Chapter 48

• The Iron-Blooded Prefect

A scholar in a blue scholar's robe appeared, letting out a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the building.
Even though he had clearly learned martial arts, his uneven breathing clearly showed how hastily he had rushed over.

"What is all this commotion?"

Ho Cheon-gang's face turned pale upon seeing the scholar. The scholar's face was as red as it could be, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry. He was furiously and tempestuously enraged. His anger was a terrifying thing, officially recognized as synonymous with terror within the Geomhon-gwan. Ho Cheon-gang's vision went dark.

"P-prefect..."

A single syllable barely escaped from his trembling body, which was shaking like an aspen tree. This scholar in the blue scholar's robe, who was estimated to be in his forties, was none other than the dormitory prefect who directly managed and controlled the Geomhon-gwan, the real power of the Geomhon-gwan, the incarnation of rules and discipline, the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, Gang Ha-yun. A former sword instructor of the Qingcheng Sect, he looked like a weak scholar and a playboy who liked to have fun, but that was far from the truth. When you opened the lid and knew the truth, contrary to his appearance, his personality was as fiery as a flame, and once he got angry, his rage was so fierce that it could cover both heaven and earth, and he was famous for being mercilessly firm and radical in his punishments and retribution. How could his nickname be the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword otherwise?

If there is anyone curious enough to want to know the number of disciples who were not beaten by his wooden sword when he was a sword instructor at the Qingcheng Sect, there is no need to count them one by one. Because they do not exist. Every disciple of the Qingcheng Sect commonly held memories they wanted to forget, of being beaten to a pulp under his wooden sword at least once or twice.

Also, the number of disciples who had one of their four limbs broken was close to 30% of the total, and even the number of disciples who were hit by sword ki was a huge number, exceeding 10%. Even now, in the Qingcheng Sect, he reigned as an object of terror, to the point where if you shouted 'Iron-Blooded Heartless' below the third-generation disciples, they would jump up from their sleep and bang their heads on the floor. Such a person was in charge of the discipline and order of this Geomhon-gwan as the current prefect.

It also meant that the prestige of the Cheonmu Academy was so high that they could use such a person as a mere dormitory prefect, but what was important now was not that, but the terrible reality of being caught in an illegal act by the terrifying and merciless Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, and that was the main factor that had made Ho Cheon-gang's face pale. There was no way he would just let this incident slide.

The endless reprimands that would follow, the demerits that would come down like an avalanche, and the terrifying punishments and retribution that would be waiting behind, Ho Cheon-gang was at the point of resenting Bi Ryu-yeon's fist for why he was still maintaining a thread of consciousness and not enjoying the benefit of fainting.

Gang Ha-yun, who had approached the three standing and the one sprawled out, swept his gaze over everyone with a terrifying look full of killing intent, as if with a broom. Ho Cheon-gang couldn't even faint, which he had wished for even in his dreams. As soon as he met the explosive gaze of the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, his body, contrary to his own will—he was currently desperately wishing to faint—shot up from its spot. His two legs were trembling as if the aftershock had not yet subsided, but Ho Cheon-gang's body managed to stand without falling.

"Follow me!"

As his mouth opened again, Ho Cheon-gang followed behind him like a pig being led to a slaughterhouse, and Bi Ryu-yeon, Jang Hong, and Hyo-ryong followed behind again. Ho Cheon-gang's shoulders, who was walking in front, were slumped and he looked so dejected that it was pitiful.

"He looks so pitiful and pathetic!"

As Hyo-ryong whispered his feelings to Jang Hong next to him, Jang Hong also nodded his head in agreement. He too was lightly clicking his tongue and looking at Ho Cheon-gang with a pitiful gaze.

In the middle room of the third floor, which they had followed the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, Gang Ha-yun, up to, the following was written in neat handwriting:

'Prefect's Office'
'Outsiders Prohibited'
'Formal Report'

Bang!

