Episode 186: Return to the Demon Sect

Seol Baek lifted his teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Such a trivial act…”

He took a sip, letting the warmth of the tea calm him. Fifteen minutes had already passed, and his cup was being refilled for the second time. Yet, Sa Bi-gang was nowhere to be seen.

Seol Baek had postponed their meeting three times already. Today was supposed to be the day they finally met, but here he was, sitting alone in the reception room. Despite having stepped back from frontline duties, he was still a respected elder. This was not how he should be treated.

But he didn’t let anger get the better of him. He remained composed, mastering his emotions. Wisdom, after all, isn’t just a byproduct of time; it’s the result of accumulated patience. He hadn’t lived a shallow life that would allow such a minor inconvenience to ruffle him.

“Is he trying to make me impatient?” he mused. But for what purpose? Sa Bi-gang couldn’t possibly know why he was here. Unless he had already figured out Seol Baek’s connection to the Northern Alliance. If that were the case, things could get complicated.

Just as he was about to lift his cup again, the door to the reception room opened.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I apologize for the delay.”

Sa Bi-gang entered, and Seol Baek greeted him with a warm smile.

“Not at all. I hope I haven’t interrupted your busy schedule.”

“Well, I am quite busy,” Sa Bi-gang replied with a sly grin, causing Seol Baek to narrow his eyes slightly.

“So the rumors are true,” he thought. Sa Bi-gang wasn’t even pretending to be polite, openly flaunting his busyness.

As Sa Bi-gang took a seat, he asked, “What did you want to see me about?”

“Ha, you’re quite direct. Isn’t this the first time we’ve formally met since you became the head of the Inspection Bureau? No need to rush, even if you’re busy…”

“I’m very busy. As you know, I don’t have the luxury of idle conversation.”

Sa Bi-gang cut him off with a peculiar smile, and Seol Baek narrowed his eyes again.

“More headstrong than I expected,” he thought, a bit taken aback. But he quickly masked his surprise with a hearty laugh.

“Indeed, your reputation for boldness is well-deserved.”

“Thank you, but I doubt you came just to assess my character. What do you need?”

Sa Bi-gang pressed for the main point, and even Seol Baek, with all his years of patience, felt a twinge of irritation. Yet, he maintained his composure, smiling through it.

“You must be really busy.”

“I am.”

“Alright, since you insist, I’ll get straight to the point. I’d like to meet the head of the Northern Alliance.”

“And why is that?”

Seol Baek’s brow furrowed. This was not how he had planned the conversation. He had hoped for a more natural and pleasant dialogue. But this…

“I suppose I have to explain?”

“Of course. If you’re requesting a meeting with a prisoner, you need a valid reason.”

“What if it’s personal curiosity?”

“I’m asking what that curiosity is.”

Sa Bi-gang replied with a sly smile.

“Brazen…” Seol Baek thought, staring at Sa Bi-gang before bursting into laughter.

“No wonder you’re the talk of the town as the head of the Inspection Bureau. You’re meticulous about following procedures.”

“You’re too kind.”

“Honestly, I wanted to confront the head of the Northern Alliance. It’s infuriating how much wealth they’ve amassed and hidden through illicit means.”

“The head didn’t amass it; he took it from the Eastern Family.”

“Ah, right. In any case, the collusion between those two families is infuriating as an elder. But if that’s not a valid reason for a meeting, I’ll accept it without complaint.”

“Hmm.”

Sa Bi-gang pondered for a moment before nodding.

“Alright. I’ll grant you a brief meeting.”

“That will suffice.”

“Then, if we’re done here, I’ll take my leave.”

Sa Bi-gang offered a light bow and left the room. Seol Baek found himself alone once more, not even half an hour into their meeting. It was a level of disregard unimaginable for an ordinary martial artist.

As Sa Bi-gang walked down the corridor, Mae Seol-ran quickly approached him, lowering her voice.

“Are you sure about handling it this way?”

“What do you mean?”

“Won’t Elder Seol Baek become suspicious if you’re so curt?”

“That’s exactly why I need to be this way.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s a man brimming with confidence, almost to the point of arrogance. Such people don’t trust rumors. They only believe what they see and hear for themselves. Now that he’s met me, he’ll likely see me as a rigid stickler for rules.”

“That makes sense.”

“A person who strictly adheres to principles wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics. Whatever theories he had, I’ve likely faded from his list of suspects.”

Mae Seol-ran looked at Sa Bi-gang with newfound respect. At times like this, he seemed like a completely different person. But the real challenge lay ahead.

“Let’s hope the head of the Eastern Family acts as planned.”

“Hong Myo has taken care of that, so there’s no need to worry.”

Seo Rae-hyang was a woman skilled in poisons and sorcery. When she was with the Blood Demon Sect, even the leader of the Phantom Kill Squad, Yeo Shin, submitted to her because of her superior skills in illusion.

“I’ve planted the suggestion as desired. He’ll believe it until the day he dies.”

This was what Seo Rae-hyang had reported to Sa Bi-gang after meeting with the head of the Eastern Family. Her exceptional skills played a part, but the head’s weakened state, due to confinement and torture, also contributed to the ease with which the suggestion took hold.

