Episode 421: Return to the Demon Sect
Clang! Thud!
The sound of clashing metal echoed continuously.
Occasionally, a scream pierced the air, mingling with the noise of breaking bones.
The members of the Red Demon Squad were relentless.
They charged at Sabi Kang and Murang with a reckless abandon, ready to sacrifice their lives.
The commotion had alerted the Demon Sect followers, who quickened their pace.
Murang smashed the head of a Red Demon member and shouted, “We need to check the box they took! It must be the one Guang Ah handed over!”
“I’ll go ahead!”
“Understood! I’ll follow shortly. But remember! The farther you get from the manor, the farther you stray from Guang Ah’s consciousness! Be careful not to enter the realm of the unconscious!”
“Got it!”
With those words, Sabi Kang swiftly decapitated an approaching warrior and sprinted forward.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Another Red Demon member lunged at him from behind.
Simultaneously, an arrow whistled through the air from the side.
Whoosh!
Sabi Kang twisted his body, spinning like a top, and caught the arrow mid-flight.
Without hesitation, he drove it into the face of the attacker behind him.
Crunch!
“Aaargh! My eye!”
The Red Demon member staggered back, screaming with an arrow lodged in his right eye.
Ignoring him, Sabi Kang leaped forward, chasing after those who had already left the manor.
As he employed his swift movement technique, he soon spotted a man and a woman running ahead.
The man glanced back and shouted, “Damn it! We’ve got company! Run faster!”
But Sabi Kang, having regained more than seventy percent of his strength, was much faster than them.
Then, a problem arose.
Jingle… Jingle…
The bell tied to his waist began to ring.
‘Damn! If I don’t catch them soon…!’
Sabi Kang increased his speed.
“Take this!”
Shing! Shing! Shing! Shing!
The warriors ahead drew daggers and hurled them at him.
Clang! Thud!
Sabi Kang deftly deflected the daggers with his sword, closing the distance between them.
But something strange was happening.
Though the gap was narrowing, everything seemed to move in slow motion.
‘As I slow down, so do they. Am I nearing the boundary of consciousness?’
As if in response, the bell rang faster and louder.
Jingle! Jingle! Jingle!
It was as if the bell was urging him to turn back immediately.
But retreating was not an option.
He had to seize that box at all costs.
Sabi Kang pushed himself to go even faster.
At that moment, he witnessed another bizarre sight.
The leaves on the trees seemed to writhe, and then, eyes appeared on them.
The blinking leaves stared intently at Sabi Kang.
‘Am I getting closer to the unconscious realm?’
Time was slowing down rapidly.
Meanwhile, the bell rang even more frantically.
Jinglejinglejinglejinglejingle!
The sound was deafening, as if it would tear his eardrums apart.
Only a short distance remained.
‘Once I grab that, I’ll turn back immediately!’
Resolute, Sabi Kang drew his sword and hurled it.
Whoosh! Thud!
“Aaargh!”
A warrior screamed, twisting in pain.
Simultaneously, the box he was holding floated slowly into the air.
Sabi Kang reached out desperately, his hand flailing in the void.
Of course, in this dreamlike state, the opponent couldn’t recognize Sabi Kang.
‘I must catch it!’
Jinglejinglejinglejinglejinglejinglejingle!
Finally, as Sabi Kang grasped the box, the surroundings were suddenly engulfed in blinding white light.
“Ugh!”
Sabi Kang quickly shielded his face with his arm and closed his eyes.
How long did he stand there, frozen in place?
Realizing there were no further changes, Sabi Kang slowly straightened up and looked around.
“Where… am I?”
A world covered in pure white light.
An unknown space where the ground and sky were indistinguishable.
Sabi Kang stood alone in the middle of it.
The bell at his waist was silent now, no longer making any sound.
**
Whoosh!
A sudden whirlwind arose in front of Neung So-so, who stood with her eyes closed.
Her hair lifted strand by strand.
Moments later, her body floated slightly into the air.
Whooosh!
A strong wind blew around her.
The students gathered in the training ground watched Neung So-so with their mouths agape.
“Amazing. It’s not an illusion using silver threads, nor is it a trick.”
“Is that… a spirit?”
Though the students couldn’t see it, Neung So-so was being lifted by Silaphe.
After floating for a while, she gently descended to the ground.
“Wow!”
Clap, clap, clap!
The students applauded enthusiastically.
Their eyes sparkled with admiration.
These were the students of the Spirit Class, personally taught by Neung So-so.
They had been specially selected for their high affinity with spirits, and Neung So-so was teaching them spirit magic.
“The most important thing in spirit magic is affinity. To increase your affinity, you must prioritize mental strength over internal energy. Your goal is to form contracts with spirits that suit you. There are various types of spirits, and initially, you’ll form contracts with lower-level ones…”
The students listened intently to Neung So-so’s gentle explanations.
She then summoned Silaphe to demonstrate a few examples.
The students, witnessing the unfamiliar spectacle, continued to applaud in awe.
Composed of students with a high affinity for nature, the Spirit Class always had a lively and harmonious atmosphere.
As the sun set and the class ended, the students dispersed.
Neung So-so let out a long sigh and sat down at the edge of the platform.
“Whew, to think I’d be teaching others…”
She had never imagined such a day would come.
