Episode 401: The Return of the Demon Sect Leader

It wasn’t until this afternoon that my mind finally cleared.

For the past few days, it felt as if I were drunk, my emotions swirling like a storm, my body and mind drifting aimlessly as if riding on clouds.

But after lunch, I was certain that everything had settled and my clarity had returned.

Muk Yang-je couldn’t comprehend it.

One thing was clear: he had wasted the last two days.

He had squandered this golden opportunity.

“Who do they think they’re fooling?”

Grinding his teeth, Muk Yang-je called for Dong-ryeong to discuss their next steps.

“It’s time we conduct a proper investigation.”

“Indeed, the time has come.”

“Yes. I hope you can understand if I’ve been acting strangely.”

“Of course. I didn’t mind seeing that side of you, but it’s time to push forward decisively. That should provoke a different reaction.”

Dong-ryeong seemed almost eager.

“Reactions don’t matter. This time, we’ll investigate thoroughly and leave no room for doubt.”

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.”

Dong-ryeong, though slightly puzzled, nodded in agreement.

“Well… I suppose the good times are over.”

“Naturally. For them, a time of disgrace is coming.”

“Yes…”

Dong-ryeong’s expression was somewhat reluctant.

Muk Yang-je felt a twinge of irritation.

‘Do they not trust me just because I wasted two days?’

Instead of revealing his thoughts, Muk Yang-je instructed that all the leaders gather in the conference room that night.

He intended to dig deep once everyone was assembled.

That night, the top brass of the Demon Sect gathered.

The atmosphere was solemn as they sat around the long table.

Muk Yang-je smirked inwardly.

‘Hmph! They’ve had their fun with me, but not anymore!’

With renewed determination, Muk Yang-je slammed the table and stood up, shouting.

“You may have thought little of me until now! But things will change. Today, I intend to thoroughly investigate this sect!”

“Please do.”

Mae Seol-ran replied calmly, and Muk Yang-je nodded arrogantly before continuing.

“First, let’s address the disappearance of Chief Sa Bi-gang.”

“Go ahead.”

“His disappearance is unfortunate, but he is failing in his duties. We can’t leave the chief’s position vacant indefinitely.”

“Of course.”

Muk Yang-je frowned at Mae Seol-ran’s overly compliant response.

Was she eyeing the chief’s position? But that didn’t seem like her.

Mae Seol-ran continued.

“But that only applies while the position is vacant, right?”

“Exactly! And the position is vacant now!”

“What do you mean…?”

“What are you talking about? The chief is missing…”

As Muk Yang-je gestured towards the chief’s seat, he froze.

‘What… Sa Bi-gang is sitting there?’

To his shock, Sa Bi-gang was seated at the chief’s spot, looking perfectly at ease.

“When did he…?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Why do you think I’m still missing?”

Sa Bi-gang’s words left Muk Yang-je stunned.

He nearly screamed.

Muk Yang-je staggered, losing his balance.

“Are you alright?”

Dong-ryeong rushed to support him.

Muk Yang-je whispered urgently to Dong-ryeong.

[Why is he sitting there?]

[What do you mean?]

[Don’t you know? He was missing, and we were going to investigate that!]

Dong-ryeong looked at him, bewildered.

“Are you really okay?”

[Why do you keep asking that?]

“Because… it’s been two weeks since Chief Sa Bi-gang returned.”

“What?”

Muk Yang-je was so shocked he shouted without realizing it.

He blinked rapidly, stammering.

“What are you saying? We arrived just three days ago… how could he have returned two weeks ago…?”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I told you, I’m fine!”

Muk Yang-je snapped, and Dong-ryeong continued with a puzzled expression.

“Perhaps you should see a doctor at the medical hall?”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying! Are you even listening to me?”

“Of course. That’s why I’m concerned.”

“Why are you so worried?”

“Because… we’ve been here for three months, not three days.”

“What…”

Muk Yang-je was speechless, like a mute who had lost his voice.

He looked around the room, bewildered.

The leaders of the Demon Sect were blinking at him.

‘What? Those eyes… Is this real? Is it?’

Muk Yang-je clamped his mouth shut.

He felt a wave of nausea.

He couldn’t understand why Sa Bi-gang, who should have been missing, was sitting there, or how he had been here for three months.

This moment felt more surreal than any dream.

‘Damn it! It’s a nightmare! I’m under a spell again! I need to get out of here!’

Smack!

Muk Yang-je suddenly slapped his own cheek.

His right cheek swelled and stung.

The people in the conference room gasped in shock.

Smack! Smack!

Muk Yang-je kept slapping himself, trying to wake from the nightmare.

But instead of waking, the eyes watching him grew more pitying than wary.

Finally, Dong-ryeong grabbed his arm and shouted.

“Master! Please, get a hold of yourself! What’s happening to you?”

“Is this reality?”

“Yes, it is. What’s the problem?”

‘Damn it! I want to know too! What’s the problem?’

Muk Yang-je felt like he was losing his mind, and it terrified him.

Unable to watch any longer, Mae Seol-ran called to a servant.

“Bring some tea to calm him down.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Soon, a servant brought a tray with a cup of tea.

Dong-ryeong handed it to Muk Yang-je.

“Here, Master. Have some tea and calm down. I don’t know what’s going on, but the medical hall’s head is skilled. I’m sure they can help.”

