Episode 85: Return of the Martial Instructor

Sabikang stepped forward, facing So Seop-rang.

“Why aren’t you answering? When someone asks, you should at least bark something back.”

“You little… How dare you, just an instructor, run your mouth like that.”

“Seems like you need a good beating from this ‘just an instructor’ to come to your senses.”

“You crazy bastard…!”

Joryang was genuinely furious.

Meanwhile, So Seop-rang looked at Sabikang, who stood in front of him, with trembling eyes.

‘Who is this person, really…?’

He couldn’t tell if it was confidence or just bravado. Sabikang’s expression and demeanor were too calm to be mere bluster. Did he have some kind of backup plan? Was help coming from Yongcheon Hall? But there was no sign of anyone approaching.

‘No, he’s trying to provoke a mistake from the opponent, but… this isn’t someone who will fall for such a simple trick. The difference in skill is too great.’

So Seop-rang sighed softly and sent a telepathic message to Sabikang.

[If you’re doing this for me, just give up. This isn’t someone you can handle. You should head to Yongcheon Hall and request reinforcements…]

[Just shut up and rest.]

Sabikang replied without even turning his head.

‘What the…’

He had hinted at a way to escape, even at the cost of his own safety, but Sabikang responded like this…

Before meeting Sabikang, he couldn’t understand why the instructors disliked him so much. But now, it was clear.

‘This guy… he’s just a lunatic, isn’t he?’

What on earth did Instructor Sangpilji expect from someone like this?

Meanwhile, the leader of the Black Death Squad drew his sword with a cold smile. His nickname was the Black Twin Swordsman. Although he specialized in using two swords, he usually only needed one against most opponents. He only used both when he deemed the opponent a formidable master or when he intended to utterly crush them. This was the latter case.

“Heh heh heh. Let’s see if the skills of the esteemed instructor are as sharp as his tongue.”

“If you’re so eager for guidance, then by all means.”

With a smooth motion, Sabikang drew Berthas from his waist.

Joryang kicked off the ground, charging forward like a bullet.

His sword aimed straight for Sabikang’s throat. Sabikang twisted his body to dodge, and the sword in Joryang’s left hand immediately targeted Sabikang’s heart. But once again, it narrowly missed, grazing past his chest.

‘Pathetic!’

Joryang wasn’t worried. The first attack was merely to gauge the opponent’s skills. If Sabikang couldn’t dodge that, he would have been disappointed.

Just then, Sabikang thrust Berthas forward. Joryang quickly bent his waist at a ninety-degree angle, and Berthas sliced through the air above him.

Clang.

Joryang, still bent over, threw the sword in his right hand behind him.

Clang! Clang!

‘He blocked it?’

As he straightened up, he saw his sword had been deflected by Berthas. He quickly leaped to retrieve the thrown sword.

‘Hmm. Not bad.’

His opinion shifted slightly. He had underestimated Sabikang’s martial arts after narrowly dodging the initial attack. But now he realized Sabikang had judged that was all he needed to dodge.

At that moment, a group of presences was felt from a distance. Sabikang seemed to notice too, as he smiled coldly.

“A pack of dogs has arrived.”

Sure enough, a group of warriors in red uniforms appeared, glancing between Joryang and Sabikang.

“Master!”

They were the first squad of the Black Death Squad, the most skilled among them. Each member’s martial arts were nearly at the pinnacle. They had been tasked with eliminating any remaining students in Yongjaryeom. By chance, they encountered Sabikang and Joryang.

The squad quickly surrounded Sabikang. Joryang smirked at Sabikang.

“Seems like your luck’s run out. Of all places, you had to run into my subordinates here.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s just a bit more troublesome with more students needing guidance.”

“Hahaha. Still full of bravado! I admire your spirit. But I suppose it doesn’t matter how many enemies there are when you’re about to die.”

“Enough talk. Why don’t you come at me already, you bastards?”

“You! I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart! Attack!”

At Joryang’s command, the first squad of the Black Death Squad leaped into action.

The air was filled with the sharp sound of blades slicing through it as their swords rained down chaotically.

Sabikang’s eyes narrowed.

“Truly bothersome.”

In the next moment, flames erupted from Berthas, engulfing the area in a fiery storm.

**

“You scoundrels! Do you even know where you are?”

Principal Juyucheon shouted, launching himself into the fray.

Clang! Slash! Slash!

“Argh!”

“Ugh!”

Screams followed as masked men fell one after another. Juyucheon’s martial prowess was unmatched by any instructor. He moved like a flash, cutting through the enemies with ease.

One strike, one kill.

Every time a beam of light shot from his fingertips, a scream of agony followed.

In an instant, he had cut down nearly ten masked men and leaped onto the roof of the Busin Pavilion.

