Episode 436: Return of the Demon Instructor
“Huff, huff, huff!”
Yujeong ran without looking back.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch!
Hundreds of arthropods swarmed behind her, closing in fast.
Occasionally, the insects would cluster together, forming the face of Jaunryong, her master, and let out a terrifying scream.
“Where are you going? Jeong-ah, don’t you trust me? Come here!”
‘That’s not my master! It’s not him!’
Rumble!
The swarm burrowed into the ground, only to erupt from the earth moments later.
Boom!
Debris flew, striking Yujeong’s back and tearing at her skin.
Thud! Thud! Splat! Splat!
But she didn’t stop.
Stopping meant becoming a monster like them.
‘No! I won’t be consumed!’
How long had she been running through the blood-red rain?
Finally, she spotted an old hut at the bottom of a hill.
It was the place where she had first met her master, Jaunryong, long ago.
‘If I can just make it there…!’
Summoning every last ounce of strength, Yujeong sprinted towards the hut.
Just as the wave of insects was about to engulf her, she slipped inside and slammed the door shut.
Bang!
The swarm crashed against the hut’s walls with a deafening noise.
Crash! Bang! Thud! Boom!
“Jeong-ah! Won’t you come out? You’re disappointing me!”
“No! You’re not my master!”
“What are you saying? Don’t you recognize me? I am your master! You ungrateful girl!”
Yujeong crouched by the bed, covering her ears.
Her limbs trembled uncontrollably.
‘No, it can’t be my master! Never! My master isn’t a monster!’
But the swarm battered the hut more violently.
Crash! Boom! Crack!
“Come out, you ungrateful wretch! I can’t forgive you!”
Smash!
A window shattered, and the insects began to tear it apart.
“Hahaha! Just a little more…!”
The insects laughed maniacally as they continued to dismantle the hut.
**
“Ugh…!”
Sabikang opened his eyes.
Rain was falling from the sky. Blood-red rain.
‘Where am I…?’
He stood up and looked around.
An open field stretched out in all directions.
“Where is this?”
As he furrowed his brow, a voice echoed in his mind.
[Get a grip! It’s not too late!]
Suddenly, Sabikang remembered he had entered Yujeong’s dream realm.
Unlike last time, with Murang’s help in the real world, his memories returned quickly.
He quickly regained his composure and leapt into the air.
Whoosh!
From the sky, he scanned the area and sensed a sinister energy beyond the hill.
‘Is it there?’
In an instant,
Flash!
Sabikang vanished, alternating between blinking and using his speed technique, racing at the speed of light.
In no time, he reached the top of the hill and saw a tiny hut in the distance.
The hut was surrounded by a massive swarm of tentacled insects, looking as if it could be devoured at any moment.
‘Found it!’
That must be Yujeong’s sanctuary.
Sabikang dashed forward at lightning speed.
Having entered the dream realm before, his body quickly adapted.
His lucid dreaming skills had improved significantly since last time.
In no time, he reached the pinnacle of his abilities, nearing the realm of the celestial.
**
‘Go away! Please!’
Yujeong crouched, eyes shut tight, ears covered.
Crash! Thud! Boom! Crack!
Finally, the roof was torn away.
Crack!
Blood-red rain poured through the gap.
Creeeak. Creeeak!
Hundreds of insects crawled up the walls, appearing on the roof.
Once again, they intertwined to form Jaunryong’s face.
“A child who doesn’t understand must be punished. A child who is different inside and out must be punished. You disappoint me greatly.”
“You’re not my master!”
“Silence. Become my meal, you ungrateful girl!”
In the next moment, the insects surged towards Yujeong with ferocious speed.
Creeeak!
At the critical moment,
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blew, and a sharp flash sliced through the insects.
Slash!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The insects, cut in half, fell to the ground, spewing green liquid before dissolving.
“Master…?”
Yujeong finally looked up, staring blankly at the back of the man who had appeared.
Sabikang, with his sword Veritas at his side, turned to Yujeong and walked towards her.
“Don’t cry. Your master regrets it deeply.”
Yujeong couldn’t speak.
Instead, tears streamed down her face.
“Ah…”
Overwhelmed by an unknown sorrow, Yujeong collapsed, and Sabikang caught her in his arms.
“Forgiveness is yours to give.”
Moments later, Sabikang’s entire body disintegrated into particles of light, scattering into the air.
**
“Damn it, wake up already!”
A sudden shout jolted Sabikang awake.
‘Where am I…?’
