Episode 362: Return to the Demon Sect
Creeeak.
The gate swung open as Sabigang and Churyang stepped into the courtyard.
But then…
“Hmm?”
Both of them widened their eyes in disbelief.
A village swallowed by lava.
That was the scene unfolding before them.
Churyang, dumbfounded, spoke up.
“Master… this is…”
“A village,” Sabigang muttered nonchalantly, turning to look behind them.
Astonishingly, there was a small hut surrounded by a wicker fence.
They had clearly entered through the gate into the courtyard, yet it felt as if they had stepped out instead.
Churyang mumbled, utterly perplexed.
“We definitely went inside… so why are we outside?”
“If I knew, would I be standing here like this?” Sabigang replied irritably, causing Churyang to nod awkwardly.
Sabigang, resting his chin on his hand, fell into thought and murmured to himself.
“It seems this gate is enchanted. I suspected as much… but I still have no idea how to break it.”
“Should we try going in again?” Churyang suggested, glancing back at the hut.
With no other options, Sabigang nodded.
“Let’s give it another shot.”
This time, they approached the gate with even more caution.
Before stepping in, they peered through to see a courtyard with a persimmon tree.
Slowly… carefully…
As they entered the courtyard once more,
“Hmm?”
“Damn it!”
The scene before them was still the lava-covered village.
They had opened the door to go in, only to find themselves stepping out again.
It was maddening.
The house was visible beyond the wicker fence, yet they couldn’t reach it.
“Churyang, try going in alone.”
“Understood.”
Sabigang crossed his arms and watched as Churyang opened the gate and stepped inside.
But…
Churyang emerged again, looking at Sabigang with a sigh.
“It’s no use. I went in, but here you are, Master.”
“This is getting on my nerves.”
Sabigang cracked his neck and, with determined strides, leaped over the fence.
Yet, all he saw was the lava-covered village and Churyang standing there.
“Damn it! This is infuriating!”
Sabigang scratched his head in frustration.
He drew his sword, Berthas, and slashed at the gate and fence, trying to force his way in.
But each time, he ended up facing Churyang outside.
After several attempts, whether through the gate, over the fence, or by breaking through, the result was the same.
Finally, Sabigang clutched his head and roared.
“You damned sorcerer! Show yourself now!”
But only his voice echoed back.
Churyang, looking dazed, mumbled.
“Master… maybe we should just leave. This place is driving us insane. It feels like being here is warping our minds and bodies.”
“Damn it! I can’t leave like this!”
Furious, Sabigang brandished Berthas and shouted with all his might.
“Murang! If you don’t show yourself, I’ll destroy everything!”
His threat was genuine, but the surroundings remained eerily silent.
Sabigang’s body trembled with rage.
‘That old fool really intends to keep this up…’
Just then,
“Master! Look over there!”
Churyang pointed to the southern sky, where a flock of unknown birds was gathering, darkening the horizon.
It was an unusual sight for the cold winter.
Anyone witnessing it might have felt an inexplicable fear of the unnatural phenomenon.
But Sabigang, seeing this, grinned.
“Finally, a response.”
“Is that sorcerer’s doing too?”
“Most likely. After seeing the volcano, he couldn’t just stay hidden.”
As they spoke, the flock circled above Sabigang and Churyang.
Then, suddenly,
Plop… Plop!
Something fell from the sky.
Churyang frowned, sniffing what had landed on his hand.
“Master… this is… droppings. And it smells like urine too…”
No sooner had he spoken,
Plop, plop! Plop-plop-plop!
A deluge of bird droppings and urine rained down on them.
“Ugh!”
“Damn it!”
The downpour was relentless, the stench overwhelming.
Only after they were thoroughly drenched did the flock, having relieved themselves, leisurely fly back south.
Churyang, looking miserable, muttered.
“Seems like that’s not the answer we were hoping for. Maybe we should just… Master…?”
Grrrr…
Sabigang, head bowed, was surrounded by a swirling aura.
In his right hand, a blue energy shimmered, while his left hand glowed with red mana.
The intensity of the aura made it clear just how furious he was.
“I’ll… kill him…!”
“Master, our original goal was to bring the sorcerer back…”
“None of that matters now… I’ll kill him! I’ll tear that old fool to pieces!”
“Master!”
In a fit of rage, Sabigang launched himself into the air, using levitation magic.
Gripping Berthas, he swung it fiercely.
“Die!”
Swoosh!
The energy in his right hand transformed into a blade of force, slicing through the air.
Boom! Crash!
A massive explosion erupted, dust billowing everywhere.
