Episode 408: Return to the Demonic Cult
“Do we really have to go this far, senior?”
“Ah, don’t you want to make a name for yourself and climb the ranks?”
“Haha… I’m not really interested in that.”
Jaunryong scratched the back of his head, prompting Deungbuyung to click his tongue and shake his head.
“Such lack of ambition. While one shouldn’t be a slave to desire, having no aspirations is just as bad.”
“But suspecting a colleague without any evidence seems a bit…”
Deungbuyung snapped back, clearly agitated.
“Didn’t you see it that day? How suspicious Instructor Wigeomjong was!”
“Honestly, I didn’t find it that odd… He could have just been training in the forest.”
“You’re too naive. That’s why the cadets don’t take you seriously.”
“Is that so?”
Jaunryong chuckled bitterly, scratching his head again.
Deungbuyung glanced around once more before inserting a metal pick into the keyhole, struggling for a while.
Finally, with a satisfying ‘click,’ the door opened, and Deungbuyung’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“Got it! I’ll keep watch outside. You go in and search.”
“Me?”
Jaunryong asked, startled, and Deungbuyung furrowed his brow.
“Do you expect me to go in? Are you looking down on me because I’m an instructor?”
“Of course not. You became an instructor because you made many sacrifices for me.”
“Then hurry up and find something.”
“Hmm. Alright. But what exactly am I looking for?”
“Ugh, anything that could be evidence. Wigeomjong definitely sent a message somewhere that day. We need proof that he’s a spy.”
“Sigh, understood.”
Jaunryong replied with a lack of confidence, opening the door and stepping inside.
Deungbuyung whistled nonchalantly, pacing back and forth as if trying not to look suspicious, though his actions only drew more attention.
He had approached Jaunryong early that morning, convincing him to search Wigeomjong’s quarters. Conveniently, Wigeomjong was away, dealing with a mission in another region.
‘I will unmask that Wigeomjong! How dare a mere rogue think he can stand on equal footing with a prestigious sect! Hmph!’
Deungbuyung scoffed inwardly, continuing his pacing.
Just then, a group of cadets came rushing by.
‘What’s going on?’
He grabbed one of the passing cadets to ask.
“Where are you all rushing off to?”
“They say Instructor Wigeomjong’s team has returned. We’re going to welcome them and hear their tales of heroism.”
“What? Wigeomjong is back already?”
“Yes. They didn’t rest a single day on their way to and from the mission, so they arrived two days early.”
“Huh…”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing.”
The cadet gave him a puzzled look before hurrying off.
Feeling a sense of urgency, Deungbuyung quickly sent a mental message to Jaunryong inside Wigeomjong’s quarters.
[Did you find any evidence?]
[No, it’s clean. But…]
[But?]
[There’s something under the bed… I need to move it to check.]
[Then hurry and move it! What are you waiting for?]
[I’m worried about leaving traces… It might be nothing.]
[Ugh, now’s not the time to worry about that…! Gah!]
Deungbuyung’s eyes widened as he swallowed hard.
In the distance, he saw Wigeomjong approaching.
‘Why is he coming straight to his quarters instead of reporting to the main hall first?’
Jaunryong sent another message.
[What’s wrong?]
[Damn it! Wigeomjong is back!]
[What? Instructor Wigeomjong? Already?]
[Yes! I can see him right now!]
[Oh no! What should I do?]
[This happened because you were dawdling! You need to handle it! If you get caught, I know nothing!]
[Senior… that’s too much…]
[Are you saying it’s all my fault then?]
[Not exactly, but…]
[Just deal with it!]
Deungbuyung spoke harshly, then put on a broad smile as he walked over.
“Ah, if it isn’t Instructor Wigeomjong!”
“Instructor Deung, what brings you here? Your quarters are in the other direction, aren’t they?”
“Indeed. But I heard you returned and came to greet you.”
“To greet me?”
Wigeomjong smirked coldly, and Deungbuyung replied with an awkward smile.
“There was a small misunderstanding before. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Spying on others’ martial arts and yet you act so shamelessly.”
‘This sly bastard! You’re the real spy here, acting all innocent!’
Deungbuyung suppressed his inner thoughts and responded.
“Haha, it was just a misunderstanding. Anyway, I’d love to hear about your heroic deeds. How did you complete the mission so quickly?”
“I did nothing. The formation was solid, and the cadets did all the work.”
‘Feigning humility, are we?’
Deungbuyung grinned slyly.
“Even so, without you there, Instructor…”
“I have nothing more to say. I need to rest, so please step aside.”
“Oh… yes. You must be tired…”
Without waiting for Deungbuyung to finish, Wigeomjong walked away.
‘That arrogant rogue!’
