hugged him tight.
And just like that, Yeon Cheon-baek’s face lit up with joy.
“Hahahaha! That’s more like it!”
Even though Woo Jin was growing up fast, in Yeon Cheon-baek’s eyes, he was still his beloved little grandson.
Satisfied, Yeon Cheon-baek finally said, “So then, where does this bastard live? Since we’re already talking about it, let’s go pay him a visit right now.”
“Co on, Grandpa. You can’t go yourself. I’ll go bring him here.”
“Hahaha, very well. Then I shall prepare a proper welco for our guest.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Yeon Woo Jin stepped out, Yeon Cheon-baek snapped his fingers.
Two figures materialized before him—Ma Ryang and Cheon Ho-seong.
Jeokseong had already gone to follow Yeon Woo Jin.
“Now,” Yeon Cheon-baek said, “tell what that bastard did to my grandson.”
****
Later that night.
Im Su-pyeong stood with an annoyed scowl as he looked at Yeon Woo Jin.
“What are you doing here at °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° this hour?”
“My grandfather said it was terribly rude that he hadn’t co to greet you properly and insisted I bring you to him.”
“At this hour? Are you mocking ? Do I look like I have nothing better to do with my ti?”
“Not at all. He told to pass on a ssage—you won’t regret it if you co.”
“Won’t regret it?”
Im Su-pyeong’s irritation wavered ever so slightly.
“Yes. He said he’s terribly sorry for the oversight and that he wants to host you with the utmost care and sincerity.”
“Hmph! Is that so? Hmph! Well, if he’s gone through all that trouble, it would be unseemly for a gentleman like to refuse.”
He managed to rein in his temper, though he was already mulling it over.
So that’s what this is about. Hmph. Let’s see what kind of treatnt they’ve prepared.
If they were summoning him this late at night, they must have gone all out.
Probably rented out a gisaeng house or sothing.
Being invited at this hour usually ant that kind of establishnt.
The re thought of it stirred sothing in his loins.
And since it was his student who ca to fetch him, the excuse was perfect.
He could indulge himself as much as he liked and co back without guilt.
He glanced sideways at Yeon Woo Jin.
“Hmph! Wait here a mont. I’ll go get ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
Before the response even left Yeon Woo Jin’s lips, Im Su-pyeong had already disappeared into his house.
****
In front of a modest, sowhat run-down residence.
Im Su-pyeong frowned deeply.
He had expected a lavish gisaeng house—this was what he got?
He had been summoned with all that formality, only to arrive at this... shack?
Was this supposed to be so kind of respectable hospitality?
His mood soured imdiately.
“Your grandfather clearly doesn’t understand the aning of the word ‘hospitality.’”
“Excuse ?”
“Never mind. Let’s just go inside. I’m simply dying to see what’s been so carefully prepared.”
With sarcasm dripping from his voice, Im Su-pyeong strode through the gates and into the compound.
Watching him, Yeon Woo Jin gave a bewildered smile.
It was clear—the man needed to be taught a lesson.
Inside the room, the first thing Im Su-pyeong noticed was the drink table.
One bottle of liquor. Two cups. And a side dish so pitiful it could barely be called food—so half-cooked stir-fried bok choy.
Im Su-pyeong’s face twisted in disgust.
He could take a bit of mockery, but this was absurd.
This was outright contempt.
This wasn’t hospitality. This was ridicule.
“What is this? Are you mocking ?”
As he glared at Yeon Woo Jin, a voice ca from within.
“I only prepared what I normally eat. Seems it upset you.”
Im Su-pyeong instinctively assud it was the voice of Yeon Woo Jin’s grandfather.
“So, you’re the boy’s grandfather, then?”
He turned toward the voice.
The man sat in the corner, cloaked in shadow—candlelight didn’t quite reach his face.
“That’s right. I’m Woo Jin’s grandfather.”
“You have no manners, old man. Show your face.”
“I was just worried your heart might not handle it. That’s why I stayed in the dark.”
“My heart? What—are you hideous or sothing?”
“Not hideous, no. But people tend to find terrifying for other reasons.”
Im Su-pyeong’s brow furrowed.
“If you’re going to keep this up, I’m leaving.”
“Wait.”
He turned to go, but stopped.
“What now? Got sothing to say?”
“I heard you treated my grandson poorly just because I didn’t co greet you in person. Is that true?”
“Pfft! Like grandfather, like grandson. Both have a knack for pissing people off. You think I give a damn about so dusty old librarian like you? You think I’m a joke?!”
“Hmph. I suppose my ssage didn’t get through after all.”
“You senile fool! What the hell are you babbling about?!”
Then, the man began to rise.
“I made it very clear. All students are to be treated equally, no exceptions.”
“...What?”
He stepped forward, into the light.
And at last, Im Su-pyeong saw his face.
He had seen that face before—though he never thought he’d see it in person.
His eyes widened in horror.
“Th-That’s... you...”
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