Chapter 35
“Did you hear? Just now… he said benefactor….”
Baek Mi-ryeong glanced at Min Yu-hyang and asked.
“Uh… yeah….”
Min Yu-hyang also nodded with a dazed expression.
When she stole a glance at Mok Dan-hwa, her expression had also hardened stiffly.
They had suddenly expected martial artists to chase after them and cause trouble.
But instead, they bowed their heads toward Sa Bigang and shouted that he was their benefactor?
The other students also looked bewildered.
Mae Seol-lan, who had gotten off the carriage, tilted her head.
“What’s going on?”
At her clear voice, the leader of the martial artists who had raised his head involuntarily flinched.
A beauty he had never seen in his life.
He stared blankly at her flower-like beauty, then barely regained his composure and shouted.
“We people of Changcheon Gate and Angang owe Instructor Sa Bigang a great debt. We wish to express our gratitude to Instructor Sa Bigang!”
“A debt?”
“If it weren’t for Instructor Sa Bigang, none of us would exist here now. Not only that, but all the people of Angang would not have been safe!”
At this point, Mae Seol-lan also widened her eyes and looked at them.
‘What are they talking about now? These people, didn’t they mistake someone else?’
Sa Bigang, receiving her gaze, grinned.
As if saying, “I’m just that kind of person.”
Mae Seol-lan slightly furrowed her brow and looked at Sa Bigang.
“What on earth happened?”
“Well, it’s a long story.”
Sa Bigang brushed it off casually, but the leader of the martial artists spoke up.
“I am Kang Neung-cho, Red Wolf Squad Leader of Changcheon Gate. We wish to escort Instructor Sa Bigang to our sect, so please come with us.”
“Appearing out of nowhere and saying you’ll take me away. I’m also someone with a long way to go.”
When Sa Bigang spoke in a seemingly offended tone, Kang Neung-cho dropped to one knee and shouted.
“Please forgive our rudeness! Won’t you please return to our sect with us? Our Sect Master definitely wants to receive our benefactor!”
“Then, why didn’t the Sect Master come directly?”
“The Sect Master is currently unable to do so as he’s handling the situation. But please understand the Sect Master’s sincere heart.”
“Hmm.”
Sa Bigang crossed his arms and fell into thought for a moment.
‘Well, meeting him once wouldn’t be bad for the future.’
Ho Yo-beom, the Sect Master of Changcheon Gate, didn’t possess exceptionally outstanding martial arts, but he was someone with a highly chivalrous spirit.
Therefore, in the distant future, he would gain the trust of the Jeongdo Alliance and take on various important missions.
In difficult times, trustworthy people become scarce, so his honesty became a great model for martial artists.
Finally, Sa Bigang nodded and replied politely.
“Good. I’ll go with you. But there’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
“I’m the one responsible for leading the students. I can’t go alone, so I’ll have to bring all the students with me.”
Kang Neung-cho replied without hesitation.
“Of course. It would be an honor to guide the Yongcheon Hall instructor and students.”
***
The students opened their mouths wide and stared blankly at the food spread out enough to bend the table legs.
Of course, most of them were from wealthy families who could eat precious food sufficiently in normal times, but since they had been continuing the forced march of the Martial Arts Study Journey, saliva naturally gathered at the corners of their mouths.
“Now, please eat to your heart’s content. You are the future of the martial world. Since such an excellent person is teaching you, our righteous path’s future is very bright. I hope you have a pleasant time.”
As soon as Ho Yo-beom finished speaking, the students began devouring the food placed before them.
Some grabbed boiled chicken with their hands and tore at it, while other students frantically ate fragrant meat.
Ho Yo-beom, watching this scene warmly, performed a Cupped Hands Salute to Sa Bigang sitting next to him.
“If Instructor Sa hadn’t stepped forward at that time, it would have been a real disaster.”
“Well, since I didn’t want to die, I had no choice but to step forward.”
“Heh heh heh. Even if you say that, we of Changcheon Gate and the people of Angang must not forget Instructor Sa’s grace.”
“Hmm, well, it is true that everyone lived because of me.”
At Sa Bigang’s words, Ho Yo-beom smiled good-naturedly.
‘Truly an interesting person.’
When he killed Dan Gu-gi and Cheol Do-jeong in one strike, his feelings were complex.
But those two people had committed crimes deserving of death.
Could he himself have acted without a moment’s hesitation like that?
No.
Because he hesitated, he couldn’t do anything at that moment.
In reality, if Sa Bigang hadn’t stepped forward, Angang would have been completely devastated by now.