Grinding his teeth in frustration, Deungbuyung decided it was best to distance himself from Wigeomjong’s quarters.
Meanwhile, inside the quarters, Jaunryong locked the door from the inside, opened a window, and discreetly slipped out.
Just moments later, Wigeomjong entered, collapsing onto his bed.
As he turned his head, he noticed the window latch was undone, and his brow furrowed slightly.
‘Am I being watched…?’
**
‘That was close.’
Jaunryong hurriedly walked away, his heart still racing.
It had been a narrow escape.
As he rounded a corner, a sudden shout startled him.
“Ahhh!”
A group of cadets appeared, rushing towards him.
Jaunryong stepped back in surprise as they hid behind him, shouting.
“Instructor! Help us!”
“Please save us, Instructor!”
Confused by the sudden chaos, Jaunryong asked with a bewildered expression.
“What on earth is going on? Why are you all acting like this?”
“That crazy cat is attacking us!”
“Crazy cat?”
At that moment,
Jaunryong realized they weren’t exaggerating.
A massive creature stood before him.
It was undoubtedly a transformed cat.
Jaunryong’s eyes widened as he faced the beast.
‘I’ve heard they can grow, but I never imagined it would be this big.’
The cadets must have provoked it, causing the cat to transform and attack.
Understanding the situation, Jaunryong awkwardly smiled, slowly raising his hands.
“Easy there… Haha. You’re a good and cute…”
Snap!
“Whoa!”
The cat lunged like lightning, clamping its jaws around Jaunryong’s head.
Just before his head was swallowed, he saw a woman rushing towards them.
She reached out desperately, shouting.
“Stop! No!”
Whether her plea worked or not, the cat miraculously didn’t bite off Jaunryong’s head.
**
“Phew.”
Jaunryong let out a long sigh.
“What a day.”
His neck and back bore the cat’s bite marks, and his clothes were shredded like rags.
The cat’s tongue had scraped his skin, leaving his arms and neck raw.
Nungso was applying a healing potion to his wounds.
Jaunryong watched her quietly before speaking.
“You handle animals really well, Instructor Nung.”
If she hadn’t appeared, Jaunryong might have ended up in the cat’s stomach.
But now, the cat was purring contentedly in Nungso’s arms.
Nungso gave a wry smile.
“If I were really good, this wouldn’t have happened. It was while teaching the cadets how to communicate with animals.”
“That’s because the cadets are still inexperienced. It’s not your fault.”
“If I were truly skilled… the cadets wouldn’t make such mistakes. If only I could teach like him.”
“Him?”
“Master Sabigang.”
Nungso smiled brightly, as if just thinking of Sabigang lifted her spirits.
Jaunryong chuckled softly and asked.
“How do you manage to handle animals so well?”
“By listening carefully. Before trying to control them, I start by listening to what they want, what they’re trying to say.”
“Can you hear it?”
“Of course. You should try listening to it too, Instructor. I’m sure you’ll hear it.”
Neung Soso suddenly thrust the small creature towards him.
Jaunryong stared blankly for a moment before responding with a gentle smile.
“That’s a bit too difficult for me.”
“Wait a second. Don’t move. There’s a deep wound on your neck too.”
Neung Soso dabbed a healing potion onto a cotton pad and gently cleaned the wound on Jaunryong’s neck.
Their faces naturally drew closer together.
Jaunryong, still in a daze, looked at Neung Soso and absentmindedly spoke.
“Why…”
“Pardon?”
When Neung Soso tilted her head in curiosity, Jaunryong quickly averted his gaze, snapping back to reality.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Neung Soso moved behind him to apply the healing potion to the wounds on his back.
“I know it’s not my place to say, but… you seem to let the cadets get away with too much. If you keep doing that, they’ll become unruly.”
“Haha. Is that from personal experience?”
“Sorry?”
“I heard you were a cadet when Master Sabigang was an instructor. Rumor has it the cadets were quite spirited back then.”
“That’s true. But I was a model student.”
Neung Soso replied with a faint smile, and Jaunryong nodded in agreement.
“I can see that. You remind me of someone.”
“Really? Who?”
“A girl who loved nature and was full of kindness. She used to follow me around a lot.”
“Could it be that she…”
Neung Soso began cautiously, but Jaunryong quickly reassured her.
“Oh, she’s alive. Which makes me miss her even more.”
“Then you should go see her.”
“That’s not possible. I don’t have the courage to face her.”
Jaunryong replied with a self-deprecating smile, and Neung Soso, now standing in front of him with a determined look, grasped his hand firmly.
“Love begins with courage!”
“What?”
“Oh… is that not what you meant?”
“Haha! You really do resemble her.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Of course.”
The two exchanged a warm smile, looking into each other’s eyes.