Episode 320: Return to the Demonic Training Grounds
“Why on earth are we doing outdoor training all of a sudden…?”
Baek Gong-bo grumbled as he climbed the mountain.
They were heading to Ho Mun Mountain, a place not too far from Cheon Sang Palace.
Sa Bi-gang had summoned the new recruits here under the pretext of outdoor training.
Though the training seemed abrupt, the recruits took it in stride. After all, their instructor was known for conducting classes without any set rules.
“He’s not going to make us do something weird again, is he?”
“Weird like what?”
Bang Gak, who was following Baek Gong-bo, asked between breaths. He had strapped heavy sandbags to his ankles for personal training.
Baek Gong-bo thought for a moment before replying, “I don’t know… like searching every inch of Ho Mun Mountain for rare herbs or something.”
“Haha! That’s ridiculous. He wouldn’t make us do that… would he?”
Bang Gak laughed it off, but the thought of Sa Bi-gang actually doing such a thing sent a shiver down his spine.
“No way…”
He muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.
Baek Gong-bo also forced a smile, shaking his head. “Yeah, no way… Hey, do you have any idea what’s going on?”
“Shut up. I’m out of breath, so just keep moving,” snapped Maeng Ga-sook, who was leading the way.
Ho Mun Mountain was rugged and rocky, not an easy climb for the average person. The dense forest made it easy to lose one’s way.
As they reached the middle of the mountain, they encountered the Tiger Rock, a landmark resembling a crouching tiger ready to pounce.
Even after passing the Tiger Rock, the steep slopes and thick forest continued.
As time passed, Baek Gong-bo grew quieter, sweat dripping from his chin.
“Ugh, basic endurance training at this point? I’d rather have a good fight. Right, old man?”
But Maeng Ga-sook, who was ahead, didn’t respond.
“Old man? You haven’t keeled over already, have you? When someone talks to you, at least say something…”
Baek Gong-bo, panting, looked up and suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“What the…? Where did he go?”
Maeng Ga-sook, who had been silently climbing ahead, was nowhere to be seen. Only the dark, winding mountain path stretched out before him.
Had he climbed so far ahead that he was out of sight?
Doubting that possibility, Baek Gong-bo turned around.
“Hey, where’s Maeng…?”
His eyes widened in shock.
“Hey! Where did everyone go?”
Bang Gak, who had been right behind him, was gone. So were Yu Song-ryeong, Seok Tan-gang, and Do Bi-cheon, who had been following in line.
“What the hell is going on?”
He furrowed his brow, scanning the surroundings when—
Whoosh!
Suddenly, shadows descended like rain.
Swish!
Masked figures surrounded Baek Gong-bo, brandishing their swords.
Their movements were so precise and efficient that Baek Gong-bo couldn’t even think of reacting.
“Who are you…?!”
As he shouted in frustration, a cold blade pressed closer to his throat.
If he dared to unleash his energy, his head would be severed without the need for a swing.
Gulp…
Swallowing dryly, he felt the cold steel against his neck.
‘Who are these people? Should I attack first? Or wait and see?’
His mind raced with possibilities.
But he didn’t have long to ponder.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
One of the masked figures struck the back of his neck with the hilt of a sword.
The blow, infused with energy, knocked Baek Gong-bo unconscious.
**
Slap!
”…Ugh…”
Slap! Slap!
“Ouch!”
Baek Gong-bo awoke with a start, his cheeks stinging. He quickly took in his surroundings, finding himself in a dimly lit cave with torches flickering.
‘Where am I…?’
He couldn’t move a muscle. Looking down, he saw he was bound tightly with chains, his pressure points sealed, leaving him paralyzed.
Footsteps echoed, and soon two masked figures stood before him.
Baek Gong-bo glared at them, gritting his teeth.
“You bastards! Who are you? Let me go right now…”
Smack!
One of the masked figures stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face.
The blow was so forceful that it made him sway despite being bound.
The slap, infused with energy, left his cheek throbbing painfully.
“You son of a…!”
Smack!
“Argh!”
This time, blood splattered as his mouth tore.
A few more hits, and he feared his teeth would break.
Even with his fiery temper, Baek Gong-bo realized provoking them would gain him nothing, so he clamped his mouth shut.
Instead, he glared at the masked figures with eyes full of defiance.
Just as one of them raised a hand to strike again, the other intervened, raising a hand to stop him.
Baek Gong-bo’s gaze shifted to the one who had stopped the assault, who approached and spoke in a cold voice.
“I won’t ask twice. If you don’t answer or say something else, your wrists, shoulders, ankles, and knees will be severed one by one.”
“Spit!”
Baek Gong-bo spat defiantly.
The masked figure beside him moved to act, but the leader stopped him again, lifting Baek Gong-bo’s chin with a hand.
“Looks like I’ll have to start with your neck.”
A chill ran down Baek Gong-bo’s spine.
He sensed a genuine intent to kill from his captor.
‘Who are these people…?’
But he didn’t have time to dwell on it.
The masked figure wasted no time, asking directly, “Where is Ong Gi-seung?”
‘Ong Gi-seung?’
Baek Gong-bo frowned.
