Episode 36: Return to the Martial Arts Academy
“Ugh…”
Neung So-so let out a faint groan.
Dressed in light armor, she was drenched in sweat, steam rising from her entire body.
Sweat beaded on the forehead of Sa Bi-gang, who had his hand on her back.
It had been an hour already.
He wasn’t just unblocking her energy points.
He was diluting the energy of the Moon Wave Technique that had permeated her body.
Anyone witnessing this would have been shocked.
Neung So-so was a disciple of the Moon Heaven Sect.
The Moon Wave Technique was their exclusive method.
Yet here they were, dismantling all the energy she had painstakingly cultivated!
If the sect leader found out, he might have drawn his sword on the spot.
After another half-hour passed.
“Whoo…”
Sa Bi-gang exhaled deeply and straightened his posture.
Only then did Neung So-so collapse to the floor, breathing heavily.
She looked as if she might faint at any moment.
“I’ve managed to erase most traces of the Moon Wave Technique. From now on, it’ll be much easier to channel your energy the way I taught you.”
“Thank you, Instructor.”
“How’s your body holding up?”
“It’s a bit tough, but I’m okay.”
Neung So-so nodded with a gentle smile.
“You did well.”
As Sa Bi-gang was about to stand up, she spoke again.
“Um, Instructor.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you sure… this is okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“If the sect leader finds out I’ve diluted all the energy from the technique I worked so hard to master…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility.”
Sa Bi-gang replied with a firm expression.
He understood her concerns.
The Moon Heaven Sect would naturally oppose this if they found out.
But Neung So-so’s abilities were crucial for the future.
Eventually, even the Moon Heaven Sect would recognize her unique talents and strive to develop them.
But waiting until then would be too late.
In reality, Neung So-so never got to fully utilize her talents before her untimely death.
‘I can’t let that happen again.’
If the sect leader objected, he would find a way to persuade him.
Sa Bi-gang took off his shirt to cool down and asked, “Do you remember the way I channeled energy at the end?”
“Yes, Instructor.”
“Make sure you practice that method often. Don’t forget it.”
“But when I channel energy that way, it feels like my energy is depleting.”
“That’s to be expected. For the talents you’ll develop, internal energy won’t be much help. It might even get in the way.”
“Then why channel energy at all?”
“Because you need to apply that energy differently. The method I taught you doesn’t exist anywhere else, but it won’t harm you. Trust me.”
“I understand.”
Neung So-so smiled shyly.
In truth, she had never disliked Sa Bi-gang from the start.
Other instructors had never treated her with such care, given her humble background and average martial skills.
Her timid nature made it hard to fit in at the academy.
But Sa Bi-gang treated her differently.
‘A person who needs me.’
It wasn’t just because he was in charge of managing the students.
Something about his gaze made her feel like she was needed.
“Did it hurt?”
“I’m getting used to it, so it was okay.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“But after doing this every night, I feel like I can sense everything more clearly.”
“Like what, exactly?”
“Just… the air, the smells, the mood… the flow of nature, I guess… Oh, am I being too dramatic?”
Sa Bi-gang laughed.
For a brief moment, Neung So-so held her breath.
It was the first time she’d seen him smile so gently.
‘Instructor… you can smile like that.’
Sa Bi-gang spoke.
“You’re describing it perfectly. Don’t forget that sensation. I’ll help you feel it more often.”
“Thank you.”
“Practice it often when you’re alone. Make sure no one interrupts you. The more you do, the more you’ll awaken your senses. Eventually, you’ll feel something else.”
“Something else?”
“Yes, something different from what you’ve known. It’ll be an amazing feeling. I promise. Now, change your clothes and head back slowly.”
“Yes, Instructor. Thank you for today.”
Sa Bi-gang waved casually and walked away.
Meanwhile, as he stepped out of the dormitory, Mae Seol-ran, who had been watching from the shadows, narrowed her eyes.
She bit her lip as she watched Sa Bi-gang’s retreating figure.
‘Tch, what’s going on with those two…!’
By now, Sa Bi-gang should have been spending the night with her.
But…
Mae Seol-ran peeked through the window into the dormitory.
She saw Neung So-so turning away as she dressed.
‘Sa Bi-gang, you really…!’
Her suspicions turned to certainty, and anger began to simmer.
Fragments of their overheard conversation echoed in her mind.
“How’s your body holding up?”
“It’s a bit tough, but I’m okay.”
“Did it hurt?”
“I’m getting used to it, so it was okay. Doing this every night makes me feel everything so clearly.”
“I’ll help you feel it more often. Practice it when you’re alone. Eventually, you’ll feel something amazing.”
“Oh, I want to feel more!”
Lost in thought, Mae Seol-ran didn’t realize she was slightly embellishing their conversation in her mind.
She bit her thumbnail and muttered.
“Just wait and see, Sa Bi-gang. Let’s see who wins.”
An instructor having an affair with a student was a clear violation of the rules.
It could cost him his position.
But she needed solid evidence.
Perhaps it would be faster to handle this herself.
“If that’s your taste…!”
Mae Seol-ran clenched her fist.
**
Two days later, the special class students set out from the Blue Sky Sect under Sa Bi-gang’s guidance.
Having spent a day freely exploring the sect, the students’ complaints had significantly subsided.
