Episode 392: Return to the Demonic Sect
Chirp, chirp.
The sound of birds chirping gently woke Muk Yang-je from his slumber. He stretched languidly and rose from his bed, feeling refreshed. As he walked to the window and opened it, the crisp morning air filled his lungs. Somewhere nearby, the sharp cries of martial artists training and the clashing of wooden swords could be heard.
Muk Yang-je felt inexplicably cheerful. The previous night, he had met with the head of the Shinwol Sect and gathered a wealth of useful information. The Shinwol Sect was clearly preparing for something significant. It was no surprise, given that the head of the Myeolma Sect, Sabi-gang, had humiliated them. They had been waiting for this moment.
“Everything is going smoothly. It’s as if the universe itself is aiding me.”
Just then, a knock came at the door, followed by a maid’s voice. “I’ve brought your tea.”
“Bring it in.”
The maid entered quietly, set the tray down, and left. Muk Yang-je sipped his tea and enjoyed a hearty breakfast provided by the Shinwol Sect. The sect leader personally saw him off at the gate.
“I hope you achieve the results you desire,” the leader said.
Muk Yang-je smiled. “A good result would mean there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Then it seems a good result might be hard to come by,” the leader replied, though his expression was oddly bright.
Muk Yang-je smirked. “Still, we must discern right from wrong, mustn’t we?”
“Indeed, it’s all for the good of the sect.”
“Your understanding lightens my heart.”
“Take care on your journey.”
With that, Muk Yang-je headed straight for the Myeolma Sect. By the time the inspection team arrived, Dan Li-jeong and a few instructors were already there to greet them.
As Muk Yang-je entered the sect, he glanced at the sign hanging at the entrance and chuckled to himself. “I’ll have to change that childish name later.”
Dan Li-jeong offered to show him to his quarters, but Muk Yang-je had no intention of resting. “Take me to the chief.”
“Understood.”
He made his way to the main hall, where Maeseol-ran was waiting in the courtyard.
“Always a beauty,” he thought, a hint of desire in his eyes.
Maeseol-ran greeted him with a graceful smile. “Welcome. You must be tired from your journey. Why not rest for a day?”
“I didn’t come all this way to rest, as you well know.”
“Of course. I only suggested it because you might still be weary from your travels.”
Her polite response filled Muk Yang-je with a strange sense of satisfaction. In the past, when she was the head of the Inspection Bureau, he wouldn’t have dared to look at her directly, fearing he might become a target of her scrutiny. But now, the tables had turned, and she was the one trying to please him.
“She looks even more beautiful when she’s so compliant,” he mused, licking his lips.
“First, I’d like to meet those who survived the recent skirmishes.”
“Certainly. I’ll take you to them.”
Following Maeseol-ran, Muk Yang-je headed to the infirmary, which was divided into a pharmacy and a ward for patients. He questioned the survivors, asking pointed questions that were difficult to answer positively. Everything was going smoothly. The injured had many grievances against Sabi-gang, claiming they were forced into battle unprepared. Some even suggested that Sabi-gang’s disappearance was a blessing.
After finishing his inquiries in the ward, he moved on to the trainees, who also criticized Sabi-gang’s harsh methods. Their resentment was so intense that even Muk Yang-je found it concerning.
By the end of the day, Muk Yang-je returned to his quarters, satisfied with the results. “There’s no need for further investigation. This alone should be enough to unseat Sabi-gang.”
Pleased with how things were unfolding, he went to bed early, planning to delve into the structural issues of the Myeolma Sect the next day. “If there are no problems, I’ll just have to create some.”
With that thought, he lay down with a light heart.
Chirp, chirp.
The sound of birds chirping woke Muk Yang-je again. He stretched and rose from his bed, feeling refreshed. As he walked to the window and opened it, the crisp morning air filled his lungs…
“Wait, something’s off.”
A strange sense of déjà vu crept over him as he looked outside. The sounds of martial training echoed in the distance, but this time, he felt uneasy. Everything had gone well the night before, so there should be no issues.
Just then, a knock came at the door, followed by a maid’s voice. “I’ve brought your tea.”
“Bring it in.”
The maid entered quietly, set the tray down, and was about to leave when Muk Yang-je stopped her.
“Wait!”
“Yes?”
The maid turned back, surprised, as Muk Yang-je frowned and asked, “Why are you here?”
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you a maid from the Shinwol Sect?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then why are you here at the Myeolma Sect?”
The maid looked puzzled for a moment before replying, “This is the Shinwol Sect.”
“What?”
It was then that Muk Yang-je realized the source of his unease. “What happened yesterday?”
He hurried to the main hall, where the Shinwol Sect leader greeted him with a friendly smile. “Did you sleep well last night?”
“Why am I here?”
“What do you mean? You visited us as soon as you arrived in Wuhuan. Did you perhaps drink too much last night?”
