Episode 281: Return of the Demon Instructor

Dan Lijeong stood tall on a high tree branch, surveying the area near the Guanji Temple. The sun was already setting, yet Maeseollan had not appeared.

As he waited, a group of warriors emerged in front of the temple.

“The warriors of the Eunshi branch have arrived,” he noted.

Yeon Woo-gyeong, standing beside him, squinted and asked, “How many?”

“More than thirty.”

“And the Lord?”

“Nowhere in sight,” Dan Lijeong replied, shaking his head. It was long past the time Maeseollan should have appeared. It seemed likely she hadn’t made it out of the canyon safely.

Regret washed over him. ‘If only I had stayed with her…’

But he quickly dismissed the thought. As the leader, he needed to remain rational. If he had stayed, not only Maeseollan but the entire Cheonmyeol unit might have been in danger.

Yeon Woo-gyeong murmured, “The Lord hasn’t shown up, but the Eunshi warriors have…”

“It seems likely the Lord has been captured,” Dan Lijeong said.

“Not a good situation.”

“But the Lord is surely alive. We must rescue her.”

The two exchanged quiet words before leaping down from the tree. Below, the Cheonmyeol unit was gathered.

“What happened?” Yeom Jaryang asked urgently as he approached.

Dan Lijeong surveyed the team and shared his grim assessment. “The fact that the Lord hasn’t appeared suggests she was ambushed in the canyon.”

“Damn it! We shouldn’t have come ahead!” Yeom Jaryang cursed.

“It was unavoidable. We need to focus on solutions, not regrets.”

“But if the Eunshi branch has betrayed us, asking them for help is out of the question,” Mok Danhwa said, her expression grave.

Dan Lijeong nodded. “The Eunshi warriors were scouting near the temple but left quickly. They haven’t pinpointed our location yet.”

“So, what do we do now?” Mok Danhwa asked.

Gok Bo-ok slammed his fist into his palm. “What else? We go and rescue the Lord!”

“Rushing in isn’t wise. Even with the Lord, we couldn’t defeat them. The Cheonshin Sect is stronger than we thought,” Yeon Woo-gyeong cautioned.

Gok Bo-ok frowned. “Then what do you suggest?”

“How about sending a message to the Jeongdo Alliance for support?” Jo Muntak suggested cautiously.

Gok Bo-ok shook his head vehemently. “Do you think that’s feasible? By the time help arrives, who knows what will happen to the Lord? We can’t just sit and wait!”

The Cheonmyeol unit fell silent, each lost in thought. The situation was more dire than they had realized. If the Eunshi branch had indeed betrayed them, this was no longer Jeongdo territory.

“Perhaps the Cheonshin Sect is more formidable than we imagined,” Neung Soso murmured, rubbing her arms. No one disagreed.

Since the establishment of the Inspection Bureau and the formation of the Cheonmyeol unit, they had never faced a crisis like this. They had to rescue Maeseollan before it was too late. But with their current strength, executing a plan seemed impossible. Waiting for Jeongdo’s support wasn’t an option either.

‘If only Instructor Sabigang were here…’

Though unspoken, it was a thought shared by all. The situation was that desperate.

After a long silence, Dan Lijeong spoke in a heavy voice. “There is a way.”

“What is it?” Gok Bo-ok pressed.

All eyes turned to Dan Lijeong, who took a deep breath before speaking. “We go to the Blood Lotus Sect.”

“What?”

“The Blood Lotus Sect?” The Cheonmyeol members were visibly shocked. The idea of the Jeongdo Alliance’s inspection team seeking help from the Blood Lotus Sect was unthinkable. If word got out, they’d be a laughingstock.

Dan Lijeong continued undeterred. “The Blood Lotus Sect’s Eungcheon branch is the closest. Fortunately, they’re currently cooperative with the main alliance. If we’re lucky, we might get their support.”

“But what if they refuse? They have no obligation to help us,” someone pointed out.

“True, but we have no other options. Besides, the Cheonshin Sect has already clashed with the Blood Lotus Sect, so things might work in our favor.”

Gok Bo-ok shouted in frustration, “But this isn’t right! Asking those from the dark path for help is beneath us!”

“This isn’t the time for pride. We need to save the Lord,” Yeon Woo-gyeong countered unexpectedly. Known for his pride, his agreement to seek help from the Blood Lotus Sect surprised everyone.

“I agree. Surely our pride isn’t more important than the Lord’s life?” Mok Danhwa added.

With that, Gok Bo-ok had no more arguments. Dan Lijeong looked around at his team, sealing the decision. “Alright. We’ll head to the Blood Lotus Sect’s Eungcheon branch.”

The Cheonmyeol members nodded grimly, their resolve set.

