Chapter 455: Thinking (5)

Chapter 455: Thinking (5)

Kang Jin-Ho frowned at the sight of the younger generation martial artists filling up the training field of the Martial Assembly's HQ. “...Didn't we agree to start the training from today?”

Bang Jin-Hun proudly nodded. “Yes, we did.”

“But, uh... Don't these people look like they have started training already?”

“Hahaha. It was just a light warm up. Nothing more.”

“A light warm up, you say...?” Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow and looked weirdly at Bang Jin-Hun. However, the current Assembly Master slickly turned his head away to look at a distant mountain peak instead, thereby avoiding meeting any criticizing glare coming his way.

Kang Jin-Ho groaned softly. “What did you make these people do?”

“It's nothing major, really. Just running to the top of that mountain over there,” said Bang Jin-Hun while pointing at a distant mountain.

“...Running to a mountain?”

“Yep. The weather has been rather pleasant during the last couple of days, and the view is pretty nice around here, so I let the folks have a bit of a sightseeing trip.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly shook his head. He heard that South Korea's athletics world had a tradition of running up a mountain whenever it was time to start training... And to think, such a tendency had invaded the Martial Assembly, too!

Kang Jin-Ho tutted and spoke of his honest impression. “Aren't these folks way too tired for something that simple?”

Bang Jin-Hun stood tall and replied proudly. “That's because I made them run without relying on their cultivation.”

“Excuse me? Without their qi?”

“Yes,” Bang Jin-Hun smirked triumphantly. “Training while using your qi can't improve your fitness, after all. I'm a firm believer of one's fitness being a very important aspect of a martial artist.”

Kang Jin-Ho looked bewildered by that declaration. “Are you telling me that you made these people go through a fitness training without relying on qi?”

“Yes. Is there... something wrong?” Bang Jin-Hun tilted his head.

“No, it's just that... Rather than something wrong, I'm having a hard time understanding this thought process, that's all,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“You can't understand it?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then asked Bang Jin-Hun as if he really couldn't figure it out. “The enemies these people will face in the future are all martial artists, yes?”

“Yes. I guess so?”

“In that case, will they be able to do anything against enemy martial artists without any qi remaining? Even if they are fit as a fiddle?”

“...Eh?” Bang Jin-Hun was suddenly left speechless. Obviously, there was no way to resist a martial artist without qi. Unless firearms were involved, that was. “N-no, hang on a second...”

When Kang Jin-Ho raised a seemingly-valid point, everyone in the athletics field suddenly began glaring at Bang Jin-Hun with suspicious lights burning in their eyes.

After noticing this sudden change in the mood, Bang Jin-Hun hurriedly defended himself. “W-well, uh... Y-yes, one's cultivation is important during a fight, but we aren't fighting right now. We're trying to train our bodies! And fitness is the most important thing during training, isn't it! And, and! You need to be fit to maintain your concentration!”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “Mm, I'm not so sure about that. I've never heard of cases where trainees were too tired to continue even though they still had enough qi remaining, or fighters with plenty of energy losing in a duel due to their poor fitness...”

“...”

“Well, I guess different people will rely on different ways of training themselves. As such, I'll respect your training method, Assembly Master Bang. Although I have to say, it doesn't really match mine.”

Bang Jin-Hun smiled awkwardly while sneaking a careful glance in the athletics field's direction.

'...Oii. That's painful.'

The glares of the younger generation martial artists were painfully stabbing into him. Which was understandable, really.

According to Kang Jin-Ho, Bang Jin-Hun made them waste their time and energy on something completely irrelevant for the last two days. Sure, they could overlook the whole 'wasting time' thing. However, what about their wasted energy when they needed to receive Kang Jin-Ho's training soon?

While being subjected to the banquet of murderous glares, Bang Jin-Hun fake-coughed to clear his throat and get over this awkward feeling.

'I know you're pissed, but I'm still your Assembly Master, aren't I? Aren't your glares a bit too disrespectful?'

Even if that was how he felt, Bang Jin-Hun couldn't rake these kids over the coals for being too insolent toward him. Even though he didn't think of himself as a 'progressive' authority figure, Bang Jin-Hun was at least aware that he needed to be reasonable about losing his temper.

Since he knew he was 'guilty' in this case, what justification did he have for getting angry this time? So, Bang Jin-Hun decided to quickly move on from this unfortunate incident. “S-so, are we finally starting with your training, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho seemed to deliberate on something while scanning the crowd before briefly nodding. “We did agree, so yes, we'll commence soon.” Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

“...Oh, it's nothing.” Kang Jin-Ho quickly shook his head.

He couldn't help but think that he used to do many unthinkable things back then as if nothing was wrong. One of those things was his insistence on having his underlings wear voluminous martial artist robes, replete with ominous black cloaks and conical bamboo hats.

