Episode 190: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
“Ah, before we proceed.”
Sabigang paused mid-step, pointing to the severed head of the old man on the floor.
“Do you recognize this man?”
Seoraehyang swallowed hard, glancing between Sabigang and the old man’s head.
Sabigang frowned slightly.
“If you’re still unsure which side to choose…”
“I think I know.”
Sabigang asked again, “Who is he?”
“He’s known as Nogoe. I heard he was captured by the Justice Alliance about five years ago. He was infamous for abducting people of all ages for his experiments.”
“Hmm. So, the forbidden technique using the Great Needle was the result of those experiments?”
“Most likely.”
“Then the Justice Alliance must have been quite formidable to capture him. Without the restraints, he’d be invincible.”
“He might have been captured while still under the restraints.”
“True.”
The exact details of the past remain unknown, but that’s not the pressing issue.
“Why is he here, then?”
“I have no idea. As I mentioned, he’s not affiliated with the Blood Sect. He mastered the art of the needle but has no ties to them…”
Just then, the door burst open, and Dangihyeop rushed in.
“Lord! Are you alright?”
His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Nogoe’s body and the chaos in the room.
The Inspection Bureau was located in a remote corner of the Justice Alliance’s territory, symbolizing its independence and authority.
Dangihyeop had hurried over upon realizing the commotion at the bureau, having instructed his subordinates to keep everyone else away.
“What happened here?”
Sabigang shrugged. “We had an uninvited guest.”
“This man…!”
“Do you recognize him?”
“He’s Nogoe.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Sabigang nodded towards Seoraehyang.
Dangihyeop quickly continued, “Nogoe couldn’t have escaped the prison on his own. It seems Seolbaek had a hand in this.”
“Seolbaek?”
“Yes, the recent visitors to Nogoe were all warriors from the Muhwajeon.”
Dangihyeop, who led the Shadow Corps and was well-versed in all internal matters, was able to provide immediate information about Nogoe.
At that moment, Sabigang noticed something wriggling out of the severed neck of Nogoe’s body.
A strange, thin creature, reminiscent of a parasitic worm, emerged, making a faint rustling sound.
“So this is why Nogoe followed Seolbaek’s orders.”
Dangihyeop, knowledgeable in poisons, nodded.
“What is it?”
Sabigang asked, looking at the worm-like creature.
“It’s a Brain-Eating Worm.”
“A Brain-Eating Worm?”
Dangihyeop nodded and explained.
The Brain-Eating Worm, like all creatures, has males and females. After mating, the female lays eggs and then solidifies.
The solidified female is made into a pill called the Brain-Eating Pill.
“When someone ingests this pill, it remains dormant until the male dies. Then the female awakens and starts consuming the brain. Distance doesn’t matter.”
“So Seolbaek had the male and fed the pill to Nogoe, using it to control him.”
“Exactly. The worm emerged because its host died.”
“Hmm. Bringing Nogoe here to attack me was likely a ploy to incite more anger against the demonic sects. That old man is trying to stir the pot without getting his hands dirty.”
At least, he’s a more challenging opponent than the others.
“What will you do now?”
Dangihyeop asked, crushing the worm underfoot. The female reacts when the male dies, but not the other way around.
“Now that it’s come to this, we should play along with Seolbaek’s game.”
“Shall I summon the leaders?”
“Create the impression that I’m dead. The less they suspect, the more Seolbaek will reveal his true nature. Inform Isahum and Hamcheonseok of the truth.”
“And what about this one…?”
Dangihyeop’s gaze fell on Nogoe’s body.
“Let’s say I died taking him down with me.”
“Understood. I’ll get started right away.”
Dangihyeop turned and left.
Seoraehyang frowned. “Will Elder Seolbaek really fall for it?”
“He will. From Seolbaek’s perspective, there’s no reason for me to fake my death. Surviving would make me a hero for repelling the demonic sects. And if his men confirm my ‘body,’ there’ll be no room for doubt.”
“How will they confirm the body…?”
“Since you’ve chosen to help, I’ll need your assistance.”
With that, Sabigang turned his gaze out the window.
**
Lying flat on the roof, Muyeong kept his presence hidden, closely observing the situation.
The atmosphere at the Inspection Bureau had been tense for a while.
After Dangihyeop rushed out of the lord’s office, there was no further movement from within.
He wanted to get closer and peek through the broken window but held back.
Now was the time for caution.
“I can’t sense Nogoe’s presence either…”
Could they both be dead?
