Chapter 58
Two days later, Sa Bigang and the students departed from the Flash Sword Mok Family.
Mok Cheol-u came out to the village entrance and grasped Sa Bigang’s hands.
“She’s still very foolish and lacking in many ways. I understand intellectually that she sometimes needs to be raised strictly, but having only one daughter, my heart couldn’t follow along. I worry that I may have raised the girl wrongly with such feelings. I would like Sa Bigang Instructor to guide her well in my place. Please, I earnestly ask this of you.”
“Huhuhuh. Don’t worry. I’ll raise her to be a capable talent.”
“Thank you. Nothing could be more reassuring than this.”
Mok Cheol-u’s face was filled with smiles.
Sa Bigang glanced at Mok Dan-hwa and smiled as if to show off.
That smile seemed to say:
‘Did you see? Now even your father has entrusted your fate to me. Do you still think of struggling? Just follow my words obediently like you’re dead. Then you won’t get hurt.’
It felt like a threat of that degree.
‘Haah, really, why is father acting like this?’
Mok Dan-hwa couldn’t understand what kind of situation this was at all.
From childhood, her father had cherished her terribly.
When she said one word, her father would grant her even more than that.
But right after the duel with Sa Bigang, her father’s attitude completely changed.
This was the first time she’d seen her father, who was proud and always dignified, lower his posture like this.
It wasn’t as if her father had been pushed back in the duel either.
It seemed like equal skill.
Of course, she hadn’t thought that a mere instructor could match her father with equal skill.
So that part was certainly surprising.
But for her father to praise the opponent like this just because of that much.
Certainly, her father was now not just respecting Sa Bigang, but completely trusting him.
In fact, for her who didn’t know the inner details of the past duel, this was natural doubt.
But for Mok Cheol-u, he had realized many things through that single duel.
Sa Bigang’s skill, and his character in showing consideration for him in front of the students.
That night at the drinking session, Mok Cheol-u had subtly thrown out a question.
“You were quite blunt when talking about my daughter, but why did you show such consideration during the duel?”
“After all, isn’t the person more important than martial arts? What kind of martial arts, rather than what kind of person, is always important. So I made my criticism of Dan-hwa’s character a bit more harsh. Well, there’s also the reason that I personally dislike rigid formalities.”
An answer that might have made him angry normally.
But Mok Cheol-u, who had already been won over by the opponent’s skill, found himself nodding even at that answer.
And he thought:
‘I can trust and entrust my daughter to someone like this.’
No, for the first time, he became convinced that sending his daughter to Yongcheon Hall had been the right decision.
Before this, there had only been the justification of advancement and expanding connections.
In the end, Mok Cheol-u clinked cups with Sa Bigang until dawn that night.
The more they conversed, the less Sa Bigang seemed like a young martial artist.
It was more like the feeling of an elderly master who had experienced all the ups and downs of life over decades?
Sa Bigang had actually lived a very long life, but Mok Cheol-u, who couldn’t know such inner details, could only see Sa Bigang as someone who had penetrated the principles of the world from a young age.
Mok Cheol-u, who had been briefly recalling last night, now called Mok Dan-hwa and gently admonished her.
“Even when you go to the academy, make sure to follow Instructor Sa Bigang’s words well. Your connection with Instructor Sa Bigang is a blessing sent from heaven.”
“Father, really, why are you going so far…?”
“Hey! Don’t you trust your father’s words anymore?”
“It’s not that, but…”
Mok Dan-hwa looked at Mok Cheol-u with a somewhat flustered expression.
Her father was sincere.
It wasn’t words said for show, nor was it the appearance of submission due to force.
So it was all the more bewildering.
‘Is Sa Bigang Instructor really that remarkable?’
Leaving his daughter with such thoughts, Mok Cheol-u cupped his hands toward Sa Bigang.
“From now on, the Flash Sword Mok Family will actively cooperate with Instructor Sa Bigang. If there ever comes a time when you need our family’s help, please don’t hesitate to call upon us at any time.”
