Episode 250: Return to the Demonic Sect
“Why don’t I get one?”
Churyang’s question came out of nowhere, catching Sabigang off guard.
“What are you talking about?” Sabigang asked, tilting his head in confusion.
“You know, like those elixirs or pills! Just the other day, you gave one to Seok Tangang, didn’t you? You even fed it to him yourself!”
“Oh, you mean the Fiery Elixir?”
“Exactly! I heard he managed to break through the Life and Death Barrier after taking it. So why don’t I, your one true disciple, get something like that?”
Churyang’s words tumbled out in a rush, his frustration evident. He’d been sulking for days, and it seemed this was the reason.
“The Fiery Elixir could actually kill you if you took it.”
“Why? Are you underestimating me?”
“You’re too carefree by nature.”
“What nonsense! I’m quite serious, you know! Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think, Master!”
“Is that so? Really?”
“Of course! My desire to become stronger is unmatched!”
“Admiration and desire are different. You probably just admire me.”
Churyang felt a sting of truth in Sabigang’s words, but he brushed it off.
“Stop underestimating me! I can handle it! When I get angry, I don’t hold back!”
“Hmm. If you insist…”
Sabigang reached into his robe and pulled out a pill.
“Here, take it.”
“What?”
Churyang’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Sabigang. He hadn’t expected to receive the pill so easily.
“You wanted it, didn’t you? Go on, take it.”
“Are you really giving it to me?”
“Yes, my one true disciple. Take it and make sure you digest it well. If not…”
Sabigang leaned in, whispering ominously into Churyang’s ear.
“You know what could happen, right?”
“Do you think you can scare me? What’s the worst that could happen, death?”
“Exactly. Just death. But not before you feel your flesh tearing apart, your insides churning. Ever vomited your guts out? You might get a taste of that. And the searing pain, like your body is on fire, with the added agony of salt on raw wounds. And then…”
Sabigang’s voice was calm and steady, but Churyang’s face grew paler with each word.
When Sabigang finally stepped back, he asked, “Well? Aren’t you going to take it?”
“Aren’t you going to help me?”
“Oh, you mean with the energy circulation? Sure, I’ll help. But all I can do is watch to make sure you’re doing it right and scold you if you lose focus. If I interfere too much, you could end up with a Qi deviation. And then, well, you’d be dead.”
Churyang’s face turned even whiter.
Sabigang was relentless.
“Come on, sit down. I’ll recite the incantation for you.”
Churyang, as if guided by Sabigang’s hand, sat down. He looked at the pill in his palm with a mix of fear and determination.
“Is it really that painful?”
Sabigang yawned and said, “What are you waiting for? Take it!”
“Uh… what were the odds of Seok Tangang breaking through the Life and Death Barrier after taking this?”
“About two in ten.”
“What? Only that much?”
“Do you underestimate two in ten? That’s a significant chance. Worth risking your life for. But I’m sure you’re braver than that.”
“What about my odds?”
“Hmm. About one or two in a hundred.”
Churyang’s face turned completely ashen.
One or two in a hundred.
That meant he might succeed once or twice if he tried a hundred times. But what were the chances of hitting that one or two on the first try?
“This is… suicide.”
As his confidence waned, Churyang found himself blurting out, “Isn’t there another pill? Something else… heh.”
“You asked for the Fiery Elixir. There’s nothing stronger. Unless you want the Sky-Clear Stone Milk?”
“No, no.”
Churyang let out a deep sigh. As time passed, his initial confidence faded, leaving only fear.
“Maybe it’s better to try next time…”
“Seems like you want me to feed it to you.”
“No, that’s not it…”
“Here, take it.”
“Ugh! Mmph! Mmph!”
Churyang’s eyes bulged as he flailed his arms. But Sabigang had already shoved the pill into his mouth, and with a tap on his chin and throat, the pill slid down his esophagus.
“Ugh! Aaaah! I swallowed it! Damn it! I swallowed it! Ugh!”
“You wanted it, didn’t you? Now you’re complaining.”
“I wasn’t ready! What do I do now? Am I going to die? Oh no! My stomach feels like it’s on fire!”
“That’s what happens when you take it on an empty stomach.”
“Ugh! My stomach… it feels like it’s burning! Am I going to die? Ugh! Aaaah!”
Churyang screamed, then suddenly snapped to his senses and quickly assumed a meditative posture.
Sabigang watched him calmly, arms crossed.
How long did Churyang focus on his energy circulation?
Gradually, the burning sensation in his stomach subsided, and he felt a surge of energy.
“Did I… digest it?”
Churyang slowly opened his eyes, squinting.
He saw Sabigang sitting on the bed, watching him intently.
