Episode 360: Return to the Demonic Sect
A chilly wind brushed against her cheek.
Even with her coat tightly fastened and a scarf wrapped snugly around her neck, the cold seemed to seep into her very bones.
Yet, Seoraehyang felt nothing.
Perched on a rock, she gazed absentmindedly at the frozen surface of the pond.
Each breath she exhaled seemed like it would crystallize and fall to the ground, yet she remained motionless, as if immune to the cold.
After a long while, she finally stirred.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out something.
A black, gleaming stone.
Obsidian.
Staring at the stark contrast between the white, frozen world and the pitch-black pebble, her mind inexplicably calmed.
Only then did she feel a hint of the cold, prompting her to channel her inner energy to warm herself.
Just then, a familiar voice reached her ears from behind.
“Are you alright?”
Startled back to reality, Seoraehyang stood and turned around.
“Murim…!”
“The wind is biting.”
Jeok Murim spoke with a faint smile.
Why was it?
Tears began to stream down Seoraehyang’s cheeks.
Yet, she replied with a smile.
“You really are a fool.”
“You’re not much different, Hongmyo.”
Jeok Murim chuckled wryly.
Seoraehyang couldn’t help but laugh.
She couldn’t deny it.
Slowly, she approached Jeok Murim.
“I have nothing left to…”
“It’s alright.”
At his sudden words, Seoraehyang looked up at him.
Jeok Murim gazed down at her with a calm expression.
“There’s no need to rush anymore, is there? You can follow your heart now. Nothing can bind you anymore.”
“Murim…”
“But before that…”
”…?”
“I have something for you.”
“For me? What is it?”
Seoraehyang asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
“Follow me for a moment.”
Jeok Murim turned and began to walk away.
Seoraehyang watched his retreating figure with a puzzled expression.
**
“Ah, sorry to keep you waiting!”
With a cheerful voice, the server placed two bowls on the table.
Two steaming bowls of noodles.
Seoraehyang stared at them blankly for a moment before looking up.
Through the rising steam, she saw Jeok Murim’s face.
He smiled faintly and said, “We never got to eat back then. It’s time to enjoy the little things.”
“Murim…”
As tears welled up in her eyes, Jeok Murim, looking slightly flustered, said, “You can’t cry over such a small happiness.”
Seoraehyang tried to suppress the surge of emotions as she looked at the warm noodles.
The wave of feelings refused to subside easily.
“Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”
Finally, she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.
Tears continued to fall, but neither of them spoke first.
Jeok Murim quietly picked up his chopsticks as well.
Together, they savored that small happiness.
**
In the distance, the village lay under the moonlight.
On a rock at the edge of the village, the words “Peach Fragrance” were boldly engraved.
Churyang looked down at the village below and asked, “Master, who exactly are we looking for?”
“The Taoist of No Waves.”
“And who might that be?”
“The future instructor of the Supreme Invincible Demonic Sect.”
“Ah, I see…”
Churyang swallowed his thoughts about the absurdly long and childish title and simply nodded, not wanting to hear it repeated.
“They said to find the Taoist of No Waves in Peach Fragrance, so it seems we’ve reached our destination.”
“The village is larger than I expected.”
“We’ll have to ask around to find the Taoist.”
The two entered the village.
It was larger and more vibrant than anticipated.
Even though it was late at night, the marketplace was bustling with people, and merchants were busy enticing customers.
“First, we should gather information about the Taoist of No Waves…”
Sabi Kang trailed off, glancing to the side.
Before they knew it, they had wandered into the village’s red-light district.
Women in sheer, revealing clothing fluttered towards them like butterflies.
“Oh my, where are you going, brother? Come play with us.”
“We’ll take good care of you. Come to our Red Flower House, and I’ll melt you with my whole body.”
“Our Red Flower House has the most beautiful women in the land.”
Sabi Kang and Churyang were so entranced by the stunning women surrounding them that they stood there, mouths agape.
Churyang whispered to Sabi Kang, “Master, isn’t it said that brothels are hubs of information? Perhaps we should stop by.”
“You’re using that as an excuse… but it’s a good idea. Brothels do handle a lot of information. Let’s go!”
With a grin, Sabi Kang agreed, and the women giggled as they led the two inside.
The brothel was filled with a dreamy atmosphere and sweet scents.
The women were indeed as beautiful as rumored, each one a stunning beauty.
The two followed the women, almost as if in a trance.
Once inside a room, Sabi Kang glanced at Churyang and asked, “Do I look handsome today?”
“Of course. Even your shadow is handsome, Master.”
“Well, I am quite good-looking!”
Sabi Kang was unusually confident that day.
Soon, the women entered the room, fluttering in like butterflies.
“Oh, brother, your body is so firm.”
“Are you a martial artist?”
“How are you so strong?”
The women whispered sweetly into Sabi Kang’s ear.
Sabi Kang and Churyang couldn’t help but smile as the women surrounded them, their hands exploring.
“Hehehe, that tickles.”
“Bear with it a little. I’ll melt you with my whole body.”
