Chapter 36
“Mmm….”
Neung So-so let out a faint moan.
Dressed in thin light armor, she was drenched in sweat.
White steam rose from her entire body.
Beads of sweat had formed on Sa Bigang’s forehead as well, as he kept his hand pressed against her back.
It had already been one shijin.
This wasn’t about opening blocked meridians.
It was about diluting all the energy of the Moon Wolf Heart Method that had permeated Neung So-so’s body.
If anyone had witnessed this, they would have been horrified.
Neung So-so was a disciple of Moon Heaven Gate.
The Moon Wolf Heart Method was naturally Moon Heaven Gate’s exclusive cultivation technique.
Yet here they were, completely dismantling the energy of the Moon Wolf Heart Method she had worked so hard to cultivate!
If the Moon Heaven Gate Master learned of this fact, he might have immediately drawn his sword and demanded a fight.
About half a gak more passed.
“Huuuuu.”
Sa Bigang let out a long breath and straightened his posture.
Only then did Neung So-so also exhale roughly and collapse forward, pressing her hands against the ground.
She looked as if she might collapse at any moment.
“I’ve now considerably erased the scent of the Moon Wolf Heart Method. From now on, it will be much easier to circulate energy in the way I taught you.”
“Thank you, Instructor.”
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, it’s a bit difficult, but there’s no problem.”
Neung So-so nodded with a gentle smile.
“You did well.”
As Sa Bigang was about to get up from his seat.
“Um, Instructor.”
“Hmm?”
“It will really… be okay, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“If the Gate Master finds out that I’ve diluted all the energy of the exclusive cultivation technique I worked so hard to learn….”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility.”
Sa Bigang replied with a stern expression.
He could fully understand Neung So-so’s concern.
Moon Heaven Gate would naturally object if they learned of this.
However, Neung So-so’s ability would definitely be needed in the future.
Even Moon Heaven Gate would eventually realize Neung So-so’s special talent in the distant future and strive to develop it.
But it was too late to wait until then.
In reality, Neung So-so would die without even fully utilizing her talent.
‘I can’t let that happen again.’
If the Moon Heaven Gate Master objected, he would somehow persuade him.
Sa Bigang threw off his upper garment and asked while cooling off his sweat.
“Do you remember the way I circulated energy for you at the end?”
“Yes, Instructor.”
“Never forget that cultivation method and practice it often.”
“But when I cultivate that way, it seems like my energy gradually dissipates.”
“That’s a natural result. For the talent you’ll display in the future, internal energy won’t be much help. Rather, it will be a hindrance.”
“Then why do I need to cultivate?”
“Because you need to apply that energy in a different way. The cultivation method I taught you doesn’t exist in the Central Plains. However, it definitely won’t harm you, so you can trust it.”
“I understand.”
Neung So-so smiled shyly.
In truth, she hadn’t disliked Sa Bigang from the beginning.
Other instructors had never treated her, who came from a minor sect, with such special care.
Her humble origins and mediocre martial arts skills made her just average.
On top of that, her timid personality made it difficult to adapt to the academy.
But Sa Bigang treated her differently.
‘Someone who needs me.’
It wasn’t just because she was entrusted with the important task of managing horses.
When she looked into Sa Bigang’s eyes, she somehow felt that she was a necessary person.
“Weren’t you hurt?”
“I’ve gotten used to it now, so it was fine.”
“Well, that’s fortunate.”
“But after doing this every night, I feel like I can sense everything well.”
“Specifically?”
“Just… the air, smells, moods… the flow of nature, I suppose… Oh, did I speak too grandly?”
Sa Bigang smiled.
It was only for a very brief moment, but Neung So-so held her breath.
It was the first time she had seen Sa Bigang smile so gently.
‘Instructor… you can smile like that too.’
Sa Bigang said.
“You’re speaking correctly. Don’t forget that sensation. I’ll help you feel it more often in the future.”
“Thank you.”
“Practice often even when you’re alone. Of course, in a place where no one will disturb you. The more you do it, the more alive your senses will become. Eventually, you’ll feel something else entirely.”
