Episode 173: Return to the Demonic Sect

The General Commander that Lee Sa-heum once knew was a young, naive upstart who relied solely on his intelligence, oblivious to the ways of the world.

But now, how had he changed so drastically?

Or perhaps, he had been hiding his true nature all along.

With difficulty, Lee Sa-heum finally spoke.

“I-I will keep that in mind.”

Only then did Gu Yoon nod in satisfaction.

“Now, you should go and join the Lord of the House.”

“Th-then, I’ll take my leave.”

Lee Sa-heum quickly bowed and turned to leave when—

“Lord?”

“Y-yes!”

“You should take this with you.”

Gu Yoon tossed a letter, and Lee Sa-heum hurriedly picked it up from the floor before scurrying out of the room.

After a moment, Bi-ryeong turned to Gu Yoon.

“You’ve changed.”

“I had to. Does it bother you?”

“No, I think it’s good.”

“You’re probably the only one who thinks it’s good to order someone to kill.”

“It means you’ve become stronger. I don’t care much for other people’s lives.”

Gu Yoon chuckled softly and walked to the window.

“You must have learned that from him.”

He was likely referring to Sabi-gang.

Bi-ryeong nodded faintly.

“By now, the Lord of Cheonan should understand. He won’t act recklessly.”

“He better not. But if he doesn’t get it…”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Gu Yoon gave a wry smile as he gazed down at the lifeless maid.

**

Splash!

A carp leaped energetically from the pond before sinking back down.

In the most grand and splendid garden of the Jeongdo Alliance’s estate.

This was the backyard of the Thunder Hall, where Deung Wang-pae resided.

A pavilion stood by the sizable pond, and there, Deung Wang-pae was playing a game of Go by himself.

Click.

A white stone was placed on the board.

Even after that, Deung Wang-pae continued to stare at the board for a long time.

His expression revealed traces of intense mental calculation and contemplation.

He was so focused that he might not have noticed if someone had held a knife to his throat.

“Hmm.”

He murmured, stroking his beard.

Whenever he felt troubled, he would play Go alone like this.

Recently, he hadn’t had the leisure to do so, but now he had returned to the board.

Deung Wang-pae clicked his tongue.

“Too hasty. Not like a white stone. It’s like looking at my recent self.”

Playing Go often led to self-reflection.

Lately, he had been incredibly impatient.

Driven by an inexplicable anxiety, he rushed things and ended up losing an important subordinate.

In hindsight, how foolish he had been.

The more unexpected the opponent’s move, the more meticulous and cautious one should be.

But he had let his emotions get the better of him, responding rashly and losing even more.

‘When in a hurry, take the long way around.’

Deung Wang-pae sighed softly and placed a black stone on the board.

Click.

A satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

‘See, now the path to life is visible, isn’t it?’

He spoke suddenly, still looking at the board.

“Why the rush?”

Just then, Lee Sa-heum, who had been circling the Thunder Hall, stopped at a distance and bowed.

“I couldn’t find you in your office, so I searched for a while. Here you are.”

“What is it?”

“It’s something you need to see urgently…”

As Lee Sa-heum approached, Deung Wang-pae raised a hand.

“Don’t rush. When in a hurry, keep your composure. If you rush, you won’t even see the blade at your throat.”

Lee Sa-heum swallowed hard.

“But, my lord, before that, you should see this letter…”

“Come here.”

Deung Wang-pae gestured with a finger, still looking at the board.

Lee Sa-heum quickly approached and handed over the letter.

“You need to check this immediately.”

“Shh.”

Deung Wang-pae put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.

Lee Sa-heum frowned slightly.

‘Does this old man even know what’s happening right now?’

Watching Deung Wang-pae’s uncharacteristic calmness, Lee Sa-heum felt a growing sense of frustration.

But he was now a double agent.

The image of the maid who had died before his eyes still haunted him.

Deung Wang-pae spoke slowly.

“What do you think of the situation?”

“Currently, the leader’s close aides are gaining power…”

“No, no. I mean this.”

Deung Wang-pae gestured at the Go board with his chin.

Lee Sa-heum narrowed his eyes and studied the board.

Soon, he spoke.

“Black is in a favorable position.”

“Indeed.”

Deung Wang-pae nodded slowly.

“Just as expected from the next military strategist.”

In the past, such praise would have made him dance with joy.

But now, he felt no such inclination.

‘I’m lucky if I can just keep my life intact, let alone become the next strategist.’

Lee Sa-heum swallowed the words that rose to his throat.

Whether he knew Lee Sa-heum’s thoughts or not, Deung Wang-pae continued speaking.

“Just a moment ago, Black was on the defensive. But White rushed a bit. And in that gap, Black turned the tables with a brilliant move. A calm response led to the best move. Now, it’s White’s turn. Where would you place it? Care to try?”

Lee Sa-heum looked at the board, picked up a white stone, and placed it.

Deung Wang-pae’s expression turned to surprise.

“Oh! Impressive. The situation has reversed again. It’s completely in White’s favor now! Remarkable, truly remarkable.”

Lee Sa-heum spoke in a calm tone.

“A calm response can avert a momentary crisis, but overturning the entire situation is no easy feat. With this, Black’s position is significantly weakened… unless a divine move is found, it will be difficult.”

