Episode 276: Return to the Demonic Cult
The instructors of the Blood Lotus Sect exchanged uneasy glances, whispering among themselves.
“We can’t let our cadets be taught by such an eccentric!”
“I agree! Seeing how the new recruits have been influenced, we can’t possibly entrust them to him!”
“It’s only because they’re new recruits that we even considered it. How could we let any other cadets be under such a teacher?”
The situation was unfolding unexpectedly.
To keep Sabikang tied to the Blood Lotus Sect, they needed the pretext of him being an ‘instructor.’ Yet, no one was willing to actually assign him any students.
Sabikang, who had been quietly observing the scene, finally spoke up.
“Listening to all this, I must say, it’s a bit uncomfortable. It seems the military interprets things rather inconveniently.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ryu Yeo-jung furrowed his brow slightly, prompting Sabikang to point towards the Blood Rain Hall with his finger.
“I acknowledge most of what the military has pointed out. However, the incident at the Gapsa Gorge was entirely orchestrated by the Blood Rain Hall’s Mukgui Unit. While it’s true that many Mukgui members were casualties, wasn’t it the Mukgui Unit that instigated the whole affair?”
His logic was sound, leaving the Blood Rain Hall’s leader red-faced with embarrassment.
With a calm and confident demeanor, Sabikang continued.
“So, if there’s to be any disciplinary action, the Mukgui Unit and the Blood Rain Hall that oversees them should also be held accountable. Just because the damage was significant doesn’t mean they should be exempt. Otherwise, it would imply that the Blood Lotus Sect is a place where the strong are always at a disadvantage. And that’s not right, is it?”
His argument was so compelling that the martial artists of the Blood Lotus Sect found themselves unable to refute it.
Yet, accepting Sabikang’s proposal to hold the Mukgui Unit and the Blood Rain Hall accountable was no trivial matter either.
They needed a punishment as severe as what the new recruits faced, but doing so could lead to the expulsion of the entire Mukgui Unit.
Caught in a dilemma, Ryu Yeo-jung hesitated to speak, when one of the senior members cautiously stepped forward.
“Even so, it’s difficult to overlook the act of harming fellow members of the same organization. However, given the circumstances, perhaps we should consider an alternative solution?”
The speaker was none other than So Cheon-ak, the leader of the Moon Island Hall.
His intervention was partly due to his son, who had returned as a Black Ghost and was now entangled with Sabikang, but also because Sabikang had requested his help before the meeting.
Dok Go-jin frowned slightly and asked, “What alternative do you propose?”
So Cheon-ak shared the idea he had discussed with Sabikang beforehand.
“Have you heard about the recent troubles at the Eungcheon Branch?”
“The Eungcheon Branch…?”
Dok Go-jin pondered for a moment before nodding.
“I’ve heard. There’s been frequent conflict with a new religious sect in Uirang Village.”
“Exactly. The sect known as ‘Cheonsingyo’ is causing difficulties for the Eungcheon Branch of the Blood Lotus Sect. However, using force to eliminate Cheonsingyo is problematic because the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Justice Alliance.”
By this point, Ryu Yeo-jung had caught on to So Cheon-ak’s suggestion and nodded.
“Ah, I see. You’re suggesting that Instructor Sabikang and the new recruits handle this issue.”
“Precisely. Given Instructor Sabikang’s connections with the Justice Alliance, he seems well-suited to resolve the Eungcheon Branch’s troublesome situation.”
Baek Ho-dang’s leader, Chu Hee-ryong, chimed in to support So Cheon-ak.
“It sounds like an excellent plan. If Instructor Sabikang and the new recruits can resolve the conflict with Cheonsingyo and achieve some merit, it could serve as grounds for leniency regarding the Gapsa Gorge incident.”
With even Baek Ho-dang’s influential leader backing the idea, there was no opposition within the Blood Lotus Sect.
Though Dok Go-jin was internally dissatisfied, he saw no other viable option.
If they weren’t careful, the entire Mukgui Unit could be at risk, so compromise seemed the best course.
Ryu Yeo-jung nodded in agreement and spoke.
“Indeed, it’s not a bad idea. The Cheonsingyo’s location being within the Justice Alliance’s territory was a problem, but if Instructor Sabikang takes charge, it could be resolved. Instructor Sabikang, what do you think? Can you accept this task?”
Feigning a look of reluctance, Sabikang pretended to ponder.
In truth, this was all part of his plan.
He had intended to investigate the Cheonsingyo issue anyway, and now he had the perfect pretext to do so while also covering past mistakes—a win-win situation.
After a moment, Sabikang nodded.
“Very well. I’ll lead the new recruits and see what can be done about Cheonsingyo. It will serve as a lesson too.”
“Excellent. Then, the Mukgui Unit will be placed under a month’s probation, and Instructor Sabikang and the new recruits will be dispatched to deal with Cheonsingyo. Any objections?”
The martial artists of the Blood Lotus Sect remained silent.
Ryu Yeo-jung glanced at the sect leader, who also nodded in approval.
Clearing his throat, Ryu Yeo-jung announced loudly.
“Then, the decision regarding the Gapsa Gorge incident is as stated.”
**
Lim Chung, one of the Thirty-Four Shadows of the Ghost Shadow Group, was still suffering from a hangover after drinking too much the previous night.
He shook his head as he walked through the bustling market.
“Ugh, my head. I need to find something to cure this hangover…”
He stopped and looked around.
Instinctively, he headed towards a crowded inn.
