Chapter 72: Seniors (1)

That evening, after dinner, I crossed the massive central training ground as usual, heading to the secluded place where Jeong Hyeon would be waiting.

Creeeaaak.

With an unpleasant grating sound, the main gate of the Hall of the Demonic Way was opened.

Under the crimson sky painted by the setting sun, I saw a group of just over twenty people cloaked in billowing cloaks briskly entering the Hall of the Demonic Way grounds.

‘Hmm. Come to think of it, there was talk about that.’

I recalled what Instructor Chu Il-hwan had announced after all the interviews had concluded today.

It was news that the second-year disciples of the Hall of the Demonic Way were returning.

The program at the Hall lasted two years. While the first year focused on various basic training, the core of the second year was practical experience.

They would periodically leave the Hall and join martial units or other organizations to perform missions together for about two weeks to a month.

In other words, the seniors who had left for their first practical experience around the time I entered the hall were just now returning.

I briefly observed the seniors, wrapped in their cloaks, crossing the training ground,

I observed the seniors briefly as they crossed the training ground wrapped in flowing cloaks, exuding a solemn atmosphere.

'Well, it’s none of my business.'

I turned away and headed towards the spot where we practiced stealth techniques.

When I arrived, I saw Jeong Hyeon already there, bow drawn and aimed at the empty air.

“Here again today, I see.”

I deliberately kept a distance of about ten feet to accommodate him as I greeted him. Jeong Hyeon quickly turned around and deeply bowed his head.

"I-it's been a while, Young Master!"

“…Didn’t we fight together just yesterday?”

"It, it just somehow f-felt like a long time, Young Master."

"I, I see."

I stepped back another pace when I saw how nervous he was.

“Hic!”

Suddenly, Jeong Hyeon made a brave expression and boldly took a step forward.

And since the distance narrowed again, he became restless again.

‘Did his social anxiety get worse? Why did he brave himself on stepping closer?’

I wondered if he had gone even more unstable due to higher achievements in his Demonic Art.

He looked like he might succumb to Qi Deviation if left alone, so I tried to distract him.

"Ah. Come to think of it, didn't you have an interview today?"

"Yes. Yes! I, I had an interview w-with Instructor Eun Ryeo."

"I see. What did she say about the test?"

Jeong Hyeon’s cheeks flamed as he squirmed in place.

"Sh-she said I did w-well."

He was clearly embarrassed about receiving praise from Instructor Eun Ryeo.

"A-and...."

Jeong Hyeon tried to say something more, but suddenly his face turned pale white.

Then it’s flushed to red before returning to white again.

It was quite a spectacle, to be honest.

‘He’s going to lose it at this rate.’

And my prediction was accurate.

My hunch proved right. Jeong Hyeon snapped his head up, stared at me with fierce determination, and blurted out, “Please stay by my side, Young Master!”

"???"

His declaration left me speechless. Before I could process it—

"Tsk. Flirting in the sacred Hall, what a waste of time.”

An unexpected troublemaker emerged from behind.

I turned around to see who it was and saw a man wearing a flowing cloak.

Judging by his attire, he seemed to be one of those senior disciples who had just returned to the Hall of the Demonic Way.

The man with a square jaw and a sturdy build said as I met his gaze, “I came here to reflect on the insights I gained during my expedition, only to find you juniors engaging in such frivolous activity in my training spot. Get lost.”

I couldn't help but laugh.

'What's with this madman? Pick a lane, will you?'

He seemed open‑minded enough to tolerate two guys together and mistaking them for a couple, yet he spoke like a total old fogey.

Setting aside my annoyance, I looked at the side.

"Eek!"

Jeong Hyeon, whose face had been pale white until just now, was turning red again and continued until his face turned an alarming purple.

‘He must be startled by the stranger.’

After pondering briefly what to do, I clicked my tongue lightly and addressed the senior guy.

“Tch. We were here first. If you want to practice that badly, go elsewhere.”

The senior burst into a manic laugh.

“Bwahahaha! You junior has no respect! Fine! Let’s settle this the cult’s way.”

I couldn't help but sigh.

'Why do all these crazy fuckers think exactly the same way?'

Still, I had roughly expected things to turn out this way. Stretching out my left hand, I beckon him.

“Come at me.”

A sinister smile spread across the senior's face at my provocation.

“Alright! Let’s see if you can last until I sort out my enlightenment!!”

With that, he charged straight at me, utilizing his lightness skill.

But as straightforward as it was, his speed was explosive.

The moment I was within his striking range—

Swiiiiish!

—he drew his saber from the scabbard at his waist, demonstrating a fierce drawing technique.

Since he was faster than I could retreat, I sidestepped to the left instead while utilizing my lightness skill.

His drawn blade flew towards me, but—

Clang!

By then, I had already propelled my body to the left and drawn my sword using the power of the Soul-Departing Sword.

Swoosh.

Adding the finesse of the Soul-Guiding Sword to deflect the force, I tried to flick the boar senior's saber upwards, but…

'Oh?'

He was a year my senior for a reason; his saber didn’t give way as easily as Dokgo Pae’s sword.

The boar continued to swing his saber relentlessly, trying to corner me.

