Chapter 2
Yongdam Room.
The place where the executives of Yongcheon Hall primarily gathered for meetings.
The Dean sat at the head seat, with the first-year instructors seated facing each other across the table.
And on one side, the Busin Pavilion Master sat as a witness.
Instructor Cheon Se-myeong, known as the Lightning Blade, clicked his tongue and spoke.
“If he’s that shocked by something like this, he should give up his instructor position.”
Several instructors chuckled softly at those words.
Busin Pavilion Master Jin Baek spoke with a bitter expression.
“Of course, I acknowledge that Instructor Sa’s temperament is somewhat weak. But when students disrespect their teacher like this, how can proper teaching be established?”
“Pavilion Master, please speak correctly. Instructor Sa’s temperament isn’t somewhat weak—it’s blatantly pathetic. You know well that respect cannot be achieved through force, don’t you?”
At Cheon Se-myeong’s retort, Yeo Un-jin nodded in agreement.
He was an instructor who taught fist techniques.
“You speak truly. In fact, Instructor Sa lacks the qualifications. Of course, he’s currently an assistant instructor, not a full instructor.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. The assistant instructor position doesn’t suit him. I think it would be good to select a new assistant instructor at this opportunity.”
“That’s also a good method. Do you happen to have someone suitable in mind?”
At Yeo Un-jin’s question, Cheon Se-myeong paused for a moment before answering.
“I recommend Maeng Son-deok of the Invincible Divine Spear.”
People glanced at each other.
Despite the flashy title, it was an unfamiliar name.
Reading the awkward atmosphere, Cheon Se-myeong quickly added.
“Master Maeng is staying in a village not far from our hall. He dislikes revealing his skills to the martial world. Therefore, I believe he would be perfect for taking the position of assistant instructor at Yongcheon Hall.”
Only then did Yeo Un-jin nod in agreement.
“Then we must definitely bring him here.”
Listening to their conversation, Jin Baek inwardly sighed.
Surely this Maeng Son-deok fellow and Cheon Se-myeong had made some kind of backdoor deal over the instructor position.
It was devastating that Yongcheon Hall, once so prestigious, had become this corrupt.
Of course, not all instructors and officials had fallen to such corruption.
Even now, there were several instructors who viewed their conversation unfavorably.
But such people didn’t actively step forward.
After saying a few words, if they didn’t get through, they would soon close their mouths.
They didn’t want to cause problems by antagonizing Cheon Se-myeong or Yeo Un-jin.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Jin Baek stood up, placing his hands on the table.
“Was this meeting intended to dismiss Instructor Sa? I came thinking this was a meeting to decide what disciplinary action to take against the students who committed inexcusable acts.”
The sharp criticism quieted the people’s murmuring.
Jin Baek turned his head to look at Dean Ju Yu-cheon, who sat at the head seat.
Ju Yu-cheon stroked his long beard once and spoke calmly.
“For those students, I will impose three days of house arrest.”
Then the gathered instructors nodded in agreement one after another.
“It seems a bit excessive, but I think it’s the right decision.”
“That should be enough time for those children to reflect.”
“I also agree.”
Jin Baek trembled slightly while standing.
Rotten, too rotten.
The unruly students had nearly put an instructor in danger, and only three days of house arrest?
As Jin Baek was about to say something, Cheon Se-myeong spoke first.
“What about selecting a new assistant instructor for spear techniques? Dean?”
The Dean closed his eyes quietly.
People stared intently at his mouth in silence.
“That too is a matter that has been discussed for a long time. And the fact that an instructor of our hall was assaulted by mere ruffians is certainly fatal to our hall’s honor. Therefore, I will take this opportunity to select a new assistant instructor to teach spear techniques. First, I will give a period of two weeks, and during that time, Instructor Sa’s classes will be suspended.”
Jin Baek asked with a deflated expression.
“Then, do you plan to take no action at all against those ruffian bastards who humiliated an instructor of our hall?”
“Pavilion Master, there’s nothing good that can come from making this matter bigger. How can we interfere with every street fight?”
At Cheon Se-myeong’s words, Jin Baek shut his mouth tightly.
Cheon Se-myeong wore a faint smile as he looked at Ju Yu-cheon.
“Dean, how do you plan to select the new spear instructor?”
“First, I will receive recommendations, then conduct interviews.”
Then Jin Baek quickly stepped forward.
“Even so, shouldn’t Instructor Sa at least have a chance to defend himself?”
“Hmm.”
Ju Yu-cheon let out a contemplative sound.
