Episode 310: Return to the Demon Sect
Deep within the shadowy cave.
The walls, studded with luminous stones, were not a product of nature alone. Intricate carvings adorned every corner, and the fierce visages of demons were etched in relief, enough to terrify any intruder.
Following the winding path, one would eventually reach a spacious chamber. The pillars supporting the cavern were masterfully crafted, adding to the grandeur of the place.
At the far end of this majestic space sat a man on a throne carved from a massive black rock. His long hair hung down, obscuring his face, but his eyes shone with a piercing intensity that seemed capable of boring through stone.
Just then, someone entered the chamber.
It was a man with a face painted entirely in green.
“Master, everything is ready. The eclipse will begin shortly.”
“Well done.”
The leader’s deep voice resonated as he rose from his seat, and the green-faced man turned to lead the way.
The two traversed the long cave until they emerged into a wide basin, surrounded by sheer cliffs.
Standing midway up the cliff, the leader and the green-faced man gazed silently down at the scene below.
Anyone witnessing the sight in the basin would have been paralyzed with fear.
Creatures that defied the natural order of the world lay sprawled on the ground, writhing. Their bodies were massive enough to swallow entire buildings, resembling grotesquely enlarged maggots.
While the creatures summoned by the Celestial Sect were known for their many tentacles, these beasts were distinguished by their enormous mouths, capable of devouring a grown man whole.
There were four of these maggot-like entities, each positioned at the cardinal points around a bizarre pattern etched into the ground.
Between them, figures clad in blood-red robes chanted incantations in an incomprehensible language.
The green-faced man murmured as he observed the scene below.
“The Devourers have already consumed the offerings. Thanks to the distraction with the Celestial Sect, things have gone smoothly.”
The man referred to as ‘Master’ nodded in agreement.
“The Lord will be pleased.”
Anyone overhearing this might have been puzzled.
Isn’t the leader of the Demon Sect the Master himself? Yet he spoke of another, using a term of utmost reverence, implying the existence of someone even higher.
The green-faced man nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation as he looked down at the basin.
The chanting grew louder, and as time passed, shadows began to creep across the basin.
The eclipse had begun.
The Master looked up at the sky.
The full moon, which had been shining brightly just moments ago, was now half obscured.
‘At last…!’
The Devourers writhed, as if digesting their consumed offerings.
It was then that a figure approached swiftly from behind the two men.
It was a man with a face painted entirely in white.
“The Red Face has been defeated. The Black Face failed in the grand ritual and could not acquire the Celestial Demon Essence.”
The Master’s brow furrowed deeply.
An unexpected turn of events.
Failure in the grand ritual?
And the Red Face defeated?
Who could have interfered?
As if answering the unspoken question, the White Face continued.
“The culprit is said to be Sabi Kang.”
“Sabi Kang…!”
The Master muttered the name with a grimace.
A thorn in his side, indeed.
In a situation where neither the righteous alliance nor the Blood Sect could stop them, why did that name keep resurfacing?
But now was a critical moment.
That matter would have to wait.
“I understand. What of the Red Face’s condition?”
“He suffered severe burns. The Yellow Face has gone to him.”
“Understood.”
The White Face bowed and withdrew.
Meanwhile, the full moon in the sky was nearly hidden.
As the basin was plunged into complete darkness,
A sharp, slicing sound cut through the air, and flashes of light erupted from all directions below.
Screeches that could tear through eardrums echoed wildly.
The figures in the basin drew upon their inner strength to protect their hearing.
Anyone with insufficient inner strength would have surely collapsed, coughing up blood.
When the cacophony of screams subsided and the chanting ceased, the full moon began to reappear.
As the basin gradually brightened, the scene below came into view.
Astonishingly, the bellies of the writhing Devourers were split open.
From within, dark figures emerged, covered in a viscous liquid.
These were the offerings fed to the Devourers.
Yet, they all moved, alive.
Their movements, however, were peculiar.
Their naked bodies were entirely blackened, and their eyes were mostly devoid of whites.
The green-faced man clenched his fist in triumph.
‘It’s done! The Demon Soldiers have been created!’
He referred to the dark beings birthed from the Devourers as ‘Demon Soldiers.’
They would become a formidable force for the Demon Sect’s future endeavors.
Each Devourer had birthed about two hundred Demon Soldiers.
In total, eight hundred Demon Soldiers had been born.
The Master spoke as he observed the Demon Soldiers.
“Test them.”
“Yes, Master.”
The green-faced man signaled with his hand.
The chanting figures began to lead the Demon Soldiers away.
Ten Demon Soldiers remained behind.
Soon, thirty figures clad in green robes appeared, surrounding the ten Demon Soldiers.
They drew their swords and charged at the Demon Soldiers.
Incredibly, the thirty green-robed figures were quickly overpowered, sent flying by the Demon Soldiers’ strikes.
As the Demon Soldiers moved to finish off the fallen figures,
“Stop!”
The Master’s voice, infused with inner power, rang out.
Though not loud, it was clear enough for everyone in the basin to hear.
