Episode 9: Return of the Demon Instructor
Sabi Kang slowly opened his eyes.
“The process of mana conversion in my middle dantian is getting smoother. Just a little more, and…”
Perhaps soon, it would feel as natural as it did in the Demon Realm.
However, the amount of mana he could harness was still woefully inadequate.
He could only manage spells at the early 4th circle level.
Of course, the 4th circle was already quite advanced.
But back in the Demon Realm, Sabi Kang had mastered up to the 8th circle, becoming the strongest sword mage in history.
Considering that the mana required from the 4th circle onwards increased almost exponentially, he still had a long way to go.
There was no need to rush.
He could take it step by step.
And he would be fully prepared for the day he would face the Demon King’s army.
Sabi Kang got up and picked up Vertas from where it lay on the bed.
A low hum emanated from Vertas, vibrating slightly.
Sabi Kang clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, there was no need to destroy it like that.”
He was referring to the incident with the Zaharakindo.
In truth, Sabi Kang hadn’t intended to go that far.
But who would have thought it would shatter with a single strike?
It was only possible because Vertas had unleashed its power at the moment of impact with Zaharakindo.
The sword trembled again, as if trying to justify itself.
“Quiet, you and your pride. Zaharakindo was a decent weapon in its own right.”
Sighing lightly, Sabi Kang walked over to the window.
The first class had passed.
It was mostly just a round of introductions.
But starting tomorrow, the real lessons would begin.
The training hall and the practice grounds were all set.
Over the next ten years, he needed to train as many martial arts masters as possible to stand against the Demon King’s army.
That was why he had taken on the role of chief instructor.
It was a position where he could interact with the most promising young talents, guide them, and elevate them to the ranks of the strongest warriors.
Moreover, if he could change the corrupt atmosphere of Yongcheon Academy, it would be even better.
“Now’s not the time to be complacent and lazy in peace.”
Sabi Kang picked up the roster and reviewed the students one by one.
He hadn’t intended to take on such problematic students from the start.
But…
“It might actually work out well. Heh.”
When he first saw the special class roster, he had the same thought.
Most of the names on the list were students who were considered too difficult to handle even by the academy.
They were either from such influential backgrounds that no one dared to touch them, or they were arrogant enough to disregard their instructors, relying solely on their own abilities.
Ironically, many of them would prove to be invaluable in the future war against the Demon Realm.
“Of course, if I guide them properly from now on, they could achieve even more…”
As the saying goes, a needle in a pouch will eventually poke through.
First, he needed to manage these unruly students well.
If he mishandled the needle in the pouch, he would end up pricking his own fingers.
He recalled the looks in their eyes as they watched him.
None of them seemed particularly pleased.
Sabi Kang grinned.
“Heh, cute little troublemakers. Go ahead, act out all you want. I’ll join in the fun.”
**
A night bird fluttered down to the window of a private room on the third floor of the inn.
Inside, a man with a stern expression sat, his gaze fixed on the bird.
“They’re getting out of hand.”
Crash!
The glass in his hand shattered into pieces, unable to withstand his grip.
The shards scattered across the floor.
A server who had just entered with food looked at him in shock.
“Uh… are you alright?”
“Just bring more wine. I don’t need a glass.”
“Oh, yes, right away.”
The server quickly set down the food and left.
As soon as he was gone, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache entered the room.
“Apologies for being late. Have you been waiting long?”
The man quickly sat across from the stern-faced man, glancing at the broken glass but saying nothing.
He believed in addressing good news first and avoiding unnecessary mention of bad news.
This was Ganeung-ho, the head of the Yongcheon branch of the Cheonhwa Trading Company.
“You were later than expected.”
The stern-faced man made no effort to hide his displeasure.
His mood was at its worst today.
Ganeung-ho chuckled, trying to gauge his mood.
“There was a bit of trouble at the company. But this spread seems a bit lacking, doesn’t it? Hey!”
Ganeung-ho called out, and the server hurried back.
This place, Hwanghakru, near Yongcheon Academy, was affiliated with the Cheonhwa Trading Company.
“Yes, sir?”
“Is this how you treat a distinguished guest? Didn’t I tell you to prepare properly? Clear this away and bring something new!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
The server bowed repeatedly and approached the table.
Feeling slightly better after Ganeung-ho’s intervention, the stern-faced man waved the server away.
“Just bring more wine.”
“Yes, right away.”
The server quickly left the room.
Before he left, Ganeung-ho made sure to instruct him to bring the finest wine.
Once the situation was somewhat settled, the stern-faced man finally spoke his mind.
“One bad apple is spoiling the whole bunch.”
“By bad apple, do you mean the new swordsmanship instructor?”
“You know about him?”
“Haha, I’m not just any merchant, you know.”
“Indeed. Your sources are quick.”
“You’re too kind. Rumors about him have already spread. But what about him…?”
“The Zaharakindo was destroyed.”
Ganeung-ho’s expression changed slightly.
The Zaharakindo was a gift he had personally given last year.
“How did that happen…?”
“With a single strike.”
“What do you mean… did he really destroy the Zaharakindo with one blow?”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Yet it happened.”
“How could such a thing…?”
Ganeung-ho was left speechless, his mouth agape.
“I have a question for you.”
“Go ahead.”
“What do you think of my martial arts skills?”
“How could I possibly judge your skills? At the very least, your swordsmanship is unparalleled…”
“Enough with the formalities. I want your honest opinion.”
“Please, don’t test me like this. How could someone of your caliber ask someone like me such a question? It’s absurd.”
