Episode 217: The Return of the Martial Arts Instructor
His eyes were swollen shut, his cheeks puffed up like he was holding cotton balls in his mouth, and his lips were split, with cuts and bruises covering his body. His hair was a wild mess, sticking out in all directions as if struck by lightning. It was a sight so pitiful, it was hard to look at him with open eyes.
Jin Jo-young, in this wretched state, managed to mumble through his swollen lips, “Please… spare me… I was wrong…”
In his trembling hands, he held a piece of paper. At the top, it read “Voice of the Heart.”
Sabi Kang took the paper, folded it, and tucked it into his robe. “I’ll take this heartfelt message of yours into consideration. Make sure you attend all the classes from now on.”
“Y-yes… I will…”
With those words barely out of his mouth, Jin Jo-young collapsed forward. Around him lay the unconscious bodies of Maeng Ga-sook’s group, sprawled out in disarray, all in similar condition to Jin Jo-young.
“Tsk, tsk. If only they’d come to their senses before getting beaten. Some people only learn the hard way,” Sabi Kang muttered, clicking his tongue as he turned away.
He approached Maeng Ga-sook, who was slumped over a rock, and pulled out a healing potion. The large potion wasn’t just about quantity; its effects were far superior to the smaller ones.
‘Using something this precious on these fools…’
Of course, he didn’t plan to use it all. Just enough to prevent any permanent damage, leaving the rest for them to recover on their own.
As he uncorked the bottle, a peculiar aroma wafted out, unlike any common elixir found in the central plains.
He poured the red liquid over the wound, and it sizzled as if burning, rapidly healing the injury.
“Ugh…”
Even in his unconscious state, Maeng Ga-sook let out a faint groan.
Satisfied with the healing, Sabi Kang lifted Maeng Ga-sook’s head and poured some of the potion into his mouth.
Gulp. Gulp.
The red liquid slid down Maeng Ga-sook’s throat.
‘He sure knows how to drink it down,’ Sabi Kang sighed lightly.
After using up half the large potion, Maeng Ga-sook’s complexion seemed to improve slightly. Sabi Kang considered giving him a mana potion to boost his energy but decided against it. They wouldn’t know how to use mana anyway, so it would be pointless.
‘This should be enough.’
With that, Sabi Kang turned away without a second thought.
**
A week passed.
Rumors spread quickly that Maeng Ga-sook’s group had been subdued by Sabi Kang. They claimed that a deadly assassin was backing Sabi Kang, but no one believed them.
“An assassin? They’re just making excuses to save face.”
“Exactly. They should at least come up with something believable.”
“Maybe they hired some third-rate mercenaries to pretend to be assassins.”
“Still, I’m curious. Who exactly is this instructor?”
As a result, many of the absentees began to take an interest in Sabi Kang. Moreover, word spread that the once shabby training ground and hall had been completely transformed, piquing their curiosity even more.
Eventually, many of the absentees found their way to the training ground. They were first struck by the completely changed atmosphere. What was once a barren clearing now boasted a luxurious facility complete with a garden.
On one side of the training ground stood racks of practice weapons, and on the other, a pavilion and pond for rest. Some areas were covered in grass, while others were paved with marble.
‘How many people did it take to transform this place in such a short time?’
Everyone marveled at the transformation, shaking their heads in disbelief.
And that wasn’t all. The instructor’s quarters, which had seemed ready to collapse, were now as grand and splendid as any building in the palace.
The most astonishing fact was that all of this had been done at Sabi Kang’s own expense, without a single penny of support. Such immense wealth was truly remarkable.
These changes undeniably fueled the students’ curiosity even further.
Watching the bustling students, Jeok Mu-rin couldn’t help but be impressed. It was impossible not to acknowledge it at this point, regardless of whether Sabi Kang’s methods were right or wrong. He had undeniably captured the students’ attention.
When he first arrived, there had been only one student. Yet now, aside from three holdouts, all the students had gathered at the training ground.
A scene unimaginable just a week ago.
As the students murmured among themselves, Sabi Kang emerged from the training hall, and silence fell as they all turned to look at him.
It was a simple reaction, but even this was refreshing to Jeok Mu-rin.
‘To think he could silence them just by appearing.’
And with nothing more than his presence!
It was truly astonishing. These were people so cold-blooded they wouldn’t bat an eye if a relative died in front of them. Yet Sabi Kang had managed to command their attention just by showing up.
A breeze swept through the training ground, bringing with it a moment of stillness. The students held their breath, eyes fixed on Sabi Kang.
Today was, in many ways, the first real lesson.
The new building was complete, and all but three students were present.
Jeok Mu-rin approached Sabi Kang and quietly reported, “Three are absent.”
“Who?”
“Seol Su-min, Seol Seo-rin, and Gu Gang-ryong.”
