Episode 92: Return to the Demonic Academy
“Damn it, what on earth is happening?”
The warden of the Blood Prison hurried down the corridor, double-checking that each cell door was securely locked.
As he rattled each door, someone emerged from the shadows and spoke to him.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“What’s going on? Don’t you know? There’s an intruder—”
The warden’s words trailed off as he turned his head, startled.
Striding down the corridor was none other than Sabikang.
The warden pointed a trembling finger at him.
“You, you… how did you…?”
His gaze shifted to the creature following Sabikang, scratching its head awkwardly.
“Well, things got a bit… complicated.”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems I have to follow his orders now.”
“This is insane…!”
The warden spun around quickly.
“Emergency! There’s a prison break—ugh!”
As he ran, shouting, he suddenly collapsed with a scream.
“Aaaah!”
A red-hot brand had pierced his stomach.
Sabikang extended his hand, and a fireball shot out, obliterating the warden’s head.
Boom!
“Such a nuisance,” Sabikang muttered indifferently, while the creature beside him turned pale.
With a flick of his wrist, the keys hanging from the warden’s belt floated into Sabikang’s hand.
“Open it.”
“O-okay.”
The creature hurriedly took the keys and began unlocking the cell doors.
The person imprisoned in the deepest cell was, as expected, Sangpilji.
Bound in chains and unconscious, his body was covered in wounds, evidence of brutal torture.
Sabikang frowned and turned to the creature.
“Was this your doing?”
“N-no! I was only in charge of you, remember?”
The creature waved its hands frantically, stepping back.
“Then who?”
Before the creature could answer, the culprit appeared.
“What’s all this commotion? What happened here?”
A sharp voice echoed from the corridor as a frail old man stepped through the open cell door.
His head was shiny, with sparse white hair.
He flinched upon seeing Sabikang and the creature inside the cell.
In an instant, he acted on decades of experience.
He slammed the cell door shut, trapping them inside.
Clang!
It was a wise move, not hesitating in the face of danger.
The only problem was, he didn’t have time to lock it.
Sabikang moved swiftly, kicking the door open with a bang.
“Ugh!”
The door flew open, sending the old man sprawling.
“Eek!”
Panicked, the old man scrambled to his feet, trying to flee.
But that was as far as he got.
“Air Blast.”
Sabikang extended his hand, murmuring softly. Dozens of energy blasts gathered in the air, shooting forward like a mirage.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Argh!”
The old man’s body was riddled with holes, blood spurting from the wounds.
It was the Air Blast spell, creating dozens of magic missiles.
At such close range, the missiles pierced the old man’s body completely.
“Ugh!”
The fallen old man writhed like a worm.
The creature shivered, watching the scene unfold.
“M-master…!”
“Was he your master?”
Sabikang asked coldly, and the creature waved its hands again.
“He was, but… it’s fine. I only learned bad things from him. Heh.”
The creature forced a smile, tears in its eyes.
Sabikang scoffed and returned to free Sangpilji.
Checking his pulse, he found him on the brink of death.
Supporting Sangpilji’s head, he poured a healing potion into his mouth.
Given his critical condition, it would take time for him to recover fully, even with the potion.
He might never be able to use martial arts again.
Sangpilji’s injuries were that severe.
“Carry him.”
“M-me?”
The creature pointed to itself, and Sabikang growled softly.
“Should I carry him? Fine, I’ll carry him, and you can deal with the rabbit.”
“N-no! I’ll carry him. I’ll do it.”
The creature quickly hoisted Sangpilji onto its back and headed down the corridor.
Sabikang freed the other students imprisoned in the cells.
Fortunately, they hadn’t been tortured.
There was no information to extract from them anyway.
“Alright, everyone, pack up. It’s time to go home!”
Sabikang’s voice echoed through the corridor.
**
“You bastards! Do you know where you are?”
Mojungang, the secret leader of the Blood Sect’s branch, roared, swinging his sword.
But he was soon knocked off his feet by something invisible.
The night sky spun above him.
‘What was that just now?’
It felt like being hit by something formless.
Was it a gust of wind?
It felt like nothing more than a breeze.
‘Ugh!’
Mojungang struggled to his feet.
Whoosh!
Another gust of wind swept him off his feet.
“Ugh!”
He quickly stepped back, bracing against the gale.
“This is ridiculous…!”
To an outsider, it was a comical sight.
In reality, he was struggling against the invisible force of Silape’s magic.
But to others, he looked like a drunkard flailing about.
Silape changed direction, attacking from behind, and Mojungang was lifted into the air again.
Crash!
“Damn it!”
Meanwhile, the clash of weapons rang out all around.
