Episode 39: Return of the Martial Arts Instructor
Late at night.
Neung So-so visited the stables.
As she gently stroked the horse’s mane and patted its head, the creature neighed contentedly.
“It feels like I can understand you.”
It wasn’t just her imagination. Lately, she had become more attuned to the horse’s moods—when it was happy, when it was off, and when it was tired. Looking into its eyes while caressing its mane, she almost felt as if they were having a conversation.
After distributing hay to the ten horses, Neung So-so left the stable. The night air was still cold against her cheeks. She closed her eyes and walked, feeling the wind slip through her fingers differently than before, like delicate threads wrapping around her fingers.
Could the air have a texture? The cold air had its own distinct personality—sharp and sensitive. She chuckled to herself. Was she treating the wind like a person now? The thought amused her, but she truly felt as if she was caressing the wind, cherishing it like a living being.
And then, the wind’s character seemed to shift slightly.
“Huh?”
Neung So-so opened her eyes.
“The air feels different.”
It wasn’t just a feeling; she was almost certain. The wind that had been gently wrapping around her fingers had momentarily faltered. Sensing something behind her, she quickly turned around.
A shadow blocked her path, and she instinctively stepped back with a scream.
“Ahh!”
“Oh my!”
The other person was equally startled.
Blinking her large eyes, Neung So-so recognized the figure.
“Instructor?”
“Phew, why did you scream like that? You scared me.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry! You were just suddenly there behind me…”
She quickly bowed and was about to run off when—
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
“I have something to ask you.”
Maeseolran blushed slightly and averted her gaze.
Neung So-so tilted her head in curiosity.
“Ask me? About what?”
“Um, just follow me for now.”
“Ah!”
Maeseolran grabbed Neung So-so’s wrist and led her away.
‘Did she sense my presence earlier?’ Maeseolran wondered as they walked, but quickly dismissed the thought. ‘No way.’
She hadn’t been trying to be stealthy, but her presence was naturally subdued. It seemed unlikely that an ordinary student like Neung So-so would have noticed her. It must have been a coincidence.
**
“What?”
Neung So-so’s eyes widened in confusion.
It was late, and the inn’s first floor was empty except for the two of them.
Maeseolran frowned slightly and asked, “What do you think of Instructor Sabigang?”
“Well, he’s a good person…”
Neung So-so replied, her cheeks turning a shade of pink.
Maeseolran leaned in closer, causing Neung So-so to fluster.
“Why, why are you doing this, Instructor?”
Despite her confusion, she couldn’t help but admire Maeseolran’s beauty up close. ‘She’s even more beautiful up close. Even as a woman, I find her captivating.’
Maeseolran squinted her eyes and asked, “Do you like Instructor Sa? Or love him?”
“What?”
Neung So-so’s voice rose involuntarily.
Maeseolran quickly put a finger to her lips. “Shh. You’re too loud.”
“Oh, I’m sorry! But what do you mean…?”
“Exactly what I said. Do you love Instructor Sabigang?”
“No, absolutely not! How could I…?”
Neung So-so waved her hands frantically.
“Hmm. It’s okay with me. You can be honest; I understand.”
“No, really. I do like him, but… as an instructor. Not in that way.”
Every time she mentioned “love,” her face flushed even more.
Maeseolran watched her quietly before asking again, “I really don’t mind, so answer truthfully.”
“Really, Instructor.”
“Hmm, so it was just a fling, then.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
“Well, I thought you were the romantic type, but you’re more cunning than I thought.”
“What are you talking about…?”
“Alright. I’ll pretend I don’t know, but tell me what method you used.”
“What method?”
“Come on, tell me. I think you have the potential to be my disciple.”
Of course, that was just an excuse. Maeseolran was simply curious about how Neung So-so had managed to spend a passionate night with the seemingly impenetrable Sabigang. Her desperation was evident in her persistence.
“Instructor, I really don’t understand what you’re saying. Maybe I’m just slow.”
“Are you going to keep this up? Do you think I don’t know what you and Instructor Sabigang do in your room every night?”
“Oh, you mean the energy training?”
“What?”
“He’s been teaching me energy cultivation techniques, right?”
“Energy cultivation…?”
“Yes. Isn’t that what you’re talking about? But it’s hard to explain the method specifically…”
“Wait, so every night you and Instructor Sa have been doing energy cultivation?”
“Yes. Instructor Sabigang has been a great help.”
“That can’t be…”
“What?”
Neung So-so tilted her head, but Maeseolran sat there, dumbfounded, as the pieces of their conversation finally fell into place in her mind.
“So it was energy cultivation? What kind of man is Sabigang?”
Maeseolran took a deep gulp from the teacup in front of her.
**
“Damn, I didn’t expect Instructor Maeseolran to show up.”
Gok Bo-ok grumbled.
He had planned to kidnap Neung So-so as she left the stables, but Maeseolran’s sudden appearance had thwarted his plan. Maeseolran and Neung So-so were still talking on the first floor.
“I guess we’ll have to try again tomorrow.”
Gok Bo-ok clenched his fist.
