Episode 438: Return of the Demon Instructor
In that moment, Seol Seorin felt a threat so intense it made her hair stand on end. Instinctively, she swung the tail of Makan.
“Not today!”
Whoosh!
Flames arced through the air like a rainbow, but—
Smack!
Sabi Kang swiftly reached out and caught Makan’s tail.
Sizzle!
Despite the sound of his palm burning, Sabi Kang moved with lightning speed.
His dazzling footwork left Seol Seorin utterly bewildered.
Swish, swish, swish! Tap, tap, tap!
By the time she regained her senses, she was already tightly bound by Makan’s tail.
Seol Seorin blushed, unable to move an inch.
“Oh my, if this is your taste, you should have said so earlier. If it pleases you, my dear, I can endure such things…”
“Stop with the nonsense. If I were your enemy, you’d be dead by now.”
“But you’re not my enemy, are you? You’re my eternal love…”
With a sharp tug, Sabi Kang spun Seol Seorin like a top.
Swoosh!
Regaining her balance with a slide, Seol Seorin furrowed her brow and shouted.
“There’s a limit to being rough! You can’t just—”
“Your prized weapon is now in my hands.”
“That…!”
“To think you’d try to kill me with such skill. You’ve got guts. For the record, I don’t spare those who try to kill me outside of assignments.”
“But you wouldn’t really—”
Flash!
Sabi Kang appeared right in front of Seol Seorin again.
”…!”
This time, Seol Seorin was speechless.
‘Is this man even human? Or a monster? Why would someone like him care about demons?’
As Seol Seorin stood there, forgetting even to resist, Sabi Kang lifted her chin with the coiled whip.
“Listen well. When you charge in to kill someone, be prepared to die yourself. Regret after death is too late.”
”…!”
For a moment, Seol Seorin couldn’t utter a single word.
The murderous intent emanating from Sabi Kang was real.
She felt a chill run through her body, knowing that one wrong word could cost her her life.
“I-I understand.”
Her voice trembled, unlike her usual self.
Only then did Sabi Kang dispel the intent from his aura.
“Do you know why I told you to stop the assassination assignments?”
“Because we’re too strong and might actually kill someone?”
“Not at all. Even now, you can’t lay a finger on me.”
Normally, Seol Seorin would have retorted, but this time she just listened.
The skill he had just displayed was threatening enough to prove his point.
“Continuing the assassination assignments would have been nothing more than a game for you. Habits can be dangerous. A poorly formed habit can cost you your life. In real combat, with that mindset, you’re almost certain to die.”
“I understand. Now, let me go.”
Seol Seorin bit her lip and pointed at Makan’s tail.
“No, this is confiscated. I’ll return it later. I need to examine this thing.”
As Sabi Kang turned and walked into the main hall, Seol Seorin let out a long sigh.
“Ah, really! How can he be so cool? He’s got me all heated up. Tch! If he wants to touch something, he should touch me!”
**
That night, a rare feast was held at the Demon Instructor’s Hall to celebrate Sabi Kang’s return.
Seeing the lavish spread on each table, Churyang’s eyes widened in amazement.
“My goodness! Did the chief prepare all of this?”
Maeseollan blushed and gave a gentle smile.
“It’s still not much. I hope everyone enjoys it.”
“Of course! I’ll eat it all! I’ve been starving!”
Churyang drooled, his mouth agape.
Sabi Kang chuckled and looked at Maeseollan.
“I’m touched. You’ve gone to such lengths.”
“I told you, I’ll always be your support.”
“Thank you.”
Just then, Gojoksan called out to Sabi Kang.
“Chief! Since we’re all gathered, how about a few words?”
Everyone’s attention turned to Sabi Kang.
Maeseollan also nodded at him.
Sabi Kang awkwardly smiled and raised his glass.
“Everyone… eat well.”
“What? That’s it?”
Gojoksan asked incredulously, prompting Sabi Kang to chuckle and continue.
“Stay healthy. Let’s eat.”
A short sentence.
But it was filled with sincerity.
It resonated more than any grand speech could.
Maeng Gasuk sniffled and grumbled.
“Darn… I’ve never heard such words from my own mother. What are you all doing? Let’s eat! Eat well and stay healthy!”
The gathered warriors raised their glasses in unison.
“Let’s eat well!”
Meanwhile, Churyang watched the scene with a satisfied expression.
Memories of past events flashed through his mind.
Isn’t it remarkable?
He turned a group of unruly special class students into the righteous alliance’s inspection team, and now he has the orthodox and unorthodox factions mingling and laughing together.
A man who makes the impossible possible.
To Churyang, Sabi Kang seemed just that.
‘I can’t help but respect my master!’
With his heart swelling, Churyang clenched his fist and picked up his chopsticks.
‘Let’s eat! Eat well and stay healthy!’
He lifted a piece of Dongpo pork and put it in his mouth, ready to savor the exquisite flavors…
‘Ugh…!’
Churyang flinched and quickly scanned his surroundings.
Realizing that everyone was busy with their drinks, he saw his chance.
Faster than when he picked up the food, he stood up and saluted.
“Master! I just remembered something I forgot. I’ll be right back!”
“Hmm? Alright, hurry back.”
“Yes, thank you!”
With that, Churyang dashed out, leaving Maeng Gasuk chuckling.
“Where’s that self-proclaimed bodyguard rushing off to?”
“Probably forgot something again.”
At Dobicheon’s comment, Yusongryeong laughed.
“Is he a bit scatterbrained?”
“Indeed. Come on, let’s eat.”
Maeng Gasuk picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.
Following suit, the new recruits began to eat…
”…!”
Their expressions froze.
Maeng Gasuk barely managed to smooth out his grimace and stood up abruptly.
