Episode 299: Return to the Demonic Sect
“Master, why have we come back here?”
Churyang asked, gazing at the scrappy fence at the bottom of the hill. It was the same rundown house they had visited before to meet the leader of the Hao Moon.
Sabigang pushed open the gate between the fence slats and replied, “There’s someone we need to bring back.”
“Bring back someone?”
“We need to wake him from his nightmare.”
“If you mean that guy…”
“Who else could it be but that fool who’s always getting himself into trouble?”
He was referring to Ong Gisung. Yet, Churyang still looked puzzled, tilting his head in confusion.
As they walked, they found themselves once again in the stone maze they had navigated on their first visit. The walls seemed taller now, as if reinforced, and the darkness was so thick it was hard to see even a step ahead.
Suddenly, thunder rumbled low in the sky, and a booming voice echoed around them, as if some celestial being were speaking.
“You dare trespass in forbidden territory. Prepare to face divine retribution.”
Churyang turned pale and looked at Sabigang in alarm. “Master… where are we?”
Just moments ago, he had stepped through the gate, but now it felt as if he had forgotten everything in an instant. It was as if he had suddenly awoken in a strange world, standing beside Sabigang.
The maze’s enchantment had a hypnotic effect on Churyang the moment he entered, clouding his mind.
“Seems they’ve improved quite a bit,” Sabigang muttered nonchalantly, glancing up at the sky. “Enough with the theatrics. We have no time to waste today.”
To Churyang, Sabigang’s defiance seemed almost like a challenge to the gods themselves. And sure enough, the sky, as if angered, roared even louder.
Crack! Boom!
“Ah! Master, please stop! You’ll incur the wrath of the heavens!”
Churyang clutched his head, trembling. Sabigang watched him with an amused expression. Previously, when Churyang had been caught in a similar trap, he hadn’t been this shaken. He hadn’t realized the voice from above was just a trick, not the voice of a deity.
But now, he was completely disoriented. The enemy’s magic had become more sophisticated.
“Even though this kind of magic is different from martial arts, you can’t just master it overnight. Interesting. It seems we have more reason to bring him along.”
Once more, the voice from above thundered down.
“You insolent fool! Do you know who I am to speak so carelessly…!”
Before the voice could finish, Sabigang drew his sword, Veritas, and slashed diagonally at the stone wall. A massive wave of energy surged forth, obliterating the towering wall in a straight line.
Boom!
Churyang gaped as the stone walls crumbled, revealing the dilapidated house they had seen before, now half-destroyed.
Sabigang’s attack had sent part of the house flying. It was already on the verge of collapse, so it crumbled easily.
From the wreckage, someone coughed and emerged, covered in white dust from head to toe, looking utterly disheveled.
“Is that…?”
Churyang mumbled in disbelief, while Sabigang smirked. “Behold, the ‘deity’ you were so afraid of.”
Realizing he had been trapped in an illusion, Churyang’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, the head of the Hao Moon, Jeong Ryugwang, stepped out of the ruins, grumbling.
“Did you have to wreck my yard and house like this?”
“Just fix it. Why play such pointless tricks?”
“It wasn’t meant for you. I didn’t expect you to show up…”
“So you wanted to test if it would work on me?”
“Ahem, yes.”
But it had failed spectacularly. At least Churyang had been fooled, which was some consolation.
Sabigang walked into the ruined house and plopped down on a chair. “You’ve improved quite a bit since last time. How did you manage it?”
“I have no reason to tell you.”
Jeong Ryugwang pouted and looked away. Sabigang chuckled, infusing his sword with energy. Jeong Ryugwang paled and waved his hands frantically.
“Alright, alright. I’ll tell you. I have a master.”
“A master?”
“Yes. I wasn’t born a genius who could learn such magic on my own.”
“A master, huh? Who is it?”
“I don’t know his name. I met him by chance and learned from him, but he won’t see me now.”
“Why not?”
“He despises getting involved with the martial world. He lives a life of non-action and naturalness.”
“Hmm. But your sudden improvement must be thanks to his guidance?”
“Of course. But it wasn’t direct.”
“Then how?”
“We communicate occasionally, like using carrier pigeons. I was shocked when my magic didn’t work on you, so I sent him a message, and he replied with ways to enhance my skills.”
