Chapter 29
Bright, sunny weather.
For late winter, it was an unusually warm day.
“Perfect weather for departure.”
Sa Bigang muttered this as he looked around at the students gathered in the courtyard in front of the Special Purpose Class.
A few students looked at Sa Bigang with anticipation, but most wore worried expressions or faces full of complaints.
Of course, Sa Bigang lightly ignored such expressions from the students.
“You’re all probably excited. But the Martial Arts Study Journey is real combat. You’ll experience many things as you travel through the martial world. If you’re unlucky, you might face dangerous situations. So you must be careful in everything you do. Understand?”
“Yes…”
The students answered halfheartedly.
Sa Bigang shrugged his shoulders and took a step forward.
“Well then, shall we depart?”
“Wait a moment.”
A clear voice suddenly interrupted.
All the students’ gazes turned to one spot.
Mok Dan-hwa.
She crossed her arms and spoke with a face full of complaints.
“Are all the students here going on the Martial Arts Study Journey?”
“Of course. All Special Purpose Class students are going.”
“Why?”
“Why, you ask?”
“As I understand it, Neung So-so and Dan Li-jeong couldn’t pay the fees, right?”
At those words, the students murmured quietly as they looked at Neung So-so and Dan Li-jeong.
Already marked as misfits of the academy and assigned to the Special Purpose Class, the two completely shrank their shoulders after being pointed out by Mok Dan-hwa, looking utterly dejected.
Sa Bigang spoke as if it was nothing.
“They didn’t pay fees, but we have sufficient funds.”
“Of course you would. But this isn’t a matter of whether funds are sufficient or not. It’s a matter of fairness. If people can participate in the Martial Arts Study Journey without paying fees, then are those of us who paid money fools?”
Since each point she made was reasonable, the students nodded and agreed.
Sa Bigang chuckled.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“What?”
“Because I have no intention of letting those two brats travel for free.”
“Then…?”
“I’ll put them to work. Those two will be dedicated to running my errands during the trip and will handle all kinds of menial tasks.”
“But…!”
“What? If you still think it’s unfair, I can refund your fee. Instead, you can also take on the chores. If it’s work I assign, you’ll do any.thing without complaint. Well, the more hands the better, and I have more than enough funds.”
Mok Dan-hwa bit her lip tightly and glared at him.
Sa Bigang looked around at the students.
“So anyone who wants to pay with their body, step forward. I’ll make you my servant. Heh heh heh.”
Finally, his gaze deliberately swept up and down Mok Dan-hwa.
Of course, this was an entirely intentional action.
‘That perverted instructor…!’
Mok Dan-hwa shuddered and turned her head away sharply.
Naturally, no one stepped forward.
They all vaguely understood.
If they stepped forward now, they would be marked by Sa Bigang and would end up handling all kinds of hardships during the trip.
“Well then, since there are no further objections, let’s depart!”
Finally, the Special Purpose Class students began to move.
Passing through various pavilions and walking to the main gate’s inner courtyard, they found many people gathered there.
Since the Special Purpose Class had been full of incidents and accidents, various students and instructors had come out to watch.
“Oh, look at that. It’s Sa Bigang, the instructor of the Special Purpose Class.”
“Isn’t that instructor supposed to be really terrible?”
“What are you talking about? I heard he’s really entertaining.”
“Still, going on a Martial Arts Study Journey for three whole months. I’m somewhat envious.”
While the students were buzzing with chatter, Mae Seol-lan and Ju Yu-cheon happened to come down the central stairs.
She had just finished reporting to the Dean about departing on the Martial Arts Study Journey.
Ju Yu-cheon approached Sa Bigang.
“Since Instructor Sa’s will is firm, I have given permission, but there must be no unseemly incidents whatsoever. Above all, the students’ safety is the top priority.”
“Understood. Don’t worry about it.”
Sa Bigang grinned.
It was a strange smile that seemed trustworthy in some ways, yet unsettling in others.
That’s when it happened.
Thud thud thud thud thud…!
Dusty clouds swirled from outside the main gate as the ground shook with heavy sounds.
“What’s that?”
“What’s happening?”
Students and instructors turned their gazes with bewildered expressions at the sudden occurrence.
Soon, as the dust gradually settled and the rough shapes became visible.
“Good heavens, what are all those?”
“Hor-horses, aren’t they? Two, four… six… te-ten? Ten horses!”
Students exclaimed with shocked expressions.