Deung Wang-pae nodded in agreement.

“Indeed. The momentum has completely shifted to White.”

‘Yes, the momentum has completely shifted. To their side.’

Lee Sa-heum’s expression was bitter.

Finally, Deung Wang-pae turned to him and asked.

“So, what is it? Report.”

“The treasury of the Dongbang family has been robbed.”

Deung Wang-pae flinched.

“Wait. What did you just say?”

Lee Sa-heum pulled out the letter and handed it over, repeating his words.

“The treasury of the Dongbang family has been robbed.”

“What on earth…”

Deung Wang-pae took the letter with a still-confused expression and began to read.

As he read, his face turned red and then pale.

Bang!

His fist slammed down on the Go board, scattering the stones in all directions.

Deung Wang-pae stood up abruptly and confronted Lee Sa-heum.

“Why are you telling me this only now?”

“You said to take the long way around when in a hurry…”

“There are times to take the long way and times to act swiftly! Damn it!”

Deung Wang-pae trembled with frustration, unable to contain his anger.

The self-reflective man from moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

“Damn it… how could this happen…!”

Grinding his teeth, Deung Wang-pae scanned the letter again.

Then, closing his eyes, he took a deep breath.

‘No, stay calm. Yes, when in a hurry… stay calm… Damn it! These idiots…! Phew… no, no. Stay calm. If I act rashly, I’ll mess things up again.’

After several deep breaths, Deung Wang-pae finally spoke in a subdued voice.

“What do you think?”

“I don’t think this is a situation we can hastily conclude.”

“The Inspection Bureau’s Sabi-gang and the Heavenly Destruction Squad have been here, and the Red Martial Squad has vanished without a trace. Could this really be a coincidence?”

“To investigate that, we should… heed the advisors’ suggestions and dispatch the Black Wolf Squad as soon as possible, shouldn’t we?”

The Black Wolf Squad was known for their unparalleled tracking skills within the Jeongdo Alliance.

It was said that if the Black Wolf Squad got involved, they could find a needle in a haystack.

If they were deployed, they could identify the culprit behind this incident.

Deung Wang-pae took another deep breath and nodded.

“Dispatch the Black Wolf Squad. Be mindful of the surrounding eyes. It should appear as if they’re being sent to investigate the disappearance of the Red Martial Squad.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Lee Sa-heum bowed and withdrew.

**

Meanwhile, Sabi-gang and the Heavenly Destruction Squad, staying at the Gangjin branch, were being treated to a life of luxury.

Every day, they were served lavish feasts, allowing the cadets to enjoy delicacies at every meal. They could bathe in hot water daily and indulge in nightly banquets filled with music and dance.

Some cadets questioned whether it was appropriate for the Inspection Bureau to indulge so extravagantly, but—

“Enjoy it while you can. It might be a luxury you’ll never experience again.”

Sabi-gang’s ominous words silenced any further thoughts.

As a result, the Gangjin branch leader, who had been tense about the Inspection Bureau’s visit, breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Sabi-gang was having a meal in his quarters.

After a few bites, he suddenly asked,

“Is it done?”

To whom was he speaking?

Soon, a shadow emerged smoothly from the darkness.

“Your senses are as sharp as ever, like a ghost,” came a voice, accompanied by a faint smile. It was none other than Akcheon Goe, the new master of the hideout.

Sabigang, still toying with his chopsticks, replied in a nonchalant tone, “Well, if you’re so confident, why not try sending an assassin?”

“No need for that. Once was enough for me,” Akcheon Goe said, waving his hand dismissively.

Sabigang chuckled softly and continued, “How did it go?”

“I left one of the Red Brigade captains at the abandoned shrine on Iron Mountain, north of the clan’s territory.”

“Where exactly on the mountain?”

“At the deserted shrine.”

“And the item?”

“Of course, I tucked it safely with him. It’s more than enough for his journey to the afterlife—he might even be able to afford a reincarnation,” Akcheon Goe replied with a sly grin.

Sabigang took another bite of his food and asked, “What about the others’ bodies?”

“Don’t worry about it. They’re well-preserved, in perfect condition. They look like they might just spring back to life any moment,” Akcheon Goe joked, though Sabigang didn’t laugh.

“Good job. And the painting?”

“The one that looks like a child’s drawing? It’s placed exactly where you wanted it. For our guys, that’s a piece of cake.”

“They’ve become ‘our guys’ now, have they?”

Akcheon Goe chuckled. “To survive anywhere, you have to adapt quickly to changing environments, right?”

Sabigang nodded in agreement. It was true. That’s how he had not only survived but also returned.

“Thanks for your hard work. After all that, would you like to stay and eat something?” Sabigang gestured to his meal, causing Akcheon Goe’s face to twist in distaste.

Sabigang waved his hand with a laugh. “Just kidding.”

Then, he pulled something from his sleeve and tossed it over. Akcheon Goe caught it swiftly—it was a gold bar.

“That should be enough to celebrate,” Sabigang said.

Akcheon Goe chuckled, tucked the gold bar into his robe, and turned to leave. As he vanished from sight, Sabigang resumed his meal.

“Now, it’s time to reel in the Northern News,” he mused to himself.