Episode 73: Return to the Martial Arts Academy
“It has begun.”
Deep within the forest of Yongja-rim, a man crouched silently among the bushes, whispering to himself. He was Black Tiger, wearing a mask shaped like a black tiger.
The distant sound of drums and shouts echoed through the air. As long as the drumming continued, the instructors and cadets would be positioning themselves strategically. The moment the drumming stopped, the real battle between the factions would commence.
Behind Black Tiger, a group of warriors, also wearing black tiger masks and dressed in red, crouched low. One of them, a man with a particularly commanding presence, spoke quietly.
“Wearing such bright colors defeats the purpose of hiding, doesn’t it?”
This was Jo Ryang, the leader of the Black Death Squad. Black Tiger shook his head slightly and replied, “You don’t understand. These outfits give us the perfect opportunity to blend in.”
“What do you mean?”
“Their elite guards wear red. They’ve never worn anything else.”
Jo Ryang nodded, finally understanding. “Ah, that’s why.”
“Our mission is to eliminate the promising young talents of the prestigious sects and the key instructors of Yongcheon Academy. It’s rare to have such a chance to wipe out so many promising talents in one place. We cannot fail.”
“Understood. Heh heh,” Jo Ryang chuckled, licking his lips with a sinister grin.
Black Tiger nodded silently. Once the promising young talents were eliminated, the orthodox sects would be thrown into chaos and despair. Yongcheon Academy would have to take responsibility, and the orthodox factions would begin to fracture.
In their rage, they would become no different from the unorthodox sects, lashing out without regard for means or methods. While the righteous sects and families scattered and acted recklessly, the Blood Alliance would step in to restore order to the chaotic martial world. A united enemy is always a threat, but a fragmented one is easily dealt with. This was the vision the Blood Alliance had painted.
Finally, the drumming ceased. Jo Ryang stood up slowly. “Shall we have some fun?”
But Black Tiger’s words stopped him. “Wait.”
“Why?”
“How will you identify the promising young talents among so many cadets?”
“We’ll just take them all down as we go…”
“If you do that, the battle will be halted, and the cadets will be ordered to retreat.”
“Then, do you have another plan?”
“Wait.”
Black Tiger’s eyes were calm and steady. Jo Ryang retreated back into the bushes. Black Tiger continued, “It’s the ones who survive until the end.”
The promising young talents are unlikely to die early in the battle. The ones who endure until the very end are the ones with exceptional abilities, and they are likely to belong to the prestigious sects.
Jo Ryang nodded in agreement. “That does seem like a better plan.”
“Killing a few nobodies won’t faze the orthodox sects. To truly anger them and cause division, we need to take out what they hold dear.”
“Then, when should we start?”
“At the third drumbeat.”
During the faction battle, the drum sounds three times. The first signals the start of the battle. The second sounds when a third of the participants have fallen. The third sounds when only a third remain. When a winning team is decided, a gong is struck instead of a drum.
Black Tiger planned to deploy the Black Death Squad when only a third of the cadets remained.
“And remember, the instructors carry real swords, so be extra cautious.”
“Understood.”
In the faction battle, cadets use blunt practice weapons. However, instructors carry real swords in case of emergencies. If instructors encounter each other, they may engage in real sword duels, but they must not injure each other and must concede if they are at a disadvantage.
A chilling smile crept beneath Black Tiger’s mask. “Enjoy yourselves while you can.”
**
“All clear!”
Oh Ki-ryong, tasked with reconnaissance, approached Instructor Deung Bu-hyung to report.
“Good, let’s move.”
Deung Bu-hyung nodded and began to lead his Eagle Claw Squad cadets forward. The cadets, on edge, flinched at every rustle in the bushes, turning to look nervously.
Deung Bu-hyung chuckled. “Don’t worry too much. As long as we’re together, they won’t dare attack us. When we’re all grouped like this, no one will risk an attack.”
His strategy was simple: stick together to survive. So far, it had proven effective. The sheer number of them deterred many from attacking, even if they were spotted.
Moreover, the rules prohibited second and third-year students from attacking first-year students, ensuring fairness. They only needed to be wary of other first-years. The Eagle Claw Squad had even aggressively attacked other squads, nearly wiping them out.
Their numbers were so overwhelming that Deung Bu-hyung rarely needed to intervene personally. Oh Ki-ryong, looking at him with admiration, said, “Your strategy is brilliant. No one dares to touch our squad.”
“Sometimes the simplest approach is the best. A classic, straightforward method can be more effective than a complicated strategy.”
“I’ve learned another valuable lesson from you, Instructor Deung. At this rate, we might not even need to use our swords. Haha.”
“Hahaha. Well, that would be a good thing, wouldn’t it?”
Deung Bu-hyung laughed heartily, glancing fondly at the sword at his waist. The Five Tiger Emperor Sword, with its scabbard depicting five golden tigers intertwined and roaring, was clearly a rare and valuable item.
“As long as I have this Five Tiger Emperor Sword, no one will dare challenge our squad.”
“You’re truly reassuring, Instructor Deung!”
