Chapter 5
Yeon U-gyeong, who had been mixed in among the students watching the process, frowned deeply.
‘The Head Sword Instructor position?’
The group of Gok Bo-ok beside him also chattered with bewildered expressions.
“Is he in his right mind? The Head Sword Instructor position? Does that even make sense?”
“That’s what I’m saying. But how did he beat Senior Maeng with that level of skill? I watched the entire sparring process and still don’t understand.”
The students stirred restlessly.
The instructors on the platform also became dumbfounded.
They had thought it would be fortunate just to keep the spear instructor position.
The sword instructor position?
‘And not even an assistant instructor, but asking for the head instructor position?’
Cheon Se-myeong, who had been standing, clenched his fists and trembled.
“I say! Instructor Sa! Are you speaking with a sound mind right now?”
“That’s correct.”
“Hah! Aren’t you being too arrogant just because you won in the sparring match for the Assistant Spear Instructor position? Not only do you want to change departments, but you want the head instructor position? Really, this is so absurd!”
This time Ju Yu-cheon also stepped forward.
“This was a meeting to decide the Assistant Spear Instructor position. Although you may have won in the sparring match, you cannot arbitrarily pass over that position and demand the sword instructor position as you please. You should know that much, shouldn’t you?”
“I have merely expressed my intentions. I have passed the Assistant Spear Instructor position to that person, but I must leave the judgment of that qualification to the Dean. Also, separate from that, I am requesting to become the Head Sword Instructor.”
Cheon Se-myeong couldn’t stand it anymore and shouted angrily.
“Stop spouting nonsense! Do you think you can just become a head instructor because you want to?”
“Well, naturally that wouldn’t be the case. However, according to the regulations, I understand that instructors are free to change departments or apply for head instructor positions. Of course, they would have to go through a qualification verification process.”
“Hmph.”
Sa Bigang smiled faintly as he alternately looked at Maeng Son-deok and Cheon Se-myeong.
“Or does that position already have an owner?”
“What the…!”
Cheon Se-myeong clenched his fists and trembled violently.
According to the regulations, whether assistant instructor or head instructor, one could freely change departments if they wished.
Also, becoming a head instructor was something that could be applied for at any time.
However, whether one was qualified had to be proven by passing an examination.
The content of that examination varied each time.
It could be sparring like now, or other tasks could be assigned.
In other words, Sa Bigang’s request to become the Head Sword Instructor at this moment was very unexpected, but he wasn’t being unreasonable by breaking regulations.
Rather, since he made the request in front of many students and instructors watching, it became impossible to refuse outright.
Ju Yu-cheon paused for a moment and then said.
“First, I will accept your intention to decline the Assistant Spear Instructor position. However, whether to appoint the one who lost in the sparring match requires internal discussion. Also, I will accept your request for the Head Sword Instructor position. Details about the qualification verification process will be notified later. That is all.”
As the Dean’s words ended, the instructors’ expressions hardened and it became quiet.
On the other hand, the students surrounding the sparring platform chattered even more noisily.
Sa Bigang just smiled without saying anything.
***
Jin Baek, standing by the window with his hands clasped behind his back, let out a long sigh.
‘Foolish fellow, he should have just not come.’
He shook his head side to side and clicked his tongue in frustration.
He had first met Sa Bigang fifteen years ago.
While passing by, he had happened to see a house burning.
Young Sa Bigang at the time was dying. His parents had been killed by bandits and had become corpses.
Unable to ignore it, he brought young Sa Bigang back to Yongcheon Hall.
Since he didn’t have much talent for martial arts, he had him mainly learn spear techniques and used his influence so he could serve as an assistant instructor.
The martial world had been in a state of peace for quite a long time, so the atmosphere at the academy was that anyone could be a spear instructor.
The problem was Sa Bigang’s personality.
His skills were mediocre, but he was overly righteous and a stickler for principles.
On top of that, he was also a busybody.
The instructors who had initially viewed him favorably gradually began to feel uncomfortable.
Those who despised him or subtly bullied him emerged.
If even his fellow instructors were like that, how much more so the students?
Eventually, he was frequently ignored even by the students, and today’s situation had occurred.
Still, since he had saved a dying fellow and allowed him to establish himself at Yongcheon Hall, he must have grown attached.
Normally, he would go to where the sparring platform was to prepare for injuries, but today he just couldn’t bring himself to go.
If he directly saw Sa Bigang getting beaten without being able to lift a finger, he felt like he would burn with rage.
So he had just sent a few medics.
‘Hmm. The results should be out by now.’
