Episode 393: Return to the Demon Sect

A gentle ripple spread across the tranquil surface of the lake.

Moments later, the water bulged upward, forming the shape of a human face.

It was none other than Murang.

Sitting cross-legged on a rock by the lakeside, Ong Hae-in, who had been treating his internal injuries, slowly spoke.

“If you keep appearing like that, you’ll give me a heart attack one of these days.”

“Isn’t that why I show up like this? To toughen up your heart.”

“Ha, how touching.”

“That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?”

Murang joked, and Ong Hae-in responded with a chuckle.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen that peculiar form of yours.”

“I’ve been busy with various matters.”

“To think you’d ever be busy with worldly affairs.”

“Indeed. How is the Grandmaster?”

“I attempted the Absorption Qi Technique today.”

A hint of anticipation flickered across Murang’s face.

“Really? How did it go? You’re the master of that technique, after all. Surely, you had good results…”

Before Murang could finish, Ong Hae-in shook his head.

“I failed.”

Murang’s expression twisted in disbelief.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. I almost got caught up in it myself and fell into a state of inner turmoil.”

“What kind of energy could it possibly be?”

“I can’t say for sure… but it’s far beyond anything like a demon spirit. The aura in that sword is unimaginably powerful. It’s overwhelmingly strong.”

Murang’s expression grew serious at Ong Hae-in’s words.

“The restrictions you’ve set should have had some effect.”

“There’s not enough time yet. I need more time.”

“But we can’t wait three years, as you suggested. You know how to read the celestial signs, don’t you?”

“What can I do if there’s no way around it?”

“It’s a difficult situation.”

“Indeed, it is.”

Ong Hae-in circulated his energy once more and slowly stood up, having finally healed his internal injuries to some extent.

He looked at the water column that had formed the face and asked, “The people you sent?”

“They should arrive soon.”

“I see. Tell them to take their time. There’s no rush.”

“I’ve already told them, but… if possible, hurry them along.”

“Well, it’s beyond my control.”

“I have a hunch about something.”

“A hunch?”

Ong Hae-in turned his head to ask, and Murang, after a moment of thought, spoke.

“I’ve heard some stories from the survivors. The last opponent the Grandmaster faced was…”

As Murang relayed what he had heard, Ong Hae-in’s expression shifted rapidly, mostly to one of surprise.

“Could it be… a creature that becomes a bird when clothed and a woman when unclothed?”

“That’s what they all said.”

“That must be…”

“Yes, I know. It’s a Jorogumo.”

“Impossible.”

“I thought so too, but when I heard about its obsession with its child, I had to believe it.”

“But some of the phenomena you mentioned don’t quite match a Jorogumo…”

“I know. But what if the Demon Sect performed a ritual that altered it? What if the Jorogumo changed to fit that ritual?”

“Even so…”

“It’s hard to believe. But you must have accepted it by now.”

Ong Hae-in couldn’t deny Murang’s words. He looked down at his hands, recalling the eerie energy he had felt earlier.

‘If that was the energy of a Jorogumo…’

It made a certain amount of sense.

The Jorogumo was a mythical creature from ancient times, now only a legend passed down through texts like the Classic of Mountains and Seas. If it had been unsealed and manifested through the Demon Sect’s ritual, this was no ordinary matter.

“I didn’t misread the celestial signs after all.”

As Ong Hae-in muttered with a grave expression, Murang spoke up.

“Now you understand why I’m in such a hurry? We need him to stop them.”

Murang’s voice remained calm, but Ong Hae-in knew how seriously Murang was taking the situation.

After a long silence, Ong Hae-in finally spoke.

“As I said, if even a fraction of his power is released, he might regain consciousness. He could reach an unimaginable level.”

“How high?”

“This is unprecedented for me, but… he could surpass the pinnacle and reach the Heavenly Enlightenment Realm.”

“What? The Heavenly Enlightenment Realm! That’s a level no human has reached since the ancient Emperor Yingxi!”

“He might even surpass Emperor Yingxi.”

“That’s absurd…!”

“But that’s not the point. The problem is that it’s nearly impossible to release even a fraction of his demonic energy. No one in this world can do it. It’s only because of my abilities that I estimated three years. Even though I’m not strong enough to handle the pinnacle, my capacity is on par with yours.”

Despite Ong Hae-in’s attempt at humor, Murang couldn’t bring himself to laugh. He spoke with a heavy expression.

“If the power in that sword is that immense… then you…”

“I know. But if I can use my life for that purpose, I have no regrets.”

“You… would go that far…”

“It’s worth it.”

Ong Hae-in looked up at the star-filled night sky.

“If… if he can overcome this crisis, he might be able to face the great force that’s coming. Until now, I thought no one in the Central Plains could handle it. That’s why I’ve been living in seclusion. But now… I feel a glimmer of hope.”

**

“An urgent message has arrived from the Demon Sect.”

At the words of the masked man, the sect leader furrowed his brow and asked, “What does it say?”

“They’ve discovered the whereabouts of the Grandmaster.”

“And?”

“They didn’t mention the Grandmaster’s condition. They’ve sent people to bring him back.”

“Hmm.”

The sect leader pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Sending people means he’s not in a stable condition. It also means he’s staying in one place and not moving.”

“Yes. Therefore, we plan to inform the Eastern Division by letter. They might find the Grandmaster first at this rate.”

The sect leader nodded.

“Do so.”

The masked man bowed and promptly left.

**

The Eastern Division and the Blood Demon Sect surveyed the clearing where part of the forest had been completely obliterated.

The leader of the Eastern Division chuckled.

“What a mess they’ve made.”

