Chapter 47
Time is like flowing water.
Of course, for some, a day feels like ten years, and for others, a month feels like a day, but in any case, time passed relentlessly.
In this way, the time at the White Martial Academy also passed idly, and before long, the seasons had changed twice.
The first snow was piling up on Jiryong Mountain's Manhwa Peak.
“I’m the first to arrive!”
“What are you talking about? I’m the first.”
“Ah, why are you being like this again?”
“Ahem! Look at this friend. His shamelessness is on par with Jin… no, the instructor’s.”
They had changed.
The students of the Human Division no longer made pained expressions, nor did they complain from exhaustion.
The hellish stamina training that they thought they would never get used to.
Now, if they skipped even a day, their bodies felt sluggish, and a few students whose senses, dynamic visual acuity, and reflexes had improved by leaps and bounds were able to avoid So-ah’s club-beating quite well.
‘Everyone has gotten stronger…!’
Tang Il-gi felt a certain emotion as he looked at the students.
When So-ah first started guiding the students, he was actually half in doubt.
But a miracle had actually happened.
Of course, the students had not been taught a peerless art like the Ten-Second Invincible Arts.
But the daily threshing and stamina training were actually opening up the possibility of the absurd promise of infinite stamina and body remodeling in just a few months.
“What are you thinking about, Il-gi?”
Just then.
Namgung Mun spoke to Tang Il-gi, who was looking around at the students scattered around with a complicated gaze.
“Ah! Mun. I was just thinking about this and that, wondering if this is a dream or reality.”
Before long, Tang Il-gi’s tone had also changed to a casual one.
Originally, Tang Il-gi and Namgung Mun had an awkward relationship where they used honorifics, but after Namgung Mun entered the Human Division, they became close friends since they were from the same Heaven Division and were of similar age.
“What thoughts?”
“Just. I was wondering if these are really the students of the Human Division who were said to be the most behind in the White Martial Academy. Climbing Manhwa Peak in just half a shichen without using internal energy is truly a crazy level, isn’t it?”
Namgung Mun grinned at Tang Il-gi’s words.
“That’s certainly true. Even the students of the Heaven Division probably couldn’t do this.”
“It’s not just impossible. It’s because you were able to overcome this forced march easily from the beginning. As for me, I almost died several times because I couldn’t adapt at first.”
“Il-gi. I’ve never overcome it easily either. It was really like hell. Of course, I still haven’t gotten used to the threshing training. I don’t know why I have to be hit.”
“It’s the same for me. I wonder if we’ll ever be able to adapt to the threshing training until the end.”
“Right?”
“Of course.”
“Haha.”
“Hahaha!”
The two burst into laughter.
Although it was a dry laugh that came out of absurdity, they did not regret entering the Human Division.
Because in reality, both Tang Il-gi and Namgung Mun had achieved their own accomplishments.
Tang Il-gi had achieved stamina and body remodeling, and Namgung Mun had realized the truth that it was much more important to cultivate a strong body and mind than to crave strong martial arts.
The terrible training experience in the Human Division would be a major turning point in both of their lives.
Just then.
“What are you two plotting?”
So-ah’s playful voice flowed out.
“Aha, we were just having a little chat.”
Tang Il-gi replied with a smiling face, drawing an arc with the corners of his eyes.
“Brother Tang. It’s only right that you or Gung-mun should be first in the stamina training, but you’re worse than Byeong-il or Han Baek. Is this okay? You should work a little harder.”
So-ah reprimanded him with narrowed eyes.
Although he still used honorifics with Tang Il-gi, these days he often gave him a direct scolding.
In that moment.
“Instructor Jin. Why do you call Il-gi ‘Brother Tang’ but call me by the strange name of Gung-mun? Because of that, all the students call me Gung-mun, Gung-mun! How about you call me ‘brother’ too? Haha.”
Namgung Mun subtly mixed his complaint behind a hearty laugh.
At that, So-ah tilted his neck, rolled his shoulders, and spat out as if threatening him.
“Gung-mun. Aren’t you mistaken about something?”
“What?”
“Brother Tang has been my brother for a long time, and you, you brat, were a thorn in my side. But what? Brother? Do you want some special training alone? Huh?”
