Episode 200: Return of the Demon Instructor
“Is that… the Lord?”
The thought of reinforcements arriving filled her with a sudden surge of energy.
“Haah!”
With a swift spin, Mok Dan-hwa’s weapon let out a piercing cry, causing the surrounding enemies to stagger back, some collapsing with screams.
The warriors hesitated, maintaining a cautious distance. In that brief pause, Mok Dan-hwa scanned her surroundings.
There, on the rooftop, arms crossed, stood Sa Bi-gang, watching the scene unfold.
“The gate’s open!”
Relief washed over her, tension easing from her shoulders. But then…
“Why is he just standing there? Isn’t he going to help?”
Sa Bi-gang’s expression remained cold, his gaze fixed on her.
Meanwhile, a hostile voice cut through the air.
“Die, woman!”
A guard charged at her, sword leading the way. Mok Dan-hwa spun quickly, narrowly avoiding the blade that grazed her chest.
In a fluid motion, she lashed out with her weapon, striking the guard’s shoulder with a whip-like crack.
The weapon’s movements were serpentine, sometimes striking with the precision of a snake’s head, other times coiling and darting with lethal grace.
“Ugh!”
The injured guard stumbled back, but another was already closing in from behind.
“Get her!”
The warriors surged forward again, a wave of steel and fury.
“Die!”
Mok Dan-hwa spun once more, her weapon singing its sharp, metallic song.
Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal, forcing the attackers to retreat momentarily.
Seizing the opportunity, she shouted, “What are you doing? Help me!”
Her cry startled the guards, who glanced around in confusion. But there was no one else in sight.
Mok Dan-hwa’s heart sank. “Where did he go?”
A guard sneered, “Trying to trick us with cheap tricks, are you? Tear her apart!”
“Yes, sir!”
The warriors charged again, their intent deadly.
Mok Dan-hwa’s brow furrowed in frustration. “Damn it! Where did he disappear to?”
She fought with all her might, but the onslaught was relentless. A blade slipped past her defenses, slicing her shoulder.
“Ahh!”
She cried out, retreating a few steps to staunch the bleeding before resuming her stance.
“Haah, haah!”
The warriors gave her no respite.
Slicing through the air, their attacks came from all directions.
“Damn…!”
Her expression twisted with effort as the enemy’s pressure mounted.
“Is he really not going to help?”
Sa Bi-gang was nowhere to be seen, leaving her to wonder if she’d imagined him entirely.
Her legs trembled with fatigue.
“Huff, huff, huff!”
Despite her determination, the guards ground their teeth in frustration.
“Persistent woman.”
“Stop barking and fight. We’re not done yet!”
“Fine, have it your way!”
The attackers swarmed again. She parried the first few strikes, but the fourth and fifth cut into her side and thigh.
“Ugh!”
Staggering back, she shouted in desperation, “Damn it! Help me!”
Then, a voice whispered in her ear.
[You must handle this yourself.]
Startled, she turned to see Sa Bi-gang silhouetted against the moon on another rooftop.
Mok Dan-hwa gripped her weapon tightly.
[Are you really just going to watch?]
[You acted on your own, so you must bear the consequences alone.]
Her frustration boiled over. “And you call yourself an instructor?”
Her outburst made the guards pause and look around, but again, they saw no one.
The guard laughed derisively. “She’s lost her mind!”
He lunged at her.
Clang!
Mok Dan-hwa blocked him, but the force pushed her back further than before. She was tiring.
The other guards advanced with cold smiles, confident in their advantage.
The warriors held back, knowing they might hinder the guards’ efforts.
Clang! Clang!
As she fended off the relentless attacks, Sa Bi-gang’s voice echoed in her mind again.
[Instructor? No, I’m the Lord now.]
[Lord or instructor, your subordinate is in danger!]
[How amusing. You were so confident before. Where’s that bravado now? Didn’t you set out ready to face death? That’s what real combat is—being prepared to die at any moment.]
[Ugh…! Fine! I don’t need you! I’ll fight alone!]
Her anger flared. She hadn’t expected help, but seeing him and hearing his voice had made her hope, just a little.
But his cold indifference stung.
She didn’t need him. She never liked him as an instructor anyway.
Her reliance on him, even for a moment, felt pathetic and infuriating.
Then, his voice taunted her again.
[Having a hard time? Want some help? Maybe if you beg, I’ll reconsider…]
[Get lost! I don’t need you!]
Resolved to face death, her words were harsh but sincere.
She would rather die fighting than accept his help.
At least if she died here, it would be with honor, unlike when she was kidnapped long ago.
