Episode 485: Return of the Demon Instructor
Thud!
“Aaah!”
Mok Dan-hwa let out a piercing scream as she was sent flying.
The training ground was littered with people sprawled out like corpses.
It was impossible to tell if they were dead or alive, as none of them moved an inch.
The relentless assault from Sabi-gang was truly terrifying, a force to be reckoned with.
Underestimating it for even a moment could mean crossing the river to the afterlife.
‘Hmm. Yeon Woo-gyeong met expectations, but Mok Dan-hwa fell short.’
Perhaps that was why?
Mok Dan-hwa, who had been struck by Sabi-gang’s blow moments ago, lay motionless on the ground.
It was then.
“Don’t let your guard down!”
A sharp voice rang out from above as Wi Geom-jong descended like a comet.
At the same time,
“You’re not the only one who’s grown stronger, Master!”
“We’re not to be underestimated either!”
From the front, Ja Un-ryong charged with his sword, while Gok Bo-ok and Jeok Mu-rin attacked from the sides, and Seo Rae-hyang rushed in from behind.
It was a flawless, coordinated assault with no openings.
Sabi-gang could have escaped with a blink, but instead, he took a deep breath and widened his eyes.
In an instant,
Boom!
“Ugh!”
“Aaah!”
A shockwave erupted in all directions, causing the martial artists to stagger and groan, while Seo Rae-hyang let out a scream.
Amazingly, Sabi-gang hadn’t moved a step, yet he had retreated several meters in the blink of an eye.
All through the sheer force of his internal energy!
It was akin to propelling a boat forward using only the flow of energy, a feat incredibly difficult on solid ground due to friction.
Moreover, as Sabi-gang flew backward, he swiftly struck a pressure point on Seo Rae-hyang as he passed by.
When Seo Rae-hyang collapsed, Jeok Mu-rin rushed over in shock.
“Lady Hongmyo!”
He quickly cradled the fallen Seo Rae-hyang.
He placed a hand on her neck but felt no pulse.
”……!”
Meanwhile, Sabi-gang was quite pleased with himself.
‘It’s complete! The Heavenly Step!’
This sparring session was not only a test of the martial artists’ training and achievements but also a trial for Sabi-gang himself.
The Heavenly Step was a movement technique Sabi-gang had developed, a form of light-footed martial arts.
In terms of mastery, it stood above all other movement techniques.
If the pinnacle of movement techniques was walking on air, the Heavenly Step was a step beyond that.
Walking on air involved stepping through the void, but the Heavenly Step allowed one to float and move freely in all directions using only the flow of energy.
While it couldn’t achieve the instantaneous movement of a blink, it was nearly as fast.
Since it relied on the flow of energy, it allowed for floating in mid-air.
Moreover, it consumed far less internal energy than the mana required for similar flying spells.
Naturally, it also used less energy than a blink.
In situations where magic was difficult to use, the Heavenly Step could be a lifesaver.
It was a technique only those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts could use.
And only those who had reached the pinnacle of the Heavenly Realm could fully utilize the Heavenly Step.
‘The effects of the Everlasting Snow Ginseng are finally showing.’
Of course, merely consuming the Everlasting Snow Ginseng wouldn’t have completed the Heavenly Step.
It was the extreme conditions and the life-or-death struggle that brought about this miraculous breakthrough.
On the other hand, Jeok Mu-rin, seeing Seo Rae-hyang’s breath stop, shouted with a face flushed with anger.
“Did you really… kill her?”
“I never said I was pretending.”
Sabi-gang’s response was cold and unyielding.
Jeok Mu-rin’s eyes turned completely red.
“How could you do this, no matter what?”
“I warned you. It’s your fault for being careless.”
“I will never forgive you!”
Boom!
Jeok Mu-rin charged at Sabi-gang with tears streaming down his face, moving at a terrifying speed.
But in his frenzied state, he stood no chance against Sabi-gang, who had mastered the Heavenly Step.
Swish!
The sword’s edge narrowly grazed Sabi-gang’s cheek.
Sabi-gang, still standing tall, moved gracefully and swiftly approached Jeok Mu-rin, delivering an upward punch.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Jeok Mu-rin coughed up blood as he was sent flying.
Thud, crash!
He lay on the ground, twitching intermittently.
Sabi-gang dusted off his hands and muttered to himself.
“An extra year and a half of training. Well, that’s the least I could expect after giving you the Everlasting Snow Ginseng.”
But the one who had gained that extra year and a half lay on the ground, writhing like an insect, losing consciousness.
By now, the few remaining martial artists stared at Sabi-gang in shock.
The same thought crossed their minds.
‘There’s no way… we can win!’
Whether Sabi-gang knew their thoughts or not, he asked with a nonchalant expression.
“Why are you just standing there? Aren’t you going to attack? If you won’t come at me, I’ll come to you!”
Swish.
Once again, Sabi-gang moved with ghostly speed, standing tall and unyielding.
**
Aranius stared intently into the void with burning eyes.
He muttered under his breath, as if spitting out the words.
“Sabi-gang, is it…?”