Smack!
Gugangryong grabbed Maeng Gasuk’s wrist.
Maeng Gasuk growled in a low voice.
[What are you doing?]
[Are you planning to survive alone? If we die, we die together; if we live, we live together.]
[Since when…]
[From now on.]
[Tch! Fine, let go.]
[Trust me.]
Gugangryong released his grip with a knowing look.
Maeng Gasuk stood up and saluted.
“Chief! I just remembered an assignment. I need to take the new recruits and leave urgently!”
“An assignment you forgot?”
“Yes, the task of perfecting the Jincheon Salma Gwangpok Paeseon Jinbeop. It’s almost complete…”
“Then you must go. Proceed.”
“Thank you!”
As Maeng Gasuk finished speaking, the new recruits rose and hurried out.
Sabi Kang turned to Maeseollan and asked.
“What’s this Jincheon Salma Gwangpok Paeseon Jinbeop?”
“I have no idea. Maybe it’s a new formation created by the martial arts master?”
More people continued to leave.
But Sabi Kang, lost in the moment, and Maeseollan, focused solely on his reaction, paid no attention to their actions.
When most had left, Jeok Murin whispered to Seoraehyang.
“It seems people are giving the chief and the head a moment alone.”
“Hmph! I have no such intention. I’m always the protagonist of my life.”
Murin chuckled, thinking it was just like her.
“Have a drink, protagonist.”
“Sure, I’ll let you be a supporting character in my life.”
“Will there ever be a day when I become the protagonist of that story?”
”…Maybe?”
Feeling good, Murin downed her drink in one go.
Then the two picked up their food.
”…!”
They flinched, glancing at each other.
Only then did they understand.
Why so many had suddenly become busy.
It wasn’t out of consideration for the chief and the head.
How could food made by humans taste like this? No, how could food meant for humans taste like this!
[I’ll handle this situation!]
Jeok Murin swallowed the food with effort, stood up, and spoke.
“Chief!”
“What now?”
“Um… may I go in search of life’s little happiness?”
“Life’s little… what?”
“I mean, may I go find the small happiness I left somewhere?”
“Why is everyone acting like this today?”
Sabi Kang irritably downed his drink and picked up his chopsticks.
Jeok Murin’s urgency grew.
‘Damn! I need to act before he takes a bite!’
“Chief!”
“Oh, what now!”
“It seems like today is the perfect day for you two to enjoy some quality time together!”
“Well, that’s an unnecessary gesture.”
Sabi Kang muttered absentmindedly as he popped a piece of marinated meat into his mouth.
In that moment, Jeok Murin realized it.
All hope was lost.
And sure enough.
”…!”
Sabi Kang’s expression suddenly hardened.
He spoke with a serious tone.
“Jeok Instructor.”
Jeok Murin closed his eyes tightly.
“Go ahead…”
“Sit down.”
“What?”
“I said, sit down.”
“But my small joys in life are still…”
“You can find those later.”
“But still…”
“Anyway, shall we seriously discuss that incident? When Instructor Seo was caught in the Sehonpokmyeolko, you didn’t hesitate to take the Jemyeolgodokdan, did you? Was it perhaps your last wish to spend a passionate night with Instructor Seo before you died…?”
At that moment, Jeok Murin plopped down.
“Turns out, my small joys are right here! Damn it!”
With that, Jeok Murin suddenly started shoveling food into his mouth.
As the situation took an unexpected turn, Seo Laehyang was about to shout in protest when,
[It’s fine. I’ll handle this!]
[Murin! Why are you going this far?]
[I’m really okay. This is nothing!]
Now, Jeok Murin even used his inner strength to swallow the food.
In no time, he had devoured everything on the table and jumped up, exclaiming,
“Thank you for the meal!”
He grabbed Seo Laehyang by the wrist and strode off.
Maeseolran watched them go, then turned to Sabi Kang with a gentle smile.
“Looks like it’s just the two of us now.”
Just then,
“I’m still here!”
A booming voice came from a corner.
It was Shin Saengjo, Deung Jakyung.
He continued to shout,
“This is really delicious! Just to my taste.”
But Maeseolran gave Sabi Kang a wry smile.
“Everyone’s gone, but it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re by my side.”
Deung Jakyung’s face fell.
‘Is my voice not reaching them anymore?’
Just then, Sabi Kang stood up abruptly.
“Shall we go find our own little happiness too?”
Maeseolran lifted the corners of her mouth in response.
“No, sit down. There’s plenty of happiness right here. Didn’t Jeok Instructor say so? There’s a lot of happiness right here.”
“Haha… ha… It’s more happiness than I deserve.”
Maeseolran raised an eyebrow delicately.
“Are you saying my cooking isn’t good?”
At that moment,
“How could that be? I’m truly happy! I can’t remember the last time I had such delicious food! It’s the best meal of my life! Why call this a small happiness? It’s a huge happiness!”
Deung Jakyung shouted, but Maeseolran sighed lightly and said,
“Since it’s just the two of us, shall we get going?”
“Sure, I’m hungry for you.”
“Oh, you.”
Maeseolran smiled sweetly and gave him a playful look as Sabi Kang lifted her up and walked away.
Deung Jakyung called out to their retreating figures,
“I’ll stay and finish everything! I can eat it all!”
As his empty cries echoed, the maids appeared and began clearing the table.
“Well, since everyone’s up, let’s clean up.”
“They hardly ate anything, as expected.”
“Next time, we must stop the General Manager.”
“Indeed.”
As the maids laughed and tidied up, Deung Jakyung continued his desperate cries.
“I’m still eating! And it’s delicious!”
Little did the martial artists of Myeolmagwan know that today’s banquet was not a welcome party, but the prelude to a nightmarish battle.