“Changcheon Gate will never forget Instructor Sa’s grace until we die.”
“I know.”
“How do you know?”
Ho Yo-beom asked with an amused expression, watching Sa Bigang reply while munching on food.
Sa Bigang shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, I just know. Sect Master Ho is that kind of person.”
“You knew me?”
“Something like that.”
Ho Yo-beom just smiled.
Since it wasn’t polite to interrogate his benefactor, he stopped questioning there.
The students, who had eaten until their stomachs nearly burst, had smiles on their faces for the first time in a while.
Ho Yo-beom prepared the best sleeping quarters for Sa Bigang’s party.
“If there’s anything uncomfortable, please tell us anytime.”
He maintained courtesy to the end.
***
Whiiiiiish!
Swoosh!
An arrow barely grazed a leaf and soared into the sky.
‘Ah… so close.’
Dan Li-jeong inwardly sighed and drew the bowstring again.
He had started practicing by selecting a suitable bow from the weapons loaded on the four-horse carriage since sunset.
It was definitely a different sensation from when he had taken archery lessons before.
Taking up the bow with a serious mind, even what he could see was different.
‘This time…!’
Twang!
Whiiiiiish!
The arrow that flew through the air pierced through a leaf this time.
Although it was a leaf hanging on a branch, it had been swaying in the wind.
‘Ah! I shouldn’t rely on my eyes. I need to feel it.’
He needed to have the feeling that the distance between the target and himself was completely filled with something invisible.
He had to trust the sensation that those things conveyed.
“Good.”
With a voice that suddenly appeared, Sa Bigang stood next to Dan Li-jeong.
Dan Li-jeong smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head.
“I’m still far from it.”
“No, it’s good for now. You definitely have talent.”
“Thank you, Instructor!”
“Here, take this.”
Sa Bigang held out a large bow.
The bow, crafted with detailed workmanship, clearly seemed to be no ordinary item.
“This… why?”
“It’s yours from now on.”
“What?”
“It’s a gift I’m giving you.”
“But, but….”
“Don’t you want it?”
“No, that’s not it!”
“Then just take it, why so many words?”
“Th-thank you, Instructor!”
“You have to work hard.”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
“The plan got messed up in various ways. You need to fill that gap.”
“What do you mean…?”
“There’s just something like that. Anyway, you practice until your fingers blister. When you can pierce two falling leaves simultaneously, come back to me.”
“Two falling leaves?”
Dan Li-jeong’s eyes widened.
He couldn’t even properly hit leaves hanging on branches, so how could he hit two falling leaves?
But Sa Bigang continued as if it was nothing.
“It won’t take very long for you. And with that bow, it’ll be even faster.”
“But can I really accept this bow…?”
“Yes. You were going to have it anyway.”
Dan Li-jeong frowned deeply and looked down at the large bow.
He couldn’t understand at all what Sa Bigang was talking about.
Come to think of it, this was….
‘The one that senior had?’
The martial artist wearing a bamboo hat they had met by chance at the entrance to Angang.
Hadn’t he been using something exactly like this?
Sa Bigang spoke suddenly as if reading his thoughts.
“You’re the owner of that bow from now on. The bow’s original owner died after harboring wrong thoughts, so you should use that bow for the right purpose.”
“But…!”
“Jeong, your role has become more important.”
Sa Bigang’s expression was very serious.
Therefore, Dan Li-jeong couldn’t say anything.
Instead, he just gulped and nodded without knowing why.
Sa Bigang patted Dan Li-jeong’s shoulder once and turned around.
Sa Bigang walked away, deep in thought.
‘The plan got messed up more than I thought.’
Dan Gu-gi was important material to be used in the future.
He should have met him before he committed an irreversible act.
But he was late by a hair’s breadth.
Now he had to fill that power loss with Dan Li-jeong.
‘Well, that guy should handle it well.’
Still, it would have been better if he could have raised both of them as usable materials.
It’s regrettable, but it can’t be helped.
It’s still a matter of the distant future.
If he prepares firmly from now on, it’ll be fine.
***
In the dim night.
Three shadows secretly moved toward the stable.
It was Mok Dan-hwa, Min Yu-hyang, and Baek Mi-ryeong.
At some point, Min Yu-hyang quietly shouted.
“Here! Here!”
Mok Dan-hwa and Baek Mi-ryeong approached her.
Indeed, there were six horses there, the ones that pulled the six-horse carriage.
Mok Dan-hwa smiled with satisfaction.
“Good, now we’re starting.”
When she gestured with her chin, Baek Mi-ryeong approached the horses with a wooden sword.
