Chapter 4
Maeng Son-deok’s expression crumpled with rage.
Had he just called him trash?
That little brat?
The very same guy who had been beaten senseless by him just a few days ago and collapsed?
‘The rumors about him injuring his head that day must be true.’
He’d have to be insane otherwise.
Maeng Son-deok wanted to immediately pour out a stream of curses, but he held back with great effort.
Wasn’t this a place where the Jeongdo Alliance’s Yongcheon Hall was selecting an instructor?
He tried his best to appear dignified as he casually spoke up.
“Listen here. Your words seem a bit harsh right now…”
“Tsk, chatter chatter, how noisy.”
Sa Bigang muttered nonchalantly while picking his ear.
Maeng Son-deok’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
His expression slowly contorted.
Maeng Son-deok’s hand gripping the spear trembled.
‘This weakling bastard, not even worth the dirt on my feet, dares to ignore me?’
There was no point in arguing further.
This kind of guy was beyond words.
He should have given him a proper lesson last time.
He should have made him crawl on the ground and beg until his hands became his feet.
‘I shouldn’t have knocked him unconscious so quickly! I should have made him wet himself just from hearing my voice!’
Anyway, these days, those who know a bit of martial arts and act up don’t know how terrifying the martial world can be because they’re spoiled by peace.
What happened when he showed mercy in his attacks, thinking he was just an instructor?
He had originally planned to finish this without a proper duel if possible.
If that guy had forfeited, he would have ended it there.
Having already lost the assistant instructor position, he should have no intention of suffering the humiliation of being beaten in front of the students.
But…
‘Now I won’t let him off so easily!’
He wouldn’t be satisfied unless he fought this duel and turned that bastard into pulp.
‘Son of a bitch. I’ll make you grovel and bark at my feet. This time I’ll make you beg until your hands become your feet!’
Maeng Son-deok furrowed his brow deeply and turned toward the Dean, taking a formal bow.
“Dean. Now that the participant has arrived, may we begin the duel?”
“Hmm. But… since the opponent was late, this duel should be decided as a forfeit…”
Cutting off the Dean’s words, Maeng Son-deok shouted.
“Please reconsider! Although Instructor Sa failed to observe punctuality, it’s an undeniable fact that he has arrived at this place. I believe he should be given a fair opportunity. If I were to become assistant instructor through a forfeit victory, the martial world would mock me. Also, having become assistant instructor through underhanded means, the students might not follow me.”
Then Cheon Se-myeong, sitting next to the Dean, smiled mysteriously and whispered.
“Dean. Since Master Maeng shows such broad-mindedness and understanding, holding the duel wouldn’t be bad either.”
Yeo Un-jin also chimed in.
“I share the same opinion. A duel between instructors would be very educational for the students. Moreover, although Instructor Sa was late, the Early Wei Hour hasn’t completely passed yet. I believe proceeding with the duel would be acceptable.”
The Dean pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Very well, since Master Maeng shows such understanding, we’ll proceed with this duel.”
As the Dean made the announcement, the students also cheered quietly.
They had been anxious about missing the spectacle.
But then Sa Bigang stepped forward and suddenly spoke up.
“Before starting the duel, I have a demand for this fellow.”
“A demand?”
As the Dean frowned, Sa Bigang walked steadily toward Maeng Son-deok.
At his unhesitating gait, Maeng Son-deok unconsciously stepped back.
Finally, within arm’s reach.
Receiving Sa Bigang’s gaze directly, Maeng Son-deok felt his spine grow cold.
‘What, what’s with this bastard? What kind of person has eyes like that…’
Sa Bigang grinned eerily.
“Apologize.”
“What, what? Apologize for what…?”
“Didn’t you join hands with the brats and set a trap for me? Should someone who’s about to become assistant instructor be that kind of person? If you apologize now, I’ll yield the assistant instructor position to you. If you covet this position that much.”
At the sudden statement, students began murmuring among themselves.
“Did you hear that? What does he mean by joining hands?”
“Could it be that the students and that person conspired together?”
“Nah, that can’t be…”
Meanwhile, the first-year instructors gathered on the platform also looked bewildered.
As the atmosphere grew strange, the flustered Maeng Son-deok shouted angrily.
“What, what nonsense are you spouting? Why would I conspire with students to set a trap…!”
“Planning to make excuses?”
“Ex-excuses, what…!”
“Hmm. Perhaps those guys promised to give you the assistant instructor position? Well, with the kind of backing those guys have, they might have pulled some strings.”
“I, I, I don’t know what you’re talking about! Since you can’t win through skill, are you trying to frame me now!”
