Episode 108: Return to the Demonic Sect

Two men, their faces obscured by wide-brimmed bamboo hats, paused at the entrance of a secluded inn. The shorter of the two lifted his hat slightly to peer up at the inn’s sign.

The middle-aged man had a distinctive long mustache and a round face with equally rounded features.

“Mountain and Water Inn,” he read aloud.

“This is the place,” he confirmed to his companion.

“We’ve finally made it here,” the other man replied, nodding slightly before striding into the inn.

Given its remote location and the off-season, the inn was devoid of guests. The two men were quickly shown to a room on the third floor, where they removed their hats and sat across from each other at a table, their expressions serious.

“Are you really considering an alliance with the Blood Demon Sect?” the taller man asked cautiously. He was Hongyeom, known as the Shadow of the Ghostly Pavilion.

“Hmm,” the round-faced man murmured, avoiding a direct answer. He was Woongpa, the master of the Ghostly Pavilion.

Woongpa pulled a wanted poster from his robe. The sketch unmistakably depicted Sabigang.

“Is this the man?” he asked.

“Yes,” Hongyeom replied, his expression darkening. He couldn’t believe this day had come. Sabigang had once hinted that such a day might arrive.

“Someone from the Blood Demon Sect will likely come looking for me, probably with this wanted poster. If that happens, report to me immediately,” Sabigang had instructed.

Hongyeom, realizing he couldn’t escape Sabigang’s grasp, had informed his master and decided to follow Sabigang’s instructions. And now, someone from the Blood Demon Sect had indeed arrived.

The person tasked with the job was Myeongwol, who had been undercover as a courtesan. She brought unexpected news.

“The leader of the Blood Demon Sect wants to establish an exclusive deal with our headquarters,” she reported, sitting demurely behind a curtain as she relayed the sect’s conditions.

Woongpa listened intently, weighing his options. Should he reveal everything to Sabigang as instructed, or should he consider an alliance with the new sect?

He convened an emergency meeting with his top operatives, the Five Shadows, to discuss the matter. Opinions were divided.

Having witnessed Sabigang’s formidable martial arts firsthand, Hongyeom advocated for maintaining their relationship with him. Sabigang was the only outsider who knew the locations of both the main and branch headquarters of the Ghostly Pavilion, making it unwise to turn against him.

However, others disagreed.

“Sabigang has never given us anything in return! We can’t keep being his plaything. It’s better to ally with the Blood Demon Sect,” one argued.

“I agree! They’re offering a hundred thousand nyang as a signing bonus. An exclusive contract with them could bring us great wealth, and they might even protect us. It’s a win-win,” another added.

Yet, some urged caution.

“It’s not that simple. The Blood Demon Sect’s conditions are troubling. They want us to reveal the locations of our main and branch headquarters. That means they could eliminate us if they wanted to. I don’t trust them either.”

The meeting ended without a resolution, leaving Woongpa to ponder the decision alone at the meeting place.

Despite his uncertainty, he had come to meet the sect’s representative in person, hoping to gauge their intentions.

“Master, we might end up trading a drizzle for a downpour,” Hongyeom warned again.

“Hmm,” Woongpa sighed, the lines on his forehead deepening with worry.

“Can we really keep letting Sabigang lead us by the nose? And you’ve heard what happened to the Seven Star Gate when they refused the Blood Demon Sect’s offer.”

“But we’re not like the Seven Star Gate. If they treat us the same way, word will spread, and other sects won’t cooperate with them,” Hongyeom countered.

“Hmm,” Woongpa sighed again, knowing full well the risks on both sides.

“Master, time is running out,” Hongyeom reminded him.

Soon, the Blood Demon Sect’s emissary, Nak Il-lip, would arrive. He was the one who had approached Myeongwol with the offer.

Woongpa finally made up his mind.

“I’ve decided,” he announced, his expression resolute.

Hongyeom nodded slightly, not needing to ask what the decision was. Once Woongpa made a decision, he never wavered.

Just then, the innkeeper entered the room.

“Sir, your guest has arrived.”

Hongyeom and Woongpa exchanged a silent glance. The moment had come.

“Show him in,” Hongyeom instructed.

A man with a scarred cheek entered the room. It was Nak Il-lip, as expected.

Woongpa greeted him with a respectful bow.

“Pleasure to meet you. I am the master of the Ghostly Pavilion.”

“Likewise, I’m Nak Il-lip. And you are?” he asked, turning to Hongyeom.

“I am the Shadow of the Ghostly Pavilion,” Hongyeom replied, withholding his real name.

Despite his formal demeanor, Hongyeom couldn’t shake his unease around Nak Il-lip. He couldn’t quite understand why he felt more inclined towards Sabigang, who was equally, if not more, arrogant.

Perhaps it was a grudging familiarity that had developed over time.

Nak Il-lip wasted no time getting to the point.

