Episode 147: Return to the Demonic Sect
Turning cadets into top-tier martial artists in a short time is no easy feat.
Yet, with the right assistance, it’s not entirely impossible.
For instance, one might consume a rare elixir or use mystical weapons to aid in martial arts training.
Sabikang decided to employ both methods.
However, Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa posed a bit of a challenge.
Yeon Woo-kyung, who inherited the ultimate sword technique of the Paegeomyeonga, and Mok Dan-hwa, who perfected the flaws of the Seomgeom Mokga.
These two were already among the most skilled cadets, so Sabikang took special care in selecting weapons for them.
Unfortunately, the weapons were located in the depths of the Blood Demon Sect’s prison.
The place was shrouded in a dark aura, which naturally led to the formation of barriers.
“No matter how random the placement, this is just too much.”
Of all places, the weapons were in the Blood Demon Sect’s prison.
When Sabikang first realized this, he was deeply troubled.
But soon, he devised a clever plan.
He negotiated to take over the prison as part of a deal.
This would allow them to explore the place before the righteous alliance could refurbish it.
The plan was a success.
Now, Sabikang was leading Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa through the empty corridors of the prison.
The passage was damp and dimly lit.
Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa followed Sabikang, torches in hand, their footsteps echoing in the silence.
The deeper they went, the more the stench of decay filled the air.
The prisoners from the righteous alliance had long been freed, leaving most of the cells open.
Some cells were littered with filthy rags, while others had clothes torn and stained with blood.
In the middle of the prison, they passed a torture chamber filled with ominous tools.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Mok Dan-hwa muttered, wrinkling her nose.
The sight of the abandoned torture devices conjured images of the suffering warriors who had once been held here.
Yeon Woo-kyung glanced around and asked Sabikang, “Are you sure the weapons are here?”
“Do you think we’re here for a tour?”
After a long walk, they finally reached the deepest part of the prison.
A cell door was ajar, and a swarm of rats scurried out.
Squeak, squeak!
“Ahh!” Mok Dan-hwa shrieked, clinging to Sabikang before quickly stepping back, clearing her throat.
“I was just startled, that’s all.”
“Who said anything?”
“Just saying.”
Mok Dan-hwa frowned slightly, peering into the cell.
To their surprise, there was a snake’s shed skin inside.
Yeon Woo-kyung groaned, “This place is the worst. At least make it livable for humans!”
“But where are the weapons? This seems to be the end,” Mok Dan-hwa said, looking around.
The passage ended at a solid wall.
Yeon Woo-kyung sighed deeply.
“Are you sure we’re in the right place? There’s no way valuable weapons would be here. There’s nothing here…”
“Nothing? There’s a wall,” Sabikang said, walking over and tapping the wall with his fist.
‘This is it,’ he thought, nodding slightly.
Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa exchanged puzzled glances.
While they couldn’t hear it, Sabikang could sense it.
The space beyond the wall was hollow.
Sabikang stepped back and instructed them, “Stand back.”
With a swift motion, Sabikang drew his sword, Berthas, and Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa quickly retreated.
In an instant,
A brilliant flash of light sliced through the air as Sabikang unleashed his sword energy.
With a thunderous crash, the wall crumbled away.
Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling.
Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa stared wide-eyed.
The wall had vanished, revealing a vast cavern beyond.
It seemed to be a natural formation, with jagged rocks and peculiar formations scattered throughout.
Sabikang shrugged and turned to them.
“Well, this is as far as I go. You two can head inside.”
“What? Aren’t you coming with us?”
“I’ll wait outside.”
“Why?”
“I don’t particularly like places like this.”
“What?”
Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa exchanged uneasy glances.
‘Something’s fishy…’
As they silently communicated their doubts, Sabikang added, “Oh, and it’s not just that. The weapons inside are useless unless claimed by their rightful owners. That’s why I brought you here.”
“Are you sure there are weapons for us in there?”
“Absolutely.”
Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa turned their gaze to the dark cavern.
“What do they look like?”
“The sword for Woo-kyung has a blue blade. It might have some unfamiliar engravings. Dan-hwa’s sword is a light sword. Neither has a scabbard, so they should be easy to spot. You can always get a scabbard made later.”
They swallowed nervously, peering into the cavern.
It was so vast and deep, it felt like the entrance to another world.
As Sabikang walked away, he casually mentioned, “Oh, and the smell is pretty bad, so try to hold your breath. And… hopefully, you won’t have to spill any blood. Though that’s unlikely.”
