Chapter 91: Instructor Punishment (2)

Just how much did they underestimate him?

“Sigh, they’re really pushing it.”

Cho Un-hwi chuckled, his arms crossed.

“Hey, hey, don’t let your guard down. She might look like that, but her fists are like a grizzly bear’s. They don’t call her the Iron Fist of Dongcheon Hall for nothing.”

“I’m not the Iron Fist!”

Mo Yong So-hye yelled, and Eon Ho-seung rolled his eyes.

‘Even Peng Dan-gi was no match for her.’

Peng Dan-gi, even though he was from a distant branch family of the Hebei Peng Clan, had received proper training from a prestigious sect since childhood.

And even he hadn’t been able to react to her punches.

“Well, fine. I was planning to teach her a lesson eventually.”

“Uh, you look scary.”

Mo Yong So-hye flinched, sensing the waves of [contempt] and [violence] radiating from him.

It felt like she was facing a life-or-death battle, but Cho Un-hwi was nonchalant.

“Hey, hey, just don’t kill him.”

“Are you cheering her on or provoking me?”

“Both.”

Eon Ho-seung, unable to tolerate his nonchalance, lost his temper.

“Don’t underestimate my fists.”

*Whoosh!*

He lunged forward, his movements as smooth as flowing water, and unleashed a vicious punch.

*Whoosh!*

The force of his punch ruffled Mo Yong So-hye’s bangs.

*Jinju Eon Clan Secret Fist Technique.*

Eon Ho-seung, remembering Im So-jeong’s warning, had abandoned all thoughts of holding back from the start.

He unleashed his most powerful technique.

*Rigid Body Secret Technique, Soul-Snatching Strike.*

It was a secret martial art of the Jinju Eon Clan, a combination of their necromancy techniques, which hardened the body, and their external and internal cultivation techniques.

It was a powerful, relentless attack that was even considered demonic by some members of the righteous faction.

‘It’s over.’

His heavy fist was aimed at her head, but she didn’t even react.

‘I don’t need to kill her.’

He was about to twist his fist and strike her shoulder when…

“Aah! This isn’t my intention…”

She opened her small hand wide…

*Spin!*

…and deflected his fist with the back of her hand.

‘She deflected it?’

*Thump!*

Eon Ho-seung stomped his foot and thrust his shoulder forward, putting even more power into his punch.

*Rumble!*

He had intensified his attack, but…

“This is dangerous, this is dangerous.”

Her small body appeared on either side of his fist, and she pushed it away with both hands.

*Thud!*

And that wasn’t all.

She wrapped her hand around his wrist, then struck the inside of his elbow with lightning speed.

She stroked his arm, then poked his shoulder blade.

*Thwack! Thump! Thump!*

How many counterattacks had she launched while he had only thrown one punch?

‘This is bad.’

His arm, which was usually impervious to pain, ached. Eon Ho-seung, sensing danger, quickly pulled his arm back.

*Pull! Thud!*

It was a good decision to retreat.

But as he pulled back, her hand, which had been striking his arm and joints, suddenly transformed into a hook, raking his forearm with her claws.

“Whoa, whoa, that was close.”

She looked like an innocent little girl, her eyes wide with surprise, her chest heaving.

But…

*Drip! Drip!*

Blood dripped from her index and middle fingers, which were curved like eagle talons.

*Flap! Flap!*

A piece of his sleeve, ripped off, fluttered in the wind.

Eon Ho-seung’s eyes widened as he looked at his empty right arm.

‘She injured my arm, which is hardened by necromancy?’

This was unbelievable.

While he was still in shock, she rolled her eyes.

“You’re scarier than I thought. Instructor, can I forfeit?”

“Why? Are you scared your going to kill him?”

“Not really, but…”

“Not killing him is also part of the training.”

“Ugh, come on.”

Eon Ho-seung’s eyes blazed with anger as he saw her carefree attitude.

“…She’s got some skills.”

“Some skills? She’s got plenty. Don’t underestimate her, or you’ll get your head smashed in.”

“Grrr…”

*Whoosh!*

Eon Ho-seung unleashed another punch.

*Whoosh! Whizz!*

It wasn’t just a simple punch.

‘If she’s too tricky, I’ll just overwhelm her with brute force.’

His fist spun rapidly, aiming for Mo Yong So-hye’s vital points.

*Crack! Crack!*

Her clothes billowed around her as she staggered under the force of his punches.

But there was something that moved ceaselessly in the center of the storm.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Her hands were moving too fast for his eyes to follow.

*Thwack! Thump! Thump!*

Her small hands blocked and deflected his punches.

‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll just overpower her with my internal energy!’

He was older, so his internal energy should be stronger.

He would break through her speed and agility with brute force.

He thought that one solid hit would be enough to end the fight, and he charged at her relentlessly.

“Aah! Aaaah!”

‘I’m almost through!’

Mo Yong So-hye’s footwork faltered under his relentless assault.

And as her footwork faltered, the movements of her hands became erratic.

‘Haha! I broke through!’

Eon Ho-seung, sensing victory, intensified his attacks.

And then…

“Waaah…”

Mo Yong So-hye burst into tears.

“I’m sorry!”

*Thud!*

‘I’m through… huh?’

He felt a sharp pain in his arm, a pain unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

‘What? Where did she hit me?’

His arms felt like they were on fire.

He heard a faint chuckle.

“Why are you resisting the flow?”

“Waaah, Instructor, you’re a demon!”

“Yo, surrender to the flow of slaughter.”