At that moment, a melodious voice, as sweet as a bird’s song, filled the room.
“Isn’t that a bit too risky?”
The students, including Yeon Woo-gyeong, turned to see Mok Dan-hwa, with her flower-like beauty, walking gracefully toward them. Behind her were Min Yu-hyang and Baek Mi-ryeong.
Though Mok Dan-hwa usually spoke informally to everyone, she was more cautious with Yeon Woo-gyeong and his close circle.
Yeon Woo-gyeong smiled at her. “Do you have another plan, Miss Mok? I understand you don’t have the best feelings toward Instructor Sabigang.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t have good feelings for an instructor lacking in talent.”
“Heh. So, do you have a plan?”
“Kidnapping. Right now, the best option is kidnapping.”
Gok Bo-ok furrowed his brows. “Kidnapping? Didn’t you just say that wouldn’t work?”
“Not us doing the kidnapping, but being kidnapped.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll let the Black Twin Demons kidnap us.”
Mok Dan-hwa gestured to herself, Min Yu-hyang, and Baek Mi-ryeong.
Gok Bo-ok gaped at the unexpected suggestion and looked at Yeon Woo-gyeong.
After a moment of thought, Yeon Woo-gyeong replied, “It’s not a bad idea. But isn’t it too dangerous? If something goes wrong…”
“We’re not planning to actually get kidnapped.”
“Then?”
“We’ll go to an area where the Black Twin Demons are known to appear, then disappear ourselves. What do you think the rumors will say?”
“That you were kidnapped by the Black Twin Demons.”
“Exactly. The Black Twin Demons wouldn’t pass up a chance like us.”
“Indeed. It’ll be up to us to complete the rumor.”
Yeon Woo-gyeong grinned. “Miss Mok, your insight is unmatched.”
“You’re too kind.”
She smiled, but then paused.
“Did I just sense something outside the door?”
Mok Dan-hwa quickly opened the door to find an empty hallway and turned back.
“Was it just my imagination?”
“What’s wrong?” Yeon Woo-gyeong asked.
“Nothing. Just a momentary mistake.”
**
Returning late at night, Sabigang left the inn early the next morning.
“Where is he going?”
Following him, Maeseolran frowned slightly as she watched Sabigang walk with purpose. He seemed to have a clear destination in mind.
Energy cultivation, of all things. Helping Neung So-so with her energy training every night?
Recalling her conversation with Neung So-so the previous night, Maeseolran felt her face heat up. She had almost embarrassed herself in front of a student.
“Still, he was helping the students improve their martial arts as an instructor, huh?”
The more she learned about him, the more intriguing he became. At times, he seemed utterly reckless, yet at others, he showed unexpected attention to detail.
“Does this mean he’s more likely to be…?”
Maeseolran shook off her tangled thoughts and continued to follow him.
But Sabigang’s pace was picking up speed.
“What the…? Why is he going so fast?”
Her breath was becoming labored.
Eventually, she was gritting her teeth, desperately trying to keep up with Sabigang.
Yet, as time passed, the distance between them only grew.
“Is he heading for the mountains?”
What on earth could he possibly need up there?
“If I’m not careful, I’ll lose him!”
Now, she was pouring all her energy into her light-footed pursuit.
Just then, Sabigang rounded a sharp, towering cliff.
“No!”
If the gap widened any further, she’d lose him for sure.
With a burst of speed, she flew like a bird around the cliff’s edge.
But…
“He’s gone!”
Sabigang was nowhere in sight.
Quickly, she leapt into a tall tree to scan the area.
Nothing.
“Damn it! Where did he go?”
The distance had been considerable, but for him to vanish so completely…
Even when she extended her senses, there was nothing.
With skills like his, he should have been detectable.
It was as if he had vanished into thin air.
The thought that she might have truly lost Sabigang filled her with frustration.
In a moment of anger, she kicked a stone on the ground.
“What?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“What just happened?”
The stone, which had flown through the air, seemed to hit the cliff and then disappeared as if by magic.
Blinking in disbelief, she quickly picked up another stone and hurled it at the cliff.
Whoosh.
Just like before, the stone vanished without a trace, as if the cliff had swallowed it whole.
“Could it be…?”
Startled, she rushed to the cliff and reached out her hand.
Solid.
It was definitely a wall.
She stepped back and threw another stone.
Whoosh.
Without a sound, the stone disappeared into the cliff once more.
“What kind of trickery is this?”
Closing her eyes, Maesellan reached out again.
She couldn’t trust what her eyes were telling her, so she decided not to use them at all.
Whoosh.
Astonishingly, her hand met no resistance.
There was nothing there, just a strange, soft sensation, like passing through a thin membrane.
Startled, she opened her eyes to find her hand feeling the solid cliff again.
An illusionary barrier!
But she had never heard of such a technique before.
“Alright, then!”
Taking a deep breath, Maesellan shut her eyes tightly.
She took a cautious step forward.
A peculiar sensation swept over her entire body.
Finally, as she slowly opened her eyes, she couldn’t help but gasp.
“What the…!”