Private Lessons (5)

First, they headed to the prison to free the Slave and the kids. And as a bonus, the other captives and the esteemed young lords and ladies of the murim world.

"I've troubled you again, my lord."

"You kept our kids from getting bored, didn't you? That's good enough."

"I shall redouble my efforts."

"Do whatever. While you're at it, kill every last one so none escape."

"There are dozens at the Peak realm. It'll be a chore."

"I already cut down all the Peak-level ones on my way here."

For reference, most of those Peak-level water bandits were straight-up monsters. Centipedes were the most common, along with some mermaid with a catfish head, and all sorts of other aquatic freaks. It was like a seafood buffet.

"Handle the first-rate riffraff yourselves. I know Nangong-ryeon and the other hugi jisu are tired, but if we don't wipe these bastards out now, 'tired' won't even begin to cover it. Lend a hand."

"...Are we really just trying to escape here?"

Even in the midst of this, Nangong-ryeon couldn't drop her suspicions. But her tone wasn't the same prickly bitchiness as before—it was more like a roundabout way of probing.

"If we make this much noise, the Water Bandit King will step in. Opening an escape route quickly is the only way we all survive."

"Nah, wrong. Listen up, Nangong."

This wasn't something they could just wrap up by running away. More precisely, I didn't want to. Who was this spiteful alley cat Nangong-ryeon to tell me what to do when I felt like doing things my way?

"If I say we're doing it, we do it."

"..."

"Got it, Nangong?"

"Understood."

"Good. Let's do this."

"But I still find you suspicious, you bitch."

Ha-yeon's hand twitched toward her waist for a split second before she held back. She debated whether to treat this half-human freak like a yokai since she wouldn't listen to reason.

"...So live. I, Nangong-ryeon, haven't repaid your life-debt yet."

"Oh?"

"But don't get the wrong idea! Even if you're a woman with a pretty face, real skill, and a straightforward personality, I still can't acknowledge you. You're a powerful martial artist, but that sloppy attitude means you can never be a true hero!"

"Wow."

What the hell do you even say to that? Was it some pigheaded belief that had crossed the point of no return? She hadn't shown anything else since she appeared, so it didn't even annoy Ha-yeon. No disappointment, no irritation—just nothing. And yet her face was pretty. For someone preaching 'abandon your femininity if you walk the warrior's path, boo-hoo,' she clearly cared about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her looks—her hairstyle said as much. Hmm. Whatever. If she was going to repay the life-debt on her own terms, what more was there to say?

Ha-yeon smirked and placed a hand on Nangong-ryeon's shoulder. Then she leaned in, nibbling her earlobe as she whispered.

"Hey."

"Hic!"

"I'll let the attitude slide 'cause you're cute."

Slurp. Ha-yeon licked her ear. Salty.

Ptooey. "Salty."

"Wha... wha... what the...!"

"Give it up, young hero. Our lord is just like that."

"Just like that?! You mean you've been... with this wench too?!"

Whoops. Time to cut the teasing short. If there was more time, she'd have groped those tits, but circumstances being what they were...

"Anyway, you all heard. This is the underwater cave, and I scouted the exit routes. If you want out, cooperate and kill every last water bandit."

A chorus of replies echoed from around the cave.

"I'll guard O-ryeong and Yuk-ryeong, my lord."

"Hubby! Yuk-ryeong's gonna beat the bad guys!"

"O-ryeong too... I'll do my best."

The Slave and our pint-sized sisters, burning with enthusiasm.

"Excellent. I wasn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠keen on entrusting everything to you lot anyway."

"We'll show you what happens when you mess with the Moyong Family."

And the murim's hugi jisu, their pride crushed after being born into prestigious houses.

"I-I'll cover my ears... bl-block...!"

And Nangong-ryeon, mind broken by Ha-yeon's exquisite teasing. Who knew she'd like it that much? Should've bitten her nape too. Nibble nibble... Ah, if only her lower half worked right, she'd be doing all sorts of things right now.

Muttering to herself, Ha-yeon drew her sword and pointed around the cave.

"Split into three groups and kill everything you see."

With that, the hugi jisu finished replying and vanished. Ha-yeon watched their backs for a moment, strangely reluctant to look away. She'd just bossed them to hustle, yet here she was dragging her feet. Definitely a shitty thing to do.

"Hm."

Still, she had to wrap things up. She'd gotten used to the damp cave life down here, but now it was time to move on. Guess she wasn't the type to settle in one spot for long.

"Shall I go check on our homework swordsman?"

Ha-yeon silently trudged across the slick cave floor.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

KRAAAK!

UURGH!

Clang clang clang!

Shouts echoed. Weapons clashed, and something tumbled—sounds crystal clear in the cave. Their screams almost sounded like a monster's wail.

"Wonder if I'll make it back in time~"

Muttering, she stepped forward—and there was the classroom, growing familiar now. The only traces left were the night pearls embedded unevenly in the walls, no proper door in sight. But even those had lost their glow, unlike before.

"Teacher Gold."

"Ah, Sword King. You're here."

"Why'd you scribble on the lantern? You said these glowing rocks were expensive. Night pearls, right?"

"Ran out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of space to think. This was the only blank spot left."

Crooked scrawl over the night pearl. His handwriting was already chicken scratch, but now it bordered on abstract art. Ha-yeon smirked at the ever-consistent mess.

"Teacher Gold, how am I supposed to interpret this right? Knowledge like this should be shared properly anyway."

"Fair point. If there's a next time, I'll do better."

