Episode 135: Return to the Demon Sect
Ma Seol-ran shot him a sharp glare.
‘That man…!’
After saving his life, how could he so shamelessly suggest abandoning his savior and leaving? She wanted to lash out at him, but she swallowed her words and turned away, suppressing her anger.
Meanwhile, Seok Ji-pyeong, feeling slighted by the lack of response to his words, raised his voice even louder to the cadets.
“Can’t you hear me? Hurry up and help us get out of here! Isn’t it your duty to ensure our safe escape?”
Yeon Woo-kyung turned with a cold expression and spoke bluntly.
“We’re staying here to wait for the instructor.”
“What? What kind of nonsense is that? Do you think waiting here will change anything? Surely you don’t intend to join that fight?”
“If we could, we would. But since we can’t, we can only feel frustrated.”
“At least you know your place. But you need to be wiser. Waiting here won’t help anyone…”
“Enough with the chatter!”
The sudden outburst came from none other than Gok Bo-ok.
Seok Ji-pyeong’s face twisted in anger.
“What did you just say to me?”
“You already received our help, didn’t you? So why not wait patiently and be grateful?”
At that moment, Sa Ja-ryong, who had been watching silently, stepped forward and roared.
“You insolent brat! Do you know who we are to speak so rudely?”
“Of course. You were prisoners of the Blood Demon Sect. That’s why we rescued you.”
“You little…!”
Sa Ja-ryong glared at Gok Bo-ok, his lips twitching.
But having been drained of their energy and confined for nearly two days, they were in no condition to confront even the cadets.
In truth, they secretly hoped Sa Bi-gang would die. If only Sa Bi-gang perished, the Evil Sky Demon would pursue them, and they wished for both to perish together. That way, they could forget the incriminating evidence Sa Bi-gang had on them, detailing their misdeeds.
Seok Ji-pyeong stepped forward again, shouting.
“Time is short, so let’s hurry. If you help us escape now, I’ll forgive your rudeness…”
“We’re not leaving.”
“We’re waiting for the instructor.”
“We won’t move until the instructor returns.”
The cadets chimed in one after another.
Seok Ji-pyeong stared at them, grinding his teeth in frustration.
“Oh, I see. You’re those troublemakers from the special class. I should have known. Wait a minute! Are you in league with the Blood Demon Sect? It’s suspicious that you just happened to be here for an outdoor lesson…”
“You ungrateful…!”
Gok Bo-ok, unable to hold back any longer, let out a string of curses.
Thud.
Dan Ri-jeong placed a hand on his shoulder.
Then, he walked steadily towards Seok Ji-pyeong, bowing his head.
“I apologize in advance.”
“That’s right. If you’ve done wrong, you should… wait, in advance?”
In an instant.
Thwack!
Crash!
Dan Ri-jeong’s fist connected with Seok Ji-pyeong’s face, sending him sprawling across the field.
Already weakened, Seok Ji-pyeong foamed at the mouth and fainted.
The leaders of the Justice Alliance and the cadets alike stared at Dan Ri-jeong in shock.
Even Tang Yi-hyeop and Ma Seol-ran were taken aback.
Dan Ri-jeong, usually so gentle and quiet, had suddenly resorted to violence!
Dusting off his hands, Dan Ri-jeong addressed the other members of the Justice Alliance.
“We are cadets under Instructor Sa Bi-gang’s guidance. We won’t move from this spot until he returns. Please understand that.”
Everyone swallowed hard, feeling the quiet yet undeniable pressure in his voice.
He paused, then added, “If anyone wishes to leave, feel free. We won’t stop you.”
“Hmph.”
Sa Ja-ryong grumbled, turning his gaze away in displeasure.
Meanwhile, Mok Dan-hwa watched Dan Ri-jeong with her mouth agape.
‘Is that really the same kid I used to bully?’
**
Boom! Crash!
The air was filled with explosive sounds and flashes of light.
The canyon continued to crumble.
A deadly wind howled through the gorge.
As energy clashed with energy, a tremendous destructive force was unleashed, shaking the heavens and earth.
“You wretch!”
The Evil Sky Demon, eyes bloodshot, glared at Sa Bi-gang, his voice like a demon’s.
“Haaah!”
Sa Bi-gang, his expression more fierce than ever, charged with all his might.
Boom! Bang!
Amidst the swirling storm of energy, the two danced on the edge of life and death.
It was a battle so grand and intense, it seemed beyond human capability.
And finally.
Thunk!
The delicate balance was broken by something as trivial as a pebble.
Caught in the whirlwind, the pebble struck the Evil Sky Demon’s elbow.
