Star Instructor, Master Baek

Chapter 69: Demon Instructor

On my way back from work, I stopped by the market street to pick up a few items that I had pre-ordered. Once I had everything, I headed back to the White Dragon Manor and gathered the students.

Whats in the bags, Mr. Baek? Gongson Su asked, eyeing my haul with interest.

Instead of answering, I threw one bag in front of each student.

They stared at me nervously, sensing that something was amiss.

Students, you have two minutes to change into your new martial arts gear and report back here, I said, putting some steel in my tone.

Huh?

The fuck is this all of a sudden?

Would you mind explaining

I ignored the barrage of questions, instead pulling out a red headband and securing it around my forehead. Emblazoned in the center were the words Success or Death ().

This reminds me of the good old days.

Back in the Blood Cult, this red headband was my trademark.

If I win youll clean my room every morning and night.

You ought to read this at .

Determined to smash Namgoong Sus stuck up nose, Id ordered a new red headband.

I said two minutes, folks. Looks like you all have time to spare. A smirk danced on my lips as I surveyed the clueless little lambs. Do I look like Im joking?

Go! Move it! Gongson Su, always the quickest on the uptake, darted off to his room with his bag in tow.

Hyonwon Kang and Wiji Cheon followed suit, vanishing into their rooms.

I hollered at the slowpokes, Anyone who shows up late can kiss dinner goodbye tonight.

Oof!

You scoundrel!

Nooooooo!

Like mice with their tails on fire, they sprinted to their rooms.

I leaned back, arms crossed, and watched the chaos unfold with lazy amusement.

One month

For one month, I was going to return to being a demon instructor.

Student Hyonwon Kang. Is that all you can do?

I can still keep going Hyonwon Kang wheezed from underneath my butt.

For the past hour, Id been sitting on Hyonwon Kangs back, riding him across the training yard while pointing out his every flaw.

Martial artists have drawn inspiration from animal movements since time immemorial. Tigers, monkeys, wolves, snakes, dogs, and even birds.

Ugh Hyonwon Kang let out a groan as if he was about to drop dead.

Not surprising, considering I was using inner arts to gradually increase my weight as he crawled.

Hyonwon Kang. Are you going to do this properly or not?

Am I not doing it already OWW!

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Hyonwon Kang yelped as I smacked him with my swords hilt. His limbs twitched, and sweat streamed down his body.

How many times do I have to say it? Picture yourself as a tiger and move like a tiger. If you cant do that, then pretend to be a monkey, a snake, an eagle, or a fish in the water.

If only you werent on my back!

I never said you couldnt try to shake me off.

AAAHHH! Hyonwon Kang screamed, thrashing violently, but unfortunately for him, I managed to keep my balance.

This training method is turning out to be a better idea than I expected. I also get to work on my balance, killing two birds with one stone.

F$&@#%^*!

Hyonwon Kang. Did you just curse your teacher? Do you have a character defect?

No! Hyonwon Kang screamed, frustrated.

In response, I increased my weight even further.

After a while, Hyonwon Kang crumpled to the ground.

Haa I cant go on

Thats apparent. I dismounted and kneaded his muscles with my swords hilt to ease the tension. Man, Im such a generous teacher! Who else gives their students a post-workout massage?

Judging by Hyonwon Kangs glare though, he didnt share my sentiment.

I squatted down in front of him. Ive said it time and again. Ancient martial artists devised techniques mimicking animal movements, then tweaked them for human use.

Haah Ugh Ive got a question.

Yes?

Why do I have to mimic animal movements on all fours? Why not just learn the human-adapted versions?

Though he looked drained, Hyonwon Kangs eyes sparkled with curiosity. Oh? Hes not shunning the exercises, hes genuinely intrigued.

Thats because as techniques get passed down through subsequent generations, people weed out the tough and painful movements, leaving the easy stuff, I explained, massaging his muscles as I spoke.

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Hmm Hyonwon Kang seemed to grasp the concept.

Thatd do for now.

Some claim its progress, but I beg to differ. Comfortable and easy to learn isnt bad, but it dilutes the martial arts essence.

Oh, I see YOWCH!

I bonked him on the head. Dont pretend to understand what you dont. Even if you dont gain any inspiration from it, crawling strengthens muscles you dont typically use, tones your whole body, and amps up your martial arts prowess. Itll serve you well in what youll learn next.

I wasnt lying, the Eighteen Strikes of the Viridian Forest that I would soon teach him was inspired by the movements of the animals I mentioned earlier. Of course, I only planned to teach him the basics of this martial art and toughen his body to the point where he could safely learn Master Crazy Demons Asura Blood Heaven Blade.

