Episode 82: Return to the Demon Sect
“They’re coming!”
So Seop-rang, who had scouted ahead, rushed back with the urgent news.
Sang Pil-ji’s brow furrowed in concern.
Even though the cadets were armed with lethal weapons, they had no real combat experience. Meeting the enemy head-on would be disastrous.
“How many are there?”
“I’m not sure, but it looks like about ten.”
This was bad news. A smaller enemy force likely meant they were highly skilled. And they would have plenty of battle experience.
“Hide for now and wait until they pass.”
“Yes, sir!”
So Seop-rang led the cadets into the underbrush. Sang Pil-ji erased their tracks as best he could and concealed himself near the path the enemy would take.
Guarding is always harder than attacking. Sang Pil-ji climbed a tree, doing his best to hide his presence.
How much time passed? Eventually, the sound of rustling reached his ears, and a group of warriors appeared. As Sa Bi-gang had warned, they were all dressed in red.
Sang Pil-ji narrowed his eyes. “So, they’ve been targeting us for a while now.”
He slowly moved his right hand to his waist, ready to fight if necessary, though he hoped to avoid conflict.
What about Sa Bi-gang and the special unit cadets?
“I’ll handle this side. You focus on the Nang-a unit,” Sa Bi-gang had said, and Sang Pil-ji had agreed. It was better to split up than to stay together.
The enemy drew closer.
“That man…!”
Sang Pil-ji’s eyes narrowed further. A man wearing a red snake mask stood out. He wasn’t dressed in red, but his build and demeanor were familiar. The bow on his back confirmed his identity.
“Unbyeok!”
Beside him walked a man in a black tiger mask, known as Heukho. The two were deep in conversation.
“Is the path to Yongcheon Hall completely blocked?”
“Of course. I’ve sent the Black Kill Squad, so there shouldn’t be any issues. No one would be crazy enough to try breaking through with practice weapons.”
Unbyeok’s question was met with Heukho’s confident reply.
“Oh, and we’ve dealt with Baek Ri-geuk from the third year and Son Mu-yeop from the second year.”
“Not bad, but it’s not enough,” Unbyeok replied, sounding slightly disappointed.
Sang Pil-ji, eavesdropping, frowned even more.
“If the Baekri family and Taecheon Gate find out, there’ll be hell to pay.”
Baek Ri-geuk was the second son of the renowned Baekri family, and Son Mu-yeop was the third disciple of the prestigious Taecheon Gate. Their deaths would surely provoke a call for vengeance.
“We can’t let any more casualties happen.”
The more the enemy roamed the forest, the greater the damage would be. He wanted to attack immediately, but he had to consider the cadets hiding in the bushes. If he were alone, he might have used hit-and-run tactics to confuse them.
“Those two have surpassed the peak.”
Sang Pil-ji observed Unbyeok and Heukho closely.
“And that one, too, is a master beyond the peak.”
Among the men in red, one stood out—Jo Ryang, the leader of the Black Kill Squad. He seemed the weakest of the three, but he was still a formidable opponent.
Once the enemy was far enough away, Sang Pil-ji emerged from hiding.
“I need to get the cadets to safety and find a way to stop them.”
He had a place in mind—a trap that had once ensnared the Nang-a unit cadets. Though it no longer functioned as a trap, it was still a good hiding spot.
So Seop-rang and the cadets approached him.
“Instructor.”
“We’re moving out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just as Sang Pil-ji was about to lead them away—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two arrows sliced through the air from behind.
Sang Pil-ji spun around, deflecting them with his sword. The arrows embedded themselves in a nearby tree, quivering.
“Damn it!”
He clicked his tongue, and a hearty laugh echoed from above.
“Hahaha! As expected of Instructor Sang!”
“Unbyeok!”
Sang Pil-ji shouted, and Unbyeok leaped down from the tree, using his light-foot technique to close the distance. Heukho and the Black Kill Squad followed.
“So, they found us after all?”
Sang Pil-ji’s expression hardened.
“Heh. We almost missed you, but your cadets were too noisy.”
Unbyeok chuckled.
“The cadets’ stealth skills need work.”
Sang Pil-ji had been too focused on eavesdropping to notice.
He quickly sent a mental message to So Seop-rang.
[I’ll handle this. Find a chance to escape with the cadets.]
[But, Instructor, facing them alone is—]
[Just do as I say.]
[Understood.]
So Seop-rang didn’t argue further.
As if he had heard their mental exchange, Unbyeok spoke.
“Surely you don’t plan to take us all on by yourself?”
”…”
“Hahaha! If that’s your plan, you’re dreaming.”
“Unbyeok, why have you allied with the dark sects?”
“Why? Because I’m tired of this pathetic peace.”
“What a pathetic excuse.”
“Hahaha! Either way, you can’t take us all on. Hmm? Those cadets have real weapons. What’s going on?”
