Episode 369: Return to the Demonic Martial Arts Hall
Not long ago, if someone had asked where the most famous place in Wuhuan was, people would have directed them without hesitation to the grand entrance of the House of Ten Thousand Swords.
It didn’t matter if the person asking was a martial artist or not.
The reason was simple.
The House of Ten Thousand Swords was the largest sect in Wuhuan, and its entrance was extravagantly and uniquely designed.
The gate, constructed as if it were made from ten thousand swords stacked together, left a striking impression on anyone who saw it.
Even the signboard was carved in the shape of a sword.
But now, a place even more renowned than the entrance of the House of Ten Thousand Swords had emerged.
And currently, a crowd stood before this magnificent gate, gazing up at it in awe.
In truth, they weren’t standing there, overwhelmed by its grandeur or filled with emotion and passion.
They were simply dumbfounded by the absurdly long name inscribed on the sign.
“Supreme Overlord… Invincible… Sa Bi-gang… Demon Slayer Hall?”
“Hey, this can’t be the official name, right? I only heard it called ‘Demon Slayer Hall’…”
“Rumor has it that ‘Demon Slayer Hall’ is just an abbreviation.”
“My goodness. So this is the official name?”
The crowd buzzed with chatter as they stared at the sign.
For martial artists who had traveled from all over the central plains to see the famed Demon Slayer Hall, the lengthy and ostentatious name was the main topic of conversation.
Since the hall’s opening, martial artists had flocked to it for three main reasons.
First, those seeking revenge.
These were individuals who had lost loved ones in the Great Battle of the Western Plains and wanted to join the fight against the Demon Sect.
Next, those aiming for success.
While the renowned Yongcheon Hall of the Justice Alliance required wealth for admission, the Demon Slayer Hall accepted anyone with talent, regardless of their background.
This attracted many who hoped to gain fame and build their influence by leading the charge against the Demon Sect.
Lastly, there were those simply driven by a competitive spirit.
Most martial artists hoped to join as students, but a few confident in their skills applied to become instructors.
With both righteous and demonic factions gathered in one place, conflicts were inevitable. In such cases, the Celestial Annihilation Squad and the Newborn Unit were deployed to mediate.
Administrative tasks were handled by the Iron Blood Squad, led by Go Jeok-san, while admissions were overseen by Mae Seol-ran, Tang Yi-hyeop, Jeok Mu-rin, and Seo Rae-hyang.
The Demon Slayer Hall was vast, boasting four dining halls within its grounds.
Each pavilion was so splendidly built that anyone visiting would be tempted to join.
To the north of the hall, an artificial hill offered a panoramic view of the entire complex.
There stood the Demon Slayer Pavilion, where the hall’s master resided, and in front of it, a beautifully crafted gazebo.
Sa Bi-gang stood in the gazebo, overlooking the bustling scene below.
Beside him were his close aides, Dan Li-jeong and Maeng Ga-sook, standing silently.
“Quite a crowd gathering,” Sa Bi-gang murmured with satisfaction.
Chu Liang, smiling, replied, “It seems your duel with the Moon Sect Master has become quite the talk. Even this morning, the market was abuzz with it. There’s no better way to capture people’s attention.”
“That’s life for you…” Sa Bi-gang clenched his fist and continued, “…it’s all about that one big moment.”
“Is that really how it works?” Dan Li-jeong asked with a puzzled expression.
Sa Bi-gang nodded. “Of course. I took him down in one strike, didn’t I?”
Nearby, Chu Liang was jotting something down with a fine brush.
“What are you doing?” Sa Bi-gang asked, glancing over.
“I’m recording your precious teachings, Master. Life is about that one big moment!”
Sa Bi-gang looked at him incredulously before speaking. “Writing that down? You’re quite the dedicated disciple.”
“Absolutely! I’ll work hard to become just like you, Master!”
Sa Bi-gang nodded approvingly. “Well, no matter how long it takes, I admire your determination.”
“That’s a strangely unsettling compliment.”
“It’s all about perspective. Take it positively.”
“Understood.”
Listening to their exchange, Dan Li-jeong shook his head slightly.
He turned to Sa Bi-gang and asked, “Instructor… I mean, Master. How will the Demon Slayer Hall be structured?”
“The Demon Slayer Hall?”
“Oh… I mean the Supreme Overlord Invincible Sa Bi-gang Demon Slayer Hall.”
“We’ll divide the students into five levels based on their abilities, from first to fifth. Each level will have ten classes. However, the number of students per class varies by level. First-level classes will have ten students each, second-level twenty, third-level thirty, and so on, with more students in the lower-level classes.”
“And what about us?”
“The Celestial Annihilation Squad and the Newborn Unit will act as instructors. In case of real combat, I’ll select a few instructors to join the students. Only those from the second level and above will be deployed in actual battles.”
At that moment, Mu Rang-do, who had been standing quietly, spoke up.
“What should I do?”
“Select and train those with talent in geomancy, formations, and various mystical arts.”
“Hmm. Understood.”
Then, Jo Shin-ryang, who had been silently observing, chimed in.
“We need skilled people in the forge too.”
“We’re already scouting for talented craftsmen across the central plains.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Sa Bi-gang placed great importance on the forge.
The weapons produced at the Demon Slayer Hall needed to be distinct from those commonly made in the central plains.
Therefore, he planned to send anyone, even martial artists, who seemed better suited for the forge to Jo Shin-ryang.