“But you were there that day, weren’t you? And you beat me until I lost consciousness.”
“Nonsense! And if you were beaten by a masked man, how can you be so certain it was me!”
“Ho-oh. How curious. How did you know I was beaten by a masked man? I never said it was a masked man.”
At Sa Bigang’s words, Maeng Son-deok’s face turned pale.
His eyes darted left and right before he quickly shouted.
“It’s, it’s already been half a month since that happened! I have ears to hear too! Don’t you know that pathetic rumor about you is already going around!”
“Hmm. So that’s how you’re going to play it…”
“Shut, shut up! With my generous magnanimity, I even decided to duel with you despite your tardiness, yet you try to pin groundless accusations on me. This is absolutely unforgivable!”
“Hmm, fine. I’ll accept the duel. If you happen to change your mind and want to repent your wrongs and apologize, just say so. Then I’ll gladly hand over this position to you.”
“What? Hand it over?”
Maeng Son-deok gritted his teeth.
All he could think about was immediately engaging in the duel and beating down this madman before his eyes.
‘This crazy bastard. I absolutely won’t forgive him!’
As he glared at Sa Bigang with murderous intent, the Dean stood up from the platform and spoke.
“Well then, we’ll begin the duel now. I hope both of you will engage in this duel with the honor of righteousness at stake.”
After the announcement, Sa Bigang and Maeng Son-deok formally bowed to each other.
Maeng Son-deok gripped his spear with blazing eyes and slowly took his stance.
‘Hmph! I’ll show you the true value of this Invincible Divine Spear. It’ll be useless to whine and cling to me later!’
But…
Maeng Son-deok, who was about to attack, furrowed his brow.
Not only that, but everyone surrounding the dueling platform began to murmur.
“What’s going on? Why doesn’t he have anything?”
“Wasn’t this a selection for a spear technique instructor?”
“That’s right. Instructor Sa Bigang is definitely empty-handed right now.”
That was right.
Sa Bigang stood calmly, holding nothing, just looking at Maeng Son-deok.
Maeng Son-deok laughed hollowly.
“Even if you’re nervous, still. A martial artist forgetting to bring his weapon.”
“Weapon? You mean a spear?”
“That’s right! Hurry up and bring a spear!”
“Ah, it’s fine. If it’s a spear, there’s one right there.”
“……?”
Sa Bigang’s finger pointed to Maeng Son-deok’s spear.
Maeng Son-deok shouted in disbelief.
“This is the spear I’ll use! The spear you’ll use…!”
“Geez, you talk too much. Anyway, I’ll fight with a spear, so come at me. If you drop your spear during the fight? Will you wait until I pick it up again then?”
“What, what?”
Maeng Son-deok looked back at the Dean with a dumbfounded expression.
He was asking if it was okay to continue like this.
Dean Ju Yu-cheon nodded heavily.
Meaning to proceed for now.
‘Hmph! Fine. You must have completely lost your mind. Now it’s really too late to regret!’
Maeng Son-deok gripped his spear tightly and charged forward with a battle cry.
‘This is the first technique of the Ox-Horse Swift Spear (Umashincheang) that I’ve honed my entire life!’
A faint aura gathered around Maeng Son-deok’s spear as it thrust straight forward.
But…
Swoosh!
“……!”
Maeng Son-deok’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
Sa Bigang, who had clearly been standing right in front of him, had vanished without a trace!
‘Where did this guy learn such tricks…! He’s behind me!’
Maeng Son-deok quickly withdrew his spear and unleashed the second technique of the Ox-Horse Swift Spear.
The spear blade cut through the air with a sharp thrust, producing a sound of tearing air.
Pap-pap-pat!
But this time too, the spear blade only pierced empty air.
‘He dodged?’
Sa Bigang was standing right next to the spear blade with a languid expression!
‘Luck… it must be luck!’
There was no other way to explain it.
Wasn’t this the same guy who had been beaten senseless and knocked unconscious by him?
Maeng Son-deok began unleashing his techniques even more fiercely.
The Ox-Horse Swift Spear, named for being as unstoppable as charging horses and oxen.
True to its name, countless horses and oxen seemed to be charging toward Sa Bigang.
Each spear path (changro) was both heavy and nimble.
But that was all.
The spear tip kept narrowly missing Sa Bigang again and again.
This was a situation that could no longer be dismissed as mere luck.
In fact, having consumed the premium-grade Magic Stone, Sa Bigang was practically reborn compared to a few days ago.
Due to the absorbed mana, his dantian had expanded and his internal energy was overflowing.
