Episode 206: Return to the Demonic Sect
Swoosh!
The wooden sword flew like an arrow.
Churyang couldn’t move a muscle.
All he could do was stare wide-eyed at the sword hurtling toward him, summoning every ounce of courage he had.
Finally, the sword stopped abruptly just before his throat.
The sharp aura emanating from the sword felt as if it could pierce his neck at any moment.
Gulp.
As he swallowed, the cold blade lightly grazed his throat.
‘As expected… incredible!’
A thrill surged through Churyang’s expression.
Meanwhile, Sabigang, who held the sword, looked at him with a calm demeanor and asked, “Why didn’t you move, my student?”
“I… I couldn’t move!”
“Hahaha. Of course. You were immobilized by my martial arts.”
“What… what is that?”
“It’s called the Supreme Invincible Binding Technique.”
“Wow! That’s amazing! How do you use it?”
“You use your inner energy to completely restrict your opponent’s movements. Even the greatest martial artists can’t move when faced with this technique.”
“As expected, Master, you’re incredible! Please teach me this Supreme Invincible Binding Technique!”
“Before that…”
Sabigang gave him a sharp look and then tickled Churyang’s nose with the tip of the sword.
“M-Master! What is this?”
“It’s a trick to make your opponent let their guard down by tickling them.”
“Ah, I see… Haha, but it tickles a bit. Hehe, haha!”
“Endure it! If you can’t even withstand this, how can you be my student?”
“Hahaha!”
**
“Hehe! Haha! It tickles, Master. Haha! Please, stop…”
Churyang, who had been laughing uncontrollably, slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he couldn’t comprehend the situation.
‘Huh? Why am I lying down? And why is Master…?’
Right in front of him, Sabigang was crouched down, holding a blade of grass and tickling Churyang’s nose.
It dawned on Churyang that he had fallen asleep and was dreaming.
‘Gosh! When did I fall asleep?’
He had left the sect and immediately started tracking Sabigang.
It took him a whole day to catch up.
But to avoid being noticed, he had kept a safe distance, only to fall asleep at some point.
It was baffling.
Regardless, Sabigang looked at him with a disinterested expression and flicked the blade of grass at his face.
“Who are you?”
“M-Master!”
Churyang jumped up and bowed deeply.
“Master, please let me accompany you.”
“No.”
“But Master! Didn’t you say you’d take me as your student?”
“I did. But I never said you could follow me around.”
“Master! Please, I beg you! Let me come with you!”
“You’re a nuisance.”
“I’ll be your porter!”
“I have no luggage to carry.”
“I’ll cook all your meals during the journey.”
“I can eat at inns.”
“I’ll handle all the chores!”
“Not necessary.”
“When we rest at inns, I’ll make sure to bring beautiful women to join us!”
“Hmm…?”
For the first time, Sabigang showed interest.
He squinted and asked, “Can you do that?”
“Of course! I’ll bring the most beautiful women. I’ve been quite the charmer, you know.”
“Alright, let’s go, my student.”
“Thank you, Master!”
Churyang bowed deeply once more.
**
“Sabigang is coming.”
Shin Chugwi, the leader of the Gray Bear Hall of the Blood Sect, smirked.
Across the table, Dokgo Jin, the leader of the Black Tortoise Hall, sipped his tea with a faint smile.
“Indeed. Life is full of surprises.”
“I never thought he’d come so willingly.”
“Perhaps he’s blinded by the praise of the world. He might not even realize where he’s stepping.”
“By the way, you’ve met him before, haven’t you?”
“Yes, during the last peace negotiations.”
“What kind of person is he?”
“Arrogant and full of himself.”
Dokgo Jin spoke decisively, as if there was nothing more to consider.
To him, Sabigang was just that—a man brimming with overconfidence.
Dokgo Jin set down his teacup and continued, “I don’t know what kind of luck he had, but he wasn’t fit for those negotiations. He must have had strong backing.”
“But how could he have become the head of the Inspection Bureau of the Justice Alliance by luck alone? And there are reports that he stabilized the alliance.”
“Hmm. Who’s to say it’s his ability and not the competence of those around him?”
Shin Chugwi nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. I wonder how long he’ll last. The group he’s going to lead…”
Shin Chugwi trailed off with a sly grin.
The organization Sabigang was about to lead was notorious even within the Blood Sect, filled with the worst of the worst.
In truth, it wasn’t even a proper group.
It was a collection of troublemakers who had been reassigned after causing issues in other organizations.
As a result, the ages of those called “students” varied widely.
Dokgo Jin spoke, “Even if he taught problem children at Yongcheon Hall, these ones are different. They’re more likely to use their fists than words. Hahaha.”
Shin Chugwi chuckled and raised his teacup.
In reality, calling him an instructor was just a facade; he was essentially being held hostage.
The title of instructor was merely a convenient cover.
“We’ll keep him as a hostage until the right moment to deal with him.”
