Episode 98: Return to the Martial Arts Hall
“Her again, huh?”
Mae Seol-ran narrowed her eyes.
It had been a while since Sa Bi-gang returned to Yongcheon Hall, and she ran into him at a tavern in a neighboring village. Once again, he was distracted by another woman.
“What kind of man is he?”
Mae Seol-ran felt a surge of irritation. She had never met a man who would look away from her so blatantly. Admittedly, the woman Sa Bi-gang was staring at was beautiful. Her face, free of any disguise, was as smooth and pale as white jade, and her figure was striking even beneath her black armor.
She suddenly remembered where she’d seen the woman before. It was the day they went to see the Yin-Yang Twin Elixirs, at an inn nearby. Even then, Sa Bi-gang had eyed the woman with a certain slyness.
But still.
“Aren’t I prettier?”
That was her honest feeling. In fact, most of the patrons in the tavern were looking at Mae Seol-ran rather than the other woman. Some men had even approached her, only to be politely turned away.
Yet…
“He’s just ogling her with those lecherous eyes! And after we spent a night together, is this really okay?”
Mae Seol-ran felt a strange sense of humiliation and pouted.
“Well… it was just an accident. Yes, just an accident.”
Just then, Sa Bi-gang spoke up.
“So, how is it? Seems pretty effective, right?”
Mae Seol-ran’s expression twisted.
“Effective? Are you seriously asking me that? You’re such a strange person, Instructor.”
She deliberately used the formal title to create distance.
Sa Bi-gang looked puzzled.
“Then who should I ask?”
“How should I know?”
“If you don’t know, who does?”
“I don’t know either. If you’re so curious, why don’t you go ask her yourself?”
Sa Bi-gang frowned, clearly confused.
It was only then that Mae Seol-ran realized there had been a misunderstanding.
“Wait, he wasn’t asking about that woman?”
Her jealousy had clouded her judgment, leading to the misunderstanding.
“You were the one who ate the snake soup and wore the amulet, so why would I ask her about its effects?”
Once she understood the situation, Mae Seol-ran’s face turned as red as a ripe persimmon.
Regardless, Sa Bi-gang continued.
“It seems to have helped quite a bit. Your energy flow has changed.”
He was right. In less than a month, her martial arts skills had improved remarkably. She had already been at a high level, but advancing further was no easy feat. Yet, with the right momentum, martial arts skills could grow rapidly.
Indeed, her progress was thanks to the snake soup and the amulet’s effects, as Sa Bi-gang had mentioned. The Yin-Yang Twin Elixirs, representing the balance of energies, had significantly boosted her internal power.
Mae Seol-ran turned her head, pretending to look at the distant mountains, and spoke nonchalantly.
“Well, I do appreciate it. But don’t keep bringing it up to show off.”
“I wasn’t showing off. I just thought it was impressive how well you’re handling it.”
Mae Seol-ran fell silent. He was a man whose mood could change dozens of times in a single day. At times like this, he felt like an older brother.
“What am I even thinking?”
She shook her head and changed the subject.
“Do you know that woman?”
“It’s complicated.”
Sa Bi-gang had been glancing at the woman in black armor. He had indeed seen her once before, at the inn when they were searching for the amulet. Coincidences often lead to inevitability.
Mae Seol-ran suspected there was something between Sa Bi-gang and the woman, and his next words confirmed it.
“She has business with me.”
“Then why is she just standing there? Is it because of me?”
“Heh. Why would she be concerned about you?”
“Well…”
“Because I’m too pretty? Because she thinks I’m your girlfriend?”
Mae Seol-ran glared at Sa Bi-gang, who had a knack for asking difficult questions.
He shook his head.
“She’s not concerned about you. She’s just observing me, trying to figure out what kind of person I am.”
“Who is she, anyway?”
“If you’re curious, let’s go ask her.”
Sa Bi-gang stood up abruptly. Mae Seol-ran watched him with a surprised expression.
But just then, three men approached the woman before Sa Bi-gang could.
“Those guys?”
Mae Seol-ran looked at them incredulously.
“Weren’t they from the Iron Sword Sect?”
The Iron Sword Sect wasn’t far from Yongcheon Hall, so she had heard of them. They were a respected group within the martial arts alliance, known for their support among martial artists.
They were the same men who had tried to flirt with her earlier, only to be politely turned away. She felt a twinge of disappointment in Sa Bi-gang for not stepping in when she was in an awkward situation.
“Must be nice to be so popular,” was all he had said, rather sarcastically.
At least he could have helped her out instead of making snide remarks!
Anyway, the disciples of the Iron Sword Sect were now approaching the woman in black armor, just a step ahead of Sa Bi-gang.
One of the martial artists, who had reached the woman, greeted her with a formal gesture.
“Hello. I’m Ho Jeong-gon, the senior disciple of the Iron Sword Sect. May I ask for your name, miss?”
“If you know it’s rude, don’t ask.”
Mae Seol-ran nearly spat out her drink.
“Wow, she’s tough.”
To be rejected so bluntly.
Was it because they had been rejected twice, or did the woman’s attitude seem too arrogant?
In the end, the martial artist standing next to Ho Jeong-gon spoke up, his thick eyebrows twitching.
