Episode 298: Return to the Dark Fortress
The new recruits stood with their mouths agape, staring at Sabikang in disbelief.
After a long silence, Yusongryong finally found his voice.
“Did you just say… the Black Cloud Fortress?”
“That’s right.”
“And Gugangryong is there?”
“Leader? Technically, he’s not a leader. Just another recruit.”
“But still, Gugangryong is there!”
“Yes.”
“And you just let him be? Do you have any idea what kind of person he is?”
“What kind of person is he?”
Sabikang asked, casually cleaning his ear, while the recruits, including Yusongryong, looked on in stunned silence.
They all had the same thought.
Is he really clueless, or is he just messing with us?
Just then, Deungjakyung, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
“Gugangryong, once the leader of the Death Wind Squad, left a trail of terror wherever he went. Even the most skilled warriors would risk their lives if they crossed him. He especially despised Onggisung. I can’t believe you let Onggisung go there.”
“Hmm. Thanks for the detailed explanation. But why blame me for someone who went there on his own? And you are…?”
“Ugh…! I’m Deungjakyung! I’m a member of the new recruits too, you know!”
“Hmm… you don’t really stand out.”
“I even planned to assassinate you once! But…”
Deungjakyung glanced at the Seol siblings and muttered.
“I couldn’t carry it out because of an unexpected interruption.”
“Well, you would’ve failed anyway, so don’t be too disappointed.”
“Ugh.”
“By the way, why does Gugangryong hate Onggisung?”
“It’s not entirely clear, but there’s a rumor that Onggisung is Gugangryong’s half-brother.”
“Oh, really?”
Sabikang crossed his arms, feigning interest.
At that moment, the recruits were certain of one thing.
Judging by his sly expression, Sabikang knew everything all along.
‘What is he up to? This instructor!’
Yusongryong bit his lip and spoke up.
“For some reason, Onggisung turned his back on his family and changed his surname. He was originally ‘Gu’ but changed it to ‘Ong.’”
“I see. That’s consistent with what I found out.”
‘Of course… he knew everything!’
Yusongryong asked, still puzzled.
“Then why did you let Onggisung go? Because of him, even Kangado is in danger!”
“Well, I thought it would be good training. Surely, they wouldn’t resort to killing each other, even if they’re brothers, right?”
The recruits looked at Sabikang in disbelief.
‘What has this instructor been listening to all this time?’
Just then, Deungjakyung asked abruptly.
“Training, huh… So can we go too?”
Sabikang looked at Deungjakyung for a moment before chuckling.
“Since when did you ever wait for my permission to act?”
The recruits began exchanging glances.
Yusongryong was the first to act.
“Instructor, I suddenly have a stomachache and need to leave early.”
“Got a stomach bug?”
“Seems like it.”
“Alright, if your stomach hurts, you should go.”
Yusongryong turned with a determined look and dashed off.
Next, Banggak stepped forward.
“Instructor, my back hurts, so I’ll be leaving early.”
“If your back hurts, you should rest. Go on.”
“Thank you.”
As Banggak ran off, Maenggasuk chuckled and took a step forward.
“These days, my eyes are blurry, and my hearing’s going, so I can’t hear well…”
“Old man, you should definitely go rest. Off you go.”
One by one, the recruits gave their excuses and quickly dispersed like the tide receding.
Standing beside Sabikang, Jeokmurin frowned at the now-empty training ground.
“What are you thinking?”
“You know me. I don’t really think much.”
Jeokmurin chuckled.
Not because he agreed.
He knew Sabikang was more meticulous and thoughtful than anyone.
‘He just pretends to be careless.’
Churyang seemed to share the same thought and asked Sabikang slyly.
“You knew the recruits would go to rescue Onggisung and Seoktangang, didn’t you?”
“What? So all those excuses were lies?”
Sabikang turned to Churyang with a serious expression.
His expression was so convincing that Churyang asked, bewildered.
“Don’t tell me… you really didn’t know?”
“I’m planning to go there myself. That’s why I let the others leave. But now you’re saying they’re all heading to the Black Cloud Fortress?”
“Wow… how can you be so oblivious?”
“Damn it! How was I supposed to know when they were so convincing? This could get messy if they all rush in and cause chaos.”
As Sabikang muttered in genuine concern, Jeokmurin reconsidered his thoughts.
‘Maybe he really is someone who doesn’t think at all…’
**
Sweat dripped from the tip of Onggisung’s chin.
The sweat running down his cheeks was all red.
It was the blood of others splattered on his face.
Having passed through the gates of the Upper Fortress, Onggisung staggered into the clearing.
He had expended a lot of energy passing through the Middle Fortress.
Onggisung moved as if he were sleepwalking.
The sun was setting behind the western mountains, casting long shadows.
As he reached the center of the clearing, it happened.
Whoosh!
From the shadows, warriors clad in black emerged like phantoms.
They wielded claw-like weapons, connected by chains, similar to the sickle chains used by Seoktangang.
