Episode 239: Return to the Demonic Sect
“Yajo Squad’s Number Three has been killed.”
Upon hearing the report from his subordinate, Gakjin, Baekho Hall Master Chu Heeryong furrowed his brow and let out a faint sigh.
“Who is responsible?”
“Well…”
“You haven’t found out?”
“We’re not certain.”
Gakjin replied with an apologetic expression.
Chu Heeryong turned to him.
“Not certain, meaning you have a suspect?”
“Sabi Kang.”
Chu Heeryong’s eyes widened at the name.
“Why?”
“At the time, Sabi Kang was in Bogang County.”
“Quite a suspicious coincidence.”
Chu Heeryong nodded and moved to the window.
Of all the places in the martial world, the fact that Sabi Kang was in the same location when Number Three died was indeed suspicious.
“Why was Sabi Kang there?”
“It seems he went to meet the Butterfly Merchant.”
“The Butterfly Merchant!”
Chu Heeryong flinched, prompting Gakjin to continue his report.
“He was the one dealing with Seolbaek. He might know something about the Butterfly Merchant.”
“Indeed.”
As Chu Heeryong nodded, Gakjin suddenly erased his presence.
A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
A maid entered, bowing her head.
“Master Sabi Kang wishes to see you, sir.”
“Sabi Kang?”
Chu Heeryong frowned slightly, lost in thought. He communicated with Gakjin through a secret voice transmission.
[What do you think?]
[It seems related to Number Three’s death. You should meet him.]
[Understood.]
He had been meaning to meet Sabi Kang anyway. Now that he had come of his own accord, it was a good opportunity.
“Bring him in.”
After the maid left, Sabi Kang entered the room shortly after, greeting with a broad smile and a respectful bow.
“It’s been a while, Master Baekho.”
“Good to see you. I was thinking of visiting you myself.”
“Thank you for the thought.”
“Please, have a seat. Bring some tea.”
At Chu Heeryong’s command, the maid returned with a tea set. Sabi Kang sipped the tea, engaging in light conversation.
The real purpose of today’s meeting was to gauge each other. They exchanged trivialities, biding their time.
Then Sabi Kang broached a more pointed topic.
“Do you have any hobbies, Master?”
“Hobbies?”
“Like collecting rare weapons, elixirs, or any mysterious items.”
As Sabi Kang spoke, he casually glanced around the room. Though his actions seemed natural, he was sharply observing every corner.
‘Nothing unusual in sight.’
Of course, if something was hidden, it wouldn’t be easy to find.
Chu Heeryong picked up on the core of Sabi Kang’s question.
“Haha. What do you mean by mysterious?”
“Well, mysterious things are just that—mysterious. Don’t you think?”
“Haha. Have you seen such mysterious things, Instructor?”
For a brief moment, Sabi Kang’s expression hardened. But it was so fleeting that Chu Heeryong didn’t notice.
Meanwhile, Sabi Kang was convinced.
‘He knows something.’
If Chu Heeryong knew nothing about demonic artifacts, he wouldn’t have responded this way. He would have said something similar to what Sabi Kang had just mentioned.
“Of course, I’ve seen them. Like the Five-Colored Heavenly Horse Statue, the Night Pearl, and by chance, I’ve even seen the Thunderbolt Worm and Thunderbolt Elixir.”
“Is that so?”
Chu Heeryong stammered, caught off guard. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had fallen into Sabi Kang’s trap.
A typical martial artist wouldn’t have responded like that. Yet, he had placed too much significance on the ‘mysterious things’ and asked further.
He couldn’t let this continue.
Chu Heeryong softened his expression and asked gently.
“But why do you ask about such things all of a sudden?”
“Actually, I have some wealth. I thought if you had such a hobby, I might offer a small gift.”
“A gift? For me?”
“Living in the Blood Sect isn’t easy. Though they don’t show it openly, there’s subtle disdain, discrimination, and all sorts of criticism because I’m from the Justice Alliance. Sigh.”
Sabi Kang sighed with a troubled expression, so genuine that Chu Heeryong almost believed him.
“Living in a foreign place is never easy. But I hope this experience helps you understand the plight of our Hongmyo, held hostage by your alliance.”
“Recently, I’ve felt truly sorry for Hongmyo.”
“So, you’re trying to win favor with a gift?”
“It might seem like a shallow tactic, but I hope you’ll see it as a gesture of goodwill. Relationships are the most important thing, aren’t they? I’m trying to maintain good relations and get along here.”
‘This slippery eel…!’
Chu Heeryong hid his thoughts and took a sip of tea.
He speaks well. But Yajo Squad’s Number Three is dead. Sabi Kang was there when it happened. Is it really a coincidence?
And now, of all times, he comes talking about ‘mysterious things.’ Is that just a coincidence too?
Then Sabi Kang struck again with a pointed question.
“Did I perhaps mention too trivial things when it comes to mysterious items…?”
