Episode 209: Return of the Demonic Instructor
Jeok Mu-rin was in a foul mood.
If there was one thing he despised most in the world, it was those self-righteous orthodox sect members.
Just the sight of those hypocritical do-gooders made him want to spit in their faces.
And now, he was supposed to assist an instructor from the Justice Alliance?
He would have preferred a hundred times over to be put on probation and do nothing at all.
He had protested vehemently to his superiors, but his objections were dismissed.
“He specifically requested you,” said Ryu Yeo-jung, the chief military officer.
When Jeok Mu-rin asked why, Ryu Yeo-jung admitted he didn’t know either.
And now…
He was face-to-face with Sa Bi-gang, the instructor from the Justice Alliance.
“You look like you’d spit in my face if you could,” Sa Bi-gang remarked with a smirk, but Jeok Mu-rin remained impassive.
He didn’t even touch his tea, letting it grow cold, his entire demeanor screaming how uncomfortable and displeased he was to be there.
Thud!
Sa Bi-gang placed a roster on the table.
“Familiar with these names?”
Jeok Mu-rin silently picked up the list and scanned it.
He knew them all.
They were hardly what you’d call “cadets.”
These were individuals who had already been part of various factions within the Blood Demon Sect and had been disciplined multiple times.
In short, they were uncontrollable.
Yet, their skills were too valuable to simply expel them.
The worst of the worst.
Jeok Mu-rin let out a sardonic smile.
Finally, he spoke.
“This won’t be easy.”
“That’s my problem, not yours.”
“They’re already at a master level.”
“Hmm. So, in the demonic sect, that’s what you call a master?”
”……!”
Jeok Mu-rin glared at Sa Bi-gang, who continued unfazed.
“Tell them this: Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin classes in earnest. Whether they’re masters or not, as long as they’re under my instruction, they’re just cadets. Make sure they understand that.”
Jeok Mu-rin stared for a moment before standing up.
As he left, Chu-ryang, who had been standing nearby, exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.
“Whew! I thought I was going to suffocate. How can someone be so frustrating?”
“Don’t you think you should learn something?”
“Are you saying I talk too much?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s harsh! You talk a lot too, don’t you?”
“Which is why one of us should be quiet, don’t you think?”
“Fine. I’ll take a vow of silence from now on!”
Chu-ryang pouted and stomped off, though his resolve didn’t last even an hour.
**
The next morning.
“I’m nervous,” Chu-ryang muttered as he followed Sa Bi-gang.
“Why are you nervous?”
“Because they’re supposed to be a troublesome bunch…”
It was the first day of class.
Though Sa Bi-gang would be leading, Chu-ryang couldn’t help but feel anxious.
What kind of expressions would they have?
‘They probably won’t be happy to see Master.’
If he were in their shoes, he’d be resentful too. How much more so for those demonic sect members?
They might even try to intimidate him with their killing intent.
Or perhaps they’d openly challenge him.
Or worse, they might attempt an assassination.
In that case…!
‘I must protect Master!’
Chu-ryang slapped his cheeks to focus.
He needed to stay sharp.
As they reached the training hall, they found Jeok Mu-rin already there.
Sa Bi-gang asked, “Are they ready?”
Jeok Mu-rin smirked and replied, “Seems like it.”
“Let’s go.”
Sa Bi-gang turned the corner of the training hall.
The first class was to be held in the training yard behind the hall.
As they rounded the corner…
Whoosh.
Leaves rustled across the ground in the wind.
Chu-ryang stopped in his tracks, blinking in confusion.
“Huh? Where is everyone?”
He looked around, but the training yard was empty, not a soul in sight.
Only leaves skittered across the ground.
Without turning, Sa Bi-gang asked Jeok Mu-rin, “You delivered my message, right?”
Jeok Mu-rin nodded slightly.
He had indeed passed on Sa Bi-gang’s message.
But the cadets hadn’t listened.
A complete boycott of the class.
The worst-case scenario.
“At least one showed up,” Sa Bi-gang noted, his gaze shifting to the forest surrounding the yard.
Perched on a tree branch, a man was chewing on jerky.
“What’s your name?” Sa Bi-gang asked.
The man jumped down from the branch, chuckling.
“Me? I’m Bang Gak.”
He looked about the same age as Chu-ryang.
Sa Bi-gang knew of Bang Gak.
A skilled dual-wielder.
He had made a name for himself early in the demonic invasion before meeting his end.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Sa Bi-gang. Seems you’re the only one attending today’s class.”
“Heh. You’re mistaken. I just came to see what the brave instructor who dared to teach us looks like. Now that I’ve seen you, I’m done. Looks like you’ll be teaching yourself today. Hahaha!”
Bang Gak laughed heartily.
Sa Bi-gang smiled and replied, “Not quite. You can come and go as you please, but leaving requires my permission. That’s my rule.”
“What? You still don’t get it, do you…?”
Whoosh!
”…Huh?”
Bang Gak’s eyes widened.
‘When did he…!’