She had already taken down the leader of the rogue faction, so her family wouldn’t be shamed.
[Fine! I’ll hold out as long as I can! Even if I die fighting, I’ll do it alone!]
[Wow, impressive. That’s the spirit. You said you could do it alone from the start, right?]
Swish!
Clang!
Mok Dan-hwa deflected another incoming blade, stepping back a few paces.
She didn’t bother responding.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
Her breath came in ragged gasps.
How much longer could she hold out?
One step at a time. She’d deal with the enemy in front of her first.
One by one, she’d take them down.
With a determined cry, she charged forward.
“You wretch!”
A guard thrust his sword at her.
Her weapon sang as it clashed with his, wrapping around his blade like a snake.
Thunk!
Her weapon struck his wrist.
“Argh!”
Clang!
The guard dropped his sword with a scream.
Then,
Swish!
Thunk!
Her weapon pierced his throat.
“Gah!”
One down.
As her weapon withdrew, the guard clutched his neck and collapsed.
“You damn woman! Die!”
Two more guards rushed her.
Mok Dan-hwa targeted one on the right.
But then,
Swish!
“What?”
A spearhead suddenly thrust at her side.
A warrior had joined the fray after the guard fell.
“Damn…!”
Clang!
She deflected the spear, but the guard she had targeted was already upon her.
Clang! Clang!
Her weapon blocked their swords, but the guards pressed their attack relentlessly.
Clang! Clang!
The assault was dizzying, with the spear occasionally darting in.
Mok Dan-hwa was pushed back.
“Damn, I wanted to take at least two with me!”
At this rate, she wouldn’t last much longer.
“No! Just a little more!”
She gritted her teeth and thrust her weapon forward.
Swish!
Clang!
She nearly lost her grip as her weapon was knocked aside.
In that moment, the two guards slashed at her sides.
“No!”
She instinctively summoned her mana, forming a shield.
Clang!
Crack!
The swords struck, shattering the shield.
Seizing the moment, Mok Dan-hwa mustered her remaining strength.
“Haah!”
Her weapon flew like the wind, targeting a guard’s neck.
“Not so fast!”
The guard raised his sword to block, but—
“Got you!”
Her eyes gleamed as she subtly twisted her weapon.
With a deft flick, it bypassed his defense and pierced his face.
Thunk!
“Argh! My eye!”
The guard clutched his right eye, stumbling back.
Meanwhile, the other guard charged from behind.
“Haaah!”
Her weapon spun, aiming for his chest.
Clang!
He deflected it, then struck with his palm.
Boom!
“Ahh!”
Crash!
Mok Dan-hwa was thrown against the building wall and collapsed to the ground.
“You wretch! I’ll kill you!”
The enraged Hosinwi, blinded by fury, shouted at her.
Mok Dan-hwa struggled to her feet, barely managing to stand.
‘I can’t… go on any longer.’
She didn’t even have the strength to hold her weapon.
Yet, the only thing keeping her upright was sheer willpower, pushing her beyond her limits.
Her unyielding pride and fierce determination were the only things holding her together.
“This is the end!”
Two Hosinwi warriors lunged at her simultaneously.
Memories flashed through her mind like a fast-forwarded film.
From the moments she learned swordsmanship from her father to the adventures she had with Sabi-gang.
Looking back, her life felt like a fleeting dream.
As she faced the moment of her death, everything became crystal clear.
The pride and determination that had sustained her were now gone.
Her body refused to move, yet her mind felt clearer than ever.
Was this enlightenment?
Somehow, she felt that if she were to train in martial arts again, she could reach new heights.
But it was too late now.
What if she had realized these things sooner?
Well, time had already passed.
It had its own meaning.
Mok Dan-hwa closed her eyes.
She could see the two swords slicing through the darkness toward her.
Even with her eyes closed, she could see them.
Seeing wasn’t just a matter of sight, after all.
It was a final realization at the brink of death.
But then…
[Open your eyes.]
A voice whispered in her ear.
At the same time, a surge of energy flowed into her body.
And suddenly, her body began to move on its own.
Swish!
Clang!
The two swords that had been rushing toward her were effortlessly deflected.
Mok Dan-hwa opened her eyes wide and lifted her head.
Sabi-gang had somehow appeared behind her, holding her wrists.
Just like when her father used to stand behind her, correcting her stance as a child.
“Master…!”
“Master?”
“Sir…?”
“It’d be a waste for you to die like this.”
“What…?”
“Now, focus on your movements. This is a private lesson.”
Swish, swish, swish!
With Sabi-gang guiding her, Mok Dan-hwa’s body flew through the air, launching an attack on her enemies as if by magic.