Episode 293: Return to the Demonic Sect
Ong Gi-seung gazed at the stars in the night sky for a long time before closing his eyes.
“Even when I die, will these memories ever fade?”
“Time can dull the guilt, but…”
“Do you know what truly terrifies me?”
Ong Gi-seung interrupted Seok Tan-gang, speaking suddenly.
Seok Tan-gang looked down at him.
Ong Gi-seung continued, eyes still closed.
“The moment my father died by my hand, I can’t remember his face or expression at all. He must have been in utter despair. Yet, I can’t recall it. Instead, the strange thrill of cutting off his breath and the filthy sensation of it all are what remain vivid.”
”…”
“But what haunts me the most now… is the look on my brother’s face when I came to my senses. The anger, fear, despair, and disgust in his eyes—I can’t forget it. Isn’t it truly despicable?”
Ong Gi-seung opened his eyes slightly, revealing a bitter emotion.
Seok Tan-gang turned his head to look at the distant mountains.
“I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. How you severed ties with your father or changed your name—none of that matters to me. It’s not my concern. To me, you’re just Ong, the guy with the terrible sleeping habits.”
”…”
Ong Gi-seung glanced at Seok Tan-gang.
Is this why he feels comfortable around him?
But then…
“Wow, that was quite the speech! Have you been taking lessons on how to talk like that, Tan-gang?”
A voice suddenly chimed in from behind.
In an instant, Seok Tan-gang and Ong Gi-seung sprang up like lightning, drawing their weapons.
They frowned deeply at the sight of Sabi-gang perched on a rock.
“What… what is this?”
‘When did he get behind us?’
Sabi-gang grinned, sitting casually on the rock.
“Why so startled? Anyone would think I was here to assassinate you.”
“Hmm…”
“Doesn’t it feel like the tables have turned?”
“It’s unsettling when you suddenly appear behind us, Instructor.”
“Hmm. Did I interrupt your private moment? If I did, I apologize. Go on with whatever you were doing. I’ll leave you to it.”
“We weren’t doing anything!”
“If you weren’t, then why get so defensive? It makes it seem like you were.”
“Ugh…!”
Seok Tan-gang gritted his teeth, but Ong Gi-seung just gave a faint smile and turned away.
“Let’s go.”
Seok Tan-gang clicked his tongue and turned as well.
Just then, Sabi-gang pulled something from his pocket and tossed it over.
Seok Tan-gang caught it mid-air.
“What is this?”
“Read it. It’ll help with your chain sickle skills.”
A quick glance revealed it to be a martial arts manual related to the chain sickle.
‘The Moon-Slicing Blade…? Was there such a manual?’
In truth, it was a manual developed by one of Sabi-gang’s subordinates in the demonic realm, which Sabi-gang had translated and adapted for the martial arts world. Unaware of this, Seok Tan-gang simply thought it was a rare manual.
He nodded in gratitude and turned away.
Meanwhile, Sabi-gang watched the two walk away, his gaze lingering on Ong Gi-seung’s back.
“A foul scent…,” he murmured, recalling what he had heard from Neung So-so before leaving the Eungcheon branch.
“Is that the only way?” Sabi-gang muttered to himself, his eyes darkening.
**
“You’re left with no other choice.”
Sabi-gang’s sudden words made Ong Gi-seung tilt his head in confusion.
At dawn, Sabi-gang had dragged him to the marketplace without explanation.
Ong Gi-seung, half-asleep, asked, “Huh… what do you mean?”
“They say you have a smell.”
“A smell…?”
“Wash up. You must stink if even a woman says you smell.”
”…Snore…”
“Maybe that’s why you sleep so much—you’re intoxicated by your own scent.”
”…Huh? My scent is offensive?”
“Enough talk. Here.”
“Where is this…?”
“Go in and clean yourself up. I’ll cover the cost.”
”…Snore…”
“Go on!”
“Oh? Oh, yes. Then…”
Ong Gi-seung bowed and entered the inn.
After a while, he emerged looking refreshed.
Sabi-gang, who had just finished eating with Chu-ryang on the first floor, stood up.
As they left the inn, Sabi-gang frowned and asked, “What took you so long?”
“Ah… well, the warm water made me sleepy, and I dozed off… haha.”
“Figures.”
“Thank you for today. I didn’t expect a bath.”
“Now, let’s get you some cologne. And change your clothes. Do you even wash them?”
“Well…”
“Living alone without family, there’s no one to look after you. No wonder you smell.”
“Why do you keep saying I smell… Snore. Why do you say I smell?”
“I don’t know. I’m not interested in men. What do you think?”
Sabi-gang turned to Chu-ryang.
Chu-ryang frowned and replied, “Do you think I’m interested in men?”
“True.”
“Should I ask Ban-myo?”
“Ban-myo?”
“This little one.”
Chu-ryang pointed to his chest, where a small beast peeked out from his collar.
“I named it ‘Ban-myo’ because of its unique spots.”
“Hmm. It might have a keen sense of smell.”
Chu-ryang took Ban-myo from his chest and held it out to Ong Gi-seung.
By then, Ong Gi-seung was already dozing off.
“Ban-myo, take a sniff.”
Ban-myo sniffed, then suddenly,
It leapt from Chu-ryang’s arms and scurried back into his shirt.
“What?”