“Keke. Thank you. Then, we’ll be going.”
“May your journey be peaceful.”
As soon as his words ended, the Flash Sword Mok Family martial artists lined up behind him all cupped their hands in unison and shouted.
“Travel safely!”
Finally, Sa Bigang and the students departed.
Meanwhile, Yeon U-gyeong, walking with the students, was deep in thought.
‘Was it really not a coincidence?’
When he first started dueling with Mok Dan-hwa, he had confidence he could subdue her.
But the more they crossed swords, the more he realized it wasn’t easy.
He thought that she indeed deserved to wield influence as a prestigious family.
And when the second duel began, Sa Bigang gave him strange advice.
“Just look at the ground.”
At first, he wondered what crazy nonsense that was.
Look at the ground?
But after about a moment had passed, he saw.
Feeling that the sword path absolutely wouldn’t break through and reproaching himself, he unconsciously looked at the ground.
That’s when Sa Bigang’s advice came to mind.
And he observed more carefully with concentration.
The answer was in the footwork.
Her footwork, which always moved swiftly and lightly, seemed to lose that power only when defending.
He couldn’t immediately figure out the reason.
But after exchanging offense and defense several times, it gradually became visible.
‘Ah, her footwork that consists of straight lines slightly curves only when defending!’
Then what if he pursued using the shortest distance?
Perhaps the sword path might break through.
Of course, it wasn’t as simple as it sounded.
This side’s counterattack movements were closely related to the final stance too.
Therefore, Yeon U-gyeong executed the technique that best suited counterattacking.
At that moment, the sword path opened like a lie.
He thought it might be a coincidence, but the same type of attack worked the next time too.
Now there was no hesitation.
He immediately deployed straight-line movement and thrust his sword tip along the wide-open sword path.
And he won the duel.
It looked simple, but during a life-and-death duel, one couldn’t focus solely on the opponent’s footwork.
But how had Sa Bigang figured it out without directly watching that duel?
Suddenly, Gok Bo-ok’s words came to mind.
“It seems Sa Bigang Instructor isn’t the type we think he is.”
‘Sa Bigang. Just what kind of person is he?’
Now he really didn’t know.
Meanwhile, there was someone else who had similar thoughts…
“Could we have a word?”
The person who approached Sa Bigang’s carriage and stood tall.
It was Tang Iháp.
As the carriage door opened, Tang Iháp looked at Sa Bigang with a serious expression.
“I have something I’m curious about.”
Sa Bigang grinned.
“I knew you’d come looking eventually.”
“Then, may I come in?”
“No. I’ll come out. Let’s walk a bit.”
Sa Bigang got out of the carriage.
***
Yongcheon Hall’s Dragon Talk Room.
“Dean. We can’t leave the Head Instructor position vacant forever. Now we must take action.”
At Cheon Se-myeong’s words, Ju Yu-cheon frowned.
“However, regarding that matter, I need to discuss it with Instructor Sa Bigang…”
“I don’t mean to break the agreement you made with him. However, in the current state, it’s certainly burdensome for the instructors to take turns supplementing the Wolf Fang Class students who have lost their homeroom teacher.”
“That said, we can’t arbitrarily hire a new instructor either.”
“There’s a way to solve this without hiring a new instructor.”
“What is that?”
Finally, Ju Yu-cheon showed interest and looked at Cheon Se-myeong.
Cheon Se-myeong paused for a moment, then replied with a gentle smile.
“Appoint Sang Pil-ji Instructor as the homeroom teacher.”
“Instructor Sang?”
Sang Pil-ji Instructor was the most skilled in swordsmanship among the first-year Head Instructors.
But he didn’t serve as a homeroom teacher.
He frequently missed meetings and had become an instructor on the condition that he wouldn’t serve as a homeroom teacher.
Ju Yu-cheon gently shook his head.