'It's like I was implying that they shouldn't fight...'

Since they were all martial artists, a minor inconvenience caused by their get-up could be ignored to some degree, but... Kang Jin-Ho thought that if he hadn't been worried about aesthetics and focused on the optimal gear instead, he could've made better use of his subordinates.

“My liege. One's dignity and prestige aren't simply derived from one's strength. One's outer appearance also plays a crucial part. Protocols and ceremonial robes will also add to your overall majesty as the leader of the demon cult, my liege.”

'...Yeah, right.'

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled inwardly. He suddenly remembered that Azure Demon was also a man from the ancient times. If Kang Jin-Ho stuck to his former adviser's counsel and tried to force these young martial artists into such robes now? Jo Gyu-Min might chase after Kang Jin-Ho with a whip in his hand!

Kang Jin-Ho quickly shook his head to get rid of the old memories, then scanned the martial artists hurriedly entering the auditorium. He stood before the crowd and addressed them. “Let's not waste any more time and get started.”

“I'm sorry?”

“When your name is called, please come to the back of the podium. However, one person at a time, please.”

One person at a time? When Yi Myeong-Hwan heard that, he couldn't help but frown. 'Huh? Maybe it's a private lesson?'

However, there were several hundred people here. How long would they need if this training was in the format of a one-on-one private lesson?

“Ah. You, there,” Kang Jin-Ho suddenly pointed at Yi Myeong-Hwan.

Naturally, he jumped up in surprise. “Y-yes, sir?”

Since they had become somewhat of acquaintances, it seemed like Kang Jin-Ho had decided to 'rely' on Yi Myeong-Hwan for every little thing now.

Dealing with Bang Jin-Hun's demands was already tough, so to add Kang Jin-Ho on top was just...

'...No, hang on. Isn't this more like a jackpot?'

Bang Jin-Hun was the type to only saddle Yi Myeong-Hwan with difficult and annoying matters. However, surely Kang Jin-Ho wasn't that kind of a man? Besides, wasn't Kang Jin-Ho the type that wanted to give more benefits to people he acknowledged as a part of his inner circle?

“Y-yes, sir! Please speak!” Yi Myeong-Hwan replied energetically, his voice naturally gaining renewed strength after he realized that this was another great chance to get even more acquainted with Kang Jin-Ho.

“Can you help with deciding the order?” Kang Jin-Ho asked.

“I'm sorry?”

“I may need around five minutes per head, so I thought it'll take a very long time to speak to everyone in here, you see?”

“O-oh, I see. Yes, that's true...” Yi Myeong-Hwan rubbed his chin. Five minutes per person? Then, a hundred people should equal five hundred minutes. And that was over eight hours. However, there were way more than one hundred people here.

“It'd be a waste of time for everyone to wait here not knowing when they'll get called up, so can you help with deciding the order? Those who must wait for a while can go home and get some rest before coming back. However, you must ensure that everyone will be here on time.”

Yi Myeong-Hwan dazedly blinked his eyes. “H-hang on, we can go home?”

“Yes. I thought that would be better than hanging around here. Don't you agree? Well, it's up to you if you wish to stay.” Kang Jin-Ho shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh, uh... Understood, sir.”

“Okay. I'll leave it to you, then.” Kang Jin-Ho briefly bowed toward Yi Myeong-Hwan and the rest of the crowd before trying to exit the auditorium.

Yi Myeong-Hwan's cheeks began twitching just then. His hand sneakily rose up on its own toward Kang Jin-Ho's back, then an impatient cry suddenly jumped out of his mouth next. “E-excuse me...!”

“Yes?” Kang Jin-Ho looked back while tilting his head in puzzlement.

Yi Myeong-Hwan anxiously chewed on his lips. He knew it was better to keep his mouth shut in this situation. No need to bring 'it' up and create any unnecessary awkwardness between him and Kang Jin-Ho, now was there? Unfortunately, Yi Myeong-Hwan's unyielding rebellious streak won in the end, and he simply had to ask this question. A question that he couldn't hold back... finally crawled out of Yi Myeong-Hwan's mouth. “...Sir, if that was your plan all along, why did you tell us to come back here after taking a shower?”

Kang Jin-Ho's eyes powerfully quaked.

“...”

“...”

A bout of chilling silence descended in the auditorium before it was broken by Kang Jin-Ho smiling awkwardly. “I, uh... Well, I'll leave it to you.”

While Kang Jin-Ho was hurriedly escaping from the auditorium, Yi Myeong-Hwan could only stand there and stare in dismay.

'What the hell...? Could he be... exactly the same type of airhead as Assembly Master Bang?'

Yi Myeong-Hwan suddenly began wondering if he had made the right decision to learn martial arts from such a man.