Nogoe, having taken the Brain-Eating Pill, wouldn’t have just disappeared.
“Then perhaps Nogoe too…”
Just then.
“Working hard, aren’t you, even at this late hour?”
A voice struck him from behind!
Muyeong felt his entire body stiffen.
As he slowly turned, Sabigang grinned and threw a punch.
Thud!
**
A faint rustling sound came from inside the box.
It was so quiet that one had to strain to hear it.
Inside, a thin, worm-like creature wriggled.
It was the male Brain-Eating Worm.
Seolbaek peered into the box and spoke.
“Have you returned?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Muyeong’s address had changed from ‘elder’ to ‘lord.’
“What happened?”
“Nogoe has eliminated Lord Sa.”
A faint smile appeared on Seolbaek’s lips at Muyeong’s report.
As expected.
The unrestrained Nogoe was a force even he found difficult to handle.
Five years ago, capturing him had required cunning and deception.
“How amusing, isn’t it? Thinking it was a tonic to boost his power, only to find it was the Brain-Eating Pill. A painful mistake for Nogoe. So, what of him now?”
“Well… it seems he perished in mutual destruction.”
“Mutual destruction? Lord Sabigang took Nogoe with him to the afterlife?”
Seolbaek looked at Muyeong with mild surprise.
Muyeong bowed his head and continued his report.
“The Inspection Bureau seems to be handling Lord Sa’s death quietly. They likely want to maintain his heroic image for repelling the demonic sects.”
“Indeed. He had a reputation to uphold.”
“Yes, they’ve staged it as if Nogoe escaped from prison. Two guards were killed in the process.”
“I see. You’ve done well. How did Lord Sa die?”
Muyeong recounted what he had ‘witnessed.’
Of course, it was all an illusion crafted by Seoraehyang, making him believe the falsehood as truth.
Muyeong’s description was convincing enough that Seolbaek had no further doubts.
“I see. So that’s how it happened.”
Seolbaek nodded, satisfied.
It was a pity Nogoe had died.
He would have been useful in many ways if he had lived.
Sabigang had been stronger than anticipated.
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
The important thing was that Sabigang was out of the picture.
He had been a bothersome presence.
“Then this creature is no longer needed.”
Seolbaek picked up the worm from the box with his fingers.
In the next moment, he crushed it.
A shrill sound escaped as a sticky green liquid oozed from his grip.
The Brain-Eating Worm was dead.
“With this, the tainted waters are purified.”
Seolbaek’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Now, let’s usher in a new era.”
He approached the window and gazed at the night sky.
A bird perched on a nearby branch suddenly took flight into the sky.
For a brief moment, its eyes rolled back before returning to normal, unnoticed by anyone.
**
Sabigang’s eyes, which had momentarily turned white, returned to normal.
A smile crept onto his lips.
“He thinks I’m dead.”
Had he not discovered Nogoe’s weakness, it could have been a dangerous battle.
In some ways, he was fortunate.
Dangihyeop and the Shadow Corps swiftly dealt with Nogoe’s body and repaired the damage in the lord’s office.
They ensured no outsiders could approach.
Once the cleanup was complete, Sabigang retrieved a new bottle of wine from the cabinet.
Even then, Seoraehyang stared wide-eyed at Sabigang.
“Who on earth is this man?”
She had never witnessed such a fight in her life.
She couldn’t tell if the martial arts Sabigang used were orthodox, unorthodox, or even demonic.
And then there was that moment just now.
His eyes had rolled back for quite a while, and suddenly he seemed certain of Elder Seolbaek’s reaction.
How was that even possible?
Sure, there are rare cases among unorthodox or demonic arts where one can observe things through a crystal ball or something similar.
But to have a technique where your eyes roll back and you immediately confirm something? That was unheard of.
Just then, Sabigang placed a cup on the table and filled it with liquor.
The clear, resonant sound snapped Seoraehyang out of her thoughts.
“Who exactly are you?”
“I’m Sabigang.”
“No, I mean, what do you do?”
“Didn’t you know? I’m an instructor. A respectable one who guides students and leads them on the right path.”
Sabigang flashed a sly grin, and Seoraehyang shook her head in disbelief.
“You’re truly an enigma.”
“I hear that a lot. Enough to make my ears fall off. That’s just how people are. Claiming to know someone is presumptuous.”
“Fine. Let’s get back to the main topic.”
“Gladly.”
“This second agreement you mentioned, just between us. What is it about?”
Seeing Seoraehyang’s serious expression, Sabigang’s smile faded.