With this, any lingering suspicions Seol Baek might have had should be dispelled. Moreover, the conflict with the King of the East would only deepen.

Yet, Sa Bi-gang remained vigilant. In his past life, he had never suspected Seol Baek’s true identity. The man was that meticulous. While suspicion might be avoided for now, there was no telling what might happen in the future.

Mae Seol-ran nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

“Then it’s time to move on to the next phase.”

**

The date for the Alliance Leader’s tour was approaching. The King of the East and his close aides expressed concern, questioning whether it was wise to proceed with the schedule given the leader’s not fully recovered health. However, the plan remained unchanged.

The tour was ostensibly to promote stability within the Alliance. As such, it wasn’t large or ostentatious. However, rumors circulated that the head of the Inspection Bureau was accompanying the tour to root out subversive elements.

Of course, these rumors were spread by Gu Yoon, aiming to exploit the King of the East’s impatience.

The tour commenced with a modest departure ceremony. For a while, the journey was peaceful.

As dusk fell, the entourage entered a dimly lit forest. The guards and accompanying martial artists lit their lanterns. From inside a carriage, Neung Un-pa opened a window to gaze at the night sky. A crescent moon hung in the serene sky.

Riding alongside the carriage was Sa Bi-gang.

“It’s embarrassing to even look up at the sky. I feel ashamed in front of you,” Neung Un-pa said, his voice tinged with self-deprecation. Sa Bi-gang responded with a wry smile, seeing a reflection of his past self in the leader’s turmoil.

Still, the Alliance Leader was better off than he had been. At least he hadn’t led his people to harm. In contrast…

“I sent countless subordinates to their deaths.”

As he reflected, long-buried anger and a thirst for revenge began to stir within him.

Sa Bi-gang spoke softly, “Managing people is the hardest task, isn’t it?”

Neung Un-pa was taken aback by the uncharacteristic response. He had always thought of Sa Bi-gang as playful and carefree. But now, his expression, tone, and gaze seemed more like those of an elder of similar age, perhaps even more so.

In absolute terms, Sa Bi-gang had indeed lived far longer than the Alliance Leader. Time in the Demon Realm flowed at half the speed of the Central Plains.

The two continued their journey in silence, the occasional call of a mountain bird breaking the quiet. Finally, as they reached a dense grove of cedar trees, Sa Bi-gang’s voice reached Neung Un-pa’s ears through a sound transmission.

[Alliance Leader, it’s time to prepare.]

[Is it my time to die?]

[Heh. Yes, it’s about time you ‘died.’]

[Your words are chilling.]

[It will begin soon.]

[You’ve worked hard.]

Sa Bi-gang chuckled.

[You’re the one who’s about to ‘die,’ Alliance Leader. You’ve had it tougher.]

“Hahaha!”

Neung Un-pa burst into laughter at Sa Bi-gang’s words. A moment later, he asked with a hint of concern.

[But what about the Blood Demon Sect?]

[Nothing in this world is free. Heh. But it’s a deal that benefits them as well.]

[What if they make unreasonable demands?]

[Leave that to me and focus on preparing for your ‘death.’]

As always, his words were unrestrained. Neung Un-pa looked at Sa Bi-gang for a moment before chuckling.

[The general said you’re the only one he trusts besides his master. I can’t explain why, but I think I understand.]

Just as his transmission ended, a sudden gust of wind extinguished the lanterns one by one.

As the last of the lights flickered out, a sudden darkness descended, accompanied by chaos.

“What the—? What’s going on?”

“Protect the leader! Enemies are nearby!”

In an instant,

“Aaah! Nooo!”

Screams began to pierce the darkness.

“Argh!”

“Help!”

**

The leader was dead.

The news spread faster than ever, shaking the martial world to its core.

The Blood Lotus Sect was blamed for the assassination.

There were witnesses, and there was evidence.

The Black Wolf Brigade had been part of the escort, so the facts were undeniable.

An emergency meeting was convened by the Justice Alliance.

In the grand hall of the leader’s residence, not only the current heads but also the council of elders were present.

At the center of the hall lay a lavish coffin, draped with a cloth, concealing a body.

The body was far from intact.

It seemed as if corrosive powder had been used, leaving only the lower half, clad in tattered clothes.

The torn pants were unmistakably those of the leader.

“How could such a thing happen? For the leader to fall so easily!”

“The enemy was the Shadow Pavilion. Even for the leader, they are the top assassins. It was a grave threat.”

“Then we must destroy the Shadow Pavilion immediately!”

“But the problem is, we don’t even know where they are.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Shadow Pavilion isn’t the real issue here. They’re just the weapon. The ones wielding it are the Blood Lotus Sect.”

“We should declare war on the Blood Lotus Sect and wipe out those demonic bastards!”

“Agreed! We should never have made any agreements with those scoundrels in the first place! We treated them with decency, and this is how they repay us? Damn them!”

The hall boiled with anger.

Watching this unfold, Deungwangpa felt a thrill rising within.

‘Finally… finally…!’

How long had he waited for this moment?

How he had coveted that empty seat!