Episode 315: Return to the Demonic Sect
“To my other self.”
The tiny inscription on the dagger was barely visible.
Jeok Murin gently ran his fingers over the surface of the blade. The texture was oddly comforting. Whenever he was alone, he had a habit of tracing the words etched into the dagger.
A snowflake drifted down, landing on the blade before melting away. Jeok Murin lifted his gaze to the sky, a hint of longing in his eyes.
“Come to think of it… it’s been a long time since we first met.”
It was about ten years ago. He had been recognized for his exceptional skills at a young age and quickly rose to the rank of squad leader. The first time he met the Blood Lotus Lord was during his promotion ceremony. For Jeok Murin, it was the highest honor, and he attended the event with a heart full of excitement.
Back then, the Blood Lotus was a secretive organization, but that didn’t matter to him. The Blood Lotus Lord, who was uniting scattered sects and gradually expanding their influence, was someone he deeply admired.
However, the moment he attended the ceremony and met the Lord, his mind was filled with something else entirely.
A woman stood beside the Lord, her gaze cold and her attire provocative, yet she exuded an air of elegance and dignity. The moment he saw her, Jeok Murin forgot he was meeting the revered Lord he had long admired. His attention was entirely captured by her.
The Lord called her “Hongmyeo.”
“Hongmyeo…”
Jeok Murin murmured the name to himself, lifting his head. A cold snowflake brushed against his face. Somehow, he felt that Hongmyeo might be reminiscing about something in a similar setting.
Though she often acted cold, she had a girlish heart when it came to things she cherished. She once replaced all the pebbles in the garden with obsidian simply because she found it beautiful.
Perhaps, as the first snow fell, she was recalling something with a youthful sentiment.
“But it won’t be me,” Jeok Murin thought with a bittersweet smile.
In terms of rank, Hongmyeo was far above him, someone he couldn’t easily approach. She held a position equivalent to a sect leader within the Blood Lotus.
Jeok Murin had once served as her bodyguard. It wasn’t for long—just before he was appointed as the Martial God Commander. It was about a year.
During that time, he learned that Hongmyeo was someone who felt loneliness deeply. Outwardly, she appeared cold and indifferent, but he sensed a profound solitude within her.
Perhaps that’s why she asked him to treat her as a friend. In reality, Jeok Murin was slightly older than Hongmyeo. However, due to the clear hierarchy, he couldn’t speak informally to her. Yet, unable to resist her persistent requests, he used a semi-formal tone.
About a year later, Jeok Murin was promoted, and someone else took over as her bodyguard.
He could say with certainty that those brief months were the happiest of his life.
One night, while they were walking by a stream where a waterfall cascaded down, Hongmyeo suddenly began to undress. Startled, Jeok Murin turned away, but she laughed and said, “What kind of bodyguard turns away? If you’re going to protect me, you need to keep your eyes open.”
“But… your body…”
“So, you can’t protect me when I’m undressed?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Hongmyeo approached, cupping his face in her hands and turning it toward her. Jeok Murin stood frozen, eyes wide. In the starlight, her bare form was breathtakingly beautiful. Her eyes, shining like jewels, seemed capable of holding the entire world.
“Look at me. Protect me. Always,” she said.
“Understood.”
“Just speak comfortably.”
“I’m fine.”
Hongmyeo chuckled softly and placed something in his hand—a dagger.
“If anyone comes for me, don’t hesitate to use this. As my bodyguard, you’re like my other self.”
“Understood.”
She turned and stepped into the water, her every movement mesmerizing. That night, Jeok Murin couldn’t take his eyes off her, not even for a moment. She was like a celestial maiden descended on a beam of starlight.
“It feels like ages ago,” Jeok Murin mused, a wry smile on his lips as he caressed the dagger again.
Just then, a clear voice rang out behind him.
“What’s that?”
Startled, Jeok Murin quickly stood and turned around. Right in front of him stood Sabi Kang.
“What?”
“Let me see.”
Sabi Kang casually reached out and snatched the dagger from Jeok Murin’s hand.
“Just like that?”
Sabi Kang was full of surprises. Even though Jeok Murin had let his guard down, he hadn’t expected the dagger to be taken so easily.
Sabi Kang stepped back, examining the dagger closely.
“Wow, it’s a shiny dagger. But a dagger that sparkles like this isn’t very useful. A dagger should be dark and inconspicuous to do its job. But I’m sure you know that, Jeok. So, is this one of those…?”
