Episode 242: Return of the Demon Instructor
“We’ve got company.”
At Sabigang’s sudden remark, Churyang flinched and asked, “Company?”
“Yes. There are people after me.”
“How many?” Churyang inquired, trying to maintain a casual demeanor. Any sign of unease could give their enemies an opening.
“About ten.”
“How far are they?”
“That, I can’t say. They’re skilled in concealment. I only sense them occasionally.”
“But how do you know there are ten?”
“I’ve felt them since I was at the Celestial Palace.”
“Even there?”
“Yes. They’ve been watching me for a while now.”
As Sabigang had suspected, ten assassins had been monitoring him ever since Dokgojin summoned them to the vicinity of the Celestial Palace. Sabigang’s keen senses had picked up on their presence, even if only fleetingly. He had anticipated being tailed on this journey.
“That’s partly why I accepted General Ryu’s proposal so readily.”
As Sabigang continued walking nonchalantly, Churyang quickly caught up to him. “So, what do we do now? If even you can’t sense them, they must be formidable.”
“Well, we’ll just have to fight well.”
“Ah, yes…”
While Churyang responded absentmindedly, the two arrived at an inn in the bustling market.
“Let’s rest here for the night.”
As soon as they entered the room, Churyang couldn’t hold back his questions any longer. “They won’t be able to kill you, right?”
“Who knows?”
“Could you really die?”
“It depends on how they come at me.”
“Don’t say such things so casually. The thought of you dying…”
“Are you worried about me?”
“No, it’s just that if you die, I’ll probably be next.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Because you’re strong, right? So I shouldn’t worry?”
“No. It’s just that a bodyguard always dies before their master.”
Churyang’s face turned pale at that.
“Can’t we use some magic to find those hidden guys?”
“Magic isn’t a cure-all. Do you think it’s some divine power?”
“Not divine, but didn’t you say it was the power of the dragon race?”
“Even dragons aren’t all-powerful. They can be hunted by humans sometimes.”
“Humans are quite something, aren’t they?”
“Yes, that’s why they can defeat demons. Anyway, detection magic only works on targets with mana.”
“Oh, I see.”
“And the more obstacles there are, the less effective it becomes.”
With that, Sabigang flopped onto the bed. “Get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day.”
**
[Not yet.]
The first ghost of the Ten Ghosts of Assassination sent a mental warning.
The restless ghost sighed softly and calmed himself. He had already shifted his position several times, thinking the opportunity was ripe. But the first ghost held him back each time, deeming it not the right moment.
He had tried to move three times: once in the morning when Sabigang left the inn, again at noon when Sabigang sat under a tree eating jerky, and just now, when Sabigang stretched while watching the sunset. Stretching is one of the most vulnerable moments for an assassin’s target, as the body relaxes completely.
Yet, the first ghost stopped him. His orders were absolute. The sigh wasn’t out of anger at the first ghost but frustration at not finding the perfect opportunity.
None of the other assassins moved either. The assassins summoned by Dokgojin, the Ghost Assassins and the Blood Five, were likely watching Sabigang from somewhere, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
[Looks like they’ll camp here. We’ll make our move tonight.]
Finally, the first ghost gave the order. The second, third, and fourth ghosts nodded grimly.
**
Unexpectedly, the first to move was the first ghost himself. Half an hour after Sabigang and Churyang had gone to bed, he darted forward like a flash. The second, third, and fourth ghosts followed closely behind.
Swoosh!
His movement was like a gust of wind, yet the moment felt long and slow. It was a time that required both speed and precision. The distance to Sabigang closed rapidly.
Twenty paces… fifteen… ten… five!
He was within range. He had never missed a target within ten paces. He saw the Blood Five approaching from the opposite side but paid them no mind. Sabigang would be dead by his hand before they arrived. Even if he failed, the second, third, and fourth ghosts would finish the job.
‘But failing seems unlikely!’
Though this process felt long in his mind, it was only a matter of seconds in reality.
Shuaaa!
As his darkened blade flew towards Sabigang, a flash!
“What!”
The first ghost’s eyes widened.
At that moment,
Thud!
He saw a sword piercing his abdomen. The blade, glowing with a blue light, turned red as it absorbed his blood.
‘Why… this bastard…’
The first ghost’s expression was one of disbelief. The one who had suddenly appeared to block him was none other than Churyang.
