Episode 527: The Return of the Demon Instructor
In a dire situation, Chu Hui-ryong’s face lit up when he saw Sa Bi-gang.
“Master Sa! You’ve come!”
“Hmm? Were we ever on such friendly terms?”
“Master Sa Bi-gang, there seems to be some misunderstanding…”
“You denied knowing Ong Gi-seung with such conviction. What misunderstanding could there possibly be now?”
“Th-that was indeed a misunderstanding. Ong Gi-seung…”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know he was buried in the rear garden of the Lotus Pavilion?”
“I swear I didn’t know! It was… it was those demon bastards! They cunningly buried Ong Gi-seung there…”
“Are you seriously expecting me to believe that? Do I look like a fool to you?”
As Sa Bi-gang’s voice rose in anger, Chu Hui-ryong’s expression turned rigid.
Meanwhile, the Blood Demon Quartet watched the unfolding scene with caution, not daring to make a move.
Chu Hui-ryong shouted again, “I’m sorry! I’ll be honest. I did hide Ong Gi-seung. But it was to protect him and eventually inform you, Master Sa…”
“Right. You really do think I’m a fool, don’t you? Isn’t that right, Liang?”
“Well… it seems that way.”
“How much of a fool does he take me for to make such excuses?”
“Hmm… perhaps he sees you as the lowest of the low, like dirt under his nails or a maggot crawling in the gutter. Or maybe even the dung of that maggot…”
Smack!
“Ouch, why did you hit me?”
Liang protested after being smacked on the back of his head, and Sa Bi-gang growled softly.
“I don’t know. You just annoy me more.”
“But you asked, and I was just being honest!”
“You don’t see me that way, do you?”
“Of course not! I revere you like the heavens above. That’s why I can’t stand that Chu calling you maggot dung…”
Smack!
“Ugh…”
“Shut up.”
“Yes, Master.”
Liang fell silent, bowing his head.
Sa Bi-gang cast a cold glance at Chu Hui-ryong.
“If even my disciple talks like this, it shows just how lowly you regard me.”
Chu Hui-ryong shouted in frustration, “I’m truly sorry! I was… yes! I was tempted by the demon spirit within Ong Gi-seung. I made a poor decision in a moment of greed…”
“Enough. What are you all doing? Finish what you started.”
As the Blood Demon Quartet hesitated, Chu Hui-ryong suddenly turned to them.
“Wait! Let’s do this!”
“What now?”
One of the quartet growled, and Chu Hui-ryong glanced at Sa Bi-gang before speaking.
“You all know who that is, right?”
“Master Sa Bi-gang, isn’t it?”
“Exactly! You’ve heard the rumors about him, haven’t you?”
“More or less.”
Even as Chu Hui-ryong and the quartet conversed, Sa Bi-gang simply watched.
Chu Hui-ryong continued urgently, “Do you think you can escape his grasp even if you kill me? Do you really believe you can defeat him in your current state?”
“So… you want to join forces temporarily?”
“You catch on quickly.”
Chu Hui-ryong nodded.
The quartet exchanged glances, communicating silently.
Finally, one of them nodded and spoke, “Fine. Let’s take him down first, then settle our matters.”
“Haha. You’re not as stubborn as I thought.”
Chu Hui-ryong turned back, relieved.
Meanwhile, Liang, perched on a tree branch, shrugged.
“This is getting interesting.”
“Indeed.”
Sa Bi-gang unfolded his arms and cracked his neck.
Liang whispered, “At this rate, they’re treating you worse than maggot dung…”
Smack!
“Enough. I get it.”
“Ah, yes.”
Liang bowed his head, and Sa Bi-gang leaped down from the branch.
“Are you ready to take me on?”
“Don’t get cocky, Sa Bi-gang. No matter how strong you are, with the Blood Demon Quartet and me together, it won’t be easy.”
“It seems easy enough.”
“Hmph! Don’t be arrogant!”
With a swift motion, Chu Hui-ryong lunged like lightning.
Simultaneously,
The Blood Demon Quartet gathered their energy and followed.
Just as Chu Hui-ryong’s sword was about to pierce Sa Bi-gang’s heart, he was certain of his victory.
‘Ha! You let your guard down! This is the end for you!’
No matter how strong Sa Bi-gang was, he couldn’t possibly dodge now.
Finally, as his sword touched Sa Bi-gang’s chest…
Thud!
A blade, gleaming with a blue aura, pierced through his own chest.
Chu Hui-ryong stared wide-eyed at the blade protruding from his chest.
‘How…?’
It was a hair’s breadth difference.
A mere ounce of force would have torn through Sa Bi-gang’s heart.
Yet… it was his own heart that was pierced.
Splat!
As the blade was withdrawn, blood gushed out like a fountain.
Chu Hui-ryong fell to one knee, using his sword as a crutch.
“Gah…!”
He coughed up dark blood and turned his head.
One of the Blood Demon Quartet had stepped back, his blade stained with Chu Hui-ryong’s blood.