The fist of the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, Gang Ha-yun, the prefect of the Geomhon-gwan and former sword instructor of the Qingcheng Sect, slammed down on the desk. Fortunately, he had not lost his true qi and had controlled his strength, so the unfortunate incident of the desk breaking in two or shattering to pieces did not occur. He was not an indiscriminate person who would damage the academy's property and assets because he could not control his anger.

But that by no means meant that his anger was small right now. His anger right now was enormous enough to demolish mountains and fill rivers. It was just that he was preventing an indiscriminate and random violent incident with superhuman patience and self-control. Such anger of his had been pouring out for over an hour.

"Second-year Yellow Character Group, Vice-Group Leader Ho Cheon-gang!"

"Yes, Prefect!"

Ho Cheon-gang, who had been taking all of Gang Ha-yun's fiery anger for over an hour, answered with great tension. Perhaps because of the tension, his voice was very loud, full of spirit like a freshman.

"How much do you think the traps and mechanisms you broke today, and their operating costs, all add up to? Do you have any idea how much the damage is? It's a huge amount, exceeding 1,500 silver taels. To waste the academy's budget, which is based on the sincere donations of all the Murim sects, on such a trivial tradition, are you in your right mind? To inflict such a terrible and enormous financial loss on the academy, just based on your personal feelings and a trivial prank, are you really in your right mind?"

Gang Ha-yun was literally fuming with anger. He was so angry that hoping for forgiveness seemed to be on the other side of a dream. Despair flickered in Ho Cheon-gang's eyes as he looked at him, who was like an incarnation of anger.

How much budget would be wasted to operate a highly precise mechanism and trap once? Another name for the Geomhon-gwan's anti-intruder defense mechanism was 'the budget-eating monster jar'. The dozens of flying arrows and hundreds of hidden weapons of various kinds consumed during the operation of the mechanism. They were things that should literally be called 'flying money'. Even if the arrows were somehow collected and recycled, the rate did not exceed 60%. They were prone to breaking or having their blades damaged during operation. The recycling rate of fine hidden weapons was about 30%, and their recovery rate was even lower.

Moreover, the damage to the sword forest formation, which was broken by the aftershock of the collision between Ho Cheon-gang's sword ki and the Command Thunder Hand, was no joke. In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that the biggest financial loss came from the damage to this sword forest. Think about it. How much do you think a single sword blade usually costs? And if it's a sharp and keen blade that doesn't rust easily and doesn't get chipped, the cost of making and purchasing them would be really considerable. At the very least, they were items that would be worth thirty or forty silver taels each. But hundreds of such high-quality blades had been blown away in an instant. Even restoration was impossible.

It was a terrible disaster, no different from hundreds of swords turning into scrap metal at once. Since they had all turned into scrap metal without a single one left, the damage was truly dizzying. That's why Ho Cheon-gang was now receiving a harsh reprimand from the prefect. 1,500 silver taels was a huge loss, accounting for more than 30% of the Geomhon-gwan's annual operating budget. It was not yet properly calculated, so if the detailed parts were added, it might be even more. Even if you just took 3 silver taels per sword, it looked like there were at least five hundred swords, so it was 1,500 silver taels in total. If you added the traps and other flying arrows, hidden weapons, etc., it was as clear as day that the amount of damage would increase even more. So there was no way that Gang Ha-yun, who was already famous for his fiery and rough personality, would just stand by.

Gang Ha-yun pressed Ho Cheon-gang without a break. Ho Cheon-gang kept his head down and remained silent. That appearance was fanning Gang Ha-yun's anger even more.

"You did this just to hold a hazing ceremony for the newcomers? You activated the anti-personnel, anti-intruder mechanism up to the third stage for a mere hazing ceremony? Are you telling me to believe that now? Who do you take for a fool? The third stage of the anti-enemy defense is the stage of killing. You should know well that it's not a stage that ends with a mere prank! A second-year Yellow Character Group vice-group leader at the Cheonmu Academy wouldn't say he doesn't know that, would he?"

Ho Cheon-gang really had nothing to say, even if he had ten mouths. With what face could he answer?

"Did you do this knowing how great a punishment murder within the academy is?"

"M-murder, that's absurd!"

