Episode 8: The Return of the Martial Arts Instructor

The cadets murmured quietly among themselves.

“Do you think the instructor’s actually scared?”

“He’s probably just nervous. If he loses, it’s a huge embarrassment, but if he wins, it’s just expected.”

“Why didn’t he just stick to teaching spear techniques? Why take on the role of a homeroom teacher too…?”

Just then, a voice cut through their whispers.

“You brats! How dare you speak so rudely about the instructor?”

The cadets turned to see who had spoken.

Rounding the corner of the building, Instructor Deung appeared, a broad smile on his face.

As Sabi-gang glanced back, Deung chuckled and said, “I thought I’d drop by to observe. It’s Instructor Sa’s first class, after all, and I was curious if there’d be any disrespectful students like these.”

“Thanks, but you can leave now,” Sabi-gang replied coolly.

A vein throbbed on Deung’s forehead. ‘This young punk…’

But he couldn’t let his thoughts show. With his usual smile, Deung said, “But the cadet has a point, doesn’t he? It’s only natural to be curious. After all, none of them have seen your sword skills yet.”

“They’ll come to respect it once I start teaching.”

“No, no. Without trust, even the truth can be twisted. That’s how kids are these days. So, in that spirit…”

”…?”

“I’ll help you. I’ll show the cadets just how impressive your sword skills are. You can’t really spar with the students, can you? So I’ll be your opponent.”

Deung grinned slyly.

‘Heh, let’s see you embarrass yourself in front of the cadets. With my Zaharakindo, you’re no match for me. Honestly, even if I wielded a stick, you’d be easy to handle.’

The cadets buzzed with excitement at Deung’s words.

“Wait, so Instructor Deung and Instructor Sa are going to spar?”

“But Instructor Deung uses a saber, right?”

“So what? Instructor Sa can use a sword.”

Sabi-gang looked at Deung and asked, “Are you sure about this?”

“Hmm? Hahaha! Are you worried about me? Hahaha! This is amusing! I’m fine, really!”

“Very well. Just don’t regret it later.”

Deung nodded, hiding his disdain. ‘This fool. The more you act tough, the deeper the hole you’re digging for yourself.’

He assumed a formal stance, while Sabi-gang did the same.

Deung was about to draw his saber when he noticed something odd.

‘Hmm? Why isn’t he drawing his sword? Is he too nervous?’

Deung laughed loudly. “Hahaha! Instructor Sa, forgetting to draw your sword because you’re nervous?”

The cadets chuckled, but Sabi-gang just shrugged and replied calmly, “Don’t worry about me. Just start.”

“But attacking an unarmed instructor…”

“Enough talk. Just start.”

Sabi-gang’s voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, and Deung’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“F-fine! Don’t regret this!”

“Please, go ahead.”

Deung gritted his teeth. He had planned to go easy, but Sabi-gang’s arrogance had erased any mercy he might have had.

‘Fine, I’ll send you to the infirmary today.’

His Zaharakindo gleamed red, ready to strike. Yet Sabi-gang remained motionless.

‘Heh, frozen in fear, are you? Can’t even move a finger.’

Sabi-gang’s sword looked peculiar, like something from the West, probably picked up from a market stall.

Deung smirked.

In a flash.

“I’m coming in!”

It was a courtesy, to avoid accusations of a sneak attack.

But then…

Shiiing! Clang!

A flash of light.

Everything seemed to slow down.

Sabi-gang had drawn his sword, and Deung’s Zaharakindo shattered against it.

‘Broken…?’

The Zaharakindo scattered like red petals falling.

In a single second.

‘W-what is this…?’

Time seemed to stretch as the fragments of Zaharakindo clattered to the ground.

The cadets were speechless, mouths agape.

Thud!

Deung fell to his knees, his eyes unfocused, staring into space.

Finally, he saw the shattered red pieces of his beloved Zaharakindo and tears welled up.

“M-my… my Zaharakindo…!”

For a year, he had cherished it, sharpening it every morning without fail.

“Um… Instructor?”

A cadet nearby called out hesitantly.

Deung snapped back to reality, realizing his undignified position.

‘What a disgraceful sight! Kneeling like this!’

He stood abruptly, forcing a laugh.

“Hah! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

The cadets watched, bewildered, as Deung laughed maniacally.

After a while, he wiped his tears and addressed the cadets.

“Did you see that? Instructor Sa is more than capable of teaching you! Even if I held back, it’s no small feat to achieve such a display in a single second. Follow Instructor Sa well from now on!”

The cadets remained silent, still in shock.

Deung glanced at the shattered pieces of his Zaharakindo, pretending not to care as he turned away.

But inside, the loss of his cherished saber weighed heavily on him.

Someone seemed to be speaking to him, but he couldn’t hear it. All he wanted was to leave the scene.

Then someone grabbed his arm.

“Who dares?”

Deung snapped irritably, only to find Sabi-gang looking at him with a curious expression.

“I called you, but you didn’t respond, so I grabbed you. Apologies if I was rude.”

Deung noticed the cadets watching him and cleared his throat.

“Think nothing of it. I was just lost in thought.”

“It seemed like you cherished that saber. I’m sorry.”

“Hahaha! No, it was just a piece of junk from the market. Don’t worry about it.”

“Ah, I see. I thought it was strange. Haha.”

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

Deung turned to leave.

“Wait a moment.”

Sabi-gang called after him.

Suppressing his irritation, Deung turned back, and Sabi-gang leaned in to whisper.