In the blink of an eye, Sa Bi-gang was right in front of him.
If he had used a movement technique, there should have been a breeze.
Yet, it was as if he had always been there.
Jeok Mu-rin was equally shocked.
Just moments ago, Sa Bi-gang had been standing beside him, and now he was far away.
‘What kind of movement technique is that?’
Regardless of their surprise, Sa Bi-gang reached out and grabbed Bang Gak’s chin.
“First, let’s fix that attitude. Respect for one’s master is essential, regardless of sect.”
“Don’t… be ridiculous…! Respect can’t be… forced…! I…”
“You’re absolutely right. Respect should come naturally. And I’m going to squeeze it out of you until it does. It usually works.”
Sa Bi-gang grinned, a chilling smile that sent shivers down Bang Gak’s spine.
“Ugh!”
In an instant, Bang Gak leaped back, extending his palm.
Bang!
Sa Bi-gang neutralized the force with a wave of his hand, calmly watching him.
“Looks like you’re ready to learn now.”
“Hmph! Don’t make me laugh! Try squeezing it out of me!”
“Very well.”
In a flash,
Whoosh!
Sa Bi-gang vanished again.
Bang Gak spun around, swinging his blades.
“Where are you hiding?”
Swish!
His blade cut through the air, but Sa Bi-gang’s shield blocked it effortlessly.
Bang Gak’s eyes widened.
‘What the…!’
He drew both blades and leaped into the air.
Sa Bi-gang extended his hand, muttering with a bored expression.
“Fire Storm.”
Suddenly,
Whoosh!
A massive firestorm erupted from the dry ground, swirling around them.
“What the…! What kind of trick is this?”
Bang Gak thought it was an illusion.
Why else would flames erupt from solid ground?
Like all illusions, if you don’t believe, you won’t be harmed.
“It won’t work!”
He shouted defiantly, diving toward Sa Bi-gang.
But then…
Fwoosh!
The firestorm engulfed him, its searing heat licking at his skin.
“Argh! Aaaah!”
Bang Gak felt his body cooking in the intense heat and quickly retreated, channeling his energy to cool himself.
He had narrowly avoided being roasted alive.
Chu-ryang watched with wide eyes, while Jeok Mu-rin stood frozen in shock.
Bang Gak staggered to his feet, shouting, “Damn it! What kind of trick…! Ugh!”
Before he could finish, Sa Bi-gang reappeared, grabbing his chin once more.
Sa Bi-gang’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“Isn’t it funny? You demonic sect folks are the masters of trickery, yet you cry ‘trick’ whenever things don’t go your way.”
“Ugh!”
“Since you’re the only cadet to attend my first class, I’ll be lenient.”
With that, Sa Bi-gang pulled out a pill and forced it into Bang Gak’s mouth.
“Ugh! What is this…!”
“Just swallow it. Think of it as something good for you.”
Sa Bi-gang clamped his mouth shut, forcing him to swallow the pill.
Once he did, Sa Bi-gang tossed him aside.
Crash!
“Ugh! What did you make me take?”
His tone had softened slightly.
Yet, his expression still looked as if he could devour Sabigang whole.
“I’ve already eaten it. Think of it positively.”
“You…!”
Rage surged to the top of his head, but he couldn’t act rashly.
There was a strange warmth spreading in his stomach.
“Damn it!”
He dashed to the side of the training ground, sticking his fingers down his throat to vomit.
“Ughhh!”
Before he knew it, Sabigang was beside him, gently patting his back.
“It’s no use. What you ate dissolves and gets absorbed instantly.”
“Th-that’s…!”
Now that he thought about it, his lower abdomen was indeed feeling warm.
Bangak shook off Sabigang’s hand and quickly stepped back.
“Do you think you can kill me in the middle of the academy and get away with it?”
“I haven’t killed you yet.”
Sabigang pulled out another pill from his pocket. It was a slightly different color from the last one.
Bangak’s eyes gleamed.
‘An antidote?’
In a flash,
Whoosh!
Bangak lunged at Sabigang like lightning, aiming to snatch the antidote.
But,
Thud!
“Argh!”
Bangak was sent sprawling across the ground, rolling several times after taking a hit to the chest from Sabigang’s palm strike.
Sabigang chuckled softly.
“Heh. You can’t just take something this good for free. Nothing in life is free. I’ll give you one every day from now on.”
Bangak staggered to his feet, rubbing his chest.
‘One every day! So it’s a deadly poison that requires a daily antidote!’
How could an instructor be so despicable?
His insides burned with anger, but there was nothing he could do.
His life was now in Sabigang’s hands.
Sabigang’s expression turned serious.
“I’ll remember your face, so make sure you show up if you don’t want to die.”
“Do you think I’m afraid of death?”
“Then go ahead, try dying once.”
Sabigang waved his hand dismissively and turned away.
“That’s it for today’s lesson. Oh, and tell the others to come tomorrow. It’s more fun with a group, don’t you think?”
Bangak watched Sabigang’s retreating figure with a pale face.