Before the dust settled, Sabigang raised his left hand, casting another spell.
“Hellfire!”
Fwoosh!
An inferno descended upon the hut.
It was a scene straight out of hell.
Anything caught in that blaze would surely perish.
But Sabigang wasn’t done.
“Fire Storm! Rock Storm! Blaze Tempest! Prominence!”
Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Boom! Crash! Boom!
Unleashing a barrage of high-circle spells, Sabigang finally descended, his anger somewhat abated.
The exertion had left him breathless.
“Huff, huff, huff!”
Panting heavily, Sabigang watched as the flames died down and the smoke cleared.
When the smoke finally dissipated,
“Nooooo!”
Sabigang’s eyes bulged as he screamed, drawing Berthas once more.
Amazingly, the hut remained unscathed.
Even the persimmon tree in the courtyard was untouched.
It was enough to drive anyone mad.
Furious, Sabigang swung Berthas wildly.
“Curse this sorcerer!”
Slash! Slash! Swish!
Boom! Crash! Boom!
He unleashed a relentless barrage of energy, as if pouring out all his mana and inner strength.
How long did he continue this frenzied assault?
”…Master! Master!”
Churyang’s voice finally reached his ears.
Sabigang, still glaring at the intact hut, snapped irritably.
“What is it?”
“He says he’s willing to talk.”
“What are you talking about?”
Sabigang frowned deeply and turned around.
In that moment, his eyes widened in surprise.
Beside Churyang stood an old man with a staff, staring blankly.
His long white eyebrows nearly covered his eyes.
Sabigang raised an eyebrow.
“Who are you?”
**
In the office, Gu Yoon looked up from his desk, gazing at Chu Heeryong standing before him.
Chu Heeryong’s expression was one of dissatisfaction, his lips tightly sealed.
He had achieved his goal of eliminating Lianju.
But the aftermath was not unfolding as he had anticipated.
Gu Yoon asked, “So, who will you appoint as the head of the Guardian Division?”
Chu Heeryong’s expression twitched momentarily.
Grinding his teeth, he slowly replied, “I didn’t think I’d have to…”
“You know, don’t you? From now on, the Blood Sect will be under the main sect’s supervision,” Gu Yoon interjected.
Chu Heeryong clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly.
The humiliation and sense of defeat made his entire body burn with shame.
He never imagined things would spiral out of control like this.
When he decided to aid Sabigang, he thought he could at least position himself on equal footing with the righteous sects.
But now?
He was in a situation where he should be grateful just to have survived.
Having to report every little detail about who he would appoint as the head of security to the leader was utterly humiliating!
What if he had remained loyal to the leader until the end?
He shook his head internally.
‘If I had, I wouldn’t have survived even like this.’
The battle at Seohwa Plains had been far beyond anything he had anticipated.
Yes, the only reason he could still breathe, even while trembling with shame, was because he had helped Sabigang.
‘Not that I can bring myself to thank him!’
Having swallowed the hypocrite’s tongue, he was now nothing more than a puppet of the Justice Alliance.
Or perhaps, just Sabigang’s personal puppet.
‘Damn it!’
A fresh wave of anger surged through him, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
“Are you deep in thought?”
The voice broke through his reverie, and Chu Heeryong lifted his sharp eyes to meet Gu Yoon’s gaze.
Gu Yoon met his stare calmly.
‘Impressive.’
Chu Heeryong had to admit it.
Gu Yoon wasn’t a martial arts master.
Yet, he met Chu Heeryong’s gaze without flinching.
Even without showing any killing intent, most warriors would feel their knees buckle under such a direct stare.
Finally, Chu Heeryong closed his eyes and spoke.
“I heard the Red Leader is here.”
“Are you referring to Instructor Jeok Mulin?”
“Yes.”
Chu Heeryong nodded.
Jeok Mulin was not only skilled in martial arts but also someone who would never betray his master.
Gu Yoon jotted down the name and asked, “Understood. Who is your second choice?”
“Second choice?”
“In case the Red Leader declines the position of head of security.”
“Hmph! As if he would refuse…”
“He has already been approached by others. There’s a chance he might not take the position, so it’s wise to have a backup.”
Chu Heeryong hesitated, then sighed deeply before replying, “I’ll need more time to think about that.”
The head of security would be someone who stayed close to him. It wasn’t a position to be filled lightly.
Gu Yoon looked up. “Then, who will you appoint as the chief strategist?”
The mention of ‘chief strategist’ made Chu Heeryong’s eyes flicker slightly.