He was so stunned, not a single word escaped his mouth.
“You must’ve heard my orders with your asshole instead of your ears.”
“L-Lord of the Martial God Sect! T-This unworthy one, Im Su-pyeong, kneels before the Sect Leader!”
Thud—
Im Su-pyeong dropped to the floor like a sack of rocks and imdiately began to tremble.
“My hospitality wasn’t to your liking, was it? Then tell , what kind of drink ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) would satisfy your precious tastes?”
“I—I didn’t know you were the Sect Leader...! This fool has committed grave disrespect!”
“Oh, so if I weren’t the Sect Leader, your behavior would’ve been perfectly fine?”
“T-That’s not what I ant...”
“You still haven’t answered my question from earlier.”
“W-What question was that...?”
“I asked if you had ever treated my grandson unfairly.”
“T-This unworthy one has never even t the Sect Leader’s grandson!”
“You haven’t?”
“Y-Yes! You must have confused with soone else!”
“That’s strange. I’m quite certain. I specifically ordered my grandson to bring you here. And didn’t you walk in here with Woo Jin?”
At the ntion of the na Woo Jin, Im Su-pyeong’s head shot up.
“T-That boy is the grandson of Yeom, the librarian of the Infinite Archives!”
“No. He’s not Yeom Woo Jin. He’s Yeon Woo Jin—my grandson.”
Ghhk—!
Im Su-pyeong’s breath caught in his throat at the truth crashing down on him.
His jaw trembled so hard, drool leaked from the corner of his mouth.
“H-He’s...?” the Sect Leader asked again. “I’m asking you: Did you treat him unfairly?”
Faced with the truth, Im Su-pyeong imdiately pressed his face back to the floor.
“I-I have committed a cri worthy of death!”
“So, you understand. Then I suppose you should die.”
“...Excuse ?”
“You just said it yourself, didn’t you? That your cri warrants death. So die.”
Im Su-pyeong had no argunt. No excuse.
The ruler of the Martial God Sect had just declared that he should die.
There was nothing left to do but squeeze his eyes shut and await his punishnt—regret clawing at his insides.
Why the hell had he acted like that?
“Grandfather... may I speak with him?”
Interrupting the judgnt of the Martial God Sect’s Master? Unthinkable.
Even if he was the grandson, that was crossing a line.
Surely Yeon Woo Jin would now face his own scolding—
But instead:
“Why? Are you planning to resolve it with words yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha. Alright. That’s not such a bad idea. They say those who tie the knot must be the ones to untie it. Have a proper conversation.”
There was no scolding. Only a warm, affectionate voice that drifted through the air like a spring breeze.
Unbelievable.
Even though his mont had been interrupted, the Sect Leader showed no anger whatsoever.
“You speak to my grandson now. And keep one thing very clear in your mind—your life depends entirely on what he says.”
“Y-Yes, sir! I-I’ll rember that with all my heart!”
Im Su-pyeong bobbed his head up and down like a madman, pouring every ounce of his being into his answer. Yeon Cheon-baek watched him coldly before turning away.
“If the bastard won’t listen, bring him back to . Understood?”
From the air, two figures materialized and answered in unison:
“We obey!”
Seeing two people suddenly appear out of nowhere, Im Su-pyeong’s jaw quivered uncontrollably.
Yeon Cheon-baek turned to Yeon Woo Jin with a gentle smile.
“Well then, this old man will leave you to it. Settle it however you see fit.”
“Yes, Grandpa.”
Yeon Cheon-baek patted his grandson on the head, then disappeared from the room.
Once he was gone, Yeon Woo Jin turned to Im Su-pyeong.
“Well, I had the parent-teacher conference. I think that wraps things up, doesn’t it?”
Im Su-pyeong looked like he might cry.
“Forgive ! This lowly wretch has made a terrible mistake, young master!”
As he apologized over and over, Yeon Woo Jin asked quietly:
“There was a student nad Jang Un who ca to you for help, right?”
“T-That is... Hrk!”
A trendous pressure began to bear down on Im Su-pyeong.
“I already know everything. Just answer honestly.”
“Y-Yes! He did co to !”
“Jang Un ca to you out of desperation. He begged for your help. So why... why didn’t you?”
“I-I’m sorry...!”
“‘Sorry’ is the only word you know, huh?”