At least he valued regulations and hadn’t fallen as far as the other instructors, so he judged that Jin Baek’s argument had merit.
Just then, Cheon Se-myeong stepped forward.
“Then how about this? The person who passes the interview and Instructor Sa will have a martial duel to determine superiority. That way, no one can object.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
This time too, Yeo Un-jin slapped his knee in agreement.
Jin Baek didn’t like their behavior at all, but there was no other way.
It wasn’t easy to purify water that had already become rotten.
‘Well, I might not have the right to blame others.’
In fact, Sa Bigang’s ability to become an instructor was partly due to his own influence.
But even if his martial arts were somewhat lacking, he could assert that Sa Bigang’s character was more upright than anyone else’s.
‘Perhaps that’s the biggest problem.’
Eventually, it was decided that Sa Bigang’s instructor position would be determined through a martial duel in two weeks.
***
In the backyard of Hoyeon Pavilion, which stored everything from students’ practice weapons to various armaments, a group of people had gathered.
Among them, a young man with a square jaw and good physique grinned and asked.
“Are you saying that really happened?”
He was Gok Bo-ok, the eldest son and young master of the rising Yongho Escort Agency.
The Yongho Escort Agency, whose recent growth had been frighteningly remarkable, was called the biggest player in Honam region.
As such, Gok Bo-ok was a young man who had grown up wanting for nothing since childhood.
At his question, the pretty-faced Yeon U-gyeong nodded.
“I’m telling you it really happened.”
“Are you saying he was really grinning like an idiot?”
“Yeah. After they held a meeting in Yongdam Room and said they’d discipline you guys, he laughed like a madman.”
At Yeon U-gyeong’s words, Gok Bo-ok snickered.
“That fool really thought we’d receive some serious punishment.”
“He must have. But we just got three days of house arrest.”
“Strictly speaking, it’s not ‘we.’ You didn’t get any punishment at all.”
At Gok Bo-ok’s words, Yeon U-gyeong’s eyes instantly turned cold.
That expression was completely different from when he dealt with Sa Bigang.
“Are you dissatisfied with that?”
As Yeon U-gyeong’s atmosphere turned cold, Gok Bo-ok quickly added.
“Ah, I don’t mean anything by it. What’s the big deal about three days of house arrest?”
Only then did Yeon U-gyeong laugh it off.
Yeon U-gyeong, second son of the Hegemon Sword Yeon Family.
The Hegemon Sword Yeon Family, which had shown great activity in the past Righteous-Demonic War, currently had power comparable to the Five Great Families.
Yeon U-gyeong crossed his arms and spoke.
“He probably knows about the punishment given to us by now. I’m curious what expression he’ll make. He might still be grinning like a madman. Huhu.”
“Hehe. If he’s still doing that when his own neck is about to be cut, he’s really a madman.”
The students giggled among themselves.
That’s when it happened.
One student’s expression visibly hardened.
“Uh… over there…”
“What? What’s wrong?”
Gok Bo-ok frowned and followed the student’s gaze.
The next moment, his expression slightly hardened.
Only then did Yeon U-gyeong turn around as well.
‘The instructor?’
About five or six steps behind Yeon U-gyeong, Sa Bigang stood tall.
‘How long has he been there? Did he hear our conversation?’
But considering they hadn’t sensed his presence, it seemed he had just appeared.
Sure enough, Sa Bigang first tilted his head curiously and asked.
“What are you all doing here?”
At that moment, Yeon U-gyeong made a tearful expression and ran to Sa Bigang’s side.
“In-Instructor!”
Sa Bigang glanced at Yeon U-gyeong and then looked at Gok Bo-ok.
Meanwhile, Yeon U-gyeong also sent signals to Gok Bo-ok with his eyes.
The right corner of Gok Bo-ok’s mouth slightly rose.
It was an expression that habitually appeared when he was about to play a nasty prank.
“Well, we were just having a chat among friends. Why? Is there a problem?”
A provocative tone.
The students all tilted their heads arrogantly and made fierce expressions as they stood like a folding screen behind Gok Bo-ok.
Sa Bigang quietly looked into Gok Bo-ok’s eyes.
‘Hmph, what does he think he’ll accomplish by glaring at me?’
Gok Bo-ok inwardly sneered as he boldly met those eyes.
But…
‘What, what? Why are this guy’s eyes…?’
Goosebumps rose along his spine.
An emotionless expression, eyes that had turned cold.
Like the eyes of a predator facing its prey?
‘This instructor bastard… did he always have eyes like this?’
Gok Bo-ok unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.
Then Yeon U-gyeong quickly grabbed Sa Bigang’s sleeve.