“How do you feel?”
“My body feels lighter. Did I really digest it?”
“Well, by now, you should have.”
“Wow! Hahaha!”
Churyang jumped up, laughing triumphantly. He punched the air with newfound vigor.
“Wow, I feel so strong! Breaking through the Life and Death Barrier wasn’t such a big deal after all! Maybe I was a natural talent all along! Right, Master, didn’t you say Seok Tangang had no talent? Hahaha! No wonder he was bleeding from the nose just breaking through! Hahaha!”
“Just breaking through the Life and Death Barrier…”
Sabigang watched Churyang with a mix of amusement and disbelief. It had been a while since he’d felt like laughing genuinely.
“Good thing the pill worked well for you.”
“Yeah, I guess I have a talent for digesting any elixir. That’s a talent, right?”
“Sure, let’s call it that.”
“But Master, my body feels lighter, but why doesn’t my internal energy seem to have increased? Does it grow slowly?”
“No, it doesn’t increase.”
“What? Why not? I broke through the Life and Death Barrier!”
Finally, Sabigang couldn’t hold back his laughter.
Spending time with this kid was never boring.
“You never broke through the Life and Death Barrier, and what you took wasn’t the Fiery Elixir.”
“What?”
“If you’d taken the Fiery Elixir, you’d be a corpse by now.”
“Then what did I take?”
“A tonic pill.”
“What? A tonic pill? You mean like the one you gave Bangak?”
“Exactly.”
“Ha…”
Churyang felt his energy drain away, his face falling.
“But my stomach definitely felt hot after taking it…”
“I told you, it’s because you took it on an empty stomach.”
Churyang let out another long sigh.
Now everything made sense.
The sudden burst of energy was just the effect of the tonic pill.
And here he was, going on about breaking through the Life and Death Barrier.
Of course.
Breaking through the Life and Death Barrier was something few experienced, and even with luck, it was a once-in-a-lifetime event. How could he know what it felt like?
Still, if he ever did break through, it would surely feel different.
There would be a noticeable change.
“That’s too much.”
Churyang’s voice was filled with disappointment, and Sabigang, suppressing his laughter, patted his shoulder.
“Don’t be discouraged. I didn’t give you the Fiery Elixir because it’s not suitable for you.”
“Then, what about other elixirs?”
“I’ll give you something similar.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But I’ll give it to you after we finish tomorrow’s task.”
“A task? What are we doing tomorrow?”
“We’re infiltrating the White Tiger Hall. I’ll need your help.”
“What? The White Tiger Hall?”
“Yes. We’ve received information that the White Tiger Hall’s leader will be away tomorrow. It’s the perfect time to take a look.”
Churyang’s expression turned serious.
“But what if I end up being a hindrance…”
“No. I need your help.”
“It’s not like we’re tracking someone…”
“I trust your abilities.”
“Master…!”
Churyang looked at Sabigang with a face full of gratitude.
He responded with determination.
“I’ll do my best!”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
Sabigang’s words made Churyang nod firmly, his expression resolute.
**
The next day, three figures stood on a tree branch overlooking the White Tiger Hall.
Sabigang, Churyang, and Hongyeom watched quietly as Chu Heeryong left the hall.
“Finally, the White Tiger Hall is empty,” Churyang said with a determined look.
Sabigang nodded and turned to Hongyeom.
“Once you disable the mechanisms, leave immediately. Too many people going in will only leave traces.”
“Understood,” Hongyeom replied respectfully.
Sneaking in without leaving a trace was his specialty.
But being human means mistakes can happen.
Sabigang was determined not to leave even the smallest gap.
“Heugwi, you stay here.”
[Understood.]
Heugwi’s voice echoed in his mind.
Churyang pulled a mask over his face, his expression set in stone.
“Alright, let’s get going.”
Sabigang placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Good, from now on, you’re on lookout.”
“Understo—wait, what?”
“Keep an eye out for anyone trying to enter Baekhodang from outside.”
Churyang blinked in confusion.
“Aren’t I supposed to be going in with you?”
“Nope.”
“But you said I was essential! Didn’t you say this was an important mission?”
Churyang sighed, and Sabigang patted his shoulder reassuringly.
“It is important. If the Baekhodang leader shows up earlier than expected, or if I’m delayed, your job is to buy us as much time as possible.”
“What? How am I supposed to do that?”
“That’s where your talent comes in.”
Talent. Talent. Talent.
The word Sabigang used seemed to echo in Churyang’s ears.
“I trust you. Let’s go, Yeom.”
“Yes!”
With a swift kick off the branches, the two of them soared onto the roof of Baekhodang.
Churyang could only watch them go, feeling utterly bewildered.