Chapter 28
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The brutal sound filled the training ground.
“Kuk! Uuk! Kuup!”
The person lying face down being beaten was Gok Bo-ok.
Yeon U-gyeong had already been beaten until the back of his clothes were torn and tattered.
Finally, unable to endure any longer, Gok Bo-ok collapsed face down on the ground, groaning.
“Uuuk.”
“Lie down. Your bones will break.”
“Kuk! Isn’t this too much? What did we do wrong!”
“I told you, didn’t I? This is for the mistake of causing this situation.”
“That was just an accident!”
“Isn’t an accident still a mistake? Sometimes that mistake can kill people. Will you say the same thing then? Lie down.”
“Damn…! Just wait and see! I won’t let this slide!”
“Are you threatening an instructor right now? Five more strikes. Lie down.”
“What did you say? Where is there such a law!”
“If you keep resisting, I’ll add ten more. Lie down.”
“Kik…!”
Gok Bo-ok ground his teeth and lay down.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
“Kuup!”
Sa Bigang began striking Gok Bo-ok’s buttocks with his sword sheath again.
The training ground was silent as death, with only the sound of the beating echoing.
Deung Bu-hyeong’s body trembled slightly.
‘I can’t possibly step forward.’
He was overwhelmed by the fierce atmosphere.
He had participated in several subjugation forces where blood flew and flesh was torn.
But who would have thought he’d be so anxious just watching students being disciplined?
Finally, Sa Bigang’s punishment ended.
“If you had trained properly in the valley regularly, this would have been like a gentle pat. Get out.”
Gok Bo-ok retreated with a resentful expression, limping.
“Listen well. When you take actions that endanger fellow students, you must be prepared to pay the price. So watch your words wherever you are. A place where even a single word must be carefully considered—that’s the martial world.”
Yeon U-gyeong and Gok Bo-ok just kept their mouths shut and stared at the ground.
“Well then, is it time to collect the debt?”
He turned his gaze.
Wi Deok-cheon, who had been watching the situation with a tense expression, flinched.
Sa Bigang smiled coldly.
“Well then, we need to settle accounts too, don’t we?”
“I, I understand. I should give you four times the original amount, right?”
“That’s right. But you can’t include the money in that money pouch.”
Sa Bigang gestured with his chin toward the money pouch Yeom Ja-ryang was holding.
Strictly speaking, the money in that pouch wasn’t the original amount.
After the Ghost Night Stronghold warriors retrieved the money pouch, they had filled it with silver equivalent to the original amount.
This was possible because Ghost Night Stronghold had money in storage.
Since he had already confessed to squandering the money, Wi Deok-cheon had no choice but to nod.
“I, I understand.”
“Good. Think of it as repenting for your mistakes and doing good for the academy.”
“But it’s difficult to prepare such a large sum right now.”
“Then today, just pay twice the original amount. The rest by tomorrow.”
“To, tomorrow? It’s only a few hours until dawn…”
“What? We have to leave for the Martial Arts Study Journey the day after tomorrow, and you can’t even do that? Huh?”
Sa Bigang tapped his shoulder with Veritas while raising his voice.
Wi Deok-cheon swallowed hard and said,
“Give me two days.”
“Fine, then I’ll collect it in a different way.”
“A different way?”
“Tomorrow I’ll tell you what you need to prepare instead of money. Any complaints?”
“Well, not really… I understand.”
Wi Deok-cheon reluctantly answered.
Sa Bigang patted his shoulder.
“At least by the day after tomorrow, before we leave for the Martial Arts Study Journey, you need to have it ready.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Best efforts aren’t enough. Show me definite results.”
“I… understand.”
“Well then, shall we wrap up and head back?”
Sa Bigang turned toward Yeom Ja-ryang.
Deung Bu-hyeong, who had been quietly watching the situation, finally stepped forward.
“Wait!”
“Hm? What is it?”
