Episode 27: Return to the Demonic Sect
At last, Wi Sang-tak collapsed, blood spraying from his wounds.
“Father!”
Wi Deok-cheon screamed, rushing forward.
But Gojok-san quickly blocked his path.
“What… what do you want? Get out of my way!”
Gojok-san stood firm, his gaze cold and unyielding as stone.
This was a life-and-death duel. Interference was not an option.
Meanwhile, Sa Bi-gang approached the fallen Wi Sang-tak, crouching down beside him.
“Well? Are you ready to admit it now?”
“Admit what?”
“That you extorted money from our cadet.”
“I told you, I did no such thing!”
“Hmm, are you really willing to risk your life over this?”
Thud!
“Ugh! Aaargh!”
With an impassive expression, Sa Bi-gang drove his sword, Veritas, into Wi Sang-tak’s abdomen.
Wi Deok-cheon and the others widened their eyes in shock.
‘To go this far…!’
Wi Deok-cheon cried out in anguish.
“Father! Father! You bastard! Let my father go!”
“If you’re so worried about him, why don’t you confess yourself?”
Sa Bi-gang turned his icy gaze to Wi Deok-cheon.
Wi Deok-cheon swallowed hard, unable to utter a word.
‘Is he really an instructor? His eyes… they’re like a monster’s!’
Sa Bi-gang’s eyes held no emotion, like a wolf lifting its head from its prey, cold and unreadable.
Just the primal instinct of a predator burned within them.
Swoosh.
“Aaaargh!”
As the sword was withdrawn from his belly, Wi Sang-tak screamed in agony.
This was a life-and-death duel. No one would be held accountable if one of them died.
But watching his father die was not an option.
Wi Deok-cheon shouted at the top of his lungs.
“What are you all doing? Kill that bastard now!”
The warriors of the Black Serpent Sect drew their weapons.
Clang! Clang!
Simultaneously.
“Anyone who moves a step will not be spared!”
Gojok-san’s voice boomed, charged with power.
The warriors in black surrounded Sa Bi-gang and Wi Sang-tak, guarding all sides.
Tension crackled in the air.
Gojok-san spoke coldly.
“This is a duel agreed upon by both parties. Anyone who interferes will lose their head.”
Wi Deok-cheon ground his teeth, helpless.
He looked to the senior members, but they too had no grounds to intervene.
‘Damn it! Is Sa Bi-gang really this strong?’
The senior member bit his lip.
When Sa Bi-gang broke the Zaharakindo, he thought it was luck.
Even when he left Instructor Yeon Jin in that state, he hadn’t seen it firsthand.
But the skill Sa Bi-gang displayed today was undeniable.
Overwhelmingly strong.
Yet it was still hard to believe.
How could someone so weak become this powerful in such a short time?
And who are these black-clad warriors?
Is it acceptable for an instructor to command such people?
Meanwhile, Sa Bi-gang raised Veritas, aiming it at Wi Sang-tak’s throat.
“Usually, I give three chances. But I mostly stick to two. So, this is your last chance. Confess, or die.”
Wi Sang-tak flinched, glaring at Sa Bi-gang.
This was no bluff.
He would surely kill him.
It might seem foolish to throw away his life over pride.
But that pride was what had driven the Black Serpent Sect all this time.
If he yielded now, who would follow and obey him?
He had lived ruthlessly, and he would die ruthlessly.
“I have nothing to say.”
Wi Sang-tak spoke stiffly, and Sa Bi-gang nodded faintly.
“I respect that pride of yours.”
Just as Veritas was about to pierce Wi Sang-tak’s throat.
“I took it! Damn it! I took the money pouch from that cadet! Is that enough? So let my father go! Damn it!”
Wi Deok-cheon cried out.
**
The cold night wind rustled the branches.
On the hill, a lone tree stood tall.
But if you looked closely, you could see a woman in black armor standing upright on a branch.
Her stealth was so exceptional that an ordinary person would pass by without noticing.
The woman was Seop Hon-cheon-nyeo, Mae Seol-ran.
Watching the Black Serpent Sect from afar, she smiled wryly.
“So it came to this.”
Sa Bi-gang was not to be underestimated.
Did Cheon Se-myeong know his abilities were this formidable?
Probably not precisely.
From the first meeting, he seemed like an intriguing man.
Mae Seol-ran raised her delicate hand.
As she rubbed her fingers together, she recalled shaking hands with Sa Bi-gang.
Having mastered the art of absorbing energy, she could keenly sense the aura of others through physical contact.
But Sa Bi-gang was truly peculiar.
Like a pond whose depth was unfathomable.
At a glance, it seemed like just a pond.
But could its depth be as vast as the sea?
She didn’t know.
What kind of man was Sa Bi-gang?
And so…
‘That makes it all the more interesting.’
Facing someone like him was quite enjoyable.
It was like approaching an unfamiliar dish with curiosity.
“So, what will you do next, Instructor Sa? You are truly fascinating…!”
As Mae Seol-ran murmured to herself, she suddenly froze, eyes widening.
“Just now…?”
He looked this way!
Could it be…?
But Sa Bi-gang had indeed turned his head slightly and smiled in her direction.
‘No way! How?’
Impossible!
Was she mistaken?
Her stealth was perfect.
Even up close, only someone trained in martial arts would notice.