“One of those what?”
Churang, who had followed Sabi Kang, tilted his head in curiosity. Sabi Kang’s eyes twinkled as he replied, “You know, a gift from a woman you hold dear?”
“Oh! Does our stoic Jeok have such a woman?”
“How would I know? You’d have to ask him. Besides, this…”
Sabi Kang inspected one side of the dagger carefully.
“‘To my other self’… isn’t that a bit cheesy?”
As Sabi Kang teased, Jeok Murin sighed and approached.
“If you’re done, I’ll take it back.”
He reached for the dagger, but Sabi Kang playfully stepped back.
“Come on, why be embarrassed? Emotions are noble. No need to hide them so seriously.”
“Please return it.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll give it back after I’ve had a good look.”
“Fine, then. Enjoy it to your heart’s content. I’ll be going.”
Jeok Murin turned to leave, but something crinkled under his foot.
“Hmm?”
He looked down to see a piece of paper. It must have fallen from Sabi Kang’s pocket when he stepped back. Jeok Murin picked it up and began to read aloud.
“I wonder if it’s snowing there too. Here, the snow is falling, turning the world white. It’s like a blank canvas where your image naturally appears. I hope you’re eating well. Maybe it’s the snow, but I found myself thinking of you today, so I picked up my brush. It makes your absence here all the more real. When it snows like this, I wish I could bury my face in your ample bosom…”
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a dagger flew through the air. Jeok Murin dodged and caught it mid-flight.
Clang!
He glared at Sabi Kang, his voice icy. “What are you doing?”
“What do you think? You asked for it back, so I gave it to you.”
“I see. Then.”
As Jeok Murin turned away, Sabi Kang reached out and called after him.
“Hold on.”
“What now?”
“Leave that behind.”
“This? Did you write it?”
“Hahaha! As if I’d write something like that!”
“Of course. I can’t imagine you writing such a cheesy love letter.”
“Of course not! I’d never write something so childish!”
“But are you sure?”
“About what?”
“According to this, it’s addressed ‘To my love, Seollan…’”
“Shut up!”
Whoosh!
Clang!
In an instant, the two clashed, metal ringing as they were pushed apart.
Snow swirled around them, creating a flurry on the pavilion roof. Churang quickly ducked out of the way, looking up to see what seemed like white flowers blooming above.
Jeok Murin, with a cold smile, asked, “Why the sudden outburst?”
“Do you really not know? You kept reading that letter aloud!”
Jeok Murin frowned, puzzled. “I don’t understand. Didn’t you say it wasn’t your letter?”
“Of course not. I’d never write something so childish.”
“Then why all the fuss…?”
“I have this strange condition where I get overly excited when I hear cheesy stories. So, don’t read that in front of me.”
“Alright, if you say so. But are you really okay with this?”
When Jeok Mulin asked, Sabi Kang frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“According to this, someone sent a love letter to the ruler of Maeseollan…”
“That’s none of your business.”
“True enough. I’ll just return it then.”
“Thanks, but… wait, how can you return something that wasn’t mine to begin with?”
“Right. In that case, I’ll just get rid of it.”
Jeok Mulin chuckled and tossed the paper aside. Sabi Kang quickly leaped down from the pavilion and snatched it up.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, he tore it into pieces and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing them.
Churyang watched in stunned silence, while Jeok Mulin let out a dry laugh and walked off somewhere.
Sabi Kang suddenly shouted at Churyang for no reason.
“I can’t stand these childish writings unless I tear them up and swallow them.”
“Wow. Master, you can be honest with me, you know.”
“Damn it.”
Sabi Kang’s shoulders slumped, and he hung his head in defeat.
He had tried to tease Jeok Mulin, but it backfired spectacularly.
Churyang swallowed nervously and asked, “So… was everything Instructor Jeok read true? Did you really write that?”
Sabi Kang nodded.
“Yes, I did.”
“Then… maybe it’s better not to send it after all.”
“Are you doubting my writing skills now?”
Sabi Kang glared, and Churyang bit his lip to stifle a laugh.
‘This isn’t about writing skills anymore,’ he thought.
Meanwhile, as Jeok Mulin walked further away, another figure approached him.
“Instructor Jeok.”
He turned to see, surprisingly, Heukhyo, the bodyguard of the princess.
“What is it?”
“The princess requests your presence.”
“The princess…?”
Jeok Mulin furrowed his brow and looked at Heukhyo.