The Heavenly Demon Coaches (8) - People Really Do Change After Yesterday's Beatdown?
The chat was alive with reactions. It seemed people had changed after getting thoroughly crushed yesterday.
The people who had cursed my every move yesterday while I tormented Enry's team flipped their scripts the moment those same players showed real growth. They swapped their masks for praise. It was a painfully human sight. A few of them still remembered me, so I knew pointing it out would fluster them, but I let it slide. Watching former critics speak words of approval turned out to be far more enjoyable than I had expected.
What truly caught my eye was Dang So-il on the enemy team. From the perspective of his instructor, his performance was deeply unsatisfying. I had taught him countless times during my lectures how to face multiple opponents alone, yet he failed to execute even the basics. No matter how busy I had been or how much slack I had cut him, I never imagined he would fall off this badly.
“Hwaryeong-nim.”
Dalbit spoke up beside me as I clicked my tongue at the display.
“What?”
“You can’t jump in just because you’re getting mad watching that, right?”
“What exactly do you take me for?”
“I’m sorry. But you look extremely irritated.”
It must have shown. Still, what could I do? When a disciple I personally taught put on such a pathetic show, anger was inevitable. I knew it was good for Enry that his opponent was struggling, but the irritation rising in my chest refused to be suppressed.
Dang So-il. Once this tournament ends, we will have words. I will teach you exactly how much of a luxury the word “rest” truly is.
“...What?”
The moment the sponsor’s message appeared, I frowned. The chat exploded with excitement, eagerly feeding me the details about Dang So-il.
I immediately opened Turret and entered Dang So-il’s channel. There he was, locked in a one-sided defensive struggle against someone named Han Seo-woo.
“Here, you do it like this and like this.”
“What the hell do you mean ‘like this’?!”
“So you move your arm like this and then your leg—”
“Can you please explain without saying ‘like this’?!”
“Just learn it with your body.”
The scene on the broadcast looked less like instruction and more like a comedy sketch. Han Seo-woo waved his arms and legs wildly while spouting explanations only he could understand. Dang So-il grew more frustrated with every vague gesture. To the two of them it was a serious tragedy, but from an outside perspective it was pure slapstick.
The chat’s reaction mirrored my own.
I had wondered what kind of arrogant fool would dare teach my student, but watching this scene only drew a helpless laugh from me. Could this mess even be called teaching?
“I don’t want to admit it, but yes, I understand.”
His explanations were terrible, but the root of what he was trying to convey came from the principles of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. When he waved his arm and said “like this,” he was demonstrating how to infuse internal energy into a fist to shatter a defense. He was teaching a method to break through shields after being blocked by Bunny’s defense earlier. When he moved his leg and said “like this,” he was explaining footwork meant to confuse and shake off an opponent who was clinging too tightly from the front.
The viewers who heard my interpretation reacted in unison.
“Do not compare me to that monkey.”
It was unpleasant, even as a martial artist, to be placed on the same level as someone whose linguistic ability resembled that of a primate. Grumbling to myself, I continued watching the spar between Dang So-il and Han Seo-woo.
In team fights he still had room to grow, but in one-on-one combat Dang So-il showed considerable skill. He had grown accustomed to dealing with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art after sparring with me so often. However, familiarity with the opponent’s style could not overcome a fundamental gap in ability.
Han Seo-woo’s mastery of his martial arts was undeniably exceptional—so much so that it was hard to believe he was a modern person. Among all the modern practitioners I had seen, he handled the principles most naturally. Unlike others who followed the movements first and only later grasped the intent, he thought and moved as if he had been raised in the Murim.
Most striking of all was how closely his interpretation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art resembled my own. Even with the same art, interpretations differed. My father, the previous Heavenly Demon, had seen its foundation as suppression. The elders each had their own views—destruction, resistance, agony. Their opinions shifted according to personality. While all understood the domineering nature of the art, their approaches to wielding it varied wildly.