He had already given Jo Shin-ryang a book on handling mana to study.
“Lastly, I’ll personally select those applying to be instructors.”
“Understood.”
Dan Li-jeong and Maeng Ga-sook replied in unison.
After a moment, Maeng Ga-sook cautiously asked, “But… what authority do the instructors have? Can we discipline those who don’t listen?”
“Try teaching demonic martial artists without disciplining them.”
Maeng Ga-sook chuckled. “Understood. But just to clarify…”
”…?”
“Can we kill them if necessary?”
Sa Bi-gang frowned slightly.
“Like this!”
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Maeng Ga-sook launched a surprise attack.
Sa Bi-gang deftly sidestepped, avoiding the strike.
Thud!
Maeng Ga-sook was repelled by an invisible barrier and clicked his tongue before swinging his staff.
In an instant, members of the Newborn Unit, exuding killing intent, leaped in from all sides.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Sa Bi-gang dodged the incoming projectiles and weapons with ease. As the attackers converged, he cast a spell.
“Explosion!”
In a flash,
Boom!
The gazebo’s roof was blown away by a massive explosion.
The Newborn Unit members who had charged at Sa Bi-gang were sent flying, landing on the ground with groans.
Dan Li-jeong, stunned by the sudden turn of events, stammered, “W-what just happened?”
“Think of it as a kind of test,” Sa Bi-gang shrugged nonchalantly, then casually addressed the groaning Newborn Unit members.
“Make sure to repair the damage.”
With that, he leisurely walked back into the master’s pavilion.
**
Boom!
The gazebo on the hill was obliterated by a tremendous explosion.
Some of those waiting for their entrance exams at the Demon Slayer Hall flinched and looked up.
Tang Yi-hyeop, standing on the platform, surveyed the martial artists with an indifferent expression and pointed.
“You, you, you… and you. Return your application forms and leave.”
The martial artists, suddenly singled out, looked at Tang Yi-hyeop in confusion.
“Return our forms and leave? What do you mean?”
A burly man with a scrunched-up face asked.
Tang Yi-hyeop, not bothering to look up from his papers, replied, “It means you don’t qualify for the entrance exam, so just leave.”
“Why? What’s the problem? You can’t just tell us to leave without a reason!”
“If you can’t even understand why, then you definitely need to leave.”
Tang Yi-hyeop muttered dismissively, and the burly man, now red-faced, shouted back.
“This is ridiculous! Why don’t I qualify?”
Tang Yi-hyeop, now looking at him with a calm gaze, scanned the crowd before speaking.
“If you flinch at mere noise unrelated to you, you don’t qualify to enter this hall.”
The burly man, his face flushed with anger, retorted, “I can’t accept that! It’s called having quick reflexes!”
“Such reflexes are unnecessary here.”
“Hmph! Let’s see if you can still say that after experiencing it firsthand!”
The gruff man finished speaking, grabbed his spear, and launched himself toward Tang Yi-hyeop with a burst of agility. It was a rash move, driven by his frustration and a desire to prove his martial prowess.
However, Tang Yi-hyeop didn’t even bother to look at him. With a simple sidestep, he evaded the attack and casually struck out with his palm.
Boom!
“Aaargh!”
Crash!
The man flew back from a single blow, slamming into the wall and losing consciousness instantly. The onlookers, all martial artists themselves, gaped in astonishment and began to murmur among themselves. One by one, those who had been called out started to retreat.
**
Standing atop the hill, Deung Bu-hyeong gazed down at the sprawling city of Wuhan below. A crisp breeze brushed against his cheek, invigorating him.
“It’s vast, indeed,” he murmured to himself, excitement bubbling within. “This is where my new life begins. With this sword.”
He drew the sword from his belt and looked at it once more, his heart pounding with anticipation. What adventures awaited him in Wuhan?
With a heart full of excitement, Deung Bu-hyeong made his way down the hill, through the bustling marketplace, and into an inn. The city, being a major metropolis, boasted grand and ornate buildings.
Just as he was about to enter the inn, he bumped shoulders with a man coming out.
Slightly annoyed, Deung Bu-hyeong furrowed his brow and turned to look. The man, dressed in a black robe and wearing a black hat, seemed unfazed and continued on his way.
Feeling a surge of irritation, Deung Bu-hyeong called out in a low voice, “Hey!”
The man in the black hat paused and slowly turned around. His eyes were hidden beneath the brim, revealing only a tightly closed mouth.
Deung Bu-hyeong let out a dry laugh and lifted the brim of the man’s hat with his sword sheath. “If you can’t see where you’re going, maybe you should carry this around. Where exactly are your eyes…?”
But as he spoke boldly, he suddenly froze. ‘What kind of eyes…?’ The man’s eyes were as cold as a snake’s, and Deung Bu-hyeong swallowed hard. The man in the black hat asked in a gravelly voice, “What is it?”
“Uh, well… I was just wondering if you were hurt. My shoulder is quite… strong, you see…”
The man in the black hat looked at Deung Bu-hyeong for a moment, then smirked and turned away, walking off.
Only then did Deung Bu-hyeong release the breath he’d been holding, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. ‘The world is indeed vast, and there are many masters out there. Or maybe he’s just a novice trying to act tough?’
As he pondered this, a sense of indignation rose within him, and he considered chasing after the man to confront him. But his hunger got the better of him, and he resigned himself to heading up to the second floor of the inn.