‘Is he the same type as that assistant instructor?’

His saber style reminded me of Chu Il-hwan's assistant. It primarily consisted of offense-oriented fast saber techniques. Moreover, it was evident he hadn't just been playing around during his year at the Hall of the Demonic Way. The way he connected his techniques with others was quite natural.

He was definitely several levels above that Dokgo fellow.

However, being still just a disciple, he fell short compared to an instructor.

'In that case.'

After retreating and dodging several times using footwork, I gradually became accustomed to his fighting style and switched tactics.

‘Let's end this quickly with a head-on clash.’

Utilizing the Soul-Cutting Flash, which emphasizes the essence of speed, I unleashed consecutive thrusts.

The rapidly moving sword and saber each created silver trajectories in the air.

Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew as our weapons clashed repeatedly.

After several rapid collisions of sword and saber, it was my side that was gradually being pushed back.

The boar's saber technique wasn't just fast; it also carried tremendous power, making my hands numb with each collision.

"Haaah!"

Seizing an opportunity, he roared and swung his blade with all his might once more—

Swish.

I swung my sword as if to collide with him using the Soul-Cutting Flash. Then, the sword, flying in a straight line, changed its path midway like a snake, slid past the boar’s saber and shot straight towards his throat.

Swish.

"It's over."

Using a feint at the last moment, I stopped my sword just right before his Adam’s apple.

I had narrowly dodged his final strike by twisting my body.

It was a necessary, risky move that I made to end the fight quickly. My risky gamble to end the fight quickly had paid off.

I was confident I could win even with a more confrontational approach, but the reason I chose such a risky move was due to the aftermath of the previous test.

‘Whew. Good thing I finished before the compulsion kicked in.’

All thanks to the previous incident with Bang Mi-hwa.

Fortunately, I had only performed the sword dance using the first fourteen forms of my Demonic Art back then. Thanks to that, my realm didn’t skyrocket and the side effect didn’t worsen.

I was able to calm my obsession down and end the sword dance quickly.

But sparring too long with a senior of this caliber risked unleashing another unwanted enlightenment.

The boar, who was helplessly subdued by the last move, looked down at the sword pointed at his neck with a half-dazed expression.

"Ah!"

As if coming to a realization, he suddenly exclaimed in admiration and burst into laughter.

“Bwahahaha! I was completely outplayed by a junior! To think you’d use that method to create a feint!”

It seemed he had mentally replayed the duel process in that short time.

Of course, I didn't care.

“Well then, please leave now, Senior.”

“Kehahaha! Right. The losers should keep their mouths shut. If you say leave, I must leave. But before I go, I must say this.”

He was indeed a contradictory human.

Since he knows that he is the loser, he should just shut his mouth.

Oblivious to my thoughts, the boar-like senior just kept blabbering.

"I apologize for the misunderstanding. With skills like yours, Junior, you can date all you want. Hahaha! Have a good time!"

Before Jeong Hyeon or I could respond, he wheeled around and strode off, cloak billowing behind him.

'What a madman.'

Then again, in the Demonic Cult, "crazy" was just another word for "normal."

‘Don't think too much about it. It'll trigger my obsession.’

Shaking off the stray thoughts, I turned around and saw Jeong Hyeon’s ashen face.

***

Watching the senior’s retreating back, who arrived like the wind and left like the wind.

"Are you okay?"

At Il-mok's question, Jeong Hyeon hiccupped with a pale face.

"Hic!"

Thanks to the senior’s rambling, she realized that what she had said earlier could be easily misinterpreted.

‘I-I just meant f-for us to continue being in the same group…’

After receiving Instructor Eun Ryeo’s advice, Jeong Hyeon spent the entire day contemplating what she would do if he and Il-mok were separated for the next test.

The mere thought made her feel suffocated and terrified.

That's why she had asked Il-mok to be by her side.

She couldn’t bear the thought of being in a group with anyone else.

‘I-I need to explain…’

If he misunderstood that she had confessed to him, she needed to clear up the misunderstanding quickly.

If Il-mok had mistaken her words for a confession, she needed to clear up the misunderstanding immediately. Otherwise, he might lose the first friend she had made since learning the Ghost Spirit Divine Bow.

However, the pressure made it even harder for her to speak.

While Jeong Hyeon was fidgeting, not knowing what to do.

Il-mok, who had been watching her for a moment, scratched his head and said, “About what you said just now.”

“N-No, that’s not it. W-What I meant w-was…”

“You meant you wanted to stay in the same group, right?”

"!?"

Jeong Hyeon’s eyes widened in surprise. How did he know?

"Y-yes. That's what I meant, Young Master."

At her answer, Il-mok nodded once and said with an awkward expression, “Assigning the group was up to the instructors' whims, so I can’t give you a definite answer. But still, I’ll try talking to the instructors about it.”

"Th-thank you, Young Master!"

The glue that had been sealing to her mouth seemed to have peeled off, and now words came out comfortably for Jeong Hyeon.

The suffocating tightness in her chest and the overwhelming rush of blood that made her head dizzy vanished instantly.

But why is it?

Despite feeling relieved, Jeong Hyeon felt an inexplicable sense of regret in one corner of her heart.