The entire Yongcheon Hall had turned into a battlefield. The masked men had begun their assault when the third drum sounded. The problem was their concentrated attack on the Busin Pavilion, where the injured were gathered. All the instructors were fighting, but the enemies were using sheer numbers to overwhelm them. They seemed endless.

‘Has the underworld grown this powerful?’

His gaze briefly turned towards Yongjaryeom. If the enemies had infiltrated this far, they must have appeared there too. But with twice the usual manpower stationed there, it shouldn’t be a major issue…

‘I hope.’

He wasn’t sure. Should he have listened to Sabikang’s advice? It was becoming difficult to discern whether principles or flexibility was the right path. But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. With significant forces deployed to Yongjaryeom, he needed to focus on defending this place.

Just then, he spotted a man wearing a purple rat-shaped mask. His martial prowess was exceptional.

‘I need to stop him first!’

Without a second thought, Juyucheon launched himself towards the man.

**

“Ugh…”

“Ugh…”

All around the forest, members of the Black Death Squad lay groaning in pain. They were all scorched by the flames, suffering from severe burns. Half were dead, and the rest were gravely injured, nearing death.

Joryang’s eyes twitched with disbelief.

‘This can’t be…!’

He couldn’t close his gaping mouth. His jaw trembled slightly. He couldn’t believe what had just unfolded before his eyes.

When the ten members of the Black Death Squad charged at Sabikang, flames suddenly erupted around him like a storm. The fire on his sword spun rapidly with his body, rising into the air.

It was like a fire dragon ascending to the heavens. If it had a name, it would be ‘Fire Dragon Ascension.’

And that was the end of it. The Black Death Squad members, who had charged in en masse, were either cut down or burned, collapsing to the ground.

‘What level of martial arts does this guy possess? What did he just do?’

In truth, Sabikang had cast a Fire Storm spell on Berthas to deal with the enemies. It was a technique he frequently used during his time as a ‘Demon Swordsman’ in the demon realm.

Regardless, Joryang, witnessing such a fire attack for the first time, gripped his twin swords tightly with newfound caution.

“I’ll have to change my plans.”

“Indeed, plans need changing.”

“What?”

Joryang asked, and Sabikang replied with a smirk.

“I was going to kill you, but now I think I’ll capture you alive.”

“You arrogant…!”

With a fierce growl, Joryang charged forward. He was no longer underestimating his opponent. He launched his best attack.

His right sword aimed for Sabikang’s neck.

Clang!

The sword was deflected by Berthas.

Using the recoil, he spun and swung his left sword.

Clang!

Another clear metallic sound rang out!

Joryang immediately followed up with a series of rapid attacks, pressing his opponent.

To an ordinary observer, his movements were so fast they would struggle to follow them with their eyes.

Clang! Clang!

It seemed like the swords clashed only once, but multiple friction sounds echoed. Sparks flew continuously.

As time passed, Joryang grew more anxious.

‘Why is this bastard so fast!’

He couldn’t understand. How could a mere instructor display such martial prowess? What was going on?

Meanwhile, there was another person witnessing the entire scene…

“Amazing…”

It was So Seop-rang. He was leaning against a tree, watching the fight unfold.

Now he understood why Instructor Sangpilji had sent him to find Sabikang.

‘Perhaps… he might be on par with Instructor Sangpilji… or even beyond?’

Sabikang effortlessly blocked Joryang’s swift attacks, not even breaking a sweat. His demeanor exuded a calm confidence that was impossible to miss.

Joryang could sense this ease, and it only made him more anxious.

“Damn it! This rotten bastard!”

Grinding his teeth, Joryang summoned a surge of sword energy.

Shu-kaang!

The sudden burst of energy shot straight toward Sabikang’s chest.

But then—

Taaang!

The attack was deflected by an invisible force, sending Joryang stumbling backward from the recoil.

“A barrier?”

It was a shield.

While shields could be used even at the first circle, Sabikang was at the eighth circle level. This allowed him to wield a shield strong enough to repel such an attack.

Joryang, unaware of this, was utterly baffled by what had just happened.

To deflect sword energy with just a barrier? How deep must his internal power be!

Or perhaps…

“Is it sorcery?”

Joryang’s thoughts spiraled, and he shouted in frustration.

“What kind of sorcery are you using?”

Sabikang chuckled softly.

“A rogue like you talking about sorcery? Even a passing dog would laugh. You of all people shouldn’t be throwing that word around.”

In the next moment, Sabikang’s gaze turned icy, and a chill swept through the air.

Crack. Crackle.

The grass touched by the blade of Vertas froze white, unable to withstand the cold.

“What… what is this?!”

Joryang’s eyes widened in shock.

Sabikang spoke coldly.

“Since you brought it up, why not experience a bit more of this ‘sorcery’?”

With that, Sabikang launched himself forward, kicking off the ground with explosive speed.