“That’s a bit harsh! Our senior is just trying to introduce himself politely. There’s no need to be so rude!”
“I won’t say it again. Get lost.”
The woman’s words were as cold as ice.
Ho Jeong-gon, who had been holding back, finally glared at her.
“Do you think I’m a joke? You’ve lost your mind just because you have a pretty face!”
He shouted abruptly.
Mae Seol-ran frowned.
“What are these losers doing? They should just drink and leave.”
At that moment, Sa Bi-gang, who had only watched when she was in trouble, now tapped Ho Jeong-gon on the shoulder and spoke.
“Mind stepping aside?”
“Who are you?”
“Hey, are you also looking down on the Iron Sword Sect’s disciples?”
“The lady said she’s not interested.”
“This guy’s been speaking informally since earlier…!”
Bam!
It happened in an instant.
The man who was hit by Sa Bi-gang’s fist flew over the tavern’s second-floor railing and fell outside.
Ho Jeong-gon and his fellow disciple turned around in shock.
Bam!
Their vision went white.
The two of them soon lay sprawled on one side of the tavern, clutching their noses and mouths, groaning without any intention of getting up.
Everyone stared at Sa Bi-gang in astonishment.
Yet, despite the commotion, the woman didn’t spare him a glance. She silently raised her glass.
Sa Bi-gang suddenly grabbed the glass.
“What is he doing now?”
Mae Seol-ran, who had been watching from her seat, widened her eyes.
Finally, the woman looked up at Sa Bi-gang.
He downed the drink in one gulp and grinned.
“Does this mean I passed your test?”
The woman’s expression wavered for a moment. Her gaze shifted to the two martial artists lying on the floor.
“You’ve got guts, taking on the Iron Sword Sect’s disciples.”
“Heh. You know better than I do that they’re not really from the Iron Sword Sect.”
Sa Bi-gang spoke loudly on purpose.
Mae Seol-ran, still clueless, widened her eyes.
“What is he talking about? They said they were from the Iron Sword Sect.”
But the conversation that followed was too far away for her to hear clearly.
Sa Bi-gang, still smiling, said, “Let’s stop here and go.”
The woman, who had been silent for a while, finally asked, “How did you know?”
“I’ve seen you before.”
“Just because of that?”
“I also know where you’re from and what you do.”
This time, the woman was genuinely surprised.
Sa Bi-gang seemed to enjoy her reaction.
“I have a bit of a knack for gathering information.”
In truth, that wasn’t the reason.
Sa Bi-gang had seen her in his past life.
She was Bi-ryeong, the bodyguard of General Gu Yoon.
When he saw her while searching for the Yin-Yang Twin Elixirs, he had a hunch. This time, he was sure.
“Gu Yoon is keeping an eye on me.”
He didn’t know the exact reason yet, but he had a vague idea.
If Gu Yoon was trying to meet him personally, it meant the future he had experienced had changed significantly.
After all, he had destroyed the secret branch of the Blood Demon Sect, which was enough to pique anyone’s curiosity.
Moreover, Gu Yoon was likely disillusioned with the corruption within the martial arts alliance.
Bi-ryeong picked up her hat and stood.
“Follow me.”
“There’s someone I want to bring along.”
Sa Bi-gang glanced at Mae Seol-ran, who was sitting to the side.
“This is the head of the Jeongdo Alliance.”
Maeseollan stared intently at the man sitting across from her.
He had a delicate appearance and a slender build.
She had heard of Gu Yoon, but this was her first time seeing him in person.
Sabigang had brought her along, following a woman named Biryung.
The meeting took place in a shabby inn on the outskirts of the village, suggesting the encounter was meant to be discreet.
Gu Yoon, for his part, was surprised as he observed Sabigang.
“I expected someone quite eccentric from the reports…”
But here was a man who looked surprisingly normal.
Gu Yoon smiled warmly.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. The reason I wanted to see you, Instructor Sa, is…”
“Are we talking about an external threat? Or an internal one?”
Sabigang interrupted abruptly.
Gu Yoon’s expression faltered slightly.
Sabigang had cut straight to the heart of the matter.
‘Who is this man?’
According to Biryung, it was as if he had anticipated Gu Yoon’s visit.
Gu Yoon asked cautiously, “Did you know I was coming?”
“I only guessed. But I didn’t expect such a clumsy test.”
He was referring to the supposed disciples of the Iron Sword School.
In truth, they weren’t disciples at all. Gu Yoon had planted them to test Sabigang’s sense of justice.
He needed to be sure Sabigang was someone who wouldn’t stand by in the face of injustice before reaching out to him.
Yet Sabigang had seen through even that.
‘He’s not an easy man to deal with.’
Gu Yoon chuckled softly.
“Sometimes the simplest methods are the most effective, don’t you think?”
“So, did I pass your test of righteousness?”
“Since you already knew my intentions, the test is void. But it made me want to talk to you more.”
“And what about my question?”
“Both. Internal and external threats.”
Gu Yoon shrugged and spoke candidly.
“Right now, it’s a complete mess.”
“And yet you come to someone you barely know to vent?”
“It’s a first for me, too. Taking a gamble with my heart instead of my head.”
Sabigang chuckled.
“Well, in that case, your gamble has paid off.”