Moreover, having rolled around the battlefields of the Demon Realm for dozens of years, this level of duel was nothing more than child’s play to him.
The memories of countless battlefields where he had crossed between life and death dominated his body.
“Hyaaaat! Die!”
Finally, Maeng Son-deok, whose anger had reached its peak, roared and brought down his spear.
It was the Falling Ox Spear (Nakucheang) technique from the Ox-Horse Swift Spear.
A technique named for striking down as heavily as an ox falling from the sky.
Though it wasn’t a piercing attack with the spear blade, an ordinary person would be crushed to death if hit by the Falling Ox Spear.
But…
Thud!
Sa Bigang actually charged toward Maeng Son-deok instead!
As the descending spear shaft narrowly missed him, Sa Bigang reached right in front of Maeng Son-deok’s nose.
“Hoot.”
A chilling laugh.
Maeng Son-deok felt goosebumps rise all over his body for a moment.
‘This, this bastard… what exactly is his identity?’
An instant.
Thwack!
“Huh?“
Sa Bigang snatched the spear from Maeng Son-deok’s hands!
He quickly tried to apply force to avoid losing it, but the spear had already left his grasp.
Sa Bigang grinned wickedly.
“Then let’s begin the lesson now.”
“What, what are you saying…!”
Swish! Thwack!
“Ahhh!“
The spear shaft fell mercilessly, striking Maeng Son-deok’s crown precisely.
Immediately after.
Swish! Thwack! Swish! Thwack!
“Ahh! Gahh!“
The spear in Sa Bigang’s hands began flying around like a whip, ruthlessly beating Maeng Son-deok’s body all over.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Swish! Thwack!
“Gah! Urgh! Huff! Gahhh!“
It was one-sided brutality.
Cheon Se-myeong, who had been watching, unconsciously shot up from his seat.
Even seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.
Sa Bigang’s method of attack was so unexpected that it was difficult to even gauge his proper skill level.
The same went for the watching students.
“Uh, hey. What just happened there?”
“Well, I don’t know. Whether Instructor Sa is strong… or that Maeng Son-deok guy is weak… I can’t tell at all.”
“They’re not putting on an act right now, are they?”
“Look at that guy. He’s really crying. It can’t be an act.”
Amid the students’ murmuring, Sa Bigang’s beating continued for quite a while.
There were no techniques or anything.
It was no different from a street thug swinging a club around wildly.
Moreover, as the students said, Maeng Son-deok was even shedding tears.
His whole body hurt too much.
“Gasp! Ahh! Please… gah! Stop…! Ahh!“
Swish! Thwack!
“Gah! I lost… gasp!“
Maeng Son-deok, struck in the abdomen with the spear shaft’s tip, collapsed right there.
Dry heaves came up.
It was hard to even breathe.
Sa Bigang walked over slowly.
“How about it? Do you feel like apologizing now?”
“Gasp, gasp. I, I… I…”
“Hmm. I can’t hear you well. What was that?”
Sa Bigang crouched down next to the fallen Maeng Son-deok.
Maeng Son-deok, drooling, opened his mouth with difficulty.
“I, I… lost…”
“No, no.”
“……?”
“I asked if you felt like apologizing.”
“What, what do you mean… I have no reason to apologize…”
“Then, it can’t be helped.”
Sa Bigang raised the spear high again.
Maeng Son-deok’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
Finally, just as Sa Bigang was about to bring down the spear shaft mercilessly.
“Hiiiiik! I, I was wrong! I was wrong! Please forgive me!”
Maeng Son-deok quickly grabbed Sa Bigang’s trouser leg and pleaded.
The quiet dueling platform.
Only Maeng Son-deok’s voice echoed faintly there.
He was begging until his hands became his feet.
“Senior! I was wrong! I was wrong!”
Sa Bigang looked down at him quietly before tossing the spear aside.
Clang.
The match was decided.
But no one there could react.
A completely unexpected ending.
And a duel process that no one could have imagined.
Just then, one of the first-year instructors on the platform called out to the Dean stammering.
“D-Dean… the announcement…”
“Ah… I understand.”
Ju Yu-cheon stood up with a bewildered expression.
“The, the result of this duel is…”
Then.
“Dean. I will yield the assistant spear instructor position to this fellow.”
“What, what? What do you mean…?”
“I promised to hand over the position if this fellow apologized for his wrongs.”
What was this about now?
At the unexpected situation, the instructors also looked puzzled.
The students likewise began murmuring.
Sa Bigang smiled coldly and continued.
“Instead, I request the position of head sword instructor here and now.”
“What?”
The area around the dueling platform instantly became chaotic.
