Episode 194: Return to the Demonic Sect
Seol Baek was at a loss for words.
He furrowed his brow deeply, glancing back and forth between Sabi Kang and the others.
Two people he was certain had died were standing before him, very much alive.
“What in the world…?”
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Ha!”
Sabi Kang chuckled, a sly grin spreading across his face.
The masked warriors standing behind him began to remove their disguises one by one.
As each face was revealed, Seol Baek’s expression grew increasingly grim.
“You… you all!”
“Elder Seol Baek, how could you do this?”
“Is everything you said true?”
The masked figures were none other than the leaders of the Justice Alliance, including several elders.
The shock was so overwhelming that Seol Baek couldn’t utter a single word. Instead, he glared at Sabi Kang, his lips trembling with rage.
Finally, he shouted in a voice tinged with hysteria, “What is going on here?!”
Step by step, Lee Sa-heum, who had been standing slightly ahead, approached the leaders.
Sabi Kang’s smile widened.
“You said it yourself, didn’t you? Information is monopolized by those with power. It seems I have more power than you.”
With that, Lee Sa-heum bowed respectfully to Seol Baek.
“I apologize.”
“You traitor, Lee Sa-heum!”
Seol Baek spat out the words, his face pale with fury.
His expression mirrored that of Deung Wang-pae, who had realized his own downfall and had come crawling to them.
Of course, Seol Baek never fully trusted Lee Sa-heum. He believed that someone who had turned their back once could do so again.
But he had intended to use him until Deung Wang-pae was eliminated.
And yet…
“I’ve been outmaneuvered!”
As if reading his thoughts, Sabi Kang smirked.
“You said it yourself, didn’t you? The world is about using and being used. Thanks for playing your part. It made things much cleaner.”
“You scoundrel!”
A thunderous roar erupted from Seol Baek.
But at the same time, a terrifying killing intent emanated from the leaders standing behind Sabi Kang.
“Elder Seol! Do you think this is the time to be shouting?”
“How do you explain this situation?”
“No need for excuses! You’ve already exposed everything yourself! Only punishment remains!”
The leaders seemed ready to pounce at any moment, their energy rising.
Seol Baek trembled slightly.
How many years had it taken to reach this point?
He thought he had finally achieved what he wanted.
“Because of that fool!”
His gaze fell on the lifeless body of Deung Wang-pae.
But blaming the dead was pointless.
“I can’t fall here!”
He had to survive, no matter what.
The collapse of his carefully built tower was painful, but survival was paramount.
Opportunities only come to those who are alive.
There is no such thing as an honorable death in this world.
Not that he could achieve an honorable death anyway.
Slowly, Seol Baek began to gather his inner strength.
The leaders, sensing the change in his aura, tensed and prepared themselves.
Neung Un-pa narrowed his eyes and cautioned, “Elder Seol, let’s not do anything reckless.”
“Hmph, whether it’s reckless or not, we’ll see…”
“Go!”
In an instant, Neung Un-pa’s voice boomed like thunder.
The ground shook, horses neighed in fear, and flocks of birds took flight from the forest.
Seol Baek’s subordinates couldn’t withstand the overwhelming power in the shout and covered their ears.
Seol Baek gritted his teeth.
“Ugh…!”
Despite his injuries, the leader was still formidable.
His martial arts were not to be underestimated.
Neung Un-pa, usually gentle, now spoke with icy disdain.
“Was this position worth hiding your filthy fangs all this time? You must have struggled to conceal your vile nature.”
“Ugh.”
Seol Baek let out a low growl before shouting, “What are you waiting for? Wipe them all out!”
These were warriors he had secretly nurtured, loyal only to him.
Even if the opponents were leaders, they would not defy his orders.
Even if the opponent was the leader himself.
“Yes, sir!”
With a resounding shout, the Iron Horse Brigade charged at the leaders.
“You dare draw your swords against us?”
The leaders shouted in unison, drawing their weapons.
At the same time, Seol Baek leaped into the air.
Taat!
He moved faster than anyone, aiming his sword at Sabi Kang’s neck.
Swiish!
Sabi Kang quickly raised his sword to block.
Clang!
The air trembled with the loud clash.
Sabi Kang was pushed back, sliding several steps.
In that moment,
Pabababat!
Seol Baek dashed past Sabi Kang and sprinted into the forest.
One of the leaders shouted, “He’s escaping!”
The Iron Horse Brigade hesitated for a moment.
But they quickly resumed their attack, following their master’s orders.
“Charge!”
Three hundred warriors roared as they descended upon the leaders.
“Do you wish to die?”
The leaders, each drawing upon their inner strength, began to fight back against the Iron Horse Brigade.
In an instant, chaos erupted in front of the ancestral shrine.
The clash of metal and cries of pain filled the air, and deadly energy flew in all directions.
Meanwhile, a shadow darted toward Neung Un-pa.
It was Mu-yeong.
Swiish!
But he had chosen the wrong opponent.
Even in his weakened state, Neung Un-pa was not someone Mu-yeong could handle.
Neung Un-pa easily dodged Mu-yeong’s sword and casually extended his hand.
Thwack!
“Argh!”
With just a light tap, Mu-yeong screamed in agony, writhing in pain.
Without even glancing at him, Neung Un-pa leaped in the direction Seol Baek had fled.
Sabi Kang followed closely behind.
**
Taat!
A branch snapped as a figure shot through the forest.