Yeon Woo Jin’s irritation broke through, and before he could say more, Ma Ryang and Cheon Ho-seong stepped forward.
“Young master, shall we go make him a bit more obedient?”
Im Su-pyeong shook his head frantically.
The mont they dragged him away, he had a feeling he’d never return.
He lunged forward, clinging to Yeon Woo Jin’s leg in desperation.
“P-Please! I really have committed a terrible sin! But I want to live! Just give one chance! I swear, I’ll dedicate the rest of my life to helping students!”
“If I weren’t the grandson of the Sect Leader, would you be groveling like this right now?”
Yeon Woo Jin’s voice was cold as ice.
“They say forgiveness granted too easily is quickly forgotten.”
Tap. Tap-tap.
He began gently patting Im Su-pyeong’s body with his fingers.
“Go find Jang Un. Apologize to him. You have until tomorrow morning. If he hasn’t forgiven you by then...”
Yeon Woo Jin trailed off, locking eyes with him.
Im Su-pyeong’s face turned red, like he was being stabbed from the inside by invisible blades of agony.
“...you’ll carry that pain for the rest of your life.”
“Ghhaak! I-I’ll go to him right now! I’ll beg him—just, p-please—!”
“Oh? You want to lift it? Seems like you’re still not listening.”
Yeon Woo Jin smiled coldly.
“I just told you, didn’t I? Forgiveness that cos too easily is aningless. You’ll endure the pain and earn it. Don’t forget—before the sun rises tomorrow.”
“Ghhkk! Y-Yes... I understand.”
Grinding his teeth, Im Su-pyeong forced himself to his feet, braving the pain that racked his body.
And slowly, he began walking toward Jang Un’s house.
****
Jang Un and his parents stood frozen in shock as Im Su-pyeong arrived.
“S-Sir? What brings you here at this hour?”
Im Su-pyeong tried to mask his suffering with a calm face.
“I... I’ve co to apologize to Jang Un. I made a terrible mistake.”
“To my son...?”
Jang Un already had a good idea.
He could tell exactly what had happened—and who was behind it.
“Did... did you et with Woo Jin?”
Twitch.
That reaction confird it.
Yeon Woo Jin had sent him.
“...Haaah.”
Jang Un sighed.
He could guess the full picture now.
The teacher must’ve done sothing because Woo Jin hadn’t offered him so kind of “gift.”
Of all the people he could’ve picked... he’d picked him.
And judging from the way he looked now, he clearly knew exactly who he’d ssed with.
Jang Un’s parents moved to invite the teacher inside.
But Im Su-pyeong shook his head and refused.
Then, in front of them all, he dropped to his knees before Jang Un.
“I—I’m sorry! You ca to for help... and as your teacher, I ignored it! Please... forgive !”
His sudden prostration stunned Jang Un’s parents.
“S-Sir! Please, don’t do this! Get up!”
“Un, what’s going on? What is your teacher talking about?”
Jang Un hurried over, flustered, and helped lift the man up.
“Ghkk...”
As he pulled him up, a groan of pain escaped Im Su-pyeong’s lips.
“Sir... are you hurt?”
“N-No. Jang Un, I’m truly sorry. If you’ll just forgive this once... I swear, I’ll never turn my back on a student again.”
“...It’s already behind , sir.”
“...I’m sorry.”
“I forgive you. So please, that’s enough.”
As soon as he heard the words “I forgive you,” the pain began to fade, little by little.
It was... strange.
Had soone lifted the restriction from afar? Had it been dispelled sohow?
Whatever the case, Im Su-pyeong began reflecting on the past.
He rembered the day he first stepped into Baegyeong High School.
Back then, he had sworn to treat every student as if they were his own child.
But sowhere along the line, he had beco a man driven purely by greed.
“Khk... Thank you... Really... thank you...”
“Where is Woo Jin now?”
“W-Why are you asking?”
“If he did sothing to you... then you’ll need to go back, right? I’ll go with you. I’ll ask him to forgive you.”
Im Su-pyeong had no reply.
He simply sat there, silently crying.
“Let’s go together.”
But Im Su-pyeong shook his head.
“No... I can return alone. There are other places I need to visit.”
Jang Un guessed that he was planning to visit the hos of other students he had wronged.
“I understand... Thank you for coming tonight. The wounds you left —are completely healed now.”
“I’ll show you a different side of from now on.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then... I’ll see you after the field training is over.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it. Take care.”