"Yeah. Let's do good."

"Sword King. You leaving?"

"Yep."

Geum Ra-geo's face was calm as he said it. No raging about betrayal, no drawing his harpoon claiming he'd expected it. Just serene.

"Then no rush. Share a drink first."

He dragged a box from the classroom corner, pulling out two brass cups and a bottle of liquor. Casually uncorked it and glug glug—clear baijiu filled the cups. Not satisfied, he uncorked a small gourd from his bosom and poured into one cup. Hers. Not his.

Some mysterious white liquid.

Ha-yeon stared silently at the cloudy cup, unidentified something mixed in. She couldn't tell what expression she was making.

"Drink up. A special farewell brew I procured just for this someday."

"What's in it?"

"Last gift for a warrior who was once my Sword King and disciple."

"Yeah? I do like mixed drinks."

But she still pushed her cup toward him. They clinked—clink!—and downed it. Gulp. Sharp liquor burned down her throat. Something sticky mixed in, so she couldn't quite taste it right.

"Kuh... So what'd you mix in? Poison?"

"What if it was?"

"I'd be sad."

"But you drank anyway."

"I never refuse a drink offered."

Luckily, no poison. Instead, whatever she'd swallowed was seeping into her body, working strange effects.

Teacher Gold grinned and set down his cup.

"It's Gongcheongseokyu."

"You fucking river pirate, mixing petroleum into booze? You're dead."

"You ignorant bastard! Shut up and drink if you don't know! I even shared my secret tonic for body conditioning!"

"Oh yeah? Forgiven then. Nah, fuck no—mixing oil in booze crosses the line."

"The word has 'oil' right in it... Never mind. My mouth hurts."

Suddenly, it hit her. What the hell are we even doing?

And she wasn't alone.

"Sword King. Isn't it weird? Are we both crazy? Why are we drinking when we should be killing each other?"

"That's how it's always been. You crashed my outing first."

"Then we fought."

"We rolled eyes thinking we'd both die, and got some weird recruitment offer."

"And not only did we get friendly, we shared every insight from a lifetime of cultivation?"

"Yup."

They stared at each other like idiots. Same words tumbled out.

"Why'd I do that?"

"Why'd this king do that?"

No answers after pondering. Both had made inexplicable choices from the start, leading their bizarre bond to utter incomprehension. Human psychology was complicated. Two crazies met, birthing an impossible future. If either had common sense, it'd never happen.

But.

"Still, it was fun, right Teacher Gold?"

"Kuhuhu. As you say, Sword King. It was fun."

"Fun for me too. That's what matters."

"You're right!"

At least the lessons taught and learned these past days were pure joy. Wasn't that enough? People meet, exchange, learn, drink—no grand reason needed. They needed each other, clicked well. Circumstances didn't matter. Well, they did—a lot—but they were both the type who didn't give a shit, living wildly.

"What can ya do."

"Right. Pointless to question our bond now."

"Teacher Gold."

"Yeah?"

"I think I suggested this when we met, but second time: split here and go our ways?"

She'd gotten what she wanted. He could hole up drinking in the cave—good for body and soul.

But.

"Impossible."

"Why?"

"Life-debt's a life-debt, no matter what."

"You really come with baggage."

"Kahaha! Might as well call it a high-maintenance treasure now!"

"Bullshit. Truth?"

"Earth Prisoner Star started freaking out. Tried suppressing it with the Suck Star Great Law pull you taught me—almost had it. But something triggered, and it went berserk."

"Oof."

Because I killed Jigeokseong? Or it sensed a threat and accelerated fusion?

Poor guy had a rough life.

"Then the debt's paid. Rip out the parasitic limb and live free. One leg ain't great, but... alive's better, right?"

"This king's choice."

"Drinking with me too?"

"This king's choice."

Ha-yeon nodded.

"Yeah. Do what feels right. No reason needed."

"Exactly! Eyes gouged, body smashed, three limbs gone—I figured I was dead and let go."

"Fair. Unless a miracle doc shows up, no recovery."

"So with my remaining life, I planned revenge on murim and the imperial court that made me this way, play along with the shady Extreme Star Society, watch the world burn."

Geum Ra-geo stood, harpoon in hand.

"But each day, I feel less like me. Don't wanna limp on with one leg after ripping it out. Better to fight you to the death here—more fun. That's it."

"Teacher Gold, if you're dying, go peacefully."

"Too much, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sword King. Fine. Not 'instead,' but I prepped a farewell gift."

He dragged a chest from the corner—iron-reinforced wooden box, head-sized, premium wood screaming valuables. Tossed it at her feet.

"Take it. My martial manual, lifetime insights, pirate loot, and the Earth Prisoner Star's right leg from storage."

"Damn! How'd you know I love this shit? Some farewell, Teacher Gold."

"You trusted this king to the end and drained the cup. Just returning your sincerity."

"I was gonna end it regardless."

She drew her sword. His face lit up, harpoon gripped.

"Rules: life-death duel. Same sparring style?"

"Kahaha! Perfect to settle whose talent and genius reigns—who was truly master, who disciple!"

"Disciple. Shorten your speech to your teacher, or eat fist?"

"Think being a woman means I'll go easy? Big mistake."

They locked eyes. Then lunged—no signal needed.

"Teacher Gold! Right on!"

"This king will pin you down and carve who reigns supreme!"

All they'd taught and learned was now turned against each other.

"Star Absorbing Great Law - Flood!"

"Sword Forge - Crimson!"

Last class, Teacher Gold.