Episode 149: The Return of the Martial Arts Instructor
“What? Instructor Sabi Kang?”
Deng Wangpa shouted, his voice rising in disbelief.
He couldn’t believe it. Yet again, that name had surfaced.
Sabi Kang.
Ever since that man appeared, nothing had gone smoothly. It would have been better if the so-called Sabi Kang hadn’t rescued the prisoners, even if it meant failing the rat-hunting operation.
This was like a rolling stone displacing a settled one.
“Appointing Instructor Sabi Kang as the head of the Inspection Bureau? Are you out of your mind?”
“Oh, it’s not my decision. That’s entirely within the leader’s authority.”
“Regardless! That man has no connection to our alliance, does he?”
“That’s not entirely true. Instructor Sabi Kang works under our alliance at Yongcheon Hall. Besides, to lead the Inspection Bureau, wouldn’t it be better to have someone less entangled with our alliance?”
“Even so, making such a unilateral decision is unacceptable!”
“Of course, it’s not a unilateral decision. As I mentioned earlier, I’m merely offering my opinion. The final authority rests with the leader. However, I do wish to hear your thoughts.”
Deng Wangpa gritted his teeth. If he couldn’t prevent the establishment of the Inspection Bureau, he intended to place his own person in charge. It wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to try.
But Gu Yun had beaten him to the punch. As soon as Sabi Kang’s name was mentioned, many nodded in agreement. Although some warriors showed resistance to his strong opposition, the mood seemed to be shifting towards Sabi Kang.
Gu Yun continued, addressing the crowd.
“As I said, Instructor Sabi Kang is not deeply involved with our alliance, making him an ideal candidate for fair inspections. Moreover, considering his recent contributions, he is more than qualified to be appointed as the head of the Inspection Bureau. What are your thoughts?”
“Does this mean Instructor Sabi Kang will organize the Inspection Bureau as he sees fit?”
Seop Cheong, the head of the Sword Arts Division, asked with a friendly demeanor.
Gu Yun nodded.
“Indeed. That way, it will be composed of individuals not entangled with our alliance. If our alliance’s parasites latch onto the Inspection Bureau, proper inspections won’t be possible.”
“That makes sense. Your wisdom is truly admirable.”
However, not everyone was as agreeable as Seop Cheong. Naturally, those aligned with Deng Wangpa voiced strong objections.
“But if someone who was merely an instructor becomes the head, won’t he be disrespected or ignored? The Inspection Bureau should be feared, not ridiculed!”
“That’s why it’s best to appoint him quickly. Instructor Sabi Kang’s reputation is well-known, not just among the righteous factions but also the unorthodox ones. Appointing him now would leave little room for objection. And…”
Gu Yun trailed off, pulling out some documents from his sleeve.
“These are recommendations from various regions. Even the Sword Arts Clan and the Island Sword Clan have recommended Instructor Sabi Kang for the position. Many prestigious factions have done the same.”
Gu Yun smiled, having anticipated this moment thanks to Sabi Kang’s foresight.
“They’ll write recommendations for me without hesitation,” Sabi Kang had assured him.
Trusting those words, Gu Yun had sent his subordinates to gather the recommendations, which they did with ease.
Before Deng Wangpa could voice another complaint, Gu Yun spoke again, as Sabi Kang had advised.
He turned to look at the leaders of the Heavenly Eye Division, the Justice Sword Division, and the Pursuit Division—those who had once been Deng Wangpa’s close allies.
“What are your thoughts?”
Caught off guard, the three exchanged glances, momentarily flustered.
Meanwhile, Deng Wangpa smirked inwardly.
‘Hah! Just because they owe Sabi Kang, do you think they’ll agree to this nonsense? You’ve miscalculated…’
“I… agree with the strategist’s opinion.”
Yi Saheum was the first to speak.
Deng Wangpa’s eyes widened in disbelief as he glared at Yi Saheum, who avoided his gaze.
Then, to his dismay, Yeop Mugang and Sa Jaryong also betrayed his expectations.
“I agree as well.”
“So do I…”
At this point, Deng Wangpa was on the verge of losing his composure.
‘Have they lost their minds?’
Suppressing his rising anger, Gu Yun continued with a smile.
“It seems there are many in favor. Of course, the final decision rests with the leader.”
Gu Yun passed the decision to Neung Unpa, who narrowed his eyes before asking abruptly.
“So, will the current inspection team be taken over by Instructor Sabi Kang?”
“No, the current team will be disbanded. Its members will be reassigned to different departments.”
“Then will Instructor Sabi Kang appoint the core members of the new inspection team?”
“Yes. In fact, he has a specific request regarding that.”
“What is it?”
“He wishes to form the inspection team with the cadets from the Special Training Class.”
“The Special Training Class cadets?”
Neung Unpa’s surprise was evident, and the room buzzed with murmurs.