The sect leader, Ho Yo-beom, had wanted them to stay longer, but Sa Bi-gang declined.
He had a clear purpose for this training journey.
In the end, Ho Yo-beom led his disciples to see them off at the village entrance.
Not only them, but the entire village came out to bid farewell.
As they set off on their journey, Sa Bi-gang closed the window and stretched.
“Ahh! Time to catch some sleep.”
But Mae Seol-ran, sitting behind a curtain, remained silent.
“Miss Mae, are you alright?”
“Just a moment.”
Her voice came from behind the curtain.
‘Just a moment…’
Sa Bi-gang looked puzzled.
“Alright.”
With a cheerful voice, Mae Seol-ran pulled back the curtain and revealed herself.
And then…
“Gasp.”
Sa Bi-gang flinched and looked at her.
“Miss Mae… why are you dressed like a student?”
That wasn’t all.
Her hair was styled in a round bun, making her look like a teenage girl.
That was still fine.
But her cheeks were heavily rouged, giving her a bruised appearance, and her lips were pale as if she were ill.
Sa Bi-gang couldn’t help but clutch his stomach and laugh.
“Pfft, haha! Hahaha!”
It was as if she was trying makeup for the first time.
In truth, Mae Seol-ran was inexperienced with makeup.
Her natural beauty meant she never felt the need for it.
Plus, she found it bothersome.
Trying to look younger had unintentionally made her look comical.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment at his unexpected reaction.
“Hahaha! I didn’t know Miss Mae could play such pranks! Hahaha!”
Sa Bi-gang was now laughing uncontrollably.
Mae Seol-ran bit her lip.
‘This… humiliation…!’
She gritted her teeth and spat out her words.
“Stop it.”
“Pfft. Why? Wasn’t your intention to make me laugh? Haha.”
“I said stop! I don’t know!”
Mae Seol-ran shouted and retreated behind the curtain.
Sa Bi-gang didn’t understand what was happening, but he couldn’t stop the laughter from escaping his lips.
**
Plop.
A fishing line dropped into the water, creating ripples on the surface.
An old man holding a long bamboo fishing rod.
Yongcheon Hall’s master, Eun Gi-ryong, sat by the pond, gazing at the water.
The Clear Heart Pond in the backyard of Yongcheon Hall.
It was a place Eun Gi-ryong frequented.
To his left stood the bodyguard, Yeo Yeong, and to his right, the dean, Joo Yu-cheon.
Silence enveloped the Clear Heart Pond.
Eun Gi-ryong was the first to break it.
“The incident in An-gang is truly unfortunate.”
“Three sects were wiped out in just two nights. It’s no ordinary matter. Has there been any word from the alliance?”
Eun Gi-ryong slowly shook his head.
“Nothing substantial yet.”
“I see.”
Joo Yu-cheon looked at the pond with a worried expression.
The master glanced at him and asked with a gentle smile.
“Is it because of Instructor Sa?”
Joo Yu-cheon sighed deeply.
“I won’t deny it.”
“Indeed. The timing is quite coincidental, so it’s a bit concerning.”
The tragedy that unfolded in An-gang.
Curiously enough, the timing coincided with Sabigang’s arrival there.
Eun Giryung, noticing the dark expression on Juyucheon’s face, asked in his usual gentle voice, “Do you think Instructor Sa is involved in this matter?”
“Of course, I don’t believe he has the motive or the capability to destroy three martial sects.”
“Then?”
“It’s just that his demeanor has changed in a peculiar way recently. And when he mentioned leaving for Angang, there was something… off about his expression.”
Juyucheon trailed off, recalling the look in Sabigang’s eyes at the time. It was as if he was plotting something, not just planning a simple training journey.
But it was merely a gut feeling, and he was hesitant to voice it aloud.
“Let’s wait and see. More accurate information will come,” Juyucheon sighed deeply. “What on earth is he up to…?”
A hint of regret flickered across his face. Perhaps he should have opposed Sabigang’s departure more strongly. There was no rule against leaving for more than a month for training, but there was also no rule against opposing it.
Just then, from a distance, Cheon Saemyung approached, looking quite agitated. Juyucheon closed his eyes, as if already anticipating what he was about to hear.
“Dean, there you are! Did you know about this?” Cheon Saemyung exclaimed loudly, then quickly bowed upon noticing Eun Giryung.
“Instructor Cheon Saemyung, greetings to the Lord.”
“Haha, it’s been a while, Instructor Cheon. Is there something urgent?”
“You both must have heard about the incident in Angang, right?” Eun Giryung nodded silently, and Cheon Saemyung continued immediately.
“The timing is suspicious. The three sects were destroyed just as Instructor Sabigang arrived there. Doesn’t it seem fishy?”
”…”
“Instructor Sa must be involved somehow. We need to summon him immediately, question him about the events in Angang, and hold him accountable if necessary.”
“But we have no evidence,” Juyucheon replied.
“True, but the students are at risk if we do nothing. Three intact sects have been wiped out—there’s no guarantee the students there are safe. We have plenty of reasons to call him back.”
“Hmm.” Juyucheon pondered, then turned his gaze to Eun Giryung.
“Instructor Cheon makes a valid point,” Eun Giryung agreed.