Episode 416: Return to the Demonic Academy
With a swift motion, Murang scattered sticks across the sandy ground from his seated position.
Picking up the nearest stick, he addressed the students sitting across from him.
“Write the birth date and time of the person you wish to know about on this stick, and their name on the back.”
The students listened intently, their expressions serious.
Murang inscribed the name and birth details of Jeong Ryugwang.
“With this, we can glimpse the person’s fortune for the next fifteen days. If there’s a mark connecting you to them, it becomes even easier to discern their fate.”
A student raised a hand, curious. “What do you mean by a mark?”
“Anything that links you to the person. For instance, if you’ve tattooed them, gifted them jewelry, or left a scar on their body.”
“Can you see an enemy’s fortune too?”
“Not always. The reading is more accurate when there’s a positive connection between you and the person.”
Murang finished speaking, shook the stick, and began chanting an incantation in a language difficult to understand.
A mysterious energy seemed to emanate from his hand, holding the stick.
To the untrained eye, it might have seemed like some arcane sorcery, especially to those from prestigious sects.
But this was the Demonic Academy, where orthodoxy and unorthodoxy blended, and origins were of little concern.
The students, free from prejudice, observed Murang’s technique with open minds.
Finally, as Murang completed his chant, he tossed the stick into the air.
The sticks spun wildly before falling back to the ground.
Some stuck upright in the sand, others lay flat, and a few bounced off each other, rolling away.
Murang studied the fallen sticks carefully.
“The position and shape of the sticks are closely tied to the stars. Your eyes should be on the ground, but your spirit should look to the heavens. So, never neglect your astronomy lessons. As for this person’s fortune over the next fifteen days, it seems they will embark on a calm journey, with no major disruptions… until…”
Murang’s expression grew increasingly grave, his eyes widening.
A student, sensing the tension, cautiously asked, “Master, is something wrong?”
”…”
“Master? Is there something about their fortune…?”
“Shh. Quiet.”
Murang, unusually stern, continued to scrutinize the sticks.
After a moment, he abruptly stood up.
“That’s all for today’s lesson.”
“What? Master, where are you going all of a sudden?”
“Review the astronomy lessons I taught you last time.”
With that, Murang turned sharply, his robes billowing as he strode away.
Leaving the bewildered students behind, he headed straight for the main office.
As he approached, Sabigang, who was just leaving, noticed him and tilted his head in curiosity.
“Master Murang, what brings you here?”
“There’s a problem.”
Sabigang’s expression turned serious at Murang’s uncharacteristically tense demeanor.
“What kind of problem?”
“Ryugwang is in danger. He’s been marked for death.”
“You want me to handle it, then.”
“I need to get to Ryugwang immediately. I’m not sure if I can reach him in time.”
“Don’t worry. If I move, I won’t be late.”
Though it sounded almost arrogant, Murang couldn’t deny that Sabigang’s confidence was reassuring.
**
“That was a satisfying meal.”
Jeong Ryugwang placed some money on the table and stood up from his seat at the inn.
As he left, he tossed a coin to a beggar sitting by the roadside and continued on his way.
In just two more days, he would reach Wuhuan.
As he left the village and followed the path into the foothills, he heard footsteps.
A stranger emerged from the forest onto the path.
The man’s face was painted a deep purple.
Instinctively sensing danger, Ryugwang took a step back.
“Who are you?”
“The Grim Reaper.”
The man grinned, a chilling smile that sent shivers down Ryugwang’s spine.
Behind the man, eight more figures appeared.
‘Dark energy…!’
It dawned on him that these were people from the Demonic Sect.
Though Ryugwang’s memories were sealed, he couldn’t fathom why they were after him.
What was clear was the murderous intent they exuded.
‘Master must have called me urgently because of them!’
He should have hurried more.
Even so, he might have encountered them before reaching Wuhuan.
Ryugwang put his fingers to his lips and whistled sharply.
The man frowned.
“Calling for help, are you?”
He was right.
Moments later, a group of martial artists rushed in, surrounding Ryugwang protectively.
Among them was the beggar to whom Ryugwang had tossed a coin earlier.
It seemed he was their leader.
In fact, Ryugwang’s coin toss had been a signal to engage their protection.
The man sneered.
“Pickpockets, beggars, thieves. Quite the collection. Makes me feel like I’m cleaning up the trash of the martial world.”
He cracked his neck and stepped forward confidently.
The leader of the martial artists hesitated for a moment before shouting to his men.
“Attack!”
The martial artists launched themselves at the man.
But his martial prowess was far beyond their expectations.
“Did you really think I was that easy to handle?”
With a crazed grin, he moved like a ghost, weaving through the martial artists.
Swish, thud! Swish! Thud! Thud!
He wielded two swords, longer than daggers but shorter than long swords, with deadly precision.
As the blades danced among the martial artists, screams and sprays of blood filled the air.
It didn’t take long for the twenty or so martial artists to fall.
The man’s movements were truly ghostly.
Even more astonishing was that, despite the bloodshed, not a drop stained him.
His movements were that precise.
Ryugwang felt fear for the first time in a long while.