As the matter suddenly seemed to be getting bigger, Ho Cheon-gang couldn't help but be flustered. In any era, in any place, murder was a great crime. Except for the battlefield where human lives were treated as nothing more than supplies, it was the same everywhere. Moreover, if it was the murder of a fellow disciple, there was no room for excuse.

"Shut up! The third stage of the anti-personnel defense mechanism is no different from attempted murder. Who did you find out the operating method from? Not many people know the operating method of the dormitory mechanism, so how did you find out?"

A look of predicament clearly appeared on Ho Cheon-gang's face. Prefect Gang Ha-yun's question was that sharp.

"This was planned by me alone, I did it alone without anyone's help."

"Are you still taking me for a fool?"

"How could that be? I have never harbored such a foolish thought."

If there was anyone who treated the iron-blooded prefect, the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, Gang Ha-yun, as a fool, that person would be a truly foolish fool of the world.

"Then why are you trying to treat me like a fool! From what stage does the lethal range of the anti-personnel, anti-intruder repulsion defense mechanism begin?"

Gang Ha-yun asked Ho Cheon-gang. Ho Cheon-gang, of course, knew the answer well. It was basic common sense that every student of the Geomhon-gwan dormitory, regardless of their level, was familiar with.

"From the third stage."

"Then you must know well that the operation of the mechanism above the second stage requires permission from above."

"Yes!"

"Then, you must also know that only a specific few people know the operating method."

"Yes!"

Ho Cheon-gang's complexion, as he answered, became paler and paler. Cold sweat was forming on his forehead.

"Then who on earth told you the operating method of the mechanism above the third stage? Don't foolishly say you found out on your own. It's a lie that's obvious even without hearing it to the end..."

"..."

There was no way that Ho Cheon-gang, whose score in formation mechanisms was terribly low compared to other fields, could have found out the operating method of the Cheonmu Academy's mechanism on his own. There was no way that the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, Gang Ha-yun, didn't know that. It was Gang Ha-yun who knew the personal details of all the disciples in this Geomhon-gwan like the back of his hand.

But unfortunately, no matter how much he was reprimanded and interrogated, Ho Cheon-gang could never say that. He could never tell that, no matter what. Because this incident had to end as something he had planned and executed on his own. His relationship with them had to be kept a secret. Ho Cheon-gang endured the unbearable sharp killing intent and anger of the iron-blooded prefect, Gang Ha-yun, and remained silent. It was a truly unbearable ordeal and a murderous torture. Ho Cheon-gang's complexion became paler and paler. But his mouth, as if glued shut, did not let out a single word.

"You can't say, is that it? Or is there a reason you can't say? If you try to evade the truth like that, you should be prepared to spend at least three months in the Accounting Cave!"

Gang Ha-yun said firmly. Gang Ha-yun's words were no different from a final ultimatum for Ho Cheon-gang. For him, it was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.

"A-Accounting Cave! P-prefect..."

As the words 'Accounting Cave' were uttered, Ho Cheon-gang was startled like a surprised cat. His voice was trembling severely with fear. A talent who was receiving the expectations of a sect was now trembling. The Accounting Cave, a place still shrouded in a veil of fear and darkness, was a place of terror itself, where the number of people who had entered and come out normally could be counted on one's fingers. Even in the Cheonmu Academy, where people were selected from among the many martial artists, the Accounting Cave was a place synonymous with terror.

But three months in such a terrible place. Three months, if you think about it casually, it doesn't feel like a very long time, but for those who experience it directly, it is said to be an incredibly long time of hardship, trial, and adversity. The experiencers kept their mouths shut and remained silent, only giving rise to the various speculations of the public. There is a saying that even mountains and rivers change in ten years, but three months in the Accounting Cave is a time when the mountains and rivers are fine, but the person changes. That's how terrifying and cruel a punishment the Accounting Cave sentence was, which was well-known in the Cheonmu Academy. Ho Cheon-gang's complexion turned as black as a corpse. His complexion was so miserable that if you laid him down and performed the funeral rites, you would believe he was just a corpse.