“Ugh.”
Muk Yang-je was at a loss. “Was it all a dream?”
He instinctively realized he had fallen victim to some strange sorcery. “Someone’s toying with me!”
Though he was frustrated, he couldn’t take it out on the innocent Shinwol Sect leader, so he made some excuses and let it go. After a quick breakfast, he led the inspection team out of the Shinwol Sect.
The leader saw him off at the gate. “I hope your thorough preparations lead to good results.”
“A good result in an inspection means finding nothing wrong, doesn’t it?”
“Then it seems a good result might be hard to come by. You’ve prepared thoroughly for the sect’s progress.”
“Your words make it seem like you’ve been watching over me closely.”
“I only hope you think of it as support in every way possible.”
Muk Yang-je smirked inwardly. “Calling it support after just one night’s stay. The Shinwol Sect leader is quite bold.”
He headed straight for the Myeolma Sect. This time, Maeseol-ran was there to greet him at the gate.
“You must be tired from your journey. Let me show you to your quarters.”
“No need. I didn’t come here to rest…”
Muk Yang-je paused, deep in thought, as Maeseol-ran waited patiently.
“I can’t act the same as yesterday. This time, I need to make sure I sleep here and see the day pass. Whoever’s playing tricks on me won’t catch me off guard again.”
With his mind made up, he spoke again. “I’m tired. Please show me to my quarters.”
“Of course.”
Maeseol-ran smiled gently and led the way. After guiding the inspection team to their quarters, she returned to the main hall.
In the courtyard pavilion, Murang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing over the Myeolma Sect.
“Thanks to you, we’ve bought some time.”
“Don’t mention it. This is just the beginning.”
“When will the chief return?”
“I’ve instructed Churyang and Heuk-gwi to take their time. They can assess the martial world situation on the way.”
Maeseol-ran nodded silently. She wanted to rush to Sabi-gang herself, but she held back. There was little she could do for him in his current state, and she couldn’t leave the Myeolma Sect unattended.
She had only told the other instructors and assistants that Sabi-gang had been found, omitting the details to prevent unrest over the chief’s disappearance.
Murang turned and said, “Let’s hold on until the chief returns safely.”
“Yes!” Maeseol-ran replied with determination.
**
Behind the cabin, the once-dense forest had been reduced to stumps, the trees cut down to their bases.
On an unusually large tree stump, two figures sat one behind the other. Sabigang was seated in a meditative pose, eyes closed, with the Veritas in his grasp. Behind him, Onghaein placed a steady hand on Sabigang’s back.
“Rrrgh…!”
With each ragged breath Sabigang took, a red aura flared up around him, only to settle back down repeatedly.
How long had they remained motionless like this?
Finally, a subtle shift occurred between them. The red energy within Sabigang began to seep slowly into Onghaein’s palm.
‘Yes, just like that…’
Onghaein focused all his concentration on his hand. If he could just siphon off a fraction of that energy…!
‘If this works, you’ll reach a level that will mark a new chapter in history. A realm beyond the imagination of ordinary men…!’
Then it happened.
“Gasp!”
Onghaein involuntarily sucked in a breath, eyes snapping open.
‘This is…!’
A fierce energy surged toward his palm, threatening to tear it apart.
‘How can it be so malevolent…!’
Sweat beaded on Onghaein’s forehead, soon streaming down his face.
And then, suddenly,
“Ugh!”
The red aura erupted from Sabigang’s back with explosive force.
Onghaein had intended to extract and dissipate the latent, chaotic energy within Sabigang. It was a technique he had mastered, one that had allowed him to cure even the most stubborn cases of inner turmoil that others deemed incurable.
But the energy now pouring from Sabigang was unfamiliar, and it was becoming a threat to Onghaein himself.
Instead of drawing it out, he now had to struggle to fend off the onslaught.
‘Damn it! At this rate, I’ll be caught up in it too!’
Onghaein quickly summoned his inner strength, countering the fierce red energy with his own.
Blue and red energies clashed violently, creating shockwaves at the point of contact.
“Argh!”
Sabigang suddenly coughed up blood.
‘This can’t go on!’
Admitting defeat, Onghaein concentrated his inner power into his palm and released it in a single, explosive burst.
Boom!
The collision of blue and red energies resulted in a tremendous explosion.
Sabigang was flung forward, while Onghaein was sent flying back several yards.
“Aaagh!”
In pain, Sabigang lost control and lunged at the fallen Onghaein.
Onghaein’s eyes flew open as he shouted, “No!”
But Sabigang, consumed by rage, was beyond reason. He swung his fist down with force…
Thud!
Sabigang collapsed, unconscious, before he could land the blow.
Onghaein let out a weary sigh, muttering to himself, “I told you, you can’t let your emotions get the better of you… Still can’t control yourself when you’re worked up, can you?”