Episode 227: Return of the Martial Arts Instructor
“Are you saying they’re perfectly fine?”
Seol Seorin’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Maeng Gasuk, watching her reaction carefully, nodded hesitantly.
“Y-yes, that’s what I heard. I don’t know what trick that instructor pulled, but those kids didn’t have a scratch on them yesterday.”
“That can’t be right,” Seorin murmured, tilting her head in confusion before turning to her brother, Seol Sumin.
“Brother, what do you think happened?”
“I’m not sure. Even I can’t make sense of it.”
“How strange. Could the instructor be lying?”
“I doubt it. Dokgo Dangju confirmed it himself.”
Seorin frowned, her brow furrowing in frustration. It made no sense. They had thoroughly defeated the new recruits, leaving many with broken bones and internal injuries. Even Seok Tangang and Ong Gisung had been taken down. When Maeng Gasuk’s group arrived, they didn’t dare to intervene. They were bullies to the weak and cowards to the strong.
Maeng Gasuk’s group obediently followed the Seol siblings’ orders, first moving the fallen recruits to the training grounds and then providing information to the siblings.
Sumin patted Seorin’s head gently. “Let’s keep an eye on things. This Sabigang seems more interesting than I initially thought.”
“Okay, brother,” Seorin replied with a bright smile.
**
“Ugh…”
Seok Tangang groaned softly, his face twisted in discomfort as if waking from a nightmare. Suddenly, he sat up with a start.
“Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!”
He panted heavily, feeling his body for injuries. Seol Sumin’s attack had pierced his abdomen. But…
“No wounds?”
He was completely healed, as if it had all been a dream. Where was he? He quickly scanned his surroundings.
The room was enclosed, with his fellow recruits lying neatly around him.
“Song Ryeong!”
He spotted Yu Song Ryeong at the far end and rushed over to shake her shoulder.
“Ryeong!”
“Mmm…”
Thankfully, she stirred and opened her eyes, quickly taking in their surroundings.
“Where are we?”
Seok Tangang shook his head, equally clueless. Meanwhile, the other recruits began to wake up, murmuring in confusion.
“Attention, everyone!”
A familiar voice cut through the chatter. All eyes turned to Sabigang, who stood before them.
“Did you all sleep well?”
The recruits exchanged bewildered glances as Sabigang continued.
“This is the underground training room. You were knocked out by the Seol siblings, and I brought you here to heal you.”
The recruits buzzed with disbelief.
“Healed us…?”
“Impossible. How could we recover so quickly…?”
“What on earth happened?”
Sabigang clapped his hands to regain their attention.
“Whether it makes sense or not, it happened. Adapt quickly if you want to survive.”
“What about the Seol siblings?” Seok Tangang demanded, gritting his teeth.
Sabigang shrugged. “I don’t know. They’re probably off somewhere having fun.”
Baek Gongbo frowned. “Didn’t you save us?”
“I healed you, but I didn’t save you. You were left in the training grounds. Someone moved you there.”
The recruits’ expressions darkened. Showing such weakness in front of an instructor from the Justice Alliance was humiliating.
Sabigang smiled faintly. “Given the circumstances, I’ll be changing the lesson plan.”
The recruits turned to him, surprised by the sudden announcement.
“From now on, your mission to assassinate me is suspended. Instead, you’ll be tasked with capturing the Seol siblings.”
“What?”
The recruits were taken aback.
Baek Gongbo stood up abruptly. “Are you joking? After what happened to us, you expect us to do that?”
“Hah! The instructor must not know what those two are like. We can’t do it.”
Bang Gakdo shook his head, and dissent spread like wildfire among the recruits.
Sabigang narrowed his eyes and spoke sharply. “Seems like I’ve gathered a bunch of spineless cowards.”
“What did you say?”
Baek Gongbo shouted, and Sabigang lifted his chin defiantly.
“Am I wrong? You got beaten and now you’re too scared to take a chance at revenge?”
“Hah! You’re the one who’s scared! You’re just trying to pit us against each other because you’re afraid the Seol siblings will actually kill you!”
“Your tone is getting on my nerves.”
“Enough! I’m done with this charade! I’m too old to be learning under someone else!”
Baek Gongbo stormed off, but just as he reached the stairs, an ice wall suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
It was an Ice Wall spell.
Startled, Baek Gongbo stepped back, only for Sabigang to appear behind him and land a punch.
Thud!
Baek Gongbo was sent sprawling, rolling across the floor.
“Ugh!”
He lay on the ground, retching as he struggled to get up. The recruits swallowed nervously, watching Sabigang.
Sabigang cracked his neck and spoke. “I told you to show respect to your instructor. Speak out of line again, and I’ll crush your mouth.”
He surveyed the recruits before continuing. “So, what’s it going to be? Do you want to get beaten, or will you listen?”
From a corner, Seok Tangang slowly stood up. “Can you make us strong enough to beat them?”
