Chapter 82: Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Perfect Control

There's no time to ask why Madam Hyeong is here.

“It's already time to start class. The elementary class children are waiting inside the training hall.”

“I see. Class comes first.”

The Association Leader nodded.

Let’s hear about the circumstances after class.

I came inside and looked for Jang Gangcheon first.

“Instructor Jang! Instructor Jang!”

“Step back over there, please.”

It was a legitimate class instruction, yet Jang Gangcheon’s face soured.

“Instructor Jang, what’s the matter?”

“Look, ever since I came in here, I’ve felt like a fifth wheel. Who were those people waiting for you in front of the training hall? They didn’t even glance at me.”

When I went out to find Handangyudo yesterday, I had entrusted Jang Gangcheon with supervising the free practice.

Other than that, he had done nothing.

“You’re right. If I had known you’d be this useless, I wouldn’t have recommended you.”

“From now on, I’ll have to be more selective with my companions. Now, get back over there.”

He gritted his teeth and was about to retreat.

Hmm, I brought him along to bestow a favor upon the Beggar’s Gang.

Is this not much of a favor?

Should I bestow a little more?

“The people outside the training hall will probably slip in once the training starts.”

“One of them is the Association Leader.”

The Association Leader was the very person who maintained an iron-clad defense against the Beggar’s Gang’s entry into the complex. From the Beggar’s Gang’s perspective, they would likely want to observe her up close.

“There were four people. Who are they?”

“Find out for yourself.”

He tried to protest something, but I didn’t listen and turned my back cleanly.

The grudge from the jerky in my past life runs this deep. It’s brewing like bone broth.

Of course, I’m not genuinely tormenting him.

He’ll know who the Association Leader is with just a little observation. She’s that flashy and stands out.

Now, leaving Jang Gangcheon to that.

“Teacher, did you have a peaceful night?”

I turned to the children who were greeting me.

“Did you all sleep well and come here in a good mood? The teacher slept well.”

Waggle, waggle, the children soon gathered around me.

Their faces were uncreased, their eyes bright and sparkling.

I had imagined children exhausted from a harsh education.

But it’s not like that. It's strange. Could it be that they can get used to it?

“Now, shall we warm up first? Let’s feel the energy of heaven and earth and draw the Taeguk with our bodies.”

The children expertly stood in their places and began to move their hands slowly.

Mr. and Mrs. Han, the Association Leader, and Madam Hyeong finally came in and quietly went to the back of the children.

Slowly, the children’s hands and feet draw the Taeguk, feeling the circulation of qi.

Handangyudo was the same.

He was following the movements along with the other children.

Before, the turbid energy must have interfered every time he performed these movements. He must have felt uncomfortable every time he tried to handle energy.

But now, he is doing it without any problem.

“Yes, you’re doing well.”

Slightly, Madam Han dabbed at the corners of her eyes. For more chapters visıt novel·fiɾe·net

The Association Leader and Madam Hyeong also couldn’t take their eyes off Handangyudo.

“Good, everyone did well. Please stand facing forward.”

It wasn’t just Handangyudo who deserved praise.

The other children did well too, so I praised everyone.

“Handangyudo, you did well.”

“Dangyu is doing well too.”

The little ones praise each other.

Listening to those words feels strange.

I came here to find my sister-in-law, and I’m a person who will leave once the search is successful.

And yet, watching these children who know how to praise each other, I want to be of help, even if it’s for a short time.

I don’t know if the education here is right or wrong.

I’m not sure if they are just getting used to it either.

I know that the children had been looking out for Handangyudo all along.

If this heart of theirs doesn’t disappear, isn’t that enough?

They will grow up to be good adults.

“Have you ever heard that martial arts are originally done by many people?”

It’s something I made up.

Since I made it up, they wouldn’t have heard of it.

The children chattered.

“You mean formations?”

“Right? You do fist arts or sword arts alone.”

Martial arts are originally one’s own.

One learns martial arts to realize oneself.

But is that really so?

How many people are contained within oneself?

Even if people learn the same martial art, it becomes a different martial art if the person is different.

Because a person’s life is contained in their martial arts.

And in one person’s life, countless people are contained.

For example, Taebok is contained in my swordsmanship.

The time I spent quietly swinging my sword so as not to wake the sleeping baby is contained within it.

My swordsmanship now was made together by me and Taebok.

My master, Jayeong, and every person I have met must be contained in my sword, little by little.

It’s a bit much to talk about such things to young children.

Let’s talk about something else.

“Everyone, if there’s a scary tiger or a bad person, you’d join forces, right?”

The children answered, vying with each other.

“It’s hard to do it alone!”

“We help each other!”

A simple answer, typical of children, yet one that contains the core truth.

Before the term ‘martial arts’ was even attached, before martial arts as a means of self-realization appeared, at its very origin.

“That’s right. Martial arts were originally for helping each other against enemies that were difficult to face alone.”

Because people have been forming groups from the beginning.

When someone had to protect themselves, would the person next to them have just stood there blankly?

They would have naturally stood in front of each other, protected each other’s backs, and so on.

Those who have not forgotten that walk the White Path.

“From now on, let’s always think about this before we start our training. Martial arts are about helping each other when it’s hard to do it alone.”

The heart of caring for one another.

Will thinking about this during training time make that heart last longer?

The answer is not for me to give.

“We help each other when it’s hard!”

“We already help each other, though?”

These children will give the answer.

“In that sense, let’s move on to the horse stance.”

The training ended quickly.

