Episode 34: Return to the Demonic Sect

“What… what on earth is happening?”

Hoyobeom stood there, mouth agape, eyes darting around in disbelief.

Friends he had known for years were all dead overnight.

And the man responsible for two of those deaths was standing right in front of him.

Sabi Kang.

Wasn’t he an instructor at Yongcheon Hall?

No, that didn’t matter now.

What was truly shocking were the events that had unfolded between Dangugi and the three sects.

And the fact that Dangugi himself had annihilated two of those sects!

Hoyobeom felt utterly foolish for not knowing any of this until now.

Could he still call himself their friend?

While Hoyobeom struggled to regain his balance, Sabi Kang was rifling through the belongings of the deceased Dangugi.

He found sixteen Devil Fires.

“Looks like he used four. Probably one by accident, then a couple for testing. The remaining two must have been used to wipe out the two families.”

All things considered, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

Sabi Kang pocketed the Devil Fires and found something else in Dangugi’s belongings.

A vial of swirling dark gray liquid.

Hela’s Tears.

A deadly poison that could turn a human body to stone with just a single drop.

And another vial, this one filled with a jade-colored liquid.

Akan Potion.

A rare elixir that maximizes one’s mana capacity.

“One Hela’s Tear, five Akan Potions. Not bad at all.”

Having gathered the items, Sabi Kang approached the dazed Hoyobeom.

“As you can see, things have turned out this way. I’d appreciate it if you could handle the aftermath.”

Hoyobeom looked at Sabi Kang.

“Who… who are you?”

“I told you, I’m an instructor at Yongcheon Hall.”

“Is that really true? But why would an instructor from Yongcheon Hall…?”

“Why am I involved in this, you mean? I already told you. I came to retrieve my belongings.”

“And those belongings are…?”

“The things I just collected. Any other questions?”

“When did you find out about their connections?”

“Hmm. I stumbled upon it by chance. It’s a long story.”

Sabi Kang gave a vague answer.

After all, who would believe he had returned from the future?

“Do you think I’ve done something wrong, Master Ho?”

“No… I don’t know anything anymore. I can’t make sense of any of this.”

Truly, he couldn’t.

One friend had committed an unforgivable crime, and another had destroyed two sects, taking innocent lives.

If the explosion here had been like the one before, he wouldn’t even be standing here now.

And yet, to point out this man’s wrongdoing?

Impossible.

Sabi Kang looked at the bowed Hoyobeom and gave a wry smile.

“I understand. Your mind must be in turmoil. Take your time to think it over. I know what kind of person you are, Master Ho.”

As Sabi Kang turned to leave, he paused and looked back.

“If you could, please take care of things here.”

Hoyobeom didn’t even think to stop him.

His mind was too tangled, just as Sabi Kang had said.

Just staying sane was a struggle.

It was only after Sabi Kang left that Hoyobeom’s thoughts began to clear.

The first thing that came to mind was guilt.

“Oh, Gugi! Why didn’t you say a word to me?”

Overwhelmed by loss, Hoyobeom sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

Looking back, he had never offered a helping hand when Dangugi was searching for his daughter.

He had only offered silent encouragement.

Even if Dangugi had confided in him, what could he have done?

No, come to think of it, Dangugi had mentioned something to him.

He had just completely forgotten.

Of course, it wasn’t a direct confession.

One day, Dangugi had come to him, smiling unexpectedly, and asked a question.

“If the remaining three sects of Angang committed an unforgivable act, how would you respond?”

At the time, he had given a foolish answer.

“Whoever reveals it is what’s important.”

“What if it were a servant?”

“Then I’d beat that servant to death.”

“Why?”

“I trust my friends. I would never believe the slander of a mere servant. And think about it. Would Baekga, Jinga, or Geumjeong do such a thing? It’s impossible.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

Dangugi had replied with a bitter smile.

“And what would you do?”

“I’d beat the servant to death too.”

Dangugi’s expression had been different when he said that.

There was a sense of deep-seated hatred.

But he had dismissed it as a figment of his imagination.

He had thought the question was merely a test of their friendship.

But it wasn’t.

That was the first time Dangugi had spoken of his situation.

