Chapter 7
“No traces of internal communication at all?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
Deung Bu-hyeong was breaking out in a cold sweat.
He had expected to find something useful.
But Gwiyeong-bu had discovered nothing at all.
Rather, they had sent a message saying they would never take on such a mission again before disappearing completely.
He wanted to investigate what had happened in detail, but their communication network had vanished overnight, making contact impossible.
That was the kind of organization Gwiyeong-bu was.
They operated in strict cell formations, taking on and executing contracts.
Then, when they sensed danger to their organization, they would vanish like ghosts.
In the end, Deung Bu-hyeong had gained nothing while losing a substantial sum of money.
He couldn’t even guess why Gwiyeong-bu had disappeared overnight.
Cheon Se-myeong pressed his temples firmly.
“Then are you saying that man really did clean up Gwiyachae?”
At this, Yeo Un-jin, who had been quietly listening nearby, laughed.
“Haha. How could that be possible? I don’t know what kind of trick he used, but there must be something to it.”
“What if he noticed?”
“What do you mean?”
“That we had him under surveillance.”
“Surely not. If that were the case, given Sa Bigang’s personality, he wouldn’t have stayed quiet. He would have turned the academy upside down, making a fuss about instructors being investigated.”
“That’s right. That guy has always been inflexible to the point where you can’t reason with him, hasn’t he?”
“Hmm. True enough.”
Cheon Se-myeong nodded as if somewhat convinced.
Yeo Un-jin quickly smiled and added his words.
“Don’t worry too much. I’ve made preparations for situations like this, haven’t I? With those students, we won’t need to step in directly.”
“Then formal classes will begin tomorrow.”
“Huhu. That’s right. I’m actually looking forward to it. I wonder how Sa Bigang will handle things.”
At Yeo Un-jin’s words, Deung Bu-hyeong also found his smile and added his comment.
“Well, I should go cheer them on. Hehe.”
***
After finishing his bath with heated water for the first time in a while, Sa Bigang returned to his room and dried his hair.
Woong. Woo-woong.
As if sensing Sa Bigang’s presence, Veritas, placed on his bed, let out a faint wailing.
Sa Bigang walked over and picked up Veritas, sheath and all.
“Stop wailing. You’ve had enough to eat.”
But Veritas paid no heed and continued trembling faintly.
“Tsk, there’s nothing I can do about your stubbornness.”
Sa Bigang threw Veritas back onto the bed and sat cross-legged beside it.
On the way back, he had killed every beast he saw.
To appease Veritas’s thirst for blood.
But the sword seemed unable to satisfy its hunger with mere animal blood alone, continuing to emit faint wailing sounds.
‘Well, I suppose I have no choice but to suppress it with magical power for now?’
For that, his body first needed to become accustomed to mana.
Sa Bigang let out a shallow sigh and closed his eyes and ears.
Silence.
He focused all his consciousness solely on his breathing exercises.
‘I must achieve harmony between mana and internal energy in the shortest time possible.’
Currently, the absorbed mana had settled in his Lower Dantian in the form of internal energy.
Sa Bigang slowly circulated his internal energy along his body’s meridians.
Soon, the overflowing internal energy completed a full circulation throughout his body’s meridians refreshingly.
‘The problem starts now!’
He clenched his fists tightly.
The process of converting internal energy into mana.
He began drawing the internal energy flowing through his body toward his heart.
It felt as if his entire chest was being armored with thick plate mail, centered around his heart.
‘It’s accumulating. It’s building up.’
Finally, the moment all his internal energy was concentrated in his Middle Dantian.
‘Kut!’
Sa Bigang’s body shook violently once.
It looked as if he might be having a brief seizure.
After a moment, he exhaled a long breath and opened his eyes.
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
This was training to convert a substantial amount of internal energy entirely into mana in a short time.
In fact, until recently, he had performed such breathing exercises as naturally as eating in the Demon Realm.
As naturally as breathing.
But now, having regressed to the past, he had to retrain and refine his body.
Even so, the speed at which he was becoming accustomed was faster than imagination.
