Chapter 37: Return to the Martial Arts Academy
“Hmm.”
Eun Gi-ryung let out a contemplative hum, staring quietly at the water’s surface.
“Your point is valid.”
He nodded in agreement. Given the horrific incident that occurred where the cadets had been, halting their training journey seemed a prudent course of action.
Cheon Sae-myung looked at Eun Gi-ryung.
“Master, the cadets’ safety is our top priority. Please send someone.”
“Hmm. Very well, I’ll send someone to halt the special class’s training journey and summon Instructor Sa back to the academy immediately….”
Just then, a voice interrupted.
“Instructor Cheon!”
From a distance, Deung Bu-hyung was sprinting towards them using light footwork. Upon reaching Cheongshimji, he respectfully greeted Joo Yu-cheon and Eun Gi-ryung.
Joo Yu-cheon asked him, “What’s the matter?”
“Someone has come from Angang.”
“From Angang?”
All three turned their attention to Deung Bu-hyung.
Cheon Sae-myung exclaimed, “See! Why would someone from Angang come all the way here, to Yongcheon Academy, not even to the Justice Alliance? This must mean that the incident is connected to Instructor Sa Bi-gang! We must apprehend him immediately!”
The suggestion to ‘summon’ had quickly escalated to ‘apprehend.’
Finally, Eun Gi-ryung rose slowly.
“Seems like the fish aren’t biting today. But who is this visitor from Angang?”
Deung Bu-hyung, under Eun Gi-ryung’s gaze, quickly bowed his head and replied, “It’s Ho Yo-beom, the head of Changcheon Sect.”
At this, Joo Yu-cheon and Cheon Sae-myung flinched.
For the sect leader to come personally, it must be a serious matter.
“Then, let’s go meet him.”
The master stroked his beard and began to walk. Joo Yu-cheon followed closely behind.
Meanwhile, Cheon Sae-myung watched their retreating figures, barely suppressing a grin.
‘Heh heh heh. Sa Bi-gang! Your end is near!’
Whatever the connection, it involved the disappearance of three sects. Surely, he would bear heavy responsibility.
Joo Yu-cheon’s eyes widened.
“What is all this?”
He looked at the box on the table, filled to the brim with silver ingots.
Ho Yo-beom, sitting across from him, smiled warmly.
“It’s a small token of our appreciation.”
“Appreciation?”
“It’s a donation to Yongcheon Academy. It’s given purely out of gratitude, with no strings attached.”
“But our academy cannot accept such things.”
“It’s not from Changcheon Sect.”
At Ho Yo-beom’s response, Joo Yu-cheon exchanged glances with Eun Gi-ryung before asking again.
“Then…?”
“It’s a collection from all the people of Angang. Of course, our Changcheon Sect contributed a bit as well.”
“Why would Angang do such a thing…?”
“We hope it will be used to nurture great talents at Yongcheon Academy. Though it can’t fully express our gratitude, please consider it a token of the people of Angang.”
“Still, why send it to Yongcheon Academy…?”
“The people of Angang owe a great debt to Instructor Sa Bi-gang.”
“A debt? What do you mean?”
Ho Yo-beom smiled and recounted the events that had transpired in Angang.
As the story unfolded, Eun Gi-ryung and Joo Yu-cheon’s expressions shifted from surprise to admiration, and then to bewilderment.
When the tale concluded, Eun Gi-ryung responded with a gentle smile, stroking his beard.
“Ah, so that’s what happened.”
“Indeed, Instructor Sa Bi-gang is truly remarkable. Having someone like him here is a blessing for the cadets of Yongcheon Academy.”
“We are grateful for your kind words.”
“Then, will you accept our sincere gesture?”
“You’ve come a long way, and it wouldn’t be right to send it back. We’ll ensure it’s used for a good cause.”
“Thank you.”
“The deep intentions of Changcheon Sect and the people of Angang will be conveyed to Instructor Sa Bi-gang upon his return.”
The master said with a soft smile.
Finally, a faint smile appeared on Joo Yu-cheon’s face as well.
Meanwhile, outside, two eavesdroppers, Cheon Sae-myung and Deung Bu-hyung, ground their teeth in frustration.
“What on earth is going on?”
“How should I know? Damn it!”
Their expressions twisted as if they had bitten into something sour.
Ten days after leaving Angang, the special class led by Sa Bi-gang arrived at a village called “Jayang.”
The cadets, who had been temporarily appeased by the warm hospitality in Angang, were once again growing restless. They had been marching relentlessly for the past ten days without proper rest.
Perhaps sensing this, Sa Bi-gang announced that they would stay at a proper inn in Jayang village.
Driving the lead carriage, Dan Ri-jeong spotted someone by the roadside and called out.
“Excuse me, sir, may I ask you something?”
”…….”
“Where might we find a decent inn in the village?”
”…….”
The elderly man gave the cadets a disapproving look before turning away coldly.
‘What’s his problem?’
Dan Ri-jeong pursed her lips and continued driving the carriage.
