Chapter 37
“Hmm.”
This time Eun Gi-ryung let out a contemplative sound and quietly gazed at the water’s surface.
“Indeed, that point has merit.”
He too nodded his head.
Since such a terrible incident had occurred at the place where the students had visited, stopping the Martial Arts Study Journey for now would be one solution.
Cheon Se-myeong looked at Eun Gi-ryung.
“Hall Master. The students’ safety is the top priority. Please send someone.”
“Hmm. Very well, I’ll send someone to halt the Special Purpose Class’s Martial Arts Study Journey and summon Instructor Sa back to the hall immediately…”
That was when it happened.
“Instructor Cheon!”
From a distance, Deung Bu-hyeong came running while displaying his lightness technique.
Having arrived at Cheongshim Pond, he immediately showed proper respect upon seeing Ju Yu-cheon and Eun Gi-ryung.
Ju Yu-cheon asked him.
“What’s the matter?”
“Someone has come from Angang.”
“From Angang?”
This time all three men turned their gazes toward Deung Bu-hyeong.
Cheon Se-myeong shouted “That’s it!”
“Look at this! Why would someone from Angang come all the way here? To Yongcheon Hall, not even the Jeongdo Alliance! This must mean that the incident is connected to Instructor Sa Bigang! We must arrest that man immediately!”
The expression of ‘summon him’ had instantly become aggressive.
Finally, Eun Gi-ryung slowly stood up.
“The fish really aren’t biting today. But that guest who came from Angang is…?”
Receiving his gaze, Deung Bu-hyeong quickly bowed his head and answered.
“It’s Changcheon Gate Master Ho Yo-beom.”
At those words, Ju Yu-cheon and Cheon Se-myeong flinched.
Was it such a serious matter that the Gate Master had come personally?
“Then, let’s go meet him.”
The Hall Master stroked his beard and began walking.
Ju Yu-cheon immediately followed behind him.
Meanwhile, Cheon Se-myeong watched their retreating figures while inwardly unable to contain his laughter.
‘Hehehe. Sa Bigang! Finally your end has come!’
However it was connected, this was an incident where three sects had disappeared.
He would surely bear heavy responsibility.
***
Ju Yu-cheon’s eyes widened in shock.
“What is all this?”
He looked at the box placed on the table.
Inside the box were silver ingots packed full.
Ho Yo-beom, sitting across from him, answered with a benevolent smile.
“This is our small token of sincerity.”
“Sincerity, you say…”
“This is a donation we’re giving to Yongcheon Hall. It’s just our gratitude put into form, so please don’t refuse it. We’re offering it without expecting anything in return.”
“But our Yongcheon Hall cannot accept such things.”
“This isn’t being offered by our Changcheon Gate alone.”
At Ho Yo-beom’s answer, Ju Yu-cheon exchanged glances with Eun Gi-ryung.
He asked Ho Yo-beom again.
“Then…?”
“This was collected bit by bit by all the people of Angang. Of course, our Changcheon Gate contributed a little as well.”
“Why on earth would Angang do such a thing…?”
“We simply hope it will be used for Yongcheon Hall to nurture good talent. Though this cannot express it all, please consider it the heart of us Angang people.”
“Well, why would you bring this to Yongcheon Hall…?”
“We people of Angang have received great kindness from Yongcheon Hall’s Instructor Sa Bigang.”
“Kindness? What do you mean by that?”
Ho Yo-beom smiled warmly and told them everything about what had happened in Angang.
As they listened to the story, the faces of Eun Gi-ryung and Ju Yu-cheon constantly changed between surprise, admiration, and bewilderment.
When he had finished telling the entire story:
“Hooo. Such a thing happened.”
Eun Gi-ryung replied while stroking his beard with a gentle smile.
“Yes, Instructor Sa Bigang is truly a remarkable person. Having such a person here means the Yongcheon Hall students have received a blessing.”
“We’re rather grateful that you think so.”
“Then, will you accept our pure sincerity now?”
“Since you’ve come such a long way, it wouldn’t be right to send it back as is, so I’ll make sure it’s used for good purposes.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be sure to convey the deep intentions of Changcheon Gate and the Angang people to Instructor Sa Bigang when he returns.”
The Hall Master spoke with a gentle smile.
Only then did a faint smile appear on Ju Yu-cheon’s expression as well.
Meanwhile, the two people eavesdropping on their conversation from outside:
Cheon Se-myeong and Deung Bu-hyeong ground their teeth.
‘How on earth did this happen?’
‘How would I know? Damn it!’
Both men’s faces contorted as if they had chewed on excrement.
***
Ten days after leaving Angang.
The Special Purpose Class led by Sa Bigang was now entering a village called ‘Jayang.’
The students’ complaints, which had been temporarily suppressed after receiving generous hospitality in Angang, were gradually rising again.
Having continued forced marches for the past ten days without proper rest.
Perhaps because of this?
Sa Bigang declared that he would choose a proper inn in Jayang village as their lodging.
Dan Li-jeong, who was driving the four-horse carriage in front, happened to see a person standing by the roadside and asked.
“Elder, may I ask you something?”
“……”
“Around where might there be an inn suitable for lodging in the village?”
“……”
The man who looked quite aged examined the students’ appearance with disapproving eyes, then coldly turned away.
‘What? Why is he acting like that?’
Dan Li-jeong pouted his lips and drove the carriage again.
While passing through the streets, all the people they met glanced at the Special Purpose Class group with somewhat wary eyes.