“Something else entirely?”
“Yes, something different from what you know. Then you’ll feel fantastic. I guarantee it. Now change your clothes and go back slowly.”
“Yes, Instructor. Thank you for today as well.”
Sa Bigang casually waved his hand and walked away with heavy steps.
Meanwhile, as he opened his quarters’ door and came outside, Mae Seol-lan’s eyes, who had been hiding in the darkness watching, narrowed.
She bit her lips tightly while watching Sa Bigang’s retreating figure.
‘Tsk, what? What exactly are those two…!’
By today, Sa Bigang should have been rolling around in bed with her.
But….
Mae Seol-lan slightly opened the window and looked inside the quarters.
She could see Neung So-so putting on clothes with her back turned.
‘Sa Bigang, this person really…!’
As suspicion turned to certainty, anger slowly began to rise.
Several parts of the conversation she had overheard floated through her mind.
‘Are you feeling alright?’
‘Yes, it was a bit difficult, but there’s no problem.’
‘Weren’t you hurt?’
‘I’ve gotten used to it now, so it’s fine. Doing this every night makes me feel so much better.’
‘I’ll help you feel it more often in the future. Practice often even when you’re alone. Eventually, you’ll feel something fantastic.’
‘Ah, I want to feel more!’
Deep in thought, Mae Seol-lan didn’t even realize that the conversation between the two was being slightly embellished in her mind.
She bit her thumbnail slightly and muttered.
“Let’s see. Sa Bigang. Let’s see who wins.”
An instructor having relations with a student was a clear violation of Hall Rules.
It was more than enough to strip him of his instructor position.
But this required solid evidence.
Then perhaps it would be faster for her to resolve this directly.
“If that’s really your taste…!”
Mae Seol-lan clenched her fist.
***
Two days later, the Special Purpose Class students left Changcheon Gate under Sa Bigang’s guidance.
Having spent a day staying at Changcheon Gate for free observation, the students’ complaints had considerably subsided.
Changcheon Gate Master Ho Yo-beom regretted their departure and asked them to stay longer, but Sa Bigang declined.
While he couldn’t speak for others, he had a clear purpose for this Martial Arts Study Journey.
Eventually, Ho Yo-beom led all his disciples to the village entrance to see them off.
Not only that, but all the people of Angang followed behind them to bid farewell.
Having embarked on the journey, Sa Bigang closed the window and stretched greatly.
“Haaaam! Should I catch some sleep now?”
However, Mae Seol-lan, who had set up a curtain in the middle and sat inside, hadn’t said a word for some reason.
“Miss Mae, are you alright?”
“Just a moment.”
Mae Seol-lan’s voice came from beyond the curtain.
‘Just a moment….’
Sa Bigang made a puzzled expression.
“I’m ready.”
With a cheerful sound, Mae Seol-lan pushed aside the curtain and revealed herself.
But….
“Huh.”
Sa Bigang flinched and looked at her.
“Miss Mae… why are you dressed as a student…?”
That wasn’t all.
Her hair was rolled up in a round style, making her look like a teenage girl.
Well, that much was still acceptable.
But her cheeks were daubed with powder, turning them a deep red as if bruised all over, and her lips were pale and bluish like a sick person’s.
Eventually, Sa Bigang clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.
“Pfft, kukook. Kahahahahaha!”
It truly looked like she had tried makeup for the first time.
In fact, Mae Seol-lan was clumsy with makeup.
Since her natural beauty was so striking, she had never felt the need for makeup in daily life.
Besides, it was bothersome too.
As a result, her attempt to look younger had unintentionally become comical.
At the completely unexpected reaction, Mae Seol-lan’s face soon turned bright red.
“Kahahaha! Now I see Miss Mae can pull pranks like this too! Kahahaha!”
Now Sa Bigang was giggling uncontrollably.
Mae Seol-lan bit her lips tightly.
‘For me to suffer such… humiliation…!’
She gritted her teeth and spat out as if chewing her words.
