Chapter 532: Return of the Demon Instructor
A cold wind brushed past Murang’s cheek.
He rubbed his nose with a liver-spotted hand and asked, “So, you’re saying you want me to do exactly what Jonya did?”
“Yes. I believe someone of your skill can manage it.”
Murang chuckled softly, clasping his hands behind his back as he stood up. Sabigang rose with him.
“Is it impossible?”
“I don’t know.”
A faint smile played on Sabigang’s lips. “So, it might be possible.”
“It’s not as simple as it sounds. The chances of failure are high.”
“I’m willing to take that risk.”
“Do you even understand what that risk entails?”
“At worst, I die, right?”
Murang chuckled again. Sabigang continued, “Jonya not only trapped me in his memories but made me believe I was him. I had no choice but to understand him.”
Murang squinted at the distant mountains. “It must have been a last resort, prepared to face death.”
“I’m ready for that. This is our only chance to gain the knights.”
“Of course, just as we entered Gwang-ah’s memories, we can draw him into yours. But making him believe your memories are his own…”
“No. Implant his consciousness into the version of him in my memories.”
Murang turned to Sabigang, narrowing his eyes. “In other words, make him remember his future as if it were his past?”
“Exactly. He won’t believe it if I just tell him. He needs to experience it himself, within my memories.”
“His name was Helmut, right?”
“Yes.”
“How loyal was he to you?”
“He was the most loyal. He died trying to protect me.”
“Starting with that memory might be hard for him to accept.”
“Of course. I want him to experience everything leading up to his loyalty.”
“How does he see you now?”
Sabigang twisted his lips. “He despises me.”
“Then… the stronger his sense of self, the more likely he is to act differently from your memories.”
“I understand. I’m prepared.”
“Remember, if he finds his consciousness and escapes the memory… he might kill you, just as you killed Jonya.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
Sabigang pulled a teleportation scroll from his robe. “Have you ever been to Guiyang?”
“At my age, is there anywhere in the Central Plains I haven’t been?”
“Good, then I’ll see you in Guiyang.”
With that, Sabigang handed Murang a scroll and tore another without hesitation. In an instant, he vanished.
Murang shook his head and turned to Jaunryong. “He’s in quite a hurry. Anyway, I’ll leave the palace in your hands for a while.”
“Don’t worry. Go and show him the power of truth.”
“Is it me showing him? That’s the palace master’s job.”
Murang grumbled as he tore his scroll. In the next moment, he too disappeared.
The place was filled with groaning patients.
Those who were uninjured rushed around, tending to the wounded, while Danlichu reorganized their forces, preparing for any unforeseen events.
Danlichu stepped outside to the front gate, scanning the warriors on guard before approaching Yangbiung.
“Any movement from the enemy?”
“Not yet. The ones who retreated are still holding their positions, and the frozen ones… who knows when they’ll thaw. If they attack, we’ll crush them.”
Yangbiung clenched his bruised fist, his face full of frustration.
The number of comrades lost to the demon knights and monsters was beyond counting.
If the war with the demons ended like this, the power of the Black Water Gang would surely diminish.
The same fate awaited the Ilseong Sword Sect.
Those who fought to protect the land and its people would fade into obscurity, while the cowards who hid would rise again, claiming dominance over the martial world.
They might even protect those who collaborated with the demons to justify their actions.
“I won’t let that happen!”
Yangbiung ground his teeth.
He couldn’t die here, not with such injustice. He would fight to the death and survive.
His eyes burned with steely resolve.
Danlichu looked at him with trust. “Keep watch.”
“Leave it to me.”
Yangbiung replied gruffly but with unwavering reliability.
Danlichu nodded and surveyed the area.
The elusive Gwaedomuyeong stood bloodied, while Gwijoodo glared at the enemy lines.
Danlichu returned to the courtyard, where Helmut sat on a pavilion, deep in thought, arms crossed.
He seemed out of place among the injured warriors, like a misplaced straw bag, yet he didn’t care, lost in his own thoughts.
He was conflicted.