The Demon Soldiers halted, bowing their heads.
A faint smile appeared on the Master’s lips.
“Well done.”
“Thank you.”
With the green-faced man’s response, the Master turned and walked away.
**
In the underground training hall of the New Thought Sect.
“Is it true that my brother is alive?”
“Yes, it is.”
Sabi Kang’s answer brought a sigh of relief from Ong Gi-seung.
His brother, who had spent a lifetime vowing to kill him, was alive.
Yet, precisely because of that, he wished for his brother’s survival.
If he were in his brother’s shoes, he would feel the same.
But…
“Does he know the truth now?”
“Yes, he does.”
“I see…”
Ong Gi-seung couldn’t help but ask what he had been suspecting.
He looked up at Sabi Kang.
“Was it you who pulled me out of the illusion that day?”
“Who else could have done it?”
Ong Gi-seung chuckled.
It was just like Sabi Kang.
He had worried that Sabi Kang might deny it, but it was an unfounded concern.
This man would never hide his accomplishments.
“How did you wake me?”
“Though I didn’t do it myself, it was as good as if I had.”
“What do you mean…?”
“You don’t need to know the details. It’s too bothersome to explain.”
“Ah…”
Ong Gi-seung sighed, closing his eyes.
Then, he shifted the conversation to another thought.
“My brother must be very confused.”
“Well, it would be strange if he weren’t. To learn that the brother he considered an enemy was merely a victim, and that the person he trusted was the real enemy.”
“Indeed.”
Ong Gi-seung murmured with a bitter expression.
He wondered.
Had his brother’s anger towards him been completely washed away?
Or did he still harbor resentment, blaming everything on the fact that Ong Gi-seung was born with the Celestial Demon Essence?
His brother, whom he had admired and relied on as a child.
Despite being half-brothers, Gu Gang-ryong had always treated him with special care.
Sabi Kang suddenly asked, as if tossing a casual remark.
“Are you worried?”
“What? Oh, well… a little…”
“Of course you are. That’s why I’ve arranged a meeting.”
“A meeting… what do you mean?”
“A chance to mend the bond between brothers. To clear the air.”
“What…?”
Before Ong Gi-seung could finish, someone descended the stairs into the underground hall.
It was Gu Gang-ryong.
“Brother…?”
“Who are you calling brother? I have no brother with the surname Ong.”
Gu Gang-ryong replied curtly.
It seemed his feelings towards Ong Gi-seung hadn’t completely healed.
The scars on his body hadn’t fully healed either, leaving some marks.
Ong Gi-seung asked with a bitter smile.
“Do you still resent me?”
“Of course!”
“Because I was born with the Celestial Demon Essence? Or because my mother was the daughter of the Demon Sect’s leader?”
“You fool. That’s why you still don’t get it.”
“What do you mean?”
“What really infuriates me is how you, with all that power, let yourself be toyed with by Lian Zhu!”
Bang!
In an instant, Gu Gangryong kicked off the ground and flew straight at Ong Gisung.
He reached Ong Gisung in the blink of an eye, bringing his sword down in a diagonal slash.
Clang!
Ong Gisung raised his sword just in time to block the strike, sparks flying as the impact sent a jolt through his fingers.
“Ugh…!”
If he had loosened his grip even slightly, his palm would have been torn apart.
Biting his lip, Ong Gisung tightened his hold on the sword’s hilt.
“Because of your foolishness, I’ve wasted my life on the wrong things!”
Gu Gangryong shouted, charging at Ong Gisung once more.
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew continuously, the metallic clashing echoing loudly.
“If only you hadn’t been manipulated by Lian Zhu!”
Clang!
“If only you could have controlled the Heavenly Demon Spirit! Father wouldn’t have died!”
Clang!
“Everything that’s happened is all because of—”
Boom!
“Argh…!”
Ong Gisung staggered back, clutching his abdomen where the blow had landed, feeling a hot surge from within. He coughed up blood.
Gu Gangryong pointed his sword at Ong Gisung.
“It’s all because of you!”
“That’s…”
“What are you mumbling? Speak up!”
“Why is it my fault? I didn’t choose to be born this way!”
Whoosh!
Ong Gisung launched himself at Gu Gangryong like an arrow.
Crash!
Gu Gangryong blocked the thrust with the flat of his sword, the clash resounding loudly.
“Ugh!”
Gu Gangryong gritted his teeth.
Ong Gisung, eyes closed, pressed on relentlessly.
“Have you ever considered what it’s like to live a cursed life? Have you ever understood the agony of being branded a parricide?”
“Stop whining!”
“You’re the one whining! Why blame your ignorance on me?”
“You brat!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Ong Gisung’s attacks grew fiercer.
Gu Gangryong barely managed to fend them off, his brow furrowed, when a mocking voice whispered in his ear.
[What’s this? Going easy on your brother? If that’s how you’re going to fight, just give up.]
[Ugh…! If I go all out, he might die!]
[Go ahead, kill him. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?]
[Hmph! Don’t regret it then!]
In the next moment, Gu Gangryong’s demeanor changed dramatically.