“And just from exchanging letters, you improved this much?”
Jeong Ryugwang grinned smugly. “Not just anyone could do it. It’s because I have talent and skills beyond others…”
“Enough. If his teachings are that impressive, he must be quite the sorcerer.”
“Ahem. As far as I know, he’s the best in this field.”
Sabigang nodded thoughtfully. In his past life, he hadn’t encountered many sorcerers, nor did he think highly of them. Most were charlatans, deceiving people in the streets or selling talismans to ward off spirits for profit.
But a sorcerer of this caliber might be a valuable asset. Of course, Jeong Ryugwang alone wasn’t enough. His formations were no match for the barriers of the demon realm. They might be mysterious, but mystery alone wouldn’t defeat demons.
“I’ll have to learn more about this master someday.”
As Sabigang pondered, Jeong Ryugwang frowned and asked, “Why have you come back here?”
“To take you with us.”
“Me? Where?”
“I’ll explain on the way.”
“Wait, wait. Why so sudden? You’re not planning to make me disappear without a trace, are you?”
“I don’t intend to, but if you keep resisting, I might get annoyed.”
Jeong Ryugwang swallowed nervously. “Fine, let’s talk on the way. I received the information you sent to the Ghost Shadow Clan.”
“About that Ong Gisung fellow?”
“Yes. But I only got the summary. I have more questions about him.”
“Like what?”
“What happened to him after he left home?”
“Well…”
Jeong Ryugwang followed Sabigang, continuing the conversation.
**
Gisung ran and ran. He thought he heard the voice of his master, Humugeuk, calling him, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t believe the tragedy that had befallen him.
“I killed my father with my own hands… I slaughtered my master’s followers…”
He tripped over a tree root and fell hard to the ground, clutching the dirt as he trembled. Anger, despair, sorrow, and hopelessness—all the world’s negative emotions seemed to flood his heart and mind.
And at the end of it all, he saw the eyes of his brother, Gugangryong, the last thing he remembered. His brother, who had always been kind and gentle to him. Even when their father forbade him from learning martial arts, Gugangryong had secretly taught him simple techniques, patting his head affectionately.
Despite being half-brothers, Gugangryong never resented or envied him. He was more supportive than their parents.
But now…
“Brother…”
Gisung looked up at the night sky, tears in his eyes. He couldn’t shake the image of Gugangryong’s furious gaze. If Humugeuk hadn’t intervened when Gugangryong charged at him like a demon, he might have died then and there.
“Maybe that would have been better…”
However, Heomugeuk stepped in front of Gugangryong, blocking his path.
With a serious expression, he placed his hands firmly on Gugangryong’s shoulders and spoke earnestly.
“Now I see, you were born with the innate spirit of a demon. That’s why your father forbade you from learning martial arts. You must keep this a secret from others. If not, your life will become unbearably difficult.”
Gugiseung, tears streaming down his face, could only nod numbly.
Meanwhile, Gugangryong glared at him with a face full of rage, as if he wanted to devour him.
Unable to withstand the pressure, Gugiseung ran away.
And now, here he was, collapsed in an unknown place, all alone.
He raised his hand.
‘With this hand…’
He had killed his father.
He bit his lip hard.
‘Who am I? Am I a monster? What is this innate demon spirit? Why was I born with it?’
Barely managing to stand, Gugiseung walked aimlessly, one step after another.
Days turned into weeks, and a fortnight passed.
Gugiseung wandered endlessly, like a lost soul.
He didn’t even notice his hunger.
All he wanted was to escape from this world.
Then one day, he slipped on a rain-soaked path and fell off a cliff.
He lost consciousness.
When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself in a small mountain hut.
An old man with a thick beard was looking down at him.
He looked just like the reclusive hermits Gugiseung had heard about in stories.
Clicking his tongue, the old man spoke.
“A child burdened with tragedy. If this is fate, then so be it. I shall teach you the mystical arts of the Dao.”
“Who are you…? I’m not supposed to learn martial arts…”
“Do not worry. What I will teach you is a martial art that grows stronger as you erase your ego. The spirit within you feeds on the desires of the self. This art will strengthen you and keep the heart’s demons at bay.”