“Gu Gang-ryong… wasn’t he the one who was demoted from the leader of the Wind Slayers to a squad leader?”
“Yes, he was demoted to a squad leader and then assigned here as a student.”
“Hmm. I see. They’re the last ones, then.”
“They are…”
“Hmm?”
Jeok Mu-rin hesitated, then shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
He had been about to say they should give up on those three, that they would never attend the lessons. But…
He decided to hold his tongue.
Hadn’t he been wrong before?
He hadn’t expected Bang Gak to attend the lessons, nor had he thought Yoo Song-ryeong and Seok Tan-gang would show up. Yet here they were, along with Maeng Ga-sook’s group and so many others.
It seemed unwise to make any assumptions about the future.
Sabi Kang stepped onto the platform. The training ground was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
“I’m Sabi Kang, your instructor. I assume you all know that by now?”
Finally, Sabi Kang spoke.
As if on cue, a tense energy filled the air among the students. Though they were here out of curiosity or respect for his abilities, they couldn’t hide their competitive spirit against a martial artist from the orthodox sects.
Sabi Kang chuckled softly. “Heh, heh. I like this atmosphere. It’s not bad. I’ll make sure to live up to it.”
Just then, someone stepped forward and shouted, “Are you really that strong?”
The man was built like a fortress, a martial artist who had mastered the art of the fist, known as Baek Gong-bo, the Blood Fist King.
Sabi Kang looked at him calmly and replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “I am strong.”
As soon as he spoke, the silence shattered, and murmurs spread through the crowd. No one had expected an orthodox martial artist to speak so arrogantly in front of so many from the unorthodox sects.
Baek Gong-bo rotated his right shoulder with a loud crack and said, “How strong are you?”
“Very strong.”
“Hmph! I hope it’s not just talk.”
“You have a poor way of speaking to your instructor. Come up here.”
“I’ve been waiting for this!”
Baek Gong-bo stomped forward with a look of anticipation.
The other martial artists watched with interest as Baek Gong-bo approached the platform. Once he was up there, Sabi Kang looked him over and nodded.
“You have a well-trained body. But you’re too focused on external strength. You should work more on your internal energy.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Who asked for your advice? Prove how strong you are!”
“How would you like me to prove it?”
“How about a fistfight with me?”
Baek Gong-bo rotated his right shoulder again, the sound echoing through the air.
A fistfight involved two people standing side by side, exchanging punches until one could no longer use their fists or admitted defeat.
Sabi Kang chuckled and shook his head. “I decline.”
The room erupted in jeers.
“What? After all that talk about being strong, he’s chickening out?”
“Well, a fistfight with the Blood Fist King is something to avoid, I suppose. Especially if he’s a swordsman.”
“Still, shouldn’t an instructor be able to win with just their fists? Or are you just all talk?”
Despite the barrage of taunts, Sabigang remained unfazed, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Baek Gongbo chuckled.
“Seems like I’m better at martial arts than you. Maybe I should be the instructor now.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Sabigang retorted, casually cleaning his ear. Baek Gongbo’s eyebrows shot up in irritation.
“You’re mistaken if you think I’m avoiding a fistfight to protect your cute little fists.”
“What did you say?”
“Otherwise, your fists would be shattered.”
“Ha! Hahaha! Just like they say, even when orthodox sects are drowning, they keep their mouths above water!”
“I have a student named Gok Bo-ok. Even if he fought you, your fists would be in pieces.”
“Enough with the nonsense. Let’s fight!”
“If you insist, I’ll oblige. But I’ll use this.”
Sabigang extended his index finger.
“With your finger?” Baek Gongbo’s face turned a shade of red, then blue.
The audacity! To challenge a martial artist with just a finger? This guy must be insane.
“Fine, if you want to show off, go ahead! Let’s see if your mouth can still run when your finger’s broken!”
“Seems like you need a lesson. Alright, let’s begin.”
Sabigang walked steadily toward Baek Gongbo.
Finally, they stood face to face.
At least in size, Baek Gongbo was much larger than Sabigang.
Baek Gongbo looked down at Sabigang, his cheek twitching, as he slowly raised his fist.
“Shall we start?”
“Fine! Don’t regret it later!”
With a shout, Baek Gongbo launched his fist with force.
Sabigang, with his usual languid expression, extended his finger.
In the next moment,
CRACK!
The sound was so loud, it was hard to believe it came from a fist meeting a finger.
In an instant, Baek Gongbo’s eyes widened.
‘My fist…!’
No, it wasn’t just his fist. It felt like his entire right shoulder was shattering.
It was as if he could hear the sound of bones splintering, echoing in his ears.
After that fleeting moment,
WHOOSH! BOOM!
Astonishingly, Baek Gongbo was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into a distant wall.
CRASH!
The wall crumbled as Baek Gongbo lay there, unable to get up for a while.