With a wave, he disappeared down the passage.
Left alone, Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa exchanged determined nods.
“Let’s go.”
“Right.”
It’s just a dark, damp cave.
What could possibly happen?
‘Damn it! Why did he have to mention blood?’
Yeon Woo-kyung grumbled inwardly as they cautiously moved forward.
The stench was indeed overwhelming.
‘What a foul smell…’
Covering their noses and mouths, they continued deeper into the cavern.
Then…
“Gasp!”
“What is all this?”
They both gasped in shock.
Scattered throughout the cavern were countless skeletons.
Some still had bits of flesh clinging to them, while others wore tattered clothes.
“Hundreds… no, thousands.”
As they shone their torches around, the skeletons seemed endless.
“Let’s find the swords quickly,” Mok Dan-hwa urged, her voice tinged with anxiety.
Yeon Woo-kyung took the lead.
They hadn’t gone far when…
Tap, tap.
Someone tapped Mok Dan-hwa’s shoulder.
She turned instinctively and nearly fainted on the spot.
“Ahhh!”
“What happened?”
Yeon Woo-kyung spun around to see a skeleton tilting its head, staring at them.
“What… what is this? A skeleton…”
The skeleton picked up a rusty sword and swung it at Mok Dan-hwa.
“Dodge!”
Yeon Woo-kyung pushed Mok Dan-hwa aside and charged, slicing through the skeleton’s waist.
Slice!
Crash! Clatter!
The skeleton crumbled instantly.
Before Yeon Woo-kyung could catch his breath,
“Over there…!”
Mok Dan-hwa, trembling on the ground, pointed behind Yeon Woo-kyung.
Rattle. Rattle.
With an unsettling sound, Yeon Woo-kyung turned to see the skeletons reassembling themselves.
In a flash.
Whoosh!
One skeleton leaped, swinging its sword with surprising agility.
“Ugh!”
Yeon Woo-kyung rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Clang!
The sword struck the ground with a sharp metallic ring.
In that moment, Mok Dan-hwa darted forward, her sword flashing.
Slice!
Crash!
The skeleton fell apart once more.
But as they surveyed the surrounding skeleton army, their skin crawled.
Thousands of skeletons rose like ghosts, encircling them.
Even the fallen skeletons were reassembling.
“What is this? Zombies?”
“I’ve never heard of zombies like this!”
Unbeknownst to them, they had entered a ‘Necromancer’s Barrier.’
The barrier had been set up when the demonic realm transported items here.
The thousands of skeletons had also been brought from the demonic realm.
But Yeon Woo-kyung and Mok Dan-hwa had no way of knowing this, feeling only as if they were haunted by ghosts.
Mok Dan-hwa gritted her teeth, her voice laced with frustration.
“This is just cruel! He must have known and didn’t tell us! It’s infuriating!”
Yeon Woo-kyung couldn’t help but chuckle at her sharp reaction.
Sabikang had likely kept it a secret on purpose.
Perhaps it was a test, or maybe he just wanted to have a bit of fun at their expense.
But somehow… why do I feel like they didn’t tell me just because they wanted to mess with me, rather than for some grand reason like a test?
Anyway, how on earth are we supposed to find a sword among all these dense skeletons?
“Ugh, would it have killed them to give us a heads-up? Even a hint… Wait a second!”
A sudden thought flashed through his mind.
“Could it be…?”
“What is it? If you’ve thought of something, spit it out! We don’t have time to dawdle!” Mok Dan-hwa shouted, slicing through an approaching skeleton with a single strike.
Swish!
Crash!
That seemed to be the signal, as thousands of skeletons began to swarm toward them.
In an instant.
“Hold your breath!” Yeon Woo-kyung shouted like a bolt of lightning.
Mok Dan-hwa instinctively stopped breathing.
Boom!
The thousands of skeletons that had been rushing at them suddenly froze in place, looking bewildered.
“I knew it!”
Yeon Woo-kyung clenched his fist in triumph.
Sabi-gang had given them a hint. It would be best to hold their breath as much as possible. And…
“Don’t let them see blood,” he had said.
That meant these skeletons reacted to breath and blood—proof of life.
At least they didn’t respond to heartbeats, which was a relief.
The skeletons seemed completely unaware of the two of them now.
Yeon Woo-kyung signaled to Mok Dan-hwa with his eyes.
“Let’s find the sword like this.”
Mok Dan-hwa nodded.
The two of them moved slowly, holding their breath, weaving their way through the sea of skeletons.