The Next Day
Baki sneakily entered the dojang. Looking around, he found the lights were turned off.
He muttered to himself, confused. "Huh? Did the old man not come today? Then why was the door open?"
He went to turn on the light switch, but an eerie voice cut through the darkness.
"Brat~ Don't you think you have something to explain~?"
Baki's body shivered as he quickly turned around. Hansu's face was inches from his own. His forehead veins were bulging, his jaw was tightened, and an angry smile stretched across his face.
Baki nervously laughed. "Haha... Old man... You gave me a scare..."
Hansu moved past Baki and turned on the lights. The cracks on the ground from yesterday became immediately visible.
Hansu rubbed his forehead with his finger. "So, did someone attack this place or something?"
Baki scratched his cheek. "No... I guess?"
Hansu snapped back at Baki. "What do you mean?"
Baki recounted everything he had done yesterday.
Hansu's face went from anger to understanding and then to shock.
"So that means you're responsible for this, right?" Hansu said with a smile.
Baki nodded. "Kinda..."
Unexpectedly, Hansu's anger melted in a moment. He clasped Baki's shoulder with a smile. "It's okay. Don't worry about it. You're much more important than a floor."
Baki looked surprised. "Old man, what are you talking about? Are you okay?"
Hansu shook his head. "Yes, I'm completely okay. Why wouldn't I be? After all, I've found a free employee for my dojo."
Baki immediately removed Hansu's hand and backed away. "W-What are you talking about? Where would you find a free employee in this era?"
Hansu smiled. "Why? I thought you wanted to work for free. Look around you—don't you think you have to repay me somehow after creating this mess?"
Baki's shoulders slumped. "Now I understand why the dojo has no other teacher except you."
Hansu tilted his head and smiled. "I also understand why you had to leave your previous job."
Baki sighed. "Whatever, old man. It's not like you have any students who come here to practice."
Just as Baki finished his words, two figures walked into the dojo.
Hansu slowly muttered to Baki. "It's a good day, isn't it~?"
The two figures who walked in were none other than Taehun, Hansu's son, and another person Hansu couldn't recognize.
Taehun called out. "Dad, I brought a new guy—"
Taehun's words caught in his throat as he took in the destruction in the dojo. "Holy shit! What happened here?! Did someone attack our dojo?!"
Hansu chopped Taehun on the head. "You shouldn't curse."
Taehun nodded, absent-minded. Then he snapped at Hansu. "What happened here?!"
Hansu cleared his throat. "Ahem! Nothing. I was testing the new instructor of our dojo."
Taehun raised his eyebrow. "New instructor? For what? Literally no one visits our dojo. Why would you need a new instructor?"
Hansu smiled. "Don't worry. He'll work for free." He turned to Baki. "Wouldn't you?"
Baki coughed. "Y-Yeah."
Taehun looked at Baki suspiciously. "You... I know you! Weren't you the guy who asked for our address last time? You became an instructor here?"
Baki shrugged. "As you can see, I did."
Hansu cut them off and pointed at the other guy. "Who's this? Your friend?"
Taehun coughed. "N-No, he's here to get stronger."
Hansu turned to the other kid. "Did you bring your gloves?"
The kid was confused by the question since it was a Taekwondo dojo. "Huh?"
Hansu smiled. "You want to be stronger? Your name was...?"
The kid politely bowed and smiled. "Pleased to meet you! I'm Taehun's friend, Yeonwoo Ji."
Taehun, standing beside Yeonwoo, removed the glasses from Yeonwoo's face. "Give me your glasses."
Hansu asked. "Is someone bothering you guys? Do you want me to talk to them?"
Taehun answered. "Don't bother. What are you going to do anyway?"
Hearing this, Baki slightly coughed. The last time Baki saw Hansu fight, this old man had almost taken down the King of the Black Market by himself.
Taehun continued. "Just teach the guy. He wants to learn from you."
Yeonwoo nervously smiled. "Uh... I'm just worried about one thing. You teach Taekwondo, right? I practice Karate, you see. Do you know Karate? Maybe I'll teach you a thing or two... I'll just go ba—?!"
Yeonwoo couldn't even finish his words as a straight Kyokushin Karate strike landed on his stomach and he doubled over, coughing out spit.
All his life, Yeonwoo had always been confident about his physique. He had rarely gotten hurt, but today he was feeling intense pain from just one strike!
Hansu took a Karate stance and smiled, veins popping out of his body. "Yeah. You were saying?"
Baki on the other side shook his head in disappointment. "Tch. Tch. Kids these days are really prone to putting themselves in danger."
Hansu continued. "Go get changed. Let's get started right away."
Taehun whispered to Yeonwoo. "I told you, right? Just provoke him a little."
Yeonwoo nodded, sweat running down his face. "Ah... Yeah..."
As they were heading toward the changing room, Hansu called out. "Remember, I'm charging you double."
"HUH?!" Yeonwoo was shocked.
Taehun also called out to Hansu. "Hey, Dad. Give me 10%!"
With that, they entered the changing room.
Looking back, Hansu found that Baki was slowly slipping away. Hansu grabbed Baki from behind. "Hoho~ Now, where are you going?"
Baki smiled nervously. "Why? To train."
Hansu shook his head. "No, no. You're teaching the kids."
Baki scratched his cheek. "Old man, I don't know Kyokushin Karate. How can I teach someone else?"
Hansu smiled. "It's okay. You can always learn, right? I remember it took you only a few days to learn Taekwondo. I'm sure you can do the same for Kyokushin Karate. I'd also like to test your Taekwondo. After all, since you can't use your hand, Taekwondo is a must for you. Don't worry, I'll teach you something new."