CHAPTER 502: EPILOGUE SA YU-KANG (2)

The number of dropout followers of the middle-aged man was about thirty.

Considering that the number of dropouts from Heavenly Fragrant Hall exceeded two hundred every year, it was an unusually small number.

The trainees keenly observed the trainees in front.

“Are they the selected ones among the dropouts?”

“Probably.”

They must have been singled out for having demonic nature but poor training performance, or for not achieving results despite their talent.

“Look at their eyes. Don’t they have a greenish glow?”

A faint green light was visible inside the trainees’ eyes.

This was one of the side effects caused by clumsy training in demonic qi.

The trainees, who had mastered demonic qi, knew this fact better than anyone.

While tracking them in the middle of the night, a scream suddenly echoed.

“Aaah!”

It was shortly after they parted ways with the middle-aged man.

And then, screams erupted from another direction.

“What on earth is happening?”

The trainees were visibly confused. They couldn’t make a proper judgment in the unexpected situation.

“We can’t lose sight of that guy.”

Number 3 pointed to the middle-aged man who was moving away.

Since he was the one leading the trainees, they thought he must know something.

“Let’s go together.”

“No, that’s not a good idea.”

Number 3 shook his head at Number 5’s suggestion.

“We need to find out who is attacking the trainees. Discovering their existence is the top priority.”

Everyone nodded.

Not only understanding the current situation but also identifying the cause was necessary for accurate information.

Number 12 stepped forward.

“Then I’ll chase after the culprit. I’ll leave traces, so follow me after assessing the situation.”

They had already trained countless times in leaving traces and reading the number of their comrades during tracking exercises.

So, when told to follow the traces left behind, they all felt confident.

“Number 12, be careful.”

Number 5 said, holding him back as he was about to leave.

“Don’t worry. I’m the best at silently tracking among the trainees.”

Number 12 grinned confidently and disappeared into the darkness.

Number 3 and Number 5, who saw him off, quickly turned their attention elsewhere.

“Let’s go too.”

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Jin So-rim ran up the steep path, breathless.

His face, illuminated by the moonlight in the darkness, was twisted with fear.

‘This is hell.’

They said they would send him home.

He believed them when they promised to provide ample travel money, but he never imagined it would turn out like this.

‘They’re coming…’

He ran with all his might, but it was useless.

The mysterious beings in the mountains weren’t just chasing him.

In fact, they didn’t need to.

They were already positioned everywhere.

“Ah, there they come.”

Sure enough.

As he entered the open area, they were waiting.

“Who are you? Why are you doing this?”

Jin So-rim’s desperate cry echoed through the mountains.

He couldn’t understand those who exuded murderous intent for no reason.

“A reason? Do we need something like that?”

The oldest among them sneered.

Then, after quietly glaring, he uttered a single sentence.

“Why would we need a reason to kill a scum like you, demon?”

Suddenly, he lunged.

“Eek!”

Thud!Thud!Thud!

In the blink of an eye, punches rained down.

Despite gaining strength surpassing ordinary people through months of grueling training and mastering martial arts, the opponent was even stronger.

“Ah! Aah! Aaaah!”

Jin So-rim’s screams echoed through the mountains in excruciating pain.

With each punch, the sound of bones shattering and cracking could be heard.

The pain exceeded his limits, and his vision blurred.

Thud, thud.

As he nearly lost consciousness and slumped, the middle-aged man began to probe Jin So-rim’s body with his fingers.

Jin So-rim, lacking the strength to resist, mustered his last bit of energy to speak.

“What are you… doing… huh?!”

It was then.

Suddenly, a maddening energy began to erupt from below his navel.

No, it was more than an explosion; it was like it was boiling over.

“Ah, now it’s done.”

The middle-aged man, seeing Jin So-rim’s reaction, turned back with a satisfied expression.

“Who will face him?”

“I will.”

“Oh, you will? It’s your first real battle, right?”

“Yes.”

“Be careful. A demon with the blood seal is many times stronger than usual.”

“Understood!”

‘Blood seal?’

Listening to their conversation, Jin So-rim looked at his own hand.

His skin squirmed as if bugs were crawling under it.

This qi was violently surging throughout his body, and simultaneously, a killing intent to tear his enemies apart arose.

“Come on, then. You trash that should be erased from the world.”

A young man pointed a sword at him from afar.

And at his feet lay a sword.

Deliberately left there by the one who made him this way.

Swish.

The young man, seeing Jin So-rim pick up the sword, charged with fierce eyes.

“Aaah!”

Clang!Clang!Clang!

The chaotic swordplay sliced through the air.

Jin So-rim blocked the young man’s storm-like sword attacks, thinking.

In the past, it was a speed he could never block, but now he was responding with ease.

Clang!Clang!

After overcoming the crisis a few times, Jin So-rim switched to offense.

“Haaat!”

At that moment, the young man’s swordsmanship changed as well.

From simplicity to upper and lower stances, and then bending widely left and right.

“This is…”

Jin Sorim paused for a moment. Instinctively, he realized this was no ordinary sword technique.

It was as if the movements were tracing the shape of a flower.

“…Mount Hua?”

“How dare you sully that sacred name with your filthy mouth!”

The young man’s sword flashed with fury.

A moment’s hesitation cost him his life. As his head flew into the air, Jin So-rim died without understanding why.

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Meanwhile, the trainees watching from afar ground their teeth.

“Those bastards…”

Rage boiled within them.

They were disgusted by the way these so-called Justice sect members toyed with lives using the excuse of eradicating demonic blood.

“Stop. If you go, you’ll die!”

Number 5 grabbed Number 3, who was about to rush forward in anger.

Even at a glance, they were experts who far surpassed them.

One among them was especially formidable, incomparable to themselves.

