Episode 78

“Master Sa-go, we’re about to arrive at Gwaneumjang.”

Gyeoljin Sa-tae, the youngest elder of Amipa, simply nodded once at his disciple Jeong-hye’s words.

He knew her mood wasn’t good, but among the ten disciples in the current investigation team, Jeong-hye, being the most junior, cautiously asked again.

“Um, Master Sa-go, what will you do now?”

Gyeoljin Sa-tae shot her a sharp look and retorted, “What do you mean, ‘what will I do’? Isn’t it proper etiquette to greet the host politely when visiting an external sect?”

Jeong-hye’s face showed confusion as she pressed on, “B-but what if that place is really the den of the Blood Cult who kidnapped Master Jeong-in? If that’s true…”

They had come to investigate Gwaneumjang based on the letter Jeong-yeon had sent. So formally greeting the place first was something Jeong-hye simply couldn’t understand.

But Gyeoljin Sa-tae frowned deeply and snapped, “Has it even been confirmed that it’s the Blood Cult’s hideout? To doubt Gwaneumjang, our long-time ally, on unverified claims! How can you still call yourself a disciple of Daemi?”

“But Master Sa-go, we’re here to investigate them…”

“Enough! You’re still talking nonsense without realizing your mistake! When we return to the main temple, I’ll report this to the sect leader and have you confined for a month!”

Jeong-hye bit her lip.

Things were unfolding exactly as her master, Gyeol-un Sa-tae, had feared.

That was why Gyeol-un had insisted on going personally.

A few days ago, the letter Jeong-yeon sent had caused a huge stir among Amipa’s leadership.

It reported that Jeong-in, one of Amipa’s most outstanding late-stage practitioners, had been kidnapped by the Blood Cult. The current sect leader, Gyeol-han Sa-tae, had tried to dismiss Jeong-yeon’s report.

But Jeong-yeon hadn’t sent the letter only to Gyeol-han Sa-tae.

Following advice from Seon Woo-jin, she had also sent the same letter to her own master, Gyeol-a Sa-tae. This allowed Gyeol-a Sa-tae to criticize Gyeol-han Sa-tae in front of all the elders for ignoring Jeong-yeon’s report without a word.

“How can the sect leader dismiss a report that one of Amipa’s disciples has been kidnapped and their fate unknown? Is she really fit to be our sect leader?”

Gyeol-han Sa-tae was utterly flustered.

She had never imagined that two separate letters had been sent.

But rising to the sect leader position through sheer political skill, Gyeol-han Sa-tae didn’t panic. She arrogantly dismissed the report as too absurd to even consider.

“A disciple who should be confined in the training hall sneaks out without permission and gets kidnapped? By Blood Cult members disguised as Jeong-hyupbang? Who would believe such a lame excuse? Am I supposed to take this nonsense seriously?”

Her stubborn denial, ignoring the disciple’s safety, enraged many.

But Gyeol-han Sa-tae didn’t care about the opposition’s anger, and as usual, the situation seemed destined to be pushed through by the sect leader’s authority.

If there had been no other evidence, that would have been the end of it.

Fortunately, Gyeol-a Sa-tae had proof.

Seon Woo-jin had torn a Blood Cult secret manual in half, giving one half to Sak Mu-heun and the other to Jeong-yeon to enclose with the letter.

Holding the Blood Cult’s secret manual, Gyeol-a Sa-tae confidently smiled and said to Gyeol-han Sa-tae, “Absurd, you say? Yet here is the Blood Cult’s secret manual enclosed.”

“What?!”

In the end, even sect leader Gyeol-han Sa-tae had to agree that an investigation was necessary.

At least it was true that Blood Cult members had been found.

But then came the problem of selecting the investigation team.

Originally, Gyeol-a Sa-tae, Jeong-yeon’s master and part of the opposition, and Gyeol-un Sa-tae, Jeong-hye’s master, had insisted on going themselves.

But sect leader Gyeol-han Sa-tae said such matters should be entrusted to the youngest to gain experience, appointing Gyeoljin Sa-tae as the team leader.

Of course, Gyeoljin Sa-tae belonged to Gyeol-han Sa-tae’s faction.

And that’s how they ended up in this situation.

“Probably, Gyeoljin Sa-tae was ordered by the sect leader to just make a cursory investigation. But why? Why give such an order when the Blood Cult’s leader has been found and Master Jeong-in kidnapped?”

Jeong-hye couldn’t understand it.

More importantly, she didn’t know what to do.

She felt utterly helpless.

To make matters worse, Gyeoljin Sa-tae had settled at an inn near Gwaneumjang and even sent a formal visit notice, politely announcing their arrival the next day.

Jeong-hye was speechless.

“I have to do something. I have to.”

She spent the entire night pondering what she could do.

The next morning, Gyeoljin Sa-tae led the ten disciples, including Jeong-hye, to Gwaneumjang.

The main gate of Gwaneumjang was wide open.

About thirty warriors stood lined up on both sides, as if to welcome them.

A middle-aged warrior stepped forward from the center, bowing respectfully.

