Episode 207: Return of the Demon Sect Officer
“Yes!”
Perched on a tree branch, Banjo let out a triumphant cheer as he peered through his telescope at the distant scene.
The old man had lifted the cart’s handle with all his might.
That would have caused the wooden box on the cart to slide.
Naturally, the two men trying to push the cart from behind would have had to touch the box.
Even if the box hadn’t slipped, it wouldn’t have mattered.
As long as they touched the cart, the hidden weapons would have been triggered without fail.
Without a hint of killing intent.
A chuckle escaped Banjo’s lips, followed by a sinister tune.
“Heh heh heh. Killing people is the easiest thing in the world.”
But then…
“Hmm?”
Banjo blinked and pressed the telescope closer to his eyes.
“What the… what’s going on?”
The two men who had gone behind the cart should have been struck by the poisoned needles and collapsed by now.
Even if they didn’t die immediately, they should have been coughing up blood the moment they were hit.
Yet, the cart was being lifted out of the pit as if nothing had happened.
The cart blocked his view, so he couldn’t see the two men clearly.
But the fact that the cart kept moving meant they hadn’t been hit by the needles.
Finally, the two men returned to the front of the cart.
The cart was completely out of the pit.
The old man seemed to be bowing in gratitude, handing over a heavy pouch.
“What the… why is he thanking them?”
Banjo’s eyes widened in disbelief as he muttered to himself.
Then a thought struck him.
“Could it be… they demanded payment first? These guys are worse than common thugs!”
He hadn’t ruled out the possibility.
There were plenty of so-called righteous sect members who were worse than the demonic ones.
But for the former head of the Inspection Bureau to be this corrupt!
Come to think of it, when the old man first asked for help, hadn’t those two waved him off?
Well, whatever.
The real issue was why the hidden weapons hadn’t fired.
He had checked everything thoroughly.
It was a device he had developed himself.
There was no way it could malfunction.
“Damn it! I just don’t get it!”
Banjo lowered the telescope and bit his lip in frustration.
**
“You owe me thirty more silver coins.”
The old man spoke with a disinterested expression.
Banjo furrowed his brows and shouted.
“What nonsense is this? You didn’t even do your job properly!”
“What are you talking about? I clearly asked for their help and received it. I spent thirty silver coins in the process. Didn’t you say you’d cover any additional costs? I acted based on your word.”
“Enough. If you want to extend your miserable life even a few more days, get out of my sight.”
“You…!”
The old man tried to argue but couldn’t continue.
A terrifying killing intent emanated from Banjo.
“Tch!”
The old man clicked his tongue and walked away.
Banjo didn’t spare him a glance.
He was in a foul mood.
The plan should have been flawless.
“But why didn’t it fire? Is there really a problem with the firing mechanism? That must be it. I’ll have to check it.”
With a heavy heart, Banjo touched the wooden box.
At that moment,
Swish, swish, swish!
A barrage of thin needles flew toward Banjo.
“Gah! Damn it…!”
He staggered back, coughing up blood as he collapsed.
His whole body trembled.
He had been hit by the poisoned needles.
It was clear now.
There was nothing wrong with the firing mechanism.
Which meant…!
“They lifted the cart without touching it! But how?”
The firing mechanism was designed to activate only when touched by human hands.
It contained a device that detected innate energy.
Innate energy was something every human was born with.
Even those who hadn’t trained in martial arts could trigger the hidden weapons by touching the cart or the box.
It was that sensitive.
But…
“They didn’t touch it!”
Feeling his breath grow shallow, Banjo quickly swallowed an antidote.
His face, which had turned a sickly color, gradually returned to normal.
**
“Why didn’t you help from the start?”
Churyang glanced at Sabikang and asked.
“Suspicion is a habit. Why didn’t you step up to help?”
“The tracks seemed odd.”
“Tracks?”
“Yes. The wheel marks on the road. It didn’t look like an accident.”
“Then?”
“It seemed like someone deliberately pushed it into the pit.”
Sabikang chuckled.
He had a good eye.
With such keen observation, he could track the demonic army accurately in the future.
Meanwhile, Churyang was equally impressed.
Sabikang had lifted the cart without touching it.
It was actually telekinesis magic, but Churyang didn’t know that.
He just assumed Sabikang possessed incredible martial arts.
Churyang suddenly turned and asked.
“Who could it have been? Just a common thief?”
“Heh heh. Who knows? We’ll find out eventually.”
Sabikang smiled mysteriously and continued walking.
**
“Damn it!”
Banjo bit his lower lip hard.
He had failed twice.