“In-Instructor! Please help me! Actually, they’re threatening me because I went to find you…”
Yeon U-gyeong stopped speaking mid-sentence, bit his lip, and trembled.
An expression where anger and sorrow rose simultaneously.
It was truly masterful acting.
Gok Bo-ok raised the corner of his mouth and spoke dismissively.
“You’re not going to believe that guy’s words, are you? We really didn’t do anything. Look, there’s no evidence either.”
He spread both hands wide.
‘You’d better think carefully, instructor.’
Gok Bo-ok inwardly laughed.
A perfect trap.
If he stepped forward to lecture them, they absolutely wouldn’t back down.
The opponent was an instructor who taught spear techniques.
He was said to be the weakest among the instructors, but still, he was too much for one late-stage student to handle.
But right now, the students vastly outnumbered him.
If there were problems later, Yeon U-gyeong could just change his story.
Say that the instructor, facing dismissal, harbored resentment and threatened the students.
There were no witnesses anyway.
But…
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“What?”
Gok Bo-ok frowned.
“You seem to be mistaken, but I’m not an instructor right now. I’ve been unable to perform instructor duties for two weeks. Thanks to you guys. Huhu. So whatever shit you pull has nothing to do with me.”
At the unexpected words, Yeon U-gyeong looked at Sa Bigang with a flustered expression.
“Instructor! But they’re bullying me…!”
“Get out of the way. I’m in a hurry.”
Sa Bigang’s expression didn’t change.
When he showed an unexpected reaction, Yeon U-gyeong and all the students were bewildered.
‘What? This guy?’
Weak but foolishly righteous and meddlesome.
That was the original Sa Bigang.
Therefore, he was the best prey for delinquent students.
But now…
‘Tch, I guess he got completely scared. I thought we’d see something interesting.’
Yeon U-gyeong had no choice but to let go of his hand.
In fact, having experienced the future once, Sa Bigang already knew a lot about Yeon U-gyeong and the other students.
‘Wait just a little. I’ll properly educate you bastards one by one.’
He walked past the students with steady steps.
Just before he turned the corner.
“…Only now.”
“What did you say?”
When Gok Bo-ok tilted his head, Sa Bigang’s ominous voice flowed out.
“I’m forgiving you only now. But when I become an instructor again, I won’t forgive such arrogant speech and behavior. Well, if you have a strong spirit of inquiry, it wouldn’t be bad to experience it firsthand.”
Having finished speaking, Sa Bigang showed them a grin.
That smile was so eerie that Gok Bo-ok involuntarily flinched.
‘What, what? That crazy bastard.’
Even after Sa Bigang left, the students remained dazed for a long time.
Finally, when his senses returned, Gok Bo-ok spat.
“That bastard. Did he really go crazy from the shock? When he becomes an instructor again? Does he think he can win the martial duel with those skills?”
“Huhuhuh. Maybe he doesn’t know who his opponent in the duel will be yet.”
Yeon U-gyeong wore a faint smile.
‘Either way, it’ll be interesting.’
***
“Heok, heok, heok.”
Sa Bigang supported himself on his knees, gasping for breath.
Only after a long while did he straighten his back and look at the scenery spread before him.
Sheer cliffs stood on both sides, and thick fog made it difficult to see even an inch ahead.
A deep gorge that even ghosts wouldn’t dare enter.
‘Exactly ten days?’
For the past ten days, he had run here almost without sleeping.
‘Too slow.’
Compared to his days of activity in the Demon Realm, this was truly snail-level speed.
Moreover, to be this out of breath from just this much.
‘Tch, what a useless body.’
How had he planned to live in the world with a body even worse than this before?
Now five days remained.
It took ten days to get here, so at this rate, he wouldn’t be able to return to the academy by the day of the martial duel.
But Sa Bigang wasn’t anxious.
Rather, he stepped forward with expectant steps.
How far had he walked into the gorge?
He suddenly stopped and looked to the side.
Beyond the thick bushes, a cliff face was visible.
‘It was the right side, I think?’
He walked through the bushes without hesitation, reached the cliff face, closed his eyes, and slowly extended his hand.
As if concentrating all his nerves on his fingertips.
Eventually,
Squish.
An unknown alien sensation was transmitted through his fingertips.
It definitely wasn’t the feeling of touching a cliff.
Sa Bigang opened his eyes.
His pupils gleamed.
‘Huhu. This is definitely the right place. Wait. I’ll come to take it.’
Sa Bigang took a big step forward.
His body was absorbed into the cliff as if being buried.