Clang! Clang!
“What on earth is happening?”
A burly man appeared, shouting in anger.
It was Gowungcheon, who had previously acted under the guise of the Black Tiger.
He had been recuperating at the branch when the chaos erupted.
‘The students can’t handle him.’
From the rooftop, Dangihyup spotted him and leaped down.
He had been observing the situation from above since the students’ assault began.
Whenever the students were in danger, he intervened without hesitation.
This time was no different.
Though it was his first time seeing the Black Tiger here, he quickly assessed the threat.
Despite his injuries, Gowungcheon was a formidable opponent, close to the pinnacle of martial arts.
If the students faced him, they would surely suffer.
“I, Dangihyup, will take you on!”
Gowungcheon frowned.
“You… Dangihyup of Sichuan? How did you end up here?”
“Let’s just say I took a detour.”
“Hmph! Then you’ve taken a detour to your death!”
Gowungcheon snorted, leaping forward.
But he underestimated his own condition.
Or perhaps he underestimated Dangihyup.
Dangihyup spread his arms wide.
Suddenly, a rich floral scent filled the air, and the sky seemed to bloom with colorful petals.
Then.
Swoosh!
Dark projectiles rained down like a storm.
“Aaah!”
“Argh!”
Screams erupted all around.
Gowungcheon raised his arms to shield himself, but the poisoned projectiles left him far from unscathed.
“You scoundrel!”
He charged, roaring, but Dangihyup swiftly countered with a palm strike.
It was his signature move, the Black Lotus Palm.
Boom!
Already weakened, Gowungcheon screamed as he was sent flying.
Crash!
He hit the wall and collapsed, coughing up blood.
A dark handprint marked his abdomen.
He had taken the full force of the Black Lotus Palm.
Dangihyup didn’t spare him another glance, turning away.
Having suffered the Black Lotus Palm, survival was impossible.
Sure enough, Gowungcheon staggered to his feet, only to collapse after a few steps.
The fight ended almost anticlimactically.
Sabikang’s previous attack had left Gowungcheon with severe internal injuries, affecting the outcome.
‘Impressive.’
Dangihyup observed the students fighting all around.
Their skills had improved significantly.
Though his subordinates intervened when necessary, the students held their own against the branch’s warriors.
The branch leader, who had been shouting furiously, was now gravely injured by Mokdanhwa and Yeonwoogyeong’s combined assault.
Of course, it wasn’t solely due to the students’ abilities.
The Tang Clan’s warriors provided support with their projectiles, and the Guiyache warriors, led by Gojoksan, fought valiantly.
Without their aid, the special class students would have been annihilated.
“Instructor, over there!”
Just then, Yeom Jaryang shouted, pointing to the north.
It was where the entrance to Hyeolokdong was located.
Yeom Jaryang and Dang Ihyeop sprinted toward it.
Boom!
Flames erupted from the entrance of Hyeolokdong.
It looked as if a monster had opened its jaws and was spewing fire.
“Aaaargh!”
“Ugh!”
With screams, the guards were thrown back, tumbling to the ground.
“Whoa!”
Yeom Jaryang and Dang Ihyeop quickly shielded their faces and retreated.
The intense heat reached them even from a distance.
Dang Ihyeop cautiously approached.
“What happened…?”
At that moment, someone emerged from the entrance of Hyeolokdong.
Yeom Jaryang’s face lit up with relief.
“Instructor!”
“Why are you so late?”
Sabigang frowned slightly, chiding them.
Dang Ihyeop hurried to his side.
“I’m sorry. Someone from the Jeongdomeng came…”
“I know. That slippery Seok Jipyung or whatever his name is, right?”
“How did you…? Oh.”
Dang Ihyeop quickly understood.
Hadn’t his master already glimpsed the future?
“Any casualties?”
“None on our side yet.”
“Of course, that’s how it should be. I meant the damage to the branch.”
“About thirty percent. They seemed completely unprepared for the ambush.”
“Naturally. There wouldn’t have been any signs from Jeongdomeng or Yongcheongwan that they were planning to attack here.”
“That turned out to be an advantage for us.”
“If you want to look at it that way.”
Sabigang spoke dismissively and began to walk away.
“First, move the kids to a safe place and clean up everything here.”
“Understood.”
Sabigang patted Yeom Jaryang on the shoulder and moved on.
“You’ve done well. Leave the rest to me.”
**
Ham Gajo burst into the courtyard, seething with anger.
“Those damn bastards!”
He shouted furiously, ready to charge forward.
“I told you, didn’t I?”
A voice suddenly interrupted.
Turning his head, he saw Sabigang striding toward him.
Ham Gajo’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“You… how?”