‘Was he always this strong?’
He had never considered him a threat. In assassination missions, even an ant could be a variable, so he had been cautious. He had accounted for everything, confident that Churyang couldn’t interfere. The Blood Five’s simultaneous attack was proof of that.
Yet, out of nowhere, this young man had driven a sword into his core!
And wasn’t this Sabigang’s sword? It had been wrapped in cloth, making it unrecognizable…
‘Why does he have that sword?’
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Churyang grinned, a murderous intent in his smile. Realizing his end, the first ghost gripped the sword tightly, hoping to immobilize Churyang long enough for the second, third, and fourth ghosts to finish the job.
Just then, the second ghost passed by the first. He saw the sword protruding from the first ghost’s back. Though unexpected, they had trained for such contingencies. The first ghost’s death was regrettable, but the mission came first.
As the second ghost brushed past, the first ghost believed the mission would succeed regardless.
But then,
Swish,
Instead of withdrawing the sword, Churyang pulled a dagger from the first ghost’s belt and swiftly turned, grabbing the second ghost’s shoulder and yanking him down.
Thud!
Churyang stabbed the fallen second ghost repeatedly.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
In an instant, the second ghost’s throat, chest, and abdomen were pierced. Blood spurted like a fountain as his carotid artery ruptured.
With the unexpected fall of the first and second ghosts, the third and fourth ghosts quickly retreated. Meanwhile, the Blood Five hurled daggers at Sabigang.
Swish, swish, swish!
Multiple daggers flew rapidly towards the prone Sabigang. In a flash, Churyang extended his hand, waving it towards the second and third ghosts. Astonishingly, the daggers veered off course, heading straight for the third and fourth ghosts instead.
Clang, clang, clang!
The third and fourth ghosts quickly deflected the incoming daggers with their swords, but one lodged in the fourth ghost’s shoulder.
“Damn it! Are you blind or just clumsy? Where are you aiming?” the fourth ghost shouted in frustration.
The Blood Five were equally baffled. How had their daggers, aimed at Sabigang, ended up targeting the third and fourth ghosts?
But the surprises didn’t end there. As the Blood Five hesitated in confusion, Sabigang slowly rose, speaking in a voice that wasn’t his own.
“Wow… I thought I was done for!”
The voice coming from Sabigang was unmistakably Churyang’s. And then…
“I told you, the master shouldn’t die before the bodyguard. Right now, I was the bodyguard.”
The voice from Churyang was Sabigang’s.
‘What on earth is going on…?’
The Blood Five and the third and fourth ghosts looked back and forth between the two, bewildered.
In truth, Sabigang and Churyang had used a Shape Switch spell to swap appearances. They had even exchanged clothes and wrapped their swords in cloth, making the deception flawless.
Moreover, Sabigang had maintained a level of aura similar to Churyang’s, while Churyang mimicked Sabigang’s aura. This left the Ten Ghosts of Assassination and the Blood Five with a vague sense of unease, but they hadn’t realized the truth until it was too late.
Churyang was a master of mimicry and manipulation, while Sabigang had reached the pinnacle of martial arts mastery. Imitating and manipulating each other was hardly a challenge for them.
Churyang looked at Sabigang in admiration.
“That was truly impressive.”
“I know.”
“How did you handle those flying daggers coming at me earlier?”
Churyang waved his hand in the air, trying to mimic Sabigang’s movements.
Sabigang chuckled softly and replied, “It’s telekinesis magic. It’s a bit advanced for you right now.”
“Oh! You mean moving objects freely without touching them!”
“Exactly. But in that case, I just altered the direction slightly. Stopping or reversing something that fast and powerful is quite difficult. It would require an enormous amount of mana.”
“Ah, I see. Redirecting it to attack another enemy instead—what incredible skill, Master!”
Meanwhile, the seven people watching their casual conversation were dumbfounded.
Already enraged by the deaths of Il-gwi and Yi-gwi, the demon let out a furious roar and lunged at them.
“How dare you ignore us like this?”
In an instant, Sabigang extended his hand and said, “Let me show you another trick.”
With a swift motion, the sword embedded in Il-gwi’s abdomen flew out, slicing through the demon’s neck before returning to Sabigang’s hand.
Thud, roll, roll…
With a sickening sound, the headless demon collapsed to the ground.