Episode 80: Return to the Demonic Sect
“Hmm, couldn’t finish him off, huh?”
Unbyeok lowered his bow, squinting into the distance. He had a nagging feeling that his final arrow hadn’t struck the vital point of Cheon Sae-myung.
“Guess I didn’t kill him.”
Cheon Sae-myung’s agility had been faster than expected. He was likely injured, but still alive. Unbyeok clicked his tongue in mild disappointment. Not that it mattered much. Cheon Sae-myung wasn’t a particularly significant figure.
Unbyeok glanced around, surveying the scene below. The ground beneath the tree he stood on was littered with the bodies of guards in white uniforms, now stained red with blood. None of them were left standing.
He turned his gaze towards the cliffside. “So much for being righteous,” he muttered with disdain. Despite having once been part of the orthodox sect himself, he couldn’t understand why those who preached righteousness were often the most hypocritical.
He had thought he could sway Cheon Sae-myung to join the Blood Sect. Though trained in orthodox martial arts, Cheon Sae-myung’s conduct was no better than a third-rate rogue.
“Was it just his foolish pride?” Unbyeok mused. It was baffling. Despite all his cunning, Cheon Sae-myung had charged at him in a fit of righteous indignation upon discovering his betrayal.
“People are creatures of habit, I suppose.”
Cheon Sae-myung had likely stopped thinking for himself long ago, living a life dulled by peace, simply letting the years pass by. Foolish, but inevitable.
“Did he mention my name, I wonder? That I’m a traitor…”
Unbyeok stared at the distant cliff, now obscured by the setting sun. Whether Cheon Sae-myung had revealed his name or not was irrelevant. After all, he had discarded the name “Unbyeok” today.
“From now on, I am Unma,” he chuckled to himself, feeling a thrill he hadn’t experienced in ages. It was the same exhilaration he felt when he had once swept through the ranks of the demonic sect, his arrows finding their mark in skulls and hearts alike. It was in those moments of life and death that he truly felt alive.
But as peace settled in, that thrill had vanished, leaving behind monotonous days. He had realized he wasn’t fighting for peace, but for the ecstasy of battle itself. Only in the heat of life-threatening combat did his life truly shine.
“Hmm. Sabikang and Sangpilji…”
He considered taking them out immediately but shook his head. While he could handle Sabikang, Sangpilji, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, was another matter entirely. And if Maesellan and Dang Ihyeop joined forces…
“Too much for one person.”
He quickly dismissed the thought. With the sun setting, it was better to stick to the original plan and head to the rendezvous point. Even if Sabikang and Sangpilji realized the plot had begun, what could they do now? They only had students with practice weapons, while he had the Black Death Squad, each member as skilled as a deputy instructor at the very least. With the squad leader Joryang, Black Tiger, and himself, the outcome was clear.
“Heh, the headmaster should have listened to that crazy instructor.”
Unbyeok glanced towards Yongcheon Hall, imagining the chaos unfolding there. When Sabikang had suggested canceling the inter-organizational competition, his heart had skipped a beat. How long had he waited for this moment? But foolish Cheon Sae-myung had opposed Sabikang’s suggestion out of sheer contrariness, pushing for the competition to proceed as planned.
“Well, I was surprised when the guards’ uniforms changed, but…”
A minor hiccup wouldn’t derail the entire plan. The Black Death Squad wasn’t so easily shaken.
“Let’s enjoy this, shall we?” Unbyeok donned a red snake mask and launched himself into the night.
**
“This is… too much.”
Yom Jaryang gritted his teeth, surveying the forest littered with the bodies of slaughtered guards.
“It was a failure in strategy,” Sabikang remarked, drawing the students’ attention. They looked at him, puzzled.
“The enemy moved in an organized manner, while the guards were scattered. Their strength was inevitably divided.”
“But you warned them of a possible attack, didn’t you?”
“They must have thought it was enough.”
Years of peace had dulled their senses, or perhaps they underestimated the enemy.
“But from now on, it will be the opposite.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’ll be scattered, and we’ll strike as a unit. They think you’re only armed with practice weapons, so they’ll be overconfident.”
Hope flickered in the students’ eyes. Maesellan suddenly asked, “Why target this place instead of the main sects?”
“They want to provoke the major sects into irrational actions, to sow discord. If their cherished children die, anyone would lose their mind seeking revenge, and the sects’ control would falter. At a time when unity is crucial, division will arise.”
“Truly despicable.”
“Heh, in the face of efficiency, everyone is despicable. It’s just a matter of how well they hide it.”