He tried to channel his internal energy and break through, but…

*Thud!*

He felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

‘I’m through… no!’

He thought his stomach had been pierced.

The impact shook his internal organs and reverberated through his spine.

But the next pain was even worse.

*Thud!*

His head snapped to the side.

*Crack!*

Something wrapped around his wrist and twisted it backwards.

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

His fists were being pummeled, and his necromancy techniques were useless.

*Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Every strike brought excruciating pain.

“Aaaargh!”

*Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!*

He couldn’t even fall to the ground.

If he tried to dodge to the left, a heavy fist would slam into his side.

If he tried to retreat, she would grab his hair and pull him back.

*Crack!*

And then a small knee slammed into his forehead.

His head snapped back.

“Cough!”

*Splat!*

He saw his own blood splattering on the blue sky.

‘I-I’m losing…’

He saw something approaching him through a haze of blood.

Fingers with sharp nails, aimed at his eyes.

He looked at her bloodstained hands and realized…

‘This is… the Iron Fist of Dongcheon Hall.’

It lived up to its name.

A truly formidable Iron Fist.

***

*Thud.*

Jeok So-il and Jeok So-i couldn’t believe their eyes as they watched Eon Ho-seung collapse.

“Eon Ho-seung…”

“…lost?”

Eon Ho-seung, despite being forced to attend supplementary classes, had been a top contender for a high ranking in Euncheon Hall until recently.

And his family…

People might look down on them for handling corpses, but the Jinju Eon Clan was a powerful family that commanded respect throughout the Murim.

Some even said that they were worthy of being one of the Ten Great Clans but had been pushed aside because of their unorthodox techniques.

And yet, Eon Ho-seung, the eldest son of the Jinju Eon Clan, had been defeated.

“How could Eon Ho-seung…”

It had been a one-sided victory.

They had exchanged blows for the first thirty seconds or so, but…

The moment the girl burst into tears, the tide turned.

And the most surprising thing was that the Jinju Eon Clan’s necromancy techniques were useless against her attacks.

His fists, which could even deflect blades, had been turned into a mangled mess by her grappling techniques.

The girl stood there, her hands hanging limply at her sides.

“Sob… hic…”

Her bloodstained hands trembled.

*Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!*

“Huh?”

They turned around and saw the temporary instructor, who had been leaning against a rock, watching the fight, getting to his feet.

“Good job, Iron Fist. You crushed your prey once again.”

“Sob… hic…”

“Keep training until your tears dry up. Well, I’ll commend you for stopping at the right time today.”

“Demon! You’re a demon!”

They were appalled by their interaction, but what shocked them even more was…

‘That was the right time to stop?’

Just how cruel could this small girl be?

“Alright.”

Cho Un-hwi, chuckling as he glanced at the shocked students, jumped off the rock.

He walked over to Eon Ho-seung and said, “Hey, hey, are you alright?”

“Ugh…”

“This guy is completely out of it.”

*Thud.*

He kicked Eon Ho-seung in the side, flipping him over, then rubbed his hands together and started poking and prodding him.

“Nothing too serious.”

*Thud! Crack! Thud!*

Eon Ho-seung’s face contorted in pain, even though he was unconscious.

“H-hey…”

Im So-jeong, looking unusually concerned, stepped forward.

“Are you trying to kill him?”

“Huh? Kill him? Me?”

*Crack!*

The temporary instructor stepped back, twisting Eon Ho-seung’s arm.

“I’ve given him first aid. You should take him to the infirmary.”

“T-the infirmary…”

The twins and Tang Gan quickly picked up Eon Ho-seung, and Cho Un-hwi said, “Tell them he fell down the stairs.”

“That’s ridiculous…”

“You better come up with a good excuse if you don’t want to be next.”

Why? Do you want a taste of the Iron Fist too?

They nodded vigorously, goosebumps erupting on their skin, and hurried away with Eon Ho-seung.

“We’re getting off work early today.”

They heard a carefree voice behind them, but no one turned around.

***

It was five days later when the students who had fled in terror returned to the training ground.

Eon Ho-seung seemed to have recovered from his injuries, but his face was pale, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

“You’re back?”

“…Yes.”

He hadn’t thought he would ever come back here.

He had vowed never to return, traumatized by his defeat and the pain.

But it was the nightmares that had driven him back.

*- Welcome.*

For some reason, even though it had been Mo Yong So-hye who had defeated him, it was the annoying temporary instructor who appeared in his dreams.

But there was something different about him in his dreams.

*- This is pointless.*

He couldn’t remember the details because he always forgot everything when he woke up, but it had been terrifying.

He had resisted for five days, but he had finally given in and returned.

The temporary instructor, observing his pale face, said, “You’re finally ready to learn.”

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

“What am I doing? Didn’t you come back to learn?”

Now that he thought about it, why was he so sure that the person in his nightmares was the instructor?

‘I don’t remember anything.’

He hesitated, confused, and the instructor said in a kind voice, “I was worried you wouldn’t come back. I need results to stay here as a temporary instructor.”

He saw the tall, lanky student trying to say something, but the Instructor Slayer covered his mouth and dragged him away.

Where were they going?

‘The Instructor Slayer and the Iron Fist of Dongcheon Hall…’

And the girl with the menacing glare was dangerous.

Everyone here seemed suspicious.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Is it really because of your results?”

“Of course. What else would a lowly salaryman care about besides results?”

That was true, but…

Just as he was about to relax, the instructor’s cold voice sent a chill down his spine.

“Well, before we start, why don’t you tell me what you’re really up to?”

He was right.

This temporary instructor was dangerous.