Chapter The Demonic Cult Instructor Returns Chapter 196
Chapter 196
One of the masked figures, instead of answering, roughly slung Seol-baek over his shoulder and launched his body into the air.
“Where are you going!”
Just as Sa Bigang was about to give chase immediately,
Suaaang!
Once again, sword energy flew in and swept past in front of Sa Bigang.
Kwakwang!
The sword energy exploded against a large tree trunk, and dozens of trees shattered to pieces.
It was sword energy filled with both sharpness and power.
Huuung!
As if they wouldn’t allow pursuit, killing intent that could cut flesh burst forth from the masked figure.
Extraordinary energy!
“What are you bastards?”
When Sa Bigang stretched out his hand, Veritas, which had fallen somewhere, flew over with a whoosh.
Sa Bigang narrowed his eyes and glared at the masked figure.
Those guys had handled Seol-baek quite roughly.
You could tell just by looking at how they applied pressure points.
Rather than protective measures, it felt more like making sure he couldn’t resist.
That meant these people were at least not his subordinates.
No, surprisingly, the energy of those who had just appeared was stronger than even Seol-baek’s.
Moreover, the sword energy that had flown toward him earlier.
That was…
“You, try that attack from before again.”
Sa Bigang pointed at the masked figure with Veritas.
The masked figure slowly took a combat stance while glaring at Sa Bigang.
At least it wasn’t a stance for shooting sword energy.
Sa Bigang furrowed his brow.
“What are you doing when I told you to try it again?”
Taat!
Instead of answering, the masked figure charged toward Sa Bigang.
Shieeeek!
‘He’s fast!’
Kaaang!
The two people’s swords clashed with each other, and sparks burst forth.
Sa Bigang’s body was pushed back with a whoosh.
“Stop fooling around and try it again!”
Sa Bigang shouted as he thrust Veritas forward.
This time it was truly an unavoidable strike!
But…
Paat!
“…!”
He disappeared?
The masked figure vanished without a trace.
Sa Bigang’s eyes widened as he spun his body around,
Suaaaaang!
Wasn’t sword energy flying from behind him at a terrifying speed?
There was no time to raise Veritas to block it.
In that split second, Sa Bigang used all his strength to simultaneously activate Shield and protective sword energy.
Peokwaang!
The sword energy exploded and Sa Bigang’s body slid backward.
“Kulleok!“
When he spat out the hot energy rising from his stomach, a black clot of blood came out.
It was an internal injury from the sudden attack.
But it wasn’t a big problem.
He could easily treat this level of internal injury.
More importantly…
‘That just now was…?’
Sa Bigang deeply furrowed his brow and kicked off the ground, flying upward.
Pabaaat!
His figure rushed toward the masked figure like a gale.
The masked figure’s pupils dilated slightly.
He too thought Sa Bigang’s martial arts were stronger than expected.
He had judged that the previous strike couldn’t be blocked.
“Haat!”
Suaaaaang!
Sa Bigang let out a spirited shout for once as he sent forth sword energy.
The masked figure clashed with it by slashing his sword diagonally downward from that spot.
Suaang!
Kwang!
The two sword energies collided, and once again a storm of energy blew out in all directions.
Chwaaaaaa!
The falling rain scattered in all directions around the two people for a moment.
Ururururung! Kwagwang!
Lightning struck and thunder roared once again.
Pabaaat!
Sa Bigang didn’t give him time to rest.
He pressed the masked figure with that momentum.
Shieeeek!
Just as Veritas pierced through the rain streaks and stretched out like a ray of light,
Paaat!
“…!”
He disappeared again!
Chwaaat!
Sa Bigang stopped as if sliding and turned around.
Suuuuung!
This time a sword filled with sword energy was flying toward him whole.
Since he had already somewhat anticipated this, Sa Bigang didn’t panic and raised Veritas to block it.
Jjeong!
The sword that struck the side of Veritas made a loud noise and shattered to pieces!
Because of that, the sword blade fragments scattered piece by piece and flew threateningly again.
Tadadadadadang!
The fragments struck the Shield he reflexively raised, making a sound like oil splattering.
Chwaaaaaa!
When the commotion ended, the surroundings were once again filled only with the sound of pouring rain.
Sa Bigang’s eyes grew coldly calm.
‘No doubt about it.’
The way the masked figure had just disappeared before his eyes was definitely Blink magic.
Moreover, the sword energy that had flown first.
That was closer to an aura made of mana.
For a brief moment he thought the masked figure might have crossed over from the Demon Realm, but soon shook his head.
There was no way they would have appeared already.
Moreover, judging by the fighting style so far, the opponent also knew how to use internal energy.
On the other hand, handling mana seemed somewhat clumsy.
Then there was one possibility.
Like the scroll Seol-baek had used earlier, if he used pre-completed magic items.
It could be in scroll form, or it could be in the form of accessories like rings or necklaces.
‘Well, seeing that he used Blink, it’s likely in accessory form.’
However, right now it was difficult to check for accessories because the opponent was wearing a mask and even gloves.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
When Sa Bigang suddenly spoke, the masked figure looked at him quietly.
“How did you just do that?”
He was referring to the Blink.
He asked as if he had never seen such a thing in his life.
But the masked figure gave no answer.
Instead, he glanced into the distance and then turned around and ran away!
It was probably because he felt the presence rapidly approaching from the southeast.
Sa Bigang could also tell who was approaching.
It was Alliance Leader Neung Un-pa.
There was a high possibility she had gone quite far away and was on her way back when she sensed the energy of this place in battle.
“Stop!”
Sa Bigang was about to launch his body,
Shushushushusushik!
About fifty warriors densely descended throughout the forest.
