Episode 103: Return of the Demon Instructor

Thud!

The eighth strike.

Smack!

The ninth strike.

Boom!

The final, tenth strike.

White steam rose from the body of the Conqueror, who stood frozen like a statue, his fist still extended.

Sabigang lay crumpled against the iron bars, drenched in blood.

The Conqueror had unleashed a relentless barrage from the third to the tenth attack without pause.

Even after the second strike, when Sabigang managed to rise, the Conqueror couldn’t believe his eyes.

It was incomprehensible.

Humans naturally fear the inexplicable.

He, too, felt a twinge of fear at this absurd situation.

So from the third strike onward, he held nothing back.

Kill him, no matter what!

With that single-minded determination, he unleashed his deadly attacks.

Even the spectators turned away, unable to watch the brutality.

It was astonishing to see a person reduced to a crumpled heap like a piece of paper.

Sabigang had been coughing up blood since the fifth strike.

He must have suffered internal injuries.

Now, he lay motionless, crushed beneath the iron bars.

Everyone clicked their tongues.

He must be dead.

It was inevitable.

It was expected from the start.

He should never have been so reckless.

At least then, he might have saved his life…

“Cough!”

A sudden cough broke the silence in the arena.

Everyone flinched and turned their gaze.

“Cough, cough!”

Wasn’t that Sabigang, who had seemed dead, now coughing and struggling to his feet?

He wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve and staggered toward the Conqueror.

The spectators watched with wide eyes, as if under a spell.

The Conqueror’s expression was no different from theirs.

Frozen in the posture of his last punch, the Conqueror’s eyes trembled violently.

Finally, Sabigang approached.

“Ugh… Can I… huff, huff… attack now?”

He asked, panting heavily.

The Conqueror, eyes wide, couldn’t utter a word.

“Hey?”

As Sabigang reached out and tapped the Conqueror’s shoulder,

“Whoooosh!”

The Conqueror’s body fell backward, blood gushing from his mouth like a fountain.

Crash!

He toppled over, stiff as a dead tree, eyes wide open in death.

A sudden, unexpected demise.

But Sabigang knew.

He knew the Conqueror’s body had reached its limit.

It was due to a spell called Return Damage.

The intensity of the returned impact varies with the amount of mana consumed.

Sabigang had only returned minor damage up to the ninth strike.

But with the final attack, he returned all the damage he had received.

As a result, the Conqueror suffered internal injuries he couldn’t handle, and he had frozen in place, trying to manage his energy.

But Sabigang disrupted that flow.

Yet, no one knew the truth of what had happened.

“What… what just happened? Is he really dead?”

“How could he be? He just touched him!”

As the spectators murmured, the referee, sensing the tension, quickly entered the cage and checked the Conqueror’s pulse.

His face showed clear bewilderment.

He glanced at the master of the arena, then turned to the audience with a visibly flustered expression.

“G-G-Gadeuk… Sam. Wins!”

Everyone seemed frozen in place, unable to move.

Only Sabigang, his face swollen, raised his arms triumphantly.

“Hahaha! I knew it! I’m the master of the Invincible Heaven and Earth Fist!”

**

“Here… ten million nyang.”

The old man handed over a bundle of notes with a reluctant expression.

These were notes that could be used immediately in any market.

Even as Sabigang accepted and checked the notes, the old man’s face remained in a state of disbelief.

“Did this young fool really defeat the Conqueror…?”

His main job was to sit at the exchange counter and work the abacus.

He couldn’t watch the martial matches outside.

And he wasn’t particularly interested.

Especially in the fights of the young man named Gadeuk Sam.

He was sure the young man would meet a foolish end.

Yet, he had returned alive.

Not only that, he had killed the Conqueror and was now collecting ten million nyang.

When he first received the report, he couldn’t believe his ears.

He asked several times, but the answer was always the same, and now he was watching Gadeuk Sam count ten million nyang right in front of him.

“I can’t believe it.”

For the Black Heaven Society, this was a crisis.

Losing the Conqueror was a significant blow.

They quickly sent someone to ask the master’s opinion, but the response was to proceed according to protocol.

At least within the arena, they wouldn’t make an issue of it.

Sabigang finished checking the notes and nodded with satisfaction.

“Ah, it’s all here. Ten million nyang. Thank you!”

Sabigang spoke cheerfully, and the old man responded with a smile.

His tone, which had been condescending, now shifted to a more respectful one.

“Would you like to enjoy more…?”