He glanced around the desolate area and then fixed his gaze on a distant mountain lake.

The tranquil lake occasionally rippled gently.

He sighed lightly.

“It took longer to get here than I expected.”

“We’ve come a long way.”

One of the Blood Demon Sect members remarked, and the leader chuckled.

“He’s probably a wreck, half-consumed by inner turmoil. No need to be intimidated. But we shouldn’t let our guard down either.”

He gazed across the lake at a small, picturesque cabin.

Smoke rising from the chimney indicated someone lived there.

“What a peculiar place.”

At the leader’s words, another member spoke.

“The area across the lake seems to be a restricted zone.”

“Not a place for ordinary people, then.”

As the leader mused, a sharp cry of a hawk pierced the sky.

One of the members looked up and shouted.

“It’s a messenger hawk from the sect!”

The hawk circled the sky once before swiftly descending to perch on the leader’s shoulder.

The leader untied the message from the hawk’s leg and read it carefully, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Well, things are getting interesting.”

The leader looked up and gazed at the cabin across the lake.

A member skilled in formations approached and spoke.

“We should use only about thirty percent of our internal energy. Any more, and the restrictions might overwhelm us.”

“Thirty percent… that should be enough. In fact, it’s better this way. With similar conditions, having more people is an advantage, don’t you think?”

The leader turned to the Blood Demon Sect members and continued.

“Make sure to conceal your demonic energy thoroughly.”

“Understood!”

The leader ran his hand over his face, and astonishingly, his appearance changed as if he had used a face-changing technique. His demonic aura vanished, replaced by the gentle demeanor of a middle-aged man.

It was hard to believe, just by looking at him, that he was a practitioner of dark arts.

He walked to the edge of the forest and drew his sword, swinging it with precision.

Swish, swish, swish!

The sword energy sliced through the air, felling a large tree in an instant.

With a flick of his hand, the logs flew into the lake, splashing down.

Six logs in total.

The leader and the Blood Demon Sect members each leaped onto a log.

Using their internal energy, they propelled the logs across the lake.

**

“Chomp, chomp… slurp…! Munch, munch…!”

Sabi Kang continued to shove food into his mouth with his hands, devouring it with a voracious appetite.

The sounds he made were indistinguishable from those of an animal feeding.

Ong Hae-in, sitting across from him, watched silently and muttered to himself.

“You’re always so consistent.”

“Grumble…”

Sabigang halted abruptly, letting out a low growl, clearly displeased.

Ong Haein waved a hand with a gentle smile.

“No need to be so sensitive. It was a compliment. Isn’t it good for a person to be consistent?”

“Chomp… Munch… Slurp!”

Sabigang, momentarily tense, resumed devouring his food with abandon.

Ong Haein murmured softly, almost to himself, “Well, sometimes a little change can be nice.”

The two continued their meal in silence for a while. Unlike Sabigang, who was surrounded by a mountain of empty plates, Ong Haein’s setting was modest, almost sparse. An ordinary observer might wonder, “Can someone survive on so little?”

To which Ong Haein might have replied, “A person doesn’t draw strength from food alone.”

“Grumble…”

As Sabigang growled again, Ong Haein waved his hand dismissively.

“Oh, did you hear that? I was just talking to myself. It wasn’t meant for your ears. Don’t mind it.”

“Chomp… Munch… Slurp!”

And so, the meal continued in much the same way. But then, Sabigang suddenly paused, food halfway to his mouth.

Ong Haein set his chopsticks down gently. “Did you sense it too?”

“Grumble…”

“No need to get worked up. It seems those who’ve come to take you are here. Stay put. I’ll go greet them.”

Ong Haein stepped outside, where six men were crossing the lake on a log. They were Dongmyeon and the Blood Water Demons. Yet, with their aura completely concealed, they seemed unremarkable.

As Ong Haein approached the lakeshore, the six men leapt onto the land and bowed respectfully.

“We humbly greet our senior.”

“Welcome. It must have been a long journey.”

“Not at all. Our master is indebted to you. We thank you on his behalf.”

“No need. I’m afraid I haven’t been much help. Come in, you must be hungry. There’s not much, but it should suffice.”

The six exchanged glances, hesitating. Given the restrictions on the area, they were naturally cautious of any hidden traps.

Sensing their unease, Ong Haein asked, “Is something wrong?”

“It’s not that. We’re just eager to see our master. His safety is our utmost concern.”

“Ah, you’re in a hurry.”

“Where is he now?”

Ong Haein studied them for a moment before speaking. “You’ll find out soon enough. Come in and eat first.”

“We appreciate the offer, but we’ve been ordered to bring him back immediately.”

“I understand. But you won’t be able to take him.”

“It’s alright. Master Murang has found a way. You can trust us.”

“Murang, you say?”

“Yes.”

Ong Haein frowned, scrutinizing the six men. Dongmyeon and the Blood Water Demons met his gaze with calm smiles.

Ong Haein glanced at the log floating on the lake and changed the subject. “Using your inner strength to cross the lake on a log… Your skills must be quite advanced.”

“We’re still lacking, especially with the restrictions in this area.”

“To notice the restrictions… You must be important if it takes six top-tier experts to retrieve one person.”

The mention of “top-tier experts” made the six flinch.

Ong Haein smiled faintly. “Why so surprised? My formation can only be detected by those of the highest caliber.”

“Impressive indeed.”

“But how do you plan to take him back? Once outside this restricted area, he’ll be like a wild horse.”

Though his tone was gentle, Ong Haein’s eyes were sharp, filled with suspicion.

At this, Dongmyeon sighed lightly. “It seems you have no intention of handing him over easily.”

His voice had turned icy cold.