“Why… you…!”
“Haha. You’re not the only one who can betray.”
The quartet member smirked coldly.
Chu Hui-ryong coughed up more blood and collapsed, never to move again.
His life, spent struggling in the shadow of being second best, ended there.
Sa Bi-gang looked down at him and murmured, “A fitting end for someone who lived by betrayal.”
In truth, right after Chu Hui-ryong proposed his plan to the quartet, Sa Bi-gang had secretly communicated with one of them.
He promised to spare them if they eliminated Chu Hui-ryong.
The quartet member accepted Sa Bi-gang’s offer.
Sa Bi-gang retrieved seven scrolls from Chu Hui-ryong’s belongings.
“Bring the rest.”
At Sa Bi-gang’s command, the quartet member approached slowly, offering the scrolls.
In that instant,
Swish!
A murderous glint flashed in the quartet member’s eyes as he drew his sword.
They had no intention of handing over the treasure without a fight.
In a split second,
Slash!
A flash of light swept across their necks.
Thud, thud, thud!
With a chilling sound, the heads of the Blood Demon Quartet floated into the air.
As their world turned upside down, they couldn’t comprehend what had happened.
‘I swung the sword, so why is my head…’
That was the last thought of the quartet member.
Thud, roll…
Their headless bodies fell like dry logs, hitting the ground with a thud.
No blood spilled.
Instead, the sword, Berthas, hovered in the air, glowing red as it absorbed the blood.
It returned to Sa Bi-gang’s side, sheathing itself.
Liang quickly gathered the teleportation scrolls.
Sa Bi-gang sighed softly.
“Liang.”
“Yes, Master.”
“As an instructor, I hate the saying that people can’t change.”
“Ah, yes…”
“But lately, I’m starting to think there’s some truth to it, and it’s unsettling.”
Liang, who was about to make a joke, glanced at Sa Bi-gang’s serious expression and held his tongue.
Sa Bi-gang’s demeanor was unusually solemn.
After a moment of contemplation, Liang spoke hesitantly.
“Changing implies it wasn’t wrong from the start, doesn’t it? That’s why we use the term ‘change.’”
“And?”
“Perhaps there’s hope in that very idea. That it wasn’t inherently flawed. It could mean they weren’t born evil. That might be the difference between demons and humans.”
Sa Bi-gang looked at Liang with a blank expression for a moment.
“Sorry, I overstepped… haha.”
Liang resumed gathering the scrolls.
After a while, Sa Bi-gang chuckled.
“That’s the most profound thing you’ve ever said.”
“What? Which part? Oh! About the art of mimicry? Haha. Mimicry starts with erasing one’s identity to become a perfect other, delving deep into the human psyche…”
“Quiet.”
“Hmm. If not that, then… surely you don’t mean the maggot dung…”
“Shut up!”
“Ah, yes.”
Liang muttered, bewildered.
“What on earth was so profound about that?”
The door swung open with a bang as Lee Chamyung, the leader of the Thunder Sword Brigade, stormed into the room.
Dan Richu, who had been pacing inside, spun around and asked urgently, “What’s the situation?”
“The Guiyang Gate has declared a lockdown, and the Ghost Blade Clan has vanished, leaving their estate behind. The other sects aren’t faring much better!” Lee Chamyung reported, his face twitching with barely contained anger.
Dan Richu was no less frustrated.
With a loud crash, he slammed his fist onto the table, shattering it into pieces. “These pathetic fools! Instead of banding together to fight, they scatter and hide?”
A calm voice interjected just then. “Perhaps they’re afraid of the demon clan.”
The speaker was Yang Munsoo, the chief administrator, who entered the room behind Lee Chamyung. He was more a scholar than a warrior.
Yang Munsoo addressed Dan Richu with a troubled expression. “Master, I urge you to reconsider. The demon clan’s power is formidable. From what I’ve gathered, they show no mercy…”
“There is nothing to reconsider! As a warrior, retreating in fear of evil is far more shameful and terrifying!”
“But the warriors of our sect who rely on you…”
“I’ve already said it before! Given the circumstances, I won’t blame those who choose to leave! If you, Chief Yang, are also afraid, then go. No one here will fault you!”
If the other sects had stayed to cooperate, it might have been different. But now, only the Ilseong Sword Sect remained. Defeat seemed inevitable.
Yang Munsoo sighed softly and said, “How could I abandon you, Master? I will stand with you here.”
“If that’s truly your decision, then don’t try to sway me any further.”
“I understand.”
Yang Munsoo bowed deeply, looking at Dan Richu with eyes full of respect. ‘As if he would be swayed by my words. It’s just… I feel sorry for the young master who will be left alone in this world.’
But he swallowed those words, knowing that the steadfast Dan Richu would never change his mind. Speaking them would only bring more heartache.
Just then, a warrior rushed in with urgent news. “Master! The demon clan is within ten li!”
“Understood! Prepare to cut them down!”
Everyone present took a stance and shouted in unison, “We will give our lives!”