All eyes turned to Sabigang, Seok Tangang’s gaze burning with determination. His hatred for the Seol siblings, who had humiliated him and Yu Song Ryeong, was palpable.
Sabigang regarded him for a moment before replying. “I can make you stronger than you are now. That’s my job.”
“Then let’s do it.”
Ong Gisung also got up, stretching lazily. “Well… I guess I’ll give it a shot… yawn…”
With that, a few more recruits began to express their willingness to try. However, some, like Baek Gongbo, remained skeptical.
Sabigang suddenly spoke up. “Alright, for those still hesitating, I’ll offer a reward.”
“A reward?”
“Yes. Guiding a lost comrade back to the right path deserves a reward.”
Baek Gongbo scoffed again. “Hah! If you think a thousand nyang will make us do it, you’re sorely mistaken…”
“A million nyang.”
”…”
“I’ll give a million nyang to whoever brings them back.”
The room fell silent. A million nyang was enough to live comfortably for a lifetime without working.
“Of course, if you think guiding your comrades is its own reward, then by all means…”
“We’ll do it.”
The recruits answered in unison, hesitation gone. They were martial artists of the underworld, willing to dive into hellfire for money. Even ten thousand nyang was a fortune, let alone a million.
Sabigang smirked. “Good, it seems you’ve made up your minds. Now, let’s start with what you need to improve.”
**
“Congratulations, brother! We’ve been waiting for this day for so long! Haha!”
Moyumyeong chattered excitedly, walking alongside Iduryeong, who was grinning from ear to ear.
“Heh, it’s all thanks to you.”
“Oh, come on. It’s because you’re strong, brother.”
“I won’t deny that, but I couldn’t have gotten here without your help.”
“You’re too kind, brother.”
“You’re just as humble as I am.”
“Hahaha, is that so? Anyway, congratulations again on becoming the thirteenth captain of the Gwangryongdan.”
“Thank you. Drinks are on me tonight!”
Iduryeong slung an arm around Moyumyeong’s shoulder. They had endured years of hardship, working as minor operatives in a regional branch of the Blood Alliance. But today, they had finally been assigned to the main headquarters, Cheonsang Palace, as members of the Gwangryongdan, with Iduryeong as a captain and Moyumyeong as a squad leader.
Though they were at the bottom of the hierarchy, it was a significant first step toward success.
“Hahaha! Drinks and women are on me tonight!”
“Really?”
Moyumyeong asked eagerly, and Iduryeong nodded.
“Of course! We’ll go somewhere nice and have our fill of women…”
“Brother?”
Iduryeong trailed off, his expression turning blank. Moyumyeong followed his gaze to see a stunningly beautiful woman walking gracefully through the marketplace.
Beside her stood a man whose tall, striking appearance could only be described as handsome, yet all eyes were fixed solely on the woman.
With her long white hair cascading down, she was none other than Seol Seorin.
Gulp.
Lee Dooryong swallowed dryly, his eyes trailing up and down as Seol Seorin passed by.
He scrutinized every curve, from her full chest to the gentle lines that flowed smoothly down her body.
“She looks absolutely delectable.”
“Heh heh. Brother, now that you’re the leader, you can have your pick of women like her.”
“True, but a woman like that isn’t easy to come by.”
Lee Dooryong’s gaze remained glued to Seol Seorin’s retreating figure.
“Heh heh. Maybe I should go and try my luck…”
In that instant,
A sharp, thin sound pierced the air.
A flash of light exploded before Lee Dooryong’s eyes,
Swoosh!
“Aaargh! My eyeee!”
Lee Dooryong collapsed to the ground, howling in agony.
Blood poured from the eye he clutched desperately with his hands.
Mo Yoomyung recoiled in shock,
Another sharp sound whizzed past his ear.
The next moment,
“Aaaagh!”
Mo Yoomyung screamed, clutching his jaw.
As the crowd scattered in panic, the marketplace descended into chaos.
Mo Yoomyung’s lower jaw had been cleanly severed.
Meanwhile, two figures walked calmly away from the pandemonium.
Seol Seorin glanced back at Seol Sumin with a playful look.
“Brother, that was a bit much, don’t you think?”
“I couldn’t stand them looking at you with those filthy eyes. And their filthy mouths, too.”
“But who knows? Maybe one of them could have been the man to break my nightmares.”
Seol Seorin left those cryptic words hanging in the air, a sly smile on her lips.
As the two turned into a quiet alley,
“Oh?”
Seol Seorin stopped, her eyes widening in surprise.
Seol Sumin narrowed his eyes, looking ahead.
Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh!
Shadows dropped down behind them as well.
Seol Seorin covered her mouth, laughing as if amused.
“They really did a good job blending in, didn’t they?”
Blocking their path were members of a new gang.
With a soft, metallic hiss, Seok Tangang and Ong Giseung, who stood at the front, drew their swords.