Episode 259: Return to the Demonic Sect
Hwang Gyu-eok tilted his head in confusion.
Was there ever a slave trader who looked like that?
Watching Sabigang and his group stride confidently into the Inwang Stronghold, he frowned deeply. The stronghold was nestled deep in the forest, a place one wouldn’t stumble upon without intent. This was unprecedented, so he approached them with his subordinates in tow.
“Who are you, and where do you come from?” he demanded, trying to sound authoritative. Sabigang glanced him up and down before casually responding.
“Are you the leader here?”
”…!”
Hwang Gyu-eok was taken aback. How was he supposed to respond to such a blunt question? They had walked in so boldly and asked if he was the leader, as if they were superiors.
His subordinates exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of the situation. ‘Who are these people? Could they be known to the leader?’ The uncertainty left them bewildered. If these were high-ranking contacts, he couldn’t afford to offend them. His voice naturally softened.
“I’m the deputy leader. Where are you from?”
“Just one question. If you don’t know, just say so.”
‘What insolence…’
“Which organization are you dealing with?”
“What?”
Sensing the tension, Hwang Gyu-eok drew his sword. His subordinates followed suit, their weapons drawn, exuding a menacing aura.
“Who the hell are you? Are you from the Justice Alliance?”
“We’re from the Blood Alliance. Now, answer my question.”
“The Blood Alliance? Why would they…?”
Hwang Gyu-eok was bewildered once more. But Sabigang didn’t wait for him to gather his thoughts.
“Seems like you don’t intend to answer.”
“What?”
In an instant, Sabigang was right in front of him.
“Gah!”
Before he could react, Berthas pierced his heart.
“Ugh!”
“The more you know, the less you suffer. Which organization are you dealing with? If you don’t know, does your leader?”
Hwang Gyu-eok could only tremble, clutching the blade embedded in him. Sabigang looked down at him coldly.
“Seems you know nothing.”
With a swift motion, Berthas was withdrawn, slicing Hwang Gyu-eok diagonally. Blood spurted like a fountain.
“Ahhh! The deputy leader has fallen!”
“It’s them! They’re responsible!”
The warriors of Inwang Stronghold charged at Sabigang’s group in shock. Sabigang surveyed them with a chilling gaze.
“Eliminate all this trash.”
At his command, Jeok Murin, Seok Tangang, and Yoo Songryeong launched themselves at the enemies. Unarmed, Seok Tangang and Yoo Songryeong fought with their fists, seizing their opponents’ weapons to counterattack. Some warriors flailed blindly, their throats slashed by unseen forces, victims of the Black Ghost.
Those with weaker internal energy stood no chance against the Black Ghost’s darkness. Sabigang strolled leisurely through the chaos of the stronghold. Occasionally, when someone charged at him with a battle cry, he would mercilessly swing Berthas, decapitating them.
His overwhelming strength left the warriors of Inwang Stronghold hesitant and retreating. As more warriors poured out of a building, Sabigang frowned and cast a spell.
“Tornado!”
A fierce whirlwind engulfed the log building.
Boom!
The powerful tornado obliterated the structure, sweeping the warriors into the sky before they plummeted to the ground. The spell’s power was several times greater than any tornado magic he had used before, unrestricted by any limitations.
With the stronghold in ruins, Yuk Hansu, the leader, rushed out in shock.
“What in the world is happening?”
Sabigang, who had been walking toward the leader’s quarters, stopped and looked up at Yuk Hansu.
“Are you the leader?”
“Who are you?”
Yuk Hansu’s eyebrows twitched. ‘This one’s no ordinary foe!’
The murderous intent emanating from Sabigang was enough to make even Yuk Hansu, the leader, tense. Sabigang spoke coldly.
“Change your name. Treating people worse than livestock and calling yourselves Inwang Stronghold—do you even know what that means?”
“You scoundrel! I don’t know who you are, but I’ll kill you!”
With a shout, the enraged Yuk Hansu drew his sword, exuding killing intent.
But then,
“Who are you shouting at?”
“What!”
As Yuk Hansu turned, startled, a flash of light sliced through the air, severing his head.
Thud, thud…
His head rolled down the steps, blood gushing from the neck as his body collapsed like a felled tree.
With their leader’s sudden death, the morale of the Inwang Stronghold warriors plummeted. Some even dropped their weapons and fled, but none escaped the Black Ghost’s pursuit.
In the end, those who remained surrendered, raising their hands in defeat.
**
“Mom!”
The usually quiet Geum Jayeon recognized her mother standing in the clearing as soon as she entered the stronghold with Churyang. She cried out, her voice filled with emotion.