Even watching from afar sent chills down their spines.

“How can they do such a thing…”

Number 5 sighed.

This was nothing but a hunt.

Moreover, their methods were cruel.

They used torture to provoke anger and then drove them to madness.

“We need to go quickly. We have to report this.”

“…”

“Hurry!”

Number 5 hesitated about retrieving the bodies but eventually nodded.

They had to admit they couldn’t stop this with their power.

“Yes. So…”

But just as they were about to retreat.

“Looks like there are two more here.”

The middle-aged man, grinning slyly.

He had been discovered by the one who had earlier pinpointed the trainee’s demon blood.

“Damn it!”

“Ugh!”

Pop.

Both of them leaped simultaneously.

But to the middle-aged man’s eyes, their movements were nothing more than trifling.

“Adorable little ones.”

Swoosh—

His body moved like lightning.

“Gah!”

In an instant, Number 5’s neck was caught in his grasp.

“Number 5!”

The fleeing Number 3 halted.

“At least you get out!”

“Ah…”

“Hurry! If you don’t go, both of us will die here!”

Even as his neck was being twisted, Number 5 struggled to speak.

In the face of a comrade’s death, Number 3’s feet refused to move.

“Do you think you can escape from me, you trash… Hm?!”

The expression of the middle-aged man holding Number 5’s throat suddenly twisted.

It was at that moment.

He suddenly recoiled in shock, releasing Number 5 and retreating.

“Argh!”

Sizzle-

The sound of flesh burning from shoulder to thigh echoed.

Astonishingly, he had been struck by the Bone Melting Acid.

“Number 3, next time, let’s meet using our names, not these numbers.”

“……”

“I wanted to tell you that.”

Rustle.

With those words, his eyes widened. In an instant, a blade pierced his shoulder.

One of the group watching had impaled his shoulder.

“Go now!”

At his desperate cry, Number 3 ran madly.

He no longer looked back.

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Number 3 ran frantically towards the originally planned location.

Upon arrival, he climbed the slope, searching for Number 12’s traces.

‘Please… Please…’

There was no time to check if the enemy was pursuing.

They could be following like shadows, or perhaps he had been lucky enough to shake them off.

The only certainty was that the Bone Melting Acid thrown by Number 5 had taken effect.

Given the enemy’s prowess, if the poison hadn’t worked properly, they would have already grabbed him by the neck.

“I shouldn’t have come here…”

Number 3 wiped away his tears.

He should have fled sooner. Lingering led to the worst possible situation.

‘I must relay this news immediately.’

Number 3 quickly ascended, noting broken branches and other signs.

Before he knew it, he had reached the summit.

‘It ends here…’

Number 3 stopped, feeling confused.

The trail clearly ended here, yet Number 12 was nowhere in sight.

As he was about to search the surroundings,

“Are you looking for this child?”

A voice emerged from the darkness, causing Number 3’s eyes to widen.

“You are…”

The shock of being discovered was overwhelming.

It was due to the identity of the figure standing before him.

Number 3 had never seen him in person.

But he had heard the name countless times.

A figure warned to be avoided at all costs, an extremely dangerous individual. The Supreme Pavilion Lord, Sama Gwi.

“Supreme Pavilion Lord, I’m disappointed. To bring such a tail with you…”

Moreover, Number 3 recognized more than one person.

Someone even more dangerous than the Supreme Pavilion Lord was present.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect anyone to take an interest in a discarded trash.”

“Indeed.”

He was Plum Blossom Sword Master, Goo Jong-myung.

For some reason, they were having a secret conversation here.

“Let them go.”

Thunk.

At that moment, the middle-aged man who had brought the trainees appeared, throwing something towards him.

“Gah.”

Number 3 immediately recognized the battered Number 12.

“I’m sorry…”

Number 12 apologized first. His injuries were too severe for him to stand.

“How did we end up like this…?”

Number 3 grasped Number 12’s hand, sobbing in despair.

The Supreme Pavilion Lord spoke to Goo Jong-myung.

“I’ve instructed them to search the surroundings, so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Hmm.”

“By the way, what will you do? There are still many disciples lacking real combat experience, aren’t there?”

The Supreme Pavilion Lord subtly hinted.

But Goo Jong-myung clicked his tongue.

“Coming all the way here… Just deal with it.”

“Yes.”

Swoosh—

At the Supreme Pavilion Lord’s glance, a shadow moved. Number 3 instinctively realized.

It was the Supreme Pavilion Lord’s personal guard, Heuk Bi.

“Do you think there’s a next life for humans?”

Number 12 asked. Number 3 shook his head.

“Is there such a thing?”

“True…”

Number 3 looked on wistfully.

He then lay down next to the fallen Number 12.

He didn’t even consider facing an enemy like Heuk Bi.

He just hoped for a painless death.

The two lay on the ground, waiting for death as they looked at the sky.

But contrary to their expectations, it was quiet. They thought a cold blade would pierce their hearts or sever their necks, but the surroundings were still. ṝÅ𐌽ố𝐁È𝙎

Number 12 also felt something was amiss around that time.

“What are your names?”

An unfamiliar voice was heard, and Number 12 answered.

“I’m Number 12.”

“Not your designation, your name.”

At the repeated question, the two responded as if entranced.

“I am Yeon Mu-gyeol.”

“I am Ju-il.”

For a moment, no response came.

As the two were about to rise in curiosity.

“Then this child must be Sa Yu-kang.”

At that moment, the two stood up simultaneously without knowing who went first.

There lay the one they thought was dead, asleep.

“You are…”

“Could it be…”

As their bewilderment turned into an inexplicable cry, the young man nodded with a bright face.

“Yes, it’s Earth Demon—Your leader.”