“No, that’s enough for today. I’ll be back another time.”

“Understood. Please, show them out.”

At the old man’s words, a sturdy man opened a different door than the one they had entered through.

“This way, please.”

Sabigang followed him without a word.

Maesellan quickly asked through a secret voice transmission.

[Why are they opening a different door?]

[When someone wins a large sum from gambling, they often attract envy and resentment.]

[So?]

[It’s a form of protection. No one can leave the arena for half an hour after we do. It’s to protect the guests.]

[I see.]

The Black Heaven Society had arranged it so that guests who won large sums wouldn’t be ambushed upon leaving the arena.

The man pointed to a connected passageway.

“Just follow the path.”

“Thank you.”

At Sabigang’s response, the man returned inside.

Sabigang and Maesellan walked along the passage as directed.

But in the middle of the passage, someone stood waiting.

A short, hunched old man.

It was none other than Gal Cheonseong, the master of the Black Heaven Society.

Feigning caution, Sabigang asked, “Who are you?”

“Ah, don’t be alarmed. We met earlier, didn’t we?”

As Gal Cheonseong approached, his face became clearer.

“You are truly remarkable, young hero. I wanted to see you in person. Congratulations.”

He beamed as he spoke.

In truth, he wanted nothing more than to tear Sabigang apart.

Though they didn’t look alike, the Conqueror was his younger brother.

When he saw the Conqueror’s corpse with his own eyes, he wanted to find and kill the young man named Gadeuk Sam immediately.

But this was a place where many eyes of the martial world were watching.

Rash actions were forbidden.

Sabigang laughed at Gal Cheonseong’s congratulatory words.

“Hahaha! Didn’t you treat me like a foolish kid earlier?”

‘Of course, my opinion hasn’t changed! You’re not in great shape yourself!’

Gal Cheonseong gritted his teeth inwardly but replied smoothly.

“Hohoho. I didn’t recognize a great hero earlier. I sincerely apologize.”

“Well, it’s good that you’ve changed your mind now.”

As Sabigang continued to play the part of a naive youth, Gal Cheonseong smiled gently.

“My knowledge is limited, but could you tell me where your martial sect is located?”

“It’s in a place called ‘Yeoryang.’ A rural village you probably haven’t heard of.”

“Yeoryang…?”

Gal Cheonseong furrowed his brow.

He had wandered the world for many years.

The name ‘Yeoryang’ vaguely rang a bell.

But he soon shook his head.

There was no sect called ‘Haecheonmun’ there.

Naturally, because Sabigang had made it up.

“Could you tell me which province it’s in…?”

“Why are you asking so many questions?”

Sabigang snapped, looking annoyed.

“Are you trying to investigate us? Is this how the arena operates?”

At the somewhat aggressive question, Gal Cheonseong quickly adopted a conciliatory expression.

“Hahaha. My curiosity got the better of me. I apologize if I offended you. I was just asking out of admiration for your exceptional martial skills. Please, don’t misunderstand.”

“Then, may we leave now?”

“Of course. Safe travels.”

Gal Cheonseong stepped aside to let them pass.

Sabigang and Maesellan resumed their walk.

‘Yeoryang’s Haecheonmun…’

Gal Cheonseong’s eyes narrowed.

‘It could be a lie.’

Sabigang’s actions didn’t add up.

He had boldly declared his sect and martial art, yet now he was trying to hide its location.

Moreover, his high-level martial skills didn’t match his reckless behavior.

‘Could Hongmyo’s prediction be correct?’

Then what was his true identity?

It was inconceivable for a novice martial artist to defeat a supreme master.

At that moment, a middle-aged man’s voice reached Gal Cheonseong through a secret transmission.

[Are you going to let them go like this?]

It was the Black Demon Ghost.

If the Conqueror was Gal Cheonseong’s right hand, the Black Demon Ghost was his left.

Gal Cheonseong smiled coldly.

[Of course not.]

[Shall I follow them?]

[No, I’ll go myself.]

Gal Cheonseong’s eyes burned with murderous intent.

**

Sabigang and Maesellan decided to spend the night at an inn in a nearby village.

They booked only one room, maintaining their cover as siblings since they hadn’t yet removed their disguises.

Maesellan didn’t object to this arrangement.

After an early dinner, the two of them sat across from each other at the table, sipping their drinks.

“Following you around, there’s never a dull moment, is there?”

Mae Seol-ran took a swig from her glass, her words a mix of complaint and admiration.