Juhwa-young, who had been staring blankly, collapsed to her knees upon seeing her daughter, tears streaming down her face.
“Oh, my daughter, Jayeon!”
“Mom!”
Geum Jayeon ran to her mother, and they embraced tightly, both weeping. Those around them couldn’t help but be moved to tears as well. Churyang, overwhelmed with emotion, turned his gaze to the distant mountains.
Meanwhile, Sabigang was locking the warriors of Inwang Stronghold inside the iron cages that had once held slaves.
Clang!
As the heavy door closed, shadows fell over the faces of the captured warriors.
“Will they die if we leave them like this?” Yoo Songryeong asked, glancing at them. Sabigang shrugged.
“Who knows? It’s up to fate.”
Just then, Jeok Murin approached with a report.
“As you instructed, we found a safe in the leader’s room.”
“What did you find?”
“Nothing significant in the documents or ledgers. It seems they truly didn’t know about their trading partners.”
“Hmm. No evidence of the Blood Alliance’s involvement?”
Jeok Murin nodded, as if to say it was expected. Sabigang returned to the leader’s room with Jeok Murin.
Inside the safe were boxes of silver bars and promissory notes, totaling about fifty thousand nyang in silver and a million nyang in notes.
After Jeok Murin left, Churyang entered the room. He frowned at the sight of the silver and notes.
“Money gathered through vile means.”
“I’ll put it to good use,” Sabigang said with a sly grin, pocketing the notes.
Churyang glanced out the window, where women and children were still weeping.
“Are you taking all the money?”
“Why? Shouldn’t I?”
“Well… it’s not that…”
Churyang fell silent, his gaze lingering on the people outside. He hesitated before speaking his mind.
“Why not take the notes but leave the silver for them?”
Sabigang paused, looking at Churyang.
“Why do you suggest that?”
“They’ve lost everything. This money might not bring them joy, but it could offer some comfort. It would help them rebuild their village.”
“Is there any chance of a different outcome?”
“What could happen? They’d likely be grateful and thank you.”
“That’s quite romantic.”
Sabigang smirked, contemplating for a moment before speaking.
“Well, it’s a lesson too. I’ll give you the silver. Do with it as you wish.”
“Really? You’re giving it to me?”
“Yes. You played a big part in finding this place, so it’s yours.”
“Then, can I really do as I please?”
“Of course.”
Sabigang nodded without hesitation. Churyang’s face brightened as he exclaimed.
“Thank you, Master!”
He quickly took the box of silver outside and placed it in the center of the courtyard. The women and children looked at Churyang and the box in disbelief.
When Churyang opened the lid, revealing the fifty thousand nyang in silver, the women’s eyes lit up with hope. Churyang shouted.
“Ladies and gentlemen! I know you’re feeling sad and troubled, but let’s put the past behind us and start anew! This money was amassed through dishonest means by those who were here before. Please, take it and rebuild your village. Find hope again!”
The villagers, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, could only exchange bewildered glances.
“Is this… really for us?” one woman asked, disbelief etched on her face.
“Absolutely,” came the reply.
Gradually, the women began to gather around the box, whispering among themselves for a long while.
After a moment, an elderly woman approached Churyang, a look of determination in her eyes.
“If this money can help us find peace… will you allow it?”
“Of course. The money is yours to use as you see fit.”
“Then we will use it to buy an opportunity.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Make a deal with us.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the other women echoed her words in unison.
“Make a deal with us!”
Taken aback, Churyang quickly responded, “I-I don’t quite understand, but if that’s what you want, I’ll make a deal.”
“You mustn’t go back on your word.”
“Of course not. But what exactly are we trading…?”
Churyang asked, bewildered, as the woman raised her finger and pointed toward the cave.
“We’re buying them.”
“What?”
Leaving a stunned Churyang behind, the women marched into the cave, their expressions more resolute than ever.
Moments later, agonized screams erupted from within.
“Ahhh! You crazy women!”
“Ahhh! It’s burning! Please, spare me!”
Thick, acrid smoke soon billowed out of the cave.
Shortly after, the women emerged, the one who had spoken to Churyang offering a faint smile.
“Thank you. We feel like we can finally move forward.”
With that, the women gathered their children and began to leave Inwangchae.
As Churyang stood there, dazed, Sabigang approached him.
“How about it? Did you manage to comfort them?”
“No. I’ve realized there’s nothing that can truly comfort them.”
Churyang replied softly, his shoulders slumped. He knew he would never forget the emptiness in the women’s eyes.