Until this morning, Sa Bigang’s whereabouts had been unknown, and he had thought that was actually good.
Rather than being humiliated and driven out of the academy, he had hoped Sa Bigang would shake off all ties to this place and leave to find a path that suited his nature.
But suddenly he appeared and started the sparring match…
‘Frustrating fellow. Tsk tsk.’
He must have gotten beaten up thoroughly.
There would be torn places here and there too.
He had already prepared.
So he could immediately provide first aid when the patient arrived.
“Pavilion Master! Pavilion Master!”
Just then, urgent voices of the medics were heard from outside the door.
‘Here he comes.’
Shortly after, the door burst open and the medics rushed in.
One fellow was carrying a patient on his back, while the other two were assisting by stopping bleeding from both sides.
Seeing the patient who had collapsed on the medic’s back and lost consciousness, Jin Baek quickly asked.
“Over here quickly! Is he badly hurt?”
“Most are bruises, but there are several torn wounds. He got hit a lot.”
“Damn it! There was no need to go this far…!”
The medics laid the patient face-down on the bed.
This was because the wounds were mainly on the back and waist.
Jin Baek, who urgently examined the patient’s body, gritted his teeth.
The bruises were very severe.
To this extent, it meant he had truly been beaten like a dog.
The medics rattled off their eyewitness accounts.
“There were no techniques or anything. He just got pounded mercilessly.”
“It was the first time I’d seen someone cry during sparring.”
“Later he grabbed onto trouser legs and begged desperately with hands and feet.”
Jin Baek’s expression grew increasingly distorted.
“Pathetic fool! If this was going to happen anyway, why did you show up!”
That’s when it happened.
“Ugh.”
The patient seemed to regain consciousness as he let out a groan.
Jin Baek urgently turned him over to lie on his back and asked.
“Are you coming to your senses now? You fellow, that’s why you shouldn’t have shown up…”
Jin Baek, who had been speaking, flinched and asked.
“…Who are you?”
***
Pitch darkness without a single ray of light.
In that place where one couldn’t see even an inch ahead, only the sound of cutting through air continuously echoed.
Swish! Slash! Swoosh!
Amgeom Pavilion (Dark Sword Pavilion).
A building without windows.
It was quite a spacious interior, but when the entrance was closed, not even a handful of light was permitted.
The soundproofing was also perfect, so it was absolutely impossible to know with eyes and ears what was happening inside or what was occurring outside.
Slaaash!
Only after a sharp sound rang out long and clear did the movement finally stop.
Originally, this was a place where first-year sword instructors could freely come and go to train, but currently it was recognized as a private training pavilion used by only one head instructor.
The man who slowly sheathed his sword in the darkness let out a murky voice.
“Come in.”
Then the door opened at an angle and light seeped in.
Only then was the elderly man holding the sword faintly revealed.
First-year Head Sword Instructor Dark Shadow Divine Sword Sang Pil-ji.
Sharp light gleamed between his graying hair.
Meanwhile, the one who opened the door and entered was none other than Cheon Se-myeong.
Sang Pil-ji sat cross-legged in that spot.
“You kept me waiting for half a shijin.”
“Not at all. Rather, I wonder if I disturbed Senior Sang’s training.”
“I can’t say it wasn’t at all.”
At the casually thrown words, Cheon Se-myeong looked awkward.
“I, I’m sorry.”
“What business brings you to me?”
“Well…”
Cheon Se-myeong explained in detail about the events that had occurred.
Sang Pil-ji was a first-year head instructor but rarely attended meetings.
However, since his skills were exceptionally outstanding and he was thorough in educating students, the academy didn’t particularly take issue with his frequent absences.
Sang Pil-ji, who had heard the story, asked in a murky voice.
“Sa Bigang, was it?”
“That’s right.”
“Was there such a person among the instructors?”
At his indifferent voice, Cheon Se-myeong thought that was just like him.
Sang Pil-ji was that kind of person.
He didn’t even glance at those of low level.
Cheon Se-myeong carefully said.
“Since things turned out this way, I came to ask for Senior Sang’s wise opinion as the Head Sword Instructor.”
“Well, since I’m the only first-year Head Sword Instructor anyway, it wouldn’t matter to have one more selected. Huhu.”
At the unexpected answer, Cheon Se-myeong’s eyes widened.
Sang Pil-ji added with a bitter smile.
“But verification would be necessary to the end. A loach that doesn’t know its place and acts up should be caught and killed before it muddies the water.”
Only then did a faint smile appear on Cheon Se-myeong’s lips too.