That tiny gap, no wider than a strand of hair, became a fatal weakness in the realm of masters.
Swish!
Sa Bi-gang swung his sword, aiming for that opening.
In that moment, the Evil Sky Demon’s eyes gleamed.
‘Got you!’
The gap was a ruse, a ploy to break the stalemate!
The Evil Sky Demon spun, grabbing the blade of Sa Bi-gang’s sword with his side.
Crunch!
Given his usual fighting style, this was an unexpected move.
Since realizing the sword was a spiritual weapon, he had always deflected it, never grabbing it.
But now, he gripped it with determination.
Blood seeped from his hand, but he ignored it, pulling the sword—and Sa Bi-gang—towards him.
In an instant.
Whoosh!
The Evil Sky Demon’s talon-like hand shot towards Sa Bi-gang’s chest.
Crash!
“Ugh!”
Sa Bi-gang grimaced, clenching his teeth.
Finally, the Evil Sky Demon grinned wickedly.
“Heh heh heh! I’ll drain your energy!”
His hand turned black, veins bulging.
His fingers sank deep into Sa Bi-gang’s chest.
It was the same energy-draining technique he had used on Maeng Hwi.
Ssssss!
Sa Bi-gang’s energy began to flow into the Evil Sky Demon.
“Hahaha! It’s over! Your defeat is complete! Whatever you are, now I… huh?”
The Evil Sky Demon, in the midst of his triumphant laughter, paused, staring at Sa Bi-gang’s chest.
His gaze traveled from his hand to his arm and body.
‘What is this…!’
His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Sa Bi-gang.
Sa Bi-gang, blood trickling from his lips, smirked.
“Heh heh. What’s wrong? If you like it so much, take more.”
“You, you! What have you done…!”
The Evil Sky Demon’s eyes shook violently.
This was impossible.
The greatest advantage of the energy-draining technique was its ability to absorb and convert any form of energy, whether extreme yang or yin.
Once absorbed, it would transform into demonic energy.
Though the absorbed energy would dissipate within two hours, it was a useful tool in battle.
But this…!
‘This isn’t energy!’
Yet it was being absorbed through his veins.
What kind of sorcery was this?
The Evil Sky Demon tried to pull away, but Sa Bi-gang grabbed his wrist, grinning like a specter.
“Heh heh. Take more. Don’t be shy.”
“Let go, you…!”
“I don’t think so.”
Sa Bi-gang deliberately channeled energy into the Evil Sky Demon’s body.
No, to be precise, it wasn’t energy but mana.
Mana, something the Evil Sky Demon had never dealt with, began to wreak havoc inside him.
He tried to control it with his own energy, but it was futile.
Mana, unlike energy, couldn’t be controlled by his techniques.
Moreover, the mana inside him was acting according to Sa Bi-gang’s will.
“Ugh! Gah! Cough!”
Finally, the Evil Sky Demon coughed up a mouthful of blood.
It felt as if his entire circulatory system was exploding like fireworks.
“Let… go… of me!”
The demon struggled desperately, trembling with effort.
But the mana that had already invaded his body was wreaking havoc, making it impossible for him to move as he wished.
A thin stream of blood trickled from his nose.
Soon, blood began to seep from his ears as well.
Moments later.
“Ugh!”
A fountain of dark, crimson blood erupted from his mouth.
With a thud, the demon finally collapsed to his knees, defeated.
Only then did his hand withdraw from Sabikang’s chest.
Five gaping holes marked Sabikang’s chest, the result of the demon’s deadly technique.
Gasping for breath, the demon asked with difficulty, “Did you… really plan all this just to make me use that technique?”
“It seemed like the surest way to end this,” Sabikang replied, his own breathing ragged.
Though he didn’t show it, standing on his own two feet was a struggle for him as well.
Slowly, he raised his sword, Veritas.
The demon looked up at Sabikang and let out a bitter laugh. “Are you going to kill me?”
“Of course.”
“Heh. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“For an opportunist like you, it must be unimaginable.”
“Hmph! I simply lend my strength to whoever is stronger!”
“That fickle loyalty of yours has cost many lives.”
“Heh, you keep spouting nonsense.”
“Just one question. If someone stronger comes along, will you switch sides again?”
“Heh, asking a dying man such trivial things. Of course! I’ll always side with whoever can keep me alive! Heh!”
Sabikang’s eyes narrowed.
Just as he expected.
The demon was that kind of person.
“Then you must die. For the sake of the world.”
In the next instant.
With a swift, decisive motion, Sabikang poured all his remaining strength into Veritas and struck.
The blade sliced through the air with a deadly whisper.