Gang Ha-yun quietly looked at Ho Cheon-gang, who was trembling with a face like a corpse's friend. From his series of actions, Gang Ha-yun also got a sense of things.

"You still can't say? I'm not saying I can't guess. There aren't many who can do such a thing. And among them, there are only two punks who would help in plotting such a noisy affair, just those punks. Isn't that right?"

At Gang Ha-yun's sharp intuition, Ho Cheon-gang thought his heart would drop. But he put on a straight face with all his might.

"I-I don't understand what you're saying at all. How can there be an accomplice in something I planned and executed on my own? Unless it's a ghost..."

"It is a ghost!"

Gang Ha-yun said cynically.

"Yes?"

"It is a ghost, that's right. And not just a ghost, but a demon, a horned demon. The biggest troublemaker and the most disciplined person in the Cheonmu Academy, and besides that, the holder of countless records of the worst and the most, the worst pair in the history of the Cheonmu Academy, the headache of the Cheonmu Academy, a mistake of God, what do you think? Am I wrong?"

It seemed Gang Ha-yun had hit the nail on the head. But even though everything might have been revealed, Ho Cheon-gang stubbornly maintained his silence and remained silent.

"..."

"You still won't talk even after it's come to this? Or are you trying to bring up a trivial sense of loyalty at this point? No, you probably can't. Even I get a headache just thinking about those punks, so you probably don't want to be tormented by them. Are you afraid of the aftermath?"

"..."

A noticeable disturbance was revealed on Ho Cheon-gang's face. The sign of his heart wavering was clear.

"Anyway, it was you who caused the incident, so you won't be able to evade this responsibility. In the worst case, your sect may also be notified. For now, your punishment will be decided after consulting with the law enforcement office, and for now, it will be put on hold."

Despair appeared on Ho Cheon-gang's face. With Gang Ha-yun's judgment just now, he had rolled into a pit of despair without any safety device. Gang Ha-yun ignored Ho Cheon-gang, who was trembling with fear and anxiety, and glared at Bi Ryu-yeon's party. It was a gaze as sharp as a well-sharpened blade.

"And, you three!"

"Yes!"

The three answered at the same time. Perhaps overwhelmed by Gang Ha-yun's forcefulness, the three of them were also slightly nervous.

"Extenuating circumstances are acknowledged, so I will forgive you this once, but be mindful not to let me see any wrongdoing again! Next time, there will be no forgiveness or mercy!"

"Yes, thank you."

Gang Ha-yun's gaze turned to Jang Hong, who was standing behind the three. The way he was looking at him intently was unusual, but Jang Hong pretended not to know even though he knew. He also did not question Jang Hong's rude attitude at all.

In fact, Gang Ha-yun's decision was unexpected. Seeing him endlessly interrogate and reprimand Ho Cheon-gang, they had expected that there would be a considerable level of punishment for them as well.

"Then, you may leave now!"

Gang Ha-yun, true to his name as the iron-blooded prefect, did not forget to leave a final word for Bi Ryu-yeon's party. It was a warning and a threat that the eyes of surveillance would always be around the three of them from now on. But fortunately, the Iron-Blooded Heartless Sword, Gang Ha-yun, although ruthless, was not a fool who could not properly grasp the situation. He was a reasonable person. Bi Ryu-yeon, one of the main culprits who had virtually destroyed all the mechanisms of the Geomhon-gwan, was found not guilty, overturning everyone's expectations. Gang Ha-yun, who seemed to be blind with anger, had unexpectedly judged the situation coolly. Bi Ryu-yeon's self-defense against Ho Cheon-gang's surprise attack was recognized as legitimate self-defense, so he was able to avoid being punished together with Ho Cheon-gang.

Ho Cheon-gang's disappointment and sense of injustice at this were almost at a desperate level. He had been taking at least a minimum of comfort in the fact that Bi Ryu-yeon would also be punished with joint responsibility, but even that minimum of comfort had turned its back on him. In the room where he was left all alone after the three had all left, he muttered repeatedly like a person who had lost his mind.

"It's not over yet! Not yet..."

Thus, he just mumbled like a person who had lost his mind.