“Then, you’ll have a sparring match after all…”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to suggest I cross swords with that brat?”
Confirming Sang Pil-ji’s cold expression, Cheon Se-myeong quickly bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. I misspoke.”
“Let’s do it this way.”
Sang Pil-ji conveyed his thoughts to Cheon Se-myeong.
Hearing his story, Cheon Se-myeong soon smiled brightly and nodded.
“Indeed, that method would be good.”
“Kekeke. If we do it that way, wouldn’t it be naturally resolved without us having to lift a finger?”
“You speak truly.”
Cheon Se-myeong stood up with a pleased expression.
***
Since sword techniques and spear techniques had many differences in handling, Sa Bigang also had to take the basic departmental examination.
Of course, he had learned various sword techniques from the Central Plains while in the Demon Realm, and had actually mainly used swords, so he could pass the basic examination without difficulty.
However, among the current first-year head instructors, there was no one without achievements.
All had left achievements worthy of recognition in the world.
For instance, killing a vicious demon head or annihilating evil bandit groups…
In that sense, the mission assigned to Sa Bigang this time was quite appropriate.
Subjugation of Gwiyachae (Ghost Night Stronghold).
Gwiyachae was a bandit group that had recently established themselves at Goseong Mountain, not far from Yongcheon Hall.
They were known to have roughly thirty members, and their leader was a martial artist known by the nickname ‘Evil Mouth Sword.’
He was famous for being vicious and cruel.
Since he also used a sword, he was perfect as an opponent to verify the qualifications of a sword instructor.
They had been planning to dispatch a subjugation force composed of several instructors and students to that place, which wasn’t far from Yongcheon Hall anyway.
The expected period was roughly one month.
But the mission deadline given to Sa Bigang was merely two weeks.
He had to subjugate Gwiyachae within that time.
Of course, it was an absolutely impossible timeframe.
Forget subjugation, it would be fortunate if he could maintain his own life.
Today marked ten days since Sa Bigang had departed.
‘Hehehehe. This all happened because of you.’
Cheon Se-myeong sat by the window and leisurely lifted his teacup.
‘Did you dare try to bring humiliation upon me?’
Recalling that day’s events, his face still burned with embarrassment.
Maeng Son-deok, whom he had personally recommended, had been beaten without even properly using his hands once, so his dignity was in tatters.
Moreover, hadn’t it almost been revealed to the world that he had recommended Maeng Son-deok through dishonest methods?
Well, anyway, it was fine now.
How refreshing this was.
That fellow who was pathetically weak yet always had righteous words on his lips, picking fights and nitpicking at everything.
He had been tolerating him until now for the sake of the Busin Pavilion Master’s dignity.
‘He dug his own grave. Hehe.’
Now five days.
In just five days, he wouldn’t have to see that eyesore of a fellow anymore.
Even if by some chance he returned alive, as long as Gwiyachae remained intact, there would be no place for him.
Though Maeng Son-deok couldn’t become Assistant Spear Instructor, Sa Bigang had voluntarily kicked away that position himself.
“The tea tastes especially good today.”
He kept laughing.
As Cheon Se-myeong closed his eyes and savored the tea’s fragrance, suddenly there was commotion outside the window.
He could see several people running toward the main gate.
Just then the door burst open and Yeo Un-jin entered the room.
“What’s the matter? Instructor Yeo.”
“That, that, that bastard has returned!”
“Who are you talking about?”
“That bastard! Sa Bigang!”
“Sa Bigang?”
Cheon Se-myeong frowned.
Only ten days had passed.
Had he perhaps given up on the mission and returned?
“Anyway, come out quickly and see!”
Cheon Se-myeong was practically dragged along by Yeo Un-jin’s hand.
The front courtyard where the main gate was visible was packed with people.
Various instructors and students.
Cheon Se-myeong followed Yeo Un-jin, pushing through the crowd toward the front.
Finally, Sa Bigang’s figure came into view.
Sa Bigang, covered in blood.
He grinned wickedly and threw something black toward Cheon Se-myeong.
Thud, roll roll.
“Gasp!”
Confirming the hideous head, Cheon Se-myeong instinctively stepped back.
CrackÂ
Sa Bigang cracked his neck once and said.
“The Gwiyachae leader, Evil Mouth Sword.”
What was rolling on the ground was precisely the head of Gwiyachae leader Evil Mouth Sword.
Sa Bigang bared his teeth in a white grin.
“Hehehehe. Now then, will you acknowledge me as Head Sword Instructor?”