The experience accumulated over decades was rewarding him.
The process of converting mana back into internal energy was much easier.
‘In that sense, the flow of mana is definitely more efficient.’
Sa Bigang stood up.
Veritas, which had been grumbling constantly, had also quieted down, perhaps because it was no longer getting any response.
‘Should I rest for today to prepare for tomorrow’s class?’
Looking out the window, a strange sense of anticipation bloomed in Sa Bigang’s expression.
***
Deung Bu-hyeong woke up early in the morning to sharpen his blade.
This was his favorite time of day and his only hobby.
The more he sharpened the blade, the more it glowed with a crimson aura.
Jahanak-indo.
It was a treasured blade he had received from the head of Cheonhwa Trading Company last year.
In exchange, he had recommended a graduate of Yongcheon Hall, the young master of Cheonhwa Trading Company, to the Jeongdo Alliance.
‘Ah, how beautiful.’
Deung Bu-hyeong smiled contentedly as he gazed at the sharply honed blade.
In truth, he had never owned a proper treasured blade.
Therefore, he cherished the Jahanak-indo he had received from Cheonhwa Trading Company immensely.
Sak. Sak. Saaak.
‘Sharpening a blade is like honing the mind. What a clear and beautiful sound this is!’
After sharpening the sword for a long while, Deung Bu-hyeong lifted up the Jahanak-indo once more.
‘Ah, too beautiful! Even my soul is enchanted by you.’
The Jahanak-indo blazed crimson in the dawn light.
In fact, the Jahanak-indo shone most beautifully at sunset, but it displayed an equally magnificent appearance at dawn.
As he gazed at it entranced for quite some time, he noticed a group of students heading somewhere in the distance.
‘Huhu. Is it beginning now?’
Soon, something occurred to Deung Bu-hyeong, and he sheathed the Jahanak-indo and stood up.
“This should be quite an entertaining observation class.”
A sinister smile crept across his lips.
***
An annex building prepared in the northeastern corner of Yongcheon Hall.
The front yard of the annex was overgrown with lush vegetation, and stone piles were scattered about randomly.
The door creaked, and the nameplate hung askew with one nail missing, looking ready to fall at any moment.
This place had once been used as a guest hall where visitors to Yongcheon Hall would stay.
But as the academy failed to maintain its former reputation, it was used less and less frequently.
And now it was an empty place, abandoned like a ruin.
“This is… supposed to be our classroom?”
One student frowned deeply as he looked at the tilted nameplate.
The other students nearby also looked around and grumbled.
“What is this? There’s nothing but grass and stones. How are we supposed to practice martial arts in a place like this?”
“Huhu. Have you ever actually practiced martial arts?”
“Shut up. Do you want to die?”
“Ho. Shall we have a go?”
While several students were growling at each other, Sa Bigang walked toward the guest hall.
Just then, someone spotted Sa Bigang and shouted.
“Oh, it’s that instructor!”
Instantly, the students fell silent and turned their gazes away.
Sa Bigang, standing in front of the guest hall, surveyed the students once.
The students of the class he was assigned as homeroom teacher.
He had already reviewed the roster, so he had a rough understanding of what kind of students comprised the group.
Special Purpose Class.
That was the name of the class he was assigned.
At first glance, one might think it would be something impressive, but in reality, it was full of problem students.
Students who couldn’t adapt to the academy or had no talent for martial arts whatsoever, those who caused trouble and created incidents, or those with overly illustrious backgrounds who behaved arrogantly.
In short, this Special Purpose Class was formed by selecting troublemakers from each class who disrupted the academy’s atmosphere.
Among them were some who had been held back for several years, remaining first-year students.
Normally, even though every class had an assigned homeroom teacher, instructors from various departments would come in to conduct classes.
But this Special Purpose Class would only receive instruction from Sa Bigang alone.
‘I suppose they intend to dump all responsibility on me. Huhu.’
In other words, they planned to dump all the troublemakers the academy found difficult to handle, then make Sa Bigang bear all the responsibility.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
After examining the students’ faces, Sa Bigang opened his mouth.