Earning ten million nyang overnight. It still felt unreal to her. Ten million nyang was enough to rank among the top hundred wealthiest in the martial world.

Sabi-gang chuckled softly, casting his gaze out the window. “It’s been a while since we’ve been alone like this.”

Though he spoke casually, Mae Seol-ran’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She quickly changed the subject.

“So, what do you plan to do with all that money?”

“I’m going to form a secret organization.”

“A secret organization?”

“Yes, one that follows only my orders.”

“True, it would be tough to take on the Blood Demon Sect alone.”

“Exactly. That’s why I need a group that’s absolutely loyal to me.”

“But can loyalty really be bought with money?”

“What do you suggest then?”

Sabi-gang looked at her, and Mae Seol-ran shrugged.

“I don’t know. But maybe trust in the person is more important for that kind of loyalty?”

“Heh, maybe. But I don’t trust people. I trust the power of money.”

With that, Sabi-gang downed his drink, and Mae Seol-ran refilled his glass.

“We’re being watched, aren’t we?”

“You’re sharp.”

“Well, you did tell me to keep pretending we’re siblings and not take off the mask.”

“Right. We’ve got a tail. But they’re moving just as expected, so that’s good.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“We’ll have to fight.”

“How many are there?”

“Thirty-one.”

“That many?”

Mae Seol-ran’s eyes widened. She had sensed a few presences, maybe two or three, but thirty-one?

Before meeting Sabi-gang, she had considered herself a notable martial artist. But now, she realized how naive she had been. The martial world was vast, and masters were as numerous as grains of sand.

Sabi-gang spoke calmly, “Two at the pinnacle, five at the peak, and twenty-four first-rate fighters.”

To discern even their abilities—just how far did his skills go? And what kind of monsters were the demonic soldiers he feared?

Sabi-gang raised his glass. “Let’s pretend to be drunk and sleep. That’s when they’ll make their move.”

“Two at the pinnacle? Are you sure we’ll be okay?”

“You’ll be there, won’t you?”

Mae Seol-ran took it as a joke. She’d be lucky not to get in the way. As she frowned, Sabi-gang reassured her, raising his glass again. Eventually, she closed her eyes and drank deeply.

‘He’ll handle it.’

As night deepened, they cleared the table. Sabi-gang pulled a leather pouch from his coat. It was a magical pouch that could store anything that fit through its opening. From it, he retrieved a thin, transparent vest and handed it to Mae Seol-ran.

“Here, put this on.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a Dragon Scale Armor from the demon realm. It’s not just a name; it’s the real deal, so be grateful.”

Dragon Scale Armor was named for its resemblance to dragon scales. But what Sabi-gang gave her was actual armor made from processed dragon scales, offering protection against both physical and magical attacks. It was a rare piece he had acquired along with the magical pouch.

Mae Seol-ran couldn’t quite believe it was real. Did dragons truly exist in the demon realm? Regardless, given how much he was boasting, it must be something extraordinary. She had already experienced the effects of the ring and earrings, so she didn’t doubt his words.

‘Maybe I’m just materialistic.’

Holding the Dragon Scale Armor, her heart raced. A man who casually handed over such treasures—what woman wouldn’t be charmed? She had thought she wouldn’t be swayed by material things, but…

‘This is cheating!’

She snapped at him with a sharp tone. “What are you doing? Turn off the lights and turn around.”

“Hmm? We’ve already spent a night together…”

“Quiet!”

When she shouted, Sabi-gang shrugged and turned away. “You’re so uptight.”

He sighed lightly and extinguished the lights with a flick of his hand.

Rustle, rustle.

The sound of Mae Seol-ran undressing filled the silent room. Once she donned the Dragon Scale Armor, it shrank to fit her perfectly, feeling as light as if she wore nothing at all.

‘It’s thin, but I can tell it’s incredible.’

She marveled at the armor clinging to her body.

“Are you done?”

Sabi-gang turned around absentmindedly.

“Not yet…!”

She shouted, but he was already staring at her, blinking. Though the room was dark, the moonlight streaming through the window illuminated her form. The armor was so transparent that it revealed her curves and the delicate petals of her areolas.

Gulp.

Sabi-gang swallowed involuntarily.

“What are you staring at!”

Mae Seol-ran instinctively swung her fist. In a flash, Sabi-gang caught her wrist, picked up her fallen clothes, and wrapped them around her.

“What are you… mmph!”

He quickly covered her mouth with his hand.

[Shh. They’re starting to move.]

His voice echoed in her mind.