“Are the cadets capable of handling inspection duties?”
“They’re still young. Can they manage such significant responsibilities?”
Even the leader’s close aides voiced their concerns.
Gu Yun, having anticipated this, responded calmly.
“The Inspection Bureau will officially launch in three months. If the cadets’ abilities are deemed insufficient by then, Instructor Sabi Kang is prepared to replace them with others.”
This assurance quelled some of the concerns, though Deng Wangpa felt a mix of relief and scorn.
‘Cadets as inspectors? Ha! This isn’t child’s play. This is the heart of the alliance, a political battlefield. They’ll crumble under the pressure.’
If anything, having cadets might make them easier to manipulate. How much could they achieve with mere first-rate cadets?
With Deng Wangpa offering no further objections, Neung Unpa spoke again.
“Very well, strategist, set a precise launch date and report back to me.”
“Understood, leader.”
**
Gu Yun visited Sabi Kang once more.
“The Inspection Bureau will be established. The leader will appoint you as its head. It’s set to launch in a hundred days. I’ve delayed it as much as possible.”
“Understood.”
“The leadership has many concerns, primarily about…”
“The cadets’ capabilities, I assume.”
“Yes. The leadership worries that if the inspection team is composed of cadets, it won’t be effective. I share that concern.”
“As I’ve said, don’t worry.”
“Ensure that your confidence translates into the cadets’ abilities, so they can uphold the bureau’s strength and dignity.”
“Understood. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I have a meeting at Yongdam Hall.”
“Very well. See you in a hundred days.”
After Gu Yun left, Sabi Kang headed out of his office, running into Maeseolran.
“How did it go?”
“In a hundred days, I’ll be heading the Inspection Bureau.”
“And the cadets?”
“They’ll come with me. The launch was delayed to give us time.”
“What will you do? You can’t turn cadets into top experts overnight…”
“We have good weapons and a good instructor. There’s nothing to worry about. What about the meeting?”
Maeseolran sighed deeply.
“It started a while ago. As an assistant instructor, I’m not allowed to attend.”
“Well, let’s head there now.”
Sabi Kang strolled leisurely towards the meeting.
**
“This is too much, isn’t it?”
The voice, sharp with frustration, belonged to Deung Buhyeong.
He stood, passionately making his case.
“While it’s true that Instructor Sabi Kang has made significant contributions to the alliance, he has duties as an instructor. Yet, he’s constantly away, recently taking two cadets somewhere and returning. Such behavior sets a bad example for other classes.”
Cheon Saemyeong nodded in agreement.
“It’s indeed a concern. When everything is going well, one should be humble and cautious. Instructor Sabi Kang’s recent actions are worrisome.”
“Hmm.”
Dean Juyucheon pondered deeply, understanding their grievances to some extent.
However, there wasn’t enough cause to reprimand Sabi Kang. He had agreed not to interfere with Sabi Kang’s teaching methods.
Thus, he could only offer a warning.
‘But that won’t satisfy them.’
There was, however, another way.
If an instructor’s attitude negatively impacts the overall academic atmosphere, there are regulations in place to address it.
“Looks like disciplinary action might be unavoidable…”
Ju Yu-cheon sighed softly just as the door swung open and Sa Bi-gang entered the Yongdam Room.
Immediately, Cheon Se-myeong’s sharp voice cut through the air.
“Have you been frequenting the Jeongdo League so much that you now find Yongcheon Academy trivial?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was a bit late.”
“Do we all have to wait for one instructor? What exactly is your excuse for being late?”
“Well… General Gu paid me a visit, which delayed me a bit.”
“General Gu… you mean the Chief Military Officer of the League?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
At Sa Bi-gang’s response, the room filled with murmurs of surprise as people exchanged bewildered glances.
Gu Yoon was known for keeping his movements under wraps, so the instructors were taken aback to hear that the Chief Military Officer had been there.
Faced with this unexpected explanation, Cheon Se-myeong found himself at a loss for words.
“Ahem. Well, even so, this can’t become a regular occurrence.”
“I doubt it will.”
Detecting a hidden meaning in Sa Bi-gang’s peculiar tone, Cheon Se-myeong furrowed his brow.
“What do you mean by that?”
Sa Bi-gang turned to Ju Yu-cheon and offered a respectful gesture.
“The Special Class will embark on a training expedition for the next hundred days. I seek your approval, Headmaster.”
“What? Another training expedition? This academy isn’t some travel agency…”
“In a hundred days, the Jeongdo League will establish the Inspection Bureau. I’ve been appointed as its head, and the current Special Class cadets will form the inspection team. We need this training period.”
Sa Bi-gang’s bold declaration left Cheon Se-myeong and the other instructors speechless, their mouths agape.
Even Headmaster Ju Yu-cheon couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“Is that… is that true, Instructor Sa?”
“Yes, you’ll soon receive an official cooperation request from the League.”