Chu Heeryong’s expression remained tense, making it seem like Sabi Kang was testing the waters.
But this too was a situation that could make Chu Heeryong flinch.
‘I’m showing too much of my hand!’
Chu Heeryong quickly smiled and waved his hand.
“No, if those aren’t mysterious, what is?”
Damn it!
In trying to recover, he kept making slip-ups.
Answering like this would lead to an unnecessary debate about the definition of ‘mysterious things,’ as if he were hiding something truly mysterious.
Sabi Kang smiled meaningfully.
“Is there anything you’ve always wanted? I might be able to procure it.”
“Thank you for the offer. But I have enough wealth myself. I understand your intentions, so don’t worry too much.”
Chu Heeryong, determined not to be outdone, countered.
“By the way, did you visit Bogang County to find something mysterious?”
“Ah, something like that. But how did you know I was in Bogang County? I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Haha. I heard from a subordinate who was on a mission there.”
“What kind of mission… Ah, sorry for the unnecessary question.”
Sabi Kang quickly changed the subject.
Chu Heeryong watched him closely, responding appropriately to the conversation.
After about half an hour, Sabi Kang stood up.
“Thank you for your time. It was a pleasure.”
“I enjoyed meeting you too. Feel free to visit anytime.”
“Thank you.”
Sabi Kang smiled broadly and bowed before leaving.
After he left, Chu Heeryong walked to the window and looked outside.
He saw Sabi Kang meeting with Churyang in the distance and walking away together.
Chu Heeryong murmured softly.
“Uncertain. But he seems to know something.”
Meanwhile, Churyang, who had rushed to meet Sabi Kang, asked through a secret voice transmission.
[Master, how did it go?]
[It’s certain. He knows something.]
A faint smile played on Sabi Kang’s face as he turned his back to Chu Heeryong, who stood by the window.
[I’ll have to return here someday.]
[Again?]
[There’s definitely something there.]
[How do you know?]
[Well… the fact that I couldn’t thoroughly inspect it is proof enough.]
[What?]
Churyang looked at him incredulously.
What kind of proof is that?
But Sabi Kang wasn’t joking.
He hadn’t thoroughly inspected Chu Heeryong’s room. Or rather, he couldn’t.
Chu Heeryong was too keenly aware.
Using detection magic in front of someone like Chu Heeryong, a supreme master, was risky. Even though magic was different from martial arts, the moment mana moved, it would cause a slight change that someone like Chu Heeryong wouldn’t miss.
Today, Chu Heeryong was unusually sharp.
Even in a normal meeting, using detection magic would have been difficult, but with him so on edge, it was impossible.
In other words, while it seemed like they were just having tea, Chu Heeryong was paying close attention to Sabi Kang’s every move, even his eye movements and breathing.
Churyang, who had paused, quickly caught up and asked again.
[Where are you going now? If you have no plans, how about a drink…?]
[No time for drinks. I have to continue the recruitment work.]
[You should take it easy. You’ve been so busy lately.]
[I wish I could relax with a drink too. But there’s much to do. Everything has its time.]
[Isn’t the recruitment of Blood Sect members going well with North Heaven Pavilion Master handling it? He’s turning many on the list in your favor.]
[True. But there are some he can’t sway. I have to meet them myself.]
[Who are they?]
[Wolseom Hall Master, So Cheonak.]
“What are you doing?”
So Cheon-ak asked, pausing with his chopsticks mid-air.
The attendant, pale as a ghost, bowed his head.
“St-still the same, sir.”
“What?”
So Cheon-ak’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
The attendant, trembling, quickly continued.
“I-I conveyed your orders several times, but he refuses to budge. He insists he won’t leave until he meets you.”
“You fool! Are you his messenger or my servant?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“How many times must I tell you? I said to tell him to leave, didn’t I?”
“I-I did, but…”
“Damn it!”
So Cheon-ak slammed the table with a forceful thud.
Crash!
The table shattered, sending dishes clattering to the floor in chaos.
The attendant’s face turned even whiter.
“You can’t even handle this simple task? You’re not worth keeping alive! I’ll send your head to him as a message!”
“Please, spare me! Master, please!”
The attendant dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground.
But So Cheon-ak was already consumed by uncontrollable rage.
Lately, his temper had become increasingly volatile, and once ignited, his anger was nearly impossible to quell.
The attendant, well aware of this, resigned himself to his fate, thinking his life was about to end.
So Cheon-ak strode forward, drawing his sword from his waist.
Shing!
The sharp sound of metal sent a chill down the attendant’s spine.
“Even in death, make sure my message is delivered!”
The attendant squeezed his eyes shut.
Swish!
Just as the blade was about to fall—
“Why take out your anger on an innocent servant?”
A voice interrupted.
The attendant felt the cold, sharp edge at his neck and turned his head stiffly.
Standing there was the very person who had caused this predicament, yet also the one who had saved him from crossing the river to the afterlife.
It was Sa Bi-gang, the instructor from the Justice Alliance.