The stable door was left wide open.
If the horses went crazy and rampaged in the middle of the night at someone else’s house, what would Sa Bigang’s expression be like?
Neung So-so would also turn pale.
‘How dare they give me hay that was used as an outhouse…!’
Although no one had actually offered her such a thing, Mok Dan-hwa, with her twisted nature, had such delusions of persecution.
“I’ll start!”
At Baek Mi-ryeong’s words, Mok Dan-hwa nodded.
Finally, Baek Mi-ryeong struck one horse’s rump with a ‘smack!’
Neeeiiighhh!
At that moment, the horse jumped up and let out a cry.
Mok Dan-hwa, Baek Mi-ryeong, and Min Yu-hyang quickly fled the scene.
But….
Neeeiiighhh!
Neeeiiiiighhh!
The six horses in the same stable each went crazy and rampaged, and one of them charged at Mok Dan-hwa!
“Dan-hwa! Dangerous!”
Baek Mi-ryeong and Min Yu-hyang simultaneously shouted in surprise.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
Mok Dan-hwa fell and unleashed a palm strike.
But it was such an urgent situation, and the horse changed direction, causing her force to miss.
Meanwhile, another horse charged at her.
Now she was about to be inevitably kicked by horse hooves.
“No! Dan-hwa!”
“Kyaaaaaah!”
The three people simultaneously covered their eyes and screamed.
But….
Nothing happened?
Mok Dan-hwa slowly opened her tightly closed eyes.
A small-bodied girl was standing in front of her, having appeared at some point.
“So-so…?”
The girl with neatly braided hair was Neung So-so.
The horse that had stopped in front of her was snorting and regaining its composure!
Neung So-so stroked the horse’s muzzle and said.
“Shh. Shh. It’s okay.”
Snort snort.
As if understanding her words, the horse snorted.
Not only that horse, but the other horses that had been rampaging everywhere also seemed to hear her voice and soon calmed down, gathering around her!
‘How… is that possible?’
Mok Dan-hwa and the others stared blankly at Neung So-so.
Only then did Neung So-so turn to look at Mok Dan-hwa.
“Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”
“Th-this is all because of you!”
“Huh?”
“If you had managed the horses properly, this wouldn’t have happened!”
At the sudden persecution, Neung So-so couldn’t say anything and just mumbled.
In her large eyes, tears seemed ready to well up and fall at any moment.
‘Really annoying!’
Mok Dan-hwa clicked her tongue and was getting up when.
“What’s going on?”
Sa Bigang’s voice was heard.
Before Neung So-so could say anything, Mok Dan-hwa snapped sharply.
“The horses went crazy and I almost got hurt!”
“Hmm, really?”
Sa Bigang narrowed his eyes and looked around the stable.
“Why did the horses suddenly go crazy?”
“How would I know that?”
“Then why were you lurking around the stable at this hour? You’d know that, right?”
“Lu-lurking… who!”
“If you weren’t lurking, then why are you here?”
“Th-that’s because I had some business for a moment…!”
“What business would you have in a stable? Don’t tell me… you used this place as an outhouse? Or something lewd…?”
“Wh-what are you saying! It’s not like that!”
“Then I’m asking why you’re here.”
Suddenly, Sa Bigang’s eyes turned coldly sharp.
‘Damn…!’
Mok Dan-hwa bit her lip hard.
She couldn’t think of any excuse that would come to mind immediately.
“Annoying…”
In the end, she muttered coldly and walked away.
“Dan-hwa.”
Baek Mi-ryeong and Min Yu-hyang quickly followed Mok Dan-hwa.
Neung So-so bowed her head.
“It’s not your fault.”
“But….”
“You only bow your head when showing respect or when you’ve done something wrong.”
“Yes….”
“Then, we should do it today too?”
“Ah, yes! I just….”
“I know. I saw it too. It’s proof that you’re getting better. You did well.”
“Then, I’ll ask for your help tonight too.”
“Yes, did you bring a change of clothes?”
“Yes.”
Neung So-so’s face turned slightly red as she added.
“Um, Instructor.”
“Mm?”
“Today… please… don’t make it hurt too much.”
“Alright, I’ll be as gentle as possible. Then let’s go. To my room.”
Sa Bigang took the lead, and Neung So-so quickly followed behind him.
Long after the two had left, a woman slowly walked into the stable through another entrance.
Mae Seol-lan.
She quietly stared at where the two had walked away and muttered.
“A change of clothes? What, could Sa Bigang’s tastes be in that direction?”
Her expression slightly contorted.