He had felt a vague sense of dread when witnessing Sabigang’s martial prowess long ago.
But it hadn’t been as vivid as this.
Sabigang’s skills were formidable, but he hadn’t intended to kill him.
Yet this man clearly intended to end his life.
“Ugh…!”
The beggar who had received the coin groaned, mouth agape, before collapsing.
The man withdrew his sword and slowly raised his gaze to Ryugwang.
The beggar, reaching out, managed to speak with difficulty.
“Commander… run… ugh!”
The man mercilessly crushed the beggar’s head underfoot.
Meanwhile, Ryugwang, who had been drawing a formation on the ground to prepare a spell, found himself unable to move, as if turned to stone.
‘It’s too late!’
Instinctively, he realized that struggling further was pointless.
‘Damn it! Is this how I die?’
The man licked his blade with a sinister smile.
“You should have died alone. Why drag your subordinates into this mess?”
“What… what do you want?”
“I already told you. Your life.”
“Why are you doing this to me…?”
“Shut up. Just die already!”
With that, the man launched himself forward, aiming his sword at Ryugwang’s forehead.
Swish!
‘Damn it! This is the end! So meaningless!’
Ryugwang closed his eyes tightly as the sword came flying at him.
But then,
Thud!
By now, there should have been a hole in his forehead.
Yet, an unexpected sound reached his ears.
There was no pain.
As Ryugwang opened his eyes, drenched in cold sweat, an unbelievable sight unfolded before him.
The sword, exuding a deadly aura, hovered before him, held by someone.
Turning his stiff neck, he saw a familiar figure standing with a nonchalant expression.
Ryugwang couldn’t help but exclaim in relief.
“Sa, Sabigang Instructor…! No, Master!”
Somehow, Sabigang had appeared and was casually holding the man’s sword.
The man, eyes wide with disbelief, glared at Sabigang.
“What…? Sabigang? You’re that Sabigang…?”
The man’s expression shifted from shock to a twisted delight.
He hadn’t been in the best mood.
Though he understood the cautious approach of his superior, the Golden Mask, it had bruised his pride to personally hunt down someone as insignificant as Ryugwang.
Especially with the Blood Ghosts in tow.
But now…
‘This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for!’
The man’s blood surged with excitement.
When was the last time he faced such a formidable opponent?
When had he last unleashed his madness so freely?
Not since he nearly cornered the Golden Mask years ago.
He suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.
“Ha ha ha! So you’re that Sabi—”
Thud, whoosh, crash!
The man was sent flying by Sabigang’s punch, smashing into a rock and collapsing in a heap.
Clang, clang, clang!
The Blood Kill Eight Ghosts standing behind him drew their swords in unison, their dark energy rising.
Sabigang furrowed his brow and spoke coldly.
“Don’t bare your fangs. I’ll rip them out before you know it.”
“You son of a—!”
The first ghost, who had been striding forward with a string of curses, suddenly froze, as if turned to ice.
In that fleeting moment, he felt as though his entire body had been slashed to ribbons by Sabigang, even though Sabigang hadn’t moved an inch, just glaring at him.
The ghost, his face twisted in anger, found himself unable to meet Sabigang’s gaze, his eyes dropping to the ground.
‘Damn it… What’s happening to me?’
Just then,
Rustle…!
The man who had been crumpled on the ground awkwardly got to his feet, his shoulders shaking.
“Heh heh heh. Ha ha ha! I like it! Truly living up to your reputation. No wonder the master is interested! But… don’t get too cocky!”
Whoosh!
He launched himself off the ground, intending to fly at Sabigang, but—
Rumble!
“Ugh!”
He barely moved a few steps before suddenly collapsing to his knees.
Not only him, but the Blood Kill Eight Ghosts also ground their teeth, dropping to their knees and pressing their foreheads to the ground.
A tremendous pressure seemed to crush them from above.
“Ugh!”
One of the ghosts bit his lip until blood dripped down.
But in the end, they all bowed their heads to the ground.
It was the ultimate humiliation.
The man’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.
‘Damn it! What kind of sorcery is this?!’
But it wasn’t sorcery; it was Sabigang’s gravity magic.
Having reached the pinnacle of his art, Sabigang no longer needed incantations to cast spells.
Though he hadn’t advanced to a higher circle, the ability to skip incantations was a significant leap forward.
“If you want to live, stay just like that and keep your head down.”
With that, Sabigang turned and began to walk away, leading a bewildered Jeong Ryugwang.
They hadn’t gone far when—
“You arrogant bastard! I’ll kill you!”
In a flash, the man and the Blood Kill Eight Ghosts lunged at Sabigang’s back.
Sabigang’s lips curled into a slight smirk.
“I figured as much. I was worried you’d actually stay put.”
He spun around, waving his hand.
Whirr!
In an instant, a sonic boom erupted, tearing through the nine warriors, shredding them to pieces.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Jeong Ryugwang watched, his jaw trembling, as blood and flesh filled the air.
With just a few gestures, Sabigang had swatted down the elite warriors like flies.
Was he even human?
“You’ve… become even stronger.”
Sabigang turned away indifferently.
“Not yet.”