Oh Ki-ryong gave a thumbs-up. Deung Bu-hyung, feeling confident, continued walking.
“This sword is very special to me!”
Indeed, Deung Bu-hyung had always had a fondness for fine swords, but the Five Tiger Emperor Sword was incomparable to anything he had owned before.
The reason was simple: “I bought it with my own hard-earned money!”
Until now, Deung Bu-hyung had mostly used swords he received as bribes. The Five Tiger Emperor Sword was the only one he had purchased himself.
“I spent all the money I saved over the past ten years.”
But considering the sword’s reputation, it was worth every penny… worth every penny…
“It’s money well spent!”
This sword would protect his destiny.
“Yes! Not a penny wasted!”
Deung Bu-hyung gripped the Five Tiger Emperor Sword tightly and raised it high.
“Walk proudly, everyone! I’ll protect you!”
“Ooh.”
The cadets looked at Deung Bu-hyung with awe.
Just then.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three arrows flew through the forest!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Ugh!”
“Ah!”
“Oof!”
With a crash, three cadets fell to the ground.
“Enemies!”
One of the cadets shouted, crouching low. Deung Bu-hyung and Oh Ki-ryong quickly ducked and rushed to the fallen cadets.
“Instructor…!”
The cadet hit by an arrow grimaced in pain. Oh Ki-ryong quickly turned him over, revealing a red mark on his chest. If it had been a real arrow, it would have pierced his lung.
He was dead. The other two cadets had also been hit in vital spots and were declared dead.
“All dead.”
“Damn it! Who dares…!”
Deung Bu-hyung stood up, shouting, when—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three more arrows flew in.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Again, three cadets were hit and fell, two dead and one injured.
“Damn it, where are they coming from…!”
Just then.
“Attack! Charge!”
Somewhere, a group of cadets shouted.
“From the east! Prepare yourselves!”
At Deung Bu-hyung’s command, the cadets turned east, drawing their weapons.
But then.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
“Ugh!”
“Ouch!”
Suddenly, cries erupted from behind them.
Turning quickly, they saw several cadets with red marks on their backs or necks, collapsing.
They had fallen for a classic feint.
Caught off guard by the ambush, they failed to recognize the simple strategy and panicked.
But then…
“Those are… Special Ops?”
Deung Bu-hyung’s eyes widened.
Of all things, it was the Special Ops Squad!
The attackers from behind were undoubtedly Yeom Ja-ryang and Yeon Woo-gyeong. The Eagle Claw Squad cadets belatedly swung their swords at them, but—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thud!
Arrows flew in like streaks of light, knocking them down.
Yeon Woo-kyung watched as the cadets around him collapsed one by one, a sly smile playing on his lips.
“Dan Ri-jung is quite something, isn’t he?”
“Heh, he’s not someone to be underestimated. The scariest thing is when he’s far away.”
“Can’t argue with that.”
Yeon Woo-kyung nodded in agreement with Yeom Ja-ryang’s words and thrust his sword forward.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Just then, Oh Gi-ryong suddenly leaped in, kicking away both of their swords with his feet.
Thud!
When instructors engaged in martial arts with the cadets, only hand-to-hand combat was allowed, and they could only defend themselves.
As Yeon Woo-kyung and Yeom Ja-ryang staggered back, losing their balance, the cadets, their spirits lifted, charged at the two of them.
Swish! Swish! Swoosh!
Clang!
At that moment, Instructor Deung Bu-hyung deflected all the incoming arrows, issuing a warning.
“Stop! Keep an eye on the west!”
However, the cadets, lacking real combat experience, were too focused on dealing with the immediate threat in front of them. They couldn’t tear their eyes away from Yeon Woo-kyung and Yeom Ja-ryang, who were slowly retreating.
Then it happened.
“Now’s our chance!”
A clear voice rang out, and from the west, Mok Dan-hwa led the special class cadets in a sudden charge. Some of the cadets, realizing their mistake too late, turned to face them, but subduing Mok Dan-hwa, a master swordswoman, was never going to be easy.
Moreover, the special class cadets with her had already endured grueling training in the Special Division. They had persevered through far harsher conditions, so the numerical disadvantage didn’t faze them.
“You little brats…!”
Instructor Deung Bu-hyung gritted his teeth and lunged at Mok Dan-hwa. Startled, she quickly swung her sword.
It was the first form of the Lightning Sword Technique, Chaos Thunder.
The blade split into multiple paths as it moved swiftly.
But to the battle-hardened Deung Bu-hyung, it was nothing more than a child’s play.
“Hmph! You’re still far from ready!”
He coldly dismissed her attack, spinning rapidly to close in on Mok Dan-hwa.
“Gasp!”
Mok Dan-hwa hurriedly retreated.
Whoosh!
But Deung Bu-hyung’s palm strike was already reaching for her back.
And then—
Boom!
A surprisingly loud noise echoed, causing the nearby cadets to flinch and turn around.
Deung Bu-hyung’s eyes widened in shock.
”…Instructor Sa!”
“You seem to be taking this a bit too seriously against a cadet.”
Sa Bi-gang, who had intercepted Deung Bu-hyung’s strike, grinned broadly.