If only he had delved deeper into the conversation back then…

Could he have prevented this tragedy?

Regret always comes too late.

“Dangugi… forgive your foolish friend!”

In the end, Hoyobeom collapsed, sobbing bitterly.

**

“Haaa.”

Maeseollan let out a long sigh and sprawled out on top of the carriage roof.

“Where on earth did that man go?”

The more she thought about it, the more her anger simmered.

The moment a pillar of fire shot up in the middle of the village, Sabi Kang had vanished without a trace.

The cadets, who had been trying to sleep, rushed to the side of the carriage, chattering as they watched the distant flames.

“Oh my gosh, what is that?”

“What’s going on? Where is that?”

“Let’s go see!”

There’s nothing more entertaining than a fire, after all.

Yeom Jaryang and the other cadets shouted excitedly.

In the end, Maeseollan had to step in to stop them.

“Everyone, stay in your places! No one is to leave without permission.”

“Instructor, don’t we have a right to know what’s happening?”

“Yeah, we’re curious!”

Maeseollan frowned slightly.

“Your safety comes before your right to know. Just listen and return to your places.”

Even after that, the cadets grumbled like children.

It wasn’t until Maeseollan raised her voice that they reluctantly returned to their spots.

But these cadets weren’t the type to obediently follow orders.

Yeom Jaryang and many others were constantly scheming to sneak into the village.

As a result, Maeseollan spent the night wide awake, keeping watch over them.

Finally, as dawn broke and the cadets, now weary, fell asleep, Maeseollan climbed onto the carriage roof to lie down.

“What am I even doing here?”

Another sigh escaped her lips.

Just then.

“Is something troubling you?”

A voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

Maeseollan’s eyes shot open, and she sat up abruptly.

“You…!”

Sabi Kang was standing on the carriage roof, looking down at her with a sly grin.

Maeseollan furrowed her brows and shouted.

“Where have you been all this time?”

“Well, it seemed like there was some commotion in the village, so I went to check it out.”

“How could you just leave without a word?”

“Hmm, I apologize for that. It was an urgent situation.”

“Isn’t it too much to abandon the cadets like that? Is a simple apology enough?”

“With an instructor as capable as you here, what is there to worry about?”

“Is that really what you think? You should have at least told me where you were going!”

“Hmm. Are you… angry?”

Sabi Kang’s words made Maeseollan flinch.

‘Damn it! I let my emotions get the better of me…’

She had been too emotional.

In such an ambiguous relationship, getting angry could ruin everything.

Hadn’t things been going well just yesterday?

If she pushed him away now, Sabi Kang might see her differently.

She couldn’t let him forget the sweet atmosphere of last night.

“I’m not… angry…”

“Hmm, you seem quite upset.”

“That’s… not it…”

“It seems you have a lot of complaints about me…”

“It’s not that, I was just worried. Do you know how much I worried that you might have gotten hurt somewhere? Without you, I’d have to take responsibility for all these cadets… and I’m really not confident about that…”

Maeseollan’s voice wavered as if she were about to cry.

Of course, her emotions were stirred for a different reason.

‘Damn it! Why am I… over someone like this…!’

She had never failed to seduce a man before.

The fact that things weren’t going according to plan made her anxious.

Meanwhile, Sabi Kang, feigning a touched expression, took Maeseollan’s hand.

“You’re the first person to worry about me like this. Your heart is truly kind, Miss Mae.”

“So please, don’t make me worry again.”

“I promise.”

“Really… I don’t know what to do…!”

Maeseollan blushed and averted her gaze.

Sabi Kang looked at her with a satisfied smile.

“Miss Mae.”

“Yes?”

“Do you… like me?”

‘What? Out of nowhere…!’

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Maeseollan was flustered, while Sabi Kang chuckled softly.

“Having feelings for someone is nothing to be ashamed of. Especially for someone as manly and handsome as me, it’s only natural.”

‘What is this guy…? He’s so full of himself… what on earth?’

“Listen, we are instructors, after all. I’ve been wrestling with this for days. What should I do about your feelings for me? Sure, I could just close my eyes and let things happen, but we have a duty to set an example for the cadets, don’t we?”

