Episode 349: Return of the Demon Sect Leader
In the end, it was Uk Cheong-pung who stepped in to calm Sa Bi-gang.
“Come now, is there really a need to go this far? Sa, my friend, perhaps it’s time to let go of your anger and consider the concerns of Lord Muk. I, too, opposed this out of fear for the demise of the Shin Alliance. Let’s have a more in-depth discussion, shall we?”
Watching the aura emanating from Sa Bi-gang, Uk Cheong-pung instinctively knew this was not someone to be trifled with lightly. It dawned on him, perhaps too late, why the leader and the military held him in such high regard.
As the elder took a step back and tried to reason, Sa Bi-gang’s fierce demeanor softened. The sword, which had been hovering in the air, returned to its sheath as if by its own will.
Sa Bi-gang looked at the two men and spoke, “Let’s be honest. Are you worried I’ll step in to save them, or are you more concerned about losing the Shin Alliance?”
“Why, what a thing to say… Why would we worry if you’re here to save the main alliance?” Uk Cheong-pung replied with a forced smile, trying to keep his tone as gentle as possible.
‘Because you’re all too busy with your petty power struggles!’ Sa Bi-gang thought, though he kept his expression neutral and listened quietly.
Uk Cheong-pung continued, “Naturally, we’re concerned about losing the Shin Alliance. As you know, it’s our last line of defense. Surely you see it the same way?”
He nudged Muk Yang-je with his elbow, prompting him to respond, albeit with a hint of reluctance.
“Y-yes, I agree with the leader’s sentiments.”
“See? So let’s not have any misunderstandings.”
But Sa Bi-gang couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. ‘As if.’
He nodded and said, “Fine. I’ll leave the Shin Alliance behind. No objections, then?”
His words left Uk Cheong-pung, Muk Yang-je, and even Gu Yoon wide-eyed with surprise.
“Leave the Shin Alliance? Where are you going?” Gu Yoon asked, bewildered.
“Where else? To rescue our allies,” Sa Bi-gang replied, gesturing towards the distant plains.
The three men were left speechless, their minds racing with the same thought: ‘He’s going to that hell without the Shin Alliance? Is he out of his mind?’
After a long pause, Gu Yoon spoke again, “But without the Shin Alliance, it’s too dangerous…”
“No need. My own team will suffice.”
“Your team…?” Gu Yoon echoed, still in disbelief, but Sa Bi-gang was already striding away.
Not far off, Maeseolran and the inspectors from the Surveillance Bureau, along with the new recruits, awaited him.
Feeling humiliated, Muk Yang-je clenched his fists, trembling as he watched Sa Bi-gang’s retreating figure. Just then, Uk Cheong-pung’s voice reached his ears.
[Don’t get worked up. This might actually be a good thing.]
[What do you mean?]
[Look at them.]
Uk Cheong-pung subtly gestured towards the inspectors and new recruits with Sa Bi-gang.
Muk Yang-je glanced over, and Uk Cheong-pung continued.
[No matter how skilled Sa Bi-gang is, what can he do with them? This might be our chance to diminish his influence. If you lead the Shin Alliance to rescue the leader, the glory will be yours.]
Muk Yang-je’s expression brightened slightly as he realized the potential.
[Indeed, I have much to learn from you, leader.]
Meanwhile, Gu Yoon shook his head at the two men, thinking, ‘You’ve picked the wrong person to mess with this time.’
Sa Bi-gang, addressing the inspectors and new recruits, said, “I assume you understand the situation. I’m going to rescue them now. When I signal, you move out immediately.”
“Understood!” they replied in unison, their voices unwavering.
Their eyes shone with a mix of anticipation and determination. Their hearts raced, but they had faced creatures like Baold before. They believed that with Sa Bi-gang, they could win any battle.
However, Choo Ryung voiced his concern, “Are you sure about this? Isn’t it too dangerous?”
Sa Bi-gang turned to him with a deep gaze. “You’re always by my side, aren’t you? Remember, you’re my bodyguard.”
”……!”
Choo Ryung looked at him, stunned, tears welling up unexpectedly. He nodded fervently and declared, “I will protect you with my life, Master!”
“Good, then let’s go.”
Sa Bi-gang patted Choo Ryung’s shoulder and leaped into the air.
In an instant, he was soaring through the night sky like a streak of light.
Choo Ryung hesitated, then sprinted after him. “Wait, Master! What about me? Master!”
He chased after Sa Bi-gang, breathless.
**
On a hill southeast of the Seohwa Plains, Ryu Yeo-jung, the chief strategist of the Blood Demon Sect, stood.
From his vantage point, he observed the advancing forces of the Sima Alliance through a telescope, his expression grim.
“What on earth is that…?”
Despite the near-perfect victory unfolding, his face remained clouded. Everything was beyond his expectations.
He felt like a mere figurehead, sitting idly as chief strategist.
When the demonic cavalry from the Demon Sect joined the fray, he had accepted it as part of the chaos. The Demon Sect’s bizarre tactics were notorious, and he could overlook some unknown elements.
In fact, the demonic cavalry had been instrumental in wiping out Eun-hwi’s forces.
But what was this?