Angry at being treated like a patient, Muk Yang-je grabbed the cup and drank it in one gulp.

“Ouch, hot…!”

He dropped the cup, burning his tongue and throat.

As the cup shattered on the floor,

Crash!

“Gasp!”

His pupils dilated.

Mae Seol-ran and Mu-rang exchanged a knowing glance.

Finally, Muk Yang-je had awakened from Mu-rang’s spell.

The tea he drank was no ordinary tea.

Mae Seol-ran watched Muk Yang-je intently.

‘He’s coming to his senses. That tea, crafted by Mu-rang himself… it’s a complex brew that breaks spells.’

As Mae Seol-ran expected, Muk Yang-je’s mind was undergoing a transformation.

Memories from the past three months flooded back.

He had thought it was only three days, but in reality, three months had passed.

He also recalled his extended stay at the New Moon Sect, finally understanding why the sect leader had been so supportive.

During his stay, the leader had provided him with generous support.

But that wasn’t the issue.

He remembered his time at the Demon Sect, calling courtesans to his quarters, indulging in revelry almost daily.

He recalled stuffing money into the courtesans’ bodices and laughing drunkenly with them.

These were actions taken under the influence of a spell, but Muk Yang-je had no way of knowing that.

‘What is this…!’

He looked up sharply, scanning the leaders in the conference room.

“This is… a conspiracy! A plot! You’ve cornered me! How dare you toy with me like this!”

He shouted in anger, but no one responded.

Instead, the leaders’ eyes held a hint of disdain.

Only Sa Bi-gang and Mae Seol-ran knew it was all due to Mu-rang’s spell.

Even Sa Bi-gang hadn’t escaped the spell, so to others, Muk Yang-je’s behavior seemed perfectly natural.

“Don’t look at me like that! I’ll report this to the alliance! I’ll have you all…!”

“There’s no need.”

Sa Bi-gang spoke flatly, and Muk Yang-je glared at him.

“What do you mean?”

“The alliance has already been informed. We’ve been reporting regularly.”

“Who authorized such reports…!”

Muk Yang-je began to speak but swallowed his words and slumped down.

‘Oh no… it was me.’

Indeed, it was true.

For some time now, Muk Yang-je had been sending reports to the Meng every ten days, filled with nothing but glowing praise. Now, Dong-ryeong’s reaction made perfect sense.

To him, it must have seemed odd.

Muk Yang-je, who had spent every day indulging in revelry at the Myeolma Pavilion, suddenly decided to conduct a proper investigation. It was bound to raise suspicions.

“This is… this is a trap! I’m going back to the Meng! I need to rewrite my report…!”

“There’s no need for that. A guest from the Meng has already arrived.”

Sa Bi-gang replied nonchalantly, and Muk Yang-je’s face twisted in shock.

“From the Meng…? Who could it be…?”

Just then, the conference room door swung open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

“It’s me.”

It was none other than Elder Council Leader Uk Cheong-pung. He fixed Muk Yang-je with a piercing gaze.

“Have you been well?”

His words were laced with thorns.

Muk Yang-je, whose memory had fully returned, couldn’t bring himself to meet Uk Cheong-pung’s eyes.

Uk Cheong-pung scoffed.

“Hmph! I’m sure you’ve been living well, calling in courtesans every day, squandering money, laughing, drinking, and making merry!”

“Council Leader, that was…”

“Silence! No excuses will be tolerated! Do you even have a shred of sense?”

Uk Cheong-pung was genuinely furious.

He had intended to expose the issues at the Myeolma Pavilion and hand over the leadership to Muk Yang-je. But what was this mess?

Uk Cheong-pung was thoroughly displeased with Muk Yang-je.

In his heart, he wanted nothing more than to punch Muk Yang-je for his incompetence.

“I sent you to do a proper job, and you get lost in debauchery and handle things like this? Useless fool!”

After glaring at Muk Yang-je with burning eyes, Uk Cheong-pung turned to Sa Bi-gang and offered a formal bow.

“Ahem! I owe you an apology, Pavilion Master. It was my oversight not to assemble a proper inspection team. I apologize on their behalf.”

“Well, these things happen. Inspection duties are inherently challenging, aren’t they? With such immense power, it’s easy to fall into temptation.”

Sa Bi-gang spoke as if understanding, but it was clear he was pointing out Muk Yang-je’s misconduct once more.

Uk Cheong-pung felt a twist of frustration inside but chose not to show it. Instead, he spoke again.

“I will ensure this never happens again.”

“If you do, I would be most grateful.”

“Then.”

With that, Uk Cheong-pung spun on his heel and exited the conference room.

“Council Leader!”

Muk Yang-je called out in a fluster, but Sa Bi-gang, with a faint smile, interjected.

“Shall we conclude the meeting here? After all, the host is right there…”

“Ugh… Let’s end it for today.”

Muk Yang-je spat out the words and hurried after Uk Cheong-pung.

Watching this, Mae Seol-ran chuckled softly and turned to Sa Bi-gang.

“That’s another one dealt with.”

“Thanks to you.”

Sa Bi-gang replied, and Mae Seol-ran smiled brightly.

Just then, Dang Yi-hyeop approached and spoke in a low voice.

“We received a message from the Meng today… There’s a problem. It’s quite serious.”

“What is it?”

“The summoning site, which you referred to as a dungeon… Other sects have declared their intent to hunt the monsters there as well.”