As Im Su-pyeong slowly disappeared into the darkness, Jang Un’s parents, who had quietly been watching from behind, finally spoke up.
“What was that? What the hell happened? What could your teacher have possibly done that he’d co here this late at night to beg for forgiveness?”
“There was... sothing. But it’s all resolved now. Don’t worry.”
“Good grief...”
“Alright, let’s go inside!”
“You’re sure this wasn’t anything serious?”
“Of course! Nothing serious at all. Co on, let’s go in.”
“If anything ever happens at that academy, tell your old man. I’ve got more strings to pull than you might think.”
“Sure, sure!”
Jang Un chuckled, replying half-heartedly.
Dad... if you heard who I’ve got connections with, you’d probably faint.
Once again, he found himself deeply grateful to Yeon Woo Jin.
Not only had Woo Jin rembered the past, he’d gone out of his way to tie it up perfectly.
That teacher who had kept demanding bribes—finally dealt with, completely and cleanly.
And since he’d passed through Woo Jin’s hands, there was no doubt he would be reborn.
Just like Seon Woo Baek. Just like Gok Yang-woo.
****
Elsewhere, Yeon Woo Jin was listening to Jeokseong’s report.
“Really?”
“Yes. He went not only to Jang Un’s ho, but to the hos of every student he had mistreated. He personally asked each of them for forgiveness.”
Hearing that, Yeon Woo Jin broke into a bright smile.
“Then he wasn’t completely rotten.”
“Anyone would be reborn after passing through your hands, young master.”
“Isn’t there a saying that human nature is fundantally good?”
“ncius, yes. But Xunzi would disagree—he claid that human nature is inherently evil. Which one do you think is correct?”
“Well... judging by what I’ve seen, I’d say ncius was right. If people were evil by nature, they’d only beco worse when pushed. But when they pass through ... they wake up. That’s got to an sothing.”
“Does it?”
Yeon Woo Jin smiled.
In the distance, Im Su-pyeong appeared, walking toward them with heavy, exhausted steps.
“He looks worn out.”
“He visited more than a few hos. And from what I’ve heard, he returned every bribe he ever took.”
The morning sun had just begun to rise behind him, its rays casting a soft light over his shoulders—as though cleansing him of his sins.
He looked exhausted, but there was a peace to his expression, more serene than ever before.
Once he reached Yeon Woo Jin, he dropped to the ground and spoke in a hoarse, cracked voice.
“Th-this unworthy one, Im Su-pyeong... has carried out every order you gave, my lord...”
Yeon Woo Jin placed a hand gently on his head and said,
“You’ve done well.”
Fsshhhh—
From the tips of his toes to the crown of his head, Im Su-pyeong felt a rush—like a powerful energy was being pulled from his body.
And in its place, sothing new surged in—brimming with vitality.
In an instant, his strength returned. Eyes wide with disbelief, he looked down at himself, moving his limbs as if unsure they were even his own.
Yeon Woo Jin smiled and said,
“Don’t forget what happened today. Let it guide you for the rest of your life.”
At that, Im Su-pyeong collapsed back to the floor, tears streaming again.
“Im Su-pyeong... will forever obey the orders of the young master!”
****
The next day.
All across the academies, chaos broke out.
A sudden decree had been issued from the Heavenly Palace: a full investigation into every instructor in every martial academy.
Even the Military Division had gotten involved.
They vowed to rip out every root of corruption—without exception.
Baegyeong High School was no different; panic swept through the halls.
When Im Su-pyeong appeared on campus, the other teachers quickly gathered around.
“Did you hear? The Sect Leader has ordered a sweeping audit of every teacher in every academy!”
“We’re in trouble now...”
While the others fretted, Im Su-pyeong remained calm.
“If we’ve committed sins, we should accept the punishnt.”
“Have you lost your mind? You think you are getting out of this in one piece?”
“Probably not. I’ve sinned, too. What can I say? We’re reaping what we’ve sown.”
While the others stared at him in disbelief, he quietly walked to his seat and sat down as if nothing was wrong.
“What the hell? The guy who pocketed the most is acting like he’s at peace?”
“He must’ve given up. He knows there’s no escape.”
“We don’t have ti for this. Let’s move—now.”
Watching the panic around him, Im Su-pyeong just smiled.
Soon, only those teachers who truly care about their students will remain. That’s how it should be.
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