He looked at the red spots that had appeared all over his body.
Thanks to the quick antidote, he had survived, but he had been close to death.
The aftereffects left red spots on his body.
They would probably last for ten years.
“I have no choice. I’ll have to handle this myself.”
Banjo clenched his fist.
He had hoped to avoid getting directly involved.
He wanted to save that as a last resort.
But now, he had to use it.
He took out a pill from his pocket.
It was a foul-smelling pill known as the “Death’s Domain Pill.”
Consuming this pill would render him indistinguishable from a corpse for up to two hours.
Yet, his consciousness would remain intact, and he could revive his energy at will.
Of course, it was an extremely rare and expensive pill.
“I had saved this for a special occasion.”
The money he had spent acquiring this pill was substantial.
Today, he had to make it worth it.
Sabikang would soon pass through here.
He planned to take the pill and lie in the middle of the road.
For a perfect ambush, Banjo changed into the attire favored by righteous sect warriors.
He forged a badge from a nearby sect and hung it at his waist.
From head to toe, he exuded the aura of a righteous sect member.
Lying on the road like this, any righteous warrior would be compelled to check on him.
They would first check his pulse and confirm his death.
At that moment of vulnerability, he would strike like lightning and end their life.
“Come on, show yourself! Sabikang!”
He sensed movement in the distance.
It had to be Sabikang.
Banjo, specialized in assassination, had unparalleled sensory skills.
He quickly swallowed the Death’s Domain Pill.
His heartbeat gradually slowed until it stopped completely.
His energy circulation ceased.
He was indistinguishable from a corpse.
Yet, thanks to the pill, his life force was maintained.
But this life force was undetectable by humans.
Despite this, Banjo’s consciousness was crystal clear.
He had only one chance.
Once he moved, he couldn’t play dead again.
Finally, Sabikang and Churyang appeared over the hill.
The two walked along the road and spotted the fallen warrior.
“Look! Master, there’s someone collapsed over there!”
“Hmm. Looks like he’s dead.”
“Indeed. What could have happened?”
Churyang approached, resting his chin on his hand as he muttered.
Banjo inwardly rejoiced.
“Heh heh. Yes, come and check on me!”
But Sabikang just stood by Banjo, observing quietly.
“Judging by the spots on his body, it seems he was poisoned.”
“Who could have used such a vile method?”
“Who knows. It’s a shame.”
Sabikang clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile, Banjo grew increasingly anxious.
“What are they doing? Why aren’t they coming closer to check?”
Sabikang and Churyang continued their conversation, standing exactly five steps away.
Should he attack now?
But Banjo shook his head.
He couldn’t be hasty.
He had to wait for the perfect opportunity.
“Come closer. Come on…!”
Finally, Sabikang took a step forward.
“That’s right!”
But after a couple of steps, Sabikang stopped and shook his head.
“Touching a dead body would be disrespectful.”
“Damn it! Just come and check already!”
But contrary to Banjo’s wishes, Sabikang turned and walked into the forest.
Churyang hurried after him, calling out.
“Where are you going?”
“To gather some pine cones.”
“Pine cones?”
As the two disappeared, Banjo lay on the road, frustrated.
What was this sudden talk of pine cones?
After a brief moment, Sabigang and Churyang returned.
Sabigang casually tossed pinecones at the unconscious Banjo.
Of course, Banjo didn’t budge at all.
“What on earth are they doing?”
He was simply baffled by Sabigang and Churyang’s actions.
They piled the pinecones high on Banjo’s body, and then Sabigang said, “Let’s send him off to a better place with a proper farewell.”
“Yes, Master,” Churyang replied solemnly, pulling out a fire starter from his pocket.
But Sabigang waved him off. “No need.”
Then, with a quiet murmur, “Fireball.”
A ball of fire appeared and shot straight toward Banjo and the pile of pinecones.
Whoosh!
With a roar, flames engulfed Banjo’s body.
Having lost all sensation, Banjo only realized what was happening when it was almost too late. He sprang up in a panic.
“Ahhh! Damn it, that’s hot!”
His sudden movement startled Sabigang and Churyang, who both cried out in shock.
“Ahhh! Is it a ghost?”
“Oh no! The dead have risen!”
Meanwhile, Banjo was flailing wildly, shouting at the top of his lungs.
“Damn it! Fire, fire, fire!”
Finally, Sabigang extended his hand and said, “Aqua Arrow.”
In an instant, arrows of water shot out, striking Banjo’s body.
Sssshhh!
Drenched like a soaked rat, Banjo finally stopped his frantic thrashing.