Sabigang had told him to wait, so he stayed among these smelly humans, but he could kill them all if he wanted.
After all, they were just wounded warriors.
Even the healthy ones were no match for him.
Yet, strangely, he found it hard to defy Sabigang’s words.
He told himself it was pure curiosity, but there was something more, something unresolved.
“Sabigang, was it? Who is he really?”
Just then, Danlichu approached and asked bluntly, “The palace master seems to know you. Why don’t you know him?”
Helmut didn’t answer.
He had no desire to converse with such a trivial human.
“Are you pretending not to know? I’m just curious about what the palace master did in the demon realm. Why you’re his subordinate…”
“One fool is enough.”
Helmut’s voice was as cold as ice.
Danlichu shrugged. “So, even you demons have curiosity. You could kill us all if you wanted, but you listen to the palace master.”
“Crushing bugs is easy.”
“But you’re curious about this bug? Maybe you’re different from other demons, as the palace master said?”
Helmut’s eyes turned icy.
Danlichu wondered if he’d touched a nerve.
Sure enough, Helmut slowly stood, cracking his neck.
“Waiting is boring. It’s ridiculous for me to wait for a human. I might as well start by killing this talkative bug.”
Helmut’s gray eyes darkened, devoid of emotion, sending chills down Danlichu’s spine.
He instinctively stepped back when—
“I warned you, move a finger and you’ll get a beating.”
A familiar voice.
Helmut’s gaze shifted to Sabigang, who stood nearby with Murang.
Helmut clenched his teeth, but Sabigang ignored him, saying, “Lead us to a quiet room. We need to perform a ritual.”
“I’ll take you to my secluded training room. Follow me.”
Danlichu led the way without question.
“How do I know this isn’t a trap?”
Helmut eyed Sabigang with a calm expression.
The two sat facing each other on a ritual circle etched with complex patterns.
Sabigang chuckled. “Why would I set a trap?”
“What?”
“You can’t even lift a finger against me. Why would I need a trap?”
Helmut’s cheek twitched.
Murang, drawing symbols on Helmut’s forehead with a brush, clicked his tongue. “Stay still. If the pattern smudges, it could be dangerous.”
‘This old man…!’
Helmut glared, but Murang continued unfazed.
Helmut sighed softly.
Who would have thought he’d be sitting here like this when he came to conquer this place?
“Now, when I start the incantation, just close your eyes and relax. That’s all.”
“Will this really reveal everything about you?”
“You’ll see.”
Helmut fell silent.
He had no way to defeat Sabigang.
It was like facing a demon king.
An insurmountable wall.
If he could understand why he felt this way about Sabigang, it might not be such a bad method.
“Let’s begin.”
As Murang finished speaking, he softly chanted an incantation.
Helmut, sitting across from Sabigang, muttered to himself.
“You’re making a mistake. If I uncover your secret, I’ll… I’ll…”
But Helmut couldn’t complete his thought.
His mind was slipping into a haze, and he could no longer hold onto clarity.
**
”…Master.”
”…”
”…Master.”
Helmut’s brow twitched.
But soon, his expression returned to calm.
“Master!”
A voice pierced his eardrums, and Helmut opened his eyes.
The half-clad woman who had called him was nervously watching his reaction.
“Did you wake me?”
“Yes, Master…”
“What is it?”
“The Duke of Aranius is asking for you…”
“I see.”
Helmut slowly rose from his seat.
It felt like he had been dreaming.
A deeply unsettling dream.
It seemed both like the past and the future.
Even though the invasion of the central lands, with its kidnappings and massacres, was long over, in the dream, it was just beginning.
Or perhaps it was halfway through.
It seemed like he had hit some kind of obstacle…
“I can’t remember any more.”
As Helmut stood, the woman bowed her head.
“I’m sorry for waking you.”
“Forget it.”
Helmut brushed past her.
In the next instant,
Slick!
The woman’s neck split halfway, and blood gushed out.
As she crumpled to the ground, Helmut adjusted his clothes and coldly murmured,
“Still, there’s a price for disturbing my sleep.”