Namgung Mun laughed awkwardly.
In times like these, it was best to just let it slide.
“Ha… haha. Instructor, don’t you know a joke?”
“Really? It’s a joke? It must be. There’s no way you’d say such a thing seriously unless you’re crazy. Of course, of course.”
Namgung Mun wanted to cry, but he let out a sigh inwardly and comforted himself with a bitter smile.
‘Sigh… how did my fate become like this?’
***
“Now, now! Everyone, line up to the left and right.”
So-ah shouted, gathering the students.
At that, all the students who had been scattered and fooling around lined up in the blink of an eye and stood at attention.
‘They’re quite nimble now, the brats.’
So-ah stared at them for a moment with a proud look and then opened his mouth in a solemn tone.
“You’ve all worked hard. You seem quite decent now. Especially Byeong-il and Han Baek have improved a lot, and Myo-seon and Hwa-rin have also worked hard. Students Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su have not only improved their stamina but also their senses by leaps and bounds. Well, everyone else has worked hard too.”
“Aww! Why are you suddenly saying such things like you’re not going to see us again?”
“Do something that suits you, Instructor.”
“Wow~ I almost threw up. Look at him being so serious.”
As expected, the students responded with sneers and sarcasm, but So-ah was generous in that regard, so he ignored it and got to the point.
“It’s the vacation period starting the day after tomorrow. You’ll all go back to your sects and families to train in your original martial arts and gather again in half a year. I have to give you this much praise.”
That’s right.
The White Martial Academy had not been established for long, so its educational system was not complete, and since the martial arts of each sect and family were different, it was impossible to unify and teach them.
Therefore, the purpose was to go back and forth between their respective sects and the academy to not only learn martial arts but also to receive missions as members of the Alliance and to inspire a martial artist’s consciousness. The second vacation period for the first batch of students was approaching.
“Phew! Come to think of it, time has passed so quickly.”
“After we finish the vacation period and come back, and finish the final student evaluation, we’ll also graduate from the academy, right?”
“No. After we finish the student evaluation and complete the missions corresponding to each grade, then we graduate.”
“Ah, right!”
“Still, if we finish all that, we’ll receive the qualification of a junior official, so we have to do our best.”
“It’s the first time our Yeongwol-gak is producing a Martial Alliance official. My father will be so happy.”
“Me too. It’s the first time a Martial Alliance official is coming from our Jinseong Martial Arts School. Wow! I’m becoming the pride of the martial arts school!”
Their respective reflections burst out.
Most of the students in the Human Division were from small and medium-sized sects.
Becoming the first graduates of the White Martial Academy and junior officials of the Martial Alliance would be a great honor and pride for their families.
Just then.
“Instructor! You’ve worked hard. I’ll see you after the vacation period. Haha!”
Surprisingly, Han Baek, who usually confronted So-ah the most, expressed his gratitude.
Although Han Baek was always complaining, he had achieved the greatest accomplishment in stamina and body remodeling, so he actually felt grateful to So-ah.
But.
“Put away your farewells.”
“Yes?”
“There are still two days left.”
“Ah…!”
“For the remaining period, think of yourselves as almost dead. We will train with all our might. Got it?”
“I don’t know. You crazy dog… oops!”
Han Baek was flustered and accidentally spoke his mind.
‘Oops…’
But spilled water and spoken words cannot be taken back.
“I see. So I was a mad dog.”
So-ah’s lips curled up cruelly.
“From today, Han Baek will have individual guidance after training.”
‘This is bullshit!’
Han Baek growled, and So-ah laughed.
***
Two days later.
With the vacation period, the students set off on their way home with light steps.
Except for the students of the Human Division.
The students of the Human Division had experienced a real hell for two days.
So-ah had educated the students without even letting them sleep, and that hellish time would probably never be forgotten from their minds for the rest of their lives.
‘You all worked hard. Don’t skip your stamina training even when you go back to your families. If you come back after the vacation period and your stamina has dropped or you show a lazy attitude, then you’ll really be foaming at the mouth.’
So-ah, who had even spat out such a brutal farewell, shared his feelings with his friends and was about to set off with Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su.
In the midst of that, an unexpected person came to see So-ah.