Yet from the edge of the Black Serpent Sect to here was quite a distance.
And it was a dark night.
‘No, it can’t be. It must be my imagination.’
She must have imagined Sa Bi-gang looking her way.
Perhaps he was just glancing into the void.
But that smile…
Mae Seol-ran shook her head.
It couldn’t be.
**
The hall fell silent as a grave.
Only Wi Deok-cheon’s pitiful sobs echoed.
“I… I took the cadet’s money pouch. Please, forgive me.”
His voice grew weaker.
Even the warriors of the Black Serpent Sect looked down with grim expressions.
Not because of what the junior leader had done.
The Black Serpent Sect had always engaged in such acts.
But the fact that both the leader and the junior leader had knelt before an instructor was devastating.
Sa Bi-gang sheathed Veritas.
“Explain in detail!”
“Cheon-ah! There’s no need! You fool!”
Wi Sang-tak tried to rise and throw a punch.
But before he could get up.
Thud!
Sa Bi-gang’s kick sent Wi Sang-tak sprawling, eyes rolling back.
“Father!”
“He’s fine. Just unconscious.”
“I confessed, didn’t I?”
“True, but should I just stand by when you try to kill me?”
“Ugh…!”
“Now, since you’ve confessed, explain why you did it.”
“Well, that…”
He had to choose his words carefully now.
If things escalated, it could become even more troublesome.
He couldn’t afford to lie clumsily.
“I knew the cadet had a large sum of money.”
“How?”
“I overheard other cadets talking at the inn.”
“What were they saying?”
“They said the cadet was coming to Daru with a lot of money.”
“So you robbed him of his money pouch?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But why, when you have more than enough money?”
“Who doesn’t like a big score? I planned to indulge with my subordinates.”
That was true.
He had indeed done so.
Sa Bi-gang looked at him quietly.
“Then why didn’t you?”
“What do you mean? I did! I spent it all in two days with my subordinates! We drank, ate, and squandered it all!”
“Is there no lie in that?”
“Of course! I swear on my life! But I don’t know why the money pouch ended up here!”
Finally, Sa Bi-gang grinned.
“Oh, I know. We set that up.”
“What? So the evidence was fake?”
“The evidence is real. We retrieved what you gave to the courtesan. But claiming we found the money and pouch here was a lie.”
“This is outrageous! You con artist…!”
“Hey!”
Suddenly, Sa Bi-gang’s eyes darkened.
Wi Deok-cheon, who had been fuming, swallowed hard.
“Compared to what you did, this level of deception is quite mild.”
“But…!”
“Or do you want to risk your life and retract your confession?”
“Ugh…!”
Wi Deok-cheon ground his teeth.
He spoke in a trembling voice.
“Since I’ve confessed… can I tend to my father now?”
“Do as you wish.”
As soon as Sabi Kang gave the nod, the warriors of the Black Serpent Clan quickly rushed over, hoisted Wi Sang-tak onto their shoulders, and carried him away.
Sabi Kang gestured to Go Jeok-san with a nod.
“Bring those two over here.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The warriors, clad in black, dragged Yeon Woo-gyeong and Gok Bo-ok, who had been covered with sacks, into view.
“Uncover them.”
As the sacks were removed, the faces of the two were revealed.
Meanwhile, upon seeing them, Deung Bu-hyeong and Wi Deok-cheon flinched, their eyes widening in surprise.
Sabi Kang turned to Wi Deok-cheon and asked, “Are these the ones who were causing a ruckus at the inn?”
“Y-yes, but how did you…?”
“…so they say. Let’s hear what happened.”
Sabi Kang fixed a piercing gaze on the two.
Go Jeok-san quickly released their pressure points, and Yeon Woo-gyeong glared back with a cold stare.
“I merely mentioned meeting Jaryang in Daru. Is that such a grave mistake?”
“It is.”
“What did you say?”
“If you go around loudly proclaiming that Jaryang is leaving with a large sum of money, wouldn’t that naturally put him in danger?”
“I just didn’t think that far ahead.”
“Yes, that can happen. So today, you’ll accept your punishment and think more carefully before you speak next time.”
“Punishment?”
“What? Do you expect praise for your thoughtlessness?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…!”
“Get down.”
“No, I refuse!”
“Get down.”
“I said no! I did nothing wrong!”
At that, Go Jeok-san strode forward and grabbed Yeon Woo-gyeong by the scruff of the neck.
But Sabi Kang waved him off, signaling him to step back.
“Putting Jaryang in danger is a serious mistake in itself.”
“Fine! Even if that’s the case, this isn’t a school, is it? Why should I be punished here?”
“Do you think you’re only a student when you’re at school?”
“That’s not…”
“Whether inside or outside, you don’t disregard your parents, do you?”
“That’s different, isn’t it?”
“Teacher and parent are one and the same. There’s no difference. Get down. While I’m still asking nicely.”
“Ugh…!”
Yeon Woo-gyeong ground his teeth in frustration.
Unable to watch any longer, Deung Bu-hyeong cautiously intervened.
“Excuse me, Instructor Sa. If you’re going to punish them, shouldn’t it be done at the school…?”
“Stay out of it. This is a matter for the special class.”
Deung Bu-hyeong closed his mouth and stepped back.
The authority in Sabi Kang’s expression was undeniable.