“Have you given it some thought?”

“Yes, I’ve considered it thoroughly,” Woongpa replied.

“And your answer?”

“First, this,” Woongpa said, pointing to the wanted poster on the table.

Nak Il-lip nodded, while Hongyeom swallowed nervously.

‘What will the master’s decision be?’ he wondered.

If they chose the Blood Demon Sect, they would reveal Sabigang’s identity.

Finally, Woongpa spoke.

“We haven’t been able to identify this person yet.”

“Hmm?” Nak Il-lip frowned slightly, while Hongyeom felt a wave of relief.

‘So, he’s decided to be cautious of the Blood Demon Sect after all.’

The condition to reveal all of the Ghostly Pavilion’s secrets had likely been the deal-breaker. It was tantamount to subjugation under the Blood Demon Sect.

No matter the reward, handing over such a critical weakness would never lead to a fair deal. One disaster was enough for Woongpa.

Nak Il-lip’s voice turned sharp.

“I heard the Ghostly Pavilion’s skills are among the best in the land, but I’m disappointed.”

“I’m sorry, but we need more time. A mere wanted poster isn’t enough,” Woongpa replied.

“Perhaps. And what about the other matter?”

He was referring to the exclusive deal.

Woongpa paused before answering.

“We decline.”

Nak Il-lip’s expression twisted with anger.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. We cannot enter an exclusive contract with the Blood Demon Sect.”

“Are you challenging us?”

Whoosh!

Nak Il-lip’s robe billowed as his aura flared, sending a chill through the room.

Hongyeom’s hand instinctively moved to his waist, ready to draw his dagger.

Woongpa, though tense, maintained his composure as a leader.

“We’re open to handling specific requests from the Blood Demon Sect, but we won’t accept your conditions for an exclusive contract.”

Bang!

Nak Il-lip slammed the table and stood, his presence radiating menace.

Woongpa and Hongyeom stepped back, drawing their daggers. Both were masters of stealth, preferring short blades over swords.

“How dare you dismiss our offer! You think you can defy us?”

“And how could you propose such terms without underestimating us?” Hongyeom retorted sharply.

Nak Il-lip’s expression turned icy.

“Words won’t suffice. I’ll kill you both and erase the Ghostly Pavilion from the martial world.”

“Hmph! Do you think we’ll just stand by and let that happen?” Woongpa shouted, his form vanishing in an instant.

His stealth was truly masterful.

As Nak Il-lip reeled from Woongpa’s disappearance, Hongyeom also faded from sight.

When facing the Ghostly Pavilion’s warriors, one couldn’t rely solely on martial prowess. They were experts in stealth and agility.

Easy to defeat, but hard to kill—such were the warriors of the Ghostly Pavilion.

As soon as the two people disappeared, Nak Il-rip let out a small chuckle and placed a box on the table with a thud.

It was the same box he had been carrying since he first appeared.

“Enough with the tricks. You can come out now. I have no intention of fighting you.”

Woong-pae and Hong-yeom, who had been concealing their presence, exchanged puzzled glances before looking at Nak Il-rip.

Nak Il-rip’s gaze was fixed precisely on Woong-pae.

‘How on earth did he pinpoint my location so accurately?’

It would be impossible without extraordinary sensory skills.

Eventually, Woong-pae emerged from the air, appearing as if from nowhere.

“What are you up to all of a sudden?”

“Heh heh. This is a gift for you.”

Nak Il-rip opened the lid of the box on the table.

“What the—!”

“What is this…!”

Woong-pae and Hong-yeom recoiled in shock.

Inside the box was, unexpectedly, a human head.

The face had been completely skinned.

“Who is this…?”

Woong-pae asked, bewildered, as Nak Il-rip began to peel off his own face.

Rip.

The face of Nak Il-rip, marked with scars, vanished, revealing the unmistakable features of Sabi-gang.

Woong-pae and Hong-yeom were so stunned that their mouths fell open.

Sabi-gang grinned.

“Your decision today saved your lives.”

“S-S-Sabi-gang…!”

Woong-pae and Hong-yeom stammered.

Just then, the door opened, and a server entered.

“Sir, the drinks you ordered are—”

The server paused as he stepped into the room, taking in the scene.

First, he saw Woong-pae and Hong-yeom, then Sabi-gang with his peeled face.

Next, he noticed the head in the box on the table, and finally, the discarded mask on the floor.

As he lifted his head again—

Whoosh!

Thud!

An arrow flew from somewhere, piercing the back of the server’s head and protruding from his face.

The server died instantly on the spot.

Woong-pae and Hong-yeom were startled.

“That one was a Blood Alliance operative. No need to be surprised.”

Sabi-gang spoke nonchalantly, settling into a chair.

Woong-pae and Hong-yeom turned to him, still in shock.

Sabi-gang crossed his legs and said, “Now, shall we resume our negotiations?”