It was Seol Baek, moving swiftly through the trees.
He glanced back.
“They’re following.”
They were fast.
Judging by the familiar aura, it was likely Neung Un-pa, the leader of the Justice Alliance.
Wait, no.
“There’s another one!”
Someone was keeping pace with Neung Un-pa, chasing him down.
Even if he managed to escape, the energy expenditure would be immense.
As he ran, he pulled something from his robe.
It was a very thin cloak, invisible to the naked eye.
In an instant, he wrapped it around himself, covering his head.
Amazingly, his presence vanished completely.
With his form hidden, Seol Baek moved like the wind.
A short while later, at the top of a nearby tree.
Softly.
A figure landed with agile grace.
It was Neung Un-pa.
He narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings.
“Hmm. He’s vanished?”
He had been following Seol Baek’s trail at full speed.
But suddenly, the trail disappeared around here.
As if he had never existed in the first place.
Moments later, another figure landed on a nearby tree.
It was Sabi Kang.
“He’s gone.”
“My apologies. I’ve lost him.”
“We pursued him immediately, so he can’t have gone far.”
Despite his words, Sabi Kang felt something was off.
“To disappear so completely…”
Even if he used stealth techniques to hide his presence, it was too perfect.
He knew Seol Baek was no ordinary opponent, but to execute such flawless stealth while running was nearly impossible.
“Could it be…?”
A suspicion crossed his mind.
Just then, Neung Un-pa turned to Sabi Kang.
“Let’s spread out. I’ll head south.”
“Understood.”
Before Sabi Kang could finish his response, Neung Un-pa was already on the move.
Sabi Kang narrowed his eyes, surveying the area.
He extended his hand and cast a spell.
“Search!”
A wave of blue light spread out in all directions.
This was mana, visible only to Sabi Kang, who had mastered magic.
To other experts, it would feel like a subtle energy passing by.
Soon, his gaze fixed on a spot in the forest.
Something glowing blue was moving away rapidly.
Again, this was visible only to Sabi Kang using the search spell.
“The Cloak of Cain.”
The Cloak of Cain.
A magical artifact made from a very thin fabric, excellent for concealing one’s presence.
When worn, it renders the wearer invisible and hides their internal energy.
However, like all magical items designed for stealth, it becomes useless if the one casting the search spell is of a higher circle than the cloak’s creator.
Rumble! Boom!
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Yet, the rain had not begun to fall.
Taat!
As if the thunder was a signal, Sabi Kang kicked off the branch and took flight.
**
“Why!”
He thought it was a coincidence.
But a growing sense of dread was creeping in.
And that dread was turning into near certainty.
“That guy…! Could he possibly know where I am?”
Seolbaek gritted his teeth in frustration.
Sabigang was closing in.
He was certain he had erased all traces of his presence, yet Sabigang was heading straight for him.
And he was moving faster than before.
The only silver lining was that he had managed to shake off the others.
Seolbaek forced himself to stay calm and think clearly.
The enemy was alone.
In that case…
“Maybe I can take him on.”
After running for a while, he reached a gorge where a waterfall cascaded down. With a swift leap, he landed on a rock jutting out in the middle of the stream.
He kept his cloak on, hoping Sabigang might pass by without noticing him. Perhaps, by some stroke of luck, Sabigang had just stumbled upon this place.
But Sabigang stopped right at the water’s edge, looking directly at him.
Sabigang shrugged. “Didn’t get too far, did you?”
At this point, Seolbaek discarded his cloak.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Your breathing was loud enough to hear.”
“Arrogant!”
Boom! Crash!
As if echoing Seolbaek’s anger, the sky rumbled loudly once more.
Drip, drip. Plop.
Finally, the heavens opened, and rain began to pour down.
Sabigang smirked. “I received the gift you sent last time.”
He was referring to the old master. Seolbaek understood and frowned deeply.
“You’ve got a tough life, but coming after me alone was the mistake of a lifetime.”
“Heh. Didn’t you know? I’m quite good at killing by accident.”
“All talk!”
In an instant,
Thud, thud, thud!
Seolbaek dashed across the water, his feet barely touching the surface.
Whoosh!
His sword sliced through the rain, aiming straight for Sabigang’s heart.
Clang!
With a metallic ring, Seolbaek’s sword was deflected.
In the next moment,
Zap!
Using blink magic, Sabigang appeared behind Seolbaek and swung his sword, Vertas.
“Ha! Just a cheap trick!”
Clang!
Vertas and Seolbaek’s sword clashed, producing a deafening sound.
Seolbaek had already turned to parry Vertas with his blade.
The rain that had been pouring down on them scattered in all directions.
Splash!
Simultaneously, Seolbaek thrust his palm forward.
Boom!
Sabigang quickly retreated, stepping back with nimble footwork.
Seolbaek swung his sword diagonally upward.
Whoosh!
A powerful energy wave flew toward Sabigang.
At the same time, the rain redirected itself, hurtling toward Sabigang like a barrage of arrows.
The battle between these two masters had reached an unimaginable level.
The raindrops flying toward Sabigang were as deadly as any weapon.
Clang! Thud, thud, thud!
After blocking the energy wave, countless raindrops pelted Vertas, sounding like sizzling oil.
Sabigang, pushed back, used his water-walking technique to land on the rock where Seolbaek had initially stood.
Their positions had reversed since they first met.
Both men’s eyes gleamed with intensity.
“He’s much stronger than I thought!”