As they passed through the village, the locals eyed the special class with suspicion and wariness.
Fortunately, finding an inn wasn’t too difficult.
Upon reaching the inn, Sa Bi-gang went inside.
“Do you have any rooms available?”
The innkeeper, noticing the large group, came out to greet them personally.
“How many of you are there?”
“A little over twenty.”
“Our inn has eight rooms in total. How about three people per room?”
Sa Bi-gang glanced at Mae Seol-ran, who pretended to be indifferent but replied.
“Well, I don’t mind sharing with the instructor….”
Though she feigned nonchalance, she was actually quite anxious. The relationship that had started to unravel in Angang hadn’t improved. She needed to seize the opportunity to share a room and make her move.
She had never invested so much time in pursuing a man before.
‘Could he really be…?’
How could he resist her for so long?
There had been plenty of chances, yet he always backed off at the last moment.
It was driving her crazy.
Her pride was taking a serious hit.
Sa Bi-gang rented the entire inn. Having mostly camped outdoors, they still had plenty of funds left.
The cadets, finally able to rest in a proper room, collapsed as soon as they entered.
It wasn’t until lunchtime that Sa Bi-gang gathered them downstairs to give a brief announcement.
“We’ll be staying here for two days. You’re free to do as you please, as long as you don’t break any rules. Just don’t leave the village and return to the inn by midnight. If anything happens, use the signal flare. Any questions?”
Gok Bo-ok raised his hand.
Sa Bi-gang nodded for him to speak.
“Why are we staying here for two days?”
“This is the village of ‘Jayang.’ That’s all.”
“What? But why stay for two days? Is there a reason?”
Sa Bi-gang grinned, a habit of his when he was about to say something absurd.
“Adapting to unfamiliar places is part of the training.”
The cadets murmured among themselves.
“Is that supposed to be a joke?”
Gok Bo-ok grumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“Alright, if there are no more questions, that’s all.”
As Sa Bi-gang finished speaking, the waiter began bringing food to the table.
Gok Bo-ok turned to the waiter and asked, “Hey, are people here always this unfriendly?”
Gok Bo-ok had also noticed the wary glances from the villagers on their way to the inn.
The waiter chuckled nervously and bowed.
“Please understand, young master. The village has been in a bit of turmoil lately.”
“Why?”
“Well… recently, the Black Blade Twins have been kidnapping women from the village.”
“The Black Blade Twins?”
Gok Bo-ok’s voice rose, drawing the attention of the other cadets.
The waiter nodded, glancing around cautiously.
“Yes. We don’t have many martial artists in our village, so we’re helpless. The officials have done nothing, and the villagers are on edge, wary of outsiders.”
It made sense why the inn was so empty.
At that moment, Yeom Ja-ryang’s face lit up with realization. He slapped his knee.
“Ah! So that’s what the instructor had in mind?”
Sa Bi-gang frowned and turned to him.
“What are you talking about?”
“The Black Blade Twins. Our mission here must be to take them down, right?”
Yeom Ja-ryang looked at Sa Bi-gang with eager eyes.
“Huh? What nonsense is that? There’s no such mission. Just be careful not to get kidnapped.”
“What? Then why are we here? What kind of training journey is this?”
This time, even Yeom Ja-ryang couldn’t hold back his complaints.
“I told you. Adapting to new places is part of the training.”
“But isn’t it wrong to do nothing when people are in danger?”
At that moment, Sa Bi-gang’s eyes turned cold.
“You seem to misunderstand. Surviving in the martial world isn’t about showing off. It’s about staying alive as long as possible.”
“What kind of….”
The cadets grumbled in disappointment.
But Sa Bi-gang said nothing more.
In truth, he was right.
Ten years from now.
When those creatures appeared, the ones who charged in recklessly, relying solely on their skills, were the first to die.
But those who exercised caution survived the longest.
Of course, even they couldn’t prevent the catastrophe in the end.
Meanwhile, Gok Bo-ok sneered openly and muttered under his breath.
“Look at that. They’re scared stiff. And to think they’re following someone like that as their instructor. Ah, we’re truly pitiful.”
The cadets sitting nearby chuckled.
Suddenly, Gok Bo-ok glanced at Yeon Woo-kyung.
“What if we take care of it ourselves? There are only two of those Black Twin Fiends, right?”
“True, there are five of us, so it might be doable.”
Gok Bo-ok shrugged and praised Yeon Woo-kyung, encouraged by the cadet’s words.
“Even without numbers, with Woo-kyung’s sword skills, those guys would be no problem.”
“That’s right.”
The cadets chimed in, eager to flatter.
Yeon Woo-kyung, who had been lost in thought until then, allowed a faint smile to play on his lips.
“The Black Twin Fiends, huh… Interesting.”
“Right? Should we go after them ourselves?”
“No. I’ve thought of something even more entertaining.”
“Something more entertaining?”
Instead of answering, Yeon Woo-kyung simply cast a cold smile in Sa Bi-gang’s direction.