“Do I owe you an explanation?”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Livestock with swords aren’t scary.”
“Shut up, Unbyeok!”
With that, Sang Pil-ji launched himself forward.
Heukho met him head-on.
Clang!
Their swords clashed, ringing out with a metallic echo.
Clang! Clang!
Sang Pil-ji pressed the attack with terrifying speed.
But Heukho was no pushover. He was at the level where his body and sword moved as one, blocking Sang Pil-ji’s strikes and counterattacking seamlessly.
“Impressive!”
As expected, Heukho’s skills were on par with his own.
Meanwhile, Unbyeok was inwardly amazed by Sang Pil-ji’s martial prowess.
“So this is why the first-year instructors respect him so much. Truly impressive!”
Though it seemed like Heukho and Sang Pil-ji were evenly matched, Unbyeok could tell Sang Pil-ji had a slight edge. Given time, Heukho would lose.
“I can’t let that happen.”
Unbyeok quickly joined the fray, swinging his sword.
Clang!
Sang Pil-ji retreated, blocking the attack.
“Inhale, exhale.”
He took a deep breath, eyeing his opponents.
As expected, Unbyeok had joined in. Now, the fight would turn against him. The question was how long he could hold out.
Fortunately, the enemy numbers weren’t overwhelming.
What to do?
A face flashed in his mind.
Sa Bi-gang.
If only he were here…
While fending off attacks, Sang Pil-ji sent another mental message to So Seop-rang.
[Find a way to escape.]
[But what about the cadets?]
[I’ll manage. Go find Instructor Sa Bi-gang and ask for help.]
[Instructor Sa Bi-gang? Where is he—]
[He said he was heading towards Yongcheon Hall.]
[Understood.]
After their mental exchange, Sang Pil-ji let out a battle cry, unleashing a powerful sword aura.
“Haaah!”
Whoosh!
A fierce wind blew, forcing Unbyeok and Heukho to step back and defend.
“Now’s your chance!”
Sang Pil-ji shouted.
With a swift kick off the ground, So Seop-rang started running.
“Stop him!”
Heukho yelled, and the men in red prepared to give chase.
But then—
“Don’t move!”
Sang Pil-ji unleashed a lion’s roar, infused with his inner power.
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
The men in red clutched their ears and fell to the ground. Even the three masters staggered, struggling to regain their balance.
“Impressive!”
Unbyeok’s expression twisted in frustration.
Not all masters are equal, even at the peak.
But with such a drain on his power, the remaining fight would favor them.
He quickly glanced at Jo Ryang.
[You go after him!]
Before the mental command was even finished, Jo Ryang took off.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Sang Pil-ji pursued him like lightning.
But—
“Instructor Sang, you’re mistaken about your opponent!”
Unbyeok released an arrow from his bow.
Whoosh!
Clang!
The arrow was deflected by Sang Pil-ji’s sword.
Unbyeok and Heukho stood facing Sang Pil-ji with faint smiles.
“Unfortunately, that assistant instructor will be caught by the Black Kill Squad leader.”
“Do things ever go as planned?”
“Hahaha, true. But they won’t go as you planned, either.”
In the meantime, seven members of the Black Kill Squad surrounded the cadets of the Nang-Ah Division.
Although the cadets had the advantage in numbers, there was a significant gap in martial arts skills and experience.
As a result, the cadets remained on high alert, unable to launch a reckless attack.
Eonbyeok smiled slyly.
“Shall we begin, then?”
“By all means.”
With a swift motion, Eonbyeok and Heukho charged toward Sangpilji.
“Ugh, I really hate this.”
Min Yuhyang shivered slightly as she moved slowly.
Beside her were Mok Danhwa and Baek Mireong.
But in the murky depths of the water, she could barely make out their forms.
Behind them, five more female cadets, including Neung Soso, moved stealthily underwater.
That’s right.
They were all submerged beneath a pond located in a secluded part of Yongjarim.
Sabigang had deliberately chosen female cadets for this underwater ambush.
Considerable time had already passed.
Yet none of them surfaced for air.
Thanks to their grueling training, they had learned to endure in low-oxygen environments.
Still, each carried a bamboo tube as a precaution.
Sabigang always emphasized the importance of being fully prepared for real combat.
The eight female cadets were now completely submerged, inching closer to the Black Kill Squad members blocking the path.
The water made it much easier to conceal their presence.
Finally, Mok Danhwa stopped and slowly raised her face above the water’s surface.
She could see the Black Kill Squad members standing right next to her.
“Perfect.”
She submerged again, signaling the other cadets to be ready.
How much longer did they wait?
Suddenly, the surface above them lit up brightly.
It was the signal!
Without hesitation, Mok Danhwa and the other female cadets burst out of the water in unison.
Swoosh!