Episode 78: Return to the Martial Arts Academy
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud…!
The sound of drums echoed through the air.
The expressions of the students being led by the guards were uniformly somber.
Watching them, Unbyeok clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“This year seems to be ending even sooner than last.”
“It’s always been like this. The time it takes for the organizational competition to conclude has been getting shorter every year.”
“Is it because of the outstanding talents?”
“Regrettably, it’s the opposite.”
“The opposite, you say…?”
“It means the students’ skills have been declining year by year.”
“Well… that’s quite a problem.”
“It’s inevitable. With peace lasting so long, everyone has grown complacent.”
Unbyeok nodded in agreement.
“But isn’t that also because our righteous sects have been maintaining peace so well?”
“Yet, if there’s no progress, this peace will eventually shatter.”
“Thinking back, I do miss the old days.”
Unbyeok squinted his eyes, lost in reminiscence.
Even after the Great Demon War ended, there were still skirmishes to wipe out the remnants.
Back then, a young Unbyeok was often deployed to the battlefield as a warrior of the righteous alliance.
Cheon Saemyung nodded.
“Indeed, life had a purpose back then.”
“Perhaps this boredom stems from losing that purpose.”
“Heh, maybe so.”
Cheon Saemyung chuckled wryly, nodding.
Perhaps that’s why he was so fixated on Instructor Sabigang—to alleviate this boredom.
Just then, he called out to a student who was trudging along after being declared ‘dead.’
“Do you know anything about the Special Class?”
“Um, we haven’t encountered them.”
“Is that so?”
Cheon Saemyung nodded, somewhat disappointed, and the student bowed before moving on.
Suddenly, the student stopped, as if recalling something, and turned back to Cheon Saemyung.
“Come to think of it… we did meet the Hwayong Class students.”
“Hwayong Class? That’s Instructor Deung’s group, isn’t it?”
“Yes, we saw Instructor Deung as well. He was on his way out after being declared ‘dead.’”
“Instructor Deung was declared ‘dead’?”
“Yes, I heard they encountered the Special Class.”
“Where was this?”
“I’m not sure of the exact location, but I know it was deeper to the east.”
“I see. Thank you.”
The student bowed again and continued on his way.
Unbyeok approached Cheon Saemyung.
“The east, huh… that’s a bit odd. Instructor Maeseollan should be leading the survival group, and Instructor Sabigang the attack group… is there really a need to go that deep?”
“Whatever the case, we have no choice but to go where he is. That’s why we’re traveling together, isn’t it?”
Cheon Saemyung’s eyes gleamed as he strode forward.
Unbyeok watched him for a moment before following suit.
**
“Hiyaah!”
With a shout, a shadow leaped from behind a rock.
But.
Swish! Thud!
“Ugh!”
The shadow was the one who got hit.
“Oww!”
The fallen student clutched his chest, groaning.
An arrow was lodged in his left chest—his heart. He was declared ‘dead.’
“Tsk.”
Yeom Jaryang clicked his tongue, scratching the back of his head.
“This is just… Dan Lijeong does everything, leaving nothing for us to do.”
Yeom Jaryang’s words were met with nods from Yeon Wookyung, Mok Danhwa, and the other students.
Dan Lijeong was always a step behind, accompanied by Min Yuhyang and Baek Mireong.
Whenever the Jeokmyeol Group faced danger, Dan Lijeong would unhesitatingly shoot arrows.
Yeon Wookyung glanced around, muttering.
“I’ve noticed there are fewer people around.”
“It’s because we’ve come too deep.”
Mok Danhwa replied.
Yeom Jaryang furrowed his brows, looking at Sabigang.
“Instructor, shouldn’t we change direction now?”
“No. We keep going.”
“Keep going? There won’t be anyone further in. Besides, our goal isn’t survival but to deal with the enemy…”
“That’s why we need to go in.”
“What?”
“We’re going in to kill the enemy.”
Sabigang continued walking silently.
The students, including Yeom Jaryang, couldn’t understand what Sabigang meant.
But with their instructor so resolute, they had no choice but to follow.
Just then, Dan Lijeong joined the Jeokmyeol Group.
“Instructor, going further won’t be of any use…”
He echoed Yeom Jaryang’s sentiment.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, warriors in white descended like rain in front of Sabigang.
Yeom Jaryang sighed lightly.
“We’ve reached the boundary, it seems. What on earth is he thinking?”
The guards must have appeared to warn them to turn back.
But then…
“Welcome.”
The lead guard bowed politely.
“Hmm?”
Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Assistant Instructor Dang Ihyeop.
Sabigang looked at him with a serious expression before speaking.
“How did it go?”
“I’ve collected as many as possible. Fifteen in total.”
“Fifteen…”
Sabigang opened the bundle Dang Ihyeop handed over.
Inside were explosives with fuses attached.
“What… what is this?”
Yeom Jaryang, who had approached, was startled and looked at Dang Ihyeop.
Though he hadn’t seen many, he could tell these were explosives.
“Are they replicas?”
But Sabigang and Dang Ihyeop’s serious expressions suggested otherwise.
Yeon Wookyung also approached, asking with a grave expression.
“These are… real, aren’t they?”
“Yes. They’re called Yeolhwatan. Developed by the Demon Sect in the past.”
“The Demon Sect…!”
Yeon Wookyung and the Jeokmyeol Group students flinched in shock.
“Why are such things here…!”
Yeom Jaryang stammered.