I had defined the Heavenly Demon Divine Art as Pacheon—the resolve to shatter every boundary standing in my way and become the heavens myself. Han Seo-woo was clearly striving to follow that same interpretation. Of course, it was possible for two users of the same art to arrive at identical conclusions by coincidence. Yet from what I could see, Han Seo-woo did not yet possess the depth to create his own interpretation.
Which meant the one who had taught him the Heavenly Demon Divine Art must have taught him Pacheon.
And the only person I could think of who would teach Pacheon to another was myself—the version of me inside Hwaryong Muin.
My curiosity was piqued. The thought was still mere speculation, but that only made me want to speak with him. If he truly was a disciple taken in by another version of myself, I wanted to know what he had seen in the boy to make that choice.
“Dalbit. You said the team Dang So-il belongs to was created by Dekay?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then Han Seo-woo must be connected to Dekay as well.”
“He is. I believe Dekay-hyung brought him in personally.”
Hmm. Perfect timing. If Dekay brought him personally, they must be close. It had been a while. I should contact Dekay.
After Enry’s team finished their scrim, I assigned them tasks. I pointed out each member’s shortcomings and how to address them, then ordered them to practice until tomorrow. They grumbled a little at receiving homework instead of direct guidance. But when I added that I would test them tomorrow and roll them even harder than yesterday if they fell short, they nodded frantically in terror.
These children still don’t know me very well. Look at Enry. The moment I said I would send him away, he left obediently. After dismissing everyone and ending the broadcast, I immediately called Dekay.
“It’s been a while. The reason I called is because I have something I want to ask.”
The moment I brought up the topic, Dekay poured out apologies into the phone. The fact that he started apologizing the instant I called proved he knew exactly what he had done. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to complain. His voice was so earnest that “It’s fine” slipped out before I could stop it. Was this the skill of a professional apologizer? Just how many times had he apologized to reach this level?
“Dekay. That aside, I have a separate favor to ask.”
“Could you connect me with Han Seo-woo? I’d like to have a conversation.”
The answer came more readily than expected. He wanted to meet me as well? Hmm. Well, that was convenient.
“Nice to meet you, Hwaryeong-nim.”
The moment Han Seo-woo saw me inside Apis, he bowed deeply. It was our first meeting, so the excessive politeness was understandable, if a bit much.
“Yes, likewise. So you are the child who uses the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. I heard you wished to meet me?”
“Yes. There is something I would like to ask of you.”
A request. If it came from someone who wielded the Divine Art, there was only one thing it could be.
“Perfect timing. There were a few things I wanted to ask you as well.”
“Then…”
“Let us lightly exchange fists first.”
“...Pardon?”
Why the confusion? When two strong warriors meet, exchanging fists is common sense in the Divine Cult. Since he uses martial arts, he must have received their education. I could not understand his reaction.
When I showed my confusion, Han Seo-woo spoke in a dazed voice.
“Um… I came here just to talk.”
“A child who uses the Heavenly Demon Divine Art wishes to solve matters with words?”
I was momentarily taken aback by the absurd statement. Those were not words a member of the Divine Cult would speak. Hmm. Perhaps he had not yet been fully dyed by the Cult’s ways. In one sense it was welcome news. It meant he was far from fanaticism. Still, for two users of the Divine Art to meet and simply talk? I could not accept it. When eyes met, one should share their martial understanding and come to know each other. At least that had been my intention.
“Um… Then shall we have a light spar?”
It seemed my thoughts had shown on my face. Han Seo-woo hesitated, then spoke.
“Good. If you win the spar, I will answer every question you have. I will even grant your request.”
Of course, if I win, you will have to answer everything I ask. When I said this, Han Seo-woo stared at me blankly before letting out a small laugh.
“Understood. I’ve heard that line quite often.”
“Then let us begin.”
Now, I will verify you. Whether you are truly a disciple taken in by another me. If you are a true disciple, I will see with my own eyes what part of you made me accept you. I will confirm everything. So come at me with everything you have.