A massive brain-like structure, supported by tentacles, writhing and moving?
He couldn’t fathom the Demon Sect controlling such things.
And then there were the burrowing demonic soldiers, the explosive ones, and those that grew by consuming their own kind!
‘What is happening here?’
Doubt crept in.
Who had truly orchestrated this war?
Was it really the Blood Demon Sect?
Or was it the Demon Sect?
Experiencing phenomena beyond his understanding was never a good sign.
‘This is dangerous! Even if we annihilate the main alliance, it’s dangerous!’
Ryu Yeo-jung sensed the gravity of the situation. He realized that basking in the glow of victory could lead to a grave mistake.
‘We must conserve our forces!’
Resolute, he signaled his troops.
They couldn’t afford to charge recklessly. They needed to catch their breath and minimize casualties.
Just in case.
‘Let’s hope that whatever happens, our sect can withstand it.’
With that thought, Ryu Yeo-jung raised his telescope again.
And then he saw something unexpected.
“What is that…?”
Startled, he lowered the telescope, then raised it again.
He blinked, but there was no mistaking it.
“Sa Bi-gang… the instructor?”
There he was, standing proudly in the night sky.
Somehow, without any visible support, he stood firm in the air.
‘Is that even possible?’
Perhaps he had woven an invisible web to stand on, but this was a vast plain.
There was no way to set up such a web over such a wide area.
Through the telescope, Sa Bi-gang appeared like a deity descending from the darkness… or perhaps a demon.
He couldn’t be called a god, for his eyes shone with a fierce, deadly light.
**
“Ahhh!”
Thud!
A massive demonic soldier landed in front of a fleeing martial artist from the main alliance.
“Ugh…”
The martial artist, having fallen on his rear, scrambled back, his jaw trembling.
The demonic soldier was a monster, its skin as hard as stone, its fists like boulders.
Whoosh!
As its fist descended like a comet, ready to crush the martial artist,
“Begone!”
A lion’s roar erupted from somewhere, and a white streak of light shot forth.
Screech!
With a chilling sound, a dignified old man landed.
It was the leader of the main alliance, Neung Un-pa.
“Roar!”
The demonic soldier howled, twisting its body.
“Rumble!”
Thud!
The demonic soldier, sliced diagonally from its right side to its left shoulder, collapsed with a thunderous noise.
“Are you alright?”
Neung Un-pa asked, turning to the martial artist, who bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
“Run along now!”
“What? Oh, yes!”
Neung Un-pa furrowed his brow, watching the approaching demonic soldiers.
The Blood Demon Sect’s warriors and the Demon Sect’s followers were barely visible now.
Behind them, an unknown monster was pushing forward with its tentacles, while in front, demonic soldiers and explosive ones blocked the way.
‘This is tough, really tough!’
Neung Un-pa let out a deep sigh, his heart heavy with frustration.
He could save himself if he wanted, but watching the warriors who had trusted him fall at the hands of the enemy was suffocating.
Then, something unexpected happened.
“What’s that…?”
“Who is it?”
“Wait, isn’t that the former Lord of Sabigang?”
The warriors fleeing from the Jeongdomeng camp suddenly stopped in their tracks, looking up at the sky in awe.
Naturally, Neung Un-pa’s gaze followed theirs.
There, hovering in the dim sky, was a figure.
To everyone’s astonishment, it was Sabigang.
Gasps of recognition and disbelief rippled through the crowd of warriors.
“It’s… it’s the former Lord Sabigang!”
“Oh wow! It really is him! But what kind of magic is that?”
“Is he really standing in mid-air without moving his feet?”
“Maybe Lord Sabigang is here to save us!”
The warriors of Jeongdomeng, who had been drowning in despair, now clung to a glimmer of hope, their spirits lifting.
Sabigang was using a spell known as Levitation, a far more stable floating magic than the basic flight spell, Fly.
But to the warriors, ignorant of magic, Sabigang’s actions seemed nothing short of miraculous.
Neung Un-pa narrowed his eyes, focusing on Sabigang.
‘The former Lord Sabigang… What is he planning to do here?’
He knew well of Sabigang’s exceptional abilities.
But with the battle already tipping so heavily against them, what difference could Sabigang’s presence make?
Meanwhile, Sabigang, floating above the chaos below, wore an expression as cold as ice.
‘This brings back memories.’
He recalled the time when the demon realm invaded the central plains.
If that moment came again, an even greater hell would unfold.
Even if all the humans of the central plains united, it might not be enough, and yet here they were, killing each other.
And summoning demons, no less!
As Sabigang’s brow furrowed deeply, he extended his hand and shouted.
“Stone Wall!”
Rumble…!
Boom!
The ground shook violently as a massive wall erupted in front of the advancing Baold horde.
Several Baold, charging relentlessly, were flung back as if they had hit an invisible barrier.
Thud! Thump!
A colossal wall now stood between the Baold and the warriors of Jeongdomeng, like a new Great Wall.
The warriors stood agape, mesmerized by the spectacle.
Sabigang then turned his gaze toward the demon soldiers and the explosive troops.
“I’ll deal with you first.”
A cold, mocking smile played on his lips.