Wasn’t this the forest where the organizational competition was held?
And it was right near Yongcheon Hall.
So why were explosives used by the Demon Sect here?
“Is this part of the organizational competition?”
“It seems so.”
“Surely… they’re not real, right?”
Yeom Jaryang asked, his lips twitching.
But Sabigang maintained a stern expression.
“Be extremely cautious. Once the fuse is lit, there’s no way to extinguish it. Avoid it at all costs. If you’re within range, your life won’t be guaranteed.”
“Instructor? Please don’t joke. This is just training. It’s just an organizational competition to assess the students’ skills and provide practical training…”
“Not anymore.”
“What do you mean…?”
Sabigang signaled to Dang Ihyeop.
Dang Ihyeop gestured over his shoulder.
Soon, several subordinates from the Dang clan, including Mucheon, appeared carrying a large coffin.
As the students watched in confusion, Sabigang waved his hand.
The lid covering the coffin flew off.
“Instructor? This, this is…!”
“Take one each.”
Inside were real swords and weapons, not practice ones.
Even Dan Lijeong’s Tanwol Divine Bow was there.
“From now on, you’ll be fighting for real survival.”
Sabigang’s words struck the students like thunder.
**
“How utterly dull.”
Cheon Saemyung clicked his tongue.
The second-year Bonghwa Class students, who had been wiped out by the Biryong Class, hung their heads as they left the forest.
The sun was already setting in the west.
On their way here, no one had been able to challenge the Biryong Class.
Not the first-year students, nor the second or third years.
That’s how skilled the Biryong Class students were.
“Those kids are my pride.”
Cheon Saemyung looked at Lee Bigyeom and Hwang Gi with a satisfied expression.
Everyone has a natural talent for something.
For Cheon Saemyung, it was teaching.
Though he hadn’t reached the pinnacle himself, the students he had taught had all become outstanding masters.
Some were even on the verge of reaching the pinnacle.
But…
“That guy dared…!”
Recalling the last martial arts competition made his insides churn.
“I must find Sabigang and put him in his place!”
Cheon Saemyung led the Biryong Class further east.
Unbyeok followed, leading the Taeguk Class students.
With the two classes combined, they were practically invincible.
After traveling for a while, Cheon Saemyung suddenly stopped.
“Hmm. Should we go further?”
They had already ventured deep into the forest.
Going further might mean not encountering anyone.
They could even end up outside the Yongcheon Hall grounds.
Unbyeok shook his head.
“This doesn’t seem to be the right direction. Perhaps we should turn back?”
“Hmm.”
Cheon Saemyung stroked his chin, deep in thought, while Unbyeok gave a wry smile.
“What a pity.”
“What do you mean?”
“To see Captain Cheon, who once roamed the martial world freely, now fixated on such trivial matters.”
“Heh. Is that how it seems?”
“Isn’t it true? In the past, wouldn’t you have faced real enemies with swords, risking your life?”
“Indeed, compared to that, this is just a trivial game.”
Unbyeok smiled gently.
“Wouldn’t you like to return to those days?”
“In those days, when we had real enemies. We roamed the martial world, risking our lives, cutting down foes without hesitation.”
“Hah, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Instructor Eon.”
“Think about it. What if the current order collapses? What would happen to the martial world then?”
“Well… chaos would ensue. Blood would be spilled as everyone fought to seize control.”
“Exactly. Dreams long forgotten would be reborn, romance rekindled, and you’d truly feel alive again.”
Cheon Saemyung paused and turned to look at him, a hint of irritation on his face. As if it wasn’t enough that he was already frustrated by the disappearance of Sabi River, now Eonbyeok was spouting nonsense.
“What exactly are you trying to say, Instructor Eon?”
Eonbyeok smiled quietly, the sunset blazing red behind him. Just then, a distant drumbeat echoed through the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom…!
“The third drum has sounded. The time for the final battle has come.”
“Well, with only a third of the students left, it’s bound to be a fierce fight.”
But Eonbyeok shook his head slowly.
“Why not engage in a real battle? I believe you and I share the same vision, Captain Cheon.”
“What?”
Before he knew it, Eonbyeok was holding something in both hands. Cheon Saemyung frowned.
‘Daggers?’
They were unmistakably real daggers, not practice ones, painted black. In an instant—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four daggers flew from Eonbyeok’s hands like streaks of light.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Gah!”
“Ugh!”
In the blink of an eye, four students collapsed where they stood. It happened so fast that even Cheon Saemyung couldn’t comprehend what had just occurred. He stiffly turned his head to look at the fallen students.
“Ahh! Blood! There’s blood!”
“Screams erupted as the students scattered in panic.
Cheon Saemyung’s eyes widened in shock.
“Ibigyeom… Hwanggi… Yesoryeong, Sangchojin!”
He called out the names of the fallen students one by one. Rushing over, he found all four had been struck in vital points and were already dead.
Veins bulged on Cheon Saemyung’s forehead.
“What… what have you done, Instructor Eon?”
“Don’t let personal feelings blind you to the greater cause. Join me in today’s grand endeavor, Captain Cheon.”
“What kind of nonsense is this? I won’t forgive you!”
Cheon Saemyung shouted, drawing his sword. Eonbyeok let out a self-mocking laugh.
“I thought you’d be more aligned with us… what a pity.”
“What?”
“I hope you don’t regret your choice.”
Eonbyeok slowly drew the sword hanging at his waist.