“Do you mean that?”
“If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning and die.”
Of course, it was a lie.
Strictly speaking, the stern-faced man was considered a first-rate master.
Among the instructors, only Sang Pil-ji and Cheon Se-myung were at the pinnacle of martial arts.
Especially Sang Pil-ji, who was on the verge of reaching the ultimate level.
But Ganeung-ho knew better than anyone that he couldn’t answer truthfully in this situation.
“Alright. Then let me ask you again. The Zaharakindo I wielded was shattered with a single strike. What do you think?”
Ganeung-ho closed his eyes.
“So that’s what this is about…”
The stern-faced man had brought up his skills to lead the conversation in this direction.
If he claimed the Zaharakindo was just an ordinary sword, it would imply the stern-faced man’s skills were lacking.
Conversely, if he said the Zaharakindo was a worthless blade, it would mean he had given a piece of junk as a gift.
It was a classic case of being caught between a rock and a hard place.
Ganeung-ho slowly opened his eyes and spoke.
“What weapon did the opponent use?”
“A sword.”
“What kind of sword?”
The stern-faced man’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Hmm. I’m not sure. It looked like a sword from the Western regions.”
“A Western sword… perhaps he possesses an extraordinary blade.”
“An extraordinary blade?”
“The Zaharakindo I gave you is undoubtedly a fine sword. And your martial skills are beyond question. So the only possibility is that he wields a legendary sword.”
The stern-faced man’s eyes sharpened.
“Indeed. That makes sense.”
Ganeung-ho breathed a sigh of relief.
He had always found the stern-faced man to be simple and concerned with appearances.
It was sometimes puzzling how such a person had connections with the righteous sects.
“But that simplicity can be quite convenient.”
Having concluded his thoughts, Ganeung-ho asked cautiously.
“Do you know how he came to possess that sword?”
“I have no idea.”
“Was it a sword he always had?”
“Hardly. He was just an assistant instructor in spear techniques. That was the first time I saw him use a sword.”
“Hmm, something smells fishy.”
“What do you mean?”
“Haha! What other smell could a merchant like me detect but the smell of money?”
“Ah, I see.”
The stern-faced man nodded slightly.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t given much thought to the man’s sword.
But even so…
“Even if it smells like money, if it’s not mine…”
“Until everything in this world belongs to me, nothing truly does.”
“What are you plotting?”
Ganeunghu squinted his eyes and chuckled softly.
“Heh heh. I have a special gift for you, Master Deung.”
“A gift?”
Deung’s expression brightened instantly.
“Indeed. As a gesture of apology, I’ll present you with a blade even finer than the Zaharakindo.”
“Haha, there’s no need to go that far…”
“But I ask one thing in return.”
“Name it.”
“Whatever happens to that man’s sword in the future, you must pretend you know nothing.”
Ganeunghu smiled faintly.
Deung furrowed his brow for a moment before asking, “You’re not planning to use someone, are you?”
His question was laced with concern. Despite the tarnished reputation of Yongcheon Hall, allowing an outsider to commit theft was unthinkable. Occasionally, there were incidents of theft, but they were mostly the mischief of students.
Ganeunghu laughed heartily and shook his head. “Of course not. How could I have learned about him so quickly?”
“Well, you have your sources everywhere… Ah!”
Suddenly, Deung slapped his knee as if something had dawned on him.
Ganeunghu nodded slightly. “Exactly. The second son of our guild master, the young master of Cheonhwa Trading Company, is in that special class.”
“Ah, I see.”
Now that he thought about it, he had heard about the second son, whom the guild master considered a troublesome child. Rumor had it that he was such a handful that he was practically disowned.
“By now, the young master might have caught the same scent as I did. After all, he is the guild master’s blood, isn’t he? Heh heh.”
Deung’s face lit up with understanding. “Indeed. Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
A rare, hearty laugh escaped him. Ganeunghu filled Deung’s glass to the brim with wine.
“Please take good care of our young master.”
“Hahaha! What could I possibly do? Young Master Yeom is quite capable on his own!”
“Heh heh. Just continue to be as generous as you have been. I’ll send the blade to you soon.”
“Hahaha! You’re too kind, Brother Ga. No need to worry so much. This reminds me of the old days.”
Though he spoke casually, Deung had already started addressing Ganeunghu as “Brother Ga” instead of “Chief Ga.”
“What happened back then?”
“When I was a student, I wanted to wield the sword our instructor used, just once.”
“Oh? And then?”
“One day, I sneaked into the instructor’s quarters with some friends to take the sword. We were young and foolish, and the sword seemed so magnificent.”
“Haha. So, what happened?”
“Did you think we succeeded? We got caught red-handed. But then, the instructor handed me the sword and told me to swing it to my heart’s content.”
“He must have been a good man. If you hadn’t been caught, would that sword have become yours?”
“Haha, Brother Ga, you’re too much. But if I had lost it like that, I’d be too embarrassed to tell anyone.”
“Hahaha. So, as a student, sneaking off with an instructor’s weapon is either a great lesson or a fond memory?”
“Hmm? Is that how it goes? Hahahaha!”
“Hahaha! Indeed!”
On the third floor of Hwanghak Pavilion, their laughter echoed through the night air, causing a bird perched by the window to take flight. As it soared into the night sky, its eyes rolled back momentarily before it regained its balance and flew off into the distance.
**
Sabi Kang opened his eyes, which had been rolled back. He had just ended the Observer spell that allowed him to see through the eyes of animals. A smile crept across his lips.
“Those two are having quite the amusing conversation. Heh heh.”