“I’m Sa Bigang. I’ll be the instructor in charge of you all starting today.”
“Why do we have to learn here of all places?”
The person who suddenly spoke up was none other than Gok Bo-ok.
Beside him, Yeon U-gyeong and a group of others glared at Sa Bigang with hostility.
Of course, it wasn’t just them—most of the students gathered here were looking at Sa Bigang with displeasure.
An instructor openly despised even by the students.
That was exactly what Sa Bigang had been until now.
Sa Bigang chuckled.
“That’s because… you’re all hopeless, trash-like bastards.”
For a moment, the students wore blank expressions.
Shortly after, complaints erupted simultaneously from among the students.
“What? Did you just call us trash?”
“Good grief, is that something to say as an instructor?”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t want to take classes here!”
“That’s right! An instructor should act like an instructor!”
The scene became chaotic in an instant.
Watching the commotion, Yeon U-gyeong inwardly sneered.
‘What will you do about this? I don’t know what tricks you used to become a head instructor, but don’t underestimate us too much.’
Meanwhile, Sa Bigang waited silently until the commotion died down.
Only after quite some time had passed did the students’ complaints somewhat subside.
Sa Bigang picked his ear and spoke.
“Are you all done chattering?”
“……”
“You’re more talkative than I expected.”
“Well, if the instructor would properly explain…!”
The student who had been shouting angrily flinched and closed his mouth.
He had been overwhelmed by the look in Sa Bigang’s eyes staring at him.
Sa Bigang opened his mouth again.
“A good teacher imparts good teachings without raising a rod. I think so too. But… I also know that I’m not a good teacher.”
“Wh-what does that…?”
“It means I can beat you up if you don’t listen. So crawl along obediently. However, one thing is certain. If you follow me well, you’ll definitely become stronger.”
After finishing his words, Sa Bigang’s gaze deepened.
‘And I will never again allow those who follow me to be lost.’
At this point, the students just stood there with blank expressions, mouths agape.
Where did that arrogant attitude and baseless confidence come from?
Then, from one corner, a clear voice was heard.
“Instructor! I have a question!”
A relatively polite and respectful tone.
Looking over, it was Yeon U-gyeong.
He smiled brightly and continued.
“There’s a saying: ‘A hundred days for the spear, a thousand days for the saber, ten thousand days for the sword,’ isn’t there?”
“So?”
“Until recently, you taught spear techniques. As an assistant instructor, no less. But overnight, you became a sword instructor. As a head instructor. Can swordsmanship really improve overnight like this?”
A question that struck right to the point.
As if stirred by those words, the students began murmuring again.
Sa Bigang grinned and answered.
“Normally, it’s impossible.”
“Then, are you saying you’re not normal, Instructor?”
“That’s right. So consider yourselves lucky to be learning from me.”
“But we can’t accept that. We don’t know what level your swordsmanship skills really are.”
“So?”
“We’d like you to prove it. Your sword skills. Wouldn’t that be much more helpful for us too?”
After finishing his words, Yeon U-gyeong smiled broadly.
Sa Bigang stared intently at Yeon U-gyeong.
This level of resistance was within expected parameters.
All the students seemed to agree with Yeon U-gyeong’s words, looking at Sa Bigang with intensity in their eyes.
“How would you like me to prove it?”
“Well. How about showing us a sparring match with the student among us who’s most skilled in swordsmanship?”
Yeon U-gyeong wore a faint smile.
His opponent was at most a former assistant spear instructor.
And according to rumors, someone who had entered through Yongcheon Hall’s back door and barely became an assistant instructor through the patronage of the Busin Pavilion Master.
‘I don’t know what tricks you used this time to become a head sword instructor, but we won’t be easy opponents.’
Here, there were many promising disciples from renowned martial sects.
Among them were those with natural talent, and many who had already learned considerable swordsmanship from their families or sects before entering.
Compared to Sa Bigang, the age difference wasn’t that significant either.
‘Go ahead and prove it. Whether you’re really qualified to teach us.’
Yeon U-gyeong quietly stared at Sa Bigang.
