Episode 120: Return to the Demonic Sect
“What on earth happened here…?”
Deep lines etched themselves into Seoraehyang’s forehead.
Even as she stood there, witnessing the scene before her, she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.
“How could this be…?”
The Annihilation Squad had been wiped out.
They were the ones who had conquered Jeokhaseong Fortress. Ruthless and brutal, yes, but undeniably effective and skilled in their missions. Yet now, they had vanished without a trace.
And until they arrived here, there hadn’t been a whisper of their demise.
Upon arrival, the state of the numerous corpses suggested they had been dead for quite some time.
This meant that even the Justice Alliance likely remained unaware of this catastrophe. They wouldn’t have left a fortress like Jeokhaseong unguarded otherwise.
So, who could have possibly defeated the Annihilation Squad?
The first thought that crossed her mind was whether they had been caught in a mutual destruction scenario while taking the fortress.
But she quickly dismissed the idea.
If that were the case, there would have been no report of their success in capturing Jeokhaseong.
“This is truly a mystery fit to drive one mad.”
Seoraehyang bit her lip and strode purposefully into the lord’s chamber.
She sat on the edge of an empty table, lost in thought.
The annihilation of the squad would be recorded as a critical failure for Ryu Yeojoong. But she couldn’t afford to be too pleased.
Ryu Yeojoong was a key figure in the Blood Alliance. If he fell, the entire alliance could crumble.
Rising through the ranks on the back of an opponent’s mistake was a precarious endeavor. One must achieve their own accomplishments while the opponent remains strong.
Just then, the door opened, and Yosin, the leader of the Phantom Squad, entered.
“There you are.”
“What’s the situation?”
In response to Seoraehyang’s question, Yosin gestured to a warrior standing outside the door.
Soon, a warrior dragged in a disheveled man and tossed him to the floor.
“Please, spare me! I’ve committed a grave sin!”
Seoraehyang frowned and looked at Yosin, expecting an explanation.
“That man was a worker for the Yellow River Trading Company. We caught him loitering in a nearby village.”
The Phantom Squad’s efficiency was indeed on par with the Annihilation Squad. They had already searched the nearby villages.
Seoraehyang addressed the man with a sharp voice.
“What happened here? Tell me everything you know.”
“Please, spare me! I’ve committed a grave sin!”
Thwip! Thwip!
The man flinched as he felt a sharp pain in his hand. Two red needles had embedded themselves in the back of his hand.
“Eek!”
“Stop panicking and listen carefully. Those are ‘Red Death Needles.’ If you don’t take the antidote within half an hour, you’ll die with your body covered in fiery sores. So don’t waste time and answer my questions.”
“I-I understand! Ask me anything! I’ll tell you everything I know!”
“Good. Now, tell me everything you know about what happened here.”
“By ‘here,’ do you mean inside Jeokhaseong Fortress?”
“You seem to have plenty of time on your hands, making me repeat myself.”
“No, no, that’s not it! I just wanted to be sure of the location… I know nothing about what happened inside Jeokhaseong!”
“Nothing at all?”
Seoraehyang’s voice grew sharper at the unexpected answer.
“Yes, truly! Please believe me!”
The man’s eyes were filled with terror. At least, they didn’t seem to be the eyes of a liar.
“Why don’t you know anything? Weren’t you supposed to come to Jeokhaseong?”
“Yes, but… we encountered someone before we got here!”
“You met someone? Who was it?”
“I don’t know. But that person… they took out all the warriors of the Yellow River Trading Company…”
The man shuddered, and fiery sores began to appear on his hand, making him speak even faster. He reported in detail what he had seen and experienced.
After listening for a while, Seoraehyang exchanged a glance with Yosin. They both had the same person in mind.
Seoraehyang reached into her robe and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper.
It was a wanted poster.
“Look at this. Is this the man you saw?”
The man’s eyes widened as he looked at the poster, then he nodded vigorously.
“Yes, that’s him! I’m sure of it!”
“As expected…”
Seoraehyang bit her lip.
The man looked up at her, pleading.
“Is there anything else you want to ask?”
“No.”
“Then, the antidote…”
But instead of answering, Seoraehyang signaled to a warrior, who promptly dragged the screaming man out.
“What will you do now? It must be Sabigang’s doing.”
“He’s more impressive than I thought. Sabigang, taking down the Annihilation Squad alone.”
“We can’t be sure. And we can’t fully trust what that man said. His story about a sudden pillar of fire is too far-fetched.”
“True. In a state of fear, even a small flame could seem like a towering inferno. But still…”
“Moreover, he claimed not to know what happened inside Jeokhaseong. Sabigang might not have been alone; he could have led multiple groups here. There are signs of fire damage everywhere. They might have used fire attacks.”
“Fire attacks… Even if not, it’s clear Sabigang has mastered some extreme yang energy technique.”
“You’re putting too much stock in that man’s fire pillar story…”
“No, I saw it myself.”
“What?”
“That day by the lake, I saw him burn the Black Specter to death.”