As a member of the Ghost Shadow Group, seeking out crowded places was second nature to him.
Where there were people, there was talk, and where there was talk, there was information.
As he trudged along, he suddenly stopped and looked towards the red-light district.
“Should I check it out? Or not?”
He had been checking every day for several days now, but there had been no signal.
“Ah, it can’t be today.”
Shaking his head, he resumed walking.
While his mission was important, he desperately needed to deal with his splitting headache first.
From experience, he knew that a spicy, hearty soup would do the trick.
“Welcome!”
The innkeeper greeted him warmly and showed him to a seat.
Sitting down absentmindedly, Lim Chung ordered the dish he had in mind and listened to the chatter around him.
Most of it was trivial.
As he filtered out the useless information, a particular conversation caught his attention.
“Can you believe it? Even retired courtesans have secret lovers these days?”
“What do you mean?”
“At the Sohwa House, someone tied a handkerchief to the window.”
“A handkerchief? Isn’t that what courtesans used to do when waiting for their secret lovers?”
“Exactly. Even a retired courtesan seems to have a secret lover. Unbelievable.”
Crash!
The sudden sound of a chair falling startled everyone, and they turned to look.
There stood Lim Chung, who had abruptly risen to his feet with a dazed expression.
As he dashed out of the inn, the innkeeper called after him, but Lim Chung didn’t look back.
Some people snickered, wondering if he was the secret lover, but he paid them no mind.
Finally, he reached a spot where he could see the Sohwa House in the heart of the red-light district and bent over, panting.
His hangover made him feel like he was going to be sick.
“Ugh!”
After retching, he finally looked up at the Sohwa House window.
“It’s real?”
He muttered in disbelief.
There it was.
A torn piece of cloth tied to the window of the Sohwa House.
**
In a remote area not far from the Heavenly Palace, there stood a humble house surrounded by a wattle fence.
The house was so dilapidated it seemed on the verge of collapse, making it hard to believe anyone lived there.
Sabikang and Churyang stopped at a vantage point overlooking the house.
Churyang tilted his head in confusion and asked, “Is that really the place?”
“There’s no other house around here, so it must be.”
“My goodness. To think they’d hold a secret meeting in such a place. Well, I suppose that’s typical of the Hao Clan.”
Churyang shook his head.
The previous night, Hongyeom had brought news.
The Hao Clan had requested a secret meeting.
This meant a piece of cloth had been hung at the Sohwa House window.
Today, Sabikang and Churyang had come to the location Hongyeom mentioned to meet with the Hao Clan.
Descending the hill, Sabikang and Churyang opened the wattle gate and stepped inside.
At that moment, something strange happened.
From outside the wattle fence, the place had looked like a shabby house.
But suddenly, grass appeared, and stone walls stretched out on either side.
“What on earth…?”
Churyang turned to look back, but the path was now an endless stone corridor.
Only then did Churyang realize they had entered a formation.
Sabikang chuckled with interest.
“It seems someone skilled in formations is at work here.”
Since it was a formation, climbing over the stone walls wouldn’t change anything.
Churyang quickly followed Sabikang, who was striding forward.
But soon, Sabikang stopped and turned to Churyang.
“You take the lead.”
“What? Me?”
“Yes, is there anyone else here besides you?”
“What about the Black Ghost?”
“The Black Ghost is waiting outside.”
Before entering, Sabikang had sent a message to the Black Ghost, instructing him to wait outside.
Meanwhile, upon hearing those words, Churyang couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
‘Leaving the Black Ghost outside and bringing me in must mean I’m being recognized more! Haha!’
Feeling buoyed, Churyang nodded and stepped forward confidently.
“Understood! I’ll lead the way for you, Master!”
“Be careful.”
“Surely they wouldn’t attack us, their guests, with hidden weapons or anything…!”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Before Churyang could finish his sentence, dozens of hidden weapons suddenly rained down from ahead.
“Gah!”
Swallowing his surprise, Churyang quickly channeled his mana, thrusting his left arm forward.
Whoooosh!
In an instant, a mana shield formed, deflecting all the incoming projectiles.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
The weapons ricocheted off, embedding themselves into the surroundings.
Churyang felt a chill run down his spine, realizing his reflexes had become much sharper than before.
‘These things…! Did I really just block all those weapons in an instant?’
But that wasn’t all.
Normally, by now, the mana shield would have dissipated, leaving him drenched in sweat.
It wasn’t a lack of mana, but rather his clumsy handling of it.
Yet…
Hummm…
The mana shield still resonated with a deep hum, maintaining its size and covering his upper body completely.
“Your ability to handle mana has indeed improved.”
“Ah… Is this because of the Platan’s Egg?”
“Who knows. Did you feel anything when you poured mana into the Platan’s Egg?”
“No, nothing like that. It was just exhausting.”
“Then it’s not the Platan’s Egg. You’ve simply become more accustomed to using mana through daily practice.”
“So if the Platan’s Egg does respond…”
“You’ll advance even further.”
“I see!”
“So let’s cut the chatter and keep moving. If anything else appears, respond immediately like you just did.”
“Understood.”
“There are mechanisms and formations mixed in. Be cautious.”
“I will.”
Churyang nodded with a determined expression.
He now understood.
Sabigang had put him in the lead as part of his training.
‘Come to think of it, the mix of mechanisms and formations is quite similar to the demonic realm’s barriers.’
As they continued walking, a voice suddenly boomed from the sky, as if the heavens themselves were speaking.
“With that approach, you’ll wander within this formation for a lifetime until you perish.”