He had climbed Ho Mun Mountain with the recruits, but somewhere along the way, he lost his way, and Ong Gi-seung was nowhere to be seen.
‘Are they after Ong Gi-seung?’
The thought crossed his mind that this might be connected to the recent events at Black Cloud Castle.
‘So, they’re from the Demonic Sect!’
The only silver lining was that they hadn’t found Ong Gi-seung yet.
Baek Gong-bo smirked defiantly. “Go to hell.”
The masked figure’s eyes narrowed, not in anger, but as if he had expected such a response.
With a nod, the subordinate swung his sword.
Slash!
”…!”
Baek Gong-bo’s eyes widened.
Before the pain, there was shock.
‘They really… cut off my wrist!’
Then the searing pain hit him like a tidal wave.
“Aaaaargh!”
Blood spurted from his severed wrist like a fountain.
“You bastards, I’ll kill you all!”
“Save that for when you can actually do it.”
The masked figure spoke coldly, slapping Baek Gong-bo’s cheek lightly.
“Come on, focus. I’ll ask again. Where is Ong Gi-seung?”
“I don’t know, you bastard! Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you!”
“Stubborn fool.”
With another nod, the subordinate stepped forward.
“What are you doing? Stop, you damn… Aaaaargh!”
A flash of light, and with excruciating pain, his right arm was severed.
The masked figure, almost kindly, sealed his pressure points to stop the bleeding.
Baek Gong-bo, drenched in cold sweat, gritted his teeth.
“Just kill me, you bastards! Do you think I’d betray my comrades to scum like you?”
“Demonic Sect? Ah, you mean the Demonic Cult?”
“Yeah, you filthy scum!”
“You seem to be mistaken. Well, since we’re here, let’s be more honest with each other.”
“Go to hell!”
“Tsk, tsk.”
The masked figure clicked his tongue, then slowly removed his mask.
Baek Gong-bo’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“What… what is this…?”
“Do you recognize me?”
The voice was stern and commanding.
Baek Gong-bo, still in shock, looked up at him.
‘Why is the Lord here…?’
To his astonishment, the masked figure was none other than Heo Mu-geuk, the Blood Demon Lord.
Heo Mu-geuk sighed lightly and continued, “Now, it’s your turn to be honest. Where is Ong Gi-seung?”
“Why are you looking for him, my Lord?”
“That’s not for you to know.”
“I need to know! Why are you going to such lengths?”
“It’s an order. Speak.”
“I can’t follow such an order!”
“Tsk, tsk, why are you being so stubborn? Are you planning to commit treason?”
Baek Gong-bo met the Lord’s gaze with a steady resolve.
The Lord was searching for Ong Gi-seung, yet couldn’t provide a justifiable reason.
In other words, it wasn’t a legitimate order.
With a firm voice, Baek Gong-bo declared, “If necessary… I’ll commit treason to keep my word to him.”
“Honor? From a bunch of ruffians like you?”
Baek Gong-bo twisted his lips into a smirk.
“Seems like you don’t quite get it… It’s us ruffians who are more likely to commit treason on a whim.”
Heo Mu-geuk’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Looks like there’s nothing more to gain from this one. Best to get rid of him.”
“Understood.”
The masked man responded with a respectful nod and walked over, raising his sword.
In that moment, Baek Gong-bo sensed death approaching.
Yet, he kept his eyes wide open, refusing to blink.
To surrender out of fear of death would be the ultimate blow to his pride.
“Go on ahead and wait. I’ll send Ong Gi-seung to join you soon.”
“Hah! Things won’t go exactly as you plan!”
That was Baek Gong-bo’s final shout.
Swish!
A flash of light sliced diagonally through his body.
He felt himself slowly tipping over.
‘Is this… death?’
Thud!
As he fell to the side, his vision blurred, but he could still make out Heo Mu-geuk and the masked man looking down at him.
He felt anger and injustice, but no regret.
But then…
‘What… is this?’
Heo Mu-geuk’s face wavered like a mirage, revealing a completely different face.
‘Wait… that face… Instructor?’
Indeed, it was unmistakably the face of Sa Bi-gang.
‘What on earth is happening?’
Lying on the ground, staring blankly upward, he saw Sa Bi-gang lean in and speak.
“Why are you lying there for so long? Get up, you big oaf.”
“What…?”
“I said get up. The test is over.”
“A test…? What are you talking about…?”
Baek Gong-bo wondered if he was dreaming.
But then…
Wait a minute. He could move his body.
Startled, he jumped up and frantically patted himself down.
‘Good heavens! How is this possible?’
His severed hand and arm were intact.
And the masked man who had cut them was nowhere to be seen.
Moreover, as he regained his senses, he realized the surroundings had changed.
He was no longer in a cave but in a basin-like area surrounded by rocks.
“Where am I? Is this the afterlife? Did you fall victim to the same fate, Instructor?”
Laughter echoed from somewhere.
“Pfft…!”
“Heh… I can’t hold it in… Haha.”
Turning around, Baek Gong-bo saw the new recruits gathered in a corner, biting their lips to stifle their laughter.
It finally dawned on him that he hadn’t died but had been caught in some bizarre trick.
“Ah, damn it! What is this?” he shouted in frustration.