Since the children had much to learn, the training time was not long.

The training hall, where the children had left after finishing all their training.

That’s a shrill scream I heard yesterday.

“Elder Han, Madam Yang, Association Leader, Madam Hyeong, why did you visit without any notice—”

It was the Vice Director.

His face was deathly pale.

I had deliberately avoided him when I stopped by the academic affairs office this morning.

It was obvious he was looking for me, but since he wasn't a martial artist, how could he catch me?

But now, the people from the prestigious families had appeared in the training hall without any notice.

He, who had come flying after hearing the news late, shouted forcefully.

“This is all Instructor Jin’s responsibility!”

A perfectly clear response.

“Yesterday, I was unable to observe the class, and so…. such a thing happened. It is all because of Instructor Jin’s inexperience.”

With his body bent forward, he pointed a finger backward at me.

“Yes, Instructor Jin will take responsibility for all of this. To even trouble you with a home visit, there is nothing to say. I don’t know what on earth he said, but it is different from the overall policy of the academy. Yes, that’s right.”

The Vice Director is bowing.

So he couldn’t see the expressions of Mr. and Mrs. Han who were looking at him now.

“Vice Director. Please look ahead.”

“Instructor Jin, you keep your mouth shut.”

“No, you’ll have to see.”

The Vice Director raised his head in surprise.

It wasn't the Association Leader or Madam Han, but Hansagwang who had stepped in front of him.

A face as cold as could be.

It was completely different from what he had shown me yesterday. He looked like a different person.

“Master Jin is the benefactor of our Han family.”

“I said he is our benefactor. The benefactor who treated our Dangyu.”

“Benefactor… you say?”

After encountering Hansagwang’s gaze and words, the Vice Director finally realized what a huge mistake he had made.

Hansagwang emphasized it once more.

“Vice Director, I have no intention of interfering with the duties of the director, but if you treat Master Jin carelessly, I will not stand by.”

To make matters worse, the Association Leader threw in a word from behind.

“I didn’t know the Vice Director was so slow to grasp the situation. I thought his quick handling of matters was his strong point.”

I heard the sound of him swallowing a gulp of air.

“That's enough, come out now! We need to have a conversation with Master Jin.”

The Vice Director seemed bewildered, but.

What else could he do?

He bowed his head deeply and disappeared.

Now, even if I go to the academic affairs office, he won't be looking for me for a while.

Now, that’s good, but.

“But why…. haven’t you all gone back, and are all here .”

In the end, I, Jang Gangcheon, Mr. and Mrs. Han, the Association Leader, and Madam Hyeong were all sitting around in the inner hall.

“Instructor Jin’s home visits have been approved by the Virtuous Mothers' Association.”

I had just asked yesterday, and it was approved today.

I glanced over and saw Madam Yang smiling.

“Is there any need to hesitate for our benefactor’s request? It’s a good thing for our children as well.”

She had said she would grant my request.

She had certainly used her influence.

“Yes. I am grateful. Then may I decide the order? I would like to do so if possible.”

I want to get the effect of a surprise attack by making the order unpredictable.

“Yes. Please do as you wish, Instructor Jin.”

The Association Leader nodded readily.

Yes, she can approve the home visits.

If there’s a valid reason, she can.

But to leave even the order of the home visits to me.

It’s not like the Association Leader who wants perfect control.

As if she had read my eyes, the Association Leader smiled.

“That’s right. We want perfect control.”

Isn't it more like ‘I’?

“And so far, everything is within the scope of control.”

The Association Leader declared.

“It seems it’s within the scope that you have in mind, Association Leader.”

“Yes. The reason we held a selection tournament to choose an outsider as an instructor was for this kind of unexpected influence.”

“Are you saying you expected something unexpected to happen?”

“You understand quickly.”

“This is what perfect control is. I said that perfect control is not perfect protection, right? Children shouldn’t just be protected. Sometimes they need obstacles, and sometimes they need unexpected experiences .”

“That’s what you said.”

“On the other hand, that obstacle shouldn’t be enough to crush the child, and the unexpected experience shouldn’t be enough to shake the child’s world. The obstacle should be something they can overcome with effort, and the unexpectedness should be something that adds freshness to their existing life. It has to be just that much.”

It was a broader and deeper control than what is normally meant.

Not a control to prevent anything from approaching from the outside, but a control that considers the influence that something will have when it does approach.

“So, this series of events can be said to be what I expected. I hope the children gain a lot through Instructor Jin’s home visits.”

The gathering was quiet.

I don’t know much about education.

However, the Association Leader was not just talking about education now.

She is talking to me.

She is warning me that within the complex, I cannot escape her control.

I thought so for a moment, but.

The faces of the elementary class children come to mind.

I don’t know about education.

But I have a bad feeling.

I need to shake this up a bit.

“Will it really work out that well?”

“Is there any reason why it wouldn’t?”

“Isn’t your son’s name Kang Yoohun?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right.”

“May I visit and meet him today?”

Madam Hyeong’s expression became strange.

The Association Leader faintly, once again, had a relaxed smile on her face.

“Madam Hyeong’s son is currently away.”

Not to be outdone, I too faintly, had an even more relaxed smile on my face.

The smile on the Association Leader’s face, who was looking at me, stiffened slightly.

She looked at Madam Hyeong with such an expression.

“Well… actually… he’s at home.”

The Association Leader’s smile shattered.

No, then why would Madam Hyeong have come here?

“It’s difficult, you see. Perfect control.”