“Stop it.”
“Kukook. No, why? Wasn’t Miss Mae’s intention to make me laugh? Kukukook.”
“I said stop it! I don’t know!”
Mae Seol-lan shouted loudly and went inside, pulling the curtain shut.
Sa Bigang couldn’t understand what was happening at all, but he couldn’t stop the laughter that kept escaping through his lips.
***
Splash.
The fishing hook fell, creating circular ripples on the water’s surface.
An old man holding a long bamboo fishing rod.
Yongcheon Hall Master Eun Gi-ryung sat by the pond, quietly gazing at the water’s surface.
Cheongshim Pond behind Taesa Hall at Yongcheon Hall.
This was Eun Gi-ryung’s favorite place.
To his left stood his bodyguard Yeo Yeong, and to his right was Dean Ju Yu-cheon.
Silence descended upon Cheongshim Pond.
Eun Gi-ryung was the first to break that silence.
“The incident in Angang was truly unfortunate.”
“Three sects were destroyed in two nights, so it’s no ordinary matter. Has the Alliance said nothing?”
Eun Gi-ryung slowly shook his head.
“Nothing definitive has come out yet.”
“I see.”
Ju Yu-cheon looked at the pond with a somewhat worried expression.
Seeing this, the Hall Master asked with a gentle smile.
“Perhaps it’s because of Instructor Sa?”
Ju Yu-cheon let out a long sigh.
“I won’t deny it.”
“Indeed. It’s quite a coincidence that the timing overlaps, so even I’m a bit concerned.”
The tragedy that occurred in Angang.
Strangely, the timing coincided with when Sa Bigang arrived there.
Confirming Ju Yu-cheon’s dark expression again, Eun Gi-ryung asked in his characteristically gentle voice.
“Do you think Instructor Sa is related to that incident?”
“Of course, I don’t believe he has reason to do such a thing, nor the ability to destroy three sects.”
“But?”
“It’s just that his temperament has changed strangely recently. Moreover, when he said he would leave for Angang, his expression was somewhat…”
Ju Yu-cheon trailed off.
Sa Bigang’s eyes at that time seemed as if he was plotting something.
Not simply thinking about the Martial Arts Study Journey, but as if he had some other scheme.
However, since it was only his intuition, he was cautious about voicing it.
“Let’s wait and see. More accurate news will come.”
Ju Yu-cheon let out a long sigh.
“What on earth is he up to…”
A look of regret crossed his face.
He thought he ‘should have opposed it to the end’ after all.
While there was no Hall Rule stating that a Martial Arts Study Journey couldn’t last more than a month, there was also no rule saying one couldn’t oppose it.
Just then, Cheon Se-myeong approached from far away.
He looked quite excited.
Ju Yu-cheon already seemed to guess what he would say and closed his eyes tightly.
“Dean. You were here! Did you happen to know?”
He who had been speaking loudly suddenly noticed Eun Gi-ryung and quickly performed the cupped hands salute.
“Instructor Cheon Se-myeong greets the Hall Master.”
“Hehe, it’s been a while. Instructor Cheon. Is there some urgent matter?”
“You both must know about the incident in Angang, right?”
Eun Gi-ryung nodded silently.
Cheon Se-myeong immediately continued.
“The timing is suspicious. Three sects were destroyed right when Instructor Sa Bigang arrived there. Doesn’t it smell fishy?”
“……”
“Instructor Sa must be connected to it somehow. We should immediately send someone to summon Instructor Sa back. And we should question him about the Angang incident and hold him responsible if he’s involved.”
“But there’s no evidence, is there?”
To Ju Yu-cheon’s words, Cheon Se-myeong retorted.
“Of course not, but the students are also in danger this way. Three perfectly fine sects were destroyed, so there’s no guarantee that the students who were there are safe, is there? Either way, there’s sufficient reason to summon them back.”
“Hmm.”
Ju Yu-cheon, who had been pondering, cast his gaze toward Eun Gi-ryung.
“I think Instructor Cheon’s words have merit too.”