Quit complaining and train hard. This is all so that you can master the Asura Blood Heaven Blade.

Yes, Teacher. Hyonwon Kang nodded resolutely.

Though not quite Wiji Cheons caliber, Hyonwon Kang possessed a keen martial arts intuition. He should grasp my intent.

This punk has zero connection to the entrance exam bet, but I refuse to skimp on his training. No, should I say, the reason I made a bet with Namgoong Su was for his sake?

Hyonwon Kang is a failure. Do you really think you can win the Heavenly Martial Festival with a guy like that?

He is indeed talented, but hes lazy and weak-willed by nature.

Recalling that jerk ignited my anger once more.

SMACK!

Ouch! What was that for?

Just remembered something that ticked me off.

Am I your punching bag?

Hyonwon Kang! I snapped, pulling the startled boys face close to mine.

He flinched under my gaze.

Namgoong Su called you a failure. He said youre lazy, weak-willed, and untalented. He said that even if you tried hard all your life, you would never be able to catch up to Peng Sa-Hyuk.

Why arent you reading this at ?

Okay, I made up the last bit, but its not like Hyonwon Kang would ever know unless he checked with Namgoong Su.

That bastard!

Are you going to take that lying down?

Absolutely not! The veins on Hyonwon Kangs forehead bulged as he clenched his teeth tightly.

I slung an arm around him, whispering, Good. Prove him wrong in your midterms, alright?

Yeah!

From now on, say Yes, not Yeah. You need to learn to speak properly.

YES! Hyonwon Kang bellowed.

I grinned, giving his cheek a pat before stepping back. Thats it for todays guidance. Train by yourself till the end of the session.

Leaving Hyonwon Kang grunting and staggering to his feet, I walked over to Wiji Cheon, who was meditating nearby.

Student Wiji Cheon, are you recovering well?

Wiji Cheon slowly emerged from meditation, his eyes flickering open. He bowed his head timidly, voice trembling as he replied, Uhm Im not sure

You too must learn to speak properly. Dont mumble. Answer clearly and with confidence!

I-Im sorry! Wiji Cheon squeaked, his forehead glistening with sweat.

I observed him closely. Wait, hes not sweating from fear or nervousness.

Hold out your hand, let me examine you, I requested, reaching out to feel his pulse and assess his physical state with my qi.

On the surface, he seems fine but the effects of the qi deviation are lasting longer than expected. Although his qi centers and meridians have healed, he is still struggling with inner arts. Could the problem be psychological?

While suffering from qi deviation, Wiji Cheon had transformed into a bloodthirsty sword demon. He claimed to have no memory of that time, but traces of it must remain in his subconscious.

What symptoms do you experience during inner arts training?

Cold sweats, trembling, heart palpitations, dizziness

Just as I thought.Subconscious memories of martial arts-fueled violence are triggering his fear of using qi.

Im sorry Wiji Cheon murmured in a mosquito-like voice, head bowed deeply.

I gently stroked his head. No apologies needed. Im sure youve given your all.

Teacher

Unlike Hyonwon Kang, who is more savage beast than civilized boy, Wiji Cheons a delicate and tender-hearted genius. If I push him too hard, he might break and fall back into qi deviation. Im quite sure he can pass the Azure Dragon Academy entrance exam as he is right now, but he wont be able to crush that mini Namgoong Su.

As a scion of the Namgoong Clan, that brat Namgoong Seoks been trained well since childhood, and if Namgoong Su is confident that hell be this years valedictorian, hes probably rightexcept for the fact that he remains unaware of Wiji Cheons existence.

Therefore, I need to fix Wiji Cheons mental issues and restore his inner arts as soon as possible.

Student Wiji Cheon, I trust in your talent and dedication. Lets find a way to overcome these hurdles together.

Teacher!

My faith seemed to move him almost to tears.

What? Just because Im a demon instructor doesnt always mean Im only going to torture the kids!

I offered Wiji Cheon a compassionate smile and patted his head. No need to feel pressured.

Read this at , or else.

Yes!

Should you fail to recover, worst case, I will be humiliated by Namgoong Su and fired from the Azure Dragon Academy.

Eh?

Without a job, Ill fall into debt, the White Dragon Manor will have to be sold for a pittance, and I might die hounded by debt collectors

T-Teacher? Wiji Cheon paled.

Nope, Im not coercing him. Im just encouraging him kindly, to make sure he would do his very best.

So, no pressure, just do your best, I assured.

Through gritted teeth, Wiji Cheon vowed, Ill do my best!

I believe you.

Having strengthened Wiji Cheons resolve, I turned toward the real challenge of the day. Man, Im the one whos nervous now.

I took a deep breath, then asked, Student Gongson Su, how are you feeling?