Fortunately, finding an inn wasn’t too difficult.
Upon reaching the inn, Sa Bigang went inside.
“Do you happen to have rooms available?”
The innkeeper, having confirmed the fairly large number of people, came out personally to greet them.
“How many people in total?”
“A little over twenty.”
“Our inn has eight rooms total. How about three people sharing each room?”
Sa Bigang glanced at Mae Seol-lan.
Mae Seol-lan answered while pretending to act indifferent.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind… sharing with the instructor.”
Though she spoke as if grumbling on the surface, her inner feelings were actually quite urgent.
The relationship that had started getting complicated since Angang hadn’t recovered at all.
She had to seize the opportunity by sharing a room now.
This was definitely the first time she had invested so much time in seducing one man.
‘Don’t tell me he’s really impotent?’
How could he hold out this long with her right in front of him?
It wasn’t as if there hadn’t been opportunities to pounce on him.
How many times had she set the table for him?
But even when picking up the spoon, he would put it down at the crucial moment.
It was truly maddening.
As a result, Mae Seol-lan’s wounded pride was beyond description.
Sa Bigang rented the entire inn.
Since they had been camping rough almost the whole time, their funds were still more than sufficient.
The students, who would be staying in proper lodging after so long, went to their respective rooms and collapsed.
Only when lunchtime came did Sa Bigang briefly inform the students who had gathered on the lower floor about precautions.
“We’ll be staying here for two days. During that time, you’re free. As long as you don’t violate the Hall Rules, I don’t care what you do. However, don’t leave this village, and you must return to the lodging before midnight. If anything happens, use the signal flares. Any questions?”
Then Gok Bo-ok raised his hand.
When Sa Bigang gestured with his chin, he asked.
“Where is this place that we’re staying for two whole days?”
“It’s a village called ‘Jayang.’ That’s all.”
“Huh? But why are we staying for two days? Does it have some meaning?”
Sa Bigang grinned.
It was his habit that came out whenever he was about to say something forced.
“Adapting to unfamiliar places is also a form of training.”
The students stirred restlessly.
“Is that supposed to be words or farts?”
Gok Bo-ok grumbled loud enough to be heard.
“Well, if there are no other questions, that’s all.”
As Sa Bigang finished speaking, the serving boy began carrying food to the dining table.
Just then, Gok Bo-ok asked the serving boy.
“Hey, are people here originally all this unfriendly?”
Gok Bo-ok too had seen the residents giving sidelong glances on the way to the inn.
The serving boy smiled sheepishly and bowed obsequiously.
“Please understand, young masters. The atmosphere in this village has been a bit unsettled recently.”
“Why?”
“Well… actually, recently the Black Blade Twin Demons have appeared and keep kidnapping women from the village.”
“Black Blade Twin Demons?”
When Gok Bo-ok raised his voice, all the other students also looked this way.
The serving boy glanced around nervously and nodded repeatedly.
“Yes. Our village doesn’t have many martial artists, so we’re helplessly being victimized. The officials have completely given up. So the village atmosphere is ominous, and even when seeing outsiders, we’re wary first.”
Come to think of it, the fact that the inn had so few guests like this was somewhat understandable.
Then Yeom Ja-ryang’s complexion brightened.
He slapped his knee.
“Ah! Instructor, you had that in mind after all!”
Sa Bigang frowned and turned around.
“What are you talking about?”
“The Black Blade Twin Demons. The mission we’re to undertake here is to subjugate the Black Blade Twin Demons, right?”
Yeom Ja-ryang looked at Sa Bigang with expectant eyes.
“Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? There’s no such thing. All of you just be careful not to get kidnapped.”
“What? Then why did we really come here? What kind of Martial Arts Study Journey is this?”
This time even Yeom Ja-ryang couldn’t hold back and grumbled.
“I told you. Adapting to unfamiliar places is also part of training.”
“But staying scared and doing nothing isn’t the right thing to do, is it?”
At that moment, Sa Bigang’s eyes turned cold.
“You seem to be mistaken about something. The way to survive well in the martial world isn’t to show off with superficial heroics, but to survive as long as possible without dying.”
“What’s that supposed to…”
The students each grumbled with disappointed tones.
But Sa Bigang didn’t say anything more.
That was actually the truth.
Ten years from now.
When those things appeared, the ones who recklessly acted up trusting only their own abilities died first.
But those who exercised caution survived the longest.
Of course, even then they couldn’t prevent the disaster.
Meanwhile, Gok Bo-ok openly sneered and muttered.
“What? He’s totally scared. To think we’re following such a person as an instructor. Ahh, we’re truly pitiful.”
The students sitting nearby giggled.
Suddenly Gok Bo-ok looked at Yeon U-gyeong.
“How about we take care of it ourselves? If it’s the Black Blade Twin Demons, it’s only two people anyway, right?”
“True, since we’re five people, it might be doable.”
At the words of a nearby student, Gok Bo-ok shrugged his shoulders and praised Yeon U-gyeong.
“Even without counting numbers, with U-gyeong’s sword skills, those guys would be nothing.”
“That’s right.”
The students echoed in agreement and flattery.
Yeon U-gyeong, who had been quietly lost in thought until then, wore a faint smile.
“Black Blade Twin Demons… Interesting.”
“Right? Should we subjugate those guys ourselves?”
“No. I thought of something even more interesting.”
“Something more interesting?”
Instead of answering, Yeon U-gyeong only looked at Sa Bigang with a cold smile.