“I received the gift you sent. Haha.”

“A gift?”

Deung looked puzzled, and Sabi-gang’s expression turned sly.

“Why pretend you don’t know? Haha. But I wonder if it’s wise.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never sent you a gift…”

“If it gets out that an instructor at Yongcheon Academy is colluding with a rogue organization, it could be troublesome, don’t you think? Gifts are nice, but you should be more careful.”

Deung’s face froze.

‘How does he know…?’

He was about to speak when Sabi-gang interrupted loudly.

“Hahaha! Thank you for your help today!”

Sabi-gang shook Deung’s hand, aware of the watching eyes.

Deung forced a smile and replied, “Think nothing of it. I’ll be going now.”

He walked away stiffly, his cherished Zaharakindo shattered like a lie.

And now, Sabi-gang knew about his dealings with the rogue faction.

Humiliated in front of the cadets and now blackmailed.

‘I’ll kill him! That bastard! I’ll kill him! Sabi-gang, I’ll end you with my own hands!’

Deung’s face twisted with rage.

Meanwhile, Sabi-gang watched him go, a cold smile on his lips.

**

“Did that weakling really beat Instructor Deung?”

“I can’t believe it, even after seeing it. It was over in a second.”

“So, our homeroom instructor is stronger than Instructor Deung?”

The cadets whispered as they weeded the courtyard.

Yeon Woo-gyeong and Gok Bo-ok’s group watched them with serious expressions from beside a rock.

“It seems Instructor Sa really will be our homeroom teacher. But did he really beat Instructor Deung?”

“Of course not. Instructor Deung said he held back.”

A cadet chimed in.

Gok Bo-ok nodded.

“Right. We saw them whispering at the end, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, he probably thanked him for letting him win. No doubt about it.”

“Can’t trust these instructors.”

Gok Bo-ok’s comment made Yeon Woo-gyeong chuckle.

The academy’s decision wouldn’t change overnight, but still…

“It’s fine. There’s a certain satisfaction in taking your time to torment someone.”

“Heh heh. True. It seems like it’s not just us; others have quite a few grievances as well.”

Gok Bo-ok’s gaze drifted over to the other cadets.

Some were dutifully following Sabigang’s orders, clearing weeds and stones from the yard and straightening the tilted signboard. But most of them were huddled together, laughing and chatting amongst themselves.

None of them acknowledged Sabigang as their instructor, just like us.

The reason was simple.

Breaking in the instructor.

Once, Yongcheon Hall might have been a place of great prestige, but now it was merely a stepping stone for the aspiring young warriors.

Yet, there were still a few reasons why so many sought to enter Yongcheon Hall.

First, there was the Seungryong Pavilion, which housed a collection of martial arts manuals.

These were secret texts gathered by the Justice Alliance during the Great War, entrusted to Yongcheon Hall by mutual agreement among various sects, and still kept there to this day.

The Seungryong Pavilion was accessible only to cadets, and borrowing was strictly prohibited.

Moreover, being designated as an outstanding cadet at Yongcheon Hall came with perks like receiving various elixirs and being directly recommended for key positions within the Justice Alliance.

In fact, members of the Justice Alliance were typically selected from Yongcheon Hall graduates.

While not an absolute rule, it was the customary practice.

Additionally, it was a rare opportunity for young warriors from different sects and families to interact and build camaraderie over an extended period.

Given these circumstances, even prestigious sects and families were eager to send their young warriors to Yongcheon Hall, often trying to bribe or manipulate the instructors to suit their own interests.

As a result, the cadets viewed the instructors as little more than senior warriors who acted out of self-interest.

In such an environment, someone like Sabigang, who didn’t play along, was nothing but a thorn in their side.

Yeon Woo-kyung squinted and muttered to himself.

“Soon enough, he’ll either fall in line or quit on his own.”

“Heh heh. I’m looking forward to our time here.”

Gok Bo-ok chuckled softly.

Meanwhile, from a distance, someone was watching them intently.

“Ho, to defeat Deung Bu-hyung with a single move.”

An elderly man stood tall on the cliff, stroking his white beard with a gentle smile.

Though his stature was modest and the wrinkles around his eyes spoke of his years, he exuded an aura of dignified wisdom.

Beside him stood a martial artist in black armor, wearing a bamboo hat. Her figure was unmistakably graceful, even beneath the armor.

Her voice rang out, clear and melodious like a string of pearls.

“It seems Sabigang himself was the one who took the head of the Guiya Chieftain.”

“Indeed. So he’s the one causing all the commotion at the academy lately.”

“Just a few days ago, he was a sub-instructor who returned injured from a minor skirmish.”

“I heard the Deputy Pavilion Master recommended him?”

“Yes, Pavilion Master.”

Pavilion Master.

The woman in black addressed the old man as the “Pavilion Master.”

Indeed, the man with the air of a sage was none other than Eun Gi-ryung, the master of Yongcheon Hall.

Eun Gi-ryung nodded slowly.

“If the Deputy Pavilion Master recommended him, then he must be a man of integrity, even if his martial skills are lacking. But if he possesses martial prowess as well, then all the better, wouldn’t you say?”

“It seems there’s quite a bit of dissatisfaction among the instructors.”

“He should be able to withstand that much. If he’s truly the catalyst for change in our hall, then it’s worth it.”

“Do you think it’s possible?”

“We’ll have to wait and see. It would be splendid if he could stir things up a bit.”

Eun Gi-ryung chuckled heartily as he turned away.