Ju Yu-cheon also widened his eyes as he looked at what was positioned at the main gate.
One six-horse carriage and one four-horse carriage.
Both carriages boasted splendid exteriors, but especially the six-horse carriage was tongue-wagging impressive just by its scale alone.
Go Jeok-san, who had just jumped down from the driver’s seat of the six-horse carriage, approached Sa Bigang.
“Sorry for being late!”
“It’s fine. We were just about to depart. You did well.”
“Then.”
As Go Jeok-san stepped back, Ju Yu-cheon asked with a bewildered expression.
“What is all this?”
“Since it’s a long-term trip, I thought it might be necessary, so I prepared it.”
“But why do you need such luxurious carriages…?”
“Of course, hopefully it won’t happen, but if by any chance a situation arises where multiple people are injured, there would be no safer way to transport them than this.”
“That’s true, but… this is…”
Ju Yu-cheon, who had checked the interior of the carriage, couldn’t continue speaking.
It was nothing short of an ultra-luxurious cabin.
Like looking at a pleasure house in the red-light district.
Somewhere warm and lavish decorations.
An interior that somehow brought lewd thoughts to mind.
Actually, these carriages were what Sa Bigang had demanded from the Black Gratitude Gang instead of cash.
Sa Bigang added.
“Of course, I absolutely did not prepare this with the intention of doing something here with Assistant Instructor Mae.”
“Ahem! Well, I understand for now.”
Since it didn’t violate the Hall Rules, Ju Yu-cheon didn’t say anything more.
Meanwhile, Sa Bigang instructed the students to load their luggage into the four-horse carriage.
The students who had come to watch looked at the scene with envious eyes.
“That aside, where are you planning to go?”
“The final destination is decided, but first we plan to visit Angang.”
“Angang? Well, that makes sense. Four righteous martial sects are established in that region, so it might be educational for the students.”
“Yes, we absolutely must go.”
Sa Bigang responded with eyes shining with a somewhat different meaning.
And he thought.
‘There’s a reason we must go there. I hope we’re not too late.’
***
The first night of the journey was spent camping outdoors.
Complaints from students erupted everywhere.
Among them, the person grumbling most openly was none other than Mok Dan-hwa.
She settled under a tree and bit her lower lip tightly.
“Annoying bastard.”
Of course, she was referring to Sa Bigang.
Nothing about him pleased her from one to ten.
This outdoor camping was a perfect example.
In the late afternoon, they passed through a village, but Sa Bigang didn’t stop and continued the forced march.
From the first day, they had walked almost without rest.
Several students grumbled, but Sa Bigang only grinned and said, “Shouldn’t we walk a lot when our energy is at its peak?”
Yet he himself enjoyed the journey comfortably in the ultra-luxurious six-horse carriage.
Together with Mae Seol-lan.
That wasn’t the only infuriating thing.
While all the other students walked, Neung So-so drove the six-horse carriage and Dan Li-jeong drove the four-horse carriage.
Of course, Neung So-so handled all the horse management, and Dan Li-jeong took care of various errands, but they were essentially exempt from the forced march.
‘Anyone can see it’s unfair!’
But she couldn’t very well go to Sa Bigang and ask to be made a servant too.
In every way, her irritation was rising, and just then Dan Li-jeong was passing by in the distance carrying a bundle of hay.
‘Is he going to feed the horses?’
When Mok Dan-hwa gestured, Min Yu-hyang, who was beside her, quickly stepped forward and called out to him.
“Hey, you!”
“Um… me?”
Dan Li-jeong asked with a bewildered expression.
“Yes, you! Who else is here besides you?”
“Ah, sorry…”
“Come here.”
At the domineering attitude, Dan Li-jeong hesitated for a moment but soon approached.
Baek Mi-ryeong subtly stuck out her foot and tripped him.
“Oops!”
As a result, Dan Li-jeong dropped the bundle of hay and fell down.
“Ow ow ow.”
Min Yu-hyang and Baek Mi-ryeong laughed tee-hee.
“Ho ho. How do you learn martial arts with such a weak body?”
“You’re not going to be eaten while trying to feed the horses, are you?”
The two students openly mocked him, but Dan Li-jeong only smiled awkwardly.
He knew well that nothing good would come from getting on Mok Dan-hwa’s bad side.
Just then, Mok Dan-hwa crossed her arms and approached Dan Li-jeong.
“I understand that Neung So-so is exclusively in charge of horse management, so why are you carrying this?”