“Hahaha, my heart is already melting.”
“Oh, I’ll melt your body and heart completely.”
“Hahaha!”
“Hohoho!”
Laughter filled the brothel.
The women served them drinks and snacks, heightening the atmosphere.
The two spent the night in revelry.
The next morning, they awoke groggily and looked around.
The women’s undergarments were strewn about.
Feeling awkward, they cleared their throats and prepared to leave when,
“Oh, where are you going, brothers?”
“It’s time for us to leave…”
“Oh, come on, that’s too bad. Let’s have fun again today.”
“Well, we do have things to… huh…!”
Sabi Kang’s words were cut off as he gasped.
A woman kneeling before him had touched him in a way that made him shiver.
Churyang was in a similar state, surrounded by women who were exploring his body.
Churyang, looking dazed, said, “Master, since we’re here, why not have breakfast before we leave?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
No sooner had Sabi Kang spoken than the women brought in breakfast.
The two ate their fill and then returned to frolicking with the women.
They spent the night in indulgence.
Two days passed like that.
But even the next day, and the day after, they didn’t leave the Red Flower House.
Somehow, Sabi Kang and Churyang had completely forgotten their original purpose, spending day after day in the brothel.
Two weeks passed in this manner.
Chirp, chirp… chirp! Chirp!
One morning, Churyang awoke to the sound of birds.
His whole body felt languid.
He stretched, savoring the pleasant drowsiness.
“Yawn!”
He yawned long and rubbed his eyes, feeling something slither around his thigh.
“Hehehe, again in the morning?”
Churyang chuckled, reaching for his thigh.
He felt smooth skin.
“Hehe, that tickles. Stop it.”
But the touch continued, a hand slipping deeper inside his thigh.
Another woman seemed to be licking his neck, making him giggle.
Churyang twisted his body.
“I can’t take any more. Let’s sleep a bit longer. But your skin is so smooth… and why is it so cold?”
Finally sensing something amiss, Churyang opened his eyes and looked down.
Something was coiling between his bare legs.
Rubbing his eyes, he confirmed it and then saw a snake’s head right in front of his face.
Hissss!
The snake suddenly opened its mouth, flicking its tongue.
“Ah! Ahhhhhh!”
He jumped up in fright.
The snakes that had been entwined around him fell away, writhing on the floor.
“Ahhhhh! What is all this? Where… where am I?”
Churyang, still naked, looked around in panic.
He was sure he’d fallen asleep on a comfortable bed in the brothel, yet here he was, surrounded by nothing but a desolate field of grass.
And what on earth were all these snakes slithering around?
“Damn it! What on earth happened?”
Churyang instinctively covered his mouth, then felt his face.
“Oh my god! I’ve lost so much weight!”
Was this the price for indulging in days of debauchery?
He could feel his skin clinging to his bones.
Now that he thought about it, his whole body was emaciated.
“Master! Where are you, Master…?”
Frantically scanning his surroundings, Churyang spotted Sabigang sprawled under a tree and shouted.
“Ma-Master! Please wake up!”
Sabigang, deep in slumber, slowly opened his eyes and looked at Churyang.
“Ugh. What’s going on?”
“Please get up! Something’s not right!”
“It’s still… too early… hmm… I need more sleep.”
“This is no time for that! We need to find Master Murang!”
“Mu… who? Who’s that?”
“Master Murang! Anyway, please just get up!”
“You’re such a noisy brat.”
Sabigang rubbed his eyes and sat up.
Just then, a thick snake coiled around his waist, and he absentmindedly stroked its scales.
“What the—!”
Realizing something was off, Sabigang spun like a top and leapt to his feet.
Shhh-shhh-shhh-shhh!
In an instant, he drew his sword and swung it, slicing the snakes clinging to him into pieces that fell to the ground.
The severed snakes writhed and thrashed about, while the ones still intact quickly slithered away into the forest.
“Damn…! What is going on here?”
Sabigang furrowed his brow and surveyed the area.
He should have been in the brothel, yet here he was, naked in the forest!
And judging by his weight loss, it hadn’t just been a day or two.
“Looks like we’ve been had.”
Sabigang muttered with a grave expression.
“Ma-Ma-Master… are you okay? You seem to have been bitten pretty badly…”
Churyang stammered, his face pale.
Sabigang shook his head.
“Don’t worry. My body is immune to all poisons. A snake bite won’t harm me.”
“N-no, that’s not it…”
“Then what is it?”
“Well… M-Master… down there…”
“What?”
Following Churyang’s gaze, Sabigang looked down.
And there he saw it.
A snake, clamped tightly onto his most precious part, dangling there.
“Ahhhhh! This damn snake is biting my…!”
Sabigang instinctively grabbed the snake and tried to pull it off.
But the snake held on with a vice-like grip.
“Ahhhhh!”
Churyang, watching in horror, rushed over and grabbed the snake’s tail.
“I’ll help you!”
As Churyang yanked on the snake’s tail, Sabigang’s screams grew even louder.
“Aaaaaaah!”