He recalled what Baritan had said.
The human who had disrupted the descent ritual from start to finish.
Moreover, the one who had seized the Dragon Heart and the Demon King’s sword, Vertas!
Crack…!
He clenched his fist tightly.
A mere human dared to interfere with the achievements of the demons!
A mere human!
Of course, there were occasionally those who opposed the demons, like sword masters.
But no human had ever truly defeated the demons.
They were nothing more than moths drawn to a flame, unaware of their limits.
And yet, there was such a moth here in the Central Plains.
He had learned that the humans who trained in martial arts here were exceptional.
But even so…
“How could he have taken Vertas?”
The demonic nature of Vertas was something no ordinary human could withstand.
At the very least, one would need to have received the blessing of an evil god.
But even receiving such a blessing once didn’t guarantee one could wield Vertas.
Even Aranius himself felt his heart race when holding Vertas.
And yet, a human could handle it?
Fine.
Let’s say it was because he consumed the Dragon Heart.
But how did he consume the Dragon Heart?
The people of the Central Plains accumulate internal energy in their dantians…
How did he digest something that requires gathering mana in the heart?
It’s a mystery.
But one thing is certain.
“If the Duke were to take Vertas from him, His Majesty would be most pleased.”
That’s what Baritan had said.
This was valuable information.
The fact that Vertas was with Sabi-gang.
According to Baritan, no one else knew yet.
He intended to retrieve Vertas himself and present it to the Demon King.
But he was a demon with a history of rebellion.
If he acted rashly, he could be accused of treason again.
Considering that, he confided only in Aranius.
In return, if Aranius gained the Demon King’s favor and rose to the rank of Grand Duke, he was to help restore Baritan’s title to some extent.
It wasn’t a bad deal.
Becoming a Grand Duke would mean receiving the blessing of at least six to as many as nine evil gods.
Of course, the number of blessings depended on Aranius’s capabilities.
No, even six would be enough.
The position of a Grand Duke in the Demon Realm wasn’t something just anyone could attain.
But if he could recover the lost Vertas…!
Just then, a voice echoed from the void.
“I’m back.”
It was Aranius’s trusted aide, Javelin.
“Did you find out anything?”
“Yes, I checked through Count Adler, but nothing unusual was found. However, there seems to be a way to lure him.”
“A way to lure him…”
Indeed, attacking Sabi-gang directly at the headquarters of the Justice Alliance was risky.
No matter how insignificant humans were, dealing with a swarm of them, especially those with a fierce spirit, could be troublesome.
So, it was best to draw out the one with the most venom.
“Speak.”
“It seems Sabi-gang is from an academy called Yongcheon-gwan.”
“An academy? Like a school that teaches martial arts?”
“Yes.”
The demons, having been briefed by Count Adler and Baritan, had a rough understanding of the Central Plains.
“And?”
“From what I’ve gathered, many who follow Sabi-gang are from that academy, and Sabi-gang himself seems to have an attachment to it.”
“Humans do have a tendency to cling to their origins, given their humble beginnings.”
“So…”
“You suggest we attack Yongcheon-gwan.”
“Yes.”
“But humans are suspicious by nature. If we suddenly attack Yongcheon-gwan, won’t they find it odd?”
“I have a good plan.”
“What is it?”
Javelin replied confidently.
**
“Huff…”
Sabi-gang was drenched in sweat.
His right shoulder was torn, blood seeping out, and there was a sword wound on his left thigh.
His palm had a slight burn.
The shoulder injury was from Jo Mun-tak’s sword technique, the thigh wound from Dang Ihyeop’s strike.
Lastly, the burn on his palm was from catching an arrow shot by Dan Lijeong.
In stark contrast, the grand arena was littered with bodies, none standing on their own two feet except for one. It was a scene so gruesome that anyone stumbling upon it might mistake it for a massacre.
Yet, there was something peculiar about this sight. Despite the sheer number of people sprawled across the ground, there was hardly any blood. The few traces that did exist were mostly from coughing up blood, not from cuts or gashes.
Of course, Sabigang was utterly exhausted. But it wasn’t the restrictions of not using magic or wielding weapons that wore him out. What truly drained him was the meticulous care he took during the duel. This was the crux of the indiscriminate combat.
Thud, thud…
Sabigang trudged along, his steps heavy, until he came to an abrupt halt. He gazed intently at one of the fallen warriors and casually tossed out a remark.
“Hey, you.”
The warrior on the ground flinched ever so slightly, but Sabigang didn’t miss it.
“I don’t recall hitting you.”
”…”
The one lying face down was none other than Deungjagyeong. He squeezed his eyes shut, screaming internally.
‘Why does he have to notice now? Just pretend you didn’t see me!’
But Sabigang’s voice continued, relentless.
“Survival tactics aren’t bad, but… you know there’s such a thing as a mercy kill.”
‘Oh no…!’
Thud!
In the next instant, Deungjagyeong felt a sharp blow to his back and lost consciousness.
Sabigang approached, flipped the unconscious man over, and frowned deeply.
“Hmm? And who might this be?”