Episode 441: Return of the Demon Instructor
Swish! Swish!
The sword sliced through the air, dancing with a life of its own.
Swish, swish, swish!
With each passing moment, the swordplay grew fiercer.
In the empty training ground, the one wielding the sword was none other than Ong Gi-seung.
Eyes closed, he let the air currents guide his blade, his body relaxed, merely resting his hand on the hilt as if it were an extension of himself.
Swoosh!
‘Yes!’
He had surpassed the state of becoming one with the sword; now, his mind and sword were united. Wherever his thoughts and will flowed, the sword followed, and the sword energy surged.
How long had he been lost in this trance, dancing with his sword?
The once gentle sword flow had become a raging torrent, sweeping everything around it.
Whoosh!
The sword wind extended several feet from the blade, unleashing a tremendous destructive force.
In an instant,
“……!”
Ong Gi-seung’s serene expression twisted in discomfort.
‘Damn it…! Again!’
He sensed something stirring from the depths of his consciousness, furrowing his brow.
His Sleep Technique was faltering.
Inevitably, Ong Gi-seung opened his eyes.
And as he looked at the sword in his hand, a sense of dread began to creep in.
‘At this rate…!’
The moment he opened his eyes, the Sleep Technique had already begun to waver.
Yet, the unknown force rising from the depths was growing more turbulent.
Naturally, his swordplay became more erratic, and his limbs started to feel unsteady.
Swish! Swish!
Initially, the sword followed the air currents, but now it felt as if the sword was leading and the air was following.
In short, the roles had reversed.
This phenomenon, typical at the initial stage of mastering the Sleep Technique, was now occurring to Ong Gi-seung, who was on the brink of mastery.
“Damn it!”
Unable to hold back, Ong Gi-seung cursed aloud.
Simultaneously, his swordplay grew even more chaotic.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
‘Stop! I said stop!’
Despite his desperate efforts, the energy swirling around him was beyond his control.
Finally, the energy clashed with his fierce resistance, losing direction and striking a pavilion at the edge of the training ground.
Crash!
With a deafening noise, the pavilion was sliced diagonally and began to tilt.
Rumble… Thud!
Despite the commotion in the dead of night, no one rushed to the training ground.
Occasionally, such noise occurred during martial arts training, so everyone seemed to dismiss it.
“Huff, huff, huff…!”
Having unleashed his energy in a sudden burst, Ong Gi-seung knelt, gasping for breath.
“Damn it! Again…!”
He couldn’t control it.
The thing rising from the depths!
Thud!
Ong Gi-seung collapsed, sprawled out on the ground.
His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but he closed his eyes tightly, taking deep breaths to calm himself.
If he didn’t stop now, ‘that thing’ would stir again.
The more agitated his mind, the more it would exploit the opening.
‘Damn it…! Is this all I’m capable of?’
He wanted to scream at the sky.
Yet, he felt strangely unfamiliar with himself.
Since learning the Sleep Technique from Ong Hae-in, he had always maintained his composure.
He lived like a rock submerged beneath a tranquil lake.
Even when storms raged around him, his mind remained as unmoving as a rock beneath the water.
But lately, things were different.
Desires kept bubbling up, and regrets gnawed at his heart.
It had been the same just now.
While practicing the Sleep Technique, his mind had started to waver.
Recently, Sa Bi-gang, who had left for the main headquarters of the Justice Alliance, had sent a letter to Chief Ma Seol-ran, instructing her to organize a punitive force.
The letter contained a detailed list of participants for the punitive force.
But his name was missing.
Meng Ga-suk, Yoo Song-ryeong, and Seok Tan-gang were all included, but he was not.
‘Why? Why?’
As these questions arose, his swordplay grew more intense, and the thing buried in the depths began to creep out.
In short, it thrived on dissatisfaction and complaints.
Just thinking about it was enough….
‘Could it be that I was left out of the punitive force because I can’t control this thing?’
This punitive force had a crucial mission.
They were to launch a surprise attack on the stronghold that the Demon Sect had been preparing for years.
Additionally, they were tasked with rescuing kidnapped martial artists.
Being excluded from such an important operation was indeed a blow to his pride.
Gritting his teeth,
“Have you developed a habit of grinding your teeth in your sleep?”
A familiar voice interrupted,
Swoosh!
A dagger suddenly flew towards him!
Ong Gi-seung spun like a top, rising to his feet.
Clang!
He deflected the dagger with his sword, followed by the sound of applause.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Emerging from the shadows was none other than Sa Bi-gang.
With a faint smile, he asked,
“What are you doing up at this hour?”
“You’re back, sir.”
“Yes, I was delayed visiting somewhere. But your welcome seems rather lacking for someone returning from a long journey.”
“Not really…”
Ong Gi-seung closed his eyes, avoiding Sa Bi-gang’s gaze.
Sa Bi-gang chuckled softly and continued,
“Having trouble controlling it?”
“……!”
“That thing inside you.”
“How did you…? So, is that why I was left out of the punitive force because I can’t control the Demon Soul…?”
Shing!
Before Ong Gi-seung could finish, Sa Bi-gang drew his sword, Veritas.
In that moment, Ong Gi-seung felt an overwhelming pressure, unable to move a single finger.
Sa Bi-gang was serious about wielding his sword.
In other words, he intended to teach him properly.
Ong Gi-seung instinctively knew.
Right now, before Sa Bi-gang’s resolve to teach him one-on-one changed, he had to learn with all his might.