“Huh? What are you doing here? Everyone has set off on their way home, but you didn’t go?”
The person who had come to see So-ah was Namgung Mun.
“I wanted to thank you separately, Instructor Jin.”
“Huh?”
“If it weren’t for you, Instructor, I would have been wandering.”
“Aha. Well, it’s not something to be thanked for.”
“I’ll see you in half a year. I’ll go back to my family and, with a renewed mind, I’ll try to create my own Emperor Sword Technique.”
Namgung Mun’s eyes shone with fighting spirit.
So-ah, seeing that determined appearance, was convinced that Namgung Mun would be much stronger when they met next time.
“You’ll become like that, brother.”
“Wh-What did you just say? Did you call me brother?”
“It’s the vacation period. We’re not instructor and student for a while. Well, you’re my brother. Aren’t you?”
So-ah curled up the corners of his mouth.
At that, Namgung Mun also smiled brightly and spoke.
“Hahaha! Younger Brother Jin. Let’s meet again.”
“Let’s see each other after we’ve grown.”
“Of course!”
With the end of the conversation, So-ah turned his body with Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su and left the academy.
Namgung Mun, watching So-ah’s receding back, stood there blankly for a while and let out a laugh like a foolish person.
‘So-ah. I will challenge you again someday. Until then, I will do my best.’
***
A fortnight later.
Liaoning, Moyong Family.
“So-ah! Hwa-ah! Su-ah!”
“You’re back! You’re back!”
“A triumphant return! It’s really good to have you back!”
All the members of the Moyong family were pleased to see the returned So-ah and his group.
And for good reason. Thanks to So-ah’s activities, the Moyong Family had been able to raise its prestige.
“Oh my, the treasure of our family! Chief Instructor Jin. How much you must have suffered.”
“So-ah. How about you change your surname this time? You can become Moyong So-ah!”
“Oops? Then who will adopt So-ah?”
“So-ah is the top disciple of the God of War, the Grand Family Head. Who would dare to adopt him?”
“That’s right. Come to think of it, So-ah’s seniority is higher than mine, isn’t it?”
“Hoho… something seems to be twisted in the family tree.”
Regardless of whether they were middle-aged or old, they praised So-ah.
For a moment, a warm breeze blew in So-ah’s heart.
So-ah was no longer an orphan.
From the moment he met his grandfather, these people had become his family, and this place had become his home.
“Haha, everyone, restrain yourselves. Anyway, So-ah, Hwa-ah, and Su-ah have all worked hard. You must be tired from the long journey, so rest well for a few days.”
Moyong Baek stepped forward, restraining the fussing crowd.
It was because his daughter, Moyong Hwa’s face was deeply etched with fatigue.
He felt sorry for having condoned his daughter being beaten up under the pretext of training, and above all, he wanted his daughter, who had come home after a long time, to rest well.
But.
“Uncle. I appreciate the consideration, but I don’t intend to rest for a few days.”
“Huh?”
“Now that I’m back at the family, I have to start teaching my junior sister and junior brother in earnest.”
“What… do you mean? Was the training at the academy not training?”
“The training at the academy was the basics of the basics. Now that they have completed their stamina and body to some extent, I will start teaching my junior sister and junior brother martial arts in earnest from tomorrow.”
“Ah… is that so… ahem!”
“The Ten-Second Invincible Arts.”
“…”
“From tomorrow, I plan to try teaching the Ten-Second Invincible Arts to my junior sister and junior brother.”
“Ah!”
“Although it will be arduous, difficult, and a feeling of dying will repeat every hour of every day, my junior sister and junior brother will do well.”
“Th-That’s right?”
“I firmly believe so.”
Moyong Baek was at a loss for words.
‘I’m happy, but… there was a reason why my father didn’t teach the Ten-Second Invincible Arts. I wonder if Hwa-ah or Su-ah can endure that harsh training…’
Moyong Baek was worried.
Just then.
“Jin So-ah! Die!!”
Moyong Hwa contorted her face and shouted.
At that sight, which was neither laughing nor crying, So-ah burst into laughter and,
“Junior Sister. Eat a hearty dinner.”
“What?!”
“Because from tomorrow morning, you’ll have to eat in hell.”
(End of Chapter)