Eight warriors appeared from all directions, surrounding Onggisung, exuding an eerie aura.
‘This is a new sensation. Very unfamiliar.’
Onggisung thought with his eyes closed.
If he were in his usual state, he wouldn’t have even had such thoughts.
The nature of his Sleep Technique was such that the deeper he fell into a trance, the more powerful his martial arts became.
Relying on senses like smell, touch, or sight meant he hadn’t fully mastered the essence of the Sleep Technique.
The Sleep Technique was influenced by Daoist philosophy.
To truly harness its power, one had to become one with nature, moving as naturally as a breeze or a willow branch swaying in the wind.
Thus, it was more about blending into the grand scheme of nature than making conscious decisions.
But the fact that Onggisung was relying on his senses to make judgments now was proof that he was too exhausted to immerse himself in the Sleep Technique.
Onggisung slowly adjusted his grip on his sword.
‘These aren’t opponents to be taken lightly.’
The black-clad warriors who had emerged from the ground exuded a strange energy.
Even if he were in a near-trance state with his Sleep Technique, their presence was enough to rouse him slightly.
Whirr. Whirr. Whirr.
The hooks on the chains spun in circles, buzzing like a swarm of bees.
They were poised to strike Onggisung at any moment.
The hooks, seemingly made from animal bones, had joints at each segment, likely designed to be manipulated with internal energy.
‘This is… dangerous.’
Cold sweat trickled down his spine.
He had expended too much energy in the Middle Fortress, leaving him more awake than asleep.
At that moment,
“An excellent prey indeed.”
A stranger appeared on the roof of a nearby building, murmuring while holding a bead.
His eyes curved like crescent moons, giving him a perpetually smiling appearance, and he exuded the same peculiar aura as the black-clad warriors with claws.
He was the Black Mask, wearing the Inpimyeong Mask.
“I knew you’d like it.”
The person who responded was someone Onggisung knew well.
Gugangryong.
Onggisung’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Brother…!”
A deep crease formed on Gugangryong’s forehead.
“What nonsense are you spouting? I’ve never had a brother with the surname Ong.”
Gugangryong’s expression was colder and more twisted than ever.
It seemed both filled with rage and mocking at the same time.
Meanwhile, the Black Mask, holding the bead, was increasingly amazed.
“Incredible. A body with the Innate Demonic Spirit Energy!”
The bead, once a brilliant jade color, had turned a deep crimson, almost black.
The energy swirling inside the bead was more vigorous than ever, even vibrating slightly.
Whatever it was, it was clearly reacting to Onggisung’s energy.
Onggisung muttered to himself in a weary tone.
“Must it really come to this?”
“Crazy fool. Let me ask you. Did it have to come to this?”
”…”
“Answer me, my dear brother whom I could devour.”
“That…”
Onggisung started to speak but then fell silent.
Gugangryong was questioning the death of their father.
Gugangryong’s lips twisted.
“Good, you kept your mouth shut. If you’d blabbed, I would’ve been furious.”
”…I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
Goo Gang-ryong’s eyebrow twitched.
Ong Gi-seung didn’t respond.
There were so many things he felt he should say, yet not a single word would come out.
Goo Gang-ryong’s brow furrowed deeply as he shouted, “Enough with the chit-chat! If you have anything to say, save it for when you’re kneeling before your father in the afterlife!”
The masked man standing beside him glanced at Goo Gang-ryong, then turned to the black-clad figures holding claws.
“Capture him alive. He’s a valuable specimen, so handle with care.”
“Understood!”
The eight black-clad figures responded in unison, launching their claws.
Swish!
Ong Gi-seung swung his sword to meet them.
Thud!
**
“Haah, haah, haah!”
Ragged breaths filled the air.
Young Ong Gi-seung—no, now Goo Gi-seung—slowly opened his eyes.
Through the hazy vision, he saw someone panting heavily, shoulders heaving.
Who was it?
He’d seen this person before…
‘Ah, it’s him…!’
It was Heo Mu-geuk, the Blood Lotus Master!
With a pale expression, Heo Mu-geuk looked down at Goo Gi-seung and asked, “Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“What… happened?”
Goo Gi-seung struggled to sit up and looked around.
In the next moment, his eyes widened in shock.
The ground was littered with blood-soaked bodies.
Among them were the bodies of his father and master.
“This, what is this…!”
“Don’t you remember?”
“What happened? Could it be… could it be…?”
Fragmented memories flashed through his mind—horrifying sounds of flesh being torn, screams, warriors dying with limbs severed, and himself, lost in madness, wielding his sword.
Heo Mu-geuk spoke with a somber expression, “Yes, it was your doing.”
“Then, I… even my father…?”
Heo Mu-geuk nodded silently in response.
At that moment, there was a clatter.
The sound of a sword dropping to the ground.
Heo Mu-geuk and Goo Gi-seung turned to see Goo Gang-ryong staring at them in disbelief.