‘Damn, when did the gap between us grow so wide…?’
Back in the days at the Blood Temple, Sa Bi-gang was just another martial artist he could scold and chase away if he tried hard enough.
But now, he had become an untouchable master.
Or perhaps he had been strong from the very beginning.
In any case, was there anyone in this world who could defeat him?
As far as Ong Gi-seung knew, no one came to mind.
The Demon Sect Leader?
Even if he didn’t know for sure, Sa Bi-gang wouldn’t be an easy opponent for him.
“I’m ready to learn.”
Ong Gi-seung slowly drew his sword, taking a stance.
As he kept his eyes closed, Sa Bi-gang suddenly spoke.
“Wake up already.”
“…What?”
“You were never meant to master the Sleep Technique completely.”
“Then…?”
“No one can live their life asleep forever. Wake up and face it head-on. That thing tormenting you.”
“But if I do….”
“Cast aside your fear. Confidence is the source of strength.”
“No matter how much you say that, suddenly having such a mindset….”
With a swift motion,
Swoosh!
In an instant, Sa Bi-gang flew at him like the wind.
“Ugh!”
Ong Gi-seung swallowed hard, instinctively swinging his sword.
Clang!
The clash of their swords sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Creak…! Crash!
The pavilion, already damaged and leaning, finally collapsed completely.
Sa Bi-gang didn’t relent.
Swish, swish, swish! Swoosh!
Clang, clang, clang! Clang, clang, clang!
Sparks flew continuously between them.
‘How is he so fast?’
Ong Gi-seung gritted his teeth, using all his strength to block the attacks.
His face twisted with effort.
But Sa Bi-gang’s expression remained calm.
‘Damn it! Is this him holding back?’
It felt like an insurmountable wall stood before him.
Clang, clang, clang!
Sa Bi-gang’s attacks grew faster and more relentless.
“Stop holding back. You’ll have to risk your life.”
In an instant, a murderous aura exploded from Sa Bi-gang’s entire being.
“Ugh!”
Ong Gi-seung widened his eyes, confronting the deadly aura.
The intensity was enough to make his skin tingle!
In that moment,
Twitch…!
“……!”
It came.
That thing!
Twitch…! Twitch!
“……!”
Ong Gi-seung squeezed his eyes shut.
He couldn’t control it again!
Naturally, his swordplay became more frantic, and his limbs started to feel unsteady.
Then, Sa Bi-gang shouted,
“Don’t close your eyes! It’s confidence! Don’t be afraid, fight back!”
Swoosh!
Veritas sliced through the air, aiming for Ong Gi-seung’s neck.
In that moment, Ong Gi-seung realized.
‘I’ll die…! If I don’t block this, I’ll die!’
Standing on the edge of a cliff, a fierce desire to grab onto anything surged within him.
And in that moment, the thing that emerged from Ong Gi-seung was that very thing!
The realization that he had to join forces with it to survive struck him, and,
“Haahhh!”
A fierce cry erupted as a dark energy exploded from Ong Gi-seung’s entire being.
Whoosh!
Finally, behind Ong Gi-seung, a massive, shadowy presence took form.
It was the shape of a horned demon.
At that moment,
“I’ve been waiting.”
Sa Bi-gang’s eyes gleamed with determination as he charged forward.
In an instant, a dark crimson aura surged from his entire body, forming the shape of a Red Dragon.
Unlike Ong Gi-seung, this was merely a manifestation of Sa Bi-gang’s will, a shape crafted from his energy.
Having reached the pinnacle of his martial arts, he found it effortless to project and shape his energy.
However, Ong Gi-seung was in a different situation; his demonic spirit had materialized into a tangible form.
“Raaaargh!”
Ong Gi-seung let out a monstrous roar, thrusting his sword forward with the speed of an arrow.
Clang!
Sa Bi-gang blocked the attack with his own sword, sliding backward from the force.
“Not quite there yet, are you?”
Thud!
Sa Bi-gang kicked Ong Gi-seung, forcing him to retreat.
Simultaneously,
Whoosh!
He cast a blink spell, reappearing behind Ong Gi-seung in the blink of an eye.
“Get a grip!”
Boom!
With a powerful strike, his sword, Vertas, slammed into the back of the demonic spirit Ong Gi-seung had summoned.
Crack…! Crackle!
Cracks appeared on the spirit’s form, and then,
Sssshhh!
As if by magic, the spirit vanished into thin air.
“Ugh!”
Ong Gi-seung collapsed, coughing up dark crimson blood, struggling to stand.
“Master…?”
“Again.”
“What?”
Finally regaining his senses, Ong Gi-seung looked at Sa Bi-gang in confusion.
“Prepare to stay up all night. Maybe even two. I’ve already warned everyone to stay away, so there’s nothing to worry about. We won’t stop training until you can control that thing.”
”…!”
“Summon it again.”
Sa Bi-gang extended Vertas, releasing his energy once more.
Whoooosh!
Behind him, the Red Dragon loomed, its presence undeniable.
Ong Gi-seung’s eyes trembled.
“Understood!”
He clenched his lips and nodded resolutely.
In a flash, Sa Bi-gang charged forward.
Clang!
With a deafening metallic crash, the demonic spirit erupted from Ong Gi-seung once more.
Whoooosh!
That night, the training ground echoed repeatedly with the sound of thunder as the massive demonic spirit was summoned and dispelled over and over again.