“Of course, if we did that, the problem would be solved without hiring a new Head Instructor. But would Instructor Sang be willing to serve as a homeroom teacher?”
Sang Pil-ji detested troublesome matters.
If he became a homeroom teacher, troublesome matters would inevitably arise.
So he would never want to become a homeroom teacher…
“I’ve already finished discussing it with Instructor Sang.”
Cheon Se-myeong suddenly replied.
“Finished discussing? What do you mean?”
“If there’s just the Dean’s approval, Sang Pil-ji Instructor said he would serve as homeroom teacher.”
Then even Deung Bu-hyeong sitting across and Eon Byeok beside him showed surprised expressions.
“Oh, is that really true?”
“If that happens, the Wolf Fang Class students would truly be blessed.”
Cheon Se-myeong nodded with a faint smile.
“Actually, I was surprised too. Even if we asked first, it wouldn’t be enough, but yesterday Sang Pil-ji Instructor came to me directly and said this.”
“Is that really true?”
This time even Ju Yu-cheon asked with a surprised expression.
Cheon Se-myeong nodded.
“Yes, at first I doubted my own ears.”
It was true.
Sang Pil-ji had visited his quarters last night.
“I think it might be good to serve as a homeroom teacher soon.”
A truly unexpected statement.
At those words spoken bluntly, Cheon Se-myeong wanted to dance.
If Sang Pil-ji became a homeroom teacher, his participation in the upcoming Spring Fragrance Festival would be almost certain.
Then the cards to counter Sa Bigang would increase in various ways.
Where else could there be such good fortune?
Moreover, Sang Pil-ji was already a Head Instructor.
There was no need to watch Sa Bigang’s mood.
Since it wasn’t about hiring a new person as Head Instructor.
It was just a simple job change.
So there was no problem at all with Sang Pil-ji serving as Wolf Fang Class homeroom teacher.
He didn’t ask why he suddenly wanted to serve as homeroom teacher.
If he bothered him unnecessarily, he might turn around and leave.
Instead, he promised to do his best to suggest it to the Dean.
“Ehem.”
Ju Yu-cheon let out a thoughtful sound and quietly fell into contemplation.
Certainly there would be no problems.
“What do you all think about appointing Sang Pil-ji Instructor as Wolf Fang Class homeroom teacher?”
“I’m in favor.”
“I’m also in favor.”
The first-year instructors each expressed their approval.
In fact, there was no reason to oppose.
Even now, they were busy in various ways to fill the vacancy.
Ju Yu-cheon nodded.
“Good. Then I’ll appoint Sang Pil-ji Instructor as Wolf Fang Class homeroom teacher.”
“Thank you, Dean. Thanks to this, we can also breathe a sigh of relief.”
Cheon Se-myeong cupped his hands with a bright smile.
**
“How could such…”
Tang Iháp stood with his mouth agape, unable to continue any words.
His feet didn’t budge as if buried in the ground.
Sa Bigang, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned around.
“Huhu. It must be hard to believe.”
Hard to believe?
Not at all.
This isn’t a matter of believing or not believing.
This is a story that doesn’t make sense from the start.
That’s right.
This is a matter of possibility.
For instance, a story about the dullest of the dull becoming a supreme master through blood-and-tears effort could be a matter of belief.
But the story of that dullard waking up one day transformed into a dragon and ascending to heaven is impossible from the start.
In other words, it’s a story that has left the realm of belief.
The story he’d heard from Sa Bigang so far was exactly like that.
What is the Demon Realm, what are demon beasts, and what is the Demon King?
What are mana and spirits, and future and past regression!
How can one react if the words don’t make sense?
“Are you… making fun of me right now?”
Though he spoke with difficulty, even while asking the question, he thought it was ridiculous.
Who in the world would prattle on with such absurd stories for an entire hour just to play a prank?
But even before hearing Sa Bigang’s answer, a question that surprised even himself continued from his mouth.
“If so… how much time is left? Until the Demon King comes.”