“Welcome! It must have been a long journey from Amipa. Thank you for coming.”

Though Gwaneumjang was only a day’s travel away, and they had arrived on the second day, so it wasn’t really a hardship.

Still, Gyeoljin Sa-tae smiled warmly and bowed politely.

“No trouble at all. We’re honored by such a warm welcome. I am Gyeoljin of Amipa.”

The man returned the bow with equal respect.

“Ah! So you are Gyeoljin Sa-tae! Your reputation precedes you. It’s a great honor to meet you. I am Jin Won-guk of Gwaneumjang.”

“I see, so you’re Master Jin. I’ve heard much about you. The honor is mine.”

Though she had never heard the name Jin Won-guk before, Gyeoljin Sa-tae greeted him warmly.

She glanced briefly at Jeong-hye, as if to say, “See? This is how righteous sect members behave.”

But Jeong-hye didn’t look at her.

After much thought the previous night, she had already decided how to act today.

Stepping forward, Jeong-hye bowed and said, “It’s an honor to meet you. I am Jeong-hye of Amipa. We were once greatly indebted to Chief Seo. May I have the honor of meeting him?”

Gyeoljin Sa-tae glared at Jeong-hye for stepping forward, but with others watching, she couldn’t scold her.

Jin Won-guk smiled awkwardly and replied, “It seems you have a connection with our chief. Unfortunately, he is currently away. Had we known in advance, I’m sure he would have waited for you.”

The chief was not here?

Jeong-hye’s eyes sharpened slightly.

Still smiling, she continued, “I see. That’s unfortunate. Then might I meet Chief Choi or Master Yang? I’ve been eager to see them as well.”

Jin Won-guk’s expression flickered uneasily.

He answered again with a troubled look, “Ah, both of them are also away at the moment. When they return, I will be sure to…”

At that moment, Jeong-hye suddenly drew her sword and lunged at Jin Won-guk.

Clang!

“Ugh?!”

But Jin Won-guk dodged swiftly, stepping back.

Gyeoljin Sa-tae, frowning at this sudden chaos, shouted in shock, “Jeong-hye! What the hell are you—!”

But Jeong-hye was quicker.

Pointing her sword at Jin Won-guk, she shouted, “The Blood Cult’s leader! We’ve been trapped! There is no Master Yang at Gwaneumjang!”

Gyeoljin Sa-tae looked at Jin Won-guk, puzzled by Jeong-hye’s words.

Jin Won-guk’s face twisted briefly before he let out a low, sinister laugh.

“Ha ha ha ha… It can’t be helped now. If only you had remained ignorant, you might have left here unharmed. Blame your excessive cleverness.”

Gyeoljin Sa-tae’s face went pale.

Could it really be true?

Then Jin Won-guk shouted, “Attack!”

The warriors who had lined up politely to welcome them suddenly twisted their faces into savage snarls and charged.

“Kill the old hag! Only capture the young ones!”

“Fools! We can spare the pretty ones! This place is already lost!”

Against over thirty enemies, the Amipa investigation team had only eleven members.

And it wasn’t just a matter of numbers.

“Die, old hag!”

“How dare you!”

As the fight broke out, three warriors charged at Gyeoljin Sa-tae.

All three wielded swords emitting faint Dao energy.

They were all high-level masters at the early peak stage.

“Ugh!”

“Take this!”

Clang clang!

Though Gyeoljin Sa-tae was an elder of Amipa and a peak master with seventy years of internal energy cultivation, she was quickly pushed onto the defensive against three peak warriors.

“Damn you, Blood Cult leaders!”

Gritting his teeth, Gyeoljin Sa-tae fought desperately to fend off their assault, but the three warriors laughed wildly and pressed the attack.

“Ha ha ha! Why do you call us, old hag?!”

“Just got old? You’ve gotten ugly too! Hahaha!”

“Exactly! We should call you the old, ugly hag! Kihahaha!”

The vulgar taunts from the Blood Sect warriors made Jeoljin Satae’s face flush so red it looked like it might burst.

“Y-You filthy bastards!”

At Jeoljin Satae’s outburst, the Blood Sect disciples exchanged glances. Their eyes, fixed on the easily enraged Jeoljin Satae, resembled a pack of wolves eyeing their prey.

Meanwhile, Jin Won-guk, who seemed to be the leader of the Blood Sect warriors, was walking toward Jeong-hye at a leisurely pace, hands clasped behind his back—not even drawing his weapon.

Despite this, Jeong-hye, sword drawn and aimed at him, could only keep retreating step by step.

The overwhelming pressure radiating from him was simply too much to resist.

There was no doubt he was a master far beyond her ability.

Jin Won-guk let out a cold, bitter smile.

“I like you, girl. You’re sharp—very sharp. Don’t worry. I’ll kill all the others, but I’ll spare you and take you with me.”

Jeong-hye swallowed hard, gritting her teeth as she shouted back.

“If we don’t return, the Amipa’s elite will come crashing down! They already know that Jeonghyeopbang is a Blood Sect stronghold! Do you really think you’ll survive?!”

Jin Won-guk laughed incredulously.

