Episode 113: Return to the Demonic Sect
Three days had passed since the fall of Jeokhaseong, yet the fortress was still in chaos.
Looting was rampant throughout the city, and there were even frequent reports of women and young girls being assaulted.
Most of the spoils were being carefully packed into crates, but some opportunists were seen pocketing rings and earrings.
Disguised as a merchant, Sabigang stepped down from the carriage and wandered through the fortress.
He was familiarizing himself with the layout, exploring every corner.
Accompanying him were Jomuntak and Danrijung, disguised as high-ranking guards.
As they passed several buildings, Jomuntak and Danrijung struggled to hide their disgust.
Heads of warriors, presumably the leaders of those buildings, were displayed as trophies.
“Truly barbaric,” Jomuntak muttered under his breath, to which Sabigang nodded slightly.
“Take it all in. This is part of your training. You’ll witness far worse in the future.”
The annihilation squad led by the Prince of Joy was notorious for its brutality, even within the Blood Sect.
Everywhere they looked, the scenes were enough to make the three of them frown.
How long had they been wandering?
Suddenly, a sharp scream pierced the air.
It was close enough to make Sabigang and his companions stop in their tracks.
A young girl came sprinting around the corner, colliding with Jomuntak and falling to the ground.
“Ah!”
She quickly adjusted her disheveled clothes and looked up.
Her chest was exposed, suggesting she had been fleeing an assault.
Jomuntak was at a loss, unsure of what to do.
“Please, sir! Save me! I beg you! Please, save me!”
The girl clung to Jomuntak’s pant leg, pleading desperately.
Just then, a man emerged from around the corner, cursing loudly.
“You little wench! How dare you bite my wrist? Get over here, you little—”
A man in black martial attire approached with long strides.
Jomuntak instinctively stepped forward to block his path.
Sabigang’s voice echoed in Jomuntak’s mind.
[Don’t act rashly. Remember, you’re not Jomuntak right now; you’re a merchant from the Yellow River.]
[But, instructor! This is wrong!]
[Not everything that should happen does. That’s the martial world. That’s life.]
[But…]
Jomuntak wanted to argue but bit his lip and clenched his fists instead.
The man looked Jomuntak up and down before speaking dismissively.
“Who are you? A guest from the Yellow River?”
Jomuntak stared at him without answering.
The man smirked and grabbed the girl’s wrist.
“Then move along. You, come here!”
“No! Please, don’t! Please!”
The young girl clung to the man, begging, but he ignored her.
Unable to watch any longer, Jomuntak reached out and grabbed the man’s wrist.
“Hmm?”
The man frowned and looked at Jomuntak.
“What do you want?”
A tense moment.
Sabigang’s voice came again.
[Don’t do anything that will draw suspicion.]
Jomuntak, torn by inner conflict, reluctantly released the man’s wrist and spoke with difficulty.
“She’s just a child… Be gentle with her.”
“Heh. What, you want a turn too? You’ll have to wait your turn. Heh.”
The man chuckled and dragged the girl back around the building.
Sabigang’s voice came once more.
[You did well to hold back.]
[Did I really do the right thing?]
[Remember, during a mission, focus only on the task. Letting emotions interfere can jeopardize everything.]
[But… but…]
Jomuntak couldn’t continue.
He felt pathetic and powerless, unable to act against the injustice before him.
As they prepared to move on, another scream echoed from behind the building.
It was likely the same girl.
‘Damn it…!’
He recalled the look in her eyes as she was dragged away.
A gaze filled with despair, resentment, sorrow, and anger.
The saddest eyes imaginable.
“Damn it! I’m sorry!”
Suddenly, Jomuntak spun around and dashed behind the building.
“What?”
Danrijung exclaimed in surprise.
“Jomun— I mean, sir!”
But Jomuntak had already disappeared around the corner.
Sabigang clicked his tongue.
‘I knew this would happen.’
**
“Please, stop! Please…!”
Thwack!
The man struck the girl’s cheek with his fist.
Fueled by anger, he had used his strength, and the girl lay motionless, seemingly unconscious.
He whistled as he began to undo his trousers over her limp body.
Then, a voice called out from behind him.
“Hey, you pig.”
The man awkwardly stood and turned around.
“Pig? Are you talking to me?”
“Who else here is acting like a rutting pig on the street?”
“Wait, you’re that merchant from earlier?”
“Yes. And you remember well for a pig.”
Jomuntak, now in his merchant guise, replied coldly.