“Ah, that’s actually…”
When Dan Li-jeong couldn’t continue speaking, Mok Dan-hwa inwardly scoffed.
‘Birds of a feather flock together.’
She walked over gracefully and plopped down on the bundle of hay.
Dan Li-jeong made a troubled expression.
“Ah, that won’t work…”
“Lay it out.”
“What?”
“Lay it out here. I’ll use this as my bedding. Go get the horse feed again.”
“Ah, but that won’t work. Because…”
“Shut up! Aren’t you a menial laborer? We paid money, so you have to listen to us, right?”
“Even so, that bundle of hay is…”
“Enough. Just lay it out when I tell you to.”
Mok Dan-hwa pressed him without giving him any opening.
As Dan Li-jeong tried to say something again, Mok Dan-hwa shouted sharply.
“No excuses, just lay it out!”
When Dan Li-jeong was startled and froze stiffly, Mok Dan-hwa drew her sword and cut the knot of the bundle of hay.
The tightly rolled bundle of hay spread out like a scroll.
“What? It’s conveniently tied to be perfect for sleeping on!”
Mok Dan-hwa chuckled and lay down on it.
Though it smelled a bit foul, it was sufficient to block the cold from the ground.
Meanwhile, Dan Li-jeong’s expression turned ashen.
Mok Dan-hwa spoke as if enjoying his appearance.
“Now go.”
“The bundle of hay…”
Then Min Yu-hyang and Baek Mi-ryeong pushed Dan Li-jeong’s chest.
“Can’t you hear? She said to go.”
“Go tell So-so. That we took it from you. Ho ho ho.”
That’s when it happened.
“Li-jeong, what are you doing over there?”
“Ah, Instructor.”
Just then, Sa Bigang walked over.
Min Yu-hyang and Baek Mi-ryeong hesitated and glared.
Mok Dan-hwa also sat up diagonally and looked at Sa Bigang defiantly.
Sa Bigang, who had just approached, frowned deeply and looked at Mok Dan-hwa.
“You, what are you doing in my toilet?”
“What?”
“What are you doing lying there?”
“I’m trying to sleep, why are you asking?”
“In my toilet?”
“So what do you mean by toilet!”
Sa Bigang tilted his head and looked at Dan Li-jeong.
“You, didn’t you tell her?”
“Wait. What are you talking about? Right now!”
Mok Dan-hwa interrupted again.
Dan Li-jeong, with a pale expression, stammered as he continued.
“We-well… that’s… that’s not a bundle of hay to feed the horses.”
“What? Then what?”
“It’s my portable toilet.”
Sa Bigang suddenly interrupted.
“Portable toilet…”
“Wouldn’t it be inefficient if all the students had to stop and wait while I, the leader, took a dump? So it’s my personal toilet that I had laid out in a separate room of the four-horse carriage. Well, I had them clean up the chunks right away, though.”
“Su-such…”
“But I guess it wasn’t such a good idea after all. The carriage seemed to be getting smelly, so I was just about to throw it away.”
“Then… this is…”
Dan Li-jeong answered restlessly.
“Actually, I was just going to throw it away. But then you…”
Suddenly, Mok Dan-hwa’s expression turned deathly pale.
Only then could she identify the source of the foul smell that had been subtly wafting over.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
She screamed as if she was going to faint and jumped up.
“This is rather embarrassing.”
As Sa Bigang scratched the back of his head, Dan Li-jeong carefully offered a suggestion.
“Instructor, how about drilling a hole in the carriage floor instead?”
“Hmm… But then every time I take a dump, the students would see my falling poop from under the carriage, wouldn’t they? I’ll just do it outside after all.”
“Yes… that would be better.”
Meanwhile, Mok Dan-hwa leaned against a tree with an expression as if her soul had been beaten out.
Regardless, Sa Bigang dragged Dan Li-jeong away while asking.
“Where is So-so?”
“She’s burning incense right now to get rid of the smell from the carriage.”
“You two have a lot of hardships. Then, as soon as she’s finished, tell So-so to come to the carriage where I am.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, right.”
Sa Bigang glanced back at Mok Dan-hwa and grinned.
“If you really like that, you can use it as bedding. Preferences should be respected, after all.”
“Who… would… such a thing…”
Mok Dan-hwa glared at Sa Bigang’s retreating figure with blazing eyes.
‘I’ll curse you for life! Sa Bigang! I’ll curse you!’
Before she knew it, her eyes were wet with tears.