Ban-myo quickly climbed up Chu-ryang’s leg and nestled back into his chest.
“What’s wrong? Meow. Haha! It tickles. Smell… haha! It tickles… haha!”
Sabi-gang clicked his tongue, unimpressed.
“Useless creature.”
“Haha! It’s still in training… haha! Stop! Stop, Ban-myo! Haha!”
Sabi-gang strode off, and Ong Gi-seung, still half-asleep, followed closely behind.
As the three entered a shadowy alley in the marketplace,
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dark figures suddenly descended from the sky.
The masked men exuded a palpable killing intent.
“What the… who are these guys?”
Chu-ryang shouted, stepping in front of Sabi-gang.
The masked men exchanged glances.
Then, in unison, twenty of them charged at the trio.
**
In a dilapidated hut at the foot of a mountain, three people were engaged in a secret conversation.
A man with a face flushed red spoke first.
“You all know the Celestial Sect has been eradicated.”
“Qing is dead, I hear?”
The yellow-faced old woman asked, and the red-faced man nodded.
The black-faced man beside them remained silent, eyes closed.
The yellow-faced woman spoke again.
“Still, Qing did his part.”
What did she mean?
Qing had summoned a demon but was ultimately defeated. The Celestial Sect, a branch of the Demonic Sect, was completely destroyed.
Yet she claimed he did his part?
Neither the red-faced nor the black-faced man disagreed. Instead, the red-faced man nodded and said,
“His death is unfortunate, but this will earn him recognition from the Lord.”
“Indeed.”
“But it happened sooner than expected. I didn’t think he’d show up so quickly…”
“He’s a suspicious one.”
“Did you find anything?”
The red-faced man looked at the black-faced man.
The black-faced man opened his eyes and nodded slowly.
“I investigated. But I found no connection to our sect. He lived a typical life as a martial artist.”
“Hmm. Then why does he know our demonic arts…?”
The yellow-faced old woman turned to the black-faced man and asked,
“Could there be another demon…?”
But the black-faced man shook his head before she could finish.
“Impossible. I’m certain.”
“Hmm. It’s a mystery. A real mystery.”
The red-faced man stroked his chin and said,
“Anyway, all that’s left is to create the demon army. It won’t be long. We need to create distractions for now.”
“Indeed. When the feast is busy, you won’t notice the soup burning.”
At that moment, a voice whispered in the red-faced man’s ear.
[Guests are arriving.]
[Guests…?]
[The person you met before is here. From the Blood Alliance…]
[Ah, that fellow? Hmm. It shouldn’t be a problem. Let him in.]
[Understood.]
The presence outside faded away.
The man with the red mask glanced between the yellow and black-masked men and spoke.
“We have a visitor from the Blood Alliance.”
“The Blood Alliance?”
“There’s no need to be on edge. He’s someone we can talk to.”
A moment later, the door opened, and a man entered.
He wore a wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his face, but upon seeing the three seated inside, he smirked.
“Seems I’ve come at just the right time.”
The red-masked man stood and approached the newcomer.
“It’s been a while, Gu Daehyup.”
As the man removed his hat, a lightning-shaped scar on his cheek became visible. He gave the red-masked man a cold smile.
“I hear you’ve been busy.”
“Things just turned out that way.”
“Is that so? Well, it’s none of my business.”
“So, what brings you here?”
The man with the hat glanced at the yellow and black-masked men, then grinned.
“I’ve got news that might interest you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m thinking of returning to the Blood Alliance.”
“Returning to the Blood Alliance…? I thought you cut ties with them.”
The red-masked man asked, surprised. The man chuckled softly before continuing.
“I intended to, but I’ve had a change of heart.”
“But why tell me this?”
“I was hoping you’d come back with me.”
“With you?”
The yellow-masked man, who had been listening quietly, stood up and snapped.
“Enough with the riddles. Why should we crawl back to the Blood Alliance with you? What are you really after?”
The man with the hat looked steadily at the yellow-masked man before speaking.
“I’m a cautious person. It occurred to me that I might not be able to handle this alone. So, I thought one of you might accompany me. If you agree, I can offer you something you desire. What do you say?”
The red-masked man interjected.
“Something we desire…?”
“I’m thinking of offering you someone who would pique your interest.”
The red-masked man turned to look at the yellow and black-masked men. Their gazes intertwined with complexity.
“Take your time to think it over. Just so you know, if I, Gu Gangryong, return, the prey you’re after might come running to me first.”
“The prey will come to you? What’s your plan?”
“I’m aiming to take over Black Cloud Fortress within the Blood Alliance.”
“Black Cloud Fortress!”
The masked men exchanged glances, visibly stirred.
Where is Black Cloud Fortress?
If the Justice League has Red River Fortress, the Blood Alliance has Black Cloud Fortress. While not as impregnable as Red River Fortress, its geographical features make it one of the most difficult to conquer.
And you plan to attack it?
“Is that even possible?”
“Maybe not for others, but it is for me. I’m still a warrior of the Blood Alliance, and I know the lord of Black Cloud Fortress well.”
“What are you thinking?”
“If you want to know, you’ll have to decide first.”
The masked men exchanged glances for a long time, communicating silently. Finally, the red-masked man approached Gu Gangryong.
“Alright. We’d like to hear more about this prey.”
“As you wish.”
Gu Gangryong’s lips curled into a sly smile.