**

“What… what is this…?” No Hwe-gun’s face twitched with disbelief. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The Gwangpung unit had been utterly defeated.

At first, he thought the Gwangpung leader had been caught off guard. But no, Sabigang had skillfully dismantled their formation. His movements were extraordinary—so fast they seemed to defy logic.

In truth, Sabigang had used blink magic, but No Hwe-gun had no way of knowing that. Coupled with mirror image magic, it appeared to him as a supernatural display of shifting forms.

‘He’s… incredible…!’ If he had known, he would never have provoked such a formidable opponent.

‘Damn it…!’ No Hwe-gun cursed inwardly, looking at the Gwangpung members sprawled across the yard.

Sabigang had drawn his sword but hadn’t used it lethally. Instead, he wielded it like a club, striking the Gwangpung members with the flat of the blade. They survived, but the humiliation was undeniable.

“Ugh…”

“My leg…!”

As the fallen Gwangpung members groaned, unable to rise, Sabigang sighed lightly and turned to No Hwe-gun. “Hmm. I thought I’d offer some guidance since you asked so earnestly… but it seems there’s no point in continuing.”

“You…!” No Hwe-gun gritted his teeth, unable to retort. Clearly, the Gwangpung unit was no match for Sabigang.

Forcing a smile, No Hwe-gun clapped his hands. “Bravo. I’ve heard of your reputation, but to witness it firsthand is something else. Truly, your skills are unmatched.”

“You’re too kind,” Sabigang replied with a mocking smile, sheathing his sword.

Though inwardly seething, No Hwe-gun maintained his composure. “I’m sure the Gwangpung unit learned a lot. Thank you for your instruction.”

“I’m impressed by their eagerness to learn. With such dedication, the Gwangpung unit will surely improve,” Sabigang said.

“Haha, you’re too generous. They still have a long way to go.”

“But watching them made me reflect on myself. I’ve realized I’ve been too complacent.”

No Hwe-gun wondered where this was leading, but Sabigang’s next words caught him off guard.

“So, I’d like to ask you a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Would you teach me a thing or two?”

A peculiar smile played on Sabigang’s lips. No Hwe-gun, momentarily stunned, burst into laughter. “Haha! You have quite the sense of humor. I…”

“I’m not joking. I’ve heard of the Eungcheon branch leader’s formidable skills and wish to refine my own by learning from you.”

“Well, I’m just an old man with little to offer,” No Hwe-gun said, trying to back away.

But the new recruits, gathered to watch, blocked his path.

“What are you doing?” No Hwe-gun asked, his irritation clear. The recruits smiled coldly.

“We’d like to learn from your duel as well.”

“Your skills would be invaluable to us,” Baek Gongbo added, followed by Bang Gak’s sly grin.

‘These…!’ No Hwe-gun felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. ‘What now?’

The situation had flipped. Since Sabigang had indulged the Gwangpung unit’s request, No Hwe-gun had no excuse to refuse.

Just then, Maeng Gasuk, who had been watching silently, sealed the deal.

“Or could it be that Commander Bunta doesn’t even consider our instructor worthy of his time?”

The words were soft and polite, yet the challenge in them was unmistakable.

When Noh Hoi-gun still didn’t respond, Jeok Mu-rin stepped in.

“How about this, then?”

“What… what do you mean?”

“Our instructor has already given the Gwangpoong Unit a lesson. Now, perhaps Commander Bunta could offer some guidance to the new recruits.”

“That sounds great!”

Baek Gong-bo clapped his fists together with a sly grin.

Noh Hoi-gun’s expression grew increasingly twisted.

‘They want me to deal with these unruly brats!’

As the situation took an unexpected turn, Noh Hoi-gun made up his mind. Better to face one authoritative figure than a crowd of troublemakers.

With a swift motion, he drew his sword from his waist and turned around.

His chosen opponent was Sa Bi-gang.

“Instructor Sa, if that’s your wish, I ask for a match.”

“With pleasure.”

Sa Bi-gang grinned and assumed a fighting stance.

After a brief exchange of formalities, the two slowly prepared for combat.

‘Impressive… he’s no ordinary opponent!’

Even just standing opposite him, Sa Bi-gang’s presence was overwhelming, as if he might strike at any moment.

It wasn’t just a sense of danger. The reality that this strange swordsman could pierce his throat at any second was terrifying.

‘To think he’s reached the level where he can transform his energy into such a palpable force…!’

Noh Hoi-gun felt the sting of his misjudgment once more.

But the die was cast. He had to hold his ground as best he could.

Even if he couldn’t win, he needed to create the impression of an even match.

And if he withdrew his sword at the right moment, he could still save face.

‘To do that, I can’t let him make the first move!’

With his mind made up, Noh Hoi-gun launched himself forward.

Whoosh!

His body shot forward like a streak of light.