Maesellan started to argue but fell silent, sensing the truth in his words. Sabikang unfolded a map and pointed to a location.
“We’ll head here first. There should be five of them.”
“How do you know so much, Instructor?”
‘Because I’ve been through this before,’ Sabikang thought, but he simply replied, “By now, they’ve likely dealt with the guards and some noticeable students. They’ll try to block the path to the training grounds, placing forces at key points. This is one of those places.”
Yom Jaryang nodded, accepting the explanation. Sabikang looked over the students.
“Alright, this is the real deal. Stay sharp. The first mission will be led by Dan Lijeong, Jo Muntak, and Mok Danhwa.”
“Understood.”
“If they sense danger, they’ll use signal flares. It’s crucial to act swiftly before they have the chance.”
“Yes!”
The students responded with determined expressions. Sabikang grinned.
“Good, let’s use this opportunity to gain some real experience.”
Meanwhile, Maesellan watched, shaking her head in disbelief.
‘How can he think like that…’
She recalled their conversation the previous night.
**
“You want the students to fight directly?”
“Yes.”
Sabikang’s expression was resolute.
“That’s absurd! You said those demonic sect members are skilled fighters!”
“They are. And they’ve likely reinforced their numbers since their contact was killed.”
“Then we should avoid them!”
“This is the safest way.”
“Why not just declare defeat? If we all surrender at the start, we’ll be out of the forest before the third drumbeat…”
“And what about the other students?”
“Well… you could go back as a guard and…”
“How long would it take to find all the students that way?”
“But you have Dang Dae-hyeop, right? He could gather the students…”
“The elders of the orthodox sects are stubborn. They won’t act until something happens.”
“But having the students fight is too dangerous.”
“Will you protect them all while I fight?”
“That’s risky too. I can’t handle the special class alone.”
“That’s why it’s better to have them fight where I can see them. They’ll gain real experience.”
“They could die.”
“The martial world is like that. A single misstep, even a slip of the tongue, can be fatal.”
“But they’re not fully trained yet…”
“No one waits for them to be fully trained.”
“Isn’t there another way?”
“No. Maybe I’m just not smart enough, but this is the best option.”
“Maybe you are just not smart enough,” Maesellan said, pouting.
Sabikang chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll turn the special class into lion cubs. Sometimes, they need to be pushed off a cliff.”
“I’m worried they won’t climb back up.”
“Then that’s their fate.”
“You’re cold.”
“The world is cold.”
Sabikang gave a wry smile. The world he knew was harsh, even cruel. To survive, one had to become strong.
“Seollan.”
Maesellan flinched, looking at Sabikang. It was the first time he had called her by name. Sabikang stared into the distance, his eyes burning with determination.
“I’m going to raise them to be strong.”
To do that, I’ll turn this crisis into an opportunity for growth.
“I’m worried you might be pushing them too hard.”
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, they’ll be perfectly safe. Heh heh.”
‘Where does he get that confidence from?’
Even as Maesellan gaped in disbelief, a part of her couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, he really could protect the cadets.
Turning an enemy attack into a real-life training ground?
‘Could it be… is this man unbelievably strong?’
Swaying, swaying.
The tall branches swayed back and forth in the wind.
Atop one of those branches stood a lone figure.
It was Dan Lijeong.
The bowstring was drawn taut.
‘This feeling… it’s good.’
Two arrows were nocked between his fingers.
It finally felt like he was wearing clothes that fit.
Using the weak practice bow had been such a struggle.
The instructor had said there would be only one chance.
From here, just below where the North Star hung in the sky.
Somewhere around there, the enemies would be.
‘There won’t be a second chance.’
They mustn’t be allowed to launch a signal flare.
Everything had to be wrapped up neatly before that happened.
His mission, the first step, was crucial.
Swaying. Swaying.
In the past, his arms would have been aching by now.
But after enduring hellish training, he felt he could hold the bowstring drawn for half a day without trouble.
How long had he been waiting?
Suddenly, a flash of light flickered below, not flying straight but…
‘What is that?’
But there was no time for questions.
Focus!
That must be what the instructor had mentioned.
“There will be a moment of light. That will be your only chance.”
Recalling Sabigang’s words, Dan Lijeong focused all his attention on the tip of the arrow.
Finally, the sphere of light stopped.
Dan Lijeong’s eyes widened.
‘There it is!’
Thwack!
The two arrows shot from the bowstring, disappearing into the darkness in an instant.
Whoosh! Whoosh!