Sa Bigang looked back at him.
Deung Bu-hyeong took a deep breath and continued with a determined expression.
“Before we return, I have some matters to question you about as an instructor of Yongcheon Hall.”
“Matters to question?”
“Just who are these people?”
Deung Bu-hyeong’s finger pointed at Go Jeok-san and the other warriors in black.
Sa Bigang looked around casually and replied nonchalantly.
“Is there some problem with them?”
“Depending on the situation, there could be. Just where did these people come from?”
“Hmm… how should I put it? Should I say I picked them up along the way too?”
“What, what?”
When Sa Bigang muttered as if talking to himself, Deung Bu-hyeong shouted with a flustered expression.
“What on earth are you talking about! What are their identities?”
“Ah, these fellows used to belong to the Ghost Night Stronghold.”
“Ghost, Ghost Night Stronghold? Didn’t you say you definitely disbanded Ghost Night Stronghold?”
“Of course. That’s why they’re here.”
“No, no! If you disbanded them, why are they all gathered here? Did the Ghost Night Stronghold really disappear?”
“I disbanded Ghost Night Stronghold. You must have confirmed the Ghost Night Stronghold leader’s head. However, these fellows kept begging and pleading to follow me, so what could I do?”
“These people want to follow you?”
“That’s right. I told them to go anywhere and live righteously, but they voluntarily clung to me, saying they wanted to follow me. Isn’t that right, Jeok-san?”
Of course, it was a complete lie.
Sa Bigang had said he would kill anyone who didn’t follow him.
But there was only one answer to give in this situation.
Go Jeok-san knew what that answer was.
“Of course! My lord! We voluntarily wanted to follow you, my lord!”
“See?”
Sa Bigang shrugged his shoulders and looked at Deung Bu-hyeong.
Deung Bu-hyeong flinched at the unexpected situation.
‘What on earth is Sa Bigang that these fellows would submit to him like this? But…’
Deung Bu-hyeong didn’t back down and shouted.
“An instructor keeping demonic faction members as subordinates…! This is outrageous!”
“I also didn’t like these fellows since they were bandits. So I told them not to follow me. But…”
Sa Bigang trailed off with a troubled expression.
Deung Bu-hyeong frowned and asked.
“But?”
“Well, these fellows said they would all commit suicide if I didn’t let them follow me.”
“What, what?”
This time, not only Deung Bu-hyeong but also Go Jeok-san and all the Ghost Night Stronghold warriors flinched and looked at Sa Bigang.
Sa Bigang continued matter-of-factly.
“One fellow actually held a sword to his own throat and stabbed himself to death. Isn’t that right, Jeok-san?”
“Y, yes!”
“So what could I do? As a warrior walking the righteous path, when they say they want to reform and follow me, I couldn’t just kill them all.”
“That, that’s… But even so, keeping them like this as an instructor…”
“Is problematic?”
“That’s right.”
“Then sect elders with subordinates can’t become instructors?”
“That’s not it, but…”
“Righteous heroes with many followers can’t become instructors?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem? These are just younger brothers who follow me.”
“Even so, they were once demonic faction bandits…”
“You spoke well. Once. Once. Now they want to reform and become new people, so is there a problem?”
“Hmm.”
Deung Bu-hyeong let out a groan and made a troubled expression.
It seemed like there were many things to criticize, but strangely, the more they talked, the more it seemed reasonable.
“Still, it doesn’t look very good.”
“Hmm. If that’s really the case, then there’s no choice. Jeok-san.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“They say your following me doesn’t look very good. It seems you shouldn’t follow me anymore. Stop calling me ‘my lord’ too.”
“That, that’s…!”
Go Jeok-san looked up at Sa Bigang.
He read the hidden meaning in Sa Bigang’s eyes.
He prostrated himself and shouted.
“I absolutely cannot accept such an order! Please kill me instead!”
“Don’t do that, all of you go somewhere and live righteously. I don’t seem to be worthy of taking you in.”