Afterward, they’ll conceal the assassination as much as possible.
For a while, they’ll pretend Sabigang is still alive.
During that time, the Blood Sect will focus all efforts on rescuing Hongmyo, who is held hostage by the Justice Alliance.
“Then the grand war between the righteous and the demonic will resume.”
Dokgo Jin chuckled.
Shin Chugwi joined in the laughter and raised his cup.
“Poor Sabigang. Hahaha.”
“Well, that’s only if he makes it here safely.”
“You’re talking about the Red Monkey.”
“By now, he should have encountered Sabigang.”
“If it’s the Red Monkey, an unexpected ambush is certainly possible.”
Shin Chugwi’s words made Dokgo Jin look out the window with a pleased expression.
**
Panjo, known as the “Red Monkey” in the Blood Sect, was a man of many talents.
He carefully handled a box loaded onto a cart.
Though it appeared to be a simple wooden box, it was actually a sophisticated hidden weapon device.
‘Alright, I can finally get rid of him!’
Panjo clenched his fist.
He had already begun his plan to eliminate Sabigang two days ago.
First, he tried using a honey trap.
The man accompanying Sabigang had lured women to join them.
Those women were all his agents.
But for some reason, they only dined together and didn’t spend the night.
He later heard that Sabigang had a lover.
So the honey trap assassination failed.
Without Sabigang engaging with the women, the plan was doomed.
He abandoned that method without hesitation.
‘Those self-righteous martial artists are all the same.’
They pride themselves on resisting temptation, living off that pride even if it means going hungry for days.
So this time, he would use a different approach.
He would exploit their sense of justice and compassion.
Soon, Sabigang would pass through here.
An old man he had hired would pretend to struggle with a cart stuck in a ditch.
Those righteous martial artists, unable to resist meddling, would surely offer help.
The moment they touched the cart or the box, hidden weapons would fire.
The weapons were poisoned darts.
Fired at such close range, they would be impossible to dodge.
Protective energy?
There would be no time to deploy it before being hit.
The poison on the darts was a deadly toxin.
Without the antidote within half a minute, survival was impossible.
He had heard that Sabigang had a disciple from the Tang Clan.
So he used a rare poison even the Tang Clan couldn’t counter.
An expensive poison.
And only he had the antidote.
‘Sabigang, no matter how skilled you are, once you’re my target, survival is unlikely.’
Using such devices for assassination was riskier than employing an assassin.
The advantage was that there was no warning.
The old man he hired knew no martial arts, and the device emitted no killing intent.
Most assassins fail because they can’t hide their intent to kill.
No matter how well they conceal it, the moment they strike, their intent is revealed.
But a non-living weapon device is different.
In that sense, it’s more effective than most skilled assassins.
“Hahaha. Now, let’s just watch.”
Panjo smirked.
All he had to do was watch from a safe distance.
**
As Sabigang and Churyang descended the hill, they saw an old man struggling to pull a cart out of a ditch.
Churyang glanced at Sabigang and asked, “Shouldn’t we help him?”
“Leave it. In the martial world, kindness isn’t given lightly.”
“But that old man isn’t a martial artist.”
“I know.”
Churyang didn’t argue further and obediently followed Sabigang’s lead.
Just then, the old man approached them for help.
“Excuse me, you two. Are you by any chance martial artists?”
“Yes, we are. Haha,” Churyang replied readily, stepping forward.
The old man brightened up and said, “Could you lend me a hand? My cart’s stuck in a ditch, and I can’t get it out. If you two heroes could help this old man, I would be forever grateful.”
Sabigang paused and glanced back.
“And what would you offer in return for our help?”
The unexpected question left the old man momentarily speechless. He rolled his eyes, thinking, before responding.
“I don’t have much, but I promise to reward you.”
“With what, exactly?”
“Uh… a silver coin…”
“Not interested.”
Sabigang turned away coldly.
The old man grew desperate. He had been promised thirty silver coins for completing this task—a generous reward. But if he failed? Not only would he lose the thirty coins, but he might also face severe reprimands.
“I’ll give you five silver coins!”
“I’m not sweating for just five coins.”
“Ten! I’ll give you ten!”
”…”
“Fifteen!”
“Good luck with that.”
The old man was at a loss. How could someone be so heartless? Surely, with their martial skills, they could lend a hand!
Churyang reluctantly followed Sabigang as he walked away. The old man, now frantic, shouted after them.
“Wait! Wait!”
“What is it?”
“I’ll give you thirty silver coins. It’s everything I have.”
It was true. Of course, after paying the thirty coins, he planned to demand compensation from his employer.
Sabigang seemed to ponder for a moment before nodding.
“Alright, for that amount, it’s worth the effort.”
He walked over to the back of the cart.
“Then I’ll pull from the front,” the old man said quickly, grabbing the handle and lifting it.
In that instant, a wooden box slid off the cart, tumbling towards Sabigang and Churyang.