“Hah, you think the Amipa’s elite will come? Do you really believe that? Your sect leader seems to care more about the bribes we pay than about the Amipa disciples.”

Bribes?!

Jeong-hye’s eyes flickered sharply.

Could it be that the reason the sect leader had been so friendly to Jeonghyeopbang all this time was because of that?

Jin Won-guk continued.

“Look around. If they truly suspected us, do you think they’d send only this small a force? Even sending a visitor’s pass?”

Jeong-hye had no answer to his mocking words.

His words stabbed deep into her heart.

Jin Won-guk, seeing her reaction, smirked and casually glanced around.

Everywhere his gaze landed, Amipa disciples were falling helplessly.

Puhak!

“Ahhh!”

“Master Jeoljin!”

“Hahaha! Don’t kill her—capture her!”

“No, no! Kyaaa!”

Jeong-hye could only watch the chaos unfold.

It was hopeless.

But she clenched her teeth again.

Everything was unfolding exactly as she had predicted. She had to bear the consequences.

In truth, Jeong-hye had already expected this outcome if they were truly Blood Sect members.

What could Jeoljin Satae—the weakest among the secret disciples—and his mere ten disciples do?

All she wanted was to sacrifice themselves to alert their sect to the Blood Sect’s presence.

If this much damage was done, no matter how corrupt the leadership was, they wouldn’t be able to ignore it.

But seeing Jeong-hye’s expression, Jin Won-guk chuckled darkly and spoke again.

“Do you really think your sacrifice will help catch us? Hahaha, what a dream. Once you’re dealt with, we’ll burn down Gwaneumjang and leave. Do you think your Amipa can find us then?”

Jin Won-guk rarely made a move against her.

He seemed to enjoy talking, perhaps even taking pleasure in crushing his opponent’s spirit with words.

Thinking this, Jeong-hye glared fiercely and shouted.

“We already know you came from Jeonghyeopbang! No matter how much you hide here…!”

But Jin Won-guk cut her off calmly.

“Got any proof?”

Jeong-hye was left speechless.

“…What?”

“I said, do you have any proof? That you came from Jeonghyeopbang, or that Jeonghyeopbang is a Blood Sect den?”

“…”

Though she had the Blood Sect’s secret manual, Jeong-hye chose not to mention it.

Jin Won-guk smiled smugly.

“I’ll tell you how this will go. You’ll disappear, and your sect leader, Jeolhan Satae, will probably send an investigation team. Maybe even to Jeonghyeopbang. But there won’t be any evidence anywhere, and Jeolhan Satae will never be able to pressure Jeonghyeopbang. She’s taken so much from us over the years. She never saw that as a weakness.”

Jeong-hye’s expression darkened.

She already knew Jeolhan Satae wasn’t a noble person.

But still, she had believed the Amipa’s pride would be upheld. She never imagined it was this rotten.

And if Jeonghyeopbang had a weakness to be exploited, they might never conduct a proper investigation.

That fear grew heavier inside her.

Jin Won-guk, as if driving the point home, said coldly.

“Your sacrifice will be meaningless. Amipa will never touch Jeonghyeopbang. And… do you know why we even reached into Amipa’s territory?”

Jeong-hye’s face hardened, eyes filled with doubt.

Jin Won-guk smiled bitterly.

“Because we judged that the current Amipa is ripe for the picking.”

Jeong-hye trembled.

The thought that his words might be true—that her once-proud sect had fallen so far—was utterly despairing.

Satisfied by the despair now shining in her eyes, Jin Won-guk finally moved.

He looked toward Jeoljin Satae, who was still holding out alone while the other Amipa disciples had been subdued.

“Well, the pleasant chat is over. Time to take you down and deal with her too.”

Just as he reached out toward Jeong-hye—

Whoosh!

Suddenly, hidden weapons flew in from somewhere.

“Huh?”

Jin Won-guk hastily withdrew his hand, blocking the weapons.

Clang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

He turned toward the source, about to shout.

“Who the hell—?!”

Then—

Slash!

“Ahhh?!”

“What—what is this?!”

Jin Won-guk was stunned.

In that brief moment, someone had moved at nearly the speed of the thrown weapons and snatched Jeong-hye away from right in front of him.

It looked like a person, but the speed was so fast it was hard to confirm—like a streak of wind rushing past.

It was Bi Sa-yeong.

Using the fastest new technique and the explosive ‘Pokjinbo’ move, Bi Sa-yeong was the only one who hadn’t been subdued and had just rescued Jeong-hye.

As he snatched her away from the battlefield, he shouted back.

“I’ve got your rear!”

Jin Won-guk stared blankly as Bi Sa-yeong disappeared at incredible speed.

“Your rear, huh?”

Suddenly sensing something, Jin Won-guk snapped his head around and drew his sword in a flash.

Ching!

Then, at lightning speed, someone else came charging at him.

A very handsome man, grinning fiercely, shouted.

“Of course!”

Jin Won-guk leapt backward just in time.

In his eyes, the opponent’s sword light spread out like dazzling wings.

It was Seon Woo-jin.