The man’s brow furrowed.
“What kind of nonsense is this? Are you picking a fight with me?”
“Do I need to spell it out for you?”
With that, Jomuntak launched himself forward.
Caught off guard, the man was unprepared to defend himself.
His trousers were half-down, restricting his movement.
Jomuntak’s swift movement brought him right in front of the man.
Thanks to his swift footwork, he displayed agility beyond that of most martial experts.
“Huh!”
The man tried to retreat in surprise.
Swish!
A cold sensation brushed past his lower body.
Thud.
Something fell to the ground.
The man quickly crossed his arms to block an incoming strike.
Bang!
He staggered back several steps, shaking his arms.
But then…
‘Blood?’
He looked down to see blood pooling on the ground.
And among it lay…
‘No, it can’t be…’
The man’s face twisted in horror as he looked down at his groin and screamed.
“Aaah! My…! Damn it! You cut off my…!”
But Jomuntak, his eyes cold, merely smirked at the man’s frantic cries.
“Hmph! Was that even worth keeping? It seems better off gone.”
“What? You bastard! I’ll kill you!”
By now, the commotion had drawn the attention of the Blood Sect warriors.
They looked between the man and Jomuntak, unsure of what had happened.
The man shouted at the top of his lungs.
“That bastard cut off my…! That lunatic!”
The warriors, realizing Jomuntak was wearing the Yellow River merchant’s attire, drew their swords.
Clang!
“Who are you?”
One of the warriors barked.
Jomuntak replied as calmly as he could.
“I’m a merchant from the Yellow River.”
The situation was already out of hand, but he needed to manage it somehow.
“Why did the Yellow River merchant attack one of our men?”
”…”
Jomuntak hesitated, unable to answer immediately, and the warriors’ expressions darkened.
“I’ll ask again. Why did you attack our man?”
”…”
With no suitable answer, Jomuntak tightened his grip on his daggers.
Seeing this, the Blood Sect warriors prepared themselves.
“It seems words won’t work! Attack him!”
At the command, the warriors charged forward.
At that moment.
“Stop!”
A sharp voice rang out.
The warriors halted, startled.
Around the corner came a man with a stern expression, hands clasped behind his back.
It was Sabigang, still in his merchant disguise.
One of the Blood Sect warriors recognized him.
“Master Bok?”
“What is going on here?”
The man who had been attacked by Jomuntak shouted again.
“What do you mean? That lunatic cut off my…! He just appeared and—”
“Hmph, you brought it upon yourself.”
Sabigang’s cold response made the man and the warriors flinch.
Sabigang gestured to Danrijung.
Understanding, Danrijung quickly checked the girl’s pulse.
“She’s dead.”
Danrijung reported in a flat voice.
Meanwhile, one of the Blood Sect warriors stepped forward and shouted.
“Master Bok, can you explain this situation?”
“Hmph! I was the one who ordered him to cut it off!”
“What? Why?”
Bok Lichu cast a sharp gaze over the Blood Lotus warriors, his eyes like daggers.
“Do you even realize what you’re doing to my merchandise? Every piece of loot here was meant to be converted into cash through the Yellow River Trading Company. Whether it’s alive or dead, it was all going to be turned into money by my hands.”
”…”
“Each piece of loot from the Red River Fortress is as good as money. That woman you just killed could have brought in at least ten thousand, no, a hundred thousand silver coins over the next decade. But that fool not only damaged her, he completely ruined her.”
Bok Lichu jabbed a finger at one of the men, his voice dripping with disdain.
The situation took a strange turn, and the man’s expression twisted with discomfort.
The Blood Lotus warriors were visibly unsettled. They knew better than to treat an appraiser from the Yellow River Trading Company with disrespect.
Seizing the moment, Sabigang pressed on with even more ruthless questions.
“Now, who will take responsibility for the hundred thousand silver coins she was supposed to earn? A significant portion of that money was meant for the Blood Lotus. Who’s going to cover this loss?”
At this point, the Blood Lotus warriors were at a loss, shifting awkwardly.
Sabigang pointed at each warrior in turn, his finger like an accusing blade.
“Will you take responsibility? Or you? Or perhaps you?”
The warriors flinched and stepped back, clearly intimidated.
With a voice as clear and cutting as glass, Sabigang declared, “If you can’t take responsibility for such a fortune, then from now on, keep your hands off the loot. Understand? If anyone dares to damage our precious goods, I, Bok Lichu, will not forgive it.”