‘Damn annoying!’
Sa Bigang gripped Veritas and drew up his energy.
One peculiar point was that none of those blocking the front wore masks.
That meant it didn’t matter if their identities were exposed.
In other words, these people probably knew absolutely nothing about their superiors.
“Even if I tell you to get out of the way, you won’t listen!”
Sa Bigang shouted as he kicked off the ground.
The warriors blocking the front also began charging at Sa Bigang simultaneously.
Shishishieeeek!
Dozens of swords poured down on Sa Bigang.
Ttadang! Kaaang!
“Kraaak!“
Every time light flashed, rainwater turned to blood, and thunder mixed with screams.
Chachachaaat!
Seogeok! Seogeok! Ttaang!
Sa Bigang performed sword dance in the rain.
Every time he swung his sword, raindrops bounced off like daggers and struck the enemies hard.
Peopeok!
They experienced that flesh could be penetrated even by being hit with water droplets.
How long had he fought like he was possessed?
“You bastards!”
Suddenly a roar burst forth and a figure descended beside Sa Bigang.
Peopeong!
When the shadow extended both palms, the warriors screamed and were flung far away.
He drew his sword and looked back at Sa Bigang.
It was Neung Un-pa.
“Sorry for being late.”
“It’s fine.”
“Let’s talk about the details later.”
Taat!
In an instant, the two people scattered in both directions toward the warriors surrounding them and charged forth.
***
Puuk!
A chilling sound of flesh being torn pierced through the rain.
“Kruuk!“
The warrior coughed up a clot of blood.
Chwaak!
When Neung Un-pa pulled out her sword, blood splattered and the warrior collapsed.
When Neung Un-pa turned her head, Sa Bigang was beheading the last warrior in the distance.
Chuaaaa!
Finally, when the last enemy fell spurting blood, Sa Bigang turned around with an emotionless expression.
They weren’t particularly strong.
However, Sa Bigang had just consecutively fought Seol-baek and the unidentified masked figure, consuming quite a lot of energy.
Moreover, he was in a state of having suffered slight internal injuries from the masked figure.
Therefore, handling the fierce attack of these two hundred or so people wasn’t so easy.
Fortunately, Neung Un-pa appeared in time, so he could deal with them without difficulty.
Neung Un-pa approached Sa Bigang while looking around.
“Who the hell are these guys?”
“I don’t know either.”
Sa Bigang spoke and approached a man who had fallen in one corner, groaning.
He was still breathing, but both his arms had been severed.
“Who are you people?”
“…Don’t know.”
The man looked up at Sa Bigang with a hollow gaze.
Neung Un-pa clicked her tongue.
“Stubborn bastard. Even in this state, you’re going to hide your identity to the end?”
“Kekeke. How can I tell you what I truly don’t know? Who provided us with massive funding, why they raised us to this extent. I know nothing at all. I just know… that if we disobey, we’ll be killed.”
“By whom?”
“Don’t know.”
The man smiled with difficulty.
It looked like he was mocking his own situation, and also like he was taunting Sa Bigang and Neung Un-pa.
Sa Bigang stared directly into the man’s eyes.
At least he didn’t seem to be lying.
Since he had anticipated this from the beginning, he wasn’t particularly angry.
Sa Bigang muttered in an indifferent voice.
“You worked hard.”
Peok!
A strand of finger wind flew out and pierced through his forehead.
The man died with his eyes wide open.
Neung Un-pa looked around at the corpses and asked.
“Did we miss Elder Seol-baek?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. Obstacles suddenly appeared.”
“No. But didn’t you chase after him properly? By the way, if such people were protecting Seol-baek…”
“It doesn’t seem like protection.”
“Then?”
“Well, I suspect it might be exploitation.”
“Exploitation… Who could have raised such an organization? Don’t tell me…”
Instead of voicing the thought that came to mind, Neung Un-pa looked at Sa Bigang.
Sa Bigang nodded slightly.
“The possibility is slim, but it’s something we should look into.”
He was referring to the Blood Death Alliance Leader.
But was this really the Blood Death Alliance Leader’s doing?
There were circumstances to suspect, but something was strange.
If he recalled his previous life that he had experienced once, the Blood Death Alliance Leader was likely unrelated to this incident.
However, since he had changed various situations, the future might have changed too, so there was a need to investigate.
At that moment, a presence quickly approached from a distance and soon descended beside the two people.
“You two, you were here!”
It was Tang Iháp.
Sa Bigang asked.
“How did things go there?”
“The Iron Horse Corps was completely annihilated.”
At Tang Iháp’s report, Neung Un-pa asked with a dark expression.
“Were there any who surrendered?”
“None. They all resisted to the end and died.”
“Any wounded?”
“They bit poison pills and died.”
“How vicious…”
Neung Un-pa sighed.
There had been twists and turns, but this had cleaned up the disloyal elements within the Alliance to some extent.
However, the fact that there was an unexpected mastermind was quite shocking.
Moreover, failing to capture him and letting him escape was a painful mistake.
Still, this incident would make the Jeongdo Alliance somewhat cleaner and more transparent.
Since they had burst and squeezed out the most festering part, the remaining minor issues would be easily removed.
Whiiiiing.
The rain had stopped before they knew it, and damp wind blew.
The wind carried the smell of blood.
Neung Un-pa turned her gaze to look quietly at Sa Bigang.
He was deeply absorbed in some thought.
‘Truly an amazing person.’
Setting right the rotting Jeongdo Alliance.
What was that divine move?
It was probably General Manager Gu Yoon seeking out Sa Bigang, who was merely an instructor.
When he raised his head, the thick clouds were gradually clearing and stars were twinkling up.
‘Now we might be able to see the stars.’