“Hmm. Then, as Hongmyo suggested, it’s likely Sabigang has mastered an extreme yang technique.”
“Let’s report this to the Blood Alliance, but keep the details about the beast to ourselves for now.”
“Agreed.”
Yosin replied with a sly grin.
Seoraehyang continued, her expression thoughtful.
“We need a way to approach Sabigang.”
“I’ll find out as much as I can.”
**
Two warriors guarding the main gate of Yongcheon Hall watched a man approach from a distance.
The man, wearing a bamboo hat, looked like he had traveled a long way, his clothes worn and dusty. His face was covered in an unkempt beard, likely from neglect during his journey.
Typically, the gatekeepers of the academy didn’t restrict entry. But this disheveled middle-aged man, looking up at the gate with a fierce expression, compelled them to intervene.
“Stop there. What brings you to Yongcheon Hall, sir?”
“Out of my way!”
The man’s abrupt and harsh words made the gatekeepers exchange knowing glances.
“We can’t allow that…!”
Swish, swish!
In an instant, two flashes of light sliced through the air, and the gatekeepers’ lower garments fell to the ground.
As the gatekeepers hurriedly pulled up their pants, the man smirked and strode into Yongcheon Hall.
He tossed a remark over his shoulder to the gatekeepers, who were trying to follow him.
“I’m Dan Lichu of the Ilseong Sword Sect.”
Only then did the gatekeepers pause, exchanging glances before halting their steps.
**
In the reception room, Dan Lichu sat across a table from Cheon Saemyung, who inwardly smirked.
Just as he had anticipated, Dan Lichu had rushed over as soon as he received the letter.
The man was exactly as Cheon Saemyung had imagined: impulsive, proud, and suspicious.
Traits often found in those who have lived in poverty. Always in a hurry, rough in speech, quick to take offense, and overly protective of their pride. They also tend to be wary of unexplained kindness.
Dan Lichu fit the description perfectly.
And now, having sent a letter to ignite his anger, it was no wonder he had come.
Cheon Saemyung put on a facade of concern as he spoke.
“I must admit, sending that letter left me uneasy for some time. But I felt it was my duty to inform you directly of what I witnessed.”
“You did well. When I received that letter, I was so shocked my heart still races. I mean, a dalliance with another man! What madness! I’ll deal with that lunatic myself…!”
“Please, calm down, Master Dan. Nothing is certain yet. I only wrote down what I saw and experienced. But I can assure you, Dan Lijeong would never engage in such behavior of his own volition.”
Bang!
Dan Lichu slammed the table with his fist.
“Of course not! There’s no need to investigate further! Didn’t you say that instructor even paid for Dan Lijeong’s tuition? There’s no such thing as a favor without strings attached! That scoundrel must have targeted my child with some scheme! As his instructor, he would have known our circumstances…”
Even as he spoke, Dan Lichu’s eyes reddened, perhaps from the shame of his situation.
It was a mix of anger and helplessness.
The frustration of a parent who couldn’t provide, driving his son to such a state.
Cheon Saemyung hid his amusement as he continued.
“I might have been mistaken. Perhaps Instructor Sa genuinely cared for Dan Lijeong and supported him out of pure goodwill. But what concerns me most is that, as the eldest son of the Ilseong Sword Sect…”
“Don’t even bring that up!”
Dan Lichu suddenly sprang to his feet, his face flushed with anger.
Cheon Saemyung quickly followed suit, bowing his head in apology.
“I am truly sorry. As the head instructor, I fully acknowledge my responsibility in this matter.”
“Well said! How can you keep someone like that as an instructor? Isn’t it your job to manage them?”
“I have no excuse, even if I had ten mouths to speak with.”
“What? Lay down the sword? This lunatic… How dare he try to end our family line! There’s a limit to how much you can disregard our clan!”
“Yongcheon Academy holds the utmost respect for Ilseong Sword School. After all, who in the world can match your sword-drawing skills?”
“Ahem.”
Dan Lichu cleared his throat, seemingly appeased by the flattery.
Of course, the praise was greatly exaggerated.
In the distant past, Ilseong Sword School was renowned for its sword-drawing technique, but now it was just another middling school. It wouldn’t be surprising if it vanished from the village one day. Other schools had produced far more talented swordsmen.
But how could the head of the school easily admit such a truth?
Cheon Saemyung subtly reignited that pride.
“Of course, Dan Lijung might have a knack for archery. Who knows, he could even become an archer for the royal palace if things go well…”
“I don’t want to hear it! How can you say such a thing? He’s the eldest son of Ilseong Sword School! And you suggest he becomes an archer?”
“I misspoke. Please forgive me.”
“I won’t hold your words against you, Cheon. But I cannot forgive that man! I will confront him myself! Take me to him right now!”
Reluctantly, Cheon Saemyung stood up.
“I’ll lead you to him, but please, try to stay calm. It’s important to approach this with a clear head…”
“That’s for me to decide!”
Cheon Saemyung cut himself off and bowed again.
His face, hidden from view, was alight with amusement.