Hadn’t she spent her student days feeling constantly intimidated?
Meeting Sabi Kang had changed so much in her life.
“Master Sabi Kang… I’m truly grateful.”
She murmured softly, gazing up at the hill within the compound.
Sabi Kang was likely in seclusion training at the annex on that hill.
Of course, he wasn’t actually in seclusion, but that’s what the other instructors and assistants believed.
Just then, someone appeared, blocking her view.
“Oh… Instructor Ja Un-ryong.”
“You look exhausted.”
Ja Un-ryong greeted her with a warm smile.
As he sat on the platform, Neung So-so returned his smile.
“Yes, I’m a bit tired. But… it’s rewarding.”
“That’s good to hear. Teaching someone is the greatest gift you can receive. It can change their life for the better.”
Ja Un-ryong mused, looking up at the sky.
Neung So-so nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. I want to do my best. There are so many lives that will change because of me. I hope none of them have regrets.”
“I see.”
Ja Un-ryong murmured with a hint of a bittersweet smile.
“Lives that change without regrets…”
“Even if I can’t help them, I hope my teaching doesn’t harm them.”
Ja Un-ryong looked at her with a gentle smile.
“The Spirit Class students are lucky.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because they have such a wonderful teacher.”
“Oh, you’re too kind. I still have a long way to go.”
“Instructor Neung, you’re already a great teacher. You’re nothing like me, who gets teased by the students every day.”
Ja Un-ryong scratched his head with a sheepish grin, prompting Neung So-so to stand up with a frown.
“Who’s teasing you? That’s terrible! Those students need a stern talking to!”
”…”
Ja Un-ryong was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled.
“Even when you’re upset, you…”
“Do I remind you of someone?”
“Yes… I’m sorry. Seeing you reminds me of someone else…”
“It’s okay. It’s actually nice to know I remind someone of someone they miss.”
Ja Un-ryong gazed at her with a soft smile.
After a long pause, he hesitantly spoke, his voice barely audible even to Neung So-so standing next to him.
“Um… if you’re free this evening…”
At that moment, Neung So-so absentmindedly murmured, “It’s all thanks to Master Sabi Kang.”
“What?”
Ja Un-ryong tilted his head in confusion at the sudden remark.
Neung So-so spoke with a hint of longing in her expression.
“Being able to live with this sense of fulfillment… it’s all thanks to Master Sabi Kang.”
“Oh… is he really that amazing?”
Even as he spoke, Ja Un-ryong realized his mistake.
Wasn’t Sabi Kang the one he always admired?
Yet hearing Neung So-so speak of him like this stirred an unexpected pang of jealousy.
But Neung So-so seemed unfazed, nodding earnestly.
“Yes. He’s truly remarkable. Someone I could never hope to emulate. Someone who changed everything in my life. I’m so grateful to him.”
“I see. Indeed, our master is truly extraordinary.”
Ja Un-ryong scratched his head with a broad smile, and Neung So-so’s eyes sparkled as she leaned in closer.
The closeness between them seemed to have turned Jaunryong’s face a deep shade of red, but Neung Soso continued speaking, oblivious to his discomfort.
“Actually, this is a secret.”
”…?”
“Even now, whenever I catch a glimpse of Lord Sabigang from afar, my heart flutters. Oh! But I don’t mean it in a romantic way! Or do I? Maybe? Anyway, it’s more like… awe? Something like that.”
“I see.”
“No matter how tough or dangerous things get… honestly, as long as Lord Sabigang is with me, I’m not afraid of anything. That’s why during the last campaign, I wasn’t scared at all. But when he went missing, I was so… devastated.”
Neung Soso’s expression darkened as if she was recalling something she wished to forget, and she rubbed her arms as if to comfort herself.
Jaunryong gave a faint smile and looked out at the blazing sunset.
“I must say, I’m a bit envious of Lord Sabigang.”
“Why is that?”
“Just… the fact that someone can trust him so completely.”
At this, Neung Soso stood up with a determined look on her face. The sunset painted her cheeks a rosy hue.
“There’s no need to feel down! You can definitely become a mentor like that too!”
“Do you really think so?”
When Jaunryong let out a self-deprecating laugh, Neung Soso gave his shoulder a hearty pat.
She patted him so vigorously that Jaunryong was taken aback.
“Of course! Absolutely! I’ll work hard too! I want the students who learn from me to look at me the way I look at Lord Sabigang. And you’re much more capable than I am, Instructor Jaunryong, so I’m sure you can do it!”
“Thank you. That gives me a bit of strength.”
“Maybe the cadets tease you because they feel comfortable and like you, Instructor Jaunryong. So cheer up! I’ll always be rooting for you! Go, go!”
Neung Soso clenched her small fist and cheered.
Jaunryong, watching her intently, responded with a smile.
“Thank you. Go, go!”
Neung Soso giggled and sat down beside him.
“If only Lord Sabigang were here, he’d have some wise words for us.”
“But he’s in seclusion for training right now…”
Neung Soso nodded and gazed at the crimson sunset over the western hills.
“Yes, he’ll surely come back stronger.”
**
“I can’t get back. Damn it!”
The surroundings were an endless expanse of white.
Sabigang shouted in frustration.
“Damn it! I have no idea how to return!”