“Uh… what are you talking about?”

“At least that’s how I see it. If, during our journey, I were to indulge your heartfelt wishes and we ended up… you know, together…”

“What on earth are you saying?”

Mae Seol-ran shouted, her voice rising in disbelief.

Sa Bi-gang flinched, eyes wide as he looked at her.

“Why are you yelling?”

“Because I don’t understand a word you’re saying! What do you mean by ‘together’?”

“Well, when a man and a woman… you know, return to nature, yin and yang in harmony…”

“You’ve got it all wrong. You think I want that? Desperately?”

“Wasn’t it so?”

Mae Seol-ran was so taken aback she couldn’t even laugh.

‘That’s what you wanted, not me!’

Just yesterday, he was panting like a dog in heat, and now he’s acting all innocent?

This man had a peculiar way of getting under her skin.

In the worst possible way.

‘I can’t let him think I’m easy prey!’

She had tried to be gentle, but he had completely misunderstood.

Letting him think he had her wrapped around his finger was a mistake.

‘Me, wanting to be with him? Ridiculous!’

Mae Seol-ran replied firmly.

“Absolutely not! You’re not my type at all, Instructor Sa. You’ve got it all wrong.”

“Really? I’m not your ideal man?”

“Of course not!”

“Strange. Back in my world, everyone went crazy over me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Anyway, just so you know, I have no feelings for you whatsoever!”

Mae Seol-ran regretted her outburst the moment the words left her mouth.

‘Damn, I shouldn’t have said that.’

She should have held back a little longer.

Now she’d not only ruined the moment but also overturned the whole situation.

“Hahaha! Well, that’s a relief. I thought you were trying to seduce me.”

“Me, seduce you?”

“Well, if not, then that’s fine.”

Sa Bi-gang chuckled, waving his hand dismissively.

‘Why does that smug look annoy me even more?’

Mae Seol-ran fumed inside but forced herself to stay calm.

She couldn’t let herself get caught up in his game any longer.

Since things had turned out this way, she needed a new strategy.

She had planned to approach him as a gentle, soft-spoken woman, the kind most men couldn’t resist.

But given the circumstances, she had to switch tactics.

She’d have to play the part of the so-called “bad girl”—cold on the outside but caring underneath.

‘Not really my style, but I have no choice now.’

Mae Seol-ran sighed lightly and spoke curtly.

“Anyway, you must be tired from last night. Get some rest.”

**

It was noon by the time Sa Bi-gang and the cadets were ready to leave.

“Are we really leaving without even seeing the Four Great Clans?”

“Why did we come here in the first place?”

Grumbles of discontent echoed among the cadets.

But there was no helping it.

There were no clans left to visit.

The Changcheon Clan was still around, but they weren’t exactly welcoming to outsiders.

Given the situation, the blame fell squarely on Sa Bi-gang.

Rumors circulated among the cadets that he had abandoned them during last night’s explosion to save himself.

Of course, the source of these rumors was Yeon Woo-gyeong and Gok Bo-ok’s group, but the cadets, who hadn’t seen Sa Bi-gang all night, were left uncertain.

Regardless, Sa Bi-gang led the cadets toward their next destination.

Just as they were about to leave the village, a group dressed in red martial robes came running after them, shouting.

“Stop right there!”

Dan Ri-jeong, who was leading the way, halted the carriage as the leader of the group approached.

The atmosphere was tense.

The cadets watched nervously.

After all, this village had already seen three disasters in quick succession.

They were anxious about getting caught up in more trouble.

The leader of the martial artists asked one of the cadets.

“Is there someone named ‘Sa Bi-gang’ here?”

“Y-yes, there is.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s me. What do you want?”

Sa Bi-gang had already stepped down from the carriage and was walking over, frowning.

Min Yu-hyang and Baek Mi-hyang whispered to each other.

“Do you think the instructor got into trouble?”

“He must have. He was missing all night. I knew something was up.”

But then, the martial artists suddenly bowed deeply, their voices ringing out in unison.

“The disciples of the Changcheon Clan greet our esteemed benefactor!”

Their voices were so loud that birds in the nearby forest took flight in a flurry.