“We don’t have time to dawdle! Do you want to get us killed?”
The piercing voice made Sabikang quickly get to his feet.
The underground training room of the Demon Extermination Hall.
He had returned from the dream realm.
But the rapid transition between reality and the dream realm left him disoriented.
‘Is this reality?’
As he sat there dazed, Murang shouted again.
“Can’t you see the situation we’re in?”
Finally, Sabikang turned to see Murang and Jinbaek dodging the insects flying around them.
The insects were all emerging from Yujeong’s core, oozing green fluid as they rampaged.
Murang shouted once more.
“We’re barely holding on by confusing them with spells! Get a grip and deal with them!”
Though disoriented, the swarm of insects was still a deadly threat.
Finally regaining his senses, Sabikang stood up.
“Good, we’re not too late.”
“Now’s not the time for idle chatter! Deal with them!”
“Alright, alright. No need for a funeral just yet.”
With that, Sabikang summoned his sword energy and dashed towards Yujeong, swinging Veritas.
Swish!
Slice!
For someone of his level, dealing with the disoriented insects was no challenge.
The hundreds of insects emerging from Yujeong’s core were swiftly cut down, writhing on the ground.
Thud! Thud!
Simultaneously, Sabikang reached out, grabbing the insects emerging from her core and tearing them away.
Rip!
He tossed the extracted insects aside and immediately cast an ice spell.
“Ice Field!”
Crack!
Frost spread from the ground, quickly freezing the flailing insects.
Sabikang turned to Murang and shouted.
“The talisman!”
“Got it!”
Murang replied, pulling out a prepared talisman and throwing it.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The talisman flew like an arrow, sticking to the ground around the uprooted insects.
Smack!
Moments later, Murang clasped his hands and began chanting.
“Amtaira Sabulta…”
The talismans glowed red and burned away.
Sizzle…!
The frozen insects began to melt, drawn together by an unseen force, forming a solid mass.
Finally, the cluster of insects solidified into a jade-like orb.
Hum!
Murang let out a sigh of relief and muttered.
“Phew, it’s over.”
“Thank you. Master Jin, please check on the girl.”
“Yes, of course.”
Jinbaek shuddered and quickly went to Yujeong, checking her pulse.
“Hmm. She’s barely alive, but there’s still hope.”
He swiftly pulled out acupuncture needles and began placing them on Yujeong’s body.
His expression was serious, but his movements were swift and precise.
So focused was he that soon, Jinbaek was drenched in sweat.
Finally…
“Haa…!”
Yujeong’s lips parted slightly, releasing a warm breath.
A foul stench filled the air.
With each exhale, the toxic energy was expelled.
Tap. Tap. Tap!
Jinbaek continued to apply pressure to various points on Yujeong’s body, channeling his inner energy to heal her.
As expected, her breathing gradually steadied, and her complexion began to improve.
Only then did Jinbaek collapse onto the ground with a sigh of relief.
“Finally, I can breathe easy.”
“Will she make it?”
“I’ve done all I can. Now it’s up to her will to survive.”
“Then she’ll pull through.”
Sabigang replied with a smile, picking up the cluster of soul-sucking insects that had fallen to the side.
The cluster, much like the one seen in Jeongryugwang’s dreamscape, was a beautiful orb. It was astonishing to think something so pretty could transform into something so grotesque.
“What do you plan to do with that?” Murang asked, to which Sabigang grinned.
“I have a use for it.”
“I never want to see it again.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll see it again.”
“Ugh, don’t jinx it.”
Sabigang chuckled at Murang and Jinbaek.
“Anyway, thank you all for your hard work.”
“This isn’t something a simple meal can repay,” Murang grumbled, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. Sabigang laughed softly.
“I was planning on treating you to a meal later. There’s one more thing I need your help with.”
“What is it?”
“I told you, you’ll see it again. With this cluster of soul-sucking insects, I can create a weapon called Makan’s Tail…”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. I never want to see it again!”
As Murang stomped away, Sabigang quickly added, “This time, it won’t be as dangerous.”
“Not interested! Not interested!”
“I’ll treat you to two meals.”
“I said I’m not interested!”
“By the way, I heard Churyang recently found a great place with excellent wine…”
Murang shouted back, “What do you take me for!”
But Sabigang continued to smile as he spoke. “Especially a courtesan named Seolhyang, who is said to be exceptional…”
“Alright, alright! So, what exactly do you need from me?”
Murang’s expression had suddenly turned serious, more so than ever before.