“If you say that, then I, Jeok-san, would rather die!”
Go Jeok-san suddenly stood up, drew his sword, and held it reversed.
“Gasp!”
Deung Bu-hyeong was startled and stepped forward.
“Wait, wait! What need is there to go that far? You can go somewhere and reform…”
“That’s impossible!”
Go Jeok-san shouted angrily and glared at Deung Bu-hyeong.
Overwhelmed by that momentum, Deung Bu-hyeong flinched and stepped back.
Go Jeok-san continued.
“The person who enlightened us to reform and become new people is none other than Instructor Sa Bigang! But if this person abandons us, then there’s no meaning in living! Rather than that, it’s better to commit suicide to repay the sins we’ve committed!”
“That, even so, suicide is…”
“Don’t stop me! I’ll repay my past sins with death and protect my lord’s honor!”
Then suddenly another subordinate stepped forward and drew his sword.
“Elder brother! I’ll commit suicide first!”
“No! I’ll pay for my sins first!”
“I’ll do it!”
Suddenly the warriors in black all stepped forward, shouting that they would die first.
“This, what is this…”
That’s when it happened.
Stab!
“Kuup!”
One warrior stabbed his belly with his sword and collapsed.
Seeing this, Go Jeok-san’s eyes reddened as he shouted.
“Brother! You went first. I’ll follow you soon!”
“Good heavens! Listen here, Instructor Sa! Do something about these people…!”
Deung Bu-hyeong shouted restlessly.
At this rate, strange rumors might spread.
That although they were Ghost Night Stronghold warriors who had been bandits, Deung Bu-hyeong had cornered warriors who had reformed to live righteously and caused them all to commit suicide…
‘That, that can’t happen!’
Deung Bu-hyeong looked at Sa Bigang with a pale expression.
But Sa Bigang’s expression wasn’t shaken at all.
Even though someone who said they would follow him had stabbed himself in the belly and collapsed.
‘What a ruthless person…!’
Sa Bigang shrugged his shoulders.
“There’s nothing I can do. These fellows have too much respect for me…”
‘He’s saying that about himself!’
Deung Bu-hyeong swallowed his inner thoughts and quickly shouted.
“I understand. I understand, so make them stop.”
“Then you won’t blame them for following me?”
“Well, if close brothers want to help an instructor with his difficulties, what can I say?”
“Hmm. If you understand it that way…”
“Of course. If these people look up to Instructor Sa so much, then Instructor Sa’s moral character must be high.”
“Well, I understand. Jeok-san. Put away your sword and treat that fellow.”
Only then did Go Jeok-san put away his sword and bow his head.
“Thank you, my lord!”
When Jeok-san quickly gave instructions, the injured subordinate was carried away on a stretcher.
Seeing this, Deung Bu-hyeong finally let out a sigh of relief.
‘What terribly ruthless fellows… Whew.’
Sa Bigang approached with a bright smile.
“By the way, did Instructor Deung take care of personal business? I hope I didn’t ruin your plans.”
“Ah, well, I took care of it roughly.”
Deung Bu-hyeong nodded while glancing at his broken Seungryong-do.
It hurt as much as if his own arm had been broken.
He spoke in a grumbling tone.
“But if those people cause problems like before, then the academy might hold Instructor Sa responsible.”
“Haha. Don’t worry about that. If such a thing happened, I’d kill the fellows myself first.”
Deung Bu-hyeong flinched and looked at Sa Bigang.
His mouth was smiling, but his coldly hardened eyes showed that those words were sincere.
‘This person is no longer someone I can challenge.’
As Deung Bu-hyeong bowed his head deeply, Sa Bigang patted his shoulder.
“Well then, let’s go back together. I’ll be busy preparing for the Martial Arts Study Journey from now on. Hahaha.”
Sa Bigang’s cheerful laughter echoed through the training ground.
